Anti-Iranian Israeli/Saudi Alliance

Stephen Lendman
It’s believed Saudi Prince Bandar ibn Sultan visited Israel covertly. Doing so broke a decades long taboo.
Both countries have common regional interests. They include toppling Syria’s Assad. They want Iran’s government replaced.
Reports suggest both countries formed an anti-Iranian military alliance. On November 17, the London Sunday Times headlined “Two old foes unite against Tehran,” saying: “Convinced that Iran is tricking the world over nuclear weapons, Israel and Saudi Arabia may work together to curb its ambitions.”

None exist. Both countries know it. At issue is eliminating a regional rival. More on that below.
Multiple rounds of Iranian nuclear talks failed. On November 20, another attempt begins. The myth about Iran pursuing nuclear weapons persists. Israel wants America’s Iran policy toughened. AIPAC wants new sanctions enacted. According to an unnamed senior State Department official:

“We are going to send teams around the world to make sure the sanctions stay in place, (so) that the whole sanctions regime will not collapse.”

Treasury Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, David Cohen added: “The relief we are considering as part of an initial phase would be limited, temporary, targeted and reversible. “We will continue to monitor Iran’s financial activity and take action, as we always have, to target Iranian attempts to evade sanctions. The overwhelming economic pressure from our sanctions will remain in place, and we will continue to leverage these sanctions until we have a full, verifiable and peaceful resolution to international concerns surrounding Iran’s nuclear program.”

So-called concerns are contrived. Expect no letup in Washington’s longstanding anti-Iranian agenda. In July, House members overwhelmingly passed new sanctions 400-20. They target Iran’s mining and construction sectors. They call for banning Iranian oil sales by 2015. Similar Senate legislation is expected. It may be tougher. It may prohibit international investments in more economic sectors. It may block Iran’s foreign accounts entirely. It may restrict Obama’s ability to unilaterally waive requirements for allies and key trading partners.

Israel’s US ambassador Ron Dermer, its Economy Minister Naftali Bennett, and AIPAC are exerting enormous pressure on US lawmakers. They’re spreading false information. Over the past few days, they’ve gone all out to discredit whatever emerges from upcoming Iranian nuclear talks. According to the Sunday Times, Saudi Arabia and Israel are preparing contingency plans to attack Iran. A diplomatic source was quoted saying: “Once the Geneva agreement is signed, the military option will be back on the table. The Saudis are furious and are willing to give Israel all the help it needs.”

Riyadh allegedly offered Israel tactical support. Included is use of its air space, drones, rescue helicopters and tanker planes. Mossad and Saudi officials are reportedly cooperating. On November 17, Netanyahu appeared on CNN’s State of the Union. He lied saying: “I’m the prime minister of Israel, and I have to care for the survival of my country. Iran maintaining its nuclear weapons capability – that is the capacity to produce nuclear weapons threatens directly the future of the Jewish state.”

The Jerusalem Post discussed his November 16 Le Figero interview. “We all think that Iran should not be allowed to have the capacities to make nuclear weapons,” he said. We all think that a tougher stance should be taken by the international community. We all believe that if Iran were to have nuclear weapons, this could lead to a nuclear arms race in the Middle East, making the Middle East a nuclear tinderbox. We live here. We know something about this region. We know a great deal about Iran and its plans. It’s worthwhile to pay attention to what we say.”

He claimed a “meeting of the minds” between Israel and “leading states in the Arab world” on Iran. He called it “one of the few cases in memory, if not the first case in modern times.” So-called “leading states” include rogue regional monarchies Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, UAE, Kuwait and Jordan. So is Egypt’s coup d’etat regime. A potential regional war looms. Launching one could spread globally. In July 2013, Michel Chossudovsky reposted his August 2010 article. It’s relevant today. It headlined “Global Warfare. Preparing for World War III, Targeting Iran.” “Humanity is at a dangerous crossroads,” he said. It remains so today. “War preparations to attack Iran are in ‘an advanced state of readiness. Hi tech weapons systems including nuclear warheads are fully deployed. This military adventure has been on the Pentagon’s drawing board since the mid-1990s.”

War is America’s strategy of choice. Israel operates the same way. They’re partnered against regional rivals. They want pro-Western puppet governments replacing them. They want unchallenged regional dominance. They’re willing to risk global war to get it. “Since 2005, the US and its allies, including America’s NATO partners and Israel, have been involved in the extensive deployment and stockpiling of advanced weapons systems,” said Chossudovsky. “The air defense systems of the US, NATO member countries and Israel are fully integrated.”
America’s permanent war agenda is longstanding. Post-9/11, Dick Cheney warned of wars that won’t end in our lifetime. Former CIA director James Woolsey said America “is engaged in World War IV, and it could continue for years.” In summer 1990, America headed for war on Iraq. On September 11, then President GHW Bush addressed a joint session of Congress. He delivered what’s known as his “Toward a New World Order” address.

He discussed Saddam’s August 2 Kuwait incursion. He omitted explaining how Washington duped him. At issue was a dispute over Kuwait cross-drilling into Iraqi territory. Washington’s dirty hands encouraged it.

Then US Iranian ambassador April Glaspie OK’d Saddam’s retaliation. It was after diplomacy to do so failed.
Saddam was deceived. Nearly 23 years of war, mass killing and destruction, sanctions, occupation, violence, disease, deep poverty, puppet governance, and unspeakable human misery followed.

Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. http://sjlendman.blogspot.com