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"Proxy" War No More: Qatar Threatens Military Intervention In Syria Alongside "Saudi, Turkish Brothers"

Tyler Durden's picture




 

Earlier this week, Saudi foreign minister Adel al-Jubeir had the following message for Tehran: 

"We wish that Iran would change its policies and stop meddling in the affairs of other countries in the region, in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Yemen. We will make sure that we confront Iran's actions and shall use all our political, economic and military powers to defend our territory and people.”

In short, Riyadh and its allies in Doha and the UAE are uneasy about the fact that the P5+1 nuclear deal is set to effectively remove Iran from the pariah state list just as Tehran is expanding its regional influence via its Shiite militias in Iraq, the ground operation in Syria, and through the Houthis in Yemen. 

Thanks to the fact that Tehran has more of an arm’s length relationship with the Houthis than it does with Hezbollah and its proxy armies in Iraq, the Saudis have been able to effectively counter anti-Hadi forces in Yemen without risking a direct conflict with Iran, but make no mistake, Sana’a is not the prize here. Yemen is a side show. The real fight is for the political future of Syria and for control of Iraq once the US finally packs up and leaves for good. Iran is winning on both of those fronts. 

Over the last several weeks, we and others have suggested that one should not simply expect Washington, Riyadh, Ankara, and Doha to go gently into that good night in Syria after years of providing support for the various Sunni extremist groups fighting to destabilize the regime. There’s just too much at stake.

As noted on Tuesday, Assad's ouster would have removed a key Iranian ally and cut off Tehran from Hezbollah. Not only would that outcome pave the way for deals like the Qatar-Turkey natural gas line, it would also cement Sunni control over the region on the way to dissuading Tehran at a time when the lifting of crippling economic sanctions is set to allow the Iranians to shed the pariah state label and return to the international stage not only in terms of energy exports, but in terms of diplomacy as well. Just about the last thing Riyadh wants to see ahead of Iran's resurgence, is a powergrab on the doorstep of the Arabian peninsula. 

Thanks to Washington’s schizophrenic foreign policy, there’s no effective way to counter Iran in Iraq but as Mustafa Alani, the Dubai-based director of National Security and Terrorism Studies at the Gulf Research Center told Bloomberg earlier this week, “The regional powers can give the Russians limited time to see if their intervention can lead to a political settlement -- if not, there is going to be a proxy war.”

That’s not entirely accurate. There’s already a proxy war and the dangerous thing about it is that thanks to the fact that Iran is now overtly orchestrating the ground operation, one side of the “SAA vs. rebels” proxy label has been removed. Now it’s “Iran-Russia vs. rebels” which means we’re just one degree of separation away from a direct confrontation between NATO’s regional allies in Riyadh and Doha and the Russia-Iran “nexus.” Here’s Bloomberg with more on the Saudi’s predicament: 

Powerful Saudi clerics are calling for a response to the Russian move, even though the kingdom is already bogged down in another war in Yemen. Analysts say the Saudi government will probably speed up the flow of cash and weapons to its allies in the opposition fighting to topple President Bashar al-Assad, who’s also supported by Saudi Arabia’s main rival, Iran.

 

While the Saudis may seek to direct their aid to “moderate forces” in Syria, “the definition of this word is subject to much debate,” said Theodore Karasik, a Dubai-based political analyst. Sending arms “is dangerous in the medium term because of how easily weapons can fall into the wrong hands,” he said.

And let’s not kid ourselves, there are no “wrong hands” as far as Riyadh and Doha are concerned. Sure, they’d rather not have ISIS running around inside their borders blowing up mosques but then again, those bombings simply provide more political cover for justifying an air campaign in Syria. Back to Bloomberg:

Extremist groups already hold sway over large parts of the country. The Saudis joined U.S.-led operations against Islamic State last year, and since then jihadist attacks in the kingdom have increased, many of them targeting minority Shiite Muslims in the oil-rich eastern province. Meanwhile, Assad accuses the Saudis and other Gulf states of arming rebel groups with ties to al-Qaeda.

 

Some Saudi thinkers advocate direct military engagement in Syria, just as the kingdom has done in Yemen. Nawaf Obaid, a visiting fellow at Harvard University’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, is one of them.

 

“The Saudis are going to be forced to lead a coalition of nations in an air campaign against the remnants of Syrian forces, Hezbollah and Iranian fighters to facilitate the collapse of the Assad regime and assist the entry of rebel forces into Damascus,” Obaid wrote in an opinion piece published by CNN on Oct. 4.

And while some still see that outcome as far fetched not only because the Saudis are stretched thin thanks to falling crude prices and the war in Yemen, but because it would be an extraordinarily dangerous escalation, it looks as though Qatar is leaning in a similar direction. Here’s Sputnik:

Qatar who has been a major sponsor of jihadist groups fighting in Syria for years, now is actively considering a direct military intervention in the country, according to its officials.

 

Throughout Syria’s bloody civil war, the government of Qatar has been an active supporter of anti-government militants, providing arms and financial backing to so called "rebels." Many of these, like the al-Nusra Front, were directly linked to al-Qaeda. That strategy has, of course, done little to put a dent in terrorist organizations in the region.

 

But as Russia enters its fourth week of anti-terror airstrikes, Qatar has indicated that it may launch a military campaign of its own.

 

"Anything that protects the Syrian people and Syria from partition, we will not spare any effort to carry it out with our Saudi and Turkish brothers, no matter what this is," Qatar’s Foreign Minister Khalid al-Attiyah told CNN on Wednesday, when asked if he supported Saudi Arabia’s position of not ruling out a military option.

 

"If a military intervention will protect the Syrian people from the brutality of the regime, we will do it," he added, according to Qatar’s state news agency QNA.

 

Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad was fast to warn the Middle Eastern monarchy that such a move would be a disastrous mistake with serious consequences.

