Where Will ISIS Go Next? – Moon of Alabama

June 23, 2014

Where Will ISIS Go Next?

Elijah J. Magnier has an interesting interview with an ISIS commander, Abu Baqr-al-Janabi, in Baghdad. There are plans for ISIS to take the city and there are apparently sleeper cells of fighters waiting for the big attack signal. But, says the commander, ISIS and the attached other forces, will first have to consolidate their positions and eliminate Iraqi government position in their back. The Iraqi government is already giving up some outer position and is consolidating its side by securing only Baghdad, the south and some economically important assets.

The 300 military "advisers" the U.S. had announced to send to Iraqi headquarters will likely never arrive. There is disagreement over their legal status and the Iraqi government, given the U.S. commitment to another regime change in Baghdad, may well conclude that these soldiers would likely be malign actors rather than trustworthy allies. The Maliki government, like the Iranians, probably sees the whole ISIS attack as the result of a U.S. conspiracy.

My hunch for now is that ISIS will not go for the big fight in Baghdad in the near term but will rather try to launch some substantial diversion elsewhere. In the introduction of the interview Magnier writes:

ISIS’s aim is not Iraq and Syria, it is the Levant and beyond. It includes Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Israel and more. “No Limits”, as I am told.

There was a pro-ISIS demonstration today in Ma'an, "Jordan's Fallujah" (video). Just like ISIS had sleeper cells within the Iraqi military it may well have some within the Jordanian forces or secret services. The road between Baghdad and Jordan is in ISIS's hand as well as the border crossing to Jordan. Involving Jordan would certainly see a military reaction from Washington. That is something which, according to the interview, ISIS would very much want. Could ISIS go, if only as diversion, for Amman before taking on Baghdad?

Posted by b on June 23, 2014 at 16:52 UTC | Permalink

Comments

@94 dh – ditto… in regards your question (what to do about it) addressed to jsore – if his actions are any guide – rant on public message boards, thinking you’re bringing truth to all the ignoramus’s in internet land..
thanks for the links and posts. proxy war between saudi arabia and iran sounds about right.. the suggestion the usa has to choose a side, leaves out the idea that they would prefer to encourage a conflict between s.a. and iran.. what about that very real possibility? this all seems to serve israels interests too.

Posted by: james | Jun 24 2014 19:31 utc | 101

Thanks b for keeping MoA alive while under attack.
There are known knowns. Israel has successfully partitioned Iraq. Saudi Arabia and Turkey have successfully split the Shiite Crescent. The price of oil remains above $100 a barrel to the benefit of the Saudis, Frackers, and Oil Sand Extractors. An Army of Jahdis drawn together from across the world is conquering the Sunni Levant without any hindrance. The Obama Presidency is falling apart.
There are known unknowns. Will the Jihadi Army aim at Mecca and Riyadh? Wall Street and City of London will not allow the House of Saud to fall and bring the petrodollar down with it. Will the Jihadists head for Amman and decapitate the Israel’s only buffer state? Or, will ISIS/Baathists lay siege to Baghdad? The first two are sure to draw American Air Strikes. There will be no American air strikes in support of Shiite militias while the Green Zone is still survivable.
The unknown is how long the Obama Presidency will last after the collapse of the dollar or the forced evacuation with causalities from the Green Zone.
Huge risks are being taken in the Levant and Ukraine for the benefit of a very few wealthy Plutocrats.

Posted by: VietnamVet | Jun 24 2014 20:12 utc | 102

this all seems to serve israels interests too.
In what way? If we’re to believe ISIS is as bold and ideological as it’s been portrayed in the media and by its own public relations department (how corporate of it), then surely at some point ISIS will set its sights on Israel. And the problem with ISIS is that they are seemingly everywhere, so it’s not like they can be easily nuked if things became so dire. That’d be like swatting bees with a bat. So, Israel’s nukes are useless against an unidentifiable threat like ISIS should it come for Israel at a later date when it’s gained considerable power and advantage. It should scare the living daylights out of Israel — this is its worst nightmare. Perhaps it’s why Israel’s been so silent all this time — it’s afraid if it moves it’ll drop a load in its pants. It’s paralyzed with fear like a rabbit in peril.

Posted by: Cold N. Holefield | Jun 24 2014 20:23 utc | 103

U.S forces arrive in Baghdad.

Posted by: JSorrentine | Jun 24 2014 20:26 utc | 104

U.S. Forces Flow Into Baghdad To Assess Iraq Troops
It takes 300 to do what could be done by one in a teleconference? I say teleconference because the indictment should be administered face to face and Skype allows that.
The indictment to Maliki and his military:
You’re Fucked. Sorry. It was nice (not really) doing business with you. Get out while you can. Maybe Iran, Russia or China can help, but we doubt they will. Bye now.

Posted by: Cold N. Holefield | Jun 24 2014 20:33 utc | 105

The 90 Special Forces troops were joining 40 troops pulled from assignments at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad to set up a Joint Operations Center with the Iraqi military. An additional 50 Special Forces troops were expected to arrive in Baghdad in the next several days, said Rear Adm. John Kirby, the Pentagon press secretary.
President Obama has authorized up to 300 Special Forces troops from U.S. Central Command deploy to Iraq to aid the crumbling Iraqi military fighting the advancing forces of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.
Kirby stressed that the Special Forces troops would be working with the Iraqis at the headquarters and brigade levels.
“We’re not talking about putting people out on foot patrols at the platoon level,” Kirby said.
Although Obama has authorized 300, “that doesn’t necessarily mean that there will be 300” actually on the ground in Iraq for what has been called a mission of limited duration, Kirby said.
“I don’t have a list of criteria for you” concerning when the mission might end, Kirby said at a Pentagon briefing.
He said the initial task for the newly-arrived troops will be to assess the situation on the ground with the aid of intelligence from 30-35 daily surveillance flights over Iraq by manned and unmanned aircraft.
“The President also made clear that airstrikes are not off the table. We remain postured to do that,” Kirby said.
Last week, the Navy moved the aircraft carrier George H.W. Bush with more than 50 F/A-18 Super Hornet attack aircraft aboard into the Persian Gulf.
The U.S. also has numerous air assets in neighboring Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, and in the Gulf state of Qatar, but it was unclear if those states would permit airstrikes from their territory.
The Bush and her two escort warships – the cruiser Philippine Sea and the destroyer Truxtun — have since been joined in the Persian Gulf by the amphibious transport dock ship Mesa Verde with five MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft and approximately 550 Marines from the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) aboard.
The Special Forces troops arrived amid conflicting reports on the status of Iraq’s largest oil refinery in the northern town of Baiji. Several reports said that ISIL fighters were in control of Baiji while the Iraqi government claimed that a fight was continuing.
At the Pentagon, Kirby said that Baiji ‘remains contested territory now.”

Posted by: JSorrentine | Jun 24 2014 20:46 utc | 106

But no.
I don’t even know who they are.

