By Rostislav Ishchenko
Translated by Ollie Richardson and Angelina Siard
cross posted with http://www.stalkerzone.org/rostislav-ishchenko-russia-will-decide-the-fate-of-syria-without-america/
source: https://ukraina.ru/opinion/20181028/1021573309.html
On Saturday, a symbolic meeting of four national leaders took place in Istanbul. Vladimir Putin held talks with the presidents of France and Turkey, as well as with the Federal Chancellor of Germany. The topic of the Syrian settlement was mainly discussed.
The main conclusion that we can draw from this meeting is that the war in Syria was won not only against terrorists, but also against the United States. I know that there are a lot of “experts” who will say that Idlib will not return under Assad’s power tomorrow, that the North of Syria is controlled by pro-American Kurds, that in the area of Al-Tanf the Americans have not abandoned their base, and they will ask something like: where is the end of the war? Similarly, the same “experts” have been asking for already two or even three years: where is the collapse of the Ukrainian state?
A year ago Ukrainian analysts started to admit that state structures were degrading. Then opposition politicians followed suit. Now such pillars of the current regime as the head of “Naftogaz” Kobolev and the presidential candidate Gritsenko have already recognised it, and these are statements that were made on Saturday, but if we look at the last month, 90% of the leading politicians and experts of Ukraine noted the funeral of Ukraine. They finally “saw the light”. But not all of them.
Concerning the situation in Syria, here the epiphany should come much faster, since events develop faster and the reaction of the main players, which doesn’t allow for double interpretations, is more striking.
What gives us the right to claim victory in Syria? The answer is the fact that during the conference of leaders of four states the issues surrounding a peaceful settlement were considered: the problem of refugees, the maintenance of the demilitarised zone in Idlib, and the beginning of the constitutional process. But it was promised to continue to fight against terrorists. The realities of a beautiful new world start to be discussed only when the end of war is not far off, and its result is not in doubt (the Tehran conference – November 28th-December 1st, 1943 – took place after the battle of Kursk and the liberation of left-bank Ukraine; the Yalta conference – February 4th-11th, 1945 – took place after the Vistula-Oder operation).
Why do we think that not only terrorists were defeated in Syria, but also the United States? Because on the eve of the meeting in Istanbul, the US President’s national security adviser John Bolton, synopsising the results of his visit to Moscow, summed up the entire volume of American pretensions to Russia. Among them, a prominent place was occupied by “Russia’s incorrect behavior in Syria”. Barely a couple of days had passed and Russia expanded and deepened its “incorrect behavior” at the Istanbul meeting. I.e., the US’ opinion was ignored.
Three of the participants of the conference (Germany, France, Turkey) initially supported the aggression against Syria, and even took part in it as much as possible in the American coalition. All three countries in unison with the United States insisted that “Assad must go”. Now they all agree with Russia that “the fate of Assad will be decided by the Syrian people in free elections”. No one is even interested anymore in the “compromise” proposal put forward by the Americans last year: let Assad lead until the end of the war, but he can’t take part in the new post-war elections. The Russian concept – the Syrians will decide for themselves – was accepted unconditionally by all three, now we can say former, members of the US coalition in Syria. And the Americans themselves were not invited to the meeting in principle. The US’ allies at the same table with Russia were deciding the fate of the settlement of a crisis that is fundamentally important for the US in a strategically important region. They ignored Washington’s opinion and supported Moscow’s position, despite the fact that the day prior a high-ranking official of the Trump administration stressed that Russia’s position vis-a-vis Syria is unacceptable for the United States and Washington will fight for its correction.
If this is not a humiliating defeat for the US, then I don’t know what is. The allies did not flee with such speed and so demonstratively even from a disintegrating USSR. This can be compared only with the fleeing of the allies of the Third Reich to the camp of winners in 1943-1945. Back then Italy, Romania, Bulgaria, and Finland progressively declared war on Germany. Hungary could not (although Horthy indeed planned to conclude a separate peace deal with the USSR), because it was occupied by Germany, which at the same time replaced the Hungarian government and replaced the Regency of Horthy with the dictatorship of Szálasi.
It should also be noted that the participation of France and Germany in the discussion on the Syrian issue became possible only after Russia’s repeated proposals to Paris and Berlin to think about their financial participation in the reconstruction of Syria began to find understanding. Merkel, and then also Macron in the summer of 2018, expressed themselves in the sense that there is a need to provide the Syrian people with humanitarian support. It’s just that back then “when Assad leaves” was added to this. As we see, they appeared at the negotiating table only when the demand of Assad’s resignation was removed, but the willingness to pay for the restoration of Syria remained. Moreover, both Merkel and Macron especially noted that the joint communiqué upon the results of the meeting became possible precisely because the parties do not have disagreements on key issues.