 

"If Qatar carries out its threat to militarily intervene in Syria, then we will consider this a direct aggression," he said, according to al-Mayadeen television. "Our response will be very harsh."

Let's just be clear. If Saudi Arabia and Qatar start bombing Iranian forces from the airspace near Russia's base at Latakia, this will spiral out of control.

Iran simply wouldn't stand for it and if you think for a second that Moscow is going to let Saudi Arabia fly around in Western Syria and bomb the Iranians, you'll be in for a big surprise. Of course the first time a Russian jet shoots down a Saudi warplane over Syria, Washington will have no choice but to go to war.

Finally, we'd be remiss if we didn't point out the absurdity in what's being suggested here. Qatar and Saudi Arabia are essentially saying that they may be willing to go to war with Russia and Iran on behalf of al-Qaeda if it means facilitating Assad's ouster. The Western world's conception of "good guys"/ "bad guys" has officially been turned on its head.

And meanwhile:

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s public approval rating has reached a record 89.9 percent since he ordered his military to begin air strikes in support of Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad, according to a state-run polling center.

 

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Thu, 10/22/2015 - 09:17 | 6697953 luckylongshot
luckylongshot's picture

Qatari fuckwits

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 07:39 | 6697587 Haus-Targaryen
Haus-Targaryen's picture

The Turks better think loooooooong and hard about shooting at the Russians.  

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 07:51 | 6697620 Bro of the Sorr...
Bro of the Sorrowful Figure's picture

to use the metaphor that has been beaten to death on these boards...putin is a master strategist. his last major move in this geopolitical game of chess put a serious check on his saudi/US/israeli opponents. a good chess player thinks several moves ahead. this is an obvious reactionary move to putin's check. do we really think that putin didn't see this coming a mile away? i for one look forward to seeing putin/assad/iran's next move.

will it be financial? a la defaulting on foreign debt?

will he do something to fuck with SA by manipulating commodities markets?

is there a deal on the table with china that has yet to be revealed?

 

we certainly live in interesting times. 

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 08:22 | 6697733 Macchendra
Macchendra's picture

Let's hope we don't see the American "pigeon attack".  Anyway, Qatar is really pissed about Iran's nuclear program:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qatar#/media/File:SouthParsLocationMap.jpg

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 09:57 | 6698096 TheReplacement
TheReplacement's picture

No need for Russia to respond.  Iran... Straight of Hormuz.  Nuff said.

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 11:12 | 6698517 Kayman
Kayman's picture

But, but, but... Russia is only days away from collapse. The ruble is collapsing. Part of the sky is falling in at St. Petersburg.  For a country that survived internal murder via Stalin and the Czars, and external slaughter via Napolean and Hitler, cancelling their Amex card isn't going to make them blink. 

And I have wondered about the dichotomy of our propaganda.  Falling currency- Yen, Euro good. Falling ruble- bad. Huh ???  China would love to drive down the Yuan, but they are so intertwined with the U.S. dollar peg that the entire can of worms would escape.

K

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 07:49 | 6697625 Brazen Heist
Brazen Heist's picture

I don't think the Turks want to mess with Russia. The Russians and Turks have a workable relationship and they both would rather keep it that way. They both know the USSA is a bit of a gung-ho loose cannon.

The ones trying to foment false flags will be the Saudis, Qataris and the CIA. They are the ones losing, hence the need to cheat.

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 07:58 | 6697644 Bro of the Sorr...
Bro of the Sorrowful Figure's picture

i agree. but what is clear is that lines are being drawn. it will be interesting to see how much further the europeans, especially germany, will bend over backwards before they see that we are in the fast lane headed straight for ww3 and that they are currently on the side of suicidal psychopaths. 

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 07:59 | 6697655 Brazen Heist
Brazen Heist's picture

Ain't nothing like a good old world war to get that stagnant economy bouncing again.

That is how the modern financial system works. It leads to excesses, bubbles, depressions and it needs a world war to restart the rinse and repeat cycle again.

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 09:01 | 6697876 thestarl
thestarl's picture

In times gone by,but thermonuclear weapons tend to change the landscape

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 09:44 | 6698039 trulz4lulz
trulz4lulz's picture

I wouldnt be too shocked to find out that the russians and chinese have ways to disable icbm electronics from space. Disable your enemies capabilities and launch large conventional warheads and ww3 is over in less than 12 hours. 

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 17:39 | 6698042 trulz4lulz
trulz4lulz's picture

.

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 09:44 | 6698043 trulz4lulz
trulz4lulz's picture

I wouldnt be too shocked to find out that the russians and chinese have ways to disable icbm electronics from space. Disable your enemies capabilities and launch large conventional warheads and ww3 is over in less than 12 hours. 

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 11:15 | 6698529 Kayman
Kayman's picture

Every Chinese made product is programmed to fail.  Fortunately we haven't got any of this stuff in our weaponry or computers, do we ???

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 12:25 | 6698868 El Vaquero
El Vaquero's picture

Our ICBMs have an inertial guidance system as a backup at the very least.  I would be very surprised if the Russians have the ability to disable that. 

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 17:43 | 6700277 trulz4lulz
trulz4lulz's picture

from what I understand they can zap sas from the ground and disable entire AEGIS warships, also thought to be unheard of. They have launched an SS-N-22 nearlt 1,000 miles and the range is further than that. Teir 10 piece battle systems and s-400 anti aircraft systems are amazing. I dont know the working internals of an ICBM, bbut it seems to me the Russians have focused very heavily on EWCS so why do you think they would leave out the ability to disable icbms? To me its a logical conclusion. Bu tlike I said, I dont know the specifics of the electronic systems of IcBMs.

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 08:46 | 6697817 Lets_Eat_Ben
Lets_Eat_Ben's picture

This is some good theatre. Broadway should take notes. 

