WHAT WILL PUSH SYRIA OVER THE EDGE?

A few nights ago I spoke about a discussion I had with a friend of mine on the ability of Assad to survive the uprising?

I said I was going to have to understand a few more issues before I could accept his theory of Assad surviving.

I now know what one of the key elements is missing and how that impacts events in Syria.

The Kurds!!

I must admit, I was under the impression the Kurds were far closer to joining the uprising than they seem to be.

It is clear to me now one of Assad’s key counters to the uprising is promising the Kurds more freedoms, more specifically citizenship.

Early in this process, Assad announced Syria was going to grant citizenship to the Kurds, but it has not happened yet.

Although they have not seen this promises come true, it is clear they, collectively, don’t value getting involved, just yet.

The attached article talks to their concern the Arab Tribes made take action against them.

This speaks to the Kurds distrust of the Sunni population perhaps as much as they distrust the Bath Party and the Assad clan.

The Sunni factor:

It’s clear to me, now; the Sunni business class is the other key factor in Syria keeping the lid on the revolt.

To put this all in simple terms, the ability to achieve critical mass is simply not there yet.

As Assad refines the Iranian trick of rounding people up rather than shooting them in public, he just may find a way to survive.

So; does this mean I have changed my mind and now agree with my friend?

NOPE!!

Those that are fighting and those such as the Syrian Muslim Brotherhood / SMB / understand what is missing and that they must get those factions involved to reach critical mass.

It is up to them!

How they do this may not be a pleasant issue.

Nothing gets a group committed to a cause faster than having members killed.

http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/features/2011/05/20115816210895560.html

WHAT WILL 15 MAY BRING FOR ISRAEL?

15 May could very well be an important day for the Palestinians and Israel with one celebrating a new so called ‘unity government’ and the other watching nervously.

Some have visions of Cairo in their heads and some will have nightmares of Cairo in theirs.

If Iran really is concerned about Syria along with the internal struggle within Iran, then the 15^th could be a extremely important day.

I have said for over a month now Iran will need a distraction and the 15^th of May  might  be just the ticket.

Just imagine if shots are fired into the crowd of ‘peaceful protestors’?

Before Israel would ever have the chance to prove they were not responsible, the event would explode.

Israel has been getting ready for this event for several weeks now, but keeping instigators out of the area, when they do not control the area the event will take place in, is simply not possible.

The day is designed to celebrate independence and mark the beginning of change!

The change may not be what the PA is looking for, but change could very well be on the way.

The Palestinian Youth Movement may have all the good intentions in the world, but they are seen as an obstacle and a threat to Hamas and Fatah and they will not be allowed to dictate the events of that fateful day.  

Do I think the 15^th of May 2011 is going to be a historic day for the Middle East?

Yes.

More than that; 15 May could very well be a historic day for all of us who depend on the Middle East.

One gun shot… One dead body of a Palestinian Youth and everyday after will be historical.

Let’s hope I’m wrong, but my fear is I am more that right.

http://arabrevolt.wordpress.com/2011/03/03/palestines-refugee-revolution-set-for-15-march/



PAKISTAN AND CHINA, THE MESSAGE WAS HEARD!

Yousuf Raza Gilani gave a rambling speech today that manage to make a few very important points.

1.  Pakistan is going to expand its 'relationship' with China if the US keeps being so demanding, at least they see the US as being demanding.

2. Pakistan did not warn the US not to  execute another mission in Pakistan as the Western media thought.

            Their message was to India and it was not a 'message' it was a warning!

            Pakistan believes the US mission has now left the political door wide open for India to retaliate for any future actions by Terrorist groups on Indian soil.

            Mumbai is a scar the Indians are still dealing with and they know where those teams  came from.

            Pakistan realizes the ability for the rest of the world to rebuff India for future actions would be limited given the acceptance of the US mission to kill UBL.

            It concerns me how easily this message from Pakistan was misinterpreted today.

3.  Pakistan must deal with its own social demons / fundamentalist movement.

            To think the public is upset with the Pakistani Military for allowing the US to penetrate  their sovereign borders is less of an issue than the fact many of them are    furious UBL was murdered!

            The threat of Pakistan coming apart is not out of the question.

            The 'Tunisian Virus' is a real possibility and the Pak leadership knows it.

SIDE BAR:

Take a look at the attached story I found today.

If you have followed my post, you know I have said an Alliance between Saudi and Israel, even an unofficial one, is not out of the question.

A relatively quiet day in the Middle East typically means someone is plotting something somewhere!

http://www.yalibnan.com/2011/05/09/unholy-alliance-how-syria-is-bringing-isr





WHAT TO WATCH FOR THIS WEEK!

For everyone paying attention the past few days, Tunisia and Egypt, those two that have been ‘liberated’, have been anything but peaceful.

When Christians and Muslims take to the street to kill each other, and this fight was rather one sided, then I’m not sure ‘progress’ is being made.

It is typical for a period of turmoil to take place after a revolution, but that doesn’t mean every revolution leads to better government.

Egypt is up for grabs as well as Tunisia and the MB is eyeing a larger slice of the pie with each passing day.

