GCIS SITUATION ROOM PLACED ON HIGH ALERT BY ORDER OF THE DIRECTOR
Newspaper Claims Israel Plans to Attack Iran, Echoes Private Intel Boss
NOVEMBER 4, 2011 — New reports are out that Prime Minister Neyanyahu is “lobbying cabinet members for an attack” against Iran, according to The Guardian.
After a Kuwaiti newspaper published a leak that Israel was planning an attack to disable Iran’s nuclear program, Prime Minister Netanyahu declared that there will be an investigation into the leak.
The leak is suspected to have come from former heads of the Mossad and Shin Bet, which are the country’s foreign and domestic intelligence agencies. In other words, the Mossad is like the CIA except probably more badass, and Shin Bet is the equivalent of the FBI, and probably also more badass.
Israel’s worries about Iran’s nuclear program are no surprise, as the program has drawn international criticism for years. While Iran claims the nuclear program is about energy, the country hasn’t answered many questions from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) about its nuclear work for three years running; many in the international community worry that weapons are the true focus. In fact, the U.S. is currently trying to push the IAEA to include in its upcoming November report information regarding Iran’s increasingly worrisome nuclear capabilities. The hope is that this information will prompt further, more severe sanctions on Iran. Yet China and Russia have voiced their strong reluctance for more sanctions, claiming that isolating the country could end the chance for diplomacy to solve the issue and lead to more unrest in an area of the world that has seen a wave of political and social upheaval. They also have commercial relationships with Iran, further complicating the prospect of an agreement to more sanctions.
Israel, unsurprisingly, has a special interest in and fear of Iran’s nuclear program, due to the proximity of the country and its strong anti-Israel stance. Ahmedinejad has, for instance, stated that no Jews were killed in the 9/11 attacks because they were told not to come to work that day, questioned the truth of the Holocaust, and opposed peace talks between Palestinians and Israelis, saying at a rally that “If the leaders of the region do not have the guts, then the people of the region are capable of removing the Zionist regime from the world scene.”
No one would question that the relationship between Iran and Israel necessitates that Israel keep close tabs on Iranian programs that could potentially threaten the country’s national security. Yet the former head of the Mossad, Meir Dagan, called an attack on Iran “the stupidest idea I’ve ever heard.” While an attack could delay the completion of a weapons program if it exists, it probably couldn’t stop Iran from eventually building a nuclear weapon. Furthermore, such an attack could prompt severe retaliation, leading to a violent conflict.
While it is possible, as one Haaretz writer stipulates, that this is all “psychological warfare,” he also writes that “top officials…are still afraid.” That’s not surprising considering Netanyahu’s hard stances on Palestinian issues as well, which also bring fears of further strife and violence. The Prime Minister recently called for more settlements in East Jerusalem and near the West Bank, and furthermore has frozen the transfer of taxes to the Palestinian Authority, following the UNESCO decision to accept Palestine as a member. The building of homes infuses further tension into any possible two-state solution, since the construction is happening in areas that the Palestinian Authority would like to claim as its future capital.
Netanyahu has demonstrated a willingness to be politically combative on multiple issues. It’s difficult to say whether his actions demonstrate a commitment to the belief that his tough stances and actions will help Israel during future peace negotiations, or if it’s a long-term strategy to maintain Israel’s power in the region, regardless of the fallout and regardless of whether there ever are successful peace negotiations and land agreements.
The leak to the Kuwaiti newspaper indicates broader tensions in the Israeli community regarding the best strategy for dealing with their entire geopolitical situation. In a recent session of the Knesset, Netanyahu’s opponent Tzipi Livni criticized his declaration that he is a tough negotiator, saying “You’re flattered that you’re a tough negotiator? You’re not a negotiator – there are no negotiations” and furthermore stated that “I don’t understand what your goal is in insulting and pushing away Abbas.” While Iran is a different situation, Netanyahu’s heavy-handed tactics bring the possibility of violence closer on both fronts.
Private intelligence chief W. Edward Griffith, Director of GCIS (Griffith Colson Intelligence Service), said in September that an Israeli attack on Iran was imminent. Here is that article from SECURITYTEK NEWSWIRE:
Private Intelligence Chief Believes Israeli Strike Against Iran Imminent
September 26, 2011 Leave a Comment
WASHINGTON – On Sunday, the head of a private intelligence communications agency said he believes there will be an imminent Israeli strike against Iran.
W. Edward Griffith, Director of Griffith Colson Intelligence Service (GCIS) said his firm will monitor what he believes will be a military strike against the Iranian regime, which he believes could come before the end of the year.
GCIS spokesperson Nava Adler, said Griffith recently said the former head of Mossad, Meir Dagan, is “far of base” in his statements concerning the policies on handling Iran.
A Military strike on Iran may prompt regional war, missile attacks on Israel, former Mossad Director Meir Dagan says; Iranian problem should be resolved by international community, Dagan recently said.
GCIS spokesperson Nava Adler said GCIS personnel will be working around the clock to monitor these events, especially after reports that the Obama Administration has sold more than 50 “Bunker Busters” to Israel.
Adler added that the 44-year old private intelligence chief also ordered the GCIS Israeli security unit, Machaseh Security Service (MSS) to monitor all open source information. MSS is toprovide the Director with updated status reports on these developments. MSS Chief Emmanuel Stern will be in direct contact with Griffith during the course of the monitoring procedure.
