On
the Brink!
ON THE BRINK
By Jan Markell
www.olivetreeviews.org
August 16,
2010
Something major is in the works and it is
very likely not good. So many have said Iran will be "ready to go"
within days as it concerns her nuclear capability that it has become a bit like
crying wolf. Few pay attention anymore.
Well, you'd better listen up.
The Jerusalem Post reports
that Russia will start loading uranium fuel into the nuclear reactor of the Bushehr nuclear power station in Iran on August 21. This is
the crucial step in outfitting Iran with nuclear weapons of mass destruction.
Russia says the latest U.N. sanctions
against Iran will not affect the Bushehr project.
This project was slated to happen in late September but now we are just days
away from the point of no return. Israel must decide what she will do, and
quickly.
Former U.N. Ambassador John Bolton told Fox News that, "Once the fuel rods are loaded
it makes it essentially immune from attack by Israel. Because once the rods are
in the reactor, an attack on the reactor risks spreading radiation in the air,
and perhaps into the water of the Persian Gulf."
The story immediately became front-page
news in Israel, which has laid precise plans to carry out an attack on Iran's
nuclear facilities. Bolton made it clear that it is widely assumed that any
Israeli attack on the Bushehr reactor must take place
before the reactor is loaded with fuel rods. If that is the case, Israel must
act before August 21.
I often hear Yoni the Israeli blogger on the Hugh Hewitt program. In
a recent blog, he suggested war is imminent for the following reasons:
1) Hizbullah has
dug tunnels into northern Israel. Hizbullah also has
60,000 rockets, many with chemical warheads. Israel has delivered letters to
the U.N., Lebanon, and USA, showing where Hizbullah
has hidden rockets in civilian areas.
2) Israeli satellite has captured photos of
submarines off-loading weapons to Hizbullah in
northern Lebanon. Intelligence later showed these weapons were special chemical
weapons engineered to eat through protective equipment. This agent may now be
loaded onto Hizbullah rockets.
3) The Israel Air Force (IAF) is training in long- range missions, jets, and
helicopters, which would suggest commando raids a long way from home. Additionally,
Israeli Defense Force (IDF)
reserves have been called up and are being trained at an abnormal pace.
4) Israeli subs are sitting off Iran and
the Israeli Air Force (IAF) has an airbase in Saudi
Arabia.
5) Israeli intelligence has captured data showing that Hizullah
will preemptively attack Israel at month's end.
The objective is to take out IAF bases so Israeli
planes cannot hit Iran.
While at first glance Americans think this
will not affect them all that much, I am taking some thoughts from my frequent
radio guest, Bill Salus, who has written the
book Israelestine. Salus
states, "Iran's apocalyptic-minded president, Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad, has publicly threatened the closing of
Hormuz in retaliation for an Israeli or American strike upon his country.
"Additionally, two significant
correlating events made the news in May, 2010. First, the Islamic Republic of
Iran warned that it would launch terrorist attacks and suicide strikes inside
of America in the event of a strike upon Iranian soil. Second, the Iranian Navy
conducted a massive war exercise in the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf,
called 'Judgment Day.' This drill reportedly demonstrated Iran's sole and
sovereign ability to control those strategic bodies of water."
Salus continues, "Regarding the possibility of
Iran playing the 'oil card' against America, on September 15, 2009 The Wall
Street Journal published a Bret Stephens article entitled Obama Is Pushing Israel
Towards War. In the article Stephens suggested that a Middle East War could
push the price of oil up to $300 per barrel. Lately, on average, that precious
black gold has been closing between $70 to $80 per barrel. Stephen's
estimate suggests an oil-dependent world could be about to experience a spike
at the pump of about four times the present amount. Iran still ranks number
two behind Saudi Arabia in the OPEC oil cartel, which is responsible for
two-thirds of the world's oil supply."
Are Americans, Chinese, Europeans, and others ready for such a steep increase?
Americans could expect to feel pain in the waiting lines at the pump and in
their pocket books, as increased transportation costs would certainly be
reflected in the price of goods sold over the retail counters across the
country.
When this strike actually happens, tomorrow
or next year, the world will react -- as it did after Israel bombed Iraq's Osirak facility in 1981 -- with universal
condemnation. Israel can do nothing right -- including take out a major
de-stablizer of the world -- Iran's nuclear
capability.
And just where will America be in this
scenario? Would she participate with Israel? Even Saudi Arabia is
participating, by allowing Israel to use a Saudi air base. But
don't count on our current White House or State Department to do anything but
join the condemning chorus. As George Will says, "Will Israel do
what the world won't? If it attacks Iran, the world was warned. If not, the
world may regret it."
Awaiting His return,
Jan Markell