Obama changed the Treaty on Netanyahu which required 2/3 Congress approval to Deal. Obama called it, “Iran Nuclear Deal”, which required just simple majority. Even then the voting didn’t take place in Congress, due to threats from Democrats of Filibuster.
Now Cameron has made a deal with EU. Russia and USA have made a deal on Syria. The Indian Government has made a deal in Delhi.
Every time, Bibi Netanyahu hears deal, his head explodes.
It seems the only way the US can wriggle off this little hook called international law is to convince the world that ISIS and AQ are really the good guys.
A big ask since they’ve just spent a decade and billions of dollars to tell us how bad they are.
Not to mention that ISIS plus dozens of al-This, al-That are CIA/Mossad creations.
Good luck to the Pentagon applauding, condemning, training, ‘moderating’, supporting and fighting them… Comedy Central!
Zion’s strategic decision to rely solely on false flags, hoaxes and mercenary armies for its endless ongoing and upcoming wars won’t pan out. Just saying.
He points to four other wars, all of which Russia had nothing to do with, but obviously, will have to get involved if they ever will be settled and solved.
God bless the Russian military and the Russian people who are suffering economic struggles for doing the right thing.
I gotta say man, I sigh a deep one since me not wanna get eradiated just quite right now.
Nevertheless, I claim for Mother Russia to act as appropriate when and as the time comes.
Let us hope it doesn’t come to ….
…You know, for a lot of families it already has reached those proportions of survival. Food water and such. I am not talking of India, I am talkin’ the US, Germany, the UK.
I am Hungarian. Magyar-proud of it.
…and am fn insanely mad over the political discourse over the matter.
Can I travel into Saudi Arabia or Pakistan without a visa?
Yemen, Jordan, Israel. Egypt???
How come crowds get to cross our millennial borders for a song?
Twenty years ago the borders of Hungary were maintained, mined, were regularly observed.
WTF?
Do You really think those regiments are unobtainable by now?
…or are You gonna go for who killed JFK.
Yaah…it comes down to that…that and 911.
Nevertheless…there is a man, who says what he does, will fuck you up if you deserve, doesn’t make excuses, tax You @ 25 percent, WILL NOT brake the law…Will shake the hand of Putin.
…what’s not to like?
Sure, there are the craziez.
That is why jerusalem, mecca and rome need to be,,,,well…sorry…warned ahead….and
Nuked.
Make it fuel-air. No need for radiation
And rehabilitate PolPot. He was correct.
Well, there it is-
I am just…well…hear me out…
…is there…could be there a chance for the north american election cycle?
I gotta say man, I sigh a deep one since me not wanna get eradiated just quite right now.
Nevertheless, I claim for Mother Russia to act as appropriate when and as the time comes is just appropriate.
Let us hope it doesn’t come to ….
…You know, for a lot of families are already on the way of of survival. Food water and such. I am not talking of India, I am talkin’ the US, Germany, the UK….and of course Sirya.
God bless and Insallah
I am Hungarian. Magyar-proud of it.
…and am fn insanely mad over the political discourse over the matter.
Can I travel into Saudi Arabia or Pakistan without a visa?
Yemen, Jordan, Israel. Egypt???
How come crowds get to cross our millennial borders for a song?
Twenty years ago the borders of Hungary were maintained, mined, were regularly observed.
WTF?
Do You really think those regiments are unobtainable by now?
@ “Anonymous” on February 23, 2016 at 5:15 am UTC and at 5:26 am UTC
Your above two posts really do not make any sense, it is not clear at all what you might have wanted to say. Quite aside from the fact that your language contains obscenities, a violation of Saker’s policy, one wonders how that passed by.
Things are getting too hard to hide? Why even bother.. Do they have a contract that Fisk has to be published??
This is the untold story of the three-and-a-half-year siege of two small Shia Muslim villages in northern Syria. Although their recapture by the Syrian army – and by Iranian Revolutionary Guards and Iraqi Shia militias – caught headlines for a few hours three weeks ago, the world paid no heed to the suffering of these people, their 1,000 “martyrs”, at least half of them civilians, and the 100 children who died of shellfire and starvation.
Nubl and Zahra should be an 18-minute drive off the motorway north-east of Aleppo but the war’s front lines in the sharp-winded north of Syria have cut so deeply into the landscape that to avoid the men of the Jabhat al-Nusra and Isis, you have to drive for two hours along fields and broken country roads and through villages smashed and groined by the Syrian offensive.
The police commander, Rakan Wanous, kept meticulous records of the siege and deaths in Nubl and Zahra and recorded, with obviously bitter memories, the threatening phone calls he took from the Nusra forces surrounding his two villages. Wanous was also officially in charge of many other towns that had fallen to Nusra. Yes, he said bleakly, the calls came from the neighbouring Sunni village of Mayer. “Once, they told me they were going to come and slaughter us – and slaughter me – and I told them: ‘Well, let’s wait until you get here and see.’ On another occasion, they threatened to shower us with chemical weapons.”
Wanous was deeply upset in recalling this. Had some of the calls came from people he knew personally? I asked. “Yes”, he said. “The ones who threatened me often were from my own police force. They came from my own policemen – of course, they had my mobile number. Some calls came from sons of my own friends.” Of Wanous’s 15‑man police force, five stayed loyal to him. The other 10 defected to Nusra.
Many of the civilians died because their wounds could not be cared for. We ran out of petrol early on. They cut off all electricity.”
The villages’ sole link with the outside world was the mobile phone system that operated throughout the siege so that civilians and militiamen could keep in touch with families and friends in Aleppo. Mohamed Nassif, a 61-year old civil servant, recalled how he had, in desperation, called the UN in New York to plead for help and humanitarian aid for the villages. “I spoke to someone – he was a Palestinian lawyer – at the UN Human Rights office in New York and I asked if there was any way the UN could lift this siege and help us. I asked for humanitarian aid. But they did nothing. I did not hear back from them.”
When the siege began, Wanous said, the Syrian government resupplied the villagers with food, bread, flour and medicine. The helicopters also dropped ammunition. There were three or four flights every day during the first year. “Then at about five o’clock, at dawn, on 30 June 2013, a helicopter came to us with some returning villagers from Aleppo and a staff of seven teachers for our schools who were to hold the school exams here,” Wanous said. “Someone in Mayer fired a rocket at the helicopter and the pilot managed to steer it away from the village and it crashed on the hillside outside in a big explosion. There were 17 on board, including the pilot and extra crewman. Everyone died. The bodies were in bits and all were burnt. That was the last helicopter to fly to us.” The wreckage of the helicopter still lies on the hillside.
But there were Syrian Kurdish villages to the north of Nubl and Zahra and Kurdish fighters from Afrin tried to open a road to the besieged Shia; yet Nusra managed to block them. So the Kurds smuggled food to their Syrian compatriots by night. There are differing accounts of what happened next. Some in the village admitted that food prices became so high that poor people could not afford to eat. The authorities say that at least 50 civilians died of hunger.
During the siege, Ms Younis learned that her nephew, Mohamed Abdullah, had been killed in Aleppo. She and her husband have lost 38 members of their two families in the war.
“The foreign forces came to us because they felt our suffering,” Younis said. “We appreciated their sacrifices. We are proud of them for helping us. But we are Syrian and we have loyalty for our country. We knew that God would help us.” But what of their Sunni neighbours? One old woman holding a grandchild in her arms said it would be “very difficult” to forgive them, but her younger companion was more generous. “Before the attacks, we were like one family,” she said. “We didn’t expect we would ever have a problem in the future. But we are simple people and we can forgive everybody.”
There was no sign of Hezbollah fighters in the villages, although everyone said they accompanied the Syrians and Iranians into the battle. But there was one imperishable sight on the walls: a newly minted poster showing the faces of Vladimir Putin, President Bashar al-Assad and Sayed Hassan Nasrallah, the Lebanese Hezbollah leader. Rarely, if ever, have the forces of Russian Orthodoxy, the Alawite sect and Shia Islam been brought so cogently together.
I like Fisk. He isn’t on anybody’s side (including ours) or in anybody’s pay, he goes places for real and calls ’em as he sees ’em. That so outmoded thing nowadays, a journalist.
As I watched this video. I renewed my conviction that Vladimir Putin is the most capable and most honorable leader of our time. When his time is done, there will be many statues made bearing his likeness and many places will be given his name.
But -although they may be supporting characters to his leading role- foreign minister Lavrov and defense minister Shoigu deserve their due as well.
I hope they can make this stick (though I doubt it). The battle for Syria now moves to the political field. Here too I’m sure Putin and Russia (and Lavrov) will “bomb” the daylights out of the Empire and its rats in Syria. Assad has called parliamentary elections on April 13th. Lets see how US-TURKEY-SAUDIs attack that.
I’m curious about why Putin made a TV address to the Russian people over this. Can any Russians or people familiar with the normal practice in Russia give any pointers why? Since this is a Syrian issue and since the RuAF will continue operations against ISIS and Al Nusra, why was it necessary to make a TV address? Could the reason have something to do with his saying that Russian “troops” will help delineate rebel areas on the ground? Might this mean that Russian troops will be deployed in large numbers to keep the peace? If that is what the Russian govt intends then I can see the reason for a TV address.
Ngoyo, you say: ‘I’m curious about why Putin made a TV address to the Russian people over this.’
Well, in fact, when I saw the video above, I did not think that President Putin was talking to the Russian people, only; I thought he was speaking to the whole world! President Putin is definetely a world leader, and his speeches have worldwide interest.
Peace talks and peace agreements come and go and are a dime a dozen.
That Putin has given this speech about this agreement seems to give it more importance than can be seen at first glance.
The negotiations have been between the US and Russia. Is this some sort of a peace deal between Russia and US rather than between Syrian government forces and assorted takfiri opposition?
US calling off their dogs of war in Syria and any dogs that can’t be called off will be put down?
@Peter AU Exactly, Syria has seen 3 previous agreements/attempts come and go unfulfilled. I don’t know if Putin addressed the nation on any of those. It does seem to me that this one may have a hidden significance.
This is indeed a kind of ‘peace deal’ between Russia and the US, and, for this reason, it is very important. Let me explain why I think so:
1. Perhaps, nothing illustrates better the US way of acting than through their demonstrated covert operations in many countries around the world… For over half a century, the US has been supporting the Wahhabis and others in the Middle East; so, it is likely that they are somehow behind their aggression against Syria. In other words, the US involvement in the war in Syria has been furtive; but, they are there.
