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This Just Became The Most Important Map In Geopolitics

Tyler Durden's picture




 

Earlier today, in “Mid-East Melee: Sectarian Showdown Looms As Bahrain Cuts Ties With Iran, UAE Recalls Ambassador,” we brought you the latest from the war-torn Mid-East where a worsening spat between Saudi Arabia and Iran threatens to plunge the region into chaos.

Make no mistake, things were already out of control. The conflict in Syria has mushroomed into a global proxy war, Iraq is struggling to drive Islamic State from key cities, and Yemen remains mired in war nine months after the Saudis entered the fray to drive back the Houthis and restore the Hadi government.

Against that backdrop, the region could have done without the events that unfolded over the weekend. By executing prominent Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr, Riyadh has infuriated the Shiite community which took to the streets in protest, even going so far as to firebomb the Saudi embassy in Tehran.

In order to understand the upcoming sectarian strife and in order to fully grasp who belongs to Iran’s sphere of influence and who is loyal to the Saudis, one needs to have a working knowledge of what the Sunni-Shiite split looks like across the region. Because this is set to become the key geopolitical issue in the weeks and months ahead, we thought it an opportune time to present the following map from Goldman which does a nice job of delineating the sectarian split. Note the asterisks which indicate the affiliation of a country’s leadership.

From Goldman

Where are the main sectarian and ethnic divides in the Middle East today? Saudi Arabia and Iran, with their large respective Sunni and Shiite majorities, are generally viewed as two major opposing forces in the Middle East. They lie on opposite sides of an abstract and somewhat contentious demarcation known as the Shiite crescent, an area of Shiite influence stretching from Iran through southern Iraq and into parts of Syria and Lebanon. 

The region’s geopolitical, religious, and sectarian relationships are in reality more dynamic and complex. The conflict in Syria continues to pit anti-government insurgents, including Sunni Islamists, against the Alawite (Shiite) government’s forces and Shiite militias supported by Iran. In Iraq, some Sunnis have felt increasingly disenfranchised under the Shiite-majority government in Baghdad (a relatively new development given Iraq’s long history of Sunni rule). The Islamic State (IS) militant group has exploited this sentiment, particularly in the Sunni-majority areas of northern Iraq. 

How are the different branches of Islam represented in politics? In some countries, such as Saudi Arabia, the rulers adhere to the same branch of Islam as the majority of their citizens. However, this is not always the case. Despite being predominantly Shiite, Iraqis lived under Sunni rulers for much of history, including under the Ottoman Empire and the Ba’thist regime of Saddam Hussein. (Ba’thists are members of the Arab Socialist Ba’th Party, a political party founded in Syria in the 1940s on platforms of Arab nationalism and anti- colonialism. In Iraq, the Ba’thists governed from 1958 until the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003.) The Iraqi Ba’thist regime was secular in name but reserved political influence for the Sunni elite. In a break from its long history of Sunni political dominance, Iraq is currently ruled by a Shiite-majority government centered in Baghdad. Conversely, in Sunni-majority Syria, members of the Shiite Alawite sect have controlled the government since 1970. 

What is the composition of Sunnis and Shiites in the Muslim world today? Sunnis make up the majority of Muslims worldwide – an estimated 85-90%. Sunnis comprise 85% or more of the Muslim populations in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan, Syria, and the United Arab Emirates, and 70-85% in Kuwait, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. Shiites comprise the majority in Bahrain, Iraq, and Azerbaijan (all 60-65% Shiite), as well as in Iran (90-95%), home of the largest Shiite population. Although the Middle East and North Africa region is overwhelmingly Muslim (93%), it is home to only around 20% of Muslims worldwide. The majority – over 60% – lives in the Asia-Pacific region. 

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Mon, 01/04/2016 - 16:17 | 6996942 kralizec
kralizec's picture

Heck I dunno, it's like a Blutarsky roll, just go with it.

