Turkey shot down Russian bomber over Syria

[Aeneas]

Pentagon Insiders: ISIS War Plan is ‘Not Working’

It’s not just Obama’s critics in Congress who think he can’t defeat the Islamic State. Defense officials also say his plan will fail.

The Obama administration’s strategy against the self-proclaimed Islamic State is facing increasing skepticism, not only on Capitol Hill, but also in the halls of the Pentagon.

From Iraq to Washington, there are quiet murmurs within from those in uniform that either the U.S. should commit more ground forces to the war effort or stop suggesting it can defeat ISIS with airstrikes and a sprinkling of Special Forces.

On Wednesday, the former top Army officer added to the growing chorus of criticism of the strategy, as did four defense officials in interviews with The Daily Beast.

The current approach “is not working,” one defense official conceded.

Ret. Gen. Raymond Odierno, the former chief of staff of the Army, who retired in August, said there was only so much Special Forces and Kurdish troops, who are considered the best local force on the ground, could do on their own against ISIS.

“You can’t defeat ISIS without having people on the ground,” Odierno said on MSNBC’s Morning Joe. “The intelligence we’re missing is the intelligence you gain on the ground.”

The lesson of the past 17 months, since the U.S. launched a multi-nation air campaign against the militant group in Iraq and Syria, is that airstrikes alone cannot defeat ISIS, skeptics argued. They said the most accurate intelligence comes from U.S. ground troops, who could assess the effect of the airstrikes and when the next strike campaign should happen.

But those troops aren’t forthcoming.

“Our hands are tied. You want us to do more, then go talk to those guys across the river,” a second frustrated defense official explained, referring to the White House.

Complicating the fight against ISIS, as well as al Qaeda, which has a branch in Syria, is the way that the groups have embedded themselves in the broader crisis of failing governments and civil war in the wake of the Arab Spring.

“The terrorists have fused their jihad with the civil wars in Syria, Iraq, Libya, and Yemen, as well as the Sinai [in Egypt]. Traditional counterterrorism intelligence analysis is not sufficient to assess the situation, which requires a much broader approach,” said Bruce Riedel, a veteran CIA officer and terrorism expert.

Technical intelligence-gathering with satellite imagery and communications intercepts is the kind of spying the U.S. excels at, but it’s unlikely to make a dent in ISIS’s advance.

“We see everything there is to see, and can intercept and decode almost every type of electronic communication. What the U.S. is singularly bad at is human intelligence,” gathering information from spies on the ground, said Christopher Harmer, a naval analyst at the Washington-based Institute of the Study of War, and a critic of the current strategy. “It takes a lot of time, patience, and credibility to develop sources that are willing to share what they know.”

More on:

_http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/12/09/pentagon-insiders-isis-war-plan-is-not-working.html

It is ridiculous. The US would have all the human intelligence in the world and no need for US boots on the ground against ISIS, if they would just cooperate with the legitimate government of Syria AND if they were really interested in fighting ISIS.

So it appears that these types of news articles with the apparent frustrations included is just part of the propaganda for public (con)sumption. It gives the alibi so the reporters can say "Hey, look they are really trying, just see how frustrated the CIA officers are". And it gives of course the rationale for boots on the ground and war mongering.
It is all part and parcel of playing with peoples minds and make they believe black is white and the lies convey the truth. At least that is how it appears like to me and it is frankly sickening!

 

[goyacobol]

Pentagon Insiders: ISIS War Plan is ‘Not Working’

It’s not just Obama’s critics in Congress who think he can’t defeat the Islamic State. Defense officials also say his plan will fail.

The Obama administration’s strategy against the self-proclaimed Islamic State is facing increasing skepticism, not only on Capitol Hill, but also in the halls of the Pentagon.

From Iraq to Washington, there are quiet murmurs within from those in uniform that either the U.S. should commit more ground forces to the war effort or stop suggesting it can defeat ISIS with airstrikes and a sprinkling of Special Forces.

On Wednesday, the former top Army officer added to the growing chorus of criticism of the strategy, as did four defense officials in interviews with The Daily Beast.

The current approach “is not working,” one defense official conceded.

[...]

More on:

_http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/12/09/pentagon-insiders-isis-war-plan-is-not-working.html

It is ridiculous. The US would have all the human intelligence in the world and no need for US boots on the ground against ISIS, if they would just cooperate with the legitimate government of Syria AND if they were really interested in fighting ISIS.

