Saturday, January 28, 2017
World Peace “Lennon Ivan Style” – Part 231
As a continuation from my last blog whereby I believe the root of “World
Peace” is centered on peace in the Middle East with the first step being
negotiated peace between Israel and the Palestinians, I would like to remain
objective and independent in my views such that I would like to today bring
Iraq into my views as they seem to be the closest at this time to a full fledge
civil war of rage like wild animals stuck together in a cage. However, it is
important to note that Israel and Palestine seem to be awakening from their
hatred induced coma state with the potential for peace negotiations to be
resumed in the near future in the United States, while Egypt continues to operate
in supremacy domination mode whereby the minority Christian military continues
to hold on to power while the Muslim majority is fuming at the seams hoping to
awaken from this horrible dream. As for the Syrians, both sides are still in
anger induced coma state for the mentally insane such that millions of Syrians
continue to suffer each and every day. In terms of the Russians and Ukrainians,
they seem to have entered into a political war game whereby neither party
wishes to concede but rather seems to prefer to enter into a civil war and
commit dirty deeds. While Israelis, Palestinians, Egyptians, Syrians, Russians
and Ukrainians continue along their respective paths toward enlightenment, it
is now time for the Iraqis to be enlightened as to the path of quelling their
current tensions before any more civil war breaks out which bears the risk of
leading to a third and final world war on this earth, after which, there will
be no place for anyone left to run. In summary, Observers around the world are
stunned by the speed and scope of assaults on every major city in the upper
Tigris River Valley, including Mosul, Iraq’s second-largest city, by the
Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, or ISIS. However, as the ISIS rebels extend
their reach across Iraq, the U.S. Air Force was forced to intervene in order to
prevent Genocide while Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki relinquished power opening
a new political chapter that U.S. officials hope will move Iraq toward a more
unified front against Islamic jihadists currently running wild and literally
beheading “Infidels” like pigs without shedding a tear as blood spills out of
their victims giving everybody creepy chills.
During the week ending on Sunday, January 29, 2017, TURKEY retreated
from their aggressive siege of CIZRE, SILOPI, DIYARBAKIR and NUSAYBIN,
predominantly KURDISH, which TURKEY had converted into a suburban war zone area
as TURKEY was on the defense as they were subject to an internal military “Coup
D’État” that failed as gunfire and explosions erupted in which 265 people died,
161 of them civilians, over one month ago. As a result of the failed “Coup
D’État”, Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared a state of emergency,
extended the period during which suspects can be detained without charge to 30
days, closed more than 1,000 private schools and closed more than 1,200
associations. Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan continued cleaning house
again this week after nearly three months since the failed “Coup D’État” for
which officials continue to blame the disciples of TURKISH cleric Fethullah
Gulen. A wide scale purge led by
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his governing AKP finally continued to
de-escalate slightly this week as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan focused his
attention on diverting attention from TURKEY to SYRIA as TURKEY stated that it is
waiting to see the outcome of U.S. President Donald Trump’s pledge to order
safe zones in SYRIA. U.S. President Donald Trump stated that he would
absolutely ensure that safe zones are implemented in SYRIA for refugees fleeing
violence. TURKEY reiterated that it has long advocated setting up of safe zones
and used the town of JARABLUS near the Turkish border as an example of an
effective safe zone. As a friendly reminder, JARABLUS was freed from ISIS by
Turkish-backed Syrian rebels last August in an offensive, dubbed Euphrates
Shield, that drove ISIS from the last 100 km strip of TURKISH border territory
ISIS controlled and created what TURKISH officials refer to as a de facto safe
zone. It is important to note that TURKEY has long supported the Free Syrian
Army (FSA) rebels fighting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in a complex,
multi-faceted conflict that has now divided Syria into a patchwork of areas
controlled by KURDISH militias, ISIS and various rebel groups.
Moving
on to IRAQ, IRAQI and US-led ALLIANCE forces continued with their offensive
against ISIS on MOSUL. However, ISIS has sent the message to the world that it
will do whatever it takes to defend MOSUL as ISIS has chosen the usage of its
own people as human shields. Nonetheless, IRAQI and ALLIED forces managed to
push ISIS militants back from MOSUL, their last major stronghold in IRAQ,
whereby IRAQI special forces appear to have liberated the eastern half of MOSUL
from ISIS. As a friendly reminder, MOSUL that is divided by the Tigris River
with both east and west sides respectively making up about half of the population
of MOSUL was impressively liberated by the IRAQI and KURDISH Peshmerga forces.
These elite ALLIANCE forces managed to fight through an elaborate defense system
formed by ISIS over the past two years that not only managed to keep the ALLIANCE
forces out but contemporaneously managed to keep the residents of MOSUL trapped
in as captives. Thus far, since the battle first commenced on October 17,
IRAQI, KURDISH and ALLIED forces advances have been impressive on their push to
retake MOSUL, ISIS's de facto capital in IRAQ where as many as 1.5 million
people are believed to still remain. However, progress has been slow as the
ALLIANCE forces have faced counterattacks from the ISIS fighters who deployed
hundreds of suicide car bombs, as well as mortars and snipers and used MOSUL’s
million plus residents as human shields. Unfortunately, ISIS is still a force
to be reckoned with, due to its significant wealth amassed in safe havens
abroad, such that although the battle for MOSUL will likely lead to the end of
the ISIS era in IRAQ, the ISIS wealth abroad will likely lead to ISIS taking
the fight to the streets on foreign soil which will necessitate heightened
security measures until kingdom come. Therefore, the US-led ALLIANCE needs to
be on heightened security alerts world wide as ISIS will look to find any and
all possible retributory strikes, the most savage and barbarian possible, in an
attempt to save face from a humiliating defeat of its MOSUL base.
