Report: U.S. accelerates missile defenses in Persian Gulf
Obama places defense systems in four Arab countries; Peres tells IAEA chief a nuclear Iran threatens the world.
By Haaretz Service and The Associated Press Tags: Iran IAEA Shimon Peres Israel newsThe United States is expediting the deployment of missile defenses against Iranian missile attacks in the Persian Gulf, the New York Times reported on Saturday.
U.S. President Barack Obama recently decided to speed up the deployment of defense systems, placing special ships off the Persian Gulf and missile defense systems in Arab states such as Qatar, the U.A.E., Bahrain, and Kuwait.
In light of destabilized relations with China, the Obama administration is taking practical steps to prepare for the increasingly pressing crisis with Iran.
The U.S. government stresses that this move is being made in hopes of applying more pressure on Iran and to eliminate any incentives it may have to strike first.
According to the New York Times report, the Obama administration is also trying to show Israel that there is no immediate need for military strikes against Iranian nuclear and missile facilities.
Even though General David H. Petraeus has discussed the defense systems several times in recent weeks, the White House is refusing to comment on the rushed deployment of the missile defenses.
Meanwhile on Friday, President Barack Obama's national security adviser cited a heightened risk that Iran will respond to growing pressure over its nuclear program by stoking violence against Israel.
The adviser, retired Marine Gen. James Jones, said history shows that when regimes are feeling pressure they can lash out through surrogates.
He said that in Iran's case that would mean facilitating attacks on Israel through Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza. Iran helps arm Hezbollah and Hamas.
Jones also alluded to the prospect of additional international sanctions being applied to Iran as one factor in making Iran feel greater pressure.
He said another factor is internal pressure - an apparent reference to street protests against the Iranian leadership over the disputed presidential election June 12.
Israel has long expressed concern over Iran's support of Hamas and Hezbollah.
A senior Israel Defense Forces officer in September said Iran had taken control of the Lebanese militia citing five incidents of rocket fire from southern Lebanon into Israel since the end of the 2006. The officer claims they were carried out in defiance of Hezbollah directives.
IDF intelligence has surmised that Iran's Revolutionary Guard has increased its control over Hezbollah in recent years and is preventing the Lebanese militia from forming its own independent structure.
Also in September, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad vowed to keep supporting the Palestinian militant group Hamas until the "collapse of Israel."
The Iranian news agency Khabar quoted Ahmadinejad as telling Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh that Iran views the support of the Palestinian people as part of its religious and national duty and that Iran will stand behind the Palestinian nation "until the big victory feast which is the collapse of the Zionist regime."
Peres to IAEA chief: Nuclear Iran is a threat to the entire world
President Shimon Peres on Saturday warned the new International Atomic Energy Agency director general, Yukia Amano, that a nuclear Iran poses a threat to the entire world.
The meeting between Peres and Amano, which took place on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, marks the first time a prominent Israeli official met with the new IAEA chief, who took office last month.
Peres started off the meeting by congratulating Amano on his new appointment. "I hope that under your leadership the agency will work in a serious and steadfast manner against Iran's nuclear armament," said Peres. "You occupy one of the most demanding positions in the world."
The President also said that the "IAEA must join the world struggle to reduce threats and dangers. This is an organization that is based on trust and Iran does not respect the agency's rules and isn't abiding by its decisions," said Peres. "A nuclear weapon in the hands of a fanatical regime such as the one in Iran poses a threat not only to Israel, but also to the entire world."
Amano is expected to serve a report to the IAEA board of governors, and assured the President that the Iranian issue will be included in it. The IAEA chief also said that Iran does not abide by the IAEA resolutions in a satisfactory manner.
Amano also mentioned that he is intends to visit the Middle East in the coming months.
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President Shimon Peres with IAEA chief Yukia Amano. |
| Photo by: (Ido Sharir) |
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Did Peres talk about Israels nuke arsenal? Any Israeli,s mentioned for a Hague interview? Code for an Obama green light seems a lot more plausable......PEACE EVER?
