Saturday, December 31, 2011

Facebook Pic Causes Riots In Egypt

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

There are riots in Southern Egypt. Christians are getting beaten and church property is being destroyed.

The riots began because an image of the Prophet Mohamed was posted on the Facebook page of a 17 year old Christian student. The student, Gama Massoud, has been arrested for creating an image of the Prophet.

The student denies that he did it. Massoud claims that someone else posted the image on his page.

The significance of these events is gargantuan. Look at what happened: Because an image was posted on Facebook there were two days of violence - riots, beatings and burnings. Someone was arrested for posting an imagined picture of Mohammed and he claims that his friends did it as a practical joke and that lands him in prison. People can die in these riots.

We in the West blithely assume that Egypt is making the trek along the road to democracy. This does not look anything like the democracy we know.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com

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Friday, December 30, 2011

More Iranian Computer Worms

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

Remember Stuxnet and DUQU? They were 2 of the worms that have attacked Iranian nuclear installations and computer systems.

Yesterday the Russian anti-virus company names Kaspersky gave even more insight in to the worms. They confirmed that the worms were related. This is what I have said since the end of October when DUQU arrived on the scene.

But most importantly Kaspersky says that there are five more worms. They called them cousins.

My contacts explain that more worms like Stuxnet were inevitable. The principle behind the worm is to attack Iran. Not to attack once but to constantly attack. And each attach sets the stage for another future attack.

There are two reasons why there must be more Stuxnet worms:

The worms cost too much money to develop and as such they need a complete set of them.

A single attack would never be significant enough to ultimately ruin the Iranian nuclear system.
Micah@MicahHalpern.com
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Thursday, December 29, 2011

Congress Gives $40 Mill to PA

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

The US Congress agreed to free $40 million of aid and give it to the Palestinians. This is 20% of the $187 million that was frozen by Congress after the Palestinians began their move for statehood which put them in the Congressional doghouse.

The Obama administration has been pushing to free up aid saying that the money will help stabilize the Palestinian areas.

The Administration also claims that Israel is in favor of freeing the aid money.

All along the Palestinians knew that the US could not withhold the aid. And unfortunately, they were correct.

If the aid goes through, the Palestinians will be made to suffer no consequences for publically and internationally humiliating the United States.

And the Palestinians continue to act against US interests and still ask for more money. Now they are pursuing a plan of unity with Hamas. That can only end in one way - in anti-Western and anti-US actions.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com
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Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Will Iran Close Hormuz

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

Iran is threatening to close the Straits of Hormuz if more sanctions are levied on them by the West. The Straits are a narrow water way through which about 30% of the world's oil travels on any given day.

Iran's first Vice President Mohammad Raza Rahimi was quoted in IRNA yesterday saying "If they (the West) imposes sanctions on Iran's oil exports, then even one drop of oil cannot flow from the Strait of Hormuz."

Much of the Straits are in the territorial water of Iran. Until now Iran has permitted the international community to use the Straits as if they were international waters - but that is only by their grace. That fact seems to have eluded the United States and most other Western countries in their bid to apply sanctions against Iran.

It is in the vital interests of the United States to keep those Straits open. But at any time the Iranians can legally shut the Straits down. Iran will probably make this argument in advance in order to totally disarm any potential attack against them.

In addition the Iranians have just announced that they will seek the death penalty for an America caught and being tried as a spy.

Bundling these issues demonstrates how Iran is planning to utilize

pressure to achieve their diplomatic goals. Once again, the Iranians are very good at what they do.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com
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Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Iran Signs Deal w Afghanistan

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

Iran and Afghanistan have just signed a gasoline and jet fuel deal that will begin next week.

According to the deal, Iran promises to provide 1 million tons of gasoline and jet fuel to Afghanistan.

This agreement is very significant - it proves what I have been saying for at least 18 months: Iran is not suffering from sanctions.

Common knowledge was that Iran produced oil, but still needed to import 45% of its gasoline. That number was then reduced to 30%.

And now Iran exports oil. Iran refines oil and has plenty left over to sell.

