The Syria Thread 2011 - Present

Moderators: Elvis, DrVolin, Jeff

Re: US troops surround Syria on the eve of invasion?

Postby Rory » Sun Nov 25, 2018 12:23 pm

From what little mention of it I've seen there seems to be a lot of caged wording, calls for inspections, borderline skepticism, etc. The kind of caution conspicuously absent when "The Regime" is blamed as the guilty party. Also absent on the ground/site of attack were the White Helmets, and professional film crew - how weird is that?
Rory
 
Posts: 1596
Joined: Tue Jun 10, 2008 2:08 pm
Blog: View Blog (0)

Re: US troops surround Syria on the eve of invasion?

Postby JackRiddler » Sun Nov 25, 2018 12:53 pm

.

You're setting up a hell of a binary here if rejecting the CIA propaganda of Bellingcat et al. means that "NGOs" as such are also to be classed as "vermin" and I have to adopt Rory's debased, simplistic, inhumane level of rhetoric and contempt for learning and nuance, which makes team-sports fandom seem sophisticated. Can we accept that stupid and heartless come in many flavors? If we're going to be such dedicated truth-seekers, can we rise above this?

There is nothing to celebrate or mock in the assassination of Fares by Al-Qaeda-identifying elements, who had already attacked him before. Nor should it be said that he is one of "ours" by anyone who isn't defining and doesn't care what this "we" or "they" is supposed to be. His death continues the tragedy of Syria from the start. The real, native, civil-society revolt against the unfreedom of the longstanding regime was murdered from behind by the jihadis dispatched from abroad. There is nothing new in this. It's why early on the maintenance of the regime became preferable to the victory of the foreign invaders who quickly came to dominate the "revolutionary" forces.

.
We meet at the borders of our being, we dream something of each others reality. - Harvey of R.I.

To Justice my maker from on high did incline:
I am by virtue of its might divine,
The highest Wisdom and the first Love.

TopSecret WallSt. Iraq & more
User avatar
JackRiddler
 
Posts: 15983
Joined: Wed Jan 02, 2008 2:59 pm
Location: New York City
Blog: View Blog (0)

Re: US troops surround Syria on the eve of invasion?

Postby Rory » Sun Nov 25, 2018 1:03 pm

You're a bit slow on the uptake lately, Jack. You havent noticed the likes of Human Rights Watch this past few years? You (if you're interested in stanning for their honor) should do some research into NGOs
Rory
 
Posts: 1596
Joined: Tue Jun 10, 2008 2:08 pm
Blog: View Blog (0)

Re: US troops surround Syria on the eve of invasion?

Postby Rory » Sun Nov 25, 2018 1:08 pm

JackRiddler » Sun Nov 25, 2018 8:53 am wrote:.
There is nothing to celebrate or mock in the assassination of Fares by Al-Qaeda-identifying elements, who had already attacked him before. Nor should it be said that he is one of "ours" by anyone who isn't defining and doesn't care what this "we" or "they" is supposed to be. His death continues the tragedy of Syria from the start. The real, native, civil-society revolt against the unfreedom of the longstanding regime was murdered from behind by the jihadis dispatched from abroad. There is nothing new in this. It's why early on the maintenance of the regime became preferable to the victory of the foreign invaders who quickly came to dominate the "revolutionary" forces.

.


Was he fuck, some kind of native, civil society based revolutionary. Jfk. This ^^^ American dream lite pish and twaddle

SmartSelect_20181125-090443_Twitter.jpg
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Rory
 
Posts: 1596
Joined: Tue Jun 10, 2008 2:08 pm
Blog: View Blog (0)

Re: US troops surround Syria on the eve of invasion?

Postby JackRiddler » Sun Nov 25, 2018 1:38 pm

Rory » Sun Nov 25, 2018 12:03 pm wrote:You're a bit slow on the uptake lately, Jack. You havent noticed the likes of Human Rights Watch this past few years? You (if you're interested in stanning for their honor) should do some research into NGOs


Correction:

You're a bit slow on the uptake lately, Rory. Haven't you noticed the likes of Mein Kampf this past century or two? If you're interested in standing for their honor, you should do some research into books! Me, I'm going to line up for the burning.
Last edited by JackRiddler on Sun Nov 25, 2018 9:26 pm, edited 1 time in total.
We meet at the borders of our being, we dream something of each others reality. - Harvey of R.I.

To Justice my maker from on high did incline:
I am by virtue of its might divine,
The highest Wisdom and the first Love.

TopSecret WallSt. Iraq & more
User avatar
JackRiddler
 
Posts: 15983
Joined: Wed Jan 02, 2008 2:59 pm
Location: New York City
Blog: View Blog (0)

Re: US troops surround Syria on the eve of invasion?

