re: Hezbollah: Saudi Arabia offered Israel money to attack Lebanon

quote:

---

It amazes me how Americans can side with Saudi Arabia, the birthplace of 19 of the 20 hijackers from 9/11 and the exporter of the most violent form of Islam, against Lebanon, a country with a 40% Maronite Christian population.

---

Wahhabi Islam was what the two previous kings of Saudi Arabia perpetuated. Within the past week the new king (Salman) and his son (whom was just named as heir to the throne) arrested a metric frickton or royals (ie: Wahhabists), cut off the government's funding for ISIS in Syria, shifted those funds to the rebels who are fighting ISIS and Assad and are pushing to enact very non-Wahhabi standards for the country (like allowing women to drive).

Wahhabism in SA has had decades to flourish and spread, it won't be reversed or even curtailed overnight, but the moves the Salmans have made in the past seven days are fricking YUGE!

If these arrested cats are as bad as advertised, they won't go down without taking a shot at the main prince. Maybe I've watched too many episodes of Narcos.

Pakistan took a pass on Yemen, so I don’t know if their support is a sure thing. They would presumably help in the event of a defensive war, but they have their own priorities.

Looking at a topo, Iran would be a pain to invade.

quote:

---

Wahhabi Islam was what the two previous kings of Saudi Arabia perpetuated.

---

So are you excusing all of the Kings of SA since its inception, including Salman?

Only a simpleton like Trump would buy the "corruption" bullshite. This is about gathering dictatorial power and eliminating any perceived enemies much like Putin did with the Russian Oligarchs he didn't like. Additionally, KSA needs their wealth and will extort it much the same way Putin did. We really don't know how Uday will use his power, but it will not be to attack anyone for this reason primarily:

quote:

---

While analysts said a war was unlikely — because Saudi Arabia was not capable of waging one and Israel did not want one now — they worried that with so many active conflicts in the region, any Saudi actions that raised the temperature increased the risk of an accidental conflagration.

---

LINK

quote:

---

If going back 35 years isn't enough for you, write your own post on it.

---

I wrote my own post and stand by it 100%, including the part about Trump. MBS is trying to save SA from going under. The country, even under his father, has one of the worst human rights records worldwide. So now women get to drive, otherwise, any dissent against the monarchy will not be tolerated. None of the arrested will be acquitted and most will most likely loose their wealth. Its good to be the King. The Sunni Mafia has spoken.

quote:

---

So they're funding Al Qaeda in Syria?

---

Up until July, so were we. Granted, I would like to see their funding for any activities in Syria come to a full stop but that's apparently not going to happen. Their funding of the rebels has much more to do with Iran funding Assad than anything else.

This is part of their multi-pronged attack on Iran.

1. They have been keeping oil production high ever since word came out that the UN might loosen trade restrictions in Iran (part of it was also do to how much of Russia's economy depends on oil prices and a small part was the burgeoning fracking industry in the US).

2. Since 2015 Saudi has been at the forefront of a coalition of Arab countries (mostly Sunni) trying to thwart Iran's intrusion into Yemen (via funding of the Houthis). A missile fired earlier this week at Riyadh from Yemen came originally from Iran.

3. Saudi is funding the rebels in Syria because Iran is funding Assad.

4. Saudi has made some aggressive actions recently toward Lebanon. Why? Because they shelter Hezbollah. Hezbollah's primary (and possibly only) source of funding is Iran and as such they act in Iran's interests.

Prior to making this list I was thinking Saudi was gearing up to attack Iran and the proxy wars were just a prelude. Now looking at it it looks more like they're trying to draw Iran into attacking them (thus most likely kicking off all sorts of mutual defense agreements with other countries, especially if one of our bases are hit).

quote:

---

Prior to making this list I was thinking Saudi was gearing up to attack Iran and the proxy wars were just a prelude. Now looking at it it looks more like they're trying to draw Iran into attacking them (thus most likely kicking off all sorts of mutual defense agreements with other countries, especially if one of our bases are hit).

---

Neither IMHO, it is about making Iran look weak and unable to support it's proxies, which by extension makes the Saudi's appear stronger and increases their influence in the region at Iran's expense, nobody wants a shooting war.

quote:

---

I think Saudi wants one but they want Iran to initiate it

---

That's the most unlikely scenario. Iran is always hesitant to commit resources because their hold on the population is somewhat tenuous, and with the economy damaged by sanctions, war is always unpopular. That's why their strategy in Syria has been more about material support and oversight rather than actually offering Iranian troops. For Iran to actually attack it's actual borders would have to be threatened directly. The most likely scenario is KSA uses continued problems in Yemen, which by all measures was a mistake and a quagmire, to ask for direct military help in specific theaters.

Israel, Saudi sponsored terrorism and Western intervention are the biggest destalizing forces in the ME. I’m not a Hezbollah fan but they are only involved in the two countries the constantly violate Lebanese sovereignty, Israel and Syria. Iran is a leadership change away from being an almost Western country though that isn’t likely to happen.