So it appears that these types of news articles with the apparent frustrations included is just part of the propaganda for public (con)sumption. It gives the alibi so the reporters can say "Hey, look they are really trying, just see how frustrated the CIA officers are". And it gives of course the rationale for boots on the ground and war mongering.
It is all part and parcel of playing with peoples minds and make they believe black is white and the lies convey the truth. At least that is how it appears like to me and it is frankly sickening!

Maybe it is not so ridiculous if the real goal is to allow the IGIL/ISIL groups to grow in strength and restructure the Levant into predefined "regions".

We are always assuming that the goal is to stop IGIL/ISIL but is that really the case?

So far it looks like the US and even NATO are only making it easier for the IG to accomplish the restructuring. They really have no intentions of stopping the process.

I made comments on Gulen here.

Gulen is now living in eastern PA in the good old USA.

Fethullah Gülen's Grand Ambition
Turkey's Islamist Danger

Winter 2009
Gülen now helps set the political agenda in Turkey using his followers in the AKP as well as the movement's vast media empire, financial institutions and banks, business organizations, an international network of thousands of schools, universities, student residences (ışıkevis), and many associations and foundations. He is a financial heavyweight, controlling an unregulated and opaque budget estimated at $25 billion.[3] It is not clear whether the Fethullahist cemaat (community) supports the AKP or is the ruling force behind AKP. Either way, however, the effect is the same.

A $25 billion unregulated and opaque budget really helps grease the wheels I think.

 

[sToRmR1dR]

BREAKING:

Triple Explosion Hits Syrian Tel Tamer City

_http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20151210/1031550182/syria-terrorist-attack.html

A series of explosions have hit the Syrian city of Tel Tamer.

Terrorists have detonated three cars in the city of Tel Tamer, Syrian province al Hasakah, the source in the people's militia told RIA Novosti. Casualties among civilians are reported.

"There were three explosions. One car exploded near military hospital of the Kurdish self-defense forces, another two blasts hit the streets nearby. There are casualties; the number is still unclear," the source said.

Syria has been in a state of civil war since 2011, with the country’s government fighting a number of opposition factions as well as radical Islamist groups, including the Islamic State (ISIL, or Daesh in Arabic) and the Nusra Front.

 

[sToRmR1dR]

BREAKING NEWS:

ISIS 'finance chief' Abu Saleh killed in coalition airstrike – US

_https://www.rt.com/news/325522-isis-finance-chief-killed/

The US has confirmed the Islamic State finance chief Abu Saleh has been killed in an airstrike by the US-led coalition.

Brett McGurk, Special Presidential Envoy for the Global Coalition to Counter ISIL, stated that Abu Saleh was killed along with two associates “as part of [a] coalition campaign to destroy ISIL's financial infrastructure.”

Along with Saleh, coalition airstrikes also killed Aby Maryam, the “ISIL enforcer and senior leader of their extortion network,” and Abu Rahman al-Tunisi, who was coordinating transfer of information, people and weapons, Warren said.

In mid-November, the US began targeting at least 116 trucks used by IS to smuggle crude oil in Syria as part of a campaign to disrupt the ability of the jihadist group to generate revenue to supports its operation. The terrorist organization is reported to take in as much as $40 million a month by producing and exporting oil.

 

[sToRmR1dR]

BREAKING:

Turkish President Rules Out Troops Withdrawal From Iraq

_http://sputniknews.com/world/20151210/1031553274/iraq-turkey-troops-withdrawal.html

Turkey will withdraw troops from Iraq, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said firmly on Thursday.

ANKARA (Sputnik) — Turkey will not pullout its troops from Iraq as they have been deployed in the country for training of Iraqi military and police rather than for combat, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Thursday.

"Our servicemen went to Iraq as instructors, their mission is limited to training," Erdogan told a news conference in Ankara.

"It is out of the question, at present, that Turkey will pullout its military from Iraq," the president stressed.

He added that Turkey, Northern Iraq Kurds and US officials are to hold talks on December 21.

On December 4, Turkey deployed about 150 troops and 25 tanks to a base in the Iraqi Nineveh province, without Baghdad's approval.

According to Ankara, the aim of the deployment was to provide security to Turkish soldiers deployed earlier at the base to train Kurdish militia who are fighting Islamic State (ISIL), also known as Daesh in Arabic, a group outlawed in a number of countries worldwide, including Russia.

