Video translated and subtitled by Alena Scarecrow
Saker commentary:
Along with Colonel Cassad, I consider Rostislav Ishchenko as one of the very best experts on the war in the Ukraine. While Cassad and Ishchenko are very different in their styles, they share two things rarely found elsewhere: they have the intellectual honesty and the professional competence needed to avoid taking extremist positions or engage in the usual hyperbole heard from less competent commentators, and they both have a solid understanding of the nature of the war taking place between the Empire and Russia. Cassad is more of a military person, while Ishchenko is more of a political expert, but they both see the same reality and stay clear of the two ideological camps which stridently try to shape the debate: the “hurray-patriots” on one hand, and the “Putin sold us out” on the other. In this video, Ishchenko directly addresses the nonsense these two ideological camps spew. Very good stuff.
Enjoy!
The Saker
Cassad is very cynical, but lets the facts speak for themselves. He does not hide his point of view, but he does not filter the facts through it.
Thank you for the Eng. Subs., Ms Scarecrow. Your work is always truly excellent and very appreciated.
And the man makes such calm, clear analysis, with not a touch of the hysteria we read in some comments or hear in other videos from other sources of “expertise”.
A brilliant mind at work making sense of the complexities Russia and Putin are deftly handling.
Thanks to Saker for the video.
A refreshing analysis from a brilliant thinker.
I disagree, however, that under international law that the Ukraine must agree to ceding Crimea to Russia, because it is required under the Ukrainian Constitution.
With the illegal overthrow of Yanukovich, there is no longer a binding constitutional order, an agreement. The Coup government of Kiev cannot decide to follow some rules, and break others, and expect their citizens to be bound by all aspects of the supreme law of the land. The constitution is broken, beyond repair. This is obvious to anyone.
Yes, your point about the overthrow being illegal is true and the Russians have pointed out that fact, yet have dealt with the junta as if they are legal. Putin has spoken about the illegality of the Kiev junta, and Lavrov has spoken about it that way. Therefore, they are holding that concept as one avenue to address issues or solve problems.
By not insisting on it does not mean they have abandoned it. And we can expect surprise at some point to be a component of any Russian action or initiative.
Clear from this video presentation and other facts on the ground, a Constitutional restructuring has to happen. I’m guessing it is in Putin’s desk draw, the ink long dried by now, done the way he wants it.
Someone is trying to start something here.. Trouble in paradise? Why are people trying to “start” something? if you know what I mean..
Saudi Arabia severs ties with Iran, foreign minister says and Iran recall Ambassador and diplomats. No gloves. More Iran troops expected 2 be sent 2 Syria , Iran support 2 Yemen will have no limits now. Lebanon is on the list of tension of course.
93% of Crimea’s residents voted against the renewal of contract on electricity supplies from Ukraine!
So they held referendums in 91,94,2008 and even voted for self determination or/and joining back with the USSR.. So what ever makes nato think holding another one will make any difference? The 3 held before 2014 did not include Russian troops…
https://twitter.com/Russ_Warrior/status/682924738725941250
Iran just changed the name of the street where the Saudi embassy was to ; “Sheikh Nimr st.”.
https://twitter.com/kassamally/status/683677816978804736
Which made SA close their embassy and cut ties.. Saudi has severed ties with Iran, giving its diplomats 48 hours to leave the country — Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir.
We need some amusement after everything… Vote for man of the century..
https://twitter.com/DasOrnithologe/status/683765118212161536
Better still watch this 7 part documentary called World Order and hear what Putin himself says http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=cf6_1451260176 .He is a brilliant orator and has such a logical and intelligent mind.Truely a genius who understands the world.
Zdavim,
Thank you for this, Black Wolf.
Links to all 7 parts:
World Order. Part 1/7: Downfall of Yalta System. Eng. Subs.
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=cf6_1451260176
World Order. Part 2/7: Democracy: First Blood. Eng. Subs.
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=3c9_1451337341
World Order. Part 3/7: Color Revolution Technology – forced democratizaion. Eng. Subs.
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=555_1451410073
World Order. Part 4/7: Refugee Crisis as a result of democratization by US. Europe – US vassal. Eng. Subs.
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=4bd_1451583257
World Order. Part 5/7: Unity in Diversity. Guarantee for stable development of the world. Eng Subs
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=5ee_1451583820
World Order. Part 6/7: Geopolitical Struggle Must be Civilized. Eng. Subs. (reUpload)
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=37d_1451701945
World Order. Part 7/7: Interests of the Country Must Be Above All. Eng. Subs.
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=357_1451779536
3 Months Since the Beginning of the Russian Operation in Syria: A Summary
http://fortruss.blogspot.ca/2016/01/3-months-since-beginning-of-russian.html
HurraH!
Losses…
In total, after three months, government troops occupied, in the province of Latakia, more than 270 square kilometers of mountainous regions. In the east of Aleppo, about 120 km and to the West and south about 410 km. In the provinces of Hama, Idlib and Homs approximately 120-125 km was lost and in Damascus, a little less than 50 km. In the southern provinces, a total of about 90 km. Thus, over the past three months, the Syrian army was able to reclaim about 1200 km from the terrorists.
Russian operations from September 30 to December 31 made approximately 6000 sorties, during which at least 8600 facilities were hit.
it was found that terrorist groups over the past three months have lost at least 217 emirs and high-ranking commanders. Commanders of small units are not taken into account in the statistics. The brunt of the losses fell on “Jabhat al-Nusra”, “Ahrar al-Sham” and the “Free Syrian Army”: every second destroyed commander belongs to one of these groups.
statistical determination approximate number shows one killed commander accounts for 30-35 killed soldiers. Thus the Islamists have lost about 7000 soldiers.
In general, the number of militants who defected to Damascus is estimated at 3-4 thousand, who all fall under the amnesty law.
