******************** POSTING RULES & NOTES ********************
#1 YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message.
#2 This mail-list, like most, is publicly & permanently archived.
#3 Subscribe and post under an alias if #2 is a concern.
*****************************************************************
It was very clear in the discussions between Putin and Netanyahu during
the beginning of Russia's invasion of Syria that issues of the south,
and specifically of Hezbollah, were to be left to Israeli discretion,
which Putin made clear he "understood." It was part of the agreement
whereby Israel would support Russia shoring up the regime, and
decimating the rebels, mostly on the central and northern fronts. This
has included the use of loads of Iranian and Hezbollah cannon fodder
*but now with Russian leadership, the Iranian elements are no longer be
in command of the Assadist forces*, as they essentially have been for a
year or so; while Israel remains free to take shots at the same cannon
fodder in the south. Israel and Russia both know full well that these
Israeli propaganda strikes on Hezbollah are irrelevant to the military
situation in the south (especially as the US, via Jordan keeps the FSA
Southern Front on such a tight leash with a bunch of 'red lines" they
must not pass).
Incidentally, in my view Russia just as much as Israel is happy to see
these hundreds of Hezbollah and Iranian troops both do their part in
fighting the rebels *but also be turned into cannon fodder* in the
process; Russia and Iran are allies of convenience in Syria, yet rivals
with somewhat different interests at the same time.
Indeed the targeting of someone like Kantar underlines precisely the
propagandistic nature of these Israeli strikes - he is not historically
a Hezbollah member, he was a Lebanese Druze member of a small
Palestinian radical micro-sect who conducted a sea operation from
Lebanon, landed in northern occupied Palestine where he allegedly seized
a 4-year old girl from a civilian home and killed her, and then spent 29
years in an Israeli prison. Hezbollah got him out of Israel as part of
its prisoner swap, and should have stuck him on a farm somewhere to live
out his retirement rather than recruiting him; to Israel he is
obviously a huge symbolic target, which will probably be very popular at
home, yet is obviously irrelevant to the battle Hezbollah wages against
the rebels in the south.
This article makes the case that Russia most certainly knew in advance
of the Israeli operation, and had no objection:
Russia knew about Kuntar hit says expert
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/205210#.VnffrFKTWmV
Israel would not have struck Samir Kuntar inside area protected by S-400
without Russia's knowledge, says IMRA.
By Gil Ronen
First Publish: 12/20/2015, 9:00 PM
Israel notified Russia that it intends to strike a target inside
Damascus before the airstrike that killed Samir Kuntar, estimates Dr.
Aaron Lerner, of Independent Media Review Analysis (IMRA).
Lerner bases this conclusion on the fact that the strike took place at a
time that the Russian S-400 system is in full operation.
"Samir Kuntar is hardly such a critical target for Israel that it would
employ techniques for engaging in operations within an active S-400
envelope," he explained. The reason: such a strike would necessarily use
techniques for evading the S-400 – assuming these techniques exist – and
Russia would then be able to study these, in order to improve the S-400.
Therefore, regardless of whether the strike succeeded, a future repeat
of the same technique against more important targets would be likely to
fail.
"The only conclusion that can be reached, therefore, is that the
operation took place with the knowledge of Russia that jets would
operate at specific locations within the S-400 envelope – and in this
case in a route that passed through the area of Syria's capital," wrote
Lerner.
-----Original Message-----
From: A.R. G via Marxism
Sent: Monday, December 21, 2015 6:34 PM
To: Michael Karadjis
Subject: Re: [Marxism] A test of Israel Russia rapprochement
******************** POSTING RULES & NOTES ********************
#1 YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message.
#2 This mail-list, like most, is publicly & permanently archived.
#3 Subscribe and post under an alias if #2 is a concern.
*****************************************************************
Why would it argue against it?
Of course Russia has to stand by their allies, including Hezbollah. But
Israel appears to be cashing in on its closer ties with Russia by taking
out a long-time foe. It is not a secret that Israel has struck Syria
multiple times in the last 4 years, including the weapons shipment to
Hezb
and a few other targets. They have always hedged attacks against Syria
against other political priorities. Why would their strike on Samir
Quntar
prove that they are not actually working closer with the Russians? I
would
think it does prove that they are working closer, which is why they are
able to get away with more brazen actions like this that might have
normally triggered greater reaction by Syria, Iran, and Hezbollah.
- Amith
On Sun, Dec 20, 2015 at 11:46 PM, Ken Hiebert via Marxism <
marxism@lists.csbs.utah.edu> wrote:
******************** POSTING RULES & NOTES ********************
#1 YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message.
#2 This mail-list, like most, is publicly & permanently archived.
#3 Subscribe and post under an alias if #2 is a concern.
*****************************************************************
A number of articles have suggested a high level of co-operation
between
israel and Russia in Syria. A sharp response on the part of Russia to
this
killing would argue against this.
ken h
Lebanese militant leader Samir Qantar killed in Damascus attack
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/20/lebanese-militant-leader-samir-qantar-believed-killed-in-damascus-attack
Israeli warplanes have struck targets inside Syria several times
during
the country’s nearly five-year conflict, although it has rarely
confirmed
its involvement. Qantar’s killing would mark the first Israeli
assassination of a senior figure inside Syria since Russia launched
its
military operations on 30 September in support of Assad.
Israel’s defence minister has said Russia and Israel have worked out
an
open communication system “to prevent misunderstandings”. That raises
the
question of whether the Russians would have been informed by Israel
about
any operation to kill Qantar. The Russian defence ministry declined to
comment on the airstrike.
_________________________________________________________
Full posting guidelines at: http://www.marxmail.org/sub.htm
Set your options at:
http://lists.csbs.utah.edu/options/marxism/amithrgupta%40gmail.com
_________________________________________________________
Full posting guidelines at: http://www.marxmail.org/sub.htm
Set your options at:
http://lists.csbs.utah.edu/options/marxism/mkaradjis%40gmail.com
_________________________________________________________
Full posting guidelines at: http://www.marxmail.org/sub.htm
Set your options at:
http://lists.csbs.utah.edu/options/marxism/archive%40mail-archive.com
