The Middle East Wars
The Middle East is once again swept up in wars. Not since the early 80s has the Middle East experienced such a wide array of conflicts. Not only do we have the mother of all proxy wars in Syria but also a slew of campaigns and operations dotting the entire region and greater area from tribal skirmishes to transnational conflicts.
In tangent with the Syrian crisis is the Iraqi civil war, which has been continuous since the fall of the Saddam’s Iraq by US forces. Modern Iraq has rarely known peace. From the Iran-Iraq war, the two gulf wars, and now this never ending civil war. These conflicts have warped Iraq on multiple levels. The ghost of the Iraqi army is what we know as ISIL today. [Source]
There is the Yemen war which pits multiple belligerents in another Iran-Saudi proxy war between Houthi Yemenis (who are predominantly Shia but have large Sunni support) against the old and ousted Hadi-loyalist Yemeni government. Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State are also prominent in this fight.
Next is the Egyptian campaign in the Sinai against Islamists. This campaign has been ongoing since the fall of Mubarak and has increased in intensity after the military coup by Sisi that ousted the democratically elected Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood.
In the greater Middle East we have the Libyan civil war, the natural aftermath of the fall of Gaddafi. Thanks to the level of lawlessness Islamists have been able to establish a significant presence; one of these factions is no other than ISIL.
After Gaddafi fell there was a period of chaos in which militia groups fought each other. The lawlessness allowed petty fights to escalate into tribal and faction wars. Today the fighting has evolved between the newly elected government, recognized by the West, and the old (post-Gaddafi) government comprising of various political factions (the Brotherhood amongst them) which refuse to acknowledge the earlier elections due to the fact large parts of the country were denied the vote either through security concerns or no feasible means of reaching a voting center.
These wars have drawn in many international actors. Any EU country with a military has been involved in one or more of these conflicts. Of course they’ve been overshadowed by two heavy hitters, the United States of America and the Russian Federation.
This is the first time for Russia to take a more overt role in the campaigns of the Middle East. What was once considered United States territory is now being challenge politically, through the media, and even militarily (shows of force are not “peace-making” moves).
The Russian airbase in Latakia looks like one massive commercial of Russian equipment. Russia has been part of the club of “tested in combat” weapon suppliers for some time (Israel, the US, and sometimes the UK are part of this exclusive club) but now, in the age of HD video, the world is witnessing Russian power in the same way the First Gulf War displayed US precision weapons from the nose cameras of bombs dropped in Iraq.
The cruise missiles were the cream of the sales pitch. Now YOU TOO can own accurate cruise missiles without paying an arm and a leg to Raytheon.
Syria in itself is an even larger commercial of Russian capabilities. Alternative protection to legitimate presidents in third-world countries that may be threatened by Western intervention. Russia can provide political cover as well as the capability to move heads of state in and out of countries without world powers noticing. In today’s digital age of hyper-intelligence gathering a feat in itself.
One might even say it’s not the destruction of the Islamic State or the opposition forces in Syria that upset the United States, but the fact a competitor supplier is advertising their goods in the same Hollywood manner as they are fond of doing.
But the fighting doesn’t stop just in these countries. It continues to extend into countries like Turkey engaged in another operation against the Kurds in “Kurdistan”. In Afghanistan the Taliban are engaged in a prolonged nationalist war against the US-led occupation. There is spillover from the Syrian conflict into Lebanon from time to time and finally there is a potential boiling point in Israel and Palestine.
It’s safe to say this is only the beginning to something potentially larger which may engulf the entire region in one contiguous war.
Here is what is occurring in the core Middle Eastern theatre right now:
Syria:
• Pro-government Syrian forces are making gains slowly in areas of operation. The strategy has revealed itself as a slow encroachment on rebel positions. Every area captured by the government is locked down and reinforced until the next assault.
• Assault, capture, hold, reinforce, repeat.
• This war has seen its fair share of booby traps and other dirty tricks. Syrian forces have had to deal with mines and IEDs in recaptured territory. Possibly as a rebel/ISIL tactic to slow down Syrian assaults while retreating. Syrian military has also dished out its fair share of sabotage ammunition to opposition groups. [Source]
• Although very costly and time consuming, sabotage/spiked ammunition does add a huge psychological factor in deterring insurgencies and organized resistance. Opposition units will begin to distrust their supplies reducing morale. Should a sabotage round be cooked off it could disable the weapon or more effectively outright kill the operator. [Source]
• The SAA has allowed avenues of escape to remain open for Islamist fighters. This is to prevent any “last-stands” by the near-suicidal and desperate Islamists.
• There was talk about Assad committing to preliminary elections; probably the fallout of the meeting in Moscow (more below). [Source]
• The government has had issues securing supply lines since the onset of the war. These issues have always plagued offensives which need a consistent influx of supplies to maintain the momentum.
• The government has established checkpoints to monitor the roads and to deploy rapid reaction teams to assist convoys under attack.
• However the manpower shortage does mean some checkpoints won’t be as reinforced as others.
• A strategic depopulation of Syria has been underway for some time, resulting in the EU refugee crisis. May also be called human capital flight. By having Germany say it’ll take in as many refugees as it can and by encouraging the conflict to continue more and more of the moderate educated Syrians will leave Syria and the refugee camps of Turkey and Jordan for a better life in Europe and the US [Source]
Iraq:
• Co-ordination with Syria, Russia, Iran and Hezbollah has allowed the Iraqi army to continue rooting out ISIL and other supporting militias from Baiji.
• The Iraqi army is being supported by the Popular Committee militias.
• The Popular Committee militias are a predominately Shia organization which houses a multitude of tribal or independent Shia militias in Iraq.
• The Mahdi army, a once disbanded militia which had succeeded in fighting US occupational forces in the past, has been remobilized to help deal with ISIL. [Source]
• These militias were a real issue for both the US occupational forces and the new Iraqi military during that time [Source]
• The Mahdi army is one of the few militias outside Palestine to experience Israeli-like tactics of population control blockades and sieges in the hopes of destroying its power base (siege of Sadr city) [Source]
• Since the fall of Saddam the Iraqi army has gained some experience fighting against the Shia-militias in an operation to disarm them. [Source]
Iran/Hezbollah:
• Some slightly increased causalities of IRGC personnel reflect the increased involvement over the past week.
• Iran continues to flex its military capabilities and more importantly its independent military-industrial complex hardened over decades of sanctions. [Source]
• Iran has consistently had some kind of force operating in Iraq against ISIL and even forces that were once operating against US forces including the infamous Karbala HQ attack carried supported by the Quds Force [Source]
• The attackers were dressed in US military gear and managed to slip by security. The entire operation was retaliation against US raids targeted towards Iranian diplomatic missions inside Iraq. [Source]
• The increased presence in Syria will reflect how well Iran can commit in deploying combat ground forces on two fronts (albeit in small elite numbers).
• IRGC forces are more eager and motivated, some men being trained for over a year for the mission in Syria which includes a heavy dose of urban warfare tactics. [Source]
• Iran not only has Russia as a potential ally but both India and China have helped it stay afloat through its many years of sanctions. China has always been a customer of Iranian oil and natural gas and India at one point was paying Iran in gold to circumvent international sanctions aimed at Iran [Source]
• It’s only a matter of time now before Iran officially joins the SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organization) of which China and Russia (along with Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan) are founding members. The SCO is a semi-NATO-like organization which extends to economic and political cohesion as well as military collaboration [Source]
• Iran has finally been included in talks regarding the Syrian conflict, along with Turkey, Russia, the US, and Saudi Arabia. [Source]
• Hassan Nasrallah, secretary general of Hezbollah, has made a public speech at the end of the Ashura procession in person. For those that do not know: this man is very high up on Israel’s hit list. Most definitely top 5. When he used to make speeches in the past he would have to do it behind bulletproof glass. Today his speeches are digital and more frequent (unfortunately bulletproof is not air-strike bomb proof). [Source]
Russia:
• It seems like Russia is trying to create a political coalition to solve the Syrian problem.
• Russia had extended a hand to aid the FSA in its fight against Islamists and ISIL and to find a solution to the crisis. [Source]
• Russia has been talking to many opposition group representatives that claim to be “FSA” but these people have openly admitted there is no single unified command. [Source]
• It seems the FSA is what rebels take on as a brand name while the Army of Conquest is the Islamist with operation rooms inside Turkey and Jordan.
• Russia has begun talking to Jordan and has opened an intelligence co-ordination center. Jordanian intelligence and Special Forces are some of the more professional forces inside the Middle East. The King of Jordan has a gift of always playing both sides to keep his country afloat in ANY situation. [Source]
• Iraqi government has allowed Russia to commit airstrikes inside Iraq proper against ISIL. It’s unknown if Russia will or will not expand its operations; perhaps by deploying forward aircraft in relatively-safe Iran it may be able to launch airstrikes inside Iraq.
• Russia has the ability to use strategic bombers but operating those would be costly for its effect (to kill a few militants).
• Assad, the Syrian president, made a secret visit to Moscow and back without the notice of the megalithic US intelligence community. [Source]
• The high-level meeting may be to inform Assad of future political moves Russia might commit (and thus not to surprise Assad).
• It could be Russian cordiality, informing Assad that perhaps he might actually have to step down a lot sooner than expected. A call would have sufficed but Russians are really cordial people and such news should be said in person.
• It might be about increased military and intelligence cooperation. After all is there a base outside the ex-Soviet Union under Russian administration asides from Tartus? Is Russia willing to give that up with Assad?
• It may well be a large PR stunt to the world. Russia can get you out and back in your country with the Americans watching. That’s quite an achievement, especially to small countries that once assumed the US knows all, sees all, and can kill all, all the time any time.
• A Russian soldier appears to have committed suicide at Latakia air base. The official reason was depression due to a breakup with his girlfriend. [Source]
• The parents deny that their son would do a thing like that over a girl. Suicides in deployments do happen especially if they’ve had recent relationship problems. 19 year olds are known to be the most emotionally stable people on the planet, especially when it comes to relationships. But there is also talk of potentially multiple injuries on his body. What exactly those injuries are have ranged from lacerations on his wrists and body (suicidal ideation) to burns and crushed bones from an explosion (could be a lucky rocket or mortar that landed in the airbase). His body has already been returned and buried in his hometown. IF (big if) this was really a non-suicide it was most likely the typical story: Soldier goes AWOL for an hour from base to buy a pack of cigarettes in town, gets spotted by some insurgent/ISIL, barely makes it back alive (or has his body retrieved by Russian special forces on the ground).
• I’m probably going to get stabbed for this but…here goes:
• There is SOME talk that the slight dip in air strikes by the Russian Air Force deployed at Latakia is due to the fighter jets being pushed hard in consistent non-stop sorties. [Source]
• Of course the other aspect can be a logistical shortage, but that’s doubtful as proper planning negates that. It’s highly unlikely the Ministry of Defense would not have calculated the required munitions, spare parts, and fuel required for continuous air strikes in Syria.
• With the absurdly large number of sorties flown by the Russian Air Force in Syria it’s not hard to believe there is a strain on hardware. But then again generally speaking Russian equipment tends to be sturdier.
• Russian Mi-24 helicopters deployed in Syria seem to have anti-MANPADS defensive systems such as optronic countermeasure systems. [Source]
• Only some of the models seen in Syria appear to have the attachment. The source shows Mi-24 with and without the countermeasure system deployed at Latakia [Source]
• The Mi-24 for some reason doesn’t have their exhaust suppressors attached. That might be due to performance issues at low-altitudes. Exhaust suppressors would reduce the IR signature of a helicopter, reducing the effectiveness of MANPADS, most of which are guided by infrared light. [Source]
• The deployment of Russian helicopters in Tajikistan was probably due to some SCO agreement to help the Tajik government handle any ISIL-inspired groups within its territory such as their rogue defense minister.
• The SCO is probably why China is also mulling directly supporting the Russian operation in Syria. If China should join the operation it’ll be the first time their forces have entered combat since the Vietnam war in the late 70s to 80s. [Source]
US:
• The US is still mulling its options. [Source]
• A level of indecisiveness can be felt throughout the administration.
• The US has declared it will continue ground operations, escalating their involvement from token bombing runs to overt special operations. [Source]
• There are even talks that the US might go even deeper and further into Syria and Iraq to fight ISIL. [Source]
• This can be seen as a way to regain international credibility in its fight against the Islamic State.
• Iraqi forces along with Kurdish fighters committed to a ground operation (recorded on video no less) freeing ISIL prisoners. [Source]
• US Special Forces were helicopter-lifted inside the AO in an advisory role.
• A US Special Forces operator was killed in the operation. [Source]
• The advisory role can mean anything from helping ground-level commanders in tactical decisions (down to the company level; which means probably leading from the front) to deploying on the field as a support squad such as forward air observers or providing specialized covering fire (sharpshooting, etc.)
• The US is also busy flexing muscles towards China [Source]
Rebels in Syria (including Al-Qaeda/Islamist affiliates such as Al-Nusra, Army of Conquest, FSA, etc.):
• They seem to be trying to survive the Syrian assaults and Russian air strikes as best as they can.
• There seems to be no shortage of TOWs.
• So far the Russian air involvement has demoralized them more than any other belligerent in Syria.
• The Syrian Arab Army has made the majority of gains against these rebel forces.
Saudi-Arabia (and other GCC/Arab Coalition nations):
• More talk and talk.
• Problems in the Yemen, serious military problems.
• As usual the GCC can’t really produce anything, not even soldiers, and have hired foreign mercenaries from as far as Colombia to fight against the Houthi Yemenis. [Source]
• Qatar and the UAE have shuttled jihadists out of Syria and into Yemen.
• The newly shuttled jihadists will probably try to counter not only the Houthis but ISIL which has
• ISIL will probably absorb the more effective parts of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, stationed in Yemen.
