Two Prominent Promoters Of The "Syrian Revolution" Give Up
Two prominent fans and promoters of the unicorn Free Syrian Army and its "revolution" are giving up.
Since the start of the regime change operation in Syria Jenan Moussa, who works for the UAE based Al Aan TV, is an ardent fan of the "moderate rebels". Her embedded reports about them were more one sided anti-regime propaganda than journalism. She is quite prominent with over 100,000 followers on Twitter.
But her honeymoon with the FSA seems to be over. She finally recognizes that the FSA is a mere weapon courier service between the CIA and Saudis on one side and al-Qaeda and the Islamic State on the other:
Jenan Moussa @jenanmoussa
In Maarat Numan #Syria, court issues strict Islamic dress code for women. Rules similar 2 Sirt,Timbuktu &Raqqa >Strict dress code not only introduced in MaraatNuman, also Idlib city. Controlled by Jihadist coalition JaishFatah >
Strict dress code campaign by jihadists in Idlib is called “My veil is my chastity” >
FSA in Hama & Idlib can’t do anything against strict Islamic rules issued by Jaish alFatah because FSA weak & doesn’t control territory. >
This is main problem of FSA in Hama/Idlib: Yes, FSA still exists, but they dont control territory. If they disobey radicals, FSA is out. >
We all remember how Jamal Maruf group & Hazem (both western backed FSA) were destroyed by Nusra (AlQaeda) after they "disobeyed" them.>
So FSA in Idlib/Hama has only HQ's, no territory. Even worse: FSA have no courts. So if FSA-member makes mistake, trial is at Nusra court >
Nusra allows FSA 2 operate in Hama/Idlib bcz FSA there gets TOWmissiles from West. FSA uses these TOW in support of Nusra etc vs SAA. <
That is, of course, not new. When the German journalist Jürgen Todenhöfer, who traveled to ISIS-controlled Syria and Iraq last year, was asked about how the FSA is seen by the Jihadis he responded (vid):
They are laughing about the FSA. They don't take them for serious. They say: "The best arms sellers we have are the FSA. If they get a good weapon they sell it to us." They didn't take them for serious. They take for serious Assad. They take for serious of course the bombs. But they fear nobody. But FSA does not play any role.
Jabhat al-Nusra, al-Qaeda in Syria, is meanwhile happy with all the attention the Islamic State gets. It helps Nusra to play the "moderates". In a recent edition of Nusra's English magazine Al Risalah, a long term al-Qaeda/Nusra member from Australia is interviewed:
“One of the greatest things about IS [Islamic State] its that before people saw al Qaeda and the Mujahideen (in general) as the extremists, and those that abstain from jihad as the normal ‘moderate’ Muslims (following the middle-way),” Australi explains. “But now the truth has come out — the Mujahideen are in fact upon the correct and ‘moderate’ path, with IS being the extremists.”
These people, who order strict Islamic dress code for women Idlib and punish anyone who disobeys them, are the ones the U.S. is talking about when it accuses Russia of bombing "non-ISIS" positions or the "moderate rebels".
Another long term fan of regime change in Syria and a busy propagandists on Twitter with some 26,000 followers is The 47th. Yesterday he finally had this realization:
The 47th @THE_47th
There isn't a single credible, promising & uniting Syrian oppositions figure that could possibly run against Assad.
Indeed. And that is the reason why the U.S. will never agree to a plan which includes free elections in Syria and in which Bashar al Assad, next to whomever, would be on the ballot. They know he would win.
Posted by b on October 26, 2015 at 18:27 UTC | Permalink
next page »@1 Yikes I have no idea what happened to the link. The link is correct from the final https onwards.
Posted by: Yonatan | Oct 26 2015 18:47 utc | 2
I've always said that the opposition will never agree to elections because they and their foreign backers know they will lose.
When the choice is between a secular, tolerant, open society or an Afghanistan on the Mediterranean it's a no brainer.
That it why they put prerequisites to negotiations that no sane, legitimate government will agree to
Posted by: Lacilir | Oct 26 2015 18:52 utc | 3
When the rebels took control of Homs in 2012, the rebels expelled 90% of the Christians. They then proceeded to loot and occupy their houses and raped and murdered with impunity.
There never were any moderates.
Posted by: Lacilir | Oct 26 2015 19:02 utc | 4
elections only work for the freedumb and dumbocracy crowd, when the result of the election can be arranged..
on the other hand, wow seems like a moderate rebel to me... maybe he can pass over the tows to some other moderates in the area, or maybe he's only in it for the money and will be selling them to anyone he can find to keep his stock portfolio in the armament business up? i dunno, but it all seems so very moderate to me...
Posted by: james | Oct 26 2015 19:17 utc | 5
does someone have an unbiased picture of how the recent offensives of the Syrian army are going?
Has there been real progress apart from capturing hitherto unknown "strategic" villages?
I don´t think every rebel video is genuine but it seems they hit/knocked out some 50 tanks/APCs in the last 3-4 weeks.
It would be nice to know what the army achieved in turn for this significant losses.
I think that ISIL head choppers ( with photo attached of severed head, as well as a claimer of US endorsement, you know, for full disclosure ) should be on the ballot.
Same with the Al-Nusra terrorist US proxy "moderates", who by US claims, surly must be moderate enough to be part of Syrian elections. Surely.
The evil US empire had enough Sunni opposition in Syria to actually have another "colour revolution" if they choose to. But no, They are far more evil that that, and the US WANTED, head-chopping, atrocity committing, sectarian and ethnic cleansing terrorists to cause chaos, mass murder and mayhem.
The US plan destroyed and evistated any chance of non-sectarian, democratic and moderated type of candidates for "elections" in Syria. They make that bed years ago.
Posted by: tom | Oct 26 2015 20:04 utc | 7
@ KerKaraje | 6
EXCLUSIVE: Syrian Army, Hezbollah Win Back over 150 Square Kilometers of Land in Aleppo
The Syrian army and the Lebanese Hezbollah resistance forces backed by the Russian air force have seized back over 150 square kilometers of territories in two weeks of operations in the Southwestern parts of Aleppo province.
The army and the resistance forces have won back Qala'at Al-Najam village, Hadadin village, Al-Shahid hilltops, Zeytouna Farms, Al-Kabdar Garrison, Mleiha Village, Abtayn Village, Al-Vazihi village, Kodar village, Al-Sabeqiya village, Shaqidla town, Tanks Battalion, Tal al-Naa’am, Al-Naa'am town, Al-Nasseriya town, Heijeneh, Howeija town, Boqja town, al-Barijieh, Kafr Tuna and al-Harra.
http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13940804001047
Just a part of the big picture, but you get the point. Even though some locations go back and forth, but recent sizable gains are undeniable. Plus newly arrived forces from Iraq and Iran havent been activated yet, therefore I dont think SAA progress will stop anytime soon, Russia and Iran are seriously tilting the scales now.
Posted by: Harry | Oct 26 2015 20:12 utc | 8
In my opinion the head choppers [good and bad ones] do not have a hope in hell of winning. To do so they would need to defeat the combined states of Syria,Iraq,Lebanon,Iran backed by Russia and quietly China and now it would appear the Jordanians and Egyptians as well, more importantly the electorates of those countries support them and see who they are aligned against, Inter Alia the two most despised regimes on earth Saudi Arabia and Israel, backed by the US. It is inconceivable that any of the Syrian government supporting states could back down in the face of such an assault on the Syrian people and an assault on the UN charter and International law, in particular [the right of self determination] to do so would put all those states next in line for the chopping block. My only hope is that Saudi Arabia is destabilized enough for the Saudi masses to organize a necktie party for everyone of the Saudi family of perverts.
Posted by: harry law | Oct 26 2015 21:22 utc | 10
Viewing this in Chrome, there's something wrong with the formatting - no container and text spreads way past the right margin.
Posted by: gemini33 | Oct 26 2015 21:35 utc | 11
@11
I get this too its a pain to read on mobile.
