Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Post by 2007: Lebanon Assasination of Francois al-Hajj

Discussing:
Current assassination in Lebanon of senior army officer General Francois al-Hajj, leading candidate to take over as army commander when current commander General Michel Suleiman is elected president.
How can a world watch a struggle such as this and not discuss actual scenerio's? (coup de teat, Would a Western country accept such a climate for assassination’s? How does this climate compare to Israel's assassinations' of Leading HAMAS political and religious leaders?

Is this why it is being perpetrated? Do the assassins know this paradox? Yes.
Will this entrench stalemate that no surrounding countries can reverse (they are compliant in making it happen).

ongoing.

Friday, September 28, 2007

Peace conference Plot twists ... Part II and so on ...

Notes ... Ongoing.

Annapolis Peace Conf:
Over the past months, with the announcement of an intended peace conference, twists and turns and the real method to working on peace in the Middle East reveals itself ... Out of site of the public eye but speaking for the people ...
no matter how small ... Then leaking ideas to the Press and other trusted parties.
STATUS ongoing.

As the road to Israel and Palestine moves closer to the two state solution, so does the winds of power shift throughout the Middle East. Discussions stand on a series of status demands including, Jerusalem; refugees; settlers; and more.
Saudi Arabia has become the Arab broker / negotiator, replacing Egypt for now. Egypt effective in Gaza? Currently upending Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad who tried.

1991 Madrid Peace Conference,
bilateral talks began in Washington between Israel and a non-P
1993 Oslo peace negotiations
2002 Saudi Initiative (1967 Border negotiations) via Arab League in 2002.

Did Syria and Saudi Arabia react as a counter weight to being "left behind?"
Does the Monarchy in Saudi Arabia fear being not at the table of a "Historic Moment?"

Syria:
Syria and Israel had reportedly (major Int. press) sorted out (logistically) the main issues to withdrawing from the Golan Heights several years ago. The last time Syria and Israel met, in Shepherdstown, WV in 1999/00 agenda's and major issues of dispute were laid out. (Press) All parties brought with them advisors, technicians, and military people to discuss the details and scope of border issues, border demarcation, legal, normalization, economics, and other details. Documentation? (PRESS)

Syria says she wants peace. Or is she a Trojan Horse? How is she explaining her actions to her Iranian Ally?

Friday, September 21, 2007

Opinion - War Drums keep rolling ...

Has the war started?

Is it possible that the first battle ground in the next World War is via proxy in Lebanon and Pakistan? Has it started? The most recent assassination of a Lebanese Member of Parliament and Chairman of Parliament’s Defense Committee Walid Eido in West Beirut’s Manara district, along with his son and four other people, the fourth such political murder in the past year, is witness to a trend. The majority grows weaker. In Pakistan, Pervez Musharraf plays a cat and mouse game with the rule of the Courts and Islamicists bent on his death. Martial law is now status quo.

In partial response, Israel's stunning, deliberate, genius, and extremely risky air raid on a Syrian position, now being described in the press by multiple Western sources as a "nuclear" meeting/exchange between North Korea and Syria.

The US then says they are ready to speak with the Syrians ...

Monday, September 10, 2007

Prepping for war .. the SPIN is on ...

War SPIN is in full effect ... Where is this headed?


- Israel penetrates Syrian Radar and is credited with "jamming" the signal. Their success demonstrates to Damascus and Tehran that their new Russian anti-air system leaves them vulnerable. Russian denies even selling them the systems...
http://www.debka.com/article.php?aid=1301

- Syrian commentator Az a-Din Darwish wrote in an article published in an official Syrian newspaper that Syria has fought against Israel before, and is prepared to face any possibility.
"Syria possesses the experience and ability that make it ready for any possibility, as long as it has to do with land, sovereignty and respect," Darwish wrote in the Syrian newspaper "Tishrin."

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/902758.html

- Everybody thought he was dead (or still is), but Osama bin Laden appears on a video confident, youthful, and providing a "Convert" or die offer just before the 9/11 anniversary. Will the world blink?

- Since July of 07, the US has had 3 carrier (Battle Groups) including PsyOps warriors preparing for war. The USS Enterprise, USS John C. Stennis, and USS Nimitz carrier strike groups are in the Gulf as well as the Mediterranean off the coast of Lebanon. If Iran is engaged, our thought is that Israel will have to provide strategic and punishing blows to Hezbollah and Hamas.

- Who will the allies be? India? Jordan? The Kurds? Egypt? Saudi Arabia? Kuwait?

* NOTE ** The USS Enterprise is the longest naval vessel in the world and carries 66 aircraft.