The key issues discussed at the meeting were the approval of the Russian-Turkish mission in Idlib (Russian initiative); work on a new Syrian Constitution, designated at the meeting as the “start of the constitutional process” (Russian initiative); and the continuation of the fight against terrorists (Russian initiative). The fact that Germany and France, like Turkey before them, withdrew the demand for Assad’s resignation from politics has already been mentioned above. Actually, after victory on the battlefields, Moscow forced its opponents to capitulate at the negotiating table too. Moreover, a precedent was created that can be used when the issue of the restoration of Ukraine becomes actual. France and Germany took a no less active part in its destruction than they did in the destruction of Syria.
I would pay special attention to the absence of the US at the meeting. This is the first time since the American-Spanish war of 1898 that a fundamental issue of international relations is being solved without the participation of the United States. This is the only case in all the history of modern Middle Eastern crises where a settlement is being achieved without the presence of Washington at the negotiating table. For the first time since 1945, Germany and Turkey, and for the first since 1956 (since the Anglo-Franco-Israeli aggression against Egypt), France too, supported military-political agenda that is contrary to the military-political agenda of the United States.
Of course, this can be explained by the serious political and financial-economic contradictions that divided the United States and its NATO allies. In Turkey Washington tried to organise a coup, and it wages an economic war against the EU, trying to force Germany to abandon “Nord stream-2” and also, together with France, to assume most of the costs of maintaining and increasing the US’ military presence on the European continent.
But the United States earlier supported the rebellious Turkish military, which has repeatedly changed civilian offices. And the United States has repeatedly forced its European allies to abandon lucrative contracts with Russia/USSR (for example, the attempt to disrupt the Soviet-German deal “gas-pipes” in 1970, or the disruption in 2009 of the already happened purchase of “Opel” by a consortium with the participation of Russian “Sberbank” and “GAZ Group”). While Washington was the hegemon of the West (and at the turn of the millennia – the planet), the EU and NATO countries allowed themselves to quietly grumble about American arrogance.
Now we see a completely different situation. They completely ignore the position of the United States that was stated unambiguously and in-advance. And they don’t just ignore it, they do it in favor of a country that the United States is in a state of fierce confrontation with and Germany and France, together with the United States, recently imposed sanctions on, threatening to introduce additional ones also because of disagreements on Syria.
In addition, exactly on the eve of the meeting in Istanbul it was finally announced that “Turkish stream” will enter into operation before the end of 2019, and will also be extended to Bulgaria, and maybe to Hungary. As far as I understand, Ukrainian Tomos is still a consolation prize for the Americans, which, however, still hasn’t been given by anyone.
America doesn’t need France, Germany, or Turkey as its allies, when it has Israel and Saudi Arabia!
Israel is extremely limited to its selfish regional goals. It has no alliance value beyond the flight range of its F-16s and F-35s. Saudi Arabia has to use mercenaries in its own defense and wars on others. It is a sad joke.
France, Germany and Turkey occupy strategic geography and possess massive military capabilities that are used from the Atlantic to Afghanistan.
Your remark is in need of re-education. Especially, following swiftly after a reading of Ishchenko, a master analyst.
I was being sarcastic and mocking America’s alliance with Israel and Saudi Arabia.
he was being, maybe, sarcastic…?
I think you will find his remark was a joke.
Tom Welsh is also the name of my son who has been working as a proposal writer for obtaining govt. contracts and lives a short distance from the Pentagon in Arlington.
Indeed, an impressive diplomatic win for Russia. However, watching the four leaders statements and question taking at the press conference, it seemed to me that Putin looked annoyed or unhappy.
Thank you, Ollie and Angelina for this translation.
Ishchenko brings great depth of knowledge and weaves facts, history and policies in a complex design, thus, translation is crucial for clarity and his intended emphases.
Herein, Rostislav Ishchenko takes two very different geopolitical crises and denotes how the Syrian solutions Russia has wrought has co-opted France and Germany for both Syria and Ukraine. He deftly defuses any argument that the U.S. can force Russia’s partners in these solutions (France, Germany and Turkey) to bend to its will.
In a few years of military and diplomacy by the Kremlin, Putin has stolen the commanding high ground and turned the vassals of the Hegemon into rubber stampers of his policies.
Ishchenko’s grasp on history and current events is superb. Not because his conclusions make us feel good but because his reasoning is solid and (ideologies aside–please, all the Kremlin naysayers) his insights are like a skilled lumberman axing a tall timber. He takes down the tree and it falls exactly where he wants it down. All done with the fewest strokes of the axe.
Agreed. I like the sweep of history that Ishchenko brings to his analysis. I especially liked his reference to Ukraine, and that this involvement of Germany and France now sets a precedent for when the time comes to rehabilitate that poor place.
And the point of this event is not to harness the power of the EU but to position it inside, and the US outside, of the sphere of influence.
