World Politics

[djpbaltimore]

So are you saying that the ONLY way to combat ISIS is to bomb Aleppo and all the civilians and humanitarian aid workers to rubble? I hope you sleep well tonight.

 

[python]

....here is what happens when I get stuck in the house doing laundry and doing everything possible to avoid vacuuming ....a hilarious read...

On Sep 28, the French mission to the UN claimed that two hospitals in east-Aleppo had been bombed. It documented this in a tweet with a picture of destroyed buildings in Gaza. The French later deleted that tweet. It is not the first time such false claims and willful obfuscations were made by “western” officials. But usually they shy away from outright lies. Not so Jackass Kerry. In a press event yesterday, before talks with the French FM Ayrault about a new UNSCR, he said about Syria:


Last night, the regime attacked yet another hospital, and 20 people were killed and 100 people were wounded. And Russia and the regime owe the world more than an explanation about why they keep hitting hospitals and medical facilities and children and women. These are acts that beg for an appropriate investigation of war crimes. And those who commit these would and should be held accountable for these actions.

No opposition group has claimed that such an extremely grave event happened. None. No press agency has a record of it. The MI-6 disinformation outlet SOHR in Britain, which quite reliably notes every claimed casualty and is frequently cited in “western” media, has not said anything about such an event anywhere in Syria. The grave incident Jackass claimed did not happen. Jackass made it up. Was it supposed to happen, got canceled and Jackass missed the memo? Jackass used the lie to call for war crime investigations and punishment. This in front of cameras, at an official event with a foreign guest in the context of a UNSCR. This is grave. This is nearly as grave as Colin Powell’s false claims of WMD in Iraq in front of the UNSC. Early reports, like this one at CBS News, repeat the claim:


Jackass said Syrian forces hit a hospital overnight, killing 20 people and wounding 100, describing what would be the latest strike by Moscow or its ally in Damascus on a civilian target.

But the NYT write-up of the event, which includes Jackass’ demand for war crime investigations, does not mention the hospital bombing claim. Not at all. For the self-acclaimed “paper of record”, Jackass’ lie did not happen. Likewise the WaPo which in its own write-up makes no mention of the false claim. The latest AP write-up by Matthew Lee also omits the lie. This is curious as Matt Lee is obviously aware of it. The State Dept’s daily press briefing yesterday had a whole section on it. Video (@3:30) shows that it is Matt who asks these questions:


Q: Okay. On to Syria and the Secretary’s comments earlier this morning, one is: Do you know what strike he was talking about in his comments overnight on a hospital in Aleppo?
A: I think the Secretary’s referring actually to a strike that we saw happen yesterday on a field hospital in the Rif Dimashq Governorate. I’m not exactly positive that that’s what he was referring to, but I think he was referring to actually one that was —
Q: Not one in Aleppo?
A: I believe it was – I think it was – I think he – my guess is – I’m guessing here that he was a bit mistaken on location and referring to one…
Q: But you don’t have certainty, though?
A: I don’t. Best I got, best information I got, is that he was most likely referring to one yesterday in this governorate, but it could just be an honest mistake.
Q: If we could – if we can nail that down with certainty what he was talking about —
A: I’ll do the best I can, Matt.

This goes on for a while. But there was no hospital attack in Rif Dimashq nor in Aleppo. Later on DoS spokesman Kirby basically admits that Kerry lied:


A: I can’t corroborate that.

It also turns out that Jackass has no evidence for any war crimes and no plausible way to initiate any official international procedure about such. And for what? To bully Russia? Fat chance, that would be a hopeless endeavor and Jackass should know that. Jackass is desperate. He has completely lost the plot on Syria. Russia is in the lead and will do whatever needs to be done. Apart from starting a World War, the Obama administration no longer has any way to significantly influence that. Jackass is only one tool of the Obama administration. Later that day, DNI Clapper made other accusations against Russia:


The Pindosi Intelligence Community is confident that the Russian Government directed the recent compromises of emails from pindo persons and institutions, including from pindo political organizations. The recent disclosures of alleged hacked emails on sites like DCLeaks.com and WikiLeaks and by the Guccifer 2.0 online persona are consistent with the methods and motivations of Russian-directed efforts. These thefts and disclosures are intended to interfere with the pindo election process. Such activity is not new to Moscow: the Russians have used similar tactics and techniques across Europe and Eurasia, for example, to influence public opinion there. We believe, based on the scope and sensitivity of these efforts, that only Russia’s senior-most officials could have authorized these activities.