The pace of the government forces can be comparable to the experience of the second “Chechen campaign” in view of the Syrian realities. 6-8 months to isolate pockets of resistance, year and a half for the destruction of large gangs, and several years on a permanent regime of counter-terrorist operation. It is likely that the timing can be changed in favor of Damascus, but it depends entirely on the tractability of local clans and tribes. An important factor is the internal situation in Turkey, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
Excellent information.
I would add one element off the battlefield. Diplomacy and the enticement of inclusion in the political process, and inclusion in the transition and new governmental structure. This means local political power and wealth sharing. Many issues that tore tribes and Sunni groups (towns and cities) away from Assad’s rule will be solved through the processes of change.
Russia is controlling these diplomatic and internal legal transitions.
There are milestones and a timeline with Assad already on board with what Russia wants for Syria.
I did not know about this and I bet even syrians don’t know about this because the propaganda goes back a long time.. But the richest people in Syria are Sunni’s.. and also some of those funding this insurrection are also rich Syrian billionaire Sunni’s.. Not on the scale of the funding from foreign countries but still.. Inside syria itself seems to be a battle between sunni factions.. rich sunni factions.. The rest are just in the middle.. I dont know enough about this to make any kind of informed opinion on the political process.. Seems to be a lot of crooks that work with the terrorists.. I bet the information is difficult to find.. But looking at the map, I think we can guess where these rich syrians are based why those areas were easily captured. Like north Aleppo was captured after bribing the Syrians that were holding the city to let in al queda forces. These areas would be hard to recapture since the oligarchs control the area and the workers like in ukraine would support who pays them and not the government. I bet they themselves have left the country long ago.. I doubt Assad will agree to give them even more power.. Look what happened in ukraine.
Dear mmiriww
Thanks for injecting some reality into this discussion about the real nature of the so-called aggrieved Syrian Sunni leaders. As a matter principle, Assad must reward the very criminals that unleashed such sectarian hell on all Syrians.
The facts you outlined pour water on pie-in-the-sky wishful thinking about compromise with the very forces that collaborated in unleashing the hell imposed on Syria. The tendencies of outsiders to fall for the repeated lie that Assad should should make concessions with a poor disenfranchised Sunni faction (the same ones that collaborated and encouraged mass murder and treason on their country), is so immoral and poorly reasoned that it’s hard describe it.
People should understand that falling for the Western foreign policy lie that Assad should compromise with a mythical disenfranchised Sunni bloc is stupid on the face of it. There is no Sunni bloc that represents the majority of Sunnis in Syria. Most Sunnis want nothing to do with the fake opposition given the hell their country has been put through. Only ignorant westerners (or non-syrians) think that there is a legitimate opposition with which Assad can compromise with.
This is the dumb tendency of many in the West to make a moral equivalence between the victim and the victimizer. A good example is all the whining in the Western MSM about the poor disenfranchised Iraqi Sunnis (who so viciously ruled over the Shia under Sadaam) in Iraq – where was the MSM whining for the poor Shia that were subjected to horrible and sustained terrorist mass bombings by Sunni terrorists who had wide-spread support among Iraqi sunni civilians? Nowhere to be seen.
It is the same idiotic nonsense from ignorant amateur theoreticians that make moral equivalences between Saudi Arabia (terrorist sponsor) and Iran, Pakistan (terrorist sponsor) and India, Uyghur-seperatists (terrorist islamists) and the Chinese government. In all of these cases the conditioned mind of the ignorant Westerner know-it-all expects the victims to bend over backwards ad-infinitum to accommodate the terrorist sponsoring forces towards some utopian myth that somehow that will lead to some breakthrough – it will not.
Stalin and Hitler. The Grand Daddy of all im moral equivalencies. mmmm Maybe just below Fascism equals communism All metanarratives are oppressive meme. Post modern tripe.
RR
It looks like Turkey is turning into one big Stalingrad and KSA is enroute.
Israel is the wild card in all of this. Expect them to try to pull a fast one-again. Unless the military in Israel has put an ankle bracelet on Netanyahu that is.
RR
The US is broke going for broke….of course it is the same conflict……as is Afghanistan, Yemen, Iraq, Libya, all of MENA……and Africa, South America……Latin America….everything looks like a nail when you only have a hammer! And USA USA USA has an awfully sore thumb!
RR
that’s so sad…what he said at the end…about the neighbors..what was he implying there I wonder ?
That Ukraine would just be partitioned off ?
If a picture could convey why Russian and Chinese or even Iranian troops are not fighting in Syria it would be this and why Hezbollah stay out of towns and villages and the iraqi militia only provides support and blocking action..
Palestinian fighter born and raised in Syria..being offered tea by recently liberated villagers in Hama. Outsiders would have no idea how to deal with such situations. The tea could be poisoned.. Only those local would know who to trust or if it is safe..
https://twitter.com/Ibra_Joudeh/status/683618210621591552
https://twitter.com/maria_engstrom/status/683373623718051840
When sunni SAA or PLA Palestinian liberation army does this they are freedom fighters.. Anyone else would be considered pedophiles and invaders..
https://t.co/igo0uWhDAT
If ISIS did it there would be no film. The female reporter would be gang raped them sold into slavery or shot. Palestinians are also mainly Sunni I believe. As is the SAA. That army can go any where in the country and still speak the same “language” ISIS etc are drugged up foreign mercenaries. Local populations have formed militia’s to protect themselves against ISIS Al Nursra. If indigenous and fighting against the Government they are terrorists and surely the SAA and Co know what forces are on the ground before they go in. Would the whole village remain silent while someone brought their liberators poisoned tea?
RR
Perhaps Sauds need a quick fix for oil futures.
