I agree with Glenn. Israel may have a despicable government, but I really don't think they'd support Daesh. Purely from a strategical PoV: Daesh will certainly turn against the Jewish State soon, even if they are supporting them. Israel gain little from it, as Daesh vs Iran war will only have one winner, and Iran won't lose too much in the meantime.
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Echoes said:Moshe Ya'alon would rather Syria falls in the hands of ISIL than Iran.
And some would still ridicule me when I claim that ISIL is a false flag all by itself. ISIL attacked everybody BUT Israel, why?
If you get ridiculed it's because because you make outrageous claims supported by an utter lack of evidence, which are filled with tortured logic and twisted historical interpretations, and are almost invariably tied to global conspiracies around certain specific ethnic groups.
I think there are some words for that kind of worldview, but they would certainly fall within the realm of personal attacks, so I'll refrain from the detail. But you get the picture.
ISIS , This is why John Pilger does not get on the main stream media any more ,,,,,,he tells the truth instead of the sh$$ the main stream media try and ram down our throats everyday .. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Py_XwwMokHg
Re:
Pilger has been a favorite of mine since he broke the Killing Fields, but he's getting a bit old and doddery now, and I find it kind of sad that he's reduced to appearing on RT. Nothing in this interview will come as any surprise to most people here.
ray j willings said:
Pilger has been a favorite of mine since he broke the Killing Fields, but he's getting a bit old and doddery now, and I find it kind of sad that he's reduced to appearing on RT. Nothing in this interview will come as any surprise to most people here.
Iceland Sentences 26 Corrupt Bankers To 74 Years In Prison
Iceland just sentenced their 26th banker to prison for his part in the 2008 economic collapse. The charges ranged from breach of fiduciary duties to market manipulation to embezzlement.
When most people think of Iceland, they envision fire and ice. Major volcanoes and vast ice fields are abundant due to its position on the northern part of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. (A hot July day in Reykjavik is around 55 degrees.) However, Iceland is also noted for being one of the Nordic Socialist countries, complete with universal health care, free education and a lot other Tea Potty nightmares. Therefore, as you might imagine, they tend to view and react to economic situations slightly differently than the U.S.
When the banking induced “Great Recession of ’08” struck, Iceland’s economic hit was among the hardest. However, instead of rewarding fraudulent banking procedures with tons of bailout money, they took a different path.
More:
https://www.popularresistance.org/iceland-sentences-26-corrupt-bankers-to-74-years-in-prison/
Cheers
Iceland just sentenced their 26th banker to prison for his part in the 2008 economic collapse. The charges ranged from breach of fiduciary duties to market manipulation to embezzlement.
When most people think of Iceland, they envision fire and ice. Major volcanoes and vast ice fields are abundant due to its position on the northern part of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. (A hot July day in Reykjavik is around 55 degrees.) However, Iceland is also noted for being one of the Nordic Socialist countries, complete with universal health care, free education and a lot other Tea Potty nightmares. Therefore, as you might imagine, they tend to view and react to economic situations slightly differently than the U.S.
When the banking induced “Great Recession of ’08” struck, Iceland’s economic hit was among the hardest. However, instead of rewarding fraudulent banking procedures with tons of bailout money, they took a different path.
More:
https://www.popularresistance.org/iceland-sentences-26-corrupt-bankers-to-74-years-in-prison/
Cheers
I'm glad because the reaction to my post speak volumes about these posters are. The same kind of censors who once had BigMac banned ...
I have never positively claimed that Israel supported ISIL one way or another, just asked a legitimate question that of course nobody dared to answer. Not only has ISIL never attacked Israel but on top of that they attack its fiercest opponents, namely Hamas and Hizbullah. But you most certainly won't answer to that if you cannot even address my first question. I have enough wisdom to only claim things that I can prove, like for example the US support for ISIL. For that we have all the evidence. The connivance between Israel and ISIL is something I cannot prove as of now. Israel supports Al Nusra, this can be proved (remember that Al Nusra is Al Qaeda and that Al Qaeda presumably destroyed the Twin Towers !!), the terrorists hospitalized in Israel were not ISIL terrorists but Al Nusra, unlike mentioned above.
Yeah, conspiracy does not exist. We all know that. That is why Oswald acted alone with a magic bullet that hit JFK on the back, then hit Connally and then turned round and hit JFK on the face, lol. The Brigate Rosse acted alone when kidnapping and executing Aldo Moro. All the Gladio operations? That never existed. You gotta be living in a fairy tale...