Ratching up the War talk with Iran .. It looks like the campaign, on since 2001 or 2005 depending on who you speak with, is now about to enter a critical phase ...
http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/georgepacker/2007/08/if-there-were-a.html

Iranian government spokesman says the attempts by the nation's enemies to worry the neighboring states are part of their psychological warfare.
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=20469§ionid=351020101


Using PsyOps in War ...
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?pagename=article&node=&contentId=A45085-2000Feb28



... See next months post ... "Where it stops, nobody knows ... "

Wednesday, August 15, 2007

Now everybody wants peace ... Or so they say.

Things are heating up ...
Their has been an increasing amount of references by Israel's neighbors telling the World Press that they want peace yet prepare for war. Out of the other side of their mouths comes blatent references to the final blow and destruction of Israel.

Since 1948 (re-establishment of Israel) the Arab world has tried to move forward:

1| The first approach was through religous but secular modernizing via a King. Jordan and Morocco are currently the two remaining. These regimes fell through corruption, greed, and brutal oppression of the people they were to serve.
2| Pan-Arabism (regional cooperation through the lense of nationalism) was next. Egypt's Gamal Abdel Nasser was the most successful. This cooperation as well as the blatent propaganda of their Armed forces exposed the deceit and eventual corruption that Pan-Arabism became.
3| At the same time, Arab socialism (Syria and Iraq) or Marxism (Algeria) were established via the USSR as a battle field during the cold war. All Marxist / socialist experiments have since failed (PLO) for the same reason. Deceit, corruption, and brutal oppression of local people.
4| Now we see the call of the Islamic Republic and their return to a strict code of Islam. This is becoming a fight between secularism and nationalism.

Are we witnessing a united front by Hezbollah, Iran, and Syria? Or a regional coup d'état by the Iranians and their pawns? Are the Shia moving against the Sunni's regionally under the cloak of the Palestinian cause and Arab Nationalism (No, Iran is not Arab)?

Will Lebanon fall in line (again) after the Pro Democracy government is finally vanquished? Is this why Hezbollah is toning down their rhetoric now?

Is this happening as part of a wider regional plan to draw the fruits of the ongoing war between the US and the Jihadists (that Iran is willing to use as bargaining chips)?

Looks like an all out Propaganda effort to us ...

UPDATES: MMP and PRESS Analysis PENDING



Hezbollah ...
Last update - 07:31 15/08/2007
Nasrallah: Hezbollah doesn't want another war with Israel
By Yoav Stern, Haaretz Correspondent and Agencies
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/893510.html


Syria ...
Last update - 14:07 15/08/2007
IDF general: Syrian army signaling Damascus does not want war
By Amos Harel, Barak Ravid, and Yoav Stern, Haaretz Correspondents
http://haaretz.com/hasen/spages/893779.html


Iran
Last update - 09:45 18/04/2007
Ahmadinejad: Iran wants peace but would confront aggressors
By DPA, Reuters and Haaretz Service
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/850027.html

Iran
Ahmadinejad: Iran wants peace, security, progress in region
http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/library/news/iran/2006/iran-060227-irna04.htm

Why Iran Wants War--Ahmadinejad & Co. starring in Armageddon
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1639947/posts

Khamenei Tells Berri U.S., Israel Will be Defeated in Lebanon
http://www.naharnet.com/domino/tn/NewsDesk.nsf/getstory?openform&EF9480DE83254480C2257227003C02CC





Do the Palastinians want Peace?
http://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/peres1
http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/library/news/iran/2006/iran-060227-irna04.htm

Sunday, August 12, 2007

On the Road to Nowhere ... Is No Where Home?

We keep reading the repeated references to Rice and Gate's failed Middle East diplomacy (touting the Saudi's comments that they "might" attend a regional conference) in the World Press and reports from diplomatic circles that everybody (friends, foes, and Jihadists alike) are now waiting out the Bush administration. They should... It makes good diplomatic sense.

Hearing the rhetoric from the Democratic campaign trails makes it clear. The next US administration appears willing to talk to Iran, Hamas, Sunni Extremists, etc. and negotiate from a more "Peace oriented" POV. Nobody wants to be in Iraq, nobody wants to fight anymore. The Jihadists know this and are excited by the prospects.

Will the american citizen be safer? No way. We lost the war. Let the victor's write the history.

Saturday, August 4, 2007

Hamas invited to Russia for talks ... More Propaganda or has Putin changed his mind?

Well it had to happen ...

As reported by ... Avi Issacharoff, Haaretz Correspondent and Haaretz Service

"Hamas lawmaker Halil al-Haya on Thursday claimed, however, that Russia had invited officials from the Islamic group to visit Moscow for talks.

Al-Haya told a Hamas-affiliated Palestinian magazine that the Russian government had officially invited a Hamas delegation, headed by Damascus-based Hamas political leader Khaled Meshal, to Moscow. Al-Haya would not specify the date, but said the visit would be in the coming days."


With Damascus based Khaled Meshal invited it appears that a statement will come out of such talks with clarification as to the new status. It appears certain that Hamas has requested such a meeting.

What do they hope to gain?

