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Over the past 3 days, Russian warplanes have conducted 134 sorties, hitting 449 targets in the provinces of Aleppo, Damascus, Idlib, Latakia, Hama, Homs, Raqqa and Deir ez-Zor. The main targets were the Al Nusra terrorist group with allies and ISIS. The Russian Air Force has targeted a number of the terrorirsts’ supply routes from Turkey.
The Syrian forces intensified their military operations in Eastern Ghouta in Damascus countryside. Pro-government sources argue the army clashed with terrorists from Jaish al-Islam to the East of Harasta city. A large group of terrorists were reportedly killed.
The Syrian army, backed by popular defense groups regained control over Tlol Um Kadom, Dahrat al-Said, Jabal al-Ramila and Tolol al-Sood in the Southeastern countryside of Homs.
Rasheed Bikdash, one of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) leaders, was killed in clashes with the Syrian army in North of Latakia. Sources said Bikdash is the highest-ranking defector from the Syrian army that has been killed in Syria. Bikdash reportedly coordinated the Turkey’s downing of the Russian Su-24 from the Turkoman terrorists’ side.
On Thursday the US-baccked group FSA issued a statement that demanded the predominately Kurdish “People’s Protection Units” (YPG) withdraw from 7 villages in northern Aleppo: Maryamin, Anab, Shawaghra, Tanib, Kashta’ar, Mirash,and Qanbriyah. The YPG has 48 hours to do this. The statement followed the recent tensions following the abduction of several members of the YPG and their allies from Jaysh Al-Thuwar in the Aleppo Governorate. If the Kurdish forces do not withdraw from the villages, the FSA and their allies from Harakat Ahrar Al-Sham and Al Nusra will start a military operation against the YPG.
Considering the US relies on the Syrian Kurds in a possible advance on Raqqa planned by the Washigton, it becomes clear that, the US-backed terrorists have no will to confront ISIS and seek only power for themselves. Separately, it confirms that the US doesn’t have any reliable force to build an alternative to Assad power in Syria.
Just in time for the weekend —
News From the Syrian War Front — TMRN
A Syrian Perspective with Ziad Fadel
Download mp3
Salam C I eh?,
About Time!
Rejoice,
Mohamed.
Salaam Brother Mohamad.
Haha. I saw your earlier post.
Trump is a prophet of the new-new world order.
But I worry because he is backed by Jewish money. I fear he is being used not so much to tell truth, but to isolate people who know 9/11 was a false flag.
As with the refugee crisis, you are allowed to choose either naive liberalism or right wing demagoguery — but never a common sense position somewhere in between.
.
Hi South Front – great news as always….great style and great positive developments too.
The black areas on the map — getting much smaller ?
Proxy wars everywhere, the planet already in flames …
http://bit.ly/1lPIFJj
The last part is good news for the Syrian government and Russia. That may drive a permanent wedge between the Kurds and the FSA terrorists. And could swing the Kurds fully over to the government and Russian side.Its interesting that the area the FSA wants to takeover is located near the Turkish border. I see that as another plan to keep the Turkish border under terrorist and Turkish control. So the arms and jihadi reinforcements can keep going through it. That means the Russians and SAA are doing the right thing in trying to secure that border region. If they can gain total control there. And shut the border flow off to the terrorists,that would go a long way in winning this war.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQaNaSOMP9A
28.11.2015 Crisis News
is just up 15 minutes ago (now 7:30 GMT)
You can see all the videos from https://www.youtube.com/user/crimeanfront/videos
A very good article on the shoot down,and its results.I certainly hope the Russian government reads it,especially the concluding part:
“Turkey has destroyed Russia’s hope of Western cooperation”
A friend, George Abert, suggested a reason why the Turks shot down the Russian fighter-bomber over Syria. The Russians have a technology that they recently demonstrated against the newest US missile cruiser and Israel’s US jet fighters. The technology shuts down the communication systems of hostile forces, leaving them blind. He wonders if the Russian aircraft was shot down in order to encourage the Russians to use its unknown technology whenever Russian aircraft are in the vicinity of NATO and Israeli aircraft. He bets that the US has sent every Raven and ELINT specialist to the area in hopes that Russia’s use of the technology will allow them to learn enough about the system to duplicate it or learn how to block it.
by Paul Craig Roberts
Turkey’s unprovoked shoot-down of a Russian military aircraft over Syria raises interesting questions. It seems unlikely that the Turkish government would commit an act of war against a much more powerful neighbor unless Washington had cleared the attack. Turkey’s government is not very competent, but even the incompetent know better than to put themselves into a position of facing Russia alone.
If the attack was cleared with Washington, was Obama bypassed by the neocons who control his government, or is Obama himself complicit? Clearly the neoconservatives are disturbed by the French president’s call for unity with Russia against ISIL and easily could have used their connections to Turkey to stage an event that Washington can use to prevent cooperation with Russia.
Washington’s complicity is certainly indicated, but it is not completely out of the question that the well-placed Turks who are purchasing oil from ISIL took revenge against Russia for destroying their oil tanker investments and profitable business. But if the attack has a private or semi-private origin in connections between gangsters and military, would Turkey’s president have defended the shoot-down on such spurious grounds as “national defense”? No one can believe that one Russian jet is a threat to Turkey’s security.
Don’t expect the presstitutes to look into any such questions. The presstitutes, such as the BBC’s Moscow correspondent Sarah Rainsford, are spinning the story that the loss of the Russian aircraft, and earlier the airliner, proves that Putin’s policy of air strikes against iSIL has backfired as Russians are not safer.
The responses to the shoot-down are also interesting. From what I heard of Obama’s press conference, Obama’s definition of “moderate Syrian rebels” includes all the extremist jihadish groups, such as al Nursa and ISIL, that are the focus of the Russian attacks. Only Assad is an extremist. Obama, following the neocon line, says that Assad has too much blood on his hands to be allowed to remain president of Syria.
Obama is not specific about the “blood on Assad’s hands,” but we can be. The blood is the blood of ISIL forces fighting the Syrian army. Obama doesn’t refer to the blood on ISIL’s hands, but even the presstitutes have told us the horror stories associated with the blood on ISIL’s hands, with whom Obama has allied us.
And what about the blood on Obama’s hands? Here we are talking about a very large quantity of blood: the blood of entire countries—Libya, Afghanistan, Yemen, Syria, and the blood that Obama’s puppet government in Kiev has spilled of the ethnic Russian inhabitants of Ukraine, not to forget the Palestinian blood spilled by Israel using US supplied weapons.
If the blood on Assad’s hands disqualifies Assad from office, the much greater quantity on Obama’s hands disqualifies Obama. And Cameron. And Hollande. And Merkel. And Netanyahu.
Throughout the entire Washington orchestrated conflicts in the Middle East, Africa, and Ukraine, the Russian government has spoken reasonably and responded in a diplomatic manner to the many provocations. The Russian government relied on European governments realizing that Europe does not benefit from conflicts generated by Washington and separating themselves from a policy that is against their interests. But Europe proved to be a collection of American vassals, not independent countries capable of independent foreign policies.
In its campaign against ISIL in Syria, the Russian government relied on the agreement made with NATO countries to avoid engaging in the air. Now Turkey has violated this agreement.
I will be surprised if the Russian government any longer places any trust in the words of the West and any hope in diplomacy with the West. By now the Russian government and the Russian people will have learned that the Wolfowitz doctrine means what it says and is in force against Russia.
From the Ukrainian attack on Crimea’s power supply and the blackout that is affecting Crimea, the Russian government has also learned that Washington’s puppet government in Kiev intends further conflict with Russia.
