West Asia News and Discussions (YEMEN, gulf)

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 28 Oct 2016 17:51

The hindu.

Saudi Arabia says rebels in Yemen have fired a ballistic missile toward the holy Muslim city of Mecca, their deepest strike yet into the kingdom.

The Saudi military said today the missile was “intercepted and destroyed” 65 kilometres from Mecca, which is home to the cube-shaped Kaaba .

Lalmohan · Post by **Lalmohan** » 29 Oct 2016 02:59

^^^ Conveniently destroyed before any real blasphemy was done...?

IndraD · Post by **IndraD** » 31 Oct 2016 20:47

http://news.sky.com/story/car-bomb-plot ... a-10639083

Car bomb plot against World Cup qualifier foiled, says Saudi Arabia
IS-linked jihadists were allegedly planning to detonate explosives outside a qualifying game for the 2018 World Cup.

IndraD · Post by **IndraD** » 31 Oct 2016 21:06

Several killed in prison bombing in Yemen by Saudi AF http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/10/y ... 47406.html

IndraD · Post by **IndraD** » 31 Oct 2016 21:13

It is no more about oil but arms deal US is interested in with Saudis https://www.rt.com/op-edge/364742-saudi ... n-weapons/

ombaba stands hands down like a subdued disciple in front of Saudi Royals

Atmavik · Post by **Atmavik** » 31 Oct 2016 21:28

IndraD wrote:http://news.sky.com/story/car-bomb-plot ... a-10639083

Car bomb plot against World Cup qualifier foiled, says Saudi Arabia
IS-linked jihadists were allegedly planning to detonate explosives outside a qualifying game for the 2018 World Cup.

2 Pakis were caught.

Gyan · Post by **Gyan** » 01 Nov 2016 10:44

Saudis have some sort of extraordinary strong hold on USA, its politicians and its deep State.

habal · Post by **habal** » 01 Nov 2016 11:01

they are the basis of the current global economy mirage led by USA, it goes somewhat like this:

Saudis create 1 petro dollar of real money by extracting crude.

based on that 1 petro dollar, USA goes ahead and creates 100 dollars of debt and calls it economy.

Rammpal · Post by **Rammpal** » 01 Nov 2016 11:09

IndraD wrote:It is no more about oil but arms deal US is interested in with Saudis https://www.rt.com/op-edge/364742-saudi ... n-weapons/

ombaba stands hands down like a subdued disciple in front of Saudi Royals

Notice how all those amigos spot mustache, while their minions the world over rid of theirs and keep the beard instead !

Rammpal · Post by **Rammpal** » 01 Nov 2016 11:11

Gyan wrote:Saudis have some sort of extraordinary strong hold on USA, its politicians and its deep State.

Trapped in pots, powered by planeloads of Ukrainian honey/queen bees ?

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 01 Nov 2016 12:58

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world ... 89451.html

Nearly half of Russians fear Syria conflict could lead to World War III, poll finds
Over half of Russians polled say they support Moscow's air strikes in Syria

Samuel Osborne
Moscow has been conducting bombing raids in Syria since September 2015 Adam Berry/Getty Images
Nearly half of Russians fear Moscow's intervention in Syrian conflict could lead to World War III, a poll has found.

Moscow, a key ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, has been conducting bombing raids in Syria since September 2015.

Forty-eight per cent of Russians said they were concerned "heightened tensions in relations between Russia and the West could grow into World War III", while 42 per cent said they were not concerned about the prospect.

The remaining ten per cent said the question was too difficult to answer, according to a poll of 1,600 from across Russia conducted by the independent Levada research centre last week.

In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria
Russian air strikes in Syria have negatively affected the way the country is seen internationally, 32 per cent said.

READ MORE
Assad and Putin to launch ‘full scale’ assault for victory in Aleppo
Russia sending three submarines to join warships heading towards Syria
Russia voted off UN Human Rights Council
Tensions are rising between Russia and the West
Russia could overrun Baltic countries within 36 hours, Nato warned
However, 52 per cent of Russians said they back Moscow's air strikes, while 26 per cent said they opposed them.

Responding to a question about whether Russia should continue "intervening in what is going on in Syria," 49 per cent said yes while 28 per cent said no.

When asked if they thought the US and Western countries could find common ground with the current leaders of Russia and Syria, 35 per cent said it was likely or very likely, while 39 per cent said it was unlikely or very unlikely.

Drone footage of Aleppo
Western powers and human rights groups have accused Syrian and Russian forces of carrying out indiscriminate attacks on civilians in the country, particularly around the besieged city of Aleppo, parts of which have been reduced to rubble.

