China's Prestigious Middle East Deal May Soon See Challenges
The big deal between Saudi Arabia and Iran, which China mediated, may soon lead to new trouble.
The deal included security clauses:
[C]onfidential clauses were inserted into the Beijing Agreement to assure Iran and Saudi Arabia that their security imperatives would be met. Some of these details were provided to The Cradle, courtesy of a source involved in the negotiations:
- Both Saudi Arabia and the Islamic Republic of Iran undertake not to engage in any activity that destabilizes either state, at the security, military or media levels.
- Saudi Arabia pledges not to fund media outlets that seek to destabilize Iran, such as Iran International.
- Saudi Arabia pledges not to fund organizations designated as terrorists by Iran, such as the People’s Mojahedin Organization (MEK), Kurdish groups based in Iraq, or militants operating out of Pakistan.
- Iran pledges to ensure that its allied organizations do not violate Saudi territory from inside Iraqi territory. During negotiations, there were discussions about the targeting of Aramco facilities in Saudi Arabia in September 2019, and Iran’s guarantee that an allied organization would not carry out a similar strike from Iraqi lands.
- Saudi Arabia and Iran will seek to exert all possible efforts to resolve conflicts in the region, particularly the conflict in Yemen, in order to secure a political solution that secures lasting peace in that country.
According to sources involved in the Beijing negotiations, no details on Yemen’s conflict were agreed upon as there has already been significant progress achieved in direct talks between Riyadh and Yemen’s Ansarallah resistance movement in January. These have led to major understandings between the two warring states, which the US and UAE have furiously sought to undermine in order to prevent a resolution of the Yemen war.
In Beijing however, the Iranian and Saudis agreed to help advance the decisions already reached between Riyadh and Sanaa, and build upon these to end the seven-year war.
The Saudi pledges are significant for Iran. Since last October there had been on and off protests and riots combined with terrorist attacks by Sunni militants in Baloch region in southeast Iran and terrorist attacks in northwest Iran by Sunni Kurdish militants which had crossed over from north Iraq.
The protests were fueled by Iran International, a Saudi funded channel in London. That channel is now moving to Washington DC where it seems to have found new funding. Saudi Arabia was also financing the Kurdish and Baloch rebels. They have now stopped their attack in Iran. Today Iran announced an amnesty for some 22,000 people who had been arrested during the riots:
[Iran’s judiciary head Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejehi] said a total of 82,656 prisoners and those facing charges had been pardoned. Of those, some 22,628 had been arrested amid the demonstrations, he said. Those pardoned had not committed theft or violent crimes, he added.
The Iranian pledges have likewise solved Saudi Arabia security problems. There will be no more attacks on its oil infrastructure.
An additional item in the Cradle report is also significant:
On a slightly separate note related to regional security — but not part of the Beijing Agreement — sources involved in negotiations confirmed to The Cradle that, during talks, the Saudi delegation stressed Riyadh’s commitment to the 2002 Arab peace initiative; refusing normalization with Tel Aviv before the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, with Jerusalem as its capital.
This is of course bad for Israel which had hoped to drag Saudi Arabia onto its site to then attack Iran. That has for now become impossible. The China mediated deal is also a red flag for Washington:
[T]he agreement undercuts the posture of the U.S. in the region. The U.S. has downsized in Syria after withdrawing forces in 2021 from Afghanistan.The deal also comes as Saudi Arabia is demanding certain security guarantees, a steady flow of arms shipments and assistance with its civilian nuclear program in order to normalize relations with Israel, a major U.S. ally, the White House confirmed on Friday.
Speaking to reporters, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said the U.S. was “informed” about the Saudi Arabia-Iran talks but played no role in them.
One wonders if the recent anti-Chinese campaign was launched because the U.S. knew of the deal and tried to interrupt it.
The deal may well have implementation issues:
China’s role in the Saudi-Iranian deal is momentous. However, Beijing may find that its relations in the region are undermined by failures in its implementation.
...
As the broker of the deal, or at least the third-party country listed in the statement, the key question is whether China will — or even can — realistically underwrite or support the translation of the agreement into practice. The first issue is one of capabilities. Unlike Washington, China’s power projection capabilities are highly limited. With its sole foreign military base in Djibouti, and no substantial security architecture in the region, Beijing would be unable to enforce the deal with the use — or threat — of force.
While this very absence of military might may be a source of soft power for China in the eyes of regional states, given that it signals a genuine desire to avoid interfering in other states’ affairs, Beijing cannot protect key assets in the region or respond to transgressions. Beijing is still reliant on Washington in this regard.
Who's are the 'key assets' in the region? Are they not owned by the countries they are in? If Iran and the Saudis hold onto the agreement there is no need for the U.S. to be there. Beijing is certainly not relying on anything Washington could do there.
The second, and far more pressing, issue is one of willingness. China’s role in brokering the deal is unlikely to see it raise its head above the parapet if violence or tensions erupt. Beijing has expended decades of diplomatic effort to cultivate good relations with all regional states. We are simply unlikely to see China risk blowing it all by siding with one partner at the expense of the other.
The author seems to believe that China should take sides. If the agreement holds there will be no need to do that. If it doesn't hold China will mediate again until peace returns.
Fundamentally, this deal comes down to the two regional states (and indeed the other GCC states). If they play ball, China can claim a monumental victory in Middle Eastern diplomacy. If, as is more likely, tensions surface, Beijing will find that it has overstretched. It will almost certainly be unable and unwilling to act as a guarantor of the deal. For a quick diplomatic win, China has placed its policy of neutrality in jeopardy. The current question from China’s perspective is whether it will retain the respect of all parties if the agreement fails.
The real implementation problems the deal and China will face are not the ones the author quoted above mentions.
The U.S. does not like the deal because it diminishes its role in the region. Israel does not like the deal because it lessens its chances to go after Iran:
The U.S. and Israel don’t look kindly on the news of the diplomatic breakthrough. They first fear that China is increasingly assertive in its role in the region, and the U.S. does not want to experience what Britain experienced in Suez in 1956: a watershed moment signaling its global decline. The U.S. stood up to Britain, France and Israel who combined to attack Egypt after its leader Gamal Abdel Nasser nationalized the Suez Canal. The event is seen as the final act of the British Empire before joining the more powerful U.S. imperium.
...
If the agreement does accomplish the goal of truly bringing peace and amity between the two rivals, China may then enjoy a Suez moment: when the world signals the end of the American Empire like what happened to the British.
