US - SHALE GAS - JAPANESE and CHINESE MARKETS

Why Japan Will Drive Global LNG Growth There is little reason to expect Japan’s reactors will offset its voracious new appetite for LNG. By Clint Richards August 08, 2014 ... A look at Japan’s LNG consumption since 2011 ... Japanese use of LNG has increased by almost 20 million metric tons, or about 8 percent of global demand in 2013. The Wall Street Journal writes that this increased demand has led to more than 50 LNG export terminal proposals worldwide. However, despite surging demand for LNG in Japan (and China) recently, there are reasons to temper expectations. The Wall Street Journal speculates that a possible Japanese return to nuclear power and China’s staggeringly large new deal with Russia to import regular, piped natural gas should cause LNG speculators to hedge their bets somewhat.  [Yeah, hedge those bets in Europe.] While the question of China’s future LNG consumption may not be clear, demand will surely rise over the short to medium-term, even if that growth ends up being less pronounced than the increase in natural gas demand. Even with the prospect of a slowdown in China’s economy, it is simply too large not to diversify and increase the weighting of LNG in its energy mix, especially as the environmental impact of coal becomes much more problematic in its mega-cities. Japan’s future demand for LNG may also be difficult to gauge, but there are indicators as to what direction the industry in Japan will take. First of all, there are the $10 billion in loans put together by major private banks like Sumitomo Mitsui Banking and Mizuho Bank, along with the government’s Japan Bank for International Cooperation, to fund LNG projects in North America slated for delivery between 2017 and 2018. Additionally, by 2020 Japan is expected to order roughly 90 LNG ships worth $19.3 billion. However, the location of the investments is important, as that will signal the long-term viability of LNG imports for Japan. Overall Japanese investment in North America has increased substantially since 2011, going from roughly $15 billion to more than $45 billion in 2013. A significant portion of that investment is being funneled into the emerging shale natural gas industry in both the U.S. and Mexico. Once U.S. shale gas is online, it is expected to be 20 to 30 percent cheaper than Japan’s other suppliers. EXTRACT ONLY - FULL @ SOURCE http://thediplomat.com/2014/08/why-japan-will-drive-global-lng-growth/

That's just the Japanese / Chinese market.

* China will be largely natural gas reliant (Russian deal) ... but some diversity expected.

* Japan is a big market ... but they *could* revert to nuclear, so market not assured?

Don't forget Europe needs energy, too.  Hello Europe.