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 08:00 | 6697656 Man Who Was Thursday
Man Who Was Thursday's picture

Every news out of Syria is bad news. Seriously, shit is going south fast

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 07:40 | 6697594 Last of the Mid...
Last of the Middle Class's picture

I hope they send clock boy and his lying dad to the front lines.

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 07:54 | 6697627 VinceFostersGhost
VinceFostersGhost's picture

 

 

 

Clock Boy.....acted stupidly.

 

But he got invited to the Whitehouse......which is pretty normal.

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 09:55 | 6698082 BarkingCat
BarkingCat's picture

Who the hell is clock boy?

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 12:06 | 6698769 Chris Dakota
Chris Dakota's picture

A muslim kid in Texas that made a clock that looked like a bomb. He trolled his teachers until one took the bait and called the cops. He was arrested for making a "hoax bomb"

So his story went viral and President got involved and invited him to the white house, so did Google, MIT and Facebook.

Boy Genius didn't really build that.

Some guy on youtube bought the same clock off Ebay and small case and put it together in 30 seconds.

President avoided him, but later spoke with him.

Obama jumps into shit head first.

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 12:13 | 6698812 Freddie
Freddie's picture

Annoying Muslim child in middle school in Texas.  His sister is also a troublemaker.  He had an old digital clock from Radio Shack.  He took it out of the case or his dad did.  Put it in a pencil box and said he built it.   Had the battery back up wire hanging.

Teacher thought it could be a bomb cause the kid is a troublemaking shit.  He became a hero with the leftist media.  Went to the white hut and Qatar gave him a scholarship and a place for his family to live.

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 07:42 | 6697599 _ConanTheLibert...
_ConanTheLibertarian_'s picture

So what's the deal for Qatar? It's obviously not about the Syrian people.

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 07:49 | 6697622 BandGap
BandGap's picture

The proposed natural gas line starts there. Cha-ching.

 

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 09:00 | 6697873 researchfix
researchfix's picture

"The proposed natural gas line starts there."

But its a cheap pipeline so far. Because it ends there too.

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 07:56 | 6697647 Bro of the Sorr...
Bro of the Sorrowful Figure's picture

theyre a little vassal state bitch. theyll do what they are told. 

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 08:47 | 6697823 Lets_Eat_Ben
Lets_Eat_Ben's picture

Yes the world cup is at stake

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 08:50 | 6697833 barroter
barroter's picture

Agreed. These "bitch states" will not be allowed to set policy. Unless they're used as puppets for something nasty...plausible deniability and all.

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 08:36 | 6697782 Urban Redneck
Urban Redneck's picture

Iran must be contained.

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 08:52 | 6697842 Son of Captain Nemo
Son of Captain Nemo's picture

Why?... Because we fucked to hell Iraq and Syria?

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 09:25 | 6697968 Urban Redneck
Urban Redneck's picture

Qatar wants to prevent this from happening.  The Arab dog wants the noodle all for himself.  Just like the Jew dog wants the whole yard to himself so he can shit wherever and whenever he pleases nd the grass will still grow, while the American dog really just wants to be top dog and hump everyone else with impunity.

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 10:19 | 6698230 Son of Captain Nemo
Son of Captain Nemo's picture

"." ; -)

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 07:46 | 6697608 Cacete de Ouro
Cacete de Ouro's picture

"Anything that protects our gas pipeline plan, we will do it! And anything that protects the flow of alcohol and hookers! Alluh Akbar"

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 07:45 | 6697609 Brazen Heist
Brazen Heist's picture

The West and their Sunni Wahabbi extremist parasites on one side

VS

Russia, China and the Shia

Or in other words

The whingers, complainers, hotheads and dumbasses

VS

The cool-headed, patient and shrewd underdogs

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 08:48 | 6697830 Lets_Eat_Ben
Lets_Eat_Ben's picture

You've seen the muppets right?

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 07:46 | 6697613 Martin T
Martin T's picture

it's on like Donkey Kong

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 07:48 | 6697617 Allen_H
Allen_H's picture

Fuck you camel fucking Qatari bastards.

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 07:49 | 6697621 JustObserving
JustObserving's picture

Who gave  fucking Qatar the fucking right to intervene in a sovereign country?

Qatar, Turkey and Saudi Arabia versus Syria, Iran and Russia - that contest will be over in a week with all the Arabs fucked for decades.

 

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 07:50 | 6697630 BandGap
BandGap's picture

They have been doing this for years across the Middle East.

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 07:49 | 6697624 wmbz
wmbz's picture

Just send Lurch over there, he can speak a little French to them and calm the waters.

After which he'll have a cup of tea and hold the cup with his pinkie finger extended!

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 07:49 | 6697626 Itch
Thu, 10/22/2015 - 07:50 | 6697631 ToSoft4Truth
ToSoft4Truth's picture

Serve five years, get yer school loans paid off.    Try not to end up like Pat Tillman. 

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 10:11 | 6698187 BarkingCat
BarkingCat's picture

No, stay the hell away.
Serving indicates protecting the homeland.
Not a single person that goes there is protecting the homeland.
If the military was serving the interest of the nation they would be patrolling the border.

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 07:53 | 6697638 yogibear
yogibear's picture

Everyone else joining into this mess?

World wars start this way. All that's needed is something stupid.

Plenty of glass to made in the middle east.

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 07:53 | 6697642 Brazen Heist
Brazen Heist's picture

Ah yes, its time to arm those "MODERATES"!

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 08:49 | 6697821 Allen_H
Allen_H's picture

Release the moderates !  (insert evil laugh here)

The nothing country making threats, it's so fucking laughable.

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 07:58 | 6697648 falak pema
falak pema's picture

The Putin pUT in Syrac has had one CLARIFYING benefit : The MASKS are COMING OFF !

