Bharat Rakshak

shyamd wrote: MMS met several senior US jewish leaders, why? Because of their influence in US politics.
Like I say, it is self interest that governs everything.

Suppiah wrote: There is no jewish vote bank in India....so the self-interest in one case matches national interest and in other case may no may not...

Sacranie, Iqbal, Muhammad Abdul Bari & Mehboob Kantharia, et al. Interview with John Ware. A Question of Leadership. Panorama. BBC London, England. August 21, 2005.

Sheikh Abdur-Rahman Al-Sudais, Imam, Ka'ba, Mecca, Saudi Arabia: The history of Islam is the best testament to how different communities can live together in peace and harmony. Muslims must exemplify the true image of Islam in their interaction with other communities.

John Ware: Sheikh Sudais is a leading Imam from the great mosque in Mecca, Islam's holiest city. He had one voice for his Western audience - another for his followers in Saudi. Sheikh Abdur-Rahman Al-Sudais: The worst…of the enemies of Islam are those…whom he…made monkeys and pigs, the aggressive Jews and oppressive Zionists and those that follow them: the callers of the trinity and the cross worshippers…those influenced by the rottenness of their ideas, and the poison of their cultures the followers of secularism…how can we talk sweetly when the Hindus and the idol worshippers kuffar... indulge in their overwhelming hatred against our brothers…in Muslim Kashmir…

Moore, Charles (July 9, 2005). "Where is the Gandhi of Islam?". The Daily Telegraph. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main ... xml&page=2 . "In Mecca two years ago, al Sudais described Jews as ‘scum of the earth’, ‘rats of the world’ and ‘monkeys and pigs who should be annihilated’.

Canada / 18-05-2004
Canada – A Saudi Imam is Banned From Entering the Country

The Canadian Government has decided to prevent the entry into the country Sheikh Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais, the Imam of the Great Mosque of Mecca, because of his preaching of hatred of the Jews. Al-Sudais did not apply for a visa to the Canadian authorities. The General Director of the Islamic Center of Toronto, who according to the media, was behind the Sheikh's invitation to Canada, denied that he had invited the Imam to participate in a mass gathering that began on 18th May. The decision to ban the Imam's entry into Canada is part of the authorities' campaign against antisemitism, in the light of recent events in Toronto and Montreal, and against racist incitement in general.

Read the history to know that yesterday’s Jews are evil predecessors and today’s Jews are worse successors. They an ingrate people, they altered God’s words, worshipped calf, killed Messengers and denied their Messages. They are exiled people and the worst of mankind. Allaah cursed them and cast His wrath upon them. He turned some of them to monkeys and pigs and worshippers of creatures. They are worst in position and are astray from the right path.

History of Jews is full of deception, trickery, rebellion, oppression, evil and corruption. They always seek to cause mischief on the earth and Allaah loves not the mischief-makers. They even insulted Allaah. The Quraan says,

“The Jews say: ‘Allaah’s Hand is tied up (i.e. He does not give and spend of His Bounty). Be their hands tied up and be they accursed for what they uttered.’”

(Al-Maaidah 5:64)

High and Glorified is Allaah above what they uttered.

They have accused Allaah’s Messengers with great and heinous crimes. They harmed Prophet Moosa, denied Eesaa, killed Yahyaa and Zakariya and attempted to kill Prophet Muhammad. They used magic spell on him and poisoned food for him. Allaah addresses them,

“Is it that whenever there came to you a Messenger with what you yourselves desired not, you grew arrogant? Some, you disbelieved and some you killed…”

(Al-Baqarah 2:87)

Fellow Muslims! Today we are facing the most severe war against the enemies of yesterday, today and tomorrow; a war against the descendants of Banu Qurayzah,[the tribe all whose adult males were publicly beheaded, women taken as slaves and sold with the exception of one selected by the prophet for personal use] Banu Nadeer, Banu Qaynuqaa.* May everlasting curse of Allaah be upon them. Can our people now understand the true colour of these accursed and erroneous people after their evil have become widespread and their aggression has become well-known?
[...]
Allaahu Akbar! These are signs of victory: Jihaad has remained the only wining card and the light of hope in the hands of those sincere people among the Ummah, for playing politics and using all kinds of oppression have failed.