To Mark: right on. In 1928 up until 1933, the Allied countries could have stopped the NAZIs, but obviously wanted an illusory peace instead. Even the USA polls showed until 1941, little support for a foreign war. It's understandible. In the end, 6m Germans died to sucessfully murder 300,000 German Jews. It's country was destroyed, but 70m died worldwide (6m Jews). We could have stopped Hitler. We can stop Ahmad and his Rev Guards and mullahs who lead that country. A combined US/Israel/French/British/German force can do it folks, in 24 hrs. Iran will plead for mercy, for a cease fire, blaming we Jews. No cease, fire Mohammad, just your surrender and Ahmads' neck. Israel can waste 30m Iranians in 3wks if war breaks out. There will be Jewish casualties. What is it folks, the stats ( US report) or a pre-emption NOW. Are you hearing me Obama? Or as "Apache said, scalps, scalps, scalps ( Inglorious Bastards ). Hitler said, Nein, nein, nein..Ahmad will say, nein, if we have the nerve.
and Iran knows it-hence, the continued nuclear build-up. Iran will be more difficult to "whack" once they are a nuclear power. Has this point been lost on both Israel and the US ?
and it will not cow them into stopping or freezing their drive for nuclear weapons. Somehow this point has been lost on the West and its allies. More missile ships and hardware moving into the Persian Gulf creates more targets-especially since Iran knows that Israel and the US are afraid to utilize them for attacks. In other words, Iran can see through "flag-waving" in the Gulf and elsewhere.
You seem to have a retention problem. Hizbollah may attack Israel, but it will not have the support of the Lebanese Government nor its people. Lebanon is not a province of Iran. Youve been told this before. Why do you continually expose your lack of knowledge of the area? You have no idea what you are talking about. Why do you write such misleading information? Iran has influence with Hizbollah thru its financial aid to Hizbollah, The Iranians and the members of Hizbollah are fellow Shias. Shias represent 41% of the Lebanese population, and most are not members of Hizbollah, the rest are Sunnis, Christians and Druze. The President is a Christian and the PM is a Sunni. The Lebanese despise Iran and Shias, and Iran will never hold sway over the entire Lebanese population. Hezbollah has 11 seats in a 30 seat parliament and one cabinet position. Take notes this time.
US manned Air defense missile systems ringing Iran... I do hope that USS Vincennes incident doesn't repeat itself but then, Israeli/Israeli-American hasbara will be able to justify anything.
You're wrong Claus. Iran has indeed acted illegally. Read reports by the IAEA like the one in Feb 2006 that Iran violated its treaty obligations under its 1974 NPT Safeguards Agreement (IAEA Board of Governors Res. GOV/2006/14 (4 Feb. 2006)).
A strengthening of missile defenses would seem to be the least the US can do in response to the fraudulently elected President of Iran's statement that his aim is to dominate the world by controlling the Middle East.
You seem to have a retention problem. Hizbollah may attack Israel, but it will not have the support of the Lebanese Government nor its people. Lebanon is not a province of Iran. Youve been told this before. Why do you continually expose your lack of knowledge of the area? You have no idea what you are talking about. Why do you write such misleading information? Iran has influence with Hizbollah thru its financial aid to Hizbollah, The Iranians and the members of Hizbollah are fellow Shias. Shias represent 41% of the Lebanese population, and most are not members of Hizbollah, the rest are Sunnis, Christians and Druze. The President is a Christian and the PM is a Sunni. The Lebanese despise Iran and Shias, and Iran will never hold sway over the entire Lebanese population. Hezbollah has 11 seats in a 30 seat parliament and one cabinet position. Take notes this time.
"He said another factor is internal pressure - an apparent reference to street protests against the Iranian leadership over the disputed presidential election June 12. " - Haaretz Another major demonstration is being organized to happen during the next two weeks.
There are two aircraft carriers in the Northern Arabian Sea right now. The Eisenhower and it's strike group have joined the Nimitz and it's strike group. This is probably just a normal rotation.
A lot of people are watching. You don't want to do this.
Iran has never attacked any country offensively and Hezbollah and Hamas use Iran. The only hting about Iran is my enemies enemy is my friend ther is no ither affinity
So long as Iran remains under control of the mullahs and continues to shout "Death to America, Death to Israel", Obama and his cohorts can do little to shake the support of real americans for Israel.
