Cool, when does it start, does your bible say that? What is a rapture? Like a t rex?
Hey dude if you want me to pray for them arabs, then yer warped. I think Israel is a bunch of cowards, so the war will be short, dont ya think?

Are you a smart person?......Stick around this website.Watch and read.Any question that you may have is already here.If you are an ignorant person,then I am sure that you will live up to your user name.It is obvious that you are not a christian.Maybe it would take some hard evidence to cause you to realize that there just may be something to this christian thing.Maybe no one has given you a satisfactory answer....But, Hey!...We are still learning too, and these little nuggets of knowledge are popping up every day......Just do us a favor,be cool, kick back, and ask honest questions......I noticed that you state that you are from a chaingang.....some of us here have been criminals at one time.But the Lord can take the most hard core unbeliever, and make that person a believer.

..................................................benny

LOL, daaaang, Benny! That was cold

hey dude take it easy. when I see dudes fighting, i always go up and wop um one, so i do more for world peace than sum of the christians who stand around shouting heeeeelp.

i dont have many questions, i take care of my own dude. i aint no shakypants.
my girlfriend said to me the other day: god helps those who help themselves, so i help myself, and god can relax.
if ya evva need stamina, i am yur guy. u shud feel lucky i came to help!

OK,...At least you got spunk....Catch you later on the fly boss,I'm a settin traps for post tribbers.

..........................................benny

yer a hunter? cool! but what u do is nasty for that mailman. trippin postmen is not kosher dude!

For them maybe,but it mainly for the benefit for those on the milk of end time prophecy.
...........................................benny

Terrorists 'Actively' Seeking Nukes

June 18….(Newsmax) Extremist groups continue to actively seek nuclear weapons, a senior US official said Tuesday during a meeting in Spain of a US-Russian initiative to fight nuclear terrorism. "Combating nuclear terrorism is especially important today," US Undersecretary of State for Arms Control John Rood told a news conference. "Regretably we continue to see indications in the United States from information we collect of the very terrorist groups we are most concerned about making concerted efforts to acquire nuclear capabilities with the express intent to use them against our peoples," he added. Over 200 delegates from 56 nations, as well as the European Union and the International Atomic Energy Agency, are taking part in the three-day gathering which got underway in Madrid on Monday. The meeting is the fourth of its kind since the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism was founded in 2006 by US President George W. Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin to reinforce control of nuclear facilities and materials in order to prevent such groups from accessing them. It was formed amid heightened global concern over nuclear programs in North Korea and Iran. The closed-door gathering in Madrid is aimed at "developing and consolidating an international work plan of a technical nature to improve the fight against nuclear terrorism," Spain's foreign ministry said in a statement. The world's five leading nuclear powers,the United States, Russia, China, Britian and France, form the core of the initiative which now includes 73 member states.

.................................................benny

Unpopularity Contest: Iran First, Then Israel Second

A BBC World Service annual survey of views on various countries found that the highest number of respondents, 54 percent, voiced negative views about Iran's influence on global affairs, with Israel next at 52 percent.

Iran has been criticized greatly for its nuclear program and support of terrorism. Israel, in turn, has been lambasted for its crackdowns on the Palestinians and the 2006 war in Lebanon.

Pakistan was the third most poorly rated country in the poll published.

International opinion about the United States appears to have improved, with 35 percent of respondents rating it positively as opposed to 31 percent last year.

The BBC quoted experts as saying the imminent departure of President Bush, whose war on terror has proven unpopular abroad and at home, may have affected views.

According to the survey, negative views on Israel have decreased slightly in Western Europe, South America, Turkey and even the United Arab Emirates. But there has been an increase among Americans with 39 percent, up from 33 percent, leaving them nearly divided on their views at 43 percent positive and 39 percent negative.

The poll of 17,457 respondents in 34 countries was conducted between October and January. No margin of error was given.

-virtualjerusalem.com, 2 April 2008

Based on the media report, it seems logical for Iran to be the most unpopular country. But to place Israel right behind Iran in the unpopularity contest is mind-boggling. The contribution Israel's scientists are making to benefit the entire world, particularly the U.S.A., should place Israel in the category of the most popular nations in the world. Thus we see Israel again is different. It doesn't really matter what they do and don't do—Israel is a Jewish nation and Jews will continue to be discriminated against. What is the reason? We find the answer in Jesus' statement, “Salvation is of the Jews” (John 4:22). Because the world collectively rejects salvation through Jesus Christ, the Jew, it is not surprising that the world rejects Israel because the overwhelming majority rejects salvation through Jesus Christ, the greatest Jew of all time.
.............................................benny

hey bennydude! hows the war going? i say: nuke them arabs all of um, then we have no more problems, hehe! go for it!

About 3 1/2 years ago,..I had first posted the Isaiah 17;1 topic. Right from the word go!....I had received flak on the topic.....and now,today,.....many of you who have followed my posts, realize that the prophecy of Isaiah 17;1 could come to pass before this year has expired.
Many of us on this forum believe that the Lord is coming for His bride very soon.Myself,I believe that there is an extreme strong possibility that the Lord may come for His Bride before this year has expired.....Do I have good reason to believe that this may be true? Let's look at the evidence.
But before we do,let's keep the following scripture in mind......1 Thessalonians 5;4.."But you,brethren,are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief."
At this time, there are many developing prophetic signs, that seem almost near completion.
Such as the old Roman Empire(the European Union),The current peace negotiations, and how this ties into Joel 3;2....And that is exactly what is currently happening....They are Dividing His Land!
And Joel 3;2 makes it clear that the Lord will soon move onto the world scene in a big way!
We are witnessing the alignment of Russia and the arab nations prophetically foretold in the book of Ezekial 38.
We are witnessing the formation of a one world government and a one world church.
Persecution of christians is on the rise.Earthquakes have increased in frequency and size.
And there looks like a major war is soon to breakout in the Middle East,that will fulfill the prophecy of Isaiah 17, 1.
But!.....These prophecies are not completed yet! All these prophecies, are awaiting something that will put them into fast forward to complete the prophetic endtime picture foretold by the prophets of old. There is a breakoff point in time!.......The Rapture of the Bride of Jesus Christ!
And the Lord said!.......And when these things "BEGIN" to come to pass, look up,and lift up your heads because your redemption draws near.The completion of the above prophecies are awaiting the rapture!The Lord said that this Day would not come upon us as a thief! The identity of those that are not expecting the Lord are the back sliders, the post,and mid tribbers.Those on this forum have not a leg to stand on.You post tribbers admitt that at this very moment you are looking for the anti-christ to appear first....so as it stands you are not expecting the Lord to call up His Bride, and therefore, the Lord will come upon you as a thief in the night!


The Lord calls us His Bride,and He Identifies Himself as the Bride Groom. Have you wondered why?
The Lord was a Jew, who spoke cultural topics to the Jews that He knew that they could relate too.
When the Lord spoke of the ancient jewish wedding,....The people understood what The Lord meant!The Bride knew the general time that the Bride Groom would come to take her to His Fathers house, but she did not know the Day or the Hour of His arrival......So, When the Lord Jesus,stated that "But of that Day and Hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only"Matthew 24;36
The Lord Jesus continues speaking about that time, and He continues with this topic going into Matthew 25;1-13....again,the Lord speaks of the Bride and Bride groom, and the catching away of those who were watching and ready!
When the Lord takes His Bride to His Father's house, the Bride Groom and The Bride will enter the Bridel Chamber, and "Close The Door" and will stay inside the bridel chamber for 7 days!

Isaiah 26;20..."Come my people,enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee;hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.
The indignation is referring to the tribulation.
The Lord said that "WE" would be kept from the hour of temptation.
The Lord said that "WE" would be kept from the wrath to come!
"WE",the Bride of Jesus Christ will be hidden!!!
The following is tied to the Ancient Jewish Wedding:
New moon-Concealed moon....is the time of concealment!...The Lord will keep His appointed time!...Rosh Hashanna has a 48 hr window...you do not know what hour or what day!..Rosh Hashanna is the feast of trumpets!...Rosh Hashanna is the only feast that is centered around a new moon...(A new moon is concealed!)The word Rosh Hashanna means Time of Concealment or Hiding!,and only when two wittnesses see the edge of the moon do they understand that it is time now for the feast to celebrate and the month starts.Then the two wittnesses would come before the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem and announce it.Rosh Hashanna was a two day period. It had a two day or 48 hr.period of window to determine when it started. That is why no man knew the day or the hour.They knew about the time.They knew about the season, but they could not tell you exactly until there was a sign in the heaven.



Matthew 24;33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things,know that it is near, at the doors!

Comment:The signs in the heavens,political events, things foretold by the prophets that would develope, would signal to the Bride,when the Bridegroom had His hand on the door!

Revelation 4;1...."John said,I saw a door in heaven open.and I was caught up!

Comment:This is the coming of Christ for His Bride!

Matthew 25;10....And while they went to buy, the Bridegroom came;and they that were ready went in with Him to the marriage;and the door was shut

Comment:The rapture happened,the door was shut afterward.

Zephaniah 2;1-2Gather yourselves together, yea,gather together,O'nation not desired;Before the decree bring forth,before the day pass as a chaff,before the day of the Lord's anger come upon you,it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lord's anger.

Comment:This gathering together is the rapture...the nation not desired....is the Bride, that the world hates...The bride is caught up. and hidden while the world endures the Lord's anger!This gathering together is in line with 2 Thessalonians 2;1..."Now we beseech you brethren,by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto Him.

Psalms 81;3..."Blow up the trumpet in the new moon, in the time appointed, on our solemn feast day.
Comment:This is referring to Rosh Hasanna, the Feast of Trumpets!

Isaiah 26;20..."Come my people,enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about the;hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.


Comment:The Bridegroom has prepared many mansions that has many doors...The Bride was caught up,and hidden during the tribulation period.

