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This thread has run since August 2012, with 81.8k views and 834 posts. It is appropriate now as 2015 looms (in the UK) that it be closed and a new thread started.

The new thread, refelcting my...

Not by me, rather Professor Joshua Landis, a US academic and IIRC sometimes criticised here:http://www.joshualandis.com/blog/year-end-predictions-analysis-joshua-landis-28-december-2014/?

He opens...

A WaPo article on a vexed issue here, Syrian regime manpower and the title does suggest the content:...

The title comes from an article in The Guardian. We have steadily grown used to the role of foreign jihadis in the Syrian civil war; this time it is the reaction of Syrians - outside state controlled...

On the Oryx blog context and detail for this not so quiet war:http://spioenkop.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/why-israel-is-bombing-syria-and-is.html

It starts with:

With my emphasis:
Link:http://eaworldview.com/2014/12/syria-special-us-tells-opposition-will-never-defeat-assad-heres/

The author, Professor Scott Lucas, suspects an unlikely diplomatic dance is...

Two quite different reports. First hat tip to WoTR, a detailed view of a possible Turkish buffer zone in Syria:http://warontherocks.com/2014/12/the-origins-of-turkeys-buffer-zone-in-syria/
...

A German authored article for Carnegie, with numerous links and ends with:
Link:http://carnegieendowment.org/sada/2014/12/02/case-against-alliance-with-assad/hvru

A short review by the BBC's Jeremy Bowen; note film portions of the report were on BBC News Channel yesterday, behind the lines with the Syrian regime, which is partly cited...

Crowbat a question about the Kurds. Two days ago you posted this:

IIRC this theme has appeared elsewhere, which came as a surprise to me.

I appreciate the Kurds across the regional borders are...

With our pol-military outlook sometimes the civilian dimension, so here is a long piece by Joshua Hersh 'The Lessons of Atmeh', a refugee camp in Syria just over the Turkish...

AP has an article on the coalition air strikes in both Iraq and Syria:http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/ap-analysis-us-led-airstrikes-produce-gains-26025294?singlePage=true

Today John Kerry had a meeting with the British Foreign Secretary in London and said the following:
Link:http://www.itv.com/news/update/2014-10-08/john-kerry-hints-protecting-kobani-is-not-priority/

I have been pondering the likely fall of the Kobane pocket, just what is going on?

We know the Turkish stance on joining the coalition is very conditional. Turkey appears to list it's enemies as...

Some may doubt Crowbat's postings on the situation with the Assad regime in Syria, just refound this BBC News report 'Syria: Assad loyalists concerned by rise of paramilitaries', now four days...

It is all very strange Crowbat and I've yet to spot an official explanation from the allies (the UK bombers are only for Iraqi targets).

We can all speculate. Notably is Turkey responsible, as it...

Patrick Cockburn, of The Independent, is known to have a different viewpoint on what is happening and his article starts with:
...

Dayuhan posted:

Agreed. I shall see if there is a suitable thread or create one.

The dilemma for the USA (and others) has always been akin to "draining the swamp by reform" or "suppression is...

Crowbat is right, from his latest post:

For many good reasons the US and by implication all of the Western post-9/11 response has relied on "might is right". Sadly those options fail to recognise...

Crowbat's last post ended with:

In Ali Soufan's commentary yesterday in The Guardian there is this phrase, which I think explains why there is no exit strategy:

So each year we start again. The...

Crowbat,

Silence can sometimes be golden. I expect after the initial USG reaction and internal debate over a new campaign in this long war many of American members just waited to see what...

Eliminating one's enemies in a civil war - in Syria and within the Muslim faith in the region - just keeps on going.

The principal victim was:Now here's no...

This short report, with sourced data and photos by Conflict Arnaments Research popped up yesterday on a US origin emailed daily briefing and in The Guardian today.
...

A long, multi-sourced and linked article - the full title being 'Provocation and the Islamic State: Why Assad Strengthened the Jihadists' and from an author who is an observer or student of the...

http://www.economist.com/news/middle-east-and-africa/21614226-why-and-how-westerners-go-fight-syria-and-iraq-it-aint-half-hot-here-mum

Within this long article - with many points made - is this...