The Levant crisis.(Israel,SYRIA,Lebanon,etc) - II

chanakyaa · Post by **chanakyaa** » 23 Jan 2016 08:05

Time to redraw Middle East boundaries, KRG president says

KLNMurthy · Post by **KLNMurthy** » 23 Jan 2016 11:06

TSJones wrote: ...

that would be the russians who never make a mistake or do any wrong............

I am curious, why so much butthurt? Surely you have enough manly integrity to acknowledge the painful truth:

-- US opened up Libya to the ISIS slavers and perverts
-- US made a cynical mockery of "fighting " the ISIS slavers and perverts for over a year till Russians came on the scene.
-- Acting, for all intents and purposes, like Saudi Arabia's (a nation of slavers and perverts) biatch, US did its damndest to open up Syria to the ISIS slavers and perverts till the Russians popped in, no doubt for their own reasons, and threw a monkey wrench into US endeavors.

People on this forum are so repulsed by ISIS slavers and perverts that they, in this instance, loathe the US role in their success so far, and they are willing to overlook Russia's misdeeds or excesses if it means ISIS slavers and perverts will face serious payback for their evil and not just bombast and playacting.

To me, this is the humane and manly attitude to take in a messed up world in which there are very few moral absolutes. So, do you, with all your patented snark, feel differently?

TSJones · Post by **TSJones** » 23 Jan 2016 12:19

A clean uniform is very important, helps keep bacterial infection down when you're wounded..........and is that not one but two pistol holsters he's wearing?

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 23 Jan 2016 17:29

He's holding the weapon by its handle, not the magazine, which as I have learned from TSJi is the mark of a non-Rambo professional.

The two straps around the thigh may be hold an external cushion in place on his musharraf, so that the uniform backside stays clean. Or to hold the rear-view camera to go with his cool Integrated Goggles/ Holographic Display/ Pravda-RT-BRF Viewing Screen.

member_29325 · Post by **member_29325** » 23 Jan 2016 20:20

Biden the clown says US and Turkey's Turdogan are now going to "take action" against ISIS in Syria, apparenly -- i.e., ISIS's sugardaddies in Turkey and USA are coming to their rescue.

Sponsors and financiers of ISIS to the rescue

This is what the "fight against ISIS" is all about, assisting the "sunni rebels" (a.k.a. ISIS) -- this is to counter the damage Russia has done to ISIS.

Biden said he and Davutoglu also discussed how the two NATO allies could further support Sunni Arab rebel forces fighting to oust President Bashar al-Assad.

And we have people whining here about "conspiracies" that US is involved in the creation and support for ISIS from the beginning.

Biden wrote: While the United States draws a distinction between PYD, whose fighters it supports, and the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) in Turkey, Davutoglu reiterated the Turkish position that the PYD's military wing is part of and supported by the PKK.

The PYD's military wing, the People's Protection Units (YPG) has seized swathes of Syria from Islamic State with the help of U.S.-led strikes and declared it an autonomous administration, to Ankara's chagrin. Davutoglu said on Saturday the YPG had become an increasing threat to Turkey.

"ISIL is not the only existential threat… the PKK is equally threat and we are aware of that," Biden said. ISIL is another acronym for Islamic State.{And therefore the US will support good ISIS to take down Syria's Assad, while decimating bad ISIS}

So the US and Turkey now agree that syrian kurds need to removed from the picture, because they support assad -- so the US has no intention of taking down ISIS notwithstanding Biden's pigeonpoop to the contrary.

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 24 Jan 2016 00:24

As if we didn't know earlier! The Yanquis and their Euro-peon bum-chums have been conducting a charade of going after ISIS becos of their other partner-in-crime the Saudis,whose Def. Min. German intel described as the world's most dangerous man.It is only because of Russian entrance into the ME with more than a bang, that we're seeing the US attempting to go after the jihadis in Iraq.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/j ... do-nothing
Pentagon chief says some coalition partners in fight against Isis 'do nothing'
Ash Carter suggests there are cracks in the unity of the US-led coalition against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria

AFP
Saturday 23 January 2016 02.34 GMT Last modified on Saturday 23 January 2016
Several members of the US-led coalition attacking the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria are doing “nothing at all” to help destroy the jihadists, US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter has said.

His comments mark a departure from the Pentagon’s typical depiction of the 65-member coalition, which carries the slogan “One mission, many nations,” and is frequently touted to highlight global resolve in the predominantly US effort to defeat the Isis group.
US-led coalition expected to announce more civilian casualties in strikes on Isis

“Many of them are not doing enough, or are doing nothing at all,” Carter said in an interview with CNBC on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

“We can do a lot ourselves ... (but) we are looking for other people to play their part,” he added, without singling any country out.