Both, Israel and the U.S, are capable and likely willing to do whatever is necessary to prevent an implementation of the deal. They can probable use their good relations with the United Arab Emirates to make things difficult. False flag attacks in Iran and in Saudi Arabia could be a way to do that. If a new 'Iranian' drone attack happens in Saudi oil fields or new 'Saudi financed' terrorist attack in Iran happen the deal could indeed be scraped.
One hopes that China and the other parties involved in the deal are conscious of that.
Posted by b on March 13, 2023 at 17:55 UTC | Permalink
next page »Trust has to be given in advance so that it can be earned. China just started the opposite of a vicious circle - I'm hoping it becomes a feedback loop of trust.
Posted by: Axel Lamm | Mar 13 2023 18:07 utc | 1
If the US tries to scupper the deal how will the rest of the world react? Asia, Africa, and Latin America have all seen how the US "handled Russia" and what happened to US pawn Ukraine and US ally Germany.
The US tanking the deal would almost certainly improve China's standing in most of the world.
Posted by: team10tim | Mar 13 2023 18:10 utc | 2
Xi has moved on. He is speaking with Putin and then Zelenskyy (virtually) next week. They are hysterical in Washington. The senile leader of the Free World today is down on the docks today (he doesn't know where he is) with our useless, traitorous and thick as two short planks Prime Minister, as he buys three second hand American submarines to wage war against our main trading partner for one hundred and seventy billion Australian pesos. They saw him coming. Albanese was turned by the Americans in the 1980's. Albanese is right at home with American sailors down at the docks. If you think Olaf is pathetic have a look at our pathetic excuse for a leader. Stand by. The world just just got a whole lot more interesting.
Posted by: Paul McGrory | Mar 13 2023 18:22 utc | 3
What may happen I am sure has been thought of by China, Iran, and the Saudis. That doesn't mean that will stop the US from trying something dumb.
"Although most people from both political parties support the disfigurement of the news to hide the truth of the war, we can be certain that if it was Trump instead of Biden leading the American response, at least some of the media would be honest to one degree or another just to stick it to the Republicans. Most of them would still lie like they do now, but the more independent left leaning new outlets would see a chance to prove their independence and tell the truth, i.e., that neocons provoked the war with Russia and Ukraine never stood a chance. Which of course is the exact opposite of what most of the mainstream media has been reporting, likely because they have been told by their bosses, or their government and corporate friends that they need to lie in order for Ukraine to be able to keep recruiting cannon fodder. If they were all honest about the war from the start, that would make it much harder to get people to fight for Ukraine, e.g., mercenaries would be too afraid. And harder to get public support for the shoveling of hundreds of billions of their tax dollars to a losing cause." From Never Go Full Democrat
Posted by: kana | Mar 13 2023 18:28 utc | 4
@teamtentim
The US financial system is tanking, the US dollar dominance is at the beginning of the end as a global currency. The Saudis understand that the US empire is in terminal rapid decline. The US can do nothing. The world is being turned upside down. We are witnessing the end of an empire.
Posted by: Paul McGrory | Mar 13 2023 18:29 utc | 5
No one should underrate China's ability to successfully counter whatever distruptive plans the Zinonist terrorists and the USA could come up with. China, like Russia, often has a back-up plan for any eventuality. And the USA is today weaker than many people realize. As for the terrorist state of Israel It would continue its nervous existence until the multi-polar world order becomes a reality. Then it would have to choose, either to join the civilized world or risks total dissolution.
Posted by: Steve | Mar 13 2023 18:30 utc | 6
When b quotes various foreign policy 'analysts' on this site it's remarkable how often their positions and assertions are completely at odds with facts and reason. It's a vast industry dedicated to prevarication and misdirection, but who do they think the audience for the crap is?
Posted by: Figleaf23 | Mar 13 2023 18:32 utc | 7
Says a lot that brokering a peace to end interminable conflict sets Washington into panicking. Are we the baddies?
“by: team10tim | Mar 13 2023 18:10 utc | 2”
Scupper: an opening through which water can flow from a roof or ship’s deck.
Scuttle: to deliberately sink something, such as a ship or a deal.
Posted by: Dalit | Mar 13 2023 18:37 utc | 9
With influence waning in the Middle East, we can expect the US to start doing short sighted things. Hopefully, the region continues to build outside of the Imperialist influence.
Posted by: Slat1 | Mar 13 2023 18:42 utc | 10
That AI-Monitor article is quite superficial and typical of Western thought. China's moves are typical of what I would call an honest power broker. It does not need military intervention to enforce an agreement. Agreements are made and enforced by diplomacy and more negotiation. Economic integration is the key not military muscle of some bygone Western Neocon Zionist Cabal.
Posted by: circumspect | Mar 13 2023 18:42 utc | 11
Expect the US to hit hard on what they see as this Chinese salient.
We see Syria and Turkey coming back to dialog. Now Iran and SA. The multi-polar world. Banks now collapsing in the US, but war and moor war. Monroe, Brezensky, Wolfowitze. (I haven't spelt the names right but couldn't be bothered looking them up). Ah yes, US full spectrum dominance. The backward yanks are not backward in coming forward with their bullshit. They put Monty Python out of business. How can Monty Python out satire the US political establishment?
Posted by: Peter AU1 | Mar 13 2023 18:45 utc | 13
Chinese peace deal for ukraine next? Wow, pretty far out stuff. So this definitely puts out the Yemen fire, and increases stability around iran. China has big investments around there.
Not a good look for the US. An alliance of war and chaos, or one of peace and prosperity?
What does Israel do? They may need a new ally. If the US retreats from syria next, and its close, then what? New world order indeed.
Posted by: Neofeudalfuture | Mar 13 2023 18:47 utc | 14
Posted by: circumspect | Mar 13 2023 18:42 utc | 11
Yes, I suspect Iran will protect the deal militarily, if it needs it.
Posted by: Bemildred | Mar 13 2023 18:48 utc | 15
@Figleaf23, #7:
Yes, b does quote so-called western 'policy analysts' often, because he has no choice. Where he lives the news media is swamped with these kinds. In reality, these are just propagandists on Empire's payroll or hostage roll who are given a title of 'policy analyst'. They are much more inferior to typical barflies posting at MOA on global issues.
Posted by: Oriental Voice | Mar 13 2023 18:54 utc | 16
Tweet
> The UAE has frozen all security/military deals with Israel, hours after the signing of the Iran-Saudi deal.
https://twitter.com/Ruslan_Heydari/status/1635061598497951746
Posted by: too scents | Mar 13 2023 18:54 utc | 17
@ Peter AU1 | Mar 13 2023 18:45 utc | 13
With blackmail, extortion, assassins, death squads, terrorists & serial coup d'etat. Same as it ever was.
