The hidden hand stirring up unrest in Iraq at cost of 100 lives, 4,000 injured: Sadr at Tehran’s behest

Iraq’s masses have plenty of cause to protest their lot – galloping unemployment, poor services – but why now? Is one hand or more than one stirring up the trouble? It is becoming evident that not all the casualties are down to clashes with security forces. And so, on Saturday, Oct. 5, four civilians were revealed to have been shot dead in Baghdad by “anonymous snipers.” Who sent those snipers? A hidden hand is apparently at work to whip up the turbulence to a pitch high enough to jeopardize the already fragile government headed by Prime Minister Adel Abdel Mahdi.

This government was finally established as a weak compromise after a long stalemate following Iraq’s general election last year. It has never been stable enough to pursue a clear and consistent policy on any issue, least of all the country’s profound security and economic woes.

The protesters’ grievances are convincing. Unemployment runs at 7.9pc – up to 20pc among young men – while a quarter of the population of 40 million lives in abject poverty with an average income of $2 a day.

Their plight is all the more painful in a country that holds around a quarter of the world’s oil reserves and exports 5 million barrels day (roughly half of the Saudi output). Iraq could be one of the wealthiest countries of the Middle East if only its earnings did not vanish inside a convoluted web of corruption.

The wave of disaffection gives Iran fertile soil for its plan to dominate Baghdad; and it gained an extra fillip from the removal of a major obstacle from its path.
In the second half of September, the prime minister sparked the first demonstrations by the removal of the popular Gen. Abdul Wahhab al-Saadi as commander of the Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service to a post in the defense ministry. This service is the only effective operational branch of Iraq’s armed services. The general was acclaimed as a national hero for leading the operation that routed the Islamic State and drove the jihadists from the roughly 50 percent of the country’s territory they had seized. Al-Saadi is also admired as that rare bird, an honest official. Tehran and its satellite Iraqi Shiite militias found in the popular general a major impediment to their plans to gain control of Baghdad and the national army.
The demonstrations’ concentration in the Shiite district of southern Baghdad and the predominantly Shiite south, whereas the Sunni north has stayed calm, points to the guiding hands. The southern towns of Nasiriya, Hilla, Diwaniya and Armara, the focal points of the outbreaks, are the domains of pro-Iranian Iraqi militias.  Their chiefs, if so ordered by Tehran, could stop the protests and restore calm, but that order is not forthcoming because of Iran’s interest in pushing the disorder to its limit.
DEBKAfile’s sources recall that the Shiite cleric Muqtada Sadr, head of the largest bloc in the Iraqi parliament, paid an unexpected visit to Tehran on Sept. 11. This visit caused much surprise because Sadr was reputed to be a leading opponent of Iran’s presence in Baghdad. Yet, all of a sudden, he appeared in a photo together with Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and its Middle East commander, the Al-Qods chief Gen. Qassem Soleimani. The content of their conversation in the ayatollah’s private office was never revealed. But it is self-evident that Soleimani’s participation could only mean that religion was not their main topic.

On Saturday, Oct. 5, when Prime Minister Abdel-Mahdi lifted the curfew over Baghdad, Muqtadr called for a new general election in Iraq. It may be assumed that, acting on the deal he reached during his Tehran visit, he is aiming for an election to grant his own faction plus the pro-Iranian militias’ political groups a parliamentary majority. They will then have the power to annul the prime minister’s decrees in recent weeks to disband those militias and integrate them in Iraqi army units. The door would then be open for Tehran to gain a solid foothold in Baghdad.  

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70 thoughts on “The hidden hand stirring up unrest in Iraq at cost of 100 lives, 4,000 injured: Sadr at Tehran’s behest

  • Oct 5, 2019 @ 21:15 at 21:15
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    The Mossad’s Hidden Hand. Balkanization of the Middle East is the core Israeli strategy. We saw this with the rise of ISIS and the Israeli “sponsorship” of them. With this plan having been undermined by Russia and Iran the focus is on dividing the population and turning them against each other. The next step is a puppet like they have in the Jewish el-Sisi, the long term goal is to break the country up into small states.

