Modern Middle East History

https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-syria-showdown-could-spark-israeli-iranian-and-us-russian-clashes-1.5992066?=&ts=_1523493983388

After seven years of Syria’s civil war, the country is now turning into a confrontation zone between Israel and Iran. On a more global scale, it is becoming more and more of a confrontation between Russia and the Western countries, especially the United States. A retaliation by the United States for the chemical weapon attack a few days ago could lead to the issue being escalated even further.

Russia has warned the U.S. to not conduct a raid against Syria and has threatened to intercept any U.S. missiles.
Tensions and open hostility between Russia and the U.S. could potentially provide cover for Iran to accelerate its efforts to place its forces and militias wherever possible in the region. Israel has made it clear that Iranian expansion into Syria would be crossing a line.

It seems that Assad may no longer be as much of a restrained and calculated leader as some thought him to be. His decision to use chemical weapons in an area that was about to fall to his forces anyway very well may lead to an international battle taking place in Syria.

Turkey could become caught in the crossfire of an escalated international battle, even if they just try to sit at the side.

Trump’s recent statements and tweets suggest that the U.S. will strike Syria soon. Some believe he also may use this cover of potential war in order to fire Special Counsel Robert Mueller. His unfiltered tweets do not inspire any confidence in those looking towards the leader of the free world. On the other hand, Theresa May is still searching for proof that it was Assad’s forces that carried out the chemical attacks.

Tensions are rising, groups are preparing for more heated conflict, and we are moving closer and closer to another war.

https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/syria/trump-s-syria-threats-directly- contradict-his-campaign-vows-

Trump’s mixed messages regarding Syria could potentially spell disaster for U.S. Foreign Policy in the Middle East. His flip-flopping stance on whether to go into Syria or stay out has many heads spinning. He criticized Obama for not doing enough in Syria yet he also cautioned Obama against intervening. Just last week Trump said he wanted to get the U.S. out of Syria; now he is threatening “serious” retaliation.

Here are two videos that i had seen a while back but was reminded of when we were talking about Saddam Hussian.

here’s the first video

here’s the second video of the proceedings after the purge ended.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQkBkzDdrsA&t=1986s

https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2016/11/britain-destroyed-palestinian-homeland-161102054348710.html

Balfour is still “the bad guy” for Palestinians: the author of this article recollects his own personal journey to understanding how the Balfour Declaration impacted the lives of himself and his family in modern times. He also reflects on the Sykes-Picot Agreement, how it “signified the brutal nature of colonial powers that rarely associated land and resources with people that lived upon the land and owned those resources,” and how this is still a problem with Britain and other Western powers today.

Original title:  US approves $300M guided missiles sale to Qatar.

LINK

The United States have just approved a $300m missile purchase form Qatar in the form”of 5,000 Advance Precision Kill Weapon Systems (APKWS) to Qatar, including 5,000 high explosive warheads.” This sale was a prior to the visit of the Qatari Emir, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. However, Qatar has been discovered and accused of funding fundamentalist groups throughout the middle east. In the last year, Saudi Arabia has issued a blockade on all trade and diplomatic missions. This sale is a problem for the Saudis, which may be the reason why when they arrived at the White House early last week, the state department approved a sale of 2 billion dollars in arms sales.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/04/respond-syria-attack-russia-warns-repercussions-180409213624376.html

After Saturday’s chemical attack in Douma, Syria, an emergency UN meeting was called, where tensions between the U.S. and Russian ambassadors. The U.S. wants the other members of the UN to stand behind them in their response to the Syrian government, blaming them for the attacks. Russia, however, insists that these attacks would have been done by rebel groups, not the government, and has accused Western members of the UN with unclear strategies for Syria. Russia and Syria have both also accused Israel of a missile attack on a Syrian airbase on Monday. Israel has not responded to the accusations. As tensions rise, it is important to watch and see what each country’s course of action will be.

Since 2013, thousands of people have been affected by various chemical weapons in Syria, resulting in hundreds of deaths.

This is a link to a YouTube video discussing China’s progress of their new initiative called the Belt Road. This Belt Road is both covers the same area as the Silk Road and is linked with it in the propaganda for the program. At the end of the video, the voice-over also discusses the military strategy China is using in a very similar way the Mongol Empire used the silk road for. China is creating naval bases in the Indian ocean at way-points the same way the Mongols built walled towns at way points on the land portion.

https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2018/04/09/600765750/russia-syria-israeli-jets-strike-air-base-after-alleged-poison-gas-attack-in-dou 

Israel is remaining silent about accusations it led jet strikes on air bases in Syria in response to alleged chemical attacks on Syrian civilians in Douma.

Initial reports in the region stated that the air strikes were led by the U.S., but were later retracted.

It is believed that Russian and the Assad regime used chemical chlorine gas to poison hundreds of Syrian civilians–including women and children.

President Trump vocalized his displeasure with Russian president, Putin, for backing the Assad regime. Criticizing Russia is something Trump has been reluctant to do even in the aftermath of last month’s poisoning of two British spies in England. Trump went on to say that there will be a “big price to pay” for these attacks, but did not go further.

“Officials announce agreement over the establishment of up to 40 theatres over the next five years, state media reports.”

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/04/saudi-arabia-cinema-decades-open-april-18-180404211909896.html

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/03/war-afghans-hunger-striking-lashkar-gah-180331074141258.html