Senior administration officials say the new offensive holds promise and may change the dynamics on the ground.
— The New York Times
Whew…. That’s reassuring. Finally, a Middle East policy you can believe in.
It’s apparently based on a joint Kurdish-Arab army that our side (the USA) is pretending to assemble around the ISIS stronghold of Raqqa, near the Turkish border. We’re informed also that American military officials have screened the leaders of the Arab groups to ensure that they meet standards set by Congress when it approved $500 million last year for the Defense Department to train and equip moderate Syrian rebels. Thank God we have a functioning HR department over there.
Is it safe to say that the table is now set for World War Three? King Salman of Saudi Arabia is itching to mix it up. Of course, the moment he sends official KSA ground troops in there, he will be eligible to have his oil terminal at Ras Tanura in the Persian Gulf blown up. Imagine what that would do to the S & P index. The Turks, too, are none too happy with their currency imploding and their economy falling apart, and perhaps view a widened war as politically refreshing. And let’s not forget Iran — having concluded the long, torturous negotiations to make America feel better about their nuke program, Iran is eager to put an end to this barbaric (Sunni-flavored) ISIS nonsense. Oh, did I leave out Israel. Probably a good idea since so many people just want to hate on it if the subject even comes up. But suffice it to say they are in the mix, too, with the ability to turn their adversaries into ashtrays, should it come to that.
As the old song goes: someone left the cake out in the rain.
You had to at least admire the forthrightness of Mr. Putin. His economy of motion is breathtaking. He goes to the UN and says: “The situation in Syria is intolerable and we’re going to do something about it,” and a few days later they did. Russia commenced bombing groups that the US had labeled “the moderate opposition” to Bashar al-Assad. The quandary for the US, of course, as Mr. Putin pointed out at the UN, is that we keep on arming and training “moderate oppositions” to this regime and that regime and abracadabra (to use an old Middle Eastern term-of-art) they break bad on us. They use the Humvee’s we give them to control the landscape and they blow stuff up with the ordnance we give them, and cut off the heads of Americans on video in the rudest and cruelest manner imaginable. So, might we ask ourselves: is there anything to the US’s complaint that Russia is not bombing the right ISIS?
I suspect world opinion is not buying our claim that Bashar al-Assad has to go because he bombed his own citizens and used gas on them. I mean, we say that a lot, but is it actually true? US officials say a lot of things a lot that happen not to be true (e.g. the Federal Reserve’s claim that the US economy is humming.) In fact, we’re in this predicament precisely because we have squandered our credibility. We go into one country after another and destroy the institutions that held these places together, and leave a train of death and chaos behind. Iraq, Libya, Somalia, now Syria.
Maybe we just ought to step aside for a while and see what happens. The Russians could shoot themselves in the foot over there, of course. They did it before in Afghanistan. But that was back in Soviet times, with its clunky leadership. Mr. Putin proved pretty nimble in Georgia. Whatever else you can say about that little war, the region has been stable for years now. They’re not cutting off people’s heads on TV there. Similarly, you don’t hear much about Chechnyans perpetrating terrorist acts anymore.
Ukraine, for all its faults and troubles, was a stable country until the US decided to pull off regime change there. The deposed president Yanukovych was pressed into choosing between NATO and the Russian-backed Eurasian Custom’s Union and he chose wrong. The US pulled a few levers and abracadabra: civil war.
So, Assad still heads a government in Syria. We don’t like him because he is cozy with Iran, and their proxy war machine, Hezbollah. But will eliminating him make the situation any better?
Rodster on Mon, 5th Oct 2015 11:21 am
Great post by JHK. He hits it out of the park again.
Plantagenet on Mon, 5th Oct 2015 11:37 am
Obama told us a year ago he didn’t have a strategy on what to do in Syria.
Turns out he was right.
penury on Mon, 5th Oct 2015 11:47 am
What did Mike Tyson say? Something like” it always fun until someone gets punched in the face. I think that play time is about over, and the punching is about to begin. Everyone should hope that as usual I am completely wrong.
zoidberg on Mon, 5th Oct 2015 12:09 pm
Israel is helping the civil war kill as many as possible. Oh did leave that out? Yes, yes he did. They’re also eyeing adding to the Golan heights once the former legitimate government is destroyed along with its iron clad claims to there territory.
Otherwise mostly accurate if not snidely written. The very best type of disinformation. Keep everything correct except the one area you want to influence.
onlooker on Mon, 5th Oct 2015 12:23 pm
All in all a good article by Kunstler though not revealing anything particularly novel. We all know the ME is the battleground of the 21st century and we all know it is a mish mash of interests, perspectives and capabilities. Now we will see who steps up to the plate and who gets cold feet.
