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Russia's human rights preaching on PKK operations nothing but 'dark humor': Ankara
http://www.turkishweekly.net/2015/12...-humor-ankara/ …
Turkey: ‘Human rights lesson’ from Russia over Kurdish issue a ‘joke’
http://www.todayszaman.com/diplomacy...ke_408434.html … via @todayszamancom
Putin has bullied, invaded, imprisoned, tortured, and killed Ukrainians to try to stop it, but today real EU-Ukraine free trade starts.
Well... by now, everybody monitoring this thread should know what is motivation of majority of Iranian and Iraqi combatants sent to Syria (namely, 'defence of Sayyida Zaynab Shrine'), i.e. that this is of religious and sectarian nature; those that paid more attention might not forget the video showing that 'commander' of one of Hezbollah/Iraq gangs preaching 'killing Sunnis' during his speech on Friday noon preach, several weeks ago, etc...Quote:
Originally Posted by OUTLAW 09
...which means they're de-facto Shi'a Jihadists in Syria...
We've seen an increasing number of interviews with Hezbollah/Lebanon combatants disgruntled about what they've been sent to do in Syria...
...and it's not getting better if majority of Western public is intentionally ignorant of the fact that Assad and Russians in Syria are cooperating with at least three, probably four groups considered 'terrorist' by the 'West' (USA, NATO etc.), including the IRGC, Hezbollah, PFLP-GC, and PKK...
Bottom line: anybody still insisting that this is some sort of a war in which there are no moderate forces but 'Jihadists only', and that these would be facing some sort of 'coalition of good-doing, secular and democratic' forces of IRGC, supported by Russians, who are 'finally going to bring an end to this Wahhabist mess', and then 'instal secularity and democracy' in the country... is actually living in an illusion, and might prefer to go considering Hollywood's 'blockbuster' movies on 'super-heroes' for 'authentic documentaries'.
I have been criticizing this President for his sheer lack of a strategy which is amazing for a Harvard graduate....HE has actually been implementing a solid a la Wilson retrenchment program AND selling it or better in his own words...."messaging" that retrenchment to the US civil society ALL the while not putting into place a foreign policy foundation that other nation states can fully understand.
He completely failed in recognizing the Russian and Iranian non linear warfare coupled to Putin's political warfare three core geo political goals;
1. damage and discredit EU
2. damage and discredit NATO
3. completely disconnect the US from Europe and the entire ME
It is highly recommended to read this entire article and then sit back and think about it based on the daily reality that is directly opposite of what this President and his NSC is trying to "message".
http://smallwarsjournal.com/blog/thr...ign-policy-wen...
Michael Singh is managing director of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. From 2005 to 2008, he worked on Middle East issues at the National Security Council. He is on Twitter: @MichaelSinghDC.Quote:
Garden in September. —Associated Press
My fellow Think Tank contributor (and sometime co-author) Brian Katulis says that for “the Obama administration, 2015 brought ups and downs in foreign policy.” This is far too rosy an assessment, though it is sober compared with the State Department’s review of its 2015 accomplishments, which included “Winning Fight Against Violent Extremists” and “Bringing Peace, Security to Syria.” The last year has been one of serious strategic setbacks, falling roughly into three categories:
1. Failure to respond to assertive great-power challengers. In 2015, China intensified its campaign to build and militarize artificial islands in the South China Sea, with the likely goal of strengthening its territorial claim within the “nine-dash line” and limiting other states’ freedom of action in the area. Russia deployed military forces to the Middle East–in direct opposition to U.S.-supported groups–and consolidated its annexation of Crimea while maintaining or deepening support for separatists in Ukraine in defiance of the Minsk cease-fire agreement.
The U.S. has not mustered an effective response in either case. After years of hand-wringing, the White House authorized a Freedom of Navigation Operation in the South China Sea that may have inadvertently strengthened the rights China claims in the area. As for Ukraine, although the U.S. and its allies maintain their sanctions regime against Russia, they could not eliminate dependencies on Moscow, which might prove debilitating in future conflicts. Meanwhile in Syria, the U.S. concedes that Moscow is meeting its goals so far while insisting it is doomed to fail.
2. Lapsed focus on outcomes. The Obama administration frequently cites the Iran nuclear deal as a marquee accomplishment. Achieving U.S. objectives through diplomacy would have been laudable, but the nuclear deal was possible precisely because the U.S. laid aside its objectives. Iran made concessions but also largely achieved its strategic aims: retaining its nuclear weapons capability and resisting demands for a broader “strategic shift” in its support for terrorism and regional policies. Iran also received sanctions relief that is broader in practice than on paper, all in exchange for temporary limits on its nuclear fuel-cycle activities.
