News for today's 2018

MLB Postseason...A Whole Other Animal

8:26 PM Tukiyooo 0

You always hear that the postseason of any sport is the "second season." All the work over the long regular season has subsided, and a new method of playing the game has to be implemented.<br /><br />But let's face it: baseball is waaaay different from any other sport.<br /><br />When the NBA or NHL seasons begin, it's hard to tell that the regular season has ended until a few weeks into the playoffs. The NFL has a one-and-done playoff method that keeps the desperation of the end of the regular season at full tilt even as the playoffs begin.<br /><br />But when it comes to baseball, the regular season and the playoffs are so different that you can't help but notice the contrast. The game is the same between the foul lines, but the energy can't be more diverse.<br /><br />Take the crowd. For a normal Major League Baseball game in the middle of June, you'd normally find several groups of people present: regular season ticket holders who follow their team all year, groups who have purchased tickets with an interest in the team, groups who are celebrating something, families taking their children, and twenty-somethings who like to hang out and drink.<br /><br />However, the crowd at a playoff game in October is hugely different. Most of the crowd understands the importance of the game. Very few small children are present because dads and moms are only buying a couple of tickets. There are probably more fans from the opposing team who want to see their team in the playoffs. The crowd tends to follow the game a lot more closely than a game in July. Home runs are cheered louder. Mistakes are jeered with bloodthirsty intensity.<br /><br />Another big difference is the dress code. When I attended a Tigers game in June, the weather was 95 degrees - everyone was in shorts and short-sleeved shirts or tank tops. Tonight's game 1 against Oakland probably started in the 40s, and coats and hoodies were the primary clothing choice. Hats and gloves were also required.<br /><br />A game that starts at 7:05pm in June won't be under the lights until 9 - or maybe even 10, depending on where you are in the time zone. But a game in October will already be under the lights at 7:05! The sun, when an afternoon game is held, hits the field differently than the summer afternoon games. Ice cream bars and frozen lemonade are replaced with honey roasted peanuts and hot chocolate.<br /><br />All of these differences help to make the atmosphere of an MLB playoff game so unique - unique from the MLB regular season <i>and</i> unique from other playoff seasons -  and so much fun to watch. Whether you are present at the game (I highly recommend it if the opportunity arises) or watching on TV, the excitement is absorbed by everyone. You really feel like the whole world is watching, and that your day is glorious or excruciating depending on how your team did the night before.<br /><br />I hope that you take the time to enjoy the MLB playoffs this season, no matter if your team is in it or not. I'm sure you'll be able to absorb the intensity and excitement of a baseball postseason battle.

MLB Postseason...A Whole Other Animal

You always hear that the postseason of any sport is the "second season." All the work over the long regular season has subsided, a...

Taste explosion!

