George Rebane

The Israeli intelligence/news service DebkaFile reports (here) of active preparations for a strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities taking place in the offshore waters of that country.  Our ‘friendly’ Arabs are complaining that they have not been apprised.  We recall Ahmadinejad who has been promising that all kinds of hell will break loose around 12 February to punish western countries.  The US Navy has two carrier strike groups within range to support Israeli forces.  Actually one is already on station supporting Afghan ops, and the other one on its way to Thailand from the Arabian Sea can return very rapidly (see map).  Meanwhile Stratfor is putting out a lot supportive but seemingly peripheral reports on Iran.  It is again one of those times when the muffles are coming off the war drums.  Keep an eye on your metals and energy stocks.