Those who thought that sanctions would cripple Iran because they did not have gas were simply wrong. The sanctions motivated Iran. They updated and built new refineries. And because Afghanistan borders

Iran it will be easy to transport the gasoline.

Once again, proof of just how good Iran is at playing this game.
Micah@MicahHalpern.com

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Monday, December 26, 2011

PLO - Hamas Unity Agreement

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

Israeli and US leadership are asking the big question.

Western European leaders are asking the same thing.

Speaking about peace is one thing - but what about actions?

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has been speaking about peace but at the same time that his lips are moving, his arms are hugging freed terrorists and making deals with Hamas.

Serious thinkers and conscientious leaders want to know what Abbas really wants to accomplish. They are beginning to say that Abbas cannot have it both ways.

Is Abbas influencing Hamas or is Hamas going to influence Abbas?

Any unity government, in fact, any agreement of any type with Hamas is dangerous. And now there is a PA/Hamas agreement that has not yet been made public.

Hamas is sworn to the destruction of Israel. It is highly unlikely that Hamas leaders will change their charter even if, for the short term, they agree to a cease fire and not attack Israel.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com
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Sunday, December 25, 2011

Church Bombings in Nigeria

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

On Christmas Day 5 explosions rocked Nigeria. At least 25 people were killed.

The explosions were attacks on churches. They were attacks on Christians celebrating Christmas.

The attacks were coordinated. The goal was to intimidate Christians. The group called Boko Haram almost certainly perpetrated these murderous bombings.

Let me give you a sense of the philosophy of the group: The name Boko Haram means "Western education is sacrilege" or "Western philosophy is a sin."

Boko Haram is a Muslim group and they want total Islamic control over all aspects of life in Nigeria. There is nothing more threatening to them than other religious points of view - and Christianity means Western culture.

Boko Haram attacks show a continued increase in sophistication and planning. Their attacks are becoming more and more deadly and more and more, they are targeting specific symbols of Western values.

I am shocked that the response to these attacks has been so muted.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com
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Saturday, December 24, 2011

Turkey Pulls Paris Envoy

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

There was a true diplomatic scuffle between France and Turkey.

As of Now Turkey has recalled their ambassador from Paris and they do not plan on having him return.

It happened as a result of a bill, passed in the French Parliament, making it illegal to deny genocide - specifically the genocide of the Armenians which took place at the close of WW I at the hands of the Turks.

The Turks have called the bill racist and will not even posit a public argument to debate the issue.

French diplomats have asked Turkey to discuss the matter, suggesting that pulling an ambassador is a very serious diplomatic act.

The French are suggesting that there are other, better methods of resolving differences.

Observers are not placing bets on a reconciliation, they see this diplomatic posturing as indicative of the new Turkey.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com
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Friday, December 23, 2011

Hamas Agrees to Join PLO

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:
Yesterday Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas met with Hamas Politburo Chief Haled Mashaal. The meet was held in Cairo, Egypt.

Hamas agreed in principle to join the PLO, the political party of the PA. And then they decided to set up a series of committees - including an election committee to plan the next election for the PA.

This is a huge step.

It is hard to say whether it is a positive or a negative step, but it is a step.

Hamas has never recognized the PA government because Hamas won the plurality in the last election but then never had an opportunity to govern because Abbas ousted Hamas and their prime minister. That led to Hamas throwing the PLO and booting the PA out of Gaza in a bloody coup.

Since then Hamas and the PA have not been able to agree on power sharing.

Because Hamas and the Palestinian Authority have come together it does not necessarily follow that Hamas will not run in the election.

The PLO is by definition an umbrella for many Palestinian organizations. What it means is Hamas is confident that if they do run, they will once again win the plurality.

These are not the Republicans and the Democrats - they are and will always be the PA and Hamas.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com
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Thursday, December 22, 2011

Syria Evicts Hamas

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:
Syrian leader Bashar Assad has refused to meet with Hamas leader Haled Mashaal.

This tension is not new.

It began several months ago when Hamas called for reforms in Syria.

Since then Hamas has been asked to leave Syria.

Hamas had found digs elsewhere.

Hamas' main offices are now in Jordan, with some other facilities in Qatar.

