On September 25 2016 01:12 TheFish7 wrote: I blame Bush for destroying America's credibility all over the world. The Russians could say Joe Biden personally parachuted into Syria to kill those Syrian soldiers using a samurai sword and there are people who would believe it.
I almost want to believe he did...
But seriously, this all started way before Bush. Yes, he made it worse. But conspiracy theory nonsense has a deep hold in the Middle East.
On September 24 2016 12:05 Yoav wrote: The US doesn't want the war to continue. By no definition of realpolitik is it in the US's interests to keep the war going. If Obama could wave a wand and make it stop tomorrow he would. If the DoD could, they would. It continuing serves literally none of our interests. Kurds have as much territory today as they conceivably could. The war tangibly weakens the Iraqi government. It frays our alliance with the Turks. ISIL is literally the only thing keeping us in the war. We long ago gave up on trying to oust Assad.
The airstrike was a mistake. Retaliation on their part is understandable. If a hostile force kills some of your guys, you have a right to throw some shells at their guys. Fair enough. But don't bomb aid convoys. Don't be that guy.
US is arming Kurds because honestly, they're one of the very few countries in the Middle East worthy of the name... and they don't have it yet. The Turks are not natural allies, not anymore. The racialized nationalism was always an issue, and now that its combined with strongman semi-Islamism, they're just not that close in terms of values or even strategic aims.
Why we leave them? Because the opinion I've laid out above is still just an opinion. Lots of folks still think we need to back Turkey through thick and thin. Because NATO, because Muslim Democracy. Why are we still arming them? Because plenty of people agree with me that they deserve their land and their chance to try to govern.
If Turkey had any real proof about Gulen, of course we'd turn him over. We'd be bound by law and custom. And honestly, we'd probably like to just to get rid of the irritant. But it's literally illegal. You can't arrest someone without evidence. Even if "everyone thinks they did it". In the US, rights trump national interest. Again and again. Strange thing about having rule of law. Obama can't kill the guy. That's not how it works in not-Russia. If Turkey had Osama, we'd have turned over proof that he did the shit. We had plenty. They have jackshit. They're probably right, but it honestly doesn't matter. You can't arrest the mafiosi without evidence. Even if it would save lives. Becaus rule of law.
Did you seriously follow the coup aftermath? The chief of general staff, head of the Turkish army has been held captive and he says coup generals wanted him to talk with GULEN on skype as their "opinion leader" but he refused, this was confirmed by their testimonies. A good portion of the coup soldiers claimed they thought it's a secular coup but later on they learnt it was a Gulenist one and they surrendered. One even says in his defence, "yes I wanted Erdogan dead, but Im no Islamist!" But of course, US knows better than anyone else.
I have one personal add-on to this subject and then I'll leave it, you probably heard the newspaper ZAMAN that Erdogan shut down. All the global media bashed him for days, government seized ZAMAN buildings and archives etc. etc.
This AD was on every TV channel in Turkey a while ago. First appearance on TV channels: 5.10.2015 AD title: Scream of Silence Content: Harsh siren and a smiling baby.
Standard conditions and procedures necessary to ensure the cessation of hostilities
The Russian Federation and the United States as co-chairs of the International Support Group Syria (MTT), in accordance with the provisions of the Joint Statement on the cessation of hostilities in Syria on February 22, 2016 indicated the contact person, and determine the order of interaction between Russia and the US to promote respect and mode control the cessation of hostilities (RPBD) in Syria.
1. To carry out the exchange of information, as well as to facilitate the de-escalation of tension between the parties in order to further the cessation of hostilities on the territory of Syria, Russia and the United States created a “hot” link to simplify the process of rapid exchange of information.
2. In the event of a breach or possible breach RPBD conditions, including the resumption of fighting one of the parties involved in RPBD in respect of the other hand, is also involved in RPBD, using all kinds of weapons (including small arms, mortars, artillery, anti-tank guided missiles and air strikes), the Russian Federation and the United States will be guided by the provisions of the International Task Force, the Syrian support group compliance RPBD (STF RPBD MTT), as well as the following standard procedures to ensure RPBD.