Translation: “WE DO NOT KNOW at all (“we are confident”, “we believe”, “directed”) who did these hacks and WE DO NOT HAVE the slightest evidence (“consistent with”,”based on the scope and sensitivity”) that Russia is involved, so let me throw some chaff and try to bamboozle you all.” Craig Murray calls it a blatant neocon lie. It was obviously the DNC that manipulated the pindo election, contrary to its mandate, by promoting Clinton over Sanders. The hackers only proved that. It is also easy to see why these accusations are made now. Craig Murray writes:


That the Obama administration has made a formal accusation of Russia based on no evidence is, on one level, astonishing. But it is motivated by desperation. WikiLeaks have already announced that they have a huge cache of other material relating to Hillary’s shenanigans. The White House is simply seeking to discredit it in advance by a completely false association with Russian intelligence.

The Obama administration is losing it. On Syria as well as on the election it can no longer assert its will. Trump, despite all dirty boy’s club talk he may do, has a significant chance to catch the presidency. He (-44%) and Clinton (-41%) are more disliked by the pindosi electorate than Putin (-38%). Any solution in Syria will be more in Russia’s than the Washington’s favor. Such desperation can be dangerous. Jackass is gasping at straws when he lies about Russia. The president and his colleagues at the Pentagon and the CIA have more kinetic means to express themselves. Could they order up something really stupid?

Cheers

this is priceless.

he called kerry a jackass. a liar... urr err sounds so strong for the 'honorable man who would never lie' .

 

[djpbaltimore]

Nothing strengthens an argument like name calling, eh python?

 

[python]

an argument based on 'mr kerry is an honorable man and will never lie' is clueless by definition. and b/c it belongs to you, you're clueless by definition.

i didn't call kerry names, but the author proved why kerry lied by quoting verbatim several obama officials.

 

[blutto]

Re:

So are you saying that the ONLY way to combat ISIS is to bomb Aleppo and all the civilians and humanitarian aid workers to rubble? I hope you sleep well tonight.

....here is a news flash for you, this is a war and wars are a damn messy business ....and this particular war was a politically motivated action that was aided and abetted by your fellow travellers....they were instrumental in making a total mess of Syria before Aleppo using foreign mercenary jihadists and supplying them with weapons....these proxies, the ISIS monsters, burned unbelievers alive, blew priceless antiquities to bits, and partook of human flesh and now when your side is about to potentially lose the Middle East you start parroting the teary headlines as presented by most compliant Western MSM outlets....

....frankly you are a bit late to the shedding of tears bit....this disaster has been going on about 5 years now and where has your anguish been during that time.....nowhere, and until you heard the dog whistles, and started salivating, and blathering the party line....

...so if you are now so so so concerned, so how do you feel about the latest Pentagon plan to extend this conflict thru stealthy means. you know to make the Russians pay "the price" ( though oddly enough the Pentagon didn't include in their calculus the price the Syrians will have to pay as the Pentagon strives for some tactical or political advantage against Russia...yeah against Russia and the natives become just collateral damage until they are needed to produce good headlines....)....

Cheers

 

[djpbaltimore]

Gimme a break, blutto. That was a very poor effort. That article I posted was direct from the source. MSF is a humanitarian operation and is not mainstream media.

The difference between me and the two of you Russia stooges is that I can admit that the US actions in Syria have been terrible. I guess I care more about the rest of the world than you do. For you, it is more about political propaganda than true empathy.

@python. Weak reply as usual. Full of the typical confirmation bias that is your stock in trade.

 

[blutto]

Re:

Gimme a break, blutto. That was a very poor effort. That article I posted was direct from the source. MSF is a humanitarian operation and is not mainstream media.

The difference between me and the two of you Russia stooges is that I can admit that the US actions in Syria have been terrible. I guess I care more about the rest of the world than you do. For you, it is more about political propaganda than true empathy.