Hello on Mon, 5th Oct 2015 12:25 pm
Living in upstate NY, Kunstler should be busy canning, harvesting, preserving and chopping wood.
Instead he’s spending time at the keyboard blabbering same old, same old.
Did he already call the heating oil truck to fill up his tank?
GregT on Mon, 5th Oct 2015 12:47 pm
The Promised Land
The Bible contains three geographical definitions of the Land of Israel. The first, found in Genesis 15:18–21, seems to define the land that was given to all of the children of Abraham, including Ishmael, Zimran, Jokshan, Midian, etc. It describes a large territory, “from the brook of Egypt to the Euphrates”, comprising all of modern-day Israel, the Palestinian Territories, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and Iraq, as well as Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, U.A.E, Oman, Yemen, most of Turkey, and all the land east of the Nile river.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greater_Israel
Truth Has A Liberal Bias on Mon, 5th Oct 2015 7:56 pm
NATO denounces Russia for violating Turkish airspace.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/10/05/us-mideast-crisis-syria-turkey-russia-idUSKCN0RZ0FT20151005
However NATO seems oddly silent on the topic of Turkey supporting Al Qaida
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/oct/04/russia-bombing-syria-affects-ousting-of-assad
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/09/22/us-mideast-syria-crisis-ahrar-insight-idUSKCN0RM0EZ20150922
I suggest Israel should start working on a plan to evacuate the non-combatants. If there are any.
Truth Has A Liberal Bias on Mon, 5th Oct 2015 9:12 pm
and further more
http://www.debka.com/article/24929/With-Russia%E2%80%99s-Dep-Army-Chief-due-in-Israel-Moscow-posts-64-S-300-ship-to-air-missiles-off-Syria-N-Israel
Truth Has A Liberal Bias on Mon, 5th Oct 2015 9:17 pm
and here comes China to bolster Assad.
http://www.debka.com/article/24926/Chinese-warplanes-to-join-Russian-air-strikes-in-Syria-Russia-gains-Iraqi-air-base
Davy on Mon, 5th Oct 2015 9:23 pm
Not true and biased have you been having wet dreams with all this war news? You love war more than dog paw and that is saying allot.
Boat on Mon, 5th Oct 2015 9:38 pm
Truth,
Finally some good news. It’s about time China started getting serious about protecting oil in the Middle East. Now throw in military intervention from Japan and S Korea etc and the US can back out.They can spent their money keeping the anti oil groups at bay. Asia needs the oil more and more is exported to them.
apneaman on Mon, 5th Oct 2015 9:53 pm
Boat, who are the anti oil groups?
makati1 on Mon, 5th Oct 2015 9:56 pm
What can I add to the above article and comments? Only that it is getting exciting as we move into the final act.
And if you Americans believe you can back away and not suffer the consequences of you actions in the ME these last 15+ years, you are dreaming that smoky dream again. Better hug that unicorn while you can. He is about to be barbecued as your last meal.
GregT on Mon, 5th Oct 2015 10:09 pm
“and here comes China to bolster Assad.”
Not to bolster Assad Truth. To stop Tel Aviv and DC from further destabilization of the ME. Just as I have been saying for quite some time now. China is not going to sit back and watch for much longer. The plan for the NWO has hit a roadblock. DC’s next move determines whether or not war comes to NA. I’m betting that they won’t stop, and it will.
Truth Has A Liberal Bias on Mon, 5th Oct 2015 10:45 pm
@ Davy
I don’t love war. What gave you that idea? I do however keep a close eye on the geopolitical events of the world. Perhaps you assume I love war since I take an interest in current events and current events are full of war. Lately mostly perpetrated by The Retarded States of America. I’m not justifying war. I’m tracking it. And to a certain extent explaining it. But as a typical fucking retard from The Retarded States of America the distinction between explaining something and justifying something is lost on you.
Truth Has A Liberal Bias on Mon, 5th Oct 2015 10:54 pm
oh and by the way Davey,
it’s spelled ‘a lot’. Kind of like ‘a bit’ but more of it. lol learn to spell you fucking retard.
Truth Has A Liberal Bias on Mon, 5th Oct 2015 10:59 pm
KSA Clerics call for holy war on Russia and Iran in Syria.
https://news.vice.com/article/saudi-clerics-call-for-jihad-against-iran-and-russia-in-syria
Saudi Clerics be messing with Putin. I’m rather sure Putin does run his own little service department called Murder Incorporated.
I wonder if Saudi clerics will call out China.