The Syrian government has already said that they wont accept any “help” “rebuilding” and that they will favorise the aid coming from Russia Iran and China. They all know that the rebuilding help will be a thinly disguised poisoned dagger in their back.
Just like the U.S. promised to rebuild Iraq after they carpet bombed, shocked and awed their way through the infrastructure and pillaged the history and artifacts of the land and raped their way through the women men and children (remember abu ghuraib and abeer al janabi)
Oh, but they allocated money to “rebuild” their own infrastructure and made guarded mini cities where the neo colonizers dwell and the only natives who come in are either bootlicker traitors or or brave souls dragged to the torture oubliette
When will Syria decide the fate of Syria. When will “middle-east” south east Asia and Africa decide their own fate. Probably when the Zio propaganda ends.
It remains to be seen just how independent and sovereign France and Germany actually are, after all, they both host US forces on their territory since WW2, so are in effect occupied countries.
And an article just appeared elsewhere an hour ago
“Unprecedented Summit of Four in Istanbul Reveals Unbridged, Irreconcilable Differences Between Russia and the West Over Syria
It was obvious that Vladimir Putin was odd man out against the three other summit leaders, all of whom have not abandoned their ambition to see Bashar Assad removed from power”
https://russia-insider.com/en/unprecedented-summit-four-istanbul-reveals-unbridged-irreconcilable-differences-between-russia-and
Thanks for that link…a very good article written by Gilbert Doctorow, a very serious and trustworthy Russia observer…
I agree with Mr Doctorow, whose article is the exact opposite of this one presented here…my own take after seeing snippets of the leaders’ press conference is that this meeting was meaningless…and only confirms that a military solution in Syria is the only way to force the rotten West to face facts and get the hell out of Syria’s business…
Doctorow surmises the same in his closing paragraph…
‘The default position is that Damascus, with assistance from Russia and Iran, will complete its clawing back of all its territory, including Idlib, cost what it may.
In that case, the Syrian crisis will in fact be resolved by military means, whatever gloss diplomats may choose to apply.’
This Ischenko article strikes me as ridiculous…clearly the West is trying to ‘win the peace’ after losing the war…this meeting was in fact a depressing reminder of the West’s unending perfidy…they are rallying around Erdogan who thinks he can dance on the head of a pin forever…
Well Putin needs to let him know that the buck stops here…Erdog’s terrorists in Idlib continue to run wild and that DMZ is nothing but a joke…the SAA and Iran are ready to clean out that rat’s nest once and for all and send Erdog’s pets back to their master…or turn them into fertilizer…the preferable choice…
Putin needs to stop dancing around with Erdogan…and I suspect he will let the dogs out right after the US elections…enough is enough…
Incidentally, the full hour long press conference is available here…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cezjdhuEd18
Indeed a very good article by Doctorow and judging by Putin’s body language at press conference, much closer to reality.
FB, gT,
I agree with what you said about the situation, and by extension with Doctorow. I realize that Putin is trying to get these three to his side. It won’t work. Neither one changed their attitude towards the feature of Syria. Putin is trying for political resolution, which won’t happen unless Syria/Russia/Iran are willing to give away all the currently occupied territory with it’s oil resources. This should never be allowed to happen, as far as I am concerned, and this leaves us with only one solution, which Doctorow points at: more spilled blood.
Having said all that, I keep blaming Assad for his undecidedness from the beginning of the war. He should have asked Russia for help shortly after the war started, he would not have lost practically all his territory, which now he has tough time getting back.
Colonel Pat Lang, of Sic Semper Tyrannis, maintains that President Putin deliberately postponed the anti-terrorist Idlib campaign until after the US Mid-term elections.
Per this retired ME specialist, the Russian President distinguishes between the US Deep State (represented by such figures as the late Senator Mc Cain, current Senator Graham, Ambassadors Haley and Bolton) — and President Trump’s “Deplorables” who want out of Syria / Iraq, indeed out of all foreign interventions.
Vladimir Putin also understands that the US Deep State has most major US journalists (eg Tom Friedman) on their payroll and these can be relied on to surface hysteria during the Idlib campaign, much like the journalist hysteria following the Helsinki summit. So, to encourage generally low-information “Independents” to dis-elect Deep State politicians, the Russian President will take no action in Syria until after the US Mid-term elections.
Per Colonel Lang, Russia and Syria have not been idle these last months, as they quietly identify and scope their unwelcome guests, and we can expect the Idlib terrorists to be wiped out in late-November / December.
Two weeks ago, the Russian MOD had reported killing 350 “leaders” of various ISIS, al Nusra, AQ groups in Idlib. Elite units of RF, Hezbollah, Quds Force and Syrian Army have decimated throughout the war key terrorists and unit leaders.
We have a chorus from Putin, Shoigu and Lavrov that Russia intends to destroy all the terrorists that remain in Syria. Sort of the Chechen policy redux. “Kill them in the shitter,” to quote Putin from those days.