Secretary of State John Kerry has said that “diplomacy is the art of the possible.” Yet administration officials fail to comprehend how U.S. action, or inaction, can shape what is possible. This was clear in Afghanistan, where President Barack Obama was forced to face the consequences of prematurely announcing a U.S. withdrawal. It is increasingly clear in Syria, where the White House, despite foreseeing the dangers posed by the conflict, is shifting objectives in response to others’ actions rather than taking the initiative.
3. Weakened alliances. President Obama frequently contrasts what his administration calls the 19th-century behavior of some states to the rules-based order he prefers. Yet, as President Obama has noted, rules and norms do not enforce themselves; international order is threatened not only by overt challenges but also by others’ failure to defend it. The challenges described above should have been opportunities to cement alliances in the face of common threats: to deepen ties with Japan and India in the face of Chinese expansionism; to unite with Mideast allies against threats from Iran and Syria; and to unite Europe in defiance of Russian actions in Ukraine.
Instead, these opportunities have largely been missed. U.S. allies in Asia have been alarmed by what they perceive as Washington’s failure to follow through on a promised “pivot” to the region and its failure to back up “red lines” elsewhere. In the Middle East, the Iran deal and U.S. confusion in Syria have strained already weakened ties with Israel and Arab states. A White House effort to assuage the concerns of Gulf Cooperation Council states was both belated and off the mark, focused on expanding U.S. assistance rather than accommodating allies’ concerns over U.S. policy. Weakened alliances mean that U.S. power is diluted and our allies tend to act independently of the United States and of each other in ways that complicate our efforts.
The list could continue; for example, neglect of the domestic component of foreign policy could shift the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement from a success into a failure thanks to opposition from the president’s own party.
The Obama record in 2015 suggests that our post-Cold War struggle to determine how best to shepherd and use U.S. power continues; for the overreach of the Iraq war, diffidence has been substituted. The primary challenge in 2016 and onward will be how to deploy the United States’ still-immense strength judiciously, proactively, and multilaterally to resolve conflicts to our advantage and to prevent new ones from emerging.
Feb 2007 - Australian Prime Minister John Howard warns of the consequences for Iraq & Middle East of an Obama win
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/...128798037.html …
There's no objective reason to exclude one of the strongest opposition factions in #Syria from negotiations. https://twitter.com/mfa_russia/statu...93267604750336 …Quote:
Originally Posted by OUTLAW 09
Detained IS suicide bombers in Turkeys #Istanbul Musa Canz (28) Adnan Yıldırım (40)
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/Def...&NewsCatID=509 pic.twitter.com/493EWHz2Jw
The explosives secured by Turkish authorities are sophisticated to maximize damage when detonated....!
pic.twitter.com/AZrPK9QZ5W
pic.twitter.com/493EWHz2Jwremember the three core geo political goals of
Russian non linear warfare at work --Putin is using the PKK and the IS as formal weapon systems against Turkey AND NATO.........remember the three core geo political goals of Putin----one is damaging and discrediting NATO........
By best will, I cannot 'criticise this president' any more: he's simply a stupid babbler.Quote:
Originally Posted by OUTLAW 09
Here the best illustration for that: the SDF (YPG + Jaysh at-Thuwar FSyA) are assaulting western side of Azaz Corridor again - and they are brazen enough to call all the other insurgents there - no matter if FSyA, AAS or JAN - for 'Islamists'....
One is left to wonder: if the stated US objective in Syria is to support those that 'fight Daesh', then why isn't this gang deployed to go fighting Daesh?Quote:
A U.S.-backed alliance of Syrian Kurdish and Arab fighters advanced against Islamist insurgents in the north of the country on Friday, capturing at least one village in Aleppo province, a spokesman and a monitoring group said.
...
How’s that Syrian/Iranian/Russian/IS counter UW strategy working for Obama that he needs to “increase messaging” on……..????
https://www.yahoo.com/news/iran-more...140851452.html
Iran has more missiles than it can hide: General
AFP
Quote:
Tehran (AFP) - Iran's Revolutionary Guards have so many missiles they don't know where to hide them, a senior commander said at Friday prayers, after the United States threatened to impose fresh sanctions.
"We lack enough space in our stockpiles to house our missiles," said General Hossein Salami, the Guards' deputy, as a row with the US over Iran's ballistic missile programme deepened.
"Hundreds of long tunnels are full of missiles ready to fly to protect your integrity, independence and freedom," he told worshippers in Tehran, promising to never "stop developing our defence deterrent".
Iranian state television aired in October unprecedented footage of such an underground missile base.
The general's comments came after reports that the US had planned -- but later shelved -- to unveil a fresh round of sanctions following two recent missile tests by the Islamic republic.
The mooted financial penalties on companies and individuals in Iran, Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates, for apparent links to Tehran's missile programme, highlighted worsening US-Iran relations.
They also put in jeopardy a landmark deal struck in July between Iran and six world powers including the US, which is due to be formally implemented within weeks.
