This column was written for the Unz Review: http://www.unz.com/tsaker/finally-some-clarity-about-the-russian-plans-in-syria/
A lot has happened in the last few hours. Putin spoke at the UN, the Russian Parliament has approved the use of Russian military forces in Syria and Sergei Ivanov has given the Russian media a detailed explanation for the reasons which made the Kremlin request such an authorization. The picture has finally become much clearer.
What will not happen:
There will be no “ Most Anticipated Showdown in Recent History ”: no Russian ground operation, no Russian imposition of a no-fly zone (especially not against the US or its allies!), no MiG-31s, no Russian Airborne Forces, no Russian tanks on the frontlines, no Russian SSBN (nuclear weapons carrying) submarines and probably no significant Russians military presence around Damascus. In fact, there will be no Russian unilateral military operation of any kind. All that nonsense can now finally be put to rest.
What will happen:
The Russian military operation will be legal on all levels: the Russians have received a formal request for military assistance from the Syrian government, the Russian Parliament has given its authorization, and Russia will seek a UN Security Council authorization. The Russian military operation will be officially limited to air operations including bombings and close air support. The main hub of the Russian operation will be in Latakia. Crucially, Russia will act as a part of a broad coalition.
It would be a mistake to focus primarily on what will happen next. I would argue that what has already happened is far more significant.
What has already happened:
Putin has basically forced the USA to accept the Russian plan. Kerry has told CNN that the US policy for Syria will be “adjusted” – in other words the US is giving up on the notion of ousting Assad, officially temporarily. NATO has declared that it would welcome a positive role for Russia in Syria. The Pentagon has followed the Israeli example and has decided to open a special communications channel to coordinate Russian and US operations. Considering the above, I suppose that the US will give its Bulgarian colony the order to stop closing its airspace to Russian aircraft.
Finally, I will make some guesses as to what might happen next.
What might also happen:
First, I would not be surprised if the Russians did declare that it was their standard operating procedure to protect their military installations with air defense systems. And then would finally bring in their S-300s (I am aware of rumors that the S-300s are already there, but I have seen no confirmation so far). I would expect the Israelis to feel particularly miserable about that, and I would not be surprised if the Russians offered guarantees that these systems would remain exclusively under Russian control. What is already certain is that Netanyahu did fly to Moscow to address issues of Russian-Israeli is not “cooperation” then at least “non-interference”. I would add here that Moscow has no hostile plans towards Israel whatsoever and that, by all accounts, the Russians and Israeli officials get along famously, if only because both sides are smart and pragmatists (they don’t need a love fest, they need responsible behavior).
Second, the official Russian military presence in Syria will give the Russians the perfect cover for all sorts of covert efforts including the delivery of equipment, joint intelligence operations and even direct action missions. I don’t think that this will be a major part of the Russian effort, but now the option is definitely here.
Third, and this is admittedly 100% my own speculations, I believe that the entire Russian military effort will be a cover for something else: a larger Iranian and Hezbollah involvement. Why? For one thing, there is only that much any air operation can achieve. There is no reason to assume that a very small Russian Air Force contingent will significantly change the course of the war. The total failure of the NATO airforces over Kosovo has proven that air operations are, by themselves, of very limited capability, and, unlike the NATO in Kosovo, Russia will send a rather small contingent of aircraft. However, the presence of the Russian Air Force in the Syrian skies could conveniently “explain away” any sudden military reversals for Daesh, especially if the real reason for such reversals would be a beefed up Iranian intervention. Again, I have absolutely no information confirming any of that, but I personally expect a sharp rise in the Iranian and Hezbollah efforts to bush back Daesh.
Evaluation:
In purely military terms this is a rather minor development. Yes, the Syrian Air Force badly needs some modernization (the fact that they are using helicopter-dropped 500kg barrel bombs is a proof that they don’t have enough aircraft to deliver guided or even unguided 500kg aerial bombs) and the Russians will be bringing some very capable aircraft (SU-24s and SU-25s for sure, and in some specific cases they could even use Tu-22M3s and SU-34s). But this will not be a game changer. Politically, however, this marks yet another triumph for Vladimir Putin who has forced the US Empire to renounce its plans to overthrow Assad. Because, and make no mistake here, the Russians are now there to stay: a limited Russian military presence will now turn into a major Russian political commitment. Furthermore, not only will Tartus continue to serve a fairly limited but not irrelevant role for the Russian Navy, the airbase in Latakia will become a hub of Russian military operations and, in effect, a forward operating base for the Black Sea Fleet.
Conclusion: a game changer after all?
Yes. But not because of some Russian military move. Consider this: for the United States the main purpose of Daesh was to overthrow Assad. Now that the US is declaring that they “don’t plan to arm the Syrian rebels at the moment” and that Assad will not be overthrown, the utility of Daesh to the AngloZionist Empire has just taken a major hit. If the Empire decides that Daesh has outlived its utility and that it has now turned into a liability, then the days of Daesh are counted.
Of course, I am under no illusions about any real change of heart in the imperial “deep state”. What we see now is just a tactical adaptation to a situation which the US could not control, not a deep strategic shift. The rabid russophobes in the West are still out there (albeit some have left in disgust ) and they will now have the chance to blame Russia for anything and everything in Syria, especially if something goes really wrong. Yes, Putin has just won another major victory against the Empire (where are those who claimed that Russia had “sold out” Syria?!), but now Russia will have to manage this potentially “dangerous victory”.
The Saker
At about 20-30 Moscow time, Russian TV showed the first results of Russian air strikes and said that there were about 20 such strikes
Ok, ok, very nicely written, but,
I have to pose a small, insignificant, simple question: what about the civilians who died or will die as a consequence of Russian bombing?
I am asking this because already here (in Serbian media under Western control) people are saying that “Putin has blooded his hands”. And of course this is all over in Western media coverage.
What to say in response?
Well, I assume that “Serbian Media” relates to language. What we have in Serbia are some semi literate copy / paste operators relaying on google translate.
They have been very quiet about civilian casualties caused by NATO / IS coalition, apart from some, now favourite charrcoal wedding parties all over ME. US drone operators must be selected from some heavily frustrated divorce settlements.
Does the Serbian media ask why the refugees have been coming to Europe these past few months even though this war has been ongoing for over 4 years? Have they asked why Turkey a NATO ally was given permission to bomb the Kurds fighting ISIS a few weeks ago? This entire mess is the sole creation of NATO.
Have they asked why the surge of african migrants began after Kaddafi’s ouster and how rafts are waiting for them on the Libyan coast?
Has the Serbian media ever said that NATO has blood on their hands for murdering their children??? The Serbian media is disgusting and shameful. If I were a young serbian man I would be vigilant as even my own kind, their own families disgrace the memory of those young Serbian men killed by NATO, as a young Serbian you maybe next to be sold out by your own kind.
Serbian media and Serbian government are 100% controlled by ZioNazi cabal. Ex CIA director and US Army General, David Petraeus owns Serbian major internet and paper media. This is just one example.
We fought NATO on our own, without Russian or anybody else helping us, and we lost that war. Our economy is devastated, NATO depleted uranium ammo is still taking lives, beside Kosovo, we have 3 more regions that are striving to separate from Serbia. But what you don’t see in media is that we still fight against NATO controlled goverment, against ZioNazi agents in our institutions, against destruction of our people and our country. So please, don’t say if you were young Serbian man, because you are not! God knew that you are too weak to be born in Serbia.
Which three regions? Thanks
Regions are: Raška (muslim population with strong ties with Turkey and Saudi wahabies), Preševo valley (Albanians) and Vojvodina (politically induced separation movement).
Perhaps the people of Serbia should ask themselves what happened when NATO bombed them? Perhaps they should ask the ghosts of Dresden or Hamburg or Nagasaki or Hiroshima? Perhaps the so called innocent civilians, who end of a collateral, should not associate themselves with ISIS. Perhaps people should remember that war is an obscenely violent undertaking, and shun it.
Huh? Obama is drenched in innocent blood from drone strikes, Libya, Egypt. Syria….can you wise up in Serbia.
Good question.
Here is allegedly “children murdered by Putin”.
Can you check if that footage was actually made during NATO invasion into Serbia?
https://plus.google.com/+russianman/posts/dziUc3K1YYK
I think it depends now on the ass-kissers like Holland & Merkel. If the great satan is successful, they’ll make Russia, Iran, Syria the new “axis of evil”… sigh. On the other hand if Lavrov is successful in the anti isis resolution, things will work out ok.
I suggest reminding the faithful media consumers throughout the fascist West and its colonies that, since Russian air strikes don’t kill civilians on purpose, we have a serious deficit in ‘European values’ here.
Well said Nussiminen. The deliberate genocide of civilians is a long established US practise, from the time of the exterminations of the indigenous, through the massacres in the Philippines, the terror-bombing of civilians in Dresden, Tokyo, Hiroshima, Nagasaki etc, the bombing of North Korea ‘back to the Stone Age’, the illegal terror bombing of Cambodia, the devastation of Vietnam, the terror bombing of Iraq targeting water treatment and other protected facilities etc. Not to forget the ubiquitous use of psychopathic death-squads, innumerable massacres by US forces themselves (including their own ‘Special Forces’ death-squads), genocidal sanctions regimes and the genocidal ‘Washington Consensus’ global economic order. The latter nicely illustrated by US pressure on poor countries to sabotage tobacco harm reduction policies, the US and other tobacco corporations being the greatest mass murderers for profit in human history.
All this unprecedented murderousness is rooted in psychopathy, personal and group, raving supremacist civilizational and racial hatred and contempt for non-Westerners and the barbaric interpretation of religious dogma outlined by the Yesha Council of Rabbis and Torah Sages in 2006, ie that murdering civilians is not just permissible but is a mitzvah or religiously sanctioned good deed. And the average Yankee elite butcher, and their raving lumpen ‘patriotic’ foot-soldiers are nothing if not good Old Testament ‘Christian Zionists’. Genocidal evil that claims Divine Blessing is, surely, the Ultimate Evil.
Yes indeed, Mulga. The West is Pure Evil, driven by greed and unrestrained parasitism. As for that ‘female hyena’ at the Bloody British Crackpots you mentioned elsewhere in the thread, her ilk is exactly what is in steadily increasing demand with each setback and loss of prestige for Western imperialism. Doubtful though if these drooling media imbeciles really advance “the cause” anymore; eventually their vile appearances will turn into a giant backhanded compliment to the entire glorious West, reducing the latter’s admirers to plain Certified Human Garbage such as the Ukro-trash and the Psheks.
Here is an interesting note about american policy distortion resulting from the Vietnam war years. According to David Graeber the US was so traumatised by all the protests at the time they have ever since aimed to reduce their own casualties by promoting drone warfare etc,
http://thebaffler.com/salvos/a-practical-utopians-guide-to-the-coming-collapse
John Doyle, the patriotic American just loves killing for ‘Freedom, Coca-Cola and apple-pie’ but ain’t so keen on dying for it. Can I recommend John Tirman’s ‘The Deaths of Others’, where he analyses why the American psyche, while exercised over US casualties, is completely indifferent to the millions of victims of US brutality, aggression and insane technological ‘over-kill’.
ooops,
I expected the children casualties to appear only in the morning,
but they are out now already,
naturally fake ones:
http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20150930/1027807644/ngo-caught-faking-syria-casualties-report.html
http://politikus.ru/events/59157-kanal-na-yutube-kotoryy-publikuet-obstrel-russkimi-mirnyh-detey-falsificiruet-video.html
The propaganda is not really working –
US-Funded NGO in Syria Uses Old Photo to Claim Civilian Death in Russian Airstrikes –
http://news.antiwar.com/2015/09/30/us-funded-ngo-in-syria-uses-old-photo-to-claim-civilian-death-in-russian-airstrikes/
So delicious f..k up from US propaganda department. Thanks for reposting this. BTW. How many Pakistani civilians, women and children, where killed by US drones in “peaceful bomb rides” ?