I think it just needs word wrap applied to account for really long URLs
Posted by: Bob | Oct 26 2015 21:38 utc | 12
+ @11 more...
The post looks fine for me on the main page. The text doesn't spread out until you view the story page w/ comments
Posted by: gemini33 | Oct 26 2015 21:39 utc | 13
Wow, this is quite a post. Very observant, b.
You've picked up on things that most people would not notice.
The Russian deal with Jordan is a big deal, I think. Col Wilkerson mentioned in a recent lecture
(Q&A segment at ~57:00) that a member of the Jordanian royal family pulled him aside at a recent event,
put his finger on his chest and told him to go back to the US and tell Colin
that every single home in Jordan is hosting refugees from Syria and Iraq and that it's destabilizing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckjY-FW7-dc
Jimmy Carter, a man who would rarely endorse a war or military intervention, I think, nearly endorsed
Russia's intervention in Syria in his NY Times op-ed last week. He said that the value of the intervention
is that it is clarifying the situation. I feel pretty much the same way. I worry that more people will be
killed or displaced, that it will draw out the war even longer, but there is no doubt that it is having
a clarifying effect. It had that effect from day one when US officials howled about hitting CIA-backed "rebels".
Meanwhile, CIA-backed "rebels" had been written out of history by the US media who pretended that
the only "rebels" on the ground were the sabotaged Pentagon train & equip rebels. Next, which took
a bit longer, it clarified that US-backed rebels weren't moderate and that some of them are Al Qaeda.
And now the issue of who would govern Syria in Assad's absence is coming to the fore and suddenly
they admit that it's not fun to live in countries ruled by jihadist fanatics. Hopefully this means
there is an admission that the transitional govt is also mythical. They never could agree on the time of day
nor did they ever have real control over the significant fighters on the ground.
Now some high level retired military who have close ties to high level active duty officers
are supporting the Russian intervention.
http://mebriefing.com/?p=1978
It's been clear to me for a long time that there is a
big internal war going on here in the US national security state but I was never sure who the
sides were. Jimmy Carter also reported that there has been back channel talks going on with Russia
with "elders" as the negotiators. He did not say that they were delegates of Obama or even that
Obama and Kerry were aware, but it seems impossible that there weren't at least aware.
Now if someone could talk some sense into the loudmouth hawks who are still calling for a no-fly zone
and who want to shoot down Russian fighter jets, then maybe things can really move forward.
Posted by: gemini33 | Oct 26 2015 22:17 utc | 14
Somebody messed up the format in the comments section by posting the long linkys.
Posted by: fast freddy | Oct 26 2015 22:20 utc | 15
Carter is free apparently to speak his mind without worry. When he was President, they saddled him with Brzezinski. Brz is the nutcase Father of Al Qaida. As he armed them with Stinger Missiles, he called them God's Freedom Fighters.
Posted by: fast freddy | Oct 26 2015 22:25 utc | 16
There are two developments which appear to be challenging the "Assad must go" mantra. from the recent "summit" talks between
Assad and Russian officials, Assad is speaking candidly and deliberately of accommodating some form of political
reform that would allow a power sharing mechanism. The other thing is that there is more open talk about this four
and a half year tragedy being about nothing other than Qatar's need for a pipeline - and of course, more illumination on
the geopolitical games being played out at the tragic expense of the Syrian (and Iraqi) people. All of this begs the question
as to what extent can the State Dept, with the most potent of propaganda apparatus, continue to propagandize the entire world.
Those of us who visit sites such as this one, are well aware of the obvious contradictions plaguing the neocon's war party; can't
help wondering when, at which point, that even the sheeple realize that this "emperor" (cloaked in an elaborate display of
deception, lies, and treachery) really does not have any clothes.
Posted by: bjmaclac | Oct 26 2015 22:30 utc | 17
Thanks for all your work, b. Again. As far as the formatting, if you actually open the page you searched for with google and open it to use the actual link, this problem doesn't come up. IMHO.
Posted by: Tom in AZ | Oct 26 2015 23:09 utc | 18
@6 KerKaraje.. aside from the fars news which harry shares, i think there are other sources to keep somewhat abreast of russia's help to change the dynamic in syria. one of the best sites i know of is pat langs site here. i also go to these other sites which also broaden my perspective. and of course i come here to moa as b is very knowledgeable and often prescient regarding the unfolding of events such as this.
Posted by: james | Oct 26 2015 23:23 utc | 19
Another solution to the long link problem is to use a URL shortener, like bit.ly.
Posted by: kafkananda | Oct 26 2015 23:36 utc | 20
Lacilir@3... You speak of not having an Afghanistan on the Mediterranean. In fact, we do have an Afghanistan on the Mediterranean in the form of post-Gadaffi Libya. This is true, of course, only if you consider post-shock-and-awe Afghanistan.
Afghanistan, though not up to date like Kansas City, has long had a civil culture. (It only looks ragged to invading armies.) However, unlike Kansas City which has gone as far as it can go, Afghanistan went only as far as it wished to go. . .and no further. I was there a number of times fifty years ago and found it quite civilized, graceful and appealing.
With the Soviet invasion and later the American speciality of creating chaos to gain control, this changed. One should not judge the civilize quality of a country by the effects of Soviet and American intervention.
Posted by: Macon Richardsonn | Oct 27 2015 0:03 utc | 21
Yes the Syrian revolution is ending. Two things are evident. First, the creature with its tail between its legs
seeking cover, is the former united states corrupted, unrepresentative evil members of various alphabet
soup agencies that includes presidential, congressional, and judicial government sectors all run amuck. Add
this to a u.s. military world-wide control mechanism whose only aim is influence peddling: small wonder that
instability is the preferred outcome.
Second, for going on 17 days now, a resistance, a marker if you will, has been placed. The rally, the awakening
from slumber, the totally positive outcomes in all of the ME are breathtaking. And it is becoming global.
Russia has emerged from marxist dialectical thinking, more or less reborn, in spite of western meddling and its
own oligarchic ham fisted influence. Now, this moment, belongs to the successor, an asiatic black bear.
Feeling better?
Posted by: sevenleagueboots | Oct 27 2015 0:49 utc | 22
@22
I think this moment belongs to more than Russia. Russia may be the point of the sword that you see but China and others are part and parcel.
To your "Feeling better?" question, I personally will feel a lot better when the jack boot of private finance is not on the necks of most countries. We are quite aways from that goal so I am mildly encouraged by recent events.
And you?
Posted by: psychohistorian | Oct 27 2015 1:06 utc | 23
@22
Let me take my comment @23 a bit further with this link showing that China is now at the point of the sword as well as Russia
Will all the adults in the room please report to Washington DC. Evidence shows spoiled petulant children in charge of the puppets there. We hope they love their children.
Posted by: psychohistorian | Oct 27 2015 1:31 utc | 24
psychohistorian@24
from your link:
Meanwhile, in The South China Sea, Beijing has built 3,000 acres of new sovereign territory atop reefs in the Spratlys and although the reclamation effort itself isn’t unique, the scope of it most certainly is and Washington’s friends in the South Pacific are crying foul.
This is true. I'm particularly familiar w/Vietnam (moving there from USA southwest).
- China oil rigs in Vietnamese waters. More
- ADIZ installations in East sea. Concerns expressed by Vietnam, Singapore and others. ASEAN dealing with this.
- Considerable Vietnamese concern over Chinese military installations being built inTruong Sa (Spratley's) . < a href="http://tuoitrenews.vn/politics/26506/vietnam-demands-china-stop-illegitimate-construction-in-truong-sa">more
Much more going on like this, if you poke around.
Much of SE Asia concerned about this too. I don't know what we (US) doing there, or our intentions.
But China clearly flexing some muscles, ignoring ASEAN concerns and developing a lot of these disputed Islands. They are strategic for more then military purposes BTW: trade and ports in tightly packed sea shared by a number of counties with equal interest. And this activity is making their neighbors nervous, heightening regional tensions.
