U.S, Defends Israel, Olmert Pleads Guilty to Arab Discrimination

Despite Israel Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's confession, the United State won't attend the UN meeting on racism. America's black President ordered the U.S. team to pass on the event. The AP reported:

"President Obama's decision not to send U.S. representation to the April event is the right thing to do and underscores America's unstinting commitment to combating intolerance and racism in all its forms and in all settings," the American Israel Public Affairs Committee said.

U.S. officials said they are pressing European nations to boycott the conference unless there are revisions to the final statement. The Netherlands and France have already expressed concern about the contents.

Seriousness and candor would have nations attending and dealing with facts. Divisive, heavy handed, tribal leaders make such things difficult.

Obama Breaks Bad on Iran

United Nations ambassador Susan Rice said the new US administration will seek to end Iran's nuclear ambition and its support for terrorism. She made the comments at the end of an open meeting of the UN Security Council on Iraq. Fealty to Israel, an endless waring nation. Admiral Mullen provided backup on CNN.

Israel Makes Case for War

Israel pulled out the stops in making its case that Iran is a looming danger. One, Israel's Atomic Energy Commission attacked IAEA Chief Mohamed ElBaradai. They did so via Newsweek. How does a non-signatory to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Agreement get to criticize its enforcement?

Two, Israeli defense officials say Iran is running Hezbollah operations in Lebanon. Three, Defense Minister Ehud Barak said Iran has 6,000 centrifuges and "time is running out." Barak said, "Clear and decisive sanctions against the Iranian regime, alongside readiness to consider necessary actions in case the sanctions don't work, are necessary."

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert let peace slip through his hands again. Peace, the greased watermelon for violent, heavy handed leaders intent on getting their way. Iranian elections are scheduled for summer. The prospect of an Iranian reformer must have Israel nervous.

Netanyahu to Renege on Abbas-Olmert Agreement?

Quartet Middle East Envoy Tony Blair spilled the beans in December about a secret peace settlement reached between Palestinian Authority Chair Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. Israeli elections imperil that deal. YNET reported:

Israel's impending new government indicates that the peace process "has died," a senior Palestinian Authority official told Ynet on Tuesday.

Given the government that is going to lead Israel, it's clear that there won't be any serious process and that, at the most, it will be a process for appearances' sake only that is intended to quiet the international community and primarily to let the Palestinians know that the option of peace still exists," he said.

It's clear Israel does not want peace. The Arab League peace plan sat on a shelf since 2002. The U.S. will likely continue Israel's free pass. Haaretz reported:

The State Department on Tuesday reaffirmed its support for Israel, telling Haaretz that the U.S. viewed its relations with Jerusalem as "special" and lasting.

Special and lasting, like Israel's ability to make war in the region.

Obama's CitiBank Ambassador to UK?

One might expect a CitiBank Vice Chairman to hang his head in shame. Governance practices rooted in greed and leverage imploded the global financial system. CitiBank is a prime offender.
Instead Louis Susman prepares for possible knighthood, as the leading candidate for Obama's ambassador to the United Kingdom. The Belfast Telegraph reported:

If appointed, the 71-year-old Wall Street veteran, who retired as vice-chairman of Citigroup Capital Markets on 1 February, would be handed the keys to the ambassador’s grace and favour mansion in Regent’s Park.

Mr Susman would be replacing Robert Tuttle, who was sent to London by George Bush, for whom he raised $200,000. As one of Mr Obama’s most significant fundraisers since well before his presidential bid, Mr Susman has amassed more than $800,000.

Who knew bundling could make a Sir Susman? Corporafornication continues.

Crazed Lieberman's Meet

Israeli politician Avigdor Lieberman met with U.S. Senator Joe Lieberman. Area psychiatric professionals were put on alert for a meltdown by either rage-a-holic. Avidgor wants an all Jewish Israel and Joe wants what Joe wants.

Avigdor wants citizens to take a loyalty oath, while Joe wants John McCain to win the Presidency. Joe said the following in a Jerusalem Post piece:

"I wanted to meet Lieberman, because he will play an important role in the next government, so it's important that we in the US get to know him well."

"Governments have come and gone in the US and Israel, but the relationship between the US and Israel has remained constantly strong because of the values and interests we share, and I'm sure that will remain true in the Obama administration."

Yes, spineless Obama ran on change that remains to be seen, especially in the Middle East. He kept his mouth shut for a 25 day Israeli pummeling of Gaza. But this piece is about the two Liebermans. Avigdor had this to say:

"Lieberman is the best name in the world."

"We had a fascinating conversation, I enjoyed hearing his estimation of developments in the Middle East, and I am sure we will meet again in the future."

