I give this whole situation in the Middle East a sphincter factor of about 9.5.
Just consider this; A potentially nuclear armed Iran is holding missile practice as the toughest sanctions yet go into effect. The U.S. deploys more naval assets to the Persian Gulf, along with F-22 Raptorss and F-15c Eagles that remain in the region for an extended deployment. The war in Syria continues, it's even getting worse, with Russia and China still supporting Syria in the Security Council. Russia and China also want a hands-off approach to Iran. Then there is Egypt, now run by the Muslim Brotherhood, whose founders helped establish al-Queda.
Yeah, this looks real good. Russia and China are clearly fed up with the United States invading countries and bombing others at its discretion - they want it stopped. They want the U.S. out of the area, and the best way they can influence the situation is to side with U.S. enemies - Syria and Iran. World Wars have started this way, for much less.
What is going on here?
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Friday, June 15, 2012
Russian Troops in Syria
Russia is sending armed troops to Syria amid escalating violence
there, United States military officials told NBC News Friday, in a move
certain to frustrate Western efforts to put pressure on the regime of
President Bashir Assad.
Moscow has sent a ship carrying a small contingent of combat forces to guard Russia’s deep-water port and military base at the Syrian city of Tartus, the US officials said.
The U.S. officials also said Russia has not sent additional attack helicopters to the Syrian government, but replacement parts for the Russian helicopters the Syrians are already flying.
Days before President Barack Obama's meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, there has been a war of words between the U.S. and Syria's longtime military supplier. NBC's Andrea Mitchell reports.
It comes after the conflict was declared by France on Wednesday to be a full-blown civil war.
The head of the U.N. observers in Syria said Friday a recent spike in bloodshed is derailing the mission to monitor and defuse more than a year of violence and could prompt the unarmed force to pull out.
"Violence over the past 10 days has been intensifying willingly by the both parties, with losses on both sides and significant risks to our observers," Maj. Gen. Robert Mood told reporters in Damascus. "The escalating violence is now limiting our ability to observe, verify, report as well as assist in local dialogue and stability projects."
Tartus is one of Russia’s most strategically-important assets, giving it military access to the Mediterranean Sea.
Russia and China, both permanent members of the U.N. Security Council with veto power, frustrated attempts by key Western figures, including Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, to enforce a United Nations peace plan brokered by special envoy Kofi Annan.
Russia’s foreign minister Sergei Lavrov on Friday repeated Moscow's strong opposition to external interference in Syria, said it was not discussing plans for a Syrian political transformation following the exit of Assad.
Read More at MSNBC.com
Moscow has sent a ship carrying a small contingent of combat forces to guard Russia’s deep-water port and military base at the Syrian city of Tartus, the US officials said.
The U.S. officials also said Russia has not sent additional attack helicopters to the Syrian government, but replacement parts for the Russian helicopters the Syrians are already flying.
Days before President Barack Obama's meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, there has been a war of words between the U.S. and Syria's longtime military supplier. NBC's Andrea Mitchell reports.
The head of the U.N. observers in Syria said Friday a recent spike in bloodshed is derailing the mission to monitor and defuse more than a year of violence and could prompt the unarmed force to pull out.
"Violence over the past 10 days has been intensifying willingly by the both parties, with losses on both sides and significant risks to our observers," Maj. Gen. Robert Mood told reporters in Damascus. "The escalating violence is now limiting our ability to observe, verify, report as well as assist in local dialogue and stability projects."
Tartus is one of Russia’s most strategically-important assets, giving it military access to the Mediterranean Sea.
Russia and China, both permanent members of the U.N. Security Council with veto power, frustrated attempts by key Western figures, including Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, to enforce a United Nations peace plan brokered by special envoy Kofi Annan.
Russia’s foreign minister Sergei Lavrov on Friday repeated Moscow's strong opposition to external interference in Syria, said it was not discussing plans for a Syrian political transformation following the exit of Assad.
Read More at MSNBC.com
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Random Thoughts
Does anyone ever notice that when gas prices are going up, the government DOES NOT include them in its consumer price index? But when gas prices are going down, it does? Can anyone really paint an realistic picture of inflation in this country, because obviously the government can't.
Secretary of State Hillery Clinton complains to the Russians because Moscow is still sending attack helicopters to Syria. Meantime the slaughter goes on in Syria without anything stronger than protests from the west. Does it bother anyone that Syria is aligned with Iran, Russia and China - and maybe that's why we don't care that women and children are being murdered there?
Israel is staying quiet about its plans against Iran. That worries me more than anything, because when they're talking they are not acting. When the Israelis stop talking, they are probably about to act. I still think they will strike with US help before the US elections in November - before the election Obama will have no choice but to aid the Israeli strike. After he's re-elected he can tell the Israelis to F@#$ off.
Why is it that every time I go on a diet, someone brings in free Pizza to the newsroom?
Secretary of State Hillery Clinton complains to the Russians because Moscow is still sending attack helicopters to Syria. Meantime the slaughter goes on in Syria without anything stronger than protests from the west. Does it bother anyone that Syria is aligned with Iran, Russia and China - and maybe that's why we don't care that women and children are being murdered there?
Israel is staying quiet about its plans against Iran. That worries me more than anything, because when they're talking they are not acting. When the Israelis stop talking, they are probably about to act. I still think they will strike with US help before the US elections in November - before the election Obama will have no choice but to aid the Israeli strike. After he's re-elected he can tell the Israelis to F@#$ off.
Why is it that every time I go on a diet, someone brings in free Pizza to the newsroom?
