So the United Nations Special Tribunal for Lebanon has finally announced that it’s indicting four senior Hezbollah leaders for assassinating former prime minister Rafik Hariri.
I don’t know how this will go over just yet, but the word “smoothly” does not come to mind.
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Haaretz today had it a bit different today i.e. they had something about a 5th as yet not named non-Lebanese citizen.
But maybe also interesting in the context Detlev Mehlis had an interview on German radio not so long ago insisting it was Syria. I don’t remember him saying anything since his term was over.
here’s the transcript
http://www.dradio.de/dlf/sendungen/interview_dlf/1482852/
Might Sayyed Nasrallah have been directly involved? If so, was Khamenei directly involved or was this Sayyed Nasrallah doing free lance and giving Khamenei plausible deniability?
When the greens remove Khamenei, I hope they consider embracing Amal, other Lebanese Shiite factions and more moderate elements within the Hezbollah coalition.
MJT, have you seen Andrew Exum’s thesis on Hezbollah? There is much that all of us can learn about converting limited funding into high RoI social services and military capacity.
How would you rate the efficiency of Hezbollah’s spending on its army and social services compared to the Lebanese Armed Forces [LAF] ROI and Lebanese national government ROI for its social spending?
How to convince Hezbollah to let the Lebanese government provide social services and education services to Shiites in all the Hezbollah influenced parts of Lebanon?
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Local-News/2011/Jun-30/STL-delegation-meets-with-state-prosecutor.ashx#axzz1Qn8R6DvM
Anan: How to convince Hezbollah to let the Lebanese government provide social services and education services to Shiites in all the Hezbollah influenced parts of Lebanon?
By disarming Hezbollah and jailing its leaders for terrorism and war crimes.
FYI: Foreign Affairs prepared this column: http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/67971/william-harris/lebanons-day-in-court?page=show
“But most importantly, the debate on Hizbullah’s alleged terrorist nature has obscured several of its traits that many should register before passing judgement on it.” from a report Exum leans on in his analysis. http://www.cerium.ca/IMG/pdf/Harb-Leenders-Know.pdf
So “alleged” is where we begin. That says a lot about how Exum proceeds……. Hizb’Allah takes Iran’s money for social work PR. How does that absolve anyone from crimes?
http://qifanabki.com/2011/06/28/what-to-read-on-the-special-tribunal-for-lebanon/ Gee….HK (last comment) is a real fan….
“Sayyed” is an honorific title in Islam and among Muslims. When anand repeatedly (or even once) refers to nasrallah as a “Sayyed”, he is demonstrating particular respect and affection for nasrallah, as a supposed direct descendant of the Muslims’ supposed prophet. Anand well knows what he writes.
Exactly Del….
“If so, was Khamenei directly involved or was this Sayyed Nasrallah doing free lance and giving Khamenei plausible deniability?” Oh that’s real funny……
There are many strange sites on the internet. Below is one anti-Israel anti-US propaganda pit with Nasrallah, Assad and Ahmadeinjad in the Banner. Note the name and the Spanish.
http://www.guerrasionista.com/en/
So as Iran amps up its bluster while proceeding to complete all things necessary for a nuclear missile, let’s not kid ourselves regarding the stakes in Lebanon and Syria. (scroll down this rag). Consider their blog role and who might be pushing out this English language propaganda. Unfortunately I’m sure Kucinich has bookmarked some of them.
And just so Victor and Anan are informed: hxxp://www.insideofiran.org/en/categoryblog/1695-iran-and-syria-remain-top-terrorism-threats-says-us.html
A bit divergent but this shows some of the underbelly of the Left and those supporting Hamas…… http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=nl&u=http://www.joop.nl/opinies/detail/artikel/afscheid_van_de_gaza_vloot/&ei=xhANTur7O8Xq0gH3x5iDDg&sa=X&oi=translate&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CBwQ7gEwAA&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dhttp://www.joop.nl/opinies/detail/artikel/afscheid_van_de_gaza_vloot/%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26hs%3DbGS%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26prmd%3Divns
such is the poop at joop….(see comment thread).