Syria's army, backed by Russia's air force, has been accused of targeting hospitals, bakeries and other civilian areas in their bombardment of rebel areas such as eastern Aleppo.

A future war with Russia would be "extremely lethal and fast" and produce violence on a scale not seen for 60 years, US generals previously warned.

More about: RussiaSyriaAleppoMoscowBashar Al-ass

IndraD · Post by **IndraD** » 01 Nov 2016 18:45

Saudi Arabia fires Finance minister due to declining economy and new impetus on cost cutting

The long-expected removal of the finance minister allows new blood into one of the most senior cabinet roles. Mr Jadaan, a lawyer, was appointed chairman of the capital markets authority in January 2015, amid the first round of personnel changes after King Abdullah’s death.

Mr Assaf was a key architect of financial policy during the era of high government spending in the decade before the debilitating oil price crash of 2014. Since then, the government has swiftly cut public expenditure, sending the broader economy into a sharp slowdown.

The International Monetary Fund forecasts that non-oil growth this year will slump to 0.3 per cent as a private sector dependent on state spending bears the brunt of budget cuts.

The finance ministry this month raised $17.5bn in the kingdom’s debut fundraising on global capital markets. The issue, which laid bare the extent of the fiscal crisis afflicting Saudi Arabia, will be used to fill a budget deficit estimated at 13 per cent this year.

Riyadh has burnt through $180bn in its financial reserves and borrowed heavily from local financial institutions to plug a fiscal gap that has been exacerbated by the expensive war in Yemen.

King Salman has empowered Prince Mohammed, his 31-year-old son, to oversee economic reform plans, including cutting energy subsidies and reducing benefits for state employees.
https://www.ft.com/content/afd0e986-9ff ... e238dee8e2

IndraD · Post by **IndraD** » 01 Nov 2016 22:54

As correctly predicted here on BRF US has joined Saudi in bombing Yemen https://twitter.com/IntheNow_tweet/stat ... 1536384000

IndraD · Post by **IndraD** » 01 Nov 2016 23:02

Due to lack of agreement on oil production freeze oil prices to drop to $40/barrel

Falijee · Post by **Falijee** » 02 Nov 2016 00:54

Long Time "Sifarish" Appointed Finance Minister Of Saudi Arabia Sacked From Office !
Saudi Arabia sacks longstanding finance minister as kingdom grapples with lost oil revenue

The sacked Finance Minister (appointed on "recommendation" and uptil now coasting along well !) probably did not have a clue of the new market realities governing the global oil industry (price war, shale oil, Iran supply, focus on "clean energy sources " etc etc )!

IndraD · Post by **IndraD** » 02 Nov 2016 01:30

Saudi economy is reeling under crisis: as a result they will follow now Gregorian calendar and not Hijri calender (Islamic one): this will mean workers working more for less or same money. At the same time many cost cutting measures taken like no more bonus for overseas workers this year.

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 02 Nov 2016 13:21

Sacked Soothi Fin Min indicates further eco woes to come.carry on with the Yemen war King of the Soothis!

Saudi Arabia sacks longstanding finance minister as kingdom grapples with lost oil revenue
Last vestige of late King Abdullah's economic team removed as austerity measures set in
Harriet Agerholm
Assaf held position for 20 years and was a close ally of previous monarch Reuters
Saudi Arabia has sacked its veteran finance minister as the kingdom attempts to transform its economy after a slump in the price of oil.

Ibrahim al-Assaf “has been removed from his position”, according to royal decree from King Salman, and replaced by Mohammed Aljadaan, head of the Capital Market Authority that regulates the stock market.

Mr Assaf’s sacking removes the last vestige of the late King Abdullah’s appointments from the country's economic team, although he will continue to serve elsewhere in the cabinet.

The 67-year-old had held the position since 1996 and was a close ally of the previous monarch, whose death prompted an overhaul of ministerial appointments, including the sacking of oil minister Ali al-Naimi.

The most recent removal of a senior figure comes as the kingdom is undergoing sweeping reform to wean itself from oil wealth and diversify its economy.

Since 2014, the global price of oil has been cut by about half. As the world’s biggest oil exporter, the country predicts an $87 billion (£71 billion) budget deficit this year.

Saudi Arabia accuses Houthi rebels of firing missile towards Mecca
With a war in Yemen raging, an expense that has placed further strain on Saudi finances, the Kingdom has spent its $180 billion (£147 billion) financial cushion and resorted to heavy borrowing.

In reaction, the Riyadh has imposed drastic austerity measures, which has send the broader economy into a rapid slowdown.

