Various people this past year have claimed that there would be a war with Iran. Some of them seemed pretty certain, but I do not recall understanding why they were so certain until yesterday, when I read this. It’s kind of long, and I will try to summarize the main points as best I can, but if you wish to understand the peril facing the world in 2008, I highly recommend you read the whole thing. Keep in mind that the windows of opportunity for war proponents are closing one by one, putting them in a state of desperation. If this plan is to ever unfold, pressure mounts daily for the precipitating events to occur.

The E.U., led by France and Germany, has actively supported Anglo-American foreign policy since the onslaught of the “Global War on Terror.” This has resulted in the ever expanding NATO involvement in the Middle East and Central Asia.

Both NATO and Israel are slated to take on major responsibilities in forthcoming regional conflicts with Iran and Syria, should they occur. This is evident by the positioning of NATO troops and warships in the Middle East, Afghanistan, and on the borders of both Iran and Syria.

He goes on to explain the role of Gaza and Hamas. Saudi Arabia worked as a proxy for the US/UK, putting forth proposals that led to neutralizing Hamas (expressing the legitimate will of the Palestinians) and empowering Fatah (a puppet for the West), the eventual goal being to set international forces into Gaza, to “supervise”, you see.

While the Saudi’s played their part in America’s “New Middle East” venture Fatah was manoeuvred, at a loss for better words, into fighting Hamas so that an understanding would be required between Hamas and Fatah. This was also done with the knowledge that Hamas’ first reaction as the governing Palestinian party would be to maintain the integrity of Palestinian unity. This is where Saudi Arabia comes into the picture again through its role in arranging the Mecca Accord. Saudi Arabia did not give Hamas any diplomatic recognition before the Mecca Accord.

The Mecca Accord was a setup and a means to entrap Hamas. The Hamas-Fatah truce and the subsequent Palestinian unity government that was established was never meant to last from the day that Hamas was deceived into signing the agreement in Mecca. The Mecca Accord was in advance a preparation to legitimize what would happen next, a Palestinian mini-civil war in Gaza.

…This brings us to Nicolas Sarkozy’s proposals for a Mediterranean Union. The economic integration of the Israeli economy with the economies of the Arab World would further the web of global relationships being tightened by the global agents of the Washington Consensus. The Saudi-proposed Arab Peace Initiative, the Agreement of Principles, and Annapolis are all phases for establishing the economic integration of the Arab World with Israel through the Project for the “New Middle East” and the integration of the entire Mediterranean with the European Union through the Mediterranean Union. The presence of troops from both NATO and E.U. countries in Lebanon is also a part of this goal.

Now to a key player, Avigdor Lieberman, former Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs. He has been pushing for NATO “peacekeeping operations” in Gaza. I guess the idea is to manipulate NATO into Gaza through some artificial pretext, and then get Israel into NATO (formally), so that in the end Israel controls Gaza militarily from within.

Israel has established a high-level military cooperation agreement with NATO. Avigdor Lieberman has stated that Israel is destined to become an outpost of the E.U. and a formal member of NATO. [7] The former Israeli minister also managed Israeli high-level contacts with NATO and the Iranian war dossier. He has been involved with the U.S. and NATO in regards to coordinated preparations against Syria and Iran.

Since the founding of the Jewish State, Israel has been perceived as a protrusion of the so-called “West” and its interests into the Middle East and the Arab World. Israel is an active member of NATO’s Operation Active Endeavour in the Eastern Mediterranean. Although Israel is not a NATO member, Israel together with Turkey constitute the backbone of NATO strength in the Middle East. Both Turkey and Israel are slated in the future to also take on major military roles in the Mediterranean region.

By the end of 2007 Israel started claiming that it was given the “green light” from the U.S., the E.U., and their mutual military body, NATO, to launch an attack against Iran. This would spark an all embracing war in the Middle East. The Israeli military has been training continuously and Israeli troops have been told by their superiors to prepare for an “all-out war.”

Gaza is strategically critical because of it’s small size and coastal geography. It would make a great barrier for Israel in the event of a war, and that’s why they want to control it completely. Thus the wall.

Another strategic barrier has been created by Israel in South Lebanon.

