Maybe. Possibly. Probably (see the video below). Anyway, this is going to be a long one, lots of twists and turns, with lots of pictures.
Full confession: Gail and I have been having a back-and-forth regarding the fall of Damascus. She is of the opinion that this was orchestrated. I took the opposite tack, that Israel, Turkey, the United States and assorted other proxies (i.e. the Kurds) were simply better fighters. That the storied corruption of the Assad regime had spread throughout the Syrian Army and that’s why it folded like a house of cards.
It appears that I was wrong. Not about the corruption, the Assad dynasty was horribly corrupt. On this point, Gail was correct. She has long decried the Assads while I viewed them as a lesser than two evils kind of thing. (It’s the Middle East after all.) Check out this particular paragraph from the article below:
“Assad has shown himself to be a great warrior. He stood firm in a hopeless situation and got a chance in 2015 in the form of aid from Iran and Russia. But he did not use it, did not learn from his mistakes. In a broader sense, Assad failed to care for his people who suffered in the civil war. He has not forgiven those who opposed him and has refused to begin a process of national reconciliation. The people of Syria remain divided. The West imposed harsh sanctions on Syria and did everything in its power to prevent the state from restoring its income from the same oil fields. This killed all attempts to begin economic recovery.
And Assad, instead of letting go of the reins, increased the tax burden several times over. The Middle East is such a big bazaar: trade, small business – the essence of the way of life of the people here. Assad, instead of allowing people to survive in hard times, at least due to this, strangled everyone with taxes. Therefore, the society that gave Assad a chance after the first stage of the civil war did not give him a second chance – people simply refused to fight for him. . . .”
So, that’s the context. Bashar al-Assad was incapable of ruling justly. On the other hand, did the Russians (who supported him) lose?
You would think so looking at the Western press. According to Marat Khairullin (the author of the article highlighted below):
“…Syria was a transit point for Russia on the way to Africa. By losing Syria, [Russia loses] transit bases (both air and sea). This is precisely the point that the Western press is now pointing to. However, reading their jubilant articles, one gets the feeling that behind this jubilation, there is obvious annoyance.”
Why? Because, if you look a little deeper, Putin has outplayed everyone here too.
“The fact is that the fall of Syria occurred immediately after the launch of the North-South land corridor at full capacity. From the ports of St. Petersburg along the trans-Caspian land highway through Azerbaijan and Iran to the ports of the Indian Ocean. The project began to be implemented back in 2000. This will be one of Putin’s great legacies. His major achievement.” (Emphasis added.)
In other words, realizing that Assad’s regime was a lost cause, Putin held off pulling out Syria for as long as he could until his India-to-St Petersburg pipeline (the North-South Transport Corridor) was ready to go. A classic example of 5D chess. In any event, as far as the combatants on the ground are concerned, the honeymoon appears to be over.
And why is this?
Well, for one thing, please take a look at the map below:
Turkey wants their pound of flesh for pulling Israel’s chestnuts out of the fire. They also want America to stop playing footsie with the Kurds. My gut tells me that if they don’t get the blue corridor for the Qatari LNG, they’re going to be pissed.
<—Always, Always, ALWAYS, follow the money.
The Israelis for their part are perfectly fine with the acquisition of additional Syrian territory for their buffer zone. They’ll be positively giddy when the jihadists start turning on each other.*
As for the various Islamic groups that did most of the fighting, I believe they’re going to revert to “the Three B’s” of jihadism: beheadings, burqas and the banning of alcohol.
As for the Christians and other religious minorities, I worry about their future. (You know things are bad when Patriarch Bartholomew, a globalist puppet, is forced to make a sympathetic statement regarding the Patriarchate of Antioch.)
<—In case you were wondering, this cat’s the new leader of Syria. Yeah, I’m not so hopeful either. (You read that right, the State Department put a $10 million bounty on his head not all that long ago. Now, he’s “our boy”.
Anyway, if you’d like to read Mr Khairullin’s piece (and I highly recommend you do so), here it is: https://maratkhairullin.substack.com/p/lessons-from-syria-assad-and-putin?publication_id=2099482&post_id=152860563&isFreemail=true&r=7ct73&triedRedirect=true
As for “the Trap” that Russia and Iran set for the West? Syria becoming a quagmire, just like Afghanistan.
