Obama Thinks His Syria Strategy is Right -- And Folks Just Don’t Get It by Karen DeYoung, Washington Post
… Throughout the nine-day trip, which had begun less than 24 hours after the terrorist attacks in Paris, he had listened to critics at home and abroad charge that he had no coherent game plan. Some had even suggested that France, with tough talk and a series of retaliatory air strikes, was now leading the anti-terrorism fight.
The message they had received on the road was “jarring,” said a senior administration official who was on the flight. The problem wasn’t the strategy, they agreed. That “was clear to all of us, sitting in the Sit[uation] Room, in briefings every day. We all know what we are doing.”
What they needed was to do a better job of explaining it. Obama ordered what the official called an “uptick in our communications tempo.”…
Comments
For those SWJ commenters that believe the commenters on the social media side that take on the Russian info warfare head on and do it effectively at not at some point seriously threatened.
Social media has reached an interesting ability to push back but the threats climb with each success.
Non linear warfare is not being fought in the "Grey Zone".......
Daily death threats by pro-Russians from Germany & Europe against me & my colleagues.
Authorities' reaction: Zero.
HERE we go again.......
UNCONFIRMED REPORT
Turkish air defence shoots down Russian plane after violating its airspace during bombing raids on #BabAlHawa.
Russians indicated they bombed the area...no one on the ground confirmed a fuel tanker was hit and the Russians have not said they hit IS fuel trucks......and the heavy black smoke seen in the first video footage could in fact be coming from the downed aircraft.......
Still not confirmed....one Arabic source says yes and one says no....still no word though from the actual town that was struck...so really a toss up.
Nothing from the Turkish side either and silence from the RuAF.
Update from Bab al-Hawa: Heavy air strikes, at least 1 civilian killed, 5 wounded, no plane downed.
Fires in Bab al-Hawa visible from nearby Syrian #refugee camps.
Waiting for more info directly from the town hit.....
So everyone feels the UN is neutral in Syria......think again.....and one wonders why the anti Assad forces distrust the UN.....I would to.....
MUST READ “UN Accused Of Allowing Assad Regime To Censor Syria Aid Plan”
http://www.buzzfeed.com/janebradley/...lan#.vnGJZowQW …
Well worth reading to understand the role of the UN inside Syria and in some aspects this confirms the reporting that they fully understood the depth of the Assad and Putin use of starvation as a battlefield tactic in full violation of international humanitarian laws......AND that is the UN's responsibility to enforce.
Can any SWJ reader remind me again just what that successful Obama Syrian strategy is as this tends to point to the opposite.....namely when it comes to talking up the Syrian Geneva talks where Putin cannot even get his partner under control...BUT wait is it really just another Putin stalling tactic....??
Syrian intelligence issued warrants for members of Geneva's negotiating team: archive
https://en.zamanalwsl.net/mobile/readNews.php?id=13672#.VqFNQq50Oso.twi… …
AND then we have even the UN playing the game........especially since the opposition team has been picked and agreed to by the Sunni Front States ie KSA......
de Mistura tells UNSC he needs clearer backing to select opposition delegation
http://un-report.blogspot.se/2016/01/de-mistura-to-security-council-on… …
Regardless of the simple fact that the Obama WH that includes both Obama and his DoS keep uttering that "there is no military solution to Syria and eastern Ukraine" ......in the end there will be a military solution as talking is being done right now by the barrel of a weapon not in Geneva and or Minsk......this is non linear warfare and we are in Phase six of that doctrine and that requires fighting.
Right now the serious failure of the Obama WH and especially that of his NSC has been the non recognition of non linear warfare........
Syria's battlefields, not Geneva, are where real negotiations are underway: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/22/world/middleeast/russia-and-us-while-… …
While both Putin and Assad seemed to have "drank the coolaid about the fantastic Russian air strikes" the anti Assad forces lead by JaN/FSA TOGETHER with IS have largely beaten back a well planned Iranian/Russian ground offensive which has been poorly executed by the SAA Shia mercenary army and have established themselves in the face of over 12,000 air strikes as a force that is not going to go away any time soon.
Obama as a counter to the Russian non linear warfare needs to understand this and fully support it....somehow he is overlooking the simple fact that 70% of the civil society is Sunni and it is Sunni's who are paying the price in a very sectarian war being driven by Russia and Iran.
But again silence is the main Obama foreign policy.
Does anyone ever wonder why we do not see such articles in the US MSM or hear something similar coming from the Obama WH....Putin is in the midst of a full scale non linear war and the Obama WH acts as if "it is business as usual" and one can conduct negotiations with Putin.
Putin is using the air strikes to delay absolutely anything, he has a full SOFA that will exist even if Assad is gone and it is the same exact tactic being used in eastern Ukraine and yet this administration appears to absolutely not understand non linear warfare and the intertwining of Syria and the Ukraine.
Putin's tactic is simple just keep the talking going and I can use my full military power to beat say the Syrians into submission just as I am attempting to do in eastern Ukraine all the while Obama is letting me get away with it.....so I will just talk, talk and talk ..........
With 13 months to go...we will see no change in this administration's approach to Putin which three Generals have defined as an existential threat to the US....which this might sound wrong...the IS is not is an existential threat to the US and will never be regardless of how this administration spins it.
Russia's bombing in Syria has killed over 1000 civilians while achieving central goals, derailing peace talks: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/12113905/Rus… …
AND now for the "other non linear war" that has largely disappeared from the US MSM AND from the Obama WH's view.........
Experience of over 18 months indicates that the so called "ceasefire" really never existed.....(it does exist in the minds and wishes of most of the western leaders ie Obama).....unless a steady state of 10-15 attacks per day occur THEN it is a "fighting ceasefire".....ONCE you cross 50 attacks a day it is full scale warfare.
Russia ie Putin has been in full violation of the document they signed called Minsk 2 and has never fulfilled at single point of that agreement and YET Obama somehow appears to believes Putin is a "partner" in Syria...??
69 violations of ceasefire yesterday. 120mm mortar used near Starohnativka http://liveuamap.com/en/2016/22-january-69-violations-of-ceasefire-yest… …
pic.twitter.com/yQE38Klk9A via @666_mancer
Kerry on Iran sanctions relief: 'Some of it will end up in the hands of' terrorists
http://read.bi/1Uers7F
pic.twitter.com/RLvaDnuCGe
Someone else "sees" the "so called" Obama successful Syrian strategy in a somewhat different light......
The Obama administration is 'trying to kick the can down the road' in Syria http://www.businessinsider.com/obama-syria-strategy-talks-2016-1 … pic.twitter.com/hb4DYGWbv5
I commented that this was in fact the actual Obama strategy when he announced that Assad come remain in the transition phase until March 2017 "after" he leaves office and at the same time backing off his 4 year long demands that Assad "was the problem" and must leave.....
That rates right next to the 2014 Obama saying about eastern Ukraine..."we will judge Putin by his actions not his words".....which rates right next to his Syrian Assad chemical gas "red line"....
This is the same Russia that has been deliberately killing Syrian civilians by their highly accurate dumb iron bombs and has been using starvation against civilians which is a clear violation of international humanitarian law.......THIS is that same Russia.......????
MFA Russia ✔ @mfa_russia
#Zakharova: The international community must fight against terrorism, above all ISIS, based on international law and with the UN’s key role
AND this is the same Russia where 98% of all their so called 12,000 air strike sorties have not been targeted against Islamic State BUT rather the anti Assad FSA.....THIS is the same Russia we are talking about........
One has to wonder what altered state of reality the Russian FM is often in......
