Third Saturday Seminar 2017-2018

Return of the Elders, Unleash your Wisdom

Session 8

“Israel & Iran’s Shadow War”

“Can open conflict between antagonistic countries be managed?”

Don’t (be) Panic(ked)

Saturday, 19 May 2018 9:30AM to 12:00 NOON (3d Saturday))

Room B-102, (the usual place), Lone Star College – Montgomery
3200 College Park Drive – Conroe, TX – 77384 – 936.273.7000

This is the Eighth Session of the Third Saturday Seminar for the 2017-18 Academic Year.

INTRO

Two weeks ago (30 April) I received an email telling me about an enormous explosion in Syria at an Iranian Base that registered as a magnitude 2.6 earthquake. That got my attention.  Nothing had been reported in the American press.  I was curious.

Going online I found “New Syria Strikes Cause Earthquake As Israel Drops ‘Intelligence Bombshell’ About Iran” 

Here’s an excerpt: “This latest bombardment occurred late on April 29, 2018, reportedly hitting the Syrian Arab Army’s 47th Brigade military base and arms depots in Salhab, both near the city of Hama, as well as Nairab Military Airport in Aleppo further to the north. On April 30, 2018, Netanyahu held an emergency meeting with his national security cabinet ahead of publicly revealing a trove of documentation regarding Iran’s nuclear weapons development programs, saying it proved Iran had been acting in bad faith despite agreeing to halt its nuclear efforts”  (Some sources say that the existence and contents of the “trove” were well-known to the 6 parties. -Curt)

An earth-shaking strike

“A source representing the pro-Syrian government alliance that includes Iran and its proxies in the country, such as the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, told The New York Times that the strike on the 47th Brigade facilities destroyed approximately 200 unspecified “missiles.” Unconfirmed video from local witnesses that subsequently appeared on social media showed massive explosions. The European-Mediterranean Seismological Center recorded a disturbance registering 2.6 Richter magnitude scale in the same area.”

More here

 

The Take-Away:

Israel and Iran have been dogging each other since Iran consolidated a number of Lebanese jihadist leaning Shi’a Islamist groups into Hezbollah. Hezbollah is both a political and military entity and it forced the Israel Defense Force and the South Lebanese Army out of Lebanon in 1980.  But, things between Israel and Iran may be getting hotter.    Hezbollah along with Amal is one of two major political parties in Lebanon that represent Shiite Muslims.  It is also reported that Hezbollah is supporting Hamas which has the Gaza Strip in an iron grip.

The situation between the Palestinians and the Jews has been a conflict ignition source that has flared up off and on since the early 1900’s, and it has defied resolution through two World Wars and various attempts to resolve it.  The plight of the Palestinians has been used as a justification for jihad for years.  Now Iran has become part of the mix since 1980.

At the moment Russia seems to have been successful in keeping the attacks and responses from blossoming into open warfare, drawing the rest of us in as well.  But Russia has ulterior motives, count on it.

For those who like to read ahead, I suggest the following two  links to get started:

(1 of 2) The following link will take you to a very easy to read analysis of  how Israel and Iran have become so antagonistic towards each other.  It provides plenty of context in a series short paragraphs and pictures as you scroll down the page.  (It prints out to 23 Pages.)  The article is very up-to-date.  Since most of us have actually been alive during much of this “history” you may remember when some of these milestones took place.

Iran and Israel’s Syrian shadow war laid bare

Date 14.05.2018,  Author Chase Winter,  Related Subjects Vladimir Putin, Syria, Iran, Russia, Israel, Dmitry Medvedev, Fatah, Hezbollah,   Keywords Iran, Israel, Russia, Syria, Middle East, Hezbollah

Tensions between archenemies Iran and Israel are soaring in Syria, complicating an already complex civil war and threatening a regional conflagration. Russia may be the only power in a position to contain it.

The dark clouds of war have been rolling on the horizon for years, fought as a shadow war between Iran and Israel in Syria and Lebanon.

Israel is suspected of carrying out scores of airstrikes in Syria in recent years, centered largely on suspected Iranian arms and missile shipments to the Lebanese Shiite group Hezbollah. However, this limited strategy evolved earlier this year into a steady stream of high-profile Israeli attacks that have directly targeted Iranian bases, allied militia and the air defenses of Syrian President Bashar Assad. 

Early May witnessed one of the fiercest exchanges of blows yet between Israel and alleged Iranian forces, as Israel hit dozens of targets in Syria after it blamed Iranian forces for firing rockets into the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights. 

The soaring tensions signal that the conflict between the two regional rivals may escalate further, as Israel seeks to contain and roll back Iran and prevent it from establishing permanent bases in Syria — even at the risk of sparking a full blown war.  

(2 of 2)The following article is a well-annotated timeline of how the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has developed from 1900 to the present.  It is also easy to read with good context to help define the events.  It is important to provide historical context for the Israel-Iran shadow war.

History of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

As usual, our world is still in “interesting times”  We will start the session with Current Events (Distractions)

Think about this: How much wrong do we have to watch until we decide, that we have seen enough, and, decide something must be done

President Donald J. Trump will have been in office for 484 days by Saturday.  There are 171   days to the next mid-term Congressional General election, 6 Nov 2018.  The Run Off  Elections will be 22 May 2018 in 3 days.  Early voting for the Primary Runoffs started Monday,14 May and will end Friday 18 May.  Note Early Voting will be available only for five weekdays.  Polls will be open 7 AM to 7 PM.  The number of polling places will be reduced as a reduced turnout is expected.  PLEASE VOTE

Bring your insights and your concerns to Third Saturday Seminar on Saturday and we will share.

LSC-Montgomery
3200 College Park Drive, Conroe, TX 77384
ALL- Montgomery Links:
Academy for Lifelong Learning: LSC-Montgomery

Registration
Download a registration form and submit it to ALL:
·         In person: LSC-Montgomery (3200 College Park Dr., Conroe, TX 77384), Continuing Education/ALL Office Building E (Room 205)
·         Phone: 936.273.7446

Course Description: Third Saturday Seminars – Fall 2017- 3 Sessions
To refer to an ancient Chinese saying, “our world is in interesting times” and individual citizens are assaulted with a blinding array of propaganda from every conceivable source. The Third Saturday Seminar is about demystification of what is going on around us. Time will also be spent on current events.

Meets 9/16, 10/21, and 11/18 in B-102.

14972 Sa 9/16-11/18 9:30 a.m.-12 p.m. B 102 Gibby

Schedule for other ALL Courses

Downloadable Course book PDF
Montgomery Courses start on page 36.
You can attend ALL courses on all the other campuses by registering for global membership ($55).
ALL Website:  http://www.lonestar.edu/all-montgomery.htm
Registration Form

Campus Maps

“Some part of our being knows this (the universe) is where we came from. We long to return. And we can. Because the cosmos is also within us; We’re made of star-stuff. We are a way for the cosmos to know itself.”  Carl Sagan