Middle East Running Iranian threat news and discussion thread

[Francis Urquhart]

Europe should start actually listening to the Iranian people.

If they did that, they would also have to start listening to their own.

 

[Deleted member]

After reading the article I can see they're slowly taking over Lebanon by imposing their rule on people that align more with their religion.

Reminds me of the Mexican cartels who have near control of parts of Mexico but I don't know if they have their own news network.

For the most part the remaining Christian parties have been forced into alliances with Hezbollah to varying extents, though in the ever-varying factionalism of Lebanese politics it's very hard to say anything is simple, standard, or remains the same for any length of time.

 

[Arch Dornan]

For the most part the remaining Christian parties have been forced into alliances with Hezbollah to varying extents, though in the ever-varying factionalism of Lebanese politics it's very hard to say anything is simple, standard, or remains the same for any length of time.

It never is that simple with geopolitics.

 

[PsihoKekec]

And it's usually extra complicated in Lebanon. I once did an extensive readup of Lebanon history from French departure on. I think I deadend some of the nerves in my face from excessive faceplaming.

 

[Deleted member]

And it's usually extra complicated in Lebanon. I once did an extensive readup of Lebanon history from French departure on. I think I deadend some of the nerves in my face from excessive faceplaming.

I feel sometimes like Lebanese politicians if they all moved elsewhere could just dominate all of the western democracies; the competition is a ruthless training ground for clever men. Lebanese unfortunately has reached, essentially, a "Strategy of Tension" which has produced a modicum of stability, but is better than the alternative, and hopefully is re-obtaining equilibrium now that the Syrian Civil War is dying down. I really don't want to see a land I have blood ties to torn with war again.

 

[PsihoKekec]

I doubt Lebanese politicians could do much abroad without their networks of connections and favors being transplanted as well. Though I hear their gangster buddies are doing well in Germany.

 

[Deleted member]

I doubt Lebanese politicians could do much abroad without their networks of connections and favors being transplanted as well. Though I hear their gangster buddies are doing well in Germany.

Objectively, the libertarian observation that the mafia and governments are very similar isn't at all wrong, I mean, I would be a liar to state otherwise.

 

[GoldRanger]

This morning on my way to work I've listened to a very interesting interview in the Making History podcast (a popular podcast in Israel), about Israeli security challenges in 2020. They talk about Iran and many other regional and global actors and how they relate to the geopolitics here in the Middle East.

The interviewee is Amos Yadlin, a former senior F-16 pilot with over 250 combat missions including in the Yom Kippur War, then the head of AMAN (the IDF's Military Intelligence Directorate), and now that he's out of the army - he's an Aluf in reserve, the NATO equivalent is a two-star general, the second highest possible rank in the IDF - he's the head of the Institute for National Security Studies, a famous Israeli think tank.

So when he speaks, he knows his shit.

I'm at work right now, but I'm reserving the space below for translating & transcribing at least part of the half-hour long interview. The interview itself is in Hebrew so unfortunately I can't just throw a link with an mp3 download at you.

Stay tuned.

(Incidentally, does anyone have any idea if I can actually legally transcribe and translate an entire podcast episode if it's not offered in English anywhere and it doesn't cost anything, but has verbal ads? If I'm not making anything off it? This might be a problem...)

PLACE RESERVED

 

[GoldRanger]

In the meantime you can enjoy "rational" and "reasonable" Iran's latest saber rattling.

Iran threatens US forces and allies who host American troops

A spokesman for Iran's armed forces threatened a “crushing response” against any U.S. agression and allies who host American troops.

www.militarytimes.com

Any Country Hosting U.S. May Be Targeted in a War With Iran, Military Says

Iran is widely expected to make extensive use of its special operation forces and regional proxy militias in a hypothetical future war with the U.S.

www.newsweek.com

Top Iranian general says 'dream' of destroying Israel now an 'achievable goal'

In a Monday statement, the leader of Iran's Revolutionary Guard said Iran's technological advances have brought it closer to the goal of destroying

americanmilitarynews.com

 

[Arch Dornan]

In the meantime you can enjoy "rational" and "reasonable" Iran's latest saber rattling.

