Opinion: Thirty Year’s War in the Middle East?

June 15, 2014 By administrator

DW’s editor-in-chief, Alexander Kudascheff.

The leader of ISIS, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, is in the process of starting a religious war in the Middle East, one that could go on for a very long time,

The situation is downright alarming: an army of crusaders has brought the Middle East to its knees. 10,000 fighters who belong to the Islamist, fundamentalist and murderous group ISIS (Islamic State in Iraq and Syria) are headed for Baghdad with aims of seizing Iraq’s capital city and deposing its president – all in a bid to bring down Iraq’s Shiite rule.

Their objective includes bringing about a reversal of postwar order in the Middle East: an end to nation states, the founding of a new Muslim community, or Ummah, and a caliphate, within which the Sharia is the foundation of the law. ISIS members have already displayed political and religious readiness for a violent conflict, evocative of Jihad, one of the early tenets of Islam that calls believers to martyrdom.

These Sunni Jihadists led by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi – whose name calls to mind the first of all caliphates, the “descendents” of the Prophet Muhammad – are looking to oust not only President Maliki and the Shiites from Baghdad, however. They have ignited the entire region. Iran has pledged support to stand by Iraqi Shiites and is even considering, as contradictory to traditional political alliances as this may seem, to join sides with Washington. US President Barack Obama, meanwhile, has yet to announce plans for how he intends to support Maliki.

Shiite axis

For Tehran, the pledging of support to Iraq’s Shiites is a matter of course, just as it supported President Assad – an Alawite – with the help of Shiite Hezbollah militias in the Syrian civil war.

Iran has a strategic regional interest in upholding the Shiite axis in the Middle East, which comprises Hezbollah, Syria, Iraq and itself: It is a way of securing its influence. But it is also more. It would be unthinkable for Iran’s Ayatollahs and Mullahs, who see themselves in the tradition of Ayatollah Khomeini, to ignore any neighboring Shiites in a time of need. This is grounds for Jihad – a holy war.

There has been civil war in Syria for a long time now, between Assad and the opposition, but also within the opposition itself – between ISIS and the proponents of the secular democracy movement. Almost 200,000 people have died and millions have been displaced, and yet, Assad remains in power: a never-ending blood bath.

And surrounding it stand the other Middle East actors. The Kurds have established themselves in North Iraq and have no fear of ISIS. Their military strength and newly acquired political identity pose a challenge to Turkey, which has had its share of troubles with the chaotic situation on both sides of the border to Syria. Jordan – for years, a state burdened by Palestinian refugees – has had to deal with the second highest influx of Syrian refugees, behind Lebanon. And nobody knows how secure the Jordanian kingdom really is.

Visions of power

And then there’s Saudi Arabia: Iran’s great adversary on the Persian Gulf, its great rival in the struggle for intellectual and spiritual dominance in the Middle East – the keeper of the holy cities of Mecca and Medina. Saudi Arabia follows the ultraconservative teachings of Wahhabism, and is thus a religious state – with a lot of money. It has often been a key supporter of Islamic pursuits abroad, and also played a role in setting up Islamist groups. A kingdom with a double standard: it fears Jihadism and fosters it at the same time, in the hope that it’s never directed towards the Saudi dynasty.

However, the insane vision of an ISIS caliphate would not only incorporate Syria and Iraq; it would also involve Jordan, Lebanon and Saudi Arabia, the birthplace of the Prophet. Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi’s name alone seems to indicate the power the terrorist is after.

Even if al-Baghdadi were stopped in his attempted conquest, Jihadism wouldn’t be stopped. It would be merely put on hold. This war in Iraq, the battle of Baghdad, is the beginning of an all-out religious war between Shiites and Sunnis. And with it, the Middle East now faces a conflict akin to the Thirty Years War. Israel’s existence has never been this uncertain. And the West won’t be able to watch for long.

