U.S. sends warship off Lebanon coast

After reading the following take a look at the 'A Clean Break'/war for
Israel agenda as discussed by respected American intelligence author/
writer James Bamford via the link near the top of http://NEOCONZIONISTTHREAT..BLOGSPOT.COM
:

U.S. sends warship off Lebanon coast (Reuters)
By Sue Pleming and Andrew Gray
Thu Feb 28, 6:52 PM ET

Signaling impatience with Syria, the United States has sent its USS
Cole warship off the coast of Lebanon in a show of support amid
Beirut's political crisis, U.S. officials said on Thursday.
Officials said the Bush administration was concerned about political
deadlock in Lebanon, which Washington blames on Syrian meddling, and
the move underlined that worry.
"The presence is important. It isn't meant to send any stronger
signals than that but in fact it does signal that we're engaged, we're
going to be in the vicinity," said Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the
U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Mullen said the decision was not aimed only at Syria but at the region
as whole.
"That's a very, very important part of the world and stability there
as well as in the broader Middle East is an important outcome for us,"
he told reporters at the Pentagon.
A U.S. defense official said the Cole, a destroyer, left Malta on
Tuesday heading toward Lebanon, adding it would not be within visible
range of Lebanon but "well over the horizon."
A couple of U.S. Navy refueling ships were also in the area, the
official said.
Lebanon's Western-backed governing coalition and its Syrian and
Iranian backed opposition have failed to reach a deal to end the
country's political conflict.
"The United States believes a show of support is important for
regional stability," said a senior Bush administration official, who
spoke on condition he was not identified.
"We are very concerned about the situation in Lebanon. It has dragged
on very long."
The Cole was attacked off the coast of Yemen in October 2000 by al
Qaeda militants. Seventeen U.S. sailors were killed.
Mullen said a group of ships will operate in the eastern Mediterranean
"for a while."
The Lebanese government had no immediate comment.
But Hezbollah ally and Christian opposition leader Michel Aoun said
the United States sent the Cole to display its deterrence capability
and he was not worried about the action.
OTHER SHIP EN ROUTE
Two U.S. defense officials said the Cole could be replaced by the USS
Nassau, an amphibious assault ship on a course for the Mediterranean.
Such ships can transport U.S. Marines but there are no Marines on the
Nassau, one official said.
A third defense official noted the Nassau was accompanied by other
vessels as part of an expeditionary strike group and suggested some of
them may be more likely to relieve the Cole.
The presidential election in Lebanon was postponed again this week to
March 11 from February 26, the 15th such delay, after rival leaders
failed to reach a deal.
The deadlock has threatened to degenerate into sectarian violence and
continues to poison inter-Arab relations in the run-up to an Arab
League summit in Syria next month.
"The Arab League is engaged but it has not been successful. In those
set of circumstances we think a show of support for regional stability
and regional solutions is important," said the senior Bush
administration official.
Saudi Arabia, a close U.S. ally which supports the pro-Western
coalition, has also voiced concern over events in Lebanon and
discussed the issue with President George W. Bush last month during
his visit to Saudi Arabia.
Bush ordered the move earlier this week as a sign of concern over
Lebanon and consulted U.S. allies such as France and Britain about it
as well as those in the Middle East.
Bush administration officials declined to say whether the decision was
taken partly because of Saudi pressure.
"The president is concerned about the situation in Lebanon and
discusses the issue regularly with his national security team," said
National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe.
The United States has increased pressure on Syria in recent weeks,
targeting more individuals with sanctions.
The U.S. Treasury froze assets of four Syrians on Thursday, saying
they facilitated the flow of money, weapons and terrorists through
Syria to al Qaeda in Iraq.
(Editing by Cynthia Osterman)

Additional at the following URL:

http://www.itszone.co.uk/zone0/viewt...=420529#420529

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Nutjob Pastor John Hagee endorses McCain, McCain returns compliment

http://www.itszone.co.uk/zone0/viewtopic.php?t=85521


Generals to quit if US strikes Iran

http://www.presstv.com/detail.aspx?i...onid=351020101

Tue, 26 Feb 2008 00:49:33
Some senior US military commanders are prepared to resign if President
Bush orders a military strike against Iran, a new report says.
"There are four or five generals and admirals we know of who would
resign if Bush ordered an attack on Iran," The Sunday Times quoted
Monday a source with close ties to British intelligence .
"There is simply no stomach for it in the Pentagon, and a lot of
people question whether such an attack would be effective or even
possible," the source added.
If proven true a revolt on such a scale would be unprecedented because
'American generals usually stay and fight until they get fired," said
a Pentagon source.
Robert Gates, the defense secretary, has repeatedly warned against
striking Iran and is believed to represent the view of his senior
commanders.
Iran has announced that in face of any aggression it will respond like
a 'tsunami'.
MT/DT
Count of views : 538
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Additional at following URL:

