Afghanistan.....
Netanyahu’s goal is to discredit the deal by proving that Iran isn’t taking the terms seriously, and his orders seem to assume that such violations must exist.
The official also acknowledged Netanyahu’s attempts to court the US Congress in an attempt to kill the deal, but insisted they were likewise not particularly concerned he could pull that off, warning Netanyahu is losing support and relevance by his constant complaining.
As the civil war drags on, the Syrian military has increasingly resorted to barrel bombs, makeshift munitions made of an oil barrel filled with explosives and rolled out of the back of an attack helicopter.
Hamid Karzai says US cutting supplies to put pressure on security pact
Nato-led force responds to Afghanistan president: 'There has been no stoppage in the delivery of requested fuel'
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The Afghan president, Hamid Karzai. Photograph: Omar Sobhani/Reuters
The president of Afghanistan, Hamid Karzai, and his national security council have accused the United States of cutting military supplies, including fuel, to put pressure on the country to sign a security pact, a statement from Karzai's palace said on Sunday.
The US embassy in Kabul denied that supplies had been cut. US officials said logistical problems in Pakistan might have given rise to the alleged delays in deliveries. In a statement, the Nato-led force in Afghanistan said: "There has been no stoppage in the delivery of requested fuel and we continue to process all orders as soon as they are received."
Karzai's relationship with the United States has worsened since he invited thousands of elders to vote on the security deal last week and then ignored their advice, which was to sign it promptly. The pact's terms were settled after about a year of wrangling, but Karzai has since added conditions that include the release of all Afghan prisoners from Guantánamo Bay in Cuba and an end to military operations involving Afghan homes.
Karzai's relationship with the United States has worsened since he invited thousands of elders to vote on the security deal last week and then ignored their advice, which was to sign it promptly. The pact's terms were settled after about a year of wrangling, but Karzai has since added conditions that include the release of all Afghan prisoners from Guantánamo Bay in Cuba and an end to military operations involving Afghan homes.
On Thursday, Karzai denounced his Western allies for bombing an Afghan home and killing a child, an accusation the Nato-led force has promised to investigate.
If the bilateral pact is not signed, western aid running to billions of dollars will be in jeopardy and confidence in the fragile economy could collapse amid fears that Afghanistan will slip back into ethnic fighting or civil war. Diplomats said Karzai may have overplayed his hand, raising the risk of a complete US withdrawal from a country where western troops have fought Taliban militants for the past 12 years. Karzai's domestic critics say he is playing a dangerous game with Afghanistan's future security.
On Sunday Dianne Feinstein, the chair of the US Senate intelligence committee, had strong words for Afghanistan's president over his refusal to sign the deal. Feinstein, appearing on CNN's State of the Union talkshow, said she thinks Hamid Karzai "is such a cipher" and added that Karzai was "so much the victim of what thought occurs to him right at the moment based on some anger that he feels about something that may not even be related".
In Kabul, the issue was raised during a Sunday meeting of the Afghan national security council.
"The meeting concluded that the cutting of fuel supplies and support services to the Afghan army and police is being used as a means of pressure to ensure Afghanistan … signs the Bilateral Security Agreement [BSA] with the US," said a statement from the presidential palace.
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Iran.......
Netanyahu Orders Mossad to Find ‘Violations’ to Discredit Iran Deal
Former Military Intel Chief Doubts Violations Are Happening
by Jason Ditz, December 01, 2013
Reports from Israeli military sources say that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered Mossad and Israeli Military Intelligence to find evidence of “violations” of the Geneva deal between the P5+1 and Iran.
Netanyahu’s goal is to discredit the deal by proving that Iran isn’t taking the terms seriously, and his orders seem to assume that such violations must exist.
Retired long-time Israeli military intelligence commander Amos Yadlin isn’t so sure of that at all, saying that he believes Iran “didn’t sign onto this in order to breach it,” and believes Iran likely will abide by the terms of the six month interim pact.
Netanyahu’s opposition to the P5+1 pact is driving Israeli intelligence operations at this point, but hoping to discredit the deal by finding evidence that may not exist of something that likely isn’t happening is a tall order.
and.....
US Official: Netanyahu ‘Desperate’ in Opposition to Iran Deal
Warns Netanyahu's Position Is Costing Him Support
by Jason Ditz, December 01, 2013
Israel’s Channel 10 news has quoted an unnamed “senior White House official” as warning that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s shrill opposition to the P5+1 deal with Iran is coming off as “weak and desperate,” and that the administration is viewing his position as of “no great concern.”
The official also acknowledged Netanyahu’s attempts to court the US Congress in an attempt to kill the deal, but insisted they were likewise not particularly concerned he could pull that off, warning Netanyahu is losing support and relevance by his constant complaining.
Netanyahu shrugged off the comments as well as others from Israeli opposition figures warning he is harming the nation’s international standing, saying he believes Israel’s “security is at stake” by the deal and he won’t remain silent.
Netanyahu has insisted the deal was an “historic mistake” and that Israel doesn’t feel bound by it. This has sparked warnings from multiple P5+1 nations not to do anything to undermine the pact.
Syria......
Syrian Barrel Bomb Strikes Kill 50 in Northern Rebel Town
Bomb Missed Rebel HQ and Hit Crowded Market
by Jason Ditz, December 01, 2013
A pair of barrel bomb strikes have hit the rebel-held town of al-Bab, in eastern Aleppo Province, over the weekend, killing at least 50 people including a number of civilians.
As the civil war drags on, the Syrian military has increasingly resorted to barrel bombs, makeshift munitions made of an oil barrel filled with explosives and rolled out of the back of an attack helicopter.
The barrel bombs are powerful, but notoriously inaccurate, and the bigger of the two strikes reportedly missed the rebel headquarters, landing in a nearby marketplace and killing many bystanders.
Rebels say that the use of barrel bombs has in the past preceded ground offensives against rebel-held towns, but there is so far no indication that an offensive is imminent.
Iraq......
46 Killed, 70 Wounded Across Iraq; Bomber Attacks Sahwa Funeral
by Margaret Griffis, December 01, 2013
At least 46 people were killed and 70 more were wounded in today’s violence. In the bloodiest attack, a suicide bomber struck at a funeral in Diyala province.
In Wajihiya, 12 people were killed and 45 more were wounded in a suicide attack at a funeral for a Sahwa fighter killed late last night. The dead man’s father is a local sheikh and Sahwa leader.
In Baghdad, a sticky bomb killed a government employee in the Adhamiya area. Areal estate agent was killed in a sticky bomb blast in Doura. Five family members were killed in a home invasion. Three policemen were killed and six more were wounded in a blast. Two brothers were gunned down in Bayaa.
A double bombing in Saidiya left six dead and five wounded.
Gunmen in Falluja killed a chieftain and his driver, while also wounding his son and a bystander. A gunman was killed separately.
Two policemen were killed and another was wounded in a small arms attack inRiyadh. Gunmen also killed a civilian and wounded his wife.
An I.E.D. in Husseiniya killed one person and wounded five more.
Gunmen killed a policeman and wounded three more in Tikrit.
In Abu Ghraib a bomb killed a civilian and wounded another.
A sticky bomb in Ramadi killed a civilian and wounded another.
In Mosul, a teacher was gunned down.
The body of a kidnapped Sahwa member was found in Zab.
Gunmen killed a chieftain in al-Hayy.
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