Mon, 01/04/2016 - 22:49 | 6998339 conscious being
conscious being's picture

I grocked it, I liked it, but I think the issue is he's speaking English.

Mon, 01/04/2016 - 15:10 | 6996571 Xredsx
Xredsx's picture

I can see someone is awake from the alternative reality created by the westen mainstream media.

Anonymous - Imagine That - YouTube

Mon, 01/04/2016 - 22:00 | 6998206 TheReplacement
TheReplacement's picture

"most of these countries would be ethnically/religiously divided , but still at uneasy peace- as it ever was."

Just because the different tribes couldn't find each other to slaughter in the desert doesn't mean they were at peace, as it ever was.  Wow man.

And dare I say, none of these countries would even exist without western meddling.  Not that it is good or bad, just that it wouldn't be like you say.

Mon, 01/04/2016 - 15:15 | 6996590 warpigs
warpigs's picture

We already have. They already are.

Mon, 01/04/2016 - 15:24 | 6996622 The Saint
The Saint's picture

As soon as Iran and Saudi Arbia get their nukes the place will be turned into a glass parking lot.

Mon, 01/04/2016 - 16:21 | 6996974 kralizec
kralizec's picture

Finally it will end.

Wait, are all the Sunni & Shia dead then?

Mon, 01/04/2016 - 15:27 | 6996641 FrankDrakman
FrankDrakman's picture

Isn't that exactly what happened during the Iraq-Iran war? Or were you asleep?

Mon, 01/04/2016 - 18:29 | 6997446 FIAT CON
FIAT CON's picture

I gather you see all colors except black!

Mon, 01/04/2016 - 20:40 | 6997884 East Indian
East Indian's picture

The surviving side will come after you! That is what happened in 9/11; USA armed Mujahideen, Taliban and Al Qaeda; Russia armed the Afghan Communists. They killed each other; Al Qaeda & CO survived, and came to US in an unforettable manner.

That is what the US' founding fathers warned against: meddling in foreign affairs!

Mon, 01/04/2016 - 22:05 | 6998223 TheReplacement
TheReplacement's picture

AQ planted explosives and demolished the three buildings in NYC while using a cruise missile to strike the Pentagram, thereby destroying lots of evidence in somewhat-kinda-sorta important cases against somewhat-kinda-sorta important people.

I could write that much better with references to getting the entire USAF on the wrong half of the continenet, making sure that literal first day noobs were in shotcalling command positions within US Defense, and the mystery of the missing gold but I think you get the point.  All Muslims did on 9/11 was die and react (various ways).  The real culprits were not so tan.

 

Mon, 01/04/2016 - 23:07 | 6998386 SixIsNinE
SixIsNinE's picture

 Architects & Engineers is now offering their new 50-page book report for FREE now  (of course donations still appreciated)  - repeat - FREE FREE FREE

beyondmisinformation.org  -  free e-version for download -   what's inside?  :

from the site:

This 50-page primer provides a comprehensive overview of the evidence regarding the World Trade Center destruction and a careful examination of the hypotheses that researchers have put forward to explain what caused it.

With references to dozens of scholarly papers and videos, it is both a perfect starting point for those who are new to the subject and a valuable resource for those already immersed in it.

Tue, 01/05/2016 - 21:00 | 7002716 mscir
mscir's picture

Leave us alone? Are you familiar with Mohammad Mosaddegh and how we treated him when he thought Iran should get more than 15% of the proceeds from its own oil? I also recommend reading Twilight in the Desert: The Coming Saudi Oil Shock and the World Economy, if you haven't already - whether you agree with the author's projections or not, it gives some very interesting history regarding how we treated Iran. And as Ron Paul noted,

Ron Paul: Iran Hasn’t Invaded Another Country for More Than 200 Years
http://www.ronpaul.com/2015-07-17/ron-paul-iran-hasnt-invaded-another-co...

So I'm having a hard time understanding how you could post this, unless you don't bother reading books and get all of your information from msm, in which case you have an Ignorance-Based Attitude.