http://www.itszone.co.uk/zone0/viewt...1055&start=620

http://NEOCONZIONISTTHREAT.BLOGSPOT.COM

Iraq's Deeply Tragic Future (US to bomb Iran next for Israel as well)
By Scott Ritter

View this story online at: http://www.alternet.org/story/76318/

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Yes, There Is a Guerrilla War Against Zionism in the U.S. What Should
Jewish Institutions Do?:

http://www.philipweiss.org/mondoweis...it-of-a-h.html

Finkelstein, a Victim of the Israel Lobby, Denies That It Has Power

http://www.philipweiss.org/mondoweis...all-norma.html

If you do a search for 'Mearsheimer' in the search field at
CBSNEWS.COM, the following article that Phil Weiss wrote for 'The
Nation' about Mearsheimer/Walt appears as the only reference::

Ferment Over The 'Israel Lobby':

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/...e=search_story

Additional about Congressman Howard Berman on Israel and the pro-
Israel lobby:

http://www.warwithoutend.co.uk/zone0...ic.php?t=85265

Read the first part of the following article for how Obama pandered to
the pro-Israel lobby as well just as Hillary Clinton has done:

The Lobby Strikes Back:

http://www.amconmag.com/2007/2007_12_03/cover.html

Can hear the latest C-SPAN viewer call which mentioned the 'A Clean
Break'/War for Israel agenda which is linked near the top of the
following URL:

http://NEOCONZIONISTTHREAT.BLOGSPOT.COM

Jewish Advocates of Pre-Emptive War with Iran Come Under Increasing
Criticism:

http://www.itszone.co.uk/zone0/viewt...=422015#422015

press on.....





On Feb 28, 9:37*pm, NOMOREWARFORISRAEL
wrote:
After reading the following take a look at the 'A Clean Break'/war for
Israel agenda as discussed by respected American intelligence author/
writer James Bamford via the link near the top ofhttp://NEOCONZIONISTTHREAT.BLOGSPOT.COM
:

U.S. sends warship off Lebanon coast (Reuters)
By Sue Pleming and Andrew Gray
Thu Feb 28, 6:52 PM ET

Signaling impatience with Syria, the United States has sent its USS
Cole warship off the coast of Lebanon in a show of support amid
Beirut's political crisis, U.S. officials said on Thursday.
Officials said the Bush administration was concerned about political
deadlock in Lebanon, which Washington blames on Syrian meddling, and
the move underlined that worry.
"The presence is important. It isn't meant to send any stronger
signals than that but in fact it does signal that we're engaged, we're
going to be in the vicinity," said Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the
U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Mullen said the decision was not aimed only at Syria but at the region
as whole.
"That's a very, very important part of the world and stability there
as well as in the broader Middle East is an important outcome for us,"
he told reporters at the Pentagon.
A U.S. defense official said the Cole, a destroyer, left Malta on
Tuesday heading toward Lebanon, adding it would not be within visible
range of Lebanon but "well over the horizon."
A couple of U.S. Navy refueling ships were also in the area, the
official said.
Lebanon's Western-backed governing coalition and its Syrian and
Iranian backed opposition have failed to reach a deal to end the
country's political conflict.
"The United States believes a show of support is important for
regional stability," said a senior Bush administration official, who
spoke on condition he was not identified.
"We are very concerned about the situation in Lebanon. It has dragged
on very long."
The Cole was attacked off the coast of Yemen in October 2000 by al
Qaeda militants. Seventeen U.S. sailors were killed.
Mullen said a group of ships will operate in the eastern Mediterranean
"for a while."
The Lebanese government had no immediate comment.
But Hezbollah ally and Christian opposition leader Michel Aoun said
the United States sent the Cole to display its deterrence capability
and he was not worried about the action.
OTHER SHIP EN ROUTE
Two U.S. defense officials said the Cole could be replaced by the USS
Nassau, an amphibious assault ship on a course for the Mediterranean.
Such ships can transport U.S. Marines but there are no Marines on the
Nassau, one official said.
A third defense official noted the Nassau was accompanied by other
vessels as part of an expeditionary strike group and suggested some of
them may be more likely to relieve the Cole.
The presidential election in Lebanon was postponed again this week to
March 11 from February 26, the 15th such delay, after rival leaders
failed to reach a deal.
The deadlock has threatened to degenerate into sectarian violence and
continues to poison inter-Arab relations in the run-up to an Arab
League summit in Syria next month.
"The Arab League is engaged but it has not been successful. In those
set of circumstances we think a show of support for regional stability
and regional solutions is important," said the senior Bush
administration official.
Saudi Arabia, a close U.S. ally which supports the pro-Western
coalition, has also voiced concern over events in Lebanon and
discussed the issue with President George W. Bush last month during
his visit to Saudi Arabia.
Bush ordered the move earlier this week as a sign of concern over
Lebanon and consulted U.S. allies such as France and Britain about it
as well as those in the Middle East.
Bush administration officials declined to say whether the decision was
taken partly because of Saudi pressure.
"The president is concerned about the situation in Lebanon and
discusses the issue regularly with his national security team," said
National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe.
The United States has increased pressure on Syria in recent weeks,
targeting more individuals with sanctions.
The U.S. Treasury froze assets of four Syrians on Thursday, saying
they facilitated the flow of money, weapons and terrorists through
Syria to al Qaeda in Iraq.
(Editing by Cynthia Osterman)

