hope we soon get truth re Samarda-tass was a bit ‘reticent” /earlier…….got to be some evidence somewhere…………………but be aware of any false flags etc etcetc to discredit rus as Rus is guilty until proven innocent, especially wirh its association with Syrian government and forces?
SOCHI, May 6. / TASS /. The actions of the Russian Aerospace Force remaining units in Syria take into account the need to preserve the fragile truce in the region, Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov told journalists on Friday.
Thus he commented on media reports about a recent airstrike on a refugee camp in the Idlib province in the north of Syria, the possible involvement of Russia’s Aerospace Forces in the attack, as well as about how this airstrike could affect the ceasefire regime.
“Russia and the Russian Aerospace Forces in Syria act with utmost responsibility in Syria in order not to damage the fragile atmosphere of truce. Russia has repeatedly demonstrated this and calls on all other sides to share this responsible and cautious approach,” Peskov said.
It was reported previously that at least 30 people were killed and more than 80 injured as a refugee camp in Syria’s Idlib province near Turkey’s border was hit by an airstrike on Thursday.
The Russian presidential press secretary declined to answer the question is the Russian Aerospace Forces were involved in that airstrike, readdressing it to the Russian Defense Ministry, “as it has the information about when and where our aircraft perform their tasks within the framework of the ongoing operation. ”
Asked to clarify if the media reports on the involvement of the Russian forces in such operations could threaten the process of the peace negotiations on Syria, Peskov said that “it’s a matter of facts, if there were no Russian planes and they did not operate there , then it’s another wave of disinformation. ”
Peskov also said that the issue of maintaining the ceasefire regime in Syria is constantly raised in contacts between Moscow and Damascus. “The Russian side is in permanent contact with the Syrian leadership, and the issue of truce, the preservation of the ceasefire regime is raised all the time in contacts with our Syrian partners,” he said, answering a question if Russia planned to use its influence on Syrian President Bashar Assad for promoting truce in the region.
READ ALSO
Intra-Syrian talks in Geneva to resume after May 20 – source
Kremlin says truce in Syria’s Aleppo is very fragile
UN keeps on insisting hospital in Aleppo came under air strike on April 27
Kremlin urges distinction between anti-terrorism struggle and ceasefire in Syria
The Kremlin is urging a clear distinction between the tasks of struggle against terrorism and the observance of ceasefire in Syria.
“There must be no confusion regarding the task of struggle against terrorism. Nobody has ever said that the war on terror will come to an end,” Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said about Syrian President Bashar Assad’s message to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“The offensive operations against terrorists will continue, of course,” he said.
However, in his opinion “it is an entirely different matter that ceasefire should be promoted in every possible way and actions that may harm the just-established fragile truce should be avoided.”
“We are aware of the main problems – those in Aleppo and in other regions, where terrorist groups and representatives of the so-called moderate opposition are tightly mixed up,” Peskov said, adding that such a state of affairs “creates great problems. ”
I watched a video of the so called bombing of the refugee camp the other day on a pro jihadi twitter account. A very odd emergency. Two brand new fire engines sitting around and virtually no people.
M of A has an article today on it. He also notes that there is no blast damage, only fire damage.
Al-Nusra Front May Be Behind Attack on Refugee Camp in Idlib – Russian MoD
The refugee camp could have been shelled from multiple rocket launchers used by al-Nusra Front terrorists in the region, the Russian Defense Ministry spokesman said Friday.
“Judging by the nature of destruction seen on photos and videos, the [refugee camp in Idlib] could have been either intentionally or by mistake struck from multiple rocket launchers, which are now often used by al-Nusra Front terrorists in the area,” Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said.
According to Konashenkov, photos of the site on social networks show that “there are no shell craters from aircraft ammunition and other traces of airstrikes.”
He also said that no flights were carried out by aircraft, Russian or other, over Sarmada in Syria’s province of Idlib near the border with Turkey where the refugee camp had been struck.
“We have carefully analyzed the information from the flight control area in that region on May 4 and May 5, 2016. There were no flights by Russian or any other aircraft over Sarmada.”
On Thursday, a refugee camp in Syria’s Idlib near Turkey’s border was reportedly hit by an airstrike, leaving at least 28 people, including women and children dead.