MJT
The process is very clear and quite well thought out, in fact
“Here’s what happens next:
1. The Lebanese government has 30 days to find the four suspects, serve them with the indictment, arrest them, and transfer them to the STL headquarters in Leidschendam.
2. If after 30 days, no one is arrested, and “if the STL President considers that reasonable attempts to serve the indictment have been made, he may order a public advertisement after consulting the Pre-Trial Judge.
The Registrar would then send an advertisement calling on the accused to surrender to the Lebanese authorities for publication in the media.”
3. “If the accused has not been arrested within 30 calendar days of the public advertisements the Pre-Trial Judge can ask the Trial Chamber to initiate in absentia proceedings.”
The confirmation of an indictment does not mean that the person(s) named in the indictment is/are guilty of the crimes of which they are accused.
It simply confirms that the case put forward by the Prosecutor has met the burden of proof required at this stage of the process – prima facie evidence.
In simple terms this means that if this evidence were presented uncontested at the trial, it would lead to a conviction.
It is not controversial to recognize that the Hariri investigation has been hobbled (some would say deeply compromised) by problems of unreliable testimony, sullied crime scenes, unprofessionalism, and witness intimidation (and perhaps liquidation, in the case of Wissam Eid).
If the case largely depends on evidence from telecommunications data (as the CBC account suggests), maybe Hizbullah thinks that they can beat the rap.”
http://qifanabki.com/2011/06/30/will-hizbullah-send-lawyers-to-the-hague/
So in 30 days we will know the flow chart moving forward.
If the defendants show up their probable best strategy will be to contest the credibility of the telecommunications data.
This is certainly a much ” smoother ” process that that for Balkan war crimes–20 years in some cases.
Still, it may take some time.
MJT: By disarming Hezbollah and jailing its leaders for terrorism and war crimes.
That’s exactly right. I seriously doubt if a neo-nazi group in Europe started slaughtering minorities that anyone would be arguing that they should be co-opted, as some American military think-tank employees seem to do when it comes to Arab terrorists. I think the police would be hunting them down like rabid dogs. I really can’t understand how westerners can be so blind to their own double-standards when it comes to non-westerners. I doubt there’d even be a terrorism problem today if the West had collectively said “To hell with that, you’re going to die for what you just did” way back in the 1970s. Instead, that asshole Yassir Arafat was waving an AK-47 around and making speeches in the UN.
Max #6, yes I have a serious problem with any former US military officer who uses the word “alleged” when talking about Hezbollah terrorism. I can’t find an ethical explanation for that. Maybe the new COIN doctrine doesn’t require ethics? Seems like it’d be kinda hard to win hearts and minds if the people you are trying to persuade think you’re a douchebag, but who knows? I could be wrong.
@9
Max,
I read the comments.
I need someone to translate the English for me
@Craig
As you know, there is a whole new set of US Military strategic leadership
Andrew Exum– now Doctor Exam– is one of the younger ones–General Petraeus is the leader of this tectonic shift in thinking
http://mideast.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2010/03/14/the_petraeus_briefing_biden_s_embarrassment_is_not_the_whole_story?sms_ss=facebook
Petraeus is now confirmed as head of the CIA–94-0
Steve Walt was Petraeus thesis adviser at Princeton–times are changing fast at the CIA and the DoD
http://walt.foreignpolicy.com/about_stephen_m_walt
Who the heck brought in the digging equipment to make the hole? Didn’t this involve trucks? And, costumes? So what was happening on a busy street “looked normal?”
By now, everybody in Lebanon knows who did it. And, how much money they got.
As for the UN … and this case … Let me point out to you that it’s the 4th of July weekend coming up. It’s called the place you go to when you want to BURY the news item.
It needs a big hole.
Very fancy names are involved in the cover up.
