In #Aleppo, underground schools, great work by @KeshMalek, face bombardments and burnout
http://reut.rs/23R91fJ
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In #Aleppo, underground schools, great work by @KeshMalek, face bombardments and burnout
http://reut.rs/23R91fJ
UNTIL Obama and Kerry physically undertake a serious attempt to stop the Putin deliberate use of targeting killing of civilians a la Chechnya this is just words, and more words and does not mean a single thing other than words.....
Just a US CYA attempt to not appear to be "complicit" in the Russian air strikes.
Kerry: Russian use of "dumb bombs" on Syrian civilians violates UN resolution 2254.
http://www.state.gov/secretary/remar.../02/252226.htm …
pic.twitter.com/nWmveKmPfm
NOTICE the US words vs the ground reality....
Citing indiscriminate Russian attacks on civilians, Aleppo doctors report horrible injuries.
http://bit.ly/1nRHAl7
pic.twitter.com/RA66Zsv1J6
Is Chechnya helping the IS with this announcement....?
Kadyrov says he has a network of secret agents within ISIS -- if true, I'm sure they're glad he's announcing it http://regnum.ru/news/polit/2073384.html …
Reports now of 10s of Russian airstrikes on Ghurnata, Teir Mala, al-Dar al-Kabira, Talbisah & Hubub al-Rih in #Homs yesterday.
This is what I do not understand with the current Obama Syria strategy...the NSC/Kerry must fully understand the Turkish resistance to anything Kurdish especially when they takeover former Syrian Arab territory and then cleanse the area of Arabs....no different than what they have done inside Iraq down to Diyala and that so called "green line" the Peshmerge always violates.
Even the HWR and AI have criticized/documented these actions by the YPG......
AND the US fully supports the YPG which is in the eyes of Turkey just an extension of PKK just across the border in Syria that is all....
This statement is just not a subtle warning BUT a major warning to Obama and yet they do not respond.....they let to let the YPG supported by the CIA continue to take "Arab towns and villages along their border"....
Does in fact Obama want a complete and thorough break with Turkey the single strongest NATO military currently inside all of NATO to include a strong AF????
BreakingNews
Pro-#Assad forces and the #YPG advance vs. Syrian rebels north of #Aleppo.
#Kiffin and #Ajar taken.
Reports now that YPG/Jaish al-Thuwar have taken Deir Jamal from rebels. Like I said, with Russian air support anything is possible
AND Russia has been providing arms to the Kurds and the Kurds have opened an political office in Moscow.......AND Putin wanted the Kurds at the Geneva meetings.....
Latakia: Syrian Rebels regain control of 2 points in mountains http://en.eldorar.com/node/1416
Ghouta: Syrian Rebels destroy 1 Shilka & 1 bulldozer & kill dozens of Assad forces in Al Marj
http://fb.me/724MLAa5b
Six more Iranian revolutionary guards killed in Aleppo. We hope they all get killed in Syria.
Iranian revolutionary guard general Abdul Al Saleh killed in Aleppo today by Syrian Rebels
Deraa: 3 Assad forces killed in ambush
The SDF proves themselves the traitors that they are attacking the opposition in reef north Aleppo simultaneously as the regime capturing
US-backed Kurds coordinate with Russia, Assad to attack rebels
http://insufficientrespect.blogspot.fr/2016/02/us-bac
@Abduhark SDF affiliate Jaysh al-Thuwar is in Azaz already, seems more like SDF trys to secure villages before Shiite militants seize them
What a "nice" spin on kurds joining #Assad offensive. See 1939 #Poland & USSR invasion following Hitler-Stalin deal.
Syrian Rebellion Obs @Syria_Rebel_Obs · Feb 2
#SRO - IMPORTANT - #SDF will have to confront the regime forces, including shia jihadis, to link #Afrin / #Kobane / #Cizre cantons
"The humanitarian crisis..is a deliberate regime/Russian strategy to clear important areas of problematic residents" http://foreignpolicy.com/2016/02/05/...syrian-rebels/ …
Chechnya concept all over again just as it was with Georgia 2008...nothing new here but new maybe for the US MSM.....
author compiles evidence #Russia use cluster bombs in #Syria is sufficient to shun RU in UN
https://youtu.be/n9npNnM9zJ4 https://twitter.com/FightF88Freedom/...32378029977602 …
BUT US does not pull Russia into the UNSC for it's direct violations of three UNSC resolutions they themselves voted for.......