The Russian Defense Ministry spokesman said that Western media cited the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights based in the UK, however, there was no information on the attack on a refugee camp in Idlib on the SOHR’s site. A statement about the strike on the camp was posted only on the SOHR’s Facebook account without mentioning the date of the attack.
White House spokesman Josh Earnest also said on Thursday at a briefing that no US or coalition aircraft were operating in the area at the time of the airstrike.
A Syrian military source told RIA Novosti earlier in the day that the Syrian Army did not strike the refugee camp in the province of Idlib as well.
Genuine coincidences are rare, and that this attack should take occur at same time as Russia’s Palmyra performance could have been planned to knock that event out of the headlines, Charles Shoebridge, former UK army officer and security analyst, told RT.
The attack on the Aleppo refugee camp on May 5 was being described by the majority of media reports as an airstrike. But the UN’s refugee agency chief said that could not be confirmed. Russia’s Defense Ministry also casted doubt on whether war planes were involved. Moscow said it registered no air activity in that area over at that time. The White House also confirmed that coalition planes were not operating there.
RT: You’ve seen the pictures from the scene of the attack. Does it look to you like it’s not an air strike, as the Russian Defense Ministry believes?
Charles Shoebridge: I think the question is good but has to be rephrased: whether there is actually conclusive evidence that an airstrike has taken place. And I think the answer to that at the moment has got to be ‘no there isn’t’. I think from the outset, even those who were able to watch the video on their phone, for example, as I was at the beginning can see that there are a number of questions to be answered.
For example, one would normally associate from an airstrike, as the Russian Defense Ministry said, some degree of cratering if heavy weapons were used. There is no sign in these videos as far as I can see of any substantial craters left by these weapons. Also it is interesting to see while there was clearly a lot of effect from the impact of fire in the camp in the videos that I’ve seen at least, there doesn’t seem to be much sign of the effects of blast. Although it may have taken place, but it hasn’t taken place on the videos that I’ve seen that are widely available and being used as an evidence of the strike online. When you get blast, for example, it would be surprising – a blast can act in different ways for sure – but nonetheless with a blast that you would expect from the heavy weapons used in an airstrike you wouldn’t expect tent structures still to be standing, notwithstanding in other words, the frames are still standing in the video even though the cloth is in bits and pieces still lying around…
When you look at this Russian analysis of, for example, fracture patterns on the ground, they, with their analysis tools, are in a better position to judge what kinds of weapons were used. But also it is important to realize that there is saturation reconnaissance coverage from the area and from space of this area by Russia and the US. And it is clear both parties in this have the ability to analyze, if the weather was clear, and it probably was, what are those fracture patterns on the ground was and what kind of weapons were likely used. That is in the gift of all powers to actually know.
RT: The Russian Defense Ministry suspects the attack was by the al-Nusra Front, which uses rocket launchers. The group recently released a video showing they can carry out such shelling. Are they the likely culprits?
CS: Well, al-Nusra are certainly operating in this area. It is fair to say the kind of weapons that – without the very detailed analysis… and detailed inspection of satellite or air photos can reveal, for example, this fracture or strike patterns on the ground. Without having that ability in our possession, it is difficult to say. But remember these kind of rocket launchers that could cause this kind of attack – even mortar rounds could cause this kind of attack – are widely used by all parties in the Syrian conflict. So, therefore, whether by accident or design or whether it is a deliberate false flag, perhaps, to distract attention and to blame issues again on Assad or Russia, it is difficult to say at this stage. What is needed is – as has been said elsewhere – an independent investigation. How likely that is to happen is anyone’s guess. But again another point here is really to say how – without clear and conclusive evidence – yet again much of the Western media – not all of it – has jumped to the conclusion that whatever the opposition says and produce videos is actually true notwithstanding the lack of clear evidence to actually support those claims.
RT: Moscow says it’s significant that the attack in Sarmada coincided with the Russian orchestra’s concert in Palmyra. What do you make of the timing?