Please take the time to listen to this interview with Alex Krainor:
P.S.
Since we’re talking about maps, this is “Greater Israel”—>
Well, that’s about it in a nutshell. At least for now.
Misha says
You will be woefully misinformed and under informed if you rely on the “mainstream media”; i.e., the three networks, Fox, MSDNC, etc. Alternative media is the only honest media in the country. The rest has been captured, to one extent or another, by the American intelligence services. This is true of the NYT and WP as well. It’s all Soviet media. An Empire of Lies.
Covid was a hoax to hurt Trump. The death toll was wildly exaggerated.
The vaccine didn’t work and has a high rate of complications (such a myocarditis, which can be fatal).
The 2020 election was clearly stolen. The evidence is so abundant that the MSM won’t look at it at all and simply changes the subject and talks about “election denial” (which they engaged in in 2000 and 2016, btw). The courts sidestepped the whole matter citing procedural issues without addressing any of the merits. The J6 riot was staged by Congress and the FBI to avoid having the electors challenged and instead certify the election under emergency rules.
Biden was senile when he was inaugurated and it only has gotten worse.
The lawfare against Trump was completely contrived and baseless.
The Ukraine war was a result of Western politicians’ money laundering and NATO bullying and has only awakened a sleeping giant.
The laptop from hell was real.
You would not know any of this if you had been following the MSM through the last several years and some of this is life and death stuff.
Rev Evangelos says
as we Pray that team Trump places God’s word, people & truth before $, control & trying to please Israel before God Who loves All people, https://youtu.be/PD5gtM1A990?si=2cTXf1baqwsbJFk9 is Well Worth seeing equally. Doamne AJuta/Lord Jesus help
George Michalopulos says
Looks like the Collective West has put the champagne bottles away.
https://sonar21.com/russia-strikes-back-and-turkey-invades-northern-syria/
The Syrian honeymoon is definitely over. (I like what Larry says: “The Russians are sitting in front of a roaring fire, munching on popcorn. They don’t have a dog in this fight”.
(The Turks are invading the Kurdish areas big-time. Question is: what will the 900 American soldiers stationed there do? Step aside? If so, yet another American ally bites the dust.)
George Michalopulos says
in the meantime, the Russians continue to retaliate against the latest Ukrainian ATACMS missile strike by doing what they do best: take more ground. This time with massive Ukrainian retreats and/or surrenders.
It would be nice if we had a real media in the US who could tell us exactly what the hell is going on. (I know, I’m naive.)
bob karp says
George
I dont understand your complaint about the lack of “real media” in the US. America provides too much information, from the extreme right to the extreme left. That’s freedom of speech. It is up to us, to look for the most reliable outlet. We should be smart and mature about it. Not follow algorithms, which steers us to where they think we want to go. My recommendation for unfettered news source is NPR radio, the 6:30 p.m. TV news, the NYT and the Economist. Stay away from FOX news, and its imitators.
Dont look at the editorials. Its someone’s opinion. They mean nothing. Just read the latest developments. Are they always correct? Of course not. No one is. But they don’t make it their business to tell you what you want to hear, like FOX news does.
George Michalopulos says
Good question, Bob. If I may:
We don’t have a dearth of information/news, it’s mostly “infotainment”. Worse, it’s confined to six major conglomerates: Disney (ABC), Comcast (NBC), FOX, etc. Even worse than that, the news is curated, not reported.
The internet helped break that monopoly, however even here the news is not all that bright. YouTube is owned by GOOGLE; try saying something “controversial” about “the jab” and you’ll see how quickly it’s taken down.
Elon Musk, in buying Twitter, further increased the free speech quotient but even here, there are a few people still not allowed (yet) on the new, improved “X”. (David Cole, Alex Jones, Andrew Anglin.)
As for the “news”, remember the Hunter Biden laptop? The FBI leaned on the New York Post (founded by Alexander Hamilton, btw) and told them to not print it just days before the 2020 election. For good measure, the DS got the “top 51 intelligence operatives” to declare that it was Russian dizinformatzia and the rest of the media went along with that humdinger.
When corporations are in bed with government, that’s one of the definitions of fascism.