Petral 2:01
You can bet on Idlib. Think ‘toast’ come a month from today.
Lang used to insightful – now he is just another Trumpist. The idea that there is some secret side-deal between Trump and Putin that will be activated after the mid-terms is nonsense (this issue has zero political salience in the USA). And it was not the so-called “deep state” that pulled out of the INF and JOCPA or moved the US embassy to Jerusalem – it was Trump.
Thanks for the translation of the articles of a keen mind. but I have my doubts on two of his points.
1. Not only are those of Looneylandia, USA prone to “double down” when events do not go their way, but also
they are poor losers. Expect more trouble with the Kurds and al-Tanaf.
2. France and Germany’s willingness to pay does not mean that they will actually cough up much, unless they
can be shamed into it or perhaps , as is the favorite thing to do in Looneylandia, they will agree to an added 0.5% sales tax per cu. ft. of Russian gas delivered to the EU to go to a “Rebuild Syria Fund. That certainly is cheaper than another “migrant” flood.
I doubt Russia and China will need help from France and Germany in the reconstruction of Syria. If the Euros don’t interfere, that will be enough. However, I have no idea how long Macron and Merkel can resist American pressure.
Accordingly to the latest voting results in Germany and some German commenters it looks like Merkel, the cat, may have used her nine lives and her last political life may not last very long.
The harpy’s political life will last another almost three years, the end of her current term. If she does ‘retire’ early, it’ll be because Uncle Sugar has a replacement lined up to replace her.
Author of the R-I article linked is Gilbert Doctorow. Woe is he! Always a downer.
He reads body language of the press conference and the correctives to Macron’s language, using the term “regime” applied to Syria’s government. Putin chastised the French boy toy of EU.
Doctorow sees the complex politics of Syria as very treacherous to conclude the Istanbul meeting could solve the problems left in Syria.
Duh!
What he misses is Putin represents Iran and Syria and their armies. He speaks for the victorious.
Just because the US continues to meddle as best it can (it is losing Deir ez Zor east to the Iraq border to ISIS again). The US is losing Saudis due to the Prince’s recent heinous murder of Khashoggi. Turkey is demanding Saudis comply on Qatar which now accommodates Iran.
Doctorow sees the forest for the forest. Or maybe just stares at a big tree and thinks of a forest.
Throwing cold water at a river is not analysis.
He based his article on watching videos. And he brought nothing else to the thought process.
I suggest he watch more videos. The Russian one I would advise is this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6I0Bgb-vAAY
Viktor Tsoi’s song and the heroism of Russian people (in Donbass) are powerful symbols.
Russian Troops in Syria used it before some battles early in the war.
The MOD’s insertion of S-300 and Pantsir-S1 and S2s and more EW systems indicates the determination to clear Syria and make permanent a Russian-determined solution.
Putin’s insistence at Istanbul that Idlib will be cleared and terrorists will be liquidated is “the word” and all parties, except Doctorow, understand that.
The US is a very slow learner. It’s advisers on the ground are running for their lives in Idlib, Manbij, Deir ez Zor, and are useless in al Tanf. It’s SDF proxies are being slaughtered because the US air support can’t fly close and effective sorties, afraid of the ISIS monsters it trained and armed. So, it drops white phosphorous on civilians.
There is no basis to think the US will be able to hold ground in Syria.
It may take an object lesson of losing scores of special forces (that day draws closer each hour). But the US will have to leave.
The Syrian Army will sweep the East and take all its borders just as General Giap swept the highlands and came with his armor through Buon Me Thout.
People like Gilbert Doctorow have already made up their minds what they will write even before the summit takes place.
They use their writings to promote their political views rather than attempt objective reporting.
Apart from anything else does not Doctorow have the decency to admit that President Putin has worked his butt off trying to bring an end to the suffering of the Syrians and has achieved the recognition of Syria’s right to self determination in the teeth of demonic behaviour by the most powerful countries on Earth, the UK, the US, Israel, France, the Gulf states and Turkey.
And he has succeeded.
If there were any odd men out at the summit it was surely Erdogan, Merkel and Macron all of whom have the blood of murdered Syrian people on their hands.
The Doctorow article appeared in “Russia Insider” and what to me is particularly disgusting is the way English language Russian news outlets such as RI, Sputnik and Pravda routinely welcome and publish articles denigrating and demeaning the Russian government and President Putin in particular.
To me the most obvious example of 5th column activity is the Russian English language media. They should be ashamed of themselves.
Yes, thanks Rostislav In an ocean of media misinformation your observations ring true and are all the more valuable because of that.
Hi Larch
Here’s a much better view of the body language, and it’s only 5 minutes. It’s the Vesti News report of the summit. Everybody happy, Erdogan on his own turf, Putin obviously driving the agenda. Even UN observer Mistura, while not commenting, “could not conceal his satisfaction.”