Some of you who have followed my posts, know that I believe that the Rapture and Isaiah 17;1 will follow closely together, almost back to back. The Middle East is set to explode any day now, and Rosh Hashanna is to fall on September 29th this year.And Ironicly,....Iran is schedualed to go online with one of it's nuclear facilities this September also.And President Bush has indicated that He may attack Iran before the Democrats take the White House.
If Iran were allowed to build a nuclear weapon,.....A great majority of Israelis would migrate to another country away from Israel.Hardly anyone in Israel would be able to sleep at night,knowing that they could be killed by a madman there in Iran.All of Israel lives by a Motto.."NEVER AGAIN"!
It right now is hard to imagine,war being put off for another year.I believe that most of us can agree that it's not getting, but instead IS REAL CRAZY OUT THERE!....All developing prophecies are awaiting one event...When the rapture comes to pass, all prophecies will go into fast forward, to complete the picture foretold by the prophets of old.Is this the year that the rapture will happen?
It does look like that may be so.But Let's WATCH closely,this is only the month of June,..It is possible that we may get some more indicaters that this just may be the year?My advice.....reach all that you can for the Lord Jesus......Our Time is coming to a close!
..........................................benny

Isn't that something, Benny? About 3 1/2 years ago you began posting this thread, and if this should come to pass it may mark the next 3 1/2 years from now.

Sounds like the first 3 1/2 years you have posted was the first part of the tribulation and the second 3 1/2 years is the next part of the tribulation, which would mean we've been in tribulation all along so far. I've wondered as such for some time now.

Thanks for bringing that to light!

Daniels 70th week has not yet begun,.......My Friend Bob,You will be in heaven before it begins...............................benny B)

War Costs Estimated Three Trillion

According to Nobel Prize wining, U.S. Economist Joseph Stiglitz, the cost of the Iraq war is estimated to be 3 trillion dollars. “The U.S. government has vastly miscalculated the actual cost of the invasion,” stated Joseph Stiglitz, former Chief Economist of the World Bank. Joseph Stiglitz contradicted arguments made by former economic adviser to the White House Lawrence Lindsey that the Iraq war has developed positively for the U.S. economy. The war will probably continue until 2010 at the cost of another 500 billion, but the result is nothing but negative for the global economy.

-Neuss Grevenbroicher Zeitung,

28 February 2008, pg. A5

Slowly, but surely, we witness that military force no longer can achieve peace. Based on worldly understanding, only by diplomacy, negotiation, and economic freedom will some kind of peace be instituted. This corresponds to the Scripture which clearly states that global economy is the key to peace for the world. But we must add that in the end, globalism with all its advantages will be destroyed: “The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing, And saying, Alas, alas, that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls! For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off” (Revelation 18:15-17).

..................................................benny

Tehran offers to share its “nuclear experience” with Syria
June 18, 2008, 8:23 PM (GMT+02:00)


Iranian Ambassador Ahmed Moussavi
The offer came from Iran’s ambassador to Syria, Sayyed Ahmed Moussavi, who stressed in an interview that to boost Iranian-Syrian relations Iran will pass on its “experiences with nuclear power” to Syria. He cited July 7 as the date for their officials to meet.

DEBKAfile’s military sources say Iran’s willingness to defy its obligations under the non-proliferation treaty by offering a nuclear capability to Syria across the border from Israel brings Tehran’s threat to wipe Israel off the map much closer to home. It is a mark of contempt for Washington and the US-led Western sanctions which failed to halt Iran’s uranium enrichment and nuclear missile warhead projects.

DEBKAfile’s military sources describe this as an extremely menacing security development for Israel and a painful body blow for America’s policies and standing.

The menace posed to Israel by Iran’s nuclear weapons project and its leaders’ threats has increased manifold. Tehran’s offer would integrate Israel’s hostile neighbor in its uranium enrichment and nuclear missile warhead projects.

Moussavi said: As part of boosting our bilateral relations, Iran will pass on its experiences with nuclear power to Syria. “Islam has taught us to pass on our knowledge and we can pass our experience to Syria if it wants it,” he said.

Our Middle East sources report that Syrian president Bashar Assad was forewarned of the ambassador’s earthshaking statement before he set off Tuesday for a five-day visit to India. They attribute Iran’s nuclear generosity to two causes:

1. The weekend discussions between Presidents George W. Bush and Nicolas Sarkozy in Paris on ways of detaching Assad from his ties with Tehran.

2. Syria’s indirect peace talks with Israel via Turkey and he prospect of Israeli concessions.

Seeing what was going on, Tehran decided enough was enough and it was time to tighten the leash on the Syrian president in case he was tempted to start thinking about quitting the Iranian orbit.

The circumstances surrounding Tehran’s brazen step are uncovered in the coming DEBKA-Net-Weekly out Friday

............................................benny

Report: IAEA has proof Syria built nuclear reactor


French news agency reports UN watchdog has evidence proving Syria was developing nuclear reactor. Report contradicts IAEA chief's speech, claiming agency has no evidence to suggest Syria had means for such an endeavor

Ynetnews Published: 06.18.08, 23:28 / Israel News




The website of the French news agency Le Monde reported that information originating in different countries other than the US and suggesting that Syria did indeed build a nuclear reactor in Al Kibar, was handed over to the International Atomic Energy Association (IAEA) recently.



In Cahoots?

Report: Turkey, Syria eye nuclear energy cooperation / Reuters

Syrian oil minister says countries will announce establishment of joint energy company in coming days and 'in the future we could found joint nuclear power plants for electricity production'
Full story



This report contradicts the most recent statement made by the UN's nuclear watchdog, in which it denied having any knowledge leading to the conclusion that Syria had the knowledge and means to build such a reactor.



According to the French report, the new information confirms earlier claims that North Korea had assisted Syria in its nuclear endeavors. This negates a speech made on Tuesday by IAEA Director General Mohammad ElBaradei, who said in an interview to Al Arabiya television that "we have no evidence that Syria has the human resources that would allow it to carry out a large nuclear program. We do not see Syria having nuclear fuel."



ElBaradei said previously that Syria had agreed to a June 22-24 inspection visit to examine the allegations. In the interview, he called on Damascus to cooperate with the IAEA inspectors.



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Last week, parallel to the progress made during the indirect talks between Syria and Israel, sources reported that Syria was considering establishing a joint power company with Turkey, which may build nuclear reactors for peaceful purposes. The company would also search for oil resources in Turkey, Syria, and other countries.
.............................................benny

Bush's rhetoric, Bush's policies

By Caroline B. Glick








http://www.JewishWorldReview.com | In an interview Sunday with Britain's Observer, US President George W. Bush made an important observation. The president argued that the common wisdom about the Middle East, which argues that Palestinian statelessness is the root of regional instability and jihadism, is incorrect. It is Iranian aggression rather than the lack of Palestinian sovereignty that lies at the root of the war.

As Bush put it, "When you go to the Middle East and you sit in my seat and listen, yes, there's concern about the Palestinian state. But the dialogue has shifted dramatically from 'solve the Palestinian state and you've solved the problems in the Middle East,' to, now, 'solve the Iranian issue and you solve the problems in the Middle East.' "

In acknowledging this basic reality, the president finally accepted the self-evident truth that people like US scholar Michael Ledeen, the author of The Iranian Time Bomb: The Mullah Zealots' Quest for Destruction, have been pointing out for years. It is Iran which is fueling the war in Iraq. It is Iran that has used its proxy in Lebanon to attack Israel and assert control over the country. It is Iran that stands behind the resurgence of the Palestinian jihad against Israel. And it is Iran that is developing nuclear weapons both to destroy Israel and to assert its control over global petroleum markets.

Given the continuously escalating nature of the Iranian threat to global security, Bush's remark was significant. And since Britain has led the campaign to convince the US that it is the absence of Palestinian sovereignty that stands at the root of the war, the fact that Bush made this statement of strategic lucidity to a British newspaper on the eve of his trip to Britain made it doubly significant.

So it is especially troubling and disappointing that in spite of the president's clear recognition of the nature of the Iranian challenge, he is refusing to confront Iran in any practical way.

As he moved through European capitals, Bush asserted repeatedly that he is completely committed to Europe's policy of diplomatically engaging Iran on its nuclear weapons program. He never once brought up the option of forcibly preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Rather, he sufficed with calling for the three, toothless UN Security Council sanctions resolutions against Iran to be enforced.






BUSH'S STATEMENTS came against the backdrop of Iran's latest rejection of the West's latest offer to buy it off in exchange for a mere "suspension" of its uranium enrichment activities. That is, he embraced "negotiations" after Iran essentially said, again, that its nuclear weapons program is non-negotiable.

Bush tried to place a wedge between the Iranian regime and the Iranian people by arguing - correctly - that the Iranian people are suffering under the mullahocracy's jackboot. But he has also taken toppling the Iranian regime off the table. So the oppressed Iranian people have no reason to believe that were they to risk their lives in an attempt to free themselves of their leaders, the US would support them.

According to the US media, there was some talk a while back about a US strike against terror training camps in Iran that are used to train insurgents who are killing coalition forces and Iraqi citizens in Iraq. According to international law, such an attack would be permissible. But the Pentagon reportedly nixed the idea, arguing that while the US may start such a confrontation, it would have no control over how events would unfold.

This unfortunately, is a wild distortion of reality. The reality is that Iran has been actively engaged in confronting the US and its allies since 1979. And in every theater of action, it is Iran that has been calling all of the shots. A US strike against the terror training facilities in Iran would mark the first time that the US has ever seized the initiative in Iran's war against it and against the rest of the free world. So opposing such a strike is not an argument against confrontation, but an argument against acknowledging the existence of Iran's ongoing war against the US.