Posted by: just me, still. | Jun 24 2014 21:01 utc | 107

#98 yes there does seem to be some interesting things going on with Ukraine. Saker has one of his better analyses up right now on them. I posted this comment there:
This is one excellent analysis by Saker. I thought he was being too emotional in his ‘feeling’ that Putin was ready to overtly send in his army. It was easy to be so pessimistic given Poroshenko’s words. I never thought it realistic to attribute Poro’s words to the overlords in Washington. Everything he has said since his election can be understood as efforts to prevent the Right Sector from directly rebelling against his rule even if he wants to settle the insurrection in the Donbas through negotiation and compromise. This applies to his ceasefire offer. It was obviously unacceptable on its face, but Putin’s ‘clarification’ of what a real ceasefire offer would entail and then accepting it might make it possible for Poro to move on to serious negotiations.
In fact this remains one of the biggest known unknowns: Can Poroshenko defy the Right Sector thugs without having them turn on him with their armed militias? So far it seems that Klitshko has still failed to clean up tent city in the Kiev maidan. Perhaps they might be pacified if he offers them the Lvov oblast in some federalization plan.
There are too many ways that this can go south very fast.

Posted by: ToivoS | Jun 24 2014 21:11 utc | 108

Toivos
So you mean poroshenko would accept rebel’s claims, if not, what are they to talk about?

Posted by: Anonymous | Jun 24 2014 21:15 utc | 109

Posted by: T2015 | Jun 24, 2014 6:38:10 AM | 71 & Posted by: T2015 | Jun 24, 2014 6:44:06 AM | 72
And what you are is an Uncle Tom, loyally repeating the lies drummed into you. I notice that you weren’t able to refute the examples I gave of Sufis being at the forefront of defending the Umma from imperialist encroachment. you’re the one who made the wholly ludicrous comparison between Buddhism and Sufism and you’re the one who on previous threads spouted a load ludicrous half arsed shit about symbolism and flags.
You’re an uncle tom and I see no reason to waste any further time on you – except of course when you repeat the lies your masters want you to repeat.

Posted by: stop telling lies | Jun 24 2014 21:18 utc | 110

Iraq is going to get worse; it’s likely to go the way of Syria with bloody battle followed by bloody battle. Obama will go down as a weak, ineffective executive who committed numerous crimes and blunders.
Posted by: Mike Maloney | Jun 24, 2014 2:28:27 PM | 92
I think his actions on Ukraine and Iraq have been brilliant thus far. He’s snubbed Russia rather than treating it as a global equal and he’s essentially informed Maliki he’s got to go it alone. He’s even got Iran begging the U.S. to help them save Iraq. That’s not weak and ineffective, that’s a champion chess player.

Posted by: Cold N. Holefield | Jun 24 2014 22:04 utc | 111

@96
Angles and Saxons came from northern germany and southern denmark.

Posted by: Massinissa | Jun 24 2014 22:20 utc | 112

Cold, why do you post here when noone likes you or appreciates your posts?

Posted by: Massinissa | Jun 24 2014 22:31 utc | 113

U.S forces arrive in Baghdad.
Posted by: JSorrentine | Jun 24, 2014 4:26:08 PM | 104
this is like the return of the Black Death; the Butchers of Fallujah should never be let return

Posted by: brian | Jun 24 2014 22:31 utc | 114

Khameini told the US to say out of Iraq, so I guess you mean save it by staying out.
Readers should note on intermittent occasions this Holefield character, while seeming to be troubled by certain of the Empire’s excesses, states explictly, the American Empire is the best thing the world’s got going for it, and implies, until and unless Russia and China crumble, those Americans opposed to Empire are “traitors.”

Posted by: truthbetold | Jun 24 2014 22:31 utc | 115

Posted by: Cold N. Holefield | Jun 24, 2014 6:04:15 PM | 111
amazing what can be done with AI

Posted by: brian | Jun 24 2014 22:32 utc | 116

Somebody who bases his screen name on Holden Caulfield would have had his formative years in the fifties or at latest the sixties. So it’s no surprise he is incapable of escaping from Cold War-era thinking.

Posted by: lysias | Jun 24 2014 22:45 utc | 117

@117 Not everyone who has read Catcher in the Rye is that old. Its still taught in schools.
But my god I never figured out that Cold N Holefield was a Holden Caulfield reference.

Posted by: Massinissa | Jun 24 2014 22:51 utc | 118

Posted by: Anonymous | Jun 24, 2014 3:07:58 PM | 98
“b
Time to update on ukraine topic, some new stuff happend today.”
“Stuff” has been happening all week. “Game breaking” stuff. You know, like “major changes”. But right now it is more important to obfuscate the fact that Israel and the USA are behind the ISIS attack on Iraq.

Posted by: scalawag | Jun 24 2014 23:15 utc | 119

for the one track minds that live and breathe ukraine current events 24/7 – there is always the saker… you folks strike me like drug addicts in need of your daily fix, while blaming others for not providing for immediately…
kremlin stooge from a few days ago is always good reading..
http://marknesop.wordpress.com/2014/06/22/dont-talk-to-me-about-the-rule-of-law-ever-again/#more-2984

Posted by: james | Jun 24 2014 23:52 utc | 120

@Anonymous #98:
Time to update on ukraine topic, some new stuff happend today.
The full-scale assault upon Slavya’nsk that Strelkov was afraid of has not occurred. Speculation (in Russian) has it that the reason for that is that while the the fascists have plenty of armored vehicles, they have few qualified operators for them.
Meanwhile, the Novorossiyan media has taken to calling the Ukraine the “the former Ukraine”. Also, I just read an article saying that “there is no such thing as a Ukrainian nation, a point of view I myself expressed when the crisis started, before I even heard of MoA or VotS, just because I come from a Russian background.

the territory which today is called “Ukraine”, there is a conglomerate of three – at least – a very different areas: new Russia, the Ukraine and Galicia (Zapadinsky). In these areas live:
1. Fascists-Banderites, heretics-Uniates and pathological Russophobes. …
2. Russians. A part of them belongs to the little Russian branch of Russian people and live mostly in the Central part of the modern “Ukraine” and amount to 40-45 percent of its current population. In the twentieth century they have been taught to consider themselves some non-existent “Ukrainians”, though, with the amendment that they are our “brotherly people”. This myth of “brotherly people” was intensively implemented (and still is embedded in the consciousness of Russians living in Russia. As a result, the understanding of the obvious fact that there are no “Ukrainians” – there is only the little Russian branch of the single Russian nation which had almost disappeared – and only the civil war on “Ukraine” again drew attention of politicians and media to this issue. …
3. The second part is actually the Russians, who have always considered themselves – Russian, Orthodox, belonging to the Moscow Patriarchate – and still do so. They live mostly in the South and East of the country, in the new Russia (about Crimea do not say, no longer relevant). These constitute 40-45 percent of the people of “Ukraine”. It is these people that the Nazi Banderist regime which has occupied Kiev is trying to destroy by all means possible.

