Russia begins bombing U.S.-backed forces

Submitted by gjohnsit on Mon, 09/25/2017 - 11:41am

While you were distracted by talk of war with North Korea, Syrian Kurdish forces that U.S. troops are embedded with were getting bombed by Russian jets.

It was not the first time the SDF has accused Russia of targeting its forces in oil and gas-rich Deir el-Zour, where Russian backed Syrian troops are waging a separate offensive against the extremists. The two sides are racing to defeat the militants and snap up oil and gas fields, fueling fears of conflict between the two groups and their superpower sponsors.
Both the U.S. and Russia have embedded special forces with their respective partners and are supporting their advances with aggressive air strikes.
The Pentagon accused Russian jets of attacking the SDF last week. Russia in turn said its forces were targeted twice from SDF-held territory.

If Americans weren't so distracted by kneeling at NFL games, this might be considered important.

Possibly even more alarming is the referendum in Iraqi Kurdistan today.

Iraqi Kurds have started casting their ballots in a controversial independence referendum Monday as tensions between Iraq's largest ethnic minority and the Iraqi government in Baghdad intensified.
...On Sunday, Iran closed its air space to the autonomous Kurdistan region after issuing several condemnations against the vote.
And as voters cast their ballots Monday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan described the referendum as "illegal" and suggested Turkey could cut off oil exports from northern Iraq, depriving the KRG of a key source of revenue.

Turkey, Iran and Iraq have all agreed to "taking counter-measures in coordination," whatever that means.

Turkey closed its border with the Kurdish region.
Iraq's government has decided to deploy troops to Kurdish-occupied areas outside of Kurdistan.

Iraq's parliament voted Monday to deploy military troops to oil-rich Kirkuk and other disputed areas with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) as the controversial independence referendum is underway

This move is potentially explosive.

But the most ominous statement came from an Iraqi MP.

An Iraqi official has accused “racist” Kurds of trying to establish a second Israel that will throw the region into years of conflict.
“The step that was taken by some racists in Kurdistan will bring instability to the entire region for years to come. The representatives of such efforts had established the state of Israel in 1948,” Mowaffak al-Rubaie, an MP from the ruling Shiite National Alliance told reporters in the Iraqi parliament.

Thousands of U.S. troops are stationed in Iraqi Kurdistan.

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Submitted by gjohnsit on Mon, 09/25/2017 - 11:49am

link

“We in Syria only recognize a united Iraq and reject any procedure that leads to the fragmentation of Iraq,” Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem was cited as saying by Syrian state news agency SANA.

Turkey issues threats

Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on Monday warned about a possible military operation in northern Iraq if the Turkmen community there gets targeted following a controversial referendum in the region.
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Submitted by Linda Wood on Mon, 09/25/2017 - 11:52am

has been a known known possibility all along, and our weaponization of everything that moves is what makes it precarious.

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Submitted by JtC on Mon, 09/25/2017 - 12:03pm

http://www.moonofalabama.org/2017/09/syria-us-centcom-declares-war-on-ru...

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Submitted by gjohnsit on Mon, 09/25/2017 - 12:31pm

@JtC
but Russia certainly does, and that's what counts.

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Submitted by JtC on Mon, 09/25/2017 - 12:41pm

@gjohnsit
MoA piece first thing this morning and then when I saw your essay there seemed to be a very possible correlation.

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Submitted by Ellen North on Mon, 09/25/2017 - 2:50pm

@gjohnsit @gjohnsit @gjohnsit

They were warned, and still continued - doubtless to create an 'excuse' to begin all-out/nuclear war against probably every one of the countries on that very lengthy 'kill' list... but the pictures and behaviours shown are said to show full collusion between American forces and ISIS to help the terrorists win. (Surprise! Well, maybe not...)

This very telling article (which today keeps freezing up on me; was fine when I posted about it yesterday) really needs to be read in full at source, if at all possible.

http://theduran.com/russia-releases-photos-proving-ussdfisis-collusion-d...

