Re: Israel vs Palestine/Lebanon/Iran/Yemen/Syria: a New Middle East War
A BBC production, no-less, but, wait, this may be very good actually. A Louis Theroux documentary that I haven't watched yet but is sure to be a target of the Israeli Lobby who'll doubtless agitate for its removal from the iPlayer platform. This has happened before. This will largely depend on how this has been edited; perhaps he's managed to maintain a sense of neutrality that'll prevent it from being shut down? In any case the much wider public would appear, on the basis of reviews, to get a chilling glimpse into the naked and unbridled, and shameless racism of the 'settlers' - this may be hard to watch, but necessary all the same. (This is now saved to our library too.)
"But the situation in the West Bank is so dire that the kid gloves have to come off. This is partly because he and his crew repeatedly find themselves subject to many of the confrontations and intimidations that blight the lives of Palestinians on a daily basis. During a visit to a Palestinian home, settlers drive up and point guns with laser sights through the windows at him. More than once, he has to politely ask people to lower their guns while talking to him. In one especially tense encounter, he has to bark “Don’t touch me” at a pair of balaclava-wearing Israeli soldiers."
"But I suppose even the BBC could see the value in this one: a deathly warning wrapped inside a fairly straightforward bit of reporting. At his best, Theroux’s great skill is to allow people to be themselves: to talk, unbridled, of things that may ordinarily remain unspoken. In this film, his interviewees, emboldened by their conviction that the Old Testament is basically a land deed giving them absolute right over what they call Judaea and Samaria, explain their plans for what the rest of us know as the Palestinian Territories with perfect openness – and it’s chilling."
The Settlers - Louis Theroux (2025)
28th April 2025 15:39
bojancan
Re: Israel vs Palestine/Lebanon/Iran/Yemen/Syria: a New Middle East War
Interesting article from 1996... in WRMEA / Washington Report Middle East Affairs /...
Spook, Terrorist or Criminal? America's Mysterious Files on Netanyahu by NEVE GORDON
Neve Gordon teaches politics at Ben-Gurion University. His new book, Israel’s Occupation, is due out this fall from the University of California Press.
Congress received him with great fanfare. President Clinton, who during the recent election campaign had backed his rival, Shimon Peres, appears to have had a change of heart. Yet who is Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and why did the political elite in the U.S. accept him with such warmth? A few important facts about Netanyahu and his objectives—which the U.S. media have obstinately neglected to report help to clarify the enigma.
Netanyahu has lived both in Israel and the U.S.: first grade in Israel; second and third in the U.S.; fourth through eighth in Jerusalem; high school in suburban Philadelphia; military service in Israel; B.A. and M.A. at MIT. He held dual citizenship, which enabled him to travel freely between both countries, study in the U.S., receive federal loans to cover his education costs at MIT and work legally. Like every U.S. citizen, Netanyahu has a social security number, a credit account, and numerous other files in a variety of government offices.
Nevertheless, Netanyahu’s files differ from those of most U.S. citizens. The Israeli weekly Ha’ir reports that four requests for credit approval appear in U.S. social security file number 020-36-4537. Under each request one finds a different name: Benjamin Netanyahu, Benjamin Nitai, John Jay Sullivan and John Jay Sullivan Jr.—one man, four names.
Binyamin Netanyahu is the name Israel’s current prime minister was given at birth and which he now uses. In June 1973, during his studies at MIT, Netanyahu submitted a petition to the Boston court, asking to change his name from Netanyahu to Nitai; “I prefer a shorter name,” he wrote on the request form. The petition was approved, thus the second name has an explanation. The last two names, however, remain a mystery. Furthermore, the address attached to these names—somewhere in Malibu, California—does not exist. Who, then, is John Jay Sullivan?
Biranit Goren and Einat Berkovitch from Ha’ir tried to find out. They looked into Netanyahu’s credit account. This file is supposed to hold information regarding bank accounts, loans, credit cards and so forth; yet, surprisingly, the file was empty. It is as if Netanyahu never had a debt, had never taken out a loan, and always paid his bills up front and in cash.
Goren and Berkovitch then attempted to examine Netanyahu’s social security file, but were denied access. They did, however, find out that Netanyahu’s file has a different classification than most. They were denied access not merely due to the 1974 privacy act, but because the file had a “confidential” classification. Goren and Berkovitch have explained that such a classification only applies to five categories of people: those who work for one of three federal agencies—FBI, CIA, IRS—or those who are considered to be terrorists or criminals. Since it is unlikely that Netanyahu fits the latter two categories, or that he worked for the IRS, it appears that he was on the payroll of a security agency—the CIA or FBI.