UKRAINE & RUSSIA - GERMANY, UK, EU - ENERGY NEEDS - HELLO US LNG

'Germany, Want to Rid Yourself of Russian Gas? Turbo-Charge the Energiewende!' Posted August 7, 2014 Merkel And Medvedev Inaugurate Nord Stream Gas Pipeline Last week, the US and the EU hit Russia with a new sanctions regime in order to punish its continued meddling in destabilizing Eastern Ukraine. The economic restrictions are dubbed ‘Stage Three’ sanctions, indicating the increased level of severity meant to further ratchet up costs to the Russian economy. The sanctions now target Russian banking, defense, and energy sectors. As for the latter, “both the EU and the United States will ban export of technologies to Russia for deep-water, Arctic or shale oil drilling,” The Guardian newspaper writes. Interestingly, the article also notes that “sanctions from the EU, which does far more trade with Russia, will be reviewed in three months.” The EU compared to the US has much more at stake – check out data (Eurostat, 2013) on imports, exports, and trade volumes between Russia and the EU in an interactive graphic provided by Der Spiegel. In addition, given that about 30 per cent of the EU’s overall gas consumption – ... is covered by Russian natural gas imports, it is no wonder that the EU may want to reconsider its ‘tough’ stance before the winter. The EU cannot have an interest in joining the Russian Bear in what might be called “economic hibernation” due to severe repercussions in the energy realm on both sides. A 2006 Russian natural gas shutoff left many Europeans without heating fuel during a bitter cold winter. As expected, Russia responded defiantly to the new sweeping EU/US sanctions, threatening to increase energy prices in a statement by the Russian foreign ministry cited by EUobserver: “Obsessed with sanctions, Brussels is itself creating barriers for further cooperation in such a key sector as energy industry ... In light of this threat a timely study by experts from the renowned German Frauenhofer Institute (IWES), commissioned by the German Green Party faction in the German parliament, explains how  ... Germany could completely wean itself off Russian natural gas imports. The study titled in German “Erdgassubstitution durch eine forcierte Energiewende” (“How a turbo-charged ‘Energiewende’ can replace natural gas imports”) concludes that Germany could be independent of Russian gas imports by 2030 at the earliest. At that point of time, Germany could cut down on Russian gas imports entirely, which is equivalent to about 400 TWh of German energy consumption per year based on 2013 figures. The authors go on to explain that Germany consumed about 900 terawatt-hours (TWh) – equivalent to about 102,600 megawatts (MW) by doing a rough conversion to megawatts – in 2013 with 96 TWh thereof attributed to its own domestic production. Charts show that Germany imported 1,040 TWh – including natural gas transits – and re-exported 226 TWh, leaving it with a net natural gas import balance of 814 TWh in 2013. Russian natural gas accounted for 38.7 per cent of these imports. However, in order to significantly reduce dependence on natural gas imports ahead of 2050 – the legislative goal as outlined in the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) 2.0 – an initial investment of 300 billion Euros is required now through 2028 in order to reap the benefits from overall energy system procurement savings through 2050, which then would make this gigantic endeavor profitable, the authors claim. Moreover, the initial investment has to be accompanied by general energy efficiency measures such as the reduction of energy consumption through energy efficiency of buildings, geothermal heat and energy, power-to-heat, conversion of electricity into synthetic fuel (power-to-gas), the use of biomethane as a natural gas substitute, biomass energy, and solar. By implementing such a holistic view of the power generation and heating sectors, the above measures could already yield a substantial reduction in natural gas imports by 2025. The following graphic nicely illustrates the path – as outlined by the experts of the German Fraunhofer Institute – to a reduction in natural gas imports by turbo-charging as well as optimizing the ‘Energiewende’: It is important to note that the above-described scenario does not include the potential of increased domestic natural gas production through ‘fracking’ or future direct German LNG imports from global markets via a yet-to-be built import terminal in Wilhelmshaven. Lastly, given the enormous costs and relatively long time frame to accomplish total energy independence from Russia – probably neither smart nor cost-effectively achievable to begin with – it would not even be a stunning turn of events if ‘clean’ coal became down the road the big ‘energy savior’ in Europe. So, get ready US coal for a European Energy Emergency! Der Spiegel cites estimates that show coal helping Germany to wean itself off Russian gas in about ten years. Remember, we live in a very volatile world and just like geopolitical change, governments along with their policies change in response. Stay tuned…. http://theenergycollective.com/jared-anderson/455716/germany-want-rid-yourself-russian-gas-turbo-charge-energiewende

Germany, UK and Europe need ENERGY. 

Forget the renewable stuff.  They need hard-core dependable energy.

It's a case of : GET READY US SHALE / LNG.

Liquid Natural Gas

Until the mid-1990s, LNG demand was heavily concentrated in Northeast Asia: Japan, South Korea and Taiwan. At the same time, Pacific Basin supplies dominated world LNG trade. The world-wide interest in using natural gas-fired combined cycle generating units for electric power generation, coupled with the inability of North American and North Sea natural gas supplies to meet the growing demand, substantially broadened the regional markets for LNG. It also brought new Atlantic Basin and Middle East suppliers into the trade.

By the end of 2011, there were 18 LNG exporting countries and 25 LNG importing countries. The three biggest LNG exporters in 2011 were Qatar (75.5 MT), Malaysia (25 MT) and Indonesia (21.4 MT). The three biggest LNG importers in 2011 were Japan (78.8 MT), South Korea (35 MT) and UK (18.6 MT).  LNG trade volumes increased ... new LNG supply from six new plants comes to the market just in 2009, including:

    Northwest Shelf Train 5: 4.4 MTPA
    Sakhalin II: 9.6 MTPA
    Yemen LNG: 6.7 MTPA
    Tangguh: 7.6 MTPA
    Qatargas: 15.6 MTPA
    Rasgas Qatar: 15.6 MTPA

In 2006, Qatar became the world's biggest exporter of LNG.   As of 2012, Qatar is the source of 25 percent of the world's LNG exports.

