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.
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