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goldenequity
12-19-2018, 07:56 AM
Talk is cheep... we'll watch and wait.


U.S. Military Preparing for a Full Withdrawal of Its Forces From Northeastern Syria
https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-military-preparing-for-a-full-withdrawal-of-its-forces-from-northeastern-syria-11545225641

By Dion Nissenbaum
Dec. 19, 2018 8:20 a.m. ET

WASHINGTON—In an abrupt reversal, the U.S. military is preparing to withdraw its forces from northeastern Syria, people familiar with the matter said Wednesday, a move that throws the American strategy in the Middle East into turmoil.

U.S. officials began informing partners in northeastern Syria of their plans to begin immediately pulling American forces out of the region where they have been trying to wrap up the campaign against Islamic State, the people said.

The move follows a call last week between President Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has threatened to launch an assault on America’s Kurdish partners in Syria.

shakey1
12-19-2018, 08:06 AM
Will believe it when I see it.

Champ
12-19-2018, 08:17 AM
What in tarnations..

goldenequity
12-19-2018, 08:19 AM
Ali Özkök
BREAKING: US Military Preparing for a Full Withdrawal of Its Forces From Northeastern Syria.
The move follows a call last week between President Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Ragıp Soylu‏
WSJ, CNN and Washington Post say, Trump has ALREADY made a decision to withdraw US troops from Syria.

Reuters says Trump administration is CONSIDERING to pull the forces.

https://78.media.tumblr.com/0461a66a65605b0edb9caebb5af085ae/tumblr_ntbg9shtKv1rpcl4mo1_250.gif

euphemia
12-19-2018, 08:34 AM
Just heard this on the news. Supposedly a very swift draw down.

Champ
12-19-2018, 08:35 AM
Ok so here comes the backlash about "the children" and all the good we are doing there, a full scale launch by the almighty MSM overlords riding in on golden chariots to the rescue, on behalf of helping the poor Syrian people, to help spread democracy, to demand that there be no cowering to the evil doing and child murdering Assad, or by extension his best pal Putin, our arch-nemesis.

And then the corresponding and inevitable backtrack by Trump, because the media he has been calling "fake news" and has been so good at embarrassing, somehow suddenly has a point.

Or is he finally going to grow balls?

Inb4 the 5-10 responses to this thread of "not holding my breath".

goldenequity
12-19-2018, 08:39 AM
Ragıp Soylu‏@ragipsoylu
Trump himself confirms the reports that he had taken a decision to withdraw US troops from Syria!

1075397797929775105
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1075397797929775105


----

ha.. complete hogwash if you follow latest events in Hajin... ISIS still smuggling oil w/ kurd/peshmerga.. etc.
plus
'we' didn't defeat ISIS... Iran & Russia & Syria did
'we' let ISIS flee from Raqqa
'we' continue to helivac ISIS into Afghanistan and Africom
'we' bombed Syrian bridges, factories, bakeries, power plants, water plants and empty desert since 2012
Trump is a used car salesman.

Cap
12-19-2018, 08:49 AM
This feels like a poll driven trial balloon.

Cap
12-19-2018, 08:57 AM
Ragıp Soylu‏@ragipsoylu Trump himself confirms the reports that he had taken a decision to withdraw US troops from Syria! 1075397797929775105 https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1075397797929775105 ---- ha.. complete hogwash if you follow latest events in Hajin... ISIS still smuggling oil w/ kurd/peshmerga.. etc. plus 'we' didn't defeat ISIS... Iran & Russia & Syria did 'we' let ISIS flee from Raqqa 'we' continue to helivac ISIS into Afghanistan and Africom 'we' bombed Syrian bridges, factories, bakeries, power plants, water plants and empty desert since 2012 Trump is a used car salesman. Related: https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1061028/ISIS-news-latest-Islamic-State-killings-terror-Syria (https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1061028/ISIS-news-latest-Islamic-State-killings-terror-Syria)
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Wednesday that Islamic State militants had executed nearly 700 prisoners in nearly two months in eastern Syria. The UK-based war monitoring group said the prisoners were among 1,350 civilians and fighters that Islamic State had been holding in territory near the Iraqi border.

The jihadists control a shrinking strip of land east of the Syria's Euphrates River around the town of Hajin, which U.S.-backed forces entered this month. The Syrian Demoratic Forces (SDF), led by the Kurdish YPG militia, has battled Islamic State there for several months with the help of U.S. air power and special forces. SDF commander-in-chief Mazloum Kobani said last week that at least 5,000 IS fighters remain holed up in the enclave, including many foreigners who appear ready to fight to the death. Islamic State's self-proclaimed caliphate has crumbled after different offensives across Iraq and Syria, though its fighters still operate in the desert border region and mount attacks.

EBounding
12-19-2018, 09:16 AM
I won't believe it until the troops are on the Mexico border, building the wall.

goldenequity
12-19-2018, 09:21 AM
Ragıp Soylu
US gov seems extremely agitated by Erdogan’s threats against US partner force YPG in Syria.

They are really panicking, trying to find ways to postpone any kind of op in the area:
• Offered to deploy Roj-Pesh in the border
• Already withdrew US soldiers
• Patriots announced

SR
Massive SAA reinforcements heading towards the east and north east
Massive Russian build up near Al Tanf area
-------
Ragıp Soylu
Trump and Erdogan had a phone call 5 days ago about Syria.

Various sources I spoke today in Washington think, it had played a role in Trump’s decision for US withdrawal in Syria

Ali Özkök
Turkey was seriously threatening the US in Syria. The USA is most likely to withdraw.
Trump has announced his victory against ISIS on Twitter and scores points in domestic politics. SDF abandoned.
Russia/SAA take Deir Zor and Raqqa. Turkey the border regions.

goldenequity
12-19-2018, 09:29 AM
Ali Özkök
Breaking: Israel respects U.S. decision to pull out of Syria but has its own concerns, Israel’s UN envoy says.
(AIPAC going ballistic... hahaha)

Danny Makki‏
Wow! "Trump orders immediate and full withdrawal of US troops from #Syria"

https://i.servimg.com/u/f33/19/91/34/17/al_tan10.jpg
https://twitter.com/Brasco_Aad/status/1075408042169167873

https://i.servimg.com/u/f33/19/91/34/17/al_tan11.jpg

goldenequity
12-19-2018, 09:37 AM
rumors flying...


SR‏ @Syrian_SR
No information about this
But mostly after the US withdrawal, the Russia/n forces will deploy in the SDF areas followed by the SAA,
then Kurdish forces will be merged in a form within the SAA, and further Turkish involvement will be blocked.



Brasco_Aad‏ @Brasco_Aad
The UK has stated that it will remain in Syria, despite full US withdrawal.

https://imgfast.net/users/3715/65/05/91/smiles/3574449849.jpg

goldenequity
12-19-2018, 09:41 AM
Guy Elster‏@guyelster · 43 sek.
BREAKING Withdrawing US troops from Syria would be 'be a big win for ISIS, Iran, Assad and Russia: Senator Graham

goldenequity
12-19-2018, 09:50 AM
https://i.servimg.com/u/f33/19/91/34/17/broke10.jpg
https://twitter.com/Brasco_Aad/status/1075414595068747776



zerohedge
"Saudi Arabia Is Going Bankrupt" Taleb Exclaims After Seeing Kingdom's Latest Budget
https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-12-18/saudi-arabia-going-bankrupt-taleb-exclaims-after-seeing-kingdoms-latest-budget

1075415901489500160
https://twitter.com/al_haafez/status/1075415901489500160

shakey1
12-19-2018, 09:51 AM
Lindsey Graham... blah blah blah

goldenequity
12-19-2018, 09:59 AM
https://i.servimg.com/u/f33/19/91/34/17/within10.jpg

goldenequity
12-19-2018, 10:04 AM
ELINT News‏ EliNTNews · 4 min.
BREAKING: White House confirms US Army has already begun its withdrawal from Syria

https://i.servimg.com/u/f33/19/91/34/17/ali10.jpg

Cap
12-19-2018, 10:05 AM
If this turns out to be true, this is very good news.

goldenequity
12-19-2018, 10:11 AM
fwiw... besides Khashoggi.. and whatever leverage Erodogan had on Saudi/Washington...

►the Turkish offensive in NE Syria was going to be launched today..

https://i.servimg.com/u/f33/19/91/34/17/hawk10.jpg

►this became officially 'public' yesterday...
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DunRcJlWwAMMU1A.jpg:small

some 'other' late breaking background... (before Syrian withdrawal announcement)

Lee Saks
U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT NOTIFIES CONGRESS OF POSSIBLE $3.5 BILLION SALE OF PATRIOT AIR AND MISSILE DEFENSE SYSTEMS TO TURKEY -U.S. OFFICIAL: RTRS




Interfax

No link between Turkey's purchase of Russian S-400s, plans to buy U.S. Patriots - Peskov
Kremlin expects Turkey not to give U.S. specialists access to Russian S-400s
PESKOV ON TURKEY'S POSSIBLE DECISION TO GIVE U.S. SPECIALISTS ACCESS TO S-400: CONTRACT HAS CLAUSE ON NON-DISCLOSURE OF SENSITIVE INFORMATION, MOSCOW TRUSTS ANKARA

PAF
12-19-2018, 10:15 AM
If true, this will be good news. However I remain very skeptical. Shifting troops from one area to another, conquering country by country, perhaps those troops will be re-deployed to Latin America to further the goal of the Amerikan Empire:

https://www.lewrockwell.com/2018/12/thierry-meyssan/the-united-states-are-preparing-a-war-between-latin-american-states/

goldenequity
12-19-2018, 10:16 AM
Brasco_Aad
‏@Brasco_Aad
Wow
''All US State Department personnel are being evacuated from Syria within 24 hours.'' | US official.
The CIA is also leaving Syria.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/95/Saigon-hubert-van-es.jpg/350px-Saigon-hubert-van-es.jpg

spudea
12-19-2018, 10:26 AM
https://i.redd.it/x5w0sygc89521.jpg

Dr.3D
12-19-2018, 10:35 AM
Guess it's time for another gas attack.

goldenequity
12-19-2018, 10:38 AM
Guy Elster
BREAKING Time frame for US troop pullout from Syria expected to be between 60 to 100 days: US official to Reuters

No doubts: US going to hand over Manbij and Tal abyad and Raqqa to Turkey before withdrawing...
just to make sure the SDF don't hand it over to Assad.
and
The Turkish backed rebels will try to capture as much territory as possible before the Syrian army and Russia does.

dannno
12-19-2018, 11:15 AM
Who could have predicted this would have happened within only 2 years of being in office?

goldenequity
12-19-2018, 11:24 AM
https://i.servimg.com/u/f33/19/91/34/17/ali11.jpg

https://i33.servimg.com/u/f33/19/91/34/17/ali12.jpg

Heather? Bueller? Mike?
https://imgfast.net/users/3715/65/05/91/smiles/1619689188.gif

Schifference
12-19-2018, 11:25 AM
ISIL was defeated because of Obama!

Schifference
12-19-2018, 11:28 AM
Golly Gee Goldenequity, when you decide a topic is worthy you create excellent threads.

DisneyFan
12-19-2018, 12:26 PM
So, I guess the next question is whether the next major action by "ISIS" will happen over there or over here. I doubt the deep state can miss the opportunity that "We have defeated ISIS in Syria" provides.

CaptUSA
12-19-2018, 12:50 PM
Who could have predicted this would have happened within only 2 years of being in office?

Right? Usually, megalomaniacs use war when their house of cards is being threatened. If this pans out, this megalomaniac is using a withdrawal from war. This is truly a great thing! I wonder if there are any more criminal charges we could threaten him with?

timosman
12-19-2018, 12:57 PM
ISIL was defeated because of Obama!

Nobody is using ISIL anymore. :confused:

Trump Thinks Obama Says ‘ISIL’ Instead of ‘ISIS’ Because He Wants to ‘Bother People’ https://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?492741-Trump-Thinks-Obama-Says-%91ISIL%92-Instead-of-%91ISIS%92-Because-He-Wants-to-%91Bother-People%92

dannno
12-19-2018, 01:06 PM
Right? Usually, megalomaniacs use war when their house of cards is being threatened. If this pans out, this megalomaniac is using a withdrawal from war. This is truly a great thing! I wonder if there are any more criminal charges we could threaten him with?

If you could simply only understand why withdrawing from war is a threat to the people who he is up against..

CaptUSA
12-19-2018, 01:21 PM
If you could simply only understand why withdrawing from war is a threat to the people who he is up against..

If you could only understand that he has far more in common with those very same people than he does with you...

timosman
12-19-2018, 01:36 PM
If you could only understand that he has far more in common with those very same people than he does with you...

Orange man bad. :cool:

devil21
12-19-2018, 01:54 PM
Where are the military bases that have been set up in Syria during all this? No matter what happens with troops in "NE Syria" (odd geographic limitation), I can betcha those bases built will stay right where they are, manned by someone other than Syrian military, going forward.

dannno
12-19-2018, 02:05 PM
Where are the military bases that have been set up in Syria during all this? No matter what happens with troops in "NE Syria" (odd geographic limitation), I can betcha those bases built will stay right where they are, manned by someone other than Syrian military, going forward.

Yes, whatever Donald Trump does, will never be good enough.

devil21
12-19-2018, 02:08 PM
Yes, whatever Donald Trump does, will never be good enough.

The reality is that I don't trust or believe a word he says, so whether anything is "good enough" or not is irrelevant. Not a thing coming out of DC today is fact. Not. One. Thing.

Swordsmyth
12-19-2018, 02:24 PM
Talk is cheep... we'll watch and wait.


U.S. Military Preparing for a Full Withdrawal of Its Forces From Northeastern Syria
https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-military-preparing-for-a-full-withdrawal-of-its-forces-from-northeastern-syria-11545225641

By Dion Nissenbaum
Dec. 19, 2018 8:20 a.m. ET

WASHINGTON—In an abrupt reversal, the U.S. military is preparing to withdraw its forces from northeastern Syria, people familiar with the matter said Wednesday, a move that throws the American strategy in the Middle East into turmoil.

U.S. officials began informing partners in northeastern Syria of their plans to begin immediately pulling American forces out of the region where they have been trying to wrap up the campaign against Islamic State, the people said.

The move follows a call last week between President Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has threatened to launch an assault on America’s Kurdish partners in Syria.
If it happen then hopefully it will be just the first step to be followed by bringing the boys back home from Afghanistan, Iraq and other places.

Swordsmyth
12-19-2018, 02:25 PM
Ragıp Soylu‏@ragipsoylu
Trump himself confirms the reports that he had taken a decision to withdraw US troops from Syria!

1075397797929775105
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1075397797929775105


----

ha.. complete hogwash if you follow latest events in Hajin... ISIS still smuggling oil w/ kurd/peshmerga.. etc.
plus
'we' didn't defeat ISIS... Iran & Russia & Syria did
'we' let ISIS flee from Raqqa
'we' continue to helivac ISIS into Afghanistan and Africom
'we' bombed Syrian bridges, factories, bakeries, power plants, water plants and empty desert since 2012
Trump is a used car salesman.
I don't care what hogwash he tweets if he really withdraws the troops from the wars.

goldenequity
12-19-2018, 02:43 PM
Brasco_Aad
Reports are emerging that a deal has been struck between the US and Iran re. Syria.
Iran has pledged to the US, with Syrian and Russian guarantees, that it will fully withdrawal from Syria if the US pulls out first.

Kurdish forces confirm US and French forces began withdrawal from east Syria
https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/kurdish-forces-confirm-us-and-french-forces-began-withdrawal-from-east-syria/

--------

SyriaYemenMaps
DEIREZZOR:

Source to me from Shaytat:
"Shaytat fighters who're spearheading the fight against IS in Hajin will very soon announce their official merge with the FSA Ahrar Al-Sharqiyah faction which will be part of the new E. Euphrates offensive backed by Turkey.

(Looks like all the Arab SDF are joining Turkey rather than the SAA.... at first appearance it looks like Erdogan may be after the former Ottoman parts of Syria.)

I'm betting he's not a complete idiot and will hand the territories back w/ Russian-Syrian security guarantees.
They've already stolen everything worth stealing and trucked it back to Turkey... right down to the olive oil harvest.
Time for everyone to GTFO. (except Russia. They were invited.)

--------

MENASTREAM
Morocco: Video circulating on Moroccan social media supposedly shows the beheading of one of the Scandinavian tourists at Mount Toubkal, assailants speaking in Moroccan dialect says during the act that it is in revenge for "their brothers in Hajin" (apparently ISIS-supporters)

two tourists were killed, both beheaded afaik

enhanced_deficit
12-19-2018, 03:09 PM
Talk is cheep... we'll watch and wait.
..