 

[goyacobol]

BREAKING NEWS:

ISIS 'finance chief' Abu Saleh killed in coalition airstrike – US

_https://www.rt.com/news/325522-isis-finance-chief-killed/

The US has confirmed the Islamic State finance chief Abu Saleh has been killed in an airstrike by the US-led coalition.

Brett McGurk, Special Presidential Envoy for the Global Coalition to Counter ISIL, stated that Abu Saleh was killed along with two associates “as part of [a] coalition campaign to destroy ISIL's financial infrastructure.”

Along with Saleh, coalition airstrikes also killed Aby Maryam, the “ISIL enforcer and senior leader of their extortion network,” and Abu Rahman al-Tunisi, who was coordinating transfer of information, people and weapons, Warren said.

In mid-November, the US began targeting at least 116 trucks used by IS to smuggle crude oil in Syria as part of a campaign to disrupt the ability of the jihadist group to generate revenue to supports its operation. The terrorist organization is reported to take in as much as $40 million a month by producing and exporting oil.

Mid-November and it is just now being "confirmed"?

 

[goyacobol]

BREAKING:

Turkish President Rules Out Troops Withdrawal From Iraq

_http://sputniknews.com/world/20151210/1031553274/iraq-turkey-troops-withdrawal.html

Turkey will withdraw troops from Iraq, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said firmly on Thursday.

ANKARA (Sputnik) — Turkey will not pullout its troops from Iraq as they have been deployed in the country for training of Iraqi military and police rather than for combat, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Thursday.

"Our servicemen went to Iraq as instructors, their mission is limited to training," Erdogan told a news conference in Ankara.

"It is out of the question, at present, that Turkey will pullout its military from Iraq," the president stressed.

He added that Turkey, Northern Iraq Kurds and US officials are to hold talks on December 21.

On December 4, Turkey deployed about 150 troops and 25 tanks to a base in the Iraqi Nineveh province, without Baghdad's approval.

According to Ankara, the aim of the deployment was to provide security to Turkish soldiers deployed earlier at the base to train Kurdish militia who are fighting Islamic State (ISIL), also known as Daesh in Arabic, a group outlawed in a number of countries worldwide, including Russia.

There seems to be a "will withdraw" and a "will not pullout" mistake in the sputniknews article. Anyway the troops are still there I guess.

 

[sToRmR1dR]

BREAKING:

Three Dead, 30 Wounded in Recent US Coalition Attack - Syrian Army

_http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20151210/1031554445/us-coalition-aistrikes-casualties.html

The recent coalition air strike on the Syrian Army, which took place on Sunday night, killed three and left thirty wounded, claims a representative from the Syrian Army

"While our troops have been fighting to repel the attacks of the Daesh terrorists, from the east, planes from the US-led coalition struck one of the positions of our troops in Deir ez-Zor, killing three soldiers and wounding thirty, and destroying arms, military and special equipment and facilities," Syrian Armed Forces spokesman Brigadier General Ali Meyhub told reporters.

Earlier, the Syrian General Staff provided information revealing Western coalition strikes against Syrian troop positions in Deir ez-Zor on December 6, according to the Russian Defense Ministry. Syrian General Staff information shows strikes against Syrian troop positions in Deir ez-Zor on December 6 were carried out by the western coalition.

Citing the data provided by the Syrian General Staff, an MoD spokesman said that between 19:40 and 19:55 on December 6, 2015 aircraft of the Western coalition carried out a strike against the field camp of the 168th brigade of the 7th division of the Syrian government forces, located 2 kilometers west of the Deir ez-Zor airfield.

 

[sToRmR1dR]

Spokesman of Army: Air force destroys 1375 targets for terrorists during two weeks

_http://sana.sy/en/?p=63842

Damascus, SANA-Military spokesman of the army affirmed on Thursday that 1375 targets for the terrorist organizations were destroyed in 363 sorties carried out by the army’s air force between November 27th and December 10th.

“The sorties have been carried out on the gatherings of terrorists in the countryside of Damascus, Homs, Hama, Aleppo, Idleb, Deir Ezzor, Daraa and Lattakia where 4 command-centers for terrorists in Aleppo countryside, near Tadmur and a command-center in Latamneh in Hama countryside and 3 convoys of vehicles in Homs and Idleb countryside were completely destroyed,” the spokesman said.

