Obama balks on Syria chemical arms threat
1 May, 2013 – Daily Star

BEIRUT: President Barack Obama, said Tuesday that the United States must be more certain of all the facts regarding the use of chemical weapons by Syrian leader Bashar Assad before he decides on how his country will intervene in the conflict.

The president said, however, that if it is determined that the Assad regime used chemical weapons “we would have to rethink the range of options that are available to us.”

With the U.S. disengaging from the unpopular war in Afghanistan and still smarting from the difficult conflict in Iraq, Obama has been reticent to unleash American military power in the Syrian fighting, a civil war that has killed tens of thousands of people.

The president said the conflict is a “blemish on the international community generally.”

But he added that he was not prepared to rush to respond to growing evidence that chemical weapons had been used in Syria, something he had termed would mark the crossing of a “red line” and a game-changer.

“I meant that we would have to rethink the range of options open to us,” Obama said.

In the White House news conference, the president said he had a full range of such “options on the shelf” but he declined to enumerate them.

Many critics of Obama’s disinclination to use the American military in Syria are calling for the president to establish safe zones for Syrian rebels, to protect them with a no-fly zone and begin sending arms to forces fighting to overthrow the Assad regime.

The problem facing the U.S. is that Syrian air defenses are far stronger than NATO allies faced when they intervened with air power in Libya, and some of the rebel forces identify as Islamists, aligned with Al-Qaeda.
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Sadly and cynically, the US admission of uncertainty of Chemical Weapons use in Syria and by whom, leaves one to wonder if Obama is just building the pretense of integrity that was lost in the Fiasco of lies and deceit in Iraq. Stay tuned, the next words about Chemical Weapons will be “false flag” operation used to bring the West directly into the fray. In the mean time Chemical Weapons “protective gear” will flood into Syria. Perhaps providing cover for the 20,000, M16s stolen earlier this monthfrom the Warehouse in Kuwait? Phlipn Out

Chemical Weapons Charade in Syria
By Sharmine Narwani -29 April, 2013 – Middle East Shuffle

Let us be clear. The United States can verify absolutely nothing about the use of chemical weapons (CWs) in Syria. Any suggestion to the contrary is entirely false.

Don’t take it from me – here is what US officials have to say about the subject:

A mere 24 hours after Washington heavyweights from the White House, Pentagon and State Department brushed aside Israeli allegations of chemical weapons use in Syria, US Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel and the White House changed their minds. They now believe “with varying degrees of confidence” that CWs have been used “on a small scale” inside Syria.

For the uninitiated, “varying degrees of confidence” can mean anything from “no confidence whatsoever” to “the Israelis told us” – which, translated, also means “no confidence whatsoever.”

Too cavalier? I don’t think so. The White House introduced another important caveat in its detailed briefing on Thursday:

“This assessment is based in part on physiological samples. Our standard of evidence must build on these intelligence assessments as we seek to establish credible and corroborated facts. For example, the chain of custody is not clear, so we cannot confirm how the exposure occurred and under what conditions.”

“The chain of custody is not clear.” That is the single most important phrase in this whole exercise. It is the only phrase that journalists need consider – everything else is conjecture of WMDs-in-Iraq proportions.

I asked a State Department spokesman the following: “Does it mean you don’t know who has had access to the sample before it reached you? Or that the sample has not been contaminated along the way?”

He responded: “It could mean both.”

Chuck Hagel expands on that jaw-dropping admission: “We cannot confirm the origin of these weapons.” Although he goes on to conclude anyway: “but we do believe that any use of chemical weapons in Syria would very likely have originated with the Assad regime.” …more

Israel summons reservists to rehearse war with Hezbollah
1 May, 2013 – By Daily Star Staff

OCCUPIED JERUSALEM: Israel’s military said Tuesday it had called up hundreds of reservists for a drill in northern Israel where tensions are high with neighbors Syria and Lebanon, but a military spokesman said there was no change in the overall security situation.

Israel has been on high alert for a spillover from Syria’s civil war, which has included sporadic fire at Israeli frontier positions. It has also warned it would act to prevent Syria’s sophisticated weapons from falling into the hands of Hezbollah.

