IRAN: WILL ISRAEL ATTACK BEFORE U.S. ELECTION?

Netanyahu v Obama: What Next?


http://www.alanhart.net/netanyahu-v-obama-what-next/

This article by one of the most experienced and credible specialists on the Middle East is six months old. It was just brought to my attention; it is the best I’ve seen on the issue.

I think Alan Hart has it right. And that is precisely why all steps should be taken to prevent a “false-flag” incident from getting us involved in a war with Iran.

At very least, the U.S. Navy and its Iranian counterpart need to be able to communicate directly with each other. A Pentagon proposal to enable this has been hung up in the Senate for over two months, apparently by senior Senators who look favorably, or at least with equanimity, at the prospect of war with Iran.

 

US Agencies See No Move by Iran to Build a Bomb

Four Saturdays ago, the NY Times had a fact-based, page-one report on what U.S. Intelligence has been saying since 2007 about the (non-existent since 2003) Iranian nuclear WEAPONS program. The article’s appearance was a shock. Cynics dismiss it as a CYA operation, enabling the Times to dig out the article after the fact (of all hell breaking loose with Iran and still no sign of an active nuclear weapons effort there), and represent it as evidence that the Times had it right all along. We should, I suppose, be thankful for small favors. The Times avoided such precautions prior to the attack on Iraq….no doubt because it was going to be a “cakewalk,” remember?

nytimes.com/2012/02/25/world/middleeast/us-agencies-see-no-move-by-iran-to-build-a-bomb.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=Risen%20AND%20Mazzetti%20AND%20Clapper&st=cse

 

Ray Gets 5 Minutes on BBC radio re Iran


http://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/series/whys

“World Have Your Say – The BBC News programme where you set the agenda”; Feb 8, 2012; 6:00 to 7:00 pm (GMT); available for 7 days

WHYS 60: Latest on Syria and Learning About Iran:

“The desire to understand Iran increases as the standoff over its nuclear programme intensifies. “

(For Ray’s input, go to minutes 40:45 to 45:45.)

The BBC asked Ray to set aside from 1 to 2 pm ET for a “free-wheeling discussion” via Skype with two other panelists on site at the BBC. Ray referred the producer to Iran-related info on this Web site. Suddenly there were 5 other panelists plus “presenter” Ros Atkins.

Ray was not permitted to even hear the first 35 minutes, but was allowed to “listen only” from 1:35 to 1:45 pm. Only then was he invited to join the vapid conversation — merely for “balance,” it seems. Once in, he did claim enough time to make a few points — the first of which addressed how NOT to facilitate “learning about Iran.” And that would be by NOT withdrawing Iranian-sponsored PressTV’s license to broadcast in the UK, as the British government has recently done.

Frustrating as the experience was, Ray found it an interesting — if depressing — peek into the caliber of one prime-time BBC program (which, hopefully, may not representative of the BBC World Service as a whole). Those interested in assessing that can listen to the beginning as well as the five minutes (from 40:45 to 45:45) during which Ray was able to take part.

Participants:

-Maziar Bahari – Iranian journalist and filmmaker – jailed in Iran when he was working as a reporter; Behrouz Afagh – BBC Head of Journalism; Afshin Rattansi – Press TV; Iranian blogger in London; Omid Memarian – Iranian journalist; Raymond McGovern – former CIA analyst; presenter – Ros Atkins