Long story short: five years ago, Trump was taken off of Twitter. Facebook likewise gave tens of millions of dollars in free advertising to the Democrats, etc. I realize now that Zuckerberg is kissing the ring (as is Bezos) but none of this happened out of the kindness of their hearts. They saw which way the wind (that would be we, the People) was blowing and have trimmed their sails accordingly.
bob karp says
George. I appreciate your replies and the confidence that you display by publishing my comments, which are mostly not in agreement with your posts. That is something that I can’t say about Nick’s Heleniscope. More than 95% of my comments are not published, even though all are based on facts.
Of course, I will not alter my comments to fit his demand. The bottom line is that Heleniscope’s comments and followers are several steps lower on the serious, meaningful scale, than your blog is.
I understand your reluctance to have any faith in the legacy news outlets. And I agree with you that we have mostly infotainment. That’s the American consumer’s fault. They love to be entertained. The only way to stop that is by doing as I suggested. Skip the talking heads, such as Tucker and the rest, from the right and the left such as WNBC’s shows or the “fox and friends” type. Stick with the dry news of the day. You can get that by watching NBC or ABC at 6:30 pm and 11 p.m.
George Michalopulos says
Thank you.
Brendan says
TV news? The NYT? The Economist?
Don’t make me laugh, please
It’s not so much what they say
It’s what they don’t say….
Brendan says
Dr. Joseph Sansone | Dec 08, 2024
https://substack.com/home/post/p-152774119
* Former Trump Administration HHS Senior Advisor Provides Affidavit:
“mRNA nanoparticle injections, are in fact biological and
technological weapons of mass destruction” *
https://substack.com/home/post/p-152774119
‘Former Trump Administration Health and Human Services (HHS) Senior Advisor, and epidemiologist, Dr. Paul Alexander, provided an affidavit stating that mRNA nanoparticle injections are biological and technological weapons. Dr. Alexander, a Trump loyalist, provided the affidavit in a new case in the State of Florida.
Case # 2024-CA-001977 initiated by psychotherapist, Dr. Joseph Sansone is seeking an injunction to prohibit Governor Ron DeSantis and Attorney General Ashley Moody from allowing the continued distribution of COVID-19 and mRNA injections in the State of Florida because they are biological weapons. The complaint also seeks declaratory judgements that the COVID 19 injections and all mRNA nanoparticle injections violate Weapons of Mass Destruction § 790.166, Fla. Stat. (2023); Fraud § 817.034 Fla Stat. (2023); and Florida Medical Consent Law § 766.103 Fla Stat. (2023).
Dr. Alexander has a bachelor’s degree in epidemiology from McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, and a master’s degree from Oxford University. And a PhD from McMaster University’s Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact. Dr. Alexander’s master’s degree is in clinical epidemiology and community health from University of Toronto, a masters in evidence based medicine and clinical epidemiology from Oxford, a doctorate in evidence based medicine.
Dr. Alexander served as a pandemic advisor to The World Health Organization, Pan American Health Organization (WHO, PAHO) as it related to COVID in 2019 and 2020 and also was then taken on by the Trump administration; and served in the Trump administration as a senior advisor at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) during the COVID pandemic 2020.
At the height of the COVID hysteria Dr. Alexander was a calm voice of reason opposing draconian measures such as masks, social distancing, and lockdowns. Dr. Alexander also stood in support of Canadian truckers and the freedom convoy that was later crushed by Canadian dictator Justin Trudeau.
Dr. Alexander’s affidavit is the ninth expert affidavit provided in the case stating the injections are bioweapons. Affidavits were provided by Francis Boyle, J.D., PhD; Karen Kingston; Ana Mihalcea, M.D., PhD; Rima Laibow, M.D.; Andrew Zywiec, M.D.; Marivic Villa, M.D., and Avery Brinkley, M.D., and Dr. Ben Marble, M.D. ‘
Dr Sansone’s substack has a screenshot
of Dr Alexander’s expert testimony.
Hilber Nelson says
I’ve lost count of how many military “experts’ have declared on independent media that we are in WW3. Some say it’s being orchestrated, others aren’t so sure. Either way, the time to prepare for the inevitable pandemics and famine that accompany all wars is right now. Is your family prepared for food shortages, loss of power and water, closure of pharmacies? Decide what you can afford, and buy food, water purifier and a generator, and make a family plan with in case of emergency. Do it now.
