John Fedup
The Bunker Group
Likely too busy trying to figure out how to deflect Comey on Thursday. TV advertisement rates should rival those for the Super Bowl.
War Against ISIS
- Thread starter spikehades
- Start date
Is ISIS Moving its Capital from Raqqa to Mayadin in Deir ez-Zor?
This article convinced me, it also has some interesting references at the bottom. And I have been seeing reports about US coalition airstrikes and special ops in the area against high ranking ISIS members. Other sources mention Deir Ezzor as the new capital, ignoring the fact that SAA holds a big part of that city... I think they are inaccurate by 40kms.
Maybe using the term capital isn't accurate, let's just say that it seems most of their leadership is based there.
He posted an over the top tweet where he took credit for the Saudis+UAE+etc turning against terrorism funders like Qatar :lol2:lol2
His tweet:
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/06/world/middleeast/trump-qatar-saudi-arabia.html
The White House is now on damage control after that absolutely harsh tweet. We live in amazing times, my friends!
Well if we're to believe Trump's narrative so far; Iran is mainly responsible for all the chaos and instability in the region and Saudi, Qatar and others have behaved responsibly. Amidst all this talk about terrorism and how Iran is responsible; we tend to overlook the fact that Iran over the years has often been a victim of terrorism itself. I'm no way suggesting that Iran's hands are totally clean; merely that all the players have blood and dirt on their hands.
Yes and who knows what was the real reason behind the decision to cut ties with Qatar. In my view if Saudi and the others want cuts ties on the pretext that Qatar has close ties with Iran then they must as well cut ties with Iraq as well. After all Iraq managed to stem the IS tide with the help of Iran and Iraq is led by a Shia dominated government [courtesy of Bush's 2003 invasion] which has extremely close ties with Iran. Not too long ago Saudi downgraded ties with Lebanon on the basis that Lebanon had become too chummy with Iran.
It is also interesting to speculate how Trump's recent visit to Saudi may have further emboldened Saudi and the UAE to do what they did.
''In Riyadh, Trump couldn’t mention where most of the the 9/11 hijackers came from or whose Sunni cult-faith was the inspiration for Isis - nor which country chopped off heads with Isis-like relish. (Answer: Saudi Arabia). And when he arrived in Israel on Monday, Trump was faced with a new censorship protocol: don’t mention who was occupying whose property in the West Bank or which country was outrageously and continuously stealing land – legally owned by Arabs – for Jews and Jews only. (Answer: Israel).
''So bingo, in the biggest Middle East alliance ever created in history, the Saudis and the other Sunni Arab dictators and America’s crackpot President and Israel’s cynical Prime Minister have all agreed on the identity of the devil country they can all curse with one voice, inspirer of “world terror”, instigator of Middle East instability, the greatest threat to world peace: Shia Iran.''
[Donald Trump Is Trying To Stick To The Script - But He's About To Really Mess Up In The Middle East]
Donald Trump is trying to stick to the script – but he's about to really mess up in the Middle East | The Independent
[Inside Story - What's The Reason Behind Recent Media Attacks Against Qatar?]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdlzWpwzhvg
Germany is pulling all of its troops and reconnaissance aircraft out of Incirlik (Turkey) and transferring to Jordan. Merkel made the decision on Wednesday and this will sort out Turkey's refusal to allow German lawmakers to visit their troops. About time and maybe it's time for the rest of the NATO effort to be removed from Turkey and Turkey being removed from NATO.
John Fedup
The Bunker Group
100% agree!
The US just hit Syrian forces near at-Tanf again. The situation is getting problematic. What happens if next time the convoy is Russian and has Russian flags? Is this a part of the Syrian mess that Germany wants anything to do with?
On the subject of at-Tanf, it appears the US shot down an Iranian UCAV too. The US apparently wants nobody closer then 55kms to at-Tanf.
And aircraft unknown bombed US-backed Kurdish forces advancing west-ward towards the SAA.
Interestingly enough the US strike took place shortly after the Russian A-50 landed. Which reveals the limitations of the Russian deployment there.
