BRIEFING BY AMERICAN EMBASSY IN UKRAINE AND FROM POLAND

BRIEFING BY AMERICAN EMBASSY IN UKRAINE AND FROM POLAND

TODAY’S LIVE BRIEFING BY AMERICAN EMBASSY IN UKRAINE AND FROM POLAND

The briefing this morning was to bring the latest information to stake holders in the region along with NGO Intelligence and Security personnel. The briefing covered the Political, Military and Humanitarian issues facing Ukraine and those who have assets within the country.

As was noted by the briefers, everyone was surprised and impressed by how well the Ukraine military has performed by holding the line and in many cases pushing back the Russian forces. One important example is being able to hold Kiev and see the city now coming back to life with business, cafes and other infostructure being rebuilt.

It was noted that Ukraine military is mainly operating with professional solders along. with the backup of reginal security teams set up before the war. Along with the high level of volunteers it is not seen that Ukraine will have a draft or conscription for the military.

One example noted by the briefers was the Ukraine rail system which has for the most part been running with very little interference. The rail system has allowed food, medical supplies, and troops to be moved to the places they are needed.

Politically:

The commitment of President Zelenskyy and his performance has been a big part in the success of Ukraine politically on the International Stage and the military success. He has surprised everyone including Putin, and he is continually calling for the free world to step up with more support particular with weapons.

An overview of the damage to lives and business was presented. Over 7 million citizens within Ukraine have been misplace and 4 ½ million have left the country. Most of the citizens getting out of the country have done so on their own getting to friendly boarders anyway they can. DART teams working out of Poland are on the ground in Ukraine working on opening transportation lines that are more secure. At this point there are 3.5 million unemployed and 25% of the companies are no longer working.

There are 1000 aid workers on the ground in Ukraine working on logistics and getting supplies where they are needed. The ongoing problem even in some of the more secure areas is the unpredicted missiles or bombs Russia can still send into these areas.

What has this war cost Ukraine and what are some of the top concerns now. There has been a high cost to the economy with the first quarter GDP down 16% with an anticipated 40% drop over the year ahead. One of big concerns now is Food Security and transportation for it. As the Russian army has been pushed back from Kiev, they have mined a lot of the roads which makes moving supplies and people a high risk. Work is being done to start mine removal, but it will be a major task to complete, particular with the war still going on.

The question was raised with the use of Smart Weapons, what is the possibility that Putin could attack his neighbors on the NATO side. The briefers felt this was very low with Putin not wanting a fight with NATO. The risk would be that a missile went off course and landed in another country, but the feeling is the Russian military will be wary of that and working to avoid it.

The possibility of Belarus entering the war with troops was discussed and discounted due to the small military, about 40,000 soldiers in Belarus army. The president of Belarus is under the thumb of Putin but seems to be settled on letting Russia use the country for troops and entry to Ukraine but not risking direct involvement that might have repercussions from Ukraine.

There are reports that both Belarus and Chechnya solders are in Ukraine fighting the Russians.

Of big concern is the health care system with at least 25% of the hospitals, clinics, etc. being damaged or destroyed. The current issue is the medical supplies and medicine that is needed and the difficulty of the coordination of movement with the war going on.

Private security groups, with their own vehicles and security, out of Poland and other countries have been going in and helping people get out of the country to a safe place. At this point the embassy in Kiev is not open and there no consular services in Ukraine. Contact can be made in Poland where the staff is based at this time.

They alerted any Americans in the country to make sure they make copies of their passports in the event they lose them in most cases they can get out of the country with the copy or on an expired passport. It is unknown at this point when Embassy services might resume in country.

There was much discussion about what Putin will do next. May 9 is a big day in Russia, and it is thought that Putin will be looking for a win of some sort before then. The fact that he is amassing troops along the eastern front could be an indication he will attempt to gain a firmer control over this region to claim a win and look to save face. The assessment of what elements the troop being moved are coming from is not complete at this point. Are they coming from the regular army from other areas, new recruits, or mixture of both? The performance or non-performance, in Ukraine, of both troops and equipment would normally give a leader pause but with Putin who knows

All were in agreement with Putin you never know, and no one has the Chrystal ball that will reveal Putin’s mind. One might surmise that Putin himself does not know what he will do until it happens.

