Israeli Missile Ships On Their Way To Where?

[golgicomplex]

(IsraelNN.com) Two missile ships belonging to the Israeli Navy passed through the Suez Canal sometime during the last few weeks, according to reports on several internet sites. In the past, the passage of Israeli warships southward through the canal, from the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea, has been interpreted as preparation for a possible attack against Iran.

The IDF spokesman said in response to IsraelNationalNews's inquiry regarding the reports that the IDF does not usually comment on military movements.

Two Israeli warships passed through the Suez Canal on July 14 last year in what was seen as an unusual show of cooperation between Egypt and Israel. The Hanit and the Eilat, both Sa’ar-5 class Navy torpedo boats, traveled from the Mediterranean to the Red Sea, allegedly to beef up Israel’s military presence there.

One week earlier, an Israel Navy Dolphin-class submarine also traveled through the Suez Canal from the Mediterranean to the Red Sea and back, escorted by Egyptian navy vessels. It was the first such drill for the German-made secret vessel, defense sources said.

Israeli navy vessels usually travel around the Horn of Africa in order to reach the Red Sea. The voyages in July were seen as a message from Israel and Egypt to Iran, which continues its nuclear program and threats against Israel in spite of United Nations sanctions.

[andy]

Can we get a original reference?

[DReynolds]

Egypt has already publicly said for months that they will allow Israeli warships to pass thru the Suez Canal. Saudi Arabia has privately also backed Israel's ability to move their nuclear subs to the Gulf.

Westerners sometimes forget how many Arabs really hate Iran.

[Ought Six]

a:

Here you go:

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/136338

[Glockd]

Although I cannot remember exactly which thread, this has been discussed here previously.

And westerners that have travelled to the ME and broken bread with Arabs have an insight into the feelings towards Iran, or more appropriately, the current Government, not the Persian people.

I learned alot over morning Chai, long hours on patrol, and a wonderful dinner in a Bahraini family resteraunt that I will never, ever forget.

[Ought Six]

The idea of a fanatical nuclear-armed Shia theocracy dominating the entire region, poltically and militarily, is about the only thing on Planet Earth capable of uniting Arabs, Jews, the West, and quite possibly Russia into a single front. They will never admit it in public, but behind the scenes, they will do what they can to stop that from happening.

[Oric]

Originally Posted by Ought Six

The idea of a fanatical nuclear-armed Shia theocracy dominating the entire region, poltically and militarily, is about the only thing on Planet Earth capable of uniting Arabs, Jews, the West, and quite possibly Russia into a single front. They will never admit it in public, but behind the scenes, they will do what they can to stop that from happening.

Lawrance of Arabia has risen from grave !! (Not you O6 )

Anytime in history when Arabs get united against something they are bound to lose something else. WWI .. Lawrance gives them a big push, out goes the Ottoman Empire, comes in 10 different Arab nations, borders drawn by french and british, WWII .. In comes Israel ... Now they are being herded together against Iran .. I am patiently waiting to see what the future has in hold for them.

By the way Iran, nuclear or not, has a long history of being non-aggresive towards her neighbours. The Turkish - Iranian border has not changed since 16th century !! The last time they had a war was with Saddam, who attacked first. A nuclear Iran does not concern me at all because those guys are smart, if they a nuke, their neighbours will not be of any target, but a bargaining chip which they love to play with.

[Ought Six]

Theocracy changes everything. The ruling mullahs might be sane, but Ahmadinejad and the Revolutionary Guard are anything but. If they take power, all bets are off.

[Oric]

I am not a bit concerned about them ...

[BoneDaddy]

I fail to see how they are any worse than the wahabi's

[VT9]

Originally Posted by Oric

Anytime in history when Arabs get united against something they are bound to lose something else. WWI .. Lawrance gives them a big push, out goes the Ottoman Empire, comes in 10 different Arab nations, borders drawn by french and british, WWII .. In comes Israel ... Now they are being herded together against Iran .. I am patiently waiting to see what the future has in hold for them.

By the way Iran, nuclear or not, has a long history of being non-aggresive towards her neighbours. The Turkish - Iranian border has not changed since 16th century !! The last time they had a war was with Saddam, who attacked first. A nuclear Iran does not concern me at all because those guys are smart, if they a nuke, their neighbours will not be of any target, but a bargaining chip which they love to play with.

