According to Mercouris, Russia and Iran were frustrated that Assad refused to deal with the snake, Erdogan, and so decided against investing more in Syria.
I keep asking myself where was the Syrian military? They simply melted away. Realize they've been weak for some time now. Was their no "fight" in the Syrian military leadership? If not, why? I read this morning Israel is already taking some Syrian abandoned positions in country along the border with Israel.
A lot of pundits who cried about “PuTiN cHaNgInG bOrDeRs By FoRcE” seem awfully satisfied that Israel and Turkey are overrunning Syria, virtually dissolving the country overnight.
The Syrian color revolution was more than just an overthrow of the Assad regime; it was a gambit intended to draw in Russian military assets and thereby weaken its offensives in Ukraine (similar to Kursk). Ukraine is the real turning-point battle and everything hinges on that outcome. Russia will not accept a cease-fire and stasis, and the West has nothing tangible left to blunt Ukraine's losses. NATO will continue to infiltrate mercenaries into the AFU as a stopgap, but that just further weakens the West as those soldiers will never be replaced. The only card that Biden's handlers have left to play is a false-flag attack of huge geopolitical dimensions. And that is the gambit that could potentially start WW3 and go nuclear inadvertently. And nothing Trump says or announces can change that dynamic. My guess is that if it happens, it will occur shortly before Jan 6th and be intended to sidetrack the election certification. Then it's crisis time and anything can happen.
Well stated. As I just wrote in response to another comment, Trump is the one who needs an end to war with Russia, more than Putin and Xi need it. He's going about it in the wrong way--speak loudly and pretend your stick is bigger than it really is, when everyone can see you have small hands.
Should include "and the incoming Trump war party backed this coup."
Every time Trump opens his mouth he betrays us with inane comments and unforgivable backing of more war. His statement has very little truth and a lot of gas lighting and unfortunately the zealots among his admirers are to enthralled with the end times to even notice.
Trumps a bullshitter. Lots of smoke. It’s more useful to look at he actually does. And we need to wait till he assumes office and gets his nominees confirmed. Right now it’s safer for him to use the official lies on Russia.
My guess Trumps big focus is on domestic. And what I noticed from Trump, when he wants to be, he can be hyper focused and disciplined. My guess is his current focus is on staffing and getting them confirmed.
I’m curious what going on with his height. Is he using by his as a distraction? And wearing flat shoes. Or he just lied.
This sounds like the old adage, the more things change, the more things stay the same.
I had hopes for Trump here that in the intervening for years, he might’ve learned something hopefully something about Geo political politics. Looks like it he hasn’t learned anything.
He is surrounding himself with the same type of neocons that have infested both Republican and Democrat administrations for the last 40 years. Either he doesn’t really know what’s going on or he isn’t being told what’s going on. Israel is not having any success. They are worn out demoralized and the war has taken a toll on them in Gaza and in South Lebanon.
He doesn’t seem to understand that Putin is holding all the cards and there’s not gonna be any negotiation about Ukraine, except the terms Putin lays down. There will be no negotiations with Donald Trump on the greater points of the Ukraine and what happens there.
War in the Middle East with Israel, another matter so it seems Trump is going to go all in with the same policies that the Biden administration has had and what remaining weapons we have to support Israel and their eradication of Gaza and those in Lebanon.
I keep seeing this absolute BS that Israel has inflicted some type of serious damage to Hezbollah which is an absolute lie and that they somehow had a successful attack on Iran and their air defenses which we know now is a lie.
The thing that Trump needs to be focusing on is this country and our fiscal mess , we need to cut spending. We need to have a balance budget. We have got to confront the debt and the deficit and we do not have time to be involved in foreign expeditionary adventures.
A incoming president is going to be lucky to get three maybe four things done that he would like to do. Trump is going to try to do too much as usual squander his opportunities to really concentrate on the three or four things it could help this country. He is going to get us bogged down with Israel and I guess the Ukraine not to mention China. no doubt he is going to try to increase the military budget even more than it is right now and we can’t afford it. We cannot afford almost now 900 overseas bases. We have to find a way to take care of ourselves.
I am not going to hold my breath at this point now thinking that Trump is actually going to accomplish the things that need to be done. at this moment if I had to make an assessment, I would say the Trump presidency write off, he will not concentrate on the things at our most important.