@python. Weak reply as usual. Full of the typical confirmation bias that is your stock in trade.

.....guess you really got us on being Russian stooges....yup yup dead nuts on right there....

Cheers

 

[python]

@python. Weak reply as usual. Full of the typical confirmation bias that is your stock in trade.

to personalize and magnetize the strength, the basis (or a shear stupidity) of you arguments FOR EVERYONE it is now honored the 1st spot in my signature.

bring an argument to a table rather than a partisan or nationalistic zealotry. that is, before turning to condemn another nation, care to refute the crimes of your own state bombing numerous hospitals, weddings, burning town, incinerating 100s of thousands of women, children, old folks...

until then, your care for the aleppo victims is a fake pretense. just like your claims of being a scientist.

 

[djpbaltimore]

So it is ok to misquote me on your sig? It is frankly embarassing that you had to stoop so low.

 

[blutto]

.....hmmm.....

HILLARY’S WARS (Pt. 2): Wikileaks Proves Syria about Iran & Israel

Posted on October 9, 2016 by WashingtonsBlog


By David Haggith, the Great Recession Blog.

Hillary’s War in Syria is another expensive American adventure in nation building as the US inserts itself into the Syrian Civil War ostensibly to restrain the United States’ sworn enemy ISIS (or “ISIL” as the Obama Admin. prefers). Obama’s manner of fighting this war consistently shows a different objective — regime change. While that’s clear to everyone, Wikileaks’ exposure of Hillary Clinton’s emails makes it clear that US intrusion in the Syrian Civil War is really all about Iran and Israel.

Both the US and Russia want to defeat ISIS, but only the US wants to make sure Syria’s President Bashar Assad is overthrown. The United State’s ulterior motive of regime change is the reason for the stalemate last week between Russia and the United States that resulted in a significant move back to cold-war status. I think everyone has generally observed that the US-Russian disagreement is not about how to fight ISIS but about regime change in Syria. What many might not know yet is how last week’s eruption goes back to Hillary Clinton during her time as Secretary of State.

Wikileaks archive of Clinton emails shows this is Hillary’s War with Syria

The Syrian Civil War began in 2011 — the middle of Hillary Clinton’s term as US Secretary of State. Unmarked NATO war planes began arriving in Turkey that same year, delivering weapons absconded from Libya where America participated in another war for regime change. The planes also transported volunteer Libyan soldiers. (In my view, a mission clearly outside of NATO’s charter, which was to form an alliance under which all members would fight to protect any individual member if it was attacked, not to transform the world. No one in Syria was attacking any NATO member.) By December of 2011, the CIA and US special ops also began providing communication support to Syrian forces seeking to topple Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.



Having advised President Obama to enter the Libyan Civil War, Hillary Clinton assured the press at the start of the Syrian Civil War that the United States would not similarly involve itself in that conflict. However, some documents exposed recently by Wikileaks show that Hillary’s advice to the president to enter the US into Libya’s Civil War came with a clear and intentional connection to topple the Assad regime:

In one document labeled “CONFIDENTIAL,” Sidney Blumenthal, a former aide to President Bill Clinton and long-time confidante to Hillary Clinton, wrote the following to Hillary:


Assad’ s gestures at reform are delusional attempts to recreate the pattern of his own recent past when he gained a modicum of respect from the West. Likely the most important event that could alter the Syrian equation would be the fall of Qaddafi, providing an example of a successful rebellion. (Wikileaks)

Prior to the fall of Qaddafi, Clinton was being advised to overthrow Qaddafi in order to effect change in Syria. Blumenthal then quotes an article by David W. Lesch, whom he says is “the U.S. expert with the closest relationship with Bashar al- Assad”:


One game-changer [in Syria] could be the fall of Col. Moammar Gadhafi in Libya…. If Gadhafi falls within the next few months, there will be another model for regime change: that of limited but targeted military support from the West combined with an identifiable rebellion. Not that this can be easily applied in Syria. It hasn’t even been easily applied in Libya, and Syria would be a much harder nut to crack. Furthermore, the Syrian opposition is far from united or being able to establish a Benghazi-like refuge from which to launch a rebellion and to which aid can be sent. But if there is regime change in Libya … it would give the Syrian regime something to really think about…. The Syrian regime does not want, nor can it probably survive, long-term international pressure or isolation, but it is used to sanctions…. Success for the rebels in Libya might change that.

