"The top U.S. general in the Middle East testified before Congress this week and dropped several bombshells: from signaled support for the Iran nuclear deal, admitting the U.S. does not know what Saudi Arabia does with its bombs in Yemen and that Assad has won the Syrian Civil War.
U.S. Army General Joseph Votel said the Iran agreement, which President Donald Trump has threatened to withdraw from, has played an important role in addressing Iran's nuclear program.
"The JCPOA addresses one of the principle threats that we deal with from Iran, so if the JCPOA goes away, then we will have to have another way to deal with their nuclear weapons program," said U.S. Army General Joseph Votel.
JCPOA, or Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, is the formal name of the accord reached with Iran in July 2015 in Vienna.
Trump has threatened to withdraw the United States from the accord between Tehran and six world powers unless Congress and European allies help "fix" it with a follow-up pact. Trump does not like the deal's limited duration, among other things.
Votel is head of the U.S. military’s Central Command, which is responsible for the Middle East and Central Asia, including Iran. He was speaking to a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on the same day that Trump fired Secretary of State Rex Tillerson after a series of public rifts over policy, including Iran.
Tillerson had joined Defense Secretary Jim Mattis in pressing a skeptical Trump to stick with the agreement with Iran.
"There would be some concern (in the region), I think, about how we intended to address that particular threat if it was not being addressed through the JCPOA. … Right now, I think it is in our interest" to stay in the deal, Votel said.
When a lawmaker asked whether he agreed with Mattis and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Joseph Dunford's position on the deal,Votel said: "Yes, I share their position."
Mattis said late last year that the United States should consider staying in the Iran nuclear deal unless it was proven Tehran was not complying or that the agreement was not in the U.S. national interest.
A collapse of the Iran nuclear deal would be a “great loss,” the United Nations atomic watchdog's chief warned Trump recently, giving a wide-ranging defense of the accord.
Iran has stayed within the deal’s restrictions since Trump took office but has fired diplomatic warning shots at Washington in recent weeks. It said on Monday that it could rapidly enrich uranium to a higher degree of purity if the deal collapsed.
Syria
Votel also discussed the situation in Syria at the hearing.
During the Syrian army's offensive in eastern Ghouta, more than 1,100 civilians have died. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s forces, backed by Russia and Iran, say they are targeting "terrorist" groups shelling the capital.
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley warned on Monday that Washington "remains prepared to act if we must," if the U.N. Security Council failed to act on Syria.
Votel said the best way to deter Russia, which backs Assad, was through political and diplomatic channels.
"Certainly if there are other things that are considered, you know, we will do what we are told. … (But) I don't recommend that at this particular point," Votel said, in an apparent to reference to military options.
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham asked whether it was too strong to say that with Russia and Iran's help, Assad had "won" the civil war in Syria.
"I do not think that is too strong of a statement," Votel said.
Graham also asked if the United States' policy on Syria was still to seek the removal of Assad from power.
"I don't know that that's our particular policy at this particular point. Our focus remains on the defeat of ISIS," Votel said, using an acronym for Islamic State. " Zerohedge
—————–
Votel would never say anything like this if he were not in agreement with Mattis and Dunford. This is illustrative of a weakening of Israeli/AIPAC/Saudi influence in US Middle East policy. It will be interesting to see if Votel is rebuked for these statements. pl
”This is illustrative of a weakening of Israeli/AIPAC/Saudi influence in US Middle East policy. It will be interesting to see if Votel is rebuked for these statements. pl ”
Hooray !!
I am sure the boys at JINSA and the Fifth Column will be furious….let them rage. The more they show themselves the better.
We’re still not out of the woods yet… Most of these statements are mostly disinformation in the fog of readying the troops!
After an hour of searches have not found a single major media outlet or press has quoted anything Votel said in the hearing about the Iran deal.
Instead they have headlines and coverage/quotes only about Russia’s meddling in Syria.