This is how wars are ended. This is how peace is made.
Multipolar World Now a Reality: Four-Sided Summit in Istanbul Went Ahead WITHOUT the United States
Thanks for the video link, and your astute comments.
Putin is writing the Art of Peace. It’s a condition that is rare and difficult to extract from war, chaos and implacable opponents, but he and his diplomatic corps and his military have been performing Peace-making in many hotspots.
There is a long journey ahead in Syria, but the direction is set and he will enforce the rules.
When those refugees return to Syria, EU and Turkey (and Jordan, too) will be big winners.
Only the US has little to gain from Peace. That is the reason why Putin has worked with all the others. The US will have no allies beyond their proxies.
I don’t regard Gilbert Doctorow as being worth paying any attention to. Joshua Landis is worth paying attention to.
https://twitter.com/joshua_landis/status/1056260074673451009
The Art of Peace is to create Justice and the Art of Love is to create Beauty.
I suspect Putin is good at both.
Thanks for the link,
During the conference, president Putin said that 50 planes were fired down only in the last 1.5-2 months. my question is: who has these resources to lose so many planes and still continue fighting?
Drones not planes.
Thanks for the link. Just wow.
I feel compelled to comment on the RI article and the RT transmission of the entire press conference.
1. It is true that the live translator routinely denigrated the Syrian government as “regime” even during President Putin’s responses, whereas I am sure that he did not use this derogatory term. Russian speakers are invited to check this and correct me, if I am wrong.
2. The contents of President Putin’s summary and the condensed, dry way he presented it, the way he flipped pages (certainly his own notes – please compare to the French President whose speech was handed to him) show me that he was not satisfied with the outcome of the meeting. I am certain from the other talks that “Assad must go” was just put off for a couple hours to be put back on the table later. Moreover, assisting the return of Syrians by rebuilding the country without preconditions now was definitively not accepted by his colleagues. The statements of Chancellor Merkel and President Macro clearly confirm this.
President Putin’s explicit acknowledgment of Staffan de Mistura’s hard work underlines his anger with his colleagues. Such explicit thanks for no substantial progress (due to obvious obstruction within the UN) show his total dissatisfaction with his colleagues.
3. All three – President Erdogan, President Macro and Chancellor Merkel – abused the press conference again for fake history writing. I do not understand President Putin’s restraint. He could have taken the lead in his brief summary to recall the official death toll from all sides in the Syrian war. If he does not want to let history be distorted, he has to write it himself in a preventive answer. Citing the death toll in the war would proof once again that the Syrian government protects its people in a war of aggression that is mostly fought by foreign mercenaries. I recall that I already said this long ago.
4. When asked about which other parties should participate in future meetings, President Putin left the door wide open to anyone, including the USA. Whereas it is true that at a certain point talks with all aggressors need take place, I cannot help but predict the derailment of the peace process by the presence of certain states, unless these states are simply presented an unconditional capitulation request.
In summary, the meeting took place but the outcome of the talks is rather meek.
A joint presentation with Russian MoD with for examples of rebels terrorists non compliance…ongoing civilian deaths by USA….numbers of arms caches and contents say found in the last 6 months…proofs of their suppliers….numbers of american troops and bases…numbers of hostage refugees near al tanf being denied a UN convoy…a resurgence of ISIS that SDF and USA are failing to deal with….might have also engendered a still required sense of urgency…….
We thought Idlib would be cleared before until Erdo represented his euro chums point of view to protect his own supplies to Turkish approved rebels and have time to call them home….time has been given to whitehelmets to evacuate….Gilbert Doctorow had also watched the Russian tv programme – he does attend many discussion programmes there whilst we in the west non russian language have very little to in to gain a balanced perspective…so I am going to stick with this from him
“In conclusion, I believe that the world media, Western and Russian, have chosen not to highlight the issues I have raised here because of the complicity of the parties in presenting a fairly optimistic story to the general public while everyone temporizes.”
Well, the picture I saw was very telling. Frenchie was asleep, Putin did not look happy and Merkel sort of in La-La land. The only attentive person was Erdogan.
So, contrary to what you guys are saying, I think Doctorow’s evaluation was correct. Sorry to disappoint guys.
Doktorov is a cut and paste master who has mastered what he thinks is the ebb and flow of a situation for the good of his wallet. I stopped reading him long ago and won’t bother to read what he has written of late, I’d sooner read ‘Petro Poroshenko’s Book of Recipes for Cooking Squab In A Helmet’, one is as erudite as the other.
Auslander
Haha, nice one! Thanks for a the good- and much-needed- laugh, Auslander!
But seriously PP might just know some good recipes, everyone has at least one redeeming feature..
