The US gambit in Syria was intended to lure the Russians into the fight (import Wagners) and create another Afghanistan debacle. The Israelis were duped into thinking that they could control the outcome and cutoff Hezzbollah from resupply by Iran. The Gulf Arabs thought that they could use the chaos to redirect the new West Asian oil transportation corridor in their favor. But when the smoke clears, it will be the West that gets hosed in this geopolitical chess match. Israel gets a well armed Turkic puppet state right on its border. The EU gets more migration from this region. And it is the US that gets drawn into the next Afghanistan debacle. Expect all US military to be forced out of Syrian territory before the end of 2025. And when Ukraine capitulates, Turkey will exit NATO and geopolitical continents will shift away from the West. Thank you Joe Biden.
IDK. I mean Israel and Turkey arch enemies?? Wouldn't it be feasible to assume Israel may have more in common with Turkey than Iran? Isn't Iran the country that wants to "wipe" Israel off the map? Would it be feasible for Arab aligned "Abraham Accords" Gulf states to trust Israel more than Erdogan?
Further as you suggest "expect all US military to be forced out of Syrian territory before the end of 2025"... doesn't that align with Trump's thinking? I don't expect Turkey to leave the fluffy, comfy umbrella of NATO regardless of whatever Erdogan says. He can't be trusted. Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.
Jews had a history in Constantinople. They were allowed to prosper under the Eastern Roman Empire then under the Ottomans treated better than the Greek Orthodox Christian’s who remained after 1453. Judaism and Islam two sides of the same coin. Christians are despised by this coin.
It'll be curious to see how Turkiye (can't do the funny u with the dots above on my keyboard) views its NATO "leverage". My assumption is this would have to do with something like backstabbing Putin (blocking the strait for example) in some manner and then Erdogan looking for a bone like a dog on its hind legs begging in a patronizing manner.
Yes, it could be that, given Erdogan's wildcard (or double-crossing) popular reputation, but honestly, I'm inclined to bet Türkiye will continue to be spurned by the EU and ends up in BRICs on Putin's team.
While I am trying to assess reality in my posts here, I am under no illusions about Israel's goals in the Middle East, or the extent to which U.S. policy is controlled by Zionist (both American and Israeli) interests.
I think most observers (at least readers here) understand that Israel believes it will likely better achieve its goals the more chaos it is able to generate (directly and indirectly) in the Middle East.
And in the short run Israel seems to believe it will now achieve gains in its Greater Israel project in Gaza, the West Bank, the Golan Heights, and in southern Lebanon and in Syria in the direction of Damascus. But this is all unfolding, uncertain and subject to the mischief of war.
I would be very surprised if the fall of Assad somehow opens the door to Israeli aggression without ultimately triggering serious Moslem pushback. I don't think the weaknesses in Israeli security exposed over the last year have suddenly disappeared.
Well it certainly puts Ezekiel 38 into perspective. A grand Islamic coalition is at some point going to try to take Jerusalem.
I always found it odd that Evangelists were so certain Gog and Magog was Russia (given Moscow’s very late founding) particularly since historically it was Anatolia.
Ah, yes, Huntington, one of my favorite writers. I have pasted this quote before and it is cut from the book where the map noted in this article can be found on the nine civilizations.
"Peoples and nations are attempting to answer the most basic question humans can face: Who are we? And they are answering that question in the traditional way human beings have answered it, by reference to the things that mean the most to them. People define themselves in terms of ancestry, religion, language, history, values, customs, and institutions. They identify with cultural groups: tribes, ethnic groups, religious communities, nations, and, at the broadest level, civilizations. People use politics not just to advance their interests, but to also define their identity. We know who we are only when we know who we are not and often only when we know whom we are against."
Clash of Civilization Chap 1, page 3.
I always found this paragraph so very interesting and seems to reflect Pilkington's view as he wrote above:
"Right before our eyes we are seeing an aggressive return to postliberal, civilisational politics. The various civilisations are returning to their natural places in the world as what will be viewed as the interruption of the 20th century fades from view."
I have long thought Iran and Turkiye had a desire to recapture the glory days of Empire. Israel was never really a player in the Empire games, but was added into the mix mid-20th century and the result stirred up those in the middle east that were once great powers and since then, given the importance of oil which fueled Arab wealth, would once again inspire the former greats to recapture that glory and power. The aggressive imperialism of the West and the scramble for scare resources has awakened the former giants and the world is reforming and the Great Game is alive again.