 

Mon, 01/04/2016 - 14:44 | 6996435 Kirk2NCC1701
Kirk2NCC1701's picture

They're not "threatening".  They're just "promising" to deliver Peace.  Eternal Peace, if need be.

If you piss off the Fed/GS, MIC, Oil or Zio-Oligarchs.  With the End Goal of bringing Peace to Russia, of course.

Mon, 01/04/2016 - 17:34 | 6997249 researchfix
researchfix's picture

"With the End Goal of bringing Peace to Russia, of course."

For me it seems that - for the moment - the peacemaker is in the Russian holster.

Mon, 01/04/2016 - 14:48 | 6996458 Rainman
Rainman's picture

wtf .... looks just like fed land ownership in USSA

Mon, 01/04/2016 - 15:07 | 6996550 Kirk2NCC1701
Kirk2NCC1701's picture

That's a lot of 'remote BLM offices' to occupy.

Mon, 01/04/2016 - 15:39 | 6996713 vq1
vq1's picture

The federal government owns roughly 635-640 million acres, 28% of the 2.27 billion acres of land in the United States. **may not be current

home-ownership is on the decline in recent years. 63.7%

Mon, 01/04/2016 - 15:50 | 6996774 swamp
swamp's picture

WE are tge federal government. But don't be surprised if these public assets are sold to ELITE for pennies on the dollar after a crash a la Greece and JUST LIKE GREECE SOLD FOR NOTHING PUBLIC ASSETS

Mon, 01/04/2016 - 16:51 | 6997112 Socratic Dog
Socratic Dog's picture

That land will become collateral on the national debt, and end up owned by the je...er....bankers.

Mon, 01/04/2016 - 19:09 | 6997585 Chupacabra-322
Chupacabra-322's picture

@ Socratic Dog,

You're a little late on that assumption. It already occurred via The Bankruptcy of 1933 & The Emergency Banking Act of 1933.

All we have in their Fruadulent Admarality Courts are Codes, Statutes, Ordanacies, Acts & Mandates for the Criminal Fraud UNITED STATES, CORP. INC. & it's Criminal Fraud 50 Affiliates at the Crimjnal Fraud CORP. INC. STATE & LOCAL levels.

Mon, 01/04/2016 - 17:25 | 6997209 Budd aka Sidewinder
Budd aka Sidewinder's picture

We don't 'own' our houses...try not paying your property taxes for a couple of years and you'll see how much of your home you 'own'

Mon, 01/04/2016 - 19:10 | 6997591 Chupacabra-322
Chupacabra-322's picture

The Bankruptcy of The United States
United States Congressional Record, March 17, 1993 Vol. 33, page H-1303

Speaker-Rep. James Traficant, Jr. (Ohio) addressing the House:

"Mr. Speaker, we are here now in chapter 11.. Members of Congress are official trustees presiding over the greatest reorganization of any Bankrupt entity in world history, the U.S. Government. We are setting forth hopefully, a blueprint for our future. There are some who say it is a coroner’s report that will lead to our demise.

It is an established fact that the United States Federal Government has been dissolved by the Emergency Banking Act, March 9, 1933, 48 Stat. 1, Public Law 89-719; declared by President Roosevelt, being bankrupt and insolvent. H.J.R. 192, 73rd Congress m session June 5, 1933 - Joint Resolution To Suspend The Gold Standard and Abrogate The Gold Clause dissolved the Sovereign Authority of the United States and the official capacities of all United States Governmental Offices, Officers, and Departments and is further evidence that the United States Federal Government exists today in name only.

The receivers of the United States Bankruptcy are the International Bankers, via the United Nations, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. All United States Offices, Officials, and Departments are now operating within a de facto status in name only under Emergency War Powers. With the Constitutional Republican form of Government now dissolved, the receivers of the Bankruptcy have adopted a new form of government for the United States. This new form of government is known as a Democracy, being an established Socialist/Communist order under a new governor for America. This act was instituted and established by transferring and/or placing the Office of the Secretary of Treasury to that of the Governor of the International Monetary Fund. Public Law 94-564, page 8, Section H.R. 13955 reads in part: "The U.S. Secretary of Treasury receives no compensation for representing the United States?’