DUAL CITIZENSHIP
According to Israeli law, a person who runs for the Knesset (the Israeli parliament) cannot hold dual citizenship. Netanyahu claims that in 1982 he gave up his U.S. citizenship, yet he is unwilling to grant the press access to his file located in the U.S. Embassy in Tel-Aviv—the file which holds information regarding his citizenship. Interestingly, the status of his files in the U.S. has not changed, so according to U.S. law Netanyahu remains a U.S. citizen.
Netanyahu—the person who in 1982 left his job as a furniture salesman to be a policy adviser at the Israeli embassy in Washington, DC, and within 14 years became prime minister—is still in many ways a conundrum. By contrast, his political objectives are becoming clearer.
An Israeli proverb asserts that the intention of a person can be understood by examining the goals of his friends. And indeed, in order to gain insight into Netanyahu’s political objectives it is well worth looking at his acquaintances and financial supporters. Goren and Berkovitch report that Haagen-Daz founder Reuben Matheus, who contributed (until his death sometime last year) millions of dollars to Rabbi Meir Kahane’s fascist political party and to the Jewish settlement in Hebron, also contributed to Netanyahu. Marvin Josephine, the head of ICM, one of the biggest publishing companies in the U.S., is considered a major contributor to the Likud, and more specifically to Netanyahu. Another donor is Barry Slotnik, an attorney who has among his clients the Italian and Russian Mafias. (Slotnik was also a friend of Kahane, acclaiming him one of the biggest heroes in Jewish history.) Ted Arison, who owns cruise lines in the U.S., is considered not only a friend, but a confidant. His Calridge-Arison group is interested in purchasing “Bank Hapoalim,” the second largest in Israel.
Contributors and political allies from Australia—Joseph Brender, Bernard Moss, Mark Bissan and Jack Mendel—wish to invest in Israeli real estate and the textile industry. Mendel, one should note, lets Netanyahu use his luxury condo in Tel-Aviv. Sandy Eisenshtat, who allows Netanyahu to use his Jerusalem condo, owns an Israeli oil and gas company. In London, Netanyahu often stays with Rupert Murdoch.
Finally, Netanyahu has an ally in Ronald Lauder of the Este Lauder cosmetic dynasty who ran for mayor against Rudolph Giuliani. During his unsuccessful election campaign, Lauder called Giuliani an impostor who was not conservative enough to be a member of the Republican Party. Lauder is founder, major contributor, and chairman of Shalem Institute, a right-wing think tank located in Jerusalem. Dr. Hazoni, the Institute’s director, told Hanna Kim of the Israeli daily Ha’aretz that the Heritage Foundation in Washington, DC and the Center for Social Policy Studies in London are his models. Like Heritage, which is thought to have developed Reaganomics, and the Center for Social Policy, which designed what is now called Thatcherism, it seems that Shalem Institute will introduce what in years to come will be known as Netanyism.
One of Netanyahu’s goals is to introduce an aggressive policy of privatization.
Following Thatcher, one of Netanyahu’s goals is to introduce an aggressive policy of privatization. According to Nahum Barnea and Shimon Shifer from Israel’s mass-circulation Yediot Ahronot, a bill proposing to establish a government institution for privatization was presented for review in the Ministry of Justice less than two weeks after the elections. This bill would create a loophole allowing Netanyahu to sell government firms regardless of limitations specified in existing laws. Any government agency that is opposed to an act of privatization must send a written statement to a ministerial committee explaining its opposition. The statement must reach the committee within 30 days—otherwise it is automatically rejected. Netanyahu will chair the ministerial committee for privatization, while the ministers of justice and finance will be its only other two members.
Most important, if the bill passes, the committee will be exempt from a number of existing laws. For example, the committee will not be obliged to call for bids before selling government firms. Furthermore, according to the coalition agreements between Netanyahu and the different parties which are now members of government, the ministerial committee “will by law have the authority to determine on matters of privatization without the need to receive the approval of any other body.” Thus, for example, Netanyahu will be able to sell Bezek, Israel’s national telecommunication company, to his friend Lauder, who has had his eye on this company for some time.
Netanyahu’s real religion is privatization, Barneah and Shifer claim. In a recent interview, Netanyahu told them that he took upon himself many responsibilities “not in order to concentrate power but to liberate it.” He intends to sell Israel’s land, firms and communications to investors from around the world. It is not surprising that international corporations like him, which may well explain why the political elite in the U.S. was so enthusiastic about him.
FRIENDS AND CLIENTS
Netanyahu’s friends are potential clients, but like most buyers they would prefer to purchase Israel under slightly better conditions. Israel’s annual inflation is approximately 13 percent, a figure which is still considered high for investment. Luckily, the unemployment rate has gone down considerably under four years of Labor government, from 11.5 percent in 1992 to 6 percent in 1996, thus enabling Netanyahu to utilize the known method of lowering inflation by raising unemployment.