Soon the Petromonarchies will be hoisted on their own Salafist petards...Sunni Jihadism and Arab-Iran rivalry based on Shia/Sunni Fitna divide is the POISON that made Islam a dodo civilization in terms of social and cultural evolution; ever since that HOUSE of Wisdom built on Aristotle's teachings got burned down in 1258 by the Mongol Halagu.

The Arabs never refound Aristotle; whereas the West did. It spawned the Renaissance and ENlightenment.

Arab spring of Ghawar's Black Gold has only hardened the region's return to Obscurantism ever since FDR shook hands with Saud and made the West PARDNERS in Crime in that region; all for OIL; already debased by Rule Britannia's Great Colonial game of the previous century.

For the Arab and Asian cum African muslim lands to progress they need to shed their old skin all fed on Obscurantist dogma; which is not LAnd of Islam but in FACT Dar el Harb !

Has been since 1258 ! Freedom can never be given to a nation. It has to be earned.

It is to the eternal shame of the West that a guy like Putin is now playing the matchmaker between the region and Secular values !

 

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 10:11 | 6698186 Bro of the Sorr...
Bro of the Sorrowful Figure's picture

"freedom can never be given to a nation. it has to be earned"

 

saved. very astute insight. can i ascribe credit to you?

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 16:21 | 6699885 Herd Redirectio...
Herd Redirection Committee's picture

What about Israel?

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 11:32 | 6698614 Kayman
Kayman's picture

falak

good luck with the renaissance for Islam. Backward looking, fear based,and allergic to science. Islam is the path to the end of mankind.  And I for one, would rather see every last man, woman and child of Islam dead before I let them kill one more "non believer".

Notwithstanding that the "west" has no business, moral or otherwise, in the Middle East.

I am painted an "infidel" because I believe we are arrogant, cheeky monkeys. Then I happily will wear that badge.  And for all the Muslims that claim they welcome death more than we love life, I say, I think I can help you with that.

K

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 15:30 | 6699528 falak pema
falak pema's picture

You forget one fact : in the middle ages the crazy monkeys wore the cross in a colonial war inspired by God wills it. God was instrumentalized then by the Franks on a rampage and their main victims were either the Orthodox Greeks of Constantinople or the Cathars of Southern France. Thats how "god wills it" or its sister dogma "allah o akbar" works. Two sides of the same coin.

Just for your info there were no Taliban in Afghan in 1970, it was a land where the elites loved the Enlightenment and wanted to learn Logic and Science.

But all that changed when the Cold war walked into Afghan, as in Iran etc.

Islam will have to learn what the West has learned.

The Christian who wore the Cross loved death more than life...just saying...Colonialism is a good excuse to wear the cross, like the CIA does today. Then it was for the Spice and Silk routes.

Today its for oil. Thats the bottom line of this Obscurantist scam all through the ages!

And, to achieve their aims the Brits during their Great Colonial Game of past century and beyond and then the CIA  who stepped into their colonial shoes, recruited the Obscurantists in their cold war game against the Soviets. Remember Nam, Paki, Iran, Egypt, Indonesia and Chile?

So when you recruit the worst elements of any society, the feudal  mafia and religious nuts, so that they be your patsies and your allies against the lefties, the reds, those who think they fight for "progress", you create the Frankensteins. Thats History.

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 16:10 | 6699822 trader1
trader1's picture

adam curtis recently made yet another great documentary about the role that afghanistan plays in ending empires.

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 07:56 | 6697649 agent default
agent default's picture

Behold.  The mouse is roaring.

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 08:13 | 6697698 Baby Bladeface
Baby Bladeface's picture

Brave the pug that barks at elephant...

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 07:57 | 6697651 alfbell
alfbell's picture

 

 

Psychopathic leaders in psychopathic governments cause wars, and alliances draw other countries into these wars turning them into large scale, destructive and very disruptive activities. We could be close to a trigger for WWIII or at least a major ME war. Let's all hope and pray all of these psychos calm down and don't do anything stupid. I'm not sure at this juncture if the American people are involved, strong and smart enough to take the actions necessary to stop the US from entering into a war such as this (if the US thought it had to go to the aid of Saudi Arabia and Quatar). Plus, the US Neo-cons and MICC (military-industrial-congressional-complex) would love to get another war going.

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 08:00 | 6697654 Son of Captain Nemo
Son of Captain Nemo's picture

Now you know how "out of money" and "out of time" the Kingdom really is...

And just like there Zionist handlers in Tel Aviv and Washington.... Jordan and Turkey are a bunch of pussies!  They will never fuck with Hezbollah and Russian forces on the ground!

That leaves only the "white chimp"...  Come on Amurika!

Bring it on MoFo!!!

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 10:02 | 6698134 Jethro
Jethro's picture

The Turks don't have an army of foreign fighters to get their hands dirty like they did in the past. Turks generally excel only at killing other Turks (historically speaking).

They have a conscript army that will quickly lose it's resolve in a nasty fight.

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 10:30 | 6698309 Son of Captain Nemo
Son of Captain Nemo's picture

Very true indeed Jeth.

Couple that with Erdogan destroying the country "inside out" and pushing the ethnic divisions within his own Country like the PKK/Kurds to the verge of civil war.

Unlike the American people giving a shit about their unity and there future the Turkish people want him "gone" and see him as the destructive force for canabilizing his own that he is!

Gone are the days of "Ataturk" and the Turks know it!

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 08:03 | 6697663 OzFan
OzFan's picture

Stupid prick....even with US arms, his nations army would be tsken out within days

 

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 08:13 | 6697701 Brazen Heist
Brazen Heist's picture

The only thing Qatar has going for it is that it has money, for now.

They aren't exactly renown for their military.

Neither are the Saudis.