So the idea that there is such a thing as the Ukrainian people is a myth that was first created by Roman Catholic aggressors tand then by the Imperial German high command, and later picked up by the Bolsheviks.
The take-away from all this is that the very concept of a Ukrainian nation or people is inherently fascist. That is what Russians and others are now learning.

Posted by: Demian | Jun 25 2014 0:08 utc | 121

via Zerohedge
Putin Scores Another Historic Victory:
Austria Signs South Stream Pipeline Deal In Defiance Of Europe
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-06-24/putin-scores-another-historic-victory-austria-signs-south-stream-pipeline-deal-defia

Posted by: crone | Jun 25 2014 0:50 utc | 122

If we are to assume as a certainty that ISIS went from Syria to Iraq as planned in advance and
exactly calibrated by the American-Israeli combine,rather than weigh that there be some significant unplanned action here, it would be nice to hear charges from the governments of Iraq and-or Iran to that effect.

Posted by: truthbetold | Jun 25 2014 0:57 utc | 123

isis are headed for al quasir and qualamon mountains for round 2 then northern lebanon.west then west and south,as the black crow flies.advance units are already in place hence the suicide bombings in beirut.

Posted by: wes | Jun 25 2014 1:23 utc | 124

Posted by: Demian | Jun 24, 2014 8:08:58 PM | 121
Talking about it there is no such thing as a United States nation. As no such thing as an Iraqi nation. Or British nation.
I hear everybody is hard at work to ensure a cease fire. The “rebels” just downed a helicopter over Slaviansk. I am sure they have enough anti tank explosives, too.
As Obama now needs Russia (again) to save his face Poroshenko presumably is allowed to make peace in Ukraine.
I could not find anything on how the EU is going to deal with the Eurasian Economic Union. This is in large part what the crisis is about (and why people are dying).
But I found this from India

New Delhi, June 18: India on Wednesday indicated it is contemplating a free-trade agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union of Russia and former Soviet Union states proposed by Russian President Vladimir Putin, a move that would trigger alarm bells in Washington.
Russia and India today agreed to set up a joint study group to evaluate the feasibility of the free-trade agreement, after a four-hour meeting between foreign minister Sushma Swaraj and Russian deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin here.
The proposed pact would make India among the first nations to embrace the Eurasian Union — formally called the Customs Union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan — that Moscow views as an economic counter to the European Union.

Posted by: somebody | Jun 25 2014 4:04 utc | 125

There seems to be this deal

KIEV, June 23 (RIA Novosti) – Ukraine is ready to hold consultations with Russia on the implementation of the economic part of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement, which Kiev intends to sign on June 27, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin told the press on Monday.
“The impact of implementing the agreement, including on our economic relations with the Russian Federation, will be clearly positive. We are ready, if there are concerns, we are ready to continue to conduct effective consultations. Of course, not on the content of the agreement, but we are ready to conduct effective consultations on the implementation of the agreement, and I see the possibility of finding implementation solutions very quickly,” Klimkin said.

Posted by: somebody | Jun 25 2014 4:28 utc | 126

Sorry, link to the above
there is also this

The economic part of the Association Agreement is to be signed on June 27. Thus, trilateral consultations between Russia, Ukraine and the European Commission would only be possible after the agreement has been signed. Russian Deputy Minister of Economic Development Alexei Likhachev earlier told RIA Novosti, that in this case the negotiations would merely be an exchange of opinions, as it would not be possible to change anything.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso earlier agreed to hold trilateral consultations on the Association Agreement between Russia, the EU and Ukraine at the expert and ministerial levels. The Russian side, according to Likhachev, has offered to schedule the meeting before the document is signed, so that the parties can do more than simply exchanging views, and evaluate and prevent the risks the agreement implies for the Ukrainian economy.

Posted by: somebody | Jun 25 2014 4:31 utc | 127

Ukraine official link confirming. Trilateral consultations before the signing of June 27.
The should set up a trilateral history commission, too. So people stop kicking their heads in over old graves.

Posted by: somebody | Jun 25 2014 4:35 utc | 128

@somebody #125:

As Obama now needs Russia (again) to save his face Poroshenko presumably is allowed to make peace in Ukraine.

Too much blood has been spilled for a peace to be made that keeps Novorossia in the Ukraine. And the Banderites have not given up their plans to Ukrainize/make fascist all of the Ukraine, within its present borders.
And as Putin observed at the press conference in Vienna, the Yukis are not observing the cease fire, so they obviously aren’t interested in peace. They are now shelling infrastructure.
Why were the Czechs and Slovaks able to split peacefully, whereas the Ukis do not allow Novorossia to do that? Because Czech culture is not a fiction based on fascist ideology, the way “Ukrainian culture” is.

Posted by: Demian | Jun 25 2014 5:03 utc | 129

Posted by: somebody | Jun 25, 2014 12:04:07 AM | 125

“I hear everybody is hard at work to ensure a cease fire. The “rebels” just downed a helicopter over Slaviansk. I am sure they have enough anti tank explosives, too.”

As usual, worded in such a way to make it look like the people of Novorossiya are the aggressors and truce breakers.
This is what “cease fire” and “truce” mean to “somebody’s” masters (the west, the nazi side):
Igor Strelkov’s Combined Briefings, June 24, 2014