As the director of Shalem Institute indicated, the U.S. and British economic programs of the 1980s are the two models Netanyahu intends to follow. In 1980, annual inflation in the U.S. was 13.5 percent and in Britain 18 percent, while unemployment was 7 percent and 5 percent respectively. In 1983, annual inflation went down to 3 percent in the U.S. and 4.5 percent in Britain, while unemployment rose to 10 percent in the U.S. and reached 11 percent in Britain. Imitating these economic policies goes hand in hand with cutting back the last remnants of Israel’s so-called welfare state.
According to Gideon Eshet from Yediot Ahronot, Finance Minister Dan Meridor was asked by Netanyahu to submit the government budget a week after he entered office. It seems that due to “Operation Grapes of Wrath” in Lebanon and a few other unexpected expenses, Israel’s deficit had risen from the anticipated $2.4 billion to slightly over $3 billion. The following are a few of the steps Meridor offered to take in order to lower the deficit: 1) Downsize the public sector by 10,000 jobs. 2) Freeze the Ministry of Education’s budget. The direct impact of this step is that there will be more students in every classroom. 3) Reduce the health benefits provided by the national health program, while simultaneously increasing the cost of the program. On top of that, the Finance Ministry wants to raise the price of medicine and add individual participation in hospitalization costs and doctor appointments. 4) Raise women’s retirement age from 60 to 65, while simultaneously reducing the pension people receive from social security. 5) Lower the subsidy for public transportation.
It is clear which sector—the poor—will pay for Israel’s deficit, and it is also evident how Netanyahu intends to lower inflation. This is not to say that everything Netanyahu wants, Netanyahu will get, since the opposition in Israel is still strong. It does indicate, however, that Netanyahu is not only a right-wing politician in the Israeli context—opposing peace with Israel’s neighbors—he is also right-wing in an economic and neo-conservative sense. Like a small child who sneaks into his parents closet, dons a pair of daddy’s shoes and begins walking around the house, Israel’s recently elected Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is attempting to mimic his U.S. and British progenitors—Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher...
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that Israel’s fantasy that it can dictate what Iran may or may not do is so detached from reality that it hardly merits a response.
No Israeli representatives attended the hearing, which Foreign Minister Gideon Saar decried as part of a “systematic persecution and delegitimization” of his entity.
28th April 2025 17:12
Ratszinger
Re: Israel vs Palestine/Lebanon/Iran/Yemen/Syria: a New Middle East War
This is a GROK reply to a question I asked about war earlier today. I am in awe at the detail.Based on available data up to April 28, 2025, here’s an analysis of current skirmishes involving these nations, focusing on direct or significant indirect roles. Note that precise numbers are hard to pin down due to covert operations, proxy conflicts, and differing definitions of "skirmish." I'll provide a count and context for each country, grounded in recent conflicts and their roles, while critically examining the data.
Methodology
Definition: Skirmishes include ongoing armed clashes, insurgencies, or military operations short of full-scale war, where a nation is directly engaged (troops, airstrikes) or indirectly involved (arms, funding, training) with significant impact.
Sources: Drawing from global conflict reports like the Global Peace Index (2024), Crisis Group’s “10 Conflicts to Watch in 2025,” and other analyses, with a focus on 2024-2025 data.
Scope: Only conflicts active as of April 2025 are counted, excluding resolved or dormant ones. Proxy roles are included if a nation’s support is pivotal (e.g., arming a faction central to the conflict).
1. United StatesThe U.S. is involved in several conflicts, often through military aid, counterterrorism operations, or support for allies, but direct troop engagements in skirmishes are limited compared to past decades.Middle East:Yemen (Houthi Conflict): U.S. conducts airstrikes and provides intelligence/logistical support to Saudi-led coalition against Iran-backed Houthis, with ongoing clashes in 2024-2025. Counts as one skirmish due to U.S. military actions.
Iraq/Syria (ISIS Remnants): U.S. maintains ~900 troops in Syria and ~2,500 in Iraq, conducting occasional airstrikes and supporting local forces (e.g., SDF, Iraqi forces) against ISIS pockets. Counts as one skirmish, as clashes are sporadic but ongoing.
Africa:
Somalia (Al-Shabaab): U.S. supports Somali government with drone strikes, training, and ~450 troops against Al-Shabaab insurgents. Counts as one skirmish due to direct U.S. military strikes in 2024.
Sahel (Jihadist Insurgencies): U.S. provides training, intelligence, and equipment to local forces in Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso against jihadist groups. While direct combat is minimal post-2023 Niger withdrawal, U.S. support remains significant. Counts as one skirmish due to ongoing clashes and U.S. backing.
Ukraine (Support Role): U.S. provides massive military aid (~$75 billion since 2022) to Ukraine against Russia, including weapons used in frontline skirmishes. No direct U.S. troops in combat, so this is a borderline case. Not counted as a skirmish due to lack of direct involvement, but noted for context.