Washington has made it clear from the beginning that Washington’s focus is on overthrowing Assad, not ISIL. Despite the alleged attack on France by ISIL, the US State Department press spokesperson, Admiral John Kirby, said that Russia cannot be a member of the coalition against ISIL until Russia stops propping up Assad.
To the extent that the shoot-down of the Russian military aircraft has a silver lining, the incident has likely saved the Russian government from a coalition in which Russia would have lost control of its war against ISIL and would have had to accept the defeat of Assad’s removal.
Each step along the way the Russian government has held strong cards that it did not play, trusting instead to diplomacy. Diplomacy has now proven to be a deadend. If Russia does not join the real game and begin to play its strong cards, Russia will be defeated.
http://failedevolution.blogspot.gr/2015/11/turkey-has-destroyed-russias-hope-of.html
@ Uncle Bob 1 on November 28, 2015 • at 7:38 am UTC
– by Paul Craig Roberts:
“… Each step along the way the Russian government has held strong cards that it did not play, trusting instead to diplomacy. Diplomacy has now proven to be a deadend. If Russia does not join the real game and begin to play its strong cards, Russia will be defeated.”
The last words of Paul Craig Roberts make null and void all the good words, pronounced by him in the quoted text and anywhere else. Cause those are the words of a provocateur (feigned accomplice), calling for massive blood-shedding on a global scale.
And, at the same time, perverting the intentions and actions of Russia/Putin.
A short verse of a contemporary Russian poet to show what I mean:
— Our “friends” abroad rejoicing// At the “Russians kneeling” sight.// Silly them, – the Russians kneeling// Just to pray before the fight
My poor translation does not convey the full beauty of the verse, so for those of you who know Russian, – the original text:
«Как ликует заграница// И от счастья воет воем,// Что мы встали на колени. // А мы встали на колени // Помолиться перед боем…» (Николай Зиновьев)…
Putting praying:
http://russia-insider.com/sites/insider/files/putin-praying-AP.jpg
And in addition, – some comments on the subject at the Russian Insider:
— Russians think very differently from us in the West. In the way of Gandhi: “An eye for an eye will leave us all blind”. And it certainly would violate all Christian tenets which Putin observes.
Will there be repercussions? – Absolutely, but they will be economic rather than military. AND they will always take into consideration that the PEOPLE who are innocent of their leaders blundering actions do not suffer too greatly from their leader’s blunders.
http://russia-insider.com/sites/insider/files/putin-praying-AP.jpg
Well we totally disagree there. I also think that the way Russia has handled the Ukraine situation has been a disaster. Now with the Syrian mess they are doing the right thing. But with what has happened with the plane its too early to know what will happen. Why you would think that weakness would save Russia and the World from war,I don’t understand. Showing weakness to bullying guarantee’s you war,or a life of domination by the strong. Almost daily here we complain about the weakness of the EU in standing up to the empire.We call them sheep,and say they have no spine. We long for them to kick out their stooge leaders and stand up to the US. But yet,some seem to think that Russia doing just that would be a “bad idea”. That appears to me to be the height of hypocrisy. Even in the days of Russia’s greatness under the Tsars.TheTsars knew that only a strong, and not a weak acting Russia, could survive. I don’t see anything different since then to change that policy.
Uncle Bob 1 on November 28, 2015 • at 2:07 pm UTC
Of course, we totally disagree here.
Because you are watching the situation with Ukraine and Syria from afar, sitting on a sofa with popcorn and longing for picturesque and bloody battles between Russia and the West. And you seem to be sure that Russia has a magic wand.
While I live in Russia, close to Ukraine, with some of my friends born there in the times of the USSR. And I know quite well that Russia hasn’t got a magic wand. That all of Russia’s victories on a battlefield could be only won with lots of Russian blood. It has been so during WWII, and even in combat activities in Chechnya. And we, Russians, do not want to suffer huge casualties to win a battle or two, – and loose a war…
As for the “weakness” of Russia, – where have you seen it either in my text, or in real life ?
… to be continued
shed
I don’t at all “desire war” and bloody battles. But there are times when you have to stand up for yourself. I can’t believe I’m having to even mention that. I speak to a lot of Russian posters (living in Russia) and most born in the USSR. So I know something of the mood inside Russia. And none of the people I’ve talked to think Russia should not stand up for Russia. The only ones I hear that from are 5th column liberal posters I see posting once and a while. Of course there is no “magic wand” to fix this crisis. And no one that supports Russia thinks there is (at least most don’t). But I do believe the handling of the Ukrainian situation was badly done. And my thinking is that on that and on other points we should be free to speak our opinions. And that is my opinion. I’ve heard your’s,and we disagree. But that’s fine too. I never expect everyone will agree on everything posted here.
Hi Shed, very well said, the predominently ‘Norte Americanos’ infest this site,urging the spilling of other peoples blood,never their own [the US/Nato military excepted,and they are career volunteers!].
UB1 Kanobe is a legend in his own mind!
A typical typomaniac, loving the sight of his own words, usually a couch potato – armchair generalisimo,quite a lot like that here,where life is like a video game.
Whenever I see a comment 50 lines or more,with or without a link,it seems to me a better system of moderation is needed.
Preferably a closeup button or …see more,others can do it except this extremely narcististic site.
Encouraging Dylan fans and Lennon admirers ….IMAGINE! that…….
Hmmm,have I missed all your stellar postings in the past.And what is all this BS about North Americans.Probably a third or more people here are “Norte Americanos”.And if we supported “exceptionalism” we certainly wouldn’t be here. We have as much right as anyone else here.As I posted a while back there is no country without dark spots in their history.If you would care to mention which one you are from.I’d be more than happy to enlighten you about the ones in your country’s past (or maybe present depending on the country you are from).
… Regarding the “disaster” of the Ukraine situation:
— The “weak” Russia has managed not only retain its naval base in Sebastopol, but has returned this city to Russia, together with the whole of Crimea, thus saving thousands of people there;
— Russia has managed to avoid the American trap in Ukraine, and, thus, – a large-scale war between two brotherly peoples;
— The “weak” Russia has helped the people of Donbass and Lugansk regions withstand the attacks of Kiev army in such a way, that this “army” is now only barking and barely biting. At the peak of the Kiev atrocities and aggression against its own people, there have been many dozens of victims there ever day. Nowadays the crazy Ukies can not continue in the same way…
Regarding situation in Syria:
— The “weak” Russia has dared to disobey the coalition of 60 countries, headed by the “omnipotent” Hegemon, Russian airbase was created out of nothing and amazingly fast in the middle of the battlefield, – to a great astonishment of the “strong” America. Which can do nothing against it;
— The “weak” Russia has, – within several weeks – achieved what the “mighty” Hegemon hadn’t been able to do in more than a year. Under the Hegemon’s air strikes, the terrorists were occupying more and more ground. Under the Russian air strikes, the terrorists are retreating and even started surrendering;
— S-400 had arrived to our base after SU-24’s downing, and the coalition jets suddenly stopped flying…
I could go on and on, but shall stop here. Because those, who want to see and hear, will see and hear, while for those, who insist on their point of view only, no amount of facts will be helpful…
All of the above does not mean that Russia is “omnipotent”, but “weak” it is not for sure.
shed
So where did you see in my posts that Russia “was weak”.My posts spoke of not acting weak.Not that they were weak. I also said I thought their actions in Syria were good. So why post as if I complained about something I didn’t complain about. As for Ukraine we will just have to disagree.I laid out what I thought was wrong there in another post.And I still do think that.And I’m certainly not alone in thinking that either.Your opinion is one,mine is another.History will determine which is correct. But hopefully you are right and I’m wrong. Because,unlike what you may think.I hope Putin’s actions there were correct. But I just can’t see that.