And, it’s too late in the day to save Lebanon, anyway. It’s going to take generations to bring Paris back to Beirut.
hxxp://www.registan.net/index.php/2009/07/29/the-strange-contradictions-of-andrew-exums-afghanistan-trip/
http://www.commentarymagazine.com/2010/03/18/a-lie-david-petraeus-anti-israel/
http://spectator.org/archives/2010/03/25/petraeus-sets-the-record-strai#
HO
HUM,
R
“How would you rate the efficiency of Hezbollah’s spending on its army and social services”
Hezbollah is incredibly efficient at waving around Jewish body parts and cold-bloodedly murdering innocent Jews, which is what you would expect from a gang of barbaric genocidal antisemitic savages.
Michael, can you tell me what Walt and Exam, I mean Exum, have to do with the topic of this post?
In the meantime, bashir,the sudanese killer gets the red carpet welcome at Beijing
I bet hizbulla indicted operatives will not be worried either
obamama will not let the US Marines rightfully act against their comrades killers !
Gary, the tag team of Victor and Anan brought up Exum once again and I thought to flush it out. Given the blasts that sent the Marines packing from Lebanon, “alleged” is a bizarre word to use describing Hizb’Allah, but Exum has no problem with that. Render addressed Victor’s negative learning curve once again.
Trump, Bashir welcomed in Beijing as they “celebrate” 90 years of CPC oppression.
On the bright side, Hezbollah hasn’t marched into Beirut yet. If the STL doesn’t get its people after thirty days, do you think the US will start sending drones to look for them?
Just an update: http://www.foreignpolicy.com/files/fp_uploaded_documents/110615_United_States_Activities_in_Libya_–_6_15_11.pdf
The President hasn’t been particularly honest, has he? Victor’s muscular NATO at work.
As for Lebanon’s new government: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Politics/2011/Jul-01/Lebanons-Cabinet-ministerial-statement—political-clause.ashx#axzz1QrJEnSKF Of course, Israel is the number one problem and the STL number 11. What a crock of crap…..
Salon takes issue with Goldberg’s article on Iran Michael mentioned some time back. hxxp://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2011/07/01/jeffrey_goldberg_israel_iran
Again, the failure to distinguish between linear and non-linear crisis is evident here. Does it take a scientist to understand the complexity of events since Goldberg’s article? Rather than to highlight the alarming behavior of Iran including US deaths in Iraq to nuclear cable missiles, Salon slaps the messenger….
Not a word from Salon about the Rand study just released that warns the DOD to start conducting serious war scenarios with Iran, -simulations with a nuclear armed Iran…..
Bravo Salon.
http://www.aina.org/news/20110630192158.htm Iran prepares to kill a Christian cleric….
http://www.jpost.com/MiddleEast/Article.aspx?id=227483 Clinton push Lebanon on the STL…
hxxp://www.dawn.com/2011/06/30/the-curious-case-of-women-in-pakistan.html
this, as US rejects order to leave drone base
#19 Max – “Trump, Bashir welcomed in Beijing as they “celebrate” 90 years of CPC oppression.”
While the bombs drop in the Nuba mountains, and our government and press continues to call Arab-Muslim mobs and armed fighters “protesters” and the like, an actual ethnic cleansing is obscured:
http://bigpeace.com/fmcdonnell/2011/06/14/british-peers-find-none-of-the-ambiguity-seen-by-the-u-s-government-in-the-ethnic-cleansing-of-nuba/
China has reason to celebrate:
http://bigpeace.com/sfr/2011/06/22/rep-jeff-fortenberry-china-underwrites-crisis-in-sudan/
They get the oil, they get the native labor, and the MSM and political class of their foremost ideological enemy* covers for them? What’s not to celebrate?
*Under normal circumstances, at least – i.e. when Chairman Mao is not adorning White House Christmas trees.
Sorry to say, judging by what was published it look like a weak case. It was clear from the begining that only a major organization could have done it.
These four five persons could not have done it by them selves. Also it took very long and much of the evidence is lost for ever. It is kind of a PR victory but after the planned Nazralla talk on saturday the Arab-Muslim world, in which the large majority believe that 9/11 was an inside job, will believe that the USA Neo-coms the CIA the Zionists and their friends in Lebanon did it.