US involvement in Libya began at Hillary’s urging shortly after Hillary received this advice from her confidante Sidney Blumenthal. Note that the advice that the overthrow of Qaddafi needed to be connected with “an identifiable rebellion” in Syria means that it needs to be connected with civil war in Syria. US involvement in Libya was, of course, coordinated out of Benghazi, as the advice to Hillary suggested.

http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2016/10/hillarys-wars-pt-2-wikileaks-proves-syria-about-iran-israel.html

Cheers

 

[djpbaltimore]

These maps helped show the world that Russia's claims of striking "terrorists" were clearly not accurate as they repeatedly attacked mainstream opposition groups, particularly those working with the West.

Interesting. I guess Russia are not as much a help against ISIS as some people around here and Trump would claim.

http://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-airstrikes-syria-maps-september-2015-june-2016

 

[Bustedknuckle]

Re:

These maps helped show the world that Russia's claims of striking "terrorists" were clearly not accurate as they repeatedly attacked mainstream opposition groups, particularly those working with the West.

Interesting. I guess Russia are not as much a help against ISIS as some people around here and Trump would claim.

http://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-airstrikes-syria-maps-september-2015-june-2016

Shocking...when the rebels are defeated with Russia's heavy lifting, I wonder if Assad and Putin are prepared for another Afghanistan. With ISIL thrown in.

 

[blutto]

Re:

These maps helped show the world that Russia's claims of striking "terrorists" were clearly not accurate as they repeatedly attacked mainstream opposition groups, particularly those working with the West.

Interesting. I guess Russia are not as much a help against ISIS as some people around here and Trump would claim.

http://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-airstrikes-syria-maps-september-2015-june-2016

...."mainstream opposition groups" oh spare me the crap....that fable has been debunked years ago...it only plays in the narratives the Pentagon needs to push its agenda ....

...and btw here is your source....you'd be better off quoting Breitbart or Bellingcat or some blogger in his or her pajamas in his or her basement....this is way beyond colossally pathetic.....and you had the unmitigated gall to call out my posts as poor and python's as usually weak....

....and nice to see that busted immediately joined in and got equally soiled...smells good eh...so off to the showers gents and be sure to shampoo twice because I've heard that "stuff' really sticks to your hair, and oh yeah, be sure to get some appropriate shots, like you never know what's in that crap eh...you guys make such a great team....the blind leading the blind.... :lol:

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) is a United States-based think tank founded in 2007 by Kimberly Kagan. ISW describes itself as a non-partisan think tank providing research and analysis regarding issues of defense and foreign affairs, but has been described by others as "a hawkish Washington" group[1] favoring an "aggressive foreign policy".[2] Though it had produced reports on the Afghanistan and Iraq wars, "focusing on military operations, enemy threats, and political trends in diverse conflict zones",[3] it first gained widespread public attention in the aftermath of the Elizabeth O'Bagy scandal in which it was involved. The non-profit organization is supported by grants and contributions from large defense contractors,[2] including Raytheon, General Dynamics, DynCorp and others.[4] It is headquartered in Washington, D.C.[5]

Cheers

 

[djpbaltimore]

I guess I struck a nerve. The data as we say in the biz speaks for itself. Funny that every group that you disagree with is somehow designated partisan or a loser blogger. 'Described by others....' sounds a lot like 'Many people say...' Isn't that how your hero Trump puts it? You don't even put the source of your post. Very sloppy.... Tsk tsk....

Admit it, your posts about ISIS and war is hell were beyond pathetic. Destroying Aleppo and its citizens to get rid of ISIS when that is not their main stronghold is definitely putting on the pro- Russia blinders, or maybe kneepads would be a more apt description.

 

[Starstruck]

I'm thankful that Russia has a leader like Putin, he may be many things but he's not stupid or crazy. Imagine if Russia had an unhinged ideological loon like the USA routinely coughs up. If there was actual good will on the part of "the west" Putin seems like he'd play ball, as it stands he's limited the damage "the west" has inflicted without reacting catastrophically. I can imagine so much worse if roles were reversed.