Even though emotions are high over the issue of Palestine, we should however not let that overpower our reason and wisdom and take the matter out of Islaamic control and regulation.

We must put all efforts to reform ourselves, and awaken from forgetfulness and spread deep awareness. Also, we must take strong, studied and constructive steps in fighting the Jewish evil machinations with wisdom and resoluteness.

Brethren in Faith! It is an obligation of every Muslim to stand beside our Muslim brethren in Palestine, to assist them morally and financially and to fight along with them in the cause of Allaah. In many verses of the Quraan and the Sunnah fighting with one’s wealth is given preference over fighting with one’s soul. Allaah says,

“O you who believe! Shall I guide you to a trade that will save you from a painful torment? That you believe in Allaah and His Messenger and that you strive hard and fight in the cause of Allaah with your wealth and your lives: that will be better for you, if you but know.”

(As-Saff 61:10-11)

The Messenger of Allaah said, “Fight the polytheists with your tongues, wealth and lives.” (Muslim)
A true Muslim does not hesitate to spend and gives in the way of Jihaad and sacrifice. Allaah says,
“Behold! You are those who are called to spend in the cause of Allaah, yet among you are some who are niggardly. And whoever is niggardly, it is only at the expense of his own self. But Allaah is rich and you (mankind) are poor. And if you turn away (from Islaam and obedience to Allaah), He will exchange you for some other people and they will not be like yourselves.”
(Muhammad 47:38)

"Saudi Imam Preaches Hate". International Broadcasting Bureau. April 25, 2002.

On April 19th, a prominent Saudi imam said in a sermon broadcast on radio and television that Arabs ‘must say farewell to peace initiatives’ with the Jewish state. Even worse, the sermon by Sheikh Abdulrahman Al-Sudais [shake ahb-d’l-RAHKH-mahn ah-soo-DAYSS] was filled with anti-Semitic vitriol.

Preaching at the Grand Mosque in Mecca, Islam’s holiest shrine, Sheikh Sudais called Jews ‘the scum of humanity…the rats of the world…prophet killers…pigs and monkeys.’ He prayed to God to "terminate" the Jews.

In addition to spewing such villainous bile, Sheikh Sudais also claimed falsely that the Israelis ‘aspire to tear down the al-Aqsa mosque [in Jerusalem] to build their so-called temple on its ruins.’ In fact, the Israeli government has never expressed any interest in tearing down the mosque, which is built near the ruins of a Jewish temple. On the contrary, Israel respects Muslim holy sites and has pledged to keep them accessible to all."

Interview with Tim Russert. Adel Al-Jubeir, Foreign Policy Advisor to Crown Prince Abdullah on NBC's ‘Meet the Press’. Meet the Press. NBC Washington, DC. May 18, 2003.
MR. RUSSERT: But it went on and on, and you mention imams in Saudi Arabia. This is what a top Saudi Arabian religious leader said, using inflammatory anti-Semitic rhetoric -- "Pray to Allah to terminate Jews. Urge all Muslims to shun peace with Israel." Shaikh Abdelrahman al-Sudais, one of the top imams in Saudi Arabia, called on Muslims to say farewell to peace initiatives with these people, Jews. He prayed to the Muslim God to terminate the Jews, whom he called the scum of humanity, rats of the world, prophet killers, pigs and monkeys.
MR. AL-JUBEIR: That's also incorrect. And he was reprimanded for this.
MR. RUSSERT: He was reprimanded?
MR. AL-JUBEIR: Oh, yes.
MR. RUSSERT: Is he still preaching?
MR. AL-JUBEIR: Yes, he is. But he's not -- I think if he had a choice he would retract these words -- he would not have said these words. It's clearly not right. You cannot -- you cannot defile, you cannot malign other people, certainly not when it comes to their faith.