Additional at the following URL:

http://www.itszone.co.uk/zone0/viewt...=420529#420529

---------------------------------------------------------------------------*----------------------------------------------------------------

Nutjob Pastor John Hagee endorses McCain, McCain returns compliment

http://www.itszone.co.uk/zone0/viewtopic.php?t=85521

Generals to quit if US strikes Iran

http://www.presstv.com/detail.aspx?i...onid=351020101

Tue, 26 Feb 2008 00:49:33
Some senior US military commanders are prepared to resign if President
Bush orders a military strike against Iran, a new report says.
"There are four or five generals and admirals we know of who would
resign if Bush ordered an attack on Iran," The Sunday Times quoted
Monday a source with close ties to British intelligence .
"There is simply no stomach for it in the Pentagon, and a lot of
people question whether such an attack would be effective or even
possible," the source added.
If proven true a revolt on such a scale would be unprecedented because
'American generals usually stay and fight until they get fired," said
a Pentagon source.
Robert Gates, the defense secretary, has repeatedly warned against
striking Iran and is believed to represent the view of his senior
commanders.
Iran has announced that in face of any aggression it will respond like
a 'tsunami'.
MT/DT
Count of views : 538
---------------------------------------------------------------------------*----------

Additional at following URL:

http://www.itszone.co.uk/zone0/viewt...1055&start=620

http://NEOCONZIONISTTHREAT.BLOGSPOT.COM

Iraq's Deeply Tragic Future (US to bomb Iran next for Israel as well)
By Scott Ritter

View this story online at:http://www.alternet.org/story/76318/

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Yes, There Is a Guerrilla War Against Zionism in the U.S. What Should
Jewish Institutions Do?:

http://www.philipweiss.org/mondoweis...it-of-a-h.html

Finkelstein, a Victim of the Israel Lobby, Denies That It Has Power

http://www.philipweiss.org/mondoweis...all-norma.html

If you do a search for 'Mearsheimer' in the search field at
CBSNEWS.COM, the following article that Phil Weiss wrote for 'The
Nation' about Mearsheimer/Walt appears as the only reference::

Ferment Over The 'Israel Lobby':

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/...560594.shtml?s...

Additional about Congressman Howard Berman on Israel and the pro-
Israel lobby:

http://www.warwithoutend.co.uk/zone0...ic.php?t=85265

Read the first part of the following article for how Obama pandered to
the pro-Israel lobby as well just as Hillary Clinton has done:

The Lobby Strikes Back:

http://www.amconmag.com/2007/2007_12_03/cover.html

Can hear the latest C-SPAN viewer call which mentioned the 'A Clean
Break'/War for Israel agenda which is linked near the top of the
following URL:

http://NEOCONZIONISTTHREAT.BLOGSPOT.COM

Jewish Advocates of Pre-Emptive War with Iran Come Under Increasing
Criticism:

http://www.itszone.co.uk/zone0/viewt...=422015#422015