{"id":134,"date":"2007-01-03T04:20:26","date_gmt":"2007-01-03T04:20:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/joshualandis.com\/blog\/?p=134"},"modified":"2007-01-03T05:33:37","modified_gmt":"2007-01-03T05:33:37","slug":"us-arms-surrogates","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/joshualandis.com\/blog\/us-arms-surrogates\/","title":{"rendered":"US Arms Surrogates"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

\n

More disturbing signs that Eliot Abrams and company at the NSA are pushing ahead with a new policy to build up surrogate allies to combat the surrogates of Iran and Syria, such as Hizballah and Hamas. Perhaps 2007 will bring us little proxy wars across the region? Here are two articles explaining how may work. For more on this see previous posts, here<\/a> and here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

US unit works quietly to counter Iran’s sway<\/a>: Backs dissidents, nearby nations
By Farah Stockman, January 2, 2007 <\/span>(Thanks t_desco)<\/p>\n

\n

WASHINGTON — For nearly a year, a select group of US officials has been quietly coordinating actions to counter the looming threat of a nuclear-armed Iran, including increasing the military capabilities of Arab allies such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain.<\/p>\n

The group, known as the Iran Syria Policy and Operations Group, or ISOG, is also coordinating a host of other actions, which include covert assistance to Iranian dissidents and building international outrage toward Iran by publicizing its alleged role in a 1994 terrorist attack in Argentina, according to interviews with half a dozen White House, Pentagon, and State Department officials who are involved in the group’s work.<\/p>\n

Pentagon officials involved with the group intend to ask Congress as early as February to increase funding for transfers of military hardware to allies in the Persian Gulf and to accelerate plans for joint military activities. The request, which is still being formulated, is expected to include but not be limited to more advanced-missile defense systems and early-warning radar to detect and prevent Iranian missile strikes.
…<\/p>\n

The existence of ISOG reflects an intensification of the Bush administration’s planning on Iran. Syria, which has linked itself to Iran through military pacts, is a lesser focus for the group. Its workings have been so secretive that several officials in the State Department’s Near Eastern Affairs bureau said they were unaware it existed.<\/p>\n

The United States has repeatedly said its policy is not to overthrow the Iranian regime, but one former US official who attended a meeting during ISOG’s initial phase eight months ago said in an interview that he got the impression that regime change was a key goal of many of the meetings’ participants. \"James
…<\/p>\n

ISOG is led by a steering committee with two leading hawks on Middle East policy as chairmen: James F. Jeffrey, prinicipal deputy assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern Affairs, who once headed Iraq policy, and Elliott Abrams, deputy national security adviser for “Global Democracy Strategy.” Michael Doran, a Middle East specialist at the White House, steps in when Abrams is away. Elizabeth Cheney, the vice president’s daughter, who was the former deputy assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern Affairs, served as cochairwoman before she took a maternity leave earlier this year.<\/p>\n

ISOG is made of five main “pillars,” or working groups. The military group explores ways to bolster Arab defenses and create more military cooperation between the Persian Gulf states. …<\/p>\n

A second working group deals with “democracy outreach,” focusing on the State Department’s effort to provide secret financial assistance to dissidents and reformist organizations inside Iran and Syria. It also seeks ways to use scientific exchanges and human rights conferences to learn more about what is happening inside Iran, officials said.
…<\/p>\n

A third working group focuses on finances and the Treasury Department’s efforts to beef up bilateral restrictions on money transfers to and from Iranian banks. A fourth group focuses on Iran’s “special relationships” with Iraq, Lebanon, Afghanistan, and terrorist organizations. That group has closely followed Iran’s alleged role in a 1994 bombing of a Jewish center in Argentina.<\/p>\n

A fifth working group coordinates media outreach to the people of Iran, Syria, and the region.
Boston Globe<\/font><\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Related news:<\/p>\n

– Bataan Expeditionary Strike Group soon to deploy to the Gulf<\/p>\n

– new Expeditionary Strike Group 2 command to move from Little Creek to Bahrain in February<\/font>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Rifaat al-Asad<\/strong> is in Egypt to meet with officials with America's blessing, writes Bahiya Mardini, the reporter who covers the Syrian opposition most closely<\/span>. How he knows it is with America's blessing, he does not say.<\/p>\n

???? ??????? ?? ????:<\/font><\/strong><\/strong> ???? ????? ????? ?? ???? ????? ???? ?????? ?????? ?????? ??? ?????? ?????? ???? ????? ?????????? ?? ???? ???? ? ?????? ??????? ??? ?? ???? ????? ??????? ?????? ??????? ?????????????? ????? ?? "?????"?? ???? ???? ??? ????? ?? ??????
 ?? ????? ???? ????? ??? ???????? ??? ?? ???? ?? ANN ???? ?????? ???? ??? ??? ????? ????   ???? ?? ????? ??????? ????? ?? ??? ?? ?????? ???? ?? ????????? ???????? ????? ?? ?????? ?? ?????? ????????<\/font> <\/p>\n