So, lets take a look at the rather large list of issues that need to be watched for the week of  May 8^th.

EGYPT:

The interfaith violence is not new to the streets of  Egypt, but post revolution Egypt is a dangerous environment for  this current conflict.

How the interim government, the military, deals with future violence is going to be critical to possible future problems.

As I said, the MB is looking to take expand their expectations for the pending elections, but they will continue to move forward carefully.  

SYRIA:

Two days ago I posed the question of Assad pulling through this uprising?

I don’t buy the stories that some of the groups are losing their ‘momentum’.

Assad is way too far down the road of killing his own people to suddenly stand up and sounds like a reformer.

The capital is the key!

If the rebels can bring the movement there, then Assad will turn up the killing machine and that will set a much larger movement into motion.

Will Assad win?

I don’t think so, but more people are talking about him serving than in the past few days.

IRAN:

To the outside, laymen, the topic of Genies sounds a bit outrageous.

I see the Genie issue as a metaphor.

The Genie is “Nationalism” and the Supreme Council doesn’t want any part of a nationalistic / Persian movement in Iran.

Hence, the split and thus the growing conflict.

My short version, the wheels are in motion for both leaders in Iran to get in a position to survive the “virus” when it comes to Iran and it is coming!

ISRAEL:

A bad week coming up for Israel.

If Egypt actually opens the gates to Gaza, the situation there could go down hill in a FLASH!

Most people don’t expect the Hamas… Fatah love fest to last, but it may last long enough to get the PA Youth Movement marching in the streets of the West Bank and Gaza.

This is a run up week to what could be the beginning of the protest marches next week.

Watch the statement from Israel.

What they say this week will not be politically hype, but a window to where they are going.

LEBANON:

If Syria slides further down hill this week, and I think it will, then Assad may turn back to the concept of blaiming “others” such the March 14^th movement in Lebanon.

As for the Non Hezbollah side of Lebanon, the concept of pushing Hezbollah is becoming more and more obtainable given the frailty of Syria.

To put it simply, Lebanon could become a real hot spot in the next few weeks if not sooner.

OIL:

I’m far from a qualified Oil Speculator, but my guess is last weeks drop was a short-lived euphoria based on the killing of UBL.

IRAN  CONTINUES  TO  DESTABILIZE

A few interesting stories here that indicate more storm clouds are forming on
the horizon for Iran.

 The second  link below tells the story of how the youth of Iran is getting ready for
round two of  protest in Iran.

 Sound baseline infrastructure being prepared to insure communications and
probably pre set plans incase their communications are disrupted.

Short version; the youth is preparing for the 'Virus' to be launched on Iran.

 It's important to see how much Iran is willing to invest as they try to stop
this cyber movement.

They know the social networks will be their downfall.

Like I've been saying, they know the 'Tunisian Virus' is coming!!

 The other two stories  show just how much the relationship  between Ahmadinejad and
Khamenei continues to fall apart.

 
 As I said in one of my post last week, Ahmadinejad and Mashaei are Iranian
Nationalist supported by their Persian roots!

 Khamenei knows this and he knows things are about to get worse in Iran; thus the rift is growing wider.

 Ahmadinejad and Mashaei are both well aware of what is at stake for not only themselves, but Iran.

 I still believe Ahmadinejad and Mashaei will side with the pending
demonstrators thus positioning themselves as the alternative  to  Khamenei and the ' old religious zealots'.

 Sounds like a stretch I know, but they have limited options given Khamenei
owns the real power in Iran.

 What they do have going for them is a very young, nationalistic military
that may not follow the orders of old men who they have very little in common with.

 Iran is about to be even more interesting then it has been and thus much
more dangerous.

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/05/201156113955925329.html

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2011/05/05/dissent-lives-iranian-cyberspace-despite-regimes-attempt-crackdown/

http://www.haaretz.com/news/international/khamenei-tells-ahmadinejad-reinstate-intelligence-chief-or-resign-1.360267?localLinksEnabled=false



IS ASSAD WINNING?

Baniyas looks to be a major target for Friday Prayer Demonstration Suppression!

The events of the past week have knocked Syria down a few notches on the news coverage.

Early this week, I talked to a very good friend who still lives in the Middle East.

He has forgotten more about how the Middle East really works than most ‘book writers’ have ever understood.

As we were talking I asked him a very basic question and I was surprised and frankly concerned by his answer.

I asked him if he thought Assad would stay in power and he said yes!!!!

I must tell you, that was not the answer I thought he would give me and I am still working with him on why he believes that.

The trouble is, I have always trusted in his judgment and I’m struggling with why I can’t agree with him now.

Until he and I finish talking through a few additional details on Syria, I can’t stand behind my prediction Assad will fall, but I want to.

Here may be the issue I  have to come to grips with.

The West really doesn’t want him to fail.

The verbal ‘outrage’ against Assad’s actions has been heard, but I fear he is getting a nonverbal message, actions or the lack there of, from the same countries that makes him believe he can press on.

For two weeks now I have read editorials by prominent writers talking to the basic issue of Israel and ‘others’ and  a stance of, “better the devil you know then the devil you don’t know”.