Good health to you.
I see the monks at Kiev-Pechersk Lavra have said they are not leaving.
The mice are losing their fear of the cat.
Posted by: Bemildred | Mar 13 2023 19:01 utc | 19
Implementation of the deal is the condition to be part of the BRICS... That will help a lot to overcome difficulties.
Posted by: andy | Mar 13 2023 19:03 utc | 20
I'm not finding a twitter exchange that I saw earlier that boasted of Saudi and Yemeni brotherhood. The authors were noteworthy. They wanted to normalize relations.
This Cradle article also speaks to same issue.
"Riyadh wants to exit its Yemen quagmire and is willing to end the siege on Ansarallah-controlled areas. Washington will have none of that, and is sabotaging a Saudi-Yemeni peace deal." ==> https://thecradle.co/article-view/22436/analysis
Posted by: too scents | Mar 13 2023 19:04 utc | 21
False flag attacks in Iran and in Saudi Arabia could be a way to do that. If a new 'Iranian' drone attack happens in Saudi oil fields or new 'Saudi financed' terrorist attack in Iran happen the deal could indeed be scraped. One hopes that China and the other parties involved in the deal are conscious of that.Posted by b on March 13, 2023 at 17:55 UTC | Permalink
False flag, and drone attacks will be known for what they are: spanner in the cogs. Both KSA and Iran have good relations with China, and I believe they signed on to this deal in earnest, and will respect the host of the deal, and will communicate any mishap, now that they have an official channel open.
Posted by: Sakineh Bagoom | Mar 13 2023 19:10 utc | 23
Of course, the Outlaw US Empire will attempt to negate peace wherever it looks ready to blossom as chaos is its chosen milieu. I'm 100% certain that was discussed in Beijing, but that aspect of the negotiations has yet to be disclosed.
As the analysis examined by b demonstrates, not only is the west agreement incapable, it is also empathy incapable. Things will get even more interesting in all our futures...
Posted by: irish al | Mar 13 2023 19:17 utc | 25
Winners keep winning and losers keep losing, another big win for China, the Chinese people and the international community, I wish I was in Xi's shoes! Let's go Brandon indeed.
Posted by: Kadath | Mar 13 2023 19:24 utc | 26
China's leverage over both parties is economic, the Saudis are 1 or 2, supplier of oil to China and China is one of the few markets for Iranian oil. This could compensate for a lack of military presence.
Posted by: Christian Chuba | Mar 13 2023 19:26 utc | 27
b: "One wonders if the recent anti-Chinese campaign was launched because the U.S. knew of the deal and tried to interrupt it."
Indeed, deals like that don't happen all of the sudden but preparations for it take time and the U.S. empire must a have a lot ways to spy on every person of significance in the K.S.A. And although the anti-China campaign has been persisting for years, there was a small uptick recently.
I don't really expect a proxy of either side to go out of line but themselves being targeted through assassination. Maybe again in Lebanon, like what happened to Rafic Hariri, a Saudi proxy assassinated by Israel and blamed on Hezbollah, an Iranian proxy, to instigate internal strife in Lebanese society as well as amongst their backers.
Posted by: xor | Mar 13 2023 19:33 utc | 28
Like the war in Ukraine, the moves on the diplomatic front are inexorable. Two steps forward, one step back. The Empire of Chaos is on the ropes, protests in Georgia and second-hand subs to Oz notwithstanding.
Israel has a choice. Continue backing the Zionists and become another failed Crusade, or create one State between the River and the Sea with one person/one vote.
Posted by: Hal Duell | Mar 13 2023 19:36 utc | 29
Not too long ago the Saudis seemed fully prepared to reject the 2002 Arab state peace initiative in favour of the Trump brokered schemes favouring Israel - so something happened to that. Presume it was the Soleimani hit.
This Chinese-brokered negotiation appears to be on the level of "mutual security" which is informing the Russian position on Ukraine. Understanding the key differences between this approach and the Americans' concepts of "deterrence" goes a long way to grasping the current moment internationally.
Posted by: jayc | Mar 13 2023 19:37 utc | 30
The Chinese got completely taken on this. They have no understanding of the eternal schism between Shi and Sunni. There will never be peace between them ever. Both SA and Iran are taking the Chinese for a ride.
I really can't believe people are even buying into this, that it is even possible. Chinese "diplomacy" is an oxymoron. The Chinese are geneticly predisposition to only care about their own race as they define it.
The Chinese are thinking they are making the themselves "look better" than the US but instead they are inviting the robbers into their own home and I think anyone in the know is really laughing at them behind their backs.
Posted by: pawn | Mar 13 2023 19:44 utc | 31
Bit more substantially momentous than I thought at first sight .... and, of course, Israel and US will attempt to wreck it. Wait for UAE ....
Middle East Eye
Zvi Bar'el, an Israeli analyst at Haaretz, wrote that "Israel's dream of forming an Arab alliance against Iran was shattered on Friday with the news that Iran and Saudi Arabia have agreed to restore diplomatic ties within two months."
He added, "the dramatic announcement is likely to redraw the regional map of friends and foes, and will have global reverberations", and it would also give Iran "much-needed legitimacy in the Arab world".
"[It] could lead to further deals with Arab states like Egypt, pave the way to end the war in Yemen, offer a workable solution to the crisis in Lebanon, and even lead to a resumption of negotiations to save the nuclear deal," he wrote.
Bar'el wrote that "China is taking the United States' place as an economic and strategic power in the region. A power that Israel has little influence over."
Posted by: Don Firineach | Mar 13 2023 19:48 utc | 32
A key point here is how to solve the Yemeni civil war without looking like a Saudi defeat.
It seems that the Saudi intervention assumed that a swift victory would be possible and now their position is a tie or stalemate at best. Not a very encouraging portrait for a regional power that wants to show in the Arabic peninsula who is the boss there.
Iran cannot let the Houtis go either. Otherwise, its ties with regional allies will definitely suffer.
Posted by: Andres | Mar 13 2023 19:49 utc | 33
China says, "dew neh lo mo, round eye Yankee."
Posted by: Immaculate deception | Mar 13 2023 19:50 utc | 34
Well, this is what a multipolar world means. No empire but also dangers and divisions lurk. Hopefully it is net-net better than what it was.
