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Regional geopolitics

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  • Re: Regional geopolitics

    PKK leader: Turkey is protecting IS by attacking Kurds
    Cemil Bayik, the man currently leading the Kurdistan Workers' Party, tells the BBC he believes Turkey is trying to protect the Islamic State group.

    Cemil Bayik, is considered the most important figure of the PKK at the moment

    The man leading the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) has accused Turkey of trying to protect the Islamic State group by attacking Kurdish fighters.
    Cemil Bayik told the BBC he believed President Recep Tayyip Erdogan wanted IS to succeed to prevent Kurdish gains.

    Kurdish fighters - among them the PKK - have secured significant victories against IS militants in Syria and Iraq.

    But Turkey, like a number of Western countries, considers the PKK a terrorist organisation.

    A ceasefire in the long-running conflict with the group appeared to disintegrate in July, when Turkey began bombing PKK camps in northern Iraq, at the same time as launching air strikes on IS militants.

    Observers say PKK fighters have been on the receiving end of far more attacks than IS.

    But Turkish officials deny that the campaign against IS group is a cover to prevent Kurdish gains. On Wednesday, Turkey said it was planning a "comprehensive battle" against IS.

    'Stop Kurdish advance'

    "The Turkish claim they are fighting Islamic State… but in fact they are fighting the PKK," Cemil Bayik told BBC's Jiyar Gol.

    "They are doing it to limit the PKK's fight against IS. Turkey is protecting IS.

    "[President] Erdogan is behind IS massacres. His aim is it stop the Kurdish advance against them, thus advancing his aim of Turkishness in Turkey."

    Map: Kurdish populated areas in Turkey, Syria and Iraq

    More than 40,000 people have been killed since the PKK began its armed struggle against the Turkish government in 1984.
    In the 1990s, the organisation dropped its demand for a Kurdish state and instead called for more autonomy for the Kurds.

    In March 2013, its imprisoned leader Abdullah Ocalan called a ceasefire.

    But violence has resumed in recent weeks after a suicide bombing blamed on IS killed 32 people in the predominantly Kurdish town of Suruc.

    The PKK's military wing killed two Turkish police officers, claiming they had collaborated with IS in the bombing.

    Turkey says the group has been behind a number of other attacks.
    When, on 24 July, Turkey officially launched its first airstrikes against IS, it also attacked Kurdish positions in northern Iraq.

    Negotiations 'only choice'

    Speaking to the BBC, Mr Bayik said negotiations were the "only choice" for an end to the Kurdish conflict.

    He said the PKK would stop fighting if Turkey ended its military operation, and called for international monitors to oversee a ceasefire.

    Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has previously said that strikes against the PKK would continue until the group surrenders.

    The country's fight with the PKK is complicating the US-led war on the Islamic State group, for which the US has relied heavily on Syrian Kurdish fighters affiliated with Turkey's Kurdish rebels.

    Comment


    • Re: Regional geopolitics

      Իսկանդերը Հայաստանի ճանապարհին

      ՀԱԿՈԲ ԲԱԴԱԼՅԱՆ, Մեկնաբան
      10 Օգոստոսի 2015,


      Ռուսաստանի ռազմական փորձագետները, նաեւ շատ հայաստանցի փորձագետներ կասկած են հայտնում, թե Ռուսաստանը Հայաստանին կվաճառի Իսկանդեր Մ հրթիռային օպերատիվ-տակտիկական համակարգ: Ռուսաստանցի մի շարք փորձագետներ նույնիսկ բացառում են դա: Իսկանդերի հետ կապված խոսակցությունն աշխուժացավ մոտ մեկուկես ամիս առաջ արված հայտարարությունից հետո, թե Հայաստանը Ռուսաստանի հետ պայմանավորվել է 200 միլիոն դոլար արտոնյալ արտահանման վարկի շուրջ, որով ձեռք կբերի արդիական սպառազինություն: Այդ մասին հայտարարել էր Սերժ Սարգսյանը:

      Դրանից հետո եղել են ենթադրություններ, որ խոսքն ամենայն հավանականությամբ Իսկանդերի մասին է: Որեւէ պաշտոնական հաստատում դրա վերաբերյալ չի եղել:
      Փոխարենը փորձագիտական մակարդակում ասվում է, որ Ռուսաստանը այն չի վաճառի Հայաստանին, որպես փաստարկ բերվում է ոչ միայն քաղաքականությունը, այլ նաեւ այն, էր Իսկանդերը ավելի թանկ արժե, քան 200 միլիոն դոլարը:

      Գինն իհարկե փաստարկ չէ, նախ որովհետեւ դա կոմերցիոն գաղտնիք է, հետեւաբար հայտարարվող թվերը հարաբերական են (օրինակ, գուցե Հայաստանն ի վիճակի է գնի մի մասը վճարել, իսկ վարկով ապահովվում է ընդամենը մյուս մասը):

      Խնդիրն անշուշտ քաղաքականությունն է: Այստեղ կան մի շարք հարցեր: Նախ, առաջին հերթին, օպերատիվ-տակտիկական նշանակության սպառազինության տեղադրումը քաղաքական խորհրդակցությունների հարց է առաջացնում ինքնին, ինչը պայմանավորված է թե այդ զինատեսակների բնույթով՝ դրանք փաստացի ունակ են փոխել որեւէ տարածաշրջանի ռազմա-քաղաքական հավասարակշություն, թե այդօրինակ հրթիռատեսակների վաճառք սահմանափակող միջազգային պայմանագրերով:

      Խոսուն օրինակ է այն, որ Ռուսաստանի Դաշնությունը ի պատասխան Լեհաստանում ամերիկյան հակաօդային պաշտպանության համակարգի տեղակայման, հայտարարեց, թե Կալինինգրադում Իսկանդեր կտեղակայի: Փաստացի, Ռուսաստանն անգամ իր տարածք հանդիսացող Կալինինգրադում ի զորու չէ ցանկացած պահի տեղակայել Իսկանդեր, եւ այստեղ կան քաղաքական խնդիրներ: Որովհետեւ, օրինակ, Եվրոպայի համար մի բան է, երբ Իսկանդերը Կալինինգրադում է՝ այսինքն Եվրոպայի փաստացի սահմանի բերանին, եւ մեկ այլ բան, երբ այն ասենք Ռոստովում է:
      Հետեւաբար, եթե Ռուսաստանը չի կարող ցանկացած պահի, առանց միջազգային քաղաքական քննարկումների այդ զինատեսակը տեղակայել իր տարածքում, ապա ինքնին հասկանալի է, որ Հայաստանում այն տեղակայելու հարցում քաղաքական քննարկումներն անխուսափելի են:

      Չի բացառվում, որ ներկայում այդ քննարկումներն ընթանում են ու դրանց արդյունքից է կախված հայ-ռուսական համաձայնությունը: Ընդ որում, քննարկումների հնարավոր ուղղությունները կարող են շատ լինել՝ ԱՄՆ, Թուրքիա, Եվրամիություն, Իրան, Ադրբեջան: Եթե Հայաստանում տեղակայվում է օպերատիվ-տակտիկական այդ զինատեսակը, ապա այն այսպես թե այնպես ոչ միայն հայ-ադրբեջանական, այլ տարածաշրջանային եւ միջազգային անվտանգության համակարգին առնչվող գործոն է:

      Հետեւաբար, այդ իմաստով քննարկումների առկայությունը միանգամայն օրինաչափ է: Հարցն այն է, թե ինչպիսին է դրանց ընթացքը Հայաստանի համար: Կասկածից վեր է, որ առնվազն երկու պետություն դեմ կլինեն Հայաստանում Իսկանդերի հայտնվելուն՝ Թուրքիա եւ Ադրբեջան: Սակայն, առանցքային նշանակություն կունենա այն, թե ինչ կարծիքի է ԱՄՆ-ն: Ըստ ամենայնի, ԱՄՆ դեմ չի լինի, եթե Հայաստանը ձեռք բերի այդօրինակ զինատեսակ եւ չի բացառվում, որ վերջին օրերի հայ-ամերիկյան պաշտպանական քննարկումները ունեցել են նաեւ այդ հարցում համաձայնության նպատակ:

