Posts tagged Israel
Israeli Mossad chief Meir Dagan on Iran
0Among many insights from an extraordinarily knowledgeable man, Dagan gives surprising weight to the rationality of Iranian leadership and speaks on the foolishness of a bombing the country.
Is part of that “rationality” based on this shocking map of their country and the American military bases surrounding it?
Although I am nervous about Iran having “the bomb”, after seeing Libya give up their nuclear weapons and then be demolished by US and NATO forces I can see why Iranians would be driven to acquire such a weapon.
Ronald Reagan’s Assistant Secretary of The Treasury Dr. Paul Craig Roberts wrote a pretty comprehensive piece on this situation.
What would America do if the tables were turned? How would you be voting if Iranian bases surrounded American borders? If our nieghbor Canada had been crippled by horrific Iranian sanctions that killed 500,000 children (as was documented in Iraq) would you be concerned if similar sanctions were being placed on us? Would that make you more or less likely to rally around the American flag, join with our government in war, and hostile to the Iranian presence?
My point in that confusing analogy is that our public efforts to stop Iran from getting the bomb by imposing dangerous and usually deadly sanctions will likely fail and rather than force the government to change, will instead rally everyday Iranians to the cause of violence to in an attempt to escape the prison of sanction.
There is no path to peace aside from peace itself.
(CBS News) Meir Dagan has been described as “hard-charging” and “stops at nothing.” For more than eight years, Dagan made full use of those qualities as chief of Mossad, Israel’s intelligence agency, where he focused on keeping Iran from developing a nuclear weapon.
When that job ended, Dagan did something unheard of for an ex-Mossad chief: he spoke out publicly, voicing opposition to Israel launching preemptive airstrikes against Iran’s nuclear facilities anytime soon. Dagan believes the Iranian regime is a rational one and even its president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad – who has called for Israel to be annihilated – acts in a somewhat rational way when it comes to Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Lesley Stahl reports.
The following script is from “The Spymaster Speaks” which aired on March 11, 2012. Lesley Stahl is the correspondent. Shachar Bar-On, producer.
When President Obama met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this past week, the subject was how, when and if to attack Iran’s nuclear facilities, Netanyahu saying Israel can’t afford to wait much longer; Mr. Obama arguing there’s still time to let sanctions and diplomacy do the job. And he said some top intelligence officials in Israel side with him.
Actually, you’ll hear from one of them tonight: Meir Dagan, former chief of the Mossad, Israel’s equivalent of the CIA. It’s unheard of for someone who held such a high-classified position to speak out publicly, but he told us he felt compelled to talk, because he is so opposed to a preemptive Israeli strike against Iran anytime soon.
Dagan headed the Mossad for nearly a decade until last year. His primary, if not his only mission was to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear bomb. And he says there is time to wait, perhaps as long as three years.
Lesley Stahl: You have said publicly that bombing Iran now is the stupidest idea you’ve ever heard. That’s a direct quote.
Dagan: An attack on Iran before you are exploring all other approaches is not the right way how to do it.
Stahl: The dispute seems to come down, though, to whether you are at the end of everything that you can try or whether you have a lot of time left to try other things, which seems to be your position.
Dagan: I never said it’s a lot of time but I think that-
Stahl: Well, more time.
Dagan: More time.
For nearly a decade buying more time was his job. The Iranians say Dagan dispatched assassins, faulty equipment and computer viruses to sabotage their nuclear program. All the while, he was poring over the most secret dossiers about the Iranian regime, gaining insights and a surprising appreciation.
Dagan: The regime in Iran is a very rational regime.
Stahl: Do you think Ahmadinejad is rational?
Dagan: The answer is yes. Not exactly our rationale, but I think that he is rational.
Stahl: Do you think they’re rational enough that they are capable of backing down from this?
Dagan: No doubt that the Iranian regime is maybe not exactly rational based on what I call Western-thinking, but no doubt they are considering all the implications of their actions.
