07-22-2017, 09:58 PM
*** 23-Jul-17 World View -- Kuwait expels Iran's diplomats as Saudi Arabia softens Qatar demands
This morning's key headlines from GenerationalDynamics.com
****
**** Kuwait expels Iran's diplomats after 'Abdali terror cell' ruling
****
![[Image: g170722b.jpg]](http://Media.GenerationalDynamics.com/ww2010/g170722b.jpg)
Iran's president Hassan Rouhani and Kuwait’s Emir Shaikh Jaber Al Ahmad Al Sabah at a meeting in February of this year
Kuwait on Thursday expelled 15 Iranian diplomats and ordered the
closure of several Iranian embassy missions. It's unclear whether
Iran's ambassador, Alireza Enayati, was included in the expulsions.
The expulsions will further complicate the growing Arab crisis,
where Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain and
Egypt are enforcing a land, sea and air blockade of Qatar,
because of Qatar's alleged close relations with Iran. Kuwait
has been trying to mediate among the parties and resolve the
crisis, but that will presumably be more difficult now that Kuwait
has expelled Iran's diplomats.
The expulsion stems from the discovery in August, 2015, of a large
cache of weapons in a farm house in the village of al-Abdali, and the
arrest of the three owners of the house. The three men were accused
of being members Iran's puppet terror regime Hezbollah, and of being
part of what has been nicknamed the "Abdali terror cell."
The cache of weapons was quite large, and included a total of 19,000
kg of ammunition, 144 kg of explosives, 68 weapons, and 204 grenades.
The farm house is near the border with Iraq, and Kuwait said that
Hezbollah and Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) smuggled
the weapons across the border from Iraq to be used in terror attacks
against the Sunni Muslim government of Kuwait.
About 20 members of the Abdali terror cell were convicted on January
12, 2016, of working for Hezbollah and the IRGC, and of smuggling
explosives from Iran. However, the an appeals court reversed the
conviction later in the year.
Finally, last month, on June 18, Kuwait's supreme court, whose rulings
are final, reversed the appeals court decision. The cell mastermind
was sentenced to life in prison, while 20 other members of the cell,
all Shia Muslims, were sentenced to between 5 and 15 years in prison.
Kuwait's information minister said on Friday,
> [indent]<QUOTE>"Following the supreme court ruling on the case
> ... the government of Kuwait has decided to take measures, in
> accordance with diplomatic norms and the Vienna Convention,
> towards its relations with the Islamic Republic of
> Iran."<END QUOTE>[/indent]
Iran's foreign ministry reacted angrily, saying that the accusations
that it was behind a terrorist cell were baseless, and threatened
revenge:
> [indent]<QUOTE>"Iran’s strong objection has been communicated to
> Kuwait’s chargé d’affaires. It was reiterated that Iran reserves
> the right to a reciprocal measure. ...
>
> It is regrettable that the Kuwaiti officials, are acting based on
> provocations raised by adventurist regional sides and are leveling
> accusations against Iran in the current sensitive conditions,
> instead of doing their best to reduce tensions."<END QUOTE>[/indent]
However, not all of the convicts are in custody. A Kuwaiti newspaper
on Monday reported that in the hours just after the Kuwait's Supreme
Court handed down its decision, 14 of the convicts fled to Iran. They
used small speedboats to leave Qatar and reach international waters,
where an Iranian vessel was waiting to pick them up. Al Jazeera (14-Aug-2015) and AFP and Ahlul Bayt (Iran) and Gulf News
Related Articles
****
**** Iran says that it's open to 'dialog' with Saudi Arabia over Qatar crisis
****
Kamal Kharrazi, the head of Iran's Strategic Council on Foreign
Relations said on Friday that Iran was open to “dialogue” with Saudi
Arabia despite escalating tensions. Kharrazi said:
> [indent]<QUOTE>"We know they (the Saudis) have made many mistakes in
> Yemen, Bahrain, Iraq and Syria, but we are still for
> dialogue."<END QUOTE>[/indent]
A laughable statement like that shows why a resolution to
the Qatar blockade crisis is still very far away.