Three Indian navy ships from the Southern Naval Command - INS Tir, INS Krishna and ICGS Veera - arrived at Jubail Port Thursday, as part of efforts to enhance relations with Saudi Arabia.
The Southern Naval Command is the First Training Squadron of the Indian Navy. It has been training officers and sailors of the Indian Navy in basic courses and specializations at various stages of their careers. It also offers training courses to cadets of other friendly countries.
A press conference was held Thursday on board the INS Tir, which was addressed by Talmiz Ahmad, Ambassador of India to the Kingdom; Captain K.N Sushil, Southern Naval commander, Kochi; and Captain Sanjiv Issar, Commanding Officer INS Tir.
Ahmad stressed the importance of dialogue and identified areas of common maritime and other interest between India and Saudi Arabia.
He said India has long-standing and strong relations with Saudi Arabia, which was strengthened by the recent visit of Manmohan Singh, the Indian Prime Minister, to the Kingdom.
“Relations are improving with strategic partnerships in defense, culture, politics, energy and economics.”
He added that A.K. Antony, India’s Defense Minister, will visit the Kingdom on May 7 in Riyadh, which will further strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries.
“I am very delighted with the visit of the three Indian naval ships. They are part of historic maritime linkages that India has had with the Gulf for several centuries. Ours is a mission of goodwill and friendship. We want to exchange ideas with the personnel of the Saudi Navy about development, technology, strategy and tactics,” he added.
Issar said that around 500 crew members are on board the three ships which include training officers and sailors of the Southern Indian Navy.
He said they had previously visited Muscat and Abu Dhabi before Jubail.
After four days of maritime joint exercises and talks with their Saudi counterparts, they will be leaving for India on Sunday.
“The Saudi government welcomes our visit and we will exchange ideas to benefit each other,” said Sushil.
Hydrographic surveys to determine sea borders will be one of the major topics under discussion. Various Indian cultural programs were held on the ship, including Bharathanattyam, a Panjabi dance.
Also present at the event were Colonel Garbiel Benescu (Defense, Military, Air & Naval Attaché of the Embassy of Romania, Riyadh); and Captain Keith Pollock (Defense Attaché of New Zealand Embassy, Riyadh).

The Al-Khalifas have ruled Bahrain for nearly two centuries, much of the time as a British protectorate, and for the last forty or so years as an emirate and most recently as a kingdom. With centuries of Persian rule up to about the mid 18th century, the majority of Bahrainis profess the Shia sect of Islam.

Unlike other rulers in the Persian Gulf, the Al-Khalifas have had to contend with four major handicaps: (i) Bahrain has no oil or natural gas wealth to speak of, (ii) it is literally a stone’s throw away from the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia, where most of Saudi Arabia’s 15 percent or so Shia population live, (iii) the Al-Sauds, who financially support the Al-Khalifas, viscerally hate the Shia and have subjugated and deprived them for decades, and (iv) the Sunnis are, at most, 30 percent of Bahrain’s population. The Al-Khalifas find themselves between a rock and hard place.

The Al-Khalifas have thrown their lot in with the Al-Sauds by mistreating their Shia majority. The Shia communities have less of everything the Sunni minority enjoys: modern infrastructure, healthcare, education, jobs, wealth, and a whole host of other privileges. To buttress their rule, the Al-Khalifas have put together a harsh security force largely made up of foreign mercenaries: Pakistanis, Jordanians and Yemenis. They have actively recruited and granted citizenship to Sunnis to increase their numbers. And most recently they have “invited” Saudi forces (accompanied by a few from the UAE to afford the Saudis GCC cover) to help them put down the protests, called on Kuwait to help patrol their waters, arrested the leaders of the Shia opposition for no valid reason, killed peaceful protesters and declared a three-month state of emergency, banning any and all peaceful demonstrations. This is not a pretty picture of Al-Khalifa rule in Bahrain—selling the country to the Al-Sauds and starting a process that could surely be classified as ethnic cleansing. Is this something the United States can afford to embrace? No.

How can the United States and Europeans freeze the assets of the Gaddafi clan, condemn the use of overwhelming force and mercenaries, and say virtually nothing about Bahrain and Saudi Arabia’s role therein? How can they use military intervention to protect those in peril in Libya and do nothing in Bahrain except to advise ‘restraint’ to all parties?

