Are you ready to fight a regional war in Syria?

Submitted by gjohnsit on Mon, 06/19/2017 - 11:09am

Last night I said there would be a response to our shooting down of a Syrian military jet.
Well, there was. But the response was even more forceful than I expected.

Russia has said it will treat US warplanes operating in parts of Syria where its air forces are present as "targets" amid a diplomatic row caused by the downing of a Syrian jet.
The country's defence ministry said the change in position would apply to all aircraft, including those operating as part of the US-backed coalition.
It will also suspend a hotline between Russia and the US set up to prevent mid-air collisions.
The ministry said in a statement: "All kinds of airborne vehicles, including aircraft and UAVs of the international coalition detected to the west of the Euphrates River will be tracked by the Russian SAM systems as air targets."
...On Monday, the Russian Defense Ministry said its warplanes had been operating in the area of the encounter between the U.S. and Syrian jets. It said the coalition had not used the deconflicting hotline to warn the Russian jet.

This is NOT a "diplomatic row". This is a dangerous escalation that could get people killed.
The dangers here are virtually without limit.

Almost overlooked in all this was the Kurds being bombed. They responded too.

In a statement Monday, the SDF warned that it would retaliate in the face of further aggression from pro-Assad forces, raising the possibility that the U.S. could be forced to deviate further from its stated policy in Syria, which only involves targeting Islamic State militants.

This is potentially a huge event, that could split Damascus and the Syrian Kurds, which until now have been cooperating with each other (for the most part).
It works great for those in Washington looking for regime change, but no so much for Damascus. The Syrian Kurds are already acting like a separate nation. Turkey is not amused.
Washington suspects Turkey of training local armies to go to war with the Syrian Kurds.

Finally, Iran had a response too.

Iran says its ballistic missile strike targeting the Islamic State group in Syria was not only a response to deadly attacks in Tehran, but a powerful message to archrival Saudi Arabia and the United States, one that could add to already soaring regional tensions.
... “The Saudis and Americans are especially receivers of this message,” he said. “Obviously and clearly, some reactionary countries of the region, especially Saudi Arabia, had announced that they are trying to bring insecurity into Iran.”
Sunday’s missile strike came amid recent confrontations in Syria between U.S.-backed forces and pro-government factions. The U.S. recently deployed a truck-mounted missile system into Syria as Assad’s forces cut off the advance of America-backed rebels along the Iraqi border.

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Submitted by Linda Wood on Mon, 06/19/2017 - 11:39am

American military

forces have released this statement.

http://www.inherentresolve.mil/News/News-Releases/Article/1217917/coalit...

Coalition Defends Partner Forces from Syrian Fighter Jet Attack
By CJTF-OIR | June 19, 2017

SOUTHWEST ASIA – At approximately 4:30 p.m. Syria time, June 18, Pro-Syrian regime forces attacked the Syrian Democratic Forces-held town of Ja'Din, South of Tabqah, wounding a number of SDF fighters and driving the SDF from the town.

Coalition aircraft conducted a show of force and stopped the initial pro-regime advance toward the SDF-controlled town.

Following the Pro-Syrian forces attack, the Coalition contacted its Russian counterparts by telephone via an established ‘de-confliction line’ to de-escalate the situation and stop the firing.

At 6:43 p.m., a Syrian regime SU-22 dropped bombs near SDF fighters south of Tabqah and, in accordance with rules of engagement and in collective self-defense of Coalition partnered forces, was immediately shot down by a U.S. F/A-18E Super Hornet.

Ja'Din sits approximately two kilometers north of an established East-West SDF-Syrian Regime de-confliction area.

The Coalition’s mission is to defeat ISIS in Iraq and Syria. The Coalition does not seek to fight Syrian regime, Russian, or pro-regime forces partnered with them, but will not hesitate to defend Coalition or partner forces from any threat.

The Coalition presence in Syria addresses the imminent threat ISIS in Syria poses globally. The demonstrated hostile intent and actions of pro-regime forces toward Coalition and partner forces in Syria conducting legitimate counter-ISIS operations will not be tolerated.

The Coalition calls on all parties to focus their efforts on the defeat of ISIS, which is our common enemy and the greatest threat to regional and worldwide peace and security.

gjohnsit , what this demonstrates to me is that the American military is at war with ISIS, which is the CIA and Saudi armed force which is at war with Assad. It's completely understandable that Assad would have a hard time believing American forces are not there to replace his regime and to control Syria. It's completely understandable that Assad would act to control Raqqa, which is within his country! and that he would see the American forces as part of the CIA threat to Syria. Completely understandable!

What is not understandable is our foreign policy. We have been trying to sell the American people on the crackpot idea that it's possible to be against Assad and against ISIS at the same time. I believe the American military has seen this as insane from the start.

Submitted by gjohnsit on Mon, 06/19/2017 - 11:37am

Even if our foreign policy here was logical

@Linda Wood
this regional conflict is hopelessly complicated, with each actor having conflicting interests.

forces have released this statement.

http://www.inherentresolve.mil/News/News-Releases/Article/1217917/coalit...

Coalition Defends Partner Forces from Syrian Fighter Jet Attack
By CJTF-OIR | June 19, 2017

SOUTHWEST ASIA – At approximately 4:30 p.m. Syria time, June 18, Pro-Syrian regime forces attacked the Syrian Democratic Forces-held town of Ja'Din, South of Tabqah, wounding a number of SDF fighters and driving the SDF from the town.

Coalition aircraft conducted a show of force and stopped the initial pro-regime advance toward the SDF-controlled town.

Following the Pro-Syrian forces attack, the Coalition contacted its Russian counterparts by telephone via an established ‘de-confliction line’ to de-escalate the situation and stop the firing.

At 6:43 p.m., a Syrian regime SU-22 dropped bombs near SDF fighters south of Tabqah and, in accordance with rules of engagement and in collective self-defense of Coalition partnered forces, was immediately shot down by a U.S. F/A-18E Super Hornet.

Ja'Din sits approximately two kilometers north of an established East-West SDF-Syrian Regime de-confliction area.

The Coalition’s mission is to defeat ISIS in Iraq and Syria. The Coalition does not seek to fight Syrian regime, Russian, or pro-regime forces partnered with them, but will not hesitate to defend Coalition or partner forces from any threat.

The Coalition presence in Syria addresses the imminent threat ISIS in Syria poses globally. The demonstrated hostile intent and actions of pro-regime forces toward Coalition and partner forces in Syria conducting legitimate counter-ISIS operations will not be tolerated.

