Thread: What Will It Take To Get Rid Of ISIS?

I look forward to the day Syria shoots down an IAF plane, regardless of whether or not it's with a Russian missile.

Israel is not renowned for "subtle responses".

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

I look forward to the day Syria shoots down an IAF plane, regardless of whether or not it's with a Russian missile.

Israel is not renowned for "subtle responses".

Why do you look forward? Longing for the Israel's "subtle responses"? How noble and whole-hearted from you...

It is a missile defence system so the first thing it should do is destroy Israeli missiles launched into Syria. It may or may not subsequently destroy the planes that sent them. Perhaps Russia will disable that facility on Syrian controlled systems.

Originally Posted by OhOh

It appears that the Russian EW system is affecting ameristan, Delta grounding planes, Mobile phone systems down.

https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-...chnical-glitch


https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-...tage-across-us


Maybe they need to turn the range knob down a bit.

Maybe Russia is sending Windows Updates.

UN Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Syria Staffan de Mistura

© AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko

Kommersant: UN Special Envoy for Syria to step down

"Consultations are underway in the United Nations on choosing a new Special Envoy for Syria to replace Staffan de Mistura, who decided to retire at the end of November. The Italian diplomat spoke about his decision at a time when the negotiations on forming a constitutional committee in Syria, which he oversaw, had been deadlocked. Sources told Kommersant about candidates being considered to replace him.

"Even if the constitutional committee is formed, it will be mired in contradictions. Perhaps, de Mistura decided to leave now, having achieved the most that he could," a source familiar with the work of the UN Syria envoy told Kommersant.

The UN is now hashing over who to select to occupy this post. Sources told Kommersant, several individuals are now being looked at. The list includes Special Representative for Iraq and Head of the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq Jan Kubis, UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Nicolay Mladenov, and former Foreign Minister of Algeria, Ramtan Lamamra. "Kubis would be a worthy successor to de Mistura, but our Western colleagues might not approve his candidacy, Mladenov as well. Perhaps there will be more names," a diplomatic source in Moscow told the newspaper. According to the source, the new Special Envoy must be an authoritative figure, with whom all parties to the conflict will be ready to work.

One of the leaders of the Syrian armed opposition Colonel Fateh Hasun told Kommersant that the key point for de Mistura’s successor is that he holds neutral views and is a professional. Official speaker of the Syrian opposition delegation at the Astana talks Ayman al-Asimi told the newspaper that the country of origin or personality of the new Special Envoy wouldn’t matter, only the way the countries working on the Syrian sentiment will work with him. He noted that a shared understanding between Turkey, the United States and Russia is very important for progress on Syria, since these countries are deeply involved in resolving the conflict."

More:
TASS: Press Review - Press review: UN Syria envoy quits and Moscow slams rights violations in Ukraine, Baltics

Just put a Russian in there, why bother with pretence?

Where ya been 'arry...take a few days off?

Remember the good ol days when it was the Taliban/al qaeda/ ISIS we had to worry about...

Originally Posted by SKkin

Remember the good ol days when it was the Taliban/al qaeda/ ISIS we had to worry about...

Not to forget the Mujahedeens, they were so good in defeating USSR, when supported by some (please no names here).

Or do they still somewhere enjoy the Grand Chessboard?

Wondering where are they now? Did they take another name? Or just evaporated from the country?

Originally Posted by Klondyke

Not to forget the Mujahedeens, they were so good in defeating USSR

I may be wrong but aren't they now called The Taliban and supported by Russia now?

Originally Posted by SKkin

Where ya been 'arry...take a few days off?

Remember the good ol days when it was the Taliban/al qaeda/ ISIS we had to worry about...

A little business trip down the Gulf.

‘Whole world is watching’: Russia-Turkey-Germany-France talks on Syria kick off in Istanbul
28 Oct 2018



Leaders of Russia, Turkey, Germany and France have gathered in Istanbul to discuss the Syrian peace process. While the outcome of such tricky talks is hard to predict, the new format appears to be, at least, quite refreshing.

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel arrived in Istanbul on Saturday to talk Syrian reconciliation. The host, Turkey’s leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has put high expectations on the gathering.

“The whole world is watching this meeting. I hope, that the hopes will be met,” Erdogan said, while opening the summit.

The four leaders are also expected to be joined by UN Special Envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura. The four-way summit is an entirely new format of talks on the war-torn country, which has endured years-long conflict.

It’s quite hard to predict what exactly could be achieved from such a format, and all the players are quite cautious about it. The meeting is all about testing the waters and trying to bring about different formats of talks on Syria, as if the leaders were to “synchronize watches” rather than reach a breakthrough, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

Similar opinion was expressed by Germany, with Foreign Minister Heiko Maas stating that the summit effectively brings different sides together for the very first time.

“There are Russians and Turks, who have been at the same format of talks with Iran. And on the other side, there are French and us, who partake in the so-called ‘Friends of Syria’ group,” Maas said ahead of the event, adding that having a “joint conversation” was a viable idea.