Therefore the public will not know that those like Tillerson, Mattis and JCS Dunford all agree on keeping the Iran deal…they will only read bad Russia.
By whom of any significance would Votel be rebuked?
charles
By the White House, the president, McMaster, etc. pl
WillyBilly
i didn’t say we were “out of the woods” but it is a good start. IMO all these statements by Votel are true and it took a good deal of courage to make them in public. pl
I very much hope you’re right …. and I am totally wrong
Catherine notes that the MSM has said zero about what Votel, Mattis and Dunford have said or thought about Iran and Syria. Even if our host had not made his confirming statement about Votel’s true commitment to his statements, I would have offered the secondary supposition that Votel’s commitment to these statements is true.
I would say that because of the MSM silence on them that Catherine has noted. If Votel was making these statements as false-fog noise to hide the movement of men and materiel to use against Iran and Syria, as WillyBilly theorizes, the MSM would be broadcasting and highlighting the false-fog in order to keep the buildup hidden and keep Syria and Iran off guard. The fact that the MSM is so silent makes me think the MSM wants Votel’s statements to die in silence under the MSM Cone of Silence. Meaning the MSM and its masters reject these statements but can only hope to starve them of attention because the MSM couldn’t prevent Votel from making them.
“then we will have to have another way to deal with their nuclear weapons program,” said U.S. Army General Joseph Votel.”
Iran does not have and has never had a “nuclear weapons program” with the possible exception of a “feasibility study” back when they were afraid Saddam had one. I believe this was the opinion of the DIA in the run up to the 2007 Iran NIE which did not make it into the NIE. But this is consistent with the publicly available information and Iran’s own statements.
“… these statements by Votel are true and it took a good deal of courage to make them in public.”
— If true they constitute a strong expression of patriotism. God, give us more outspoken patriots.
(This is a paradoxical time in the US when truth and patriotism are not a norm.)
What had been happening and what I expect to see is that, as during the George II Administration, the US would loudly accuse Iran of breaking faith with agreements and demand unlimited access for ‘inspectors’. The Iranians know how that cartoon ends, so they’d refuse, unlike Mr Saddam. And then the US would call on the client states in the EU to join them in tightening sanctions. Eventually provocation could be arranged and the US would “have no choice but to respond.” – some patrol boats being shot at by Iranians as has happened. We all will recall how Obama was cast as a creampuf appeaseer when ‘our boys’ were caught zooming around Iranian waters.
Too many powerful actors on the American political stage have determined hat Iran must be collapsed (It was on the famous hit-list after all) for them to let this go.
Colonel,
I too am impressed with the general’s candour, especially with the official commentary starting to sound like it was written by Geo. Orwell.
i wonder how much of the general’s resignation on Syria is driven by acceptance of the situation on the ground. I make US forces as 10k, so at best 5k combatants, w/o armour. There’s air support but it’s up against Russian sa3k & 4k. And if you hit Hizbollah, Hizbollah will hit Israel (they know). This appears a very messy & a doubtful outcome.
I’ve been trying to figure (not a sailor) the naval angles. Even w/o deployment of Kinzhals, I don’t think the USN can bring a carrier into the eastern Med. Two destroyers firing cruise missiles would go down in :20 minutes after launch. So 6-8 destroyers firing cruise missiles from the Med. & Red Sea. Three hundred missiles might overwhelm Russian air defence but they probably saw this coming, so 50 ship killing missiles are headed for the destroyers. If two or three destroyers go down, it’s something else that doesn’t look like a clean victory.
So, are we back to ‘a balance of terror’?
This testimony is a signal that the military will back, with sound arguments, a decision by Trump to support the JCPOA. That will make Trump’s life easier.
I suggest that the community get busy and post this information and links to as many comment pages in the MSM pages as possible. Time to fight for the Republic.