Vietnam, Singapore, Thailand and others reasonable interests there need to be respected. Be careful not to miss this, crowed out by current rage over US destructive policies. This is a separate, regional issue first.
What happened to the "Friends of Syria"?
No more meetings to repeat that Bashar al Assad must go?
Posted by: Virgile | Oct 27 2015 2:40 utc | 26
Sorry for bad links (bad HTML) in 25. Should be:
- ADIZ installations in East sea Concerns expressed by Vietnam, Singapore and others. ASEAN dealing with this.
- Considerable Vietnamese concern over Chinese military installations being built in Truong Sa (Spratley's). Morehere.
jdmckay @27: The Chinese (PRC and/or ROC) have by far the strongest
historical
claim to the Spratlys. And it is a very long history. The other claimants
base their claims on continental shelf theory, which is lame. Keep that
in mind as well as the fact that until recently the Vietnamese supported
China's claim.
What if b deleted the crazy link @1 that wrecked the margins here?
Posted by: fairleft | Oct 27 2015 3:16 utc | 28
Hasan Nasrallah the leader of the Hezbollah resistance against Isreali state terrorism, in his speech recently correctly identifies that Israel is simply a tool for the real threat, and that is the US Empire.
As if there was any doubt - but some keep claiming the reverse, that Israel forces policies on the US re the Middle East - which has never really been true. There is nothing that Isteali terrorism and hegemony has done, that the US has done a 100 times worse.
Posted by: tom | Oct 27 2015 3:42 utc | 29
FL@28
The Chinese (PRC and/or ROC) have by far the strongest historical claim to the Spratlys.
That is far from clear.
The other claimants base their claims on continental shelf theory, which is lame.
Please explain why this is "lame". Did you read Vietnam section of you WP link? Their claims are not restricted to this: they filed this only in response to a UN solicitation on this subject, alone.
It's very unclear who "owns" this, and various influential international organizations remain non-committal. Additionally, some of China's construction there is on "constructed" land mass, on top of reefs. Reefs do not have any international legal definition, assigning ownership: a reef is not an island. This is legal no-mans-land.
ASEAN has been engaged in this (AFAIK) near 30 years, with several agreements, which China has broken.
Good, thorough paper on this here.
...
This is hotspot rife for initiating conflict. It's going to be difficult to settle (if possible) to all interested parties satisfaction. What is clear: China is developing them, some militarily, without this being close to settled.
Unnecessarily provocative: a country does not have to be USA to do dumb, overly aggressive stuff. China has also done this in recent years, in that area, where they very clearly have no claim.
Maybe Putin will "fly in" to the rescue. :)
@7 It's almost cute the way you think the USA controls ISIS, rather than Israel. It's not cute that you use cartoonish and childish terms like 'evil US empire'. Russia has been airdropping flyers to Takfiri areas which explain that Israel controls the USA directly, and ISIS indirectly. The Russians seen certain of Israel's guilt.
@8 Sadly, that's only 15km by 10km for two weeks of fighting. The Takfiri are dug in and using TOWs. Most of those are actually from Israeli warehouses, BTW. The USA gave Israel thousands of TOWs for free in the 80s and 90s, and Israel manufactures its own TOW variant. Neither Saudi Arabia nor Qatar have large TOW stocks or manufacture TOWs. They are just 'cover' for Israel's supplies.
@10 Unfortunately, Jordan and Egypt are not supporting SAA. Jordan is Israel's poodle, and a rear echelon for ISIS to be trained and supplied by Israel and NATO. ISIS' territory on most maps is marked as running straight along Highway 10 from Jordan's eastern border into Iraq towards Rutba. Egypt is scared of Israel to the point it helps Israel enforce the starvation blockade of Gaza. Egypt recently flooded Gazan supply tunnels, for example.
@21 America doesn't create chaos to gain control. Israel does. America gets saddled with the bill.
@24 'We hope they love their children.' They do. Their children in Tel Aviv. Yours and mine, not so much.
@25 Vietnam's government lies terribly about China's SC Sea activity. As even the neocon National Interest pointed out a few months ago, China maintains 8 outposts in the SC Sea, down from 9 outposts 30 years ago. That's very low compared to many SC Sea claimants. In the same period, Vietnam has moved from about 20 outposts to about 40, none of them in its own territorial waters. That's barefaced Vietnamese hypocrisy. Vietnam has done everything it accuses China of, like land reclamation. China's crime was to be too competent at its recent land reclamation project, too fast and efficient. The Chinese had no choice but to respond to US-allied Vietnam, or they risked losing freedom of navigation, access to the Malacca Straights, etc. ASEAN is a poodle of the Jewish-controlled USA's foreign policy.
Posted by: David | Oct 27 2015 4:16 utc | 31
Gemini33 @ 14,
Thank you! At last somebody else sees what I have been insisting on since the first day I cam on this site more than a month ago.
Russia's activity in Syria is the result of a secret deal (like Sykes-Picot between UK & France), the deal being to accept IRAN's hegemony over Syria, Iraq & Lebanon provided that she accepts US vassalage. Russia gets a major Mediterranean base, and can use all her diplomacy & some military in reversing Islamist extremism all over mideast, and mega orders of expensive military gear from Iran.
The reason Russia in Syria has to be a US-Russia deal (alongside Iran's nuke deal) is that it is IMO not possible that Russia cannot nationalize her CB & Ruble, but CAN defy the West by Syrian military action. (and not a sanction in sight) Or that the Duma is afraid to pass a law allowing nationalization but voted almost unanimously to defy the US by going to Syria. Lavrov ANNOUNCED the day the nuke deal was signed July 14, that the way was now clear for Russia & Iran to act against terrorism in Syria. After that, Russia moved in slow motion while Obama ran interference against the US military, and his own administration.
Posted by: Penelope | Oct 27 2015 5:28 utc | 32
Tom @ 29,
You've correctly summarized a controversy: To what degree do US & Israel control each other? I think they're pretty much divisions of the same firm, w the more scurrilous tasks assigned to Israel. Also I think that some of the more corrupt activities and control of Congress is more easily (w/o legal consequence) done by non-Americans. Thierry Meyssan says that another aspect of the remodelling of the middle east which is in-process is that the Arab League will become their own self-defense body with Israel in command & that this has already occurred in the war on Yemen. But there w/b no announcement until the imminent resolution of the Palestinian crisis.
Posted by: Penelope | Oct 27 2015 5:45 utc | 33
jdmckay: Because the history, the actual historical presence and the
international treaties, outweigh claims based on geography, which
are a secondary fallback position when the history isn't
overwhelming, as it is in this case. Not that the Chinese should
not be nice and accommodating, as they have been.
Posted by: fairleft | Oct 27 2015 5:54 utc | 34
Can anyone comment on this apparent nonsense --
"Another nice example is the Iranian backed Asaib Alh al-Haq militia which was highly active in the sectarian violence and it operates under the patronage of General Qassem Suleimani of Iran's Quds Force (this group recently complained that they believe the US created ISIS and is only paying lip service toward defeating it in order to counter Iranian influence in Iraq)."
See also here:
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/12/iraq-battle-dead-valley-peace-syria
Posted by: dave | Oct 27 2015 7:17 utc | 35
Re 6 Kerkaraje
does someone have an unbiased picture of how the recent offensives of the Syrian army are going?The best analyst at the moment is the posts of Patrick Bahzad at Patrick Lang's Sic semper Tyrannis. (Poor access at the moment, difficult to link)
Posted by: Laguerre | Oct 27 2015 9:57 utc | 36
To camouflage the fact his new Liberal government will largely continue the policies of Canada's Stephen Harper, PM designate Justin Trudeau's vow 'to end the RCAF air campaign against ISIS in Syria and Iraq', may not be exactly as advertised:
"Of course, Trudeau did not specify an exact date as to when the RCAF contingent will pack up and fly home from Kuwait...Trudeau has also promised to keep Canada in the fight against ISIS albeit in a different capacity than simply launching combat air strikes.."