The Syrian War is not in Israel's interest? Who benefit from chaos in one country? The country itself, Syria? Syria once was a land of peace, okay? The different community were living in good intelligence. When I was at uni (2007), some fellow students went to Syria for a kind of student exchange.
The aim is to create chaos. It's a reminiscence of the Iran-Iraq War. You support all parties in order for the war to drag on years and years and years. All parties must be equally strong because in the end there should be no victor. And those who benefit from it are of necessity the countries where you have peace. Divide & Conquer!
Oh and I of course have never claimed that a certain ethnic group sparked a global conspiracy or anything of the sort and I defy anyone to find a post of mine in which I made that claim. Always the same disgusting calumny.
Israel has no interest in chaos in its neighbouring countries? Ever heard of the Yinon Plan?
I have never positively claimed that Israel supported ISIL one way or another, just asked a legitimate question that of course nobody dared to answer. Not only has ISIL never attacked Israel but on top of that they attack its fiercest opponents, namely Hamas and Hizbullah. But you most certainly won't answer to that if you cannot even address my first question. I have enough wisdom to only claim things that I can prove, like for example the US support for ISIL. For that we have all the evidence. The connivance between Israel and ISIL is something I cannot prove as of now. Israel supports Al Nusra, this can be proved (remember that Al Nusra is Al Qaeda and that Al Qaeda presumably destroyed the Twin Towers !!), the terrorists hospitalized in Israel were not ISIL terrorists but Al Nusra, unlike mentioned above.
Yeah, conspiracy does not exist. We all know that. That is why Oswald acted alone with a magic bullet that hit JFK on the back, then hit Connally and then turned round and hit JFK on the face, lol. The Brigate Rosse acted alone when kidnapping and executing Aldo Moro. All the Gladio operations? That never existed. You gotta be living in a fairy tale...
The Syrian War is not in Israel's interest? Who benefit from chaos in one country? The country itself, Syria? Syria once was a land of peace, okay? The different community were living in good intelligence. When I was at uni (2007), some fellow students went to Syria for a kind of student exchange.
The aim is to create chaos. It's a reminiscence of the Iran-Iraq War. You support all parties in order for the war to drag on years and years and years. All parties must be equally strong because in the end there should be no victor. And those who benefit from it are of necessity the countries where you have peace. Divide & Conquer!
Oh and I of course have never claimed that a certain ethnic group sparked a global conspiracy or anything of the sort and I defy anyone to find a post of mine in which I made that claim. Always the same disgusting calumny.
Israel has no interest in chaos in its neighbouring countries? Ever heard of the Yinon Plan?
according to several more or less reliable sources, something militarily significant is afoot in syria...
1st it was the debkafile report i saw about a trilateral military buildup in the syrian kurdistan by the us, russia and turkey. many who take debkafile without the due research diligence, are being plaid. so, i looked out further and found references to the times article referring to the anonymous 'intelligence sources' confirming the american and russian activity building airbases only 50 km apart from each other ! this sounded a tad more believable but only slightly. now the authoritative stratfor claims similar (even providing the sat pix) in a material for pay..
pay attention, the 2 militaries often in an adversarial state supposedly are growing muscles under each others nose in a foreign land ! would that be possible without their mutual consent ? hardly unless the 2 decided to go to war with each other. moreover, the turks said very loudly and publicly that they will NOT allow such a buildup in a territory of their sworn enemies - the syrian kurds. could that be the reason they too got busy on their side of the border ?
to complicate the plot, russian officials vehemently deny their buildup as the turkish provocation. but, but...who with a minimum of memory would forget now an accomplished fact that they also denied their build up in latakia last september. thus, i don't buy the russian denials nor do i feel comfortable enough to trust the stratfor story yet b/c they too have been found frequently to advance someone's agenda by leaking a fabrication.
so, what's going on ? i really dont know but hope its just part of a join us-russia strategy to pressure all sides into a more serious negotiations..or else, so to speak.