Investments in U.S. export facilities were increasing by 2013—such as the plant being built in Hackberry, Louisiana by Sempra Energy. These investments were spurred by increasing shale gas production in the United States and a large price differential between natural gas prices in the U.S. and those in Europe and Asia. However, general exports had not yet been authorized by the United States Department of Energy because the United States had only recently moved from an importer to self-sufficiency status. When U.S. exports are authorized, large demand for LNG in Asia was expected to mitigate price decreases due to increased supplies from the U.S. [WIKPEDIA]

The US has a shit-load of LNG it needs a market for.   Hello Europe.

That's why snatching gas supply from Russia is so important -- and it's also why Ukraine's natural resources are important.

This isn't about 'democracy' or 'protecting' anyone in Europe; it's about a grab for energy, resources and strategic control.

GAZA - Israel lobbying Germany for checkpoint guards - Germanys Christian Democrats want disarmement of Hamas

German approval for Gaza mission Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman has called on Germany to lead a control mission on the borders of the Gaza Strip. Politicians in Berlin say they can imagine giving their approval. Politicians from various parties can imagine Germany participating in a mission to control the Rafah checkpoint between the Gaza Strip and Egypt. "I personally believe that it's our duty, and that we must not turn a blind eye to what's going on," said Reinhold Robbe, the chairman of the German-Israeli community and a former parliamentary commissioner for the armed forces. "Germany has a special responsibility because of its history."  [What?  Is this exploiting a German guilt trip? Or am I missing the point?  And what's wrong with the US?  Why don't *they* stand guard?] Lieberman wants German leadership European border guards have controlled the Rafah checkpoint before. The first European Union Border Assistance Mission (EUBAM) to Rafah went from 2005 to 2007, after Israel ended its occupation of the Gaza Strip. But the European Union ended the mission after Hamas won Palestinian legislative elections in 2006 and took control of Gaza in 2007. Over the past few days, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his counterparts in France and the United Kingdom have hinted at the possibility of taking up control of the crossing once again. Israel's foreign minister Lieberman sees Germany as 'Europe's leading political nation' [Flattery will get you anywhere.] The idea was welcomed by Israeli Foreign Minister Lieberman in an interview with the German mass-circulation broadsheet Bild: The EU should "send inspectors that control trade between Gaza and its neighbors," he told the newspaper, adding that because of its "role as a politically leading nation in Europe" Germany ought to "assume responsibility as the leader of such a mission." Fresh escalation would have to be prevented by all means, Lieberman added. The question was "how to make sure that Hamas doesn't collect its terrorist strengths again and smuggle new weapons into the country." In an article to be published Friday in Bild, Steimeier said that he could see Germany having a role in Gaza following Israel's monthlong war there. "Together with our European partners, we are ready to make a contribution, for example with an EU monitoring mission of the border crossing," Steinmeier told Bild. "We are holding intensive talks with all sides to work out what would be necessary for this," he added.  [Partners?  Where have I heard that before?  Oh, yes, the US is big on 'partnerships'.] ... Will all sides agree? It remains unclear what Hamas thinks of the idea and whether Egypt would even agree to open the checkpoint. Leaders in Cairo have taken a tough stance on Islamists within Egypt, and they want to see Hamas isolated internationally. "The condition for Germany to take part is that all sides agree," said Niels Annen, the spokesman on foreign policy affairs for the Social Democrats (SPD). The news agency Reuters quoted deputy SPD group chairman Rolf Mützenich as saying that a relatively safe environment would have to be guaranteed and that that was not the case at the moment. Robbe, the president of the German-Israeli community, favors a UN mandate for such a mission. It was important to have military protection, he said: "I'm not sure it would be enough to send customs officials supported by ordinary policemen," Robbe told German public radio Deutschlandfunk. Roderich Kiesewetter, a security expert for Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democrats, said that "having German soldiers on the ground is not an option because that would be unacceptable for Israel." Philipp Missfelder (CDU) wants Germany to help Israel disarm radical groups.  [Good luck.] The SPD's Annen said he still believes that opening the checkpoint under international control is the right way to go. "If you keep up the blockade, there will only be more tunnels in future," he warned. Members of the opposition Left party have already signaled their approval, even if the faction has traditionally been critical of German security forces' missions abroad. "If the EU can help, it should do so," Left foreign policy expert Stefan Liebich said. And he added that he would support Germany's doing its share of the work. Philipp Missfelder, of the CDU, suggested that Germany go a step further. "A control mission could help disarm radical groups in the Gaza Strip," he said.