MFA Russia ✔ @mfa_russia
#Zakharova: Those who provoked conflicts in the M. East and N. Africa must be held accountable for humanitarian aid to their victims
Russia Cluster Bombs on #Douma don`t stop..
#Damascus cs #Syria JAN 21
pic.twitter.com/DpXgAjN5Gl
Let's see the Assad Shia mercenary army together with the Russian AF has been besieging Syrian Sunni towns...over 420,000 currently being starved to death AND YET Russia talks about "being held accountable for humanitarian aid"...
THIS is the same Russia we are talking about that kicked out all NGOs providing extensive aid to the Donbas especially during this winter.......
Nothing like a not so subtle threat issued by Russia against the Qatari's....
Appears that the Russians were a tad miffed by the recent Qatari diplomatic visit especially since Qatar and the KSA are doing their best to take away Russian oil and gas customers further damaging the Russian economy…..
NOTICE at the end of the article the Russian author was "crowing" about Russia "is winning"....with their primary oil and gas state owned company Gazprom totally crashing right now and their profits being way off and their losing customers ie the Ukraine their third largest customer on top of Turkey being lost and the North Stream 2 pipeline project totally dead in the water......BUT "they are winning"......
http://www.pravdareport.com/world/as....dJ2ohPCy.dpuf
Qatar's bubble to burst any moment
21.01.2016
Quote:
The relations between Russia and Qatar have never been perfect. Traditionally, there have been plenty of problems in bilateral relations between Russia and Qatar, even though the two countries are destined to cooperate with each other. Both Russia and Qatar represent two wings of the now emerging global gas market. Emir of Qatar Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani has recently paid a visit to Moscow, where he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin and other high-ranking officials.
Russia-Qatar talks: No breakthrough
Unfortunately, the meetings of the Qatari Emir in Moscow have not led to any breakthrough results. The Emir was going to visit Moscow in the autumn of last year, but the visit was pushed back on account of Russia's military operation in Syria. It is an open secret that Qatar is one of the main sponsors of Syrian terrorists.
It should be noted in fairness that Qatar was attempting to play the role of a mediator since the beginning of the conflict in Syria. Qatar suggested keeping Syrian President Assad in office while restricting his powers to the benefit of the government. Qatar offered to keep Assad the chief of the armed and security forces of Syria to subordinate the police to the prime minister. In essence, Qatar offered Syria to refuse from secular principles and divide the Syrian people on the basis of confessional principle. The Syrian people rejected those proposals.
In Moscow, Russian and Qatari officials discussed most important issues of the regulation of the crisis in the Middle East, particularly in Syria. In addition, Putin and At-Thani touched upon the situation in Yemen, Libya and other countries in the Middle East.
The only thing that the sides agreed upon was their cooperation to increase anti-terrorist activities. As for the crisis in the Arab world, one should not forget about the Palestinian problem and the need to resume direct negotiations between Palestine and Tel Aviv with the aim to create a Palestinian state.
Qatar's financial position leaves much to be desired
Emir al-Thani spoke about investment cooperation, about common interests of our countries in the energy sector, especially in the field of natural gas, where Russia and Qatar are members of the Forum of Gas Exporting Countries. It is very important to understand the process of forming a single global gas market instead of three regional ones. In this market, Qatar plays a very important role. The appearance of a global gas market will open new possibilities and create a fundamentally new structure of the global gas market.
Prices on Russian natural gas are tied to oil prices. This is a historically caused phenomenon, as heat and power plants used to operate on fuel oil. Nowadays, natural gas has completely replaced fuel oil for the purpose of power generation. Prices on the Qatari natural gas in Europe are not pegged to oil prices, even though customers psychologically mind long-term contracts with Gazprom, Statoil and Algerians.
At the same time, the positions of Russia as the leading exporter in the field of pipeline gas and Qatar as a major exporter of liquefied gas, are directly opposite. In fact, it is the appearance of LNG from Qatar and shale gas from the USA on the European markets that created a new situation on the European gas market. European politicians took advantage of the situation to introduce the so-called Third Energy Package that openly discriminates against Russia's Gazprom. The package jeopardizes investment in the pipeline infrastructure and blocks many projects.
Qatar is not going to change, trying to squeeze Russia out from traditional natural gas markets. In return, Russia is trying to squeeze Qatar out from the markets that are traditional for Qatari gas, but we did not start the game.
Obviously, the Emir of Qatar brought economic proposals to Moscow. This is a peculiar feature of Qatar's foreign policy: they usually try to obtain political objectives by offering economic concessions. Most likely, it goes about Syria.
Qatar is considered to be one of the richest countries in the world, but its wealth is built on debt, and today's financial position of Qatar is very difficult. Qatar is forced to borrow more and more to be able to pay its old debts.
No one knows when Qatar's bubble may burst
Export of natural gas from Qatar is unprofitable. The operating cost of the Qatari gas in Europe is lower than the spot price, on which Qatar sells its gas. This does not apply to the total cost, taking into account the debt service, depreciation for Qatari gas projects, infrastructure, gas tankers and so on.
Moreover, Qatar can not stop the loss-making activities of their companies, because one still needs to service the loans that had been raised for their construction. Qatar is thus forced to continue its expansion, raise new loans to expand the natural gas infrastructure and service the old ones. It is a vicious circle that drives Qatar deeper into debt.
In a nutshell, Qatar suffers losses, albeit insignificant ones, with every gas tanker and every cubic meter of gas. Qatar is interested in cartel cooperation more than Russia is.
The problem is that we do not know how serious the financial situation in Qatar is. Qatar's debt structure is completely non-transparent. The country is an absolute monarchy that has no parliament to discuss the budget and debt sustainability of the country and its economic agents. We only know that the financial situation in Qatar is quite complicated, and certain legal entities are close to the moment when they can not service their debts.
No one knows how and when the bubble may burst. It may burst either tomorrow or in 50 years. One needs to understand that beautiful gestures that Qatar has recently made, such as the World Cup or economic assistance to other countries, are in fact, gestures to demonstrate creditworthiness to Western banks.
The Qataris already use austerity measures where it seems possible. Suffice it to recall significant cutbacks to funding Al-Jazeera - the main instrument of Qatari foreign policy. As soon as the network was left without money, Al-Jazeera has completely discredited itself in the world of Arab television.
In this situation, Russia should talk to Qatar from a position of strength. Russia is winning, and Qatar's situation leaves much to be desired. Qatar should make concessions to Russia on both the gas issue and the political settlement in Syria.
Looks like the Obama WH needs another highly successful strategy for Eastern Europe....the current one is simply not working......
Last week SU-27 chased Swedish AWACS jet above southern Baltic. 1 more data point in pattern of RU aggression.
http://www.svd.se/markligt-beteende-av-ryskt-jaktplan/om/det-skarpta-sa… …
SweMIL reports 'unusual behaviour' 15/1 by Russian Su-27 during a #Gripen QRA intercept, Evasive maneuvering. http://www.forsvarsmakten.se/sv/aktuellt/2016/01/ovanligt-upptradande/ … #svfm
I have repeatedly commented here at SWJ that both Syria and eastern Ukraine are intertwined AND I have repeatedly stated this President, his entire 700 person NSC and Kerry simply do not fully understand they are involved in a full blown non linear war AND this non linear war is designed to achieve three core geo political goals...AND is being not fought in the "Grey Zone" but clearly in the open, up front and in the face of Obama WHY--- Putin truly believes Obama is weak and afraid to make hard decisions, ie the use of hard power to reinforce his soft power messaging....AND Putin is basically correct in his assumptions.