Regardless, there's a big chill in the air. Hillary or Donald? oy vey.

 

[Bustedknuckle]

Re:

I'm thankful that Russia has a leader like Putin, he may be many things but he's not stupid or crazy. Imagine if Russia had an unhinged ideological loon like the USA routinely coughs up. If there was actual good will on the part of "the west" Putin seems like he'd play ball, as it stands he's limited the damage "the west" has inflicted without reacting catastrophically. I can imagine so much worse if roles were reversed.

Regardless, there's a big chill in the air. Hillary or Donald? oy vey.

And it's so much easier to bomb people(civilians in Allepo) than people that May actually shoot back. Putin is complicit in the deaths of thousands of civilians in Syria. Smart, he gets to keep his naval base, the only one outside of Russia.

 

[Starstruck]

Re: Re:

I'm thankful that Russia has a leader like Putin, he may be many things but he's not stupid or crazy. Imagine if Russia had an unhinged ideological loon like the USA routinely coughs up. If there was actual good will on the part of "the west" Putin seems like he'd play ball, as it stands he's limited the damage "the west" has inflicted without reacting catastrophically. I can imagine so much worse if roles were reversed.

Regardless, there's a big chill in the air. Hillary or Donald? oy vey.

And it's so much easier to bomb people(civilians in Allepo) than people that May actually shoot back. Putin is complicit in the deaths of thousands of civilians in Syria. Smart, he gets to keep his naval base, the only one outside of Russia.

Uuumm, I guess you didn't get the memo but you (the USA) have zero credibility left on the moral high ground thingee. If Putin was an American leader this $hitshow would have escalated beyond incomprehensible to annihilation years ago.

 

[blutto]

Re:

I guess I struck a nerve. The data as we say in the biz speaks for itself. Funny that every group that you disagree with is somehow designated partisan or a loser blogger. 'Described by others....' sounds a lot like 'Many people say...' Isn't that how your hero Trump puts it? You don't even put the source of your post. Very sloppy.... Tsk tsk....

Admit it, your posts about ISIS and war is hell were beyond pathetic. Destroying Aleppo and its citizens to get rid of ISIS when that is not their main stronghold is definitely putting on the pro- Russia blinders, or maybe kneepads would be a more apt description.

....no, but you certainly stepped into a smelly cesspool and promptly dove to the bottom....and I'm really sorry that the sources that carry the water to support your narrative are such transparent pajama clad losers or paid hacks but that is just the way it is....and you're right, I didn't include the source for the quote, oh whoops, you got me dead to rights, you can go home a winner now, whoopee, your day wasn't a total wipeout, btw it was Dr. Wiki....

...and speaking of crap pulled out of dark places where in gawd's name did you get the idea that Trump is my hero ?....I do like his idea of a wall, but that is a long standing dream in Soviet Canuckistan so its not like its Trump-centric or anything...he just happens to be a viable vehicle to provide it...its also a joke which everybody here seems to understand but you, and not at all implying you're dim or anything but just sayin' eh..

Cheers

 

[python]

Re:

I'm thankful that Russia has a leader like Putin, he may be many things but he's not stupid or crazy. Imagine if Russia had an unhinged ideological loon like the USA routinely coughs up. If there was actual good will on the part of "the west" Putin seems like he'd play ball, as it stands he's limited the damage "the west" has inflicted without reacting catastrophically. I can imagine so much worse if roles were reversed.

Regardless, there's a big chill in the air. Hillary or Donald? oy vey.

did you not read a memo above ? you squarely qualify for a definition of a russian stooge...

the chill isn't going to be very long as things seem moving to hot up soon. if not by design, then by an accident bound to happen when someone refuses to take orders from washington. vlad, imo is excessively belligerent though, he imo he has a point.

we'll have to see where the us will go after vlad tore up the 3 bilateral nuclear-related treaties. obviously an fu after the us tore up the preliminary mutual agreement...he also clearly told obama to count inches in his middle finger when he announced (today and yesterday) permanent nature of of their naval and air bases in latakia.

lets see how the assad regime change is going to proceed NOW.

also today, vlad signed a bunch of agreements with turkey, one of which seems anti-american in nature, that is, if the info i read is correct.

as i said before, the lybia scenario when medvedev - then a president - directed abstaining from the unsc vote on a no fly zone, isn't inspiring vlad. to remind, instantly after getting the green light for a no-fly zone, the us lead group proceeded to violate its un mandate by changing the regime. the rest is well known, that a former kgb operative like putin refused to be fulled in syria is ...obama's problem.