Ðмериканцы иранÑкий Shahed-129 что-ли Ñбили.. - Юрий ЛÑмин
Ð“ÐµÐ¾Ð»Ð¾ÐºÐ°Ñ†Ð¸Ñ Ð°Ð²Ð¸Ð°ÑƒÐ´Ð°Ñ€Ð° коалиции, возглавлÑемой СШÐ, по ÑирийÑкому подразделению у ÐÑ‚-Танфа: diana_mihailova
ÐеизвеÑтные Ñамолеты нанеÑли удар по курдÑким SDF у н.п. Ðбу-ÐÑи неподалеку от Табки: diana_mihailova
ИранÑкий ударный БЛРShahed 129 »Ð°Ð¼Ð¸ коалиции в районе ÐÑ‚-Танф: diana_mihailova
КоалициÑ, возглавлÑÐµÐ¼Ð°Ñ Ð¡Ð¨Ð, нанеÑла авиаудар по ÑирийÑким войÑкам только поÑле поÑадки Ð-50 ВКС РФ: diana_mihailova
And aircraft unknown bombed US-backed Kurdish forces advancing west-ward towards the SAA.
Interestingly enough the US strike took place shortly after the Russian A-50 landed. Which reveals the limitations of the Russian deployment there.
Ðмериканцы иранÑкий Shahed-129 что-ли Ñбили.. - Юрий ЛÑмин
Ð“ÐµÐ¾Ð»Ð¾ÐºÐ°Ñ†Ð¸Ñ Ð°Ð²Ð¸Ð°ÑƒÐ´Ð°Ñ€Ð° коалиции, возглавлÑемой СШÐ, по ÑирийÑкому подразделению у ÐÑ‚-Танфа: diana_mihailova
ÐеизвеÑтные Ñамолеты нанеÑли удар по курдÑким SDF у н.п. Ðбу-ÐÑи неподалеку от Табки: diana_mihailova
ИранÑкий ударный БЛРShahed 129 »Ð°Ð¼Ð¸ коалиции в районе ÐÑ‚-Танф: diana_mihailova
КоалициÑ, возглавлÑÐµÐ¼Ð°Ñ Ð¡Ð¨Ð, нанеÑла авиаудар по ÑирийÑким войÑкам только поÑле поÑадки Ð-50 ВКС РФ: diana_mihailova
Lcf
Member
It seems SAA & comp. have reached Syria-Iraq border after ISIS retreat and thus effectively outflanking US forces and their moderate head-chopping friends, according to Russian MOD. Can't help but to wonder how the US will react considering the effort they've put in to keep Assad forces away from the border.
There has been an alleged 4th strike against Syrian positions, which the US have denied. And yes, it appears they've simply gone around the at-Tanf crossing, thus cutting off the NSA and their western allies from ISIS entirely. Leaving open the question of just who the NSA (which is neither particularly new nor particularly Syrian) is supposed to be fighting.
ÐšÐ¾Ð°Ð»Ð¸Ñ†Ð¸Ñ Ð¡Ð¨Ð Ð½Ð°Ð½ÐµÑла четвертый удар по проправительÑтвенным Ñилам в Сирии, но СШРотрицают Ñто: diana_mihailova
СириÐÑ Ð°Ñ€Ð°Ð±ÑÐºÐ°Ñ Ð°Ñ€Ð¼Ð¸Ñ Ð²Ñ‹ÑˆÐ»Ð° на границу Ñ Ð˜Ñ€Ð°ÐºÐ¾Ð¼, оÑвободив 5000 кв. км: diana_mihailova
ÐšÐ¾Ð°Ð»Ð¸Ñ†Ð¸Ñ Ð¡Ð¨Ð Ð½Ð°Ð½ÐµÑла четвертый удар по проправительÑтвенным Ñилам в Сирии, но СШРотрицают Ñто: diana_mihailova
СириÐÑ Ð°Ñ€Ð°Ð±ÑÐºÐ°Ñ Ð°Ñ€Ð¼Ð¸Ñ Ð²Ñ‹ÑˆÐ»Ð° на границу Ñ Ð˜Ñ€Ð°ÐºÐ¾Ð¼, оÑвободив 5000 кв. км: diana_mihailova
The US has deployed HIMARS to at-Tanf, where the US and the NSA are now facing a number of SAA checkpoints from the north and east. Considering the developing SAA offensives towards Deyr-ez-Zor, it will be interesting to see what the US does with their foothold.
