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IRAN ATTACK IMMINENT?
MER -
Mid-East Realities - MiddleEast.Org - Washington - 23 October:
Even if the attack on Iran does not come before the fast-approaching
American election -- less and less likely of course as the remaining
days tick by -- both the Republicans and the Democrats have made it
clear that their doctrine and policy is to do so soon, one way or
another, unless the Iranians cave in and 'comply' to American-Israeli
demands.
It should be further remembered that shortly before the U.S. invasion
of Iraq no less a figure than Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon
publicly said that right after Iraq the U.S. must deal with Iran.
Top political and military officials in Iran have already repeatedly
issued their public warnings that if attacked they will respond
massively and unpredictably. Very high-profile Iranian missiles tests
have taken place recently. For the first time the Israelis have
distributed anti-radiation pills to those living in the area of the
Dimona Nuclear Reactor in Israel's southern Negev desert. And in
Tehran the Defense Minister has even spoken of pre-emptively attacking
American forces in the region -- a statement that clearly would not
have been made in public if the situation were not thought to be
extremely precarious.
Whether it is a Bush or Kerry initialing the final decision in the
White House -- and whether this is done within days, weeks, or months
-- both of the major American parties, as well as the Israelis, have
made it quite clear they intend to either force the Iranians into
submission or to use military force to remove potential nuclear
'weapons of mass destruction' from Iran.
Though few in the world may fully realize it, international society is
now at a historic moment and the future, even a potential World War
III, is in the balance. Hence the leaks coming from Washington from
those trying to warn, and to prevent, what the top neocons and Israeli
operatives are pushing hard to bring about. Hence last month's
extremely unusual 'Israeli Spy Scandal' which had officials in the FBI
charging people working on the Iranian attack in coordination with the
Israeli-Jewish lobby with espionage for Israel. Hence, as this
article by a former National Security Council operative suggests:
"Intelligence circles report that both intelligence agencies (CIA and
Pentagon) are in open revolt against the Bush White House." It appears
to have been quickly written and then quickly internet published using
LebanonWire in the Middle East.
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A Bush pre-election
strike on Iran 'imminent'
White House insider report
"October Surprise" imminent
By Wayne Madsen*
20 October - Washington: According to White House and Washington Beltway insiders,
the Bush administration, worried that it could lose the presidential election to Senator
John F. Kerry, has initiated plans to launch a military strike on Iran's top Islamic
leadership, its nuclear reactor at Bushehr on the Persian Gulf, and key nuclear targets
throughout the country, including the main underground research site at Natanz in central
Iran and another in Isfahan. Targets of the planned U.S. attack reportedly include mosques
in Tehran, Qom, and Isfahan known by the U.S. to headquarter Iran's top mullahs.
The Iran attack plan was reportedly drawn up after internal
polling indicated that if the Bush administration launched a so-called anti-terrorist
attack on Iran some two weeks before the election, Bush would be assured of a landslide
win against Kerry. Reports of a pre-emptive strike on Iran come amid concerns by a number
of political observers that the Bush administration would concoct an "October
Surprise" to influence the outcome of the presidential election.
According to White House sources, the USS John F. Kennedy
was deployed to the Arabian Sea to coordinate the attack on Iran. Defense Secretary Donald
Rumsfeld discussed the Kennedy's role in the planned attack on Iran when he visited the
ship in the Arabian Sea on October 9. Rumsfeld and defense ministers of U.S. coalition
partners, including those of Albania, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bulgaria, Czech Republic,
Denmark, Estonia, Georgia, Hungary, Iraq, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Mongolia, Poland,
Qatar, Romania, and Ukraine briefly discussed a very "top level" view of
potential dual-track military operations in Iran and Iraq in a special "war
room" set up on board the aircraft carrier. America's primary ally in Iraq, the
United Kingdom, did not attend the planning session because it reportedly disagrees with a
military strike on Iran. London also suspects the U.S. wants to move British troops from
Basra in southern Iraq to the Baghdad area to help put down an expected surge in Sh'ia
violence in Sadr City and other Sh'ia areas in central Iraq when the U.S. attacks Iran as
well as clear the way for a U.S. military strike across the Iraqi-Iranian border aimed at
securing the huge Iranian oil installations in Abadan. U.S. allies South Korea, Australia,
Kuwait, Jordan, Italy, Netherlands, and Japan were also left out of the USS John F.