3. The competent authorities shall without delay request all necessary additional information from the party or parties who are suspected of violating RPBD to MTT Co-Chairs had the opportunity to assess the nature and extent of the alleged violation, as well as the extent provided by this breach of the potential threat RPBD compliance. Russia and the United States, respectively, have to provide the maximum possible completeness and objectivity of the information received on this alleged incident and the intention of the party / parties to comply with the terms RPBD.
4. The competent authorities shall, jointly or independently, to determine the circumstances RPBD violations documented findings and, if necessary, take steps to collect more information.
5. The competent authorities shall immediately inform each other of the measures and necessary actions taken to prevent further violations and exceptions escalate the tension and to take all available measures do not force nature to restore compliance RPBD.
6. In accordance with the Joint Statement with military force can be applied proportional to the purpose of self-defense RPBD parties. Any party involved in RPBD that use military force against the other party to the RPBD must notify the authorized body, co-chairs of the STF RPBD MTT and / or the Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General on Syria on the circumstances connected with the use of military force.
7. In the event that Russia or the United States resorted to the use of military force against terrorist groups excluded from RPBD in geographical areas that are in close proximity to the parties involved in RPBD, the party resorted to the use of military force, notify the other party and Special envoy of the UN Secretary General about the circumstances related to the use of military force, and on measures taken to prevent attacks against the parties involved in RPBD.
8. In the interest of obtaining relevant information about actual or potential violations of RPBD The competent authorities and co-chairs the STF RPBD MTT may request information from the parties and the Office of the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General on Syria, and may also request information from other members of the MTT. Additionally, but not required, can be considered the publication in the media, including social media and other open sources of information available through commercial resources.
9. In the event of disagreement between the parties regarding their involvement in a specific violation of a priority in their resolution should be the interaction between the authorized body and the co-chairs of the STF RPBD MTT. Furthermore, Notified Bodies and co-chairs the STF RPBD MTT can be shared with the representatives of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the UN on Syria and other members of the MTT take these differences settlement measures through further investigation and bringing to it stakeholders.
10. In case the co-chairs of the STF RPBD MTT in coordination with STF RPBD determine that the deletion of the part RPBD and depriving the protection granted to it justified the systematic failure to comply with conditions RPBD, they immediately send the recommendation of the Co-Chairs MTT at the ministerial level to take appropriate measures in accordance with the Joint statement.
11. The Co-Chairs of the STF RPBD MTT on a regular basis will be sent to the MTT consistent information on compliance by the parties RPBD. This procedure will be carried out through the Office of the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General on Syria, acting as the secretariat.
12. Kontrol of compliance with the conditions of the cessation of hostilities must be carried out fairly and openly with broad media coverage.
Joint document from 15.07.2016, thePractical approach to US-Russian efforts in the fight against LIH and “Dzhabhat en-Nusra” and strengthening of the cessation of hostilities
Underwritten aims to promote a political settlement of the Syrian conflict, as well as the fact, to allow the US and Russia to work together in the interests of destruction “Dzhabhat en-Nusra” (DAN) and LIH, including overlapping flow of insurgents, weapons and funding through the Syrian border, in the context of strengthening of the cessation of hostilities (RPBD) RPBD with all parties, to comply with its conditions.
Delimitation of territories controlled by the LIH, DAN and the forces of the moderate opposition, remains a priority, as well as the separation of the moderate opposition forces from DAN.
DAN LIH, and you must deny safe haven to the whole territory of Syria.
Mechanisms:
1) Russia and the United States are stepping up their efforts to ensure full compliance with the immediate RPBD according to a joint US-Russian statement on February 22, 2016 “Terms of the cessation of hostilities in Syria.”
2) Russia and the United States as soon as possible complete the overall map specific areas. These areas include the territory dominated by the opposition, areas with a high concentration DAN formations, as well as areas dominated by the opposition, with some possible presence of DAN. Technical experts from Russia and the United States will cause the geographical coordinates of these special areas.
3) In the context of strengthening RPBD to provide a period of reduced violence, in accordance with the aspirations of Russia and the United States, the United States and Russia will create a Joint Executive Centre (JRC), which will include experts on the subject and Syrian specialists in identifying goals. JRC should be deployed by mutual agreement.