СШРбез Ñ€Ð°Ð·Ñ€ÐµÑˆÐµÐ½Ð¸Ñ Ð¿ÐµÑ€ÐµÐ±Ñ€Ð¾Ñили на базу ÐÑ‚-Танф на территории Сирии дальнобойную ракетную артиллерию: diana_mihailova
СШРбез Ñ€Ð°Ð·Ñ€ÐµÑˆÐµÐ½Ð¸Ñ Ð¿ÐµÑ€ÐµÐ±Ñ€Ð¾Ñили на базу ÐÑ‚-Танф на территории Сирии дальнобойную ракетную артиллерию: diana_mihailova
I can't imagine what they would do, probably nothing? They got outplayed and are trying to save face, I think. The HIMARS has a huge range, did they need to move it to Al Tanf, especially now? Looks like a symbolic gesture to me.
But this does not look symbolic but substantial:
Iraq says Syrian army delegation in Baghdad to discuss borders security | Reuters
But this does not look symbolic but substantial:
Iraq says Syrian army delegation in Baghdad to discuss borders security | Reuters
Given that Iraq and Syria share a common border and a common enemy; it's to be expected that both will have some form of cooperation/consultation. The Americans and the Gulf Arabs naturally won't be happy but there's little they can do. The Iraqis have long given up any hope of receiving help from Gulf Arabs to defeat IS and if the Americans pressure Iraq over it's relationship with Syria and Iran; it will only drive Iraq closer to Iran and Russia.
Another Iran/USN incident in the gulf
Iranian boats closed within 800 meters of three USN vessels transiting the Staights of Hormuz and then painted a USMC Viper with a laser
It will be interesting to watch how the new US DOD eventually response to IRGC Navy continued provocations.
Iranian naval vessel trains laser on helicopter in the Strait of Hormuz | Fox News
Iranian boats closed within 800 meters of three USN vessels transiting the Staights of Hormuz and then painted a USMC Viper with a laser
It will be interesting to watch how the new US DOD eventually response to IRGC Navy continued provocations.
Iranian naval vessel trains laser on helicopter in the Strait of Hormuz | Fox News
gazzzwp
Member
I don't see that the US has many options to be quite honest. They could decide to teach the Iranians a lesson and wreak carnage on some of these RIB's but where will that get them? A full scale retaliation from the Iranians will result in the Straits being closed to commercial traffic to the detriment of US allies and the western economies. The parallels with the North Korean situation are striking in that the DPRK holds a similarly threatening sword over the US in the form of Seoul's vulnerability to missile and artillery bombardment.
All over the world small tyrant led regimes are demanding that the US leave their waters for good and stay out of their local affairs. China are doing exactly the same.
The high risk strategy of these rogue nations is paying off. They are militarising themselves to the point of almost invulnerability, in some cases they have the backing directly or indirectly of Russia and China and quite frankly the US seems powerless to take them on without severe and heavy cost.
The longer the situation is left the worse it will become. The only hope for the US is to arm it's regional allies to the teeth to retain the balance of power locally.
The writing is on the wall; the US is a super power with too many capable adversaries and unless it takes a giant leap forward in terms of military capability soon it will be relegated to a local power only able to patrol the waters of the Americas.
John Fedup
The Bunker Group
Well the US can and has armed some of their allies to the teeth but all the state of the art arms don't mean squat if the ally is incompetent. Saudi Arabia's performance in Yemen comes to mind.
surpreme
Member
The agreement between the Turks, Russia, and FSA in Northern Syrian has help the SAA. This action was able to free up SAA unit to be able to strike at three fronts. This caught me by surprise there be in the position to strike Eastern Syria.
Thanks to great diplomat skill of the Russian their able pull out a strong offensive. The SAA has taken over large areas in Eastern Syria. Like I said in previous threads it will depend on the supply lines it has to be open so the SAA can maintain the operations. It's is important to keep the supplies coming. If they are able to keep the supply they will be able to take all of Eastern Syria. Look at the map of Syria now they took over lot's of territory. ISIS is fallen apart now with forces attacking from the north, western Iraq, and south hitting them. At this rate the SAA going be at Iraqi border in the area of Deir er Zor by August.