He added that the sorties ended up with destroying fortified dens of Jabhat al-Nusra terrorists in Khan Sheikhoun and Ariha in Idleb countryside and depots in Tal Ayoub in Aleppo countryside in addition to destroying the gatherings of terrorists in Salmin, Zamrin in Daraa countryside and Hweikah in Deir Ezzor and al-Sikhnah in Homs countryside.

“The army expanded its control on areas Harasta and seized a net of tunnels and trenches stretching between Harasta and Douma in addition to uncovering a 350 m tunnel in Joubar in Damascus countryside,” the army spokesman said.

The army also established full control on 14 building blocks to the south of al-Manshiyah neighborhood in Daraa al-Balad and 8 others in Daraa al-Mahata, destroying 2 command-centers for terrorists in the surrounding of al-Hrak town, according to the spokesman.

He added that the army established control on Marhatan village in al-Bayarat, destroyed a car bomb and foiled an infiltration attempt by the Islamic State (ISIS) terrorists into some military points in Palmyra in Homs countryside.

“Units of the army killed a number of terrorists in an ambush in Talbeisah, destroying 3 vehicles in the area,” the Spokesman affirmed.

The army also established control on height 1112 and foiled many attempts by terrorists to infiltrate into some areas in Hama north-western countryside, according to the Military Spokesman.

He added that units of the army destroyed three vehicles and two command-centers in Kfar Zeita and al-Latamneh, killing more than 150 terrorists and destroying 9 vehicles equipped with heavy machine guns in Hama north-eastern countryside.

The spokesman affirmed that units of the army established control on Nassrallah, Rasm al-Abd and al-Kawthar petroleum station and some farms in Aleppo northern countryside after killing large numbers of ISIS terrorists there.

“The army established control on al-Hamra, Zeitan and other towns in Aleppo south-western countryside, after killing 50 terrorists from Jabhat al-Nusra,” the spokesman said.

He added that units of the army advanced in Lattakia northern countryside, establishing control on more than 20 towns and strategic hills.

The spokesman concluded by affirming that the army heroic operations caused a state of depression and collapse in the ranks terrorist organizations who fled, along with families of a number of terrorist organizations’ leaders into Turkish borders.

 

[angelburst29]

BREAKING:

Turkish President Rules Out Troops Withdrawal From Iraq

_http://sputniknews.com/world/20151210/1031553274/iraq-turkey-troops-withdrawal.html

If I'm understanding the information correctly, Erdoğan has been stealing oil in Iraq, in the same manner as in Syria and when the bombing began on the oil trucks in Syria, Erdogan re-enforced his position by deploying another 150 troops and 25 tanks to a base in the Iraqi Nineveh province (Dec. 4) where ISIS, also has a Base operation? Iraq/Baghdad are trying Diplomatic channels to remove Erdogan and his military, so they can concentrate on ISIS, militarily and reclaim their oil wells?

Turkey’s Aim to Annex Northern Syria and Iraq
http://www.globalresearch.ca/turkeys-aim-to-annex-northern-syria-and-iraq/5494923

Turkey is a NATO member, a close US ally in its regional war OF terror, battling Kurds in northern Syria and Iraq on the phony pretext of combating ISIS.

Erdogan long coveted annexing Aleppo and other northern Syrian areas, as well as bordering Iraqi territory – the latter objective to seize and control valued Mosul area oil fields.

Hundreds of its troops, tanks and artillery operate from positions near Mosul – on the phony pretext of combating ISIS and training Iraqi forces, never authorized by Baghdad. Ankara intends sending more heavily armed commandos and other combat troops.

ISIS forces controlled Mosul since June 2014, the largest regional city it holds, a key oil producing area. Ankara’s aim is to seize control, perhaps complicit with ISIS, a first step toward annexation, a scheme Baghdad will challenge.

Russia’s effective anti-terrorist intervention foiled Erdogan’s objective in Syria. Its air power and ground-based S-400 missile defense systems control Syrian airspace – able to counter any threat to its operations with devastating effectiveness.

If tested beyond Erdogan’s downing a Russian Su-24 bomber complicit with Washington, more US airstrikes on Syrian ground forces or other provocations, it will respond as conditions warrant, increasing the danger of expanding regional conflicts to a global one – including possible use of nuclear weapons.

Turkish troops operate illegally in northern Iraq. Baghdad gave Ankara 48 hours to withdraw. Prime Minister Abadi stressed they’re “present without the knowledge and consent of” his government.

