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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWhat Trump's Seven Countries Have in Common---They Are All on PUTIN's Mid East Wish List
We have been so alarmed at Trump for taking a big, old stinky Trump dump on the Statue of Liberty and the U.S. Constitution that we have forgotten who benefits from the executive order. Rather than looking to see what the countries do not have in common ( no Trump business ties) look to see what they have in common.
That is where Russia comes in.
Russia is actively courting the oppressive regime in Iran. No links necessary. And Iran has always wanted control of Iraq, the other big oil producing Shia state. Severing U.S. ties with these two countries by turning away political refugees makes it that much easier for Russian controlled totalitarian regimes to oppress and control the Iraqi and Iranian people. Turning away U.S. military assets from Iraq---such as interpreters---will make it harder for the U.S. to do anything in Iraq since no one will want to work with a country that goes back on its promises and abandons its allies---leaving Russia and Iran free to step into the void.
What about the five smaller countries on the list. Were they chosen at random? I doubt it. I think Putin sent Trump a memo. A wish list. "These are the countries Mother Russia wants. Take care of it."
Here is CNN on the seven countries which Trump/Putin targeted.
http://www.cnn.com/2017/01/29/politics/trump-travel-ban-countries/
Syria. Check. We know that Russia is actively attempting to consolidate control of Syria.
http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2017/01/russia-iran-turkey-game-syria-170126131318559.html
Yemen. Check.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/samuel-ramani/why-putin-is-keeping-a-cl_b_12184874.html
On August 21, 2016, former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh urged Yemens Houthi government to give the Russian military access to all of Yemens bases, ports and airports. To justify this bold policy suggestion, Saleh praised Russian President Vladimir Putins positive attitude in the UN Security Council, and described Russia as Yemens closest kin in the international community.
Somalia. Check.
http://www.ibtimes.com/somalia-seeks-russias-help-fighting-al-shabab-terrorists-strengthening-economy-2355958
Somalia is asking Russia to help equip its armed forces to fight terrorism in the Horn of Africa nation, where Islamic militant group al-Shabab is waging a deadly insurgency against the Western-backed government, according to Sputnik news agency, which is owned and operated by the Russian government. Mogadishu is also seeking Moscows support in strengthening its flagging economy, Somali Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke reportedly said Tuesday at a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov
Sudan. Check
http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article60560
Sudans President Omer Al-Bashir will visit Russia in the coming two months to discuss mutual cooperation, according to the Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Libya. Check.
http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2017/01/russia-endgame-libya-170116061913370.html
In a quick turn of events this week, Libyan military commander Khalifa Haftar met Russian officials in an effort to secure crucial military support that would pave the way for his control of the North African country.
Haftar visited a Russian aircraft carrier off the coast of Tobruk from where he held a video conference with Russian defence minister Sergey Shoigu. Italian State TV RAI reported that Haftar signed an agreement whereby Russia would build two military bases near Tobruk and Benghazi.
Why might Putin want to control seven Middle Eastern countries? Oil. If you add up Russia, Iran, Libya and Iraq, you come up with a world oil superpower. But oil doesn't do you much good if you can not ship it. Sudan, Yemen and Somalia make them a powerhouse on the Red Sea. Iran/Iraq/Syria connect the Caspian Sea to the Mediterranean.
The last thing that Putin wants is refugees from these countries coming to the land of the free, making a lot of money, gaining political clout and then using that clout to do what Irish-Americans did for their home country. After its losses in Afghanistan, Russia retrenched. But it is ready to become a world colonial superpower again. And it is counting upon Trump to pave the way for them by telling the oppressed people of those countries "You either suck up to Putin and his puppet or die."
Squinch
(50,949 posts)Blue_Tires
(55,445 posts)it's a little too real for some delicate souls around here...
I didn't know that. Nice sign line.
starshine00
(531 posts)I think if it is true that all of Trumps aims are to aid Putin this amounts to treason. Asra Nomani was interviewed earlier saying the countries come from a list that Obama made. But it astounds me how few people understand that Russia is aligned with shia states like Iran and Syria and the US is allied w/the sunni arab countries. It makes it very, very eery the comment Trump made about how we should have taken Iraq's oil, but that 'WE MIGHT GET ANOTHER CHANCE". Rachel Maddow was talking about this earlier this week but I think not many people caught on to it. Sigh...It slays me how many people referred to HRC as a warmonger when this kind of evil stuff is in the works. Putin is a megalmaniac, a true mental patient, he clearly wants to rule the world and it would not surprise me at all to find Trump is being extorted by Russia or promised kickbacks or both. I cannot believe the republicans are sitting around letting our traditional allegiance to sunni oil producing states be turned on its head. And then there is this: http://www.globalresearch.ca/the-secret-stupid-saudi-us-deal-on-syria/5410130 I don't know anything about that link in terms of whether they lean right or left but it sure is an interesting article. Yemen is being bombed to smithereens by the Saudis so I am sure they would welcome Russian back up but if we are allied with Russia that would put us on the other side from where we have been traditionally...this is such a mess and I can't see how the oil baron republicans who are in bed with Saudis are just standing aside and letting Trump shift our allegiances this way, it is insane.
truebluegreen
(9,033 posts)re travel advisories.
They all also lack Trump Hotels.
And then there's the oil (or lacking oil, pipeline routes).
Wellstone ruled
(34,661 posts)remember there is a Pipe line that Putin's Oil Company and Gas Company wants. Again,it is all about Oil.