> A combined attack by all U.S. forces in the area, more than 150 airplanes, would certainly defeat it.
Well, I dunno, this remains to be seen. Russia can sink US carriers in eastern Mediteranean from it’s Engels airbase in south Russia using Kinzhals. Or with the Black Sea fleet using Zircons. Well, that’s the story on the Web. Now the US could probably wreck Tarturus using a big salvo of cruise missiles (400 missiles from all the airplanes and ships together). But I think two carrier battle groups are more important that one naval base.
If USA attacked Russia in Syria, I think Russia would bury US prestige. The only two outcomes from there are 1. USA loses 70% of it’s world power in about a month and 2. global thermonuclear war. Considering the meme “rats want to live”, option 2 is off the table. And option 1 is unacceptable.
The invasion forces (Marines) seem too few to be able to do anything. 3000 solders? That’s about a brigade, right? That’s not going to invade anything and pales in comparison to IDF’s 300,000 people they nominally have. What this MIGHT be for is grabbing some hostages from Hamas. That’s my idea.
So in summary, I *expect* USA will not attack Russia outright and will only use it’s combat troops for small actions. But we’ll see.

Posted by: rert | Oct 17 2023 13:27 utc | 204

“Where are these Kinzhals based exactly – they are not in Syria for instance – that is for sure.”
When exactly were they moved out of Syria? Kinzal equipped Migs were based at the Russian air base in Syria. If they were moved out at some point, how long would it take to return.
Then there is the fact that Kinzals launched from over the Black sea will cover most of the Mediterranean.
How long does it take for a Mig to get from point A to point B traveling at mach 2.5?

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Oct 17 2023 13:27 utc | 206

isn’t the sole purpose of sending a carrier from the UK (Israel’s mother) and two carriers from the US (Israel’s father) is to rebuild the confidence in the Israelis people and the army? They can’t afford for Israel to collapse.

Posted by: Man | Oct 17 2023 13:27 utc | 208

Posted by: Julian | Oct 17 2023 11:49 utc | 51
Have you checked all available facts?
https://news.usni.org/2022/02/28/turkey-closes-bosphorus-dardanelles-straits-to-warships
Now take a look at the world map!
Either the logistics hang on an air link, or they have to go over:
a) Baltic Sea-North Sea-Atlantic-Mediterranean Sea
b) Caspian Sea-Iran-Iraq
When did the US start increasing its military potential in the region?
https://npasyria.com/en/95857/#:~:text=Apr%204%2C%202023%20A%20US%20aircraft%20carrier%20in,to%20a%20closer%20position%20to%20the%20Syrian%20coast.
What “moves” do you think the Russians should make now?
What can we expect if the USA becomes active?
Experience so far points to “shock and awe” until the ground forces can advance safely.
Syria has certain capacities in this regard.
https://tass.com/defense/999760
Of course, action can also be taken from afar.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/world/russian-cruise-missile/
Russia, China, Iran … could strengthen the threatened by supplying weapons.
Unfortunately, airports and ports have just been destroyed in Syria.
However, Israel and the USA/GB/FR are not popular in the region, so help from neighbouring states is likely, also in their own interest.
Should Russia see the situation as dangerous, the countermeasures will require action rather than reaction.

Posted by: 600w | Oct 17 2023 13:34 utc | 210

c1ue 16
” And then there’s the casus belli. Syria is not implicated, in any way, with either Ukraine or Israel/Gaza.”
I don’t think that matters.
To the USA, anything will be turned into a “casus belli” that can in any way, shape, or form, serve as a pretext to do what they planned to do anyhow.
Cf. 9/11 >> Invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq and destruction of Libya (incomplete list).

Posted by: Jane | Oct 17 2023 13:34 utc | 212

by Man | Oct 17 2023 13:27 utc | 106
They can’t afford for Israel to collapse
They claimed the same about Ukraine.

Posted by: whirlX | Oct 17 2023 13:37 utc | 214

Posted by: Jams O’Donnell | Oct 17 2023 13:12 utc | 101
Thanks for posting. It goes to the question I raised about using energy as means of countering support for Israel @ 56.

Posted by: expat | Oct 17 2023 13:40 utc | 216

A Kinzhal launched over Crimea and flying Mach 10 could reach a position in the Mediterranean west of Palestine in ~6 minutes.