2. Clearly, Russia and is allies in the region realise that this is a war with geopolitical consequences. They understand that it is more than Syria that is at stake: were President Assad replaced by a US puppet, Russia would certainly be the next victim of US/NATO aggression (the fate of Ukraine under videoed foreign interference certainly reinforces this conviction). Thus, on the 30th of September last year, Russia openly started its military operations in Syria, getting involved in a war not just against the terrorists that are destroying the country but also, indirectly, against the US allies – and slyly the US itself – who are supporting them. For this reason, a win in Syria (recognizable by the permanence of President Assad in power) is fundamental for Russia.
In conclusion: While Russia was not overtly involved in the war in Syria, we could perhaps say that the Syrian government was the one to make peace deals. But, since September 2015, there are unmistakably two main forces behind the conflict in Syria: the US and Russia. As superpowers, any peace agreement should indeed be between them to have any possibility of success.
Yes indeed, Putin is by far the best world leader today. As I’ve said before here, over the last couple years, Putin is head, shoulders and belly button above the likes of Obama, Cameron, Merkel and Hollande.
Full support to “Росся”. Like it is becoming frequent elsewhere, her people needs economic help as well as moral sharing, to withstand the Antichrist surge.
AFP used to be more reliable than Reuters or AP or DP, 30-35 years ago, at least about Lebanon (French dominions so to say). I mean reliable, not trustworthy. Apart from facts and numbers, always a israelite voice.
The article also bandies the term, “new world order”.
It is certainly propaganda but it also appears to reveal how the AZ Empire will continue to isolate Russia. In other words, more of the same color revolutions, economic sanctions, proxy wars, weapons sales, provocations and false flags …. the serpent is looking to strangle Russia.
The criminal entity largely in control of the US govt will not change its way unless the world smartens up and rejects their madness. Methinks, a color revolution in the US is certainly long overdue. Unless the US citizenry is prepared to take back its country, the world will never be allowed to find long standing peace .
Just a short message to the moderators, please look out for the trolls who continue to post long, nonsensical/meaningless/irrelevant (to the discussion) messages and bin their posts. Of those, there are a few but thanks to the many here who overwhelm the trolls and make this site the antithesis of the BS spewed out by the MSM.
So the MOD of Russia met with the MOD of Iran.. No news about it..
Is there any real dispute about the fate of Assad between Russia and Iran?
Special reports Damascus – from Ilya c. Magnaar |
The latest permanent representative of Russia to the UN Vitaly Churkin told a whirlwind when he publicly criticized Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to open questions about the extent of Russia’s control of Syria and its stance towards Assad contrast with Iran, which is supported by limitless.
The al-Assad has said he will fight to control «the entire Syrian territory» and that «both took up arms against the state is a terrorist», setting conditions for a ceasefire are not consistent with the understanding of the United States, Russia, the ministers, sparking the question of coordination and common goals among allies on the land of the Levant.
According to an official source from the Syrian – Russian Profile – Iranian «opinion» that «Russia has good relations with Saudi Arabia and the United States, Israel, and countries in the Middle East could not agree with Assad and with Iran’s policy in Syria, so the statements and positions stems from a pragmatic followed by the Kremlin, and this policy Tktaa may not agree with Iran, but it is consistent strategically no different proximal and distal goals, Russia postpones deadline to negotiate the position of the Syrian president until such time does not want to burn stages, and that they believed Bashar al-Assad represents the interests of a large class of Syrians and it can not remove him because he can absorb the Baathist and Sunni and upper and all minorities, while not highlighting any candidate can babysit everyone and away from sectarianism and believes Russian interests as does al-Assad, and that any collapse or shift him personally would be a wholesale breakdown of order at the moment.
President Vladimir Putin has said he would defend himself and the Syrian state institutions to prevent their collapse, so Russia does not talk about individuals in power but wanted to push Syria to allow early elections, where Assad to run like any other Syrian citizen ».
And explain the source said «Russia adheres to the letter of pragmatic because they speak with all concerned Syrian file, but they are fully aware that Iran is located in the Gulf as collateral for her garden background a real partner in the region. Both countries Msthdvan of America and NATO and rich countries – oil in the region, so determination and cooperation between the two countries is a strategic one, here it is: Russian defense Minister Sergei Shoigu visiting Tehran to complete surface missiles deal – an atmosphere of S-300 model as well as the arming of Iran’s system of aircraft Sukhoi 30 enjoyed dominance air and may breach the enemy’s borders, and also to provide a sophisticated helicopters and set up arming factories inside Iran’s military production, and modernization of tanks T-72 and T-90, but that the level is much greater than the Syrian arena or cooperation of a statement to the employee of the Russian Foreign ».
Complements Source: «As for Iran, Bashar al-Assad is a symbol of the resistance axis, which adheres to his person and to defend his regime and what is represented by that particular lion open Mistoath Resistance 2006 symbols and opened against the gates of hell from the countries of the region as well as from Israel, which has said herself that it is working to bring down Assad, because the NFL is very bad because it means a victory for Iran and Hezbollah, which represent a strategic threat to Israel, which lies Massalha constantly chaos in Syria, and that the Tehran defends Assad will not give it up and looking for alternatives, and supports early elections and have full confidence, also of Russia, that Assad It will succeed because he is the best candidate and because the people who live under his authority to represent the overwhelming majority inside Syria, unlike other areas controlled by the takfiris and jihadists, hence the tactical differences with Russia does not affect the political relationship, not even the military, where Russian and Iranian forces are working side by side within operating rooms and also in some areas on the battlefield. »
The ratatudes are running off the cliffs.. Maybe because it is getting just too hard to hide and soon it might come back to haunt them that they are not researchers but propagandists so some jump ship early on.
The media are misleading the public on Syria
Coverage of the Syrian war will be remembered as one of the most shameful episodes in the history of the American press. For three years, violent militants have run Aleppo.
Much important news about the world now comes from reporters based in Washington. In that environment, access and credibility depend on acceptance of official paradigms. Reporters who cover Syria check with the Pentagon, the State Department, the White House, and think tank “experts.” After a spin on that soiled carousel, they feel they have covered all sides of the story. This form of stenography produces the pabulum that passes for news about Syria.
Astonishingly brave correspondents in the war zone, including Americans, seek to counteract Washington-based reporting. At great risk to their own safety, these reporters are pushing to find the truth about the Syrian war. Their reporting often illuminates the darkness of groupthink. Yet for many consumers of news, their voices are lost in the cacophony. Reporting from the ground is often overwhelmed by the Washington consensus.
Washington-based reporters tell us that one potent force in Syria, al-Nusra, is made up of “rebels” or “moderates,” not that it is the local al-Qaeda franchise. Saudi Arabia is portrayed as aiding freedom fighters when in fact it is a prime sponsor of ISIS.
Everything Russia and Iran do in Syria is described as negative and destabilizing, simply because it is they who are doing it — and because that is the official line in Washington. Inevitably, this kind of disinformation has bled into the American presidential campaign.
Americans are said to be ignorant of the world, Our ignorance is more dangerous, because we act on it.
Putin masterstroke. World War III put on hold. Crazies sidelined.
This also illustrates major divisions within competing power structures within the US. Never assume that because they may come under the same label like “Washington” or “Moscow”, that they are all on the same side. They probably hate each others guts.
Who’s in control of the US foreign policy – and has this very recently changed??
Thierry Meyssan’s contacts and analysis appear to have been spot on again.
“The USA and Russia become allies in Syria” by Thierry Meyssan
“The meeting of the International Syria Support Group seems to have marked the takeover of the Syrian situation by the White House, to the detriment of the « neo-conservatives » and the « liberal hawks ». The final declaration imposes supervision of the UNO by the US and Russia, which removes Jeffrey Feltman from his prerogatives. It imposes free circulation of humanitarian aid and the end of hostilities. The formula chosen legitimises Russian military action, not only against the al-Nusra Front and Daesh, but also against Ahrar el-Sham and Jaysh el-Islam. However, the declaration does not mention the Franco-British project for the creation of a pseudo-Kurdistan.”
“Since the conference of the Friends of Syria, in Paris on the 4th July 2012, the war against Syria had escaped the control of the White House and the Kremlin. The agreement they had reached during the first Geneva Conference, on the 30th June 2012, had never been implemented. The numerous ulterior tentatives for peace had all been sabotaged by a group of warmongers which included top-level US political personalities (John McCain, Hillary Clinton, Jeffrey Feltman, David Petraeus, John Allen), and multinationals (Exxon-Mobil, the KKR investment fund, the private army Blackwater-Academi), as well as certain states (Germany, Saudi Arabia, France, Israël, Qatar, the United Kingdom, Turkey).”
The wet dreams of kool aid drunks for world war 3 seems to evaporate by the hours!Evil putin wins again,erdogang is defanged and boxed in and abandoned by nato or whatever is left of it!Wahabis getting thrashed by sandaled sarong wearing motely crew of freedom fighters adviced by you know who.
Neocons chaos is not working too good nowadays,although they still hold the American sheepels by the throat the rest of the world want to do without them.Syria has become the graveyard for team chaos dream of world denomination!
Some flag waving by freedom lovers mandatory! Now:-)
As the Saker says, this war is 75% information. The US have lost the information war in Syria. Their narrative has been destroyed by the Russian move into Syria.
This peace deal is between Russia and the US, not between the Syrian government and takfiri’s.
Putins speech on the peace deal gives it more importance than can be seen at first glance.
Are we seeing the capitulation of the US in Syria?
Ok, so let’s pivot on this…
The US has raised the white flag and ‘exceptional-ism’ is a dead ideology.
S300’s to Iran and $8 billion more on Russian weapons.
(http://www.sott.net/article/312815-Why-the-West-is-terrified-of-Russias-S-300-system-going-to-Iran)
Obama must go in 2017 and Syria will have UN monitored elections and more than likely Assad (if he runs) will win hands down. (Saudi females still can’t drive)
Erdogan’s criminal oil-4-war racket busted and Kurdistan emerging.
Turks tested and found wanting (geez, thanks Erdogan, we now see why the end of the Ottoman Empire was a big plus!)
A beardless boy ‘prince’ and a demented father ‘king’ running the Saudi regime into the ground.
The Zionist occupation force of Palestine basically ‘peepless’ — they can see Russian-UN manned peace-keeping S400s in the Syrian Golan Heights (and Farms) before long.