Iran’s population is more than the population of the rest of the Persian Gulf combined, while the combined population of Iran and Iraq, both majority Shia countries, is about four times that of the six countries that make up the Gulf Cooperation Council. Iran and Iraq are respectively 90 and 60 percent Shia, while Bahrain is about 70 percent Shia. Iraqi Shia know what it is like to be discriminated against after decades under Saddam Hussein. In fact Iraqis already protested in Basra last week in support of their brethren in Bahrain. One thing is for sure. Iran, Iraq and their surrogates, such as Hezbollah, will not stand idly by and let this persecution against Shia gather momentum. They will intervene with ominous implications not only for Bahrain, but also for the rest of the GCC and for the future of the United States in the Persian Gulf.

King Abdullah has reportedly taken the position that he will never allow Shia to have a say in shaping their destiny in Bahrain. Such a position is a morally reprehensible. How dare he interfere in the internal affairs of another country? How dare he quash the justifiable demands of a people?

If we continue to support despots in the Middle East we are handing Iran and Iraq unbelievable propaganda material. It is they who will have the moral high ground. We are giving them carte blanche to interfere in Bahrain, and eventually in Saudi Arabia, as the only means to prevent killings and ultimately ethnic cleansing. We are putting them on the right side of history. We must stop looking at each event in isolation. These are the conflicts that, if not addressed today, will beget the massive wars of the future.

brihaspati wrote:Democracy is a method of representation in the rashtra, and it is usually not confused with the rashtra itself. so democracy should not be blamed for faults of the rashtra.

The Jama Masjid renovation would be too publicly visible, and the offer came at a time when the UP politics was cloudy, the Barelvi Sunni fight had not yet taken a decisive turn. Given that any "collaboration" is justified without the now legendary caution as per convenience, [excuse of caution and uncertain outcome to cover for inaction, while excuse of realpolitik to jump into shaking hands with dubious regimes whose own outcomes are uncertain] - if everything is determined by immediate "tactical gain" how can we claim that there are red-lines? What makes it so certain that at a given political juncture, GOI or the sections behind it are not going to pull off similar "justified concerns and reasons" to justify much more than Jama masjid renovations?

Brihaspati ji, that is a very accurate exposé on the Saudi imam. These fellows are well-known to drip honeyed words when the situation calls for it, while spewing fire and brimstone among the fanatical. There have been many such exposures, tapings of speeches given in Arabic in the "privacy" of the mosque where no foreigner was supposed to hear, including in Western nations among the so-called "moderate Islamists".

shyamd wrote:

ramana wrote:ShyamD, You need to elaborate on the pressures and demands on TSPA which make it weak and overstretched. Not many know this aspect.

Sure. Its simple. They are deployed in the northern borders, fighting Af-Pak under cover, internal security duties in Balochistan plus foot troops in Kashmir and then they have to watch Indian border etc. You have your boss/financier (KSA et al) who want you to help them out against Iran or any internal unrest. You have TSP top guns who are part of the navy/air force in the middle east. With all these internal troubles and now possible Iran war looming, many TSPA troops are not even sitting in TSP, they are in the arab peninsula. MI6 walla's landing in Pindi are not talking about India border, they are talking about NWFP and Arabian peninsula issues - which just goes to back up what I am saying.

Then on top of that, if lets say a war between India and Pak take place, whats Kayani going to say to his boss/financier in KSA? Sheikhji can I bring back my troops, India is preparing for war. KSA is gonna say, listen birather, if you take your troops back to TSP, you are breaking our agreement and we can no longer provide aid for you as you are jeopardizing sunni islam, the land of the 2 holy mosques as Iran can give us a lot of trouble etc etc.

So KSA spy chief is landing in Delhi not for chai-biskoot but saying to us, lay off TSP, we'll give you good deals. US is nodding in the background saying yes, we want you to have peaaceee onlee so that the US can give TSPA a kick in the backside to do some operations chasing taliban up and down NWFP/FATA.