1. damage and discredit NATO
2. damage and discredit the EU
3. totally disconnect the US from Europe and the ME
I am not the only ranting individual that is openly stating that this Obama administration and it's NSC is the worst coupling seen since 70 years....
Really worth the entire reading of this article just alone on the first paragraph or so of the article........
http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2015/09/putin-syria-ukraine-21317...
The Dangerous Link Between Syria and Ukraine
Vladimir Putin has used the fighting in both countries to trap the U.S.
By Eerik-Niiles Kross and Molly K. McKew
9/22/2015
QUOTE:
Despite what Vladimir Putin is saying, the United States still staunchly refuses to believe Russia is engaged in a new Cold War—and that the U.S. is losing. But Russia aggressively pushes its own narrative where U.S. leadership is absent. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov seems to be everywhere in recent weeks, speaking several times with his US counterpart and others in the region, selling Russia as a partner for peace and stability when the West is faced with crisis.
Experts from the left and right alike warn that cooperation with Russia on Syria can have potentially disastrous consequences for the U.S., but too many Americans still don’t understand how closely linked these two headline conflicts are, and American policy has yet to confront the reality that Syria and Ukraine are part of the same mission for Russia—the destruction of the post-WWII architecture of the West. To achieve this goal, Russia has pursued a clear policy of disruption, chaos and destabilization—in Ukraine and in the Middle East—in order to force the West to have to partner with Russia to “resolve” the crises it has created.
Now, poised to launch a direct military campaign in Syria, Russia wants the U.S. to join a Russian-led coalition against the Islamic State and complete the rehabilitation of Bashar al Assad, or else end up in direct conflict with Russia in the Middle East. Indeed, many of the anti-aircraft and other Russian weapons systems being moved to Syria are more suited to shooting at American drones and assets than anything the Islamic State has access to.
This suggested coalition is little more than a well-constructed trap for the White House and for Europe. Russia created the conflict in Ukraine. Their military support for Assad fuels a bloody civil war and a refugee crisis from Syria. Russian efforts have also materially aided in the creation of the Islamic State—the wealthiest, best-armed terrorist network in history.
Well worth reading the entire article.......
Appears the US government is on "message" prior to any talks in Geneva meaning a willingness to give Putin what he wants....US MSM drumbeat with this story started yesterday with the WaPo article...the Assad Shia mercenary army has suffered badly in the ground fighting and the sheer loss of Hezbollah, IRGC and Assad Commanders and Senior Commanders does not speak of a "Russian victory"....
Russia airstrikes in #Syria have stabilized #Assad govt., NYTimes cites a top US general saying.
http://tinyurl.com/jl7k7ya
The NYTs article does not accurately reflect actual ground fighting reality.....
Another roaring success story of the Obama Syrian strategy THAT indeed does need some messaging......MIGHT in fact explain why the US suddenly halted the advances of the SDF....
Is #Turkey set to intervene in northern #Syria? Kurdish advances may leave them no choice.
http://www.levantinegroup.com/#!Is-Turkey-planning-to-intervene-in-nort… …
Obama is awful close to crossing the true red line of Turkey and Turkey will respond unlike Obama.
Those remote controlled mine clearance vehicles directly offloaded on the Syrian/Turkish border might have been the "indicator".....AND US MSM simply ignored it....
IRAQ: Satellite images show evidence of deliberate mass destruction in Peshmerga-controlled Arab villages.
https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2016/01/northern-iraq-satellite-… …
SYRIA: Turkey "cannot accept" Russian demand that Kurds join opposition group at talks scheduled for next week
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/12108971/Syr… …
Another bad day for that highly successful Obama Syrian strategy.......
Fars News Agency @EnglishFars
Basij Commander: US Bought Freedom of Spies by Releasing $1.7 bln of #Iran's Frozen Assets
http://bit.ly/1ZMa29m
pic.twitter.com/doJLeJndfF
In some aspects the KSA oil war with Putin and the US might in fact rescue the lack of an Obama Syrian strategy as well as resolve eastern Ukraine and Crimea.....
Putin is seriously about two weeks away from an existential question for his continued Russian leadership......."guns and or butter and it cannot be now both at the same time"....maybe Putin needs to read up on LBJs handling of that same question.
Oil drops below $27
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-01-19/oil-trades-near-12-ye… … …
pic.twitter.com/gEufic3euO
Oil industry insiders now say the bottom is at 16 USD ....remember the last Russian total collapse occurred at 34USD.......and that was also driven by the KSA.
Effects of the Iran Deal.....how is that Obama Syrian strategy going for the Sunni's in the ME.......
Hassan Hassan @hxhassan
Unbelievably gory images coming out of Diyala, Iraq. Beheading & burning ppl alive at the hands of pro-govt militias. Zero media coverage!
Reportedly, UN Mission in Baghdad receives a request from Sunni officials/politicians to intervene in Diyala.
NOTICE again zero media coverage nor a single comment by Obama and company.
Come on someone here at SWJ convince me with a logical argument that this President, his NSC and DoS Kerry really "get it" meaning do they fully understand UW ie non linear warfare AND do they under the concept of "perception" in the ME.
While nations are proposing airdrops to help besieged starving civilians in Syria, can u guess who is objecting? http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/20/world/middleeast/airdrops-called-too-… …
Apparently the Obama administration doesn't want to send humanitarian airdrops into Syria as they "may end up with extremists" WTH is this???????
I know some are pretending Assad is a saviour but this is the truth-Deir Ezzor Civilians Besieged by Both ISIS+Assad http://eaworldview.com/2016/01/syria-feature-deir-ez-zors-civilians-bes… …
Do they fully understand just how the entire Syrian civil population has become "radicalized" in almost five years of genocide, chemical weapons used on them, starvation as a battlefield tactic AND now dodging highly inaccurate Russian deliberate air strikes on civilians.....
Just how can DC believe a civil society will not radicalize under that pressure...IMHO I am totally amazed they have not gone fully over to IS.
That raving successful Syrian strategy was what again.......????
Russia-Syria mil treaty resembles the Soviet-Baltic "pacts" of 1939. Important read by @MollyMcKew
http://freebeacon.com/national-security/details-of-moscows-deal-with-sy… …
When I posted on the Syrian thread the Russian SOFA documents I indicated this was the new Russian FP for the ME........
Details of Moscow’s Deal with Syria Reveal Extent of Russian Dominance
Analysis: New documents suggest Russia is in the Middle East to stay
Appears that the Obama WH has more than a messaging problem on Syrian especially where Iran is heavily engaged in Syria with their IRGC, Hezbollah and Iraqi Shia militias....
This interview w/Obama's 1st SECDEF Bob Gates is worth 6 mins of your time. He calls it straight. And he's spot-on.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YT72MGPpJ1E&feature=youtu.be …
Wonder if this has gone unnoticed or is it a deliberate move on the part of the Obama WH to truly ignore the reality on the ground in Syria....think so.
Rif Damascus Governorate Council estimate number of ppl under #Assad & Hezb siege in #Madaya & #EastGhouta of 480k! https://twitter.com/Channel4News/status/688135192737787904 …
REMEMBER Iran is Hezbollah AND Hezbollah is Iran AND Iran needs a land corridor via Syria to Hezbollah in Lebanon.......
