By Dr. Chuck Missler Koinonia House
Next week there will be a key vote in Washington, DC to approve a new arms deal with three Mid-Eastern countries. The U.S. will equip its "allies" with several classifications of weapons systems in an effort to make the administration's intentions toward Iran's nuclear program crystal clear. This $10 billion deal with Israel, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates will better equip them to prepare for any instability due to Iran's resistance to curbing its present track toward nuclear viability.
Since negotiations have stalled over their disputed nuclear ambitions, Iran has continued to move forward with the development and installation of the next generation of centrifuges, which can process uranium two to five times faster than current centrifuges. That, coupled with Iran's announcement that they are expanding their nuclear facilities, has put pressure on Washington to show that its threats against Tehran are not hollow.
The U.S. has been sending this message through several avenues, including increasing its air and naval presence in the Persian Gulf, selling weapons packages to its allies in the region, and by conducting large-scale multilateral military exercises in the vicinity. This latest weapons deal is meant to reinforce clearly that U.S. intentions still include a military option.
Hagel, Yaalon Finalize New Israel Military Capabilities
In this latest arms deal there is a wide spectrum of armament, all of which would be of great support should overt action need to be taken with Iran. Under the agreement Saudi Arabia and the Emirates would receive the necessary resources to protect themselves from an Iranian attack on their energy infrastructure. The United Arab Emirates (as well as Saudi Arabia) will receive a shipment of 26 advanced F-16 Desert Falcons and as yet unspecified long-range precision-guided munitions.
The particularly interesting aspect of this deal is what Israel will receive: aerial refueling tankers. Iran is presently out of range of Israel for fuel reasons. What has probably deterred them from action before now has been this "fuel shortage" dilemma. Israel presently has 10 such tankers. This arms deal would provide an "unspecified" number of additional tankers, greatly enlarging its jet fighter support systems. Each tanker can service from four to eight fighter aircraft, depending on type and specific model.
Israel is also due to receive anti-radiation missiles. They, most likely, will be advanced versions of the AGM-88 missiles. These would significantly upgrade Israel’s ability to suppress enemy air defenses by neutralizing radar sites as a precursor to following strike packages.
With recent events in Boston still in the forefront of our thoughts and prayers, it is interesting to speculate on how such international strategic agreements touch domestic policy and actions. Shortly after the bombing a Saudi national was held as "a person of interest," classified as a terrorist, then (after several meetings with Saudi officials) declassified as a terrorist, denied by the administration (Napolitano, DHS) he was ever a "person of interest," then cleared and released—necessarily by someone quite high up the ladder.
Is there any linkage between our "allies" in the Mideast and these strange, and as yet unexplained, occurrences? Was regional support for our international diplomacy objectives held hostage to affect this suspect’s release. At present the administration may be holding its breath, hoping that this line of questioning will be "distracted" by other stories in the news stream, some of them very deserving. We pray there was no connection.
- Israeli Military Shoots Down Drone • AP
- Report: No bunker-buster bombs in Israel-US weapons deal • Ynetnews
- 'Armed and Dangerous': Beck's Latest Revelations on Saudi National Once a 'Person of Interest' in Boston Bombings • The Blaze
- Bolton: Israel's Situation with Iran 'Very Perilous' • Arutz Sheva
- Hagel says evidence chemical weapons were used in Syria • FOX News