Why are these foreigners interested in getting involved in the internal affairs of Palestine - ie the Hamas disarmament factor?

How long are foreigners expected to be checkpoint guards? 

Why are the Palestinians even corralled off on a tiny slither of land?

And good luck with the Christian Democrat plan on disarming Hamas.

NATO - RASMUSSEN - WAR MONGERS FOR CORPORATE AMERICA

NATO chief urges Russia pull-back as shelling pounds Ukraine rebel city Placard Enlarge (Globalpost/GlobalPost) NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen urged Russia to "step back from the brink" during a visit to Kiev on Thursday and vowed support for Ukraine as fears mounted that Moscow was preparing to send troops into the conflict-torn east of the country. His visit came as the centre of the main rebel bastion Donetsk was hit by sustained bombardment for the first time in four months of fighting, and a dozen civilians were killed around the region. [So that would be Ukraine government shelling Ukraine civilians.] An AFP journalist also saw a Ukrainian fighter jet shot down as it flew low over rebel-held territory. The plane crashed after an explosion in mid-air and the pilot was seen parachuting out. Amid heavy fighting and political maneuvring, Kiev scrapped a ceasefire around the crash site of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, a day after international experts suspended work there due to ongoing clashes. Russia meanwhile struck back at punishing Western sanctions by announcing a "full embargo" on foods from the United States and the European Union and threatening to ban flights from crossing its air space.  [Oh, striking back at sanctions by Russia is really 'on the brink' according to NATO propagandists?] Rasmussen's visit to Kiev came just a day after NATO accused Moscow of massing some 20,000 troops on the border with its former Soviet neighbour.  [What is NATO massing around Russia's border?  War mongers and Hypocrites. ] After meeting with Ukraine's leadership on Thursday, Rasmussen assured them that "NATO stands ready to support Ukraine with advisers and assistance" against what he called "Russian aggression."  [What Russian aggression is that?  None to date.] "Today, Ukraine's freedom and future are under attack. Instead of de-escalating the conflict, Russia continues to destabilise Ukraine," he said. [NO, AMERICAN INTERESTS and CORPORATE PROFITS MUST BE ASSURED.] The West accuses Russia of supporting and instigating the insurgency in eastern Ukraine, sending tensions with Moscow soaring to their highest point since the Cold War.   [US instigated insurgency in Ukraine itself before installing a puppet government.] "I call on Russia to step back from the brink, to step back from the border. Do not use peacekeeping as an excuse for warmaking," Rasmussen added, calling on Moscow to "stop its support for separatists." [Rasmussen and NATO are the war mongers on Russia's borders.] NATO has warned that Russia could invade Ukraine under the pretext of a "humanitarian" mission, but Moscow has dismissed claims it has ratcheted up troop numbers.  [Wouldn't that be a typical USA tactic? ] - Retaking Donetsk - Fighting raged on in Ukraine's industrial east, where local authorities have warned of a looming humanitarian catastrophe. Certain areas have been left without water or power and hundreds of thousands have already fled. In Donetsk, health authorities said one person was killed and two injured when a mortar hit a central hospital, as bombardments peppered the area around a key rebel base. [So this is the UKRAINE GOVERNMENT bombing its own people with US and NATO blessing and backing.] Two civilians were also killed by shelling in a western suburb of the city, the local administration said. Government forces have been gearing up to retake Donetsk in a bid to cut it off from the Russian border and the second largest rebel-held city of Lugansk. Heavy shelling of Gorlivka, another rebel bastion just north of Donetsk, killed five and wounded 10, adding to three more casualties overnight further south, local authorities said. So far, over 1,300 people have been killed and 285,000 have fled in four months of what the Red Cross has designated a civil war. The National Security and Defence Council said seven soldiers had been killed and 19 injured overnight. A military spokesman confirmed that rebels shot down a Ukrainian fighter jet and said a search-and-rescue operation was underway for the pilot. Ukrainian forces have lost a string of aircraft during the conflict. The plane came down some 40 kilometres (25 miles) west of the crash site of the MH17 passenger jet. The US has accused rebels of shooting down the plane at an altitude of some 10,000 metres with a missile likely supplied by Russia. Despite the fierce fighting, diplomatic efforts to bring an end to the fighting were ongoing on Thursday. A spokesman for the German government said Chancellor Angela Merkel discussed "practical ideas" to help ceasefire efforts during a phone call with Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko. The two also discussed the need for a resumption of the search around the MH17 crash site. - Sanctions and embargoes - Now Donetsk -- a pretty city of tree-lined streets and a population of one million people before the conflict erupted in April -- is set to become the next battleground of the war. There was a change in the leadership of the rebel-held city on Thursday, as the prime minister of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic, Russian citizen Alexander Borodai, announced he was stepping down in favour of a local citizen. Moscow meanwhile announced a "full embargo" on most food imports from the EU, US, Australia, Canada and Norway in a tit-for-tat move against punishing sanctions by the EU and US. The sanctions, which targeted Moscow over its alleged support for the separatists, have already forced a low-cost airline to ground all its flights. Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said Thursday that Moscow was also considering blocking overflights between Europe and Asia. bur-ssw/rh/rmb http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/afp/140807/nato-chief-urges-russia-pull-back-shelling-pounds-ukraine-rebel-city-0

