urbanoid Posted February 25, 2016 Share Posted February 25, 2016 I always regarded that this aid for Lebanon is pure idiocy, good to see it gone. If they at least got the Lebanese authorities going all Night of Long Knives on Hezbollah in exchange, it would be a totally different matter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Tan Posted February 25, 2016 Author Share Posted February 25, 2016 What planet do you live on? Hezbollah and the Government are allied against Team Sunni and have been since they squeezed out the Hariris who were fronting for Team Ikhwan/Sunni as it was then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
urbanoid Posted February 25, 2016 Share Posted February 25, 2016 The planet where governments can often be bribed, changed, 'persuaded', whatever. And if they couldn't have been in this case, there was no reason whatsoever for any aid from Riyadh. It was nothing else but propping up a state which is a part of a hostile regional axis. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh Posted February 25, 2016 Share Posted February 25, 2016 Lebanon on the brink? Saudis, Koweit, Bahrain all say their nationals should leave the country. UEA pulling diplomats. Saudis cut 4$B help to Lebanon. I guess they finally understand they have been supplying Heezbolah. Just team sunni pretending to make trouble, IMO. The party of god is going to sit tight and not do anything drastic until Syria is in some kind of meta stable position, and what Hez sayz rules. Except for some Nursa/Daesh car bombs now and again Lebanon is going to be quiet, for what passes for quiet in Lebanon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nobu Posted February 25, 2016 Share Posted February 25, 2016 Japanese investment prospects in Iran are developing rapidly after the signing of a Japan-Iran investment pact earlier this month, which finalizes a previous agreement between Japan and Iran negotiated last October before sanctions were actually lifted. Expect Abe to visit Teheran sometime later this year to consolidate and further advance bilateral trade opportunities. Iran's Finance Minister Ali Taiebnia quoted by Reuters: “The country of Japan, which in the eyes of the Iranians has always been associated with high-quality and trustworthy products, will have a higher chance to enter Iran’s market and establish long-term partnerships,” he said.He added, there is “great appetite” in Iran for fuel-efficient, high-quality cars and motorcycles, renewable energy and improvements in agricultural processing." No mention of what the United States is associated with in the eyes of Iranians. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JasonJ Posted March 9, 2016 Share Posted March 9, 2016 (edited) “Israel must be wiped out” Iran reportedly test-fired two ballistic missiles Wednesday with the phrase “Israel must be wiped out” written on them in Hebrew, a show of force by the Islamic Republic as US Vice President Joe Biden visited Israel. Such phrases have been emblazoned on missiles fired before by Iran, but this test comes as the country recently signed a nuclear deal with world powers, including America. Hard-liners in Iran’s military have fired rockets and missiles despite US objections since the deal, as well as shown underground missile bases on state television. There was no immediate reaction from Jerusalem, where Biden was scheduled to speak to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who strongly opposed the nuclear deal. The semiofficial Fars news agency offered pictures Wednesday it said were of the Qadr H missiles being fired. It said they were fired in Iran’s eastern Alborz mountain range to hit a target some 1,400 kilometers (870 miles) away off Iran’s coast into the Sea of Oman. The US Navy’s 5th Fleet, which patrols that region, declined to comment on the test. ... http://www.timesofisrael.com/iran-fires-2-missiles-marked-with-israel-must-be-wiped-out/ I don't doubt the message being on the missiles, but sometimes, it's just helpful to have a direct image of it. Edited March 9, 2016 by JasonJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Tan Posted March 9, 2016 Author Share Posted March 9, 2016 The Iranians are still very much trapped by their experiences of the War of the Cities with Iraq. The theocrats were forced to make peace by the specter of open revolt due to the inability to prevent the Scuds from falling. To them, the ballistic missile is the psychological weapon to break the enemy will, as it broke theirs. The Imam (Khomeini) was forced to make peace with Saddam, something he would anguish till the end of his days. These missile tests and showing the underground facility must be regarded as a sign of weakness and lack of confidence. The Iranians have enormous egos and even bigger insecurities. Also, Rouhani and the government have no control on the missiles or the Sepah who operate them. They are only answerable to Supreme