Syria: The Sound Of Silence

Did Syria survive the weekend?

That is the only question that I have for the world today….

And the answer is……..yes it did!  To my surprise……..

Both Syrian rebels and government allies reported multiple ceasefire violations over the weekend, each blaming the other side for all violations, but by and large the ceasefire held through the weekend, with fighting enormously down from pre-ceasefire levels.

Russia announced late on Saturday that it is grounding all its warplanes in Syrian territory, despite the ceasefire allowing them to continue attacks on ISIS and al-Qaeda targets, saying they didn’t want there to be any “mistakes” to threaten the truce.

The rebels also say that they are going to stick to the ceasefire for the time being, but that they also intend to complain to the United Nations about “Russian violations” and also complained about the US not keeping them more directly involved in the negotiations.

(antiwar.com)

The world seems to think that the ceasefire will be a beginning for the the end of the conflict in Syria……

The US and Russia are hoping that the partial Syrian cease-fire agreement they reached will begin a new phase of the war.

Source: US-Russian Cease-Fire Pact: Closer to a Syria War Endgame?

John Kerry was right to present the ceasefire deal in Syria as a last chance to keep the country in whole. But this “last chance” is too slim to hope for it to succeed…….

Source: The “Day After” Syria’s Ceasefire Failure | Middle East Briefing

Let us say that the ceasefire was a bust….what could possibly the future for the conflict in Syria?

As Secretary of State John Kerry seriously pursues a Russian-American-United Nations administered cease-fire and humanitarian relief effort as the first concret……(read on)……

Source: Obama’s Zig-Zag Path to NATO Boots in Syria | Middle East Briefing

Could there possibly be another plan…a plan “B” if you will……..

Speaking to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee today, Secretary of State John Kerry suggested the latest push for a ceasefire in Syria could amount to the last chance for one, and suggested that the US would see a partition of the country as “plan B.

Kerry didn’t offer any details on how this would work, of course, but that fact that the US is mentioning partition at all is a huge step, as the US has fiercely resisted similar considerations in neighboring Iraq, which itself is facing a near identical war with many of the same combatants.

Kerry said if the ceasefire didn’t get into place, it would soon be “too late” to allow Syria to remain whole, and that the partition of the country could form an “eventual solution” to the civil war, which has raged for the past five years.

(antiwar.com)

A partition of Syria?  That was not a consideration for Iraq, then what makes it a plan for Syria?

The 1990’s: Can You Remember?

Of course you cannot……something about the selective memory of the American people….if you do then you probably look fondly back at all the Clinton policies that make life so much better than before……like NAFTA which would put money in the pockets of average Americans….or maybe his brilliant idea of repealing Glass-Steagall which would open up financial markets so that we all would benefit……how did all that work out for you?

We hear the candidate Hillary Clinton come out as a champion of the minority community…..she has said much that she will do to stop the discrimination, the brutality…..everything that the community wants to hear…..

My question is will she pursue the same policies as her prez hubby did?

I do not understand the support that the black community has for the Clinton’s….I remember when many people call Bill the US first black president…….why?

His programs did little to further the interests of the black community…..but yet they still support him and his wife……very confusing….

For instance his so-called welfare reform……it has done more damamge than good…….

Source: How Bill Clinton’s Welfare “Reform” Created a System Rife With Racial Biases | BillMoyers.com

Source: The Worst Thing Bill Clinton Has Done – The Atlantic

Clinton’s success in transforming the welfare system shows how a leader can sometimes lose by winning. Clinton’s original plan was one part tough love and one part expanded resources. Able long-term welfare recipients would be compelled to work, but additional resources for job training, wage subsidy, and child care, as well as waivers in hardship cases, would make welfare reform an improvement on the lives of the poor, not just a cruel reduction in benefits. But the Republican majority in Congress was more interested in cutting the rolls. Clinton vetoed the proposed legislation twice before finally signing it based on only token improvements.

For Democrats as well as Republicans, the proof of success became the dramatic shrinkage of the welfare rolls, and not the more troubling question of how many of the poor were better or worse off. By embracing an essentially GOP version of welfare reform, Clinton reinforced conservative dogma that the welfare state was more of a problem than a solution.

What about Bill’s law and order stance?

Clinton signed into law an omnibus crime bill in 1994 that included the federal “three strikes” provision, mandating life sentences for criminals convicted of a violent felony after two or more prior convictions, including drug crimes.  Clinton acknowledged that policy’s role in over-incarceration in an interview with CNN’s Christiane Amanpour.

In essence he help create the overcrowding that we have now and the massive sentences for otherwise “minor” crimes……

And the list goes on…….Democrats have tried to forget or put behind them the problems that they themselves have caused…..and now someone who is proud of the “progress” of her husband’s administration is running for the very same office……I do not understand the appeal of Hillary from Afro-Americans.  Bill help give them the income inequality, the massive prison population and the welfare reform that did more damage than good…….why is she so goddamn appealing to Afro-American voters?

