Syria Approval Needed For Any Foreign Troops Deployment: Damascus
http://presstv.com/Detail/2015/12/17/442132/Syria-UN-Bashar-Jaafari-Turk...
"Syria's ambassador to the UN has warned that any deployment of foreign troops to his country without the approval of Damascus would amount to a violation of international law..."
That includes you Canada.
Syria Shatters Pentagon Dream - by Pepe Escobar
http://www.counterpunch.org/2015/12/17/syria-shatters-pentagon-dream/
"Washington is in a quagmire of its own making. And virtually everything has to do with the astonishing mediocrity of the Obama administration's so-called 'senior' foreign policy team.
Syria, no Full Spectrum Dominance."
Russia Against Exclusion of Kurds From Syria Talks - Deputy FM
"Russian Deputy FM said that Russia is against excluding Kurds from Syrian peace negotiations..."
Syria: The Break For the Border - by Pepe Escobar
https://www.rt.com/op-edge/326536-turkey-isis-syria-erdogan/
"Who is the supreme profiteer of the Russia-Turkey drama? No question: it's The Empire of Chaos. A desperate Ankara increasingly depends on NATO's embrace.
So everything now hinges on the break for the border. Syrian Kurds have been loudly announcing something along the lines that 'Real Kurds go to Jarabulus.' Jarabulus is, in a nutshell, Turkey's last stand in Syria..."
Lebanon, Israel on High Alert Along Border After Killing of Senior Hezbollah Leader [in Israeli Airstrike on Damascus]
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2015-12/20/c_134935214.htm
"Israel has declared a high state of alert following news of a prominent Hezbollah military leader being killed during an air raid on Damascus late Saturday, sources said Sunday. The Lebanese Hezbollah group confirmed that Samir Kuntar, a prominent leader of the 'Islamic Resistance' has been killed in an Israeli raid near the Syrian capital Damascus.
In September the US labeled Quntar on its terror blacklist, saying he had 'played an operational role, with the assisstance of Iran and Syria, in building up Hezbollah's infrastructure in the Golan Heights.'
Zionists Wary After Jaramana Strike, Waiting For Sayyed Nasrallah Response
http://uprootedpalestinians.blogspot.ca/2015/12/zionist-entity-wary-afte...
"The Israeli authorities are avoiding the direct claim of responsibility in a bid to give the other side a chance to mull its retaliation choices and in order for this retaliation to be deliberate and well-calculated..."
Bashar Al Assad Interview for Dutch TV, Dec. 17, 2015
UN Resolution Papers Over Deep Divisions on Syria
http://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2015/12/19/syri-d19.html
"...It provides the bare bones of a process that is supposed to being in early January with a simultaneous push for a ceasefire and the opening of talks between the government and opposition forces on the formation of a transitional government, which is supposed to be set up within six months.
Then, 18 months after the start of the process, UN-supervised elections would take place. The key questions - who would be included in the ceasefire, who would participate in the talks, who would comprise the transitional government and who would be allowed to run in the election - are all left unanswered..."
ISIS Minority Killings Should Be Recognized as Genocide - MPs
https://www.rt.com/uk/326646-isis-minority-killings-genocide/
"Killings of minorities by Islamic State should be recognized as genocide, more than 60 British parliamentarians have said in a letter to PM David Cameron..."
CrossTalk: Endangered Christians (and vid)
https://www.rt.com/shows/crosstalk/326617-christianity-iraq-syria-west/
"The forced toppling of secular regimes in the region has been a catastrophe for the followers of Christ. Why is the West largely indifferent to the fate of Christians in the Middle East?
Saudi Arabia's 'Counter-Terrorism' Initiative in Syria (and vid)
http://stopimperialism.org/saudi-arabias-counter-terrorism-initiative-in...
"Eric Draitser provides his commentary regarding the announcement of a new counter-terrorism coalition of Sunni Muslim countries..."
The US-led coalition to which Canada belongs, also includes Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Bahrain, UAE, Jordan, Australia, Belgium, Denmark, and the UK.
'Bound To Fail': Dividing Syrian Rebels into Moderates & Extremists is Useless, Study Says
https://www.rt.com/news/326698-syrian-rebels-assad-report/
"...Because such overlaps are 'endless' attempts by international powers to distinguish between 'acceptable' moderates and 'unacceptable' extremists are flawed, the report says. The report notes that the 16 Salafi-jihadist groups fighting in the Syrian civil war have some 96,000 fighters in their ranks, and that IS only accounts for 31,000 of those according to the latest CIA figures.
