Russia Begins Operations in Syria: End Game for the US Empire?

This article is well written, comprehensive and goes into great detail on how a multi-pronged attack on Syria - from all sides could manifest. Drills that began on February 14th and run through March 10th, along with their locations, offer some insight into a possible invasion. The ceasefire might be the calm before the storm?

Is the Truce in Syria A Deceitful Neocon Strategy to Launch a Pro-Terrorist Arab Coalition Invasion?
http://www.globalresearch.ca/is-the-truce-in-syria-a-deceitful-neocon-strategy-to-launch-a-pro-terrorist-arab-coalition-invasion/5510649

This presentation examines the realistic and probable underlying plans still in place yet transparently masked by America’s so called truce starting Saturday that the US will likely still permit its proxy nation allies Turkey and Saudi Arabia to spearhead their invasion of Syria already announced two week ago. It’s the old “good cop-bad cop” strategy. While Empire signs agreements for peace, its bloodthirsty allies are lustfully preparing for war.

As more evidence that Turkey and the Saudis are intent on expanding the war to unprecedented heights, earlier this week bigmouth Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir was at it again telling der Spiegel:

We believe that introducing surface-to-air missiles in Syria is going to change the balance of power on the ground.

Saudi Arabia plans to arm the terrorists with more antiaircraft weapons capable of shooting down Russian warplanes that have been providing the necessary air support that’s turned the tide in Syria’s favor to win the war against the foreign jihadists. Barring a US led Sunni invasion, the South Front group of geopolitical analysts expect the Syrian-Russian coalition to be finished defeating the terrorists possibly within weeks or at most a few more months. There’s good reason why Turkey and Saudi Arabia are Empire’s closest Islamic regional allies willing to sacrifice the slaughter of thousands of their own troops to save a few raggedy terrorists. More good cop-bad cop chicanery and deception at Empire’s behest sets the stage for more carving up Middle Eastern borders according to the Greater Israel Plan, not according to the delusional duo of the sultan and the prince in for a rude awakening.

Once news that a truce was agreed upon by Russia and the US this last Monday, on Tuesday before a congressional hearing US Secretary of State John Kerry immediately began hedging, bringing up a contingency plan B delineating a partitioned separate section in northern Syria (i.e., the designated terrorist safe haven stronghold) that would be the outcome should the truce not work out. As a second choice behind their “Assad must go” mantra, this has been what the US Empire and its terrorist loving allies have been supporting and have pretty much had all along during their five year war until recently, an autonomous region as a designated Islamic caliphate able to continue business as usual waging Empire’s regime change proxy war against the Assad government.

[...] Saudi Arabia is where the largest military exercises in Middle East history involving those 350,000 troops from 20 different Arab nations are presently being conducted in the northernmost part of the country conveniently closest to the Syrian border. The war games dubbed Operation North Thunder include 20,000 tanks, 2,450 warplanes and 460 military helicopters. Participating nations are Saudi Arabia, UAE, Jordan, Bahrain, Senegal, Sudan, Kuwait, Maldives, Morocco, Pakistan, Chad, Tunisia, Comoro Islands, Djibouti, Oman, Qatar, Malaysia, Egypt, Mauritania, and Mauritius. The Northern Thunder twitter account specifies that the drills that began on February 14th will continue through March 10th, plenty of time to go live for their threatened invasion of Syria.

A Middle Eastern map at a glance illustrates the short distance across a narrow strip of Jordan less than 60 miles wide separating northern Saudi Arabia from Syria’s southeastern border. From Saudi Arabia passing through Jordan – a known training ground for terrorists, would be a potentially viable route and entry point into Syria for launching a major ground war invasion. A Saudi military spokesman general reiterated two weeks ago that his nation’s decision to invade Syria is both “irreversible” and “final,” and he’s backing it up with 350,000 troops from his Saudi-led 34-Sunni nation coalition currently participating in war games near the northern Saudi city of Hafar Al-Batin close to the Iraq border. As a longer route an enormous ground force invasion could also cut through Iraq’s southwestern corner into Syria. Because of the distance involved, it would be the first ground troop movement towards Syria to detect as a key part of a possible larger, multi-pronged attack on Syria from all sides. (Article continues)
 
angelburst29 said:
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UPDATE

A friendly field commander of an armed anti-Assad opposition organisation near Aleppo faxed me a copy of a document he signed with the Russian army representative regarding the ceasefire. He added that he thinks now is the right time, or well after right time to bring peace to Syria. Fight to complete victory will be the fight till the last Syrian, he said. Better Syria with Assad than no Syria and no Assad. They are worried about American plan B to dismember Syria, like they dismembered Vietnam, Korea, Germany and now Iraq. This adds some urgency to the peace plan.