Iran does not have a nuclear weapons program. Gen. Votel should know better. They have a nuclear energy program, which the media cleverly calls a “nuclear program” because they correctly assess no one will pick up on the deception.
http://www.wideasleepinamerica.com/2016/03/putting-lid-on-clintons-erroneous.html
Iran has disavowed nuclear weapons over a hundred times, documented, count ’em, over the past few decades:
http://www.wideasleepinamerica.com/2012/10/the-goldberg-predilections-ignoring.html
On strategic, tactical, and religious grounds.
Because they don’t solve anything, look at how much trouble Israel is having.
“Anyone who talks of nukes is mentally retarded”, pretty straightforward.
However, Israelis think that Iran is lying its ass off and secretly building a nuke because of projection: it is just exactly what an Israeli would do if Israelis were Iranians.
And, since America sadly lets Israel drive its strategic decisions, this does not get examined.
I think Votel expressed a sobering account of what CENTCOM can take on in the region. Our forces in eastern Syria are minimal and are dependent on the YPG/SDF for manpower. The Turkish invasion of Afrin is stressing our relationship with the Kurds. If they make moves towards Kobane or elsewhere against the Kurds, we will be presented with a tough choice. I do believe Russia and even Damascus is forcing that choice upon us with the eager help of Turkey. And Votel sees that coming. The last thing he needs is the added challenge of the collapse of the Iran Agreement. He’s still saddled with trying to prevent a final consolidation of Syria in support of Israeli objectives while defeating what remains of ISIS. That’s more than enough to handle.
I do not like this. Might as well invite Israel to start more wars as I am certain it would be US blood and treasure spent for the most part.
http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Juniper-Cobra-begins-with-US-and-IDF-troops-simulating-missile-attacks-544598
US Third Air Force Commander Lt. Gen. Richard Clark in Israel for joint drill says:
“We are ready to commit to the defense of Israel anytime we get involved in a kinetic fight there is always the risk that there will be casualties. But we accept that – as every conflict we train for and enter, there is always that possibility,”
”“As far as decision-making, it is a partnership,” he continued, stressing nonetheless that “at the end of the day it is about the protection of Israel – and if there is a question in regards to how we will operate, the last vote will probably go to Zvika [Brig.-Gen. Zvika Haimovitch, head of the IDF’s Aerial Defense Division].”
I am still of the opinion that a major war is afoot despite Votel’s statements and others. Russia is doing all it can using all channels available to dissuade them from launching such folly… Its still 50/50 IMO and I would venture to say that war is inevitable with such a crew at 1600
The Midterm elections. The Midterm elections. Everything that transpires in Washington is about the Midterm elections. Let us hope that Votel’s message is, “The military is not on board for an adventure in the Middle East whose sole purpose is to make the President a “Wartime” President.” Now I know that if the President says jump the military must say how high, but somehow I think that Votel’s message is, “Congress, sane people, understand that reality is not set up to make Trump a hero in anything except his own mind.”
Trump has been thoroughly outmaneuvered in Korea. The grandstand meeting with Kim will not end in war, because that war will be a really unpopular war. Iran is the only possibility. Let’s see who’s more powerful: Israel and Saudi Arabia, or the American people. Let’s see if this really is a democracy. Let’s see if we can practice what we preach to the rest of the world. Let’s see if we can actually exemplify what we spend $600 billion a year trying to ram down other country’s throats.
How about this clown. Last three paragraphs are quite telling.
http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Juniper-Cobra-begins-with-US-and-IDF-troops-simulating-missile-attacks-544598
How can we find Clark’s email address so we can perhaps send him a nice note to let him know what real US citizens think.
Someone needs to knock some heads together so all sing from the same page!
US troops should be prepared to die for the Jewish State (US Air Force 3rd AF Commander Lt. Gen. Richard Clark) Jerusalem Post
“As far as decision-making, it is a partnership,” he continued, stressing nonetheless that “at the end of the day it is about the protection of Israel – and if there is a question in regards to how we will operate, the last vote will probably go to Zvika [Brig.-Gen. Zvika Haimovitch, head of the IDF’s Aerial Defense Division].”