There is no proof that this is fakenews or disinformation aimed to divert attention from today's reckless fakenews headline about another alleged MAGA "Retreat" (http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?529411-MAGA-bends-to-Dems&p=6722300&viewfull=1#post6722300) by Drudge as some skeptics are speculating.

MAGA has been consistent about this.

https://cdn0.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/aZYchGNmVVXxsIwMAdBhAreMCQ8=/26x0:595x298/fit-in/1200x630/cdn3.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9087225/Screen_Shot_2017_08_21_at_11.14.21_AM.png

Swordsmyth
12-19-2018, 03:13 PM
Brasco_Aad
Reports are emerging that a deal has been struck between the US and Iran re. Syria.
Iran has pledged to the US, with Syrian and Russian guarantees, that it will fully withdrawal from Syria if the US pulls out first.

Kurdish forces confirm US and French forces began withdrawal from east Syria
https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/kurdish-forces-confirm-us-and-french-forces-began-withdrawal-from-east-syria/

--------

SyriaYemenMaps
DEIREZZOR:

Source to me from Shaytat:
"Shaytat fighters who're spearheading the fight against IS in Hajin will very soon announce their official merge with the FSA Ahrar Al-Sharqiyah faction which will be part of the new E. Euphrates offensive backed by Turkey.

(Looks like all the Arab SDF are joining Turkey rather than the SAA.... at first appearance it looks like Erdogan may be after the former Ottoman parts of Syria.)

I'm betting he's not a complete idiot and will hand the territories back w/ Russian-Syrian security guarantees.
They've already stolen everything worth stealing and trucked it back to Turkey... right down to the olive oil harvest.
Time for everyone to GTFO. (except Russia. They were invited.)

--------

MENASTREAM
Morocco: Video circulating on Moroccan social media supposedly shows the beheading of one of the Scandinavian tourists at Mount Toubkal, assailants speaking in Moroccan dialect says during the act that it is in revenge for "their brothers in Hajin" (apparently ISIS-supporters)

two tourists were killed, both beheaded afaik
I'm betting the mad sultan won't leave Syria and will end up at war with Assad.

enhanced_deficit
12-19-2018, 03:30 PM
I'm betting the mad sultan won't leave Syria and will end up at war with Assad.

I'm afraid you maybe right. We might not have many choices to defend our closest democratic allly plus an oil rich dictatorship in the region.
But then does it mean above report is "fakenews"?

Trump: US troops will stay in Middle East to protect Israel (http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?529405-U-S-to-give-38-billion-aid-to-Israel&p=6722007&viewfull=1#post6722007)
November 28, 2018
Trump told the Post:
Now, are we going to stay in that part of the world [the Middle East]? One reason to is Israel. Oil is becoming less and less of a reason because we’re producing more oil now than we’ve ever produced. So, you know, all of a sudden it gets to a point where you don’t have to stay there.


Plus, GOP-Adelson wing's top funding leadership might also not allow withdrawl.

Swordsmyth
12-19-2018, 03:33 PM
I'm afraid you maybe right. We might not have many choices to defend our closest democratic allly plus an oil rich dictatorship in the region.
But then does it mean above report is "fakenews"?

Trump: US troops will stay in Middle East to protect Israel (http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?529405-U-S-to-give-38-billion-aid-to-Israel&p=6722007&viewfull=1#post6722007)
November 28, 2018
Trump told the Post:
Now, are we going to stay in that part of the world [the Middle East]? One reason to is Israel. Oil is becoming less and less of a reason because we’re producing more oil now than we’ve ever produced. So, you know, all of a sudden it gets to a point where you don’t have to stay there.


Plus, GOP-Adelson wing's top funding leadership might also not allow withdrawl.
The mad sultan is Erdogan NOT Trump, I'm hoping that we pull out and it looks like we will.

I don't think Erdogan will leave any part of Syria without being forced to.

enhanced_deficit
12-19-2018, 03:39 PM
The mad sultan is Erdogan NOT Trump, I'm hoping that we pull out and it looks like we will.

I don't think Erdogan will leave any part of Syria without being forced to.

Oh ok, didn't realize that. Wrongly assumed you were referring to one of the other sultans involved in this conflict - Assad (accused of violating human rights of children), MBS (being called by some Mr Bone Saw) or Netanyhu (another alleged neocon Sheldon "US should drop atom bomb on Iran" Adelson puppet).

goldenequity
12-19-2018, 03:54 PM
H.K
Heavy clashes erupted tonight between YPG and Turkish backed FSA rebels south of Mare' town in north Aleppo countryside.

Al-Masdar News
Breaking: Turkish-backed rebels attack Kurdish forces in northern Aleppo
https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/breaking-turkish-backed-rebels-attack-kurdish-forces-in-northern-aleppo/

Swordsmyth
12-19-2018, 04:13 PM
H.K
Heavy clashes erupted tonight between YPG and Turkish backed FSA rebels south of Mare' town in north Aleppo countryside.

Al-Masdar News
Breaking: Turkish-backed rebels attack Kurdish forces in northern Aleppo
https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/breaking-turkish-backed-rebels-attack-kurdish-forces-in-northern-aleppo/
If Iran has agreed to leave Syria then who will defend Syria against Erdogan?
Turkey is a NATO member so Russia will have to think long and hard before attacking it.

oyarde
12-19-2018, 04:47 PM
Talk is cheep... we'll watch and wait.


U.S. Military Preparing for a Full Withdrawal of Its Forces From Northeastern Syria
https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-military-preparing-for-a-full-withdrawal-of-its-forces-from-northeastern-syria-11545225641

By Dion Nissenbaum
Dec. 19, 2018 8:20 a.m. ET

WASHINGTON—In an abrupt reversal, the U.S. military is preparing to withdraw its forces from northeastern Syria, people familiar with the matter said Wednesday, a move that throws the American strategy in the Middle East into turmoil.

U.S. officials began informing partners in northeastern Syria of their plans to begin immediately pulling American forces out of the region where they have been trying to wrap up the campaign against Islamic State, the people said.

The move follows a call last week between President Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has threatened to launch an assault on America’s Kurdish partners in Syria.

Rumors I heard this morning were victory was achieved and withdrawal has already started .

Anti Globalist
12-19-2018, 05:07 PM
I'll be amazed if it actually happens.

goldenequity
12-19-2018, 05:22 PM
If Iran has agreed to leave Syria then who will defend Syria against Erdogan?
Turkey is a NATO member so Russia will have to think long and hard before attacking it.

Yesterday Iranian FM Javad Zarif flew to Turkey.... I'd imagine they talked long and hard about exactly that.
All players knew and agreed to immediate outcomes I'm sure...
whether Erdo gets jiggy with things is what you're alluding to.
If he trades away the Turkstream and future benefits with the Belt initiative and gains 3 powerful enemies at his doorstep...
for some Ottoman fantasy to gain some stinking desert filled with angry Kurds...
I repeat: he's an idiot.

Swordsmyth
12-19-2018, 05:27 PM
Yesterday Iranian FM Javad Zarif flew to Turkey.... I'd imagine they talked long and hard about exactly that.
All players knew and agreed to immediate outcomes I'm sure...
whether Erdo gets jiggy with things is what you're alluding to.
If he trades away the Turkstream and future benefits with the Belt initiative and gains 3 powerful enemies at his doorstep...
for some Ottoman fantasy to gain some stinking desert filled with angry Kurds...
I repeat: he's an idiot.
The problem is that I believe he IS an idiot, worse yet he is the kind that thinks he is brilliant.

Related:

Is Turkey Aiming To Head A Global Islamic Union Governed By Sharia? (http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?529417-Is-Turkey-Aiming-To-Head-A-Global-Islamic-Union-Governed-By-Sharia)

Dark_Horse_Rider
12-19-2018, 05:28 PM
nvm

nbhadja
12-19-2018, 06:33 PM
Guess it's time for another gas attack.

I agree. There is a high chance the elite pull out some false flag BS like that to tarnish Trump for pulling out "think of the gassed children in Syria and the Mexico border!! You monster!!". They are truly pathetic and evil. More and more people see through their puppet media's BS every day.

Dr.3D
12-19-2018, 06:51 PM
I agree. There is a high chance the elite pull out some false flag BS like that to tarnish Trump for pulling out "think of the gassed children in Syria and the Mexico border!! You monster!!". They are truly pathetic and evil. More and more people see through their puppet media's BS every day.
Yes, and that bimbo they had at the U.N. went along with the story, hook line and sinker. She probably knew Assad didn't do it but she just had to say he did.

angelatc
12-19-2018, 07:21 PM
Ragıp Soylu‏@ragipsoylu

ha.. complete hogwash if you follow latest events in Hajin... ISIS still smuggling oil w/ kurd/peshmerga.. etc.
plus
'we' didn't defeat ISIS... Iran & Russia & Syria did
'we' let ISIS flee from Raqqa
'we' continue to helivac ISIS into Afghanistan and Africom
'we' bombed Syrian bridges, factories, bakeries, power plants, water plants and empty desert since 2012
Trump is a used car salesman.

I wonder if this is a slap at the Senate who won't give him his wall? If it is, it's a win / win for the Libertarians. No wall, less war. I don't care how it comes about - I'll take it.

Swordsmyth
12-19-2018, 07:28 PM
I wonder if this is a slap at the Senate who won't give him his wall? If it is, it's a win / win for the Libertarians. No wall, less war. I don't care how it comes about - I'll take it.
He should follow it up with an olive branch to the Senate by pulling us out of Yemen.

AuH20
12-19-2018, 07:54 PM
1075474111005163521

AuH20
12-19-2018, 07:55 PM
Let them cry.

1075456867961397249

AuH20
12-19-2018, 07:56 PM
DESPERATE WHORES!

1075415035801989120

AuH20
12-19-2018, 07:57 PM
Rand Paul is the problem they say!!!

1075402701796720640

timosman
12-19-2018, 07:59 PM
DESPERATE WHORES!

You would be upset too if somebody cut you off from your gravy train. :D

AuH20
12-19-2018, 08:05 PM
1075502646021316608

goldenequity
12-19-2018, 09:06 PM
twitter is blowing up over this... hahaha

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Du0K4rKWsAErMk1.jpg

https://i.servimg.com/u/f62/19/91/31/78/flmao110.gif

hawks r in meltdown.

Pauls' Revere
12-19-2018, 09:13 PM
Who could have predicted this would have happened within only 2 years of being in office?

For his next trick, a unified Korea.

goldenequity
12-20-2018, 01:54 AM
Ali Özkök
US official: We will be repositioning troops and assets from Syria in orderly fashion, but Pentagon still works on timeline, no timeframe has been set.
(already backpedaling?)

Swordsmyth
12-20-2018, 02:04 AM
Ali Özkök
US official: We will be repositioning troops and assets from Syria in orderly fashion, but Pentagon still works on timeline, no timeframe has been set.
(already backpedaling?)
We shall see but Trump may have caught them by surprise and now they have to create a withdrawal plan, they had thought that they would be staying until further notice. (forever)

goldenequity
12-20-2018, 02:12 AM
We shall see but Trump may have caught them by surprise and now they have to create a withdrawal plan, they had thought that they would be staying until further notice. (forever)
that's what the proxy/stooge kurds thought too. nope.

Turkey takes advantage of US withdrawal to attack Kurdish forces in northern Syria
https://aml.ink/9ZmiZ

Guy Elster‏
BREAKING Turkey says Syrian Kurdish militants will be buried in ditches: Anadolu

Swordsmyth
12-20-2018, 02:22 AM
that's what the proxy/stooge kurds thought too. nope.

Turkey takes advantage of US withdrawal to attack Kurdish forces in northern Syria
https://aml.ink/9ZmiZ

Guy Elster‏
BREAKING Turkey says Syrian Kurdish militants will be buried in ditches: Anadolu
The Kurds should have cut the best deal they could get with Assad when the US stood by and did nothing while Iraq crushed the Kurdish independence bid there.

Origanalist
12-20-2018, 02:22 AM
Yesterday Iranian FM Javad Zarif flew to Turkey.... I'd imagine they talked long and hard about exactly that.
All players knew and agreed to immediate outcomes I'm sure...
whether Erdo gets jiggy with things is what you're alluding to.
If he trades away the Turkstream and future benefits with the Belt initiative and gains 3 powerful enemies at his doorstep...
for some Ottoman fantasy to gain some stinking desert filled with angry Kurds...
I repeat: he's an idiot.

Damn straight he is and the US should never have had anything to do with him.

Origanalist
12-20-2018, 08:43 AM
1074127452358828032

Madison320
12-20-2018, 10:30 AM
Yes, whatever Donald Trump does, will never be good enough.

Big thumbs up for Trump if he completes this withdrawal.

Here's the predictable response from CNN: "In Syria withdrawal, Trump discards advice from allies and officials"

If it was Obama CNN would be recommending him for another Nobel Peace Prize.

Original_Intent
12-20-2018, 11:01 AM
I can't help but wonder if this move isn't somehow connected to border wall funding. Short of impeachment or assassination, there isn't much the deep state can do. As commander in chief, Trump can make this move unilaterally. Of course this is going to make the MIC, and therefore the deep state, pretty pissed.


I'm sure it would never come out publicly, but I can't shake the feeling that this could be "back room dealing" - give Trump a win with wall funding, or lose on a much bigger scale - this is just speculation on my part, but if I am right, the expected outcome is that Trump gets his wall funding, and we don't end up leaving Syria.

Origanalist
12-20-2018, 12:26 PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2ElmG9bSYc

dannno
12-20-2018, 12:53 PM
Big thumbs up for Trump if he completes this withdrawal.

Here's the predictable response from CNN: "In Syria withdrawal, Trump discards advice from allies and officials"

If it was Obama CNN would be recommending him for another Nobel Peace Prize.

"Betraying our allies and any sense of moral code" (from an actual CNN viewer)

shakey1
12-20-2018, 12:57 PM
Now if he could just seal the deal with a big fat cut in military spending.

kahless
12-20-2018, 01:02 PM
Has he walked it back yet like everything else? I am going to take a guess Friday night he reverses when people are not paying attention.

I hope I am wrong but considering his record of saying one thing and doing the opposite a few days later...

Madison320
12-20-2018, 01:17 PM
Now if he could just seal the deal with a big fat cut in military spending.

Yeah, that's a good point. I'm not holding my breath.

Swordsmyth
12-20-2018, 01:43 PM
https://twitter.com/senorrinhatch/status/1074127452358828032
https://twitter.com/senorrinhatch/status/1074127452358828032

1074127452358828032

AuH20
12-20-2018, 01:43 PM
This guy going after rand..... Damn neos.

1075714869863833601

Origanalist
12-20-2018, 02:03 PM
https://twitter.com/senorrinhatch/status/1074127452358828032

1074127452358828032

Thanks, using Brave and I can't see tweets when I post them and forgot to reduce the link to numbers.

AuH20
12-20-2018, 02:08 PM
1075721703421042688

Swordsmyth
12-20-2018, 02:31 PM
The US has reportedly decided to halt its airstrikes against the Islamic State (Isil) in Syria after it withdraws its troops, a move that would effectively bring an end to the entire Western air campaign against the jihadists.
US officials said that Donald Trump’s decision to pull US forces out of Syria would also mean an end to American airstrikes against Isil fighters in the country, according to Reuters.
The Pentagon did not deny the report and refused to say if US airstrikes would continue after American forces withdraw in March next year.
“As long as there are US troops on the ground we will conduct air and artillery strikes in support of our forces. We will not speculate on future operations,” a Pentagon spokeswoman told The Telegraph.
The US provides the overwhelming majority of the firepower for the Western air campaign against Isil and is responsible for around 95 per cent of the air strikes in Syria, according to Airwars, a monitoring group.
Britain and France have both signalled that they intend to continue striking Isil even after the US withdraws its ground troops but Airwars said that might not be possible if America withdraws from the air campaign.
“Even if the UK and France wished to continue strikes against Isil in Syria, their campaigns are so intertwined with key US assets - intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, refuelling, targeting - that it may not be possible,” the group said.