On June 5, four Arab countries -- Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates
(UAE), Bahrain and Egypt -- imposed a land, sea and air blockade on
Qatar. The reasons given were Qatar's support for Iran, Qatar's
support for the Muslim Brotherhood, which the four countries consider
to be a terrorist group, and Qatar's aggressive use of al-Jazeera to
broadcast incitement to overthrow their governments.
The four countries listed 13 specific demands
that would be necessary to resolve the crisis. The demands
included: sever most ties with Iran; sever all ties to the Muslim
Brotherhood; shut down al-Jazeera; terminate Turkey's military
presence in Qatar; pay reparations and compensation for loss of life
and other, financial losses caused by Qatar’s policies in recent
years. France 24
****
**** Saudi-led coalition replaces its 13 demands with 6 principles
****
In a televised address on Friday, Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad
Al Thani referred the four Arab countries enforcing the blockade as
"perpetrators":
> [indent]<QUOTE>"The perpetrators have undermined our sovereignty and
> independence by fabricating false statements to mislead
> international public opinion. ...
>
> We are open to dialogue to resolve the outstanding problems [so
> long as Qatar's] sovereignty is respected."<END QUOTE>[/indent]
Saudi Arabia has always said that its 13 demands were non-negotiable,
but last week the Saudi-led coalition did appear to be softening its
demands for resolving the crisis, when it announced that it was
replacing the 13 specific demands with six broad principles.
According to a Saudi analyst, "I don't see this as a softening of the
quartet's position on Qatar per se, as much as a measure taken to
restart the negotiation process. ... These six principles are best
viewed as an effort to set the foundation for meaningful negotiation
process."
The six principles are:
> [indent]<QUOTE>"1. Commitment to combat extremism and terrorism in
> all its forms and to prevent their financing or the provision of
> safe havens.
>
> 2. Prohibiting all acts of incitement and all forms of expression
> which spread, incite, promote or justify hatred and violence.
>
> 3. Full commitment to Riyadh Agreement 2013 and the supplementary
> agreement and its executive mechanism for 2014 within the
> framework of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) for Arab States.
>
> 4. Commitment to all the outcomes of the Arab-Islamic-US Summit
> held in Riyadh in May 2017.
>
> 5. To refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of States
> and from supporting illegal entities.
>
> 6. The responsibility of all States of international community to
> confront all forms of extremism and terrorism as a threat to
> international peace and security."<END QUOTE>[/indent]
These extremely vague do provide a possible basis for compromise, but
it's hard to see how anything will change in the long run. Qatar is
going to continue to broadcast al-Jazeera, which is going to continue
to air speakers from the Muslim Brotherhood, which Qatar supports, but
which the four boycotting nations consider to be terrorists --
terrorists who are on al-Jazeera advocating the overthrow of their
governments. This is a core difference between Qatar and the four
nations, and it won't be resolved. And if it's papered over, it will
become an issue again soon. Al Jazeera (Qatar) and The National (UAE) and BBC
Related Articles
KEYS: Generational Dynamics, Kuwait, Iran, Qatar, Muslim Brotherhood,
Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, UAE, Bahrain, Egypt,
Iraq, al-Abdali, Abdali terror cell, Alireza Enayati,
Lebanon, Hezbollah, Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, IRGC,
Kamal Kharrazi, Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani
Permanent web link to this article
Receive daily World View columns by e-mail
Contribute to Generational Dynamics via PayPal
John J. Xenakis
100 Memorial Drive Apt 8-13A
Cambridge, MA 02142
Phone: 617-864-0010
E-mail: john@GenerationalDynamics.com
Web site: http://www.GenerationalDynamics.com
Forum: http://www.gdxforum.com/forum
Subscribe to World View: http://generationaldynamics.com/subscribe
This morning's key headlines from GenerationalDynamics.com
- Kuwait expels Iran's diplomats after 'Abdali terror cell' ruling
- Iran says that it's open to 'dialog' with Saudi Arabia over Qatar crisis
- Saudi-led coalition replaces its 13 demands with 6 principles
****
**** Kuwait expels Iran's diplomats after 'Abdali terror cell' ruling
****
Iran's president Hassan Rouhani and Kuwait’s Emir Shaikh Jaber Al Ahmad Al Sabah at a meeting in February of this year
Kuwait on Thursday expelled 15 Iranian diplomats and ordered the
closure of several Iranian embassy missions. It's unclear whether
Iran's ambassador, Alireza Enayati, was included in the expulsions.