If Iranian gas flows to European markets through Syria then it will be in Russian pipelines.
Russian (&Chinese) reconstruction of Syria will feed economic recovery.
Central banks approaching post-cognitive dissonance meltdown and reality check.
Game set match.
What’s next? …. 24×7 Trumpland vs Clinton 2.0 from now to November ….?
(Ok, there may be some competition from the next Ukrainian coup — if not the Greeks demanding solutions).
2. Syrian President Bashar Assad is not the leader the Zionist Americans -most- wish to eliminate.
3. Russian President, Vladimir Putin, is the number 1 political leader marked in the crosshairs of the Oligarchs of the New Uni-Polar World Order.
4. Peace is not on the menu at the Syrian Restaurant. Are you paying attention?
5. The attempt at a ceasefire in Syria, is, as it is in the Ukraine, and as it was in Vietnam, and Little Big knee, and Lexington and Concord, an anomaly in Space.
6. Sin Victoria, no hay vida. Y ella es la mas hermosa!
7. I did not actually read the NY Times article I posted the Link to. The Headline, accurately presages the official imperialist Line within.
8. China’s leader, Xi Jinping (difficult calling an unelected individual, President). As a quick analogy, within the USA, the last President was JF Kennedy (the rest, including Obomber, are unconstitutional Puppets of the Oligarchs). Jinping has difficulty managing his nation’s information Media. After all, in a Totalitarian State, just how do you inform the subjects? How do you explain to them that your managed news is superior – to the managed news of the imperialists? It may be, but how much better is it? And how do you explain that it is better?
Are you able, or willing to explain the Ideal of Free Open information based on Free competition of ideas, rising from the Firm Foundation of a Democratic Republic, where the citizens choose their leaders and filter their own information?
9. I attended a recent meeting in the Zionist Capital of Washington DC, of the American CIA. The meet was chaired by their MOSSAD bosses. They were acknowledging their major error in their century long effort to destroy the Russian Nation.
In 1990, they insisted on the destruction within Russia, of the political Monopoly of the Communist Party, and its replacement by a Democratic Republic – Like facade. The MOSSAD, and their ass-lickers at the CIA, now understand, that the Marxist Lemonist Dictatorship of the Proletariat, (or Dictatorship by some Oligarch and his holders on), were their weakest opponents, who worshiped “Gold,” and mired in corruption, and could be counted upon to isolate themselves from the very ‘Masses’ Karl Marx wrote about.
They could kick themselves. They wish they could take it back. In the meeting, they kept repeating, “Brezhnev – Putin” and then punching themselves. I left the meeting before they checked my micro-chip.
The Russian Democratic Republic, far from perfect, and still new on the World’s Stage (only a generation old), is producing Competent Leaders, and a Martial Spirit from the Free Russian People. From the leaders at Novorossiya, to the Russian Air Corps in Syria, Russia is experiencing a Moral, Political, and Military Revival. And that Revival is sparking a waking of the dead throughout Western Europe and the Middle East.
The Chinese President is no less elected than the US President.
In the US, the demos (citizens) votes in a Primary/Caucus for delegates to got to State conventions where Electoral College electors are selected, and they vote for the President. It is not a direct democracy as it may appear.
In China, the Communist Party selects leadership groups which select a group the Politboro, from which a leader is elected. Politboro (25 persons) selects the Standing Committee, designating the various positions (now reduced to 7 persons from 9 in 2012).
If calling him President is uncomfortable, refer to him as Chairman. He has that title which, especially, for Xi Jinping, he prefers, and actually, Putin refers to him that way at times.
He is President of the nation, Chairman of the Party and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, a bundle of roles and powers, though he shares power in the economy and domestic development and administration with the Premier Li Keqiang.
In China the hierarchy is Party at the top of power, the PLA as part of the Party, the government beneath the Party. Thus, the role of President is minimized and subservient to Party.
Of the 1.3 billion citizens of China, 70 million belong to the Party. Most important business people join and many famous citizens (movie, music, athletes, etc) join. It’s like a country club you want to be part of. A few people chose to not join, but they have their heart or head or money in the West anyway.
I’d agree with 1 & 4. The war is on and peace is not on the menu in Syria. Lets hope Russia can cook it up though. Obviously Putin is attaching great significance to this latest peace initiative. He has personaly led it (as opposed to Lavrov) and personally announced it to the country. Why? I’m sure Putin does not really believe that the US will go through with a deal that actually brings peace to Syria while Assad remains in office. This deal, if it holds, cements Russia’s influence and victory in Syria. Same goes for Assad. It is therefore unacceptable to the US. So why would Putin, personally, go out in front of this?
Seems to me that Putin maybe signalling to the US and Europe that this is their last chance to do the honorable thing is Syria. Else Russia will obliterate their surrogate rats on the ground and impose a military solution. By investing his personal political capital upfront in this deal, Putin may be saying, “if you don’t shape up this time, don’t expect anything else from me, but a unilateral solution.” Plus this puts Obama in a tight spot. He must deliver against neocon opposition and within a framework developed by Russia.
next thing you know they’ll want to add it on to Litvinenko enquiry, or make it a conspiracy to The Hague-don’t the opposition people realise how they expose themselves to “true patriots’??????
I wonder if Ukraine is factored into the deal. Also, in spite of all the cheering the agreement prohibits the Syrians from taking back territories stolen from them. The Kurds anyone?
The agreement doesn’t change anything regarding the offensives to eliminate Daesh and the numerous al-Ciada terrorists and liberation of the territory they control.
If your comment is directed at my own, are the takfiri groups the only one’s who have stolen Syrian territory? Read section 2 closely, I suggest. If indeed it was a reply.
This is really quite clever and tactically effective. Consider: All the worst jihadists aren’t going to be in on the truce. But with luck, some appreciable amount of the opposition will be.
Say it’s 1/4 of the total. The Syrian government gets to fight an enemy that has lost 1/4 of its force at a stroke, and so will be able to make better progress against the remainder for as long as the truce lasts. Chances are, by the time the truce founders the Syrian army will be in a better tactical position than they would be if they’d been fighting all the jihadists all along. And if the truce holds for good, then sooner or later the Syrian army finishes wiping the floor with ISIS, Al-Nusra etc. and then they turn to the remaining 1/4 of the opposition and say “OK, you people are isolated and weak and were never as fanatical as the terrorists we’ve just eliminated. Lay down your weapons and renounce jihadism or die. We’ll give you a face-saving commitment to have a committee look into your political grievances, or something.”
It’s very literal divide and conquer. Never say diplomacy can’t be militarily useful.
It is revealed how the alleged “Free Syrian Army” is just another Al Qaida outfit. The whole story about “renegade Syrian Army officers” was just bollocks. This revelation was actually made back in 2011.
Behind what’s allegedly “described objectively”, we can see Uncle Sam’s plan for Turkey. The following statements are made:
We’re on the eve of in the early stages of a Turkish invasion of Syria.
Turkey’s been helping Daesh by buying oil and selling it through Erdogan’s son to an international consortium.
This is going to lead to civil war in Turkey.
In order to save itself, Turkey has to go on the offensive against Assad.
Turkey to take Mossul in Iraq.
The fragmenting of Turkey is the likely outcome.
Kurds will be hitting government buildings and tourist spots in strictly Turkish areas.
Kurds will adopt terrorist tactics against Turkish cities.
The war will be forced back into the Turkish arena.
PKK will go into Istanbul and Ankara.
War is coming back to haunt Turkey.
Turkey could be dismembered.
Kurds may take their territory and leave Turkey.
This is a revolution, and it’s about the fragmenting of Turkey.
Sounds like Uncle Sam is planning on perpetrating more terror attacks inside Turkey, including in the Western parts of the country.
“Important notice for Nuke Fanboys – Saudi Arabia to join the club”
You bring up a very important point here (if the stories are true). How on earth is the US and NATO/EU going to “square” that. They go “apes@it” over just the “thought” of Iran “maybe,possibly,kinda,thinking of” a nuclear weapons program. And equally “insane” over North Korea having a small nuclear arsenal.So all of a sudden they are going to say “oh,the Saudis have Nukes,oh,ok”. If they don’t throw a total fit and force the Saudis to give them up,or not get them at all. Then they just opened up the “box” for any and all nations that want them, to get them,and thumb their noses at any attempts to stop them.
CIA, Pentagon chiefs say Russia will breach Syria truce
PressTV Tue Feb 23, 2016 5:15PM
US President Barack Obama’s top military and intelligence advisers have expressed doubt on Russia’s willingness to abide by the recently-announced ceasefire in Syria, saying they want Moscow to feel “real pain,” according to a US government official.
In their recent meetings in the White House, US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Marine General Joseph Dunford, and Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director John Brennan have voiced increasingly hawkish views towards Russia, the Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday, citing a senior administration official.
Carter, Dunford and Brennan have even unanimously called for new measures to “inflict real pain on the Russians,” the official added.
The comments came shortly after a draft deal was reached between Russia and the US on Monday, calling for a ceasefire to start in Syria in late February.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said on Saturday that he was ready for a ceasefire in case the terrorists did not use it to advance their ambitions and that countries backing them stop their support.
Russia has been conducting airstrikes in the Arab country since late September upon a request from Damascus. Washington accuses Moscow of targeting militants the Pentagon has specifically trained to fight against Assad’s government in Syria.
US officials say they doubt if stepped-up support for the militants would make much of a difference at this stage, given the amount how much ground they have lost in the wake of Russia’s attacks.
According to the WSJ report, Carter and Gen. Dunford have yet to make formal recommendations to Obama on possible “Plan B” options should the ceasefire collapse, although discussions are ongoing in Washington.
US intelligence agencies have warned Obama that if the US leaves so-called “moderate” militants at Russia’s mercy, then the Saudis or some other group could break ranks with America and send portable anti-aircraft weapons to Syria to down Russian warplanes.
Ah. The article you link to should be read and analysized concisely by the kool-aid drinkers here. It says it all. As I have attempted to get across many times the empire has an agenda and will not rest until it is achieved or they create escalation you do not wish to ponder.
