Joint Chief Drops in on Israel while Touring Europe?

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen, will visit Israel later this week. His trip is part of a European tour.

What's odder than dropping by the Middle East during a tour of Europe? It's his second visit in months. Contrast that with the ten year period where no Chair of the Joint Chiefs went to Israel.

Mullen could join the U.S. Chief of Naval Operations who is currently in Israel on an official visit. That's alot of Naval leadership firepower hanging out with America's best friend in Europe, oops, it's actually the Middle East.

Freedom to Say No to Peace

The Middle East's shining democracy of Israel is free to say no. Consider a few of the Jewish state's concerns. They are deeply concerned about peace with their Arab neighbors. Israel is worried about the dangers from a nuclear armed Iran. And on both issues they've said no.

U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney made his second war tour through the Middle East in March. He noted that Israel would surely agree to peace with their neighbors if any reasonable offer hit the table. Well, for six years the Jewish state said no to an Arab League plan. Here's how the the Foreign Policy Adviser to Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah put it:

ANNOUNCER: According to the Foreign Policy Advisor to the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Adel Al-Jubeir, the Saudis are puzzled by Israel’s perceived reluctance to accept the Saudi peace initiative.

ADEL AL-JUBEIR: “The initiative has everything that Israel has ever wanted – recognition of Israel as a Jewish State, peace treaties between Israel and the Arab countries – everything that the Israelis have sought over the past 50 years is on the table. It’s mind boggling that they cannot take yes for an answer.”

At least we're used to senior Bush officials giving "their version" of reality. While I can lament the loss of six years of possible peace, the present finds the world facing a possible joint U.S./Israel attack on Iran looming. News from Israel shows their military training for a pre-emptive strike. Their media emphatically states Mahmoud Ahmadinejad = Adolf Hitler and the Jewish people face imminent genocide.

American neo-cons spread myths on the airwaves that Arab countries would secretly love more conflict in the region. The war mongers also blame the "weaker" party for any future attack. President Bush would need to take action before a wimp took office and Neville Chamberlained all over the Oval Office.

It's sad that people with balls, like Bush and Olmert, can't take responsibility for their own aggression.

Israel's Formaldehyde Test over Mediterranean?

In March Israel grounded all of its F-16 fighter jets due to formaldehyde levels found in one cockpit. At the time it seemed an obvious ruse to conduct wholesale maintenance before launching a pre-emtive attack on Iran's nuclear facilities. But no longer coy, the Middle East's leading democracy staged a huge military exercise in the Mediterranean to send such a message. The Jerusalem Post reported:

More than 100 IAF F-16 and F-15 fighter jets took part in the exercise, which was carried out over the eastern Mediterranean and over Greece, the officials quoted by the New York Times said. The drill also included IAF rescues helicopters, continued the officials, adding that the helicopters and refueling tankers flew more than 900 miles, which is approximately the distance between Israel and Iran's uranium enrichment plant at Natanz.

The IDF would neither confirm nor deny the report. The army issued a statement saying only that the IAF "regularly trains for various missions in order to confront and meet the challenges posed by the threats facing Israel."

I'd hoped the reason had been to test the air inside those F-16 cockpits. Instead they want more corpses, which happen to use formaldehyde. Eerie coincidence?

A Visit to Open & Compassionate America

While visiting Europe, U..S. President George W. Bush told Italian exchange students America is compassionate, open and entrepreneurial. He noted the problem is "you have to visit to find out." And how might that work, Mr. President?

First, a student would have to get a travel visa approved. Should they fly on an entrepreneurial U.S. American airline, students would need to pay $15 per checked bag. After forking over another $2 for a soda and $5 for a snack, they can relax in anticipation of that compassionate, open welcome which includes Uncle Sam wanting a souvenir fingerprint, palm print and retinal scan.

If the student happens to be of Muslim faith, be careful where you point your camera! And those phone calls and e-mails to home are, of course, international and subject to secret collection and review. So y'all come visit, ya here! And pay no attention to the cavity search...

Freedom to Follow Headlines to Disturbing End

A perusal of today's headlines in the Jerusalem Post could lead one to disturbing conclusions. The first story dealt with public opinion in the Middle East's foremost democracy. The headline read:

90% say Israel tainted with corruption

The first sentence stated, "Ninety percent of the Israeli public thinks that the country is tainted with corruption and over half say that corruptibility is a necessary prerequisite to success in the political sphere".

Remember, this evaluation comes not from Israel's enemies, but from the public being served by the democratic government. The next story dealt with the best friend of this nation governed by corrupt leaders. One could conclude the best friend to be corrupt, as they remain loyal to an ethically challenged government.

