Arab Spring Update, 3 December 2012

Saudi Arabia.  This nation is conspicuous in its silence--reading the news you would think that Saudi Arabia did not even exist!  I think there is a lot more going on behind the scenes when it comes to Saudi Arabia.  It is probably using its oil power, which is tied to the dollar, to influence the United States to do their bidding in the Middle East, such as supporting the rise of the Sunni Caliphate through the Muslim Brotherhood, and standing against Saudi enemies in the Gulf.  There is a lot more going on here...stay tuned.

Syria.  Continuously drawing closer to NATO intervention.  Opposition forces have supposedly consolidated (Syrian National Coalition for Opposition and Revolutionary Forces), established their headquarters in Egypt, and been recognized by other nations as the legitimate representation of the nation of Syria (source).  A Pentagon study concluded that it will take 75,000 American troops to secure Syria's chemical weapons stockpile (source).  It seems like any use, or threat of use, of chemical weapons may be a trigger for NATO to attack (source).  I have said this before and say it again: we need to stay completely away from Syria, whether they use chemical weapons or not.  There is also the possibility of a false flag event that is used to trigger NATO involvement.  We seem hell-bent on deposing Assad, no matter how it gets done.

Turkey.  Asking for American Patriot missile systems to defend against a Syrian air threat (why?).  Russia strongly objects (source).  Dealing with the Kurdish separatist issue manifested in the PKK.

Egypt.  The new Muslim Brotherhood president Mohammed Morsi unilaterally gave himself more ("temporary") powers in true dictator-like fashion (source).  Protests in Cairo against Morsi's power grab (source).  The group in charge of writing the Egyptian constitution seeks its quick approval.  Morsi helped broker cease-fire between the Israelis and Hamas in Gaza, giving him credibility and probably attempting to transition Gaza from being backed by Iran to being backed by the Sunni Caliphate.

"Palestine."  Launched rocket attacks on Israel, reached a cease-fire with the help of Egypt, and then went promptly to the United Nations to seek nationhood, receiving non-member observer state status. Both Russia and the United States sent ships to extract their citizens from Gaza if necessary.  Israel stopped cash transfers to the Palestinian government in response (source).

Lebanon.  Hezbollah threatens to strike Tel Aviv with rockets when war happens again.

Jordan.  In my opinion, this will be the next nation to fall to the Muslim Brotherhood (Sunni Caliphate) after Syria.  Current protests by Muslim Brotherhood supporters against the king. (source)

Iran.  Continuing to threaten Israel and produce nuclear weapons.  Expelling Afghans from their nation after Afghanistan signs a strategic security pact with the US (source).

Iraq.  Standoff between Iraqi and Kurdish military forces in the north (source).  A major route for Iran to ship arms to Syria (source)

Sudan.  Speculation that the Israelis bombed a Fajr-5 missile factory in Sudan which was being used by the Iranians to produce and ship missiles to Gaza (source).  Shortly after the supposed strike on the factory in Sudan, Gaza began firing hundreds of rockets into Israel.  Israel retaliated by conducting precision strikes against military targets, one of which was the military chief of Hamas which they killed.

Mali.  France and Spain are backing African forces to counter the jihadists in the north of the country (source).

--Against All Enemies

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Disclaimer: These opinions are solely my own, and do not reflect the opinions or official positions of any United States Government agency, organization or department.

Lebanon under control of Iran and Syria

Originally posted at Right Truth, cross posted here at Faultline USA's request

"Recent events in the past few days have indicated Lebanon is now within the sphere of influence of Tehran-Syria-Riyadh." (NewsBlaze)

One of the Lebanese opposition leaders, Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri, has just announced the opposition, which has been demonstrating in downtown Beirut since December, has dropped its demand for a Unity Government and will instead agree to a Consensus Candidate. The opposition knows and their state sponsors, Iran-Syria-Saudi Arabia, the candidate will not be Prime Minister Fouad Siniora as a result of the three hour visit a couple of days ago by U. S. Chief of Central Command Admiral William Fallon. It was reported at the time Fallon may be acting under orders to prepare an evacuation of Lebanon's leaders who have close relations with the West. The next day it is then announced Siniora will make a visit to Berlin on Wednesday September 5. I suspect Fallon may have been acting on the recommendations from the French who realize Siniora's position is untenable and perhaps he could be saved before the fighting expands beyond the Palestinian refugee camp-city Nahr al-Bared outside Tripoli in northern Lebanon near Syria's border. The fighting has been preparation for Syria's entry into Lebanon in support of Hezbollah. That is why the war began near Syria's border. [ALJAZEERA]

More at Al Jazeera here, and this:

Debka is now reporting Lebanon's army, though moving into the camp, will not be in control of the underground bunker complex, which still contains some well-supplied fighters of Fatah al-Islam. East German military engineers constructed the subterranean complex during the 1980s for Yasser Arafat and his Fatah gunmen to protect them from Israeli air strikes. That is why when the fighting began one of Fatah al-Islam's leaders said they could resist for months, since the bunkers probably contain living quarters and huge food-ammunition storage areas, which can be supplied through tunnels. And that is probably the reason the death of Fatah al-Islam's leader cannot be confirmed. [DEBKA]

Crossfire says, "The military footnote UNIFIL will be caught in the crossfire."

Trackposted to http://morewhat.com/wordpress/?p=2326, Perri Nelson's Website, Rosemary's Thoughts, third world county, Big Dog's Weblog, DragonLady's World, Pirate's Cove, The Pink Flamingo, Webloggin, High Desert Wanderer, and Stageleft, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.