The expulsions will further complicate the growing Arab crisis,
where Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain and
Egypt are enforcing a land, sea and air blockade of Qatar,
because of Qatar's alleged close relations with Iran. Kuwait
has been trying to mediate among the parties and resolve the
crisis, but that will presumably be more difficult now that Kuwait
has expelled Iran's diplomats.
The expulsion stems from the discovery in August, 2015, of a large
cache of weapons in a farm house in the village of al-Abdali, and the
arrest of the three owners of the house. The three men were accused
of being members Iran's puppet terror regime Hezbollah, and of being
part of what has been nicknamed the "Abdali terror cell."
The cache of weapons was quite large, and included a total of 19,000
kg of ammunition, 144 kg of explosives, 68 weapons, and 204 grenades.
The farm house is near the border with Iraq, and Kuwait said that
Hezbollah and Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) smuggled
the weapons across the border from Iraq to be used in terror attacks
against the Sunni Muslim government of Kuwait.
About 20 members of the Abdali terror cell were convicted on January
12, 2016, of working for Hezbollah and the IRGC, and of smuggling
explosives from Iran. However, the an appeals court reversed the
conviction later in the year.
Finally, last month, on June 18, Kuwait's supreme court, whose rulings
are final, reversed the appeals court decision. The cell mastermind
was sentenced to life in prison, while 20 other members of the cell,
all Shia Muslims, were sentenced to between 5 and 15 years in prison.
Kuwait's information minister said on Friday,
> [indent]<QUOTE>"Following the supreme court ruling on the case
> ... the government of Kuwait has decided to take measures, in
> accordance with diplomatic norms and the Vienna Convention,
> towards its relations with the Islamic Republic of
> Iran."<END QUOTE>[/indent]
Iran's foreign ministry reacted angrily, saying that the accusations
that it was behind a terrorist cell were baseless, and threatened
revenge:
> [indent]<QUOTE>"Iran’s strong objection has been communicated to
> Kuwait’s chargé d’affaires. It was reiterated that Iran reserves
> the right to a reciprocal measure. ...
>
> It is regrettable that the Kuwaiti officials, are acting based on
> provocations raised by adventurist regional sides and are leveling
> accusations against Iran in the current sensitive conditions,
> instead of doing their best to reduce tensions."<END QUOTE>[/indent]
However, not all of the convicts are in custody. A Kuwaiti newspaper
on Monday reported that in the hours just after the Kuwait's Supreme
Court handed down its decision, 14 of the convicts fled to Iran. They
used small speedboats to leave Qatar and reach international waters,
where an Iranian vessel was waiting to pick them up. Al Jazeera (14-Aug-2015) and AFP and Ahlul Bayt (Iran) and Gulf News
Related Articles
- Iran says Tehran terror attack was by Iranian nationals in ISIS (08-Jun-2017)
- Saudi Arabia makes a dangerous accusation - that Iranians are 'not Muslims' (09-Sep-2016)
- Pakistan tries to mediate between Saudi Arabia and Iran (18-Jan-2016)
- Increasingly hostile Iran-Saudi relations affect this year's Hajj (27-May-2016)
****
**** Iran says that it's open to 'dialog' with Saudi Arabia over Qatar crisis
****
Kamal Kharrazi, the head of Iran's Strategic Council on Foreign
Relations said on Friday that Iran was open to “dialogue” with Saudi
Arabia despite escalating tensions. Kharrazi said:
> [indent]<QUOTE>"We know they (the Saudis) have made many mistakes in
> Yemen, Bahrain, Iraq and Syria, but we are still for
> dialogue."<END QUOTE>[/indent]
A laughable statement like that shows why a resolution to
the Qatar blockade crisis is still very far away.