In a separate interview with Bloomberg TV, Carter called the anti-Isis alliance a “so-called” coalition, highlighting frustrations the Pentagon has with some partners – particularly Sunni Arab nations – not doing enough.

“We need others to carry their weight, there should be no free riders,” he said.

Carter has spent the past week in Europe, primarily in Paris, where he sought to persuade allies to step up their efforts against Isis.

He is meeting with representatives from another 26 allied nations next month to make the same appeal.

Carter reiterated calls for one such partner, Turkey, to bolster its fight against the jihadists.

Turkey is allowing the United States to use Incirlik, a geographically vital air base in the south, to strike Isis targets in Iraq and Syria, but Carter said Ankara needs to do more to secure its lengthy border with Syria.

“Turkey is a long-time friend of ours,” he said during a Davos question-and-answer session.

But “the reality is” that it has a border that “has been porous to foreign fighters.”

“They’re on the list ... it’s not a small list, of countries that I think could make contributions that are distinctive, unique and necessary to the defeat of ISIL,” he added, using an alternative acronym for Isis.

Smoke rises from the southwest of the Syrian town of Kobane following air strikes by the US-led coalition against positions held by Islamic State.

Smoke rises from the southwest of the Syrian town of Kobane following air strikes by the US-led coalition against positions held by Islamic State. Photograph: Aris Messinis/AFP/Getty Images

Some Arab and Gulf countries including Saudi Arabia are nominally part of the coalition, but are now more focused on fighting Iran-backed forces in Yemen.

The United States has carried out the bulk of the nearly 9,800 air strikes launched in Iraq and Syria since the summer of 2014.

But despite calls for additional help, Carter insists the coalition has the jihadists on a back foot, especially since the recapture of the Iraqi city of Ramadi and the targeting of their financial and illicit oil-selling capabilities.

In the wake of the terror attacks in Paris in November that left 130 dead, France and Britain joined efforts in Syria.

Some of the other nations to have conducted strikes in Iraq or Syria include Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Jordan, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates.

Dozens more countries, including Iceland, Italy and Panama, have pledged varying degrees of support, for instance through the training of local security forces.

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 24 Jan 2016 01:21

The United States has carried out the bulk of the nearly 9,800 air strikes launched in Iraq and Syria since the summer of 2014.

..resulting in more than 19,633 shouts of A...O....A....!!!

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 24 Jan 2016 10:10

No updates on Deir ez Zor?

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 24 Jan 2016 10:18

"The Syrian Express" in action

Large landing ship "Azov" (front) and "Minsk" Project 775 Russian Navy held January 22, 2016 Bosphorus Strait, heading from the Black Sea to Syria

http://sdelanounas.ru/i/a/w/m/aWMucGljc ... MxOTM=.jpg

deejay · Post by **deejay** » 24 Jan 2016 10:56

UlanBatori wrote:No updates on Deir ez Zor?

RuAF had bombed Dier ez Zor positions yesterday but appears to be stalemated as of now. IS has also struck and captured 06 SAA positions near AL Qualamoun moving towards the Sadad - Al Qualamoun road. If they succeed then they can move forward to attack Damascus.

http://www.almasdarnews.com/article/isi ... -qalamoun/

ISIS captures 6 points in the east Qalamoun

ISIS had suffered a major defeat last year in December south of Damascus and lost a big toehold there and are probably trying to get back.

Leith Abou Fadel ‏@leithfadel 25 Dec 2015
ISIS suffers an embarrassing defeat in southern Damascus as 4,000 terrorists flee Hajar Al-Aswad and Al-Qadam:
http://www.almasdarnews.com/article/isi ... -al-qadam/

SAA meanwhile have captured two villages in NE areas of Kuweris Air base from ISIS yesterday instead of pushing towards Al Bab.

Satya_anveshi · Post by **Satya_anveshi** » 24 Jan 2016 11:01

Merkel Warns of Growing Anti-Semitism in Wake Influx from the Arab World

Inadvertently or even secretly Merkel is being correct....Most Arabs who are semitic people will hate themselves after migrating to europe and therefore anti-semitism will grow and this self-hatred may cause some to take up suicide attacks.

Piskologically speaking, the above along with other bunch of other incidents like Rape of Cologne are designed to divert attention from the growing resentment among the natives towards the refugees.

