Downing Reports: Brian M Downing and the world at war
Key suspect in Khobar Towers bombing arrested
Ahmed al-Mughassil, leader of a Shia group in Saudi Arabia, has been arrested in Lebanon and taken to Saudi Arabia. His group, Hezbollah al-Hejaz, is thought to have executed the bombing of a US housing facility in 1996 which killed 19 Americans. Look for the Saudis to play up a connection with Iranian intelligence.
Turkish Kurds gearing up for war
Turkish authorities have vowed a relentless war on the Kurdish PKK group. Turkish authorities must expect the same from the Kurds. The PKK is deemed a terrorist group by the US and many other reauthorizes. Let’s see if the PKK devote their attacks to military targets and eschew civilian targets. The former, in conjunction with the Kurds of Syria and Iraq who are fighting ISIL, may win global support for Turkish Kurds.
This move was likely encouraged by Saudi Arabia. Riyadh is upset over the US’s support for democracy in the region and its opening to Iran. The Saudis are buying weapons from Russia too. Look for Putin to try to get military bases in Egypt. The USSR once had them but Sadat expelled them in 1972. Israel should beware of Saudi efforts to increase its influence in the Sunni world.
US security experts voice opposition to the Iran deal
Several retired generals and admirals have signed a letter opposing the deal. Among them are Admiral John Poindexter and AF General Ricahrd Secord, both of whom were principals in the Iran-Contra deal of the eighties, which sent US weapons to Iran and allocated the proceeds to the Nicaraguan rebels – without the knowledge of the US congress.
Saudi troops cross into Yemen from the north
Riyadh says the move is temporary. Look for the Houthis to bloody the untested Saudi troops.