News from the Middle East

[scandal 951]

Here are some leading headlines from the Middle East today. Nothing special about today, mind you. These headlines are routine on just about any day.

Yemen protesters storm elite military base; 50 die

By AHMED AL-HAJ and HAMZA HENDAWI

The Associated Press

Updated Sep 19, 2011 09:31PM

Sanaa, Yemen • Thousands of protesters backed by military defectors seized a base of the elite Republican Guards on Monday, weakening the control of Yemen’s embattled president over this poor, fractured Arab nation. His forces fired on unarmed demonstrators elsewhere in the capital, killing scores, wounding hundreds and sparking international condemnation.

UN: At least 100 killed in Syria during past week

September 19, 2011

GENEVA—The U.N. human rights office says security forces have killed at least 100 people in Syria during the past week.

U.N. Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights Kang Kyung-wha said Monday that the latest figures bring the death toll during months of unrest in Syria to more than 2,700 people, including at least 100 children.

Senior policeman survives Pakistan suicide blast, 8 dead Taliban claims Karachi blast

By Sahar Ahmed and Imtiaz Shah

KARACHI | Mon Sep 19, 2011 3:30pm EDT

KARACHI (Reuters) - At least eight people were killed, including six policemen, after a Taliban suicide bomber drove an explosives-laden car into the home of a senior police official in Pakistan's commercial hub Karachi on Monday.

Report: Iran hangs 22 men for drug trafficking

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) – An Iranian state-owned newspaper says authorities have hanged 22 people convicted of drug trafficking.

Now, here are the Middle East related threads on this forum from the past week:

Palestinians to seek full UN membership Sept. 23

All alone on Israel island

Saudis sound warning on blocking Palestinian statehood

PLO ambassador says Palestinian state should be free of Jews

PLO official: I never called for a Jew-free Palestine

"Israel abandoned"

Exhibit of Gaza children's art shut down in Bay Area

Turkish warships will escort aid vessels to Gaza

Egyptians break into Israel Embassy in Cairo

Were Palestinians expelled or fled?

Netanyahu confronts the new Middle East

Eleven threads that relate to Israel, the Palestinians, or both.

Notice anything? No Iran, no Syria, no Yemen, no Pakistan threads? I wonder why that is?

Now, don't get me wrong. On many levels I think the MidEast related discussion here is just fine.

I think it's perfectly appropriate that people post on whatever topic they're interested in.

If we have people fascinated by Israel and Palestine, and bored about what's going on in Yemen or Syria, who am I to say we should have 11 Yemen threads or 11 Syria threads? We'll have threads on those topics people feel like talking about. And on that note, I feel like talking about some comparatve assessment of violence in the Middle East.

I also don't intend to suggest that Israel's human rights record should be compared to the vile abuses going on in dictatorial despotic countries like Yemen or Syria or Iran. If Israel has blemishes on its record, it should be held to account for them. I hold Israel in high regard and I expect actions taken by the Israeli government, military and other official organs to be held to a high standard of human rights, due process, and applicable laws. When there are deviations, I expect inquiries, criticism and censure. I have no such illusions about the other nations in the region. I don't expect any standards of human rights or ethical behavior by Syria, Iran, Yemen, or by Hamas and Hezbollah for that matter.

I do think it's interesting that a very small country with a combined Arab+Jewish population of perhaps 12 million or so can dominate the discussions of the region so completely. I mean, Iran, Egypt, Turkey - these are all much bigger and more prominent countries. And the human rights issues going on throughout the region are no less troubling - in fact, I think one could argue that the plight of the forgotten Kurds in Iran and Turkey is every bit as disturbing as that of the Palestinians. And yet, I've never seen a Kurdistan thread here. Why is that, I wonder?

Now, I do personally have a vested interest in Israel. I lived there, I have family there, it's natural that I care more about the news from there than from, say, Kurdistan. And I appreciate that other regular posters in this forum also have personal stories connected to Palestine or Israel. Fair enough, it's their passionate individual cause. What I don't quite get are the regular commentators who have no particular tie to Israel, Palestine, or the Mid East in general who seem so caught up in that one particular struggle, that one territorial dispute. What gives? I'm really curious about that. There are plenty of territorial disputes and displaced populations in the region - what that one?

I'm also interested in knowing why the regular ongoing assertions that Israel is a "terrorist nation", a country that practices "genocide", that is supposedly unlawful from its very inception, whose every action is apparently immoral, illegal, unjust and criminal -- are continued day after day, thread after thread. And yet nobody wants to discuss the fact that Iran is hanging people? That Yemen is shooting protestors? That Syria has killed thousands in the past few months? That Islamic terrorists are killing other Muslims in Pakistan in suicide attacks? Wow. That Israel must be some particularly nasty country to be such a topic of discussion that none of these other atrocities register. Gee gilligans.