Posted by: Norwegian | Oct 17 2023 13:40 utc | 218

Just as zelinsky wanted to officaly drag NATO into a direct war with Russia in Ukraine ‘and’ Russia.
Binyetnyho wants to drag the west into a war in the middle east so izzys can grab land from Egypt Lebanon and Syria. Oh and becouse he’s insane like Zelansky.
A hint, think a pair of ‘culi-sac karens.
Now way is this about Gaza and a few insurgents.
All this in just 12 day ! Nope.

Posted by: Mark2 | Oct 17 2023 13:42 utc | 220

My understanding was Syria already has S-400 air defence but closely supervised by RF. Maybe I’m wrong. S400 and S500 units are not that physically large, are intended to be transportable, could be moved to Syria very quickly. When civilian air traffic has departed shootdowns by Syria will be way more straightforward.
The size of the US force is not enough to enforce pronouns. Were all those carrier air wings sent into action all that will happen is exposing how weak US has become. It took thousands of sorties operating from the secure carrier called Italy to overthrow Qaddafi, defended only by Qaddafis personal collection of twenty antique military planes. US military is more inept now than then.

Posted by: oldhippie | Oct 17 2023 13:45 utc | 222

Norwegian | Oct 17 2023 13:40 utc | 111
Martyanov and a few other put up maps of the coverage area of Kinzals launched from the Black sea/Crimea and from Syria. There may have been a little of the med up near Gibraltar that was out of range but the rest of the Mediterranean was covered.
I see that the second carrier group is supposed to be headed for the eastern Med. I can’t remember exact range of Tomahawk missiles but I assume they are something over 2000k.
Any carrier within aviation range of Gaza
Palestine, Syria, Lebanon is well within Kinzal range. I’m trying to work out if this is the US bluffing or if they are crazy enough to think they can actually use this stuff.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Oct 17 2023 13:53 utc | 224

99 🎈 then 😱😱😱 then 🛸 then 👽 to the rescue. We come in peees.
Bahai faith is an interesting matter, agreed. Amazing that the Zionists permitted a messianic religion build their (very official looking) HQ in Haifa right up the hill from where the Crusadors first landed in holy lands.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/69/Baha%27i_arc_from_archives.jpg
This is the shrine of a dead Persian mystic, the Bab, in Haifa, Israel. Newly built ..
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Shrine_of_the_B%C3%A1b%2C_Haifa.jpg
And what about the Muslim Brotherhood.
B, you never really seem to include them in your geopolitical analysis. No one seems to, really. As if they don’t exist and are not hugely powerful (in Turkey, in Qata, in Egypt, in Gaza ..)

Posted by: robinthehood | Oct 17 2023 13:53 utc | 226

To operate USN aircraft carriers in confined sea such as eastern Med there must be a lot of USAF air cover! That is why fighter aircraft have been deployed.
That said surface ships are targets, what is US baiting?
While each aircraft carrier has roughly 50 fighter aircraft the intricate dance required to rearm a fighter and refuel for next sortie insists that a $13 billion dollar aircraft carrier can get off about 20 strike sorties per day until something big breaks which is 2 or 3 days operations.
If the carriers are employed they will not share statistics bc they are embarrassing.
What if one or both are sunk?

Posted by: paddy | Oct 17 2023 13:57 utc | 228

Reuters quotes on IDF Spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Richard Hecht “We are preparing for the next stages of war. We haven’t said what they will be. Everybody’s talking about the ground offensive. It might be something different,”. Everything seems to start making sense.

Posted by: AI | Oct 17 2023 14:01 utc | 230

@b I know that you dont dare answer that question but I will try
There was a warning after the last bigger rocket attack from US Forces. So we will see how this warning is honed.

