Aleppo 343

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The Morning Star has today come under massive criticism for hailing the near total recapture of Aleppo by pro-Government forces as a “liberation.” I would agree that the situation calls for more nuance. However a feeling of relief that the fighting that has ravaged Aleppo for four years is coming to a close, must form part of any sane reaction. If we are not allowed to feel relief at that, presumably it means that we must have wanted al-Nusra and various other jihadist militias to win the hot war. What do we think Syria would look like after that?

I am no fan of the Assad regime. It is not a genuine democracy and it has a very poor human rights record. If Assad had been toppled by his own people in the Arab spring and replaced by something more akin to a liberal democracy, which kept the Assad regime’s religious toleration, protection of minorities and comparatively good record on women’s rights, and added to it political freedom, a functioning justice system and end to human rights abuse, nobody would have been happier than I. Indeed I strongly suspect I have in the past done much more to campaign against human rights abuse in Syria than the mainstream media stenographers who all decry the fall of rebel Aleppo now.

But sadly liberal democracy, human rights and women’s rights are not in any sense what the jihadist militias the West is backing are fighting for.

Of course it is essential that human rights are now respected in Aleppo by the government, that civilians are looked after, and that rebel fighters once identified are incarcerated in decent conditions. I add my voice to those calls. It should be noted that the threat to life and limb, and the violations and war crimes, have been on all sides, and the oppression of the government is most unlikely to be worse than the oppression of the rebels. The jhadists impounded relief supplies from the civilian population, shot those attempting to flee, and raped on a grand scale. That is not in any way to minimise the potential for mirror abuse from government supporting troops. But it is nonetheless true and must be stated.

The freedom from rebel mortar bombardment of civilian areas of Western Aleppo will also be an added mercy.

But it is not only the western media which has been hopelessly one-sided in its coverage of events. I have been deeply shocked by the heavily politicised role played by western charities and relief agencies. And sure enough, reports reaching me today from an independent source in Syria indicate that now the Syrian government has taken over most of the ex-jihadist held areas of Aleppo, those western agencies and charities that were screaming for a ceasefire so they could get aid in to the communities, have lost all interest now that it is safe to do so and the Syrian government is begging them to go in. They appear interested only in servicing rebel-held areas.

Last week saw a rare moment of truth in western diplomacy as Boris Johnson accused Saudi Arabia of financing proxy wars in the Middle East and spreading the ideology of terrorism. It is a strange world when it comes as a shock when a government minister for once says something which is true. But it was a rare moment. Boris is now in Saudi Arabia touting for more arms sales. In fact the anti-democratic regimes in the Gulf loom extremely large in the affections of the current Conservative government. Both Hammond and May have recently been to Bahrain. As I said, the Assad regime does have a poor human rights record, but the Bahraini government beyond argument has a much worse one, with torture a widespread and everyday measure of oppression. The Sunni “royal family” was only maintained in its despotic rule over its majority Shia population during the Arab spring by the invasion of the Saudi army. Torture and repression has been stepped up ever since even beyond its normal appalling standards.

To repeat, Bahrain beyond doubt has an even worse human rights record than Assad. It is also even less democratic. Yet this is the UK’s close ally, and in a stunningly stupid flourish of neo-imperialism, Britain has just opened a new military base in Bahrain, indicating our desire to indulge in further disastrous military intervention in the Middle East for decades to come.

I don’t think I have ever been more ashamed of my country than when reading Theresa May’s speech last week to the assorted despots, torturers and head-choppers of the Gulf Co-operation Council. A plea for our relationship with “old friends” that nowhere at all gives even a passing reference to democracy or human rights, to the extent that it even references the East India Company as a good thing in our history! A litany of begging for their cash, while at the same time focusing on the “security” and “terrorist” threats they face, the “terrorists” in question being their own disenfranchised populations.

Shameful, shameful stuff. yet where is the condemnation from those mainstream media journalists waxing lyrical today on the evils of Assad?

The game goes on. With financing and ideological underpinning from these Gulf states, and covert intelligence aid from the West, ISIS forces are allowed to slip out of Iraq, regroup and retake Palmyra as “retaliation” against Russian/Syrian success in Aleppo, and as a propaganda counter to ensure the West’s jihadist “allies” are not demoralised. The cynicism of it all is sickening. The Morning Star may indeed have not been sufficiently nuanced; but compared to the lies and elisions of mainstream media it is a beacon of truth.