If native people keep showing hatred towards refugees by killing them, burning their camps, putting them in open during winter, denying basic human rights then the entire edifice around "developed and advanced" civilization narrative will crumble . To obfuscate that reality and restore high moral ground, western people are creating this type of sensational news showing refugees in extremely poor light.

member_29325 · Post by **member_29325** » 24 Jan 2016 11:18

Inadvertently or even secretly Merkel is being correct....Most Arabs who are semitic people will hate themselves after migrating to europe and therefore anti-semitism will grow and this self-hatred may cause some to take up suicide attacks.

In France, the islamist scum have already succeeded in driving out Jews back to israel and this is what one of the regressive left lowlives had to say about it -- retweeted by the rest of the islamist scum on social media, of course.

@maxblumenthal Most French Jews who leave for Israel are fleeing France's intolerant brand of secularism, not Muslim anti-Semitism

France allows synagogues and freedom of worship for jews but anti-semitic hate crimes have been on the rise for years now. But who cares about the french and their idiocy anyway. Sorry for OT.

TSJones · Post by **TSJones** » 24 Jan 2016 12:06

Austin wrote:"The Syrian Express" in action

Large landing ship "Azov" (front) and "Minsk" Project 775 Russian Navy held January 22, 2016 Bosphorus Strait, heading from the Black Sea to Syria

http://sdelanounas.ru/i/a/w/m/aWMucGljc ... MxOTM=.jpg

hopefully more Russians will become involved and help set things right in Syria....

member_29325 · Post by **member_29325** » 24 Jan 2016 12:14

Pigeon chess moves to get Russia to spend money in Syria when its economy is tanking -- all seems very smart. So go ahead an pimp up ISIS as freedom fighters against syria and get the cretin Biden to make more speeches on how Syrian Kurds are the biggest threat to the region (because the Turks want them ethnically cleansed). It is not for nothing that USA is called the light on a shining hill that pushes ideals of human rights and freedom via genocide and ethnically cleansing of peoples already fighting oppression (Financing arrangements of ethnic cleansers courtesy the US state dept.).

deejay · Post by **deejay** » 24 Jan 2016 13:24

After taking Salma a few days ago SAA and allies have now hit Rabia , a rebel (mostly FSA) stronghold. Along with Rabia other smaller villages have been captured while Rabia ops is almost complete.

Ivan Sidorenko ‏@IvanSidorenko1 now27 seconds ago
#Syria #Latakia #Lattakia Just told by syrian reporter n the ground that the fight at #Rabia is bassicily finished just little clean up

Near the Jordanian border, SAA and allies have in last two days finally made some progress in Sheikh Miskeen city and have almost completed the capture of the city.

http://www.almasdarnews.com/article/saa ... een-video/

Infighting between rebel groups in Eastern Ghouta, Homs and near Sheikh Miskeen have been reported.

ISIS vs. FSA is an ongoing conflict in Northern Idlib.

Major ISIS base was hit by RuAF in Homs yesterday. It was a training center.

In Iraq, USAF targeted ISIS buildings in Mosul, killing multiple ISIS terrorists. These members were believed to be returnees from Syrian front.

Iraqi forces have cleared most of Ramadi and have started handing over control to Anbar police. A lot of ISIS fighters were caught trying to escape Ramadi along with rescued civilians.

deejay · Post by **deejay** » 24 Jan 2016 13:43

Confirmation of capture of Rabia in Lattakia by SAA from multiple sources has been tweeted. This means that the rebels have effectively no major stronghold (except Kinsaba) in Lattakia anymore and will fall back to Idlib. There are some areas still under rebel control in Lattakia but the big bases of Salma and Rabia are now gone.

Hassan Ridha ‏@sayed_ridha now1 minute ago
In the 'moderate' #FSA stronghold Rabiah: "We will exterminate the Alawites"
"سوف نبيد العلوية"

Leith Abou Fadel ‏@leithfadel now9 seconds ago
And that is all folks! Rabi'yah is liberated!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Islamist retreating east. Bil ro7 bil dem nifdeek ya Souriya!

Another interesting development related to the clean, hygenic uniform in Kuweires spotted by TSJ

http://www.almasdarnews.com/article/rus ... s-airbase/

Home » Russian Marines transport advanced missiles to Kuweires Airbase in east Aleppo

Russian Marines transport advanced missiles to Kuweires Airbase in east Aleppo
SYRIA
Written by Leith Fadel on 24/01/2016 8:55 am
Russian Marines transport advanced missiles to Kuweires Airbase in east Aleppo

Earlier this week, a convoy of less than 50 Russian Marines arrived to the Kuweires Military Airport in the Aleppo Governorate’s eastern countryside in order to provide the necessary military advisers to expand the Syrian Arab Army’s operations in the Al-Bab Plateau and the Deir Hafer Plains.

