International Military Review – Syria, Feb. 11, 2016

The brave and incomparable Bouthaina Shaaban, Advisor of President Assad, makes Australian TV clown Tony Jones look like the disgusting Zionist propaganda shill that he is. Well done, Mrs Shaaban!

http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2015/s4405058.htm

Shadi Hamid is a fellow at standford? no wonder the worlds a mess, morons such as this think their policy is the one to follow. Does not matter how much suffering it causes to others. Now multiply this by thousands of experts. All of who write good words on paper and their analysis.. Yet never willing to live in their own projects. Would these people like their daughters to become sex slaves? Why not??? If he was such an expert, he should be willing to accept the eventuality of the predicted outcomes. Actually I would rather see his entire consorts across the entre scholarly spectrum be turned into a harem since we are running critically short of women, we will now use decrypt old men instead. In fact I think we need a fatwa and jihad to bring such men to the reality they created. Got to admit, the guy has learnt English.. no wonder he gets paid handsomely to write such rubbish but using proper grammar neat English words.. And since he thinks its urgent, I think we should establish a line every morning where he would be forced to give blowjobs to 72 terrorists.. and since he likes stains so much, bend him over and get some camels to stain his backside.. These are the people establishing western education system. It is not the corrupt politicians that’s the problem but this very establishment. Jesus was so wrong.. It is not the money changers that’s evil..

U.S. policy toward Syria is a fascinating, if depressing, case study. Many of my friends and colleagues who work on Syria—nearly all of them, in fact—have been baffled by President Obama’s approach to the Syrian conflict.

The moral urgency is undeniable.

Inelasticity is helpful in understanding Obama’s policies on the Middle East, and particularly on Syria.

http://www.brookings.edu/blogs/markaz/posts/2016/02/10-obama-syria-policy-experts-hamid#.VryxrJOUP9o.twitter

On Syria, ISSG Statement from Munich, Here, Blog of Presser

UNITED NATIONS, February 11 — When the UN pulled the plug on the Intra-Syrian Talks, or merely as envoy Staffan de Mistura said pushed them back to February 25, de Mistura said that the UN “is not prepared to hold talks for the sake of talks.”

Now from Munich on February 11, this below has been issued. In the press conference that followed, three questions were taken: New York Times, Russian N TV, and BBC Arabic.

Russia’s Sergey Lavrov brought up Ukraine, and said he would not mention Palestine. (One waited to hear of Yemen.) He said the Financial Times misused what Ban Ki-moon said, that Ban hadn’t blamed Russia. (Inner City Press witnessed Ban enter the Security Council soon after Vitaly Churkin on February 9, but Ban’s spokesman refused to say why.) We’ll have more.

“Meeting in Munich on February 11 & 12, 2016, as the International Syria Support Group (ISSG), the Arab League, China, Egypt, the EU, France, Germany, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Jordan, Lebanon, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Oman, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the United Nations, and the United States decided that humanitarian access will commence this week to besieged areas, and an ISSG task force will within one week elaborate modalities for a nationwide cessation of hostilities.

The ISSG members unanimously committed to immediately facilitate the full implementation of the UN Security Council Resolution 2254, adopted unanimously December 18, 2015. The ISSG reaffirmed their readiness to carry out all commitments set forth in the resolution, including to: ensure a Syrian-led and Syrian-owned political transition based on the Geneva Communiqué in its entirety; press for the end of any indiscriminate use of weapons; support and accelerate the agreement and implementation of a nationwide ceasefire; facilitate immediate humanitarian access to besieged and hard-to-reach areas and the release of any arbitrarily detained persons; and fight terrorism.

http://www.innercitypress.com/syria12demistura021116.html

With regards to the cease fire agreement:

https://www.rt.com/news/332211-munich-lavrov-kerry-un-syria/

Syria crisis plan: Cessation of hostilities, humanitarian airdrops, peace talks laid out in Munich

An ambitious plan to end hostilities in Syria with verifiable results within a week, revive the Geneva-3 peace talks, and immediately begin delivering humanitarian aid to civilians has been unveiled in Munich, Germany after talks including the US, Russia, and the UN.
Hostilities in Syria could come to a halt within a week after confirmation by the government of President Bashar Assad and the opposition, according to an official communiqué from the International Syria Support Group (ISSG) meeting.

http://southfront.org/lavrov-ceasefire-does-not-extend-to-terror-groups/

LAVROV: CEASEFIRE DOES NOT EXTEND TO TERROR GROUPS IN SYRIA

“The ceasefire in Syria will not extend to organizations which the UN Security Council designates as terrorist, according to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s answer to a question concerning Russian Aerospace Forces operations in the event a ceasefire is implemented.

