Wednesday, December 7, 2016

Sputnik — Saudi King Urges World Powers to Stop Bloodshed in Syria


Crocodile tears from the main support and financier of jihadism as their jihadis get kettled in Aleppo.

Sputnik
Saudi King Urges World Powers to Stop Bloodshed in Syria

also

Fort Russ
Lavrov gives last chance to Aleppo terrorists: "Leave politely or be destroyed"
RusVesna - translated by J. Arnoldski

Sputnik
Trump Pledges to End US Regime Change Policies Around the World

The Duran
BREAKING: Al-Qaeda commanders negotiating surrender in Aleppo, Jihadi stronghold collapsing

20 comments:

Ralph Musgrave said...

Well I applaud the Saudi King's sentiments: except that Saudi itself is involved in Syria isn't it?

Ralph Musgrave said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
mike norman said...

Like the U.S. calling for a U.N. resolution on a ceasefire to give the terrorists a chance to regroup.

Ryan Harris said...

To Russia and the US, exaggerating differences is often a useful rhetorical device for their media and government to make their policy differences clear to domestic audiences and has been for decades. Most recently in the election, Hillary Clinton tried and unify her base by creating fear of foreign influence with Russia as the antagonist in the narrative.

Because the countries are relatively isolated from one another and since the US is neither an important economic trading partner nor a real military power threat to Russia and vice versa, they are easy foils for one another without real consequences. I question whether Putin and other Russian politicians will completely abandon using the US as a villainous caricature once Trump is President even if he reduces US aggression. While Hillary Clinton appears to be done in politics, rest assured the next time a politician is in trouble in a tough election, they will use Russia again without a second thought.

Trump's vow to end regime change is nice but I doubt the President can exert much control over the various layers of overlapping and redundant security services and then even if he does people will still see evidence of plots out of suspicion for many years after the US stops.

I'm not sure career bureaucrats in Washington will respond to a bit of pressure on the snaffle and allow Trump to take control back, Trump would have to eliminate many people which comes with its own risks to the personal safety of the President and his family and allies from people who don't want to lose their power.

I'm far more pessimistic about social change because, people, unlike technology and science, don't ever change.

John said...

"Like the U.S. calling for a U.N. resolution on a ceasefire to give the terrorists a chance to regroup."

Hole in one. The Saudis want to save their barbaric henchmen for somewhere else perhaps.

I hope the Syrians don't allow the jihadis to escape. There's really only one thing the Syrians (and Iraqis) can pragmatically do, and that's to round the jihadis up and crucify them or throw them into vats of acid. These Saudi-backed (and US-backed and UK-backed) maniacs need to be killed. Such a pity I can't be there to watch it happen.

After that, we're going to have to figure out a way of ensuring that the Western powers don't help the Saudis do this mad shit again. It's inhuman and it'll end up with carnage on the streets in our own countries, though it'll be nothing compared to the terrorism we've inflicted on Syria and Iraq. And I don't particularly want to be blown sky high by a weirdy beardy.

MRW said...

I question whether Putin and other Russian politicians will completely abandon using the US as a villainous caricature once Trump is President even if he reduces US aggression.

Whoa, Ryan, you need to listen to this: Stephen Cohen on the John Batchelor Show (he does an hour every week, highly credible IMHO. But last night's show speaks directly to your concerns. Trust me when I say that if what's going on with Russia interests you, this is really worthwhile. All the ads are removed so this is about 40 minutes.
https://audioboom.com/posts/5365695-tales-of-the-new-cold-war-the-new-mccarthyism-stephen-f-cohen-nyu-princeton-university-eastwestaccord-com

Trump's vow to end regime change is nice but I doubt the President can exert much control over the various layers of overlapping and redundant security services and then even if he does people will still see evidence of plots out of suspicion for many years after the US stops.

Not so fast, Grasshopper. The US Constitution gives the US President in his capacity as Head of State (unlike Theresa May in England) the absolute authority over foreign policy unless there's a treaty, in which case 2/3 of the Senate have to vote. The US Prez has no real domestic power other than persuasion. Domestic power rests with Congress.

An example of Presidential power in foreign affairs was Nixon, who grabbed Kissinger and Chas Freeman and secretly flew to Beijing in 1972, and opened relations with China. The world was fucking shocked. The media was completely taken aback.

