Drumbeats of War - A Curious Surprise
A one-line piece of information today from a primary source of breaking news about Israeli and the Middle East:
“Obama unexpectedly joins White House conversation between defense minister Ehud Barak and NSA James Jones Monday.”
— Debka File
That is so very curious. Because Barak was specifically disallowed by Israeli President Netanyahu to negotiate for the Israeli government during his week-long visit to Washington DC… quite an odd thing in itself. Especially since Barak and US Special Envoy George Mitchell met in the El Al visitor’s lounge at Ben Gurion airport in Israel before the two of them flew to Washington together… another sort of rare event. Alone, these things make one wonder what is going on.
So we have these curious elements….
• Unofficial official talks between the US and Israel behind closed doors.
• The Israeli Minister of Defense Ehud Barak, who has been begging the US for bunker busters that were apparently on their way to Israel, but were diverted to the US armory at Diego Garcia. Former Chief of Staff of the Israeli Defense Forces, he was a key planner of famous Operation Entebbe that helped give Israel tremendous cachet in the handling of international terrorists. He is the most decorated soldier in Israeli history.
* The key issue that apparently caused the diversion of the bunker busters was construction in East Jerusalem. That issue has been quietly resolved.
• A private meeting between Barak and the United States National Security Advisor, highly decorated General James L. Jones, Jr., USMC (Ret.), formerly the Commandant of the Marine Corps. With offices in the West Wing of the White House, he is the chief advisor to President Obama on national security issues, and briefs the President on the findings of NSA intelligence gathering. During a crisis, the NSA Advisor moves to the White House Situation Room, where he presents updates directly to the President.
• The surprise appearance of President Obama during that conversation between Jones and Barak.
What to make of all these curious things?
Could it be they are having a pleasant conversation about the stalled peace process with the Palestinians, and how to gentle that forward a little?
Or are these gentlemen are talking about war with Iran?
I suppose we will find out relatively soon. Because the window for that war seems to have only a few weeks before the Iranian nuclear question becomes a fait accompli. As Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has stated categorically time and time again, if the world led by the US does not stop Iran getting nuclear weapon, Israel reserves the right to ‘defend itself’… which means a preemptive strike on Iran, with or without sanction by the United States. But a bunch of bunker busters would make things a lot easier.
