by Stephen Lendman

Pouring arms into a region is a prescription for greater conflict and instability. Israel and Saudi Arabia are already armed to the teeth with sophisticated weapons freely used - including banned ones.

Reports indicate Washington intends increasing annual (almost entirely military) aid to Israel by almost 50% - another $1.5 billion on top of over $3.1 billion already supplied plus frequent add-ons for various projects like ineffective missile defense. Additional aid beginning in 2018 would continue for a decade. Much of it would be for increased numbers of (problem plagued, hugely expensive, performance-deficient) F-35 warplanes.

Earlier plans in place call for delivering 33 jets. Israel's military capability already is one of the world's most technically sophisticated - including its well-known/unacknowledged nuclear, chemical and biological weapons arsenals.

US policy toward Israel assures it a "qualitative military edge"

(QME) over other regional countries. It gets many weapons from America. At the same time, it's high-tech defense industry makes it one of the world's largest arms suppliers.

US law requires presidents to carry out "empirical and qualitative assessment(s) on an ongoing basis of the extent to which Israel possesses a qualitative military edge over military threats" it allegedly faces - even though none exist except ones it invents.

Section 36 of the 2008 Arms Export Control Act requires certification for proposed weapons sales "to any other country in the Middle East other than Israel (to include) a determination that the sale or export of the defense articles or defense services will not adversely affect Israel's" QME.

In 2007, the Bush administration authorized a 10-year $30 billion aid package for Israel. Annual US amounts it gets exceeds what Washington supplies all other countries combined.

Funds gotten are mostly used to buy US weapons and other military equipment. Israel alone is allowed to use a significant portion of its aid for its own weapons development and production.

Overall, It gets special benefits afforded no other nations getting US aid - including for domestic needs like loan guarantees for housing construction on stolen Palestinian land while rhetorically criticizing its settlement expansion.

In April after a preliminary Iran nuclear deal was announced, Obama offered Israel increased aid as compensation. Netanyahu declined it in protest against terms he denounced.

After final agreement was reached, Obama repeated the offer - so far not responded while Israel begins a blitzkrieg campaign with AIPAC to undermine what was consummated.

US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said "(w)e're still waiting for an Israeli answer. If Israel wants to wait until after the congressional debate (ends on September 15 or earlier) on the nuclear accord, that's fine too."

"We’ll be ready to hold these talks then too, because the day after the agreement goes into effect the sun will still shine and Israel and the US will continue to work together on security matters."

Obama told The New York Times he's "prepared to go further than any other administration’s gone before in terms of providing (Israel with) additional security assurances..."

Netanyahu called Vienna's agreement "not the final word. We will continue to point out its flaws and dangers, and the danger of making such a deal with a murderous dictatorship."

Iran is a peacemaker, not a belligerent. It threatens no other countries. Israel and America destabilize the entire region partnering in each others wars. Together they threaten humanity with potential nuclear annihilation.

Ashton Carter plans visiting Israel next week to try convincing Netanyahu and Defense Secretary Moshe Ya'alon of the nuclear deal's merits - not easily accomplished after its prime minister outrageously called it a "stunning historic mistake (providing) Iran a sure path to nuclear weapons" it has no intention of developing.

After Vienna negotiations concluded, Carter said he'd visit Middle East allies to explain US intentions to "check Iranian (regional) malign influence."

"We remain prepared and postured to bolster the security of our friends and allies in the region, including Israel" with increased arms support.

"We will utilize the military option if necessary" to further US regional interests and check Tehran's nonexistent support for terrorist groups, he explained.

Ahead of a possible Iran nuclear deal, Congress authorized Obama's proposed $1.9 billion arms package for Israel.

It includes 3,000 Hellfire missiles, 250 AIM-120C advanced medium range air-to-air missiles, and 50 (5,000 pound) BLU-113 bunker-buster bombs.

So far, it's believed Washington hasn't supplied Israel with GBU-57, 30,000 pound buster bombs (the Massive Ordnance Penetrator - MOP) - the most powerful known non-nuclear weapon.

At a May Camp David summit with Gulf State leaders and officials, Obama promised accelerated arms deliveries along with developing and implementing a regional missile defense system.

Carter's trip comes after British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said "Israel wants a permanent state of stand-off and I don't believe that's in the interest of the region. I don't believe it's in our interest."

Israel and America represent existential threats to Iran. Regime change remains fundamental for both countries. Nuclear deal consummation hasn't changed Washington's longstanding objective. Or Saudi Arabia's - the most ruthless and dangerous rogue Arab state.

After meeting with John Kerry on Thursday, its Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said Riyadh is "committed to confront" Iran if it "tr(ies) to cause mischief in the region" - code language for supporting legitimate governments the Kingdom opposes.

A previous article explained concluded Vienna talks don't signify a done deal. Stiff congressional and Israeli opposition aim to undermine it. Whether successful remains to be seen.

Either way, longstanding US and Israeli anti-Iranian hostility remains. As long as the Islamic Republic stays independent, expect no change from either regime. Possible color revolution or US/Israeli war are continued threats.

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Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.

His new book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks World War III".

http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html

Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com.

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