CIA chief pays surprise visit to Israel

[SAT]

CIA director John Brennan arrived in Israel Thursday evening and held consultations on the situation in Syria, amid fears that Israel could get drawn into the fighting there.

Upon landing in the country, Brennan, whose visit was not announced ahead of time, went directly to the army’s headquarters in Tel Aviv for a meeting with Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon, Channel 10 reported. During the meeting, the two shared intelligence assessments, and Ya’alon reiterated Israel’s refusal to let advanced weapons make their way from Syria to Hezbollah, vowing to continue carrying out strikes against arms shipments.

http://www.timesofisrael.com/cia-chi...sit-to-israel/

[Guest]

Re: CIA chief pays surprise visit to Israel

Good find, SAT, especially reading the rest of the article.

The meeting followed on the heels of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s recent visit to Russia, during which he met with President Vladimir Putin and told him that Moscow’s sale of the S-300 missile defense system to Syrian President Bashar Assad could push the Middle East into war.

In their talks, Netanyahu reportedly told the Russian president that the S-300 had no relevance to Assad’s civil-war battles against rebel groups, and implored Moscow not to deliver the systems, Channel 2 reported.

He said that if acquired by Assad, the S-300 — a state-of-the-art system that can intercept fighter jets and cruise missiles — “is likely to draw us into a response, and could send the region deteriorating into war.

Also on Wednesday, Israel Radio reported that Tehran had approached Damascus about letting Hezbollah open a new front against Israel from Syrian territory.

The Lebanese daily al-Akhbar suggested last week that Iran had “reached a final decision” to respond to reported Israeli airstrikes on a weapons transfer in Syria by “turning the Golan into a new Fatah-land. The front has become open to Syrians and Palestinians and anyone who wants to fight Israel.”

Any question whether there is going to be war, and soon?

wlnf

[SAT]

Re: CIA chief pays surprise visit to Israel

lol OK I'll bite.

As things stand now? The west seems to be wanting to wait to see what happens in Iran before, during and after the June elections in Iran. Will Iran revert back to Persia of old eventually and be rid of the theocracy? Or even just so preoccupied with their own uprising to leave a major weak spot? The source or central point will implode?
No one in the west nor Israel want to see WWIII break out.

Iran is taking no chances. They are hoping if Assad falls they will be able to continue the war by moving it and at the same time keep control of the Iranian people. Even if they disqualify or arrest those who reject their power from running, it could lead to riots/protests.
Something the Iranian leadership has to decide very soon. Their only way out would be for Israel or the west to make a move now.

If I had to guess the provocative moves Putin is making is because he has no other choice if he wants to be a dictator. The last stand for a dying political system. The Russian economy is in trouble as oil is becoming less and less a high priced necessity. The business elite can see the risks in Russia and are avoiding it. The younger generations are rejecting the old ways. While those who see the old days fondly are becoming fewer and fewer.

Syria itself? Right now it is actually very interesting. More and more it is being portrayed as two evils fighting each other. If either side causes the down fall of Damascus(as in prophecy) the OWO wins. But especially if the damage appears to be inflicted by al Qaeda the OWO will win and radical Islam, which is already on the cliff as all of Africa and even Russia is fighting them, will be all but dead.


Nigerian forces bomb Islamist militant camps from the air
http://news.yahoo.com/nigerian-force...110910162.html

South African military flexes muscles ahead of Congo mission

http://wedg.millenniumweekend.org/fo...ad.php?t=41416

Syria's Nusra Front eclipsed by Iraq-based al Qaeda
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/...94G0FY20130517

[SAT]

Re: CIA chief pays surprise visit to Israel

At this time, Asad and Iran, for different reasons, are not interested in a full fledged confrontation with Israel. Asad knows that a war with Israel could end with the destruction of his air force and armored corps, which would tilt the military balance in favor of the rebels. In fact, over the weekend a senior Israeli official warned Asad through the New York Times that should he retaliate, Israel would topple him. Iran is afraid that a military confrontation in Syria and Lebanon could become a prelude to an attack on its own nuclear installations. And as the parties ponder their options, in steps Asad’s other external supporter, Putin, with a game changer of his own. It has been revealed that Russia is about to provide Syria with a shipment of advanced SS 300 missiles. Whether in Syria or in Lebanon, these missiles will have a significant impact on Israel’s ability to act and react.

http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/syria...l-to-reassess/

At this time

But they are taking a big gamble Iran isn't the next to fall and political Persia rising.

[SAT]

Re: CIA chief pays surprise visit to Israel

Re Russia

Cold War politics hang over EU shale gas revolution

There are two big incentives for the US to encourage European countries to move towards natural gas extraction.

Most of the big oil and gas companies are American - Chevron, for example, is exploring over 3 million acres of land in Poland and Romania for its natural gas potential.

Secondly, every kilowatt produced by European natural gas reduces their reliance on Russian energy giant Gazprom.