New PM May Need To Compromise on F-35 Plans
http://thechronicleherald.ca/opinion/1318773-on-target-new-pm-may-need-to-compromise-on-f-35-plan
Trudeau further vowed continued support for the US-installed Ukronazi oligarchy in Kiev and it goes without saying Canada's 'fervent' support for Israel:
Trudeau Has Israel's Back
https://youtu.be/OTvO_SeTvrU
Posted by: John Gilberts | Oct 27 2015 11:11 utc | 37
@ Laguerre | Oct 27, 2015 5:57:44 AM | 36
The best analyst at the moment is the posts of Patrick Bahzad at Patrick Lang's Sic semper Tyrannis. (Poor access at the moment, difficult to link)
That looks like a pretty awesome site.
Colonel W. Patrick Lang is a retired senior officer of U.S. Military Intelligence and U.S. Army Special Forces (The Green Berets). He served in the Department of Defense both as a serving officer and then as a member of the Defense Senior Executive Service for many years. He is a highly decorated veteran of several of America’s overseas conflicts including the war in Vietnam. He was trained and educated as a specialist in the Middle East by the U.S. Army and served in that region for many years. He was the first Professor of the Arabic Language at the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. In the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) he was the “Defense Intelligence Officer for the Middle East, South Asia and Terrorism,” and later the first Director of the Defense Humint Service.” For his service in DIA, he was awarded the “Presidential Rank of Distinguished Executive.” This is the equivalent of a British knighthood. He is an analyst consultant for many television and radio broadcasts.
Sic Semper Tyrannis
http://turcopolier.typepad.com/sic_semper_tyrannis/
I Will be checking it out more.
Posted by: blues | Oct 27 2015 11:34 utc | 38
David says:
America doesn't create chaos to gain control. Israel does. America gets saddled with the bill
yeah, those poor widdle amerikans with their 18 trillion dollar economy and 600 billion dollar military budget, their
invasions, their coup fomenting embassies worldwide and their hundreds of military installations
and special ops in progress in dozens and dozens of countries, including their occupation of economic powerhouses
like Germany and Japan,...well, no doubt they're just generously doling out the dough, winning hearts and minds, trying to make the world
a better place.
asshat
Posted by: john | Oct 27 2015 12:06 utc | 39
here's my intended link:
http://williamblum.org/essays/read/overthrowing-other-peoples-governments-the-master-list
Posted by: john | Oct 27 2015 12:21 utc | 40
@Penelope #32:
The reason Russia in Syria has to be a US-Russia deal (alongside Iran's nuke deal) is that it is IMO not possible that Russia cannot nationalize her CB & Ruble, but CAN defy the West by Syrian military action.
I guess that you do not realize that the Russian state is not monolithic. The Russian government and legislature are still infested with comprador liberals. Russian elites are unified when it comes to whether Russia should be a colony of the US, but not as to whether it should be independent of the Western international financial system. (Note: this is just an impression on my part. But I don't think that my claim is any less supported than yours is.)
This idea that Moscow and Washington have secret deals, which comes up from time to time, is nothing but unfounded paranoia, IMO. The geopolitical conflict between the two countries is very real. And even the Russian liberal elite realizes by now that the US cannot be trusted when it comes to abiding by deals to split things up between the two powers.
39;Is it your job to defend the Ziomonsters?And Tom?If one can't see the hold they hold over the whole West,one is deaf dumb and blind.
They are the worst humans to have ever existed,and you and I are their wishful slaves.
The last thing they want is to be told to behave themselves,and from America they get accolades and encouragement for all their Unconstitutional acts that would be anathema in America.How is that?
Posted by: dahoit | Oct 27 2015 13:48 utc | 42
David Horowitz website evolving toward anti-imperialism?
Posted by: Louis Proyect | Oct 27 2015 14:26 utc | 43
@John Gilberts 37
No one seems to get elected without the blessings of Israel. Ever. Well, except in the countries where we then plot to overthrow.
@Demian 41
This was from 2014, I wonder how it's going:
Russia, China sign deal to bypass US dollar
Analysis: The agreement is a symbolic blow to US global financial hegemony and a signal of Russian-Chinese rapprochement
In a symbolic blow to U.S. global financial hegemony, Russia and China took a small step toward undercutting the domination of the U.S. dollar as the international reserve currency on Tuesday when Russia’s second biggest financial institution, VTB, signed a deal with the Bank of China to bypass the dollar and pay each other in domestic currencies.
The so-called Agreement on Cooperation — signed in the presence of Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is on a visit to Shanghai — was followed by the long-awaited announcement on Wednesday of a massive natural gas deal 10 years in the making.
“Our countries have done a huge job to reach a new historic landmark,” Putin said on Tuesday, making note of the $100 billion in annual trade that has been achieved between the two countries.
http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2014/5/20/russia-china-bankdeal.html
Posted by: shadyl | Oct 27 2015 14:28 utc | 44
lameass wanker dahoit at 42 --
Well, "the worst humans to have ever existed" some might style subhumans, wouldn't they? And what do they typically propose to do with such "vermin"? Must maintain Purity of Essence, right?
The Nazis remain the very strong favorite for Worst Humans Ever.
Hey, at least you didn't drop the c-bomb.
Posted by: rufus magister | Oct 27 2015 14:29 utc | 45
jdmckay 25
* I don't know what we (US) doing there, or our intentions. *
why, the same shit it does in russia's near abroad.
setting nations against each nations,
turning friends into bitter enemies,
wrecking closely knit families,
all in a days work for the pro arsonist unitedsnake.
thats how the world's no 1 shit stirrer makes its living ...since 1875.
a country that builts up its obscene wealth on the misery of the rest of the world.
*many families have been torn apart over the issue; there are parents and children who no longer speak to each other; longtime friends who turn the other way when they pass each other on the streets. The issue of the naval base has also divided the village haenyo, the women divers who set out in boats each day to collect the day’s catch of seafood (Jeju island has a matriarchal society, embodied by these strong, mostly middle-aged women who are the breadwinners of their families) and who once were a tightly-knit social group.*
https://consortiumnews.com/2015/01/08/resisting-a-navy-base-on-chinas-periphery/
Posted by: denk | Oct 27 2015 14:34 utc | 46
in re 38 --
Lang is also a "novelist" whose main character is a Confederate spy. He writes "I despair of the Southerness of SST because of the abandonment of the thought by those who should defend it."
Concern for "Southerness" is generally a signifier of somewhat less than progressive views. Sic semper tyrannis is not only the slogan of Virginia, Booth spewed those words upon his exit from Lincoln's box.
Posted by: rufus magister | Oct 27 2015 14:35 utc | 47
L@36
I visited Col. Mustard's site and read the Syria sitrep which I commented reminded me of the 5 O'clock Follies, daily briefings during the Vietnam War. The same stoic message about coming progress with continuing use of failed tactics ad nauseam. I was banned for my disrespect for superior propaganda and military sounding BS.
Posted by: Wayoutwest | Oct 27 2015 14:36 utc | 48
Well, these Two Prominent Promoters Of The "Syrian Revolution" haven't Given Up
The stakes are being upped by the Empire. (See below ) It will be gleefully "sold" to its dumbed down
minions as " we are fighting those bad Russians ".
Riyadh, Ankara in Collaboration to Supply Terrorists in Syria with Ukraine's SAM Missiles
http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13940805000633
Posted by: curious | Oct 27 2015 14:40 utc | 49
@shadyl #44:
What is your point? What you posted doesn't undermine the point I made. My point was that there is a long-standing internal struggle going on in Moscow on this issue.
Penelope suggested that the way to explain Russia's behavior is to see that the US gives Russia permission to do some things and not others: I suggested that it is to consider conflicts that may be going on between various Russian interest groups.
Another thing I haven't mentioned is that Putin himself seems to have largely bought into the Anglophone economic paradigm, which is highly unfortunate. That leads to his being less committed to putting effort into getting the Russian state bureaucracy into line when it comes to working for Russia's economic autonomy than he is when it comes to preserving the Russian state itself (which goal is the underlying reason guiding RF Syria policy).
