This speculation on an inevitable or imminent attack on Iran either by the U.S or Israel has been on and off, viewed as saber-rattling. Recent reports however heightens the nervousness that we may be drawing close to the strike hour. What we do not need is another war in the Middle East.
I’m no military expert or analyst; just an average citizen, a member of the struggling middle class. This is scary. Every talk of attacks drains my bank account.
From NYTimes/IHT: U.S. says exercise by Israel seemed directed at Iran
WASHINGTON: Israel carried out a major military exercise earlier this month that American officials say appeared to be a rehearsal for a potential bombing attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities.
Several American officials said the Israeli exercise appeared to be an effort to develop the military’s capacity to carry out long-range strikes and to demonstrate the seriousness with which Israel views Iran’s nuclear program.
More than 100 Israeli F-16 and F-15 fighters participated in the maneuvers, which were carried out over the eastern Mediterranean and over Greece during the first week of June, American officials said.[.]
The exercise also included Israeli helicopters that could be used to rescue downed pilots. The helicopters and refueling tankers flew more than 900 miles, which is about the same distance between Israel and Iran’s uranium enrichment plant at Natanz, American officials said.
Israeli officials declined to discuss the details of the exercise. A spokesman for the Israeli military would say only that the country’s air force “regularly trains for various missions in order to confront and meet the challenges posed by the threats facing Israel.”[.]
One Israeli goal, the Pentagon official said, was to practice flight tactics, aerial refueling and all other details of a possible strike against Iran’s nuclear installations and its long-range conventional missiles
A second, the official said, was to send a clear message to the United States and other countries that Israel was prepared to act militarily if diplomatic efforts to stop Iran from producing bomb-grade uranium continued to falter.
[.]Iran has shown signs that it is taking the Israeli warnings seriously, by beefing up its air defenses in recent weeks, including increasing air patrols. In one instance, Iran scrambled F-4 jets to double-check an Iraqi civilian flight from Baghdad to Tehran.
“They are clearly nervous about this and have their air defense on guard,” a Bush administration official said of the Iranians.[.]
Mike McConnell, the director of national intelligence, said in February that Iran was close to acquiring Russian-produced SA-20 surface-to-air missiles. American military officials said that the deployment of such systems would hamper Israel’s attack planning, putting pressure on Israel to act before the missiles are fielded[.]
It has been posited that Israel needs to show military strength – that they are serious. Olmert’s popularity is at low single digit – his own ministers calling for him to step aside. Olmert needs to strut his muscles.
Will the U.S. permit an Israeli overfly of Iraq’s airspace for an attack on Iran?
Smart Money people are betting on a “70 percent probability of an attack on Iran by October 2008 confirmed.” An October window with all the implications attached. Oil at $300 per barrel and gas at $15. How about the general elections? Martial law a distinct possibility.
Russian has issued a warning against any attack on Iran
Will the Russians sit on their hands? Not likely.
MOSCOW – Russia’s foreign minister on Friday warned against the use of force on Iran, saying there is no proof it is trying to build nuclear weapons
Sergey Lavrov said Iran should be engaged in dialogue and encouraged to cooperate with the U.N. nuclear monitoring agency.
Lavrov made the statement when asked to comment on an Israeli Cabinet member’s statement earlier this month that Israel could attack Iran if it does not halt its nuclear program.
“I hope the actual actions would be based on international law,” Lavrov said. “And international law clearly protects Iran’s and anyone else’s territorial integrity.”
Lavrov said Russia had asked both the United States and Israel to provide factual information to back their claims that Iran was working to build atomic weapons. “So far we have seen none, and the same conclusion was made by the International Atomic Energy Agency,” he said.
“It’s absolutely not right to speak matter-of-factly that Iran continues building nuclear weapons,” Lavrov added.
All this Iran attack talk helps to maintain high oil prices. The War-for-Oil profits powers that be are laughing at our bare feet – us having to choose filling our empty gas tanks or stomachs. Some of us can’t afford to get to work!
Bush, Cheney and Hal are eating cake, drinking champagne and JD.
Prepare for madness, tougher times and higher prices. Tune up the bikes.