• Qatar will not be sending forces into Syria in any future coalition [Source]
Turkey:
• More and more evidence of Turkish complicity in chemical attacks in Syria are beginning to surface [Source]
• Turkey understands that there is no solution to Syria without it being involved. This is true as Syria and Turkey share a large border. [Source]
• Turkey has increased operations against Kurds. [Source]
• It wasn’t long before a Kurdish bomb went off in Ankara, which can only harden the Turks against any future Kurd deal. [Source]
Islamic State:
• To better illustrate Islamic States actions one has can look at its roots.
• ISIL has been an offshoot branch of Zarqawis Al-Qaeda.
• For those that don’t know, Zarqawi was operating Al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) during the US occupation.
• Zarqawi introduced ruthless tactics such as beheading foreigners, bombing holy sacred sites, killing Muslims (Sunni or otherwise), etc.
• Although original Al-Qaeda was still supporting Zarqawi (because his fighting in Iraq was drawing in more recruiters to Al-Qaeda) generally they disapproved of his overtly destructive methods.
• Al-Qaeda in Iraq created the Al-Nusra Front in Syria during the crisis.
• A cell within Al-Nusra Front began to achieve great success against government Syrian forces.
• While Al-Nusra was already violent, with rapes and mass executions in captured territory, the cell within Al-Nusra was even more ruthless by reviving Zarqarwis barbaric practices mixed with heavy enforcement of Sharia law in territory under their control.
• Al-Nusra (AQI) tried to reign in the rogue cell but it was already too big and too influential.
• The Islamic State was born (which has evolved from many names, ISIS, ISIL, Daesh, IS….)
• Following the Islamic States separation the organization tried to redress grievances of Sunni and Ba’athist militias inside Iraq (the common cause being fighting the Shia-dominated government of Iraq, for ISIS the Shia are heretical muslims)
• Prior to the Al-Nusra fracture, Ba’athist militias and Sunni tribes actually fought Al-Qaeda because of their wonton killing of Iraqi citizens (Zarqawi was pretty barbaric, so much so its roots are still at the heart of ISIL nine years after his death).
Structure of ISIL:
• There seems to be more and more evidence that the Islamic State has a corp. of ex-Iraqi military and intelligence officers in charge of critical operations.
• These officers have managed to help the Islamic State coordinate itself and set up institutions to maintain the network required to keep the Caliphate functioning. [Source] [Source]
• Ba’athist officers are not only hardened by the years of warfare against US occupation forces and the Shia militias but also had experience in statecraft being members of the ruling political party of Saddams day.
• ISIL is not one homogenous organizations but a large formation of multiple militias, entities, organizations, intelligence agencies, Ba’athist loyalists, tribes, etc. A loose alliance held together by several key networks, one revealing itself now are the Ba’athist, another that exposed itself was Turkish Intelligence.
• Who is pulling what strings is yet to be known. Baghdadi may be just a front man to the real actors behind the scene.
• During the US occupation of Iraq, Syria had not only supported Ba’athist loyalists but had allowed Sunni jihadists to travel freely into Iraq to fight coalition forces.
• Iran supported Shia militias which essentially became proxy forces. These forces were used to deny the US the ability to secure Iraq. With Iraq in a continued state of turmoil future operations into Iran or Syria could not commence.
• The agreement reached by ISIL and the Ba’athist loyalist militia strengthened ISILs strategic and operational capabilities.
• The trade was probably financing and materials given by ISIL to Ba’athist militias in exchange for the expertise and connections as well as, of course, a pledge of loyalty.
• The expertise covers everything from training on weapon systems (artillery, tanks, etc.), small-unit tactics, improvised explosives, and even chemical weapons. [Source]
• After the agreement the fall of Mosul, Fallujah, Ramadi, Baiji and Tikrit followed which further furbished ISIL with more hardware, financing, and manpower
• ISIL had employed a psychological operation of consistently displaying itself as barbarically ruthless, this is especially true online.
Ba’athist Augmentation:
• The most influential Ba’athist loyalist faction was created by ‘the King of Clubs’ himself, GeneralIzzat Ibrahim al-Douri and his Naqshbandi Order. [Source]
• The Naqshbandi Order and ISIL have been seen fighting side by side in Iraq as recent as 2014.
• Al-Douri was a very skilled operational commander, he was head of the Revolutionary Committee in Saddam’s government and had proven himself in battle in the Iran-Iraq war as well as the First Gulf War.
• The general proved his capabilities in a successful (albeit short lived) coordination of Iraqi assets to aid in the capture of a Saudi town during the early days of Operation Desert Storm. This was during the relentless coalition air campaign which was bombing targets inside Iraq and Iraqi military units inside Kuwait. [Source]
• To achieve a minor success (the battle was, like all Iraqi battles, lost) in such an environment is impressive as it reflects well on the man’s strategic understanding of modern warfare. (This battle included the shooting down of an AC-130 gunship).
• This red-haired devil successfully evaded American forces throughout their entire occupation but is now presumed dead (April 2015) in an Iraqi army operation however it has not been confirmed by DNA and an audio tape of (supposedly) Douri has been released speaking of events after his death. [Source]
• These are the same types of officers ISIL recruits from and have been successful in molding ISIL forces into the practical force it is today. Mostly operational-level commanders who have an understanding in military organization and more importantly strategic competence.
• These ex-officers practice a form of Ba’athist-Salafism, although Saddam opposed Islamic politics in his early years of rule, in his late years he began to preach about a Ba’athist, nationalist, Salafism crossbreed philosophy.
• Saddam Hussein had a Quran written in his own blood. Yet owned Golden AKs; gold is haram for men in Islam. Just to reflect the nature of the man and his view towards Islam. [Source]
• He did warn however that the Islamists were not to be given full control as they did not want a secular Iraq where religion was a personal choice but to establish an Islamic state [Source]
Jihadist Tactics, Ba’athist Operations, Caliphate Strategy:
• The Islamic State utilizes what some might consider unconventional “fringe” tactics such as distributing amphetamine-like products to fighters (this has been witnessed as early as the 2003 invasion by incoming Syrian jihadist during the US occupation of Iraq).
• It’s most likely that the Saudi prince caught for trying to smuggle tons of Fenethylline through Beirut was going to hand them over to ISIL-affiliates. [Source]
• A mixture of religious scripture, amphetamines, and heavy weapons introduced to boys at an influential age of their lives (and denied the prospects of having a girlfriend) may highlight the indifference seen in ISIL fighters in the acts of barbarity they commit. [Source]
• Of course Ba’athist officers have used the barbarity as a method of spreading terror to their opponents.
• ISIL also has some mastery in psychological warfare. The capture of Mosul highlighted how just a little over a 1000 men can overcome an army 10+ times its size by terrorizing them to abandon their positions. [Source]
• This psychological warfare comes in the form of brutal execution and torture videos, the capture and rape of women and children in the Islamic Caliphate, the videos of legitimacy (such as undertaking state functions like courts, hospitals, street cleaning, opening up ISIL souvenir shops, flag production, coin minting, etc.)
• In terms of financing the Islamic State enjoys a variety of incomes, including donations by true believers and sales of oil on the black market.
• ISIL has no trouble finding recruits. For example the residence of Mosul feel betrayed by the mostly Shia Iraqi military for abandoning them, it’s not hard to find recruits amongst these Sunnis who have already fled Shia death squads supported by the government in its earlier years. [Source]
• Many Al-Qaeda or Islamist militias have pledged loyalty to ISIL which has allowed the Islamic State to have power in a multitude of countries.
On the Syrian-Iraqi Campaign:
• The Islamic State seems to be committing to attacks against Syrian government forces but not capturing territory.
• Harassment on Syrian supply routes have been more common. The longer the supply route the harder it is to maintain security on it. Offensives have been stalled due to the effective strategy.
• This was the same tactic the Ba’athists refused to use on invading US forces, who also had supply lines stretched thin due to overextended assaults.
• All this indicates a long-term resistance, keeping the Syrian government forces occupied while ISIL regroups.
• In Iraq the Islamic State is pressed to find a new vector to attack the Iraqi government.
• Just like in Syria ISIL is consistently harassing the Iraqi military with suicide attacks while the Iraqi military continues its thrust into Anbar province.
• ISIL still seems determined to fight with fierce resistance even though it’s facing forces from all sides.
• Right now most (but not all) ISIL branches outside Syria and Iraq are funneling in fighters from their respective regions (like Libya).
• Iraqi government has been trying to talk to the Ba’athists to shift ISILs center of gravity however to what level of success that would bring is very unclear [Source]
I “await” detailed analysis of the meeting in Vienna that just took place.But from the “talked” about parts of it (on RT) and the other stories on the sidelines of it.It doesn’t look good.It appears that as I said the other day we are “snatching defeat from the jaws of victory”.The US is going to have “special forces” in the North of Syria, “legally” I assume.They probably have always had them there.But now it won’t be a “secret”. So what does anyone think they will be doing there.I can tell you.They will be firming up anti-Assad elements.And by having their foot in the door “legally” it will be hard to object to that and do anything about it.While at the same time the anti-Syrian states (all but Russia and Iran at the meeting) continue with their message of “Assad must go” without Russia and Iran doing more than mouthing “its up to the Syrian people to decide that”.Do they thing the West gives a “flying F” about what the Syrian people want,”no” they don’t.Does Russia and Iran think for one moment that a non-Assad government will side with them in Syria.If so,I can sell them a bridge in Brooklyn real cheap.
All the talk they talk about the Syrian state remaining is total BS.The “Syrian state” is the Assad government,no more,no less.Syria isn’t a long established nation with hundreds of years of “state authority” behind it.It is like 90% of the developing World’s countries.Where the rulers are the “state”.It will take generations at the very least to change that.Not admitting the truth,doesn’t make the truth different.It just shows your foolishness.When, oh when,will they wake up to the fact diplomacy with the West is meaningless.Can anyone point to anything that diplomacy has solved in the last two years helping us.And if anyone dares say Minsk,wash your mouth out with soap.The only thing that has done, is slow the killing to a smaller amount.It hasn’t “won” us anything.Its “froze the conflict” for a time while leaving the fascists in power in Ukraine.To slowly indoctrinate the mass of Ukrainians in Russophobia.How do we think that allowing the US and stooges a say in Syria is supposed to “help” Syria.All it will do is allow them to win in slow motion instead of in one big swoop.
Many people think the ME situation is “very complicated”.And if you accept the Western logic on it ,it is.But if you cut away the lies,and half-truths,its much clearer.The West wants to control it,for strategic and economic reasons.And will do and use anything to do that.So the issue is how do you stop that?That is much less clear.But the one thing you “don’t” do is help them with it.And allowing them to get rid of your only allies there,is helping them.
The more I see of this situation,the more ridiculous it appears.You have a mess of feuding terrorist gangs fighting the Syrian government.All of them aided with weapons,funding,and training,by the West and their stooges in the Gulf.With the strongest by far being ISIS.They claim to be Muslims,as the one and only thing they have in common with each other (that is their “ideology”).Ethnically they are different,even racially in many cases.And something like 90% of them haven’t even a connection with Syria.Yet this force is said to be so “strong” as to be able to defeat (or at least hold off) the national armies of Syria,Iraq,as well as some Iranian and Hezbollah troops.And the air power of the West and Russia (less so with Russia so far).Am I the only one that finds that amazing.
So if we believe (as I do) that,that is “strange”.Then we have to ask ourselves what is the real problem there.I suspect that no one except the Syrian government truly is willing to do “anything and everything” to win this war.For the West its good for arms sales.And good for their propaganda.It gives them more excuses to get involved in the MENA,and to keep their populations so frightened that they can continue with “the security state” they fashioned for themselves after 9/11.As to “our side”,there is a lack of “full” commitment to this war.There are of course reasons for that.The example of Afghanistan being the big one.But “we” can’t have it both ways.We saw what the lack of commitment gave to Yugoslavia (as I recall we keep saying “never again” on that.While at the same time we head down that path in Ukraine and Syria”.So either do something about it,or say nothing,its embarrassing us.),and now to Ukraine and Syria.
So what would it take to turn this around? Its going to take what Russia was able to do against the post-war terrorists in Ukraine and the Baltic States.Its going to take what happened with Tajikistan and Chechnya.Its going to take “boots on the ground”.And those boots are going to need to be,Syrian,Iraqi,Hezbollah,Iranian,and Russian,and “a lot of them”.They are going to need to tell the “moderate opposition” to lay down their arms and rejoin society with an amnesty (those not murderers).Straight out,that is their choice,no other.Those not accepting you capture or kill them,period.Then you turn on the “non-moderate” terrorists and their choice is flee or die,no other choice for them.And you use your armies to accomplish that.You tell the “West and their Gulf stooges” to “butt-out”.That if you catch them supplying arms to the terrorists you kill them on the spot,”no if’s,and’s,or but’s,about it.On the spot.” And you probably will need to do that a couple of times for them to get the message clearly.You fully attack the terrorist positions and rout them.And don’t stop until they are dead or have fled out of Syria.But you have to be willing to “pull the trigger” to win a war.If you are not,you leave right now.And stop giving the people of Syria (and Ukraine) a false hope that you care about them and will save them.Tuck your tail between your legs and “skedaddle out”,before you get more people killed.Hopefully there are some in Russia and Iran that realize that too,and will decide which path they are going to take.From my position,there is only one correct one,but then,I’m not them.
WELL SAID.
By the way there’s a ridiculous headline:
Ukraine rejects Russian offer to resume flights
https://www.rt.com/business/320132-ukraine-russia-flights-ban/
To be honest I don’t understand Russian mentality.
Russia wants to appear “brotherly” and the “reasonable” one in Ukraine,is why they do that.When they will grasp that you can’t be “reasonable” with someone lusting for your blood is anybodies guess.And as for being “brotherly”.The brotherly thing to do is to save your brother from fascism.That seems to not be understood fully yet either.
“brotherly” ?
I understand your point I myself can forgive and reproach someone, and offer the first hand.
To my children I do it on daily basis.
But in Ukraine ?
There are estimated 6000 civilians death, Kiev’s hostilities are limitless , … etc .. you list it
Kiev government wouldn’t be able to do all this without majority of people that support these idiocies and are hostile to Russia. There are limits, and here were already crossed.