CONFIRMED: ISIS, the United States and SDF unite on the battle field against Syria and Russia
The Russian Defense Minsitry has released photos showing ISIS, the SDF and US special forces working side-by-side on the battlefield in Dier ez-Zor, Syria.

by Adam Garrie Adam Garrie
September 24, 2017, 18:21

It has long been thought that the US proxy militia SDF is operating in collusion with ISIS in various parts of Syria. This has especially been the case in respect of Deir ez-Zor. In Deir ez-Zor, the Russian Defense Ministry has previously stated that the Syrian Arab Army and their allies are fired on most intensely from positions known to be held by the SDF.

Furthermore, Russian Defense Ministry Spokesman Major General Igor Konashenkov recently stated,

“SDF militants work to the same objectives as Daesh terrorists. Russian drones and intelligence have not recorded any confrontations between Daesh and the ‘third force’, SDF”.

He added that Russia will not hesitate to target SDF forces that threaten the battle field progress and personal safety of Russia’s allies, namely the Syrian Arab Army.

Other reports surfaced of US military helicopters airlifting known ISIS commanders to safety as the Syrian Arab Army made its advance on the former ISIS stronghold of Deir ez-Zor. All of this has happened as the US is moving its proxy Kurdish led SDF forces from Raqqa to Deir ez-Zor, in a move that appears to be an attempt to stop Syrian forces from liberating their own country’s legally recognised territory.

Now, the Russian Defense Ministry has released a statement followed by 12 photos showing how SDF forces work alongside US special forces in ISIS controlled areas without facing any resistance from ISIS. Furthermore, none of the US or Kurdish led forces even take defensive positions which indicate that they are cooperating with ISIS rather than engaging in a perverse truce. In other words, the SDF, US special forces and ISIS move among each other in the same manner as allies do. ...

...The fact of the matter is that, the Kurdish led SDF and ISIS now share the same strategic goals, in spite of apparent ideological differences. Both seek to aggressively and illegally prevent Syria from liberating her sovereignty territory and in so doing, both are challenging the territorial unity and integrity of the Syrian Arab Republic. Likewise, each group’s ideology is opposed to the Arabist Constitution of Syria, seeking instead to lay the ground work for sectarian ideologies in the areas they seek to illegally annex.

Most worryingly, both militant groups are clearly collaborating and colluding with each other and with the United States, in a proxy war against Syria and the interests and safety of her allies, including Russia and Iran.

What once was only partly clear, is now as clear as the following colour photographs from the Russian Defense Ministry. The SDF, ISIS and the United States are fighting on the same side of the conflict in Syria, it is the side of terrorism which seeks to destroy the secular, modern, pluralistic and independent Syrian Arab Republic. ...

...This proves that the Hollywood actor Morgan Freeman was correct. The US and Russia are at war, albeit a proxy war which includes ISIS.

Edited to fix a couple of confusing typoes, one changing the meaning of a word to its opposite... I haz skillz. And again because of typo-ing my edit comment. Probably due to placing too many forehead dents in my desk over my typo skillz and rattling the rocks within to the wrong position.

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Submitted by snoopydawg on Mon, 09/25/2017 - 4:40pm
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@Ellen North

and they will call it fake news. These types of people will never believe that our government and military is working with Al Qaida or ISIS.
They also don't see a problem with our military setting up permanent bases in a foreign country that we invaded which is a war crime according to the Geneva convention laws. More American hubris and exceptionalism.
U.S.A., U.S.A.!?

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Which AIPAC/MIC/pharma/bank bought politician are you going to vote for? Don’t be surprised when nothing changes.

Submitted by Ellen North on Mon, 09/25/2017 - 4:48pm

@snoopydawg

Scary, isn't it? You can lead a horde to whatever, but you sure can't always make them think...

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Submitted by Pluto's Republic on Mon, 09/25/2017 - 6:09pm
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@snoopydawg

…left to lose.

Since the April coup, Trump has no idea what is going on. No DC media talks about the madness of a Deep State coup that is running the military. Trump publicly surrendered to the generals in April, and to the CIA last month.

And, yet, they are losing. They've lost the world. So, they are thrashing now, on their final battlefield. They can't stop Russia or China or the multi-polar world from taking their seats. The Deep State has lost their final bid for Empire, just as they did the last time, in Germany. Russia, as always, blocks them.