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343 thoughts on “Aleppo”

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  • Alcyone

    Assange was on Fox News saying Craig Murray was a friend but was not authorised to speak on behalf of Wikileaks.

    Craig I hope this is not a case of you speaking out of turn, as you did onece on behalf of your niece? I think you need to clarify.

  • Sharp Ears

    Dr Rola Hallam on Ch 130 now – Victoria Derbyshire programme.

    Remember the Hand in Hand in Syria episode???

    She is going out to Syria to set up a children’s hospital in Aleppo with £90k raised in crowd funding. She is looking suitably tragic.

    Also on is Paul Conroy who is accompanying her. He is the photographer from Totnes who was with Marie Colvin when she was killed in 2012.
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marie_Colvin

    The anti-Assad propaganda continues to be created and transmitted by the BBC.

  • michael norton

    This is interesting: Aleppo

    The enormity of events in Aleppo / Syria,
    overshadowed talks at an EU summit between European leaders in Brussels on Thursday.

    Invited into the heart of the European Council by President Donald Tusk,
    the Mayor of Eastern Aleppo Brita Hagi Hasan
    begged leaders to be courageous and send forces to monitor the evacuation of civilians still trapped inside the Syrian city.
    http://www.euronews.com/2016/12/16/aleppo-s-fate-overshadows-brussels-summit

    http://www.worldmayor.com/contest_2016/aleppo-mayor-brita-hagi-hasan.html

    Nominations for
    Brita Hagi Hasan
    President of the City Council of Eastern Aleppo
    Nominated by Pete K., USA:
    Dear friends,
    Thanks for organizing this vital effort to recognize Brita Hagi Hasan for his vital efforts to protect and serve all in Eastern Aleppo, including internal immigrants, and providing a relatively safe space so more people are not forced to become emigrants. I nominate Brita Hagi Hasan, President of the City Council of Eastern Aleppo, for the 2016 World Mayor Prize, because of his leadership, in the face of Russia and the Assad regime’s brutal bombing of Aleppo, in maintaining civil services, including repair of water and electricity services, and in upholding democratic government, where all have the right to openly express themselves. This is extremely important in assisting Syria’s millions of internal immigrants, where those living in regime controlled areas are subject to extreme punishment if they express any criticism of the Assad dictatorship, and in providing an alternative zone in Eastern Aleppo, so that Syrians are not forced to become immigrants just to survive.

    • michael norton

      Go on Wiki and they have never heard of Brita Hagi Hasan?

      Yet this person is a hero to the people of East Aleppo?

      Maybe there “could” be a hidden agenda of regime change
      underpinned by

      Turkey
      Saudi Arabia
      Qatar
      UAE
      Bahrain
      Kuwait
      Jordan
      Morocco
      Sudan
      Senegal
      Djibouti
      Eritrea
      Solmalia
      France
      United Kingdom
      United States of America
      Canada

    • Manda

      The “Mayor of east Aleppo”. Oh dear. Like the Syrian faux self declared ‘government’ in US many in Syria don’t even know of, I expect.

      Wonder what the MP of Aleppo Fares Shehabi and citizens of Aleppo think.

  • michael norton

    It was President Vladimir Putin himself who ordered Russian troops to oversee the evacuation of rebel fighters and their families from eastern Aleppo.

    His call came after days of broken promises blamed on both sides. All day, Russian state television has been rolling pictures of the exodus, portraying a humanitarian act.

    Russian officials have long claimed there was no “moderate” opposition to President Bashar al-Assad left in Aleppo.

    So they hailed the city’s recapture by Syrian government forces as a victory against terrorism.

    As Western politicians decried war crimes there, President Putin’s spokesman shrugged off such talk this week as “terrorist propaganda”.
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-38335970

    Although terrorism has been playing a big part in the horror engulfing Syria,
    outside regime change
    has played a MUCH BIGGER PART

    With OBOMBA /CLINTON leaving stage left

    let us hope things improve for the people of Syria
    and that eventually, many will choose to return, which i think they will.