More at: https://news.yahoo.com/america-apos-kurdish-allies-warn-130614040.html

Swordsmyth
12-20-2018, 04:10 PM
A column of US military trucks reportedly leaving Syria is shown in a video that Turkey’s Anadolu news agency posted on Thursday, showed.
The agency specified that the vehicles in the video had previously been involved in delivering weapons to the Kurdish-led militia operating in the country.
On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump announced that the United States would withdraw its troops from Syria as the Daesh* terrorist group, which was the only reason for the American presence in the Arab country, had been defeated in Syria.
ABD tırları Suriye'den çıkmaya başladı#ABD (https://twitter.com/hashtag/ABD?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)'nin #Suriye (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Suriye?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)'den çekilme kararının ardından terör örgütü YPG/PKK'ya #Irak (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Irak?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) üzerinden silah ve mühimmat taşıyan tırlar, gece saatlerinde Suriye'den çıkmaya başladı https://t.co/UAYsRg6msR pic.twitter.com/mjUIbNdlCX (https://t.co/mjUIbNdlCX)
— ANADOLU AJANSI (@anadoluajansi) December 20, 2018 (https://twitter.com/anadoluajansi/status/1075668775318548480?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

https://twitter.com/anadoluajansi/status/1075668775318548480
1075668775318548480



More at: https://www.infowars.com/watch-video-shows-alleged-column-of-us-military-trucks-leaving-syria/
(https://www.infowars.com/watch-video-shows-alleged-column-of-us-military-trucks-leaving-syria/)

Mach
12-20-2018, 04:52 PM
"They" are probably already planning some activities to prove him wrong and make him look bad.

Anti Globalist
12-20-2018, 05:51 PM
Will the troops in Syria come home or will they just be sent off to another country that we are occupying illegally?

Swordsmyth
12-20-2018, 05:55 PM
Will the troops in Syria come home or will they just be sent off to another country that we are occupying illegally?
They won't be going to Afghanistan:




https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-administration-is-considering-substantial-afghan-troop-drawdown-11545341452

Trump Administration Is Considering Substantial Afghan Troop Drawdown

Drawdown could begin in several weeks, officials say





https://images.wsj.net/im-43819?width=620&aspect_ratio=1.5
U.S. troops patrolling at an Afghan National Army base in Afghanistan’s Logar province in August. PHOTO: OMAR SOBHANI/REUTERS



82 COMMENTS (https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-administration-is-considering-substantial-afghan-troop-drawdown-11545341452?cx_testId=16&cx_testVariant=cx&cx_artPos=0&cx_tag=collabctx&cx_navSource=newsReel#comments_sector)
By Gordon Lubold and
Jessica Donati

Updated Dec. 20, 2018 4:48 p.m. ET

WASHINGTON—The Trump administration is actively considering plans for a significant drawdown of American troops in Afghanistan that could begin in as soon as several weeks, multiple officials said, in the start of the conclusion of the 17-year U.S. war effort.
Word of the plans came a day after President Trump ordered the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Syria, an unexpected announcement that surprised many at the Pentagon.

Under the plans being considered, troops could begin to return home from Afghanistan as early as January, officials said.


Officials at the Pentagon and U.S. Central Command declined to comment. There are currently more than 14,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan.
Mr. Trump announced Wednesday that he would pull all of the more than 2,000 American troops from Syria, a decision that wasn’t supported by the Pentagon or the State Department.
“I think it shows how serious the president is about wanting to come out of conflicts,” a senior U.S. official said of how the Syria decision has affected his thinking on Afghanistan. “I think he wants to see viable options about how to bring conflicts to a close.”
—Nancy A. Youssef in Washington and Craig Nelson in Kabul contributed to this article.
Write to Gordon Lubold at Gordon.Lubold@wsj.com and Jessica Donati at jessica.donati@wsj.com

Swordsmyth
12-20-2018, 06:32 PM
According to Israeli sources, Netanyahu unsuccessfully attempted to convince U.S. President Donald Trump to maintain a U.S. presence in Syria.

More at: https://worldview.stratfor.com/situation-report/israel-netanyahu-faces-domestic-criticism-over-us-withdrawal-syria

Working Poor
12-20-2018, 06:33 PM
Anything Nancy Pelosi is against I am for.

AuH20
12-20-2018, 06:49 PM
The ghey whore speaks:

799343326008725504

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2018/12/neocon-sen-lindsey-graham-1-0-tries-to-pass-resolution-saying-us-should-remain-in-syria-sen-rand-paul-blocking/

AuH20
12-20-2018, 09:10 PM
Is this kinzinger?

1075771716855521281

Yea, this effin guy!

https://www.rollcall.com/news/politics/paul-ryan-aide-rep-adam-kinzinger-received-steele-dossier-early-court-documents-show

AuH20
12-20-2018, 09:14 PM
Miller tore them apart!

1075913790200266752

AuH20
12-20-2018, 09:19 PM
1075712645708304384

UWDude
12-20-2018, 09:23 PM
Now President Donald J. Trump is truly risking his life for the love of his nation.
I was starting to have my serious doubts about him.
The announcement alone, is quite telling.
North Korean and South Korean soldiers crossed the borders in peace, for the first time EVER!

AuH20
12-20-2018, 09:43 PM
The usual suspects went crying to Pence:

https://www.politico.com/story/2018/12/19/trump-us-troops-in-syria-1068734

AuH20
12-20-2018, 09:55 PM
1075953187918635012

AuH20
12-20-2018, 09:56 PM
1075954669036412930

dannno
12-20-2018, 10:07 PM
The ghey whore speaks:

799343326008725504

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2018/12/neocon-sen-lindsey-graham-1-0-tries-to-pass-resolution-saying-us-should-remain-in-syria-sen-rand-paul-blocking/

Yep, small enough to fit in the Oval Office!

JoshLowry
12-20-2018, 11:38 PM
A column of US military trucks reportedly leaving Syria is shown in a video that Turkey’s Anadolu news agency posted on Thursday, showed.
The agency specified that the vehicles in the video had previously been involved in delivering weapons to the Kurdish-led militia operating in the country.
On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump announced that the United States would withdraw its troops from Syria as the Daesh* terrorist group, which was the only reason for the American presence in the Arab country, had been defeated in Syria.
ABD tırları Suriye'den çıkmaya başladı#ABD (https://twitter.com/hashtag/ABD?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)'nin #Suriye (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Suriye?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)'den çekilme kararının ardından terör örgütü YPG/PKK'ya #Irak (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Irak?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) üzerinden silah ve mühimmat taşıyan tırlar, gece saatlerinde Suriye'den çıkmaya başladı https://t.co/UAYsRg6msR pic.twitter.com/mjUIbNdlCX (https://t.co/mjUIbNdlCX)
— ANADOLU AJANSI (@anadoluajansi) December 20, 2018 (https://twitter.com/anadoluajansi/status/1075668775318548480?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

https://twitter.com/anadoluajansi/status/1075668775318548480
1075668775318548480



More at: https://www.infowars.com/watch-video-shows-alleged-column-of-us-military-trucks-leaving-syria/
(https://www.infowars.com/watch-video-shows-alleged-column-of-us-military-trucks-leaving-syria/)

:cool:

kona
12-20-2018, 11:48 PM
https://www.breitbart.com/middle-east/2018/12/20/report-netanyahu-failed-to-persuade-trump-to-reverse-syria-decision/

Where is enhanced_deficit right now? After zippy the biggest crackpot on this forum.

goldenequity
12-21-2018, 12:14 AM
I apologize ahead for dumping all this here... got in late... just catching up... headed 4 bed w/ a bad cold... cheers. :)

=======

Ragıp Soylu‏
Details Trump / Erdogan call on Syria:

• Erdoğan said ISIS was defeated, working with YPG was unnecessary. Questioned the aim of US troops. Promised he can handle any problem — WP
• Erdoğan said the best hedge against Iran, was not the Kurds, but Turkey —American Conservative

Ragıp Soylu‏
Iran President Rouhani and FM Zarif were smiling as Erdogan was courting them with Persian poems today in Ankara.
Erdogan said “both countries should find ways to turn Iran sanctions into an opportunity”

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Du3nhzMVsAAmtEL.jpg
1075772076575748096
https://twitter.com/ragipsoylu/status/1075772076575748096


Not sure if satire or real news...:
IntelSky@Intel_sky · 36 min
Kurdish delegation from Iraqi Kurdistan heading to Damascus ... The Democratic Union Party PYD will ask forgiveness from the Syrian government.

Bosni
Reports of the arrival of 'large' SAA reinforcements to the northwest of Aleppo.
SAA units reportedly entered some YPG sites in northwestern Aleppo (Tell Rifaat area.)
(It looks like Kurds already give up "their" territory to the legitimate government and armed forces.)


Al-Masdar News
Putin says Turkey and Russia reached compromise on Syria
https://aml.ink/vHbI7

ake Morphonios
The word I'm getting is that a Turkish offensive using over 20,000 troops plus Free Syrian Army proxies (anti-Assad forces) in northern #Syria is imminent.
1075893135362936832
https://twitter.com/morphonios/status/1075893135362936832

Jake Morphonios
President Erdogan of Turkey just held a joint press conference with President Hassan Rouhani of Iran to condemn President Donald Trump's sanctions against Iran.
Erdogan said the sanctions put regional security at risk and that Turkey (a NATO ally) will stand with Iran.

Referring to Turkish military operations against the US-backed Kurds in Syria, President Erdogan said:
"We are burying terrorists in the holes they dug up and we will continue to do so. Now it is time for the east of the Euphrates."
(The area where Trump is pulling troops).
1075956153014763520
https://twitter.com/morphonios/status/1075956153014763520

BNO News
BREAKING: Trump orders more than 7,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan to return home, U.S. official says - WSJ


Trump to announce US withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Administration officials brace for Trump announcement on Afghanistan
https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.cnn.com/cnn/2018/12/20/politics/trump-afghanistan-announcement/index.html


BNO News
BREAKING: U.S. Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis will retire at the end of February, Trump says
(Dunford leaves as well I think.)

BNO News
BREAKING: Jim Mattis told Trump he'd resign after failing to convince him to keep U.S. troops in Syria - NYT


The Associated Press
BREAKING: House approves $5.7 billion for President Trump's border wall, sending bill back to Senate and raising risk of partial shutdown



Brasco_Aad

https://pbs.twimg.com/card_img/1075821345907335170/VBZgVXM4?format=jpg&name=600x314

The 4 Moroccan bastards who killed 2 Scandinavian women tourists (1 from #Norway & 1 from #Denmark) in #Imlil, near #Marrakech in Morocco have pledged allegiance to #ISIS.

They all have been caught by Moroccan security forces within 48 hours.

They will be tortured to death.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Du4OswuWsAAqVyK.jpg


Islamic World Update
Russia signed a lease agreement of La Orchila Island with Venezuela, which will allow it to build an air base which in the first stage will be able to house the Tupolev-160 nuclear bombers, Ilyushin 78-Am planes, the A-50 spy plane and the Sukhoy 50SM fighter jet.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Du3euyWV4AA6YkA.jpg
(I think this is hype and trolling twitter for retweets etc... but a Caribbean base is possible... Ft. Bolton. hahaha)


Ukraine Is Bent on Self Destruction


https://youtu.be/7BGE3oaYMcY

Schifference
12-21-2018, 06:58 AM
I just watched that last video of Putin. Maybe I am a bad judge. Every time I see Putin he comes across as very capable, intelligent, and to the point with facts. He masterfully turns accusations into a weapon that he simply returns to sender.

AuH20
12-21-2018, 09:49 AM
1075903692392579072

AuH20
12-21-2018, 10:20 AM
second 9/11 talk begins....

https://www.infowars.com/establishment-panics-over-trump-ending-wars-claims-hes-paving-the-way-toward-a-second-9-11/

AuH20
12-21-2018, 10:45 AM
1076127773444526080

AuH20
12-21-2018, 10:50 AM
So good.

1076130015111270400

goldenequity
12-21-2018, 11:21 AM
The'Nimr'Tiger
Erdogan said today: the current East Euphrates operation will be delayed in order to plan for an ever bigger operation which will involve international partners to defeat terrorists in Syria

Ragıp Soylu
BREAKING — A meeting between Turkish and American officials on US withdrawal from Syria is scheduled in Washington on January 8, Turkish FM announces

Elijah J. Magnier
Breakingnews: Private sources :
►President Bashar al Assad has rejected the Kurdish proposal
►Turkey is gathering forces (Euphrates Shield et al) to attack the Kurdish controlled area north of Syria
►Russia seems holding back president Erdogan for the moment
A lot of pressure.

goldenequity
12-21-2018, 11:28 AM
So good.

1076130015111270400

http://replygif.net/i/262.gif

goldenequity
12-21-2018, 12:03 PM
https://i.servimg.com/u/f33/19/91/34/17/afg10.jpg

https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2018/12/21/trump-orders-50pc-us-troops-out-afghanistan

Swordsmyth
12-21-2018, 03:25 PM
https://qntmpkts.keybase.pub/data/media/4c044bb73d4708869f62b48336c2de3484f426d7e0f253889e 32ae7e5c926c49.jpeg

nikcers
12-21-2018, 03:25 PM
Thank you President T, this is just what I wanted for Christmas.

Origanalist
12-21-2018, 03:30 PM
So good.

1076130015111270400

Who is that blood soaked bitch?

AuH20
12-21-2018, 04:01 PM
1076181285796601856

AuH20
12-21-2018, 04:02 PM
Sounds like extortion to me........

1075912917713850370

AuH20
12-21-2018, 04:05 PM
1076089253266903040

AuH20
12-21-2018, 04:17 PM
Neocons are very angry.

https://www.mediaite.com/tv/maggie-haberman-disgusted-republicans-now-privately-admitting-they-regret-supporting-trump/


Calling it a “critical moment,” Haberman reported that there was waning support for Trump from the right, saying “A number of conservatives who worked on the campaign and supported the president and now say, you know, I regret doing that, and this was a mistake, this administration is, you know, off the rails, and all of these investigations that are coming to a head will be a huge problem.”

She adding that these conservatives “disgusted” with details that have emerged from the Michael Cohen plea deal. In her eyes, investigations into Trump’s campaign are ” going to intensify as we get into the year” before bringing up impeachment. “It takes 20 Republican senators to vote in favor of impeachment. This could be a critical moment.”

Anti Globalist
12-21-2018, 05:30 PM
All the people in the CIA better come home too but I won't be hopeful on that.

goldenequity
12-21-2018, 05:59 PM
Local sources report huge SAA columns in the area of Raqqa nearby archeological site:

1076228623940628480
https://twitter.com/Ayoubi26/status/1076228623940628480

1076254531128868865
https://twitter.com/ragipsoylu/status/1076254531128868865

AuH20
12-21-2018, 06:00 PM
1076261703665487872

AuH20
12-21-2018, 06:10 PM
1075898458312241152

RonZeplin
12-21-2018, 06:44 PM
Mattis is out, and Blackwater is back: ‘We are coming’ (https://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/your-military/2018/12/21/mattis-is-out-and-blackwater-is-back-we-are-coming/)

https://www.armytimes.com/resizer/coBIaVqkViVjIXG4hguUM490vac=/1200x0/filters:quality(100)/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-mco.s3.amazonaws.com/public/IKKFLOHQXNALHOXN6KYPHNYOCY.png

Blackwater USA took out a full page ad in the January/February 2019 issue of "Recoil" magazine with the company's logo and a message: "We are coming."

Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis is out. (https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2018/12/20/mattis-out-defense-secretary-says-his-views-no-longer-aligned-with-trump/)

Mattis' resignation comes amid news that President Donald Trump has directed the drawdown of 2,000 U.S. forces in Syria, and 7,000 U.S. forces (https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2018/12/21/report-trump-eyes-major-withdrawal-of-troops-from-afghanistan/) from Afghanistan, a U.S. official confirmed to Military Times, a story first reported by the Wall Street Journal.

This month, in the January/February print issue of the gun and hunting magazine “Recoil," (https://www.recoilweb.com/) the former contractor security firm Blackwater USA published a full-page ad, in all black with a simple message: “We are coming.”

Is the war in Afghanistan — and possibly elsewhere ― about to be privatized?

If Blackwater returns, it would be the return of a private security contractor that was banned from Iraq, but re-branded and never really went away. By 2016 Blackwater had been re-branded several times and was known at the time as Constellis Group, when it was purchased by the Apollo Holdings Group. Reuters reported earlier this year that Apollo had put Constellis up for sale, but in June the sale was put on hold.