Public spending has been slashed, including cuts to subsidies and reductions in cabinet ministers’ salaries and major infrastructure projects have now been put off.

Additional austerity measures, including large scale privatisation, are expected to be brought in during the coming years, causing concern living standards will fall.

10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses

Mr Assaf was instrumental in high government spending prior to drop in the oil price. He said last week said Saudi Arabia's financial position remained strong despite plummeting oil prices, although he added there was “some pressure” on bank liquidity.

“We have been able to maintain a good position in public finances,” Mr Assaf said.

A barrel of oil is currently worth around $50 (£41) after it struck a 10-year low of less than $30 (£25) in January, down from a peak of more than $100 (£82) during 2014.

habal · Post by **habal** » 02 Nov 2016 15:55

Unconfirmed : 2 days ago, Sudan withdrew what's left of its 850 soldiers from #Yemen, and withdrew from the Saudi coalition.

IndraD · Post by **IndraD** » 02 Nov 2016 16:27

Saudi military lost dozens of soldiers in a failed attempt to storm a rebel-held area to the east of the Saudi city of Najran.

IndraD · Post by **IndraD** » 03 Nov 2016 00:58

why Saudi is on buying spree of arms & missilies? Does it feel threatened (despite being lapdog of Uncle?)

Saudi looking to boost air defence with Russian made missile system; Saudi Arabia is interested in buying Russian S-400 air defence systems, the Russian government controlled news agency Sputnik revealed today. https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20161 ... =hootsuite

IndraD · Post by **IndraD** » 03 Nov 2016 01:00

ME Monitor
Due to rise of terrorism in Egypt number of tourists halved

The Central Agency for Public Reserves and Statistics (CAPMAS), the government’s official statistics body, has announced that the number of tourist arrivals to Egypt declined by 41.8 per cent during the first nine months of 2016, compared to the same period last year.

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 03 Nov 2016 01:38

IndraD wrote:ME Monitor
Due to rise of terrorism in Egypt number of tourists halved

The Central Agency for Public Reserves and Statistics (CAPMAS), the government’s official statistics body, has announced that the number of tourist arrivals to Egypt declined by 41.8 per cent during the first nine months of 2016, compared to the same period last year.

So sad....

Serves them right!!!

What did they do to control terrorists?

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 03 Nov 2016 11:49

The would be Sultan of the neo-Ottoman empire after imprisoning and sacking half his countrymen in his delusions imagines that he can take his dreams of restoring Ottoman pride and conquest into Iraq by taking Mosul. Unfortunately,the Iraqis have decided to fight and have thrown down the gauntlet to him.Perhaps he should try and take Mosul ,get defeated and be overthrown back home. Erdogan is a meglaomaniac who could light the fuse of WW3.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world ... 94071.html

Iraq ‘ready for war’ with Turkey over who should control Mosul after Isis
Tension between the two countries is growing as parties inside Iraq and neighbouring countries become convinced that they are seeing the last days of Isis rule, writes Patrick Cockburn

Patrick Cockburn Irbil
Iraqi Special Forces delayed their advance into east Mosul on Wednesday because high humidity and clouds made targeting from the air difficult Thaier Al-Sudaini/Reuters
Iraq and Turkey are threatening to go to war with each other over who should hold power in Mosul and the surrounding region after the defeat of Isis. Turkish tanks and artillery have deployed along the border and Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has said that while Iraq “did not want war with Turkey” it is ready to fight one if necessary.

The confrontation is sharpening as the Iraqi Army enters eastern Mosul and Shia militia known as the Hashd al-Shaabi advance towards the town of Tal Afar, threatening to cut Isis’s last escape route from Mosul to Syria. Turkey sees itself as the protector of the Sunni Arabs of Mosul and northern Iraq, a community left vulnerable by the likely defeat of Isis by Shia and Kurdish forces backed by US-led airpower.

The dependence of the anti-Isis forces on air strikes and drones was underlined on Wednesday when Iraqi Special Forces delayed their advance into east Mosul because high humidity and clouds made it difficult for aircraft to identify and attack targets on the ground. They had entered the industrial suburb of Gogjali on Tuesday and were Wednesday going from house to house looking for Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and booby traps.

Isis leader ‘hiding in Mosul’ as troops storm Iraqi city
The population of Mosul east of the Tigris River, which divides the city in half, has in the past consisted largely of well-educated professional people such as doctors and engineers, few of whom are likely to be sympathetic to Isis. Residents in the east say they expected Isis to withdraw to the western side of Mosul, which is more sympathetic to them, crossing the five bridges spanning the Tigris which, the residents say, have been rigged with demolition charges.