Trump: “Assad is gone. He has fled his country. His protector, Russia, Russia, Russia, led by Vladimir Putin, was not interested in protecting him any longer. There was no reason for Russia to be there in the first place."
THERE IS NO GOOD REASON FOR THE US TO BE IN SYRIA EITHER. Trump didn't pull the US troops out and bragged that they were there stealing oil.
Trump: "They lost all interest in Syria because of Ukraine, where close to 600,000 Russian soldiers lay wounded or dead, in a war that should never have started, and could go on forever."
NO ONE believes the Russians have lost 600K soldiers, more soldiers than Ukraine. Did the Russians lose all interest in Syria because Assad wasn't worth the cost? Did they lose interest in their Syrian bases?
Trump: "Russia and Iran are in a weakened state right now, one because of Ukraine and a bad economy, the other because of Israel and its fighting success."
Another lie. Russia is stronger now than it was 3 years ago, and its economy is doing OK.
Trump: "Likewise, Zelenskyy and Ukraine would like to make a deal and stop the madness. They have ridiculously lost 400,000 soldiers, and many more civilians."
Trump's figure of 400K soldiers lost here may be right. Most of the civilians they have lost fled the country. They did not die from Russian war-fighting.
Trump: "There should be an immediate ceasefire and negotiations should begin. Too many lives are being so needlessly wasted, too many families destroyed, and if it keeps going, it can turn into something much bigger, and far worse. I know Vladimir well. This is his time to act. China can help. The World is waiting!”
Another lie. He knows Vladimir well? What's he want "Vladimir" to do? What will the US do with its troops there?
FINALLY - diplomacy is not handled with short, stupid tweets. He's falling into his same old pattern of behavior. Simplifying the situation and responding to it with "sound-bites" meant for his base.
Agreed that diplomacy is not conducted by tweet. So I'm thinking that Trump's tweets are intended not for Russian diplomats but for some other purpose...likely communicating with the mass of the American people.
Now why Trump believes, in light of all the other information available to the American people on the blogosphere and in the alternative media and elsewhere on the internet, that it is helpful to misdirect the American people who, after all, were helpful enough to elect him and are trying hard to believe in him, is entirely another question.
Not only is Russia significantly stronger, but the US is in a significantly weakened. Much of its weaponry, which has been greatly depleted, has been shown to be largely ineffective and incapable of projecting power as in the past. Immediate ceasefire? This is actually a backhanded admission of the weaker US position. Who needs an immediate ceasefire? Not Russia--it's Trump who needs it if he is to have a chance of implementing his program. If Trump ends up bailing from Ukraine he'll never live it down.
"If Trump ends up bailing from Ukraine he'll never live it down."
This is certainly the conventional wisdom, and Trump is unlikely to risk Afghanistaning himself.
But given Russia's stronger position, and our many vulnerabilities, and Trump's many pronouncements during his campaign about ending the war, doesn't he have to find a way out? It just can't look like he's bailing, right?
This is not an easy place to be.
I would suggest that Trump will try to use the hardliners on the Trump 2.0 team in some fashion to show that he is both a tough guy...tough on Russia...in some way placating the Neocons, RINOs and MIC, who all retain substantial power, but that he is also a realistic MAGA guy more interested in working for the American people than in promoting Endless War abroad.
And the stakes are enormous, since a few missteps could light the world on fire.
What of Tartus and Latakia?...
Syrian domestic “consensus” building may well dissolve along the Libyan lines and get even messier.
I can see that.
I keep asking myself where was the Syrian military? They simply melted away. Realize they've been weak for some time now. Was their no "fight" in the Syrian military leadership? If not, why? I read this morning Israel is already taking some Syrian abandoned positions in country along the border with Israel.
Anya Parampil @anyaparampil
A lot of pundits who cried about “PuTiN cHaNgInG bOrDeRs By FoRcE” seem awfully satisfied that Israel and Turkey are overrunning Syria, virtually dissolving the country overnight.