Uncle Bob, you said: ‘the way Russia has handled the Ukraine situation has been a disaster’ – you normally make good comments, but this is, quite simply, rubbish: the only person who really knows what’s what regarding Russia’s response to Ukraine/Donbass is Putin. Do you know what threats the USG (EU etc) made to Putin about the Donbass? As it is, Putin took a big hit on Russia’s economy of $billions (of ruble equivalent) with a takedown of the oil price, and the ruble of approx 50%, no small attacks and yet Putin STILL supports the Donbass people (and by extension, all the good Ukrainians outside of it). The Donbass by now would be finished without Putin – give credit where credit is due – and at least hold your criticism of him like that; I give him a lot of leeway, and he deserves a LOT of gratitude and thanks.
We also disagree.Not about Putin in general. I like him a lot. But on the handling of Ukraine. I think as soon as the fascists took power (actually even before ,when it looked like a strong possibility). He should have tried to organize the anti-fascists in Ukraine to make a counter-coup (if he failed,which I doubt,it couldn’t have been worse). But instead the fascists were given time to form an armed force. And to purge all the pro-Russian elements out of the government. And to send thugs to seize control in most of the Southeast pro-Russian regions. Leaving only Donbass to rebel. And that with almost no support until Russian nationalists started to come to help them. And once it was seen how monstrous the fascist junta was. Instead of de-recognizing them and supporting a “government-in-exile” of legitimate elements ,he didn’t do that.Which gave NATO who thought Russia would do those things,time to rethink their policy towards Ukraine. As I’ve posted several times, in 2009 NATO “gamed” the breakup of Ukraine because of just the problems that took place. And they thought then Russia would support the vast Eastern and Southern regions in the breakup. They realized to avoid war they would have to accept that. But once they saw Russia wasn’t supporting the Russian speaking areas.They had time to decide to change their policies.They figured now instead of a small part of Ukraine (the West) they could get it all. And here we are today.With shells falling on a shattered Donbass daily. Thousands of pro-Russian people dead (some burned alive). Fascists terroring all the other pro-Russian areas.And now threatening Crimea and Transnistra. And still plotting to destroy Donbass. And did that end the sanctions,no it didn’t (I never dreamed it would). When Russia got Donbass to agree to Minsk,did that stop the killing of Donbass civilians.Did it get the blockade removed from Donbass.Did it get the pensions paid in Donbass.Has it done anything except freeze (unstably) the major parts of the conflict just as the NAF was making advances.Did it get the Ukrainian Russophobia to lessen.Did it get the junta to keep even one promise they made at Minsk. Did it stop Crimea from being in the situation it is now.And even on one small point.Did it get even one of the sanctions removed.The answers to all those are a big fat “no”. There are some that believe that “frozen conflicts” are a good thing.They temporarily stop bloodshed. But I’m not one of those people. I think frozen conflicts “sow dragons teeth” for the future. They leave the bloodshed for “later”,maybe for the next generation of children to endure.Can anyone name a single frozen conflict that led to stability and a permanent peace. I can’t think of a single one.From Bosnia,Kosovo,Palestine,Transnistra, Abkhazia,Ossetia,Nagorno-Karabakh, and now Donbass. Are any of those areas peaceful happy prosperous lands.Not a single one.They are volcano’s waiting to explode.All it will take is NATO to leave,or Russia to leave.And the Balkans and Caucasus will return to bloodshed. I take the historical long term view on every major geopolitical problem.We “in our time” are only placeholders for the future generations of people. Leaving others to solve the problems we created is always a bad idea.It was a 100 years ago,and it is now. So while I very much admire Putin,and think at most times he is a great leader. I would be very happy if he was my President. But he (or his advisers) are not infallible. And as we know from months of posts and articles here and on other sites.There is a schism in Russia. In which the 5th column elite try to hamstring him. So I put a great deal of all that down to that fact. But nonetheless we shouldn’t think that everything is a perfect plan.There are a lot of problems that need to be corrected.And it doesn’t help to deny that.Mistakes can’t be corrected without recognizing they are mistakes.
Uncle Bob: you still don’t get it, do you? What do YOU know that Putin knows regarding what was said to Russia about the Donbass??? Putin could also have helped Syria earlier – in theory, maybe. I think he didn’t in both cases because he wanted – or had to – wait until Russia was stronger, or safeguards put into place. One example: it was rumoured that Russia could have been kicked out of SWIFT, so he had to put into place their own system before responding.
Unless its changed my understanding is that Russia has put an internal “Swift” type system in place.But that still there is no external system fully in place. But China does have such a system (I believe I read) so how hard would it have been to attach to it. Also Iran has managed to do without it for years. One of the problems as I recall about disconnecting Russia from the Swift system was the massive use of it by Russia and the EU countries trading with Russia. That they would be hurt more than Russia would have been by that. As to what he was told.What was he told? And are you telling me he folded because he was “told something”. A something that no one seems to know about.Or even if he was told anything. I’d think if he was told anything it would have been “get out of Crimea”. And that didn’t seem to work. I think the reason he didn’t do different things in Ukraine was for several reasons.One,he didn’t realize how extreme the Russophobic elements were at first.For 23 years Russia just assumed that since the Ukrainians were Rus that they would always be brothers.He didn’t realize how the nationalists and fascists had warped the thinking of so many people (funded by the US and EU money).And also that the elite in Russia had many financial connections with the oligarch class in Ukraine.And since to many of them, money is their only country.They have hamstrung him internally (especially at the start).I also think because he wanted Russia to be a partner with the West he didn’t realize how truly diabolical they have become.That he is just now waking up to the fact that he can’t trust any of the EU leaders.As well as some others.Hence the outrage and “stab in the back” comment about Erdogan.He thought that since he wants to better Russia’s economy.That Erdogan would feel the same about Turkey.And would come to an agreement with him. After all he was offering to make Turkey rich on the Turkstream project. But some rulers aren’t as great as he is.And they don’t really care about their nation (I have a few like that.OK,not a few,a lot like that).I think he thought he could appeal to the Ukrainian elite to return to the pre-junta thinking with the same old methods.But didn’t realize that the nazi elements would prevent that.That the US working with them gave them more influence than in the past.So that plan didn’t work.And by not being a nationalist himself (he is a Russian World believer I think,but not a nationalist) he could see Ukraine as a part of the Russian World only.He didn’t see how the struggle there would arouse so much feeling among so many in Russia.And unlike some (the chicken and the egg theory) I believe the volunteers started to came before he gave his backing to it (if he ever did).But once they began to pour in,he needed to support them.Even if it was minimal for a long while.Once the junta started murdering masses of people he had no choice but to aid Donbass.But its because of the reasons I’ve mentioned he didn’t respond differently.As you say,we don’t know fully the truth.So I can’t prove that .Which is why its just my own theory.But I base it on daily following of this crisis for 2 years (and reading history as well).
I’ve only been involved with the Donbass situation for about 15 months now, however, I also have been closely following the USG’s MO for 14 years, and based on the latter, taking into account the original wolfowitz doctrine from 1992, together with PNAC, I saw things vis a vis Russia and Ukraine which Russia should have picked up on, and reacted accordingly, and yet, they didn’t, at least not verbally, going by the statements of Putin/Russian officials about Western ‘partners’ etc. At best, this was pathetically naive, at worst incredibly stupid, given the USG’s track record.
