[This article was written for the Unz Review]
The things that please are those that are asked for again and again
Horace
Bomb, Bomb, Bomb, Bomb, Bomb Iran
John McCain
President Putin, Russia and Iran are responsible for backing Animal Assad. Big price…
Donald Trump
It is difficult to have a dialogue with people who confuse Austria and Australia
Vladimir Putin
Bis repetita
It appears that we are coming back full circle: the AngloZionists are again, apparently, preparing to use the very same White Helmets (aka “good terrorists”) to execute yet another chemical false flag attack in Syria and again blame the government forces for it. The Russians are, again, warning the world in advance and, just as last time, (almost) nobody gives a damn. And there are even reports that the US is, yet again, considering imposing a (totally illegal) no-fly zone over Syria (I have not heard this once since Hillary’s presidential campaign). And just like last time, it appears that the goal of the US is to save the “good terrorists” from a major governmental victory.
It appears that my prediction that each “click” brings us one step closer to the “bang!” is, unfortunately, coming true and while the Empire seems to have given up on the notion of a full-scale reconquest of Syria, the Neocons are clearly pushing for what might turn out to be a major missile strike on Syria. The fact that firing a large number of missiles near/over/at Russian forces might result in Russian counter-attack which, in turn, could lead to an major, possibly nuclear, war does not seem to factor at all in the calculations of the Neocons. True, the Neocons are mostly rather stupid (as in “short-term focused”) people, with a strong sense of superiority and a messianic outlook on our world. However, it baffles me that so few people in the USA and the EU are worried about this. Somehow, a nuclear war has become so unthinkable that many have concluded that it can never happen.
The other thing which the Neocons seem to be oblivious to is that the situation on the ground in Syria cannot be changed by means of missile strikes or bombs. For one thing, the last US attack has conclusively shown that US Tomahawks are an easy target for the Syrian (mostly antiquated) air defenses. Of course, the US could rely on more AGM-158 JASSM which are much harder to intercept, but no matter what missiles are used, they will not effectively degrade the Syrian military capabilities simply because there are so few lucrative targets for cruise missile strikes in Syria to begin with. Considering that the US knows full well that no chemical attack will take place (or even could take place, for that matter, since even the USA have declared Syria chemical weapons free in 2013) the White House might decide to blow up a few empty buildings and declare that “the animal Assad” has been punished I suppose. But even if completely unopposed a US missile attack will make no military sense whatsoever. So this begs the question of what would be the point of any attack on Syria? Sadly, the rather evident answer to that is that the upcoming missile strike has less to do with the war in Syria and much more to do with internal US politics.
Russian and Syrian options
There are a few differences too. The biggest difference is that this time around the Russian naval task force in the eastern Mediterranean is much bigger than last time: 15 ships including two advanced frigates, the Admiral Grigorovich and the Admiral Essen (see a detailed report here: https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/russia-sends-largest-naval-fleet-ever-to-syrian-waters/) and two 636.3-class advanced diesel-attack submarines. That is a lot of anti-ship, anti-air and anti-submarine firepower and, even more crucially, a lot of advanced early warning capabilities. Since the Russian and Syria air defense networks have been integrated by single automated fire system this means that the Syrians will very accurately “see” what is taking place in and around the Syrian airspace (this is especially true with the Russians keeping their A-50U AWACs on 24/7 patrol).
What has me most worried are the various reports (such as this one) which says that US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov last week that “Moscow would be held responsible” if any chemical attack occurs. If by “Moscow will be responsible” the crazies in Washington DC mean “morally responsible”, then this is just the usual nonsense. But I am afraid that with certified nutcases like Bolton and Pompeo in charge, the US might be considering attacking Russian personnel in Syria (not necessarily at the well defended Khmeimin or Tartus bases). These guys could easily target various installations or Syrian military units where Russian personnel are known to be deployed and declare that they were not deliberately targeting Russians and that the Russians hit were “clearly involved” with the Syrian chemical weapon forces. The US has already targeted Russian nationals for kidnapping and detention, they might start killing Russian nationals next and then place the responsibility for these deaths on the Kremlin. You don’t think so? Just think “Skripal” and you will see that this notion is no so far fetched.
The Russians do have options, by the way. One thing they could do is place 6 (modernized) MiG-31s on quick alert in southern Russia (or, even better, in Iran) and keep a pair of them on combat air patrol over Syria (or over Iran). Combined with the “eyes” of the A-50U, these MiG-31s could provide the Russians with a formidable capability, especially against the US B-1B deployed in Qatar or Diego Garcia. So far, the MiG-31s have not seen action in Syria, but if intercepting a large number of cruise missiles becomes the mission then they would offer a much more flexible and capable force than the very small amount of Su-35 and Su-30 currently based in Khmeimim.
But the key to protecting Syria is to beef-up the Syrian air defenses and early warning capabilities, especially with advanced mobile air defense systems, especially many short-to-medium range systems like the Tor-M2 and the Pantsir-S2. Until this goal is achieved, the USA and Russia will remain in a most dangerous “Mexican standoff” in which both parties are engaged in what I call a “nuclear game of chicken” with each party threatening the other side while counting on its own nuclear capability to deter a meaningful counter-attack or retaliation. This is extremely dangerous but there is very little Russia can do to stop the US leaders from coming back to that same strategy over and over again. So far the Russians have shown a truly remarkable level of restraint, but if pushed too far, they next step for them will be to retaliate against the US in a manner which would provide them with what the CIA calls “plausible deniability” (I discussed this option over a year ago in this article). If attacked directly and openly the Russians will, of course, have no other option left than to hit back. And while it is true that the Russian forces in and near Syria are vastly outnumbered by US/NATO/CENTOM forces, the Russians have a massive advantage over the USA in terms of long range cruise missiles (see Andrei Martyanov’s analysis “Russia’s Stand-Off Capability: The 800 Pound Gorilla in Syria” for a detailed discussion of this topic).
None of the above is new, the world has been been stuck in this situation for well over a year now and there still appears to be no end in sight. Unfortunately, I can only agree with Ruslan Ostashko: only a massive military defeat or a no less massive economic collapse will stop the folks who “who confuse Austria and Australia” to give up their insane quest for world hegemony by violence.
The Saker
There was ( and still is ) a way to stop US aggression on Syria.
A combines Arms of Russia and China ( with heavy air, artillery and navy support ) liberate Idlib while SAA serves as reserves. Unfortunately Chinese-Russian friendship is only a business type, not a cordial.
Russia should not count on China neither in Syria or anywhere else.China depends at 50% + on the US for her trade exports.China can not survive without the US orders and to a lesser extent from the EU.
There is a possible link in the timing for this forseen false flag with the 9/9 Moscow ‘pension demonstration'(Navalny has already been arrested in advance for 30 days).
If I was a neocon à la Bolton/Pompeo I would launch a devastating attack on Russian assets in Syria(an why not as well in the Donbass or another MH17?).
Easy to tell the Russians after:’look your leader’,he wants to make you work many more years and he is not even able so save Russians soldiers lifes.He is spending billions in wars and he has no money for you.
The popularity of Putin is collapsing(from 88 to 37% yesterday)with the fith column pension reform.
A once in a lifetime perfect timing for the neocons to attack on various fronts.
I cannot stop wandering what ‘China survival’ means in some people’s heads. China survived centuries of devastating flood, earthquakes, famines, wars, revolutions which produced millions upon millions of death and is there more populous than ever. And all her billion+ people would die if they don’t get American orders?
I am in continual and fruitless debate about what ‘China collapse’ means. The CCP has done a marvelous job of conflating their survival with Chinese economic advance and by extension, Chinese nationalism. Invariably, you hit Chinese recoil prompted by centuries of injured national pride. Very little daylight splits that gap. Of course China in any meaningful existential sense is going nowhere. However the internal contradictions implicit in an advancing capitalist system presided over by a Marxist vanguard will assert themselves further in the months and years ahead imo. Some gesture towards –or semblance of– pluralism must arrive before significant economic progress resumes.