Edit: It should be “bombing raid”.
I expect quite a few civilians will, in fact, die due to Russian bombing. It will help that at least the Russians will actually want to hit ISIS, as opposed to the Americans who have been pretty ambivalent about that, and it will also help that the Russians will be willing to co-ordinate with the Syrian armed forces so that bombing will be dedicated to helping the army win real military victories, but there’s no doubt civilians will get killed. Civilians will also get killed by artillery and during ground battles. It sucks, war is horrible.
We are not, however, presented here with an option of war or not-war. If there were no war happening, it is overwhelmingly likely that I would oppose plans by Russia or anyone else to start bombing someone. But the war is happening, and ISIS is dedicated to expanding it. So the question is, do we want ISIS to win or lose? We want them to lose. If bombing will help make ISIS lose, that will shorten the war and probably reduce the total sum of misery produced by the conflict.
That’s not a small “if”, mind you. But what we’re dealing with is a local army with, relatively speaking, popular support, the Syrian army (and Hezbollah), fighting a largely foreign insurgency whose fanaticism and brutality makes them hated and feared by the population. If they can take territory and break the direct fighting capability of ISIS, they can get real victories and make them stick, because there’s no way ISIS is gonna be able to swim among the Syrian people like a fish in the ocean once their power is broken. If all you need is to win battles, air support works well, so I’d say it’s worth it. The reason the US air support didn’t help them in the end in, say, Afghanistan was that they were foreign invaders doing little good and much harm, while the insurgency had roots in the community.
@Purple Library Guy
But USA is not “ambivalent”. Kerry already promised to MSNBC radio that Al Qaeda In Iraq (aka ISIS) would take Russian aircrafts out of the skies. When this is promised by the primary Al Qaeda “Stinger” MANPADs supplier – that is quite the coming out
Arioch, you don’t expect the Western MSM scum to investigate where the jihadists get their MANPADs from, do you. Or why the Russians give the US only an hour’s notice, to stop them warning their jihadist allies of the coming attacks.
Arioch,
Do you have a link please?
Here is a link.
You will read the biggest load of t ripe you have ever read from John Kerry. One huge whopping lie with an outright admission. He is a tool.
https://grabien.com/file.php?id=59452
When ISIS comes to town you can either flee, convert or pay a tax. Those that pay a tax and remain become human shields for them to hid behind and exploit, subjugate. They are warned before any strike takes place and told to flee if they can. I am sure many prefer the peace of the grave rather than life with ISIS.
RR
When you fight demons your bound to get blood on your hands but it’s ok because it’s demon blood…
Maria Zakharova spokesperson foreign ministry has stated these are fabrications as part of the information war.
If that causes Serbians to turn away from Russia then they weren’t friends to start with.And Russia shouldn’t worry about Serbia ever again.Let their fate,be their fate.It won’t concern Russia again.I’m sick and tired of Russia having to worry about what other countries “might” think.What do those countries ever do for Russia,nothing.Russia needs to worry about her security and her fellow Russian people.Those that want to support Russia,will.Those that don’t, aren’t worth thinking about.
You vent to far, I am afraid, Uncle Bob 1. Girl is just (unpleasantly) surprized with ’Western media coverage’. Where do You see that she or (God forbid) Serbian people ’turns away from Russia’? Even if it was not about ’mother Russia and our brothers russian people’, we Serbs proudly point out, that thru the history we were compassionate and supportive for sufferers and weaker. And, as You probably know, we became expert for westerners ’false flagging’. On our own skin, unfortunately.
I admit, when I heard same ’news’, I was caught for a while, thou I got it almost immediately – it could be false accusation. And of course, in such a case (as Wend did), I decided to check – for me lately most relevant source of information – The Saker site.
So, please… calm down. No need to be so sharp. Most of Serbs are on right side, believe me. Your side, it is obvious.
Put it this way – What answer do you think mr. Putin would give her? Of course – calm, moderate, reasoned answer. The one that disarms those not well-intentioned. But soothes tne righteous. And, as a magnet attracts undecided. Why not to try to sound alike?!
Greetings from Serbia Uncle Bob
(sorry for my english, in my school days I’ve had russion and latin only)
Your English is very fine indeed. Thank you for this comment.
Do not worry too much, some people seem quite naive.
Each winter they discover that it is cold as they now discover that wars makes innocent victims.
Good comment thanks.But mine wasn’t directed at the one you talked of.It was from another further back.But many others got in-between.Not being President Putin though,I’m not required to be as diplomatic.I think its important to not let comments be overly diplomatic.There is a fine “nuance” in many diplomatic statements that only a few people understand sometimes.I believe most people need to be able to understand someones opinion on an issue clearly.My opinion is always similar on issues,fight evil and defend good. Loyalty,is one of the most important “virtues” in life.Russia supported Serbia,always against the Ottomans.She always supported Serbia against the Hapsburg’s.Even destroying herself in WWI standing up to the Germans and Austria-Hungary for Serbian freedom.In WWII she helped liberate all of Serbia from the genocidal fascists.She was too weak to save Serbia from NATO in the 1990’s.But Serbia had the love of Russia anyway.Now is it “too much” to ask for Serbia (not the people alone,the government) to return that loyalty and love to Russia.Many West Ukrainians have literally stabbed their true brothers in the back.And Bulgaria has totally betrayed the liberators of their land from Ottoman slavery. Montenegrins are beyond contempt with their betrayal of the one nation that stood with them when they had no other friend,Russia.Must Russia always be the Joseph from the Bible,while their fellow Slav nations act as his brothers did in the story.I can’t see any reason (adequate) for Serbia to not stand with her brother.Most Serbs say they do.So show it,and force the government to show it too.I’m sorry if I hurt people’s feelings over this issue.But it is the way I feel about it.
Any war is Hell. I sincerely hope that harm to innocent people is minimized, but I know it is impossible to avoid. Here in the US, the Orwellian term for this is Collateral Damage. How many innocent people have died in Syria and Iraq before Russia even got involved?
The Wend,
A short while after the first bombs, a picture of a bloodied child was published. Unfortunately, the same picture had already been published on the 25th.
Does anyone doubt that US drones kill noncombatants? Have those who are concerned about civilian casualties from Russian bombs expressed concern about the purposeful civilian casualties in Yemen? How about the ISIS beheadings? Only warfare will remove ISIS & al qaeda & the liver-eating Free Syrian Army.
“I have to pose a small, insignificant, simple question: what about the civilians who died or will die as a consequence of Russian bombing?”
First. Some antirussian sources claim that there were no civilian casaulties in recent raid. Some say something different, but they give no evidence to support their claims. Both types of sources are negating that IS was the prime target, but personally i don’t care, which faction of these mercenaries was bombed :) They are the same.
Second. You have to choose lesser evil, when you are defending whole population in your country.
What is better ? Accidental death of few civilians in self defence or death of thousands of innocent people slaughtered by your enemy. Friendly fire caused by mistakes or failure of military equipment is still a common thing on modern battlefield, but it is not a reason for laying down your weapons and letting enemy to crush your homeland. People should generally uderstand this.
most of Syria are living in refugee camps, and I’m sure Russia will not be bombing those
Civilians – do not perish.
… but in general: There is a war.
How many civilians will die? – If Russia does not destroy the Islamic State?
Western media started sending false news about civilian casualties, of sources that predated before russia even started their campaign against isis
Real sources are the usual propaganda teams in the west.
Impressive footage of actual Russian strikes, wiping the floor with ISIS’ faces…
–
Russia strikes 8 ISIS targets in Syria, makes 20 flights – [Russian] Defense Ministry
8 ISIS targets hit during 20 combat flights in Syria – Russian military
Link includes video> http://www.rt.com/news/317101-russia-isis-strikes-intelligence/
I’m reposting the vid [and I’m not vouching for the random facebook page it’s reposted from] it’s just that I noticed RT took the original vid-link down from the link I posted.
Vid: https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1666855486890534&set=vb.1492252324350852&type=2&theater
–
PS; Propaganda wars indeed! Hold on to your hats folks!
Is there any chance that while the world is distracted by Syria and the latest russian developments that a major build-up/advance/incident/false flag will happen in E.Ukraine?
A very good possibility I imagine.But this time with the strikes in Syria the Russians may not be in the mood to allow the junta to survive it.It may be a case of “taking out all the trash at the same time”.
No. The Ukraine is toast. Next time the Ukr-Army tries something foolish, the Russian will fly air-sorties target communications, commando-centers, etc. like they do now in Syria. The enemy is the same – CIA/Mossad.
OT, but related,
Palestinian Flag Flies At the UN !!!
Yay!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TAUHiNkmro&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Truly good news! The Zionist state will soon go the way of the apartheid state.
Don’t hold your breath on that.We are a very,very,very,long way from that.
“Putin has just won another major victory against the Empire (where are those who claimed that Russia had “sold out” Syria?!), but now Russia will have to manage this potentially “dangerous victory”
That is precisely my worry right now. The response from the West is all over the place at the moment (my guess is that they‘re awaiting instructions from their bosses in DC), but Kerry speech at the UNSC [just a few hours or so ago], worries me in particular.
-TL2Q
You and I both. I have been deeply disturbed by Kerry’s repetition of Obama’s speech as well as the Assad must go and that Russia must not bomb moderate opposition forces talk and I believe anything said behind closed doors is done in bad faith. On the other hand, Webster Tarpley had this to say,
“… our readers are already aware that Obama likes to hide behind a smokescreen of formal positions to give his enemies less material to use against him, while pursuing quite different things behind the scenes. An example was the recent report that Obama had signaled to Putin that the US would not oppose, but would secretly encourage, the Russian military deployments in the Latakia area of Syria…” And Obama did make a deal over Iran…for what it is worth time will tell. And, this report was written before Kerry spoke. The other thing that is missing is the profound crisis of the capitalist system. Of course after two world wars, and how many depressions…this understanding of the capitalist mode of production is severely lacking in any analysis of global events. This, in spite of the fact that Marx’s theory on capitalist development has stood the test of time for well over a century…in broad outlines and that is all he meant to do, I’ll keep this short, “…The barrier to capitalist production become capital itself. The system shoots itself in the foot..crisis ensues…in the long term such crisis become more acute and require more drastic “solutions” ( e.g.) aggressive attempts to raise the rate of exploitation of living labour by driving down working class living standards; trade wars ( sanctions, etc.) or colonial adventures permitting a displacement of the “internal contradiction” :fascism, involving the complete destruction of the organized labour movement and the mobilization of the “nation” to solve its problems at the expense of other nation-states and war which leads to the physical destruction of capital, permitting a new start such as the one after ww2. The irrational aspects of capitalism are now more pronounced than their rational one’s. This must give way to a higher stage of development: Socialism or Continued Capitalist Barbarism, thermonuclear or environmental extinction. Chase all the windmills you want folks….history has shown this to be the case and we are at the praecipe again today…Now if a nuclear war breaks out the people of Russia and China do have civilian shelters and could possible emerge after a time and begin human civilization again. I live in the West. Our narcissistic leaders care less about us let alone anyone else in the world. Remember Albright, “the price we think was worth it” over all the Iraq
Dead and that was from Bush Sr…and sanctions. Half a million people died on account of those sanctions. I am telling you this for your good not mine. You have all read my speal about PNAC and doubling down, etc. When I say, Russia should go adopt Glazyev’s proposed solutions and go on a war footing, I do so knowing full well that in the case of nuclear war-you will survive and I will not, short of a revolution from below in the West which does not have any working class orientation and will see tribal warfare in the USA and the mutual ruination of the contending classes.
Yours,
RR
RR on October 01, 2015 · at 1:11 am UTC said:
“and I will not, short of a revolution from below in the West which does not have any working class orientation and will see tribal warfare in the USA and the mutual ruination of the contending classes.”