There was a lot more discussion but will end this with the discussion about Putin and his Military officers being charged with war crimes. There was a strong Yes to this question and they said there were multiple groups in government and NGO’S building the necessary files and evidence to support those charges when the war has ended. The briefers said the United States as well as European countries are together in this matter.

There is something we all can do for the people of Ukraine and that is pray for them and for their country and for this war to end.

Until next time be safe. May God Bless the United States of America

Phil Little

 

 

 

ARABIAN/PERSIAN GULF STATUS

The opinion in many parts of the world have shifted a little towards the sanctions slowing down Iran’s nuclear program. This is even coming from Israel and the retiring head of their intelligence agency.

The reason for this is the cut off in some of the material needed and those materials are in the hands of just a few countries who mainly support the sanctions. This is causing many experts to push back the probably date to 2015 from this year or next. With Iran and its leadership you never know.

For the west I think we have to assume that it might be a shorter schedule and with the old saying, plan for the worst and expect the best. This will be something to watch as the year unfolds.

Saudi Arabia has been rewarded for their crack down on terrorist within their borders and controlling them from coming in. (Maybe we could learn something from them on how to stop the illegals at our borders) The American government has lifted the restriction on families of Embassy personnel living in country and now the post to Saudi Arabia can be with family. This is good news for the families and good news for the world as we benefit here from the Saudi Crack down.

The danger on our border and for Americans in Mexico continues. Recently our head of operation in Mexico was kidnapped along with some others while helping with a problem requested by the government. Thankfully he and the others were released after a few days. It was a very difficult few days. We can’t live and travel in fear but we need to be informed before we travel any where today even to a country that is our friend. The current example is Europe with all the threats against Americans in that region. Do your home work before you travel and we can help with that. Contact us for information.

I am praying for a safe 2011 and for Peace to over rule violence.

Be Safe. Phil

DATE LINE ENCINO 7/20

DATE LINE ENCINO 7/20

CONTINUED

Sunnis vs. Shiite

Grand Ayatollah Mohammad Kazem Shariatmadari

It is astonishing to hear a religious leader promote lie and telling you, ‘it is a part of your religion duty,’ and you are doing the right thing.  Khomeini has said, “To promote Shiism taghiya is a gift from providence.”

Helping Ayatollah Khomeini achieve his goal of “Islamic revolution,” Grand Ayatollah Shariatmadari, (1905-1986) openly referred to Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi as ‘Taghoot’ or Iran’s Pharaoh.  By doing so, they took the lid off taghiya that was up to then under a cloak of secrecy.  Under the religion authority, the Shah was designated as “a person against Allah” and therefore they declared, the Shah’s life, his family; his personal wealth belongs to the indigents.  The indigents was later defined as “the Treasury of the Islamic Institution,” and finally the booty of Arab ayatollahs.

It did not matter that Pharaoh called himself the “God,” while Mohammad Reza Shah, was a Muslim and carried out his Islamic duties.

The practice of taghiya raises the obvious question of ‘can the word trust Iran’s government in ant treaty?

Can the West sign any agreement with mullahs and not worry about its integrity?

Marja-I taqlid

Nothing is more threatening to a hierarchical religion than the possibility of ordinary laypeople’s finding their own way into the presence of the gods.” 1

  1. Barbara Ehrenreich Dancing in the Streets (a history of collective joy) Metropolitan Book,

Persian -English dictionary defines:

Marja:        institution, center, or a source

Taqlid:       to copy, to echo, to emulate

Marja-taqlid “source of emulation” was intended as an institute of learning Islamic doctrine however, since changes were not allowed in Islam, in time it turned into an institute of copying the same teaching.

Islam is probably the only monotheistic religion in which scholarly exploration is systematically discouraged, if not forbidden, since rational analysis would not serve the purpose of the despots,” says, Fatima Mernissi, the author of ‘Islam and Democracy.’