    • Oct 5, 2019 @ 21:34 at 21:34
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      Fake news

      • Oct 7, 2019 @ 2:09 at 2:09
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        – Immense wealth disappearing due to corruption.
        – Innocents living on less than $2/day.
        – A “cleric” (al Sadr) murdering innocents at the behest of “Iran” Persia (‘Iran’ is a transliteration of the word ‘Aryan’).
        – The terrorists insist that islam is a “religion of peace”.
        .
        In spite of the wickedness of islam’s adherents, many former muslims are finding Christ and being born into the TRUE kingdom of God.
        .
        Jesus came for the poor, the broken, the downtrodden.

    • Oct 5, 2019 @ 21:37 at 21:37
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      This is the most deranged post I have seen here in a long time. On second thought maybe this person is joking.

    • Oct 5, 2019 @ 21:39 at 21:39
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      hidden nothing , if something is going to happen , Israel should look at it very careful;
      And than what ? Bibi will rule Iraq from his local 000

    • Oct 5, 2019 @ 22:09 at 22:09
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      Moron Alert

    • Oct 5, 2019 @ 22:12 at 22:12
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      Sunni population of iraq is angry and unfortunately US toke away power from them and gave it to shia majority.

      • Oct 6, 2019 @ 6:27 at 6:27
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        try reading the article. it’s the shiites who are protesting, and the shiite government is putting them down. meanwhile, sunni areas are quiet.

        • Oct 6, 2019 @ 12:44 at 12:44
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          Good luck with this thinking

    • Oct 5, 2019 @ 22:24 at 22:24
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      A lot bull.

    • Oct 5, 2019 @ 22:56 at 22:56
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      The Mossad’s Hidden Hand is UP YER AZZ and tickling your tonsils.

    • Oct 6, 2019 @ 1:05 at 1:05
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      “The Mossad’s hidden hand”…The usual misinformation that comes from Muslim bone heads who blame the Mossad for every thing bad that happens in the Arab world..It is the Arab and Iranian blood lust that causes all this blood letting in the Arab World..Not he Mossad..

    • Oct 6, 2019 @ 1:56 at 1:56
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      You appear to be suffering from the Muslim disease – the paranoid need to blame anyone/everyone else, especially the Jews. I suggest you seek help.

    • Oct 6, 2019 @ 3:09 at 3:09
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      Pretty dumb!

    • Oct 6, 2019 @ 3:45 at 3:45
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      People like you need to be lobotomized, seriously you’re deranged!

    • Oct 6, 2019 @ 4:03 at 4:03
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      you are another stupid Muzzie troll. go and eat some felafil

    • Oct 6, 2019 @ 11:27 at 11:27
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      Wow man, u seem to know more than Israel and US leaders, And u don’t like Al Sisi too. Please stop smoking, so these strange and totally out of reality ideas don’t come out of u. Tell us, did u come up with all ideas by yourself or someone helped u. This is the reason u r so behind the time, dream on, u know everything.

    • Oct 6, 2019 @ 16:32 at 16:32
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      absolutely.

    • Oct 6, 2019 @ 23:47 at 23:47
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      Oftentimes I feel as stpds are more dangerous for the world than evils.

    • Oct 9, 2019 @ 2:27 at 2:27
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      Exactly.

      The US has been bombing Iraq for.decades in the hope of breaking it up for Israel. Why would Iran want to help the US?

  • Oct 5, 2019 @ 21:52 at 21:52
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    IRAN IS BEHIND WHAT IS HAPPENING IN SIRIA, LEBANON AND YEMEN. NOW WANTS TO TAKE POWER IN IRAK WITH HIS PUPPETS LIKE SISTANI.

    THEY TARGET IS ISRAEL AND LATER THE WEST. BUT ISRAEL AND THE WEST IS NOT SAUDI ARABIA.

  • Oct 5, 2019 @ 22:17 at 22:17
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    Iran has the manpower and skill to accomplish their high level agenda, which is a corridor of control from Iran to Beirut and Bagdad.

    With the hundreds of billions China is investing in Iran the mullahs have the cash to destabilize and topple weak administrations, and to arm and pay their proxy armies throughout the region.

  • Oct 5, 2019 @ 22:40 at 22:40
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    Iran is calling the shots and so far on a winning strike.MBS wants talks with the Mullahs , who’s next?The West and Trump don’t care either.Stay tuned more is coming soon.

    • Oct 6, 2019 @ 11:09 at 11:09
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      “Iran is calling the shots and so far on a winning strike.MBS wants talks with the Mullahs , who’s next?The West and Trump don’t care either.Stay tuned more is coming soon.”