They need to worry more about the “real pain” of nukes exploding across the US “from sea to shinning sea”. Now that is “real pain”. And one they are certainly “asking for” with “smart mouthing” like that. They need to worry about their “mouth writing checks their as# can’t cash”. As to the Saudis “breaking ranks” and sending missiles to kill Russians. Then Russia’s answer would need to be cruise missiles leveling Saudi Arabian targets. As I keep saying,a good “object lesson” is the best deterrent to war. The same is true in Ukraine. Poroshenko,Yatsenyuk,and a few others,hanging in Maidan Square. Would be the best “object lesson” to others in Europe that want to continue to play tough. Warsaw,Vilnius,Riga,Tallinn,and most especially Berlin are well equipped with lampposts in their main squares I believe.They should be dwelling on that at the moment.
“[..] As to the Saudis “breaking ranks” and sending missiles to kill Russians. Then Russia’s answer would need to be cruise missiles leveling Saudi Arabian targets. As I keep saying, a good “object lesson” is the best deterrent to war”
This is why I think you’re beautiful. You’re beautiful You! ;-)
Ok, so Russia (or others) can’t really go toe-to-toe against the mad-dog Turks because… NATO, Article 5 or whatever…
But what is stopping everybody – not just the Russians – from going against the Saudis?
No binding deal on oil production cap agreed – Russian energy official
“Oil-producing countries, which want to strike a deal on capping crude production to stabilize price, are yet to agree on a mechanism for it, and it will not necessarily be a legally binding treaty on the issue, said the Russian deputy energy minister [..]”
Two points are contradictory in the US intelligent agencies warning:
1. Obviously, they do NOT want the Saudis and some other group ‘break ranks’ with the US. So, are they going to do anything these groups demand, to keep them as ‘allies’? For whose benefit?!?! Who is in charge: the US or the Saudis?
2. The warning also states that the Saudis and some other group could ‘send portable anti-aircraft weapons to Syria to down Russian warplanes.’ Really? Would it be a good or a bad thing, considering two contradictory things: the peace plan and the fact that they do NOT want the Saudis and some other group ‘break ranks’ with the US? Are they predicting it (which would be suspicious) or telling already their allies what to do next?
“I would like to hope that the Syrian leadership and all our partners in the region and beyond will support the set of actions chosen by representatives of Russia and the US.”
Putin, graciously throwing his gloves onto the floor in front of ‘our partners’, take it or be damned style.
He looked tired, as though he has had enough and is determined and angry beneath the surface.
Perfect; perhaps peace will break out. Is it too much to hope for?
I’m sorry to see President Putin has taken to the teleprompter. He looks odd, and you don’t get the feeling he’s talking to you.
Why doesn’t he read from a paper as before? It’s more natural and there’s real communication, his authority comes through…
I think I’ll start a no-teleprompter petition.
Verdict not in till we hear some weighty annunciation from BBC Persia on this.
BBC Persian Television (Persian: تلویزیون فارسی بیبیسی) is the BBC’s Persian language news channel that was launched on 14 January 2009.[4] The service can be accessed through satellite television, and is aimed at the 100 million Persian speakers in Iran, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.[5]
Launched 14 January 2009; 7 years ago
Owned by BBC
Slogan تصویرگر پیوندها
Country United Kingdom (For broadcast overseas)
Language Persian
Headquarters Broadcasting House, London
Sister channel(s) BBC World News, BBC Arabic Television
Website bbc.co.uk/persian
You’re perhaps the only person I ever came across, ever! That noticed (I’m assuming here) the significance of wearing a purple tie.
Btw, to those who haven’t noticed, Putin’s signature color tie is a lovely dark-red, or burgundy, usually worn with an impeccably tailored black suit and a crisp white shirt.
That’s his gala/means-business staple outfit, for sure.
On more relaxed situations he wears other stuff, could be anything from a light blue shirt no tie and jeans, or a more formal light blue/gray suit.
Purple ties – to my knowledge – were hardly worn by Putin in the past, but I did notice him wearing them in a few occasions, only recently.
…and I wondered why a 92-year old went all the way to Moscow. Unlike the neocons Putin and Lavrov are sober, serious and did not smoke large quantities of weed at college. Most of the people running the U.S are potheads or cokeheads and morally degenerate to boot, what else can explain their eccentric behaviour? We indeed live in most interesting times. This has been our Cuba Missile Crisis, only this time the Russians are the saner party by far. Why is Russia always fated to stand up to Fascism?……twice in 75 years. Putin talks cogently and correctly, the rest of the so called leaders are little more than puppets. That much is now blindingly obvious, and they know their days are numbered. 2016 is yet young and the weather is being set in Moscow, much to the dislike of some, but they have just been rendered irrelevant…..
I only wish they’d used one additional word to provide for the utmost understanding of this agreement: Partial. As in, Partial cessation of Hostilities or Partial Ceasefire. Otherwise, the usual propagandists will distort and lie as usual because of lacking one absolute clarification.
Well, did we read Kerry and Ash’s statements made today? Does what they state surprise anyone? The never to happen ceasefire will be broken by Russia; they already know that. So now there’s plan B.
I had a bit of a twinge in my gut when Kerry thanked Russia for the deal. But I held my breath to wait and see. Inks hardly dry on the “peace” plan and the ‘Snake Oil’ salesman is telling the Senate he’s already got a plan B, to “patrician Syria” anyway, in response to all the Generals proclaiming in advance that Russia will “break the deal” and calling for Her to have to “feel more pain”. Must be they’re planning to let theirs dogs Turkey and the Saudi’s loose on Syria first. Then when Russia retaliates, they’ll say see we told you so and now we just have to send US/NATO in to clean up the doggy mess. And between them all chop up the rest.
I want to think that Putin knows all this in advance and has his own contingency plans.
Notice the deliberate mention of the chemical weapons deal. A shift occurred then, and I remember the petulant reaction of Obama as the torch was passed. It doesn’t matter what they say for domestic consumption. Even domestics are tuning in to what Putin is saying now.
For the last two hundred years the US governments spoke with forked tongue, and they still do. They have violated every treaty they made with the natives. Their words are written on water.
Putin is smart and cunning and every move he makes is very thoroughly calculated to further his own goals and agenda. It’s no secret that Putin himself is pursuing an aggressive revisionist policy designed to undermine the post WW2 and post–Cold War orders…
His possible disengagement from Syria can be associated with the following three scenarios: A. Putin miscalculated and saw the raise of Iran and all the victories going to Iran in the region, who is merely borrowing the Russian Air force. Therefore, once Putin realized there were no bigger prizes for him other than the airbase in Latakia, he decided to pull out and let Iran pursue the remainder of strategic war goals. Also, what Putin achieved at a minimum strengthened Assad regime, so he has a bigger negotiating power during the peace talks.
B. Domestic economic pressures – bombing runs and maintaining effective military power needs serious financial resources. Once Putin had achieved his minimum – strengthened Assad regime, he claimed the credit at home and made another strategic move to pull the bigger force, while maintaining the minimum presence.
C. This might be just another trick & maneuver in Putin’s handbook and this might not mean any sort of withdrawal on the short-term or long-term, since the Russian air force is still continuing bombing the rebels in Syria after the withdrawal announcement. What did Putin want to accomplish? Time will show us…
Bibi’s head is gonna explode.
Brilliant. Says it all.
And what about Erdogan’s?
He could be the next mayor of Kharkov. Stranger things have happened.
Let us make a deal!
Obama changed the Treaty on Netanyahu which required 2/3 Congress approval to Deal. Obama called it, “Iran Nuclear Deal”, which required just simple majority. Even then the voting didn’t take place in Congress, due to threats from Democrats of Filibuster.
Now Cameron has made a deal with EU. Russia and USA have made a deal on Syria. The Indian Government has made a deal in Delhi.
Every time, Bibi Netanyahu hears deal, his head explodes.
Deal, Explode; Deal, Explode; Deal, Explode; ……. Deal, Boo
Muhaahaa, Muhaahaa
The Unconditional Mercy is Greater.
First that old thug will have an apoplexy, then his head will explode.
I’d like to see that on t.v.
Carmel by the Sea
Muhaahaa sister, Hope is always looking down on us with a smile on her/his face.
Best regards,
Mohamed
Can’t wait to hear the response from Erdogan and the Saudis – this deal has more ‘wild cards’ than a Sheldon Adelson casino.
It seems the only way the US can wriggle off this little hook called international law is to convince the world that ISIS and AQ are really the good guys.
A big ask since they’ve just spent a decade and billions of dollars to tell us how bad they are.
Not to mention that ISIS plus dozens of al-This, al-That are CIA/Mossad creations.
Good luck to the Pentagon applauding, condemning, training, ‘moderating’, supporting and fighting them… Comedy Central!
Zion’s strategic decision to rely solely on false flags, hoaxes and mercenary armies for its endless ongoing and upcoming wars won’t pan out. Just saying.
They just need to say (and order the MSM to say),”Russia broke the deal,it’s Putin’s fault”.
Thanks to Vox for the subtitled video.
Putin leads the world. Others follow.
He points to four other wars, all of which Russia had nothing to do with, but obviously, will have to get involved if they ever will be settled and solved.
God bless the Russian military and the Russian people who are suffering economic struggles for doing the right thing.
I gotta say man, I sigh a deep one since me not wanna get eradiated just quite right now.
Nevertheless, I claim for Mother Russia to act as appropriate when and as the time comes.
Let us hope it doesn’t come to ….
…You know, for a lot of families it already has reached those proportions of survival. Food water and such. I am not talking of India, I am talkin’ the US, Germany, the UK.
I am Hungarian. Magyar-proud of it.
…and am fn insanely mad over the political discourse over the matter.
Can I travel into Saudi Arabia or Pakistan without a visa?
Yemen, Jordan, Israel. Egypt???
How come crowds get to cross our millennial borders for a song?
Twenty years ago the borders of Hungary were maintained, mined, were regularly observed.
WTF?
Do You really think those regiments are unobtainable by now?
…or are You gonna go for who killed JFK.
Yaah…it comes down to that…that and 911.
Nevertheless…there is a man, who says what he does, will fuck you up if you deserve, doesn’t make excuses, tax You @ 25 percent, WILL NOT brake the law…Will shake the hand of Putin.
…what’s not to like?
Sure, there are the craziez.
That is why jerusalem, mecca and rome need to be,,,,well…sorry…warned ahead….and
Nuked.
Make it fuel-air. No need for radiation
And rehabilitate PolPot. He was correct.
Well, there it is-
I am just…well…hear me out…
…is there…could be there a chance for the north american election cycle?
Will find out…
I gotta say man, I sigh a deep one since me not wanna get eradiated just quite right now.
Nevertheless, I claim for Mother Russia to act as appropriate when and as the time comes is just appropriate.