Gold and silver were such a powerful money during the founding of the united states of America, that the founding fathers declared that only gold or silver coins can be "money" in America. Since gold and silver coinage were heavy and inconvenient for a lot of transactions, they were stored in banks and a claim check was issued as a money substitute. People traded their coupons as money, or "currency." Currency is not money, but a money substitute. Redeemable currency must promise to pay a dollar equivalent in gold or silver money. Federal Reserve Notes (FRNs) make no such promises, and are not "money." A Federal Reserve Note is a debt obligation of the federal United States government, not "money?’ The federal United States government and the U.S. Congress were not and have never been authorized by the Constitution for the united states of America to issue currency of any kind, but only lawful money, -gold and silver coin.

It is essential that we comprehend the distinction between real money and paper money substitute. One cannot get rich by accumulating money substitutes, one can only get deeper into debt. We the People no longer have any "money." Most Americans have not been paid any "money" for a very long time, perhaps not in their entire life. Now do you comprehend why you feel broke? Now, do you understand why you are "bankrupt," along with the rest of the country?

Federal Reserve Notes (FRNs) are unsigned checks written on a closed account. FRNs are an inflatable paper system designed to create debt through inflation (devaluation of currency). when ever there is an increase of the supply of a money substitute in the economy without a corresponding increase in the gold and silver backing, inflation occurs.

Inflation is an invisible form of taxation that irresponsible governments inflict on their citizens. The Federal Reserve Bank who controls the supply and movement of FRNs has everybody fooled. They have access to an unlimited supply of FRNs, paying only for the printing costs of what they need. FRNs are nothing more than promissory notes for U.S. Treasury securities (T-Bills) - a promise to pay the debt to the Federal Reserve Bank.

There is a fundamental difference between "paying" and "discharging" a debt. To pay a debt, you must pay with value or substance (i.e. gold, silver, barter or a commodity). With FRNs, you can only discharge a debt. You cannot pay a debt with a debt currency system. You cannot service a debt with a currency that has no backing in value or substance. No contract in Common law is valid unless it involves an exchange of "good & valuable consideration." Unpayable debt transfers power and control to the sovereign power structure that has no interest in money, law, equity or justice because they have so much wealth already.

Their lust is for power and control. Since the inception of central banking, they have controlled the fates of nations.

The Federal Reserve System is based on the Canon law and the principles of sovereignty protected in the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. In fact, the international bankers used a "Canon Law Trust" as their model, adding stock and naming it a "Joint Stock Trust." The U.S. Congress had passed a law making it illegal for any legal "person" to duplicate a "Joint Stock Trust" in 1873. The Federal Reserve Act was legislated post-facto (to 1870), although post-facto laws are strictly forbidden by the Constitution. [1:9:3]

The Federal Reserve System is a sovereign power structure separate and distinct from the federal United States government. The Federal Reserve is a maritime lender, and/or maritime insurance underwriter to the federal United States operating exclusively under Admiralty/Maritime law. The lender or underwriter bears the risks, and the Maritime law compelling specific performance in paying the interest, or premiums are the same.

Assets of the debtor can also be hypothecated (to pledge something as a security without taking possession of it.) as security by the lender or underwriter. The Federal Reserve Act stipulated that the interest on the debt was to be paid in gold. There was no stipulation in the Federal Reserve Act for ever paying the principle.

Prior to 1913, most Americans owned clear, allodial title to property, free and clear of any liens or mortgages until the Federal Reserve Act (1913)

"Hypothecated" all property within the federal United States to the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve, -in which the Trustees (stockholders) held legal title. The U.S. citizen (tenant, franchisee) was registered as a "beneficiary" of the trust via his/her birth certificate. In 1933, the federal United States hypothecated all of the present and future properties, assets and labor of their "subjects," the 14th Amendment U.S. citizen, to the Federal Reserve System.

