Waiting for War, A Sectarian Campaign of Disinformation on the Persian Gulf………..
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Saudi and some Kuwaiti media are extensively covering “reports” from “unnamed sources” about the Bahrain government warning neighboring governments of Shi’a cells ready to start terrorist activity in case Iran is attacked. The reports talk of terrorist cells as well as money-laundering cells. Saudi media has especially given wide coverage to these reports in their Arabic editions, but not in their English editions. The reports are vague and only refer to “security sources” without specific names.
Aljazeera (from Qatar) has noticeably ignored this report so far, which seems to indicate that they suspect it may be part of a disinformation campaign not only against Iran, but more seriously aimed at discrediting Gulf Arab Shi’as as Iranian fifth columnists (which has been part of a campaign by some Gulf media).
It is noteworthy that the report originated in Bahrain which is having serious trouble with its Shi’a majority who claim to be oppressed. The island nation in the Persian Gulf is heading toward new elections for the elected half of the legislature (the other half is appointed by the ruling family), and many opposition leaders have been arrested before the elections. It is interesting that such reports start in Bahrain.
Reports about Iranian cells planning terror attacks have come up more than once in the past few weeks. Still, these reports cannot be ignored by Gulf authorities, given the volatile situation in the region and the possibility that the Likud government may initiate attacks on Iran. I suspect that Gulf authorities worry that the United States may be dragged into such a war and that they may be pulled into it and thus ignite terror attacks by Iranian agents.
Cheers
mhg
Mon Email
Saudi and some Kuwaiti media are extensively covering “reports” from “unnamed sources” about the Bahrain government warning neighboring governments of Shi’a cells ready to start terrorist activity in case Iran is attacked. The reports talk of terrorist cells as well as money-laundering cells. Saudi media has especially given wide coverage to these reports in their Arabic editions, but not in their English editions. The reports are vague and only refer to “security sources” without specific names.
Aljazeera (from Qatar) has noticeably ignored this report so far, which seems to indicate that they suspect it may be part of a disinformation campaign not only against Iran, but more seriously aimed at discrediting Gulf Arab Shi’as as Iranian fifth columnists (which has been part of a campaign by some Gulf media).
It is noteworthy that the report originated in Bahrain which is having serious trouble with its Shi’a majority who claim to be oppressed. The island nation in the Persian Gulf is heading toward new elections for the elected half of the legislature (the other half is appointed by the ruling family), and many opposition leaders have been arrested before the elections. It is interesting that such reports start in Bahrain.
Reports about Iranian cells planning terror attacks have come up more than once in the past few weeks. Still, these reports cannot be ignored by Gulf authorities, given the volatile situation in the region and the possibility that the Likud government may initiate attacks on Iran. I suspect that Gulf authorities worry that the United States may be dragged into such a war and that they may be pulled into it and thus ignite terror attacks by Iranian agents.
Cheers
mhg
Mon Email
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