  • Dave Linney

    Unwitting British public will be funding terrorism in the middle east. Need to remove ‘White Helmets’ AlQaeda/Al Nusra militia from the list of recipients

  • giyane

    Patrick Cockburn on that ” terrorist propaganda “:
    http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/aleppo-crisis-syrian-war-bashar-al-assad-isis-more-propaganda-than-news-a7479901.html

    I have an un-opened death threat sitting in my email junk tray
    It does seem rather strange that they think that CIA organised terrorism would be, you know, appealing.

    Voltaire Network — The Security Council meets in secret, Friday 16 December 2016 at 17.00 universal time – NATO officers were arrested this morning by Syrian Special Forces in a bunker in East Aleppo.

    http://www.voltairenet.org/article194590.html

  • michael norton

    Ministry of Truth

    Aleppo evacuation: UN Security Council to vote on sending observers

    *current temperature in Aleppo is 4 Celsius, so above freezing*

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-38354962

    France has proposed that officials should monitor evacuation efforts and report on the protection of civilians.

    Many residents remain trapped in the city’s east in freezing and dangerous conditions, waiting to be rescued.

      • michael norton

        Ministry of Truth

        http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-38358177

        Aleppo battle: Rebels burn Syria evacuation buses

        Several buses en route to evacuate the sick and injured from two government-held villages in Syria’s Idlib province have been burned by rebels.

        The convoy was travelling to Foah and Kefraya, besieged by rebel fighters.

        Pro-government forces are demanding people be allowed to leave the mainly Shia villages
        in order for the evacuation of east Aleppo to restart.

        This is not going to help,

        perhaps the Americans could offer their help?

        • Manda

          I think six busses from Fouaa and Kafaria have reached a corridor in Aleppo. Via @maytham956
          The citizens of those towns have been under siege for four years, a full siege for the last two years and shelling by terrorists.
          Reports in the past of a dire humanitarian situation in Fouaa and Kafaria. I used @maytham spelling of the names.

  • michael norton

    Syrian Army declares Aleppo under full control, ‘return of security’ to city
    Russia today

    The city has been liberated from “terrorism and terrorists” the statement said, as quoted by Syria’s state SANA news agency.

    Aleppo will now mark a turning point in the war against terrorism, the Syrian Army statement said. “It strikes a smashing blow to the forces that backed a terrorism plot against Syria,” the statement added.

    Syrian President Bashar Assad said on Thursday that the liberation of Aleppo from terrorism is a victory not just for Syria but for all those who are effectively contributing to the fight against terrorism, including Iran and Russia.

    “It is also a setback for all the countries that are hostile towards the Syrian people and that have used terrorism as a means [by which] to realize their interests,” he said.

    Just think if Dave Cameron had got his way Syria would now be in ruins & run by Islamists from Turkey

  • michael norton

    This is ghastly – maybe OBOMBA should make a speech about his sponsored “Moderates”
    Mass graves of tortured civilians found in Aleppo – Russian MoD
    https://www.rt.com/news/371824-aleppo-mass-graves-civilians/
    Mass graves with dozens of bodies of civilians subjected to brutal torture have been discovered in Aleppo neighborhoods left by militants, the Russian Defense Ministry said Monday.

    Many of the corpses were found with missing body parts, and most had gunshot wounds to the head, according to a statement by Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Major-General Igor Konashenkov.

  • michael norton

    US-backed Syrian force hopes to get anti-aircraft missiles

    A US-backed alliance of militias fighting Islamic State hopes a US decision to ease some restrictions on arming groups in Syria will lead to them getting anti-aircraft missiles, its spokesman said on Tuesday. Although IS does not have warplanes, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) alliance wants shoulder-fired anti-aircraft systems to protect its forces from potential future enemies, spokesman Talal Silo told Reuters. He declined to say who these could be, noting there was currently no armed confrontation between the SDF and the Syrian government. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Tuesday Moscow regarded the US policy change as a hostile act and a “direct threat to the Russian air force”. (Reuters)

  • michael norton

    Ministry of Truth
    U.S.A. says claim it supported Islamic State in Syria is ‘ludicrous’
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-38447683
    The US has described as “ludicrous” a claim by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan that it supported so-called Islamic State (IS) in Syria.