      Ռուսաստանի համար խնդիրը թերեւս առավելապես բիզնեսն է: Նախ, Հայաստանը մնում է վարկային նոր պարտավորության տակ, բացի այդ Ռուսաստանը մի քանի հարյուր միլիոնի գործարք է անում, դրանից զատ հնարավոր է, որ Ադրբեջանը Հայաստանի «ինադու» նոր պատվեր տա ռուսական ռազմարդյունաբերությանը, որը եւս հայտնվել է միջազգային պատժամիջոցների տակ:
      Ռազմա-քաղաքական առումով Հայաստանին Իսկանդերի տրամադրումը Ռուսաստանի համար թերեւս խնդիր չէ: Դրանով Հայաստանը ՌԴ-ից չի անկախանալու եւ ոչ էլ մեկ զարկով լուծելու է Ադրբեջանի հարցը:

      Միեւնույն ժամանակ, կա վտանգ, որ Ռուսաստանի համար շատ ավելի աժեքավոր կարող է լինել գործընթացը, որի միջոցով նա միաժամանակ կշանտաժի թե Երեւանին, թե Բաքվին: Ըստ այդմ, Մոսկվային շահեկան կլինի հնարավորինս ձգել գործարքը:

      Անշուշտ չի բացառվում, որ կարող է խոսք լինել բոլորովին այլ սպառազինության մասին: Միեւնույն ժամանակ ակնհայտ է, որ ներկայիս դրությամբ Հայաստանն ունի հենց օպերատիվ-տակտիկական նշանակության արդիական սպառազինության կարիք, որը կհավասարակշռի հարձակողական սպառազինության ոլորտում Ադրբեջանի ձեռք բերած որոշակի առավելությունը:
      Իսկանդերի մասին խոսելիս հարկ է նաեւ նկատի առնել հանգամանքը, որ այդ հրթիռային համակարգն ունի երեք տարբերակ՝ Իսկանդեր Մ, Իսկանդեր Է, Իսկանդեր Կ: Իսկանդեր Մ-ը նախատեսված է միայն ռուսական զինուժի սպառազինման համար, եւ այդ առումով Ռուսաստանն այսպես, թե այնպես այդ զինատեսակը չի տրամադրի Հայաստանին: Արտահանման համար նախատեսված է Իսկանդեր Է-ն:

      - See more at: http://www.lragir.am/index/arm/0/com....0M4hwFWd.dpuf

      Comment


      • Re: Regional geopolitics

        Հայաստանը կամ պետք է լինի մեծ ու հզոր, կամ չի գոյատեւի. Սեւրի պայմանագրի 95-ամյակը

        ՌՈԶԱ ՀՈՎՀԱՆՆԻՍՅԱՆ, Լրագրող
        10 Օգոստոսի 2015,

        Սևրի պայմանագիրը Հայաստանի համար հնարավորություն է, իսկ ցանկացած հնարավորություն կարող է իրականանալ, եթե այդ ուղղությամբ քայլեր կատարվեն: Այս կարծիքին է Մոդուս Վիվենդի կենտրոնի ղեկավար Արա Պապյանը, ով Lragir.am-ի հետ զրույցում նշեց, որ ցավոք սրտի, այսօր Հայաստանի կողմից քայլեր նկատելի չեն:

        «Սևրի պայմանագիրը կարևոր քաղաքական և իրավական փաստաթուղթ է: Քաղաքական, որովհետև դրա մեջ կան Հայաստանի և Քրդստանի վերաբերյալ կետեր, որոնք դեռ չեն իրականացվել, բայց դրանց նշանակությունը պահպանվում է: Քրդերն ըստ էության այսօր թեժացնելով պայքարը՝ վկայակոչում են Սևրի պայմանագիրը: Իրավական առումով այն ևս կարևոր փաստաթուղթ է, որովհետև դա հիմքերից մեկն է, որի հիման վրա իրավարար վճիռ է կայացվել: Անկախ նրանից՝ այդ փաստաթուղթը վավերացվել է, թե ոչ, այն ուժի մեջ գտնվող փաստաթուղթ է, որովհետև միջազգային իրավունքն ասում է՝ եթե պայմանագիրը ստորագրվել է պայմանավորվող կողմերի միջև, այն պարտադիր է՝ անկախ վավերացումից»,- ասաց Պապյանը:

        Թե ինչքանո՞վ է այն հնարավոր կյանքի կոչել, նրա խոսքով, դա հնարավորություն է, իսկ ցանկացած հնարավորություն իրականություն դարձնելու համար պետք է հետևողական քայլեր կատարել:
        Արա Պապյանը նկատում է, որ Հայաստանի կողմից մինչ օրս Թուրքիայի նկատմամբ կոշտ քաղաքականություն չի վարվել: Այն քաղաքականությունը, որը վարվում էր Ցյուրիխյան արձանագրությունների շրջանակներում, խնդրողի քաղաքականություն էր, որը չտվեց արդյունք:

        «Սևրի պայմանագիրը և Վիլսոնի իրավարար վճիռը լծակներ են, պարտադրանքի միջոցներ, որով կարելի է ինչ-որ բան ստանալ Թուրքիայից: Եթե մենք հարցը չբարձրացնենք, որևէ մեկը չի բարձրացնելու: Շատերն ասում են՝ իրավարար վճռի առումով ինչո՞ւ ԱՄՆ-ն չի բարձրացնում հարցը: Բայց ինչո՞ւ պետք է Ամերիկան բարձրացնի: Ո՞վ է շահող կողմը՝ Հայաստանն է, Հայաստանն էլ պետք է բարձրացնի: Եթե մեզ հաջողվի հարցը բերել արդիական քաղաքական դաշտ, հետևողական ջանքեր լինեն, հնարավոր է, որ հայտնվեն երկրներ, որոնց հետ կարելի է համագործակցել: Իսկ քանի որ մենք դա չենք անում, բնականաբար չենք էլ իմանա՝ ով է շահագրգռված, ով ոչ: Իսկ այն, որ գնալով շատանում է այն երկրների թիվը, որոնք պատրաստ են Թուրքիայի վրա ճնշում բանեցնել, դա էլ ակնհայտ է»,- ընդգծեց նա:

        Արա Պապյանը նկատում է, որ Ցեղասպանության 100-ամյա տարելիցի համահայկական հռչակագրում աշխատանքային խումբ ստեղծելու վերաբերյալ դրույթ կա: Սակայն գործնական աշխատանք կարծես նկատելի չէ:

        «Գործնականում այդ խումբը չկա, ինչ-որ մի բան ստեղծվել է, բայց գործնականում որևէ արդյունավետ աշխատանք չի իրականացվում: Լավ է, որ հռչակագրի մեջ հիշատակվեց, բայց դա բավարար չէ: Քաղաքականության մեջ պետք է տարիների հետևողական աշխատանք իրականացնել, հարցը առաջ տանել ու բարենպաստ պայմաններում բարձրացնել: Իսկ եթե ոչինչ չես անում, ոչինչ չես ստանա»,- նշեց նա:

        Պապյանի խոսքով՝ վաղուց էր պետք գործել, քանի որ Հայաստանը ներկա սահմաններով ոչ կենսունակ պետություն է: «Եվ պատահական չէ, որ արդեն հնչեցնում են Ռուսաստանի կազմի մեջ մտնելու մասին և այլն: Հայաստանը կամ պետք է լինի մեծ ու հզոր, կամ չի կարող լինել, այլ կդառնա ինչ-որ երկրի մարզ: Իհարկե, երկրորդը շատ ավելի հեշտ է, բայց առաջինին հասնելու համար, մեծ ու հզոր դառնալու համար շատ ծանր աշխատանք է պետք տանել: Միայն մեծ ու հզոր Հայաստանը կկարողանա գոյատևել»,- ասաց նա:

        - See more at: http://www.lragir.am/index/arm/0/pol....XsSAj4L0.dpuf
        Last edited by Vrej1915; 08-10-2015, 09:58 PM.

