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Generational Dynamics Web Log for 5-Dec-2013
5-Dec-13 World View -- Hezbollah commander assassinated in increasingly violent Lebanon

Web Log - December, 2013

5-Dec-13 World View -- Hezbollah commander assassinated in increasingly violent Lebanon

Der Spiegel predicts a stock market and real estate crash

This morning's key headlines from GenerationalDynamics.com

Lebanon's army takes control of Tripoli
Hezbollah commander assassinated in increasingly violent Lebanon
Extremism-related crimes spiking in Russia's North Caucasus
Der Spiegel predicts a stock market and real estate crash

Lebanon's army takes control of Tripoli

Map of Tripoli, Lebanon, showing the two districts (Shia/Alawite versus Sunni), separated by Syria Street, that have been fighting (BBC)

Map of Tripoli, Lebanon, showing the two districts (Shia/Alawite versus Sunni), separated by Syria Street, that have been fighting (BBC)

Lebanon's government has ordered that Tripoli be placed under army control for six months. The army is charged with stopping the proxy war that's going on in Tripoli between Shia/Alawite and Sunni citizens who are, respectively, siding for and against Bashar al-Assad. At least 100 people have been killed this year, mostly in gunfights between the two sects, and the number has surged recently. Al-Jazeera and BBC

Hezbollah commander assassinated in increasingly violent Lebanon

Hezbollah commander Hassan al-Laqqis was shot to death by gunmen with silencers as he arrived home late on Tuesday evening in Beirut, Lebanon. This was a new shock for the Shia terrorist militia organization, because al-Laqqis was supposed to be well protected from such attacks. Hezbollah reflexively blamed Israel for the assassination, though Israeli officials have denied having anything to do with it.

Since April 30, when Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hasan Nasrallad gave a televised speech committing Hezbollah's soldiers to enter Syria and fight on the side of Syria's Shia/Alawite genocidal monster president Bashar al-Assad, sectarian (Sunni versus Shia) has been surging throughout the Mideast. (See "27-Sep-13 World View -- How Hezbollah's reluctant foray into Syria changed the Mideast")

It was just two weeks ago that two suicide bombers attacked the Iranian embassy in Beirut where it was also supposed to be super-secure. In that case as well, Iran reflexively blamed Israel ("The Islamic Republic of Iran takes the Zionists and their mercenaries responsible for this action."), but since then, both Iran and Hezbollah have acknowledged that the perpetrators were Sunni jihadists, possibly funded and supported by Saudi Arabia, who have essentially declared war on Hezbollah since their April 30 announcement. ( "20-Nov-13 World View -- Lebanon bombing sharply escalates sectarian Mideast conflict") It's most likely that Sunni jihadists were the perpetrators of Tuesday evening's assassination, and it's possible that the assassination is related to the surging violence in Tripoli. Daily Star (Beirut) and Jerusalem Post

Extremism-related crimes spiking in Russia's North Caucasus

Russian officials are reporting that the number of extremism-related crimes in the North Caucasus, Russia's southern provinces, rose by 40% in 2013, compared to 2012, with the greatest increase in Dagestan. Over 100 servicemen died and more than 300 were wounded in attacks in the first nine months of 2013, while over 200 militants were killed and more than 250 arrested, according to Russian government figures. According to a prosecutor:

"Unemployment and the absence of stable sources of income for a significant portion of the population result in citizens’ involvement in bandit groups of extremist origin and also create a breeding ground for attempts to use ethnic tensions to fuel ethnic strife."

Russian officials blame unfavorable economic conditions and rigid clan systems for the Islamization and radicalization of young people. Jamestown

Der Spiegel predicts a stock market and real estate crash

Der Spiegel is possibly the most mainstream of the mainstream news media in Europe. It's well to the left of center, and usually applauds even the most dangerous radical policies advocated by far leftists like Paul Krugman. But today, Der Spiegel is predicting a crash:

"Central banks around the world are pumping trillions into the economy. The goal is to stimulate growth, but their actions are also driving up prices in the real estate and equities markets. The question is no longer whether there will be a crash, but when."

By the way, according to Friday's Wall Street Journal, the S&P 500 Price/Earnings index (stock valuations) on Friday (December 2) morning was 18.72, which is astronomical by historic standards, indicating that stocks are far overpriced, and the stock market bubble is worse than ever. Der Spiegel

(Comments: For reader comments, questions and discussion, see the 5-Dec-13 World View -- Hezbollah commander assassinated in increasingly violent Lebanon thread of the Generational Dynamics forum. Comments may be posted anonymously.) (5-Dec-2013) Permanent Link
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Generational Dynamics Web Log for 5-Dec-2013 5-Dec-13 World View -- Hezbollah commander assassinated in increasingly violent Lebanon

Lebanon's army takes control of Tripoli

Hezbollah commander assassinated in increasingly violent Lebanon

Extremism-related crimes spiking in Russia's North Caucasus

Der Spiegel predicts a stock market and real estate crash

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Generational Dynamics Web Log for 5-Dec-2013
5-Dec-13 World View -- Hezbollah commander assassinated in increasingly violent Lebanon