1st it was the debkafile report i saw about a trilateral military buildup in the syrian kurdistan by the us, russia and turkey. many who take debkafile without the due research diligence, are being plaid. so, i looked out further and found references to the times article referring to the anonymous 'intelligence sources' confirming the american and russian activity building airbases only 50 km apart from each other ! this sounded a tad more believable but only slightly. now the authoritative stratfor claims similar (even providing the sat pix) in a material for pay..
pay attention, the 2 militaries often in an adversarial state supposedly are growing muscles under each others nose in a foreign land ! would that be possible without their mutual consent ? hardly unless the 2 decided to go to war with each other. moreover, the turks said very loudly and publicly that they will NOT allow such a buildup in a territory of their sworn enemies - the syrian kurds. could that be the reason they too got busy on their side of the border ?
to complicate the plot, russian officials vehemently deny their buildup as the turkish provocation. but, but...who with a minimum of memory would forget now an accomplished fact that they also denied their build up in latakia last september. thus, i don't buy the russian denials nor do i feel comfortable enough to trust the stratfor story yet b/c they too have been found frequently to advance someone's agenda by leaking a fabrication.
so, what's going on ? i really dont know but hope its just part of a join us-russia strategy to pressure all sides into a more serious negotiations..or else, so to speak.
Re:
but Hersh said in the LRB piece, the military to miltary relations with the Russians are very strong, has been so since glasnost, and the other above the line contretemps are the administrations and bureaucracies and political diplomats, not the military diplomats...
your view Python?
implicit: coz aint Erdokan and the Turks under the yoke or the Americans?
python said:
but Hersh said in the LRB piece, the military to miltary relations with the Russians are very strong, has been so since glasnost, and the other above the line contretemps are the administrations and bureaucracies and political diplomats, not the military diplomats...
your view Python?
implicit: coz aint Erdokan and the Turks under the yoke or the Americans?
an interesting development i just witnessed on al jazeera live that nicely supplements my thought above.
5 munutes ago a press conference ended by the un designee to handle the syrian negotiations - de mistura (if i got the name right). he was bombarded by the very diverse questions from all over... who are the considered the terrorist, will this or that group be invited, will the negation start and end when some groups walk out etc etc.
i gotta say this chap de mistura sounded as a very seasoned diplomat taking and declining questions w/o revealing anything in 3 languages including arabic. of the concrete factoids he was clear i got the following:
- the talks will start on the 29th january
-the invitation to WHO will be there will be sent tomorrow
-no group with any preconditions is likely be invited ('come and talk about anything or dont come')
-only isil and al qaeda are certainly terrorists
the post conference commentary by the al jazeera commentators was rather startling: the united states position on a number of issues (who is terrorist, will the kurds be invited etc) has basically come around to meet the russian demands. the commentators say this was at the expense of the saudis and, most curiously, the turks. the very appointment of de mistura, they said, was the us endorsement of a russian foreign ministry idea.
to me these are rational developments when the 2 huge stakeholders are in phase.
5 munutes ago a press conference ended by the un designee to handle the syrian negotiations - de mistura (if i got the name right). he was bombarded by the very diverse questions from all over... who are the considered the terrorist, will this or that group be invited, will the negation start and end when some groups walk out etc etc.
i gotta say this chap de mistura sounded as a very seasoned diplomat taking and declining questions w/o revealing anything in 3 languages including arabic. of the concrete factoids he was clear i got the following:
- the talks will start on the 29th january
-the invitation to WHO will be there will be sent tomorrow
-no group with any preconditions is likely be invited ('come and talk about anything or dont come')
-only isil and al qaeda are certainly terrorists
the post conference commentary by the al jazeera commentators was rather startling: the united states position on a number of issues (who is terrorist, will the kurds be invited etc) has basically come around to meet the russian demands. the commentators say this was at the expense of the saudis and, most curiously, the turks. the very appointment of de mistura, they said, was the us endorsement of a russian foreign ministry idea.
to me these are rational developments when the 2 huge stakeholders are in phase.
Re: Re:
i had been a frequent critic of obama, but i think he had come to a reasonable frame of mind in his last year of the presedency. either on his own or with the help of his military advisers which are frequently more rational than the politicians b/c they end up doing the dirty job.
i view this development in the same perspective of his opening to iran, cuba, squeezing the gun mafia and even the obama care...
see my post above about the press conference which i wrote before i had a chance to read your question...blackcat said:
i had been a frequent critic of obama, but i think he had come to a reasonable frame of mind in his last year of the presedency. either on his own or with the help of his military advisers which are frequently more rational than the politicians b/c they end up doing the dirty job.
i view this development in the same perspective of his opening to iran, cuba, squeezing the gun mafia and even the obama care...