Thursday, August 2, 2007

The Covert War in the Middle East

The covert war
Middle East has become espionage hub teeming with secret agents
Ronen Bergman
Published: 04.18.07, 16:35 / Israel Opinion


http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3389359,00.html

Wednesday, August 1, 2007

Posturing for a new Middle East ... Is this Just flexing or real muscle?

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and US Defense Secretary Robert Gates have flown to the Middle East to initiate the process for a regional peace conference. They are currently in Jeddah Saudi Arabia. Israel's Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's office has issued a statement saying in sum that he hopes "Many Arab countries will attend the summit."

As has been the case in the past, US Presidents seem to get to the Middle East peace process almost after the fact. This seems to be true with this President as we watch the flurry of diplomacy. Rice seems like she is too late despite appearing to have wanted a different (engaged) approach. Gates has some credibility in his tough analysis of the man he replaced (Donald Rumsfeld). Then again this is the man who massively politicized intelligence during the Iran Contra scandal. A National humiliation.

As well, US President George Bush in some corners is considered to be the worst US President ever (at least since Herbert Hoover) Actually this has been a topic of discussion as far back as 2004 or more.

Who will listen to this President at this stage? Can Rice get regional Arab players to attend the summit? The answer might lie with Olmert who appears to be concession ready, as some would say, to save his skin.

related:news.xinhuanet.com

Tuesday, July 31, 2007

Putin Stabs Hamas in the back, downgrades ties.

We have seen such Global posturing (to the West) in the past, will it last?

Russian President Vladimir Putin told visiting Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas that "he is the legitimate leader of all Palestinians," Russian news agencies reported. What made the difference? Why make such a statement now?

Recently, Vladimir Putin has also sided with the West in speaking out against Iran's Nuclear ambitions (as part of the Security Council). Why?

What are the ambitions of Russia? They appear to be playing "all sides" and have little taste for being part of any team.

Can the world leave Russia unchecked in the Middle East?

Monday, July 30, 2007

Examples of Past Propaganda ...

As requested, here are some examples. Of course many more exist and I think that it might be best if I just add links as we go. Propaganda takes form in many ways. Let's make sure it does not animate here ;)

Originally Posted by Cynical-C.

Friday, July 27, 2007

Olmert Seeks Direct Talks With Syria



Is Syrian President Basher Assad playing the field or playing for time? Is he fighting for legitimacy? What was discussed with Syria during the recent meeting with Iran's President,
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, and the unexpected visit by Hassan Nasrallah, the secretary general of Hezbollah? Lure Israel into a trap by suggesting peace? Or were they all scared by Syria's public peace overtures? The arms smuggling via Syria is a fact known by the UNIFIL (UN) forces, yet little can be (is) done with this knowledge. Recently, Russia has committed to selling 250 Long Range bombers to Iran. Why do they need so many Long Range bombers?

It appears Hafez
al-Assad and Ehud Barak had many particular details pinned down (agreed) in 2001 for the illusive withdraw (peace). Or did they? What are the issues now?

Recently, "...
Assad said he would be willing to send someone to the country, but would not hold direct talks with Israelis."

How does one make peace with some one who will not talk to you?


------------------------------
Olmert Seeks Direct Talks With Syrias
http://www.townhall.com/news/world/2007/07/21/olmert_seeks_direct_talks_with_syrias


Barak Interview:
href="http://www.nybooks.com/articles/15501

Economic Blog on the Middle East by MEMRI

(http://www.memrieconomicblog.org)


Operating under the context of economic advancement as opposed to all of the Bad news that comes out.
Where have they been?


Tensions mount between Palestinians

GAZA FACTS
Unemployment rate: 35.4 %
Number of Palestinians employed in Israel: 0
Two-thirds of households live below the poverty line
(Source: UN, May 2007)


Will Hamas and Fatah speak? Many Fatah commanders were killed during the "liberation" of Gaza.
Israel's involvement should be Humanitarian.

Israel must be the bigger partner to peace ...

Monday, July 23, 2007

Hezbollah Threatens Syria

IS it true that the link between Syria, Hezbollah, and Iran is in trouble?

The official maintained that Syria is seen by both Iran and Hezbollah as the "weakest link" in their ties, which may break away from them should that be in its interest. However, the official emphasized that "at any given time" there are Iranian and Hezbollah representatives in Syria to coordinate their actions.

On Saturday, the London-based Arabic language newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat reported that Damascus and Tehran had signed a strategic cooperation agreement during Ahmadinejad's visit to Syria late last week. The report describes the cooperation between the countries as including military, economic, scientific and technical aspects...




Thursday, July 12, 2007

MiddleEastReport.com - UPDATE 071207

Updating Operating Framework
Establish MiddleEastReport.com as a primary website

Tuesday, May 22, 2007

Propaganda ... The time is now.

Entered ... Sign in.

Propaganda threatens and enables.