Blair washes his hands of responsibility for Iraq crisis

June 15, 2014 By administrator

A mask of Britain’s former prime minister Tony Blair during a protest in London, England (file photo)

Presstv: Britain’s former prime minister Tony Blair has rejected the idea that his decision to support the US invasion of Iraq in 2003 caused the recent surge of violence in the country.

“We have to liberate ourselves from the notion that we caused this”, Blair wrote in an essay published on his website on Saturday, adding that the belief that the US-led invasion of Iraq had led to the current situation was “bizarre.”

The former premier insisted that the invasion of Iraq, which led to the toppling of former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, was right and that things would have been worse if he had not been ousted from power more than a decade ago.

The so-called Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) militants gained control of parts of Iraq’s northern areas on June 10. The militants first took control of Nineveh Province, including its provincial capital, Mosul. Rights groups say around half a million people have been displaced in and around Mosul.

The terrorists have also vowed to continue their raid toward the Iraqi capital, Baghdad.

Critics, however, dismissed Blair’s claims, saying that the US-UK invasion of Iraq was the main reason for the current situation in the Arab country.

Michael Stephens, from the Royal United Services Institute, said he thought Blair was “washing his hands of responsibility” and that the Iraq War played a major role in destabilizing the country.

UK forces participated in the US-led invasion of Iraq in a blatant violation of international law in 2003 under the pretext that the regime of Saddam Hussein possessed weapons of mass destruction. No such weapons were ever discovered in Iraq.

Saddam’s Daughter Happy to see Militants Crush Iraqi Government

June 14, 2014 By administrator

Saddam Hussein’s daughter Raghad, seen here at a protest in 2007, says she is joyous at seeing the Iraqi government defeats at the hands of Islamic militants. Photo: AP

By Alexander Whitcomb and Halat Rebwar

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Raghad Saddam Hussein, exiled daughter of the former Iraqi dictator who was ousted in 2003 and later hanged, expressed joy at the Iraqi military collapse against an Islamist onslaught.

“I am happy to see all these victories,” she told the Al-Quds newspaper in Jordan, after militants captured Tikrit, her father’s hometown. “These are victories of my father’s fighters and my uncle Izzat Al-Douri,” she added, referring to the leader of the Iraqi Baathist Party, which is officially banned by the government.

Al-Douri has been identified as the main commander of former Baathists, who have partnered with the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) to capture Mosul, Tikrit, and other predominantly Sunni cities. He was a senior military commander and vice president under Saddam, and avoided capture by US-led coalition forces following the dictator’s collapse in 2003.

Raghad, Saddam’s eldest daughter, was confident the militants would successfully undermine the current government.

“I am relieved. Someday, I will return to Iraq and visit my father’s grave,” she said. “Maybe it won’t happen very soon, but it will certainly happen.”

In 2006, the freshly-elected Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki placed Raghad and al-Douri on a “wanted list” of prominent Baathist figures. Al-Douri topped the list, and Raghad was number 16.

Al-Douri evaded capture and formed several brigades that were active in the insurgency campaign against Iraq’s post-Saddam government and US occupying forces. He was thought to have resided in Syria, Qatar and within the country itself at various stages, before resurfacing in the latest conflict over the last days.

Jordan granted Raghad and her children asylum for “humanitarian reasons.” Months later, her father was executed for crimes against humanity, and the Iraqi government denied her request for his body to be buried in Yemen, pending the withdrawal of international forces.

In mid-2007, international police agency Interpol issued a warrant for her arrest, charging her and her associates with involvement in insurgent activity.

ISIL issues ‘10 commandments’ for Islamic rule

June 14, 2014 By administrator

The group, which has made clear that it intends to create a new Caliphate, published the document two days after taking the provincial capital Mosul.

1) People, you tried secular rulings (Republic, Baathist, Safavid) and they gave you pain. Now is time for the Islamic state of Imam Abu Bakr El Qurashi.

2) For those asking “Who are you?”: We are soldiers of Islam and have taken on our responsibility to bring back the glory of the Islamic Caliphate.