The Iraqi government reacted angrily to the possibility of Turkish intervention. “The invasion of Iraq will lead to Turkey being dismantled,” said Mr Abadi at a news conference in Baghdad on Tuesday. “We do not want war with Turkey, and we do not want a confrontation with Turkey, but if a confrontation happens, we are ready for it.” He added that Iraq would consider Turkey as an enemy and would deal with it as an enemy.

The exchange of abuse between Ankara and Baghdad continued on Wednesday when Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu denounced Mr Abadi as “weak”, asking: “If you have the strength, why did you surrender Mosul to terror organisations? If you are so strong, why has the PKK occupied your lands for years?” Earlier Turkey’s deputy prime minister Numan Kurtulmus had tried to lower the temperature by saying that the military build-up was a precaution and not a threat.

Iraqi leaders in Baghdad have long privately blamed Turkey for aiding or tolerating al-Qaeda-type movements like Isis which operated in Iraq, but the ill-will is now becoming more public on both sides. On 11 October President Recep Tayyip Erdogan launched a furious tirade against Mr Abadi, saying: “He insults me. You are not on the same level as me! You are not my equal! Scream all you want from Iraq! It will not change anything! We will do what we want to do.” On 23 October, Mr Erdogan further raised the stakes by asserting Mosul has historically belonged to Turkey and it should therefore play a role in determining its future. *(the man is truly mad!)

Iraqi forces enter Mosul
Turkey already has 700 troops at a base in Bashiqa, north of Mosul, and has been training a Sunni Arab militia force of former policemen from Mosul numbering about 2,500. This force is probably not big enough to make Turkey a player in the struggle for the city and political observers in Irbil believe Turkey will not intervene militarily. But this could change if the Hashd attack Tal Afar, whose Turkman population is about 80 per cent Sunni and which is the home town of many Isis commanders, judges and religious police. Turkey would also be energised if the PKK was visibly benefiting from developments in and around Mosul. Another more cynical interpretation of Turkey’s focus on Mosul is that it is to divert attention from its muted response to the Syrian and Russian assault on East Aleppo.

READ MORE
This is what will happen to Mosul after Isis is pushed out
Compare the coverage of Mosul and East Aleppo and it reveals a lot
Isis may be defeated in Mosul but other deep divisions will be exposed
The fall of Mosul is likely to give birth to a series of crises because the province of Nineveh, of which it is the capital, is a mosaic of warring sects and ethnic groups. After years of war these are divided by deep hatreds, with Yazidis, Kurds and Christians all accusing their Sunni Arab neighbours of complicity in Isis massacres. In Nineveh Plain most of the Sunni Arabs have fled into Mosul city fearing revenge from returning Christians and the Shabak minority who are largely Shia.

Revenge is taking place within sectarian and ethnic groups, some of whom joined Isis while others fought it. Amnesty International says that pro-Iraqi government Sunni tribal fighters taking part in the Mosul operation are carrying out revenge attacks on men and boys in “liberated” areas suspected of belonging to Isis. Fighters from the Sabawi tribe, originally from Mosul, are said by Amnesty to have illegally detained civilians, beaten them with metal rods, given them electric shocks and tied some of them to the bonnets of vehicles and paraded them through the streets while others were placed in cages, according to interviews with local officials and eyewitnesses. Many people displaced from Mosul and surrounding towns and villages say they will not return home until security is restored and this is still a long way off.

IndraD · Post by **IndraD** » 07 Nov 2016 01:24

Saudi Arabia refuses to even consider allowing women to drive http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world ... ml#gallery

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 09 Nov 2016 15:16

http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/don ... 06701.html

The Middle East will present Donald Trump with a terrifying choice – and he won't be able to handle it
What does Trump actually do when these lands present a “threat” to the West? Dust off his anti-Muslim hatreds? Call up his mate Vladimir? Ask for an atlas?
Robert Fisk in Beirut

Aleppo, Syria: intervention in the Middle East has caused problems for past US presidents Getty
Of course, it will be no change in the Middle East. The one thing which always united Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump – despite Trump’s nonsense about Muslim immigrants – was that large area of land between Algeria and the Pakistani-Indian border. Or is it Morocco and the Pakistani-Indian border? Or the Iranian-Pakistani border? Heaven knows where the ‘Middle East’ actually is in the minds of American politicians. Or Trump.

Well, it’s the large pond of Muslims, I guess, along with Israel whose majority population is Jewish, a Middle East which also has a smidgeon of Christians which we remind ourselves of when their churches are burned and their people enslaved because – long ago, in the days when Europe was called Christendom – we in the West used to call ourselves Christians as well. But that’s about it.