Blackwater’s founder and former CEO Erik Prince h (https://www.militarytimes.com/flashpoints/2017/08/02/blackwater-founder-wants-to-run-the-afghan-air-war-with-his-private-air-force/)as courted President Donald Trump’s administration since he took office (https://www.armytimes.com/news/2018/07/13/infamous-contractor-wants-to-privatize-the-afghanistan-war-again/) with the idea that the now 17-year Afghan War will never be won by a traditional military campaign. Prince has also argued that the logistical footprint required to support that now multi-trillion (https://www.defensenews.com/pentagon/2018/05/16/heres-how-much-the-us-has-spent-fighting-terrorism-since-911/) dollar endeavor has become too burdensome. Over the summer and into this fall Prince has engaged heavily (https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2018/09/05/heres-the-blueprint-for-erik-princes-5-billion-plan-to-privatize-the-afghanistan-war/) with the media to promote the privatization; particularly as the Trump administration’s new South Asia Strategy, which was crafted with Mattis, passed the one-year mark.

Prince has no connection to the current Constellis group; if Blackwater does return to operations, it is not clear what, if any tie, Prince would have to the endeavor.

Constellis, which had maintained a footprint at Camp Integrity (https://www.armytimes.com/news/your-army/2018/08/20/three-army-veterans-awarded-for-responding-to-insurgent-attacks-in-afghanistan/) by the Kabul Airport through its previous iteration as “Academi” has leased land at the facility to hold another 800 personnel, Military Times learned.


Here’s the blueprint for Erik Prince’s $5 billion plan to privatize the Afghanistan war (https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2018/09/05/heres-the-blueprint-for-erik-princes-5-billion-plan-to-privatize-the-afghanistan-war/)

The U.S. has spent $1 trillion in Afghanistan. The Blackwater founder asks, is it time to try something new?
By: Tara Copp


The news of a leaning on a smaller number of privatized forces, instead of a larger U.S. military footprint — and contracted support for U.S. forces that knew few bounds and at times included coffee shops, base exchanges, restaurants, a hockey rink (https://www.stripes.com/news/middle-east/afghanistan/ball-hockey-league-flourishes-in-afghanistan-on-kandahar-s-rink-1.125126)and local vendor shops — may be welcomed by current U.S. military leadership on the ground. That includes former Joint Special Operations Command chief Army Lt. Gen. Scott Miller, a source familiar with Miller’s approach told Military Times. Miller replaced Gen. John Nicholson as the head of all U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan in September.

In an previous exclusive interview with Military Times, Prince said he would scrap the NATO mission there and replace the estimated 23,000 forces in country with a force of 6,000 (https://www.militarytimes.com/flashpoints/2017/08/02/blackwater-founder-wants-to-run-the-afghan-air-war-with-his-private-air-force/)contracted personnel and 2,000 active-duty special forces.

https://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/your-military/2018/12/21/mattis-is-out-and-blackwater-is-back-we-are-coming/

AuH20
12-21-2018, 08:44 PM
1076276948127674368

Syria isn't crumbling. It's been destroyed 10x over thanks to your buddies!

goldenequity
12-21-2018, 09:25 PM
The Inside Story Behind Trump's "Shocking" Withdrawal From Syria
https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-12-21/inside-story-behind-trumps-decision-pull-us-troops-out-syria


In a report that essentially confirms what Secretary Mattis only insinuated in his letter of resignation, the Associated Press offered an account sourced from anonymous US and Turkish officials that appears to confirm all of President Trump's hawkish critics' worst fears about his landmark decision to withdraw US forces from Syria: Namely, that it was made seemingly on a whim, without consulting his national security team, during a phone call with Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The play-by-play of the call, which was strenuously denied by White House officials, who implied that the account had been planted by Turkish agents who were seeking to undermine the president (though they neglected to specify which details in the account were untrue).

It began by explaining how Trump's aides had prepared detailed talking points for a Dec. 14 call with Erdogan. But Trump abandoned them shortly after it began after apparently being convinced by Erdogan's argument that ISIS had effectively been defeated, given that the once-powerful faction now controls less than 1% of its former territory.

Erdogan

The call had been set up by the NSC after Erdogan threatened to attack US-backed Kurdish troops in Northern Syria whom the Turkish leader accused of supporting the Kurdish independence movement in Turkey.

Trump's advisors had coached him to offer Erdogan a small concession, like holding territory on the Turkish-Syrian border. But after the call began, Erdogan put Trump on the defensive.

"The talking points were very firm," said one of the officials, explaining that Mr Trump was advised to clearly oppose a Turkish incursion into northern Syria and suggest the US and Turkey work together to address security concerns.

"Everybody said push back and try to offer (Turkey) something that’s a small win, possibly holding territory on the border, something like that."

Mr Erdogan, though, quickly put Mr Trump on the defensive, reminding him that he had repeatedly said the only reason for US troops to be in Syria was to defeat IS and that the group had been 99% defeated.

"Why are you still there?" the second official said Mr Erdogan asked Mr Trump, telling him that the Turks could deal with the remaining IS militants.

Erdogan swiftly persuaded the president to come around to Turkey's (admittedly reasonable) point of view: If ISIS had been defeated - and the US's primary objective for its incursion into Syria accomplished, then what were US troops still doing camped out on his boarder?

Mr Erdogan, though, quickly put Mr Trump on the defensive, reminding him that he had repeatedly said the only reason for US troops to be in Syria was to defeat IS and that the group had been 99% defeated.

"Why are you still there?" the second official said Mr Erdogan asked Mr Trump, telling him that the Turks could deal with the remaining IS militants.

The deciding factor came when Trump turned to National Security Advisor John Bolton to ask if what Erdogan was saying was true. Bolton then begrudgingly admitted that much, before trying to explain that US forces needed to remain in Syria to prevent a resurgence of ISIS (and to serve as a buffer between the Kurds and a massacre by Turkish troops.

When Trump agreed to Erdogan's suggestion that US troops withdraw, both Erdogan and Bolton were shocked, according to the AP'ssources. But in the following days, the president refused to be dissuaded.

With Mr Erdogan on the line, Mr Trump asked national security adviser John Bolton, who was listening in, why American troops remained in Syria if what the Turkish president was saying was true, according to the officials.

Mr Erdogan’s point, Mr Bolton was forced to admit, had been backed up by Mr Mattis, Mr Pompeo, US special envoy for Syria Jim Jeffrey and special envoy for the anti-IS coalition Brett McGurk, who have said that IS retains only 1% of its territory, the officials said.

Mr Bolton stressed, however, that the entire national security team agreed that victory over IS had to be enduring, which means more than taking away its territory.

Mr Trump was not dissuaded, according to the officials, who said the president quickly capitulated by pledging to withdraw, shocking both Mr Bolton and Mr Erdogan.

In the days since Trump's decision, national security hawks have warned that by withdrawing its troops, the US would effectively cede Syria to ISIS (or Russia, or some kind of Russia-ISIS hybrid). But the reality remains that the alternative advocated by many of Trump's critics (Mattis included) resembles another "forever war", where US troops remain in place not to fight an active enemy, but to ensure that an enemy never reemerges. US troops first arrived in Syria in 2015 about a year after the US began a campaign of airstrikes against ISIS targets in Iraq and Syria.

And how does one defeat an enemy that doesn't exist?

Swordsmyth
12-21-2018, 09:30 PM
The Inside Story Behind Trump's "Shocking" Withdrawal From Syria
https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-12-21/inside-story-behind-trumps-decision-pull-us-troops-out-syria

I stopped reading right here:

anonymous US and Turkish officials

specsaregood
12-21-2018, 09:36 PM
With Mr Erdogan on the line, Mr Trump asked national security adviser John Bolton, who was listening in, why American troops remained in Syria if what the Turkish president was saying was true, according to the officials.

Mr Erdogan’s point, Mr Bolton was forced to admit, had been backed up by Mr Mattis, Mr Pompeo, US special envoy for Syria Jim Jeffrey and special envoy for the anti-IS coalition Brett McGurk, who have said that IS retains only 1% of its territory, the officials said.

Mr Bolton stressed, however, that the entire national security team agreed that victory over IS had to be enduring, which means more than taking away its territory.

hahahaha, Bolton got played, walked right into it.

nbhadja
12-21-2018, 09:53 PM
CHECKMATE – Saudi Crown Prince MbS Sends Replacement Troops To Defend Kurds in Syria…
Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer and the DC Decepticons are concerned about the Kurdish groups in Syria as the President Trump withdraws U.S. forces. The concern stems from a possibility of Turkey taking hostile action toward our Kurdish allies. However, a new report from the region highlights Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman is sending his forces to replace the U.S. troops.

SAUDI ARABIA – Saudi Arabia and the UAE have sent military forces to areas controlled by the Kurdish YPG group in north-east Syria, Turkey’s Yenisafak newspaper reported.

The paper said the forces will be stationed with US-led coalition troops and will support its tasks with huge military enforcements as well as heavy and light weapons.


Quoting the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the newspaper reported that a convoy of troops belonging to an Arab Gulf state recently arrived in the contact area between the Kurdish PKK/YPG and Daesh in the Deir Ez-Zor countryside.

This comes at a time when Ankara is preparing to launch an expanded military operation with the Free Syrian Army against the Kurdish PKK group in the northeast of Syria. (read more)

https://theconservativetreehouse.com/2018/12/21/checkmate-saudi-crown-prince-mbs-sends-replacement-troops-to-defend-kurds-in-syria/

UWDude
12-21-2018, 09:55 PM
I stopped reading right here:

Especially anonymous Turk sources.

But i read it anyway.

An unending stream of bullshit.

I don't believe a word of it.

Swordsmyth
12-21-2018, 10:13 PM
Especially anonymous Turk sources.
Yup.




But i read it anyway.

An unending stream of bull$#@!.

I don't believe a word of it.
Good for you.

goldenequity
12-22-2018, 12:39 PM
US envoy Brett McGurk quits over Trump Syria pullout
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-46661384

1076540398141562881
https://twitter.com/BBassem7/status/1076540398141562881


Donald J. Trump realDonaldTrump
....going to be there for three months, and that was seven years ago - we never left.
When I became President, ISIS was going wild. Now ISIS is largely defeated and other local countries, including Turkey,
should be able to easily take care of whatever remains. We’re coming home!
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1076515352249597954


Brasco_Aad
The US Administration: ''President Bashar al Assad is the President of Syria and we are not seeking his departure anymore.
We also accept that Iran will play a diplomatic role in the process aimed at achieving a political solution to end the nearly eight-year conflict''

Brasco_Aad
Unconfirmed reports that Turkish President Erdogan told his Iranian counterpart President Hassan Rouhani
that Turkey wishes to see ONLY Syrian Army units being deployed along the border
& not one YPG militant is allowed to remain.
If the YPG stays, then Turkey will remove them.


Ali Özkök
U.S. troops have not left the strategic Tanf garrison on the Iraq-Jordan border following President Donald Trump's decision to pull out of Syria,
the leader of a Pentagon-backed group there said on Saturday.


1076491800007901185
https://twitter.com/wikileaks/status/1076491800007901185



1076230013303824384
https://twitter.com/ejmalrai/status/1076230013303824384


1076054165447761920
https://twitter.com/2flamesburning1/status/1076054165447761920

Swordsmyth
12-22-2018, 02:38 PM
US envoy Brett McGurk quits over Trump Syria pullout
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-46661384

Hopefully more will follow.



Ali Özkök
U.S. troops have not left the strategic Tanf garrison on the Iraq-Jordan border following President Donald Trump's decision to pull out of Syria,
the leader of a Pentagon-backed group there said on Saturday.

That will change.

Swordsmyth
12-22-2018, 06:18 PM
https://bigleaguepolitics.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Screen-Shot-2018-12-21-at-10.16.43-AM.png
https://bigleaguepolitics.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Screen-Shot-2018-12-21-at-2.01.04-PM.png



https://bigleaguepolitics.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Screen-Shot-2018-12-21-at-2.11.13-PM.png

Rachel Maddow’s 2012 book on pulling troops from unnecessary wars:
https://bigleaguepolitics.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Screen-Shot-2018-12-21-at-2.11.57-PM-1.png
https://bigleaguepolitics.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Screen-Shot-2018-12-21-at-2.13.58-PM.png



https://bigleaguepolitics.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Screen-Shot-2018-12-21-at-11.06.00-AM.png

https://bigleaguepolitics.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Screen-Shot-2018-12-21-at-11.09.37-AM.png



https://bigleaguepolitics.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Screen-Shot-2018-12-21-at-1.24.10-PM.png
https://bigleaguepolitics.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Screen-Shot-2018-12-21-at-1.22.36-PM.png



More at: https://bigleaguepolitics.com/why-are-all-these-blue-checkmarks-suddenly-pro-war/

nbhadja
12-22-2018, 07:35 PM
Donald J. Trump

Verified account
realDonaldTrump
5h5 hours ago
More
I won an election, said to be one of the greatest of all time, based on getting out of endless & costly foreign wars & also based on Strong Borders which will keep our Country safe. We fight for the borders of other countries, but we won’t fight for the borders of our own!

Notice he said wars, not war. This is just the beginning. Syria and Afghanistan are just the beginning imo. Trump has always been against policing the world.

goldenequity
12-22-2018, 08:51 PM
Al-Masdar News
France allegedly promises to support SDF after US military withdrawal
https://aml.ink/Dp6mF

https://imgfast.net/users/3715/65/05/91/album/ezgif_12.gif

Al-Masdar News
Turkey wont abandon S-400 sale for US Patriot missiles: report
https://aml.ink/6kzJK

zerohedge
Putin Warns US Against 'Misadventures'
https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-12-22/putin-warns-us-against-misadventures



https://youtu.be/e7HwvFyMg7A



Al-Masdar News
Syrian Army sends large convoy to southern Manbij as Turkish military prepares for offensive
https://aml.ink/2KWWu

1076478768590417920
https://twitter.com/_ehlisam/status/1076478768590417920


Deir Ezzor:

The'Nimr'Tiger
Syrian Army deploying to Mayadin in Deir Ezzor for military operation against ISIS East of the Euphrates
(first operation beyond US imposed Euphrates de-confliction line):check:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DvA3894XQAAuAvm.jpg:small


Daraa:


Bosni
Another discovery of weapons in south, Daara / Quneitra including 4 TOW missiles

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DvCXlCQXcAE-OSy.jpg


Netanyahu warns Erdogan against attacking kurds.

Benjamin Netanyahu
"Erdogan – the occupier of northern Cyprus, whose army massacres women and children in Kurdish villages, inside and outside Turkey – should not preach to Israel."



OT

zerohedge
Justin Trudeau Blames Trump's 'Racist' Policies For Canada's Immigration Crisis
https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-12-22/justin-trudeau-blames-trumps-racist-policies-canadas-immigration-crisis

Swordsmyth
12-23-2018, 01:30 AM
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/images/misc/quote_icon.png Originally Posted by goldenequity http://www.ronpaulforums.com/images/buttons/viewpost-right.png (http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?p=6724001#post6724001)

US envoy Brett McGurk quits over Trump Syria pullout
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-46661384


President Donald Trump (https://www.huffingtonpost.com/topic/donald-trump) on Saturday completely dismissed the significance of the resignation of Brett McGurk (https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/brett-mcgurk-anti-isis-coalition-quits-trump-syria_us_5c1e6fdae4b05c88b6f932d2), the presidential envoy to the coalition battling the Islamic State (https://www.huffingtonpost.com/topic/islamic-state). The president called it a “nothing event” by a “grandstander.”

More at: https://news.yahoo.com/trump-calls-envoy-brett-mcgurk-062016083.html

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1076655729820471296

1076655729820471296

Swordsmyth
12-23-2018, 01:48 AM
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo assured Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi that the U.S. is still committed to fighting Islamic State in Iraq and other areas despite its planned troop withdrawal from Syria, Abdul Mahdi's office said on Saturday.

"Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi received a phone call from U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo who explained the details of the upcoming withdrawal from Syria and affirmed the United State's is still committed to fight Islamic State and terrorism in Iraq and other areas," Abdul Mahdi's office said in a statement.

More at: https://news.yahoo.com/iraqi-pm-discusses-u-withdrawal-syria-pompeo-082051984.html

Fire Pompeo and leave Iraq.