“Morning Briefing from the Militia, June 24, 2014
8:30 (MSK) – [The enemy] started intensive shelling of Semyonovka; smoke is rising over [the village]. We believe that the fire is coming from the Belyanskiye mountains.
On the railway Starus-Ogorodnoye near Stanitsa Luganskaya, railways were blown up, looks like in the near term there will be no trains from the direction of Moscow.
Also, based on unverified information, slagheap was smashed, an electrical substation was damaged, and seven people were trapped inside the mine as a result of the [enemy] shelling of Privol’ye and the “Privolnyanskaya” mine. One person was wounded, two were killed. Emergency crews are conducting the necessary works and rescue operations, the mine is being flooded.
9:50 (MSK) – During the night, Ukie armoured vehicles and equipment were relocated from the direction of Izyum. At this time, a column of Ukie [military] formations, consisting of nine buses with spotty green-black camouflage colouring, together with weaponry, four modernized APCs (armed with a 30mm AP (automatic cannon)), and three tented trucks marked “Persons,” one which is towing a PK (Kalashnikov machine gun), is proceeding through Krasniy Oskol, from the direction of Izyum and heading to Yatskoye, Krasniy Liman. This a second column [today].
Briefing from Igor Strelkov, June 24, 2014, 10:50
Yesterday evening, after 18:00, the enemy installed a mortary batter at a stronghold position in the Vostochniy settlement. And thereafter opened fire on the village of Semyonovka; 5 militia fighters were lightly wounded. We returned fire and destroyed one of the mortar detachments. Until the end of the light day, the road across Semyonovka was exposed to enemy tank fire; in particular, this fire was directed at “Gazel” automobiles that were delivering food to the city.
In the morning of June 24, artillery crossfire and positional combat resumed in the region of Semyonovka. We have wounded on our side.
At night we observed active movements of enemy infantry and intelligence groups in the vicinity of Kramatorsk. To the west of Kramatorsk, the enemy installed new checkpoints, reinforced with armoured vehicles, APCs and Hummers. Units of “Praviy Sector” [Right Sector], marked with Division “SS-Galichina” symbols, were observed appearing to the north-east of Kramatorsk, in the vicinity of the settlement of Malinovka.
As the main water-pumping facilities are occupied by the detachments of the Ukrainian army and the NazGuard [National Guard], it still remains impossible to reestablish water supply to Slavyansk and Kramatorsk. The enemy continues to reinforce its foothold in the area of the settlements of Krivaya Luka – Zakotnoye. As a result, it is impossible to speak of any kind of truce being observed in the area of the military confrontation.
Information from the Militia Headquarters in Slavyansk, June 24, 2014, 11:00
At this time, the settlement of Vysoko-Ivanovka is being subjected to mortar fire. Water supply lines that deliver drinking water to Slavyansk, Kramatorsk and other DPR [Donetsk People’s Republic] cities pass through this settlement. The water supply lines are the target of the [enemy] shelling.
Commentary from Igor Strelkov, June 24, 2014, 13:24
Q: What type of detachments are now fighting with you – pravoseki [Right Sector militants] or servicemen of the Ukraining army (those who Poroshenko ordered to cease fire)? And what is your opinion about the results of the negotiations in Donetsk – and about the very idea of negotiations with Ukie bandits?
A: Any “conversations” with them can be conducted only from the position of strength – there is no other way. They cannot be trusted one bit. Not at all. With respect to your first question – all those who were ordered to fight continue to fight. Both NazGuard [National Guard] and the Ukrainian army. Under the guise of an “agreement to cease fire” they are trying to quickly and easily take up new positions and entrench themselves.
Q: Have the punitive forces used landmine traps?
A: Why would the bother with traps when they have “Okhota” [Note 1: NBU-P Okhota]? In conjunction with several OZMs [Note 2: OZM – a shrapnel/frag barrage mine], movement sensors and trigger extensions, [Okhota] makes a mine field practically impossible to pass or to remove.
Note 1: NBU-P Okhota is a landmine field control system.
Note 2: OZM is a Soviet-made shrapnel/frag barrage mine – an anti-personnel jumping mine with a circular area of damage.
Eyewitness Reports, June 24, 2014, 17:00
Ten “Acacia” self-propelled howitzers of the Ukrainian army have moved into the village of Varvarovka, near Rubezhnoye, at approximately 17:00. They have set up base at the abandoned cannery.
Briefing from Igor Strelkov, June 24, 2014, 18:31
In the course of the day, there were two additional incidents of enemy shelling against Slavyansk. Unfortunately, one of the militia fighters (born in Gorlovka), who was wounded in the morning, died. The last massive mortar shelling ended just minutes ago. Once again, militia fighters do not leave their trenches.
With respect to the helicopter – I have no news yet. Confirmation, if any, will be provided only after all details are determined.
The enemy continues to concentrate military equipment on its foothold in Krivaya Luka. According to information from the local residents, everyone without exception, including the very old, is being evicted from their homes. Blindfolded, and without any personal things, they are taken out of the village and told to go “where the hell they want.” NazGuard bastards killed several [residents] right on the street. All this, despite the fact that there were virtually no militia fighters among the village residents.
Briefing from Igor Strelkov, June 24, 2014, 19:45
Igor Strelkov: [The downing of the helicopter] has just been confirmed. This is the tenth helicopter destroyed by our forces. As payback, the enemy is now leveling Semyonovka with white phosphorus and shrapnel charges.

Posted by: scalawag | Jun 25 2014 5:21 utc | 130

“There was no hiding, the captain said: ISIS knew who all the police and soldiers were and where their families lived.”
probably totally unrelated to this – http://www.wired.com/2007/08/also-two-thirds/ – I’m sure.
Been listening to “Inside the Emerald City”. Not 100% perfect, but really worth it as a refresher for the hubris, stupidity and free-market nit-wittery of the early months of US Iraq occupation.

Posted by: guest77 | Jun 25 2014 5:28 utc | 131

Oops, I forgot this section:

“Information from the Militia, June 24, 2014, 20:25
At this time, Ukrainian military is conducting artillery shelling of the Artyom neighbourhood of Slavyansk from the Karachun Mount. Also, according to information from militia fighters, shelling of the outskirts of Slavyansk (Semyonovka) with white phosphorus charges is now taking place. These charges have been prohibited across the world. The artillery shelling is being conducted by the forces controlled by Igor Kolomoiskiy, an oligarch and the governor of the Dnepropetrovsk oblast.
Statement from the Chairman of the Presidium of the DPR Supreme Council, Denis Pushilin, June 24, 2013, 21:07
Kiev government is de facto sabotaging the ceasefire agreement. Today, [notwithstanding yesterday’s] consultations, the [Ukrainian military] are shelling Semyonovka. At least five people have died there. From the direction of the Donetsk airport, a column of heavy armoured vehicles moved out toward Donetsk. This is just a sampling of the aggressive actions by the occupation forces on our territory.
This is the value of Kiev’s agreements with us. We believe that the Kiev government considers them a mere formality, necessary for the execution of the economic part of the EU [European Union] association agreement. All Kiev needs is for there to be an official[, formal] declaration of truce. De facto, there is no such ceasefire.
Situation Report from the Militia, June 25, 2014, 00:15
Latest Hourly Briefings from Location
18:25 (MSK) – In the vicinity of the Putilovsk bridge (Donetsk) there is a skirmish. At this time, all roads leading to the area of weapons fire are closed.
19:50 (MSK) – Impossible to drive through the area of the Putilovsk bridge (Donetsk) due to a special operation ongoing there.
20:10 (MSK) – Shelling of the Artyom district of Slavyansk is ongoing. Fire is coming from the Karachun Mount.
20:20 (MSK) – Rail lines blown up at the railway near Dybaltsevo.
23:00 (MSK) – Intensive shelling of Slavyansk is ongoing. Volleys coming from the direction of Kirovsk and Raigorodok between Brusino and the Yampol checkpoint. Something is burning at Mashmet. Single and grouped signal flares and rockets observed in the sky.
23:35 (MSK) Explosions heard and bright afterglow observed in the area of the highways to Kharkov, near Svyatogorsk. It appears that the enemy may be using incendiary charges again.
23:45 (MSK) From the direction of the Donetskoe settlement fiver MLRS systems launched their volleys. The direction of the shelling has not been determined.
Information received by the militia over the past few hours, June 24, 2014, 23:55 – 02:20
23:55 (MSK) – Unfortunately, the ceasefire that was reached several hours ago never came into effect; the Ukie forces opened fire, using heavy weaponry, including howitzers. This is not something they could blame on the militia: the heaviest weapon possessed by the militia is a 120mm caliber mortar. A mortar has neither an anti-recoil system, nor a carriage, and the sound of the firing mortar differs from that of artillery systems. It is obvious that howitzer batteries are being employed – bright bursts of light are followed by glow and then by rumbling of explosions.
The shelling is being conducted in the area of the Kombikormoviy, of the refueling station – there are sounds of howitzer and KPBT [large-calibre armour-mounted machine gun] fire.
00:10 (MSK) – There are bursts of light and signal flares coming from the direction of Kirovsk. In the vicinity of the turn onto Svyatorgorsk there are powerful blasts; in the region of the Yampol checkpoint – explosions. The shelling appears to be coming from the direction of Bogorodichnoe. Also, there is shelling coming from Staraya Krasnyanka against Lisichansk. In Dolginkaya there is combat, signal flares. The shelling is being done with heavy weaponry.
00:20 (MSK) – Bursts of light and explosions [observed] in the centre of Yampol. Fire is coming from the area of the bridge to Zakotnoye.
00:45 (MSK) – Artillery fire against Yampol continues from the direction of Zakotnoye.
00:50 (MSK) – The shooting has quieted down. Only question is for how long.
02:00 (MSK) – And so, here is information regarding the shelling of Lisichansk. [The enemy] was firing at the “Privolnyanskaya” mine. As a result of artillery shelling, an electrical substation was destroyed. The mine has been de-electrified – there are people who remain inside the mine. At this time, rescuers and emergency crews have departed for the mine.
00:20 (MSK) – There is shooting coming from the direction of Yampol.
Information from Local Residents, June 24, 2014, 02:00
Around midnight, artillery shelling of the outskirts of Privoliye with the use of howitzers commenced from the direction of Staraya Krasnyanka. About 13 explosions could be heard … my 5-month-old baby was woken up by these explosions … In Privoliye an electrical substation was blown up, there is no light in the mine [as a result.] At the “Privolnyanka” mine – one woman was killed, one wounded. Electrical power to the mine has been interrupted. People were taken out through the reserve exit.
At the time, it is quiet in Privoliye. Those closer to “Privolnyanka” mine have no electricity. At the “Kapustina” mine everything is fine. Light has appeared in that part of the town. Could it be true that the mine itself was targeted? I am getting the impression that their goal is to destroy infrastructure.”

The way the western nazis conduct a cease fire in the Ukraine is remarkably similar to the way Israel conducts a cease fire with the people imprisoned in Israel’s Gaza concentration camp.

Posted by: scalawag | Jun 25 2014 5:35 utc | 132

Posted by: Demian | Jun 25, 2014 1:03:26 AM | 129

“Why were the Czechs and Slovaks able to split peacefully, whereas the Ukis do not allow Novorossia to do that? Because Czech culture is not a fiction based on fascist ideology, the way “Ukrainian culture” is.”

Very different circumstances from the Ukraine now. The west then was not trying to destabilize and isolate Russia and draw them into a shooting war, among other things, by creating a nazi terror army running amok at their doorstep. The fighting and terrorism in the Ukraine is all artificially created and maintained by agents of western oppression. A similar thing would happen in western Europe, or the Americas, if a massive influx of outside funding, propaganda, indoctrination psyops, covert death squad training, etc. was provided to the nazi elements in these countries – especially in the USA, along with command and control, with said nazis set upon taking over by any means they can.

Posted by: scalawag | Jun 25 2014 5:51 utc | 133

Now that the US is totally distracted in Iraq it looks like there is now an opportunity for a negotiated settlement in Ukraine. It seems that Putin, Poroshenko and grown ups in Germany, Austria and France are starting to come together to solve the Ukraine problem. This is positive. The important point right now is that Obama and Kerry are being distracted in Iraq and this leaves open a peaceful solution to the Ukrainian crisis.
My conjecture here definitely rejects any notion that the US, or the CIA or any other omnipotent controlling agent is directing events in Ukraine. Once the US is distracted, it is possible for a rational settlement.

Posted by: ToivoS | Jun 25 2014 6:32 utc | 134

Posted by: ToivoS | Jun 25, 2014 2:32:03 AM | 134

“My conjecture here definitely rejects any notion that the US, or the CIA or any other omnipotent controlling agent is directing events in Ukraine. Once the US is distracted, it is possible for a rational settlement.”

Of course it does. That $5 billion was for starving artists’ shows and the CIA directing the war and terrorism is really not the American CIA.
Christ…

Posted by: scalawag | Jun 25 2014 6:41 utc | 135

Posted by: Demian | Jun 25, 2014 1:03:26 AM | 129
Just saw this article that dovetails with what I replied to before.
Naryshkin called the cause of civil confrontation in Ukraine

“The problems in relations between Russia and Ukraine is largely due to the policy of the United States, expressed the view Duma speaker Sergei Naryshkin.
“Perhaps, only now becoming fully understood the reasons for such a protracted civil war (in Ukraine – approx. OPINION). All these years it is fueled not only by economic hardships in the country and inconsistency of its politicians, and the relentless “care” from abroad”, – Naryshkin wrote in his article in Rossiiskaya Gazeta.
“Attempts to interfere in the internal Affairs of sovereign States – participants of the CIS countries was carried out in two decades than once. One recent example was Georgia which was, like Ukraine, in the so-called GUUAM organization. For a long time its line on many issues of life of the Commonwealth was emphasized different than the rest of the countries. The development of integration processes within him under various pretexts was stalled”, – said the head of the state Duma.
According to Naryshkin, “not without external forces” in 2005 were provoked riots and ethnic clashes in two countries – Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. Moreover, in Kyrgyzstan, as in Ukraine, one of the “Tulip” revolution, was not.
“Looks like somebody still does not give rest to old colonialists dreams. After all, having received a rebuff to the South of Eurasia, the strategists of a unipolar world does not calmed down. And three years ago, with devastating force moved in the direction of the middle East countries,” he said.
Returning to Ukraine, the politician said: “during the last weeks, not only in Russia but also in other European countries wondered why the newly elected President of Ukraine did not stop immediately the bloody operation in Donetsk and Lugansk regions”.
“Besides, the intractability on the gas contract is nothing more than a backroom game of the United States for possession of the gas transport system of Ukraine, in fact – for the loss of its economic sovereignty,” he adds.
And concludes: “it looks like Ukrainian crisis is actually largely heated from the outside? Wittingly or unwittingly, in good faith mistaken or being cruelly deceived, although what it is now? But it was Europe was the most convenient springboard for new-throw into Eurasia. And the so-called European integration played the role of detonator explosive device, which according to the plan known to the whole world “civilization” was supposed to open the way to this is the fact that these gentlemen tried swoop to take in Arabic “the streets”. Surprisingly, but I’m talking about the richest mineral reserves.
It was here, according to Naryshkin, “today, unprecedentedly close, communication of the United States with Europe”. It is from here “coordinated and demonstrative support for those Ukrainian politicians who oppose economic integration with Russia”. Hence their “complete indifference to the slaughter of Russian-speaking population in the South-East of Ukraine”, and “shameless provocation at our Embassy in Kyiv”.