See M. Young one of the people who know much about Lebanon.
http://nowlebanon.com/NewsArticleDetails.aspx?ID=287481
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hmYIJT9c7DY_hXzGAFRC3MHbBDJg?docId=6aba3fefa40c402eb6ce70fbd66ef12b A refutation of Kucinich by the Syrian people.
Interesting Squires, thanks…….
http://mideast.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2011/07/01/lebanon_s_hariri_tribunal_hits_its_anti_climax
One view of the STL
hxxp://www.tnr.com/article/world/91167/lebanon-tribunal-hariri-hezbollah and another…..
UN…. do their job. HAHAHAHAHA.
Can you say Food for Oil.
Craig at #11 wrote, “I doubt there’d even be a terrorism problem today if the West had collectively said “To hell with that, you’re going to die for what you just did” way back in the 1970s.”
Oh man, oh man, do I ever agree with that statement. I’ve been criticizing *all* of our Presidents, since and including Reagan, for it, too.
Geez, don’t even get me started.
–
And as an American, I’d like to personally apologize to all of you Israelis for my Presidents’ “do as I say, not as I do” attitudes on how Israel should deal with terrorists.
Yep Dikehopper….
And the Audacity of Hope sails to nowhere.
http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=227498
http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/2011/06/pres_responsibility.html
WSJ with a lot of time on their hands….
http://online.wsj.com/community/groups/name-iran-1363/topics/please-contribite-articlesthat-abuse-name?commentid=2681440
Also, Victor and Anan, we can see a literal connection of links from Exum to Attackerman (Ackerman) to the FDL. Any dispute on that observation? I didn’t read much from you both when Blumenthal was farting in Iran. So let’s take a peek at the FDL where Ackerman jumped from to his present gig at Wired.
http://my.firedoglake.com/edwardteller/2011/07/01/as-gaza-flotilla-prepares-to-form-up-israeli-propagandists-attack-holocaust-survivor-hedy-epstein/
@30
WOW Max,
The number of pathetic Jew-hating losers, including Jews is astounding. These guys are convinced that black really is white.
With respect to Epstein, when your definition doesn’t support your lies, well just change the definition, just like the caterpillar in Alice in Wonderland. How is she different from any other person who spent the war in the UK? She’s not!
But these fart head need to show how the evil Israelis are attacking a poor Holocaust survivor.
I guess its an opportunity for those who never lived through the 60′s to relive the 60′s. A pox on them!
Hezbollah seems to be on a momentum power path to power–but Hezbollah Is In Trouble-
http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2011/07/hezbollah-is-in-trouble/241362/
Not from this indictment, but from the Arab Spring.
Everyone in MENA is very conspiracy minded–even obsessed
Maybe because there are lots of conspiracies going on.
But what they/we do not talk about–strangely–is the Big Deal
–The Sino-Muslim Connection.
This Sino-Muslim connection is a core part of Huntington’s thesis of civilizational clash. Now down the memory hole.
The Sino-Muslim connection is the elephant in the room
–or rather the 5 ton Dragon in the Room.
Some things are discussable, and the fact that they are undicussable is undiscussable.–
That is the fatal pathology in any human system–double denial.
I’m reminded of that wonderfully weaselly term, “Vietnam-era veteran”.
“You wouldn’t understand man, you weren’t there!”
“Well neither were you!“
Funny Squires….
Victor, there is definitely a SINO/MUSLIM connection to dangerous situations in Pakistan, Syria, Libya, Sudan and even Iran and Egypt. This is driven by 1. energy worries, 2. screwing with Western Interests and 3. the fear the “Arab Spring” might come to their doorstep and demand the CPC get with the global program. Of course, China does little to stop NK who works with Iran and threatens its regional neighbors. All these factors make it highly unlikely Israel would sell secrets to China, would it? China however, is isolating itself rather effectively. Compare their celebration over the 90 years of communist oppression to this week’s 4th of July. Its an American thing Victor….