Stahl: Other people think they’re not going to really stop until they have this capability.
Dagan: They will have to pay dearly and all the consequences for it. And I think the Iranians, in this point in time, are going very careful in the project. They are not running in it.
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Another great vid from Michael Scheuer
0A power packed 11 minute video that covers a variety of different countries, their power structures and the details of their stages of radicalization—great video.
“Every action has a reaction”
0Few people on the planet have a deeper, more detailed, and precisely educated view on terrorism, al Qaeda and war/foreign policy than former CIA Chief and head of bin Laden’s hunting force, Michael Scheuer. Why does he support Ron Paul?
What about Iran’s 25,000 Jewish residents?
2Did you know there are 25 synagogues in Tehran? Or that Iran is second only to Israel in Jewish population? How about the 30 centuries-long Jewish community living in the country?
In this very interesting video, Siamak Marsedeh a “pillar of the Jewish community” and the representative in Parliament for Iranian Jews makes a sharp distinction between the religion of Judaism and the political movement of Zionism.
This is the central issue of the modern debate over Iran and their alleged hate for the Jewish people. If this were so, why isn’t Iran waging an internal war against their Jewish population?
If you’re remembering Ahmadinejad’s statement about “wiping Israel off the map” please read this previous post and explore the intricate but extremely important translation details—much more than meets the eye is present.
Pentagon says Iran focuses on defense?!
0Are we being told to “take out Iran’s nuclear power” because they are a threat to Israel—or because it would make it more difficult to launch another regime change campaign in the country?
Make sure to check the articles at the very bottom, gold.
Article from the surprisingly striking MilwaukeeStory.com
The Iran question is often posed, as it was in last week’s debate to Ron Paul, as a hypothetical. If Iran was proven to have a nuclear weapon what steps would be taken by the US to assure they did not attack Israel? The establishment media is skillful in the presentation and structure of the debate. The question assumes it is the responsibility of the US to protect Israel from a strike by Iran. But more importantly it assumes that Iran has the ability and strategic desire to attack Israel.
This unclassified assessment of Iran’s military capability by the US Department of Defense clearly states that “To ensure regime survival, Iran’s security strategy is based first on deterring an attack.”
The document goes on to make this key statement, “Iran’s nuclear program and its willingness to keep open the possibility of developing nuclear weapons is a central part of its deterrent strategy.”
But what if the unpredictable Ahmadinejad and company in Tehran suddenly changed their strategy and decided to go on the offensive? Fortunately they would not have the capability according to the DoD which states, “At present Iran’s forces are sufficent to deter or defend against conventional threats from Iran’s weaker neighbors such as post-war Iraq, the GCC, Azerbaijan or Afghanistan but lack the air power and logistical ability to power much beyond Iran’s boarders or to confront regional powers such as Turkey or Israel.”
Military bases around Iran---why would they be worried?!
The hyping of the potential nuclear program in Iran is Washington’s attempt to establish a pretext that would garner public support for a strike/destabilization campaign on Iran. The obvious goal would be regime change.
So the real reason the Pentagon sees a nuclear program in Iran as a threat is not because it would be used as a first strike weapon against Israel, but because it would make it more difficult for the US and its allies to take out the regime in Tehran.
Many in Washington would love to have cooperative leadership in place in Tehran because it would tilt the control of world energy resources sharply in favor of the US and its allies. But as long as Iran is rogue and friendly with Russia and China we can expect to hear about Iran’s potential nuclear program and the danger it presents Israel and the world.
In the light of these facts the current debate in the Republican presidential primary seems like nothing but propaganda, save the argument made by Ron Paul.
Additional Reading:
The Devil We Know: Dealing with the New Iranian Superpower by Robert Baer
All the Shah’s Men: An American Coup and the Roots of Middle East Terror
UN Weapons Inspector Scott Ritter: “Fools would Bomb Iran!”
