The Arab Digest

Lebanon Spy involved in U.S. State Department's Sex Scandal

noreply@blogger.com (The Arab Digest) — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 16:44:00 +0000

Chuck Lisenbee, the CIA officer exposed in Lebanon, is involved in the U.S. embassy's sexual assaults scandal. He reportedly sexually assaulted guards at the U.S. embassy in Beirut. The Arab Digest had previously revealed the unacceptable drunk conduct and assault by Lisenbee on an American citizen.

Click here to read the Arab Digest's detailed report on Lisenbee, who is now back in the United States (check photo).

The Taliban establishes a Presence in #Syria

noreply@blogger.com (The Arab Digest) — Sat, 04 May 2013 15:10:00 +0000

The Taliban movement has issued a video from Syria, declaring its presence and participation in the war against the Syrian regime.

The Syrian Taliban has only another video on the web, in which it captures a number of regime collaborators, in association with the Nusra Front.

According to the video's statement, the Taliban is present in the Eastern Oil-Rich province of Deir Ezour, which has witnessed waves of the regime's bloody repression of the local uprising, and a backlash against the Christian population.

Sex Scandal involving Hollywood Actress behind the sacking of Top Saudi Prince?

noreply@blogger.com (The Arab Digest) — Sat, 20 Apr 2013 14:07:00 +0000

King Abdullah, Saudi Arabia's monarch, has sacked Prince Khaled bin Sultan, the deputy defense minister and the favorite son of the previous heir. He appointed former navy commander Prince Fahad bin Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Abdul-Rahman.

U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel is due to visit Saudi Arabia on Tuesday to discuss another round of arms' sales to GCC's oil rich member states. Prince Khaled, a Western educated third generation official, headed Arab coalition forces during the first Gulf War in Kuwait (1991); he also owns the pan-Arab Al-Hayat London-based newspaper.

The King did not provide an explanation for the significant sacking, but the Prince was lately taking the heat of a sex scandal, exposed by a former bodyguard. Mark Young claimed in his book that the Prince made a million dollar sexual proposal to Hollywood actress Brigitte Nielsen, also the ex-wife of Rocky Star Sylvester Stallone.
Mark claimed in his book, titled the "Saudi Bodyguard", claimed that Prince Khalid had posted a half naked poster of the actress on his bedroom wall, and had offered her $1 million in return for sex.

Although the book is about two years old, the scandal only recently found its way to the Arab press.

As with many scandals, this particular one has not been corroborated well, while many observers see the step as part of a delayed reform by the incumbent King following the passing away of his brother, the late heir to the Saudi thrown.

#Iran's Alalam TV plagiarizes The Arab Digest

noreply@blogger.com (The Arab Digest) — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 22:16:00 +0000

On March 23, The Arab Digest published a report titled "Saudi TV calls for a Sunni-Shiite War in Lebanon", it exposed Wesal TV's politics.

Two weeks later, Alalam TV website featured a plagiarized copy of the article, using the same title. The Arab Digest website condemns such actions, calls on Alalem TV for an investigation in their team's unethical and unprofessional conduct.

A snapshot of the plaigiarized article.

Video: Syrian Regime Thugs mercilessly torture a Female Prisoner

noreply@blogger.com (The Arab Digest) — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 00:01:00 +0000

A video emerged of Syrian regime thugs mercilessly torturing a woman by whipping her while she screams for help. The paramilitary Shabeeha force carries out merciless missions to help the Syrian army suppress dissent in disloyal regions.

Image from Chronogram Magazine

Video: Islamists rape a Christian Woman in Egypt

noreply@blogger.com (The Arab Digest) — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 21:35:00 +0000

A rape video featuring a Christian woman and a number of Islamists chanting Allah Akbar emerged on YouTube today, but it was impossible for the Arab Digest team to validate its authenticity, awaiting further information.

Sectarian tensions have escalated in the recent months, with churches and Christian areas attacked by Islamists, many of whom are Moslem Brotherhood loyalists. Christians are one tenth of Egypt's population, which is nearing 90 million.

Copts in Fayoum after an Islamist attack

Son of Assad's Ambassador to Jordan rides a Private Jet

noreply@blogger.com (The Arab Digest) — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 17:48:00 +0000

Syrian opposition are widely circulating a photo of Haidara Bahjat Suleiman, the Syrian regime's ambassador to Jordan, sitting in a private jet. Suleiman, an Allawite former General in the Syrian army, made his fortune during his time in the Syrian Presidents Hafez and Bashar Assad's close ruling circle, a usually highly corrupt medium.