Moving
on to SYRIA, SYRIAN government forces have retaken full control of ALEPPO,
since the uprising began, after nearly six years of bloody fighting for Syria’s
most populous city and SYRIA’s economic hub that has been the most prized and
fiercely contested city throughout the Syrian conflict. As a friendly reminder,
since the Syrian army’s assault against rebel held ALEPPO began in late
September, RUSSIAN and SYRIAN government bombardments have killed more than
1,000 people, including over 250 children while injuring over 5,000. Now, a
ceasefire across SYRIA appears to be holding as its brokers, RUSSIA, TURKEY and
IRAN obtained approval of the plan from the UN Security Council overriding all
previous failed peace proposals and finally ending the six-year conflict.
RUSSIA that has invested much political time and energy in ending the fighting
after bombing the opposition relentlessly for the past 15 months started to cut
back its forces in SYRIA beginning with an aircraft carrier group as the
ceasefire appeared to take hold. Against all odds, the ceasefire largely continues
to hold as peace negotiations have commenced in ASTANA, KAZAKHSTAN with TURKEY
and ASSAD’s two main allies, RUSSIA and IRAN, backing these peace talks as
guarantors of a fragile ceasefire. However, the process threatens to be
derailed after a powerful Jihadist group crushed an FSA faction over recent
days. That is, the JABHAT FATEH AL-SHAM jihadist group, formerly known as NUSRA
FRONT with its stronghold in IDLIB province in north-western Syria, seem to be
frustrated by progress made in ASTANA and appear to be looking to intentionally
disrupt the fragile ceasefire albeit the responsibility of TURKEY, RUSSIA and
IRAN to prevent such disruptions from happening. However, several militias
formed an alliance with key Islamist group AHRAR AL-SHAM to mount a formidable
defense amid some of the worst inter-factional clashes in recent times. As a
friendly reminder, JABHAT FATEH AL-SHAM was excluded from the ceasefire
declared across Syria as they are considered a terrorist group by the powers
backing the ceasefire.
Moving
on to IRAQ, the recent successful attacks on ISIS by IRAQI security forces in
MOSUL, has clearly sent the message to ISIS that it is just a matter of time
until the ISIS Empire in MOSUL dies. However, the IRAQI led troops on the
ground are essentially forced to fight ISIS style, which is slow and brutal for
any other type of heavy artillery attack on ISIS, will result in significant
collateral damage in terms of human casualties. Unfortunately ISIS has managed
to set new rules of war, with complete and utter disregard for the laws of war
as promulgated by the GENEVA convention, which is essentially that there are no
rules other than the dirtiest player in the game wins. Thus, the world finds
itself going backwards to the days of Barbarian,
Neanderthal, Self-Centered, Egotistical, Narcissistic, Masochistic, Sadistic,
Idiosyncratic, Sociopathic and Psychopathic maniacs. Therefore, the ALLIANCE forces recapture
of eastern MOSUL in its entirety must be
praised as a resurrection eulogy from the dead as ALLIANCE forces fended off
mortar, sniper and drone attacks, while ISIS used humans, including children, and
stored weapons in hospitals, mosques and schools as ISIS resorted to
desperation methods until the very end to withstand defeat at the hands of
ALLIANCE forces. In my opinion, ALLIANCE forces have come a long way since 2014
not only militarily but also in their ability to put their respective differences
aside and focus on a common ISIS enemy. Therefore, this victory by ALLIANCE
troops over ISIS in eastern MOSUL gives real hope to the people of IRAQ that
after years of fighting and instability, peace and security are attainable and
within reach. Thus, in my opinion, assuming that the KURDISH peshmerga, IRAQI army,
SHIITE militia and some SUNNI militia forces continue to overlook their
differences and stick together, ISIS will inevitably be decimated in IRAQ,
although ISIS will likely survive as an incognito terrorist organization
throughout the world. In my opinion, with ISIS inevitably nearing its downfall
in IRAQ, IRAQI security forces need to be prepared for a different kind of war
against ISIS, shifting away from ground offensives to intelligence work and
surgical airstrikes to counter an expected move by ISIS away from holding
territory and back to a more terrorist role of a dispersed underground terror
organization. In my opinion, ISIS is already laying the groundwork for a new
terrorist strategy of hiding in remote areas, carrying out attacks in IRAQ and
abroad and resorting to organized crime to bankroll future operations.
In
summary, I refer to “World Peace Lennon Ivan Style – Part 231” as the belief
that MOSUL victory is critical to ISIS decimation but SYRIAN ceasefire between ASSAD and FSA also key
while extremist factions cannot be controlled but to the extent they kill amongst their own, they
should be let to go until the situation gets out of control and requires one
big punishing blow.
Saturday, January 21, 2017
World Peace “Lennon Ivan Style” – Part 230
World Peace “Lennon Ivan Style” – Part 230
As a continuation from my last blog whereby I believe the root of “World Peace” is centered on peace in the Middle East with the first step being negotiated peace between Israel and the Palestinians, I would like to remain objective and independent in my views such that I would like to today bring Iraq into my views as they seem to be the closest at this time to a full fledge civil war of rage like wild animals stuck together in a cage. However, it is important to note that Israel and Palestine seem to be awakening from their hatred induced coma state with the potential for peace negotiations to be resumed in the near future in the United States, while Egypt continues to operate in supremacy domination mode whereby the minority Christian military continues to hold on to power while the Muslim majority is fuming at the seams hoping to awaken from this horrible dream. As for the Syrians, both sides are still in anger induced coma state for the mentally insane such that millions of Syrians continue to suffer each and every day. In terms of the Russians and Ukrainians, they seem to have entered into a political war game whereby neither party wishes to concede but rather seems to prefer to enter into a civil war and commit dirty deeds. While Israelis, Palestinians, Egyptians, Syrians, Russians and Ukrainians continue along their respective paths toward enlightenment, it is now time for the Iraqis to be enlightened as to the path of quelling their current tensions before any more civil war breaks out which bears the risk of leading to a third and final world war on this earth, after which, there will be no place for anyone left to run. In summary, Observers around the world are stunned by the speed and scope of assaults on every major city in the upper Tigris River Valley, including Mosul, Iraq’s second-largest city, by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, or ISIS. However, as the ISIS rebels extend their reach across Iraq, the U.S. Air Force was forced to intervene in order to prevent Genocide while Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki relinquished power opening a new political chapter that U.S. officials hope will move Iraq toward a more unified front against Islamic jihadists currently running wild and literally beheading “Infidels” like pigs without shedding a tear as blood spills out of their victims giving everybody creepy chills.
