October, 2020

• 9 October

  Robert Malley on the ‘Lack of Change Propelling Change’ in the Middle East

  The Middle East is “a place that is both remarkably impervious to change…and at the same time always sort of on the verge of an explosion, where you always think that something quite catastrophic could happen,” says Robert Malley, president and CEO of International Crisis Group and a former special …

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• 9 October

  With Little Hope for Reform, Lebanon Continues Down the Road to Ruin

  With yet another failed attempt to form a government and no replacement in sight, Lebanon’s future is looking a lot like its bleak past. The prime minister-designate, Mustapha Adib, resigned in late September after nearly a month of fruitless talks to create a Cabinet of technocrats.

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• 9 October

  Consider it a ‘sub-coup’

  Kyrgyzstan held parliamentary elections on October 4. According to the official results, parties close to President Sooronbay Jeenbekov, his family members, and other powerful officials were the only ones that made it into the parliament. On October 5, opposition demonstrators took to the streets and were violently dispersed by riot …

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• 9 October

  Pompeo uses Tokyo visit to slam China, seek Asian allies' support

  U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo visited Japan on Tuesday to rally support from Washington’s closest allies in Asia, calling for deeper collaboration with Japan, India and Australia as a bulwark against China’s growing regional influence.

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• 9 October

  Turkey’s Drone War in Syria – A Red Team View

  Turkey’s armed forces gained worldwide attention when its air force launched a remarkable and innovative airpower show-of-force against Bashir al-Assad’s Syrian Army. As part of a combined air and ground operation, the Turkish air force used its Anka-S and Bayraktar TB2 drones to conduct hundreds of strikes against Syrian Arab …

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• 9 October

  CIA Director Gina Haspel and the British Role in the Anti-Trump Plot

  In the next paragraph, [Washington Post reporter Shane] Harris notes breathlessly: “… Trump has accused the United Kingdom of conspiring with American intelligence to spy on his presidential campaign.” President Trump certainly has made that claim, and one believes for very good reasons that seem to compound weekly.

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• 9 October

  Israel may halt its weapons sale to Azerbaijan, Armenian ambassador says

  Renewed hostilities broke out between Armenia and Azerbaijan on September 27, over the contested Nagorno-Karabakh territory. Israel may halt commercial weapon sales to Azerbaijan, Armenian Ambassador to Israel Armen Smbatyan told The Jerusalem Post, as fighting intensified for the ninth day between the two countries.

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• 9 October

  Turkey decries 'double standard' after Canada halts drone tech sales

  “Turkey expects Canada to follow a policy free of double standards and to act without being influenced from those opposed to Turkey,” its foreign ministry said in a statement. Canada’s decision to suspend exports of some military technology over allegations the equipment was used by Azeri forces in the Nagorno-Karabakh …

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• 9 October

  Benny Gantz signs seizure orders for terror funds

  Amounting to hundreds of thousands of shekels, the orders targeted funds and property given by Hamas and the PA. Defense Minister Benny Gantz has signed four seizure orders for Hamas funds and property that had been transferred to family members of terrorists in Israel on Monday.

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• 9 October

  Saudi ex-intel chief slams Palestinian's criticism of UAE-Israel deal

  “There is something that successive Palestinian leadership historically share in common: they always bet on the losing side, and that comes at a price.”

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