U.S. likely to join, if Israle strikes Iran
The United States would find it difficult not to join an Israeli air strike in the event that Jerusalem decides to strike Iran’s nuclear facilities, a former top-ranking U.S. Air Force officer told participants at a conference this weekend organized by a Washington think tank.
Charles F. Wald, former deputy commander of United States European Command, said a military strike on Iran could set back the Islamic Republic’s alleged nuclear weapons program by several years, but cautioned, “I don’t think Israel can do it alone.”
The former commander’s remarks were made at an annual gathering of financial backers of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, who were joined by diplomats, journalists and analysts.
US scientist charged with attempted spying for Israel
WASHINGTON: The US authorities on Monday arrested a leading American scientist who had worked for the Pentagon and NASA and charged him with attempted spying for Israel.
Stewart Nozette, 52, was apprehended after a sting operation involving an undercover FBI agent, the Department of Justice said, adding that there was no wrongdoing by Israel.
He is charged with “attempted espionage for knowingly and wilfully attempting to communicate, deliver, and transmit classified information relating to the national defence of the United States to an individual that Nozette believed to be an Israeli intelligence officer.”
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Israel plans to destroy 150 Palestinian homes
Israel has announced plans to demolish 150 Palestinian homes in the mostly Arab east Jerusalem Al-Quds in a move that would displace more than 1,000 Palestinians.
Palestinian homes that are threatened with imminent demolition are located in the neighborhoods of Beit Haninah, Shu’fat, Ashqariyeh, Nusiebeh Complex, Silwan, Thuri, Jabal al-Mukaber, Sur Baher, Mount of Olives, al-Zu’ayem, Isawieh and Ras Khamis.
The Jerusalem Center for Social and Economic Rights (JCSER) stated that the new list of Palestinian homes slated for demolition does not include the 125 homes and apartments against which Israel had previously issued demolition orders.
Obama´s hidden plans for Sudan
Sudan policy review
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton unveiled the new Sudan policy of the Obama administration today expressing a goal of preventing Sudan from becoming a haven for international “terror” groups. Anonymous officials have said that they are eager to see steps taken to eliminate support for Palestinian militant groups, including Hamas. U.S. Sudan special envoy, Retired General Scott Gration, has also said the administration’s new approach was intended to prevent Sudan from serving as a terrorist haven. Barak Obama described Sudan as a “global security challenge” in his July speech in Ghana.
“We have a menu of incentives and disincentives,” Clinton said, refusing to specify the potential punitive measures, though in January the Secretary of State said the Obama administration was considering the creation of no-fly zones and increased economic and trade sanctions.
A salute to Turkey, a salute to Erdogan
The recent Turkish decision to exclude Israel from an aerial military exercise over Turkish territory is another indication that Turkey will not allow itself to be blackmailed by criminal international Zionism.
Following the decision, Zionist officials and media sought to mitigate its impact on the increasingly troubled relations with Turkey by claiming that it had little to do with the genocidal blitz which the Israeli army carried out in winter against the Gaza Strip.
However, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Prime Minister of Turkey, and other Turkish officials have made it amply clear that the cancellation of the military drill is consistent with the feelings of the vast bulk of the Turkish masses vis-à-vis the Nazi-like atrocities in the Gaza Strip.
This week, Erdogan once again invoked the mass killings by the Israeli army of hundreds of Palestinian children, using white phosphorus shells and other weapons of death.
The Turkish premier argued convincingly that Turkey has an influential public opinion and that it was the government’s duty to take it into consideration.
His remarks have effectively silenced Zionist pretensions and attempts at self-assurance that Turkey would budge to Zionist pressure.
To be sure, Israel is unlikely to succumb to the new reality of Turkish-Israeli relations, namely that the quasi-Islamic leadership of Turkish republic will not just play deaf and dumb and look the other way if the Zionist regime keeps up its genocidal crimes against the helpless and innocent civilians in occupied Palestine.
Israeli soldiers put fire on Palestinian cars
Bethlehem – Ma’an – A string of vandalism targeting Palestinian cars by Israeli soldiers was reportedly documented by the Israeli human rights group B’Tselem.
One set of testimony recorded by the group said Israeli forces stopped a car of Palestinian workers near Hebron, evicted the men from the vehicle, told them to walk home and proceeded to break the windshield of the car and set fire to it.
In total, B’Tselem said, eight Palestinian-owned vehicles were likely torched by Israeli military personnel. A report from the group outlined details on the allegedly targeted vandalism and how they came across it.
Russian NATO warns of ‘full-blown’ war
A Russian-led security organization, seen as a counterforce for NATO, has proposed the boosting of the body’s armed capabilities, voicing concerns about the situation in Afghanistan.
Nikolay Bordyuzha, the Secretary-General of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), which is composed of Russia and six other ex-Soviet states, said, “We’ve long been talking about the necessity to create a large group in the Central Asia region.”
“We have the collective rapid response forces (KSOR), and the collective rapid deployment forces (KSBR) there intended for containing local armed conflicts. But what if we have a full-blown war?”
Italy to sue The Times over ‘Taliban ties’
Italy has blasted a new report in UK’s daily newspaper The Times in which Italian government has been accused of Taliban links in order to escape attacks.
Italian Defense Minister Ignazio La Russa told reporters on Thursday that his government intends to prosecute “The Times” for the publication of alleged ties between Italian intelligence service and Taliban warlords in areas formerly under Italian control in Afghanistan.
According to The Times’ report, American secret service intercepted confidential communications in which the Italian agents have been caught paying off tens of thousands of Dollars to Taliban militant leaders in an effort to curb insurgence in the restive areas.
“The report we paid the Taliban not to be attacked is first of all offensive for the dead we have suffered in Afghanistan, and I can confirm that not only the Defense Ministry but not any other governmental body has ever worked in the way that the Times has described,” La Russa said, slamming the British newspaper over the bribery allegations.
Just Say No to McChrystal
President Barack Obama’s war council is meeting to consider Gen. Stanley McChrystal’s proposal to increase troop levels in Afghanistan by 10,000 to 40,000 troops. Nobody seems to be pondering why we have troops in Afghanistan at all.
President Obama has reportedly taken the option of withdrawing all our troops from Afghanistan off the table. Republican John McCain, who the Pentagon wishes had won the 2008 election, is shouting about the perils of taking “half measures” and wants Obama to give McChrystal everything he asks for. Blue Dog Democrat Ike Skelton has cautioned Obama against taking a “half-ass it and hope” approach.
Thursday: 6 Iraqis Killed, 14 Wounded
At least six Iraqis were killed and 14 more were wounded in the latest attacks, while demonstrations against recent arrests took place in Mosul. Also, a large number of Saddam exiles returned home.
More than 150 people protested recent detentions in Mosul. About 350 people were arrested during recent operations, but many of those detained not only have clean records, they are some of the town’s leading citizens.
A blast outside a shop in Yusufiya killed three people and wounded 10 others.