During the week ending on Sunday, January 22, 2017, TURKEY retreated from their aggressive siege of CIZRE, SILOPI, DIYARBAKIR and NUSAYBIN, predominantly KURDISH, which TURKEY had converted into a suburban war zone area as TURKEY was on the defense as they were subject to an internal military “Coup D’État” that failed as gunfire and explosions erupted in which 265 people died, 161 of them civilians, over one month ago. As a result of the failed “Coup D’État”, Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared a state of emergency, extended the period during which suspects can be detained without charge to 30 days, closed more than 1,000 private schools and closed more than 1,200 associations. Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan continued cleaning house again this week after nearly three months since the failed “Coup D’État” for which officials continue to blame the disciples of TURKISH cleric Fethullah Gulen. A wide scale purge led by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his governing AKP finally continued to de-escalate slightly this week as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan focused his attention on a sweeping bill that will alter the TURKISH constitution and grant broad powers to the president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan which seems to be on track to pass in parliament, paving the way for a historic spring referendum, that could transform the country’s politics and strengthen the governing AKP party. Government critics say the reforms will undermine democracy in TURKEY which has already suffered from terror attacks, insurgencies in KURDISH areas in the east of TURKEY, stalled TURKISH economy and wide-ranging crackdowns in the aftermath of the failed “Coup D’État” that has punished political dissidents and journalists. In summary, the opposition parties say the reforms will usher in a new era of authoritarian rule and cement the ruling AKP’s hold on power as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will be able to stand in two more election cycles, potentially governing as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will have the opportunity to remain a powerful executive until 2029. In a sheer sign of desperation by the opposition parties, AYLIN NAZLIAKA, an independent legislator, handcuffed herself to a microphone on a rostrum (a raised platform on which a person stands to make a public speech) in parliament to protest against the reforms, forcing the deputy speaker to twice call a recess and halt debate for more than an hour. During the recess, a group of female legislators from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s AKP party tried to convince AYLIN NAZLIAKA to end her protest, while counterparts from the opposition pro-Kurdish HDP party surrounded the rostrum to support her. TV footage showed several politicians coming to blows in the third such episode whereby fighting has broken out since deliberations on the proposed TURKISH amendments began. In summary, the ruling AKP and its allies in parliament, the nationalists, have enough votes between them for only a simple majority so the bill is likely to have to be put to a referendum in the spring.
Moving on to IRAQ, IRAQI and US-led ALLIANCE forces continued with their offensive against ISIS on MOSUL. However, ISIS has sent the message to the world that it will do whatever it takes to defend MOSUL as ISIS has chosen the usage of its own people as human shields. Nonetheless, IRAQI and ALLIED forces managed to push ISIS militants back from MOSUL, their last major stronghold in IRAQ, whereby IRAQI special forces appear to have killed most ISIS commanders in MOSUL in battles with IRAQI government forces that have raged over the past three months in the eastern side of the city. The fight to take the western side of MOSUL that remains under ISIS control should not be more difficult than the one to take control of the eastern side except for the same constraints faced in the liberation of the eastern side of MOSUL, namely that of time. On another positive note, the IRAQI air force neutralized 88 ISIS fighters in airstrikes in TEL KAIF and AL-SEHAJI in northeastern MOSUL. The devastating airstrikes also wiped out a significant amount of combat equipment and hideout spots of ISIS. Thus far, since the battle first commenced on October 17, IRAQI, KURDISH and ALLIED forces advances have been impressive on their push to retake MOSUL, ISIS's de facto capital in IRAQ where as many as 1.5 million people are believed to still remain. However, progress has been slow as the ALLIANCE forces have faced counterattacks from the ISIS fighters who deployed hundreds of suicide car bombs, as well as mortars and snipers and used MOSUL’s million plus residents as human shields. Unfortunately, ISIS is still a force to be reckoned with, due to its significant wealth amassed in safe havens abroad, such that although the battle for MOSUL will likely lead to the end of the ISIS era in IRAQ, the ISIS wealth abroad will likely lead to ISIS taking the fight to the streets on foreign soil which will necessitate heightened security measures until kingdom come. Therefore, the US-led ALLIANCE needs to be on heightened security alerts world wide as ISIS will look to find any and all possible retributory strikes, the most savage and barbarian possible, in an attempt to save face from a humiliating defeat of its MOSUL base.
Moving on to SYRIA, SYRIAN government forces have retaken full control of ALEPPO, since the uprising began, after nearly six years of bloody fighting for Syria’s most populous city and SYRIA’s economic hub that has been the most prized and fiercely contested city throughout the Syrian conflict. As a friendly reminder, since the Syrian army’s assault against rebel held ALEPPO began in late September, RUSSIAN and SYRIAN government bombardments have killed more than 1,000 people, including over 250 children while injuring over 5,000. Now, a ceasefire across SYRIA appears to be holding as its brokers, RUSSIA, TURKEY and IRAN obtained approval of the plan from the UN Security Council overriding all previous failed peace proposals and finally ending the six-year conflict. RUSSIA that has invested much political time and energy in ending the fighting after bombing the opposition relentlessly for the past 15 months started to cut back its forces in SYRIA beginning with an aircraft carrier group as the ceasefire appeared to take hold. Against all odds, the ceasefire continues to hold as peace negotiations are still slated to take place in late January in ASTANA, KAZAKHSTAN although rebel groups have complained of Syrian regime violations since the ceasefire came into force on December 30 and warned that they could boycott the talks if the violations continue. However, the SYRIAN regime says it is going after terrorists who were deliberately excluded from the agreement. In an unusual redirection of strategy, President Barack Obama approved his last major military attack against AL QAEDA whereby more than 100 members of the group were killed in a U.S. airstrike in western SYRIA. The U.S. strike hit a training camp west of ALEPPO, near the Turkish border, whereby a U.S. bomber along with armed drones dropped 14 loads of munitions on the SHAYKH SULAYMAN TRAINING CAMP that has been operational since 2013. U.S. air strikes have now killed over 150 AL-QAEDA fighters since the start of the year.