The Syrian color revolution was more than just an overthrow of the Assad regime; it was a gambit intended to draw in Russian military assets and thereby weaken its offensives in Ukraine (similar to Kursk). Ukraine is the real turning-point battle and everything hinges on that outcome. Russia will not accept a cease-fire and stasis, and the West has nothing tangible left to blunt Ukraine's losses. NATO will continue to infiltrate mercenaries into the AFU as a stopgap, but that just further weakens the West as those soldiers will never be replaced. The only card that Biden's handlers have left to play is a false-flag attack of huge geopolitical dimensions. And that is the gambit that could potentially start WW3 and go nuclear inadvertently. And nothing Trump says or announces can change that dynamic. My guess is that if it happens, it will occur shortly before Jan 6th and be intended to sidetrack the election certification. Then it's crisis time and anything can happen.
Well stated. As I just wrote in response to another comment, Trump is the one who needs an end to war with Russia, more than Putin and Xi need it. He's going about it in the wrong way--speak loudly and pretend your stick is bigger than it really is, when everyone can see you have small hands.
Given Lavrov comments just days ago
I have to admit I am suprised - did not think this would happen
I was wrong
I thought like Kherson and Kursk Russia/Syria would pull
back and fight another day - perhaps that was what they did
the initial plan - I believe so - but then decided to alter course
Not sure having HTS as a ruling party
a Designated by the US UN and others as a Foreign Terrorist Organization
(FTO) was the right idea
Perhaps Russia Not fighting HTS indicates they will
try to persuade HTS to be ' on their side '
retain ports etc...
I imagine the US and Israel have to be just as worried about HTS
as Russia does. Historically no such ally as worked well for the US
Sometimes disasters happen quickly, sometimes they stew for a while
ask Hillary I am sure she will agree
Could Iran and Russia have stopped this coup? My guess yes.
This seems more of a coup than a huge military success. Shades of Afghanistan. Note lack of huge casualties.
Backers of coup:
- Turkey
- Israel
- France
- U.S. Biden Administration
Let it happen:
- Russia
- Iran
- Syrian military / Alawite Tribe that controls military
Until we see the results, we won’t know what benefits Russia and Iran got for allowing the coup. The Alawite heartland is untouched.
Ray, "U.S. Biden Administration"
Should include "and the incoming Trump war party backed this coup."
Every time Trump opens his mouth he betrays us with inane comments and unforgivable backing of more war. His statement has very little truth and a lot of gas lighting and unfortunately the zealots among his admirers are to enthralled with the end times to even notice.
Trumps a bullshitter. Lots of smoke. It’s more useful to look at he actually does. And we need to wait till he assumes office and gets his nominees confirmed. Right now it’s safer for him to use the official lies on Russia.
My guess Trumps big focus is on domestic. And what I noticed from Trump, when he wants to be, he can be hyper focused and disciplined. My guess is his current focus is on staffing and getting them confirmed.
I’m curious what going on with his height. Is he using by his as a distraction? And wearing flat shoes. Or he just lied.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-14170459/Donald-Trump-height-Prince-William-Paris-notre-dame.html
The height question is about the "bullshitter" right? LOL.
I wonder who has more rainy day money hidden away, Assad or Zelensky? Assad has had more time but the volume available for the Z grift are immense.
Please. Hands down the Z man wins. Who was Assad grifting from and who was Z man grifting from?
Not what I expected.
This sounds like the old adage, the more things change, the more things stay the same.
I had hopes for Trump here that in the intervening for years, he might’ve learned something hopefully something about Geo political politics. Looks like it he hasn’t learned anything.
He is surrounding himself with the same type of neocons that have infested both Republican and Democrat administrations for the last 40 years. Either he doesn’t really know what’s going on or he isn’t being told what’s going on. Israel is not having any success. They are worn out demoralized and the war has taken a toll on them in Gaza and in South Lebanon.
He doesn’t seem to understand that Putin is holding all the cards and there’s not gonna be any negotiation about Ukraine, except the terms Putin lays down. There will be no negotiations with Donald Trump on the greater points of the Ukraine and what happens there.
War in the Middle East with Israel, another matter so it seems Trump is going to go all in with the same policies that the Biden administration has had and what remaining weapons we have to support Israel and their eradication of Gaza and those in Lebanon.
I keep seeing this absolute BS that Israel has inflicted some type of serious damage to Hezbollah which is an absolute lie and that they somehow had a successful attack on Iran and their air defenses which we know now is a lie.
The thing that Trump needs to be focusing on is this country and our fiscal mess , we need to cut spending. We need to have a balance budget. We have got to confront the debt and the deficit and we do not have time to be involved in foreign expeditionary adventures.