Turkey, which is hosting the summit, appears to be a little bit more optimistic about the high-profile event. According to the spokesman for Turkey’s President, Ibrahim Kalin, the leaders are expected to discuss prospects of political settlement in Syria, and might agree on some sort of reconciliation roadmap and the main ideas for the new Syrian Constitution.

https://www.rt.com/news/442439-syria...rkey-istanbul/

It seems that they could have one more chair at the table...

Common ground on Syria: What France, Germany, Turkey & Russia agreed in Istanbul

"Despite years of disagreements on Syria, the leaders of Turkey, France, Germany, and Russia worked out a common vision for the steps to reconciliation in the war-torn country when they met in Istanbul. Here’s a summary of it.

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who hosted the talks, was joined by Russia’s Vladimir Putin and France’s Emmanuel Macron, as well as German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Following the summit, the four leaders held a joint press conference and released a communique, highlighting what common ground they had found during the four-way talks.

• Only political solution for Syria
  The leaders have “expressed their support for an inclusive, Syrian-led and Syrian-owned political process that is facilitated by the United Nations.”
  

• Need to start work on constitution in Geneva
  A committee tasked with drafting a new constitution for Syria should begin its work as soon as possible, preferably before the end of this year.
  

• No to division of Syria
  Syria must continue to exist within its pre-war borders. Any separatist movements or desires of foreign powers to occupy parts of the country are therefore firmly rejected.
  

• Keep ceasefire & defeat terrorists
  The four countries have expressed their support for the Idlib ceasefire deal, brokered earlier by Russia and Turkey. At the same time, they emphasized the importance of fighting terrorism and condemned the use of chemical weapons.
  

• Boost humanitarian aid
  The United Nations and other international organizations should bolster aid deliveries to the war-torn country. “Swift, safe and unhindered” flow of humanitarian aid will provide much-needed relief to the sufferings of the Syrian people.

• Help return of refugees
  The four leaders stressed the importance of “safe and voluntary” return of refugees to Syria. To facilitate the process, appropriate housing and social care facilities must be constructed in the country.
  

• Internationally observed elections
  The ultimate goal of the political settlement process is holding transparent, internationally observed elections, the statement reads. All Syrians, including those who had to flee the country, must be able to participate."
  

https://www.rt.com/news/442449-istan...it-highlights/


No mention of the Ex UN guy.

A video of the press conference. Some diverging statements, as expected.

The ultimate goal of the political settlement process is holding transparent, internationally observed elections

Oh the little jokers.

Syria to Cooperate With UN New Envoy Pedersen If De Mistura's Mistakes Avoided





"DAMASCUS (Sputnik) - Damascus will cooperate with Geir Pedersen, new UN special envoy for Syria, if he does not use the methods that outgoing envoy Staffan de Mistura did, Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad said in an interview for local Al Watan newspaper.

"We will cooperate with the new special envoy, Geir Pedersen, the way we did with two previous special envoys, if he refrains from using the methods of his predecessor," Mekdad said.

He went on to cite other conditions for Damascus' cooperation with Pedersen.

"He must declare his commitment to Syrian territorial integrity and to the people of the Syrian Arab Republic; he cannot take the side of the terrorists like his predecessor did; he should stand for the ideals and the superior values enshrined in the UN Charter, which aim at ensuring people's freedom within the framework of the terrorism fight," Mekdad said.

On October 31, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announced that he had appointed the Norwegian diplomat to serve as his Special Envoy for Syria, replacing outgoing envoy de Mistura.

Pedersen has significant diplomatic experience, including serving as Norway's Representative to the Palestinian Authority from 1998 to 2003, as ambassador to the United Nations from 2012 to 2017 and ambassador to China since.

At the United Nations, Pedersen served in various roles, including as Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Personal Representative of the Secretary-General for Southern Lebanon and as Director of the Asia and Pacific Division in the Department of Political Affairs."


https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/2...y-cooperation/

if he refrains from using the methods of his predecessor

Like asking for free and fair elections and that shit.

Syrian civil war in numbers







https://news.sky.com/story/how-assad...l-war-11473940

Hezbollah: The real winner of the Syrian war?

The Lebanese group has seen several benefits for its involvement in Syria, including enhanced military equipment and expanded regional clout

In hindsight, it was obvious why Hezbollah entered the Syrian war. President Bashar al-Assad’s potential fall was an existential threat that would cut its supply lines with Iran and, though Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah was initially reluctant, fighters were dispatched from 2012 onwards.

Today, it’s clear that Hezbollah’s involvement was one of several key interventions that helped to save Assad, but what has it meant for the Lebanese movement? Is the “Party of God” stronger or struggling after six years of war?

Alongside Assad's survival, Hezbollah has seen several benefits for its involvement in Syria. Three stand out: improved military experience, enhanced military equipment and personnel, and expanded regional clout.

---

On balance, Hezbollah has emerged from the Syrian conflict well. It is now a far more powerful, well-trained regional power than it was before the war. However, it is still limited financially and in terms of recruits, and may quietly be hoping that the Syrian war can end soon and that a new conflict with Israel can be avoided so that it can consolidate its newly improved position.

https://www.middleeasteye.net/column...sad-2030482870

Saudi Arabia Delivers $100 Million Pledged to U.S. as Pompeo Lands in Riyadh
Oct 16, 2018



BEIRUT, Lebanon — This summer, Saudi Arabia promised the Trump administration $100 million for American efforts to stabilize areas in Syria liberated from the Islamic State.

