Target-rich environment

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Who exactly is it who doesn’t have anything to lose? Even if the Gulf States have far more and far better planes and even far better pilots, one single hit by an European bomber or missile can do a lot of damage. Also, starving the West of oil could mean a rise of the BRICS-countries, from the frying pan into the fire. Note that bombing raids in retaliation against European cities would mainly hurt Muslim immigrants and their liberal elite protectors, that is, the much-hated doctrine of collateral damage.

Cf. catapults during the siege of Ta’if.

http://en.islamtoday.net/node/1651

catapult

The targets intended by the catapults were clearly not civilians, women, or children, though there was a remote possibility under those circumstances that some civilians could have been injured unintentionally. This, however, is quite different than intentionally attacking civilian targets, women, and children. Any direct attack against such people is categorically unlawful and had been expressly prohibited by the Prophet (peace be upon him).

Many internet tough guys call for the nuking of Mekka, while ignoring lesser targets like Tetouan, El Hoceima, and Smir, overlooking that conventional weapons are useful enough, and don’t leave radiation damage and such. They lose all sense of proportionality, while the wimpy maggots freak out at a simple knife and couldn’t even get a handgun if their eternal salvation depended upon it. The internet tough guys are more likely to be nuked, or struck by drone-launched missiles themselves.

That said, I don’t believe in a bilateral Clash of Civilizations. The next conflict will be multipolar.

Gulf States v Qatar: Isaias In the Middle

http://awate.com/gulf-states-v-qatar-isaias-in-the-middle/

General Sisi’s overthrow of Mohammed Mursi’s government in Egypt has re-aligned Arab politics with many Gulf States in support of Sisi, while Qatar is fiercely opposed.  Consequently, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirate (UAE) and Bahrain have withdrawn their ambassadors from Doha, Qatar.  In the middle, manipulating or being manipulated, is Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki.

The three Gulf States have poured millions of dollars to stabilize the new regime in Egypt, while Qatar has maintained its tough stance.

Attempts by other members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), to resolve the differences between the Qatar, on one hand, and Saudi Arabia, UAE and Bahrain on the other, have failed.  Kuwait and Oman have not joined the other GCC countries in withdrawing their ambassadors.

Qatar has indicated it will not reciprocate by pulling its ambassadors from any of the three countries. But observers believe if this crisis is not resolved, Saudi Arabia might take other stringent measures such as banning Qatar from using its airspace.

For a few weeks, the Saudi Foreign Minister has been shuttling between the Gulf States to find a common position against Qatar, which Saudi Arabia accuses of violating the non-interference clause of the GCC. He was not successful.

At the same time, Qatar claims its position regarding Egypt and Syria is not a GCC issue but an external matter.

Among the accusations leveled against Qatar by the three Gulf countries is that Qatar has become an emboldening center for Islamists whom Qatar supports by providing media airtime, and logistical support.

Qatar is also accused of supporting the Huothi rebellion in North Yemen, an area bordering Saudi Arabia, a charge which has also been leveled against the regime of Eritrean president Isaias Afwerki.

The visit of Isaias Afwerki to Qatar on Saturday comes amid unprecedented diplomatic chaos among the Gulf Countries.

Isaias has asked Qatar for financial support because Eritrea is going through serious shortage of hard currency.  Meanwhile, Eritrea is also being courted by Egypt as an ally in a possible Nile showdown between Egypt and Ethiopia.