      @Strike Force Eagle One,

      Just another fine day in the Middle East……………….on the horizon!

  • Oct 5, 2019 @ 22:53 at 22:53
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    the pigs from Teheran wants an shia nazi empire including Yemen and Iraq
    tehy killed over 100 civilians, muslim speciality like last month in Afganistan where they killed over 100 children at a shia wedding using a sunni pig

  • Oct 5, 2019 @ 23:04 at 23:04
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    iran wants to annex iraq its all about oil too bad i spent my 1 yr us army in iraq i knew it was a waste of american blood these people are not worth the sweat off my left nut a bunch of fueding tribal scum

  • Oct 5, 2019 @ 23:52 at 23:52
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    Good deal.

  • Oct 6, 2019 @ 0:29 at 0:29
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    The ayatollahs are creeping, persistent and insidious creatures – their methods are very much like
    cancerous cells – and they excel at their nefarious deeds…

  • Oct 6, 2019 @ 1:45 at 1:45
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    Maybe the Iraqi’s should convert to their older religion of zoroastrianism. Maybe their livelihood would get better.

  • Oct 6, 2019 @ 5:48 at 5:48
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    Al-Saadi is a Shia Muslim born in Al-Thawra District (“Sadr City”), Baghdad, with Family Toots in Southern Iraq. Al-Saadi Critical Role Defeat of ISIS in Iraq. In September 2019, al-Saadi Removed as Second-in-Command of ICTS by Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi Transferred to Ministry of Defense, without Reasons for the Decision. Al-Saadi said, Decision was at Request Counter-Terrorism Agency Head, General Talib! https://youtu.be/9xKDyFko8WI

  • Oct 6, 2019 @ 6:12 at 6:12
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    The decision sparked speculation that some among Iraq’s Iran-backed politicians were uneasy with the commander’s growing popularity among Iraqis. The 56-year-old general, who in recent years led the fight against the Islamic State group working alongside the USA Led coalition? Al-Saadi is known to be on good terms with the Americans who have been Training & Arming the Counter Terrorism Forces. Al-Saadi, Trained by the Americans was wounded 4 Times against ISIL militants. Iraq’s Prime Minister moved to Disarm Iraqi’s Iranian-Backed Militias, seeking to bring the Militia Under Control of the IRAQ National Army. https://prophecyupdate.blogspot.com/2019/10/iran-is-behind-unrest-in-iraq-4000.html

  • Oct 6, 2019 @ 7:40 at 7:40
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    A dejected general in the midist of super angry followers, all you need is organization and small arm’sb and foreign help,then boooom,CIVIL WAR,

  • Oct 6, 2019 @ 9:22 at 9:22
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    Enough, enough! Let there be peace! … and took out his revolver and riddled the Shiite … End of the chapter.

  • Oct 6, 2019 @ 10:59 at 10:59
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    Iraq is about to undergo a national name change and will soon be known as: “The Islamic Republic of Iran”.

  • Oct 6, 2019 @ 13:20 at 13:20
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    Without Russian air support, they will fail,the way they failed in Syria before calling Hizbolla and Russia for help,stop hyping Iran and be facual,….. and where will the sunni’s go? Germany?

  • Oct 6, 2019 @ 14:10 at 14:10
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    Greater Persia reunited …only Syria to go

    • Oct 6, 2019 @ 16:37 at 16:37
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      The Truth… Apollyon will continue to Mislead & Bleed Iranians Shiia Regime into Shiia’s Bottomless Pit of Eventual Destruction as seen Today with Shiia Deaths in Iraq this Week.

  • Oct 6, 2019 @ 14:28 at 14:28
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    Its interesting Jews have had a continuous presence in Iran since the time of Cyrus the Great of the Achaemenid Empire. Cyrus invaded Babylon and freed the Jews from Babylonian captivity. Which would make Persia the people that the Jews should be thanking for there release from SLAVERY. So strange that you guys hate the Persian people so much.

    • Oct 6, 2019 @ 14:34 at 14:34
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      Its an amateur mistake, the correct option would have been to round them up and wipe them out. Pogroms dont work we it just causes others to suffer as we are seeing with the Palestinian, American Deep State. Banking System, Media Control, Tech Company Control, they are the Deep State

      • Oct 6, 2019 @ 16:30 at 16:30
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        Amateur Mistake… Jehovah will Correct the Shiia Mistakes by Conversion to Judaism.