Posted by: Macpott | Oct 17 2023 14:02 utc | 232

If attacked Hizbullah, with 100,000 missiles, would destroy Israel. I therefore do not believe that Hizbullah in Lebanon is the real operational target Biden has in mind.
Hizbullah can not be deterred from attacking Israel. If it wants and needs to it will inevitably do so, and do so successfully. It has hidden its forces and weapons either underground or within the population of Beirut and southern Lebanon. Bombing them does not make sense. There is also the fact that the last U.S. intervention in Lebanon infamously ended with lots of dead Marines and an embarrassing retreat from the country. I do not think that the U.S. wants to repeat that experience.
Iran, another potential target, is too difficult to attack. It can effectively retaliate over a large area causing huge damage to any U.S. installation in the Middle East. It could also hike oil prices at a time when the Biden administration is urgently trying to lower them.
That is why I believe that the real aim of this build-up is to finally ‘regime change’ Syria and to kick out the Russian forces who are there to support its government.

This has been pretty obvious since day one, the only target in range of those carriers is Syria. Iran is just too far away, it would require inflight refueling over Iraq or Syria and even if you were able to set that up, it’d be too much of a burden to operate a sortie rate worth it. (Maybe you could justify attacking from both sides to overload the Iranian air defenses but you’d still concentrate more of the carriers in the Gulf rather than have two (!) off the Israeli coast) If your target is Iran you’d park the carriers in the Gulf. And there has been no media campaign to prepare the American public for any assault on Lebanon which has a largely positive image in the West. Nor would Israel really need the help of any addition air power to fight Hezbollah.

Posted by: Altai | Oct 17 2023 14:03 utc | 234

israel and Palestine are unique among the family of nations. They were carved out of the British Mandate of Palestine, which occurred under the ageis of the League of Nations following WWI, when the Ottoman Empire was carved up by the Allies following defeat of the Central Powers.
Like the division(s) of Ethiopia into Ethiopia and Eritrea, and the division of Sudan into Sudan and South Sudan, the boundaries of these states were codified via UNSC resolutions.
In the case of Palestine and Israel, the boundaries and existence of them was codified via UNSC resolution 181 in 1948. This specifically means that conquering of additional territories by either is illegal. Israel taking the Golan, south Lebanon, and the Sinai were all illegal. Palestine taking any part of the territory of Israel not given it by UNSC Res 181 is likewise illegal…
UNLESS….
The UNSC passes a resolution modifying Res 181…. To my knowledge this has not happened… This means the Oslo accords are illegal,,,, Israeli holding and control of Palestinian revenues / gas resources is illegal. Palestine was given sovereignty by the UNSC in the same resolution which gave sovereignty to Israel…
The resistance is fully within it’s rights to support Palestinian sovereignty within the mandates of UNSC Res 181. They don’t need to ask anyone for permission to do so… It is a given..
INDY

Posted by: Dr. George W Oprisko | Oct 17 2023 14:10 utc | 236

I have given much consideration to the ever boiling geopolitical situation in the lands west of the Jordan River and the Dead Sea…
It occurs to me that peoples do not need the permission of other peoples to declare a state for themselves. Witness the creation of Israel, Kosovo, Donetsk Peoples Republic, Crimean Tatar Republic, Abkhazian Republic, South Ossetian Republic, and Luhansk Peoples Republic.
In the case of Palestine, however, the matter was settled by UNSC Resolution 181 of 1947, which divided the British Mandate into two states… Israel… and Palestine, and which determined the boundaries between the two.
Therefore, the solution to the current situation in Gaza is simple… Hamas must declare itself the legitimate government of the state of Palestine in accordance with UNSC Resolution 181, and Gaza, the west bank, and the littoral mediterranean sea as the territory of independent Palestine. Following this declaration, Hamas must ask the resistance for assistance in deterring Israeli/NATO aggression against Palestine, and the UNSC for assistance in protecting Palestine.
This transforms the Hamas attack into self defense against Israeli aggression against not only the Alqsa Mosque, but also against Palestine in pursuit of destruction of a UNSC created state. Thereby, making NATO support of aggression against Palestine a violation of it’s UN responsibilities, ie: acting as a rogue state(s), and illegitimate.
This would also transform the simmering animosity against the Resistance, into aggression against countries protecting the UNSC authorized state of Palestine, hence against the will of the UN, hence illegal.
This would give the Resistance the high moral ground of claiming they are not desirous of the destruction if Israel, rather they are protecting Palestine within it’s UNSC defined borders, and Lebanon and Syria likewise against Israeli aggression against those states.
Were this to occur, I believe virtually all muslim states… Indonesia, Pakistan, KSA, Qatar, The Emirates, Iraq, Kuwait, Egypt, Sudan, Iran, Syria, Malaysia, Lebanon…. would find support of the Israeli/NATO states impossible, accelerating the consolidation of the Global South..
I also think this would give Putin and Xi cover to emplace AAM systems in Egypt, KSA, Syria, and Lebanon for the purpose of grounding the Israeli Airforce, and emasculating the US war fleet offshore.
It might just stop WWIII…
INDY