Postby Rory » Sun Nov 25, 2018 1:47 pm

Lmao. You should try reading what I wrote, and you quoted
Rory
 
Posts: 1596
Joined: Tue Jun 10, 2008 2:08 pm
Blog: View Blog (0)

Re: US troops surround Syria on the eve of invasion?

Postby JackRiddler » Sun Nov 25, 2018 2:23 pm

Rory » Sun Nov 25, 2018 12:47 pm wrote:Lmao. You should try reading what I wrote, and you quoted


Not only did I read and quote it, I also helpfully fixed your typos and grammar in the "corrected" version.

Now you should try training in 1. how to use language, 2. how to avoid elementary logical fallacies, and 3. how not to issue stupid-sounding generalizations.

Oh, here's an easy version of your fallacious thing that applies to the equivalency arguments you often find objectionable on this thread:

Haven't you noticed the bad countries of this past century or two? If you're interested in standing for their honor, you should do some research into nation-states! They are all equally bad!

.
Last edited by JackRiddler on Sun Nov 25, 2018 9:27 pm, edited 1 time in total.
We meet at the borders of our being, we dream something of each others reality. - Harvey of R.I.

To Justice my maker from on high did incline:
I am by virtue of its might divine,
The highest Wisdom and the first Love.

TopSecret WallSt. Iraq & more
User avatar
JackRiddler
 
Posts: 15983
Joined: Wed Jan 02, 2008 2:59 pm
Location: New York City
Blog: View Blog (0)

Re: US troops surround Syria on the eve of invasion?

Postby Rory » Sun Nov 25, 2018 2:32 pm

Where is the real Jack! What happened to him?

Seriously though, dude. In your attempt to flame me you self owned so badly you proved my first statement. You're slow on the uptake these days, Jack. Definately not the sharp mind I remember from my early days reading this forum
Rory
 
Posts: 1596
Joined: Tue Jun 10, 2008 2:08 pm
Blog: View Blog (0)

Re: US troops surround Syria on the eve of invasion?

Postby Elvis » Sun Nov 25, 2018 3:00 pm

Cut it out. Your mental uptakes can be compared privately.
“The purpose of studying economics is not to acquire a set of ready-made answers to economic questions, but to learn how to avoid being deceived by economists.” ― Joan Robinson
User avatar
Elvis
 
Posts: 7411
Joined: Fri Apr 11, 2008 7:24 pm
Blog: View Blog (0)

Re: US troops surround Syria on the eve of invasion?

Postby JackRiddler » Sun Nov 25, 2018 3:04 pm

I demand satisfaction.
We meet at the borders of our being, we dream something of each others reality. - Harvey of R.I.

To Justice my maker from on high did incline:
I am by virtue of its might divine,
The highest Wisdom and the first Love.

TopSecret WallSt. Iraq & more
User avatar
JackRiddler
 
Posts: 15983
Joined: Wed Jan 02, 2008 2:59 pm
Location: New York City
Blog: View Blog (0)

Re: US troops surround Syria on the eve of invasion?

Postby Rory » Sun Nov 25, 2018 3:17 pm

deniro.jpg
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Rory
 
Posts: 1596
Joined: Tue Jun 10, 2008 2:08 pm
Blog: View Blog (0)

Re: US troops surround Syria on the eve of invasion?

Postby Elvis » Sun Nov 25, 2018 3:34 pm

Fascinating, the tables are turned, now it's the Aleppo Doctors Syndicate and Syrian government reporting a gas attack.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-46337143
[ 11/25/2018 ]
Syria war: Aleppo 'gas attack' sparks Russia strikes

Russia has carried out air strikes against Syrian rebels it accuses of launching a chemical attack on the government-held city of Aleppo.

Both Syria and its Russian allies say shells carrying toxic gas injured about 100 people late on Saturday.

State media showed images of Aleppo residents being treated in hospital as they struggled to breathe.

The rebels deny carrying out a chemical strike and say the claims are a pretext for an attack on opposition-held areas.

Parts of the Aleppo region, as well as the neighbouring provinces of Hama and Idlib, are controlled by Turkish-backed rebels and jihadists.

On Sunday the Russian defence ministry said warplanes had launched strikes on "the identified positions of terrorist artillery in the area that shelled civilians in the city of Aleppo" the previous evening.

It added that all "militant" targets had been "destroyed". There is no word on any casualties.

Earlier, the Observatory for Human Rights rights, a network of activist groups that monitor the conflict, said about 100 people, including women and children, had been treated for breathing difficulties following a strike on western parts of Aleppo on Saturday.

The Damascus government and Russia say rebels used chlorine gas in the attack.