AuH20
12-23-2018, 11:09 AM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_O2TRzA2ezk

Swordsmyth
12-23-2018, 04:57 PM
President Donald Trump campaigned two years ago to withdraw troops from Syria and will continue because the move is popular – even if it led to the resignations of his Defense Secretary Jim Mattis (https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2018/12/20/defense-secretary-jim-mattis-retiring-donald-trump-says/2381121002/)and a special envoy to the region, acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney said Sunday.“This is not a snap decision. And it’s not a surprise to anybody because it’s exactly what the president said he was going to do,” Mulvaney told "Fox News Sunday." “If a Cabinet secretary simply has such a misalignment with the president’s priorities that he cannot serve him, that is the right reason to leave.”
Mattis announced his resignation Thursday (https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2018/12/20/james-mattis-read-resignation-letter-president-trump/2381698002/), with plans to leave at the end of February because of several policy positions where he disagreed with Trump.
“I think the relationship between these two men has been fraying,” Mulvaney said. “I think the president no longer relied on Mattis to be able to deliver the president’s vision.”


Trump announced his Syria withdrawal Wednesday, after speaking Dec. 14 to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who urged the withdrawal, according to The Associated Press. Trump spoke again to Erdogan on Sunday, the same day that Trump announced Mattis would be leaving Jan. 1 (https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2018/12/23/donald-trump-james-mattis-stepping-down-january-1/2401617002/) rather than the previously announced Feb. 28.

I just had a long and productive call with President @RT_Erdogan (https://twitter.com/RT_Erdogan?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) of Turkey. We discussed ISIS, our mutual involvement in Syria, & the slow & highly coordinated pullout of U.S. troops from the area. After many years they are coming home. We also discussed heavily expanded Trade.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 23, 2018 (https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1076884984873607169?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)




Mulvaney said Trump believed the troop withdrawal is popular nationwide, if not in Washington.
“He recognized the fact that this is unpopular within the Beltway,” Mulvaney said. “We recognized it’s unpopular within the Defense Department. It’s very popular with ordinary American people."

https://news.yahoo.com/trump-continue-troop-withdrawal-syria-165235306.html

Zippyjuan
12-23-2018, 06:09 PM
Trump backing off Syria withdrawl? He had called for a "rapid" withdrawl, now says it will be "slow and coordinated".

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-46668260


But shortly after announcing Mr Shanahan's appointment on Sunday, Mr Trump moved to calm widespread concerns over the pullout which he initially said would be "rapid".

Mr Trump said on Twitter that he had spoken with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey about "our mutual involvement in Syria, & the slow and highly coordinated withdrawal of US troops from the area".

Mr Erdogan's office said the two leaders had agreed to "ensure coordination between their countries' military, diplomatic and other officials to avoid a power vacuum which could result following any abuse of the withdrawal and transition phase in Syria".

Swordsmyth
12-23-2018, 06:11 PM
Trump backing off Syria withdrawl? He had called for a "rapid" withdrawl, now says it will be "slow and coordinated".

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-46668260

:sleeping:

It will be relatively rapid but it will be slow enough to keep the neocons from impeaching him.

Swordsmyth
12-23-2018, 11:00 PM
The order to withdraw American troops from Syria has been signed, the US military said Sunday, after President Donald Trump and his Turkish counterpart agreed to prevent a power vacuum in the wake of the controversial move.

"The execute order for Syria has been signed," a US military spokesperson told AFP when asked about the withdrawal order, without providing further details.

More at: https://news.yahoo.com/trump-erdogan-vow-avoid-syria-power-vacuum-us-201145091.html

devil21
12-23-2018, 11:57 PM
Trump backing off Syria withdrawl? He had called for a "rapid" withdrawl, now says it will be "slow and coordinated".

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-46668260

That was before he was told to appoint a Boeing CEO as SecDef.

goldenequity
12-24-2018, 08:19 AM
CNN Politics

BREAKING: The order to withdraw US forces from Syria has been signed **b-dum tish**
https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/us-signs-official-order-to-withdraw-all-forces-from-syria/

interfax

RUSSIAN DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER RYABKOV: I DON'T BELIEVE U.S. TO WITHDRAW ITS TROOPS FROM SYRIA
Russia has enough info on situation around U.S. troops leaving or staying in Syria - Ryabkov


2nd Trump/Erdo Phone Call

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DvH4ofdV4AAs88-.jpg:small


Showdown: Manbij


US Forces on the streets of Manbij

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DvLnAOFWoAEbwH3.jpg:small

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DvLnAOHXgAIR6Jv.jpg:small

Al-Masdar News
US troops remain inside Manbij
https://aml.ink/gbpxt

Turk Convoy to Manbij


https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DvH2NaSW0AAxffI.jpg

8,000 Turkish soldiers and rebels were deployed to the frontline of YPG-held Manbij on Saturday night.
In total, a 200-vehicle Turkish convoy, which was composed of various units, set out from Karkamış to Jarablus and from Kilis to Azaz simultaneously.

The Turkish state news agency AA publishes a video of a convoy of pro-Turkish rebels on their way to the Manbij front line.
Turkey is planning an offensive against the YPG.
https://twitter.com/Ozkok_/status/1077156157364596736

According to this article US has given Turkey Permission to capture Manbij from YPG
https://www.yenisafak.com/en/world/8000-turkish-fsa-soldiers-at-the-ready-to-purge-syrias-manbij-of-pkk-terrorists-3469977

Turkish forces given 'green light' to launch Manbij offensive: report
https://aml.ink/pSVbw

1077178478074757120
https://twitter.com/Ozkok_/status/1077178478074757120

SR
►Turkey ordered it’s backed militias in Idlib to attack the SAA positions in south Idlib in attempt to slow down SAA deployments to Manbij and the east

TIGERS?

►(unconfirmed): "within 48 hours Manbij and its CS will be handed over to the SAA."

1076957873140310017
https://twitter.com/Ozkok_/status/1076957873140310017






Deir Ezzor (Deir Zor, Syria: Omar oil field soon under control of Russia?)


The Russian Federation offered the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to deploy the Syrian border guards to the Euphrates River Valley in order to protect the region, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported on Sunday.
https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/russia-offers-to-deploy-syrian-border-guards-to-protect-euphrates-valley-report/

https://www.almasdarnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/38405336_228918807965525_6283268220375793664_n-688x516.jpg

SR
The Iranian forces are withdrawing from Deir Ezzor east Syria towards the borders with Iraq and some groups went back to Iraq.


Al-Masdar News
Breaking: US Coalition bombs bridge being reconstructed by Syrian Army in Deir Ezzor
https://aml.ink/69ZTG






Idlib:

Turkish Army presence in Idlib agreed upon by Syrian gov't: Russian FM
https://aml.ink/gftac





Celebrations (after 7 years of war...)


1077166217553682433
https://twitter.com/Russ_Warrior/status/1077166217553682433
1077021344540303360
https://twitter.com/iraqschristians/status/1077021344540303360
1076989604132278272
https://twitter.com/IvanSidorenko1/status/1076989604132278272

=======




When Tyrants Collide..

Ali Özkök
Cavusoglu: "We have seen Israeli efforts to split Iraqi regions. But there is also another common feature between PKK and Netanyahu.
Most characteristic is that both are baby killers."

1077139893942472704
https://twitter.com/Ozkok_/status/1077139893942472704

1077150130510409728
https://twitter.com/Ozkok_/status/1077150130510409728

Erdogan calls Netanyahu a 'tyrant' as verbal feud heats up
https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/erdogan-calls-netanyahu-a-tyrant-as-verbal-feud-heats-up/


https://i.imgur.com/7PQU9Ef.gif?noredirect

"Israeli prime minister calls turkish president Erdogan an anti-semitic dictator"



Netanyahu Vows To Intensify Attacks In Syria After US Troop Withdrawal
https://southfront.org/netanyahu-vows-to-intensify-attacks-in-syria-after-us-troop-withdrawal/


April Elections


BREAKING: Israel will hold elections in April, in announcement by coalition heads

Israel’s Netanyahu says coalition agrees ‘unanimously’ to disband government, hold new election
https://www.news.com.au/world/middle-east/israels-netanyahu-says-coalition-agrees-unanimously-to-disband-government-hold-new-election/news-story/89bf80f9cd8d37374bde35327a9f245b





Wait for it....


SouthFront
Iraqi Hezbollah Is Ready To Protect Syrian Kurds After U.S. Withdrawal :check:
http://dlvr.it/QvCXwG


"The whole Kurdish thing is just stupid as they are only 8% of the population there aren't even any Kurds from Raqqa and Deir ezzor the only province with a Kurdish majority is kobane and all of them are illegal immigrants from Turkey mostly. Iraqi Hezbollah need to be working with Assad, NDF and Deir ezzor Arab tribesmen not Kurds as they have shown they will sell out to Israel and America in a instant, Have Iraqi Hezbollah forgot that it was Kurds who were illegally selling oil to Israel in kirkuk before it was recaptured from them or how they tried to break up iraq and now Syria? "

nbhadja
12-24-2018, 09:22 AM
Donald J. Trump

realDonaldTrump
....We are substantially subsidizing the Militaries of many VERY rich countries all over the world, while at the same time these countries take total advantage of the U.S., and our TAXPAYERS, on Trade. General Mattis did not see this as a problem. I DO, and it is being fixed!

AuH20
12-24-2018, 10:05 AM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rjFaFaMJ_U&feature=youtu.be

Swordsmyth
12-24-2018, 02:21 PM
Donald J. Trump

@real (http://www.ronpaulforums.com/member.php?u=68777)DonaldTrump
....We are substantially subsidizing the Militaries of many VERY rich countries all over the world, while at the same time these countries take total advantage of the U.S., and our TAXPAYERS, on Trade. General Mattis did not see this as a problem. I DO, and it is being fixed!
NATO is on the chopping block.:D
Hopefully more will follow.

Zippyjuan
12-24-2018, 03:20 PM
Russian info bomb on this thread I see. Bury everything!

Trump- "We are leaving Syria because ISIS has been eliminated and we won!"

Trump- ISIS is still there but Turkey will eliminate them.

1077064829825966081

Swordsmyth
12-24-2018, 03:22 PM
Russian info bomb on this thread I see. Bury everything!

Trump- "We are leaving Syria because ISIS has been eliminated and we won!"

Trump- ISIS is still there but Turkey will eliminate them.

1077064829825966081
Get lost, warmonger.

UWDude
12-24-2018, 03:23 PM
Russian info bomb on this thread I see. Bury everything!

Trump- "We are leaving Syria because ISIS has been eliminated and we won!"

Trump- ISIS is still there but Turkey will eliminate them.

1077064829825966081


Aint no fucking Russians here, stupid asshole.

We are not going to stay in Syria until every single ISIS member is dead.

Because after 20 years of killing every arab in the middle east with a black bandana in their house, then you warmongers would say, "WE NEED TO STAY, THERE ARE STILL SOME FLAGS AND PROPAGANDA LEAFLETS LEFT IN SYRIA!"

UWDude
12-24-2018, 03:26 PM
Lets also not forget, Hillary has now tweeted we need to stay in syria and not throw our allies under the bus.

"Exactly the same", you all yammered. "No difference between the two", you all said during the elections.

"It's all WWE!" "It's all a show" "this is just for ratings!"

WRONG!

Huge differences between the two.


Yeah, Hillary said she would impose a no fly zone, Trump said he would leave.

Promises made, Promises Kept.

Thank God Hillary could not keep hers.

r3volution 3.0
12-24-2018, 06:16 PM
Leaving Syria would certainly be good, though the covert US support for rebels is more important than the overt US military presence.

I wonder if the former will be ended along with the latter?

In any event, it's difficult to see a lasting change in policy (contra a temper tantrum) so long as people like Bolton remain in office.

Mattis was, apparently, one of the relatively less-crazed hawks in the administration.

Going forward, it might be a good idea to keep an eye on Iran...

goldenequity
12-25-2018, 01:27 PM
Showdown: MANBIJ


►TURKEY

1077631936334573568
https://twitter.com/Ozkok_/status/1077631936334573568

1077637426657591297
https://twitter.com/Ozkok_/status/1077637426657591297

1077642622389444608
https://twitter.com/Ozkok_/status/1077642622389444608


Ali Özkök
Turkish defense ministry: We are monitoring the developments in Arimah (Manbij)
https://twitter.com/TurkHaberAjansi/status/1077624083406303233


More Turkey backed militants heads towards YPG held territories:
1077637601560064001
https://twitter.com/anadoluajansi/status/1077637601560064001


►SAA

vanSidorenko1 (see his twitter for all today's SAA updates..)
The First Division in addition to other groups are now heading towards the city of Manbij and are now on the road connecting Aleppo to Al Zakeya
1077626233003880448
https://twitter.com/IvanSidorenko1/status/1077626233003880448









https://youtu.be/bz_lVCHsvfc

Swordsmyth
12-25-2018, 01:38 PM
Turkey on Tuesday warned France against protecting a US-backed Kurdish militia in Syria and said Ankara's military power was enough to defeat the Islamic State after US troops withdraw.Washington's decision to pull out all 2,000 ground forces from Syria has stunned most allies, including France, but was greeted with approval by Turkey.
Ankara believes its forces supporting Syrian opposition fighters will now have a freer rein to target Kurdish fighters from the US-backed People's Protection Units (YPG).
"If France is staying to contribute to Syria's future, great, but if they are doing this to protect the (militia), this will bring no benefit to anyone," Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said, according to Hurriyet daily.

More at: https://news.yahoo.com/turkey-warns-france-against-supporting-kurd-militia-000122568.html

Swordsmyth
12-25-2018, 03:46 PM
The United States-led coalition in Syria carried out a substantial bombing raid on ISIS that damaged major ISIS infrastructure right before President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. will be pulling out of Syria.
President Trump’s pullout was predicated on two factors: 1) America already defeated ISIS, and if it crops back up then there are other countries including Erdogan’s Turkey who can fight them, and 2) We have no interest in removing Bashar al Assad and de-stabilizing the region in a way that emboldens ISIS, the true enemy.

Newsmax reported (https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/us-forces-strike-isis/2018/12/25/id/895797/?ns_mail_uid=b7374ca7-592d-413f-a373-6c79711a2eab&ns_mail_job=DM11158_1252018&s=acs&dkt_nbr=010104r31cm0): “The coalition said its attacks during the week of Dec. 16-22, including air strikes and “coordinated fires,” had destroyed logistics facilities and staging areas used by Islamic State, damaged the group’s ability to finance its activities and “removed several hundred ISIS fighters from the battlefield.'” Newsmax passage ends

More at: https://bigleaguepolitics.com/us-led-coalition-bombed-isis-hard-right-before-trump-announced-end-of-war/

Occam's Banana
12-25-2018, 07:31 PM
https://bigleaguepolitics.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Screen-Shot-2018-12-21-at-10.16.43-AM.png

https://bigleaguepolitics.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Screen-Shot-2018-12-21-at-11.06.00-AM.png

https://bigleaguepolitics.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Screen-Shot-2018-12-21-at-1.24.10-PM.png

You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to Vladimir Putin again.

goldenequity
12-25-2018, 11:21 PM
Christmas present from zion tonite...


Damascus


The Jerusalem Post
BREAKING Report: Delegation of senior Hezbollah officials a target of airstrikes in Syria
http://dlvr.it/QvM8dL



1077704454122717184
https://twitter.com/IvanSidorenko1/status/1077704454122717184



1077688608616841227
https://twitter.com/ignis_fatum/status/1077688608616841227


https://i.servimg.com/u/f61/19/91/31/78/cgeoqy10.jpg









1077686671053852672
https://twitter.com/Syrian_Lion/status/1077686671053852672


Amichai Stein
BREAKING: US DOD source to @Newsweek
Several leaders of Hezbollah have been hit in the Israeli airstrike on Damascus - "Israel's air strike was conducted minutes after the leaders boarded a plane bound for Iran"

(sounds like twitter bs.... but
There will be hell to pay for Israel if this is true.... the Iranian plane was airborne after the airstrike so???)




1077685253945335811
https://twitter.com/SyrianGuy8/status/1077685253945335811



Paula Slier
#Breaking: #Israel has now said that it intercepted #missiles fired from #Syria amidst reports of an #airstrike near #Damascus.


Manbij


Latest reports from activist say a Russian Delegation entered Manbij 1 Hour Ago.
1077791743288971270
https://twitter.com/IvanSidorenko1/status/1077791743288971270




Huge SAA deployment to Manbij:

1077670133412319232
https://twitter.com/maytham956/status/1077670133412319232

goldenequity
12-26-2018, 08:52 AM
Guy Elster
BREAKING Russia says Israeli strikes on Syria directly threatened two civilian flights.

