by Rev. Richard Skaff

Historically, the US has gone to war every time the value of the greenbacks plummeted or the economy drastically slumped. Is today's economic disaster and weakened dollar a symptom for a new war?

The US government/the military industrial complex plans to sell once again Israel 1,000 buster-bunker bombs which Israeli experts said last Monday could provide a powerful new weapon against underground arsenals in Lebanon or Gaza . [1]. However, the alleged experts doubted the bombs could be used to deliver a devastating blow against Iran 's nuclear program.

In announcing the proposed $77 million deal, which still needs Congressional approval, the U.S. Defense Department said the sale of the Boeing GBU-39 smart bombs would be consistent with the U.S. interest of assisting Israel "to develop and maintain a strong and ready self-defense capability." The Pentagon issued a release on the planned sale on September 9, 2008. Because it is a precision weapon that generates far less collateral damage than heavier munitions, "this bomb is going to be the general-purpose bomb of the next generation," said Yiftah Shapir, a military analyst at Tel Aviv's Institute of National Security Studies . He said possible targets would include "Katyusha launchers in Lebanon or Qassam (rocket) launchers in Gaza ." [1].

Past U.S. sales of bunker-buster bombs to Israel have been interpreted by many experts as a disguised threat against Iran 's nuclear program. However, Israeli officials denied that these weapons could be used against Iran 's nuclear facilities such as the uranium enrichment underground plant at Nantanz.

The whole US-Israeli weapon deal is ironic considering that Israel receives almost 7 billion dollars a year in military aid from the US, and already has 200 nuclear warheads pointed at the heart of every Arab c ity in the Middle East . Why do they need additional buster-bunker bombs, when they actually are the proxy of the US military might in the region, and can annihilate any country in the Middle East or in Europe at any time? Is there a plan for escalation in Lebanon and Gaza that will justify the attack on Iran before this November election, which ensue in a victory for the Machiavellian hawk and neocon John McCain and his alleged Christian Zionist vice president Sarah Palin? Will an attack on Iran by Israel supported by the US military distract the American public from their economic woes, loss of jobs, foreclosures, inflation, and their huge bailout of big business with taxpayers' money? Will pseudo-patriotism and flag waving suppress and appease once again people's anger toward a government that has betrayed them over and over again, and has taken away most of their liberty, hard working money, and the future of their children? Is this the last straw that will impoverish and eliminate the middle class in the US , while the MIC and their cronies in government become wealthier and more powerful?

Endnote:

1. US plans to sell Israel 1,000 bunker-buster bombs, could target arsenals in Lebanon , Gaza . Associated Press, September 15, 2008.

Richard Skaff is a frequent contributor to Global Research

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