        • Oct 6, 2019 @ 17:02 at 17:02
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          Your Judaic Messiah is just a MAN that you APPOINT TO A POLITICAL OFFICE. In the Talmud you say that those that wont serve as your slaves will die. So how is this any different to the worst versions of Islam?

          • Oct 6, 2019 @ 18:33 at 18:33
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            What The Difference?… Christian Nations Have Rule Of Laws That Enforced Religious Freedom To Worship Now Unlike Earlier History Sins Against Man. Wahhabi Verses Shiia Is Islamic Problem Forced On World! https://youtu.be/G-dMM3HRnhY

    • Oct 6, 2019 @ 15:20 at 15:20
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      Jewish Autonomous Oblast which was created in 1934 as an country just for Jews solves all these issues. The Jews need these own place away from others. History shows that sooner or later they get killed or kicked out. With what the Jewish Politicians are doing in the US that time could be fast approaching again.

      • Oct 6, 2019 @ 16:23 at 16:23
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        JAOblast… This is why the One True G-d Revealed His Divine Presence to Wise the Current Devoted 18 Million Followers of Jehovah from All Judaisms Abrahamic Religions to Jewish Culture First & Foremost to Share His Light with Islam’s 1.8 Billion Last & 2.2 Billion Christianity Believers In Jesus Son of Jehovah. Eventually with the Acceptance of Jehovah by Conversion to Judaism for all Global Religions, Secularism, Atheism Communists. G-d Chose The Jewish Culture For His Divine Messages for All Men & Women on Earth & in the Universe! All Should Convert & Embrace To Judaism Culture & Abandon Shiia Darkness.

    • Oct 6, 2019 @ 15:48 at 15:48
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      Cyrus… This is why Persia Empire became so Great because King Cyrus Embraced Judaism & All Cultures for Mutual Prosperity with Perpetual Light to Shine on all People. Unlike The Iranian Islamic Shiia Religious Darkness that has Descended into Darkness Causing Violence, Death & Destruction among all Nations, Cultures, & People. Persia Was Great Before Islam Shiia & Judaism Made it Greater Centuries Ago & Can Again! Shiia Culture Of Deceit Has Caused Death In 5 Nations Iran, Iraq, Yemen, Gaza, Syria, & Lebanon?

      • Oct 6, 2019 @ 16:54 at 16:54
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        I agree with you that all cultures should be able to worship and undertake their own fate in whatever way they see fit. But how has this changed in Iran? They have the largest Jewish community in the Middle East that has existed there since the time of Cyrus…whats more the Jews in Iran DONT WANT TO LEAVE. Israel has offered them large amounts of money to move but they refuse…

    • Oct 6, 2019 @ 16:46 at 16:46
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      One Man Freed All Mankind In Abraham Not Iran’s Shiia Regime That Have Enslaved Mideast Persians?

      • Oct 6, 2019 @ 17:27 at 17:27
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        Any Religion that say convert or die or be a lesser person before the Law is a FALSE RELIGION in my eyes. Judaism, Islam are the same thing really. Convert or die, be our slave. So to me Buddha came to set Mankind FREE, Abraham eithet was misunderstood or he came to ENSLAVE MANKIND

        • Oct 6, 2019 @ 18:17 at 18:17
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          Buddah… Judaism Does Not Force Conversion & Never Did! All People Can Choose to Convert to Judaism as Individuals Calling as they Please! And Can Leave Anytime As Well. Unlike Some Islamic Ruling Nations Today & Christians Nations before in History that No Longer do it! Sins between people much more severe in Judaism than sins between Man & G-d. Yom Kippur, Day of Repentance in Judaism, Atones for Sins between Man and God, but Not for Sins between Man & Fellow Men & Women, until he has Appeased them.

          • Oct 6, 2019 @ 20:07 at 20:07
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            Agree Buddhism is not a problem and never has been. You say that people can choose to convert to Judaism but then so can people choose to convert to islam. The question is when you select your Messiah then people can convert and those who do not will be executed or is my understanding of Jewish Law incorrect?