Kennedy planning discussions because of their reported opposition to any strike on Iran.
In addition, Israel has been supplied by the United States
with 500 "bunker buster" bombs. According to White House sources, the Israeli
Air Force will attack Iran's nuclear facility at Bushehr with the U.S. bunker busters.The
joint U.S.-Israeli pre-emptive military move against Iran reportedly was crafted by the
same neo-conservative grouping in the Pentagon and Vice President Dick Cheney's office
that engineered the invasion of Iraq.
Morale aboard the USS John F. Kennedy is at an all-time
low, something that must be attributable to the knowledge that the ship will be involved
in an extension of U.S. military actions in the Persian Gulf region. The Commanding
Officer of an F-14 Tomcat squadron was relieved of command for a reported shore leave
"indiscretion" in Dubai and two months ago the Kennedy's commanding officer was
relieved for cause.
The White House leak about the planned attack on Iran was
hastened by concerns that Russian technicians present at Bushehr could be killed in an
attack, thus resulting in a wider nuclear confrontation between Washington and Moscow.
International Atomic Energy Agency representatives are also present at the Bushehr
facility. In addition, an immediate Iranian Shahab ballistic missile attack against Israel
would also further destabilize the Middle East. The White House leaks about the
pre-emptive strike may have been prompted by warnings from the CIA and the Defense
Intelligence Agency that an attack on Iran will escalate out of control. Intelligence
circles report that both intelligence agencies are in open revolt against the Bush White
House.
White House sources also claimed they are
"terrified" that Bush wants to start a dangerous war with Iran prior to the
election and fear that such a move will trigger dire consequences for the entire world.
* Wayne Madsen is a Washington, DC-based
investigative journalist and columnist. He served in the National Security Council (NSA)
during the Reagan Administration and wrote the introduction to Forbidden Truth. He is the
co-author, with john Stanton of "America's Nightmare: The Presidency of George Bush
II." His forthcoming book is titled: "jaded Tasks: Big Oil, Black Ops, and Brass
Plates."
http://www.lebanonwire.com/0410/04102002LW.asp
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Iran Rejects EU Nuclear Proposal, Wants More Talks
By Parisa Hafezi
TEHRAN (Reuters Sun Oct 24, 8:03 AM ET) -
Iran Sunday rejected a European Union
proposal that it scrap uranium enrichment in return for nuclear
technology, increasing the likelihood it will be reported to
the U.N. Security Council for possible sanctions.
But Tehran said it was still interested in reaching a deal
to ease international concerns about its nuclear program after
further negotiations with the EU.
"The EU proposal is unbalanced ... an indefinite uranium
(enrichment) suspension is unacceptable for Iran," Foreign
Ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi told a news conference.
Diplomats had said if Iran rejected the proposal drafted by
Britain, Germany and France, most EU countries would back a
U.S. demand that Tehran be reported to the Security Council
when the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) meets on
Nov. 25.
Hossein Mousavian, one of Iran's top negotiators on the
nuclear issue, acknowledged that was a possibility. "Iran has
fully prepared itself for the possible consequences," he told
Reuters.
The EU trio want Iran to halt uranium enrichment since it
can be used to make nuclear bomb material. Iran says it wants
to make the fuel for nuclear power stations and should be
allowed to enrich uranium under close U.N. supervision.
Asefi said Iran expected the EU trio to sweeten its offer.
A second round of talks is due to take place in Vienna this
week.
"We view the European offer as a preliminary proposal, not
a final one," he said. "Negotiations will continue Wednesday.
We will have our own suggestions and we will study the
Europeans' proposal and will give the Europeans the results."
RISKY TACTICS
Diplomats said Iran's negotiating tactics may be an attempt
to buy more time or squeeze more concessions from the
Europeans.
"But they're in grave danger of miscalculating how resolved
we are this time," said a European diplomat.
Diplomats say Washington has low expectations and limited
patience regarding the EU-Iran talks. It thinks Iran is hiding
a nuclear arms drive and must be reported to the Security
Council.