One can only pity the Kurds because their fate is something we already know: Everything the US touches turns to shit.

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Submitted by snoopydawg on Mon, 09/25/2017 - 6:15pm
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@Pluto's Republic

and we can hope that Syria is going to be the last country that we tried regime change on. The other countries saw what happened to Iraq and Libya especially after they gave up thei weapons. With Russia deciding that this stops in Syria, maybe there is a chance that other country's leaders will decide that they have had enough helping our hegemony. This has only made the world much worse in regards to terrorists' attacks, real ones I mean, and it's time for us to go sit in a corner.
Then there are the countries that are going to stop using the petrol dollar to buy and sell oil. This is going to get interesting if this happens. I'm hoping that we don't end up like Greece and not being able to access our money. This is why people should move theirs out of the big banks. Don't forget the bank bail-in rule that congress passed during the Obama administration.

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Submitted by Pluto's Republic on Mon, 09/25/2017 - 7:43pm
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@snoopydawg

Greece couldn't print their own money. We can. Imported products will be expensive but purchasing power for local goods should be reasonable. Best thing the US could do is take all that military spending and distribute it to the people to spend, which will grow a strong economy with strong businesses, which will strengthen the value of the dollar. Shut down foreign bases, bring the military home. Use them for infrastructure building and hammering weapons into ploughshares. Teach the MIC organic farming.

Borrowing will be expensive. Nationalize the banks and break up the media. The rest will work itself out. Restore 95 percent taxes on highest income until debt is half of GDP or less.

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Submitted by Ellen North on Tue, 09/26/2017 - 2:21pm

@Pluto's Republic

Also need a plan to get you in charge of reconstruction!

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Submitted by Ellen North on Mon, 09/25/2017 - 7:53pm

@snoopydawg

Just belatedly read this, which you've probably seen, but it cheered me a bit, so.

The most interesting part actually wasn't the portion referenced in the title, as you'll see, (if you haven't already).

(Emphasis mine.)

https://medium.com/@caityjohnstone/the-entire-russian-hacking-narrative-...

Caitlin Johnstone
Rogue Journalist
Sep 20

The Entire Russian Hacking Narrative Is Invalidated In This Single Assange Tweet

...The establishment knows that Russia will need to be beaten down at some point in order to preserve deep state interests, and they’ve been laying the bricks for that eventual conflict for years. There were concerns that their anointed queen Hillary Clinton was trying to start a war with Russia long before any allegations of hacking or meddling ever arose; here is an article from June 2015 titled “Hillary Clinton’s hawkish position on Russia troubles both sides of aisle,” which says explicitly, “Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Rodham Clinton has pivoted left on domestic issues but stands out on foreign policy as more hawkish than some of her GOP rivals, even stoking fears that she’s ready to put the U.S. on a warpath with Russia.” ...

... Mueller’s investigation has one job, and that job ain’t finding the truth. All this Russia nonsense is geared toward pressuring Trump into cooperating with the escalations that Hillary Clinton was meant to be responsible for overseeing. That’s why it looks so sloppy and desperate all the time; this whole thing was slapped together in the last minute in response to her shocking loss, and they’re operating within a margin of error that’s tighter than a bee’s pussy.

There are a lot of extremely powerful people who have built some massive corporate kingdoms upon this empire, and their investments require this scheme to go smoothly. As noted in a recent Department of Defense Risk Assessment by the US Army Strategic Studies Institute, the US empire is in what it calls “post-primacy” and may currently be on its way out the door.

“In brief,” the assessment reads, “the status quo that was hatched and nurtured by U.S. strategists after World War II and has for decades been the principal ‘beat’ for DoD is not merely fraying but may, in fact, be collapsing. Consequently, the United States’ role in and approach to the world may be fundamentally changing as well.”

Things are not going as planned for America’s true rulers. Not in Syria, not in North Korea, and certainly not in Russia. People’s unprecedented ability to network and share information due to rising internet literacy and access has caused a severe breakdown in the propaganda machine which holds their entire prison together, and people are waking up to their manipulations. These creeps are on the back foot now. Keep fighting and wrest control of the world away from the plutocratic sociopaths who are trying to deceive and enslave us.