I think we do agree.That’s what I’m saying.They made mistakes.Everyone can make mistakes.But the point is to correct them.And for goodness sake not to try and act like there weren’t mistakes. There is way to much of that in the World. When I study a history book (any countries history) and see the mistakes made. The worst seems to be the failure to recognize the errors made and correct them. I just don’t want that to happen this time. Because Ukraine may not be the only problem to deal with. So recognizing and correcting the errors are important to not let the same thing happen again. In particular I’m thinking of Belarus. I believe there may be the same kind of “they are fellow Rus,so why worry” thinking going on there as well. And as Ukraine shows clearly,the empire is willing to spend money driving a wedge between Russia and her allies. And if Russia takes a “devil may care” attitude there could be trouble there in the future. To keep friends and allies loyal you have to be willing to spend money,and time and effort in the relationship. Ukraine,again,being the example to avoid at all costs. Certainly,there are very many differences between the two countries. One of the main being the strength of the Presidents. But still,its not important for the empire to “succeed”,its important to them to cause trouble. And destabilize Russia’s friends. They would count that as a success. And there are elements in Belarus more than willing to help them. So anything Russia can do to cement the ties between themselves and Belarus. Not just “state to state” ties. But economic and personal people to people ties are important. As they should have done in Ukraine. They need to tie their economies as close as possible. And make a lot of the profits from that flow to Belarus. Enhance the cultural relations,tourism.workers,friendship societies,TV,movies,etc. All the things that should have been done with Ukraine. We (and they) know all the things the US/EU did to subvert and turn opinion around in Ukraine. So the playbook is there,use it. Just this time to save a country,as opposed to the empires use of it to destroy one.
You didn’t mention what may have been the biggest issue of them all: the Kremlin wanted to keep the Ukraine in one piece. Similarly, the Kremlin may want to keep Turkey in one piece, even once it becomes impossible to do. The theory being that the Donbass’s influence would help to make the state neutral as a whole. Personally, I think this would have worked and made great sense if the Russian elite had spent the necessary billions of dollars on media, NGOs, and other soft power techniques. But they didn’t, so it may be like trying to create a parliament where a third of the members are like Skorzeny or Himmler and a third are employees of the oligarchs in the southeastern Ukraine. At best, it will be a totally dysfunctional state. Hoping that people will change from Russophobic to neutral is a big hope, and may be impractical. After all, Russophobia is a religion, and how easy is it to get the radical Sunnis to change? Every time a religious fanatic sees something wrong, it is because things are not fanatical enough.
True,he did (still does I believe). And with a pro-Russian government in place (even a neutral one at worst),that’s the best. But sometimes events make change necessary. And saving half or more is better than losing it all. I still think its possible to save it all. But if it comes down to it,a “bird in the hand” is better than “nothing in the bush”.
@ Uncle B:
“I think as soon as the fascists took power (actually even before ,when it looked like a strong possibility). He should have tried to organize the anti-fascists in Ukraine to make a counter-coup [..]”
One thing I think is Putin’s weak-spot is his obsession with big events; Olympics, Formula 1, Formula E, World Cup (etc). It’s just too much and totally unnecessary when your country is under attack. The bill to host these events is always astronomical, security alone is mind-boggling to say the least.
Not to mention… every country that hosts these type of events (perhaps with the exception of the US and China) end-up with a huge debt their populations will be paying for years to come, and all for what? So a bunch of overpaid idiots get to kick a ball back and forth in fancy multi-million arenas? Or for a bunch of closet peados to drool over underage gymnasts?
The point is that Russia would do better in spending that money in their motherland-security and military expansion. Sad states of affairs, yes, but Russia today is not in the position Russia was prior to Sochi.
And that brings me to Ukraine… while Russia was busy with their ‘Winter Olympics,’ Ukraine was about to undergo a nasty Nazi coup. After Bandar-Bush thinly-veiled threat to Putin – about terrorists attacks in Sochi – even someone as bright and cunning as Putin can’t be in multiple places at once! He still has just the one brain and limited focusing power. How could he guarantee that everything went well in Sochi, while also having to worry about the color revolution taking shape in Kiev simultaneously?
And…. fair enough, hindsight is 20/20! But I never liked the idea of Russia hosting the Olympics, not because they’re not worthy of it, far from it [despite the fact that I can’t give two hoots about big sport events of any kind], I simply thought that money could be better spend elsewhere. On what exactly? I didn’t know, and why should I know? I’m not one of Putin’s advisers, now, am I?
-TL2Q
I’m torn on that. But what Putin is doing is to project an air of “normalcy”. Not letting anything rattle him (it drives the empire crazy). And in that I think he is right. Second,the Sochi games were a spectacle of World importance. And no one does that better than Russians. That’s just a fact. Those games,showcased the grandeur and glory of Russia. So in that way it was very successful.
But at the same time. Just a small amount of the money spent on them would have been enough to support the pro-Russians in Ukraine. And might have prevented all that happened. The US/EU knew that Putin would be busy with the games (I believe). And that is why they staged the coup when they did. So,yes,that can be a problem.
@ Uncle B:
“Just a small amount of the money spent on them would have been enough to support the pro-Russians in Ukraine. And might have prevented all that happened [..]”
Eeeeeeexactly!
And look at the headache that end-up being, and still is! Because Ukraine can light-up again when we less need it, at any moment.
All for what? Some fancy Olympic games? And not even the main Olympic games, but these pseudo [Winter] Olympics… Meaning: 1- These Atlanticists freaks are BIG into the occult and symbolism 2- Considering point (1) imagine how much they’re drooling at being able to inflict some major pain to Russia [via-Ukraine] under cover of a minor [not major] Olympic pseudo games? Just imagine the symbolic meaning of ‘them’ being capable to deliver a rather serious blow at Russia’s shins…
Yet the Russians are still going full steam ahead with the Football World Cup, count down and all… *shakes-head*
If I was in charge of Russia I would be ditching them on the basis of National Security, I will still go ahead with renovating the stadiums, and finishing the building of new ones, but the games themselves would be out. I would replace them with some friendly matches between countries, so people at home don’t feel disappointed, but that’s it.
Maybe Russia should have used the FIFA scandals to do a discreet exit out of this whole deal.
[*Side note] = To be perfectly honest with you folks, I wouldn’t want that ‘World Cup’ countdown clock in Moscow to become a symbolic countdown for Russia’s destruction, nor WWIII.
1,000 days to Russia 2018 – Countdown clock unveiled
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/videos/y=2015/m=9/video=1-000-days-to-russia-2018-countdown-clock-unveiled-2678614.html
.
-TL2Q
Uncle BI
Please put some white space between your words…. as in paragraph breaks.
It is too tedious to read great blocks of text … I for one just skip over it.
I’ll try to remember that. But you see,I’m not like that. If there is something I want to read. However the text is,I read it. If I skip over it that means I didn’t want to read it in the first place. So its up to you. If you “want” to read it ,you will. If you “don’t” you won’t.
Bullies (well, bully-states) have to be handled with great delicacy, when that bully is slightly larger than you. Remember, Russia was not even strong enough economically to thwart the Libya operation. An abstention at the UN is a sign of weakness. But it was what it was. Russia is not the global financial power, and money is everything.
Thing is, Uncle Bob, the Syrian and Ukrainian situations are very different. In Syria, Putin has an opening–it’s very hard to put together sanctions against someone for coming to the aid of the official government of a UN member state, particularly coming to their aid against people the US and their allies have been happily demonizing. They’ve bent over backwards and contorted themselves into pretzels trying to make Russia look like a bad guy for doing this, but have not had a great deal of success even in terms of public opinion in core empire-client countries. The diplomats and leaders of most of the world’s countries would never get behind the notion of retaliation for such an act, because it’s such a scary precedent–it says “If my country were under attack by foreign-funded terrorists, they could stop my allies from helping me”. The whole concept of backing terrorists against legitimate governments lost a lot of cachet after Libya; Russia I think wasn’t the only country to conclude that that was just too damn much and no more Libyas are needed.