Posted by: Dr. George W Oprisko | Oct 17 2023 14:11 utc | 238

Posted by: Altai | Oct 17 2023 14:03 utc | 119
They have tried to destroy Syria, I believe since 2008, when Assad refused a gas pipeline project from Qatar or Saudi on through Turkey. In 2011 the “civil war” i.e. US backed terrorists shipped from Libya started the destruction of the state and its people.
Syria has survived and even managed to put all those terrorists in the province of Idlib, unfortunately, they have been unable to finish the job despite they are now all rammed in one place. You could suspect that US will bomb the Syrian infrastructures, state and people, with the idea being it will be overrun by ISIS, al-Qaeda etc.
This is very bad for Syria. However, Israel will no doubt be destroyed in the process. Syria needs air defense systems more than anything else right now.

Posted by: unimperator | Oct 17 2023 14:11 utc | 240

Bahai “World Center”:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bah%C3%A1%CA%BC%C3%AD_World_Centre
https://1.bp.blogspot.com/_jUCx5hPd0Xc/TCFcZ5fe8VI/AAAAAAAAD_o/0oJd0CSHKUw/s1600/IMG_7048.jpg
An “Imperial Religion”? Bye bye doves? (“Eagle is a symbol of the spirit”. O.K.)
Per 2nd hand info (net mostly) also hugely influential and present in UN.
https://www.bic.org/news/bic-engages-world-leaders-during-un-general-assembly-high-level-week
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_House_of_Justice
The Bab:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B%C3%A1b
whose spiritual movement was hijacked by this man:
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e8/Bah%C3%A1%27u%27ll%C3%A1h_%28M%C3%ADrz%C3%A1_%E1%B8%A4usayn-%60Al%C3%AD_N%C3%BAr%C3%AD%29_in_1868.jpg
(looks very spiritual, doesn’t he? All these events happened at the height of the power of Colonialism and the lowest points in the history of Ottomans and Qajar Iran. )

Posted by: robinthehood | Oct 17 2023 14:12 utc | 242

No way. If Russia is attacked in Syria the Ford is literally sitting duck.

Posted by: Goldhoarder | Oct 17 2023 14:17 utc | 244

The few Bahai believers I known have all been staunch Zionists .

Posted by: Exile | Oct 17 2023 14:20 utc | 246

“The neo-conservative lunatics in the White House may well think that they now have a chance to eliminate Russia’s presence in the Middle East”
Nope, see the distance from the East Mediterranean to the US shores and compare with the distance to Russia. If they attack any Russian base, Russia will flood the US “Armada Invencible” with missiles of any existing type, probably hundreds of them in short succession, and will sink every carrier, ship or boat floating with a NATO flag in this area, with all the planes sailors and marines inside them, even before they could try to “expel” de Russian Expeditionary Force in Syria.

Posted by: Dave | Oct 17 2023 14:21 utc | 248

‘Russia is undoubtedly prepared for that. Still, its contingent in Syria is too small. A combined attack by all U.S. forces in the area, more than 150 airplanes, would certainly defeat it.
The question then will be: “What’s next?”
But I for one do not dare to answer it.’
I think i can answer it.
Russia, as stated before, will target the launching pad of wherever those planes came from. Russia will also remind the US and the world about that inevitability BEFORE it ever happens.
This all means that if the US plan is to attack Russia in Syria DIRECTLY, then they need to game out the loss of ships, airfields and bases in the Middle East, leading to a potential nuclear escalation, if not a widening of the conflict with unpredictable consequences. Seems like a pretty high price to pay for mere ‘payback’ for Ukraine.
Like others, i think the US is largely posturing and looking to deter Israel’s neighbours and Iran from getting involved in Palestine’s defense. A few thousand men, no matter how well trained, are not an invading force of any significance, not to mention, how would the US sustain such in invading force in hostile territory? Which of Syria’s neighbours would offer their territory for such an operation, knowing the risks?
The possibility of direct US air strikes on Syria is quite high though. Russia will be perceived as reluctant to get involved, thereby encouraging Biden to expose its perceived weakness. I agree that Russia is powerless to defend its ally, additionally, thus far has always proven unwilling to escalate or turn the other cheek, focusing on the long game. Perhaps reducing Syria to rubble, pointing out Russia’ weakness and rendering its bases untenable is the US aim, with some sort of ‘offer you can’t refuse’ diplomatic out offered before any direct confrontation renders the entire exercise moot.
Once again, all we can hope there is no misunderstanding, as one side plays nuclear poker, while the other still thinks it’s a game of chess.