Another important point is the Israeli military’s firing of about 3 million (or more) American-supplied cluster bombs into South Lebanon during the 2006 war against Lebanon. What came across as extremely sinister was the Israeli rush to saturate South Lebanon with these cluster bombs when the Israeli 2006 attacks on Lebanon were drawing to an end. South Lebanon’s geography gives a partial explanation; it is the region of Lebanon which borders Israel.

The mass ejection of the Israeli cluster bombs into South Lebanon was a calculated move to create another Israeli barrier from potential combatants in a future Middle Eastern war. These cluster bombs have basically become landmines that will prevent a wave of Lebanese fighters from crossing into Israel in the case of a major war against Iran, Syria, the Palestinians, and Lebanon.

Now here is the crux of the matter: Israel has been given the “green light” to strike Iran. The Western powers will come to Israel’s rescue immediately, but they cannot initiate the war. This is risky because Iran has superior military capabilities (Israel’s main advantage being nuclear weapons, which theoretically they would restrain themselves from using. Emphasis on theoretically.) If the Western powers change their mind, “poor” Israel would be in deep trouble. But apparently it’s not that risky. Israel has tremendous confidence that the Western powers will carry out their part in the plan. Israel has been given assurances.

After returning from his trip to Western Europe and conferring with NATO Headquarters the former Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs, Avigdor Lieberman, said on early-July, 2007 that he received the tacit blessing of the E.U., the U.S., and NATO to initiate an Israeli military strike on Iran. “If we start military operations against Iran alone, then Europe and the U.S. will support us,” Avigdor Lieberman told Israeli Army Radio, in a message geared towards Israeli servicemen, following his European tour and his meetings with E.U. officials, José María Aznar of Spain, and the Deputy Secretary-General of NATO.

Avigdor Lieberman also asserted that because of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq the U.S., Britain, and their European allies were unable to initiate a war with Iran and its allies, but were willing to allow Israel to attack Iran.

Avigdor Lieberman also affirmed that the U.S. and NATO would intervene on the side of Israel once the war with Iran and its allies were started. The message conveyed to Lieberman by NATO and E.U. officials was that Israel should “prevent the threat herself,” which means that Israel must launch the war against Iran and its regional allies. [15]

Of course, the ever-present argument about Israel’s “right to exist” will be used as the all-purpose counterweight to the government’s illegal and immoral actions. This part is totally predictable: the manipulation of public opinion.

This is a premeditated arrangement. The leaders of NATO will tell their citizens that Israel was compelled to attack Iran out of fear and because of its “right to exist.” Then they will close ranks with Israel. It should also be stated when a living organism’s “right to exist” comes at the deprivation of the “rights to exist” of everything else around it then it becomes a threat like cancer.

…If the U.S. or Britain were to take the initiative to launch another war, their political leaders would face fierce opposition from public opinion, which could threaten the Anglo-American political establishment and even create national instability. But if Israel were to launch a war the situation would be quite different.

If Israel were to launch a war on the pretexts of defending itself from a growing Iranian menace, the U.S. and NATO would intervene to “protect Israel” from Iranian reprisals without appearing to have started another illicit international war.

Blame would be shouldered on the Israelis for the war rather than on the U.S. administration and its indefectible British ally. Western political leaders would argue that it is their national duty to protect Israel regardless of the Israeli breach of international laws.

There’s much more to this article. It is well worth reading and understanding. It’s a very good thing for ordinary citizens to have some idea of the view from 100,000 feet because it puts things in context. The Strait of Hormuz Incident? Put it in context. When you read that Iran and Egypt have renewed their diplomatic ties, put it in context. When you hear that Musharraf and Shimon Peres had a historic meeting at Davos, put it in context. When you see the Palestinians streaming into Egypt unmolested, put it in context. When you read that Arab leaders now openly disregard Bush, put it in context. When you read that Admiral Fallon vowed there would be no war on his watch, put it in context.

Plans are afoot. The players on the world stage are moving around; they are taking their positions. But will Israel succeed in starting a war with Iran? It’s not so easy. Iran is cooperating with the IAEA, and elBaradei will report on progress in March. A good report card for Iran takes the wind out of the warmongers’ sails. So they will probably look for an opportunity to do something soon, before that good report card comes out. But everyone paying attention expects that, too, and they will be prepared to counteract a false flag operation. And if Israel misses this late winter opportunity, there’s only a few more months left of Neoconpalooza in Washington. What to do, what to do?? These are perilous times, people. Perilous times.