The Alpha-Omega Report's

Middle East News Spotlight

for January 16. 2011

Editor's Note: This week's Middle East coverage has been divided due to the events in Lebanon. We've created a special "Yellow Alert" page featuring all news stories surrounding the developing Lebanese crisis that threatens to trigger a war in the Middle East. The entire region is now primarily focused on Lebanon. Leaders in the region are not doing much that is not related to the Lebanese crisis, consequently we have little other news to report out of the region for this week. Our Lebanon coverage page includes 15 additional news stories and we figured it best to keep these separated on a different page. In Yellow Alert mode, our website will be posting updates as warrants develop between now and next week, so check back often this week for our posting of any additional developments.

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YELLOW ALERT:

LEBANON IN CRISIS

A-O Special Coverage

LINK HERE

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Mideast Meltdown?
Washington Post Analysis

The Washington Post weighs in on the latest developments in the Middle East and notes that Hezbollah and Hamas have amassed tens of thousands of rockets for use against Israel and notes that: "the chances that the region will survive another year without their use are looking slimmer."

The Post article goes on to note that the White House not only has to worry about war between Israel and her next-door neighbors but must also carefully deal with the potential for revolutions across the region. Tunisia's latest developments are the most prominent concern for the moment, but Egypt is on the verge of potential regime change. Other Mideast nations near a tipping point include Pakistan and Iraq is very unstable. Even Saudi Arabia could see trouble in the near future as an elderly King's poor health raises questions about his future successor. Other small sheikdoms on the Arabian Peninsula along with nations like Yemen are in danger of collapse.

The Washington Post story is worth reading for the broad overview of the challenges facing the Obama White House in 2011. LINK HERE for the article.

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Tunisia Undergoes Regime Change
State of Emergency Declared

Chaos Across the Countyr
President Flees Country
Prime Minister Takes Charge

Riots and chaose continue in Tunisia's capital city of Tunis and widespread violence has spread across the country protesting rising unemployment and skyrockting prices for food as well as new revelations emerged from Wikileaks document dumps revealing US concerns about the corrupt government of Tunisia.

In the wake of the riots, Tunisia's President has reportedly fled the country. The Prime Minister is trying to form a government but the nation continues to descend into absolute chaos despite efforts to impose martial law.

Dissent has been building across for the past month but this past week saw that dissent explode into violence and street rioting.. For more on the situation - LINK HERE for the latest coverage as we post. Additional coverage - LINK HERE. The Tunisia revolution serves as a warning to other Arab dictators - LINK HERE.  Additional coverage - LINK HERE.

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Stuxnet Worm Virus Used Against Iran
Was Tested in Israel
Created Iran Nuke Delays

The New York Times lays out the argument that the Stuxnet worm virus which has caused havoc with Iran's nuclear weapons program and much if Iran's military computers was cyber weapon designed as a joint American-Israeli project.

Will the New York Times article be used by Iran as an excuse to retaliate against America and Israel? Read the NY Times article, LINK HERE.

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New Wikileaks Data Dump Reveals:
Iran Searching for Nuke Bomb Materials

U.S. State Department cables released by Wikileaks this weekend reveals U.S. government concerns that Iran has been combing the world for the necessary materials needed to build nuclear weapons.

The latest dumped materials were published this past weekend by a Norwegian newspaper, "Aftenposten." The newspaper summarizes the documents as indicating the Iranians are racing against time to develop a nuclear weapon before crippling international sanctions trigger a financial collapse of Iran triggers a regime change.

The U.S. government documents also report that despite Iranian claims to the contrary, Iran does not have enough uranium of its own to make nuclear weapons and power its nuclear electric power plant. This means that to make bombs, Iran must seek uranium deposits from other nations such as Brazil, Russia and elsewhere. For more on this story, LINK HERE.

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