Russia’s intervention in Syria – a reality-based evaluation

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It has been over one month since the Russians launched their military and political operation in Syria and the time for hyperbole and flag waving has clearly passed.  Gone are the “most anticipated showdown in recent history” along with rumors of MiG-31s, Russian paratroopers, “thousands” of military personnel, ballistic submarines and other such nonsense.   And, contrary to what some wrote, none of what happened was “coordinated with the White House”.  What I propose to do today is to evaluate what has really has happened and to look at the Russian options for the future.  But first, a short restatement of what really took place.

Week Five of the Russian Intervention in Syria: The Russians Are Digging in

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This column was originally written for the Unz Review: http://www.unz.com/tsaker/week-three-of-the-russian-intervention-in-syria/

Whether this tragedy was directly linked to the war in Syria or not, there is no doubt that the downing of Kogalymavia Flight 9268 was the main event of the past week. Since I have covered this issueelsewhere, I shall not return to it in detail again here. I will just repeat here my personal conclusion that this tragedy will not impact the Russian operation in Syria or affect the political situation inside Russia. As for the cause of the tragedy, there are increasing indications that both western and Russian security services have come to a tentative conclusion that it was, indeed, a bomb. On Friday, the head of the Federal Security Service has recommended canceling all flights to Egypt and the evacuation of all the Russian citizens in Egypt (roughly 70,000 people). Several EU countries have also taken similar measures.

The Fallacy Of Erdogan-Style Democracy (updated version)

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by Ghassan Kadi

Erdogan’s AKP party has scored a monumental victory; not so much in terms of the lead in parliament though. As a matter of fact, it is a fairly narrow victory, but one that was least expected. What is monumental about it is the course that Turkey has set itself upon.

A victory for Erdogan perhaps, but for Turkey itself, the outcome of this election will probably take years and even decades until it becomes clear what the results truly meant for Turkey’s future and wellbeing.

The Moscow-Beijing Express on The Saker: Russian Black Hat-Chinese White Hat

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Their styles are 180 degrees apart, but together, as towering giants on the world’s geopolitical stage, Putin and Xi are slowly winning all the chips from Western Empire, for a new, fairer and more peaceful world. (Image by David Parkins)

Russian Black Hat-Chinese White Hat

The Moscow-Beijing Express on The Saker

By: Jeff J. Brown, author and analyst at 44 Days Radio Sinoland

Video reading at: https://youtu.be/ucXA6cQ1nyI

Audio podcast at: https://soundcloud.com/44-days/russian-black-hat-chinese-white-hat-moscow-beijing-express-on-the-saker-by-jeff-j-brown-151031

If you have not read Russian President Vladimir Putin’s October, 2015 Valdai speech and subsequent question and answer session, you are missing out on a real treat.http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/50548 He has essentially been saying the same thing for years, going back at least as far as his hard hitting Munich speech, in February, 2007.https://vimeo.com/38311242 In the interim, at the annual United Nations General Assembly speeches and previous Valdai talks, President Putin has come out four square against Western colonialism and global empire.

Ukraine SITREP, November 3rd 2015 by the Saker

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It has been a very long while since I have posted a Ukrainian SITREP and there are good reasons for that: nothing much has happened there, at least nothing nearly as dramatic as the developments in the past.  In fact, ever since the crisis in Syria has taken center stage in US foreign policy preoccupations, the Ukraine appears to have been almost forgotten.  Did anybody even notice that local elections have taken place there recently?  Or that they were the most marred by every conceivable form of cheating and irregularities imaginable?

I don’t think so.

Check out top 12 Ways To Maintain A Healthy Kidney !

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The kidneys are essential organs which are expected to keep up sound living. As of now, about 1 new case of kidney disappointment is seen day by day in any outpatient center in Nigeria with a few facilities seeing more than 3 new cases each day. Living with unending kidney ailments creates a big financial burden on patients in view of the need at least 3 sessions of hemodialysis every day, drugs administered amid every session, way of life adjustment, change in eating regimen and the expense and burden of having a kidney transplant. A lot of patients have kicked the bucket of kidney sickness and have been burdens to care givers and the general public however this can be stayed away from by avoiding certain ways of life that harms the kidneys.

Continue bellow..

Fatal Accident at Maitama Junction In Abuja Nigeria (Pics)

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Was not a good day today at Maitama Junction In Abuja Nigeria Today, There was a "fatal accident" at the junction Today which many people were injured albeit No life was lost at the scene of the Accident, we express gratitude toward Eledumare for that, see photographs from the Scene of the Accident at "Maitama Junction In Abuja" Below.