Jordan granted Hamas safety under one condition: absolutely no operations be initiated from Jordan - that means no planning and no execution of operations.

Mashaal accepted the conditions and moved almost the entire Hamas bureaucracy base to Amman. But because they also need an operations center, the Qatar office was opened.

Should Israel discover that Hamas operations were being executed out of Jordan, that would be casus belli which means an incident of war and hence - a reason for war. If that were to happen it could and it would legally permit Israel the right to strike Hamas operation centers in Jordan.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com
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Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Avoid the Hack: Iran Brings Websites Home

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

Iran has jst decided to move 90%of all their websites - into Iran. Until now they were hosted by private servers and companies outside Iran.

The Iranians believe that this will render their websites more difficult to hack and make them impenetrable.

Of course, the opposite is true.

Until now the Iranians blamed the hosts for the hacks. The reality is that the hackers were very, very good at what they did. There is only so much a host can do when the hackers are dedicated and relentless.

Bringing the websites to Iran is a problem. Iran has neither the people nor the technology to defend their websites, to constantly update and to fend off attacks.

This decision will only make Iran's websites easier to hack and allow hackers better access to Iran.

For everyone outside Iran, that's good news.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com
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Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Deserters are Shot in Syria

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

In Syria yesterday 60 to 70 deserters were gunned down as they were running away from their posts.

This is the first situation in Syria where so many soldiers deserted at a single time. In order to make certain that the soldiers did not escape, machine guns were used to shoot them dead.

Until now desertion has not been a serious issue Syria.

This incident can go both ways.

It can intimidate other soldiers not to desert out of fear of being executed.

Or it could move more soldiers to plot a clean escape out of an oppressive military environment.

This shooting is extremely telling. Syrians are running away and other Syrians think nothing of shooting to kill.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com
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Monday, December 19, 2011

Muslim Parties WIn Again in Egypt

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

Last week the second set of elections took place in Egypt. Nine more provinces went to the polls to vote for the Egyptian Parliament which is composed of 498 representatives.

Once again the two largest Muslim extremist parties, the Muslim Brotherhood Freedom and Justice party and the Salafi al- Nour party, garnered a large majority of the vote. This time they came home with 75% of the vote, gaining even more votes in the second set of elections than extremist parties did three weeks ago when the first nine provinces went to the polls.

This time the FJP (Freedom and Justice Party) received 40% of the vote and the Salafi al-Nour party received 35%.

In the previous election the Nour party received 24% and the Muslim Brotherhood garnered 37%.

The next set of provinces is scheduled to vote in January.

None of this should surprise anyone. The first set of elections took place in more urban centers, the second set in rural provinces. The rule is that: the more urban the more likely to vote non-extremist, the more rural the more likely to vote for the extremists.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com
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Sunday, December 18, 2011

Terrorists Bomb Sinai Gas Pipeline

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

Once again the gas pipelines in the Sinai desert of Egypt have been attacked by terrorists.

This is the 10th time in the recent past that attempts have been made to explode the pipe lines - and it will not be the last time. The terrorists want to disrupt the flow of natural gas to Israel. They want to hurt Israel.

Problem is, the terrorists still don't get it.

Israel has been weaning itself from Egyptian natural gas. They are far less dependent than they once were. Jordan, however, is still nearly 90% dependent on Egyptian natural gas. The terrorist plan to hurt the Jewish State actually ends up crippling an Arab state instead.

What is most strange is that these pipelines are supposed to be guarded by the Egyptian army. The army has simply been sound asleep on the job. By virtue of their silence, the Egyptian army is sending a signal to the terrorists that it is all right to continue their attacks on the gas pipelines of Sinai.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com

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Saturday, December 17, 2011

US Amb Meets Muslim Brotherhood Leader

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

Earlier this week US Ambassador to Egypt Anne Patterson, together with US Senator and Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee John Kerry, met with representative from the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt.

This is no small feat.

This is the first time any official meetings have taken place at this high a level. In diplomatic speak, the ambassador is called a senior government official. The chairman is referred to as an influential political leader or politician.