David says
God is in control, in the end.
As times goes on, I think Misha has it pretty much right.
I also believe that the West were surprised by Assad’s departure, and didn’t expect it. Now instead of weakening Russia by creating a quagmire for them, it has now put the US in an even more explosive (and expensive) situation, giving us ANOTHER country to “rebuild” (Ah the glories of “regime change”).
We could wash our hands of it and give Turkey free reign, but that would mean all-out war with the Kurds (all of them, bringing Iraq into the conflict and God knows who else). We could try and muscle our way into the lead, but the Islamists and Ankara are not going to allow that. We can stay as we are, but eventually ownership of those oil fields will become a point of contention, especially if Turkish economic plans are set into motion. Us staying in also puts us in the crossfire of the conflicts brewing at both ends of the country.
My hope, is that these “rebels” are smart and see which way the wind is blowing (taking a lesson from the new Taliban government in Afghanistan) and put “international legitimacy” as their primary motivating force. This will prevent (or at least greatly minimize) any religious or ethnic cleansing. In the end, we have no choice but to bankroll Turkey’s plans because the alternative is horrific. Again, stupidity on an epic scale on the part of our “leaders.”
None of this helps Ukraine, of course. Kiev will have no choice but to sue for peace after the inauguration. With this newly created nightmare in the Middle East, America will be busy elsewhere.
Misha says
Yes, though I see it from a different perspective than the liberals to whom you refer, it was a trap. Or, more accurately, it was Russia avoiding a trap and then resetting it for her enemies.
The West has wanted to regime change Syria for over a decade. There has already been one war over this where Russia intervened to save Assad. Russia didn’t intervene to get the military bases. They were not necessary but simply somewhat convenient when Assad was in power. But every purpose they serve can be satisfied by other means. They are not being kicked out, may be asked to stay, but will probably withdraw out of prudence for what is to come.
Much of this does in fact have to do with pipelines: Turkish pipelines and Russian pipelines. And don’t forget plans for the Silk Road.
Nicholas II was a pious man, but weak. Assad seems to have been decent, but stubborn as well as weak – and foolish as a leader at times. He used up his nine lives. I never believed a word of the poison gas canard, but I’m sure his security forces were no angels at all either.
In the midst of an East-West world war, the West is going to gloat to some extent about Israeli and American involvement in Assad’s downfall. But it could not have happened without Erdogan and Turkey. They tried that before and failed. So why did Russia and Iran allow Turkey to do this? That is what the West should be asking itself.
Almost everyone commenting on this in the alternative sphere is a liberal of one stripe or another (by my definition). This blinds them from some obvious realities that do not comport with their ideas about good government and tolerance. Neither Putin (at least not anymore), nor Erdogan, nor the Iranians are liberals. So authoritarianism and religious fundamentalism do not concern them unless it is directed against them. As a matter of fact, they prefer it to Western liberalism.
For all the money and scheming, and for all the dignity lost in their own ecosphere due to their support of “head choppers”, all the West really bought was a temporary interruption of Hezbollah’s supply route from Iran. And they will find another one.
They had hoped to drag Russia into another Afghanistan to detract from the Ukrainian war effort. That certainly failed. But in withdrawing without even a fight after it became clear that Assad was irresolute and his army had been bought off, they have created a quagmire political and military vacuum for the parties choosing to stay in Syria. America is there in spades in the northeast and its presence may increase as the Turks come after the Kurds, who are protected, among other things, by US forces.
Israel has pushed north almost to Damascus in order to put pressure on any new Islamist government to refrain from anti-Israel actions. That may be their most serious mistake yet. Everyone has seen the “Greater Israel” maps, especially everyone in the region. And Netanyahu’s hardline cabinet members do themselves no favors by their reported comments, also seen by everyone in the region. Israel is striking out in all directions in desperation, relying on American backing to save them from disaster. But America is no longer anywhere as strong as it once was against Iran due to its missile technology.