Ukraine is very different. Sure, we know that the current Ukrainian government is the product of a US-sponsored coup followed by death-squad intimidation and rigged elections. But the world doesn’t know that; there’s just enough fig leaves going around that the Kiev regime gets to pretend to be the legitimate government. If Russia gets officially militarily involved, officially they’ve just attacked a sovereign UN state that has trade ties with the EU, and the shit can seriously hit the fan, and not at the time I think Russia (and China) would choose.
I seriously question Putin’s domestic economic policy, particularly the way he seems to be letting the central bank do their quisling thing. But I must say I’ve become rather a fan of his foreign policy. He doesn’t use force for the sake of using force, but he uses it very well when it’s necessary and politically tenable. And he uses diplomacy very effectively, both soft “win-win” diplomacy and harder line diplomacy and quick opportunist countermoves to take advantage of the situation created by an opponent’s move against him.
Yes,they are very different. As hard as it is with the Syrian problem. I don’t see what else he could have done in the circumstances if he wanted to save Syria. The way things were going it was just a matter of time before total disaster hit there. I think the key now will be with Iran. What they will do (or not do).
UB,
The neocons aren’t in the slightest bit troubled by Hollande. He is 100% their bitch and they know it.
Did you see the latest from Thierry Meyssan at Voltairenet? Read it to the end and you’ll see he plainly states that Hollande ordered the execution of a high French security official.
Flamby is a pure psychopath. He is just plain sick and nothing he does is for the benefit of anyone but Israel and the NATO-Gladio deep state stay-behind assassins.
Look into Gladio closely and you will develop a whole new perspective on everything we see happening today.
I know about Hollande,I would’t trust him as far as I could throw him.I’m more concerned right now about what plans the empire is plotting for Ukraine.And what Erdogan (with or without the US’s orders) is up to in Syria. I’m thinking that I may have jumped the gun on an earlier post.Not that I think they “wouldn’t invade” just that the signs I saw (and the Syrian perspective also) was partly wrong.I ran across an article in RT about the US pressing Erdogan to close the border with Syria.And those troop movements may be connected with that instead of an outright invasion.The reason I’m thinking that is,as much as Erdogan would like to invade.Would he dare without US support.And I don’t see any signs of the US massively preparing for a war.And could Erdogan be sure (especially of all times now after the SU-24 shoot down) that Russia wouldn’t react against him if his troops invaded Syria.And if he did,and they did,what would the US do.In the beginning of winter.And without a propaganda buildup,it would be really hard to convince the US population to go to war against Russia .Not to support a Turkey invading another country.So,barring Erdogan’s insanity.I’m thinking “maybe” he won’t invade after all.I guess we’ll know in a few days.
Interesting. I’m seeing rumours and signs of a serious rebellion brewing in the Turk army.
I wonder how this might affect a possible invasion.
I certainly hope you are right. If they overthrew Erdogan it could change everything.Even if they stuck with being stooges of the US. It might bring a secular “sane” leader to power. He then could meet with Putin and get Russo-Turkish relations cooled off. I’m pretty sure he would crack down on the terrorists and probably make peace with the Kurds. That may be wishful thinking though.But I hope not.
MAJOR ESCALATION AHEAD? TURKEY AMASSING TANKS, TROUPES AT SYRIAN & IRAQI BORDERS.
(2015-11-27 12:37PM) Canthama over at SyrPer writes:
” Hell is about to break loose in northern Aleppo and through out all the Turkish border crossing under rats, the situation is so messy and volatile that it is hardly possible to understand the consequences of the variables that may lead to a final state.
1) RuAF is bombing the hell out of the many flavors of Al Qaeda nusrats in northern Aleppo, particularly any Al Qaeda group with Turkmen on it, Azaz has been bombed constantly and most cities nearby it.
2) RuAF is bombing constantly any convoy coming from Turkey, trucks, long line of pick ups, you name it, this is true for all border crossings from Azaz to Lattakia, under rats.
3) Intense fight between Afrin’s YPG and all sort of terrorists near Azaz and many villages nearby, very intense fights. RuAF seems to be giving air support to YPG, no confirmed but it seems coordinated attacks and bombings. We will need more info on this.
4) Sheik Maksoud (North Aleppo) is now a battle ground, terrorists asked civilians to leave it and will storm it.
5) YPG inside Sheikh Maksoud is pushing the envelop to close Aleppo only way out for the terrorists inside, at the moment there is no news of cooperation with SAA, NDF, Palestinians and any other group.
6) Turkish supported terrorists Al Qaeda and other rats are fighting against Turkish supported ISIS, what a mess, some villages were taken by the the Turkish supported Al Qaeda close to the border, while it seems some villages are being attacked and partially lost closer to Aleppo, go figure ?
7) Though RuAF air support seems to be the case, there there has been no weapons delivered by air so far.
8) A bit far away, Turkey sending huge military equipment to the Iraqi border, near Zhako border crossing, worth to say the the northern area of Iraq is controlled primarily by PKK soldiers. One can guess Turkey is trying to blow the gun powder barrel.
These developments will change the game in northern Aleppo and maybe through out the Syria-Turkish border, on going peace truce will be dead and former neutrality gone, new alignments will be made to survive or sustain territory, it will be very important to follow closely the next event in the area, huge gambling right now, stay tuned.
(2015-11-27 2:11PM) Canthama over at SyrPer writes:
” Major serious developments, Turkey is about to invade Syria and Iraq. Expected invasion in Zhako in Iraq, Jarabulus in Syria and maybe Azaz. Of course under pretext of fighting ISIS, supported by NATO but most likely to protect Merdogan’s ISIS oil interests that is being blown up by the RuAF and do not allow the Kurds to close the gap in northern Aleppo.
Map:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CU4aXPeUAAATxhS.png:large
It will be interesting to understand the overall reaction from Russia, Syria, Iran and Iraq. This is an invasion and there will be no intention to retreat after that, meaning log term occupation.
Turkey will not allow Kurds to close the gap in north Aleppo, this is national security for Turkey.
The implications are huge, direct confrontation with Syrian citizens and the allied forces on the horizon.”
(2015-11-27 2:36PM) Canthama over at SyrPer writes:
” this is by now means a walk in the park for Turkey, though no one should expect Turkey to fight ISIS, it simply won’t happen, ISIS will retreat and let Turkey in without a fight.
There are many possibilities that would open up with what appears a US-Turkey plan all along, including the downing of the Su24.
From Turkey-US plan :
1) Turkey using the “fighting ISIS” umbrella to conquer Al Qaeda/ISIS territory.
2) Turkey using the “filghting ISIS” umbrella to officially attack PKK and YPG, open war.
3) US air support to Turkish invasion, recall F15 has been sent to Turkey lately.
4) Count on ISIS “fast retreat” to occupy those areas under ISIS, making ISIS to storm central Syria and Iraq in exchange, to keep both armies stuck in the middle of the countries and let Turkey occupy the north without much fight.”
I bet ya a dollaha this is that crazy Looney singing parakeet McCain.. trying to save his terrorists.. He is crazy enough to do it and wanted to send in 50,000 us marines to save them, when that did not work out he got that Turkish idiot erdo to send in 50,000 Turkish soldiers to do it.
That is an exact variation of what I posted a week ago.That the US (in this case their stooge) would occupy the ISIS areas in the North and East of Syria.So they could set the stage to control Syria.If Russia and Iran don’t step up and stop them it will be too late to save Syria.Once they occupy the area only war will get them out.The time to stop them is before they move in.
