Aleppo

[MD]

Aleppo has fallen to Assad-Iran-Russia coalition.

I think this is a huge victory for Assad, Iran and especially Russia. Assad has tremendous momentum now and there are really no rebels that can stand up to him except for the jihadists. More and more rebels will join Al Nusra and ISIS now, as they see no other option. The secular rebels are gone and the moderate Islamists will become jihadists. I predict the Kurds will eventually side with Assad as Turkey is strongly propping up the rebels.

So we are looking at Assad vs jihadists, and the West has to choose between supporting jihadists or doing nothing. If Western leaders support the fanatics, it will basically push more Westerners towards the Right and prop up more Right wing populist leaders. These leaders are partial to Russia and some of them are supported by Russia.

If the West does nothing, Russia will push even further into other geopolitical arenas, possible the Baltics. Trump may concede on this, since he's not a huge fan of NATO himself.

What we are witnessing is not only Russia reclaiming some geopolitical power, but also a huge hit to the political establishment in the West. A hit that could possible change the West forever.

What do you think?

 

[sovietchild]

Syrian militants burn evacuation buses, activists say, endangering Aleppo deal

Aleppo evacuation efforts falter as Islamist fighters burn convoy of rescue buses

“You pigs are here to help Shiites. You won’t leave alive,” a man is heard saying off camera in one of the video clips. Although the identity of the attackers was not clear, reports suggested that they had the backing of Jabhat Fatah al-Sham, an al-Qaeda-linked Sunni group with significant influence in Idlib.

 

[`mud]

distortedly sad !!

 

[Jumi]

If the West does nothing, Russia will push even further into other geopolitical arenas, possible the Baltics. Trump may concede on this, since he's not a huge fan of NATO himself.

What do you mean by "push"? An invasion? That's unlikely to happen despite all the drumming and posturing in the media and by Obama.

What we are witnessing is not only Russia reclaiming some geopolitical power, but also a huge hit to the political establishment in the West. A hit that could possible change the West forever.

What do you think?

I think the change to the so-called West was sealed with the invasion of Iraq. It was bound to be a disaster. The best choice would be for the West to ally with Russia.

 

[Rapha]

Its simply the globalists making sure that their book of lies, the Bible, come true. Now that Damascus is successfully a ruinous heap and Russia has set up camp around Israel, the globalists can now put their Anti-Christ into power.

Next the old temple of Jerusalem will be bombed because the AC wants his little New World Temple for his One World Order.

 

[jeager106]

Its simply the globalists making sure that their book of lies, the Bible, come true. Now that Damascus is successfully a ruinous heap and Russia has set up camp around Israel, the globalists can now put their Anti-Christ into power.

Next the old temple of Jerusalem will be bombed because the AC wants his little New World Temple for his One World Order.

A prophecy?
Might well be a prophecy about to become reality.
Thoughts?
Who or what would be the A.C.?

I think most of humanity doesn't understand that the entire world
could be plunged into chaos in just a few weeks.
Trade and economies could be ruined in quick order.
Don't mean to sound all doom and gloom but it does sound all
doom and gloom.
Doesn't have to be a WWIII, doesn't have to be nuclear. Just confusion,
distrust, interruption of goods and services and then............PANIC.
Should things go to ka-ka that badly I suspect the U.S. of A. with a
gun or more in nearly every household will quickly become a killing
ground.
ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww
How's that for a nightmare come true?

 

[Kuzcotopia]

Aleppo has fallen to Assad-Iran-Russia coalition.

I think this is a huge victory for Assad, Iran and especially Russia. Assad has tremendous momentum now and there are really no rebels that can stand up to him except for the jihadists. More and more rebels will join Al Nusra and ISIS now, as they see no other option. The secular rebels are gone and the moderate Islamists will become jihadists. I predict the Kurds will eventually side with Assad as Turkey is strongly propping up the rebels.

So we are looking at Assad vs jihadists, and the West has to choose between supporting jihadists or doing nothing. If Western leaders support the fanatics, it will basically push more Westerners towards the Right and prop up more Right wing populist leaders. These leaders are partial to Russia and some of them are supported by Russia.

If the West does nothing, Russia will push even further into other geopolitical arenas, possible the Baltics. Trump may concede on this, since he's not a huge fan of NATO himself.

What we are witnessing is not only Russia reclaiming some geopolitical power, but also a huge hit to the political establishment in the West. A hit that could possible change the West forever.

What do you think?

According to John McCain, Russia's playing a weak hand brilliantly. But I don't think Putin realized what's in the poker pot he's just raked in.

We have to concede, and let it go. Russia wants to get itself into the quagmire, I say let it.