Interfax
http://www.interfax.com/news.asp

►Syrian air defense intercepts 14 of 16 Israeli guided air bombs - Russian Defense Ministry
►Three Syrian troops injured during Israeli air raid - Russian Defense Ministry

►SYRIAN ARMY DID NOT FULLY EMPLOY AIR DEFENSE, ELECTRONIC WARFARE SYSTEMS DURING ISRAELI AIR RAID IN ORDER TO GUIDE CIVILIAN AIRCRAFT OUT OF DANGEROUS AREA - RUSSIAN DEFENSE MINISTRY

14:39
►ISRAELI AIR FORCE CARRIED OUT ATTACK ON DEC 25 AT MOMENT WHEN NON-RUSSIAN CIVIL AIRPLANES WERE COMING IN TO LAND AT BEIRUT, DAMASCUS AIRPORTS - RUSSIAN DEFENSE MINISTRY

14:36
►SYRIAN AIR DEFENSE INTERCEPTED 14 OF 16 ISRAELI GUIDED AIR BOMBS - RUSSIAN DEFENSE MINISTRY

(Looking back through Flightradar, looks like one of the diverted planes was a Kuwaiti registered Airbus A320 with Cham Wings Airlines, diverted to Latakia.
Just out of interest.)

(So IsraHELL used foreign aircraft as another cover against the Syrian air defense AGAIN, even civilian aircraft this time... they did not hesitated to. Still no war criminal charges.)


1077932110101532672
https://twitter.com/Brasco_Aad/status/1077932110101532672

SouthFront
Russian MoD: Israeli Air Force Used Landing Of Two Civilian Planes As Cover For Airstrikes
https://southfront.org/russian-mod-israeli-air-force-used-landing-of-two-civilian-planes-as-cover-for-airstrikes/

Brasco_Aad
Lebanon confirms the Russian statement that Israeli Fighter Jets used two civilian airliners as human shields.

The Daily Star Lebanon
Two civilian planes in Lebanese airspace 'narrowly avoided catastrophe' from Israeli warplanes: Lebanese Transport Minister
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Lebanon-News/2018/Dec-26/472665-two-civilian-planes-in-lebanese-airspace-narrowly-avoided-catastrophe-from-israeli-warplanes.ashx


Elijah J. Magnier
This is the new Israeli tactics to hide its jets behind a civilian aircraft when attacking targets in Syria, endangering hundreds of lives on board.

Israel used the same tactic against a Russian IL-20 causing its downing a few months ago.


Brasco_Aad
Reports that Syria launched a ballistic missile at Israel in retaliation last night.
Israeli Air Defence failed to intercept the missile & it landed somewhere between Hadera & Haifa.
Israel has closed its airspace above these towns. Israeli military censorship has been activated.


1077827836579405825
https://twitter.com/YorukIsik/status/1077827836579405825


Brasco_Aad
Syrian Air Defense, supplied by Russia, destroyed 88 % (!) of ALL incoming Israeli cruise missiles & glide bombs, among the most advanced in the whole world.
Russian-made air defense systems are extraordinary.
No wonder everyone from Morocco to Indonesia wants to buy them.

https://imgfast.net/users/3715/65/05/91/smiles/949160760.gif


Manbij


H.K
Massive Syrian army 1st division and republican guards convoy arrive in west #Manbij countryside, reports that Syrian army about to enter and take over Manbij city very soon

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DvWbr9TX0AAY3pN.jpg:small









Danny Makki
Arab League set to readmit Syria eight years after expulsion
https://amp.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/26/arab-league-set-to-readmit-syria-eight-years-after-expulsion

goldenequity
12-26-2018, 09:36 AM
keeping it simple for Macron and Erdo.


1077927564549767168
https://twitter.com/SyrianGuy8/status/1077927564549767168

goldenequity
12-26-2018, 01:33 PM
Moscow: Israeli air strike hazarded Beirut, Damascus civilian aircraft, weighs extending Syria’s missile shield to Lebanon
https://is.gd/71ikHM

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DvWmJKlXQAA7qZQ.jpg:small

Fares Shehabi MP
Allowing Israeli war planes to use civilian planes as cover is a war crime by all definitions! Israeli Prime Minister @netanyahu must be held accountable!

https://imgfast.net/users/3715/65/05/91/smiles/1047473441.jpg

========

Within Syria
A very large force of the SAA has now taken an advanced position west of the city of Manbij.
https://twitter.com/WithinSyriaBlog/status/1077965060939661313

Desert Hawk
The SAA entered Arimah, a distance of 25km away from the centre of Manbij
Syrian Army is entering Arimah in large numbers & heading through the old road to Manbij and arrived now to Um Addasah Syria.
https://twitter.com/Syrian_Lion/status/1077971350252326913

Desert Hawk
The people of Manbij are now protesting against a possible military operation by the Turkish forces for occupation of their city.
https://twitter.com/Syrian_Lion/status/1077975984337502208

SouthFront
High-Level Turkish Delegation To Visit Moscow To Discuss Syrian Conflict
https://southfront.org/high-level-turkish-delegation-to-visit-moscow-to-discuss-syrian-conflict/


1078003211221565440
https://twitter.com/Ozkok_/status/1078003211221565440


=====


WikiLeaks
Is Trump on a surprise visit to Afghanistan? Turkey?
Flight trackers show that one of two planes used for Air Force One (92-9000/VC-25)
using what appears to be a fake HEXCODE of AE47C4, departed Andrews Air Force base at midnight. Transponders changed or disabled near Romania.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DvXU69DVAAAauN8.jpg:small

goldenequity
12-26-2018, 01:41 PM
Instant News Alerts
BREAKING: President Trump has made a surprise visit to @BagramAirfield in Afghanistan to visit deployed US Troops.-@StratSentinel

7:14 PM - 26 Dec 2018
1078006196190228480
https://twitter.com/InstaNewsAlerts/status/1078006196190228480


ELINT News
BREAKING: President Trump visits US troops at Al-Asad Air Base in Iraq- Reuters photographs confirm

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DvXZpM7UwAE991V.jpg


1078008116585943040
https://twitter.com/nytpolitics/status/1078008116585943040

Swordsmyth
12-26-2018, 02:28 PM
Instant News Alerts
BREAKING: President Trump has made a surprise visit to @BagramAirfield in Afghanistan to visit deployed US Troops.-@StratSentinel

7:14 PM - 26 Dec 2018
1078006196190228480
https://twitter.com/InstaNewsAlerts/status/1078006196190228480


ELINT News
BREAKING: President Trump visits US troops at Al-Asad Air Base in Iraq- Reuters photographs confirm

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DvXZpM7UwAE991V.jpg


1078008116585943040
https://twitter.com/nytpolitics/status/1078008116585943040

Hopefully he is planning more withdrawals.

enhanced_deficit
12-26-2018, 02:30 PM
Hopefully not diverting them to Iraq or other new war location to appease GOP-Adelson (neocon) wing's top funders.

Trump to expand presence in Iraq! (http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?529634-Trump-to-expand-presence-in-Iraq!)

Swordsmyth
12-26-2018, 03:14 PM
Russia’s Nezavisimaya Gazeta said that Israel is preparing for a comprehensive war on Syria following the US’ withdrawal from the country.
https://www.zerohedge.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/GettyImages-1052178886.jpg
The newspaper said that the decision of US President Donald Trump to withdraw (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20181219-we-have-defeated-isis-in-syria-my-only-reason-for-being-there-during-the-trump-presidency-president-says/)American troops from Syria has left Israel forced to face the Iranian presence in Syria with its troops alone.
The newspaper quoted Israel’s former defence minister (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20181114-israel-defence-minister-lieberman-resigns/) Avigdor Lieberman as saying that:

“the United States’ withdrawal from Syria greatly increases the likelihood of a large-scale conflict in the north, whether in Lebanon or Syria”.
Lieberman added that “the Americans’ departure will raise the morale of Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad and his allies, Iran and Lebanese Hezbollah.”
The Russian daily quoted Russian military expert Yuri Liamin as saying that “Iran cannot interpret this decision as a blank cheque”.

More at: https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-12-26/israel-preparing-comprehensive-war-syria-report

goldenequity
12-26-2018, 04:29 PM
Al-Masdar News
Trump: "No withdrawal from Iraq, US can attack Syria from nearby base."
https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/breaking-no-withdrawal-from-iraq-us-can-attack-syria-from-nearby-base-trump/
“In fact we could use this as the base if we wanted to do something in Syria,” he added.

Guy Elster
Al Mayadeen reports Iraqi leadership refused to meet Trump
https://twitter.com/AlMayadeenLive/status/1078013974342443013

Elijah J. Magnier
USA president realDonaldTrump asked to meet the Iraqi President, Prime Minister and Speaker at Ain al-Assad military base in Iraq but all turned down his request

1078032760198123535
https://twitter.com/Souria4Syrians/status/1078032760198123535

Haidar Sumeri
BREAKING: Several political parties in Iraq have released statements condemning Trump’s visit and calling for an emergency session in parliament to discuss the acceleration of legislation to evict American forces from the country.

Guy Elster
Trump says 'US will not be the policeman of the world' as he left Iraq


http://lasvegas.informermg.com/files/2015/01/wizard-of-oz-baloon.jpg

=============

ELINT News
UPDATE: Heavy IAF activity noted over Lebanon and parts of Israel
UPDATE: Source telling me heavy fighter activity also over Haifa.
IAF warplanes popping flares over Lebanon, reasons unclear, Netanyahu off to Brazil tomorrow, I don’t really expect Israel to strike when he’s going away...?










►He flew in total secrecy to one of the most secure and remote bases in Iraq with Air Force One’s callsign and hex code disguised. Took selfies and left. Too terrified to even visit Erbil, let alone Baghdad.
►Iraq’s PM @AdilAbdAlMahdi (AAM) says Iraqi authorities were informed in advance about Trump’s visit to Al-Asad airbase. Trump phoned to invite him to the White House.
►According to the office of Iraq’s PM, the original plan was for Trump and AAM to meet in person for a formal reception but conflicting views regarding unspecified aspects of the meeting led to it being cancelled and a phone call taking place instead.
►Walked back his “we defeated Da’ish” bullshit, now Da’ish is apparently “nearly” defeated.

Swordsmyth
12-26-2018, 04:34 PM
Al-Masdar News
Trump: "No withdrawal from Iraq, US can attack Syria from nearby base."
https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/breaking-no-withdrawal-from-iraq-us-can-attack-syria-from-nearby-base-trump/
“In fact we could use this as the base if we wanted to do something in Syria,” he added.

Guy Elster
Al Mayadeen reports Iraqi leadership refused to meet Trump
https://twitter.com/AlMayadeenLive/status/1078013974342443013

Elijah J. Magnier
USA president @real (http://www.ronpaulforums.com/member.php?u=68777)DonaldTrump asked to meet the Iraqi President, Prime Minister and Speaker at Ain al-Assad military base in Iraq but all turned down his request

1078032760198123535
https://twitter.com/Souria4Syrians/status/1078032760198123535

Haidar Sumeri
BREAKING: Several political parties in Iraq have released statements condemning Trump’s visit and calling for an emergency session in parliament to discuss the acceleration of legislation to evict American forces from the country.

Guy Elster
Trump says 'US will not be the policeman of the world' as he left Iraq
He may be just saying this to push back against the neocons that are accusing him of giving ISIS a Christmas present, his choice of a permanent replacement for Mattis will be informative.

Rand needs to have a talk with him.

Zippyjuan
12-26-2018, 05:05 PM
Trump not ruling out more action in Syria. From his visit to Iraq today:


Mr Trump said the US could use Iraq as a forward base if "we wanted to do something in Syria", Reuters news agency reports.


"I made it clear from the beginning that our mission in Syria was to strip Isis [another name for IS] of its military strongholds.

"Eight years ago, we went there for three months and we never left. Now, we're doing it right and we're going to finish it off."

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-46687909

Swordsmyth
12-26-2018, 06:39 PM
ELINT News
UPDATE: Heavy IAF activity noted over Lebanon and parts of Israel
UPDATE: Source telling me heavy fighter activity also over Haifa.
IAF warplanes popping flares over Lebanon, reasons unclear, Netanyahu off to Brazil tomorrow, I don’t really expect Israel to strike when he’s going away...?
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will cut a visit to Brazil short, skipping incoming President Jair Bolsonaro's inauguration.Brazilian paper O Globo reports Wednesday that Netanyahu decided to shorten his weeklong visit to just two days after his coalition announced the dissolution of the Knesset and hastened elections to April 9.

More at: https://news.yahoo.com/israeli-pm-skip-brazil-presidential-inauguration-160704509.html

enhanced_deficit
12-26-2018, 07:34 PM
WSJ: U.S. Military Preparing for a Full Withdrawal of Its Forces From Northeastern Syria (http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?529421-WSJ-U-S-Military-Preparing-for-a-Full-Withdrawal-of-Its-Forces-From-Northeastern-Syria)




This could just be propaganda to push back against his anti-globalist supporters who are screaming about the foreign wars, interventions and spending.




This could just be propaganda to push back against the neocons who are screaming about the withdrawals.




I'm not convinced this was just propaganda to appease his purist anti-globalist base fed up with foreign wars, spending, blowbacks etc. MAGA lately has been more upfront and has been saying what he means.

AuH20
12-27-2018, 10:09 AM
1078027105789792259

TheCount
12-31-2018, 07:06 AM
1078027105789792259


Senator Lindsey Graham suggested the withdrawal had been slowed and he was now reassured of the president's commitment after meeting him on Sunday.

...

"I think we're in a pause situation where we are re-evaluating what's the best way to achieve the president's objective of having people pay more and do more," Mr. Graham said.https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-46718397

devil21
12-31-2018, 10:48 AM
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-46718397

If it's true that Trump listens most to the last person he talked to then Rand better invite him over for NYE dinner.

Anti Globalist
12-31-2018, 11:47 AM
Can we expect more false flag attacks soon?

Swordsmyth
12-31-2018, 02:46 PM
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-46718397
Graham didn't get anything out of Trump, he made a fool of himself opposing him and now he is trying to save face by taking credit for something that was part of Trump's plan all along.

enhanced_deficit
12-31-2018, 03:20 PM
Rumors of a pause situation.

MAGA's immediate Syria withdrawal annoucement was technically not fakenews (http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?529786-MAGA-s-immediate-Syria-withdrawal-annoucement-was-technically-not-fakenews)

Swordsmyth
01-01-2019, 04:10 PM
Earlier, Trump went to Twitter to defend his decision to withdraw American troops from Syria, accusing his critics of hypocrisy. He noted that any other US president would have been applauded for such a decision.
The New York Times has cited two unnamed US administration officials as saying that President Donald Trump will give the Pentagon about four months to withdraw American troops from Syria.
The officials referred to the US president’s meeting with Lt. Gen. Paul J. LaCamera, head of the Combined Joint Task Force fighting Daesh* in the region, during which Trump said that the troops could have several months to ensure a “succinct departure”.
Pentagon spokesman Sean Robertson, in turn, was quoted by the New York Times as saying that “I’ll let the president’s words speak for themselves.”


