Israel given air space over Saudi Arabia to attack Iran In the Middle East, the enemy of my enemy is my friend

RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA—According to a US defense source in the Middle East, “The Saudis have given their permission for the Israelis to pass over and they will look the other way. They have already done tests to make sure their own jets aren’t scrambled and no one gets shot down. This has all been done with the agreement of the [US] State Department.”

The Israelis would target four chief nuclear sites: Natanz and Qom, which house uranium enrichment facilities, Isfahan’s gas storage development, and Arak’s heavy water reactor which all lie up to 2,250 kilometers or 1,400 miles away. The open skies above Saudi Arabia would significantly shorten the distance, perhaps enough to spare the Israeli jets an in-flight refueling.

Saudi Arabia, a fair-weather friend of the United States maintains an unstable relationship with Iran’s theocracy and share Israel’s position that a nuclear capable Iran would mean a rouge state with the most powerful of weapons could launch unprovoked or pre-emptive attacks to further destabilize the region or to embark on an imperial march.

Tensions between Iran and Israel are ever present in the area and neighboring countries fear the worst if Israel is attacked—because they believe it is them that could be next.

-- Killswitch Politick

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The battle peace talks just won’t fix

The Islamic Hamas movement in the Gaza Strip can now launch rockets capable of reaching the Israeli metropolitan area of Tel Aviv, Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon said at a Jerusalem briefing.

Israel’s population, according to the latest estimate is nearly 7.5 million, and at its narrowest point, is only about 13 miles wide; Iran’s president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has repeatedly called for the destruction of the tiny nation state.

Tehran has sent signals for years in support of Hamas and Hizbullah; Israel remains the only true US ally in the region and America has long sought to stabilize and facilitate peace among the countries that surround the tiny nation-state.

“We know they have tried to, and have obtained missiles that reach 60 kilometers (37 miles),” says Ayalon, “Tel Aviv and its vicinity are now under the range of Hamas.”

Throughout Israel’s military operation against Hamas in Gaza, which ceased in January, the farthest rocket hit was nearly 25 miles into Israel, jeopardizing southern cities like Ashdod and Beersheba.

Since the three-week action, Hamas has been able to restock its stockpile of military gear and explosives as well as improve its rocket capability.

Hundreds of tons of weaponry, ten times the size of the Karine A shipment of 2002, were seized in a raid during the night by the Israeli navy, some 100 nautical miles west of Israel; the ship detained was sailing under an Antiguan flag.

Brigadier General Rani Ben-Yehuda, deputy commander of the Israeli navy said of the conveyance of such huge amounts of weapons, "…is done in order to create a balance of terror with Israel".

Defense officials said the 459 foot-long Francop, seized near Cyprus, was transporting arms sent by Iran and intended for Syria and Hizbullah. After several days of the Israeli military observing the ship, IDF Navy Seals boarded it in the middle of the night.

This incident is one among countless others in which Israel has had to invest self-reliance for self-preservation. It once again demonstrates that it cannot rest, lest it be overcome by foreign forces. Presidents Carter and Clinton held historical talks with leaders of both Israel and Palestine, but all for naught, as Israel is called to show restraint time and again, there will be no peace until the talking ends and victory is realized.

-- Killswitch Politick

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Inching towards chaos

As President Obama continues his public waffling on Afghanistan, the situation on the ground continues to deteriorate.

With Hamid Karzai’s alleged ballot-box stuffing, the Iranians agitating and little-to-no help from our allies, the United States finds itself in a precarious situation in what Candidate Obama called a war we must win.

The Taliban has reformed and their strategy is clearing causing gains in their direction. A mountainous and lawless country, Afghanistan has long been the ideal breeding ground for the likes of Al Qaeda and warlords, not to mention, public support of the war has been on a steady decline since the war in Iraq began devolving – well before the surge and turn around.

Mr. Obama and Gordon Brown find themselves in un-winnable positions with their respective political bases – each wishes to pull the leaders further to the left and are demanding immediate withdrawal. But both leaders know full well where that will lead: a country left to the wolves, a signal to Islamo-fascists that American and Brittan don’t have the will to see their way through, and an effective surrender to Iranian interloping.

All of which is unacceptable should the two countries wish to remain true to their word and actions. If Messers. Obama and Brown do not head the call of the generals on the ground; the war is all-but-lost and so to will be the standing of their commanders-in-chief.

-- Killswitch Politick

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