The current battle between Israel and Hamas in Gaza resembles nothing so much as the violent thrashing-about of a mortally wounded shark leaving a trail of blood in its wake. Nothing remains static for any length of time, especially in the Middle … [Read more...] about Hamas, the dying shark*
Syria
Weekly Briefing – July 7-12, 2014
From ACD WMD and the Islamist Threat - Cory Davenport - The ability for terrorists in the Middle East to get their hands on WMDs has never been greater. It might be easy to look at Libya, which in 2003 agreed to the ending and dismantling of its WMD … [Read more...] about Weekly Briefing – July 7-12, 2014
Death Throes and Other Middle Eastern Phenomena
With Hamas in its death throes firing off rockets in all directions, it is hard to concentrate on anything else. Nevertheless, contrary to what the U.S. government might think, events in this part of the world do not, in fact, revolve around Gaza, … [Read more...] about Death Throes and Other Middle Eastern Phenomena
Israel: Remaking the Mideast Again?*
Events are drawing Israel into a major war with neighboring Arab terrorist organizations to result in another total reordering of Mideast relationships. Comparison of the current scene with the eve of the Six Day War in 1967 is almost unavoidable. … [Read more...] about Israel: Remaking the Mideast Again?*
Weekly Briefing – June 29-July 5, 2014
From ACD: The Islamist Plague - Rachel Ehrenfeld - Many Western commentators have adopted the narrative that al Qaeda and its ilk are the exception to the “religion of peace” — Islam. Even Hamas, the barbaric Muslim Brotherhood’s Palestinian branch, … [Read more...] about Weekly Briefing – June 29-July 5, 2014
Iraq’s Theater of the Absurd*
After wasting so many lives and so much treasure, the US may now have to cosy up to Iran to save Iraq. Everyone in the ongoing Iraq tragedy has boxed himself in. The Iraqi government of al-Maliki invited disaster by refusing to sign a status of … [Read more...] about Iraq’s Theater of the Absurd*
Weekly Briefing – May 31-June 7, 2014
From ACD Cyberspace Time Security - Rachel Ehrenfeld - Speaking at the Shangri-LaDialogue security summit, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel again warned the Chinese to stop their cyber spying activities, suggesting they should renew the dialog to … [Read more...] about Weekly Briefing – May 31-June 7, 2014
Death of a Terrorist: Hezbollah Operative Recently Killed in Syria*
Left: Fawzi Ayoub in Hezbollah uniform (Alhadathnews.net, May 26, 2014) Overview 1. On May 26, 2014, Hezbollah announced the death of Hajj Fawzi Mustafa Muhammad Ayoub (Hajj Abu Abbas). He was a senior field operative with a long history of … [Read more...] about Death of a Terrorist: Hezbollah Operative Recently Killed in Syria*
New Calls for Jihad Against Russia
Left: Salah al-Din the Chechen, Army of Immigrants and Supporters commander. Right: Abd Karim Krymsky, a Crimean Tatar, deputy commander of the Army of Immigrants (YouTube, May 13, 2014) The Crimean Tatars opposition of Russia is nothing new. In … [Read more...] about New Calls for Jihad Against Russia
Syria: The Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham and the “Cleansing” of Deir ez-Zour
This piece is the first in a brief series of publications that examine activity by the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham in Syria and Iraq. ISIS is active on both sides of the border, executing complex attacks in Deir ez-Zour and organizing local … [Read more...] about Syria: The Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham and the “Cleansing” of Deir ez-Zour