WarSclerotic

ANALYSIS-Obama, Netanyahu got what they hoped for at UN meeting | Agricultural Commodities | Reuters.

By Louis Charbonneau

UNITED NATIONS, Oct 1 (Reuters) – U.S. President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared to get what they hoped for at the annual U.N. General Assembly after closing ranks to send a message to Iran that it may face war over its nuclear program.

Obama and Netanyahu did not meet with each other at the United Nations, where leaders and foreign ministers from the world body’s 193 member states have gathered since last week to give speeches and hold private talks to resolve conflicts and boost trade.

But the two men left the U.N. meeting with more than they arrived with: Obama with an assurance that Israel would not attack Iran’s nuclear sites before the Nov. 6 U.S. presidential election, and Netanyahu with a commitment from Obama to do whatever it takes to prevent Iran from producing an atomic bomb.

The General Assembly, concluding on Monday, was notable for what was not accomplished. World powers failed to break deadlocks over Iran’s nuclear program, the conflicts in Syria, Mali and Congo, and the stalled Israel-Palestinian peace talks.

As in previous years, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad assailed the United States, Israel and Europe, while calling for a new world order. He made his eighth and likely final address to a U.N. General Assembly.

The lack of substantive progress on the world’s protracted conflicts led diplomats and analysts to question the relevance of the United Nations, saying it was incapable of moving decisively as it did last year on Libya.

“The diplomatic situation at the U.N. may have to get worse before it gets better,” said Richard Gowan of New York University. “Perhaps we need a diplomatic debacle on the scale of Iraq – or a peacekeeping failure like Srebrenica (Bosnia) – before big states wake up and ask why the U.N. is stagnating.”

In July 1995, U.N. peacekeepers in Bosnia failed to prevent the massacre of some 8,000 Muslim men and boys in Srebrenica.

Analysts and diplomats argue that the lack of U.N. backing for the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003 highlighted the need for a U.N. seal of approval for military interventions. Widely seen as “illegal,” as former U.N. chief Kofi Annan described it, Western powers made certain that the NATO intervention in Libya last year had the backing of the U.N. Security Council unlike the Iraq war.

While the United States and Israel have long refused to rule out the use of military force to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, Netanyahu has criticized Obama for failing to make clear to Tehran under what circumstances Western powers would be prepared to attack Iranian nuclear facilities.

Suggestions from Israel that he was letting down the Jewish state were an irritant Obama did not want to put up with in the final weeks before an election, especially given the way the issue has been leveraged by Republican challenger Mitt Romney.

Meanwhile, Western officials say, Netanyahu may want to avoid antagonizing Israel’s main ally and poisoning ties with the man who could occupy the White House for another four years.

‘BIBI’S BOMB’

Iran rejects Western allegations that it is developing the capability to produce atomic bombs – it says its nuclear program is for peaceful energy and medical purposes – and refuses to comply with Security Council demands to halt nuclear enrichment.

This has led to increasingly harsh U.N. and Western sanctions, which have caused the value of Iran’s currency to plummet.

Israel sees a nuclear-armed Iran as a threat to its existence.

In his speech to the General Assembly on Thursday, Netanyahu held up a cartoonish diagram of a bomb with a fuse to illustrate the threat of Iran’s nuclear program. He used a red marker to draw a line at the point where Iran would be close to producing an atomic bomb.

Images of “Bibi’s bomb” – referring to Netanyahu’s nickname – with its graphic “red line” representing the moment Iran can no longer be stopped from getting a nuclear weapon will likely be the defining image of this year’s assembly.

It may also join other memorable moments when visual aids were used in U.N. speeches. These include: U.S. Ambassador Adlai Stevenson’s unveiling of U-2 spy plane photos of Cuba during the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, and U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell’s flawed intelligence briefing seeking to make the case for war with Iraq before the March 2003 U.S.-led invasion.

Netanyahu praised Obama for telling the General Assembly that the United States will “do what we must” to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and acknowledged that there was still room for diplomacy. Harsh sanctions, Netanyahu said, could probably persuade Tehran not to build a nuclear weapon.

But the Israeli leader also hinted at war. He said Iran’s enrichment plants were visible and vulnerable to attack and suggested that a decision on force could come by next spring. Tehran’s U.N. mission responded by saying Iran has the means and right to retaliate with full force against any attack.

Israel, presumed to be the region’s only nuclear power, has twice destroyed sites it feared could be used to develop atomic weapons – in 1981 in Iraq and in 2007 in Syria.

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem was among the last speakers to address the General Assembly. On the final day of the session on Monday, he accused the United States, France, Turkey, Qatar and Saudi Arabia of hijacking what was a domestic crisis by supporting rebels with arms and money.