TSPA chief is saying come lets have some CBM, lay off us and we wont do anything. Now as Gaganji has rightly pointed out, as soon as all this lovey dovey CBM stuff is over and US pull out, TSPA regains its influence in Gandhaara. He's going to have a lot of abduls on his hands with AK47s and not a lot to do. These abduls could further take over parts of Pak and go gung ho for Islamabad. Or Kayani/ISI could choose to re-direct energies to Kaafir India.

So, in a few years time, ISI is going to be issuing orders to conduct a super major strike in India that will kick off a war. 26/11 failed to start the war that they soo badly wanted. So this time ISI has to think of something bigger. This is when the Jihadi with nukes scenario is going to come into play.

To summarise: Iran is not going to go nuklear until 2015 at the earliest. So, at some point US/GCC/Israel has to defang Iran or teach it a lesson. I see a safe Kashmir, India (apart from a few small terror strikes here or there) for the next few years until TSP get released from their Af-Pak duties and GCC duties.

What does India need to do?

The options are quite limited, India should get the US to stay in Afghanistan, as Kashmiri terrorist don't want to fight yindu soldiers but they are after the big power - the US (the dajjal/the higher caste kaafir). US doesn't have the economic appetite to stay the course in Afghanistan.

Next option is arm the Tajik's/old school Northern Alliance guys and open a significant front. Or you hope for the Iranians to get stronger and make the KSA even more scared of Iran. So, KSA forces TSP to deploy more assets in the GCC coupled with a drawn out Northern Alliance v Taleb war.

This might be the ideal situation where KSA is forced to economically support India (which is what our west asia ties are about) in return for keeping the Indo Pak border safe (which is also what we want). It buys time for us to clear out the militancy. Pak is overstretched and is fighting in the northern front, as well as having significant numbers deployed on the peninsula. India grows economically, safe border, room for options, our resources can be deployed to the navy etc etc.

This is just the skeleton of what I think will happen. There is still lots to talk about such as the PRC/Russia role in all of this, Iraq etc etc.

Just my 2 pence.

shyamd wrote:Todays IM panders up to several such figures like Z Naik. Who knows, maybe he was secretly giving out terror speeches or maybe IM was giving him discourse on Kashmir muslims and their repression, maybe it might go one step further to helping them understand Kashmir from IM eyes or maybe it is one step towards their aim of ruling 'Hind' once again.

Whatever his intentions... we have an interest in West Asia (oil, our economy etc) and the millions of NRIs living there. Maintaining links with individuals helps preserve our interests. Is he dodgy? Yes. Are his friends dodgy? Yes.

All of this ultimately comes down to our scenario that I posted in the TSP thread.

Acharya wrote: Indian objective should be that Indians living in West asia can worship their religion in the region.
If Indian cannot propagate their religion then India should not allow them to propagate inside India.

shyamd wrote:
That means changing India's identity into a Hindu country rather than a secular nation. Not just that, you must have a hindu leader who can negotiate this, like the pope has done in the interfaith dialogue they had with king Abdullah a few years ago. This opened KSA up a little to christianity.

shyamd wrote:Thats great Acharyaji. But the moment you start uniting India into a Hindu India.

RamaY wrote:Shyamdji,

India is a pluralistic society and the foundations of it are in SD whether one understands/acknowledges it or not. Indian demand for religious tolerance in West-Asia is based on that pluralistic world-view and in the interests of its multi-cultural citizenry. This MUST not be seen and projected as Hindu ==.

Your rant on Indian democracy is unjustified. The issue is neither the population who were denied basic economic opportunities and nor the democratic system as it is. The issue is with the political parties, the very policy makers that you want to have a freehand in defining and implementing the West-Asia policy. Don't you think it is in fact the inherent success of democracy that BJP is not coming in to power every time even though majority of the population is Hindu? That politically active Hindu you spoke to is ignorant. What is the proportion of Brahmins in political positions starting from Gram-Panchayats to MLAs to MPs to GoI Cabinet?

Majority of Hindus do make their decisions under Hindu/Indian interests if you look at macro trends; and they have done at every time it is required.

