"A truly seismic change in the Middle East appears to be happening very fast. At its heart is a devil’s bargain – Turkey and the Gulf States accept the annihilation of the Palestinian nation and creation of a Greater Israel, in return for the annihilation of the Shia minorities of Syria and Lebanon and the imposition of Salafism across the Eastern Arab world."
Wasn't on my bingo card for today. I wonder if those in charge cleared this plan with the college age anti-Semites first. Especially those in the Ivy league.
I believe a false-flag operation is in play. Could be another chemical weapon(s) scenario or similar in Syria.
I truly don't understand what Erdogan's up to or who/which countries he consulted with. I am familiar with his ego and greed for a greater Turkey. Could be his legacy since he's on his last leg. Could be his undoing too. I gotta believe the Arabs, Iran, and Russia will somehow get more engaged. I can't see the benefit of Syria capitulating.
Also, saw today where Trump says we (US) should get out of Syria. Glad to hear the Air Force acknowledge this with A-10 warthog attacks (sic).
Mark, I am more inclined to go with your theory. Fundamentally, I think you have to look at who wants to overthrow Assad and are supporting HTS to do so, and how they benefit.
For Turkey this is a chance to get rid of the Kurdish problem for good (they think) and have HTS do their fighting of the Kurds for them (at least in Syria). Erdogan may likely still have dreams of a new Ottoman Empire in his head. It is quite possible that the Anglo-Saxons have given him a free hand to expand eastward and suppress the Kurds in Iraq as well. Could Erdogan even be given dominion over Iran someday? Inshallah. The reason that would appeal to the Anglo-Saxons is that Turkey would supply the manpower (cannon fodder) while they could do the logistical and intelligence support (sound familiar?).
For Israel, it means no more conduit for Iranian support of Hezbollah (a huge thing given their "Greater Israel" initiative. Also means a weakening of Iran and its possible responses to direct attack. It also means Turkey will continue to ship oil to Israel. It also means all their depleted and exhausted resources could be spent on the West Bank and Gaza.
For the Anglos, it means their agent Israel has expanded control of territory and is better situated to attack Iran on their behalf. It also means future pipeline routes through Syria. It also means, as you note, the interdiction of the International North-South Transport Corridor. It also means that China's "Belt and Road" through Central Asia would be dead. It also means maybe no Russian presence on the Mediterranean (or so they think). It's Christmas, with all these gifts under the tree just waiting to be opened! All without any of "our" troops on the ground! What a deal!
"I will say this: IF the Russians had good reason to believe Turkey (and Iraq and Iran) would honor a 100-year treaty for Russia's eastern Mediterranean bases, the Russians would sell Assad and Syria down the river."
We are in the midst of World War Three. You do what you need to do in order to buy time until you can do what you really want to do.
I have long been of the opinion that Russia's Syrian bases represent strategic imperatives for Moscow.
I am now revisiting that assumption in the context of potential open war between Russia and the US.
I have not yet reached a conclusion, but I am thinking about it ...
I have not forgotten the “information” that saturated Western media outlets back in 2013 and 2014. There were multiple reports over a period of a few weeks that Assad was going to capitulate and flee Syria. It was bullshit. I was reading the intel at the time and the Defense Intelligence Agency, then under the direction of Michael Flynn, was telling a very different story.
"A truly seismic change in the Middle East appears to be happening very fast. At its heart is a devil’s bargain – Turkey and the Gulf States accept the annihilation of the Palestinian nation and creation of a Greater Israel, in return for the annihilation of the Shia minorities of Syria and Lebanon and the imposition of Salafism across the Eastern Arab world."
Wasn't on my bingo card for today. I wonder if those in charge cleared this plan with the college age anti-Semites first. Especially those in the Ivy league.
I believe a false-flag operation is in play. Could be another chemical weapon(s) scenario or similar in Syria.
I truly don't understand what Erdogan's up to or who/which countries he consulted with. I am familiar with his ego and greed for a greater Turkey. Could be his legacy since he's on his last leg. Could be his undoing too. I gotta believe the Arabs, Iran, and Russia will somehow get more engaged. I can't see the benefit of Syria capitulating.
Also, saw today where Trump says we (US) should get out of Syria. Glad to hear the Air Force acknowledge this with A-10 warthog attacks (sic).
Mark, I am more inclined to go with your theory. Fundamentally, I think you have to look at who wants to overthrow Assad and are supporting HTS to do so, and how they benefit.
For Turkey this is a chance to get rid of the Kurdish problem for good (they think) and have HTS do their fighting of the Kurds for them (at least in Syria). Erdogan may likely still have dreams of a new Ottoman Empire in his head. It is quite possible that the Anglo-Saxons have given him a free hand to expand eastward and suppress the Kurds in Iraq as well. Could Erdogan even be given dominion over Iran someday? Inshallah. The reason that would appeal to the Anglo-Saxons is that Turkey would supply the manpower (cannon fodder) while they could do the logistical and intelligence support (sound familiar?).
For Israel, it means no more conduit for Iranian support of Hezbollah (a huge thing given their "Greater Israel" initiative. Also means a weakening of Iran and its possible responses to direct attack. It also means Turkey will continue to ship oil to Israel. It also means all their depleted and exhausted resources could be spent on the West Bank and Gaza.
For the Anglos, it means their agent Israel has expanded control of territory and is better situated to attack Iran on their behalf. It also means future pipeline routes through Syria. It also means, as you note, the interdiction of the International North-South Transport Corridor. It also means that China's "Belt and Road" through Central Asia would be dead. It also means maybe no Russian presence on the Mediterranean (or so they think). It's Christmas, with all these gifts under the tree just waiting to be opened! All without any of "our" troops on the ground! What a deal!
So where are we? Lot's of questions.
1. Isn't it all related? All of it?
2. Isn't Ukraine in deep shit? (Russia can't accept anything resembling a loss.)
3. Isn't Greater Israel an impossible long shot, even if Assad falls? (Even a re-balanced Middle East will not accept GI.)
4. One or two more theatres and won't we be in WWIII for sure?
5. Turkey is a wild card. NATO or BRICs?
6. Does Assad have cards left to play?
7. Russia and Iran have some thinking to do.
8. Thank you Brandon. Worst President ever?
9. Trump has his work cut out for him.
What else?
Brandon has no clue. it's the power brokers around him in the Deep State plus Barry.
Will Schryver @imetatronink
 To repeat what I wrote on December 1:
"I will say this: IF the Russians had good reason to believe Turkey (and Iraq and Iran) would honor a 100-year treaty for Russia's eastern Mediterranean bases, the Russians would sell Assad and Syria down the river."
We are in the midst of World War Three. You do what you need to do in order to buy time until you can do what you really want to do.
I have long been of the opinion that Russia's Syrian bases represent strategic imperatives for Moscow.
I am now revisiting that assumption in the context of potential open war between Russia and the US.
I have not yet reached a conclusion, but I am thinking about it ...
Larry Johnson noted:
I have not forgotten the “information” that saturated Western media outlets back in 2013 and 2014. There were multiple reports over a period of a few weeks that Assad was going to capitulate and flee Syria. It was bullshit. I was reading the intel at the time and the Defense Intelligence Agency, then under the direction of Michael Flynn, was telling a very different story.
https://sonar21.com/us-bows-to-putins-warning-and-some-cautions-about-syria/
Oh dear. All too plausible.