CS: Well it is. Again, if people don’t believe in coincidences – and for one as a former investigator and observer of life generally, genuine coincidences are actually rare. And the fact that this so-called attack should take place just at that time, just to knock that off the headlines and again to put the Assad government and Russia back on the back foot, it wouldn’t be surprising. As well given the speed of comment by certain individuals, for example, Philip Hammond the UK foreign secretary was very quick to blame Assad for this attack; very quick to distract attention from what Russia has achieved there. Yet again, though, it is worth noting that this attack again using rebel-supplied opposition video comes in the very week, largely uncovered by Western media except The Guardian, I would say, to its credit, it’s been revealed that for many years opposition video, YouTube channels and Twitter accounts have in fact been run by the UK government and the UK military. And if people are interested in that story, look at The Guardian website or my Twitter feed where the links are prominently there. It’s an interesting story.
.
Former Pentagon officer Michael Maloof told RT: “It is Al-Nusra’s interest to cast as much aspersion on the Assad government as possible. And I don’t think Assad’s military would undertake such an effort considering that it is part of the ceasefire: the Russian government and Assad have agreed that they are going for a ceasefire. And this just would be contrary to anything that has been agreed to. And certainly by the Russian government which has a major influence over President Bashar Assad. I find it ludicrous that it was an airstrike… either by the Russians or the Syrians. And the White House is claiming that there was no US activity, that’s probably correct.”
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The US government has likely acted to prevent the Syrian government’s armed forces from recapturing the city of Aleppo from the al-Qaeda affiliated al-Nusra Front, Senator from the US State of Virginia Richard Black told Sputnik.
“It is clear to me that what is happening is we are trying desperately to slow down the Syrian army’s advance, which is on the verge of crushing al-Nusra and liberating Aleppo once and for all,” Black said on Friday.
In an exclusive interview with Sputnik this week, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov indicated that the United States was attempting to create a safe-zone in Aleppo that covered al-Nusra Front fighting positions. The US attempt was made during Lavrov and US Secretary of State John Kerry’s negotiations to reconstitute the Syrian cessation of hostilities.
Black noted that he agreed with Lavrov’s assessment, but argued it is unlikely the US government is being “used” to provide cover for al-Nusra Front in Syria.
“I believe that Secretary Kerry, the State Department and the Central Intelligence Agency are very much on the side of al-Qaeda,” he asserted.
Black further alleged that the Geneva peace talks are being carried out with the goal of “preserving” the anti-Assad terrorist organizations “so that at some point they eventually can reconstitute themselves and seize control of Syria.”
Last week, Black returned from a three-day visit to Syria where he sat down with Syrian President Assad, First Lady Asma Assad and a number of other military and political leaders. The trip was particularly significant since the United States has largely severed ties with the Assad government since the start of Syrian civil war in 2011.
I think enough evidence is compiling to sue USA for war reparationsand instigation and support for the civil war, the destruction of an ancient civilisation where for example, many gnostic documents of the Nag Hammadi Library may have been written.
“How the United States presumes to possess the authority to determine the fate of a sovereign nation thousands of miles from its own shores in the Middle East is never explained by US Secretary of State John Kerry when he recently announced a new ultimatum leveled at Damascus. Nor is it explained why Syria should capitulate to US demands to begin a political transition that has demonstrably left other nations across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) divided, destroyed, and safe-havens for state-sponsored terrorism years after “successful” US-backed regime change has been achieved – Libya most notably.
Yet despite all of this, according to the Associate Press (AP) in their article, “Kerry warns Assad to start transition by Aug. 1 or else,” the United States fully expects Damascus to concede to a “political transition” engineered by Washington, leaving the nation in the hands of verified terrorists linked directly to the political and militant forces currently laying waste to Libya and those nations that put them into power……”
‘PR War’ in Aleppo: US Spends ‘Millions’ to Decry Russia’s Success in Syria
The actual situation on the ground in the Syrian conflict is not affected by the ceasefire. Actually, the conflict has turned into a public relations war of an unprecedented scope, geopolitical analyst Patrick Henningsen said.
The partial ceasefire in Syria that was brokered by Russia and the United States in February was extended on Wednesday to the embattled northern city of Aleppo, where both government and militant forces have been shelling each other’s positions.
According to Henningsen, the ceasefire has little chance to change situation in Aleppo.
Extremist groups in the city will use the ceasefire to buy time to get reinforcements to establish new supply lines that have been cut off by Russian airstrikes, he suggested.