His place or Joe's Crab Shack? The world suffers from pathetic leadership, Joltin' Joe's and Angry Avigdor's. Now where's corrupt Chuck Schumer hiding?

Obama Botching Afghanistan

President Obama waited four weeks to call Afghan President Hamid Karzai. That's odd given Obama's designation of Afghanistan as ground zero in the war on terror. Also, Obama phoned Karzai after his announcement of a 17,000 troop increase.

Why is Hamid Karzai on the outs with U.S. leaders? Karzai challenges the use of U.S. force within his country. The latest U.S. airstrike killed 13 civilians and 3 militants. That's an Israeli like ratio. Afghan civilian deaths rose 40% in the last year. Bomb first, ask questions later.

Campaign Rubber Meets the Silk Road

Afghanistan and Iran are two hot spots in the Middle East. Obama said he would add troops in Afghanistan and talk to Iran.

It took nearly a month to call President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan. Obama made his troop decision without talking to the Afghan President?

On Iran, Obama has a Special Adviser on Iran, neocon Dennis Ross, but no envoy. Haaretz reported:

“The United States views Iran acquiring an illicit nuclear capacity as a grave threat to ourselves, to the region and indeed to Israel,” Rice told National Public Radio in an interview airing on Friday and Monday.

“Our aim is to combine enhanced pressures, and indeed the potential for direct engagement to try to prevent Iran from taking its program to fruition,” she said.

Also on Friday, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said that the international community must work together to urgently address Iran’s uranium enrichment activities.

Gibbs called Iran an urgent problem that has to be addressed. “We can’t delay addressing it,” he said.

What’s the immediate threat as experts estimate 2 to 5 years for Iran to enrich uranium to weapons grade? The Iranian people might elect a reformer this summer.
Israel/U.S. can’t attack without a boogey man. Israeli newspaper are aflame regarding the Iranian threat. Bombs over Bushehr, likely American made and Israeli dropped.

Ingredients for an Israeli Attack on Iran

Mix one part crazy man with ample uranium supplies. Add the right wing of an Israeli hawk and U.S. political lap dogs. Stir using defense industry swizzle sticks. Turn heat on high. Once the bad brew boils, bombs away!

Israel is ready to act. They need to move before Iran can elect a moderate. Removal of the crazy man impacts the brew's lethality.

Obama's Missing Iranian Envoy

President Obama speaks of direct talks with Iran, but is he serious? Dennis Ross, his special advisor on Iran, is a war mongering neocon. Ross spilled the beans about his critical role. The Obama team hasn't said a peep.

With no Iranian envoy, how can diplomacy advance? Rep. Howard Berman said negotiations would have a short window, twelve weeks. If things went rapidly, diplomacy would end in summer. How does that impact the Iranian nuclear timeline?

Russia said the Bushehr nuclear plant would start up in 2009. This is a push back from late 2008. Russia also agreed to take Iran's spent nuclear fuel. However, Jerusalem doesn't trust this agreement. An attack would need to occur before Iran gets advanced Russian missile defense systems.

A former Israeli United Nations representative said his country is ready to strike Iran. The Sydney Morning Herald reported:

A FORMER senior Israeli diplomat has warned that Israel is ready to launch a military offensive against Iran to prevent it from developing nuclear weapons.

In an exclusive interview, Dan Gillerman, Israel's permanent United Nations representative from 2003 until last September, said the time for diplomatic efforts to stop Iran from acquiring a nuclear capability might already have expired.

"The world cannot afford to live with a nuclear Iran," he said. "I hope diplomacy will work, but I'm not sure we have the time for [it] to work.

"Israel has made it very clear that it will not live with a nuclear Iran, and I believe that Israel has the ability and the capacity to make sure that it will not happen."

Why would Obama name an Iranian envoy if Israel is ready to strike? It explains having a neocon adviser. More bait and switch from team Obama. And there will more wars, my friend.

Freedom to Lie Under Oath

Senator Roland Burris's appointment was already suspect. He confessed to not telling the complete story to Illinois legislators. The Washington Post reported:

In a sworn affidavit made public Saturday, Burris said that the governor's brother asked him in a series of conversations to raise campaign funds for Blagojevich, who was later charged with trying to profit from his executive actions and removed from office.

The affidavit was Burris's third attempt to describe his contacts with the Blagojevich team during the months before his surprise appointment. It differed on several key points from the testimony he gave under oath to an Illinois House of Representatives impeachment committee.

The bar for American leadership is in free fall.

Obama Determined to Grow More Terrorists

America's summary execution of terrorists and their families has a price. The Washington Post reported:

Dozens of followers of Pakistan's top Taliban leader were in a compound when a suspected U.S. missile attack hit Saturday, killing 27 militants in an al-Qaida stronghold near the Afghan border, officials said.

