by Jim C. | January 28th, 2012 | Opinion/Commentary
It is critical that all of us become aware and informed about the events taking place around the world that could adversely affect every American. This is Part III in my Opinion/Commentary on the “Winds of War”. It is not my intention to inflame the Winds of War, however it is my intention to provide a commentary on the issues affecting our international relationships with other countries that could lead to a Global Conflict that could have potentially devastating adverse effects on America and its citizens for many years to come. Yesterday LIGNET.com reported the following update on Iran’s aspirations toward developing a Nuclear weapon.
Iran: Full Speed Ahead Toward Nuclear Weapons
Despite Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s new offer to negotiate with the international community, LIGNET believes that Iran has in truth no intention of halting its nuclear weapons program and we see compelling evidence that its timetable to complete a nuclear weapon is actually getting shorter.
Click Here to Read Full Analysis.
An Opposing View:
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Israel Is Not About to Attack Iran and Neither is the United States: Get Used To It
By Barry Rubin
The radio superhero, The Shadow, had the power to “cloud men’s minds.” But nothing clouds men’s minds like anything that has to do with Jews or Israel. This year’s variation on that theme is the idea that Israel is about to attack Iran. Such a claim repeatedly appears in the media. Some have criticized Israel for attacking Iran and turning the Middle East into a cauldron of turmoil (not as if the region needs any help in that department) despite the fact that it hasn’t happened.
On the surface, of course, there is apparent evidence for such a thesis. Israel has talked about attacking Iran and one can make a case for such an operation. Yet any serious consideration of this scenario—based on actual research and real analysis rather than what the uninformed assemble in their own heads or Israeli leaders sending a message to create a situation where an attack isn’t necessary—is this: It isn’t going to happen.
Indeed, the main leak from the Israeli government, by an ex-intelligence official who hates Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has been that the Israeli government already decided not to attack Iran. He says that he worries this might change in the future but there’s no hint that this has happened or will happen. Defense Minister Ehud Barak has publicly denied plans for an imminent attack as have other senior government official.
Barry Rubin is director of the GLORIA Center, at IDC, and editor of MERIA Journal. His new book, Israel: An Introduction, has just been published by Yale University Press.
Monday, April 18, 2011
Guess What: Sanctions on Iran Achieve (Almost) Nothing
This article was published in the Jerusalem Post. However, I own all rights so please link and give credit to this site if reprinting or forwarding.
By Barry Rubin
It’s becoming an open secret–though not open enough–that the U.S.-led, UN-approved sanctions on Iran are having no serious strategic effect and only a limited economic effect on the country.
The reasons are clear:
1. To get the sanctions through the UN, the U.S. government basically told Russia, China, and Turkey that it would ignore their violations.
2. Iran has shifted its trade patterns eastward and southward generally, to Asia and the Middle East, including a very successful smuggling effort through the Gulf Arab states.
3. The price of oil has zoomed upward, in no small part due to mistaken U.S. foreign and energy policies, putting more money into the pocket of the Iranian regime.
Israel welcomes EU sanctions on Iran
The Associated Press
Friday, Jan. 27, 2012 | 3:22 a.m.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is welcoming a decision by the European Union to impose an oil embargo on Iran as part of wider sanctions over Iran’s nuclear program. Netanyahu called the embargo “a step in the right direction.” He was speaking at a Monday meeting of his Likud Party.
Israel and the West accuse Iran of developing nuclear weapons. Iran denies that. Israel views Iran as an existential threat because of its nuclear and missile programs, references to Israel’s destruction by the Iranian president and Tehran’s support of militants in Gaza and Lebanon.
Netanyahu has said he hopes stepped-up international sanctions will persuade Iran to give up its nuclear program. Israel has not ruled out the possibility of attacking Iran.
Navy wants commando ‘mothership’ in Middle East
The Pentagon is rushing to send a large floating base for commando teams to the Middle East as tensions rise with Iran, al-Qaeda in Yemen and Somali pirates, among other threats.
In response to requests from U.S. Central Command, which oversees military operations in the Middle East, the Navy is converting an aging warship it had planned to decommission into a makeshift staging base for the commandos. Unofficially dubbed a “mothership,” the floating base could accommodate smaller high-speed boats and helicopters commonly used by Navy SEALs, procurement documents show.
Iranian lawmakers finalize bill to ban oil sales to EU; vote expected on Sunday
By Associated Press, Updated: Saturday, January 28, 1:36 PM
TEHRAN, Iran — Iranian lawmakers have finalized a draft bill requiring the government to immediately halt crude oil sales to Europe in response to the bloc’s decision to ban the purchase of Iranian oil, a member of parliament said Saturday.
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Sanctions will never solve the problem, but they seem to have some effect. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/01/us-iraq-sanctions-idUSTRE81018820120201