West Asia News and Discussions (YEMEN, gulf)

habal · Post by **habal** » 08 Dec 2015 12:45

gents pls note on google map where Jizan is. It is the starting point of highway 5, that goes straight to Mecca.

panduranghari · Post by **panduranghari** » 08 Dec 2015 13:13

deejay wrote:Anyone keeping scores on ships lost by Saudi coalition to Houthis- is this new or old ? What's the size of Saudi Navy?

on a related note, Yemeni army seize Saudi military base

The Yemeni War has spilt over into Saudi Arabia and as a result, the Saudi regime that was once on the offensive inside of Yemen is now on the defensive as the Yemeni Army’s Republican Guard and their popular committees – specifically, the Houthis – are pressing deeper into enemy territory.

On Monday morning in the southern Saudi Arabian province of Jizan, the Yemeni Army’s Republican Guard and the Houthis seized a strategic military center inside the city of Radeef after killing several enemy combatants from the Saudi-led Coalition Forces that are made-up of primarily foreign mercenaries and soldiers from the Gulf states.

Well HAbal ji has already posted this.

kmkraoind · Post by **kmkraoind** » 08 Dec 2015 13:34

habal wrote:gents pls note on google map where Jizan is. It is the starting point of highway 5, that goes straight to Mecca.

That Jizan province is a Shia-dominated province too.

Lalmohan · Post by **Lalmohan** » 08 Dec 2015 13:39

meanwhile, saudis and iranians have failed to reach agreement on oil production levels, looks like we're heading for $20/barrel next year

if the downward pressure continues, there could be all kinds of interesting repercussions

1. good news for India - heavily dependant on oil imports
2. china supplanting US as key buyer of saudi oil
3. cut backs in saudi state funding
a. reduction in wahabbi exports (???? inshallah)
b. cut backs in the welfare state handouts --> social unrest/upheaval
4. break up of OPEC
5. dominance of russian/iranian block

syria might just be a side show after all...

Aditya_V · Post by **Aditya_V** » 08 Dec 2015 14:19

Lalmohan 3- will not happen, there will be a coupe in Saudi, I dont see 20 Dollar oil. I dont govt to reduce prices but use this windfall to

a) Reduce our out of control Fiscal deficit

b) Invest in important Infrastructure/ defense initiatives which create knowledge based jobs in India.

habal · Post by **habal** » 08 Dec 2015 14:25

strategic sense of highway 5 has just dawned on me. It is Iran's way of pointing sharp end of sword at Saudi leadership what it can do if there is another shia stampede in Mecca.

Lalmohan · Post by **Lalmohan** » 08 Dec 2015 14:26

aditya - in some ways 3b and a coup are similar

question is what form will it take? another prince? a man of the people? a tribal uprising?

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 08 Dec 2015 15:10

population density map of KSA
http://sedac.ciesin.columbia.edu/downlo ... audens.jpg

that patch upto makkah is the most settled province of the kingdom.

Lalmohan · Post by **Lalmohan** » 08 Dec 2015 16:02

jeddah to makkah - thats the key (sunni) region, and jeddah is apparently the most 'liberal'

Shanu · Post by **Shanu** » 08 Dec 2015 20:32

Well, the Saudis are supporting IS expansion but is the IS doing the same for the Saudis? The answer is a bit muddy right now. The case in point is the murder of the Aden Governor. In recent news, the Saudi puppet President of Yemen - Hadi is calling for a 7 day truce. So the two-front war with the Houthis and the IS is not really going smoothly, i guess.

Compared to that, Turkey-IS relations are clear as daylight. Not a single major attack on Turkey was directed at Erdogan and his ilk. And now we hear the Saudis are sending soldiers to Turkey as a global Sunni force takes shape. Is it an indication that Turkey is firmly taking control of the Sunni narrative? Is Turkey the new boss and not the Saudi Arabs? That is a significant re-alignment of the Sunni hierarchy in just 1.5 years of this Islamic War.

Lalmohan · Post by **Lalmohan** » 08 Dec 2015 20:37

this is how it used to be when the great sultan sat in the top kapi palace and the saudis were eking a miserable existance out of the desert sands

JE Menon · Post by **JE Menon** » 08 Dec 2015 20:44

A friend of mine, a senior executive who is not Indian, wanted my opinion on a specific question about Saudi Arabia, from the perspective of a leading global brand. Here's what I told him 10 days ago, thought I'd share:
_________________

Here are the key points which are not in favour of Saudi Arabia (economically):

1. Oil price is down (may go further down), but chance of major upswing - which is what Riyadh needs - is not likely to happen in near future, i.e. until mid- to end-2017 in my opinion. The only factor that can change this is a major war between countries - unlike the minor localised wars of groups at the moment.