In my opinion, Turkey’s participation in the military battle against ISIS is a positive addition to the ALLIANCE albeit Turkey’s negative stance against the PKK which in my opinion is currently unwarranted and deteriorating. However, with the recent majority victory by the governing AKP and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, it appears that Turkey’s future is heading for more war and bloodshed. Unfortunately, the governing AKP and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan have chosen the path of war with the PKK as opposed to diplomacy via the KURDISH HDP political party which secured close to 11% during recent Turkish elections. Therefore, in my opinion, the governing AKP and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will learn the hard way that nobody on the outside world looking in is stupid but rather everyone chooses to close their eyes and allow Turkey to continue with its ethnic cleansing campaign of the KURDS in exchange for Turkey signing a deal with the European Union (EU) to stem the flow of refugees arriving in Greece. In exchange for reducing human trafficking and improving living conditions for 2.5 million refugees within its borders, Turkey will receive Euro 3 billion in financial aid in return, the possibility of visa-free travel for its citizens, and a reopening of EU membership talks. In my opinion, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the governing AKP will learn the hard way that the current failed “Coup D’État” exposes the deep discontent within the TURKISH military ranks as the governing AKP and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan persist with their quest to annihilate the HDP and the KURDS as the AKP is converting itself into a majority fascist regime with its house cleaning exercises whereby virtually all dissidents have been fired. In my opinion, the recent European parliament vote to halt TURKEY’s EU accession backed by a resolution condemning the TURKISH government’s disproportionate repressive measures after the failed “Coup D’État” in July was long overdue as TURKEY has demonstrated beyond a shadow of a doubt, with its repressive measures over all opposition, that TURKEY does not share common values, morals, principals, ethics and views as the EU such that TURKEY does not fit into the EU mould. However, in my opinion, TURKEY still represents a major player on the European economic stage such that the EU will nonetheless have to negotiate deals with TURKEY as an independent NON-EU member country regarding the huge refugee crisis. In my opinion, in exchange for reducing human trafficking and improving living conditions for 2.5 million refugees within its borders, TURKEY should only receive Euro 1.5 billion, half of the initial proposed 3 billion, in financial aid along with visa-free travel for its citizens who do not pose any significant risks outside of TURKISH borders. Finally, the wide scale purge led by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his governing AKP de-escalated slightly this week as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan focused his attention on a sweeping bill that will alter the TURKISH constitution and grant broad powers to the president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan which seems to be on track to pass in parliament, paving the way for a historic spring referendum, that could transform the country’s politics and strengthen the governing AKP party until 2029. In my opinion, if these measures are adopted, TURKISH parliament will definitely reinforce the governing AKP as mother, father and executioner of TURKISH society for the next ten plus years. Given President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the governing AKP’s historical track record, they will most probably utilize the amendments to reinforce authoritarian rule although TURKEY could argue that the measures are meant to revise its out-dated constitution that was drafted in 1982 under military rule. The governing AKP will obviously argue that a strong executive will help to prevent having to form fractious coalition governments whose instability and policies in the 1990’s drove TURKEY into deep recession. In my opinion, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the governing AKP have utilized any and all measures at their disposal to silence all opposition in TURKEY following the failed “Coup D’État” in July such that there is a high probability that they will utilize their potential revised powers to further reinforce authoritarian rule in TURKEY. In my opinion, the fact that out of sheer desperation by the opposition parties, AYLIN NAZLIAKA, an independent legislator, handcuffed herself to a microphone on a rostrum in parliament to protest against the reforms indicates that the opposition fears being thrown into oblivion were the reforms ratified and implemented into mainstream TURKISH society. In my opinion, TURKEY seems to be trying to find a way to continue to exercise its authoritarian rule by reforming its constitution to mirror that of FRANCE in theory, as FRANCE also has a strong executive, while bastardizing the application of the principles in practice. Therefore, TURKEY seems to be heading in the direction of EU assimilation whereby it is ready, willing and able to play the game of control via dominant personal, financial and political interests utilizing the underlying laws and regulations in their favour legally although questionable on the grounds of morality.