[luckytxn 2,264]

Here are some leading headlines from the Middle East today. Nothing special about today, mind you. These headlines are routine on just about any day.

Yemen protesters storm elite military base; 50 die

By AHMED AL-HAJ and HAMZA HENDAWI

The Associated Press

Updated Sep 19, 2011 09:31PM

Sanaa, Yemen • Thousands of protesters backed by military defectors seized a base of the elite Republican Guards on Monday, weakening the control of Yemen's embattled president over this poor, fractured Arab nation. His forces fired on unarmed demonstrators elsewhere in the capital, killing scores, wounding hundreds and sparking international condemnation.

UN: At least 100 killed in Syria during past week

September 19, 2011

GENEVA—The U.N. human rights office says security forces have killed at least 100 people in Syria during the past week.

U.N. Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights Kang Kyung-wha said Monday that the latest figures bring the death toll during months of unrest in Syria to more than 2,700 people, including at least 100 children.

Senior policeman survives Pakistan suicide blast, 8 dead Taliban claims Karachi blast

By Sahar Ahmed and Imtiaz Shah

KARACHI | Mon Sep 19, 2011 3:30pm EDT

KARACHI (Reuters) - At least eight people were killed, including six policemen, after a Taliban suicide bomber drove an explosives-laden car into the home of a senior police official in Pakistan's commercial hub Karachi on Monday.

Report: Iran hangs 22 men for drug trafficking

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) – An Iranian state-owned newspaper says authorities have hanged 22 people convicted of drug trafficking.

Now, here are the Middle East related threads on this forum from the past week:

Palestinians to seek full UN membership Sept. 23

All alone on Israel island

Saudis sound warning on blocking Palestinian statehood

PLO ambassador says Palestinian state should be free of Jews

PLO official: I never called for a Jew-free Palestine

"Israel abandoned"

Exhibit of Gaza children's art shut down in Bay Area

Turkish warships will escort aid vessels to Gaza

Egyptians break into Israel Embassy in Cairo

Were Palestinians expelled or fled?

Netanyahu confronts the new Middle East

Eleven threads that relate to Israel, the Palestinians, or both.

Notice anything? No Iran, no Syria, no Yemen, no Pakistan threads? I wonder why that is?

Now, don't get me wrong. On many levels I think the MidEast related discussion here is just fine.

I think it's perfectly appropriate that people post on whatever topic they're interested in.

If we have people fascinated by Israel and Palestine, and bored about what's going on in Yemen or Syria, who am I to say we should have 11 Yemen threads or 11 Syria threads? We'll have threads on those topics people feel like talking about. And on that note, I feel like talking about some comparatve assessment of violence in the Middle East.

I also don't intend to suggest that Israel's human rights record should be compared to the vile abuses going on in dictatorial despotic countries like Yemen or Syria or Iran. If Israel has blemishes on its record, it should be held to account for them. I hold Israel in high regard and I expect actions taken by the Israeli government, military and other official organs to be held to a high standard of human rights, due process, and applicable laws. When there are deviations, I expect inquiries, criticism and censure. I have no such illusions about the other nations in the region. I don't expect any standards of human rights or ethical behavior by Syria, Iran, Yemen, or by Hamas and Hezbollah for that matter.

I do think it's interesting that a very small country with a combined Arab+Jewish population of perhaps 12 million or so can dominate the discussions of the region so completely. I mean, Iran, Egypt, Turkey - these are all much bigger and more prominent countries. And the human rights issues going on throughout the region are no less troubling - in fact, I think one could argue that the plight of the forgotten Kurds in Iran and Turkey is every bit as disturbing as that of the Palestinians. And yet, I've never seen a Kurdistan thread here. Why is that, I wonder?

Now, I do personally have a vested interest in Israel. I lived there, I have family there, it's natural that I care more about the news from there than from, say, Kurdistan. And I appreciate that other regular posters in this forum also have personal stories connected to Palestine or Israel. Fair enough, it's their passionate individual cause. What I don't quite get are the regular commentators who have no particular tie to Israel, Palestine, or the Mid East in general who seem so caught up in that one particular struggle, that one territorial dispute. What gives? I'm really curious about that. There are plenty of territorial disputes and displaced populations in the region - what that one?