It goes on to say that if IS is defeated, there are 'at least 65,000 fighters belonging to other Salafi-jihadist groups' who are ready to take its place..."
A really good piece here about the upcoming Vienna talks, what, if anything useful, will come of them, and this:
"
Whatever this Syrian crisis has been, a ‘revolution’ it is not. No revolution, borne from the heart of a genuinely popular insurrection, is financed, armed and trained by the enemies of a state. What has transpired in Syria for the past five years is a long-planned foreign conspiracy – in coordination with a small sliver of its nationals - to create regime-change on the back of the narratives of the ‘Arab Spring.’
The US military’s ‘unconventional warfare’ manual contains the blueprint for exactly this kind of regime-change operation:"
You cannot pick up arms against a central government, impose your will with weapons on population centers, blow up police stations, public transportation, bread factories, pipelines, waterworks, target your national army, human-shield yourself in mosques and schools, assassinate public and private figures – and imagine yourself anything but a terrorist. You are not fighting an occupation, where your right to self-defense is enshrined in law. You are fighting your state, and your state has an internationally-mandated legal duty to protect its nationals – from you.Furthermore, no state would shelter you from lawful consequence if you were doing all these things at the behest of, and with material support from, an enemy state.
Syria’s largest militant opposition groups are - one and all - financed, armed, trained, supported by the United States, Great Britain, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Qatar, France and a smattering of other states and nationals.
You can probably add the brutal Canadian regime to that list.
Vienna is unlikely to ever see a genuine Syrian political solution. But it could still act as a springboard for some new thinking. Think ‘terror’ first. Disarm militants, halt weapons transfers, shut down borders, besiege them in their strongholds, cut off their financing, sanction their supporters.
Many of these components were in last week’s UN Security Council Resolution 2254, co-sponsored by Syria, in a new twist. An important start.
Cooperate with the Syrian state; coordinate airstrikes, ground battles; share intelligence. This stage may yet arrive.
Good analysis.
The chairman of the Russian Federation Council’s Committee on Defense and Security said Wednesday that reports by a rights group that accuse Russia of killing civilians in its anti-terror airstrikes are a "provocation."MOSCOW (Sputnik) — On Wednesday, Amnesty International released a statement, saying that the airstrikes of the Russian Aerospace Forces in Syria against the Islamic State (IS, or Daesh in Arabic) extremist group had caused casualties among civilians and destroyed or damaged several civilian facilities.
"Ozerov said that the Russian Armed Forces allows their activities in Syria to be monitored by any country that wants to do so, which makes refuting the accusations from the watchdog easy.
He added that if the Russian aircraft had attacked civilian locations then the entire international community would speak up about such airstrikes, condemning Russia not in a report, but in the UN Security Council."
This last point is a good one - even if the spokesperson for the Kremlin is being prudent and noting that they will investigate AI's dubious claims.
Of course the whole point is as a distraction from some key facts - primarily that the Russians are the only military with any authority to be bombing in Syria anyway - as the NATO strikes in Syria, without the authorization of the legitimate and elected government in that country, constitute war crimes in their entirety.
More about those useful idiots of Amnesty International.
The UN “cannot independently confirm” information presented in Amnesty International’s report on alleged civilian casualties of Russian airstrikes in Syria. The Russian defense ministry dismissed the paper’s findings as “cliches” lacking hard evidence...The information presented in the Amnesty International report was alarming, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said, noting, however, that the UN cannot verify the NGO’s sources and findings.
“The Secretary General notes with concern Amnesty International report on alleged violations of international humanitarian law resulting of the Russian airstrikes in Syria. The UN cannot independently confirm the cases presented in the report,” Deputy Spokesman for the Secretary-General, Farhan Haq said.
Well, yeah, when you use anonymous sources, fail to provide any concrete evidence or new factual information whatsoever, and just keep piling on the groundless asuumptions and accusations, whaddaya expect?
Mind you, when it comes to use by the Ukrainian junta of cluster bombs, AI just looks the other way.
The general in turn accused the NGO of not covering jihadist atrocities in Iraq and Syria or illegal activities of the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen. Konashenkov told reporters that Amnesty also failed to investigate the use of cluster munitions by Kiev’s troops in eastern Ukraine.“We have a question for Amnesty International: why did this organization keep silent and turn a blind eye to material, undeniable, real evidence of the use of cluster munitions by the Ukrainian Armed Forces against cities in eastern Ukraine?”
Useful. Idiots. of. Yanqui. imperialism.