Russia, an ally of Syria, and China have vetoed three Security Council resolutions condemning Assad’s government. Both made clear they still oppose U.N. sanctions against Syria or new measures against Iran, which Western nations accuse of propping up Assad’s government.

One Western ambassador, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters: “If I were a member of Assad’s government, I’d be very happy Syria’s getting short shrift at the U.N. If I were a rebel, I’d be pretty disappointed with the U.N. right now.”

The Palestinians, whose aspirations for their own state are now taking a back seat at the United Nations to Iran, Syria and the Arab Spring, were probably also disappointed by the General Assembly.

A year ago in New York, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas announced his bid for full U.N. membership for a Palestinian state, sparking excitement at the General Assembly and the West Bank. The request wilted in the face of U.S. opposition.

This year, Abbas announced he was looking for a less-ambitious status upgrade at the world body that would make it a “non-member state” like the Vatican, instead of an “entity.” There was no excitement at the General Assembly or the West Bank. (Editing by Will Dunham)

Netanyahu Warns The World.

When the balloon goes up, not a single nation on earth can say they were taken by surprise

I count myself an observer of an historical moment on Thursday, September 27th, 2012.  I watched the Prime Minister of Israel warn the world that disaster was swiftly approaching and it would soon be upon the entire world if action isn’t soon taken to stop Iran from producing a nuclear bomb.

Netanyahu laid his case against Iran before the world—again!  And again—the world looked away.

Mr. Netanyahu was eloquent, articulate, and compelling in his description of Iran’s nearness to the realization of their quest for a nuclear bomb.  When he left the lectern at the United Nations, there could be no doubt, whatsoever, that notice had been served.

Israel just told the world, in as public a forum as there is on this planet, that there is a rogue nation among the community of nations on this globe, a rogue nation with murderous intent toward ALL the nations of the earth.  Netanyahu made it plain that that nation is Iran.  He described the threat to a “T.”  And he made it clear, without saying it, that Israel was prepared to become the vigilante of the earth and remove the threat.

With the assistance of a visual aid, a sketch of an elementary “bomb,” Netanyahu explained to his audience exactly where Iran is in their endeavor to create a nuclear bomb.  (The fools who made fun of the “cartoon bomb” missed the point entirely.  After the presentation of that particular prop, the whole world will forever associate “bomb” and “Iran” in a single thought.  For everyone who saw the speech or the photo, “Iran/bomb” is forever seared into their minds.  As someone who spent nearly thirty years of my life either in, or associated with, advertising, take it from me—the use of that bomb sketch was a stroke of pure genius! Again, Netanyahu outsmarted the antisemites of the media and the world.)

Watching and listening to Netanyahu, I was reminded of a parent tending to a child with a splinter in his finger that was going to have to be removed—and it was going to hurt—but the parent was going to remove that splinter, anyway, because if it was not removed then infection would surely set in and the tiny little splinter would become a problem for the whole body.

Much like a reluctant child, after having been told the splinter must come out, jerks his finger away crying, “NO!  Put a band-aid on it,” the UN again opts for a band-aid.  But every time the child peeks beneath the band-aid—the splinter is still there and the wound gets worse.

Netanyahu’s speech to the UN was a set-up for a “told you so” moment down the road a ways.  Every single person in that auditorium knows a confrontation is coming as surely as sunrise tomorrow.  Even the Iranians know it.  In their religious zealotry, the Iranians welcome any action that will result in chaos. Worldwide chaos, for them, is even better for they are convinced that their Mahdi will return and together they will conquer the world for Islam.

When the balloon goes up, not a single nation on earth can say they were taken by surprise.

What I believe we saw Thursday was a giant game of “Charade(s)” at the UN.  Was anyone shocked by the information Mr. Netanyahu laid out for them?  I daresay not a single person in the room.  Heck, I already knew as much as Mr. Netanyahu revealed— from my own sources.  No.  I think what we saw was quiet acquiescence.

Look.  Much of the world understands that Iran is going to require a military solution.  The thing is—THEY don’t want to be involved!  They do not want to spend their blood and treasure, especially when the world has the global cop—the US Military—standing by, literally off Iran’s shore.  Add to that the fact that one of the world’s foremost military powers has all but offered to do the deed and save the world—while saving themselves—and you have a neatly wrapped Christmas present with a bow on top.

Without backup from the US, Israel must now decide between a nuclear or non-nuclear attack on Iran.  A non-nuclear attack will mean loss of Israeli aircraft and men, and, we are assured, only setback Iran’s nuclear program two, maybe three, years.

On the other hand, a single nuclear-tipped Israeli Jericho-3 missile exploding high in Iran’s atmosphere emitting an electro-magnetic pulse, is capable of setting back Iran’s nuclear program for DECADES with virtually no loss of Israeli lives, or aircraft, leaving the IAF at home—ready and able—to defend the people of Israel and deal with Iran’s proxy armies to Israel’s north and south.