The deadline for them to leave expired. They remain in place. Erdogan refuses to withdraw them. Russia called their presence illegal.
So far, Baghdad and Ankara are trying to resolve things diplomatically, short of requesting UN Security Council action. Abadi asked NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg to “use (his) authority to (demand) Turkey withdraw immediately from Iraqi territory."

Russia raised the issue during a closed-door Security Council session to no avail. Washington blocked responsible action. Moscow’s UN envoy Vitaly Churkin expressed disappointment, saying:


“We believe that Turkey has acted recklessly and inexplicably, carrying out additional deployments on the territory of Iraq without the consent of the Iraqi government.”

Washington’s so-called security agreement with Baghdad harms what it purports to support. On Wednesday, Iraq’s parliamentary Security and Defense Committee called for reviewing terms agreed on.

Committee member Hamid Mutlaq told RT International their “negative points” harm Iraqi security. “We have demanded to review some of those points, for them to comply with Iraq’s interests and the region as a whole in light of the changed situation,” he said.

“The majority of Iraqi politicians and MPs fear that an international conflict may develop on the territory of Iraq, as a result of which blood of its people will be spilt.” The nation “already (is) suffering” hugely from US-instigated imperial wars.

Mutlaq was blunt telling Sputnik News:

“The (Iraqi) government and parliament need to review (the) security agreement with the US, because (it’s) not serious about its implementation.”

If not changed to Baghdad’s satisfaction, “(w)e will demand its cancellation.” In criticizing Turkish troops in northern Iraq, Abadi said “Iraq does not need foreign ground forces, and the Iraqi government is committed not to allow the presence of any ground force on Iraqi land.”

Apparently he was objecting both to the presence of Turkish and US troops – as well as Defense Secretary Carter saying more are coming.

Baghdad’s Security and Defense Committee intends meeting with Abadi on requesting Russia conduct airstrikes on ISIS targets in Iraq, expanding its Syrian operations cross-border – vital to let ground forces of both countries wage effective war on terrorism, polar opposite Washington’s phony campaign.

Obama upped the stakes in challenging Moscow’s effective anti-terrorism campaign. Likely greater regional intervention is coming than already announced.

 

[goyacobol]

100,000 foreign troops incl. Americans to be deployed in Iraq, MP claims
Published time: 10 Dec, 2015 13:21
Edited time: 10 Dec, 2015 15:47

http://<iframe width="560" height="...Tw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

The US is to send some 10,000 troops to Iraq to provide support for a 90,000-strong force from the Gulf states, a leading Iraqi opposition MP has warned. The politician said the plan was announced to the Iraqi government during a visit by US Senator John McCain.

During a meeting in Baghdad on November 27, McCain told Prime Minister Haider Abadi and a number of senior Iraqi cabinet and military officials that the decision was ‘non-negotiable’, claimed Hanan Fatlawi, the head of the opposition Irada Movement.

“A hundred thousand foreign troops, including 90,000 from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar and Jordan, and 10,000 troops from America will be deployed in western regions of Iraq,” she wrote on her Facebook page.

She added that the Iraqi prime minister protested the plan, but was told that “the decision has already been taken.”

McCain and fellow hawk Senator Lindsey Graham have both been calling for a tripling in the current number of US troops deployed in Iraq to 10,000, and also advocate sending an equal number of troops to Syria to fight against the terrorist group Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) and the government of Syrian President Bashar Assad. The Americans would prop up a 90,000-strong international ground force provided by Sunni Arab countries like Egypt, Turkey and Saudi Arabia.

“The region is ready to fight. The region hates ISIL – they are coming for Sunni Arab nations. Turkey hates ISIL. The entire region wants Assad gone. So there is an opportunity here with some American leadership to do two things: to hit ISIL before we get hit at home and to push Assad out,” Graham argued during the joint visit to Baghdad in November.

“Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Turkey – they have regional armies and they would go into the fight if we put [the removal of] Assad on the table. Most of the fight will be done by the region. They will pay for this war,” he added.

he US currently has about 3,600 troops in Iraq, including 100 special operations troops deployed last month to take part in combat missions involving hostage rescue and the assassination of IS leaders. The White House is reluctant to commit a large ground force, citing the cost in human lives and money and the possible political ramifications of what will be portrayed by America’s opponents as yet another Western invasion of the Arab world.