 

[BullsFan22]

Re: Re:

I'm thankful that Russia has a leader like Putin, he may be many things but he's not stupid or crazy. Imagine if Russia had an unhinged ideological loon like the USA routinely coughs up. If there was actual good will on the part of "the west" Putin seems like he'd play ball, as it stands he's limited the damage "the west" has inflicted without reacting catastrophically. I can imagine so much worse if roles were reversed.

Regardless, there's a big chill in the air. Hillary or Donald? oy vey.

And it's so much easier to bomb people(civilians in Allepo) than people that May actually shoot back. Putin is complicit in the deaths of thousands of civilians in Syria. Smart, he gets to keep his naval base, the only one outside of Russia.

Uuumm, I guess you didn't get the memo but you (the USA) have zero credibility left on the moral high ground thingee. If Putin was an American leader this $hitshow would have escalated beyond incomprehensible to annihilation years ago.

It already escalated. A while back. Americans should be the last people to tell others (be it Russia or someone else) about misuse of power when dealing with terrorism, military conflicts, civil wars, etc. All these governments being overthrown by American governments since 1945 really have a familiar ring to them. It started with the Korean War, then the overthrow of the elected Iranian government in 1952, Vietnam, Cambodia (Kissinger's baby and the rise of Pol Pott and Khmer Rouge), the overthrow of Allende and the support for the Pinochet dictatorship in Chile, Afghanistan and the arming of 'freedom fighters' which eventually became Al Qaeda, Iran-Iraq war in the 1980's, propping up of Mubarak in Egypt (can you guess how long he was in power before he was no long needed?), Nicaragua (Sandinistas), the first gulf war in 1991 (Kuwait invasion), the breakup of Yugoslavia and the subsequent civil war (to be fair to Bush Sr, and Clinton, the Yugoslav politicians were failing to see the imminent danger of nationalism in the late 80's, so a lot of the blame will go to them and not as much to the US involvement later on, though I will always wonder if Milosevic wasn't just another tool that was propped up to cause chaos in an otherwise peaceful region at that point), Somalia around the same time as the break up of Yugoslavia and the Balkan wars, bombing of Serbia in 1999, another war in Afghanistan in 2001 (still going on), another Gulf War in starting in the spring of 2003 (still going on), Libya 2011-present, Syria 2011-present....

And now, in case some of you haven't heard or read, our great friend Saudi Arabia (where 15 of the 19 9/11 hijackers were from, and where Bin Laden was born and raised) recently amped up it's 'mission' in Yemen. Now that may not be the most important news in mainstream America, it demands our attention because this is potentially huge. More to come...

 

[Starstruck]

Re: Re:

I'm thankful that Russia has a leader like Putin, he may be many things but he's not stupid or crazy. Imagine if Russia had an unhinged ideological loon like the USA routinely coughs up. If there was actual good will on the part of "the west" Putin seems like he'd play ball, as it stands he's limited the damage "the west" has inflicted without reacting catastrophically. I can imagine so much worse if roles were reversed.

Regardless, there's a big chill in the air. Hillary or Donald? oy vey.

And it's so much easier to bomb people(civilians in Allepo) than people that May actually shoot back. Putin is complicit in the deaths of thousands of civilians in Syria. Smart, he gets to keep his naval base, the only one outside of Russia.

Uuumm, I guess you didn't get the memo but you (the USA) have zero credibility left on the moral high ground thingee. If Putin was an American leader this $hitshow would have escalated beyond incomprehensible to annihilation years ago.