Friday, May 18, 2012
Iran's Last Chance to Make a Deal
The head of the U.N. nuclear watchdog agency said Friday he will travel to Iran over the weekend on a previously unscheduled visit to try to resolve an impasse over access to Iranian nuclear documents and scientists.
The visit to Tehran by Yukiya Amano, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency is set for Sunday, three days before the start of a closely watched round of nuclear talks between Iran and six world powers,i including the United States.
There's only one way to look at this. The UN and IAEA are desperately trying to get something from Iran so that Israel will not launch at attack against Iranian nuclear facilities. It's also clear that Israel is in the final stages of preparation for such an assault, and will likely do so before the U.S. Presidential election. Why? Because President Obama will have no choice but to come to the aid of the Israelis to win re-election. He needs the Jewish votes, especially in Florida.
In addition, the United States armed forces are now fully prepared to either support Israel in its assault, or to retaliate against Iran, if the Islamic Republic should lash out at U.S. forces in the Gulf in response to an Israeli attack. There is now at least a squadron of F-22 Raptors based at the U.A.E. and the United States Navy has three Aircraft Carrier groups either in the Persian Gulf or lurking in the Arabian Sea nearby.
I know what you are thinking - the U.S. can not handle another war because of all the repeated deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan over the last ten years or so. However, any assault on Iran will not involve U.S. Army or Marine Forces. This will be strictly an Air Force and Naval Aviation/Surface fleet operation. The ground troops can sit this one out, thank goodness. The Navy needs practice.
However, if the IAEA can show any progress toward a nuclear settlement with Iran next week it may delay an attack. If not, the war will begin sometime by late June or August - says this author. And it could be the trigger that starts the next world war.
The visit to Tehran by Yukiya Amano, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency is set for Sunday, three days before the start of a closely watched round of nuclear talks between Iran and six world powers,i including the United States.
There's only one way to look at this. The UN and IAEA are desperately trying to get something from Iran so that Israel will not launch at attack against Iranian nuclear facilities. It's also clear that Israel is in the final stages of preparation for such an assault, and will likely do so before the U.S. Presidential election. Why? Because President Obama will have no choice but to come to the aid of the Israelis to win re-election. He needs the Jewish votes, especially in Florida.
In addition, the United States armed forces are now fully prepared to either support Israel in its assault, or to retaliate against Iran, if the Islamic Republic should lash out at U.S. forces in the Gulf in response to an Israeli attack. There is now at least a squadron of F-22 Raptors based at the U.A.E. and the United States Navy has three Aircraft Carrier groups either in the Persian Gulf or lurking in the Arabian Sea nearby.
I know what you are thinking - the U.S. can not handle another war because of all the repeated deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan over the last ten years or so. However, any assault on Iran will not involve U.S. Army or Marine Forces. This will be strictly an Air Force and Naval Aviation/Surface fleet operation. The ground troops can sit this one out, thank goodness. The Navy needs practice.
However, if the IAEA can show any progress toward a nuclear settlement with Iran next week it may delay an attack. If not, the war will begin sometime by late June or August - says this author. And it could be the trigger that starts the next world war.
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
The Clock is Ticking
Another indication of what may be to come - The U.S. Air Force moves F-22 Raptors to UAE. What better air-superiority fighter to cover the Israeli attack on Iran nuclear sites...or to protect valuable U.S. Naval assets in the Persian Gulf and Arabian Sea?
From Yahoo news:
The US officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, would not say how many F-22s would be sent to the Al-Dhafra air base in the United Arab Emirates. Military officers tend to avoid publicly discussing details of operations at the US air base.
An Air Force spokeswoman confirmed that a number of F-22 Raptors, the most advanced fighter in the US fleet, would be deployed to the region without mentioning the base or Iran.
"The United States Air Force has deployed F-22s to Southwest Asia. Such deployments strengthen military-to-military relationships, promote sovereign and regional security, improve combined tactical air operations, and enhance interoperability of forces, equipment and procedures," said Major Mary Danner-Jones.
Read More - Click Here
The United States
has deployed sophisticated F-22 fighter jets to the United Arab Emirates
amid deepening tensions between Iran and its pro-US neighbors,
officials said Monday.
The US officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, would not say how many F-22s would be sent to the Al-Dhafra air base in the United Arab Emirates. Military officers tend to avoid publicly discussing details of operations at the US air base.
An Air Force spokeswoman confirmed that a number of F-22 Raptors, the most advanced fighter in the US fleet, would be deployed to the region without mentioning the base or Iran.
"The United States Air Force has deployed F-22s to Southwest Asia. Such deployments strengthen military-to-military relationships, promote sovereign and regional security, improve combined tactical air operations, and enhance interoperability of forces, equipment and procedures," said Major Mary Danner-Jones.
Read More - Click Here
Monday, April 16, 2012
Amazing Report on IDF Attack Plans
What is amazing is that the attack details weren't just leaked to a TV news reporter, but that Israeli censors actually allowed it to air.
There are different theories about this. It could be a huge misdirection campaign to fool the Iranians. It could be a warning to Iran that unless you make a deal, this is what will happen to you. It could also be for local consumption because apparently some Israelis don't think their defense forces can handle a major raid on Iran.
Whatever the reason, the information is interesting, and shows how far Israel is ready to go should a diplomatic solution fail.
Thursday, April 5, 2012
How Long Do We Wait?
The situation is Syria is getting worse by the day - deteriorating rapidly. Is the U.S. afraid to take action because it doesn't want to upset Syria's only true ally, Iran?
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