America and Israel: Imperial Partners in Crime (Part 1)
Longstanding ties remain firm. Both nations are imperial partners. Naked aggression is official policy. Regime change in Syria is planned. Daily events head inexorably toward full-scale intervention.
The latest incident ups the stakes. On May 4, The New York Times headlined "Israel Bombs Syria as the US Weighs Its Own Options," saying: An unnamed US official said "Israel bombed a target in Syria overnight Thursday. (Washington) consider(s its own) military options, including carrying out (its) own airstrikes."
According to Reuters, "(t)he attack took place on Friday after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's security cabinet approved it in a secret meeting on Thursday night…."
These type meetings often precede imminent action. They're held to approve them.
CNN's Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr said "(t)he United States believes Israel has conducted an airstrike into Syria, two US officials tell CNN." "US and Western intelligence agencies are reviewing classified data showing Israel most likely conducted a strike in the Thursday-Friday time frame, according to both officials." "This is the same time frame that the US collected additional data showing Israel was flying a high number of warplanes over Lebanon." An unnamed Israeli military source said "(w)e will do whatever is necessary to stop the transfer of weapons from Syria to terrorist organizations. We have done it in the past and we will do it if necessary the future."
Pretexts are easy to create. Washington and Israel do so to justify crimes of war and against humanity.
According to the New York Times, "(t)he target was not a Syrian chemical weapons facility…." The same unnamed US official said a building was struck.
Lebanon's Daily Star said "(e)ight Israeli warplanes violated Lebanon's airspace in a span of 14 hours, flying over large swarths of the country, Army officials announced Friday."
Israeli military aircraft do so almost daily. This time was different. Lebanese overflights were "unusually high."
At 7PM local time, they began. Two Israeli warplanes entered Lebanese airspace west of Sidon. They "conducted aerial maneuvers." They left four hours later. "Ten minutes" before they departed, "another two warplanes entered entered" Lebanese airspace "west of Jounieh." More maneuvers followed. They returned to Israel after midnight. "At 12:35 AM, another sortie of two warplanes entered Lebanese airspace" near Beirut. They also conducted maneuvers. They left before 3:15 AM. "At 6 AM, two more warplanes" overflew overflew "all Lebanese regions." They left at 8:50 AM.
Overflying another nation's airspace without authorization violates international law. Israel does it regularly. Lebanon is violated virtually daily. Multiple daily overflights happen often. Usually it's for reconnaissance. Other times it's for targeted strikes or war.
An updated Reuters report headlined "Israel confirms Syria strike, says hit Hezbollah-bound missiles." On Saturday, an unnamed Israeli official admitted the airstrike, claiming it was to destroy "Hezbollah-bound missiles".
[This] doesn't wash. More on that below.
Mossad-connected DEBKAfile (DF) headlined "Israel Air Force bombs Syrian chemical and other targets from Lebanon, Golan," saying: Bombing occurred from "Lebanese air space and the Golan starting Friday and continuing until early Saturday…." According to US sources, "16 IAF warplanes took part." "Some sources said the target attacked was a convoy transporting chemical arms (to) Hizbollah…."
Israeli and US sources lack credibility. DF said Washington gave Israel "a video demonstration" of its upgraded bunker buster bomb (Massive Ordnance Penetrator - MOB).
On Friday, the Wall Street Journal reported it. It said the Pentagon did so "to combat Iran." At issue is targeting its "most heavily fortified and defended nuclear site." Fordow is well protected. It's deep underground. "US officials see development of the weapon as critical to convincing Israel that the US has the ability to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear bomb if diplomacy fails, and also that Israel's military can't do that on its own."
On May 3, Michel Chossdovsky said: "The MOP Massive Ordinance Penetrator is nicknamed the 'mother of all bombs.' Its use would inevitably trigger an out war against Iran with a scenario of military escalation." In October 2009, "the Pentagon confirmed (its intention) to use the 'Mother of All Bombs' (MOAB) against Iran." Doing so would cause mass casualties. The upgraded version would cause many more. MOABs "are WMDs in the true sense of the word. (Their) hidden objective (is) mass destruction and mass civilian casualties with a view to instilling fear and despair." Perhaps Washington plans using it against Syria for the same purpose. Longstanding policy is destroying targeted nations. It's been that way since WW II. Today's weapons are far more powerful than earlier ones. In short order, they're able to annihilate humanity entirely. It can happen whether or not planned.
Details of Israel's latest attack are sketchy. It wasn't the first lawless IDF action. For sure it won't be the last. Last November, IDF tanks shelled cross border six times in one week. Anti-tank missiles and other munitions were used. In February, Israeli warplanes struck several Syrian targets. Reports alleged a weapons and munitions convoy heading for Lebanon was targeted. A previous article discussed what happened. They asked why Assad would send vitally needed weapons and munitions to Lebanon? It makes no sense. He needs all he can get. If reports were accurate, evidence would have corroborated them. None was forthcoming.
At the time, DEBKAfile said Obama "green light(ed)" Israel to attack. Doing so revealed Israel's involvement in Washington's war. So is NATO. Naked aggression is longstanding alliance policy. It very much reflects how Israel and America operate. Imperial priorities matter most. Rule of law principles are discarded. War is a way of life. Both nations prioritize it. They're warrior states. Syria's being systematically ravaged. It may be entirely destroyed before conflict ends.
Israel's latest attack ups the stakes. It appears nakedly transparent. On the one hand, Israel's flexing its military muscle. On the other, it's daring Syria to respond. Doing so would likely trigger Washington-led NATO full-scale intervention. Perhaps Israel would get involved. Anything can happen any time.
An unnamed Israeli Washington embassy spokesman declined commenting on Friday’s incident. He said only that "Israel is determined to prevent the transfer of chemical weapons or other game-changing weaponry by the Syrian regime to terrorists, specially to Hezbollah in Lebanon."
These type statements don't wash. No evidence corroborates allegations about Syrian chemical weapons use or transfers. Fabricated claims heighten tensions. Doing so heads things closer to all-out war. Libya 2.0 appears likely. Launching it could come any time.
Note: Early Sunday morning, Israel bombed Syria for the second straight day. Powerful blasts shook Damascus. Massive fires followed. Washington and Israel share joint responsibility. Hindsight may show that these attacks began full-scale intervention. It's too early to know for sure. A follow-up article will discuss more.
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Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He has devoted his time and efforts to progressive causes and organizations, all involved in working for a more humane and just world for all people everywhere, but especially for the most needy, disadvantaged and oppressed. His efforts since summer 2005 have included writing on a broad range of vital topics ranging from war and peace; social, economic and political equity for all; and justice for all the oppressed peoples of the world like the long-suffering people of Haiti and the Palestinians. He also co-hosts The Global Research News Hour, gives occasional public talks, and appears frequently on radio and at times television. He is a Research Associate of the Centre for Research on Globalization. Also visit his blog and listen to The Lendman News Hour on RepublicBroadcasting.org Monday - Friday at 10AM US Central time for cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on world and national issues. All programs are archived for easy listening. His new book "How Wall Street Fleeces America: Privatized Banking, Government Collusion and Class War" can be ordered HERE. He can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.
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Photo: Associated Press / NewsCom.au
URL: http://www.a-w-i-p.com/index.php/2013/05/06/america-and-israel-imperial-partners