It’s about time somebody got some balls and cleaned up the Sunni trash aka US Allies in the region.
Davy on Tue, 6th Oct 2015 2:05 am
OOH, Not True and Biased finally speaks. Normally he likes a spine to address a comment calling him out. It is clear you are a war pig. One only needs to look at your interest. They are nearly all related to hate, violence, and war. What adds to your nastiness is your mouth. You are unable to speak 5 words without profanity. That is a sign of a juvenile mind. You obviously have a self-confidence issue.
Truth Has A Liberal Bias on Tue, 6th Oct 2015 2:34 am
lol look at you Davy! You should be a psychoanalyst for CIA lmfao. you’re a fucking idiot. Go suck a dick up til you hiccup you fucking troll.
Truth Has A Liberal Bias on Tue, 6th Oct 2015 2:36 am
he Retarded States of America
Garbage in. Garbage out.
Look @ Davy for proof.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BS8zGRnP1R8
Davy on Tue, 6th Oct 2015 3:19 am
Not True and Biased, nope, I am good at seeing dumbass and that is you to a “T”.
Truth Has A Liberal Bias on Tue, 6th Oct 2015 4:21 am
Fuck off Davy. You’re a fucking idiot and everybody knows it.
Truth Has A Liberal Bias on Tue, 6th Oct 2015 4:49 am
and what kind of retard spells “a lot” as “allot”. Seriously dude did you even finish fucking grade 12? You come on here pretending you know shit and you can’t even spell ‘a lot’ properly. lol you’re a typical retarded american loser. Probably fat. Probably lazy. Definitely stupid.
Truth Has A Liberal Bias on Tue, 6th Oct 2015 5:07 am
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iw0MripVxss
theedrich on Tue, 6th Oct 2015 5:26 am
Reasonably good update by JHK. Something else that might be added: as everyone knows, last week the Taliban took over Kunduz in northern Afghanistan. Then something apparently exploded inside the tiny brain of Mr. Hope-n-Changey. He seems to have panicked and ordered the Pentagon to help the incompetent and corrupt Afghan “military” to retake the city and do anything their make-believe generals say. Those generals, we now know, may not be so proficient in warfare, but they are really good at anally raping young boys. (Pentagoners tell our soldiers to look the other way on that practice because “it’s their culture” — the usual liberal excuse for non-Western social barbarities.) However, the Affy generals decided that fighting the Taliban was a bit too much for their troops, so they importuned the Americans to bomb a hospital run by Doctors without Borders. Our pilots obediently killed well over 100 completely unarmed patients and staff. The response by Ø & Co.: it was all a nasty mistake; our prayers and thoughts go out…, &c.
Yup. Great work by the superheros of DC and their general staff.
Truth Has A Liberal Bias on Tue, 6th Oct 2015 7:18 am
A tale of two strategies: Russia destroys ISIS command, US hits Afghan hospital.
I’m pretty sure nobody in DC pulled the trigger on the hospital. It was American airmen operating the weapon systems on board an AC-130 gunship in cooperation with American Air Force Special Operations Command’s Combat Controllers who call in the targets.
Does anybody seriously think the ‘merikans let the Afghans call in the targets? hat’s just being naive.
Davy on Tue, 6th Oct 2015 7:40 am
Not True and Biased. You are naive to think the Russians have not killed many civilians. There are no significant news gathering abilities in the area. We know the Russians are not going to admit mistakes. Just look at the hyped up Hollywood style Russian war propaganda. I thought the Americans were bad. You are just a pimp for any kind of news that fits your name sake of not true and biased.
charmcitysking on Tue, 6th Oct 2015 10:43 am
truth has a salty bias
Cassie on Tue, 6th Oct 2015 11:33 am
So in point, it is these large clumsy and tottering empires that are pissing on each others’ fences, all clearly raking in as many bits of treasure as they can since that is what empires do.
This is not one newcomer battling for a place at the table. The players are all embedded in our planetary culture and are thus equally old. No “new” china, no “soviet” – all players are pretty much in existence, have formed sports teams and have grown up together.
And now they are going to have another fight, to “settle” things. Rinse and repeat until the resources are gone that the boys can use to get filthy (rich) and make big war toys. The rest of us are collateral damage, and as such our future is clear. Serf to slave to dead, if the heat doesn’t get us first.
It really is past time to clean up our act; since we are a part of it all, and comfortable with our feet up on the table and the tube on and a beer in hand, well, revolution is so much work and is unpredictable in its’ result. But the French! Aah, the French with their noble gestures! “Off with their shirts!”
Cream rises and scum floats. They are hard to separate.