Most former Communist or former Soviet EU member states are highly dependent on Gazprom exports.

http://euobserver.com/energy/120148

[Guest]

Re: CIA chief pays surprise visit to Israel

I think Israel still sees their biggest threat to be Iran. And somewhere I read, probably here, that when Obama was in Israel, he asked Netanyahu not to do anything with Iran until after the elections, believing that with a presidential change things might simmer down. I think differently. The Ayatollah runs the country, and he is going to put in office whomever he desires, meaning the person who most closely follows his ideology, and probably his eschatology. Who that is, at the moment, is a good question. But whoever is elected, it is a sure bet that he will be picked by the Ayatollah, meaning that Iran's politics, and their nuclear ambitions, will not change.

And we read that this week the Ayatollah directed Nasrallah to "prevent Assad's downfall at all costs". So, now you have Putin delivering S-300s to Syria- and is there any question that this is to prevent any further Israeli IAF incursions into Syria- and Hezbollah supporting Assad, against a mixed bag of Sunni rebels. And most recently Russia is sending a dozen warships into the Med off the coast of Syria to protect its Syrian Naval base.

And what are we, the United States, doing about this? Well, we're talking about it…….

wlnf

[SAT]

Re: CIA chief pays surprise visit to Israel

I think Israel still sees their biggest threat to be Iran. And somewhere I read, probably here, that when Obama was in Israel, he asked Netanyahu not to do anything with Iran until after the elections, believing that with a presidential change things might simmer down. I think differently. The Ayatollah runs the country, and he is going to put in office whomever he desires, meaning the person who most closely follows his ideology, and probably his eschatology. Who that is, at the moment, is a good question. But whoever is elected, it is a sure bet that he will be picked by the Ayatollah, meaning that Iran's politics, and their nuclear ambitions, will not change.

And we read that this week the Ayatollah directed Nasrallah to "prevent Assad's downfall at all costs". So, now you have Putin delivering S-300s to Syria- and is there any question that this is to prevent any further Israeli IAF incursions into Syria- and Hezbollah supporting Assad, against a mixed bag of Sunni rebels. And most recently Russia is sending a dozen warships into the Med off the coast of Syria to protect its Syrian Naval base.

And what are we, the United States, doing about this? Well, we're talking about it…….

wlnf

I agree to a degree. But it seems the forces in Iran have just been waiting for the go ahead from the US to have a Persian Spring. (There is a thread in here were they actually state that.)
The Ayatollah is actually in a very bad position right now. A rock and a hard place. He could actually push Iran into being another Syria if he tries to force his will in Iran. Plus he has to keep Syria from falling just to hang on. And we know at some point that does happen.

If Israel does take the position of the world leaders and waits, things could be very different in Iran and Syria in the near future.

I suspect the restoration of "Persia" and the political system of old Persia is more in line with prophecy. The only way I can see that happening is for the present system to fall. big ole shrug

[SAT]

Re: CIA chief pays surprise visit to Israel

“It pushes the standoff distance a little more, increases risk, but not impossible to overcome,” he told reporters. “What I really worry about is that Assad will decide that since he’s got these systems, he’s somehow safer and more prone to a miscalculation.”

http://www.timesofisrael.com/us-army...ldening-assad/

[SAT]

Re: CIA chief pays surprise visit to Israel

This Israeli article repeats some interesting points.

Will Israel destroy Russian missiles?



Analysis: West assumes Israel will be forced to launch additional attacks on Hezbollah-bound arms convoys

The main reason for the heightened tensions on the northern front is Iran and Syria's interest to intensify and hasten the arming of Hezbollah. Tehran apparently believes the West's patience is running out quickly and that by the end of the first half of 2013, or by the end of the year, Washington or Jerusalem – or both – will decide on a military strike against Iran's nuclear facilities

This is why the West estimates Israel will apparently be forced to attack - perhaps in the near future - additional arms shipments making their way from Iran to Hezbollah via Syria. It is also estimated that Assad would have to respond, despite the fact that he has almost no effective retaliation options. The Syrian army, in its current state, cannot attack us on the ground, and if it fires missiles toward Israel's home front, Israel will destroy most of the Assad regime's military assets, and other assets, which are crucial for its continued survival.



Therefore, Assad will try to attack Israel indirectly in a way that will not draw a harsh Israeli response. One possibility is a terror attack against an Israeli target abroad. However, the preparations for such an attack, with the cooperation of Iran's Revolutionary Guard and Hezbollah's special unit, may take a long time.


In addition, such an attack would most likely be thwarted by Israeli intelligence. In any case, the effect of such a Syrian response would not be worth the effort. The other, more effective option is to shatter the calm that has prevailed in the Golan Heights for the past 40 years.

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7...381060,00.html

Israel will destroy most of the Assad regime's military assets, and other assets, which are crucial for its continued survival.

Russia is giving this stuff to Assad but can Assad afford to use them on Israel?

[SAT]

Re: CIA chief pays surprise visit to Israel

Iran may ban candidates who seek ties with US

http://news.yahoo.com/iran-may-ban-c...dRR30AUOHQtDMD

[SAT]

Re: CIA chief pays surprise visit to Israel

Gulf official urges Russia to stop arming Assad regime

Commenting on the weapons deal, a Gulf official familiar with the Syrian file hoped Russia would reconsider arming the Assad regime, adding, “The Russian stance is perplexing in view of the killing and destruction that the tyrannical Syrian regime is perpetrating. Unfortunately, this stance will impact adversely on Russia’s future interests in Syria and in the region”.

http://en-maktoob.news.yahoo.com/gul...160159307.html