So Trump’s Middle East is likely to be pretty much the same as Hillary’s Middle East might have been. Uncritical support for nuclear Israel and its chaotic prime minister, constant bombast about terror, terror, terror, terror, terror, terror (delete when you get tired of the word) and support for "moderates" – be they rebels (of the Syrian variety), presidents and kings (of the Sissi of Egypt/Abdullah of Jordan variety) and our friends (Saudis/Qataris/Kuwaitis) whose dead kings will usually be worthy of a flag at half staff.

But we will arm them. Be sure of this. The Gulf states will continue to gobble up US weapons/missiles/tanks/aircraft and Trump will visit these dusty monarchies and be treated like a king – which, I suppose, he would rather like to be – and he will assure Israel of America’s undying, constant, unquestioning support for the "only democracy in the Middle East". And, of course, he will speak of terror, terror, terror, of the Isis kind unless Obama has broken it by the time he walks into the White House, when Isis may have chosen another name for itself. And he can dust off the tired old State Department lie about how the parties to the Middle East – all-powerful Israel and occupied Palestine – must make the "hard decisions" for peace.

To be sure, there is that little Trump campaign promise to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. It’s been lying around in the locker room for so many years that the lads in the White House can probably produce several old files, yellowing with age, as to why it would really upset the Arabs – and especially the Palestinians (who would like a US embassy in their half capital of Jerusalem) – if the American ambassador took the road to the Holy City. But I suspect that "security concerns" might push this little project onto the back-burner for a while.

And yet. There is always an "and yet" when new American presidents take over.

Donald Trump: Five female leaders the new president will have to work with
A lot of them came to grief over the Middle East. Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria… Not a lot of White House flag-waving over those nations, is there? What does Trump actually do when these lands present a "threat" to the West? Dust off his anti-Muslim hatreds? Call up his mate Vladimir? Ask for an atlas?

But remember, we used to say things like that about George W Bush – and we got Iraq. The Trump presidency cannot afford to go down that road. Can it?

So I’ll hazard a cruel prediction. The Middle East will reach out and grab Donald Trump when he least expects it, that it will present him with a terrifying choice (war or peace) and that his administration – such as it is – will not be capable of dealing with it. That will be the ultimate responsibility of American voters, of course. But don’t let’s get on our high British horse. Remember a wildly popular prime minister not so long ago? Got caught up with Afghanistan, didn’t he? And then Iraq? Tony whatshisname

chanakyaa · Post by **chanakyaa** » 11 Nov 2016 06:27

Old habits die hard...On the very first day on the job after re-election, exceptional ones are back to sanctions.

‘Never Trump’ GOP preparing to work with Trump to squeeze Iran

Republicans in Congress who vigorously opposed Donald Trump’s run for president are now preparing to work with the incoming Trump administration on a number of foreign policy and national security issues where their policies overlap. First on their agenda is drastically increasing sanctions on Iran.

“There are several issues that I can work with the new president on, the Iran deal being number one,” Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.), who voted for independent candidate Evan McMullin, told me. “Trump has been right about the Iran deal, it needs to be renegotiated. I’m going to create leverage for him. ”

On the first day Congress is back in session, Graham said he and Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain (R-Ariz.) will reintroduce the Iran Ballistic Missile Sanctions Act, which was first introduced by outgoing Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.).
.....(more)

With the Trump Win, Will Iran’s First Post-Sanctions Energy Deal Be Its Last?

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 11 Nov 2016 07:09

Those three Repubs are back as whining puppies back to Trump massa.

Lindsey Graham was one of the 16 who got clobbered.

Y. Kanan · Post by **Y. Kanan** » 11 Nov 2016 09:39

Philip wrote:http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/don ... 06701.html
The Middle East will present Donald Trump with a terrifying choice – and he won't be able to handle it
What does Trump actually do when these lands present a “threat” to the West? Dust off his anti-Muslim hatreds? Call up his mate Vladimir? Ask for an atlas?
Robert Fisk in Beirut

Aleppo, Syria: intervention in the Middle East has caused problems for past US presidents Getty
Of course, it will be no change in the Middle East. The one thing which always united Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump – despite Trump’s nonsense about Muslim immigrants – was that large area of land between Algeria and the Pakistani-Indian border. Or is it Morocco and the Pakistani-Indian border? Or the Iranian-Pakistani border? Heaven knows where the ‘Middle East’ actually is in the minds of American politicians. Or Trump.