According to a military source in east Aleppo, the Russian Marines brought a substantial amount of advanced missiles and rockets with them to the Kuweires Military Airport; these missiles have very little do with combating the Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham (ISIS) terrorists near the airbase and far more to do with protecting their aerial assets.

Conflicting reports regarding the arrival of S-300 missiles have been confirmed by a local military source as incorrect; however, he did add that the likelihood of these advanced anti-aircraft missiles arriving to the Kuweires Military Airport is very likely in the coming weeks, as the Russian Marines swell the number of soldiers in eastern Aleppo.

Should the S-300 anti-aircraft missiles arrive to the Kuweires Military Airport, the Turkish military will likely be on high alert because just north of the ISIS stronghold of Al-Bab is the Jarabalus border-crossing, which is currently the target of the predominately Kurdish “People’s Protection Units” (YPG) and the U.S. backed “Syrian Democratic Forces” (SDF).

Turkey is not happy about the YPG’s expansion in northern Syria; so if ISIS loses the Jarabalus border-crossing, the Turks will be forced to deal with another Kurdish military presence on their border.

Edit: Corrected factual error

habal · Post by **habal** » 24 Jan 2016 15:01

russian troops in salma.
maybe spetsnaz. equipped with ak-47 varient that has twin burst.

habal · Post by **habal** » 24 Jan 2016 15:13

It seems the conflict inside Syria has turned to be a conflict between Syria-Turkey-Russia. Current plan is to either provoke Turkey to make a stupid move or basically to keep Merdhogay in his place with his eunuchs surrounding him, making him feel like a God among the eunuchs, this idiot is toasted, he got a civil war that will destroy eastern Turkey and got his enemy (PKK) a powerful ally...Russia.

https://twitter.com/EjmAlrai/status/690926646908579840

"According to Elijah....Kuweiress & Qamishli airports will serve Russia and Syria Air Force 2prevent further USA intervention and Syria & (also)support Kurds."

I wonder how then can a dirty strip runway in Hasakah become a US airbase as Sole observatory HR is spreading out with RuAF so close....they could see this "runway" (only helicopter can take off from hasaka 'runway') every time they take off from Qamishli airport, if RuAF will be really using it soon without any improvements or changes...

Russia is not only giving Syria the tools to win this war, but is building a wall to defend Syrian northern border against the Turks.

Turkish Caliphate dream is over for good, maybe it is time for Greece to regain part of the old Greek colonies in western/southern Turkey.

deejay · Post by **deejay** » 24 Jan 2016 15:44

^^^ US has officially denied any plans to develop or plan a runway at Hasakah. So it only means that the YPG is doing it on its own

The fight / violence within Turkey is escalating and I predict that in time ISIS will turn on Errdogun. Even without that he has alienated all non Sunnis within Turkey. His strongest pillar of support is NATO which is more because of Turkey's location than anything else (IMO). This is unlikely to whither away, irrespective of whatever Errdogun does. Neither is Turkey so weak that some external agency can cause a change in leadership.

Russia would also not like getting into a direct fight with the Turks even within Syria. Also, fighting the Turks using the YPG and PKK may not be very effective, specially since a lot of Kurdish loyalties are split between US and Russian support.

My view is that Russia is slowly but steadily positioning enough man power, weapons and deterrence in Syria to stop a direct Turkish invasion of the country. Again, as of now, SAA has not moved to attacking Idlib province. Once SAA moves on Idlib, Turkey will really get restless. Russia is preparing for not just restless Turkey but also helpless Turkey in such a situation.

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 24 Jan 2016 15:56

Wotsissain wrote:Pigeon chess moves to get Russia to spend money in Syria when its economy is tanking -- all seems very smart. So go ahead an pimp up ISIS as freedom fighters against syria and get the cretin Biden to make more speeches on how Syrian Kurds are the biggest threat to the region (because the Turks want them ethnically cleansed). It is not for nothing that USA is called the light on a shining hill that pushes ideals of human rights and freedom via genocide and ethnically cleansing of peoples already fighting oppression (Financing arrangements of ethnic cleansers courtesy the US state dept.).

Most likely the Syrian war is funded by Russia , China , Iraq and Iran ....All these have stake to keep the Sunni power at bay and common interest in shaping what comes after Assad.

Russia takes the glamour part as it involves the Air War which usually is the case for any airwar in recent history but the Dirty Work on Ground is done by SAA and Hizb , perhaps with equally good support from Kurds and some anti-ISIS rebel.