While my other comment is not up yet? I have to pictures for you to look at. Both show different situations yet together they kind of prove what I said earlier:
https://www.strategic-culture.org/news/2018/10/29/istanbul-summit-on-syria-was-a-success-but-caveats-remain.html
https://russia-insider.com/en/unprecedented-summit-four-istanbul-reveals-unbridged-irreconcilable-differences-between-russia-and
Now this one is a happy one for the public, at least Merkel:
https://russia-insider.com/en/paris-and-berlin-break-us-boycott-syria/ri25214
But even here Putin does not look happy.
Photos prove nothing. Prove is a very certain word.
You think and assume your photos prove your argument.
It doesn’t.
Beginning with all the Doctorow statements and his supporters, the argument is lame, weak, pathetic.
Bringing such “reasoning” here to the Vineyard is almost insulting. It belongs elsewhere.
And for the bozos who keep trolling, insisting on everything anti-Russia and anti-Putin, you all need to migrate to other blogs. Your latest efforts are juvenile.
Anonius 10:18
Looked at the photos, just for a grin, and here’s my take on images produced from high speed cameras taking photos at about 30 a second.
Mutti is thinking ‘Oooo, I hope no one heard that and I hope I didn’t stain my dress.’
President Putin is thinking ‘Oh, gawd, Mutti is troubled with wind again. Someone open a window.’
Erdogan is thinking ‘What was that? Did I hear gunfire?’
Macron is thinking ‘I want my mommy. Oh wait, I married her.’
Auslander
Author
Sevastopol, The Third Defense. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079KRPLS4 Book 1, A Premonition, The Move South. Set against a backdrop of real events and real places, the reader is left to filter fact from fiction.
An Incident On Simonka https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01ERKH3IU March 2014. NATO Is Invited To Leave Sevastopol, One Way Or The Other.
Awesome and hilarious counterpoint, Auslander.
“Someone open the Window”—
Can’t stop laughing.
Larchmonter 2:15
Glad I gave you a giggle. I wrote it out, then cleaned it up a bit for posting, I removed ‘That was a wet one’ from Mutti’s ruminations.
Auslander
Aus, first of all I liked your take on the pictures.
While, Larch seems to be taking my comment very personally, I will say one thing. One of the ancient Greek Philosophers said: “the truth is what we see (hence relative)” The history is how we present it.
I said this many times: “Take 10 people and show them something, then ask them to tell you what they saw. Each one of them will answer differently”.
Let me repeat what I have already said before: November 11 meeting between Putin and Trump is a waste of time. USofA is not going anywhere unless it gets kicked out. Now, I already read something regarding Russia asking US for financial assistance, hmm, this was an interesting statement, if true.
And all the Pro-Russian media can praise this meeting in Turkey to the skies. Germany and France are nobodies, just like in Ukraine, they just represent US and without any authority. Erdogan will do what he wants, and just like with the US, Russia will have to kick Turkey out of Syria, because just like the US, Turkey is not going anywhere.
Russia does not want, maybe can’t, to do war with US or Turkey. Is Assad good enough to do that on his own? I am not sure, I doubt it.
Regarding Iran, I remember reading an article, years back, written by one of the Russian military men, which did not rate Iranian fighting methods very high, maybe this is why Iran stays on the sidelines. It’s one thing to be a martyr and another to effectively win the war and stay alive.
Anonius 10:18
In two of the three photos, Erdogan is reading a long-winded speech in Turkish, while the others are listening to halting German / Russian / French translations by “tone neutral” interpreters. Eg: “Therefore — I — believe — the — moment — has — arrived — to — etc.”
By definition such translated, political wordiness is excruciating and photos taken of others simply mean that the listeners are beyond bored.
In the third photo the participants have been drained of emotional energy by the “tone neutral” interpreters and all are longing for lunch / dinner.
Looking at the full press conference, I did not see President Putin bored. To the contrary, he was attentively listening to the speeches and taking notes. It is so typical of him – I really like it.
Marcel, I do not think he was bored. I think he was totally frustrated and pissed, because I do not think he managed to get these people on board with his proposals, whatever they were.
Just like Sloboda said, “holding hands at the end and singing cumba-ya is for the public”
I actually thought that the translator did a good job that was shown on rt. There is one used sometimes that gets left behind..strughles for words…gabbles when he catches up …but this one was good coping well wiith the different languages.
Petrel,
I can’t disagree with what you said, I actually liked what you said. I can imagine monotonic translation putting you to sleep.
Having said that, Duran has some video, which does not show anything except two guys talking, but there is an introductory picture which which is nowhere to be found in the video, and this is actually what I talked about at the beginning. Check out Macron, is he asleep or what?:
http://theduran.com/istanbul-summit-frozen-conflict-in-idlib-and-erdogans-two-front-war-video/
Now, Sloboda in this video actually called the whole thing “BS”, which I agree with, I must say I did not bother watching the video before this morning (ET).