Meet Saudi Arabia's Sectarian Entrepreneurs in Syria and Lebanon

noreply@blogger.com (The Arab Digest) — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 16:11:00 +0000

When Adnan Al Arour, a Saudi based Syrian Salafist Sheikh, rose from total obscurity into fame since the Syrian revolution started, another figure was promoted in neighboring Lebanon: Sheikh Abdul Rahman Dimachkieh.

The Syrian regime exploited Al Arour rise to taint Syria's revolution with Salafism, thus increasing his popularity among the revolutionaries, while the Lebanese version of Al Arour, remained obscured.

The secret behind Al Arour's rise to prominence lies in his team's media savvy techniques. Al Arour's YouTube videos are now viral, a quarter of a million uploads, and increasing. His Twitter account, @AdnanAlarour, now has nearly a million followers, close to international media outlets, which suggests there is a dedicated team running it.
The Saudi TV channel broadcasting his program, al Wesal TV, is not alone in promoting Al Arour. There are other channels working in what observers see as a coordinated media strategy to change the face of Syria's revolution, and with it, the whole Arab Spring, back to the regional conflict's state funded media discourse (GCC vs. Iran, Sunni vs. Shiite). Some secular Syrian opposition members think Al Arour is helping turn Syria's revolution into a full blown Sectarian conflict. Such a conflict, they say, would serve the GCC and Iran's interest in changing the discourse over the Arab Spring into a Sectarian one, thus relieving all sides of an imminent domino effect in case the revolution quickly prevails. For these members of the opposition, both Iran and Saudi Arabia have a vested interest in prolonging the Syrian conflict.

Al-Arour, previously a sergeant in the Syrian Army, became an Imam in Saudi Arabia, which also provided him with ample TV time on Saudi based Islamist channels. He provides funding to Islamist groups fighting on the ground in Syria, and also visited the country's freed North, to "bless" a newly formed umbrella military council.

For Lebanon, Sheikh Abdul Rahman Dimachkieh seems more of an Al Arour prototype. He has called on the country's Sunnis to kill Syrian soldiers on the border, and all Hezbollah members trying to cross to help the dying regime.

Similar to Al Arour, Dimachkieh has a wide presence on Social media, while his Twitter followers are 130 thousand. The Avatar on his Twitter account is that of the Lebanese Free Army, a copy cat of Syria's defectors. The English Summary on his account reads as follows:
I'm with the Syrian liberated army until Lebanese regime will be liberated from sabbordination to Hizbullah & Iran

While he remains an unknown figure in Lebanon, Dimachkieh's presence has not gone unnoticed by Shiites and Iran's allies. They ran a smear campaign, in which they used the below document (unverified), that claims he was expelled from Lebanon's Azhar university for his alleged indecent behavior. They accuse him of being gay, which is punishable by death in Islamic sharia. The accusations lack credibility, and are both one-sided and reminiscent of the Syrian regime's smear campaign against Sheikh Adnan Al Arour.

What needs to be inspected is the Saudi government's involvement in supporting and coordinating both Sheikhs, providing them with funding, technical support and above all, safe haven.

(Above: Dimachkieh's call to Lebanon's Sunnis)

Video: Iraq's Hezbollah Military Parade in Central Baghdad

noreply@blogger.com (The Arab Digest) — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 22:20:00 +0000

After declaring its plans to establish an army, the Hezbollah Brigades in Iraq organized its first military parade in Central Baghdad a month ago. The Iranian backed leader of the group, Watheq Al Battat, spoke of the need to support the Iraqi government in the fight against Baathist; nevertheless, he challenged the government's authority when declared the establishment of a military wing, thus undermining security.

Here is a previous video of Al Battat threatening Saudi Arabia with annihilation:

Syria: Ahrar Al Sham issues an Egyptian Jihadist Video

noreply@blogger.com (The Arab Digest) — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 22:04:00 +0000

Ahrar Al Sham, a Syria based Jihadist group, issued a video showing an Egyptian Islamist firing rocket propelled grenades at a Syrian regime tank.

Saudi TV calls for a Sunni-Shiite War in Lebanon

noreply@blogger.com (The Arab Digest) — Sat, 23 Mar 2013 22:16:00 +0000

Wesal TV, the Saudi-based Wahabi pan Arab TV station, has called upon Sunnis to unite, claiming that the "next battle is over identity, and not between Salafists & Ikhwan (Moslem Brotherhood), 8 and 14 March coalitions (the two major political blocs in Lebanon)".

Wesal, which has played a major role in shaping the growing Islamist and Sectarian face of Syria's military conflict, was the major platform to Sheikh Adnan Al Arour, the opposition's most popular clergyman. Al Arour, a Sectarian and controversial figure, was known for his highly critical and politically incorrect statements on the Saudi TV; he is reportedly part of a financing network for some of Syria's fighting groups.

