Hello All,

Lets continue to breakdown and analyze the discussion in Washington on Iran's Nuclear program visa-vi Israel.

Israel's Prime Minister, Bibi Netanyahu has put forth an equation that made headlines here. He said: Better missiles at Tel Aviv than an Iranian bomb.

In a speech, Mr. Netanyahu reminded everyone on the American refusal to bomb Auschwitz in WWII and declared: "I will never let my people live in the shadow of annihilation."

US President Barak Obama stated: "Those beating the drums of war against Iran need to explain the costs and benefits of such an action are."

In there meeting together, Israeli sources are saying the two heads of state decided to shorten the timetable for exhausting the diplomatic process.

But President Obama, one day after the meeting, spoke saying "an Israeli attack on Iran would also harm the US", and warned: "We will pay a severe price for an early attack."

It seems Obama mobilized many of his influential powers against an attack.

Yet, it is reported that Obama is inclined to provide Israel with bunkerbuster bombs and refueling planes.

Netanyahu left Washington with the impression that he will be taking everything back home to Israel and rehashing it to come up with a decision.

Meanwhile Iran has, once again, agreed to negotiations...

Brian Bush Middle East Correspondent LeSEA Broadcasting

Hello All,

As Chuck mentioned on the news today, Syria continues to tumble into more violence.

Here in the Middle East, as I have monitored during the day, Syria is very much on the front page.

In Israel specifically, the concern there is still that if Syrian President Bashar Assad were to fall, what happens to Syria's non-conventional weapons such as chemical weapons, or other strategic weaponry such as advanced anti-aircraft missiles or Scud-type missiles.

The concern is that they will not be secure and be transferred to Lebanon and into the hands of Hezbollah.

The security establishment in Israel assesses that it is it is only a matter of time and opportunity.

Israel would be most concerned about the chemical weapons on the ground and anti-aircraft missiles in the air.

In such a case, it seems Israel's best option may be to neutralize the threat in a preemptive manner.

This scenario isn't pretty, because the chances for regional disruption from such an action are high.

One can assume Israel is monitoring the situation carefully from both the ground and from space, and will certainly do all it can to keep such an occerance from happening.

Brian Bush Middle East Correspondent LeSEA Broadcasting

Hello Everyone,

Just a few days before their meeting scheduled at the White House, Israel's President Shimon Peres is saying he is convinced that Israel's threats to take military action against Iran are "unnecessary warmongering".

He believes and that Israel should not embark on a military operation in near future.

Defense Minister Ehud Barak has taken strong objection publically to President Peres's remarks.

Mr. Barak has been leading the voice for Israel's justification in taking matters into it's own hands and striking Iran militarily.

Barak said that Peres's comments are similar to those made before Israel attacked Saddam Hussein's nuclear project in Iraq back in the 1980's.

Things are different this time around in the Middle East...

Iran is hurting under the international sanctions paced upon it yet they are reportedly accelerating their capacity to enrich uranium, Syria is a mess and it's leader Bashar Assad is potentially on his way out, and Hezbollah in Lebanon is also losing clout.

Put it all together and the Shiite axis is perhaps losing it's life. Hezbollah in particular is becoming more of an organization in which the Arab world is not dealing with.

With their money starting to dry up from Iran, they have been painting the picture more and more that they are the genuine Lebanese 'movement' (which they of course are not). There has in fact, been growing criticism of Hezbollah locally in Lebanon.

People in the West are pleased about this weakening of Shiite power and influence in the region and thus this may be part of Mr. Peres's reasoning – that the super powers need to deal with Iran – not Israel.

Brian Bush Middle East Correspondent LeSEA Broadcasting

Hello All!

There was an example in the media that struck me – because as a kid I remember stuff happening just as it was put forth.

It went more or less like this, a phenomenon that happens in every grade school class.

The troublemaker takes something from another, and hides it somewhere.

The upset child asks for his stuff back.

Nothing happens and the punches start...

That doesn't hurt, says the troublemaker.

Then the dilemma comes: The assumption is: the blows are not going to work, or 'I gotta throw more punches' – either way, the goal is to give up the stuff.

But then there is the All that precedes the ultimate punishment – 'I am going to tell teacher!.'

