Gershom Gorenberg on five reasons to doubt Israel will attack Iran, and Obama's Mid East trip.

Update: Military blogger Defense Springboard notes that Congress has been notified by a Defense panel that Israel has requested purchase of double the amount of jet fuel (JP-8) it purchased last year. "'On July 11, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Israel of unleaded gasoline, JP-8 aviation jet fuel, and diesel fuel. The total value, if all options are exercised, could be as high as $1.3 billion. The Government of Israel has requested a possible sale of 28,000,000 gallons of unleaded gasoline, 186,000,000 gallons of JP-8 aviation jet fuel, and 54,000,000 gallons of diesel fuel. The estimated cost is $1.3 billion.' ... JP-8 requests are not new....But the size of the buy is impressive. In July 2006, Israel requested up to $210 dollars-worth of JP-8. In September 2004, Israel requested up to $102 million dollars worth of JP-8...."

Posted by Laura at July 18, 2008 09:41 AM