So India should DEMAND acceptance of religious pluralism and democracy in west-asia as a precondition for its support in internal/international matters of GCC members. Their petro-$$s are not rescuing them today and it will be our stupidity to sell our value system and national interests for few $$$s.

brihaspati wrote:
Exactly the same arguments about trade from across the pond, capital flow from across the pond, relationships maintained and preachers allowed to come and settle and spread - with active participation of trading hotshots from Indian non-Islamic side in protecting such "investments" - this was how the last Gujarat kings, and earlier the Sindhi rich Buddhist urban merchants handed over the region.

shyamd wrote:
Also, I guess to both Brihaspati and Acharya, what is your vision for India? The barrel is going to point at us in 4 years. What do you want to do in the next 4 years before it does?

The cycle is always started on the excuse of international trade, Indian merchant interests taking an active interest in fostering and protecting Arab "investments" and presence on Indian soil in the form of "business interests".

Bahrain: Sheikh Isa Qassim, a prominent Shiite cleric in Bahrain, said "brutal force" used against protestors will not keep them from continuing to demand rights and dignity. Qassim spoke at a Friday sermon in Duraz, a Shiite village and opposition center northwest of Manama. Thousands attended, despite a ban on public gatherings. Police and army maintained tight security.

Bahrain Social Development Minister Fatima al Beloushi said demonstrators who ran over unarmed policemen and beat up patients in a hospital have a foreign agenda and links to a neighboring country and Hezbollah. Al Beloushi said the government has direct proof the acts were instigated by a foreign country and Hezbollah provided training for the demonstrators.

Bahrain made a formal complaint to the Lebanese government over Hezbollah's offer of support to the mainly Shiite anti-government protestors in Bahrain. Foreign Minister Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed al-Khalifa said Manama will not tolerate threats from a militant group and will consider lodging a complaint with international entities if Lebanon does not act. He said the decision to make a formal complaint was made in consultation with the Gulf Cooperation Council.

Foreign Minister Sheikh Khalid also had a warning for Iran, to stop meddling. He said," The threat from Iran could increase 'to any level' at a time of deep divisions between Iran and its Arab neighbors in the Persian Gulf region…. They could make mistakes in causing a conflict," Sheik Khalid said. "The campaign against us from Iran at this stage is political, but it could have a different posture at any time."

Comment: Bahrain and the Gulf Cooperation Council thus far have failed to present any evidence of Iranian or Hezbollah meddling. Some evidence, a trial or email exchange even, would strengthen the case for outside military intervention as well as begin to undermine the protest movement.

The complaint to the Lebanese government implies Bahrain at least believes its accusations against Hezbollah. It needs to produce an outside agent for the international press.

Special Comment: The intervention by the Shield Force has not secured the monarchy. The Shiite clerics sense the monarchy has been weakened by the secular youth protests which now have been suppressed. That provides them the opportunity to expand their influence, if not weaken the monarchy, by stoking unrest.

Thus, they have begun to emerge as the spokesmen for political change and the inciters of the next round of protests. The internal security problem is no longer an Arab youth event in Bahrain when the clerics get involved. Their involvement will reshape the security situation in ways that could invite more and more overt Iranian meddling, over time.

Saudi Arabia: Hundreds of people demonstrated, demanding the release of prisoners in the town of Rabiae in Qatif Province, Saudi Arabia,

Comment: The protests persist in defiance of a government ban. They all are located in eastern Saudi Arabia where the Shiites are the majority.

This situation is heading slowly in the direction of fragmentation. If the protests grow and become difficult to control, the Shiites will want greater autonomy in the provinces in which they are the majority of the population. That is the first stage of a fragmentation scenario.

{And KSA was busy supporting TSP to fragment India!}

Yemen: Today the "Day of Departure" protests took place in Yemen, after Friday prayers. By some accounts, hundred of thousands of protestors gathered in Sanaa. Soldiers fired warning shots to prevent regime loyalists, excited by a speech by President Saleh, from attacking protestors. Large rival crowds had assembled on the streets.

In his speech, President Saleh said he was willing to relinquish power, but only "to safe hands." He said he does not want power, that he is against "firing a single bullet," and that concessions are given to ensure that there is no bloodshed.

