Middle East

US to send missiles, troops to Turkey in bid to deter Syria

"Defense Secretary Leon Panetta signed an order Friday to send two Patriot missile batteries to Turkey to protect it from rounds crossing the border from Syria. The order includes 400 American personnel to operate the batteries. 'We are deploying two patriot batteries here to Turkey along with the troops that are necessary to man those batteries, so that we can help Turkey have the kind of missile defense it may very well need in dealing with threats that come out of Syria,' Panetta told the troops at Incirlik Air Base in southern Turkey." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingUS to send missiles, troops to Turkey in bid to deter Syria

Glenn Greenwald: AP’s dangerous Iran hoax demands an accounting and explanation

"AP helped perpetrate a dangerous hoax, and owes an explanation and accounting for what took place, including identifying the 'officials from a country critical of Iran's atomic program' who made false claims about what this is. To begin with, the graph AP touted as reflecting some sort of nefarious, highly threatening and complex nuclear calculation is, in fact, widely available all over the Internet in the most innocuous places. At the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists (BAS), Yousaf Butt and Ferenc Dalnoki-Veress on Wednesday night wrote: 'Graphs such as the one published by the Associated Press can be found in nuclear science textbooks and on the Internet.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingGlenn Greenwald: AP’s dangerous Iran hoax demands an accounting and explanation

Why Is The US Building A Secret $100 Million Underground Facility Outside Tel Aviv?

"A Request for Proposal construction project planned for Israel called Site 911 reveals that the oddly named project will cost up to $100 million, take more than two years to complete, and can only be built by workers from specific countries with proper security clearances. When complete the well-guarded compound will have five levels buried underground and six additional outbuildings on the above grounds, within the perimeter. At about 127,000 square feet, the first three floors will house classrooms, an auditorium, and a laboratory — all wedged behind shock resistant doors — with radiation protection and massive security." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingWhy Is The US Building A Secret $100 Million Underground Facility Outside Tel Aviv?

United Nations tells Israel to let in nuclear inspectors

"The resolution, approved by a vote of 174-6 with 6 abstentions, calls on Israel to join the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty 'without further delay' and open its nuclear facilities to inspection by the International Atomic Energy Agency. Those voting 'no' were Israel, the U.S., Canada, Marshall Islands, Micronesia and Palau. Israel refuses to confirm or deny it has nuclear bombs though it is widely believed to have a nuclear arsenal. It has refused to join the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, or NPT, along with three nuclear weapon states - India, Pakistan and North Korea." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingUnited Nations tells Israel to let in nuclear inspectors

Britain’s ‘under-trained’ drone pilots create ‘significant risks’

"Badly trained pilots are creating 'significant risks' to Britain’s unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) programme, a military investigation has found. A probe by the Military Aviation Authority found that 'increasing demands' on drones used for surveillance and intelligence-gathering were 'constraining the length of time available to train and qualify' new pilots. MPs are due to debate the country’s involvement in drone warfare later Tuesday and Labour plans to push the government over whether unmanned aircraft will be deployed to kill terrorist suspects." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingBritain’s ‘under-trained’ drone pilots create ‘significant risks’

U.S.-Approved Arms for Libya Rebels Fell Into Jihadis’ Hands

"The Obama administration secretly gave its blessing to arms shipments to Libyan rebels from Qatar last year, but American officials later grew alarmed as evidence grew that Qatar was turning some of the weapons over to Islamic militants, according to United States officials and foreign diplomats. The weapons and money from Qatar strengthened militant groups in Libya, allowing them to become a destabilizing force since the fall of the Qaddafi government. The experience in Libya has taken on new urgency as the administration considers whether to play a direct role in arming rebels in Syria." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingU.S.-Approved Arms for Libya Rebels Fell Into Jihadis’ Hands

Obama recognizes Syrian rebels as ‘legitimate representative’ of the people

"President Barack Obama said Tuesday that the Syrian opposition was now 'the legitimate representative' of the Syrian people, in the most significant US intervention yet in the brutal civil war. Though a minority, the Al-Qaeda-linked rebel group Al-Nusra has been one of the most effective rebel groups fighting to overthrow President Bashar al-Assad, raising concerns that hardline extremists are hijacking the 21-month-old revolt. Senior officials however said that despite the move on recognizing the opposition, Washington sticks by its policy of not directly arming the rebels." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingObama recognizes Syrian rebels as ‘legitimate representative’ of the people

Obama approved F-16 fighter jets as gift to Egypt

"Despite instability due to the new Islamic government in Egypt, the US is sending more than 20 F-16 fighter jets to Egypt as part of a $1 billion foreign aid package. The first four Lockheed Martin F-16 fighter jets are set to arrive in Egypt on Jan. 22, an unnamed source told Fox News. The new Islamic president, Mohammed Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood, has recently made political moves that have fueled anger and criticism both in the West and among secular Egyptians. Mass demonstrations are currently taking place in Cairo and several other Egyptian cities against Morsi’s decision to hold a referendum on a pro-Islamist constitution." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingObama approved F-16 fighter jets as gift to Egypt

U.S. warns Egypt of return to ‘bad old days’ of Mubarak

"The United States warned Tuesday there must be no return to the 'bad old days' of the Mubarak era in Egypt, as the army there called for talks to resolve a crisis over a constitutional referendum. 'We continue to have deep concerns about the situation in Egypt,' State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said. Tens of thousands of protesters filled Cairo streets to demonstrate for and against the referendum called for Saturday on a draft constitution backed by President Mohamed Morsi and his Islamist allies." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingU.S. warns Egypt of return to ‘bad old days’ of Mubarak