4) The JRC should carry out tasks listed below in the following order:
a) the exchange of intelligence information and the definition of targets for military action against DAN in specific areas. Such information should include leaderboards DAN coordinates the location of training camps of militants DAN, weapons depots, ammunition and material resources, administration, areas of concentration of personnel, weapons and military equipment, as well as supply routes and other purposes relating to DAN.
b) determining the list of targets for air strikes VKS Russia and / or the US Air Force, relating to the activities of DAN.
c) after the approval of the initial list of objectives, the date set for when VKS Russia and / or the US Air Force will start strikes to the agreed objectives DAN. At the same time all of the Air Operation Syria using both aircraft and helicopters will be discontinued in these areas, with appropriate exceptions for the agreed non-combat tasks such as medical evacuation, rehabilitation of victims and other humanitarian supplies agreed non-combat tasks.
d) the Syrian military can conduct air operations against DAN outside special areas.
e) In case of violation of the terms of this document or RPBD, the US or Russia could suspend its participation in the JRC.
5) The process of determining goals through the application of the JRC and airstrikes by DAN forces VKS Russia and the United States Air Force will be constant and continuous. As part of the JRC should be carried out exchange of information on the effectiveness of targeting DAN and the development of the situation on the ground.
6) With the exception of the immediate threats to Russia or the United States, when prior approval can not be objective, Russia and the United States can only act against DAN objects that have been agreed in advance and in accordance with the procedures through existing military channels to prevent incidents.
7) The JRC will also work to build up the most independent, but synchronized effort against LIH.
8) All of the above efforts will be conducted in accordance with international humanitarian law and in full compliance RPBD.
9) The JRC will develop mechanisms for monitoring the effectiveness and to ensure the full implementation of the above provisions.
10) Modalities JRC activities and the implementation of the above steps will be determined in the course of bilateral negotiations, which will begin on Tuesday-Wednesday next week and will be completed within 5-7 days.
11) The steps above should be seen as steps toward a fuller understanding between the US and Russia on three interrelated issues, aimed at the safe end of the conflict and destruction and DAN LIH:
a) military cooperation and intelligence line between Russia and the United States to defeat and DAN LIH;
b) Translation RPBD in a long-term cease-fire throughout the territory of Syria;
c) political transition in Syria in accordance with resolution 2254 of the UN Security Council. US and Russian Recommend Offer Special Representative of the Secretary General of the UN on Syria as a starting point for further negotiations of an inclusive group of participants mezhsiriyskogo dialogue and will encourage their constructive and positive work.
It agreed in Geneva, September 9, 2016
Reducing the level of violence, restoration of access and the creation of SIG
The Russian Federation and the United States (hereinafter – Parties) are going to take joint efforts to stabilize the situation in Syria by taking special measures in the area of Aleppo. The main priority is the delineation of territories under the control of LIH, “Dzhabhat en-Nusra” and the moderate opposition, as well as the separation of the moderate opposition groups and “Dzhabhat al-Nusra.”
Parties shall appoint the date and time following entry into force of the measures (the day “D”).
On the day of the “D” for a period of 48 hours, all participants of the cessation of hostilities (RPBD) in Syria restore RPBD and will fully comply with the terms RPBD, as outlined in “Joint Statement of the Russian Federation and the United States” of 22 February 2016. Specifically:
termination of the application of air strikes, missiles, mortars and anti-tank guided missiles;
the rejection of the acquisition of territory and the desire to seize the territory occupied by the other parties to the ceasefire;
granting humanitarian organizations access to areas under the operational control RPBD participants, as well as creating conditions for immediate humanitarian aid has been delivered to all in need;
commensurate use of force in the second order in self-defense.
The parties agree and notify the parties of the date and time of occurrence of the day “D”.
The day “D + 2” if RPBD conditions in Syria continue to be met and the parties will be satisfied with its implementation, they will prolong RPBD for an agreed period of time. Later on the same basis as the Party may decide on the indefinite nature RPBD. The Parties shall use their influence on the parties to fully comply with their RPBD conditions.
Special measures will be introduced on the road, “Castello” (according to the agreed coordinates), in particular: Starting from the “D” and to deploy checkpoints on the road, “Castello” humanitarian aid will be delivered to
g.Aleppo in accordance with the provisions RPBD UN procedures, as well as in coordination with the authorized representatives of the United Nations. The monitoring mission of the United Nations (MMOON) deployed on the Turkish border, continue checking and sealing of trucks intended for the delivery of humanitarian assistance along the way, “Castello” in the eastern part of the city of Aleppo. The integrity of the seals will not be violated, and trucks will not be opened by any authorities, between the point of verification and sealing in Turkey and the point of unloading at the UN warehouses and its partner organizations in the eastern and western parts of the city of Aleppo.