Posted by: scalawag | Jun 25 2014 7:03 utc | 136

Erdogan needs Kurdish voices!
http://www.ekurd.net/mismas/articles/misc2014/6/turkey5053.htm
The BBC bogus “Voices from Iraq” where “Jaffar” in Baghdad seems not to know when Ramadan is starting (it starts this coming friday-saturday, not ‘in two weeks’)
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-27947184

Posted by: Mina | Jun 25 2014 7:26 utc | 137

toivos 134
What are you talking about.
What discussions?
US have no role?!

Posted by: Anonymous | Jun 25 2014 8:15 utc | 138

#135 yep poliwog, the US really is over extended and there is only so much they can do. The US does not control the world (or whoever you think it is that controls the US). Of course we have been stirring up trouble in Ukraine for years with the Orange “revolution” and the more recent Kiev maidan coup. Right now the US no longer control events — Russia has turned the tables with its action in Crimea, covert support for the Donbas rebellion and intelligent diplomacy in Europe. The US is trying to figure out what to do in Iraq right now and has been side-lined. Of course, we might come back with some mischief, but it is unlikely the US can do much inside Ukraine right now. Must be frustrating for conspiracy theorist like yourself to accept that fact.

Posted by: ToivoS | Jun 25 2014 8:24 utc | 139

Posted by: Demian | Jun 25, 2014 1:03:26 AM | 129
It is a moot point. The Czech and Slovak split was not about being part of Europe/Nato yes or no. The Yugoslav civil war was.
Russia and Europe have an interest to find a EU/Eurasian Union compatiblity for Ukraine, Moldavia, Georgia, Ex-Yugoslav Republics. As is, EU and Russia are financing entities that are economically non-viable.
As economy is linked with security there will have to be European/Russian coordination in those areas, too.
European or Russian nationalism is simply not feasible.

Posted by: somebody | Jun 25 2014 8:34 utc | 140

“ISIS was born in Iraq”
Nonsense. If it was “born” at all, then in some british think-tank or some of their american subsidiaries and handled by Saudis, Mossad or whichever of the usual imperial ME-outlets.
And just until a few weeks ago it was called different names, be it Al Nusra or whatever. Now the whole media suddenly switched to ISIS and the rest disappeared completely. Now the narrative is about “ISIS-fighters returning from Syria to Europe”, could make some heads explode.
You know who financed and built up those guys, you recently had McCain visiting them personally in Syria. You also know all about Saudi/Bandar involvement in Syria etc., the same handlers they used ever since the first afghan “Mujahedeens”. You know all about the weapons smuggled to them via Croatia and so on.

Posted by: T2015 | Jun 25 2014 9:14 utc | 141

@ stop telling lies (what a crazy choice of name and how “fitting”): whatever serves you. You will believe your “all your bases belongeth to Rothschilds now!!1!!!1one” bullshit-mantra regardless of any real facts or real life out there (say like this little example: http://www.wnd.com/2013/12/u-s-plan-gives-jerusalem-holy-sites-to-vatican/).

Posted by: T2015 | Jun 25 2014 9:29 utc | 142

Toivos
‘US have no power in ukraine’
You are naive as always. US have all the power inside ukraine, you think they gave away 5 billion for nothing?
Tell me who is the PM of ukraine today?

Posted by: Anonymous | Jun 25 2014 9:32 utc | 143

Oh and of course there is no need to refute such ridiculous claims like “Dervish fighters”, one’s head explodes just when you read such crazy stuff. It’s like inventing a kung-fu Dalai Lama on a revenge trip, simply ridiculous.

Posted by: T2015 | Jun 25 2014 9:35 utc | 144

re 144 Oh and of course there is no need to refute such ridiculous claims like “Dervish fighters”,
The Naqshbandiyya is indeed a significant militia in Mosul. You should learn up.

Posted by: Alexno | Jun 25 2014 10:06 utc | 145

@129 Demian: Czech and Slovaks are the same confession, that’s why it went peacefully. Wherever you have catholics mixed with whomever else, they’ll at some point try to impose a fascist rule over all the others. That’s just how Vatican ticks, always did.

Posted by: T2015 | Jun 25 2014 10:07 utc | 146

Germany whoring out again:
More sanctions on Russia is planned.
http://rt.com/news/line/2014-06-25/#64724
Exactly what is Russia punished for!?

Posted by: Anonymous | Jun 25 2014 10:26 utc | 147

scalawag 136
Even though Putin and Lavrov have been very moderate expresing their views, more members of the Duma are speaking truth to power every week. I think your link is important because it doesn’t just address the population of Russia, it addresses Europe in a very powerful way.

Posted by: okie farmer | Jun 25 2014 10:30 utc | 148

Posted by: Anonymous | Jun 25, 2014 5:32:55 AM | 143
That type of power lasts as long as the money lasts. When it is spent, it is over. Last time I looked Ukrainian oligarchs were bribing US politicians not vise versa.

Posted by: somebody | Jun 25 2014 10:33 utc | 149

Posted by: T2015 | Jun 25, 2014 6:07:43 AM | 146
Czech and Slovaks are the same confession
no. Czech people are atheist.
They were the only Eastern Block European country where the Communist Party had some real foundation in the population.
Slovakia is Catholic
Historically Czechs were the first to embrace Protestant creeds.
It is more an agricultural versus industrial divide.

Posted by: somebody | Jun 25 2014 10:54 utc | 150

Posted by: T2015 | Jun 25, 2014 5:35:14 AM | 144
Posted by: Alexno | Jun 25, 2014 6:06:44 AM | 145
There is no brand protection in the Middle East. No one can stop Baathists from claiming they are Al Qeida or Sufis.

Posted by: somebody | Jun 25 2014 10:58 utc | 151

@ somebody: please stop wrongfully calling the invasion of Yugoslavia “civil war”, it never was that. It was an invasion by NATO, started by Germany in Croatia and later taken over by the US in Bosnia etc. They even brought afghan “Mujahedeens” to Bosnia on american planes via Tuzla airport, which was witnessed by many and is well documented. It was necessary since bosnian moslems were very reluctant to fight and needed a little “push”. Later Bin Laden and friends were flown to Kosovo to continue the job there.

Posted by: T2015 | Jun 25 2014 11:08 utc | 152

@ somebody: “atheist” is nonsense, we were all forced atheists in all former communist countries. Fact is, Czech and Slovaks are the same confession (huge catholic majority), percentage of atheists is irrelevant in this.