The strike, among the deadliest yet, defied Pakistani government warnings that the tactic is fueling extremism in the nuclear-armed Islamic nation.

The new U.S. administration has brushed off Pakistani criticism that the missile strikes fuel extremist and anti-American sentiment and undercuts the government's own counterinsurgency strategy.

From a crumbled Afghanistan rose Osama bin Laden. Who is the U.S. fostering with its summary executions in Pakistan? (Update: another U.S. missile killed 26, the area switched to Sharia Law to appease protestors)

U.S./Israel vs. Iran/Russia

The Iranian nuclear threat splits along the lines of America/Israel and Russia/Iran. The Jerusalem Post provided two reinforcing clues. First, Israelis don't trust an agreement where Russia would manage Iran's spent nuclear fuel. Second, the paper contends President Barack Obama said Iran was pursuing a nuclear bomb.

Rahm, Rahm, Rahm
Rahm, Rahm Iran

Iran's Busher nuclear plant has a planned 2009 startup. Things may move quickly as the twin teams pair off.

Freedom to Lose Weapons in Afghanistan

American supplied weapons to the Afghan military are at serious risk for theft or loss. A General Accounting Office report stated:

US military officials failed to keep proper records on about 87,000 rifles, pistols, mortars and other weapons sent to Afghanistan between December 2004 and June 2008 - about a third of all the weapons sent.

There was a similar lack of management of a further 135,000 light weapons donated to Afghan forces via the US military by 21 countries.

The military failed even to record the serial numbers of some 46,000 weapons, making it impossible to confirm receipt of weapons or identify any which had fallen into the hands of militants.

The serial numbers of 41,000 weapons were recorded, but US military officials still had no idea where they were.

Poor quality imploded Wall Street, killed people undergoing heart procedures, and sickened people enjoying a peanut butter cracker. It enables America's enemies to return fire with taxpayer funded weapons. Will they ever learn?

NonPeace Wins in Israel

The shining democracy in the Middle East had an election, but the winner awaits. Three candidates will deal to determine the next Prime Minister. One is centrist, the other two hard right. Any deal will take a right bent. That means more settlements and violent arm twisting. Candidates commented on Israel's shining democracy. The AP reported:

Nearly everyone seemed to agree on one thing after Israel's fifth election in a decade - that the nation's fractious election system isn't working. Livni, Lieberman, and Defense Minister Ehud Barak of the Labor Party said in post-election speeches that the system, in which votes are splintered among a proliferation of parties, must be changed to allow more stability.

Stability over freedom? That sounds vaguely familiar.

Eleven O'Clock, Tick Tock for Iran's Nuclear Facility

The clock will strike midnight in 2009 for Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant. Russia announced the reactor will start up before the end of the year. Israel and the United States view this as the doomsday point.

President Obama predicted rapid negotiations. But it seems nothing is good enough.

Iran agreed to return spent nuclear fuel from the plant to Russia to ensure it does not extract materials that could be used in producing nuclear arms, but Jerusalem doubted the effectiveness the agreement.

Be careful how you talk about Russia, Israel. The Jewish state wants to sell them weapons. "There will be more wars, my friend."

Obama's Fresh Breath of Rendition

Freedom, it's in the air. Draw in a big breath of it, hold it. Keep holding it. Now exhale. You can't? Has the black cloth bag obstructed your mouth? Is the weight of your captor on your chest hampering your breathing?

President Barack Obama believes in freedom, the freedom to rendition. The TimesUK reported:

Under executive orders signed on January 22, the CIA appears to have preserved its authority to carry out renditions – by which hundreds of terrorist suspects have been abducted and transferred to prisons in countries with questionable human rights records such as Egypt, Morocco or Jordan.

Breath now, while you can.

Freedom to Arm Bullies

Israel killed Gazans at a rate of 100 to 1 in their 25 day war. 1300 Palestinians died, while 13 Israelis were killed. Israel promised a disproportionate response to any future Hamas attacks. Hamas declared a one year cease fire, so any attacks would be from rogue elements of the group. Will the ration continue at 100: 1?

The United States continues to supply the Jewish State with weapon systems and armaments. Israel used horrendous weapons,cluster bombs and white phosphorous, against Gaza's 1.5 million residents. There are no consequences to Israel's heinous acts. Israel received Pentagon approval to buy the Littoral Combat Ship. The shallow water ship enhances Israel's long-range capabilities and potentially could be used in a conflict with Iran. The ship is capable of carrying special forces and larger infantry units. Also, it carry midsize vehicles and two helicopters.

Israeli Prime Minister candidates run on a Palestinian non-peace platform. None want to give up settlements, a key requirement for peace. Israel clearly wants more war, and the U.S. facilitates it.