LEBANON IS one of Iran's key battlegrounds for regional dominance. Through its Hizbullah proxy, last month Iran consolidated its control over Lebanon. Hizbullah's bloody takeover of the country was capped off with the signing of the Doha agreement. In Qatar, Lebanon's defeated pro-democracy forces from the March 14 movement officially accepted Hizbullah control of the country by acquiescing to Hizbullah's demand for control over the Lebanese government.

Rather than accept that at Doha the Lebanese government became an open tool of Hizbullah, the Bush administration has decided to pretend - along with Europe - that nothing has happened. As far as the Bush administration and Europe are concerned, a pro-Western, democratically elected government still runs Lebanon's government.

Sadly, there is nothing new about this policy of denial. After the March 14 democracy movement successfully forced Syrian forces to withdraw from Lebanon in 2005, Hizbullah stepped in to protect Syrian and Iranian interests in the country by joining Fuad Siniora's supposedly pro-Western government. Like Europe, the US refused to acknowledge the fact that Hizbullah's partnership with Siniora rendered the Lebanese government - and with it the March 14 movement - proxies of Hizbullah and Iran. And so, prodded by France, throughout the 2006 Israel-Hizbullah war, the US ignored the fact that the Siniora government was nothing more than Hizbullah's diplomatic cover.

In 2006 the US and Europe justified their studied denial of Lebanon's political realities by arguing that Hizbullah was only a minority member of Siniora's coalition. This argument was never persuasive given that Hizbullah's Iranian-trained, financed and armed military force is more powerful than the Lebanese army. But it was a convenient excuse for inaction for leaders unwilling to acknowledge that Iran is the source of regional instability. Today, with Hizbullah in control over the Siniora government, this dubious argument has been wholly discredited. And yet the West's policy of denial has only escalated.

Immediately after the Doha agreement was concluded, the US announced its desire to expand its support for the Hizbullah-controlled Lebanese military. And Monday, Al Hayat reported that during his visit with French President Nicholas Sarkozy, Bush agreed to reward Hizbullah for its aggression directly.

Al Hayat reported that during his visit with Sarkozy, Bush agreed to accept Hizbullah's demand that Israel surrender its control over Mt. Dov - or what it refers to as the Shebaa Farms - to Lebanon. Israel's control over Mt. Dov has served as Iran's justification for its proxy's continued aggression against Israel since Israel withdrew from Lebanon in May 2000.






ISRAEL SEIZED control over Mt. Dov from Syria during the 1967 Six Day War. It was never considered Lebanese territory. In 2006, Lebanese Druse leader Walid Jumblatt stated outright that Hizbullah's claim to the vast, strategically critical area which separates the Syrian-controlled Golan Heights from the Upper Galilee was a complete fabrication. Yet, acting as Hizbullah's mouthpiece, in 2006 the Siniora government demanded that Israel surrender the area to Lebanon. Refusing to acknowledge that Siniora was controlled by Hizbullah, in August 2006 the US placed this groundless demand before the UN for consideration in the UN Security Council's Resolution 1701 which set the terms of the ceasefire.

And now, with Hizbullah - that is Iran - the undisputed ruler of Lebanon, Bush has reportedly accepted Hizbullah's unjustifiable demand for control over the area.

Then of course there is the Palestinian war against Israel, which Bush himself acknowledges is a consequence of Iranian aggression rather than its source. And yet, rather than embrace the policy which logically stems from this correct assessment - namely that the Palestinians' role as an Iranian proxy means that it makes no sense to support them - the Bush administration has made pressuring Israel to make concessions to the Palestinians the core of its Middle East policy. And in so doing, the administration has contributed to the solidification of Iran's rule in Gaza through Hamas and the expansion of Hamas's Iranian-controlled power in Judea and Samaria.

As is the case with the Hizbullah-controlled Siniora government, so with the Palestinians, the US refuses to acknowledge that the Fatah terror group is indistinguishable from and acts as diplomatic cover for the Hamas terror group. And so it forces Israel to make concessions to Fatah that directly endanger Israel and strengthen Hamas and Iran. As IDF commanders warned during Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's latest trip here this week, the thousands of US-trained security forces that Rice forced Israel to permit to deploy in Jenin and Nablus last month have overseen the expansion of terror attacks against Israel and enabled Hamas to expand its influence. The same is the case in Ramallah.

Then too, IDF commanders warn that if Rice succeeds in forcing the weak and incompetent Israeli government to take down yet more roadblocks in Judea and Samaria, Israelis can expect for the Palestinians to begin shooting rockets and mortars at Jerusalem and central Israel from Judea and Samaria. That is, by purposely undermining Israel's military control over Judea and Samaria in favor of Fatah - which is Hamas's proxy - the Bush administration is actively promoting the expansion of Iran's control over Judea and Samaria.

Sunday it was reported that Pakistan may have sold designs for advanced nuclear warheads capable of being launched from Iran's Shihab-3 ballistic missiles to Iran. These reports came as Pakistan's new "democratic" government has signed agreements transferring control over border areas with Afghanistan to the Taliban and al-Qaida. That is, the report of Pakistan's nuclear proliferation activities came to light as Pakistan openly supports the war against NATO and Afghan national forces in Afghanistan.

For years, the US has been very careful not to attack Pakistani territory in spite of the fact that it is used as a sanctuary for the Taliban and al-Qaida because Pakistan has nuclear weapons. That is, the US's inability to contest the actions of a nuclear proliferating, terror supporting state is the consequence of its refusal to take action to prevent Pakistan from acquiring nuclear weapons in 1998. And of course, compared with Iran, Pakistan is "moderate."

Throughout much of his presidency, and especially since 2006, what has been most notable about Bush's rhetoric is that it has been completely disconnected from his policies. As he considers the legacy he is about to leave behind, it will hopefully occur to the president that the only way to leave the world more secure is to match his policies towards Iran to his rhetoric.


Every weekday JewishWorldReview.com publishes what many in Washington and in the media consider "must reading." Sign up for the daily JWR update. It's free. Just click here.

JWR contributor Caroline B. Glick is the senior Middle East Fellow at the Center for Security Policy in Washington, DC and the deputy managing editor of The Jerusalem Post. Comment by clicking here.
..........................................benny

hey cool dude when is da war gonna start? any idea? popcorn bag is ready here, lets do it dude!

I strongly suspect late september.......Let's Watch and be sober!
Remember,...I also believe that the rapture(The catching up of the Bride to meet the Lord in the air)will happen almost back to back of Isaiah 17;1
Only time will tell the truth.
..............................................benny

waaa who wud marry in the middle of a war? not kosher dude! but good luck to that bride anyway!

Failure to create Palestinian state 'serious mistake': Jordan king by Mussa Hattar
Wed Jun 18, 1:34 PM ET



PETRA, Jordan (AFP) - Jordan's King Abdullah II warned on Wednesday that failure to create an independent Palestinian state this year would be a "serious mistake," calling for a stable Middle East.

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"It would be a serious mistake to miss the opportunities we have this year to establish, finally, a sovereign, independent and viable Palestinian state along with a secure and recognised Israel," the king said at the opening of a conference of 29 Nobel laureates whose main focus is the global food crisis and other development issues.

"The Middle East must move out of this threat zone. The single most important step is peace -- a comprehensive settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict."

Israeli President Shimon Peres joined the two-day meeting at Jordan's World Heritage Site of Petra, alongside Arab League chief Amr Mussa, Tibet's spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, and Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade.

"Throughout Jordan, and across the region, millions of people want to be part of a stable, moderate, modern Middle East. Long after today's conflicts are history, their lives will be shaped by what we did, this year," the king said.

Israel and the Palestinians resumed peace talks at a US-hosted meeting in November, committing themselves to a target of reaching a deal, including the creation of a Palestinian state, by the end of 2008.

But so far, they have made little concrete progress.

In an interview published on Wednesday by Lebanon's As-Safir newspaper, King Abdullah said that the Palestinians would "not accept any substitute for their homeland".

"Israel must realise this fact and acknowledge the existence of the Palestinians and accept the inevitable coexistence with them," he said in the interview, also carried by Jordanian newspapers.

His statements came amid fears in Jordan that the kingdom may come under pressure to merge with a rump West Bank if the Palestinians do not win their promised independence.

"Jordan is Jordan and Palestine is Palestine," the king stressed in the interview.

Officials have told AFP that the kingdom, where a significant proportion of its 5.8 million inhabitants are of Palestinian origin, "strongly opposes all American or Israeli attempts to merge it with a part of the West Bank."

At the conference, named "Petra IV: Reaching for New Economic, Scientific and Educational Horizons," five working groups were to discuss issues including the world food crisis and youth and economic development in the Middle East.

Warning that "extremism feeds on violence and frustration," the king urged Nobel laureates to support young people, who constitute almost 60 percent of the population of the region.

"Their generation is facing immediate challenges. We need to support them in every way possible," he said.

The king later met separately with Mussa and Peres, who won the Nobel Peace Prize for Israel's autonomy accord with the Palestinians in 1994, the year when Jordan and Israel signed a peace treaty.

"Israel's settlement policies threaten the Middle East peace process. Israel must take all necessary measures to improve Palestinian living conditions and ease Palestinian hardships," the palace quoted the king as telling Peres.

The conference is organised by the King Abdullah II Fund for Development and the Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity, created by Jewish author and Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel who won the 1986 Nobel Peace Prize.

.....................................................benny

Jun 19, 2008 0:19 | Updated Jun 19, 2008 3:38
Final stage of Gaza truce may include multinational Arab force
By HERB KEINON AND YAAKOV KATZ
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The deployment of a multinational Arab force in Gaza as a final stage of the truce that was set to begin Thursday morning is being discussed at the highest levels of government, The Jerusalem Post has learned.