The Syrian Red Crescent Society (SRCS) (or another agreed third party) as soon as possible, will begin work on the two CAT (at agreed locations) to confirm that, before issuing CPR UNOPS in accordance with the way described in this same section less traffic on the road is carried out only proven MMOON trucks, and the integrity of the seal is not broken.Small units of no more than 20 armed men on each shift, which is allocated by the government and opposition forces, as well as being equally acceptable to them, will ensure the safety of SRCS staff at the checkpoint in the western and eastern ends of the road “Castello”.
The UN will monitor (via physical presence or remote) the activities of all personnel at the checkpoint. Checkpoints, where SACB and involved staff ensured his physical safety will be transferred under the management of an independent international staff of the UN Office for Project Services (or another agreed third party) as soon as possible.
PPC, under international control, will provide a phased unimpeded movement of humanitarian, commercial and civilian traffic on the road, “Castello”, as well as non-use of the roads for the transportation of weapons (in accordance with procedures to be developed in the future). Phased traffic will begin as soon as possible when the personnel responsible for the work of the CPT, in coordination with the UN and the Parties determines that sufficient opportunities for the safe and orderly traffic.
At the same time with the deployment outlined in paragraph 3b SACB PPC or other agreed third party, the pro-government forces and moderate opposition groups simultaneously depart from the road, “Castello”, thereby creating a demilitarized zone.
In particular, pro-government forces:
Shall bring heavy weapons such as armored vehicles and infantry fighting vehicles (other than the BTR-60 and BMP-1 without ATGM), tanks, artillery and mortars, over a distance of 3500 meters north from the road;
Shall bring heavy machine guns, BTR-60 and BMP-1 without ATGM at a distance of 2,500 meters to the north of the road;
Will be allocated the entire personnel, armed with small arms and machine guns, except for the personnel of the two observation posts, at a distance of 1,000 meters to the north from the road;
Will be allocated the entire personnel and weapons at a distance 500 meters south of the road;
Install no more than two observation posts at a distance not less than 500 meters north of the road, “Castello”.
Location posts will be agreed between the parties, taking into account the characteristics of the terrain (the staff of no more than 15 people with small arms for self-defense and surveillance facilities);
Will not interfere with the movement of humanitarian, civil and commercial vehicles on the road, “Castello”;
There are not to occupy the areas left by the opposition groups, or to equip the position in the demilitarized zone, except for the observation posts.
Opposition groups at the same time take the following steps:
At the eastern end of the road “Castello” in accordance agreed with the card (to be specified), the opposition will act depending on the action of the Kurdish militia troops.If the Kurds will remain in place to the north of the road, “Castello”, the opposition will remain in their positions. If the Kurds retreat 500 meters south of the road, “Castello” then that zone can be considered demilitarized, and opposition groups will depart at 500 meters to the north of the road, “Castello”;
In the western end of the “Castello” road (at the contact line, passing to the north of the trade “Castello” center) withdrawing the opposition forces will be similar to the withdrawal of pro-government forces.
The formation of the opposition, are squared 31/15 (map Russian side) in the area north of “Castello” shopping center, would be taken armored vehicles and infantry fighting vehicles (other than the BTR-60 and BMP-1 without ATGM), tanks, artillery mortars and 3,000 meters, heavy machine guns, BTR-60, BMP-1 without ATGM – 2500 meters, and the staff of small arms or light machine guns – at a distance of 1000 meters north of the road, “Castello”.
On the stretch of road from the shopping center “Castello” until the roundabout Layramun opposition groups will be allocated personnel and weapons to a distance of 500 meters north of the road, “Castello”, which will mirror the answer to the withdrawal of pro-government forces to a distance of 500 meters south of the road “Castello “between these points;
Opposition groups will not impede the movement of humanitarian, civil and commercial vehicles on the road, “Castello”
Opposition forces would not occupy the areas left by pro-government forces, or equip items in the demilitarized zone, except for the observation posts;
Opposition groups will make every effort to prevent forces “Dzhabhat en-Nusra” in the demilitarized zone with the adjacent areas under the control of opposition groups.