Well, it’s the large pond of Muslims, I guess, along with Israel whose majority population is Jewish, a Middle East which also has a smidgeon of Christians which we remind ourselves of when their churches are burned and their people enslaved because – long ago, in the days when Europe was called Christendom – we in the West used to call ourselves Christians as well. But that’s about it.

So Trump’s Middle East is likely to be pretty much the same as Hillary’s Middle East might have been. Uncritical support for nuclear Israel and its chaotic prime minister, constant bombast about terror, terror, terror, terror, terror, terror (delete when you get tired of the word) and support for "moderates" – be they rebels (of the Syrian variety), presidents and kings (of the Sissi of Egypt/Abdullah of Jordan variety) and our friends (Saudis/Qataris/Kuwaitis) whose dead kings will usually be worthy of a flag at half staff.

But we will arm them. Be sure of this. The Gulf states will continue to gobble up US weapons/missiles/tanks/aircraft and Trump will visit these dusty monarchies and be treated like a king – which, I suppose, he would rather like to be – and he will assure Israel of America’s undying, constant, unquestioning support for the "only democracy in the Middle East". And, of course, he will speak of terror, terror, terror, of the Isis kind unless Obama has broken it by the time he walks into the White House, when Isis may have chosen another name for itself. And he can dust off the tired old State Department lie about how the parties to the Middle East – all-powerful Israel and occupied Palestine – must make the "hard decisions" for peace.

To be sure, there is that little Trump campaign promise to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. It’s been lying around in the locker room for so many years that the lads in the White House can probably produce several old files, yellowing with age, as to why it would really upset the Arabs – and especially the Palestinians (who would like a US embassy in their half capital of Jerusalem) – if the American ambassador took the road to the Holy City. But I suspect that "security concerns" might push this little project onto the back-burner for a while.

And yet. There is always an "and yet" when new American presidents take over.

Donald Trump: Five female leaders the new president will have to work with
A lot of them came to grief over the Middle East. Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria… Not a lot of White House flag-waving over those nations, is there? What does Trump actually do when these lands present a "threat" to the West? Dust off his anti-Muslim hatreds? Call up his mate Vladimir? Ask for an atlas?

But remember, we used to say things like that about George W Bush – and we got Iraq. The Trump presidency cannot afford to go down that road. Can it?

So I’ll hazard a cruel prediction. The Middle East will reach out and grab Donald Trump when he least expects it, that it will present him with a terrifying choice (war or peace) and that his administration – such as it is – will not be capable of dealing with it. That will be the ultimate responsibility of American voters, of course. But don’t let’s get on our high British horse. Remember a wildly popular prime minister not so long ago? Got caught up with Afghanistan, didn’t he? And then Iraq? Tony whatshisname

Such melodrama. How hard would it be for Trump to simply not bomb or try to overthrow any more ME govts? Isolationism is easy. Who cares if civil war breaks out in Saudi or something? I don't see how this is a disaster for the US. They have their own oil production now and there's a huge worldwide glut in any case.

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 11 Nov 2016 13:42

The "Keepers of the two holy places" will have to hugely raise Haj rates to keep themselves financially afloat,even if they may be floating on trillions worth of oil!

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/ ... l-revenues

Saudi Arabia owes billions to private firms after collapse in oil revenues
Finance minister admits that thousands of mainly construction workers from overseas have gone without pay for months
Cranes surround the Grand Mosque in Mecca, part of Saudi Arabia’s construction boom was has seen workers gone unpaid.

Agence France-Presse
Friday 11 November 2016
Saudi Arabia has admiited that it owes billions of dollars to private firms and foreign workers after oil revenues collapsed, the kingdom’s new finance minister said.
The arrears have left tens of thousands of foreign workers, chiefly in the construction sector, struggling for months while they await back pay.
“I don’t recall the exact amount now but its billions of dollars,” Mohammed Aljadaan told reporters on Thursday.

Analysis Third time's the charm? Opec members meet again to tackle low oil prices
As leaders plan to meet informally on Monday, some are hoping to reach a consensus but skeptics write it off as another chance for ‘photo ops’
“The ministry is now every day seeking to make thousands of payment orders,” he said.

The country’s council of economic affairs and development, headed by powerful deputy crown prince Mohammed bin Salman, said on Monday the kingdom would pay the outstanding amount by next month.

Payments were delayed because of “the sharp decline in oil revenue and the measures taken by the kingdom to reduce spending on a number of projects,” the official Saudi press agency reported.

In October, the kingdom raised $17.5bn (£14bn) from its first foray into the global bond markets as it sought to repair the damage to its public finances.