        Comment


        • Re: Regional geopolitics

          Russia and the Battle for Ukraine’s Hearts and Minds
          August 10, 2015 -
          by Eugene Chausovsky

          EurasiaNet Commentary


          Russian President Vladimir Putin has become enemy number one in Ukraine. The longer the conflict in eastern Ukraine drags on, the further the Ukrainian public is likely to psychologically drift away from Russia. (Photo: European Union)

          Russia may have the upper hand in the war in eastern Ukraine, but it is losing the battle for the hearts and minds of the Ukrainian nation. As a result, the more Russian leader Vladimir Putin tries to pull strings, the more he weakens the cultural and historical ties that have long bound Russia and Ukraine.

          Ukraine has experienced a fundamental shift in public opinion since the EuroMaidan uprising in late 2013 – early 2014. And the transformation has been startlingly fast. The cultural and linguistic connections between the two Slavic peoples were such that pretty much no one in Ukraine could have predicted two years ago that their country would be in a fight today against Russia.

          Now, in the midst of war, things have visibly changed in the country. Outside the conflict zone in eastern Ukraine, in many of the country’s large cities national flags are found in abundance in places where they were hardly seen just two years before. Billboards and signs call on citizens to support the war effort, while stores and cafes in cities like Lviv house donation buckets to help the poorly equipped security forces. In Kyiv, the same souvenir stands that used to sell Soviet paraphernalia, such as KGB flasks and busts of Lenin, now sell Azov battalion t-shirts and toilet paper with Putin’s face on it.

          Among many of Ukraine’s citizens, even those that were previously apolitical or had a favorable view of Russia, Putin has become enemy number one. “The ironic thing is that, while Putin supports the war in Donbas and tries to weaken Ukraine, he has done more to build Ukrainian solidarity and patriotism than anyone else as a result of this conflict,” said Mikhail Stepanskiy, a Kyiv resident and creative director of a branding agency.

          While central and western Ukraine has decidedly turned away from Russia and towards Europe, public attitudes are more nuanced in cities like Kharkiv and Odessa. Culturally and historically closer to Russia, the inhabitants of those two areas tend to be more skeptical about the aims of the Ukrainian government in Kyiv, especially the stated desire for the country to move closer to the European Union and NATO.

          But even there pro-Russian sentiment has failed to gain much ground and those regions remain firmly rooted in Ukraine. “The economic situation is difficult enough as it is, we don’t want to become another Donetsk or Luhansk,” said Tatyana, a pensioner from Kharkiv. She added that while she does not trust Poroshenko (“he is just another oligarch”), Ukraine does need someone to stand up to Putin, who “has a Napoleon complex and is trying to make history as another Russian tsar.”

          The shift in attitudes among ordinary Ukrainians, both in terms of greater animosity towards Russia and greater patriotism on the home front, is in some ways more important to consider in assessing the future of the country than the current state of the fighting. On the battlefield, Russia has been able to facilitate the splitting off of the Donbas from Ukraine. Russian military power is simply too much for Ukraine’s fledgling security forces, even with the increased financial and material support from the West, and the one thing that most everyone in Ukraine agrees on is that the war is not likely to end anytime soon.

          But the irony is that the longer the conflict in eastern Ukraine drags on, the further the Ukrainian public is likely to psychologically drift away from Russia. Combined with a new post-Soviet generation coming of age in the country, this will make soft power all the more difficult for Russia to wield in Ukraine. Even Moscow’s tried and true hard-power tactics of energy cutoffs, trade squeezes, and political manipulation are no longer as potent as they once were. The main problem with this, however, is that it may force the Kremlin to adopt an even more aggressive posture down the line, as Putin is not known as someone to back down.