The House of Reps can circle jerk their neocon view of what foreign policy should be, and Trump can do two things. (1) Pull a Nixon. And (2) go directly to the people and call them traitors.

MRW said...

Like the U.S. calling for a U.N. resolution on a ceasefire to give the terrorists a chance to regroup.

No shit. The neocons using a supposed kumbaya act to advance their treason. But Putin has outfoxed them. I love Putin. He's a real statesman.

Tom Hickey said...

The House of Reps can circle jerk their neocon view of what foreign policy should be, and Trump can do two things. (1) Pull a Nixon. And (2) go directly to the people and call them traitors.

"You're fired."

Trump's image. All he has to do is publicly fire and humiliate one very high profile person to send that message, like Truman's firing 5 star war hero Gen. Douglas MacArthur for insubordination.

Tom Hickey said...

Right. He allow the US to play him several times. Now, when it's the endgame, he can say never again and look good. Smart play form the soft power standpoint.

What's also no generally known is that Russia sent in the special forces ( Spetsnaz) to train and beef up the Syrian Army, as well as to act as spotters for precision air strikes — just like the US has been doing for years operationally. They are kicking some serious ass.

MRW said...

Completely agree with you, Tom. But then no one here knows this because MSNBC and CNN and even FOX with that loathesome Ralph Peters are bullshitting the American people.

MRW said...

I think the Spetsnaz are the group I saw a Russian video about. These guys I saw are beyond Special Forces. They are trained to go into any area of the world on a moment's notice surreptiously with immense skill and cunning. Their survival skills in all terrains and weather was stunning from arctic snow to the Sahara heat. They put the outrageous acts in Bond movies to shame. They're multi-lingual so they can fiunction in foreign countries as locals. The video made the point that they could not show their weapons and fighting skills because they're highly unsual, and they wouldn't film their faces.

I was impressed. I have a friend who was a Navy Seal, and know their training. This was several magnitudes more intense, from being able to pilot jets, subs, and helicopters, if need be, and single-handedly operate tanks and complicated weaponry on wheels in hostile territory. Their physical strength was something to behold as well.

Tom Hickey said...

But then no one here knows this

The operative word is "here." Of course no one in the US knows this other than the operations people because of a media propaganda barrage against Russia and Putin personally.

But the ROW knows it, which undermines US "exceptionalism" as the moral high ground. Another hit to US soft power.

The US coming to be seen as country that not can't keep it agreements but is unwilling to do so.

Instead of a liberator and guarantee of freedom and democracy, the US is increasingly coming across as a bully.

MRW said...

Of all the people on the planet who have "Never Again ingrained in them after WWII, it's the Russians. That ceremony they do every May 9th (?) honoring the horrific number of dead they experienced with millions in the streets walking arm-in-arm carrying photos of family members who died is a sombre solemn affair that is a national day of mourning and still so full of raw emotion. We have no sense of what that memory means to them. Raw and visceral. There is no way they want to go to war. They want peace and prosperity for their vast nation.

Peter Pan said...

Shouldn't Trump have had a private word with Obama to ensure that the US doesn't escalate the situation in Syria? If his intention is to work with the Russians, this should be made clear now. One gets the impression that US covert operations in Syria and the ME are continuing as if the change in administration is inconsequential.

MRW said...

Maybe he has. He said this morning that he's been talking to Obama about his cabinet picks, getting advice, running his choices past him, that--get this--Obama is someone who cares deeply about this country, and that even though they have different opinions about policy, he really likes him, and thinks he's a "great guy. I get along well with him."

THIS FUCKING MORNING.

MRW said...

Bob, I heard him say it just after Morning Joe ended. Can't remember whether it was CNN, Fox, or MSNBC. He called in.

MRW said...

Trump refused to say in response to the reporter's question what Obama said about his picks. Trump said it's not for me to discuss that. The reporter asked if he's picked people that Obama suggested, and denying to admit whom, said yes.

Peter Pan said...

Amazing!

Peter Pan said...

Trump often says that so-and-so is a great guy, great gal, great person... might be channeling Tony the Tiger... might mean less than what it seems.

MRW said...

God, I love the the theatre of all this. :-)