2. KSA is facing a "perfect storm" of market factors - (a) American frackers who are just waiting for prices to go up to start producing which means prices will go down again - with Riyadh losing market share in the process; (b) strong global push for renewable energies among major consumers - especially India and China - watch the climate change conference underway; (c) general resistance in the world (west and east) to becoming tied to Middle Eastern producers of oil who are ISIS supporters (and we know who they are); (d) on the political side KSA does not want Iran to make more money from oil exports, and the US does not want Russia to do the same as well - so hardliners in both countries are not that keen on price rises either; and (e) whatever money it is getting at the current oil price, more of it is going into arms imports etc. rather than government spending on boosting the local economy in a big way. None of this will change in foreseeable future.

3. The final, and probably least noticed, of the issues that can prevent and/or delay a rise in market prices are the following: (1) new oil production is going to steadily come on stream in the years ahead on the East African oil deposits off the African seaboard and inland; (2) new Mediterranean deposits off Cyprus, and Egypt (which are closer to Europe); (3) steady replacement of oil with natural gas, nuclear and renewables (solar, wind) - with the steady development of technology in all cases bring production and utilisation costs steadily downward.

Net net - KSA is fu(ked if it depends on oil exports alone, and does not expand gas exports, and pursue local substitution to renewables to free up more oil for export. It does not have to be fu(ked, if it follows some simple rules - expand gas and mineral exports big time, reduce local consumption of oil in favour or renewables and export more, etc. But this does not mean oil price will go up, just that KSA gets more money - but that is what it needs in the end to keep the regime afloat and spend money on the local economy, helping abcdeuvwxyz in the process.

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 08 Dec 2015 20:51

AIR reports that it is the differences between the Soothis/OPEC and the US that saw no agreement reached on oil pricing and a policy of "every nation for itself and the devil take the hindmost" is on!

That the Soothis are beating the retreat in the Yemen is only to be expected ,as this is the classic battle manoeuvre of the Western/US forces.

JEM,you're spot on.This latest act of global perfidy by the Soothis shows that they're up sh*t street,why they've "contracted out" to ISIS the task of redrawing the ME map for their own survival.

And here are the despicable Soothis at it again,trying to sabotage the Paris Climate summit!

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/ ... imate-deal

Saudi Arabia accused of trying to wreck Paris climate deal

One of the world’s largest oil producers is getting in the way of a deal and making implausible objections, say delegates and campaigners
Suzanne Goldenberg in Paris

Tuesday 8 December 2015
Saudi Arabia stood accused on Tuesday of trying to wreck the Paris climate summit in order to protect its future as one of the world’s largest oil producers.

As the talks entered the home stretch, developing country negotiators and campaigners became increasingly vocal in their complaints that the kingdom was getting in the way of a deal.

“They are seeing the writing on the wall,” said Wael Hmaidan , director of Climate Action Network, the global campaign group. “The world is changing and it’s making them very nervous.”

Those concerns about the future for an economy almost entirely dependent on fossil fuels was reflected in the negotiations, other observers said.

“Anything that would increase ambition or fast forward this energy transition that is already taking place is something that they try to block,” Hmaidan said.

Saudi Arabia did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Until it was eclipsed by the US, the Saudi kingdom was the world’s largest oil producer and currently ranks as the 10th largest polluter, according to Enerdata .

Saudi Arabia has long played a high-profile presence at annual climate summits operating from the luxuriously appointed pavillions of the Gulf Co-operation Council – and over the years has regularly been accused of blocking action on climate change.

In the run-up to the Paris summit, however, the kingdom adopted a more amenable posture. Last month it delivered a plan to fight climate change, pledging a “significant deviation” in emissions, but was the last G20 country to submit its offer to the United Nations, and analysts described the targets as opaque.

Last May, Ali al-Naimi acknowledged the global economy was moving away from fossil fuels – and said that Saudi Arabia was prepared to move with it.

“In Saudi Arabia, we recognise that eventually, one of these days, we are not going to need fossil fuels. I don’t know when, in 2040, 2050 or thereafter,” he said.

