Antiwar.com Weekly Newsletter for January 26, 2021

Your source for foreign policy news. 

January 26th, 2021

Israelis Say They Will Attack Iran If US Returns to Nuclear Deal

Israeli officials have made their opposition to the Biden administration returning to the Iran nuclear deal known. Some have even threatened a military strike on Iran if President Biden revives the deal, known as the JCPOA.

An Israeli source affirmed this to Breaking Defense in an article published on Monday. "Israel needs to know - and fast - whether Washington plans to stop Iran's race to the bomb or take some action to do this," the source said, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

The source said that Israeli intelligence is monitoring Iran's nuclear facilities closely. Israeli airstrikes on Syria were also mentioned, which have ramped up in recent months. "This pressure will continue and grow, as a preparation for a direct attack on targets in Iran," the source said of airstrikes in Syria.

By Dave DeCamp

US Expanding Military Presence in Saudi Arabia With Eye on Iran

The US military is expanding its operations in Saudi Arabia and looking to establish bases in the western part of the country. The initiative began about a year ago and was just revealed to reporters by Gen. Frank McKenzie, the head of US Central Command.

According to McKenzie, the US has been using various air bases and seaports in western Saudi Arabia and is working to build its own bases in the region. As part of the plan, the US and Saudi Arabia are negotiating infrastructure projects that would make two ports on the Red Sea and two airbases in the west more suitable for the use of the US military.

The idea is that US bases in Qatar, the UAE, and Bahrain are in the range of Iran's ballistic missiles, and bases further west would be beneficial in a conflict with Tehran, something McKenzie explained to reporters.

By Dave DeCamp

Read the full story >

America Adrift and Aflame: Fix the US Before the World

The Beer Belly Putsch, as the January 6 takeover of the Capitol has been called, created shock waves across the nation's capital and around the world. It was never as serious as some observers suggested: the president had no coup plan and most of the ragtag protesters appeared to be little more than accidental tourists, wandering aimlessly through the building snapping selfies.

Nevertheless, enough of the invaders had malice aforethought to cause serious harm: imagine the capture of the vice president and a score of leading legislators. Then who knows what? America would not have fallen, but the outcome could have been much uglier and deadlier. The impact on U.S. politics would have been far more profound.

By Doug Bandow

Read the full story >

Coexistence or Cold War With China?

"The United States acknowledges that all Chinese on either side of the Taiwan Strait maintain there is but one China and that Taiwan is a part of China. The United States does not challenge that position."

Thus did President Nixon, in the Shanghai Communique of 1972, accept China's territorial claim to the island of Taiwan.

In 1979, Jimmy Carter severed relations with Taiwan, recognized Beijing as the legitimate government and dissolved the U.S. mutual security treaty with the Republic of China on Taiwan.

By Patrick J. Buchanan

New Law Allows China's Coast Guard to Fire on Foreign Vessels

China's legislature passed a law on Friday that gives its coast guard more freedom to fire on foreign vessels. According to the text of the law released by China's Xinhua, it aims to safeguard "national sovereignty, security and maritime rights."

The law allows China's Coast Guard to take "all necessary means, including the use of weapons, to stop or prevent threats from foreign vessels. The law will allow the coast guard to stop and board vessels in China's "jurisdictional waters."

China's Coast Guard is relatively young, having formed in 2013 after previously being part of Beijing's People's Armed Police. The new law gives China's Coast Guard an authority most country's coast guards have. Still, the law is significant because of China's maritime disputes in the South and East China Seas, disputes that the US has involved itself in.

By Dave DeCamp

Biden Will Keep US Embassy in Jerusalem

During Tuesday's Senate confirmation hearings, Joe Biden's secretary of state nominee said the new administration will keep the US embassy in Israel in Jerusalem.

"Do you agree that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel and do you commit that the United States will keep our embassy in Jerusalem?" Antony Blinken was asked by Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX).

"Yes and Yes," Blinken responded. His answer was not a surprise, as Joe Biden said he would not reverse Trump;s embassy move back in 2020 while on the campaign trail.

By Dave DeCamp

Round Up the Usual Suspects: Don't Forget Putin

Gareth Porter on the Latest Chapter in the Manufactured Iran Crisis

Biden Administration Announces Plan to Combat 'Domestic Extremism'

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