Headchopping jihadis can’t make nice with the Israelis forever. Their “constituents” won’t allow it. Not this conspicuously. And shortly the current Turkish-Kurdish violence will grow into a war involving the US. This will firmly galvanize regional opinion among all Muslims that Israel must be defeated and America expelled and they will unite for that purpose. In fact, it is almost as if a puppeteer has orchestrated Western actions to incite that eventuality – eerily so. Their hubris has driven them mad and unable to even see or hear self-consciously what they are doing. And madness precedes and portends destruction.
The Iranian clerics are right. This party is just getting started.
Brendan says
Max Blumenthal offers the clearest analysis
of why the Syrian government collapsed @
* Max Blumenthal : Turkey Invades Syria. *
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ch1eaf4Kvq4
[Video – 26:21]
The United States is the Chief Creator of Chaos…
George Michalopulos says
Perhaps it’s not the creation of “Greater Israel”, the gobbling of resources, acquisition of territory, etc. Maybe it’s just about fomenting chaos wherever and whenever?
Misha says
As I emailed you last evening, George, I think the irrationality of the situation can be explained by looking at what US/Israel signed on for vs. what was delivered to them by Turkey and Russia.
The objective that the West (including Israel) was aiming for by supporting HTS behind the scenes was not to sever the link through Homs between Iran and Hezbollah. US/Israel did not believe that HTS would get that far south. It surprised everyone when they took Hama and shocked everyone when they took Homs.
Everyone but Erdogan and Putin.
The actual US/Israel backing was for HTS to open up a second front for Russia in Syria by taking Aleppo and restarting an active war between Assad/Russia and “rebels”. Severing the link through Homs was actually an accident, from the perspective of US/Israel, though it was welcomed and they crowed that that was the plan all along in order to save face.
But the plan for a second front failed miserably. Assad wasn’t willing and neither were the Russians. And Erdogan knew that through Astana and other ties with Russia. He deceived the US/Israel into supporting his takeover of Syria with Russia’s acquiescence if not blessing.
This is a Palestinian Muslim analyst named “Mahmood OD”. He has been on Kevork Almassian’s program a few times. I don’t agree with everything he says or believes, of course, but he is insightful:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zsYhZHUGUco
Both the Biden Regime and the alternative media have it wrong on this one. It’s because of their liberal blinders. Turkey will consolidate control over Syria and take on the SDF/Kurds and, consequently, the American occupation in the NE of the country. Israel invaded because they are pissed and scared and understand they have been betrayed. That is why there is a full court media press to make it seem like the Israelis and CiA orchestrated all of this. Erdogan orchestrated this and the Israelis and CIA were simply his willing patsies. That is why the Israelis were terrified that what remained of Assad’s military infrastructure would be turned against them. If they had any intention of HTS taking over the whole country, if they controlled HTS, they would not need to take over southern Syria and destroy the Syrian military because the fix would already have been in.
HTS is not attacking Israel because, as of yet, it is too weak. They invaded with less than 30k men. Until Turkey builds up its presence in Syria, they cannot afford to take on the Israelis. This is why the Iranians are predicting that Syria will drive out the Israelis. It’s not copium, it’s understanding of what actually has transpired.
Brendan says
I shall rephrase my comment thus:
“The United States is the Chief Agent
of the Chief Creator of Chaos…”
I refer of course to the State, not the People.
In support of this I offer the following observation of
Philip Tourney (USS Liberty survivor of June 8, 1967):
“God saved us from God’s Chosen People…”
Mr Tourney’s testimony is given in full interview @
* A Personal Announcement | Candace Owens *
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PD5gtM1A990&t=9s
[Video – 01:10:41]
Brendan says
Here is Andrei Martyanov’s take on it:
“Scratch an Arab general,
find a price tag.”
Brendan says
George: “It appears that I was wrong.”
Not necessarily. Here is an extensive analysis by Scott Ritter
which comprehensively supports your reading of the matter:
* Scott Ritter: Syria TRUTH Exposed, Putin & Iran
on HIGH ALERT as IDF BOMBS Damascus *
https://rumble.com/v5xzf5w-scott-ritter-syria-truth-exposed-putin-and-iran-on-high-alert-as-idf-bombs-.html
[Video – 01:20:31]
George Michalopulos says
One thing I didn’t see until very recently was that because of the fall of Assad, Turkey has now infiltrated itself into Syria. I can see how Erdogan possibly worked this out with Putin. Erdogan is essentially a Russian vassal if this is true.