The McCain-Graham plan also poses the risk of direct confrontation between the proposed coalition force and Russia and Iraq, which are both militarily assisting the Assad government and may not stay out of the fight – something which the hawkish duo have not factored into their plan.

This is especially true after Turkey’s downing of a Russian bomber plane on the Turkish-Syrian border, which Moscow considered a stab in the back and which sent relations with Ankara to a low not seen for decades.

Baghdad has its own concerns about a Turkish presence on its territory after Ankara sent troops into western Iraq and refused to withdraw them, despite Iraqi protests. Ankara claimed the incursion was made under a 2014 invitation from Iraqi Prime Minister Abadi.

 

[angelburst29]

Ankara falls into Moscow's trap Russia's pre-crisis preparation in the event Turkey crossed the line.
http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2015/12/turkey-russia-syria-downing-of-russian-jet-moscow-lure-trap.html

“What interest does Ankara have in downing a Russian plane?” But now, two weeks after the incident, we have the chance to compare the two countries’ attitudes and actions in the crisis, and then the most accurate and pertinent question emerges: “What interest does Moscow have in making Turkey shoot down a Russian plane?”

Indeed, Turkey downed the plane but Russia was the playmaker in this crisis. The speed and scope of the sanctions Moscow slapped on Turkey immediately after the incident in the realms of tourism, foreign trade, investment and joint projects suggest that the set of moves could have been planned in advance for a potential Syria-related crisis. The deployment of S-400 air defense missiles at the Hmeymim air base in Syria only two days after the incident indicates that the deployment was pre-planned.

Another indication of pre-crisis preparation is the swift frontal attack by Russia’s propaganda machine on the issue of the Islamic State’s illicit oil trade with Turkey, directly targeting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his family. The Russian propaganda seems directed at the Western public, to further worsen Erdogan’s already unfavorable image and thus make it harder for NATO allies to back Turkey up. In short, the Russians have been trying to isolate Turkey in the crisis.

A similar review of Ankara’s actions offers no signs of significant pre-planning.

Certainly, Turkey is not expected to apologize for shooting down a foreign warplane that allegedly violated its air space. But in any case, Russia’s goal here is not an apology and compensation to close the incident. Had it been, its sanctions would not have been so diverse, radical and comprehensive nor its tone so brusque.

Moscow’s ultimate objective appears to be the removal of the core reason that prompted its military intervention in Syria: the bankrupt Syria policy that Erdogan and his prime minister, Ahmet Davutoglu, have maintained with an irrational insistence.

No doubt one of the main reasons for the Russian intervention was to prevent the uncontrolled collapse of the Damascus regime. Battling IS was another. The United States getting Ankara’s approval to deploy warplanes at the Incirlik base, not far from Syria, could be seen as a secondary reason. Yet, the mother of all the reasons is Turkey’s Syria policy. Ankara’s proxy war against Damascus, backed by Riyadh and Doha, has been the primary factor behind the regime’s abrupt descent into an uncontrolled collapse.

Without Turkish soil being available for the indiscriminate use of jihadis since 2011, the conditions that gave rise to IS would have not taken hold in northern Syria, and IS would have not grown strong enough to become a major security threat for the whole world. In this sense, the deployment of the US Air Force to the Incirlik base in the fight against IS was also a result of Ankara’s policies.

As a prerequisite for the Russian intervention to achieve its goals, Moscow seems to have decided that Ankara should be deterred by any means necessary from maintaining its current Syria policy, and shaped its game plan around this political objective. Russia thus used crisis engineering to drag Turkey into a confrontation, which, at the end of the day, would be detrimental to Turkey.

Moscow’s harassment and threats also had a psychological aspect, which obviously affected decision-makers in Ankara. A strong sign that they felt cornered and compelled to act against Russia could be seen in a statement Davutoglu made Nov. 22, two days before the downing of the Russian jet. He said after a security summit in Ankara, “Our security forces have been instructed to retaliate immediately in the event of any development threatening border security.”

This statement also explains the source of the political decision that led to the missile striking the Russian plane after it allegedly violated Turkish air space for as briefly as 17 seconds.

