ON THE BRINK – Grendel Report
ON THE BRINK – Grendel Report.
ON THE BRINK
By Jan Markell
August 16, 2010
Something major is in the works and it is very likely not good. So many
have said Iran will be “ready to go” within days as it concerns her
nuclear capability that it has become a bit like crying wolf. Few pay
attention anymore.
Well, you’d better listen up.
The Jerusalem Post ( Iran reactor to be fueled Aug. 21 ) reports that
Russia will start loading uranium fuel into the nuclear reactor of the
Bushehr nuclear power station in Iran on August 21. This is the crucial
step in outfitting Iran with nuclear weapons of mass destruction.
Russia says the latest U.N. sanctions against Iran will not affect the
Bushehr project. This project was slated to happen in late September but
now we are just days away from the point of no return. Israel must
decide what she will do, and quickly.
Former U.N. Ambassador John Bolton told Fox News that, “Once the fuel
rods are loaded it makes it essentially immune from attack by Israel.
Because once the rods are in the reactor, an attack on the reactor risks
spreading radiation in the air, and perhaps into the water of the
Persian Gulf.”
The story immediately became front-page news in Israel, which has laid
precise plans to carry out an attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities.
Bolton made it clear that it is widely assumed that any Israeli attack
on the Bushehr reactor must take place before the reactor is loaded with
fuel rods. If that is the case, Israel must act before August 21.
I often hear Yoni the Israeli blogger on the Hugh Hewitt program. In a
recent blog, he suggested war is imminent for the following reasons:
1) Hizbullah has dug tunnels into northern Israel. Hizbullah also has
60,000 rockets, many with chemical warheads. Israel has delivered
letters to the U.N., Lebanon, and USA, showing where Hizbullah has
hidden rockets in civilian areas.
2) Israeli satellite has captured photos of submarines off-loading
weapons to Hizbullah in northern Lebanon. Intelligence later showed
these weapons were special chemical weapons engineered to eat through
protective equipment. This agent may now be loaded onto Hizbullah rockets.
3) The Israel Air Force (IAF) is training in long- range missions, jets,
and helicopters, which would suggest commando raids a long way from
home. Additionally, Israeli Defense Force (IDF) reserves have been
called up and are being trained at an abnormal pace.
4) Israeli subs are sitting off Iran and the Israeli Air Force (IAF) has
an airbase in Saudi Arabia.
5) Israeli intelligence has captured data showing that Hizullah will
preemptively attack Israel at month’s end. The objective is to take out
IAF bases so Israeli planes cannot hit Iran.
While at first glance Americans think this will not affect them all that
much, I am taking some thoughts from my frequent radio guest, Bill
Salus, who has written the book Israelestine. Salus states, “Iran’s
apocalyptic-minded president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has publicly
threatened the closing of Hormuz in retaliation for an Israeli or
American strike upon his country.
“Additionally, two significant correlating events made the news in May,
2010. First, the Islamic Republic of Iran warned that it would launch
terrorist attacks and suicide strikes inside of America in the event of
a strike upon Iranian soil. Second, the Iranian Navy conducted a massive
war exercise in the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf, called
‘Judgment Day.’ This drill reportedly demonstrated Iran’s sole and
sovereign ability to control those strategic bodies of water.”
Salus continues, “Regarding the possibility of Iran playing the ‘oil
card’ against America, on September 15, 2009 The Wall Street Journal
published a Bret Stephens article entitled Obama Is Pushing Israel
Towards War. In the article Stephens suggested that a Middle East War
could push the price of oil up to $300 per barrel. Lately, on average,
that precious black gold has been closing between $70 to $80 per barrel.
Stephen’s estimate suggests an oil-dependent world could be about to
experience a spike at the pump of about four times the present amount.
Iran still ranks number two behind Saudi Arabia in the OPEC oil cartel,
which is responsible for two-thirds of the world’s oil supply.”
Are Americans, Chinese, Europeans, and others ready for such a steep
increase? Americans could expect to feel pain in the waiting lines at
the pump and in their pocket books, as increased transportation costs
would certainly be reflected in the price of goods sold over the retail
counters across the country.
When this strike actually happens, tomorrow or next year, the world will
react — as it did after Israel bombed Iraq’s Osirak facility in 1981 —
with universal condemnation. Israel can do nothing right — including
take out a major de-stablizer of the world — Iran’s nuclear capability.
And just where will America be in this scenario? Would she participate
with Israel? Even Saudi Arabia is participating, by allowing Israel to
use a Saudi air base. But don’t count on our current White House or
State Department to do anything but join the condemning chorus. As
George Will says, “Will Israel do what the world won’t? If it attacks
Iran, the world was warned. If not, the world may regret it.”
WarSclerotic 
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