I just don't get the stupidity of these Wahhabis. They are suppressing the oil price by over-producing hence shooting themselves in the foot financially, whilst waging an unwinnable war in Yemen, and now in Syria. America gives the nod to all this bullshit. All while slapping sanctions on Russia and rushing in the TPP/TTIP to take a stab at China, and expecting Russia and China at the same time to "work with them" on global issues. Blowback is a bitch.

The West and their Wahhabi henchmen are not the smartest babies in town.

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 09:24 | 6697979 813kml
813kml's picture

Qatar money wouldn't last for long as I'm sure the price for mercenaries has gone through the roof.

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 08:45 | 6697812 Urban Redneck
Urban Redneck's picture

It's over in 1 minute and 35 seconds, with no nuclear weapons, and Gazprom has a market cap larger than Exxon by close of trading.

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 08:06 | 6697672 Dr. Engali
Dr. Engali's picture

Wtf is wrong with these people that they think risking a world war is worth all this? Just pull out of the whole fucking region, let the camel humpers figure it out, and if they can't sell there oil then fuck them. I don't give a rat's ass if it means a lifestyle adjustment for us, it's not worth blowing up the fucking planet not to. But the psychopaths running the place don't give a damn, we're only fodder anyway.

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 08:22 | 6697732 SharkBit
SharkBit's picture

A wise message.  I support that analysis.  The corrupt establishment that is the western world has gone too far.  Too late to bring it back I'm afraid.  They are all Hitlers in my opinion but the difference being they have learned a bit about marketing to the masses (progagada) and controlling consumer behaviour to their tool box over the last 1/2 century.  Hitler wanted to destroy a people and just said it.  Bad marketing message.  Now they still destroy a people but make it sound all warm and fluffy.

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 08:32 | 6697764 Dr. Engali
Dr. Engali's picture

"Their oil." Maybe I shouldn't be posting with a hangover.

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 09:11 | 6697927 SimplePrinciple
SimplePrinciple's picture

In oil patch parlance, it would be "that there" oil.

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 09:03 | 6697886 css1971
css1971's picture

They think it won't touch them.

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 09:41 | 6698026 shovelhead
shovelhead's picture

Gotta keep the Euro horses in the US corral and making sure they get supplied by oil and gas from anywhere (petro-dollar friendly) but Russia is the game. A last gasp at boosting a failing petrobuck and trying to create a weak and wobbling Russia, so they can't do in Syria what they seem to already have done.

Get in the way of US dirty deeds.

I could insert thousands of words to expand on this theme but why bother? The above pretty much sums it up.

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 08:07 | 6697675 buzzsaw99
buzzsaw99's picture

if the arabs are going to spend their money on war the usa mic is sporting some serious wood.

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 08:07 | 6697677 vheissu
vheissu's picture

I dont think we(turkish people) will ever shoot at russians. We have very strong economic partnership with russia, maybe Turkey is a part of NATO on paper but Russia is our de facto ally now, not US.

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 09:07 | 6697904 researchfix
researchfix's picture

Then you should maybe get rid of the one-man-show Erdogan.

Like, before its too late.

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 09:26 | 6697983 813kml
813kml's picture

The upcoming Turkish elections should be interesting...

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 11:58 | 6698736 Kayman
Kayman's picture

vheissu

What you live and breath everyday is not what CNN or Bill O'Reilly shovel out to the American people.  Turkey is just a pawn on the board as far as the Dark forces are concerned. 

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 08:08 | 6697678 SharkBit
SharkBit's picture

You gotta love the standard Western propaganda sound bite ... "If a military intervention will protect the Syrian people from the brutality of the regime, we will do it,"

And how is blowing up wedding parties and innocent people in Yemen any different.  They guy should have said...

"If a military intervention will protect the Yemeni people from the brutality and hypocracy of the Saudi regime, we will do it,"

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 08:14 | 6697700 Dr. Engali
Dr. Engali's picture

I guess that chopping off the heads of their citizens isn't being brutal according to the camel fuckers.

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 09:44 | 6698040 shovelhead
shovelhead's picture

Strong Law and Order folks.

Can't run a Kingdom without it.

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 09:59 | 6698112 Jethro
Jethro's picture

Most of the world understands force, and a "strong man". I'd argue that muslims understand nothing but that. That's why, when we have a president with a long history of sucking cock, and then makes the rounds bowing to every world leader, you can expect literally everybody to pull his punk card.

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 11:43 | 6698656 IndyPat
IndyPat's picture

Russia could flip that script in Afghanistan.

Gotta protect those hospitals from US aggression, dontchaknow.

Shit is getting really, really deep. About waist high.

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 08:15 | 6697695 Catullus
Catullus's picture

MIC weapons sales conduit - Qatar - threatens to use its inventory of stuff so they can launder more US tax dollars back to US MIC manufacturers.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/03/27/qatar-defence-idUSL5N0MO3VV201...

 

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 08:15 | 6697705 moman
moman's picture

AS LONG AS THE BANKSTERS CAN SELL TO BOTH SIDES THEY AND THE ARMS MAKERS KEEP TAKING IT IN, WE ARE IN A GLOBAL ZIONIST BANKSTERS FEEDING FRENZI.

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 08:18 | 6697715 overmedicatedun...
overmedicatedundersexed's picture

well we could all get lucky and that astroid hits the mid east on holloween.

obuma his weakness, is dangerous - he is unstable, mix in sunni vs shia insanity, with inbred royals of the ME and nothing but mistakes and misery is guaranteed.

no world leader today has any human qualities other then weakness and greed and lust of power.

 

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 09:57 | 6698093 Jethro
Jethro's picture

Mid East, DC, Brussels...its all good.

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 08:21 | 6697724 silverer
silverer's picture

Another reason to drag in NATO.  US economy must be worse than we think.