How pathetic are these corporate American puppets looking to carve up Ukraine?

ISRAEL - Hamas Bashing - Propaganda or Israel defending real threat to the West?

PM: We're Fighting for the West, Not Just for Us In interviews with international media Thursday, Prime Minister Netanyahu said Israel's fight against Hamas was not just for Israel. By Yaakov Levi First Publish: 8/8/2014, 12:55 AM In interviews with international media Thursday, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu pressed Israel's case on defending citizens from Hamas' terror attacks. By fighting Hamas, the leading edge of Islamist terrorism, Israel is defending not only itself, but the entire Western world. Speaking to Fox News, Netanyahu said that the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) “is taking swaths of Iraq and Syria. It's now pushing into, right close to Lebanon and perhaps into Jordan. That's very, very dangerous and ISIS is basically a sister movement of al-Qaeda. You have Hezbollah, radical Shiites fighting radical Sunnis; you have Hamas; and you have in Africa, sub-Saharan Africa and in North Africa a plethora of Islamist terrorist groups. “They're all fighting among themselves, but they all agree that once they destroy, vanquish their Muslim moderates who are there who don't share their views and they behead them and do horrible things to them. And then they have to get to Israel, which is the Western country in the region…but we're the Small Satan. For all of them, you're the Great Satan. The radical Shiites are backed by Iran. The radical Sunnis have various backers and so on, and these people fight among themselves who'll be the king of the hill. But one thing they agree on, it's going to be an Islamist hill and it's going to be a world dominated by their unforgiving creed, their violent ideology which rejects modernity, rejects human rights, rejects, puts women as chattel, all minorities are subjugated or eliminated,” Netanyahu said. Speaking to German network ZDF, Netanyahu said “Hamas is part of a movement, an Islamist movement that wants to reconstruct an Islamic dominion without human rights, without plurality, women as chattel, no rights for minorities, for gays, you name it. They either don’t exist or they should be executed. This kind of unforgiving creed has anti-Semitism as part of its horrible doctrine. And that, when we see that spreading in parts of Europe, we‘re grateful when we see strong leaders like Angela Merkel, and some others in Europe, stand up forcefully against this anti-Semitism. I think that’s, we need support for Israel, but also the fight against anti-Semitism, and the liberal values that we all share. Support for the liberal values that we all share." http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/183838

Don't suppose Hamas is going to give an interview to Fox News and German ZDF network, so we can hear their side of the story?

Israel is NOT a European/Western country.  It might have European settlers of mixed and Semitic origin, but it is a Middle-Eastern country.

I'm not religious and I don't understand how people can be religious or why they seek to impose their own take on religion on others, so I don't understand why the fundamentalists are so full on or what threat they allegedly pose to Europe.

But I'm inclined to think it's some propaganda bogeyman, because it's unlikely that one group of Arabic people will ever dominate another group of Arabic people and it is more likley that there will *always* be a struggle between the various groups' beliefs and that there will never be a united Arab (or Islamic) world.

If Israel were to disappear there'd be missiles to send from Turkey or wherever else, so I don't know what he's talking about. 

The appeal to the fight against 'anti-Semitism' combined with the emphasis on 'shared liberal values' is a brilliant move by Netanyahu.

Not too many in the West are likely to sympathise with picture of extremist, unforgiving head loppers coming their way -- soon.

