Middle East News Spotlight 4-19-11
The A-O Report Presents
The Middle East News Spotlight
For
April 19, 2011
Editor's Note: Due to the death of Lou Coombes, this page was delayed in publication by one day.
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Thousands of Syrians Demand
Assad's Overthrow
Government Forces Respond - 8 Killed
Thousands of Syrians continued their attempts to force the overthrow of Syrian President Bashar Assad. The Syrian military and police have responded with bloody violence in an effort to quash the revolt. More details,
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Syrian City "Boiling" After Security Forces
Kill 12 Protestors
LINK
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Senior Syrian Officer Assassinated
For Failing To Open Fire on Protestors
LINK
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U.S. Money Funding Syrian Revolt
According to a Wikileaks published document, the U.S. government is providing money to Syrian dissidents in an effort to overthrow the Syrian regime headed by President Assad. More details, LINK HERE.
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Israeli PM Warns:
Arab Spring May Become Iranian Winter
LINK
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Israel on Alert for Passover Terror
LINK
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Persian Gulf Nations Call on UN
To Halt Iranian Interference
The six-nation group known as the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) has petitioned the UN to take steps to halt Iranian interference in the civil affairs of member nations around the Persian Gulf, particularly Iranian interference in the unrest in Bahrain.
The GCC is composed of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emireats. The group says it "categorically rejects all foreign interferenec in its affairs...and invites the Iranian regime to stop its provocations." The statement also slams a recent situation in Iran where Saudi diplomats were threatened. Saudi Arabia has threatened to cut off diplomatic relations with Iran unless Iran protected Saudi diplomats from the increasing violence directed against Saudi diplomats by Iranian students protesting in the streets of Tehran.
Meanwhile, Iran has condemned Saudi Arabia for dispatching troops to Bahrain to quell Shiite sect attempts to overthrow the Sunni Monarchy in that nation.
For more on this developing story, LINK HERE.
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Saudi Arabia Mulls Naval Build Up
Seeking to Buy Medium-Size Warships
Spacewar.com has published an article indicating Saudi Arabia is looking to expand its naval forces to include medium-sized warships, probably either corvette-sized or frigate-sized warships with advanced anti-missile defense designs such as teh Aegis system. The article however assumes the U.S. Saudi arms deal is still in force, but A-O Intelligence Digest sources report that the King of Saudi Arabia gave a secret hand-written notice to Washington earlier this month that the arms deal was now frozen as the Saudis were reassessing budget concerns for battling Iranian hegemony in the Persian Gulf.
We do understand the Saudis are looking to expand their naval force but that they do not need to purchase American warships in those classes. They have options to choose German, Norwegian and Brazilian warship designs instead. At the present, the Saudi Navy is too small to effectively deal with the swarms of Iranian patrol vessels and speedboats which pose more of a guerilla naval threat. To read teh spacewar.com story, LINK HERE.
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Western Powers Seek A Refuge
for Gaddafi to Flee
The powers that be are now trying to find a new home location for Libya's Moammar Gaddafi to "retire" to and that he finds acceptable. Details, LINK HERE.
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Radical Islamist Taking Control of Egypt
The rapid spread of Muslim political parties in advance of September's elections is underscoring concerns by some experts that Egypt is headed for control by radical Islamists. For more on thie developing situation, LINK HERE.
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Christians Fleeing Egypt
LINK
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Turkey & Iran Closer Ties
Opens 3rd Border Crossing
The relationship between Turkey and Iran continues to blossom into a growing and working relationship. The two nations have opened up a third border crossing to allow for a greater flow of trade between the two nations as they continue to cement diplomatic alliances. This signals a growing strength in what will be the Magog Confederacy prophesied by Ezekiel in chapters 38 and 39. More details on the latest in the relationship of the two nations, LINK HERE.
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Man Declares Himself To Be
Islamic messiah: aka "The Mahdi"
LINK
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