Oil analysts note the kingdom also faces enormous domestic pressure to diversity its electricity supply. Nearly all of Saudi Arabia’s domestic electricity supply comes from oil, and keeping the lights on and air conditioners humming is taking up a growing share of production that would otherwise have been sold for export.

Behind the closed doors of negotiating sessions, however, the Saudis have strenuously resisted efforts to enshrine ambitious goals into the text of a Paris agreement.

The Saudis objected even to the mention of 1.5C – a new more ambitious target for limiting warming now endorsed by more than 100 countries including vulnerable low-lying states and big polluters such as the European Union and US.

The kingdom balked at the goal of decarbonising the economy by 2050.

The Saudis have also objected to demands for periodic reviews of climate plans, according to accounts from negotiators and observers. Saudi delegates complain that submitting a climate plan before Paris was difficult enough.

“It is unacceptable for developing countries, like my own, to be asked to participate in this so called ratchet mechanism,” the Saudis were reported to have told the session.

“It was tough, we had to go to every ministry, every part of government. We developing countries don’t have the capacity to do this every five years. We are too poor, we have too many other priorities. It’s unacceptable,” a Saudi delegate said.

And although Saudia Arabia ranks as the world’s 15th largest economy, it has resisted efforts to grow the Green Climate Fund to help poorer countries cope with global warming – insisting only industrialised countries contribute.

Saudi negotiators have also demanded that if tiny islands like Kiribati be compensated for climate change, they should also be protected from loss of future oil income, and they have sought financial aid to acquire new green energy technology.

By Tuesday, the Saudi obstruction had even begun to rankle with other members of the Arab League, campaign groups said.

Egypt officially embraced the 1.5C goal at the start of the talks. However, Arab countries as a bloc have yet to endorse the more ambitious target – even though countries such as Morocco are hosting next year’s UN talks and have been praised as a progressive country on climate change.

“We feel Saudi Arabia is playing a bully role in undermining the position of other Arab countries,” Hmaidan said. “It is unfortunate that the Arab group is the only group opposing 1.5C.”

Lalmohan · Post by **Lalmohan** » 08 Dec 2015 20:52

a good outcome for the world will be the end of OPEC and the cutting down to size of saudi arabia

JE Menon · Post by **JE Menon** » 08 Dec 2015 20:57

Just a datapoint in case it is not known, all three provinces - Asir, Jizan and Najran - are disputed by the Yemenis and Saudis.

RoyG · Post by **RoyG** » 08 Dec 2015 22:45

JE Menon wrote:A friend of mine, a senior executive who is not Indian, wanted my opinion on a specific question about Saudi Arabia, from the perspective of a leading global brand. Here's what I told him 10 days ago, thought I'd share:
_________________

Here are the key points which are not in favour of Saudi Arabia (economically):

1. Oil price is down (may go further down), but chance of major upswing - which is what Riyadh needs - is not likely to happen in near future, i.e. until mid- to end-2017 in my opinion. The only factor that can change this is a major war between countries - unlike the minor localised wars of groups at the moment.

2. KSA is facing a "perfect storm" of market factors - (a) American frackers who are just waiting for prices to go up to start producing which means prices will go down again - with Riyadh losing market share in the process; (b) strong global push for renewable energies among major consumers - especially India and China - watch the climate change conference underway; (c) general resistance in the world (west and east) to becoming tied to Middle Eastern producers of oil who are ISIS supporters (and we know who they are); (d) on the political side KSA does not want Iran to make more money from oil exports, and the US does not want Russia to do the same as well - so hardliners in both countries are not that keen on price rises either; and (e) whatever money it is getting at the current oil price, more of it is going into arms imports etc. rather than government spending on boosting the local economy in a big way. None of this will change in foreseeable future.

3. The final, and probably least noticed, of the issues that can prevent and/or delay a rise in market prices are the following: (1) new oil production is going to steadily come on stream in the years ahead on the East African oil deposits off the African seaboard and inland; (2) new Mediterranean deposits off Cyprus, and Egypt (which are closer to Europe); (3) steady replacement of oil with natural gas, nuclear and renewables (solar, wind) - with the steady development of technology in all cases bring production and utilisation costs steadily downward.