“The problem is that Al-Nusra Front, or Ahrar ash-Sham, or all these terrorist groups that are operating freely in Syria in these rebel – held areas – they are ubiquitous with the so-called opposition. You can’t separate them; this is just a game, this is being played,” the analyst told RT.
He added that while there is a diplomatic process underway to settle the crisis “behind the scenes there is whole other agenda playing out,” and the US knows it very well.
Henningsen said that what the US is doing is called a “strategy of confusion” in terms of public relations. It is aimed at making a number of contradicting statements on the satiation so no one can understand what is actually going.
“This is used to basically obscure and cover up what is essentially a dirty war going on the ground in Syria right now,” he said.
The expert also commented on the possible reasons behind Washington objecting to Russia’s actions and proposals on Syria.
“I think it’s out of frustration. Russia came in with a very clear objective back in October, 2015 and they achieved that objective by a lot of people’s estimation. […] This upset everybody because the US was saying that Russia was being dragged into a quagmire. At every turn the narratives that are being conjured up by the State Department are getting knocked down and disintegrating,” he said.
Henningsen noted that the US has spent millions of dollars on the “Aleppo is burning,” a PR campaign to create a so-called “no bombing zone” like it was with the “no-fly zone” and “safe zone” before.
“This is a public relations war with a level of sophistication we’ve never seen before,” he concluded.
hope we soon get truth re Samarda-tass was a bit ‘reticent” /earlier…….got to be some evidence somewhere…………………but be aware of any false flags etc etcetc to discredit rus as Rus is guilty until proven innocent, especially wirh its association with Syrian government and forces?
SOCHI, May 6. / TASS /. The actions of the Russian Aerospace Force remaining units in Syria take into account the need to preserve the fragile truce in the region, Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov told journalists on Friday.
Thus he commented on media reports about a recent airstrike on a refugee camp in the Idlib province in the north of Syria, the possible involvement of Russia’s Aerospace Forces in the attack, as well as about how this airstrike could affect the ceasefire regime.
“Russia and the Russian Aerospace Forces in Syria act with utmost responsibility in Syria in order not to damage the fragile atmosphere of truce. Russia has repeatedly demonstrated this and calls on all other sides to share this responsible and cautious approach,” Peskov said.
It was reported previously that at least 30 people were killed and more than 80 injured as a refugee camp in Syria’s Idlib province near Turkey’s border was hit by an airstrike on Thursday.
The Russian presidential press secretary declined to answer the question is the Russian Aerospace Forces were involved in that airstrike, readdressing it to the Russian Defense Ministry, “as it has the information about when and where our aircraft perform their tasks within the framework of the ongoing operation. ”
Asked to clarify if the media reports on the involvement of the Russian forces in such operations could threaten the process of the peace negotiations on Syria, Peskov said that “it’s a matter of facts, if there were no Russian planes and they did not operate there , then it’s another wave of disinformation. ”
Peskov also said that the issue of maintaining the ceasefire regime in Syria is constantly raised in contacts between Moscow and Damascus. “The Russian side is in permanent contact with the Syrian leadership, and the issue of truce, the preservation of the ceasefire regime is raised all the time in contacts with our Syrian partners,” he said, answering a question if Russia planned to use its influence on Syrian President Bashar Assad for promoting truce in the region.
READ ALSO
Intra-Syrian talks in Geneva to resume after May 20 – source
Kremlin says truce in Syria’s Aleppo is very fragile
UN keeps on insisting hospital in Aleppo came under air strike on April 27
Kremlin urges distinction between anti-terrorism struggle and ceasefire in Syria
The Kremlin is urging a clear distinction between the tasks of struggle against terrorism and the observance of ceasefire in Syria.
“There must be no confusion regarding the task of struggle against terrorism. Nobody has ever said that the war on terror will come to an end,” Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said about Syrian President Bashar Assad’s message to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“The offensive operations against terrorists will continue, of course,” he said.
However, in his opinion “it is an entirely different matter that ceasefire should be promoted in every possible way and actions that may harm the just-established fragile truce should be avoided.”