“It is important to look at the nature of Amnesty itself in terms of the credibility of its reporting.
For a large part of this Syria conflict Amnesty, particularly here in its London office, has made no secret of its support for large part of Syria’s rebellion, even at some point a couple of years ago calling – which many people would find bizarre for human rights group – for the arming of Syria’s rebels, even though at the time Syrian rebels were known to be carrying out human rights abuses themselves of very serious nature.”
Nice. Give it a century or two and AI might even come around to calling for armed struggle in certain circumstances.
Syrian Conundrum (and vid)
https://www.rt.com/shows/crosstalk/326846-syrian-civil-war-washington/
"Belatedly it would seem even Washington thinks it is time to end the Syrian civil war. But does it have the power to do so? After years of miscalculation and misguided policies Washington appears powerless to influence its allies and friends in the region."
CrossTalking with Bradley Blakeman, Scott Rickard and James Jatras
NDPP - AI turns more tricks for Uncle Sam
"Amnesty International is now publishing serious accusations against the Burundian government in the corporate press. Now the human rights organisation is sharpening its knives in preparation for the mutilation of another African nation resisting globalisation, resisting the Pentagon's AFRICOM, resisting neocolonial enslavement.
Human Rights organisations such as Amnesty International & Human Rights Watch are the avant garde of contemporary imperialism."
The Empire's War on Burundi
http://www.counterpunch.org/2015/12/24/the-empires-war-on-burundi/
Ha ha ha
Yeah, you guys keep thinking dropping mostly unguided bombs and cluster munitions doesn't matter... that and you can always claim any evidence is fake old stuff.
Ha ha ha
Yeah, you guys keep thinking dropping mostly unguided bombs and cluster munitions doesn't matter... that and you can always claim any evidence is fake old stuff.
Ha ha ha
Yeah, you guys keep thinking dropping mostly unguided bombs and cluster munitions doesn't matter... that and you can always claim any evidence is fake old stuff.
Ho ho ho to you too Bec. How about AI stop using anonymous claims for such serious matters and get off their asses? And do tell why the London office has been supporting ARMING the foreign jihadist fighters when AI is supposed to be a HUMAN RIGHTS organization? It's like shooting fish in a barrel with you.
Take it easy on the egg nog, ok?
You'll claim whatever they show is old stuff or not from Russain airstrikes anyways so it does not matter.
War in Syria & the Middle East: Dec 25, 2015
http://thesaker.is/war-in-syria-and-the-middle-east-sitrep-december-25th...
"The western hemisphere may be slowing down due to the Xmas season but the wars in the Middle East still rage on..."
Empire of Chaos Preparing For More Fireworks in 2016 - by Pepe Escobar
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article43813.htm
"Whatever happens in the so-called Syrian peace process, the proxy war between Washington and Moscow will continue. Hubristic US Think-Tank Land can't see it any other way. For Exceptionalist neocons and neoliberalcons alike, the only digestible endgame is a partition of Syria.
The Erdogan system would gobble up the north. Israel would gobble up the oil-rich Golan Heights. And House of Saud proxies would gobble up the eastern deserts."
The Islamic State is Shrinking and Other News
http://www.moonofalabama.org/2015/12/the-islamic-state-is-shrinking-and-...
"The Islamic State is definitely shrinking. There is unconfirmed news of a deal between the US and Russia on Syria..."
Neocons Object To Syrian Democracy - by Robert Parry
http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/277-75/34319-neocons-object-to-s...
"The more immediate issue is the Washington Post's fury over the prospect that the Syrian people would be allowed to vote on Assad's future rather than have it dictated by neocon think-tanks, Islamic jihadist rebels, and their Turkish-Qatari-Israeli-CIA backers..."
RT Talks To Syrians Rescued From Al Nusra-Besieged Shiite Villages After UN Swap (and vid)
https://www.rt.com/news/327412-rt-exclusive-syrians-rescued/
"The New Year might finally bring some respite for a group of Shiite Syrians, who have found safety in Damascus under a UN-brokered deal. RT's Murad Gazdiev spoke to some of the families, learning of the atrocities they faced over the last few years..."
War on Syria (and vid)
http://presstv.com/Default/Section/112/
Syrian army advances on multiple fronts
Week 13 of the Russian Intervention in Syria
http://thesaker.is/week-thirteen-of-the-russian-intervention-in-syria-de...
"After 3 months of Russian air and missile strikes in Syria, it is a good time to ask the question whether the Russians have achieved tangible results..."