Total U.S. Skirmishes: 4
Direct: Yemen, Iraq/Syria, Somalia (airstrikes, troops).
Indirect: Sahel (support role pivotal to ongoing clashes).
Critical Note: U.S. involvement is often overstated in proxy conflicts; its role is significant but not always decisive. Covert operations (e.g., CIA activities) may inflate this count but lack public data.
2. Russia
Russia’s involvement centers on its war in Ukraine, Syria, and growing influence in Africa, with a mix of direct and proxy roles.Ukraine:Eastern Ukraine/Donbas Clashes: Beyond the full-scale war, smaller-scale skirmishes occur along frontlines (e.g., Kharkiv, Donetsk). Russia’s direct troop involvement makes this one skirmish, though it’s part of a larger war.
Middle East:Syria (Post-Assad Clashes): After Assad’s fall in 2024, Russia maintains bases and supports new regimes against rebel factions, with limited clashes involving Russian forces or mercenaries (e.g., Wagner remnants). Counts as one skirmish.
Africa:Central African Republic (CAR): Russian Wagner mercenaries (~1,000) support the government against rebels, engaging in active clashes in 2024-2025. Counts as one skirmish.
Mali (Jihadist Insurgency): Russia provides Wagner mercenaries and arms to Mali’s junta, fighting Tuareg rebels and jihadists. Counts as one skirmish due to direct Russian contractor involvement.
Sudan (Civil War): Russia backs the Sudanese Armed Forces with arms and Wagner support against Rapid Support Forces. Counts as one skirmish due to ongoing clashes and Russian involvement.
Total Russia Skirmishes: 5
Direct: Ukraine, Syria, CAR, Mali, Sudan (troops or mercenaries).
Critical Note: Russia’s use of Wagner obscures direct state involvement, potentially undercounting its role. Its influence in Africa is growing, but resources are stretched by Ukraine.
3. China
China avoids direct military engagement, focusing on economic influence and limited peacekeeping or proxy support. Skirmishes are rare.South China Sea:Philippines Clashes: China’s coast guard and maritime militia engage in low-level confrontations (e.g., water cannons, ramming) with Philippine vessels over disputed reefs. Counts as one skirmish due to ongoing, armed incidents in 2024-2025.
India-China Border:Ladakh Skirmishes: Sporadic clashes along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) persist post-2020 Galwan clash, with minor incidents in 2024 involving troops but no fatalities. Counts as one skirmish due to active military standoffs.
Africa/Other:No significant direct or proxy roles in African insurgencies or other conflicts. China’s arms exports (e.g., to Sudan) are notable but not pivotal to ongoing skirmishes.
Total China Skirmishes: 2
Direct: South China Sea, India border (low-intensity military actions).
Critical Note: China’s restraint in direct conflict reflects its economic focus, but maritime actions risk escalation. Its global influence is often overstated in military terms.
4. United Kingdom
The UK’s involvement is limited, focusing on support roles and counterterrorism, with fewer direct engagements than the U.S. or Russia.
Middle East:Yemen (Houthi Conflict): UK provides arms and logistical support to Saudi-led coalition, with occasional naval operations against Houthi attacks on shipping. Counts as one skirmish due to indirect but significant support for ongoing clashes.
Iraq/Syria (ISIS): UK conducts airstrikes and maintains ~400 troops in the region supporting anti-ISIS operations. Counts as one skirmish due to sporadic but active involvement in 2024.
Africa:Somalia (Al-Shabaab): UK supports Somali forces with training and intelligence, but no direct combat. Not counted as a skirmish due to minimal direct role.
Ukraine:
UK provides significant military aid (£3 billion annually) to Ukraine, but no troops in combat. Not counted as a skirmish.
Total UK Skirmishes: 2
Direct: Iraq/Syria (airstrikes).
Indirect: Yemen (support role).
Critical Note:
The UK’s role is often aligned with the U.S., but its direct military footprint is smaller. Covert SAS operations may exist but lack public evidence.
5. Israel
Israel is heavily involved in regional conflicts, primarily against Iran-backed groups, with direct military actions.
Middle East:Gaza (Post-Hamas Clashes): After major 2023-2024 operations, Israel faces sporadic clashes with Palestinian factions in Gaza. Counts as one skirmish due to ongoing low-level fighting in 2025.
Lebanon (Hezbollah): Israel conducts airstrikes and ground incursions against Hezbollah, with frequent clashes in 2024-2025. Counts as one skirmish.
Syria (Iran-Backed Militias): Israel launches regular airstrikes targeting Iranian proxies and weapons transfers, with occasional ground clashes. Counts as one skirmish due to active operations.