I'm also interested in knowing why the regular ongoing assertions that Israel is a "terrorist nation", a country that practices "genocide", that is supposedly unlawful from its very inception, whose every action is apparently immoral, illegal, unjust and criminal -- are continued day after day, thread after thread. And yet nobody wants to discuss the fact that Iran is hanging people? That Yemen is shooting protestors? That Syria has killed thousands in the past few months? That Islamic terrorists are killing other Muslims in Pakistan in suicide attacks? Wow. That Israel must be some particularly nasty country to be such a topic of discussion that none of these other atrocities register. Gee gilligans.

There is a big vote expected this next week so are we allowed to discuss that?

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

The Israel vs Palestinian thing always makes for a good argument. Although like thousands have been killed in Syria yet you don't hear a peep about that one from Arabs. I mean it's like someone forgot the World Cup or something. Kind of weird if you ask me.

[웃 910]

I think VW and WMD mean well. I can see where they (VW / WMD) are coming from since we live in a mainly pro-Israeli / anti-Arab country (for the most part).

Out of the gaza-illion pages I have probably only read a few. Most of it seemed ok minus the occasional name calling / stereotyping.

But you make some amazing points.

[scandal 951]

There is a big vote expected this next week so are we allowed to discuss that?

Yes, of course you are.

There are also ongoing efforts to have a UN Security Council censure of Syria's human rights abuses. Only the predictable forces (Russia, China) are expected to be automatic vetoes of such a censure. Assad's government has butchered thousands of his own people in the streets in his desperate campaign to cling to power. I feel like discussing that, too. Are you interested?

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

I think VW and WMD mean well. I can see where they (VW / WMD) are coming from since we live in a mainly pro-Israeli / anti-Arab country (for the most part).

Out of the gaza-illion pages I have probably only read a few. Most of it seemed ok minus the occasional name calling / stereotyping.

But you make some amazing points.

Those two can debate to no end. It's like their on internet steroids or something. Good fun with those two. Soffyia is cool, and WoM seems solid.

Edited September 20, 2011 by Why_Me

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

Yes, of course you are.

There are also ongoing efforts to have a UN Security Council censure of Syria's human rights abuses. Only the predictable forces (Russia, China) are expected to be automatic vetoes of such a censure. Assad's government has butchered thousands of his own people in the streets in his desperate campaign to cling to power. I feel like discussing that, too. Are you interested?

The "Arab League" ...which is about as useful as tits on a nun, told everyone to stay out of the Syria situation. It seems like they don't have a problem with Assad butchering fellow Arabs. Go figure eh.

[Ban Hammer 13,346]

I think VW and WMD mean well. I can see where they (VW / WMD) are coming from since we live in a mainly pro-Israeli / anti-Arab country (for the most part).

Out of the gaza-illion pages I have probably only read a few. Most of it seemed ok minus the occasional name calling / stereotyping.

But you make some amazing points.

wmd?

[Sofiyya 1,687]

Notice anything? No Iran, no Syria, no Yemen, no Pakistan threads? I wonder why that is?

Feel free to start them any time you like. I'm PALESTINIAN, and WOM is married to a PALESTINIAN, so, we are interested in PALESTINE. Iranians, Syrians, and Pakistanis who wish to post threads about Iran, Syria and Pakistan get no complaints from me.

You're getting pretty whiny these days, scandal. Did your bromance go bad?

[Sofiyya 1,687]

What I don't quite get are the regular commentators who have no particular tie to Israel, Palestine, or the Mid East in general who seem so caught up in that one particular struggle, that one territorial dispute. What gives? I'm really curious about that. There are plenty of territorial disputes and displaced populations in the region - what that one?

Now I know you don't read the threads. Both WOM and I have family there. I also have deeds in a box I'm eager to redeem on land stolen by Israel.

What is the purpose of this thread now? For you to (once again) make like you're the only person on P&R who can possibly have a stake or interest in the Middle East conflict on the basis of your family or ancestry? Well, you're not. And, if you don't like people with no ties posting on Israel, then why are you suggesting that people with no ties to Iran, Syria or Yemen, etc. post about them?

VJ geez.

Those two can debate to no end. It's like their on internet steroids or something. Good fun with those two. Soffyia is cool, and WoM seems solid.

I kinda like you, too, weird man.

[scandal 951]

http://www.haaretz.com/news/middle-east/belarus-suspected-of-helping-iran-develop-nuclear-capabilities-1.384616

Belarus suspected of helping Iran develop nuclear capabilities

If suspicions confirmed, Belarus would join China, Russia, Syria, North Korea, Turkey and other states believed to have helped Tehran flout UN measures since late 2006.