Oh,I agree with you (I feel the same).But you asked “why” they were.And I think that is one reason why.
Both of you just do not get it. It is the American way to take stances for the sake of stances, shout and spit venom. Russia makes offers, in case the opponent got to his senses, BUT if the other party (Ukraine) does not take the offer, Russia does not loose anything. It just keeps the symmetrical response in place. But it does not hurt offering.
@Uncle Bob 1
You might be interested in checking out this link. It ties in somewhat with what you are saying:
An interview with Alexander Dugin – on the ebbs and flows of Ukraine, Syria, Novorussia, Russian history, the Russian soul, Russian historic destiny, geopolitics; plus more.
http://fortruss.blogspot.co.nz/2015/10/dugin-breaks-year-of-silence-we-are-at.html
Thank you,I did.I like Dugin,and probably agree with 80% of his ideas.I do think that with intellectuals like Dugin (and some others).Its very difficult to translate them into other languages (or at least into English).The manner they talk is hard to get a full understanding in English.I’ve often thought that a native English speaking translator should not just translate speeches or books from people like Dugin.But should translate the “essence” of what they are saying.Even if you have to change the wording to corresponding words that would make better sense to English speakers.My main disagreement with Dugin is over his idea for re-uniting all the areas of the ex-USSR.Possibly an economic common market would be good.But a political union would only work with a few of them.The others are culturally and ethnically so different that its not the best for Russia.Even if those countries wanted that union.Which I don’t think they do at present.An alliance and economic agreement is another thing.That would be a good idea.But nothing beyond that.
Uncle Bob 1, I share your grave concern about the direction in which these negotiations are going. However, I think there is a possible cause for this trend which you have not mentioned. Perhaps the leadership of Russia does not have full autonomy. It seems to me that here and in the Ukraine also, Putin and others close to him in leadership, including Shoigu, are being constrained in their actions by others behind the scenes – perhaps individuals involved in banking at an international levels – people who may also be involved in decision-making in London and Washington. I cannot support my suspicions by evidence other than that which you yourself present – the bizarre illogicality of some decisions made by Russia’s leaders.
A man of the calibre of Putin strides the world stage once in a lifetime – so it makes no sense that someone of his intellect would be making decisions seemingly against the best interests of his motherland.
Uncle Bob, I have misplaced the link, but there was a report 2 days ago that Russia has 6 ships full of military equipment on the way.
Obama’s approved 30-50 “advisers” to Syria. I can’t believe it. He held out for so long, but he finally gave in. What are they going to do , blow up the rest of the oil wells? When they blew up the electricity plant in Aleppo, that disabled water purification.
UB
This comment of yours (in my view) takes all honors for #1 thus far :-)))
Well done – you have my full attention in future
Yeah, excellent write up. I agree completely. Step up or step out, this foot halfway through the door thing just makes it look indecisive.
I knew Russia wasn’t going to commit the entire VDV to drop into Syria but after the cruise missiles I was expecting some more ‘Merika-style blows, a decisive win, something no one would have seen.
Wishful thinking I suppose….
UBob said:
“When, oh when,will they wake up to the fact diplomacy with the West is meaningless…The West wants to control it,for strategic and economic reasons.And will do and use anything to do that…The more I see of this situation,the more ridiculous it appears…Am I the only one that finds that amazing…So if we believe (as I do) that,that is “strange”.Then we have to ask ourselves what is the real problem there…As to “our side”,there is a lack of “full” commitment to this war…So either do something about it,or say nothing,its embarrassing us.)…But you have to be willing to “pull the trigger” to win a war.If you are not,you leave right now.And stop giving the people of Syria (and Ukraine) a false hope that you care about them and will save them…Hopefully there are some in Russia and Iran that realize that too,and will decide which path they are going to take”
It won’t happen – you still haven’t spotted the reason given in the discussion here that you were a part of:
/real-world-vs-tv-reality-is-a-war-inevitable/comment-page-1/#comment-92748
(of interest, you did not respond to 3 cents comment later “India did not attack until after Pakistan bombed Indian airbases in Western India”
blue jeans & coke?
this http://www.jpost.com/Breaking-News/Frances-Sephora-planning-to-open-shops-in-Iran-next-year-430600 is what the “Iranians” want.
Believe it or not but I don’t comment on “every” post on a thread.I read what he said.But that was an “explanation” for an invasion.That wasn’t the same thing.An invasion is an invasion,reasons are of course vital ,but it doesn’t change the fact it was an invasion.To me,there are many good reasons for an invasion.I don’t oppose the idea in itself.But just as there are good reasons,there are bad reasons at other times.But the “one” thing both share,is the fact of being an “invasion”.
On your other point.There were 195 posts on that.Many of them detailed.Which one in particular were you talking about.I’d rather not reread the 195 and then guess.
“Believe it or not but I don’t comment on “every” post on a thread”
I never said you did.
That was a “light-hearted” response.I know you didn’t say that.But it seemed to imply you thought that I should have responded to that post.And really,since it didn’t cover what I had said.And the thread was degenerating into arguments between 3 or 4 people.I didn’t see the point in adding fuel to the flame for no reason.As I said before ,an invasion is an invasion,whatever the reason behind it.Its the act itself that gives it its name.So why would I want to argue over something that is so blatantly obvious (I wouldn’t).
“arguments”
?
precisely.
Unfortunately – we just don’t know /syria-sitrep-october-31st-2015-by-john-rambo/comment-page-1/#comment-165690
I believe your hope is misplaced – but I “hope” you are correct.
(PS: it was, primarily, the first comment in the thread I referred you to)
The first Anon comment ended with “Putin just isn’t giving it to them”.Is that the one you are talking about?
No.
Although you continue to find the situation as “ridiculous” and ponder “what the real problem is here” you continue to think that it is more complicated than it really is and refuse to accept that it is simply:
all a Matter of Class
/real-world-vs-tv-reality-is-a-war-inevitable/#comment-92748
fully agree with UB.. However this is according to me not yet the final battle. After Middle East comes East. Supposing a peace of sorts is reached for Syria it will only be an intermezzo. The evil will not stop there. Over the Caucasus it will reach mainly India and China. It is now a time to endure and be prepared, that is why Russia is cautious. India seems unfortunately to lean more and more to the anglozionist camp. Israeli co’s are providing security in jails etc. bad oman
Agree with Ralf, well said, or, I would say, well explained by Uncle Bob 1 and sounds right.
And I sure hope Someone is listening.
I have little doubt that some of the most canny observers and commentators are right here on this blog.
Re 1949 Coup in Syria, Wikipedia has this:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/March_1949_Syrian_coup_d%27%C3%A9tat#/search
(Go to the website for the footnotes.)
*************************************************
The March 1949 Syrian coup d’état was a bloodless coup d’état that took place on March 29 and was the first military coup in the history of Syria. It was led by the Syrian Army chief of staff at the time, Husni al-Za’im. President of Syria, Shukri al-Quwatli, was briefly imprisoned, but then released into exile in Egypt. al-Za’im also imprisoned many political leaders, such as Munir al-Ajlani, whom he accused of conspiring to overthrow the republic.
The coup was carried out with the discreet backing of the American government and especially the newly formed Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), possibly assisted by the Syrian Social Nationalist Party, although al-Za’im himself is not known to have been a member. According to Joseph Massad, a professor of Modern Arab Politics and Intellectual History at Columbia University, the coup was sponsored by the CIA,[1] a conclusion in agreement with other historians such as Prof. Douglas Little, and declassified records.[2] The coup is also described by author Irene Gendzier, who states that “CIA agents Miles Copeland and Stephen Meade . . . were directly involved in the coup.”[3] An overarching US policy objective in Syria at the time was allowing the construction of the Trans-Arabian Pipeline, which the democratically elected government of Syria had blocked. The “Tapline” project was immediately ratified following the coup.[2]
Among the officers that assisted al-Za’im’s takeover was Adib al-Shishakli and Sami al-Hinnawi, both of whom would later also become military leaders of the country.[4]
**************************
I would say this account lends even more weight to the words of Uncle Bob 1: The USA will worm its way in there any way it can, under any guise, and “partner” with whatever local grouping it can find. Now, ISIS, the Kurds. The Kurds will be betrayed by the USA. When Putin calls the USA a “partner” it should be clear: not equal partners. You work with us, not the other way around.
It’s really “plus ca change plus c’est la meme chose,” plus dept. of Dulles/CIA/Deep State that keeps cropping up in these threads.
1953 coup in Iran was not far behind.
Where would these countries be in their development if they had not been constantly interfered with?
Katherine
“Where would these countries be in their development if they had not been constantly interfered with?”
That is a very good question.I constantly ask myself that too.Through my studies of history,my answer would be that they would be much better off than they are today.The entire MENA and Europe,Asia,Africa,and Latin America as well.Every country the empire has meddled with has been badly affected.That’s not to say the European Colonial powers were better.The only difference is that when you “own” something you are required to care for it at least a tiny bit.While if you just use something you usually don’t care about it.One of the downsides of “neo-colonialism”,you get to trash a place and walk away.With the old Colonialism at least you were a bit responsible for it.I guess the example would be ownership of your home,as opposed to renting an apartment.That is why I think it totally “dishonest” when I hear people say “well the US didn’t annex Iraq when they invaded it”.Why would they.In today’s World the imperialists don’t need to “own” a country to control it and loot it.They just need to “own” its leaders and control its economy”.Its “cheaper” and they don’t get the bad “pr” for having colonies.
Ubob said:
“I guess the example would be ownership of your home,as opposed to renting an apartment.”
This does not make sense e.g. Most Germans don’t buy their homes, they rent. Here’s why http://qz.com/167887/germany-has-one-of-the-worlds-lowest-homeownership-rates/
Here is the published communique of the Vienna meeting:
TEXT
Meeting in Vienna, on October 30, 2015, China,
Egypt, the EU, France, Germany, Iran, Iraq,
Italy, Jordan, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Russia,
Saudi Arabia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, the
United Kingdom, the United Nations, and the
United States [“the participants”] came together
to discuss the grave situation in Syria and how
to bring about an end to the violence as soon as
possible.
The participants had a frank and constructive
discussion, covering major issues. While
substantial differences remain among the
participants, they reached a mutual
understanding on the following:
1. Syria’s unity, independence, territorial
integrity, and secular character are fundamental.
2. State institutions will remain intact.
3. The rights of all Syrians, regardless of
ethnicity or religious denomination, must be
protected.
4. It is imperative to accelerate all diplomatic
efforts to end the war.
5. Humanitarian access will be ensured
throughout the territory of Syria, and the
participants will increase support for internally
displaced persons, refugees, and their host
countries.
6. Da’esh (Islamic State), and other terrorist
groups, as designated by the U.N. Security
Council, and further, as agreed by the
participants, must be defeated.
7. Pursuant to the 2012 Geneva Communique
and U.N. Security Council Resolution 2118, the
participants invited the U.N. to convene
representatives of the Government of Syria and
the Syrian opposition for a political process
leading to credible, inclusive, non-sectarian
governance, followed by a new constitution and
elections. These elections must be administered
under U.N. supervision to the satisfaction of the
governance and to the highest international
standards of transparency and accountability,
free and fair, with all Syrians, including the
diaspora, eligible to participate.
8. This political process will be Syrian led and
Syrian owned, and the Syrian people will decide
the future of Syria.
9. The participants together with the United
Nations will explore modalities for, and
implementation of, a nationwide ceasefire to be
initiated on a date certain and in parallel with
this renewed political process.
The participants will spend the coming days
working to narrow remaining areas of
disagreement, and build on areas of agreement.
Ministers will reconvene within two weeks to
continue these discussions.
Actually, Uncle Bob, IF they succeed in getting the sp op forces officially into Syria I think it changes the whole picture. Cartalucci’s latest, very brief article at Landdestroyer explains why. (I was going to print it for you here, but computer is having problems today.)
In brief, official presence of US forces is the pretext of aircover to protect them & since they are embedded in “the good terrorists”, it becomes a bunch of little no-fly zones– exactly as originally called for by the Brookings Report months ago.
But I said IF Ash Carter succeeds in getting them there: It appears that a whole lot of people, even some in Congress, have suddenly realized that they preferred Obama’s previous resistance to the neocons– the positions which he has finally been pressured out of. Vis a vis the War Powers Act, Congress probably does have the right to vote on this. Even if they only succeed on delaying it, it may be enough time to clear Syria.
I learned w considerable disheartenment from the last Syria sitRep that the terrorists are being permitted to escape to fight another day.
Regarding pindo soldiers being sent inside Syria, see:
US ‘Advisers’ En Route to Syria: Washington’s Next War?
Read more: http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20151030/1029364590/us-advisers-to-syria.html#ixzz3q6gO01fM
And:
US to Deploy up to 50 Advisors to Syria
Read more: http://sputniknews.com/world/20151030/1029352518/us-deploy-advisorssyria.html#ixzz3q6gjLDAs
US High Command:
“What? The Russians have 50 fighter jets in Syria? How dare they? Lets immediately send in 50 too, advisors that is”
‘Calculated to put American troops in danger’: Why US wants escalation in Syria
https://www.rt.com/op-edge/320271-syria-us-troops-deployment/
Interview with retired US Air Force Lieutenant Col Karen Kwiatkowski. I’d been thinking this myself, and she is saying the same thing. Maybe the role of these 50 SOF are to serve as a tripwire for escalated military involvement, escalation
Now is a high time for Russia to declare NO FLY ZONE.
If they don’t do it, Raqqa city will fall, and with it , the negotiations will change terms.
You think the Kurds and 50 SOF are going to take Raqqa?
Maybe if Obama authorizes chemical weapons. The Kurds took heavy losses taking Kobane. They would lose thousands of fighters dead and wounded taking Raqqa.
The Russians don’t need a No Fly Zone to keep Israel, Jordan, Turkey or US/NATO out of the air over the areas they are working.