Perhaps you’d care to comment further on the evidence for that?
I posted here /russias-civilizational-choice/comment-page-1/#comment-153055 w.r.t Martin’s (from East Berlin) video of Putin, but no reply yet (maybe he’s taking the month’s rest seriously).
The pole shift has happened. Finally, for the first time since WW2, someone has stood up and has told the elephant in the room, the US, what it urgently needed to hear since a couple of decades, namely “enough is enough!”
By accepting Assad’s request for direct Russian Army support in Syria, Putin opened a whole new theater, one that will serve as a blueprint for many similar conflicts in the coming years all over the globe. For that reason alone, it must be, and it will be an over-whelming success. ISIS’ days in Syria are numbered.
Coalitions of sovereign nation states will band together to fight extra-territorial mercenaries-armies with dubious shadow-sponsors, whose only goal is to cripple, terrorize and destroy whole nations on behalf of their masters, who then finish the job by enslaving said nations with IMF-loans and the usual claptrap.
Enough is enough!
The Hegemon will not take kindly to having their pet ISIS being pounded by Russia. They will get as much propaganda as possible from this – “friendly rebels and innocent children killed by beastly Russians” etc.
One need only read the vassal British Bullhorn Corp. to get an idea of how this will play out:
Russia’s military carries out its first air strikes in Syria against opponents of President Bashar al-Assad, after giving the US an hour’s notice
Syria crisis: Russian air strikes against Assad enemies
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-34399164
@SanctuaryOne
No indeed.
They are already ‘reacting’ via their favourite Gulf poodles:
http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2015/09/30/431310/Saudi-Arabia-Syria-Assad-Jubeir
“Saudi Arabia says Syrian President Bashar al-Assad must leave office or face being removed via military intervention”
I had to check the date on that article to see if the date was 2011 rather than 2015. Then I realised that the masses don’t know about the Saudi and Qatar et al support for the Hegemon’s overthrow of Syria -over the last 4 years or more.
Once ISIS is destroyed and Syria totally liberated,I believe Syria should have a “reckoning” with Saudi Arabia.The Saudis have armed and funded armies to attack and slaughter Syrians.You don’t overlook and forgive something like that.A nation declares war and destroy’s a nation that does that to you.Especially if they are around the same power or weaker that you.I can see how Syria wouldn’t be able (at present) to punish the great Western powers that did the same to them.But Saudi Arabia is another story entirely.They are not as militarily strong as Syria’s other enemies.And as a fellow Arab State their betrayal is worse.Their punishment needs to be strong and permanent to match the harm they have done.
Meanwhile, over at Truelies.con, I see the usual cut-&-paste of the latest schlok from BBC & Bloomberg paraded as updated Syria news bulletins.
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2015-09-30/propaganda-war-begins-russias-syria-strikes-targeted-us-backed-moderate-rebels-west-
Heard one plum-voiced BBC female hyena squawking that Russia had ‘surreptitiously’ introduced their forces. The ….(expletive deleted) will no doubt get promotion for her added venom. And perhaps an invitation to the Cotswolds and a place at one of ‘Porkboy’ Cameron’s parties. Jerk pork, no doubt, will be on the menu.
@Saker
heh You sure that you’ll be going minimum in October with all these happenings??
European “Free Media”, Ukrainian and Russian “liberal” bloggers are now in a rush publishing “video-evidence” how Syrian civilians are dying because of Russian Air Force attacking ISIS.
This makes me ask for a minute of your attention.
Today is the first day in the new information battle. Tomorrow or in a week all the details would be forgotten and everyone would grow bored of them. However the “Russia killing Syrian kids” myth would become customary mentioned like a common knowledge needing no proofs.
Now, to the details.
The YouTube channel used by the aforementioned media and bloggers for borrowing the so-called video footage from was registered back in 2011. And it was not even yesterday that it was publishing videos with “Russian aggression”. That account is operated for many years, and on their course it used to speak out about “Assad’s brutality”. As expected.
https://www.youtube.com/user/talbisah/videos – and you can check it yourself. look with care. some might find photos distressing. Mod TR
It is worth remembering that it was not before today, 30.09.2015, that the Federation Council and the President of Russia sanctioned Russian Army to take part in defending Syria. Even the most hysterical and rusophobic MSM did not publish any reliable cases of Russian Army engagements in Syria before today.
Days would pass and as usual they would clean up their prior publications so nothing you would be able to check in retrospect. But it is right now that you can check them and see with your own eyes how this is being unrolled.
This is a typical technology used for ages. During Kosovo tragedy Western “free media” had a habit of spoofing photos with killed islamists bodies for “tortured non-combatants”. Do you even remember today that radical islamists played quite a role in Yugoslavia civil war including someone Osama bin Laden who was granted Bosnia citizenship for it? Do you remember CNN’s footage of “Russian tanks in Tbilisi” – those without a doubt Russian tanks passing by through palms and carrying black-skinned soldiers that are a hallmark of Russian Army? Do you remember #MH17 downed by USA-backed EuroUkrainian regime and the hard evidence USA promised would be published in August 2014? For American government August 2014 is not over yet…
That is how informational warfare is pledged.
Don’t get cheated.
You would hear voices all around you that would be desperately forcing into your ears how Russia is invading Syria (by answering to the request from legitimate and elected Syrian government), how Russia is killing children (hi-res photo and video of victimized children from all around the world were ready yesterday) and all the wrongs every anti-terrorism force was routinely accused time and again.
You saw it.
You see it.
You would see it yet again.
Just remember what it all is worth.
Original – removed
Translation – removed
It would appear that there is no rest for the Saker!
Putin has once more completely out maneurvered the US, with these latest moves, in the Great Game of American imperial decline. I think the Russian entry into the Syrian war will be, not only a political game changer, but a military one as well.
ISIS is not a homegrown, organic resistance movement, it is a foreign developed and supported terrorist army implanted into Syria to achieve foreign aims. As Prez Assad has pointed out in his interviews, if there were no external support for ISIS, the Syrian army could defeat it in a matter of weeks. It is precisely this foreign support channel that Russia, unlike the US, can target (so long as this is done on Syrian territory). This will give the Syrian army an advantage on the ground as ISIS begins to starve of recruits and material.
As an interesting aside: did Putin request permission from the Duma to use Russian forces “abroad” or in Syria? As I recall last year when there was the possibility of using Russian forces in Ukraine, Putin requested permission specific to Ukraine. I can’t seem to find any clarification on this. If the request was to use Russian military “abroad” rather than just in Syria then this may imply a broadening of the Russian action, possibly to Iraq. It really makes no sense to fight ISIS in Syria only, leaving them an Iraqi safe haven.
Also, the US has been humiliated by Putin’s action. Clearly Russia now has the initiative in the middle east and is dictating events there. The US will strike back, count upon that! One of the best options available to the US is to ensure Russia gets bogged down in the Syrian war. This can be achieved by ensuring that Russia begins to lose aircraft and pilots to ISIS. Remember the poor Qatari pilot whose F16 was shot down some months back? Another option is to increase destabilization efforts in Lebanon and Iraq as well as provoke a flare up of the Palestinian Israeli conflict. From the US perspective, now that Russia is actively engaged in the mid east, the more chaos the better.
I’m sure they will dig out “many civilians” killed meme and use it against Russia, next start branding a new “axis of evil” consisting of Russia, Syria and Iran, and more sanctions…. How to stop that I’m not sure?
Oh Yes, it will be babies torn out of incubator’s all over again.
The thing is the trolls that visit RT or RI are participants in the above….they are soundly refuted 10:1 at minimum every-time. But their is still a large segment of all populations east and west that do get their information from the television and print media to whom Western politician’s are always playing to and so-called news in nothing less than perception management. They are the innocent dupes and I mean that with all sincerity. Austerity has people just to exhausted and anxious trying to put food on the table and their kids off to school in decent type of clothing. The Western capitalist want to turn the world back to a type of feudalism without even the ties the bound the serf to the land through tenure. It was a right to be able to have access to your own means of subsistence as long as you gave your tribute of goods to the Lord of the Manor. You could keep and trade a portion of your production for your and yours. They had some security. Once freed from the land: it was needed to graze sheep and the factories needed wage slave sans any right to a home or a piece of land, none of the surplus you produced was your to keep etc. This new freedom was the freedom to starve…and many did just as small farmers around the globe are displaced from land that they and their relations cultivated for generations. This process is being under-taken in Ukraine right now. Only there are no factories to go to. The refugee crisis in the face of austerity…will lead to the further depression of wages. I believe this above all else is the reason for their deliberate expulsion from Turkey. Once again on a global scale Marx’s prediction of two great contending classes has also come to bear.
Yours,
RR
VP…the only way to truly combat international terrorism-and in Syria and in neighbouring countries……etc
Russia doesn’t need to get bogged down in the Syrian war. She just needs to ensure Assad doesn’t fall with the minimal effort and then wait for Europe to buckle under the refugee crisis. A coalition that includes Assad will be created to get rid of ISIL.
Russian support for Syria: Russia needs to get UN cover ASAP. It is in the nature of the beast slouching toward Bethlehem to create a drama/incident etc. to “expose” the evil doer ( your own foulness projected on to others) and to try to discredit the Russian effort. Of course there will be coordinated armed movement on the ground—the Israeli military may balk at that happening anywhere near their borders. This whole scenario has the makings of turning into a free-for-all. Israel is bombing Golan heights, Turkey is bombing NWIraq and Eastern Syria.. the US is refusing to cooperate with the Russians so? The Russians are defending Latakia area and their forward base . And this has just begun…Oh, yes, and on the morning of the UNGA the French decide to throw in a bombing run because they feel their security is at stake. What they hit was anyone’s guess? Maybe the pilots just dumped their load over the Mediterranean and did a fly by Damascus?
Pay ye no heed to those abysmally reckless, clueless Perpetually-in-Search-of-The-6th-Republic cheese-eating surrender monkeys!
Better to spend time analyzing something of true import, like the geopol implications of a coup in Vanuatu.
Their schtick which has worked very well since Waterloo, thank you very much, is putting the ‘fried’ in ‘french fried’.
Mr. Ed wags his finger Lavrov’s way:
http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2015/09/30/431394/Kerry-Lavrov-Russia-Syria-
US Secretary of State John Kerry has warned Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov that Russian airstrikes in Syria could escalate the years-long conflict in the Arab country, a senior American official says.
The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Kerry told Lavrov, who is in New York for the UN General Assembly meeting, on Wednesday that the Russian move is against efforts of “deconfliction” and is unhelpful.
Lavrov has said do not listen to Pentagon allegations about our airstrikes…….great!
Apparently, Poroshenko and his pathetic entourage were completely out of place at the UN conference; Poroshenko was prevented from approaching Obama.by Obama’s security and, it seems, that Obama addressed Poroshenko over the heads of his body guards with the following question” When can you invite me to Crimea?”…
Consider this plan:
The Syrian Mincer
By Adrian
First posted – August 26, 2012 “Iraq War” — During WW1, the Germans soon realized that they were in a war of attrition. The side that could kill the most of their enemy would win. So they devised a cunning plan! They feigned an attempted break-through in the French sector at Verdun. But their true aim was to seize a site that was sacred to French pride, knowing that local geography, heavy artillery, and the machine gun would demand a high price in French lives in any effort to retake it. The strategy was called “The Mincer”. There were hundreds of thousands of casualties, the army mutinied – it almost worked!
Now fast-forward to 2012. After their victories in Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya, the Sunni fundamentalists are on a roll! Who will be their next target? Russia in the Caucasus and Central Asia? China in Xinxiang? The world oil supply in the Gulf? French colonies in North Africa? Or Israel itself! The Sunni are a threat to many, including their own rulers. Their fighters must now know that Allah is on THEIR side. How is the world to eliminate this threat?