Since the option of exploration, debate or criticism was not on the table, the duty of teacher changed from educator to leader (Mojtahid) and learning to compulsory compliance.  Most agreeable Iranian writers, often call it the place where the principal of ‘leave the driving to us,’ renders Iranians resource-less and hampers in the most important decisions.  In time, marja-I taqlid turned into a mandatory place to observe and put into practice.

Sunnis do not practice or have marja-I taqlid.  They learn as they go along.

Hassan Rahnavardi, in his latest book ‘The Establishment of Mafia style Religious Law in Iran”… writes, ‘marja-I taqlid took away the freedom of thinking and striped Iranian society of their rights and self-determination.’

Most agreeable Iranians often call it the place where the principal of ‘leave the driving to us’, renders Iranian Shiite resource-less and hampers in the most important decisions.

Historian Kasravi (1890-1946) 2 once said, “Our nation’s greatest enemy is religion institution whose actions are driven solely by law instead of facts, by blind faith instead of informed knowledge.”

  1. Historian, linguist, and reformer Ahmad Kasravi raised disturbingly accurate questions about the role of Taqlid and Taghiya and highlighted contradictions in Shria.  A forceful voice, Kasravi defended the Iranian constitution that allowed some measures of freedom and democracy.  His bold and informative fact-finding method, his straightforwardness, and his modern and democratic thoughts especially on paper, made him a target for illiterate clerics of his day.  On the morning of April 29, 1945, as Kasravi, was walking to his office, two clergy approached and shot him.  The assailants were Sayyed Nawab Safavi, a member of the Feda-e-yan-e Islam (Islamic martyrs).  Kassravi survived two bullet holes and the stabbing around the neck and face on that day.  However, on March 10, 1946, while he was answering charges of being a “enemy of Islam’ at the ministry of justice, in front of the horrified eyes of the judge and the court attendants the same people gunned him down

TO BE CONTINUED

GEORGE HASSAN REPORTS – The Dream Killers

GEORGE HASSAN REPORTS – The Dream Killers

The Dream Killers

Part one

Do you know that Sunnis adhere to true Islam while Shiites live outside of Islam?

Do you know how the Shiite uses a little known reference in Koran, to lie in order to survive?

For too long writers particularly those in the west have been exceptionally cordial and carefully steered clear of dispute on the role of Shiite Islam in fostering violence.  In doing so, they encouraged a tiny minority of Farsi speaking Arabs in Iran to have their biggest plunder in the history of our civilization.

However, unlike the past generations who relied solely on the accounts from Iran’s Arab clergy whose survival, depended on tragedy telling and the blur boundaries between history and imaginary tale, This generations have physical evidence  by way of Photos, live news, DVD’s, Face book, Twitter, Cell phones of the events as it happens.

It is the hope of this writer that reader will gain knowledge by shedding light on the history unfolding before our eyes and while still fresh with key participants alive.

In rendering an account of unfolding, writer’s aim is not to yield to temptation to distort truth or to make a sense of it.  The mission of this writer is an attempt to shed light on the secretive plot design on Iran.  The means they managed to turn their age-old scheme into reality using Islam as a tool.  It is up to the Iranian people, the West, and particularly the U.S. policy makers to make a sense of what is happening today.  Every reference is made with accurate documentations accessible without compromising the integrity of the source.

While showing step-by-step, day-to-day how a handful of Arab Iranian clergy through use of Shria (the Islamic law), taghiya (permissible lie), Marjae Taghlead (no independent thinking), infallibility, Monafiq (hypocrite) Mehdi (the coming of Arab imam) and Mortad (automatic death sentence if leaving Islam), terrorized, tricked, and prepared naive Iranians for their Islamic revolution and Their ultimate goal of turning Iran into another Arab state.  Finally, to exposes false accounts of prophets and imams that secular Iranians learned and now believe that a single one of them is enough to poison a nation’s mind and impair its capacity to think.

It is express wish of the author to make it plain that the word “Arab” explicitly refers to the Iran’s Farsi speaking Arab Shiite clergy.  Those Arabs who came into Iran around the 16th century with a mission to convert Iranian Sunnis into Shiites, and, in the process conversion, they almost wipe out the entire population.  Nevertheless, the same uncultured, unassimilated, children of the Arab is ruling Iran today.  Moreover, the word Islam is referred to Iran’s Shiite institution.