The Coalition calls on all parties to focus their efforts on the defeat of ISIS, which is our common enemy and the greatest threat to regional and worldwide peace and security.

gjohnsit , what this demonstrates to me is that the American military is at war with ISIS, which is the CIA and Saudi armed force which is at war with Assad. It's completely understandable that Assad would have a hard time believing American forces are not there to replace his regime and to control Syria. It's completely understandable that Assad would act to control Raqqa, which is within his country! and that he would see the American forces as part of the CIA threat to Syria. Completely understandable!

What is not understandable is our foreign policy. We have been trying to sell the American people on the crackpot idea that it's possible to be against Assad and against ISIS at the same time. I believe the American military has seen this as insane from the start.

Submitted by Linda Wood on Mon, 06/19/2017 - 11:41am

So true.

@gjohnsit

Submitted by Song of the lark on Mon, 06/19/2017 - 12:54pm

It's a bit much

@Linda Wood calling ISIS a CIA/KSA force. Might as well throw in Mossad if you are taking that path. Saudi/Gulf states I'll go with and a partial hat tip to CIA for their toleration of "Salafist forces" in eastern Syria. ISIS is an entity all on their own.The CIA certainly doesn't own them or set policy or missions for Islamic State. The CIA might turn a blind eye to ISIS in certain respects like the past selling of Syrian oil to both Isreal and Turkey now largely in the past since Russian and partially the US military bombed the hell out of oil truck convoys last year. No doubt the oil is going somewhere as it is the most fungible commodity on the planet. Maybe you know? Anyway this is a small quibble in your framing since it is entirely clear that the MENA district is in Collapse and allies, frenemies and enemies are of convenience only. I also agree with you that portions of the deep state are at sub rosa war with each other...lots of bystander deep state entities also not taking sides mostly of the non kinetic, remote viewer type.

forces have released this statement.

http://www.inherentresolve.mil/News/News-Releases/Article/1217917/coalit...

Coalition Defends Partner Forces from Syrian Fighter Jet Attack
By CJTF-OIR | June 19, 2017

SOUTHWEST ASIA – At approximately 4:30 p.m. Syria time, June 18, Pro-Syrian regime forces attacked the Syrian Democratic Forces-held town of Ja'Din, South of Tabqah, wounding a number of SDF fighters and driving the SDF from the town.

Coalition aircraft conducted a show of force and stopped the initial pro-regime advance toward the SDF-controlled town.

Following the Pro-Syrian forces attack, the Coalition contacted its Russian counterparts by telephone via an established ‘de-confliction line’ to de-escalate the situation and stop the firing.

At 6:43 p.m., a Syrian regime SU-22 dropped bombs near SDF fighters south of Tabqah and, in accordance with rules of engagement and in collective self-defense of Coalition partnered forces, was immediately shot down by a U.S. F/A-18E Super Hornet.

Ja'Din sits approximately two kilometers north of an established East-West SDF-Syrian Regime de-confliction area.

The Coalition’s mission is to defeat ISIS in Iraq and Syria. The Coalition does not seek to fight Syrian regime, Russian, or pro-regime forces partnered with them, but will not hesitate to defend Coalition or partner forces from any threat.

The Coalition presence in Syria addresses the imminent threat ISIS in Syria poses globally. The demonstrated hostile intent and actions of pro-regime forces toward Coalition and partner forces in Syria conducting legitimate counter-ISIS operations will not be tolerated.

The Coalition calls on all parties to focus their efforts on the defeat of ISIS, which is our common enemy and the greatest threat to regional and worldwide peace and security.

gjohnsit , what this demonstrates to me is that the American military is at war with ISIS, which is the CIA and Saudi armed force which is at war with Assad. It's completely understandable that Assad would have a hard time believing American forces are not there to replace his regime and to control Syria. It's completely understandable that Assad would act to control Raqqa, which is within his country! and that he would see the American forces as part of the CIA threat to Syria. Completely understandable!

What is not understandable is our foreign policy. We have been trying to sell the American people on the crackpot idea that it's possible to be against Assad and against ISIS at the same time. I believe the American military has seen this as insane from the start.

Submitted by jim p on Mon, 06/19/2017 - 2:24pm

Um, No.

@Song of the lark ISIS was/is funded by Sauds, to the extent that they pardoned criminals who volunteered to go to Syria. Weird how there's all these videos of the jihadis driving in US trucks and carrying USade weapons. We give them to our moderate genocide advocates who then give them over. As to Mossad the Wall Street Journal documents Israeli aid to the "Syrian rebels that mostly aren't from Syria" https://www.wsj.com/articles/israel-gives-secret-aid-to-syrian-rebels-14...

—

Orwell: Where's the omelette?

Submitted by Song of the lark on Mon, 06/19/2017 - 5:43pm

I think I said that!

@jim p

Submitted by jim p on Tue, 06/20/2017 - 10:58pm

Sorry if I misapprehended

@Song of the lark

—

Orwell: Where's the omelette?

Submitted by dervish on Tue, 06/20/2017 - 9:05am

ISIS is funded by the Saudis?

@jim p I thought that they got their money by robbing banks, and that their equipment was all stolen. That's what I read in the American newspapers anyhow.

—

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

Submitted by jim p on Tue, 06/20/2017 - 10:56pm

Actually, they have

@dervish
Djinn in workshops making that stuff. The anti-mystic media get their mind boggled by the reality so they just say stuff.

—

Orwell: Where's the omelette?

Submitted by Bollox Ref on Mon, 06/19/2017 - 6:35pm

Redundant

(Cock-up on the answering front)

—

Gëzuar!!
from a reasonably stable genius.

Submitted by dervish on Tue, 06/20/2017 - 9:11am

Was it actually the Kurds who got hit?

@Linda Wood I thought it was some Daesh affiliated militia.

forces have released this statement.

http://www.inherentresolve.mil/News/News-Releases/Article/1217917/coalit...

Coalition Defends Partner Forces from Syrian Fighter Jet Attack
By CJTF-OIR | June 19, 2017

SOUTHWEST ASIA – At approximately 4:30 p.m. Syria time, June 18, Pro-Syrian regime forces attacked the Syrian Democratic Forces-held town of Ja'Din, South of Tabqah, wounding a number of SDF fighters and driving the SDF from the town.

Coalition aircraft conducted a show of force and stopped the initial pro-regime advance toward the SDF-controlled town.