Comment: Today's statement is Saleh's third major concession to the crowds. First he said he would resign at the end of his term in 2013. Last week he said he would resign by the end of 2011 in a constitutional process. Today, he said he would pass power to someone with "safe hands," apparently at any time.

Today's statement not only encouraged the opposition to demand more immediately, it also reinforced that Saleh has given up and is looking for an exit strategy. The pattern is always the same. Concessions encourage the opposition.

Only overwhelming force will stop these protests, but there is a catch. The only sure way to determine whether the application of force was overwhelming is if the protests stop.

Possibly the most significant silence is that of Saudi Arabia. Earlier this week a scholar assessed that Saudi behavior indicates it is content to have Saleh overthrown and replaced. Saudi Arabia has made no public statement supporting Saleh and that is a certain sign that his time is very short.

Jordan: Six people were injured and one killed when supporters of the government pelted a group of protestors with stones in central Amman. The protestors -- approximately 1,000 in number -- demanded the firing of the prime minister and the dissolution of parliament.

Comment: Unlike Bahrain, the Jordanian protestors are not anti-monarchy. Should they become anti-monarchy, Jordan risks a civil conflict between the city folk and the Bedouin who back the King.
{Bahrain is shia-sunni, Jordan is all Sunni but urban want freedoms like in Egypt. Its not rural vs urban}

Syria: Unprecedented, illegal protests occurred after prayers today in Damascus, Duma, Latakia, Homs, Reka, Dar'a, Hamah and Tel. Across the nation, at least 23 people were confirmed killed by security forces. In Damascus, witnesses reported at least three killed in fights between supporters of the al Asad regime and its opponents.

Security forces killed at least 20 people in Sanamein, near Dar'a in an attempt to control anti-government demonstrations. One estimate assessed the crowd in Dar'a as 50,000 people. Protestors burned a statue of the late President Hafez al Asad in Dar'a, a witness said.

In Qatar, a "highly influential" Sunni Muslim cleric, Sheikh Yusuf al-Qardawi, mentioned the unrest in Syria in a sermon that was broadcast on al-Jazeera and posted on YouTube. "Today the train of revolution has arrived at a station that it was destined to reach, the Syrian station," he said. "It isn't possible for Syria to detach itself from the history of the Arab nation."

Comment: The train or street car metaphor, favored by Turkey's Prime Minister Erdogan, is being repeated widely in the Arab world. When spoken by a cleric, it means democracy is a station stop, not a terminal point, in Arab history.

The violence is a very good indicator that Bashar al Asad is not in control. The military and security chiefs are running this show.

Syria is a flip-flop version of Iraq under Saddam. In Iraq, the Sunni minority governed a Shiite and Kurdish majority. In Syria an even smaller Shiite sect - the Alawites -- govern a large Sunni majority with a steel fist.

The al Asad's are Alawites as are all the top leaders. Alawite generals are ruthless in handling internal security problems, because a mass uprising would destroy their regime and result in the massacre of their sect, if the Alawites ever lost control,

As long as the Alawites retain the loyalty of the army and can hold Damascus, unrest in outlying towns is not directly threatening. Dar'a is a long way from Damascus. Unrest is centripetal and will move to Damascus, if it has roots. When it reaches Damascus and the Alawite-led security forces prove unable to suppress it, then Asad's regime is in trouble.

Most officers are Alawites, so analysts should look for defections from the Sunni enlisted ranks. They also need to watch capital flight. Syria is run by an oligarchy that will be prone to bolt fast when the risks increase.

Finally, internal instability in Syria is a setback for Iran, Syria's most important ally, and for Hezbollah, one of Syria's beneficiaries and an Iranian proxy. Hezbollah warned its members to halt weekly trips to a shrine in Damascus and to avoid travel to Syria.

It is a potential boon for pro-western groups in Lebanon because Syrian attention has turned inward for now.

Israel: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel stands ready to act with great force and determination to end the recent acts of terror and rocket attacks. Netanyahu said any civilized society will not tolerate wanton attacks on its civilians.