Jeffrey Sachs has recited the list of nations Netanyahu has destroyed. I find Wesley Clark's version contrived, but in US Congress on Sept 12, 2002 Bibi himself named the members of the "network of terror" -- https://www.c-span.org/video/?172612-1/israeli-perspective-conflict-iraq#. ~22 min.
Regarding the elements of "civilizational identity," Thierry Meyssan wrote this paragraph in a recent essay:
"Another constant in the behavior of the revisionist Zionists is to destroy the archaeological evidence of their imposture. Thus, still in 2009, the second decision of Netanyahu, who became Prime Minister, was to dig tunnels under the Temple Mount in order to be able to dynamite the Al-Aqsa Mosque. In recent months, he has destroyed all the archaeological remains in southern Lebanon, Crusader or Ottoman, and even tried to destroy the temples of Baalbeck, the greatest sanctuary of the Roman Empire. In doing so, he continued the destruction carried out during the Gulf War on the site of Babylon, or during the Syrian war on the remains of Aleppo and Palmyra. Everything must be done to ensure that the claim to the land, from the Nile to the Euphrates, appears legitimate."
Netanyahu & zionists are marching through the world-- not just West Asia & Middle East but also Europe and USA -- destroying the built monuments to civilizational accomplishment, identity, and pride.
Historian and archeologist Alexis Castor has spoken passionately about the destruction of the museum in Baghdad as well as the destruction of hundreds, perhaps thousands of ancient clay tablets that recorded history of Iraq/Mesopotamia. In the C Span video, Netanyahu just about insists that US wage war in Iraq.
Pete Hegseth, who has spent time in Iraq, the "cradle of civilization," has threatened to bomb Iran's "cultural centers;" Trump has said pretty much the same thing. Iran/Persia is home to actual, ancient monuments to their having created and carried on a civilization, whereas Hebrews/Jews/Israelis/zionists are "people of the book". Churchill said that "history will be kind to me for I shall write the history," and so the Hebrews have done. But as Abba Eban observed ruefully in "Heritage, Civilization and the Jews", they have left no monuments.
The zionist quest is less one for land or resources and more for an authentic identity.
I would prefer a clash of civilizations, than false war -- war to achieve the appearance of clashing, to satisfy the need for the masses to believe themselves one thing while fighting another thing. But, I believe the pandemic illustrated such coordination at the highest levels by supranational interests, represented by persons who consider themselves supranational, except perhaps for the purpose of an origin story.
I appreciate Mr. Pilkington's essays very much. A consolation of philosophy. But, have we been sold down river so far... we are bobbing in the Gulf of Mexico?
Thanks for your comments. Events are happening much quicker at this time. Not long ago, Mark quoted something written by Michel Lind. I used to read American Affairs and Lind had an interesting and long essay on the new class war, this was around 2017.. He turned it into a small book with the same title "The New Class War." He refers to the elites as the new Managerial Elites and Overlords. His subtitle said it all, "Saving Democracy from the Managerial Elite."
Well said Mark, but I'm lost; US-ISR support and manage YPG/PKK; YPG/PKK deals with Assad; Assad hands over areas to YPG/PKK while withdrawing; YPG/PKK/US blatantly exploit nat resources of Syria while Assad does nothing about this; the rebels do not fire a single bullet to Israel for their opportunistic capture of Golan areas; and Israel bombs the records of regime to cover up, as if they do not want them to be seen public? Suddenly everybody behaves as if business as usual, and there have not been millions of innocent lives lost in the last how many years. There is no Iran, no Russia in the theater
Somehow, looking at the recent events unfolding; I reflect on what has happened on the ground, when the then imperial powers of the world tried to divide and share the Ottoman state.
I avoid following the Assad's mechanisms of torture and oppression against their own people as they appear on the media, and really wonder how come such a person receives a support from a modern day state? or a civilized leader.
Most noteworthy was Baud's explanation that in Syria's part of the world, a ruling clan is chosen based on its minority status rather than a larger, majority group. The thinking is that a minority group will not have the strength to dominate, and so long as it refrains from doing so, the majority pledges its loyalty.
Emphasizing that Syria was a well-functioning society that was deliberately disrupted and destroyed by "external forces -- USA and Israel" , Baud cuts through the propaganda version of Syria/Assad and paints a picture of a man who lived in his own house, not a palace; drove his own car to work; mingled frequently and freely with the people he governed.
Thanks Mark, once again you’re out ahead of just about everyone on what’s actually happening here.
So they put Assad out to pasture. Placing any hope on Arab armies holding open the corridor to Lebanon was a losing proposition. So now Türkiye will have a border with Israel. Let’s see how the Israelis like having that backstabber so close. If Erdogan breaks in the direction of BRICS then the NSTC may come to fruition. If he double-crosses, as everyone should expect from him moving forward, Russia and Iran are going to be set back decades.