Iran's President Hassan Rouhani denounced the US moves Thursday as "hostile and illegal interventions" that must be met with a response.
He ordered the military to intensify its missile development and take whatever steps necessary to start new programmes if they would better serve Iran's defence.
After Rouhani's comments the White House put the sanctions on hold indefinitely, The Wall Street Journal reported, though officials said the measures remained on the table for use if necessary.
The spectre of new penalties against Iran -- the nuclear deal is due to lift existing sanctions that froze Iran out of the global financial system and crippled its oil exports -- brought worsening relations to a head.
A United Nations panel last month said the two missile tests breached previous resolutions aimed at stopping the Islamic republic from developing projectiles capable of carrying a nuclear warhead.
Iran has always denied seeking an atomic weapon and argues that its missiles would never be designed to, nor ever carry, such a bomb.
The nuclear deal is due to come into effect on "Implementation Day", expected later this month, or soon after, when UN monitors sign off that Iran has applied major curbs to its atomic programme.
FURTHER Russian evidence to their current actions against NATO...THAT Obama is so intent on ignoring......Quote:
Originally Posted by OUTLAW 09
“It is time to correct the mistake by Gorbachev“ #Russia #Baltics #Turkey #Nato
http://news.rambler.ru/head/32327873
Putin labels #NATO a security threat.
http://cnn.it/22ClLWX
pic.twitter.com/AQeHPLvm8H
The Iraqi's and the US just keep on forgetting IS can indeed fight........ask the anti Assad forces.....but no one does......
Setback for Iraqi forces in #Ramadi. #ISIS & ISF sources: "Iraqi forces ambushed & retreated after suffering loses".
pic.twitter.com/5AhCVc14P8
ISIS media units are reporting "violent clashes in downtown #Ramadi near the govt complex" and "heavy shelling" of #Iraq Army positions.
Anyone believing anything Obama and Kerry say about Iran, Putin and or Assad....???
Were you among those who believed John Kerry when he promised to "push back" aggressively against Iran? https://twitter.com/pandagulu/status/682667330669776900 …
Assad-forces now only ~12km south of #IS hold al-Bab city in eastern #Aleppo countryside
Daraa Rebels claim killed 14 #SAA & 2 #Iran'ian officers & dozens #Iraq'i Shiite forces in Shayk Maskin
pic.twitter.com/CnJym0WM1F
Daraa From battle in Shayk Maskin
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98SXa6-CFWQ …
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUF33iAL_go …
Map
Rebels recaptured Samadaniyah al-Gharbi in #Quneitra prov after several hours.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GGf6i0eK-I …
Daraa: Heavy fighting in Sheikh Miskeen. Good ol' Volcano photographed by @MuradoRT who is embedded wi #SAA.
Arsal Syrian refugee camps in Lebanon covered with snow need urgent fuel & food supplies.
https://youtu.be/LCSZb4Fj_I0
To those in the #SouthernFront:
#MOC denies you offensives to cut Daraa corridor, denies you #ATGM since half a year.
Why obey to them???
Note: Daraa & #SouthernFront keep getting banned from recieving substantial #TOW- 1 #ATGM. Same since 6 months.
53 ATGM launches in December 2015:
http://justpaste.it/DecemberATGM
1250 total ATGM launches in Syria so far by anti-gov groups
~790 TOW
450+ other ATGM
Note that #YPG use their sunni mercenary unit #JaTh to hide their landgrab Intentions.
Shekh Miskin: a strangely behaving allegedly assadist target is hit.
https://youtu.be/QSq_Bd4-6wo
ISW @TheStudyofWar · 31 Dec 2015
How the battle against the Islamic State is redrawing the map of the Middle East. @LizSly
http://wpo.st/GnA01
Leader of (Kurdish) PYD-dominated Syrian Democratic Forces admits coordinating with the Assad regime.
http://bit.ly/1OzjPu2 #Syria
It is amazing that the US has for years not paid much attention to videos being released by the various Salafist groups---
Strangely neglected, this video released on January 23 2007 is the family photo of the newborn Islamic State of Iraq
You can see the brigades celebrating the establishment of the Islamic State – here a commander in Baghdad (Jan 2007)
Syria-n Coalition Calls for Urgent International Action to Save ##Mouadamiya
http://ow.ly/Ww43B
Calls to #UNSC to protect civilians in #Mouadamiya according to resolutions 2139, 2165 &2254
http://ow.ly/Ww4vF
Davutoglu: #Russia’s bombing of the moderate armed opposition in #Aleppo and #Idlib boosts #Daesh (#ISIS)
http://ow.ly/Wv3EM
Maktabi: #Assad backed by #Russia & #Iran uses siege as #weapon to subdue, starve & displace #Syria-ns
http://ow.ly/Wv19a
Syria-n Coalition Condemns #Qamishli Bombings Blames #Russia for Continuation of #Terrorism
http://ow.ly/Wv34Z
Maktabi Criticizes #UN Role in Agreements Leading to Displacement of #Syria-ns
http://ow.ly/WuV9s
After Ghouta regime apologists insisted Volcano rockets were purely a rebel weapon. Now RT f***ing poses with them https://twitter.com/ArtWendeley/stat...71055972040704 …
Same "unconventional artillery" used in the August 21st 2013 Sarin attack, thanks @MuradoRT
Michael Weiss ✔ @michaeldweiss
RT becoming an accidental Bellingcat.