The meeting was a shift in US policy. It was a move away from isolating the Muslim Brotherhood towards acknowledging them as a major player in the new Egypt.

Here is the problem: The Muslim Brotherhood is not democratic and should never have been permitted to stand for election in the first place. But they did.

So now, because they are such a significant power, the United States has begun to court them. For their part, the Brotherhood has not shown any reciprocal interest.

We need to wait and see. The Muslim Brotherhood sometimes surprises us.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com
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Friday, December 16, 2011

Iran Hacks US Drone

By Micah Halpern


I've Been Thinking:

The top secret US Bat Drone that the Iranians now possess - and are in the process of reverse engineering, was, according to a report in the Christian Science Monitor, hacked and hijacked.

The logic works. The huge question was this: how could the drone, which was being displayed on Iranian TV, be in such good condition. There were no signs of damage which would make no sense at all if it fell from the air or was shot down.

Now we have the answer.

The report which is based on Iranian sources says that Iran hacked the control system of the drone and took advantage of it while it was in between GPS connections. Evidently the Iranians knew that there were GPS gaps in the drone's link to it handlers and that during that time, the drone was vulnerable.

Iranian hackers tricked the drone into landing, making it think that it was returning to Afghanistan. This information was gleaned from other downed US drones.

The entire episode is an embarrassment to the United States. It is the beginning of a dangerous and unfortunate new reality. Iran has some of the US's latest technology. And the United States just handed it over to them. The only thing missing was a big bow.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com
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Thursday, December 15, 2011

Iran Has US Bat Drone

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

Now, a week later, it is obvious that the Iranians are in possession of a US Bat Drone. Both the president and the secretary of state of the United States have asked the Iranians to please give it back. The answer was a resounding NO!

The Iranians want to reverse engineer the drone. According to Iranian press reports the Chinese, the Russian and the North Koreans have all called and asked to see the drone.

I do not understand why the US did not outfit the drone with a kill switch. That drone should have been destroyed as soon as it went out of US control.

Each drone should be outfitted with a switch that either destroys everything inside or a self destruct mechanism that fries the entire mechanism. These are built specifically to prevent reverse engineering.

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Wednesday, December 14, 2011

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

Yesterday, Iranian Intelligence Minister Heydar Moslehi met with Saudi Intelligence Minster Prince Nayef.

This was indeed a very unusual meeting.

This was the first interaction between Iran and Saudi Arabia since the United States accused Iran of plotting to murder the Saudi ambassador to Washington, DC.

There is no question that tensions are running high between these two polar opposites countries. The agenda of this tete a tete was almost certainly to smooth over the terrible animosity that has emerged the countries.

I was not a fly on that wall, but I can say with the wisdom gained from years of studying and analyzing these countries and the region, that the Iranians did not apologize but rather - came with an explanation.

They probably said that yes, these were former Iranians plotting the assassination, but that the members of the cell caught by the United States were rogues and amateurs. That it had nothing to do with Iranian's real leadership. That Iran would not jeopardize the stability of the region by plotting such an assassination.

And Saudi Arabia, I believe, walked away satisfied.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com
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Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Israel Launches New Satellite

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

Israel launched their Amos 5 satellite from somewhere in Kazakhstan.

The Amos 5 is the newest and most sophisticated satellite that Israel has launched. It can and will serve as a communications hub for all of Israel's interactions. It will also be used to transmit and relate the clearest of all images from around the globe.

Israel's satellite systems are enormously important tools in protecting Israel. They gather information and enable Israel to observe and interpret the actions of both friends and foes.

Satellites also permit Israel to trade information and intelligence with the United States and other world powers.

Because of their state of the art satellites, Israel is a player in world intelligence.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com
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Monday, December 12, 2011

Egypt PM Cries at Press Conference

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

The acting temporary prime minister of Egypt broke down in tears while speaking to the press yesterday.

Kamal el Ganzouri is the third person to hold the position of temporary prime minister in Egypt since February, when Hosni Mubarak was ousted.

Ganzouri cried as he described the economic situation in Egypt. He said that the Egyptian economy is worse than anyone can imagine. He said that the state of tourism is horrific and that crime is rampant.