IF one looks at the total lack of any comment of the Obama WH concerning the heavy loses of civilians being killed by Russian air strikes, the total lack of any comment on the use of starvation as a battlefield tactic, the slowing and or total stopping of weapons, supplies AND TOWs to the FSA in order to force them to compromise with Assad, the total back down from their 4 year demands that Assad must go.....AND not a single comment by the Iranian use of Iraqi Shia militia, IRGC troops, Hezbollah and the Shia mercenaries they have imported.....
BUT then this pops up indicating that all of the above is the joint Obama Putin Syrian strategy......
Hassan Hassan @hxhassan
Of course, this will go nowhere & facts on the ground won't be changed much. What matters to Russia is to stop support for the rebels inside
Hassan Hassan
@hxhassan The danger here is that the US isn't opposed to the Russia plan, of restructuring the opposition/delegation, inclusion "loyalist opposition"
So the alignments on Syria are clear. The WH is in the same camp as Russia and Iran. Not in the camp of US allies France, KSA, Turkey.
Hassan Hassan @hxhassan
The UN is even annoyed ppl bring up humanitarian issues as that districts, may spoil, the "political process". A cynical game par excellence
Hassan Hassan @hxhassan
The US, and de Mistura's team, are happy to make it seem there is progress even if it's a false one, there is a clear rush for that.
De Mestora has the duty to form the opposition negotiating team, and he will pick the nominated figures from Riyadh meeting.
Hassan Hassan @hxhassan
If the plan re Syria's peace talks goes as Russia wishes, this will mark a big change in the conflict's foreign management. Dangerous moment
While the Obama WH and NSC are celebrating a successful Syrian strategy and an equally successful Iran Deal ...not exactly sure what that strategy is though...this was ongoing during a heavy sandstorm....AND not a single comment by any western MSM....messaging is not going to help this from yesterday.
Notice not a single follow up on the heavy IS Assad fighting yesterday that saw IS beating up badly on the Assad mercenary forces.....AND this is critical capturing a significant number of MANPADs.....
Taken from the Syrian 2016 thread.......
...re. Dayr az-Zawr...
The Daesh offensive there seems to have really hurt the regime badly.
The Deirezzor24 (one of most reliable local sources), reports that the Daesh not only captured but still controls al-Bughayliya, despite regime counterattack. They have also captured - and are still holding - al-Jazeera Private University, Ayash arms depots, Sayqa Base (where Daesh shot this series of photos of captured equipment and dead NDF, making it clear they've captured 3 T-72s, 4 BPMs, and a Shilka), Radar and Radio Hills, all NW of the city.
There are rumours that in the captured SAM site, the Daesh should have captured at least three 'anti-aircraft missiles', maybe more (some guess '20-50').
Yesterday, the Daesh should've brought in reinforcements and last evening - amid a sand-storm - assaulted the Heart Hospital and western Jura district, plus Basatin al-Nahr district, thus reaching the northern entry to the air base. Their artillery began shelling regime positions around Hotel al-Furat, west of Dayr az-Zawr.
Contrary to reports by regime-fans that 'Russians returned to the skies' over Dayr az-Zawr, it is still only the Assadist Su-24s that are operating there (see photo attached below; note sand + brown camo on top surfaces, as applied only on Assadist Su-24M2s). Three days ago they massacred several families in al-Bughayliya instead of hitting Daesh there (see report cited below); yesterday, they attempted to hit the Daesh north of the Base 137. Results are unclear...
For their part, Russians are heavily bombing villages west of Dayr az-Zawr.... ('makes sense' to Moscow, I guess...)
There are more rumours from regime-fans reporting the death of Maj Gen Essam Zahreddine (Druze CO of the 104th Brigade RGD), in addition to (confirmed) death of Brig Gen Samir Amen Ali etc., other regime-fans report Zahreddine 'has been hit' and was evacuated out of the city, together with Maj Gen Mohammed Kadour.
...well, whatever... essence of all of this is that the Daesh has de-facto destroyed most of regime's presence in northern outskirts of Dayr az-Zawr with this operation; that with all the losses of some of top commanders, and with the loss of one of its major ammo storage areas, the garrison there is unlikely to hold out for very much longer. Unsurprisingly, there are already rumours that Russians might deploy at least a battalion from their VDV brigade there. I don't consider this very likely, though: Daesh simply has no priority for Russians.
Finally, the Deirezzor24 has earlier denied any kind of mass-slaughter of civilians by the Daesh - as reported by regime-fans. Instead, they specify:
Quote:
The number of civilians who have fallen martyrs in the ongoing clashes in the western countryside of Deir Ezzor is twelve, and to be more precise they were martyred by a deadly regime airstrike on the town of al Bughayliya yesterday, DeirEzzor24 correspondent in the western countryside of Deir Ezzor added.
Those executed by ISIS in the town of al Bughyaliya yesterday were only Assad forces along with the National Defense militiamen (NDF), after the group had captured them in the town, and their number does not exceed 15 elements. On other hand, many civilians have fled to the village of Ayash in rural Deir Ezzor amid heavy clashes in the town of al Bughayliya.
AND where was the US supported SDF??...nowhere to be seen and FSA was also fighting their own offensives as well taking advantage of bad flying weather and no RuAF to be seen for miles.....
Some might see a little humor in this Russian info warfare Sputnik media article......maybe the Russians also did not get the new Obama Syrian strategy or maybe they just míssed the "messaging"...maybe on the next Obama Putin telephone call Obama could explain it to Putin......
http://sputniknews.com/analysis/20160118/1033332882/europe-russia-relat…
Thinking Straight: US, Europe Should Ally With Russia, Not Antagonize It
© Sputnik/ Vladimir Sergeev
Opinion
19:47 18.01.2016(updated 19:50 18.01.2016)
Europe could help the US and Russia to resolve their differences and join forces against radical Islamists.
Europe should help the US to realize that Russia isn’t an enemy but an obvious ally in the battle against radical Islamists, according to Italian daily Il Giornale.
"The US fought against Saddam Hussein, Qaddafi and Assad only to realize that toppled secular regimes are being replaced with Islamists," the newspaper points out.
Furthermore, some Arab states that the US attempted to recruit to deal with this new menace actually ended up funding the Islamists instead of fighting them.
But instead of addressing the threat, the Western governments kept antagonizing Russia, their 'most obvious ally', Il Giornale remarks. The US imposed sanctions against Russia and coerced other European states to back this campaign, effectively alienating the country which has always been a political and cultural part of Europe.
Instead of continuing to cater to all of the US' 'whims', the European nations should put an end to the climate of mistrust in its relations with Russia, and form 'a united front of friendship and trust,' the newspaper claims. In order to do so, Europe should revoke the anti-Russian sanctions, provide assistance in the Russian-Ukrainian dialogue, and help Ukraine adopt a new constitution that would grant greater autonomy to the country’s regions.
"Let’s all work together to restore peace between the US, Europe and Russia," Il Giornale concludes.
In 2014, the European Union, the United States and their allies imposed a series of economic sanctions against Russian nationals and key spheres of the country's economy accusing Moscow of meddling in Ukraine's internal affairs and escalating a military crisis in the country.
Russia has denied playing any role in the armed conflict in eastern Ukraine, warning that the Western sanctions were counterproductive.
BUT WAIT..98% of all Russian air strikes are hitting the FSA not the Islamic State...so what are the Russians trying to say in this article.....that the IS SHOULD BE left alone......as they are apparently for the Russian MoD NOT terrorists.........????
More roaring successes of that Obama WH Syrian strategy that just needs a little more messaging....in this case alot more messaging to explain.....
A must read article.......