What do they see that I am missing?

What are the chances that this will be a third term for Bubba if she is elected in this election?

War, What Is It Good For? Absolutely Nothing!

I always enjoyed the song from my days in the Army….ass deep in rice paddy mud…..and because of those wonderful years of my youth I chose to study international relations focusing on war……its causes and solutions…..

It is a good field of study….of course you will never get rich in this field and in most cases will be very unpopular in some circles…..

The problem is trying to explain the complexities of war to people whose only exposure to the obscenity is through video games and movies…….it is like trying to explain the joys of orgasm to a gerbil……

This is a really good piece that was Originally posted at TomDispatch.

It may be hard to believe now, but in 1970 the protest song “War,” sung by Edwin Starr, hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. That was at the height of the Vietnam antiwar movement and the song, written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong, became something of a […]

Source: War, What Is It Good For? Absolutely Nothing – Antiwar.com Original by — Antiwar.com

Who’s Gonna Beat Trump?

I would like to apologize to my readers for my absence on Sunday….I was having a major internet problem that lasted most of the day……I normally only post one article on weekends so I can spend time with family….but I do check IST and respond to comments…..could not do so yesterday…..just wanted to let everyone know what was what…….now let’s get busy!

Who won the Oscars?  DON’T tell me I really could care less!

I see the media is gleeful that Clinton won big in South Carolina……today they will start their assault on Bernie…..they will be selling him short at every opportunity……

This is not something important……but a goddamn good cartoon….my readers know that I am supporter of Bernie…….I just felt that this was a humorous ‘toon and wanted to share it to start a new week……..

Enjoy!

Tomorrow will be a big day for the media….Super Tuesday……prepare yourself for the puke-fest.

The United States versus America

There are times when a situation would be humorous if it were not so damn pathetic….Syria is a prime example of this sad story……

Basically….the US is in conflict, armed conflict, with itself…..cannot get any more pathetic than that……

Here’s the final proof that our foreign policy of global meddling has gone off the deep end: the two Syrian factions we are subsidizing are now battling one another. The latest iteration of the “moderate” Islamist jihadists we’ve been backing recently engaged in a pitched battle with the Kurdish “People’s Protection Units” (YPG). Both are […]

Source: The United States versus America – Antiwar.com Original by — Antiwar.com

It seems that the US and the Kurds are allies and now Turkey wants the US to turn on them hard…….

ver the weekend, Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu demanded that the US pledge “unconditional” military support for Turkey in the fight against the Kurdish YPG, a Syrian faction which has been the primary US ally in fighting ISIS.

“The only thing we expect from our US ally is to support Turkey with no ifs or buts,” Davutoglu insisted, reiterating the claim that the YPG was behind last week’s Ankara bombing, despite a Turkish faction, the TAK, claiming it.

For a better explanation to the circus that is the US Syria policy read this…….

Confusion in the Obama administration’s Syria policy is playing out on the ground as U.S.-backed groups begin battling each other.

Source: America Is In A Proxy War With Itself In Syria – BuzzFeed News

My dog could come up with a better plan than our plan for Syria…..

BTW she is available for consultations…….

“Space Archaeology”

Today I will give props where props are due…..

The title might lead one to think that I am about to go off on some weird rant about Ancient Astronauts or aliens….or possible something about a face on mars or maybe even a robot part found on the moon….or other such nonsense…..if so then……you would be mistaken…..

It is no secret that I appreciate history and archaeology and try to pass on as much info as I can when I feel it is appropriate……today is one of those times…….

I want to talk about an archaeologist that uses satellites to find ancient historical sites….the History Channel even did a program on her discoveries, it was entitled “Egypt:  What Lies Beneath”….she has found many more possible pyramid sites and even some other types of structures……about 1250 sites I believe,  that were unknown before her……she is brilliant.

And she is asking for help…….

The winner of this year’s $1 million TED Prize has the unique title of “space archaeologist,” and she plans to use the money to recruit a network of digital helpers to identify and protect sites around the world, reports the BBC. As National Geographic explains, Dr. Sarah Parcak of the University of Alabama at Birmingham is a pioneer in the field of using satellite technology to pinpoint previously undiscovered archaeological sites. With the prize money, Parcak plans to develop a website that will use volunteer crowdsourcing to amplify that effort and to spot looting. She says the latter is more vital than ever now that groups such as the Islamic State are bent on destroying antiquities.