He still keeps two lines that are questionable: One, that Russia needs all of the Ukraine; and two, that the West has lost interest in paying for it, with the idea that things are going Russia’s way. Both are up for debate. A default and economic problems are part of normal, Western-style disaster capitalism. Remember the 2008 financial crisis? Trillions more for the top, and poverty for the bottom half. Was that a mistake or a success? In the case of the Ukraine, everything will be owned by Western corporations in a couple of years. And the idea that Russia can realistically hope to get all of the Ukraine is also an open question. Maybe a better question is if they can get two-thirds of it. And the question is still “How?” The NAF is way too small and Moscow doesn’t want to intervene.
So out of a billion muslims from Indonesia, Malaysia, India and Bangladesh, less than 1000 people went to fight with IS.. You would think the far poorer countries with any social benefits and welfare people would be queuing up for the big bucks considering most construction workers in the middle east are from these countries making a tenth of what an IS fighter makes…
While from western democracies.. Muslims go to die in a far away place.. Why is that? UK, Sweden, Belgium, Germany, France, Finland, Austria, Netherlands… I can understand from the smaller Muslim mostly dictatorships..
http://www.rferl.org/contentinfographics/foreign-fighters-syria-iraq-is-isis-isil-infographic/26584940.html
Perhaps they are uninfected with the takfiri disease. And will be best people to counter it in the long and short runs. Western Takfiri have to many connections to MI6 etc so these should be considered double agents not religious persons. They are recruiting on behalf of their western masters.
RR
Thank you Alena Scarecrow for the subtitles – I will settle down to watch.
The Iran situation also ties in to this whole saga – the axis of resistance.
A very good article in RT today by Catherine Shakdam “Why a freedom fighter was killed to fit Saudi Arabia’s hawkish narrative”. I think a must read too:
https://www.rt.com/op-edge/327811-saudi-arabia-nimr-cleric-iran/
“….Sheikh al-Nimr’s death was plotted and carried out to fit into Saudi Arabia’s narrative of war against Iran – exploiting the one angle mainstream media have long held true – the infamous Sunni-Shia divide……”
I have noticed how the MSM and even RT is already using the Shia/Sunni rhetoric to justify the war. Bahrain has now cut diplomatic ties, UAE has reduced its diplomatic mission and it looks like Sudan is joining in……all seems very pre-planned to me. Just like the taking down of the Russian jet and the Saudi creation of their so called islamic group to fight terrorism.
So far Iran is taking the peace route – but the US and its allies have wanted war with Iran all along and they hope this will start it.
It does look like a setup to start a war to draw the US in..
Porkey seems to be in charge of the foreign policy… All flights cancelled.. travel bans, no more pilgrim centers.. commercial ties severed.. Massive bombing of yemen.. On top of all that Hezbollah fired 2 ATGM’s at 2 Israeli jeeps and wounded 4 IDF officers.. Without US boots on the ground, we might see a new houthi empire in the middle east…
must be a different incident than this one just hours ago in occupied part of S. Lebanon.
note what IED spells out to here–must be a new type.
The Lebanese Hezbollah resistance movement also announced that the group detonated an impoverished explosive device (IED) when an Israeli military patrol crossed on Zibdin-Kafra road in the occupied Lebanese Shebaa Farms.
The explosion destroyed the military vehicle and injured all the soldiers on board, according to the report.
http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2016/01/04/444472/Israel-Hezbollah-Lebanon-Shebaa/
Russia activates Nookoolear mortar regiments…
The Eastern Military District’s artillery units have been armed with over a dozen ‘Tulipan’ (Tulip) mortars, designed to destroy heavily fortified field constructions. This is an effective and terrifying weapon that, over the past 10 years, has been practically absent from military units. These self-propelled units have now been reactivated.
The self-propelled 2S4 ‘Tulipan’ mortars, of a caliber surpassing Western counterparts, had been practically removed from service, with around 430 of these weapons remaining in Russia, kept in storage at military bases. This is despite the fact that, in 43 years of service in the armed forces, the effectiveness of this weapon was never in doubt.
The range of ordinance that the ‘Tulipan’ can shoot includes high-explosive, incendiary, guided, cluster, neutron and nuclear warheads, some of which are capable of hitting targets at a distance of about 20 kms.
The shrapnel cluster from munitions of the 2S4 ‘Tulipan’ mortar is able to hit an area the size of four football fields. One shot from this powerful mortar totally demolished its target, making it inaccessible to any other artillery pieces. A special shell has been created for this powerful self-propelled mine, one that contains a nuclear charge.
http://in.rbth.com/economics/defence/2016/01/02/most-powerful-nuclear-mortar-tulip-back-in-service_551055
Traitors to Russia have been cleared out of the government.
Hurrah!
RR
IS beheads 15 SDF members for new years bash..
Why are they called Syrian rebels? They are working with the SAA and RuAF provides them air support. YPG has openly said they wont fight the SAA who armed them.
http://aranews.net/2016/01/islamic-state-militants-behead-15-hostages-from-the-western-backed-syrian-forces/
IS executes 5 of their troll boyz to teach a lesson… Those boiler room trolls should be nervous.. far more nervous than the sheep on an island without any women…
http://aranews.net/2016/01/isis-executes-five-media-activists-in-raqqa-on-charges-of-spying-for-the-u-s-led-coalition/
Syria conflict interactive map (3 Jan 2016)
http://www.agathocledesyracuse.com/archives/616
But this is the most intresting map both SAA and YPG are racing north.. Since Russia is planning this op, no one has any idea what is happening.. Due to security issues, Russia is planning all offensives and no leaks on what the objectives are.
Military situation in eastern #Aleppo Governorate. #Syria #SAA #NDF #IslamicState
https://twitter.com/PetoLucem/status/684007382570110976
HD map https://t.co/rou35d9ZvV
The top full interactive map shows both SAA and YPG moves which the detailed maps dont..
Thug Life Turkey: Erdogoon makes the honor roll of select company:
In a just world, Erdogan would top Interpol’s most wanted list, along with US-led NATO leaders, Israel’s Netanyahu, and Middle East Arab despots – partners in high crimes too major to ignore.
