It's not a secret that NATO ally Turkey has been unhappy with our aiding and arming the Syrian Kurds.
Speaking of "not a secret", our troop locations are no longer secrets either.
Something/Someone Old
This music, "Hurrian Hymn No.6," is the oldest melody known to humanity. (I wonder how it could be "No. 6" when it's the oldest, but never mind.) It dates back to 1400 B.C.
The United States and Russia brokered a ceasefire in southern Syria a few days ago and it appears to be holding.
This is good news for almost everyone. Almost everyone.
The Battle of Mosul should end in the next day or two.
The Battle of Raqqa is proceeding according to expectations.
Earlier today a jihadi rebel group in southern Syria accused the Damascus government of a chemical weapons attack.
First, the good news.
As we struggle with the dissonance of our war policy in Syria, I think this 2016 article by Seymour Hersh is clarifying. He states that in 2013 the Joint Chiefs shared intelligence with Germany and Russia with the direct purpose of assisting Assad's government to destroy extremist opposition and ISIS. Hersh clarifies the CIA arming of jihadists, the DIA efforts to speak truth to power, the role of Russia, and he quotes Michael Flynn and Tulsi Gabbard.
This goal is the destruction of Syria as a viable state and installation of leaders that are compliant to the western power structure. Anything short of this will result in the continuing and escalating destabilization of the country as we are currently witnessing.
Just how far will the US go this time in mounting a direct military attack against Syria? This brinkmanship being played against a nation backed by nuclear armed Russia is arguably the greatest threat to world peace since the worst days of the Cold War. It is obvious the neocons have taken over the Executive Office and are using the uniformed and weak minded Trump as a tool to directly affect foreign policies they have been working towards for the last several decades. Are there any voices of reason left within the government that can push back against these ill-advised actions?
Moon of Alabama has reported on yesterday's strange and unexpected warning from the President's office.
It wasn't a surprise that Turkey was upset with the Trump Administration's decision to arm the Syrian Kurdish rebels. What they may not have anticipated is just how upset Turkey is.
Is it about oil? Is it about gas? Is it about pipelines? Is it about a central bank? Is it about power? Is it about greed? Is it about regime change? Is it about country balkanization? Is it about Iran? Is it about Russia? Is it about Israel?
Yes.
Is it about fighting terrorism?
No.