Washington and Israel have signed an agreement which would see the US come to assist Israel with missile defense in times of war and, according to [Israeli commander] Haimovitch, “I am sure once the order comes we will find here US troops on the ground to be part of our deployment team to defend the State of Israel.”
And those US troops who would be deployed to Israel, are prepared to die for the Jewish state, Clark said. “We are ready to commit to the defense of Israel anytime we get involved in a kinetic fight there is always the risk that there will be casualties. But we accept that – as every conflict we train for and enter, there is always that possibility,” he said.
TTG,
Did you mean to say, “trying to promote (rather than “prevent”) a final consolidation of Syria in support of Israeli objectives”?
WPFIII
Given the speed with which the president has made his thoughts and rebukes known in the recent past, it would appear that the General is not going to be rebuked in a timely fashion.
FYI, it’s time to change the oath of enlistment, this the same kind of stupid extremist push that jews have done throughout their history which has repeatedly caused them a blowback.
“TOP US GENERAL SAYS AMERICAN TROOPS SHOULD BE READY TO DIE FOR ISRAEL”
https://southfront.org/top-us-general-says-american-troops-ready-die-israel/
For an extra funny, at one time, the United States was happy to supply fuel cycle capable breeder reactors to Iran, before the 1979 Revolution intervened.
No less a personage than Dick Cheney, who was President Ford’s Chief of Staff at the time, commented at the time that he could figure out what those reactors would be used for. The same Dick Cheney who insisted that non-fuel cycle capable reactors were somehow proof of Iran’s bad intentions.
Source: “The Silk Roads” by Professor Peter Frankopan.
This country is neither a democracy nor a democratic republic. It is a de facto oligarchy, in which ordinary citizens have but little say.
https://scholar.princeton.edu/sites/default/files/mgilens/files/gilens_and_page_2014_-testing_theories_of_american_politics.doc.pdf
Wishing otherwise does not make it so.
@ 16
The Votel et al must be seriously concerned about the future of relations between Turkey and the USA. A piece on 21st Century Wire the other day asserted that the USAF is relocating assets from Incerlik (sp?) AFB to somewhere in Jordan.
http://21stcenturywire.com/2018/03/14/nato-relocates-middle-east-airbase-turkey-jordan/
re: “ He’s still saddled with trying to prevent a final consolidation of Syria in support of Israeli objectives while defeating what remains of ISIS.”
TTG,
Might it be possible that ISIS/DAESH is a Borg/izzie operation?
Ishmael Zechariah
P.s: Perhaps in a future post you might evaluate the strategy employed by TSK in the Olive Branch operation, and the performance of the kurds in view of various predictions made at the beginning.
eakens,
No, we should ask the Israeli general just who signed the agreement he says commits the US to defend Isreal. Then maybe he could tell us when the Senate ratified such an agreement:
“Washington and Israel have signed an agreement which would see the US come to assist Israel with missile defense in times of war and, according to Haimovitch” That would be Brig.-Gen Zvika Haimovitch, the head of the IDF’s Aerial Defense Division , according to the caption on the second photo. I think the first is far more telling: 4 soldiers to carry a casualty to the waiting ambulance where two other soldiers are sitting in the shade. What kind of priority is that?