Education Minister Gideon Saar estimated that the Israel Defense Forces eventually will have to carry out a large-scale operation in the Gaza Strip, bigger than Operation Cast Lead.

Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee Chairman Shaul Mofaz warned that continuing the stalemate in the peace process endangers lives and said the government should take the opportunity to advance on this issue. He said Israel is in need of a strategy that moves forward the diplomatic process with the Palestinians and talks with the Syrians, while simultaneously stopping rocket attacks. Palestinian militants crossed a red line recently, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu must determine how to end the rocket attacks, Mofaz stated in a radio interview.

Comment: The words show a span of official opinion around a central theme: there will be a significant Israeli military operation in the Gaza Strip.

Curiously, if the Palestinian militant attacks are diversions to suppress youth protests against the Hamas regime, as reported, the Israelis can undermine Hamas by encouraging and clandestinely organizing a Palestinian youth spring, but they probably are already working on that. Thus far Hamas is no more tolerant of internal dissent than Iran or Syria.

RamaY wrote:ShyamD garu,

There is nothing wrong in GCC wanting to protect their culture, which is different from their religion; and India should not shy away from protecting its culture - which is pluralism and democracy (making public opinion part of the governance). Perhaps that Dubai Police Chief should be educated that GCC has in fact been under Bharatiya protection for millennia and there is nothing to be afraid of it, in addition to briefing him the benefits of Dubai becoming a state of Bharatiya federal structure. Also remind him that even at the height of Islamism it couldn't conquer India completely and couldn't rule the parts it occupied from its centers in west-asia.

In every system rulers want to extend their rule and that has nothing to do with democracy. What democracy in fact offers the citizenry is an opportunity to change the ruling coalition without war, rebellion and revolution; and the side benefit is peaceful and systematic transfer of power from one party to another. We have had much discussion on the [sic] contribution of the so-called "educated class". More than 90% of our elected leaders are graduates and nearly 100% of our babudom are graduates, yet it didn't reduce systemic corruption or make the governance effective; national interests, correcting Indian history and education system are not even in their horizon. I will bring everyone's favorite example USA; that society decided to go democratic, however non-inclusive it was, before it developed its society and became super power.

All GoI needs to do is to protect Indian Interests. There are no Hindu interests outside Indian interests, unlike muslim and christian interests. That is why you don't see Hindus unifiying under a hindu leadership. Coming to Hindu contribution to Indian Interests, do I need to remind you that majority of people participated in 1857 mutiny were hindus and more than 80% of Bharatiyas participated in Indian independence movement were Hindus and that Hindus contributed more than their population share in India's economic growth post-independence and more than 80% soldiers who died in eight wars Indian Army fought since independence were Hindus and so on...

So, yes India can tell the leader/nation that approaches for Indian help that they must respect Indian values and that India cannot do anything outside its national interests. Not involving in others' internal matters doesn't mean we accept their isolationist tendencies be it religion or culture. GCC should be clearly told that they cannot expect Indian support without opening their societies to the ideas of pluralism and democracy. They must be reminded, gently but firmly, that their petro$$$ and [sic] supposedly-unifying faith are not that invincible after all.

I disagree with you and RajeshAji on approaching the islamism issue with Pakistan in mind. Pakistan is nothing but the pre-independence Bharatiya population that put external faith and social-isolationism ahead of their civilizational roots, culture and territorial integrity. By giving unnecessary importance to islamism and the so-called muslim-sentiments you are flirting with the very trap of Pakiness. Inviting Zakir-nayaks and Al-Sudais types to India and exposing Indian Muslims to those isolationist world-views are not indian interests. Sections of Indian muslims still hold the idea that they are alien to this land and culture and believe in the superiority of their ideological holy lands. Why encouraging that nonsense by giving them social and political space?

Do you really think $50-$100B of FDI is what holding Indian economic progress, especially after learning about all those scams? The 2G scam alone is valuated between $20B (conservative) and $50B. Don't you think instead of prostrating at GCC, it would be in Indian interests to give a one time amnesty to all black money stored outside India with a 10-20% onetime tax or the provision that such blackmoney can be invested ONLY in Indian Infra bonds pegging the interest rate 3-5%?