Sputnik, Ep 105 - Dr Ahmed Khaddour on Syria (and vid)
https://www.rt.com/shows/sputnik/327708-arab-civilization-domestic-viole...
George Galloway interviews Dr A Khaddour on conditions in Syria
US Seeking Destruction of Syria: Analyst Eric Draitser (and vid)
http://presstv.com/Detail/2016/01/07/444932/Bashar-Assad-Syria-Obama-Dra...
"After an unsuccessful 'proxy' war in Syria, the US government has resorted to political ploys to remove Syrian President Bashar al Assad from power says an American geopolitical analyst.
'Ultimately, the US wants the destruction of Syria as a state, wants the destruction of Syria as we know it, and the removal of Assad as a fundamental part of that,' he concluded."
Madaya: Why Would Assad Starve His Own Supporters? (and vid)
http://www.almasdarnews.com/article/23179/
"...Madaya is not under a food blockade from 'the regime', the food shortage is caused by the Ahrar-ash-Sham militants attempting to force the hand of the Syrian government to ease the campaign against the besieged terrorist group."
Refutation of Resistance Foes Propaganda on Madaya Town in the Damascus Countryside (and vid)
http://www.almanar.com.lb/english/adetails.php?eid=248752&frid=23&cid=23...
"Well informed sources told Al Manar that terrorist groups are exclusively responsible for starving out the civilians in the town. The representative of the International Community of the Red Cross (IRCC0 also refuted the propaganda that targets the resistance on Madaya's situation. The video has more..."
Hezbollah Issues Statement on Madaya
https://twitter.com/EjmAlrai/status/685083177296228352
"Tens of trucks carrying food and medical supplies were delivered to Madaya & Sergaya on Oct.18. More will be brought in next few days. Madaya has been held hostage for months by 600 militants made up of 60% Ahrar, 30% Nusra and 10% FSA. Armed groups in Madaya control the food supplies of the town and [only] sell to whoever can afford to buy it..."
Putin's Syria Intervention Decisionmaking in Light of New Revelations - by Gordon M Hahn
http://gordonhahn.com/2015/12/27/putins-syria-intervention-decisionmakin...
"Recently a series of revelations have revealed that Putin's decision was also influenced by the fecklessness of the Barack Obama administration's destructive policy in the fight against the global jihad and Islamic State.
I will disclose other details and a more broad analysis soon, but for now I will discusss the implications of revelations contained in Seymour Hersh's recent article in the London Review of Books.
Hersh reveals from a Pentagon source, 'overt opposition' among 'some of the most senior officers on the Pentagon's Joint Staff' to Obama's policy of supplying weapons to Syria's 'moderate' rebels.
Their opposition, even subversion of Obama's policy is 'focused on what they see as the administration's fixation on Assad's primary ally , Vladimir Putin."
International Military Review - Syria, January 8, 2016 (and vid)
http://southfront.org/international-military-review-syria-jan-8-2016/
"With Syrian offensives currently taking place in both northern and southern Syria, the Syrian government is continuing to push terrorists on the battlefield."
Jan 4, 2016, The Taylor Report - Eva Bartlett on Syria (podcast)
http://www.ciut.fm/shows-2/spoken-word/the-taylor-report
Phil Taylor interviews Canadian activist Eva Bartlett, recently returned from Syria (@35:00)
"It is painful to see that there are people who support Palestine but refuse to support Syria because they've been led astray by propaganda..."
'Govt Aid Was Sold Off By Traders': RT Reports From Besieged Madaya (and vid)
https://www.rt.com/news/328609-syria-besieged-madaya-exclusive/
"As a UN humanitarian convoy reached the besieged town of Madaya, RT spoke to residents, who said that though they had managed to escape the blockade, the rebels are still controlling most of the town's resources and sold them food at 'inflated prices.'
'The prices rose so high..militants sold us humanitarian aid at inflated prices. A kilogram of rice cost $250, a local resident said. 'The government sent us aid, but we never got it, because it was sold off,' another resident said."
Syria's UN Ambassador: 'The Whole Syrian People is Besieged' (and vid)
http://off-guardian.org/2016/01/12/syria-un-ambassador-the-whole-syrian-...
"Those who are besieged are all the Syrians. We are talking about Syria being besieged by enemies, by criminals, by murderers, by hostile governments targeting the whole Syrian people.
...It's about 23 million Syrians besieged by economic sanctions, by terrorists crossing from Turkey, from Jordan, from Lebanon, from Iraq. This is the reality. The whole Syrian people are besieged."