IZ
“Might it be possible that ISIS/DAESH is a Borg/izzie operation?” No. Think about Mosul and Raqqa. pl
William Fitzgerald,
Reference your comment at #22
No, what we and Tel Aviv do not want to see is a fully reconstituted Syria under Assad’s rule. That is is what we are trying to prevent with our presence in eastern Syria and around Tanf. I take Votel at his word that he expects Syria under Assad to survive as a state, albeit diminished in land mass and resources. Tel Aviv, on the other hand, appears to ultimately want a total collapse of the Assad regime leaving a fractured land under the control of various jihadist warlords. However, they may be willing to settle for a diminished SAR for now.
ex-PFC Chuck,
Reference your comment at #27
We have pulled our A-10s out of Incirlik to Baghram, Afghanistan to support our war there. The Germans pulled out of Incirlik last year. We still have tankers based at Incirlik. Family housing has been reduced. I’m surprised any dependents are still there. I think our days there are numbered.
Col. Lang,
I agree w. the Mousul and Raqqa point. OTOH, the coalition never truly bombed the petroleum exports of this organization until the Russians started their campaign.
https://www.ft.com/content/b8234932-719b-11e5-ad6d-f4ed76f0900a
Perhaps the truth is somewhere between total control and total opposition.
Thanks for the response.
Ishmael Zechariah
Ishmael Zechariah,
Reference your comment at #28
There is a wide variation in the jihadist ranks from the the original anti-Assad rebels to the hard core ISIS/DAESH. We aided, equipped and directed various groups at one end of the spectrum. We continue to do so at Tanf and east of the Euphrates, as does the TSK to the north. Membership and allegiances among the jihadist has always been fluid, but only to a point as shown by the constant inter-jihadist fighting. All this grayness leads to confused situations and interpretations. We were clearly not concerned when IS was assisting in toppling Assad, but we were never allies. That was shortsighted and foolish, but so are many things we and others do in the region. Our goal is still to destroy ISIS/DAESH.
Israel Quietly Begins Practicing for Possible War With Russia
https://russia-insider.com/en/israel-quietly-begins-practicing-possible-war-russia/ri22844
Apparently Israel held a command-level war game under cover of the Cobra exercise where they continued to plan an attack on Lebanon and Syria, as well as what to do if “the Russian made trouble.”
Quote:
“We can achieve decisive victory over Hezbollah, and we don’t need help from a single American soldier, but we cannot fight Iran alone,” he stated last year. “I consider future cooperation with the U.S. much more important than anything we’ve had in the past.”
End Quote
Reading that in reverse supports my contention that Israel both continues to intend to degrade Hizballah and Syria’s ability to be effective actors in a US/Israel war with Iran, and also that they intend to recruit the US in their next attack on Lebanon, with the goal of extending that war into Syria.
And that is regardless of the Russian presence in Syria.
Since Russia has asked Lebanon for a military cooperation agreement, which I believe was intended as a warning to Israel not to attack Lebanon again – because of the threat that Syria would become involved – I suspect that Russia is well aware of Israel’s intentions.
The addition of a US base in Israel and a commitment of US forces to support Israel in their wars means that there will be an increased likelihood of US conflict with Russia if Russia intervenes in a Israeli/US attack in Lebanon which extends into Syria. I don’t think Russia would come to Lebanon’s aid directly in support of Hizballah, but it’s quite likely Russia would intervene if that war extended into Syria. Russia doesn’t have the forces in country in Syria to directly intervene militarily but it could add additional forces or use its regional capabilities to intervene enough to complicate Israeli/US actions in Syria. But not without increasing the probability of escalation to a dangerous degree.
If Israel is not persuaded to stand down on its intentions to attack Hizballah and Syria, things could get much more ugly than the present Syrian crisis.
“He’s still saddled with trying to prevent a final consolidation of Syria in support of Israeli objectives while defeating what remains of ISIS. That’s more than enough to handle.”
— Hard, indeed: The US Army at the mercy of ziocons.
“Israeli Military Make it Clear that They Support ISIS:” https://azvsas.blogspot.com/2016/07/israeli-military-make-it-clear-that.html “It is well known that Israel funds, arms and provides medical support for the fighters of Al Qaeda’s Syrian branch, al-Nusra. According to the Daily Mail out of the goodness of its heart, Israel has rescued and saved some 2,000 Islamic fighters in South Lebanon.”
