Sunday, September 27, 2015

M.N.: The current and emerging Middle East conflict is a complex "proxy war"... | Current Headlines

M.N.: The current and emerging Middle East conflict is a complex "proxy war" apparently "without reliable proxies" but with multiple players and "hidden hands"... | Current Headlines - 4:12 PM 9/27/2015

M.N.: The current and emerging Middle East conflict is a complex "proxy war" apparently "without reliable proxies" but with multiple players, "hidden hands" (see this review: "And now, the new wave of terrorism by IS works to Putin’s advantage given his problems in Ukraine." - Paul Goble) and various intertwined goals and objectives. It develops along the Sunni-Shia and the Russia (in alliance with Iran and China) - West divides. As much professed military wisdom goes it promises to be a "long (perpetual?) war" and its final outcome and reverberations remain to be seen after the dust settles and blood dries up. The question is the role and the scope of the U.S. participation in the most rational and efficient manner within some (still fluid and emerging) international framework and with the minimal risks and expenses for the country tired and disappointed with this almost unmanageable  and almost senseless chaos and destruction. However, this chaos might be creative. The point is to help it to become creative and to try to see clearly if it is possible, through the fog of the present and sometimes rather confusing moment. 
The "suddenly" (and very conveniently for Russian strategists) popped up (and readily fanned by pics and drama hungry media) migration crises in both the Europe and the USA, together with the other attempts at social and political destabilization (the examples are abound and not so hypothetical) might also be, at least in part, the results of some hidden movements of the same invisible hand. 

"Мильоны — вас. Нас — тьмы, и тьмы, и тьмы. 
        Попробуйте, сразитесь с нами! 
Да, Скифы — мы! Да, азиаты — мы, — 
        С раскосыми и жадными очами!"

Can this "hand" or "hands" be reprogrammed? It might be easier and smarter than the simple and crude amputation (which might be impossible anyway). This certainly is worth a try, without any guarantee of success and with multiple and yet unknown risks.


"Tamer, 24, from Latakia, said that Russian-led military operations have already started, in apparent contradiction of claims from Moscow and the US secretary of state, John Kerry, that the posture of the new arrivals was defensive.
“The Russians participated in an operation with the regime last week,” Tamer said. “There has long been a planned deportation for the Sunnis in Latakia, and many of their houses were taken by the Iranians and Hezbollah. I believe this is the beginning of dividing the country.
“The Russians came now to rescue the Syrians because the opposition came very close to the Alawite villages in Jourin. They want to control that area because it is on a top of a hill and once they have it, they can control the valleys around it and secure them.”"

Russian planes bring fear and hope to Syrian city in Assad heartland by Martin Chulov
Sunday September 27th, 2015 at 10:46 AM


"Looking at the vacuum left by Obama’s retreating America, Putin seeks to position Russia again as a key Middle East player. How gratifying for him to have Israel’s Binyamin Netanyahu paying personal court in Moscow recently, in recognition of this enhanced role. Looking at the serial crises rocking the EU, from recession to Greece to migration, Putin hopes, as ever, to exacerbate and play upon European divisions. Looking at vulnerable borders from Estonia to Serbia, at the entire post-Soviet space including Georgia and Moldova, and at perceived Nato weakness, Putin sends submarines and nuclear bombers to dramatise his message: Russia is back. His rapid build-up in Syria is not, primarily, about vanquishing Isis, although Russia certainly has good reason to fear Islamist extremism. It is but a part of a bigger, ongoing international power-play fuelled by visceral hostility to the west." 

The Observer view on Russia’s military intervention in Syriaby Observer editorial
Sunday September 27th, 2015 at 10:39 AM

“The Russian goal is to reassert their pivotal role in handling any global crisis,” said Jonathan Eyal, international director at the Royal United Services Institute thinktank. “Without Syria, a man known for aggression in Ukraine has to stand up and explain himself. Now everyone appears to have forgotten what happened in Ukraine and they [will be] hanging on every word. That’s quite a turnaround.”
"For now, Putin has made major gains for a relatively modest outlay, but he is playing politics with an unpredictable war. If Assad’s control slips further, Moscow may be faced with an uncomfortable choice between abandoning the Syrian dictator or making far more difficult sacrifices. “But in trying to reach this goal, he stepped onto a very dangerous track, which can move towards very difficult and maybe tragic things.”"