Syria: Russian Campaign Enables Government Progress
http://www.moonofalabama.org/2016/01/syria-russian-campaign-enables-gove...
"Terrorists lines fall apart..."
'ISIS Is Greater Threat To Syria Than Assad' - Opposition Officer
"...It's the law of the jungle - the strongest eat the weakest. Daesh poses a greater threat to us and to Syria than the government."
US Imperialism's Syria Strategy and the Right of Oppressed Nations to Self Determination
http://www.counterpunch.org/2016/01/15/u-s-imperialisms-syria-strategy-a...
"Today, after four and a half years of US 'training of security forces', supposedly to defeat ISIS, some two-thirds of Syria, mostly thinly-populated areas, is under the control of one or another jihadist group.
Virtually all are directly, indirectly or covertly armed and financed by US imperialism, its NATO allies, the Saudi government, (and 'private' Saudi billionaires), Qatar, the United Arab Emirates or other Gulf State monarchies.
It is in the above context of virtually endless US wars and interventions that have taken the lives of literally millions in the Middle East that any serious assessment of the present situation in Syria can best be understood.
With US imperialism's assisted rollback of the Arab Spring revolutionary tide in Egypt and with the Gadhafi 'regime change' in Libya via a US/NATO 'humanitarian war' that slaughtered thousands, under its belt, the Syrian government of President Bashar Assad was placed dead center in the US imperial gunsights..."
'West Using Madaya, Humanitarian Crisis in Syria to Undermine Peace Talks': Russia Dep-Envoy to UN
https://www.rt.com/news/329151-west-undermines-syrian-talks-madaya/
"The West is attempting to derail the upcoming Syrian peace talks by using the humanitarian blockade of besieged cities as an 'unscrupulous tactic,' Russia's deputy ambassador to the UN told the Security Council.
'It looks like, under the pretext of the deterioration of the situation in besieged cities, attempts are being made to undermine the launch of the inter-Syrian dialogue scheduled for January 25,' Victor Safronkov told an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council."
Saudi Backing For Terrorists Impedes Syria Peace Efforts: Damascus
http://presstv.com/Detail/2016/01/16/445969/Syria-Walid-Muallem-Damascus...
"The Syrian foreign minister says Saudi Arabia's support for terrorists will be an impediment to international attempts to reduce the conflict in the Arab country. 'It has a negative impact on the situation, they will increase the financial and military support to the terrorists in Syria,' he said.
'They will prevent the Geneva conference from being successful,' he said in reference to the next round of Syria's peace negotiations on January 20..."
Indian Ambassador Confirms Syrian War Was 'Instigated From Outside'
Former Ambassador of India in Damascus, VP Haran confirmed that the Syrian war started not as a result of an uprising against the Syrian President Bashar al Assad but was instigated from the outside, DWN reported.
'Much of this war was instigated from the outside, namely by the Gulf States,' the diplomat said, stressing that back in 2009 'Syria was a peaceful country without any hidden tensions..."
German Economic News (GEN) Interviews Seymour Hersh on Obama's Syrian Policy
http://rinf.com/alt-news/breaking-news/german-economic-news-interviews-
GEN: "You recently issued a highly acclaimed essay in the London Review of Books in which you demonstrate that the US military was against the US invasion of Syria, but Obama didn't listen to their advice. Why?
Hersh: I don't know, I have no explanation. The fact is that the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff had gone to Obama and told him: If Assad falls, chaos will break out. General Dempsey said we must support Assad against the Islamists..."
Sunnistan: US and Allied 'Safe Zone' Plan to Grab Territorial Booty in Northern Syria
http://21stcenturywire.com/2016/01/15/sunnistan-us-and-its-allies-safe-z...
"Remember when the Obama Administraiton told the world how it hoped to identify 5,000 reliable non-jihadist 'moderate' rebels hanging out in Turkey and Jordan, who might want to fight for Washington in Syria?
After all the drama over its infamous 'train and equip' program to create their own Arab army in Syria, they want to give it another try. This week, Pentagon officials announced their plan to train up to 7,000 more 'moderate' fighters, but this time the project would take place inside Syria (and to hell with international law)..."
ISIS Massacres 280 Civilians For 'Cooperation With The Syrian Army' - Reports (and vid)
https://www.rt.com/news/329214-syria-isis-massacre-deir-ezzor/
"Islamic State jihadists have reportedly slaughtered up to 280 people in the Deir ez Zor province, killing 'whole families' for alleged cooperation with the Syrian troops. The killings are said to have taken place after Russian humanitarian aid was air-dropped..."