Kidnapper Nabbed In Owerri After Withdrawing Ransom From Bank

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A suspected criminal who abducted a young man in Imo state has met his Waterloo subsequent to setting off to the bank to cash in on the ransom money. 

Nicholas Nwabueze, 22, is a customer of Ifeoma Olewu, the mother of Somtochukwu, 2. On the 27th of October, 2015, went to her shop, Zone 4, World Bank Area, New Owerri, Imo State to buy something. Be that as it may, he saw Chukwu leaving their compound while Ifeoma was inside the shop.

He immediately kidnapped him and requested a payoff of N500,000 which was paid the following day. He however kept the kid in his guardianship, hoping to release him after cashing the money. He just succeeded in pulling back N120,000 through the ATM machine.

After that, the machine stopped dispensing and he was compelled to go inside the bank to inquire as to why. It was in that process that he was captured. He later admitted that he wanted to obtain cash from the folks since the kid's dad lives in China

Naija latest news

Lobatan: My Daughter Doesn’t Need A Lover, I Satisfy Her Sexually’

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By Esther Onyegbula
A 44-year-old man from Ini Local government area of Akwa Ibom state who has been allegedly defiling his daughter has revealed that he sees nothing wrong with having carnal knowledge with his biological daughter.

Top 10 Weird Looking Sharks You May Not Know Exist !

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Naija Gist  
There are more than 440 types of sharks in the whole world, and that is just tallying what researchers have officially found. There may be a lot more that people may not know of, particularly down in the depths of the sea where nobody can entirely explore at this time. Some of these sharks that we know of are as of now really odd looking, similar to the Hammerhead, yet there are a lot more out there that will stun you with their appearance. Here are ten odd looking sharks to explore.

10) Japanese Wobbegong (Orectolobus japonicas)

The Japanese Wobbegong is a ay like animal species with folds of skins, known as barbels, dangling from the mouth. These empower the shark to taste and feel. The Wobbegong is found generally within the Philippines, and is common with being an efficent hunter.

9) Megamouth Shark

Found in 1976, the Megamouth Shark rarely been spotted by mankind. It is really rare ocean shark that picked up its name from the goliath mouth, which houses 50 rows of small hooked teeth.

8) The Australian Ghost Shark

The Australian Ghost Shark, also called the Elephant Shark, is just around 4 feet long, and is perceived effectively in light of the fact that it grows slowly.It can likewise be recognized by the trunk-like compartment  on its snout.

Week Four of the Russian Intervention in Syria: assessing the Vienna declaration

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I would argue that, at least so far, Russia has achieved many important goal in her intervention in Syria.  Most importantly, the Russian intervention in Syria forced the USA to agree to a conference in which all the regional actors, including Iran, would be invited.  At the end of its proceedings the conference adopted a joint statement which is fully reposted here: 

I believe that this statement represents a major diplomatic defeat for the USA and yet another Russian diplomatic victory.  Here some points which have been agreed upon (with relevant section of the declaration indicated in brackets):

Annuity Settlements: Top 4 Things to take note of !

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What is annuity settlement? The best answer to this inquiry can truly help you in making a decent measure of cash for yourself with the assistance of different venture arrangements and settlements. Annuity settlement is for the most part an assention in which the organization pays a specific amount of money to the person for a specific period of time. There are some vital documents also that are required in such sort of projects and they are: an annuity application, an annuity approach or police, a task and an agreement. The funds are principally made to a person as installments

Yemen Libya Egypt Israel SITREP October 31st, 2015 by John Rambo

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Yemen:

• Yemen has never been a stable country, even prior to the Arab Spring.

• Currently the war is between the Houthis (supported by Iran) in the north against Hadi-loyalists (supported by Saudi-Arabia and co.) in the south and ISIL/AQAP in the east.

• The Arab Spring allowed Houthi Shias in the north of Yemen to mobilize just like the rest of the region.

• Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) has always been active in Yemen. The attack on the USS Cole was by the Yemeni based Al-Qaeda. [Source]

Syria SITREP October 31st, 2015 by John Rambo

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The Middle East Wars

The Middle East is once again swept up in wars. Not since the early 80s has the Middle East experienced such a wide array of conflicts. Not only do we have the mother of all proxy wars in Syria but also a slew of campaigns and operations dotting the entire region and greater area from tribal skirmishes to transnational conflicts.