The drill – planned in advance as part of the annual training schedule – is meant to simulate a scenario of “quick escalation” in which troops would be sent to the north, the military said in statement. No specific details were included.

Israeli media reported that the exercise was aimed at preparing for a sudden escalation with Hezbollah.

“The reality requires us to prepare accordingly and maintain high readiness,” a senior officer from Israel’s Northern Command said of the drill.

Chief military spokesman Brigadier-General Yoav Mordechai told Israel Radio: “This is an exercise, it is not connected to any change in the security situation.”

Israel has enjoyed a decadeslong, stable standoff with Syria under the Assads, but fighting in the insurgency has drawn close to the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.

Israel says its air force shot down a drone from Lebanon over the Mediterranean Sea last week as it was approaching the Israeli coast. Hezbollah said it was not behind last week’s incident.
…source

Official: Hezbollah inciting strife in Bahrain
30 April, 2013 -YaLibnan

Bahrain’s Minister of State for Information Affairs Samira Rajab accused the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah of encouraging terrorism and inciting strife in her country.

“Hezbollah is fanning the flame of conflict in Bahrain and training terrorists,” Rajab was quoted as saying by Kuwaiti daily Al-Rai on Tuesday during a press conference at an Arab media forum in Bahrain.

The minister also said that her country was “coordinating with Gulf states and other world countries” to designate Hezbollah as a terrorist organization.

The tiny Gulf kingdom of Bahrain became the first Arab country to place the Shiite Lebanese militant movement, Hezbollah, on its list of terrorist organizations. It is a rather bold step on their part and the implications are enormous while the ultimate consequences are yet unknown. In punishing Hezbollah, Bahrain is at the same time pointing an accusing finger directly at Iran.

For the past 2 years the authorities in Manama, the Bahraini capital have been blaming Iran and Hezbollah for fomenting the troubles. Bahrain claimed that Hezbollah was training Bahraini Shiites in revolutionary tactics in secret camps in Lebanon. …source

Activist: Saudi Regime’s Collapse Inevitable
29 April, 2013 – FARS

TEHRAN (FNA)- A senior political activist underlined the Saudi regime’s weakness and inability to suppress popular protests across the country, and said the al-Saud dynasty is on the verge of collapse.

“Sooner or later a great revolution will be sparked off in Saudi Arabia and important political changes will be made, given the expansion and spread of the protests and the continued detentions and suppression of the people,” Ali al-Ahmed said in an interview with Arabic-language al-Alam news channel on Monday.

He stressed the Saudi regime’s desperateness in confronting popular protests, and said, “I believe that if massive rallies are held across Saudi Arabia for 10 days, the ruling regime will collapse.”

Since February 2011, demonstrators have held anti-regime protests on an almost regular basis in Saudi Arabia, mainly in the Qatif region and the town of Awamiyah in Eastern Province, primarily calling for the release of all political prisoners, freedom of expression and assembly, and an end to widespread discrimination.

Since November 2011, when Saudi security forces killed five protesters and injured many others in Eastern Province, the demonstrations have however turned into protests against the Al Saud regime.

On Saturday, Saudis held an anti-regime demonstration in Qassim Province in solidarity with political prisoners.

Demonstrators in the North-central city of Buraydah demanded the immediate release of political prisoners.

The protesters also condemned the maltreatment and abuse practiced by regime forces against the prisoners.

Activists say there are over 40,000 political prisoners, mostly prisoners of conscience, in jails across the kingdom. Most of the prisoners are being held by the Saudi regime without trial or legitimate charges.

Some of the prisoners have reportedly been held without trial for more than 16 years.

Attempting to incite the public against the Saudi regime and allegiance to foreign entities are usually the ready-made charges against prisoners. …source

Saudi forces shoot, arrest two activists in Eastern Province
29 April, 2013 – PressTV

Saudi security forces have stormed the houses of two anti-government activists in the village of Al-Awamiyah in the Eastern Province, shot them, and arrested them.

The regime forces conducted the raids on Monday.

One of the activists was covered with blood when he was being taken away, according to eyewitness reports.

Saudi activists say one of the detainees is Abdullah al-Suriah, whose name is on the Saudi Interior Ministry’s wanted list for allegedly organizing anti-regime protests in the kingdom.