Even before Asefi's comments, diplomats and analysts had
expressed doubts that Iran would accept the EU trio's proposal.
"They're quite confident right now," said political analyst
Mahmoud Alinejad. "They think that even if they are referred to
the Security Council it will not be that serious in that there
won't be an embargo on Iran's oil or anything really damaging."
Iran feels it can rely on permanent Security Council
members Russia and China to veto any tough proposals against
Tehran.
One European diplomat familiar with the EU trio's proposal
said it contained little to attract Iran.
In return for giving up uranium enrichment the Europeans
would guarantee a supply of reactor fuel and help Iran build a
light-water power reactor. The Europeans also pledged to resume
talks on a trade deal, cooperate on terrorism and drug
trafficking and explore joint investment opportunities.
"The carrots are too vague and the Iranians are mistrustful
of the guarantees. They won't be very interested but it may be
enough to start a process of negotiations," the diplomat said.
Mousavian expressed confidence a deal would be reached
before the next IAEA meeting, averting referral to the Security
Council.
"The important thing is that Iran and Europe reach a
general agreement before the November meeting," he told state
television. "They can then discuss the details."
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October 2004
Iran Next - Part 1
(October 31, 2004)
In a few days the American election itself will be history. The likelihood is the Bush/Cheney/neocon regime will remain in power; hard as that still is for so many to imagine and understand. Should the Democrats win the White House Middle East policies will be largely in the hands of the neoliberals and the super money-men like Haim Saban who when it comes to the Middle East and Israel have far more in common with the neocons than has yet been realized by many who will vote for them. Whatever happens on Tuesday next the build-up to attacking and if at all possible regime changing Iran is well underway and the showdown increasingly imminent.
Osama, Bush, Kerry - Past, Present, Future
(October 30, 2004)
Few Middle East realities have been heard during this long grueling American election campaign. Most of the rhetoric has been extraordinarily self-righteous and self-serving, disingenuous and dishonest. Sad and tragic as it is to have to say, for many in the Middle East and around the world beyond American shores, tactics aside, the words of Osama Bin Laden ring more true to their experience and perspective regarding U.S. foreign policy than those of either George Bush or John Kerry.
Fahrenheit 9/11 - Watch It On Your Computer This Weekend
(October 30, 2004)
Who would have imagined on 9/11 more than three years ago now that the top front-page story in the Washington Post Saturday before the 2004 election would be a picture of Osama Bin Laden addressing the American people! Reality keeps trumping fiction time after time in our era!
Escalating War Against the World after November 2nd?
(October 29, 2004)
Whether the Americans are lead by Bush and the neocons, or by Kerry and the neoliberals, the reality is that both of the great American political parties are today dominated by their super-hawkish Israeli-connected elements and that both are heavily mortgaged to major, however competing, segments of the Israeli-Jewish lobby in Washington.
ARAFAT - Pathetic Symbolism for the 'Grand Old Man' of the Palestinians
(October 29, 2004)
There is often such pathetic symbolism surrounding Yasser Arafat even as many of his people cling to his legacy as the 'symbol of Palestinian nationalism' -- itself nearly as tattered and frail as the Grand Old Man has himself become.
Bush Uncensored; Cheney Unauthorized
(October 28, 2004)
MAKE SURE TO WATCH THESE TWO VIDEOS
ABOUT GEORGE BUSH and DICK CHENEY
Gaza Scam + Dem Party Emails American Jews
(October 27, 2004)
The price for the past political trickery has already been very high. The poison of the Israeli-Arab conflict has spread continually for decades now and played a substantial role in bringing about today's 'Clash of Civilizations' whose end is yet in sight. The eventual future price for what is happening these days threatens to be higher yet, potentially catastrophic.
IRAN Attack Imminent?
(October 24, 2004)
Though few in the world may fully realize it, international society is now at a historic moment and the future, even a potential World War III, is in the balance. Hence the leaks coming from Washington from those trying to warn, and to prevent, what the top neocons and Israeli operatives are pushing hard to bring about. Hence last month's extremely unusual 'Israeli Spy Scandal' which had officials in the FBI charging people working on the Iranian attack in coordination with the Israeli-Jewish lobby with espionage for Israel. Hence, as this article by a former National Security Council operative suggests: "Intelligence circles report that both intelligence agencies (CIA and Pentagon) are in open revolt against the Bush White House." It appears to have been quickly written and then quickly internet published using LebanonWire in the Middle East.