3) Money we took from the Safavid (Shiite Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki) government is now public. Only Imam of Muslims can spend it. The hand of anyone who steals will be cut.

4) We ask all Muslims to be on time for prayers in the mosques.

5) We warn tribal leaders and sheikhs not to work with the government and be traitors.

6) No drugs, no alcohol and no cigarettes are allowed.

7) For the police, soldiers and other infidel institutions: You can repent. We have opened special places that will allow you to repent.

8) Gatherings, carrying flags (other than that of the Islamic state) and carrying guns are not allowed. God ordered us to stay united.

9) Our position on shrines and graves is clear. Simply, all will be destroyed.

10) For women: Dress decently and wear wide clothes. Only go out if necessary.

June/13/2014

Mosul fell migration paths once again fell to the Syriacs

June 14, 2014 By administrator

Islamic State of Iraq and Damascus, the job within a short period of one week, unarmed, in a way to seize Mosul all civilians living in the area hurriedly led them to migrate from the city. This situation undoubtedly those most affected by the continued presence in the region as a vulnerable minority and ethnic groups was. In this region there is a significant presence of Syriac. Mosul and Nineveh in general, the historical homeland of the Assyrians and the people constitute the arteries.

By DAVID VERGİLİ

Hear the international media news agencies primarily seize Mosul was greeted with surprise, and the statement made on social media and message this case was easily noticeable. However, analysts following the mobilization of the job, especially in Syria within the next leg of Mosul and in this area there will be political and military gap will be filled by the ISID stated. In this sense, hear presence in Mosul is not a new phenomenon. Isidor existing power vacuum in the region, taking advantage of their dominance in the oil-rich region has to prevail.

Syrians living in the region of Mosul seizure was forced to emigrate again. In 2003, with the collapse of the Saddam regime targets to attack the Syrians, who began to migrate en masse from Iraq. Following the 2003 attacks, which target the Syrians in Baghdad, Basra and other places in Mosul, Nineveh Plain and the Kurdistan Regional Government within the residential areas were located. Before 2003, about one and a half million Christians who are close to the population, according to the optimistic figures currently has around 400 thousand.

Mosul and Nineveh Plain, Assyrian-Chaldean-Assyrians’ historical, cultural and social homelands and in the historical process values and the richness they add on to this land. The region’s rich religious structure is understood from the existing churches and monasteries. Purple Matay monastery in the region with a unique beauty is a historical work. Other important monastery Behnam Purple, Purple and Raban Hurmuz Elias Monastery. Mosul, Paulos Faraj, who was killed in 2008 by the Metropolitan Rahho, who died shortly before the Patriarch of the Syriac Orthodox Church in Aleppo in Zakay Iwaz years in prison for 1915 Sayfo Tappan Patriarch Gabriel were born in Mosul. Politics, the arts and cultural life of the significant achievements of ancestors was born in this land of nice names.

According to unofficial estimates, the population of Syriacs remaining in Iraq is about 400 thousand. Of this number, about half are located in and around Mosul and Nineveh Plain. Located near Mosul in Bartell, Alqoş, Bağde and Karemleş Syrians constitute the majority of the population. However, Nineveh Plain is a region of the Syriacs other heavily populated. Here, the Assyrians after 2003 are located in emerging demands for autonomy within the new paradigm. However, the demand of both the federal and regional governments and the international community’s support was due to the realization of a kind. In this context, the political structures that are active within the Syrians from taking the necessary steps have an attitude.

