Push on Russia not to veto Syria UN vote

William Hague implores UN to pass Syria resolution during impassioned sp...

Assad may start regional war if UN tells him to step down – Gulf sources

DEBKAfile, Political Analysis, Espionage, Terrorism, Security: "Assad may start regional war if UN tells him to step down – Gulf sources "

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U.N. Council urged to act; Syria forces retake Damascus suburbs (with video) | Reuters

U.N. Council urged to act; Syria forces retake Damascus suburbs | Reuters: "U.N. Council urged to act; Syria forces retake Damascus suburbs"

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Syrian troops push back anti-Assad fighters

Russia and Syria's alliance remains resilient

Will Russia veto Syria resolution at U.N.? | Reuters

Will Russia veto Syria resolution at U.N.? | Reuters:

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Assad masses loyal troops in Damascus after he was warned of a military coup

DEBKAfile, Political Analysis, Espionage, Terrorism, Security: "Assad masses loyal troops in Damascus after he was warned of a military coup "

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US anticipates May as tentative date for clash with Iran. Floating SEALs base for Gulf.

DEBKAfile, Political Analysis, Espionage, Terrorism, Security:

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Argentina nabs Iranian-Hizballah cell, aborts third Habad attack.

Argentina has captured a three-man Iranian-Hizballah cell and is hunting for the rest of the network, according to exclusive DEBKAfile sources. Its counter-terror police were a step ahead of attacks plotted against several of the 10 Habad centers in the country, part of a worldwide joint terrorist offensive against Israeli and Jewish targets. Two strikes were thwarted earlier this month in Thailand and Azerbaijan.
The three-man cell was captured in the Argentine resort town of San Carlos de Bariloche, 1,680 kilometers from Buenos Aires, a favorite starting-point for Israeli backpackers touring Patagonia and the Andes. The town is situated on the banks of Lake Naheil Huapi, a major tourist attraction of the Rio Negro district which is famous for its beauty.

Amazing video of life in a revolution: BBC News - Syria crisis: UN Security Council mulls Assad measures

This video is a powerful snap shot of life in a revolution. Death to Dictators! Free Syria! Free Iran!

Syrian troops storm Damascus suburb - CBS News

Syrian troops storm Damascus suburb - CBS News:

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China says EU ban on Iran oil not constructive | Reuters

China says EU ban on Iran oil not constructive | Reuters:

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Jerusalem concerned: Saudi Air Force to outnumber Israel's advanced US jet fleet

DEBKAfile, Political Analysis, Espionage, Terrorism, Security:

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Azerbaijan foils Iranian-Hizballah terror strike against Israel targets and Habad

DEBKAfile, Political Analysis, Espionage, Terrorism, Security: "Azerbaijan foils Iranian-Hizballah terror strike against Israel targets and Habad "

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Exclusive: New U.S. Commando Team Operating Near Iran | Danger Room | Wired.com

Exclusive: New U.S. Commando Team Operating Near Iran | Danger Room | Wired.com: "Exclusive: New U.S. Commando Team Operating Near Iran"

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Netanyahu: Iran has decided to become a nuclear state. Action needed before it is too late.

DEBKAfile, Political Analysis, Espionage, Terrorism, Security:

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Iran's Al Qods cells for Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Kuwait to hit oil and US targets

DEBKAfile, Political Analysis, Espionage, Terrorism, Security:

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In Syria town, protesters and army play cat and mouse (a good short read)

"Soldiers with sniper rifles line building tops in Duma, near Damascus, following the movement below. Down the street, locals position defenses: flaming barricades of trash, rocks and garbage cans."

"Small groups of residents make their way to the edge of Duma's main avenue: the "kill zone," well within range of the rooftop snipers. Men huddle at the doorway of the central mosque, planning their exit, fearful of being shot at as they leave. The chants and encouraging calls of the protesters grow louder until, mustering courage, the men leap out in groups, hurling themselves across the avenue and into the relative safety of the alley opposite to join the protesting crowd.

The armed forces seem on edge; the first protesting voices, just 10 or so people, are enough to prompt gunfire. Ten yards from the mosque, a middle-aged man steps out of his shop onto the street. A bullet hisses by, just above his head, smacking into the wall of the store. He jumps back inside. Their adrenaline high, shouting "Freedom!" at the top of their lungs, people swell the crowds in the alleys. Soon each tributary to the central avenue has groups of 100 men or more, shouting. Some keep their identities hidden with balaclavas or by painting their faces with the colors and pattern of the pre-regime Syrian flag."

A pan-Arab body called Sunday for the immediate withdrawal of the Arab League monitors in Syria because President Bashar Assad's regime has kept up killings of government opponents even in the presence of the observers

"The killing of children and the violation of human rights law is happening in the presence of Arab League monitors, raising the fury of Arab people,"
-Kuwaiti head of the Arab Parliament, Ali Salem al-Deqbasi

12-31-11: US sanctions on Iran's central bank. Tehran has called this an act of war.

"On the last day of 2011, US President Barack Obama Saturday signed into law measures penalizing foreign financial institutions doing business with Iran's central bank, Bank Markazi - the toughest sanctions imposed yet over Iran's development of a nuclear weapon. In recent weeks Tehran has repeatedly warned that it would deem the signing of this measure an act of war and respond with drastic steps including the closure of the Strait of Hormuz."