ITN: Murky Waters (S3E12 and vid)
https://www.rt.com/shows/in-the-now-summary/329219-murky-waters-syria-oil/
Starvation in Syria: Discussion with Canadian Poli-Sci Professor Radhika Desai, U of Man..
Sign the letter to the Prime Minister -- end the bombing!
http://www.ceasefire.ca/?p=22952
Dear Prime Minister Justin Trudeau,I urge you to order the Canadian military to immediately stop dropping bombs on Iraq and Syria and to recall our warplanes to Canada, as you have repeatedly promised you would do.
Yes indeed! Thanks mark_alfred...
#336 ISIS Massacres 280 Civilians For 'Cooperation With The Syrian Army'
....has not the Syrian Human Rights Organization been implicated in these massacres, the darling of the CBC which routinely pontificates on the terrors of the Syrian Government...
under international complicity law, would that not make the CBC, the Current, As it Happens, The News! ad nauseum party to war crimes?
Thanks for the letter form mark_alfred. I've signed it and sent it with a few of my own comments.
Chretien kept us out of the phony Iraq war and this war on Syria is nothing but more US aggression in the ME in the interests of fulfilling their PNAC agenda. If we don't withdraw now while Obama is still in office then it will be hopeless later when they elect a hawk as their president. That's almost certain now unless Sanders can pull off a miracle.
The Obama 'red line' speech was almost certainly a set up to facilitate Putin's initiative on Syria. As with the Iraq so-called WMD's that didn't exist, Assad likely had no use for his chem/bio weapons. When the proposition of destroying them was put to Assad he must have gleefullly complied with the demand. Thereby taking away any justification the US had built up for their planned war.
Syria is a stepping stone to the US's planned war with Iran. With the exception of Obama and a small amount of support in congress, their entire country is screaming for war with Iran due to fear having being built up through propganda. It will come soon after the Obama term unless Russia and China consolidate their deterrent to future US led wars in the ME.
It is my strong opinion that Trudeau is firmly on the side of peace in the ME and he understands the situation perfectly. However, to act on it in a just manner he needs to have the support of the Canadian people. Many Canadians have tried to impress upon him that he has our backing to take a complete antiwar stance against assisting the US in their further wars of aggression but there is still opposition coming from the defeated Conservatives. And perhaps from some others. Partly because of their ideology and also partly because of their dislike of Trudeau from a strictly domestic POV.
If enough Canadians speak out loudly against Canada participating in US led wars then we can give Trudeau the confidence he needs to do the right thing. Chretien was enabled because he knew he was onside with our wishes. We need Trudeau to follow his wise direction.
We who are opposed to Canada taking part in US led wars have friends at the CBC. One of the best is Neil Macdonald who is probably the most well informed journalist they have. He is sittine on his hands for the most part but he may be able to be encouraged to be more vocal in his support of the antiwar cause. Fwiw, Brian Stewart, who comes off as one of their chief hawks, is retired from the CBC and is now with Munk Global Affairs. And others who could be supportive of our cause could perhaps be mentioned here in the interest of turning them with a little encouraging. It would also be helpful to know which ones are completely hopeless.
We who are opposed to Canada taking part in US led wars have friends at the CBC. One of the best is Neil Macdonald who is probably the most well informed journalist they have. He is sittine on his hands for the most part but he may be able to be encouraged to be more vocal in his support of the antiwar cause. Fwiw, Brian Stewart, who comes off as one of their chief hawks, is retired from the CBC and is now with Munk Global Affairs. And others who could be supportive of our cause could perhaps be mentioned here in the interest of turning them with a little encouraging. It would also be helpful to know which ones are completely hopeless.
The Left and Violence in Syria - by Kim Petersen and BJ Sabri
http://dissidentvoice.org/2016/01/the-left-and-violence-in-syria/
"...Indisputably, Syria is a state under attack from mercenaries backed by foreign states. It is understandable that progressivists would call for an immediate cessation of violence, but such a call must not be issued in a vacuum. The end of violence does not signal and end for the moral Left. Progressivists must not issue calls upon state actors based in ignorance.
In the present case of Syria and assorted state actors, any call must be issued to all belligerent states and their proxies that have harmed another state through initiating violence to cease and desist followed by making restitution and paying reparations to Syria for the crimes of war.
Furthermore, Saudi Arabia, the Gulf states, Turkey, the US and involved western states, [Canada!,] along with Israel must be summoned to the docket of a modern-day Nuremberg Tribunal and prosecuted according to Nuremberg law. Aggression being the embodiment of evil must not be permitted to coyly disappear into the pages of time unprosecuted and unpunished..."