Let us hope it doesn’t come to ….
…You know, for a lot of families are already on the way of of survival. Food water and such. I am not talking of India, I am talkin’ the US, Germany, the UK….and of course Sirya.
God bless and Insallah
I am Hungarian. Magyar-proud of it.
…and am fn insanely mad over the political discourse over the matter.
Can I travel into Saudi Arabia or Pakistan without a visa?
Yemen, Jordan, Israel. Egypt???
How come crowds get to cross our millennial borders for a song?
Twenty years ago the borders of Hungary were maintained, mined, were regularly observed.
WTF?
Do You really think those regiments are unobtainable by now?
@ “Anonymous” on February 23, 2016 at 5:15 am UTC and at 5:26 am UTC
Your above two posts really do not make any sense, it is not clear at all what you might have wanted to say. Quite aside from the fact that your language contains obscenities, a violation of Saker’s policy, one wonders how that passed by.
This has to be Kissinger’s message of a couple of weeks ago being borne out and Putin grinning ear to ear at that meeting.
Things are getting too hard to hide? Why even bother.. Do they have a contract that Fisk has to be published??
This is the untold story of the three-and-a-half-year siege of two small Shia Muslim villages in northern Syria. Although their recapture by the Syrian army – and by Iranian Revolutionary Guards and Iraqi Shia militias – caught headlines for a few hours three weeks ago, the world paid no heed to the suffering of these people, their 1,000 “martyrs”, at least half of them civilians, and the 100 children who died of shellfire and starvation.
Nubl and Zahra should be an 18-minute drive off the motorway north-east of Aleppo but the war’s front lines in the sharp-winded north of Syria have cut so deeply into the landscape that to avoid the men of the Jabhat al-Nusra and Isis, you have to drive for two hours along fields and broken country roads and through villages smashed and groined by the Syrian offensive.
The police commander, Rakan Wanous, kept meticulous records of the siege and deaths in Nubl and Zahra and recorded, with obviously bitter memories, the threatening phone calls he took from the Nusra forces surrounding his two villages. Wanous was also officially in charge of many other towns that had fallen to Nusra. Yes, he said bleakly, the calls came from the neighbouring Sunni village of Mayer. “Once, they told me they were going to come and slaughter us – and slaughter me – and I told them: ‘Well, let’s wait until you get here and see.’ On another occasion, they threatened to shower us with chemical weapons.”
Wanous was deeply upset in recalling this. Had some of the calls came from people he knew personally? I asked. “Yes”, he said. “The ones who threatened me often were from my own police force. They came from my own policemen – of course, they had my mobile number. Some calls came from sons of my own friends.” Of Wanous’s 15‑man police force, five stayed loyal to him. The other 10 defected to Nusra.
Many of the civilians died because their wounds could not be cared for. We ran out of petrol early on. They cut off all electricity.”
The villages’ sole link with the outside world was the mobile phone system that operated throughout the siege so that civilians and militiamen could keep in touch with families and friends in Aleppo. Mohamed Nassif, a 61-year old civil servant, recalled how he had, in desperation, called the UN in New York to plead for help and humanitarian aid for the villages. “I spoke to someone – he was a Palestinian lawyer – at the UN Human Rights office in New York and I asked if there was any way the UN could lift this siege and help us. I asked for humanitarian aid. But they did nothing. I did not hear back from them.”
When the siege began, Wanous said, the Syrian government resupplied the villagers with food, bread, flour and medicine. The helicopters also dropped ammunition. There were three or four flights every day during the first year. “Then at about five o’clock, at dawn, on 30 June 2013, a helicopter came to us with some returning villagers from Aleppo and a staff of seven teachers for our schools who were to hold the school exams here,” Wanous said. “Someone in Mayer fired a rocket at the helicopter and the pilot managed to steer it away from the village and it crashed on the hillside outside in a big explosion. There were 17 on board, including the pilot and extra crewman. Everyone died. The bodies were in bits and all were burnt. That was the last helicopter to fly to us.” The wreckage of the helicopter still lies on the hillside.
But there were Syrian Kurdish villages to the north of Nubl and Zahra and Kurdish fighters from Afrin tried to open a road to the besieged Shia; yet Nusra managed to block them. So the Kurds smuggled food to their Syrian compatriots by night. There are differing accounts of what happened next. Some in the village admitted that food prices became so high that poor people could not afford to eat. The authorities say that at least 50 civilians died of hunger.
During the siege, Ms Younis learned that her nephew, Mohamed Abdullah, had been killed in Aleppo. She and her husband have lost 38 members of their two families in the war.
“The foreign forces came to us because they felt our suffering,” Younis said. “We appreciated their sacrifices. We are proud of them for helping us. But we are Syrian and we have loyalty for our country. We knew that God would help us.” But what of their Sunni neighbours? One old woman holding a grandchild in her arms said it would be “very difficult” to forgive them, but her younger companion was more generous. “Before the attacks, we were like one family,” she said. “We didn’t expect we would ever have a problem in the future. But we are simple people and we can forgive everybody.”
There was no sign of Hezbollah fighters in the villages, although everyone said they accompanied the Syrians and Iranians into the battle. But there was one imperishable sight on the walls: a newly minted poster showing the faces of Vladimir Putin, President Bashar al-Assad and Sayed Hassan Nasrallah, the Lebanese Hezbollah leader. Rarely, if ever, have the forces of Russian Orthodoxy, the Alawite sect and Shia Islam been brought so cogently together.
Read more
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/nubl-zahra-a6889921.html
what can I tell ya…drink.
I like Fisk. He isn’t on anybody’s side (including ours) or in anybody’s pay, he goes places for real and calls ’em as he sees ’em. That so outmoded thing nowadays, a journalist.
As I watched this video. I renewed my conviction that Vladimir Putin is the most capable and most honorable leader of our time. When his time is done, there will be many statues made bearing his likeness and many places will be given his name.
But -although they may be supporting characters to his leading role- foreign minister Lavrov and defense minister Shoigu deserve their due as well.
@a…..I wholeheartedly agree with you.
I hope they can make this stick (though I doubt it). The battle for Syria now moves to the political field. Here too I’m sure Putin and Russia (and Lavrov) will “bomb” the daylights out of the Empire and its rats in Syria. Assad has called parliamentary elections on April 13th. Lets see how US-TURKEY-SAUDIs attack that.
I’m curious about why Putin made a TV address to the Russian people over this. Can any Russians or people familiar with the normal practice in Russia give any pointers why? Since this is a Syrian issue and since the RuAF will continue operations against ISIS and Al Nusra, why was it necessary to make a TV address? Could the reason have something to do with his saying that Russian “troops” will help delineate rebel areas on the ground? Might this mean that Russian troops will be deployed in large numbers to keep the peace? If that is what the Russian govt intends then I can see the reason for a TV address.
Ngoyo, you say: ‘I’m curious about why Putin made a TV address to the Russian people over this.’
Well, in fact, when I saw the video above, I did not think that President Putin was talking to the Russian people, only; I thought he was speaking to the whole world! President Putin is definetely a world leader, and his speeches have worldwide interest.
Peace talks and peace agreements come and go and are a dime a dozen.
That Putin has given this speech about this agreement seems to give it more importance than can be seen at first glance.
The negotiations have been between the US and Russia. Is this some sort of a peace deal between Russia and US rather than between Syrian government forces and assorted takfiri opposition?
US calling off their dogs of war in Syria and any dogs that can’t be called off will be put down?
Which dogs is America calling off? The CIA dogs or the Pentagon dogs?
@Peter AU Exactly, Syria has seen 3 previous agreements/attempts come and go unfulfilled. I don’t know if Putin addressed the nation on any of those. It does seem to me that this one may have a hidden significance.
This is indeed a kind of ‘peace deal’ between Russia and the US, and, for this reason, it is very important. Let me explain why I think so:
1. Perhaps, nothing illustrates better the US way of acting than through their demonstrated covert operations in many countries around the world… For over half a century, the US has been supporting the Wahhabis and others in the Middle East; so, it is likely that they are somehow behind their aggression against Syria. In other words, the US involvement in the war in Syria has been furtive; but, they are there.
2. Clearly, Russia and is allies in the region realise that this is a war with geopolitical consequences. They understand that it is more than Syria that is at stake: were President Assad replaced by a US puppet, Russia would certainly be the next victim of US/NATO aggression (the fate of Ukraine under videoed foreign interference certainly reinforces this conviction). Thus, on the 30th of September last year, Russia openly started its military operations in Syria, getting involved in a war not just against the terrorists that are destroying the country but also, indirectly, against the US allies – and slyly the US itself – who are supporting them. For this reason, a win in Syria (recognizable by the permanence of President Assad in power) is fundamental for Russia.
In conclusion: While Russia was not overtly involved in the war in Syria, we could perhaps say that the Syrian government was the one to make peace deals. But, since September 2015, there are unmistakably two main forces behind the conflict in Syria: the US and Russia. As superpowers, any peace agreement should indeed be between them to have any possibility of success.
Yes indeed, Putin is by far the best world leader today. As I’ve said before here, over the last couple years, Putin is head, shoulders and belly button above the likes of Obama, Cameron, Merkel and Hollande.
That is not to hard to see: All four mentioned western leaders are operating as loudspeakers of the deep state.
Putin, on the other hand, is the head of his state, that is, it appears to me that RF, does not have a need for deep state.
And that simplifies, increases efficiency and legality of all the operations of a state.
Comparative analogy would be AK-47 versus F-35.
Regards, Spiral
That says precisely nothing.
The “Voyeurs” Club sitting on rear aisles, in a porno movie theatre!
Full support to “Росся”. Like it is becoming frequent elsewhere, her people needs economic help as well as moral sharing, to withstand the Antichrist surge.
Transcript of Putins speech here (English)
http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/51376
Thanks
Again propaganda from Stratfor.
Russia set to lose population, power and influence, report predicts ( in next 25 years )
Once Stratfor predicted the demise of Russia around in year 2020 and that Russia will end up like Carthage now they come up with a new story.
http://www.news.com.au/finance/economy/world-economy/russia-set-to-lose-population-power-and-influence-report-predicts/news-story/08d8cab8164af5b45894f4bd3a2d5b09
One sentence for all from the article:
Turkey will emerge as a major power in areas Russia dominated.
The source is AFP, keep that in mind when reading anything from these guys.
