Monday, 23 April 2012


DEBKAfile Exclusive Report April 22, 2012, 10:56 PM (GMT+02:00)
Tags:  China   Bashar Assad   US-Syria   oil embargo 
Assad scrambles for cash to fund his war

Beijing has distanced itself from the Assad regime, according to a secret exchange of messages with the Obama administration, revealed here exclusively by DEBKAfile. China will no longer be a problem for America in dealing with Assad. That leaves only Russia, said the last message. Washington counts this change as a return on its nuclear appeasement of Tehran. The Chinese decided to accommodate US policy on Syria now that the loosening of the embargo on Iranian oil is in sight. Assad has started selling off gold reserves in Dubai.
Read more
Iran Plays Obama’s Game to Win
His proposition is primed to pre-empt war – not a nuclear-armed Iran. 
more
Iran Will Have a Dirty Bomb This Year
Losing patience with Obama, Israel prepares for a unilateral decision after May 23. 
more
Military Intervention Hovers over Syria
A joint Saudi-Turkish command to prepare a combined invasion of Syria. 
more







Headlines
Israel races against time on decision to strike Iran
DEBKAfile DEBKA-Net-Weekly
April 23, 2012, 10:03 AM (GMT+02:00)
Binyamin Netanyahu's toughest decision ever

Until now, Israeli leaders talked about a final decision to go to war on Iran’s nuclear bomb program in terms of months. This timeline is suddenly shrinking.  DEBKA-Net-Weekly in its coming issue out next week explains what is behind this change and what drove Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz to state this week: "In principle, we are ready to act," when asked if the IDF was ready to attack Iran’s nuclear facilities. Don’t miss these insights into Israel’s pressing calculus on Iran.
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