Saudia, the world’s biggest oil producer, helped to push down the price by flooding the markets with cheap crude in a failed attempt to kill off the US shale gas boom. The price of a barrel of Brent crude is currently $45.84. Only two years ago it was more than $110.

Aljadaan spoke after the prince chaired the first meeting of another economic body, which aims to tighten economic cooperation in the six-nation GCC grappling with lower oil revenues.

Saudi Arabia, the world’s biggest oil exporter, is projecting a budget deficit of $87bn in 2016.

Aljadaan, who led the country’s stock market regulator, was appointed on 1 November to replace Ibrahim al-Assaf who oversaw a series of austerity measures including subsidy cuts, reductions in cabinet ministers’ salaries and delays in major projects.

Early last month the construction group Saudi Binladin said the government had transferred “some payment” in the previous two weeks, allowing it to cover some back pay to its remaining staff.

The company had already finished payments to around 70,000 laid-off workers.

Tens of thousands of employees of another construction firm, Saudi Oger, have gone unpaid for months. The company is led by Lebanon’s newly nominated premier, Saad Hariri.

PS:
There must be lakhs (a million+?) of Indian workers not paid too.The GOI should demand from the Saudis the amount of unpaid worker's salaries in "free oil".This oil can be used to further build up our strategic reserves,while payments to the Indian workers can be made in Indian currency at home instead of precious forex.I am sure that those unpaid workers would accept such a scheme.Over to you Mr.M.

IndraD · Post by **IndraD** » 12 Nov 2016 22:00

Donald Trump's foreign policy adviser has signalled major shifts in Middle East strategy, including a review of the Iran nuclear deal, the recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital, and stating that the Muslim Brotherhood will be designated a "terrorist" organisation by the United States.

According to an interview with the pro-Egyptian government news website, Youm7, Walid Phares said on Wednesday that Trump would pass legislation to designate the Muslim Brotherhood as a "terrorist group".

The US House Judiciary Committee in February approved legislation calling on the State Department to designate the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt as a foreign terrorist organisation. The Senate has referred a partner bill to its foreign relations committee.

According to Youm7, Phares said the delay in a decision was due to the Obama administration’s support for the group.

Phares strongly condemned the US's nuclear agreement with Iran in August, describing it as “the worst deal in history ever”. But on Thursday his comments to the BBC were more conciliatory; he said the president-elect will likely “review” the agreement rather than scrap it entirely.

“He [Trump] will take the agreement, review it, send it to Congress, demand from the Iranians to restore a few issues or change a few issues, and there will be a discussion,” Phares said.

“It could be a tense discussion, but the agreement as is right now - $750bn to the Iranian regime without receiving much in return and increasing intervention in four countries - that is not going to be accepted by the Trump administration.”

Phares had previously said that “Trump has made it clear … that he will be a strong ally of Israel, as he has always been.”

But in the same interview with the BBC, Phares said that while Trump was committed to moving the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, he would not do so unilaterally.

“Many presidents of the US have committed to do that, and he said as well that he will do that, but he will do it under consensus,” Phares said.

During the campaign, Trump called Jerusalem “the eternal capital” of Israel and said he was “100 percent for” moving the embassy there.

http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/profi ... 1549990186

IndraD · Post by **IndraD** » 12 Nov 2016 22:02

Saudi Arabia owes billions to private firms after collapse in oil revenues https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/ ... l-revenues

Saudi Arabia has admiited that it owes billions of dollars to private firms and foreign workers after oil revenues collapsed, the kingdom’s new finance minister said.

The arrears have left tens of thousands of foreign workers, chiefly in the construction sector, struggling for months while they await back pay.

“I don’t recall the exact amount now but its billions of dollars,” Mohammed Aljadaan told reporters on Thursday.

Analysis Third time's the charm? Opec members meet again to tackle low oil prices
As leaders plan to meet informally on Monday, some are hoping to reach a consensus but skeptics write it off as another chance for ‘photo ops’
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“The ministry is now every day seeking to make thousands of payment orders,” he said.

The country’s council of economic affairs and development, headed by powerful deputy crown prince Mohammed bin Salman, said on Monday the kingdom would pay the outstanding amount by next month.

Payments were delayed because of “the sharp decline in oil revenue and the measures taken by the kingdom to reduce spending on a number of projects,” the official Saudi press agency reported.

IndraD · Post by **IndraD** » 15 Nov 2016 00:07

Netanyahu backs bill to stop mosque ‘noise’
#InsideIsrael
The bill has been denounced by the Palestinian authority as divisive and discriminatory Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly stated his support for a bill to ban mosques from amplifying the Muslim call to prayer on speakers. The measure has already been imposed on three mosques in Jerusalem and a bill was pushed through on Sunday.
http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/netan ... 1484520632

IndraD · Post by **IndraD** » 19 Nov 2016 20:16

Turkish govt supports bill that allows rapists go free if they marry their victims.

