Guess John Bolton reminded OPCW's head again that he knew where their kids lived.

https://www.businessinsider.com/john...18-3?r=US&IR=T

Strange that you refuse to accept Internal OPCW details internally. Hell even the US claim of latest Chemical Weapons attack isn't even been supported by MI6 funded White Helmets.

Already proven how US has intimidated OPCW in the past, how did the WMD hunt go in Iraq ?

Of course many will refuse to accept anything, but whatever they've already considered as "the truth". Just imagine, that would be the acknowledgement of our own failure. That ain't gonna happen.

I think "Cognitive Dissonance" is the term.

After you start to question the official narratives, just buckle your seatbelt Dorothy, 'case Kansas is going bye-bye!

https://www.theguardian.com/world/20...kurdish-allies

US to let Turkish forces move into Syria, abandoning Kurdish allies

White House reveals sudden shift in policy, which follows conversation between Donald Trump and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan

The White House has given the green light to a Turkish offensive into northern Syria, moving US forces out of the area in an abrupt foreign policy change that will in effect abandon Washington’s long-time allies, the Kurds.

Kurdish forces have spearheaded the campaign against Isis in the region, but the policy swerve, following a phone conversation between Donald Trump and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Sunday, means Turkey would take custody of captured Isis fighters, the White House said. It represents the latest in a series of erratic moves by Trump, fighting impeachment at home, apparently taken without consultation with, or knowledge of, US diplomats dealing with Syria.

Ruben Gallego, an Iraq war veteran and Democratic congressman from Arizona, said on Twitter: “Allowing Turkey to move into northern Syria is one of the most destabilizing moves we can do in the Middle East. The Kurds will never trust America again. They will look for new alliances or independence to protect themselves.”......

Two weeks ago, at the UN general assembly, the US special envoy for the global coalition to defeat Isis, Jim Jeffrey, stressed that the US had an agreement with Turkey on a safe zone, in recognition of Ankara’s security concerns, that obviated the need for an Turkish incursion.

“We listen to the Turks’ concerns. We try to respond to them when we can,” Jeffrey said. “And we have made it clear to Turkey at every level that any unilateral operation is not going to lead to an improvement in anyone’s security – not Turkey’s, not the people in the north-east, not the people around the world who feel threatened by Daesh [Isis], which is the basic purpose for our US military being in the north-east in the first place.”

The USA at least gave asylum to the Montagnards when they pulled out of Vietnam, I wonder how many Kurds will be given the same offer.

The Kurds operating in NE Syria are opportunists of the highest order. They displaced most of the Syrian Arab population (in 2010 Kurds made up 7% of the population - now it is +70%) and have been actively supporting their sister terrorist organisation - the PKK - in south eastern Turkey. They have actively courting the brutal al-Assad regime and been butt-snorkling the Russians.

Turkey has very real security concerns along their southern border - which the US (principally CENTCOM) have, at best, paid lip service to. Turkey's greatest fear has been the establishment of a contiguous Kurdish Canton from NW Iran, across northern Iraq and then along Turkey's border with Syria - and ultimately, to the Mediterranean. This would have established "Kurdistan' as a de facto state. The only thing that would unite Iran, Iran and Turkey in any sense is their implacable opposition to a Kurdish state. KRG was about the limit in Northern Iraq, but their referendum two years ago out paid to their uppity behaviour.

Of course, it's not the first time the US have abandoned the Kurds in the region. The Treaty of Sevres 1919 proposed the establishment of a Kurdistan under a US Mandate. Post war Isolationism (like now) killed off that bright idea.

Now, how are the US going to recover the thousands of tons of weapons they issued the YPG* over the last four years - as they promised Turkey they would do?

* short for Yanks Provide Guns.

Here's an a recent article in the independent Al Monitor about the issue of disarming the YPG. Metin Gurcan (retired Turkish SF Colonel) can be a bit sensationalist on occasions but this is a balanced article.

https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/ori...isarm-ypg.html

Finally. What was the point of the US in Syria ?

The work against IS/Al Qaeda and their assorted friends was done by Syrian army. The Pentagon's own stats of aircraft on missions showed they did sweet bugger all as the US was worried about civilian casualties. Strange Mosul is still destroyed and there was no concern there.

Obama and his deep state friends wanted a war to keep their friends happy. The death toll in lives means nothing as others wanted it to happen and bankrolling it.

The don't recover Idlib as the SFA / Al Qaeda etc etc have their base their has done little for safety over the last 5 years. Let the Syrians with their allies recover their country, pretty clear the overwhelming majority of the population still support Assad.

Saudi's now realise that nobody cares about them and they have a military that is getting its butt kicked in Yemen from a population they trying to starve into submission. The $200 billion they have spent is gone with their enemies now more powerful than before. Saudi's now realising, talk to Iran, open up or face extinction.

It is easy to see why the Intelligence agencies hate Trump. He refuses to bow down and let American blood be spilt so some faceless "Intelligence officer" and their arms dealers friends make billions while same people extoll freedom and democracy, neither of which they believe.

Trump is cleaning up Obama's / HRC mess so expect him to be dammed for it.

Hell I AGREE with racedo.

!

Is it any wonder the lengths that the US equivalent of our establishment is going to to try and eliminate Trump before the next elections?

Because if he is still around [I hope he is] then he will walk the election by doing something unheard of for modern politicians-keeping his promises.

wow, so many issues...

A lengthy, comprehensive, balanced view from a US author ranging many interwoven issues throughout the Middle East.
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/artic.../unwanted-wars

“… some Gulf states - the UAE chief among them - have taken tentative steps to reach out to Iran in an effort to reduce tensions. They saw the growing risks of the regional crisis spinning out of control and recognized its potential costs. Washington should, too, before it is too late.” 2 Oct 2019.

Believing US is willing to have US Blood staining sands in the Gulf made GCC big men. Now they realising not an ounce of US Blood is going to get spilled so either start talking or fighting. Course they could start fighting and kill 10,000 Iranian military, Iran could do the same numbers on them but Iran has the population numbers, the others do not plus Iranian people have lived with sanctions and other stuff for 40 years, they are used to hardship, not so Gulf countries.

Dubai / Qatar are one drone attack away from destruction of tourism industry plus if their expats start exiting they cease to function.

GCC can look to Russia / China but they not going to play ball.

No great surprise that White House wants to cull numbers from NSC, they have been leaking and openly supported Mad Hatter Bolton in his attempts to forment war.

What is going on in US is an attempted Coup, point is that not all of those seemingly against Trump are in favour of it because they understand that it will tear US apart. 2020 is going to define US this century.

Trump is not a politician and could unpick the swamp which would be good for the US and everybody else.

Regarding cleaning the Swamp....looks like so far he has only exchanged the alligators for crocodiles.

Maybe / Maybe not.

What he has done is identify the way US Establishment in Washington (and elsewhere) is allied with Media / Tech / Intelligence agendas to pursue their agenda at the expense of the American people. It is funny when you see the people who are always out challenging the establishment co opting themselves quickly to the establishment because they believe the media. They will ultimately win because they have the tentacles everywhere BUT they are forgetting the world is moving on while Washington burns.

The resemblance to the ultimate destruction of the Roman empire shows that all empires fail from within.

.........I'm also told that Turkish attack appears coordinated with the Russians. Russian-backed forces are mobilizing to invade the Kurdish area from the south — towards Tabqa and other spots. Meanwhile, ISIS is mobilizing sleeper cells in Raqqa and attacks have taken place tonight.