Question for the Danes here: How do you see this confiscating of money and valuables from asylum seekers? I find it quite shocking, to be frank. It will hardly raise any money, so it's symbolic, but very dirty symbolism. Also shocking that liberals and socialists would agree to this proposed measure.
Re:
The Social Democrats in Denmark seem to have lost their cojones, or just become the Moderates in red. Ridiculous, pointless and inhumane. This was a move to make to the treatment similar to Danish unemployed people, who have to give up their savings prior to getting handouts. This is also a ridiculous measure. Since the Syrians have no savings, Danish Parliament thought oh let's just take their possessions instead. Stealing possessions is OK as long as it's refugees you're taking from. They won't have many €1000 possessions anyway, so it's not like there is much economic point, what the government are claiming. At least just admit it as it is. It also says only objects with "no sentimental value". Any refugee with 8 brain cells will just claim everything to be of sentimental value, and then it's blocked. Ugly, ugly move.
Also: we must get these refugees/economic migrants whatever you want to call them into jobs! If they're here they may as well work. Taking away possessions is just dehumanising them. It's fairly reminiscent of the treatment of Jews in 1933-1935 in Germany. It's racism. I mean actual racism. Not just "that's racist" but that is actually racist. Many people don't like them and that is clouding their judgement. Some in UK are saying that we should away their weddings rings and clothes too, and give them plain distinctive ones. This is actually more advanced Nazi-esque techniques of 1936-1939. Just look at the Daily Heil comments section.
Disgusting, ugly action.
Jagartrott said:
The Social Democrats in Denmark seem to have lost their cojones, or just become the Moderates in red. Ridiculous, pointless and inhumane. This was a move to make to the treatment similar to Danish unemployed people, who have to give up their savings prior to getting handouts. This is also a ridiculous measure. Since the Syrians have no savings, Danish Parliament thought oh let's just take their possessions instead. Stealing possessions is OK as long as it's refugees you're taking from. They won't have many €1000 possessions anyway, so it's not like there is much economic point, what the government are claiming. At least just admit it as it is. It also says only objects with "no sentimental value". Any refugee with 8 brain cells will just claim everything to be of sentimental value, and then it's blocked. Ugly, ugly move.
Also: we must get these refugees/economic migrants whatever you want to call them into jobs! If they're here they may as well work. Taking away possessions is just dehumanising them. It's fairly reminiscent of the treatment of Jews in 1933-1935 in Germany. It's racism. I mean actual racism. Not just "that's racist" but that is actually racist. Many people don't like them and that is clouding their judgement. Some in UK are saying that we should away their weddings rings and clothes too, and give them plain distinctive ones. This is actually more advanced Nazi-esque techniques of 1936-1939. Just look at the Daily Heil comments section.
Disgusting, ugly action.
i wouldn't call the new danish anti asylum seekers law racist. i see no basis for the hyperbola nor do i find any parallels to the nazi persecution of their german jews accurate... (the key difference being they were born in germany and spoke german as their 1st language)
for a well-to-do european democracy, the new danish law is certainly shameful, undemocratic, shortsighted even stupid. stupid b/c if the ultimate goal was to stem the flow of the refugees, the proposed measures wont accomplish it nor will they raise any funds for their upkeep. guaranteed.
i don't like the law but i am not a dane. btw, in terms of pioneering the similar measures, the danes are hardly unique or the 1st. also, the swedes had been much more exposed to the very same problem (some 5 times more) but managed to stay away so far from the draconian measures...
it is shamefull,
for a well-to-do european democracy, the new danish law is certainly shameful, undemocratic, shortsighted even stupid. stupid b/c if the ultimate goal was to stem the flow of the refugees, the proposed measures wont accomplish it nor will they raise any funds for their upkeep. guaranteed.
i don't like the law but i am not a dane. btw, in terms of pioneering the similar measures, the danes are hardly unique or the 1st. also, the swedes had been much more exposed to the very same problem (some 5 times more) but managed to stay away so far from the draconian measures...
it is shamefull,
We need to put these migrants while there's no work for the locals nor for the older générations of migrants who are already on our soil. How would you do that? With such suicidal policies, how surprising that racism is growing among the popular classes? If I wasn't so well-educated, perhaps I'd become a racist myself. Our governments' policies lead to racism, all their job is to set communities up against each other in order to turn a Financial crisis which they are responsible for into a religious/ethnic crisis.
