World View: Saudi Arabia's Armed Forces on High Alert as ISIS Approaches

This morning’s key headlines from GenerationalDynamics.com:

• Syrian regime warplanes bomb ISIS on Iraq border, becoming our ally
• Saudi Arabia’s armed forces on high alert as ISIS approaches
• Four questions ISIS uses to tell Sunni from Shia
• Thousands of Ukrainians flee east Ukraine for Russia

Syrian regime warplanes bomb ISIS on Iraq border, becoming our ally

Warplanes from the regime of Syria’s president Bashar al-Assad struckat positions held by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) alongthe border between Syria and Iraq. Initial reports indicated that thewarplanes’ targets were within Iraq, though reports differ. Accordingto Iraq’s president Nouri al-Maliki: 

“There was no coordination involved, but we welcomethis action. We welcome any Syrian strike against Isis, becausethis group targets both Iraq and Syria… But we didn’t make anyrequest from Syria. They carry out their strikes and we carry outours. The final winners are our two countries.”

This makes the Syria regime our ally in Iraq, but our enemy inSyria. Iran is also our ally in Iraq, and our enemy in Syria. 

In fact, late news is that the Obama administration is asking the USCongress to approve $500 million to train and equip “moderate”opposition forces in Syria. So keep your scorecards up to date, DearReader. 

As I said many years ago, based on a Generational Dynamics analysis,Iran will be our ally and the Sunni Arab states will be our enemy inthe approaching Clash of Civilizations world war. These trends aremoving the region in that direction. BBC andGuardian (London)

Saudi Arabia’s armed forces on high alert as ISIS approaches

With the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) having taken controlof border posts in Iraq on the border with Jordan, putting SaudiArabia’s security in danger, Saudi King Abdullah has put the army andsecurity forces on the highest alert. According to the Saudistate-run news agency:

“Anticipating (that) the terrorist organizations orothers might carry out actions that might disturb the security ofthe homeland, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques has orderedtaking all necessary measures to protect the gains of the homelandand its territories in addition to the security and stability ofthe Saudi people.”

Saudi reconnaissance planes have found ISIS terrorists heading for theSaudi border, aiming to seize control of the Iraqi-Saudi bordercrossing at Ar Ar. CNN and Debka

Four questions ISIS uses to tell Sunni from Shia

When the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) conquers a newvillage, one chore the terrorists have to go through is to decide whomin the village to let live, and whom to torture, rape, mutilate andkill. Since ISIS is devoted to exterminating apostate Shia Muslims,making that decision requires figuring out whether each citizen isShia or Sunni. According to reports that are coming out of Iraq, theISIS terrorists ask four questions to determine whom to kill: 

• “What’s your name?” Some names are more likely to be Shia.
• “What’s your address?” Shias often live in enclaves in the village being conquered.
• “How do you pray?” Shias and Sunnis have slightly different hand and arm positions during praying.
• “What music do you like?” Even the ringtone on a person’s telephone might be a clue.

People can easily get tripped up if they try to lie. Others refuse tolie about their faith. Times of India

Thousands of Ukrainians flee east Ukraine for Russia

A ceasefire that’s been in place in eastern Ukraine for thelast few days is due to expire on Friday, and thousands ofUkrainians are in long lines on the border with Russia, fleeingthe expected violence. Earlier this week, Russian migrationofficials said that more than 90,000 refugees had alreadycrossed the border. 

The fear is that, once the ceasefire ends, the violence betweenUkrainian troops and pro-Russian separatists will surge, puttingcivilians’ lives in danger. Western leaders are asking Russia’spresident Vladimir Putin to call on the pro-Russian separatists to laydown their arms, and to do so “in the next few hours,” to preventfurther bloodshed. AP and VOA

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