All Syrians, including militant opposition groups with weapons, can leave the city of Aleppo on the road, “Castello”, knowing that they will suffer no harm, and they can go in any direction. Militants fleeing Aleppo weapons must coordinate in advance with the representatives of UN terms the use of “Castello” road, as well as the amount of output of personnel, weapons and military equipment. In addition, there is no harm to civilians and the formation of the opposition, decided to stay in the city of Aleppo and comply with the terms RPBD.
These violations of the demilitarized zone by any of the participants will be sent to the Russian Federation and the United States. In the case of penetration into the demilitarized zone of the militants’ Dzhabhat Al-Nusra “after the establishment of SIG, the United States and Russia will act in accordance with the mandate of SIG.
On the day “D” as pro-government forces and opposition groups that are in the area Ramos, provide safe, unimpeded and sustained humanitarian access to the eastern and western parts of the city of Aleppo. They will also assist in the smooth movement of all commercial and civilian traffic on the road to Khan Tuman passing through Ramus, in coordination with the UN and create a monitoring mechanism, to be agreed by the Parties and the United Nations as soon as possible to ensure continued access.
For this purpose no later than the fourth day since the “D” will be held the meeting of the Parties to the expert groups and the UN. Delivery of humanitarian aid will be in accordance with the provisions established by the UN RPBD and procedures, as well as in coordination with the authorized representatives of the United Nations.
No opposition groups or pro-government forces will not take attacks within the boundaries of the area indicated on the attached map, in accordance with its geographic coordinates (hereinafter – the “District”). No opposition groups or pro-government forces will not attempt to take in the “area” new territory, controlled by the other party.
4. The Parties confirm to each other that the Syrian Government and opposition groups agree to abide by the provisions of the Mandate SIG, including the agreed areas (geographical coordinates are determined by the Parties), which will not apply the Syrian air force, with the exception of non-combat missions coordinated, and where the parties will develop goals to counter “Dzhabhat al-Nusra.”
5. The parties announced the creation of ICS on the basis of a mandate SIG and areas agreed by the Parties, after both parties will be satisfied with the implementation of the measures referred to in paragraphs 1-4 (except for deployment PPC service of the UN Office for Project Services and the relevant humanitarian movement, commercial and civil transport and the organization of the monitoring mechanism referred to in paragraph 3f ), for a minimum of seven days of continuous compliance RPBD conditions.
Appendix A
• Starting with the day “D” Parties will start the preparatory work for the establishment of the JRC. This training will include an initial discussion and the exchange of information needed to distinguish between the territories controlled by DAN and opposition groups in areas of intense fighting to eventually come out on the functioning of the JRC. A more comprehensive process of demarcation will be carried out by experts from the inception of the JRC. Preparation for the establishment of the JRC will also include: the selection of suitable temporary and long-term facilities for accommodation; definition of necessary working procedures consistent with already agreed mandate; determining the need for mutually agreed adjustments already agreed map of areas that need to be made in accordance with the changes “on the ground” so that the JRC could be fully operational at the end of a seven-day continuous compliance RPBD conditions of access in the city of Aleppo, in accordance with the provisions of this agreement.
• In the period between the day “D” and the establishment of the JRC, each Party shall determine the validity of data for targeting and DAN LIH, in order to be able to share them so that the strikes could begin on the day of the creation of the JRC.Along with Russian and American strikes against the agreed objectives of the JRC within the entire Syrian air force activity (aircraft and helicopter flights) in the areas agreed by the Parties will be terminated in accordance with the mandate.
• On the day of the “D” Government and opposition groups are members RPBD, the Parties confirm their commitment to the observance of RPBD. In respect of any breach of RPBD before or after the establishment of the JRC will apply measures to the respective to the terms RPBD agreed in the Joint Statement of 22 February 2016, and with the “Standard Terms and procedures necessary to ensure the cessation of hostilities” from March 28, 2016 .
• The Parties undertake to accelerate the deployment of UNOPS mission on the road, “Castello”, in accordance with paragraph 3b.
• The action of the day “D” will begin at 19:00 Damascus time Monday, September 12, 2016.
