Sunday 18 March 2012

Israeli cabinet approves attack on Iran

-- From other stories today we see that, of course, the U.S. is totally supporting Israel. There is no sanity or reason left in world leadership which -- from the perspective of infinite growth and an archaic consciousness -- sees no other option. Oil prices are already unbearable for economic activity all over the world. As soon as the strike is launched they will go to levels that will produce near-immediate and almost unfathomable dislocations.
And when the strike occurs, the only thing we need be watchful for are the reactions of Russia, China and Iran. Because on those rest the future of all life on Mother Earth. I see no "actors" on the world stage with the ability to prevent a global holocaust. -- MCR

Brent At $126 As Israel Israeli Security Cabinet Votes 8 To 6 To Attack Iran

16 March, 2012


Looking at the tranquil sea that is the S&P one may be forgiven to ignore the rapid intraday surge in Brent which was up over $3 in a few hours, approaching $126 once again. But why? After all the FOMC minutes were oh so very slightly hawkish, and not to mention that the Fed's scribe Hilsenrath told everyone at best the Fed would proceed with sterilized QE which would leave risk prices untouched.

Maybe it has something to do with this.

According to Israel's NRG, in a just completed cabinet vote, for the first time Netanyahu has gotten a majority (8 over 6) supporting an Iran attack. NRG also notes that at this point Israel has decided to not wait until the US elections in November before proceeding with sending crude to the stratosphere.

 From NRG (google translated): "Israeli political sources believe that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a majority Cabinet support Israeli military action against Iran without American approval....He announced that he would not hesitate to perform the operation without the approval of President Obama mentioned the precedent of the decision to attack the Iraqi reactor, Prime Minister Menachem Begin, and with the comments heard yesterday some cabinet ministers say privately that "It sounds like a speech preparation for attack." Political - Security Cabinet 14 ministers. According to estimates, at this stage tend to support Netanyahu and Barak's approach eight ministers, and six against it (including the traditional opponents octet: Moshe Ya'alon, Dan Meridor, Benny Begin and Eli Yishai)." So... $4.00 gas is just around the corner. As is, probably, $5.00 gas. And $6.00 gas.


Just when you thought it was safe to come out from your air raid shelter after Bibi returned from his U.S. foray to stoke up war fever, Maariv raises the temperature to a boiling point.  Ben Caspit reports (Hebrew) that the cabinet now has, for the first time, a majority (eight votes for, six votes against) favoring the measure.  This means that theoretically Bibi can begin an attack at any time.  Of course, it could mean something different: it could mean the cabinet has approved a strike at any point in future with Bibi determining the timing.  So it doesn’t necessarily mean the F-16s will fly tonight or tomorrow.  But it could:

Cabinet Majority Supports Iran Attack

The prime minister yesterday delivered one of the most combative and explicit speeches in the history of the Iran affair.  Several cabinet ministers said in private conversations that it sounded like a “speech preparing for war.”

Political sources judge that the prime minister has a majority in the cabinet which favors a military strike against Iran, even without American approval.  Yesterday, Netanyahu said he wouldn’t hesitate to attack Iran even without the approval of Pres. Obama…A senior official said Bibi believed it would be best not to wait for the November presidential elections because he didn’t trust the president to deal with the problem after the election.

So it appears that the dies is cast. Our ETA for the earliest possible offensive? Not before CVN-65 Enterprise reaches CVN 70 and CVN 74, sometime over the next 3-5 days. Of course, this is not a prediction of war.

Just a logistical notice.



More confirmation of this story


Israeli Cabinet Has Majority To Approve Attack On Iran


15 March, 2012

Sources tell Centintel that for the first time ever the Israeli Cabinet has reached the votes needed to approve an attack on Iran, which they have now done. It is important to note that Centintel is not saying that Israel will attack Iran within days, but they could, more so the approval is an authorization of the attack and the timing is at the discretion of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The Prime Minister was called yesterday to address a special session of the Knesset which was held to debate the perceived failures of his government. Netanyahu’s speech was his most impassioned yet and he took aim at Iran as well as his political enemies. Reminiscing about Menachem Begin’s attack on Iraq and it’s Osirak reactor Netanyahu stated that Begin “never placed (Israel’s) fate in the hands of others, not even the best of friends.”

This confirms Centintel’s analysis that reports of constraints placed on the Israeli government with respect towards attacking Iran were overblown, if they ever existed they hold no weight. With the delivering of JDAM missiles and promises of refueling Israel has nothing stopping it from attacking Iran. The Netanyahu government which has been saying time is running out for months now, can simply say that they had to act to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon.

It would appear that Netanyahu is now on a PR offensive to gain support for an attack not just in Israel but also through out the world.

Netanyahu said that Iran was behind the attacks on southern Israel and warned of Iran giving Hamas and other Palestinian militants a nuclear weapon.

Russian newspaper Kommersant reported that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told her Russian colleague that April’s nuclear talks would be the last chance given to Iran to disarm. Centintel believes this is a direct threat. If Iran does not give in by then Obama’s hands are tied he can no longer hold Israel off and he can no longer reach out to Iran with a straight face.

If Israel attack’s Iran by itself the damage done to the Islamic Republic there will not be as bad as a coalition attack on Iran. Centintel believes that Israel has the capability to severely cripple the Iranian nuclear program if not destroy it entirely. The question is are they capable of fending off the response that occurs afterwards? If the 2006 War in Lebanon and Operation Cast Lead are any indication, they do not. However that was 5 years ago and the IDF has instituted a number of reforms since then. Whether the Israeli high command executes these measures successfully can only be known if Israel is attacked.

Centintel will go out on a limb now and say barring no last ditch diplomatic initiative or Israeli hesitation an attack on Iran could come by late April or sometime in May.

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