“We are aware of the main problems – those in Aleppo and in other regions, where terrorist groups and representatives of the so-called moderate opposition are tightly mixed up,” Peskov said, adding that such a state of affairs “creates great problems. ”
More:
http://tass.ru/en/politics/874255
mmmriw used to supply extensive sources to what is going on out there, any possibilities of clarification from these sources or this contributor?
https://www.rt.com/news/342016-aleppo-refugee-camp-attack/
“the blame game begins”
yes, where did mmiriww go? I miss the info he provided
I watched a video of the so called bombing of the refugee camp the other day on a pro jihadi twitter account. A very odd emergency. Two brand new fire engines sitting around and virtually no people.
M of A has an article today on it. He also notes that there is no blast damage, only fire damage.
Al-Nusra Front May Be Behind Attack on Refugee Camp in Idlib – Russian MoD
The refugee camp could have been shelled from multiple rocket launchers used by al-Nusra Front terrorists in the region, the Russian Defense Ministry spokesman said Friday.
“Judging by the nature of destruction seen on photos and videos, the [refugee camp in Idlib] could have been either intentionally or by mistake struck from multiple rocket launchers, which are now often used by al-Nusra Front terrorists in the area,” Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said.
According to Konashenkov, photos of the site on social networks show that “there are no shell craters from aircraft ammunition and other traces of airstrikes.”
He also said that no flights were carried out by aircraft, Russian or other, over Sarmada in Syria’s province of Idlib near the border with Turkey where the refugee camp had been struck.
“We have carefully analyzed the information from the flight control area in that region on May 4 and May 5, 2016. There were no flights by Russian or any other aircraft over Sarmada.”
On Thursday, a refugee camp in Syria’s Idlib near Turkey’s border was reportedly hit by an airstrike, leaving at least 28 people, including women and children dead.
The Russian Defense Ministry spokesman said that Western media cited the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights based in the UK, however, there was no information on the attack on a refugee camp in Idlib on the SOHR’s site. A statement about the strike on the camp was posted only on the SOHR’s Facebook account without mentioning the date of the attack.
White House spokesman Josh Earnest also said on Thursday at a briefing that no US or coalition aircraft were operating in the area at the time of the airstrike.
A Syrian military source told RIA Novosti earlier in the day that the Syrian Army did not strike the refugee camp in the province of Idlib as well.
http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20160506/1039187995/nusra-idlib-attack.html#ixzz47sq017Vd
I’m still awaiting the identification of those bombers belonging to the US coalition that bombed Syrian Army base around xmas time………………….
Just a coincidence? Attack on Sarmada coincided with Russian orchestra’s Palmyra performance
https://www.rt.com/op-edge/342183-syria-attack-refugee-camp/
Genuine coincidences are rare, and that this attack should take occur at same time as Russia’s Palmyra performance could have been planned to knock that event out of the headlines, Charles Shoebridge, former UK army officer and security analyst, told RT.
The attack on the Aleppo refugee camp on May 5 was being described by the majority of media reports as an airstrike. But the UN’s refugee agency chief said that could not be confirmed. Russia’s Defense Ministry also casted doubt on whether war planes were involved. Moscow said it registered no air activity in that area over at that time. The White House also confirmed that coalition planes were not operating there.
RT: You’ve seen the pictures from the scene of the attack. Does it look to you like it’s not an air strike, as the Russian Defense Ministry believes?
Charles Shoebridge: I think the question is good but has to be rephrased: whether there is actually conclusive evidence that an airstrike has taken place. And I think the answer to that at the moment has got to be ‘no there isn’t’. I think from the outset, even those who were able to watch the video on their phone, for example, as I was at the beginning can see that there are a number of questions to be answered.
For example, one would normally associate from an airstrike, as the Russian Defense Ministry said, some degree of cratering if heavy weapons were used. There is no sign in these videos as far as I can see of any substantial craters left by these weapons. Also it is interesting to see while there was clearly a lot of effect from the impact of fire in the camp in the videos that I’ve seen at least, there doesn’t seem to be much sign of the effects of blast. Although it may have taken place, but it hasn’t taken place on the videos that I’ve seen that are widely available and being used as an evidence of the strike online. When you get blast, for example, it would be surprising – a blast can act in different ways for sure – but nonetheless with a blast that you would expect from the heavy weapons used in an airstrike you wouldn’t expect tent structures still to be standing, notwithstanding in other words, the frames are still standing in the video even though the cloth is in bits and pieces still lying around…
When you look at this Russian analysis of, for example, fracture patterns on the ground, they, with their analysis tools, are in a better position to judge what kinds of weapons were used. But also it is important to realize that there is saturation reconnaissance coverage from the area and from space of this area by Russia and the US. And it is clear both parties in this have the ability to analyze, if the weather was clear, and it probably was, what are those fracture patterns on the ground was and what kind of weapons were likely used. That is in the gift of all powers to actually know.
