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What To Do In Syria

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Saudi billionaire, Prince Alwaleed Ibn Talal, is the House of Saud frontman.
Wikipedia characterizes Ibn Talal as "the most influential Arab in the world"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Waleed_bin_Talal

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"House of Bush, House of Saud: The Secret Relationship Between The World's Two Most Powerful Dynasties," by Craig Unger
http://www.amazon.com/House-Bush-Saud-Relationship-Dynasties/dp/0743253396

"Did The Saudis Buy A President?"
http://www.salon.com/2004/03/12/unger_2/

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Alan: I am posting the following article not for its intrinsic value but because it reminds me of "What I would do in Syria."  The Obama administration "should" announce to the world "probable cause" that Bashir al Assad is guilty of war crimes. This announcement will be accompanied by non-negotiable demand that Assad surrender himself, within 30 days, to The World Court in the Hague. If Assad refuses to surrender, the United States "will" use drones to hunt Assad and his top officials until he -- and his "Top 50 Enablers" -- have been destroyed. However, before demanding Assad's surrender, the Obama administration will conduct open conversation with the Saudi Royal Family, insisting - in no uncertain terms - that the Saudis contain Assad militarily. Demonstration will be determined "by outcome" and palpable proof that the Assad administration has desisted from the perpetration of war crimes. Any alleged war crimes taking place in future will be ruled upon in absentia. In effect, the United States is fighting another surrogate war for Saudi Arabia. This war -- like others Uncle Sam has fought for the Saudi royals -- is being waged at great cost to the United States, not only in (eventual) blood and treasure, but in degraded public opinion. Every time we wage war in Greater Arabee, Islamics the world over see the United States - rightly or wrongly -- as an oppressor, if not as The Great Satan. Given Saudi Arabia's military capability of restraining (or destroying) Bashir al Assad, it is urgent that the United States devolve this responsibility to the Saudis. In closing, my reason for according "second place" to "Saudi management of the Syrian war" is zero possibility that The House of Saud will do the right, responsible thing. 

Top Afghan Militant Reportedly Killed In U.S. Drone Strike

Protesters in Pakistan shout anti-U.S. slogans during a protest in July against drone strikes in Pakistan's tribal areas.
Arif Ali/AFP/Getty Images
A senior leader of the al-Qaida-linked Haqqani network — considered one of the most dangerous factions fighting American troops in Afghanistan — has been killed in a U.S. drone strike over northwestern Pakistan, officials say.
Sangeen Zadran was among five people killed at a compound in the North Waziristan tribal region when a missile fired from a U.S. drone hit the building, Pakistani intelligence officials said.
Reuters says Zadran was "the operational commander in Pakistan's tribal areas for the Haqqani network, which regularly attacks U.S. forces in Afghanistan from its mountain hideouts in Pakistan."
A Taliban spokesman told The Associated Press that Zadran was still alive, but the BBC quotes officials who say the militant's funeral had already been held in the regional capital of Miranshah.
"Experts say the 45-year-old was viewed as a senior militant leader in both countries and that he is a big loss to the Haqqani group although not irreplaceable.
"In 2011, the US state department added him to its list of specially designated global terrorists, claiming he orchestrated the kidnappings of Afghans and foreigners in the rugged and violent border area.
"He has also been identified as the man who kidnapped a US soldier, Bowe Bergdahl, four years ago — the only known American soldier currently held by Afghan insurgents."

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