I’m well-versed in the helix formation theory popularized up here. But when push comes to shove, I think China will adopt a passive role in a US-Russia confrontation over the ME.
China going no where?
Before making any accusation, check out the facts on the ground won’t you?
China has ambitious goal to eliminate poverty by 2020.
In western countries, not only the poor are getting even poorer, even the middle class are also becoming poorer while the rich become richer.
It’s the western countries and its ilk which are going no where since what’s in their twisted mind is all about destruction and profit.
China builds while the west destroys.
China is busy inventing new method to make her people even more prosperous while western countries and their ilk are busy devising new tricks to even make their own people more miserable.
“China going no where? Before making any accusation, check out the facts on the ground won’t you?”
It wasn’t an accusation lol. I meant China is not sinking into the Earth and vanishing any time soon, a figure of speech. China’s ascent is all but assured. The question is how many reversals and speedbumps will it encounter before it can resume this upward path.
I see less the inventiveness and newness of China than I do glaring contradictions that must be dialectically resolved. Moreover these resolutions will be wrenching. Did you listen to Xi’s speech marking the 100th anniversary of Marx’ birth earlier this year? He used the opportunity to reaffirm a remarkably doctrinaire embace of Marxism. Quite astonishing really. On a pragmatic level the CCP must continue to embrace Marxism as to abandon or amend it substantially undermines its own century-old ‘legitimacy’, a sure indicator of fallibility. Also, the teleological dimension of Marxism furnishes the rationale for continual self-correction and ‘evolution’, breaking China (certainly the CCP at least) free of its 200-250-year dynastic cycle and offering it an intelligible future.
What is the band aid that has managed to reconcile a burgeoning capitalist class to a Marxist one-party vanguard? A debt level that’s 250% of GDP. There are a lot of make-work ghost cities in that number! Before you get offended again, I’m not singling China out as a debt time-bomb. As goes China, so goes the world. But that’s the point. Just how different is this different development path?
Again, the world is awash in conceptual artificialties. Where in the west is capitalism practiced? In the US? Land of the public-financed banker bail-out and Home of corporate welfare? I think not. Everyone’s making it up. Debt peonage is the elephant in all rooms.
But think of it: in China you have a Marxist vanguard of committed cadres (yeah right) conducting capitalism to its central crisis so that Marxism ‘can happen’. In an odd sense Marxism has arrived before its time (as it did in the SU, prompting great and tortured thinking on the ‘agrarian question’ and ultimately the social catastrophe of collectivization).
Back to Syria. It is the playground of the moment where the Empire must enact the forward-march demanded by its debt pyramid. Kim Jong Un’s suddenly resumed rejectionism and Zakharchenko’s assassination? All are MacKinder strategy of tension conflagration-points and they’re being lit on fire with eerie simultaneity. Putin’s pension crisis will be exploited by all the usual parties like Xi’s trade war crisis.
China spends money on infrastructure, R&D, and its population. Total UK debt is 500%, same for Japan, US not far behind. China is doing ok, they just had a bit of a bubble, and it needs to slow down before it gets to 300%, where it can go down a bit. We need reform of the Western banking model though – for an industry that is the crossroads of the fiscal and monetary sides of the economy, not having a truly national bank is leaving the boat out in a storm.
‘Devastating’ attack on Russian assets in Syria would result with CETCOM being turned into dust within 20 minutes from said ‘devastating’ attack. Get real.
Also provide a reference about Putin’s popularity going down to 37%. Wishful thinking.
https://southfront.org/the-european-union-boycotts-russias-syria-initiatives/
A few paragraphs too within re China……
Syria plus its current allies has plenty of force to take care of Idlib. Syria plus its allies have been rolling up one terrorist pocket after another. They can pick a target, move in, attack, clear the pocket and move on. They’ve done this over and over since Allepo. Idlib is just next on the list.
During the last Syrian Missile Crisis, China very obviously stood firmly with Russia. China made statements saying that it was clear that if Russia went down they knew they’d be next. The Chinese defense minister flew to Moscow and made such statements at a very public press conference. As the days counted down to Trump’s missile attack, the Chinese Navy was at sea conducting live fire exercises in both the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea. America likes to talk about how vital a trade route the South China Sea is, and China was threatening to close that and invade Taiwan should a conflict between US and Russia begin in those days in Syria.
Fortunately, we don’t know if that was a bluff or not. I use the word fortunately, because we’d learn only that in the last days before the complete destruction and likely extinction of the human race. It was long the US plan to escalate a war with Russia to nuclear war. Their missile defense systems are an attempted to gain the ability to strike Russia without retaliation. Then we all starve and die in the nuclear winter, no matter who or if anybody “wins”.
“Bogdasarov: A Russian Response To A New US Attack On Syria Should Include Sinking The Warships”
https://www.fort-russ.com/2018/08/a-russian-response-to-a-new-us-attack-on-syria-should-include-sinking-the-carriers-not-just-shooting-at-their-missiles/
What I find interesting is that during the last attack, and in the setup for this attack, America has withdrawn its carrier groups to safe waters.
https://maps.southfront.org/us-carrier-strike-groups-locations-map-august-27-2018/
A decade ago, America would have concentrated their carriers as a part of the attack. IIRC, 3 American carriers took part in the Shock n Awe bombing of Iraq in 2003. Thus, one would think that one would see a carrier in the eastern med and likely a second carrier from the Pacific coming up into the Persian gulf to concentrate striking power for an attack. Not only to these carrier groups provide air power, but they also provide a concentration of cruise missile launchers. They act and train as a defensive unit against air and submarine attacks with planes from the carriers playing a role in both areas.
In April, it was very noticeable that the carrier Harry S. Truman was not in position in the eastern med. The attack had all the hallmarks of being pre-planned around a planned false flag operation. And yet, the planning had no carrier groups in the med. The Truman was only leaving port and sailing east as the cruise missiles flew. Perhaps the speedy success of the Syrian offensive into E.Ghouta threw the timing off?
But now we again see America apparently preparing for a pre-election strike on Syria to defend Al-Qaeda in Idlib, and again, the carrier groups are nowhere to be seen. America is collected cruise missile ships outside of the carrier groups, destroyers and submarines and B-1 bombers. The Harry S. Truman is in Virginia, and the Ronald Reagan is leaving the Taiwan area and heading back to base in Japan.
This says two things. One is that the American high command views the carrier aircraft as useless in Syrian airspace. The last attack involved no penetrating aircraft raids. Only cruise missiles fired from outside of Syria. An inference from this is that the presence of the Russian air defense systems has cut off this option to the Americans.
But even then, previous American doctrine would have still had the carrier at least flying air cover over the cruise missile ships. The Americans tended to move the carrier groups as a whole, and if the planes weren’t useful for joining the attacks they could help defend the ships launching the missiles from the carrier group. Now we see the carrier groups completely withdraw, as in April, as the Americans are apparently massing forces for an attack.
The apparent inference is that the Americans now consider their carrier groups to be vulnerable and feel a need to protect and preserve them. This is what was always coming from Putin’s announcement of the new Russian weapons back in March. Yet that seemed to be a few years down the road, as the weapons announced were mostly ones who had only tested succesfully but were not yet deployed. Now we see the Americans acting as if those carrier groups were very vulnerable today. Too vulnerable to risk pushing them forward into cruise missile launching range of Syria.
Very interesting.