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 08:20 | 6697726 Main_Sequence
Main_Sequence's picture

Stand back while Qatar brings "Freedom and Democracy" to the Syrian people.

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 08:21 | 6697727 silverer
silverer's picture

I wonder how much money this just cost all the chlldren in the US?

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 09:46 | 6698046 shovelhead
shovelhead's picture

Nothing.

No jobs for them that pay a taxable level of income.

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 14:06 | 6699280 silverer
silverer's picture

I owe, I owe, it's off the dole I go,

With my labor forced,

And with much remorse,

I owe, I owe.

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 08:21 | 6697728 gwar5
gwar5's picture

Qatar has an army of what... 1000 angry camels? 

They can buy mercenaries but the Russian Air Force would clobber them. But I am glad that the big instigator of the problem is now delaring themselves and I hope they get their asses handed to them and their gay princes of Bel Air get their Ferraris droned by late bloomer Bolsheviks. 

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 08:27 | 6697735 FedFunnyMoney
FedFunnyMoney's picture

Here comes WW3.

Many will be surprised by who allies with the KSA and UAE.

Israel.

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 11:05 | 6698477 The Chief
The Chief's picture

Surprised? How so? Anyone with half a brain knows that the Israelis own SA.

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 08:25 | 6697739 Old Man River
Old Man River's picture

Why all the immigrants all the sudden? Its like somebody told them to get the heck out. Maybe "the plan" is to nuke a few places in the region. Cannot use radioactive oil.

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 08:28 | 6697753 Wahooo
Wahooo's picture

Russian cluster bombs for the Sunni clusterfuck.

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 08:29 | 6697757 foxenburg
foxenburg's picture

Nawaf Obaid, a visiting fellow at Harvard University’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, says

 

“The Saudis are going to be forced to lead a coalition of nations in an air campaign against the remnants of Syrian forces, Hezbollah and Iranian fighters to facilitate the collapse of the Assad regime and assist the entry of rebel forces into Damascus,”

 

ha ha ha ha. As is easily verified by Google, the average Arab IQ is in the low 80s. This visiting fellow's sounds much higher. Around 85 or 86.

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 09:08 | 6697777 cowdiddly
cowdiddly's picture

Gee now thats strange when half the FSA rats that are being exterminated turn out to be Saudi nationals now.. Vlad says come on over and don't forget to bring your sheet.

Now ole Assad has out lasted Hillary Clinton, Nicolas Sarkoski, Willie Hauge, KIng Abdullah, the Bunga Bunga man, David Harper and quite a few other assholes like you talking smack about him and I think he will outlast your stinkin Arab ass too Habib.

And you might ought to concentrate on how to not end up on a Houthi Shish Kabab last I heard, as I was looking at a vid just yesterday with no less than 5 pieces of fancy tan Saudi equipment burning in one field alone..

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 09:11 | 6697926 researchfix
researchfix's picture

That maybe got some Pakistanis roasting.

Check: Nobody in that region is where he belongs.

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 09:52 | 6698073 Jethro
Jethro's picture

Do Saudis do anything on their own?

When the tanks were rolling into Yemen, without reactive armor, I speculated if the Iranians would take notice. They damn sure did, and sent ATGMs to the Houthis. But, who sends in armor without infantry support? WTF over?

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 08:38 | 6697788 NoWayJose
NoWayJose's picture

What Qatar and Saudi Arabia want is to tangle with Russia so that the U.S. has to come to their rescue.

But other than money - how many Saudis are going to give up their lavish lifestyle to play on the Syrian sands?

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 08:55 | 6697856 Sandmann
Sandmann's picture

Saudi is finished anyway......Qatar irrelevant. Turkey will be so consumed in its own civil war the US won't know which way to turn. Turkey could be a cross between Ukraine and Syria as the Kurds and other groups reshape the country. Erdogan isn't even Turkish !

The US is being set up. China will bait the trap. Iran will be the major player in the region and Saudi Arabia is ready to implode. Unless the US is prepared to see US population centres destroyed it will be cautious. Once the US Mainland comes under ICBM attack it will never be the same - the US lives the myth the British once lived - no foreign wars on our territory.

Qatar is laughable as are its 2 million people. It thinks owning a TV station and giving the US a base equals throwing fireworks in a powder store.

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 09:04 | 6697877 cowdiddly
cowdiddly's picture

The Qataris? PFFFt. There is only about 2 million people or about the pop of Irving Texas in the whole damn place and probably not more than 200k of fighting age  including the women and most of them have enough money to pay their way out of conscription or run to University.

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 10:29 | 6698295 nosam
nosam's picture

Of the 2 million, 90% are foreigners. Indians, Pakistanis...

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 11:36 | 6698627 Zwelgje
Zwelgje's picture

Qatar is a US Navy base masquerading as a country.

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 12:48 | 6698978 L Bean
L Bean's picture

dingdingding

 

The US Fleet is their "army".

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 09:22 | 6697969 Winston of Oceania
Winston of Oceania's picture

What percentage of the Saudi population do you think lives a lavish lifestyle? It is a very small number so you will surely be able to grasp its significance.

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 09:49 | 6698058 shovelhead
shovelhead's picture

They'll be sending their Sunni Indonesian houseboys to Syria.

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 08:44 | 6697809 tuttisaluti
tuttisaluti's picture

When this is finished,  there will be no market for oil and gas anymore 

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 11:01 | 6698457 dsty
dsty's picture

hurt not the wine and oil

i'm thinking it will still be here

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 08:45 | 6697813 kaboomnomic
kaboomnomic's picture

Saudi, Qatar & even Turkey, wamts piece of the actions in Syria??

I'd like to see them doing REAL actions. Not just talk. Talk is cheap! And do the MAN thing. Not COWARD ACT like droping 50 tons of weapons in the middle of nowhere.

