Israel has asked the US government to speed delivery of short-range anti-personnel rockets armed with cluster munitions, which it could use to strike Hezbollah missile sites in Lebanon.
The Israeli request for M-26 artillery rockets, which are fired in barrages and carry hundreds of grenade-like bomblets that scatter and explode over a broad area, is likely to be approved shortly, the New York Times reported on Friday.

The U.S. Defense Department, without confirming or denying the report, said "We fully support Israel's right to defend itself."

Israel was authorized to buy the multiple launch rocket system in 1995, said Commander Greg Hicks, a Pentagon spokesman.

"These are not indiscriminate arms transfers," Hicks said. They are done "in the interest of peace and broader international security" and "help peaceful nations meet their legitimate needs of self-defense," he said

The base has now been closed for over an hour and all military activity is at a standstill.

Four people have been arrested for blocking a road in RAF Brize Norton after police attacked demonstrators.

After the first gate was successfully blocked a small group including the Rhythms of Resistance samba band went round to the other main gate.

Before a sound was made that gate was also closed as the two police officers there paniced. This gate was closed for over an our - protesters leaving around 3.30. (none were arrested)

Two of the gates were disrupted by demonstrations.

According to conversations overheard at the main entrance, staff working at the base were unable to gain entry at the main entrance after a decision by military police or base commanders to shut it to nearly all staff. There seemed to be one or two staff with special coloured passes who got thru.

The blockade was certainly fit-for-purpose, but we could do more if a few more people came along... come on Oxonians! Come on Swindonians! Come on Carterton! JOIN THE NEXT DEMONSTRATION!

Perhaps that'll give the RAF workers something to think about - they can no longer expect to deal death to foreigners with impunity, pop out to the village fete, and return unimpeded.

Maybe we should leaflet Carterton before the next presence at the base and get more townies involved, there was defo. one woman at an entrance who might have wanted to be involved, and there must be hundreds of others who might walk that mile from the town to record their protest.

I dunno, but it might be the case that Cartertonians don't know the base on their doorstep has helped Blair, Bush & Omert deliver over 1,000 murdered lebanese and syrian civilians to the altar of Western interests and imperialism. At least, leafleting them might help lift the curtain of denial on what the guilty camo lads are really up to when they're not charming the town with their air of respectable efficiency.