          Editor's note: Eugene Chausovsky is a Eurasia Analyst at Stratfor [www.stratfor.com].

          Comment


          • Re: Regional geopolitics

            Notice in the above thread not one word of the west having any culpability in this fiasco created by the west.
            Notice the comparison of Putin to Napoleon, but no equivalent caricature of the western conniving?
            Do all Ukrainians perceive only west's viewpoint as stated in this article? Not likely. Can the Ukraine's jump to fanaticism such as maiden horrors? It's written in stone. And that's how fast nationalism can be --- fanned --- in Ukraine.
            The place got messed up fast and if anyone doesn't think USA/west didn't play an active and highly aggressive role, well, we dramatically disagree.
            The above article actually only acknowledges how fast Ukraine can be manipulated to its ruin.
            What the article doesn't mention is the west gave Russia no option and the west is the primary causative factor.
            Not one word.
            Look who's screaming of Russia's wrongdoing. Does anybody actually trust any of them?

            Comment


            • Re: Regional geopolitics

              Originally posted by Artashes View Post
              Notice in the above thread not one word of the west having any culpability in this fiasco created by the west.
              Notice the comparison of Putin to Napoleon, but no equivalent caricature of the western conniving?
              Do all Ukrainians perceive only west's viewpoint as stated in this article? Not likely. Can the Ukraine's jump to fanaticism such as maiden horrors? It's written in stone. And that's how fast nationalism can be --- fanned --- in Ukraine.
              The place got messed up fast and if anyone doesn't think USA/west didn't play an active and highly aggressive role, well, we dramatically disagree.
              The above article actually only acknowledges how fast Ukraine can be manipulated to its ruin.
              What the article doesn't mention is the west gave Russia no option and the west is the primary causative factor.
              Not one word.
              Look who's screaming of Russia's wrongdoing. Does anybody actually trust any of them?
              My Dear,
              of course the West did trap Putin.
              And Putin jumped in two feets joined...

              The result of the game:
              He lost 95% of Ukrain, while keeping 5% of ruined ashes...

              Khrim was an other history, since it was always russian anyway....
              And the trap was just the absence of serious reaction after its seisure.
              The fiasco began the day he jumped in donbass mess...

              Anyway, no matter how the russian proganda does sell the results, it is a pure western victory.
              And by the way, from a ukrainsky nationalist perspective, the result is not very different.
              A couple of years back, they were banderists based in Lvov.
              Today they have full control of Kiev, and even a pro russian bastions as Kharkov or Odessa did not react to Putin's calls...

              So of course it is a Western scenario.
              And effectively, Russian national interests were dilapidated by the Putin regime's miscalculations.

              Comment


              • Re: Regional geopolitics

                Originally posted by Vrej1915 View Post
                My Dear,
                of course the West did trap Putin.
                And Putin jumped in two feets joined...

                The result of the game:
                He lost 95% of Ukrain, while keeping 5% of ruined ashes...

                Khrim was an other history, since it was always russian anyway....
                And the trap was just the absence of serious reaction after its seisure.
                The fiasco began the day he jumped in donbass mess...

                Anyway, no matter how the russian proganda does sell the results, it is a pure western victory.
                And by the way, from a ukrainsky nationalist perspective, the result is not very different.
                A couple of years back, they were banderists based in Lvov.
                Today they have full control of Kiev, and even a pro russian bastions as Kharkov or Odessa did not react to Putin's calls...

                So of course it is a Western scenario.
                And effectively, Russian national interests were dilapidated by the Putin regime's miscalculations.
                The game was not against Putin but against the people of Ukraine.

                The west had to make sure Ukraine would be ruined so it would not be of any value to the Russians.

                The Ukrainians fell in the trap sugar-coated as democracy.