Even they've noticed that their fascist empire ain't working out the way they wanted. Which may, I suppose, be why they're so evidently willing to take the planetary life-support system down with them.

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Submitted by riverlover on Tue, 09/26/2017 - 11:35am
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@Ellen North What happens to those of us uninvolved or divorced AMAP from that?

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Hey! my dear friends or soon-to-be's, JtC could use the donations to keep this site functioning for those of us who can still see the life preserver or flotsam in the water.

Submitted by Ellen North on Tue, 09/26/2017 - 2:45pm

@riverlover

I dunno, but what happens if they don't doesn't look survivable for anyone.

How any more lucky, split-second saves can be hoped for before nukes start flying between multiple countries?

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A tin labeled 'coffee' may be a can of worms or pathology identified by a lack of empathy/willingness to harm others to achieve personal desires.

Submitted by dervish on Mon, 09/25/2017 - 2:48pm
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@gjohnsit has a lot to do with this, expect escalation/retaliation.

Maybe Jared Kushner will wake up to find a horse's head in his bed.

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"Obama promised transparency, but Assange is the one who brought it."

Submitted by Linda Wood on Mon, 09/25/2017 - 12:13pm

http://www.rudaw.net/english/kurdistan/2409201713

Kurdistan's independence referendum explained
By Rudaw 19 hours ago

Historical context

More than five million people are eligible to vote when the people of Kurdistan head to the polls on Monday, September 25, to decide whether they want to leave or stay with Iraq.

With an estimated global population of between 30 and 40 million, the Kurds are one of the largest ethnic groups without a state. Under the post-WWI Sykes-Picot agreement of 1916, Kurdish lands were divided between Turkey, Iran, Iraq, and Syria.

Kurds in all four parts of what is known as Greater Kurdistan have faced persecution, discrimination, and genocide, and have fought at times for greater rights, autonomy, and independence.

… The new Iraqi constitution that came into effect in 2005, after the US-led invasion of 2003, recognized the Kurdistan Region as a federal region with its own legislature and armed forces, the Peshmerga. Both Erbil and Baghdad have accused the other of violating the constitution.

The September 25 referendum will take place in Kurdistan of Iraq only, not neighbouring countries.

… Question

The question being posed in Kurdish, Turkmen, Arabic and Assyrian languages is: Do you want the Kurdistan Region and the Kurdistani areas outside the administration of the Region to become an independent state?

Voters can choose ‘Yes’ or ‘No’.

Kurdistan Region and Kurdistani areas (voters)

A total 5,338,000 people are eligible to vote in the referendum.

The vote will be held in the four provinces of the Kurdistan Region: Duhok, Erbil, Sulaimani, and Halabja. A total of 3,280,462 people are eligible to vote from these four provinces according to the following breakdown:

Erbil: 1,118,775 voters with 498 polling stations
Sulaimani: 1,299,820 voters with 476 polling stations
Duhok: 771,867 voters with 264 polling stations
Halabja: 90,000 voters with 27 polling stations

Kurdistani areas, the disputed zones claimed by both Baghdad and Erbil, are also able to vote if the local authorities opt to participate. A potential 1,907,538 of people are eligible to vote in the Kurdistani areas according to the following breakdown:

Kirkuk: 889,373 voters with 244 polling stations
Diyala province: 800,000 voters with 244 polling stations
Kurdistani areas of Nineveh province: 218,165 voters with 244 polling stations

Eligible Kurds in the diaspora are able to vote online. E-voting will is open from September 23 to 25. An estimated 150,000 eligible Kurds live in the diaspora...

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Submitted by EdMass on Mon, 09/25/2017 - 12:27pm
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An Iraqi official has accused “racist” Kurds of trying to establish a second Israel that will throw the region into years of conflict.

Someone should tell BiBI.

Who knew Kurds were Israelis?

Seems good enuf excuse to launch Genocide. Because, why not. BTW, Iraq already tried this with Chemical Weapons...Oh, EdMass, it's not the same...Move on. Nothing to see here.