“Our documents contain language, and we have stated that the ceasefire will not cover the Islamic State, Jabhat al-Nusra, and other affiliated organizations which the UN Security Council designates as terrorist. Therefore our Aerospace Forces will continue to operate against these organizations,” Lavrov emphasized.”

The talks are to be resumed without pre-conditions but I still don’t see anything about the Syrian Kurds being included. Does anyone know if they have been invited?

First Victories of Russian Military Advisers – Part I Written by Alexey Ramm; Originally appeared at VPK, translated by James Cooksey exclusively for SouthFront

Units, loyal to the Syrian government had to be built from scratch

Last week, Syrian government troops have reported several successes, particularly in the North-West of the country in the so-called enclave Salma, where in November of 2015 Russian bomber SU-24M was shot down. Though complete eradication of militants from the area is yet to be achieved, but thanks to the robust and decisive actions of Syrian forces they were able to take the town of Salma under control.

Syrian Arab Army (SAA) made these gains with great difficulty. And yet it should be noted: in comparison with the last year’s operations in the same area, in fact the positional “meat grinder” when government forces took over some minor hilltop while suffering heavy casualties only to surrender it few hours later, the professionalism and training of Damascus armed forces is steadily increasing.

According to the representative of the Russian MOD familiar with the pre-war situation, the main problem was SAA shortage of trained fighters. “While officers were sufficiently trained, sergeants and especially with privates posed real problems. There weren’t any deployed brigades, regiments across the country which are required in wartime. In case of war, they were planning to be reinforced with reservists. All the specialists, signalmen, gunners, engineers, etc. were assigned only on paper. Actually it’s just guys with guns, who don’t know how to shoot properly”, – he tells “MIC” reporter.

“Only two divisions of the Syrian special forces had excellent training before the war. However, in our understanding is most likely an analogue VDV (airborne Special Forces). The Republican guard is well- equipped and staffed. In fact, this is an army within army. These guard units have artillery, airborne troops and special purpose forces of their own. SAA was manned mostly by conscripts and the Republican guards were professional soldiers,” explained the representative of the Ministry of defense, who is familiar with pre-war state of Syrian army.

Causes of casualties

The main problem of the Syrian army in the civil war was the high rate of trained personnel loss. The soldiers, sergeants and officers not only died in battle, but large number defected to the opposition and terrorist groups.

First victories of Russian advisors — part I

SAA command attempted to compensate for the shortage of manpower with massive use of tanks and other armored vehicles. For a long time the symbol of the Syrian civil war was video footage of government’s T-72, T-55, BMP-1, leading the assault in urban areas.

The leadership tried several times to solve the problem of lack of personnel with carrying out partial mobilization. But to no avail. In the end, bet were made on volunteer units, formed in the districts and towns which armed population was supposed to protect their homes and families.

According to the “Military-industrial courier”, work with paramilitary groups was the most difficult one. Despite the fact that many members of the militia had seen several years of war, few people knew how to properly shoot, move on the battlefield, not to mention weak physical training. Volunteer commanders, mostly selected by fighters themselves are often unable to properly make decisions in complex situations, to competently lead the soldiers not only in battle but in everyday life on the front-line.

Exact info for how long combat training for a single battalion of the SAA or militia lasts, were not disclosed. We can assume that we are talking about the period of no less than six months. In particular, if the first units of the Pro-government forces under the leadership of Russian instructors began training in September 2015, than their combat debut became the battle for “the Salma enclave “, which became an undeniable success.

Instructed Syrian units receive new field uniform, bullet-proof vests, protective helmets, particular the Russian 6 B43, 6 B45 and 6 B27, straight from the shop or from the inventory of the Russian army. For example, 6 B45 armor taken from dead Syrian soldier, transferred from warehouses of the Russian armed forces, with old nametag of the former owner was used by IS militants as proof that they allegedly killed by Russian soldier.

http://southfront.org/the-first-victories-of-russian-military-advisers-part-i/

July 25, 2012

In Syria – How to “Liberate” a Pro-Army City? NATO Terrorists Come to Overrun, Not “Liberate,” Aleppo.by Tony Cartalucci

A pivotal conflict is unfolding in northern Syria in the city of Aleppo – one told with two narratives. For the Western media, speaking on behalf of US foreign policy and the corporate-financier interests behind both their “journalism” and the subversion of Syria, the “Battle for Aleppo” constitutes brave “pro-democracy” fighters rising up in the streets of the ancient city to do battle with invading “regime thugs.” This despite a year and a half of reporting Aleppo as admittedly a pro-government bastion.