not all volcanoes have the ring tail section...
pic.twitter.com/0Qt1JC8Xfy
RBK-500 cluster bombs on a Su-34 in Syria (@mod_russia denies they have it) and on a Su-17 in Afghanistan.
Assad regime tortured 1546 people to death in 2015. #Syria
http://sn4hr.org/wp-content/pdf/engl...in_2015_en.pdf …
YPG seized 2 villages from the rebels west of Azaz within their campaign to occupy the border town
The "#SDF" is openly fighting the #FSA/Ahrar and other groups with US backing. The media is loving it.
http://reut.rs/1PBfiV8
Quote:
A U.S.-backed alliance of Syrian Kurdish and Arab fighters advanced against Islamist insurgents in the north of the country on Friday, capturing at least one village in Aleppo province, a spokesman and a monitoring group said.
Fighters from the Democratic Forces of Syria seized the village of Tanab near the town of Azaz after heavy clashes with the al Qaeda-linked Nusra Front and the powerful Ahrar al Sham, spokesman Talal Selo told Reuters.
"We liberated Tanab," he said.
Britain-based monitoring group the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the Democratic Forces of Syria had also captured the village of Tat Mrash. Selo said he could not yet confirm its capture.
It came just days after the alliance seized a dam from Islamic State further east, cutting one of its main supply routes across the Euphrates.
Since the U.S.-backed alliance was formed last October, its fighters have opened several major offensives against Islamic State with the ultimate goal of capturing Raqqa.
The alliance has separately been fighting in recent weeks against Nusra Front, Ahrar al Sham and other insurgents in northern Aleppo province.
The Democratic Forces of Syria includes the Kurdish YPG militia, which has been the most effective partner on the ground for U.S.-led air strikes.
Kurdish gains around Azaz, which is near the Turkish border, are also likely to increase concern in Turkey about growing Kurdish sway near the frontier. Ankara is fighting an insurgency against Kurdish PKK fighters in its southeast.
Washington's strategy in Syria shifted in 2015 from trying to train thousands of fighters outside the country to supplying groups headed by U.S.-vetted commanders.
The U.S. military estimates the Democratic Forces of Syria has captured around 1,000 square kilometers of terrain in the past six weeks or so, bolstered by coalition air strikes.
Another geolocation from today looks much worse for rebels.
Tank shell hits S #SheikhMaskin
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_pzsweUL0Q … pic.twitter.com/4T5B4BxNOh
Tannab, Keshtar & now Tat Marash it seems near Azaz in N. #Aleppo have been captured by YPG & JT following clashes w/ Mare’a Ops Rm rebels
Nearer to #Damascus rebels repeled another attack by regime forces on the Tal Firzat front in the Marj area in E. Ghouta
Analysis #Map
Pro-#Assad troops took the #Brigade82 hill base in W #SheikhMaskin.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jfFnWmEDq0 …
pic.twitter.com/wcxNLdZae4
#Aleppo #FSA Major Rahim announced resignation from Mare` operation room after latest gains of #SDF/#YPG
pic.twitter.com/WyU9290Pl9
From what I see, there was a new pro-#Assad push fr East of #SheikhMaskin today.Quote:
Originally Posted by OUTLAW 09
Situation could be much worse now!
pic.twitter.com/7GWTiqbm0h
Kh-101 cruise missile, as shown on a Russian MoD video in November.
pic.twitter.com/TEYJJunHkS
Ahrar leader to oversee political wing & restructure of political council directly & Moh’d al-Shami moves to #Aleppo
Interesting denial by Shuhada' al-Yarmouk of link w/ IS: even calls IS "jama'at"(group: rejecting statehood claim)
Thanks to @Ruptly for this clear example of Russian jets in Syria carrying cluster bombs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcjJjxFtAC0 …
BUT WAIT the Russian MoD claims they do not use cluster bombs........
Thanks to Russian Today reporting crew......
Frontline verification in #SheikhMaskin on Dec 31.
#Assad forces did NOT take "most of the city".
Pure propaganda maps / "news" of #SheikhMaskin still being posted by pro-#Assad dumbasses ...
pic.twitter.com/LCGqLQH1LA