    State Department spokesman Mark Toner said there was no basis for such an accusation.
    —
    It may not be true but I have certainly heard that the arms that America has been putting into Syria / Iraq have ended up in the use of IS

    • Paul Barbara

      Perhaps Mark Toner should stick to his evening job as a ‘Stand-up Comedian’, though he would make a balls-up of that too.
      Can someone (RT, perhaps?) remind him of this little gem:
      ‘2012 Defense Intelligence Agency document: West will facilitate rise of Islamic State “in order to isolate the Syrian regime”:
      https://levantreport.com/2015/05/19/2012-defense-intelligence-agency-document-west-will-facilitate-rise-of-islamic-state-in-order-to-isolate-the-syrian-regime/

      And then there’s 2 British planes and at least one American chopper shot down whilst delivering arms to IS by Iraqi forces, and all the ‘accidental’ attacks on Iraqi, Iranian and Syrian government forces in Iraq and Syria respectively.

      There are plenty of other links showing the same thing, yet not one MP, Labour or Conservative (or any other party) will touch the information with a barge pole. WHY????

  • michael norton

    Russian Tupolev heading to Syria is downed in the Black Sea.

    Equipment on board a Russian military plane which crashed into the Black Sea was “functioning abnormally”, officials say.

    Russian Air Force spokesman Sergei Bainetov said flight recorder data from the Tu-154 jet indicated that there was no fire or explosion prior to Sunday’s crash, which claimed 92 lives.

    He said that investigators have not ruled out the possibility of a terror attack, adding that a technical fault or human error may also have caused the plane to come down.

    Search and rescue workers have recovered 19 bodies and approximately 230 body fragments, while more than 2,000 pieces of the jet have been pulled from the seabed.
    http://news.sky.com/story/crashed-russian-jet-was-functioning-abnormally-10710820

    If this aircraft was fine from Moscow to Sochi, why not fine leaving Sochi.

    I see they are now saying, not ruled out terror.

  • michael norton

    Ministry of Truth

    The Syrian government and rebel groups have agreed a nationwide ceasefire from midnight local time (22:00 GMT) on Thursday, followed by peace talks.

    The deal was announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin and confirmed by the Turkish foreign ministry.

    Russia and Turkey, which back opposing sides, will act as guarantors.

    The rebel High Negotiations Committee (HNC), seen by the UN as the main opposition group, confirmed the deal, which excludes jihadist groups.

    The Syrian army said in a statement that so-called Islamic State (IS) and Jabhat Fateh al-Sham (formerly the Nusra Front) “and the groups affiliated to them” were not part of the agreement.

    • michael norton

      I wonder what Mr. Kerry, will make of it, he has been spouting a lot of twaddle, lately

      • michael norton

        Joyous news from Aleppo

        a Syrian-wide ceasefire came into being at 12.00 last night.
        Well done Russia

        • michael norton

          Ministry of Truth

          “A new nationwide ceasefire between Syrian government forces and rebel groups appears to be largely holding.”

          Not sure what Vlad’s game plan is.
          I can not see that Assad likes this but he has been given no choice.
          The Sultan of Turkey probably wants to fuck off OBOMBA.
          This is likely to be a temporary holding position – till The Donald, has his feet under the table.
          OBOMBA is behaving in a selfhish way, queering the pitch of The Donald and Vlad, who have both expressed the wish to improve bilateral relations between the U.S.A. and Russia.
          However, it is said that The Donald wants to fuck up Iran.

          So, we are in a three months holding position.
          Part of it will be ( an unwritten ) agreement for the U.S.A. & Turkey to get their “Moderates” out,
          rather than have Syria parade them on the T.V. telling who supplied them with instructions / money / munitions

          • michael norton

            So what has happened to The White Helmets of Aleppo?

            They seem to have gone to ground, if they were only humanitarians, there should be no need to go to ground?

  • michael norton

    Ministry of Truth

    The UN Security Council has unanimously endorsed a ceasefire deal in Syria led by Turkey and Russia, as well as plans for fresh peace talks next month.

    The resolution, drafted by Russia, also calls for rapid access for humanitarian aid to be delivered across the country.

    The ceasefire, which began just over a day ago, has mostly held.

    Good news if true.

    • michael norton

      Thank you Macky
      that was extremely interesting and informative.
      They really knew what they were talking about.
      Pity they did not mention the White Helmets.

      • michael norton

        Jo Cox to share peace prize with the Syrian Peace group she championed

        MP is honoured with The White Helmets
        https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/nov/12/jo-cox-white-helmets-peace-prize-coventry
        The MP Jo Cox is to receive a posthumous peace prize jointly with the Syrian civil volunteer group known as the White Helmets, which she supported in the last years of her life.