Cheney Uncovered - An Unauthorized Documentary by the CBC
(October 23, 2004)
Reporter Jean Heller presented Soviet satellite photos which did not show Iraqi troops amassed on the Saudi border to the Pentagon.
"It's what it (the photos) didn't show that's more important. What you expected to see were tanks on the border. There was none that we could see.
I said, look, if you can prove to me that our story isn't true, we won't run it. And they just ignored it.
They have never shown those (U.S. satellite images) photos. Not then and not since."
New CIA 'Shocking' Cover-Up
(October 22, 2004)
Completed in June, mandated by Congress nearly
two years ago, the CIA Report that names names
is being suppressed until after the election.
"What all the other reports on 9/11 did not do is point the finger at individuals, and give the how and what of their responsibility. This report does that," said the intelligence official. "The report found very senior-level officials responsible."
Talk about American Imperialism and Chutzpah!
(October 22, 2004)
The reaction in many quarters must be 'Oh My God'. Bill, Hillary, and Tenet all seek higher office! Talk about American Imperialism and Chutzpah!
The WARLORDS of AMERICA
(October 21, 2004)
Regardless of what happens on 2 November in the U.S. election, one group or another of "the Warlords of America" will be in power in Washington. And the years now immediately ahead, regardless if the President is named Kerry or Bush, are quickly shaping up as likely to be the most dangerous in modern history.
America on the Edge
(October 20, 2004)
The amazing thing about this American election is that in view of what has happened in the U.S. and in the world the Democrats should be running away with it -- and yet they are struggling everywhere and likely to go down to defeat.
Israel on Road to being Pariah State
(October 15, 2004)
Indeed Israeli policies and attitudes have for some time now seriously poisoned political relations throughout the Middle East, substantially helped bring about the era of the 'Clash of Civilizations', and through the powerful Israeli/Jewish lobby in Washington pushed the United States into the invasion of Iraq and other militarist isolated policies whose dangerous and destructive ramifications will be felt for many years to come
The Next Generation of Palestinians
(October 13, 2004)
If what has happened in Gaza in recent years would have happened in the USA (adjusted for population size) more than 100,000 Americans would have been killed and more than a quarter million homes destroyed by a foreign occupying army using battle tanks and attack helicopters against small resistance groups in cities and towns.
AMERICAN SECRET GULAG EXPANDING
(October 14, 2004)
THE CIA has greatly expanded its activities throughout the Middle East including in Jordan and Egypt as well as Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and other countries throughout the region. Of course the CIA and the Mossad are working more closely together than ever to control the region and enforce what is now essentially the militarily imposed 'new world order' first announced during the current President father's days in the White House. Before President Bush I became President he was in fact the Director of the CIA, whose main headquarters is now named after him.
AOL Censors MER
(October 20, 2004)
AOL -- one of the largest internet service providers -- is blocking and censoring MER. Persons who subscribe to MER using an AOL email address can not receive MER -- it is being secretly censored from their mailboxes by AOL without notice of any kind. It is believed persons working for AOL may be censoring MER in coordination with Jewish Zionist groups. It may be that AOL has a special relationship with Jewish.com and other Israeli-connected groups in some way. It is all being done in secret with no notice of any kind to either AOL users or MER.
A few of the messages we have received from AOL subscribers to MER follow:
Major Iraq Attacks on Hold Until After U.S. Vote
(October 11, 2004)
The Pentagon chief Donald Rumsfeld made an unannounced visit to Iraq in recent days. And soon after the American election the superpower military will be much more fully unleashed throughout the country preparing to push the U.S.-appointed strong-man Iyad Allawai forward in the carefully staged 'election' that will proceed if 'conditions are right'. In other words, just as Hamid Karzai was U.S. -installed and then essentially U.S.-elected in Afghanistan, the same template is now planned for Iraq.
