Israel Ready to Bomb as US Considers Hardest Path

Weather Report: Geo Political–‘Israel stands ready’, The Economy–’Hardest of 3 Paths’

Geo-Political– “Israel stands ready to bomb Iran’s nuclear sites” is the title of the Sheera Frenkel article posted 4/16/09 at timesonline.co.uk. The article discusses what is arguably the most explosive geo-political possibility currently under world scrutiny from the Israeli perspective: an Israeli air-strike on the nuclear facilities of Iran. Here are some highlights:

• The Israeli military is preparing itself to launch a massive aerial assault on Iran’s nuclear facilities within days of being given the go-ahead by it’s new government.”
• “Two nationwide civil defense drills will help to prepare the public (Israeli) for the retaliation that Israel could face.”
• **It is felt that it “…was unlikely that Israel could carry out the attack without receiving at least tacit approval from America, which has struck a more reconciliatory tone in dealing with Iran under its new administration.”
• “Israel has made it clear that it will not tolerate the threat of a nuclear Iran. According to Israeli intelligence they will have the bomb within two years. Once they have a bomb it will be too late, and Israel will have no choice but to strike …”

**Note: It is arguable that since Israel considers a nuclear-armed Iran an existential threat, and given the shifting U.S. position towards Iran (as well as stated differences in U.S. and Israeli intelligence estimates regarding the time frame for Iranian bomb development); no Israeli heads-up to the U.S. would be forthcoming. An Israel- Iran conflict would take U.S. and world economic recovery off the table for …?

The Economy–‘Hardest of 3 Paths’: newsmax.com’s 4/19/09 post by Arnaud de Borchgrave entitled “U.S. Must Take Hardest of 3 Paths to Survive” presents our recent and current economic situation with alternatives for a sound economic future. Here are some excerpts;

• “From right to left, Washington’s think-tank senior fellows agree that the capitalist system is broken.“
• “Borrow-and -spend now must give way to save-and -invest. …Borrowing $2 billion to $3 billion a day from other countries — mostly China— to maintain the world’s highest standard of living, based on conspicuous consumption, at a time of growing world shortages no longer is viable.”
• ’Meanwhile, “Saving America’s Future: A Challenge to the American People,” as spelled out by 24 of the nations most illustrious names, including voices from both major parties. The study, which the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress released, warns that worse is yet to come because today’s economic reality is “only the tip of the iceberg.”
• “And if we do not act now, in everything from “structural challenges in financing our government” to “ ensuring quality public education, competing globally for jobs, extending healthcare while reducing its cost” and much more, “a far greater crisis awaits below the surface and threatens to sink our ship of state.”
• ’The federal government is “increasingly dysfunctional, politically and ideologically divided, shortsighted, compartmentalized, bureaucratic and arcane,”…
• “America is faced with three options: business as usual, muddle through, or a transformational future …”
• The last option is hardest as “Transformational, …will require citizens to shed their role as spectators and demand that their leaders “set aside short-term interests and take bold, nonpartisan steps, promoting the spirit of creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship” that has carried the United States for 233 years.

Until next time, keep your eyes on the horizon as the weathers changing fast.