According to information from the region, located in the center of Mosul and everyone hurriedly left the city on foot. Among them, Assyrians, Armenians, Shabak, and they are Ezier. Between 7 and 10 thousand Assyrians in Mosul available and 80% of them had left the city, and the rest are searching for a way out. Separated from the Assyrians in the region of Mosul churches, schools and monasteries, taking refuge with some of the plain of Nineveh and Dahuk, especially in some of the regional government is up to. Also, Mosul, 30 km away from the Monastery of Mor Behnam hearing into the hands of different sources of social media, and so far four passes news of the church had been destroyed. Meanwhile, the region’s discharge and the Iraqi military and police forces in Mosul after the departure of the Syrian Metropolitan, the city was abandoned. International agencies announced that 500 thousand people had left the area. Meanwhile, the Kurdish Peshmerga forces in Syria and the YPG Isidor forces are trying to take.

Located in the focus of criticism of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and the federal government has failed to take the necessary steps so far. Located in the center of the regional balance of power in Iraq will continue for a long period of uncertainty is palpable. The international community’s stance on Syria and Iraq reluctance is manifested in the matter. Consequently vulnerable who suffer most from this situation of ethnic and religious groups in a manner which comes first.

The Middle East region and in particular the developments in Syria and now in Iraq next year will affect the political designs are greatly. This uncertainty and the vacuum has existed in the region with more Syrians poses a vital situation. Assyrians in the Middle East and in the diaspora should follow developments closely, and should take the necessary measures should be expressed in the union demands.

* This article was first published on http://davidvergili.wordpress.com/.

Iraqi army enters Mosul

June 13, 2014 By administrator

13 June 2014 – 10:27am

During an operation to destroy fighters in the north of Iraq, with the active use of air strikes, the Iraqi government army could retake control of two districts of Mosul. The authorities of the province of Anbar also reported that, under strikes from government forces, fighters of the “Islamic State of Iraq and Levant” organization (ISIS) sustain losses in two areas of this province. In Fallujah, security forces destroyed four headquarters of their opponents and killed dozens of extremists, RIA Novosti reports.

At the same time, it has become known that US President Barack Obama declared the readiness of the USA for military operations for the purpose of protecting Iraq against terrorists from ISIS.

“I don’t exclude anything,” he said, speaking about options for help to Iraq. Obama emphasized that the USA isn’t interested in the emergence of a base of jihadists in this country and is ready to undertake military operations “when the interests of its national security are threatened.”

At the same time, it has become known that US President Barack Obama declared the readiness of the USA for military operations for the purpose of protecting Iraq against terrorists from ISIS.

Where is the truth? is it false flag operation?

June 13, 2014 By administrator

who is telling the truth Baghdad, or Ankara?

12/06/2014 22:40:00

Iraqi National News Agency reporting:

Turkish Consul is free and practice his consular functions from a house in Mosul
Mosul / NINA / Eyewitnesses in the city of Mosul, said on Friday that the Turkish Consul in Nineveh province (Ozturk Yilmaz) is free and practice his consulate functions naturally from a house downtown Mosul.

The eyewitnesses told the National Iraqi News Agency / NINA/ that the Consul, accompanied by a group of staff of the Turkish consulate was seen in a house in al-Zuhour neighborhood and he practices his duties to grant visas to Turkey, naturally nothing to do with the gunmen who occupy the city.

Yet Turkish media and Government reporting the militant ISIL kidnaping Turkish consulate and staff:

Hurriyet Forty-nine Turkish citizens, including the consul general in Mosul and several members of the Turkish special forces, were taken hostage by ISIL and transferred to an undisclosed place on June 11.

One hostage posted a message on an Internet forum used by Turkish special forces members, daily Vatan reported. The message states that ISIL besieged the compound with “900 specially trained commandos” as Turks in the compound positioned snipers on rooftops to resist.

“They had mortars, DShK and PK-type heavy machine guns, RPGs and four tanks that they stole from the Iraqi army. We told the Foreign Ministry that we would clash until we ran out of ammunition, but the Foreign

Evacuation of the Armenian community in Mosul

June 13, 2014 By administrator

On 11 June, sixty-five Armenian families and their priest have left Mosul to escape extremist Islamists who terrorize members of Christian communities in the city. The Armenian community of Basra to host families and grant them asylum.