A year ago I said the USA would be defeated and lose all its allies. India and Japan are having second thoughts about the Quad. I look at the US stock market indices and a year from now they’ll be talking about financial crisis part 2. Wall Street sells stocks at the bull market tops and buys ’em back at the bear market bottoms. Wink!Wink!
That’s the Wall Street Way for over a hundred years.
The US Exceptionals have been defeated by the Russian Mediocrities.
Read enough Russian history and you’ll never be dumb enough to underestimate the Russians as an opponent.
Read enough Sun Tzu and you’ll never be dumb enough to enough to have such an exceptionally immoral grand strategy.
Only a political elite of composed of sociopathic dumbasses could be sooooooooooooo pathetic.
Congrats Russia! What your witnessing is the process of psychological defeat. Wink!Wink!
It never pays to celebrate too early.
When was the last time Uncle Sam beat his wife, or a country in war? Wink! Wink!
They’re losing to the poorly equipped Taliban in Afghanistan. Wink! Wink!
Congrats Russia! What your witnessing is the process of psychological defeat. Wink!Wink!
If they support the territorial integrity of Syria then it must also mean that they support the return of the Golan Heights to Syria.
Am disturbed by the title. Russian diplomacy being based on the principle of nations as sovereign (I say diplomacy, not what is uttered in the silence of cabinets), I am troubled by the idea of a country “deciding” the fate of another (whatever how it pretends to know what is the best for the Syrians and their future)
I do believe this article is directed at the USA and West in general, not Syrians or anyone else, to show them they have lost this fight.Plus, we have no reason to think Russians are acting against the wishes of Syrians in Syria.
Directed to the west?
So what syrians can read english too!
I dont follow your logic. If you want to present yourself as a power that actually respects their allies sovereignty than you respect it! Even when you are not adressing them.
Especially when you arent.
And the RF has presented itself as a power that respects their allies sovereignty, they are in Syria at the invitation of the Syrians after all.Has any Russian state officials(who are the only ones with the authority to speak on behalf of the Russian state) said anything to the contrary?
As for this article, from what I could find online, the author(Rostislav Ishchenko) is a former Ukrainian state official who moved to Russia when the Americans brought freedom and democracy(sarcasm) to Ukraine, he is currently a political scientist/analyst heading the ‘Center for System Analysis and Forecasting'(not sure about that last part, there were conflicting versions online).There was nothing indicating he is a Russian state official or otherwise speaking on behalf of the Russian state, so I don’t think there’s any need to consider what he writes as the views of the Russian state.These are his views as a political scientist/analyst and the RF as a nation that has freedom of speech, I believe, he can write what he wants.
Yes there has perhaps a frisson with Iran being quite firm that if Syria wants it to stay it will….whereas the Russian statements that all outside forces will eventually leave yet Russia will keep its bases…..and Assad either quiet or being kept quiet about that point (subject of course to the accessibility of limited media that we have)……hhhmm. And Iran should have been at the presentation too….considering it actively meets EU leaders over the JCPG thing too…..and preferable that M and M go to Astana to attend the meetings with the opposition to really see their delegated operatives face to face and see the enormous diffculties Lavrov and co are having to deal with.It would show more cohesiveness and pulling together rather than a separate ” small group” meeting I think it was called which seems divisive. But then western press would not go to Astana maybe(well tough that just exposes how out of touch they can be as proved by questions)….maybe Istanbul chosen to bolster Erdogan for which Putin still had fullsome praise although I am confused exactly what he is upto in Syria and he feels his past sins are forgiven…..maybe papa Putin is keeping a very beady eye on the errant child ….maybe Erdo still is trying to prove he should worthily have EU membership which might be more successful as EU is now recognising Nato -USA might not exactly be their best friend…….why has Ramstein recieved its largest ammunition delivery in the last coupla days for example(Merkel announcing her resignation to prevent a revolt by the populace maybe well at least to avoid even further embaressment) so has she written herself out of anything to do with Syria or is this surrender to Putin realising Germany’s role in Minsk has been disastrous and she does not want to once again failingly deal with up and coming Ukraine elections and knows somehow that USA is even more increasing its presence and determinations re Donbass plus confront Russia even more following INF withdrawal- let alone what else USA could be planning as seemingly filming is taking place of a faked chemical attack. Clearly now she acknowledges she has been found out. So who is going to pick up the pieces now re Germany and the Syrian situation one wonders……and no one asks Macron exactly what was your frigate doing when our Russian plane was being used deliberately used as a stooge by IDF……..are there conditions laid down by Putin…..keep your navy out of the way and unloaded..any joint action with USA fleet and airforces will mean…what exactly??? Will Russia shut down Syrian airspace?