— “Newly-Declassified U.S. Government Documents: The West Supported the Creation of ISIS:” http://washingtonsblog.com/2015/05/newly-declassified-u-s-government-documents-the-west-supported-the-creation-of-isis.html “… extreme Muslim terrorists – salafists, Muslims Brotherhood, and AQI (i.e. Al Qaeda in Iraq) – have always been the “major forces driving the insurgency in Syria.”
Thanks for this Bill.
Cognitive dissonance is dialed up to the max between my ears when I contemplate ‘wagging the dog’ in the autumn, Mr. Kushner’s BFF the Crown Prince, and, all this talk about a newly unbridled POTUS trusting nothing now but his instincts. I sure hope Mattis and Votel are in agreement, but this report of commonsense does increase the dissonance.
Is North Korea coming off the table to make way for a shock and awe feast in Iran? Is a Kushner ME peace ultimatum going to moot the courageous General Votel?
One motive for a big war is the President wanting really badly to see what all those participants in his parade can manage to wreck–all for the purpose of MAGA.
Interesting times. . .
Colonel,
SST is invaluable if you are trying to see through the fog of disinformation.
Korea is straightforward. Asia has advancing societies with strong nation states. North Korea will defend itself. China will defend it if attacked by the USA. A first strike at Pyongyang will quickly escalate into a total war.
The Middle East is intentional chaos. It is a 1000-year-old holy war promoted by foreign oligarchs for profit, to stress Russia and in support of their particular tribe. Nation States are weak and struggling to survive. The chances of a mishap are tremendous. Today’s question is “will the USA support an Israeli war to cut the Shiite Crescent and neutralize Hezbollah in Syria”? With Russian troops embedded with SAA, the chances of a superpower war are high. What is frightening is that no one in politics or the media dares point this out. Plus, an Information Operation is obviously ongoing to demonize the Russian Federation. It worse today than the run-up to the disastrous Iraq Invasion of 2003. Russia does have the nuclear weapons to destroy North America.
This “diminished SAR” is smaller but better; War has created a new state; more compact, more cohesive, and with better capacity to wage war and manage the peace. Her domestic enemies are dead or in exile and a super power has collaborated with her on the field of battle.
Wag the Dog. Reminds me of Bill Clinton. History is replete with many examples.
Colonel,
FYI
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/washington-secrets/official-washington-flocking-to-doomsday-camps-1
Richardstevenhack,
I thought it would come to this in any event:
A few months ago Elijah Mangier posted a column that said that next year Hizbollah & the SAA are going to attack Israel to take the Golan Heights back. Since reading that column I’ve been looking (almost every day) for evidence to prove or disprove Magnier’s thesis. I’ve found some evidence for, & none against.
Various Hajd al Shaabi (ultra Shia) militias from Iraq have visited ‘the front lines’ to look at the lay of the land & get filmed. Hezbollah has mostly pulled back into Lebanon & isn’t taking on any more ordnance (they have plenty). The SAA is busy.
So far as I know, Israel will come after Hezbollah if the Hez doesn’t go first. The Izzies are also gobbling up big pieces of Lebanon & Syria. With just eyeball measurement, it looks as though the max Is. extension puts them in easy missile range of Damascus.
I don’t think the Israeli Army is much good any more but the Air force is, or was. The Is. AF is, but not so sure it wants to go up against Syrian Air Defence & they just don’t know what to do if Syrian Air Defence gets integrated into Russian SA 300 & 400 systems.
To post same again, I think the IDF will be able to hold a line against Hez/SAA/Hajd Al Shaabi somewhere in the Golan but positional warfare is death for the IDF: Body bags, lots. Meanwhile Hezbollah missiles will wreck Tel Aviv. I believe those two things will put Israel into an existential crisis. Many Jews will decide that New York is the promised land. Others will scream blue murder & try to get the US, the UN or any guilty libs to help: Will you?
