in International Situations, Religion 602 Words

New Middle East Time Bomb

Well that is almost an oxymoron but in this case it is accurate…..in case you are confused at what I am referring to…..the Saudis beheaded a Shia cleric for criticizing the royal family……(a quick synopsis)……

The fallout in the Muslim world over Saudi Arabia’s execution of a Shiite cleric is only getting worse. After Iranian protesters broke into the Saudi embassy in Tehran to protest, Saudi Arabia severed diplomatic ties with Iran, and now Bahrain has done the same, reports the BBC. The United Arab Emirates, meanwhile, is at least downgrading ties with Tehran, reports the AP. Some coverage:

At the core of the matter is the split between Sunni and Shia Islam, and the New York Timeshas a primer.

Why was this executed cleric so important? The Guardian has a profile of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr and his long role as a “thorn” in the side of the Saudi regime.

One word for the effect on already jittery oil prices Monday? “Volatile,” reports CNNMoney.The US is worried the rising tensions will hurt the fight against the Islamic State in Syria, reports the Washington Post.

Can the White House use its influence to head off the conflict? Given the matter’s deep roots, don’t count on it, officials tell the Wall Street Journal.

Russia, of all nations, has offered to play mediator, reports the International Business Times.

So countries around Saudi Arabia have given them some support in the world…..since Saudi and Bahrain and UAE have issued support…….. one other Middle East country has joined the growing list….Kuwait…….

Kuwait announced on Tuesday it has recalled its ambassador to Iran over attacks on Saudi diplomatic missions, making it the latest Arab ally of Saudi Arabia to line up behind the kingdom amid rising regional tensions following its execution of a leading Shiite cleric and opposition figure. Sudan and the tiny island kingdom of Bahrain said Monday they would sever ties with Iran, as Saudi Arabia did late Sunday. The United Arab Emirates announced it would downgrade ties to Tehran to the level of the charge d’affaires, while other nations issued statements criticizing Iran.

Iran’s president, meanwhile, says Saudi Arabia “cannot cover its crime” in executing a the cleric by severing ties with Tehran. President Hassan Rouhani made the comments in a statement posted to his website Tuesday, referring to the kingdom’s execution of leading opposition figure Sheikh Nimr-al Nimr. Rouhani says that the “Saudi government has taken a strange action and cut off its diplomatic relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran to cover its crimes.” He adds that, “undoubtedly, such actions can’t cover up that big crime.” World powers have sought to calm the tensions, with the White House urging Saudi Arabia and Iran to not let their dispute derail efforts to end the Syrian civil war.

But why would I foresee a problem with these actions?

Bahrain and Kuwait are a majority Shia with Sunni rulers…..especially Bahrain who has already had problems in and around the Arab Spring….this could lead to further protests and possible violence along sectarian lines…..the relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia have been on a see-saw for the last 20 years…..

Source: Factbox – Troubled history of Iran-Saudi relations | Reuters

Keep in mind that NOT all Muslims follow the Islam of the Saudis…..the Saudis are the protectors of Holy Shrines….not the leader of the religion….

The pot is simmering and will only take a quick match to bring it to a boil…..and then the US is up to its ass in more trouble on the geopolitical stage.

 

54 thoughts on “New Middle East Time Bomb”

  2. Yes, indeed a peaceful religion, right? At war with it’s self, it’s neighboring tribes, and called to force the world into submission.
    Sunni and Shia all follow the Quran though.all behead, all are violent.

    Reply

    1. Sad that you know so little other than the propaganda that haters want to sell….talk to me after you have met a true Muslim….tah

      Reply

      1. My daughter is married to one….he has dreadlocks…..Cool he is….Algerian Muslim..
        He has a lot of sisters…they taught him well…
        Shame about most men…;(

      5. Nobody can tell what a “True” Muslim is — Even the Muslims are having trouble deciding what a “True” Muslim is — In order to know what a “True” Muslim is one only needs to learn a little bit about their founding “Father” so to speak and that should speak volumes to anybody but those who live in a state of denial.

      6. Same can be said about Christians….there are true Muslims and then there are the possers…..they use religion to achieve their demented little plans….the same with Christians..

      7. Exactly the same as Christians. Give a Christian an opportunity and an excuse and they would be just as blood thirsty as any Muslim ever hoped to be. All religion seems to based on some kind of shedding of blood.