AND did not Kerry via the US Embassy say something about the Russians using dumb bombs....all words, nothing but words....
Destruction aftermath Russia airstrike targeting alTareb, no casualties reported Al7amdulillah
#Aleppo #Syeia FEB 8
Smoke aftermath #Russia airstrikes on #Anadan, 8 airstrikes so far on the town
#Aleppo cs #Syria FEB 8
Russia warplanes carried out airstrikes targeting #Jamae_Alormeen neighborhood at #Kafr_Naha town
#Aleppo cs #Syria FEB 8
Unconfirmed reports, #SAA foreigners mercenaries terrorists took control over #Bashoura village
#Latakia #Syria FEB 8
Russia warplanes carried out 5 airstrikes so airstrikes so far, targeting #Khan_Aalsal
#Aleppo cs #Syria FEB 8
Russia warplanes carried out airstrikes targeting #alTareb
#Aleppo #Syria FEB 8
#Russia warplanes carried out airstrikes targeting #Tel_Masaybin
#Aleppo #Syeia FEB 8
Russia warplanes carried out airstrikes targeting #Haraytan, casualties reported
#Aleppo #Syria FEB 8
Russia warplanes carried out airstrikes targeting #Bayanoun
#Aleppo cs #Syria FEB 8
Destruction aftermath #Russia airstrikes targeting #Kessin village
#Homs cs #Syria FEB 8
#Russia warplanes carried out airstrikes targeting #Hayan town
#Aleppo cs #Syria FEB 8
#Russia warplanes carried out airstrikes targeting #Anadan
#Aleppo #Syria FEB 8
#Russia warplanes carried out airstrikes targeting #Kafr_Hamra, casualties reported
#Aleppo cs #Syria FEB 8
Russia warplane carried out airstrikes on #Teir_Maela, #Talbiseh, #alGhrnata, #alDar_alKabera,#alGhanto & #Haboub_alRiyh
#Homs #Syria FEB 8
Russia warplanes carried out airstrikes targeting nearby #Tel_Nafekhin area at #Hirbnafsah town
#Hama cs #Syria FEB 8
As #Isis, #ASSad terrorist regime, are arresting youth between 15 and 45 years old, to forcibly join on the compulsory ranks of the dirty #SAA, since JAN 10, several young people have been arrested to join #SAA in several neighborhoods of #Joura and region under #SAA control. Shabihas chasing the youth other middle of the streets, shops, schools etc, a number of young men
also have been detained for reject to join #SAA, #ASSad brutal Regime started to impose siege in many neighborhoods of #Joura, where majority of people didn't accept to join #SAA, in its 4th consecutive days of siege in the area, civilians started to be without cleaned water and fuel to run the generators in the neighborhoods #Joura #DeirEzzor #Syria FEB 8
Rebels advancing and regaining control over #Kafin village right now..
#Aleppo cs #Syria FEB 8
A what did say via the US Embassy about Assads/Putin's use of starvation.....???
Cities and towns of #Daraa facing the worst humanitarian condition, there's no electricity, no water treatment, all means of communication stopped, many of trapped civilians are facing shortage of food & fuel, there's no more milk formula for baby's and children pharmacies with no long medications available, most of the hospitals of the towns are closed due #Russia & #SAA foreigners terrorists bombardment on the liberated areas, doctors are facing lack shortage of equipments, medicines for the wounded civilians victims of the bombardment, plus, more than 5.000 civilians escaped #Russia and #SAA foreigners terrorists bombardment, are trapped in the borders with #Jordan, with no allowance from #Jordan to enter the country The ethnicity cleanse agenda of #ASSad & his allies terrorists,is working on innocent people,all over the country #Daraa #Syria FEB 8
AND the US response is exactly what again outside of just words and words and words....nothing....
Isis demanding the youth of #alShaiyatat village (eastern near #Abu_alKamal) to attend and admit themselves in the "training camps" of the area, who doesn't join the camp and pledge allegiance to #Isis, will face the fate of arrest, "severe punishment" and "death".
#DeirEzzor #Syria FEB 8
AND the Putin response to IS...nothing not even air strikes...
Syrian IDPs struggling in mud and snow and with absolutely no assistance from Kerry and his US Embassy statements.....
pic.twitter.com/foQEBM1YJX
Kerry has absolutely no further creditability in the ME nor for that matter in eastern Ukraine....