A soldier walks on top of a military vehicle on the Gaza border.
Photo: AP

Slideshow: Pictures of the week According to a senior defense official involved in the cease-fire talks, Egypt raised the request for the deployment of the Arab force during meetings between Amos Gilad, head of the Defense Ministry's Diplomatic-Security Bureau, and Egyptian Intelligence chief Omar Suleiman.

Israel, the defense official said, was not completely opposed to the idea since it would ultimately bring Arab countries such as Egypt to "take responsibility" for events in Gaza. The deployment was also raised as a way for Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and his Fatah party to regain control of the Gaza Strip.

The official said that while Israel was therefore in favor of the initiative, the defense establishment was skeptical that it would succeed in light of Hamas's public opposition as well as the operational challenges it would pose for the IDF. One such challenge would be concerns over accidentally harming soldiers of the multinational force while pursuing terrorists inside the Gaza Strip.

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"Egypt would like to see Arab troops on the ground," the senior defense official said. "It is unlikely, however, that it will happen considering Hamas's opposition."

The introduction of foreign Arab forces would only come in the last phase of the multi-stage truce that Egypt brokered between Israel and Hamas.

After all these stages (see box) are implemented, the idea of an Arab force inside the Gaza Strip would be considered more seriously. At present it is still a "vague idea" that all officials involved realize "is not going to happen tomorrow," and that would depend on Israeli approval.

One government source said few people really expected that the cease-fire would last that long, or would run through all the relevant stages necessary to even begin discussions about the introduction of foreign Arab forces into the Gaza Strip.

In addition to putting an end to rocket, mortar and terrorist attacks from the Gaza Strip, the cease-fire is supposed to bring an end to the arms smuggling from Egypt that is fueling Hamas's military buildup.

Egyptian sources said they had recently received tunnel-detection devices from the US that would help them battle the smuggling, and that Egyptian personnel were receiving military instruction in California to help them to battle the smugglers. Israel continues to reject Cairo's request to be allowed to exceed limits set in the Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty and raise the number of its troops along the Philadelphi Corridor from 750 to 3,000. While the Egyptians say they need more men to do a better job stopping the smuggling, Israel says Cairo is not using the manpower at its disposal effectively.

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, meanwhile, sounded anything but euphoric about the truce in a speech to a conference on philanthropy at Beit Yehoshua Wednesday evening.

"We have no illusions," Olmert said. "What is called 'calm' is fragile and could be short-lived. Hamas has not changed its skin. These are bloodthirsty and despicable terrorists who even today are doing all they can to harm Israeli civilians."

"I want it to be clear that Hamas is the address in Gaza, and it will be responsible for any violation of the 'quiet.' If the firing and terrorist attacks continue, Israel will obligated to act to stop the threat to its citizens."

Regarding captive Cpl. Gilad Schalit, whose picture Olmert said was in his office and whose eyes he looked into each day, the prime minister said his release "is an integral part of the understandings" regarding the cease-fire.

As the hours ticked down Wednesday to the cease-fire, Kassam rockets continued to pound the western Negev, and Hamas seemed determined to get in "last licks." Close to 30 Kassam rockets struck the area, with one scoring a direct hit on a home in Sderot. Several people were treated for shock. The IDF fired missiles at Kassam rocket launchers in northern Gaza.

Senior military sources said the IDF was prepared to launch a military operation in the Gaza Strip with 24-hour's notice if the truce fell apart. It was not clear, however, what would constitute a breakdown of the cease-fire, with one official saying Israel would have a tough time responding to occasional and sporadic rocket fire.

But Foreign Ministry spokesman Aryeh Mekel said Israel had made a decision to exhaust all efforts to reach a cease-fire, "and if that does not succeed Israel will be prepared with other things."

Senior IDF officers said that under the new orders prepared by the IDF Operations Directorate, soldiers would be deployed along the Gaza border but would not engage terrorists except in self-defense.

The IDF has yet to finalize the rules of engagement for the cease-fire but senior officers said that the military would not tolerate mortar and rocket attacks against Israel. One complicated scenario for the IDF is what to do if two Palestinians, for example, are spotted setting up a Kassam launcher - to shoot the cell before they fire or after.

"We will learn as we go along," a top officer said. "Soldiers will be allowed to use force in self defense but we will need to think before pulling the trigger."
...............................................benny

aww benny you found a friend =) I am happy for you!

Jun 19, 2008 22:57 | Updated Jun 19, 2008 23:27
'US and Canadian intel agencies say Hizbullah attack imminent'
By JPOST.COM STAFF
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US and Canadian intelligence agencies warned Thursday that a Hizbullah attack on Jewish targets around the world could be imminent.


Slain Hizbullah commander Imad Mughniyeh.
Photo: AP

Slideshow: Pictures of the week ABC News quoted intelligence officials as saying that Hizbullah had activated sleeper cells in Canada, and that top terror operatives had left Lebanon - to the US, Canada and Africa.

According to the officials, Hizbullah wishes to avenge the assassination of arch-terrorist Imad Mughniyeh in February, for which the Shi'ite group holds Israel accountable.

Israel has repeatedly denied the allegation.

There was no reliable intelligence regarding the possible targets of such an attack, the sources told ABC News, adding however, that Hizbullah operatives had recently been seen conducting surveillance on the Israel embassy in Ottawa and on several Toronto synagogues.

"There are concerns Hizbullah might be ready to do something along those lines," ABC News quoted a senior US counter-terrorism official as saying.


The Aftermath of the 1994 bombing in Buenos Aires.
Photo: AP [file]
CIA and NSA officials quoted by the report said that British and Canadian agencies began receiving a flow of intelligence on February 17, only a few days after Mughniyeh's funeral, regarding a possible Hizbullah attack.

"They want to kill as many people as they can, they want it to be a big splash," former CIA intelligence officer Bob Baer, who claimed he met Hizbullah leaders in Beirut last month, was quoted by ABC News as saying. "They cannot have an operation fail and I don't think they will. They're the A-team of terrorism."

According to officials quoted by the report, up to 20 suspected Hizbullah members have been under surveillance and their activities were being coordinated with the Iranian Revolutionary Guards.

"Hizbullah would not carry out an attack in the west, or wherever this attack is going to occur, without approval from Teheran," Baer was quoted as saying.
..................................................benny

China Supplying Iraq Insurgents Body Armor
June 19….(WND) When you think of China, inexpensive and inferior goods might come to mind. But that's hardly the case with the Chinese body armor found on Iraqi insurgents. It is superior to anything available to US troops and resists penetration from M16s, M4s, M80s, M60s and M240 machine guns. In fact, say US military sources, the only thing it won't defeat is a direct shot from a .50 caliber. The Chinese-supplied body armor also will resist multiple hits, something the US military-grade protective vests won't do. Analysis of the plates does reveal some manufacturing defects. Some tiles are misaligned. However, before those flaws can be exploited, they are likely to be fixed. The captured body armor is from 2006 or earlier. In what could be a related development, the Iranians have made a knockoff of the Steyr HS50 .50-caliber "anti-material" rifle, a .50 caliber sniper rifle. China is now supplying these to Muqtada al-Sadr's al-Mahdi army. The US military is aware of at least three .50-caliber attacks since April, two on up-armored vehicles. In those cases, the shots penetrated the vehicle and armor, the analysis pictures showed a gaping hole in the back of a Kevlar helmet. It is not clear whether the weapon was produced in Iran or with the help of China or some other manufacturer. Chinese military supplies are thought to be entering Iraq through Iran, with whom Beijing maintains good relations. But, according to Bill Gertz's book, "Treachery: How America's Friends and Foes Are Secretly Arming Our Enemies," China long has provided at least some military support to al-Qaida and the Taliban, as well as Shiite militia forces.
..................................................benny

China's next problem will not be international relationships, but the coming flood.

Jun 20, 2008 8:14 | Updated Jun 20, 2008 12:58
'IAF apparently held Iran strike drill'
By JPOST.COM STAFF AND AP
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Israel carried out a major military drill during the first week of June that US sources say was apparently a rehearsal for a potential attack on Iran's nuclear sites, the News York Times reported Friday.


An IAF jet.
Photo: AP [file]

Slideshow: Pictures of the week Several US officials were quoted by the newspaper as saying that it seemed the drill was an effort to develop Israel's capacity to carry out long-range strikes and to show the gravity with which Israel views the Iranian nuclear issue.

More than 100 IAF F-16 and F-15 fighter jets took part in the exercise, which was carried out over the eastern Mediterranean and over Greece, the officials said.

The drill also included IAF rescues helicopters, said the officials, adding that the helicopters and refueling tankers flew more than 900 miles, which is approximately the distance between Israel and Iran's uranium enrichment plant at Natanz.

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The IDF wouldn't confirm or deny the report. The army issued a statement saying only that the IAF "regularly trains for various missions in order to confront and meet the challenges posed by the threats facing Israel."

Nevertheless, a senior Pentagon official, who the Times claimed was briefed on the drill, and who spoke on condition of anonymity, said it appeared to serve multiple purposes.

One aim, according to the official, was to practice flight tactics, aerial refueling and all other details of a possible attack on Iran's nuclear sites and its long-range missiles.

A second goal, the official was quoted by the Times as saying, was to give a clear message to the US and the rest of the world that Israel was prepared to attack Iran if diplomatic efforts to stop the country's march toward the production of bomb-grade uranium fail.

"They wanted us to know, they wanted the Europeans to know, and they wanted the Iranians to know," the Pentagon official reportedly said. "There's a lot of signaling going on at different levels."

Several US officials were quoted by the newspaper as saying that they did not believe that Israel had made a final decision to attack Iran and that such a raid was not imminent.

The Times went on to claim that Iran had recently beefed up its air defenses. "They are clearly nervous about this and have their air defense on guard," a US official was quoted as saying.

A Pentagon official reiterated that although the IAF usually holds a major drill early in the summer, the exercise early this month involved more aircraft than had been previously seen and an extensive combat rescue mission.