The TV network has also produced another controversial figure: Abdul Rahman Dimachkieh, a Lebanese Wahabi clergyman whose tone/language is very similar to that of Al Qaeda, except for his full support to the ruling Royal Family.

The tweets below show a similar tone, very escalation prone. The top two tweets are about talk shows on Iranian agents' attempts to control Lebanon.

Following the Lebanese government's resignation, Wesal tweeted, asking Allah to help "our Sunni brothers against Hezbollah and their allies".

On the other hand, the TV's loyalty to the Saudi government is unrestrained, with prayers for the State's protection against its enemies.

Saudis are active on Twitter, presenting different views, calling for less engagement and interference in Lebanese affairs, and diverting all the funds to solve internal issues. Salah Al Ghaydan tweeted the following : "if all the Billions transfered to Lebanon were spent on our hospitals. Americans and Europeans would have travelled to Hael & Nejran for treatment".

Video: Chinese Jihadist fighting in Syria

noreply@blogger.com (The Arab Digest) — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 19:38:00 +0000

Syria's Liwaa Al Mujahideen issued a video of a Chinese Jihadist fighting in Syria. His name is Bo Wang, now known by Youssef (Joseph in Arabic). He read Seyyed Qutob's book in Chinese, converted to Islam, before deciding to join the fighting alongside transnational jihadists in Syria.

Libya: Video of Taliban-Style Sharia Lashes in Gaddafi's Hometown

noreply@blogger.com (The Arab Digest) — Sun, 17 Mar 2013 19:25:00 +0000

A video of Libyan Islamists applying the strict Sharia lashes code on a number of men in Sirte, the late Libyan dictator's hometown. According to local sources, the Islamist "Ansar Al Sharia" group, allegedly responsible for a lethal attack on the American embassy in Benghazi, is now the leading force in the city.
The video is another sign at the group's growing influence within Libya, after they managed to destroy the American embassy on September 11, 2012, and killed the American Ambassador Christopher Stevens, his state department colleague Sean Smith and former Navy Seals Tyrone Woods and Glen Doherty.

Nusra Front releases Video of "Tunisian Martyrs"

noreply@blogger.com (The Arab Digest) — Sun, 17 Mar 2013 11:07:00 +0000

Al Nusra Front, Syria's most feared Jihadist group, released a video of its Tunisian Martyrs. (The Arab Digest had previously reported on a Tunisian mother who saved her son at a Turkish airport).

Nusra Front has a heavy Tunisian effect, which alarmed local politicians as the movement of brainwashed young Tunisians amounts to human trafficking. In the video below, a Tunisian Jihadist with Nusra chants an Islamist song.

In the video below, the Tunisian Nusra leader, "Abu Usama" gives a speech in front of his Tunisian comrades:

While the numbers are still not clear, the issue has alerted the local press, and the government. The Interior Ministry has vowed to end what a local newspaper dubbed "the Tunisian Youth's Genocide" in Syria.

False Report: Assad's Senior Female Advisor defects

noreply@blogger.com (The Arab Digest) — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 23:16:00 +0000

Bouthaina Shaaban, Bashar Al Assad's most senior Political and Media advisor has defected to Abu Dhabi, the U.A.E. capital, according to unconfirmed reports citing the Syrian Coalition's deputy leader, Farah Atassi.
Shaaban served under Hafez Al Assad, then as first Minister of Expatriates for the Syrian Arab Republic, between 2003 and 2008, and has been described as the Syrian Regime's "face to the outside world".

The news has not been corroborated, she remains a regime figure according to her most recent statements.

Lebanon's first Nusra Cell charged in Court

noreply@blogger.com (The Arab Digest) — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 22:49:00 +0000

Shadi Al Mawlawi

A top Lebanese Judge charged ten Islamists with establishing an armed group, and belonging to Syria's most feared Jihadist group, Al Nusra Front.

Saqr Saqr, Lebanon's State commissioner to the Military Court, a well known Judge in Lebanon, declared the charges. The Lebanese National News Agency reported that Shadi Al Mawlawi, an Islamist previously arrested on suspicion of smuggling weapons from North Lebanon into Homs Province, then released on bail, was among the 10 charged men.

This is the first instance in which Nusra appears in a Lebanese court or official statements; it is known that Hezbollah, a Lebanese Shiite Militant group, is fighting in Qusair, Homs, against Syrian militants. This has aggravated anti Shiite sentiments in both Lebanon and Syria.