The Izzies may try to use a nuke at that point but if they, say; nuke Damascus, they won’t have a friend left in the world & no amount of hasbra will fix that.
So Israel is going to try to get the US to save it, even at the price of a shooting war between the US & Russia!
I think Israel should be turned over to the Palestinians, to see if they have preserved a better sense of justice.
Senate Resolution 65, 05/22/2013:
“(8) urges that, if the Government of Israel is compelled to take military action in legitimate self-defense [who says Congress has no sense of humor?] against Iran’s nuclear weapons program,[see my comments above. See Iraq WMD. See Colin Powell.] the United States Government should stand with Israel and provide, in accordance with United States law and the constitutional responsibility of Congress to authorize the use of military force, diplomatic, military, and economic support to the Government of Israel in its defense of its territory, people, and existence.”
https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/senate-resolution/65/text
“The United States has deemed all major Israeli military actions as ‘self-defense’ (most recently two Gaza wars) with the oft-repeated statement that the United States is ‘fully supportive of Israel’s right to defend itself.'” “U.S. Will Go to War With Iran if Israel Does”:
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/mj-rosenberg/senate-resolution-us-will_b_3099788.html
This hands the keys to both the Pentagon and the Treasury to Israel. It writes a blank check, one that can be cashed at any time for any amount. The last large war for Israel was projected under $100B, and ended up costing over $1T directly, some say $5T indirectly. Iran is 4x larger than Iraq. This puts BOE promotional cost estimates at “well under $400B”, and actual cost estimates at $4T direct, up to $20T indirect. This is of course assuming that America does not get into a war with Russia, and that America can bomb the snot out of civilians in a medium-sized modern country without any of our civilian targets being hit in return. WWJD?
I would think they would be the primary targets…
I agree with your statement, for many years has been this in way, an oligarchy of political class under control of rich and associated corporate feudalism. I am not sure if that’s what the framers wanted. The concept was to have the power concentrated in the people and not on them. Specially not by an specific group (oligarchs).
Richard
“”The addition of a US base in Israel and a commitment of US forces to support Israel in their wars means that there will be an increased likelihood of US conflict with Russia”
Do you know who pushed the establishment of this base in Israel?
I have searched and searched and cant find an answer.
The American and Israeli planers under consul by Bandar Bush thought they can put back the Iranian revolution’ Shia genie, by promoting and unleashing the Wahhabi terror groups into the Shia Western Asia. As of the result, they have created such a unity among the Shias, from Mediterranean Sea to the Pamir mountains that no Shia could have imagined in her wildest dream. And above that they have destroyed any possible uniformity or unity among the Sunnis. I personally never thought such a tight uniform mosaic can happen so fast. In no way, I am complaining.
The Israeli are getting desperate. They have now “confirmed” that they bombed a “Syrian reactor” back in 2007. Since the “reactor” was most likely a structure related to Syria’s intermediate range missile program, I have to wonder why Israel is “confirming” this attack. Perhaps it’s because they are no longer willing to fly into Syrian airspace for fear of losing aircraft and more particularly pilots, so boasting about the IAF’s former glories is all they have to hide their growing weakness.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-israel-syria-nuclear/israel-admits-bombing-suspected-syrian-nuclear-reactor-in-2007-warns-iran-idUSKBN1GX09K
@ 42
Back in ’94 I was in Israel on business and after the meetings were concluded I had a few extra days before my scheduled return flight. This was there was still a bloom on the now completely withered rose of the Oslo Accords. I drove up to the Galilee area, stayed in a Kibbutz at the foot of the Israeli side of the Golan, and the next day I drove up on and around the occupied area. It is called “heights” for a reason, and it was apparent to even my unpracticed eye that defensive positions had been prepared such that they could be heavily reinforced from the nearby battalion encampments in much less than an hour from the time of any surprise. Even if the IDF ground forces are no longer what they were at the time of the Six Day and Yom Kippur Wars, for the SAS and Hesbollah to retake the area would be an up hill task, both literally and figuratively.
catherine, some time ago I read a pdf of a pentagon analysis on the rise of China and the re-emergence of Russia as a world power. I have no idea where to find it now.