Here's what Russia's Purple Heart medal for undeclared wars looks like (h/t @denmes):
https://citeam.org/russia-s-top-bras...ar-in-ukraine/ …
pic.twitter.com/3o0VcMXS9f
NOW he outgoing leader of Chechnya has entered his realm of "alter state of reality" matching that of the Russia info war........
Kadyrov claims on state TV Chechen forces infiltrated ISIS from start & found NATO trainers http://www.rbc.ru/politics/08/02/201...794778cab42284 … pic.twitter.com/BjjDUFCtEA
Standard Russian info warfare...IS is the fault of NATO/US..."it ain't the fault of Russia"......
http://mebriefing.com/?p=2150
Geneva: Kerry’s Worst Blunder
Quote:
We have seen in history many instances when leaders were trying to reach success in their foreign policy without really examining closely all the potential scenarios of what they hope for in any particular case they deal with.
And in the case of Syria, one may ask Secretary Kerry: What if Assad improved considerably his positions and kept his tight grip on power in the post-talks Damascus and as a result of the tilt in the balance of power caused by Russia’s military intervention? In other words, what if the “peace” effort that the Secretary launched might have ended in giving Assad’s military offensive a victory and “defeating” the Syrian revolution under the cover of the diplomatic talks? How could that have brought stability to Syria and how would it have changed the dynamics in the Middle East?
Answers to these questions show that the US may have been engaged in an effort that could ultimately complicate the situation of tomorrow, for itself and its allies. Its current quest to accomplish “something”, regardless of the detailed nature of whatever it is seeking to reach, was half backed.
We understand that the Europeans exerted great pressure on Washington to reach a diplomatic solution after the refugee crisis. We also understand that global powers are aware of the threat of the proliferation of terrorism. But what if short term achievements on those accounts lead to exactly the opposite of what is hoped for?
The question emerges when is the whole host of potential scenarios for the post-Geneva Syria, if the diplomatic show would have continued, is put under the magnifying lens. These scenarios could be summarized as follows:
* A sudden collapse of the talks as what already happened:
This will lead to a return to the status quo ante with some changes. Of these changes, the US loss of yet additional leverage and ability to influence the concerned parties. In other words, a sudden collapse of talks will not be free of charge, or that what should have been incorporated in the endeavor from its start. It will entail more American losses in the scarce credibility left for America in the region.
Furthermore, the relatively moderate opposition groups which accepted to participate in the talks would lose grounds to the radicals of Al Qaeda and ISIL.
This later development will not be due only to domestic Syrian dynamics, it would also be a result of the loss in regional powers’ leverage on opposition groups. Regional powers were placing themselves in a risky place by listening to Secretary Kerry and betting on his deal with Lavrov. If the deal collapses, as it seems to already have, those powers were risking to pay a price in terms of influence, albeit much less than the US.
The propaganda machines of Al Qaeda and ISIL would target both camps, the US and the Sunni Arab Gulf States as the ones who pushed the opposition to accept the risky enterprise of negotiating under Assad barrel bombs and Russia’s daily massacres of civilians.
More radicalization of the opposition, and a higher immunity to external pressures within its leadership, would not be the only consequences of a general failure of the Geneva process. Such a failure would mean a protracted conflict in which Syria’s civilians will suffer even more. Problems like the refugees and famine would continue pressing the political authorities in the EU and the conscious of the world public. All these consequences should have been thought of before launching the talks in Geneva. Some firm steps should have been demanded from the two sides before gathering around the negotiation table in order to correctly asses their willingness to reach a balanced deal. But trying to fool the opposition into a trap under pressure to surrender completely to Putin-Assad-Khamenei plans was doomed to failure.
Furthermore, Syrian neighbors, under threat of a crisis that has all potentials to spill over, would give more priority to their national interests. We have seen how the Turkish-Russian crisis threatened a general conflict last November. We have seen Iraq’s fight against ISIL being deeply impacted by the Syrian situation. And we have seen Arab-Iranian enmity growing very rapidly into a general sectarian conflict. Even now, as this is written, tension between Turkey and Russia is mounting steadily.
When success is sought, one should think of limiting the consequences of failure. Sometimes, half-packed attempts to reach peace leads to more wars.
In other words, a failure of the Geneva process will not exactly return the conflict one step backward to its status of the pre-talks configurations. It will, in fact, take the conflict one step forward to a worst configuration.
* The Geneva process takes the “eternal” course of the Israeli-Palestinian peace process:
Secretary Kerry must have looked at prospects of failure at one point or another. The only imaginable way out of such a corner would have naturally appeared in a plan to avoid an official statement of failure by the Obama administration if it realizes that success is impossible. A saving face prolongation of a dead process would be politically safer than participating in its official burial ceremony. To preserve the process and hand it to the next administration, the Secretary of State would able to avoid the embarrassment.