Net net - KSA is fu(ked if it depends on oil exports alone, and does not expand gas exports, and pursue local substitution to renewables to free up more oil for export. It does not have to be fu(ked, if it follows some simple rules - expand gas and mineral exports big time, reduce local consumption of oil in favour or renewables and export more, etc. But this does not mean oil price will go up, just that KSA gets more money - but that is what it needs in the end to keep the regime afloat and spend money on the local economy, helping abcdeuvwxyz in the process.

Adityakarans comprehensive power breakdown derived from Arthashastra:

Political leadership - Firm but rising tribal, religious, and family discord.

Bureaucracy and Judiciary - Simple law and order in check but are failing to contain growing Shia insurrection. Advisers in domestic and foreign policy matters have clearly lost their minds. They're losing influence to the Russians and Shias in the periphery. Lack of any major industrialization outside oil sector for the past 40 years demonstrates lack of foresight by strategic thinkers.

Demography, Territory, Natural Resources, Education, etc. - Unable to contemplate a proper theological, ethical, and educational framework to create self sustaining R&D and large scale manufacturing. Too dependent on petro revenue. Fertility rate is fine. Piss poor in natural resources except for oil and gas. Import 70% of food. Water stress being dealt with rather effectively. Demography overall including fertility rate is OK.

Fortifications and Infrastructure - Civilian and energy infra (pipeline and electricity distribution) is good. Efficient transport between cities may be lacking in scale a bit. Peninsula overall is sparsely populated. Susceptible to nibbling of territory.

Industry, Economy, and Financial Architecture - Petro industries in good shape, rest pathetic. Economy and financial industries too dependent on oil revenue and petrodollar recycling. Very susceptible to external shocks and world wide energy diversification push.

Security Forces - Rolex soldiers. Lack r&d, manufacturing base, and resources to produce military hardware, hence reliant almost completely on imports. Army poorly trained. Internal security including intelligence apparatus ok. External intelligence good overall in aiding Islamists groups fighting in Iraq and Syria. Funneling money to charities around the world and propagating Islam extremely effective (Soft power). Overall, PATHETIC in terms of hard power. Importing talent in the form of trainers and mercenaries. Unable to deal with Houthi insurgency.

Alliances - Demonstrating flexibility by talking with SCO. US security guarantee a huge bonus but cracks showing. They are being outmaneuvered by Russia and Iran.

svinayak · Post by **svinayak** » 08 Dec 2015 22:53

Oil prices will be $20 per gallon
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/brace- ... =mw_fb_ntk
The case for $20 oil is getting stronger by the day

Prem · Post by **Prem** » 08 Dec 2015 23:10

svinayak wrote:Oil prices will be $20 per gallon
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/brace- ... =mw_fb_ntk
The case for $20 oil is getting stronger by the day

Per Barrel, We do not want 20$ per gallon.

Prem · Post by **Prem** » 09 Dec 2015 00:39

India, Iran discuss undersea gas pipeline bypassing Pakistan
http://www.thehindu.com/business/india- ... 958494.ece

A senior Iranian official said on Monday that negotiations are being held to build a $4.5 billion undersea gas pipeline from Iran to India following New Delhi’s rejection of the proposal for an on-land pipeline that would pass through Pakistan.“Negotiations are under serious consideration,” said National Iranian Gas Export Company managing director Alireza Kameli at the World Energy Policy Summit in India.Necessary approvals and agreements for gas sale and purchase are yet to be signed, the official said. The pipeline from the Iranian coast via the Oman Sea and Indian Ocean to Gujarat will likely to be built in two years and will carry about 31.5 million standard cubic metres gas per day.“We welcome India’s participation. At the moment, Iran is in negotiations with South Asia Gas Enterprise (SAGE) for construction of an undersea line,” Kameli said.Further, according to the proposal which is currently under scrutiny, SAGE will lay a 1,400km pipeline bypassing the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of Pakistan. Companies wishing to buy gas from Iran will have to rent the pipeline.India has not participated in talks on the 1,036km Iran-Pakistan-India ((IPI)) gas pipeline since 2007, owing to security and commercial threats.Referring to the IPI project earlier, Assocham Secretary General D S Rawat remarked that the proposed pipeline projects involving Pakistan may not materialise due to the critical political situation.Iran’s strategic port offer to help India bypass Pakistan“Given the kind of serious political problems, the proposed pipeline projects involving Pakistan, it is feared, may remain a pipe dream. All other viable alternatives to enhance India’s energy security must be explored,” he said.The consortium of Indian public sector companies, ONGC Videsh, Oil India and India Oil Corporation, had discovered gas in the Farzad-B block in Iran in 2008 and subsequently, prepared a field development plan to recover about 12.8 trillion cubic feet of gas. However, according to Assocham, the plan had to be abandoned following sanctions on Iran. India has already spent $90 million on exploration.