As for US flights, they are all illegal and Russia has proven it with the precedent they have set for flying over Syria. The negotiations in Vienna which just clarified that 19 nations recognize the legitimacy of Syrian government, even while bad-mouthing Assad as its leader. The government is legitimate, sovereign and therefore, the US is flying illegally.
Thank God for Obama,he is like Sir Lancelot coming to save the day. Seriously opening up a second front against ISIS can not come soon enough.
The SAA is being mauled by ISIS. If by some chance another group can attack Raqqa, this could cause ISIS to regroup and just might take some pressure off the SAA.
Obama sending in some SOF to help in the North is a great idea. This is what Putin needs to do straight away to somehow pull the SAA together and get things sorted before it too late. Something he should have done years ago.
@Bob NZ
Take a look at how US trained and advised military performed against ISIS compared to Iran backed and advised Iraq militias and military.
US are not going there to defeat ISIS.
The way I see it the US is only sending in the 50 SOF to try and make it look like theyre doing something – To try and stay relevant. They are supposedly working with the Kurds and if so the Kurds are not going to fight the SAA. The intended target is Raqqa and if someone wants to try take Raqqa all I can say is, “Good luck with that. Youre going to need it”.
If you look at the Map of Syria and the area the Kurds hold. There is a gap, that gap is being kept in place because of Turkey. Turkey does not to allow the Kurds to control the boarder. They feel it the Kurds, PSA/Peshmerga will give more powerful weapons to the PKK in Turkey. Some might say Turkey wants to keep the boarder open for ISIS.
I don’t have much info about the specifics of Kurds-USA group & their intention of fighting ISIS. On first look, it looks impossible that an USA Ally will fight ISIS. But there is another scenario in which such action looks plausible.
If we assume that USA knows that ISIS will be routed in Raqqa by SAA + RuF + Iranians, then it is better to replace ISIS with another group which is very loyal to USA and not-so-friendly with Assad + Russia. In such cases, Russia cannot attack such group. Such occupation may give a better diplomatic tool in near future for USA, a foothold in Syria. Additionally, it might be good for domestic consumption, especially in view of Presidential election in USA.
regards
It is very plausible that they might.
Kurds with a SERIOUS support of A-10 and F-15 plus US special forces to coordinate attacks would not mirror Kobane. On top of it western media would black out the civilian deaths in Raqqa. US have a lot of bunker busting bombs they can afford.
Putin and Politics Are Behind Obama’s Decision to Send Troops to Syria
http://foreignpolicy.com/2015/10/30/putin-and-politics-are-behind-obamas-decision-to-send-troops-to-syria/
An interesting article (from a neo-con perspective).I’d say its ironic that I see in many articles like that a “grudging” admiration for Putin hidden in them (“damn,if only our guy,was like that”,lol.).
John Rambo, good SitRep. Packed with well-organized briefing facts. Thanks.
maybe it was in here and I missed it..but Iraq first asked US to help and then backed out ?
ONE MONTH OF RUSSIAN MILITARY OPERATIONS IN SYRIA
1) The terrorists have lost over 35 percent of their militants as a result of the Russian airstrikes and intensified Syrian army attacks in the past four weeks
2) The Takfiri terrorists have lost over 65 percent of their commanders and
3) over 60 percent of their arms and ammunition depots as well as
4) over 50 percent of their command and control centers
http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13940808000498
I have serious problems with several of your claims Mr. John Rambo, especially concerning mythological ISIS and the non-existant and/or geriatric army of Saddam Hussein.
You write:
“The ghost of the Iraqi army is what we know as ISIL today.”
This is a BIG claim Mr. Rambo but your source (RT – Blair acknowledges ISIS stemmed from Iraq invasion, refuses to apologize for toppling Saddam) does not say anything of the sort.
Curiously, while you suggest that the “ghost of the Iraqi army” is the very embodiment of ISIL/ISIS and refer to a source that does not support this specific claim **at all** you also fail to mention the well established role of NATO and Israel in the creation of fantastical ISIS.
Why?
Under heading Structure of ISIL you include the following bullet points:
• There seems to be more and more evidence that the Islamic State has a corp. of ex-Iraqi military and intelligence officers in charge of critical operations.
• These officers have managed to help the Islamic State coordinate itself and set up institutions to maintain the network required to keep the Caliphate functioning.
Then you refer to the following two sources to substantiate these additional unproven claims:
(Spiegel – The Terror Strategist: Secret Files Reveal the Structure of Islamic State)
(National Review – Saddam’s Former Loyalists Are Leading ISIS — as True Believers)
Spiegel and National Review are not credible sources for any claims made concerning the origins or make up of ISIS. Spiegel and National Review are NATO media Mr. Rambo. If anything, the sources you link to only confirm the pattern of Western media covering up the creation and maintenance of ISIS as a tool for the overthrow of the Syrian government amongst other purposes.
As for the imaginary GeneraI Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri (the Red Devil) and his made for Hollywood-sounding Naqshbandi Order, a King of Clubs and supposedly only surviving member of the infamous deck of 55 most wanted Iraqis playing cards, he is a figment of someone’s imagination Mr. Rambo. Your main source is 404 – file not found. The rest of your sources do not establish the existence of this so-called Red Devil but it is interesting to note that his wiki history says he evaded capture in 2003 only to miraculously reappear in 2011 and then again in 2013 as announced in this article from the ever so truthful city of London Telegraph below:
Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri: the King of Clubs is back, and he may yet prove to be Saddam Hussein’s trump card
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/iraq/10065919/Izzat-Ibrahim-al-Douri-the-King-of-Clubs-is-back-and-he-may-yet-prove-to-be-Saddam-Husseins-trump-card.html
All of which must look like yet another rollout of pure bullsh*t propaganda to even the most credulous visitor to the Saker blog.
And how about that picture? Personally it reminds of the marketing of other baddies like Comical-Chemical-Ali. Remember him Mr. Rambo?
After which, like so many other useful terrorist-bogeymen, he died in April but was magically ressurected in May of this year. Pretty good for a guy who was supposedly battling leukemia in 1999 according wikipedia.
On the whole, I wouldn’t wipe my butt with the majority of your sources Mr. Rambo — from the laughably named Independent to al Jazeera and several of the GWOT/terrorism promotion sites you link to so indiscriminately.
I understand that Russian rhetoric seems to be swinging in the direction of the lies commonly told in Western media concerning ISIS but this does not excuse your enthusiastic repetition of completely bogus nonsense.
IS was trained by US.. Either US military advisors or Blackwater.. They are not Saddam’s army.. Considering most officers were 40.. in 1990… So they would be like 65 now.. They have not seen war in 25 years. War is different than terrorism or guerilla tactics.. IS uses US tactics.. Mainly massive fire power in a frontal attack using force recon then the main force comes in behind them and cut off the base. This is how they took over all the Syrian bases as supplies were a problem in the desert. I saw the Iraqi confrontation with the US. It was not difficult to keep them afar and they were not very effective against firepower. A bunch of blackwater mercenaries could hold them off.
Ibrahim was like 60 in 2000 so a 75 year old guy breathing depleted uranium is running around organizing resistance? Like bin laden with his portable dialysis machine? How al queda which was not very effective in iraq all off a sudden morphed into a fighting force able to make on the military is easily explained by US training and tactics.. In fact just recently geriatric Iraqi’s are being executed.. After being used by IS for their skills they are now getting rid of the evidence.. This would not be happening if the Iraqi’s were IS. In fact this whole operation needs an effective officer corps. I highly doubt 50 year old anyone can run around in the desert at 40-50C heat carrying a 20KG TOW missile.. Even if they are walking around use a cane, it is still not possible.. I said before that this officer corps is nato special forces. Russia’s actions seem to indicate this as well and we know they were used in Libya for just this function.. They don’t do the fighting but they organize front line action from their bunkers.. How nato went bonkers when Russia fired those cruise missiles after Russia already gave warning to leave.. And how fast everyone wants a cease fire.. All point to IS was is and always will be barely paid for NATO troops with extra fringe benefits of little girl babies and boys for pleasure.. There are even pics of blown up terrorists wearing US military uniforms. Not the highly paid US forces for sure.. But those body armor cost what $20,000 at least?
I remember reading over a year ago that ISIS had a lot of ex-Iraqi military officers leading their fighting forces.Which makes sense,since most of them were Sunni,and anti-Iraqi Shia.In those days the only media talking much about ISIS was the MSM.They were busy building up the threat.So what sources would you like to see confirming that.As I said in those days nobody else seemed to be writing about them.All our side was busy writing about the Ukraine coup.So we can’t blame John for using what sources were available.
Since the Ba’athist regime was supposedly secular—and given, of course, that the regime, not the country, was secular—but still, is it likely the officers of the Iraqi Army would become religious fanatics and head choppers and rapists of children? Wouldn’t this kind of activity be anathema to a genuine professional military man trained in military discipline?
If this is a stupid question, so be it.
Katherine
Its not a stupid question at all.The leadership of the regime was secular.But just as in any society there are differences among individual people.I suspect quite a few of the lower ranking officer class was devout.And for some of them the shock of seeing their secular leadership be destroyed so easily by “infidels” might have pushed them over the top.Also,Saddam’s government was mostly (but not all) a secular “Sunni” regime.So very many of the officer class was also Sunni.And the pro-Shia government that gained power afterwards (Iraq is 60% or more Shia) made many errors in its treatment of the Sunni minority.Many of them feel disrespected and oppressed in the new Iraq (I’m not saying that’s so,I don’t really know.But instead,that they feel that way.).So putting that all together I think accounts for that.I remember seeing articles years ago (before ISIS) about how many of the ex-Iraqi soldiers were a large part of the anti-US resistance and recruits for al-Qeada in Iraq.And since many of the al-Qeada fighters joined with ISIS it makes sense that a part of them where those men.
It is hard for me to imagine that an adult can go from being “normal” to “pathological” because of the type of resentment in teh political sphere described by Uncle Bob and others. For a counter example, the Palestinians have been subjected to total oppression and devliidation of their experience for generations now. It is a bloody miracle they are not all crazy from the extreme pscyhological disconnect they are forced to live with. But they are not. They are not raping Israeli children and chopping off heads and brandishing them and who knows what else these ISIS devils have been doing.
Head chopping and raping children is extremely pathological and surely the latter is deeply repugnant to a normal devout person and devout people are normal people who happen to be devout. I can picture adolescents being perverted and educated to be perverse and violent, a la what was done and maybe is being done to boys in Liberia, because they are young and isolated and malleable. But how can one take an adult male who is already formed and turn them into violent bloodthirsty perverted thug? To me, “devout” doesn’t explain anything. On the contrary. There are inner barriers that must be overcome to carry out acts of bestiality and cannibalism (liver eating etc.). Frankly the only way I can see such a transformation taking place would have something to do with altered mental state and crowd/peer pressure and even perhaps forced “blood bonding” of some kind under threat.
Katherine
The claim IS is ex-Iraqi military has zero credibility with me. It sounds like the zio spin masters are reusing their old propaganda from 10 years ago when they blamed any resistance in Iraq to occupation (both real, and their own special forces false flagger rubbish) on ex-Iraqi soldiers.
I agree with you on the liver eating.Though as far as I’ve heard that wasn’t done in Iraq or by ISIS.That was some of the US’s “moderates” that did that.The beheading’s though are another story.In another post I said once that it was a bad idea to attach our ideas to other times.Well I should have added other cultures to that as well.If you are “devout” in the old ways you accept beheading as a legitimate form of execution.Remember,until only the last half of the 20th Century France used the guillotine for executions,the last in 1977.In Germany the last known beheading execution was 1966,and in Switzerland 1940.So while to our standards,that today is barbaric punishment.In much of the World it doesn’t carry the same shock value.Beheading has always been an “accepted” mode of execution.Its the widespread use of it,and for the “crimes” its used for in Saudi Arabia and among ISIS and other terrorists that is the problem to people in that region.Not the method of execution itself.I don’t find it hard to believe that “normal” people can change over to be monsters.We see that in dictatorships many times.And we see that among soldiers in war all the time (including Western soldiers).Look at the nazis in WW2.The Germans are a highly educated,cultured people.And yet some of the crimes they did are beyond belief.And the French and British (and Spanish and Portuguese) crimes against their colonial subjects were horrific (not even to mention the US’s crimes,which would fill a book).So no,none of that surprises or shocks me,horrifies and disgusts me, yes though.
UB “We see that in dictatorships many times.And we see that among soldiers in war all the time (including Western soldiers).Look at the nazis in WW2.The Germans are a highly educated,cultured people.And yet some of the crimes they did are beyond belief”
Yes, and that is why we must bear in mind that Nazi Germany was a totalitarian, not just a racist, regime. SAme goes for STalinist Russia: totatlitarian. People will do all kinds of things to save themselves and be the ones to survive, as we know also from Auschwitz. That is why I mention the factors of altered mental states (extreme fear can also be an altered state) and pressure from the surroundings. You must participate or you yourself are branded an apostate. (BTW most of these people knew they were committing horrendous crimes—at, say, Auschwitz—hence the panic to hide it all as the Red ARmy approached; they didn’t film it and send the films to the BBC . . .). Just reading and understanding something of how this worked during the purges in Stalinist Russia from Vassily Aksyonov’s Generations of Winter. Highly recommended.
To get back to IS, of course beheading is a longstnading form of execution. By the state. So, the IS fashions itself a state. (Are you saying that IS is a totalitarian regime?) But my impression is that they have come into communities and just beheaded someone to spread terror. I am not aware the rape of children is a normal state function. These acts seem to be being or having been deployed in an almost rhetorical fashion. But, I don’t know enough about the actual details of these things to comment intelligently, because I cannot bear to inform myself by watching videos, etc.
Katherine
Mr Rambo.
Thanks for the SITREP. It feels strange That the hapless Saddam Hussein army is suddenly, twelve years later and 30 years after the war with Iran highly capable, full of twenty something years olds. Something does not sound right.