• Each Party reserves the right to withdraw from this agreement if it considers that the provisions are not met.
as quoted by the source from Russian Foreign Ministry website.
On September 27 2016 06:56 Dangermousecatdog wrote: It is as I have predicted. Ceasefire. Aid will not be delivered to Aleppo. Russia/Syrian army takes advantage of ceasefire and takes over Aleppo.
Al Nusra and other terrorist organizations are running really short on ammunition seeing as how all supply routes became unfeasible in July when the Syrians put Castello road under fire control. It's pretty self evident when you look at how fast the Syrian army is taking central parts of Aleppo, how were the terrorists ever going to hold onto that much territory with the SAA actually being vigilant in a blockade for once?
In other parts of Syria they (Al-Nusra/Islamic Front) used to ceasefire to group up and attack, this is a map of Hama province, the blue line shows where they were before their offensive.
I admire the capacity of forgiveness that demonstrates the Americans : protecting terrorists after the 9/11 is a true testimony of their christian values.
Or a proof of their ambiguity with Qatar, Saudi Arabia. Or an attempt to remain strong in the region even if it consists to dance with the devil. Or their fierce volonty since this new millenary to play the civilization conflict.
Ofc, I could say the same thing for my goverment but there are the doggies of Obama so, that's basically all the same.
On September 27 2016 06:56 Dangermousecatdog wrote: It is as I have predicted. Ceasefire. Aid will not be delivered to Aleppo. Russia/Syrian army takes advantage of ceasefire and takes over Aleppo.
Al Nusra and other terrorist organizations are running really short on ammunition seeing as how all supply routes became unfeasible in July when the Syrians put Castello road under fire control. It's pretty self evident when you look at how fast the Syrian army is taking central parts of Aleppo, how were the terrorists ever going to hold onto that much territory with the SAA actually being vigilant in a blockade for once?
In other parts of Syria they (Al-Nusra/Islamic Front) used to ceasefire to group up and attack, this is a map of Hama province, the blue line shows where they were before their offensive.
Well there was xM(Z who was pretty convinced he had an inside ear on all the stakeholders of the ceasefire and it would all unfold as planned.
US officials have confirmed they are supplying arms to a Kurdish-led coalition in Syria, angering Turkey and jeopardising a precarious common front in the war against Islamic State extremists.
The officials say that the US is supplying only light weapons and they are going to the Arab contingent of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). However, Kurdish officials linked to the People’s Protection Units (YPG), the dominant partner in the SDF, say they have been promised the US will arm them directly if they lead the battle for Isis’s Syrian stronghold in Raqqa.
Ankara has reacted furiously to news of the arms supplies, as it views the YPG as a terrorist group, linked to Turkish Kurd militants. The country’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, said he found out about US planes carrying arms landing at the Kurdish-controlled town of Kobani, while he was attending the UN general assembly in New York, at which he met the US vice-president, Joe Biden. Erdoğan claimed Biden said he was unaware of the arms deliveries.
The US insists that the weapons do not represent a threat to Ankara and are essential to the effort to deal a potentially decisive blow to Isis, something Obama is keen to achieve before leaving office.
“We are eager to go after Raqqa now. There is a real opportunity to crush the Caliphate,” a senior US administration official said. He said that although the Turks and Kurds clashed in August, they have together managed to expel Isis from the entire Turkish-Syrian border. Tensions were further defused when the YPG withdrew to a position east of the Euphrates, leaving the west bank mostly to the Turks and Turkish-backed elements of the Free Syrian Army (FSA). Manbij town is still run by a SDF-dominated military council.
The challenge now was to get them to cooperate in a deeper thrust into the Isis heartland.
On September 27 2016 06:56 Dangermousecatdog wrote: It is as I have predicted. Ceasefire. Aid will not be delivered to Aleppo. Russia/Syrian army takes advantage of ceasefire and takes over Aleppo.
Al Nusra and other terrorist organizations are running really short on ammunition seeing as how all supply routes became unfeasible in July when the Syrians put Castello road under fire control. It's pretty self evident when you look at how fast the Syrian army is taking central parts of Aleppo, how were the terrorists ever going to hold onto that much territory with the SAA actually being vigilant in a blockade for once?
In other parts of Syria they (Al-Nusra/Islamic Front) used to ceasefire to group up and attack, this is a map of Hama province, the blue line shows where they were before their offensive.