It already escalated. A while back. Americans should be the last people to tell others (be it Russia or someone else) about misuse of power when dealing with terrorism, military conflicts, civil wars, etc. All these governments being overthrown by American governments since 1945 really have a familiar ring to them. It started with the Korean War, then the overthrow of the elected Iranian government in 1952, Vietnam, Cambodia (Kissinger's baby and the rise of Pol Pott and Khmer Rouge), the overthrow of Allende and the support for the Pinochet dictatorship in Chile, Afghanistan and the arming of 'freedom fighters' which eventually became Al Qaeda, Iran-Iraq war in the 1980's, propping up of Mubarak in Egypt (can you guess how long he was in power before he was no long needed?), Nicaragua (Sandinistas), the first gulf war in 1991 (Kuwait invasion), the breakup of Yugoslavia and the subsequent civil war (to be fair to Bush Sr, and Clinton, the Yugoslav politicians were failing to see the imminent danger of nationalism in the late 80's, so a lot of the blame will go to them and not as much to the US involvement later on, though I will always wonder if Milosevic wasn't just another tool that was propped up to cause chaos in an otherwise peaceful region at that point), Somalia around the same time as the break up of Yugoslavia and the Balkan wars, bombing of Serbia in 1999, another war in Afghanistan in 2001 (still going on), another Gulf War in starting in the spring of 2003 (still going on), Libya 2011-present, Syria 2011-present....

And now, in case some of you haven't heard or read, our great friend Saudi Arabia (where 15 of the 19 9/11 hijackers were from, and where Bin Laden was born and raised) recently amped up it's 'mission' in Yemen. Now that may not be the most important news in mainstream America, it demands our attention because this is potentially huge. More to come...

So we're basically on the same page. The 70+ yr. disaster that is Gaza, and the west bank, deserve a mention too.

Up thread Ferminal asked what the KSA is up to? I'd just read this article but couldn't be bothered to respond:
Saudi Arabia: Can’t Pay Its Bills, Yet Funds War on Yemen
http://www.counterpunch.org/2016/09/12/saudia-arabia-cant-pay-its-bills-yet-funds-war-on-yemen/

The world really is too small for monkey business as usual but I'm not holding my breath that we'll collectively get our act together.

The more incomprehensibly serious our predicament becomes the more clownish the response seems to be.

 

[blutto]

....so here is a question, in the passage below where is the war crime ? ( its a bit of a trick question )...

British forces could help protect Syria from Russian 'war crimes'

1 hr ago - British aircraft could form part of an international coalition to enforce a no-fly zone in a bid to stop Russia committing war crimes in Syria, a former Cabinet minister has suggested. Andrew Mitchell, who will lead an emergency Commons debate on th ... (Telegraph UK)

Cheers

 

[python]

....so here is a question, in the passage below where is the war crime ? ( its a bit of a trick question )...

British forces could help protect Syria from Russian 'war crimes'

1 hr ago - British aircraft could form part of an international coalition to enforce a no-fly zone in a bid to stop Russia committing war crimes in Syria, a former Cabinet minister has suggested. Andrew Mitchell, who will lead an emergency Commons debate on th ... (Telegraph UK)

Cheers

i think that former minister is a downright idiot. a no-fly zone in syria means plain and simple the nato aircraft falling out of the sky as soon a the 'mission' would start. the spokesman for the rmd hinted at such 2days ago. 'we can't make a distinction if the attacker is aiming at a syrian unit or us'

to back up their words they undertook the following confirmed steps:

1. in addition to the s-400 SAM system in latakia, the brought over the s-300 to tartus
2. they doubled the number of fighters in the hmeinim airbase.
3. they noisily announced that the tartus and hmeinim military facilities are becoming PERMANENT and will be expanded

anyone who thinks these are just jokes and that a major power will sit on its hands when thretened, is an idiot.

i actually fear that something like a random confrontation is very likely. exactly b/c of the abundance of such idiots in the west's politics.

the military, i hope, are a more rational bunch. on all sides.

 

[Bustedknuckle]

....so here is a question, in the passage below where is the war crime ? ( its a bit of a trick question )...