The Armenian Church of the Holy Spirit, he destroyed a few years ago when she had just been completed and waiting for his consecration, was burned.

First Armenian church called Saint Echmiadzin was built in the city in 1857. In 1968, a larger church was built on the site of the first sanctuary and a school. The city had two other places of worship Armenian: the chapel of neighborhood “Guirgougui Ghoria” and the church of the Holy Mother of God (restored in 1997-1998).

CHP lawmakers accuse Turkish government of ‘protecting ISIL and al-Nusra militants’

June 13, 2014 By administrator

Yet another prove of Turkish Government False-Flag Operation in Mosul

ANKARA

This photograph shows ISIL commander Abu Muhammad, April 16, 2014, allegedly receiving free treatment in Turkey Hatay State Hospital after being injured during fighting in Idlib, Syria.

Two lawmakers from the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) have accused the government of protecting and cooperating with jihadist militants of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and the al-Nusra Front, while the Turkish government quickly denied the claim.

CHP Deputy Parliamentary Group Head Muharrem İnce has asked for explanations of a photograph showing ISIL commander Abu Muhammad allegedly receiving free treatment in Hatay State Hospital on April 16, 2014, after being injured during fighting in Idlib, Syria. The photograph circulated widely on the Internet following ISIL’s assault on Mosul June 9.

“If we keep silent now, it is to let the government work more comfortably in this situation and prevent our people, our flag and our country from being harmed. But we will talk about the point to where wrong policies have dragged our country and what kind of trouble have all those whom they have fed, treated and assisted brought us,” İnce said at Parliament in Ankara on June 12.

He also said the visits carried out on the same day by Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu to opposition leaders were not enough. “He should also come and inform Parliament,” İnce said.

‘Militants stayed at religious body’s guest houses’

Meanwhile, CHP Istanbul deputy İhsan Özkes claimed militants of the al-Qaeda splinter group the al-Nusra Front were allowed to stay at the guesthouses of Turkey’s Religious Affairs Directorate (Diyanet) under the monitoring of the National Intelligence Organization (MİT) in the southern province of Hatay.

Özkes, a former mufti, also claimed the order to host the militants was given by former Interior Minister Muammer Güler in a circular sent to the Hatay Governor’s Office, which openly demanded assistance to al-Nusra fighters.

The allegedly official document shown by Özkes reveals that al-Nusra fighters were brought by the National Intelligence Organization (MİT) in order to fight against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) affiliated Democratic Union Party (PYD) in northern Syria.

“It is important to provide the necessary support for the intelligence officers on the issue of assisting the fighters of al-Nusra, including Tunisians and Chechens, who have been brought [here] under the supervision of the MİT to fight against the PKK-affiliated PYD, crossing the borders to Syria and complying with the confidentiality of the matter,” the document reads.

“The province of Hatay has strategic importance in the crossing of fighters from our country’s borders to Syria. The logistics supply to Islamic groups, their training and the treatment of the injured will mostly be carried out from there. The MİT and other relevant authorities have been tasked on the issue,” it also said.

Özkes also accused the government of sending charity money collected by Diaynet to the Islamist fighters. “Have those who fought been sheltered in the Quran classes and dormitories belonging to Diyanet? Is there an Interior Ministry circular that was sent to Diyanet on the issue?” he asked.

‘Turkey hasn’t become a target’

Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arınç denied the allegations during his press conference on June 13.

“Has Turkey provided any weapons or financial aid? Absolutely not, and the whole world knows this,” Arınç said.

Arınç also said that the latest incident does not mean that Turkey has become a target.

The debate was sparked after the ISIL militants took 49 workers of Turkey’s Mosul Consulate and 31 Turkish truck drivers hostages after seizing Iraq’s second biggest city, Mosul.

Source: hurriyet daily news

June/13/2014

US airstrikes to support Iranian Revolutionary Guard’s offensive in Iraq?