There aren't jobs here in Europe. We are not well-to-do democracies, we are third-world countries. There's a well-to-do elite, that's true but more and more people are living Under poverty threshold (count me in). So stop with that, we are not rich. Our governments never could find a penny for all the homeless people, many of whom a white-skinned males, that I can pass by in my city and now suddenly we find billions of euros for refugees. Who are you kidding ???
There aren't jobs here in Europe. We are not well-to-do democracies, we are third-world countries. There's a well-to-do elite, that's true but more and more people are living Under poverty threshold (count me in). So stop with that, we are not rich. Our governments never could find a penny for all the homeless people, many of whom a white-skinned males, that I can pass by in my city and now suddenly we find billions of euros for refugees. Who are you kidding ???
Echoes said:
My, how sanctimonious of you.
Immigration can't be stopped, if its root causes aren't addressed: global wealth imbalance, predatory capitalism and an arms market that thrives on strife, rather than diplomatic solutions. Europe and the West is a dog that bites its own tale. Meanwhile reactionaries like yourself talk about "keeping the immigrants out," as if that has ever worked.
There's nothing sanctimonious in my comment. I'm not responsible for my education, I just thanked my parents and my environment for keeping me away from racism. It was humble.
And stop calumniating. I've never claimed any immigrants should always out, at any era, in any context, in any countries. I was just reflecting on the last Autumn exceptional wave of migrant deserters who cowardly abandoned the fight against ISIL, encouraged by US NGO's and by Turkey to go to Europe in order to destabilize it.
Besides I know full well what the causes of immigration are. But I'm not to blame. I don't vote for warmongerers. I've never advocated for wars in Lybia, Syria or Iraq. You voted for such parties. Assume it.
And stop calumniating. I've never claimed any immigrants should always out, at any era, in any context, in any countries. I was just reflecting on the last Autumn exceptional wave of migrant deserters who cowardly abandoned the fight against ISIL, encouraged by US NGO's and by Turkey to go to Europe in order to destabilize it.
Besides I know full well what the causes of immigration are. But I'm not to blame. I don't vote for warmongerers. I've never advocated for wars in Lybia, Syria or Iraq. You voted for such parties. Assume it.
Echoes said:
Well you know what they say about assumptions...it makes an a$$ out of you and me. I haven't voted in any recent election, because I can't stomach the establishment. So I'm not to blame either.
I don't exactly read you as someone trying to liberate himself from a willfully circumscribed viewpoint. If there will be a recrudescence of fascist intolerance looming over the horizen, your ideas about core identity and Europe's future seem in line with it though.
...all hail the newest bestest tax haven....the location and the genesis of same seems to be part of a pretty wild story....any thoughts?...
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-01-27/how-rothschilds-made-america-their-private-tax-fraud-backyard
Cheers
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-01-27/how-rothschilds-made-america-their-private-tax-fraud-backyard
Cheers
i actually was waiting for this...
Syrian Kurds plan big attack to seal Turkish border: source
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-ypg-idUSKCN0V622F?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews
putting aside for now the question of why the kurds would broadcast their military moves in advance, should the advance take place, it would be a super major development. it could become the beginning of the isil end or, conversely, may lead to inflaming the whole middle east. the article explains some, and in essence it would depend on turkey sticking to its threat of not tolerating the kurdish advance west of the euphrates river.
i'll add 2 complexities not in the article. the 1st concerns the us role...at the heart of the issue is a 90 miles something stretch of the syria-turkey border to the west of euphrates. it is controlled entirely by the isil. it is the very stretch over which they smuggle oil to turkey and receive supplies and fighters, again from turkey. for months now, the us was publicly assuring everyone that they are working with turkey to seal the stretch, while at the same time leaking their irritation via the 'anonymous sources' that there was little progress. at the same time, america quite openly supports, feeds and trains the syrian kurds who promised the attack and who are the only militia in syria who consistently beat isis. to make the matters crazy, turkey, the us nato ally calls the us sponsored syrian kurds merciless terrorists..so, what the us is going to do if the kurds do advance and the turks, as they vowed, start bombing them on syrian territory ?
this brings me to the 2nd complexity - the russian reaction to the development.
some place above, i already mentioned that should turks violate the syrian airspace, the russians would receive a perfect chance for a revenge for that downed bomber. indeed, if they use the same rules of engagement turkey used when they shot down the russian plane, there will be a smoldering f-16 scattered in syria...imagine, the nato panic and indignation if its member state plane was shot down by the russians. it is unimaginable that the turks and particularly the americans aren't appraised of such an ventuality. would america stand by the turks who continue to facilitate the isis lifeline, or would they tell them 'you're on your own if you act stupidly'
perhaps leaking the potential kurdish offensive was the us way of telling turkey to get serious with tightening their border or risking the flames they, turks, have blown ?...