3:18 PM Tukiyooo 0

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">My twins sister makes the most beautiful canapes - I call them "Taste Explosions"!!! Here's step by step instructions with pictures of how to make them.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">1. Spread a generous smear of cream cheese on bite size </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">blinis (mini pancakes)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnQDdDiv3pZpkc0QcYA9w3OV1yP_had2SOQpQwrPUwlYqcCYNqsj1PQkmvw-0mbyyO75iTBRbEsWrLoU38z-vNeAaXa3QiVG66WKQnYVHf2Eb-iuhCrIqABG32nbhL3qg2XbB7cIIu0QgG/s1600/IMG_2122%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnQDdDiv3pZpkc0QcYA9w3OV1yP_had2SOQpQwrPUwlYqcCYNqsj1PQkmvw-0mbyyO75iTBRbEsWrLoU38z-vNeAaXa3QiVG66WKQnYVHf2Eb-iuhCrIqABG32nbhL3qg2XbB7cIIu0QgG/s320/IMG_2122%5B1%5D.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">2. Pour a few drops of sweet chilli sauce on the cream cheese</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiULqMCedKnMq6S_5e1o8Zu9mksVN_xCN-oydP2q62lmCe4B6rEJeCJarur8KZJuaIlur_pV5mxDHkGskC-IxYOyj4RTO57i51igJ-lnA09-uhMGE_izySz9sKVo-L4VuaT_-jbo78trwfn/s1600/IMG_2123%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiULqMCedKnMq6S_5e1o8Zu9mksVN_xCN-oydP2q62lmCe4B6rEJeCJarur8KZJuaIlur_pV5mxDHkGskC-IxYOyj4RTO57i51igJ-lnA09-uhMGE_izySz9sKVo-L4VuaT_-jbo78trwfn/s320/IMG_2123%5B1%5D.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">3. Top with smoked salmon </span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvugdt-unttWLG-sdyElDXlLNeGtBfDNf0l95zi54tPJ6NayWBQ9LxStPt9z-C61tvTeoQhPAICKdGx_AlPyu2syXY8h0uu-wnaUXej5lv-BahMkLClpcNWHgbG7hldZpS2RDLMBJUFfCq/s1600/IMG_2124%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvugdt-unttWLG-sdyElDXlLNeGtBfDNf0l95zi54tPJ6NayWBQ9LxStPt9z-C61tvTeoQhPAICKdGx_AlPyu2syXY8h0uu-wnaUXej5lv-BahMkLClpcNWHgbG7hldZpS2RDLMBJUFfCq/s320/IMG_2124%5B1%5D.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">4. Season with black pepper</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr5XOQFUTGe8bKYtWyz63NIBsYseCLe39cRXVASNJiapL1zLqPRctwKct69pU5RttJPXSHHPAjUSdOV3-PQXEXFnQuffbpfXXmkC4AdLClcPJJYvplEgRBvhOOJjgVZrS0Kavuu3W8MhA2/s1600/IMG_2125%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr5XOQFUTGe8bKYtWyz63NIBsYseCLe39cRXVASNJiapL1zLqPRctwKct69pU5RttJPXSHHPAjUSdOV3-PQXEXFnQuffbpfXXmkC4AdLClcPJJYvplEgRBvhOOJjgVZrS0Kavuu3W8MhA2/s320/IMG_2125%5B1%5D.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">These canapes are totally delicious - I recommend eating them in a single bite!!</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Here are a few more canapes and nibblies that we made:</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Smoked Salmon on Brown Bread with lemon garnish</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidU_u8Vf5l70SbrL4x8CVyIvF6Wc6Y8Opyh9zD7ukPv-aGx9bnjwOTZtDByuOu609L644XvCCMauHf6Qi6ZerpXNa3CUcGA6O_2lambwkXNewTOHSZHWiz9ZNdv8eoTm5gMzIROzbUR-W0/s1600/IMG_2126%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidU_u8Vf5l70SbrL4x8CVyIvF6Wc6Y8Opyh9zD7ukPv-aGx9bnjwOTZtDByuOu609L644XvCCMauHf6Qi6ZerpXNa3CUcGA6O_2lambwkXNewTOHSZHWiz9ZNdv8eoTm5gMzIROzbUR-W0/s320/IMG_2126%5B1%5D.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Black Olives, Charcuterie of Italian Prosciutto & Spanish Ham, Cheese selection, Crackers and Red Pepper Hummus.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjldBnM4nh1W7jAjjaS5UZ5UkL8aqAtnVNc5sJxIrajLTk0TcnCPl8OalaPPlmlxT8U3R_asVlTYEogD5K6okvSmtzrOUSgYwV81L49bLPWw-YPbz4c8dRkBk_VerxhUXLirvVzLe27x-n0/s1600/IMG_2127%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjldBnM4nh1W7jAjjaS5UZ5UkL8aqAtnVNc5sJxIrajLTk0TcnCPl8OalaPPlmlxT8U3R_asVlTYEogD5K6okvSmtzrOUSgYwV81L49bLPWw-YPbz4c8dRkBk_VerxhUXLirvVzLe27x-n0/s320/IMG_2127%5B1%5D.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Uz4i5SmQHihnoVTbrLmePaxBGdYlUqha-2I1abvC3v9s9m3hFQvvdZHq7Xrj2O7KysX2lg00XBwnTJfcYZq0NqwF4DNL9A8QVfwCpm2PQNYhrutaViPvG-kyDuRGMc8ob-GKUeYVonBZ/s1600/IMG_2128%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Uz4i5SmQHihnoVTbrLmePaxBGdYlUqha-2I1abvC3v9s9m3hFQvvdZHq7Xrj2O7KysX2lg00XBwnTJfcYZq0NqwF4DNL9A8QVfwCpm2PQNYhrutaViPvG-kyDuRGMc8ob-GKUeYVonBZ/s320/IMG_2128%5B1%5D.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">And here we are along with friends enjoying wine and nibblies!</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDGekk-scDCLyGWTW2FfY6M5q-m7nIdi4AdiPqjNUQxVqnSqwHqz5V-dWvKAt-B-SbSRzIAc5PSeLMpaX4tL-C8UzwCjLPQLJK34X9l9aH6gDVvyVgb1mSjcWTzkORGC8ujqWAUD1hqy-4/s1600/IMG_2129%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDGekk-scDCLyGWTW2FfY6M5q-m7nIdi4AdiPqjNUQxVqnSqwHqz5V-dWvKAt-B-SbSRzIAc5PSeLMpaX4tL-C8UzwCjLPQLJK34X9l9aH6gDVvyVgb1mSjcWTzkORGC8ujqWAUD1hqy-4/s320/IMG_2129%5B1%5D.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0dZAg8Ya_QA8y_eFmIgqcePc4eJ4Z8MaQycYJjY6IsHINSswpYXZTZvL5MeS_iVRSggXRf9gFSDv67uIZF2hZfLbvCVVQTrxBJASmbyWW3Ut_ByaMDMq8aWjDXMN_b3duHn3fxKNMP8g_/s1600/IMG_2133%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0dZAg8Ya_QA8y_eFmIgqcePc4eJ4Z8MaQycYJjY6IsHINSswpYXZTZvL5MeS_iVRSggXRf9gFSDv67uIZF2hZfLbvCVVQTrxBJASmbyWW3Ut_ByaMDMq8aWjDXMN_b3duHn3fxKNMP8g_/s320/IMG_2133%5B1%5D.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>

Taste explosion!