June 12, 2014 By administrator

Iran deployed its Revolutionary Guard to help Iraq battle insurgents from a group inspired by Al-Qaeda, according to a recent report. In the meantime, the US is mulling airstrikes to support the Iraqi government.

On Wednesday, Al-Qaeda affiliate insurgents from the armed group Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL or ISIS) conquered former dictator Saddam Hussein’s hometown of Tikrit, marking the second major loss for the Iraqi government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. Earlier this week, insurgents captured Mosul, the second-largest city in the country. With jihadists threatening Baghdad and security forces unable resist the Sunni Islamists’ assault, Maliki turned to foreign powers for help, getting responses from two unlikely allies, Iran and the US.

Two battalions of the Quds Forces, which is the overseas branch of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, moved to Iraq on Wednesday, the Wall Street Journal reported. There they worked jointly with Iraqi troops to retake control of 85 percent of Tikrit, security forces from both countries told the Journal. Iranian forces are also helping guard the Iraqi capital of Bagdhad, as well as two Shiite holy cities that the Sunni jihadists are threatening.

Meanwhile, on Thursday morning, US President Barack Obama declared that he doesn’t rule out any options with regards to the ISIS takeover of cities in the northern region of Iraq. The administration and its national security team are discussing military options.

“We do have a stake in ensuring these jihadists don’t get foothold in either Iraq or Syria,” Obama said.

Later in the day, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney clarified that US will not send ground troops to Iraq, but is seriously considering airstrikes that would help to drive jihadist militants out of their strongholds.

Iraq has privately indicated to the Obama administration that it would welcome airstrikes with either drones or manned aircraft that target ISIS militants in Iraqi territory, US officials said Wednesday.

If so, US may find itself assisting its archnemesis in the Middle East to fight against Sunni militias that enjoy support from one of America’s closest allies in the region, Saudi Arabia. The ruling family of the kingdom has long been accused of supplying jihadists all over the region with arms and financial support, the New York Times reported.

The US and Iran severed diplomatic relations in 1979, after Islamic militants following Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini seized the government and deposed the American-backed shah. Iranian students stormed the American embassy in Tehran, leading to the 444-day Iran hostage crisis. Following the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Iran was in a state of heavy international isolation. The US has led the world in debilitating sanctions against the Islamic Republic that have increased as the Middle Eastern country has developed its nuclear program.

Under Hussein’s dictarorship, Sunnis dominated the Iraqi political landscape, even though over 60 percent of Iraqis are Shia. In Iran, over 95 percent of the population is Shia. The two countries are the only majority-Shiite nations in the Middle East. (Over 1.1 billion Muslims around the world are Sunni, while less than 200 million Muslims are Shia.)

From 1980 to 1988, the two nations battled in a deadly war in which both sides deployed chemical weapons. The US sided with Hussein during that war, but turned against the dictator when he invaded American ally Kuwait in 1990, leading to the first Gulf War. Hussein stayed in power until the second Gulf War began in March 2003.

Once Hussein was captured by American forces in December 2003, the Shia majority regained political power. Al-Maliki is a Shiite Muslim and has become unpopular with Iraq Sunni minority, which has accused the government of discrimination. Since 2005, Iran and Iraq have had a flourishing relationship, and are now considered to be each other’s strongest allies.

Quds Forces have been active in Iraq for years, creating, training and funding Shiite militias that battled the US military after the 2003 invasion. Iran sees the battle for Iraq as “an existential sectarian battle between the two rival sects of Islam-Sunni and Shiite—and by default a proxy battle between their patrons Saudi Arabia and Iran,” according to the Wall Street Journal.

The US still sees Iraq as vital to its national interests, despite having pulled its troops out of the country at the end of 2011.

“What we’ve seen over last couple of days indicates degree to which Iraq is going to need more help,” Obama said, calling recent events a “wake-up call for the Iraqi government.”

“The next 9/11 is in the making,” Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) said of the danger of the Iraqi insurgency.