Can you give a link to “Canthama over at SyrPer” … sounds very interesting and may post for all to read … is this source creditable??
mod-hs
Can you give a link to “Canthama over at SyrPer”
Canthama is a commentator and SyrPer is short for
http://syrianperspective.com/
Yes.
There is a massive escalation on the way, without the slightest doubt.
a) The Turks will certainly move in and cut the Syraq battlespace in half, or at least establish a safehaven for the jihadi rats.
b) This will be done under the aegis of NATO air-power. Forget about the anti-Turkish BS you read in the Western MSM. They are as always just that: BS.
c) Russia will refrain from action and just keep soldiering on in the NW Front, mainly.
d) Russia will keep strengthening her forces in Western Syria. More air-bases, more warplanes, more missiles (of all sorts) more ground troops, artillery, tanks etc.
e) At some point in the escalation, the Chinese will appear in tremendous numbers and overwhelming firepower in Western Iran. This can be done via airlift from either Xinyang, Pakistan, or preferably, Kazakhstan/Russia.
I can’t see any other long-term development of the ongoing WW3.
If we had good investigative reporting, we would know where the oil goes and who pays for it. Much may go through Turkey and just get exported from there and some used there. Some may go into Jordan, into Shiite southern Iraq or across the Arabian desert and get exported. Who knows and will report that some of the ISIS oil may wind up being bought by Israeli refineries.
Good set of posts on zerohedge:
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2015-11-28/isis-oil-trade-full-frontal-raqqas-rockefellers-bilal-erdogan-krg-crude-and-israel-c
UNCONFIRMED. SU-24 AMBUSH WAS A U.S. SPECIAL OPERATION
” Carlos Peligro at SyrPer writes:
(Yandex translation) Moscow, November 26, 2015, 12:22
REGNUM Interview with military expert, permanent author of the magazine “Arsenal of the Fatherland”, an expert in the use of Military space forces A l e x e i L e o n o v a
…In the attack involved several reconnaissance and targeting — at least 3, and two F-16 missiles with modern AIM-9X.
_ How it all happened?
USAF Boeing E-3 Sentry AWACS took off on November 24 with the aviation base of Preveza in Greece. Second E-3A air force of Saudi Arabia flew from Riyadh airbase. Both aircraft performed a single task of determining the exact location of the aircraft of the Russian space forces…
…E-3 all the time gave detailed information about the Su-24M2 patrol a pair of Turkish F-16CJ. This plane is specially produced for Turkey. Its special feature is the computer controlling the new radar AN/APG-68 and serving as the second pilot-Navigator.
_ But this information is insufficient for high-speed target. Used something else?
Indeed, the accuracy of the output of the F-16CJ is additionally provided ground-based air defense systems Patriot USA located in Turkey, or rather their multi-function radar AN/MPQ-53… The trajectory of the F-16CJ is talking about high-precision output for the purpose of method triangulation: a pair of E-3A radar plus Patriot plus geostationary satellites RAP MENTOR and possibly “Geosat”…
_ It turns out that Turkish fighters knew exactly where to wait for our plane in ambush?
Of course. A pair of F-16CJ reached the area of start-up and from a distance of 4-6 kilometers, almost point blank (!) put a rocket “air-air” AIM-9X Sidewinder in rear hemisphere of Russian bombers. With radar AN/APG-68 launch a rocket fighter worked in the “illuminated goal”: involved in the start-up and passed out after the rocket has confidently captured and hit the target.
_ If our pilots the opportunity to save the aircraft?
No. The chances to avoid defeat at the crew of the Su-24M2 have been equal to zero…
_ You mean “American partners”, those who belong to the “Patriots” and “AWACS”, as well as satellites, possibly involved in the operation?
Yes, with a high degree of probability. Turkey lacks the necessary capacity to such painstaking and very precise work. And don’t forget about the second E-3 assigned to the air force of Saudi Arabia. The whole scenario is quite transient, followed by the second.
_ Really everything went so smoothly?
The Turks made a mistake, in which the provocation was not a success. F-16CJ came to defeat with a delay of 2 minutes, when the Su-24M2 have already left the disputed plot 68-kilometer territory in Northern Syria … It seems that it saved and our Navigator. He was able to go to the “greenery” and wait for the search party there.”
Interesting about the Saudi involvement.
Ties up with their threat that they would take more Russian planes down……all those meetings in Vienna were for naught…..
Also Turkey motaring Syrian Army from Turkey! – So much for Soverignty! Act of War on Syria too. And they’ve put their tanks on Iraqui border too.
http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20151128/1030923106/syrian-army-mortars.html
Its all pretty much over.. Operation paperclip part deux is under way… IS has been cleared from many areas of Iraq.. Now All that’s left is to stick a fork in them with a new flag and kill the small time worthless gang members. Turkey poised to move in both Syria and Iraq and clear the terrorists.. Once turkey reaches IS strong holds the cannon fodder will be sent in suicidal waves to be killed off while the CIA operatives will be shunted to the back to be flown out to most likely Yemen.. In a few weeks, Turkey will say they have cleared both Syria and Iraq.. Looks like once the US realized their terrorists could not be saved, a last desperate move to save them as it was only a matterof time before Russia would have killed them all with the help of the SAA.. Real desperation as both Syrian and Iraqi militaries are smacking IS rather badly now.. YPG on the move and could take over IS positions in Syria and would create huge problems there..
Operate desert Desperation and Operation OMG SMT on the way…
Far worse than IS. This guys can clean your clock. I bet deh jeuice has something to do with this.
NEW terrifying Mujahideen n #Syria or #Sham. U may call them ‘BS’ (Batta in Syria) or ‘BL’ (Batta in LEVANT) r DCk
https://twitter.com/EjmAlrai/status/670568631965720576
#Russia thanks #SAA forces who rescued #RuAF pilot
https://twitter.com/sayed_ridha/status/670529507158200320
Syria: PHOTO: #SAA Soldiers receive Medals in ”For Strengthening Military Cooperation”. #Latakia
https://twitter.com/2Rook14/status/670541169672241152
Special terrorist forces on the hunt for people in pictures shown with General Qasim Soleymani.. Over a dozen high ranking officers killed after appearing in photos..
https://twitter.com/archicivilians/status/668084707729481729
Turkey to deploy land based radar/electronic warfare system KORAL on the #Syria border –
Turkey deployed land based radar electr.warfare system #KORAL (Radar Electronic Attack System)at #Syria border
https://twitter.com/metesohtaoglu/status/670566758814715904
Another humanitarian convoy with baby formulae and pampers gets blown up.. Luckly no baby incubators were in the inventory.. It is getting dangerous to be a nurse as well as a reporter in Syria now.
Aftermath of #Russia airstrikes on Dana in northern #Idlib. Road leading to #Turkey border –
https://twitter.com/Conflicts/status/670563609718726656
RuAF targeted Turkish Trucks that went through Bab al-hawa Border Crossing.
https://twitter.com/IvanSidorenko1/status/670391716822818816
MAP: SDF advances against other rebel factions in northern #Aleppo #Syra.
https://twitter.com/Conflicts/status/670544207623376896
Some kind of weird mutant looking vehicle used by Russians and SAA in Syria.. If someone knows what they are please tell us.
https://twitter.com/IvanSidorenko1/status/670343274746507264
New Syrian uniforms Russian style… and some Russians.. Guess the SAA are getting vests now..
https://twitter.com/IvanSidorenko1/status/670337559499841536
Coalition NO FLY ZONE over Syria because.. The US can not find any schools, wedding parties or hospitals..to bomb.. While Russia hits 200 targets every day.. last bombing run they took out a water purification plant.. Another civilian infrastructure..