The Russian Economy barely takes any hit if any from this because with low Oil Prices the Rouble Devaluates as its full floating and capital account convertible currency which absorbs major oil fall shock ( unlike other Oil NAtion that have to spend forex to defend their currency )and they are using this an opprtunity to train their armed forces and fine tune their weapons.

CIS nation are also worried that people from these countries who have joined ISIS wont end up turning back so would like them to deal in Syrian soil

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 24 Jan 2016 15:59

US relies heavily on Saudi Arab money to support Syrian rebels

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 24 Jan 2016 16:27

UBCNews reports:

The heroic outpost of Deir ez Zor is still under massive ISIS attack. Despite over a year of COuW air strikes claiming to have blown dust on to many of their water bottles, ISIS terrorists, freshly re-armed by Hussein Alobama's 50-ton delivery of ammunition in November, are keeping up a massive onslaught on women, children and old folks in Deir Ez Zor, with an army of Saudi/Qatari paid and Pigeon-InBedded Journalists salivating at the prospect of posting more videos of women being used as slaves. The latest allegation is that the Russian air support of the resistance against ISIS is 'being questioned again' by Hussein Alobama citing "questions whether Russian airdrops of supplies fell into enemy hands" due to the rapidly changing ground situation, unlike the vaunted 50-ton ammo drop to the ISIS by AlObama which fell exactly where it was intended. Western journalists are hoping that the "regime" (name they use for those who try to protect Syrians including minorities, women and children from the NATO-backed goat-lovers) will make some mistake for a moment, which will be all that is necessary for ISIS to sweep over all of Deir Ez Zor.

Virupaksha · Post by **Virupaksha** » 24 Jan 2016 16:42

Austin wrote:US relies heavily on Saudi Arab money to support Syrian rebels

how much of this money, ak47s are in isis hands -90 percent??
sorry forgot the cut of the great sam, so 50 percent then.

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 24 Jan 2016 17:07

Russia, US agree to have 2 rebel delegations at Syria peace talks - reports

https://www.rt.com/news/329954-syria-pe ... ompromise/

deejay · Post by **deejay** » 24 Jan 2016 17:49

UB ji, here is some authentic update of the stalemate at Dier ez Zor.

http://www.almasdarnews.com/article/dei ... ine-video/

Incredible footage has captured the Syrian Arab Army’s battle with ISIS in recent days in Deir Ezzor.

The city is an enclave of government held territory completely surrounded by ISIS.

The defense of the city is led by renowned General Issam Zahreddine. The video shows the General leading his troops in an intense battle against the terrorists.

Despite early and initial successes by ISIS, all the gains made were overturned by the Syrian Arab Army.

* Warning: the video contains graphic footage*

Unable to link the video. Pls visit link to view video. Warning is already part of news report.

deejay · Post by **deejay** » 24 Jan 2016 17:51

TSJ, an update from Op Inherent Resolve

Terrormonitor.org ‏@Terror_Monitor now19 seconds ago
#InherentResolve
@CJTFOIR Conducted 160 Airstrikes On #ISIS From Jan.16 - Jan. 22. 137 In #Iraq, 23 In #Syria.

TSJones · Post by **TSJones** » 24 Jan 2016 17:55

Austin wrote:Russia, US agree to have 2 rebel delegations at Syria peace talks - reports

https://www.rt.com/news/329954-syria-pe ... ompromise/

Russia is going to bargain with ISIS !!!

Putin is shape shifting to Manly Pigeon....

TSJones · Post by **TSJones** » 24 Jan 2016 17:56

deejay wrote:TSJ, an update from Op Inherent Resolve

Terrormonitor.org ‏@Terror_Monitor now19 seconds ago
#InherentResolve
@CJTFOIR Conducted 160 Airstrikes On #ISIS From Jan.16 - Jan. 22. 137 In #Iraq, 23 In #Syria.

ah, those are just love taps.......

but if we hit friendly forces, hospitals, wedding parties, Syrian army depots, water facilities, we are horrific bombing mongers who devastate beyond compare....

Satya_anveshi · Post by **Satya_anveshi** » 24 Jan 2016 20:15

British anarchists arrested as migrants stormed Port of Calais - Jan 24, 2016

British anarchists were among 35 people in police custody in Calais after leading about 350 migrants who broke through police lines and invaded the port, forcing it to close for several hours.

Masked British agitators from the No Borders group incited migrants to invade the port after the peaceful demonstration, local sources said.