Here is the document (attached), saying

Request to enter the ceasefire regime

I, the commander of such-and-such armed unit located in such-and-such area (see map attached) am ready to join the process of settling the armed conflict in Syrian Arab Republic. I guarantee that my unit will cease fire on March 1 and will not shell or shoot the government troops. I shall allow monitors and observers to enter our disposition. I shall allow humanitarian aid to be delivered to civilians at the area of my disposition.

Syrian Arab Army will cease attacking my unit from March 1st. As long as ceasefire regime lasts, the Russian Air Force and Syrian Air Force will not bomb my unit. Government bodies will not interfere with delivery of humanitarian aid to my disposition. My representatives will take part in work of the Joint Committee for monitoring ceasefire.

In case of disagreements I shall convey the problem to the Joint Committee.

I attach the map of my disposition.

Commander X

As we can learn from the document, the consignees recognise the Syrian government. Provided in April there will be parliamentary elections in Syria, there is a fair chance of success.
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Very interesting statement by this rebel commander.

So if true, this means that the US may be shooting itself in the foot with their "plan B" announcements to some extent - it seems there are some rebels/groups that are genuine after all; maybe these are people who strive for some power and riches in Syria, but could not do so in the Assad system, and wanted to change that situation by getting rid of him? After all, I imagine Syria under Assad to be quite an "inflexible" system, where it's pretty much set who calls the shots, which families run things etc., though it certainly was not the evil dictatorship as depicted by Western propaganda.

So with the US's ramblings about plan B, maybe some of these "genuine" rebels, who maybe just wanted a bigger part of the cake in Syria, are waking up to the fact that they "have been had" - that the US never was interested in putting them in charge, but are after a Balkanization/partitioning of the country. (It was really obvious from the start, but maybe the hunger for power of these rebel leaders/groups has blinded them and they engaged in wishful thinking?)

That's maybe why they start seeing "Syria with Assad" as a better alternative than "no Syria without Assad". If Assad is smart, I guess it would be a good move to offer those "genuine" rebels some incentives - if they think that some of them can become ministers in a unity government, or big shots in the industry etc., they may start to openly support the government... just some thoughts.
 
goyacobol said:
I agree that the SOTT article has a high probability of describing the "modus operandi" of the US/Israel. Israel is so quiet as all this turmoil increases.

If the Cs are correct in their clue about 4D STS influence within Mossad then it may be more a Zionist Israel calling the shots behind the scenes than the US.
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Is there any serious doubts about this -- after what we've been told point blank?

"Mossad is near the apex of the Consortium."

You cannot get any more clear & precise than that -- in my opinion. Any serious analysis of present happenings would do well, to keep this wild card in mind.

Furthermore, it's important not to lose sight of that ultimate goal of 4D STS. Which (according to C's) is the annihilation of the true semitic gene pool. (Read Arabs.) This is a stunning revelation, and provides an extraordinary view of historical developments. As well as a hint of what's to come.

One element of which is likely to be the eventual double-crossing ... of those well versed in the art of double-cross. Karma is unforgiving.

I could be wrong.

FWIW.
 
Well, even without the C's comments, we can see that Israel has many ways to force others to do their bidding and fighting their wars (through blackmail, control of media and finances, false flag attacks, etc.). Problem is that the Empire is obviously in an advanced state of decay, so they really aren't in a position to carry out Zionist demands - and will continue to make fateful errors accelerating the Empire's unraveling. The parasite is killing the host in a multifaceted way. Israel is not a viable state without all the handouts and such that they extort from the world - particularly western politicians.
 
angelburst29 said:
Syria: UN Humanitarian Aid “Accidentally” Lands in ISIS-Controlled Territory in Deir Ezzor
http://www.globalresearch.ca/syria-un-humanitarian-aid-accidentally-lands-in-isis-controlled-territory-in-deir-ezzor/5510443

The UN World Food Program (WFP) aids for the restricted Syrian civilians in Deir Ezzor city have landed mostly in ISIS controlled territories, a source in the city’s administration said Thursday.

Earlier on Thursday, the United Nations said that the WFP had dropped 21 tons of aid into the city on Wednesday.

“Planes dropped the humanitarian help sent by the United Nations into the territory controlled by Daesh. Just two containers ended up in the areas where the Syrian army [is located],” the source told RIA Novosti.

The contents of the containers that landed on the government-controlled territory has been badly damaged due to a parachute system failure, the source added.