The greatest problem is that the Sunni resistance have so far refused open battle against superior military forces. Instead they opt for insurgency, conserving their resources, and using them wisely. How are they to be beaten? The plan is to trick them! Offer them a prize they cannot refuse! Tempt them into fighting a set-piece battle that they think they CAN win! Then slaughter as many of their fighters as possible.
Syria is the bait! The fall of Syria would give them a country, a front-line against Israel, and weaken Iran. It could lead to a broader Sunni/Shia war that eliminates their Saudi/GCC leaders, and Turkey. It may even cause WW3, in which their infidel enemies, the US, Russia, and China eliminate each other! The Syrian campaign offers the Sunni resistance opportunities that are almost too good to be true. And that’s because it is! The Sunni have taken the bait and accepted a fixed battle which pits their lightly armed fighters against a heavily armed and motivated Syrian army. They believe that a distracted NATO will support them with airstrikes, as they did in Libya. It is a trap! They will be killed in their tens of thousands, whilst they wait in vain for NATO air-support. This is the Syrian Mincer!
The Russians are “in” on this ruse! Their UN veto will be used as the excuse the US needs to keep their promised air-support grounded! Russia will keep the Syrians supplied with the weapons needed to kill the Sunni. And the poor Syrians will thank them, unaware that the Russian “stray dog” has chosen their country as the killing ground.
The disputes between Russia and the US are an elaborate part of this fraud! They collude together in Afghanistan, train together in Arizona, but claim to be on the verge of WW3 in Syria! The threat of an Israeli attack on Iran is also a fraud, to make-believe that the Zionist priorities have changed. There are no Iranian nukes, and any strike by a weakened US will lead to disaster! Even their advisors admit to this. It’s all a fake, part of the plan to de-fang a rampant Sunni, who are the real threat to the Old World Order.
So sit back and watch The Mincer at work! There will be no grand “false-flag” attack to justify an attack on Iran, no NATO airstrikes on Syria, only the maintenance of the promise of one, and no WW3! Nothing must be allowed to stop The Mincer from doing its work…eliminating the Sunni “hot-heads” in their jihad! Remember: “By deception, shall we make war!” – MOSSAD!
And does Adrian think the sanctions, rouble attack etc are all part of this faux conflict between Russia and the US too?
Or that Russia has bought wholesale into the Sunni v Shia meme – so assiduously peddled by the Anglophone MSM to ‘explain’ the M.E. chaos?
The usa will do everything to discredit rus by association with Assad…with Syria…yes already claims of killing cvilians on intel provided by Syria…. USA getting France to prosecute crimes against humanity by Assad as a contributor posted kindly the other day…..Ash Carter says sanctions will continue,rus must fulfill Minsk,remove russian aggression in Ukraine,illegal annexation of Crimea balderdash..they will probably veto rus UN motion(so they can justify this by alledging guilt of rus)….but ukraine is probably finished going rapidly to absolute default,martial law,Poro is shown to be a bankrupt fool with the chance of a Maidan 3 or factional coup…no money to buy gas at the moment…..Minsk may fail but rus.is probably pretty sure and confident of coping with that for better or worse.Signs of further unrest in south ukraine eg AFU taking action at sea in Crimean waters would enable Rus to sink a few boats…….locals trying to sell produce to Crimea v v unhappy with pravyvsector/medjlis blockade( notice one of the major instigators of that sitting in the UN section of ukraine……)
Iraq is totally disgusted with usa failures maybe they will shut them out even more, could be a point……………maybe VP is thinking this could be a deciding moment of and for the UN………so be it if it is not up to the task of its members behaving illegally and unilaterally……as usa claims the right to fight terrorism illegally away from it’s shores, rus has the legal right to take care legally of its own potential terrorists.Game changer…..and in the UN week too, all set up and ready to act upon, no messing about. China could be interested in more than just a symbolic support for rus. depending on UN motion/resolution to maybe declare ISIS as international terrorists.
Once again, Kerry and what he represents is shown to be completely untrustworthy and degraded.
Thanks Saker for analysis at this critical time.Back to the book,maybe you’ll need extra chapters.
guess what from Ukraine-syrian action brings down-Minsk!
Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement in which he said that he considers a threat to its security permission to use the Army of the Federation Council of Russia for abroad.
According to Spokesman of the ruling undermines the peace process in the Donbass, before the meeting, “Norman Quartet” October 2nd.
Ukrainians recalls that a similar decision was taken in March last year, when Russia blocked access scumbag right sector in Crimea.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine with deep concern by the report on the approval of the closed doors by the Council of Federation of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, the resolution on the use of the Armed Forces outside the state. A similar decision by the Russian Federation from March 1, 2014 led to the occupation and annexation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea Sevastopol and caused an unprecedented security crisis in Europe “, – said in a statement Ukrainian Foreign Ministry.
“Another carte blanche for the use of armed forces of the aggressor against the backdrop of the continuing aggression against Ukraine is considered as a threat to national security and a step that undermines the peaceful settlement in accordance with a set of measures to implement the Minsk agreement on the eve of the summit in” Norman “format in Paris October 2” write Ukrainians.
American coalition bombing Syria in violation of the sovereignty of Arab States stated that terrorist bombing of Russian air-space forces will not change from the strategy and plans for flights over Syria.
http://www.anna-news.info/node/44127
google translate
JJ on October 01, 2015 · at 8:46 am UTC
“guess what from Ukraine-syrian action brings down-Minsk!”
Watch Oct 2, JJ.
Paris.
Minsk 2 is carefully inserted between the fat cheeks of Porky, and he walks home to Kiev in awkward fashion.
Syria is Europe’s problem. They have this Winter to sort it out before the next round of refugees start heading North in the Spring. Russia knows this and using it to her advantage. Hence Russia only got to stop Assad regime from falling by wiping out the rebels and wait. Europe will have to get serious in clearing out ISIL from Syria and make peace with Assad if they want to solve the refugee crisis.
Couldn’t resist pledging allegiance to the Zionazi Party Line, eh? The “Assad regime”. President Assad and the government he is leading along with the Syrian people are fighting the psychotic Western regime of permanent global rape and mass murder, period.
Western drivel
Void and trivial
What we need is more of such smears being caught “red-handed” so to speak, on the smear /fear mongers.
http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20150930/1027807644/ngo-caught-faking-syria-casualties-report.html
Haha, just watched a few minutes of the evening news on Sweden’s national broadcaster to get my “expectations” duly confirmed, and confirmed they were indeed! A staring, pallid face trying to look — and sound — authoritative while explaining that not only were women and children being killed by Russian air strikes. Better still, I was also made aware of the mendacious pretext on the part of the Russians of fighting ISIS; the Russians’ only commitment being to keep the lousy Assad “regime” in power.
Didn’t bother to watch the rest of it.
MSM = Moronic Soros Mouthpieces.
The only thing that can guarantee is quick success, where having kicked out ISIS, Assad’s regain full control in those areas and civilians wave welcoming flags…
Interesting. You left out the part about ensuring a Republican victory in the 2016 U.S. Presidential race. It doesn’t require the massive brainpower of Russian Federation intelligence services to see how brutally damaging such an outcome would be to the American nation. Perhaps, on the other hand, President Putin has mercifully provided time enough that the U.S. can save itself from itself. John Kerry should seriously consider running again, perhaps the only hope for a once great nation.
It requires even less brainpower to see how little it matters what crackpot prevails in Pindostan’s political screamfests. I have a sneaky feeling Assad and Putin agree on this.
about 3 hours ago, from when I’m posting this.
America first learned of Moscow’s plan to begin bombing operations in Syria when a Russian three-star general arrived at the US Embassy in Baghdad and asked that any forces or airstrikes in the area should leave immediately, it has emerged.
The demarche from Russia to clear air space over northern Syria sparked a heated discussion between US officials and the officer, Fox News reported.
“If you have forces in the area we request they leave,” the general reportedly said.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/syria-bombing-russian-three-star-general-warned-us-officials-we-request-your-people-leave-a6674166.html
PS: Anyone notice the astounding absence of Johnny ‘Rebel Yell’ McCain lately!
Oh, McCain? … he’s shot thru again!
The significance of the US propaganda war against Russia/Syria is very small. Remember that the hapless TV zombies of the US, who are (in general) sixty-plus year old males with a tenth grade mentality, live in a perpetually divided political environment provided by their media matrix in which approximately half the people at any time are shaking their heads over how evil the other half is, how evil the party in power is, how corrupt and vicious their tactics are, etc., wondering how such filth can be allowed to live. In other words, they are desensitized to whatever comes over the tube. I am sure the same applies in Europe. Just as in Orwell’s 1948 it didn’t matter whether it was Eastasia or the other bunch that was bombing today and hence had always been bombing; there is always an external enemy, and it will always matter not very much in the end to the victims of the matrix, as long as there is dinner to be had. Thank God there are some people who have broken through the matrix though, and thank God and Russia for coming through in Syria.
I don’t know much about the younger generation who are perpetually glued to their smartphones, but I know the younger generation of the middle east, which is the one that counts, remembers being hoodwinked into agreeing to the slaughter in Libya. That was not so long ago, I’m sure they haven’t forgotten it. For them, Russia is a breath of lifesaving fresh air in their neighborhood, and the US psyops and stratcom are not much more than hot air. The time of the US has come and gone. I wonder where the “smart money” of the west is looking these days?
I should have bookmarked it when I read it; now I can’t find the Sputnik item quoting a Defense Ministry spokesperson announcing the arrival of a Chinese Aircraft Carrier.
As for air defense, the Russian naval task force on station on Syria’s shoreline has the latest air defense weapons and personnel trained in their use, so ground forces aren’t needed. I doubt any NATO or Zionist planes would get close enough to attack that task force or the installations they’re protecting.
With the air defenses in place, Iran’s air force will now get a chance at Daesh targets. Russia also considers the Kurds to be allies with Syria, so today’s Turkish airstrikes against Kurdish positions may be the last if the air defense umbrella’s extended to their region.
It will take time, but the Western Asian disaster caused by the Outlaw Empire will begin to mend, although not without some rearranging of governments and borders as ultimately Russian security won’t be optimal without solving Palestine problem and Zionist aggression.
In the words of Yogi Bear, who really did die a few weeks ago: “It ain’t over till it’s over.”
BTW, Oilprice.con is a known nest of disinfo delusional drooling neocons.
http://www.tasnimnews.com/english/Home/Single/875347
Report: Iran Deal Opponents Try New Approaches to Stop JCPOA Implementation
September 30, 2015 – 18:53
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – US Republicans and a handful of Democrats are trying their hardest to stop the implementation of the Iran nuclear agreement by adopting new measures after they failed to block the accord on September 17.
According to an article by Oil Price.com on Tuesday, the opponents of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) between Tehran and world powers are seeking to adopt two possible approaches to make the implementation process difficult.
Under the nuclear deal, the President has suspended the sanctions imposed by Congress, but the legislation creating those sanctions – the Iran Sanctions Act – is not something that Obama can remove altogether. Instead, the Iran Sanctions Act has a sunset provision where it will expire in late 2016,” the article added.
Alas! They were expendable (or not)! And probably insured by Obamacare, too.
With US dilly-dallying, I wonder how many had already escaped.
For some more information on Farkas, the official who is leaving the Pentagon, see here:
http://www.politico.com/story/2015/09/pro-defense-farkas-wrightewing-214223
According to the article:
“She has advised three secretaries of defense on Russia policy, providing steady counsel on how the U.S. should respond to Russia’s aggressive actions and has been deeply involved in securing $244 million in support for Ukraine,” the official said. “In addition, Evelyn has brought fresh thinking to Southeast Europe policies — supporting Montenegro’s interest in joining NATO, expanding defense cooperation with Georgia, and increasing multilateral cooperation with the three Caucasus nations.”