        The MP will be remembered next week at the Rising Global Peace Forum, launched in Coventry last year by Archbishop Desmond Tutu. The recognition comes as the trial of Thomas Mair, the man accused of shooting Cox on 16 June near her constituency office in Birstall, West Yorkshire, begins tomorrow.

        Cox’s husband, Brendan, said that she would have been delighted to see the White Helmets honoured. She had written a letter this year to the Nobel peace prize committee, nominating the civilian group.

        O.K. I do not want to upset her childrens memory of their mother
        but how could an MP be so very deluded?

    • michael norton

      It seems that the “Moderates” backed by U.K. U.S.A. Saudi, Qatar, Turkey, Jordan, France
      have decided not to engage in peace talks
      they seem to want to keep the war going, until President Assad is toppled.

  • michael norton

    Russia scales down military presence in Syria, Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier to leave first
    https://www.rt.com/news/372804-syria-military-russia-kuznetsov/

    Several reasons for this,
    one, it may assist the easing in of The Donald.
    two, it tells Assad that there is no open cheque book and he better get ready for a degree of compromise.
    three, it will prevent damage to the only aircraft carrier Russia has left.
    four, the Adiral Kuznetsov – could be redeployed/ rebased to Sevastopol, Crimea.
    This would have the added advantages of being ready to return to off-shore Syria, while also intimidating The Ukraine and Turkey – win – win – win
    five, the burgeoning outflow of money, will be significantly reduced.

    • michael norton

      Syria conflict: Car bomb kills 11 in government-held town
      http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-38520089
      A car bomb attack has killed at least 11 civilians in a Syrian government-held coastal town, state media report.

      Thirty-five others were injured by the blast in a commercial area crowded with people near the municipal stadium in Jableh, the Sana news agency said.

      Three was no immediate claim of responsibility for the bombing.

      It would seem that the people being sponsored by America/Saudi/Turkey/Jordan/France/U.K./Qatar/Kuwait
      do not want the war to end.
      So, there is a cease fire in place, the only “opposition” still fighting must be proper extremists, like Al-Qaeda

      • michael norton

        If you are part of the “opposition” and you are not prepared to stand down, from provocative fighting,
        it is clear you are intent on terror.
        Therefore they are terrorists.

        I wonder how many of the “opposition” are true Syrians as opposed to outsiders or ethnic Turks who want a greater Turkey?
        “Suriye Türkmenleri” are Syrian citizens of Turkic origin who mostly adhere to a Turkish heritage and identity.
        https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syrian_Turkmen
        They reside mostly near the Syrian-Turkish border that runs from the northwestern governorates of Idlib and Aleppo to the northeastern governorate of Raqqa.

        The Turks shot down a Russian aircraft,
        the Turkmen attacked the Russian personnel.
        It was almost as if they were working together?

  • michael norton

    Many killed as car bomb explodes in rebel-held Syrian town of Azaz, near Turkish border, reports say
    Ministry of Truth

    • michael norton

      This town is a few miles to the North of Aleppo, close to the border with Turkey.
      Anonymous soldiers described as Turkmen arrived in Azaz in November 2015 as part of a US-Turkish action against ISIS.
      They came from and were trained in Turkey.

      Fearing YPG intentions for the area, Turkey declared Azaz to be a “red line” which Kurdish forces must not cross.

      • michael norton

        Kurdish groups now control most of the Syrian border with Turkey, with only a 100km (62-mile) stretch remaining from Azaz to the IS-held town of Jarablus.

        “Azaz is a symbol for Turkey,” says Fabrice Balanche from the Washington Institute For Near East Policy.

        “If the Kurds take Azaz, then they could join the land gap between their two enclaves, Kobane and Afrin. Prime Minister Davutoglu fears that if the Kurds capture Azaz, they could start a big offensive from Kobane to the west and from Afrin to the east,”
        he explains.

        But Cengiz Candar believes the YPG could join the enclaves without taking control of Azaz.

        The demographic structure of Azaz is of importance to Turkey as well,
        since along with Arabs and Kurds, ethnic Turkmens live in the area too.
        http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-35595023

        This bit in The Ministry of Truth is rather useful.