According to earlier reports, the WFP has issued a statement admitting difficulties with the operation, adding that necessary adjustments are being carried out.
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Quote:
The second notable change is the clear position of Israel against a ceasefire in Syria, against Assad and for Daesh and the Nusra. For long time this position had been obscured by Israeli observers and politicians. Israel has been pleased with Arabs killing each other.

Now, as the end of war is seen on the horizon, Israel spoke up. Amos Harel, a leading Israeli military observer with high-grade access, made it clear: “the war in Syria has largely served Israel’s interests. The ongoing fighting has worn down the Syrian army to a shadow of its former capabilities. And Hezbollah, Israel’s main adversary in the north, is losing dozens of fighters every month in battle. Israel has been quietly wishing success to both sides and would not have been against the bloodletting continuing for a few more years without a clear victor” Now, after successful Russian intervention, Israel states openly that “an Assad victory would be bad for Israel” and it calls upon the West “to send real military aid to the less extreme Sunni rebels”.


UN Humanitarian Aid “Accidentally” Lands in ISIS-Controlled Territory - “to send real military aid to the less extreme Sunni rebels”.
 
Russian Center for Ceasefire in Syria to issue daily information bulletin
http://tass.ru/en/world/859506

KHMEIMIM /SYRIA/, February 28. /TASS/. - The Russian Center for Reconciling the Warring Sides in Syria will start issuing a daily information bulletin with actual data on the situation in that Arab country, Center Head Lieutenant-General Sergei Kuralenko said on Sunday.

"The bulletin will publish information on the implementation of measures for the reconciliation of the warring sides, the provision of humanitarian aid to the population of Syria and also the results of control over the observance of the ceasefire regime," the general said.

"This information will be brought through established communications channels to the notice of the US Reconciliation Center in Amman and the working group in Geneva and will also be posted on the official website of the Russian Defense Ministry," he added.



Lavrov calls for joint struggle against terrorism putting aside ambitions and differences
http://tass.ru/en/politics/859459

Russia's foreign minister also believes the United Nations should play the central coordinating role in these processes.

Russia wants to develop interaction with Algeria in fighting terrorism. But counteraction to this threat makes it imperative for the world community to join efforts and give up "double standards", Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview with Algerian newspaper L’Expression.

"Terrorism is a global threat, which has become the key priority in ensuring international security. In his speech at the 70th session of the United Nations General Assembly Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the ISIS [the former name for the Islamic State terrorist group, which is banned in Russia -TASS] and other extremists are desecrating the greatest world religion like Islam and are distorting its true values by their bloody crimes," the Russian foreign minister said.

"A series of bloody terror attacks did not only reveal the barbaric essence of the ideology and practices of the so-called Islamic State but graphically demonstrated that it was impossible to create separate ‘oases of security’ and wall off from turbulent neighboring regions in a contemporary world, which so closely interrelated," Lavrov told the Algerian daily.

Russia's foreign minister is convinced that joining efforts on the basis of international law and giving up double standards was the only way to ensure effective struggle against terrorism. He also believes the United Nations should play the central coordinating role in these processes.

"Today it is necessary to put aside ambitions and differences and unite - without any reservations or preliminary conditions - for the sake of defeating the ISIS and other extremist groups that have challenged the world civilization," Lavrov went on to say.

"This is the keynote of Vladimir Putin’s initiative to form a broad counter-terrorism front. Naturally, civil societies should also join these comprehensive and integrated efforts," the Russian minister added.

"Our states, which know firsthand what a terrorist aggression is, have accumulated great experience in this sphere. We positively assess cooperation, which have been established between specialized agencies in Russia and Algeria.

Lavrov recalled that a bilateral inter-departmental working group for fighting terrorism and organized crime functioned under the auspices of the Russian and Algerian Foreign Ministries. Its 5th meeting was held in Algeria in February 2013.

"We are set to develop further interaction in this sphere. I am convinced that our joint work with the Algerian partners on the anti-terrorist track is supposed to make a useful contribution to the world community’s joint efforts," Lavrov told L’Expression.


9 violations of Syrian ceasefire in 24 hours - Russian monitors
https://www.rt.com/news/333874-nine-ceasefire-violations-syria/

Russian monitors of the ceasefire in Syria have recorded nine violations of the truce over the last 24 hours. They said overall the ceasefire is holding up, but some of the violations were attributed to the rebels.

Six of the nine violations were noted because the fire came from the regions of suburban Damascus under the control of “moderate” rebel groups listed as observing the ceasefire by the American side, the report said.

In the Raqqa province, a group of some 100 fighters crossed into Syria from Turkey. The group later joined forces with other militants and attacked the Kurdish town of Tell Abyad.