"They rehearse it, rehearse it and rehearse it, so if they actually have to do it, they're ready," the Pentagon official said. "They're not taking any options off the table."

Israeli military analyst Martin Van Creveld of Jerusalem's Hebrew University said military preparations for a possible attack were indeed under way.

"Israel has been talking about this possibility for a long time, that it would not take an Iranian nuclear weapon lying down. And it has been practicing the operation or operations for a long time," he said.

But though an Israeli strike would likely be able to "paralyze the most important Iranian nuclear installations," it probably won't be able to destroy the program entirely, Van Creveld said.

"I would be very surprised if Israel can really knock out every part of this program, which by all accounts appears to be large and well concealed and well dispersed," he said
...................................................benny

Russia
U.S. 'plans to neutralize Russian nuclear weapons by 2012-2015'
19:27 | 18/ 06/ 2008



MOSCOW, June 18 (RIA Novosti) - The U.S.-proposed European missile shield will eventually spread along Russia's borders and may neutralize Russia's nuclear potential by 2012-2015, a Russian political analyst said on Wednesday.

Commenting on reports that the United States and Lithuania were formally discussing deploying elements of the U.S. missile shield in the ex-Soviet Baltic state should Warsaw reject Washington's plans to station 10 interceptor missiles in Poland, Leonid Ivashov, the head of the Moscow-based Academy of Geopolitical Sciences, said: "We should expect that elements of a U.S. missile shield will be placed not only in Lithuania, but also in all territories bordering Russia and controlled by NATO."

So far, the Czech Republic has agreed to host an early-warning radar on its territory. Poland has taken a tough stance in missile talks with the U.S., demanding that Washington upgrade its air defense systems in return.

Ivashov said the main purpose of the U.S. global missile shield was to neutralize Russia's nuclear potential by 2012-2015 and that NATO eastward expansion was part of this plan.

He said Ukraine's and Georgia's possible accession to NATO would have dire consequences for Russia's defense capability.

"There is no doubt that elements of the U.S. missile shield will be placed in Georgia and Ukraine immediately after they join NATO," the analyst said, adding that Ukraine already had radars [in Mukachevo and Sevastopol] that may be used against Russia.

"The U.S. wants to create an impenetrable shield capable of intercepting and destroying Russian nuclear missiles on launch pads, in the initial trajectory, in orbit and on the final trajectory," he said.

Ivashov criticized the Russian leadership for "wasting time in empty rhetoric with the West," rather than taking concrete steps to counter the looming threat.

He suggested that Russia should threaten to sever all relations with NATO if the U.S. missile shield is eventually placed in Europe.

"Russia must also warn the European countries that...in case of a potential military confrontation...capitals, large cities, industrial and communications centers of the countries hosting elements of the U.S. missile shield will inevitably become the primary targets of [Russian] nuclear strikes."

...........................................benny

Russia's Lavrov Warns Against Attack on Iran
June 20….(AP) Russia's foreign minister on Friday warned against the use of force on Iran, saying there is no proof it is trying to build nuclear weapons. Sergey Lavrov said Iran should be engaged in dialogue and encouraged to cooperate with the UN nuclear monitoring agency. Lavrov made the statement when asked to comment on an Israeli Cabinet member's statement earlier this month that Israel could attack Iran if it does not halt its nuclear program. "I hope the actual actions would be based on international law," Lavrov said. "And international law clearly protects Iran's and anyone else's territorial integrity." Israel's military refused to confirm or deny a report Friday that its warplanes staged a major rehearsal this month for a possible attack on Iran. The New York Times report quoted US officials as saying more than 100 Israeli F-16s and F-15s staged the maneuver over the eastern Mediterranean and Greece in the first week of June. It said the aircraft flew more than 900 miles (1,450 kilometers), roughly the distance from Israel to Iran's Natanz nuclear enrichment facility, and that the exercise included refueling tankers and helicopters capable of rescuing downed pilots. Lavrov said Russia had asked both the United States and Israel to provide factual information to back their claims that Iran was working to build atomic weapons. "So far we have seen none, and the same conclusion was made by the International Atomic Energy Agency," he said. "It's absolutely not right to speak matter-of-factly that Iran continues building nuclear weapons," Lavrov added. Iran insists its enrichment program is meant only to generate electricity. But because of its past clandestine activities, including some that could have applications for weapons research, the international community is concerned that Tehran wants to enrich uranium to a purity suitable for use in atomic bombs. The IAEA suggested in a report to the UN Security Council last month that Iran was stonewalling investigators and possibly withholding information crucial to determining whether it conducted research on nuclear weapons. Lavrov insisted that Iran must be encouraged to continue its cooperation with the UN monitoring agency. "As long as the IAEA reports to us progress in its relations with Iran, as long as Iran closes the issues which were of concern to the IAEA and this process continues, we should avoid any steps which could undermine this very important process," he said, speaking in English. Russia has maintained close ties with Iran and is building its first nuclear power plant in the southern port of Bushehr, which is expected to go on line later this year. It has backed limited UN sanctions aimed at forcing Iran to suspend its uranium enrichment program, but has opposed the US push for harsher measures. "The key to resolving the Iranian issue is involvement," Lavrov said. "We must involve Iran, engage Iran in resolving the Iranian nuclear program, but also engage Iran in constructive, respectful, serious dialogue on Iraq and Afghanistan, on the Middle East in general."

.....................................................benny

Jun 20, 2008 15:54 | Updated Jun 20, 2008 20:18
Iran: We'll hit back with 'strong blow'
By JPOST.COM STAFF
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Iran on Friday warned Israel it would retaliate to an attack with a "strong blow," after the New York Times reported that the IAF had conducted a drill, apparently for a strike against the Islamic republic.


Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami
Photo: Courtesy

Slideshow: Pictures of the week "If enemies, especially Israelis and their supporters in the United States, would want to use a language of force, they should rest assured that they will receive a strong blow in the mouth," senior cleric Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami was quoted by AFP as saying during a Friday prayers sermon, which was also broadcast live on state radio.

Khatami stressed that the Iranian nation's mentality was "to fight foreigners."

"Given this mentality, if you make a hostile look at the Islamic Iran, you will witness such a united roar by our nation that it will definitely make you regret any vicious move forever," he added.

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On Thursday, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said "the nuclear issue has ended from our point of view."

"Recently they have started a new game - by testing us - but this will result in no achievement for them except humiliation," he said without elaborating.
..................................................benny

Jun 21, 2008 3:37 | Updated Jun 21, 2008 5:01
ElBaradei: I'll resign if West launches military strike on Iran
By JPOST.COM STAFF
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International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Mohamad ElBaradei, will quit his position in the event of a military strike on Iran, according to a Reuters report Friday.


IAEA's Director General Mohamed ElBaradei gives a statement to the press.
Photo: AP [file]

Slideshow: Pictures of the week The report quoted him as warning that any military offensive in Iran would turn the Middle East region "into a fireball."

"I don't believe that what I see in Iran today is a current, grave and urgent danger. If a military strike is carried out against Iran at this time ... it would make me unable to continue my work," said the IAEA chief.

ElBaradei, repeatedly stressing that a military strike would the worst result for the region, added that an attack would give Iran more motivation to obtain nuclear power, Reuters reported.

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"If you do a military strike, it will mean that Iran, if it is not already making nuclear weapons, will launch a crash course to build nuclear weapons with the blessing of all Iranians, even those in the West," he predicted.

ElBaradei's comments came on the same day as The New York Times reported that the IAF carried out a major military drill during the first week of June that US sources say was apparently a rehearsal for a potential attack on Iran's nuclear sites.
...............................................benny

The worst result for the region, dear ElBaradei, is the squandering of the Holy Land...
But if you are not up for the job, quit. Your timing is bad to begin with.

Oh LOL, Khamanei, you admit yer the devouring lion? Stephen hear this:

WAR - Israel likely to attack Iran sooner than later...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I think I've deduced what Israel is up to regarding a strike on Iran's nuclear facilities. Essentially, Russia is forcing Israel to attack sooner than later because of a pending, and maybe imminent, delivery of the Russian SA-20 air defense system to Iran. Indeed, this is mentioned in the NY Times article regarding the recent Israeli exercise with Greece:


Quote:
Iran is also taking steps to better defend its nuclear facilities. Two sets of advance Russian-made radar systems were recently delivered to Iran. The radar will enhance Iran’s ability to detect planes flying at low altitude.

Mike McConnell, the director of national intelligence, said in February that Iran was close to acquiring Russian-produced SA-20 surface-to-air missiles. American military officials said that the deployment of such systems would hamper Israel’s attack planning, putting pressure on Israel to act before the missiles are fielded.



http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/20/wa...ll&oref=slogin

On this issue, the following Jerusalem Post article is of ciritical relevance:

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satelli...cle%2FShowFull

Note this:


Quote:
The concern in the defense establishment is based on talks Iran has been holding with Russia in recent years to purchase S-300 air defense missile systems. Israel believes that while Iran has not yet obtained the system, Iranian soldiers are already studying and training with it in Russia. Israel has been working diplomatically to prevent the sale and delivery of the systems.

The S-300 is one of the best multi-target anti-aircraft missile systems in the world today and has a reported ability to track up to 100 targets simultaneously while engaging up to 12 at the same time.


As for the giant air exercise purportedly as a dress rehearsal for a strike on Iran, this was most likely part of Israel's strategic deception of Iran and had nothing to do with a warning to other powers to get Iran to stop its nuke program or else:


Quote:
While the recent exercise clearly served training (and diplomatic) purposes, we’d say it meet other needs as well. Given the mechanics of an actual raid against Iran, we believe the package would be significantly smaller, and incorporate deceptive elements not seen earlier this month. That’s why the early June drill may also support a disinformation campaign, aimed at confusing Tehran (and western intelligence) over the size, composition and tactics of a potential strike formation.