Prem · Post by **Prem** » 21 Nov 2016 00:49

http://www.forbes.com/sites/panosmourdo ... 25ef97577b

Will Russian Oil Break America's "Marriage" To Saudi Arabia?

For years, Saudi Arabia was a close American ally, while Russia was a distant enemy.That’s why America purchased a lot of oil from Saudi Arabia and very little from Russia. For the period 1973-2005, America’s oil imports from the Saudi kingdom remained steady, in the range of one to 1.5 million barrels per day. Over the same period, America’s oil imports from Russia fluctuated widely, rising from next to nothing in the 1970s and 1980s to a couple of hundred thousand barrels a day in the early 2000s, before falling back to less 38 thousand in 2015.At times, America had to pay a steep price for excessive reliance on Saudi oil and the OPEC oil. Like back in 1970s when the kingdom imposed an oil embargo on the US. The relationship between the USA and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) could easily be characterized by secrets and second thoughts,” says Matsopoulos. “What is the connection of the largest supplier of oil to the US with attacks on American soil, if there is one? What is the vision of the KSA regarding the future of the world? What values does it represent regarding human rights, social justice, freedom of thought and expressing ideas?”At the same time, Matsopoulos finds common ground between America and a changing Russia. “Russia during past years was an ideological opponent to the USA in matters ranging from economy to social justice. Now things are different. Both seek for geopolitical power and influence, but they play with open cards.”That’s why he thinks the time is ripe for America to shun Saudi Arabia’s old partnership for a new Russian partnership. “The timing could be right for the US to seal a golden deal with an old enemy which can be a straight and honest partner in the oil market.”
“Critics also point to the rise in US oil production as evidence that the US-Saudi alliance has outlived its purpose,” says Gregory Gause III in «The Future of US-Saudi Relations,» published in the July/August 2016 issue of Foreign Affairs. “But the ties between the two countries have never been about American access to Saudi hydrocarbons. In fact, when the relationship began in the early decades of the Cold War, the United States did not import a drop of oil from the Arabian Peninsula. What has always undergirded the relationship is the importance of Saudi (and the rest of the region’s) oil to the global market. The Persian Gulf still produces 30 percent of the world’s oil, with Saudi Arabia accounting for over a third of that output. Disruptions in the Gulf thus continue to reverberate worldwide. ”Simply put, America is standing by to make sure that Saudi oil flows through the Gulf to its Asia allies. That was true back in the old days, that is, when Saudi oil was flowing mostly to Japan, an American ally, ready to shoulder the bill of America’s protection when needed (e.g., during the Gulf War).But it hasn’t been true in the last two decades, with a big chunk of Saudi oil flowing to China, a non-America ally; and an antagonist in South China Sea where China is trying to write its own navigation rules.That’s why America should consider breaking the “marriage” with Saudi Arabia, and pit the kingdom against Russia in the oil market so there will never be another oil embargo.

IndraD · Post by **IndraD** » 21 Nov 2016 15:50

Good Luck Saudi Arabia, You're Going To Need It
Thanks to over zealous production of oil coupled with Shale producing own oil in US couples with Canada oil import Saudi is losing hegemony over oil forver:

Depending on your political preference, you either have to feel sorry for Saudi Arabia or savor the moment . The country’s four decade run as global oil king is slipping through its fingers, at there’s not really much it can do to stop the slide. Sure, Saudi Arabia is still the world’s largest oil exporter and its second largest oil producer, but its ability to sway global markets as it did in the past is gone.

http://www.forbes.com/sites#/sites/timd ... b0e6963884

Gyan · Post by **Gyan** » 21 Nov 2016 17:21

Is there are graphic to show Saudi share of international oil trade over last 4 decades?

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 22 Nov 2016 00:11

I think the 'wells of power' are running dry and we will soon see the need to double talk the Arabs about support to Israel will also go away.

it will have blowback on TSP.

Lalmohan · Post by **Lalmohan** » 22 Nov 2016 19:58

go to the BP website, they publish an annual global oil production report that is very educational

IndraD · Post by **IndraD** » 22 Nov 2016 21:06

Yemeni army forces, allied fighters seize two Saudi bases in Najran http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2016/11/21 ... a-Hudaydah

IndraD · Post by **IndraD** » 22 Nov 2016 21:09

Saudi owes billions to foreign workers and private firms https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20161 ... ate-firms/