The cold and heartless killing of Iran’s Sunnis presented a unique opportunity for the Shiite to not only revenge the killing of their Imam Hussein by the Sunnis, but also created an opening to use Iran as a political base to unite “world Shiites” for future encounter with the Sunnis.

Since the new comers spoke Arabic and the Koran was in Arabic, the unschooled, inexperienced, Iranians took the Arab words as part of the Koran or suggestive of connection to the Koran and the Shiite saints.  As the time went on, the Arab mullahs enforced their values, and their laws that were directly out of tribal Arabia, upon the Iranians.  As the numbers of these Arab mullahs grew, so did their power and influence over the government and the unsuspecting Iranians.  Later, in addition to the Sunnis, they added Jews an ‘old foe,’ and Baha’is, a ‘new rival’ to their list of “enemies of Islam.”

Although this was not the first time Iran became a land of easy living for the Arabs, it was the beginning of the use of religion as a political tool and as a core base for their terror on a grand scale and without accountability or restrain.

 

Sunnis vs. Shiite

Here is a brief history of the difference between Shiite and Sunni — and why it is important to know, is embedded in the faith of present Iran, and the future of the world.

The word “Sunni” in Arabic comes from a word meaning “one who follows the traditions of the Prophet”.

The word “Shia” in Arabic means a group or supportive party of people.  They are also called “Shia-ye-Ali”, or “the Party of Ali,” “Ahl-al-Bayt” or “Household of the Prophet.”  Ali is the Shiite ‘First’ imam (leader) and Sunnis ‘fourth.’  1

1.      The differences between the Sunni and the Shi’a are primary, not secondary and are not merely differences in tafsir- (interpretation of Koran), or of fiqh (jurisprudence) says Allamah Khalid Mohammad. The New Encyclopedia Britannica, Jacob E. Safra, Chairman of the Board, 15th Edition, Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc., 1998, ISBN 0-85229-6330, Vol 10, p. 738

1.         Since the prophet had no sons, and did not designate a successor, many of the Prophet’s companions decided to hold an election and agreed that the new leader should be elected from among those capable of the job.  In fact, that is what precisely happened.  They decided in favor of Abu Bakr, Mohammad’s disciple and close advisor from the earliest days, and father of his second wife ‘A’ishah.  Abu Bakr was the most judicious and most senor of all candidates.  He became the first of the so-called ‘four legitimate caliphs’ (Arabic khalifah,” successor”, representative”), of the Islamic nation.

However, here is how both parties view the history of Islam.

According to the Sunnis, 2 history of Islam consisted of 23 years of time of Mohammad, and thereafter 30 years of “rightly guided caliphs,” Abu Bakr (632-634), Omar (634-644), Othman (644-656), and Ali (656-661).  This is what precisely happened.

According to the Shiite, the history of Islam was as follows:  23 years of Prophet Mohammad’s Resalah (the time Mohammad spent in Mecca and Medina), 24 years of ‘rebellion (the era of the first three Caliphs), and 6 years of Ali’s rule.  The Sunnis believe that the Prophet was replaced by a Caliph immediately after his demise and there had been no gap.  2. Allamah Khalid Mahmud, Director, Islamic Academy, Manchester, United Kingdom Translated by Abdurrahman Ishâq

The election of the “rightly guided caliphs” Abu Bakr (632-634), Omar (634-644), Othman (644-656), Ali (656-661), gave hope that the Sunnis aspiration would be the first outstanding contribution to the world democracy by the way of newborn Islam.  The system of “election” that was Sunni’s practical donation to the Islamic world became Shiites thorn-in-the-side and a source of irritation that have caused the everlasting divide.

Shiite declared that only Ali, (the fourth Sunni caliph and the first Shiite imam) Prophet Mohammad’s son-in-law and ‘Alivian’ the direct descendants of ‘Ali’s marriage to the Prophet’s daughter Fatimah, “qualify” as a leader of the entire Muslim community.  This was done, even though Shiite conceded that Ali accepted his predecessor and approved Abu-Bakr’s Caliphate.  After the third caliph was assassinated, Ali became the fourth caliph.  The Shiites broke rank and the split that formed over the years grew into central distinctions that continue to affect the history of the world.