Moving on to IRAQ, the recent successful attacks on ISIS by IRAQI security forces in MOSUL, has clearly sent the message to ISIS that it is just a matter of time until the ISIS Empire in MOSUL dies. However, the IRAQI led troops on the ground are essentially forced to fight ISIS style, which is slow and brutal for any other type of heavy artillery attack on ISIS, will result in significant collateral damage in terms of human casualties. Unfortunately ISIS has managed to set new rules of war, with complete and utter disregard for the laws of war as promulgated by the GENEVA convention, which is essentially that there are no rules other than the dirtiest player in the game wins. Thus, the world finds itself going backwards to the days of Barbarian, Neanderthal, Self-Centered, Egotistical, Narcissistic, Masochistic, Sadistic, Idiosyncratic, Sociopathic and Psychopathic maniacs. Therefore, the Iraqi forces recapture of most districts in eastern MOSUL with the aim to take full control of the eastern bank of the TIGRIS RIVER that bisects MOSUL from north to south seems to have succeeded thus far as IRAQI special forces appear to have killed most ISIS commanders in eastern MOSUL in battles with IRAQI government forces since the fight first began on October 17, 2016. In regards to the impending launch of attacks on the western side of MOSUL still fully under ISIS control, in my opinion it will be another slow and agonizing process as ISIS fighters will once again blow themselves up like firecrackers along the route rather than surrendering to ALLIANCE force brute. However, in my opinion, assuming that the KURDISH peshmerga, IRAQI army, SHIITE militia and some SUNNI militia forces continue to overlook their differences and stick together, ISIS will inevitably be decimated in IRAQ, although ISIS will likely survive as an incognito terrorist organization throughout the world. In my opinion, with ISIS inevitably nearing its downfall in IRAQ, IRAQI security forces need to be prepared for a different kind of war against ISIS, shifting away from ground offensives to intelligence work and surgical airstrikes to counter an expected move by ISIS away from holding territory and back to a more terrorist role of a dispersed underground terror organization. In my opinion, ISIS is already laying the groundwork for a new terrorist strategy of hiding in remote areas, carrying out attacks in IRAQ and abroad and resorting to organized crime to bankroll future operations.
Moving on to SYRIA, the latest news that the SYRIAN government forces have recaptured the entire former rebel stronghold of east ALEPPO in an offensive that left bodies in the streets and sparked global outrage managed to lead to a ceasefire across SYRIA that appears to still be holding after its brokers, RUSSIA, TURKEY and IRAN obtained approval from the UN Security Council. In my opinion, RUSSIA that invested much political time and energy in ending the fighting after bombing the opposition relentlessly for the past 15 months was the critical player in this ceasefire as RUSSIA managed to control the uncontrollable consisting of President Bashar al-Assad’s forces, Iran and Shiite militias like Lebanon’s Hezbollah whereas TURKEY managed to control the Free Syrian Army (FSA) along with their affiliated rebel factions. Meanwhile, the US after having lost all relevance to the SYRIAN conflict after RUSSIA, President Bashar al-Assad, Iran and Hezbollah expressed zero interest in hearing anything more from the USA who advocated from the outset the removal of President Bashar al-Assad from power as a pre-condition to any negotiations, conducted a major air strike against AL QAEDA in SYRIA. That is, more than 100 members of the AL-QAEDA group were killed in a U.S. airstrike in western SYRIA when the U.S. strike hit the SHAYKH SULAYMAN TRAINING CAMP west of ALEPPO, near the Turkish border. In my opinion, the removal of the SHAYKH SULAYMAN TRAINING CAMP disrupts AL-QAEDA training operations and discourages hardline ISLAMIST and SYRIAN opposition groups from joining or cooperating with AL-QAIDA on the battlefield in the future as over 150 members have been killed since the beginning of 2017. In my opinion, these strikes, conducted in quick succession, degraded AL-QAEDA's capabilities, weakened their resolve and caused significant confusion in their ranks as it came unexpectedly after the U.S. was sidelined by all other major parties in the region from being a major player in future ceasefire negotiations. Therefore, in my opinion, the U.S. made the air strikes because AL-QAEDA was effectively caught with their pants down given that the U.S. air strikes were unexpected. In addition, I believe that the U.S. took this opportunity to send President Bashar al-Assad’s forces the message that the U.S. may have been excluded as a key player from future SYRIAN negotiations but the U.S. reserves the right to strike strategic targets in the region without any consultations with the existing SYRIAN government. In simple English, I believe the U.S. has sent President Bashar al-Assad’s forces the message, “you disrespect us, we disrespect you; you ignore us, we ignore you; you shit on our heads, we shit on yours” as a clear sign that in SYRIA there remain at least two polar opposite sides. Nonetheless, in my opinion, the current situation in ALEPPO is still deplorable as innocent civilians are living in a literal hell on earth as the entire city is covered in blood with diminishing food, necessities and basic supplies while innocent civilians continue to die. Unfortunately, the sporadic fighting that continues to be enflamed, between President Bashar al-Assad’s forces and the FSA, whereby both parties engage in the finger pointing game, is collateral damage after over six years of relentless hate, while spitting directly in each others face, while behaving with complete and utter disrespect and disgrace, that will take decades to replace.
In summary, I refer to “World Peace Lennon Ivan Style – Part 230” as the belief that MOSUL victory is critical to ISIS decimation but SYRIAN ceasefire between ASSAD and FSA also key while U.S. air strikes on AL-QAEDA for ASSAD to see that U.S. will override ASSAD power when need be as sign of mutual disrespect between adversaries.
Spirit of John Lennon – Kurdish Guerrilla Song:
January 22, 2017
Saturday, January 14, 2017
World Peace “Lennon Ivan Style” – Part 229
World Peace “Lennon Ivan Style” – Part 229
As a continuation from my last blog whereby I believe the root of “World
Peace” is centered on peace in the Middle East with the first step being
negotiated peace between Israel and the Palestinians, I would like to remain
objective and independent in my views such that I would like to today bring
Iraq into my views as they seem to be the closest at this time to a full fledge
civil war of rage like wild animals stuck together in a cage. However, it is
important to note that Israel and Palestine seem to be awakening from their
hatred induced coma state with the potential for peace negotiations to be
resumed in the near future in the United States, while Egypt continues to operate
in supremacy domination mode whereby the minority Christian military continues
to hold on to power while the Muslim majority is fuming at the seams hoping to
awaken from this horrible dream. As for the Syrians, both sides are still in
anger induced coma state for the mentally insane such that millions of Syrians
continue to suffer each and every day. In terms of the Russians and Ukrainians,
they seem to have entered into a political war game whereby neither party
wishes to concede but rather seems to prefer to enter into a civil war and
commit dirty deeds. While Israelis, Palestinians, Egyptians, Syrians, Russians
and Ukrainians continue along their respective paths toward enlightenment, it
is now time for the Iraqis to be enlightened as to the path of quelling their
current tensions before any more civil war breaks out which bears the risk of
leading to a third and final world war on this earth, after which, there will
be no place for anyone left to run. In summary, Observers around the world are
stunned by the speed and scope of assaults on every major city in the upper
Tigris River Valley, including Mosul, Iraq’s second-largest city, by the
Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, or ISIS. However, as the ISIS rebels extend
their reach across Iraq, the U.S. Air Force was forced to intervene in order to
prevent Genocide while Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki relinquished power opening
a new political chapter that U.S. officials hope will move Iraq toward a more
unified front against Islamic jihadists currently running wild and literally
beheading “Infidels” like pigs without shedding a tear as blood spills out of
their victims giving everybody creepy chills.