Again, these are just my impressions. I do not pretend to have expert knowledge on these matters.
If both rufus magister and Wayoutmest mock Colonel Lang, he must be a very smart and knowledgeable fellow indeed.
john @ 40: Thanks for the link, pure gold for my bookmarks.
Another "brick in the wall of proof" that the US is indeed, " The Evil Empire".
Dave, take note please.
Posted by: ben | Oct 27 2015 14:59 utc | 52
hmmmm, should have read Asia Times first:
IMF will include yuan in currency basket:
By Asia Unhedged on October 26, 2015
The yuan is in.
The International Monetary Fund is ready to give the green light to include the Chinese currency in the lender’s benchmark currency basket, laying the groundwork for a favorable decision by policymakers, inside sources told Reuters on Sunday.
In order for the IMF’s executive board to decide to put the yuan, also known as the renminbi (RMB) on par with the dollar, yen, euro and pound sterling it needs to be measured by IMF staff against a checklist of technical criteria. The decisions will be made in November, but no date has been set.
Three people briefed on the IMF discussions, who asked not to be named because of the sensitivity of the issue, spoke to Reuters and said a draft report from staff reached a favorable conclusion on including the yuan.
http://atimes.com/2015/10/imf-will-include-yuan-in-currency-basket-sources/
Meanwhile:
Kosovo takes step towards joining European Union
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/world/kosovo-takes-step-towards/2221580.html
I agree with some of you here, that Obama has lost control over CIA, State Dept and Pentagon. Hard to know what is going on, or who is blackmailing who.
Posted by: shadyl | Oct 27 2015 15:03 utc | 53
The stakes are being upped some more
" Obama weighs moving ground troops closer to battle in Syria "
http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2015/10/27/435203/US-Obama-ground-troops-Syria-Iraq-
Posted by: curious | Oct 27 2015 15:08 utc | 55
@51 My problem with Lang does back to his support for the humanitarian intervention in Libya. I got accused of being a 14 year old Canadian!!
Posted by: dh | Oct 27 2015 15:10 utc | 56
Russia ask for proof of attacks on hospitals and civilians,
"We have summoned the US, UK, French, German, Italian, Saudi Arabian, Turkish and NATO military attaches today asked to give a formal explanation
of these statements or to refute them. This especially concerns a number of outrageous allegations in the English-speaking media
about alleged airstrikes on hospitals
We are accused of not only launching airstrikes on 'moderate opposition', but also on civilian targets such as hospitals,
as well as mosques and schools. As a result, civilians are allegedly killed, according to Western media reports,
He expressed regret that "some officials and politicians of a number of foreign states make similar statements [on civilian deaths in Russian airstrikes in Syria]."
Antonov cited statements made by US State Secretary John Kerry, US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg,
UK Defense Secretary Michael Fallon and French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian as examples."
Lets see what they can come up with.
Posted by: Bill | Oct 27 2015 15:10 utc | 57
@Demian 50
This part of your comment caught my eye, nothing more than wondering what Russia's long term goals really are:
Russian elites are unified when it comes to whether Russia should be a colony of the US, but not as to whether it should be independent of the Western international financial system.
Seems with the latest moves, the Brics and China/Russia/Iran alliance might unite at some point regarding the dollar.
Posted by: shadyl | Oct 27 2015 15:14 utc | 58
@dh #56:
I missed that. My guess would be that Lang regrets any such support now. Maybe he was tricked by USG the way Medvedev was?
Anyway, my respect for Lang comes from what he's written about the Novorossiyan's struggle for freedom. He actually compared them to Americans fighting for independence, which shows that his heart is in the right place, anyway.
@59 I remember he got quite excited about Libya. He saw himself riding into Tripoli on a jeep. Not sure what he thinks about it now.
Posted by: dh | Oct 27 2015 15:26 utc | 60
Penelope @32 Oct 27, 2015 1:28:47 AM
Google: kerry lavrov (Images)
These two men communicate very friendly.
They could have made a deal like that.
Posted by: From The Hague | Oct 27 2015 15:31 utc | 61
S@58
The possibilities for Russia with the BRICS and other deals looked impressive for a short time but reality has intervened and the BRICS have crumbled with even China, the important economic brick, backing out of the huge gas deals with Russia due to the low world price for gas.
These setbacks may have helped to lead to the military display in Syria and with that Offensive stalled or failing I am quite worried about what Putin might do next facing all of these failures.
Posted by: Wayoutwest | Oct 27 2015 16:00 utc | 62
Syria: Russia’s peace efforts acquire gravitas
By M.K. Bhadrakumar on October 26, 2015 in Asia Times News & Features, Middle East
The sudden visit by the US Secretary of State John Kerry on Sunday to Saudi Arabia and his
meeting with King Salman at his ranch outside Riyadh can be seen as a swift follow-up on the
phone conversation he held with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov the previous day.
Sergey Lavrov and John Kerry seem to be making efforts to formulate a peace plan for Syria
Lavrov had initiated the phone call to Kerry, which followed their meeting in Vienna on Friday
together with their Turkish and Saudi counterparts. Lavorv also held telephonic conversations
on Saturday with his Iranian and Egyptian counterparts.
http://atimes.com/2015/10/syria-russias-peace-efforts-acquire-gravitas/
Posted by: okie farmer | Oct 27 2015 16:08 utc | 63
@Way 62
Interesting article:
Who's Really Isolated? Iran Set To Join BRICS Bank, Strengthen Ties With Brazil
This comment pretty much sums up my sentiment:
Raymond_K._Hessel
says:
But American foreign policy, largely crafted by the "deep state," has not been developed either by the brightest minds nor American patriots.for one thing, Israel has far, far too much influence, largely due to the excessive presence of neocon chickenhawks more loyal to a foreign state than their host country - a repeated problem for a minority of that minority which is not wished away with magic words.
And of course the MIC and good old fashioned oil/gas profiteers also sit at the big kids table.
The focus has been on smash and destroy.
Meanwhile, Russia and China have developed cost-effective weapons which largely counter our effective but way overpriced tech, and have been making deals.
Turns out that neocon capture has not been good for the United States, its security - or its media.
Posted by: shadyl | Oct 27 2015 16:14 utc | 64
Desperate ISIS forms new female suicide squad to carry out bombings because the
terror group is running out of children for use in the attacks
•Activists in Raqqa claim ISIS are now recruiting female suicide bomber
•Egyptian woman was promised a large amount of money to be a bomber
•ISIS does not want to use its al-Khansaa brigade due to value of foreign jihadi
brides and need for group to holds to control of women in Raqqa
•See our full news coverage on ISIS at www.dailymail.co.uk/isis
Posted by: okie farmer | Oct 27 2015 16:14 utc | 65
@60 A brief addendum on Col. Lang if I may. I didn't like being censored so I stopped visiting.
Maybe I'll go back. He does seem to be on the right side of the Ukraine issue.
I think his Libya position was a case of Southern attraction to rebellion and not wanting to appear unpatriotic.
Posted by: dh | Oct 27 2015 16:15 utc | 66
dahoit says:
...from America they get accolades and encouragement for all their Unconstitutional acts that would be anathema in America
from America they also get 2 or 3 billion dollars a year, 80 or 90% of which is spent on American weapons systems. it's a symbiotic relationship.
and 60 plus years of oppressing the Palestinian people doesn't seem to have been, or to be, particularly anathema to the collective American
conscience either, probably because of our own penchant(and vivid record) for racism and genocide.
i and most of the world recognize Israel as an apartheid state, but if you think that US deep state policy is dictated by Tel Aviv...
...you're a fucking idiot.
Posted by: john | Oct 27 2015 16:19 utc | 67
ps -- I didn't mock him, I merely criticized his lousy politics and poor choice of slogan. Nr. 68 is mocking.