If the Kurds could recreate their State that was destroyed by Sykes–Picot way back when maybe they would. And maybe they are.

Y'a see the Brits and French know what's best. Or maybe the Kurds finally want to and say FU to the powers. Their unique land and culture stretches from Turkey to Syria to Iraq to Iran.

Turkey has know reaffirmed they will cross international borders to quell these assholes they have been oppressing for decades.

The good ole USA? Has no viable options. Support the Kurds who have led the fight against Saddham and ISIS? Support Turkey, somehow a member of NATO? Support Baghdad so thoroughly corrupt? Tell Iran its okay to kill Kurds? Tell the Free Syrian Army they can't do shit without the Kurds?

Welcome to the Cluster.

#takeaknee

I await gjohnsit to straighten this out for me.

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Stop the War!

Submitted by k9disc on Mon, 09/25/2017 - 1:45pm
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@EdMass

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Submitted by The Wizard on Mon, 09/25/2017 - 2:01pm

@EdMass
The Kurds are allied with the US/Israel. I could see how they might have seen this as a path to nationhood at one time. Not now. Turkey will go to all extents to stop their independence, as so will Iraq. Syria will accept them as a semi-autonomous region with the state of Syria. Iran is dead set against independence.

Israel and the Kurds: Love by Proxy

The US is encouraging the Syrian Kurds to be more aggressive. The US wants the Kurds to control the Eastern half of Syria as an independent state. That's where most of the oil fields are located. It would have geopolitical significance as Assad would not control all of Syria and would be denied oil revenues to rebuild. It is clear, though, from Syrian UN speech that Syria will not accept any division of its land, and Russia will back them up.

Clearly the US has come to an agreement with ISIS and the Syrian Kurds. Russia is calling this out and the US is denying it, but there is pretty good photographic proof and logical proof, where is the battle between Kurds and the SDF on one side and ISIS on the other? Nothing's happening so I can only conclude that the hypothesis is correct that the US (CIA???) is working with ISIS.

I expect Russia to extract an enormous price for the killing of her officers. I would recommend that the CIA get it's operatives out of there NOW. Russia has more conventional firepower than any nation on the planet and the means to deliver it to the battlefield.

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Submitted by Ellen North on Mon, 09/25/2017 - 2:58pm

@The Wizard

So the US PTB want to set up an oil-rich area within Syria that they can take control of from the Kurds?

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Submitted by dervish on Mon, 09/25/2017 - 3:42pm
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@Ellen North

The Iraq war paid for itself with the resulting oil revenue. This venture will likely share similar levels of success.

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"Obama promised transparency, but Assange is the one who brought it."

Submitted by Ellen North on Mon, 09/25/2017 - 4:52pm

@dervish

TPTB probably thinking that it's not like Russia would stand their ground and stand by their allies or anything... they can't back down. None of these targeted countries can. Doing that would save them nothing, anyway.

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Submitted by native on Mon, 09/25/2017 - 4:41pm

@The Wizard

from a Kurdish point of view. Why in the world would they be willing to risk all their hard-earned gains for the sake of a questionable alliance with the USA... and... Israel? I mean, if the Syrian Kurds aspire to some degree of autonomy, which I assume they do, then picking a fight with Syria, Russia, Turkey, Iraq, and Iran simultaneously seems an extremely illogical way to go about doing it. Do they expect the USAF to protect them from all these enemies in perpetuity? And wouldn't the Kurds' past experience with America's perfidy advise against such a course?

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native

Submitted by dance you monster on Mon, 09/25/2017 - 4:55pm
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@native

. . . the referendum affects only Kurds in Iraq.

Because the Kurds as an ethnic group are found in Turkey (well, they used to be), Syria, Iraq, and northwestern Iran, all of which countries are disinclined to just cede territory to a particular population, the outcome of the Iraq referendum worries all these countries, who feel they'd be next on the list of a secessionist revolt by the Kurds.

This is a rejection of Iraqi rule by one part of the Kurdish people that underscores that Kurds are a disrespected minority in several countries. The Kurds aren't picking a fight per se, just asking to govern themselves.