You'll soon see how advanced Iran's weapons productions really is. Only turkey can match Iran's productions.

And do you really think, Russia would let those ME country pass through Syria to bombs Iran?

Haha... Haha... I DARE YOU to do it...

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 08:46 | 6697816 Omega_Man
Omega_Man's picture

look at a map

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 08:48 | 6697826 Monetas
Monetas's picture

If Israel can just hang on .... these Muslim clowns will self exterminate .... me happy ?

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 08:50 | 6697838 EasternPoV
EasternPoV's picture

All talk no show..must be big brother instigating behind the scene.  Blood and Ferraris don't mix, do they have the stomach for it. If so, let the show begins....

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 08:53 | 6697848 Monetas
Monetas's picture

If 3,000 lives were lost on 9/11 .... the payback in Muslim carnage .... has got to be 3,000 a month .... the pay back continues .... Syria alone 300,000 paybacks .... Iraq even more .... Arab Spring .... a wonderful thing !

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 08:54 | 6697854 Omega_Man
Omega_Man's picture

Qatar.... Saudi... is this some kind of joke? I am sure they are laughing in Moscow

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 08:57 | 6697863 Hannibal
Hannibal's picture

So now everybody wants openly to bomb, "cough"..protect the Syrian people. How nice.!

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 08:57 | 6697867 kaboomnomic
kaboomnomic's picture

3 main points of Tsun Zu "the art of war"

Those who knows well itsels, knows well its ally, knows well its enemy? Will ALWAYS WINS, their war.

Those who knows well itself, knows well its ally, but not know very well its enemy? This country would LOOSE SOME, WIN SOME.

Those who don't knows well itself, don't know well its ally, don't know well its enemy? This country WILL ALWAYS LOOSE THE WAR, AND BRING DOWN ITS COUNTRY ALSO.

- - -

Now, let put this perspective to one country who like to commenced a war in every corners of the earth.

1. Does it won war with North Korea? DMZ zone STILL at 38th parrarel.

2. Does it won war with commumist vietcong?

3. Does it won wars in Sudan, Nigeria, Somali, Yemen, Iraq, Afghan, Libya, Syria, Pakistan?

Now which kind of country, that war mongering country belongs to those 3 points of Tsun Zu teachings??

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 09:11 | 6697921 Monetas
Monetas's picture

1. The DMZ was at the 38th parralel when North Korea invaded the south.  2. The Viet Namese are now an ally and seek our protection from the Chicoms. 3. The meat grinder is still running .... check back later. LOL

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 09:00 | 6697868 Monetas
Monetas's picture

Even when we "lose" wars .... we always win the body bag count .... Viet Nam, Korea, Iraq, Afghanistan .... and that's what counts .... current kill ratios 100:1 .... not up to Korean levels .... but, there were hordes of barefoot in the snow Chicoms to mow down .... so, all things considered (I love that stupid phrase!) .... it's not really a fair comparison ?

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 08:58 | 6697869 Panic Mode
Panic Mode's picture

LOL in tears .... "brutality of the regime". What a toss posch...

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 08:59 | 6697872 fightapathy
fightapathy's picture

The inbred drooling harem freakshow that rules the oil derricks of Qatar can flap their hanging lower lips all they want, 'cause they KNOW the United States Fifth Fleet is stationed right across the way, and Iran is not so bananas as to try a hit-and-run attack on the crappy little peninsula with inflatables. But do they really need to burn off the last of their cash reserves on outright war in the middle east?

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 09:01 | 6697878 Billy Shears
Billy Shears's picture

So, tell me, who protects the Saudi people from their barbaric regime? Oh, that's right, the U.S. ENABLES it! This is such stupid shit...

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 09:05 | 6697896 Bay Area Guy
Bay Area Guy's picture

So Qatar and it's 12 man army or however many the fuck they have are going to show the Russkies a thing or two?  I get the feeling that Qatar will fight to the last drop of Saudi and Turk blood.

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 09:05 | 6697897 Teh Finn
Teh Finn's picture

There has never been a more opportune moment for the USA to silently roll up ALL it's military presence everywhere in the world.  Who gives a crap about safe shipping lanes?  Who gives a rip about trading partners and protecterates.

Guess what BISHES.  Y'all on your own.  Bring all that hardware back here and warehouse or mothball it.

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 10:08 | 6698174 nevertheless
nevertheless's picture

LOL, maybe we can use our trillian dollarmilitary to defend OUR own borders, who would ever have imagined using your military to defend America?!

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 09:05 | 6697898 me or you
me or you's picture

HAHAHA! Qatar? What a joke ever the Mexican drug cartels can defeat them.

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 09:16 | 6697943 NoWayJose
NoWayJose's picture

If Qatar and Saudi Arabia want to help their brothers - why don't they send a few billion to help the refugees in the EU? And set up a few billion to rebuild in Syria?

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 10:12 | 6698189 Lucky Leprachaun
Lucky Leprachaun's picture

The Saudis have offered $200 million.  But it can be soent only on mosques.

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 09:17 | 6697952 dogismycopilot
dogismycopilot's picture

The Qataris:

1. You have to understand they operate from a deep sense of insecurity in the older generation - in the 1940s and 1950s, before the discovery of the gas, their main industry (diving for pearls) collapsed with the influx of artificial pearls. It is not well known, but Qataris were literally starving to death in that 20 year period. The Qataris were being imported into Egypt, Oman, Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern countries as COMMON LABORERS. The Qataris were used the way the Gulf uses Nepalis and Indians today - disposable labor - and this continued well into the 1960s and part of the 1970s.

2.The younger generation operate from a sense of entitlement and arrogance and no knowledge of the past struggle as the concept of history doesnt really exist in Qatar - as most recently evidenced by one of the prince's actions in Beverly Hills http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-beverly-hills-ferrari-race-q...  