  • Oct 6, 2019 @ 16:26 at 16:26
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    JAOblast… This is why the One True G-d Revealed His Divine Presence to Wise the Current Devoted 18 Million Followers of Jehovah G-d Chose The Jewish Culture For His Divine Messages for All Men & Women on Earth & in the Universe! All Should Convert & Embrace To Judaism Culture & Abandon Shiia Darkness.

    • Oct 6, 2019 @ 17:40 at 17:40
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      You seriously only have a issue with Shiia? You seriously believe that Shiites are worse than Wahhabism even though ISIS follows Wahhabism?

      Any Religion that say convert or die or be a lesser person is a FALSE RELIGION!!! ORTHODOX JUDAISM and CATHOLICISM INCLUDED!!!

      • Oct 6, 2019 @ 19:17 at 19:17
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        False, All Rule Of Law Nations Allow All Worship By All Religions & Includes Israel, Greece, & Italy! Not Forced Conversions & Qur’an, Bibles & Torah Abound & Allowed!

  • Oct 6, 2019 @ 19:09 at 19:09
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    Jehovah-Allah G-d Of Abraham Will Bring Judaism, Christianity & Islam Together Unlike Preachers Or Ruler Divide Divine. It Will Be Done Individual To Individuals Freedom Conversion Not Forced Violence!

  • Oct 6, 2019 @ 19:21 at 19:21
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    ================================ in conlusion to this article ================================

    There is something fundamentally wrong with clerics in position of army and state power.
    But, why ignore these forces, and pretend they do not exist?
    António Guterres must ask the Shiite Religion to disarm and start seeking peace and civil order.

  • Oct 6, 2019 @ 19:32 at 19:32
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    With a pot of weed in my right hand and with a pitcher of kosher beer in my left hand, I proclaim Donald Trump to be the “only decent Messiah” …
    Kill them all with a broom, Donald!

    • Oct 7, 2019 @ 5:40 at 5:40
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      All Mideast Shiia Have To Do Is Use Oil & Gas Resources For Mideast Nations Economic Prosperity, Charitable Healing, & Educational Global Cooperation Regardless Of Religions. This Is Allah’s Way For Shiia Sharing & Would Be welcomed By All Cultures, People, & Religions! It Would Force Sunnis To Do The Same Instead Wasting Resources On Proxy Wars!

  • Oct 6, 2019 @ 21:21 at 21:21
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    So debka is relying on that the general public doesn’t realize that the Sunni muslims protesting in Iraq can’t be controlled by Iranian shiite muslims?
    Okie then, don’t mind me, keep going, it doesn’t matter world war is imminent.

  • Oct 7, 2019 @ 5:39 at 5:39
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    If the Shiia Really Believe In Allah As A Way Of Life & Salvation For All Shiia, Sunnis & All Religions For All Human Beings. They Would Recognize, Respect, & Recommend Allah’s Islamic Origins Came From Israel’s As Written In The Holy Quran As Spoken By Muhammad The Messenger Welcoming & Saluting Judaism, Christianity & Sunnis?

  • Oct 7, 2019 @ 7:29 at 7:29
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    Netanyahu and other ministers held a crisis conference, and he told them that Israel must shift its military focus to purely defensive missiles to protect against Iran. Too many factors make it increasingly dangerous for Israel to continue its preemptive air strikes, too many. How will returning to a purely defensive strategy be beneficial for Israel? Who knows? Israel is being gradually left on its own. And the government will have to raise taxes and cut social services to pay…just for defensive hardware. Will affluent Israelis now contemplate eventual emigration? Could happen. God forbid. Well, Netanyahu’s strategy of engagement with the Kremlin and the USA paid off for a while, anyway. Or, did it only seem to???

  • Oct 7, 2019 @ 9:28 at 9:28
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    Whishfull thinking, isaelis will not flee, the Samson options is the last, not running away, which won’t be necessary anyway because of the nuclear capable submarines and lots of neutron bombs.

    • Oct 7, 2019 @ 22:18 at 22:18
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      Not wishful thinking, Robert. Cold, hard, realistic thinking. Nobody who loves Israel wants Israelis to leave. But, there are certain parameters. Now, Trump has decided to withdraw from Syria, and America will eventually be kicked out of Iraq. Who knows what will happen in Jordan?

  • Oct 8, 2019 @ 4:29 at 4:29
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    This is what happens when the people have been disarmed and then get taken over by agents of tyrants that resemble the last regime.

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