Although Splits among religions is a common cause of violence, no split has led to as much hatred, as much bloodshed as that between the Sunni and Shiite.

Shiite claims that Mohammad elected Ali as his successor and announced it at the gathering of ‘Ghadir-e- Khum.’  Sunni believe that although Mohammad praised Ali at the ‘pond of Khum,’ Prophet did not make any statements as who shall be his successor.  The exact meaning of the praise is subject of interpretation.

What’s more, The Prophet delivered his Farewell sermon in Mecca in front of the largest gathering of Muslims from every city to Hajj, and that would logically be the most appropriate time and place to announce, the appointment of Ali as his successor.  In fact, the entire Muslim Ummat was gathering there to hear his parting words and perhaps the appointment of a successor.

2.         Shiite does not believe that Mohammad fully accomplished what he set out to do therefore; “Mehdi” the Shiite’s absent imam is the one to complete what Mohammad left unfinished.  “This of course is a slap on the face of Sunnis,” says Ahmad Khalid Mahmud.  With regard to the mission of the prophet, Iran’s Shiite leader Ruhollah Khomeini says, 3 The seal of prophethood had come for the reformation of mankind but he was unsuccessful in his time”.  Khomeini also write, “The imam of the time (Mehdi) will come with a message of implementing justice in our lives and he will bring about a change in the entire universe.  This is the obligation and duty in which even the messenger of Islam, Mohammad was not completely successful.”

3. Khomeini, Ittehad va yek jahati, Publication, Farhang Jamhoori Islami P.15 Multan

3.         Infallibility: Shiite thrives on infallibility, while Sunni view infallibility as a sin.  Imam in Sunni has limited authorities, (leading prayers in mosques, explanation of Koranic verses,)

However, Shiite Imam is Infallible.  Shiite imam is head of the entire world Muslim community with godly power and deep knowledge and capacity to convey the word of God.

Fatima Mernissi writes, 4 “one of the ideas that divide Sunnis and Shiites is that the Sunnis do not believe in the infallibility of the imam, for infallibility belongs only to God: no human being, even an imam or caliph, can claim it.  Making mistake is the privilege of human beings and thus makes it impossible to criticize those in power.”

4.                  Fatima Mernissi Islam and democracy p. 109

 

Khomeini anointed himself as an Imam and ordered the killing of Iranian secular.  Through his fatwa, he wiped out Shah’s generals and military personals.  He sent nearly 300.000 twelve and thirteen-year-old boys to war most never made it back.

4.         Taghiya (the permissible lie in Shiite Islam)

When is it O.K. to lie?

When your Bible tells you can lie to survive?

Farsi dictionary defines taghiya as ‘distortion of facts, hide something by pretense.’

Moroccan scholar and author, Fatima Mernissi, in her book “Islam and democracy” writes, 5 “In the Koran, taghiya means “tyrant,” a holder of power that knows no limits.  The concept has various aspects, each as negative as the other.  Sometimes it is a matter of overweening pride that impedes submission (sura 2, v. 14), sometime the despotic megalomania of such as Pharaoh, who is mentioned by name (sura 20, v. 24, 43).  The taghiya is the leader who is contemptuous toward everything, including the divine.”  She also writes “taghiya is a favorite word in the language of modern Islamic fundamentalists; it is the insult they most often throw at the heads of contemporary Muslim leaders”. 5        Fatima Mernissi Islam and democracy 105

In day-to-day life of Sunnis, not only ‘speaking lie’ is not permissible, it is (Haraam) forbidden.  On the other hand, Shiite encourages its followers to do Tághiya (permissible lie) whenever they seem necessary.

In modern days, the 1930,s and on, Iran’s Arab ayatollahs used taghiya on daily bases to mislead Iranian and the Iranian government.  Grand Ayatollahs Kashani, Behbahani, Broujerdi, Khomeini, and today’s supreme leader ayatollah Khamenei, all encouraged and ‘demanded’ Shiite clergy to use taghiya.