IS is a western fabrication. What was left of hardened. Saddam loyalists were killed during the tough battles of Fallujah. Their mettle was shown and they stood up the US occupation forces and were only destroyed using white phosphorus, tactical mini nukes and chemical weapons. Except these hardened soldiers returned from the dead, these IS goons are just impostors. Being remnants of a supposedly Iraqi army would not explain the support from Israel, turkey and shady bombing runs from the US.
Additionally, during desert storm and fox, the Iraqi army comms were open to the US. How do we explain the high end stuff IS is using? How do we explain the weapons drops? Their military prowess and capability is because IS is made up, just like Zarqawi earlier of mercenaries, thugs, murderers, psychopaths and embedded ex military mercenaries who are enabled by the US, Israel and GCC.
All the above will explain the declaration by the US of boots on the ground as a massive exfiltration of the CIA agents, assets, thugs, military and mercenaries is currently ongoing. The Russians are not relenting. Instead this proves a strong manifestation of the Russian intent to take this war to the end. Therefore America needs a cover to explain any military deaths that may happen while Russia steps up operations and cleans out syria.
Obama knows Russia has called his bluff. All these events are just bluster to cover a disastrous defeat of US assets and retreat.
Thanks , the Saker for providing such a rich forum for discussion az well as to all your guest posters and commenters.
El Rius
Expertise, Ba’athist ex-Iraqi army expertise.
I’m not talking about OLD MEN running around with AKs in the desert, I’m talking about OLD MEN telling YOUNG BOYS “if you’re gonna attack, do X, Y, and Z, and then it’ll work; learn from the mistakes we earned from the US”
Corporations in the West pay millions of dollars in consultations fees. Imagine these ex-Iraqi officers as consultants with a network that allows communications and logistics to move assets between one front to another. That’s a really big deal…to facilitate such a thing and keep it private. They’ve had years of understanding how to communicate and coordinate UNCONVENTIONALLY.
Like Hezbollah against Israel, hardwired communications and protocol standing orders in-case of loss of communication. ISIL lacked that operational capability until the Ba’athists hopped on over. With it came greater heights, the capturing of cities, the launching of offensives.
Why even go to decrypt old geriatrics who were never good to being with, the last Iraqi officer training was done at last 3 decades ago. You have Terrorists trained by blackwater (confrmed by them who said someone they trained went on to lead some terrorists in Iraq), and US special forces spending billions, tens of thousands of them joining the ranks of IS.. The US is surprised they were conned so easily.. The 40,000 Toyota trucks.. The reports of special forces directing the Libyan terrorists.. Now how did the terrorists came to be created in Libya? Some GCC troops embedded in the Libyan terrorists offensives.. Stands to reason young easily manipulated bucks are running the show rather than in effective geriatrics who thought killing massive numbers of Iranian kids was too much for them. all this would make a lot more sense if the evidence of much easier explained situations are not so overwhelming.
You guys are saying “why would you use these old geezers who were terrible at war?”
These old geezers ACTUALLY LIVE IN IRAQ. They know each other. They can lean on each other. They know that Abu Hamza in Fallujah knows the location of a hidden weapons cache, they know Abu Omar in Mosul has a group of guys (a gang if you will) who have been recording the Iraqi army positions, they know Abu Ahmed is married to a woman whose father is influential in two (Sunni) tribes and can easily call their fighters up if they need to do something.
These are all fictional people of course, I’m just saying the network of old Ba’athists who have influence (you know that old Asiatic tradition of respecting elders) actually did help out ISIL. ISIL was powerful but with the Ba’athist network they moved even further and deeper into Iraq.
It’s this NETWORK concept I’m trying to get across.
Just like how Turkish intelligence has helped ISIL gain victories over Syrian forces. Before ISIL had trouble collecting accurate data on Syrian positions. Comes in Turkish intelligence and all of a sudden ISIL knows what supply lines are weakly defended to harass.
Cause and effect.
Blackwater gave them combat training, okay. The GCC gave them some special teams, weapons, and money, okay. But the Ba’athists, they gave them the networking capabilities to mobilize as if they were a legit military.
I wouldn’t be surprised if the Ba’athists helped them form counter-intelligence units. After all the least anyone can say about Saddams regime was that he knew how to deny intelligence gathering; not that it mattered to the US considering all they have to do is a small song and dance at the UN to get the freedom to bomb Iraq.
I really have to ask you guys: Did anyone ever ask what happened before and after Mosul in 2014 to allow ISIL such a drastic victory? I hope people aren’t swallowing the whole “divinely inspired victory” story.
JR you have already defended your PhD thesis.. Given you sources your analysis is correct.. Where we differ is who is pulling the strings. I never said batheists were not used or are not active in this organization and it stands to reason they have the most resources.. But seeing how they are being executed, they are not in control. They are only assets to be disposed off once used. Given that this is a localized study and not a global one, going into such depth is not necessary to know what is happening. So no need for you to defend each and every point since you are correct anyway..
—
Well seeing how all the officers ran away.. Before anything even happened, I think they were bribed to walk.. There were lots of reports of soldiers not knowing what to do as the officers did not show up for work. So the Iraqi army in those areas were compromised like during the US invasion, the Iraqi generals were bribed to move to Europe.. The Iraqi army were told to park their tanks in a reverse formation with the gun turrets facing to the rear. And not to leave the army groupings or go home but to stay where they are so they could be collected. Seeing how 3-5 mile long Toyota conveys were never attacked.. The US saying they did not know what was happening is beyond belief. They wanted this to happen and they organized it.. Other wise it would not have happened.. Just like to create 911, a situation was developed and it was allowed to happen. Just like maiden, a situation was created, the events were allowed to happen.. You can not predict what a particular person would do.. But you can predict what the Ukrainian police organization would do what the Ukrainian army would do and you can predict what the eventual outcome of it all would end up being. Even before anything had happened we already knew the US wanted to get back into Iraq.. There were not many situations where the Iraqi’s would allow the US back in and also provide sovereign immunity to the US to do as they wish. Only because Iran was so against it. I think the US would have got what they wanted if not for the Iranians. Especially since the US expected the Iranians to not interfere as the nuclear dialogue was ongoing.
Oh we already know that the Nazi’s in Germany were only a small part of the government, Less than 25% supported them.. But that 25% included a lot of opportunists who were only Nazi’s in name. So maybe the real nazi’ were only 10% or so.. Yet they controlled and had an iron grip on 99% of Germans. Just goes to show you that a very small percentage can control everything if they are motivated enough. We also saw that the opposition, although high ranking and powerful were not successful enough to topple the Nazi’s because the people who were not Nazi’s were scared in to submission to do nothing. So who were pulling the strings of the Nazi’s? They did not have the money or resources to do much.. We know now they were developed to fight the soviets. People with money gave them the funds to become who they became… When in the end they were not powerful enough to defeat the soviets and their defeat were all but certain, the US interviewed and took direct control of the organization. We know even the Germans themselves knew they were defeated when they could not take Moscow and that was before Stalingrad. So German strategists already knew the end game and I bet the ones in the US also knew. While the Germans were working on a surrender on acceptable terms, the US was working on a way that would never happen and only a surrender on its own terms where it would have direct control, we still live in that world today..
oh wowee-can’t us peoples here actually work together, to support each other on saker trying to understand what is going on,interlink, follow up on things etc etc, yes we can contribute in a manner that we are open and put ourselves up for/to honest correction, but lets help out, assist, support peoples efforts. I know that is difficult cos we are not on the ground and can only “work” in a limited manner with all this media information too in a very confused world……………and lets be upfront about our own experience,qualifications and credentials too.
That has always been the curse of people on our side I’m afraid.The empire always knows they can count on disunity to help them out.Its the same as in the early days in Novorossia.The infighting among the leaders is the reason they weren’t able to do more against the Ukie’s.It was only once they greatly overcame that (not there yet,but working better together) they started to build a real military and political structure.Which is why I constantly preach unity of those on our side.There is time to disagree once victory has arrived.Right now is the time to unite and focus on what we agree on,not what we disagree on.So-called constructive criticism is a good thing.It attempts to recognize problems and offer solutions.But just criticism to criticize is different and only aids the empire.
The problem is that “our side” may not be
(i) fundamentally any better than the “other side”
or/and
(ii) may actually be part of the “same side”
At “our level” we just don’t know.
Well we just have to hope they are.Its really not a case of they could be worse.From what I see the other side is scrapping the barrel of “badness” right now in the World.When you are supporting head choppers,liver eaters,nazis,and fascist women and children murderers.Not even to mention spying Worldwide on people,including their own people.Droning people at weddings and bombing hospitals.And last but not least,supporting an apartheid state like Israel.This side of the gates of hell,you are as deep down in the dirt as you can go.
I have noticed the Bush “you are either for or against” type attitude in many of the comments in alternative/independent media, whereas there will be the full spectrum – from from the full on neo-con supporters to those that just think a lot of mistakes are being made – right through to those who understand the full depravity of the neo-con/AZ crowd.
Did you bother looking into any of the sources John Rambo used?
Did you compare my comments to what was presented by same? Before your touchy-feely response?
I am not interested in stroking anyone’s ego. I am interested in the truth — and the truth is a government sponsered troll is always available to redirect anyone who gets too close to the truth. Already I’m witnessing a plethora of responses by either paid professional trolls or people unknowingly opening up a space where the lie can sit, stew and basically remain unchallenged until it is eventually dragged out at a useful moment and referred to as History.
Smarten up.
Emotional manipulation, as opposed to direct contradiction with logically considered speculations and facts, is one of their favourite games — just as in any other community, family, etc. There are so many good and smart people who come here. I want to see the consciousness that is fluorishing here at Saker blog establish a firm foothold and from there on to spread. We must foster the flame of Resistance because we are apparently the only people who can.
Full spectrum dominance requires a full spectrum response. Your first objective is to control your own thoughts. If you want to contradict me, PLEAE DO but then back up what you have to say with something other than an impression.
Asked in another way, if you were sitting in a deep underground bunker with Hezbollah would you really be making the foolish argument that Hassan Nasrallah sounds too much like George Bush?
@ C I eh? on October 31, 2015 · at 11:29 pm UTC,
I’m not sure which pre-comment your current comment relates to.
Can you point directly to it ?
UB1.
Perhaps unfairly but you do have to choose sides. Sooner or later it will brought to your door.
I agree with your points. We have to look deeply.
The core of Daesh was created in Libya then transported to the Levant and inserted into Syria along with large caches of weapons and ammo. It’s being deployed to further the implementation of Vision 2020–the Outlaw Empire’s doctrine for Full Spectrum Dominance. Daesh and al-CIAda must be considered “irregular” special forces of the Outlaw Empire. So when Obama says he’s sending 50 spec force to train, they need not be “regular.”
C I eh?
You just made my coffee taste better.
“On the whole, I wouldn’t wipe my butt with the majority of your sources Mr. Rambo — from the laughably named Independent to al Jazeera and several of the GWOT/terrorism promotion sites you link to so indiscriminately.”
Rambo’s contributions are indeed “completely bogus nonsense.”
The Terrorists are the Zionist American Oligarchs, their Armed Forces, their financial aristocracy, with their continued effort at a single Totalitarian World Order.
They have lost some fights, but committed terrible carnage, and devastated numerous nations, infrastructure, dislocated millions of peoples, murdered millions of women, children, elderly, and brave young warriors. They have re-written history and damaged minds, as well as essential morals of humans.
But as George Orwell and many others showed, there always remains a spark of human fire that the boot cannot stamp out.
IMAGINE
Thank you Peter.
Now that the cat’s out of the bag regarding the origins of ISIS — entirely a project of our own making, efforts are being made to repackage this useful bogeyman and portray it as some sort of legtimate Sunni resistance to Shia dominated Iran, Iraq, Syria, etc.
All of which demonstrates an intention on the part of Western elites to use Our Terrorists in one form or another in perpetuity.
This beast, though it might be more mythical than real, has a name and a well known history. We must strive to kill it now before it can be used against all good people the whole world over for decades to come. We will never seize back control of our governments or institutions unless we refuse to allow the globalizing oligarchs to also control the space between our ears.
Cool story bro.
Here:
http://www.almanar.com.lb/english/adetails.php?eid=159784&cid=23&fromval=1&frid=23&seccatid=24&s1=1
Even Al-manar (I hope Hezbollah is credible for you) states:
Where are your sources on this Israeli-created ISIL? Let me guess, you’re gonna whip out links from PressTV and Al-Manar (Hezbollah-TV) and tell me that’s more credible right? Because we haven’t seen some ludicrous statements come out from those two news networks before. But now both the Western media and Hezbollahs media-wing have said it. Is that good enough?
Time and time again ISIL has been seen to just sap manpower from other factions, I’m sure both the Ba’athists and ISIL have merged into one entity, with Ba’athists networks helping ISIL fighters. I didn’t say Al-Douri was some mastermind, that he was just a capable leader with money, influence, connections, you know…the things have kept him alive and leading.
Al-Douri is real, he’s not some CIA front man. He’s not some boogeyman. He’s actually known in the Arab world being the current head of the Iraqi Ba’ath party.
Ba’athists are only ONE of many networks inside ISIL. I also mentioned Turkish intelligence being implicit with them. Perhaps even controlling units directly on the ground through the influence of commanders. ISIL is a murky organization. Where it starts and ends is not really known.
The Ba’athists did increase ISILs operational capabilities. They are military men with statecraft under their belt. They are the clean-shaven believers. Yes they exist. Muslim men without beards. It’s what happens with religion, some people will adapt it to their lifestyle. That’s not too hard of a concept to understand I hope, its what secularism does. Believe in private, but still believe.
What do you know about ISIL? Who are its fighters today? Who leads them? Are they really just fighting to spread some asinine philosophy through the region? If the CIA is supporting them why are gains just as hard won on the battlefield as it is for the SAA or Iraqi army?
These people didn’t just spring out of the ground. They were PEOPLE before this crisis. What makes you think they weren’t Ba’athists? Ba’athists were Sunni. Ba’athists have had real grievances with the new government of Iraq. What’s the problem here? I’d like to see some non-MSM links on this stating otherwise.
