Recent Mideast Tensions

[lynx]

Just some dots to keep an eye on...

Report: U.S., Israeli warships cross Suez Canal toward Red Sea
Egypt opposition angered at government for allowing the fleet of more than 12 ships to cross Egyptian manned waterway, Al-Quds Al-Arabi reports.
By Jack Khoury
6/19/10

More than twelve United States Naval warships and at least one Israeli ship crossed the Suez Canal towards the Red Sea on Friday, British Arabic Language newspaper Al-Quds Al-Arabi reported Saturday.

According to the report, thousands of Egyptian soldiers were deployed along the Suez Canal guarding the ships' passage, which included a U.S. aircraft carrier.

The Suez Canal is a strategic Egyptian waterway which connects between the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea.

According to eyewitnesses, the U.S. battleships were the largest to have crossed the Canal in many years, Al-Quds reported.

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/report-u-s-israeli-warships-cross-suez-canal-toward-red-sea-1.297068
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Iran to send blockade-busting ship to Gaza, Israeli commandos train for confrontation
Published June 22, 2010

JERUSALEM (AP) — Iran said Tuesday it would send a blockade-busting ship carrying aid and pro-Palestinian activists to Gaza, fueling concern in Israel, where commandos were training for another possible confrontation at sea.

Israel warned archenemy Iran to drop the plan. The Iranian announcement came days after Israel eased its three-year-old blockade of Gaza under international pressure following its deadly raid on a Gaza-bound flotilla last month.

"No one in their right mind can believe that a ship sent by the ayatollahs and their Revolutionary Guards has anything to do with humanitarian aid," said Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor. "I don't think there is one single country in this region and beyond that would let such an ayatollah ship come near its coasts."

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2010/06/22/report-iran-send-aid-ship-blockaded-gaza-strip/?test=latestnews
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Report: IAF planes spotted over Saudi Arabia
By JPOST.COM STAFF
06/23/2010 15:57

Israel Air Force aircraft have been spotted in recent days at a Saudi Arabian military base unloading military equipment in the city of Tabuk, in northwestern Saudi Arabia, according to a report from Iranian news agency FARS.

The base will reportedly be used as a forward operating base by the Israelis as part of an offensive on an Islamic country.

http://www.jpost.com/Headlines/Article.aspx?id=179274
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Defense Ministry: Israel launches 'Ofek 9' spy satellite, improving eye on Iran, other enemies
Published June 22, 2010

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel launched a spy satellite called "Ofek 9" late Tuesday, Israel's Defense Ministry and officials said, increasing Israel's capacity to keep an eye on enemies like Iran.

The Defense Ministry issued a statement saying the satellite was launched late Tuesday from the Palmachim air force base on Israel's coast south of Tel Aviv. An hour later, after the satellite completed its first circuit, the ministry said it had achieved its proper orbit, describing it as "a surveillance satellite with advanced technological capabilities."

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2010/06/22/defense-ministry-says-israel-launches-ofek-latest-series-spy-satellites/
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[slim2none]

 This is where the rubber meets the road for US - too much coincidence for me to ignore in that satellite launch.

from Ure's daily report, Friday June 25, link: http://www.independencejournal.com/today.htm
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No EMP Goes Unpunished?

A very (repeat: very) well-informed source who is in a position to know such things passed on some thoughts about an EMP attack on America would signal and the American response that's already 'in the bag':

"First, an EMP attack against our nation is without question viewed as the first stage of an impending nuclear attack, whether from a nuclear high altitude burst (HAB) or an massive non-nuke EMP detonation. Russia and China are aware of this U.S. strategic stance. Once an EMP attack happens, determining with certainty 'how' it happened takes too much precious time, time not afforded national leaders intending to reciprocate with any measure of effectiveness.

Therefore, after an EMP attack, no further warning (radar or satellite) is required for 'national command authorities' to give appropriate retaliatory execution orders (nuke, conventional or both). Then, might as well pull out the burgers and weenies, crack a cold one, sit back and enjoy the fireworks.

But here's the rub -- if the EMP attack is done via a covertly militarized space satellite, determining precisely 'who' did the dirty deed and how to retaliate becomes problematic.

So my educated guess (based upon years of regional and global war gaming, regional history and associated trends) is that Israel will almost certainly strike first, and strike convincingly using high yield Earth penetrating conventional 'bunker busters' AND low yield Earth penetrating nukes. Using both provides the cover of plausibly deniability for the nukes, wherein a large conventional blast simultaneously occurring with small yield nuke masks the immediate detection of the nuke's radiation release.

Recall that low yield Earth penetrating nukes vent only extremely small amounts of atmospheric radiation. Masked by huge conventional bunker busters, any radiation eventually detected could, as you postulated some months ago, be fingered on the Iranians (i.e., coming from the nuke reactor area targeted in the attack).

Nations deciding to pony up with Israel must be ready for any and all possible consequences of such an attack, namely all of the horrific consequences that war ultimately brings to the Jane and Joe Sixpacks of the world.

As always, enjoy the column!"

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