US and Turkey have stopped their air raids on Syria since the time Russia has deployed S-400 air defense complexes at the Khmeimin airbase.
A spokesperson said on Friday that the absence of anti-ISIS coalition airstrikes “has nothing to do with the S400 deployment” in Syria.
the spokesperson said, adding that CJTF-OIR deliver airstrikes when and where it needs to, dedicating a lot of time to researching targets to ensure maximum effect and minimizing civilian casualties.
http://en.alalam.ir/news/1764247
Wow, & I thought yesterday seeing Erdogoon making the media rounds taunting Putin was bad!
Sat Nov 28th, 2015 at 06:12:52 AM EST
A live event I watched with astonishment on AL Jazeera. I didn’t take more than 5 minutes of his speech to understand Erdogan was delivering a major speech. Using all false rhetoric of arrogance, fascism and the distortion of facts. Using the label “terror” very similar to and copying George Bush and Binyamin Netanyahu before him.
His talking points follow…
I must wait for the video or transcript, will publish as soon as available.
http://www.boomantribune.com/story/2015/11/28/61252/793
Russia to Launch ‘Total Destruction’ Operations against ISIL in Syria
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13940907000699
Russian navy stopped recognizing Bosphorus waterway as Turkish waters and not flying the Courtesy Flags… Does this hint that Russia will use force? Both Russian navy and merchant ships are not flying the Turkish flag.. Does nto mean much in law.. But it is a strong hint..
http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/xf-cour.html
FLOT’s Korolev 130 crossed Bosphorus en route to Syria. As @YorukIsik pointed out, without a courtesy Turkish flag.
Turkish flag is NOT hoisted on #ВМФ #Бф Korolev130 @601sokak_
https://twitter.com/YorukIsik/status/670613991505403906
If Turkey tries to block Russian passage through the straits, I think Russia has to force it.
Russia could walk away from Syria tomorrow but they could not live with the Straits being blocked. If anything is going to start a war that is it.
I’ve seen a few posts lately from Russians about what Gromyko said when someone told him Turkey might do that years ago. Something along the lines of ” a few nukes would make several openings to the Black Sea. But Istanbul might not be one of them”. The threat of Turkey doing that was never brought up again after that. And I read that Vladimir Zhirinovsky just made a speech where he suggested the same thing. I suspect that Putin uses his statements as a nod to the West ,”if you think I’m difficult,see who you could have to negotiate with.Then you’d see difficult “.
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13940906000721
Sat Nov 28, 2015 1:11
Syrian Turkmen Commander Who Killed Russian Pilot Turns Out to Be Turkish Ultranationalist
TEHRAN (FNA)- A Syrian rebel commander who boasted of killing a Russian pilot after Turkey downed the Russian jet on Tuesday appeared to be Turkish ultranationalist and a son of former mayor in one of Turkish provinces.
Alparslan Celik, deputy commander of a Syrian Turkmen brigade turned out to be the son of a mayor of a Keban municipality in Turkey’s Elazig province, RT reported.
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13940907001357
Sat Nov 28, 2015 6:58
Political Activist: West’s Supports Not to Prevent Collapse of Bahraini Regime
TEHRAN (FNA)- Ala’a al-Hosseini, a Bahraini political activist, blasted the western countries for rendering support for the Manama regime, and said the demise of Al Khalifa regime is imminent.
“The Western, specially the US, supports will not make the Bahraini regime immune from collapse,” Ala’a al-Hosseini told FNA on Saturday.
The Bahraini activist reiterated that the people of his country will never give up their peaceful protests until the cruel Al-Khalifa dynasty is toppled.
Bad juju to taunt the gods (pick one) by giving a desolate desert sandbar a name with “rain” in it:
http://www.sunfarm.com.bh/images/middle_e.jpg
These 2 stories are a matched pair.
Sat Nov 28, 2015 6:38
Syria’s Ex-Presidential Advisor Raps West for Pretending to Be Advocate of Human Rights
EHRAN (FNA)- A senior advisor to the former Syrian president lashed out at the US and other western states for their biased policies towards human rights issues in different world countries.
“The international organizations dealing with human rights are under the political influence of the western countries and the West is not an advocate of human rights, despite its allegations, and is rather practicing double-standard policies towards other countries,” George Jabour told FNA on Saturday.
—————————————-
now this one:
https://theintercept.com/2015/11/19/former-drone-operators-say-they-were-horrified-by-cruelty-of-assassination-program/
Former Drone Operators Say They Were “Horrified” By Cruelty of Assassination Program
Murtaza Hussain
2015-11-19T19:31:53+00:00
U.S. DRONE OPERATORS are inflicting heavy civilian casualties and have developed an institutional culture callous to the death of children and other innocents, four former operators said at a press briefing today in New York.
The killings, part of the Obama administration’s targeted assassination program, are aiding terrorist recruitment and thus undermining the program’s goal of eliminating such fighters, the veterans added. Drone operators refer to children as “fun-size terrorists” and liken killing them to “cutting the grass before it grows too long,” said one of the operators, Michael
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13940907000699
TEHRAN (FNA)- Russia plans to launch imminent ‘Total Destruction’ operations against the ISIL terrorists in Syria, media sources revealed on Saturday.
The Egyptian al-Youm al-Sabe’ news website said in a report Russia has vowed continued fight against terrorists in Syria using its warships and has demanded the Iraqi government to suspend flights in the two provinces of Erbil and Sulaymaniyah to protect passenger flights given the intensified conflicts in Northern Iraq which is adjacent to Syria and the Turkish fighter jets’ violation of the region’s airspace under the pretext of bombing the PKK positions.
2 (of 3) Iraq N. border provinces:
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/iraq/images/map-provinces3.gif
Better range view of distance (400 NM+) of any targets Russian cruiser in E. Med range to east required:
http://geology.com/world/syria-map.gif
When is a no-fly zone a no-fly zone? When nothing flies except by OK of those running it.
https://www.rt.com/news/323815-syria-s-400-us-airstrikes/
http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20151128/1030923106/syrian-army-mortars.html
Turkey mortars Syria is the latest report………………………..asking for trouble, provocation……
http://www.anna-news.info/node/47857
seems to report????????????????-google translate -200 militants?surrender arms after recent bombing on site of rus plane take down…………..
”
Syrian sources reported widespread practice of putting prisoners (including among Turkomans) in the north of Latakia, in the area falling downed Turkish Russian military aircraft. During the evening of 27 November at Syrian checkpoints arrived at least 200 people, and expressed a desire to lay down their arms. The reason was the massive strikes videoconferencing Russian Aviation and the Syrian Arab Army.
Local insurgents assess the consequences, we decided to give up more profitable. It was decided that local terrorists who participated in the shooting of a Russian military pilot and posed next to his corpse will be judged if caught and probably give Russia.”
—————————————————————————————————–
World War 3 for dummies:
1) Reasons for war:
a) Energy reserves/pipeline routes.
b) Strategic positioning.
2) Who are the combatants:
a) The Empire of Degenerates: A vomit-inducing coalition of Gay-parading pseudo-Liberal, parasitic Western States of North America and Europe, plus the paleolithic savagery of GCC-led Sunni primates. They have lots of paper dollars, which are still worth a lot. For the time being at the very least that is.
b) A diverse coalition of emerging and long-oppressed countries, that are getting far less than their fair share in world influence over both security and financial matters. Even though far from ideal themselves, compared to the Empire of Degenerates, they do look angelic indeed. Led by Glorious Russia (cursed to fight monsters time and again) and with the fire-breathing Chinese Dragon in reserve, this coalition also boasts Iran, Shia Iraq, the heroic Syrian Arab Army, the tough-as-nails Hezbollah. India’s role is still up in the air, which is quite absurd, considering that country’s suffering at the hands of Western Imperialism.