The 250-strong group was supported by artillery fire from the Turkish territory, a fact that Russia said the US should explain. The Kurdish YPG militia fended off the attack, the report said.

In Latakia province, fighters of the Al Nusra Front terrorist group, which is not included into the ceasefire deal, fired mortar shells at a local militia force, which returned fire.

The terrorist positions were in an area under control of a “moderate” rebel group, the monitors said. Multiple casualties were reported in the clash.

A suicide attacker detonated his car bomb on a road about 1km east from Hama city. The car came from an area controlled by “moderate” rebels, the report noted.

The US Strategic Command confirmed that the Syrian ceasefire was generally adhered to.
 
SeekinTruth said:
Well, even without the C's comments, we can see that Israel has many ways to force others to do their bidding and fighting their wars ...
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Yes, true.

But without the C's comment, the full spectrum of their hidden dominance just cannot be fully understood. (Particularly the 4th density aspect.) Even with their comment, I think it's still difficult sometimes -- to truly see the pervasive influence of this perverse agenda. The nature of evil runs deep.

I wish to make clear that my previous post was meant to add to & support what my good friend (goyacobol) was saying. It was not a "rebuke" by any means ... but the language may have come across like that. Very unfortunate -- for me.

He's a most keen observer, and his knowledge of the transcript material is unmatched -- in my opinion.

FWIW.
 
FWIW, sitting, I didn't think what you wrote had any kind of rebuke in it. I was just pointing out that even if we were unaware of the hyperdimensional aspect, the amount of influence and power Zionists exercise is obvious and way disproportional to the size of Israel and organized Jewish elites. And that's just the visible political elite, never mind their secret services.
 
Over 50 Russia Warships, Vessels Prepare for Exercises in Caspian Sea

http://sputniknews.com/russia/20160229/1035515093/russia-warships-exercises-caspian-sea.html

Russian Defense Ministry’s Southern Military District’s press center said that more than 50 Russian warships and support vessels are preparing to begin naval exercises in the Caspian Sea.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – More than 50 Russian warships and support vessels are preparing to begin naval exercises in the Caspian Sea, the Russian Defense Ministry’s Southern Military District’s press center said Monday.

“At present, the crews have begun developing and completing practical operations of preparing the ships for sail in the sea and preparing for combat operations. Over the remaining two months of the winter training period [March and April], each ship will complete a complex of ship combat operations and exercises, in which missile and artillery fire will be used against marine, coastal, and air targets,” the press service said in a statement.
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In Buryatia began teaching on the new "Iskander-M"

http://www.interfax.ru/russia/496594

Moscow. February 29th. INTERFAX.RU - Buryatia passes first exercise on the ground with missile compound TSBs on new operational-tactical systems "Iskander-M", "Interfax" head of the press service of the Eastern Military District, Colonel Alexander Gordeyev.

"Today in the tactical exercise was alerted missile compound of the Eastern Military District in the Republic of Buryatia is the first exercise with the compound after receiving adopted operational-tactical missile systems in 2015." Iskander-M ", - he said.

Gordeyev said that the servicemen have to make a march to the standard technique of cross-country on one of the grounds in the region. "In the course of the march will be worked out at least 10 training and combat missions, including to repel the attacks of sabotage and reconnaissance groups imaginary enemy, the deployment of systems and application of conditional missile strikes on the set goals", - he said.

The teaching is carried out under the supervision of the commander of Combined Arms Army of the Eastern Military District, Major General Dmitry Kovalenko. "In the course of it will be evaluated the ability of commanders to make decisions in various conditions and calculation skills in preparation for firing systems and the implementation of electronic missile launches," - Gordeev said.

He added that the teaching is planned nature and will last for five days, it involved more than 400 soldiers and about 50 units of military equipment.
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Operation Barbarossa 2: The Baltic Gambit
http://journal-neo.org/2016/02/29/operation-barbarossa-2-the-baltic-gambit/

On Friday, February 26, just a day before the limited ceasefire in Syria was to take effect the Atlantic Council, the preeminent NATO think tank, issued a report on the state of readiness of the NATO alliance to fight and win a war with Russia. The focus of the report is on the Baltic states.

The report, entitled “Alliance at Risk” has the sub-heading “Strengthening European Defence in an Age of Turbulence and Competition.” Layers of distortions, half-truths, lies and fantasies of course obscure the fact that it is the NATO countries that have caused the turbulence from the Middle East to Ukraine. NATO is responsible for nothing in this report, except “protecting the peace.” Russia is the supreme aggressor state, intent on undermining the security of Europe, even intent on attacking Europe, an “existential threat” that NATO must prepare to repel.