During
the week ending on Sunday, January 15, 2017, TURKEY retreated from their
aggressive siege of CIZRE, SILOPI, DIYARBAKIR and NUSAYBIN, predominantly
KURDISH, which TURKEY had converted into a suburban war zone area as TURKEY was
on the defense as they were subject to an internal military “Coup D’État” that
failed as gunfire and explosions erupted in which 265 people died, 161 of them
civilians, over one month ago. As a result of the failed “Coup D’État”,
Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared a state of emergency, extended
the period during which suspects can be detained without charge to 30 days, closed
more than 1,000 private schools and closed more than 1,200 associations.
Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan continued cleaning house again this
week after nearly three months since the failed “Coup D’État” for which
officials continue to blame the disciples of TURKISH cleric Fethullah
Gulen. A wide scale purge led by
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his governing AKP finally de-escalated slightly
this week as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan focused his attention on the CYPRUS
reunification talks with the participation of TURKISH Cypriot leader
Mustafa Akinci and the President of CYPRUS Nicos Anastasiades which was
held in GENEVA, Switzerland along with the participation of CYPRUS’s
guarantor countries consisting of Greece, Turkey, UK and EU. As a friendly
reminder, the end goal is for GREEK Cypriot and TURKISH Cypriot communities to
share power in a two-state federation. However, any deal would have to win the
support of both GREEK Cypriot and TURKISH Cypriot communities in separate
referendums. While EU diplomats have stated that positive progress was being
made, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that GREECE and the CYPRIOT
government still have different expectations from TURKEY as a full withdrawal
of TURKISH forces from divided CYPRUS is out of the question for TURKEY unless
GREECE also agrees to pull out all of their troops. As a friendly reminder, in
1974 CYPRIOT President, Archbishop Makarios was removed from power in a “Coup
D’État” backed by GREECE's military triggering TURKEY to send their troops to
the island that effectively occupied one third of CYPRUS in the north.
Ironically, Finland’s Foreign Minister Timo Soini who voted to halt TURKEY’s EU
accession, backed by a resolution condemning the TURKISH government’s disproportionate
repressive measures after the failed “Coup D’État”, now seemed to be courting
TURKEY once again. FINLAND now stated that cooperation between the EU and
Turkey would present a win-win scenario for both sides and could result in
better trade, security and prosperity for both FINLAND and TURKEY. Finland further
reiterated that a successful conclusion of the CYPRUS peace talks in
GENEVA would serve as a model that results are obtainable
in relations between TURKEY and the EU and that TURKEY and the EU
should continue working together on the refugee issue, as the absence
of such cooperation would create more problems for both sides.
Moving
on to IRAQ, IRAQI and US-led ALLIANCE forces continued with their offensive
against ISIS on MOSUL. However, ISIS has sent the message to the world that it
will do whatever it takes to defend MOSUL as ISIS has chosen the usage of its
own people as human shields. Nonetheless, IRAQI and ALLIED forces managed to push
ISIS militants back from MOSUL, their last major stronghold in IRAQ, whereby IRAQI
special forces stormed a university complex in northeast MOSUL pushing ISIS
back to reach two more bridges across the critical TIGRIS RIVER although ISIS
militants put up a strong fight along the entire path. Iraqi forces have now
recaptured most districts in eastern MOSUL and aim to take full control of the
eastern bank of the TIGRIS RIVER that bisects MOSUL from north to south before
launching attacks on the western side still fully under ISIS control. The U.S.
led coalition that is backing the offensive with air strikes; training and
advice praised the advances with new tactics employed since the turn of the
year, including night raids and better defences against suicide car bombs,
which have given the MOSUL campaign fresh momentum since the battle first
commenced on October 17. Thus far, IRAQI, KURDISH and ALLIED forces advances have
been impressive on their push to retake MOSUL, ISIS's de facto capital in IRAQ
where as many as 1.5 million people are believed to still remain. However, progress
has been slow as the ALLIANCE forces have faced counterattacks from the ISIS
fighters who deployed hundreds of suicide car bombs, as well as mortars and
snipers and used MOSUL’s million plus residents as human shields.
Unfortunately, ISIS is still a force to be reckoned with, due to its
significant wealth amassed in safe havens abroad, such that although the battle
for MOSUL will likely lead to the end of the ISIS era in IRAQ, the ISIS wealth
abroad will likely lead to ISIS taking the fight to the streets on foreign soil
which will necessitate heightened security measures until kingdom come.
Therefore, the US-led ALLIANCE needs to be on heightened security alerts world
wide as ISIS will look to find any and all possible retributory strikes, the
most savage and barbarian possible, in an attempt to save face from a
humiliating defeat of its MOSUL base.