Along with arming and providing safe havens for ISIS terrorists, supplying them with toxic chemical agents, and selling their oil on the black market, Erdogan is a major drug trafficker. Nothing significant happens in Turkey without his knowledge, approval and involvement.
Afghanistan’s lucrative drug trade (including up to 100% of world opium production for heroin) is protected by US occupation forces, representing powerful Western monied interests, including Wall Street banks – profiting hugely from human misery.
http://www.thesleuthjournal.com/turkeys-erdogan-drug-kingpin/
Next few days maybe hear more of this, but sounds interesting.
Transitional government (Syria), you say.
http://syrianperspective.com/2016/01/douma-defenses-falling-apart-major-defection-in-ranks-of-opposition-syrian-army-ambushes-alqaeda-in-latakia-terrorist-rats-try-counter-attack-and-flop-in-derah.html
ISTANBUL: Opposition quarters are abuzz with the news that a major defection from their ranks has taken place. Khaldoon Shaaker Al-Lawlah, director of the Office of Ahmad Tu’ma, has absconded with documents exposing the “Transitional Government” and NACOSROF (The Alliance). It is expected the papers will disclose the fact that Khaalid Khoja is a Turk sleeper agent who is steeped in illicit monies taken from the Saudi apes. He has now reported to the Syrian government with his documents. This is a major embarrassment for the U.S.
Cartalucci JAN 3
http://www.activistpost.com/2016/01/surreal-west-mourns-death-of-al-qaeda-collaborator-in-syrian-airstrike.html
Surreal: West Mourns Death of Al Qaeda Collaborator in Syrian Airstrike
Ironically, despite knowing the various affiliations “rebel groups” in Syria have with Al Qaeda, O’Bagy herself, along with the so-called Institute for the Study of War – an arms industry-funded think tank – have attempted to perpetuate Western support of these “rebel groups,” which in turn have perpetuated the deadly conflict raging in Syria. The profitable war, and the US dominated MENA region that would form as a result of its successful execution, helps explain why the West is so interested in portraying terrorists as “moderates,” and going as far as mourning the death of a terrorist leader who openly worked with and praised Al Qaeda.
Moscow upgrade, but no S-500 sighted yet.
MOSCOW, January 4. /TASS/. Russia’s Aerospace Forces have received another regimental set of the S-400 Triumph air defence missile system that will cover Moscow and the Central Industrial District, the Russian Defence Ministry press service told reporters on Monday. “A new regimental set of the S-400 Triumph air defence missile system has arrived by train at the place of permanent deployment in the Moscow region from the Kapustin Yar range in the Astrakhan region where system’s live fire exercise was held,” the ministry said.
due north of Georgia several hundred km, still well west of the Urals:
http://www.maplandia.com/russia/volgogradskaya-oblast/leninskiy-rayon/kapustin-yar/
http://tass.ru/en/defense/848264
We know that some of what is called the Syrian Opposition Political Parties wants changes to the Syrian Constitution.
This has more reference to those Syrian Political Parties who attended a Sham Conference on Constitutional Democracy in Dictatorial ISIL Saudi Arabia, and who can be seen as being ISIL Lite, until they accept certain minimum standards of Constitutional Democracy, given the Fact that Syria is a Constitutional Democracy.
This ISIL Lite has made things more difficult for themselves to gain the trust of Syrian Voters, because they attended the Sham Conference on Constitutional Democracy in Dictatorial ISIL Saudi Arabia.
There are some People who think that some of Syria’s Opposition Political Parties want Syria to have No Constitution, because they have been Bribed to give Israel the Golan Heights.
This is why there are People who think that there Needs to be a Referendum for any Proposed Constitutional Changes in Syria, because the People of Syria have the Human Right and the Democratic Right to decide if they wish to give away the Golan Heights to Israel, and which a United Nations Security Council Resolution says it belongs to the United Nations Recognized Country of Syria.
This is why Syrians want any changes to their Constitution to be Properly Debated and put to a Referendum, because this is a Most Basic and Most Vital Democratic Principle.
The Syrian Voters see what Nazi Israel and ISIL Turkey are doing, and these include matters of Injustices or Crimes against the Kurdish and Palestinian People, and Nazi Israel and ISIL Turkey are the Allies of some of the Syrian Opposition Political Parties at http://in.reuters.com/article/israel-palestinians-un-idINKBN0UI1IK20160104 , and at http://www.todayszaman.com/diplomacy_official-eu-must-condemn-turkish-operation-against-kurds_408726.html .
It is Interesting that some of the Syrian Opposition Political Parties are asking for confidence building measures before any talks even take place.
The Syrian Opposition Political Parties would want the following as a Minimum, if they were the Democratically Elected Legitimate Government of Syria, and if they can Not want these things for Other Syrian Political Parties, that they want for themselves, then, they are Not fit to be the Government of a Constitutional Democracy, and they would turn Syria into a Dictatorship, and this is Not what the Syrian People want.
We know that confidence building is a 2 way street, but some of Syria’s Opposition Political Parties are only interested in a one way street that goes entirely how their Backers who ISIL Turkey, Nazi Israel, and ISIL Saudi Arabia want.
ISIL Turkey, Nazi Israel, and ISIL Saudi Arabia do Not have Proper Intentions for Syria or for the People of Syria, and this Fact reflects Very Poorly on some of the Syrian Opposition Political Parties at https://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2016/Jan-04/330133-syrian-opposition-to-demand-confidence-building-moves-before-talks.ashx .
If the Syrian Opposition Political Parties became the Democratically Elected Legitimate Constitution Government of Syria, then they would want Everyone to agree that their Constitution is the Supreme Law of the Land, and that Everyone accepts the Election Result, and that there Must be No coercion for having an early Election, and that the Constitution can only be changed with a Referendum, and that All Syrian Citizens have Equality before the Law, and this means that Any Syrian Citizen can stand for Any Public Office at Any Syrian Election.
