Global Events & Politics Überthread

Now the Saudis have literally kidnapped the Lebanese Prime Minister and purportedly have asked the Israelis to attack Lebanon.
 
Watching all of the conflicting public statements from various parties about Hariri's confinement for the last couple of days has been genuinely bonkers.
 
Julio3000 said:
Watching all of the conflicting public statements from various parties about Hariri's confinement for the last couple of days has been genuinely bonkers.
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I have wondered to what degree Hariri and his coalition are complicit. Not that it matters in the grand scheme of things, but he is a dual-Saudi/Lebanese national and owns a home in Riyadh. What’s being signaled by the Europeans is that he was forced into resigning, but that could just be a temporary cover to prevent things from spiraling out of control on the ground in Lebanon. Macron’s meeting with MBS is also a curiosity - I can see the French going along with a play to dismember Hezbollah in Syria, but not a greater entanglement with Iran, which is where all the smart money seems to pile up (to the minute, with the US recently confirming that the Yemeni rebel attack on Riyadh was perpetrated with a missile from Iran).
 
Hawk said:
I have wondered to what degree Hariri and his coalition are complicit. Not that it matters in the grand scheme of things, but he is a dual-Saudi/Lebanese national and owns a home in Riyadh. What’s being signaled by the Europeans is that he was forced into resigning, but that could just be a temporary cover to prevent things from spiraling out of control on the ground in Lebanon. Macron’s meeting with MBS is also a curiosity - I can see the French going along with a play to dismember Hezbollah in Syria, but not a greater entanglement with Iran, which is where all the smart money seems to pile up (to the minute, with the US recently confirming that the Yemeni rebel attack on Riyadh was perpetrated with a missile from Iran).
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Trying to unwind Lebanese politics is beyond my ken, so nothing would really surprise me.
 
BedellBrave said:
Keep an eye on Saudi Arabia. This could be very "interesting." Link
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They've seen Iran have massive gains in the last decade and are getting nervous.

This will hopefully end up being a positive development in the middle east because its not just Saudi Arabia but its also the countries they support which can modernize.
 
thethe said:
They've seen Iran have massive gains in the last decade and are getting nervous.

This will hopefully end up being a positive development in the middle east because its not just Saudi Arabia but its also the countries they support which can modernize.
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The Saudis have long been the major player in the spread of the more virulent expression of Sunni Islam and the building of mosques around the globe. This could be a bi freakin deal. If the unreported massive growth of the church in Iran and this move of MBS take substantial root, then, well...
 
BedellBrave said:
The Saudis have long been the major player in the spread of the more virulent expression of Sunni Islam and the building of mosques around the globe. This could be a bi freakin deal. If the unreported massive growth of the church in Iran and this move of MBS take substantial root, then, well...
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I wonder what what the impetus for this move by the crown prince. Is this an example of diplomatic success from the US?
 
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