Following the Pro-Syrian forces attack, the Coalition contacted its Russian counterparts by telephone via an established ‘de-confliction line’ to de-escalate the situation and stop the firing.

At 6:43 p.m., a Syrian regime SU-22 dropped bombs near SDF fighters south of Tabqah and, in accordance with rules of engagement and in collective self-defense of Coalition partnered forces, was immediately shot down by a U.S. F/A-18E Super Hornet.

Ja'Din sits approximately two kilometers north of an established East-West SDF-Syrian Regime de-confliction area.

The Coalition’s mission is to defeat ISIS in Iraq and Syria. The Coalition does not seek to fight Syrian regime, Russian, or pro-regime forces partnered with them, but will not hesitate to defend Coalition or partner forces from any threat.

The Coalition presence in Syria addresses the imminent threat ISIS in Syria poses globally. The demonstrated hostile intent and actions of pro-regime forces toward Coalition and partner forces in Syria conducting legitimate counter-ISIS operations will not be tolerated.

The Coalition calls on all parties to focus their efforts on the defeat of ISIS, which is our common enemy and the greatest threat to regional and worldwide peace and security.

gjohnsit , what this demonstrates to me is that the American military is at war with ISIS, which is the CIA and Saudi armed force which is at war with Assad. It's completely understandable that Assad would have a hard time believing American forces are not there to replace his regime and to control Syria. It's completely understandable that Assad would act to control Raqqa, which is within his country! and that he would see the American forces as part of the CIA threat to Syria. Completely understandable!

What is not understandable is our foreign policy. We have been trying to sell the American people on the crackpot idea that it's possible to be against Assad and against ISIS at the same time. I believe the American military has seen this as insane from the start.

—

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

Submitted by native on Tue, 06/20/2017 - 10:43am

Good question.

@dervish
Most reports say the Syrian bombs fell "near" SDF forces. How near? It doesn't seem that they were actually hit. They might well have been targeted... or not.

—

native

Submitted by Arrow on Mon, 06/19/2017 - 11:36am

All these machinations

Are due to the facts on the ground.
Syrian forces are winning the 'civil war'. 'Rebel' forces are surrounded everywhere.
With the eminent collapse of the IS state there will be no more pretense to cover US ambitions of 'regime change'.

—

I want a Pony!

Submitted by Linda Wood on Mon, 06/19/2017 - 11:42am

Absolutely.

@Arrow

Submitted by gjohnsit on Mon, 06/19/2017 - 11:43am

Good point

@Arrow

With the eminent collapse of the IS state there will be no more pretense to cover US ambitions of 'regime change'.

The caliphate is almost done.
Within weeks there will be questions over why our troops are still there. Why don't we withdraw?
...unless you can start another war first.

Submitted by CB on Mon, 06/19/2017 - 12:12pm

US forces will not be leaving anytime soon

@gjohnsit
Once they get a toehold, they never seem to leave. If actual armed forces do leave, mercenaries usually continue to operate.

The U.S. Military Expands Its Network of Syrian Airfields
Bases make it easier to bring in supplies for the SDF
...
The Kobani airfield, on the other hand, has become a major logistical hub for U.S. troops on the ground in northeast Syria and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces. Indicative of the airfield’s growing importance, it has facilitated more than 100 landings of C-130 Hercules transports and another 50 landings of C-17 Globemaster IIIs, according to Voice of America. The cargo planes can take off and land from primitive runways.
...
U.S. forces also airlifted the SDF into battle against the Islamic State in Tabqa, west of Raqqa, in late March 2017. These forces then successfully captured a strategically important Syrian air base there of the same name, which could serve as a firebase to support the Raqqa operation in the coming weeks.

Combined with a continued flow of air strikes from Incirlik, and use of smaller airstrips prepared in Rmelian and Qamishli in the same region, these bases can surely bolster the SDF/YPG as they march into Raqqa.
...

Submitted by native on Tue, 06/20/2017 - 11:37am

Two questions: To what extent do you suppose

@CB
the SDF and its American sponsors share the same objectives, regarding a possible partition of Syria? Also, how unified is the SDF command structure regarding its strategic, as opposed to tactical planning?

It seems that relations between the SDF and the Syrian government will be of crucial importance to both. I'm wondering what sort of role the USA will be able to play in establishing those relations.

—

native

Submitted by CB on Tue, 06/20/2017 - 1:12pm

Answers to these are posted in todays diary

@native
https://caucus99percent.com/content/how-not-top-headlines

https://caucus99percent.com/comment/274492#comment-274492

BTW, the US now has five substantial military bases plus an unknown number of firebases in Syria. The shit is going to hit the wall shortly.

Submitted by native on Tue, 06/20/2017 - 11:59pm

Well this is true. But without the full

@CB
cooperation of the SDF fighters who are actually engaged in battles with Daesh, and then in holding the gained territory, American plans for the region (whatever they may be) won't mean much.

We hear a lot about SDF advances, and it seems likely they will be able to take control of Raqqa independently of the SAA. What is less clear, is the degree to which the SDF will comply to US directives, vis a vis a partition of Syria. Such a directive (if indeed one exists) may or may not be in the best interests of Syrian Kurds.

Influential and successful as the SDF has been, we hear very little about its leadership, or the ethnic composition of its forces, or what its long-term objectives might be. You seem to imply that SDF objectives coincide closely with American objectives, but is this really the case? Does the SDF really desire to split Syria in two, in order to rule over a de facto protectorate of America? I'm not convinced that it does.

—

native

Submitted by CB on Wed, 06/21/2017 - 1:49am

The Kurds would be open to the federalization

@native
of all the territory north of the Euphrates River. They have been running this area for several years now under a temporary decentralized system of government that Assad has granted them. They now fly their own flags. They also run their own local governments, courts, policing and jails - a defacto autonomous Kurdish region. Removing ISIS from these territories has cost them many lives and many will not want to give it up. It will all depend on the US giving them considerable support in future years. Turkey, of course, will be a shit disturber.

I doubt they will keep Raqqa - it is an Arab town. The Arab portion of the SDF will break away once ISIS is conquered.

The race to Dier az Zor is on.

Will Damascus clash with SDF over status of regions post-ISIS?
On Tuesday the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) announced the formation of a “civilian council” to administer Syria's Raqqa region after ISIS’ eventual expulsion. SDF spokesman Talal Silo said the SDF has already handed over towns captured from ISIS to this fledgling council.

The Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), the leading group in the SDF, have stressed that Arab elements of the SDF will lead the Raqqa offensive and Arabs from Raqqa will govern it following ISIS' removal, in order to minimize the possibility of an Arab-Kurdish conflict.

Late last month the co-chair of the ruling Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD), whose armed wing is the YPG, suggested that Raqqa could become part of the Kurds' democratic federal system.

“We expect [this] because our project is for all Syria … and Raqqa can be part of it,” he said before adding that “the people of Raqqa are the ones who take the decision on everything.”

The formation of the Raqqa council comes after the SDF's establishment of the Deir ez-Zur Military Council to govern the country's eastern province if they manage to capture that too, in December. - See more at: http://www.rudaw.net/english/analysis/20042017#sthash.Rd9w3VYA.dpuf

Submitted by native on Wed, 06/21/2017 - 3:18pm

This is very helpful

@CB
and relevant information, thank you for your explanation and the link. That Kurdish website Rudaw is quite impressive. SDF plans for the future of Raqqa sound eminently reasonable, and I'm pleased that they do not seem to envisage a partition of Syria.

#2.2.1.1.1.1
of all the territory north of the Euphrates River. They have been running this area for several years now under a temporary decentralized system of government that Assad has granted them. They now fly their own flags. They also run their own local governments, courts, policing and jails - a defacto autonomous Kurdish region. Removing ISIS from these territories has cost them many lives and many will not want to give it up. It will all depend on the US giving them considerable support in future years. Turkey, of course, will be a shit disturber.

I doubt they will keep Raqqa - it is an Arab town. The Arab portion of the SDF will break away once ISIS is conquered.

The race to Dier az Zor is on.

Will Damascus clash with SDF over status of regions post-ISIS?
On Tuesday the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) announced the formation of a “civilian council” to administer Syria's Raqqa region after ISIS’ eventual expulsion. SDF spokesman Talal Silo said the SDF has already handed over towns captured from ISIS to this fledgling council.

The Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), the leading group in the SDF, have stressed that Arab elements of the SDF will lead the Raqqa offensive and Arabs from Raqqa will govern it following ISIS' removal, in order to minimize the possibility of an Arab-Kurdish conflict.

Late last month the co-chair of the ruling Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD), whose armed wing is the YPG, suggested that Raqqa could become part of the Kurds' democratic federal system.

“We expect [this] because our project is for all Syria … and Raqqa can be part of it,” he said before adding that “the people of Raqqa are the ones who take the decision on everything.”

The formation of the Raqqa council comes after the SDF's establishment of the Deir ez-Zur Military Council to govern the country's eastern province if they manage to capture that too, in December. - See more at: http://www.rudaw.net/english/analysis/20042017#sthash.Rd9w3VYA.dpuf

—

native

Submitted by gjohnsit on Mon, 06/19/2017 - 11:49am

Russia waters down threat

Russia waters down threat to Coalition aircraft. Now says will 'escort'. A few minutes ago said would be tracked by Russian SAMs as targets pic.twitter.com/DDiX3IQMqF

— Airwars (@airwars) June 19, 2017

Submitted by divineorder on Mon, 06/19/2017 - 11:59am

Good to hear. Would make a great update to

@Linda Wood @Linda Wood @gjohnsit the essay? Thanks for all your work on Middle East info. Here on safari in South Africa would be totally clueless if not for your work.

—

A truth of the nuclear age/climate change: we can no longer have endless war and survive on this planet. Oh sh*t.

Submitted by crbngville on Mon, 06/19/2017 - 11:50am

JFC on a GD cracker

So now a full blown proxy war against Russia and Iran over who controls a pipeline through Syria. How did we let our politicians drag us so far down this road?

Submitted by lizzyh7 on Mon, 06/19/2017 - 11:59am

Because we as a country are mis-informed.

@crbngville Constantly. Most people don't know any of this, don't know about a pipeline, don't see the plans to possibly partition Syria so we can get access to their oil reserves and push that pipeline through whether Assad wants that or not. All the American public is told is Assad bad, Russia bad, ISIS definitely bad, USA ALWAYS GOOD.

Now just go on out and go shopping, all will be just fine if you let us take care of it. s/

—

Only a fool lets someone else tell him who his enemy is. Assata Shakur

Submitted by CB on Mon, 06/19/2017 - 6:39pm

Then there's that fucking 800 pound gorilla in the region

@lizzyh7

Submitted by Linda Wood on Mon, 06/19/2017 - 12:01pm

There's a lot of money

@crbngville
in "defense." Fear causes a lot of panicked buying and empowers the people who sell war such that they can then afford to control the narrative as well as the electoral process. We've made national suicide profitable.

Submitted by snoopydawg on Mon, 06/19/2017 - 6:29pm

As lizzy stated

@crbngville
People in this country are misinformed about what the military is doing in the Middle East.
This news is on my local news website and most of the comments on it are in this vein.

Thank you for your service and for keeping our country safe.

I gave my son in up in Iraq for the freedoms of this country .

Why don't we just nuke them and let gawd sort it out.

Trump is going after the terrorist's families like he said he would after Obama called ISIS the JV team and did nothing to them I

And other patriotic sayings.

Goerring knew what he was talking about when he said this

—

Scientists are concerned that conspiracy theories may die out if they keep coming true at the current alarming rate.

Submitted by CB on Mon, 06/19/2017 - 12:00pm

Some good news that should ease tensions

Syrian Army's Tiger Forces Rescue Shotdown Syrian Pilot
Ali Fahd, Syrian Air Force pilot who was yesterday shot down by the US Air Force while conducting anti-ISIS raids in the Syrian province of Raqqah, is said to be alive and well.

He was later rescued in a special operation, conducted by the Tiger Forces, an elite unit of the Syrian Army.