“I cannot understand why British citizens come to Calais to incite migrants to break the law and defy the French authorities,” Mr Debove said.

Demonstrators also defaced a statue of France’s wartime leader and former president, Charles de Gaulle, daubing it with graffiti which read “**** France”. It was quickly scrubbed off by port officials.

member_29325 · Post by **member_29325** » 24 Jan 2016 20:24

Washington supports the participation of the Saudi-backed Islamist militia Jaysh al-Islam (Army of Islam) - something Moscow has strongly objected to. Russia insists that political figures it deems more moderate, such as Qadri Jamil, a former Syrian deputy prime minister, and Saleh Muslim, co-head of the Syrian Kurdish group PYD, should join the negotiations, Kommersant daily reported Saturday.

So the saudi-backed sunni scum in "Jaish-Al-Islam" are nothing like ISIS, nothing at all...they are what is known in Pigeonland as good ISIS, which is why the US Pigeons are in bed with them. It is the bad ISIS like the syrian kurds who need to be taken down.

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 24 Jan 2016 21:02

Beat me to it. I was going to congratulate TSJi on agreeing that the source of unbiased, honest, sensible reporting from Syria is rt.com

Falijee · Post by **Falijee** » 24 Jan 2016 22:03

New York Times Details Long History Of C.I.A Dependence On Saudi Financing For Clandestine Operations Including Financing For Syrian Rebels
U.S. Relies Heavily on Saudi Money to Support Syrian Rebels

WASHINGTON — When President Obama secretly authorized the Central Intelligence Agency to begin arming Syria’s embattled rebels in 2013, the spy agency knew it would have a willing partner to help pay for the covert operation. It was the same partner the C.I.A. has relied on for decades for money and discretion in far-off conflicts: the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Since then, the C.I.A. and its Saudi counterpart have maintained an unusual arrangement for the rebel-training mission, which the Americans have code-named Timber Sycamore. Under the deal, current and former administration officials said, the Saudis contribute both weapons and large sums of money, and the C.I.A takes the lead in training the rebels on AK-47 assault rifles and tank-destroying missiles.

(these weapons, falling in the wrong hands, as in Afghanistan, will come back to haunt the US)

The support for the Syrian rebels is only the latest chapter in the decadeslong relationship between the spy services of Saudi Arabia and the United States, an alliance that has endured through the Iran-contra scandal, support for the mujahedeen against the Soviets in Afghanistan and proxy fights in Africa. Sometimes, as in Syria, the two countries have worked in concert. In others, Saudi Arabia has simply written checks underwriting American covert activities.

(US dollar with Saudis , being recycled back to America !)

The old ties of cheap oil and geopolitics that have long bound the countries together have loosened as America’s dependence on foreign oil declines and the Obama administration tiptoes toward a diplomatic rapprochement with Iran.(which the Saudis are creating hurdles )

And yet the alliance persists, kept afloat on a sea of Saudi money and a recognition of mutual self-interest. In addition to Saudi Arabia’s vast oil reserves and role as the spiritual anchor of the Sunni Muslim world, the long intelligence relationship helps explain why the United States has been reluctant to openly criticize Saudi Arabia for its human rights abuses, its treatment of women and its support for the extreme strain of Islam, Wahhabism, that has inspired many of the very terrorist groups the United States is fighting. The Obama administration did not publicly condemn Saudi Arabia’s beheading this month of a dissident Shiite cleric, Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, who had challenged the royal family.

From the moment the C.I.A. operation was started, Saudi money supported it.
“They understand that they have to have us, and we understand that we have to have them,” said Mike Rogers, the former Republican congressman from Michigan who was chairman of the House Intelligence Committee when the C.I.A. operation began. Mr. Rogers declined to discuss details of the classified program.
American officials have not disclosed the amount of the Saudi contribution, which is by far the largest from another nation to the program to arm the rebels against President Bashar al-Assad’s military. But estimates have put the total cost of the arming and training effort at several billion dollars.

The White House has embraced the covert financing from Saudi Arabia — and from Qatar, Jordan and Turkey — at a time when Mr. Obama has pushed gulf nations to take a greater security role in the region.
Spokesmen for both the C.I.A. and the Saudi Embassy in Washington declined to comment.

The Saudi efforts were led by the flamboyant Prince Bandar bin Sultan, at the time the intelligence chief, who directed Saudi spies to buy thousands of AK-47s and millions of rounds of ammunition in Eastern Europe for the Syrian rebels. The C.I.A. helped arrange some of the arms purchases for the Saudis, including a large deal in Croatia in 2012.By the summer of 2012, a freewheeling feel had taken hold along Turkey’s border with Syria as the gulf nations funneled cash and weapons to rebel groups — even some that American officials were concerned had ties to radical groups like Al Qaeda.