The basis of it was the US would be overstretched and have to draw back to working with key allies.
If Trump is headed that way, then five eyes and Israel and perhaps a few others would be core allies. Who is exempt from tariffs may be another indication.
@45
re “I agree with your statement, for many years has been this in way, an oligarchy of political class under control of rich and associated corporate feudalism.”
Yes, and it’s not an accident. See this: Democracy in Chains: The Deep History of the Radical Right’s Stealth Plan for America. It began in the 1950s and is still underway.
http://amzn.to/2pvC2zx
Peter AU
US officers who are students at a senior service school like the Army War College write papers on a variety of subjects as part of their school work. Some of these are published by the school’s press or journal. these papers are not policy papers of the service. It is a common mistake to think that they are. An official paper that contained opinion like that which you cite would not be available to the public. pl
Thanks. I have read a few of these and was unsure if they were opinions of individual officers or studies commissioned to help decide a policy.
How brain-dead must the constituents of Graham be to continue to elect a man who has made no attempt to govern on their behalf, but rather openly carry the Israeli agenda in Senate?
Peter AU
When Elihu Root started the Army War College and for many years thereafter the institution was part of the Army General Staff and the students did planning work and theoretical studies for the War Department during their time in the course, but that time is long gone. these are now altogether educational institutions. pl
Israeli journo Barak Ravid revealed that a “secret meeting” held at the WH on Dec 12th between “senior Israeli and US delegations” led by McMaster and Meir Ben-Shabbat after reaching “a joint strategic work plan to counter Iranian activity in the Middle East.” The article cites a “joint document” resulting from two days of talks between the principals.
https://www.axios.com/scoop-us-and-israel-reach-joint-plan-to-counter-iran-1515110887-51be0529-3ff5-4d8f-89f1-6c89423d4dff.html
“To post same again, I think the IDF will be able to hold a line against Hez/SAA/Hajd Al Shaabi somewhere in the Golan but positional warfare is death for the IDF: Body bags, lots. Meanwhile Hezbollah missiles will wreck Tel Aviv. I believe those two things will put Israel into an existential crisis. Many Jews will decide that New York is the promised land. Others will scream blue murder & try to get the US, the UN or any guilty libs to help: Will you?”
Ironic isn’t it? Others are suppose to come and save them when half their population won’t try (and considering how the Chasidim engage in conflict with their police they would make the perfect secret weapon by having the enemy stop fighting and start laughing).
Looking at the reactions in all spheres it indicates the game is up and the instigators don’t know what to do, so throwing everything and anything hoping something sticks is the rearguard act while bravely boasting “We are in control here”.
I doubt Hizballah has any interest in initiating a war with Israel just to get the Golan Heights back.
Any inspection of the land taking place is likely because Israel’s opponents know that Israel will attack Lebanon and possibly Syria again, and they want to be ready to extend the fighting to the Golan area where allegedly Hizballah has established a presence.
Israeli war planners are undoubtedly aware of all this and when Israel attacks Hizballah again Israel is likely to initiate an attack into Syria to forestall any Hizballah response from the Golan region. Whether this will be effective and how many Israeli forces will have to be diverted from southern Lebanon to achieve it is unknown. I do expect Israel to commit much greater land forces to the next war than they did in the 2006 war.
Nope. No clue. I would assume the “usual suspects”, i.e., those Senators who work mostly for Israel rather than the US, supported by the usual “think tanks” being run by neocons.
I’ve no idea how the Pentagon feels about it – they have so many bases worldwide that one more probably didn’t matter to them regardless of the geopolitical implications.