The Syrian Intifada
The Iranian Nuclear Deal and North Korea
By Kyle Orton (@KyleWOrton) on January 18, 2016
https://kyleorton1991.wordpress.com/2016/01/18/the-iranian-nuclear-deal…
Someone remind me...was this what the Obama WH means with their successful Syrian strategy.....or maybe they meant they need to work on their own messaging??
"Let me die but save my sister"
A Syrian girl pulled alive from rubble after helicopter barrel bombing on Ter Maaleh, Homs
pic.twitter.com/LjGqJAixaN
Hundreds of Syrian civilians are being killed by those Putin stated "highly precise air strikes that are better planned than the US air strikes"....
YET not a single word comes from the Obama WH so they must agree with the Putin air strikes otherwise common sense would tell you to say something to the press....remember in the ME it is all about perception and right now the perception is Obama and Putin are killing civilians and are using starvation as a weapon.....
Remember there is an old ME saying..."if you are silent then you agree".....
So much for the Obama hoped for "moderation".......
Breaking: Iran hardline Guardian Council has barred 99% of reformist candidates from February parliament elections (ILNA)
And the coming replacement for the ailing Khamenei is rumored to be a Khomeini v3.
Not sure messaging can resolve this issue.......
Popular jokes about the coming "elections" in Iran right now:
- Hello? Guardian Council?
- Hi, You are disqualified, please leave a message!
Appears that this is the Obama Syrian strategy........allowing the IRGC, Hezbollah, 30 Iraqi Shia militias and a Shia mercenary army from 12 countries to remain in and fight against basically a 70% Sunni populated Arab nation.
Taken from the debate last night ---by Clinton......
Clinton doesn't think Iranian troops in Syria is a good idea. But they're already there and Obama admin says they won't interfere.
AND supposedly there are "no boots on the ground capable of fighting IS"...???
Heavy Clashes between Mare' Operation Room and ISIS at Herbel,Jarez,Dudyan fronts,almost All N.Aleppo fronts
Dispatch from Mara' Syria
"FSA fighter: Putin says he is bombing ISIS, it's a lie, he is bombing us"
https://twitter.com/lummideast/status/688806787890438144 …
FSA major operation underway against IS and Assad forces AND at the same time dodging Russian air strikes.....AND there are "no boots on the ground"...????
An aspect of the Iran Deal Obama did not count one in his Syrian strategy....
Tom Nichols @RadioFreeTom
Narrative: "Warmer relations frees 4 prisoners"
Reality: "US buys off #Iran with 7 bad guys,100 billion dollars, and a future nuclear bomb"
"How Traders, the SAA & Militias Make Money Off Sieges in #Syria explained by @Erikasolomon
http://on.ft.com/1OvO8g1
pic.twitter.com/6tpKNL0CxB
SIDE note......it has been Hezbollah and the IRGC as the main actors in a number of the Syrian Sunni sieges....notice not a single word wasted on Hezbollah or the IRGC major Iranian proxies in the ME.....
F-15 confirmed via video of US air strike......
Moment of #USA airstrikes on #alHaras town
#Aleppo cs #Syria JAN 17
https://youtu.be/8sYaaGAXG0U
pic.twitter.com/KnEGAFBQhX
So if this is in fact confirmed then the question becomes IS the US now sharing air space and the same targets as the Russian AF...namely NOT hitting IS over northern Aleppo.... but attacking all anti Assad forces ie the FSA.....
Maybe this is the new Syrian strategy that needs the messaging.......???
A rare video. USAF F-15 Eagle fighter over Northern Aleppo:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8sYaaGAXG0U …
Meanwhile #Russia keeps bombing #rebel towns and supply lines north of #Aleppo.
Not #ISIS.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9K1pN4gW2g …
pic.twitter.com/8szsimOepg
Footage
Turkish-backed #FSA wins more territory against #ISIS north of #Aleppo.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byJC-HdOmHY …
#Syria pic.twitter.com/Bw7mQBedVt
This just might help the Obama WH refocus their so called non existent eastern Ukraine and Syrian strategies because as far as I can see they "ain't working".
QUOTE:
All the business of war, and indeed all the business of life,
is to endeavor to find out what you don't know by what you do
D. of Wellington
Appears the Obama WH Syrian strategy is not making a dent at all in IS these days and all those hundreds of Russian air strikes neither, nor the US supported SDF either......but the FSA just keeps on fighting IS village for village, town for town...YET receives nothing from the US not even a single press comment.......BUT Russian air strikes rain down on them daily and Assad/Putin are starving them......
Seems to have been a hard day at the office for the Assad forces the last two days and not even the RuAF appears able to help them.......
Assad-held Deir Ezzor is now 60% in ISIS hands after bloody assault
http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/ab...itor-847723894 …
pic.twitter.com/5RdCrc6jCr
Syria #IS-tanks shelling #Assad-forces in Euphrates hotel in #DeirEzzor
-water & phone lines for the city cut off
pic.twitter.com/Dcd8DOItGm
Notice nothing about this is being discussed by the new Obama Syrian strategy...namely the Syrian Arab Army basically defending Assad and being supported by Putin is really just a Shia mercenary militia army.....
BUT nothing about that makes it to the US MSM nor is being discussed by the WH....meaning at some point this new Syrian strategy must address the Iranian support to terrorists......
AT what point will Obama be willing to address the massive Shia militia forces, IRGC forces and Hezbollah forces that are inside Syria fighting for a non Sunni dictator ALL because Iran wants and urgently needs to maintain a land corridor to their Hezbollah troops on Lebanon.....
How much do mercenaries fighting for #Assad get paid per month?
SAA & NDF ~ $80
Afghanis & Iraqis ~ $1000
Hezbollah, Iranian & Russ ~ $2000
AND this does not include Russia mercenaries being recruited in eastern Ukraine to fight in Syria......
Just another day in the highly successful Obama WH Syrian strategy....they will not need any messaging here as the message is clear...not a single IS position hit and NOT a single IS position being overrun by US supported troops...actually the US supported troops are not doing much of anything lately WHILE FSA carries the fight to IS........
Russia warplanes carried out airstrikes targeting #Maar_Dibsah village
#Idlib cs #Syria JAN 17
Isis is delivering their possitions to #QSD
East of Syria without fight
Statement by Yarmouk Army states that Harakat Muthana had blocked reinforcements from reaching Sheikh Miskin
Rebels destroyed #SAA Tank & Pickup w/ Machine Gun exterminating a number of it's mercenaries at #Hirbnafsah fronts
#Hama cs #Syria JAN17
SAA helicopters dropped barrel bombs over #Teir_Maela
#Homs cs #Syria JAN 17
Russia warplanes carried out airstrikes targeting #Alaamariyah neighborhood
#Aleppo cs #Syria JAN 17
Russia warplanes carried out airstrikes targeting #Sheikh_Saaed village
#Aleppo cs #Syria JAN 17
SAA warplanes carried out airstrikes targeting #Tisiyah village, eastern #Daraa cs #Syria JAN 17
SAA Tank shelling targeting #Tel_Dahab area (#Houla)
#Homs cs #SYria JAN 17
SAA Tank shelling targeting #Kafr_Laha town (#Houla)
#Homs cs #SYria JAN 17
SAA helicopters dropped barrel bombs on #alGhariyah town, western #Daraa #Syria JAN 17
[B]SAA shelling from their positions at #Qasioun_Mount targeting #Ain_Terma resulting casualities among civilians[/B]
#Damascus cs #Syria JAN 17
Russia warplanes carried out airstrikes targeting #Hirbnafsah town
#Hama cs #Syria JAN 17
SAA warplanes carried out airstrikes targeting #Hazarama town
#Damascus cs #Syria JAN 17
SAA warplanes carried out airstrikes targeting #alBahariyah town
#Damascus cs #Syria JAN 17
SAA warplanes carried out airstrikes targeting #alNashabiyah town
#Damascus cs #Syria JAN 17
SAA shelling mortar from their positions at 4th Div in the Mountains area targeting #Darayya
#Damascus #Syria JAN17
SAA shelling with heavy artillery from their positions at #alMadhiyeh_Mount targeting #Keswe city
#Damascus cs #Syria JAN 17
SAA helicopters dropped barrel bombs on #Darayya
#Damascus #SYria JAN 17
Arahar_alSham targeted #SAA mercenaries positions with heavy artillery at #Nabl & #Zahra fronts
#Aleppo cs #Syria JAN 17
Kids eat snacks, playing as adults search for victims of #Russia airstrikes on #alMaghayir
#Aleppo cs #SYria JAN17
Russia warplanes carried out airstrikes targeting #alSukari neighborhood
#Aleppo cs #SYria JAN 17
Russia warplanes carried out airstrikes targeting #Bani_Zayd neighborhood
#Aleppo cs #SYria JAN 17
Russia warplanes carried out airstrikes targeting #alMaghayir neighborhood
#Aleppo cs #SYria JAN 17
FSA #Thuwar_alSham published exterminated foreigners mercenaries in STRN #Aleppo CS JAN16
gone 2hell 4ASSad.