“We can’t keep up,” she says. “We are losing the battle. It is heartbreaking.” Parcak’s plan is to turn the process into something like a game for users, explains NPR. They’ll get cards with images representing about 50 square meters of land. “As the crowd populates these images with their tags, after 10, 20, or 50 users tell us that something is there, we’ll know to be able to check, to confirm, one way or another,” she says. On-the-ground archaeologists would then investigate, sharing their progress on social media. “The coolest part—they’ll be taking you with them,” Parcak tells the New York Times. The program is expected to launch this summer.

I like this….we are losing historic sites at an alarming rate and we all need to do all we can to help save them from the insanity of the world today…..

Source: Space Archaeologist Wants Your Help To Find Ancient Sites : All Tech Considered : NPR

I am old and retired…..so I shall apply to see if there is anything I can do to help…..if you would like to feel that you could make a difference then by all means join me and help this young lady in her quest……

Now with all that said……go out and enjoy what is left of your weekend…..

Peace….Out

Who Knew A Movie Could Be Prophetic?

It is the weekend and I will take the rest of the day to kick back and enjoy the simpler things in life……

We all have that one movie that speaks to us…..Steel Magnolias or Day After Tomorrow…..those sort of movies……mine is a bit different….mine is about a disturbing trend in our politics….

I have commented many times about the stupidity that this country is experiencing and has been experiencing for a couple of decades now…….I have used the movie, “Idiocracy” as an example of what could happen if this trend continues……

Well all my efforts have not been in vain……the creator of the movie has weighed in on this trend also……

Idiocracy, 2016, Donald Trump, Election, Documentary

The man behind the 2006 cult sci-fi film “Idiocracy” is lamenting that his fictional movie appears to have become reality.

“I never expected #idiocracy to become a documentary,” tweeted screenwriter Etan Cohen in an apparent jab at the 2016 presidential race.

Together with “Beavis & Butt-head” creator Mike Judge, Cohen co-wrote the time-travel comedy. The plot revolves around the misadventures of a man who wakes up in a futuristic America only to discover that everyone around him, including lawmakers and government officials, is an idiot.

“I thought the worst thing that would come true was everyone wearing Crocs,” Cohen told his Twitter followers.

“Idiocracy” star Terry Crews, famous for his role as President Dwayne Elizondo Mountain Dew Herbert Camacho, also used the satirical film to take a shot at the surreal election cycle.

“All y’all need to stop tripping,” Crews tweeted in character. “Chill the F out, ‘Merica.”

(The Hill)

May I suggest that you, my readers, need to see this film……a look into the future of this country…..

Who knew a work of cinematic fiction could be so damn prophetic?

Christie Makes The News (Again)

Just days ago NJ Gov Christie made the news by dropping out of contention for the GOP nomination……but he just cannot let go of the limelight…..

After months of trying to get a foothold with the electorate and bad mouthing Donald Trump…he just had to make news yet again…..

A big get for Donald Trump: Chris Christie endorsed him Friday in a surprise announcement, CNN reports. “The best person to beat Hillary Clinton on that stage last night is undoubtedly Donald Trump,” Christie said during a press conference with Trump in Texas. Trump’s response: “Generally speaking I’m not big on endorsements,” but “this was an endorsement that really meant a lot.” Both men noted their longstanding friendship, with Trump saying Christie had been a friend for “many years” and Christie saying their friendship goes back a decade, the New York Times reports.

Both Christie and Trump derided Marco Rubio during the appearance, with Christie saying the senator is not qualified for the presidency and Trump mocking him for wearing “a pile of makeup” during Thursday night’s debate: “I saw him backstage and he was putting it on with a trowel,” he said. “I said Marco, easy with the makeup, you don’t need that much.” So, is this all about Christie aiming for a spot in a hypothetical Trump administration? Asked about what position he’d like, Christie said that after he finishes his gubernatorial term in New Jersey he plans to “go into private life and make money like Trump.”

You would think that would be enough to make his name a household word for at least a week or so……but nope….there is MORE…..

Gov. Chris Christie was hospitalized this morning after he complained of having trouble breathing, according to the governor’s office.

A spokesman, Michael Drewniak, said Christie suffers from asthma, and was taken to Somerset Medical Center in Somerville “out of an abundance of caution.”

Drewniak said the governor was “doing fine” and undergoing tests.

Compromising one’s principles does have consequences……

The gravity of his condition aside…..you realize that this will be fodder for every late night comic in the world, right?

Syria: The Silence Awaits

Tonight the long anticipated Syrian ceasefire will go into effect…..the media has not touched on this very much….I guess the mindless prattle from candidates is more newsworthy…..

This could be a monumental success or a dismal failure……

But in case you may be interested in what this attempt is all about…….

