Israel – 9/11 All Over Again?


Armstrong Economics Blog/War Re-Posted Oct 9, 2023 by Martin Armstrong

COMMENT: Marty, Thank you for this report. Your sources are beyond compare. Others speculate. I cannot express my gratitude. This is 9/11 all over again. We can feel 2032 coming. And thanks for including the forecast on oil.

HKM

ANSWER: Thank you. I want to stress that our network of clients worldwide all contribute. Without them, we would remain in the dark. Socrates pinpointed 2023. This is just starting.

Special Report – the Next Jihad


Armstrong Economics Blog/Reports and DVDs Re-Posted Oct 9, 2023 by Martin Armstrong

Not everything is as it may appear. Are we looking at a Middle East version of 9/11?  This time, it is significantly different. Our computer is projecting a Middle East War, as we have laid out over the past several years, and 2023 was the target for the rise in volatility throughout this region. This attack was by no means a surprise. There is far more at stake than meets the eye. What did Hamas even get the high technology needed for such a massive invasion? This report will take these questions with the forecast for the currencies and oil into the year ahead, which may surprise many. Because of its importance on a global scale, it is price for the average investor.

If you want the book go to Armstrong Economics Blog

Powerful National Address by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu


Posted originally on the CTH on October 9, 2023 | Sundance 

In less than two minutes, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu outlined the nature of the barbarian enemy they face, but also dropped all pretending when he said, “Hamas is ISIS.”   For those who understand the nature of the Middle East, not the pretend version pushed by western media and intelligence within those three words, there is a depth of understanding.

Hamas, Hezbollah, al-Qaeda, al-Nusra, and ISIS are all factions of the same overall core violent and militant ideology.  Each of these violent factions represents a spine in the umbrella of the Muslim Brotherhood (political Islam).  It is a good thing to see Netanyahu drop the pretending and admit the core nature of the terrorist enemy they are facing.   This approach may put Arab nations like Jordan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia in a tough domestic position, but it needs to be said out loud.  WATCH (2 mins)

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Because, of Course – Qatar Negotiating Hostage Swap Between Israel and Hamas


Posted originally on the CTH on October 9, 2023  | Sundance

The leaders of Hamas do not live in Gaza, they live in Doha, Qatar….  So, it comes as no surprise the Qatari government, the official sponsors and finance operators of the Muslim Brotherhood, of which Hamas is one subsidiary, will act as the negotiators for the release of captured Israeli hostages.

{Go Deep on Qatar}  

Of course, the Qatar negotiations will be for an exchange of Hamas prisoners in Israel, in exchange for Israeli women and children held hostage.  See how that works?

Sorry, I forgot, we are not allowed to talk of these things.  We must pretend not to know them.

DOHA/GAZA (Reuters) -Qatari mediators have held urgent calls to try to negotiate freedom for Israeli women and children seized by the militant group and held in Gaza in exchange for the release of 36 Palestinian women and children from Israel’s prisons, a source briefed on the talks told Reuters.

Qatar’s foreign ministry confirmed to Reuters its involvement in mediation talks with Hamas and Israeli officials, including over a possible prisoner swap.

The ongoing negotiations, which Qatar has been conducting in coordination with the United States since Saturday night, are “moving positively” said the source, who has been briefed on them.

“We are in constant contact with all sides at the moment. Our priorities are to end the bloodshed, release the prisoners and make sure the conflict is contained with no regional spillover,” foreign ministry spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari told Reuters, without elaborating.

When asked to respond to the Reuters report, an Israeli official told Reuters only: “There are no negotiations under way.”  But there are no signs of breakthroughs as both sides dig in.

Qatar has been in touch with Hamas officials in Doha and Gaza, the source said, after the Islamist group assaulted Israel from Gaza on Saturday, storming into towns, killing more than 700 Israelis, and escaping with dozens of hostages.  (read more)

Do not start getting all Captain Obvious, and asking the transparently obvious questions about why Hamas officials reside in Doha, Qatar.  That would be too uncomfy.

Notice Something About This Israeli War and The Gaza Conflict?