Posted by: rufus magister | Oct 27 2015 16:29 utc | 69
Good on you b. I was waiting for someone to try come forward with some‘genuine moderates’
(besides guys sitting in London) and then come to the conclusion .. that these mythical creatures
simply can’t be found.
As for ordinary Syrians, who were, or are anti-Assad (they do exist) from my a tad-better-than superficial
perusal of sparse polls / interviews and the like, they will vote for him anyway, or abstain.
**Moreover: Who, what (figure, party, coalition, political group) would provide a counter-, oppositional force?**
The Syrian Constitution (2012, by referendum) forbids parties founded on religion or ethnicity. quote:
Article 8, 4. Carrying out any political activity or forming any political parties or groupings on the basis of religious,
sectarian, tribal, regional, class- based, professional, or on discrimination based on gender, origin, race or color
may not be undertaken.
eng version from voltaire network
http://www.voltairenet.org/article173033.html
Which is one of the reasons one can hear ppl advising ‘a newConstitution’
—> a sort of replay of the Iraq script.
There would be much to say about this article, and the Constitution as a whole, this is not the place,
nevertheless, it is a backdrop of the events for those in the ‘know.’
Posted by: Noirette | Oct 27 2015 16:34 utc | 70
@dh #66:
I didn't like being censored …
I think his Libya position was a case of Southern attraction to rebellion
Well, being censored is a good reason to stop visiting a Web site, in my book.
As for "Southern attraction to rebellion", that clearly must lie at the bottom of Lang's sympathy for the Novorossiyans, which I found pretty strange actually. His being a Southerner explains his applying the "American independence" meme to Novorossiya of course. (The way I read all that is that it's not so much about "independence" as it is about being united with the Motherland instead of being subjugated by Russia-hating fascists – the exact legal form that takes is a secondary matter.)
I can see why a Southerner would tend to be more skeptical of US foreign policy than someone from the "Union" states, by the way. The self-righteousness that the North displays towards the South does seem to be the same thing that the US now displays to the rest of the world, or at least to those parts that still try to resist it. (Obviously, both France and Germany have given up, for some reason I still don't fully understand.)
@rufus magister #68:
By obstinately continuing to defend Karl Popper as being anything other than a charlatan shilling for the Empire, without stopping even for a moment to consider the possibility that you might be wrong about him and Hegel, you have placed yourself squarely on the side of the enemy. We are in the middle of an ideological war, and you are on the wrong side.
"Open society", huh? Soros's Open Society was a prime financier of the Kiev coup, and the Popper acolyte Soros is unrepentent in his support of the Maidan regime. But such hints are lost on you.
FL@34:
Because the history, the actual historical presence and the international treaties, outweigh claims based on geography, which are a secondary fallback position when the history isn't overwhelming, as it is in this case.
References/citations please? And again, why is the "ontinental shelf theory" (it's not a theory: it's a proposed UN rule, not yet accepted/ratified) "lame"?
Not that the Chinese should not be nice and accommodating, as they have been.
As even the neocon National Interest pointed out a few months ago, China maintains 8 outposts in the SC Sea, down from 9 outposts 30 years ago. That's very low compared to many SC Sea claimants. In the same period, Vietnam has moved from about 20 outposts to about 40, none of them in its own territorial waters. That's barefaced Vietnamese hypocrisy. Vietnam has done everything it accuses China of, like land reclamation. China's crime was to be too competent at its recent land reclamation project, too fast and efficient. The Chinese had no choice but to respond to US-allied Vietnam, or they risked losing freedom of navigation, access to the Malacca Straights, etc. ASEAN is a poodle of the Jewish-controlled USA's foreign policy.
China has invaded VN twice in last 375 years. Just saying. And, "accommodating" of what?
Denk@46
Your Consortium quote describes S. Korean actions>consequences, not US and you try and link with your rant. S. Korea had done very well on it's own of late, thank you very much.
David@31
Vietnam's government lies terribly about China's SC Sea activity
For example? If you take thorough look, these disputes are far from just VN <> China: most of the nations in that area of SE Asia have same "concerns".
China maintains 8 outposts in the SC Sea, down from 9 outposts 30 years ago. That's very low compared to many SC Sea claimants.
Those prior ones were not militarized. Also in an era where VN (and Singapore/Malaysia/Thailand) economies/governments were utterly (in global markets) impotent. Vietnam was completely occupied with "recovery" from the devastating war AND reunification... in poverty. Strategic importance of these islands for trade was not even conceived of.
In the same period, Vietnam has moved from about 20 outposts to about 40, none of them in its own territorial waters. That's barefaced Vietnamese hypocrisy.
Numbers can lie. Vietnam's total physical presence less then 2% of China's.
These disputes are "regional": they exist and will exist irrespective of US (or any other) presence. Just amazing how so many jump to conclusions, knowing so little.
The Chinese had no choice but to respond to US-allied Vietnam,
US-allied Vietnam? R U kidding? US has done next to nothing, for or against VN for a long time. Only just began some reclamation from Agent Orange a few years ago.
I'd be very interested to see any citation backing up this "alleged" association/alignment, other then innuendo.
they risked losing freedom of navigation, access to the Malacca Straights, etc.How? VN, Brunei/Philippines/Taiwan have done nothing... approx. -0- development, even suggesting this.
ASEAN is a poodle of the Jewish-controlled USA's foreign policy.
OMFG. Time for some Rorschach tests around here.
I don't usually look at war footage videos, but this one may give credence both to the warning post
at Saker's site that received pushback from many (including me). I found the video sobering.
https://www.rt.com/news/319860-syrian-frontline-damascus-phelan/
In light of what b's message in this post has to offer, how can the US government not do
everything in its power to prevent the kind of repression that is imminently on offer
should any of those opposing the present government succeed in weakening the defense
of its civilian population? I really hope there are meaningful talks underway to provide a
cease fire of some sort - or rather a stop to the mindless flow of weapons into
those tunnels threatening Damascus. I'm glad Russia is calling out the lies about
civilian harm due to their participation in Assad's defense.
What is it you want, wayoutwest? Do you really want to see another Saudi Arabia?
Isn't one enough?
Posted by: juliania | Oct 27 2015 18:07 utc | 74
Here is how the British government sponsored rag BBC is explaining whom two side of the conflict in Syria are supporting.
“How has the world reacted?
Iran, Russia and Lebanon's Hezbollah movement are propping up the Alawite-led Assad government, while Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar back the more moderate Sunni-dominated opposition, along with the US, UK and France. Hezbollah and Iran are believed to have troops and officers on the ground, while a Western-led coalition and Russia are carrying out air strikes.”
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-34647193
Apparently according to BBC, US’ European and regional client states like UK, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Qatar are supporting the “more moderate Sunni-dominated opposition”, didn’t know Al-Qaeda which is responsible for killing 3000 Americans in NY is now considered a moderate Sunni opposition, I wonder if those Americans who lost loved ones in twin tower are aware of this.
And here is Glen Greenwald’ yesterday article about this same issue with BBC
“ BBC Protects U.K.’s Close Ally Saudi Arabia With Incredibly Dishonest and Biased Editing”
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article43259.htm
Posted by: kooshy | Oct 27 2015 20:20 utc | 75
US empire puts up with Israeli bullshit, just like it puts up with ISIL and Al-qaeda bullshit. All are tools in service of the US empire, no matter when they occasionally get of line or have their own goals that might even
get in the way of the US goals, the overall hegemonic goal is always primary.
When Israeli terrorist army attacked and killed the US 'cannon fodder' ( as the empire sees its soldiers ) of the Liberty, the US left it mostly unchallenged because Israels hegemonic role as empire tool was far too important. Bringing attention to it would cause far more
problems for the Israeli tool of regional hegemony and genocide.
When ISIL terrorists murdered the US ambassador to Libya, did the US go on the attack on Libya. Hell no. The US took it in its stride and spent a lot of time covering it up because they considered Chirs Stevens expendable, because the larger goal of terrorist proxies attacking Libya
and Syria was far more important to it. Raising that as an issue and reacting to it, is far less important than the US goal of proxy terrorism in the Mid east against its enemies. Chris Steven was expendable cannon fodder too.