Current U.S. government beneficial to Israel

In a speech to his cabinet of corruptly viewed leaders, Israel P.M. Olmert implored them to take advantage of the time left under the Bush administration. He said, "One thing is certain: this administration is especially friendly, we cannot miss taking advantage of this opportunity. Therefore the element of time holds special importance. We must not lose this."

So what do the corrupt pair of Israel and America have in mind during this short window? Well, it seems they need to reign in another country that is untrustworthy.

Bush in Europe: 'Iran can't be trusted with nuclear enrichment'

Well, if Bush said it, the world knows it was pronounced "nukular". Enunciation aside, headlines indicate corrupt Israel and complicit America don't trust the wacky Iranians and their purported peaceful nuclear program. Therefore, "all options remain" on the table for dealing with the threat.

House Security Adviser Stephen Hadley shared strategy number 1 involves finding a way for all Iranians to learn about the proposal. What? While Iraqi and American citizens can't find out the details in the long term security agreement being negotiated, all Iranian citizens could know about their offer? Hadley said:

"On the one hand, there is a way out for the Iranian people. On the other hand, as the president said, if they do not take it, then the Iranian people need to understand that the choice their regime is making is going to result in increasing isolation of the Iranian regime and, regrettably, the Iranian people as well."

Iranian citizens will have been forewarned by corrupt and complicit governments. Iranians, please don't take it personally. Israeli and American leaders ignore their people's wishes as well...

Vetting Kathleen for Trinity Role

Huffington Post's Sam Stein believes Kansas Governor Kathleen Selebius would complete Barack Obama as his #2 running mate, just as Trinity completed Neo in The Matrix series. If true, it's an astounding deja vu. According to the NYT in 2004, John Kerry asked James A. Johnson to find his running mate. Senator John Edwards severely bruised Ralph Reed in a debate at the Bilderberg Group meeting, virtually guaranteeing his selection as VP.

Fast forward to 2008. The same James A. Johnson attends the Bilderberg Group meeting in Chantilly, VA June 5-8. Kathleen Sebelius is on the invite list. Rumors fly that Barack and Hillary "dropped by". Did Kathleen deliver a similar killer performance? Or did Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell show up?

No matter, the similarities are disturbing. Like The Matrix movie, this deja vu reveals an error in the democracy program. But are they the real Neo and Trinity? Would Neo say, "so what" if the man charged with choosing Barack's VP got over $7 million in below market loans from subprime lender Countrywide Financial? Would Trinity call that "irrelevant and overblown"....."The Matrix is everywhere, it is all around us. Even now, in this very room. You can see it when you look out your window, or when you turn on your television. You can feel it when you go to work, or when go to church or when you pay your taxes. It is the world that has been pulled over your eyes to blind you from the truth." Wake up people, Barack's running a political machine...

Johnson Experienced at VP Selection Process

James A. Johnson, the man Barack Obama asked to chair his Vice Presidential search committee, helped tap Senator John Edwards as the 2004 Vice Presidential candidate. The New York Times reported Edwards performance before an influential group of international government and business leaders helped seal the deal. The North Carolina Senator beat the stuffing out of Ralph Reed at the 2004 Bilderberg Group meeting.

In a deja vu scene worthy of The Matrix, James A. Johnson spent the weekend in Chantilly, Virginia with the same Bilderberg Group. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton are rumored to have "dropped by". Did Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell do likewise?

As a Matrix deja vu reveals a glitch in the program, guess who else attended the adult version of Skull & Bones, a society sworn to secrecy? Paul Gigot, the editor of The Wall Street Journal's editorial page, was a Bilderberg participant. That same newspaper revealed Mr. Johnson to be the recipient of $7 million in below market loans from subprime mortgage lender Countrywide. They did so while both men sat in Chantilly chairs, likely dining on Bilderburgers made of filet mignon.

Anyway, the meeting ended June 8 and James went back to work on Barack's behalf. He hit Capital Hill, meeting with Senator Majority Leader Dirty Harry Reid and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelo-Chia-Pet. While neither officially Bilderberged, Harry's Democratic predecessor Tom Daschle did. It was truly a money grubbing, bi-partisan affair.

Replacing Resisters Greases Skids for the Unthinkable?

When the Bush administration needed to pave the way for its pre-emptive war against Iraq, it compiled a core group of supporters who consistently delivered message management to a complicit media. It seems George W. could be doing likewise for his next pre-emptive attack on Iran's nuclear facilities. Admiral William Fallon, a known vocal opponent to a military attack on Iran, resigned months ago as head of Central Command.

