Saturday, July 16, 2011

07/16/11

* Top CIA officer: Israel will probably attack Iran in Sept. Israel will probably attack Iran in September, a veteran CIA officer who spent 21 years in the Middle East, including in Lebanon and Syria, told a Los Angeles radio show.

* All quiet on the northern front... for the moment One of the ways former IDF chief of General Staff Lt.-Gen. (res.) Gabi Ashkenazi used to evaluate the success of the Second Lebanon War in 2006 was by talking to schoolchildren.

* Panetta: U.S. 'can't allow' Iran-backed attacks against American troops in Iraq The U.S. military, frustrated with Iraq's failure to stop Shi'ite attacks, plans to raise its profile in the Arab state.

* U.S. Recognizes Libyan Rebel Group The U.S. and some 30 other countries officially recognized Libya's opposition National Transitional Council as the nation's "legitimate governing authority".

* 'Syria increasing arms shipments to Hezbollah' Damascus is increasing shipments of advanced missiles and other weapons to Hezbollah amid continuing unrest in Syria.

* This Week in History: Satellites connect the world On July 10, 1962, a new era of global communications was ushered in with the launch of the Telstar I satellite.

* Syrian activists discuss ways to oust Assad Syrian opposition figures are holding simultaneous meetings in Damascus and Turkey to discuss ways of ousting President Bashar Assad.

* Egypt protesters heckle general as tensions mount Egyptians staging a sit-in in Cairo's Tahrir Square on Saturday heckled a general who tried to address them, forcing him to cut short his visit.

* Clinton seeks closer Turkey ties after strains U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Saturday that Turkey could serve as a democratic model for the Middle East.