British forces could help protect Syria from Russian 'war crimes'

1 hr ago - British aircraft could form part of an international coalition to enforce a no-fly zone in a bid to stop Russia committing war crimes in Syria, a former Cabinet minister has suggested. Andrew Mitchell, who will lead an emergency Commons debate on th ... (Telegraph UK)

Cheers

i think that former minister is a downright idiot. a no-fly zone in syria means plain and simple the nato aircraft falling out of the sky as soon a the 'mission' would start. the spokesman for the rmd hinted at such 2days ago. 'we can't make a distinction if the attacker is aiming at a syrian unit or us'

to back up their words they undertook the following confirmed steps:

1. in addition to the s-400 SAM system in latakia, the brought over the s-300 to tartus
2. they doubled the number of fighters in the hmeinim airbase.
3. they noisily announced that the tartus and hmeinim military facilities are becoming PERMANENT and will be expanded

anyone who thinks these are just jokes and that a major power will sit on its hands when thretened, is an idiot.

i actually fear that something like a random confrontation is very likely. exactly b/c of the abundance of such idiots in the west's politics.

the military, i hope, are a more rational bunch. on all sides.

There won't be a no fly zone in Syria unless it's enforced by Russia. A Syrian aircraft has a better chance of being bagged by Russia than a 'NATO' one.

What's the long term solution here? Russia and Assad will triumph over the rebels, officially, by occupying the major cities. The rebels will melt into the towns and country side and carry on a clandestine fight ala VietNam. Russia/Syria will own the day, the rebels will own the night(like the VietCong). Another Afghanistan for Russia. THEN Russia/Iran/Iraq/Syria..with the US help, no doubt, will battle ISIL..I think another vacuum in Syria, like Bush did in Iraq and how it created the Arab spring/Syria/Lybia/Eqypt->ISIS/ISIL/Daesh is a poor choice. Will Assad bring some sort of humanity to his rule, enforced by Russia/Putin? Time will tell but unless the US invades Syria(very unlikely), Assad is going to stay. BUT going to be expensive for Putin..

 

[python]

busted wrote:

There won't be a no fly zone in Syria unless it's enforced by Russia. A Syrian aircraft has a better chance of being bagged by Russia than a 'NATO' one.

What's the long term solution here? Russia and Assad will triumph over the rebels, officially, by occupying the major cities. The rebels will melt into the towns and country side and carry on a clandestine fight ala VietNam. Russia/Syria will own the day, the rebels will own the night(like the VietCong). Another Afghanistan for Russia. THEN Russia/Iran/Iraq/Syria..with the US help, no doubt, will battle ISIL..I think another vacuum in Syria, like Bush did in Iraq and how it created the Arab spring/Syria/Lybia/Eqypt->ISIS/ISIL/Daesh is a poor choice. Will Assad bring some sort of humanity to his rule, enforced by Russia/Putin? Time will tell but unless the US invades Syria(very unlikely), Assad is going to stay. BUT going to be expensive for Putin..

to the 1st sentence...
the no-fly zone in syria is ALREADY there and it is ALREADY unforced by russia. thank god, the militaries flying their craft in the syrian airspace, more specifically, the the assad flyers, the us coalition, the russians, the israelis and finally the turks, are still coordination with each other and no doubt tell the russians when and where they are going to be if on a given mission. that much is clear, otherwise the planes would already be falling out of the sky...

as to your other questions, if i knew the answers i'd be pocketing the nobel. what seems a common sense to me, isn't necessarily the way the politicians think. i would:

1. sit down with the major players and ask everyone to treat each other as EQUAL
2. i would ask everyone to sort out the priorities.
3. i would, based on those priorities and goals, apportion all fighting sides into groups. those meeting the definition of terrorists or jihadist extremists MUST BE il-legitmized. for all practical purposes the kurds are NOT terrorists and the assad regime change is now a pipe dream.
4. once the good were separated from bad, the major powers and sponsors must get serious about enforcing the new rules, which, in turn means:
5a start with a comprehensive ceasefire
5b get the diplomatic process back on track by entertaining the syrian future state which, imo must include a role for the current regime during a transition period. it's just a fact on the ground now.

what will come out no one knows, but this seems the only logical process from this seat.

in fact, i am convinced that the us and russia had arrived to a similar frame work before it collapsed.
why it did, we can only guess, but i do believe some forces in washington aren't ready for treating their former cold war enemy as their equals. and of course, the mess is so advanced that perhaps a radical surgery, that is, a military victory by one of the sides, can cure it.

i dont know.