Vladimir Putin bids for major world role as his forces move into Syria by Emma Graham-Harrison and Alec Luhn
Sunday September 27th, 2015 at 10:41 AM

Current Headlines
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Saturday, September 26, 2015

Headlines - 6:05 PM 9/26/2015

Headlines - 6:05 PM 9/26/2015


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Headlines Update - 2:45 PM 9/26/2015

Reviews - 9.26.15


Hybrid War - Google Search
Hybrid War of 2014 - 2015 - Google Search
russia iran china alliance - Google Search
russia iran china alliance expands into the Middle East - Google Search
power vacuum left by the USA in the Middle East - Google Search
Collision course? Rise of China a stress for the US - BBC News
China's Military Heads for Syria, Supposedly to Join Russia
Putin's Latest Moves: The Military Alliance Among Iran, Hezbollah And Russia In Syria Could Spread To Yemen
China calls for new security pact with Russia, Iran - CBS News
US Forcing Russia, China And Iran Into Military Alliance
What's Behind the New Chinese-Russian-Iranian Alliance? | David Oualaalou
The US and Russia are fighting a new type of hybrid war in Syria | Russia Direct
Recap of Recent Posts at Just Security (September 19–25) | Just Security
The Week That Was: All of Lawfare in One Post - Lawfare
Hearing | Hearings | United States Commitee on Armed Services

Middle East - 9.26.15


Top US, Iranian Diplomats Discuss Syria, Iran Nuclear Deal
Obama Administration Wants to Talk to Iran About Syria - ABC News
Iran to buy $21 billion in Russian space equipment and aircraft: Sputnik | Reuters
Will a U.N.-backed agreement end fighting in parts of Syria? - The Washington Post
Russia’s move into Syria upends U.S. plans and creates new complications - The Washington Post
Bloomberg Politics
Iraq's Stalemate in Ramadi Raises Doubts About US Strategy - ABC News
Kerry says sees opportunity for...
Kerry says sees opportunity for progress on Syria as he meets Zarif | Reuters
Nearly a third of migrants in Germany claiming to be Syrians aren’t from Syria - The Washington Post
Which Migrants Stay in, and Which Leave Turkey?
Haj death toll rises to 769, Iran denounces 'crime' | Reuters
Hajj Disaster: Iran Vows Legal Action Against Saudi Arabia
A Chinese aircraft carrier docks at Tartus to support Russian-Iranian military buildup
Hizballah acquires its first heavy tanks from Iran, not Syria
Stratfor shows that the Russians Are Coming – to Syria | Fabius Maximus website
US intelligence: Russia will launch attacks in Syria - News - Stripes
U.S. Says Rebel It Trained Surrendered Matériel in Syria - The New York Times
Senators Question Obama Administration’s New Legal Argument For Fighting in Syria - Defense One
U.S.-trained Syrian rebels gave equipment to Nusra: U.S. military | Reuters

Cyber Security - 9.26.15


Limiting Security Breaches May Be Impossible Task for U.S. and China - The New York Times
Obama and Xi Jinping of China Agree to Steps on Cybertheft - The New York Times
Cyber-security professionals say employees are the biggest threat to network security | INFORUM

Security - 9.26.15


Drinking Water Systems Imperiled by Failing Infrastructure - ABC News

Russia - 9.26.15


On Syria, Putin Is Catering to an Audience at Home - The New York Times
Putin faces growing exodus as Russia's banking, tech pros flee - Europe - Stripes
Why Russia's Vladimir Putin Is Standing by Syria's President Assad - NBC News
UPDATE 1-Ukraine to pay around $230/tcm for gas in Q4 - Russian energy minister | Reuters