I guarantee that the Russians have some elaborate drawn out series of scenarios the consolidate power in the Middle East. Been there, done that. Bush Jr. And the neocons had the "roadmap to peace in the Middle East" if you're old enough to remember that hogwash.

If Putin does have a similar long term plan. . . Well, he'll have no better luck than we did. ISIS factions have an Armageddon worldview, and are simple not reasonable, or capable of compromise. They're in for a decade long occupation of Syria that will cost them billions.

It's a damn shame either way, and as a liberal, I do blame Obama for this one.

Drawing that "Red Line" against Assad was the greatest mistake of Obama's presidency, and he did it to look presidential two months ahead of the election. We armed insurgents, prolonged this conflict, created an awful humanitarian and immigration crisis, the implications of which include a global wave of reactionary xenophobia that got the star of a reality show elected president of the US.

Obama, I love ya, but if you look at the chain of events, this one is on you.

 

[Neo Deist]

Aleppo has fallen to Assad-Iran-Russia coalition.

I think this is a huge victory for Assad, Iran and especially Russia. Assad has tremendous momentum now and there are really no rebels that can stand up to him except for the jihadists. More and more rebels will join Al Nusra and ISIS now, as they see no other option. The secular rebels are gone and the moderate Islamists will become jihadists. I predict the Kurds will eventually side with Assad as Turkey is strongly propping up the rebels.

So we are looking at Assad vs jihadists, and the West has to choose between supporting jihadists or doing nothing. If Western leaders support the fanatics, it will basically push more Westerners towards the Right and prop up more Right wing populist leaders. These leaders are partial to Russia and some of them are supported by Russia.

If the West does nothing, Russia will push even further into other geopolitical arenas, possible the Baltics. Trump may concede on this, since he's not a huge fan of NATO himself.

What we are witnessing is not only Russia reclaiming some geopolitical power, but also a huge hit to the political establishment in the West. A hit that could possible change the West forever.

What do you think?

The US needs to pull out of the Middle East and let them handle their own affairs. Israel does not need Big Brother USA watching over its shoulder. It can handle itself.

Our oil interest is about the only thing we have there that is worth "fighting" for and I use that term very loosely. Between Texas and Alaska, there is more than enough oil for this country. Yes it costs more than what Saudi Arabia sells it for, but newer technology has decreased the cost of drilling the homeland. We also need to develop oil alternatives more, and push that technology 100% to the forefront. I much prefer paying a little more for a car that is solar/battery powered and bypassing the gas pumps completely for the next ~10 years.

As far as "peace in the Middle East" goes, they have been fighting each other for thousands of years. Same old song and dance, only the weapons change. It seems that our Arab allies vote against the USA 70% of the time at the UN...so let's reduce our $$$ support to them by 70% and use that money on our infrastructure instead.

If Russia wants to tangle with the Middle East and try its hand at ISIS, let them. The USA needs to work with Russia and China for the global good, and forget all this petty bickering.

 

[Stalwart]

Absolutely marvellous. Bashar al-Assad, his men, and the Syrian people have all earned this.

 

[MD]

According to John McCain, Russia's playing a weak hand brilliantly. But I don't think Putin realized what's in the poker pot he's just raked in.

We have to concede, and let it go. Russia wants to get itself into the quagmire, I say let it.

I guarantee that the Russians have some elaborate drawn out series of scenarios the consolidate power in the Middle East. Been there, done that. Bush Jr. And the neocons had the "roadmap to peace in the Middle East" if you're old enough to remember that hogwash.

If Putin does have a similar long term plan. . . Well, he'll have no better luck than we did. ISIS factions have an Armageddon worldview, and are simple not reasonable, or capable of compromise. They're in for a decade long occupation of Syria that will cost them billions.

It's a damn shame either way, and as a liberal, I do blame Obama for this one.

Drawing that "Red Line" against Assad was the greatest mistake of Obama's presidency, and he did it to look presidential two months ahead of the election. We armed insurgents, prolonged this conflict, created an awful humanitarian and immigration crisis, the implications of which include a global wave of reactionary xenophobia that got the star of a reality show elected president of the US.

Obama, I love ya, but if you look at the chain of events, this one is on you.

Well said.

I think the Russians realize the jihadists are insane, they have a lot of experience in Chechnya. They were subdue the Chechen rebels by pitting them against each other, and buying out corrupt rebel leaders. This victory will basically help create a semi stable state in the Middle East and a Russian presence. Most of the fighting against the jihadists will take place by Iranian and other Shi'a proxies as well as other groups, Russia will play their pieces. I don't think they'll get more involved, but this gives Iran a stronger position as well in that region. I can see China eventually supplying Iran with arms and support as well.

 

[jeager106]

"Can't everyone just get along?"

I guess not.
Most humans tend to value life above all other considerations.
Life when it's personal. When the lives of others, then no so much.