LOL, this must be a *first*, US spy chief admits if OPM hacked by china, it’s really fair game… now removing all spies from embassy.
http://sputniknews.com/us/20150930/1027815559/cia-china-embassy-hack.html
I don’t see this quite the same as the article.I think the US/NATO is far more Machiavellian in this.The best case scenario for the US was ISIS and their other stooges to overthrow Assad.But that didn’t happen.And ISIS got “uppity” and they had to actually try to discipline them.But to do that effectively would mean they couldn’t continue to really use them for their other plans for the region.And risked them losing influence other them.So what to do? Welllll! Russia wanted to bring the rule of law and order back to the region,and to save Syria.So why not appear to “kind ah,sorta” support them.Appear to show some reason for once.Once Russia committed (now),change all that.Unleash the MSM to further demonize Putin and Russia.Have their EU stooges to comdemn Russia’s “invasion” of Syria,and accuse Assad as a war criminal (que France).24/7 let the Russophobic propaganda flow.In the UN try to block all Russia’s attempts for a true World anti-ISIS coalition (Kerry today in his statements).While the best case for the US/NATO was as I said,ISIS defeating Assad.The second best is for Russia to be the one defeating ISIS.Thus getting the terrorists hatred for their defeat solely directed at Russia.And the survivors even more loyal to their US masters.While at the same time having the MSM excoriate Russia has this tyrannical state slaughtering civilians in Syria.So even if he survives, Assad’s victory will be tainted.And the Europeans who only care about themselves.Will happily see the refugee flood stop,while at the same time blaming Russia for stopping it.And as the year ends and 2016 arrives.The US will have another huge election issue to get the sheeple to vote for the most anti-Russian candidate.How to “stop Russian aggression” will be the major talking point for them all.With the winner the one most anti-Russian. Its one more case of Russia is damned by the West,if they do anything,good or bad.
So having said that,what is the answer? Its the same one that has always been there.Stop caring what the West says and does.Only do what needs to be done (internally and externally) for Russia’s security and the Russian people.Maybe after seeing the Western treachery,one more time ,Russia will finally wake up to the fact, “the West can’t be trusted”.And will do what needs to be done to topple the junta in the former Ukraine and free the people there from fascism.Russia will,never,ever,get the West to change their policies,so stop trying to.
BTW,unlike in Ukraine,journalists (of all kinds) can’t really operate very much outside government controlled areas (hence the West is free to write whatever they want).Even those anti-Assad “reporters” risk the very real danger of being murdered or held as hostage by ISIS (with the possibility of getting a very short “haircut” at any time) if they do venture into their “lairs”.So the Russophobic propaganda stage is a dream come true for the West there.I think they said Russia killed over 30 “civilians” today.By the weekend it will be hundreds of “murdered” civilians Russia is responsible for.And no way to conclusively disprove that.Never underestimate the level of evil of the Empire.
Actually, White Helmet propaganda’s already been disproved since they used an old photo to substantiate their claims, http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20150930/1027807644/ngo-caught-faking-syria-casualties-report.html
I saw that.But just wait, that is only the tip of the iceberg.And more people in the West will believe the White Helmet report, than the one catching them lying . There is an old truism/saying that to discredit a man his political opponent needs to say “I’m glad you stopped beating your wife”.No matter that the story is false,no matter how much he denies it.The only thing remembered by voters is “he beat his wife”.Its the old Goebbels saying again “tell a big enough lie and keep telling it.And soon it will be accepted as truth.
Actually, no. Putin is extremely popular in the US in spite of the deluge of misinformation – that has been going on since Ukraine was torn apart, and Putin’s careful statesmanship hasn’t gone unnoticed. Obama popular? Not so much. Those who believe his smarm? Not so many. We knew before the world knew that he doesn’t walk the talk. Broke our hearts, that did.
Dissent may seem muted, because the crackdowns have been remorseless. Nixon used to trumpet about his ‘silent majority’. Maybe he was a prophet in disguise (hah!) There’s one majority here right now keeping their heads down for safety but thanking God there are leaders like Putin and Xi in the world today.
It’s not that Putin is popular in the US,it’s that Obama is unpopular.That is a very big difference.We on here are the exception,not the norm.Many people fear Putin (the new Hitler according to the MSM).There is a grudging admiration for him in many circles in the US.Along the lines of ,”why can’t our guy be tough like that”.But that is about it.The vast majority believe the MSM lie’s about “Russian aggression” and the “satanic Putin”.There was a poll that said 60% of people in the US distrust the media.But that doesn’t mean “about everything”,with each person the level of distrust is different.And when it comes to foreign affairs most people are totally ignorant on that subject. Like sheep they will follow what they are told.As examples,all you need do is read the comments on US websites with stories on World events.They usually range from,”Russia is evil”,”Putin is evil”,”the US isn’t tough enough”,”Obama is too weak to face Putin”,and a very few pro-Russian comments.And those are quickly attacked by the others.For goodness sake only 16% of Americans could even find Ukraine on a map right after the coup.And today a (empire supporter on my FB) FB “friend” posted about the Russian airstrikes and asked people what they thought of that.Nine out of ten,were comments about Russian “aggression” and “Putin the tyrant”,some said they were planning to attack Israel.And that the airstrikes were on Israels borders.Any map of the strikes show that’s a lie.But that’s not important to those people.Its the Russophobic propaganda that’s important to them.And all these are “normal” citizens posting.Not paid CIA trolls.So no,we shouldn’t fool ourselves that people in the US support Putin and Russia,it just isn’t a fact.
Surprisingly, there has been an upsurge of pro-Russian comments on the very popular neocon grassroots conservative website “Free Republic.” They seem to hate ISIS and even US-supported “rebels” much more than Putin and actually cheer him on. Quite a turnaround from the usual anti-Putin venom found there.
@ Uncle B:
“It’s not that Putin is popular in the US, it’s that Obama is unpopular. That is a very big difference [..]”
Bingo! Putin is popular among warmongering republicans as long as they can use him as an example of a ‘strong’ world leader, vs. ‘weak’ Obama. A stick to beat democrats over the head with.
Overall, they don’t really mean it. If a republican gains office tomorrow, those same ‘so-called pro-Putin’ republicans will turn against Russia in a flash. And if you guys think the US is demonizing Russia now – particularly Putin: you ain’t seen nothing yet if they get in.
In other words; they’re not criticizing Obama for being a bad president (which he is) they’re criticizing him and his administration because he’s not nuking everything that moves. In their eyes, this makes America look ‘weak’ or ‘hesitant’ losing clout as the world’s supreme overlord. These neo-cons, who are cheerleading Putin now, just can’t wait to get their putrid fingers on the red button to get on with the killing.
-TL2Q
While I would not dismiss your theory of the superbly cunning US/NATO, I think so far they have proven to be far far more below such level of intelligence!
But I agree with what you said about “what to be done”
@ Uncle B:
“[..] Welllll! Russia wanted to bring the rule of law and order back to the region, and to save Syria. So why not appear to “kind ah, sorta” support them. Appear to show some reason for once.”
Exactly! All this talk about how the West might be changing their minds on Syria, or how they’re sending ‘signals’ that they might consider to follow the Russian Initiative… Blah, blah, freakin’ blah…
All lies! It was obvious from the start.
Whoever said it first [sorry, can’t remember who, but it was a poster on this blog] IT IS A TRAP!!!!! Indeed it was!
But what can you do at this point in the game? Bad if you do and even worse if you don’t… trap or not, is not like there are many alternatives left. But you already addressed that in the following quote: “[..] So having said that, what is the answer? It’s the same one that has always been there. Stop caring what the West says and does. Only do what needs to be done (internally and externally) for Russia’s security and the Russian people. Maybe after seeing the Western treachery, one more time, Russia will finally wake up to the fact, “the West can’t be trusted”
I wish I could hand out to every single Russian a laminated card with the following message: “Never underestimate the level of evil of the Empire” and say to them, carry it in your back pocket at all times, and every time when you feel like the West is ‘not as bad as they say’… for the love of god get the card out and read it.
-TL2Q
In Catatonic Rage and With Drizzle oozing From their Mouths;
Proof of the reaction of the Liberal Zionist American Democrats to Russia’s Earthshaking decision to bombard the Terrorists in Syria, (without the Zio-American Oligarch’s permission), lies in the Huge Front Page Headline of the Democrat Party Rag, the Huffington Post, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/nato-concerned-russian-airstrikes-in-syria-devastated-rebel-held-areas_560c3cdfe4b0dd85030a6cdc
*By the way—These (actual) Terrorists, (who called the Pope a “Coward” today), https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=9&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CDUQqQIwCGoVChMIq5HH4t6fyAIVCNGACh3xoQWu&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.huffingtonpost.com%2Fmichelangelo-signorile%2Fpope-francis-kim-davis_b_8221090.html&usg=AFQjCNESJssFmJK-QQ-XHCfVVgfOgg8rGA&sig2=ORwXCUgJo1UDuzd6RLzy8w
are insisting that the Russian warriors, bombed the wrong terrorists. They insist that the Russians bombed THEIR ‘good’ (freedom fighters) terrorists, and not their other ‘bad’ terrorists, the ISIS terrorists. Both terrorists are funded by the stupid, cowardly, and immoral, American taxpayers.
Either way, if the Huffington Post scum believe Pope Francis is a coward, then the Pope must be a fine stand-up guy (as we say in Brooklyn) and I promise to attend church, as soon as I can get Sheryl Crow to go with me.
And, if they do not like the actions of the Russian Armed Forces, in particular their Air Forces, it reinforces my prior missive under “Cross Talk.” We loves you, and we prays for you.
The American Democrat gang are hideous scum and to be no more trusted than their twin Republican gang. Anyone hinting that a vote for one or the other (usually urging support for a Zio-Lib-Dem, such as Clinton-2, Sanders, or Kerry), is either brain-dead, an agent, or both.
Look at that Zio-Nazi Hateful headline. Learn. Show some moral fiber.
We must restore the Republic. Because we do not fear to dream. We have a VISION
And we remember.
IMAGINE
Peter, who should I vote for if Sanders is brain dead?
Please tell me NOW! Maybe a Green?
Jim of Olym on October 01, 2015 · at 2:43 am UTC
“Peter, who should I vote for if Sanders is brain dead?
Please tell me NOW! Maybe a Green?”
Sanders is not -brain dead. He is a zionist imperialist (war criminal)) lying hypocrite. He is a Judas Goat (who has the job to lead the fools-sheeple-to the slaughter). Sanders voted for funding the US military in Afghanistan, Iraq, & Palestine. He also votes to fund the theft of land and settlements on Palestinian land. I could write a lengthy dissertation on Sander’s crimes, but lack the time
Sanders is not the only asswipe. The Obomber of 2004 played a political similar role (he even received a Noble (sp) prize – on account).
On the what to do & who to vote for question:
1. Where in the American Constitution (or the Bible), is it written that one has to vote?
Now, for the good stuff:
2. Einstein wrote that there exist at least 4 dimensions. Not just the 1 dimension Dem v Rep Professional Wrestling Circus with some so-called ‘3rd party’ seasonings for flavor. Verb missing?
3. We need to begin (as with the Founders in 1776, and those in almost every other successful revolution), an Alternate Government focus.
a. That implies, where we have some strength, (Lexington and Concord, Any College Campus, Neighborhood, Workplace, Columbia University, Berkeley U, St. Petersburg Soviet, (er- wait a minute, that was 1905 Russia), Paris Barricades-same point, or somewhere over the rainbow), to hold Alternate Government Elections.
b. Numerous candidates may apply, paper ballots, we announce winners, set up Alternate Government foci.
c. Begin phase of DUAL POWER; yes, we will at first be far weaker than the Oligarch controlled traitors’ government.
d. Our “We The Peoples” government will respect the Constitution and be THE Constitutional Government and gradually win the support of the citizenry, and portions of the military and secret agencies.
e. Eventually, we will jail the bankers and politicians of the mass murdering unconstitutional post November 22, 1963 government.
f. An emergency committee of Ron Paul and Jimmy Carter, will be chosen to conduct Foreign Policy. Joan Baez, to the UN.
g. All troops will be brought home.
h. Rights to a job and place to live and single payer medical care and legalized drugs.
i. you fill in the rest
Or, vote for a Green, or a Blue, or a Purple. If it itches, scratch it!