There have been numerous demonstrations in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province since February 2011, with protestors calling for political reform.

Anti-government protests have intensified since November 2011, when security forces opened fire on protestors in Qatif, killing five people and leaving scores more injured.

Activists say there are over 40,000 political prisoners in Saudi Arabia, many of them being held without trial or charges.

In October 2012, Amnesty International called on the Saudi authorities to stop using excessive force against pro-democracy protestors.

“The Saudi authorities must end their repeated moves to stifle people’s attempts to protest against the widespread use of arbitrary detention in the country,” Philip Luther, Amnesty International’s director for the Middle East and North Africa, said on October 16.

“The right of people to peaceful protest must be respected and the security forces must refrain from detaining or using excessive force against people who exercise it,” he added. …source

Bahrain: Amnesty renews call to free jailed teachers’ union chief
1 May, 2013 – BBC

Rights group Amnesty International has renewed its call for the release of the jailed president of the Bahrain Teachers Association, Mahdi Abu Dheeb.

Mr Abu Dheeb was convicted by a military court of plotting to overthrow the government during unrest that swept Bahrain in 2011.

His original 10-year sentence was subsequently reduced to five on appeal.

Amnesty has described Mr Abu Dheeb as a “prisoner of conscience”.

Both Mr Abu Dheeb and his vice-president Jalila al-Salman allege they were tortured in detention after calling for a strike by teachers in March 2011 in support of pro-democracy activists who had taken over a prominent landmark, Pearl Roundabout, in the capital, Manama.

The Bahrain Teachers Association was dissolved by the government after its leaders were arrested.

Ms Salman was originally sentenced to three years in jail but that was reduced to six months on appeal.

However in March this year she was sacked from her teaching job after criticising Bahrain’s human rights record at a conference in Washington DC.

In a statement timed to coincide with 1 May, International Workers’ Day, Amnesty said: “All that they did was call for a strike in their role as trade union leaders. Mahdi and Jalila were punished for doing their job. This May Day stand with workers across the world and demand Mahdi’s release.”

Mr Abu Dheeb’s daughter, Maryam, in a recorded message accompanying the statement, said: “Silence is a crime.”

She urged people to speak up and “take a step and show you care about what is going on in my country”.

Teachers’ organisations around the world, as well as human rights campaigners, have called for Mr Abu Dheeb’s release.

The Bahraini authorities did not respond to a request from the BBC to comment on the Amnesty International statement. …more

Bahrainis rally to call for release of two female inmates
30 April, 2013 – PressTV

Protesters in Bahrain’s eastern town of Sitra are calling for the release of two female prisoners detained earlier this month for participating in protests against Formula One Grand Prix.

Bahraini security forces detained Reihanna al-Mossawi and Nafissa al-Osfour earlier in April.

The protesters in Sitra chanted slogans against the Al Khalifa regime, carrying Bahrain’s national flag.

Bahrainis have held several anti-F1 rallies over the past few weeks, stressing that “as long as there are oppression, arrests and killings, there should not be a Formula One.”

On Saturday, Bahraini police announced that they had arrested more than 22 people since February for taking part in anti-regime demonstrations.

This is while the country’s main opposition group al-Wefaq, says that 14 people were detained on April 25 and 26 alone and more than 100 have been arrested in anti-regime protests ahead of the auto race.

Formula One is Bahrain’s premier international event. Bahrain pays an estimated $40 million a year to host the race. It was cancelled in 2011 as a result of mass anti-regime demonstrations, but it went ahead in 2012 despite protests.

The anti-regime uprising in Bahrain began in mid-February 2011, when the people started holding massive demonstrations against the Al Khalifa regime. The regime promptly launched a brutal crackdown on the peaceful protests and called in Saudi-led Arab forces from neighboring states to help quash the revolt. …more

Ghost of arrests hovers on Bahrainis
25 April, 2013 – Bahrain Center for Human Rights

Since mid of April, the government started a violent arrest campaign arresting children, youth, elderly and even women. However, this isn’t strange for a criminal regime which killed hundreds of innocents and implies impunity.

