Israel Strikes Deal with U.S. on F-35's

America will sell 20 F-35 joint strike fighters to Israel. Delivery is expected in 2015. Haaretz reported:

Israel to maintain its aerial superiority and its technological advantage in the region," Barak said. "The F-35 will give the IAF better capabilities, both near and far, to help strengthen Israel's national security."

The Lockheed Martin F-35 is a fifth-generation, single-seat, single-engine, stealth-capable military strike fighter, which can evade radar and anti-aircraft missile systems.

Israel's technological advantage and air superiority are aided by illegal nuclear weapons and U.S. missile defense systems. President Obama seems intent on keeping Israel's power advantage in the region.

My concern is this. How much of the $2.75 billion purchase price will American taxpayer's pay?

Quartet to Dust Off Arab League Peace Plan

A senior member of the Obama administration said Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will announce the start of direct peace negotiations with Israel in only "a matter of days." Was that Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel?

The Quartet will call for will call for the establishment of a Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders within a year or two. If that sounds familiar, it should. The Arab League proposed such a peace in 2002.

Israel remains aloof, according to Haaretz:

Israeli officials are trying to show toughness regarding preconditions. "Israel is not willing to agree to any preconditions from the back door via a Quartet announcement that will serve as a basis for the negotiations."

Yet, the rush to the negotiating table implies something. Israel has a history of tying up its neighbors prior to making war in the region. Quartet envoy Tony Blair has a history of spilling the beans. My guess is they have him muzzled.

Israel Attack on Iran Likely

Jeffrey Goldberg believes that Israel will likely attack Iran before July 2011. He arrived at his conclusion from interviewing Israeli leaders. He rates the odds of an attack at over 50%.

Israel likes to tie up neighbors in negotiations, not wanting to fight a multi-front war. Fatah President Abbas isn't rushing to the negotiating table. Gaza is in shambles.

Lebanon is in the midst of a spat with the United States over military aid being used against Israel. Iran offers to fill in any gap left by U.S. withdrawal of support. U.S. officials took umbrage at this gesture.

Rep. Howard Berman put a hold on $100 million in U.S. military aid for Lebanon. Is the U.S. trying to lock up Lebanon before an Israeli attack on Iran? Howard Berman spilled the beans before Israel pummeled Gaza in December 2008.

On December 18, 2008 Berman's interview with the Jerusalem Post stated:

"There is obviously a big price to pay for deciding to take military action, but I think the US should support the Israeli decision on this.”

Tony Blair did likewise, implicating Obama's top foreign aids, General James L. Jones and Hillary Clinton as approving a change in strategy. Bombs fell December 27, 2008.

Stick wielding leaders draw in the sand. If Israel is to attack Iran's nuclear plant, they must do it soon. It's scheduled to open in September. Otherwise, they'll have to bomb a reactor with fuel rods.

As for Howard Berman, he told the Jerusalem Post, "he became a Zionist, before he became a Democrat." I take it he's operating from that perspective. As for Obama, he's remarkably consistent with his predecessor on Israel. Blair pointed to Iran in the midst of Gaza's razing. Is it their turn?

Update: Romania has said it will stand by Israel in the case of an Israeli attack on Iran.

Update 2: Abbas will decide whether to enter direct negotiations with Israel. Formal talks could begin within days.

Update 3: Russia to load nuclear fuel into Bushehr reactor on August 21.

US Pressing PA?

Palestinian Authority leaders say America delivered an ultimatum, enter direct negotiations with Israel or face a loss of U.S. support. Israel has a history of tying up neighbors in negotiations before making war in the region. Might that pattern repeat regarding Iran?

Update: Obama's support in the Middle East dims.

Hosni's Endowment to Grow?

Congress passed a $50 million endowment for Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. That may grow significantly:

Egyptian diplomats are negotiating the terms of a possible endowment fund for US economic aid that, if passed by the US Congress this year, could give Egypt access to hundreds of millions of American aid dollars with little to no legislative oversight.

While the terms of such an endowment appear to be far from final, any such deal could afford Egypt far more control over the terms of its aid than any other US aid recipient.

The proposal for what many here are already calling “Mubarak’s trust fund.”

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton hinted that foreign aid would change when she spoke from the Peter G. Peterson Institue. Giving Mubarak a private economic fund reeks. He'll still get $1.3 billion a year in U.S. military aid.

Libya's Arab Summit: Abbas Favors War

In March Palestinian Authority Chair Mahmoud Abbas spoke to the Arab League. He said:

"If you want war, and if all of you will fight Israel, we are in favor. But the Palestinians will not fight alone because they don't have the ability to do it.”

Egypt and Jordan have peace treaties with Israel, so not all Arab nations will fight. The Arab League has an Israeli peace plan on the table, where it lingered since 2002. While Abbas postures on war, peace withers further. That didn't prevent the U.S. and Tony Blair from pushing economic peace with Fatah or approving direct war with Hamas.

Colonel Muammar Gadhafi hosted the Arab League gathering. American branded mulit-nationals salivate over opportunities in Libya, North Africa and the Middle East. Gadhafi also heads the African Union. He aspires to make it an economic union, much like the European Union (EU) or the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

Which way will Arab and African states cooperate, on war or their economies? Their partners in either case are global greed & power players. The release of the Lockerbie bomber provides a glimpse into that world.

Update: Egypt's Hosni Mubarek tried to push Abbas-Netanyahu together. AP reported "Mubarak received a message Sunday from President Barack Obama and a telephone call from U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urging a swift move to direct peace talks." That's a big change in four months, from favoring war to direct peace negotiations.

Gadhafi Privy to Every Detail of Deals

The son of Colonel Muammar Ghadafi supervised two deals, the diversion of Libya's Gaza aid ship and the release of the Lockerbie bomber. Here's what Haaretz reported on the aid ship:

Gadhafi told the newspaper that the arrangement was reached between Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Egyptian intelligence chief Omer Suleiman, and that he himself was privy to every detail of the deal.

The release of the Lockerbie bomber began stinking last year, long before four U.S. Senators crafted a letter. The TelegraphUK reported on the bomber's heroes welcome in Libya:

"It is to be said for the first time, you were present on the table in all commercial, oil and gas agreements that we supervised in that period," he (Saif Gadhafi) told Megrahi, as the pair sat together in the private jet's luxury lounge. "You were on the table in all British interests when it came to Libya, and I personally supervised this matter."

BP admitted they lobbied the British government for the bomber's release. Might Tony Blair weigh in? He can sell anything. While Gadhafi supervised, Tony Blair slipped on a change in strategy on Gaza.

Israel tries to quiet as many fronts as possible. Tony, will there be another strategic change in the region? Is it supported by Hillary Clinton, General James Jones and President Obama? When Avigdor Lieberman is being nice, something nefarious is up. I bet John McCain knows.

Update: Haaretz quoted John McCain on the subject. The article is titled"Poll: Most Americans back Israeli military action against Iran"

Update 8-28-11:  Libya's new Rebel rulers will not extradite the convicted Lockerbie bomber.  A deal's a deal  Saif needs to be dismantled, now that his father is no longer in power.  There is a mirror for the West in nearly a decade of Gahafi courting.

Update 9-3-12:  An Israeli actress pleaded for the life of Saif Gadhafi, sayng ""Saif worked closely with Mr. Blair before he was captured. The two are old friends."  Blair and his greedy peers washed their hands of Saif.  Winners of war garner the spoils.