Conservative Homework Assignments: Due Thursday August 16th

This is from Wake up America

On Thursday, August 16th, as a direct response to MoveOn.org's crass
attempts to politicize the Iraq War, Vets for Freedom is asking all of its
members to participate in our "Cost of Defeat" Call-in Campaign.

And we are not alone in this effort. We are proud to be partnering with Families United for the Troops and Their Mission, a grassroots
coalition of thousands of Gold Star and Blue Star families including some with
loved ones currently in harm's way. Both the troops-and their families-will be
making calls this Thursday!So mark your calendar and call your members of
Congress to explain the "Cost of Defeat" in Iraq. Tell them that defeat in Iraq
would mean the following things:

* A bloodbath in Iraq, costing hundreds of thousands of innocent Iraqi
lives and possibly destabilize the entire Middle East region.

* A failed state in Iraq and a safe haven for Al Qaeda to plan future
attacks against America and her allies.

* An emboldened Iran in pursuit of nuclear weapons and a victorious Al
Qaeda in pursuit of new ways to kill Americans at home and around the world. .
.

This is from The Victory Caucus

It's been a few weeks since we re-launched The Victory Caucus with a new site design, and it's time for an update --- and a request for your help. August and
September are crucial months for the war effort, both on the ground in Iraq and
here at home. In September --- most likely right around September 11th ---
General Petreaus will deliver his report to Congress, and defeatists are doing
everything in their power to discredit and dismiss the General's findings before
he even delivers them. At The Victory Caucus, we aim to ensure they fail, and that the American people get an accurate an honest understanding of the progress being made and the prospects for genuine victory.

But we need your help. Right now, the key media battlefront is not in
Washington --- it's in your town; your district; your state. Congressmen and
Senators are back home during the August recess, and while they are there, they
need to hear from supporters of victory. If you haven't done so already, try to
find out if your Congressman (and Senators) are holding "town hall" meetings
while they are home --- or just try to reach them at their office. Let them know
how you feel: if they have been strong on the war, thank them, and if they
haven't --- politely let them know you hope they'll change their mind . .
.

Some reading assignments to get you steamy just in case you aren’t already hot enough

This is from Right Truth

August 14, 2007
Middle
East Tsunami Imminent?
In A.D. 551, a massive earthquake spawned huge
tsunamis that devastated the coast of Phoenicia, now Lebanon -- this happens
"approximately every 1,500 years—which means a disaster is due any day now."(YaLibnan via IMIA News)

Now a new underwater survey has finally uncovered the fault
likely responsible for the catastrophe and shown that it rumbles approximately
every 1,500 years—which means a disaster is due any day now.

"It is just a matter of time before a destructive tsunami hits this
region again," said Iain Stewart, an earthquake expert at the University of
Plymouth in the United Kingdom not involved in the underwater survey.

The ample archaeological and historical evidence from the A.D. 551
earthquake indicate that it was truly a catastrophic event. The resulting
tsunami damaged all major coastal cities between Tripoli and Tyr, and Tripoli
was reported to have "drowned." [snip]

More than 30,000 people died in Beirut alone.

"If this earthquake and tsunami were repeated today, it would be a
disaster of enormous proportions," said Sanford Holst, an author and expert on
ancient Phoenicia.

More than 70 percent of Lebanon's roughly 4 million people live along
the coast. The seaport of Beirut has a population of 1.5 million. (read
more) . . .

Don’t miss reading “Brussels is IsslamiFried” from Woman Honor Thyself

Hezbollah tries to topple Lebanese government, again

Originally Posted at Right Truth

The scenes are familiar, key roads blocked, tires burning, black smoke, flames rising, gun fire, people shot in the head, 3 dead and 110 injured. If it's Lebanon, it must be Hezbollah, right? Not so fast. It's not 'just' Hezbollah, it's a large number of the Lebanese people. Actually it's Hezbollah backed by Shiites and Christian factions vs. the present government backed by Sunni, Druze and Christian groups. Add to Hezbollah's side Iran and Syria.

So far two dozen move than 110 people have been wounded in clashes between Hezbollah supporters and backers of the government of Prime Minister Fouad Siniora.' Bloomberg reports 'Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah has taken a populist line in his campaign to bring down Siniora and provoke parliamentary elections.'

Hassan Nasrallah is presenting himself as a politician, (rather than the terrorist murdering thug that he really is). Recent studies show that Nasrallah could win if an election were held today. Remember, Hezbollah was part of the Siniora government prior to walking out on November 11, 2006.

``This has nothing to do with democracy or freedom,'' Samir Geagea, a Christian politician who supports the Siniora government, told Lebanese television. ``This has been transformed into a coup d'etat.''

The unrest comes just two days before international donors were due to convene in Paris. The donors, including the United States, European Union, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, are scheduled to consider a reduction in Lebanon's debt load and funding to help Lebanon rebuild after last summer's war with Israel. ...

Hezbollah allies pledged more protests. ``The government must understand that the Lebanese people do not support it,'' said Ali Khreis, a member of parliament whose Amal party cooperates with Hezbollah. (Bloomberg)

Many flights into Lebanon have been canceled. Siniora is standing firm, refusing to step down. U.S. Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns said, "We (the United States) will make a long-term financial contribution to help Lebanon rebuild itself" hoping that 'such support would help thwart those trying "to overturn a democratically elected government through ... mobs". I'm not sure throwing money into Lebanon is going to do one bit of good.