Introduction In the mainstream view, al-Qaeda did not play a role in the Syria conflict until Islamic State of Iraq (ISI) leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi dispatched his deputy, Abu Muhammad al-Jolani, to Syria in August 2011 to establish a wing of the group there, called Jabhat al-Nusra, or the Nusra Front. Additionally, al-Qaeda allegedly did not carry out any military operations until December 2011 and did not announce its establishment until January 2012. However, there is evidence that al-Qaeda affiliated militants were involved in the Syrian conflict much earlier. Saudi intelligence...
Idlib
Lunatic With a Plan: Erdogan and Turkey’s Economic Woes
Since the first assault on Turkey’s finances in 2018, which I wrote about multiple times (here, here, and here), I’ve been the lone voice telling everyone that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is a lunatic but he’s a lunatic with a plan. That plan is to de-dollarize the economy of a valuable member of NATO geostrategically. Since the first shots across the bow by the Trump administration at Erdogan’s toying with those powers east of the Bosporus (Russia, China and Iran) the Turkish lira has been the primary mode of attack against Erdogan. Erdogan has pursued what has been deemed unorthodox...
Kenny MacDonald: We’re Told to Support al Qaeda ‘Rebels’
Media fails to properly frame everything going on in the middle east, especially Syria. Here's whats going on in Idlib...
Empire Failures guest Marko Marjanovic
Marko Marjanovic returns to FPF to talk about Venezuela and Syria. Kyle and Marko discuss how US regime change efforts in Venezuela have failed to topple Maduro. The US actions have hurt the Venezuelan people and increased Maduro's popularity. In Syria, Assad is continuing to work to retake all of his country. Currently, he is battling with jihadists in Idlib. Kyle and Mark break down how Assad's fight and the role of the US trying to prevent Assad from retaking Syria. Marko Marjanovic runs Checkpoint Asia. Links US blocks Iranian Oil to Syria Idlib Offensive SHS - Kevin Zeese FPF #208...
FPF #254 – Close Call in the South China Sea
On FPF #254, I discuss a close call between US and Chinese Navy ships. The US ship was conducting a 'freedom of navigation' mission in waters claimed by China. The Chinese ship carried out maneuvers that brought it very close to the US ship. I review the history of the US and Chinese tensions over the region. I explain how similar operations for the US turned deadly. Links Moderate Rebels -...
FPF #248 – Russian Plane Downed in Syria
On FPF #248, I discuss recent developments in the Syrian Civil War. An attack by Israel led to the Syrian government accidentally downing a Russian surveillance plane. Turkey and Russia reached an agreement to put the Syrian government offensive in Idlib is on pause. The US carried out live-fire exercises in southern Syria to warn the Assad government against retaking the area. Links Around the Empire - Elijah Magnier Moon of Alabama - Idlib Offensive on...
News Roundup 9/12/18
Trump and Kim Jong Un are planning a second meeting. [Link] A new citizenship program in India deprives about 4 million Muslim Indians of citizenship. [Link] At least 68 have been killed by a suicide bombing in Afghanistan. [Link] Taliban officials say they are ready for the second round of talks with the US. [Link] US officials claim Assad has already approved a chemical weapons attack. [Link] Jihadists from China, Russia, and Uzbekistan are some of the remaining militants in Idlib....
News Roundup 9/4/18
The US and Russia block a UN proposal to ban autonomous killer robots. [Link] The US is considering sending more weapons to Ukraine. [Link] The leader of the Ukrainian separatists was killed in a bombing. [Link] Eric Margolis on the ethnic cleansing of the Rohingya in Myanmar. [Link] A Myanmar official sentences two Reuters journalists to prison for seven years. [Link] A US soldier was killed in an insider attack in Afghanistan. [Link] The outgoing Commander of US Forces in Afghanistan says it is time for the war to end. [Link] Aron Lund breaks down the different Syrian rebel factions in...
FPF #241 – Ending the Syrian Civil War
On FPF #241, I discuss the US role in continuing the Syrian Civil War. David Ignatius of the Washington Post reports that a Trump official said the US policy is to draw Syria and Russia into a quagmire in Idlib. Ignatius argues for the US to do more to assist the rebels. I explain the results of the US arming the Sunni resistance to Assad under Obama and why the policy will fail again. Links David Ignatius Washington Post article WSJ on...
News Roundup 1/23/18
Mehdi Hasan will release a series of shows on blowback. [Link] The US provocations in the South China Sea will lead to a Chinese military buildup. [Link] Pence says US embassy in Jerusalem to open by end of next year. [Link] The US switching the Afghan military to American made helicopters will prolong the Afghan Army's dependence on the US. [Link] Tillerson calls Turkey and tells Turkey to "exercise restraint" in their invasion of Afrin. [Link] Moon of Alabam on Operation Olive Branch. [Link] Turkey has captured some villages in Afrin. [Link] Head of Central Command General Votel visits...
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