So yeah what have Russia, Türkiye, and Iran decided behind closed doors? Is this an interim state before something much more consequential? What a time to be alive.
I have to admit I was wrong on Russia Syria I believed
incorrectly Russia would support for their air and ship bases
maybe they still will UN security council
Looks like Syria may be carved up a bit, with the vacuum inviting
untoward characters and issues, Israel may take a nice chunk
Turkey may help themselves Sharia law may develop in what remains
US 'on the hook' for more $$$$$
perhaps recouped by more Syrian oil
Suffice it to say Syria appears 'ripe for the taking'
Interesting Perhaps:
The UN Security Council is to convene for an emergency session on today Monday December 09 after Syrian rebels declared president Bashar al-Assad's ouster
Netanyahu is set to begin testifying on December 10
It seems like Russia tried to get Assad to come to terms with reality and when he wouldn’t they had no choice but to cut bait. The only other option would be to depose him themselves and obviously they aren’t going to do that.
“This public support, combined with the Syrian army’s (SAA) presence and Iran’s advisory efforts at Syria’s official request, ultimately stopped the ISIS threat.”
Through the lens of WWE, we pounded ISIS until it writhed on the mat. But it will be back for another show next week, in which we pound it into the mat again and etc.
Tremendously interesting and illuminating! Thanks, Mark!
For what it’s worth, I found this interesting.
https://theins.ru/en/news/277029
Tx
The US gambit in Syria was intended to lure the Russians into the fight (import Wagners) and create another Afghanistan debacle. The Israelis were duped into thinking that they could control the outcome and cutoff Hezzbollah from resupply by Iran. The Gulf Arabs thought that they could use the chaos to redirect the new West Asian oil transportation corridor in their favor. But when the smoke clears, it will be the West that gets hosed in this geopolitical chess match. Israel gets a well armed Turkic puppet state right on its border. The EU gets more migration from this region. And it is the US that gets drawn into the next Afghanistan debacle. Expect all US military to be forced out of Syrian territory before the end of 2025. And when Ukraine capitulates, Turkey will exit NATO and geopolitical continents will shift away from the West. Thank you Joe Biden.
IDK. I mean Israel and Turkey arch enemies?? Wouldn't it be feasible to assume Israel may have more in common with Turkey than Iran? Isn't Iran the country that wants to "wipe" Israel off the map? Would it be feasible for Arab aligned "Abraham Accords" Gulf states to trust Israel more than Erdogan?
Further as you suggest "expect all US military to be forced out of Syrian territory before the end of 2025"... doesn't that align with Trump's thinking? I don't expect Turkey to leave the fluffy, comfy umbrella of NATO regardless of whatever Erdogan says. He can't be trusted. Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.
Jews had a history in Constantinople. They were allowed to prosper under the Eastern Roman Empire then under the Ottomans treated better than the Greek Orthodox Christian’s who remained after 1453. Judaism and Islam two sides of the same coin. Christians are despised by this coin.
Occasionally I find it interesting to think
as these type of issues unfold
Whatever behavior Russia may be accused of in Ukraine
may be perhaps clearly excused by the subsequent behavior of others
eg: Russia shutting off Ukraine power in winter
we don't hear much complaint about that anymore
poor Ukraine
Russian attacks on energy grid amount to genocide, says ...
BBC
https://www.bbc.com › news ›
Nov 27, 2022 — Russia's attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure amount to genocide
"Obviously, Turkey is going to be a huge player, probably using NATO membership to leverage its designs for a return to Ottoman Empire greatness."
The problem with this possible outcome is that there is only room for one Empire in NATO, and it ain't Türkiye.
Yeah, but does Erdogan know that (yet)? ;)
It'll be curious to see how Turkiye (can't do the funny u with the dots above on my keyboard) views its NATO "leverage". My assumption is this would have to do with something like backstabbing Putin (blocking the strait for example) in some manner and then Erdogan looking for a bone like a dog on its hind legs begging in a patronizing manner.
@AC
Yes, it could be that, given Erdogan's wildcard (or double-crossing) popular reputation, but honestly, I'm inclined to bet Türkiye will continue to be spurned by the EU and ends up in BRICs on Putin's team.
Is it possible Erdogan doesn’t last much longer? He is reviled by many Turks.
Lot's of chaos to come...
Yes, indeed and who is driving all this chaos?
Rhetorical question, Cosmo?
While I am trying to assess reality in my posts here, I am under no illusions about Israel's goals in the Middle East, or the extent to which U.S. policy is controlled by Zionist (both American and Israeli) interests.