Well there was xM(Z who was pretty convinced he had an inside ear on all the stakeholders of the ceasefire and it would all unfold as planned.
well, only you would call IS and Al-Nusra stakeholders.
They aren't stakeholders of the ceasefire in that they had no part in agreeing in it. You didn't mention them previously, and neither did I so why bring them up as if you we discussed them in relation to the proposals of the ceasefire?. I guess "the parties" or "the signatories" would be the more legalese way of the word we are looking for.
U.S.-Russia relations fell to a new post-Cold War low Monday as the Obama administration abandoned efforts to cooperate with Russia on ending the Syrian civil war and forming a common front against terrorists there, and Moscow suspended a landmark nuclear agreement.
...
The State Department announced that it was withdrawing U.S. personnel who have been meeting in Geneva over the past several weeks with Russian counterparts to plan coordinated airstrikes against al-Qaeda and Islamic State terrorists in Syria.
Citing “unfriendly actions” by the United States, the Kremlin announced Monday that Russia would suspend a landmark agreement to dispose of surplus weapons-grade plutonium, yet another sign of deteriorating relations between the two countries.
In a decree released by the Kremlin, President Vladimir Putin said Moscow would consider a resumption of the accord only if Washington agreed to several sweeping conditions. Among them: reducing the American military presence in NATO countries near Russia’s border, canceling all sanctions against Russia and compensating Moscow for losses resulting from those sanctions.
The Russian Defense Ministry on Tuesday confirmed that it has deployed a sophisticated anti-missile system to its naval facility in the Syrian city of Tartus, after reports began circulating in international media.
"The S-300 anti-aircraft missile system has indeed been sent to the Syrian Arab Republic," defense ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said in a statement.
"I remind you that the S-300 is a purely defensive system and poses no threat to anyone."
"It's not clear why the placement of S-300 in Syria has caused such a stir among our western colleagues," he said.
Fox News reported earlier in the day that it is the first time that Russia has deployed the missile system in Syria, citing three US officials.
The news came a day after the United States announced that it had suspended all military contacts with Russia over obtaining a ceasefire in Syria – and the report noted that the system could possibly intercept American cruise missiles.
The SA-23 Gladiator system is a variant of Russia's S-300 interceptor and has a range of up to 150 miles. Components have been delivered but the system is not yet operational in Syria, the report said.
U.S. military strikes against the Assad regime will be back on the table Wednesday at the White House, when top national security officials in the Obama administration are set to discuss options for the way forward in Syria. But there’s little prospect President Obama will ultimately approve them.
Inside the national security agencies, meetings have been going on for weeks to consider new options to recommend to the president to address the ongoing crisis in Aleppo, where Syrian and Russian aircraft continue to perpetrate the deadliest bombing campaign the city has seen since the five-year-old civil war began. A meeting of the Principals Committee, which includes Cabinet-level officials, is scheduled for Wednesday. A meeting of the National Security Council, which could include the president, could come as early as this weekend.
Last Wednesday, at a Deputies Committee meeting at the White House, officials from the State Department, the CIA and the Joint Chiefs of Staff discussed limited military strikes against the regime as a means of forcing Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad to pay a cost for his violations of the cease-fire, disrupt his ability to continue committing war crimes against civilians in Aleppo, and raise the pressure on the regime to come back to the negotiating table in a serious way.
...
The options under consideration, which remain classified, include bombing Syrian air force runways using cruise missiles and other long-range weapons fired from coalition planes and ships, an administration official who is part of the discussions told me. One proposed way to get around the White House’s long-standing objection to striking the Assad regime without a U.N. Security Council resolution would be to carry out the strikes covertly and without public acknowledgment, the official said.
The CIA and the Joint Chiefs of Staff, represented in the Deputies Committee meeting by Vice Chairman Gen. Paul Selva, expressed support for such “kinetic” options, the official said. That marked an increase of support for striking Assad compared with the last time such options were considered.
Israel is going blow Syria half way to the moon if they even remotely think this is directed at them...
Russia’s Defense Ministry has cautioned the US-led coalition of carrying out airstrikes on Syrian army positions, adding in Syria there are numerous S-300 and S-400 air defense systems up and running.