        This latest outrage may turn out to have been undertaken by forces working for Turkey,
        who are in NATO but in the process of going rogue

  • michael norton

    Colonel Riad al-Asaad first leader of the Turkish Free Syria Army

    On 22 September 2012, the rebel Free Syrian Army (FSA) announced that it had moved its command centre from Turkey to “liberated areas” inside Syria, in order to get more support from Saudi Arabia.
    Riad al-Assad has made controversial statements such as suggesting that suicide bombing is
    “an integral part of revolutionary action, of Free Syrian Army action.”

    On 25 March 2013, he was the victim of a car bomb explosion near Mayadin, in eastern Syria. He was taken to Turkey for treatment, where his right leg was amputated.
    In his 2015 book, The Syrian Jihad, analyst Charles Lister cites a “senior Ahrar al-Sham leader” as telling him the rebel group had “secretly traced [the assassination attempt on Riad al-Asaad] back to Jabhat al-Nusra.”

    What a tangled web.

    I do hope that the cease fire holds good in Syria, today in Azaz, is the very worse breach.
    Nobody has yet admitted to blowing up the fuel tanker.

    • michael norton

      The longest question and answer session, in English that I have ever seen with Assad.

      Very informative and hopeful.
      He does not give the appearance of an idiot or a nutter, he gives the appearance of intelligence and reasonableness.

  • michael norton

    More than 20 civilians were killed in a B-52 strike carried out by the US on the Idlib province in Syria on January 3, according to Russian Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov.
    Russia Today

    This is quite strange, the U.S.A. “Moderates” have been re-located from Eastern Aleppo to Idlib Province.

    • michael norton

      Not a word about the Americans bombing Idlib Province with B-52 aircraft, by The BBC?
      maybe they are not interested in America breaking the Syrian Cease fire?
      Where are The White Helmets?

  • michael norton

    At least nine people, including four children, have been killed in an air strike in a rebel-held village near the Syrian city of Aleppo, activists say.

    All of the dead were reportedly members of a family whose house in Babka was hit early on Thursday.

    A monitoring group also said at least 22 jihadists had been killed in air strikes in neighbouring Idlib province.

    It was not clear who was behind the various attacks, which took place despite a week-old nationwide truce.

    Ministry of Truth

    Where are The 3,000 White Helmets that were lifting babies out of the bomb craters in Aleppo?

    • michael norton

      If, after the liberation of Aleppo, there is a ceasefire in place, brokered by Turkey, Iran and Russia, what does ceasefire mean if aircraft are still blowing people up? How come nobody knows nothing?
      Yanks are yet to comment on the bombing of Idlib in early January by B-52,
      not something easy to hide?

      • michael norton

        U.S.A. decision on MANPADS delivery to Syria ‘insane’ – Russian Foreign Ministry

        US President Barack Obama’s decision to cancel any obstacles to the delivery of MANPADS to Syria is “insane,” Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Thursday. Obama signed in December 2016 a determination waiving legal restrictions on US provision of defense articles to US allies in Syria. The Kremlin had warned that man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS) could fall into the hands of terrorists in the wake of that decision.

          • michael norton

            Syria accuses Israel of attack on Damascus airport
            http://www.france24.com/en/20170113-syria-accuses-israel-attack-damascus-airport
            Syria on Friday accused Israel of firing rockets that hit near a major military airport west of Damascus, triggering a fire, and warned Tel Aviv of repercussions without specifying whether it would retaliate for the attack.

            In a statement carried on the official news agency SANA, the military said several missiles were launched just after midnight from an area near Lake Tiberias that fell in the vicinity of the Mezzeh military airport on the western edge of the capital. It did not say whether there were any casualties.

            Residents of Damascus reported hearing several explosions that shook the capital. The Mezzeh airport compound located on the southwestern edge of the capital had been used to launch attacks on rebel-held areas near Damascus and has come previously under rebel fire.

            The Syrian army statement said Israel through its attacks was assisting “terrorist groups” fighting the Syrian government.

            So what is I****L up to?

            I****L is in full knowledge that Russia is strong in Syria, partially to back up the Syrian Regime,
            mainly though to big up Russia and be-little America /Turkey.
            But in The Golden Triangle of Methane, currently between Cyprus, Greece and I****L,
            it is Gaxprom that is putting in the pipelines, for I****L for onward flow to the LNG plant in Cyprus.
            http://www.offshoreenergytoday.com/cyprus-lng-plant-construction-depends-on-future-gas-discoveries/

          • michael norton

            Cyprus’ decision on building an onshore LNG plant to develop its offshore gas resources will depend on future gas discoveries.