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 09 Dec 2015 13:25

$25 may be a possibility.I doubt that the major producers will want it to drop so low as it would kill a lot of cos. Global tension,crises will only escalate,esp. in the ME so that fears will send the prices higher. watch out for willful destruction of Syrian and Iraqi oilfields to help the Soothis.They are in sh*t street and descending even further into the morass. There is bound to be internal blood-letting within the ruling royals and this conference to try and cobble together a mil force to topple Assad is the desperate throw of the dice of the gambler whose pile is evaporating. There is too much of strategic value and loss of face that the Russians may lose if they abandon Assad. The West are marginal to the outcome.Both their mil and diplomatic contribution to de-escalating the conflict in Syria and Iraq (without boots on the ground) is rapidly shrinking. It is crude force that is winning the day with the Russian onslaught. Putin's none too subtle warning about N-warheads on his missiles is an open statement that Russia will consider using such weapons if the case demands.

TSJones · Post by **TSJones** » 09 Dec 2015 14:07

It is a hallucinogenic fantasy that Putin will use nukes for anything other than a response to an attack on his forces or homeland with WMDs.

It's the usual Russian bully boy chest thumping and it won't work. Not against NATO. 'cuz NATO has the gear to smear in return. Big time.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 09 Dec 2015 14:24

heard on themess forums:
he best case scenario for the Saudis would probably include:

1) Houthis leaving Saudi Territory, in exchange for a stop to the bombing campaign and a lifting of the blockade.
2) A permanent ceasefire and a de facto splitting of the country back into North and South Yemen.
3) The Houthis agreeing to move out of government buildings in Sanaa, but they basically still control North Yemen along with the pro-Saleh military.
4) The appointment of some bland individual that no one has heard of as a powerless interim president.
5) Elections planned for some point in the future, which will probably be won by some kind of Saleh/Houthi dominated coalition.
6) Complete lawlessness in South Yemen.

Magnus Prime
Yesterday, 07:05 AM
Reports of slain colombian mercs: Hassan Ridha ‏@sayed_ridha 12 min12 minutter siden
6 #Colombia-n mercenaries a part of #Saudi led coalition in #Yemen have been killed incl. their Commander Philip Steetman v .@HoseinMortada

http://www.theguardian.com/australia-ne ... en-clashes
An Australian mercenary has reportedly been killed in clashes in Yemen, alongside six Colombian troops.

Guardian Australia understands the Australian commander was named Philip Stitman.

It’s believed he was employed as a mercenary by the United Arab Emirates to lead Colombian fighters against the Houthis in the country’s south.

Local media reports said six Colombian soldiers under the Australian’s command had also been killed. They were reportedly advancing towards the al-Amri area in the heavily contested Taiz province, in Yemen’s south-west.

The mercenaries, including the Australian, were fighting with the private military contractor Blackwater, the reports said.

Yemen is torn by fighting between the US-supported, internationally recognised government, backed by the Saudi-led coalition, and rebels known as Houthis, allied with a former president.

habal · Post by **habal** » 09 Dec 2015 14:30

NATO will not move a finger when Turkey will be hit. It's just matter of time.

dissolution of Turkey will lay Europe open to the wastelands of ME and North Africa form where hordes will come and plunder Europe.

it is hallucinogenic fantasy that NATO will act if they come under fire themselves. They are the biggest cowards in the world who send other's children to battle.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 09 Dec 2015 14:33

houthis prowlin around in KSA, doing the usual houthi stuff...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZT5qMzgxuXQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NeAx8U7UcRA

they are like vietcong of the scrublands and mountains...operating in dispersed very small units , very hard for mounted patrols or saudi airborne to locate, easily able to melt away and filter through cracks in the woodwork and good skills and nerve. way better than any GCC infantry.

one of the videos has a fatty KSA trooper - dead beside his armoured car...unkempt interior..bottles of water scattered around.. way too much meat and AC comforts.

rajithn · Post by **rajithn** » 09 Dec 2015 14:36

Singha wrote:heard on themess forums:
he best case scenario for the Saudis would probably include:

1) Houthis leaving Saudi Territory, in exchange for a stop to the bombing campaign and a lifting of the blockade.
2) A permanent ceasefire and a de facto splitting of the country back into North and South Yemen.
3) The Houthis agreeing to move out of government buildings in Sanaa, but they basically still control North Yemen along with the pro-Saleh military.
4) The appointment of some bland individual that no one has heard of as a powerless interim president.
5) Elections planned for some point in the future, which will probably be won by some kind of Saleh/Houthi dominated coalition.
6) Complete lawlessness in South Yemen.