I leave you with Jefferson:
“We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal… governments are instituted among men, deriving their powers from the consent of the governed; that whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles…”
For the Democratic Republics!
IMAGINE
* The 4th Dimension is Time
that sort of thing was done in Canada about a trial for 9/11…all the best judges and jury came from all over the world and there was a real trial…but did we even hear about it ? Nope. I guess these double alternative doings have a purpose to get us practiced…I honestly don’t think many people pay any attention to them though.
Ann,
The struggle will be long and hard!
1. The Glorious Russian People have launched a second wave of airstrikes over Syrian territory occupied by Zionist American Terrorists.
2. The Militia in Novorossya are holding their ground.
3. The Alternate Effort is the key moral ingredient to any successful revolution. Within Sauron’s Zionist/American realm of Terror there lies only utter moral and physical degradation.
As a point in action:
Earlier today, I handed an IMAGINE flier to a woman after she exited her car with her Seeing-Eye Dog (remember, this is America, average IQ, 28). Her auto was festooned with anti-war and pro-peace Bumper Stickers, and (hold your breath), an old “Vote for Obomber.” sticker.
As I handed her the sticker, I sweet-talked her, – saying, that if she did not agree with the flier, to “not get angry,” but just dispose of it. Imagine, having to prep a ‘democrat’ gang member, of the norms of democratic “free” communication and peaceful airing of – more than 1 point of view. She commented on Obombers recent “beautiful” speech. She appears to be willfully blind in addition to being legally blind. I am sure the whole spur of the moment action was not worth the effort.
4. Within the USA, we will shortly finalize our new pre-Electoral Circus IMAGINE flier and begin to circulate it.
5. It is not over until they break us on the wheel
Canada is fortunate to have you.
For the Democratic Republics!
IMAGINE
“As I handed her the sticker,”
Of course, what I meant to write was, “As I handed her the IMAGINE flier,”
Peter, Sanders revealed himself plainly as a typical phony with his description of Hugo Chavez as a ‘dead Communist dictator’. The Zionazis really hated Chavez, and Sanders, like his darkish fellow fraud, Obama, is a Manchurian Candidate for the real rulers of the USA and most of the West. First a young, darkish, Trojan Horse, now a choice of a ‘female’ version and a senile one. Ain’t ‘demo-crazy’ grand?
@ The Saker
Q; the Russians and Israeli officials get along famously, if only because both sides are smart and pragmatists (they don’t need a love fest, they need responsible behavior).
R; You are jesting, no?
This kind of responsible behavior? – link to youtube.
Putin should not only save the Assad government and a harbor, he has to protect the Palestinians and the fragmented Kurdish population as well.
Only then will he be a true mensch.
I agree he should.But I don’t see it.Russia as a state has leaned towards the Arab/Muslim position over some years (Assad and Hezbollah.And certainly Iran,though they aren’t Arab they are Muslim).But on a personal level Putin is not anti-Israeli.And has always had good (very good in fact) relations with Jews in Russia.Any talk about him being anti-Jewish is total BS.So because of that,he won’t take meaningful action for the Palestinians.That doesn’t mean he approves of Israels actions against the Palestinians.But it does mean,ties with the Jewish community in Russia.And the Jewish-Russian community in Israel are too strong for him to do anything.
@ Uncle Bob 1,
Q; But it does mean,ties with the Jewish community in Russia.And the Jewish-Russian community in Israel are too strong for him to do anything.
R; The stranglehold [blackmail] of a minority over a majority has to end. Period. Netanyahoo’s 2014 killing spree had a 96% approval rate in the Apartheid State. F*** them.
Give peace a [true] chance. Stop the Apartheid State and all it stands for. Cut the ties now.
You are preaching to the choir my friend,I totally agree. I’ve been pro-Palestinian ever since I read of the Zionist crimes there.But at the same time,we have to be realistic.That isn’t going to happen now.Maybe if the ME can be stabilized and Syria,Iraq,Lebanon,Egypt,and Iran be strengthened something can be done.But right now the best we can do is support those states .
yeah, is it that Russia should become the good cop and the States the bad cop ?
The whole world has to take up the Palestinians’ cause…not only Russia.
Salam Uncle Bob,
“Maybe if the ME can be stabilized and Syria,Iraq,Lebanon,Egypt,and Iran be strengthened something can be done.”
At the expense of Netanyahu, both Obama and Putin are doing this now.
Best regards,
Mohamed.
WOW!
If this story/headline doesn’t say it all about what REALLY happened Sep24 at Mecca that is still not public!
They have the Red Crescent there, no? So since when is an entire military force waiting to redress what went on?
Commander: Iran’s Armed Forces Ready for Any Mission Regarding Mina Tragedy
September 30, 2015 – 18:04
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – A senior Iranian military commander said the country’s armed forces are prepared to carry out any mission following a tragic crush of Hajj pilgrims in Mina, Saudi Arabia, that left hundreds, including many Iranians, dead.
In the very first hours after the Mina catastrophe, the country’s armed forces expressed their readiness to provide any (necessary) assistance to the relevant bodies and are fully prepared at the moment, too,” Deputy Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Brigadier General Massoud Jazayeri told Tasnim on Wednesday.
http://www.tasnimnews.com/english/Home/Single/875795
When I read the Iran reactions on this tragedy, it seems they suspect foul play of some sort. But they never made any such suspicions publicly.
For what it’s worth, both Donald Trump and Piers Morgan essentially say Putin on the right track while Obama’s policy is in ruins.
http://russia-insider.com/en/piers-morgan-putin-right-and-obama-wrong-syria/ri10072
http://russia-insider.com/en/politics/trump-sides-putin-syria-says-putin-better-leader-obama/ri10038
Donald Trump is likely to become as bad a dictator as anyone ever….unfortunately…Catherine Austin Fitts thinks he’s in cahoots with Jeb Bush…and Jebby’s elected to be #1…..something along those lines…Trump must have investments in all the worst of the worst….he’s a dud…..
It is indeed a dangerous victory and everyone would be well advised to be wary of the seemingly good disposition in the American’s reaction. It may well be they see in this the wonderful potential of some kind of second Afghanistan for Russia. I hope the Russians can quickly wipe out the Assad opposition, but as Saker mentions, air strikes alone are unlikely to change anything significantly. Somebody will have to go on the ground. The Americans with their deep pockets are apt to get involved in all kinds of dirty tricks. The potential for all kinds of things going gradually wrong and Russia finding itself increasingly mired in a protracted conflict have now increased, and they are not even at their own border. Watch out. This has just begun.
The United States and the west have now been exposed to the fact they armed and funded Daesh. Just a few days ago Cameron scolded Obama for not putting more blame on Islamic extremist mentioning Al Nusra and Isis and Al Quaeda as murderous extremists. Today the US State Department tried to put a happy face on by saying Russia is bombing the moderate Al Nusra and Free Syrian Army !!!
They have admitted that the terrorists are funded by them, there are no moderates they are all the same. Yet no peep when Turkey bombed the Kurds a few weeks ago.
Isn’t it “interesting” that while the MSM (and even RT) only reports on the US and stooges illegal airstrikes in Syria and Iraq.And while a bit more uncomplimentary,the Saudi/Gulf illegal airstrikes in Yemen are mostly just commented on as well by the MSM. But when it comes to Russia”s “legal” airstrikes in Syria there is an avalanche of negative coverage.If my sense of outrage hasn’t been in overload for over a year now.I’d probably be foaming at the mouth in rage by now.
My favorite Yogism: “It is difficult to make predictions, especially about the future.”
The Syrian Gambit is a masterful stroke. It puts Barry in the position of fighting himself. He’s pinned. Watching his stony faced handshake, I could only think this man is looking for revenge.
Nothing about the two front (Syria/Ukraine) war with the RF has been predictable. DLPR has been politically neutered and made subservient to the Kremlin and therefore Minsk II, the zombie agreement that by every piece of evidence has been long dead.
Has Putin abandoned millions of Russians to Pravy Sektor’s and the Azov Battalion’s slobbering embrace? I can’t imagine it. But how indeed is the DLPR supposed to be forced to come home to the rule of Porshenko et. al?
Will Barry unleash the Ukrainian armed forces against the Donbas? I have no idea.
Like Yogi said, “It is difficult to make predictions, especially about the future.”
Immediate follow-up…
to the hint….
to the first release (under 1 hour ago; said Iran was ready to send in not an “army” of civilian Red Crescent workers, but the real Persian army!):
http://www.tasnimnews.com/english/Home/Single/875814
Analyst Advises Riyadh to Take Supreme Leader’s Warning Serious
September 30, 2015 – 18:28
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – A Lebanese military and strategic analyst stressed that Saudi leaders should take serious a Wednesday warning by Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution.
printPrint
General Amin Hoteit, a former brigadier general of the Lebanese army and a political analyst and military strategy expert, told the Tasnim News Agency on Wednesday that Saudi Arabia’s rulers and “their masters” should heed the warning given by Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei earlier in the day.
Imam Khamenei warned Riyadh that the slightest disrespect for the Iranian Hajj pilgrims or its failure to repatriate the bodies of those killed in a recent crush in Mina will draw Iran’s “severe and tough reaction”.
Ayatollah Khamenei sent a clear message to the Saudi government after a September 24 crush of people in Mina, near Mecca, killed thousands of pilgrims, including hundreds of Iranian citizens, during the Hajj rituals.
I think the West misses the facts of the ME.Religious feelings trump “pragmatism” at “all” times.Secularism is so strong in the West, “even” the US.That they don’t understand the outrage that occurs in very religious countries when their faith is disrespected.The Haj is a sacred duty in Islam.And for the Saudis to politicize it enrages many Muslims Worldwide.And especially in Shia countries,where they are the main victims of that Saudi politicization.If anything can spark a real war between the Saudis and Iranians its that type of thing.Should the West get involved it could draw Russia in and we’d have the feared World War break out.The Saudis need to be contained and stop their actions before its too late for them.And one too many actions “breaks the camel’s back”.
Today the Iranians upped the number of Iranian victims of the disaster to over 460.Imagine if you had thousands of US citizens on a pilgrimage to Rome.The Vacation collapsed killing hundreds of them.And Italy wasn’t returning the bodies.That they were blaming the dead victims.And refused to let US investigators or officials into the site.You’d see an American military force on the way before you could blink your eyes ,over that.
The problem I see here is Israel. Israel today said it will not coordinate its air strikes against Hizballah in Syria with Russia (and obviously not with Syria, despite Syria’s much-vaunted air defense systems which have totally useless against Israeli strikes in the past.)
Since Israel’s ultimate goal is a war with Iran in which the US bombs Iran into the Stone Age, and since that goal requires the degradation of Syria and Hizballah in Lebanon as effective actors in an Iran war, if Russia (possibly with Chinese help) stabilizes Syria, thus preventing Israel from crossing Syrian territory to attack Hizballah and thus maintaining the status quo, Israel’s plans are completely wrecked.
I don’t see Israel – or its supporters in the US or the US military-industrial complex which also wants war with Iran – from allowing this to occur.
So the question to ask is not “What will Russia do next?”, but “What will Israel, the US neocons, the US and NATO MIC, Saudi Arabia, the GCC, and Turkey do next?” I don’t see them just backing down because Russia has entered the game directly to some minimal degree.