An approximation of areas where fighting has been taking place in Aleppo, Syria. Clearly during the initial offensive by the FSA, they came in from 2 of the city’s main highways, both leading to the Turkish-Syrian border. It appears that a large number of fighters have been trapped inside the center of the city, surrounded by Syrian military forces. This was not an “uprising” but rather an invasion by armed militants from either near, or across the Turkish-Syrian border. It is unclear whether a significant number of additional militants are on their way.

An Invasion, Not an Uprising

The second narrative is discerned not from official Syrian government talking points, but from a more critical examination of the Western media’s own reports, which exposes what is instead, indeed a pro-Syrian Army, pro-Syria city being overrun by so-called “Free Syrian Army” militants pouring in from two specific points – Aleppo’s northeast facing Azaz, and Aleppo’s northwest facing Bab al-Hawa. Militants emanating from these directions come from areas directly across from the Turkish border.

We know this, because BBC and other Western networks rode in with the militants on their way to Aleppo. One report, by BBC’s Ian Pannell, describes how he came in on just such a convoy. Clearly, these are not “sons of Aleppo” rising up.

The offensive was coordinated with an assassination bombing and a similar militant assault on Damascus – timed so closely with the UN Security Council vote, the vote was pushed back a day only to be vetoed by Russia and China, with Pakistan and South Africa abstaining in protest of the US-UK backed resolution.

It appears that the operation in Damascus was expected to last longer and cause more chaos amongst the ranks of the Syrian military. It also looks like a large psychological operation planned by NATO was attempted, but failed, or pushed back at the very least – one involving the seizing of Syrian broadcasting and replacing it with false reports of the government’s imminent demise. The lightning fast defeat of FSA militants in Damascus lent the Syrian people and their army a morale boost, instead of the psychological defeat NATO had intended to deal.

With Damascus secured and slowly returning back to normal, all eyes have fixated on Aleppo. The Western media is now portraying security operations in the city as “brutal” with verified lies of “Russian-made MIGs” “bombing” civilian populations being spread. With FSA militants seemingly trapped in the center of the city, and with the Syrian Army allegedly bringing in reinforcements, the Western media has attempted to portray what was a militant infiltration of the city, as instead, an invasion of Syrian military forces against “city defenders.”

How to “Liberate” a Pro-Army, Pro-Syrian City – Use Terrorism, Brutality, Intimidation

Also discerned from the Western media’s own reports is just how the FSA is trying to “liberate” Aleppo. BBC’s Ian Pannell claims militants are attempting to “extend their control” while “seeking revenge.” His narrative is accompanied by video footage of FSA militants rounding up what he claims are “suspected shabiha,” kicking them and firing weapons at their feet. The fate of these unarmed, terrorized men is never revealed by BBC, and Pannell excuses the FSA’s behavior by claiming, “there is little justice on either side.”

From BBC’s Ian Pannell – young men “suspected” of being “Shabiha” are rounded up as the FSA “seeks revenge.” BBC fails categorically to explain how NATO-backed terrorists can “liberate” a city that is admittedly pro-government – but it appears it will be done through terrorism, brutality, mass murder, and intimidation.

CNN also adds inadvertently contradictory facts to their fallacious narrative. In an article titled, “Faces of the Free Syrian Army,” we are treated with a grossly unsubstantiated narrative, seemingly meant to counter evidence reported on by outlets such as French intellectual Thierry Meyssan’s VoltaireNet. VoltaireNet’s article, “Who is Fighting in Syria?” reveals that the FSA’s ranks consist of mostly radicalized gangs, many not even Syrian. Further more, the article points out that the Syrian Army is conscripted from amongst the nation’s citizens. It is a “people’s army.”

CNN’s article, despite attempting to allay fears that the FSA consists of foreign terrorists, still admits:

Meanwhile, residents of the village where the Syrian Falcons were headquartered said there were fighters of several North African nationalities also serving with the brigade’s ranks.

A volunteer Libyan fighter has also told CNN he intends to travel from Turkey to Syria within days to add a “platoon” of Libyan fighters to armed movement.

Clearly, foreign-armed militants storming a city, many of whom are not even citizens of Syria, is not a “liberation,” but rather an invasion. Especially when these foreign fighters are facing an army conscripted from the Syrian people themselves.

And as with any invasion, a degree of “shock and awe” is required to create the necessary fear and panic in order to subjugate the invaded. The atrocities BBC alludes to reaffirm reports from both Human Rights Watch and the UN describing widespread war crimes carried out by the FSA. This, above all else, is how they “take” and “hold” territory, especially in areas where the Syrian Army enjoys widespread support, like in Aleppo.

This is not “liberation,” this is terrorism and invasion.

http://landdestroyer.blogspot.in/2012/07/in-syria-how-to-liberate-pro-army-city.html