Arabs inch closer to old dream of joint Arab force

[webfact]

Arabs inch closer to old dream of joint Arab force
By HAMZA HENDAWI

SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt (AP) — Arab leaders meeting this weekend in this Egyptian Red Sea resort are moving closer than ever to creating a joint Arab military force, a sign of a new determination among Saudi Arabia, Egypt and their allies to intervene aggressively in regional hotspots, whether against Islamic militants or spreading Iranian power.

Creation of such a force has been a longtime goal that has eluded Arab nations in the 65 years since they signed a rarely used joint defense pact. And there remains reluctance among some countries, particularly allies of Iran like Syria and Iraq — a reflection of the divisions in the region.

Foreign ministers gathered in Sharm el-Sheikh ahead of the summit, which begins Saturday, agreed on a broad plan for the force. It came as Saudi Arabia and its allies opened a campaign of airstrikes in Yemen against Iranian-backed Shiite rebels who have taken over much of the country and forced its U.S.- and Gulf-backed president to flee abroad.

The Yemen campaign marked a major test of the new policy of intervention by the Gulf and Egypt. The brewing Yemen crisis — and Gulf fears that the rebels are a proxy for Iranian influence — have been one motivator in their move for a joint Arab force. But it also signaled that they are not going to wait for the Arab League, notorious for its delays and divisions, and will press ahead with their military coordination on multiple fronts.

Egyptian officials said the Yemen airstrikes are to be followed by a ground intervention to further weaken the rebels, known as Houthis, and their allies and force them into negotiations. They have also moved ahead with action in Libya after its collapse into chaos since 2011 and the rise of militants there — including now an affiliate of the Islamic State group that has overrun much of Iraq and Syria. Egypt and the United Arab Emirates have both carried out airstrikes against Libyan militants in the past year.

In their agreement Thursday, the foreign ministers called on the chiefs of staff of the Arab League's 22-member nations to meet within a month to iron out details of the force, like its budget and mechanism, and report back to the organization.

The Egyptian military and security officials said the proposed force would be made of up to 40,000 elite troops and will be headquartered in either Cairo or Riyadh, the Saudi capital. The force would be backed by jet-fighters, warships and light armor. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.

Arab league officials said some Arab nations had reservations about the creation of a joint force, including Iraq, whose foreign minister, Ibrahim a-Jaafari, has counselled fellow ministers that more time was needed for planning. Iran holds massive influence with Iraq's Shiite-led government and its military advisers are playing an active role in the fight by government troops and allied Shiite militias against militants of the Islamic State.

The Associated Press exclusively reported last November that the leaders of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, all Sunni Muslim nations, were discussing the creation of a joint military alliance with a possible joint force to deal with the threat posed by Islamic militants in Libya and to combat the growing influence of Shiite, non-Arab Iran, particularly in Yemen. Jordan and Bahrain have since expressed their willingness to join the alliance.

Egypt's president, soldier-turned-politician Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, was the first Arab leader to speak publicly about the plan. In a recent address, he said there was a pressing need now for a joint Arab force and repeated his assertion that Egypt was prepared to intervene militarily in support of its Gulf Arab allies. Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates have poured billions of dollars into Egypt's emptying coffers since el-Sissi ousted Mohammed Morsi in July 2013 following mass protests against the rule of the Islamist president.

"The resolution sends a clear message that Arab nations can agree on a plan to defend themselves," Arab League chief Nabil Elaraby told a news conference late Thursday in Sharm el-Sheikh. Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shukri said the proposed force would undertake "quick and effective missions."

Saudi Arabia, a staunch U.S. ally, views Yemen as strategically important to its national security and has traditionally patronized key players there like top politicians, military commanders and tribal chiefs to protect its interests. It fought a brief border war against the Houthis in 2009. Similarly, Egypt views neighboring Libya as vital to its own national interests. Last month, Egyptian warplanes struck Islamic State positions in eastern Libya in retaliation for its mass beheading of 21 Coptic Christian Egyptians.