How real is that threat?  Who knows?  I've only just started watching politics.  On an emotional level, the spectre Netanyahu raises is very hard to shake off.  It's undeniably scary.



...........................................................................

*** NOTE reference to 'entire world' in opener.

Exaggerations like that are always a bit suss.

UK - BORIS JOHNSON LEADERSHIP CHALLENGE

Boris says EU deal to get power back is 'easy' BORIS Johnson last night said it should be “easy” to claim British powers back from Brussels. By Sam Christie / Published 8th August 2014 He urged the Prime Minister to “go hard into the tackle” in his talks with EU leaders. Mr Johnson has been accused by some Tories of trying to set a trap for David Cameron with unrealistic demands for changes in Brussels.  [Cameron's already set that trap, hasn't he?  He was the Juncker challenger recently and he supposedly wants British to have more say.] But the London mayor said: “I’m not so pessimistic. If you don’t go in hard to the tackle, you are never going to come out well. You’ve got to go in hard and low.” This week Mr Johnson announced he is to stand as an MP in the election. While many Tories believe that BoJo is paving the way for a leadership charge, he insisted he was committed to supporting Mr Cameron. He added: “When Dave steps down in 2030 or so, I will be too old. There’ll be a very wide field, probably including babies yet unborn.” Nonetheless, pals reckon he will play a key role in the battle against Ukip. And, if the Tories win, he could be rewarded with a role in the Cabinet. But Lib Dem boss Nick Clegg took a swipe at BoJo yesterday. Speaking on his regular LBC radio phone-in, Mr Clegg said: “He treats his political ambition a bit like he treats his hair. “He wants everyone to think that he doesn’t really care, but he actually really, really does care.”  [LOL] http://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/latest-news/393298/Boris-EU-deal-to-get-power-back-easy