In tangent with the Syrian crisis is the Iraqi civil war, which has been continuous since the fall of the Saddam’s Iraq by US forces. Modern Iraq has rarely known peace. From the Iran-Iraq war, the two gulf wars, and now this never ending civil war. These conflicts have warped Iraq on multiple levels. The ghost of the Iraqi army is what we know as ISIL today. [Source]

There is the Yemen war which pits multiple belligerents in another Iran-Saudi proxy war between Houthi Yemenis (who are predominantly Shia but have large Sunni support) against the old and ousted Hadi-loyalist Yemeni government. Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State are also prominent in this fight.

Russian Strikes Destroy 1,600 Terrorist Targets in Syria Since Sept. 30

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The Russian air group in Syria has carried out 1,391 sorties over the past month, the General Staff said Friday.
Since the beginning of its operation in Syria on September 30, Russian Aerospace Forces have carried out 1,391 sorties in Syria, destroying a total of 1,623 terrorist targets, the Russian General Staff said Friday.

In particular, Russian warplanes destroyed 249 Islamic State command posts, 51 training camps, and 131 depots, Andrey Kartapolov, head of the Russian General Staff Main Operations Directorate said.

Kartapolov added that Islamic State has retained positions in a number of areas, having turned them into fortified zones complete with underground tunnels and shelters.

Latin America SITREP October 28th, 2015 by Jack

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1) Latin American Left: the Pink Tide: 1999-present?
Two recent pieces on the status and prospects of the progressive governments, social movements and multilateral institutions collectively known as the ‘Pink Tide’.
Raúl Zibechi: Taking stock of ‘Progresismo’ in Latin America [source]
Immanuel Wallerstein: The Latin American Left Moves Rightward [source]
(NB I have the utmost respect for both these writers, but the optimist in me has to say that it is surely too early to mark the high water of the ‘Pink Tide’.)

Putin blasts the US at the Valdai Club Conference

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As always, the Kremlin translation service is pathetically slow in translating Putin’s speeches.  In the first half already published, there are some amazingly blunt statements by Putin.  See for yourself:

Today, unfortunately, we have again come across similar situations. Attempts to promote a model of unilateral domination, as I have said on numerous occasions, have led to an imbalance in the system of international law and global regulation, which means there is a threat, and political, economic or military competition may get out of control.

What, for instance, could such uncontrolled competition mean for international security? A growing number of regional conflicts, especially in ‘border’ areas, where the interests of major nations or blocs meet. This can also lead to the probable downfall of the system of non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (which I also consider to be very dangerous), which, in turn, would result in a new spiral of the arms race.

We have already seen the appearance of the concept of the so-called disarming first strike, including one with the use of high-precision long-range non-nuclear weapons comparable in their effect to nuclear weapons.

Big meeting in Moscow !

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Big meeting in Moscow:

By now everybody has seen the photo of Putin and Assad shaking hands.  What has received less attention is whom Assad actually met.

Putin, of course.  And Lavrov and Shoigu.  They spoke for a total of three hours.  Then  Medvedevjoined them for a private dinner.   Guess who else joined them?  Mikhail Fradkov, Head of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service, and Nikolai Patrushev, Head of the Russian Security Council.

Guys, this is most definitely a power-meeting my any standard, something which only happens very very rarely in the presence of a foreign head of state (only Xi had that kind of access, if I remember correctly).  And that tells me that majo

WikiLeaks Releases CIA Director John Brennan's Hacked Email Contents

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WikiLeaks obtained and released the hacked contents of CIA director John Brennan's AOL account on Wednesday.

The organization released a statement saying:

"Today, 21 October 2015 and over the coming days WikiLeaks is releasing documents from one of CIA chief John Brennan's non-government email accounts.  Brennan used the account occasionally for several intelligence related projects."

Week Two of the Russian Military Intervention in Syria Options for Daesh, the Empire and Russia

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This column was originally written for the Unz Review: http://www.unz.com/tsaker/week-two-of-the-russian-military-intervention-in-syria/

The Russian offensive in Syria is still very much in full swing and it is hard to make sense of what is really happening or how effective it has been. According to the Syrians, 40% of all the infrastructure of “Daesh” (meaning ISIS+al-Qaeda+all the hundreds of smaller groups fighting together against the Syrian government) has been destroyed. Russian sources are less enthusiastic and speak of a rather slow and hesitant Syrian offensive. So far, no major victory has been reported, but since all sides agree that the Russian air campaign is devastatingly effective and highly disruptive for Daesh, I think that there is a good probability that the Syrians will soon achieve a major success. If not, then the Iranians most definitely have the capability to truly tip the balance. So this might be a good time to look at what options Daesh will have.