One of the ways to know what is going on and about ready to go down in the way of conflicts around the world, is to keep your eyes to the sky and observe what is moving to and from various places. Why are so few looking at from where and how Hamas got supplied with lots of weapons and some cutting-edge technology?
One event that few took notice of was recently sponsored by the United States-Azerbaijan Chamber of Commerce in Baku.
In this and other regions of the world, “Charting a Sustainable Future of Air Cargo – Towards Greener Skies,” serves like the CIA sponsored Air America during America’s War in Vietnam for all practical purposes, smuggling weapons to where they were needed the most, and for the highest profits.
But NOT Flying Tigers
Naturally, the Web seminar involved more than was purported, with claimed aims of delving into the sustainable aspects of air cargo, focusing on Silkway West Airlines’ new fleet addition, the role of Boeing 777 Freighters, and Honeywell’s sustainable aviation fuel perspective in transforming the industry.
As I wrote one of my sources, “if you would participate, I would write up your insights. Do they think the world is so naïve as to what is actually going on?”
It is not as if we don’t already know the nexus between value-added ratlines, regional countries, and the inclination of NATO countries to turn a blind eye to commercial activities that far exceed the former “wheeling and dealings”, of a previous generation of Merchants of Death.
The devil is in the detail
Not long ago, I read that about 30% of weapons supplied to Ukraine in 2022 did not reach the trenches, they simply disappeared in an unknown direction. I only question if 30 percent is a low estimation, as many of the ones that were too old or broken were in fact were fully operational – and perfect for diversion.
One only needs to look closely at the region to observe several ratlines involving the participants in the recent seminar, and the sordid history of Silkway Airline.
It is quite likely that many government agencies around the world are keeping tabs on such movements. However, they are not talking about what they know, for obvious reasons, as so much mayhem could have been prevented.
It is all open sourced, and it is so not hard, even pacifists can piece together what is going on. This has allowed some major Israeli newspapers to reveal the extent of the weapons trade between Israel and Azerbaijan, but more needs to be done to find the nexus with Egypt and Gaza.
Naturally, it is easier to find data now on airplanes and ships moving around. One can follow the Nagorno-Karabakh Observer on Twitter/X. They often post flight data. For instance, the site documented that 27 flights from Turkey and Israel have headed to Azerbaijan since 30 September.
Baku’s main arms suppliers use various methods, including oil for weapons swaps. For the discounted and off the books oil it receives, Israeli is willing to supply weapons without any questions as to from where they originated. Turkey now needs to seriously reconsider how it has been involved as a freight forwarder and supplier of dodgy documents for oil deals, and oil for weapons swaps.
Deliveries are made in various ways, some with specifically military aircraft, C-130’s, others from airbases, all suspected to be delivering military cargo, much of it coming from Israel, Georgia, etc. Many of the same arms were first delivered to Ukraine, naturally for defensive purposes, wink-wink, by the US and it NATO partners.
This phenomenon was observed in Syria and Iraq, where weapons supplied to “good Islamists” fighting “evil” Assad by the US and NATO countries, rapidly found their way into the hands of ISIS (is banned in Russia), a supposedly hated “anti-western” terror group, but one that western countries and Israel seems strangely unwilling to fight.
Even outspoken Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) has revealed the extent of such material support mechanisms and described how Sunni militants who took over Iraq have quickly gained power because the United States armed their allies in Syria. It is clear that ISIS (is banned in Russia) was as much a part of an American plot as Hamas is a creation of Israeli intelligence.
“I think we have to understand first how we got here,” he said on CNN’s “State of the Union.” “I think one of the reasons why ISIS has been emboldened is because we have been arming their allies. We have been allied with ISIS (is banned in Russia) in Syria.”
It is interesting that the real fight against ISIS/ISIL (is banned in Russia) has been that conducted by Syrian and Russian forces, and that ISIS leaders have fled the Caliphate for another western backed project, Ukraine.
Ratline in Reverse
I wonder if the ratline will now work in reverse, especially in the wake of the Azeri victory over Armenia in Nagorno-Karabakh, especially now that Israel is running short of weapons itself, much like many NATO countries, so to keep the supply lines to and from Ukraine flowing to all parts of the world.
But in terms of media coverage or public opinion, no, this sort of activity does not really feature. It is also interesting to follow Evergreen Shipping Containers. Their increase in volumes, especially at border crossings, in places like Georgia, particularly the Lagodkehi region, and at non-official border crossing points, heading to Azerbaijan provided early warning of various shooting-wars ready to break out.
Remember the trade is constant, kind of maintaining equilibrium, it moves back and forth. It is now going to be interesting to track as how many weapons will be going in the opposite direction.
It is also interesting to note that a former/current member of the Israeli Shin Bet Intelligence Service, Davit Kezerashvili, and a former Georgian Defense Minister, during the 2008 Russian-Georgia conflict is at the helm of the weapons trafficking operations in the region, which is includes Georgia and Azerbaijan, and this position and his institutional memory is what protects him from Georgian and American justice.
NB- The Israel Security Agency or Shin Bet is Israel’s internal security service. Its role is equivalent to Britain’s MI5 or the FBI.
As mentioned in earlier articles, “But those who have been following weapons trafficking know very well where many of these weapons ended up, starting with Syria and ending with Georgia and Africa, and a long list of other end users—too many to list.”
Davit Kezerashviliis involved in the illegal arms trade, and rather much open about it, and lots written between the lines in one article. I know his personal history only too well, and details of him being the “bag man, money man”, for the former Georgian government, the United National Movement and its now jailed and infamous leader, former president Mikheil Saakashvili.
Naturally, as a recent quote, he“fears that Russia might aim to influence more Georgian ports”, and not from the perspective of Georgian national security, but it could also interfere with his main business and cut into the bottom line, not only for him personally but his Western partners.
Silk Road in the Sky
In conclusion, one only has to ask the rhetorical question, “Where did Hamas get all its weapons?” Even Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., got it right when she said back on Oct. 8, a posing on X, formerly Twitter.
“Did they come from Afghanistan? Did they come from Ukraine? Highly likely the answer is both.”
But all the while they [the powers that be] want to blame it on Iran or Russia, and in fact there is no need to look too far or wide as to already known arms suppliers/rat lines, and the notorious Silk Road in the Sky and its patrons as to being the main sources and funders of illegal weapons.
Henry Kamens, columnist, expert on Central Asia and Caucasus, exclusively for the online magazine “New Eastern Outlook”.