AFP used to be more reliable than Reuters or AP or DP, 30-35 years ago, at least about Lebanon (French dominions so to say). I mean reliable, not trustworthy. Apart from facts and numbers, always a israelite voice.
The article also bandies the term, “new world order”.
It is certainly propaganda but it also appears to reveal how the AZ Empire will continue to isolate Russia. In other words, more of the same color revolutions, economic sanctions, proxy wars, weapons sales, provocations and false flags …. the serpent is looking to strangle Russia.
The criminal entity largely in control of the US govt will not change its way unless the world smartens up and rejects their madness. Methinks, a color revolution in the US is certainly long overdue. Unless the US citizenry is prepared to take back its country, the world will never be allowed to find long standing peace .
Just a short message to the moderators, please look out for the trolls who continue to post long, nonsensical/meaningless/irrelevant (to the discussion) messages and bin their posts. Of those, there are a few but thanks to the many here who overwhelm the trolls and make this site the antithesis of the BS spewed out by the MSM.
So the MOD of Russia met with the MOD of Iran.. No news about it..
Is there any real dispute about the fate of Assad between Russia and Iran?
Special reports Damascus – from Ilya c. Magnaar |
The latest permanent representative of Russia to the UN Vitaly Churkin told a whirlwind when he publicly criticized Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to open questions about the extent of Russia’s control of Syria and its stance towards Assad contrast with Iran, which is supported by limitless.
The al-Assad has said he will fight to control «the entire Syrian territory» and that «both took up arms against the state is a terrorist», setting conditions for a ceasefire are not consistent with the understanding of the United States, Russia, the ministers, sparking the question of coordination and common goals among allies on the land of the Levant.
According to an official source from the Syrian – Russian Profile – Iranian «opinion» that «Russia has good relations with Saudi Arabia and the United States, Israel, and countries in the Middle East could not agree with Assad and with Iran’s policy in Syria, so the statements and positions stems from a pragmatic followed by the Kremlin, and this policy Tktaa may not agree with Iran, but it is consistent strategically no different proximal and distal goals, Russia postpones deadline to negotiate the position of the Syrian president until such time does not want to burn stages, and that they believed Bashar al-Assad represents the interests of a large class of Syrians and it can not remove him because he can absorb the Baathist and Sunni and upper and all minorities, while not highlighting any candidate can babysit everyone and away from sectarianism and believes Russian interests as does al-Assad, and that any collapse or shift him personally would be a wholesale breakdown of order at the moment.
President Vladimir Putin has said he would defend himself and the Syrian state institutions to prevent their collapse, so Russia does not talk about individuals in power but wanted to push Syria to allow early elections, where Assad to run like any other Syrian citizen ».
And explain the source said «Russia adheres to the letter of pragmatic because they speak with all concerned Syrian file, but they are fully aware that Iran is located in the Gulf as collateral for her garden background a real partner in the region. Both countries Msthdvan of America and NATO and rich countries – oil in the region, so determination and cooperation between the two countries is a strategic one, here it is: Russian defense Minister Sergei Shoigu visiting Tehran to complete surface missiles deal – an atmosphere of S-300 model as well as the arming of Iran’s system of aircraft Sukhoi 30 enjoyed dominance air and may breach the enemy’s borders, and also to provide a sophisticated helicopters and set up arming factories inside Iran’s military production, and modernization of tanks T-72 and T-90, but that the level is much greater than the Syrian arena or cooperation of a statement to the employee of the Russian Foreign ».
Complements Source: «As for Iran, Bashar al-Assad is a symbol of the resistance axis, which adheres to his person and to defend his regime and what is represented by that particular lion open Mistoath Resistance 2006 symbols and opened against the gates of hell from the countries of the region as well as from Israel, which has said herself that it is working to bring down Assad, because the NFL is very bad because it means a victory for Iran and Hezbollah, which represent a strategic threat to Israel, which lies Massalha constantly chaos in Syria, and that the Tehran defends Assad will not give it up and looking for alternatives, and supports early elections and have full confidence, also of Russia, that Assad It will succeed because he is the best candidate and because the people who live under his authority to represent the overwhelming majority inside Syria, unlike other areas controlled by the takfiris and jihadists, hence the tactical differences with Russia does not affect the political relationship, not even the military, where Russian and Iranian forces are working side by side within operating rooms and also in some areas on the battlefield. »
https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=ar&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.alraimedia.com%2Far%2Farticle%2Fspecial-reports%2F2016%2F02%2F23%2F659652%2Fnr%2Firan&edit-text=
The ratatudes are running off the cliffs.. Maybe because it is getting just too hard to hide and soon it might come back to haunt them that they are not researchers but propagandists so some jump ship early on.
The media are misleading the public on Syria
Coverage of the Syrian war will be remembered as one of the most shameful episodes in the history of the American press. For three years, violent militants have run Aleppo.
Much important news about the world now comes from reporters based in Washington. In that environment, access and credibility depend on acceptance of official paradigms. Reporters who cover Syria check with the Pentagon, the State Department, the White House, and think tank “experts.” After a spin on that soiled carousel, they feel they have covered all sides of the story. This form of stenography produces the pabulum that passes for news about Syria.
Astonishingly brave correspondents in the war zone, including Americans, seek to counteract Washington-based reporting. At great risk to their own safety, these reporters are pushing to find the truth about the Syrian war. Their reporting often illuminates the darkness of groupthink. Yet for many consumers of news, their voices are lost in the cacophony. Reporting from the ground is often overwhelmed by the Washington consensus.
Washington-based reporters tell us that one potent force in Syria, al-Nusra, is made up of “rebels” or “moderates,” not that it is the local al-Qaeda franchise. Saudi Arabia is portrayed as aiding freedom fighters when in fact it is a prime sponsor of ISIS.
Everything Russia and Iran do in Syria is described as negative and destabilizing, simply because it is they who are doing it — and because that is the official line in Washington. Inevitably, this kind of disinformation has bled into the American presidential campaign.
Americans are said to be ignorant of the world, Our ignorance is more dangerous, because we act on it.
http://www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/2016/02/18/the-media-are-misleading-public-syria/8YB75otYirPzUCnlwaVtcK/story.html?event=event25
Putin masterstroke. World War III put on hold. Crazies sidelined.
This also illustrates major divisions within competing power structures within the US. Never assume that because they may come under the same label like “Washington” or “Moscow”, that they are all on the same side. They probably hate each others guts.
Who’s in control of the US foreign policy – and has this very recently changed??
Thierry Meyssan’s contacts and analysis appear to have been spot on again.
“The USA and Russia become allies in Syria” by Thierry Meyssan
http://www.voltairenet.org/article190282.html
Summary
“The meeting of the International Syria Support Group seems to have marked the takeover of the Syrian situation by the White House, to the detriment of the « neo-conservatives » and the « liberal hawks ». The final declaration imposes supervision of the UNO by the US and Russia, which removes Jeffrey Feltman from his prerogatives. It imposes free circulation of humanitarian aid and the end of hostilities. The formula chosen legitimises Russian military action, not only against the al-Nusra Front and Daesh, but also against Ahrar el-Sham and Jaysh el-Islam. However, the declaration does not mention the Franco-British project for the creation of a pseudo-Kurdistan.”
“Since the conference of the Friends of Syria, in Paris on the 4th July 2012, the war against Syria had escaped the control of the White House and the Kremlin. The agreement they had reached during the first Geneva Conference, on the 30th June 2012, had never been implemented. The numerous ulterior tentatives for peace had all been sabotaged by a group of warmongers which included top-level US political personalities (John McCain, Hillary Clinton, Jeffrey Feltman, David Petraeus, John Allen), and multinationals (Exxon-Mobil, the KKR investment fund, the private army Blackwater-Academi), as well as certain states (Germany, Saudi Arabia, France, Israël, Qatar, the United Kingdom, Turkey).”
The wet dreams of kool aid drunks for world war 3 seems to evaporate by the hours!Evil putin wins again,erdogang is defanged and boxed in and abandoned by nato or whatever is left of it!Wahabis getting thrashed by sandaled sarong wearing motely crew of freedom fighters adviced by you know who.
Neocons chaos is not working too good nowadays,although they still hold the American sheepels by the throat the rest of the world want to do without them.Syria has become the graveyard for team chaos dream of world denomination!
Some flag waving by freedom lovers mandatory! Now:-)
As the Saker says, this war is 75% information. The US have lost the information war in Syria. Their narrative has been destroyed by the Russian move into Syria.
This peace deal is between Russia and the US, not between the Syrian government and takfiri’s.
Putins speech on the peace deal gives it more importance than can be seen at first glance.
Are we seeing the capitulation of the US in Syria?
No, we see the slow demise of the unipolar world.
Ok, so let’s pivot on this…
The US has raised the white flag and ‘exceptional-ism’ is a dead ideology.
S300’s to Iran and $8 billion more on Russian weapons.
(http://www.sott.net/article/312815-Why-the-West-is-terrified-of-Russias-S-300-system-going-to-Iran)
Obama must go in 2017 and Syria will have UN monitored elections and more than likely Assad (if he runs) will win hands down. (Saudi females still can’t drive)
Erdogan’s criminal oil-4-war racket busted and Kurdistan emerging.
Turks tested and found wanting (geez, thanks Erdogan, we now see why the end of the Ottoman Empire was a big plus!)
A beardless boy ‘prince’ and a demented father ‘king’ running the Saudi regime into the ground.
The Zionist occupation force of Palestine basically ‘peepless’ — they can see Russian-UN manned peace-keeping S400s in the Syrian Golan Heights (and Farms) before long.
If Iranian gas flows to European markets through Syria then it will be in Russian pipelines.
Russian (&Chinese) reconstruction of Syria will feed economic recovery.
Central banks approaching post-cognitive dissonance meltdown and reality check.
Game set match.
What’s next? …. 24×7 Trumpland vs Clinton 2.0 from now to November ….?
(Ok, there may be some competition from the next Ukrainian coup — if not the Greeks demanding solutions).
And the winner here is …. Not NATO!
It is not the end, or even the beginning of the end…
The Zionist American Terrorists are unhappy with the continued existence of Russia.
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/23/opinion/relying-again-on-an-unreliable-mr-putin.html?ref=todayspaper
Let’s number:
1. The War is On!
2. Syrian President Bashar Assad is not the leader the Zionist Americans -most- wish to eliminate.
3. Russian President, Vladimir Putin, is the number 1 political leader marked in the crosshairs of the Oligarchs of the New Uni-Polar World Order.
