Interesting timing regarding Sudan

By Scott A Morgan

October12, 2011 — If a person has been watching the News Cycle during the past 24 Hours it has been hard not to notice the latest American “Counterintelligence Triumph”. If one believes the hype coming from the Justice Department about the Iranian plot to assassinate the Israeli and Saudi Ambassadors to the US is an isolated incident then there is something that may explain why this plot may be genuine.

Roughly the same time that the Justice Department was holding their Presser in Washington an Item was posted on the Internet on Sudan Tribune. This item titled “Sudan refuses US demand to sever ties with Iran and Hamas.” The US has had a strained relationship with the Bashir Regime ever since the Coup that placed him in power back in 1989.

But we should also look at the relations that Khartoum has had with both the Israelis and the Saudis as well to expand on the recent threat. Last year (May 2010) there was an Issue with threats being made against Saudi Diplomats that were based in the Country. The Sudanese Foreign Ministry concluded that these threats did not have any” Political Motives and do not fall within the orbit of Terrorist Threats.”

During the early days of the Obama Administration in Washington the Israeli Defense Force launched two attacks against Arms Shipments that were reputedly supplied by Iran and were on their way to support Hamas in the Gaza Strip. It appears that the Iranians believe that there may be some sort of an accord between the Israelis and the Saudis designed to keep them in check.

At this time the US has not honored its pledge to remove Sudan from the list of Nations that are known to be State Sponsors of Terrorism. This has been reported to be a reward for holding a generally peaceful referendum that led to the Independence of the Nation of South Sudan. However tensions within the long suffering region of Darfur continue to simmer as the President of Chad has seen fit to send an envoy to Khartoum to discuss border security.

Another potential reason for this covert operation could be South Sudan. Both Israel and the Saudis have undertaken efforts to strengthen their relationships with the newly Independent Country. Speaking in Washington last month Gen Carter Ham commander of the US African Command (AFRICOM) stated that one of the goals of AFRICOM was to provide Security Assistance to South Sudan as well.

Until the Legal Process begins we may not actually be able to determine whether or not Actions taken by the United States, Saudi Arabia and Israel toward Khartoum was a mitigating factor in the decision to launch this Operation or at best having the collateral effect of helping an ally under duress. This does show a pattern of Teheran increasing an aggressive tactic in advancing its goals in the Middle East and North Africa. Or it is an effort to let the main critics of their attempt to acquire Nuclear Energy to back away and let them achieve their intended goals.

There is another interesting side note in this. It proves that the old Middle East Proverb that the Enemy of my Enemy is my Friend is still active.

The Author comments on US Policy Towards Africa and publishes Confused Eagle on the Internet.