Syrian Kurds plan big attack to seal Turkish border: source
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-ypg-idUSKCN0V622F?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews
putting aside for now the question of why the kurds would broadcast their military moves in advance, should the advance take place, it would be a super major development. it could become the beginning of the isil end or, conversely, may lead to inflaming the whole middle east. the article explains some, and in essence it would depend on turkey sticking to its threat of not tolerating the kurdish advance west of the euphrates river.
i'll add 2 complexities not in the article. the 1st concerns the us role...at the heart of the issue is a 90 miles something stretch of the syria-turkey border to the west of euphrates. it is controlled entirely by the isil. it is the very stretch over which they smuggle oil to turkey and receive supplies and fighters, again from turkey. for months now, the us was publicly assuring everyone that they are working with turkey to seal the stretch, while at the same time leaking their irritation via the 'anonymous sources' that there was little progress. at the same time, america quite openly supports, feeds and trains the syrian kurds who promised the attack and who are the only militia in syria who consistently beat isis. to make the matters crazy, turkey, the us nato ally calls the us sponsored syrian kurds merciless terrorists..so, what the us is going to do if the kurds do advance and the turks, as they vowed, start bombing them on syrian territory ?
this brings me to the 2nd complexity - the russian reaction to the development.
some place above, i already mentioned that should turks violate the syrian airspace, the russians would receive a perfect chance for a revenge for that downed bomber. indeed, if they use the same rules of engagement turkey used when they shot down the russian plane, there will be a smoldering f-16 scattered in syria...imagine, the nato panic and indignation if its member state plane was shot down by the russians. it is unimaginable that the turks and particularly the americans aren't appraised of such an ventuality. would america stand by the turks who continue to facilitate the isis lifeline, or would they tell them 'you're on your own if you act stupidly'
perhaps leaking the potential kurdish offensive was the us way of telling turkey to get serious with tightening their border or risking the flames they, turks, have blown ?...
Re:
....saw the following yesterday....a compare/contrast to the future Kurd advance....
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"The real warfare is concentrated around the Azaz corridor, a narrow strip of land connecting Turkey to the rebel forces in Aleppo. Though it has been narrowed down to four miles in some places, the Syrian [government] Army can’t take it, despite the Russian aerial support. For the success of the whole operation, it is paramount to seize the corridor and cut the supply lines, but there is a heavy political flak and military difficulties.
At the last Lavrov-Kerry meeting, the American State Secretary six times implored his Russian counterpart to keep hands off the Azaz corridor. The Americans do not want to see Russian victory; besides, the Turks threaten to invade if the corridor is blocked. The Kurds could help the Army cut the corridor, but they do not rush to enter such a bloody and dangerous confrontation. They prefer to sit tight and wait for somebody else to do the job.
The Kurds are afraid of the Turks just across the border and do not want to upset them too much. They do not feel they have much to gain from President Assad’s victory. Syrian Christians told me the Kurds go into their territory and shoot at the Daesh forces, thus causing Daesh’s ferocious retort to the Christians. This is the sectarian reality of Syria, where only the Syrian Army fights for the whole country.
The threats and requests would not stay the advance of the Army, but taking the Azaz corridor is a formidable task anyway. The rebels are dug in; the Islamists use suicide bombers to stem the army offensive. They created deeply entrenched defensive lines and the Russian-Syrian coalition forces advance very slowly, if at all.
The Russians say that the Syrian soldiers are tired, and they do not want to fight hard. The Syrian Mukhabarat (Intelligence Services), a very important independent player, believe that Russia and Iran are committed to preserving Syria, so let them fight. This attitude seeps into the Syrian army. They, like the Kurds, prefer to sit tight and wait. Young men in danger of being drafted prefer to go to Germany or Sweden – this is the first war in history where such an option exists.
In some places the Russian specnaz (airborne, special troops and marines) dislodged the rebels, took their positions and transferred them to the Syrian Army, but the army failed to hold the positions and retreated at the first enemy shelling.
