On the battlefield, yes. Fog of war and all that. The strategic/political motives however seem as clear as glass.
1. In the bigger picture, the Syrian civil war was part of the US backed so-called Arab spring to dislodge nationalists (who also happened to be secularists) from positions of power in the Arab world. No need to say who else benefited from that strategy.
2. A secondary motive was to dislodge Russia from its bases in Latakia and Tartus before they could be expanded. That part has already failed and is the reason the current attack will also fail. Russia will no more allow Syria to fall than they would Belarus.
3. To draw Hezbollah forces out of Lebanon in support of Syria. They've already stated they won't do that, and the bulk of support for Syria seems to be coming from Iraq, so count that one as a fail.
4. To interrupt Hezbollah supply lines from Syria. How effective this is remains to be seen as Hezbollah appears to have enough munitions already stockpiled for a long conflict.
5. To distract from losses in Ukraine and draw Russian forces and materials into Syria thus depleting their Ukraine offensive. Seems like a pipe dream given how robust the Russian military is. Wagner may no longer exist, but there's plenty of Chechens willing to fight takfiris wherever they appear, so file that under 'careful what you wish for.'
That's my curbside analysis. There are other factors in play of course, such as the role of Turkey and the Kurds, but those seem like the main points.
My family in Dearborn MI, refer to it as Wasta, at least I think that’s the term. The Arab culture of using family members as intermediaries. Hard to get anything done in Americas biggest Middle East city without it.
Well, mafiosi is redundant, since empires are by definition protection rackets, extracting wealth from conquered provinces under threat of renewed violence. Sanctions, debanking, freezing assets all being unbloody means. Proxy armies being bloody means.
Joe will have to pardon himself, which I think is a permissible exercise of the pardon power of the President. He will say he is doing so “only” to prevent unlawful persecution (like Trump faced, ahem) after he leaves office. This is because Hunter once pardoned cannot plead the Fifth.
"Joe is not just covering the drug and gun possession charges. Joe is running cover for all of Hunter’s criminality in Ukraine, which is really Joe’s criminality in Ukraine. This is not just a pardon for Hunter. This is a pardon for JOE!"
"The Hill posted my column on the implications of the Biden pardon and how it might not achieve as complete immunity from prosecution as President Joe Biden may have hoped for. What it does achieve is the final and total corruption of the Biden presidency."
"...It is also the final corruption of the media with many responding with the usual uncomfortable shrug despite the litany of lies. It is a measure of what you can call Biden ethics. In the curious world of Joe Biden, a lie that no one believes is treated the same as the truth."
"...President Biden has become the very embodiment of our post-truth politics where identity rather than veracity drives meaning. Many accept that he may be a liar on a presidential scale, but he is our liar. That is enough..."
"...However, this pardon does not merely benefit Hunter but benefits Joe Biden. He pardoned for any crimes from the most mundane to murder, including any crimes associated with the multi-million-dollar influence-peddling operation."
"With his pardoning of his son, President Biden has set a standard that is not merely a new low but positively subterraneous for future presidents..."
"The situation in Syria remains a bit murky."
On the battlefield, yes. Fog of war and all that. The strategic/political motives however seem as clear as glass.
1. In the bigger picture, the Syrian civil war was part of the US backed so-called Arab spring to dislodge nationalists (who also happened to be secularists) from positions of power in the Arab world. No need to say who else benefited from that strategy.
2. A secondary motive was to dislodge Russia from its bases in Latakia and Tartus before they could be expanded. That part has already failed and is the reason the current attack will also fail. Russia will no more allow Syria to fall than they would Belarus.
3. To draw Hezbollah forces out of Lebanon in support of Syria. They've already stated they won't do that, and the bulk of support for Syria seems to be coming from Iraq, so count that one as a fail.
4. To interrupt Hezbollah supply lines from Syria. How effective this is remains to be seen as Hezbollah appears to have enough munitions already stockpiled for a long conflict.
5. To distract from losses in Ukraine and draw Russian forces and materials into Syria thus depleting their Ukraine offensive. Seems like a pipe dream given how robust the Russian military is. Wagner may no longer exist, but there's plenty of Chechens willing to fight takfiris wherever they appear, so file that under 'careful what you wish for.'
That's my curbside analysis. There are other factors in play of course, such as the role of Turkey and the Kurds, but those seem like the main points.
My family in Dearborn MI, refer to it as Wasta, at least I think that’s the term. The Arab culture of using family members as intermediaries. Hard to get anything done in Americas biggest Middle East city without it.
And Jared Kushner's father to what post I forget, speaking of all in the family !
This must be a typo: “Done at the City of Washington.” The correct version should read “Done at Mafiosi HQ, Imperial City on the Potomac.”
Well, mafiosi is redundant, since empires are by definition protection rackets, extracting wealth from conquered provinces under threat of renewed violence. Sanctions, debanking, freezing assets all being unbloody means. Proxy armies being bloody means.
Joe will have to pardon himself, which I think is a permissible exercise of the pardon power of the President. He will say he is doing so “only” to prevent unlawful persecution (like Trump faced, ahem) after he leaves office. This is because Hunter once pardoned cannot plead the Fifth.
Yeah, “persecution” is the same as “prosecution”!!
"Joe is not just covering the drug and gun possession charges. Joe is running cover for all of Hunter’s criminality in Ukraine, which is really Joe’s criminality in Ukraine. This is not just a pardon for Hunter. This is a pardon for JOE!"
This is Jonathan Turley's take as well (https://x.com/JonathanTurley/)
"The Hill posted my column on the implications of the Biden pardon and how it might not achieve as complete immunity from prosecution as President Joe Biden may have hoped for. What it does achieve is the final and total corruption of the Biden presidency."
"...It is also the final corruption of the media with many responding with the usual uncomfortable shrug despite the litany of lies. It is a measure of what you can call Biden ethics. In the curious world of Joe Biden, a lie that no one believes is treated the same as the truth."
"...President Biden has become the very embodiment of our post-truth politics where identity rather than veracity drives meaning. Many accept that he may be a liar on a presidential scale, but he is our liar. That is enough..."
"...However, this pardon does not merely benefit Hunter but benefits Joe Biden. He pardoned for any crimes from the most mundane to murder, including any crimes associated with the multi-million-dollar influence-peddling operation."
"With his pardoning of his son, President Biden has set a standard that is not merely a new low but positively subterraneous for future presidents..."
Fair enough.
…and the media has its hair ablaze over the pardon’s impact on Trump’s future pardons! Trump being guilty of crimes too heinous to mention…
Trump should be prosecuted for the cruel and unusual punishment we endured listening to E Jean Carroll recount her fever dreams.
Could not agree more!!
https://thehill.com/opinion/white-house/5017228-biden-pardoning-son-corruption-scandal/