In sum, Turkey’s Syria policy has dragged it to a confrontation with Russia, and no one knows how and when it will end. Paradoxically, the United States has been the primary beneficiary of the crisis so far. The breakdown of the close ties between Vladimir Putin’s Russia and Erdogan’s Turkey — which remains a NATO member despite its Islamist and authoritarian tilt — can only please the United States, which was highly irked by those bonds. Ankara will now feel compelled to act as a more coherent partner of the West on security issues, as Russia’s military threat is forcing Turkey to move back closer to the Western bloc from which it had drifted in recent years. A Putin left with a bloody nose after a NATO member downed his plane could in no way be disturbing to Washington. On the contrary, it can only be pleasing.

In the wake of the plane incident and the deployment of S-400s in the area, Turkey has lost also the leverage it used to pressure the United States for a no-fly zone in Syria. Now Washington stands as the second capital after Moscow, where Ankara’s abandonment of its current Syria policy, the source of much instability and mistrust, will be greeted as a most welcome development.



This articles goes into more detail of the different fighting groups in Iraq and Syria, some protecting Homeland.

Ankara's Mosul miscalculation
http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2015/12/turkey-iraq-bashiqa-mosul-military-deployment.html?utm_source=Al-Monitor+Newsletter+%5BEnglish%5D&utm_campaign=a4e3049795-December_10_2015&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_28264b27a0-a4e3049795-100370501#

There are several reasons Turkey tends to commit careless mistakes in Iraq.

A governmental vacuum in northern Iraq since 1991 has allowed Turkey to boost its influence in the region. The TSK's soldiers gained operational experience while deployed against the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). The Turkish military presence in various locations, including Sulaimaniyah and Erbil, was politically linked to Turkey’s wish to protect Turkmens in the region.

After the legal establishment of the Kurdistan Regional Government, Turkey’s military presence continued. Turkey claims it is at Bashiqa with the approval of Baghdad to train Hashd al Watani set up by former Mosul Governor Atheel Nujaifi and the peshmerga forces, but a deployment of 1,000 soldiers and 25 tanks gives the impression that the training camp has been turned into an operational base.

 

[goyacobol]

Ankara falls into Moscow's trap Russia's pre-crisis preparation in the event Turkey crossed the line.
http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2015/12/turkey-russia-syria-downing-of-russian-jet-moscow-lure-trap.html

[...]

In the wake of the plane incident and the deployment of S-400s in the area, Turkey has lost also the leverage it used to pressure the United States for a no-fly zone in Syria. Now Washington stands as the second capital after Moscow, where Ankara’s abandonment of its current Syria policy, the source of much instability and mistrust, will be greeted as a most welcome development.

I am not so sure this is a welcome development for Washington. Like they really want Turkey to abandon its current Syria policy (right).

 

[angelburst29]

Ankara falls into Moscow's trap Russia's pre-crisis preparation in the event Turkey crossed the line.
http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2015/12/turkey-russia-syria-downing-of-russian-jet-moscow-lure-trap.html

I am not so sure this is a welcome development for Washington. Like they really want Turkey to abandon its current Syria policy (right).

You bring up some real good questions, Goyacobol. Some how, I've been getting the impression, Washington has only been using Erodogan as a Front Guy. In a recent Post, you mentioned Fathullah Gulen. I think, Erodogan "knows" that Gulen will be used to replace him - reason he has fought hard to get Gulen behind bars? From what little I could dig up - one - isn't any better than the other?
In the U.S., Gulen is behind privatizing the School System into Private (for profit) Charter's and the impetus behind Common Core. Both are disasters! If he wants to go and pitch a tent in the dessert and play King-of-the-Mountain, I'm sure accommodations can be made?

Hailing from the same State, are you aware of an incident that happened back in September 2014, at the Blooming Grove State Police Barracks in Pike County, near the Pocono's and NY/NJ/Pa line? A late night ambush at the Barracks, killed one Trooper and wounded another. Within hours, they named a suspect and a manhunt was carried out. What followed was a complete lock down of the general area, with Police and Military vehicles - everywhere. The area is surrounded by State Game Lands and Hunting Clubs. Dotted in the area are Homesteads and small Communities. All were bombarded by Helicopters flying low during the night hours. Many residents that happened to be away from home, either work related, etc. after the immediate lockdown - were forbidden assess to roads to get home. The Authorities then announced "Shelter in Place" and anyone who was home couldn't leave their residences - not even for groceries. In the meantime, SWAT Teams where doing area searches, knocking on doors and entering properties without warrant. The Shelter in Place lasted two weeks. I have Family living in the area and they were scared out of their wits! Fortunately, they were home when the lock-down occurred and were better off than some folks in the area. But there was a Feed delivery scheduled (for the chickens) and dog food from Agway and no one was allowed in or out. 48 days later, the Manhunt ended - they got their guy. Problem is - no one in the area believes Eric Frein was involved. He's now sitting in jail waiting trial.