Israel says it has continued to fly air sorties but people think this is wishful thinking bravado only…so what is the truth..would Russian populace be more concerned if so especially when it was revealed IDF had been allowed to get away with 200+ previous sorties most of which did not comply with the system of agreement set up?
And are there any communications or messages being sent covertly with all parties of the USA coalition…who speaks for them…just Bolton? Which countries are still active and what are they doing …loading more bombs and phospohorous?
Ps..https://sputniknews.com/europe/201810301069357388-macron-four-day-break-reaction/
Macron handle the stress either…mrs M insists he needs a break….
Not sure if Syria will welcome back these diaspora…..info: Privacy Policy
”
Sputnik International
Seven Syrians and one German citizen have been arrested; they are suspected of raping an 18-year-old student. The men have been on the police radar long before the arrest for other alleged wrongdoings, which drew criticism on the authorities.
Up to 2,000 demonstrators flooded the streets of the university city of Freiburg in southern Germany following a gang rape, which was allegedly committed by migrants from Syria as well as one German citizen. The right-wing Alternative for Germany party brought around 500 people to protest the crimes committed by refugees and Chancellor Angela Merkel’s migration policy, repeating demands for stricter migrant control following the arrest of the suspects.
This anti-AfD rally was marked with violence against the police and protesters, some tweets suggested. According to the Twitter users, who allegedly posted videos of the protests, demonstrators from the left-wing radical group Antifa and others threw bottles and stones.
After the gang-rape of an 18-year-old girl in Freiburg by refugees and one German the AfD called for demonstrations. The left on the other hand called for demonstrations against the right “Nazi propaganda” and ended up being violent, throwing bottles at protestors .
The AfD called for demonstrations after eight suspected of gang raping an 18-year-old were detained. Seven Syrians, aged 19 to 29 and living in refugee camps, as well as one German citizen were arrested on October 26. However, police are investigating if there were more who participated in the gang rape. The suspects are said to have been on the police radar before.
An arrest warrant had been issued against one of the alleged perpetrators earlier, according to the Interior Ministry. However, it wasn’t moved forward immediately “due to tactical reasons,” a spokesman of the state interior ministry said.”
Well 99% they are terrorists or white helmets that german gave “refuge” to.
and they are “just” perpetuating what they inflicted on syrians./s
I mean wasnt that what they were paid to do to syrians by the germans and the rest of neocolonial west?
“work on a new Syrian Constitution”
So long as it doesn’t specify an “independent Central Bank” which is a euphemism for control by International Finance ;) Syria’s control of its Central Bank is fine as is.
Interesting discussion commentary here
http://theduran.com/istanbul-summit-frozen-conflict-in-idlib-and-erdogans-two-front-war-video/
Plus latest here
https://ejmagnier.com/2018/10/30/the-us-pretends-to-support-the-independence-of-syria-and-iraq/
Additional viewpoint here too
https://www.strategic-culture.org/news/2018/10/29/istanbul-summit-on-syria-was-a-success-but-caveats-remain.html
Magnier and most folks think only of Iran as the target of US policy and actions in Syria, Iraq and other ME locations.
Thierry Meyssan today indicates China as the real target. And if you look at the damage done to Chinese investments in Iraq, Libya and Syria since 2011, due to US military actions, you will see he is correct.
Iran is a threat to Israel’s dreams of regional hegemony.
China’s New Silk Road and BRI is a challenge to US global economic dominance as #1.
WWII in the Pacific and Europe were fought to preserve US dominance.
WWIII would be fought for the same strategic goal.
http://www.voltairenet.org/article203662.html
Thanks for link……whether obor rail and pipelines will make sea transport redundant and be more defendable on sovereign territories and hence usa navy totally redundant and targetable…not sure ……most oil LNG refineries terminals being in ports ….?
A rather unemotional impression of the summit along the lines of Ischenko by Bhardrakumar.
Bhadrakuma is cautious. I agree with his caution
https://alethonews.com/2018/10/29/istanbul-summit-on-syria-was-a-success-but-caveats-remain/
The U.S. will never win anything through diplomacy because they don’t practice that art. Their version of it is to make demands, or else.
My concern remains this: The U.S. still has long term plans it intends to fulfill. So they are not likely to just pull out and admit defeat. More than likely they will conjure up a false flag somewhere, perhaps a number of chemical attacks. These could happen anywhere and they will say our intelligence has proof this is the work of Syria and Iran. Or for no other reason than that they will have a giant temper tantrum and attack in spite of it all. As Mr. Putin implied and Bolton admitted, the eagle has eaten all the olives and only has arrows left.
The eagle has no arrows either because the MIC is only interested in enriching itself through legalized bribery. So the Perfumed Princesses on the Potomac can’t/won’t use violence to force anyone to do John Bolton’s will.
John Bolton is the poster child of the poorly educated, incompetent sociopathic,pos
political elite in America that deserves to be flushed down the toilet bowl of history.