In the media there are reports that in the American administration there are those who believe that the sanctions on Iran are ineffective.

The fact is that As reported last week on the Harvest Show, Mr. Ahmadinejad understandably says that the sanctions have no effect on Iran.

But there is a real problem here.

These folks out there have a conclusion – strike Iran or to let Israel do so.

But really, the sanctions only started in recent weeks and it is simply too early to assess their effectiveness.

It's funny because the papers are full of the fact that Iran has stopped selling to England and France. Who actually feels the pain of that punch?

In this part of the world, people say one thing and do another. The sanctions will hurt Iran, but they are not going to admit it.

Ohhhhh some things never change for us as humans... child or adult.

Brian Bush Middle East Correspondent LeSEA Broadcasting

Hi Friends,

Lots of cold wind and rain here but no snow yet!

But the bigger news this week for Israel is Iran's announcement that they succeeded in manufacturing nuclear fuel rods.

Many in Israel see this as Iran 'thumbing its nose' at them and the world.

The Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad presented "new achievements in the nuclear field" as things begin to look more and more like Tehran is in the midst of an arms race.

But the other way to look at it is to say that the sanctions placed upon Iran are working.

The Iranian President's public visit to the nuclear reactor, and the string of attacks on Israeli targets in the world present us with a picture that they have 'their backs against the wall'.

Some say that perhaps the regime in Tehran is on the verge of losing power under such heavy international pressure, but I don't think so – the change in Iran has to come from within.

Ultimately this is why a military strike has not yet occurred upon Iran's nuclear facilities - because it would only serve to consolidate the peoples support behind their leadership.

But what is known is Iran, in all likelihood behind the attacks we have seen this week, are seeking retribution for the assassinations of their the nuclear scientists.

There are reports that the bombs in Thailand were similar to those used in India and Georgia.

Security sources are checking the possibility that the bombs (or their materials) came through diplomatic mail to evade security checks.

We'll have a live update (snow permitting) on Tuesday so be sure to tune in to the Harvest Show!

Brian Bush Middle East Correspondent LeSEA Broadcasting

Hello Everyone,

It was Chuck's lead story today on the Harvest Show – let's bring you the latest on what is happening in Syria from on the ground here in the Middle East.

Thousands of pro-Assad supporters waived Russian flags and greeted Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and the Russian foreign intelligence chief who are making a one-day visit to Syria today.

After Russia's bad press for vetoing a UN Security Council statement meant to condemn Syria's leader Bashar Assad for the 11 months of continued aggression against civilians, Russia needs to gain credibility and save face.

Russia wanted to postpone the UN vote until after Mr. Lavrov made this visit, saying that diplomacy needed to run it's course, thus they, along with China vetoed the resolution.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the visit is part of Moscow's efforts to "seek the swiftest stabilization of the situation in Syria on the basis of the swiftest implementation of democratic reforms whose time has come."

In Damascus, Mr. Lavrov told Assad that he (Assad) is aware of his responsibility as a leader, and that Moscow wants the Arab peoples to live in peace.

Russia has said that the Syrian rebels also bare responsibility for the violence.

Mr. Assad assured him Syria is committed to stopping violence by all sides.

This meeting comes as Homs, the center of the opposition to Assad, continues to be subjected to heavy shelling. Over the weekend at least 330 – mostly civilians – lost their lives and yesterday more than 100 were killed.

Western powers, upset with China and Russia, have begun to take action against the Syrian Government. America has closed it's diplomatic operation, Italy and France have both recalled their Syrian ambassadors for consultations. Other European Union states are considering sanctions on the Syria central bank and other trade entities.

Mr. Lavrov will bring to bear the international pressure upon Mr. Assad to gain control over the situation and then to provide suitable change in the countries governing system.

If Assad doesn't respond and come through for Russia and make some change, it may be that he will not have the active support of Russia on the international stage and thus fare for himself while the country's crisis will surely deepen.

Brian Bush Middle East Correspondent LeSEA Broadcasting

Hello Everyone,

With the attention on the Arab Spring, lets examine what may be one of the lesser know potential fatalities in the Middle East.

Hamas and here's why.

The militant group is going through some difficult times right now with a not so bright a future.

