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Analysis of Iran, Syria and Lebanon in relation to the US and Israel
by Joseph Earnest November 22, 2011
Newscast Media TEHRAN -- Iran has become the recent focus of attention from the West, and the country does have rich heritage that dates back thousands of years. As the founder of the Qajar dynasty in Iran, Aga Khan chose Tehran as the capital of the Persian Empire in 1795, largely due to its locale, and has remained the capital to this very day. Tehran's bazaar is legendary and one of the largest in the world. The symbol of Iran is the Shahyad (Freedom) Tower built in 1971 during the reign of the last shah.
Iran has been able to insulate itself from the trappings of the West and has firm control of its banking system and inexhaustible natural resources that enable its economy to sustain itself, regardless of sanctions imposed upon it. Iranians also consider themselves Persians rather than Arabs.
DAMASCUS - SYRIA
The name alone evokes fairy tales, yet in spite of European influences, the Syrian capital has maintained its Eastern look. The streets and bazaars of Damascus still preserve an ancient charm. The region has for millennia been an important link between Persian East and Mediterranean West.
Damascus' ancient souk is a vast, arcaded expanse devoted to trade. With its craftsmen, merchants and winding lanes, the souk is truly the heart of the city. The Turkish baths are a very popular destination for tourists.
Despite the historic and cultural richness of the country, Syria has to deal with the threat of war that could occur before the end of this year. Iran has pledged its support for Syria, and Tehran has issued a stern warning to any country contemplating an attack on its ally.
BEIRUT - LEBANON
Once acclaimed the Paris of the near East, Beirut is yet to recover its former splendor. Historically, Beirut has served as a bridge between the Middle East and Europe. Prior to the recent emergence of violence Beirut has made great strides toward regaining its position of influence. Beirut's unique flair has always blended Western influences and its Middle Eastern location.
The Lebanese would like their capital to return to the golden years of the 1960s when it was a flourishing commercial city, a financial metropolis, and a gateway between European and Arab culture. Downtown Beirut is still heavily damaged from previous wars and just when the Lebanese thought rebuilding would commence, the citizens of Beirut, in July 2006 were forced to confront the reality of life as a war zone.
Despite the rumors of war against Syria which would mean that Lebanon would be next in line to be attacked, according to Gen. Wesley Clark, the young and old gather at Pigeon's Rock, the most romantic site spot in the country, that is famous for its high coastal cliffs into the sea, and try to forget about the impending doom that may or may not occur in the region.
Yet there is a ray of hope for Iran, Syria and Lebanon. Hindu News reported that Russian warships had moved into Syrian waters last weekend to send a serious signal to NATO that Russia will not tolerate any provocation of its allies. The recent apprehension of CIA spies in Lebanon and Iran has also demoralized the West who had been in talks with Syrian rebels to start an uprising against their government, and duplicate what happened in Libya.
Sun Tzu on foreknowledge
The US and Israel do not know how much Iran knows about them. Iran's greatest asset is that they use critical thinking and have a lot of patience. As we read from CIA reports, their patience paid off when they captured CIA spies who had infiltrated Lebanon.
Iranians seem to have taken a page out of Sun Tzu's book, The Art Of War and appear to be a step ahead in the chess game being played.
"In making tactical dispositions, the highest pitch you can attain is to conceal them; conceal your dispositions, and you will be safe from the prying of the subtlest spies, from the machinations of the wisest brains." – Sun Tzu, page 34.
Sun Tzu went on to identify and describe five kinds of spies namely: local spies, inward spies, converted spies, doomed spies and surviving spies. When one has these kinds of spies, Sun Tzu refers to it as "divine manipulation of threads." It is the sovereign's most precious quality.
According to Sun Tzu's description, it appears the captured CIA spies were converted spies and doomed spies. Converted spies are the enemy's spies who are captured and used to work against the enemy who sent them. Having doomed spies means, doing certain things openly for the purpose of deception, and allowing your own spies to know of them, and report what they falsely believe is true back to your enemy. (page 66).
Indeed the CIA confirmed in its most recent report that said its spies were paid informants recruited by the CIA for two distinct espionage rings targeting Iran and the Beirut-based Hezbollah organization, considered by the U.S. to be a terror group backed by Iran.
"Espionage is a risky business," a U.S. official briefed on the developments told ABC News, confirming the loss of the unspecified number of spies over the last six months.
The same report said that spies were nabbed within Iran, as reported by intelligence minister Heidar Moslehi, who announced that more than 30 U.S. and Israeli spies had been discovered and an Iranian television program, which acts as a front for Iran's government, showed images of Internet sites used by the U.S. for secret communication with the spies.
Hezbollah Deputy Secretary General Sheikh Naim Qassem on Tuesday commented on a report concerning the exposure of US Central Intelligence Agency informants in Lebanon, saying:"America is attempting to molest the stability of Lebanon."
King Solomon, the wisest man who has ever lived said: "It does no good to spread a net, when the bird you are trying to catch is watching." Add Comments>>
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