Crossfire War: Middle East; Tehran – Riyadh – Khatami Visits Mecca

Night Watch: RIYADH – In further confirmation of my suspicion that Iran’s former President Mohammad Khatami would still be very active on the world stage and affairs of the Middle East after Iran’s election, the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) has just annouced the beginning of his two-day visit to Saudi Arabia, Saturday – Sunday to meet with King Abdullah.

The official cover given is for him to express his condolences over the late King’s death, but he had plenty of time for that during the funeral. The real reason for his arrival in Jeddah and visits to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina is another signal as regards his growing spritiual prominence as indicated by his new title, head of the Central Council of Majma’ Rowhaniyoun Mobarez (Association of Combatant Clerics).

This is above electoral politics and shows that the Jihad is definitely being directed by clerics in both branches of Islam, Sunni Saudi Arabia and Shiite Iran. In the Islamic world this is a sign of legitimacy given to the war effort by the religious establishment. Islamic religious leaders in mosques in other countries, whether in the Islamic world, Europe, Asia or the U. S. the same message of support is being made and very openly.

In some ways this is a continuation of the serious cooperation both countries announced with Khatami’s visit to Saudi Arabia in 1999 that signaled cooperation within OPEC, the merging of both nations oil policies vis- a- vis the non-OPEC world. Crucial for Jihad financing. Khatami and King Abdullah are probably celebrating the new record price for oil.

In the meantime, regional issues: Iraq, Israel, India will no doubt be covered and the arranging of each nations response and not just statements in press conferences and speeches or diplomatic gatherings. All of that will happen but along with the military commitment both nations will be making against Israel, increased support for the Islamic resistance in Iraq and military support for Pakistan. Meetings earlier in the year increased the cooperation of both countries media.

This is in complete accord with the late King’s wishes and according to the dictates of the Jihad, that Islamic people should support each other against mutual enemies in the world around them. Khatami, Abdullah and all their staff and advisors know that if the Jihad accomplishes anything the world will be unable to interfere with the Middle East any longer. But if the Jihad accomplishes a lot they will be more of a voice in the world economy than they are now.

Since there is not much of a market for the salt in the Dead Sea then their effort against Israel will be primarily a symbolic gesture, neither country is going to put on a massive show of military support for the fragmented Palestinian people but a few units will be committed especially since that will be popular all over the Islamic world. They will be given glorious publicity, in accordance with the spiritual importance relegated to this front. Since Jerusalem is the base of Islam’s third holiest mosque, Al Aqsa, then the war against Israel will probably be regarded as the holiest front, though by no means the most profitable.

Khatami and Abdullah, along with their respective governments, will then sit back and evaluate the response from the Islamic world to the call as they encourage each nation to show some support for Palestinian people. At the same time the pace of the fighting against the occupation of Iraq will be increased. Both Tehran and Riyadh have been active sponsors of units fighting the occupation. That will be increased to such an extent, with the purpose in mind, to force the departure of foreign bases in the Persian Gulf region.

Concerning India both nations will use the next Indian-Pakistan war to test the accuracy of their missiles. The Shahab-3 and whatever other missiles Iran has been developing with massive assistance from China and Russian scientists that left the Soviet Union 15 years ago, working in nuclear bomb proof underground installations contructed by Bechtel Group, which was invited to Iran the day after the Gulf War ended in 1991.

CNN showed the London branch office in Hyde Park. A similar base network was constructed by Bechtel for Saudi Arabia during the 1980’s and some of the bases house the 50-60 CSS-2 missiles the House of Saud purchased from China 20 years ago. Each missile has a 2,500 m (4,000 km) range.

Bechtel went through London as a result of Britain’s establishment refusing to have an economic embargo against Iran. There were obviously those in America’s establishment who agreed and these are business interests/owners that control both countries. Now London-Washington are chasing the Jihad around Iraq and are under the delusion events are going according to their time-table.

As fighting on these fronts intensifies the world will then see Mohammad Khatami in all his glory, being royally received in a lot of capitals and perhaps also in newly liberated territories and under economic control of the Islamic world.

Central Asia and Russia will be the target of future discussions with Ankara.

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Willard Payne is an international affairs analyst who specializes in International Relations. A graduate of Western Illinois University with a concentration in East-West Trade and East-West Industrial Cooperation, he has been providing incisive analysis to NewsBlaze. He is the author of Imagery: The Day Before.