The unnatural alliance with Persian Iran is diminishing because Hamas is a Sunni organization, and being the proxie of a non-Arab Shi'ite state just isn't working out.

Hamas basically has refused Iran's directive to support the embattled Bashar Assad in Syria.

Result – Iran's money isn't coming in.

Hamas looks after approximately 50,000 'officials' and security personnel in Gaza alone.

Next thing, the organization is also experiencing internal power struggles. This is reflected in last weeks developement, Hamas's leader Khaled Mashaal decided to step down and with it – the leadership that has navigated it's successes.

Then Hamas's Head Quarter is obliged to quit Damascus and has not found a new home. Moving to Gaza is not an option because Israel would eliminate it.

Forth, Hamas hasn't received much verbal support from the Arab world's newly-installed Islamist governments, so there's no outlook for a bailout from any of them anytime soon.

Lastly, the reconciliation talks with the 'internationally accepted' Palestine Liberation Organization is not really going anywhere.

One interesting idea is that if Israel would lift it's blockade on Gaza and the situation improve there, the people would not be so quick to associate with Hamas who largely lives off anti-Israel talk, rallies, and actions.

Brian Bush Middle East Correspondent LeSEA Broadcasting

Hello Everyone,

On the American campaign trail and it the Republican debates the question of Iranian options and how to handle her keeps coming up...

Should sanctions be given time to work? Should military action be taken? But one question I have heard very little of is what if Iran where to strike first?

Very few think that Iran is more likely to make that fateful first step. But why would they?

Essentially it boils down to the tightening of the economic sanctions. True, they are coming under increasing international isolation – but the average man on the street feels the sanctions effect more right now.

So if the Iranians feel that their backs are to the wall – how are they going to feel once the tougher sanctions targeting their oil and banking are applied?

It doesn't really seem that Tehran will collapse economically very soon – but it could over time.

But the issue is whether or not somebody decides 'enough' – and goes off and pulls a trigger...

Perhaps we have seen a little of this in the Iranian idea of closing the Straits of Hormuz?

Some would call such an act 'desperation' on the part of the Iranians – but the point is it would be them firing the gun at the would rather than the US, Israel, or the world firing at them.

Such an act seems suicidal for Iran to do – as the world will go to war over their oil – not over the bombing of their nuclear program – and they know it.

And so does NATO, who is having all their chiefs-of-staff for a meeting this week...

Brian Bush Middle East Correspondent LeSEA Broadcasting

Hi Everyone,

Sorry to have missed you yesterday – I was sick!

But now I am up and able to concentrate, so it's a weekend edition of the Brian Bush Blog!

And it actually works out nicely as today is the one year anniversary of the beginning of the so called 'Arab Spring'.

And marring the free elections in Egypt today was violence in which things got ugly in Cairo with ten dead and over 440 wounded as army forces rushed Tahrir Square and dispersed the amassed protesters.

It was this week last year that the so-called 'Arab Spring' began.

It was a 26 year old fruit vender who made an estimated $150 a month selling on the street in Tunisia.

The story goes that officials confiscated his goods because he wouldn't pay them bribe money. He was beaten when he wouldn't give up his scales.

The frustrated Mohamed Bouazizi went to the govenor's office to reclaim his goods the official would not see him and Mohamed went and doused himself with gas and lit himself on fire.

He, like others, was fed up with the corruption, the feeling of helplessness and going nowhere in his attempt to feed the eight people in his family.

People gathered, then rallied, and after Mohamed died of the wounds, hundreds more died while protesting President Ben Ali's rule of the country at the hands of 'security forces'.

It took another nine days of protesting and Ben Ali was out, having fled the country.

Decades of anger at mistreatment from the governing powers boiled over and soon nearly the whole of the Arab world and the Middle East was seeing people wanting change.

Today, a statue was unveiled for Mohamed Bouazizi in Sidi Bouzid. At the ceremony was Tunisia's newly elected president – picked by the people, along with thousands to memorialize the man whose action may will be noted in history as the one who broke centuries of rule and brought democracy.

Not a politician, world leader, or war hero, but a grocer wanting to be free of corruption. Because of him, Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, and Yemen have new governments – and Syria may be next.

Brian Bush Middle East Correspondent LeSEA Broadcasting