3) Main Front:
Syria-Iraq Battlespace. The control of the northern corridor of the Middle East is the key to global supremacy.
4) Secondary Fronts:
a) Eastern Ukraine. The Empire of Degenerates has to put pressure on the Queen of the Liberation Axis, there is no better way for them than via the now occupied (and partly deranged) Russian lands of Ukraina. A harrowing tragedy.
b) Yemen. What better way to put strain on the giant oil-field as well as Piggy bank of the Degenerate Empire, than by taking the fight on their borders. Potential for creative expansion on this Front.
c) Afghanistan. The Empire of Degenerates again deploys its ISIS mercenaries so that both Russia and China are blocked from linking-up with the Iran-Iraq-corridor. The Coalition of the Sane, has still not meaningfully mobilized on this front.
5) Strengths of the Empire of Degenerates:
a) US nuclear arsenal.
b) US Air and Naval superiority.
c) Lots of cash available (via GCC, not the West, it has to be noted) despite the extreme indebtedness of the Degenerates.
d) Suicidal death squads whose lives and labor are very cheap indeed. The exact number of available supply is unknown to me. (would appreciate some input)
e) US global network of military bases and assets.
f) Ruthless and cunning Intelligence Services.
g) An absolutely monstrous propaganda apparatus.
h) Ignorance of the general public.
i) Currently with far more assembled forces in the main theater of the war, Syraq.
6) Weaknesses of the Empire of Degenerates:
a) Cowardly populations. Also, way too pampered. General population completely clueless, in the dark of what is going on, what is at stake and of the risks involved.
b) Used to cheap victories. Have not faced serious opponents for several decades.
c) Useless ground troops.
d) Getting caught by surprise time and again.
e) Already committed much of available resources.
f) Main weapons of Sea and Air power can conceivably be neutralized by their foes.
g) Will probably be unable to sell to domestic audiences the subsequent developments and potential sacrifices that will necessarily arise.
h) Their propaganda growing to stratospheric levels of absurdity. Real cracks appearing and growing.
7) Strengths of the Coalition of Sane:
a) Leadership & populations largely aware of what is going on and what is at stake.
b) They don’t need much propaganda, just ways of conveying the truth.
c) Russia’s nuclear arsenal.
d) Russia’s missile systems of all sorts (A/A, A/T, ballistic, cruise etc)
e) Russia’s Air Force.
f) China’s money and industrial might.
g) International Law, as well as moral principle.
h) Element of surprise.
i) Some heroic fighters on the part of all the allies (the Chinese have not committed as yet, but I would wager that they will be more useful than regular western ground forces)
j) Biggest asset has not been mobilzed yet. The People’s Republic of China.
Weaknesses of the Coalition of the Sane:
a) Extreme reliance on Russian power/bravery/intelligence and patience. For the time being at least.
b) One of the most crucial components, the SAA, has been bleeding for too long. Requires even more relief from allies.
c) Presently outgunned on the main Syraq battle-space.
d) Inferiority in terms of Air Power (for now, at least)
e) Inferiority in global bases network.
f) Far less propaganda outlets. Infinitely less in fact.
Great, Stavros H. Thanks.
India is firmly on Russia’s side. Prime Minister Modi stated this explicitly in December 2014.
http://m.thehindu.com/news/national/vladimir-putin-turns-to-india-with-energy-defence-offers/article6682253.ece
Russia has a deeper relationship with India than China. For instance, Russia’s Su-30 SM (which is currently deployed in Syria) is simply the Russian version of the Indian Su-30 MKI.
http://sputniknews.com/analysis/20120323/172357523.html
Chinese are not interesting in any of “settle the old debt” conflicts out over west of our borders. If anyone start a war, he/she better prepare to finish. IMHO, these freaking conflicts will breeds more of same, best to find a way to put a stop to them once and for all.
We keep our neighborhood at peace. We are not interested in going to some one else neighborhood to play gods.
http://www.almasdarnews.com/article/19673/
Prominent Kurdish lawyer shot dead in southeast Turkey
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By News Desk on November 28, 2015 Middle East
The president of the bar association in southeastern Diyarbakir province has been shot dead by unidentified gunmen while giving a public speech.
A campaigner for Kurdish rights, Tahir Elci had been criticized for challenging Turkey’s official stance of calling the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) a terrorist organization.
Elci died of gunshots to the head, hospital sources confirmed.
After making comments about PKK on CNN Turk TV in October, Elci was detained. He was subsequently released and had been awaiting trial.
New upgraded T72’s equivalent to T90;s now being delivered which can defeat TOW missiles..
Russia delive2r #SAA new T-72 eqpd w TShU-1-7 Shtora1 optronic counter measures system 2disrupt the laser target & incoming ATGM
Ex UK Amb to Syria: 90% of the 70k “moderate” forces are jihadis, different from IS but radical Islamists supported by Saudi, Turkey, Qatar.
Finally we won’t hear anything anymore about “Khorasan group” coz #Washington now consider #AQ “moderate”. Khorasan the most dangerous and capable terrorist in the world, can make 007 look like a boy scout..
A Comedy of Errors: U.S. Backed Rebels Fight U.S. Backed Rebels in …
Rebel Group Beheads Wounded ISIS Fighter in Northern Aleppo
Turkish Army Shells the Syrian Army Amid Their Advance …
Syrian army says #Turkey last night fired a number of mortar bombs “towards our positions” – statement from army command
Russian navy ships corossing trough Bosphorus stopped hoisting curtesy flag of #Turkey
Putin bans Russian companies from hiring Turkish citizens from Jan 1, 2016. Over 90,000 Turks to be sacked (200,000-with families)
Many civilians wounded after Nusra & Ahrar a. Sham gangs shelled Kurdish neighbourhood of Sheikh Maqsoud in #Aleppo.
2 kids killed, 60 civilians wounded in Aleppo shelling; at least 20 villagers killed in Tinib/Azaz by Turkey backed al Qaeda groups today.
Turkey backed al Qaeda groups proudly filmed bombing Kurds in Aleppo, killing civilians.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLgXC2S1TkU
Nothing in the MSM about free Syrian terrorists firing elephant guns into civilian areas.. Real terrorist weapons as they have no value other than terror.
Ahmet Elçi: My brother was clearly murdered by the state / ANF
Video shows the undercover policeman who shot towards the slain Kurdish lawyer Tahir Elçi changing his gun.
https://twitter.com/Sosyal_Devrim/status/670606382131974144
The staged refugee crisis, the attacks in Paris, and the shoot-down of the Russian fighter jet are all components of a single action.
The refugee crisis gave rise to calls for a “safe zone” in Syria for refugees.
The attacks in Paris gave an excuse to send a NATO aircraft carrier into the zone and commence operations (although it had been planned prior to these attacks – a little overlooked aspect).
The shoot-down of the Russian war-plane ramped up tensions, set up a crisis situation and gave the push for Turkey, under NATO air cover, to invade northern Syria to set up this “safe zone”, in reality to guarantee the survival of their terrorist, regime change, agenda.
No wonder Russia ramped up their air protection capability.
Interesting set of villages that el-nusra / IS have demanded the Kurds withdraw from. Are they planning a retreat from Aleppo and using those places as their new front line? Here’s hoping the Kurds can get some Russian air support and hold the ground. If the Kurds can be re-enforced and then catch the retreating forces between them and the advancing Syrian army they could be obliterated with Russian air assaults.
We can hope.