Magnus Prime
Yesterday, 07:05 AM
Reports of slain colombian mercs: Hassan Ridha ‏@sayed_ridha 12 min12 minutter siden
6 #Colombia-n mercenaries a part of #Saudi led coalition in #Yemen have been killed incl. their Commander Philip Steetman v .@HoseinMortada

http://www.theguardian.com/australia-ne ... en-clashes
An Australian mercenary has reportedly been killed in clashes in Yemen, alongside six Colombian troops.

Guardian Australia understands the Australian commander was named Philip Stitman.

It’s believed he was employed as a mercenary by the United Arab Emirates to lead Colombian fighters against the Houthis in the country’s south.

Local media reports said six Colombian soldiers under the Australian’s command had also been killed. They were reportedly advancing towards the al-Amri area in the heavily contested Taiz province, in Yemen’s south-west.

The mercenaries, including the Australian, were fighting with the private military contractor Blackwater, the reports said.

Yemen is torn by fighting between the US-supported, internationally recognised government, backed by the Saudi-led coalition, and rebels known as Houthis, allied with a former president.

It's not Blackwater. This reincarnated itself as XE Services and then onto Reflex Response.

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 09 Dec 2015 14:48

"Sh*tman"? He's now battlefield turd. The "oilygarchs" are also running out of moolah.They won't be able to hire Mercs (pardon the pun) for much longer!
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world ... 51.htm[b]l
Syrian rebels strike deal with Assad and walk out of major city of Homs[/b]
Around 2,000 rebels and their families will leave the besieged Waer district of Homs city

Shanu · Post by **Shanu** » 09 Dec 2015 19:00

Looks like the Libyan theater is becoming hot. US and Italy are going all in to get the two warring governments into an uneasy truce.

The density of US drones in the sky has increased, P3C flights are also visible - leading to speculation of a bombing run.

IS, of course continues to expand across the South-Sirte oilfields; Ajdabiya and oil ports are also under attack. And according to at least one Iraqi source, the Leader himself, i.e. Al Baghdadi is now in Sirte, considering it a far safer location than the heavily bombed Raqqa.

Some links - http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/ ... 6736150163

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... Sirte.html

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 09 Dec 2015 19:12

as marshal kutuzov said ..let the flames harass and lick the haunches of the french army...

Shanu · Post by **Shanu** » 10 Dec 2015 08:56

And what is even more funny, that Libya is one theater where the French could have been useful, unlike Syria. And it has direct implications for the Southern French coast as well. And yet, the CDG carrier left the Mediterranean to go to the Gulf. What will they do there? Observe the Houthi-Saudi fight on their drone cameras?

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 11 Dec 2015 13:27

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/ho ... 68646.html

Saudi Arabia more of a threat to Britain than Russia, says Ken Livingstone
'We now face a threat from Muslim fundamentalism – most of which has been funded by Saudi Arabia, our principal ally'
Ken Livingstone, far left, at the Russia Today conference in Moscow on Thursday Corbis

Russia is not as much a threat to Britain and the West as Saudi Arabia, Ken Livingstone has claimed at a conference in Moscow hosted by the pro-Kremlin television station Russia Today.

“The simple fact is, the West doesn’t face a threat from Russia,” the former Mayor of London said. “We now face a threat from Muslim fundamentalism. Most of which has been funded by Saudi Arabia, our principal ally, which has funded the most intolerant strand of Islam which bears no relation to the teaching of the Prophet Mohammed.”

