[Peace-discuss] Obama more of a thug than Bush

[C. G. Estabrook]

Arms to Israel leak set to embarrass Obama

Does shock revelation hint at US support for an Israeli attack on Iran?
By Kieron Monks
LAST UPDATED 4:27 PM, SEPTEMBER 23, 2011Share
WHAT'S HAPPENED?
THE DAILY BEAST website has previewed an exclusive story in its sister  
magazine Newsweek, due out on Monday, which reveals that President  
Obama authorised the sale of 55 deep-penetrating bombs to Israel in  
2009. Former President George W. Bush had refused the sale in 2005,  
and military sources informed Newsweek that the deal was considered to  
be highly sensitive because of its possible implications.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
The GBU-28 'bunker-busters' are designed to take out underground  
targets. They could therefore have been used against Hamas or  
Hezbollah, enemies of Israel, who are believed to "bury" their rockets  
underground.
More likely – and more sensitive, given the fragile regional politics  
– the bombs could have been sold for possible use against Iran’s  
underground nuclear facilities. The Daily Beast speculates that the  
sale could therefore have been seen as "a green light for Israel to  
attack Iran’s secret nuclear sites".
The Newsweek report appears to undermine American statements that,  
despite providing the Israelis with $3bn worth of military aid a year,  
they would not "enable" an Israeli attack on Iran.
Indeed, a Democratic congressman, Steve Rothman of New Jersey, is  
quoted by the Daily Beast as saying that as well as sanctioning the  
sale, Obama gave "orders to the military to ratchet up the cooperation  
at every level with Israel".
It all suggests further doublespeak from the Obama administration,  
following the London Times report of 2010, in which it was claimed the  
US state department had arranged the use of Saudi airspace for Israeli  
bombers.
WHAT NEXT?
The full Newsweek report will be published on Monday when further  
revelations concerning "covert efforts by the US military to aid  
Israel" are promised. The story looks set to raise difficult questions  
for the White House. What other military deals have been kept secret?  
Why was Obama comfortable with the deal when Bush was not? Crucially,  
why is the US military leaking stories to embarrass its commander-in- 
chief?

Read more: http://www.thefirstpost.co.uk/84988,news-comment,news-politics,arms-to-israel-leak-set-to-embarrass-obama#ixzz1YvNhwJCx
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