Video: Tunisian Woman stops her son's Holy Jihad Mission

noreply@blogger.com (The Arab Digest) — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 21:44:00 +0000

A Tunisian Woman, with the help of her daughter in law, managed to drag her son out of a fatal Jihad trip to Syria. She showed up in Ataturk's International Airport in Istanbul where she made a scene with her screaming, then dragged him back to Tunisia.
The Arab Digest has learned that the man's wife has helped her mother in law through luring her husband to meet her at the airport. She managed to convince him of her willingness to help in the Syrian Jihad against the Syrian regime.
Jihadist networks have been transferring dozens of fighters daily through Turkey into Syria, with the help of various intelligence agencies, including the Turkish MIT. Istanbul is usually an unlikely route, as the Hatay airport near the Syrian border. Chokri Belaid, a Leftist Tunisian leader, had warned before his assassination against the transfer of brainwashed youngsters to die Syria for a vague cause.
Yemen is witnessing the largest transfer of youths into Syria, with the help of Saudi financed clergymen, and MIT, according to local Yemeni newspaper Al Shareh.
The Yemeni newspaper had claimed the number of Yemeni fighters in Syria had reached five thousand, many of whom died.

Saudi Arabia and Qatar Ratcheting Up Sectarian And Ethnic Tensions In Iraq

noreply@blogger.com (The Arab Digest) — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 19:23:00 +0000

By Zayd Alisa

Iraq, a decade after the U.S. led invasion and one year after the end of the U.S. occupation is undeniably grappling with not merely an escalating sectarian crisis between the Shia-led partnership government and an increasingly disaffected Sunni minority, but also an intensifying ethnic crisis with an increasingly defiant and heavily armed Kurdish Region.

In 1991 Saudi Arabia fiercely resisted the toppling of Saddam’s regime and played a major role in pressurising the U.S. to turn its back on the popular uprising against Saddam’s tyrannical regime. In 2003, however, Saudi Arabia’s immense influence in the U.S. was dramatically weakened due to the decisive role played by Saudi nationals in the 9-11 atrocities in the heart of the U.S.



Ever since the ousting of Saddam’s regime in 2003, the Saudi regime has adamantly refused to recognise the new democratic system in Iraq and has been steadfastly determined not to have any diplomatic representation in Baghdad. Among the real underlying reasons behind the Saudi regime’s conspicuously emphatic hostility towards the fledgling democracy in Iraq, was and still is its deeply entrenched fear that the success of democracy in Iraq is an immensely harmful precedent, which would undoubtedly inspire its own people. Another reason is the deeply rooted hatred towards the Shia, which explains its fierce refusal to come to terms with the inescapable reality that the Shia in Iraq constitute the indisputable majority. The Saudi regime also accuses, Nouri Al Maliki, the Iraqi Prime Minister, and the Shia-led Central Government (CG) of giving Iran a freehand to dramatically intensify its influence in Iraq.

Since the 2010 bitterly contested national elections, the heavily Sunni-dominated Iraqiya bloc -which enjoys the full blown support of both Saudi Arabia and Qatar- has persistently accused Al Maliki and the Shia-dominated National Alliance of high-jacking the elections, despite the patently unambiguous Federal Court’s ruling permitting the formation of the biggest bloc inside parliament. The Saudi king left absolutely no doubt where his sympathies lie, underlining his unequivocal backing to the Iraqiya bloc by personally meeting its head, Ayad Allawi, immediately before and after the elections. It is doubtless that the U.S. final withdrawal from Iraq in Dec 2011, which coincided with the arrest warrant issued against, Tariq Al Hashimi, Iraq’s Sunni Vice President, provided Saudi Arabia and Qatar with a golden opportunity to ramp up the message that Sunni discrimination would dramatically escalate.

Despite the enormous geo-political concessions made by the Iraqi government on its stance towards Syria and Bahrain – before the Arab League summit held in Baghdad, in April 2012 – to specifically appease the Saudi regime. It, nonetheless, decided to appoint its ambassador in Jordan as a non-resident ambassador to Iraq, reiterating the same old message that Iraq is far too insecure and unstable. But, even more disparaging, was the Saudis and Qataris decision to restrict their representation to low level delegations. And as part of Saudi and Qatari relentless efforts to ratchet up sectarian tensions in Iraq, the Qatari Prime Minister, Hamad Bin Jassim, not only asserted that Qatar’s low level participation was aimed at highlighting Qatar’s fierce objection to the marginalisation of Sunnis in Iraq, but to add insult to injury the Qatari PM and afterwards the Saudi Foreign Minister, Saud Al Faisal, offered Al Hashimi, a formal red-carpet reception in Doha and Riyadh, even while Al Hashimi –found guilty and handed down death sentence– was facing terrorism allegations. Both Saudi Arabia and Qatar have been working tirelessly to break up the Shia-Kurdish strategic alliance in Iraq, replacing it by a Turkish strategic alliance with the Kurdish Region (KR), headed by, Massoud Barzani, which has unquestionably, not only dramatically bolstered the position of the KR in its tense confrontation with the CG over land and oil, but also ramped up the ethnic tension.