Posted by: T2015 | Jun 25 2014 11:13 utc | 153

Thik about all the “atheists” in Germany, who just want to avoid church taxes (Kirchensteuer), that’s a rather good comparison to the “atheists” in communism.

Posted by: T2015 | Jun 25 2014 11:15 utc | 154

Where Will ISIS Go Next?

The Persian province of Khorasan, where the next destabilization project I say Armenia.

Posted by: papa | Jun 25 2014 12:10 utc | 155

Believe me the Czech republic is different – not all ex-Soviet experience is the same

The Communist Party of Czechoslovakia was in a coalition government from 1945 to 1948. In 1946 elections, it became the largest party, and party chairman Klement Gottwald became prime minister—the only time that a Communist party won a free election in what would become the Soviet bloc.

They still get something like 15 percent in elections with the Social Democrats getting something like 20 percent.
It is similar in the East of Germany. Germany always had a strong Communist party.
“Forced atheists” by the way is not true. Communists did not dare to stop the church. Your career choices were restricted, but you could make a career in the church if you chose to do so – see Wojtyła
You should get your facts about the Yougoslav civil war right. There is a logic
1. Slovenia and Croatia declare independence (yes, blame Baker and Genscher)
2. Serbs living in Croatia join the fight
from there to Yugoslavs trying to sort their ethnic and religious identity to the Kosovo war 8 years later and NATO bombs
Of course it was a civil (rather uncivil) war. And yes Genscher (and Baker) wanted Slovenia and Croatia in the EU and NATO but nobody, really nobody wanted Kosovo.
As is, Serbia is categorized as EU candidate country, whilst Kosovo is a “potential candidate”.

Posted by: somebody | Jun 25 2014 12:13 utc | 156

“”Forced atheists” by the way is not true. Communists did not dare to stop the church. Your career choices were restricted, but you could make a career in the church if you chose to do so – see Wojtyła”
LMAO! Sorry but it’s just too much nonsense to even start dismantling it. Say, how many priests can any given country employ? How many popes can we have?
Try being anti-feminist and pro-nuclear in today’s german “Green” party for example, it’s about the same as being a “believer” during communism. Only a choice for people totally uninterested in any sort of carreer or financial success.
And once more for slow-learners, I LIVED in Yugoslawia and through that war. I’d like to get a huge plastic model of the word “fact” and beat you with it till you turn blue, just so you stop abusing it once and for all.
Just one little hint for you: the “new” Croatia was a reincarnation of the WW2 fascist croatia, including insignia, flag, coat of arms, hymn and even the military nazi salute. The croats immediately continued the ethnic cleansing (which they had to pause after the WW2) and the Serbs only defended themselves against the Nazi hordes. Those are hard FACTS. The rest is media fantasy. Another fact for you – before the war we had some 15-20% Serbs in Croatia. Today it is under 1%. which tells you all you need to know.
I am not blaming Genscher and co. for the politics but I am literally talking about arming the croatian nazis, training them, full media support as seen today regarding Ukraine or Syria and so on. I personally saw the ammo smuggled by the Red Cross trucks from Germany into Bosnia and Croatia, packaged as cans of Danish spam (Frühstücksfleich). Just one minor example to get you going.
Serbia is an occupied country, ruled by a set of traitors. Kosovo is as far from the EU as Saudi Arabia, with about the same level of development and thinking. but since it is the main weapons, drugs etc. hub, it would of course be handy to integrate it fully into the empire.
Kosovo was planned loooong ago and they< already tried it even back in the 70ies while Tito was still there. OF COURSE it was wanted since at least WW2.

Posted by: T2015 | Jun 25 2014 13:16 utc | 157

Duh, again a lost answer… someone should fix this issue finally.

Posted by: T2015 | Jun 25 2014 13:18 utc | 158

To make it short, your answer is so full of ridiculous ideas, I have no time to address all of it. Just a few short points:
– the “new” Croatia was/is a reincarnation of the WW2 fascist Croatia, including flag, insignia, the nazi military salute “Za dom spremni” and so on. And of course they acted just like the current Ukrainian “government” does – with ethnic cleansing, forbidding anything not “purely croatian” and the rest of the usual programme including re-inventing the language, again see Ukraine
– Serbs in croatia tried to defend themselves against the NATO-supported nazi hordes and in the end they lost. Formerly 15-20% of the country, nowadays they’re below 1% there
– Kosovo was already attempted several times, the last major try I witnessed there was in the 80ies. OF COURSE it was wanted by NAZO, it’s a decades old game there. Also google “Camp Bondsteel”, might make things clearer
– it was NOT a civil war, it was a mercenary war and only later did the people get involved, at the gunpoint
– Serbia is no more a country but a NATO-occupied territory. The current government is completely in cahoots with the globalists, against the will of 99% of the people
– Kosovo is the main hub for drugs, weapons and prostitution, it would be only logical for the Empire to incude it properly instead of covertly like today
As for your abuse of the word “fact”, someone should really beat you up with a huge plastic or wooden version of the word, so you learn to avoid it in the future.

Posted by: T2015 | Jun 25 2014 13:30 utc | 159

thread hijacked ~

Posted by: crone | Jun 25 2014 13:35 utc | 160

via Zerohedge
Putin Fires Warning Shot – Russia May Bar Firms Using Foreign Banks
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-06-25/putin-fires-warning-shot-russia-may-bar-firms-using-foreign-banks

Posted by: crone | Jun 25 2014 13:39 utc | 161

Oh and reducing the role of Germany to Genscher’s political fluff is outright insulting. Germany did lots more than that, from smuggling weapons to the nazis there, to military training for them abroad, full media support, logistics etc. Again, same as Ukraine today. Like a recording on replay.
I was by the way personally a witness to Red Cross trucks from germany that smuggled “Danish breakfast ham” cans filled with ammo to the bosnian branch of what we name “AlQaida/ISIS/whatever new term”. Just mentioning before you come up with yet another abuse of the term “getting facts right” or other such rhetorical excrements.

Posted by: T2015 | Jun 25 2014 13:40 utc | 162

@ crone, nice try (after like 20 real hijackings in this thread so far), but we’re talking about what we today know as “ISIS”. It was used in both Bosnia and Kosovo, of course not named the same back then. Back then we just loosely said “Mujahedeens” to any sort of islamic militants.
But it’s nice to know who you really are, which you clearly displayed with this intrusion.

