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Last update - 07:07 14/02/2009
Israel, Iran liable to clash in 2009 over nukes, says U.S. intel chief
By Amir Oren, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: Hezbollah, Dennis Blair 

Israel and Iran are liable to enter into a confrontation or a crisis sometime this year due to Tehran's progress in its nuclear weapons program and Jerusalem's determination to thwart it, the head of U.S. intelligence told lawmakers on Thursday.

In a report to the Senate Intelligence Committee on the potential threats as foreseen by the 16 intelligence arms of the United States, Dennis Blair said that Hezbollah, the Lebanese-based Shi'ite group which is backed by Iran, has beefed up its weapons arsenal in preparation for another round of fighting with Israel.

Blair said Hezbollah presents a formidable threat to U.S. interests, particularly if the organization feels Washington directly threatens Iran or acts against the group's targets, infrastructure, and leadership.
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According to the intelligence assessment, Fatah has been weakened and is likely to enter Palestinian Authority elections mired in disunity and factionalism.

Blair added that a key challenge for the new Obama administration will be strengthening the moderates in the Arab world, in particular among the Palestinians, as well as the possible renewal of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks. The task is even more daunting against the backdrop of the recent fighting in Gaza, which is likely to diminish the chances of peace in the region.

So long as Hamas rules Gaza and Hezbollah solidifies its hold on southern Lebanon, an Israel-Palestinian agreement becomes more difficult to reach, Blair said. Nonetheless, the former admiral recommended that the U.S. invest greater effort in advancing the peace process so as to create opportunities for the U.S. to engage in dialogue with wide swaths of the Arab public, particularly those with nationalistic and Islamic tendencies.

Blair noted that North Korea, which aided Syria in the construction of a nuclear reactor which was destroyed by Israel, is likely to resume exporting nuclear technology to a number of countries.

The intelligence chief added that Syrian President Bashar Assad wisely managed to cement his control over the country by relying on the traditional levers of power which he inherited from his late father, Hafez Assad. Assad has also widened his base of support by naming close associates to key posts in the Syrian ruling apparatus.

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      1.   that`s the way it looks 19:42  |  flimflam 13/02/09
      2.   Adm. Blair wants to throw Israel to the dogs in order 19:51  |  Absolute Sweden 13/02/09
      3.   Conflict With Iran 20:02  |  Peter 13/02/09
      4.   If they do, let them 20:14  |  99 13/02/09
      5.   Dumb 20:22  |  John 13/02/09
      6.   Lebannon war made Hizbullah Stronger Now Gaza War will make Hamas 20:24  |  KR 13/02/09
      7.   Here today gone tomorrow 20:24  |  Rambo 13/02/09
      8.   Gaza Last solution 20:46  |  binny 13/02/09
      9.   Iran`s nuclear weapon program 20:54  |  Judy 13/02/09
      10.   Israel vs. Iran 20:56  |  Ed 13/02/09
      11.   Friends of Iran should be asking them to yeild 20:58  |  Avi 13/02/09
      12.   My favorite phrase: ISLAMIC TENDANCIES 21:00  |  Avi 13/02/09
      13.   N. Korea likely to resume exporting nuclear technology 21:02  |  Avi 13/02/09
      14.   I bet on Iran 21:53  |  Lou Medel 13/02/09
      15.   it is really double standards 21:55  |  Antonio da Silva 13/02/09
      16.   to #6- watch them wither out of existence. 21:58  |  Antonio da Silva 13/02/09
      17.   Ed - #10 22:10  |  Zed 13/02/09
      18.   Talk, talk, talk 22:20  |  Yonatan 13/02/09
      19.   Strengthen the "moderates"? 22:23  |  Natallie Durson 13/02/09
      20.   Zed, # 14 22:48  |  Ed 13/02/09
      21.   A mendacious article 23:09  |  Raad 13/02/09
      22.   The Iran issue was provoked entirely by the Settler Enterprise 23:11  |  Ivar 13/02/09
      23.   Russia Can Stop Iran For Their Own Interests 23:19  |  Scott W. Spears 13/02/09
      24.   Iran-Israel Intelligence 2009 23:23  |  Rickster 13/02/09
      25.   national interests 23:52  |  potobac 13/02/09
      26.   Israel, Iran 23:56  |  The Teacher/Instruct 13/02/09
      27.   Horse sense of fluff-story kind 01:20  |  allang 14/02/09
      28.   #18 Yonatan...... 01:49  |  allang 14/02/09
      29.   What would the mullahs do without Israel? And vice versa? 03:48  |  Tehran Joe 14/02/09
      30.   Natalie Durson are you for real?? 04:14  |  Rambo 14/02/09
      31.   The Teacher/Instruct # 26 let israel fight it out alone also. 04:19  |  American in NY 14/02/09
      32.   Ed do you read??? 04:20  |  RAmbo 14/02/09
      33.   Israel & Iran 05:57  |  Ed 14/02/09
      34.   Big Danger is There 07:08  |  American 14/02/09
      35.   Haaretz.com 07:41  |  Israel 14/02/09
      36.   re: Tehran Joe 08:14  |  UsedToPostHere 14/02/09
      37.   Why is it important for Israel to be the first to strike? 08:17  |  Jean Van Daem 14/02/09
      38.   re: American in NY 08:19  |  UsedToPostHere 14/02/09
      39.   Iran is present at our borders: 08:20  |  Jean Van Daem 14/02/09
      40.   30,000 Jews live peacefully in Iran,,, 09:15  |  John 14/02/09
      41.   Israel Iran clash....and Israel and U.S 09:23  |  Dt 14/02/09
      42.   Iran solution incredibly simple as thoroughly right: Saudi Plan 10:58  |  Ivar 14/02/09
      43.   Russia & Iran 11:04  |  Socius 14/02/09
      44.   n 41 `give in to the US`? 11:20  |  Fascist hater 14/02/09
      45.   Atomic Iran 12:18  |  Mike 14/02/09
      46.   the iranians want to get rid f their shitty regime 13:00  |  farah 14/02/09
      47.   Khamenei Speaks! (Teheran Times) 16:06  |  Avi 14/02/09
      48.   IRAN ISRAEL WAR 17:13  |  M 14/02/09
      49.   IRAN IS ALLOWED NUCLEAR POWER 20:44  |  Allan 14/02/09
      50.   Think About It...USA Sends Humanitarian Ship to Gaza City Port. 21:03  |  Reader 14/02/09
      51.   re: John 21:58  |  UsedToPostHere 14/02/09
      52.   50 22:55  |  mercy to cruel 14/02/09
      53.   Playing Polo in Iran. 23:27  |  Stephen. 14/02/09
      54.   Israel deserves it 23:27  |  Harold 14/02/09
      55.   Blair? 00:00  |  Maureen Ann 15/02/09
      56.   To all who think Iranian are hostile 01:33  |  ali 15/02/09
      57.   israel/iran 02:49  |  mike gach 15/02/09
      58.   Socius (#43) has important point, but misses key issue 03:00  |  Voice of Reason 15/02/09
      59.   Ali - you are right 10:17  |  Ariana 15/02/09
      60.   they already have them .. live with it 10:19  |  matt 15/02/09
      61.   Increasing awareness that Obama`s diplomacy has failed 14:38  |  Realist 15/02/09
      62.   Thats not possible! 01:11  |  rigma 16/02/09
      63.   Iran is no threat to anybody 21:33  |  Karim 16/02/09
      64.   American from NY 15:39  |  Tyra 17/02/09
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