Iran’s influence in the region is waning as the Sunni-led ferment in the Arab world has left it struggling to hold on to its key asset, Syria.
http://www.jpost.com/Features/FrontL...aspx?id=279939
Just saying...It is mainly about geopolitics. The religious component is present, but an attempt to try to explain through it everything is a simplification that leads to erroneous conclusions.
In Lebanon, KSA supports the secular political forces. While secular Syria (and the Iranian theocracy) support the religious Shia terror group: Hezbollah.
In Palestine, KSA supports the secular political forces, while Iran and Syria support the religious Sunni terror groups: Islamic Jihad, and until lately, Hamas, the Palestinian MBs.
In Egypt, KSA supported the militaries and the secular candidate for the presidency and not the religious MBs or Salafists.
In Syria, KSA supports the rebels and specially the MBs...
Things are quite complex in the ME.
It is more complicated than thatThe Al-Aqsa Intifada was a sub-group of Arafat's Fatah which controlled the PLO which controlled the Palestinian Authority. A secular entity and a legitime political partner that diverted funds provided by the donor states, including the USA and EU, to renew with terror. I can believe KSA provided it with funds directly. Nevertheless, the KSA policy, regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, was a moderate one at the time as reflected by the Saudi Peace Initiative.
We were speaking about the radical religious terror groups - Hamas and Islamic Jihad - both funded by Iran and Syria.
Let's take a look at Fatha al Islam, once of the most sectarist group in Lebanon and Gaza strip
It was supposed to be alternatively financed by Syria and KSA in their battle for dominance in Lebanon and on palestinian refugees
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Pol...-al-Islam.ashx
The medias are one thing, the in the back stage support is another thing. KSA is sitting between 2 chairs : not troubling too much the US protector but also showing itself as the light of islam and playing smoothly with within the kingdom radicals.The first visit of Mosri abroad was to KSA. Egypt needs her financial support in the difficult economical context of the country.
Nevertheless, and that's what I was pointing to, during the Presidential elections, KSA medias supported openly the Morsi's secular rival.
From a religious pov it is clearly not doubtful at all. KSA is the main provider of money to Pakistani madrassas, hard line mosques both in Asia and Europe and it is the main formative of radical imams that are stirring shvt in our suburbs. Sure you can tell me it is only religious. But in islam in general and salafism in particularly, religion and politic is always linked. Hence the influence of KSA and KSA hard line ideology (wahabism) is expanding, and that worldwide.the KSA global ambitions are more doubtful.
In the kingdom, the things are already settled. Abroad KSA is just expanding its influence
Cited for truth.From a religious pov it is clearly not doubtful at all. KSA is the main provider of money to Pakistani madrassas, hard line mosques both in Asia and Europe and it is the main formative of radical imams that are stirring shvt in our suburbs. Sure you can tell me it is only religious. But in islam in general and salafism in particularly, religion and politic is always linked. Hence the influence of KSA and KSA hard line ideology (wahabism) is expanding, and that worldwide.
In the kingdom, the things are already settled. Abroad KSA is just expanding its influence
KSA is the largest exporter of oil, dates and radical Islam. Oil revenues allows KSA to bribe their own Islamists to leave a kingdom and seed the hate elsewhere against anybody but the Saudi Royal family.
I think Karelab answered very well about this case.
True. But in KSA the media reflect the position of the authorities.The medias are one thing, the in the back stage support is another thing. KSA is sitting between 2 chairs : not troubling too much the US protector but also showing itself as the light of islam and playing smoothly with within the kingdom radicals.
There was a very interesting article about it that I posted in some thread. The arguments expressed to oppose Mosri and the Salafist candidate were surprising, including an argumentation that there is an incompatibility between religion and politics.
I agree fully with you about this.From a religious pov it is clearly not doubtful at all. KSA is the main provider of money to Pakistani madrassas, hard line mosques both in Asia and Europe and it is the main formative of radical imams that are stirring shvt in our suburbs. Sure you can tell me it is only religious. But in islam in general and salafism in particularly, religion and politic is always linked. Hence the influence of KSA and KSA hard line ideology (wahabism) is expanding, and that worldwide.
In the kingdom, the things are already settled. Abroad KSA is just expanding its influence
I think our politicians are not doing enough about this. They focus only on terror organizations and do not put enough pressure on all those that spread radical Islam indoctrination.
KSA is a leader in this field. Egypt also is very well positioned. In Palestinian areas, radicalism benefit directly, or indirectly, of our tax layers funds.
I think KSA should be pressured to stop it. All those that benefit or need our financial aid (Egypt, Palestinians...) should be forced to provide their childrens with proper education.
http://www.rbcnews.com/free/20120803184818.shtmlSyrian Deputy PM: Russia agrees to supply oil products
RBC, 03.08.2012, Moscow 18:48:18.Russia has agreed to supply petroleum products to Syria to compensate for economic sanctions imposed by the European Union and the U.S., Syrian Deputy Prime Minister Qadri Jamil said at a news conference today.
The two parties have worked out a mechanism which is expected to help Syria overcome its shortage of oil products, he said.
Russia has promised to consider granting a loan to Syria to help the country overcome its current difficulties, Jamil also said, without elaborating.
Saudi, Qatar, and the United States are throwing the FSA weapons and supplies, so it's only natural for Russia to play logistics specialist for Assad.
Russia denies warships heading for Syria
http://english.ruvr.ru/2012_08_03/Ru...ing-for-Syria/Russia’s Defence Ministry has denied reports that large landing ships of the Northern Fleet carrying marines had planned to visit Syria’s Tartus port.
“They are not planning to visit the naval maintenance facility at Tartus but this cannot be excluded,” a Defence Ministry official said.
This group consists of auxiliary ships, and this makes it possible for the landing ships to fill their reserves at the sea and fulfill tasks independently.
“At the same time, if the expedition is extended and the tasks set before them increased, the group enjoys the right to fill it reserves at Tartus port,”Defence Ministry official clarified.
On the 4th of August, the warships of the Northern Fleet will start theiroceanic voyage.
TASS
What is it with overeager Naval officers and making mission statements? This is 4th time the MoD had to clarify what a "source" said.
Several sources indicates that Manpads have been provided to the FSA.no Stingers
As for antitank weapons, first to use a TOW you have to be trained for it. That's the same problem that occured in Libya last year. It was long before Milan missiles were provided because of lack of training of the insurgents. And still there were far more advisors on the ground. Other kind of Atk weapons are probably provided. And why give AT4 when there is plenty of RPG (and RPG rouns) in eastern/western/local stockpiles
Regarding the TOWs in Libya, training is one thing. But also pro-G forces largely abandoned mechanized forces warfare after NATO strikes (especially after Benghazi where their armored collum was completely obliterated and in Misrata where rebel forces picked them up one by one with RPGs), reducing number of tanks and IFVs on the battleground. And my personal opinion about the arming? That it largely comes from finances which are provided by middlemen to FSA commanders, who in turn buy those weapons from black market in Lebanon, Turkey, Iraq or even Syria itself.
And FN FALs,and M16A2s, and G3A3s and CAR-15s ect
Russia is just reacting normally to the situation, the Rebs getting supplies, Assad will get fuel and spare parts. Although his Armored Corps and Mechanized Infantry Formations are becoming more of a hindrance than a Assret.