The Syrian Opposition Political Parties can do what is Vital to gain the Trust of Syrian Voters by Agreeing to these Few Basic and Indispensible Principles of Constitutional Democracy that have been mentioned, and even more so, given that the United Nations is involved in this matter.
There could be People who think that a good way for the Syrian Government to Negotiate with the Syrian Opposition is to have All Negotiations conducted Only in Writing so that Copies of the correspondences can be given to All of those involved in this matter, in order that they may have a Record of what was discussed during the Negotiations, and it would also assist Journalists to provide Information to the Syrian Public.
There could be some People who think that some of the Syrian Opposition Political Parties only want some of their friends released from prison, and after they achieve that goal, then they will ensure that the Negotiations go no further.
This would be because they could be Terrorists who do Not want Constitutional Democracy for Syria, and they do Not want to Serve the Interests of the Syrian People, because they are the Bribed Puppets of Foreigners.
The Syrian Opposition Political Parties can show that they want Constitutional Democracy for Syria by Accepting the Confidence Building Basic Democratic Principles that have been mentioned.
We know that ISIL Turkey wants to Resettle Kurdish People in Syria, and Israel wants to Resettle Palestinians to the Golan Heights.
The Armed Syrian Opposition Political Parties have the Options of continuing to Commit Treason and Terrorism against the Syrian People, and against Essential Democratic Principles, and against the Syrian Constitution, or of fighting against Terrorism as an Ally of the Syrian People in Cooperation with the Legitimate and Constitutional Syrian Government, or they be Granted Immunity and Disarm and become Civilians.
This is why there are People who think that a future United Nations Security Council Resolution on Syria should include Israel returning the Golan Heights back to its Rightful and Legal Owner, who is the United Nations Recognized Country of Syria.
Yemen war still going almost unreported in West.
Prof. Matthew Crosston is the Miller Chair for Industrial and International Security and Director of the International Security and Intelligence Studies (ISIS) program at Bellevue University in Nebraska. He has authored two well-received books, several book chapters and nearly two dozen peer-reviewed articles in venues like the International Journal of Intelligence and Counterintelligence, Journal of Strategic Security, International Politics, Journal of Military and Strategic Affairs, and Journal of Global Analysis. Prof. Crosston has received his Ph.D. from the Brown University.
So, the humanitarian situation in Yemen seems quite alarming. Unofficial figures show that more than 6,100 Yemenis have been killed so far. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and its partners estimate that about 80% of the country’s population – 21.1 million people – require some form of humanitarian protection and assistance and about 20.4 million people lack access to safe water and adequate sanitation. The international aid seems to be insufficient. What should be done for the improvement of the dire living conditions of the Yemeni people, and especially the traumatized children? Who is responsible?
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13941013001495
Either there’s lots more space junk debris floating around up there in both LEO & geosynchronous orbits this past year, or the rooskies are getting better at seeing it.
5000 more in 1 year is hard to believe.
The ground-based early warning system increased its satellite registry by 5,000 satellites in 2015, with 15,000 Russian and foreign satellites now tracked by the system.
“The missile attack early warning system detected 14 Russian and foreign missile launches in 2015,” the head of the Aerospace Forces’ 15th army, Gen. Maj. Anatoly Nestechuk said in October.
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13941013001523
Alena, thank you so much for translating this interview…I thought about it all day today, and I was able to mention to a young Ukrainian American, who seems totally great – very pro-Russia, pro-Putin, about this site, and I was actually thinking of this interview about Ukraine, and Donbass, especially Donestk Lugansk, being on life-support by Russia…I told this young person to try to get their Ukrainian passport, because pretty soon…Donbass is going to be Russian !~
Saker,
with all due respect, but putting Cassad and Ishenko in the same league is either you being disingenuous or really missing on what Cassad was doing from the very beginning of Russian Spring–being the most important proponent of “Putin Vse Slil” and a promoter of Strelkov’s BS about “Surkov plays his own game” etc. If not for Vlad Shurygin’s, who unlike Cassad, has a respectable knowledge of how General Staff or intelligence structures operate, post in his blog about Northern Wind, which effectively shut Cassad down (for a while at least), he would still be spewing his BS about poor Putin being clueless while all those villains like Surkov doing Novorossia’s sliv. It is really insulting to compare erudite historian (a good military one too), a man with an enormous experience of work in the high level government apparatuses with some amateur, whose level is a well….amateur. None other than Ishenko himself wrote the whole piece on this “Putin vse slil” garbage.
what Cassad was doing from the very beginning of Russian Spring–being the most important proponent of “Putin Vse Slil” and a promoter of Strelkov’s BS about “Surkov plays his own game” etc
with all due respect, I think that you are very unfair to Cassad. Yes, for a while he did report that the Voentorg had shot down, and he was afraid for the future of Novorussia, but then SO WAS I. But he never, as far as I know, supported the “Putin vse slil” bullshit. As for Strelkov, I am also guilty of having believed in him. I don’t know about you, but I did spend a lot of days in horrible anxiety about the future of Novorussia and I cannot blame Cassad for doing so either. Also, unlike myself, Cassad is a Communist so I don’t expect him to trust Putin anywhere near as much as I now do. But his analyses have always been among the best and, again, he never said that “Putin sve slil” (at least as far as I know). Cassad never denied Northern Wind and Voentorg and even he even was one of the few who did report that the Russian military did, indeed, use it’s artillery power across the border during the critical moments of the fighting around Saur Mogila (this was never much of a secret anyway). I think that you are very unfair to this guy for whom I personally have a great deal of respect.
But, as we say in Russian, ‘we cannot argue about tastes’. We can disagree on Cassad and agree on Ishchenko :-)
Kind regards,
The Saker
We, certainly, can agree on Ishenko. That is a fact;-))
Excellent! Very interesting, providing new perspectives as well as “hard” info on the actual legal situation.