Posted by: Rubiconned | Oct 17 2023 14:22 utc | 250

If the US/NATO attempts any regime change in Syria at this time the humiliation it suffered in 2006 would be a child’s play compared to what it would suffer this time around. If Iran and Hezbollah are giving the US a nightmare, it would be foolish to think that both Ìran and Hezbollah would fold their arms and watch Syria being taken over. And talking about kicking Russian forces out is pure hallucination.

Posted by: Steve | Oct 17 2023 14:22 utc | 252

Can anyone give me a single reason why the middle east should not take milatary action right now. (Hours)
Ther is no advantage in waiting,
If your the prey and the preditor is swooping down, acting first and fast is your best hope.
Thats what the great Vladimir Putin did when he moved into Ukraine, begining of the SMO.

Posted by: Mark2 | Oct 17 2023 14:23 utc | 254

Bernard… I’m going to keep posting this until you turn my essay into a post…
From Public Research Institute….
I have given much consideration to the ever boiling geopolitical situation in the lands west of the Jordan River and the Dead Sea…
It occurs to me that peoples do not need the permission of other peoples to declare a state for themselves. Witness the creation of Israel, Kosovo, Donetsk Peoples Republic, Crimean Tatar Republic, Abkhazian Republic, South Ossetian Republic, and Luhansk Peoples Republic.
In the case of Palestine, however, the matter was settled by UNSC Resolution 181 of 1947, which divided the British Mandate into two states… Israel… and Palestine, and which determined the boundaries between the two.
Therefore, the solution to the current situation in Gaza is simple… Hamas must declare itself the legitimate government of the state of Palestine in accordance with UNSC Resolution 181, and Gaza, the west bank, and the littoral mediterranean sea as the territory of independent Palestine. Following this declaration, Hamas must ask the resistance for assistance in deterring Israeli/NATO aggression against Palestine, and the UNSC for assistance in protecting Palestine.
This transforms the Hamas attack into self defense against Israeli aggression against not only the Alqsa Mosque, but also against Palestine in pursuit of destruction of a UNSC created state. Thereby, making NATO support of aggression against Palestine a violation of it’s UN responsibilities, ie: acting as a rogue state(s), and illegitimate.
This would also transform the simmering animosity against the Resistance, into aggression against countries protecting the UNSC authorized state of Palestine, hence against the will of the UN, hence illegal.
This would give the Resistance the high moral ground of claiming they are not desirous of the destruction if Israel, rather they are protecting Palestine within it’s UNSC defined borders, and Lebanon and Syria likewise against Israeli aggression against those states.
Were this to occur, I believe virtually all muslim states… Indonesia, Pakistan, KSA, Qatar, The Emirates, Iraq, Kuwait, Egypt, Sudan, Iran, Syria, Malaysia, Lebanon…. would find support of the Israeli/NATO states impossible, accelerating the consolidation of the Global South..
I also think this would give Putin and Xi cover to emplace AAM systems in Egypt, KSA, Syria, and Lebanon for the purpose of grounding the Israeli Airforce, and emasculating the US war fleet offshore.
It might just stop WWIII…
INDY

Posted by: Dr. George W Oprisko | Oct 17 2023 14:29 utc | 256

UNSC Brazil proposal in table now:
Basically amounts to every wet dream of US. Calls for:
1) Condemnation of Hamas.
2) Unconditional & immediate release of hostages.
3) Humanitarian “pauses”..
4) Access for UN workers and affiliates to “move about”.
No ceasefire. No “truce”. Just an allowance for Israel to keep going.
Not likely to pass I’d say. Russia offered 2 amendments yesterday, doubt they’ll be incorporated. I know the “condemnation” part was one of them, guessing “humanitarian ceasefire” probably the other.
Appears West dead set on breaking BRICS up, India & Brazil are weak sauce and always have been.