Moving
on to SYRIA, SYRIAN government forces have retaken full control of ALEPPO,
since the uprising began, after nearly six years of bloody fighting for Syria’s
most populous city and SYRIA’s economic hub that has been the most prized and
fiercely contested city throughout the Syrian conflict. As a friendly reminder,
since the Syrian army’s assault against rebel held ALEPPO began in late
September, RUSSIAN and SYRIAN government bombardments have killed more than
1,000 people, including over 250 children while injuring over 5,000. Now, a
ceasefire across SYRIA appears to be holding as its brokers, RUSSIA, TURKEY and
IRAN obtained approval of the plan from the UN Security Council overriding all
previous failed peace proposals and finally ending the six-year conflict. RUSSIA
that has invested much political time and energy in ending the fighting after
bombing the opposition relentlessly for the past 15 months started to cut back
its forces in SYRIA beginning with an aircraft carrier group as the ceasefire
appeared to take hold. Against all odds, the ceasefire continues to hold as
peace negotiations are slated to take place in late January in ASTANA,
KAZAKHSTAN although rebel groups have complained of Syrian regime violations
since the ceasefire came into force on December 30 and warned that they could
boycott the talks if the violations continue. However, the SYRIAN regime says
it is going after terrorists who were deliberately excluded from the agreement.
In an unusual redirection of strategy, TURKEY has now advised that the US will
be invited to the fresh SYRIA peace talks being organised by RUSSIA and TURKEY
this month but Russia declined to confirm the invitation. In addition,
President Bashar al-Assad accused Israel of bombing a key airbase near the
capital of DAMASCUS condemning the incident as a desperate attempt to support
terrorist organisations. Israel has largely been spared any spill over from
SYRIA's war but it has voiced concern with the role played by Hezbollah, the
guerrilla group with which Israel has fought multiple wars, most recently in
2006. According to Israeli breaking, the airport was bombed because it was a suspected
holding ammunition depots for Hezbollah. Israeli defence officials have voiced
concern that Hezbollah's experience in the Syrian civil war, where it has
played a significant role and recently helped the Syrian army regain the
eastern sector of the city of Aleppo, has strengthened it.
In
my opinion, Turkey’s participation in the military battle against ISIS is a positive
addition to the ALLIANCE albeit Turkey’s negative stance against the PKK which
in my opinion is currently unwarranted and deteriorating. However, with the
recent majority victory by the governing AKP and President Recep Tayyip
Erdogan, it appears that Turkey’s future is heading for more war and bloodshed.
Unfortunately, the governing AKP and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan have chosen
the path of war with the PKK as opposed to diplomacy via the KURDISH HDP
political party which secured close to 11% during recent Turkish elections.
Therefore, in my opinion, the governing AKP and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
will learn the hard way that nobody on the outside world looking in is stupid
but rather everyone chooses to close their eyes and allow Turkey to continue
with its ethnic cleansing campaign of the KURDS in exchange for Turkey signing
a deal with the European Union (EU) to stem the flow of refugees arriving in
Greece. In exchange for reducing human trafficking and improving living
conditions for 2.5 million refugees within its borders, Turkey will receive
Euro 3 billion in financial aid in return, the possibility of visa-free travel
for its citizens, and a reopening of EU membership talks. In my opinion,
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the governing AKP will learn the hard way
that the current failed “Coup D’État” exposes the deep discontent within the
TURKISH military ranks as the governing AKP and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
persist with their quest to annihilate the HDP and the KURDS as the AKP is
converting itself into a majority fascist regime with its house cleaning
exercises whereby virtually all dissidents have been fired. In my opinion, the
recent European parliament vote to halt TURKEY’s EU accession backed by a
resolution condemning the TURKISH government’s disproportionate repressive
measures after the failed “Coup D’État” in July was long overdue as TURKEY has
demonstrated beyond a shadow of a doubt, with its repressive measures over all
opposition, that TURKEY does not share common values, morals, principals,
ethics and views as the EU such that TURKEY does not fit into the EU mould.
However, in my opinion, TURKEY still represents a major player on the European
economic stage such that the EU will nonetheless have to negotiate deals with
TURKEY as an independent NON-EU member country regarding the huge refugee
crisis. In my opinion, in exchange for reducing human trafficking and improving
living conditions for 2.5 million refugees within its borders, TURKEY should
only receive Euro 1.5 billion, half of the initial proposed 3 billion, in
financial aid along with visa-free travel for its citizens who do not pose any
significant risks outside of TURKISH borders. Finally, the wide scale purge led
by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his governing AKP de-escalated slightly this
week as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan focused his attention on the CYPRUS
reunification peace talks in GENEVA. As a friendly reminder, the CYPRUS
reunification deal has been lingering since 2004 when Cyprus, still divided,
joined the EU, after a UN peace plan was backed by TURKISH Cypriots but
rejected by the GREEK Cypriots. However, in my opinion, there once again
appears to be a glimmer of hope for a solution for CYPRUS as President Recep
Tayyip Erdogan tries to divert attention from his wide scale purge following
the failed “Coup D’État”. In my opinion, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has
cleaned house in TURKEY such that there is no opposition left to punish other
than paraplegic dissenters for which the TURKISH government does not have the
necessary facilities to incarcerate. Therefore, TURKEY can now turn the page
and focus on other domestic issues, namely future relations with the EU as
FINLAND has clearly stated that the EU and TURKEY should continue working
together on the refugee issue, as the absence of such
cooperation would create more problems for both sides. In my opinion,
regardless of whether or not the EU agrees with TURKISH internal and domestic
policies, TURKEY is a major player in the region such that TURKEY still
continues to have the muscle to impact EU policies and procedures as personal,
financial and political interests continue to rule of which TURKEY still holds
a significant portion. Therefore, TURKEY may continue with their autocratic
rule internally but TURKEY understands very well the EU method of operation as
well whereby money talks and shit walks. Thus, to the extent TURKEY still
controls a significant amount of the regions interests, TURKEY cannot be
ignored but rather will need to be slightly conformed. In my opinion, the EU
will attempt to conform TURKEY into the EU fold by convincing TURKEY that there
is no need for such a harsh autocratic rule since the TURKISH AKP holds the
cash such that the AKP can subdue the opposition to resource limitation brass.
That is, everyone in TURKEY can be given freedom of choice and speech while
limiting their resource availabilities such that to the extent they starve, they
will not pose any risk to the AKP regime desires.