Do you remember when the Coalition Provisional Authority disbanded the Iraqi army and a day later attacks started on US convoys? What happened in those few critical weeks that changed things from relative calm to an increased number of attacks? Ba’athists retaliated and the more sophisticated the attacks the more of an ex-Iraq army fingerprint it had on it.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coalition_Provisional_Authority_Order_2
You people talk as if ISIL is completely under US control and influence. Did the US and Israel have a part in aiding them? Yes. Are they completely under the control of these two entities? Partially AT BEST.
And as for sources, when hackers break into the CIA and leak their documents I’ll make sure to link you guys.
Either you weren’t around to have witnessed the entire evolution of the Iraqi “problem” from the second gulf war till now or you’ve decided to completely forget the whole thing (including the massacres and revenge massacres between shias and sunnis).
I’m going to tell you right now in 2003 (Iraqi invasion) there weren’t that many news websites up archiving articles and data. Google was relatively unknown and cellphones were just beginning to downsize to something reasonable. Even so those who have followed the news have seen the evolution of the insurgency. Ba’athists have never gone away. The hanging of Saddam didn’t mean Ba’athists just gave up. They adapted.
If you find sources worth wiping your behind with let me know. I’d love to see what separates the two.
You people kill me….
You haven’t understood what I’ve said.
I don’t turn off my brain because the logo says Hezbollah, Al-Manar.or Rossiya Segodnya.
All parties are calculating their interest and will say only what they believe is best for their position.
This is a battlespace.
No one tells you the truth unless it is in their interest to do so.
Right now it is not in Russia’s interest to aggressively pursue the people who downed the airliner over Sinai. If they did it would force them to possibly point fingers at negotiating parters and undermine the process to which they are committed: which is Victory and Peace!
As for Hezbollah, on one occaison, when it was no longer in their interest, they allowed the Lebanese government and ICC for Lebanon shut down English language and pro Hezbollah Al-Akbar. All of us non Arabic speakers have been impoverished in our understanding ever since.
Put yourself into the mind of each of the players. They have interests. What they say is what they want you to hear, including Hezbollah.
If you think about it logically, there is absolutely NO PROOF al-Dhouri is alive and leading a militarily significant band of ex-Baathists. You haven’t proven anything.
Nor does the article below prove that Omar Al Baghdadi was an agent of MOSSAD — although it must give any thoughtful person occaison to think. Google does a marvelous trick until you learn how to dig into each source and see for yourself who is actually speaking.
ISIS Leader Al Baghdadi Dies in Israeli Hospital
http://www.veteranstoday.com/2015/04/27/isis-leader-al-baghdadi-dies-in-israeli-hospital/
My advice is that you be systematic. Take each source and find out who owns and controls it. Write a blurb for yourself describing who is speaking and try to understand how they calculate their own interests. Who, for example is behind Vice News or The Intercept? You should be able to answer those questions immediately if you are going to interpret anything you see.
Piling source on top of source is minimally useful to the good guys and maximully useful to the bad guys who always seek to muddy the waters. I will say it again, this is a battlespace.
You are both right.This whole mess is made up of many different parts and players.All stirring the pot,and all thinking to further their interests through using terrorists to their benefit.It somewhat reminds me of the Afghanistan situation in the 1980’s (if should since many of the same interests are involved).You had jihadis ,with their own interests.And Western and Gulf nations with their interests.With Pakistan and their interests.All of them working together at different points.And in many cases for different reasons.I see this war in the ME today as the same.The only ideas they really have in common ,are destroying Assad and the Shia Resistance countries.While stalemating Russia at the same time.Other than that they want different internal results if they “win”.
I may have misunderstood what you were trying to imply but it’s safe to say a minority of you are misunderstanding my intentions.
I’m not trying to give the whole debacle of the Middle East a Western spin. I’m trying to highlight topics that may not be overtly visible for people to follow up on.
Al-Douri, in my opinion, was someone influential in ISILs operational projection. I base this on ISILs capability before and after the events that led to the rapid gains ISIL achieved in Iraq. Before ISIL was manageable capturing tiny towns and insignificant villages, after Al-Douri ISIL started to capture city centers and refineries.
Do I have any evidence Al-Douri is alive now? Very minor. The Iraqi army has claimed to have killed him and pictures of a dead red-haired elderly gentlemen are plastered all over the internet as of April. A voice recording is never enough, but for the longest time when Saddam was hiding voice recordings is all we had.
Could Al-Douri be a minor factor with Western intelligence seizing on the opportunity to cover their tracks while aiding ISIL? Maybe. But I have nothing to prove that. If you do that’s excellent, post it up in the comments section and let’s discuss it.
We all understand how these sources should work by now. It’s just to give you guys a better idea of where to start.
I think Baghdadi is a front man. In the age of facial recognition software and biometrics (especially the equipment and software seen on drones) the last thing you need is to have the “leader” of an organization present his face and voice to the world. ESPECIALLY if he was once in a US prison in Iraq (who would have probably collected all forms of DNA and biometric data of him).
I seen on many sites Baghdadi is a mossad agent.. And those pictures of McCain with some of the top terrorists in Syria.. Well I have not looked deeply into this, I am more of a trend knda person, where I go on vectors to connect the dots, the persons involved makes no difference, That’s what game theory works on, you can give nudge here and a nudge there and people as a group will behave in a predictable way. The actors involved makes no difference.. The Nazi’s would have risen even without hitler, even though we are led to believe that hitler created them through the SS. I believe even without hitler such a cult would have arisen no matter what, they would have behaved pretty much the same way.. Maybe they would have used gypsies instead of jews as the scape goat.. But that’s about semantics.. The other article posted today about revolutions works because of this. Given a situation, people behave only in predictable patterns. Nature itself works this way.. and I have found because people are involved in programming, so do programs that work on computers.. By analyising a program you know who programmed it. Same was as by analyising online activities you can figure out who it is.. Same as if you analyise the behavior of a group, you can figure out who is running it.
Chechen President Says ‘ISIS terrorist leader al-Baghdadi is a CIA agent’
https://syrianfreepress.wordpress.com/
Something I share with you CI is keen disappointment at the loss of Al Akbar in English. What a body punch for those of us who strive, as I have for years, to understand Lebanon! Do you know for a fact that the Lebanese government actually shut the English version down without protest from Hezbollah or is that a deduction?
I have long regarded Hezbollah as not only the toughest and most disciplined but the most honest and decent of the middle eastern “players”.
Tom
Salam John Rambo,
“If you find sources worth wiping your behind with let me know. I’d love to see what separates the two.”
I am surprised how the moderator left your above comments without any objection. Unfortunately, you have reduced yourself……
Best regards,
Mohamed.
\
***Mohamed, that phrase was first used by other commenter..please refrain from attacks on other people here at Sakers – moderator
Revenge of Freddy…
Another One Bites The Dust
Oh! Let’s go!
Are you ready, hey, are you ready for this?
Are you hanging on the edge of your seat?
Out of the doorway the bullets rip
To the sound of the beat
Another one bites the dust
And another one gone, and another one gone
Another one bites the dust
Hey, I’m gonna get you, too
Another one bites the dust
Kabul seeks Moscow’s help against Taliban
Afghanistan has sought Russia’s assistance to help it fight Taliban insurgents. The request raises an interesting prospect that the balance of power in the region, where the United States and NATO have been dominant for the last 15 years, may be changing. Whatever Kabul’s intentions, the move reflects Moscow’s growing diplomatic clout.
The appearance of large terrorist forces composed of at least several thousand men close to the former Soviet borders could not but alarm Moscow and its CIS and CSTO (Collective Security Treaty Organization) allies. Currently, these two organizations are creating a collective security force to counter militants in the event they penetrate the borders. The recent example in Syria has shown that Moscow is ready to support the fight against terrorism far from its borders and in the past Russia supplied arms to NATO forces when they were fighting the Taliban in the 1990s. And now once again Kabul has turned to Moscow for support.
http://in.rbth.com/opinion/2015/10/31/kabul-seeks-moscows-help-against-taliban_535547
Salam mmiriww,
Love the Queen. Good excuse for Obama to leave Afghanistan. About time!
Best regards,
Mohamed.
It must be noted that Afghanistan also has observer membership status with SCO. The longstanding problem of India/Pakistan/Kashmir/Afghanistan must be solved for China’s and Russia’s economic plans to prosper. Bangladesh and Myanmar are simple comparatively.
Salam John Rambo,
In your other thread I have asked you if you work for MSN by giving you an example, where you have quoted Asharq Al-Awsat in regards to Iran:
The New York Times in 2005 called Asharq Al-Awsat “one of the oldest and most influential in the region”. Although published under the name of a private company, the Saudi Research and Marketing Group, the paper was founded with the approval of the Saudi royal family and government ministers, and is noted for its support of the Saudi government. The newspaper is owned by Faisal bin Salman, a member of the Saudi royal family.“
Best regards,
Mohamed.
Here you are demeaning my country. My country of Oman is in GCC, but it is not part of coalition which has attacked Yemen.
Also, the Foreign Minister of my country has visited Assad less than 10 days ago. Oman is in forefront to bring peace in both Syria and Yemen.
The nuclear agreement between Iran and USA, was started in Oman for almost 2 years, before anyone got hold of it.
Please leave both Oman and Iran out of your MSN postings?
Mohamed- many if not most of as on Saker know very little about Oman include political “structure” -since you have ties to this country let us know- Thanks
Salam Sejmon,
I am still boiling over by Mr. John Rambo, pushing the Saudi Agenda, that everywhere in the Middle East people demanding their rights has to do with Iran, has to do with Shia/Sunni BS.
I believe Saker should check Mr. John Rambo credentials very, very carefully. Everyone seems to be questioning him.
Best regards,
Mohamed.
Mohamed it would be interesting for readers/posters like myself to learn more about Oman. I, for one know very little about the history/beliefs of Ibadi Muslems who are said to predominate except except that they seem tolerant and sensible. Your military seems to have been trained and organized by old school Brits and, unlike the Jordan Legion and the British themselves, retained that culture and ethos. Or is that fanciful? In any case, please tell us how you have rebuffed the two scourges, Wahabis and the Americans, and what it’s like down there. I always thought of it as an unspoiled country I’d like to visit although, at this point in life, I won’t.
As for John Rambo: While I was impressed with his earlier sitrep, this one seemed more gossip than substance. Best regards, Tom
Salam Tom,
Oman’s Foreign Minister met Assad in Syria less than 10 days ago. It means Assad is staying.
Best regards,
Mohamed.
Russia is not the only one with logistics and maintenance problems..
The rate in October was about the same as in September until Thursday October 22. Then, according to the U.S. Military Times, the strike rate decreased markedly:
4 – Oct 20 Tuesday
8 – Oct 21 Wednesday
1 – Oct 22 Thursday
0 – Oct 23 Friday
0 – Oct 24 Saturday
0 – Oct 26 Sunday
1 – Oct 27 Monday
0 – Oct 28 Tuesday
0 – Oct 29 Wednesday
Yes, no mention of the sandstorm that diminished Russian operations. As for the decrease in Outlaw Coalition flights, MoA has an interesting hypothesis about that: It was to help the terrorist counter-attack on SAA supply lines,http://www.moonofalabama.org/2015/10/us-stopped-syria-air-strikes-while-nusra-and-is-prepared-attack-on-government-supply-route.html
Very interesting, thank you!
http://sputniknews.com/analysis/20151031/1029380630/isil-us-weapons-syria.html
this article appears to clarify groups in Syria fighting ISIl , eg a group the Syrian Democratic forces………
There can only be unity when there is a defined goal, and a defined leadership that articulates a coherent narrative.
We, the folks that support Russia and its people, as well as the people in Ukraine suffering terror from a US proxy junta government–as well as the Syrian people being terrorized by US, NATO, Saudis and Quataris–we are all players in a massive information war.
We are not simply victims–we have the capacity to act.
Broadly, I would like to understand the larger goals on the part of the jackal aggressors.
Do the Saudis and their allies have as a goal the destruction of Suria and its instituations so they can develop Sunni control of this nation?
They are funding and coordinating the transport of not simple mercenaries–but also young men that have been indoctrinated into a grand narrative of Sunni victory and control over the whole of the region.
These fighters are likely provided with meth.
From what I see, Russia is helping develop a Shiite Cresent–comprised of Iran, Iraq, Lebenon (eventually) and Syria.
Syria is the crucial lynchpin toward establishing a block of countries in the region that can align against illegal agression on the part of the US and its fanatical and deluded Sunni allies, Saudis and Quatar.
My what I see–and I might be reading too much into the US cynical inclinations–is that ISIL was developed in coordination with the US.
This ISIL has been a valuable tool in Iraq, Libya, and especially the years-long efforts to destroy the Syrian government and instituations.
Why does the US not destroy ISIL ability to sell oil a year ago?
I have neglected to mention Turkey. Evidently its leader is as arrogant as he is confused and deluded. He has multiple faces and acts rashly.
But no doubt this man, Erdugon, is a partner in crime toward the goal of destroying Syria.
Ingnored and barely discussed is Turkey’s role in moving hundreds of thousands of refugees into the Eurozone.
This move will have repercussions that will sink the European Union NATO unity. (I could be very wrong here.)
Lastly, back to the information war. I have been researching intensely these past few weeks the propaganda that has been ubiquitous here in the US concerning Syria.
This has been a five year smear campaign that has been intended to render the US public confused enough to support another illegal invasion and occupation.
The very frightening aspect of this info war is the almost total blackout of counter narratives that the citizens of the US have had access.
The so-called left-progressive, liberal-alternative media have been horrible, not engaging critical thinking and challenging major false assumptions.
I am writing an article about The Intercept and its role in keeping the people confused.
Indeed, I am not a journalist. I live in my truck and struggle for a buck.
The Intercept is funded by the same oligarch, Pierrie Omydiar, that helped fund NGO’s prior to the Maidan coup.
This is the guy that yesterday RI featured a puff piece about–how he is supporting independent journalism with a legal defense fund.