Ok, this is where I have a real problem with this theory.

It will be the people of Syria that will spill their blood for the sake of gaining their freedom.

In my humble opinion, if the West does not get behind them,  it will not be forgotten.

So, what does ‘get behind them’ mean?

I have talked about the danger of openly supporting the opposition given the ties of Assad to Iran and Iran’s desperate attitude to keeping Syria as its proxy.

Open kinetic weapons support is out of the question, but letting the opposition have a sanctioned ‘safe zone’ in Jordan is not out of the question.  

A ‘safe zone’ is a place where ‘leadership’ can exist without the fear of being bombed, shot ect.. ect..

In the cold war, it was called ‘leadership in exile’.

It’s the Syrian Opposition’s version of having a Benghazi.

Is this impossible to do?

NO!

Does this need to happen?

Something needs to happen and hear is why.

The Syrian Muslim Brotherhood is going to take the lead with the Syrian resistance and in fact they are already well on their way.

Now, I am not a fool and I realize we could do a Libyan / NATO support mission and in the end the people of Syria will probably go with a semi fundamentalist form of government anyway.

We are close to a “damned if you do and damned if you don’t” scenario, but to do nothing is to guarantee failure not only in Syria but in the Middle East.

So, let’s wrap up by going back to the beginning of this post.

I am afraid the West is simply sitting on the sidelines almost wishing the Syrian event will fix itself.

This is sending Assad a message to continue or even increase his tyrannical purge of the protestors.

Syria is not going to end up a stabilized country by the rest of the world watching on TV.

It’s not going to get better by saying “harsh words” every few days on TV.

My friend may be right; Assad may survive, but if he does, events in the Middle East and North Africa, perhaps all of Central Africa, will only get worse.

Iran will have a green light to absolutely crush any glimmer of  a ‘Tunisian Virus’ inside Iran.

They  will take the offence in Bahrain and in Saudi.

There are no easy answers here, but we are at a turning point.

We can not simply watch events unfold in Syria from the sidelines.

Taking action against UBL was  a bold statement that showed the world the US can and will do what it needs to do when it needs to do it.

That mindset may need to be repeated.



THE PALESTINIAN YOUTH MOVEMENT

Most speculate this movement is the real driving force behind Hamas and 

Fatah announcing they are ' one team' now! 

Ironic given Hamas beat these kids senseless in Gaza back in March.

To think that both Hamas and Fatah are now so worried about losing control of the PA cause that they would hold hands is an indication of just how powerful this movement can become.

The idea that Hamas didn't get guidance from Iran, Syria and Assad are a little 

preoccupied right now, would be a huge mistake. 

From Iran's viewpoint the ability to deflect the 'virus' as it consumes 

Syria and starts to lurk around the edges of Iran is an alluring idea. 

The concept of the Israeli / PA issue becoming the focal point of the public 

consciousness in the Middle East again is exactly what Iran / Syria needs right 

now. 

Iran and Syria have been safely existing for years by simply keeping the 

entire region focused on the PA statehood  issue. 

The classical ‘create an external threat and keep the population focused on it”. 

The 'Tunisian Virus' has stripped Iran and Syria of that protective shield. 

Iran will do anything to redirect the attention of the Muslim youth. 

Thus; supporting, indirectly, the unification process is absolutely 

Necessary and if the Palestinian Youth Movement makes a move on Hamas and Fatah, then Iran will back the winner!

The problem is this movement, attached article, is not concerned with what 

is good for Iran or Syria. 

It clearly doesn't even care about the opinions of Hamas and Fatah. 

They have fashioned themselves after the events in Tunisia and Egypt for a 

reason. 

They are the same group of people; Young, educated and hungry for a better world. 

 SIDE NOTE:

An interesting theory is taking shape over this whole topic of the future of the PA.

Rumor has it that Hamas reached out to the Syrian Muslim Brotherhood knowing that Assad was possibly going to fall.

Yep, the classic doubles cross.

Ya gotta love international politics!

There is no way this has taken place without Hezbollah catching wind of it.

Hezbollah may have to do the same thing if they wish to hold on to Lebanon; and I don’t think they are going to be able to do that! 

So, back to what Hamas may have pulled off.

Rumor has it Hamas was told by the SMB ( Syrian Muslim Brotherhood) they needed to work their issues with Egypt.

Egypt laid down the edict they wanted to see a unification process between Hamas and Fatah and they would be willing to open up the checkpoints into Gaza if Hamas would reach out to Fatah.

Deal Done!!

 I’ve said this time and time again.

Every day I grow more and more convinced the end state of this 'Tunisian 

Virus' is a Cairo 'event' in Israel. 

It comes at the hands of the new Palistinian Youth Movement, supported by Iran, covertly, or it comes at the hands of the new unified PA government.

To Israel it doesn’t really matter; “ pick your poison”. 

How does Israel head that off? 

How does Iran shape this event to execute just the way they want it? 

UBL may be dead, but the Middle East is on Fire!!! 

http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/features/2011/05/201153101231834961.htm