So again, your remark regarding Chinese obstruction has merit and as tou say so often, we need to consider our strategic plans to counter-balance China’s strategy of military build-up and trouble making as they drive the biggest disparity of wealth between their small rich elite and the masses slowly becoming deprived of clean water, food and air.
But your other remarks Victor above regarding Huntington are bizarre. China is not the core of the thesis. I suggest you refresh your memory hole. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Clash_of_Civilizations
Please note the “torn” countries which would include Russia and Turkey. Also note the special case of Israel. You can see the countra-theory put forward by Erdogan and which is collapsing in Syria and Iran. Also Korea and Japan as well as Australia are not finding their natural inclination difficult. They are solidly behind the West. And of course, Sam didn’t appreciate the degree Islamization of Europe would proceed or the inevitable conflict between Chinese and Russian self-interest v the proliferation of radical Islam armed with advanced weapons and oil revenue. Russia is closer to understanding this than energy strapped China who yesterday declared that only the CPC can save China. Well, they admit it needs saving……
Yesjb, while I don’t know exactly the degree Exum agrees with Ackerman or the FDL, this circle jerk of minds contains some pernicious and deranged thinkers. GIven the brilliance Victor attaches to all that is Exum, I rather doubt he is unaware of his “freinds”. Just look at his blog links at AM. However, to give Victor some credit for independent thinking, he notes what apparently Exum ignores -the aspirations of the Arab Spring, despite the social services offered by Hizb’Iran, rejects this blight (mostly on sectarian grounds). While Victor can hardly bring himself to say it, Israel, Greece and Turkey have moved closer together in regard to despots and instigation of a Muslim nature. We see them act before NATO to bring some order into play.
As for Chavez, his allies are shaken by his cancer. They wonder where they will go if their superman departs. They can go to hell and join him in the sulfurous abyss of their fate……
The rest of Venezuela can rejoin the Western push for liberty and economic prosperity…..
Seems former Russian and Chinese weapon buyers are not working out according to plan…..
Kudos Greece: http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Backchannels/2011/0701/Greece-puts-halt-to-Gaza-flotilla-in-a-win-for-Israel
I can only guess what new poop is being posted at Joop….and I forgive the Dutch despite their IDS intellectuals because of Dutch courage in the face of Hitler and their recent efforts to support NATO……
http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=nl&u=http://www.joop.nl/opinies/detail/artikel/afscheid_van_de_gaza_vloot/&ei=xhANTur7O8Xq0gH3x5iDDg&sa=X&oi=translate&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CBwQ7gEwAA&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dhttp://www.joop.nl/opinies/detail/artikel/afscheid_van_de_gaza_vloot/%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26hs%3DbGS%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26prmd%3Divns
This gives you an idea of the debate raging in the Intellectual Left………
There is the small light of hope reason doesn’t completely take flight…..
http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=nl&u=http://www.joop.nl/opinies/detail/artikel/afscheid_van_de_gaza_vloot/&ei=xhANTur7O8Xq0gH3x5iDDg&sa=X&oi=translate&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CBwQ7gEwAA&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dhttp://www.joop.nl/opinies/detail/artikel/afscheid_van_de_gaza_vloot/%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26hs%3DbGS%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26prmd%3Divns
I’m sorry, that was the old link and this above is the updated link from Joop.
“Relief supplies, but also moral support for Gaza ‘
That is the header of the article I’m trying to post from Joop. Although I went to home page and then clicked on the article, the URL doesn’t change so I can’t give you a direct link. Problem with translator function.
Just repeat what I did and you can see under “news”, the article just posted with the header above. The comments offer a good window into the IDS.
Last one for me tonight as a Friday comic relief. I think you will all see the irony of sorts: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304584004576420250790136690.html
SCROLL
AND
KEY
M
Correction to my post–I meant to say
” Some things are UNdiscussable, and the fact that they are undicussable is undiscussable.–
That is the fatal pathology in any human system–double denial.
Discussing the un- discussable, that is un- descussable is – in fact
-the best thing that interdependent journalists can bring to the table.