But why even this self-serving calculus would be harmful?
A planned, and empty, continuation of the process will not, by any stretch of imagination, match the feverish tempo of the military operations on the ground. What should have been examined is the chances of the opposition accepting a role as a fig leaf to liquidate itself. This assumption is impossible. Therefore expecting that the opposition will carry on the talks in Geneva while Putin and Assad are killing its members and thousands others of civilians on daily bases should have been dismissed outright.
It was right all along to work hard for a political solution. But Mr. Kerry should have paid attention to two things: That the Russian intervention tilted the situation in favor of Assad-Iran which are both close allies of Moscow. And that the heavy investment of US diplomacy, granted by Mr. Kerry to Mr. Putin as a free lunch to help him achieve his objectives in the East Mediterranean, did not fit in anyway in the general context. It reduces the US strategic capital in the region for no clear gains. No one buys that Mr. Putin interfered in Syria to defeat ISIL. In fact, the only real effort done to really defeat ISIL, however modest it is, is still America’s.
Keeping a clinically dead process alive on a machine implies exerting pressures on the relevant parties and using political capital the US does not even have.
In all cases, a symbolic continuation of the process, even in appearance only, would have meant that the crisis will continue and its damaging impact will get accumulatively deeper. The only difference is that the US would have lined with Putin, Assad and Khamenei in the most official and public of ways.
* A victory to the Assad-Putin-Khamenei camp:
This trilateral alliance, Putin, Assad and Iran, is not wasting a minute, even while it was engaged in the talks in Geneva, in trying to achieve a military victory. Let us suppose that the Alliance did achieve a considerable progress on the ground. This assumption will not mean at all that their forces would be able to clear most of Syria from rebels. The ceiling of a “victory” in this case is to control most of what is described as “the meaningful” Syria-that is the western coast and its densely populated periphery.
As any similar military “solution” to similar crisis, this “victory” will never be sustainable. At best, it will be a replay of the US surge in Iraq in 2007.The opposition will continue its attacks, will find its way to the Syrian population in the Assad controlled areas (both Sunnis and Alawis) and the fight will carry on.
This assumes that the trilateral alliance has the will and the resources to carry on this war. Such a fight will be the alliance’s to lose, not the opposition’s which will have nothing more to lose. So the agony will continue with no good perspectives to the trilateral alliance.
* Success:
It is not clear until today on what exactly Mr. Putin established his gamble. The whole world knows that he does not have the muscles to carry on for long time. He did not study well enough the lessons of the US experience in Iraq during the last decade, neither the similarities between Maliki and Assad. He may have expected that Secretary Kerry will throw him a life buoy. It is not even clear for how long he can carry on his gamble which is based on the shaky assumption that the peace process may succeed (at best) or that he can get Assad and Tehran a mini state in the West of Syria (at least). But Putin showed over and over again that he is a compulsive gambler. He loves to gamble. And it may only take a big loss to throw him out of the table. Maliki could not build a separate state in the South of Iraq. Assad will not be able to build an Alawi state in the West of Syria.
In both cases, Russia will have to continue its exhausting military effort in Syria. If the Russian President does not understand the magnitude of what he has done by getting militarily involved, the others will be left with the only choice of making him lose. But his loss, in this particular case, is not helpful to anyone other than the worst forces in Syria. What to do?
The sound answer is to find a balanced solution to the crisis in the talks-that is in face of a reckless gambler who recklessly doubles down as a way of life. Secretary Kerry chose to give this gambler a leading position. The Secretary of State even accepted to jump in the reckless gambler’s boat and to share his bet.
Continued......
Report from Russian-hit #Bayanoun, some days before the capture by Shiite militias (today)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XxzxddBqvQU …
pic.twitter.com/SbWJPGAc8F
For those military tacticians...there is an inherent similarity between the way the Russian military fought in their invasion of eastern Ukraine and now in Syria.....should actually be seriously looked at....
In eastern Ukraine the destruction was carried out by GRADs, and Russian artillery and 120mm mortars in Syria all via the RuAF..levels of destruction though are the same to the critical civilian infrastructure.
Liveuamap @Liveuamap
@alcebaid Territories captured during 4 month of intensive airstrikes (map II - #1,2,3) is same as Rovenky-Sverdlovsk+road to Illovaysk