Here’s a historical fact: virtually every major IAF operation has been preceded by a carefully planned and executed deception effort. That’s why it would be a mistake for Tehran, the Europeans and the U.S. to accept this month’s exercise as the template for an actual strike. If past performance is any indicator, the Israelis still have a few tricks up their sleeve.


http://formerspook.blogspot.com/

My read of it all is that Israel had determined a long time ago that striking Iran's nuke operation was necessary and inevitable. They are simply pursuing the objective according to a plan and I'm afraid that plan is nearly completion. Israel's massive civil defense exercise in April was one of the final prepatory moves:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dPOkx5KyGc

Recent Israeli statements of the need to strike Iran along with the recent large-scale air strike exercise with Greece suggest action will occur much sooner than later since these developments will pressure Iran to get Russia's SA-20 air defense system in place and/or fully prepare for war:

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satelli...cle%2FShowFull

I believe that Israel would not be making these moves unless an air-strike were imminent.

This, BTW, explains why the DJIA just broke below key support at the psychologically important 12,000 mark IMHO:

http://www.spiritoftruth.org/stockmarketcrash.htm

A worldwide panic of historic magnitude may be very near.

An important point to keep in mind here is how Russia has been fundamentally behind all the developments leading to this war including the development of Iran's nuclear program and the delivery of the air defense systems capable of repulsing an Israeli strike:

http://www.spiritoftruth.org/iraniannuclearbomb.htm
...................................................benny P.S....September???....Rosh Hashanna is September also.

The armies that attack together...
by Michael G. Mickey
(6-21-08)

In Bible prophecy, particularly the book of Ezekiel (chapters 38-39), we're told that a confederacy of Middle Eastern nations, along with Russia, will attack the nation of Israel in a sneak attack in the prophetic future. The nations to be involved in that attack are as follows:

Magog - Most agree this is a reference to Russia.
Meshech - Most associate this with modern day Turkey, ancient Anatolia, but some say it refers to the Moscow area.
Tubal - Most associate this with modern day Turkey, ancient Anatolia.
Persia - modern Iran
Ethiopia
Libya
Gomer - eastern Europe or Turkey
Togarmah - southeastern Europe or Turkey
In today's climate of distrust where the nation of Iran is concerned, can we see evidence that NATO member Turkey may be sliding, ever so subtly, into its future role as a military ally of Iran? Yes.

As reported by the Associated Press, Turkey and Iran have been carrying out coordinated strikes on Kurdish rebels based in northern Iraq, the first military confirmation of Iranian-Turkish cooperation in the fight against separatists.

The armies that attack together, or at the very least coordinate attacks together, seem to be on course to stick together on some level that Bible prophecy may be fulfilled.

Who would've guessed? I would've. How about you?

...................................................benny

How Iran would retaliate if it comes to war By Scott Peterson
Fri Jun 20, 4:00 AM ET



Istanbul, Turkey - Pressure is building on Iran. This week Europe agreed to new sanctions and President Bush again suggested something more serious – possible military strikes – if the Islamic Republic doesn't bend to the will of the international community on its nuclear program.

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But increasingly military analysts are warning of severe consequences if the US begins a shooting war with Iran. While Iranian forces are no match for American technology on a conventional battlefield, Iran has shown that it can bite back in unconventional ways.

Iranian networks in Iraq and Afghanistan could imperil US interests there; American forces throughout the Gulf region could be targeted by asymmetric methods and lethal rocket barrages; and Iranian partners across the region – such as Hezbollah in Lebanon – could be mobilized to engage in an anti-US fight.

Iran's response could also be global, analysts say, but the scale would depend on the scale of the US attack. "One very important issue from a US intelligence perspective, [the Iranian reaction] is probably more unpredictable than the Al Qaeda threat," says Magnus Ranstorp at the Center for Asymmetric Threat Studies at the Swedish National Defense College in Stockholm.

"I doubt very much our ability to manage some of the consequences," says Mr. Ranstorp, noting that Iranian revenge attacks in the past have been marked by "plausible deniability" and have had global reach.

"If you attack Iran you are unleashing a firestorm of reaction internally that will only strengthen revolutionary forces, and externally in the region," says Ranstorp. "It's a nightmare scenario for any contingency planner, and I think you really enter the twilight zone if you strike Iran."

Though the US military has since early 2007 accused Iran's Qods Force – an elite element of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) – of providing anti-US militias in Iraq with lethal roadside bombs, and of training and backing "special groups" in actions that the US government alleges have cost "thousands" of lives, US commanders have played down Iran's military capabilities.

Even Admiral William Fallon, who publicly opposed a US strike on Iran before he resigned in April, dismissed Iran as a military threat. "Get serious," Adm. Fallon told Esquire in March. "These guys are ants. When the time comes, you crush them."

But that has not kept Iran from rhetorical chest-beating, with an active military manpower of 540,000 – the largest in the Middle East – dependent on some of the lowest per capita defense spending in the region. Iran "can deal fatal blows to aggressor America by unpredictable and creative tactical moves," the senior commander Brig. Gen. Gholam Ali Rashid said in late May. "It is meaningless to back down before an enemy who has targeted the roots of our existence."

Iran's supreme religious leader Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei also warned of far-reaching revenge in 2006. "The Americans should know that if they assault Iran, their interests will be harmed anywhere in the world that is possible," he said. "The Iranian nation will respond to any blow with double the intensity."

Analysts say Iran has a number of tools to make good on those threats and take pride in taking on a more powerful enemy. "This is not something they are shying away from," says Alex Vatanka, a Middle East security analyst at Jane's Information Group in Washington.

"They say: 'Conventional warfare is not something we can win against the US, but we have other assets in the toolbox,' " says Mr. Vatanka, noting that the IRGC commander appointed last fall has been "marketed as this genius behind asymmetric warfare doctrine."

"What they are really worried about is the idea of massive aerial attacks on literally thousands of targets inside Iran," says Vatanka, also an adjunct scholar at the Middle East Institute. "Their reading of America's intentions in that scenario would be twofold: One is to obviously dismantle as much as possible the nuclear program; and [the other], indirectly try to weaken the [Islamic] regime."

Any US-Iran conflict would push up oil prices, and though Iran could disrupt shipping lanes in the Persian Gulf, its weak economy depends on oil revenues.

But nearby US forces in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Gulf provide a host of targets. Iran claimed last October that it could rain down 11,000 rockets upon "the enemy" within one minute of an attack and that rate "would continue."

Further afield, Israel is within range of Iran's Shahab-3 ballistic missiles, and Hezbollah claims its rockets – enhanced and resupplied by Iran since the 2006 war to an estimated 30,000 – can now hit anywhere in the Jewish state, including its nuclear plant at Dimona.

Closer to home, Iran has honed a swarming tactic, in which small and lightly armed speedboats come at far larger warships from different directions. A classified Pentagon war game in 2002 simulated just such an attack and in it the Navy lost 16 major warships, according to a report in The New York Times last January.

"The sheer numbers involved overloaded their ability, both mentally and electronically, to handle the attack," Lt. Gen. K. Van Riper, a retired Marine Corps officer who commanded the swarming force, told the Times. "The whole thing was over in five, maybe 10 minutes."

During the 1990s, Iranian agents were believed to be behind the assassinations of scores of regime opponents in Europe, and German prosecutors issued an arrest warrant for Iran's intelligence minister.

Iran and Hezbollah are alleged to have collaborated in the May 1992 bombing of the Israeli Embassy in Buenos Aires in revenge for Israel's killing of a Hezbollah leader months before. Argentine prosecutors charge that they jointly struck again in 1994, bombing a Jewish community center in the Argentine capital that killed 85, one month after Israel attacked a Hezbollah base in Lebanon.

With some 30,000 on the payroll by one count, Iranian intelligence "is a superpower in intelligence terms in the region; they have global reach because of their reconnaissance ability and quite sophisticated ways of inflicting pain," says Ranstorp. "They have been expanding their influence.… Who would have predicted that Argentina would be the area that Hezbollah and the Iranians collectively would respond?"

Past examples show that "Tehran recognizes that at times its interest are best served by restraint," says a report on consequences of a strike on Iran published this week by Patrick Clawson and Michael Eisenstadt of The Washington Institute for Near East Policy.

But Iran could target the US, too, depending on the magnitude of any US strike. "Iran's capacity for terror and subversion remains one of its most potent levers in the event of a confrontation with the United States," says the report, adding that "success" in delaying Iran's nuclear programs could backfire.

If "US and world opinion were so angered by the strikes that they refused to support further pressure against Iran's nuclear ambitions, then prevention could paradoxically [eventually ensure] Iran's open pursuit of nuclear weapons," concludes the report.

And the long list of unconventional tactics should not be taken for granted in Tehran, says Vatanka, noting that the Islamic system's top priority is survival.

"So the Iranians have to be careful," says Vatanka. "Just because the US doesn't have the will right now, or the ability to produce the kind of stick that they would fear, doesn't mean the way of confrontation is going to pay off for them in the long run."

................................................benny

Iran presses on with nuclear enrichment "non-stop" By Zahra Hosseinian and Hashem Kalantari
Sat Jun 21, 11:06 AM ET



TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran is pressing on with uranium enrichment "non-stop," its envoy to the U.N. nuclear agency was quoted as saying on Saturday, despite a world powers' offer of economic incentives to coax Tehran into halting such activities.

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The Islamic Republic also appeared to dismiss any suggestion of limiting nuclear work it says is for generating electricity but which the West suspects is aimed at making bombs.

Six major powers, including the United States, last week offered Iran help in developing a civilian nuclear program and other benefits in their latest attempt to resolve a long-running dispute that has helped pushed oil prices to record highs.