Seldom have I ever witnessed a tearful Arab leader. Certainly I have never seen an emotional display of this sort in public and not ever when discussing the economy.

It will be interesting to see how the Egyptians and other Arabs interpret this act. Will they describe it as an act of weakness or will they describe it as pathos.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com
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Sunday, December 11, 2011

Iran Nuke Factory Explodes

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

Two weeks ago a huge explosion was heard in Isfahan, the third largest city in Iran.

The explosion came from a factory that refined yellow cake also known as urania. The blast was reported on Iranian websites - but then quickly taken down.

Now there are intelligence satellite pictures that show bulldozers at work clearing rubble and destroying buildings in the factory compound.

The pictures in and of themselves do not say anything - but they allow so to make inferences as to what truly happened as a result of that blast.

We can infer that the factory was badly damaged by the explosion and we can infer that Iranian decision makers are either knocking down the building in order to rebuild it, or in order to eliminate evidence of any explosion.

Any way you look at it, it is clear that Iran's nuclear program was damaged. The extent of that damage is harder to assess.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com
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Friday, December 9, 2011

How to Defeat Assad

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

There is only one way to topple Bashar Assad of Syria. There needs to be a massive armed uprising.

And the Syrians are so far from making that happen.

True, a massive armed uprising would mean an enormously high number of deaths on the side of the resisters - but it is the only way. A simple, small uprising would only make matters and the lives of Syrians worse.

As of now Assad has the army behind him and very few military have defected from the army. Those who have defected are not from elite units and do not have great training. If they have weapons they are small and have limited ammo.

A massive uprising would require mass defections from the army, but that is not happening because everyone had the feeling that whatever they do, it will be useless. Assad is strong and Assad is ruthless.

The uprising I am talking about will need outside aid with weapons. But until there is a united voice for the opposition within Syria, outside sources of help cannot and will not help them.

Even when they try to act like opposition resistance forces, they get it wrong. The two major resistance groups in Syria decided to restrict their attacks against Assad's forces and instead, only defend the demonstrators.

That is a step backwards for regime change.
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Thursday, December 8, 2011

Egypt: Muslim Brotherhood is Winning

By Micah Halpern I've Been Thinking:

The Muslim Brotherhood claimed electoral victory yesterday in the second round of elections in Egypt. This past Monday and Tuesday there was a two day run off for 45 individual seats. These seats are not connected to the party - the people ran on their own.

The Muslim Brotherhood claims to have won 34 of the 45 individual seats.

This segment of the election was held in 9 of the most urban of provinces in Egypt. If their claim is proven correct and this trend continues that will mean the Muslim Brotherhood will control nearly 75% of the 498 seats up for election in the Egyptian parliament.

These results should be truly worrying for the West and there is nothing we can do about it.

Once again the West's push for democrat elections in an Arab country results in Islamic extremists rising to power and control.

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Wednesday, December 7, 2011

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

The United States returned its ambassador to Syria last night.

Ambassador Ford had been recalled for a combination of reasons. One reason was for his personal safety. The other was that the White House was sending a message to Syrian President Assad.

There was good intel that the US ambassador to Syria was becoming a target. For his safety they brought him back. In response, Syria withdrew its own ambassador from DC.

Now the question is: why would the US return Ambassador Ford?

The official reason is to help make certain US interests are served. But France is also returning its ambassador. France and Italy are the two European countries who withdrew their ambassadors in the first place.

When the United States and France return their ambassadors to Syria, you can bet there is a very important back story. So what's the real, not official reason? The US and France want and need trusted observers and diplomats on the ground in Syria.

It is a shame.

Saudi Arabia is not for a moment thinking of returning its ambassador.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com
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Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Iranians Are Expecting An Attack

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

Iranians in the capital city of Teheran live in fear of an air strike that might happen at any time, on any day.

Since last week's raids on the two British embassy compounds in Teheran, Iranians are almost certain that retaliation will come in the form of an air strike.