That's refreshing! Thanks for adding this Oric.

I recall going somewhere on the internet and seeing a bunch of pictures of the country and people of Iran. I thought it was a shame we were probably going to bomb the shit out of their country rather than minding our own business.

[DReynolds]

Originally Posted by BoneDaddy

I fail to see how they are any worse than the wahabi's

To me, it doesn't matter whose worse -- only that they hate each other's guts, which is useful.

[Ought Six]

O:

"I am not a bit concerned about them ..."

The Kuwaitis were equally sanguine about Saddam, right up until the moment Republican Guard armored divisions crossed their border. We were pretty sanguine about the revolution in Iran, right up until the moment that our embassy was stormed by 'students', and its staff began the longest diplomatic hostage crisis in modern times. Being this sanguine about the Revolutionary Guard controlling a nuclear-tipped ballistic missile force and a nuclear bomb production line is, IMO, astoundingly naive and foolish.

There is also the certainty that once Iran gets nukes and gets away with it, Sunni nations in the region will immediately go whole hog on their own nuclear weapons and missile programs. When the rest of the world sees that, other nations will follow suit. This will open up the floodgates of global nuclear proliferation, with the obvious inevitable consequences. So even if Iranian nukes are never used, eventually millions will die anyways as a direct result of the failure to stop the Iranian nuclear weapons program now.

================================================== ============

BD:

"I fail to see how they are any worse than the wahabi's"

If Saudi Arabia's royal family is deposed; their government taken over by a Wahibbi Jihadi theocracy; they start talking about 'wiping Israel off the map'; and they start up a viable nuclear weapons and missile production program; then I will be every bit as concerned about them as I am about Iran.

================================================== ============

DR:

"To me, it doesn't matter whose worse -- only that they hate each other's guts, which is useful."

After both sides get nukes, and eventually use them, Israel and American bases in the region would certainly be targeted as well. Israel's full response would destroy the entire region. Iran would certainly target American bases in Pakistan, and Israel might have Paki cities on its Armageddon list as well. The Pakis, ones committed to responding, would not leave India standing unscathed. Pakistan would launch a full strike on India, as well as hitting Iran. India would have to respond. They would not leave their hereditary enemy, China, standing intact. Their full nuclear response plan certainly includes a full range of Chinese targets. When China responds, whether they would go after Russian and American targets as well is unknown.

This is precisely what has happened in every major war. The assassination of Archduke Ferdinand, the Nazi invasion of Poland, and any other major conflict you care to name. When a nation is attacked, its allies are usually attacked as well. When the target nation counterattacks, it usually includes its main enemies on the list of nations it needs to lay waste to in order to have a chance of surviving. This is why a nuclear war in Middle East or South Asia could easily go global. Nuclear proliferation throughout the Middle East must be prevented. If not, this is the danger we face.

[Oric]

No they won't ...

[dyrt]

Oric is not worried. 'The Iranians are smart and all they want is a bargaining chip.' Whew! Some bargaining chip. What kind of bargain do they want?

The only way that nuclear weapons can be used as a bargaining chip is if those Smart Iranians threaten to use them. The only way a threat like that can work is if others believe that the Iranians would use them. So if we just click our heels twice and believe the Iranians won't use the nukes, then Iran has wasted their treasure and many lives for useless gadgets. So how smart are those Iranians?

Let me put it this way: Iranian nukes are a grave danger to all of the Middle East and Levant because the world is not going to be able to believe hard enough to make the fear go away. Nor will wise men take the chance. The Iranian nukes will eventually attract a horrible war, no matter if they are used or not. Once again, those smart bargaining survivors can claim they are the victors yet victims of western powers.

[Oric]

substitute any nuclear country with Iran in your text, same logic holds ... Why is Iran different ?

[dyrt]

Originally Posted by Oric

substitute any nuclear country with Iran in your text, same logic holds ... Why is Iran different ?

Because we don't want any more horrible wars.

[Ought Six]

.... and some groups in Iran think that a global nuclear war is God's plan, and that it is their personal duty as an instrument of God to further that plan any way they can.