While the Saudis have financed previous C.I.A. missions with no strings attached, the money for Syria comes with expectations, current and former officials said. “They want a seat at the table, and a say in what the agenda of the table is going to be,” said Bruce Riedel, a former C.I.A. analyst and now a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution.
The C.I.A. training program is separate from another program to arm Syrian rebels, one the Pentagon ran that has since ended. That program was designed to train rebels to combat Islamic State fighters in Syria, unlike the C.I.A.’s program, which focuses on rebel groups fighting the Syrian military.

Current and former intelligence officials say there is a benefit to this communication channel: The Saudis are far more responsive to American criticism when it is done in private, and this secret channel has done more to steer Saudi behavior toward America’s interests than any public chastising could have.
The roots of the relationship run deep. In the late 1970s, the Saudis organized what was known as the “Safari Club” — a coalition of nations including Morocco, Egypt and France — that ran covert operations around Africa at a time when Congress had clipped the C.I.A.’s wings over years of abuses.

Prince Bandar pledged $1 million per month to help fund the contras, in recognition of the administration’s past support to the Saudis. The contributions continued after Congress cut off funding to the contras. By the end, the Saudis had contributed $32 million, paid through a Cayman Islands bank account.
When the Iran-contra scandal broke, and questions arose about the Saudi role, the kingdom kept its secrets. Prince Bandar refused to cooperate with the investigation led by Lawrence E. Walsh, the independent counsel.
In a letter, the prince declined to testify, explaining that his country’s “confidences and commitments, like our friendship, are given not just for the moment but the long run.”

deejay · Post by **deejay** » 24 Jan 2016 22:06

Terrorists innovation of accidental American aid in Iraq

Haidar Sumeri ‏@IraqiSecurity 18h18 hours ago
Da'ish vehicle seized by #Iraq's forces in the Tharthar region in northern #Anbar. It looks... Interesting.

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 24 Jan 2016 22:12

Strange Looking Vehical , Daesh 21 Century Innovation

deejay · Post by **deejay** » 24 Jan 2016 22:14

Turkey has a real problem with Russia to its north and as the SAA closes in on the Turkish borders - Russia to the south.

http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/tur ... a_20160124

Turkey-Russia Tensions Spike as Russia Moves Into Northern Syria
Posted on Jan 24, 2016By Juan Cole

Russian air strikes in Syria are coming closer and closer to the Turkish border in Latakia in the northwest, and there are rumors that Russia is looking at establishing an airbase at Qamishli in the largely Kurdish northeast of Syria. Turkey risks having Russia as a neighbor all along the Syrian border to Turkey’s south, as well as beyond the Black Sea to its north.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said at a news conference, “We have said this from the beginning: we won’t tolerate such formations (in northern Syria) along the area stretching from the Iraqi border up to the Mediterranean. . .”

Over on the Mediterranean side, Russian air strikes have enabled the Syrian Arab Army of the Bashar al-Assad regime to move back into northern Latakia Province, taking a large number of villages in the far northern areas of Turkmen Mountain and Kurd Mountain.

The strategic city of Rabia was surrounded on three sides by government troops.

Syrian government sources maintained that 150 rebels had been killed in the fighting, including guerrillas of the Nusra Front, while others had fled across the border into Turkey.

It was to protect the anti-regime Turkmen fighters of Turkmen mountain that last fall the Turkish air force shot a Russian fighter jet out of the air.

The SAA has also retaken Salma in the east of Latakia Province. Salma had been in rebel hands for 3 years and is in higher land and so was a useful way for the rebels to dominate the surrounding area.

Russian strategy since last October has been to intervene from the air to give courage to the Syrian troops and allow them to push back the rebels from the key port city of Latakia in the province of the same name. The al-Qaeda-allied Army of Conquest (Jaysh al-Fateh) has the neighboring province of Idlib to the east and has a key position in Jisr al-Shughour, a town in the highlands overlooking Latakia from which an assault could easily be launched. One of the Army of Conquest coalition partners is the Nusra Front or the Support Front, the chief al-Qaeda franchise in Syria, which reports to Ayman al-Zawahiri (one of the masterminds of the 9/11 attacks on the US).

The Nusra Front has been flooding fighters also into northern, mountainous Latakia, where Turkmen villages are split, with about half in the ranks of the anti-regime rebels. Turkmen speak a language close to Turkish and came into the Arab world as nomads from the 8th century forward, originating in Inner Asia.

