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14 Nov, 4 tweets, 2 min read
But there is no AQ-Iran nexus, mmkay?
The fact that Al-Qaeda enjoys safe haven in Iran has been known to CT analysts for years. It’s been reinforced by US Treasury designations—including during the Obama years. But mention it as part of Iran’s long list of malign activities, and you get branded a “war monger.”
For good analysis on this topic, follow @FDD’s @LongWarJournal @thomasjoscelyn. For falsehoods, keep scrolling through your feed and watch pro-JCPOA mouthpieces dismiss basic facts for political reasons.
Would be great to see a real congressional hearing on this topic. With real experts that have no dog in the JCPOA fight. Facts are stubborn things. And the facts undeniably show that Iran has offered safe haven to Al-Qaeda leaders for years.

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More from @JSchanzer

Jonathan Schanzer Profile picture
14 Nov
While Iran regime apologists attempt to explain how al-Qaeda’s #2 was just a pawn or under house arrest by the regime in Tehran, it’s worth remembering some fascinating history dating back to the early 1990s in Sudan.
Under the leadership of Hassan Turabi, Sudan played host to Islamist conferences featuring violent actors from across the Middle East: Al-Qaeda, Hamas, Hezbollah...you name it. The goal of these confabs was to unite all violent Islamists under one banner.
This is where that supposed firewall between Sunni and Shia extremist was eroded. It did not remove it entirely. But it paved the way for Iran and Hezbollah to cooperate with groups like Al-Qaeda and Hamas. Those relationships endured.
Read 5 tweets
Jonathan Schanzer Profile picture
30 Sep
(1) Today was a busy day. I’ve not had time to respond to the news about Hezbollah’s missile facilities that Israeli PM Netanyahu exposed today. But here goes...
(2) We at @FDD have been warning about the threat of Hezbollah’s precision guided munitions (PGM) project, sponsored by Iran, for quite some time.
Writing: commentarymagazine.com/articles/jonat…
Speaking: meforum.org/60908/schanzer…
(3) Israel has tried to prevent the missiles from being smuggled to Lebanon by way of Syria, where hundreds of targets have been destroyed in recent years. But it is clear that Hezbollah is now turning its efforts to indigenous production.
Read 9 tweets
Jonathan Schanzer Profile picture
21 Aug
Like the Islamic State, without the beheadings.
Just imagine if the US -- or Israel! -- started converting mosques into churches or synagogues. The anger from the Muslim world would be seething. The State Department would be issuing apologies and doing damage control. What is Erdogan's Turkey doing? Gloating and doubling down.
For all the talk of American Islamophobia, it certainly seems to me that Turkey is the one waging a campaign to offend Christians. And the silence from the rest of the Muslim world is deafening.
Read 4 tweets
Jonathan Schanzer Profile picture
16 Aug
Arab states want ties with Israel for reasons unconnected to the Palestinians. After a century of conflict, they appear to realize that subordinating their interests to the Palestinian cause was not good for anyone but the Palestinians.
My timeline is filled with analysts bending over backwards to make the Palestinians a central issue in the UAE announcement and future annoucements by other Arab states. It’s bizarre. The under-the-table relationships between Israel and Arab states are driven by self interest.
When we talk about self-interest, that includes: security, cyber, intelligence sharing, technology, trade, etc. Fear of an aggressive Iran looms largest. Israel’s ability to tangle with Tehran does not go unnoticed. But there are other benefits to reap from ties with Israel.
Read 4 tweets
Jonathan Schanzer Profile picture
15 Aug
Looool asiatimes.com/2020/08/lebano…
“Can I haz bailout?” asks Lebanon’s President. As if such an agreement with Israel were possible with swaths of the country controlled by an Iran-backed terror group, which until a few days ago was the lynchpin for a coalition.
I don’t discount that Aoun himself might want an agreement. But it’s just not possible now. It’s also hard to believe that this wasn’t a trial balloon to the West, as Lebanon struggles to deal with its $93 billion sinkhole of an economy.
Read 4 tweets
Jonathan Schanzer Profile picture
13 Aug
A hugely important day today in the Middle East. And I dare say an important day for Jared Kushner, who was widely reported to be at odds with Amb Friedman on the prioritization of regional peace vs annexation (application or sovereignty).
Setting US policy is about choices. This was the right choice in my view. And speaking of policy: today was a a clear indication that the very threat of annexation (not to mention the decisions on Golan and Jerusalem) was important leverage. Maybe the experts were wrong...
I seem to recall a number of very serious people on Twitter saying unserious things about how US recognition of Jerusalem and Golan would be tantamount to diplomatic arson. Whoops. I’m sure someone is already busy collecting those.
Read 5 tweets

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