Netanyahu's Gambit: The Baiting of Iran and the Manipulation of Trump

All the evidence suggests Israel has just assassinated one of Iran's top nuclear scientists. This is nothing new. Israel has been assassinating Iranian scientists and sabotaging their nuclear operations for years.

But this time is a bit different and this explains why the story is generating some limited media attention in the West. There's a sense of building pressure of something in the works. Many commentators believe an attack is in the offing.

First there's the calibre of the scientist. He was one of the Iranian's top figures – it would be like someone assassinated Robert Oppenheimer.

Second, the timing. Trump is on his way out of office and he wants to score some victories, he wants to save some face and take victory lap. If he sets a fire that Biden is stuck putting out, he doesn't care.

But the real pressure is coming from Netanyahu. The Likud leader did not get on very well with the Obama administration. Things weren't as bad as US-Israeli relations under George HW Bush – but almost. Obama angered the Israeli Right and its US allies but he wasn't really able to do much. Let's face it, the Israeli lobby wields tremendous power within the US political system.

Biden is perceived to be Obama 2.0 – I personally don't think that will be the case but time will tell. But I'm sure Netanyahu is desperate to act while Trump is still in office. He wants to bomb Iran and destroy its nuclear facilities. If Trump had won, there would be time – time to wait for the best moment. But since Trump will be out of office in less than two months there's an air of desperation.

This is why the Anti-Iran campaign has picked up steam. There's been coverage of Iran's 'misdeeds' against the Kurds, their activities in Syria, their supposed harbouring of an al Qaeda leader and now there's this open attempt to provoke them. Iranian leaders are angry and calling for retaliation against Israel. Trump and Netanyahu hope they do. This would give them the justification they need to launch a massive air strike. Right now Netanyahu is hoping there's a big explosion in Haifa or some other place that kills a bunch of Israeli citizens. That would be like a free pass for him to attack and Trump will certainly follow his lead. This is another dirty secret about Trump. He's not Putin's lap-dog but he is Netanyahu's. The Israeli leader has laid it on thick. He lavishes praise on Trump and Trump buys it – and Netanyahu's actions are granted further reinforcement by the loud and endless praise Trump receives from his Evangelical base.

Additionally Netanyahu is buried in scandal and pending indictments. His pervasive corruption has caught up with him and the minute he leaves office – the hammers will start coming down. He's desperate to stay in office and allow the legal attacks to fizzle – the extra time gives him and his lawyers greater leeway in terms of strategising and spinning evidence.

A confrontation with Iran will allow him to retain powers under the auspices of a national emergency. Acting as a nascent dictator he has already stretched the Israeli political system to the breaking point but he's running out of options. War would provide the perfect solution.

All they need is for Iran to strike. Iran for its part knows this and yet the Islamic regime also needs to save face. It never properly retaliated for the death of Soleimani and now this killing of a nuclear scientist has further made the regime look like it's being kicked around.

If Tehran doesn't respond I look for Netanyahu to do something else and soon. Let's hope Iran doesn't take the bait, Trump backs down from a strike and Netanyahu's rule collapses. Desperate men, desperate to cling to power will do almost anything so it's unlike the story will end so smoothly.

See also:

http://pilgrimunderground.blogspot.com/2020/11/the-al-qaeda-iran-narrative-20.html