In an unprecedented move, Israel has called all ambassadors and consuls general, worldwide, back to Jerusalem for a “strategic issues” conference next week. (HT Gateway Pundit)
I hope the Dumb Bastard’s vacation in Hawaii is going well.
First-ever Heads of Missions Conference at the MFA
Israel’s ambassadors and consuls general serving throughout the world will discuss broad diplomatic and strategic issues at a conference to be held next week in Jerusalem.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, headed by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Avigdor Liberman, will host a conference next week (27-31 December) for Israeli Heads of Missions. At the conference, Israel’s ambassadors and consuls general serving throughout the world will discuss broad diplomatic and strategic issues.
This is the first time a conference for all of Israel’s Heads of Missions has been held. The idea is to facilitate direct dialogue with the country’s leaders, mutual updates on major diplomatic issues, and a discussion of action plans to deal with the challenges awaiting the State of Israel in the international arena in the coming year, including the Iranian threat.
I hope Achmewhatyacallit is sweating bullets right now.
… or taking some.
http://www.jihadwatch.org/2009/12/we-are-carrying-a-bomb-to-hit-the-enemies-of-god.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
Sure hope Urkel is having fun in Hawaii.
Urkel has more fun than anyone I know.
“I hope the Dumb Bastard’s vacation in Hawaii is going well. ” You took the words right out of my mouth!
I wouldn’t want to prognosticate, because governments are endlessly sending meaningful “soft” signals through the body language of their diplomats and military. I’ve lost count of the number of times we’ve dispatched aircraft carrier groups to the vicinity of Iran, which were meant as merely a show of power. But a broad recall of diplomats would be consistent with an imminent move by Israel that would spark international controversy. Obviously the long-discussed strike on Iran comes to mind, as we pass the year-end deadline (which in some ways doesn’t seem all that special, since it’s just another snubbed deadline…but this can’t go on forever).
Action by Israel would, among other things, result in violent protests at Israeli embassies…and establishing those embassies as empty shells would preclude a number of mini-crises. Historically, withdrawal of diplomats is an immediate prelude to war. But again, in a world of bluffs and signals, I wouldn’t want to read too much into this move.
I wonder what the current state of American naval presence is in the Persian Gulf. Are we at an elevated state of readiness, or is everything normal? Presumably the Joint Chiefs know how to read these tea leaves better than we do. If anything were likely to happen, I’d expect America to be braced for possible serious repercussions.