Other News - 9.26.15


China and the US agree to share intel on terror
​Obamas host state dinner for Chinese president and first lady - CBS News
Russia-Estonia spy swap eases tensions in fraught Baltics - Telegraph
Support for Merkel falls over handling of refugee crisis | Reuters
Under pressure from the right, House Speaker Boehner quits | Reuters
Five killed in clashes between Armenian-backed Karabakh troops and Azeri army | Reuters
Circuit court remands terrorism case on grounds FBI withheld info of al-Awlaki investigation | Fox News
Warplanes: MiG-29s Aimed At Russia
Mexico: Corruption, Cartels, Credibility and Culpability
Bill Clinton: GOPers want to ruin Hillary - CNNPolitics.com
Lawsuit: Saudi Prince Abused Women For Days


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Headlines - 12:01 PM 9/26/2015: The "Hybrid War" of 2014 - 2015, part two: Russia-Iran-China Alliance expands into the Middle East to fill out a power vacuum left by the USA

Headlines - 12:01 PM 9/26/2015

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Headlines - 12:01 PM 9/26/2015: The "Hybrid War" of 2014 - 2015, Part Two: Russia-Iran-China Alliance 26/09/15 12:11 from Mike Nova - Google+ 2015-09-26 Headlines - 12:01 PM 9/26/2015: The "Hybrid War" of 2014 - 2015, Part Two: Russia-Iran-China Alliance Expands into the Middle East to fill out a power vacuum left by the USA Collision course? Rise of China a stress for the US

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From The Major News Sources

» 2015-09-26Headlines - 12:01 PM 9/26/2015: The "Hybrid War" of 2014 - 2015, Part Two: Russia-Iran-China Alliance
26/09/15 12:11 from Mike Nova - Google+
2015-09-26 Headlines - 12:01 PM 9/26/2015: The "Hybrid War" of 2014 - 2015, Part Two: Russia-Iran-China Alliance Expands into the Middle East to fill out a power vacuum left by the USA Collision course? Rise of China a stress for the US ...
» 
26/09/15 08:09 from Mike Nova - Google+
This post has been generated by Page2RSS
» 3,596,3483,596,348
26/09/15 03:57 from Mike Nova - Google+
3,596,348 3,596,348 This post has been generated by Page2RSS
» 3,596,2353,596,2352015-09-25Headlines - 6:56 PM 9/25/2015
25/09/15 23:47 from Mike Nova - Google+
3,596,235 3,596,235 2015-09-25 Headlines - 6:56 PM 9/25/2015 9.25.15 F Searching for the roots of Russia’s aggression - The Washington Post U.S. intelligence: Russia will launch attacks in Syria - LA Times It’s time to rethink Syria – PO...
» Assad's position strengthens in Syria with renewed Russian and Iranian support
25/09/15 18:48 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from World. New signs that the Syrian president is gaining the upper hand.
» Assad's position strengthens in Syria with renewed Russian and Iranian support - Washington Post
25/09/15 18:48 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Top Stories - Google News. TODAYonline Assad's position strengthens in Syria with renewed Russian and Iranian support Washington Post On Wednesday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan made a one-day vis...
» Hezbollah leader welcomes Russia’s growing role in Syria
25/09/15 18:48 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from World. The leader of Lebanon’s Shiite Hezbollah group has welcomed what he described as Russia’s growing “combat presence” in Syria, saying it will have a significant impact on the war in the neighboring c...
» Martin Dempsey's greatest hits: Retiring Joint Chiefs chairman's service in song - ArmyTimes.com
25/09/15 18:48 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinks
mikenova shared this story from Top Stories - Google News. ArmyTimes.com Martin Dempsey's greatest hits: Retiring Joint Chiefs chairman's service in song ArmyTimes.com Three days before the ceremony that capped Gen. Martin Dempsey's 41-y...
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