Now the Kurds in other countries will naturally have some empathy with their relatives in Iraq, and may defend them if it does come to a fight. And for that matter, such a fight might not see the US be their ally (remember, we back various contenders over there, in each nation). Or Israel, except to muck things up among their neighbors that they despise.

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Submitted by native on Mon, 09/25/2017 - 5:36pm

@dance you monster
but I was referring specifically to the apparent complicity of the (Kurdish) SDF with tribal jihadists, to the point of them jointly attacking Russian and SAA troops. This would seem to indicate a new, and very unfortunate phase in the war, possibly pitting the SDF against the R+6 coalition. And though this development is not directly tied to the Iraqi referendum, it is certainly related to it.

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native

Submitted by Ellen North on Mon, 09/25/2017 - 6:53pm

@native

Might it be not perhaps the Kurdish SDF themselves but embedded American interests or other terrorists doing at least some of this?

I'd read that the ability to target and kill that 3-Star Russian General appeared suddenly and was assumed to have been American-supplied; also that US special forces and the Kurds had been shown to be behaving as allies with the terrorists and to move freely and without aggression in their strongholds.

But now I can't seem to get - with DuckDuckGo - the Duran article I'd quoted from earlier and have a lot of entirely unrelated stuff showing, not just Duran, Duran and Durango, which at least contain that portion of the search terms... and previously today, the article itself was not being transmitted well and kept flashing in and out or taking ages to form in sections surrounded by blank space.

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Submitted by native on Mon, 09/25/2017 - 7:33pm

@Ellen North
And the whole operation has a CIA stink to it.
Here's that Duran link:
http://theduran.com/russia-releases-photos-proving-ussdfisis-collusion-d...

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native

Submitted by Ellen North on Mon, 09/25/2017 - 7:56pm

@native

Thanks!

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Submitted by dervish on Tue, 09/26/2017 - 5:55am
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@native where else are they going to go? The Kurds "hard-earned gains" don't amount to much, they need a state, and they haven't got one. Only the US could or would promise to facilitate such a prospect. Of course the US is lying to them, like they always do, but where else could the Kurds turn?

They are screwed.

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Submitted by native on Tue, 09/26/2017 - 12:19pm

@dervish
Why not negotiate with Damascus for limited autonomy within a federal system? The Kurds have enough leverage now, to demand and to get favorable terms in a settlement. Russia would be more than willing to facilitate such a deal. Russia could also bring neighboring States to the table.

Syrian Kurds do not need full independence, much as they might prefer it. Wouldn't they be far better off working with the SAG, rather than fighting against it? ...And against everyone else in the region!

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native

Submitted by dervish on Tue, 09/26/2017 - 1:29pm
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@native yet the Americans are likely whispering into the Kurds' ear. No one has forgotten Hama or other massacres, and the Americans are saying "trust us".

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"Obama promised transparency, but Assange is the one who brought it."

Submitted by doh1304 on Mon, 09/25/2017 - 4:57pm

@EdMass
who thinks Hillary is cool. Remember, everyone who disagrees with me (whoever me is) is a racist and a sexist. (or a racist and an Israeli, gotta translate after all)

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On to Biden since 1973

Submitted by snoopydawg on Mon, 09/25/2017 - 6:23pm
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@doh1304

criticized Obama. Just as I don't think that women can be sexist or misogynistic to other women, I don't think that white people can be racist to another white person. When I criticize Obama, I'm only doing it to the white part of him. Let's not forget that he is half white too Smile

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Which AIPAC/MIC/pharma/bank bought politician are you going to vote for? Don’t be surprised when nothing changes.

Submitted by Linda Wood on Mon, 09/25/2017 - 12:33pm

at Moon of Alabama linked earlier by JtC:

http://www.moonofalabama.org/2017/09/syria-us-centcom-declares-war-on-ru...

Syria - U.S. CentCom Declares War On Russia

… I believe the US has made a big blunder by challenging Russia for the oil fields of Deir Ezzor... the US has, as usual, gathered the scum of the earth into its 'coalition'... turncoat IS fighters, local warlords and criminals like the Khawla scumbag...