Zaher Batal, the head of the Aleppo Doctors Syndicate, told Reuters news agency that it was the first gas attack against civilians in the city since the start of the conflict in 2011.

But Abdel-Salam Abdel-Razak, an official from the Nour al-Din al-Zinki, an influential jihadist group in the area, dismissed the reports as "purely a lie", Reuters news agency reported.

Western countries and the UN have accused government forces of using chemical and nerve agents on numerous occasions since the start of the civil war.

There has been no major offensive in northern Syria since September, when Russia and Turkey agreed to create a buffer zone to separate government forces from rebel fighters in Idlib province.


BBC playing it fairly straight but leads with "Russia air strikes," and unable to resist inserting bullshit 'whatabout' reminder: "Western countries and the UN have accused government forces of using chemical and nerve agents on numerous occasions since the start of the civil war."
“The purpose of studying economics is not to acquire a set of ready-made answers to economic questions, but to learn how to avoid being deceived by economists.” ― Joan Robinson
User avatar
Elvis
 
Posts: 7411
Joined: Fri Apr 11, 2008 7:24 pm
Blog: View Blog (0)

Re: US troops surround Syria on the eve of invasion?

Postby JackRiddler » Sun Nov 25, 2018 9:34 pm

Yes, it is pretty fascinating. I incline to your view. It may be the jihadis no longer have the resources to set up false-flags, or any reasonable expectation that this would prompt a major Western response against Damascus. They also probably lack any remaining offensive capability. Looks like they are using chlorine stockpiles as straight munitions. It may be a sign of disintegration.
We meet at the borders of our being, we dream something of each others reality. - Harvey of R.I.

To Justice my maker from on high did incline:
I am by virtue of its might divine,
The highest Wisdom and the first Love.

TopSecret WallSt. Iraq & more
User avatar
JackRiddler
 
Posts: 15983
Joined: Wed Jan 02, 2008 2:59 pm
Location: New York City
Blog: View Blog (0)

Re: US troops surround Syria on the eve of invasion?

Postby conniption » Thu Dec 06, 2018 7:37 pm

MoA
(embedded links & comments at source)

December 06, 2018

Whitewash - The 'Last Bastion Of Freedom' Is An Al-Qaeda Infested Town

This week the New Yorker published a long piece on Saraqib, a town in Idleb governorate in Syria.

Syria’s Last Bastion of Freedom
Amid the brutal civil war, a town fought off the regime and the fundamentalists—and dared to hold an election. Can its experiment in democracy survive?

Image

The piece tells us that, despite the fact that al-Qaeda rules Idleb since at least 2015, it is really a cradle of genuine democracy:

In the summer of 2017, for the first time anywhere in Syria since 1954, the residents of the town of Saraqib decided to seize control of their future—and hold a genuinely free election.

On the morning that polls were to open, an activist named Osama al-Hossein woke up at five o’clock, feeling anxious. He soon headed to Idlib Gate, a former department store that had been turned into a meeting hall. A small crowd was milling about: local journalists, election monitors, and suited dignitaries who, in international circles, represented the Syrian opposition. The election was meant to choose the leader of the Local Council, a civilian body that governed the town. Poll workers checked their phones for reports of air traffic: Syrian and Russian jets were known to attack public gatherings, and activists had posted sentries around the province.


We are told that this one town, Saraqib, is really standing out:

One Syrian town after another fell out of government control, and from this anarchy new horrors arose. The flags of ISIS and Al Qaeda were raised across the country. Child refugees drowned at sea; Western hostages were murdered on camera.
...
Somehow, Saraqib had avoided this fate. It offered an alternative history for the entire Syrian conflict—and, Hossein believed, its citizens embodied the true soul of the revolution. That evening, he imagined other tiny democracies flowering across Syria, and the rest of the world coming to understand, at last, that his country had more to offer than bloodshed and tragedy.


In reality "an alternative history" is not what happened to Saraqib, but what is presented in the New Yorker piece. It is a whitewash of a brutal international attack on Syria. A hagiography of one Osama al-Hossein, a Muslim Brotherhood 'activist', who got funding from the United States. It includes every false propaganda cliche about 'barrel bombs' and 'moderate rebels', who never were moderate, that the 'western' agencies inserted into the news stream. It is also full of stupid and nonfactual assertions. How, for example, did the New Yorker fact checkers let these 'Humvees' pass by:

The government retaliated with even greater force; on August 11, 2011, its tanks and Humvees stormed Saraqib again.


When and where did Syria buy those?