More at: https://www.infowars.com/trump-gives-us-troops-four-months-to-leave-syria-amid-criticism-report/

Swordsmyth
01-02-2019, 08:47 PM
Otto von Bismarck once said, “People never lie so much as after a hunt, during a war or before an election.” For decades, a common myth pervading the American political (https://www.libertynation.com/category/politics/) arena has been that the left is anti-war.
https://www.zerohedge.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/War-in-Syria.jpg
But they are as much opposed to war as Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) – at least he is honest about his appetite for blood and desire for perpetual regime change, no matter who occupies the Oval Office. So, from where did this mendacity come?
In 2008, the United States was entrenched in an election battle and two major wars – Afghanistan and Iraq. The Democrats portrayed themselves as the anti-war party, promising to correct the foreign disasters of the incumbent administration. Since then, it’s as if former President George W. Bush never departed. The Democrats have championed military interventions, twiddled their thumbs under President Barack Obama, and nominated a hawk to lead the party in 2016.
Progressives, the same ones who, under Republican administrations, routinely held massive anti-war rallies on days that ended in “y,” have been eerily silent for the last ten years.
Today, the left has united (https://www.libertynation.com/analysis-neocons-left-want-war/) with the neoconservatives in opposition to President Donald Trump’s decision (https://www.libertynation.com/white-house-announces-a-withdraw-from-syria/) to bring 2,000 troops home from Syria and potential plans to withdraw (https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-afghanistan-trump/u-s-plans-for-more-than-5000-troops-to-be-withdrawn-from-afghanistan-idUSKCN1OJ2VN)from Afghanistan. Because they loathe Trump so much and don’t want him to be portrayed as a more peaceful president than his predecessor, leftists demand that U.S. forces permanently stay in the region, facing death or serious injury.
Is this a case of Freaky Friday politics, or has the left always been pro-war?
Anti-War Democrats, Please Stand Up Attempting to locate a handful of consistent anti-war Democrats is like trying to spot Vice President Mike Pence with a woman other than his wife at a restaurant: It’s never going to happen.
Even Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), the man who switches from Independent to Democrat when it suits the occasion, has come out of the closet on occasion as a hawk. In addition to supporting (https://original.antiwar.com/malic/2016/03/25/kosovo-an-evil-little-war-almost-all-us-candidates-liked/) the so-called Little War in Kosovo in the 1990s, Sanders revealed (http://economiccollapsenews.com/2015/09/01/bernie-sanders-open-to-taking-u-s-to-war-even-when-not-directly-attacked/) to ABC News in September 2015 that the U.S. could use its military forces when not attacked and apply sanctions on adversaries.
For the last century, virtually every war, invasion, and occupation have been given the stamp of approval by Democrats. President Woodrow Wilson dragged the U.S. into one of those wars-to-end-all- wars fiascos. President Harry Truman sent thousands of young men to their deaths in Korea, setting the stage for perpetual global interventionism. President Lyndon Baines Johnson escalated American involvement in Vietnam. The Democratic leadership approved of the Iraq War, and Obama destabilized an entire region, killed American citizens, and intensified the drone bombing campaign.
Outside of Capitol Hill, the predominantly left-leaning mainstream media have never seen a war it didn’t like. In the last two years alone, the vacuous TV commentators have employed the same two strategies: Demand action against Russia (eh, Paul Begala (https://www.libertynation.com/trump-putin-meeting-angers-left-neocon-alliance/)?) and oppose President Trump for using diplomacy and other tactics to institute peace.
So, how exactly is the left anti-war?
The Born-Again Right When it comes to foreign policy, there are now three wings of the GOP: hawks, doves, and those who realize the doctrine of the last 20 years has failed.
One of the biggest surprises since Trump’s election is that the right has become increasingly more cautious about seeking dragons to slay and erecting Old Glory on every plot of land in the world. House Republicans have slashed (https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/house-republicans-seek-cuts-foreign-aid-support-u-s-mexico-wall) foreign aid in the billions, Senate Republicans have voted to end (https://www.libertynation.com/hemp-war-powers-a-troubling-new-bill/)America’s role in Yemen’s humanitarian crisis, and prominent figures in the White House have asked one simple question: Why should the United States be the policeman of the world?
Stephen Miller, a senior adviser to the president, recently dismantled (https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2018/12/21/stephen_miller_vs_cnns_wolf_blitzer_where_is_the_e vidence_that_you_keep_asserting_democrats_support_ border_security.html) the hawkish Counterfeit News Network when he told Wolf Blitzer:

“What I’m talking about, Wolf, is the big picture of a country that through several administrations had an absolutely catastrophic foreign policy that cost trillions and trillions of dollars and thousands and thousands of lives and made the Middle East more unstable and more dangerous. And let’s talk about Syria. Let’s talk about the fact — ISIS is the enemy of Russia. ISIS is the enemy of Assad. ISIS is the enemy of Turkey. Are we supposed to stay in Syria generation after generation, spilling American blood to fight the enemies of all those countries?”
Had Obama uttered these fiery remarks in ’08, they would have been the headline for many outlets that covered the interview. Instead, The Washington Post reported, “Wolf Blitzer tells Stephen Miller to ‘calm down’ during heated interview (http://archive.vn/0meIm).” The Huffington Post ran with this headline: “CNN’s Wolf Blitzer Tells Stephen Miller to ‘Calm Down.’ (http://archive.vn/grmKK)”
Comments that should draw praise from the left have been met with mockery and scorn.


More at: https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2019-01-02/great-myth-anti-war-left-exposed

Swordsmyth
01-02-2019, 11:11 PM
The Syrian regime said Wednesday hundreds of Kurdish fighters had withdrawn from Manbij near the border with Turkey, days after the Kurds appealed to Damascus for support against a threatened Turkish offensive."A convoy of units of Kurdish fighters comprised of more than 30 vehicles left the region of Manbij, heading towards the eastern bank of the Euphrates River," the defence ministry said online.
"The information (we have) indicates that nearly 400 Kurdish fighters have left Manbij so far."
The People's Protection Units (YPG), the main Kurdish militia in Syria, last week invited regime forces to deploy to the key city following a shock announcement that American troops would leave the country.

The Syrian defence ministry released a video showing a long convoy of 4x4 vehicles and white pick-ups carrying fighters in combat fatigues and displaying the YPG flag.

More at: https://news.yahoo.com/syria-regime-says-kurdish-fighters-withdraw-manbij-175600243.html

Swordsmyth
01-04-2019, 08:04 PM
Last month, President Trump announced that the US would be withdrawing its troops from Syria over a period of several months

“Just to clarify, we do not — we do not intend to have an indefinite military presence in Syria. The president has made the decision that we will withdraw and we are formulating the plans to do that right now,” a senior State Department official said on Friday.


Speaking further, the official noted that the US had no plans to facilitate the deployment of Arab forces to Syria.
“We explore a variety of options, but we do not have any plans right now to facilitate Arab forces going into Syria,” the official told reporters.

More at: https://www.infowars.com/us-doesnt-intend-to-have-indefinite-military-presence-in-syria-official/

Swordsmyth
01-07-2019, 07:22 PM
Speaking to CNBC on Monday, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo sought to reassure the public that Turkey's President Erdogan has made a personal commitment to President Trump that the Turks won't slaughter the Kurds as US forces draw down in Syria.
Asked about Erdogan's trustworthiness not to turn on the US-backed Kurds in Syria, Pompeo made this dubious point: "Erdogan made a commitment to President Trump... that the Turks would continue to the counter ISIS campaign after our departure, and that the Turks would ensure that the folks that we'd fought with — that assisted us in the counter ISIS campaign — would be protected," according to CNBC (https://www.cnbc.com/2019/01/07/secretary-of-state-mike-pompeo-us-withdrawal-from-syria-doesnt-change-mission-to-destroy-isis-and-stop-irans-influence-in-the-mideast.html). Pompeo explained further that John Bolton is going to speak with Turkey during his visit there on how to put that promise into operation.


More at: https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2019-01-07/erdogan-promised-trump-turks-wont-slaughter-kurds-proposes-stabilization-force

Swordsmyth
01-07-2019, 08:19 PM
https://media.8ch.net/file_store/ae932a922a12ece90629d018b841593ae64cce448f4300cfd8 7e427c8ea3e835.png

The White House sought to make the case on Monday that President Donald Trump had not changed his position on withdrawing U.S. troops from Syria, a day after his national security adviser outlined conditions for a withdrawal that could take months.Trump's abrupt announcement last month that he was bringing home the roughly 2,000 troops in Syria, saying they had succeeded in their mission to defeat Islamic State there, sparked concern among officials in Washington and allies abroad and prompted Defense Secretary Jim Mattis to resign.
In recent days, Trump administration officials have applied the brakes, making clear the withdrawal will not happen quickly. The president himself said last week that the United States would get out of Syria slowly "over a period of time."
"The president hasn't changed his position, as he mentioned his primary goal is to ensure the safety of our troops and the safety of our allies as well," White House spokeswoman Mercedes Schlapp told Fox News on Monday. "And so the Department of Defense will come up with its operational plan to safely withdraw our troops."
"It takes time to take the troops out because we want to make sure that our troops are safe in this process," she said.
Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron discussed the two countries' commitment to destroy Islamic State and "plans for a strong, deliberate, and coordinated withdrawal of U.S. troops from Syria" during a telephone call on Monday, the White House said.

More at: https://www.yahoo.com/news/white-hou...002037163.html (https://www.yahoo.com/news/white-house-says-trump-position-unchanged-syria-withdrawal-002037163.html)

enhanced_deficit
01-07-2019, 09:34 PM
This is sort of a historic moment as history is happning right front of our eyes.
Kudos to GOP-Adelson's leadrship for making this America First milestone happen.
Withdrawal from Iraq could be coming soon next.


https://www.mintpressnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Special-Features-Bolton-Declares-article-picture-6-INSTRUCTIONS-CROP-OUT-THE-PIC-OF-THE-MAN-ON-THE-FAR-RIGHT-IN-PHOTO_edited.jpg

Contradicting Trump, Bolton says no withdrawal from Syria until ISIS destroyed, Kurds’ safety guaranteed

(Reuters)
By Karoun Demirjian
January 6
President Trump’s national security adviser sought to reassure allies Sunday that the United States would be methodical about withdrawing troops from Syria, promising that the pullout would not occur until the Islamic State was fully eradicated from the country and Turkey could guarantee the safety of Kurdish fighters who have fought alongside American personnel.
John Bolton’s comments, reported by the Associated Press (https://apnews.com/e03de193e25e4fc19377ce99f947aa45?utm_source=Twitte r&utm_medium=AP&utm_campaign=SocialFlow), contradict Trump’s mid-December promise to bring troops home from Syria “now,” an announcement that surprised allies and advisers, sparked an outcry from lawmakers, and prompted the resignation of Defense Secretary Jim Mattis. It is also the clearest statement yet from any of the president’s surrogates about how they plan to slow the implementation of his pullout plans.
“There are objectives that we want to accomplish that condition the withdrawal,” Bolton said while speaking to reporters in Jerusalem, on a trip intended to allay Israeli leaders’ concerns about Trump’s announcement. “The timetable flows from the policy decisions that we need to implement.”
Trump touched off global confusion and panic when he announced via Twitter on Dec. 19 that he would order the withdrawal of the 2,000 troops stationed in Syria to help fight the Islamic State. “Our boys, our young women, our men, they’re all coming back and they’re coming back now. We won,” Trump said at thet time.

Days later, while visiting U.S. troops in Iraq after Christmas, Trump told reporters traveling with him that he would deny any request from the military to extend the mission in Syria. “They said again, recently, ‘Can we have more time?’ ” Trump said of U.S. generals. “I said: ‘Nope. You can’t have any more time. You’ve had enough time.’ We’ve knocked them out. We’ve knocked them silly.”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world...0a8_story.html



Trump's top donor in 2013: US should drop atomic bomb on Iran (http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?527899-Soros-vs-Adelson-whose-political-funding-is-better-for-cause-of-liberty&p=6700407&viewfull=1#post6700407)

American-Jewish billionaire blasts Obama over negotiations with Tehran; says US should show Iran nuclear capabilities.

https://images.jpost.com/image/upload/f_auto,fl_lossy/t_Article2016_Control/229168

Related

Trump To Appoint John Bolton as National Security Advisor (http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?520646-BREAKING-Trump-To-Appoint-John-Bolton-as-National-Security-Advisor/page6&)




https://youtu.be/AaKOo_cJYVc



March 2018- US Leaving Syria Soon


Trump says US will withdraw from Syria 'very soon'

Updated 5:44 PM ET, Thu March 29, 2018

Washington (CNN)President Donald Trump said Thursday that the US would "be coming out of Syria like very soon," just hours after the Pentagon highlighted the need for US troops to remain in the country for the immediate future.

"We're knocking the hell out of ISIS. We'll be coming out of Syria like very soon. Let the other people take care of it now," Trump told supporters at an Ohio event on infrastructure.
https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/29/politics/trump-withdraw-syria-pentagon/index.html

That statement was made before Bolton's visit to Israel.

Swordsmyth
01-07-2019, 09:43 PM
This is sort of a historic moment as history is happning right front of our eyes.
Kudos to GOP-Adelson's leadrship for making this America First milestone happen.
Withdrawal from Iraq could be coming soon next.


https://www.mintpressnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Special-Features-Bolton-Declares-article-picture-6-INSTRUCTIONS-CROP-OUT-THE-PIC-OF-THE-MAN-ON-THE-FAR-RIGHT-IN-PHOTO_edited.jpg

Contradicting Trump, Bolton says no withdrawal from Syria until ISIS destroyed, Kurds’ safety guaranteed

(Reuters)
By Karoun Demirjian
January 6
President Trump’s national security adviser sought to reassure allies Sunday that the United States would be methodical about withdrawing troops from Syria, promising that the pullout would not occur until the Islamic State was fully eradicated from the country and Turkey could guarantee the safety of Kurdish fighters who have fought alongside American personnel.
John Bolton’s comments, reported by the Associated Press (https://apnews.com/e03de193e25e4fc19377ce99f947aa45?utm_source=Twitte r&utm_medium=AP&utm_campaign=SocialFlow), contradict Trump’s mid-December promise to bring troops home from Syria “now,” an announcement that surprised allies and advisers, sparked an outcry from lawmakers, and prompted the resignation of Defense Secretary Jim Mattis. It is also the clearest statement yet from any of the president’s surrogates about how they plan to slow the implementation of his pullout plans.
“There are objectives that we want to accomplish that condition the withdrawal,” Bolton said while speaking to reporters in Jerusalem, on a trip intended to allay Israeli leaders’ concerns about Trump’s announcement. “The timetable flows from the policy decisions that we need to implement.”
Trump touched off global confusion and panic when he announced via Twitter on Dec. 19 that he would order the withdrawal of the 2,000 troops stationed in Syria to help fight the Islamic State. “Our boys, our young women, our men, they’re all coming back and they’re coming back now. We won,” Trump said at thet time.

Days later, while visiting U.S. troops in Iraq after Christmas, Trump told reporters traveling with him that he would deny any request from the military to extend the mission in Syria. “They said again, recently, ‘Can we have more time?’ ” Trump said of U.S. generals. “I said: ‘Nope. You can’t have any more time. You’ve had enough time.’ We’ve knocked them out. We’ve knocked them silly.”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world...0a8_story.html



Trump's top donor in 2013: US should drop atomic bomb on Iran (http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?527899-Soros-vs-Adelson-whose-political-funding-is-better-for-cause-of-liberty&p=6700407&viewfull=1#post6700407)

American-Jewish billionaire blasts Obama over negotiations with Tehran; says US should show Iran nuclear capabilities.

https://images.jpost.com/image/upload/f_auto,fl_lossy/t_Article2016_Control/229168

Related

Trump To Appoint John Bolton as National Security Advisor (http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?520646-BREAKING-Trump-To-Appoint-John-Bolton-as-National-Security-Advisor/page6&)







That statement was made before Bolton's visit to Israel.


https://media.8ch.net/file_store/ae932a922a12ece90629d018b841593ae64cce448f4300cfd8 7e427c8ea3e835.png

The White House sought to make the case on Monday that President Donald Trump had not changed his position on withdrawing U.S. troops from Syria, a day after his national security adviser outlined conditions for a withdrawal that could take months.Trump's abrupt announcement last month that he was bringing home the roughly 2,000 troops in Syria, saying they had succeeded in their mission to defeat Islamic State there, sparked concern among officials in Washington and allies abroad and prompted Defense Secretary Jim Mattis to resign.
In recent days, Trump administration officials have applied the brakes, making clear the withdrawal will not happen quickly. The president himself said last week that the United States would get out of Syria slowly "over a period of time."
"The president hasn't changed his position, as he mentioned his primary goal is to ensure the safety of our troops and the safety of our allies as well," White House spokeswoman Mercedes Schlapp told Fox News on Monday. "And so the Department of Defense will come up with its operational plan to safely withdraw our troops."
"It takes time to take the troops out because we want to make sure that our troops are safe in this process," she said.
Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron discussed the two countries' commitment to destroy Islamic State and "plans for a strong, deliberate, and coordinated withdrawal of U.S. troops from Syria" during a telephone call on Monday, the White House said.

More at: https://www.yahoo.com/news/white-hou...002037163.html (https://www.yahoo.com/news/white-house-says-trump-position-unchanged-syria-withdrawal-002037163.html)

...

Swordsmyth
01-07-2019, 09:51 PM
Syria's Kurds are awaiting clarifications from the U.S. over America's plans to pull out its troops from Syria following comments made by a top White House aide that appeared to counter earlier comments by President Donald Trump, a Syrian Kurdish official said Monday.Speaking to The Associated Press from northern Syria Monday, Badran Ciya Kurd said the Kurds have not been informed of any change in the U.S. position and were in the dark about the latest comments by U.S. national security adviser John Bolton and what they indicated.
"We have not been formally or directly notified, all what we heard were media statements," he said.

More at: https://www.yahoo.com/news/kurdish-official-asks-us-clarifications-over-withdrawal-122007456.html


Bolton is running the same bluff as Graham but it won't work.