3. They want to rule the Middle East. There is not much love lost between the Qataris and some of the other GCC countries whom they have rubbed the wrong way. It is well known in the Middle East that the Qataris think they are the smartest, most influential and the richest. There has also been some border disputes between the Qataris, Saudi and UAE. 

4. Qataris have the worst sense of art in the world. I give you a bronze 50 ft spider with an egg sack (with marble eggs in it) and you put it in your convention center? This will give you nightmares so be careful before you click on it. I have seen it in person and it is the CREEPIEST FUCKING PIECE OF ART I HAVE EVER SEEN. http://blog.conservation.org/2012/12/after-doha-a-time-to-reflect-and-a-...

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 10:11 | 6698183 Lucky Leprachaun
Lucky Leprachaun's picture

I know Qatar very well and everything you say is true. They believe that literally everything and everyone can be bought if enough money is spent. And as we saw with the World Cup there's some basis for their view.

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 11:48 | 6698692 IndyPat
IndyPat's picture

Trouble with that is there's not enough money to make eating hot Russian death appealing.

Suppose they can give it a shot, though.

Long popcorn.

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 15:05 | 6699539 Jethro
Jethro's picture

Well, the know the US Congress then.

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 09:30 | 6697992 graspAU
graspAU's picture

Did anyone see the 60 min story on China's ability to reach and destroy gps satelites? Could you imagine a US war machine with no GPS? That would be a catastrophy for the US. Combine that with a no-holds-barred cyber war, and its complete chaos.

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 10:02 | 6698126 man of Wool
man of Wool's picture

That would be funny.

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 11:30 | 6698600 Bankster Kibble
Bankster Kibble's picture

The US military might have to switch to civilian GPS, and we all know how inaccurate THAT is.

. . .

Hmm, maybe it already happened.  That would explain all the massacred wedding parties . . .

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 13:15 | 6699092 El Vaquero
El Vaquero's picture

Civilian GPS uses the same sattilites that the military does.  Our devices don't have the codes to descramble the full signal, thus they rely on a lot of averaging.  You can still get very precise positions with civilian GPS, if you have a lot of time and a decent antenna.  It isn't nearly as good if you're moving though. 

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 11:46 | 6698674 samsara
samsara's picture

 

China hails satellite killer - and stuns its rivals in space

 

The test was especially troubling because it exposed the vulnerability of America's dependence on low-orbiting satellites, which are used for military communications, smart bombs and surveillance. In theory, last week's exercise could give Beijing the capability to knock out such satellites - a realisation that underlay the protests from Washington.

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 12:22 | 6698858 Kayman
Kayman's picture

Ahh... China, the country built on the Clinton Foundation and Walmart.

How fucking dumb are we ?  No, don't answer that.  Hopefully the rope we need to hang ourselves is made in China.

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 13:13 | 6699083 El Vaquero
El Vaquero's picture

Irony within irony. 

 

Good thing hipsters don't frequent this site, because that's enough to make their heads explode.

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 14:00 | 6699264 silverer
silverer's picture

Yes.  Those satellites are way more than GPS satellites.  They are very important and very expensive.  Naturally.

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 09:31 | 6697998 Hannibal
Thu, 10/22/2015 - 11:28 | 6698586 Bankster Kibble
Bankster Kibble's picture

Oopsie, the truth slips out.  They hate it when that happens . . .

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 09:37 | 6698017 cheech_wizard
cheech_wizard's picture

On a bright note... At least this won't start like WWI with an assassination of a royal prince.

Standard Disclaimer: In-bred royal princes are a dime a dozen in SA. The Al Thani clan in Qatar is thought to number aound 20,000.

 

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 09:47 | 6698052 Able Ape
Able Ape's picture

Anybody have change for a Qatar?  We need a shitload of dimes.... Here comes the Qatarian Army....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xw8hcXBA7X4

Qatar...Reaaaaaaalllllllyyyyyy?

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 09:50 | 6698065 smacker
smacker's picture

If Putin drops a big enough bomb, he can take out Doha and Riyadh in one bang.

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 11:42 | 6698652 Caleb Abell
Caleb Abell's picture

Vlad would use the Tsar Bombas, but they are already reserved for Berlin, London, Paris, Warsaw, Washingtion, and New York.

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 13:06 | 6699060 The Chief
The Chief's picture

Arent you glad that the assholes kinda herd up in those big cities?

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 09:53 | 6698076 smacker
smacker's picture

"Anything that protects the Syrian people and Syria from partition, we will not spare any effort to carry it out with our Saudi and Turkish brothers, no matter what this is, Qatar’s Foreign Minister Khalid al-Attiyah told CNN on Wednesday"

 

These arabs sure know how to lie thru their teeth.

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 09:57 | 6698084 Quinvarius
Quinvarius's picture

They won't do crap.  Clearly Oshithead is making the rounds and paying people to talk shit.  But Oshitheads actual ability to get anyone to escalate against Russia is zero.  Even the US military wont follow Oshithead into this idiotic war.

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 10:03 | 6698140 nathan1234
nathan1234's picture

Country with appox 280,000 qataris, full of gas, abnoxious gas and natural gas.

An absolute monarchy.

Qatar created by the British of course, for their convenience. Time is up. Controlled by American bases on it's doorstep.

 

 

 

 

 

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 10:03 | 6698142 farflungstar
farflungstar's picture

Everyone's quaking in their boots at the thought of Qatari military intervention. On a map, Qatar looks like a pimple on the ass of Saudi Arabia...putting their nose in this tent they might get more than they bargained for.

Send in the clowns!

Thu, 10/22/2015 - 10:07 | 6698163 kanoli
kanoli's picture

Qatar attack with French Mirage 2000 fighters would be entertaining to watch.  They will not last five minutes.

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