WAR ON MUSLIMS; Chuck Hagel, ‘OLD ORDER’ In Middle East Disappearing’, US Helping Shape ‘NEW ORDER’ With ‘Coalitions Of Common Interests’
‘The OLD ORDER in the Middle East is disappearing, and what will replace it remains unknown… the US will remain engaged in helping shape the NEW ORDER, but we must engage wisely…” – Chuck Hagel
(AE) – US Secretary Of Defense Chuck Hagel gave a speech at the Washington Institute For Near East Policy (WINEP); an incredibly anti Muslim, pro War On Iran, pro War On Syria; think tank founded by the anti Muslim warmongers at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). So it’s crystal clear exactly who Hagel was addressing.
Hagel’s idea of the US helping shape the “NEW ORDER” in the Middle East qualifies as a “NEW WORLD ORDER” quote considering that the reshaping of the Middle East and the destruction of Islam are requirements for the “NEW WORLD ORDER” to come fully into view (borrowing from Bush Sr.’s September 11, 1991 speech).
Obama’s appointment of “NEW WORLD ORDER” advocates (ie, cult members) to the two highest positions in his administration, Secretary Of Defense and Secretary Of State, shows what drives his foreign policy decisions. John Kerry’s “NEW WORLD ORDER” dreams can be viewed in my previous article here.
We must now wonder… does Hagel’s “coalitions of common interests” include Russia??? I believe it does, as stated in my previous article here.
*Note RT’s screen title in the following video… “Syria; The New Order”.
2013.5.10 Chemical Conundrum; US Suggests Syrian Rebels Used Sarin (RT, youtube.com):
The US Defense Secretary says the old order in the Middle East is disappearing, although it’s still not clear what will replace it. Chuck Hagel stressed the conflict in Syria is becoming increasingly more sectarian and extremist, with the country’s collapse now more real than ever. But, while some US lawmakers make fresh calls for military intervention, Washington’s taken a backseat.
2013.5.10 Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel; ‘Political, Not Military’ Solutions Needed In Middle East (AFP, rawstory.com):
The problems that plague the Middle East, including Iran’s nuclear ambitions and Syria’s civil war, require “political, not military” solutions, US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said.
Saying the “old order” was vanishing in the region, Hagel stressed in a speech that the United States would work to promote democratic reform while bearing in mind the “limitations” of American power.
Although the Pentagon chief made clear that Washington had not ruled out potential military action against Iran or Syria, his remarks highlighted President Barack Obama’s cautious stance on resorting to armed force in the volatile region.
He said that regional challenges including “the nuclear challenge posed by Iran, dangerous instability in Syria, or the continuing threat of al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups” must be addressed through “coalitions of common interests,” including Israel and other allies in the region.
“A common thread woven into the Middle East fabric is that the most enduring and effective solutions to the challenges facing the region are political, not military,” Hagel told an audience at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.
“America’s role in the Middle East is to continue to help influence and shape the course of events — using diplomatic, economic, humanitarian, intelligence, and security tools in coordination with our allies,” he said.
Arab uprisings had shaken the established political landscape in the Middle East, he said.
“The old order in the Middle East is disappearing, and what will replace it remains unknown.
“There will continue to be instability in the region [Because you're causing it. - Joel] as this process plays out and we all must adjust accordingly.”
Prospects for stability in the longer run would hinge on the outcome of political transitions in Egypt, Libya and Syria, said Hagel, who traveled to the region last month.
“The best hope for long-term stability relies on countries like Egypt, Libya, and Syria making transitions to democratic rule,” he said.
The United States would “remain engaged in helping shape the new order, but we must engage wisely,” he said.
“This will require a clear understanding of our national interests, our limitations, and an appreciation for the complexities of this unpredictable, contradictory, yet hopeful region of the world,” he said.
The war in Syria was turning “sectarian” and the possibility the state would break apart was “increasing,” he said.
The war was putting Syria’s “stockpiles of chemical weapons and advanced conventional weapons at risk, and the escalation of violence threatens to spill across its borders,” he said.
But Hagel struck a restrained tone on Syria and did not reiterate Obama’s declared “red line” warning Damascus not to use its chemical weapons.
The Obama administration has faced renewed calls for intervention after US intelligence agencies said the Syrian regime probably used chemical weapons on a small-scale. But the White House says the spy services are still investigating the allegations.
After the speech, when asked about Syria, Hagel said the administration would not take any action until it had all the facts and alluded to the intelligence disaster in the run-up to the 2003 Iraq war.
“It’s fair to say that we’re all probably a little wiser today than we were before and when we take action, there is always the reality — that you accept — that there may be consequences and unintended consequences may come from that,” he said.
“There are also consequences and unintended consequences that come from inaction,” he added.
In answering the question on Syria, Hagel joked about his outspoken style before he took over at the Pentagon in February.
He said now he had to watch his words more carefully as he was no longer a senator and he couldn’t “speak as irresponsibly as I would like.”
WAR ON SYRIA; John Kerry In Moscow, Russia & US Cut Deal To Throw Assad Under The Bus?
