The Alpha-Omega Report

Presents

Middle East News Spotlight

For October 31, 2010

Editor's Note: See also our coverage of the Air Cargo Terror Alert - LINK

+++++++++++

Palestinians To Declare Independene

In August of 2011 

Just Ahead of Rosh Hashanah

On UN's 66th Birthday

Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayyad said the PA will declare an independent Palestinian state in 2011. "The deadline is next summer, when the Israeli occupation of the West Bank must end," Fayyad said. "In 2011, we will celebrate 66 years of the United Nations and the United Nations will celebrate the birth of our nation."  Read the full story from the Jerusalem Post - LINK HERE.

+++++++++++

Hezbollah Threatens Lebanon PM

A Threshold For War

Hezbollah's top leader, Sheik Hassan Nasrallah has warned Lebanon's Prime Minister to halt cooperation with the UN Tribunal investigating the 2005 assassination of the late PM Rafik Hariri. The warning is in fact a veiled threat to bring down the very fragile Lebanese government now being led by the son of the late PM Rafik Hairii.

The evidence gathered so far by the  UN Tribunal's investigation points to Hezbollah's top leaders as the conspirators behind the assassination. There are also indications that Syria's President Assad and top Syrian officials may have been involved in the conspiracy. As a result, Hezbollah leaders and Syrian officials are petrified at the UN efforts to unearth the facts and bring those responsible to justice in an international court proceeding.

In the latest effort to halt the UN Tribunal, Hezbollah's top leader, Sheik Nasrallah gave a grave and solemnly toned speech on Thursday night (10/28) went further than ever before in public remarks, threatening the stability of the Lebanese government. He also stated that the UN tribunal is not legitimate and wants the Lebanese government to stop cooperating with the Tribunal and order it to leave the country.

There is a concern among many regional analysts that if push comes to shove that before any indictments are handed down, Hezbollah will launch a coup to overthrow the government and kick out the UN investigators. Analysts believe that should Hezbollah stage a coup, Israel will be forced to take military action which in turn will prompt Iranian intervention with a massive ballistic missile attack on Israel.

For more on the situation - LINK HERE to Arab news coverage -- and LINK HERE for the New York Times article on Nasrallah's latest speech.  Additional coverage - LINK HERE.

++++++++++

Al Jazeera TV:
Lebanona Simmers, Hezbollah Braces

Here's coverage by the Arab TV News Network, Al Jazeera on the critical situation in Lebanon between Hezbollah and the Lebanese government as the UN Tribunal wraps up its investigation into the 2005 assassination of Lebanon's Prime Minister. LINK HERE.

+++++++++

Saudi Prince Seeks To Defuse

Lebanese Crisis Meets Syrian Leaders

LINK

+++++++++

UN Chief Says

Hezbollah Obstructed Justice

LINK

+++++++++

Lebanon Takeover Planned

The Alpha-Omega Report's "Intelligence Digest" has been way ahead of the mainstream news media concerning a takeover of Lebanon by Iran via its proxy force, Hezbollah. Now we're beginning to see news articles emerging to confirm what our own intelligence sources have been warning about for the past many months.

A new Middle East intelligence document warns that Hezbollah may be ready to take over Lebanon in a move that Iran supports because it could draw an attack by Israel, which then would be cited as an offensive provocation deserving a response by Tehran, according to WND's Publisher, Joe Farrah.

To underscore this, Hezbollah's top leader, Sheik Hassan Nasrallah gave a speech on Thursday night (10/28) with veiled threats against the Lebanese government. Some analysts see the speech as a forefunner to a coming coup attempt by Hezbollah in an effort to halt a UN criminal investigation into Hezbollah's involvement in the 2005 assassination of Lebanon's Prime Minister.

A well-respected intelligence publication service, GIS published an intelligence analysis entitled: "The Gathering Storm Around the Greater Eastern Mediterranean Region."