Against this backdrop of growing sectarian tension, the arrest, in Dec 2012, of nine bodyguards of Iraq’s Sunni Finance Minister, Rafe Al Essawi and his accusations to the CG of marginalising the Sunni population, this sparked protests that swept the Sunni-dominated provinces of Anbar, Nainawa, Salah Al Deen and Deyala. Although the protests started spontaneously, nonetheless, they were swiftly taken over by a number of the Iraqiya bloc leaders and hard-line Sunni clerics, who are closely connected to Saudi Arabia and Qatar. And amid Iraqiya’s strenuous attempts to win over Muqtada Al Sadr’s unarguably vital endorsement, to ensure that the protests spreads far beyond the Sunni provinces, hence, it scrambled to replace the menacingly sectarian and Al Qaida’s slogans by patriotic ones. It was, beyond doubt, Izzat Ibrahim’s –vice president during Saddam’s rule– ringing endorsement of the protests, which was followed by Al Qaida’s spokesman’s ominous call on the protesters to take up arms, that made it absolutely inconceivable for any Shia leader, let alone, Al Sadr to urge the Shia to join the protests. Indeed, the demonstrations that took place in Shia areas were by contrast highly supportive of Al Maliki’s government and have categorically refused any alterations to either the terrorism or the Justice and accountability laws.

The principal accusation of deliberately discriminating against the Sunni minority levelled at the CG, holds no water for the following reasons: Firstly, while the Sunni minority has persistently been in power since 1920, it was however, during the Baathist era –which started in 1968–and specifically under Saddam’s rule–which began in 1979–that the Sunnis were almost exclusively calling the shots in Iraq. No wonder, the Sunnis regard the prominent positions –Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, Finance Minister and seven more ministries– given to them as woefully inadequate. Secondly, with the exception of the single clash, which occurred on 25th Jan 2013 –five weeks after the protests commenced– between the army and the protesters that caused the death of 8 protesters. It is, nonetheless, incontestable that the army has consistently been extremely patient and extraordinarily lenient. While in comparison, the army was by far much harsher in dealing with protests in Shia areas like Basra, Al Nasriya and Al Diwaniyah. Thirdly, in stark contrast to Sunni claims that Article 4 of the terrorism law has persistently been exploited to unfairly target them, in fact it was the Shia cities of Basra, Amarah, and Sadr city that experienced, in 2008, the harshest crack down and the strictest implementation of anti-terror laws. And finally, in an unprecedented move, the CG swiftly established three committees –headed by highly influential officials– to meet protesters demands. The CG is promptly meeting the protesters demands, including the release of thousands of prisoners and the return of thousands of those excluded to their jobs or receiving pensions. The protesters, however, have not only insisted that none of their demands have been fulfilled, but dramatically ramped up their demands, calling for scraping the constitution and toppling Al Maliki’s CG. This without doubt underlines that there are internal and external parties, spurring these protest not merely to persist but to dramatically escalate.

The internal parties include: Firstly, Iraqiya leaders, namely the speaker of the parliament, Usama Al Nujayfi, the Finance Minister, and the head of bloc in Parliament, Salman Al Jumaili, are desperately attempting to revive their popularity by portraying themselves as being targeted for standing up to the CG. They are also using these protests to pile the pressure on Al Maliki to force him to resign, and, above all, hoping to regain lost ground to Al Maliki –particularly in the disputed areas with the KR– whose tough stance against the KR has undoubtedly bolstered his popularity with Sunni-Arabs. Secondly, these protests are certainly music to Brazani’s ears, who has been increasingly alarmed by Al Maliki’s growing popularity among the Sunni-Arabs in the disputed areas.