Steve Walt does that, I do not agree with some of his opinions
–but I admire his courage for speaking the truth to power
–despite the fact that AIPAC now has a vendetta against him.
He has Tenure @ Harvard and was General Petraeus PhD thesis adviser @ Princeton–and as Petraeus is now head of the CIA Walt is secure.
Discussing the un-discussable that is un-discussable is the only way out of death spirals–in my experience it saves lives and treasure.
And just when I thought you were getting more coherent Victor…… http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Walt
We can all guess why you like him. Given his “journalism”, I can see why you call him “interdependent” rather than independent.
But that I guess distinction is “un-descussable”.
“Discussing the un-discussable that is un-discussable is the only way out of death spirals–in my experience it saves lives and treasure.” It’s been a long week for you Victor, yes?
As for Assad and Hizb’Allah, their best way out of their death spiral is to give up.
P.S. Victor, here is the issue and it does involve China, Syria, Iraq and Lebanon. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neorealism_%28international_relations%29
Weigh this against the merits of Democratic peace theory (a version being your economic peace theory).
And note that General P, now the head of the CIA was meant to implement the Democratic peace theory in Iraq and Afghanistan. By the measures of Walt’s neorealism, Iran is a major threat as well as China and Pakistan.
What does Walt have to do with this thread? Once again a foreign agent dishonestly posing as an American is trying to hijack the topic.
Secure? Nobody is secure from and in the eyes of the law, nobody.
In Samuel Huntington’s “The Clash of Civilization – The Remaking of World Order”, what are the first and last words on page 267?
hxxp://www.amazon.com/Clash-Civilizations-Remaking-World-Order/dp/0684844419
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Clash_of_Civilizations
http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2010/12/fact-checking-stephen-walt/67648/
Walt and company attacked AIPAC, playing to a specific audience. Was AIPAC supposed to serve them tea and crumpets? Their book of thinly veiled Jew hate is little more then re-arranged Andrew Cockburn stuff from a decade previous (Dangerous Liaison). It wasn’t even original material.
This post by MJT is about HizbAllah, one of the worst, most heavily armed, theocratic, terrorist armies in existence today. Or indeed, for almost all of their own existence. This post by MJT is about four (possibly five) members of HizbAllah being indicted for the car bomb assassination of former prime minister Rafik Hariri.
This comment by R in this post by MJT has not been paid for.
===
Is it any wonder Victor gets smoked like a canned ham around here?
CHAINSAW
BRAIN
SURGERY,
R
Hey MJT
I did not understand you allowed hatred and threats on your blog for so long –
Hey , we are out of here
This is your Brand–good luck
Mene, mene, tekel u-Pharsin.
or
Veni, vidi, vamoose.
1. I dont like V. but I would have liked him to stay. Reading him and the responses to his communications made me think.
2. USA diplomates in Syria. It all, some how, meet in Damascus. The Hamas issued, from Damascus,a damnation of Greece, on humanistic grounds, for stopping the runaway USA ship that tried to leave a Greek port illegally. The International court of inquest concerning Hariri killing is going to Damascus. I also hear that USA diplomats in Damascus were actively involved in orgenizing the very strange, to say the least, opposition convention(or so called opposition ?)there few days ago, is that true?
Victor,
Don’t you always like how the “victim” always blames someone else for their woes, no matter how richly deserved they are?
And you richly deserve it all! You are the author (literally) of your own fate. You are responsible for your own comments, deeds, actions, stupidity and a litany of hollow, empty-headed, unintelligent and often unintelligible BS that ever tried to disguise itself as either knowledgeable or sagacity.
“we are out of here” “we, Victor” oops sorry, I didn’t realize you were the king!
Don’t let the door hit you in the ass on the way out!
Victor, I actually made an attempt to discuss the discussable with you having agreed with your comment about the Sino-Muslim problem though you butcher Huntington. It was you who interjects Exum in many threads, misquotes General P and now inserts Walt in a thread about Hizb’Allah as more of your “hate Israel” diversion. Walt is an extension of Waltz as the link to Neorealism explains. Of course we know that for you Walt is the spear head for AIPAC bashing. Why this “hate” when as Gary, Render and others point out the thread was about indictments of terrorist Hizb’Allah personnel that murdered Hariri?