[...] The report is designed essentially to provide the European governments concerned, that is, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Poland and Norway, with propaganda they can feed to the people through the media channels, most of which they control, to justify increased military spending and increased military forces in order to face a “threat” from Russia.

It states at page 6 that - “The Russian invasion of Crimea, its support for separatists, and its invasion of eastern Ukraine have effectively ripped up the post-Cold War settlement of Europe. President Vladimir Putin has shattered any thoughts of a strategic partnership with NATO; instead, Russia is now a de facto strategic adversary. Even more dangerously, the threat is potentially existential, because Putin has constructed an international dynamic that could put Russia on a collision course with NATO. At the center of this collision would be the significant Russian-speaking populations in the Baltic states, whose interests are used by the Kremlin to justify Russia’s aggressive actions in the region. Under Article 5 of NATO’s Washington Treaty, any military move by Putin on the Baltic states would trigger war, potentially on a nuclear scale, because the Russians integrate nuclear weapons into every aspect of their military thinking.”

This supports warnings that have been made all last year of a move by NATO in the Baltic states which will be justified by false flag hybrid war operations conducted by NATO, as I have stated several times in other essays. This is emphasized by the recommendation in the report that “to deter any Russian encroachment into the Baltic states, NATO should establish a permanent presence in the region… to prevent a Russian coup de main operation …”

Throughout the report the imagined enemy is Russia. Each segment written by an expert in military analysis from each of the countries concerned in the report contains the standard propaganda about Russia and that Europe is vulnerable and about to fall to the Russian hordes.

The level of intelligence they expect the public to have must be very low if they really think such a fantastic document could be taken seriously as a description of reality or that their intentions could be understood as anything less than criminal. Any intelligent person handed such a document would automatically throw it in the garbage for the trash it is but then he would immediately retrieve it to take a second look, because they are telling us what they are going to do, what they preparing for. I wrote in my last essay that the increased build-up of NATO forces, in eastern Europe especially, has some similarity to the Nazi build-up for the invasion of Russia in 1941 Operation Barbarossa, is in fact a Barbarossa 2.

This new report adds support to the expectation of dangerous actions in the Baltic states that will be blamed on Russia. It is probably not a coincidence that the report was released just as the Syrian cease-fire was to come into effect. The United States, clearly outwitted, out played and out fought, by the Syrians, Russians, Iranians and their allies in Syria has been forced to accede to a Russian proposed ceasefire for now. But already the Americans have talked about their Plan B, the carving up of Syria, their intention all along. We can expect them to do all they can to undermine it, engaging in a fight and talk strategy, keeping Russia occupied; in Syria, in constant tension in the Donbass, harassing their allies China and Iran, and now we can expect a new front to be opened in the Baltic states. What gambit NATO will use to create that front and a direct confrontation with Russia, who can say, but there will be one – the Baltic Gambit.

Of course, it goes almost without saying but I shall say it once again, that this is all illegal under international law, under the United Nations Charter that prescribes the only acceptable means of settling international disputes. Under the Rome Statute this document could be used in evidence against the people that wrote it and applaud it in a trial on the charge of conspiracy to commit war crimes. But I doubt the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court will ask for a copy to read to draft an indictment. The prosecutor of the Court will do absolutely nothing as all this goes on right in front of her eyes and involving countries over which she has jurisdiction.

The final disturbing aspect of the document is that it calls for nuclear “modernization” meaning rearmament and increased building of nuclear weapons and delivery systems, a call for more nuclear arms from the same countries which for months have been attacking North Korea for having the same weapons. You have to give it to them; they’ve got a lot of nerve. Trouble is, they’ve go too much and it really seems that they’re insane.

So what can Russia do? Well, they called the American bluff in Syria, so why not do it again. This world cannot have peace unless peace is the only way that things can be done. The only way that can happen is to eliminate nuclear weapons so that no nation can threaten the existence of any other. The French section of the report happily reports that the nuclear disarmament groups in France no longer even bother to mention the matter much anymore so little resistance can be expected from that quarter. That applies around the world. But if Russia were to throw down the glove and call for mutual disarmament, a rejection by the Americans would at least underline the importance to mankind of nuclear disarmament and would make clear to the world who is the aggressor state. Otherwise it’s the Balkan Gambit and all that will follow.
 
Russia is concerned about Turkey's military preparations on the border with Syria - Russian Foreign Ministry

http://tvzvezda.ru/news/vstrane_i_mire/content/201602291622-qb38.htm

Russia concerned about the military preparations of the countries bordering with Syria. This was stated by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, according to RIA Novosti. According to him, Turkey's actions can become a "time bomb" that will destroy all the tried and tested during the negotiations.