Thanks, Alena, for your always excellent translations.
Katherine
There are Many People who think that Nazi Germany and its long time Evil Ally of ISIL Turkey wants to flood Europe with Refugees to try to Fulfill Hitler’s Vision for Europe, and for an Evil German Turkish Empire.
Turkey wants Syria create a Greater Turkey to Resettle the Kurdish People of Turkey to there, and Israel wants the Golan Heights to Resettle the remaining Palestinian People there, and Saudi Arabia wants Yemen to create a Greater Saudi Arabia.
This is why ISIL Turkey can say that they do not want to Resettle Kurdish People to another Country, but this is a Lie, because ISIL Turkey wants a Greater ISIL Turkey, which is a Different Country to ISIL Turkey, and this could create tens of Millions of more Refugees to the European Union.
There are Many Europeans who are very agreeable to giving Syrian Refugees a Temporary Protection Visa for as long as it is Unsafe for them to return Back to Syria, but they do Not want Refugees to become European Union Citizens, and they do Not want the word Migrants used, but they want the word Refugees used to describe Syrians who seek Temporary Protection Visas.
These Europeans do Not think that Euro-America should Scheme Anti Human and Anti Democratic Coups against other Countries that create Refugees, and they want the Syrian Refugees to go Back to Syria when it is Safe with some Financial Assistance from the European Union.
These Europeans Know that the European Union Elites are Unnecessarily Delaying this, and the European Union is Committing Genocide on the Syrian Refugees, because when it is Safe Again to Return to Syria, then Syrian Refugees want to Return to their own Country which they Love, because they are Homesick for Syria, and because they Know that they Belong in Syria.
The European Union is Committing Genocide on the Syrian People, because it is helping the Euro-American backed ISIL Terrorists, and the European Union is saying that the Innocent in Syria are guilty, and that the Guilty in Syria are innocent, and that the Guilty Perpetrators of Terrorism are the innocent victims of terrorism, and that the Innocent Victims of Terrorism are the guilty perpetrators of terrorism, and this is Unnecessarily Delaying the Return of the Syrian Refugees back to their Country that they Love, and where they Yearn to be.
The European Union is Also Committing Genocide on the Syrian People in Syria, because the European Union are placing Economic Sanctions on Syria, and the European Union are doing this for Illegitimate and Unjustifiable reasons.
There are Many European Union Citizens who do Not want to encourage the Nazi Elites of the European Union to have the Attitude that Euro-America can create Illegal and Immoral Wars, and then the People of the European Union will pick up the Social Cost and the Monetary Cost of their Evil Minds.
The European Union Elites want Many more Millions of Refugees from Middle Eastern Countries in the European Union, so that they can make the European Union a Police State, and a Military Dictatorship for WW 3 against Russia, and this is Euphemistically called More Europe, and the European Union Elites are Nazis, because they Engineered a Coup and a Genocide in Ukraine, and because the European Union has placed Economic Sanctions on Russia for Illegitimate and Unjustifiable reasons, because the Nazis of Europe want to weaken Russia Economically for WW 3.
These European Union Citizens want their European Union Governments to File Charges of War Crimes, Crimes against Humanity, and Genocide on Anglo-America.
We are told that the European Union Needs Migrants, but Germany does Not want European People from Non European Union Countries, because these European from Non European Union Countries will Never become Merkel’s Mercenaries against Britain and other Countries.
This is why Nazi Germany wants to give the Syrian Refugees European Union Citizenship, rather than Temporary Protection Visas, because Nazi Germany plans to send these Syrians to other European Union Countries.
Merkel’s Nazi Germany Secretly wants Countries to Boycott All German Goods and Services, because Nazi Germany has become overly rich, because of using Syrian Workers who will Work Harder and for Longer Hours, and for less money, and because of other Injustices on the Eurozone, and then Nazi Germany will Pay or Intimidate the Syrians who by then have become European Union Citizens to go to other European Union Countries, and Merkel’s Nazi Germany Secretly wants Germany goes back to using the Deutschemark, as an Excuse for this.
Of Course, and as Usual, this will be Denied, and the Blame will be put on Others, rather than Guilty Nazi Germany, and the Blame will be put on the Bad Behaviour of some Syrians, who may have been Secretly Paid by Nazi Germany to be bad Guests, even as some People of the Middle Eastern Ethnicity in Sweden may have been Paid by the Nazi Swedish Governments to commit Crimes as some type of justification so that All or Most of these People of Non Swedish Ethnicity go to other European Union Countries.
Discreet Nazi Sweden who was Neutral and who Supplied Nazi Germany’s War Machine during WW 2, and who is one of the Nordic Races, and of whom Hitler said that they were of the Master Race has lead the way for this with Large Numbers of Middle Eastern Migrants who are now European Union Citizens, and who will be Encouraged or even Intimidated to go to another European Union Country, when the Order is given by Nazi Germany.
The Problems in Syria and the European Union could have been Avoided if the Following Standards that Colonialist Anglo-America says is Fitting for Themselves, but Not Fitting on Second Class People, if Colonialist Anglo-America even considers that the People of other Countries are Human, and Anything Less than what is stated is a Soft Coup to ISIL Lite, which Terrorist Colonialist Anglo-America Prefers and it Approves of, and Knows that it is Really Identical to a hard coup by their Secret Ally of ISIL Colonialist Terrorists.
It is Vital in a Democracy that Everyone Agrees that their Constitution is the Supreme Law of the Land, and that Everyone accepts the Election Result, and that there Must be No coercion for having an early Election, and that the Constitution can be changed with a Referendum, and that All Syrian Citizens have Equality before the Law, and this means that Any Syrian Citizen can stand for Any Public Office at Any Syrian Election.