The Left and Violence in Syria - by Kim Petersen and BJ Sabri
http://dissidentvoice.org/2016/01/the-left-and-violence-in-syria/
"...Indisputably, Syria is a state under attack from mercenaries backed by foreign states. It is understandable that progressivists would call for an immediate cessation of violence, but such a call must not be issued in a vacuum. The end of violence does not signal and end for the moral Left. Progressivists must not issue calls upon state actors based in ignorance.
In the present case of Syria and assorted state actors, any call must be issued to all belligerent states and their proxies that have harmed another state through initiating violence to cease and desist followed by making restitution and paying reparations to Syria for the crimes of war.
Furthermore, Saudi Arabia, the Gulf states, Turkey, the US and involved western states, [Canada!,] along with Israel must be summoned to the docket of a modern-day Nuremberg Tribunal and prosecuted according to Nuremberg law. Aggression being the embodiment of evil must not be permitted to coyly disappear into the pages of time unprosecuted and unpunished..."
The very unfortunate fact is that nothing but another nuclear armed world power is going to stop the US. Russia and China have found an opening with Syria, due to Obama's 'red line' speech and Putin's reaction to it. Intentions on both sides can be argued but the facts that exist can't. Russia is taking a hands-on approach and China is doing the opposite in world affairs that include the US, but they are still involved. China sent a warship to Syria three or four months ago but we haven't heard about it in the news.
At the present, we are entering another cold war and MAD is the only reason the US appears to be at a stalemate situation. And of course Obama's influence which will end dramatically with the next US president who will undoubtedly be another warmonger in support of the people.
By rights this should probably go into the Saudi thread, but as it also has a rough overview of the various geostrategic motivations and energy interests of the players in the Syrian war, it might serve as a somewhat crude, simple introduction, so I'll put it here.
America's Arab Allies Debate Need For Genocide Against 'Infidels' (and vid)
http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2016/01/americas-arab-allies-debate-need-...
"...Two key allies of the US are the Sunni governments of Qatar and Saudi Arabia - two fundamentalist Sunni countries whose ruling families are (like the US government) hostile to countries ruled by Shiites, particularly Iran and Syria.
Syria's Assad blocks the construction of a Qatari gas pipeline into Europe, and of a Saudi oil pipeline into Europe; Europe is by far the world's largest energy market. So, there's a Sunni versus Shiite war, between Sunni royals and Shiite governments; and Assad also blocks Obama's plan to replace Russian oil and gas sales with Sunni oil and gas sales.
Militarily, Sunni nations boost sales of US weaponry, whereas Russia is America's biggest competitor in the weapons-sales markets, and supplies weapons to Shiite countries. So: it's US and the Sunni royals, versus Russia and the Shiite leaders. If there will be another world war, the are already the principals in it.
Saudi Arabia is the world's biggest buyer of US-made weapons, and when US presidents meet the Saudi king, the President of the United States bows before him. King Saud is the world's wealthiest person..."
By rights this should probably go into the Saudi thread, but as it also has a rough overview of the various geostrategic motivations and energy interests of the players in the Syrian war, it might serve as a somewhat crude, simple introduction, so I'll put it here.
America's Arab Allies Debate Need For Genocide Against 'Infidels' (and vid)
http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2016/01/americas-arab-allies-debate-need-...
"...Two key allies of the US are the Sunni governments of Qatar and Saudi Arabia - two fundamentalist Sunni countries whose ruling families are (like the US government) hostile to countries ruled by Shiites, particularly Iran and Syria.
Syria's Assad blocks the construction of a Qatari gas pipeline into Europe, and of a Saudi oil pipeline into Europe; Europe is by far the world's largest energy market. So, there's a Sunni versus Shiite war, between Sunni royals and Shiite governments; and Assad also blocks Obama's plan to replace Russian oil and gas sales with Sunni oil and gas sales.
Militarily, Sunni nations boost sales of US weaponry, whereas Russia is America's biggest competitor in the weapons-sales markets, and supplies weapons to Shiite countries. So: it's US and the Sunni royals, versus Russia and the Shiite leaders. If there will be another world war, the are already the principals in it.
Saudi Arabia is the world's biggest buyer of US-made weapons, and when US presidents meet the Saudi king, the President of the United States bows before him. King Saud is the world's wealthiest person..