Aid convoy hit yesterday was carrying UN aid...
Seems to be #UN cover..
#Russia airstrikes on AID trucks y'day JAN16 at #Hardtin village
#Aleppo cs #Syria
Regardless of all the Obama and Putin exchanges Putin has not come off his non linear warfare towards the US, Ukraine and now Syria.....even in the face of his collapsing and it is collapsing economy (1998) and sinking oil price to the 18 per barrel range.
Remember the Russian economy collapsed in 1998 at a price range of 38 USD.
Who pushed that range.....the KSA. Who is now pushing it to 18...KSA...oh forgot now Iran which wants to export 500K barrels a day into an already over supplied market.
Another great example of just how poorly Obama, Kerry and the entire NSC is functioning these days and again there is simply no strategy for anything much less Syria....
Social media has been carrying this theme for over now 18 months... I have posted countless comments concerning this topic here at SWJ on the Ukrainian thread....one would think that out of the entire 700 person NSC someone......but at least Kerry could read SWJ....it is all there to be read and thought about complete with links for fact checking......
AND yes no amount of "messaging" is going to resolve this development....
Finally waking up to the problem. America to investigate Russian meddling in EU - via @Telegraph http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/russia/12103602/Americ… …
BTW---this is the really first time western MSM has stepped up and addressed what social media has been drum beating for over 18 very long months.....WHY is that????
BUT here is the core Obama problem...investigate in Obama speak just means a article, a possible PR release and or a Twitter comment..it really does not mean he will do anything concrete.
TRULY think about this article...it really goes back to the true concept of Russian non linear warfare driving in support of a political warfare set of goals....
The Obama administration is not as good as Putin is in using info warfare on the US population.....
QUOTE:
Confirmed: Iran's four paths to a nuclear weapon are verifiably cut off. This is what American leadership can do.
Somehow this statement overlooks the simple verified fact that Iran has fully tested a intermediate range ballistic missile fully capable of carrying a nuclear and or chemical warhead in full violation of the UNSC sanctions AND the Obama WH held back on the required further sanctions in exchange for US Iranian prisoners which the WH has always claimed they would not negotiate with terrorists.
So now that it has been in fact implemented as US FP are all US citizens anywhere in the world "fair game"...?
Secondly if one really analyzes the Iran Deal the so called four paths to a nuclear weapon are really time limited to 10 max 15 years...after that nothing stops them AND the required verification process is so backend loaded that the Iranians can virtually stop the IAEA from every truly verifying.......time will tell if this agreement was a true agreement or just a charade for a place in history ie his own legacy.....
NOTICE --this is the ground reality today in Syria and Obama has no strategy yet he wants us to believe he actually has one....
Statement: 15 #FSA Groups condemn Russian air attacks killed 17 troops fighting #Assad and #ISIL north #Aleppo.
pic.twitter.com/lXCUTItMSJ
Obama complains that we cannot successfully fight IS BUT there are actual Syrian boots on the ground carrying out that fight daily but this administration is so tangled up in the definition of a "moderate" they cannot see it.
http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2016/01/free-syrian-army-lead…
FSA Adviser: IS cannot be eliminated without us
The Free Syrian Army emerged in late July 2011 after a number of officers defected from the Syrian army in protest against President Bashar al-Assad’s use of military force to suppress peaceful protests that had erupted March 18 that year in Daraa to demand his ouster and shortly thereafter spread across the country. Numerous formations and armed factions in northern and southern Syria now operate under FSA's umbrella, which espouses a national rhetoric and first raised the revolutionary flag with three stars. The FSA is currently fighting on two major fronts: against Assad and his allies, and against the Islamic State. On Jan. 10 via Skype, Al-Monitor interviewed Osama Abu Zeid, the FSA's legal adviser, who discussed the army's current situation, relations with the United States and Russia and views on Syria's future.
Author Mohammed al-Khatieb
Posted January 15, 2016
TranslatorCynthia Milan
The text of the interview follows:
Al-Monitor: Who comprises the FSA? In which areas does it operate? Which factions does it include?
Abu Zeid: The FSA is deployed from Syria’s south to its north. It is mostly present in Daraa and Quneitra, represented by the Southern Front, and in the capital, Damascus, the FSA is positioned in the Jobar neighborhood, one of the most contested areas. Al-Rahman Corps and the Shuhada al-Islam Brigade [Martyrs of Islam Brigade], which are also part of the FSA, are stationed in western and eastern Ghouta. In northern Syria, the FSA is significantly present in Aleppo, represented by Thuwar al-Sham, al-Sham Front and Sultan Murad Brigade. [The FSA-affiliated] Jaish al-Nasr [Victory Army], the Glory Army and the Central Division are stationed in Hama’s countryside, while the largest number of FSA fighters deployed on the coast is represented by the 1st and 2nd Coastal Squads and the 10th Brigade.
The FSA consists of many factions, which are all participating in the tireless efforts to establish a military council, alongside moderate Islamic factions led by Jaish al-Islam, which recently started to issue joint statements with the FSA under the banner of the revolution. I would like to note that the absence of a unified FSA leadership is not due to any internal reason. Rather, it is due to supporters’ policies, which exploit our need for weapons.
Al-Monitor: The FSA has recently returned to the forefront. Its role re-emerged in the battles in Latakia, Hama and Aleppo. How do you explain the timing of the resurgence?
Abu Zeid: The true face of the Syrian revolution is the one that returned to the fore after the Russian aggression. Russia is known to be in disputes with the European Union and the United States. Thus when Russia enters any region, the media is bound to focus on it. When the focus is on Syria, it is only normal for the public to take notice when revolutionaries are fighting a global force, like Iran and Russia, and the thousands of foreign fighters in addition standing their ground against IS.
The FSA has not changed since the outbreak of the revolution, and we will fight anyone who stands in the way of Syrian demands, whether in the name of religion, such as IS, or under a secular banner, such as Russia, both of which have come to destroy the Syrian revolution under false slogans.
Al-Monitor: Turkey announced its desire in September 2014 to create a safe zone in northern Syria. What is hindering the establishment of this zone? Would it stop the flow of refugees leaving Syria?