The Syrian Arab Army on Friday made substantial advances in Turkmen Mountain in the far north of Latakia Province near the Turkish border, taking numerous villages and expelling al-Qaeda and allied fighters. This drive to reestablish regime control so close to the Turkish border has alarmed the Turkish government, which had been arming and supporting the rebellious Turkmen.

As of Friday, Turkey’s proxies seemed to be losing very badly, and it is unclear what options Ankara now has except Erdogan’s bluster.

Latest map of Lattakia updated as of 24th Jan 16

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 24 Jan 2016 22:34

UB ji, here is some authentic update of the stalemate at Dier ez Zor.

Thanks, but that was from circa Jan. 20. Very fast-changing situation, fight to the finish. Question is, is it going to be Stalingrad or Masada/Vijayanagaram? Can Putin's Pigeons finish off the mobility of the ISIS b4 the next sandstorm grounds the Pigeons?

BTW, TSJi, there was an RT.com article recently about how the "Moderate Syrian Opposition" have now come to be called the Patriotic Opposition by RT.com. Apparently the Comrades gave them a simple option: start fighting ISIS instead of the SAA, or die. Given that Russia still controls airspace over Syria, the choice before the Opposition groups participating in these Piece Talks will be similar: Pieces or Peace?

Famous British saying:

When u have them by the golas, their Hearts N Minds will follow

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 24 Jan 2016 23:47

Interesting video. But again, the ISIS seem very elusive - occasional grenade or bullet, forcing the SAA to expend tons of ammo for nothing. SAA needs some micro-UAVs to go over and provide images of what's over the next ridge, so that weapons can be aimed properly.

Satya_anveshi · Post by **Satya_anveshi** » 24 Jan 2016 23:59

Russian president says predominantly Jewish Soviet government was guided by false ideological considerations.

“I thought about something just now: The decision to nationalize this library was made by the first Soviet government, whose composition was 80-85 percent Jewish,” Putin said June 13 during a visit to Moscow’s Jewish Museum and Tolerance Center.

Putin was referencing the library of Rabbi Joseph I. Schneerson, the late leader of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement. The books, which are claimed by Chabad representatives in the United States, began being moved to the museum in Moscow this month.

According to the official transcription of Putin’s speech at the museum, he went on to say that the politicians on the predominantly Jewish Soviet government “were guided by false ideological considerations and supported the arrest and repression of Jews, Russian Orthodox Christians, Muslims and members of other faiths. They grouped everyone into the same category.

“Thankfully, those ideological goggles and faulty ideological perceptions collapsed. And today, we are essentially returning these books to the Jewish community with a happy smile.”

Widely seen as the first Soviet government, the Council of People’s Commissars was formed in 1917 and comprised 16 leaders, including chairman Vladimir Lenin, foreign affairs chief Leon Trotsky and Joseph Stalin, who was in charge of the People’s Commissariat of Nationalities.

TSJones · Post by **TSJones** » 25 Jan 2016 00:15

UlanBatori wrote:
UB ji, here is some authentic update of the stalemate at Dier ez Zor.
Thanks, but that was from circa Jan. 20. Very fast-changing situation, fight to the finish. Question is, is it going to be Stalingrad or Masada/Vijayanagaram? Can Putin's Pigeons finish off the mobility of the ISIS b4 the next sandstorm grounds the Pigeons?

BTW, TSJi, there was an RT.com article recently about how the "Moderate Syrian Opposition" have now come to be called the Patriotic Opposition by RT.com. Apparently the Comrades gave them a simple option: start fighting ISIS instead of the SAA, or die. Given that Russia still controls airspace over Syria, the choice before the Opposition groups participating in these Piece Talks will be similar: Pieces or Peace?
Famous British saying:
When u have them by the golas, their Hearts N Minds will follow

yes, political accommodation can change names and relationships. Manly Pigeon stuff.

member_29325 · Post by **member_29325** » 25 Jan 2016 00:57

Satya_anveshi wrote:Ukrainian neo-Nazi participants of "Crimea blockade" terrorize Russian speaking Kherson region

So Turkey is now sending IS and other islamists to Crimea to work with the Ukrainian Nazis in kyev and destabilize crimea. Turkey is itching for escalating their conflict with Russia. The plan seems to be to get Russia away from Syria's border so the US-Turkey duo can get "good ISIS" a.k.a. syrian rebels against assad in control of the region again. Make Russia fight on two fronts, one near its border and another away from it. Pigeon is pooping on the chess board once again, clearly.