There is so much anyone of us can do to provide support and cogent information about what is happening, and recognizing bullshit lies and challenging the manipulative and confused narratives is the most obvious place to start.
But my question is this: even if I write an excellent article about The Intercept and its very sketchy focus and shabby journalism (especially with respect to Ukraine and Syria) would Russia-Insider or CounterPunch even publish this work?
Granted, the quality and order of referencing would be of high caliber–but organizations like RI and CP are a “business”, and I haven’t seen any indepth analysis of Omydiar and the deriliction on the part of The Intercept with reguard to project’s horrible and sparse journalism on Ukraine and Syria.
If I am successful in publishing a cogent expose that knocks this oligarch and his jackal journalist, head-fake project, and my work is effective…I could be sued, even if all my material is scrupulously referenced.
Could I then go to Omydiar’s defense fund for journalists and obtain resources to develop adequate counse?
This all points to the distinct lack of solidarity and cohesiveness that I observe as a very creepy reality of where we have arrived.
For sure, as Putin and Russia have shown everyone with respect to the jackal agression against Syria–doing nothing is not an option if one wants to survive.
independent journalism my arse! This guy promised like 250 mil bucks to start one and then after he pulled away some world class journalists from their jobs, started micromanaging what they investigated and was utterly stingy with money. It was all a trick to gather some of the best hard hitting investigative journalists and then use a bait and switch tactic on them. All he did was waste an year of a lot of peoples lives. Another one of the empire’s sycophants and a real boot licker..
“Do the Saudis and their allies have as a goal the destruction of Suria and its instituations so they can develop Sunni control of this nation?”
Yes!
They all have their different reasons I believe (ranging from sincere beliefs,to lust for power,to money from the pipeline,to hurting Russia,to making Israel stronger), different to each player (some overlapping).
As to your article,maybe you should contact Saker for advise.He would be able to give you better advise,I believe,than we would be able to.
http://rinf.com/alt-news/editorials/could-turkeys-sunday-election-end-the-invasion-of-syria/ :
Could Turkey’s Sunday Election End the Invasion of Syria?
“… The Turkish election on Sunday, November 1st, is a contest between a Sunni, Saudi-U.S.-allied, Islamic-run Turkey, ruled by the Islamicist Sunni Recep Tayyip Erdogan; or else a non-religious neutralist Turkey, ruled by the human rights lawyer Selahattin Demirtas. If Demirtas wins, that will be a huge blow to America’s war that aims to overthrow Syria’s Shiite non-religious President Bashar al-Assad and replace him with a Sunni. It would also be a huge blow to the jihadists’ (including ISIS’s — which is Sunni) chances of winning that war, because Turkey has been America’s essential ally (perhaps even more important than Qatar and Saudi Arabia combined) in overthrowing the non-religious Shiite Assad. …”
Demirtas is described as the ‘Kurdish Obama’.
Looks to me he is being groomed for power by the usual suspects – all the standard Western tropes (including gay ‘rights’) are on his political checklist.
The problem is his supposed familial connection to the Marxist ‘terrorist’ PKK (a brother.)
The most significant issue is whether he is pro or anti NATO. But will the Turks understand it is the key issue?
http://ekurd.net/kurdish-obama-faces-his-biggest-test-2015-08-01
“… Demirtas is described as the ‘Kurdish Obama’. …”
Good to know. The information in the linked article fully justifies that analogy. A Kurdish Uncle Tom.
The only group that truly represents the Kurds is PKK.
The supposed old Stalin quote comes to mind here: “Those who cast the votes decide nothing; those who count the votes decide everything.”
(BTW the real quote from Stalin is believed to be: ” I consider it completely unimportant who in the party will vote, or how; but what is extraordinarily important is this — who will count the votes, and how.”)
Another quote from Stalin that comes to mind is: when it was suggested to him that the Pope might appreciate his ceasing to oppress Catholics in Russia, Stalin scoffed, “The Pope? How many divisions as he got?”
Pepe Escobar has a detailed piece which is quite troubling:
ISIS at the Gates of Vienna
ISIS will be hard to defeat as surrounding players continue with their games
http://russia-insider.com/en/isis-gates-vienna/ri10857
Original:
http://atimes.com/2015/10/the-caliph-at-the-gates-of-vienna/
Comments anyone?
An interesting article.But we come back to a point I have made before.We have the national armies of Syria,Iraq,with great help from Hezbollah,Iran.and now Russia (I’m leaving out the US,though their airstrikes may help a tiny bit) fighting against terrorists of at most 80-100 thousand men (probably many fewer).If they can’t defeat that terrorist gang then we are really in trouble around the World.As for the aid the West and Gulf stooges + Turkey give the terrorists.The folly of that needs to be brought home to them.In the Gulf and Turkey bombs going off would be a good start to bring that message clear to them.As for the West,a “come to Jesus” meeting between the US/NATO and Russia is in order.It should have happened a long time ago.Russia should state plainly that the US is forcing a nuclear war on them.And that they will “make certain” to turn the US and NATO countries into a nuclear inferno if that happens.No matter of anything else.That message needs to be clearly understood in the West.
@ SanctuaryOne Yes, a great article by Pepe.
I recall reading somewhere (Hans Zinsser?) that the breaking of the two-month Ottoman siege of Vienna in 1683 was in fact not due to the intervention of Jan Sobieski, but to the severe dysentery and typhus that has befallen the Turkish army (can’t rush to the bathroom and fight at the same time :-)). (Not that hygiene of the Europeans at that time was any better, though that caught up with them elsewhere…)
Today, hope that the ISIS primitives’ (including Turks) filthiness lives down to their reputation, so as to replicate the 1683 event :-)
Mr. Johan it is the drinking water and nothing to do with hygiene. People came across very educated on the Internet.
Mohamed.
Your comment fully confirms what I thought.
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dysentery :
“… Amoebic dysentery … … When amoebas inside the bowel of an infected person are ready to leave the body, they group together and form a shell that surrounds and protects them. This group of amoebas is known as a cyst, which is then passed out of the person’s body in the feces and can survive outside the body. If hygiene standards are poor; for example, if the person does not dispose of the feces hygienically, it can contaminate the surroundings, such as nearby food and water. If another person then eats or drinks food or water that has been contaminated with feces containing the cyst, that person will also become infected with the amoeba. …” Etc.
As for typhus, well … https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epidemic_typhus :
“… The deteriorating quality of hygiene in camps such as Theresienstadt and Bergen-Belsen created conditions where diseases such as typhus flourished. Situations in the twenty-first century with potential for a typhus epidemic would include refugee camps during a major famine or natural disaster. …” Etc., etc.
Mr. Johan again it was drinking water and nothing to do with the hygienic of Turkish soldiers. Yes, it had to do with the hygiene of Vienna which got the aqua polluted. And, to quote you:
If hygiene standards are poor; for example, if the person does not dispose of the feces hygienically, it can contaminate the surroundings, such as nearby food and water. If another person then eats or drinks food or water that has been contaminated with feces containing the cyst, that person will also become infected with the amoeba. …”
Mr. Johan, I have been to many countries though not SA, and the advice one gets, not to drink the local water. Remember, the Nestle’s formula and the subsequent boycott of Nestle products. Still not yet senile, not to remember the cause of babies death.
Best regards,
Mohamed.
*** Still not yet senile, not to remember the cause of babies death. ** What does this mean Mohamed ? Surely not that “Mr Johan” is senile ?
Please try to keep your comments non-hostile if possible..thanks ! Moderator
Dearest Moderator,
No, with the senility quote I was not attacking anybody. Basically, I was saying that I am old enough to remember some things.
Nestle in Africa had women dressed in Nurses clothes in hospitals in 1977, telling the African newly born mothers that Nestle Formula is better for babies than breast milk. Lots of babies died due to mothers mixing Nestle Formula with contaminated water.
Nestlé boycott
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nestl%C3%A9_boycott
Formula must normally be mixed with water, which is often polluted in poor countries, leading to disease in vulnerable infants. Because of the low literacy rates in developing nations, many mothers are not aware of the sanitation methods needed in the preparation of bottles. Even mothers able to read in their native language may be unable to read the language in which sterilization directions are written.
Although some mothers can understand the sanitation standards required, they often do not have the means to perform them: fuel to boil water, electric (or other reliable) light to enable sterilisation at night. UNICEF estimates that a formula-fed child living in disease-ridden and unhygienic conditions is between 6 and 25 times more likely to die of diarrhea and four times more likely to die of pneumonia than a breastfed child”
Best regards,
Mohamed.
I just wanted to say thanks for the hard work that goes into creating content, even if we disagree as what we see is not what is real.. ie We can only use what things seem to be and appear to be.. Just like when we talk about 911 we say al queda did it.. even though there is no such thing. Since many of us seem to have strong beliefs on this particular item I did not want you to feel discouraged by the hostility.. As we have not had Consensus even after 15 or so years, I doubt we will in this case either due to the nature of plausible deniability and seriousness of the issues. Mh17 and the sarin gas attack by Turkish proxies should have been much simpler but even there it is murkey.
Keep up the great work.. It at least gives us a look at what the world is expected to see..
I concur, mmiriww with your thanks to John for the hard work at a task that can never be even attempted without considerable imperfection and resulting criticism. All time could be spent retracing prior thoughts, events, interpretations, trying to get it all 100% right, before taking the next step forward, but time carries us forward with no pause, and great imperfection, and inevitable incompleteness, even for the most excellent. And thanks to the critics as well. Comfort and consensus are highly unlikely ever, especially in important, urgent, and messy crises such as humanity finds itself in today. Blessed are those that do not flee from it, but face it with whatever they have in them.
Anyone know if the video is real? Lots of planes blowing up videos in movies..
IS Sinai says purported vid of Russian plane being down is a fake
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYvZ0u6vqQY&feature=youtu.be
Whether or not the video is real or staged like many of ISIS’ previous “made in Hollywood” productions, is currently unknown.
Of course, is the same ISIS which a recently leaked CIA report revealed as being created by the CIA as a “tool” to overthrow Syria’s Assad.
In other words, a proxy organization of US “shadow government destabilizing operations”, trained in U.S. ally Turkey, and openly funded by both U.S. allies Saudi Arabia and Qatar, just took down a Russian plane.
The question now is did ISIS use a US-made surface-to-air missile to start what may be a very unpleasant war.
Also, does Russia get a carte blanche to begin attacks on ISIS in Egypt now, the same Egypt which recently “purchased” the two Mistral ships made by France, which were meant to be bought by Russia in a deal that was scrapped in the last minute due to NATO intervention?
One thing is clear: if the Russian population had any qualms about continuing the campaign in Syria, they were just eliminated in perpetuity.
We now await the Russian response, against both ISIS and its direct and indirect sponsors.
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2015-10-31/islamic-state-claims-responsibility-russian-airplane-crash
” One thing is clear: if the Russian population had
any qualms about continuing the campaign in
Syria, they were just eliminated in perpetuity.”
If it was deliberately targeted for that reason, it may be intended to drive public opinion in Russia to pull out of Syria. That would tally with the alleged claims by ISIL.
A comment on the alleged ISIL footage of the plane’s fall says the video was made in 2003.
Right now, no one knows anything until the Russian authorities examine the evidence.
Meanwhile, deepest sympathy to the Russian Federation – especially the relatives of the deceased.
It’s a terrible thing to happen, whether tragedy or atrocity.
I’m thinking this sitrep is Rambo 1 with Rambo 2 following above.
Reading through the comments and the link to Saker’s April 21 “Real World vs TV Reality”, I realized that in April I was in the hospital and rehab recovering from a smashed femur neck. I missed a lot of the action.
In many ways I’m MIA and trying to play catch-up.
I’m further thinking that Ramo 1 and 2 are a wake-up call for me that there’s an Irish wake awaiting me if I don’t.
Where’s the missing link? Just maybe it’s the link to Alexander Dugin. I’ll have to google “epistemological impasse” and “aporia.” Sounds like my problem.
Thanks, John Rambo, for your name if for nothing else. Your back to backs are a double whammy and perhaps a mini-watershed and micro-quantumleap in my erratic development.
It’s Halloween Eve here in US zombie-land. Originally a holy-eve vigil before All Saints Day it has devolved into an empirical display of Charles Manson on speed All Devils Day, a psyops children’s crusade within a empire of madness.
Helter-skelter. Hurly-burly. Halloween as parlor-mirror of a world gone wrong.
Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition sugar.
Thanks, vineyard visions.
“When I’m all alone in the great unknown, I’ll remember you when I’ve forgotten all the rest; you to me were best.” BD
“If only I could, I would build you a house of ever-good wood.” thelovegovenment.com.
The hospital that RuAF hit.. These are the so called civilians the Syrian observatory for propaganda reported.. What would civilians be doing in a field hospital in a war zone? So it does seem the Syrian airforce close air support is bombing hospitals..
Syria is using women as snipers in combat… There are videos on utube of them in active zones with 50al sniper rifles on the front lines. They wear army uniforms only.. none of that burka stuff..
Judayda: Liberated. It is near the Dhaahiyat (Suburb) Al-Assad in the area of the Bijou on the left side of the Dam-Homs International Highway. The operation started on the right side of the highway in the area of the Mercedes Exhibition. SAA softened up the Jaysh Al-Islam rodents before invading their positions with T-72 battle tanks. Ultimately, the SAA found the rodents had concentrated their force at the field hospital in Doumaa. The SAA called in air support which destroyed the entire area where the rats were hiding, killing an estimated 48 of them. In their miserable defeat, rat apologists and propagandists have tried to point a finger at the SAAF and RuAF for hitting civilian areas and killing 40. If the truth be told, all the dead were vicious, rabid rodents and their deaths are being celebrated by the population in Doumaa.