In 2017 Osama al-Hossein, over some struggle with al-Qaeda, eventually fled to Turkey. But this August the author, presumably more at ease with al-Qaeda than the Syrian 'activist', traveled to Saraqib and found it at peace:

Unlike in some other Idlib towns, there were no religious police, no Al Qaeda flags. Although Saraqib is amid one of the world’s deadliest civil wars, I didn’t see a single gunman or checkpoint. I bumped into Abu Traad, the leader of the Free Syrian Army faction, and even he was unarmed, wearing slacks and a T-shirt. The activists, I learned, had insisted that weapons not be carried inside the city limits, immunizing Saraqib from factional disputes and protecting the revolutionaries’ rule. Occasionally, I spotted Nusra members hunched in a vehicle; though it was blazing hot, they hid behind balaclavas. Many residents, meanwhile, freely denounced the fundamentalists: one told me, “These people are a curse on God Himself.” It seemed that in Saraqib, at least, people were not afraid of Nusra; Nusra was afraid of them.


Sure, Nusra was afraid of them!

That is why in June the jihadis could destroyed tombstones in Saraqib's cemetery despite the angry muttering of some locals. And Saraqib is so "immunized from factional disputes" that on August 24 Nusra, aka Hayyaat Tahrir al-Sham, arrested six members of another jihadi faction there. And it is so peaceful that two month later the Syrian Observatory notes a tit-for-tat execution campaign happening within the town:

[T]oday, the 7th of October 2018, an explosion in Saraqib area in the eastern countryside of Idlib, which is near the areas to be disarmed, it was caused by an explosion targeted Khattab al-Hamwi, who is an important security official in Hayyaat Tahrir al-Sham of the notorious al-Iqab Prison in Saraqib area ...


It is the 'last bastion of freedom', Saraqib, that houses al-Qaeda's main prison in the area. Somehow the New Yorker piece fails to mention that.

From the early start of the war on Syria, Saraqib was one of the centers of jihadi terrorist activities. In March/April 2011 it was one of the first towns that saw violent attacks on government forces and institutions. In December 2011 the notorious terrorist group Ahrar al-Sham, headed by the long time al-Qaeda member Abu Khalid al-Suri, was founded there. In 2014 the BBC reported how al-Qaeda/Nusra/HTS ruled the town:

Abu-Qedama, al-Qaida's envoy in Saraqib, North-Eastern Syria, is Jordanian. His task is to ensure that Sharia Law is enforced.

This BBC Arabic film follows him and his fellow Islamists in Saraqib, showing how they are taking control of the city. The film-makers get inside the courts and reveal how Sharia Law is applied. We see the judge at work in the Court and issuing his judgment on the public square. For the first time, we see a public flogging before a large crowd of people, as a deterrent to others.


At some point the locals in Saraqib may have hold some sham elections. But that does not change the fact that their town was and is solidly controlled by an internationally banned terrorist group. Saraqib is only a 'bastion of freedom' when one ignores everything that happened and still happens there.

This brings up a serious question. How did the author of the New Yorker piece, Anand Gopal, manage to travel through Nusra/HTS/al-Qaeda controlled Idleb governorate, visited the jihadi infested town, and avoided to be thrown into the "notorious al-Iqab Prison in Saraqib area"?

Could it be because he was one of those who told everyone how to join the Islamists?

Image
bigger

Could it be because he falsely insists that there was and is no U.S. regime change policy in Syria?

Could it be because he, who himself told people how to join ISIS, claimed that the sole reason that people joined it was the Syrian government's fight against the foreign fueled insurgency against it? This despite the fact that Obama and Kerry had publicly admitted that they furthered ISIS' growth?

Image

It is sad to see that the once respectable New Yorker gives space to such a fairy tale by a recruiter of terrorists, propagandist for al-Qaeda and despicable apologist of the empire's wars.

Posted by b on December 6, 2018

https://www.moonofalabama.org/2018/12/w ... -town.html
conniption
 
Posts: 2480
Joined: Sun Nov 11, 2012 10:01 pm
Blog: View Blog (0)

Re: US troops surround Syria on the eve of invasion?

Postby Elvis » Thu Dec 06, 2018 10:39 pm

MoA wrote:It is sad to see that the once respectable New Yorker gives space to such a fairy tale by a recruiter of terrorists, propagandist for al-Qaeda and despicable apologist of the empire's wars.


It is sad indeed. Something happened around the time of the Tina Brown debacle. Even though it was costing me nothing, I finally canceled my longtime subscription out of disgust.
“The purpose of studying economics is not to acquire a set of ready-made answers to economic questions, but to learn how to avoid being deceived by economists.” ― Joan Robinson
User avatar
Elvis
 
Posts: 7411
Joined: Fri Apr 11, 2008 7:24 pm
Blog: View Blog (0)

PreviousNext

Return to General Discussion

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Belligerent Savant and 43 guests