Submitted by gjohnsit on Mon, 06/19/2017 - 12:01pm

Why we are killing so many civilians

we're the good guys

“At least 484 civilians have been unintentionally killed by coalition strikes,” the United States Central Command, or Centcom, the military command responsible for the Middle East, said in a June 2 statement. Four months earlier, Centcom had said at least 199 civilians had been killed up to that point in the bombing campaign. Estimates by independent monitors are much higher. Airwars, a watchdog group, says coalition airstrikes have killed nearly 4,000 civilians.
...
One reason for the huge increase in noncombatant deaths is that the United States is dropping more bombs — a more than 20 percent increase from the last four months of the Obama presidency to the first four under Mr. Trump.
Also, more strikes have occurred in populated areas, like Mosul, the Islamic State’s last stronghold in Iraq.
...Even as the American military has accelerated its bombing, there is no independent assessment of the intelligence used to identify targets. Brig. Gen. Richard Coe, who investigated a mistaken attack on a Syrian military convoy in September, acknowledged that there was no “red team” to critique the decision-making process, a common approach in many commands. “Each person is expected to do that on their own,” General Coe said, “and then, in the process, funnel up the pros and cons to decision makers.” Individuals immersed in identifying enemy targets cannot simultaneously evaluate their own judgments.
Until June 13, the American military had only two people investigating Iraqi and Syrian civilian casualties full time. There now are seven full-time investigators, still a meager commitment given that around 10,000 troops are stationed in Qatar at the command’s headquarters for the air war. A dozen people investigated such claims at the height of the Afghanistan surge in 2011. If the military were concerned about civilian deaths, more investigators with training and experience in targeting would be assigned to those teams.

There is also no longer any public accountability. On May 26, an American military press officer confirmed that the Pentagon will no longer acknowledge when its own aircraft are responsible for civilian casualty incidents; rather they will be hidden under the umbrella of the “coalition.”

Submitted by The Voice In th... on Mon, 06/19/2017 - 1:45pm

Because you can't see a uniform from 10,000 feet.

@gjohnsit Always assuming that the "enemy" wears uniforms which they don't. So two miles up you bomb a bunch of people wearing ~~black pajamas~~ white robes (sorry, wrong war). Who knows who they are?

we're the good guys “At least 484 civilians have been unintentionally killed by coalition strikes,” the United States Central Command, or Centcom, the military command responsible for the Middle East, said in a June 2 statement. Four months earlier, Centcom had said at least 199 civilians had been killed up to that point in the bombing campaign. Estimates by independent monitors are much higher. Airwars, a watchdog group, says coalition airstrikes have killed nearly 4,000 civilians. ... One reason for the huge increase in noncombatant deaths is that the United States is dropping more bombs — a more than 20 percent increase from the last four months of the Obama presidency to the first four under Mr. Trump. Also, more strikes have occurred in populated areas, like Mosul, the Islamic State’s last stronghold in Iraq. ...Even as the American military has accelerated its bombing, there is no independent assessment of the intelligence used to identify targets. Brig. Gen. Richard Coe, who investigated a mistaken attack on a Syrian military convoy in September, acknowledged that there was no “red team” to critique the decision-making process, a common approach in many commands. “Each person is expected to do that on their own,” General Coe said, “and then, in the process, funnel up the pros and cons to decision makers.” Individuals immersed in identifying enemy targets cannot simultaneously evaluate their own judgments. Until June 13, the American military had only two people investigating Iraqi and Syrian civilian casualties full time. There now are seven full-time investigators, still a meager commitment given that around 10,000 troops are stationed in Qatar at the command’s headquarters for the air war. A dozen people investigated such claims at the height of the Afghanistan surge in 2011. If the military were concerned about civilian deaths, more investigators with training and experience in targeting would be assigned to those teams. There is also no longer any public accountability. On May 26, an American military press officer confirmed that the Pentagon will no longer acknowledge when its own aircraft are responsible for civilian casualty incidents; rather they will be hidden under the umbrella of the “coalition.”

—

I've seen lots of changes. What doesn't change is people. Same old hairless apes.

Submitted by coloradoblue on Mon, 06/19/2017 - 12:14pm

Our Foreign Policy

can be described with two simple phrases:

It's our world. Do as we say or else.

Stupid is as stupid does.

—

Dear Dems: You lost the WH, Senate, House, dozens of governors, state level SOS and AG and about 1,000 state legislative seats. Maybe...you're doing something wrong.

Submitted by detroitmechworks on Mon, 06/19/2017 - 1:24pm

It's already out of control

The decisions are in the hands of the generals now.

It's an active, shooting war, and anybody who says it ain't is under an amazing delusion that requires so much denial as to be nearly comedic.

We're already at war. It'll just take some time for the propaganda to catch up.

—

I do not pretend I know what I do not know.

Submitted by gjohnsit on Mon, 06/19/2017 - 1:33pm

Just took a look at TOP

There is not one, single diary about this. Not one!
This is the biggest story of the day, and no one there cares.
It's all Trump, all the time. Foreign policy no longer matters because those people have been banned.

Submitted by FuturePassed on Mon, 06/19/2017 - 2:20pm

Taking a look at TOP

@gjohnsit
Better you than me.

Submitted by on the cusp on Mon, 06/19/2017 - 3:59pm

@gjohnsit I just hung up the phone

@gjohnsit I just hung up the phone with a friend in Florida, asked her if we book a trip to Egypt, and a war breaks out, would we get a refund? She had no idea what I was talking about. She turned on the news, flipped through all the cable channels, and none of them were covering this story. ???
What's up with that?

—

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

Submitted by gjohnsit on Mon, 06/19/2017 - 5:31pm

I've got news fo you

@on the cusp
Egypt has had a full-scale insurgency for several years now.
I'd be very careful.

Submitted by on the cusp on Mon, 06/19/2017 - 5:54pm

@gjohnsit I read today that a

@gjohnsit I read today that a major tour company out of England cancelled all Egypt tours starting immediately, not to resume until late summer of 2018.
Full refunds given, tourist safety was the reason.
I may talk myself out of it.
And thanks for the heads up. Why do I know nothing of an insurgency?

—

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

Submitted by gjohnsit on Mon, 06/19/2017 - 6:36pm

It's a big deal

@on the cusp
Check out my essay here.

Submitted by on the cusp on Mon, 06/19/2017 - 8:08pm

@gjohnsit Thanks for that.

@gjohnsit Thanks for that. I usually read everything you write, and go to your proffered links. I was likely out of the country and missed it.
Again, thanks.

—

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

Submitted by snoopydawg on Mon, 06/19/2017 - 6:42pm

Joe covers a lot of foreign policy in the evening blues

@on the cusp
that he posts during the week. He includes links to the article for further reading.
After I read the article, I look at its home page and find more information on those topics and other issues.
If you have a chance to read them, you will find things that the mainstream media doesn't cover.
Moon of Alabama has great articles, too. B writes very informative article on different subjects, but I think they have been about the Syrian conflict.

—

Scientists are concerned that conspiracy theories may die out if they keep coming true at the current alarming rate.

Submitted by on the cusp on Mon, 06/19/2017 - 8:10pm

@snoopydawg I read almost all

@snoopydawg I read almost all of joe's ebs.
Still am not sure how I missed Egypt news, as I have been trying to get there for years and am always curious about it.
Thanks.