The Russian ground forces are estimated at some two thousand soldiers and officers; they are needed for the defense of the Latakia area. It seems that the Russians and Iranians would have to bring more troops to win the war, but meanwhile it is not going to happen.
The Russian bombing campaign has been successful in one way: it convinced many rebel units to sue for peace. Before the bombs, they were all against any dealing with Assad government; now, they are for settling the conflict peacefully. As I wrote in my previous reports, the real purpose of Russian aerial operations is to force a peaceful solution on the rebels. Well, on some rebels, as the Daesh and an-Nusra appear quite immune to persuasion.
The Russians and the Americans do not fight Daesh too much, as if they are afraid to destroy the force they used to justify their involvement. The Syrian army attempts to advance in Palmyra were repelled by Daesh. The Daesh counteroffensive in Deir al Zour has been accompanied by a mass slaughter of civilians; the army stopped it but could not advance. So the political solution seems to be imperative for conclusion of the war.
....from... http://www.unz.com/ishamir/moscow-snowbound-litvinenko-poisoned-and-the-syrian-war/
Cheers
python said:
....saw the following yesterday....a compare/contrast to the future Kurd advance....
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"The real warfare is concentrated around the Azaz corridor, a narrow strip of land connecting Turkey to the rebel forces in Aleppo. Though it has been narrowed down to four miles in some places, the Syrian [government] Army can’t take it, despite the Russian aerial support. For the success of the whole operation, it is paramount to seize the corridor and cut the supply lines, but there is a heavy political flak and military difficulties.
At the last Lavrov-Kerry meeting, the American State Secretary six times implored his Russian counterpart to keep hands off the Azaz corridor. The Americans do not want to see Russian victory; besides, the Turks threaten to invade if the corridor is blocked. The Kurds could help the Army cut the corridor, but they do not rush to enter such a bloody and dangerous confrontation. They prefer to sit tight and wait for somebody else to do the job.
The Kurds are afraid of the Turks just across the border and do not want to upset them too much. They do not feel they have much to gain from President Assad’s victory. Syrian Christians told me the Kurds go into their territory and shoot at the Daesh forces, thus causing Daesh’s ferocious retort to the Christians. This is the sectarian reality of Syria, where only the Syrian Army fights for the whole country.
The threats and requests would not stay the advance of the Army, but taking the Azaz corridor is a formidable task anyway. The rebels are dug in; the Islamists use suicide bombers to stem the army offensive. They created deeply entrenched defensive lines and the Russian-Syrian coalition forces advance very slowly, if at all.
The Russians say that the Syrian soldiers are tired, and they do not want to fight hard. The Syrian Mukhabarat (Intelligence Services), a very important independent player, believe that Russia and Iran are committed to preserving Syria, so let them fight. This attitude seeps into the Syrian army. They, like the Kurds, prefer to sit tight and wait. Young men in danger of being drafted prefer to go to Germany or Sweden – this is the first war in history where such an option exists.
In some places the Russian specnaz (airborne, special troops and marines) dislodged the rebels, took their positions and transferred them to the Syrian Army, but the army failed to hold the positions and retreated at the first enemy shelling.
The Russian ground forces are estimated at some two thousand soldiers and officers; they are needed for the defense of the Latakia area. It seems that the Russians and Iranians would have to bring more troops to win the war, but meanwhile it is not going to happen.
The Russian bombing campaign has been successful in one way: it convinced many rebel units to sue for peace. Before the bombs, they were all against any dealing with Assad government; now, they are for settling the conflict peacefully. As I wrote in my previous reports, the real purpose of Russian aerial operations is to force a peaceful solution on the rebels. Well, on some rebels, as the Daesh and an-Nusra appear quite immune to persuasion.
The Russians and the Americans do not fight Daesh too much, as if they are afraid to destroy the force they used to justify their involvement. The Syrian army attempts to advance in Palmyra were repelled by Daesh. The Daesh counteroffensive in Deir al Zour has been accompanied by a mass slaughter of civilians; the army stopped it but could not advance. So the political solution seems to be imperative for conclusion of the war.