In return, the Federal Reserve System agreed to extend the federal United States corporation all the credit "money substitute" it needed. Like any other debtor, the federal United States government had to assign collateral and security to their creditors as a condition of the loan. Since the federal United States didn’t have any assets, they assigned the private property of their "economic slaves", the U.S. citizens as collateral against the unpayable federal debt. They also pledged the unincorporated federal territories, national parks forests, birth certificates, and nonprofit organizations, as collateral against the federal debt. All has already been transferred as payment to the international bankers.

Unwittingly, America has returned to its pre-American Revolution, feudal roots whereby all land is held by a sovereign and the common people had no rights to hold allodial title to property. Once again, We the People are the tenants and sharecroppers renting our own property from a Sovereign in the guise of the Federal Reserve Bank. We the people have exchanged one master for another.

This has been going on for over eighty years without the "informed knowledge" of the American people, without a voice protesting loud enough. Now it’s easy to grasp why America is fundamentally bankrupt.

Why don’t more people own their properties outright?

Why are 90% of Americans mortgaged to the hilt and have little or no assets after all debts and liabilities have been paid? Why does it feel like you are working harder and harder and getting less and less?

We are reaping what has been sown, and the results of our harvest is a painful bankruptcy, and a foreclosure on American property, precious liberties, and a way of life. Few of our elected representatives in Washington, D.C. have dared to tell the truth. The federal United States is bankrupt. Our children will inherit this unpayable debt, and the tyranny to enforce paying it.

America has become completely bankrupt in world leadership, financial credit and its reputation for courage, vision and human rights. This is an undeclared economic war, bankruptcy, and economic slavery of the most corrupt order! Wake up America! Take back your Country."

Mon, 01/04/2016 - 20:49 | 6997918 RichardP
RichardP's picture

Wake up America! Take back your Country.

Why?

Tue, 01/05/2016 - 11:19 | 6999643 Dame Ednas Possum
Dame Ednas Possum's picture

Is that you Mr. Yellen?

Mon, 01/04/2016 - 21:50 | 6998166 fleur de lis
fleur de lis's picture

For his bravery and trying to warn us about the treasonous parasites who infest every hallway in DC, Traficant was jailed for years for the most risible reasons. Upon his release he gave an interview and true to form, held nothing back. His mike was cut of before he damaged the .gov facade.

He returned to his farm where he met with a fatal "accident." He drove his tractor back into the barn -- which had a level floor -- and when he got out the tractor fell over on him. Such is the price for defying the ruling traitors.

Mon, 01/04/2016 - 21:05 | 6998000 insanelysane
insanelysane's picture

Federal government owns all the land via the FED.  The FED can print money and buy all of the real estate and any other asset class if and when they want.

Mon, 01/04/2016 - 14:53 | 6996489 CClarity
CClarity's picture

Bingo!

Mon, 01/04/2016 - 17:32 | 6997236 researchfix
researchfix's picture

" Who is threatening whom? Each of the 45 black dots is a US military base"

Almost all of them are covered from the Caspian Sea. As latest events showed.

I am sure, Sun Tzu has an aphorism which tells "Don´t go into the range of your objective, if you yourself cannot project that range"

 

Mon, 01/04/2016 - 19:08 | 6997581 Still Losing Money
Still Losing Money's picture

a lot of thse bases are closed and have been for several years now

Tue, 01/05/2016 - 13:53 | 7000749 11b40
11b40's picture

How many? Which ones?

Mon, 01/04/2016 - 15:46 | 6996743 Canadian Dirtlump
Canadian Dirtlump's picture

The Sunni Shia map has always been the reason for the West / Israel / the Gulf State's terrorism.

 

They will fight, at all costs, and probably lose due to their ineptness, a strong, peaceful shia crescent from forming. This latest provocation by Saudi Arabia is another kick at the beehive.