What is remarkably missing from the discussion is the role of the Zionist entity. The silence is more deafening given the escalation of IDF air attacks said to be focused on “Iranian” forces in Syria. This seems to include the air strikes on the military airport near Demascus. It must be remembered that only weeks ago, significant Israeli airstrikes were unleashed against Syria contemperaneous with Putin having Netanyahu walk alongside of him during the World War 2 Victory Parade in Russia. The Israelis aggression is presented as if U.S. approval was the automatic default, while the attacks allow the U.S. to avoid direct blame and condemnation. The Israelis are in a position where if they strike, even if it is sabotaging the U.S. perspective, the U.S. will go along with it in the end and be drawn by degrees into the heart of the conflict. The tail wags the dog, or front for the dog, or a combination of both. As to alleged attempts at better and more peaceful relations with Russia on the part of Trump, much of the U.S. Deep State of spy-work and military aggression is not really controlled by the titular “commander in chief” thrown up in politician arena, but acts as an ongoing autonomous bureacracy, almost regardless of who is in the White House. Also, even if we naively assume some sincerity in that aspect on the part of Trump, he is part of a system that at its core is nothing but a constant war to plunder the world, and it would not be surprising if the Trump overtures turn out to be a prelude to war itself, with Trump and the media he says he despises coming together, both insisting that now, after all this movement towards raprochment, Putin, the Muslim World, whoever is selected as the target, will be made by the professional fake-news purveying “media” to appear to have left us “no choice,” because of alleged shortcomings in response to the overtures. In fact, regardless of intentionality, that may be the real strategy of the Trump White House.
We see about twice the naval force compared to last time.
The missile defenses of Syria have been beefed up.
And some “other” defenses have come to Syria. Recall the naval shipment under cloak several months back. Something was brought in country at Tartus.
As for the NoFly by the US. They would have to “ground” the Syrian and Russian AFs, and take out all the missile defenses to have a NoFly zone.
I think the US might have beefed up missile defenses and radars to protect their very exposed bases in Syria. Iranian and Syrian missiles could devastate them easily.
The US is desperate to save their “boys” in Idlib. Russia is intent on killing as many of the 50,000-70,000 as they can. The way the Russians will do this is with Aerospace bombers and Kalibr missiles.
As in the SW and Daraa, once the Operation is underway, there will be no reconciliation or relocation of any of the fighters. They surrender all weapons or they die.
The Order of Battle indicates all the Syrian allies and nearly all the best Syrian units are in this Operation.
The US intends to stop it with a world reaction to their False Flag. That didn’t work last time in East Ghouta. It won’t work in Idlib. If they strike with missiles and guided bombs, we will see Russian losses. That means there will be some US launch platforms hit in return. I think this will lead the world to a Cuban Missile Crisis redux.
There is a good map on Colonel Cassad which depicts the Province and Order of Battle of the Syrian+Allies.
https://colonelcassad.livejournal.com/4421623.html (The second map of the article)
The US is positioned to do real damage to Syria and to Russia in this battle space of Syria.
It will try to draw more blood.
The General Staff of the RF has its reputation on the line. They will have to draw US blood if Centcom and Trump are crazed and order strikes against the anti-terror Operation.
If the US does not act, as it did not in the SW-Daraa, their proxies will be liquidated.
Thanks for the link.
Seems to me Turkey’s role was and is crucial in any operation in northern Syria. Only now, it may be pivotal. The only viable line of retreat (and support) is via Turkey. What will Erdogan do? Will he complete the ‘cordon sanitaire’, as it were, and have the terrorists trapped or will he leave a gap through which the terrorists can withdraw or be resupplied? He’s in a strong position at the moment vis-a-vis the terrorists and his erstwhile allies in Nato, particularly the US with whom he’s having a spat. He may close the border which will make the terrorists’ position untenable (and thus spoil US plans) or he may leave a gap to let the terrorist breathe and thus save the US proxies in exchange for easing of sanctions and halt in the economic war being waged against his country. We’ll have to wait and see.
Strengthening Russian naval presence in the Med off Syria in tandem with RF warning of a false flag CW attack is significant, I think. Hopefully there are smart people in the US establishment who won’t miss the message that RF is sending regarding further aggressive action by US/Nato against Syria at this stage of the game, especially one based on a manufactured pretext. I may be wrong but I sense a hardening in RF position regarding Syria in the last couple of months. I agree a no-fly zone is a no go for Nato or anybody else.
Basil
https://southfront.org/turkey-is-trying-to-convince-hayat-tahrir-al-sham-to-disband-itself-report/
Turkey being put on the spot me thinks.
https://southfront.org/turkey-designates-hayat-tahrir-al-sham-as-terrorists-group-ahead-of-syrian-army-operation-in-idlib/
Made up its mind perhaps
Last time, the Trumpettes obviously played a numbers game.
Trumpette twitted that the next attack would be “bigger” than is previous unconstitutional war crime.
And, to be able to say that Trump was in this case not a complete liar, the Americans launched exactly double the number of cruise missiles as the attack before. They were of course only effective in blowing up some buildings that the UN had said were once chemical weapons labs, but which had been converted to peaceful use with the certified ending and dismantling of Syria’s chemical weapons programs a few years before.
But the key thing to the Trumpettes was that this attack launched twice as many missiles as the last and therefore this was indeed “bigger” than the previous ones. It is logical to expect more of such nonsense the next time around.
“..But the key to protecting Syria is to beef-up the Syrian air defenses and early warning capabilities, especially with advanced mobile air defense systems, especially many short-to-medium range systems like the Tor-M2 and the Pantsir-S2…”
The above has been patently clear to everyone from day one, but the Russians appear reluctantt, less it seems, they offend Zion.
The Israelis who historically crave defenceless victims and targets have been relentlessly pressuring the Kremlin to not augment Syria’s defensive capabilities, as this could complicate their need to perpetrate wanton violence on Syrian soil – and Putin has largely complied with their request.
Remember how quickly the Russians walked back their threat of supplying Damascus with S-300 in the wake of the last FUKUS attack on Syria?
Israel objected, and the whole thing got shelved.
Russia should give Syria the requisite tools needed to defend itself from enemies near and far and ignore the warmongers and war criminals who want only to see Syria defenceless.
Selah
The Syrian systems are now widely reported to be networked into the Russian sensors. Thus, the Syrians know about anything in the air that a Russian awacs can see. That alone is a big improvement to the Syrian air defenses. The boxer Muhammad Ali once rhymed “you can’t hit what you can’t see.” Now the Syrians see everything in the air that’s coming towards them.
The Syrian systems have also been given updated missiles. The system itself might be an old Soviet era system, but its firing new, up-to-date missiles.
We saw the last time when the F-UK-US coalition tried to attack the Damascus airport that the one thing the Syrians are not is defenseless.
Once Russia had entered in 2015 to hold NATZO heavy armour at bay while the Syrian Army cleaned up NATZO’s ISIS proxies, it was clear that NATZO has no stomach for a war “man to man” against an opponent of respectable capability. ISIS was being funneled into Syria from 2 NATZO member countries — Turkey in the North and Israel in the South — and from one U$ occupied country, Iraq in the East. It was clear (to some) that Dr.Assad’s and Pres.Putin’s strategy was the right one: conciliate the Kurds in the North while defeating the ZioNATZO incursion from the South. Once the ZioNATZO proxies were wiped out of Southern Syria, the Northern proxies would begin to think like Fagan, “I’m reviewing the situation, can a villain be villain all his life?”. The decisive liberation of the South, with Israel and Jordan cowering afraid to make an incursion with their regular armed forces, and the decisive liberation of Aleppo, gives Dr.Assad strong cards for negotiation.
On the diplomatic front, Turkey is reviewing its membership of NATZO; and Qatar has quit its alliance with Saudi Arabia; that leaves Israel as the only Saudi ally in the ME. The Zionazi dreams of a Greater Israel in former Southern Syria, an Israeli colony called Eretz Kurdistan in mid-Syria, and unlimited access to Syrian hydrocarbon wealth for the Rothschild / Cheney / Murdoch company Genie Energy, have all had rude awakenings.
A mere False Flag strike with wornout excuse, “barrel bombs dropping deadly Russian Novijoke on his own people”, will change neither the Military nor the Diplomatic advantages of Syria and Allies.
