- Post-9/11, Washington's aggression created a Middle East
cauldron. As a result, it's been on the boil. Things ahead look worse.
Obama and key NATO allies threaten the entire region. In 2012, expect continued
destructive violence.
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- Israel's partnered in this enterprise. On December 20,
Jerusalem Post writer Yaakov Katz headlined, "US commander visits
Israel to finalize missile drill," saying:
-
- This spring, Washington and Israel will "hold the(ir)
largest-ever missile defense exercise....amid Iranian efforts to obtain
nuclear weapons."
-
- Unprecedented in size, it'll include establishing "US
command posts in Israel and IDF command posts at EUCOM headquarters (America's
European Command) - with the ultimate goal of establishing joint task forces
in the event of a large-scale conflict in the Middle East."
-
- In fact, greater conflict's coming because Washington
and Israel plan it. Alleged threats are fabricated. Claiming an Iranian
nuclear weapons program is bogus. At issue is creating instability, chaos
and violence to achieve longstanding US/Israeli geopolitical objectives.
They involve redrawing the region for total dominance to Russia and China's
borders.
-
- Netanyahu Wants War, not Peace
-
- Recent Haaretz editorials leveled stinging accusations
against him. A mid-December one said his "main consideration is not
improving the quality of life....but rather giving in to cronyism and vested
interests (to) remain in power."
-
- Another highlighted his anti-democratic agenda, targeting
human rights and peace organizations. A June 2011 one worried that he's
"dooming Israel to live eternally by the sword," saying:
-
- He leaves "no opening for reconciliation and understanding
with the Palestinians and the Arabs of the Muslim world....There is no
surer recipe for turning his claim" about an insoluble conflict "into
a self-fulfilling prophecy." As a result, he's heading the region
for more chaos.
-
- On Iran, Haaretz said:
-
- "(B)ombing (its) nuclear facilities is effectively
equivalent to starting a war. The implications of such a decision are liable
to be dramatic and painful for the entire Israeli public."
-
- Yet Netanyahu and extremists around seem hell bent for
it. So do hardline generals, including IDF chief of staff Benny Gantz.
On December 30, he called Iran's nuclear program a regional and Israeli
threat.
-
- He stopping short of saying what many fear - preemptively
attacking and destroying it. He did say, "through appropriate international
and Israeli preparations, which I will not specify here, this challenge
can be met."
-
- Moreover, Israel may attack Gaza. According to Southern
Brigade General Tal Hermoni:
-
- "We are preparing and, in fact, are ready for another
campaign, which will be varied and different, to renew our deterrence."
-
- Stopping short of saying war, he left little doubt what
he means. So does IDF chief General Benny Gantz. Commenting on Cast Lead's
third anniversary, he called it "an excellent operation that achieved
deterrence for Israel vis-a-vis Hamas."
-
- Expect more conflict, he said. Israel will initiate "swift
and painful" punishment. "I do not advise Hamas to test our mettle."
The next Gaza campaign will be shorter than Cast Lead with much greater
firepower, he stressed.
-
- Gantz and Hermoni left no ambiguity. Israel plans war,
perhaps coincidently with US aggression against Syria, then Iran. If nuclear
weapons are used, humanity will be threatened. In their quest for world
dominance, Washington, Israel and key NATO partners may destroy it in the
process. The threat's too great to underestimate.
-
- On December 30, Haaretz's editorial headlined, "A
2011 of radical change welcomes an unclear 2012," saying:
-
- Hope may spring eternal, but not under "a government
(that's) entrenching itself, even though it is barren of hope and busy
mainly with muzzling dissenting opinions and engaging in political machinations
intended to preserve itself."
-
- Moreover, it's heading toward alienation, isolation and
more war. The 2012 global forecast may be "foggy. But in Israel it
is clear: Spring never seemed so far away."
-
- On New Year's day, Haaretz's editorial raised another
disturbing issue headlined, "Israel's rule is that of the jungle,"
saying:
-
- Netanyahu finds ways to obstruct judicial rulings affecting
illegal settlement outposts, "including those erected on private Palestinian
lands...."
-
- "In cases where the High Court of Justice ordered"
their removal, they were retroactively authorized. In fact, Ramat Gilad
was left intact to reward extremist settlers "for agreeing not to
attack soldiers" sent to evacuate them.
-
- Israel may be the only country still colonizing occupied
territory. Based on century old Ottoman law, it stole 250,000 acres by
illegally calling them "state lands."
-
- Along with aggressive wars, "(n)othing is closer
to the law of the jungle than a system of distorted laws and procedures"
that permits whatever authorities wish, regardless of lawful principles
and justice.
-
- Israel's proposed legislation will stop evicting settlers
on privately owned Palestinian land by forcing them to prove ownership.
If passed, doing it in court will be required.
-
- According to Yesha Council head Danny Dayan, the bill
doesn't expropriate private land and approve settlement communities retroactively.
It lets courts have final say.
-
- Peace Now lawyer Michael Sfard disagrees. He calls claims
about Palestinians not proving ownership spurious. They're designed to
violate High Court rulings. Israel and settlers know Palestinians are rightful
owners. Some of them provided valid documents proving it.
-
- According to Peace Now director, Yariv Oppenheimer, the
proposed law amounts to a land grad at the expense of rightful Palestinian
owners. It's been ongoing for decades.
-
- They're up against extremist leaders who want all valued
West Bank areas colonized and Jerusalem entirely Judaized to exclude Arab
citizens.
-
- Combined with other repressive legislation and threatened
war, 2012 looks increasingly ominous.
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- A Final Comment
-
- On January 1, various reports said an Arab League advisory
body wants Syrian monitors withdrawn. It claims Assad's covering up violence
and abuse. According to its chairman, Ali al-Salem al-Dekbas:
-
- "For this to happen in the presence of Arab monitors
has roused the anger of Arab people and negates the purpose of (their mission).
This is giving the Syrian regime an Arab cover for continuing its inhumane
actions under the eyes and ears of the Arab League."
-
- In fact for months, Syria's been wracked by externally
generated violence. Arab League despots support it. They're silent on Washington's
regime change plans, even at the risk of more war.
-
- They backed NATO's war on Libya. Since March, they supported
anti-Syrian insurgents. They partnered with Washington's monitoring scheme.
Sudanese General Mohamed al-Dabi heads it.
-
- As issue is what he's saying; namely, that so far things
look calm and Syrian officials are cooperating. Washington expects Assad
accused of violence to advance its regime change plans.
-
- It also wants reports of massive pro-regime demonstrations
suppressed. Facts on the ground aren't cooperating. Ahead look for Plan
B, perhaps with other monitors under new leadership. More reports will
follow as events determine.
-
- 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/.
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