—

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

Submitted by Citizen Of Earth on Mon, 06/19/2017 - 1:58pm

When I heard the US shot down a Syrian Jet

My first thought was that it was a planned move to start WWIII. I'm sure a US pilot would not take on that responsibility himself. He had to be told to "do it" by warmongers in the pentagon.

Besides Trump needs a bonafide war to get his "russia problem" off the front page. What would make the imbecile crook look more presidential than giving a speech over flag draped coffins of US pilots.

—

Donnie The #ShitHole Douchebag. Fake Friend to the Working Class. Real Asshole.

Submitted by Not Henry Kissinger on Mon, 06/19/2017 - 2:22pm

It probably wasn't the Kurds...

Almost overlooked in all this was the Kurds being bombed.

The Syrian bomber may have been attacking an ISIS column retreating from Raqqa when it was shot down.

The U.S. now claims that the Syrian jet attacked Kurdish forces in Jardin. But there were none left there when the incident happened. The town was already confirmed to be in the hands of the Syrian army. The Syrian jet attacked Islamic State forces near Resafa. The Syrian army was in the process of taking the town Resafa from the Islamic State and to reach the crossroad that would allow it to proceed to the ISIS besieged Deir Ezzor. The Syrian air forces jet bombed Islamic State forces in Resafa. The U.S. shot the jet down falsely claiming that it attacked its Kurdish proxy forces.

This isn't the first time the US has acted as ISIS air force. After the US 'accidental' air attack on the Syrian garrison at Deir Ezzor last September, it took ISIS only seven minutes to launch an assault on the position. That simply doesn't happen without direct coordination.

In this case the US is using the Kurds as a pretext for covering the ISIS retreat from Raqqa. Not the first or last time the Kurds have been used as a expedient pawn of US 'diplomacy'.

—

The current working assumption appears to be that our Shroedinger's Cat system is still alive. But what if we all suspect it's not, and the real problem is we just can't bring ourselves to open the box?

Submitted by Linda Wood on Mon, 06/19/2017 - 3:49pm

I vote in support

@Not Henry Kissinger
of your comment because you make such a good case, but I still think it's possible it happened as our military described it. It's possible Assad cannot allow U.S. backed forces to control the area and that any trust that the U.S. will allow the Syrian government to control its own country is hard to establish much less maintain in this quagmire.

Submitted by dervish on Wed, 06/21/2017 - 11:23am

The US wants ISIS to remain viable

@Not Henry Kissinger I concur.

—

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

Submitted by ZimInSeattle on Mon, 06/19/2017 - 2:49pm

And to think we have idiot boy at the helm....

—

"Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable." - JFK | "The more I see of the moneyed peoples, the more I understand the guillotine." - G. B. Shaw Bernie/Tulsi 2020

Submitted by lizzyh7 on Mon, 06/19/2017 - 3:20pm

They are all really idiot boys.

@ZimInSeattle Trump's just the very public face of that idiocy. Yet American's will still deny that ignorance is one of the main culprits in this whole shitting mess. Surely our guys aren't that ignorant, are they?

But I do hear you on a twelve year old bully being in charge.

—

Only a fool lets someone else tell him who his enemy is. Assata Shakur

Submitted by orlbucfan on Mon, 06/19/2017 - 4:44pm

No, I am sick of endless wars-for-profit!! Rec'd!!

—

Inner and Outer Space: the Final Frontiers.

Submitted by Bollox Ref on Mon, 06/19/2017 - 6:34pm

Yes, I am prepared...

I shall don my old hussar uniform (see shot), with light cavalry sabre, and advance forward at a steady walk... trot... and final gallop.

Their's not to reason why,
Their's but to do and die:

—

Gëzuar!!
from a reasonably stable genius.

Submitted by detroitmechworks on Mon, 06/19/2017 - 8:24pm

Far to often misquoted

@Bollox Ref @Bollox Ref as "do or die" in the us.

Creating the illusion that suicidal odds can be overcome by sheer will.

Of course nobody ever quotes the first line of that part of the poem

It's "someone blundered"

—

I do not pretend I know what I do not know.

Submitted by dervish on Tue, 06/20/2017 - 9:09am

Czi pan jestesz Polski? n/t

@Bollox Ref

—

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

Submitted by Bollox Ref on Mon, 06/19/2017 - 9:02pm

"someone blundered"

Someone certainly did.

A poorly written order delivered by an officer thinking poorly.

—

Gëzuar!!
from a reasonably stable genius.

Submitted by Ray Pensador on Mon, 06/19/2017 - 11:41pm

The Neocon Agenda

This of course, is my interpretation, but it is one I've been pretty consistent about for a long time... From the vantage point of doing everything I can to stay away from the corporate media (psyops) daily news cycle (by not watching "programming" by ANY corporate media outlets), here's my take on things:

We've been moving towards becoming a corporatist fascist state for at least 40 years now. The systems for this nascent fascist state has been put in place systematically, methodically, patiently. The fascist system encompasses technology, legislation, deception/propaganda.

The agenda? It's basically the Neocon agenda, which "they" have verbalized for decades (see/Google "Project For a New American Century.")

It is basically an agenda of unrivaled military superiority, and now all the pieces seem to be in place for the next (and final) stage.

If I'm right, this means war at a massive scale, with the Neocons (who now run Trump's administration, whether he knows it or not) feeling totally secured in their belief that they will be able to "defang" once and for all any potential challenger to U.S. world hegemonic power.

Regarding ongoing investigations against Trump, all that stuff will fade once the big military confrontations start (jingoism, war propaganda, etc., will assure this).

What am I saying? Basically all relevant levers of power have been captured by what is essentially a megalomaniacal cabal.

These people are going to move swiftly (a la "Shock Doctrine"), and in due course the fascist state will take its mask (completely) off. At that point, there will be no question we would have transitioned into a fascist corporate state.

Now, if I go back and read what I just wrote above, even I have to say that it sounds kind of far-fetched, to say the least. Some would call it hyperbolic, or just another CT.

I would be very happy if I had it all wrong and things weren't as bad. Time will tell. But I think we'll know soon enough.

—

www.RayPensador.com
When you boil it all down, the number one step you can take to get out from under the fascist boot of the oligarchy is to stop subjecting yourself to the the U.S. corporate news media. It is a powerful psyops weapon.