You just triggered yet another possible scenario in my speculative mind:
What if the Skripal’s were poisoned with Novichok to have a plausible connection if Novichok would be found in the next CW false flag attack in Idlib? The frenzy that could be whipped up against the RF by the neo-cons would dwarf all natural hurricanes ever observed……
They know pretty well that Russia only showed no real reaction for 4 years in both Syria and Ukraine(Donbass),only ‘words’old fashioned diplomacy.No danger.That is the problem with the Putin ‘our partners’ tactic,you seems so weak that the neocons side is doubling down and down and down…
The US doesn’t give a damn about Idlib and its inhabitants. The countries responsible for killing hundreds of thousands of civilians in Iraq (to quote one historical example) from 1991 to 2017 don’t develop a sudden crisis of conscience and humanitarian awakening. There is no need to go into the details of the catastrophic horror of Yemen where the US and its allies are responsible for targeting millions of civilians, crimes condemned by the United Nations. We believe the main US goals are:
Russia has supplied additional anti-missile batteries to the Syrian army to reduce the number of US and Israeli missiles launched against its troops and infrastructure. A US military attack on these defences carries the message: Russia cannot prevent the US from hitting Moscow’s strategic ally (and future allies). US strikes are meant to show the limits of Putin’s power of deterrence; Putin will not start a Third World war for Syria.
The US would like to reduce the Syrian Army’s capabilities and destroy more Syrian infrastructure so that the cost of rebuilding will be much higher for Syria and its allies.
Impose on Russia and Iran to negotiate in Geneva (not Astana) over dominance in Syria and other countries (Iraq at top of the list).
The US is sending continuous indirect and direct messages to Damascus, via Russia, the United Arab Emirates, Australia, Italy and other countries. Its aim is above all to isolate Syria from its true allies over the last 7 years of war, i.e. Iran, Hezbollah and Russia. It also wants to see Iran alone, surrounded by enemies and begging for a submissive relationship with Washington. Nevertheless, it has no clear policy in the Middle East but reactive behaviour, defending its hegemony and its unilateral dominance of the Middle East”.
magnier blog
Saker,
The Russian military is reaching full mobilization with the impending military exercises. It is positioning more naval forces in the Mediterranean than it has since the USSR. Iran just completed exercises in the Persian Gulf. China recently completed exercises in the South China Sea.
Meanwhile, the US is diverting resources toward China and toward Iran, and the Taliban are acting up in Afghanistan.
If not now, When?
If not the Russian military, who?
It is time to reinstate the “red lines” around the globe that separate the areas in which the Americans act without interference from the Russians/Chinese/Iranians, and vice versa.
Putin should inform Trump ( as well as Netanyahu, Macron, May, and Erdogan) that an attack on Syrian territory west of the Euphrates would be regarded as an attack on Russia. Putin should make this declaration public within 24 hours after he has informed the Western leaders, so that there should be no misunderstanding.
The argument -that an attack on Syria by NATO missiles wouldn’t do that much harm- is as gutless as it is useless. The West must understand that it cannot attack Syria -among other countries- with impunity.
Experts will run the calculations to estimate whichever side stands to lose the most; but regardless of the estimate, the costs to either side will exceed the value of Syria to both sides. The Neocons are calculating that the Russians will not want to make the sacrifice; and so, they act with the air of impunity that they do. The Russians must prepare as if the Neocons will act; and then prepare to react, with the expectation that a direct conflict between Russian and NATO forces will follow.
If the warning is strong enough, and is understood by everyone to be real, it is more likely to taken seriously.
I also would like to see the RF taking decisive actions against any false flag attack, but we have to be realistic that Russia is simply not ready for a meaningful response without running the risk of an escalation they could not handle. That said, the fact that Russia does not yet respond is in no way a guarantee they never will – because once they will, they either have been completely cornered or they know the will prevail. That will hit the Zionazis with utter surprise – and that is the long game I would pursue if I were Mr. Putin.
Larry,
Thanks for your comment.
Historically, it is true that the Russians prefer to act without a warning, whenever in fact they do act, (Korea
1950, E. Germany 1953, Hungary 1956, Czechoslovakia 1968, Afghanistan 1979, Crimea 2014); but a successful surprise attack -like Japan’s Pearl Harbor- would impel the United States to initiate a tactical (at the very least) nuclear response. Better to inform the US of where the red line is drawn beforehand.
In 2015, Putin did speak directly to Obama and then to the UN General Assembly before moving against the terrorists and rebels in Syria. The US ignored Russia’s overture (Not that there was anything that could have been done to alter or prevent it); but de-confliction protocols were established almost immediately.
There should be enough “grown-up professionals” within the State and Defense Departments and within the CIA, who would be able to inform the President that a serious Russian warning should give the US reason to pause.
Replying To A G Brina,
All this “thinking aloud” has a stale taste of cigarettes stubbed out in spilled flat beer. It perhaps gives us some emotional relief to talk through Russia’s options, but I feel we are almost insulting the Russian military planners by ruminating as through they could not possibly have thought these same thoughts — and many times over. The difference between them and us is that when they press the red button real people start dying and the wheel of fortune falls off the wall (all bets are off. Prediction becomes impossible. Destiny becomes opaque).
My sources of information are no better than anybody else’s on this forum, and I can’t read Russian [making some progress with transliterating the Cyrillic]. But even in translation I have been sensing a real difference in the messages coming from Putin and senior military leaders over the last year. Let’s say the epoxy has been setting up.
And there is a horrifying overtone in American political discourse. (Take a long article to spell this out — and I am personally in awe of many of you commentators on this forum. But I reckon most of you are totally in tune with this signal.) Electric Light Orchestra song: “It’s Over, It’s Over, It’s Oh Oh Oh Over!” Love you guys (and girls).
if the west starts bombing again Syria by recycling the CW canard, Russia should start hitting not only the missiles. hit also the launching pads of these missiles and send message to the west that enough is enough. there will be no war because the west will blink.
“The west will blink”
You sure? After 30 years of convincing themselves they’re superhuman, they’ll not want to lose face.
Well, Obama did blink some years ago after the staged CW attack, and the Russian ships were awaiting him for the coast of Syria.
He was helped by a master move by Putin, to have the CW of Syria destroyed under supervision of the UN as exchange. However, you cannot destroy their CW twice.
So, I tend to agree that Russia must make a strong reaction when their troops are being attacked. Will that ignite WW3?
Well, a war didn’t break out either when the IDF attacked the USS Liberty https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Liberty_incident , did it? (/sarcasm)
Cheers, Rob
few dozen thousand well armed terrorists backed by – american no fly zone & naval forces ready to strike may result in one big ofensive against SAA and russians. americans may use and need all this to go west “combating” terrorists and pull own fly zone more west.
just thinking…
Maybe trying to prove still that Russia has backed the wrong side and is not capable of being a peacekeeper as it said would withdraw after the anti terrorist operation is complete- which is admirable to show it is not an occupier and to show Syria is strong enough to stand on its own feet again-whereas usa coalition just can come in after creating more chaos using Idlib terrorists etc in some kind of pretence with the biased weight of the UN behind it and present in Syria….presenting a case to UN that now it must “supervise” the rebuild…elections…constitution… and to attract more impressive reconstruction offers to offer faster humanitarian relief…..usa already hinted and UN agreed no or little rebuild funding until after elections and constitution changes as Lavrov pointed out this manipulation is happening now.
The Americans are also driven by what some suggest is a looming Wall Street implosion that will be greater than the 2008 Wall Street crash triggered by the Lehman Brothers collapse.
In addition, even mainstream US media and think tanks are contemplating the possibility of a Second Civil War in the USA.
ForeignPolicy.com even did a survey of various US national security experts about the chances of a second US Civil War, and the consensus was currently a 35% chance of such a war in the next decade or so.
What better way to paper over America’s increasingly fragmented society with a (hot or cold) war to whip up nationalist fervor and pseudo-unity?