Yes, there is a problem of collateral damage from an EMP blast over Iran.  My guess is that the armada of allied warships standing off Iran’s shore would be dead in the water, at least until all their electronics were replaced.

Which option would you choose?

The point is—there are no easy solutions.  And as tough as it is today—it will only get worse as Iran closes in on the bomb.

Netanyahu served notice to the world, Thursday, at the UN that, as difficult as it may be, Israel is going to do whatever it has to do to survive.

The world should expect no less.

70% of Americans hold favorable view of Israel, new poll finds | The Times of Israel.

Only UK cited more often as best US ally

JTA — Seventy percent of Americans view Israel favorably, according to a survey conducted by the Foreign Policy Initiative.

Moreover, when asked their view of Israel, nearly 81 percent of political conservatives shared that favorable view, while the number was at 68.5 percent for moderates and approximately 63 percent of liberals.

The survey, called “Foreign Policy Matters in 2012,” was conducted Sept. 15-17 by Basswood Research for the Foreign Policy Initiative. Its margin of error is 3.1 percent.

Some 40 percent of respondents identified as Republicans, 40 percent as Democrats and 20 percent as either independents or with no party affiliation.

Asked the open-ended question about America’s best ally in the world, Israel came in at 15.9 percent, second only to the United Kingdom at 54 percent.

On Syria, nearly 66 percent of Americans supported Washington working “with our allies to establish no-fly zones in Syria to protect civilians and help ensure a transition to a more pro-Western government instead of the terrorist-supporting regime of Bashar al-Assad.”

Syria’s chemical weapons are an ‘American invention,’ Assad regime charges | The Times of Israel.

Foreign Minister Walid Muallem: US is stoking fears about Syria’s weapons stockpiles in order to create an Iraq-like excuse to topple Assad

A chemical weapons stockpile (illustrative photo credit: CC BY jenspie3, Flickr)

Syria lashed out at the United States Monday by accusing the American administration of stoking fears about the country’s chemical weapons in order to topple President Bashar Assad.

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem told Beirut-based al-Mayadeen TV that the US was trying to create a scenario similar to that which led to the invasion of Iraq. Muallem gave the interview on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meeting in New York.

“This issue [chemical weapons] is an invention of the American administration,” Muallem said in excerpts of an interview to be broadcast in full later Monday, AFP reported.

But Muallem was vague on whether or not the Assad regime possesses chemical weapons or not. In July, Damascus acknowledged it had chemical weapons and claimed it would not use them against civilians, but only as a deterrent against enemy countries, namely Israel, in case of an attack.

“These chemical weapons in Syria, if they exist — and I emphasize if — how is it possible that we would use them against our own people? It’s a joke,” he said, according to AFP. “But this definitely does not mean that Syria has a stockpile of chemical weapons or that it intends to use these weapons against its own people … It is a myth they invented to launch a campaign against Syria like they did in Iraq.”

The US-led coalition that invaded Iraq in March 2003 cited Saddam Hussein’s alleged possession of weapons of mass destruction as an overarching reason to topple the Iraqi dictator. The weapons were never found.

The fear of Syria’s chemical weapons getting loose or being used during the course of the bloody Syrian uprising has stoked fears among the international community. Earlier this week, US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta pointed to new intelligence and said that Syria had moved some of its chemical weapons stockpiles to more secure areas in order to reinforce them.

‘Iran infiltrated most sensitive… JPost – Iranian Threat – News.

Proust Questionnaire: Herman Wouk | Vanity Fair.

( My Abba… – JW )

Herman Wouk

Now 97 and about to release his 13th novel, The Lawgiver, the Pulitzer Prize winner cherishes his solitude above all—that, and his voluminous diary.

Illustration by Risko

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What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Monogamy, with the right lady. (Sheer luck.)

What or who is the greatest love of your life?
Betty Sarah Wouk, no contest.

When and where were you happiest?
Anywhere with her, while she lived.

What is your greatest fear?
At age 97 and counting, guess.

Which historical figure do you most identify with?
On bad days, the captain of the Titanic.

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
Taking myself seriously, even in a Vanity Fair quiz.

What is the trait you most deplore in others?
Complacent stupidity.

What is your greatest extravagance?
The way I live now.

What is your favorite journey?
These days, from office to bed at bedtime.

What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
Wounding cleverness.

What do you dislike most about your appearance?
The shrinkage.

Which living person do you most despise?
The Jewish writer who traduces his Jewishness.

Which talent would you most like to have?
“Desiring this man’s art, and that man’s scope … ”—Sonnet 29.

What is your current state of mind?
Optimistic. Can’t say why.