If one believes that Al-qaeda really attacked and committed 9/11 on it's own ( which I don't ), then how can the US be so chummy with Al-qaeda now ? 9/11 death toll of over 3000 US civilians dead, is far more than the USS Liberty soldiers.
The US empire will put up will all kinks of shit by hard to control ass-wipes and killers, because the larger goal of hegemony is far more important.
Posted by: tom | Oct 27 2015 22:31 utc | 76
in re 72 --
I believe I've been in this doghouse before. Meh.
Posted by: rufus magister | Oct 27 2015 22:49 utc | 77
And like I can do anything about Soros' naming his organization after a title well-regarded among liberal anti-totalitarians. How did that become some sort of endorsement for Soros and his ways?
Posted by: rufus magister | Oct 27 2015 22:52 utc | 78
ShadyL @ 58 & Demian @ 50. I also have doubts about Russia's commitment to leave the Western Financial system. Remember he even speaks of wanting an integrated trade system. All of Southern EU has found out how impoverishing that can be. ShadyL, we have been misled about the BRICS institutions. The least research shows they aren't dollar-independent, they share personnel w supranational institutions, and truly are complementary rather than competitive. Plus, of course, they share the premise that countries need to borrow from others at interest instead of issuing their own money & credit.
Posted by: Penelope | Oct 28 2015 1:54 utc | 79
FromtheHague, Yeah. The whole mideast is being reconfigured by 3 side-deals at the Iran Nuke conference. It's a fairy tale that Russia & Iran did it in defiance. Iran's picking up her old position like the Shah used to have.
Does anybody know how many fighters Iran has in Syria? I'm not as sure as I would like to be that she's committed to a unitary Syria.
Posted by: Penelope | Oct 28 2015 1:55 utc | 80
curious @ 55 That's a terrible PressTV link that says Obama is considering putting Special Ops into Syria. Somebody is trying to create a wave in the media; Obama won't do it. Not unless the Specl Ops can be controlled to fight ISIS only-- & I wouldn't bet on it. They's be more likely to destroy the oil wells.
Posted by: Penelope | Oct 28 2015 2:05 utc | 81
Exactly so, ShadyL. Neocons have not been good for the US-- or at least no longer are.
The Rockefeller/ Anglophile faction w Obama as point man are taking control back.
Since it was Bush Sr who put the neocons/ rogue activity/ super aggression into power
I don't see how they can allow Jeb Bush-- or even Hillary near the Presidency.
Maybe expect a surprise candidate.
Posted by: Penelope | Oct 28 2015 2:06 utc | 82
Amazing. Looks like some people are finally letting reality seep into their perceptions...
Too little, too late. I hope all the cheerleaders of this brutal, bloody - and completely unnecessary - war have finally realized, as Putin asked the United States government so succinctly, just what they've done.
David @31: ASEAN is a poodle of the Jewish-controlled USA's foreign policy.
jdmckay @73: OMFG. Time for some Rorschach tests around here.
In a proper Rorschach test I should see the shape of the ink blot first, but even without it I can keenly perceive a Zionist conspiracy.
If this is some type of Yinon plan applied to SE Asia, I do not know.
Posted by: Piotr Berman | Oct 28 2015 2:46 utc | 84
@Penelope:
I am not inclined to speculate on any side deals. I basically take what Russian leaders say at face value, and they say that they do not want Syria to break up. Since I have not detected any expansionist ambitions on the part of Iran, and I imagine that Russia and Iran see eye to eye, since they are both "conservative societies", I think Iran doesn't want to see Syria break up, either.
As for the current noise about the US sending some kind of ground force or other into Syria, I just take that as further thrashing from Washington as it can't decide on a strategy for how to respond to Russia's move in Syria.
Finally, as for the BRICS and the dollar, China and Russia are the leaders here, and I think they see the US as a wounded wild animal that has nowhere to run. Thus, they want to provoke it – something getting off the dollar quickly very well might do – as little as possible.
I don't follow Lang simply because he is an amerikan imperialist who hides his contribution to his share of the planet's destruction under the worn out old cloak of 'honour' and a pretence of forthrightness which only lasts as long as it is useful.
Central America is my preferred yardstick for measuring amerikan 'nobility'. Fifty years ago the amerikan government under pressure from their capitalist owners trained up torturers and death squads in Guatemala, Panama and Honduras.
The results of that are available for anyone interested in judging what is planned for the ME.
The initial push against amerikan corporate takeover had come from a coalition between the urban left and indigenous populations. Decades of assassination kidnapping and torture (anyone who thinks amerikans give a toss about xtians in Aleppo would be wise to consider that amerikan 'advisors' in Central America gleefully tortured catholic priests to death then persuaded their students to do the same). That was Lang's world and he should be held accountable for what he did there as well as what followed.
As civil service infrastructure became more and more eroded amerikan corporations took full advantage pushing indigenous people off their lands and destroying the environment essential for a traditional life.
The resulting economic catastrophe was exploited by corruption of any possible leaders and the result has been a creation of modern day tribal groupings the Mara who, bereft of ideological underpinnings are ripe for a cheap buy off to ensure the theft of resources is not obstructed.
Amerika reduced Central America to a state of controllable anarchy and that is what they plan for the ME. Israel wasn't essential in Central America but it has come in handy in the ME and Israel is now operating as the amerikan proxy in the former French colonies of West Africa such as Côte d'Ivoire where the Israel government has been bribing local pols to regulate the 2nd or 3rd generation Ivoirean business people of Lebanese descent out of business to be replaced by Israeli emigres. For this strategy to have been as successful as it has been so far, one must assume the French government is also involved.
Imperialism is an ugly business at the best of times as is corporate capitalism but the two in combination is a recipe for economic destruction followed by genocide.
Posted by: Debs is dead | Oct 28 2015 3:28 utc | 86
Penelope @81
In response to " That's a terrible PressTV link ... " - See headline and link below
" In a major reversal for the US military, US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter announced Tuesday that the Pentagon
will begin "direct action on the ground" in Iraq and Syria, in an effort to the combat the self-proclaimed
Islamic State terrorist group. "
http://sputniknews.com/us/20151027/1029196950/us-troops-iraq-syria.html
Posted by: curious | Oct 28 2015 4:16 utc | 87
jdmckay @73: I explained about the continental shelf theory. It is subordinate to historical claim,
continuous occupation, and other 'competing' states' recognition of a claim. On all these bases,
China's claim is stronger than others. The dispute is not complex or a close one -- except around the edges,
since the exact extent of the 'Spratly Islands' is unclear -- but to get a proper sense of the sheer weight
of the Chinese claim you have to read all the history going back at least deep into the colonial era. And, I admit,
you will find in the following that the Chinese claim is not perfect. It's just overwhelming and blows away the
Vietnamese and Philippines claims. The Chinese have claimed, lived in, and fished in and around the Spratlys for
centuries. Here are four sources, mostly from before 2000 (after which the dispute become less historical and more
a 'hate on China' thing): 1111,
2222,
3333 (PDF), and
4444
4444 offers in my opinion the most accurate summary of the dispute:
... China’s claim to the primary land elements lying within the nine-dashed line — the Spratlys and the Paracels — is markedly superior to those of its rival claimants.Alone among claimants, China is capable of coupling ‘continuous and effective occupation’ of the islands, islets
and reefs with a robust modern international law-based claim backed by relevant multilateral and bilateral
instruments.In 1952, Japan renounced all right, title and claim to the Spratly and Paracel Islands to the Republic of China
(Taiwan), by way of Article 2 of the bilateral Japan–Taiwan Treaty of Taipei. This treaty followed — and
referenced — the territorial renunciations of the Islands by Japan under the 1951 San Francisco Peace Treaty,
which had not identified the beneficiary at the time — a treaty that was ratified by both the Philippine and
(South) Vietnamese governments. And although neither country is bound by provisions in the bilateral Japan–Taiwan
treaty, neither can produce a Spratlys/Paracels cession or reversion clause in their own bilateral treaties with
Japan.