This is necessary during peace time to maintain the peace, but it is Vital when a Country is under attack from ISIL Terrorists and ISIL Lite Terrorists who call themselves Rebels, and this is accepted by All of the Legal and Legitimate Government and Opposition Political Parties of Syria.
The Legitimate Opposition Political Parties in Syria Agree with this, and those who do Not agree with this are Acting as Treasonous Terrorists, because they Know that they can Never receive a Majority of the Votes, and so Terrorism is their Only way to Achieve their Anti Human and Anti Freedom Evil Agendas, and for this they are supported by Nazi Euro-America.
The Armed Syrian Opposition Political Parties have the Options of continuing to Commit Treason and Terrorism against the Syrian People, and against Essential Democratic Principles, and against the Syrian Constitution, or of fighting against Terrorism as an Ally of the Syrian People in Cooperation with their Legitimate and Constitutional Syrian Government, or they Negotiate an Amnesty and Disarm and to then become Civilians.
There are Many People who think that Only those Countries who are Just will be the ones that will Cooperate with the Legitimate Democratically Elected Syrian Government, and with its Armed Forces who are Valiantly Fighting against Terrorism, because they say that this will Provide Proof that these Countries are against Terrorism, that they Respect the Sovereignty of Nations, and that they are Committed to International Law.
The following is where I have taken some Poetic License on a News Article, because this is what I read between the lines, and which I Believe is more Accurate than the original News Article, and my comments are in brackets, and the original News Article is at http://thehimalayantimes.com/world/syria-rebels-warns-un-pressure-will-prolong-war/ .
Syrian rebels (Criminal ISIL Lite) said they were under international pressure to make concessions (Do what is Proper) that would prolong the war, (because Terrorists do Not do what is Proper, and this prolongs the War that they caused) adding to their doubts (They have No Doubts regarding their Unwillingness to Negotiate Amnesty for themselves) about a United Nations led drive (Anglo-America and ISIL Countries will Only Support Terrorist ISIL Lite and a Coup in Syria, which they say is peace) for peace talks due to begin in January 2016.
Opposition leaders (Euphemism for Armed ISIL Lite) are voicing (Anglo-America’s and ISIL’s) misgivings over the new effort endorsed by the Security Council, not least because it does not address President Bashar al-Assad’s future (It does not mention going against Basic Democratic and Constitutional and Human Rights, because the United Nations was Not created to commit Genocides for Colonialist Terrorist Anglo-America), a point of contention between states on either side of the war (the war against ISIL Terrorists and ISIL Lite Terrorists).
(This is why there are Many People who think that the Armed Terrorist Groups in Syria now need to make a Greater Effort to gain the trust of the Syrian People, and that they can Show this by having a Genuine Transition in their Attitude from Improper to Proper, from Illegal to Legal, and from Undemocratic and Unconstitutional to Democratic and Constitutional).
A statement by prominent rebel (ISIL Lite Terrorists) groups that support the idea of a political solution (First try for a Softer Coup) follows a meeting this week between a new opposition council and United Nations envoy Staffan de Mistura, who aims to start negotiations (Capitulations on Basic Democratic and Constitutional and Human Rights, because the United Nations was Not created to commit Genocides for Colonialist Terrorist Anglo-America) on January 25 in Geneva.
Opposition leaders told de Mistura the (Legal, Legitimate, and Democratically Elected) Syrian government must take goodwill steps (with Terrorists who have no good intentions) before any negotiations (Capitulations on what is Proper), by halting bombardments of civilian areas (which ISIL Lite Terrorists are using as Human Shields, and this is a War Crime and Crimes against Humanity, and Genocide), lifting blockades of rebel-held territory (To probably Allow ISIL Lite Terrorists to be Resupplied by Terrorist Colonialist Anglo-America and ISIL Countries such as Turkey and Saudi Arabia) and releasing detainees (Some could be ISIL Lite Terrorists), and they (ISIL Lite) are waiting to hear back from him.
The opposition council (Terrorist ISIL Lite), set up to steer (Manipulate) negotiations (Try for a Softer Coup) on the (Anti Democratic, Anti Constitutional and Terrorist) opposition side, was facing “international and United Nations pressure … to offer concessions (To Do what is Proper) that will prolong the suffering of our people and the spilling of their blood”, the rebels said, (but Everyone Knows that Obeying the Constitutional Law will end the Conflict, because Amnesty is what should Negotiated).
The rebel (Terrorist ISIL Lite) factions include groups represented on the council that have received backing from Assad’s foreign foes, including Saudi Arabia and the United States.
The rebels said they would not accept any concessions (Would Not do what is Proper) that ran counter to “the principles of our revolution” (Revolution is a Euphemism for Terrorism) and they would support the council to resist such pressure. They also condemned what they described as international “connivance … against the revolution”.
Riad Hijab, a former prime minister under Assad, who defected (Was Bribed or is ISIL) in 2012 and was elected last month as coordinator of the council (ISIL Lite Terrorists), travels to Paris on Monday for talks with President Francois (Harem) Hollande and Foreign Minister Laurent (Harem) Fabius before travelling to (Nazi) Berlin on January 13.
“France has always had the most progressive policy (French Male Leaders have Always wanted Great Wealth and a better Harem after they Retire from Politics) towards Syria and we have the best political relations with France,” (We have the Secret Photos of Hollande’s and his Harem on his visits to Certain Countries) said Monzer Mahkous, representative of the opposition (Terrorist ISIL Lite) in Paris.
France’s foreign ministry said the visit aimed to coordinate (Confirm Bribes to Secret Swiss Bank Accounts) positions ahead of the planned January 25 talks.
“We are pursuing our efforts for a credible transition (Softer Coup which is a Hard Coup, and which would Result in a Transition of Monies to Holande’s and to my Secret Swiss Bank Accounts) in which Assad obviously could not be there (Otherwise No Secret Payments to Secret Swiss Bank Accounts for Hollande and for me) at the end and to create a lasting ceasefire,” (It could create tens of Millions of More Refugees, and it will Create a Much Better Harem for Hollande and for myself) Fabius said in a New Year’s speech to diplomats.