Posted by: alek_a | Mar 13 2023 19:53 utc | 35
Beijing cannot protect key assets in the region or respond to transgressions. Beijing is still reliant on Washington in this regard.
What the hell does that even mean? You'd think an author with these 'credentials' would have been able to elaborate...
Benjamin Houghton is an al-Sabah doctoral fellow and teaching associate at Durham University, where he researches China’s relations with the Middle East. He is the co-editor of two forthcoming volumes, "China Moves West: The Evolving Strategies of the Belt and Road Initiative" (Lynne Rienner Publishers) and "The Contest for Supremacy: China, Russia, and the USA in the Middle East" (Routledge). He has been published in Asian Affairs and Orient.
Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Mar 13 2023 19:55 utc | 36
thanks b.... i can see the trio at the end - usa-israel-uae - interfering in the process... there is a lot at stake..
@ pawn | Mar 13 2023 19:44 utc | 31
i think you have it upside down...
Posted by: james | Mar 13 2023 20:00 utc | 37
does anyone have a specific time and location for where and when this deal was signed by the 3 parties? thanks..
Posted by: james | Mar 13 2023 20:01 utc | 38
LOL https://news.yahoo.com/saudi-arabia-blocks-israelis-attending-151419662.html
(Bloomberg) -- A group of Israeli Muslims invited to a United Nations tourism event to honor their picturesque mountain village was unexpectedly blocked from attending by host Saudi Arabia, a sign that Israel’s hopes of warming relations with Riyadh may be premature.[...]
“Israel calls on the United Nations World Tourism Organization and the United Nations organizations to uphold the guiding principles of the United Nations, including equal treatment in ensuring the possibility of countries participating in the organization’s meetings,” the Israeli Tourism Ministry said in an emailed statement. “In this case, the United Nations World Tourism Organization did not meet these standards and we regret this.”
One human rights violating ME autocratic petro-state blocking another human rights violating settler colonial apartheid state. Wonder if Trump will be running on the "success" of his "Abraham Accords" in 2024?
Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Mar 13 2023 20:03 utc | 39
Posted by: james | Mar 13 2023 20:00 utc | 37
There seem to be Tweets to the effect UAE is already folding it's hand in preparation to changing sides!
Posted by: SwissArmyMan | Mar 13 2023 20:04 utc | 40
China need not use military power to enforce this agreement. It is all economic. Everyone wants to get away from the US Hegemony, even Americans.
After the Hersh revelations of the Nordstream bombing, any military action in the region will be labeled a "false flag" carried out by the USA.
Posted by: Kauai John | Mar 13 2023 20:06 utc | 41
One Great Power offers endless war and strife
The other Great Power offers peace and prosperity
Any surprise which side the KSA chose ?
Posted by: Exile | Mar 13 2023 20:09 utc | 42
Confucious say, he who order gazbanzo beans in israel get served chick peas in Palestine.
Posted by: Mo | Mar 13 2023 20:11 utc | 43
The Iran-LSA peace deal may be momentous in other ways, in persuading countries in other parts of the world, particularly Africa, to look to China to help mediate their local and regional problems. This is sure to isolate the US and Europe, France and Britain in particular from their former respective colonies, even more. We should watch out for trouble being stirred up by the US, France and Britain in those countries where China has built or is building major infrastructure projects, and where Chinese technical personnel are involved in leading projects and passing on their knowledge and technical skills to locals.
Posted by: Refinnejenna | Mar 13 2023 20:13 utc | 44
@ SwissArmyMan | Mar 13 2023 20:04 utc | 40
lol... thanks.. that is mildly encouraging!
@ Mo | Mar 13 2023 20:11 utc | 43
i always think of them as one and the same, but what do i know? as long as they aren't mung beans - it will all be good...
Posted by: james | Mar 13 2023 20:15 utc | 45
OK so I guess no one is going to call this out. From all the moves that China is playing, I see Vladimir Putin's signature moves. I think he is the underwriter to China's underwriting. This is the type of out-of-sight play he would make, especially with all the meetings involving the two recently, I believe this is a coordinated effort. First, it maybe Vlad is buying for time on some other out-of-sight, out-of-mind play he is concocting,so he pulls, this deft move to keep the strategists occupied, or secondly, it may also be the time for Beijing to start getting involved and play its part. Either way, as pointed out, Beijing doesn't have the kind of clout and leverage Russia has, so for the said parties to be actively and willing involved, it strongly suggests Putin's involvement.
Posted by: Gankanas | Mar 13 2023 20:17 utc | 46
Regarding idiotic Westerners posing as analysts, none seem to have thought that wisdom was applied to both parties by what I'll term the elder brother. The aspirational interests of both Saudi and Iran require peace for fulfillment, and they won't be accomplished without the two coming to an agreement that peace is the proper course of action. The logic of the situation is impeccable, which is what confounds Westerners. And that same principle will be applied to all nations of the entire Persian Gulf Region. The entity such wisdom will confound the most is Occupied Palestine. And I'll wager it will be applied to Africa too. Xi's Good Cop messages within his Global Development and Global Security Initiatives, while not original, are being posed at a very opportune time as humanity yearns for paradigm change.
At Russia's MFA today, this outstanding "Interview with Director of the Department of Foreign Policy Planning of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Alexander Drobinin" that was published in the RISI magazine, "Problems of National Strategy" in a Multipolar World was posted. I'll post the translated transcript at my VK for those who don't go to the above link. Once you digest it, you'll be informed of the opportunities and challenges provided by the paradigm change we're entering. The interview and b's current article provide the reasoning behind my assertion that the world will form into two blocs before it can become a united whole. It would be great if human evolution didn't have to overcome the resistance of a waning hegemonic bloc, but it does and hopefully the damage done will be mostly contained to the present conflict.
The U.S. does not like the deal because it diminishes its role in the region. Israel does not like the deal because it lessens its chances to go after Iran:[.]
@ b,
Thanks b. Kudos, you continue to be cited by others; March 13th by Ron Unz - Russia, China, Iran... Saudi Arabia?
LINK
NB: my comment is not intended to disrupt the thread.
Both U.S. and slave-master Israel have wild raging trillions $$$$ fires to put out. The US FED is in a horrendous spot and the self-inflicted US banking crisis is just the tip of the iceberg in the financial-sphere.
In terms of impact the banking implosion is a huge event as was the NS terrorist Act and this China brokered peace between KSA and Iran.
In the midst of a defacto war with Russia, US needs to shift focus. The choice: save the dollar or save the banks.... find a source of funds to either save the USD or the banking system.