The US is trying to beaf up the PLO and Abbas. Some time ago, Journalists explained that the Jordanians had resupplied the PLO with arms with the approval of the US as part of its effort to undo the Hamas government. The rearming of the PLO is not direct US assistance, in contrast to the training programs discribed below.<\/p>\n

U.S. Eyes Support for Abbas' Forces<\/a>
By BARRY SCHWEID, AP <\/p>\n

\n

The Bush administration is holding talks with Congress about providing training and other support to security forces loyal to Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the Palestinian Authority. <\/p>\n

"Those consultations are ongoing," deputy State Department spokesman Tom Casey said Friday. "I'm not sure that there is any specific end result of them."<\/p>\n

Casey said the talks would continue next week, when Congress officially returns from a holiday adjournment.<\/p>\n

The issue is touchy. Under U.S. law and Bush administration policy, any form of assistance to the Palestinians must sidetrack Hamas, the militia that won control of the Palestinian government nearly a year ago.<\/p>\n

"We need to be very careful in how we do it," Casey said.<\/p>\n

The State Department has designated Hamas as a terrorist organization and barred its participation in any peacemaking process until it accepts Israel's existence and abandons violence against the Jewish state. Abbas' security forces are obligated to stop Palestinian attacks on Israel.<\/p>\n

The administration is trying to fan hopes for peacemaking between Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who have held high-level talks and are committed to a peaceful settlement. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is expected to go the area next month to gauge peacemaking prospects.<\/p>\n

There have been reports that Egypt, with Israel's approval, has shipped arms to forces loyal to Abbas. Abbas denied the reports.<\/p>\n

On possible U.S. assistance, Casey said, "My understanding is that none of this would be what is referred to as lethal assistance. … So, it would basically be, as I understand it, in the form of training and other kinds of support."<\/p>\n

The Bush administration is holding talks with Congress about providing training and other support to security forces loyal to Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the Palestinian Authority. <\/p>\n

"Those consultations are ongoing," deputy State Department spokesman Tom Casey said Friday. "I'm not sure that there is any specific end result of them."<\/p>\n

Casey said the talks would continue next week, when Congress officially returns from a holiday adjournment.<\/p>\n

The issue is touchy. Under U.S. law and Bush administration policy, any form of assistance to the Palestinians must sidetrack Hamas, the militia that won control of the Palestinian government nearly a year ago.<\/p>\n

"We need to be very careful in how we do it," Casey said.<\/p>\n

The State Department has designated Hamas as a terrorist organization and barred its participation in any peacemaking process until it accepts Israel's existence and abandons violence against the Jewish state. Abbas' security forces are obligated to stop Palestinian attacks on Israel.<\/p>\n

The administration is trying to fan hopes for peacemaking between Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who have held high-level talks and are committed to a peaceful settlement. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is expected to go the area next month to gauge peacemaking prospects.<\/p>\n

There have been reports that Egypt, with Israel's approval, has shipped arms to forces loyal to Abbas. Abbas denied the reports.<\/p>\n

On possible U.S. assistance, Casey said, "My understanding is that none of this would be what is referred to as lethal assistance. … So, it would basically be, as I understand it, in the form of training and other kinds of support.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

NPR interviews State Department figures about arming the PLO to fight Hamas. They say it is all about balance and helping legal officials. Listen to the story: Rice Will Likely Head to Mideast in Early 2007<\/a> by Michele Kelemen<\/a><\/span>, January 2, 2007. "<\/span>Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who has promised to get more deeply involved in promoting Arab-Israeli peace, is expected to go to the region in January. Part of the administration's goals seems to be to boost Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas."<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

More disturbing signs that Eliot Abrams and company at the NSA are pushing ahead with a new policy to build up surrogate allies to combat the surrogates of Iran and Syria, such as Hizballah and Hamas. Perhaps 2007 will bring us little proxy wars across the region? Here are two articles explaining how may work. For more on this see […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"sfsi_plus_gutenberg_text_before_share":"","sfsi_plus_gutenberg_show_text_before_share":"","sfsi_plus_gutenberg_icon_type":"","sfsi_plus_gutenberg_icon_alignemt":"","sfsi_plus_gutenburg_max_per_row":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[7,19],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-134","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics","category-us"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"yoast_head":"\nUS Arms Surrogates - Syria Comment<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/joshualandis.com\/blog\/us-arms-surrogates\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"US Arms Surrogates - Syria Comment\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"More disturbing signs that Eliot Abrams and company at the NSA are pushing ahead with a new policy to build up surrogate allies to combat the surrogates of Iran and Syria, such as Hizballah and Hamas. 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