MidnightWatcher – Prophecy in Motion

Interesting timing. I’m sure Israel could do this however without flying over Iraq if another Iranian enemy, Saudi Arabia, is also concerned enough about Iran’s nuclear program …

By Amos Harel – “A key clause in a U.S. military agreement creating a no-fly zone over Iraq is set to run out at the end of the year. The clause, inserted in the agreement following Iranian pressure on Iraq’s Shi’ite prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki, was apparently a way to thwart an Israeli air attack on Iran.

The agreement between the United States and Iraq, signed in November 2008, is due to run out at the end of this year when U.S. forces withdraw from Iraq under the timetable set by President Barack Obama (although thousands of advisers will remain ).

Clause 27 of the agreement states that, if asked, the United States must thwart threats to Iraq’s sovereignty and not let its land, territorial waters or airspace be used for attacks on other countries.

The clause has special significance considering the increased speculation in recent days that Israel might attack Iran’s nuclear sites. It is unclear to what extent the United States will be obligated under the clause after its forces leave Iraq. In any case, the obligation will certainly not be as binding as it is now.

The shortest air route from Israel to Iran is over Iraq.” Read more.

Flashback: Report Alleges Saudi Arabia Approves Israeli Attack on Iran’s Nuclear Sites – “Over the weekend, the Times of London released a story alleging that Saudi Arabia has given Israel tacit approval to use its airspace in an attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities. According to the Times, Saudi Arabia has conducted tests to stand down its air defences to enable Israeli jets to make a bombing raid on Iran’s nuclear facilities … To ensure the Israeli bombers pass unmolested, Riyadh has carried out tests to make certain its own jets are not scrambled and missile defence systems not activated. Once the Israelis are through, the kingdom’s air defences will return to full alert. The article also cited an unnamed U.S. defense source in the region who corroborated the claims, saying ‘The Saudis have given their permission for the Israelis to pass over and they will look the other way. They have already done tests to make sure their own jets aren’t scrambled and no one gets shot down. This has all been done with the agreement of the [US] State Department.'” Read more.

Rice: U.S. Should Do Everything Possible to Bring Down Iran’s Government – “The U.S. should consider tougher penalties against Iran’s government and ‘be doing everything we can to bring it down,’ Condoleezza Rice said Sunday. As Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul argued on ‘Fox News Sunday’ that sanctions should be removed altogether to get Iran to act differently, the former secretary of state under George W. Bush told ABC’s ‘This Week’ that the U.S. should never take the option of military force off the table when it comes to dealing with Iran.” Read more.