I would prefer you to stay and answer questions engaging in a debate of your talking points, but you run away. And what exactly DID you mean by “we”. I see no one threatening you. As Yesjb points out an existential truth: you are the master of your fate and responsible to defend your posts. Playing the victim won’t do. I suspect the recent failure for things to pan out as “according to plan” in MENA and the ME including Erdogan’s recalibration was too much for you….
There are real victims in South Sudan, Iran, Syria, Lebanon etc. but you are not one of them…. nor have you defended them.
“Why so serious?”
“I can see why you call him “interdependent” rather than independent.” Exactly the point Goldberg makes, but of course Victor did it unwittingly…..
Walt’s Jewish Lobby best seller was interdependent on market demand and not an example of independent thinking as Goldberg points out. (thanks Render)
Now back to the thread’s topic: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Politics/2011/Jul-02/Lebanon-fully-committed-to-STL-Cabinet-minister.ashx#axzz1QxKssFc0
Oh, that’s funny. Even funnier than Victor….
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-13990857 Press views on the STL
http://www.iranian.com/main/2011/jul/brink I suppose the outcome in Lebanon and Syria play heavily on Ahamdinejad.
I am surprised by this comment thread: http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0711/Obama_to_shore_up_Jewish_support.html
Conservatives begin the comment pile on with strong characterizations of Obama. I shudder at how the word “Jews” are thrown around. It is rather partisan these days, isn’t it? And each side has its clearly visible loonies…..
Past the partisan fog, more than a few observers see history has given Obama more unexpected opportunities. Disequilibrium is at Turkey’s door. This little butterfly in Damascus has already changed things next door. http://todayszaman.com/columnist-249115-normalization-with-israel.html Notice any recalibration? Did the Turkish government sabotage any Flotilla ships in its harbors? Do they accuse Israel? Wasn’t global media salivating for more flotilla madness and now skip the story? Why? What just happened?
Greece, the US, Israel, Turkey, Egypt appear to have made steps towards strategic convergence. I suspect Turkey wants a role in the Palestinian issue as does Egypt and the US appears to be pulling these forces together as events reveal to the players more of the stakes for their own countries.
It is in this context that the STL seems now to spin. If this strategic convergence could begin to resolve Turkish-Greek disputes, Turkish pathways to the EU, the required energy demarcations in the Aegean and Levant, collective security arrangements for any future Palestinian State, Assad and Hizb’Allah can be contained and removed. We win. The ME wins. I would say Obama is faced with more than only grim expectations and has strategic options.
Hopefully this new strategic convergence pushed hard behind the scenes by the US that advances American Fundamental Interests will isolate Hizb’Allah in Lebanon, isolate Assad and shift Palestinian negotiations to the table of rationality. Its a tall order but possible. With Nasrallah, Assad and Ahmadinejad under increasing threat, provocation will happen. Desperation is ugly though I’m not sure Nasrallah wants to answer the phone….
Later….
Hi Michael. Just to lighten things up a little bit around here, how about ranking which of the following countries or regions have the most beautiful women per capita: Lebanon, Israel, Egypt, Tunisia, Romania, Syria, Jordan, Oregon. Where are you right now?
Gov. Perry to AG Holder:
http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/files/2011/06/perryletter.pdf
#52 sammyman – Hey, Michael lives in Oregon with his wife. Are you trying to get him killed? (grin)
http://www.informationdissemination.net/2011/07/pakistani-deterrent.html
http://articles.latimes.com/2011/jul/01/opinion/la-oe-guiora-flotilla-20110701
hxxp://www.todayszaman.com/news-249281-analyst-ozel-says-turkey-has-to-support-opposition-in-syria-elsewhere.html
I’m sure Michael’s wife would find that a fair question……
http://www.daylife.com/photo/0cLVdc1fw929i West Bank
Looking back, I think I could have worded my joke a little better.
