November 6, 2012

In-depth

Syrian Rebels for Romney

Disappointed by Obama, those fighting the Assad regime is hoping that a President Romney would intervene in Syria, writes Anna Therese Day in the Daily Beast. 

With the Assad regime escalating its aerial bombardments of “liberated” Syrian towns, the Free Syrian Army has sought to get more sophisticated weaponry—particularly anti-aircraft missiles—from regional and Western allies. When reports surfaced this fall suggesting the U.S. had discouraged Qatar and Saudi Arabia from transferring more heavy weapons to the Syrian rebels, many in the Syrian opposition came to see the American policy as de facto support for the Assad regime.

Intrigue in Lebanon

Erich Follath of Der Spiegel asks whether the Lebanese Intelligence Chief murdered by a Beirut car bomb was truly a hero or a double agent.

In recent months, the restless Lebanese intelligence chief had turned his attention to rebel forces in Syria. Just last summer, he apparently set a trap for Ali Mamlouk, who would be promoted in July from chief of Assad's general intelligence directorate to head of his national security council. Via intermediaries, al-Hassan encouraged Mamlouk to supply Michel Samaha, a former minister of information in Lebanon and staunch ally of the Syrian regime, with explosives to be used in attacks. Samaha was arrested in early August and reportedly confessed. It was a serious loss of face for Assad — and a plausible reason for taking out the supposed turncoat al-Hassan.

Daily Digest

• Times of Israel: Rival Jewish groups push hard for votes in campaigns’ last hours
• Haaretz: An open letter to Netanyahu: It's time to speak to Abbas
• Jerusalem Post: Explosion on Gaza-Israel border injures 3 IDF soldiers
• Ynet: Will terrorists follow Syrian rebels to Israeli border?
• New York Times: Netanyahu Says He’d Go It Alone on Striking Iran
• Washington Post: Tourism a surprise bright spot for Iran
• Wall Street Journal: Next-Generation Prince to Head Saudi Security

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