I think most observers (at least readers here) understand that Israel believes it will likely better achieve its goals the more chaos it is able to generate (directly and indirectly) in the Middle East.
And in the short run Israel seems to believe it will now achieve gains in its Greater Israel project in Gaza, the West Bank, the Golan Heights, and in southern Lebanon and in Syria in the direction of Damascus. But this is all unfolding, uncertain and subject to the mischief of war.
I would be very surprised if the fall of Assad somehow opens the door to Israeli aggression without ultimately triggering serious Moslem pushback. I don't think the weaknesses in Israeli security exposed over the last year have suddenly disappeared.
Well it certainly puts Ezekiel 38 into perspective. A grand Islamic coalition is at some point going to try to take Jerusalem.
I always found it odd that Evangelists were so certain Gog and Magog was Russia (given Moscow’s very late founding) particularly since historically it was Anatolia.
May you live in interesting times, indeed.
Nah... they couldn't get any stability to agree on much of anything IMO. See OPEC's history and the struggles with agreements.
I read the entire chapter in Ezekiel. Found no reference at all to Lockheed Martin.
LM is in the "foreward"... LOL
Ah, yes, Huntington, one of my favorite writers. I have pasted this quote before and it is cut from the book where the map noted in this article can be found on the nine civilizations.
"Peoples and nations are attempting to answer the most basic question humans can face: Who are we? And they are answering that question in the traditional way human beings have answered it, by reference to the things that mean the most to them. People define themselves in terms of ancestry, religion, language, history, values, customs, and institutions. They identify with cultural groups: tribes, ethnic groups, religious communities, nations, and, at the broadest level, civilizations. People use politics not just to advance their interests, but to also define their identity. We know who we are only when we know who we are not and often only when we know whom we are against."
Clash of Civilization Chap 1, page 3.
I always found this paragraph so very interesting and seems to reflect Pilkington's view as he wrote above:
"Right before our eyes we are seeing an aggressive return to postliberal, civilisational politics. The various civilisations are returning to their natural places in the world as what will be viewed as the interruption of the 20th century fades from view."
I have long thought Iran and Turkiye had a desire to recapture the glory days of Empire. Israel was never really a player in the Empire games, but was added into the mix mid-20th century and the result stirred up those in the middle east that were once great powers and since then, given the importance of oil which fueled Arab wealth, would once again inspire the former greats to recapture that glory and power. The aggressive imperialism of the West and the scramble for scare resources has awakened the former giants and the world is reforming and the Great Game is alive again.
Jeffrey Sachs has recited the list of nations Netanyahu has destroyed. I find Wesley Clark's version contrived, but in US Congress on Sept 12, 2002 Bibi himself named the members of the "network of terror" -- https://www.c-span.org/video/?172612-1/israeli-perspective-conflict-iraq#. ~22 min.
Regarding the elements of "civilizational identity," Thierry Meyssan wrote this paragraph in a recent essay:
"Another constant in the behavior of the revisionist Zionists is to destroy the archaeological evidence of their imposture. Thus, still in 2009, the second decision of Netanyahu, who became Prime Minister, was to dig tunnels under the Temple Mount in order to be able to dynamite the Al-Aqsa Mosque. In recent months, he has destroyed all the archaeological remains in southern Lebanon, Crusader or Ottoman, and even tried to destroy the temples of Baalbeck, the greatest sanctuary of the Roman Empire. In doing so, he continued the destruction carried out during the Gulf War on the site of Babylon, or during the Syrian war on the remains of Aleppo and Palmyra. Everything must be done to ensure that the claim to the land, from the Nile to the Euphrates, appears legitimate."
https://www.voltairenet.org/article221566.html
Netanyahu & zionists are marching through the world-- not just West Asia & Middle East but also Europe and USA -- destroying the built monuments to civilizational accomplishment, identity, and pride.
Historian and archeologist Alexis Castor has spoken passionately about the destruction of the museum in Baghdad as well as the destruction of hundreds, perhaps thousands of ancient clay tablets that recorded history of Iraq/Mesopotamia. In the C Span video, Netanyahu just about insists that US wage war in Iraq.
Pete Hegseth, who has spent time in Iraq, the "cradle of civilization," has threatened to bomb Iran's "cultural centers;" Trump has said pretty much the same thing. Iran/Persia is home to actual, ancient monuments to their having created and carried on a civilization, whereas Hebrews/Jews/Israelis/zionists are "people of the book". Churchill said that "history will be kind to me for I shall write the history," and so the Hebrews have done. But as Abba Eban observed ruefully in "Heritage, Civilization and the Jews", they have left no monuments.