If you can square all that with the US's PNAC agenda which calls for the conquest of both Syria and Iran, combined with the fact the US has started 37 wars of aggression since the end of WW2 alone, then I have no quarrel with any of it.
As for Russia's war efforts in the Ukraine, defensive of their borders at worst to stop US/Nato.
As for Russia's fight with ISIS, to protect their interests in holding onto Syria for the main part.
International Military Review - Syria, Jan 19, 2016 (and vid)
http://southfront.org/international-military-review-syria-jan-19-2016/
The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and popular forces continued to push militant groups back from more territory in the northern parts of Latakia province. Continuing heavy clashes in the province of Deir Ezzor...
Daesh Backers To Blame For Deir-Al Zawr Massacre: Syria
http://www.presstv.com/Detail/2016/01/19/446486/Syria-Dayr-alZawr-UN-Dae...
"The Syrian government has strongly denounced the recent massacre by Daesh Takfiri terrorists in the eastern Deir-al-Zawr Province, saying the responsibility for the crime lies with the supporters of terrorist groups operating across the Arab state. The ministry said the militant groups are receiving funds from some regional countries, as well as states outside the region.
Noting that these countries recruit terrorists to serve their interests, the ministry also pointed out such crimes would not have happened without the constant funding, arming and logistical support provided by intelligence agencies, of certain states, especially Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey..."
Israeli Minister Says He Prefers Daesh (IS) To Iran in Syria
http://www.presstv.com/Detail/2016/01/20/446557/Israel-Moshe-Yaalon-Daes...
"Israel's Minister of Military Affairs Moshe Ya'alon says he prefers the presence of the Daesh (IS) Takfiri terrorist group in Syria to that of Iran.
Describing Iran as the 'greatest enemy' of Israel, Ya'alon claimed that 'Iran determines the future of Syria and if it leads to perpetuation, Iranian hegemony in Syria will be a huge challenge for Israel.'
Israel has reportedly been supplying the militants fighting the government of Syria's President Bashar al Assad. The Israeli regime has also set up hospitals near the border with Syria to treat injured militants coming in from the battlefield there. Locals in the Israeli-occupied [Syrian] Golan Heights have also intercepted Israeli vehicles transporting injured militants..."
Report: Turkish Troops Enter Syria To Stop Kurdish Advance - by Jason Ditz
http://news.antiwar.com/2016/01/20/report-turkish-troops-enter-syria-to-...
"According to Turkish media reports, a 'large number' of Turkish troops have crossed the border into neighboring Syria, moving into ISIS-held Jarabulus uncontested by ISIS' forces, and were said to be preparing to fight YPG forces (Syrian Kurds) advancing against the town..."
Islamist Fighters in Aleppo, Syria Get Reinforcements From Turkey
https://www.rt.com/news/329675-aleppo-militants-reinforcements-turkey/
"Terrorists have increased their activities ahead of next week's inter-Syrian talks, with insurgents in the Syrian province of Aleppo receiving reinforcements from Turkey, Russia's Foreign Ministry said.
Maria Zakhorova said that Russia is concerned over Ankara's increased military incursions into Syria. According to the spokeswoman, the Syrian government has sent an official appeal to the UN secretary general and chairman of the UN Security Council over 'repeated incursions' of Turkish troops into Syrian border areas..."
Syria - Some Preliminary Positioning For An Endgame
http://www.moonofalabama.org/2016/01/syria-some-preliminary-positioning-...
"The Obama administration and its anti-Syrian allies had hoped for a defeated Syrian government in Geneva that would agree to their capitulation conditions. They now have to change the narrative. Peace talks in Geneva they now argue, can not take place because the Syrian government is winning.
In the meantime, various parties are positioning themselves for the larger endgame.
The Kurds in Syria want a corridor along the Turkey-Syrian border to connect their areas in the east with the Kurdish enclave in the west. They are fighting against the US-supported gangs north-west of Aleppo with Russian support, and with Russian and US support against Islamic State gangs north-west of Aleppo.
The US is invading Syrian ground and building an airport in the Kurdish area in east Syria. This probably to later support and guarantee an oil-rich Kurdish state. The Russians may counter that move with their own airport in the area. Israel, which buys most of the Kurdish oil and just made friends with Turkey, is now officially calling for an independent Kurdish state.
In Iraq the Turks continue to occupy bases in Iraqi-Kurdistan under the protection of the Iraq-Kurdish mafia boss Barzani. This despite threats from the Iraqi government..."
International Military Review: Syria - Jan 21, 2016
"Turkey preparing invasion..."