A incoming president is going to be lucky to get three maybe four things done that he would like to do. Trump is going to try to do too much as usual squander his opportunities to really concentrate on the three or four things it could help this country. He is going to get us bogged down with Israel and I guess the Ukraine not to mention China. no doubt he is going to try to increase the military budget even more than it is right now and we can’t afford it. We cannot afford almost now 900 overseas bases. We have to find a way to take care of ourselves.
I am not going to hold my breath at this point now thinking that Trump is actually going to accomplish the things that need to be done. at this moment if I had to make an assessment, I would say the Trump presidency write off, he will not concentrate on the things at our most important.
Let's analyze Trump's duplicitous statement!
Trump: “Assad is gone. He has fled his country. His protector, Russia, Russia, Russia, led by Vladimir Putin, was not interested in protecting him any longer. There was no reason for Russia to be there in the first place."
THERE IS NO GOOD REASON FOR THE US TO BE IN SYRIA EITHER. Trump didn't pull the US troops out and bragged that they were there stealing oil.
Trump: "They lost all interest in Syria because of Ukraine, where close to 600,000 Russian soldiers lay wounded or dead, in a war that should never have started, and could go on forever."
NO ONE believes the Russians have lost 600K soldiers, more soldiers than Ukraine. Did the Russians lose all interest in Syria because Assad wasn't worth the cost? Did they lose interest in their Syrian bases?
Trump: "Russia and Iran are in a weakened state right now, one because of Ukraine and a bad economy, the other because of Israel and its fighting success."
Another lie. Russia is stronger now than it was 3 years ago, and its economy is doing OK.
Trump: "Likewise, Zelenskyy and Ukraine would like to make a deal and stop the madness. They have ridiculously lost 400,000 soldiers, and many more civilians."
Trump's figure of 400K soldiers lost here may be right. Most of the civilians they have lost fled the country. They did not die from Russian war-fighting.
Trump: "There should be an immediate ceasefire and negotiations should begin. Too many lives are being so needlessly wasted, too many families destroyed, and if it keeps going, it can turn into something much bigger, and far worse. I know Vladimir well. This is his time to act. China can help. The World is waiting!”
Another lie. He knows Vladimir well? What's he want "Vladimir" to do? What will the US do with its troops there?
FINALLY - diplomacy is not handled with short, stupid tweets. He's falling into his same old pattern of behavior. Simplifying the situation and responding to it with "sound-bites" meant for his base.
Agreed that diplomacy is not conducted by tweet. So I'm thinking that Trump's tweets are intended not for Russian diplomats but for some other purpose...likely communicating with the mass of the American people.
Now why Trump believes, in light of all the other information available to the American people on the blogosphere and in the alternative media and elsewhere on the internet, that it is helpful to misdirect the American people who, after all, were helpful enough to elect him and are trying hard to believe in him, is entirely another question.
To satisfy those who voted for him and in support of the NeoCon deep state.
I would add ...
Not only is Russia significantly stronger, but the US is in a significantly weakened. Much of its weaponry, which has been greatly depleted, has been shown to be largely ineffective and incapable of projecting power as in the past. Immediate ceasefire? This is actually a backhanded admission of the weaker US position. Who needs an immediate ceasefire? Not Russia--it's Trump who needs it if he is to have a chance of implementing his program. If Trump ends up bailing from Ukraine he'll never live it down.
"If Trump ends up bailing from Ukraine he'll never live it down."
This is certainly the conventional wisdom, and Trump is unlikely to risk Afghanistaning himself.
But given Russia's stronger position, and our many vulnerabilities, and Trump's many pronouncements during his campaign about ending the war, doesn't he have to find a way out? It just can't look like he's bailing, right?
This is not an easy place to be.
I would suggest that Trump will try to use the hardliners on the Trump 2.0 team in some fashion to show that he is both a tough guy...tough on Russia...in some way placating the Neocons, RINOs and MIC, who all retain substantial power, but that he is also a realistic MAGA guy more interested in working for the American people than in promoting Endless War abroad.
And the stakes are enormous, since a few missteps could light the world on fire.
Trump surely has his work cut out for him.
Yes, and he is stumbling out of the blocks while the people who oppress us are once again dancing in the streets like it was 9/11/2001.
Stupid free zone.
Why is the truth tiresome to you?