Abu Zeid: The one hindering the establishment of this safe zone is none other than the US. This is not just an allegation. Rather, repeated statements were issued in this respect, [including] by Pentagon spokesman John Kirby, who said on July 1, 2015, that at that moment, the US did not see a need for the establishment of a safe zone in Syria.
Meanwhile, the regime’s air force dropped dozens of barrel bombs on Aleppo and Darayya, and the killing of civilians led to daily waves of displacement. Indeed, if a safe zone were established, more than 70% of the people heading to Europe by sea would change their minds. Syrians are not thrilled about the suicide journey to Europe, but they are in search of a safe haven. If such a zone is established, many Syrians will return to this region. We are people who love their country, and we have our culture and our own professions.
The only reason Syrians are migrating is that for four years now, we have been killed by the deadly weapons of Assad’s regime, and we have lost hope of being saved by the international community.
Al-Monitor: In December 2015, the FSA made significant progress against IS near the Turkish border in northern Aleppo. Can we link this progress to the safe zone? Do you think it might be established soon?
Abu Zeid: The FSA has been fighting IS since before 2014, even before anyone in the world ever thought of fighting this organization. Our fight against IS in the northern countryside of Aleppo and in other areas is independent of any international plan. We will continue our battle whether there is a safe zone or not. As a matter of fact, we do not feel that a safe zone is a viable option, at least at the current stage.
Al-Monitor: Why did the Pentagon’s project to train and equip Syrian opposition groups to fight IS fail?
Abu Zeid: Simply because we are independent and responsible toward our people to the extent that we can say no, even to the US, which sought through this program to make us fight IS only and to forget the criminal called Bashar al-Assad, who has killed more than 300,000 Syrians over the past years, displaced 10 million and is still detaining more than half a million Syrians.
Although the US gave us some support, we refused its offer and confirmed that this program would fail, and it ultimately did, since it is a US project that does not meet the aspirations of the Syrians. We have a Syrian project to combat all forms of terrorism, including IS and Assad, and we accept any offer of help.
IS cannot be eliminated without the FSA. We have a history of struggle against all of those who killed Syrians. Therefore, no one can question the FSA’s objectives when it fights IS, because its project is purely Syrian, and it aims to protect Syrians rather than serve other agendas.
Al-Monitor: How do you perceive US policies in the region?
Abu Zeid: The US is gradually moving from a neutral position toward being a partner in crime as it allows Assad and his allies to kill Syrians. Scary massacres are being committed against Syrians, who have been left to starve to death under siege in the city of Madaya and [killed] by chemical weapons. Syrians are paying a high price as a result of the US policy failure in Iraq and its weakness in the Middle East in general.
It is not required that the US send fighters on the ground. This is not what we want. What we want is for Assad to be prevented from targeting civilians and for the [supporters] of the Syrian revolution [i.e. Turkey, Qatar and Saudi Arabia] to be allowed to provide rebels with qualitative weapons. The US supports the Syrian Democratic Forces, which include al-Sanadid Army, one of the regime's militias. We, however, do not trust these forces, and they not surprisingly getting weapons that are hundreds of times more numerous than the weapons received by the FSA.
Al-Monitor: The FSA factions supported the decisions from the Riyadh conference, which brought together the Syrian opposition on Dec. 10, 2015. Do you think it is possible to reach a political solution with the regime? What is the solution, in your opinion? What system are you trying to recreate in the new Syria?
Abu Zeid: As rebels, we believe that Assad and his allies will not contribute to any solution that will ultimately lead to the departure of Assad and his clique. The assassination of Jaish al-Islam commander Zahran Alloush — a former member of the negotiating body that supported a political solution — is clear evidence that the Russians are not seeking a political solution. The FSA is making every effort toward a political solution based on the Geneva I communique regarding the formation of a transitional governing body, the departure of Assad and his clique, the dismantling of the security establishment and the restructuring of the military establishment. These points cannot be disregarded.
As far as the regime is concerned, the Syrian people will determine its shape in the new Syria. Our sole current mission is to topple the Assad regime. When the revolution achieves its objectives, it will form a committee to draft a constitution and present it to the people. Only the people, not us or anyone else, will have the final say on the form of government.
Al-Monitor: The FSA receives support from several countries in the region, and you are accused of being influenced by foreign countries. What do you say to such allegations?
Abu Zeid: My response is part of this interview. We refused to take part in the US training project, and the US is the biggest power in the world, which confirms that the FSA is independent. The withholding of sophisticated arms such as anti-aircraft [weaponry] is evidence that there are a lot of concessions that we declined to make.
Why haven’t we until this day had arms airdrops for the FSA, like the ones received by the regime forces? This is simply because the FSA does not believe in the same [things] as the international forces, but it shares the same [hopes] as the Syrian people. We advocate any proposal or solution that advances the interests of the Syrian people.
Al-Monitor: About three months have passed since the beginning of Russia’s military intervention in Syria. It seems that the Russian airstrikes have been concentrated on the opposition-controlled areas. How has this affected you?
Abu Zeid: True. The airstrikes held off the advance of the FSA in favor of IS. The Russians' almost daily airstrikes targeted our locations on the demarcation line in Aleppo's northern countryside in the towns of Marea, Jarez and Ihras, among others. However, the greatest impact of the Russian raids was the destruction of the infrastructure of the liberated areas and the killing of larger numbers of civilians, causing waves of displacement, as was the case in Aleppo's southern countryside and the northern Hama countryside.
Al-Monitor: In the first military operation by the Syrian regime in the wake of the Russian intervention, a violent attack was waged in northern Hama without making any progress. However, the regime took over large and strategic areas in the southern countryside of Aleppo. How do you interpret that? Are you able to hold off the regime with your weapons?
Abu Zeid: The difference between Aleppo and Hama is simple. In Hama, we are fighting against the regime and its allies on a single front, while in Aleppo there are three fronts [IS, Kurdish militias and the regime and its allies]. Nevertheless, our retreat favoring the regime in southern Aleppo was not because of direct confrontation, but because of the heavy shelling and shooting.
The regime and the militias fighting alongside it have a renewable supply of human resources, bringing in mercenaries from outside Syria — from Iraq, Lebanon, Iran and Afghanistan and recently from Africa. The balance of weaponry is tilted in favor of the regime, which has the sophisticated Russian air force at its side in addition to advanced armored vehicles. Some are made in the US and are from Iraqi militias fighting us in Syria, such as the Hezbollah al-Nujaba movement and the [Brigade] of Abu al-Fadl al-Abbas, among others. As for us, on the other hand, the most advanced weapons we have are TOW missiles, available in limited quantities. We also confront different enemies, each with a different and particular tactic in fighting. I can objectively affirm, however, that the military balance is indeed tipped in favor of the regime, but the confrontations are in our favor because of our faith in the cause we are sacrificing for.
Al-Monitor: In several television interviews, you have rejected working with Russia. The chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Russia, Valery Vasilevich Gerasimov, said, however, on Dec. 14, 2015, that Russia is providing air cover to some of the FSA groups. Is this true? Did you change your position?
Abu Zeid: I personally refused to meet with the Russian president's special representative for the Middle East, Mikhail Bogdanov, in Geneva about two months ago. Perhaps, in the eyes of Russia, Assad is the commander of the Syrian revolution. Russia’s declaration that it supports the FSA is ridiculous as all facts prove the contrary. Russian airstrikes are ongoing around the clock, targeting our sites and locations. Our position is clear: We will not coordinate or cooperate with Russia.