Just imagine the trillions when no astute foreign funds investors are likely to invest in USTs. (US' stupid theft of RF’s $300 billion reserves).
In slave-master Israel; the judicial reform draws weekly protests in 1000s, few in western media will touch.
Ain’t see nothing yet. When confidence breaks……
Great Depression ahead. Israel will need another source of funding. Uncle Sam’s guarantee of Israel government bonds worthless.
This afternoon, Art Cashin, at UBS wrote, “keep your seatbelts tightly fastened.”
End result of the three events: Both USA and Israel are now transferred to the Quarantine ward.
Posted by: Likklemore | Mar 13 2023 20:25 utc | 48
The US did not stand up to France, the UK and Israel. It would never do that. The Soviet Union threatened nuclear bombs on Paris and London if they failed to withdraw. The US did not have any good options and took the opportunity to score some points with the anticolonial movement. The US has never stood up to Israel, and sided with Thatcher in the Malvinas dispute.
Posted by: Biochar | Mar 13 2023 20:59 utc | 49
What I would like to see right here right now would be....
So the world balance of power has shifted toward Russia, China, Iran and Saudi Arabia ect ect. And away from the west.
With the bank crash more so in the near future. That's the back ground.
Now would be the optimum momment to reclaim the UN, make it fit for the purpose for which it was intended.
Removing the vice like grip America has on it.
All the participating countrys should be lobbied.
What a powerfull tool for good it 'could be right now'. World law and order.
Let Lavrov and China meditate on that.
Posted by: Mark2 | Mar 13 2023 21:05 utc | 50
Whilst Russia is not formally part of the China mediated deal, you can bet they are in the loop. It is no coincidence that almost as the deal was announced, Russia agreed to supply Su35s (and rumoured S400s) to Iran; and likely also S400s will be going to Saudi (given the poor performance of the Patriots). Russia is therefore de facto guaranteeing Iran and Saudi security. Security would have been a key component of the China mediated deal.
Posted by: cdvision | Mar 13 2023 21:05 utc | 51
@ Oriental Voice | Mar 13 2023 18:54 utc | 16
Just for clarification, I was not criticizing b for quoting the lying fools; he is typically exposing their idiocy.
Posted by: Figleaf23 | Mar 13 2023 21:06 utc | 52
Scupper: an opening through which water can flow from a roof or ship’s deck.
Scuttle: to deliberately sink something, such as a ship or a deal.
Posted by: Dalit | Mar 13 2023 18:37 utc | 9
scuppered; scuppering; scuppers
transitive verb
chiefly British
: to defeat or put an end to
There you go, Professor Pedant
Posted by: nwwoods | Mar 13 2023 21:08 utc | 53
In that combination as it seems europe needs to take the trash
I mean
that lots of junk has to end somewhere :)
Posted by: Macpott | Mar 13 2023 21:08 utc | 54
"[It] could lead to further deals with Arab states like Egypt, pave the way to end the war in Yemen, offer a workable solution to the crisis in Lebanon, and even lead to a resumption of negotiations to save the nuclear deal," he wrote.
Posted by: Don Firineach | Mar 13 2023 19:48 utc | 32
One might think this should be something those (G)7 friends of Selensky, pardon "human rights, international law and peace for world "would be enthusiastic about. Shouldn't it
If it was really human rights, international law and peace for world to they were interested in.
Posted by: Marvin | Mar 13 2023 21:17 utc | 55
The first call terrorists for US have long been Wahhabis. Saudi can leash all of those.
It is not China who will enforce or backstop the deal. It is China-Russia-Iran-Saudi who will enforce. US is not clever enough to run a game past all of those at once.
Posted by: oldhippie | Mar 13 2023 21:19 utc | 56
@Figleaf23, #52:
Oh I knew that. No worry. b usually picks out the flagrantly stupid quotes of these 'analyst' for amusement for the barflies here :-)
Posted by: Oriental Voice | Mar 13 2023 21:19 utc | 57
While the US is focused on Ukraine, China mediates a peace deal between between Saudi Arabia and Iran - reducing US influence in the Middle East. Hat tip.
Posted by: Passerby | Mar 13 2023 21:21 utc | 58
Excellent news, divide and rule collapsing like US banks.
Posted by: anon2020 | Mar 13 2023 21:36 utc | 59
If you think Olaf is pathetic have a look at our pathetic excuse for a leader. Stand by. The world just just got a whole lot more interesting.
Posted by: Paul McGrory | Mar 13 2023 18:22 utc | 3
And I noticed that our equally if not more depraved opposition leader Dutton piped up to offer "budget cut" support to the government to fund the US extortion. No Aussie PM needs to be "turned" to the US, they are extorted and bullied by default. Who Albanese supports privately is of no relevance.
Yes it is interesting times, Australia now locked into austerity as the US ramps up robbing us into slavery and poverty including by our very own central bank interest rate rises that are going to send us into recession while our big 4 US owned banks rake in the mortgage defaults.
No more the special "Ally" as if we ever were, just an airstrip, a nuclear dock, a bunch of mines and 25 million peasants.
Posted by: K | Mar 13 2023 21:38 utc | 60
Time for an oul song at the bar ...
Bob Dylan - The Times They Are a-Changin' [LIVE IN ENGLAND - 1965]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9_nWlSX6Us
All together now .....
Posted by: Don Firineach | Mar 13 2023 21:48 utc | 61
Middle East expert As'ad Abu Khalil concurs. https://consortiumnews.com/2023/03/13/asad-abukhalil-saudi-iran-deal-a-possible-us-suez-moment/
Posted by: Maracatu | Mar 13 2023 21:58 utc | 62
I think this may explain the recent ratcheting up of the demonetization of anything china the last few months. The whole balloon saga, new semiconductor import restrictions on china, and US pressure on holland and tawain to cut off any tech, the renewed biden admin attempt to ban tictoc, fbi and doe assessments blaming china alone, for covid etc etc. The yanks must have been apoplectic about the negotiations, and now the deal. They will spare no resource to scuttle it.
Posted by: Paul McGrory | Mar 13 2023 18:22 utc |
I agree entirely, Albanese and even worse Marles, are complete US puppets already. And to think the US starry-eyed military toys Marles is deputy pm as well. Wong has been already silenced because she upset the imperialists already in the UK by talking about her ancestors who were submitted to imperialist rule in Malaysia. They now all appear to be spitting on Whitlam's grave.