At best, unless Russia and China can persuade the US to back off, I think what we will see is a continuation of the stagnant, stalemate war wherein Russia manages to keep Syria afloat while the rest of their opponents continue to support ISIS and Al Qaeda. Without the US using its leverage over Saudi Arabia and the GCC and Turkey, nothing is going to stop the growth of ISIS. With forces numbering around 100,000, that is a force that is not going to be defeated as long as it has support from Saudi Arabia, the GCC, Turkey and the US and NATO.
And bringing in large numbers of Iranian troops is going to drive Israel and Saudi Arabia and the GCC crazy and give lots of leverage to the neocons in the US to sabotage that plan. And Hizballah does not have enough troops to seriously affect the outcome against a force as large as ISIS, except in very localized contexts as we’ve seen so far.
Any way you look at it, Russia is directly confronting the US (and Israel and Saudi Arabia and the GCC and Turkey) in Syria. That is not going to be accepted.
So the question to ask is not “What will Russia do next?”, but “What will Israel, the US neocons, the US and NATO MIC, Saudi Arabia, the GCC, and Turkey do next?
They’ve already made their next move, it happened SEP 24, & you can’t even see it?
Or do you think that open press threats by Iran to now send in their army into S.A. to “redress” the outrage is a perfectly normal reaction to a supposed accident?
How long do you think Saudi could fight a 2-front war?
Latest put up by Jim since this morning:
http://82.221.129.208/ag9index.html
Worst case wrote:
Always great to hear from you mate, basically from the hajj report I think is significant proof that WW3 is about to be stepped up well beyond the proxy stage that its at. If the Sauds are going all out to help those criminal phychos in the Mossad to abduct 225 significant people it as I’m sure we will agree is fundamentally an act of war. Iran won’t go quietly and the country is aligned with the BRICS nation alliance as we well know.
The Times of Israel is reporting that Russia notified Israel ahead of airstrikes against ISIS in Syria: http://www.timesofisrael.com/russia-notified-israel-ahead-of-syria-airstrike/.
It is known that Israel has been actively aiding and abetting these terrorists and organ-eaters- so why is Russia doing this?
Taking a break from the vomit-inducing that is the western MSM anti-Russian propaganda…
…here’s a little feel-good article [beautiful machine, btw :) ]
–
Su-34: Russia’s Ultimate ISIL-Crushing Machine
“Developed in the final years of the Cold War, the Su-34 was meant to replace the Russian military’s aging fleet of Su-24 Fencers. Featuring a robust air-to-air self-defense system, the aircraft is a top-of-the-line strike fighter, and this marks the first time it’s been deployed outside of Russia [..]”
http://www.sputniknews.com/russia/20150930/1027815347/Su-34-ISIL-Crushing-Machine.html
If legalism is what russiais after then west does not care for it and Russian success and prestige depends upon only winning this war and not bu arguing like a lawyer if it is legal or not. Russia must win and i must be seen to have
won the war.
Nobody cares abput anything else once war starts.
Russian air strikes: Let us think very clearly about what is going on with the limited information we have. Counter insurgency warfare traditionally is in the hands of the CIA or what was many years ago in the case of the French in IndoChina, their equivalent of that. Yep they did not have the time to get their program off the ground before Dien Bien Phu besides there were 5 Viet Minh divisions that no one seemed to have a clue about except (yes, even then) the much ignored intelligence staff in Hanoi. Now back to the fuzzy reality of the midEast. It is quite possible that those non Isil groups were CIA trained squads ( this whole public fiasco presented to us in front of the US Congress probably is ( no pun ) a red herring or one group taking sweet revenge on another ). Thus the protests –“What ? only an hour advanced warning!” and “it is non Isil groups( colossal understatement) being attacked” may be actually valid. Tough luck when you are playing a double game. So the story of the 3 star Russian general ( apochryphal or not) walking into the CIA headquarters in the Green zone of Baghdad today and issuing a one hour ultimatum is priceless in the annals of military oneupmanship . LOL
Looks like CIA ect is going to start pulling teams out of Syria. C-130s land and take off on short dirt strips? No way they are needed to recover downed aircraft pilots.
http://ekurd.net/us-air-force-troops-arrive-turkey-2015-09-30
U.S. aircraft and about 300 Air Force troops have begun arriving at a military base in Turkey to provide search and rescue capabilities for the fighting in Iraq and Syria.
Pentagon officials said there will be a number of Pave Hawk helicopters and search-and-rescue versions of the C-130 transport plane stationed at Diyarbakir Air Base in Turkey’s southeast Kurdish region.
Info on the Pave hawk helicopters from wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikorsky_HH-60_Pave_Hawk
The MH-60G Pave Hawk’s primary mission is insertion and recovery of special operations personnel, while the HH-60G Pave Hawk’s core mission is recovery of personnel under stressful conditions, including search and rescue. Both versions conduct day or night operations into hostile environments
what does that mean? they think the need to do recovery from bombings by Russia? hmmm.
C 130 gunship platform used to support helo rescuers. AC-130 variant.
Puff the Magic Dragon was the name for the version, included multiple cannons shooting out port cargo door.
Well as a Serb I wish Putin the best of luck. Crack some Daesh skulls. My only reservation is that the mobilization not be too small, however as the saker says, as long as its followed by boots on the ground it should be effective.
I regret the waste of resources but sometimes you have to prove a point to be taken seriously.
Time to get serious: Frenchies lay down their 3 demands/conditions:
French minister names three conditions for joining Russia-proposed anti-IS coalition
http://tass.ru/en/world/825022
September 30, 19:26 UTC+3
Firstly, the struggle should be conducted only against terrorists, secondly, a wide political process is to end with Assad’s resignation, and thirdly, use of barrel bombs and chlorine should be banned.
Really disappointing to see they did not demand the return of Mexico unto them, so they can time travel to bask in the Glory Days of their Epoch Glorieux when Nappie III lorded over all!
Russian lawmakers give Putin OK to use troops in Syria
Sep 30, 6:05 AM (ET)
By NATALIYA VASILYEVA
(AP) United States President Barack Obama, right, and Russia’s President President…
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MOSCOW (AP) — Russian lawmakers voted unanimously Wednesday to let President Vladimir Putin send Russian troops to Syria. The Kremlin sought to play down the decision, saying it will only use its air force there, not ground troops.
Putin had to request parliamentary approval for any use of Russian troops abroad, according to the constitution. The last time he did so was before Russia annexed Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula in March 2014.
The Federation Council, the upper chamber of the Russian parliament, discussed Putin’s request for the authorization behind closed doors Wednesday, cutting off its live web broadcast to hold a debate notable for its quickness.
So I guess Russia will need to manage without French help then.
The blasts in China continue. Averaging about one a week since the one in Tianjin in mid August.
April 7, 2015
Blast rips through Chinese chemical plant for second time in two years
http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/07/asia/china-chemical-plant-explosion/
July 16, 2015
Another massive explosion at petrochemical plant in China
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdfHee9fdTQ
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/china-explosion-incredible-footage-shows-6082830
August 12, 2015
Tianjin, China, massive explosion, horrific images and devastation
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfF2j8tDzf0
http://sputniknews.com/asia/20150812/1025681171.html
August 22, 2015
Another chemical plant explosion in Shandiong province, China
https://www.rt.com/news/313116-china-chemical-plant-explosion/
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-34029202
August 23, 2015
Series of explosions at US military base in Japan
https://www.rt.com/news/313159-explosion-us-base-japan/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-HFmaUM3Z8
August 31, 2015
Enormous new factory blast rocks Chinese industrial region
http://www.rt.com/news/313933-china-factory-blast-new/
September 07, 2015
Zhejiang Explosion: Another Massive Blast at Chemical Plant Rocks China
http://www.ibtimes.co.in/zhejiang-explosion-another-massive-blast-chemical-plant-rocks-china-645696
September 20, 2015
Huge explosion ripped through residential building in Chengdu, China
http://www.sott.net/article/302357-Huge-explosion-ripped-through-residential-building-in-Chengdu-China?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/peoplesdaily/article-3243144/Terrifying-moment-blazing-fire-tears-block-flats-massive-explosion-turns-building-raging-inferno.html
September 30, 2015
Chinese-City-Rocked-by-15-Explosions-7-Dead-Police-Claim-No-TerrorisAct
http://sputniknews.com/asia/20151001/1027822660/Chinese-City-Rocked-by-15-Explosions-7-Dead-Police-Claim-No-TerrorisAct.html
There are new blasts now as well.China needs to seriously answer these terror attacks.And that will mean going toe-to-toe with the Empire.Hopefully with Russia by her side.A good start would be letting Turkey and the US know that from this day forward any terrorist attacks made on China by groups supported by those countries will be considered attacks on China by those countries themselves.And that China will respond in kind on those nations.
Russian Support for Syria: Sorry Saker, the Israelis are up to no good. Again, this is a provocative site, it is a Mossad site so they lie, they misdirect, the obfuscate….however I doubt that the Iranians would have put a shot across the bow of the Israelis at this time…makes no sense. The israelis are building a case with Washington that the Russians can’t control the Iranian factor such as it may or may not be thus laying a basis for whatever they have up their sleeve which by what they have been doing for the last 3 weeks in provocations around the Al Asqa mosque, is not something peaceful.
http://debka.com/article/24913/Putin-warns-Israel-off-targeting-Iranian-targets-in-Syria-
Israel is in this war on the side of the terrorists, it is not a case of planning something, it has been going on, the Golan is occupied although annexed, and at the end of the war it will be Syrian again, God willing.
http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13940707000694
WHat is missing is the nexus of Russia and China in Syria…preventing the spread of Daesh contagion to their backyards. There are several thousand Russian islamists fighting in Syria, likely mostly Chechnyans from Georgia and Dagastan, and several thousand ughurs sponsored by Turkey. That these pigeons will come home to roost is a matter of when and not if, and troubles will then begin anew. Better to eliminate them in Syria now…hence the Chinese naval presence and talk of sending in advisors.
“WHat is missing is the nexus of Russia and China in Syria”
Good cop, bad cop. Russia has the fire power, China has the money.
Have no doubts Russia has the full backing of China.
Hi Saker, great article, very very interesting developments for sure…do you think that exiting Military US person…another woman like Samantha Powers perhaps ?….do you think she was asked to step down ? I suppose so. Good riddance to pesky vermin. What a shameful face women in the US have shown to the world eh ? Hillary, Samantha, Nudelmann and more…yuck.
Note how quickly the zionazis got there faked “evidence” out. Also notice how massive and unified their effort is. Like an tightly organized army, not a group in competition with each other. The same would happen if Russia went in and supported Novorussia against the zionazi attack there, only amplified. By going the full legal route in Syria, Russian support can not be credibly attacked by the zionazi propaganda machinery the way Russian military support for the Donbass would be. This means instead of losing friends and becoming more isolated, which would happen following a Novorussian rescue, Russia has more potential chances to gain friends and influence.
And as others have pointed out, the zionazis, after all these years pretending to oppose their canibal terrorists proxy armies, can’t really drop the pretense, do a 180 come out and openly support these death squads. The zionazi-fascist axis may get some sort of minor propaganda play demonizing Russia, but they, and their “Muslim terrorist” strategy has encountered a serious setback. Perhaps a fatal one.
The US-led air campaign in Iraq and Syria has killed as many as 591 civilians, including more than 100 children, according to an August report by Airwars, a nonprofit team of independent journalists tracking airstrikes.
Read more: http://sputniknews.com/us/20151001/1027820413/obama-war-bombs-iraq-afghanistan.html#ixzz3nIgd2ddt
“vot tak”
Lost your old keyboard ?
Any chance that we might see the departure of Nuland, too? That would be a sign of a victory for sanity.
Salam Judy,
Keep your friends close, but keep your enemies closer.