The external parties include: Firstly, Al Qaida which views the on-going protests as a golden opportunity for more radicalisation and ultimately an upsurge in recruitment. Just as important to Al Qaida, is exploiting the army’s reluctance to tackle terrorist suspects in the Sunni provinces –fearing the ready-made accusation of targeting Sunnis– to re-activate the safe-havens that originally existed in the Sunni provinces. Secondly, for Saudi Arabia these protests are a dream come true: with Saudi Arabia’s popular uprising –which swept the Shia-dominated and oil-rich Eastern province– spreading to the Sunni heartland. The Saudi regime is increasingly using Iraq’s turmoil to convince its people that democracy eventually leads to instability, insecurity and ultimately civil war. The Saudi regime is also seeking not merely to fend off any potential challenge by a democratic Iraq to its leadership of the Arab World, but also to ostracize Iraq by trumpeting these Sunni protests as irrefutable evidence from the horse’s mouth that Iraq is adopting a sectarian policy against the Sunnis. Moreover, both Saudi Arabia and Qatar are exploiting the protests in Iraq as a highly effective tool to divert Iraq’s CG attention away from pursuing a diplomatic solution in Syria, as well as placating Iraq’s strident opposition to Saudi and Qatari concerted derive to, not just finance and arm the Syrian opposition –namely the extremist and hard-line Wahhabi Salafi, Jabhat Al Nusra, which is essentially Al Qaida’s branch in Syria– but also pay salaries to the insurgents. In addition, both the Saudis and Qataris are using the protests to keeps Iraq’s CG far too busy to prop up the Syrian regime. The Saudi regime is taking advantage of these protests and the sectarian strife it is deliberately stoking –in Iraq, Syria and Bahrain– to stave of dissent in its Sunni heartland by demonstrating that it is not just the guardian of Sunni Islam, but also at the forefront of combating an existential threat from the Shia, namely Iran.

The sectarian-ethnic conflicts, protests, Turkey’s open hostility and a revitalised Al Qaida are all an integral part of a modified last ditch attempt spearheaded by Saudi Arabia and Qatar to achieve their overarching goal of destabilising and ultimately dismantling the fledgling democracy in Iraq. Yet, alarmingly, even if this ferocious all-out assault fails to restore minority rule, which is almost certainly the case –since the Shia are ready to fight tooth and nail to hold-on to power and indeed the CG have shown its unwavering determination on the 15th Feb 2013 to thwart all attempts to march on Baghdad– then Saudi Arabia and Qatar are implacably determined to throw their support behind the Sunnis drive to establish a Sunni Regional Government, which is similar to the KR but under Saudi and Qatari complete control. For Saudi Arabia and Qatar, if they cannot have all of Iraq back, they are hell-bent on taking part of it for now.

U.S. Ramps Up Its Tumbling Influence In Iraq By Bolstering Kurds

noreply@blogger.com (The Arab Digest) — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 19:28:00 +0000

By Zayd Alisa

Iraq, on the first anniversary of US withdrawal, is struggling to cope with, not merely a raging sectarian crisis between the Shia-led Central Government (CG) and an increasingly resentful Sunni-minority, but more alarmingly an ethnic crisis with a heavily armed and increasingly defiant Kurdish Regional Government (KRG).

Although, Obama, USA president for a second term, strived to put a positive spin on the US withdrawal from Iraq by explicitly emphasising that it was nothing more than fulfilling his pledge. Nevertheless, it is undeniable that Obama’s administration tried its utmost to convince the Iraqi government to grant its forces immunity from prosecution. More importantly, the Iraqi parliament and the Iraqi people were fiercely against the continued occupation, which persuaded the US that it had overstayed its welcome. Ever since the end of the US occupation of Iraq in 2011, it has been steadfastly determined to shore up its waning influence by explicitly endorsing a highly ineffective CG, while at the same time bolstering the military superiority of the KRG.

It is doubtless that the US has played a major, if not a pivotal role, after the 2010 Iraqi election, in pressing all the major political blocs to forge a national partnership government, which is unquestionably a carbon copy of the former utterly impotent national unity government. The ostensible reason for the US emphatic support for such a government is ensuring the full representation of the Iraqi society. The real reasons, nonetheless, are the following: Firstly, guaranteeing that such a government is constantly in desperate need of US mediation – even if the US withdraws - to hold it together. Secondly, ensuring that it would spectacularly fails in delivering essential services and thus becoming completely reliant on US backing. Thirdly, enabling the US to pull the plug on the entire government or simply replace the prime minister, which was undoubtedly the case in 2006, when the Kurdish alliance, spurred by the USA, pushed the Iraqi National Coalition, a Shia-dominated bloc, to remove Al Jaffari, who was replaced by the incumbent Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki. Finally, appeasing the authoritarian dictatorship in Saudi Arabia, which has not only fiercely rejected democratic change in Iraq, but has been strenuously attempting to hold it at bay, if not, reverse it.

