THE WEEK AHEAD:
PALESTINIAN UNIFICATION ISSUE:
When the great announcement was made of the 'unification government' for the PA, I said we would have to wait to see if anything really came of this!
Announcing something and actually accomplishing it are often two very different events.
At that time, Hamas was scared to death of losing it's big supporter, Syria and so they went running back to their point of origin, the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt.
The MB was more than willing to take Hamas back under its wing just as long as Hamas realized the MB was going to call the shots from that point on.
When they were desperate to land, knowing the Syrian home base was in question, they agreed to anything the MB asked of them.
As for Fatah; they too were desperate!
The paranoia was running deep after the PA papers were disclosed to the public.
Abbas was as confused and worried about events in the Middle East as anyone else in power was and the idea of the MB, the Mother Ship, providing some degree of predictability was just what he was looking for.
What is now apparent, it was to many of us from the beginning, is the Devil is in the details.
Imagine that!!!
The panic level is leveling off for both Hamas and Fatah and the 'concept' they agreed to in Egypt has details they both don't like.
So; is this 'deal' going to fall apart?
It would be very embarrassing for the MB to have this turn into just another 'good idea' in the Middle Eastern history of " good ideas'.
Both Hamas and Fatah will get the phone call and undoubtedly the message they better agree to at least appear to reconcile their differences quickly!!
The MB has too much at stake in Egypt to have their first big political success fall apart; especially before the elections are held in Egypt.
Look for some level of hand holding to take place sometime this week.
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/06/2011619174455513476.html
TURKEY AND SYRIA RIFT:
Read between the lines in this story.
Don't lose site of the fact Turkey has announced they are going to distribute 'aid' on the Syrian side of the border!
Remember Turkey hinted to opening a ' Safe Zone' on Syrian land.
Pushing 'aid' into Syria is step two in executing this process.
Step one: Announce you are thinking about conducting an 'operation'.
Step two: Incrementally begin to execute the mission you threatened you would do.
Here is a danger point of the whole Syrian revolt.
The closer Syrian regular units get to the Turkish border, the greater the odds of someone shooting at someone from the other side.
If the Turkish 'aid' vehicles come under fire, then Turkey could easily say, "we must establish the Safe Zone in order to protect the entire relief process".
Assad is a fool, but he is not insane!
He understands the peril of having his military conducting operations virtually on the Turkish border.
Close contact of two very nervous militaries can be a very dangerous event.
The people who would like to see the whole Syrian revolt escalate could very easily 'spark' an event.
Who?
The Syrian Muslim Brotherhood / SMB / that's who?
This could be the last few days Assad has to gain control of this event.
If the border becomes a point of contention, then Syria's problems will explode.
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/06/201161918155641645.html
THE DANGER IS YEMEN:
Who is wining in Yemen?
If you said the Terrorist, you would be correct!
The military in Yemen is more concerned with holding on to the Capital and the current government than defeating an Enemy that is virtually taking over the South.
One crisis at a time is typically too much for Yemen, but to have two, well you finish the thought train here.
Many complex issues about Yemen could be reviewed, but the bottom line is simple.
Yemen is quickly becoming the new Afghanistan / Pakistan / border hideout.
The answers for the problems in Yemen are far too complex to be worked out anytime soon.
Saudi has their hands in the event, but the GCC is somewhat preoccupied holding on to the Gulf States and trying to bring on new members.
Yemen has all the ingredients to be a long term problem, much worse than it has been, much like Somalia.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-13830428
SAUDI AND THOSE DAMN WOMEN DRIVERS:
On the surface, the whole issue of Women driving around the capital might seem not really news worthy, but I can assure you, to the Royal Family it's a HUGE issue!!!
The real issue in Saudi has been and will continue to be the Royal Family trying to keep the Fundamentalist happy and at the same time not being seen as the suppressors of modern social normalcy.
When you stack that on top of the East Coast Shi issues, Saudi has it's royal hands full.
Driving cars in Saudi is not an issue of Women's rights.
It's the issue of once again being seen as a repressive government in a area of the world rocked by a drive for civil liberties.
Women driving cars is quickly turning into Vendor's setting themselves on fire in Tunisia.
Does this mean the Women in Saudi are looking for gas cans to light themselves on fire?
NO!
It's the analogy the Socialist Revolutionaries will make that counts.
Iran will tie this ' Royal mindset' in with the Shi suppression issue.
Saudi sees anything that happens in or around them as a threat!
Paranoia runs deep in Saudi now days.
http://www.debka.com/article/21038/
IRAN AND THE JOKE OF THE WEEK!
So, it finally comes out.
Iran is not looking for the development of nuclear weapons and the Russians have promised this?
What Iran has done a good job of doing is talking about anything and everything other then the pending social problems they know are coming to their cities and towns.
Not talking about the ' Tunisian Virus' doesn't mean it will not show up.
What is apparent, at least for now, is Iran's desire to exploit a 'distraction' somewhere in the Middle East has been limited.
Going to meetings and hanging out with world leaders is a form of distraction.
The ' Mad Genie' giving incoherent speeches, something he is good at, will not change the fate of Iran.
Iran is watching events in Syria hourly and Syria remains topic number one.
Assad is rearranging the Deck Chairs on the Titanic and Iran knows it.
What does Iran do to prevent this or what happens in Iran when Assad falls?
That is the question we should all be working on.
http://rt.com/politics/ahmadinejad-medvedev-sco-nuclear/