....from... http://www.unz.com/ishamir/moscow-snowbound-litvinenko-poisoned-and-the-syrian-war/
Cheers
that was an interesting blog, blutto. if the author is indeed menachem begin's son, his opinion should be at least well informed...
though, i try to stay informed on the syrian military situation, i never read about the azaz pocket...had to fetch a good map to make sense of it. btw, i used to use the maps and updates provided by the institute for study of war. dont repeat my mistake. pls. frankly, after some period i came to the conclusion they are a fake, heavily partisan group masquerading under an academically sounding title. sort of similar, but to a lesser degree, as the frequently quoted syrian observatory for human rights. both have nothing to do with objective analysis or reporting. anyways, here's a military map i found objective and up-to-date. the kurdish plans and the azaz pocket could be easily seen.
http://www.shoutwiki.com/w/images/acloserlookonsyria/7/7b/Situation_in_Syria.png
also, the following article in the guardian imo was a good summary on the difficulties in the syria UN-sponsored talks scheduled for today
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/29/syria-hopes-for-peace-look-slim-ahead-un-brokered-talks
though, i try to stay informed on the syrian military situation, i never read about the azaz pocket...had to fetch a good map to make sense of it. btw, i used to use the maps and updates provided by the institute for study of war. dont repeat my mistake. pls. frankly, after some period i came to the conclusion they are a fake, heavily partisan group masquerading under an academically sounding title. sort of similar, but to a lesser degree, as the frequently quoted syrian observatory for human rights. both have nothing to do with objective analysis or reporting. anyways, here's a military map i found objective and up-to-date. the kurdish plans and the azaz pocket could be easily seen.
http://www.shoutwiki.com/w/images/acloserlookonsyria/7/7b/Situation_in_Syria.png
also, the following article in the guardian imo was a good summary on the difficulties in the syria UN-sponsored talks scheduled for today
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/29/syria-hopes-for-peace-look-slim-ahead-un-brokered-talks
....a sad truth supported by much evidence....
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"A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
Love, friendship, respect, do not unite people as much as a common hatred for something. -Anton Chekhov, short-story writer and dramatist (29 Jan 1860-1904)
Cheers
---------------------------------------------------------------------
"A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
Love, friendship, respect, do not unite people as much as a common hatred for something. -Anton Chekhov, short-story writer and dramatist (29 Jan 1860-1904)
Cheers
Tory hypocrits, makes me sick to the stomach:
http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/jan/30/google-tory-battle-protect-30bn-tax-haven-bermuda
http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/jan/30/google-tory-battle-protect-30bn-tax-haven-bermuda
the situation in and around syria continues to confuse...
it is an old news now, that turkey had made a claim yesterday a russian fighter plane violated its airspace yet again. within hours the russian defense ministry denied it in a rather sarcastic manner making along some fun of the 'military amateurs' who don't know how a radar works and who had watched too many hollywood movies. today, the pentagon had 'stood by' the turkish claims. who is telling the truth as the reality could be only one - it either happened or it didn't.
the answer may be, just may be in the furious maneuvering taking place around the un-sponsored syria negotiations.
the saudi and turkey sponsored rebel group which was invited and which supposedly conditioned their presence on certain preconditions had said this morning they are coming but will leave within 48 hours if the preconditions aren't addressed. according to the rebels themselves, they were promised a solution by the un sponsor (de mistura), but many commentators reasonably point out the real solution to the rebel ultimatum is in the hands of russia and america - the sponsors of the un conference.
the key issue is that the syrian govt troops with russian air support continue blockading several rebel groups. the rebels demand lifting the sieges which the russians and the govt say would be a legit topic for negotiations and they reject the preconditions.
could the air plane incident be designed as a pressure point on one of the stake holders ?
it is an old news now, that turkey had made a claim yesterday a russian fighter plane violated its airspace yet again. within hours the russian defense ministry denied it in a rather sarcastic manner making along some fun of the 'military amateurs' who don't know how a radar works and who had watched too many hollywood movies. today, the pentagon had 'stood by' the turkish claims. who is telling the truth as the reality could be only one - it either happened or it didn't.
the answer may be, just may be in the furious maneuvering taking place around the un-sponsored syria negotiations.
the saudi and turkey sponsored rebel group which was invited and which supposedly conditioned their presence on certain preconditions had said this morning they are coming but will leave within 48 hours if the preconditions aren't addressed. according to the rebels themselves, they were promised a solution by the un sponsor (de mistura), but many commentators reasonably point out the real solution to the rebel ultimatum is in the hands of russia and america - the sponsors of the un conference.
the key issue is that the syrian govt troops with russian air support continue blockading several rebel groups. the rebels demand lifting the sieges which the russians and the govt say would be a legit topic for negotiations and they reject the preconditions.
could the air plane incident be designed as a pressure point on one of the stake holders ?
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