Should be dirty and very interesting fight then.  Bring it on!   LOL

US & NATO STAND BY ISRAEL - NO MATTER WHAT

Retired General Explains Why The US Military Puts Israel And The Arab States Under Different Command Structures Bryant Jordan, Military.com Aug. 7, 2014, 3:49 PM Most Middle Eastern countries, including Lebanon, Syria and Jordan fall under U.S. Central Command's area of responsibility (AOR). But Israel and the Palestinian territories, meaning Gaza and the West Bank, fall under U.S. European Command's AOR. One reason is that American military officials in the Middle East want to cultivate relationships with their counterparts in the region with some degree of isolation from the political strife between Israelis and Palestinians, according to retired Marine Gen. Anthony Zinni, who commanded Centcom from 1997 to 2000. "When I got complaints from Arab nations that the U.S. policy leans to much toward Israel, I would say, 'Look at our relationship — we have a relationship separate from the Israel-Palestinian issue,'" he said in an interview with Military.com. Separating the conflict areas from Centcom helps the different factions in the region see the U.S. personnel they work with as their advocates, Zinni said. "They kind of think of us as 'my guys'," he said. "It makes it a lot easier than the distrust and competing for attention [that would come with having the same personnel dealing with adversaries], wondering what you're giving up about 'me' to 'them'."  [So this is merely impression management?  Ultimately, no separation can exist ... it's the US.] The latest conflict between Israel and Hamas, the Palestinian militants that control Gaza, highlights the difficulty the U.S. military faces in balancing security interests in the region. The Pentagon rushed to rearm Israeli defense forces with American-made munitions — even while rebuking them for the conflict's lopsided death count. ...Even before the most recent conflict, the U.S. military reportedly toyed with the idea of putting Gaza and the West Bank under Centcom. In 2010, the head of the command, Army Gen. David Petraeus, asked the White House to approve such a move so the U.S. military could "be perceived by Arab leaders as engaged in the region's most troublesome conflict," according to an article by Mark Perry of Foreign Policy. While Petraeus later denied that he made such a request, he did say the idea comes up regularly among military officials during discussions of the command's area of responsibility: "Typically, there's a question of should we ask to have Israel and Palestinian territories included, because what goes on there is obviously of enormous interest to the rest of the Central Command area, which is the bulk of the Arab world," he said, according to an article by Philip Klein of The American Spectator. Splitting adjacent but rival countries into separate combatant commands isn't unique to the Middle East. The Pentagon already puts Pakistan in Central Command and India in Pacific Command. Again, the organization is less about geography and more about politics, Zinni said. "Pacom is seen as India's advocate and Centcom as Pakistan's advocate," he said. Even so, Zinni said keeping Israel and the Palestinian territories within Eucom has worked well so far and pointed to his own experience in the region as reason for continuing to do so. During the first Gulf War, he deployed to Israel with American Patriot missile defense batteries to try and destroy Iraqi Scud missiles before they hit the country. Army Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf, then the Centcom point man, was trying to hold together a broad Arab coalition to push Saddam Hussein's forces out of Kuwait, Zinni said. The last thing the American general needed was Israel wading into the war against Iraq — a move that would likely have collapsed the alliance, he said. "It was easier doing all that out of Eucom rather than Centcom, with Gen. Schwarzkopf holding together a fragile coalition in the region," Zinni said. Years later, when he himself took over Centcom, Zinni said, "the Israelis constantly wanted to come [in]." "They knew we had basically the Arab-Islamic world [in the command], but I pushed back," he said. "If they came to my headquarters, we would be suspect — the Arab countries would suspect we were releasing [to Israel] information that we gained from them." Chas Freeman, who served as U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia during the Gulf War, said it was "a great struggle to keep Israel out of the fight" with Iraq during the Gulf war, and it remains unacceptable as a military ally for neighboring countries, including Egypt and Jordan. Even Israel's peace with Egypt is "a very cold peace, though warmer now that there is a military dictatorship," said Freeman, who later served as assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs. "So from a strategic point of view, [Israel] has no role in the region." Freeman also said that European Command falls under NATO, "which tends to line up the Europeans behind American support [for Israel], but that is becoming for difficult because of Israel's behavior in Gaza."  [Another shifty move, then?] The Economist reported last week that Israel's "pummeling of Gaza" has cost it dearly in the minds of many Europeans and even Americans. In one illustration of how israel is perceived in Europe, the magazine listed 17 countries and how they fared when people were asked if a country's influence on the world is "mainly positive" or "mainly negative." Israel came in at No. 14 for "mainly negative," just above North Korea, Pakistan and Iran. This week, Spain and Britain threatened to halt weapons sales to Israel over its bombardment of Gaza. Neither country is a major arms supplier to Israel, but the actions follow a spike in popular protests across Europe, with thousands demanding Israel withdraw and end its seven-year embargo on Gaza.  [Empty 'threats' to appease the protesters/voters, then?] Also in Britain, a minister with the Foreign Office resigned Tuesday after informing Prime Minister David Cameron that she could not support the government's Gaza policy. Cameron, who heads up the Conservative Party, has come under fire by the Labour Party for not coming down stronger against Israel, according to reports. French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius offered tough words for Israel, saying on Monday that the country's right to self-defense doesn't justify "the killing of children and the massacre of civilians." These development could be a problem for Israel and, by extension, the ability of the European Command to meet its obligations, Freeman said. "If our allies in Europe take a different stand on Israel and Gaza [than we have], then the support for Israel becomes very, very difficult because you have to stage supplies there before they go to Israel," he said. [As if the US allies will ever go against US-ISRAELI interests.] Lawrence Korb, a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress in Washington, D.C., who served as assistant secretary of defense for manpower during the Reagan administration, said moving the territories into Central Command "would cause more trouble than it would be worth." "You'd be protecting them [Palestinians] from whom? And the 'whom' in many cases would be Israel," he said. "What would you have done in 2012 [when Israel invaded]? Would you move in and stop them from doing that? That's not going to happen." http://www.businessinsider.com/why-the-us-military-considers-israel-and-gaza-european-2014-8?IR=T

So why are the US even involved in other people's business?

Why don't they put that same effort and expense into helping their own people -- like, how about provision of universal health care?

Oh, silly me.  It's all about the oil and the corporate interests and, ultimately, Imperialist Corporate USA.

Separate commands mean nothing.  As if anything that goes on in the Arab world is unknown to those in Israel.  

Guessing that those that deal with the US want make out like they're distanced from Israel.

The bottom line - literally - is that the Palestinians have no hope ... US will never intervene in their favour, and the NATO allies are bound to just stand by.

....................................................
See also 


US UNIFIED COMBATANT COMMAND - here.

European Command - here.

Central Command - here.

Pacific Command - here.

Could be interesting reading.  Will check out later on.