Thursday's resolution, however, will streamline military actions like those undertaken by the Egyptians and Saudis in Libya and Yemen respectively, allowing future actions to be carried out under Arab League cover. El-Sissi's calls for a U.N.-backed force to intervene in Libya were stymied by the West on the grounds that more time should be given to U.N.-led efforts to reconcile Libya's rival governments.

Egyptian forces have recently concluded large-scale war games near its border with Libya. Codenamed "Thunder," the exercise involved navy warships, attack helicopters and beach landings by army commandos.

Moreover, Egypt and its Gulf Arab allies have over the past year held a series of joint war games, including several in the Red Sea, a tactic that the Egyptian officials said was necessary to create harmony between members of the proposed force.

Already, the officials said, Egyptian troops are embedded with Saudi forces on the kingdom's border with Iraq, about a third of which is controlled by the Islamic State. Egyptian military advisers are also deployed near Saudi Arabia's border with Yemen. As the crisis in Yemen worsened, Egypt has coordinated efforts with Sudan and Horn of Africa nation Eritrea to ensure the safety of shipping through the southern Bab al-Mandab entrance of the Red Sea, which Yemen overlooks.


-- (c) Associated Press 2015-03-27

[Bwanatickey]

About time to, they need to sort out their own back yard.

[Chicog]

During one Gulf spat back in the '80's, a senior officer got called up and said he couldn't go.

His reason: "I always take my mother shopping on Saturday".

Arab "Force" yeah right.

[rgs2001uk]

During one Gulf spat back in the '80's, a senior officer got called up and said he couldn't go.

His reason: "I always take my mother shopping on Saturday".

Arab "Force" yeah right.

The expression, couldnt organise a piss up in a brewery springs to mind.

The stories some of the guys who worked as Range Wardens can tell you, LOL

[Chicog]

Another ex-squadron feller who was doing hand-to-hand combat training in Qatar wrote that he turned round and saw two of the "elite" he was training lovingly holding hands.

[ezzra]

Good, and let the Gog and Magog betel begins between the Shia and the Sunni and let's see

who will be left standing, that way maybe all the terrorists groups in the world will join

one side or another and kill each other....that's the best solution any one can hope for,

I wonder which side ISIS will take?

[wileycoyote]

Problem for Saudi Arabia is will they stop supporting their proxy ISIS ?

[Lissos]

Another ex-squadron feller who was doing hand-to-hand combat training in Qatar wrote that he turned round and saw two of the "elite" he was training lovingly holding hands.

I don't really see that as anything that could question professionalism.

[Mosha]

Another ex-squadron feller who was doing hand-to-hand combat training in Qatar wrote that he turned round and saw two of the "elite" he was training lovingly holding hands.

While on a refridgeration course. The instructor told of an incident with the Saudi Air Force. A pilot was dune hopping and flew over a Bedouin girl tending her goats. The backwash killed her. Their was an investigation. The outcome was the jet engine was possessed so they replaced it.

[Somtamnication]

FIrst Yemen, next?

[ABCer]

If they really want anything to happen they should invite Israelis to attend.

[Chicog]

Problem for Saudi Arabia is will they stop supporting their proxy ISIS ?

That jinni got out of the bottle a long time ago.

[Seastallion]

If they really want anything to happen they should invite Israelis to attend.

Your levity is ironic. If anything, Israel should be very worried at Arab unification.

Lets hope they do unify, for one to get rid of ISIS, and secondly to keep Israel in check.

[ggold]

If they really want anything to happen they should invite Israelis to attend.

Your levity is ironic. If anything, Israel should be very worried at Arab unification.

Lets hope they do unify, for one to get rid of ISIS, and secondly to keep Israel in check.

trying to make a connection where there isn't one!

[Srikcir]

This Arab Aalliance would have never happened if Obama had put boots on the ground. Both the AA and Iran would have been happy to see Americans ground down and bled. US Republican's strategy to go rusing in like they did in Iraq was clearly the wrong strategy if a long-term resolution of the ISIL/al Qaeda threats was to be achieved.

It's truly historical to see a primarily middle east coalition of Iraq, Eqypt, Saudi Arabia, and Jordon fight a common cause.

