Perilous Times
Israel prepping for war with Iran? - Jewish state orders military fuel
from U.S. Defense Department
Posted: August 28, 2010
1:00 am Eastern
By Jerome R. Corsi
Increasing speculation it may be preparing for a military assault on
Iran or a regional war involving Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in
Gaza, Israel has placed its largest order of military fuel with the
United States on record.
The Jewish state, earlier this month, ordered 284 million gallons of
JP-8 aviation jet fuel, 100 million gallons of diesel fuel and 60
million gallons of unleaded gasoline – all suitable for military uses –
at an estimated cost of $2 billion.
"It would be inappropriate for us to comment about what actions Israel
may take or how they will use their fuel," Marine Corps Major Chris
Perrine, a public affairs officer at the Department of Defense, told
WND. "I would note, however, that it would take a lot more than fuel to
attack a country or wage a regional war."
Read about the developing drumbeats, in "The Late Great State of Israel"
The sale was detailed in an Aug. 5 notification the Defense Security
Cooperation Agency of the U.S. Department of Defense posted on its
website, in compliance with the requirement to give Congress advance
notice of foreign military sales.
"The proposed sale of the JP-8 aviation fuel will enable Israel to
maintain the operational capability of its aircraft inventory," the
notification to Congress said. "The unleaded gasoline and diesel fuel
will be used for ground forces' vehicles and other equipment used in
keeping peace and security in the region. Israel will have no
difficulty absorbing this additional fuel into its armed forces."
By comparison, the last fuel order Israel placed with the U.S. was July
15, 2008, when Israel ordered 186 million gallons of JP-8 aviation jet
fuel, 54 million gallons of diesel fuel and 28 million gallons of
unleaded gasoline at an estimated cost of $1.3 billion.
Prior to that, Israel ordered 90 million gallons of JP-8 aviation jet
fuel and 42 million gallons of diesel fuel Aug. 24, 2007, for an
estimated cost of $308 million; and an unspecified amount of JP-8
aviation jet fuel July 14, 2006, for an estimated cost of $210 million.
Israel's last two military operations were the summer 2006 Lebanon War
that last a little over one month and the Operation Cast Lead in the
Gaza from Dec. 27, 2008, to Jan. 21, 2009.
Atomic Iran
Tensions in the Middle East have escalated since Iran made its nuclear
power plant at Bushehr operational with the assistance of Russia
earlier this month.
John Bolton, a former U.S. ambassador to the U.N., has warned
repeatedly that Bushehr would be much more difficult for Israel to
attack after it went operational, largely because any military strike
would release radioactivity that could be harmful to the civilian
population.
Israel's unwillingness to attack the Iranian nuclear power plant at
Bushehr before it went operational has caused considerable controversy
within Israel.
Writing in the Jerusalem Post, columnist Caroline Glick observed that
from a military perspective, the longer Israel waits to attack, the
harder it will be for Israel "to accomplish the mission."
Focusing much of the blame on Israel's Defense Minister Ehud Barack,
Glick commented, "Barak's strategic ineptitude is legendary."
Still, many signs point to continuing tensions in the Middle East that
could easily escalate into war.
Olli Heinonen, the former head of U.N. nuclear inspections worldwide,
claimed this week that Iran has stockpiled enough low-enriched uranium
to make one to two nuclear bombs.
A The Jerusalem Post reported Aug. 20 reports are circulating in the
region that Frederick Hoff, assistant to U.S. Middle East peace envoy
George Mitchell, told Lebanese Army chief of staff Jean Kahwaji that
Israel was ready to implement a plan to destroy within four hours all
Lebanese military infrastructure, including army bases and offices,
should another border-fire incident occur between Lebanese military and
the Israel Defense Forces.
Meanwhile, Iran has maintained an aggressive posture after activating
Bushehr, successfully test-firing a third-generation surface-to-surface
solid-fuel Fateh 110 missile with a 150-mile range and unveiling an
Iran-manufactured drone bomber with a flight range of 620 miles.
Nevertheless, the White House cautions that Iran is not on the verge of
developing a nuclear weapon.
Last week, Gary Samone, President Obama's top adviser on nuclear
issues, was quoted as saying it would take one year for Iran to make "a
dash" to convert existing low-enriched uranium to weapons-grade and to
develop the nuclear warhead required for a working weapon.
Moreover, tensions between Israel and the Palestinians appear to be
easing on the eve of resumed peace negotiations.
Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has expressed an interest in
meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas every two weeks as the
two enter into direct peace talks next week in Washington.