Origanalist
01-08-2019, 01:53 AM
1082067544129916928

With Golan Heights at Stake, Netanyahu and Bolton Set Trump Straight on Syria

https://cdn.minds.com/api/v2/media/proxy?size=1920&src=https%3A%2F%2Ftheantimedia.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2019%2F01%2Fla-1546821748-ipivumpmzf-snap-image.jpg

(MPN) — The state of Israel seems to share at least some of the responsibility for the latest shift of U.S. Syria policy — as National Security Adviser John Bolton announced on Sunday that President Donald Trump’s call to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria would now be “coordinated” with Israel, after meeting with top Israeli officials including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Israel’s main motivation in preventing a swift U.S. exit from Syria was also made explicit by Netanyahu, who openly stated on Twitter that Israel’s push to obtain sovereignty over the occupied Golan Heights – which is internationally recognized as part of Syria – was the driving factor behind Israel’s recent efforts to dramatically slow down Trump’s plan for an “immediate” withdrawal of U.S. troops currently occupying Syrian territory illegally.

As MintPress noted at the time of Trump’s withdrawal announcement, Israel’s influence on Trump’s Middle East policy and Israel’s push towards containing “Iranian influence” in Syria would mean that Trump’s plan to withdraw troops over the alleged defeat of ISIS would likely never materialize if it was opposed by Tel Aviv.

This was apparently and not surprisingly the case as, soon after Trump’s announcement that he planned to bring U.S. troops home from Syria last month, Israel’s government announced that it would dramatically rev up its direct involvement in the Syrian conflict in the U.S.’ absence. That involvement had so far been limited to hundreds of unilateral airstrikes on Syrian government and military targets over the course of the nearly eight-year-long war. Israel’s threat of escalation revealed Israel’s unwillingness to see foreign pressure on Damascus reduced.

Israel’s military — currently headed by Netanyahu, who is also serving as Israel’s defense minister — made good on this promise to increase its military involvement in Syria soon after, using civilian airplanes as cover to launch airstrikes on Syria on Christmas Day.

However, Israel’s reaction to Trump’s announcement appears to have been much more extensive than its decision to increase its airstrikes targeting Syrian territory. After meeting with Netanyahu and the director of Israeli intelligence, Bolton noted on Twitter that the “U.S. drawdown in Syria” would now be “coordinated” with Israel. Also on Sunday, Bolton announced that the U.S. had no timetable for troop withdrawal from Syria and that the troop withdrawal was also conditional.

https://theantimedia.com/golan-heights-netanyahu-bolton-trump-syria/

Origanalist
01-08-2019, 02:05 AM
1081993971365277697



1081994007532748802



1081994719016697856

Swordsmyth
01-08-2019, 10:06 PM
Turkey is going on the attack against John Bolton following his weekend antics in the Middle East, which most recently included being snubbed by Erdogan in the Turkish capital. Bolton has now gone "rogue" and tried to undercut Trump's Syria pullout decision by setting his own preconditions, writes the editorial board of Turkey's most visible pro-government English language daily newspaper.
The pro-Erdogan, AKP-supporting Daily Sabah says "a soft coup against Donald Trump" is underway, but that Trump's "rogue" National Security Adviser got a "rude awakening" upon visiting Turkey yesterday (https://www.dailysabah.com/editorial/2019/01/08/a-soft-coup-against-donald-trump):

If U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton thought yesterday's visit was going to be a walk in the park, he must have had a rude awakening thanks to the lukewarm reception in the Turkish capital Ankara. In retrospect, it was probably a bad idea for Bolton to go rogue and try to impose conditions on the United States withdrawal from Syria. Keeping in mind that Turkey was already getting ready to send its troops to northern Syria before U.S. President Donald Trump's surprise announcement last month, it is time for Washington to accept that it isn't negotiating with Turkey from a position of power.
https://www.zerohedge.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Bolton%20in%20Turkey.jpg

The op-ed declares case closed for any doubts about a fierce resistance seeking to subvert Trump within his own administration:

If there was ever any doubt that the resistance within the Trump administration wasn't real, what happened in light of Trump's decision to leave disproved the skeptics. Bolton and several other members of the Trump administration are committing a serious crime by preventing the current president of the United States from reversing his predecessor's misguided decisions in the Syrian theater. What is happening today isn't a policy debate, but a direct challenge to American democracy by unelected paper-pushers. Indeed, "many of the senior officials in his own administration are working diligently from within to frustrate" (https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/05/opinion/trump-white-house-anonymous-resistance.html) President Trump's agenda.
Bolton is pushing for Trump to hold off on withdrawing 2,000+ US troops from Syria until it had received assurances from Turkey that the Turks wouldn't attack (https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2019-01-06/syria-withdrawal-now-depends-turkish-guarantee-not-attack-kurds) US-backed Kurds in the region. Bolton revealed the change in direction during a Sunday interview, ahead of a planned trip abroad where he will visit Turkey and Israel to discuss the terms of the US withdrawal; however, the degree to which Trump has personally signed off on Bolton's "preconditions" remains unclear, and for the past week contradictory messages have been issued from both Pentagon and admin officials.
Instead of meeting with Bolton, Erdogan used a prescheduled speech in parliament to criticize American proposals that the Kurdish group play a key role in Syria after the US withdraws, according to Bloomberg (https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-01-08/turkey-s-erdogan-refuses-to-meet-with-trump-adviser-bolton).

Turkey goes on the attack against Bolton: accuses him of going "rogue" and seeking to undercut Trump's decision to pull out of Syria by setting his own conditions. "A soft coup against Trump is underway." https://t.co/cTCQB5x64i
— Liz Sly (@LizSly) January 8, 2019 (https://twitter.com/LizSly/status/1082690791405948928?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) Notably, on Monday President Trump slammed a New York Times piece that heavily quoted Bolton, suggesting new preconditions (https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/424138-trump-denies-backtracking-on-syria-even-as-withdrawal-possibly) on the announced Syria draw down, and that Bolton had effectively “rolled back” Trump’s decision to “rapidly withdraw from Syria.”
Trump blasted the Times via Twitter, saying the newspaper published “a very inaccurate story on my intentions for Syria,” and that the policy that remains is “No different from my original statements, we will be leaving at a proper pace while at the same time continuing to fight ISIS and doing all else that is prudent and necessary!”.

The astute geopolitical blog Moon of Alabama rightly concluded (https://www.moonofalabama.org/2019/01/turkey-rejects-new-us-syria-plan-humilates-john-bolton.html#more), "And with that, Bolton was humiliated and the issue of the U.S. retreat from Syria kicked back to Trump."

More at: https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2019-01-08/soft-coup-against-donald-trump-underway-major-turkish-daily


Bolton's days are numbered.

Swordsmyth
01-09-2019, 01:36 AM
A top Turkish official says Turkey will not seek permission from allies to conduct a military offensive against Syrian Kurdish fighters but is willing to coordinate operations.

Presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin also told reporters following talks with White House national security adviser John Bolton that there is no slowdown in the timetable for a U.S. withdrawal from Syria, adding that U.S. officials have said during their discussions that the withdrawal could take place within "120 days."
Kaliln said their talks on Tuesday focused on how the United States would collect the weapons that were given to Kurdish militia fighting the Islamic State group as well as the future of U.S. bases in Syria.

More at: https://news.yahoo.com/latest-trump-adviser-bolton-holds-meetings-ankara-085331052.html

https://media.8ch.net/file_store/ae932a922a12ece90629d018b841593ae64cce448f4300cfd8 7e427c8ea3e835.png

Swordsmyth
01-09-2019, 11:00 PM
It's but the next humiliation for Bolton, who flew out of Turkey on Tuesday, and for White House policy in the Middle East, after he announced preconditions to American troop draw down that emphasized Turkey agreeing to not attack the US-backed Kurds in Syria. Erdogan slammed this as a "serious mistake" and pro-government Turkish media painted the picture of a "soft coup" underway (https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2019-01-08/soft-coup-against-donald-trump-underway-major-turkish-daily) against Trump being orchestrated by Bolton and other subverters who had "rogue".
But no doubt adding insult to injury, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu issued further provocative words on Wednesday, noting that given "certain difficulties" of confused US policy, the American draw down should be coordinated with Iran and Russia to prevent a power vacuum and the reinvigoration of terrorists.
“The United States [has] been facing certain difficulties with the process of the troops' withdrawal from Syria. We want to coordinate this process with Russia and Iran, with which we had arranged work in the framework of the Astana process,”the Turksih FM said (https://www.rt.com/news/448351-turkey-russia-joint-control-syria/).
This would involve Turkish forces conducting (https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/developing-turkey-seeking-join-patrols-with-russia-amid-us-withdrawal-from-syria/) joint patrols with Russia amidst a US withdrawal of all troops from Syria, in accord with prior agreements reached during the Astana talks (https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-10-28/germany-and-france-just-broke-us-boycott-syria), set to continue further in Moscow at a future date. Cavusoglu also said bilateral talks are being prepared between Turkey and Iran, but gave no further specifics, according to Russian media.


But as we mentioned previously, this is where the Syrian Kurds are actually headed (https://news.vice.com/en_us/article/a3mm74/the-kurds-are-getting-super-cozy-with-assad-now-that-trump-called-syria-sand-and-death): towards making a deal with Assad which would provide Syrian Army protection to Kurdish enclaves in the face of the invading Turks. This truly local solution, fast taking shape (https://news.vice.com/en_us/article/a3mm74/the-kurds-are-getting-super-cozy-with-assad-now-that-trump-called-syria-sand-and-death), will occur without the United States or Turkey, and in affirmation of Syrian sovereignty.
As Washington and Ankara feud, and as President Trump seeks to clamp down on the conflicting messages on Syria from within his own administration, the "solution" may come faster and more organically than anyone thought, namely a Russian-backed Syrian Army advance on Kurdish enclaves in coordination with the YPG/former SDF Kurdish fighters.

More at: https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2019-01-09/boltons-continued-humiliation-turkey-seeks-coordination-iran-and-russia-us-exit

Origanalist
01-09-2019, 11:30 PM
This truly local solution, fast taking shape, will occur without the United States or Turkey, and in affirmation of Syrian sovereignty.

Oh, please let it be so. Get Bolton, the US and Erdogan out of there. and let them take care of it. Really, without them would it ever have gone anywhere near this far?

Origanalist
01-09-2019, 11:59 PM
Turkey-backed Syrian Rebels, al-Qaeda Reach 15-Day Truce
Truce leaves al-Qaeda on outskirts of key Idlib city
Jason Ditz Posted on January 9, 2019Categories NewsTags Syria

After almost a solid week of losses at the hands of al-Qaeda, the Turkey-backed National Liberation Front has reached a deal with al-Qaeda on a 15-day truce. Both seem to be expecting this to lead to more fighting, and are using it to shore up their forces on their new frontier with one another.

That fighting is likely to be at the important Idlib Province city of Maarat al-Numaan, as the truce was reached just as al-Qaeda was approaching the outskirts, but before the city itself could be attacked.

The fighting between the two sides began early last week. According to al-Qaeda, the Nureddin al-Zimki, one of the NLF members, attacked them and killed some of their members. Over the next week, counterattacks saw al-Qaeda seize roughly 25 towns and villages.

Maarat al-Numaan is on the main road connecting Aleppo and Hama, and is subsequently of considerable value to the rebels, or to the government. Though so far the Syrian government has not intervened, there is growing expectation that further al-Qaeda gains would virtually oblige them to move in and prevent al-Qaeda from getting too big.

https://news.antiwar.com/2019/01/09/turkey-backed-syrian-rebels-al-qaeda-reach-15-day-truce/

Origanalist
01-10-2019, 12:00 AM
Though officials say that the US remains committed to pullout out of Syria, the head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Joe Dunford, says that the US will not be either dismantling the small observation posts on the Turkish border, nor giving them to Turkey.

This was a response to a statement yesterday, in which Turkey’s National Security Adviser said all 22 US bases in Syria must either be given to Turkey, or destroyed outright by the US before they withdraw.

Gen. Dunford, however, says the US won’t be doing either, and instead plans to “keep” the observation posts, assuring Turkey that they will “deter threats” to southern Turkey from coming out of Syria.

The recently built posts are a source of tension between the US and Turkey, as while the US insisted that they are for Turkey’s benefit, Turkish President Erdogan pointed out that they’re fairly obviously there to monitor Turkish military operations, and keep the Kurdish YPG apprised of planned invasions.

Assuming the US withdraws, it doesn’t seem keeping the posts just sitting there at the border would serve any purpose at all. It may, however, be that the US doesn’t want to disadvantage the Kurds by giving the posts to Turkey,and doesn’t want to admit the posts were about watching Turkey by giving them to the Kurds. Too new to destroy, the plan may be to abandon them outright.
https://news.antiwar.com/2019/01/09/gen-dunford-us-wont-give-up-observation-posts-on-syria-turkey-border/

Swordsmyth
01-10-2019, 12:07 AM
Though officials say that the US remains committed to pullout out of Syria, the head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Joe Dunford, says that the US will not be either dismantling the small observation posts on the Turkish border, nor giving them to Turkey.

This was a response to a statement yesterday, in which Turkey’s National Security Adviser said all 22 US bases in Syria must either be given to Turkey, or destroyed outright by the US before they withdraw.

Gen. Dunford, however, says the US won’t be doing either, and instead plans to “keep” the observation posts, assuring Turkey that they will “deter threats” to southern Turkey from coming out of Syria.

The recently built posts are a source of tension between the US and Turkey, as while the US insisted that they are for Turkey’s benefit, Turkish President Erdogan pointed out that they’re fairly obviously there to monitor Turkish military operations, and keep the Kurdish YPG apprised of planned invasions.

Assuming the US withdraws, it doesn’t seem keeping the posts just sitting there at the border would serve any purpose at all. It may, however, be that the US doesn’t want to disadvantage the Kurds by giving the posts to Turkey,and doesn’t want to admit the posts were about watching Turkey by giving them to the Kurds. Too new to destroy, the plan may be to abandon them outright.
https://news.antiwar.com/2019/01/09/gen-dunford-us-wont-give-up-observation-posts-on-syria-turkey-border/
I predict they will hand them over to the Kurds.

Origanalist
01-10-2019, 12:18 AM
I predict they will hand them over to the Kurds.

You're like Nostradamus.

Swordsmyth
01-10-2019, 12:23 AM
You're like Nostradamus.
I make no claims about the accuracy of my predictions.

Swordsmyth
01-11-2019, 12:20 AM
A Syrian government minister expressed optimism on Wednesday over dialogue with Kurdish groups that want to strike a political deal with Damascus, suggesting progress had been made in contacts mediated by Russia.Kurdish-led groups who control swathes of northern Syria have revived contacts with Damascus in the wake of U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw troops from their region. These groups are keen to stave off any Turkish attack.
Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad's comments to journalists were the first on the talks with the Kurds, who are calling on Damascus to deploy troops at the border with Turkey.
Asked whether progress had been made, Mekdad said: "I feel that we must always be optimistic. The past experiences were not encouraging. But now matters are reaching their conclusion."
He signaled approval of recent statements by Kurdish groups affirming they are part of the Syrian state and nation, saying "the conditions" were favorable for them return to the state.
"Therefore I am always optimistic ... we encourage these political groups to be sincere in dialogue that is happening now between the Syrian state and these groups, taking into account that there is no alternative to that," he told a small group of journalists including Reuters.

Mekdad said he was certain all "foreign forces" would withdraw from Syria.

More at: https://news.yahoo.com/syrian-minister-optimistic-kurdish-talks-142711461.html

Swordsmyth
01-11-2019, 12:41 AM
Turkey has threatened to strike the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia if the United States delays its troop withdrawal from the country, according to The Guardian (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/10/turkey-says-it-will-launch-syria-offensive-if-us-delays-pullout?CMP=edit_2221).
"If the [pullout] is put off with ridiculous excuses like Turks are massacring Kurds, which do not reflect the reality, we will implement this decision," said Turkish foreign minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, referring to their threat to launch a military operation in Kurdish controlled Syria.


"We are determined on the field and at the table … We will decide on its timing and we will not receive permission from anyone," Çavuşoğlu said of the plan to strike, adding that various officials in the Trump administration had tried to discourage Trump from the pullout plan - creating "excuses" such as Turkey massacring Kurds, referring to Pompeo's comments.
Çavuşoğlu added that Turkey would fight the YPG whether or not the US withdraws from Syria, and that he and Pompeo would discuss over the phone on Thursday.

More at: https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2019-01-10/erdogan-trump-leave-syria-now-we-strike