Sanctions are useless, just see N Korea. USA must act because empyt rethorics.
Help to Hamas is part of Israel's propaganda. How can Iran help Hamas since Gaza is under an ironclad embargo?
We have enough problems at home. And Americans are sick of stupid Mid East wars and expensive occupations that last decades. A war with Iran would crash our economy, and China would replace us as the world's economic power, holding over a trillion of our debt.
War with Iran will mean the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the West will be back in 1932, more or less, DEPRESSION. And there's NO EVIDENCE that Iran is pursuing nuclear weapons. Iran has done nothing illegal, so the existing UN sanctions are illegal !
Israel and the US should understand there will be mass outrage in the streets around the world if either one of them touchesIran. People are sick of this bullying relationship with all its double standards & fear mongering. It's such a pain day after day. Get over it and accept Iran's right to have nuclear capability. Dutch
What are you doing in Switzerland? Maybe you better move elsewhere? I don't need your wars.
iran has been waging a proxy war against israel for years. iran has been exporting terror since the glorious islamic revolution. iran will not stop until it is stopped.
I am sure that is correct but I am also sure that Israel is prepared and that Isreal in self defense by the world will be condmned again as it was in Gaza. This time Israel should finish the job Iran,Lebanon and the South. A big undertaking but very possible
Ignore the man behind the curtain. The Israeli government wants more and more pressure on Iran. Damn the consequences.
Its time to whack the Regime. Good day.
Iran can strike Israel from Lebanon any time it wants. All it has to do is give that ape nasrallah the order. And what will Lebanon do about it? Nothing as usual. Lebanon is nothing but a province of Iran.
Iran's intentions are clear. They are effectively at war with Israel. The proxy strategy is just a means to skirt international law.
Yeah,"there must be gambling going on Rick's Bar backroom...".The hamas and the hizballah are doing the iranian dirty work for all those years and the state department guess it MAY HAPPEN...LET IT BE LIGHT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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I dont care if iran is telling hez what to do. Hez is still part of leb govt, so any attack should result in retaliation against all leb govt installations. Obama is just covering his behind since he knows somehting will happen soon. As for iran their day is coming.
All of these guy-- including plenty of Israelis--wake up, go to sleep, eat, breath, live, for war. They are sick!
Or at weak scapegoats: US-Grenada, Iraq etc. Hitler-Jews,Gypsies etc. Israel-Lebanon, Gaza etc. Takes the people's minds off the problems at home. Nothing like an external foe too unite the citizens
What is the point here? That if America tries to stop Iran from getting the bomb that's a bad thing because Israel could be hurt? So no sanctions and let Iran get the nuclear bomb--which will be a good thing? Well, lashing out works both ways.
Bring it on, Mahmoud.
IRAN. The 'Big Feast' will turn against you & Vultures shall prey upon you. The 'feast' shall be so great & widespread,that what will remain of a once flourishing Persia/Iran will be only bones strewn all over your land. For such a curse that has befallen your land, you must thank the half-man-half-ape that is ruling (ruining) Iran together with the Mullahs. Good job done !
Hizbollah and Hamas don't need anyone to joggle their elbow in their war with Israel. Israel had an almost two decade occupation of Lebanon and has occupied Palestinian land for much longer than that. As the principle resistance against Israeli aggression and occupation, these two groups are justified in their resistance. You really need to get Israeli hands out of American pockets and Israeli lobbyists out of the American decision making process. That's the biggest threat to America. Stop worrying about Israel and get on your job.
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have a tendency disappearing over time(Sad-Am). Israel is under Almighty's protection and has means for adequate defense against any evil.
Mr President what about Israel lash out to the palestinian?Mr President Iran is where it is today thank you to our goverment! Yes mr president our american goverment!check into Mr Bush policy when he attach Iraq and what he did to Iran!!
of control
-mpted ?
There are three category of people: wise - those who learn from other people mistakes; smart - those who learned from their own mistakes; idiots - those who cannot learn from other people and their own mistakes.