My twins sister makes the most beautiful canapes - I call them "Taste Explosions"!!! Here's step by step instructions with pic...

ISRAEL, AZERBAIJAN AND KAZAKHSTAN

10:00 AM Tukiyooo 0

<br /> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVxbsPnT7WfQU3q3GbFXSJY5cObluwMIwaSOi8uDLWXs0XHRKWFSeZpEbqwNvtna9nKf94Ir9muXm5f1cPckuTlGfNCMDyCZYlJQMZ3TntmQbWtML6wF3s_WrJAAZiRCNLaMtpcUHNVJa2/s1600/index.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVxbsPnT7WfQU3q3GbFXSJY5cObluwMIwaSOi8uDLWXs0XHRKWFSeZpEbqwNvtna9nKf94Ir9muXm5f1cPckuTlGfNCMDyCZYlJQMZ3TntmQbWtML6wF3s_WrJAAZiRCNLaMtpcUHNVJa2/s320/index.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> </span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">ISRAEL’S IRAN “WARMONGERING RHETORIC’S” ARE DECEIVING TACTICS FOR A GREATER CAUSE</span></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">See related topic:  </span></span><span style="color: red;"> </span><br /><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">TURKEY’S ENERGY DEPENDENCY ON COUNTRIES LIKE RUSSIA AND IRAN HAVE A RESTRAINING EFFECT ON ITS FOREIGN POLICY </span></b></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large;"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/08/turkeys-energy-dependency-on-countries.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/08/turkeys-energy-dependency-on-countries.html</a></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">In recent past mainstream media and ISRAEL itself, increasingly stipulated that it is pushing for a preemptive airstrike on IRAN. Looking at ISRAEL history and how it conducts its wars and covert operations, it becomes imminent that it relies heavily on the element of surprise. Such was the case during most of its wars, rescue operations such as Entebbe, UGANDA in 1976, the IRAQI nuclear reactor air strike in 1981 and the alleged SYRIAN nuclear reactor airstrike in 2007. Thus as long as ISRAEL is “threatening” to attack IRAN on a daily base, and media coverage is in full swing, one can be sure that no such strike is imminent, for the element of surprise is lost. In most likelihood, ISRAEL’S threats of attacking IRAN and at the same time urging the USA to set a red line are calculated tactics and strategies in order to obtain certain concessions from the USA and indeed other allies. In most likelihood ISRAEL pursues a much more complex goal with its warmongering rhetoric’s against IRAN, than really intending to attack IRAN, one that will give ISRAEL inevitably some significant advantage, be it geopolitical, strategically or economically. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: red;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">THE KEY FACTOR FOR ISRAEL’S DECISION MAKING: IRAN’S “PRESENCE” IN SYRIA</span></b></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The minute ISRAEL and the media stop mentioning air strikes against IRAN that is the time one should become concerned, for that is the time when an attack is most likely imminent. (Given that the result of such attack will provide huge geostrategical and political advantages for ISRAEL). For the time being the saber rattling are just geopolitical tactics. Nevertheless, the chances of ISRAEL launching an airstrike against IRAN’S nuclear facilities are unlikely, especially with IRAN’S “presence” in SYRIA and SYRIA’S Bio-Chemical arsenal at its disposal. Current rhetoric’s by ISRAEL, USA and IRAN are primarily here to reshuffle the geopolitical landscape as well as counteract the current geostrategical shift occurring in the region due to new findings of natural resources and increased power struggle between Sunni and Shiite  Muslims, as well as TURKEYS increased muscle flexing in order to become the key player in the region.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Israel’s “warmongering” against IRAN is a well orchestrated strategy in order to gain geopolitical and economic concessions and advantages from the USA and its allies. Under current conditions ISRAEL will never initiate a full scale attack against IRAN.  Nevertheless one should be aware that all current assumptions, analysis, opinions regarding the Israel - Iran confrontation is based on information fed to the broad public and media by the upper echelons of world politics. No one knows what wheeling and dealings regarding IRAN, SYRIA, ISRAEL, SAUDI ARABIA, the USA, TURKEY etc. are currently going on behind closed doors. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><br /></span></span></u></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Background Information: </span></u></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Why prospects of an Israel Iran conflict remain low</span></b></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/08/israel-and-iran-airstrike-unlikely.html"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/08/israel-and-iran-airstrike-unlikely.html</span></span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">WAR STRATEGIES </span></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Continues saber rattling however has prompted countless thesis and speculations how ISRAEL would go about conduct such attack, given the complexity of such operation, both tactically as well as logistically. To complicate the issues is the necessity of involving foreign countries with no official diplomatic ties to ISRAEL, to utilize their airspace in order to be able to conduct the airstrike. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">In most cases military strategists and analysts believe ISRAEL would attack via SAUDI ARABIA or TURKEY, given that these two countries are in alignment with the USA and ISRAEL when it comes to the topic of IRAN and of toppling the SYRIAN government, a close ally of IRAN. (Though in the case of SYRIA, ISRAEL has refrained from voicing decisive disagreement on the current upraise, simply because the Assad regime, for more than thirty years has been the most stable entity on ISRAEL’S northern frontier. Despite the fact that the two countries are technically still at war with one another) Furthermore ISRAEL obtained permission by SAUDI ARABIA to use its airspace in 1981, in order to destroy an IRAQI nuclear reactor.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWaZPy-g8qMe-p4Pl8hL6Nuc4NkOrHKYwwhEBa9ZgE1r5aET1CsLmBuYjq0DsruFp6_SDnjsXKATkKOkPuj8aP6_jqIhXAadCURZIVkVwQeK1rfZsw9sfnIdR7S9UtIfiRcOW2M2eK__La/s1600/280px-OsirakLocation.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWaZPy-g8qMe-p4Pl8hL6Nuc4NkOrHKYwwhEBa9ZgE1r5aET1CsLmBuYjq0DsruFp6_SDnjsXKATkKOkPuj8aP6_jqIhXAadCURZIVkVwQeK1rfZsw9sfnIdR7S9UtIfiRcOW2M2eK__La/s1600/280px-OsirakLocation.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1981 Nuclear Reactor attack</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr4zLHHsuaGFkvK16uxuYbse3vjP-368XoRmyfYR-xmtzEp78xiDjTttFz_XMoeMd7NzITp7zUBbIammrjFqGNo2WQW3aJT3Rpro5Fc2kvIwMenymAC1eGw92Y_XDt1IvkSFD-SVqWbg0r/s1600/conventionsl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr4zLHHsuaGFkvK16uxuYbse3vjP-368XoRmyfYR-xmtzEp78xiDjTttFz_XMoeMd7NzITp7zUBbIammrjFqGNo2WQW3aJT3Rpro5Fc2kvIwMenymAC1eGw92Y_XDt1IvkSFD-SVqWbg0r/s400/conventionsl.jpg" width="341" /></a> </span><br /> <br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><b>Possible attack routes: See map on the right </b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Taking off from Paphos AF base in Cyprus would reduce the trip through Turkish airspace by about 100 km. Because of the political discrepancies between Cyprus and Turkey this option is not feasible, though it would save fuel and increase range. The other option is to take off from Haifa, follow the coast of Lebanon and Syria, enter Turkish airspace, thus lengthening the trip by 150 km and risking detection from Syrian radar.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Taking off from Israel’s most southern airbase and crossing entire Saudi Arabia only to head north after entering the Persian Gulf will stretch the fighters to their limit. Another shorter rout would be to fly via Saudi Arabia through Iraq, which would require cooperation with Iraq and the USA.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"></span><span style="color: red;"><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Background Information</span></u></span></b><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">:</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">I</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">ncreased Iranian influence in Syria provoked Israel to change its longstanding tactics regarding Syria</span></b></span><b></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/06/syria-israel-iran-and-usa.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/06/syria-israel-iran-and-usa.html</a></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The other commonly described scenario is that of ISRAEL using TURKISH airspace in order to enter IRAN, despite the fact that the two countries political ties, (officially) have been entirely severed. Since TURKEY strongly opposes IRAN’S stance on SYRIA and envisions itself becoming a regional Sunni powerhouse, TURKEY would let Geo-strategic interests prevailed over political discourses with Israel. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><br /></span></span></u></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Background Information</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">: </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Israeli Exports to Turkey rise 42% to equal exports to Germany. </span></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="ES-AR" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/01/see-no-evil-hear-no-evil.html"><span lang="EN-US">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/01/see-no-evil-hear-no-evil.html</span></a></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span lang="ES-AR" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Israeli Turkish economic ties</span></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.economywatch.com/economy-business-and-finance-news/turkey-israel-economic-relations-continue-despite-tensions-16-08.html"><span lang="ES-AR">http://www.economywatch.com/economy-business-and-finance-news/turkey-israel-economic-relations-continue-despite-tensions-16-08.html</span></a></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 7.5pt 30pt 11.25pt 0in;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Israel's trade with Turkey worth $2b in first half</span></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 7.5pt 30pt 11.25pt 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><a href="http://www.globes.co.il/serveen/globes/docview.asp?did=1000675654&fid=1725">http://www.globes.co.il/serveen/globes/docview.asp?did=1000675654&fid=1725</a></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"></span><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"></span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Analysts then go into great details speculating where the