US funding of mujhadeen in Afghanistan was responsible for 9/11 he claimed.
US arms sale to Saudi Arabia criticised by human rights groups

Russia was getting a bad press and President Vladimir Putin was being demonised he also claimed. “In Britain no one is told about the discrimination against Russian-speaking people in the Baltic States, no one is told that it was actually pressure from the EU that insisted to the then Ukrainian president that they wouldn’t sign a trade deal unless they stopped negotiating a trade deal with Russia, and then when the president decided that he wouldn’t do that, oddly enough he was overthrown.”

During a panel discussion Mr Livingstone added that the “right things” were not being done to stop Islamic terrorism.

Saudi Arabia accused of 'blocking' Paris climate change deal
Five things that Saudi Arabian women still cannot do
Saudi Arabia 'funding Islamic extremism in the West'
The difference between Isis and Saudi Arabia

“The right thing isn’t being done, almost all Muslim fundamentalism has been funded by the Saudis and the Qataris, going back 70 years, spreading a particularly hate-filled Wahabi strand of Islam and Britain and America should be saying to them ‘You’ve got to stop funding this or you cannot be our ally’.”

Only now has Washington just begun to see that it needed to cooperate with Iran and Russia to combat Muslim terrorism, he said. “We need a broad coalition. The West is discredited after the fiasco over the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. We need to bring in not just Russia and Iran but China, Nigeria and Brazil as well.(*why no mention of India? What is our MES doing so that India is taken seriously by the world?) It needs to be the world standing together. That’s what the UN was created for.”

Mr Livingstone warned the world was at a turning point. “I think if we don’t recognise the threat and if we don’t recognise our real allies then this could on for decades.”

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 11 Dec 2015 21:28

http://www.almasdarnews.com/article/arg ... ern-yemen/

Argentinian Mercenary Killed in Southern Yemen 2
BY LEITH FADEL ON DECEMBER 11, 2015 MIDDLE EAST

The total number of foreign mercenaries killed in Yemen has skyrocketed in the last 48 hours, as another foreigner has reportedly died fighting the Yemeni Army’s Republican Guard and their popular committees (specifically, the Houthis) in southern Yemen.

According to Al-Masdar’s Tony Toh, the Yemeni Army’s Republican Guard reported the death of an Argentinian mercenary that was badly wounded during a firefight against the Houthis in the Al-‘Umari Camp near the strategic city of Ta’iz.

The Argentinian mercenary was identified as Ferdinand Lamos after he was placed on a U.S. Naval vessel to be transported to the nearest hospital in order to have his wounds operated on.

Ferdinand Lamos reportedly died on the U.S. Naval vessel before he could reach a hospital; his death marks the first time that an Argentinian national has been killed fighting in the Yemeni War.

Lamos was a former member of the “Foreign Legions”, which is a military contracting company that was affiliated with the Blackwater group.

Argentina is now the 10th country to have one of its citizens killed fighting for the Saudi-led Coalition Forces in Yemen; these foreign mercenaries were all paid by the governments of the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.

The list of countries:

Saudi Arabia
Qatar
Bahrain
United Arab Emirates
Colombia
Argentina
Mexico
United Kingdom
France
Australia

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 11 Dec 2015 21:29

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 11 Dec 2015 21:30

Looks like Yemen is reaching a boiling point. More likely KSA will have sever blowback. If this happens what options for KSA in Syria!

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 11 Dec 2015 21:31

note the ati adhunik thermal imager on the bradley...something none of our BMPs have..its been proposed as part of upg.

Shanu · Post by **Shanu** » 12 Dec 2015 00:03

As Syrian Palmyra goes out of IS's hands, they seem to have set their sights on another city with Roman ruins, this time in Libya.

IS is setting up checkpoints across Sabratha around 50 miles west of Tripoli. They are moving in and going out of downtown Sabratha, harassing the Libya Dawn commanders who currently run the place. There are also questions whether the local militias may join IS fr money. Libya is about to be the next concrete rubble.

http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/isis-libya-rap ... ns-1532958

Lalmohan · Post by **Lalmohan** » 12 Dec 2015 15:00

and Libya will suck in the whole sahel

Shanu · Post by **Shanu** » 12 Dec 2015 23:33

Looks like a truce is declared in Yemen, to be put in force from Monday. Lets see how long this one holds, considering the past truce didn't survive 48 hours.