Posted originally on the CTH on October 9, 2023 | Sundance

The coverage of the attacks by Hamas against the Israeli people is extensive, but have you paused to notice a very peculiar dynamic?

As familiar to most news consumers, various media war correspondents are embedded throughout the Israel and Gaza region.  Flak jackets and helmets are worn by CNN, BBC, Fox News and all the international agencies who are covering the Israeli War.  All of that footage is common and familiar.

Television streams are lit up with the continuing coverage and the audience is brought in live to the fight, despite the dangers and the military combat that is taking place throughout the area.  Brave war correspondents are doing what they do, showing the public exactly what is happening on the ground as the fighting continues.

Yet, the extensive footage triggers a reminder of something….

The war in Ukraine has been raging for 20 months, and not once, not even one single time, did we see simultaneous international war correspondents delivering their reporting, showing action on the front lines, donning their protective gear and taking the audience toward the battles in a similar fashion.

The contrast between the War in Israel and the “War” in Ukraine could not be starker when viewed through the prism of what a real combat war looks like.

Why is that?

You know the answer to that question.

You might not want to absorb the truth behind this stark reality, but the war in Ukraine is an intelligence war, a creation of the U.S. State Department, CIA, and allied intelligence networks.

All of the information coming from the Ukraine War doesn’t come complete with accompanying war correspondents to give context to the statements made by the military officials on the ground in Ukraine, because there isn’t any way to connect to something that just doesn’t exist.

The “War” in Ukraine is World War Reddit.  A war carried out and advanced by the intelligence system that created it.  As the night life and dance festivals in Kiev continue, it would be challenging for the international war correspondents, the actual media, to deliver broadcast ground reports from Ukraine without using green screens and fabricated livestreams.

That’s why we have never seen them.

The Ukraine War is an intelligence operation, and with it comes the need for high control over the propaganda to support it.  It would be troublesome for those carrying out the Ukraine operation if people were brought into the “fight” by media.   Worse still, it would be very challenging to retain support for an intelligence operation, if the American and global population realized it is propaganda.

We’ve seen more footage of the war inside Israel in 48 hours than we have seen inside Ukraine in two years.

Carry on….

P

Sunday Talks – Ambassador Michael Herzog Confirms Americans Were Taken as Hostages by Hamas, Death Toll Surpasses 600


Posted originally on the CTH on October 8, 2023 | Sundance

Appearing on CBS, Michael Herzog, the Israeli ambassador to the U.S., tells “Face the Nation” that after the unprecedented attack in Gaza that left at least 600 dead, “we have to destroy the Hamas war machine.” “This is war,” he said.  Additionally, Ambassador Herzog confirms that Americans were taken as hostages back into Gaza.   WATCH:

MARGARET BRENNAN: Are there Americans among those hostages?

AMBASSADOR HERZOG: I understand there are, but I don’t have details.

[Transcript] – MARGARET BRENNAN: We’re joined now by the Israeli Ambassador to the United States, Michael Herzog. Mr. Ambassador, first, I want to offer you our condolences.

AMBASSADOR MICHAEL HERZOG: Thank you very much. Appreciate it.

MARGARET BRENNAN: We know that your Prime Minister is promising a sustained campaign. Do you have any sense of how Israel will define success?

AMBASSADOR HERZOG: Well, Israel is at war. Yesterday, we were attacked by a terror organization. They infiltrated Israeli territory and killed hundreds of Israelis. At least 600 were butchered yesterday, including whole families, elderly, women, children, babies were taken out of the mothers laps and murdered. This is war and we have to fight that war and win it. We have to destroy the Hamas war machine. You know, in war- back in war- we have to fight it.

MARGARET BRENNAN: How is it that Hamas managed to take Israeli Defense Forces by surprise? Did they shut down communications?

AMBASSADOR HERZOG: Well, it was a surprise attack. There was definitely an element of surprise. But I think we’ll have enough time to investigate that once we conclude that war in victory.

MARGARET BRENNAN: You said you want to destroy the Hamas war machine. Hamas is armed and funded by Iran. The Biden administration says they don’t have evidence that Iran was linked to this particular attack. Does Israel have evidence they were?