On June 5, four Arab countries -- Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates
(UAE), Bahrain and Egypt -- imposed a land, sea and air blockade on
Qatar. The reasons given were Qatar's support for Iran, Qatar's
support for the Muslim Brotherhood, which the four countries consider
to be a terrorist group, and Qatar's aggressive use of al-Jazeera to
broadcast incitement to overthrow their governments.
The four countries listed 13 specific demands
that would be necessary to resolve the crisis. The demands
included: sever most ties with Iran; sever all ties to the Muslim
Brotherhood; shut down al-Jazeera; terminate Turkey's military
presence in Qatar; pay reparations and compensation for loss of life
and other, financial losses caused by Qatar’s policies in recent
years. France 24
****
**** Saudi-led coalition replaces its 13 demands with 6 principles
****
In a televised address on Friday, Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad
Al Thani referred the four Arab countries enforcing the blockade as
"perpetrators":
> [indent]<QUOTE>"The perpetrators have undermined our sovereignty and
> independence by fabricating false statements to mislead
> international public opinion. ...
>
> We are open to dialogue to resolve the outstanding problems [so
> long as Qatar's] sovereignty is respected."<END QUOTE>[/indent]
Saudi Arabia has always said that its 13 demands were non-negotiable,
but last week the Saudi-led coalition did appear to be softening its
demands for resolving the crisis, when it announced that it was
replacing the 13 specific demands with six broad principles.
According to a Saudi analyst, "I don't see this as a softening of the
quartet's position on Qatar per se, as much as a measure taken to
restart the negotiation process. ... These six principles are best
viewed as an effort to set the foundation for meaningful negotiation
process."
The six principles are:
> [indent]<QUOTE>"1. Commitment to combat extremism and terrorism in
> all its forms and to prevent their financing or the provision of
> safe havens.
>
> 2. Prohibiting all acts of incitement and all forms of expression
> which spread, incite, promote or justify hatred and violence.
>
> 3. Full commitment to Riyadh Agreement 2013 and the supplementary
> agreement and its executive mechanism for 2014 within the
> framework of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) for Arab States.
>
> 4. Commitment to all the outcomes of the Arab-Islamic-US Summit
> held in Riyadh in May 2017.
>
> 5. To refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of States
> and from supporting illegal entities.
>
> 6. The responsibility of all States of international community to
> confront all forms of extremism and terrorism as a threat to
> international peace and security."<END QUOTE>[/indent]
These extremely vague do provide a possible basis for compromise, but
it's hard to see how anything will change in the long run. Qatar is
going to continue to broadcast al-Jazeera, which is going to continue
to air speakers from the Muslim Brotherhood, which Qatar supports, but
which the four boycotting nations consider to be terrorists --
terrorists who are on al-Jazeera advocating the overthrow of their
governments. This is a core difference between Qatar and the four
nations, and it won't be resolved. And if it's papered over, it will
become an issue again soon. Al Jazeera (Qatar) and The National (UAE) and BBC
Related Articles
- Al-Jazeera may be at the center of the Gulf crisis with Qatar (25-Jun-2017)
- Qatar-Arab crisis is unlikely to be resolved soon (13-Jun-2017)
- Saudi Arabia and other Arab nations cut ties with Qatar in new Mideast crisis (06-Jun-2017)
KEYS: Generational Dynamics, Kuwait, Iran, Qatar, Muslim Brotherhood,
Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, UAE, Bahrain, Egypt,
Iraq, al-Abdali, Abdali terror cell, Alireza Enayati,
Lebanon, Hezbollah, Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, IRGC,
Kamal Kharrazi, Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani
Permanent web link to this article
Receive daily World View columns by e-mail
Contribute to Generational Dynamics via PayPal
John J. Xenakis
100 Memorial Drive Apt 8-13A
Cambridge, MA 02142
Phone: 617-864-0010
E-mail: john@GenerationalDynamics.com
Web site: http://www.GenerationalDynamics.com
Forum: http://www.gdxforum.com/forum
Subscribe to World View: http://generationaldynamics.com/subscribe