Russia currently has S-400 and S-300 air-defense systems deployed to protect its troops stationed at the Tartus naval supply base and the Khmeimim airbase. The radius of the weapons reach may be “a surprise” to all unidentified flying objects, Russian Defense Ministry spokesperson General Igor Konashenkov said.
It's not aimed at Israel, the US has been saber rattling these past few days that bombing runs on the Syrian army are a real possibility if the SAA doesn't stop attacking Al-Qaeda and friends in Aleppo. Russia is saying that any attack against the Syrian army puts their personnel in danger so 'Syria' *wink wink* will shoot anything that bombs their army out of the sky.
edit: It's all just posturing anyway, WW3 is not going to come from this.... I think...
edit2: In case anyone was wondering what life was like in Syrian controlled parts of Aleppo here's a Channel 4 (UK) look
Government controlled Aleppo is home to around 1,5 million people
The United Nations Security Council will hold an emergency meeting on October 7 to discuss a new UN proposal to try to stop the bloodletting in Syria's Aleppo by persuading an Islamic militant group located there to leave.
The proposal to relocate an estimated 900 members of Syria's Al-Qaeda affiliate to an unspecified "refuge" outside the city was offered by UN Syrian envoy Steffan de Mistura on October 6, prompting Russia to request the council meeting.
Warning that Russia's and Syria's bombardment of areas of eastern Aleppo under the Fatah al-Sham group's control could "totally destroy" that part of the city by yearend, de Mistura offered to personally escort the group out of the city to a "refuge" of their choosing to prevent further bloodshed.
Russia and Syria have used the designated terrorist group's presence in the city as justification for their ferocious bombardment, which de Mistura said has killed 376 people in the last two weeks.
"We are talking about 900 people, basically, who are becoming the main reason for which...275,000 people [are] being attacked," said de Mistura.
De Mistura told the Fateh group, formerly known as Al-Nusra Front: "If you decide to leave with dignity...I am personally ready to physically accompany you."
The proposal apparently attracted Moscow's attention because it appears to satisfy one of Russia's principal stated goals in Syria: separating the designated terrorist groups there from so-called "moderate" rebel groups backed by western powers.
Disagreement over getting that done helped cause the collapse of a tentative cease-fire deal that the United States and Russia negotiated last month.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov called the UN proposal to oust the Al-Qaeda offshoot from Aleppo a "constructive step" and said it "deserves careful consideration."
Whether it would stop Russia's and Syria's bombardment of Aleppo remains to be seen, however.
Recruits to Isil are better educated than their average countryman, contrary to popular belief, according to a new World Bank study.
Moreover, those offering to become suicide bombers ranked on average in the more educated group, said the newly released study titled Economic and Social Inclusion to Prevent Violent Extremism.
The study, which aimed to identify socioeconomic traits that might explain why some are drawn to Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil), made clear that poverty and deprivation were not at the root of support for the group.
Almost without exception, fighters joining the terror group's Syria and Iraq-based forces had several more years of education in their home countries - whether in Europe, Africa or elsewhere in the Middle East - than the average citizen.
The data shows clearly, the report said, that "poverty is not a driver of radicalization into violent extremism."
Out of 331 recruits described in a leaked Islamic State database, only 17 percent did not finish high school, while a quarter had university-level educations.
Only those from Eastern Europe were below the average, and only marginally so, according to the study.
"Foreign recruits from the Middle East, North Africa and South and East Asia are significantly more educated than what is typical in their region," the Bank report said.
About 30 percent of the recruits told the extremist group what positions in the force they wanted. Around one in nine volunteered for suicide operations, and their educational levels were on par with those who sought to be administrators, the report said.
"The proportions of administrators but also of suicide fighters increase with education," it said.
Most of the 331 recruits also reported having a job before traveling to join the Islamic State group, also known by its Arabic acronym Daesh, according to the study.
However, it noted that a significant number of those choosing "suicide fighter" as their preferred option when enlisting said that they had not been employed back in their home country, or that they were in the military before joining the group.
"An important finding is that these individuals are far from being uneducated or illiterate. Most claim to have attended secondary school and a large fraction have gone on to study at university," the report said.
"We find that Daesh did not recruit its foreign workforce among the poor and less educated, but rather the opposite. Instead, the lack of economic inclusion seems to explain the extent of radicalization into violent extremism."