Home  »  Blogs Cross posted   »   The Saudi-Salafist cause: King of Bahrain needs more Pakistani Deobandi mercenaries in his army – by Robert Fisk

The Saudi-Salafist cause: King of Bahrain needs more Pakistani Deobandi mercenaries in his army – by Robert Fisk

posted by Shahram Ali | April 29, 2014 | In Blogs Cross posted

 

Tens of thousands of Bahraini protesters occupy four-lane highway. Photo: LA Times

Tens of thousands of Bahraini protesters occupy four-lane highway. Photo: LA Times

Saudi Arabia is giving $3bn – yes, £2bn, and now let’s have done with exchange rates – to the Pakistani government of Nawaz Sharif. But what is it for? Pakistani journalists have been told not to ask this question. Then, when they persisted, they were told that Saudi generosity towards their fellow Sunni Muslim brothers emerged from the “personal links” between the Prime Minister and the monarchy in Riyadh. Saudi notables have been arriving in Islamabad. Sharif and his army chief of staff have traveled to the Kingdom. Then Islamabad started talking about a “transitional government” for Syria – even though Pakistan had hitherto supported President Bashar al-Assad – because, as journalist Najam Sethi wrote from Lahore, “we know only too well that in matters of diplomatic relations there is no such thing as a gift, still less one of this size”.

Now the word in Pakistan is that its government has agreed to supply Saudi Arabia with an arsenal of anti-aircraft and anti-tank missiles, which will be passed on – despite the usual end-user certificates claiming these weapons will be used only on Saudi soil – to the Salafist /Doebandi rebels in Syria fighting to overthrow the secular, Ba’athist (and yes, ruthless) regime of Bashar al-Assad. The Americans, in other words, will no longer use their rat-run of weapons from Libya to the Syrian insurgents because they no longer see it as in their interest to change the Assad government. Iraq, with its Shia majority, and Qatar – which now loathes and fears Saudi Arabia more than it detests Assad – can no longer be counted on to hold the Shias at bay. So even Bahrain must be enlisted in the Saudi-Salafist cause; his Royal Highness the King of Bahrain needs more Pakistani Doebandi mercenaries in his army; so Bahrain, too – according to Najam Sethi – is preparing to invest in Pakistan.

But this is merely a reflection of a far larger movie, a Cinemascope picture with a cast of billions – I’m talking about dollars – which is now consuming the Middle East. It’s a story that doesn’t find favour with the mountebank “experts” on the cable channels nor with their White House/Pentagon scriptwriters, nor indeed with our own beloved Home Secretary who still believes that British Muslims will be “radicalised” if they fight in Syria. Sorry, m’deario, but they were already radicalised. THAT’S WHY THEY WENT TO SYRIA.

But the Taliban is no more going to take over Afghanistan than al-Qa’ida is going to rule Syria or Iraq, nor the Muslim Brotherhood Egypt. “Islamism” is not about to turn our beloved Arab and Muslim Middle Eastern world into a caliphate. That’s for The New York Times to believe.

Let’s just take a look across the region. Corruption in Afghanistan is not just legendary. This is a place where governance, law, electoral rules, tribal ritual and military affairs function only with massive bribes. It rivals North Korea in financial dishonesty (according to Transparency International). Remember the Kabul banking scandal that milked $980m (£584m) from the people (from which only $180m – £107m – was ever recovered)?

The Americans funded the Afghan warlords and then the NGOs spread their cash around the country and now, with the US withdrawal imminent – along with that of America’s NATO mercenaries – the Afghan gang bosses are not especially worried about the Taliban. Nor are they particularly concerned about women’s rights. But they are fearful that the dollars will stop flowing. A militia leader with three villas, 10 4x4s and 200 bodyguards has to find money to pay them when the Americans go home. So they will have to turn to drugs, money laundering and weapons smuggling on a massive scale. Pakistan, of course, is there to help.

In Iraq, mafiosi already run the Shia port of Basra and almost the entire oil output of the south of the country. “Institutionalised kleptocracy” was a minister’s definition of al-Maliki’s government; just take a look at my colleague Patrick Cockburn’s excoriating account of Iraqi corruption last year. In Syria, the rebels’ fiefdom is run by money mobs. That’s why every hostage has a price, every “Free Syrian Army” retreat – and the word “retreat” must also be placed in quotation marks – must be paid for, by the Syrian government or by the Russians or, most frequently, by the Iranians. The Syrian “civil war” is funded by Qatar and Saudi Arabia, by Libya and by Moscow and Tehran and, when it suits them, by the Americans. We’re so caught up in battlefield losses and war crimes and sarin and barrel bombs that we lose sight of the fact that the Syrian bloodbath – much like the Lebanese bloodbath of 1976-1990 – is underwritten by vast amounts of cash from foreign donors.