Strelkov: "we had to take Debaltseve with Artemivsk in 3 days, but it lasted 1,5 months"
pic.twitter.com/qvZRgiQMLh
http://liveuamap.com/en/2016/17-january-exleader-of-russian-terror-grou… …
The power of social media open source analysis has again been proven...while Obama wants to setup a massive government led counter info war effort via Homeland Security single individuals on the Twitter front are having far more impact that the so called Obama plan......and the costs are about zero vs the millions the Obama plan foresees.
Not bad for a Sunday morning.
#Russian (left) and #Ukrainian (right) language news coverage of our #DonbassReport.
pic.twitter.com/xbYbl0edK2
REMEMBER the entire outcry of the starvation being used by Assad, Iran and Putin in Syria was kicked off by social media not western MSM media.....
REMEMBER that virtually every time Putin/Russia issues a claim that they were not behind the shot down of MH17 it gets shredded by social media not the US government.
REMEMBER when the Russian MoD claims that their RuAF is not deliberately targeting and killing civilans because they use precision guided bombs that lie gets shredded daily by social media open source analysis. The same goes for the use of cluster munitions which the Obama WH has said nothing on.
So again exactly what is the role these days of the Obama administration in eastern Ulkraine or Syria??
Even more proof that the Obama WH, his NSC and his DoS have absolutely no strategy for anything.
Originally Posted by OUTLAW 09 Ukraine thread
@JulianRoepcke BILD EXCLUSIVE
How Russia finances the Ukrainian rebel territories
http://ow.ly/X9wTh
pic.twitter.com/ztiqzXA7aJ
Research proves w/ Donbas people interviews, official DNR/LNR data and excl. intelligence,#Russia systematically took over eastern #Ukraine.
In the intel world one constantly looks for indicators..in the case of eastern Ukraine the question has always been what is Putin's intent?....to pressure the Ukraine over the EU and on and on...THERE has never been a full discussion on whether he really wants to annex eastern Ukraine or not.
With this Bild analysis the answer is very clear...he is after a full annexation regardless of what he is saying publicly which we all know he always lies.....
THIS is extremely interesting as the town Debaltseve was during the Minsk 2 talks where Putin was present...at the heart of the agreement...Putin constantly demanded that Debaltseve was to be under Russian occupation and even Merkel was dismayed by his demands---at the same time extremely heavy fighting broke out with actual Russian troop units attacking repeatedly Debaltseve until it was captured.
BTW--the town of Debaltseve as actually in Minsk 2 fully inside the marked UAF territory--while the heavy fighting was ongoing the US, France and Germany said very very little.
During a press conference Putin "crowed" about the UAF being totally surrounded and that they must surrender...BUT surprisingly the UAF was able to withdraw all 3K troops and their heavy weapons much to the surprise of the Russian Army.
NOW with this article we fully see that Putin and his military where working towards a full capture of the eastern Ukraine ie a military annexation BUT due to the heavy UAF pushback which surprised even the Russian military that annexation and total takeover did not occur.
REMEMBER during the Debaltseve fighting the Russians held a massive one sided tank count of over 500 AND Obama was refusing to ship TOWs as he did not want to "escalate" the fighting OR as was reported he was afraid the Russians would escalate even higher....WHICH they did anyway multiple times since then even when the US did not send the TOWs.
Russia must’ve anticipated this prop-up of separatists when insisted on railroad city Debaltseve @ Minsk.
pic.twitter.com/27GWtoBLlC
All one hears out of DC is that there are no "moderates" in Syria......?
Sorry...there are so called "moderates" and they are fighting hard against IS, Assad and dodging Putin's air strikes and the Obama successful strategy is again exactly what.......more messaging and less TOWs???
GRAPHIC......
Who are the "moderate" fighters in #Syria as opposed to Islamist rebels? Shia Jihadists from #Iraq maybe? No?
pic.twitter.com/12ILmtQlfD
Footage
#FSA after defeating #ISIS in Qizil Mazra'ah.
Only dumbs would call them "jihadis"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYfLnZIpij0 …
pic.twitter.com/7otmYifMPd
Isis leader Amer alShouk captured by Rebels during the clashes in north #Aleppo
#Syria JAN 16
Turns out the guy is 'Amer Al-Shouk an #IS commander
pic.twitter.com/zb93vdcdHv
The moment rebels caught the #ISIS leader hiding in a house
https:/www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAPoZxNiunw …
Head of Assad’s 9th Div in southern #Syria Maj Gen Ahmad al-Oqda confirmed killed in Sheikh Miskin battles in #Daraa
pic.twitter.com/aLSllRlSHT
What we are seeing in say the entire ME or even eastern Ukraine......of the Obama retrenchment policy..........is wrapped up in this quote.....
Everything we say, everything we do, and everything we fail to say or do will have its impact in other lands."
--Dwight D. Eisenhower
Yes the US cannot be the entire world's policeman, but currently there is no other adult in the room that I can see.....and the Obama WH has largely ignored the above quote.....actually runs from the quote as being an adult sometimes calls the use of force.
The ME rises and falls on "perception" and right now Obama project no "perception" other than the standard Putin concept..."it ain't us"..."it's someone else fault".
In the face of the roaring successes of the Obama Syrian strategy---there needs to be a serious look at just how the Obama WH handles strategy in general....if this below is anywhere close to being accurate then the Obama WH has a serious problem and it was recently echoed by a former SecDef...just how naïve the WH NSC/advisors really are....
QUOTE:
The evidence is overwhelming that the United States had several rescue teams ready to go during the 2012 Benghazi attacks, but someone -- possibly the president himself -- prevented them from acting. So said Emmy Award-winning journalist Sharyl Attkisson to talk show host Steve Malzberg in an interview on Wednesday.
This week on her show, "Full Measure," Attkisson looked into the aborted rescue mission in an in-depth two-part report, "Rescue Interrupted," which you can watch here and here. She spoke with a Green Beret commander who told her that there were actually Special Forces on their way to Benghazi who were turned back.
Col. Andrew Wood had once commanded a Special Forces anti-terrorism team protecting Ambassador Chis Stevens and other diplomats in Libya. In October of 2012, Woods told Congress that one month before the attacks in Benghazi, his team had been removed from Libya by the Obama administration, despite the numerous warnings of impending terrorist attacks. Wood told Attkisson that Special Forces (the ones mentioned in the "spinning up" email from Jeremy Bash) were on their way to Benghazi, but were ordered to turn back.
"Those individuals I know loaded aircraft and got on their way to Benghazi to respond to that incident. They were not allowed to cross the border as per protocol until they got approval from the commander in chief," Wood explained. "That authority has to come from him or they're not allowed to enter the country."
Attkisson told Malzberg, "This is something that the president and the White House has steadfastly denied, but there's now what I would call an overwhelming body of evidence that leads us to believe that somebody stopped a number of teams and potential rescuers from entering Libya or going to Benghazi to help while those attacks were underway."
"They could have gotten there before the last two Americans died," Attkisson noted. "Those attacks went on for eight hours."
BTW--there are now solid rumors circulating that an on station AC-140 gunship in the general area that could have provided groun support to the alerted SF team/teams WAS ordered back out of Libyan air space.
Appears to be a theme for this ME strategy that this WH claims they have...do absolutely nothing that will require the use of force until I leave office in 13 months.........
Often derided as "kicking the can down the road" approach to foreign affairs....
BTW--historically SF teams have always responded to such events and conducted planning in the C-130s inbound to the incident if time was an issue---this is nothing new...WHAT is new is the ordering them back in the face of ground attacks against an American Embassy.....