The zionist quest is less one for land or resources and more for an authentic identity.
I would prefer a clash of civilizations, than false war -- war to achieve the appearance of clashing, to satisfy the need for the masses to believe themselves one thing while fighting another thing. But, I believe the pandemic illustrated such coordination at the highest levels by supranational interests, represented by persons who consider themselves supranational, except perhaps for the purpose of an origin story.
I appreciate Mr. Pilkington's essays very much. A consolation of philosophy. But, have we been sold down river so far... we are bobbing in the Gulf of Mexico?
Thanks for your comments. Events are happening much quicker at this time. Not long ago, Mark quoted something written by Michel Lind. I used to read American Affairs and Lind had an interesting and long essay on the new class war, this was around 2017.. He turned it into a small book with the same title "The New Class War." He refers to the elites as the new Managerial Elites and Overlords. His subtitle said it all, "Saving Democracy from the Managerial Elite."
Well said Mark, but I'm lost; US-ISR support and manage YPG/PKK; YPG/PKK deals with Assad; Assad hands over areas to YPG/PKK while withdrawing; YPG/PKK/US blatantly exploit nat resources of Syria while Assad does nothing about this; the rebels do not fire a single bullet to Israel for their opportunistic capture of Golan areas; and Israel bombs the records of regime to cover up, as if they do not want them to be seen public? Suddenly everybody behaves as if business as usual, and there have not been millions of innocent lives lost in the last how many years. There is no Iran, no Russia in the theater
Somehow, looking at the recent events unfolding; I reflect on what has happened on the ground, when the then imperial powers of the world tried to divide and share the Ottoman state.
I avoid following the Assad's mechanisms of torture and oppression against their own people as they appear on the media, and really wonder how come such a person receives a support from a modern day state? or a civilized leader.
Jacques Baud's very informative conversation with Nima Alkhorshid may cause you to rethink some of your impressions https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KotIIu0NTgI
Most noteworthy was Baud's explanation that in Syria's part of the world, a ruling clan is chosen based on its minority status rather than a larger, majority group. The thinking is that a minority group will not have the strength to dominate, and so long as it refrains from doing so, the majority pledges its loyalty.
Emphasizing that Syria was a well-functioning society that was deliberately disrupted and destroyed by "external forces -- USA and Israel" , Baud cuts through the propaganda version of Syria/Assad and paints a picture of a man who lived in his own house, not a palace; drove his own car to work; mingled frequently and freely with the people he governed.
Thanks Mark, once again you’re out ahead of just about everyone on what’s actually happening here.
So they put Assad out to pasture. Placing any hope on Arab armies holding open the corridor to Lebanon was a losing proposition. So now Türkiye will have a border with Israel. Let’s see how the Israelis like having that backstabber so close. If Erdogan breaks in the direction of BRICS then the NSTC may come to fruition. If he double-crosses, as everyone should expect from him moving forward, Russia and Iran are going to be set back decades.
So yeah what have Russia, Türkiye, and Iran decided behind closed doors? Is this an interim state before something much more consequential? What a time to be alive.
Actually I suppose that this may be a gambit to elbow his way into NSTC. Let’s see what he can get from the west before he double crosses them!
I have to admit I was wrong on Russia Syria I believed
incorrectly Russia would support for their air and ship bases
maybe they still will UN security council
Looks like Syria may be carved up a bit, with the vacuum inviting
untoward characters and issues, Israel may take a nice chunk
Turkey may help themselves Sharia law may develop in what remains
US 'on the hook' for more $$$$$
perhaps recouped by more Syrian oil
Suffice it to say Syria appears 'ripe for the taking'
Interesting Perhaps:
The UN Security Council is to convene for an emergency session on today Monday December 09 after Syrian rebels declared president Bashar al-Assad's ouster
Netanyahu is set to begin testifying on December 10
https://www.timesofisrael.com/with-date-set-legal-fight-shifts-to-pace-of-netanyahu-testimony-in-his-graft-trial/
It seems like Russia tried to get Assad to come to terms with reality and when he wouldn’t they had no choice but to cut bait. The only other option would be to depose him themselves and obviously they aren’t going to do that.
“This public support, combined with the Syrian army’s (SAA) presence and Iran’s advisory efforts at Syria’s official request, ultimately stopped the ISIS threat.”
But Trump keeps bragging that he eliminated ISIS?
Through the lens of WWE, we pounded ISIS until it writhed on the mat. But it will be back for another show next week, in which we pound it into the mat again and etc.