"We can not disturb military preparations intensified activity on the perimeter of the Syrian border. If the governments of the countries that are engaged in this activity, set out to use force to achieve some goals, it would be a fatal blow to all that accumulating until now ", - said Ryabkov.

Ryabkov also underlined that Turkey, which has not left the idea of ​​cross-border attacks in Syria, should be fully aware of their responsibility.

February 27, Syria came into force a ceasefire agreement. Resolution in support was adopted by the Security Council of the United Nations on 26 February. The draft document prepared by Moscow and Washington.
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Russia condemns Iraq attacks, urges uncompromising anti-terror fight

http://tass.ru/en/politics/859781

MOSCOW, February 29. /TASS/. Russia resolutely condemns the recent terrorist attacks on the outskirts of Baghdad and urges uncompromising fight against terrorism, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in comments on the Sunday attacks killing and injuring dozens of civilians.

"Moscow resolutely condemns this barbarous act. We express condolences to the families of the dead and wish an early recovery to the injured," the ministry’s commentary said.

"Such terrorist sorties vividly demonstrate an inhumane aspect of violent radicals, disguising themselves under religious slogans," the ministry said.

"Of special concern is the fact that extremists’ action is aimed at further inciting inter-confessional hatred in Iraq, at undermining efforts towards national accord in this long-suffering country," it said.

"The terrorist attacks in Baghdad once again confirm a need for an uncompromising fight against trans-national terrorist groups, be it in Iraq, Syria or other counties of the Middle East and North Africa," the ministry said.

Dozens of civilians, including women and children, were killed or wounded in the Shiite district of Sadr City, in eastern Baghdad, in two blasts caused by two suicide bombers in a crowded market.
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Couldn't Make It Up: This Is How Mad the War in Syria Has Become
http://russia-insider.com/en/one-fact-show-just-how-messed-war-syria-has-become/ri13104

Madness explained in two lines:

Fact number #1: Turkey is sponsoring ISIS up to the point of facilitating ISIS offensives into Syria from Turkish territory

Fact number #2: US has the use of Turkish airbases which it uses to fly air sorties against ISIS in Syria

Ergo: Theoreticaly US planes could be flying from Turkey into Syria to hit Ankara-backed militants who are also attacking from their Turkish bases into Syria.

Meditate on that.



250 Militants Surrender to Syrian Authorities in Dara'a
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13941210001088

Monday 29 Feb 2016 / Tehran - Around 250 militants in the Southern province of Dara'a laid down their arms on Monday and turned themselves in to the Syrian officials as the pro-government forces keep on advancing across the country.

The militants formerly fighting in the Southern battlefields of the country surrendered to the Syrian government as the forces loyal to the Syrian President Bashar Assad continue gaining ground across the country.

The 250 surrendered militants are mostly from al-Sanamein region, including 130 from the village of Kefr Shams.

Earlier this month, at least 59 militants in two provinces of Damascus and Idlib turned themselves in to the Syrian authorities.

Also, 27 Takfiri militants laid down arms and turned themselves in to the Syrian army in Homs, Hama and Idlib provinces in February.



Syrian Peace Plan: US Seethes at Its Humiliation by Russia
http://russia-insider.com/en/politics/syrian-peace-plan-us-seethes-its-humiliation-russia/ri13097

Public comments confirm reports of furious rows and recriminations between US officials at the way Russia has outplayed US in Syria

A very well sourced article, which has recently appeared in The Wall Street Journal (attached below), shows the extent of the policy disarray in Washington following the US-Russian “cessation of hostilities” agreement.

It seems there has been a massive row.

The heads of the US military and the CIA are clearly furious at the way in which they feel the US has been humiliated, and in a series of angry meetings in the White House they have made their feelings known.

Though they rationalise their anger with talk about how Russia cannot be trusted, and how US allies in the regions like the Turks and the Saudis feel betrayed, that is what it amounts to.

These recriminations have slipped into the open, as shown by the recent angry comments of Mark Toner, the US State Department’s deputy spokesman, who in exceptionally crude and undiplomatic language called on Russia in Syria “to put up or shut up”.

These comments have provoked a stern rebuke from Maria Zakharova, the Russian Foreign Ministry’s formidable spokeswoman, whilst Alexey Pushkov, the Chairman of the State Duma’s committee for foreign affairs, has twisted the knife by Tweeting that


"A deputy spokesman of the U.S. Department of State has broken down - frayed nerves. In the United States lots of people regard the ceasefire in Syria as a defeat: the papers are indignant and the neoconservatives are shocked.”