The United States is like a wounded beast, one that is increasingly rabid and lashes out to attack other nations, as the Americans feel that their system is imploding.
This is what accounts for America’s increasingly insane behavior.
.
Is America Headed for a New Kind of Civil War?
https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/is-america-headed-for-a-new-kind-of-civil-war
Is America headed toward a civil war? Sanders, Nielsen incidents show it has already begun
https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2018/06/25/sanders-nielsen-incidents-suggest-new-us-civil-war-underway-column/729141002/
It seems that Russia has read the riot act to the US; whether they will head the message is another issue.
I would guess that Russia by now has the Brit agents – this would be the compelling evidence, but as they are mercs maybe they are expendable?
The build up in the Med is unprecedented, so we are ready for something big. Hopefully not too big? We are at the end game.
To stop the neocons : We must threaten to give Syria S 400 and Iskander if any attack on Syria occurs . Israël will manage to prevent any attack because they are the one who decide on external policy of the US
For the last several days RT and Sputnik have been front paging articles about the zionazi-gay preparations for this latest false flag. The zionazi-gay western media is squelching this news, but their censorship fails to prevent an ever greater number of people finding out.
To go ahead with an already exposed false flag would be seen as the height of hubris by people not mushroomed by the zionazi-gay media. The israelis may think the further trashing of their pindo colonial’s reputation is worth it, in their interests by forcing said false flag op.
Their neocon boi trump has no qualms about sacrificing american interests in the pursuit of israeli interests.
European generals have traditionally had a very poor opinion of American generals, while European politicians traditionally had the same attitude when it comes to US politicians. The point is that the US always had a tough time understanding foreign countries, as historically proven. Worse for the US, the country is run by neocons. As one analyst has stated, America to the neocons is just a place where they live, but to to which they own no allegiance. The country exists for their personal gratification, to be used up and discarded.
Will there be some sort of military attack by NATO ? Most probably, if not against Syria, then against Iran or North Korea. The neocons are seeing their globalist empire dissipate, and they will got to the end to prevent this.
The neocons are watching the rise of Eurasia, their worst nightmare. They are also looking into the debt of the US. Officially the debt is 21 trillion dollars. However, the neocon controlled media forgets to mention that these 21 trillion dollars pertains to foreign debt, and not to the domestic one. Even US analysts are at odds what the domestic debt is, but they agree that it is many times more larger than the foreign debt. On top of that the dollar is printed backed by nothing, while countries are already beginning to discard it in bilateral trade. Worse, both Russia and China are preparing to introduce gold backed rubles and yuans. Even worse than that, the neocons are watching Europe move towards Russia and China.
The neocons now have a simple choice. Accept reality and see their globalist empire disappear, or go to war and prevent this. We shall now see what they decide to do.
I even heard about two quadrillions…tbc
Previously we have heard about the top level channels between head of armed forces between Russia and USA. Not hearing much now so either this is working…or not.
The Nato base in Romania seems to be some kind of strengthening epicentre as flights there seem to have been probing and testing Russian airforce over the Black Sea. Coupla months ago it was disappointing that UK and USA decided to continue funding the white helmets in some way…..their intentions still clear.
I am thinking it would be” preferable” if SAA destroyed all the USA bases in Syria( but not possible at the moment…?)…physically and symbolically…as any more attacks from USA coalition((time to more proportionally seriously damage the minor partners maybe) are a confirmation of continuing declaration of war….but doubtful whether Russia would do this….it might however -if only would we not admire that-“contain” them in some way while some defensive action is taking place…this would confirm to the world Russia has a general intent to keep world peace…international law and compliance with UN Resolutions regarding sovereingty of a country.
But any action by USA coalition continues to expose the frailty of the UN…..could the perpetrators be neutralised there…disqualified..expelled something more effective apart from the usual chastisement from Russian and Syrian Ambassadors and exposing of past illegal behaviours that just seems to be put in rhe folder of “file and forget”? By God….there needs to be a big shake up.If only some angels could appear there and say to UN this is your final warning….or welcome to your hell on earth.
”
EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER
Karn Evil 9 Lyrics
Cold and misty morning, I heard a warning borne in the air
About an age of power where no one had an hour to spare,
Where the seeds have withered, silent children shivered, in the cold
Now their faces captured in the lenses of the jackals for gold.
I’ll be there
I’ll be there
I will be there.
Suffering in silence, they’ve all been betrayed.
They hurt them and they beat them, in a terrible way.
Praying for survival at the end of the day.
There is no compassion for those who stay.
I’ll be there
I’ll be there
I will be there
There must be someone who can set them free:
To take their sorrow from this odyssey
To help the helpless and the refugee
To protect what’s left of humanity.
Can’t you see
Can’t you see
Can’t you see
Lyrics continue below
FEATURED VIDEO12 Hit Songs You Won’t Believe Were Passed Up By Other ArtistsFEATURED VIDEO8 More Hilarious Misheard Lyrics About FoodFEATURED VIDEOWhat’s That Line?FEATURED VIDEO8 Things You Didn’t Know About Drake
I’ll be there
I’ll be there
I will be there;
To heal their sorrow
To beg and borrow
Fight tomorrow.
Step inside! Hello! We’ve a most amazing show
You’ll enjoy it all we know
Step inside! Step inside!
We’ve got thrills and shocks, supersonic fighting cocks.
Leave your hammers at the box
Come inside! Come inside!
Roll up! Roll up! Roll up!
See the show!
Left behind the bars, rows of Bishops’ heads in jars
And a bomb inside a car
Spectacular! Spectacular!
If you follow me there’s a speciality
Some tears for you to see
Misery, misery,
Roll up! Roll up! Roll up!
See the show!
Next upon the bill in our House of Vaudeville
We’ve a stripper in a till
What a thrill! What a thrill!
And not content with that,
With our hands behind our backs,
We pull Jesus from a hat,
Get into that! Get into that!
Roll up! Roll up! Roll up!
See the show!
Welcome back my friends to the show that never ends
We’re so glad you could attend, come inside, come inside
There behind a glass stands a real blade of grass
Be careful as you pass, move along, move along
Come inside, the show’s about to start
Guaranteed to blow your head apart
Rest assured you’ll get your money’s worth
Greatest show in Heaven, Hell or Earth
You’ve got to see the show, it’s a dynamo
You’ve got to see the show, it’s rock and roll, oh
Right before your eyes we pull laughter from the skies
And he laughs until he cries, then he dies, then he dies
Come inside, the show’s about to start
Guaranteed to blow your head apart
You’ve got to see the show, it’s a dynamo
You’ve got to see the show, it’s rock and roll, oh
Soon the Gypsy Queen in a glaze of vaseline
Will perform on guillotine, what a scene, what a scene
Next upon the stand will you please extend a hand
To Alexander’s Ragtime Band, Dixieland, Dixieland
Roll up, roll up, roll up
See the show
Performing on a stool we’ve a sight to make you drool
Seven virgins and a mule, keep it cool, keep it cool
We would like it to be known the exhibits that were shown
Were exclusively our own, all our own, all our own
Come and see the show, come and see the show
Come and see the show
See the show
Man alone, born of stone,
Will stamp the dust of time
His hands strike the flame of his soul;
Ties a rope to a tree and hangs the Universe
Until the winds of laughter blows cold.
Fear that rattles in men’s ears
And rears its hideous head
Dread… Death… in the wind…
Man of steel pray and kneel
With fever’s blazing torch
Thrust in the face of the night;
Draws a blade of compassion
Kissed by countless Kings
Whose jewelled trumpet words blind his sight.
Walls that no man thought would fall
The altars of the just
Crushed… Dust… in the wind…”
Words from Emerson Lake and Pamer
http://www.metrolyrics.com/karn-evil-9-lyrics-emerson-lake-palmer.html
Dogs that bark …
The Idlib offensive will go live sometimes after Sept 7. The Zionist financed terrorists are no match and will be forced to retreat fast. There will be lots of prearranged reconciliations once the SAA & allies get going. The US will hunker down in Syria’s ‘Kurdistan’. MafiaMedia will be full of hoax news, but who will read it ?