attack force would conduct its midair refueling etc. What many analysts neglect to take into consideration is that ISRAEL has another joker up its sleeve, should it real wish to venture out attacking IRAN, namely AZERBAIJAN and KAZAKHSTAN: </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaUG10pYTNfYuNWhRJm3nvag70Y7eyHVUB50Z8mXqvBJhLcV8001f8amC_zy15X-YQOGnu2YtcOKqiImf8Od1duMaTI4Sc8Idq7Es_gcyVcrcWwH0kzmN1jK3CDHhPjwd560ms0Wz1camY/s1600/north+routs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaUG10pYTNfYuNWhRJm3nvag70Y7eyHVUB50Z8mXqvBJhLcV8001f8amC_zy15X-YQOGnu2YtcOKqiImf8Od1duMaTI4Sc8Idq7Es_gcyVcrcWwH0kzmN1jK3CDHhPjwd560ms0Wz1camY/s400/north+routs.jpg" width="341" /></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">ISRAEL’S GENIUSES CHESS MOVE </span></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">As in CYPRUS, where ISRAEL secured military cooperation agreements to utilize western Cyprus’s airbase, it is believe that the ISRAELIS have also gained access to airbases in AZERBAIJAN as well as KAZAKHSTAN. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></u></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></u></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: red;"><b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Background Information</span></u></b></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="color: red;">:</span> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Israel to station military jets in Cyprus</span></b></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/02/geo-strategic-dynamics-in-eastern.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/02/geo-strategic-dynamics-in-eastern.html</a></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqroquQiYoUqPNvj5myLs0T4LHL2clWui9Pcy0pal4thYiB8Xy6YuXIV6F2tgdSbv2ufcmGwevs16zgXYV27jDDkf0AaWraBXTmwU679JTWIObF5gY33ABXluUuq0ngrnqa381Esz6687w/s1600/Israel-DTN-News-June-29-2009-Baku-Azerbaijan-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqroquQiYoUqPNvj5myLs0T4LHL2clWui9Pcy0pal4thYiB8Xy6YuXIV6F2tgdSbv2ufcmGwevs16zgXYV27jDDkf0AaWraBXTmwU679JTWIObF5gY33ABXluUuq0ngrnqa381Esz6687w/s320/Israel-DTN-News-June-29-2009-Baku-Azerbaijan-2.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">As early as 2009, speculations of increased ISRAELI and AZERBAIJANIAN and indeed KAZAKHSTAN ties emerged in US diplomatic circles prompting the U.S. embassy in Baku to inform Washington that AZERBAIJAN'S discreetly symbiosis with ISRAEL. The memo, later released by WikiLeaks, quotes AZERBAIJAN'S President Ilham Aliyev as describing his country's relationship with ISRAEL as an iceberg: "nine-tenths of it is below the surface." On the other hand, ISRAEL’S increasingly close relations, both military and economically, with KAZAKHSTAN go by virtually unnoticed.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Allegedly ISRAEL has recently been granted access to airbases on IRAN'S northern border, the purpose of which is not clear. The USA seems to be extremely agitated by ISRAEL’S alleged move, worrying that ISRAEL’S presence in the region could pivot the entire geopolitical landscape of the region and give ISRAEL an enormous strategic as well as economic advantage. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The UNITED STATES concern is that ISRAEL’S presence could spread a war scenario that includes not only the PERSIAN GULF -- but also the CAUCASUS. The burgeoning ISRAEL-AZERBAIJAN relationship has also become a flashpoint in US relationship with TURKEY, a regional heavyweight that has its own agenda in the region. Thus it comes of no surprise that TURKEY have raised their concerns with their U.S. counterparts, as well as with the AZERIS.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></u></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Background Information</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">: </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Turkey’s current Middle East policy makes enemies with everyone</span></b></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/05/turkey-everyones-enemy.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/05/turkey-everyones-enemy.html</a></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2011/09/seismic-shift-in-middle-east.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2011/09/seismic-shift-in-middle-east.html</a></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">In turkeys view, Israel supports Cyprus with which it shares many interests in a bid to pressurize the regional countries in different ways</span></b></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/05/cyprus-and-turkey-never-ending-story.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/05/cyprus-and-turkey-never-ending-story.html</a></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">As with CYPRUS, AZERBAIJAN and ISRAEL did not comment on alleged security agreements between the two countries. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Officially, AZERBAIJAN'S defense minister ruled out the use of AZERBAIJAN for a strike on IRAN. AZERBAIJAN, just as was the case in CYPRUS, officially denied that the government had granted ISRAEL access to AZERI airbases. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">AZERBAIJAN’S claim that it would not grant ISRAEL to conduct an airstrike from its airbases does not mean it would bar ISRAELI bombers from landing in the country after a strike. Nor does AZERBAIJAN ruled out the basing of ISRAELI search-and-rescue units in the country. (Same official statements as was the case in CYPRUS, when speculations raised that ISRAEL would station IAF fighters permanently in CYPRUS) </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></u></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Background Information</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">:</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Israel’s first state visit to Cyprus and its geo-strategic repercussion for the region</span></b></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/02/eastern-mediterranean-sea.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/02/eastern-mediterranean-sea.html</a></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="color: red;">AZERI MINORITY IN IRAN, PART OF THE EQUATION</span> </span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Proffering such landing rights -- and mounting search and rescue operations closer to IRAN -- would make an ISRAELI attack on IRAN easier. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">ISRAEL'S deepening relationship with the Baku government was cemented by a $1.6 billion arms agreement that provides AZERBAIJAN with sophisticated drones and missile-defense systems. At the same time, Baku's ties with Tehran have frayed: IRAN presented a note to AZERBAIJAN'S ambassador claiming that Baku has supported ISRAELI-trained assassination squads targeting IRANIAN scientists, an accusation the AZERI government called "a slander." In February, a member of Yeni Azerbadzhan -- the ruling party – called on the government to change the country's name to "NORTH AZERBAIJAN," implicitly suggesting that the 16 million AZERIS who live in northern IRAN ("SOUTH AZERBAIJAN") are in need of liberation. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Hihf-hgvW7JMuyFi35K97mrD61oKUQPq4lcym9dTlBLNhQXBEZAiaeh_Xvaoq7HQ2JDvtha4uNEc6kDdyEjVQi3lwpwIINTWFS3Qi-zPd-V0M0OkFa_mEeDLKDdzf1XhHREAQ38sd7n2/s1600/dron.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Hihf-hgvW7JMuyFi35K97mrD61oKUQPq4lcym9dTlBLNhQXBEZAiaeh_Xvaoq7HQ2JDvtha4uNEc6kDdyEjVQi3lwpwIINTWFS3Qi-zPd-V0M0OkFa_mEeDLKDdzf1XhHREAQ38sd7n2/s200/dron.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"></span>It's clear why the ISRAELIS prize their ties to AZERBAIJAN -- and why the IRANIANS are infuriated by them. The AZERI military has four abandoned, SOVIET-era airfields that would potentially be available to the ISRAELIS, as well as four airbases for their own aircraft, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies “Military Balance 2011”.</span></div><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>NOT ONLY AZERBAIJAN, ALSO KAZAKHSTAN</b></span></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Allegedly ISRAEL has gained access to these airbases through a series of quiet political and military understandings, because ISRAEL is deeply embedded in AZERBAIJAN, and has been for the last two decades. In addition ISRAEL’S ties with KAZAKHSTAN continue to grow.</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>Background Information: </u></b></span></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span lang="DE-AT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Kazakhstan–Israeli Relations</span></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.kazakhemb.org.il/?CategoryID=165&ArticleID=163"><span lang="DE-AT">http://www.kazakhemb.org.il/?CategoryID=165&ArticleID=163</span></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel%E2%80%93Kazakhstan_relations">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel%E2%80%93Kazakhstan_relations</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;">Israelis to help build industry parks in Kazakhstan </span></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://iplanetenergynews.com/index.php/2010/04/20/israelis-to-help-build-industry-parks-in-kazakhstan/">http://iplanetenergynews.com/index.php/2010/04/20/israelis-to-help-build-industry-parks-in-kazakhstan/</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzae54z_ofnaFwTW0v1N0dyIEs_P6Y13adeklNaxNr6gdpNOL-g-ETMSPJ6hj70Fq0K-248n_C0iRkTGubDEryyo8Hf2oD-OqlkRZMIqVWfOr2zaRtCwSUgpJDgcxW54tJxBrUThrl5feU/s1600/kazakhstan_map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzae54z_ofnaFwTW0v1N0dyIEs_P6Y13adeklNaxNr6gdpNOL-g-ETMSPJ6hj70Fq0K-248n_C0iRkTGubDEryyo8Hf2oD-OqlkRZMIqVWfOr2zaRtCwSUgpJDgcxW54tJxBrUThrl5feU/s400/kazakhstan_map.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">The prospect of ISRAEL using AZERBAIJAN'S airfields for an IRANIAN attack first became public in December 2006, when retired ISRAELI Brig. Gen. Oded Tira <a href="http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3346275,00.html" target="_blank">angrily denounced</a> the George W. Bush administration's lack of action on the IRANIAN nuclear program. "For our part," he wrote in a widely cited commentary, "we should also coordinate with AZERBAIJAN the use of airbases in its territory and also enlist the support of the AZERI minority in IRAN." </span></div><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>HYPOTHETICAL STRIKE SCENARIO </b></span></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Access to such airfields is important for ISRAEL, because it would mean that ISRAELI F-15I and F-16I fighter-bombers would not have to refuel midflight during a strike on IRAN'S nuclear facilities, but could simply continue north and land in AZERBAIJAN. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">The ability to use AZERI airfields are no doubt an significant asset to any ISRAEL military operation, calculating that the 4400 km trip from ISRAEL to IRAN and back again would stretch ISRAEL'S warplanes to their limits, even with auxiliary fuel tanks. Thus being allowed access to AZERI airfields or even launch attacks from there, would be crucial.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Some strategist claim that ISRAEL is capable of using its fleet of F-15I and F-16I warplanes in a strike on IRAN without refueling after the initial top-off over ISRAEL, for it seems not a weight problem but the numbers of weapons that are mounted on each aircraft. The more distance a fighter-bomber is required to travel, the more fuel it will need and the fewer weapons it can carry. Shortening the distance adds firepower, and enhances the chances for a successful strike and even engage in short aerial combat if required. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">According to defense experts, the F-15s who would go in as fighters to protect the F-16 bombers and stay over the target are the problem. In the likely event that Iran scrambled its fighters to intercept the Israeli jets the F-15s would be used to engage them. Those F-15s would burn up fuel over the target, and would need to land within close proximity.  Thus AZERBAIJAN would be ideal, or if need be even KAZAKHSTAN. In view of the political implications such move would have the entire operation would have to be low profile, so that means it would have to be outside of Baku and it would have to be highly developed. One possible location for such operation could be the Sitalchay airstrip, located just over 80 km northwest of Baku and 600km from Tehran. Prior to the collapse of the SOVIET UNION, Sitalchay two tarmacs and the adjacent facilities were used by a squadron of SOVIET Sukhoi SU-25 jets -- perfect for ISRAELI fighters and bombers.</span></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS6-THsFWXlDThnUT7tOtszXKC2290d9uAy20Go0Wgzz0NEUu6tTkRaSUNGBofmeAKhYUEF_J-bKoAkp6Dy2PGHQUoYCYMRziEmrad3dS9SSFwlzNq1FQhhJCSm4m3FU5UInJjqP08rYL1/s1600/Sital+Chay+Airstrip,+Azerbaijan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS6-THsFWXlDThnUT7tOtszXKC2290d9uAy20Go0Wgzz0NEUu6tTkRaSUNGBofmeAKhYUEF_J-bKoAkp6Dy2PGHQUoYCYMRziEmrad3dS9SSFwlzNq1FQhhJCSm4m3FU5UInJjqP08rYL1/s400/Sital+Chay+Airstrip,+Azerbaijan.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Sitalchay airstrip</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Even if ISRAELI jets did not land in AZERBAIJAN or use its airbases, access to AZERI airfields holds a number of advantages for the ISRAEL Defense Forces. The airfields not only have facilities to service fighter-bombers but could be utilized to base helicopter rescue units in the days just prior to a strike for possible search and rescue missions. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">In 2010, ISRAELI – ROMANIAN conducted a joint exercise that tested ISRAELI air capabilities in mountainous areas -- like those the ISRAELI Air Force would face during a bombing mission against IRANIAN nuclear facilities that the IRANIANS have buried deep into mountainsides. The USA watched the exercises closely, not least because they objected to the large number of ISRAELI fighters operating from airbases of a NATO-member country, but also because 100 ISRAELI fighters overflew GREECE as a part of a simulation of an attack on IRAN. Allegedly the ISRAELIS eventually curtailed their ROMANIAN military activities when the UNITED STATES expressed discomfort with what they believed was an alleged bombing practice of IRAN, staged from a NATO country. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>ISRAEL IS THE SECOND LARGEST CUSTOMER FOR AZERI OIL</b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">In addition, ISRAEL could also use AZERBAIJAN as a base for ISRAELI drones, either as part of recognizance missions, follow-on attack against IRAN, or to mount aerial assessment in an attack's aftermath. </span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBXcMWHiQNRIkdgeO_73tMBPN_w9vlRU5fpNM1VXVZgDGwqDhIuEGaA2Xpy6FJ21jYy3PcBrad0a_amMebmD3jfxjwmGu3RHMrQr39SnpgCqiJVaYRHFYmJNYCmKB13pys4cE1wdC70_Uh/s1600/800px-Baku_pipelines.svg.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBXcMWHiQNRIkdgeO_73tMBPN_w9vlRU5fpNM1VXVZgDGwqDhIuEGaA2Xpy6FJ21jYy3PcBrad0a_amMebmD3jfxjwmGu3RHMrQr39SnpgCqiJVaYRHFYmJNYCmKB13pys4cE1wdC70_Uh/s400/800px-Baku_pipelines.svg.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baku Tibilisi Ceyhan pipeline</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">AZERBAIJAN clearly profits from its deepening relationship with ISRAEL. ISRAEL is the second largest customer for AZERI oil - shipped through the <b>Baku-Tibilisi-Ceyhan</b> pipeline -- and its military trade allows AZERBAIJAN to upgrade its military after the Organization for Cooperation and Security in EUROPE (OSCE) slapped it with an arms embargo after its six-year undeclared war with ARMENIA over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region. Finally, modernizing the AZERI military sends a clear signal to Iran that interference in AZERBAIJAN could be costly. </span></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">The deepening AZERI-ISRAELI relationship has also escalated the TURKISH ISRAELI dispute over gas findings and extraction activities in conjunction with CYPRUS in the EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN SEA. “Officially” and according to mainstream media, the dispute between ISRAEL and TURKEY however originated because of ISRAELI commandos boarded a TURKISH ship destined for Gaza in May 2010, killing nine TURKISH citizens. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">When TURKEY demanded an apology, ISRAEL not only refused, it abruptly canceled a $150 million contract to develop and manufacture drones with the TURKISH military – then entered negotiations with AZERBAIJAN to jointly manufacture 60 ISRAELI drones of varying types. The $1.6 billion arms agreement between ISRAEL and AZERBAIJAN also left TURKISH Prime Minister Erdogan "sputtering in rage". However the true reason behind the TURKISH ISRAELI rift originates from natural resource discoveries in the EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN SEA.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>Background Information:</u></b></span></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The true reason behind the warmongering between Turkey and Israel. </span></b></span><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2011/09/turkeys-middle-east-chess-game.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2011/09/turkeys-middle-east-chess-game.html</a></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>THE CENTERPIECE OF THE RECENT ARMS DEAL IS AZERBAIJAN'S ACQUISITION OF ISRAELI DRONES</b>, </span></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">which has only heightened TURKISH anxieties further. In November 2011, the TURKISH government retrieved the wreckage of an ISRAELI "Heron" drone in the Mediterranean, south of the city of Adana -- well inside its maritime borders. Erdogan's government believed the drone's flight had originated in the KURDISH areas of northern IRAQ and demanded that ISRAEL provide an explanation, but got none. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">ISRAEL began cultivating strong relations with Baku in 1994, when ISRAELI telecommunications firm Bezeq bought a large share of the nationally controlled telephone operating system. By 1995, AZERBAIJAN'S marketplace was awash with ISRAELI goods: </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTKf4pLrOobrlZ-7mcC5SzDgjfnpocHXUFiZ7D2cPkqRmRsDhmLKWQDkdkT-NguUyPp06dLXNQWWZuMBeyKta6qGGzee6413RZ1dSju4X0ORrBMrxNHSDkr69Rv4SlZir32oJpnkqM8jI8/s1600/4643326085_9659e2ed79.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTKf4pLrOobrlZ-7mcC5SzDgjfnpocHXUFiZ7D2cPkqRmRsDhmLKWQDkdkT-NguUyPp06dLXNQWWZuMBeyKta6qGGzee6413RZ1dSju4X0ORrBMrxNHSDkr69Rv4SlZir32oJpnkqM8jI8/s320/4643326085_9659e2ed79.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> <br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Azerbaijan’s acquisition of Israeli drones</b><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></b></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">In March 1996, then-Health Minister Ephraim Sneh became the first senior ISRAELI official to visit Baku -- but not the last. Benjamin Netanyahu made the trip in 1997, a high-level Knesset delegation in 1998, Deputy Prime Minister Avigdor Lieberman and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni in 2007, ISRAELI President Shimon Peres in 2009, and Lieberman again, as foreign minister, this last February. Accompanying Peres on his visit to Baku was  the CEO of ISRAEL'S Aeronautics Defense Systems and a former Mossad official who paved the way for the drone agreement. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">In 2001, ISRAELI arms manufacturer <b>Elbit Systems</b> contracted with GEORGIA'S Tbilisi <b>Aerospace Manufacturing</b> to upgrade the SOVIET SU-25 Scorpion, a close air-support fighter, and one of its first customers was AZERBAIJAN. More recently, ISRAEL'S Elta Systems has cooperated with AZERBAIJAN in building the <b>TecSar reconnaissance satellite system</b>and, in 2009, the two countries began negotiations over AZERI production of the Namer infantry fighting vehicle. </span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;"><br /></span></span>  <br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">ISRAELI firms built and guard the fence around Baku's international airport, monitor and help protect AZERBAIJAN'S energy infrastructure, and even provide security for AZERBAIJAN'S president on foreign visits. Allegedly AZERBAIJAN shares intelligence data on IRAN with ISRAEL and the chances of ISRAEL having set up electronic listening stations along AZERBAIJAN'S IRANIAN border are increasingly likely.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">ISRAELI apparently is downplaying its military cooperation with Baku, pointing out that AZERBAIJAN is one of the few Muslim nations that makes ISRAELIS feel welcome but does not deny it is focused on AZERBAIJAN as a military ally and preserve AZERBAIJAN as an ally against IRAN in order to use it as a platform for reconnaissance and as a market for military hardware.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Since ISRAEL, in most likelihood has no intentions to launch an attack on IRAN, all above mentioned moves and speculations are part of geopolitical strategies which will benefit ISRAEL in the long run as well as give it bargaining power and tactical leeway in case of significant geopolitical changes in the region. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Parts of above article have been adapted from Mark Perry</span></span></div>

ISRAEL, AZERBAIJAN AND KAZAKHSTAN

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ISRAEL, AZERBAIJAN AND KAZAKHSTAN

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