In Karzakan, Ali AlFarsani was arrested after beating him in front of his mother. ₁ In Buri. Sayed Majed Sayed Hassan, 18, was arrested after raiding his house, not to mention that Majed is injured with live bullet and under treatment. ₂ In Hamad Town at dawn, Hassan Saeed was arrested too.

Moreover, security forces arrested a proofreader from AlWasat Newspaper after having a car accident. After 7 hours of investigation and torture, Hussain AlAsfoor was transferred to the public prosecution.

The court has sentenced Ali Mayoof, 41 years, to one week imprisonment for insulting an officer.
…more

Europe’s guns, debt and corruption
Frank Slijper – 27 April, 2013 – Open Democracy

This second of two essays on military spending and the EU crisis, explores the role of the European arms trade, corruption and the role of arms exporting countries in fuelling a debt crisis, and why these ‘odious’ debts need to be written off. See Part One here.

As social infrastructure is being slashed throughout most of Europe, spending on weapon systems has hardly been reduced. Perversely, military lobbyists warn of ‘disaster’ if any further cuts are made to military spending. But the real disaster has emerged from years of high military spending and corrupt arms deals. See Part One: Austerity in Europe: tighten the military belt

As we saw in the previous part, despite rhetoric from military bigwigs claiming that any further military cuts would endanger not only national security, but also the economy, military spending in Europe today is still at a higher level than ten years ago.

It rose over most of the past decade, sometimes very strongly – double digits in the case of Greece, Finland and Cyprus – only to fall over the past two or three years, and only in countries hardest hit by the crisis, like Greece and Italy.

Against the background of heavy slashing of social infrastructure, that was the least that could be expected. But most of those cuts come years too late, especially because major arms programmes have financial repercussions for many years to come: both repayment of debts and operational costs burden future governments’ budgets for many years.

So, wherever military expenditure has been cut, it was mostly on personnel costs – pensions, wages, jobs – rather than budgets for new weapons bought. Perversely, despite the emerging economic crisis the average budget for equipment in Europe went up 10% between 2006 and 2010. And that’s of course where the arms industry comes in. …more

Bahrain’s Eventful Week: Protests, International Races, Human Rights Abuses, and Promising Economic Opportunities
26 April, 2013 – Revolutions and Political Violence

Bahrain’s indefinite postponement of Juan Mendez’s planned May 8th-15th visit to the small island nation on behalf of the UN Human Rights Council sparks international concern. The Bahraini government’s decision to cancel this visit, for the second year in a row, follows a spike in national protests and flying rumors of torturing of torture within Bahraini prisons. It also falls on the heels of the internally controversial Formula One Race that was held just a few days ago on April 21st in the coastal region of al-Manamah, nearby the University of Bahrain.

The Formula 1 race had to be cancelled in 2011 due to the political unrest unfolding in Bahrain that year, but the race continued on as planned last year and this year with increased security despite the mass political protests of the people. During this year’s April 12th protests of the race where demonstrators carried signs with slogans like “Stop Racing on Our Blood” and carried signs of solidarity for jailed Bahraini human rights activist father-daughter duo Abdulhadi and Zainab al-Khawaja as well as the activist Nabeel Rajab. To the credit of the Bahraini government, the April 12th protests were officially approved by the recently enacted laws cracking down on large protests, which is at least a small step towards allowing its people to have larger political voices.

It was reported by the Saudi Arabian online news organization, Arab News, that two Bahraini girls were arrested for plotting a terrorist attack at the race track. The unnamed girls were claimed to have been arrested while doing a “dry run” in which one girl had concealed a pillow under her clothes to test the thoroughness of the track’s security. The Arab News article continued on to that the Bahraini police claims to have seized 1000 petroleum based bombs, 72 fire extinguishers intended to be used as bombs, and 137 tires that protestors were intending to set fire to. While the protesters in Bahrain are known for low scale violent acts such as setting tires ablaze at demonstrations, I think we must question the numbers and possible validity of the rest of the claims in this article. Not only are there a reason for the Bahraini government to exaggerate the scale of violence of the protestors, but the Saudi-run paper also has reasons to vilify these protestors in Bahrain. It is a well-known fact that the Saudi Arabian government and the Bahraini government have very close ties, close enough that Saudi forces were deployed onto the small island during the 2011 protests to help the Bahraini government quell protesters. …more