Khomeini has repeatedly said, “In times, the distortion of fact is neither a sin nor a vice for the good of Islam.”

  • He also said, “Taghiya is the shield of every faithful and the custodian of every virtuous.”
  • “Those who do not observe Taghiya are those who are non-believers of Islam.”
  • “Allah blesses those who put Taghiya into practice in every circumstance they believe necessary.”
  • “Taghiya covers nine out of ten codes in Islam.”

It certainly did for the innocent Iranians.  It is inconceivable how far an Islamic leader departs from the truth to make his revolution a success by for example, telling the indigents, “everyone is ‘entitle’ to a free home with utilities paid for life.”

That distortion of facts for the spread of Islam has given license to self-appointed Farsi speaking Arab clergy to detain, torture, and execute Iranians.

That distortion of facts for the ‘good of Islam’ has undermined trust of their followers, their neighboring nations, and before long the international community.  More so, it has damaged the image of Islam as a whole and in it has placed the Sunnis who are 90% of the world Muslims and do not subscribe to Taghiya, in the same category.

DATE LINE ENCINO CALIF 20:00 HOURS

Be Alert:

Reports are surfacing in the Middle East Media of an imminent Israeli strike on Iran’s Nuclear facilities. There has been a chart released showing a build up of American forces in the area with the repositioning of the USS Harry S. Truman to the north Indian ocean, not for from the Strait of Hormuz. The USS Dwight D Eisenhower is already in the area and when you take this with the recent clearance of Israeli jets through the Gulf air space and the preparation by the Gulf states to support and perhaps, with their own air power time could be short. Also add in the the recent Fatwa against terrorism by Saudi Arabia, which pits the Muslim Sunni against the more radical Shittie, and the stages are set to blunt a reaction, to a strike,  by the Muslim world to Israel. Saudi Arabia also has the ability to (more…)

Phil Little Reports

There is a lot to watch in the world and many hot spots following is a couple:

New Guinea, There is a risk of travel to Guinea as the political situation remains unpredictable. The country has been calm since January 15 but the potential for violence persists. The U.S. Embassy is open however you should be aware that it could be forced to suspend operations at any time. If you need to ravel to New Guinea or any country on the list contact us for a survey.

Persian Gulf: Alerts have been in place since February 20th particular in Saudi Arabia. An in country warning for Americans to be cautious went out last week. As with any place you travel you should be aware and alert to the local conditions. As long as you are in the main city areas the risk is low. I spend a lot of time there and Riyadh is safer at night then Los Angeles or most large American cities. Be aware as tension mounts with the support for Israel and a possible strike on Iran the radical elements of the Iranian regime might try to target American targets in the Gulf.

A realist time line for a strike on Iran by Israel:

If you believe the experts it could be as short as 6 months to a year that Israel has before Iran has some Nuclear capability. The signs to watch for. The recent clearance and testing by the Saudis to clear Israel jets through their air space point to advanced planning by the Israelis. this would also include the rest of the Gulf states. They will follow Saudis lead. Also for an attack to be successful it would have to take out not only the nukes but the revolutionary Guard command and the top religious leaders. I believe we could see a scenario developing where there could be open support by Saudi jets. For fetched? Read the old testament.

The recent Fatwa by Saudi Arabia, the highest authority in the Muslim world, against terrorism sets the stages to blunt the fall out and possible retaliatory strikes after an Israeli attack. Take this a step further and envision an attack and then a pause, to give the regular Iranian military a chance to take control and remove the radical leadership left and restore the country to the rightful Persian leaders.

The planning going on is massive and involves many pieces of a very complicated mission crossing many countries. I think also we will see Israel and the Gulf states deal with this threat without the United States which appears to the world to be incapability of making decisions to support her friends. The U.S. is also appearing weak and without resolve with leadership that is amateurish to say the least. i will be reporting to you as situations develop.

The most important thing we can do is educate ourselves with the facts about what is going on in the world, just one of us can still make a difference if we become informed and then let our voices be heard to our elected officials.

Be safe.