Mon, 01/04/2016 - 15:46 | 6996744 WOWurstupid
WOWurstupid's picture

Yea you and headless have it all figured out. The Muslims in the ME all want to be our friends and do Cum By Ah. And Israel is our Dr. Moriarty. You nazis want to do sharia and all live happily ever after. 

Mon, 01/04/2016 - 16:07 | 6996877 curbjob
curbjob's picture

Wow, I think we've met. Are you the dude who thought Maine lobster were born with the rubber bands on their claws ?

Mon, 01/04/2016 - 16:14 | 6996929 Miles Ahead
Miles Ahead's picture

Cum by ah.  I'm dyin'...

Mon, 01/04/2016 - 16:24 | 6996993 HowdyDoody
HowdyDoody's picture

+1000

Mon, 01/04/2016 - 17:21 | 6997190 knukles
knukles's picture

Well where do you think Rubber Bands come from and why lobsters are being hunted into extinction?
OK, seriously ..... I know Rubber Bands are grown in Montana next to the Dental Floss.  I was just funnin' ya'

Mon, 01/04/2016 - 17:55 | 6997341 trulz4lulz
trulz4lulz's picture

I use tons of rubber bands per day at work. I feel terrible....

Mon, 01/04/2016 - 16:21 | 6996979 SgtShaftoe
SgtShaftoe's picture

Are you attempting to emulate your ZH name?  If so, you're doing swimmingly

Mon, 01/04/2016 - 16:47 | 6997101 Canadian Dirtlump
Canadian Dirtlump's picture

I had composed a lucid response, but it's probably just better if I ask if you'd be kind enough to give me your dealer's number.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbApB22kdDs

Mon, 01/04/2016 - 15:49 | 6996766 RiverRoad
RiverRoad's picture

Give Peace a chance:  move the UN to Yemen and let them all party over there.

Mon, 01/04/2016 - 16:18 | 6996956 kralizec
kralizec's picture

Good idea, but Yemen doesn't have the endless flow of hookers, blow and booze like NYC has....they'd never go for it.

Mon, 01/04/2016 - 16:43 | 6997089 Socratic Dog
Socratic Dog's picture

Greater Israel stretches from, variously, the Nile to the Euphrates, Morocco to Iran and up to Turkey, and, well, the entire world.  Nile to Euphrates is the official version.

Mon, 01/04/2016 - 14:45 | 6996380 Dame Ednas Possum
Dame Ednas Possum's picture

Fucking great... I'm sat in bed reading my iPad smack bang in the middle of that fucking map.

Glad it's a furnished rental near the airport.

Mon, 01/04/2016 - 15:48 | 6996763 Jstanley011
Jstanley011's picture

I hope they're paying you well. Seriously, stay safe.

Mon, 01/04/2016 - 14:35 | 6996382 Bill of Rights
Bill of Rights's picture

We 21 jumped street some folks

Mon, 01/04/2016 - 15:26 | 6996633 Dog Will Hunt
Dog Will Hunt's picture

Now there's an idea--parachute Richard Grieco into the goddamn mess.  They won't know who he is, and immediately assume his ethnicity to be of the opposition.  Either way, we all win.  

Mon, 01/04/2016 - 14:37 | 6996390 KnuckleDragger-X
KnuckleDragger-X's picture

Cluster, meet fuck. You two have common interests in mass stupidity.......

Mon, 01/04/2016 - 14:39 | 6996410 MrNosey
MrNosey's picture

This is just the start of things to come, as we head for WW3 and then a disclosure that will rock the entire planet......

http://beforeitsnews.com/conspiracy-theories/2016/01/top-secret-alien-ph...

Mon, 01/04/2016 - 14:42 | 6996428 Latina Lover
Latina Lover's picture

What a crappy image, proving nothing.  C'mon, you have to do better than this.

Do NOT follow this link or you will be banned from the site!