Posted by: Trubind1 | Oct 17 2023 14:30 utc | 258

What is dangerous now in not what Biden may do, but what can be done in his name. He cannot navigate his way along a red carpet let alone read or understand the implications of documents he is asked to sign.
https://twitter.com/LeLegionar/status/1714200411303719240
Posted by: Peter AU1 | Oct 17 2023 10:54 utc | 34
+++++++++
Biden: “What am I doing now . . .?”
My view of this horrific situation:
The Israeli right and Netanyahu (and now perhaps all Israelis are sufficiently radicalized) want to eliminate the Palestinians.
Physically.
Forever.
“Never again” has metamorphosed into “Forever [free of Pals].”
That is a given.
The Zionists want all the land for Eretz Israel.
“Biden” will say that “romoval” is OK by him.
But IMO the Israelis know that “removal” will only create more festering populations of refugees.
They really would like to kill them all.
But “Biden” will try help out Bibi & Co. by arranging removal to far-away countries such as the USA, Europe, maybe Australia and New Zealand and anywhere that doesn’t share a border with Israel.
For Americans the obvious comparison has to be the Trail of Tears.
Once free of the British imperial yoke that was also a brake, settlers, now citizens of the USA, could really go to town on driving out Native Americans from lands the New Americans lusted after.
Why don’t contemporary Americans—especially those who celebrate Indigenous People’s Day—see “removal” and “resettling” for what it is?
Somehow the Palestinians must hold fast and their allies must nix any ideas of removal.

Posted by: Jane | Oct 17 2023 14:31 utc | 260

All muslims are bad sub humans and terrorists except Chinese muslims who are oppressed by the evil CCP and need people like Hillary Clinton to stand up for their human rights. Because that’s what Hillary stands for , lol

Posted by: Hankster | Oct 17 2023 14:32 utc | 262

Posted by: Get Some | Oct 17 2023 14:29 utc | 131
if the US tries that, the US ceases to exist.

Posted by: pretzelattack | Oct 17 2023 14:37 utc | 264

So the lesson is that when Biden goes to Israel and says he does not want the escalation of the war, he wants the escalation of the war.

Posted by: Jonathan W | Oct 17 2023 14:37 utc | 266

RE:
Posted by: Get Some | Oct 17 2023 14:29 utc | 131
“To answer your question though, whoever sinks a carrier ceases to exist.”
That’s been the claim, a little worn out. There’s more than one power in the world.

Posted by: Trubind1 | Oct 17 2023 14:38 utc | 268

The most terrifying aspect of this is that ostensible president ‘Biden’ isn’t in charge, and it’s not clear to the general public just who is. Biden was never very bright, even in his prime. Now he can barely speak or walk. So in fact, America is ruled by a secret junta. In Niger, by contrast, everyone at least knows the leader’s name.
The war ‘Biden’ provoked in Ukraine, the withdrawal from Afghanistan that the junta botched, and the disastrous results of throwing open the southern border makes it clear that US policy-makers, whoever they are, live in Cloud-Cuckoo Land, a dream-world. It’s as though they’re playing Dungeons & Dragons, but with real warships, bombers and marines. As Nordstream proved, they’re capable of anything, no matter how brazen and criminal. I have no idea whether they’re planning to invade Syria, but if they are, real-world considerations won’t be allowed to deter them. There’s no accountability whatsoever.
It’s clear the Russians now understand they’re not dealing with rational actors. I wonder if they are prepared to thwart an attack on their forces in Syria by targeting US carriers with Zircon, Kinzhal and other modalities. It may well come to that.