In 1991, following Saddam’s defeat in Kuwait, the Shia and the Kurds revolted against the regime. But, unlike the Kurds, the Shia were not given a safe-haven by the USA. Consequently, the two principal Kurdish leaders, namely, Masoud Barzani head of the Kurdish Democratic Party (KDP) and Jalal Talabani head of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), became unarguably the unrivalled leaders of the Iraqi opposition. Even when Barzani, in Aug 1996, openly urged Saddam, who had used chemical weapons against the Kurds, to send his tanks into Erbil to dislodge Talabani’s forces, none of the Arab leaders of the then opposition groups had the nerve to criticise him. In 2003, when the US toppled Saddam, It was abundantly clear that the regime had successfully decimated the internal Shia-dominated opposition and the external Shia-dominated opposition was inexcusably heavily divided. Just as ominous, however, was the US decision to dismantle the entire Iraqi army. And, even more significant, was and still is the deep Sunni-Shia division. All of these factors created a huge vacuum that had a detrimental impact on the Iraqi Arabs, while at the same time dramatically strengthening the Kurdish leadership, which was already superior, since it had the most well organised militia, known as the Peshmerga.

Even though, the US claims that it is exerting concerted efforts to defuse the tense stand off between the CG and the KRG, its actions, however, since 2003 leaves little doubt that its sympathies lie with the KRG. These actions have ranged from signing a memorandum in May 2003 with the Kurdish leadership, allowing the peshmerga to redeploy - beyond the line clearly indicating the border of the Kurdish Region (KR) after 1991- into the so called disputed areas under the pretext of fighting terrorism. This undoubtedly constituted the principal source of the dispute. To turning a blind eye to the KRG implacable derive to, not merely seizing the old Iraqi Army’s heavy weapons, but even turning them on the new army. To, condoning moves by the peshmerga to seize more of these disputed territories. And to, condoning, if not, spurring Exxon Mobil to strike an oil deal with the KRG in defiance of the CG. Apparently, this deal created a precedent, which paved the way for other major oil companies to follow suit.

What must be deeply worrying for the Kurdish leadership is the dramatically growing body of Iraqi-Arabs public opinion – initially prevalent amongst the Sunni-Arabs, but now becoming increasingly wide-spread even amongst the Shia-Arabs - that is scathing in its criticism of the KRG and particularly, Barzani. The main reasons behind this seismic change of heart revolve around what Iraqi-Arabs perceive as increasingly major violations, if not, utter disregard by Barzani to the constitution, which in Arab eyes went over the top in addressing kurdish concerns. These violations cover the following: Firstly, on the military front: Although, it is incontestable that the armed conflict between the CG and KRG has been brewing ever since 2008, even before the formation by Maliki, in Sept 2012, of the Tigris Operation Command, but in 2008, a confrontation reached the level of armed conflict as the Peshmerga moved into Khanaqin and Jalula. In 2009, a similar situation was narrowly averted after the Peshmerga seized the north part of the Kirkuk oil field. More recently, in August 2012, in the Nineveh province, the Peshmerga prevented the Iraqi army from policing the border with Syria and in November 2012, a standoff in Tuz Khurmatu erupted into a gunfight. On, 18th December 2012, the peshmerga shot at two Iraqi helicopters near Kirkuk. All these military confrontations took place well outside the KR borders. Another major violation is the peshmerga’s unshakable determination to import its own weapons. Secondly, on the foreign policy front: Even while the Kurds have prominent positions within the CG, like the president for the second term, Talabani, and the foreign minister, Hoshyar Zebari, since 2003, but the KRG, nonetheless, has actively been pursuing policies that are, not only in stark contrast to the CG, but increasingly hostile. A vivid example was the unannounced visit by Turkey’s foreign minister, Davutoglu, to the flashpoint city of Kirkuk.

Thirdly, on the economic front: The KRG has actively been pursuing an increasingly independent economic strategy by directly selling its oil and gas. Fourthly, on the judicial front: The case of the convicted vice-president, Tareq Al Hashmi, has underlined that the central judiciary authorities in Baghdad has absolutely no jurisdiction in the KR.

Talabani’s, frantic efforts to bridge the widening gap between the CG and the KRG were thwarted by Barzani’s highly provocative unannounced visit to the bitterly contested city of Kirkuk and, more ominously, by his assertion that all the disputed areas are essentially Kurdish cities. With Talabani critically ill, Barzani, is scrambling to tighten his grip on the entire KR. And, amid the mounting sectarian tensions that erupted after the arrest of 9 bodyguards of Iraq’s Sunni Finance Minister, Rafe Al Essawi and his accusations to the CG of marginalising the Sunni population, all this was music to Brazani’s ears, who has been increasingly alarmed by Al Maliki’s growing popularity among the Sunni-Arabs in the disputed areas.