Meanwhile, Debka.com is reporting that Saudi Arabia is urging the Lebanese PM to resign which would allow another government to be formed by pro-Syrian Lebanese factions who would then squelch the UN Tribunal investigation and perhaps prevent a Hezbollah takeover. Lebanon's Prime Minister Saad Hariri, son of the slain Prime Minister Rafik Hariri has been in close contact with both the Saudi and Egyptian governments making frequent trips back and forth to both nations for consultations during the past several weeks.

Debka reports that in consultations with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Jeffrey Feltman, Hariri indicated last week that he was close to tendering his resignation in deference to Saudi King Abdullah's request. However, since the, Hariri seems to have chosen to stay on, at least for now.

The stuation in Lebanon remains at a boiling point on the verge of boiling over into some sort of strife, either by coup or a civil war. For more, see the WND article - LINK HERE. See also Debka's article - LINK HERE.  The GIS report can be found LINK HERE for their subscribers - (very expensive).

++++++++++

French Carrier Heads for Iran
Iran Claims Its a Naval Buildup
Implies U.S. & Allies Targeting Iran

France's only nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, the Charles de Gaulle is headed for Iran and expected to arrive in waters off of the Iranian coast, according to Iranian news media.

Iran's PressTV reports that the French carrier is expected to arrive in the Persian Gulf region by the end of October as part of an allied naval build up. Accompanying the carrier are two frigates, an attack submarine and a re-fueling tanker. The carrier also includes 40 combat aircraft aboard.

It joins two U.S. aircraft carriers already in the region. The USS Lincoln and the USS Truman are already patrolling in the region. All together, 31 warships are operating in the region including 19 from the U.S. Navy. Iran claims the U.S. and its allies are escalating naval operations in the region.

The French are downplaing the carrier deployment, noting that the carrier will be on a four month deployment to support Afghanistan NATO operations and support international anti-piracy efforts in the Arabian Sea.

Full Iranian story details, LINK HERE. French news version - LINK HERE.

++++++++++

Iranian Navy To Send
Warships to Gulf of Aden

LINK

+++++++++++

US To Get Tough on Iran

LINK

+++++++++++

Iran Ready for Nuke Talks

Iran say's its ready for a resumption of diplomatic talks aimed at resolving the crisis surrounding Iran's nuclear program. More details, LINK HERE.

++++++++++++

Iran's Supreme Leader
Pleads For Clerical Support

Iran's Supreme Leader, the Ayatollah Khamenei has spent the last 10 days in the Iranian holy city of Qom appealing and even pleading with Iran's ruling clerics to maintain support for the regime and for President Ahmadinejad, warning that to do otherwise could destroy the nation.

The Supreme Leader has been reportedly losing the confidence of the clerics since the rigged elections of 2009 in which allegations were made of vote fraud against the incumbent Presdent. Since then, Iran has been emroiled in civil unrest, disobedience and an underlying threat of civil war. For more on the Supreme Leader's latest efforts, LINK HERE. Additional details, LINK HERE.

There are additional reports that the Supreme Ayatollah was also seeking political support from the clerics for his own son to succeed him as the next Supreme Leader. His efforts were reportedly met with stubborn resistance, led by the grandson of the founder of the Islamic Republic, the late Ayatollah Khomeini. Many think the grandson will be the next likely Supreme Leader, but faces stiff opposition from Khameini and Iran's President Ahmadinejad and the Revolutionary Guards.

+++++++++++++

Israeli PM Flies To USA
Will Meet With U.S. Jews
But Not President Obama

Israeli PM Netanyahu will fly to New Orleans this week to address an annual Jewish convention. He will also meet with Vice President Joe Biden in New Orleans to discuss ways to re-start the peace process. President Obama will be out of the country an a visit to Asia and a summit with India's leadership. For more on Netanyahu's visit - LINK HERE.

++++++++++++

Peace Deal Soon for Afghanistan?

Recent weeks have produced a number of reports about "negotiations" between some Taliban elements and the Kabul government as well as with U.S. and NATO intermediaries. See full article - LINK HERE.

++++++++++++

Russia To Help in Afghanistan

LINK

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

-