(AE) – I now quadruple the stance of my previous article, that Russia will abandon Syria at its greatest time of need, or already has.
It was very telling when Russia made a noticeably weak statement, in defence of its supposed “ally”, when condemning Israel for its completely unprovoked and illegal bombing of Syria over the weekend.
So we’re supposed to believe that Lavrov, Putin, and the rest of the Russian military, are so incredibly stupid that they have no idea about the origins of this so called Syrian “civil war”… that the entire conflict has been a foreign invasion by terrorist mercenaries that have been armed, financed, and supported, by NATO and the Gulf State Monarchies????
Various aspects of this meeting show that Russia is completely subservient to the US… so this entire press conference was nothing but political theatre.
2013.5.7 Russia & US To Pressure Both Sides In Syria To Find Peace Deal, Lavrov (RT, youtube.com):
Russia and the US reiterated their commitment to bringing the sides of the Syrian conflict to the negotiating table, and have announced an international conference to be called by the end of May which will serve as a follow-up to the Geneva communique.
Cyprus seeks Russian bailout aid, EU threatens cutoff
(Reuters) – Cyprus’s finance minister pleaded with Russia for help on Wednesday to avert a financial meltdown after the island’s parliament rejected the terms of a European bailout, raising the specter of a looming default and bank crash.
Finance Minister Michael Sarris said he had reached no deal on financing with his Russian counterpart, Anton Siluanov, but talks were continuing.
Cypriot officials disclosed that the country’s energy minister was also in Moscow, ostensibly for a tourism exhibition. Cyprus has found big gas reserves in its waters adjoining Israel but has yet to develop them.
“We had a very honest discussion, we’ve underscored how difficult the situation is,” Sarris told reporters after talks with Siluanov. “We’ll now continue our discussion to find the solution by which we hope we will be getting some support.
Ministry launches ‘Palestinians only’ buses
Racial segregation or transportation mitigation? The Transportation Ministry announced that starting Sunday it will begin operating designated lines for Palestinians in the West Bank.
The bus lines in question are meant, according to the ministry, to transport Palestinian workers from the West Bank to central Israel. The ministry alleges that the move is meant to ease the congestion felt on bus lines used by Jews in the same areas, but several bus drivers told Ynet that Palestinians who will choose to travel on the so-called “mixed” lines, will be asked to leave them.
While officially the new lines are considered “general bus lines,” Ynet learned Saturday that their existence has been made public only in Palestinian villages in the West Bank, via flyers in Arabic urging Palestinians to arrive at Eyal crossing and use the designated lines.
The Transportation Ministry defended the plan, saying it was the result of reports and complaints saying that the buses traveling in the area were overcrowded and rife with tensions between the Jewish and Arab passengers.
A ministry source said that many complaints expressed concern that the Palestinian passengers may pose a security risk, while other complaints said that the overcrowded buses cause the drivers to skip stations.
George Galloway Storms Out On Israeli Student During Oxford University Debate
George Galloway is being accused of anti-Semitism after he stormed out of an Oxford University debate, telling the student speaker: “I don’t debate with Israelis.”
The Respect MP was speaking at an event organised by Christ Church college in favour of the motion “Israel should withdraw immediately from the West Bank”. Less than three minutes into his opponent Eylon Aslan-Levy’s speech, Galloway interrupted, asking “You said we. Are you an Israeli?”
Third year student Aslan-Levy answered “I am, yes.” Galloway promptly stood up and replied: “I don’t debate with Israelis, I’ve been misled, sorry.”
Galloway’s exit, which was met with audible gasps from the audience, was captured on film by the Oxford University paper, Cherwell. As the Bradford West representative left the room, a member of the audience can be heard shouting “racism”, to which the MP replied: “I don’t recognise Israel and I don’t debate with Israelis.”
Israeli Lawlessness in Issawiya Continues – World closes eyes
February 16, 2013 by Jack Blood
Filed under World
Issawiya is a Jerusalem area Arab village. It’s located on Mount Scopus. It’s 2.5 km east of the Green Line. It’s three km northeast of Jerusalem’s Old City.
It’s close to Hebrew University. It straddles Jerusalem’s border. It’s surrounded by Israeli settlements and military outposts.
Its 2006 population was 12,000. After Israel’s 1967 Six Day War, Israel took control. Issawiya faced annexation and division. Thousands of dunums were confiscated.
Today’s reality confines residents to 600 dunums. It’s a fraction of Issawiya’s original size. Israel used stolen land for settlements, expanding greater Jerusalem, commercial development, Jews-only roads, and planned E1 area construction.
According to Jerusalem’s Planning and Building Committee, a future national park is planned. Activists call it a ruse. At issue is blocking Palestinian development east of the city. It’s to establish a new settlement.
The park will confiscate hundreds of dunums of privately owned Palestinian land. One activist said doing so is “driving people crazy.”
Jerusalem city council member Meir Margalit called the park project “a farce.” Designated land is largely “rocks and thorns,” he said.