There can be no strength from such a band of criminals... but the US never learns... they used al Nusra to take over Syria, but got creamed in the end...

Aleppo is back in the Syrian government hands, so is Deir Ezzor, in fact all of the major cities now... many in the genuine moderate opposition have joined the reconciliation process, like that Mwala tribe that fought alognside the besieged Russian MP in north Hama...

They tried to grab the southwest but that quickly fell apart and now they are leaving at Tanf...

It's all over for the US project, but they insist on being difficult and treacherous... not a good plan...

I will make a prediction here that those so-called SDF positions standing in the way of the SAA are going to be hit very hard... and it will simply be shrugged off by the Russians as hitting 'terrorist positions'...

Posted by: flankerbandit | Sep 25, 2017 11:10:38 AM

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Submitted by Cassiodorus on Mon, 09/25/2017 - 12:51pm
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the CIA-backed ones or the Pentagon-backed ones?

http://www.latimes.com/world/middleeast/la-fg-cia-pentagon-isis-20160327...

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Submitted by Linda Wood on Mon, 09/25/2017 - 3:36pm

@Cassiodorus

is that the CIA is in control of our military. I hold out hope that our military won't allow that to happen.

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Submitted by Ellen North on Mon, 09/25/2017 - 4:15pm

@Linda Wood

Bad enough that Dick Cheney is guiding/mentoring Pence and, doubtless, others within the Trump Admin, using influence in helping the Right People to get appointed, at least as far as Secretary of State goes. etc. ...

Is there no exorcism that can be performed on the White House/Pentagon, etc. to keep these undead psychopaths out?

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Psychopathy is not a political position, whether labeled 'conservatism', 'centrism' or 'left'.

A tin labeled 'coffee' may be a can of worms or pathology identified by a lack of empathy/willingness to harm others to achieve personal desires.

Submitted by dervish on Mon, 09/25/2017 - 4:17pm
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@Ellen North It's called the devaluation of the dollar.

Harsh, but I think it's the only cure, and it beats another world war.

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Submitted by Ellen North on Mon, 09/25/2017 - 4:43pm

@dervish

Sure does! Might also make TPTB run to their bunkers and get out of the way, making room for actual democracy to spread.

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Psychopathy is not a political position, whether labeled 'conservatism', 'centrism' or 'left'.

A tin labeled 'coffee' may be a can of worms or pathology identified by a lack of empathy/willingness to harm others to achieve personal desires.

Submitted by Pluto's Republic on Mon, 09/25/2017 - 6:22pm
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@dervish
@Ellen North

…of the nasty paper money. Every day in every way the United States demonstrates why.

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The political system is what it is because the People are who they are. — Plato
Submitted by Ellen North on Mon, 09/25/2017 - 8:24pm

@Pluto's Republic

Yeah, well, the crud at the top certainly does illustrate why...

http://digestivehealthguide.com/what-does-it-mean-when-your-poop-floats/

What Does It Mean When Your Poop Floats

One of the most common and conflicting advice is that a stool floats because it contains too much fat.

However, the real reason it floats is because it contains more air due to excessive gas. ...

So, the fat cats float at the top of everyone else's punchbowl because of excessive flatulence and greed.

Cut their fat, puncture their inflated egos, and watch 'em sink.

Then, toss out the tainted punchbowl and start fresh, with healthy ideals and a good dollop of reason, to get a lot of real parties started.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUptBgyzbyg

P!nk - Get The Party Started (Official Video)

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A tin labeled 'coffee' may be a can of worms or pathology identified by a lack of empathy/willingness to harm others to achieve personal desires.

Submitted by dervish on Tue, 09/26/2017 - 5:58am
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@Ellen North I don't think I'll be doing parties or punch anytime soon! Wink

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Submitted by Ellen North on Tue, 09/26/2017 - 2:54pm

@dervish

Well, maybe political parties (which I failed to specify in my first 'party' reference) can be put together which have no turds in or funding them? I hear that this is possible.

What about a Caucus 99% political Party? The Party symbol could be a turd-free punchbowl with a 'No Punching Down - No Shit!' placard.

