Obama or Israel, who Invades Iran?

by Bill Salus

Is Obama preparing a preemptive strike against Iran? Some analysts suggest he is. Among the reasons, they cite Obama’s failed Mideast foreign policy of “Engagement” coupled with the recent rumors that a British company has contracted with the US Navy to deliver 300 "bunker busting" bombs to the British base in Diego Garcia - a staging area for strikes against Iraq in 1991 and 2003.

However, odds are Obama’s present political predicament will prevent him from invading Iran and running the risk of opening Pandora’s Middle East Box. As I suggest in my article “Is the Mideast about to go Apocalyptic”, any preemptive strategic strike against Iran could have disastrous worldwide prophetic consequences.

Presently several polls show the President’s popularity is rapidly deteriorating and he can ill afford any further damage to his reputation or domestic agenda. A unilateral strike against Iran without first forming a base international coalition and / or achieving unanimous congressional blessing could be political suicide. Additionally, in light of the Obamacare fiasco and ongoing American financial crisis, it appears the President could lack the political clout necessary to accomplish either of the above.

Furthermore, the recent announcement by Vladimir Putin regarding Russia’s proactive participation in the expeditious completion of Iran's nuclear site at Bushehr serves as a further deterrent to any such Obama strike. In addition to being a severe slap in Obama’s face, this recent Russian announcement;

1. Substantiates Israeli suspicions of Russia's critical covert role in Iran's nuclear program,
2. Informs the International community that Russia's bid to reemerge as a world superpower is well underway,
3. Implies that Russian deployment of the S-300 missile defense system to Iran is about to commence full speed ahead,
4. Fuels Iranian President Ahmadinejad’s zeal to fulfill his nuclear aspirations expeditiously,
5. Diplomatically shuts the door on effective international “crippling sanctions”,
6. Complicates any and all attempts to preempt a strategic strike against Iran’s nuclear sites,
7. Torques up Mideast tension, and
8. Accelerates Israel’s and / or any nation’s time clock to attack Iran.

Such a pending American strike also suggests the recent diplomatic disaster between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and America’s Vice President Joe Biden may have been staged. It implies that America attempted to distance Israel through political embarrassment in order to keep Israelis out of harm’s way from the unforeseen repercussions of an American led strike against Iran.

It is doubtful that America is playing the role of “Mother Hen” over Israel. Rather, it appears Obama sent Biden over to strong arm Israel into freezing settlements and news of the approved construction of 1600 new homes in Ramat Shlomo headed the V.P. off at the pass. This is probably why Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, called the event “insulting”, and U.S. peace envoy George Mitchell abruptly cancelled his previously planned Mideast visit.

It is doubtful that Obama has received a divine epiphany that attacking Iran enhances his political popularity, rather it appears his top military advisors have forewarned him that Israel is about to strike Iran and that America had better be adequately prepared and deployed. These 300 “B” designator bunker buster’s (i) may be nothing more than a replenishment of stock. Presently the U.S. military has enormous stockpiles of weapons and ammunition stored on Diego Garcia.



and that's my "two Mideast cents worth"
Bill Salus
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(i) These are"B" designator - BLU-110()/B and BLU-117()/B (bombs) which means they're specifically US Navy ordnance, and are destined for loading on to carrier-based strike aircraft... these weapons are conventional "shock and awe" crater makers. Just to be clear... the BLU-110/B and BLU-117/B are not "bunker busters"... This is an error which originated with a UPI report published last Thursday. As with most things military covered by most corporate news organizations, they did not bother to check or cross-reference their information for accuracy.

The fact of the matter is that these two bombs are conventional ordnance air-drop "dumb bombs" with a precision GPS/Inertial guidance add-on kit attached to the bomb's rear end (Tail-Kit). They're commonly redesignation as GBU-## or Guided Bomb Unit-##. They are also generally known as JDAM (Joint Direct Attack Munition) weapons. They will not penetrate the ground deeply, but will shatter above ground reinofrced concrete tunnel entrances, exits and air vents.

True "bunker busters" are the BLU-109 Penetrator, BLU-113 Super Penetrator, BLU-116 Advanced Unitary Penetrator and the BLU-118 Thermobaric Penetrator.
Sean Osborne - Associate Director Northeast Intelligence Network