This crazy anglo imperialism is becoming so obvious now. Now east Europeans realise they dont want to be human shield for Israel and USA/UK. Even Polish. Recently the British Imperial Air Force, like USA which also bases in romania (why?) locked on to Russian Sukhoi jet. Now if that russian jet was shot down, it would be romanians living near these bases who got killed, not anglo. Anglo would be safe and fat like always. Does East Europe, of Slavic blood mostly, have more in common with Orthodox, collective Russia or the Merchant, Individualist Sea People?
We see now the truth of this Empire, and hate it. I tell you the truth, if Russia invaded East Europe., as nato keeps saying, then they would be welcomed by soldiers putting down their guns in front of them and women with flowers. The city of Berlin was originally Slav controlled, and Röstock and the Rügen islands in the Baltic. Again will be soon…
“I hope our Western partners will not give in to (rebel) provocations and will not obstruct an anti-terror operation” in Idlib, foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said at a press conference with his Saudi counterpart Adel al-Jubeir in Moscow.
Lavrov also said that there is “full political understanding” between Russia and Turkey, who support opposing sides of the Syrian civil war but are currently in intense negotiations to ensure Idlib does not become a breaking point in their alliance.
“It is necessary to disassociate the so-called moderate opposition from terrorists and at the same time prepare an operation against them while minimising risks for the civilian population,” Lavrov said.
“This abscess needs to be liquidated.”
Commentators elsewhere interestingly noting the very recent successful Iranian exercises too re Hormuz.
The US aggression on Syria scheduled – this is evident
The UK is the brain and the US is the brawn
British Army Chief Sir Nick Carter warns war with Vladimir Putin’s Russia ‘could happen
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=up3Sa0LK2AQ – published 22.01.2018
RT UK Live – The “Russian Threat”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87Z_8UHVAQU – published 23.01.2018
General Nick Carter: Dynamic Security Threat and British Army – Full speech – 22.01.2018
Poisoning of Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia with novichok in Salisbury on March 14, 2018
Suspected chemical attack with chlorine gas and sarin in Douma on April 7, 2018. France, the UK, the
US and other nations blamed the Syrian government. No evidences. Nevertheless France, the UK und
the USA attaked the Tiyas Military Airbase with missiles.
Azorka 1861
A potential war against Russia will be decided by the Anglo-American bankers, depending how desperate they are.
Blackstone Intelligence
Russia Deploys Warships in Response to New False Flag Threat
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwVOAfzom7k
LINK to General Nick Carter’s FULL SPEECH
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1O6NswL4iA&t=116s
the handlers of the unwashed hordes are grasping at straws ,the coalition for the barrel bomber has everything figured out,dunno why peeps are saying US ,what US ,are ya all not aware of what is happening there?
I really wonder if Hezbollah could be the real target here should strikes take place? There seems to be a consensus of sorts among commentators that Hez has gone from strength to strength during this conflict and that it now poses a genuine offensive threat to Israeli military power. Previously Hez was primarily a defensive force.
Given water stresses in the region and the dispute over hydrocarbon reserves in the Eastern Med, I am inclined to agree with those that suggest Tel Aviv is looking to secure aquifers and any oil and gas deposits and by extension transit/pipeline routes for these resources. The Latani Basin may really be considered as being uniquely essential for future Israeli development and security. Hez obviously stands in the way. Depressing as it sounds, there seems little appetite for non-violent resolutions to this (self-inflicted) strategic conundrum from the perspective of the Israeli military and political complex.
Expanding things a litter further, earlier this week I read comments posted on another site discussing the radar posts established by the US in N E Syria. The poster – PaveWay IV I think it was – suggested that the radar posts should be seen as greatly enhancing further Israeli air operations as much as any US/NATO actions. Thus I assume new ingress and egress routes for strikes against Iranian assets could also be at top of the list.
So if there are doubts that Russian forces would be targeted or caught up in the conflagration, I am less sanguine about the possibility of Hez and the Iranians being the crosshairs yet again. A disturbing situation.
It is not a conclusion that feels good – the one that the hegemon now needs to feel defeat, either militarily, or economically. Both would be good in my view but then I don’t wish economic hardship or war on anyone. Yet it has to be a hard defeat (or defeats) that is absolutely clear. It also does not feel good to depend on Russia alone to present a military defeat, and on China alone to present an economic defeat. It is difficult to arrange these 2 defeats in terms of timing in our world but they have to happen.
The question of the day: Has Russia run out of patience? It feels as if Russia is not de-escalating environmentally this time around. We’ve seen the continual media exposing yet another false flag operation planned by the hegemon and strong language from Russia, but stopping short of being threatening, yet the materiels of war is standing at the ready. If we look at what Russia is doing around this, de-escalation does not seem to feature. Russia has just blocked the US Security Council report on North Korea and this morning, they say no more ferrying of US Astronauts to the International Space Station, when the contract runs out in around 7 months or so. So, they are tweaking the hegemon’s nose.
It is going to be a stressful few weeks – the hegemon might go for complete overreach and try to war on multiple fronts.
The Russians know how the rulers of the west work. 500 BC primitive thinking is going on all the time for their evil deeds. Elu1 23 – Sept. 11 2001 is one of their worst deeds. Elul 23 is on Sept 3 this year, 2018. Elul 23 is the 23th day of the Teshovah, the 40 days to Yom Kippur. These forty days represents the 40 days that Moses spent on Mount Sinai asking forgiveness from Yahweh for the Israelites worshiping the Golden Calf. Elul 23 eve starts the Selichot prayers. Selichot are prayers recited during the Sunday before the start of Rosh Hashana. Three days of Selichot must be recited. So the Sunday picked this year is seven days before since Rosh Hoshana starts on a Monday, Sept 10 this year. The prayers are repeated recitations of the thirteen attributes God’s mercy revealed by Moses for the Israelites sin of golden Calf worship. The first Selichot service begins midnight after Sabbath ends – Sept 2 night. This first service is for the entire community – men, women, and older children. The remaining Selichot services are only attended by people who ordinarily attend. Rosh Hoshana starts on Sept 10. Sept 11 is the second day. It is a two day holiday.
If the US and friends decide to attack Syria. It will be Saturday night Sept. 2, the end of Sabbath ,the first Selichot service or Sunday the first day of these services before the start of Rosh Hoshana.
“On August 30th, Israeli Defense Ministery Avigdor Lieberman said that Israel will not adhere to any agreements the international community may reach on Syria after the war.
“From Israel’s perspective, with all due respect and appreciation for all the agreements and the understandings — we are not bound by them,” Liberman said. “The only thing that obligates us are the security interests of the State of Israel,” he continued.
I24 news reported that this was most likely referring to a defense cooperation agreement signed earlier this week between Damascus and Tehran, which said Iranian military forces would remain in Syria. This goes directly against Israel’s diplomatic plan to convince Russia and the US to push out Iran’s forces out of Syria, or at the least move them away from the Israeli border. On August 29th Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Intelligence Minister Yisrael Katz both said that the agreement between Tehran and Damascus would not deter Israel from taking military action against Iranian forces in Syria.
“In the military sphere, the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) will continue to take strong and determined action against Iran’s attempts to station forces and advanced weapons systems in Syria,” Benjamin Netanyahu said. “No agreement between Syria and Iran will deter us; neither will any threat deter us,” he further vowed.”https://southfront.org/israel-to-ignore-any-agreements-reached-by-inernational-community-on-syria-defense-minister/
Robjil thanks for the heads up. Would you be able to recommend a site / blog about events “coinciding” with the juice religious calander?
Any books you would recommend?
Thanks
Robjil thanks for the heads up. Would you be able to recommend a site / blog about events “coinciding” with the juice religious calander?