Submitted by emorej a hong kong on Tue, 06/20/2017 - 1:00am

Consciously or not, many forces seemed primed for this scenario

@Ray Pensador Ray, since you are obviously correct about this:
>Regarding ongoing investigations against Trump, all that stuff will fade once the big military confrontations start (jingoism, war propaganda, etc., will assure this).

... it will hardly matter how many of the participants have been consciously preparing for this scenario, because their choices are so neatly teed up to participate in it.

Notably, the Hillary-apologists' propaganda alleging that Putin stole Hillary's Presidency, and that Bernie-supporters are pro-Putin, has ensured even less ability to mobilize an anti-war coalition than existed when W invaded Iraq based on much less complicated lies.

Submitted by CB on Tue, 06/20/2017 - 3:45am

This subject really requires a diary unto itself.

@Ray Pensador
First we need a good history on how the neocons managed to gain the power and control they now have within the government. The Saker has re-posted an excellent article:

The history of the Neocon takeover of the USA (a 4 part analysis)

By Paul Fitzgerald and Elizabeth Gould

Part 1 – American Imperialism Leads the World into Dante’s Vision of Hell
...
The neoconservative hitmen and hit-ladies of Washington have a long list of targets that pass from generation to generation. Their influence on American government has been catastrophic yet it never seems to end. Senator J. William Fulbright identified their irrational system for making endless war in Vietnam 45 years ago in a New Yorker article titled Reflections in Thrall to Fear.
...
Part 2 – How Neocons Push for War by Cooking the Books
...
Rooted in what can only be described as cult thinking, the Team B experiment tore down what was left of the CIA’s pre-Vietnam professional objectivity by subjecting it to politicization. Earlier in the decade, the CIA’s Office of Strategic Research (OSR) had been pressured by Nixon and Kissinger to corrupt their analysis to justify increased defense spending but the Team B’s ideological focus and partisan makeup so exaggerated the threat, the process could never return to normal.

The campaign was driven by the Russophobic neoconservative cabal which included Paul Wolfowitz, Richard Pipes, Richard Perle and a handful of old anti-Soviet hardliners like Paul Nitze and General Danny Graham. It began with a 1974 article in the Wall Street Journal by the famed nuclear strategist and former Trotskyist Albert Wohlstetter decrying America’s supposed nuclear vulnerability. It ended 2 years later with a ritualistic bloodletting at the CIA, signaling that ideology and not fact-based analysis had gained an exclusive hold on America’s bureaucracy.
...
Part 3 – How the CIA Created a Fake Western Reality for ‘Unconventional Warfare’
...
The odd, psychologically conflicted and politically divisive ideology referred to as Neoconservatism can claim many godfathers. Irving Kristol, father of William Kristol, Albert Wohlstetter, Daniel Bell, Norman Podhoretz and Sidney Hook come to mind and there are many others. But in both theory and its practice the title of founding-father of the neoconservative agenda of endless warfare that rules the thinking of America’s defense and foreign policies today might best be applied to James Burnham.
...
Part 4 – The Final Stage of the Machiavellian Elites’ Takeover of America
...
As historian Christopher Lasch wrote in 1969 of the CIA’s cooptation of the American left, “The modern state… is an engine of propaganda, alternately manufacturing crises and claiming to be the only instrument that can effectively deal with them. This propaganda, in order to be successful, demands the cooperation of writers, teachers, and artists not as paid propagandists or state-censored time-servers but as ‘free’ intellectuals capable of policing their own jurisdictions and of enforcing acceptable standards of responsibility within the various intellectual professions.”

Key to turning these “free” intellectuals against their own interests was the CIA’s doctrinal program for Western cultural transformation contained in the document PSB D-33/2. PSB D-33/2 foretells of a “long-term intellectual movement, to: break down world-wide doctrinaire thought patterns” while “creating confusion, doubt and loss of confidence” in order to “weaken objectively the intellectual appeal of neutralism and to predispose its adherents towards the spirit of the West;” to “predispose local elites to the philosophy held by the planners,” while employing local elites “would help to disguise the American origin of the effort so that it appears to be a native development.”
...

The second part is that I don't think the neocon movement is going to survive. Unfortunately, they would rather lead us into war and hell rather than going quietly.

The crux of the neocon's demise will be the rise of military and economic power of both Russia and China. When the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) takes root through out Asia, Central Asia, Europe, ME and Africa, it will spell the end of the American Empire. This area contains 70% of the world's population and 100% of all the minerals/metals/energy sources required for today's advanced economy. In addition, this less developed population has the greatest potential for massive economic growth that could readily exceed that of China's in the last two decades.

We can now see Russia and China flexing their economic/military muscles in many theatres that the US once dominated. The End of History has not been reached - not by a long shot.

Submitted by Ellen North on Tue, 06/20/2017 - 10:20pm

@CB

@CB

... When the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) takes root through out Asia, Central Asia, Europe, ME and Africa, it will spell the end of the American Empire. ...

Is this a reason behind the increased US military concentration in Africa?

And such as this?

https://theintercept.com/2016/09/29/u-s-military-is-building-a-100-milli...

U.S. Military Is Building a $100 Million Drone Base in Africa
Nick Turse

September 29 2016

This below is old but the text quoted below struck me as chillingly revealing of the effects of the 'exceptional' propaganda. Gasp! Some of the invaded countries actually have the nerve to have defense aircraft which may show during ~~an illegal attack~~ a 'surprise raid', (the others being typically impoverished sitting/dead ducks without such defenses, since TPTB bullies attack the more vulnerable for fun and profit - until they overplay their ~~ego~~ hand in attacking countries having better defenses, or allies having them) or even a friendly country checking out a warplane barging into their airspace without the courtesy to even mention it was doing so, never mind request permission, might need to be 'deterred'. So NASA and more American tax dollars once going somewhere useful are used, not for scientific purposes, but in global corporate/military conquest of everywhere the warmongers wish, whether labeled friend or foe...

Bolding mine.

http://foxtrotalpha.jalopnik.com/why-theres-a-nasa-jet-at-a-massive-mili...

Why There's A NASA Jet At A Massive Military Complex In Africa
Tyler Rogoway
12/07/14 5:09am

...With its most recent expansion, Camp Lemonnier, with its three distinct aircraft aprons (with a huge 4th dispersal being added now on the far eastern side of the base) is beginning to look a lot like the giant U.S. outposts found throughout the middle east and Afghanistan. ...

... With that background in mind, let's get back to the constantly claimed 'mystery' of the hodgepodge of military and exotic aircraft parked at the eastern end of this relatively small airfield.