The diplomatic drive follows the December 18 adoption of a United Nations Security Council resolution endorsing an international plan for a Syria peace process to end a 5 year war that has killed 250,000 people.
The plan (Deception) envisages a nationwide ceasefire and six months of talks beginning in January between Assad’s government and the opposition on forming a unity government (Soft Coup that will see Syria become another ISIL Country in the Region, and a Unity Government is a Constitutional Democracy is Impossible and it would be a Dictatorship, because there is No Opposition in a Unity Government, and we Know that Terrorist Colonialist Anglo-America wants a ISIL Unity Dictatorial Government).
De Mistura arrived in Damascus on Friday. Makhous said that visit would shed light on the Syrian government’s position and give a better idea of whether the negotiations could go ahead.
He added that the opposition had established its 15-member negotiating team for the talks, but would not publish it until the Syrian government announced their list.
Iranian and Russian military support has been crucial to Assad, while Saudi Arabia is a main backer of the insurgents battling to topple him, including groups that signed the statement issued recently.
The rest of this comment is what I have added to this comment.
Terrorist Colonialist Anglo-America and the ISIL Countries of Turkey and Saudi Arabia do Not want Negotiations for an Amnesty for the Armed Rebels to succeed, because ISIL Saudi Arabia can Only annex Yemen if ISIL Turkey can annex Syria except for the Golan Heights that Israel wants.
This is why there are People who think that any future United Nations Security Council Resolution on Syria, should include Israel returning the Golan Heights back to its Rightful and Legal Owner, who is the United Nations Recognized Country of Syria.
We know that Britain wants to renegotiate its relationship with the Dictatorial European Union.
The Dictatorial European Union knows that Scotland wants to be a Member of the European Union, and if Britain Votes to leave the European Union, then Scotland can increase its Claim to want an Independence Referendum so that Scotland can apply to rejoin the European Union.
It will be the Voters in England that will decide Britain’s Membership of the European Union, because the Majority of Voters in Scotland will want to remain in the European Union.
The English want their Democracy back, but they also want Scotland to remain an Integral part of Britain.
The situation looks Difficult, because the Dictatorial European Union only wants more Power, and more Control over Europeans, even though this has been Proved to be a Disaster for Europe, with the Examples of the Third Reich, and the Soviet Union.
The European Union was and remains an Accomplice to the Genocide of Syria, in order to use Syrian Refugees as their Excuse to make the European Union a Police State and a Military Dictatorship, and France is as Guilty as Germany for this.
Syrians Never wanted Euro-America to create War in Syria, and they Never wanted to become Refugees, and it is Unethical for Euro-America who are Responsible for the Genocide in Syria, and for the Syrian Refugees to want to Ignore the Problem that they have created, but that is Typical of Nazis.
Britain knows that if it cannot renegotiate with the Nazis of Europe, then the Only way to keep Scotland as part of Britain is to try to make their own grouping of Countries in Europe.
As to who those Countries would be, then that is speculation, but it would have to follow an orderly pattern.
It would be Britain, Ireland, Portugal and Spain, but Spain may way want Gibraltar to be returned to Spain.
It would need to include France, and other Countries such as Holland, Belgium, and Luxembourg, and it would have a Border with Germany, and possibly Italy.
Such a grouping of Countries who Believe in Democracy, and Freedom should be sufficient to keep Scotland in Britain.
Britain has to find a way of trying to gain France, which is a Nazi Ally of Nazi Germany, unless the National Front can win the Elections in France, but Germany will try to keep the National Front from winning the next French Elections, and that would be trying to Prove that French President was Guilty of being Bribed by Turkey and Saudi Arabia to commit Genocide on Syria.
The European Union is and America are Committing Genocide on the Syrian People in Syria, because the European Union are placing Economic Sanctions on Syria, and the European Union are doing this for Illegitimate and Unjustifiable reasons, because the Nazi European Union Elite are the Secret Allies of ISIS Terrorists.
We know that England has the Capability to have acquired the Secret Photos of President Francois Hollande with his Secret Harems in Turkey and Saudi Arabia, and we know that the French Elections are in 2017, and that Britain wants to hold its Referendum on the European Union in 2017, and so England will Secretly place those Photos of Harem Hollande on the Internet, and England will Deny to having done this.
Germany may become aware of this Plan by the English, and so they will try to discredit the Real Photos, by Secretly placing Obvious photo shopped Fakes of Hollande on the Internet, and Denying that they did this.
The method will be by placing Obvious Fakes, and one way is to have a photo shopped Photo of President Hollande with a Middle Eastern Leader giving him a large amount of Paper Money, and everyone Knows that Bribery on that scale is done with Electronic Transfer of Money and Not with Cash.
This way Most French Voters are Not Suspicious of Harem Hollande, and then improving gradually improving the Photos so that each step of the way, People can say that they are better photo shopped Fakes, so that when England puts the Genuine Photos of Harem Hollande on the Internet, then Most French Voters will Vote for President Hollande, because they think that he is Innocent of being Bribed to commit Genocide on Syria, and this will increase the chances for France remaining in the European Union.
There will be People who will say that President Hollande is Innocent, because he Respects the Sovereignty of Nations, the Constitutional Arrangements of Countries, and International Law
Syrians People have come to Europe seeking Refuge from ISIS Terrorists who are the Secret Allies of Terrorist America, and Nazi Germany, of Nazi Germany Ally of Turkey who committed Genocide on the Armenian People.
There are Many People who think that the Nazi European Union, should do what it can to Stabilize the situation in Syria, and lift the Unjustifiable and Immoral Economic on Syria, so that the Syrian Refugees can return back to Syria.