Last November, Haaretz said Washington and Israel planned holding
their "largest" and "most significant" ever joint military exercise,
involving over 5,000 US and Israeli troops. Assistant Secretary of
State Andrew Shapiro for Political-Military Affairs confirmed it.
On January 5, AP headlined "Israeli and US troops gear up for major
missile defense drill after Iran maneuvers," saying:
As tensions with Iran escalate, "Austere Challenge 12" is "designed
to improve defense systems and cooperation between the US and
Israeli forces." It follows Iranian naval exercises near the Strait
of Hormuz.
Admiral Habibollah Sayyari said they displayed "Iran's military
prowess and defense capabilities in the international waters,
convey(ed) a message of peace and friendship to regional countries,
and test(ed) the newest military equipment among other objectives."
On January 10, Press TV said Ground Forces commander General Ahmad
Reza Poursastan announced plans to use Iran's most advanced military
equipment in more planned drills.
Scheduled sometime after mid-February, weapons and ground tactics
will be evaluated. Objectives include bolstering security along
Iran's eastern border, assessing defense and combat capabilities,
and giving young officers more experience.
Originally scheduled for April, joint US/Israeli exercises are
postponed. According to an Israeli defense official, Washington
wants regional tensions cooled. Media reports suggest Israel plans
strikes against Iran's nuclear facilities.
Washington may object over timing and tactics. Likely also is
concern over Israel acting preemptively unannounced. Last fall,
Joint Chiefs head General Martin Dempsey expressed alarm, telling
Obama it's possible. This week, he's heading to Israel to meet with
Israeli officials.
He'll first stop in Brussels to meet with IDF chief General Benny
Gantz and other NATO officials. In a CNN interview, he said his
biggest concern is that Iran will "miscalculate our resolve." He
spoke one day after Defense Secretary Leon Panetta warned Iran not
to produce nuclear weapons.
No evidence suggests a nuclear weapons capability or intention to
develop one. Panetta, other Obama officials and Israeli ones know
but won't say. Playing the nuclear card is pretext perhaps for a
planned attack.
The drill planned testing defenses against Iranian or other incoming
missiles. According to Israel's Channel 2, drills are now scheduled
for late summer. The Jerusalem Post said end of year. When held,
they'll be the largest ever joint ones, involving thousands of
forces.
US troops are already positioned in Israel's Negev, monitoring
Iranian missile tests. America's European Command (EUCOM) also
closely follows Israeli war preparations by satellite and other
means.
According to Israel's Defense Ministry, the announced postponement
came Friday. Discussions on both sides continue. Some reports
suggested cancellation was for budgetary reasons. Israel put that
notion to rest. Neither country skimps on military matters.
A late 2009 joint missile defense exercise involved about 1,000
personnel on both sides. This one when held will be five times
larger.
The Jerusalem Post said sophisticated US THAAD (Terminal High
Altitude Area Defense) and shipbased Aegis ballistic missile defense
systems are involved.
They'll work together with Israel's Arrow, Patriot and Iron Dome.
They'll also further heighten tensions already too high. Targeting
Iran is involved. Confrontation ahead is likely, no matter the
potentially catastrophic risks.
Hebrew University of Jerusalem's Martin Van Creveld said exercises
are to pressure Iran. It's, "among other things, (to) show Iran, the
people in Tehran, that Israel and the United States are ready to
counterattack."
In fact, it's about counterattacking in response to Iran retaliating
against Israel and/or Washington attacking its nuclear facilities.
Iran threatens no one. However, it's able to defend itself by
responding forcefully if attacked. In contrast, Washington and
Israel plan regime change by whatever means, including war. The risk
is high. So are the regional and global dangers.
So far, joint strategy's focusing on subversion, destabilization,
sanctions, surveillance, cyberwar and targeted assassinations.
Expect escalations ahead if war's planned, followed perhaps by a
false flag attack.
James Fetzer and Joshua Blakeney said "several reliable sources"
suggest it's coming. They're common Washington/Israel tactics.
Former Israeli intelligence officer, Avi Perry, wrote a Jerusalem
Post article about a planned “'Pearl Harbor scenario, in which Iran
launch(es) a 'surprise' attack on the US Navy," giving Washington
"the perfect rationalization to finish them off."
Does Perry have reliable information? He said an "Iranian attack on
an American military vessel will serve as justification and a
pretext for a retaliatory move by the US military against the
Iranian regime." He identified "a US aircraft carrier" as target.
Fetzer and Blakeney pose an alternate scenario, suggesting the USS
Vincennes. Its fourth version "is a US Navy Ticonderoga class Aegis
guided missile cruiser. On July 3, 1988, the original Vincennes
downed Iran Air 655 over the Persian Gulf in Iranian air space,
killing all on board - 290 "civilian passengers....including 38
non-Iranians and 66 children."
It was malicious cold-blodded murder, a US/Israeli specialty. Now
perhaps they have bigger fish to fry, using a false flag attack to
wage war. A "reliable source" said:
"The INACTIVE Ticonderoga class AEGIS missile cruiser got towed out
of here under cover of darkness....It'll likely be the sacrificial
lamb that starts the war with Iran."
"Why else would they move it when all the rest sit at a buoy here
for months before they finally leave them to be sunk?"
"I told this to a former 9/11 Truth person back when that ship got
moved that it was likely to be used for a FALSE FLAG attack. Well,
we'll soon see if I was right about this one."
After leaving Puget Sound, it's probably in Bahrain with
Washington's Fifth Fleet until action day arrives. "Meanwhile, the
US Navy is compiling a list of casualties based on deceased sailors,
very much as was the case on 9/11."
Washington and Israel aren't concerned about attacking their own
targets and people with greater aims in mind. Expect Mossad and/or
CIA operatives to spring the trap. All wars involve deception.
Washington and Israel regularly use it, especially to launch wars.
This time, however, general war may follow. WW III may result. The
possibility's frighteningly real. Updated reports will discuss new
developments.
Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at
lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.
Also visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to
cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the
Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network
Thursdays at 10AM US Central time and Saturdays and Sundays at noon.
All programs are archived for easy listening.
http://www.progressiveradionetwork.com/the-progressive-news-hour/. |