[BKKBobby]

This Arab Aalliance would have never happened if Obama had put boots on the ground. Both the AA and Iran would have been happy to see Americans ground down and bled. US Republican's strategy to go rusing in like they did in Iraq was clearly the wrong strategy if a long-term resolution of the ISIL/al Qaeda threats was to be achieved.

It's truly historical to see a primarily middle east coalition of Iraq, Eqypt, Saudi Arabia, and Jordon fight a common cause.

The cause is fear of Iran. Iran is the biggest regional player. Saudi Arabia is the contender who is spoonfed by USA. Im discounting USA which is the actual biggest player since its a outside power. Israel is not relevant as of now. Israel is busy being Israel as usual.

The Sunni arabs+Turkey+Pakistan have seen Iran conducting the ME theatre more and more the last few years and now they feel its time to take action and act on every threat to their countries longterm stability.

Edited March 27, 2015 by BKKBobby

[BKKBobby]

The Arabs starting in western north Africa all the way to the Iranian border will never be truly unified. They are arab, yes. Same same, but different. Ive met arabs from different countries and Ive been to two arab countries.

Edited March 27, 2015 by BKKBobby

[Credo]

If they let the Palestinians join, they might make some real progress. Offer them citizenship in one of the countries if they fight for them.

[Steely Dan]

If they really want anything to happen they should invite Israelis to attend.

No need, should such a force ever get off the ground some people will automatically assume the Israelis are behind it.

[rgs2001uk]

Another ex-squadron feller who was doing hand-to-hand combat training in Qatar wrote that he turned round and saw two of the "elite" he was training lovingly holding hands.

While on a refridgeration course. The instructor told of an incident with the Saudi Air Force. A pilot was dune hopping and flew over a Bedouin girl tending her goats. The backwash killed her. Their was an investigation. The outcome was the jet engine was possessed so they replaced it.

I wonder if the instructor knew of the idiot who was doing some dune hopping in Saudi, he set the TFR from soft ride to hard ride and wondered why it flew into the side of a mountain.

As told to me by a former RAF pilot instructor ref his RSAF counterparts, "I have never met such a bunch of Combat Ready f***wits in all my life"

The stories from GW1 are amazing, the reality is they are all true, people back in the real world wouldnt believe them.

[Chicog]

They've been talking about a Regional rapid response force for a long time. But that's more to put down uprisings that threaten their monarchies.

[rgs2001uk]

They've been talking about a Regional rapid response force for a long time. But that's more to put down uprisings that threaten their monarchies.

RRF, please stop you are killing me, my sides are splitting, gawd it huts too much.

Do you remember the incident at Dhahran about 10/12 years ago with the Saudi special forces trying to get out the back of the helicopter?

What a farce, made even worse by the fact, it was actually screened live on the telly.

LOL, they are so special, they even had to call the Foreign Legion in to the 'holy city' to put down the Shia uprising a few years ago.

I hope Uncle Sam and the leader of the free world aint hanging his hat on this lot, LOL.

I remember an incident a few years ago on the Yemeni border, truckloads of airconditioned portacabins and jinglys were sent south to set up a base camp for the 'special forces'

Jeez, you really couldnt make this up, went to the border had a goat grab drank some tea and came home.

[JingerBen]

If they really want anything to happen they should invite Israelis to attend.

The Israelis?

As Groucho Marx once said "I wouldn't want to belong to any club that would have me as a member."

[spidermike007]

Probably a very important step. If the Arab leaders, be they political, or spiritual, do not step up, take a stand and attempt to push out the gang rapist punks like ISIL, the price to be paid will be enormous. Perhaps, nothing short of a worldwide religious war, against the entire Islamic world. These leaders need to demonstrate to tolerant and peace loving people around the world that they do not condone, support or tolerate the deeds of these murderous, thieving, terror loving cockroaches.

[BKKBobby]

Probably a very important step. If the Arab leaders, be they political, or spiritual, do not step up, take a stand and attempt to push out the gang rapist punks like ISIL, the price to be paid will be enormous. Perhaps, nothing short of a worldwide religious war, against the entire Islamic world. These leaders need to demonstrate to tolerant and peace loving people around the world that they do not condone, support or tolerate the deeds of these murderous, thieving, terror loving cockroaches.