Read more at http://syrianperspective.com/2015/10/damascus-baalaa-liberated-aleppo-12-towns-freed-of-rat-stench-latakia-rodents-flee-failed-operation-at-kafr-dulba-qunaytra-60-isis-sf-vermin-surrender-to-saa-in-golan-trained-by-americans.html#TXkHXIh2ilvTeT4u.99
QUNAYTRA: Unbelievably graphic evidence of ISIS falling apart everywhere. Yesterday, after the SAA pounced on their position at Khaan Arnaba, an SAA sniper, a woman no less, shot their leader through the head killing him instantly. Just as quickly, the rodents raised their white flags to surrender. According to early reports, 50-60 ISIS rodents have given it up. In interrogation, many admitted they were trained by American Special Forces east of Dayr El-Zor near the Iraqi border and at Daar Al-Kabeera near Homs.
Read more at http://syrianperspective.com/2015/10/damascus-baalaa-liberated-aleppo-12-towns-freed-of-rat-stench-latakia-rodents-flee-failed-operation-at-kafr-dulba-qunaytra-60-isis-sf-vermin-surrender-to-saa-in-golan-trained-by-americans.html#TXkHXIh2ilvTeT4u.99
http://syrianperspective.com/2015/10/damascus-baalaa-liberated-aleppo-12-towns-freed-of-rat-stench-latakia-rodents-flee-failed-operation-at-kafr-dulba-qunaytra-60-isis-sf-vermin-surrender-to-saa-in-golan-trained-by-americans.html
And they are all going to HELL for being killed by a woman no martyredom for them, no virgins in heaven for them. Excellent psychological warfare.
Thanks for the post~!
mmirww,
The female Syrian snipers bit is a PR stunt to buck up moral and to scare those literalist morons in ISIL. I have a colleague who’s a recent immigrant from Syria, most of his family is in the SAA, he tells me the female sniper story is not true, people in the military know this.
” One thing is clear: if the Russian population had
any qualms about continuing the campaign in
Syria, they were just eliminated in perpetuity.”
If it was deliberately targeted for that reason, it may be intended to drive public opinion in Russia to pull out of Syria. That would tally with the alleged claims by ISIL.
A comment on the alleged ISIL footage of the plane’s fall says the video was made in 2003.
Right now, no one knows anything until the Russian authorities examine the evidence.
Meanwhile, deepest sympathy to the Russian Federation – especially the relatives of the deceased.
It’s a terrible thing to happen, whether tragedy or atrocity.
Alright alright alright for those of you that have problems with my writing give me a day or two to read your comments and reply. Damn… you people want sources… I’ll ram them so far down your throats that they’ll be coming out of your back end. If you can’t read them because they’re in a foreign language that’s your problem. Deal with it. Jeez…..
If you are the real Rambo, Rambo on. Thanks for your work. We need a multialogue where all voices are heard.
Salam John Rambo,
“• Iran did seize on the Houthi mobilization, being Shia and so close to Saudi Arabia, to open up a fourth front in the Iran-Saudi Arabia proxy wars, the other three being Lebanon, Syria and Iraq. [Source]”
Yes, I would like for you to explain why are fanning the sectarianism by quoting a Saudi Arabia newspaper. And, when I go to the site the supposedly document on the right in Persian is unreadable. One can read the translation in Arabic on the left.
Why are you fanning sectarianism, especially when people are simply fighting for their right as citizens of that nation. No, there is no Shia Crescent as this stupid word was coined by King Abdullah of Jordan in 2011. Remember 9/11.
Why I love Mr. Obama, because in the Middle East we all are coming together and fighting sectarianism, read Daesh.
On this blog there was another Shia and I had debates with him about sectarianism. Sheikh Imran Hoesien who in the disguise of fighting Saudi Arabia and Wahhabinism is another sectarian. The Muslim Scholars in the Middle East have wised up and fighting sectarianism. Outside the Middle East they are still learning.
Best regards,
Mohamed.
“Sheikh Imran Hoesien [sic.] who in the disguise of fighting Saudi Arabia and Wahhabinism is another sectarian” and all other “gems”…
What a collection of unsupported superficial nonsense…
Salam Chris,
As a Muslim and as a Shia Muslim, I have watched lots of Sheikh Imran Hosein videos. See if you can tell the difference between the two?
1. House of Omayyad.
2. Pseudo House of Omayyad.
Best regards,
Mohamed.
An interesting article from FortRuss:
Russian elite units in Zabadani, Homs, Hama and Aleppo
http://fortruss.blogspot.co.nz/2015/10/russian-elite-units-in-zabadani-homs.html
Good news. Thanks for the link.
Here is an analysis about the role of the Kurds as USA proxies that makes sense to me. It is posted by a commenter called Syrian Not Arab, at this URL:
http://syrianperspective.com/2015/10/damascus-baalaa-liberated-aleppo-12-towns-freed-of-rat-stench-latakia-rodents-flee-failed-operation-at-kafr-dulba-qunaytra-60-isis-sf-vermin-surrender-to-saa-in-golan-trained-by-americans.html#TXkHXIh2ilvTeT4u.99:
Katherine
******************************
Syrian NOT Arab says:
October 31st, 2015 at 12:47 PM [Level 0 – Anonymous]
Understanding the current dynamics:
1. The US and her terrorist allies do not want to see Syria defeat ISIS. They created ISIS to kill the Shia and destroy Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Yemen, and ultimately Iran, Russia and China, basically all of their self-proclaimed rivals and adversaries and those of their allies and pay masters in Tel Aviv, Riyadh and Doha. US foreign aid comes right back to the pockets of US, Arab (as in Jordanian) and western politicians who are merely political mercenaries fighting along side the terrorist mercenaries. Read previous posts recording this fact and stating that should Syria advance on Al-Raqqa or appear to be defeating ISIS, there will be US intervention. That time is now…
2. The US is now intervening because the possibility of a Syrian victory has grown substantially. They are intervening on the side of the Kurds, but to dilute the fact that they are using the Kurds to advance their policy objectives to make it more palatable to Turkey and the Syrian opposition, they created this bogus Syrian Democratic Front (SDF). They do not want Syria and Russia to be cheered on by the world for defeating terrorism, making them heroes. Russia’s arrival is a dream come true for Syria.
3. The race is on for territory and bargaining chips, so these special forces will support the Kurds (under the guise of a so-called SDF) to acquire as much territory and assets as possible, particularly oil, gas, water, power, arable land and borders to generate the maximum bargaining power should their diplomatic efforts succeed in forcing concessions on the Syrian state. This will also include gaining as many cities and people so that under democratic terms they say 20% of Syria’s parliament has to be from this region (in other words comprised or controlled by Kurds, and their US allies). They will limit their advance to where they would be unwelcome, unless strategic assets are at play and in that case they will ethnically cleanse to create contiguous territorial claims and to secure key assets.
4. By accepting any terms that involve Kurdish autonomy, Syria will be conceding to US control of Syrian territory via a Kurdish occupation. They will set the stage for Syria to be completely crushed within a generation. In the meantime, the power and influence wielded by this Kurdish proxy force in economic, political and military fields will be used to control Syrian policy and the state itself. Syria will be permanently weakened like Iraq.
5. Syria has only two options in response, any remaining option is high treason. The first response is to instigate a war between the Kurds and Turkey that will suck in the Kurdish occupiers of Syria. The second is to confront the Kurds militarily at the appropriate time. Alignment with the interests of Russia will be important, and that comes in the form of the first option. The second option could help the first by flooding Turkey with returning Kurds who will head to the places their grandparents came from. So, it is not one or the other option, but both options times correctly.
6. To further complement this strategy, Circassian, Turkish, Turkmen and other non-Syrian peoples who reside in Syria as the result of the Ottoman occupation should all be expelled to their respective countries peacefully, and if not, then forcefully to Turkey. Their arrival to northern Mesopotamia would help dilute the Kurdish majority which was created through genocide of the indigenous inhabitants, specifically Syrians (Syrians, Assyrians, Chaldeans), Armenians and Greeks. There are few Turks that actually reside in the Southeast of Anatolia by comparison, so the Turks would welcome this dilution. These peoples can then be armed and used as proxies to slaughter the Kurds just as their ancestors did the innocent and unarmed Syrian men, women, children and elderly for whom they showed not one ounce of mercy. Turkey in chaos will most certainly help Russia put pressure on NATO and potentially push NATO’s effective and stable borders with Syria and Russia to beyond the Taurus mountains.
It is already WWIII. The US, UK, France, Canada, Australia and the 60 nations who supposedly are fighting ISIS are in fact supporting ISIS while they destroy Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, and Yemen on their way to Iran, Russia and China. These latter countries are wise enough to know this conflict targets them and that it is better to fight it out before it reaches their borders. In fairness to Syria, they need to push the conflict outside of Syria into the countries that started it all. This is how peace will come to Syria, not through an imposed occupation using Kurdish and other terrorist proxies.
U.S. Backed Moderate Rebels Put Alawite Women in Cages to Protect Themselves from Airstrikes
In order to deter the Syrian and Russian Air Forces inside the East Ghouta (collection of farms) region of rural Damascus, the U.S. backed moderate rebels from “Jaysh Al-Islam” (Army of Islam) and the Free Syrian Army (FSA) have placed kidnapped Alawite women in cages to protect themselves from airstrikes.
The U.S. backed Syrian Opposition’s social media activists posted the photos of the six kidnapped Alawite women on Twitter, adding their extra commentary that included sectarian insults to degrade the helpless women and taunt the Syrian President Dr. Bashar Al-Assad.
http://www.almasdarnews.com/article/u-s-backed-moderate-rebels-put-alawite-women-in-cages-to-protect-themselves-from-airstrikes/
Unwelcome Guests: US Military Has No Legal Mandate to Act in Syria
Read more: http://sputniknews.com/analysis/20151101/1029431346/us-military-no-legal-mandate-operate-syria.html#ixzz3qFbZ4ygZ
Sputnik often quotes Tony Cartalucci
Crazed US Senator Attacks Defense Secretary for not Planning War With Russia!
(Russia Insider) ~ Depraved disciple of Mad John McCain just took crazy to a whole new level. If Mad John McCain is the most disgusting man in America (and he is), then certainly his snarling little sidekick from South Carolina Lindsey Graham is a strong second.
by ‘The Old Sniper‘
This is the most disgusting display of American “exceptionalism” … why a bunch of rich old senators from America have the RIGHT TO MESS IN OTHER COUNTRIES?
These morons talked about supplying a rebel force inside a sovereign country with goal to topple the elected leader?
That’s illegal by International Law… the hubris and arrogance displayed here are truly disgusting, nothing good will come from this except WW3.
https://syrianfreepress.wordpress.com/2015/11/01/mad-lindsey-graham/
U.S. Backed Moderate Rebels Put Alawite Women in Cages to Protect Themselves from Airstrikes –
In order to deter the Syrian and Russian Air Forces inside the East Ghouta (collection of farms) region of rural Damascus, the U.S. backed moderate rebels from “Jaysh Al-Islam” (Army of Islam) and the Free Syrian Army (FSA) have placed kidnapped Alawite women in cages to protect themselves from airstrikes.
http://www.almasdarnews.com/article/u-s-backed-moderate-rebels-put-alawite-women-in-cages-to-protect-themselves-from-airstrikes/#prettyPhoto
Some of the links for some reason have a space after them which make them 404. If you get a page not found error make sure to erase the extra space and press enter again. Some of the links:
http://globalmilitaryreview.blogspot.ca/2012/10/irans-revolutionary-guard-corps-irgc.html
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2015/04/20/20/27ABC6F700000578-0-Al_Douri_was_the_King_of_Clubs_in_the_famous_pack_of_cards_the_U-a-2_1429559124839.jpg
Iranian source of causalities in Syria
http://www.uskowioniran.com/2015/10/irgc-general-and-airborne-lt-killed-in.html
Dear John Rambo,
What are your sitreps?
They are basically one liners, with your conclusions and sources. But the point is have you taken the time to validate those sources? Or, maybe the sources are saying absolutely something opposite?
For example, in your defense you posted the following from al-Manar:
“Among the armed terrorists Iraqi forces repelled from Awja were members of the Naqshbandi Army, made up of former army officers as well as loyalists of Hussein’s old Baathist party.
Though militants and old Baathists have banded together to fight their common foe – the government of Nuri al-Maliki – cracks are showing in their loose bloc.
In the town of Hawija near the northern city of Kirkuk, 15 people were killed when fighting broke out a fortnight ago between ISIL and members of the Naqshbandi Army.
Dated: 04-07-2014″
And, from the above you conclude the following:
Al-Douri is real, he’s not some CIA front man. He’s not some boogeyman. He’s actually known in the Arab world being the current head of the Iraqi Ba’ath party.
Does the above article from al-Manar talks specifically about al-Douri?
Do you know what Naqshbandi mean? I am sure now that I asked you, you will Google it.
Now look at the date of the article from al-Manar. It is dated early July 2014. So what do we know about this period and Iraq.
We know the following:
1. Every month almost for the last several years there were suicide bombings in Iraq on CIVILIANS, where about 1000 or more civilians died and about trice were injured for life.
2. The Islamic Dawa Party had won the election sometime in April, 2014. The head of Islamic Dawa Party was Nouri al-Maliki.
3. Last election the it took months to form a government by Nouri al-Maliki.
4. ISIS has suddenly shown up in Iraq with their bright new shinny Toyota vehicles, and Iraq Army simply disappeared without showing any resistance.
5. Nouri al-Maliki was blamed for sectarianism and bad management and being bad to Sunni minorities.
6. Haider al-Abadi was chosen the new PM from in August 2014 from the same Islamic Dawa Party.
7. Government was formed very quickly. You should see my postings regarding this on old Saker blog.
8. Suicide bombings against CIVILIANS has decreased tremendously since then.
ISIS (goddess), ISIL or Daesh is Godsend. Yes, it is Obama’s creation. No, Tony Blair didn’t claim that ISIS stemmed from Iraqi invasion. I saw the live interview on CNN. He basically blamed it on Obama, but all the news sources are now intentionally paraphrasing him wrongly.
Who created the term Daesh? Maybe, you should Google that too.
Daesh are non-existence, a figment of imagination. By this I am not claiming that all those other terrorists groups are non-existence too, nor I am claiming anything about Free Syrian Army.
Best regards,
Mohamed.