Best regards,
Mohamed
“I talked with the Syrian officer in charge of the data and the coordinates of targets for today’s Russian Air Force strikes on militants in Syria. All terribly pleased with the outcome of the operation. ”
http://www.anna-news.info/node/44123
rest of article has map including targets of rus air attack, russian positions ,discussion
sorry tried to copy paste……
eg
“Moves are attacking – to capture buildings, communication – for communication between the buildings, and to undermine the high-rise buildings occupied by the enemy. All moves mined. During attacks all hidden under the ground, and therefore have little or no loss. If this assault groups is necessary not only to fight, but after its completion also build barricades, recording on different floors barrels land sandbags, large linen cloth for protection against snipers. Himself to dig underground hldy messages between houses and, certainly, around each house at a certain depth. This allows a soldier to avoid penetration of the CAA in the basement of his building of terrorists, and establish wiretapping of underground works. The most effective methods of destruction of the enemy is counter underground explosions in tunnels and pumping of water with the gasoline.”
google translate
Military commentator Korotchenko had a post of French TV showing videos from around the Russian forces in Lattakia, along with satellite images.
http://i-korotchenko.livejournal.com/1173702.html
Salam Everybody,
The joint information sharing center (Baghdad-Based Anti-ISIS Intel Sharing Program) by Russia, Iran, Syria and Iraq is set up in Baghdad, not Damascus.
The Iraqi Prime Minister have already asked Russia to help them with ISIS. Pretty soon, Russia will have the base again in Iraq, just like USSR.
Then, the President of Egypt will ask the Russia the same.
Rejoice,
Mohamed
Salam Alaikum,
ISIS is back in Afghanistan with a vengeance. Pretty soon the President of Afghanistan will be inviting back Russia to his country.
Russia is back to being a Super Power, just like USSR.
Rejoice,
Mohamed
Salam Alaikum,
Some more excellent news. Russia seems to be back in Lebanon on Israel’s doorstep from the Lebanese side now.
“Hours after officially entering the Syrian civil war, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said his country was poised to bolster the army in neighboring Lebanon as well.
Lavrov said Moscow was ready to boost the Lebanese Army by equipping it with “specialized equipment” to fight terror groups.
Lavrov made the comments at a meeting of the Lebanon Support Group at the United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York on Wednesday, the Russian Tass news agency reported.”
Alleluia, or shall I say, Allahluia!
Rejoice,
Mohamed
“no Russian imposition of a no-fly zone (especially not against the US or its allies!)”
That is exactly the question. I would reason that for eliminating ISIS in Syria the borders to Turkey, Lebanon, Israel and Jordan have to be sealed off. Without a no-fly zone this goal seems unrealistic, and the Red Army’s foray into Syria would be doomed to failure from the very beginning.
Therefore, at a certain time, no far ahead in the future, Syrian air-space, regulated by international law, will have be respected by all parties involved, including France, Turkey, Israel and the US.
Good Morning Saker and co.
An excellent read thanks for providing it to all. There sure has been plenty of over the top type stuff going around.You (Saker) have been nearly a lone voice of reason in a sea of frothing lunatics in the alt media and blogosphere. It’s emotionally wearing to have to sift through all that alex jones type mania..
Notice I said nearly though because I too have been trying to stay rational and in that search came across something interesting- new to me. I’m no military strategist but this concept is definitely interesting.
A2/AD- This is how NATO describes Russian defenses in Kaliningrad, Crimea and it appears this is what concerns them greatly wrt Syria.
The appearance of an A2/AD bubble over Syria and the Levant
Russia Building A2/AD bubble over Syria and the Levant
@Penny
Seems like a dead link….
Hi KM
My apologies.
http://pennyforyourthoughts2.blogspot.ca/2015/09/russia-building-a2ad-bubble-over.html
Also
http://pennyforyourthoughts2.blogspot.ca/2015/10/a2ad-bubble-syria-and-bigger-strategic.html
Thought I would include the expanded post too :)
Just as the BBC’s TV reporter announced the premature destruction of World Trade Center Building 7 with the building clearly still standing in the background
Dear The Saker,
Thank you for your Unz article. Today even VVP has had to slap down the utter lies spewed by the MSM. Everyone should ask how did these stories appear before the planes even took off……
http://www.sputniknews.com/middleeast/20151001/1027845646/civilian-casualties-info-appeared-before-russian-jets-in-syrian-sky.html
Syrian Ambassador live on RT now too.
RT also just had an interview with a so called journalist from Haaretz who gave the most waffley reply about legality of the “Western” intervention. Even dismissing its importance. Apparently, if the leader of a country doesn’t control all the land – then its fine for other countries to just go in and if unelected bodies such as the Free Syrain Army ask for the US to bomb etc. then that’s fine too. (Forget the fact that the FSA hasn’t been elected; doesn’t represent the majority of Syrian people and was created by the West). And he went on and on about Assad leaving. You couldn’t make this tosh up! I am surprised the news reader Marina didn’t’ push back on the legality or say there was no UNSC approval. (I find her very weak compared to other presenters/newsreaders). Well you can’t say RT doesn’t let other opinions on the show.
Rgds,
Veritas
Would not that mean that the leadership of Novorussia could ask the Russians to bomb Kiev, and that it would be just fine for Russian troops to flood across the Dnieper and wipe out the Nazis, as well?
Just wanted to let you know that in the comments sections under articles about Russian airstrikes in the British corporate media, many, many clued-up Britons are sending Putin messages of support.
All these conflicts in the Middle East are to please IsraHell. It’s time for every country to BOYCOTT ISRAHELL like the new leader of the free world just did>> http://bit.ly/1VdQybu
UFAAUnited Front Against Austerity | TWSPTax Wall Street Party
Morning Briefing | Thursday, October 1, 2015
Yesterday marked a major shift in the fight against terrorism in Syria and opened the path towards peace in the Middle East. Russian fighter jets launched 20 sorties over Syria yesterday, destroying at least eight terrorist targets with surgical strikes. According to the London Daily Telegraph, the strikes also destroyed ISIS ammunition, fuel, command posts and communication centers. [1] Unlike the phony war plan of US ISIS Czar General John Allen, which included limited air raids against ISIS that were ultimately ineffective, these strikes by Russia were coordinated with the legitimate Assad government of Syria. The Russian-Syrian attacks represent the beginning of a cooperative effort to destroy terrorism in the Middle East. [2]
Russia’s fight against terrorism has had the welcomed effect of making the Allen-inspired policy of appeasement impossible to follow for the United States. In order to save face in the war against terrorism and keep up with the Russians, the Pentagon claimed that US had also been conducting airstrikes against ISIS in Aleppo. [3]
However, rather than applaud actions taken against Al-Qaeda and ISIS in Syria, Western governments and media outlets whined that Russia was not only attacking ISIS but also the so-called moderate terrorist rebels. Regarding a Russian strike in Homs, a traditional haunt of the terrorist band known as the Free Syrian Army, an anonymous French diplomatic source told Reuters: “It is not Daesh (Islamic State) that they are targeting, but probably opposition groups, which confirms that they are more in support of Bashar’s regime than in fighting Daesh.” French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius also complained that Russia must stop its support for Assad, that Assad must step down, and that Russia was ambiguous about whom they were fighting in Syria. These flippant remarks by Fabius were directly castigated by Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem, who rightly said: “What we have heard from the representative of France today clearly shows the true role played by France with regards to supporting terrorism.”[4] France is making trouble in order to secure a bigger slice of the concessions pie.
One other wretched soul protesting the Russian airstrikes was Khaled Kohja, head of the puppet Syrian National Coalition, which purports to be an organ of opposition against Assad. Khoja claims the Russian airstrikes in Homs only killed civilians [although these reports are coming mainly from NATO stooges]. [5] It must also be pointed out that Khoja makes his statements and directs his venom against Assad and Putin from the safety of his abode in Turkey, and is essentially under Erdogan’s protective custody. This means that Khoja is receiving aid and comfort from a state which has consistently housed, trained and supplied the ISIS genocidalists, Al-Nusra butchers and other Islamist groups in Syria and Iraq whose total body count is immense.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov also announced that Russia will present a proposal to the UN Security Council on fighting terrorism. In a Security Council meeting yesterday, the discussion was centered on “resolving conflicts in the Middle East and northern Africa and the battle with the terrorist threat.” At the meeting, the so-called Quartet of Mideast mediators — the United Nations, United States, European Union, and Russia — will meet together and then join with Middle East nations to discuss options for peace negotiations and fighting terrorism. [6]
Iran’s Foreign Minister Zarif Is Right to Warn of Cross-Border Terrorists: Conflicts in Libya and Syria Propelled by Foreign Fighters Shipped in by Saudi, Turkey, US and UK
Watch Webster G. Tarpley on Press TV here: http://tarpley.net/irans-foreign-minister-zariv-warnw-of-cross-border-te…
Jim has some stuff up about ISIS, now SIS except for the screenshots showing where the 3rd party lowest contractor bid winner from India left “ISIS” clearly in several places on the website.
And they left the “C Copyright 2010”, when the corporate website was put up, clearly seen in it still.
Also, for those wondering where Johhny Reb McCain went these weeks, he’s been tied up in studio helping with those ISIS produced videos.
BTW, Jim also says Russia nailed an al CIAduh command center yesterday in one strike (what else?), which is why the cover story about them all uprooting to Iraq? for S&R!
http://82.221.129.208/ah2index.html
Well worded and informative (as usual! ;-))
Game changer? My personal opinion is no, just a game delay. There is no knowing with Barry and Putin discussed in private. It’s obvious that the US military machine has been stopped in it’s tracks though. That mouthpiece Carter and all the rest are stumbling over their words and the MSM is totally loving themselves in the Russia fest!
I defer to your experience on predictions, BUT don’t forget to factor in that the beast is stuck in the tar pit right now, failing around on it’s last gasp for survival. There is no knowing what the beast will do, who or what what it will destroy in the process. When the Dollar tanks, there will be pain for the non-participants.
Well the Belgian media is busy churning out shit;
Todays headline, frontpage:
“Russia is attacking syrian opposition instead of Isis”
In 3 years the US couldn’t find moderates but somehow Putin found them and is bombing them apparently.
I swear if the Russian would manage to kill Al-Bagdadi they would declare him a ‘martyr’ and victim.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article43018.htm
I am confused, I thought Assad was fighting primarily Al-Qaeda in Syria, not ISIS. Yes, both, but I thought USA is training Al-Qaeda and Saudis are supporting Al-Qaeda so they can run their gas line through Syria. Which is it?
Almost forgot… This very entry has been headlined today in GloblalResearch:
http://www.globalresearch.ca/syria-military-review-studying-the-russian-military-operation/5479406
And also features in InformationClearingHouse:
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article43010.htm
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Congrats to Saker & the SouthFront, your hard work is not being overlooked :)
Ooops, the first link is actually not this entry, is the latest one: “International Military Review – Syria, Oct. 1, 2015: Studying Russian Military Operation”
/international-military-review-syria-oct-1-2015-studying-russian-military-operation/#comment-153897
+
http://southfront.org/international-military-review-syria-oct-1-2015-studying-russian-military-operation/
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Congrats all the same, guys! =)
Russia should extend it’s raids to saudi arabia and qatar… to uproot the medieval fanatic sponsors of the “moderate rebels”
Anyone who calls wahhabi devils sunnis is an ignorant fool or an agent provocateur! To call syria and iraq a sunni shia war is to be responsible for the crimes committed by actual sunnis brainwashed by media to fight shia.
Do not become murderers and accomplices to crime by calling this zionist job a sunni shia war.
Russia has embarrassed the pentagon – there will be a kickback – i suspect it will be in the Lebanon or possibly in Jordon (Jordon seems to have gone neutral at the moment). The no-fly-zone that Russia has established will be tested and lies printed about the catastrophic consequences of any incursions.
Once again US hegemony brings the world to the brink of another world war…
Regards Fred
Hi Fred,
They already tested on the night of 1st October 2015.
http://www.intifada-palestine.com/2015/10/air-duel-between-the-sukhoi-su-30-russian-sm-and-israeli-f-15/
Do not worry too much, some people seem quite naive.