            This was stated on Monday by the country’s president Nikos Anastasiades during his press conference on the three years of his presidency.

            He said that the results of the ongoing research programs or those of the news licences would be a decisive factor in implementing the strategic objective of building an LNG terminal in Cyprus and convert it into an energy hub.

            As for the new licences mentioned, Anastasiades referred to the third offshore licensing round for hydrocarbon exploration the country launched on March 24, 2016. Three blocks are open for licensing, with the application deadline set for July 22, 2016.

            Cyprus will be hoping to see more gas discovered within its exclusive economic zone, especially after Eni recently put the Mediterranean in the spotlight following the discovery of the giant Zohr gas field in Egypt in September 2015.

            Cyprus government in June last year welcomed declaration of commerciality of the “Aphrodite” natural gas offshore field by the operator, Noble Energy.
            ———-
            Evaluation of geological and geochemical data acquired since 1985 by scientists working on the Libyan Sea indicate the possible existence of large hydrocarbon deposits, equivalent to the Levantine Basin combining the exclusive economic zones of Israel, Lebanon, Syria and Cyprus.
            http://www.naturalgasworld.com/greece-wastes-its-hydrocarbons-29037
            ——-
            http://www.trtworld.com/in-depth/gas-fueling-new-hope-in-eastern-mediterranean-112203

            ——-
            If the “civil” war in Syria can be brought to an end,
            Iraq / Syria / Lebanon could join The Golden Triangle of Methane,
            using the pipes put in by Gazprom .
            The purpose would be
            1) to pipe all the way to Crete, to join up with the huge reservoir to the South of Crete, for onward tranmission to Greece and Europe
            2) LNG plant in the South of Cyprus to ship Methane to Europe
            3) connect Tunisia /Libya /Egypt into this energy – hub.
            4) exclude Saudi Arabia and the head-choppers.

  • michael norton

    Syria conflict: US air strikes ‘kill dozens of government troops’

    18 September 2016 Ministry of Truth
    The US-led coalition has admitted its planes carried out an attack in eastern Syria that the Russian army says killed at least 62 Syrian troops fighting IS.

    The US said its planes had halted the attack in Deir al-Zour when informed of the Syrian presence.

    A spokesman for the US administration expressed “regret” for the “unintentional loss of life”.

    The attack caused a bitter row between the US and Russia at the United Nations Security Council.
    —
    They really do not give a shit.

  • michael norton

    Last night one expert warned that Ankara had taken yet another step towards dissolving its membership to Nato.
    The United Kingdom and the U.S.A. are drawing up plans to move warplanes and Special Forces from crucial airbases after Turkey threatened it would kick the allies out. Incirlik and Diyarbakir are key bases for Coalition aircraft and Special Forces in their fight against Islamic State jihadists in Syria and Iraq – a foreign policy priority for Donald Trump, who takes office next week.
    Britain operates more than 150 Special Forces soldiers from two bases in Turkey for ground operations in Syria and Iraq, while the US has 650. The bases also house spy drones, a squadron of A10 Thunderbolt aircraft and Chinook helicopters to provide support for Special Forces missions.
    http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/754290/turkey-nato-uk-us-airbase-isis-threat-war-shut-down
    I expect they will move to Cyprus.
    The Sultan of Turkey is “keen” to be the center of attention, in much the same way as OBOMBS/CLINTON/HOLLANDE.

  • michael norton

    MPs back new Turkey constitution cementing Erdogan’s power
    http://www.france24.com/en/20170116-mps-back-new-turkey-constitution-cementing-erdogans-power
    I am not sure how this will help Syria or anything in the Eastern Mediterranean?

    ———–

    he debates have been fractious and last week saw some of the worst fighting seen in the parliament in years with punches thrown, deputies bloodied and one lawmaker even claiming to have been bitten in the leg.

    No more prime minister

    The proposed changes, which will create an executive presidency for the first time in modern Turkey, are controversial and far-reaching.

    The president will have the power to appoint and fire ministers, while the post of prime minister will be abolished for the first time in Turkey’s history.

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