by Stephen Lendman
A previous article discussed an unholy Israeli/Saudi alliance. It’s an axis of evil. They’re strange bedfellows. They have no formal relations. It’s believed Saudi Prince Bandar ibn Sultan visited Israel covertly. Doing so broke a decades long taboo.
Both countries have common regional interests. They include toppling Syria’s Assad. They want Iran’s government replaced. Reports suggest both countries formed an anti-Iranian military alliance. On November 17, the London Sunday Times headlined “Two old foes unite against Tehran,” saying:
“Convinced that Iran is tricking the world over nuclear weapons, Israel and Saudi Arabia may work together to curb its ambitions.”
None exist. Both countries know it. At issue is eliminating a regional rival. More on that below. Multiple rounds of Iranian nuclear talks failed. On November 20, another attempt begins. The myth about Iran pursuing nuclear weapons persists. Israel wants America’s Iran policy toughened. AIPAC wants new sanctions enacted.
According to an unnamed senior State Department official:
“We are going to send teams around the world to make sure the sanctions stay in place, (so) that the whole sanctions regime will not collapse.”
Treasury Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, David Cohen added:
“The relief we are considering as part of an initial phase would be limited, temporary, targeted and reversible.”
“We will continue to monitor Iran’s financial activity and take action, as we always have, to target Iranian attempts to evade sanctions.”
“The overwhelming economic pressure from our sanctions will remain in place, and we will continue to leverage these sanctions until we have a full, verifiable and peaceful resolution to international concerns surrounding Iran’s nuclear program.”
So-called concerns are contrived. Expect no letup in Washington’s longstanding anti-Iranian agenda. In July, House members overwhelmingly passed new sanctions 400 – 20. They target Iran’s mining and construction sectors. They call for banning Iranian oil sales by 2015.
Similar Senate legislation is expected. It may be tougher. It may prohibit international investments in more economic sectors. It may block Iran’s foreign accounts entirely. It may restrict Obama’s ability to unilaterally waive requirements for allies and key trading partners. Israel’s US ambassador Ron Dermer, its Economy Minister Naftali Bennett, and AIPAC are exerting enormous pressure on US lawmakers. They’re spreading false information.
Over the past few days, they’ve gone all out to discredit whatever emerges from upcoming Iranian nuclear talks. According to the Sunday Times, Saudi Arabia and Israel are preparing contingency plans to attack Iran. A diplomatic source was quoted saying:
“Once the Geneva agreement is signed, the military option will be back on the table. The Saudis are furious and are willing to give Israel all the help it needs.”
Riyadh allegedly offered Israel tactical support. Included is use of its air space, drones, rescue helicopters and tanker planes. Mossad and Saudi officials are reportedly cooperating. On November 17, Netanyahu appeared on CNN’s State of the Union. He lied saying:
“I’m the prime minister of Israel, and I have to care for the survival of my country. Iran maintaining its nuclear weapons capability – that is the capacity to produce nuclear weapons threatens directly the future of the Jewish state.”
The Jerusalem Post discussed his November 16 Le Figero interview. “We all think that Iran should not be allowed to have the capacities to make nuclear weapons,” he said.
“We all think that a tougher stance should be taken by the international community. We all believe that if Iran were to have nuclear weapons, this could lead to a nuclear arms race in the Middle East, making the Middle East a nuclear tinderbox.”
“We live here. We know something about this region. We know a great deal about Iran and its plans. It’s worthwhile to pay attention to what we say.”
He claimed a “meeting of the minds” between Israel and “leading states in the Arab world” on Iran. He called it “one of the few cases in memory, if not the first case in modern times.”
So-called “leading states” include rogue regional monarchies Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, UAE, Kuwait and Jordan. So is Egypt’s coup d’etat regime. A potential regional war looms. Launching one could spread globally.
In July 2013, Michel Chossudovsky reposted his August 2010 article. It’s relevant today. It headlined “Global Warfare. Preparing for World War III, Targeting Iran.”
“Humanity is at a dangerous crossroads,” he said. It remains so today. “War preparations to attack Iran are in ‘an advanced state of readiness.’ ”
“Hi tech weapons systems including nuclear warheads are fully deployed. This military adventure has been on the Pentagon’s drawing board since the mid-1990s.” War is America’s strategy of choice. Israel operates the same way. They’re partnered against regional rivals. They want pro-Western puppet governments replacing them.
They want unchallenged regional dominance. They’re willing to risk global war to get it. “Since 2005, the US and its allies, including America’s NATO partners and Israel, have been involved in the extensive deployment and stockpiling of advanced weapons systems,” said Chossudovsky.
“The air defense systems of the US, NATO member countries and Israel are fully integrated.” America’s permanent war agenda is longstanding. Post-9/11, Dick Cheney warned of wars that won’t end in our lifetime. Former CIA director James Woolsey said America “is engaged in World War IV, and it could continue for years.”
In summer 1990, America headed for war on Iraq. On September 11, then President GHW Bush addressed a joint session of Congress. He delivered what’s known as his “Toward a New World Order” address.
He discussed Saddam’s August 2 Kuwait incursion. He omitted explaining how Washington duped him. At issue was a dispute over Kuwait cross-drilling into Iraqi territory. Washington’s dirty hands encouraged it. Then US Iranian ambassador April Glaspie OK’d Saddam’s retaliation. It was after diplomacy to do so failed. Saddam was deceived. Nearly 23 years of war, mass killing and destruction, sanctions, occupation, violence, disease, deep poverty, puppet governance, and unspeakable human misery followed.
In his September 11, 1990 address, Bush said “(w)e stand today at a unique and extraordinary moment. The regional “crisis offers a rare opportunity (for) a new world order.”