ISIL/ISIS is not connected to the Houthis. Saudi Arabia, the leader of the coalition against the Yemeni rebels were the sponsors of ISIL/ISIS. Its not connected.

Its a powerstruggle. The majority of muslims in the ME (and the world) is Sunni muslims but Shia Iran has an unproportional dominance in the ME region. Iran is the regional player and Saudi Arabia is the contender. The Saudis and their arab allies want to hold on to their power and they see Iran as a threat to the stability which is the foundation that their dictatorships rely on, discounting US goodwill.

Edited March 27, 2015 by BKKBobby

[NeverSure]

Saudi pounds Yemen rebel camps, lashes out at Iran

AFP By Jamal al-Jabiri

40 minutes ago

"Sanaa (AFP) - Arab coalition warplanes bombed rebel camps in Yemen Friday in a second straight day of strikes led by Saudi Arabia, which accused Iran of "aggression" across the region.

A months-long rebellion by Shiite fighters has escalated into a regional conflict that threatens to tear apart the impoverished state at the southern tip of the Arabian Peninsula.

Sunni-ruled Saudi Arabia has vowed to do "whatever it takes" to prevent the fall of its ally President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi, accusing Shiite Iran of backing the Huthi rebels' power grab."

MORE

[BKKBobby]

Saudi pounds Yemen rebel camps, lashes out at Iran

AFP By Jamal al-Jabiri

40 minutes ago

"Sanaa (AFP) - Arab coalition warplanes bombed rebel camps in Yemen Friday in a second straight day of strikes led by Saudi Arabia, which accused Iran of "aggression" across the region.

A months-long rebellion by Shiite fighters has escalated into a regional conflict that threatens to tear apart the impoverished state at the southern tip of the Arabian Peninsula.

Sunni-ruled Saudi Arabia has vowed to do "whatever it takes" to prevent the fall of its ally President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi, accusing Shiite Iran of backing the Huthi rebels' power grab."

MORE

The Saudi rulers are a bunch of spoonfed guys with dyed beards that cant wipe their own ass if US goodwill dries out.

I dont believe in the Domino Effect. But I hope the Domino Effect of Mr Realpolitik Kissinger will start in Yemen all the way up to Kuwait.

The countries on the Arabian penninsula are "western" sponsored suppressors that violate human rights so "the west" can buy cheap oil. Its all about keeping the human rights violating countries stable.

Edited March 27, 2015 by BKKBobby

[Chicog]

Saudi pounds Yemen rebel camps, lashes out at Iran

AFP By Jamal al-Jabiri

40 minutes ago

"Sanaa (AFP) - Arab coalition warplanes bombed rebel camps in Yemen Friday in a second straight day of strikes led by Saudi Arabia, which accused Iran of "aggression" across the region.

A months-long rebellion by Shiite fighters has escalated into a regional conflict that threatens to tear apart the impoverished state at the southern tip of the Arabian Peninsula.

Sunni-ruled Saudi Arabia has vowed to do "whatever it takes" to prevent the fall of its ally President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi, accusing Shiite Iran of backing the Huthi rebels' power grab."

MORE

The Saudi rulers are a bunch of spoonfed guys with dyed beards that cant wipe their own ass if US goodwill dries out.

I dont believe in the Domino Effect. But I hope the Domino Effect of Mr Realpolitik Kissinger will start in Yemen all the way up to Kuwait.

The countries on the Arabian penninsula are "western" sponsored suppressors that violate human rights so "the west" can buy cheap oil. Its all about keeping the human rights violating countries stable.

You'd better hope for the sake of all of us that this little clique of monarchs keep on pumping until we've found a way to replace them.

After that, we can leave them to their own devices (probably nuclear).

[Bwanatickey]

Whishfull thinking, the Christian rapture.

[cookee68]

If they really want anything to happen they should invite Israelis to attend.

Your levity is ironic. If anything, Israel should be very worried at Arab unification.

Lets hope they do unify, for one to get rid of ISIS, and secondly to keep Israel in check.

yeah