RT: The Russian Defense Ministry suspects the attack was by the al-Nusra Front, which uses rocket launchers. The group recently released a video showing they can carry out such shelling. Are they the likely culprits?
CS: Well, al-Nusra are certainly operating in this area. It is fair to say the kind of weapons that – without the very detailed analysis… and detailed inspection of satellite or air photos can reveal, for example, this fracture or strike patterns on the ground. Without having that ability in our possession, it is difficult to say. But remember these kind of rocket launchers that could cause this kind of attack – even mortar rounds could cause this kind of attack – are widely used by all parties in the Syrian conflict. So, therefore, whether by accident or design or whether it is a deliberate false flag, perhaps, to distract attention and to blame issues again on Assad or Russia, it is difficult to say at this stage. What is needed is – as has been said elsewhere – an independent investigation. How likely that is to happen is anyone’s guess. But again another point here is really to say how – without clear and conclusive evidence – yet again much of the Western media – not all of it – has jumped to the conclusion that whatever the opposition says and produce videos is actually true notwithstanding the lack of clear evidence to actually support those claims.
RT: Moscow says it’s significant that the attack in Sarmada coincided with the Russian orchestra’s concert in Palmyra. What do you make of the timing?
CS: Well it is. Again, if people don’t believe in coincidences – and for one as a former investigator and observer of life generally, genuine coincidences are actually rare. And the fact that this so-called attack should take place just at that time, just to knock that off the headlines and again to put the Assad government and Russia back on the back foot, it wouldn’t be surprising. As well given the speed of comment by certain individuals, for example, Philip Hammond the UK foreign secretary was very quick to blame Assad for this attack; very quick to distract attention from what Russia has achieved there. Yet again, though, it is worth noting that this attack again using rebel-supplied opposition video comes in the very week, largely uncovered by Western media except The Guardian, I would say, to its credit, it’s been revealed that for many years opposition video, YouTube channels and Twitter accounts have in fact been run by the UK government and the UK military. And if people are interested in that story, look at The Guardian website or my Twitter feed where the links are prominently there. It’s an interesting story.
.
Former Pentagon officer Michael Maloof told RT: “It is Al-Nusra’s interest to cast as much aspersion on the Assad government as possible. And I don’t think Assad’s military would undertake such an effort considering that it is part of the ceasefire: the Russian government and Assad have agreed that they are going for a ceasefire. And this just would be contrary to anything that has been agreed to. And certainly by the Russian government which has a major influence over President Bashar Assad. I find it ludicrous that it was an airstrike… either by the Russians or the Syrians. And the White House is claiming that there was no US activity, that’s probably correct.”
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The US government has likely acted to prevent the Syrian government’s armed forces from recapturing the city of Aleppo from the al-Qaeda affiliated al-Nusra Front, Senator from the US State of Virginia Richard Black told Sputnik.
“It is clear to me that what is happening is we are trying desperately to slow down the Syrian army’s advance, which is on the verge of crushing al-Nusra and liberating Aleppo once and for all,” Black said on Friday.
In an exclusive interview with Sputnik this week, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov indicated that the United States was attempting to create a safe-zone in Aleppo that covered al-Nusra Front fighting positions. The US attempt was made during Lavrov and US Secretary of State John Kerry’s negotiations to reconstitute the Syrian cessation of hostilities.
Black noted that he agreed with Lavrov’s assessment, but argued it is unlikely the US government is being “used” to provide cover for al-Nusra Front in Syria.
“I believe that Secretary Kerry, the State Department and the Central Intelligence Agency are very much on the side of al-Qaeda,” he asserted.