The difficulty the US hardliners face is that for all the brave talk of a Plan B they have no realistic alternative to offer.

The Wall Street Journal reports US officials saying that “neither (US Defence Secretary Ash) Carter nor Gen. Dunford had formally submitted recommendations to Mr. Obama” and the suggestions mentioned the article - stepping up arms supplies to the rebels, providing them with battlefield intelligence, or imposing further economic sanctions on Russia - hardly amount to practical recommendations Obama can use.

With much of Europe seething against the sanctions already in place, any idea of cranking the sanctions up further on the issue of Syria (of all things) is - as the article says US officials privately admit - a complete non-starter.

As for arms supplies to the rebels, Russian aircraft in Syria fly too high to be reached by the sort of man portable surface to air missiles (“MANPADS”) the article refers to, whilst the supply of heavier medium or long range surface to air missiles to the rebels that might actually cause problems for Russian aircraft, would be a massively controversial escalation and - for public opinion in the US and Europe - almost certainly an escalation too far.

This is quite apart from the fact that supply of weapons like MANPADS or Javelin anti-tank missiles to the rebels would guarantee they fell into the hands of jihadi terrorists and the Islamic State - something the Western public would never agree to if it found out about it - without - as the article again says US officials admit - necessarily altering the military situation in the rebels’ favour.

As for the suggestion the US provide the rebels with intelligence information, that would almost certainly lead to the Russians withdrawing from their information sharing agreement with the US military, since the Russians would not want to risk information they provided to the US military being shared by the US with the rebels.

Since the US relies on this agreement to co-ordinate its operations in Syria with the Russians, unless the US were prepared to risk a clash with the increasingly strong Russian force in Syria - risking World War III - it would have to cease its operations in Syria in order to avoid a clash with the Russians.

Since that is hardly what the US wants, the option of intelligence sharing with the rebels in any meaningful way is also simply a non-starter.

As the US hardliners undoubtedly know, the only thing that would be certain to change the situation in Syria in the rebels’ favour would be direct NATO military intervention on their behalf, which in order to be effective would have to involve the US itself.

Since that would again risk provoking World War III over an issue where most of the Western public supports Russia, that too is a non-starter.

The one suggestion that has been floated as a possible Plan B - the partition of Syria on sectarian lines - which we will doubtless be hearing much about in the coming weeks - is in reality also completely impractical.

Not only do opinion polls show the overwhelming majority of Syrians - including Sunni Syrians - oppose it, but in the event the Syrian government succeeds in consolidating its control of the populated western coastal region of Syria - where all Syria’s big cities are located - the only territory left in Syria for a Sunni state would be the desert.

Whilst territorially speaking this is a very large area, it is one which is also sparsely populated, is not self-sustaining and which has no access to the sea. A sectarian Sunni state established on this territory would be militarily undefendable and economically completely unviable.

The Syrian government would be determined to regain control of this territory once it had fully re-established and consolidated itself - and it would have international law on its side. With far greater resources at its disposal, and with the backing of Iran and Russia, the Syrian government would have no difficulty reconquering this territory unless the US and NATO were prepared to send ground troops into this territory to defend it.

The idea of planting a permanent US or NATO garrison in western Syria to defend what would be an economically unviable militant jihadi micro pseudo state - in effect the Islamic State under a new name - is a fantasy - as is any idea the US and the West would be prepared to invest the huge sums needed to sustain it.

The US and European public would never agree to such a thing, especially as it would be strongly opposed by Arab opinion, which would be horrified at the sight of the great Western powers once again carving up Arab lands as they did during the colonial era and when Israel was created.

The fact the key regional powers Iran and Iraq would also vigorously oppose such a partition plan, as would the big non-Western powers like China, India and Russia, and that such a plan would almost certainly fail to attract the support of the wider international community or of the United Nations, all but settles the issue.

Though this plan will no doubt find its supporters in the Western media, in reality it does not belong within the world of practical politics.

The reality is the US has no real option but to work with the Russians in Syria, and this in fact is what very grudgingly - and for all the fire and thunder coming from the hardliners - it is doing.

There are however two further points to make about The Wall Street Journal article.

The first is a minor one, which with the US Presidential election pending is now of mainly historical interest.

It is that Obama has gone to ground.

Though the article does not say so, it is clear from its contents that he was not physically present at the meetings in the White House where the hardliners made known their views.

Instead of explaining - and defending - his policy in person to the hardliners, Obama has chosen to hide behind others - in this case his Secretary of State John Kerry, who has been left to take the heat for his boss.

The second point is more important, and it is about the future.