We don't need more US bunnies running the country and selling out Australian sovereignty if it is not already totally gone. The point is that since Menzies was in office, Australian governments have been repeatedly told by the US that they would not come to save Australia, but no government has had the guts to tell Australians who live in this la la land about this lie. They also think the US came to save us from the Japanese but that's also a preposterous lie given that it was the decaying relationship between Japan and the US over nearly 100 years that caused WWII in the Pacific. The Japanese came near our region to protect their ability to get oil from Indonesia after the US had cut off all oil supplies to Japan. We had nothing to do with any of that. In my view Australia is being set up to be the Ukraine of the South Pacific. Albanese seems to have a schoolboy's understanding of geopolitics and diplomacy, and Marles has no idea.
Posted by: George | Mar 13 2023 22:37 utc | 64
The US, always fostering instability wherever it can, has long had an interest in the Balochi people which inhabit both Pakistan and Iran. The boundary barrier between Iran and Pakistan also divides the land of the Baloch people, a distinct ethno-linguistic group some nine million strong. The bulk of the Baloch, a Sunni Muslim people, live in Pakistan, but as many as a million and a half reside in southeastern Iran, with another half million or so in southwestern Afghanistan.
The governments of both Iran and Pakistan are threatened by Baloch insurgents which are supported by members of the US Congress via the CIA and also by promoting a unification of the two Balochi peoples.
World Socialist, Feb 24, 2012: US Congress to debate motion on “self-determination” for Pakistani Balochistan. . .Pakistan’s political establishment has reacted furiously to a proposed US House of Representatives’ resolution advocating “self-determination” for Balochistan, Pakistan’s poorest province and the scene of an increasingly deadly nationalist-separatist insurgency. Introduced last week, the non-binding resolution is sponsored by three Republicans, Dana Rohrabacher, Louie Gohmert, and Steve King. . . .The Obama administration has moved quickly to distance itself from the resolution.
US Congressman Rohrabacher fiercly supported the Baloch cause for self-determination and demanded that Pakistan should be “tried for war crimes” against Baloch people. Rohrabacher left the House four years ago.
In the early 2000s the radical Islamist group Jundallah became active in Balochistan. The al Qaeda-linked extremist organisation has branches in both Iran and Pakistan. From 2003 to 2012, an estimated 296 people were killed in Jundullah-related violence in Iran, and Iran has accused America of supporting Jundallah "for years". The US government, which has officially designated Jundallah a terrorist organization, has denied this charge (so we may assume that it's true). We can also suspect that the US disability actions by Sunni Jundallah might have been relying on financial support by Saudi Arabia. A cutoff of Saudi financing would cause the CIA to obtain funding elsewhere to continue US instability efforts in Iran.
Posted by: Don Bacon | Mar 13 2023 22:52 utc | 65
Posted by: pawn | Mar 13 2023 19:44 utc | 31
China is not simple-minded nor short-sighted like you. You would be correct if you are talking about the evil empire of lies and chaos.
Posted by: in_Oz | Mar 13 2023 23:08 utc | 66
“by: nwwoods | Mar 13 2023 21:08 utc | 53”
When I hear some morons (predominantly british?) misuse a word, I just roll my eyes and shrug and don’t bother to correct them, but this forum involves many people who are intelligent but not fluent in english yet, and they deserve a chance to learn what the words really mean.
Posted by: Dalit | Mar 13 2023 23:18 utc | 67
quick takes:
1. not a lot of zionists in china. which is probably why they have their shit together to any degree. they also want stability from the saudis as they need their black death goo to keep the rotund buddha that is the chinese economy going. as for iran - maybe just wanting them to cool off or maybe admiring their patience. doesn't really matter.
2. no western spook is going to grasp the nuances of the region as well as its own plentiful intel agencies. if they do a "false flag" or try to bribe their way to a level where they can throw a wrench in the works any competent country serious about peace talks will spot it and see it coming or "saw it comed". three letters = three stooges.
3. the cowards running things - and especially "israel" - always depend on "let's you and him fight" as a tactic. avoiding that is pretty easy by just not fighting.
Posted by: the pair | Mar 13 2023 23:35 utc | 68
Posted by: in_Oz | Mar 13 2023 23:08 utc | 66
I agree, I think that pawn (| Mar 13 2023 19:44 utc | 31) underestimates the capability and professionalism of China's hard working diplomats. He also misunderstands that two former enemies can come together if they have a common enemy that is potentially causing trouble for both. A good example is how Mao and Chiang Kai Shek stopped their civil war in China and joined forces to repel the Japanese during WWII in the Pacific. I think Saudi Arabia and Iran have buried the sectarian religion hatchet because they know the US has become the common enemy of both. Pawn also seems to not accept that Catholics and Protestants eventually buried the hatchet in the West and the differences between Sunnis and Shia are very much the same. No doubt the US sanctions on Russian oil has sent a chill up the backbone of most OPEC countries - they will see that if Russia can be sanctioned then it can also happen to them.
Posted by: George | Mar 13 2023 23:38 utc | 69
The Saudis and Iran are not so stupid. If the US creates a false flag, they will without much problem see who is behind it and act to extirpate the US from the Middle East.
Posted by: JamesSheridan | Mar 13 2023 23:45 utc | 70
Press TV's Spotlight - China-US on collision course? 22mins
Guest: Gilbert Doctorow, James Kavanagh
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvboFIERnEY
'The Wall of Steel'
Posted by: Don Firineach | Mar 13 2023 23:45 utc | 71
The respective heads of Iran and Saudi security services were also in the meeting. They are all aware that the US and Israel will do all they can to undermine the new peace deal.
I don't think UAE will be a spoiler. They are also looking to negotiate an end to the Yemen war.
Posted by: Al | Mar 14 2023 0:06 utc | 72
As long as China and Russia holds the prospect of BRICS membership -- and the right of expulsion ---- Iran and the Saudi's will fall into line ----- and fascist amerika knows that well.
Posted by: Karl NoWay | Mar 14 2023 0:25 utc | 73
What is the source of information?
Sunni Kurds from north? Do you mean Barzani corrupted tribe?
Let's be honest they are not worth a penny as a capable military force. Whose is close there? PKK with connection to the US backed SDF in Syria.
Not a surprise. Perhaps London can be added plus Israel whose mil experts presence in Northern Iraq was recorded many times in the Past.
Saudis do not trust US, yet they know they will be sacrificed if needed, that is the main reason why they are willing to have a choice and leaning towards China. Who can trust US whose opinion is changed as a weather from one president to another.