Currently, Pentagon Chief Robert Gates is searching for the "right kind" of Air Force leadership. He's upset over "weak" past performance, particularly in the nuclear weapons arena. The New York Times reported:

Later Monday Gates is planning to visit Langley Air Force Base, Va., to address airmen and underscore the depth of his concern about weaknesses in service's leadership. He is expected to stress the importance of leadership accountability and emphasize that despite his well-publicized tensions with the Air Force, he strongly supports the service and appreciates its many wartime contributions.

On Tuesday, Gates plans to make similar speeches at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., home of Air Force Space Command, which has responsibility for the service's nuclear intercontinental ballistic missile force, and at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., home of Air Mobility Command, whose tanker refueling aircraft are part of the nuclear bomber mission.

The hackles on the back of my neck went up reading "weak leadership" while noting the message targets are the nuclear ballistic missile force and nuclear bomber mission support. In other words, "none of you pussies better back out when the order comes to use nukes to prevent another country from obtaining same. Capiche?"

Bush wants to be Harry Truman. Could tacticul nukes drop on Iran, followed by a Middle East Marshall Plan? The faces and words that brought America its first pre-emptive war, could usher in the pre-emptive nuclear weapon strategy. Should it occur, I believe this qualifies as insanity.

Unpopular, Ethically Challenged, Heavy Handed Leaders Plot on Iran

U.S. President George W. Bush and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert met in the Oval Office "to spend a lot of time talking about Iran." At least Bush noted that in his opening remarks. While CBS News reported on Bush's record unpopularity, now lower than Jimmy Carter's, Haaretz gave the cash envelope taking Olmert's take on their long discussion.

"With every day that passes, we are getting closer to stopping Iran's nuclear program," he said, adding that substantial steps were being taken to handle the Iranian threat in "a more effective manner."

Olmert added that, as a result of the hour-long meeting with Bush, there were fewer question marks between the two allies concerning the means, the time constraints, and the level of American determination in dealing with the Iranian nuclear program.

"Naturally the Iranian issue was central to our talks, and our shared point of departure is the need to deal with Iran before it manages to acquire non-conventional capabilities," Olmert told reporters.

"Before it acquires" is critical as Mossad, Israel's intelligence agency estimates Iran will make advancement's in 2008 and could have an operational weapon in 2009. That means the dynamic duo of Olmert and Bush must act fast. Whatever they do, it's guaranteed to harm innocents, profit their supporters, and make the world a more dangerous place.

Why can't Bush, Olmert and Ahmadinejad fight amongst themselves and leave the rest of us out. Cage match anyone?

Freedom to Exercise Hard Power

"When you've got the biggest military and your State Department lacks initiative and successes, hard power becomes "the default option," said Dov S. Zakheim, a former Defense Department comptroller who currently serves as Vice President for Global Defense clients for Booz, Allen & Hamilton, the giant government consulting firm. He also chairs the Office of Government and International Affairs of the American Jewish Committee.

As Iran nears the boiling point, Dov's advice points to a hard power response. From Presidential hopeful John McCain to Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollh Khamenei to Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, the rhetoric does as well. P.M. Olmert said "The international community has a duty and responsibility to clarify to Iran, through drastic measures, that the repercussions of their continued pursuit of nuclear weapons will be devastating. Israel will not tolerate the possibility of a nuclear Iran, and neither should any other country in the free world." Default option, anyone? Or is this another "crude conspiracy theory" as noted by Condi in her AIPAC speech?

John McCain's AIPAC Sing-a-long

"Bomb, bomb, bomb..." sang the Presidential hopeful. His entourage clapped their hands above their heads as Senator McCain implored the crowd, "C'mon, you know the refrain. Let's sing. Let's do this thing!"

While this stunning visual appears a stretch, it symbolizes the 7,000 strong "attack Iran" cheerleading event being held in Washington, D.C. The annual American Israel Public Affairs Committee heard Senator McCain on its opening day. The New York Times stated:

Mr. McCain got several standing ovations from the group, which seemed receptive to some of his more hawkish statements — especially on Iran, and the threat it poses to Israel.

There are many indications of a future U.S. Israeli attack on Iran's nuclear facilities. One was Senator McCain's leading the third chorus of "Bomb, bomb, bomb...bomb, bomb, Iran" on AIPAC's opening day. Hang on John, the choir is on the way. Here's what AIPAC posted on their website under Policy Conference Highlights. "Tehran's continued pursuit of nuclear weapons poses an unacceptable risk, a danger we cannot allow." —Senator John McCain

Al Qaeda on Offensive Defensive

In yet another case, the Bush administration's verbage is different from stories on the ground. Consider CIA Chief Michael Hayden's recent remarks in a Washington Post interview.

