Wars have a funny way of taking on a life of their own. The protagonists tend to lose control over the plot lines, the narrative threads. Syria is that kind of war, an overlap of wars and agendas that has made it almost impossible for anyone—especially our media scolds—to make black and white, good guys/bad guys sense of.
James R. Bradley: How Putin came to rule the Middle East
When Russia entered the Syrian civil war in September 2015 the then US secretary of defense, Ash Carter, predicted catastrophe for the Kremlin. Vladimir Putin was ‘pouring gasoline on the fire’ of the conflict, he said, and his strategy of fighting Isis while backing the Assad regime was ‘doomed to failure’.
Nato meets as Russia confirms one of two pilots dead after jet shot down
- US and France call on Turkey and Russia to prevent escalation
- Turkey says its jets have shot down a warplane near Syrian border
- Russia says an SU-24 fighter jet was shot down over Syria
- One jet pilot and marine from rescue helicopter dead, says Russia
- Putin’s spokesman calls it ‘a very serious event’
- Turkey releases radar images of the jet over its airspace
- Nato to hold extraordinary council meeting on Turkey’s request
Daniel Larison: The Extraordinary Folly of Arming Ukraine
“Defensive weapons for Ukraine is an idea whose time has come.” There is no reason to believe that, the idea remains as bankrupt as it has always been…
The temptation of expanding U.S. military involvement
The most effective coalition against the Islamic State — indeed, the only coalition that can defeat it and establish an effective government — is a one that includes not only the United States, its allies, and Iraq but also Russia and Iran.
Paul Robinson Takes On Historically Illiterate Washington Post Op-ed
The Washington Post published an op-ed yesterday by Terrell Jermaine Starr which drew parallels between Soviet nationalities policy and alleged attempts by modern-day Russia to stir up racial tensions in America. The message was pretty clear: the Soviets were not just racists, but specifically Russian racists. So you shouldn’t be surprised that modern day Russians are too. Let’s look at this in detail.
Downed Russian Jet Pressures Lira as Turkey Announces Cabinet
The Turkish lira, stocks and bonds dropped after the downing of a Russian jet in Syria, rattling traders on a day when government officials formed a new cabinet and the central bank decided on interest rates.
Pietro Shakarian: Reconsidering Russia podcast featuring Dr. Ronald Grigor Suny
Dr. Ronald Grigor Suny, William H. Sewell Jr. Distinguished University Professor of History at the University of Michigan discusses the history of his grandfather – the composer Grikor Suni – and his experience of the Russian Revolution, the Revolution in Transcaucasia, Stepan Shahumyan and the Baku Commune, and the issue of class and nationality in the Russian Revolution.
The Ghost of Hybrid War
IISS Senior Fellow Samuel Charap notes that “Undoubtedly, there are serious Russia-related contingencies for which NATO must plan. The hybrid element of Russia’s operation in Ukraine, however, is not one of them. Indeed, the focus on Russia’s hybrid tactics has led to the creation of a bogeyman. Western analysis gives the impression that Russia is already conducting hybrid war against the West. This is a dangerous misuse of the word ‘war’.”
Dr. Richard Sakwa: Hillary Clinton and Russia
It is clear that Clinton surrounded herself with a coterie of left-liberal and neo-con adversaries of Russia’s refusal to accept the hegemony of the US-led liberal international order, and all the rest flows from that.
Hagel: Focus on ISIS, not Assad
Former Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said Sunday the United States should be more focused on defeating ISIS than ousting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
Hagel, who was President Barack Obama’s second secretary of defense, told CNN’s Jake Tapper on “State of the Union” that “ISIS represents the real threat to our country — the world.”
AFP: ‘Negative consequences’ if Trump quits Iran deal: Kremlin
Moscow warned on Monday there would be “negative consequences” if US President Donald Trump fails to uphold the landmark Iran nuclear deal negotiated by his predecessor.
Obama to Hollande: Stay the course against Russia says Politico…
Longtime Washington, DC stenographer Michael Crowley “reports” (ie: writes down what self-described ‘senior government’ officials tell him) – “Obama officials aren’t certain of Hollande’s intentions. The French leader — whose country is losing lucrative business with Moscow to the sanctions — has spoken optimistically in recent weeks about their eventual removal….”
Aaron J. Mate: Russiagate Is More Fiction Than Fact
From accusations of Trump campaign collusion to Russian Facebook ad buys, the media has substituted hype for evidence.
Syria crisis: Massive Russian air strikes on ‘IS targets’
Russia says it has intensified its air raids on what it calls “terrorist” targets in Syria and raised to 69 the number of its aircraft there. But President Vladimir Putin said the current level of attacks was not enough to defeat so-called Islamic State (IS).
Alastair Crooke: How Syria’s Victory Reshapes Mideast
The failure of the U.S.-Israeli-Saudi “regime change” project in Syria changes the future of the Mideast, possibly ushering in an era of greater secularism and tolerance, writes ex-British diplomat Alastair Crooke.
Western leaders agreed to extend Russia sanctions by six months: diplomat
Western leaders who met on the margins of last week’s Group of 20 summit in Turkey agreed to extend sanctions imposed on Russia for its intervention in Ukraine by six months until July of next year, a senior European diplomat told Reuters.
The decision was taken despite mounting calls to cooperate more closely with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the fight against Islamic State following the militant group’s Nov. 13 attacks in Paris which killed 130 people.
Alexei Arbatov : A U.N. PEACEKEEPING OPERATION IS THE ONLY WAY FORWARD IN UKRAINE
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s proposal to send U.N. peacekeepers to Ukraine received a tepid response from the West, but such a mission could very well be a first step in ending the conflict.
Kuwait says it busted international ISIL support cell
Look for this story to go unremarked upon in the Washington Post and New York Times in the coming days – according to Al Jazeera “Kuwaiti security authorities have busted an international cell that was sending air defence systems and funds to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group, the interior ministry said…He acted as coordinator for ISIL in Kuwait and arranged arms deals and FN6 portable air defence systems from Ukraine, which were shipped to ISIL in Syria through Turkey.”
Matt Taibbi: Latest Fake News Panic Appears to Be Fake News
The headline on the Washington Post story was scary enough: “Lawmaker: Russian trolls trying to sow discord in NFL kneeling debate”.