West Bank (Palestinian Militants): Israeli forces engage in raids and clashes with Palestinian groups, ongoing in 2024-2025. Counts as one skirmish. T
otal Israel Skirmishes: 4
Direct: Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, West Bank (airstrikes, ground operations
Critical Note: Israel’s actions are often preemptive, targeting Iran’s network, but risk regional escalation. Its conflict intensity is high but geographically confined.
This part is all me. We should be asking ourselves who profits by replenishing all these arms and ammo being used and I asked that of GROK also! The answer in my next post
28th April 2025 17:35
Ratszinger
Re: Israel vs Palestine/Lebanon/Iran/Yemen/Syria: a New Middle East War
Below is a list of key players profiting from arms/ammo sales to the identified skirmishes, organized by country, with companies and other actors where applicable. Each entry ties to specific conflicts and notes the nature of their involvement.
1. United StatesGovernment/Military-Industrial Complex:
Role: World’s largest arms exporter, with 43% of global arms exports (2020-2024). Supplies weapons to 107 countries, including Yemen, Iraq/Syria, Somalia, Sahel, Ukraine, and Israel. Record $318.7 billion in arms sales in 2024, up 29% from 2023, driven by Ukraine and Gaza. Provides $17.9 billion in aid to Israel (2023-2024) and $75 billion to Ukraine, much of which funds U.S. contractors.
Profit: Massive defense budget ($816 billion in 2023) and export revenue fuel private firms. Aid to allies often mandates purchases from U.S. companies.
Key Companies:
Lockheed Martin: World’s largest arms producer, $67 billion in arms revenue (2023). Supplies F-15s, missiles to Israel; Javelin missiles to Ukraine.
Raytheon (RTX): $30 billion in arms sales (2023). Provides missiles (e.g., AIM-120) to Ukraine, Israel, Saudi Arabia for Yemen.
Boeing: $24 billion in arms revenue. Sells Apache helicopters, bombs to Israel, Saudi Arabia.
General Dynamics: $22 billion. Supplies tanks, ammo to Ukraine, Israel.
Northrop Grumman: $20 billion. Drones, munitions for U.S. operations in Iraq/Syria, Somalia.
Profit Note: U.S. firms dominate, with 41 of the top 100 global arms suppliers, holding 51% of total arms revenue ($632 billion in 2023). Ukraine and Gaza wars boosted 2024 sales.
Critical Note: U.S. arms sales are often tied to geopolitical strategy (e.g., countering Iran, Russia), but critics argue they fuel human rights abuses (e.g., Yemen, Gaza). Data may underreport covert CIA arms flows.
2. Russia
Government/Military-Industrial Complex:Role: Third-largest arms exporter (10.5% global share, down 64% from 2015-2019 due to Ukraine war). Supplies arms to Syria, CAR, Mali, Sudan, and India (for India-China/Pakistan skirmishes). Uses Wagner mercenaries to secure contracts in Africa. Exports cheaper weapons, appealing to budget-constrained states.
Skirmishes: Ukraine (Donbas), Syria (post-Assad), CAR (rebels), Mali (jihadists/Tuareg), Sudan (civil war).
Profit: Two state-owned firms (Rostec, Almaz-Antey) saw 40% revenue jump to $25.5 billion in 2023, driven by Ukraine war production. Exports to India (23% of Russian arms) and Africa generate billions.Key
Companies:
Rostec: State conglomerate, $20 billion in arms sales (2023). Produces Kalashnikov rifles, tanks for Ukraine, Syria, Africa.
Almaz-Antey: Air defense systems (S-400) for India, Syria. Smaller but growing revenue.
Wagner Group (Mercenaries): Not a traditional company but profits via arms deals and resource extraction in CAR, Mali, Sudan. Estimated $1-2 billion annually.
Critical Note: Sanctions limit Russia’s exports, forcing reliance on allies like India and illicit channels. Rostec’s profits are state-controlled, obscuring private gains. Data on Wagner’s role is speculative.
3. China
Government/Military-Industrial Complex:
Role: Sixth-largest arms exporter (5-6% global share). Supplies drones, small arms to Pakistan (for India-Pakistan skirmishes), South China Sea allies (e.g., Philippines adversaries), and African states (e.g., Sudan). Focuses on cost-effective weapons, competing with Russia.
Skirmishes: South China Sea (Philippines), India-China border (Ladakh), Sudan (civil war, indirectly).
Profit: Arms exports worth $2-3 billion annually, with growing demand in Africa/Asia. Domestic production for border clashes adds to state revenue.
Key Companies:
Norinco: State-owned, produces small arms, artillery for Pakistan, Sudan. Revenue ~$10 billion (2023).
CASC (China Aerospace): Drones (e.g., CH-4) for South China Sea, Africa. ~$5 billion in arms sales.
AVIC: Fighter jets, drones for export. Smaller but growing role.
Critical Note: China’s arms trade is opaque, with state control masking profits. Its role in skirmishes is smaller but growing, especially via drones. Western sources may exaggerate China’s influence to justify containment policies.