AMBASSADOR HERZOG: Well, we suspect Iranian hands behind the scenes, as you know Hamas and Iran are closely tied. Iran provides material support, funding, weapons to Hamas. They are tied in what they call the Axis of Resistance, of course, resistance to the existence of the State of Israel. They are part of the same coalition. So, as far as we are concerned, this is an Iranian led coalition and we suspect that Iran is involved.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Does that mean Israel will take the fight to Iran?

AMBASSADOR HERZOG: I’m not going to say what exactly Israel is going to do. But I will just say that whoever strikes Israel, we’ll strike back.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Sir, this is just stunning to see what has happened in the past few hours. But there are questions within Israel, as you know about how such a strong military was taken by surprise. There has been a massive expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank area, and with that a buildup of forces to protect them. The former ambassador to Israel, Martin Indyk, has publicly raised the question of whether that’s why the border towns over and around Gaza were left unprotected. Were they? Was that a factor?

AMBASSADOR HERZOG: Well, I don’t buy that argument. I think that analogy is irrelevant to the current situation. Yes, it was a surprise attack, but I don’t think it has much to do with the fact that the IDF was preoccupied in the West Bank. They prepared a surprise attack, they reached the border fence, they came with paragliders, and through the sea. And as I said, there will be sufficient time after the war to investigate what exactly happened. Right now, we are at war and we have to fight that war and win it. We are attacked by a terror organization funded by Iran. And that’s where we are right now.

MARGARET BRENNAN: But you have said that perhaps Hamas miscalculated by looking at all the domestic problems Israel has within its own politics right now. Do you–

AMBASSADOR HERZOG: –Absolutely.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Do you think that that was actually, though, a factor when it comes to military readiness? Did it leave your forces vulnerable?

AMBASSADOR HERZOG: They may have- maybe they were under the impression that given the internal debate in Israel, that Israel is weakened so that they can provoke us. They thought so, I think they’re definitely mistaken. You have to know Israelis to understand that when Israel is under attack, Israelis close ranks and they fight together. And there is no opposition coalition right now in Israel. There’s no debate. All reservists are volunteering. We- our embassy is flooded with phone calls from people who want to go back to Israel and fight Hamas. So in that sense, I think it was a gross miscalculation on their part.

MARGARET BRENNAN: But did it impact readiness? Because there were concerns of, you know, your reservists having objections, political objections, and refusing to serve.

AMBASSADOR HERZOG: No, it did not impact readiness, I think Israel is strong. As I said, Israelis are closing ranks right now and we will fight back.

MARGARET BRENNAN: In- back in 2006, you had a soldier taken captive and held in Gaza. It took over five years to get him back. And Israel did so in exchange for 1,000 Palestinian prisoners. At what cost is Israel prepared to get these new hostages out?

AMBASSADOR HERZOG: I think it’s premature to discuss that. I think we- we just attacked yesterday. We understand that there are probably dozens of kidnapped Israelis and others in the hands of Hamas. We’ll have to deal with it in due time. The whole issue of hostages is a very sensitive issue. I think you know it from your situation, the US, and we- we’ve had experience in that in the past. It’s a very complicated situation. But I think it’s premature to discuss any deals or prices or whatever. Right now we are at war.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Are there Americans among those hostages?

AMBASSADOR HERZOG: I understand there are, but I don’t have details.

MARGARET BRENNAN: You don’t know the numbers or ability to retain them?

AMBASSADOR HERZOG: No.

MARGARET BRENNAN: What is it that Israel and your Prime Minister is asking of the American President right now?

AMBASSADOR HERZOG: So, it was a very good phone call between President Biden and our Prime Minister yesterday. The U.S. administration sounded a very strong voice of support for Israel, from the nation for the terror attack and support for Israel’s right to self defense. We are in discussions with the administration about the situation and about our needs. I want to take the opportunity to thank the administration for the solid support of Israel and its rise to self defense.

MARGARET BRENNAN: And before I let you go, how is Israel going to allow some of those Palestinian civilians who are trapped within Gaza to escape so that they aren’t victims of these strikes?

AMBASSADOR HERZOG: Well, the fact of the matter is that Hamas uses civilians as human shields.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes.

[End Transcript]