Citizens have been stockpiling food and necessities. Foreigners have been pouring out of the country and the international schools have all closed. The French international school, which is located on the British Embassy compound, watched as the mobs attacked the embassy. They have since closed. The German school located nearby has closed and the British school - which is not located on the compound, has also been closed.

Iranians see all the closings as forebodings, they take is as a sign of a Western attack.

Actually, the schools closed to protect the students. Just like the British embassy these schools are Western institutions. They are very public and easy targets. The rioters and extremists could easily attack them.

Until the tone changes and tensions and calm are restored, the schools will remain closed and the people of Teheran will remain fearful.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com

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Sunday, December 4, 2011

Iran Thinks it was a Virus

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

My sources are telling me that Iran has, with almost certainty, come to the conclusion that the huge explosion that rocked the Algahdir missile base on November 12th, the explosion that killed 36 people including the head of the Iranian missile program - was caused by a worm.

The Iranians are now seriously trying to determine if the explosion was caused by either the Stuxnet or the DUQU virus.

If they are correct, it means that their systems are still seriously infected. It means that the Iranian missiles, the main weapon in any attack by Iran on Western targets or on Israel, are out of commission. It means that the Shahab 3 and the Sejil 2 are now useless.

People say that it will take Iran two to three months to clean their systems of the viruses. My tech people do not believe that to be the case. They say that there is really no way to clean these worms from your system. The virus becomes dormant and is not detected - but it has not gone away. Actually, it creates a false trail suggesting that your defense has detected and removed the virus while in reality, it is still deeply embedded in your system.

If the Iranians are correct, their entire missile system is in jeopardy. And that is good news for the West.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com
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Saturday, December 3, 2011

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

As the rhetoric continues to escalate in Iran about a potential strike and then their counter strike, we need to pay careful attention to what is being said and who is saying it.

Iranian Defense Minister Ahamed Vahidi was quoted recently saying: "Iran is not Iraq or Afghanistan, if the Americans make the mistake and attack Iran, we will show them how to fight."

The Defense Minister continued: "Israel has to be punished for what it has done to the Muslims in Palestine and Lebanon."

Vahidi said all this in front of 50,000 volunteer recruits to the Revolutionary Guard and concluded his remarks by saying that if Israel attacks Iran they will be hit by 150,000 missiles.

Iran does not have 150,000 rockets that have the range to hit Israel -- they have many fewer. But the minister was making a rhetorical point. He was preaching to the converted, he was egging them on.


Micah@Micah Halpern.com

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Friday, December 2, 2011

Iran's Rhetoric is Dangerous

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

Iran is torquing up the tensions and really applying the rhetoric.

Iranian military leader Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh, the head of the Revolutionary Guards' Division of Aerospace, recently said that Iran will target the NATO missile defense shield in Turkey if the United States or Israel attacks the Islamic Republic.

The Iranian general was quoted by the semi-official Mehr news agency as saying that this warning is part of a new defense strategy to counter what Iran sees as an increase in threats from the United States and Israel.

In other words, Iran is giving notice that they will strike at US bases and their ally's bases.

The threats are increasing and they are real - but this is also about politics, US politics. Republican candidates, in debate after televised debate, keep spouting on about Iran without any real sense of the ramifications of their words.

Iran is responding in kind.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com
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Thursday, December 1, 2011

Iran General's Will

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

Several weeks ago there was a massive explosion that rocked a missile base just outside of Teheran. 18 people were killed. One of those killed was General Hassan Teherani Moqaddam, head of the missile program.

It is still unclear what caused the explosion. Some have said it was the Mossad, others have said that it was insurgents and anti-government underground forces. The government has been asserting that the explosion was an accident.

The explosion could have been caused by any or all of those reasons. Add to that the computer virus that has badly infected Iranian Siemens systems and there is another possible cause.

What is fascinating me right now is a Basij website that reported that the general's last will and testament said that he wants his tombstone to say "the person buried here wanted to destroy Israel."

For General Moqaddam, as for many leaders in the Iranian regime - and not only religious leaders as many people mistakenly believe, destroying Israel is a primary life objective.
That is mind boggling. That is insight into the Iranian mind.
Micah@MicahHalpern.com
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