4. United KingdomGovernment/Military-Industrial Complex:
Role: Fifth-largest arms exporter (~3-4% global share). Supplies arms to Saudi Arabia (Yemen), Iraq/Syria (anti-ISIS), and Ukraine (via aid). £3 billion annual aid to Ukraine funds UK-made drones, munitions.
Profit: Arms exports ~$5 billion annually, plus domestic contracts from Ukraine aid.
Key Companies:
BAE Systems: $25 billion in arms revenue (2023). Supplies Typhoon jets, munitions to Saudi Arabia (Yemen), Ukraine.
Roll Royce: Defense division (~$2 billion) provides engines for UK operations in Iraq/Syria.
Critical Note: UK’s role is smaller, often tied to U.S.-led coalitions. Profits are significant but dwarfed by U.S. firms. Data on covert arms flows is limited.
5. IsraelGovernment/Military-Industrial Complex:
Role: Niche arms exporter (~2% global share), focusing on high-tech weapons (drones, missiles). Supplies India (for Pakistan/China skirmishes), and domestic production fuels Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, West Bank conflicts. Receives $17.9 billion in U.S. aid, much spent on Israeli firms.
Skirmishes: Gaza, Lebanon (Hezbollah), Syria (Iran proxies), West Bank, India-China/Pakistan (via India).
Profit: Arms exports ~$1.5 billion annually, with domestic production (e.g., for Gaza) adding $2-3 billion.
Key Companies:
Elbit Systems: $5 billion in revenue (2023). Drones, munitions for Gaza, Lebanon, exported to India.
Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI): $4 billion. Missiles, drones for domestic use, India.
Rafael Advanced Defense Systems: $3 billion. Spike missiles, Iron Dome for Israel, exports.
Critical Note: Israel’s profits are tied to U.S. aid and regional conflicts. Its high-tech exports are lucrative but small-scale. Critics highlight human rights concerns in Gaza, Lebanon.
Other ActorsEuropean Countries (Non-UK):
France: Second-largest exporter (11% global share). Supplies arms to Ukraine, Sahel, Yemen (via Saudi Arabia). Companies like Dassault, Thales profit (~$15 billion combined).
Germany: Rheinmetall ($8 billion in 2023) supplies ammo, Leopard tanks to Ukraine, Sahel.
Profit: European firms saw revenue spikes from Ukraine war (e.g., Rheinmetall up 15%).
South Korea: Emerging exporter, supplying Poland, Norway (for Ukraine aid). Hanwha, LIG Nex1 profit (~$7 billion total).
Illicit Actors:Warlords/Mercenaries:
Profit from black-market arms in Somalia, Sudan, CAR. Estimated $1-2 billion annually, but data is speculative. Sanctions Evaders: Russia, Iran use third countries (e.g., Turkey) to funnel arms to Sudan, Syria. Profits unknown but significant.
Critical Note: Illicit trade is underreported; Western sources focus on legal exports, potentially ignoring black-market flows.
Me again. These wars are nothing more and nothing less than a giant international arms sale and ammo sale frenzy! A profit scam! I always heard war was profitable now we know how.
28th April 2025 19:02
Ravenlocke
Re: Israel vs Palestine/Lebanon/Iran/Yemen/Syria: a New Middle East War
Re: Israel vs Palestine/Lebanon/Iran/Yemen/Syria: a New Middle East War
Scott Ritter acknowledges that most USA congress members know little of Israel & Palestine history, they're just believers of the zionist evanlegicals' prophecy regarding Armageddon.
(Personal note: I've concluded by now that this 'prophecy' is an insertion by the zionists to manipulate western Christians into ethnic cleansing of Palestinians. One factor in stopping this genocide will be to expose that monstrous 'religious' belief.)
Re: Israel vs Palestine/Lebanon/Iran/Yemen/Syria: a New Middle East War
Text:
‼️🇺🇸 Earlier today, the U.S. Navy reported an F/A-18E Super Hornet and a tow tractor were lost overboard from the USS Harry S. Truman while operating in the Red Sea.
According to official reports, the aircraft was being moved in the hangar bay when control was lost, sending both into the sea. One minor injury was reported. An investigation is underway.
However new satellite imagery (photo) may suggest a much bigger story.
The USS Harry S. Truman appears to have performed an emergency turn on April 27th to evade a large-scale Yemeni missile and drone attack. The maneuver was so severe it could have caused the loss of the Super Hornet.
If true, this indicates that:
• U.S. carrier group air defenses (including escort ships) failed to intercept the incoming attack.
• USN assets were vulnerable enough to force a last-resort emergency maneuver.
• Ansarullah have reached a new level of operational pressure against forces in the Red Sea.