4. Peace is not on the menu at the Syrian Restaurant. Are you paying attention?
5. The attempt at a ceasefire in Syria, is, as it is in the Ukraine, and as it was in Vietnam, and Little Big knee, and Lexington and Concord, an anomaly in Space.
6. Sin Victoria, no hay vida. Y ella es la mas hermosa!
7. I did not actually read the NY Times article I posted the Link to. The Headline, accurately presages the official imperialist Line within.
8. China’s leader, Xi Jinping (difficult calling an unelected individual, President). As a quick analogy, within the USA, the last President was JF Kennedy (the rest, including Obomber, are unconstitutional Puppets of the Oligarchs). Jinping has difficulty managing his nation’s information Media. After all, in a Totalitarian State, just how do you inform the subjects? How do you explain to them that your managed news is superior – to the managed news of the imperialists? It may be, but how much better is it? And how do you explain that it is better?
Are you able, or willing to explain the Ideal of Free Open information based on Free competition of ideas, rising from the Firm Foundation of a Democratic Republic, where the citizens choose their leaders and filter their own information?
9. I attended a recent meeting in the Zionist Capital of Washington DC, of the American CIA. The meet was chaired by their MOSSAD bosses. They were acknowledging their major error in their century long effort to destroy the Russian Nation.
In 1990, they insisted on the destruction within Russia, of the political Monopoly of the Communist Party, and its replacement by a Democratic Republic – Like facade. The MOSSAD, and their ass-lickers at the CIA, now understand, that the Marxist Lemonist Dictatorship of the Proletariat, (or Dictatorship by some Oligarch and his holders on), were their weakest opponents, who worshiped “Gold,” and mired in corruption, and could be counted upon to isolate themselves from the very ‘Masses’ Karl Marx wrote about.
They could kick themselves. They wish they could take it back. In the meeting, they kept repeating, “Brezhnev – Putin” and then punching themselves. I left the meeting before they checked my micro-chip.
The Russian Democratic Republic, far from perfect, and still new on the World’s Stage (only a generation old), is producing Competent Leaders, and a Martial Spirit from the Free Russian People. From the leaders at Novorossiya, to the Russian Air Corps in Syria, Russia is experiencing a Moral, Political, and Military Revival. And that Revival is sparking a waking of the dead throughout Western Europe and the Middle East.
Delacroix is painting again!
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=11&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwj7hIL4_43LAhVMqR4KHRi9CaEQ_B0IdjAK&url=%2Fimgres%3Fimgurl%3Dhttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.mtholyoke.edu%2Fcourses%2Frschwart%2Fhist255%2Fla%2Fbigliberty.jpg%26imgrefurl%3Dhttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.mtholyoke.edu%2Fcourses%2Frschwart%2Fhist255%2Fla%2Fdelacroix.html%26h%3D600%26w%3D764%26tbnid%3DEIGQX-V2uJLcOM%3A%26tbnh%3D160%26tbnw%3D203%26docid%3DcvtmvlHmAC9EjM%26itg%3D1%26usg%3D__fZOXQxt84UfUDIcNEjzHP3PhSPY%3D&usg=AFQjCNGxsy1Al0AfzH7cnGQwupARHPf_Bw&sig2=6h48ODcXL7fP8FWfYaI56A&bvm=bv.114733917,d.dmo
For the Democratic Republics!
Durruti
The Chinese President is no less elected than the US President.
In the US, the demos (citizens) votes in a Primary/Caucus for delegates to got to State conventions where Electoral College electors are selected, and they vote for the President. It is not a direct democracy as it may appear.
In China, the Communist Party selects leadership groups which select a group the Politboro, from which a leader is elected. Politboro (25 persons) selects the Standing Committee, designating the various positions (now reduced to 7 persons from 9 in 2012).
If calling him President is uncomfortable, refer to him as Chairman. He has that title which, especially, for Xi Jinping, he prefers, and actually, Putin refers to him that way at times.
He is President of the nation, Chairman of the Party and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, a bundle of roles and powers, though he shares power in the economy and domestic development and administration with the Premier Li Keqiang.
In China the hierarchy is Party at the top of power, the PLA as part of the Party, the government beneath the Party. Thus, the role of President is minimized and subservient to Party.
Of the 1.3 billion citizens of China, 70 million belong to the Party. Most important business people join and many famous citizens (movie, music, athletes, etc) join. It’s like a country club you want to be part of. A few people chose to not join, but they have their heart or head or money in the West anyway.
I’d agree with 1 & 4. The war is on and peace is not on the menu in Syria. Lets hope Russia can cook it up though. Obviously Putin is attaching great significance to this latest peace initiative. He has personaly led it (as opposed to Lavrov) and personally announced it to the country. Why? I’m sure Putin does not really believe that the US will go through with a deal that actually brings peace to Syria while Assad remains in office. This deal, if it holds, cements Russia’s influence and victory in Syria. Same goes for Assad. It is therefore unacceptable to the US. So why would Putin, personally, go out in front of this?
Seems to me that Putin maybe signalling to the US and Europe that this is their last chance to do the honorable thing is Syria. Else Russia will obliterate their surrogate rats on the ground and impose a military solution. By investing his personal political capital upfront in this deal, Putin may be saying, “if you don’t shape up this time, don’t expect anything else from me, but a unilateral solution.” Plus this puts Obama in a tight spot. He must deliver against neocon opposition and within a framework developed by Russia.
“in the crosshairs of the Oligarchs”
and why should we care if one set of oligarchs kill another?
Somebody could write a nice story about this great Russian son Kadyrov
Chechen leader Kadyrov ‘threatens whole of Russia’, opposition warns ( Here are we, the propaganda – The Guardian )
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/feb/23/chechen-leader-ramzan-kadyrov-threatens-whole-of-russia-opposition-warns
Chechnya’s Kadyrov Wants to Join Army, Fight Russia’s Enemies { A nice story )
http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/chechnyas-kadyrov-wants-to-join-army-fight-russias-enemies/560482.html
next thing you know they’ll want to add it on to Litvinenko enquiry, or make it a conspiracy to The Hague-don’t the opposition people realise how they expose themselves to “true patriots’??????
Putin bombed US special forces… member of #USA special forces (Ashley Johnston) killed by IS suicide Bomber near #shedaadi via… http://fb.me/19HHNsD7V
I wonder if Ukraine is factored into the deal. Also, in spite of all the cheering the agreement prohibits the Syrians from taking back territories stolen from them. The Kurds anyone?
The agreement doesn’t change anything regarding the offensives to eliminate Daesh and the numerous al-Ciada terrorists and liberation of the territory they control.
If your comment is directed at my own, are the takfiri groups the only one’s who have stolen Syrian territory? Read section 2 closely, I suggest. If indeed it was a reply.
This is really quite clever and tactically effective. Consider: All the worst jihadists aren’t going to be in on the truce. But with luck, some appreciable amount of the opposition will be.
Say it’s 1/4 of the total. The Syrian government gets to fight an enemy that has lost 1/4 of its force at a stroke, and so will be able to make better progress against the remainder for as long as the truce lasts. Chances are, by the time the truce founders the Syrian army will be in a better tactical position than they would be if they’d been fighting all the jihadists all along. And if the truce holds for good, then sooner or later the Syrian army finishes wiping the floor with ISIS, Al-Nusra etc. and then they turn to the remaining 1/4 of the opposition and say “OK, you people are isolated and weak and were never as fanatical as the terrorists we’ve just eliminated. Lay down your weapons and renounce jihadism or die. We’ll give you a face-saving commitment to have a committee look into your political grievances, or something.”
It’s very literal divide and conquer. Never say diplomacy can’t be militarily useful.
Putin so far got exactly what he announced his goals were in October 2015. Remains to be seen if West accepts it.
https://ludwitt.wordpress.com/2016/02/23/syrian-ceasefire-agreement-how-putin-got-what-he-clearly-articulated-from-october-2015-and-why-western-elites-are-worried/
How Turkey supports the jihadists – Thierry Meyssan, 22.02.16
Turkey’s role is even uglier than I thought.
It is revealed how the alleged “Free Syrian Army” is just another Al Qaida outfit. The whole story about “renegade Syrian Army officers” was just bollocks. This revelation was actually made back in 2011.
Free Syrian Army commanded by Military Governor of Tripoli – Thierry Meyssan – 19.12.11
Important notice for Nuke Fanboys – Saudi Arabia to join the club:
Allarme rosso nucleare – Manlio Dinucci – 23.02.16 (also in French)
John Batchelor is busy talking Turkey into disruption, disintegration and dismemberment:
Kurdistan Rising; Turkey on the Brink of Civil War. Gregory Copley, Defense & Foreign Affairs. Co-host Malcolm Hoenlein, Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations.
Behind what’s allegedly “described objectively”, we can see Uncle Sam’s plan for Turkey. The following statements are made:
We’re on the eve of in the early stages of a Turkish invasion of Syria.
Turkey’s been helping Daesh by buying oil and selling it through Erdogan’s son to an international consortium.
This is going to lead to civil war in Turkey.
In order to save itself, Turkey has to go on the offensive against Assad.
Turkey to take Mossul in Iraq.
The fragmenting of Turkey is the likely outcome.
Kurds will be hitting government buildings and tourist spots in strictly Turkish areas.
Kurds will adopt terrorist tactics against Turkish cities.
The war will be forced back into the Turkish arena.
PKK will go into Istanbul and Ankara.
War is coming back to haunt Turkey.
Turkey could be dismembered.
Kurds may take their territory and leave Turkey.
This is a revolution, and it’s about the fragmenting of Turkey.
Sounds like Uncle Sam is planning on perpetrating more terror attacks inside Turkey, including in the Western parts of the country.
“Important notice for Nuke Fanboys – Saudi Arabia to join the club”
You bring up a very important point here (if the stories are true). How on earth is the US and NATO/EU going to “square” that. They go “apes@it” over just the “thought” of Iran “maybe,possibly,kinda,thinking of” a nuclear weapons program. And equally “insane” over North Korea having a small nuclear arsenal.So all of a sudden they are going to say “oh,the Saudis have Nukes,oh,ok”. If they don’t throw a total fit and force the Saudis to give them up,or not get them at all. Then they just opened up the “box” for any and all nations that want them, to get them,and thumb their noses at any attempts to stop them.