Iran's chief nuclear negotiator said Tehran was ready to start negotiations "based on a win-win principle," official media said. Saeed Jalili was also quoted as saying such talks represented a "golden opportunity" to strengthen peace.

But Iran "will not bow to any illogical demands that would deprive it of its rights to continue with its peaceful nuclear activities," he said.

The United States says it is focusing on diplomatic pressure to thwart Tehran's nuclear ambitions but has not ruled out military action as a last resort.

The New York Times on Friday quoted U.S. officials as saying Israel had carried out a large military exercise, apparently a rehearsal for a potential bombing of Iran's nuclear facilities.

The U.N. nuclear watchdog chief, Mohamad ElBaradei, the same day warned a military strike on Iran would turn the Middle East into a fireball.

Iranian government spokesman Gholamhossein Elham, when asked about the report on Saturday, branded Israel a "dangerous regime" but made clear his view that it would not dare attack.

"Such insolence and audacity (against Iran's) interest and territorial integrity is an impossible act," Elham said.

Diplomats said on Friday the six powers had offered Iran preliminary talks on its nuclear program, on condition it limit enrichment to current levels for six weeks in exchange for a freeze on moves towards harsher sanctions.

They said European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana conveyed the proposal during talks in Tehran on June 14 in which he presented a revised batch of incentives for Iran to stop pursuing technology that could yield atomic weapons.

"FREEZE-FOR-FREEZE"

Asked whether such a "freeze-for-freeze" proposal would be acceptable to Iran, Elham told reporters:

"About suspension, it has been said that suspension of activities and suspension of enrichment is not a logical issue that would be acceptable and in any case the continuation of negotiations will not be based on enrichment suspension."

Iran has repeatedly rejected the sextet's precondition of a full suspension of enrichment-related activity before negotiations to implement the incentives.

Iran says it will review the offer by the United States, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany but that it will not stop work which can have both civilian and military uses.

Its refusal to do so has drawn three rounds of limited United Nations sanctions since 2006.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran continues with enrichment non-stop," Ali Asghar Soltanieh, Tehran's envoy to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), told Iran's state broadcaster in an interview.

Iran, the world's fourth-largest oil producer, has steadily expanded enrichment capacity to 3,600 centrifuge machines.

Asked why Iran would need additional centrifuges, Jalili said: "We would need at least 50,000 centrifuges for a small sized power station."

Under the "freeze-for-freeze" proposal, Iran would not expand enrichment capacity by adding centrifuge machines for a six-week period, during which the powers would stop moves to sharpen the mild sanctions already in force, the diplomats said.

The interim period would enable "pre-negotiations" to agree parameters for formal negotiations to put the incentives into effect, once Iran has fully suspended enrichment, they said
.............................................benny

Iran calls Israel 'dangerous regime'


Following IAF drill said to be preparation for attack on Iran if it continues its nuclear program, Iranian government spokesman says 'Israel impediment to peace, calm in world'

Reuters Published: 06.21.08, 16:02 / Israel News




Iran called Israel a "dangerous regime" on Saturday after a US paper reported that the Air Force (IAF) had carried out a large military exercise, apparently a rehearsal for a potential bombing of Iran's nuclear facilities.



Threatening to Quit

Atomic agency chief: I'll quit if Iran attacked / AP and Reuters

IAEA Chief ElBaradei: Military strike on Iran's nuke sites would turn region into a 'fireball'; US: We told Israel we want diplomatic solution
Full story



The comments by Iran's government spokesman came a day after the UN nuclear watchdog chief said a military strike on Iran would turn the Middle East into a fireball and prompt Tehran to launch a crash course to build nuclear weapons.



When asked about the reported exercises, Iranian government spokesman Gholamhossein Elham said: "It demonstrates the Islamic Republic of Iran's view that this (Israel ) is a dangerous regime and an impediment to peace and calm in the region and world."



Elham added that the exercises prove Israel's leadership ''jeopardizes global peace and security.'' He also said in the Saturday comments that Iran believes Israel has no ability to strike its nuclear program.



Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's office declined to comment on the exercise, first reported in the New York Times. But a senior lawmaker from the Kadima Party said on Saturday that diplomatic efforts to curb Iran's nuclear program have failed and that the next one or two years would be critical.



Tzachi Hanegbi, who heads parliament's Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee, told Israel Radio that the world had to decide how to proceed. A military spokesman said of the Times report: "The Israeli Air Force regularly trains for various missions in order to confront and meet the challenges posed by the threats facing Israel ."



Citing unidentified American officials, the Times said more than 100 Israeli F-16 and F-15 fighters took part in the maneuvers over the eastern Mediterranean and Greece in the first week of June. It said the exercise appeared to be an effort to focus on long-range strikes and illustrates the seriousness with which Israel views Iran's nuclear program.



Freeze for freeze
Six major powers, including the United States, last week offered Iran help in developing a civilian nuclear program and other benefits in their latest attempt to resolve a long-running row that has helped pushed oil prices to record highs.




Saeed Jalili, Iran's chief nuclear negotiator, said Tehran was ready to start negotiations "based on a win-win principle," the official IRNA news agency said. But it "will not bow to any illogical demands that would deprive it of its rights to continue with its peaceful nuclear activities," he added.




Diplomats said on Friday the six powers had offered Iran preliminary talks on its nuclear program, on condition it limit enrichment to current levels for six weeks in exchange for a freeze on moves towards harsher sanctions.




Asked whether such a "freeze-for-freeze" proposal would be acceptable to Iran, Elham told reporters: "About suspension, it has been said that suspension of activities and suspension of enrichment is not a logical issue that would be acceptable and in any case the continuation of negotiations will not be based on enrichment suspension."




"The Islamic Republic of Iran continues with enrichment non-stop," Ali Asghar Soltanieh, Tehran's envoy to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), told Iran's state broadcaster in an interview.




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Under the "freeze-for-freeze" proposal, Iran would not expand enrichment capacity by adding centrifuge machines for a six-week period, during which the powers would stop moves to sharpen the mild sanctions already in force, the diplomats said.

The interim period would enable "pre-negotiations" to agree parameters for formal negotiations to put the incentives into effect, once Iran has fully suspended enrichment, they said.

..........................................benny P.S....Please pray for the Israeli soldiers for their safty and release from captivity

Exclusive: Uproar, military alerts, oil price surge over apparent Israeli air drill for Iran attack
June 20, 2008, 9:34 PM (GMT+02:00)

DEBKAfile’s military sources report that an oil price surge of 5 percent to $135.92 was triggered by the report leaked by US government officials of an Israeli air force drill over Greece for an apparent strike against Iran, Friday, June 20. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ordered a war alert in the Revolutionary Guards and armed forces, with the Israeli and US Gulf forces following suit.

Tehran made no immediate comment, while Iranian leaders were reported puzzled by the Bush administration’s motives in leaking the report to the New York Times.

The most extreme reaction came from the UN nuclear watchdog’s director Mohamad ElBaradei, who threatened to resign if there was a military strike on Iran, warning such an attack would turn the region into a “fireball.”

“A military strike would be worse than anything possible,” he warned. “..it will mean that Iran, if it is not already making nuclear weapons, will launch a crash course to build them…”

Russian foreign minister Sergei Ivanov maintained that neither Israel nor the United States had produced proof that Iran was developing nuclear weapons and said the issue must be dealt with by diplomacy and talks with Tehran.

The American UN ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad agreed. While stating the view that Iran’s acquisition of nuclear weapons would be “unacceptable,” he stressed:

"We're in the phase of diplomacy; we want a diplomatic settlement of this issue.

The ball is frankly in Iran's court."

DEBKAfile’s political sources comment that if a reported air maneuver simulating an attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities raised so much international, financial and military dust, how much more extreme would the world response be to a real attack.

The Greek Air force confirmed its participation in the Israeli military exercise held three weeks ago, but did not confirm the claim by Washington officials that it was a rehearsal for a potential attack on Iran. The Greek source stated no ground targets were involved as the drill was mainly aimed at personnel training. It was the first large-scale exercise between Israel and the air force of Greece, a member of NATO.

UP to 40 Israeli Air force F-15 and F-16 warplanes were based at the Greek Air Force Station at Souda on the southern Mediterranean island of Crete for the duration of the exercise, said the source.

...................................................benny

Barack Obama defends Israel’s concern about Iran's "extraordinary threat"
June 21, 2008, 9:34 PM (GMT+02:00)

The US Democratic presidential contender made this comment about the reported Israeli air rehearsal for a possible attack on Iran: “Without access to the actual detailed intelligence, I want to be careful about characterizing what was done and whether it was appropriate or not." But, said Senator Barack Obama, the Jewish state was right to be concerned about the anti-Israel comments of the Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and about Tehran’s support for Hizballah and Hamas. “And so there is no doubt that Iran poses an extraordinary threat to Israel and Israel is always justified in making decisions that will provide for its security.”