As shown in the video, emergency maneuvering of a nuclear aircraft carrier is extremely stressful on crew and equipment and only undertaken as a last resort.
It’s a major signal that the Red Sea is no longer safe waters for U.S. ships. #USA
Re: Israel vs Palestine/Lebanon/Iran/Yemen/Syria: a New Middle East War
Quote:
Posted by bojancan
Interesting article from 1996... in WRMEA / Washington Report Middle East Affairs /...
Following Thatcher, one of Netanyahu’s goals is to introduce an aggressive policy of privatization...
Yes, that article summed up what it means to install Fascism. It's privatization. Its work will be complete when Nestle gets us to kill each other over a glass of water.
Comparatively, to the numerous conflicts Ratszinger posted, the ones based from English-speaking countries are up to exactly this.
In tandem, Zionism comes from the footnotes to the Geneva Bible. One can find that King James vehemently opposed this. After he passed away, the publication that bears his name adapted those footnotes. Really disrespectful. This metastasized in Britain, came to the U. S. with the Pilgrims, and was ardently followed by the second if not first president of Yale University. One will then also notice ongoing collusion between Britain and some of the Swiss, leading to the Russian Student Groups and Bolsheviks, as well as those early Zionists who achieved a mote of power, that is, opening the door for settlement in the former Ottoman Empire.
Both World Wars were essentially just a "maneuvering" for the formative stages of transnational private interests.
I just saw the headline in the local paper.
Poll: One in ten believe our system of "checks and balances" is working.
Let me guess. No one in that group had a income of less than a million.
29th April 2025 03:16
shaberon
Re: Israel vs Palestine/Lebanon/Iran/Yemen/Syria: a New Middle East War
Quote:
Posted by Ravenlocke
The USS Harry S. Truman appears to have performed an emergency turn on April 27th to evade a large-scale Yemeni missile and drone attack. The maneuver was so severe it could have caused the loss of the Super Hornet.
I had no clue that a carrier could bank that hard.
Only 9/11 is more unbelievable. Under most normal circumstances, I would look at the image as fake, it's that bad.
What does it do to the planes that *don't* fall in the sea?
Sooner or later, it will get smoked, the floating graveyard.
29th April 2025 03:58
Ravenlocke
Re: Israel vs Palestine/Lebanon/Iran/Yemen/Syria: a New Middle East War
Quote:
Posted by shaberon
Quote:
Posted by Ravenlocke
The USS Harry S. Truman appears to have performed an emergency turn on April 27th to evade a large-scale Yemeni missile and drone attack. The maneuver was so severe it could have caused the loss of the Super Hornet.
I had no clue that a carrier could bank that hard.
Only 9/11 is more unbelievable. Under most normal circumstances, I would look at the image as fake, it's that bad.
What does it do to the planes that *don't* fall in the sea?
Sooner or later, it will get smoked, the floating graveyard.
Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group F/A-18 Super Hornet Lost at Sea
28 April 2025
MANAMA, Bahrain – USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) lost an F/A-18E Super Hornet assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 136 and a tow tractor as the aircraft carrier operated in the Red Sea, April 28. All personnel are accounted for, with one Sailor sustaining a minor injury.
The F/A-18E was actively under tow in the hangar bay when the move crew lost control of the aircraft. The aircraft and tow tractor were lost overboard.
Sailors towing the aircraft took immediate action to move clear of the aircraft before it fell overboard. An investigation is underway.
The Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group and embarked air wing remain fully mission capable.
The strike group consists of flagship Harry S. Truman, the nine squadrons of Carrier Air Wing 1, three guided-missile destroyers of Destroyer Squadron 28, and the Ticonderoga-class cruiser USS Gettysburg (CG 64).
29th April 2025 04:01
Ravenlocke
Re: Israel vs Palestine/Lebanon/Iran/Yemen/Syria: a New Middle East War
Text:
🇺🇸🚨 Earlier today, the U.S. Navy reported an F/A-18E Super Hornet and a tow tractor were lost overboard from the USS Harry S. Truman while operating in the Red Sea.
According to official reports, the aircraft was being moved in the hangar bay when control was lost, sending both into the sea. One minor injury was reported. An investigation is underway.
However new satellite imagery (photo below) may suggest a much bigger story.
The USS Harry S. Truman appears to have performed an emergency turn on April 27th to evade a large-scale Yemeni missile and drone attack. The maneuver was so severe it could have caused the loss of the Super Hornet.
If true, this indicates that:
• U.S. carrier group air defenses (including escort ships) failed to intercept the incoming attack.
• USN assets were vulnerable enough to force a last-resort emergency maneuver.
• Ansarullah have reached a new level of operational pressure against forces in the Red Sea.
As shown in the video below, emergency maneuvering of a nuclear aircraft carrier is extremely stressful on crew and equipment and only undertaken as a last resort.