That money landed in American accounts on Tuesday, the same day that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo landed in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, for discussions with the kingdom’s leaders about the fate of a missing Saudi dissident.

Securing the funding is a win for President Trump, who has complained about how much the United States spends abroad and has tried to get allies to foot more of the bill. But the timing of the money’s arrival raised eyebrows even among some of the bureaucrats whose programs will benefit from the influx of cash.

“The timing of this is no coincidence,” said an American official involved in Syria policy who spoke on condition of anonymity because this person was not authorized to speak to journalists. The official confirmed that the money arrived on Tuesday.

---

An endorsement of that conclusion by the Trump administration could help limit damage to Saudi Arabia’s international reputation.

Brett McGurk, the United States envoy to the coalition fighting the Islamic State, dismissed the idea that Mr. Pompeo’s visit and the disbursement of funds were connected. The Saudis had committed the money in August, he said, and the United States had expected to receive it in the fall.

“The specific transfer of funds has been long in process and has nothing to do with other events or the secretary’s visit,” Mr. McGurk said.

But the official involved in Syria policy said the payment process had been unpredictable.

The money was pledged in August but it was unclear when it would show up, if at all, until it suddenly landed in American accounts on Tuesday.

Since he took office, Mr. Trump has been trying to limit the role of the United States in Syria, where a seven-year war has shattered the country, killed hundreds of thousands of people and left entire cities in ruins.

He has spoken positively about the idea of withdrawing the approximately 2,000 American soldiers who are based in eastern Syria in areas once controlled by the Islamic State, although he now appears committed to leaving them there. In August, his administration decided not to spent $230 million that had already been earmarked for stabilization programs in that area.

The Saudi money, in addition to another $50 million given by the United Arab Emirates, will allow American programs there to continue, but on other countries’ tabs.

The funds will be used by USAID and the State Department for a variety of programs, including infrastructure repairs and provision of health, education and sanitation services.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/16/w...ey-syria.html?

Nothing new in ameristanis accepting blood money.

‘Our goal is to end invasion’: Taliban seeks talks with US on NATO troop withdrawal
9 Nov, 2018

Any peace process in Afghanistan with the US boots on the ground is impossible, the Taliban delegates said after a meeting in Moscow, adding that the current Afghan government is a US puppet stalling the talks.

“We will not tolerate a single US soldier in Afghanistan,” said the head of the Taliban delegation at the international meeting on Afghanistan in Moscow, Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai, adding that the insurgent group’s “main goal” is to “put an end” to the 17-year-long “invasion” led by the US and its allies.

Still, Stanikzai said, the militants are ready to negotiate – but only with Washington, which they see as the real force behind the current Afghan government.

The US and Taliban did actually engage in direct talks recently, Stanikzai said, hailing it as a positive sign.

“The Americans have realized that we should solve the Afghan problems through negotiations,” he said, admitting that the talks are at the very early stages and so far amounted to “confidence-building measures.”



Alice Wells, deputy assistant secretary in the State Department’s Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, was reported to have met with several Taliban officials in Doha, Qatar in July. Despite multiple media reports, the meeting was not officially confirmed by the US government, however.

“America does want to and needs to leave Afghanistan but we need to leave the Afghan government in charge and not to let the return of Taliban,” former naval intelligence officer John Jordan told RT, adding that Afghanistan has turned into “a problem that everyone wants to solve but no one wants to own.”

The Moscow talks have been part of a separate diplomatic push aimed at “seeking ways to build an inclusive intra-Afghan dialog,” according to the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who opened the meeting on Friday. He also welcomed Taliban’s participation in the event by saying that it is an important step towards a direct dialog between the insurgents and the Afghan government.

The ‘Moscow format’ talks were a result of consultations between the diplomats from Russia, Afghanistan, China, Pakistan, India and Iran and were first held in 2017. Taliban joined the talks attended by the diplomats from the six countries for the first time. The meeting was also attended by the representatives of the Afghan High Peace Council – a body affiliated with the government and tasked with finding a diplomatic solution to the Afghan crisis.

https://www.rt.com/news/443586-talib...an-withdrawal/

Just my cynical opinion, that the Taliban have the better negotiators with the bigger stick; democratic politeness with less than fond memories of past encounters is no match for immoveable faith. So they'll get a generous welfare package under the guise of 'rebuilding', weapons direct from the US or through a proxy, for 'security', and more or less everything else they demand as the ultimate victor. Whatever they do concede will be pimped as a victory or honourable withdrawal by the US, and they will begin breaching any agreement by reverting to norm, in stages, soon after the last American flag is taken down. In 5-20 years Afghanistan will be as it was twenty years ago, and as it will be in 50. Quite a bore, predicting the obvious.

What a pointless fucking war that was.

As soon as the seppos pull out, the talitubbies will just roll back in.

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

What a pointless fucking war that was.

As soon as the seppos pull out, the talitubbies will just roll back in.

Maybe time for some empire building.