Posted by: jmj59 | Oct 17 2023 14:38 utc | 270

Hezbollah makes far more sense.
It’s also much more important to denigrate for purposes of further ethnic cleansing of Palestine.
Israel enjoys the cheap oil it’s getting stolen from Syria, no need to mess up that supply…

Posted by: John Howlett | Oct 17 2023 14:41 utc | 272

One of the recent Drizen Reports describes a veritable doomsday scenario as far as the US/Israeli plans are concerned, and it does involve attacking Iran from South East Asia. As per Ron Ben-Yishai. https://thedreizinreport.com/2023/10/15/shocking-footage-of-gaza-bombing-never-seen-anything-like-it-see-below-and-2-sanity-checks-1-news-of-u-s-military-committing-to-division-of-labor-whereby-in-response-to-lebane/

Posted by: Jonathan W | Oct 17 2023 14:41 utc | 274

IDF slowly bleeding Merkava tanks around the border. Hezbollah has claim to hit four with ATGMs, and probably more AFVs.

Posted by: unimperator | Oct 17 2023 14:41 utc | 276

Correction: SW Asia

Posted by: Jonathan W | Oct 17 2023 14:42 utc | 278

Apologies for not yet reading comments.
If and I do say IF this is simply a move to halt the bombing of Gaza, then I say welcome US forces. That is what everyone wants at this point, and that is what will secure the coming election for the Democrats.
If there had been a viable candidate on offer Republicanwise, I would be doubtful, but there isn’t. Also, this could be a way of easing the US into the multipolar world — at least they are fronting up. Bringing what they have to the table.
I am very often ignored, because I am very often wrong in the short term. But this scenario would be my prayer this morning. There will be regime changes US and Israel both. Let them be towards peace.
I hope and pray this time I’m right.

Posted by: juliania | Oct 17 2023 14:45 utc | 280

I wonder if the Israel Zionist colonization of Palestine was always meant to divide Jews, for on the one hand you had the Jewish banking dynasties and on the other the great and long standing tradition of secular Jewish intellectuals, most of whom were of a humanitarian, tending towards revolutionary, bent of a secular, non denominational nature. Israel is becoming, at an accelerating pace, everything these latter would have opposed, not least of all, because of its non universalist nature. And yet these latter cannot simply denounce the project precisely for their much vaunted humanitarian reasons at this point, so they are caught between the ‘sword and the wall’ as they say in certain languages.

Posted by: Ludo | Oct 17 2023 14:47 utc | 282

RE: by: Dr. George W Oprisko | Oct 17 2023 14:29 utc | 132
Except that the UN and the UNSC are obviously DOA in its current configuration. They can’t even agree on a “temporary” ceasefire in the hot spots.
None of what your suggesting could transpire until AFTER the major war where geopolitical & geographical maps are redrawn and the reconfiguration of the UNSC and UN body is done.
Unless US and accolades decide they are willing to “share power” and assist in establishing multipolarity, than WW3 is on…no matter what utterances of R2P or any other UN Charter Laws any entity might utter. The UN Charter for HR is being trashed as we speak, without Hamas citing such and such, there are grounds for UN halting aggressions.
And the Arab and other Nations don’t need “cover”… they need to be willing to make sacrifices of their economies to do what’s lawful and correct, of which currently none have nor will have no matter how much “optics” are turned. The sanctions, the punishment is all they really care about.

Posted by: Trubind1 | Oct 17 2023 14:54 utc | 284

The few Bahai believers I known have all been staunch Zionists .
Posted by: Exile | Oct 17 2023 14:20 utc | 124
The whole thing is strange. They have basically built the ‘Al Aqsa’ of a brand new “world religion” with doctrinal claims to global ‘thought & moral leadership’, in their newly reconquered “zion”.
One of the clear signs of an artifact, or an artificial construct, in constrast to organic objects is the presence of ‘seams’ and ‘joins’. The absolute perfection of the art of crafting is making these seams and joins disappear.
The construct of the NWO requires keeping lots of spinning plates and balls in the air. Some for a long time. The complexity of the deception by necessity engenders *internal contradictions* and sometimes ‘jagged joins and seams’.
The presence of the Bahais and their future world religion vatican is such a case. To address this, the topic is kept *obscure*. Some information needs to be widely disseminated so people can start connecting dots.

Posted by: robinthehood | Oct 17 2023 14:57 utc | 286

In terms of keeping things obscure, for the possibly last time I’ll ask why aren’t they talking about Muslim Brotherhood? No one is talking about them. They do exist, right? They are the foundation of Hamas, right? “Light” versions of them do roam the halls of power in ME, Europe, and North America, correct?