U.S. Forces IMF into secret Iraqi debt 'forgiveness' scheme
(October 11, 2004)
But maybe most of all in the longer run, and unspoken now for all of these reasons by the powers that be, once Iraq's prior debt to other countries is 'off the books', the new U.S.-installed and CIA-controlled government in Baghdad is free to sign agreements with the Americans -- secret or otherwise -- that will essentially mortgage Iraq's future oil revenues to the U.S.A. and those it approves.
Chomsky on American Force and Pre-emption
(October 10, 2004)
"Bush planners know as well as others that the
resort to force increases the threat of terror,
and that their militaristic and aggressive posture
and actions provoke reactions that increase
the risk of catastrophe."
IRAN - Targeted by U.S. and Israel
(October 9, 2004)
You would think after the Iraq debacle that the ability of the U.S. to blackball, sanction, and then attack, occupy and regime-change another country would be considerable reduced. Not so however as this article in Z Magazine helps explain with regard to Iran. Indeed, soon after the American election the situation will quickly escalate.
The Debates - Fixed and Controlled
(October 8, 2004)
The moderators -- both from the Public Broadcasting System (PBS) -- could have, and should have, asked hard, probing, unexpected questions like this:
Israeli AIPAC Spy Scandal - Update
(October 7, 2004)
It was just a month ago that the latest Washington spy scandal involving the very heart of the Israeli-Jewish Lobby had everyone buzzing. Then it faded from view as the corporate media moved on, as CBS News which originally broke the story found itself under assault, and as the election campaign and debates took center stage. Interesting, not one question from the PBS moderators about Israeli spying, nor even about the U.S. veto of the Security Council resolution condemning Israel, nor the International Court of Justice decision doing the same. Here's an update -- however inadequate -- from yesterday's L.A.Times. Though the real heart of the story should be AIPAC and the influence, tactics, and status of the Israeli-Jewish lobby; instead they focus on just the individual and not as they should on the large group of support persons and organizations. This should especially include, of course, the current cabal of largely Jewish neocons in top positions...including the one who hired Larry Franklin (Douglas Feith), and the ones who hired him (Paul Wolfowitz and Richard Perle).
AOL Blocks and Censors MER Articles
(October 6, 2004)
AOL is blocking and censoring MER articles because of pressures originating with Jewish and Israeli groups.
Emergency U.N. Security Council Meeting on Israel
(October 4, 2004)
The Springsteen 'Vote For Change' Concerts
(October 5, 2004)
"The press has let the country down. It's taken a very amoral stand, in that essential issues are often portrayed as simply one side says this and the other side says that. I think that Fox News and the Republican right have intimidated the press into an incredible self-consciousness
about appearing objective and backed them into a corner of sorts where they have ceded some of their responsibility and righteous power." - Bruce Springsteen
Israel's Peacenik - Uri Avneri: Realities
(October 5, 2004)
"Uri Avneri, along with many Israelis and Jews, rightly fears that at some point Israel will be the direct target of blame for it's major contribution to having brought about such terrorism in the world and pushing the U.S.
into invading Iraq. It is an understandable fear;
for it is to a significant degree true."
Iraq is a "disaster...that will haunt the U.S. for decades" - Wall Street Journal Reporter
(October 2, 2004)
Iraq is a "disaster" that has deteriorated "into a
raging barbaric guerilla war" that will haunt the
United States for decades.
The Passion of the Bush
(October 2, 2004)
As the modern-day American-Israeli led Christian-Jewish crusade to remake the Middle East in the name of 'democracy and freedom' proceeds, this new documentary is telling indeed. It was first shown at the Republican Convention in New York a few weeks ago; and now, as a kind of Bush-loving counter to Fahrenhite 9/11, the DVD is being rushed out in advance of the upcoming election.
U.S. and Israel Prepare for Iran +
(October 1, 2004)
Even as the two branches of the American political establishment semi-debated last night who would fight the new wars better than the other, even as U.S. and Israeli battle tanks and attack aircraft bombed and killed in Iraq and Palestine worse than ever, preparations to either force compliance or attack Iran, Syria, Hezbollah (Lebanon), Hamas (Palestine), and North Korea soon after the American election are fast proceeding at the Pentagon and the CIA.
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