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| Africa North |
| Tribes Threaten to Attack Suez Canal if Mubarak Does Not Step Down |
| 2011-01-29 |
| Bedouin tribesman have reportedly taken control of two towns in the Sinai Peninsula. These two towns are the closest to the Gaza Strip and right next to the border with Israel. There were reports yesterday that Bedouin tribes had besieged a police station in Suez and it appears that these riots have spread. This would effectively end the Mubarak dictatorshipÂ’s control of the region. There are no reports of the Egyptian military stepping in here. The more disturbing news is a threat that has been made by the tribes if Mubarak does not step down. According to one report coming from Time Magazine, they are willing to attack the Suez Canal if Mubarak does not leave. The Suez Canal currently is where a third of the worldÂ’s oil and six percent of all products passes through. A seizure of the Canal could spike oil prices beyond the current $90 level, perhaps over $110. This could come to pass despite the fact that Egypt is not a major oil producer. It has been speculated that the Egyptian army would not allow the Canal, perhaps EgyptÂ’s most important economic element, to be attacked. However, there appears to be little to no protection and one report states that at least one ship has been attacked there. Others have reported fear of passing through due to the unrest. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose |
| #7 The UK no has the Seapower, AIrpower anymore to unilaterally intervene in the Suez widoutNATO andor UNSC support. Again, as per the historical ARAB-ISRAELI STRUGGLE, ETC, RADICAL ISLAM BELIEVES THEY FINALLY HAVE ISRAEL'S B **** IN THEIR CROSSHAIRS, + by extension US-Western influence in the ME + Arab-Muslim World, + strongly doubt the Econ-troubled,"WEAK/DECLINING" Superpower US will be able to stop it short of initiating a MAJOR MILACTION WHICH BY DEFINITION IT CAN NO LONGER AFFORD??? Ditto NATO-EU. IOW, ITO the US "CAN'T" OR "WON'T" BE ABLE TO PROTECT ANDOR STOP ISRAEL FROM BEING SURROUNDED BY PRO-ISLAMIST, NUCLEAR-ARMED?, ANTI-US/WESTERN MUSLIM STATES + various similar REGIONAL, GLOBAL MILTERR GROUPS. INDIRECTLY, THE FALL OF EGYPT TO RADICAL ISLAM ALSO THREATENS THE POSITION OF SAUDI ARABIA. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2011-01-29 22:56 |
| #6 http://theconnection.lucianne.com/Go_to_wall/?userid=canalzone&sid=RS-RD-KQRP-RV-NQOF-MM-ZUFE-GC-RCTW-UQ-SPBW-JE-ZG&Wall_Id=ZX-FZ-XP |
| Posted by: pan 2011-01-29 22:48 |
| #5 A lot of arab and the world's wealth passes through that canal. It wouldn't be very healthy for anyone to threaten it. |
| Posted by: DarthVader 2011-01-29 22:34 |
| #4 Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas masquerading as Bedouin? Seems more likely to me. |
| Posted by: Charles 2011-01-29 22:20 |
| #3 Are they sure they are Bedouins? Coming from Time magazine should be reason enough to double-check. Looks like a perfect situation for that European Rapid Reaction Police Force - multinational, neutral, police rather than soldiers. Shipping through the Suez is a good reason. Another is the Domino Theory. |
| Posted by: swksvolFF 2011-01-29 21:10 |
| #2 for the Bedouins - that would be....unwise. The military may not want to kill unarmed protesters...but armed attackers on their money source? Not smart |
| Posted by: Frank G 2011-01-29 20:50 |
| #1 Now you know why the Saudi's are offering support to Mubarak. The movement of their oil hinges on the Suez Canal being open for business. |
| Posted by: Thravising Clunk4909 2011-01-29 20:29 |