Just look at Egypt. The story we are supposed to swallow is that a benevolent if slightly despotic army has saved the country from an Islamist takeover. Just how President Mohamed Morsi – whose grasp of practical governance was about as hopeless as that of your average Egyptian general – was going to turn Egypt into a caliphate was anyone’s guess. Of course, our worthless political leaders – Tony Blair in the lead, naturally – are playing the “Islamist” line for the networks. Egypt was on the path to a medieval Muslim dictatorship, only rescued at the last minute by the defence minister-turned presidential candidate General al-Sisi’s belief in a “transitional government to democracy”.

Yes, the “transitional” road to democracy is all the rage these days. But the real counter-revolution in Egypt was not the overthrow of the pathetic Morsi, but what followed: the army’s re-establishment of its massive financial benefits, its shopping malls and real estates and banking, which bring in billions of dollars for the country’s military elite – and whose business dealings are now constitutionally safe from the prying eyes of any democratically-elected Egyptian government, “transitional” or otherwise. And if al-Sisi is elected the next President of Egypt – O Blessed Thought – woe betide anyone who suggests that the army, which is still the recipient of billions from the US, should clean up its multi-million dollar conglomerates.

All this is to say that the Middle East we must confront in the future – and it will be of our making as surely as the mass slaughter of its people have been primarily our responsibility – will not be a set of vicious caliphates, of Iraqistan or Syriastan or Egyptstan. No, there is one international, all-purpose name which we will be able to bestow upon almost all the states of the region, united as they have never been since the demise of the Ottoman Empire.

We will understand its masters all too well. We shall support them. We shall love them. Our Tony will understand them – Catholicism, after all, has its own history of corruption and the Vatican, as we have learned, has its own gangsters. Our enemy is not – Cameron and Hague, please take note – terror, terror, terror. It is money, money, money. Dirty money.

For the name of this brave new world will be Mafiastan.

Source :

http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/the-middle-east-we-must-confront-in-future-will-be-a-mafiastan-ruled-by-money-9272265.html

Comments

comments

About The Author

Shahram

Latest Comments
  2. 三菱電機 エアコン

    watch was a bit too simple in the past, but these days it is impossible

    -
  3. New Wayfarer Fake Ray Bans

    I really like your wordpress template, exactly where do you get a hold of it through?
    New Wayfarer Fake Ray Bans http://www.mcevoyandfarmer-pathology.com/wp-hebav.php?pid=New-Wayfarer-Fake-Ray-Bans

    -
  4. cheap michael kors purple backpacks outlet

    Been using this stuff for about a week and already noticed much greater lifts. Using with GEN HumanoVar and noticed not only increase in mass (1-2kg in a week) but a decrease in body fat especially the abdominal region. Would recommended although it di id upset the stomach for firt 3-5 days but fine after that.
    cheap michael kors purple backpacks outlet http://www.sbshrm.org/golist.php?pid=cheap-michael-kors-purple-backpacks-outlet

    -
  5. Ray Ban Optical Junior

    Pretty correct subdivision. I just came across your web site and wanted to tell that I’ve actually enjoyed reading your opinions. AnyhowI’ll be coming back and I hope you post again soon.
    Ray Ban Optical Junior http://www.mcevoyandfarmer-pathology.com/wp-hebav.php?pid=Ray-Ban-Optical-Junior

    -
  6. Hermes Birkin Outlet

    Very good, thanks for sharingHermes Birkin Bag[url=http://nesbitre.com/hermesbirkin.asp]Cheap Hermes Birkin[/url]Hermes Outlet Online[url=http://www.crests.com/hermesoutlet.asp]Hermes Outlet Online[/url]Hermes Outlet[url=http://www.hermesbirkinhandbagoutlet.com]Hermes Birkin Outlet[/url]Hermes Birkin Bag Outlet[url=http://www.lenfestonline.com]Hermes Birkin Bag Outlet[/url]Ray Ban Store[url=http://www.raybansunglasses.org]Ray Ban Store[/url]Ray Ban Sunglasses Outlet[url=http://www.ascelliance-retraite.com]Cheap Ray Ban Sunglasses[/url]Tiffany Online[url=http://www.jksorenson.com]Cheap Tiffany Jewelry[/url]Borse Hermes Prezzo[url=http://www.comune.lanciano.chieti.it/borsehermesoutlet.asp]Borse Hermes Kelly[/url]
    Hermes Birkin Outlet http://www.crests.com/hermesoutlet.asp