Posted by: T2015 | Jun 25 2014 13:44 utc | 163

A first – quoting myself, never before – in response to yah elsewhere:
However, just seeing “ISIS” (for ex.) as an emanation of US encouragement (funding, training in Jordan, etc. not to mention Zionist plots or Saudi meddling etc.) is really very simplistic, and part of a -to me- reductionist discourse.
Today I read this, McClatchy 23 June. http://tinyurl.com/lplhpdo
It is about “ISIS” funding, and presents a picture very different from the link posted by crone at 10.
The qu. ISIS will go next where it can, so maybe nowhere far, meaning it will not overreach. Small victories are good.
Answer can only be composed by understanding the situation on the ground before the latest news, grasping the previous state of affairs:
– terrain (e.g. taking over small towns on a pretty deserted flat plane etc. is no big feat, see Toyota Land Rovers good for some jobs..but then?
– support on the ground from the populace, which includes previous infiltration(s) and control. The latter is crucial. (.. the Anschluss .. Crimea..)
– other (extra points left out)
ISIS knows all this and I presume they understand their military strength as well (idk), so they can figure it out. The reasonable answer then is: not far. The question of support / aggro from outside is imho very open.
Looking at Mali and France’s actions (2013) might provide some clues.

Posted by: Noirette | Jun 25 2014 14:33 utc | 164

Posted by: Noirette | Jun 25, 2014 10:33:04 AM | 163
Yes, the comparison with Mali is interesting for the way governments undermine local independence movements ie Touareg with islamic fundamentalist groups. Pakistan and Pashtun nationalism is a similar story. Israel and Palestinians, too. Turkey and Kurds. Presumably, the US and AQI, too – designed to undermine the anti US uprising. Syrian and Algerian secret services are reported to have methods of their own.
ISIS is more of a vacuum cleaner, reportedly Al Nusra has pledged allegiance now.
I agree with ruralito 53

Posted by: somebody | Jun 25 2014 14:56 utc | 165

3 years after Hamas left Syria, Mahmoud Abbas, The Palestinian Authority PM displays full support for Bashar al Assad in his war against ‘terrorism’. Under the OLP auspices, Yarmouk camp is now been cleared of terrorists.

Palestinian President Says Syria Election Helps to End War
World | Agence France-Presse | Updated: June 25, 2014 19:04 IST
Palestinian President Says Syria Election Helps to End War
File photo of Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas
Damascus: Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas said in a letter to Bashar al-Assad that his election as Syrian president will help to end the country’s three-year war, Damascus said on Wednesday.
“Your election to the presidency of the Syrian Arab Republic guarantees Syria’s unity and sovereignty, and starts of a countdown to the end of Syria’s crisis and its war against terrorism,” Abbas wrote, according to the Syrian presidency’s Facebook page.
The letter was the strongest expression of support yet to Assad from the Palestinian president and from his Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) since the outbreak of an uprising against the Syrian regime in March 2011.
http://www.ndtv.com/article/world/palestinian-president-says-syria-election-helps-to-end-war-547860?curl=1403708098

Posted by: Virgile | Jun 25 2014 14:59 utc | 166

Posted by: T2015 | Jun 25, 2014 9:40:24 AM | 161
Sure, typically German to send ham cans to Muslims …

Posted by: somebody | Jun 25 2014 15:08 utc | 167

ISIS merging with Al Nusra signals the end of the FSA. Without Al Nusra’s fighters the Syrians rebels are bound to loose all the areas Al Nusra has helped them to gain.
In addition the Syrian army is now doing the job that the western countries are willing to do but can’t: Bomb ISIS
Many leaders, Arab and Western may need to change their tune about Syria.

Posted by: Virgile | Jun 25 2014 15:29 utc | 168

via Mike Whitney @ Counterpunch
“… Interesting, eh? So, if Mr. Landis is right, then the fracas in Iraq and Syria might just be the tip of the iceberg. It could be that Washington, Tel Aviv and Riyadh –who we think are the driving force behind this current wave of violence–have a much more ambitious plan in mind for the future. If this new method of effecting regime change succeeds, then the sky’s the limit. Maybe they’ll try the same stunt in other countries too, like Turkey, Tunisia, Cyprus, and all the way to North Africa. Why not? If the game plan is to Balkanize Arab countries wholesale and transform them into powerless fiefdoms overseen by US proconsuls and local warlords, why not go on a regime change spree?
By the way, according to the Telegraph, Obama and friends knew what ISIS was up to, and knew that the terrorist group was going to launch attacks on cities in the Sunni territories, just as they have. Get a load of this:
“Five months ago, a Kurdish intelligence “asset” walked into a base and said he had information to hand over. The capture by jihadists the month before of two Sunni cities in western Iraq was just the beginning, he said.
There would soon be a major onslaught on Sunni territories.
The Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (Isis), a renegade offshoot of al-Qaeda, was about to take its well-known cooperation with leftovers of the regime of Saddam Hussein, and his former deputy Izzat al-Douri, to a new level.
His handlers knew their source of old, and he had always proved reliable, officials told The Telegraph. So they listened carefully as he said a formal alliance was about to be signed that would lead to the takeover of Mosul, the biggest city north of Baghdad, home to two million people. …
‘We had this information then, and we passed it on to your (British) government and the US government,’ Rooz Bahjat, a senior lieutenant to Lahur Talabani, head of Kurdish intelligence, said. ‘We used our official liaisons.’
‘We knew exactly what strategy they were going to use, we knew the military planners. It fell on deaf ears.’ (How US and Britain were warned of Isis advance in Iraq but ‘turned a deaf ear, Telegraph)

Posted by: crone | Jun 25 2014 16:20 utc | 169

quote from Whitney’s article above:
“I think we have to understand first how we got here. We have been arming ISIS (the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria) in Syria. ISIS, an al Qaeda offshoot, has been collaborating with the Syrian rebels whom the Obama administration has been arming in their efforts to overthrow Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.” – Senator Rand Paul, Interview CNN

Posted by: crone | Jun 25 2014 16:22 utc | 170

ISIS trained in Jordan
http://www.wnd.com/2014/06/officials-u-s-trained-isis-at-secret-base-in-jordan/
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/03/10/us-syria-crisis-rebels-usa-idUSBRE9290FI20130310
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/mar/08/west-training-syrian-rebels-jordan

Posted by: crone | Jun 25 2014 16:28 utc | 171

Not that it’s news, but friends who trained Iraqi army troops tell me they’re totally useless outside the Baghdad regular and praetorian divisions.
Obama has no right to demand anything of Iraq, but getting Maliki to unfreeze payments to Kurdistan and get the Peshmerga salaries flowing again would probably help a lot. As it stands, the Peshmerga seem to be standing aside and letting ISIL do what they will.

Posted by: Crest | Jun 25 2014 16:44 utc | 172

Oh and I forgot to add, Iran will probably be asking the same of PM Maliki.
I’m sure Maliki is upset, because the world seemed to be honoring their request not to buy Kurdistan semi stolen oil, and Kurds were feeling the pressure. ISIL /tribal attacks were very well timed to take advantage of the discord.

Posted by: Crest | Jun 25 2014 16:47 utc | 173

@ somebody #167: there were no pure “muslims” anywhere, all the areas were very mixed (and still are today). Just for the sake of it, not that this required a serious answer.

Posted by: T2015 | Jun 26 2014 5:48 utc | 174

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