CIA, Pentagon chiefs say Russia will breach Syria truce
PressTV Tue Feb 23, 2016 5:15PM
US President Barack Obama’s top military and intelligence advisers have expressed doubt on Russia’s willingness to abide by the recently-announced ceasefire in Syria, saying they want Moscow to feel “real pain,” according to a US government official.
In their recent meetings in the White House, US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Marine General Joseph Dunford, and Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director John Brennan have voiced increasingly hawkish views towards Russia, the Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday, citing a senior administration official.
Carter, Dunford and Brennan have even unanimously called for new measures to “inflict real pain on the Russians,” the official added.
The comments came shortly after a draft deal was reached between Russia and the US on Monday, calling for a ceasefire to start in Syria in late February.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said on Saturday that he was ready for a ceasefire in case the terrorists did not use it to advance their ambitions and that countries backing them stop their support.
Russia has been conducting airstrikes in the Arab country since late September upon a request from Damascus. Washington accuses Moscow of targeting militants the Pentagon has specifically trained to fight against Assad’s government in Syria.
US officials say they doubt if stepped-up support for the militants would make much of a difference at this stage, given the amount how much ground they have lost in the wake of Russia’s attacks.
According to the WSJ report, Carter and Gen. Dunford have yet to make formal recommendations to Obama on possible “Plan B” options should the ceasefire collapse, although discussions are ongoing in Washington.
US intelligence agencies have warned Obama that if the US leaves so-called “moderate” militants at Russia’s mercy, then the Saudis or some other group could break ranks with America and send portable anti-aircraft weapons to Syria to down Russian warplanes.
http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2016/02/23/451934/CIA-Pentagon-Carter-Brennan-Dunford-Russia-Syria-Truce
Of course, the war will continue and the Usual Suspects will be blamed. There is no plan B.
Ah. The article you link to should be read and analysized concisely by the kool-aid drinkers here. It says it all. As I have attempted to get across many times the empire has an agenda and will not rest until it is achieved or they create escalation you do not wish to ponder.
They need to worry more about the “real pain” of nukes exploding across the US “from sea to shinning sea”. Now that is “real pain”. And one they are certainly “asking for” with “smart mouthing” like that. They need to worry about their “mouth writing checks their as# can’t cash”. As to the Saudis “breaking ranks” and sending missiles to kill Russians. Then Russia’s answer would need to be cruise missiles leveling Saudi Arabian targets. As I keep saying,a good “object lesson” is the best deterrent to war. The same is true in Ukraine. Poroshenko,Yatsenyuk,and a few others,hanging in Maidan Square. Would be the best “object lesson” to others in Europe that want to continue to play tough. Warsaw,Vilnius,Riga,Tallinn,and most especially Berlin are well equipped with lampposts in their main squares I believe.They should be dwelling on that at the moment.
@Uncle Bob 1:
“[..] As to the Saudis “breaking ranks” and sending missiles to kill Russians. Then Russia’s answer would need to be cruise missiles leveling Saudi Arabian targets. As I keep saying, a good “object lesson” is the best deterrent to war”
This is why I think you’re beautiful. You’re beautiful You! ;-)
Ok, so Russia (or others) can’t really go toe-to-toe against the mad-dog Turks because… NATO, Article 5 or whatever…
But what is stopping everybody – not just the Russians – from going against the Saudis?
I surely hope is not this:
Russia, Saudi Arabia strike deal on oil production freeze
https://www.rt.com/shows/boom-bust/332713-russia-saudi-arabia-oil/
^ But that was 7 days ago, 4 days ago…
No binding deal on oil production cap agreed – Russian energy official
“Oil-producing countries, which want to strike a deal on capping crude production to stabilize price, are yet to agree on a mechanism for it, and it will not necessarily be a legally binding treaty on the issue, said the Russian deputy energy minister [..]”
https://www.rt.com/business/333064-oil-freeze-mechanism-iran/
–
So, I’ll ask again: what exactly is stopping anyone from opening a big can of whoop-ass on the Saudis?
-TL2Q
Two points are contradictory in the US intelligent agencies warning:
1. Obviously, they do NOT want the Saudis and some other group ‘break ranks’ with the US. So, are they going to do anything these groups demand, to keep them as ‘allies’? For whose benefit?!?! Who is in charge: the US or the Saudis?
2. The warning also states that the Saudis and some other group could ‘send portable anti-aircraft weapons to Syria to down Russian warplanes.’ Really? Would it be a good or a bad thing, considering two contradictory things: the peace plan and the fact that they do NOT want the Saudis and some other group ‘break ranks’ with the US? Are they predicting it (which would be suspicious) or telling already their allies what to do next?
“I would like to hope that the Syrian leadership and all our partners in the region and beyond will support the set of actions chosen by representatives of Russia and the US.”
Putin, graciously throwing his gloves onto the floor in front of ‘our partners’, take it or be damned style.
He looked tired, as though he has had enough and is determined and angry beneath the surface.
Perfect; perhaps peace will break out. Is it too much to hope for?
http://www.allworldwars.com/image/008/SovietPictures006.jpg
PBS version:
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/syrian-ceasefire-agreement-starts-next-week/
I’m sorry to see President Putin has taken to the teleprompter. He looks odd, and you don’t get the feeling he’s talking to you.
Why doesn’t he read from a paper as before? It’s more natural and there’s real communication, his authority comes through…
I think I’ll start a no-teleprompter petition.
Verdict not in till we hear some weighty annunciation from BBC Persia on this.
BBC Persian Television (Persian: تلویزیون فارسی بیبیسی) is the BBC’s Persian language news channel that was launched on 14 January 2009.[4] The service can be accessed through satellite television, and is aimed at the 100 million Persian speakers in Iran, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.[5]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC_Persian_Television
Launched 14 January 2009; 7 years ago
Owned by BBC
Slogan تصویرگر پیوندها
Country United Kingdom (For broadcast overseas)
Language Persian
Headquarters Broadcasting House, London
Sister channel(s) BBC World News, BBC Arabic Television
Website bbc.co.uk/persian
President Putin wearing a purple tie . That’s interesting.
@ stefan ratkiewicz:
You’re perhaps the only person I ever came across, ever! That noticed (I’m assuming here) the significance of wearing a purple tie.
Btw, to those who haven’t noticed, Putin’s signature color tie is a lovely dark-red, or burgundy, usually worn with an impeccably tailored black suit and a crisp white shirt.
Like in here> http://awdnews.com/images/14387028151.jpg
That’s his gala/means-business staple outfit, for sure.
On more relaxed situations he wears other stuff, could be anything from a light blue shirt no tie and jeans, or a more formal light blue/gray suit.
Purple ties – to my knowledge – were hardly worn by Putin in the past, but I did notice him wearing them in a few occasions, only recently.
-TL2Q
Something has changed.
From Rueters US “The government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad”….”For its part, the government in Damascus”……
It has always been the “Regime” Now it is the government?
The rest of the article is the same old, same old.
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-government-idUSKCN0VW0UA
That is interesting. (Heck, in half the news I see on TV, even Putin apparently has a “regime” rather than an actual “government”)
…and I wondered why a 92-year old went all the way to Moscow. Unlike the neocons Putin and Lavrov are sober, serious and did not smoke large quantities of weed at college. Most of the people running the U.S are potheads or cokeheads and morally degenerate to boot, what else can explain their eccentric behaviour? We indeed live in most interesting times. This has been our Cuba Missile Crisis, only this time the Russians are the saner party by far. Why is Russia always fated to stand up to Fascism?……twice in 75 years. Putin talks cogently and correctly, the rest of the so called leaders are little more than puppets. That much is now blindingly obvious, and they know their days are numbered. 2016 is yet young and the weather is being set in Moscow, much to the dislike of some, but they have just been rendered irrelevant…..
I only wish they’d used one additional word to provide for the utmost understanding of this agreement: Partial. As in, Partial cessation of Hostilities or Partial Ceasefire. Otherwise, the usual propagandists will distort and lie as usual because of lacking one absolute clarification.
Well, did we read Kerry and Ash’s statements made today? Does what they state surprise anyone? The never to happen ceasefire will be broken by Russia; they already know that. So now there’s plan B.
I think your absolutely right Charles Fasola:
I had a bit of a twinge in my gut when Kerry thanked Russia for the deal. But I held my breath to wait and see. Inks hardly dry on the “peace” plan and the ‘Snake Oil’ salesman is telling the Senate he’s already got a plan B, to “patrician Syria” anyway, in response to all the Generals proclaiming in advance that Russia will “break the deal” and calling for Her to have to “feel more pain”. Must be they’re planning to let theirs dogs Turkey and the Saudi’s loose on Syria first. Then when Russia retaliates, they’ll say see we told you so and now we just have to send US/NATO in to clean up the doggy mess. And between them all chop up the rest.
I want to think that Putin knows all this in advance and has his own contingency plans.
Notice the deliberate mention of the chemical weapons deal. A shift occurred then, and I remember the petulant reaction of Obama as the torch was passed. It doesn’t matter what they say for domestic consumption. Even domestics are tuning in to what Putin is saying now.
Love your blog! One suggestion–the english translation for Dr. Putin’s speech doesn’t have enough contrast to be clearly viewed:o(
For the last two hundred years the US governments spoke with forked tongue, and they still do. They have violated every treaty they made with the natives. Their words are written on water.
Putin is smart and cunning and every move he makes is very thoroughly calculated to further his own goals and agenda. It’s no secret that Putin himself is pursuing an aggressive revisionist policy designed to undermine the post WW2 and post–Cold War orders…
His possible disengagement from Syria can be associated with the following three scenarios: A. Putin miscalculated and saw the raise of Iran and all the victories going to Iran in the region, who is merely borrowing the Russian Air force. Therefore, once Putin realized there were no bigger prizes for him other than the airbase in Latakia, he decided to pull out and let Iran pursue the remainder of strategic war goals. Also, what Putin achieved at a minimum strengthened Assad regime, so he has a bigger negotiating power during the peace talks.
B. Domestic economic pressures – bombing runs and maintaining effective military power needs serious financial resources. Once Putin had achieved his minimum – strengthened Assad regime, he claimed the credit at home and made another strategic move to pull the bigger force, while maintaining the minimum presence.
C. This might be just another trick & maneuver in Putin’s handbook and this might not mean any sort of withdrawal on the short-term or long-term, since the Russian air force is still continuing bombing the rebels in Syria after the withdrawal announcement. What did Putin want to accomplish? Time will show us…