    -
  7. 鍋・調理器具

    Gossip- bag Can Have Major role In Almost Any Administration

    -
  8. プラダ 財布

    Due to ()z by Drive 22nd. Sure previously worked a goody in addition to rescued us a large amount of examining and looking. I really failed to know their very own uploads/downloads can be p2p. I manage peerguardian along with a couple ip’s stored arriving (blocked admittedly). These people were BSky F upon 193. 195. 115. 136 as well as Transmission Press with 193. 114. 117. 134. They may each gone today therefore very happy many thanks. I possess no trouble along with Skies for this challenge truly although a lot of the citizenry really didn’t can locate any deal ore even realize there was a problem. Anyway, information support I have just simply discovered Kservice lurking in the unit after seeking to move Stones By means of High speed from a single equipment to a new. To declare I had formed occasion to help band Stones support help support several times along the way (and never have prevailed in doing the idea yet). They can be great individuals but are fairly uninformed. It’s not that they can no longer cover Kontiki that is mentioned on the webpage where you sign up to often the assistance -it’s that they can need ideas how it works or maybe how hard it really is in order to uninistall this. I had been explained to eliminating Stones By means of BB has been as simple as add/remove applications. It’s, mainly because Kontiki is still operating apart. Typically the support support aren’t becoming fraudulent, IMHO they will just simply can’t say for sure a lot. I actually suppose the probs I have acquired switching SBB from a single DESKTOP to a new one happen to be brought on by typically the Kontiki application nonetheless running on my community. Ever since I see how much difficulty Kontiki is usually to eliminate On the web unsure if I need to shift SBB at all Items only remove that.

    -
  9. プラティパス

    Fed up with all japan reports? Our company is at this website for you!

    -
  10. ☆Tシャツ / カットソー☆

    The thing you should do to find out about watch before you’re left behind.

    -
  11. f u wordpress

    Hey I know this is off topic but I was wondering if
    you knew of any widgets I could add to my blog that
    automatically tweet my newest twitter updates.
    I’ve been looking for a plug-in like this for quite some time and was hoping
    maybe you would have some experience with something like this.
    Please let me know if you run into anything. I truly enjoy reading your blog and I
    look forward to your new updates.

    -
  12. http://www.redren.in/dealer/dealer2015042906.asp

    Good web site! I truly love how it is easy on my eyes and the data are well written.Im wondering how I might be notified when a new post has been made.Ive subscribed to your feed which must do the trick! Have a nice day!
    http://www.redren.in/dealer/dealer2015042906.asp http://www.redren.in/dealer/dealer2015042906.asp
    http://www.redren.in/dealer/dealer2015042906.asp

    -
  15. http://www.syriacomm.com/css/css2015042806.asp

    Can I say what a relief to discover 1 who actually knows what theyre preaching about on-line. You certainly comprehend how to bring a challenge to light making it essential. Far more and much more men and women really need to have to look at this and comprehend why side of your story. I cant believe youre less well-known merely because you undoubtedly develop the gift.
    http://www.syriacomm.com/css/css2015042806.asp http://www.syriacomm.com/css/css2015042806.asp
    http://www.syriacomm.com/css/css2015042806.asp

    -
  18. http://www.prontal.it/Big/Big2015042904.asp

    Nice post. I was checking continuously this blog and Im impressed! Extremely useful info specifically the last part 🙂 I care for such information much. I was seeking this particular info for a long time. Thank you and best of luck.
    http://www.prontal.it/Big/Big2015042904.asp http://www.prontal.it/Big/Big2015042904.asp
    http://www.prontal.it/Big/Big2015042904.asp

    -
  20. http://www.prontal.it/Big/Big2015042905.asp

    Hi there! I just wish to give an enormous thumbs up for the nice info youve appropriate here on this post. I shall be coming once again to your weblog for extra soon.
    http://www.prontal.it/Big/Big2015042905.asp http://www.prontal.it/Big/Big2015042905.asp
    http://www.prontal.it/Big/Big2015042905.asp

    -
  23. http://www.favoredhealth.com/it/

    A great post, thanks for taking the time to share, continued success to your site in the future!
    http://www.favoredhealth.com/it/ http://www.favoredhealth.com/it/
    http://www.favoredhealth.com/it/

    -
  24. http://turkishkitchenberkeley.com/doc/doc2015050403.asp

    The next time I read a blog, I hope that it doesnt disappoint me as much as this one. I mean, I know it was my choice to read, but I actually thought youd have something interesting to say. All I hear is a bunch of whining about something that you could fix if you werent too busy looking for attention.
    http://turkishkitchenberkeley.com/doc/doc2015050403.asp http://turkishkitchenberkeley.com/doc/doc2015050403.asp
    http://turkishkitchenberkeley.com/doc/doc2015050403.asp

    -