It’s a major signal that the Red Sea is no longer safe waters for U.S. ships.
29th April 2025 18:12
Richter
Re: Israel vs Palestine/Lebanon/Iran/Yemen/Syria: a New Middle East War
Scott Ritter: Reality Hits Hard: Yemen Targets the U.S. Navy - Trump’s Wake-Up Call in Ukraine - Iran Negotiations (1:21:03)
Excellent!!!
Re: Israel vs Palestine/Lebanon/Iran/Yemen/Syria: a New Middle East War
The Al Qaeda regime in Damascus is in talks with the U.S. to lift the sanctions on Syria, months after the U.S., Israel and Turkey orchestrated the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad, and put Abu Mohammed al-Jolani in power. Now, their puppet is fulfilling his role and promising normalization with Israel and support for “counterterrorism” efforts.
Kevork Almassian, Host of Syriana Analysis, noted that a major concern right now is how the U.S. is planning to weaponize the foreign fighters in Syria, not only against Iran and its allies in the region, but also in Central Asia against Russia and China.
US Sets Stage to Weaponize Foreign Fighters in Syria Against Iran, Russia, China | Kevork Almassian
Re: Israel vs Palestine/Lebanon/Iran/Yemen/Syria: a New Middle East War
The non-Israeli harming Al Qaeda is at it again with the non-Israeli harming Druze:
Quote:
At least a dozen people were killed in clashes between HTS-led regime forces and the Druze community in the south of the Syrian capital of Damascus.
At least a dozen people were killed in a predominantly Druze town near the Syrian capital on Tuesday in sectarian clashes between Druze gunmen and Sunni gunmen.
Reuters reported that the fighting marked the latest episode of deadly sectarian violence in Syria, where fears among minorities have been swelling since former president Bashar Al-Assad was ousted in December. Opposition groups installed an interim government to replace the Assad government.
Such fears spiked after the killing of hundreds of Alawites in March in apparent revenge for an attack by Assad loyalists.
The latest clashes began overnight when gunmen from the nearby town of Maliha and other predominantly Sunni areas converged on the mostly Druze town of Jaramana, south east of Damascus, said HTS-led regime's security sources. The fighting, with small and medium arms fire, killed 13 people, according to local rescue workers.
Meanwhile, the very harmful United States is being called a murderer:
Quote:
The United Nations says it’s deeply alarmed by US airstrikes on Yemen, including the targeting of a detention center housing African migrants in Sa’ada governorate.
Nearly 70 inmates were killed and more than 50 more wounded in a US airstrike that targeted one of the detention centers designated for African migrants in Sa’ada province on Monday.
The UN chief’s spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric, said the airstrikes “pose a growing risk to the civilian population” in the Arab country, including women and children.
“We’re saddened by the tragic loss of life, where many of these migrants are believed to have been killed and injured,” Dujarric told reporters.
“We continue to call [on] parties to uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law, including the protection of civilians,” he added.
Dujarric stressed that Yemen’s hospitals are being overwhelmed due to the high number of injured, many of whom are critically wounded.
The deadly US airstrike has drawn widespread condemnation.
Iran strongly condemned the airstrike, calling the continued US attacks on Yemeni civilians and infrastructure a war crime.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei lashed out at the United Nations and human rights bodies for remaining silent and indifferent to the US attacks in clear breach of law and repeated violation of Yemen’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Yemen's Ansarullah movement also denounced the strike as a "brutal crime," accusing Washington of deliberately targeting civilians under the guise of military operations.
In reaction to the atrocities committed by Israel in Gaza and the aggression of the US and UK against Yemen, the Yemeni Armed Forces have initiated a series of strikes aimed at Israeli, American, and British interests in the Red Sea and adjacent regions.
Yemeni naval and air force units conducted a joint operation against the Nimitz-class vessel of the United States Navy and other American warships, using several homegrown cruise and ballistic missiles as well as combat drones.
Spokesman for the Yemeni military, Brigadier General Yahya Saree, stated that the attacks came in reprisal for deadly US airstrikes.
He added that the Yemeni Armed Forces will continue to pursue and target the US Navy vessel and all hostile warships in the Red and Arabian Seas unless the ongoing aggression against Yemen ceases.
30th April 2025 08:20
Rizotto
Re: Israel vs Palestine/Lebanon/Iran/Yemen/Syria: a New Middle East War
Interesting discussion on the potential Israeli involvement in the recent explosions at Iran's sea port.
Re: Israel vs Palestine/Lebanon/Iran/Yemen/Syria: a New Middle East War
Adding this video here... with Pepe... from Helvetic's thread searching for the truth... I am so utterly agreeing with Pepe... regarding this man... Trump!
Pepe Escobar: Yemen Hits Back, China's Response, Iran’s Resolve, Russia’s Strategy — U.S. on Alert