That's the long of it, the short part, Gulen's massive secure Compound was in the center of the manhunt search area and only a few miles from where the Blooming Grove Barracks is located. Yet, Gulen's name was never mentioned in the media? People in the area are still shell-shocked over the incident, a year later. Just about every Household in the area, owns a gun - mainly for hunting, so seeing armed guys walking the woods is common but guys with full military gear and resembling R2D2 - gets their attention.

I guess, we'll never get the answers to what really went down and why? But with Gulen is the center of it all, a mind can wander.

Eric Frein
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Frein

_http://wnep.com/2015/12/09/newswatch-16-investigates-report-evaluates-psp-manhunt-for-eric-frein/

Edit=Quote

 

[goyacobol]

Ankara falls into Moscow's trap Russia's pre-crisis preparation in the event Turkey crossed the line.
http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2015/12/turkey-russia-syria-downing-of-russian-jet-moscow-lure-trap.html

I am not so sure this is a welcome development for Washington. Like they really want Turkey to abandon its current Syria policy (right).

You bring up some real good questions, Goyacobol. Some how, I've been getting the impression, Washington has only been using Erodogan as a Front Guy. In a recent Post, you mentioned Fathullah Gulen. I think, Erodogan "knows" that Gulen will be used to replace him - reason he has fought hard to get Gulen behind bars? From what little I could dig up - one - isn't any better than the other?
In the U.S., Gulen is behind privatizing the School System into Private (for profit) Charter's and the impetus behind Common Core. Both are disasters! If he wants to go and pitch a tent in the dessert and play King-of-the-Mountain, I'm sure accommodations can be made?

Hailing from the same State, are you aware of an incident that happened back in September 2014, at the Blooming Grove State Police Barracks in Pike County, near the Pocono's and NY/NJ/Pa line? A late night ambush at the Barracks, killed one Trooper and wounded another. Within hours, they named a suspect and a manhunt was carried out. What followed was a complete lock down of the general area, with Police and Military vehicles - everywhere. The area is surrounded by State Game Lands and Hunting Clubs. Dotted in the area are Homesteads and small Communities. All were bombarded by Helicopters flying low during the night hours. Many residents that happened to be away from home, either work related, etc. after the immediate lockdown - were forbidden assess to roads to get home. The Authorities then announced "Shelter in Place" and anyone who was home couldn't leave their residences - not even for groceries. In the meantime, SWAT Teams where doing area searches, knocking on doors and entering properties without warrant. The Shelter in Place lasted two weeks. I have Family living in the area and they were scared out of their wits! Fortunately, they were home when the lock-down occurred and were better off than some folks in the area. But there was a Feed delivery scheduled (for the chickens) and dog food from Agway and no one was allowed in or out. 48 days later, the Manhunt ended - they got their guy. Problem is - no one in the area believes Eric Frein was involved. He's now sitting in jail waiting trial.

That's the long of it, the short part, Gulen's massive secure Compound was in the center of the manhunt search area and only a few miles from where the Blooming Grove Barracks is located. Yet, Gulen's name was never mentioned in the media? People in the area are still shell-shocked over the incident, a year later. Just about every Household in the area, owns a gun - mainly for hunting, so seeing armed guys walking the woods is common but guys with full military gear and resembling R2D2 - gets their attention.

I guess, we'll never get the answers to what really went down and why? But with Gulen is the center of it all, a mind can wander.

Eric Frein
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Frein

_http://wnep.com/2015/12/09/newswatch-16-investigates-report-evaluates-psp-manhunt-for-eric-frein/

Edit=Quote

angelburst29,

Yes, I do remember that incident but I am located further away than your family. I had no idea that the hunt created so much panic locally. Now, it makes me wonder why Eric Frein was not a suspect locally and was still jailed. It is strange that Gulen was in the middle of all that and nothing was mentioned. Until this thread I had never really heard of Gulen.

When I read all about the influence he seems to have in Turkey with his funds being as much as $25 billion and he is located in Eastern PA it got my attention. Wow he even has a compound. I guess he can afford it.

It almost sounds like a power struggle with Gulen and Erdogan. I am wondering if Erdogan may be the one who is really a more expendable "front guy" too.