      9. You still equate Muslims (the people ) with Islam (the worldview).
        BTW. A very close friend is ex-Muslim. He now is offended if people reference him as Muslim.
        People are equal. Worldviews are hiearchical.

      10. People are all equal….I have several friends that are ex-Christians and I do not think they are good reps…..

    2. Hahahaa…..
      My now dead neighbour…old she was…always said..’they ruled by the sword’ she was a Scot !
      Still, we did once upon a time….give them time…a long time…a long time….
      Meanwhile,in deepest darkest Cologne…
      Protests over Cologne sex attacks against women
      http://bbc.in/1Rgx8QP
      When will men learn?
      I’m off to the Ok Corral/Oregan
      grin

      Reply

      1. This from your link Pennie.

        “Witnesses and police said that the men involved were of Arab or North African appearance.”

        “Political leaders have warned Germans not to link the violence to the influx of more than one million refugees and migrants in the past year.”

      2. I know….thanx pc is not my style neither is appeasement…

    3. Hey,Christ Centered Teaching….
      “I seek strength, not to be greater than my brother,
      but to fight my greatest enemy – myself.”
      This is beautiful….
      Bortnyansky – Sacred Concertos https://youtu.be/5XPYkSzxYhY via @YouTube

      Reply

      1. ‘I live by the sword’
        except it is in me mouf’
        grin

      3. I am well aware…I have travelled…I have seen it….a religion born out of a desert…archaic in the modern world…I’ll stick with nature worship….from a tree hugger…grin

      5. I have been torn many times…..
        I rise again and again and again….to speak my truth……ouch! 😉

      6. The Old Testament is no better…..I seem to recall that the answer for the Israelites was to kill them all….

      7. You need to do a comprehensive study Lobo.
        Allah promises 70 virgins and a get out of he’ll free pass if you die fighting for Allah and Islam.
        Your good deeds must outweigh your bad deeds in Islam.
        The God of Christians became a man and died for us, making a way for us and letting us choose or reject it.
        Very very different.

      9. BTW I do not recall anything in the Quran about 70 virgins….so maybe we have different knowledge…..

      10. Among non-Muslims, the concept of the houri received wide publicity as “virgins” (most usually 72 in number for each shahid) promised as a reward to Muslim martyrs, after their death. However, contrary to such reports, the Quran states that all believers (not just martyrs, and nowhere either is it said it’s just men) who go to Heaven shall be granted the company of more than one houri—explicitly mentioned in the plural, and the number 72 comes from a hadith with a weak chain of narrators (i.e. less than totally reliable), and not the Quran.
        (Retrieved from Wikipedia )
        That’s right. But something tells me the translation isn’t going away.

      11. Of course it will not go away….it fits nicely into hate speak…..too many try to equate a hadith with the Quran….

      13. I mans basically preach after prayers…not so different from Christianity…..all religion can appeal to the dark side of humanity….the point is finger pointing serves No one….

      14. Hmmm. Lobo. I have to say. I admire your heart for others, to think we’ll despite what is real, ugly, and less than perfect.
        I just don’t think that takes essential truths into consideration.
        For instance: Turkey’s PM ” there is no moderate Islam, Islam is Islam. Democracy is the train we will ride to our objective.” He said this knowing that Islam is a theocracy. Does that make sense to you?

      15. Britain has produced many fierce, noble warriors down the ages who have fought to keep Britain free, but There was one formidable lady in history whose name will never be forgotten – Queen Boudica or Boadicea…
        We need more of these women,in the east as well..

      19. Deborah and Jael……..could do with more ‘real’ women…..which is why I signed the petition to ban the burka in this country……religious patriarchy stinks…. a suffragette to the core…grin

  3. Very seldom do waring countries do so simply because they don’t like what the other has done. It’s always been about internal power struggles – no more so than both Iran and Saudi.

    Reply

      6. Yes….my problem is that I worked in the ME and my interpreter and best friend was a Palestinian…..so my outlook is a bit jaded on that front….chuq

  5. Chuq, we have moved on……I’ve heard this stuff before….tell the zionist….ass holes who still live in the old testament…we need to move on….now.

    Reply

      2. And, in the mean time I will stick with Christ knows wot!

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