Black further alleged that the Geneva peace talks are being carried out with the goal of “preserving” the anti-Assad terrorist organizations “so that at some point they eventually can reconstitute themselves and seize control of Syria.”
Last week, Black returned from a three-day visit to Syria where he sat down with Syrian President Assad, First Lady Asma Assad and a number of other military and political leaders. The trip was particularly significant since the United States has largely severed ties with the Assad government since the start of Syrian civil war in 2011.
http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20160507/1039223008/usa-blocks-aleppo-nusra-liberation.html#ixzz47whkuN6s
I think enough evidence is compiling to sue USA for war reparationsand instigation and support for the civil war, the destruction of an ancient civilisation where for example, many gnostic documents of the Nag Hammadi Library may have been written.
“How the United States presumes to possess the authority to determine the fate of a sovereign nation thousands of miles from its own shores in the Middle East is never explained by US Secretary of State John Kerry when he recently announced a new ultimatum leveled at Damascus. Nor is it explained why Syria should capitulate to US demands to begin a political transition that has demonstrably left other nations across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) divided, destroyed, and safe-havens for state-sponsored terrorism years after “successful” US-backed regime change has been achieved – Libya most notably.
Yet despite all of this, according to the Associate Press (AP) in their article, “Kerry warns Assad to start transition by Aug. 1 or else,” the United States fully expects Damascus to concede to a “political transition” engineered by Washington, leaving the nation in the hands of verified terrorists linked directly to the political and militant forces currently laying waste to Libya and those nations that put them into power……”
http://journal-neo.org/2016/05/07/america-s-outrageous-ultimatum-syria-as-the-libya-of-the-levant/
‘PR War’ in Aleppo: US Spends ‘Millions’ to Decry Russia’s Success in Syria
The actual situation on the ground in the Syrian conflict is not affected by the ceasefire. Actually, the conflict has turned into a public relations war of an unprecedented scope, geopolitical analyst Patrick Henningsen said.
The partial ceasefire in Syria that was brokered by Russia and the United States in February was extended on Wednesday to the embattled northern city of Aleppo, where both government and militant forces have been shelling each other’s positions.
According to Henningsen, the ceasefire has little chance to change situation in Aleppo.
Extremist groups in the city will use the ceasefire to buy time to get reinforcements to establish new supply lines that have been cut off by Russian airstrikes, he suggested.
“The problem is that Al-Nusra Front, or Ahrar ash-Sham, or all these terrorist groups that are operating freely in Syria in these rebel – held areas – they are ubiquitous with the so-called opposition. You can’t separate them; this is just a game, this is being played,” the analyst told RT.
He added that while there is a diplomatic process underway to settle the crisis “behind the scenes there is whole other agenda playing out,” and the US knows it very well.
Henningsen said that what the US is doing is called a “strategy of confusion” in terms of public relations. It is aimed at making a number of contradicting statements on the satiation so no one can understand what is actually going.
“This is used to basically obscure and cover up what is essentially a dirty war going on the ground in Syria right now,” he said.
The expert also commented on the possible reasons behind Washington objecting to Russia’s actions and proposals on Syria.
“I think it’s out of frustration. Russia came in with a very clear objective back in October, 2015 and they achieved that objective by a lot of people’s estimation. […] This upset everybody because the US was saying that Russia was being dragged into a quagmire. At every turn the narratives that are being conjured up by the State Department are getting knocked down and disintegrating,” he said.
Henningsen noted that the US has spent millions of dollars on the “Aleppo is burning,” a PR campaign to create a so-called “no bombing zone” like it was with the “no-fly zone” and “safe zone” before.
“This is a public relations war with a level of sophistication we’ve never seen before,” he concluded.
http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20160507/1039233914/us-pr-war.html#ixzz47y01J7xX
Let’s not forget what is happening in Yemen
http://news.antiwar.com/2016/05/06/pentagon-confirms-us-ground-troops-in-yemen/
Fortruss carrying an article currently….challenges and lessons of the situation in Syria. sorry cannot copy paste link on tablet
Here you are – Mod on Duty.
http://www.fort-russ.com/2016/05/challenges-and-lessons-of-situation-in.html
Thanks for the post, JJ. I’m curious, what is the relationship between Hezbollah and the Kurds? Does anyone have any insight on this?