Iran threatens US forces and allies who host American troops

A spokesman for Iran's armed forces threatened a “crushing response” against any U.S. agression and allies who host American troops.

www.militarytimes.com

Any Country Hosting U.S. May Be Targeted in a War With Iran, Military Says

Iran is widely expected to make extensive use of its special operation forces and regional proxy militias in a hypothetical future war with the U.S.

www.newsweek.com

Top Iranian general says 'dream' of destroying Israel now an 'achievable goal'

In a Monday statement, the leader of Iran's Revolutionary Guard said Iran's technological advances have brought it closer to the goal of destroying

americanmilitarynews.com

They're still intent on Israel's destruction I see.

This conflict is interesting checking it's origins. Do you consider unity in the destruction of your country still strong or was it even stronger back then?

I'm also curious on how the Palestinians get regarded by their neighbours. Were the intentions to help them genuine or as disposable catspaws for bigger ambitions?

 

[PsihoKekec]

For the moment I thought that Iran referred to Israeal as Israel and not Zionist entity, which would be a huge step forward, alas they did not. I wonder whether metioning Israel by name in Iran is stoning or hanging offense

I'm also curious on how the Palestinians get regarded by their neighbours.

Disliked and mistrusted in general. In Lebanon they are blamed for the civil war and kept in guarded ghettos. In Jordan there is constant fear that Palestinians will pull another Black September. Egypt is not touching Gaza with ten foot pole. Syria is largely ambivalent, but still keeps Palestinians in strictly limited ghettos. They all sprout proPalestinian, antiIsrael propaganda, even though Egypt and Jordan are American allies and also have security arrangements with Israel.

 

[Arch Dornan]

Disliked and mistrusted in general. In Lebanon they are blamed for the civil war and kept in guarded ghettos. In Jordan there is constant fear that Palestinians will pull another Black September. Egypt is not touching Gaza with ten foot pole. Syria is largely ambivalent, but still keeps Palestinians in strictly limited ghettos. They all sprout proPalestinian, antiIsrael propaganda, even though Egypt and Jordan are American allies and also have security arrangements with Israel.

Does that mean even before the six day war, would they squabble over the scraps of Palestine/Israel and alter the deal with the Palestinians on what to do if they succeeded in their wildest dreams?

 

[PsihoKekec]

Before the Six Days war Gaza was part of Egypt and West Bank was part of Jordan. None of the neighbours wanted an independent Palestinian nation and none considered Palestinians as seperate nationality, rather than subjects residing in prospective future expansions of their teritory. Neighbouring countries only accepted existance of Palestinians as a nation once it became clear they can't beat the Israelis and only supported them to as a function of propaganda, which diverted the ire of the masses from the ruling elites to designated scapegoat, Israel.

 

[Arch Dornan]

Before the Six Days war Gaza was part of Egypt and West Bank was part of Jordan. None of the neighbours wanted an independent Palestinian nation and none considered Palestinians as seperate nationality, rather than subjects residing in prospective future expansions of their teritory. Neighbouring countries only accepted existance of Palestinians as a nation once it became clear they can't beat the Israelis and only supported them to as a function of propaganda, which diverted the ire of the masses from the ruling elites to designated scapegoat, Israel.

As I suspected. Even without the issue of Israel and the global communities input the neighbors all want a piece of the pie.

 

[Marduk]

Does that mean even before the six day war, would they squabble over the scraps of Palestine/Israel and alter the deal with the Palestinians on what to do if they succeeded in their wildest dreams?

Probably. And they wouldn't mind the implied hypocrisy. After all, the true source of the outrage lies in the islamic doctrine that many of the drivers of this conflict believe. Namely, if a piece of land is once ruled by islamic peoples, then it's rightfully islamic land until the end of times. As such, if this land changes hands between various islamic polities, that's just another day in the Middle East, no particular outrage to be seen, at least from the non-involved bystanders. If it's a kind of islamic polity that subscribes to a form of Islam they consider heretical taking the land, there may be some concern and anger...
But Israel is a case of something that is truly outrageous according to this doctrine - clearly non-islamic control and rule of a land that formerly was ruled by Islam.
It's a very expansionist, conquest friendly doctrine, and it's unashamed about it, and it is such by design - hence the surprising attitude and attention given by the more fundamentalist parts of the islamic world towards the case of Al-Andalus:

Striking in al-Ándalus: why Islamic State attacked Spain

The location and targeting of Islamic State’s latest attack, on the Spanish city of Barcelona, deviates from the group’s previous efforts.

theconversation.com

Spain: Al-Andalus As Terror Hub : Muslims Want To 'Reconquer' Spain For The Caliphate - Militant Islam Monitor - Militant Islam Monitor

www.militantislammonitor.org

Spain reckons with legacy of Al Andalus in fight against extremism

For jihadists, the loss of Spanish territory in 1492 remains an open wound.

www.politico.eu

Islamic State: "We Will Take Spain Back"

Calls to reconquer al-Andalus are becoming more frequent and more strident. "Clearly Spain forms part of the strategic objectives of global jihad. We are not the only ones but we are in their sights." — Spanish Interior Minister Jorge Fernández Díaz.

www.gatestoneinstitute.org

Muslim leader wants Spanish King to apologise for defeating Islam in 1492

A few days ago, the new president of Mexico, Andres Manuel Lopez Abrader, demanded that King Felipe VI ask for forgiveness for the conquest by Spain, and now a mosque in Seville is doing the same but for the Reconquista (the Reconquest, when the Muslim rulers were driven out of Andalusia-Spain).

voiceofeurope.com

In light of that, it's predictable that Israel can do absolutely nothing to avoid the hostility of these people, it's very presence as a non-Muslim dominated state on formerly Muslim ruled territory is an affront to their doctrine. The facts that it contains a holy site of Islam, it's closer to the bulk of Muslim world, and the events of "changing hands" were more recent only heat up this hostility.

 

[Arch Dornan]

Probably. And they wouldn't mind the implied hypocrisy.

Being hypocritical I feel from observation of what countries can get up to is bound to happen as long as it is worth the cost of their goals.

 

[GoldRanger]

Being hypocritical I feel from observation of what countries can get up to is bound to happen as long as it is worth the cost of their goals.

I don't think there's even a single country today that gives half a damn about being hypocritical, whether they are called on it or not. The European Union is the usual go-to example for a fountain of hypocrisy and a "do as I say, not as I do" attitude, and they don't seem to care.

 

[Arch Dornan]

I don't think there's even a single country today that gives half a damn about being hypocritical, whether they are called on it or not. The European Union is the usual go-to example for a fountain of hypocrisy and a "do as I say, not as I do" attitude, and they don't seem to care.

No they wouldn't be. A country will at times bend their values if it benefits them. Sticking firm with a pole up their ass can fuck them in losing what they have.

Disliked and mistrusted in general. In Lebanon they are blamed for the civil war and kept in guarded ghettos. In Jordan there is constant fear that Palestinians will pull another Black September. Egypt is not touching Gaza with ten foot pole. Syria is largely ambivalent, but still keeps Palestinians in strictly limited ghettos. They all sprout proPalestinian, antiIsrael propaganda, even though Egypt and Jordan are American allies and also have security arrangements with Israel.

This 'unity' reminds me of the fuckups in the crusades.

At first there was a semblance of a united goal in opposing Israel. Then the fractures began. Jordan avoided Black September succeeding whose situation reminded me to be a little similar to Constantinople and the crusaders deciding to sack it and form the Latin Empire.

Now everyone is too busy dealing with recent events affecting them to start a military adventure.

Isis did a good job on that didn't they? Fucking up more middle eastern lands in Iraq and Syria.

Hezbollah and Iran spent themselves going there to fight them but I don't know how much it cost them and how long they need to recover.

Syria is busy dealing with the Sultan, the Kurds and leftover rebels. What a shit show.

 

[GoldRanger]

UN watchdog confirms Israel's allegations against Iran's nuclear program

IAEA reports its inspectors found traces of uranium at a site the Islamic Republic did not declare to the agency, more than a year after Netanyahu revealed Iran's 'secret atomic warehouse' during an UNGA speech

www.ynetnews.com

But surely Netanyahu was lying for the purpose of domestic consumption

 

[GoldRanger]

The Iranians are protesting against their government again.

Iran supreme leader backs petrol price rises as protests spread

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei says ‘hooligans’ guilty of sabotage are ‘Iran’s enemies’

www.google.com