The Al-Qaeda has been essentially defeated in Iraq and Saudi Arabia and is on the defensive throughout most of the rest of the world, the CIA claimed.

The upbeat assessment comes less than a year after U.S. intelligence reported that the Al-Qaeda had rebuilt its strength around the world and was well-placed to launch fresh attacks.

A quick Google search on al Qaeda produced the following headlines:

June 2, 2008 Bloomberg.com reported on an Islamabad car bomb that targeted the Danish Embassy. A car bomb outside Denmark's embassy in Pakistan killed at least nine people, less than two months after al-Qaeda's deputy leader called for attacks on Danish targets. Danish security officials believe al Qaeda or an al Qaeda linked group is behind the attack. (Such a group claimed credit according to news reports on June 4, 2008)

May 31, 2008 Reuters reported on a mortar attack in Yemen. An al Qaeda-linked group claimed responsibility on Saturday for a mortar attack on a refinery in Yemen, which officials said did not cause any damage, according to an Internet statement. Three blasts were heard on Friday at the refinery in the southern port city of Aden, officials said.

Al Qaeda's partner in Afghanistan is The Taliban. NATO forces currently fight the Taliban terror threat in that country. News revealed:

June 2, 2008 Reuters reported from an interview with Afghan President Hamid Karzai. International forces in Afghanistan have mismanaged the fight against the Taliban, leading to a rise in violence, and now risk losing people's goodwill, President Hamid Karzai told an Indian news channel. Karzai has often criticised the Western conduct of the war in Afghanistan, saying civilian casualties must stop.

U.S. Won't Violate Sovereignty to Save Lives

Why would U.S. Defense Department Chief Robert Gates use sovereignty as an excuse for not helping scores of people suffering in the aftermath of a devastating natural disaster when it violates that same sovereignty to summarily execute suspected terrorists? CNN reported:

Gates affirmed again there is unanimous opposition in the international community to forcing aid to the Myanmar people suffering in the wake of the devastating cyclone that struck in early May.

There is great sensitivity all over the world to violating a country's sovereignty," Gates said. "Particularly in the absence of some kind of U.N. umbrella that would authorize it."

Did the United Nations offer an umbrella for the U.S. Predator missiles to repeatedly strike homes in Pakistan? Consider this story from the GuardianUK:

An al-Qaeda trainer and explosives specialist involved in a range of European terrorist networks has been killed in Pakistan, the latest senior militant to die in a spate of controversial American missile strikes. Al-Jazairi, thought to have been 45, died along with at least 15 others (including women and children) when the house in which he was staying in Pakistan's Bajaur tribal district was hit by a missile fired from a Predator, an American pilotless drone.

Yes, America will violate your sovereignty to kill, but not to save.

Freedom to Fund Foreign Government Investments

U.S. President called rising gasoline prices "like a tax". Guess who you've been paying those taxes to? Middle Eastern government controlled corporations, known as sovereign wealth funds. SWF's made out like bandits the last few years. Our country's chief Tax Collector, Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson, tours the region determined to keep the dollar pipeline open. He's on a mission to keep foreign investment in the U.S. "liberal." How much of your gas/tax money are we talking about?

The surge in crude prices over the past few years has sharply boosted the assets of Gulf SFWs, with those of Abu Dhabi Investment Authority peaking at nearly $875bn at the end of 2007, making it the world's largest wealth fund.

Its figures showed that Kuwait's SWF controlled around $215bn, while Qatar's fund was estimated at $60bn. EIB gave no figures for Oman, but said assets are still relatively small as the fund is in infant stage.

How do you feel knowing these super wealthy firms can buy into private equity underwriters (PEU's) with preferred tax status? The aforementioned Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADAI) purchased 7.5% of The Carlyle Group for $1.35 billion.

Does ADAI get to pay taxes on carried interest like PEU managers? If so, SWF's are taxing you with rising gas prices and then not paying their fair share for doing business in America. That's a familiar refrain in Washington these days. Tax cuts for the rich, as if many already don't have enough. Presidential hopeful John McCain spreads the mantra domestically, while Paulson sells liberal American investment policy internationally.

Citing estimates by Morgan Stanley Bank, Quwaiz said the overseas assets of GCC investment funds could jump to $5.9 trillion at the end of 2012 and that part of them would head gradually to Arab, Islamic and other developing nations.

Remember, that's your tax money at work!