Posted by: fairleft | Oct 28 2015 4:22 utc | 88
dh and debs is dead..
interesting how things get picked up, or not on this page.. i am as guilty as others of missing posts.. i had to go back to see if your comments where connected to @ 6 question which i answered @19... turns out someone came on later to discuss pat langs site..
i think you two probably have a pretty accurate read on him. thank you for that. however a fellow named pb is posting some interesting comments.. i don't know how much they are based on reality, but they are a good read regardless..
i avoid commenting on his site.. i get a small minded vibe from the guy, but - i am just speaking off the cuff and could be wrong.. could be this is my intuition talking and it could be wrong. i tend to go with it anyway.. thanks again for your comments. they were enlightening..
Posted by: james | Oct 28 2015 4:51 utc | 89
@88
I didn't mean to set you off against jdmckay with my reference to China becoming the point of the sword along with Russia.
I have had more thoughts. One is that maybe China should buy the Russian technology that Penelope detailed in her comments and install on the islands. This might deter wandering US military craft for a couple of years anyway....grin
Another thought I have relates to China applying to be part of the IMF SDR currencies. Others have reported that in November the IMF is rumored to be recommending that China be included in the SDR basket of currencies. The IMF will be sending this recommendation to the US Congress for action. What are the chances of the current US Congress voting to include China's currency into the IMF formula? I think they are slim to negative. I think China knows this as well. But the Americans can not say that China did not try to join their private finance scheme when they fully implement their alternative "backroom" financial infrastructure.
Posted by: psychohistorian | Oct 28 2015 4:52 utc | 90
@90: Not at all. Just having fun and trying to keep the moonians well informed.
Posted by: fairleft | Oct 28 2015 5:05 utc | 91
another site for consideration.. picked it up via langs site..
Posted by: james | Oct 28 2015 5:05 utc | 92
glenn greenwalds latest..U
BBC Protects U.K.’s Close Ally Saudi Arabia With Incredibly Dishonest and Biased Editing
i like how angry arab framed glenns comments :U.S. provides the greatest material support to al Qaeda
"Now we have a virtual admission from the Saudis that they are arming a group that centrally includes al Qaeda, while the U.S. itself has at least indirectly done the same (just as was true in Libya). And we’re actually at the point where western media outlets are vehemently denouncing Russia for bombing al Qaeda elements, which those outlets are manipulatively referring to as “non-ISIS groups.” It’s not a stretch to say that the faction that provides the greatest material support to al Qaeda at this point is the U.S. and its closest allies."
Posted by: james | Oct 28 2015 5:26 utc | 93
U.S. weighs special forces in Syria, helicopters in Iraq
The United States is considering sending a small number of special operations forces to Syria
and attack helicopters to Iraq as it weighs options to build momentum in the battle against
Islamic State, U.S. officials said on Tuesday.President Barack Obama, deeply averse to over-committing American troops to unpopular wars in
the Middle East, could view some of the options as more viable than others as he approaches the
final stretch of his presidency.Still, Obama's administration is under pressure to ramp up America's effort, particularly after
the fall of the Iraqi city of Ramadi to Islamic State in May and the failure of a U.S. military
program to train and arm thousands of Syrian rebels.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/10/28/us-mideast-crisis-obama-options-idUSKCN0SM03O20151028
Posted by: okie farmer | Oct 28 2015 7:59 utc | 94
Lol @ anyone who honestly thinks Israel or saudi arabia or any non-western state is manipulating the West instead of the other way around. This desperate need to view the West as essentially good but merely "corrupted" by outside influences is nothing but imperialist chauvinism. There is a global imperialist economic system in place that overwhelmingly favours Western nations at the expense of the global South. Saudi Arabia, Rwanda, Israel, ... are all nothing but vazal states in this system. Should they ever attempt to threaten the system they would be cast aside and destroyed in no time at all.
Posted by: fullcommunism | Oct 28 2015 8:11 utc | 95
Posted by: james | Oct 28, 2015 1:26:47 AM | 93
I think "the West" is betting on Saudi Kings not making it in the long and even the short term.
That would be the reason for the rush to come to an "agreement" with Iran. It was also the reason to involve Quatar
that has not got the religious legitimacy problem.
This here is a BBC documentary from Qatif
from May last year.
The use of Al Qaeda is a double edged sword that can return home.
Posted by: somebody | Oct 28 2015 8:43 utc | 96
Posted by: somebody | Oct 28, 2015 4:43:33 AM | 95
add: IS seems to be in the middle of a campaign to ignite sectarian strife in Saudi Arabia by suicide bombing Shiite targets.
If the Saudi King reacts by protecting - his - Saudi Shiite subjects - he will be declared an apostate.
If he does not Iran is bound to react. The Jordanian king is sitting on another volcano.
The subtext of "Western" strategy is a rerun of the Iran-Iraq war, where "the West" encouraged and supported Iraq,
and the sectarian and ethnic divisian of Iraq, designed to weaken it as a state.
Posted by: somebody | Oct 28 2015 9:40 utc | 97
Penelope says:
...Obama is considering putting Special Ops into Syria. Somebody is trying to create a wave in the media; Obama won't do it
well, aside from the fact that Obama has just affirmed that he will, in fact, 'do it', let's also remember that special ops have been on the ground
in Syria since at least 2012.
i understand that there just don't seem to be enough hours in the day for your exhaustive research, but maybe if you would stop gnawing at the
'invisible' the 'unseen' the 'unidentifiable' you'd see what's in front of your fucking nose.
Posted by: john | Oct 28 2015 9:57 utc | 98
@95,96
That sounds right, somebody. The West will start it - has started it - and cares not which 'side' wins, so long as the DD&D spreads and engulfs the whole region, leaves it weakened and laying wide open to the West to gorge upon.
And the fool Saudis have swallowed it hook, line, and sinker. Pumping up the oil, destroying their own financial structure as well as that of the GCC statelets, hastening the end of their own rule.
How anyone can claim the neo-cons have been retired is beyond me. Perhaps that pitch is part of the shadowy Obama rehabilitation project that seems to have popped up, now here, now there, whak-a-mole fashion, over the last month or so.
Posted by: jfl | Oct 28 2015 10:04 utc | 99
@Debs is dead #86:
I don't follow Lang simply because he is an amerikan imperialist who hides his contribution to his share of the planet's destruction under the worn out old cloak of 'honour' and a pretence of forthrightness which only lasts as long as it is useful.
Central America is my preferred yardstick for measuring amerikan 'nobility'.
Well, one can take North America as well. In fact, it occurred to me that in its last days of Empire, the US is driven to do to Europe what it did in North America: inflict a genocide upon the native population. There are two ways it is doing this. (1) In Ukraine, bomb people – including women and children – who are unwilling to submit to fascism. Also, destroy their infrastructure, so that the region becomes uninhabitable, or habitable only under highly onerous conditions, and hence depopulated. (2) That is genocide by means of removing a population from a territory in one way or another. The other main form of genocide recognized by the UN is to destroy a culture. This is the route that the US is pursuing in Western Europe, with its pushing of postmodernism upon Europeans with its dominance of mass media and higher education. According to postmodernism, there is no such thing as a unified subject, thus any notion of personal identity becomes a chimera, so that it is nothing but primitive, delusional thinking to believe that one belongs to something like a "national culture". And this goes even more so for thinking that Europeans of all nationalities might share something deep in common, namely a Christian identity. The next phase of this cultural genocide has begun, with the engineered influx of Muslim immigrants from countries that the US has destroyed or is in the process of destroying.
The comments to this entry are closed.
One immediate and not surprising result of Assad's visit to Russia: Russian companies have been offered first dibs on reconstruction contracts. Assad is quoted as saying that he "would never give up the restoration of the country's infrastructure and highly liquid spheres in the hands of the West"
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Posted by: Yonatan | Oct 26 2015 18:43 utc | 1