A rare cessation of hostilities in Syria will begin late on Friday night, according to an agreement struck by Russian and U.S. officials. While Syrian President Bashar al Assad’s acquiescence to the terms of the ceasefire raises hopes for the plan’s success, many high-ranking diplomats and Middle East analysts see the agreement to reign in the sprawling geopolitical battle as fundamentally flawed.

“If implemented and adhered to, this cessation will not only lead to a decline in violence, but also continue to expand the delivery of urgently needed humanitarian supplies to besieged areas,” Secretary of State John Kerry said, even though he acknowledged that “significant challenges” could get in the way of that aim.

Here’s a look at what’s on the table and what’s at stake for those involved.

Source: Everything You Need To Know About The Syrian Ceasefire | ThinkProgress

But this valiant try is meeting some resistance…….

the Syrian rebel faction the “High Negotiations Council” (HNC) announced that it intended to abide by the ceasefire deal announced by the US and Russia. Today, they have backed off of that, saying they support the idea in theory, but haven’t committed to it.

Instead, the group says that they are willing to accept a separate two-week ceasefire as opposed to this open-ended one, to see if everyone is “serious.” They also rejected the idea of Russia being one of the nations negotiating the ceasefire.

My guess is that there will be violations of the deal starting Saturday morning…..it will eventually fall apart because it does not include all warring parties……there will still be the attacks on ISIS on the Kurds by Turkey and others…..

Just ahead of the latest Syrian ceasefire, brokered by the US and Russia, both the US and Russia seem to be laying the groundwork for its quick collapse, and getting ready to blame one another for the pact not working.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry accused the US of redefining the terms of the ceasefire after the deal was already made, suggesting this was a deliberate attempt to sabotage the process by shifting expectations on what would happen on Saturday morning. Russia noted that the deal excludes ISIS and al-Qaeda’s Nusra Front, and insists strikes against both will continue.

US allegations were a bit more strange, with officials complaining Russia had been backing an offensive for the past three weeks, a period of time which is not part of the ceasefire and includes considerable time before the deal was even reached. It seems particularly unreasonable for the US to have expected Russia to comply with the ceasefire before it was negotiated, but they insist this raises “general suspicion” about whether Russia will comply when the ceasefire does exist.

(antiwar.com)

But what will be the eventual outcome for Syria if this deal falls completely apart?

Is there a future for Syria as a nation?  Or is this the only future the Syrian people can know?

The “Art Of The Deal”

Once again I will surprise my readers and come to the defense of Donald J. Trump……I know….you want to know what I have been smoking, right?

First, let me say that I do not find much about the Trump foreign policy that I can get behind and support……after saying that he has made a few comments that I agree with….if only in principle……

He has said on numerous occasions that removing Saddam and Qaddafi were wrong decisions…..

Speaking at the latest Republican debate, front-runner Donald Trump reiterated his belief that the world would be better off if Saddam Hussein was still in power in Iraq, and Moammar Gadhafi in Libya, saying ISIS would’ve never been able to seize parts of those countries if they were still there.

“They were bad, they were really bad but we would have been better off if the politicians had taken the day off and not gone into war,” Trump added. Trump had made similar statements back in October on Meet the Press.

On this event I agree……Saddam, for instance would not allowed AQ to rise for they would have been a threat to his power and he would not have let that happen.  Qaddafi was a brutal ruler but he kept the Islamists in check until the US intervene and , as they say, the rest is history.

In the latest GOP debate Rubio came out thumping his chest about his support of Israel…..

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) on Thursday lashed out at Donald Trump’s comments suggesting that Israel should offer “sacrifices” to win a peace deal, telling a prominent Republican Jewish group that conflict is the Middle East amounts to more than “a real estate deal.”

“There is no moral equivalence between Israel and those who seek to destroy her,” Rubio said in an address to the Republican Jewish Coalition. “Understanding that fundamental truth is essential to being the next commander in chief.

“This is not a real estate deal with two sides arguing over money. It’s a struggle to safeguard the future of Israel.”

As usual, the Senator from Florida is WRONG!

Why is Rubio wrong?  The situation in the “Holy Land” has everything to do with real estate (land)….the biggest sticking point for any peace is that Israel will NOT stop stealing land from Palestinians to build settlements….sounds like a real estate deal to me…..if they truly wanted peace it was be as easy as agreeing to some sort of land deal…..

The question few are asking is….does Israel truly want safety and security or is that just an excuse to keep the hostilities alive?

Trump told the AP that “a lot” of peace in the Middle East “will have to do with Israel and whether or not Israel wants to make the deal — whether or not Israel’s willing to sacrifice certain things.”

When he hits on the truth he can be very astute…….

There you have it…Donald J. Trump has spoken to truth and the hawks do not like it……it also shows me that Rubio has NO idea what the Middle East is all about….he is just repeating the talking points like a good partisan ROBOT!