Iran and Hezbollah prepare to go head to head with the West

While we were all watching the purile antics of Senator Kerry, there have been a number of interesting developments out in the real world.

For a start, the White House formally accused Syria, Iran and Hezbollah of plotting to overthrow Lebanon's Siniora government.

White House spokesmouth Tony Snow cited "mounting evidence that the Syrian and Iranian governments, Hezbollah, and their Lebanese allies are preparing plans to topple Lebanon's democratically elected government."

Truth is,Iran's proxy Hezbollah, as Sheik Nasrullah famously said is Lebanon. President Michael Aoun has been in the Syria's pocket for quite some time, and Hezbollah and their sister militia, Amal control enough of the Lebanese government to veto any actions they want to. The WAPO article linked makes reference to Hezbollah demands for early elections in order to establish a national unity government eith `veto power.' In actuality, they already have that..and early elections are just designed to finish the process of an Iran/Hezbollah takeover.

Snow also mentioned the stalled UN tribunal over the assasination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Hariri in 2005.

"Any such effort to sideline the tribunal will fail, however, for the international community can proceed with establishing it no matter what happens internally in Lebanon," Snow said.

Umm-hmmm. Sure they will. Ri-ight.

Meanwhile the IDF has caught some flak (sorry!) for overflying Hezbollah positions, with both the UN and the Lebanese government complaining. However, the flights are continuing, and they've revealed some interesting intel.

Hezbollah has completely re-established itself in Beirut’s Shiite Dahya district, two months after its military centers were flattened in the Lebanon war. It's now a closed, closely guarded Hezbollah military zone. UNIFIL doesn't veen dare go near it.

The Israelis also noted Hezbollah’s rebuilt bunker system, foundations for new rocket launchers and the rebuilding of intelligence and surveillance positions along the Lebanese-Israeli border.

Delivery of Iranian-Syrian weapons shipments to Hezbollah has been stepped up since the Israelis withdrew, in violation of UN Resolution 1701..but who's complaining, right? The new weaponry includes ground-to-ground missiles, anti-air, anti-tank and land-to-sea missiles. Hezbollah's aresenal is fairly close to being completely restocked.

Iranian and Syrian arms convoys are proceeding down Lebanon’s highways in broad daylight, without UNIFIL doing a thing to stop them.Al they're good for is rattling around in their white 4X4's and smoking dope with the locals.

This eventually will lead to the complete takeover of Lebanon by Iran-backed Hezbollah and pro-Syrian/Iranian factions. They are looking forward to adding Lebanon to the Shiite bloc.

Also, in the event that there any kind of clash between the US and Iranian forces massed in the Persian Gulf or in Iraq, Hezbollah has the ability to open up a second front with a fresh offensive against Israeli cities.

That buildup of Iranian and US naval forces in the Persian Gulf goes on unabated, by the way...the US now has the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Eisenhower, and its accompanying carrier strike group en route to the region. They passed through the Suez Canal on Monday, Oct. 30, and arrived in the Red Sea on Tuesday, Oct. 31.

The USS Enterprise and its carrier strike group are there as well.

Two US aircraft carriers with their accompanying strike groups inthe Red Sea and en route to the Gulf could signal some major fireworks.

Another interesting little fact is that US Intelligence director John Negroponte is on hand. He was in Saudi Arabia over the weekend, in Cairo on Tuesday, and is in Israel today, November 1.

We now have a substantial fleet either in the Persian Gulf or en route. In addition to the Enterprise and the Eisenhower, there's the amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima.

I've seen some reports that another amphibious assault ship, the USS Boxer, will arrive in the Gulf by the beginning of next week, together with its strike group. The USS Boxer is currently taking part in joint US-Indian naval maneuvers, dubbed Malabar ’06, which includes amphibious landings of marines....

For Iran's part, they are apparently planning to launch what the mullahs call the 'Great Prophet 2' Wargames tommorrow, November 2nd.

Tehran's announcement was made by the Commander-in-Chief of Iran Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Major-General Seyed Yahya Rahim Safavi. The maneuvers will involve Iran's navy, air force, army and its Baseji Islamic reservists, and will expand not only to include the Persian Gulf but the Sea of Oman...where Iran is also attempting to exert its influence.

And while the last set of `games' was defensive, these will be both offensive and defensive.

I wouldn't be surprised if this was the beginning of Iran's final preparation for all out war.



Stay tuned...