By Reuters Tags: Iran Iran threat Iran nuclear

Belarus is the latest country that Western powers suspect of helping Iran skirt UN sanctions aimed at preventing it from expanding its ballistic missile and nuclear programs, Western diplomats told Reuters on Thursday.

If the suspicions are confirmed, the already isolated Belarus would join China, Russia, Syria, North Korea, Turkey and other states Western powers believe have helped Tehran flout UN measures since the Security Council adopted its first sanctions resolution against Iran in late 2006.

The suspicions were expected to be raised during a visit by several members of a UN panel of experts to Belarus this month to discuss compliance with the UN ban on selling Iran nuclear and missile technology, diplomats said.

Tehran, accused by Western powers and their allies of developing a nuclear-weapons capability under the guise of a civilian atomic-energy program, says its nuclear ambitions are limited to the peaceful generation of electricity. Iran also dismisses all sanctions against it as illegal.

Diplomats told Reuters on condition of anonymity that Belarus is beginning to act as a kind of middleman to help secure the Iranians access to Russian technology.

"Belarus is becoming a key element in Iran's efforts to develop its SSM (surface-to-surface missile) and nuclear capabilities, especially with regard to navigation and guidance products, which are defined as dual-use," a diplomat said.

"Belarus is becoming increasingly important to Iran, due to the drastic reduction in Iran's ability to procure products from countries such as China, Russia and Dubai, which used to be its major sources of such procurement," he said.

Several Western diplomats confirmed his remarks about Iran and Belarus, including the Iranians' interest in navigation and guidance technology for their missile program.

Belarus is ‘on our radar’

Belarus itself has been under U.S. and European Union sanctions since President Alexander Lukashenko, in power since 1994, launched a crackdown on protesters in December 2010 following a presidential election that Lukashenko's critics say he rigged.

The country is now in the throes of economic crisis.

[Sofiyya 1,687]

Is it assumed that people who have an interest in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict should also have an interest in Iran, Yemen, Syria, Egypt? Why? Coz Arabs are responsible for everything that other Arabs are doing? That's stereotyping, which is plenty stupid.

[scandal 951]

In the Middle East, everything's connected.... Iran, Syria, Hamas, and of course ...... $$$

http://www.haaretz.com/news/middle-east/iran-cuts-hamas-funding-for-failing-to-show-support-for-assad-1.379845

Iran cuts Hamas funding for failing to show support for Assad

Hamas has denied that it is in financial crisis but says it faces liquidity problems stemming from inconsistent revenues from tax collection in the Gaza Strip and foreign aid.

By Reuters

Iran has reduced or possibly halted its funding of Hamas after the Islamist movement, which rules the Gaza Strip, failed to show public support for Syrian President Bashar Assad, diplomats said on Sunday.

Hamas has denied that it is in financial crisis but says it faces liquidity problems stemming from inconsistent revenues from tax collection in the Gaza Strip and foreign aid.

The West refuses to have diplomatic relations with the group because it refuses to recognize Israel and renounce violence. It receives undisclosed sums of cash from Iran, which has acknowledged providing financial and political support to Hamas.

One diplomat, who asked not to be identified, said intelligence reports showed that Iran had reduced funding for Hamas.

Other diplomatic sources, also relying on intelligence assessments, said the payments had stopped over the past two months.

The diplomats cited Iran's displeasure over Hamas' refusal to hold rallies in support of Tehran's ally, Assad, in Palestinian refugee camps in Syria after an uprising against his rule. Hamas' leadership outside the Gaza Strip is headquartered in Damascus.

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

http://www.haaretz.com/news/middle-east/belarus-suspected-of-helping-iran-develop-nuclear-capabilities-1.384616

Belarus has been tight with Iran ever since that Stalin wannabee dictator took over. He's tight with North Korea, Iran, Venezuela, etc.. dictators stick together. Also Ukraine was in the mix with Iran, and Israel knows this. How many scientist connected with the Iranian nuclear program have been knocked off by Mossad in the past few years?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43865727/ns/world_news-mideast_n_africa/t/iranian-nuclear-scientist-killed-assassin-motorcycle/

Iranian nuclear scientist killed by assassin on motorcycle

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/iran/8168693/Iranian-nuclear-scientist-killed-by-Mossad-or-the-CIA.html

Iranian nuclear scientist 'killed by Mossad or the CIA'

[Ban Hammer 13,346]

In the Middle East, everything's connected.... Iran, Syria, Hamas, and of course ...... $$$

http://www.haaretz.com/news/middle-east/iran-cuts-hamas-funding-for-failing-to-show-support-for-assad-1.379845

interesting....i thought iran didn't like syria and especially assad.