Both, the sectarian conflict and the ethnic conflict are an integral part of a modified strategy spearheaded by Saudi Arabia and Qatar to achieve their overarching goal of destabilising and ultimately dismantling the fledgling democracy in Iraq. This strategy relies heavily on utilising the dramatic surge in Al Qaeda’s – called Jabhat Al Nusra in Syria, which is an extremist Wahabi Salafi group – power and influence, which is largely due to Saudi and Qatari funding, arming and even paying salaries to foreign fighters, as well as Turkey’s open-border policy with Syria.

The Kurdish leadership, particularly Barzani, has made no secret that their ultimate objective is independence and that the insurmountable obstacle has so far been the US. Yet, ironically the CG has continued to pay the KRG an over-inflated 17% share of the overall Iraqi budget, which has been utilised to ramp up the viability of an already existing Kurdish state in Northern Iraq. As the KR’s independence becomes an inescapable reality in all but name, it is imperative that the CG halts all payments to the KRG. Indeed, declaring that the KR is an independent state would, among other things, cause the following: First, perilously destabilise Turkey by aggravating its indigenous Kurdish crisis. Second, severely undermine Saudi and Qatari attempts to topple Al Maliki’s CG because such a move is bound to spark a Sunni-Arab confrontation with the Kurds - similar to the bloody battles raging in Syria, given that the overwhelming majority of Arabs in the disputed areas are Sunnis – rather than rachting up the sectarian strife between the Sunni-Shia Arabs that the two countries have been working tirelessly to achieve. Third, turn the Arab world’s opinion against Saudi and Qatari arming and funding of the insurgents in Syria, fearing a similar break up of the country. Fourth, throw the already stumbling US Middle East policy into further disarray. These grave implications are bound to jolt the US into exerting intense pressure on Barzani to make major concessions to the CG and therefore preserving Iraq’s unity. Otherwise, if all that fails the CG must unilaterally declares the KRG as an independent state.

#Syria's Nusra Front places the United States on its "Terrorism List"

noreply@blogger.com (The Arab Digest) — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 08:00:00 +0000

The Al-Qaeda affiliated Nusra Front, issued a video placing the United States on the former's terrorism list. The Ahfad Al-Sahaba video featured a Turkish Jihadist calling for liberating Jerusalem following the downfall of Syria's dictator, Bashar Al-Assad.

Assad's Sectarian Soldiers assault Women

noreply@blogger.com (The Arab Digest) — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 21:47:00 +0000

A damning video of Syrian President Bashar Assad's soldiers assaulting women, while shouting Sectarian slurs, has been leaked to YouTube. The video has been shot by Assad's soldiers, in this case belonging to the Allawite minority, and posted on the Social networking website.

An image of a previous assault by Assad's soldiers on a woman

Syrian Jihadists use a Child to behead a Man

noreply@blogger.com (The Arab Digest) — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 14:16:00 +0000

The Syrian Regime propaganda machine is distributing this video of a young boy who is given a sword to behead a tied man; while the boy chops the head off with a sword, the men chant "God is Great", usually adopted by the Free Syrian Army Brigades. The pro-regime video claims the perpetrators are members of the Khaled Ben Al-Waleed Brigade.

The Abuse of Children in #Syria

noreply@blogger.com (The Arab Digest) — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 16:20:00 +0000

Children have been the prime victim of the Syrian conflict, from regime massacres to their recruitment in the Free Syrian Army. In the following video, the Free Syrian Army uses them for publicity purposes in the Ghotah region.

Saudi Arabia's Wedding Massacre: 25 dead, 50 injured

noreply@blogger.com (The Arab Digest) — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 21:31:00 +0000

25 Saudis died, 50 injured in the Saudi town of Ein Dara, after an electric cable fell on their heads due to celebratory gun shots, according to local media reports. In Saudi Arabia, separate weddings are held for women and men.

The Saudi owned Alarabiya reported the high death toll, highly embarrassing for the region's prince who is personally dealing with the "accident", as another Saudi website reported.

The Prophet Mohammad's Mojo: 9 Women in One Hour

noreply@blogger.com (The Arab Digest) — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 19:54:00 +0000

An Egyptian Sheikh, in a sermon, claims the Prophet Mohammad had marital sex with 9 women in one hour. He had, according to the Sheikh, the sexual power of four thousand men. According to the Sheikh, the prophet said that men in heaven get 100 folds the sexual ability and lust of men on earth, and that he has the powers of 40 "men of heaven". Hence, the Prophet has the "mojo" of 40 thousand men. But the prophet did not marry 4 thousand women, as he was not after lust in marriage, this is why he was committed to monogamy in his first marriage to Khadeeja. After her passing away, the prophet married many woman, and thus had the opportunity to live up to his sexual capacity.