Far from being a factor in improving relations between the US and Russia, the fact the US feels humiliated in Syria is going to make relations between the two countries even worse than they already are, and is storing up more problems for the future.
 
Russian MoD Says Truce in Syria 'Holding in General'

http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20160229/1035549658/syria-russia-base-ceasefire.html

The ceasefire regime in Syria has been respected in general by the government forces and armed opposition groups, only seven violations have been registered, the commander of the Russian center on reconciliation in Syria said Monday.

LATAKIA (Sputnik) — The Russian center carried out round-the-clock monitoring of cessation of hostilities in the Hama, Homs, Latakia, Damascus, Aleppo and Daraa provinces.

"The ceasefire regime between government troops and opposition forces in Syria is being respected in general," Lt. Gen. Sergei Kuralenko told reporters at the Hmeimim airbase near Latakia.

"Officers at the Russian center on Syrian reconciliation registered only seven ceasefire violations in the past 24 hours," Kuralenko stressed.
Click to expand...
 
Kremlin comments on Chechen leader’s plans to step down
http://tass.ru/en/politics/859633

Kadyrov’s term expires in early April, elections of the new head of Chechnya will be held on September 18, 2016, the single voting day in Russia.

The Kremlin will be guided by results of Ramzan Kadyrov’s work rather than his statements, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Monday in comments to the Chechen leader’s recent statement that he is ready to step down.

"As for the statements itself [of Kadyrov], a person resigns or does not resign — this is already not our topic at all, in this case we will be guided by assessments of the head of state and by those proposals that he makes for these or those people," Peskov stressed.

The work of heads of Russian regions is assessed by many organizations, he said. The position of the presidential administration is formed based on these assessments. "Based on all this already the Russian president announces his judgment," Peskov said.

"We should wait for the time [when Chechen leader’s term expires and the president’s decision]," he said adding: "Let’s not forget that this [Chechnya] is a region of Russia and the laws of the Russian Federation work there."

Kadyrov, 39, who has led the republic since March 2007, said in televised remarks on Saturday that his time as the head of the republic has passed. "With pleasure," Kadyrov told the NTV TV channel, answering a question if he wanted to step down.

"Now I feel that the country’s leadership should find another person so that my name cannot be used against my fellow people," he said. "My time is already up. A man has his limit and Kadyrov is at the peak, I think."

Kadyrov’s term expires in early April. Elections of the new head of Chechnya will be held on September 18, 2016, the single voting day in Russia.

Also: Ramzan Kadyrov - popular blogger and karate black belt holder
http://tass.ru/en/opinions/763454


Russian defense official reports seven ceasefire violations in Syria
http://tass.ru/en/world/859789

According to the chief of Russia’s center for ceasefire in Syria, considerable progress has been reached in four provinces but Turkey's action on Syrian border may disrupt the truce.

Russia’s Defense Ministry reports considerable progress in reconciliation of Syria’s government forces and opposition in four Syrian provinces, chief of Russia’s center for ceasefire in Syria Lieutenant-General Sergey Kuralenko said on Monday.

"Considerable progress in reconciling the warring parties has been reached in four provinces," he said.

"Over the past day, officers of the Russian center and government and self-defense forces registered seven episodes of ceasefire violation," he said, adding that Jabhat al-Nusra gunmen attacked Kurdish self-defense positions in the vicinity of the town of Ashrafia in the Aleppo province with the use of artillery. "We have referred information about all violations to the U.S. Reconciliation Center in Amman," he said.

"The ceasefire between government troops and opposition forces in Syria is generally observed," he said, adding that the center is monitoring ceasefire in the round-the-clock regime in six provinces, namely, Hama, Homs, Latakia, Aleppo and Daraa.

Turkish action on Syrian border may disrupt truce

The official also pointed out that Turkish military’s pulling armored vehicles into areas bordering on Syria and the strengthening of positions is a provocative move that may disrupt the ceasefire regime.

"Also, we paid attention to yesterday’s video by a Russian television channel filmed near the city of Tell Abyad located on the Turkish border. It fixed Turkish military equipping firing positions and pulling to the border armored vehicles used to shell Syrian settlements," he said.

"We qualify this action as clearly provocative, capable to disrupt the process of a ceasefire and reconciliation in the Syrian Arab Republic," the military said.

The heads of the Russian and US coordination centers have discussed on the phone the first results of cessation of hostilities in Syria, saying they were satisfied with joint work.

Kuralenko said "a telephone conversation was held between the leadership of the coordination centers from the Russian (Hmeimim airbase) and American (Amman) sides with an aim to coordinate activity on compliance with the ceasefire regime and cessation of combat operations," noting that the conversation had been constructive.
 
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