It will get them nowhere but no doubt military action will please the Gulf Arabs and Israel. Time and time again we've seen the U.S. undertake actions/policies that benefit its allies but in turn damages America's standing in the Middle East. What is needed is a rapprochement between the U.S. and Iran; after all whether one admits it or not, Iran is a major player in the region and there can be no lasting peace/stability without Iran. Viewed objectively the U.S. has much more in common with Iran than with the Saudi.
The problem is that not only are there Iranian ''hardliners'' who want continued bad relations with the U.S. there also elements in the U.S. who want things to remain as they are. The U.S. actually has quite a bit of options with regards to dealing with Iran and I don't mean by military actions or continuing with efforts to demonise and isolate Iran.
What do you think the U.S. has been doing? It's been selling billions of billions worth of arms to various countries but the region has become more unstable and despite all the billions of arms sold the Gulf states still want a U.S. presence the region. For the Gulf Arabs, arms sales are a way of binding the Americans to them and they know that should things really get serious Uncle Sam is always there; irrespective of the billions spent buying Made in America gear.
That has been the case for a long time : the U.S. having too many obligations/commitments to NATO/ non NATO allies/friends/partners. Trouble simultaneously breaking out in the Middle East, with North Korea and elsewhere would see the U.S. severely overstretched. Taking a ''giant leap forward in terms of military capability'' may not be the answer. The answer might be to have a complete rethink about U.S. foreign policy as a whole
gazzzwp
Member
Hopefully not too off topic; what would this rethink actually look like?
In my opinion they should intervene only in cases where they already have an ally to support, so chaotic situations can be a avoided. Trying to make "strategic alliances", training and equipping adhoc local forces and setting up bases around every corner is a failed strategy.
A clear-cut example of the above is the Al Tanf situation in southern Syria trying to cut off the Syria/Iraq border by putting some incompetent paramilitaries on the payroll and pretending they will fight against ISIS. Now they are cut off by syrian and iran-aligned forces on one side, and the iraqi and iran-backed PMU from the other. And even the iraqi government has made it clear that they won't allow a US buffer zone on their borders.
A clear-cut example of the above is the Al Tanf situation in southern Syria trying to cut off the Syria/Iraq border by putting some incompetent paramilitaries on the payroll and pretending they will fight against ISIS. Now they are cut off by syrian and iran-aligned forces on one side, and the iraqi and iran-backed PMU from the other. And even the iraqi government has made it clear that they won't allow a US buffer zone on their borders.
I'm not suggesting the Arabs are blameless [far from it] but decades of flawed and selfish Western policy towards the region has contributed to the mess we have now. What were the circumstances that led to the rise of AQ and IS? Has the longstanding policy of unconditional support for Israel [at great cost to American interests], isolating and demonising Iran and supporting Arab regimes that were never even elected actually benefited the U.S? Trump went all out to ingratiate himself with the oil rich Arabs but was silent over Yemen where quite a number of civilians have been killed. Do the human rights and well being of Syrian civilians matter more than that of Yemeni citizens? Assad gets vilified [and rightfully so] when his planes hit civilians but the West remains largely silent over the plight of Yemeni civilians at the hands of the Royal Saudi Air Force.
Are we any closer to solving the Israeli/Palestinian dispute? By the U.S. taking sides in the Sunni/Shia Cold War; does it actually benefit the U.S. and contributes to stability or does it only makes things worst? Which offers more benefits in the long run : a U.S/Iran rapprochement [based on realpolitik and diplomacy rather than Iran making compromises without getting much in return] or the continued policy of branding Iran as being responsible for all that's wrong in the region? Does it benefit the U.S. for the Gulf Arabs to be dependent on U.S. support [the case for several decades now] or does the U.S. really want the Arabs to pursue an independent policy without being beholden to the West?
As long as the double standards and hypocrisy continue; the region will continue to be a big mess and the people who live there will continue to pay the price.