Any books you would recommend?
Thanks
I don’t know a website or book that has all the Zionist ties to the attacks that the west does to world. Here are things to look up.
A lot Jewish sites talk about how these events “happen” on their holidays. Stalin died on Purim 1953. They do talk about the Iraq wars as Purim related. They talk about how the trial of Nuremberg is Purim related. Ten National Socialist leaders were hung. All the other ones were shot. Why ten hung? Haman and ten brothers were hung. Alfred Rosenberg, was hung for what he wrote. He said the following before he was hung – “Purimfest 1946”. The author of the following article goes into great detail of all the connections to Jewish holidays for the hanging. It is proof beyond doubt that Zionists have ruled the US/UK for a very long time.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/Articles/Article.aspx/19652
Purim theme is a common thing for big wars in the middle east. 1991 war on Iraq ended on Purim. 2003 war on Iraq started on Purim. 2011 war on Libya started on Purim. Will the 2019 war on Iran begin on Purim?
Two days before 911 (Elul 23), an Afghan leader Ahmad Shah Massoud who was fighting the Taliban was assassinated. The Donetsk Republic leader Aleksandr Zakharchenko was assassinated on Aug. 31 – two days before the start of Elul 23 in 2018. Is this a sign of something big happening again on Elul 23? Sept 2 night/ Sept 3 day. Notice Israelis attacking Damascus today (Sept. 2). Are they “celebrating” another Elul 23?
https://www.quora.com/Are-there-any-connections-between-the-assasination-of-Ahmad-Shah-Massoud-and-the-9-11-terror-attacks
Amalek theme is another theme. Amaleks a tribe that Yahweh told the Israelites to completely destroy – men, women, children, livestock and infrastructure. Agag was the last survivor. Haman was supposedly descendant of Agag. Haman was an “enemy” of the Jews of Persia. Purim story is about killing 75000 Persians who are connected Haman. Deborah Lipstadt intimidated David Irving by calling him Agag. He has been meek ever since. The video of Michael Hoffman talking about this has been censored. So one can’t share it anymore. Look it up and watch. Break the censorship.
Any indepenent confirmation on this reportedly new development?
http://halturnerradioshow.com/index.php/news/u-s-national-news/3079-7-cia-mainframe-super-computers-down-spy-satellites-offline
I think that this is a good move or at least Russia has tried something to avoid the worst:
https://sputniknews.com/world/201808311067635491-lavrov-proof-attack/
That said I can’t understand what is the real goal of this false flag/bomb strategy with almost no serious damages.
There is surely an evil goal in this but I can’t get it.
PS: unfortunately the Russian Task Force is far less powerful than the Soviet VMF Mediterranean 5th Eskadra.
With regard to Russian Task Force I would suggest you appear to have underestimated the attacking potential of both its surface ships and submarines. Go to the Unz Review and look at Andrei Martyanov’s analyses on modern naval warfare.
You will also find plenty of similarly useful information on The Saker’s website. Yes- The Saker site has lots of analyses on the Russian task force and the Saker also did a book review of Mr Martyanovs’s book early July -please check out the Saker’s articles and guest analyses too. Mod
Any speculation on the possible fallout if a western plane was shot down during a (new) attack on Syria?
Any invader airframes shot down are called “the costs of war”.
The fallout? Why would there be fallout?
You go to war, expect to be killed. It happens.
Why would Syria or Russia be concerned about shooting down attacking planes?
Let’s hope all attackers are shot down and killed.
The best thing is for that to happen.
Total loss of all US, Coalition, Israeli attack frames would be a glorious day.
Normally I would comment on a posting of this import. Not this time.
Auslander
This is thread the needle time for Putin and not just for Idlib alone.
What have we been seeing in the past week or so elsewhere, especially in Europe? Well, Putin went to a wedding and visited Merkel. As a result, the scent of rapprochement is in the air. Not only coming from Merkel, but Macron had similar things on his mind in his press conference in Finland.
Not what could certainly derail this? A strong Russian response to provocation in Syria could if, out of it, the US gets a bloody nose, no matter how deserving. Europe would have no choice but to back the US. Rapprochement? What rapprochement?
Actually, it wouldn’t have to be the US getting the bloody nose as Macron has also made threats regarding a chemical attack in Syria. Perhaps Macron has set up a French pilot to be the sacrificial lamb for the Empire.
Yes, I do notice the duality of Macron’s positions …. teasing rapprochement while threatening retaliation in Syria. He’s a slippery one.
Aleksandr Zakharchenko, the leader of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic, has been killed… (RT)
Reports coming in of Zakharchenko being killed by explosion by terrorist attack in Donetz……RIP…..
Zakharchenko killed in blast in Donetsk.
https://sputniknews.com/europe/201808311067645316-explosion-dpr-victim/
Devastating.
Horrible news.
Cassad’ report on the assassination
https://colonelcassad.livejournal.com/4423826.html
Why was the head of the people’s republic and the finance minister dining at a public cafe?
That of course is bad security. I wish a public official could dine in public, but in a modern world that contains Kiev fascists and the CIA that simply can’t be done.
You don’t see Trump stopping off at McDonald’s to personally pick up his Big Mac and Freedom Fries, do ya?
Awhile back, the Saker wrote a piece on how the DPR needs to up the security on its officials. At first glance, that still appears to be true. This is not blaming the officials for their own death. That responsibility still lies with the terrorists and those who gave them orders and explosives. But, it still seems like very bad personal security around the head of a state that is in a battle with fascists.
This is devastating news on so many levels.
Give those “mostly antiquated” air defense systems new missiles and new radars and electronics, and they are no longer antiquated. The fact that the missile tube is of an old design doesn’t matter, its just a tube.
Well, it’s on already. Ukraine Syria –incident in Baltic or Black sea? Now, will the proclamation go out through out the land: Minsk II is dead as a door nail..dead.dead. dead.!!! And, honestly RT., for shame with this “self proclaimed” obligatory, neo-con like ,adjective tag on used in this headline.
https://www.rt.com/news/437357-head-donbass-republic-killed/
RT could and should do better than shades of double speak So was this “pseudo elected” head of the “self proclaimed ” Republic ” involuntarily “self terminated” by some bomb that just happened to go off in a Cafe he happened to frequent?
Get real: he was brutally assassinated in a direct slap in the face to Russia at a perilous time for peace in the mid East on a Friday ( of course) before a big holiday weekend in Coup-couplandia. Now at least make a headline that begins to reflect this reality and to honor the death of a very good man. Idiots!
( I understand if you censor this….I am so livid…)
Whatever the US does, the Zionist regime has its own plans for attacking Iranian assets in Syria (or whetever it deems to be Iranian assets). The USUK attack will simply be used as distraction to allow the IDF women/child murderers to sneak in to do their usual hit-and-run.
Released satellite images of supposed Iranian missile site in Syria.
https://southfront.org/israeli-company-releases-satellite-imagery-of-supposed-iranian-missile-production-in-syria/
Israel to ignore any international agreements reached regarding Syria.
https://southfront.org/israel-to-ignore-any-agreements-reached-by-inernational-community-on-syria-defense-minister/
Turkey classified “Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham ” mercenaries as a “terrorist organization”
http://www.hawarnews.com/en/haber/turkey-classified-hayat-tahrir-al-sham-mercenaries-as-a-terrorist-organization-h3461.html
I know this is a little off-topic, but I will like to share this Reuters News report about Iran distributing ballistic missiles to its Iraqi paramilitary allies to use against US Military Bases in Saudi Arabia and against Israel itself if the US attacks Iran
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iran-iraq-missiles-exclusive/exclusive-iran-moves-missiles-to-iraq-in-warning-to-enemies-idUSKCN1LG0WB
And you believe Reuters? Good luck on finding a single nugget of truth in this ‘article’ from ‘sources’. Who was the source, the family parakeet?