If you could change one thing about your family, what would it be?
Where shall I start?

What do you consider your greatest achievement?
I guess The Winds of War and War and Remembrance.

What is your most treasured possession?
Probably my journal—100-plus volumes, 1937 to the pres­ent.

What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
Helplessness.

Where would you like to live?
Ideally, Jerusalem. Realistically, Palm Springs.

What is your favorite occupation?
Plain truth? Writing at a new book.

What is your most marked characteristic?
Pursuit of privacy.

What is the quality you most like in a man?
Being a mensch.

What is the quality you most like in a woman?
Silent, steadfast love.

What do you most value in your friends?
Intellect and humor.

Who are your favorite writers?
Bible and Shakespeare aside, the usual grand suspects: Twain, Dickens, Scott, Balzac, Tolstoy, etc., etc. Also Jane.

Who is your favorite hero of fiction?
Don Quixote.

Who are your heroes in real life?
Those who serve over in Afghanistan, or six months underwater in nuclear subs.

What is it that you most dislike?
Priggishness.

How would you like to die?
Not much.

Report: Iran transfers $10 billion to Syria – Israel News, Ynetnews.

Times reports that failure to decide conflict in favor of Assad, as Tehran continues to spend billions of dollars on Syrian president, has created rift at top of Iranian regime

Ynet

The Iranian economy is finding it difficult to cope with the economic sanctions, but the extensive financial aid to Syrian President Bashar Assadhas not stopped – and is creating a rift at the top of the Iranian regime.

The London-based Times newspaper reported Monday that Tehran has transferred some $10 billion in support of Assad’s war against Syrian rebels. Western intelligence sources say the failure to decide the Syrian conflict in favor of Assad has caused a split between Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and Iran’s spymaster in the past 14 years, Qassem Suleimani.

According to the report, defectors from Assad’s forces have told coordinators for the rebel Free Syrian Army in the Gulf that Iran has been paying the salaries of Syrian government troops for months, as well as providing weapons and logistical support.

This huge outlay of $10 billion has increased friction in Tehran as the Iranian economy labors under international sanctions imposed by the West to curb Iran’s nuclear program.

Suleimani, the commander of the Quds Force, a unit of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, masterminds Iranian strategy with its proxies across the region, including Hezbollah and Hamas.

“Suleimani promised Khamenei that he would turn the situation in Syria around and has failed to deliver,” a Western defense source told The Times.

Instead, the conflict has become a bloody stalemate, with Iran pumping weapons, troops and cash into Syria to counter support for the rebels from Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Qatar, overseen by the US.

According to the report, senior regime figures are also questioning Iranian strategy in Syria, fearful of unrest at home if the conflict drags on and the scale of Iran’s spending becomes public.

Rial plunges 13% to new record low

Iran is seemingly reiterating its support for Assad. Ali Akbar Velayati, Ayatollah Khamenei’s foreign policy advisor, insisted over the weekend that victory for the Assad regime was “certain” and would represent a victory for Iran.

But behind the scenes, The Times says, Iran is exploring other options, reopening talks with various opposition groups, including the Syrian Muslim Brotherhood, in an effort to retain a stake in the country should the Assad regime be toppled.

“They need time to build the necessary alliances to make sure that Iran is not expelled from Syria forever,” a defense source in the Gulf told the London-based newspaper.

According to the report, failure to crush the Syrian uprising puts the first real dent in Suleimani’s reputation. Head of the Quds Force since 2002, he marshaled the Shia insurgency against US-led forces in Iraq, entering Baghdad at will under the noses of the Americans and becoming a darling of the ultra-conservative elite in Tehran.

He is so close to Ayatollah Khamenei that he has been touted as a contender for the presidency when Mahmoud Amhadinejad steps down next year, but most observers consider him unlikely to run for office just now.

With the Syrian conflict unresolved, the wider Middle East in flux and the mounting threat of an Israeli attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities, The Times says, Ayatollah Khamenei will probably conclude that Suleimani would better serve Tehran in his present role.

Meanwhile Monday, Iran’s currency, the rial, crashed more than 13% in trade on Monday to a record low of 33,500 to the dollar, according to the Mesghal.com exchange tracking website.

The dramatic freefall added to more gradual losses in past months that have seen the rial lose more than three-quarters of its value compared with the end of last year, when it was at 13,000 to the dollar.

Iran is suffering heightened geopolitical tensions over its nuclear programme and the effects of draconian Western sanctions which are hitting its economy. It also is burdened with high inflation and rising unemployment.

The latest rate given by Mesghal extended a loss of nine percent seen immediately as trading opened on Monday, compared with Sunday’s close of 29,600.

Some other websites that usually give real-time exchange data, such as Mazanex.com, had the dollar rate for the rial censored.

AFP contributed to this report