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Psychopathy is not a political position, whether labeled 'conservatism', 'centrism' or 'left'.

A tin labeled 'coffee' may be a can of worms or pathology identified by a lack of empathy/willingness to harm others to achieve personal desires.

Submitted by Cassiodorus on Tue, 09/26/2017 - 1:06pm
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@Linda Wood and the fighting on the ground has become a reflection of infighting among the various teams comprising the shadow government.

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Submitted by native on Mon, 09/25/2017 - 2:53pm

if they opted for independence. At the moment they are in a strong position, and they've earned it.... but that could change overnight, if they push too far and too hard. Of course Bibi is willing be their "only friend" -- he smells blood in the water and he wants some of it.

Pat Lang's take:

I sympathize with the Kurdish desire for their own state, but the referendum is a recipe for regional war and/or sanctions, a struggle of all against the Kurds and their Israeli "friends."

I expect that the referendum will yield a positive result . IMO the Kurds will then have the nasty experience of having the US start to distance itself from the attempted creation of a new state. Up to this point the US has limited its objections to the usual bleating from Foggy Bottom but the need to keep the governments more or less "on side" will quickly lead to abandonment by the US. There is an American saying that describes an unwanted relative or acquaintance as being treated like "a red-headed step child." The Kurds should ready themselves for that.

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native

Submitted by dervish on Mon, 09/25/2017 - 4:21pm
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@native the Turks, the Syrians, the Iraqis, the Iranians... pretty much everyone who would theoretically share a border with it, or relinquish territory to it. That the Israelis want it just underscores their reason, to screw those aforementioned.

Israeli and American support is shallow and fickle on this issue. Expect the Kurds to be left holding the bag by these con-men.

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Submitted by native on Mon, 09/25/2017 - 4:54pm

@dervish
that the Syrian Kurds will fall into this trap. They've always seemed much smarter than that.

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native

Submitted by dervish on Tue, 09/26/2017 - 6:04am
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@native the first is that the US still has this bizarre reputation as a reliable ally in the ME. They don't deserve that reputation, especially not among Kurds, but there it is. A lot of people just want to believe in the US, and what it once was.

The second thing is that no power but the US is willing or potentially able to make a Kurdistan happen. The US holds that carrot out, and the Kurds have virtually no choice but to follow, even if they know it's probably a trick.

The US treats the world like Jeff Bezos treats his employees.

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Submitted by Amanda Matthews on Wed, 09/27/2017 - 1:36pm
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@dervish
And as long as TPTB control the a. bombs, b. prisons, and c. purse strings, that's the way it's going to stay.

I would have thrown in 'the media' but I figured out since TPTB don't give a fat rat's ass what we know or think it was unnecessary to even bring it up. The truth is as long as they control a, b, and c, I didn't need to add 'd. the media'.

Just ask Ken Burns.

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Politics is the entertainment branch of industry. - Frank Zappa

Submitted by MrWebster on Mon, 09/25/2017 - 4:26pm

I wonder how much Special Forces on the ground understand they are supporting terrorists groups?

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Submitted by dervish on Mon, 09/25/2017 - 4:38pm
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@MrWebster although that knowledge is rationalized, tempered and twisted a bit by their handlers.

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Submitted by Amanda Matthews on Mon, 09/25/2017 - 4:27pm
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to support them to the bitter end?

Again?

They need to heed those famous words spoken by that great American orator and statesman, Chimpy W. McSmirkster...

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I'm tired of this back-slapping "Isn't humanity neat?" bullshit. We're a virus with shoes, okay? That's all we are. - Bill Hicks

Politics is the entertainment branch of industry. - Frank Zappa

Submitted by dervish on Mon, 09/25/2017 - 4:39pm
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@Amanda Matthews strikes again.

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Submitted by Amanda Matthews on Mon, 09/25/2017 - 10:35pm
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@dervish

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I'm tired of this back-slapping "Isn't humanity neat?" bullshit. We're a virus with shoes, okay? That's all we are. - Bill Hicks

Politics is the entertainment branch of industry. - Frank Zappa