Israel will violate international law on peace deal in Syria. — https://www.veteranstoday.com/2018/08/31/israeli-defense-minister-israel-will-violate-international-law-on-peace-deal-in-syria/
I don’t see a major air attack occurring by the US against Syria for one reason: Trump doesn’t have the nerve to threaten Russia directly. Russia has insured that, by putting many ships and jets on alert that he knows they won’t stand for a major US attack.
So any attack as a result of a false flag chemical attack will be another “firecracker” show with no real damage done.
Once the insurgents in Idlib are taken out, the areas still controlled by the US will be negotiated away, although that may take years. Those areas will no longer be relevant as they are surrounded and of negligible size. The Kurds will abandon the US and renegotiate a deal with the Syrian government leaving the US with no one to work with to destabilize Syria.
If the Russian intel on chlorine is at all accurate, they should spend the first couple days of the attack on bombing the crap out of any place the White Helmets are believed to be. Preempt the attack. Do intense surveillance on likely areas and the minute insurgents appear, blow the hell out of them. Even if it releases chlorine, at least the perpetrators will be eliminated.
“But when enough people make enough false promises, words stop meaning anything. Then there are no more answers, only better and better lies.”
American TV, HBO, Game of Thrones.
Sometimes its fascinating what gets passed Pentagon script approvals. :)
I’m confused.
Russia knows the who, what, why and where of the planned false flag.
And it takes no action to stop it. No soldiers, either Syrian or others, no bombing campaign, nothing.
It just complains and hopes “international opinion” will cause FUKUS to change course because, whining works.
And so we get the State Department response as in this vid that “they try to put the blame, they try to put the onus on other groups and we don’t buy that.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7VnTRYcMQE
Please, someone, explain why Russia Syria et al. don’t target those who will implement the false flag. And take footage afterwards proving their statements.
This situation feels no less tense even though we are now heading into it’s third version. Very wise move by Russia to fill the eastern Med with their ships.
I think they are ready to knock out most of the AngloZionists missiles when they arrive over Syrian airspace.
Some will get through no doubt…and the questions remains….how many land before Russia must respond?
I asked myself the very same question last time. Russia wisely took a punch with the 30 or so that landed.
However, if this time Russian assets/people are killed, how does Russia respond?
On the one hand, they risk falling into he trap set by the AngloZionists.
On the other, they risk emboldening the Neo-cons down the road.
It is the most painful of debates.
it’s a gut-wrenching call.
I like other comments about the bankers looking to get something going before financial collapse.
Turkey could really do Russia solid by harassing the NATO base on its territory should missiles fly.
If Russia must retaliate, I would target British and French assets first, see if the US moves against that.
Saker: “…the upcoming missile strike has less to do with the war in Syria and much more to do with internal US politics.”
I agree. It’s a shame your article didn’t go further into that provocative statement. But it’s true, this planned false flag makes no sense at all in the theater itself, only in the US.
I like what “Israeli agent Yakov Kedmi” – as the Vesti News video title calls him – has to say about this. He explains in the first 2 minutes of this clip from Soloviev’s show the reason for the op: namely that it forces Trump to respond. Either Trump worsens relations with Russia, or he loses the November elections.
It sounds very plausible to me. Here’s the clip: Israeli Agent Yakov Kedmi Offers Russians Lesson in Subterfuge: “Push the US’s Weak Points”
Kedmi sounded incompetent to me, at first, by using action/reaction from the laws of Newtonian physics, as a simile to goad Russia into responding to provocations. Current Russian strategic thinking is more on the level of plasma physics, a Riemannian transfinite leading to paradigmatic transformations in which old “laws” no longer apply. As an “ex” Mossad agent Kedmi feigns interest in Russia’s choices but his only loyalty is to his own tribe. His specious use of physics is but a rhetorical flourish to keep the intended victim boxed into the paradigm of chaos that is Israel’s natural turf. The mask of scientific objectivity hides a deceitful ideologue of the first order, with advanced language skills to lure his Russian audience away from thinking outside the box. Beware.
Saker, good article, and here is another good article “Provocations Have A History Of Escalating Into War” by Dr. Paul Craig Roberts. http://www.paulcraigroberts.org/2018/08/31/can-war-be-avoided-and-the-planet-saved/
The Russians have warned the Americans.
The Americans have warned the Russians.
We are all set to go.
I wonder if there is any chance Turkey will participate militarily alongside with SAA, RuAF & allies against the HTS/Al-Qaeda head choppers. Direct combat involvement or at least Turkish military observers alongside SAA offensives to finish off British-Saudi-US head choppers which probably is and will be a problem for Turkey in the future. Such a move by Turkey might confer more benefits than problems:
Benefits
1) A helpful and important gesture to Syria that will at least reduce tensions between the two neighboring countries.
2) Eliminate British-Saudi-US proxies that definitely will cause problems for both countries and future negotiations for ending the Syrian War and normalize Turkey-Syria relationship.
3) A badly needed show of strength and military experience for the Turkish military and Erdogan leadership.
4) A message to the US regarding the issue of Kurdish independence and long term occupation and arming of SDF proxies in northeastern Syria.
5) Winding down of the Syrian War to restore trade between the two countries.
6) Turkey needs real allies, even more so in the future as she will be targeted for regime change again. Another ally just across the border is better than having 10 Qatars far away.
7) Increase western intelligence activity in support of the head choppers in Turkey could led to their compromise and abandonment.
Problems:
1) Confusion, disillusionment and betrayals within Turkish-backed head choppers towards Western-Saudi backing.
2) Muslim Brotherhood, jihadi cells and western intelligence assets within Turkey will conduct attacks in Turkey.
3) Western condemnation of Erdogan for his “support of Assad” and further alienation and sanctions.
4) Refugees from Idlibstan mixed with escapees from western-Saudi backed head choppers will be a headache unless Turkey closes the border.
There are probably more considerations but those four problems I could think of now seems mostly short term issues, whereas the benefits do have a lot of long term benefits for a strong and independent oriented Turkey. The meeting next week will be of great importance for sure!
There is allways the possibility that the us will strike Syria and some Russian forces “accidentaly” in an effort to intimidate Erdogan, to show him that Russians are not capable of protecting themselfs or Syria, and to let him know that if he swings out of NATO, allthough he has a big mighty army, he might as well be the next Saddam in due time.
Erdogan being Erdogan might swing back to the west “full heartidly”.
I cannot think of a better reason for a us strike in Syria (except perhaps some missiles are reaching End of Lifetime). You are right about the situation on the ground, it cannot be changed either way, except for Idlib to go back to Syrian Government control. But that situation is not a total loss for the U.S. the pretty much created a controlled state entity with the kurds taking a very heavily resourced area of Syria. If you see it clearly, U.S. did not get the victory it hoped for, but on the other hand it has at least got a peace out of the conflict, one it did not have before.
Probably the reason for the strike is not “syrian” at all.
FUKUS might attack from Northern Syria, far away from the Russian costal bases and bypassing the extra naval assets thai RF has brought to bare.
The Syrian and Russian response time would be severely shortened and they can use (at least the monitoring- if not the offensive) NATO installation in Turkey, in addition to Iraqi instillation
All of this discussion about the possibility of WWIII could become moot if this is true:
https://principia-scientific.org/breaking-us-military-suddenly-blocks-uk-from-all-spy-satellite-access/
The incident reports all appear to be sourced from the QAnon blog. There is some follow up on Reddit that tends to support and explain the relevance of the statements made by QAnon.
I have no claim to expertise regarding QAnon, and there are too many moving parts surrounding this story to determine which parts, if any are true, and if true, who the instigators and losers are.
As a somewhat seperate issue, US warships have had a number of unexplained collisions where satellite data may have played a role. Certainly US satellite systems would be a likely target in any conflict where GPS guidance systems were deployed. Nobody in their right mind wants to destroy satellite systems there are too many risks to the downside.