Trying again, Michael had *better* say that Oregon women are the best looking or he’ll be sleeping on the couch.
When you asked about things to check in Egypt I suggested to take a look at the al-Azhar university. Today I read this from Barry Rubin (http://pajamasmedia.com/barryrubin/2011/07/03/egypt%E2%80%99s-religious-establishment-takes-on-the-muslim-brotherhood/): “In a major new development an Islamic force has arisen to challenge the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood and support a more moderate regime in that country. This is a surprising opponent but the only one that could be of significance: al-Azhar University.”
Odd, I don’t any threats or hate in this thread at all. Not even from Gary…
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HizbAllah’s got a problem on its hands. Several actually. It has a traditional response to having problems. The only questions are in which direction and when.
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Lots of chatter since Assad’s crackdown began about Syrian refugees crossing into Turkey. But not nearly as much about Syrian refugees crossing into Lebanon. Why is that?
LOOK
OVER
THERE,
R
http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/features/2011/07/201174103034241783.html Al-Jabullshit distorts again…
Happy 4th all
FEEL
THE
LOVE
M
Well, you know, it isnt necessarily a Hezb-central job, given Hezbs cellular structure it may well have been a Syrian hit-job using hezb triggers and syrian logistics. Sidework, so to say. Its not like there isnt any mix between organized crime and militias in the M.E., you know. Im looking forward to reading the indictment.
Oh, and hi to you all in the castle of righteous knowledge.
A question.
“Lots of chatter since Assad’s crackdown began about Syrian refugees crossing into Turkey. But not nearly as much about Syrian refugees crossing into Lebanon. Why is that?”
Some are crossing to Leb. especially where they have relaives on the other side. Also as MT told you it is not easy for a reporter to work in Hizb. land. Also in the first week after the mess started the Leb. police jailed and then transfered some Syrian refugees to the Syrian Army. Also the Syrian army habitually cross with impunity the border to the Leb. side, so it is not as safe as Turkey.
Here ya go, Fnord. Have some Monty Python.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7qxqvjTbu0
#61
Well, well, fsnort!
You’re back. Too bad. I think all the fresh air just left the castle with that pathetic attempt at humour.
I know you prefer the cave of unremitting ignorance, ignoble sentiment and collaboration with all those would-be Jew-killers.
But hey, its “nice” to see you haven’t changed one iota.
#59 – Render: You asked him for specific words on a specific page, again. To him, such questions are a threat.
Fnord – Isn’t that the same excuse that all terrorist groups use? The PLO used it for decades, (“it wasn’t us! it was Fatah, or Black September, or the PFLP, or the PFLP-GC”), when in reality all of those groups were part of the PLO.
The digital world is watching the Anonymous hackers group use the exact same tactic right now. (“it wasn’t Anonymous, it was LulzSec, or Gnosis, or Kryogenics…”) When in reality all three of those hacker groups are part of the larger Anonymous leadership collective.
Yes, Anonymous has leaders, it always has. No, it is not a legion. Yes, it does forget. Yes, they were expected long before they even existed.
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Rani – Yes, I know. Something like 3,000 to 6,000 Syrian refugees crossed into Northern Lebanon. That part of the story doesn’t get nearly as much coverage because of what the Lebanese government and Army did to those refugees. It doesn’t fit with the rest of the Leftist/Islamist claims about “Arab Springs.”
My question was purely rhetorical sarcasm, undiluted.
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Squires – True that. He reacted the same way the last time I asked a similar question about a book that he claimed to have read and was using as a voice of authority. Whoever was feeding him his punchlines must be rather disappointed with his showing here. Too bad for him and his handlers that I have “Clash of Civilizations” at arms reach. It’s one of a dozen books that sit right between my primary computers, it has held that spot since 1998.
THE
ROYAL
OUI,
R
Wouldn’t be fnord without a craven whitewash of some Jew-hating savages.
Everything seems to be going smoothly for Hezbollah so far. Narallah administered a hate-Israel sedative so the Lebanese obediently rolled over and played dead.