Leader. THis posturing is not meant for the Israelis, who simply don't care or the Americans who won't. It is intended for the domestic/Tehran audience, to gently remind the bazaaris and 'moderates' who is in charge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JasonJ Posted March 9, 2016 Share Posted March 9, 2016 The Iranians are still very much trapped by their experiences of the War of the Cities with Iraq. The theocrats were forced to make peace by the specter of open revolt due to the inability to prevent the Scuds from falling. To them, the ballistic missile is the psychological weapon to break the enemy will, as it broke theirs. The Imam (Khomeini) was forced to make peace with Saddam, something he would anguish till the end of his days. These missile tests and showing the underground facility must be regarded as a sign of weakness and lack of confidence. The Iranians have enormous egos and even bigger insecurities. Also, Rouhani and the government have no control on the missiles or the Sepah who operate them. They are only answerable to Supreme Leader. THis posturing is not meant for the Israelis, who simply don't care or the Americans who won't. It is intended for the domestic/Tehran audience, to gently remind the bazaaris and 'moderates' who is in charge. That point has been made many times in the case of CCP China and their behavior and propaganda which obviously, I strongly disagree with its implied harmlessness outside of country's borders in the case of CCP China. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Tan Posted March 9, 2016 Author Share Posted March 9, 2016 It ties into the big question facing Supreme Leader and IRGC, that being which is more important, Iran or the revolution? Iran stands on the cusp of realizing the 'Shia Arc' which will greatly benefit Iran in the long term if managed well. Think logistic and infrastructure from the Med to the Caucasus, managed by a multi-national entities beholden to the Pasdaran in one way or another. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JasonJ Posted March 9, 2016 Share Posted March 9, 2016 Interesting kind of division of power between the President/government and the Supreme leader. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Tan Posted March 9, 2016 Author Share Posted March 9, 2016 They tried the dahati in government with Ahmedinejad. It was a disaster. Ultimately, you need a well functioning government with the support of the people if you are to have the means by which to support the revolution. It is a dichotomy. A good comparison is the utter diasater that is Venezuela. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Posted March 9, 2016 Share Posted March 9, 2016 My understanding is that the Revolutionary Guard are going more and more like the Myanmar Junta, controlling all major economic activity and in the end the Clerics might become mere figureheads? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BansheeOne Posted March 9, 2016 Share Posted March 9, 2016 I don't doubt the message being on the missiles, but sometimes, it's just helpful to have a direct image of it. It's very kind of them to provide an English translation to forestall another debate on whether they really called for Israel to be wiped off the map or it was just evil American lies! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Tan Posted March 9, 2016 Author Share Posted March 9, 2016 (edited) The Pasdaran have tried that and it has not been successful. The major problem is that their people are not entrepeneurs but civil servants. They are generally unable to unlock the full value of commercial enterprises. For example, the Foundation for Widows and Orphans is an agency controlled by the IRGC that manages many hotels in Iran. Most have high occupancy because of the shortage of hotel rooms but they are getting very little non-room income because they don't know how to get guests to spend. Their F&B is generally very unimaginative and they don't offer drinks in the lounges etc. They are much better as sleeping partners and leaving the running etc. to the bazaaris who are very good at it. In the long term, the IRGC will earn a lot more if they simply enable and pave the way for various commercial activities. This is difficult because Iranians find it very difficult to accept that they don't do things well and should just bring in hired talent. They have learned this with the Russians who are splendid voenspets. Edited March 9, 2016 by Simon Tan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Panzermann Posted March 9, 2016 Share Posted March 9, 2016 I don't doubt the message being on the missiles, but sometimes, it's just helpful to have a direct image of it. It's very kind of them to provide an English translation to forestall another debate on whether they really called for Israel to be wiped off the map or it was just evil American lies!Who says the english sentence is a translation? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Tan Posted March 9, 2016 Author Share Posted March 9, 2016 Pretty much what it says in Farsi. Just type it into an English-Farsi translator. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh Posted March 9, 2016 Share Posted March 9, 2016 They are much better as sleeping partners...I wouldn't have thought anyone in the Revolutionary Guard would be all that fun in the sack. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JWB Posted March 11, 2016 Share Posted March 11, 2016 https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/what-tiny-denmark-is-doing-to-fight-the-islamic-state-in-syria/2016/03/09/7842c374-e608-11e5-bc08-3e03a5b41910_story.html?wpisrc=nl_az_most Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Tan Posted March 11, 2016 Author Share Posted March 11, 2016 Under what mandate and on whose side? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JWB Posted March 15, 2016 Share Posted March 15, 2016 "Many Saudis readily admit that they are now simply awaiting the end of President Obama's tenure," Nazer wrote in an email to WorldViews, "with some boldly proclaiming that 'anyone will be better than Obama.'" https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2016/03/14/saudi-prince-writes-scathing-response-to-obama-comments/?wpisrc=nl_az_most Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Tan Posted March 16, 2016 Author Share Posted March 16, 2016 It is going to suck for them. Team Sunni needs hobbled. It will not be liquidated but itcwill be made to bleed and Mohammed will be forced to crawl and beg for his kingdom. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corinthian Posted March 16, 2016 Share Posted March 16, 2016 “Israel must be wiped out” Iran reportedly test-fired two ballistic missiles Wednesday with the phrase “Israel must be wiped out” written on them in Hebrew, a show of force by the Islamic Republic as US Vice President Joe Biden visited Israel. Such phrases have been emblazoned on missiles fired before by Iran, but this test comes as the country recently signed a nuclear deal with world powers, including America. Hard-liners in Iran’s military have fired rockets and missiles despite US objections since the deal, as well as shown underground missile bases on state television. There was no immediate reaction from Jerusalem, where Biden was scheduled to speak to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who strongly opposed the nuclear deal. The semiofficial Fars news agency offered pictures Wednesday it said were of the Qadr H missiles being fired. It said they were fired in Iran’s eastern Alborz mountain range to hit a target some 1,400 kilometers (870 miles) away off Iran’s coast into the Sea of Oman. The US Navy’s 5th Fleet, which patrols that region, declined to comment on the test. ... http://www.timesofisrael.com/iran-fires-2-missiles-marked-with-israel-must-be-wiped-out/ I don't doubt the message being on the missiles, but sometimes, it's just helpful to have a direct image of it. Wot happened to "This missile, other than being a harbinger of death and destruction to Israel and her supporters, has a main message of peace and friendship" message? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Panzermann Posted March 16, 2016 Share Posted March 16, 2016 Wot happened to "This missile, other than being a harbinger of death and destruction to Israel and her supporters, has a main message of peace and friendship" message? Would not fit the last three decades of propaganda in Iran. This rocket launch was more for internal consumption in Iran to keep the bogeyman alive as distraction. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corinthian Posted March 16, 2016 Share Posted March 16, 2016 (edited) Would not fit the last three decades of propaganda in Iran. This rocket launch was more for internal consumption in Iran to keep the bogeyman alive as distraction. *Ahem* http://www.viciousbabushka.com/2010/08/irans-ambassador-of-death-bring-message-of-peace-and-friendship-wait-what.html August 22, 2010Iran's "Ambassador of Death" Brings Message of "Peace and Friendship" (Wait, What?) TEHRAN, Iran — Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Sunday inaugurated the country's first domestically built long-range unmanned bomber aircraft, calling it an "ambassador of death" to Iran's enemies.Speaking to a group of officials, Ahmadinejad said, "The jet, as well as being an ambassador of death for the enemies of humanity, has a main message of peace and friendship." Only six years ago. Not decades. hehehehehe Edited March 16, 2016 by Corinthian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Panzermann Posted March 16, 2016 Share Posted March 16, 2016 Oh, okay. Peace and understanding through jet fighters... Well, America brings you democracy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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