Moving
on to IRAQ, the recent successful attacks on ISIS by IRAQI security forces in
MOSUL, has clearly sent the message to ISIS that it is just a matter of time
until the ISIS Empire in MOSUL dies. However, the IRAQI led troops on the
ground are essentially forced to fight ISIS style, which is slow and brutal for
any other type of heavy artillery attack on ISIS, will result in significant
collateral damage in terms of human casualties. Unfortunately ISIS has managed
to set new rules of war, with complete and utter disregard for the laws of war
as promulgated by the GENEVA convention, which is essentially that there are no
rules other than the dirtiest player in the game wins. Thus, the world finds
itself going backwards to the days of Barbarian,
Neanderthal, Self-Centered, Egotistical, Narcissistic, Masochistic, Sadistic,
Idiosyncratic, Sociopathic and Psychopathic maniacs. Therefore, the Iraqi forces recapture of
most districts in eastern MOSUL with the aim to take full control of the
eastern bank of the TIGRIS RIVER that bisects MOSUL from north to south before
launching attacks on the western side still fully under ISIS control seems to
be progressing slowly but surely. Therefore, the IRAQI and ALLIANCE forces
deserve a moment of praise as they have effectively managed to have ISIS’s hell
raised. That is, the IRAQI and ALLIANCE forces have managed to beat ISIS at
their own game by resorting to more street fighting methods such as night-time
bombing campaigns and suicide pre-emptive blasts to cut-off the head off the
ISIS snake before ISIS can release its dreaded venomous poisonous sting of
blood bath massacre wrath. However, in
my opinion, assuming
that the KURDISH peshmerga, IRAQI army, SHIITE militia and some SUNNI militia
forces continue to overlook their differences and stick together, ISIS will
inevitably be decimated in IRAQ, although ISIS will likely survive as an
incognito terrorist organization throughout the world. In my opinion, with ISIS
inevitably nearing its downfall in IRAQ, IRAQI security forces need to be
prepared for a different kind of war against ISIS, shifting away from ground
offensives to intelligence work and surgical airstrikes to counter an expected
move by ISIS away from holding territory and back to a more terrorist role of a
dispersed underground terror organization. In my opinion, ISIS is already laying
the groundwork for a new terrorist strategy of hiding in remote areas, carrying
out attacks in IRAQ and abroad and resorting to organized crime to bankroll future
operations.
Moving
on to SYRIA, the latest news that the SYRIAN government forces have recaptured the
entire former rebel stronghold of east ALEPPO in an offensive that left bodies
in the streets and sparked global outrage managed to lead to a ceasefire across
SYRIA that appears to still be holding after its brokers, RUSSIA, TURKEY and
IRAN obtained approval from the UN Security Council. In my opinion, RUSSIA that
invested much political time and energy in ending the fighting after bombing
the opposition relentlessly for the past 15 months was the critical player in
this ceasefire as RUSSIA managed to control the uncontrollable consisting of President
Bashar al-Assad’s forces, Iran and Shiite militias like Lebanon’s Hezbollah
whereas TURKEY managed to control the Free Syrian Army (FSA) along with their
affiliated rebel factions. Meanwhile, the US lost all relevance to the SYRIAN
conflict as RUSSIA, President Bashar al-Assad, Iran and Hezbollah have zero
interest in hearing anything more from the USA who advocated from the outset
the removal of President Bashar al-Assad from power as a pre-condition to any
negotiations. However, now that TURKEY has advised that the US will be invited
to the fresh SYRIA peace talks, although Russia declined to confirm the
invitation, TURKEY has signalled that the US still has significant political
clout in the region to participate in peace talks as a more passive observer as
it is clear to me that RUSSIA and TURKEY are now the active negotiators. In my
opinion, RUSSIA and TURKEY have the greatest probability for success in
brokering a sustainable long-term solution to the SYRIAN crisis such that the
US should accept its secondary role as passive observer and give RUSSIA and
TURKEY the green light to proceed forward expeditiously further. In regards to ISRAEL,
that has largely been spared any spill over from SYRIA's war, bombing the airport
in DAMASCUS because ISRAEL claimed it was a suspected holding ammunition depots
for HEZBOLLAH may have been slightly premature. In my opinion ISRAEL has been
closely monitoring the activities of its arch nemesis HEZBOLLAH such that
ISRAEL’s intelligence agency is probably right in its assessment that the
airport was being used as a holding ammunition depots for HEZBOLLAH. However,
in my opinion, it was not demonstrated, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that
HEZBOLLAH was planning to use these weapons for purposes of striking ISRAEL directly
in the future such that it is debatable whether these strikes by ISRAEL may have
been premature or alternatively a deliberate warning to HEZBOLLAH from ISRAEL
whereby every step HEZBOLLAH takes, every move HEZBOLLAH makes, ISRAEL will be
watching HEZBOLLAH. Nonetheless, in my opinion, the current situation in ALEPPO
is still deplorable as innocent civilians are living in a literal hell on earth
as the entire city is covered in blood with diminishing food, necessities and
basic supplies while innocent civilians continue to die. Unfortunately, the
sporadic fighting that continues to be enflamed, between President Bashar
al-Assad’s forces and the FSA, whereby both parties engage in the finger
pointing game, is collateral damage after over six years of relentless hate,
while spitting directly in each others face, while behaving with complete and
utter disrespect and disgrace, that will take decades to replace.
In
summary, I refer to “World Peace Lennon Ivan Style – Part 229” as the belief
that ISIS is evil such that the MOSUL victory is critical to ISIS decimation
but SYRIAN ceasefire between ASSAD and
FSA also critical to hold while ISRAEL strikes on HEZBOLLAH weapons depots need
to be limited and controlled to avoid spill over wars.
Spirit of John Lennon – Kurdish Guerrilla Song:
January 15, 2017
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