He called it one “freer from the threat of terror, stronger in the pursuit of justice, and more secure in the quest for peace. An era in which the nations of the world, East and West, North and South, can prosper and live in harmony. A world in which nations recognize the shared responsibility for freedom and justice. A world where the strong respect the rights of the weak.”
He lied. He hid America’s true intentions. Plans then and now involve replacing all sovereign independent governments with pro-Western vassal ones. Iraqi and Libyan ones were toppled. Both countries remain cauldrons of violence and instability. War rages against Assad. Sudan and Lebanon are targeted. Iran is regional enemy number one. At issue is unchallenged dominance. It’s the oil, stupid. Iran has huge resources. It ranks fourth after Venezuela, Saudi Arabia and Canada. It ranks second after Russia in gas reserves. January 2013 estimates put them at 33.6 trillion cubic meters. Huge additional amounts remain to be developed.
Washington covets control of Iran’s energy and other resources. It’s willing to wage war to get them. In September 1990, GHW Bush signaled what lay ahead. He said “our involvement in the Gulf is not transitory…Long after all our troops come home, there will be a lasting role for the United States” in the region.
He lied saying why America intends to stay. He claimed it’s “to deter future aggression to help our friends in their own self-defense, (and) to curb the proliferation of chemical, biological, ballistic missile and, above all, nuclear technologies.”
Israel is the region’s sole nuclear power. Its arsenal includes formidable nuclear, chemical and biological weapons. It uses banned weapons in all its conflicts. American nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction infest the region. Israel and Washington represent the key Middle East threat. Iran threatens no one. It hasn’t attacked another country in centuries. It’s nuclear program is peaceful. Longstanding US/Israeli plans call for regime change. Wars rage without end. The Pentagon calls it a “long war.” Obama is America’s latest warrior president. He exceeds the worst of his predecessors. He follows a long tradition. America glorifies war in the name of peace. Historian Charles Beard (1874 – 1948) once called it “perpetual war for perpetual peace.” Imagine what he’d say now.
Waging war requires selling it. Pretexts are easy to fabricate. Against Iraq, it was nonexistent WMDs. War on Libya followed a litany of lies. Iran is falsely accused of pursuing nuclear weapons. Multiple negotiating rounds to resolve differences failed. On November 20, another begins.
At issue is Iranian sovereign independence. On October 18, Channel News Asia (CNA) headlined “US to sell US$10.8b in missiles, bombs to Saudis, UAE.”
Plans include so-called deep-penetrating “bunker-buster” bombs. “The move follows a series of US weapons deals in recent years that have bolstered the air power and missile arsenals of Gulf states, which view Iran as a menacing rival with nuclear ambitions,” said CNA.
“The pending sale comes as the United States and five other major powers pursue high-stakes diplomacy on Iran’s disputed nuclear program.”
“Officials said the Defense Department notified Congress this week of the planned deal that will provide a thousand bunker-buster GBU-39 bombs to the Saudis and 5,000 to the UAE.”
“The sale will also include sophisticated air-launched cruise missiles that can hit targets from a long distance.”
“The weapons are designed for use by US-made F-15 and F-16 fighter jets previously purchased by Saudi Arabia and the UAE, according to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA).”
“In 2010, Israel bought the same bunker-buster ‘precision-guided glide bombs,’ fueling speculation that it was preparing for potential pre-emptive air strikes against underground nuclear sites in Iran.”
“The Saudis and the UAE will purchase hundreds of Standoff Land Attack missiles, or SLAM-ERs, and Joint Standoff Weapons. These advanced missiles will enable their warplanes to hit radar installations and other targets from beyond the range of air defense systems.”
Washington, Israel, key NATO partners and rogue regional allies are preparing for war. Timing depends on strategically deciding when. Perhaps another false flag pretext will precede it. If wrongheaded economic policies trigger crisis conditions, expect war as a diversionary tactic. Fear distracts people from less pressing concerns.
Peace remains elusive. Washington deplores it. So does Israel. Humanity’s survival hangs in the balance.
A Final Comment
On Sunday, French President Francois Hollande arrived in Israel. It’s his first official visit as head of state. Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius accompanied him. Netanyahu warmly welcomed them. He lied telling Hollande he’s leading “a courageous stand against Iran’s attempts to acquire nuclear weapons.”
“Israel sees France as a true friend. France, like Israel, aspires for a stable Middle East that lives in peace and security.”
Both counties deplore it. They thrive on violence, conquests and dominance. Recent polls show Hollande’s popularity at a record low. In October, it was 26%. Survey numbers published on November 14 had him at 15%.
At issue are mass layoffs, tax increases and force-fed austerity. Don’t expect allying with Israel against Iran to change things. He’s widely detested. Perhaps he’ll drop to single digits. Anti-Hollande sentiment is explosive.
Both leaders commented on Iran. Netanyahu said “a good deal is an agreement that dismantles (its) ability to get fissile material for a nuclear bomb.” Israel won’t be bound by “a bad agreement.” He called the proposed deal “bad and dangerous.”
Hollande said “(w)e will never accept Iran’s possessing nuclear weapons. This is a threat to the security of Israel and a threat to the entire world.”
“A true agreement will be possible only if Iran gives up on nuclear weapons forever.”
France and Israel are nuclear armed and dangerous. Both leaders know Iran’s nuclear program is peaceful. It has no military component. They lied claiming otherwise. According to Mossad connected DebkaFile, Hollande and Netanyahu may form “a joint French-Israeli-Arab front against Iran.”
At issue is whether they have war in mind. The fullness of time will tell.
Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net. His new book is titled “Banker Occupation: Waging Financial War on Humanity.”
http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanII.html
Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com.
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