0A brilliant analysis from a man who knows exactly what he’s talking about. Does it sound familiar? Please see an earlier post about the translation errors in recent quotes from Ahmadinejad about “wiping Israel off the map.”
Do you trust Michelle Bombmann and Rick “Sandstorm” Santorum or proven experts like Michael Scheuer and Inspector Ritter for your advice on wether to bomb or not bomb Iran to eliminate their alleged nuclear weapons.
Another zinger from Inspector Ritter:
Israeli Economists Agree with Ron Paul: End Foreign Aid
0*Comment: this is a spectacular article and perfectly timed. The 21st century can be the age of sovereignty and personal responsibility. The prosperity that will result from this will be shocking.
From TheNewAmerican.com
The question of foreign aid is one that has pitted economists against politicians, special interest groups, and foreign policy demagogues for decades. No stranger to this controversy is Kentucky Senator Rand Paul, who like his father, Texas Representative Ron Paul (both Republicans), has proposed ending U.S.foreign aid to all countries, including Israel, a decision that has earned the scorn of numerous groups on both the Left and the Right.
However, one critical aspect of the debate that has been neglected from public discourse on the topic — and that Sen. Paul may be unaware of — is the opposition of numerous Jewish and Israeli economists and religious Zionist groups to Israeli foreign aid. Like Sen. Paul, these figures believe that foreign aid is an affront against Israeli liberty and sovereignty, as well as a drain on the development of numerous sectors of the Israeli economy, such as the weapons and biotechnology industries.
Individuals including Israeli economists Ran Dagoni, Yoel Bainerman, and Alvin Rabushka, the late Rabbi Meir Kahane, as well as groups including the Jewish Task Force, the Zionist Freedom Alliance, and the Manhigut Yehudit faction of the Likud Party have long advocated for an end to U.S. foreign aid to Israel. These groups insist that Israel must develop her own economic strength and move towards more free-market economic reforms as a means of boosting national prosperity and strength.
Even Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that foreign aid may do more harm than good, and proposed efforts to wean Israel off of American military aid payments.
It becomes clear, therefore, that Sen. Paul’s proposal to cut foreign aid is one which is not without support from innovative Israeli and Jewish thinkers on the issue.
Manhigut Yehudit (Hebrew for “Jewish Leadership”) is considered the most right-wing and the largest sector within the Likud Central Committee. It is committed to Israeli safety, territorial integrity, and the promotion of privatization reforms and traditional Torah values. According to co-founder Shmuel Sackett, its long-term goal is to “perfect the world in the Kingdom of the Almighty.”
Ron Paul: Foreign Policy & Israel
0A very interesting interview centered solely on Dr. Paul’s opinion on Israel and the middle east. It doesn’t take long to prove the viability of Ron Paul’s non-interventionist views and reinforce the profound long-term problems caused by our financial, political and military meddling around the globe.
CIA veteran Scheuer pulls no punches
4Some may be offended by Scheuer’s criticism of the Israeli lobby and have red flags pop in their heads reading “He’s an anti-Semite!!!” However, the Israeli lobby has an incredible impact on our foreign policy and that should be taken into consideration.
In discussions with my friend David Weber at KingDavidsTable.com, we’ve worked over the impact of religious spirits at work in the world today; entities that lead us to dogma and doctrine, instead of connection to, and collaboration with, The Almighty.
Certainly we can see this at work around us. I pray that the authority, grace, and presence of Christ finds you and thereby nullifies any and all impact that these powerful beings may have over you, over us, and over the world at large.
Someday, all works of the devil will be put under foot; until then we can pray, step into the authority of our inheritance and be great wave makers in the spirit world.
The latest vid from Michael Scheuer
0Is it possible that the financial, military and public support for Israel amongst the people and politicians of The United States actually make Israel more likely to be attacked?
CIA veteran Michael Scheuer and The Judge sound off on both the counter-intuitive and the counter-productive actions we’re taking in the vast quagmire that is the middle east.