Posted by: robinthehood | Oct 17 2023 15:03 utc | 288

@ #120. Dr George 14:10 utc
“Israel taking the Golan, south Lebanon, and the Sinai were all illegal. Palestine taking any part of the territory of Israel not given it by UNSC Res 181 is likewise illegal…”
Looking at the map, Israel also took a huge hunk of the Negev.
Here is a link to a map of the 1948 UNSC Resolution 181 borders.
Note how Palestine in the Negev includes land running along almost 50% of the border with Egypt whilst now Palestine is high tech prison guard confined into a narrow concentration camp bordering Egypt only along a short border at the sea end.
https://cdn.britannica.com/55/3355-050-C17CAACC/UN-partition-plan-Palestine-1947.jpg

Posted by: suzan | Oct 17 2023 15:04 utc | 290

The US intends to attack Russian forces in Syria??? While anything is possible, and we live in crazy days, it seems unlikely. True, the Russian force in Syria is small. But the Russian fleet in the land locked Caspian sea can deliver serious punishment to the US fleet. I don’t see how that escalation can stop without a nuclear exchange.
Or maybe attack Syria only? More plausible. But then Assad can stay in safety in Hmameim. And there would then be no reason why Syria wouldn’t use its own missile arsenal against Israel. Or why they wouldn’t then just crush the tiny US force in Syria itself
Seems like a very bad idea. But that doesn’t mean they wouldn’t do it.

Posted by: Lysander | Oct 17 2023 15:07 utc | 292

I’m not convinced that the Yankees do know what they’re doing in the Middle East. Considering the fact that most of their recent military adventures ended in humiliating failure, I’d be surprised if they have anything resembling a coherent plan. Xymphora used to describe AmeriKĶKa’s role as self-appointed global referee as “Let’s do SOMETHING, even if it’s stupid!”
Imo, this is just another routine execise in deck-chair shuffling prior to another Titanic blunder.

Posted by: Hoarsewhisperer | Oct 17 2023 15:10 utc | 294

World War 3, here we go buckle up!
One thought, I disagree the target is Russia in Syria. If they want to hit Russia they’d go through Ukraine. US already illegally occupies a part of Syria and steals oil. There is nothing much to do in Syria. Regime change really doesn’t do all that much at this point.
My money is on Iran.

Posted by: FieryButMostPeaceful | Oct 17 2023 15:11 utc | 296

None of what your suggesting could transpire until AFTER the major war where geopolitical & geographical maps are redrawn and the reconfiguration of the UNSC and UN body is done.
Unless US and accolades decide they are willing to “share power” and assist in establishing multipolarity, than WW3 is on…no matter what utterances of R2P or any other UN Charter Laws any entity might utter. The UN Charter for HR is being trashed as we speak, without Hamas citing such and such, there are grounds for UN halting aggressions.
And the Arab and other Nations don’t need “cover”… they need to be willing to make sacrifices of their economies to do what’s lawful and correct, of which currently none have nor will have no matter how much “optics” are turned. The sanctions, the punishment is all they really care about.
Posted by: Trubind1 | Oct 17 2023 14:54 utc | 146
I very much agree with your last paragraph…. Temerity is necessary within the resistance….
BUT….
I disagree that reformulation of the UN is needed….. What is needed is for Hamas to claim the mantle of legit government of the sovereign state of Palestine IAW UNSC Resolution 181… Then what is needed is for the resistance to support this….
Once that happens Israel/NATO become scofflaws…. Outcasts in the view of the Global South…. China…. Russia….
If you think this not possible… keep in mind that US invasion of Korea was under a UNSC resolution passed while the USSR was absent in the mistaken belief that it’s absence made UNSC operations illegal..
The UNSC resolution exists… now is the time for the Arab street to implement it..
INDY

Posted by: Dr. George W Oprisko | Oct 17 2023 15:13 utc | 298

“Let’s do SOMETHING, even if it’s stupid!”
Posted by: Hoarsewhisperer | Oct 17 2023 15:10 utc | 151
—
When in danger or in doubt, run in circles, scream and shout.

Posted by: too scents | Oct 17 2023 15:15 utc | 300