Posted by: asehi | Mar 14 2023 0:40 utc | 74
One would like the Iran-Saudi Arabia agreement to mark the "Suez moment" for the US, but sometimes processes cannot be accelerated. Although MBS has probably understood that in the long term Saudi dependence on Washington is suicide for his dynasty, Riyadh is still too dependent on the US to dare break decisively. It could even be a trap, a Trojan horse given the rapacious and treacherous nature of the Saudi regime.
We will see in the coming months if the deal is consolidated and thanks to it, as well as other encouraging measures that MBS has taken in the economic sphere, the possibilities of an Israeli attack on Iran recede and continues the demolition of the supremacy of the dollar in the Persian Gulf.
Posted by: Gabriel Moyssen | Mar 14 2023 1:06 utc | 75
Canada's Mossad partner Stephen Harper's MEK $60 000 kosher pork fest just ended when the Saudi sholla went South. All that dedicated work delisting them from Canada's terrorist list by his ever young boy Mossad kompromat inclined Foreign Affairs Minister and fellow MEK fester John Baird did not go unnoticed by the handlers but don't expect them to pay a shekel for next years fest.
Posted by: Nectimeonecsperno | Mar 14 2023 1:08 utc | 76
Wonder if Trump will be running on the "success" of his "Abraham Accords" in 2024?Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Mar 13 2023 20:03 utc | 39
If I were Trump I certainly would! I can hear it now: "I made peace, and everything fell apart while Dementia Joe was sleeping."
Posted by: malenkov | Mar 14 2023 1:11 utc | 77
Time for an oul song at the bar ...Bob Dylan - The Times They Are a-Changin' [LIVE IN ENGLAND - 1965]
[snip]
Posted by: Don Firineach | Mar 13 2023 21:48 utc | 61
Strange, when I think of "Bob Dylan" I think of "Neighborhood Bully."
Posted by: malenkov | Mar 14 2023 1:16 utc | 78
@malenkov
Here you go ...
Bob Dylan - Neighborhood Bully (Official Audio)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ETdLfXI6r8
Posted by: Don Firineach | Mar 14 2023 1:28 utc | 79
The Chinese can offer the Ukrainians something the west can't and wouldn't anyway: Productive investments, aid for rebuilding and commercial opportunities.
The only thing the west is interested on giving to Ukraine is more death and debt.
Unfortunately the Ukronazis are too stupid to understand that.
Posted by: Marcos E | Mar 14 2023 1:31 utc | 80
by: Dalit | Mar 13 2023 23:18 utc | 67
You happen to come off as an American English supremacist.
One who only knows one of more meanings a word has, and wants the others to narrow their language to the same dimensions as his.
While name-calling them.
Posted by: XxYy | Mar 14 2023 1:36 utc | 81
On censorship, sacked academics, banned from Twitter and Zionist power in the West ...
Brief interview with Scot David Miller, co-host of Palestine de-classified on Press TV
Kolomoisky supporter of Zelenski and funder of Right Sector etc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-k035qU8A8
Posted by: Don Firineach | Mar 14 2023 1:53 utc | 83
Strange, when I think of "Bob Dylan" I think of "Neighborhood Bully."
Posted by: malenkov | Mar 14 2023 1:16 utc | 78
That song is like a shit stain on a priceless Persian rug.
This one is gaining relevance...Bob Dylan - Changing of the Guards
Posted by: farm ecologist | Mar 14 2023 2:16 utc | 84
Posted by: Paul McGrory | Mar 13 2023 18:22 utc | 3
Maaaate. Bang on. Anthony Albendzeknee.
Posted by: Patroklos | Mar 14 2023 2:20 utc | 85
Posted by: Paul McGrory | Mar 13 2023 18:29 utc | 5
US dollar dominance is at the beginning of the end as a global currency
Mmm. That I'm not so sure about. A good deal of the world's wealth is tied up in dollars and the end of empire doesn't necessarily mean an overnight end to dollar dominance. Sterling still exerts a power well beyond the end of the British Empire and Athenian owls remained an international currency of choice long after Aegospotami. More thought needed on the dollar's future.
Posted by: Patroklos | Mar 14 2023 2:24 utc | 86
Posted by: Dalit | Mar 13 2023 18:37 utc | 9
scupper | ˈskəpər |
verb [with object] chiefly British
sink (a ship or its crew) deliberately.
• informal prevent from working or succeeding; thwart: plans for a casino were scuppered by a public inquiry.
ORIGIN
late 19th century (as military slang in the sense ‘kill, especially in an ambush’): of unknown origin. The sense ‘sink’ dates from the 1970s.
Posted by: Patroklos | Mar 14 2023 2:26 utc | 87
China will be able to hold BRICs and the SCO over both countries' heads to encourage good faith behavior.
I suspect both SA and Iran want to be in the SCO and BRICs more than the West may believe.
It's difficult for powers in decline to recognize the changes occurring around them, and adjusting to those new realities.
Posted by: LoveDonbass | Mar 14 2023 2:56 utc | 88
Imo row is better informed than westerners re the Ukraine war and how it will likely be resolved. The military might of the old ussr is back, and is now teamed with China, the most industrialized nation in history. Between the two of them they are the source of nearly all the critical commodities needed by modern societies. And much of asia is with them, granted Japan is not. S Korea maybe torn here…
Saudi has more options than Iran, useful because it is weaker and is more in need of protection. But the writing on the wall is becoming clearer; saudi wants a foot in the Asian camp, so has applied to join BRICS. But BRICS want trade, not internal conflict. Hatchets must be buried first. So saudi is making nice with Iran.
There are many issues to be resolved. Us will try to stop it, and is skilled with false flags. But this is expected and hopefully will be dealt with. I wonder how much of the royal family agrees? Their calcs might also be changing… might Russian defenses be better/cheaper? Certainly us would prefer another… MBS will need loyal guards…
Posted by: John k | Mar 14 2023 3:18 utc | 89
No more the special "Ally" as if we ever were, just an airstrip, a nuclear dock, a bunch of mines and 25 million peasants.
Posted by: K | Mar 13 2023 21:38 utc | 60
Reading many online comments in Oz, seems that the idiots somehow believe that a war with China would be a good idea to put the "bully" back in their place. The left and right media are both fueling this delusion that we (with allies) would win a war with China. My daughter says the same thing, there is a hunger for war, the population has gone insane, firstly the woke idiocy, second the covid scam and now this finally apotheosis of stupidity.
The country is a foreign land to the one I grew up in. I fear they are being setup as another Ukraine type canon fodder source. I've advised family there to be ready to get out if things go "full retard".