The concept is pretty simple: When fighting an intense counter-terror war, pirates and extremist African militias all at the same time, things like MQ-9 Reapers, CV-22B Ospreys and MC-130 transport/refuellers are just the tools of the trade. The F-15Es, F-16Cs or F/A-18 Super Hornets are also a nice touch considering that special forces could be operating in virtually any nation's backyard at a moments notice. Manned close air support, which is much more dynamic than what a Reaper or Predator can provide with their soda-straw like field of view, can mean the difference between life and death for operators on the ground. Additionally, some of these nations where special operations occur have fighter aircraft of their own that could pop up at any time during a surprise raid. Even in a friendly country, an unannounced penetration of their airspace by special operations helicopters or fixed wing aircraft can lead to alert fighters launching after them, so it is nice to have something overhead that can provide counter-air support and deterrence if need be.

In the September image that was published recently on Google Earth, a NASA WB-57F high-altitude research and mapping aircraft can be seen sitting on the base's eastern ramp that is usually associated with tactical fighter aircraft and aircraft that may carry live weaponry. This resulted in a huge slew of articles questioning what NASA would be doing with one of their most capable aircraft parked next to a bunch of hard hitting jet fighters and spec-ops aircraft at a shadowy special forces base. Once again, there is no mystery here whatsoever. NASA's expanding WB-57F fleet can accomplish a similar but more payload flexible mission as the U-2 Dragon Lady, not quite reaching its 70,000 foot perch, but still being able to cruise far above normal air traffic at almost 60,000 feet. ...

'Payload' as in bombs? No, no mystery, just the ongoing fascist global take-over in process, while the 'exceptional' country and society being drained for funding the worlds most insanely giant military for this purpose disintegrates and the people increasingly go homeless and hungry to support what they likely most hate and are not permitted a free and independent press to gain the facts on, while being told that this is being done to 'preserve their freedom', already taken 'for safekeeping' in 'public/private' (public pays, private profits) hands.

#16
First we need a good history on how the neocons managed to gain the power and control they now have within the government. The Saker has re-posted an excellent article:

The history of the Neocon takeover of the USA (a 4 part analysis)

By Paul Fitzgerald and Elizabeth Gould

Part 1 – American Imperialism Leads the World into Dante’s Vision of Hell
...
The neoconservative hitmen and hit-ladies of Washington have a long list of targets that pass from generation to generation. Their influence on American government has been catastrophic yet it never seems to end. Senator J. William Fulbright identified their irrational system for making endless war in Vietnam 45 years ago in a New Yorker article titled Reflections in Thrall to Fear.
...
Part 2 – How Neocons Push for War by Cooking the Books
...
Rooted in what can only be described as cult thinking, the Team B experiment tore down what was left of the CIA’s pre-Vietnam professional objectivity by subjecting it to politicization. Earlier in the decade, the CIA’s Office of Strategic Research (OSR) had been pressured by Nixon and Kissinger to corrupt their analysis to justify increased defense spending but the Team B’s ideological focus and partisan makeup so exaggerated the threat, the process could never return to normal.

The campaign was driven by the Russophobic neoconservative cabal which included Paul Wolfowitz, Richard Pipes, Richard Perle and a handful of old anti-Soviet hardliners like Paul Nitze and General Danny Graham. It began with a 1974 article in the Wall Street Journal by the famed nuclear strategist and former Trotskyist Albert Wohlstetter decrying America’s supposed nuclear vulnerability. It ended 2 years later with a ritualistic bloodletting at the CIA, signaling that ideology and not fact-based analysis had gained an exclusive hold on America’s bureaucracy.
...
Part 3 – How the CIA Created a Fake Western Reality for ‘Unconventional Warfare’
...
The odd, psychologically conflicted and politically divisive ideology referred to as Neoconservatism can claim many godfathers. Irving Kristol, father of William Kristol, Albert Wohlstetter, Daniel Bell, Norman Podhoretz and Sidney Hook come to mind and there are many others. But in both theory and its practice the title of founding-father of the neoconservative agenda of endless warfare that rules the thinking of America’s defense and foreign policies today might best be applied to James Burnham.
...
Part 4 – The Final Stage of the Machiavellian Elites’ Takeover of America
...
As historian Christopher Lasch wrote in 1969 of the CIA’s cooptation of the American left, “The modern state… is an engine of propaganda, alternately manufacturing crises and claiming to be the only instrument that can effectively deal with them. This propaganda, in order to be successful, demands the cooperation of writers, teachers, and artists not as paid propagandists or state-censored time-servers but as ‘free’ intellectuals capable of policing their own jurisdictions and of enforcing acceptable standards of responsibility within the various intellectual professions.”

Key to turning these “free” intellectuals against their own interests was the CIA’s doctrinal program for Western cultural transformation contained in the document PSB D-33/2. PSB D-33/2 foretells of a “long-term intellectual movement, to: break down world-wide doctrinaire thought patterns” while “creating confusion, doubt and loss of confidence” in order to “weaken objectively the intellectual appeal of neutralism and to predispose its adherents towards the spirit of the West;” to “predispose local elites to the philosophy held by the planners,” while employing local elites “would help to disguise the American origin of the effort so that it appears to be a native development.”
...

The second part is that I don't think the neocon movement is going to survive. Unfortunately, they would rather lead us into war and hell rather than going quietly.

The crux of the neocon's demise will be the rise of military and economic power of both Russia and China. When the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) takes root through out Asia, Central Asia, Europe, ME and Africa, it will spell the end of the American Empire. This area contains 70% of the world's population and 100% of all the minerals/metals/energy sources required for today's advanced economy. In addition, this less developed population has the greatest potential for massive economic growth that could readily exceed that of China's in the last two decades.

We can now see Russia and China flexing their economic/military muscles in many theatres that the US once dominated. The End of History has not been reached - not by a long shot.

—

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 emorej a hong kong on Tue, 06/20/2017 - 12:28am

Cycle of escalation seems to be accelerating

"Better to start fighting them now in Syria than to wait to fight them on or within our own borders"-- seems to be the current thinking of Iran, and perhaps Russia, about the US military.

The most terrifying logic of this would be for the US military to push back further against their enemies' preferences, by means of escalating military or at least para-military activities on or within the borders of Iran and Russia, and then for the latter to feel compelled to respond in a cycle of escalation.

I don't know which is worse, that the US military did or did not foresee this type of cycle.