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.............................................benny

US 'Plans to Neutralize Russian Nuclear Weapons by 2012-2015'
June 21….(Novosti) The US-proposed European missile shield will eventually spread along Russia's borders and may neutralize Russia's nuclear potential by 2012-2015, a Russian political analyst said on Wednesday. Commenting on reports that the United States and Lithuania were formally discussing deploying elements of the US missile shield in the ex-Soviet Baltic state should Warsaw reject Washington's plans to station 10 interceptor missiles in Poland, Leonid Ivashov, the head of the Moscow-based Academy of Geopolitical Sciences, said: "We should expect that elements of a US missile shield will be placed not only in Lithuania, but also in all territories bordering Russia and controlled by NATO." So far, the Czech Republic has agreed to host an early-warning radar on its territory. Poland has taken a tough stance in missile talks with the US, demanding that Washington upgrade its air defense systems in return. Ivashov said the main purpose of the US global missile shield was to neutralize Russia's nuclear potential by 2012-2015 and that NATO eastward expansion was part of this plan. He said Ukraine's and Georgia's possible accession to NATO would have dire consequences for Russia's defense capability. "There is no doubt that elements of the US missile shield will be placed in Georgia and Ukraine immediately after they join NATO," the analyst said, adding that Ukraine already had radars [in Mukachevo and Sevastopol] that may be used against Russia. "The US wants to create an impenetrable shield capable of intercepting and destroying Russian nuclear missiles on launch pads, in the initial trajectory, in orbit and on the final trajectory," he said. Ivashov criticized the Russian leadership for "wasting time in empty rhetoric with the West," rather than taking concrete steps to counter the looming threat. He suggested that Russia should threaten to sever all relations with NATO if the US missile shield is eventually placed in Europe. "Russia must also warn the European countries that...in case of a potential military confrontation...capitals, large cities, industrial and communications centers of the countries hosting elements of the US missile shield will inevitably become the primary targets of Russian nuclear strikes."

..........................................benny

Iran: We'll Hit Back with 'Strong Blow'
June 21….(Jerusalem Post) Iran on Friday warned Israel it would retaliate to an attack with a "strong blow," after the New York Times reported that the IAF had conducted a drill, apparently for a strike against the Islamic republic. "If enemies, especially Israelis and their supporters in the United States, would want to use a language of force, they should rest assured that they will receive a strong blow in the mouth," senior cleric Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami was quoted by AFP as saying during a Friday prayers sermon, which was also broadcast live on state radio. Khatami stressed that the Iranian nation's mentality was "to fight foreigners." "Given this mentality, if you make a hostile look at the Islamic Iran, you will witness such a united roar by our nation that it will definitely make you regret any vicious move forever," he added. On Thursday, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said, "the nuclear issue has ended from our point of view, and we have won the campaign against the West." "Recently they have started a new game, by testing us, but this will result in no achievement for them except humiliation," he said without elaborating
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Syria, NKorea helped Iran develop nuclear programme: German report
Sunday, 22 June 2008
BERLIN (AFP) — Damascus and Pyongyang helped Iran to develop its nuclear programme through the construction of a suspected nuclear site in Syria that Israel destroyed last September, Der Spiegel reported.

But the Syrian president Bashar al-Assad is considering withdrawing his support for the Iranian programme, added the German newsweekly in its next edition out Monday, quoting German secret service reports.

According to those intelligence reports, it said, a joint plan by Syria, North Korea and Iran for a nuclear reactor for military use was to have been developed at the Al-Kibar site in the east of Syria.

The site -- to be inspected next week by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) -- was destroyed by Israeli warplanes with Washington's support. Syria denied it has military purposes.

The reports cited by Der Speigel claimed that North Korea was to help Iranian scientists to advance their nuclear programme, and that Al-Kibar was to have been used as a temporary site for Iran to develop a nuclear bomb until it was able to do so on its own territory.

The plan was discussed during a visit by Iranian President Mamhoud Ahmadinejad to Syria in 2006, according to the magazine.

The three countries also cooperated in the production of chemical weapons, said Der Speigel, quoting the same source. At the time of an explosion at a chemical site in July 2007, 15 Syrian soldiers, 12 Iranian engineers and three North Koreans were among the victims.

Ten months after the destruction of the Al-Kibar site, on the basis of allegations that a nuclear reactor was being built there with the aid of North Korea, the IAEA said it was sending experts to Syria to investigate.

Documents and detailed photographs supplied in April by Washington to the IAEA backed up the suspicions, but Syria rejected the allegations describing them as "ridiculous."

Iran and Syria, both parties to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty, signed a memorandum of cooperation at the end of May on the two countries' "independence and territorial integrity."

The alliance between the two regional neighbours, which goes back to the 1979 Iranian revolution, was strengthened in 2006 with the signing of an agreement on military cooperation.


............................................benny

Israeli maneuvers demonstrate unease over Iran
Saturday, 21 June 2008
The Wall Street Journal

Mideast Nations Take the Initiative As U.S. Sway Ebbs

By JAY SOLOMON and YOCHI J. DREAZEN
June 21, 2008; Page A5

WASHINGTON -- A flurry of Israeli military maneuvers and diplomatic initiatives are highlighting the Jewish state's increasingly aggressive campaign to contain Iran, and stoking fears in some Arab and Western capitals.

Jerusalem's actions come as the Middle East is already repositioning itself for the post-Bush administration era, say Arab and European diplomats. In addition to the Israelis, the Turks, Egyptians and Qataris have seized on the perceived power vacuum in Washington to begin fashioning their own initiatives to try to address the region's hot spots, from Lebanon to the Arab-Israeli conflict.

Middle East governments "are filling the vacuum and taking advantage of the U.S. administration's weakness," said an Arab official involved in the regional diplomacy. "Countries are pursuing their own agendas now."

U.S. officials Friday confirmed a report in the New York Times that Israel recently mounted a large-scale military exercise in the Eastern Mediterranean that appeared designed to hone the tactical skills needed in any future military strike against Iran's nuclear installations.

Two U.S. officials said the exercise, which took place in early June, involved more than 100 Israeli F-16s and F-15s, as well as refueling planes and helicopters capable of rescuing downed pilots. The Israeli aircraft flew more than 900 miles, roughly the distance between Israel and Iran's main Natanz nuclear-enrichment facility.

At the Pentagon, a senior military official said that Israel gave the U.S. "advance knowledge" of the exercise, but only in general terms. The Pentagon official said that Israel didn't explicitly link the maneuvers to a possible strike against Iran.

A second military official said that U.S. policy makers were divided over the reasons for the exercise. Some viewed the maneuvers as an actual practice run for a future strike on Iran, while others see it mainly as a show of force designed to remind both Tehran and Washington of Israel's concern.

Many Israeli officials see Iran's growing nuclear capability as a threat and fear that the Bush administration -- serving out its final months in office and mired in the unpopular Iraq war -- may no longer be seriously considering coercive actions to stop Tehran's nuclear program.

A statement released by the Israeli Defense Forces Friday didn't confirm or deny the exercises and noted that it "regularly trains for various missions."

Israel's military maneuvers occurred as the Jewish state is concurrently pursuing a string of diplomatic initiatives aimed at calming Jerusalem's relations with its neighbors and defusing threats from Iran's regional allies.

This week, Israel and the Islamist group Hamas announced a truce brokered by Egypt that seeks to freeze hostilities in the Gaza Strip while allowing the return of economic aid and trade to the territory. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's government has also initiated indirect peace talks with Syria aimed at resolving territorial disputes and announced this week a willingness to open a similar diplomatic channel with Lebanon.

Israeli officials say these negotiations, if successful, could greatly weaken Iran's regional role. Tehran is the principal financier and arms supplier to both Hamas and the Lebanese militia and political party Hezbollah. Iran also has a strategic alliance with Syrian President Bashar Assad.

Arab and European leaders have embraced Israel's peace overtures, particularly its effort to woo Syria away from Iran's orbit. But there is also a concern that Israel could feel justified in resorting to military action against Iran should the diplomatic offensive fail. There is also a belief among some European diplomats that the peace effort could be designed, in part, to minimize retaliatory strikes by Tehran's allies should Israel attack Iran.

"You connect all these things: Very aggressive threats towards Iran, all these offers to the neighbors. I think it makes sense," said a European diplomat working on Iran.

A senior U.S. official said that, in addition to the large exercise this month, Israel's air force has recently begun to devote more time to training its pilots in low-flying tactics, evasion and jamming modern radar systems.

Israel has raised its rhetoric about Iran in recent months as international diplomatic efforts to force Tehran's suspension of its nuclear activities have failed. An Israeli minister said this month that an Israeli strike on Iran was "unavoidable" if Tehran didn't stop its uranium-enrichment activities.

A relatively moderate line coming out of Washington has fed the perception in the Middle East that the U.S. isn't contemplating military action on Iran. U.S. officials, particularly Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, have stressed the need for diplomacy in handling the Iran threat in recent weeks.

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama has pledged on the campaign trail to personally engage in high-level talks with Tehran in a bid to resolve the nuclear crisis. Republican candidate John McCain has focused on the military option.

--Cam Simpson in Jerusalem contributed to this article.


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How Iran would retaliate if it comes to war
Military analysts say the Islamic Republic would strike back in unconventional ways – targeting American interests in Iraq and Afghanistan.
By Scott Peterson | Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor
from the June 20, 2008 edition

Istanbul, Turkey - Pressure is building on Iran. This week Europe agreed to new sanctions and President Bush again suggested something more serious – possible military strikes – if the Islamic Republic doesn't bend to the will of the international community on its nuclear program.

But increasingly military analysts are warning of severe consequences if the US begins a shooting war with Iran. While Iranian forces are no match for American technology on a conventional battlefield, Iran has shown that it can bite back in unconventional ways.

Iranian networks in Iraq and Afghanistan could imperil US interests there; American forces throughout the Gulf region could be targeted by asymmetric methods and lethal rocket barrages; and Iranian partners across the region – such as Hezbollah in Lebanon – could be mobilized to engage in an anti-US fight.

Iran's response could also be global, analysts say, but the scale would depend on the scale of the US attack. "One very important issue from a US intelligence perspective, [the Iranian reaction] is probably more unpredictable than the Al Qaeda threat," says Magnus Ranstorp at the Center for Asymmetric Threat Studies at the Swedish National Defense College in Stockholm.

"I doubt very much our ability to manage some of the consequences," says Mr. Ranstorp, noting that Iranian revenge attacks in the past have been marked by "plausible deniability" and have had global reach.

"If you attack Iran you are unleashing a firestorm of reaction internally that will only strengthen revolutionary forces, and externally in the region," says Ranstorp. "It's a nightmare scenario for any contingency planner, and I think you real