As to Iran/Saudi, the Chinese must be full aware of the false flags, regime changes and media condemnation that will ensue, the wounded and dying titan will lash out with everything it has.
Posted by: Organic | Mar 14 2023 4:15 utc | 90
What will happen will happen, but a diseased sickened and decaying USA is even more unpredictable and dangerous. It's not those involved in the deal that needs to be wary, the entire world needs to be wary.
Posted by: nonsensical | Mar 14 2023 4:41 utc | 91
@56 oldhippie | Mar 13 2023 21:19 utc - totally agree - yes - thanks.
@17 too scents | Mar 13 2023 18:54 utc - thanks for THAT link. That Prism account has a lot of great info on this situation, and West Asia in general.
~~
Nasrallah reminds us that there is a Resistance that stands ready to liberate Palestine from its illegal occupation, and that possesses the force to achieve this. In his latest speech he reveals how Israeli culture is tormented by the feeling that it may be driven out of the land, which it holds only through terror tactics. The culture is already involved in plans to emigrate away from West Asia:
Nasrallah: Israel can be destroyed within 5 years
And that title is not Nasrallah's boast but simply his reporting of Israel's fear. In its bones, the population begins to suspect that the ride is over.
~~
So we remember that there is indeed a resistance in West Asia devoted to the ultimate end: the liberation of Palestine. And in this context, it seems to me that KSA is ultimately joining that resistance axis, rather more than not.
There will be bumps. But Yemen will stand whole. And it seems that UAE will join the axis too. And the occupier is already planning to flee to the USA.
What's not to like? What's not to exult in and give thanks for?
Posted by: Grieved | Mar 14 2023 5:13 utc | 92
Paul McGrory @ 3, Patroklos @ 85:
To be fair, our Prime Minister Anthony Alban-easy-2-squeezey didn't have much choice. Most of the underhand wheeling and dealing had already been done by our previous scumbag Prime Minister.
If Albanese (rhymes with "sleazy", it's an Italian surname) hadn't signed on the dotted line, his days as Prime Minister surely would have been numbered and no doubt in another couple of months we'd be talking about his sell-out replacement in Canberra.
Posted by: Refinnejenna | Mar 14 2023 5:38 utc | 93
The magnitude of this deal from the fact that China signed on it puts on par with the Russian SMO in Ukraine.
Posted by: Man | Mar 14 2023 6:04 utc | 94
One should expect both US and Israel do whatever they can do to prevent a peaceful resolution in west Asia especially if China plays the role of a mediator. But China isn't alone doing it. Russia is also a major player in this. The North-South corridor, BRI and the proposed new Eurasian monetary / banking system all going to generate a huge thrust that not only the Saudis will see better join it but most likely Germany in the future will be inclined to participate, too. It's better for Germany to finally free itself from the Anglosaxon-Zionist financial/political stranglehold since even before WWI, when the Khazarians settled in Germany and began their usual back stabbing practices on behalf of London against the local German population.
Posted by: maskazer | Mar 14 2023 6:08 utc | 95
Below are quotes from a Xinhuanet piece
"The move means a lot to both countries, as it will ease tensions between Shias and Sunnis," said Adnan Bourji, director of the Lebanese National Center for Studies.
......
China's successful mediation in the Saudi-Iranian deal proves that the world is open to an order characterized by multilateralism championed by China, instead of an order characterized by unilateralism the United States has enforced over the past decades, said Bourji.The Saudi-Iranian deal's success has reflected the different approaches adopted by the United States and China in the Middle East, he added.
"China handles (its diplomatic relations) in a spirit of friendship, persuasion, and the realization of mutual interests, while the United States handles (its diplomatic relations) in a spirit of imposition, hegemony, and ensuring American and Israeli interests at the expense of Arab dignity and interests," he added.
The solutions proposed by China, which seek to solve international problems through mutual benefit, peaceful consultation, non-violent and non-military means, have gained more and more recognition around the world, said Dai Xiaoqi, professor at the School of Middle Eastern Studies of Beijing International Studies University.
Posted by: psychohistorian | Mar 14 2023 6:22 utc | 96
One wonders if the recent anti-Chinese campaign was launched because the U.S. knew of the deal and tried to interrupt it.
I don't think so. Nobody except the low IQ fools in the US believes that type of propaganda.
There have been more significant developments in the last month that have better correlation like Ukraine losing all hope of driving Russians out of Donbass without NATO direct involvement, Putin suspending New Start, the chip acts having zero impact on Chinese economy etc.
Predictably, the sanctions war against Russia triggered a lot of changes in the global geopolitical order. This development in the Middle East is only one in a long series of developments. There are a lot more likely on the way.
False flag attacks in Iran and in Saudi Arabia could be a way to do that. If a new 'Iranian' drone attack happens in Saudi oil fields or new 'Saudi financed' terrorist attack in Iran happen the deal could indeed be scraped.
Once again, nobody outside a set of fools in the G7 countries would believe that. Such a move will only further erode the trust of the United States.
The propaganda is meant for the low iq local population to sell a war.
As for US empire. It's over.
2 years after Afghanistan pull out, the US empire is falling.
The prophecy of the Graveyard of Empires has once again been fulfilled.
Posted by: FieryButMostPeaceful | Mar 14 2023 6:22 utc | 97
"The move means a lot to both countries, as it will ease tensions between Shias and Sunnis," said Adnan Bourji, director of the Lebanese National Center for Studies.
Posted by: psychohistorian | Mar 14 2023 6:22 utc | 96
The shia sunni tension and the shia's threat to the sunnis have been the pillars that the media of the gulf states and the arabic countries has been standing on in its campaign of the so called "normalization with Israel". These pillars have collapsed with this deal.
Posted by: Man | Mar 14 2023 6:46 utc | 98
@ Dalit | Mar 13 2023 23:18 utc | 67
@ nwwoods | Mar 13 2023 21:08 utc | 53
scuppered ~= sent down the drain.
see:
https://notoneoffbritishisms.com/2016/12/20/scuppered/
Posted by: MAKK | Mar 14 2023 8:54 utc | 99
The USofAs is suddenly claiming that China is running massive campaign of gay persecution/conversion camps, using photos that seem identical to those used to 'prove' Uyghur genocide so would it be too cynical to think it's a reaction to the Saudi/Iran peace sealed by China.
Now that the Ukraine fiasco is about to unravel they'll need to start up Save Taiwan fear.
Posted by: James | Mar 14 2023 10:04 utc | 100
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