Meanwhile the 13000 smart bombs are flowing in into Saudi.. to replenish their lost stock. They do need to hit a few more schools and hospitals, i guess.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/12 ... rabia.html

And the new darling of Republicans promise to stop all that if he becomes al-Presidente. Seriously, I have no bones in American Presidential race. But I do feel, if he keeps on saying the truth, the 'Deep State' may not be kind to him for long.

http://www.nytimes.com/politics/first-d ... -a-prince/

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 13 Dec 2015 03:15

Smart bomb for dumb pilots wont help the ground war.

Satya_anveshi · Post by **Satya_anveshi** » 14 Dec 2015 00:17

Yemeni missiles hit Saudi military bases - Dec 12, 2015
http://www.irna.ir/en/News/81874412/

Yemeni forces fired 13 missiles at al-Jamarak region in the Saudi province of Jizan, killing at least two Saudi military men.

Meantime, the Yemeni forces took control of the villages of Al-Khadmeh and Al-Wastah in addition to three military positions in Jizan province, FNA reported.

The army and the popular forces also hit the Jebel Hamr, al-Hazar and al-Sadis military bases in the province of Najran, and killed tens of Saudi troops and destroyed their military hardware.

The Yemeni forces also destroyed a Saudi Abrams tank and four Bradleys in the outskirts of Al-Muhdef military base on Friday.

On Wednesday, the Yemeni forces launched missile attacks on the Saudi military bases in the province of Jizan with their new home-made missiles named 'Cry'.

The Yemeni missiles destroyed al-Ain al-Harreh and al-Salah military bases in Jizan province, inflicting heavy losses on the Saudi army.

The Yemeni army and popular forces also hit al-Ramzeh military center in Jizan province, killing tens of Saudi military men and their vehicles.

The Yemeni forces also hit several Saudi military centers in the Southern parts of Al-Khuba region.

On Saturday, the Yemeni army and popular forces destroyed a large number of military posts and centers in three provinces in Southern Saudi Arabia.

The Yemeni forces' missile and artillery fire has destroyed tens of Saudi military sites in Najran, Jizan and Asir provinces in the last three days.

A large number of Saudi troops have been killed and many more wounded in the Yemeni forces' retaliatory attacks on their positions.

Also on Saturday, FNA dispatches said that the Yemeni army and popular forces continued their nonstop advances on the Saudi soil and seized several military bases and sites in Saudi Arabia's Southern provinces after heavy clashes with the kingdom's troops.

The Yemeni forces captured a number of Saudi military bases in Jizan province, Yemeni Army Commander Ebrahim Moussa al-Hamdani told FNA.

Al-Hamdani noted that the army and popular forces also seized the Riyadh government's strategic military positions in Najran province after several hours of clashes with the Saudi forces, seizing heavy machinery and a large cache of weapons and military tools, including mortar-launchers.

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 14 Dec 2015 06:13

In WW1, Germany did not really invade Russia deep - they just trashed the Russian army on the borders in an exchange of debacles. Numbers like 92000 captured, 130,000 dead, in each battle, well over 2 million lost on both sides. The returning Russian army did the rest (revolution). Wonder how much in losses the KSA army will take b4 they decide that is much nicer in Riyadh and Jeddah.

By 1917, the Russian Army's officer corps was increasingly demoralized by the poor progress of the fighting. Though grossly outnumbered, the ~~Houthis~~ Germans had proven to be dangerous and cunning opponents, and the ~~Saudi~~ Russian royal family's unfortunate intervention in affairs did not improve anything. The repeated catastrophes suffered by Russian field armies squelched what patriotism had existed three years earlier, slowly allowing the entire governing system to fall apart. By March of that year, some Army units began ignoring their orders, a situation made worse as growing Communist rebel groups exaggerated reports of minor events such as the revolt of a Russian Guard depot formation at Petrograd (this famous mutiny was carried out by trainees and depot troops, not by fully trained Imperial Guardsmen). After the Tsar abdicated his throne ... Kerensky's General Brusilov - another offensive against the German Southern Army in Galicia.. German generals Hoffman and Hutier held off, then counter-attacked the hesitant Russian troops. This was the last straw for the Imperial Russian Army, which virtually disintegrated as open civil war swept like a wave across Russia.

Need a parallel for Hoffman and Hutier to deliver the shattering blow and start mass panic. Hope Comrade Vlad has learned his history well.

I feel that KSA is more unstable than Turkey. If a riot starts in Riyadh after a smashing military debacle, Erdogan's support base may evaporate very fast, and the opposition parties in Turkey may re-assert their power. Turkish military is probably more professionally led and tougher-trained.