Nothing justifies park development. At issue is stealing Palestinian land, demolishing their property, dispossessing them, and replacing them with Jews.
Palestinian rights are denied. They’re brutalized for resisting. On January 1, Haaretz headlined “East Jerusalem villagers: Israel Police subjecting us to collective punishment,” saying:
In recent weeks, security forces targeted Issawiya residents ruthlessly. Dozens of arrests and injuries followed.
Things escalated out-of-control. It happened after Samer Issawi’s arrest. He’s a Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine activist. He was wrongly imprisoned for 10 years. Political activism got him incarcerated.
He was released in Israel’s October 2011 Gilat Shalit prisoner exchange. Months later he was rearrested. Israeli deals aren’t worth the paper they’re written on. Terms are violated with impunity. Samer’s hunger striking in protest.
Issawiya residents support him. They staged supportive solidarity marches. Security forces targeted them viciously. Clashes continued for days. Children were brutalized like adults.
Arrests happen virtually daily. Resident Hani Issawi said “(t)there’s an intifada here, but it’s an intifada of the police and not the residents.”
“In the past days, there have been no demonstrations, no marches, nothing – only police provocations.”
They’re dismissive. They’ll continue targeting “suspects” until they’re all “arrested and order has been restored,” they say.
In January, the Jerusalemite Grassroots Foundation published a report on Issawiya. It’s titled “Issawiya Resists Collective Punishment.”
It discussed escalated Israeli violence. Militarized occupation enforces collective punishment. Residents are brutalized. They respond by resisting.
Numerous demonstrations and sit-ins were held. Security forces confronted them violently. Issawiya was stormed numerous times. Special Forces were used. Dozens of arrests were made.
Israel set up “flying military checkpoints.” They’re used to collect taxes and debts. Palestinian drivers are forced to pay without legal justification.
Israel prevents Issawiya’s natural expansion. Plans call for filling the area with solid waste. Israel wants residents dispossessed.
It wants area land to connect E1 with Ma’ale Adumim settlement and Jerusalem. At issue is establishing territorial contiguity. It’s also to create a greater Jerusalem by Judaizing Palestinian neighborhoods.
Doing so will isolate Issawiya from the rest of the West Bank. Fundamental international law will be violated. Israel’s proceeding with its plan.
On February 7, the Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI) responded. It wants illegal Issawiya operations ended. It called on Jerusalem’s police chief to do so.
It demands he end “enforcement operation” violence. It’s been ongoing for weeks. Issawiya’s “under siege.” Entrances are blocked. Checkpoints impose barricades.
Every person and vehicle entering or leaving is checked. Large numbers of Border Police, Riot Police, and undercover units assure clashes.
Excessive force is prioritized. Tear gas, rubber bullets, shock grenades, and other harsh crowd control methods are used. Numerous arrests and injuries follow. Women and children are targeted like men.
Since Israeli operations began, residents estimate about 100 arrests, including 40 minors.
“Children eyewitness accounts describe police use of such measures as handcuffing and shackling of children’s arms and legs without justification, the use of violence against handcuffed and blindfolded children, and the interrogation of children without their parents being present.”
Homes are stormed pre-dawn. Doors are knocked off their hinges. Warrantless ransacking follows. Property is willfully damaged.
ACRI attorney Nisreen Alyan addressed Jerusalem’s Police Commissioner, Yossi Pariente, saying:
“Over the last month and a half, residents of the Issawiya neighborhood of East Jerusalem have experienced a serious deterioration in their sense of personal security.”
“Local residents have contacted us with complaints that the police, who are supposed to serve the public, instead are acting discriminatorily and with a heavy hand against the residents.”
Basic freedoms are systematically denied. Residents are “living in a closed military zone.” Their ability to live normally is denied.
“We remain in the dark as to the motives behind these sweeping enforcement activities, which have continued unabated in Issawiya for more than six weeks.”
“But regardless of the reasons behind them, it is the duty of the police – whether in catching criminals or in dealing with public disturbances – to act in a reasonable and proportionate manner while respecting human rights obligations.”
“The police may only take action against an individual when there is reasonable suspicion against him or her, and they must not impose sweeping restrictions on entire neighborhoods in the hope that this will curb criminal activity. That is manifestly unreasonable.”
Children are traumatized. They’re afraid to play outside. Parents won’t let them walk alone. Residents avoid going out as much as possible. Institutionalized violence confronts them.
Stress takes its toll. Fundamental freedoms are denied. An entire community is under 24-hour lockdown.
“In light of the above, we ask for your urgent intervention to put an immediate end to such illegitimate police operations, and we further demand that law enforcement be exercised equally and without discrimination, as required by law.”
Expect no positive response. Police states operate that way. Israel’s one of the worst.
Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.
His new book is titled “Banker Occupation: Waging Financial War on Humanity.”
http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanII.html
Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network Thursdays at 10AM US Central time and Saturdays and Sundays at noon. All programs are archived for easy listening.
http://www.progressiveradionetwork.com/the-progressive-news-hour