                The economy of the country is ruined.

                Incidentally the west could never afford to invest in the country to bring it up to the European standard.

                In many ways the catastrophe is worse than Greece.

                Had it been left alone it would have chuck along till they found their way.

                .
                Politics is not about the pursuit of morality nor what's right or wrong
                Its about self interest at personal and national level often at odds with the above.
                Great politicians pursue the National interest and small politicians personal interests

                Comment


                • Re: Regional geopolitics

                  Originally posted by Artashes View Post
                  Notice in the above thread not one word of the west having any culpability in this fiasco created by the west.
                  Notice the comparison of Putin to Napoleon, but no equivalent caricature of the western conniving?
                  Do all Ukrainians perceive only west's viewpoint as stated in this article? Not likely. Can the Ukraine's jump to fanaticism such as maiden horrors? It's written in stone. And that's how fast nationalism can be --- fanned --- in Ukraine.
                  The place got messed up fast and if anyone doesn't think USA/west didn't play an active and highly aggressive role, well, we dramatically disagree.
                  The above article actually only acknowledges how fast Ukraine can be manipulated to its ruin.
                  What the article doesn't mention is the west gave Russia no option and the west is the primary causative factor.
                  Not one word.
                  Look who's screaming of Russia's wrongdoing. Does anybody actually trust any of them?
                  Originally posted by Vrej1915 View Post
                  My Dear,
                  of course the West did trap Putin.
                  And Putin jumped in two feets joined...

                  The result of the game:
                  He lost 95% of Ukrain, while keeping 5% of ruined ashes...

                  Khrim was an other history, since it was always russian anyway....
                  And the trap was just the absence of serious reaction after its seisure.
                  The fiasco began the day he jumped in donbass mess...

                  Anyway, no matter how the russian proganda does sell the results, it is a pure western victory.
                  And by the way, from a ukrainsky nationalist perspective, the result is not very different.
                  A couple of years back, they were banderists based in Lvov.
                  Today they have full control of Kiev, and even a pro russian bastions as Kharkov or Odessa did not react to Putin's calls...

                  So of course it is a Western scenario.
                  And effectively, Russian national interests were dilapidated by the Putin regime's miscalculations.
                  --- pure west victory?
                  I disagree completly. Crimea is worthless? Again , I disagree completly. My point was the article is nothing more than west propaganda.
                  Originally posted by londontsi View Post
                  The game was not against Putin but against the people of Ukraine.

                  The west had to make sure Ukraine would be ruined so it would not be of any value to the Russians.

                  The Ukrainians fell in the trap sugar-coated as democracy.

                  The economy of the country is ruined.

                  Incidentally the west could never afford to invest in the country to bring it up to the European standard.

                  In many ways the catastrophe is worse than Greece.

                  Had it been left alone it would have chuck along till they found their way.

                  .
                  I agree, the west sold Ukraine for their own heartless and fraudulent agenda, now the place is in flames and fractured.
                  --- democracy as a sugar coating --- completly agree. What a sham & shame for those people.
                  The west isn't going to financially and materially raise Ukraine to economic prosperity , lol. They are going to entangle them in an economic trap that those people may never get out of.

                  Comment


                  • Re: Regional geopolitics

                    You can clearly see that Vrej is just a mole planted here to spew western bs and not a thing more.
                    Hayastan or Bust.

                    Comment


                    • Re: Regional geopolitics

                      WHY SYRIA IS WINNING: ADVANCING TOWARDS A STRATEGIC VICTORY THAT WILL TRANSFORM THE MIDDLE EAST?

                      [ Part 2.2: "Attached Text" ]

                      By Prof. Tim Anderson

                      Syria is winning. Despite ongoing bloodshed and serious economic
                      pressure, Syria is advancing steadily towards a military and strategic
                      victory that will transform the Middle East. There is clear evidence
                      that Washington's plans - whether for 'regime change', for rendering
                      the state dysfunctional or for dismembering the country on sectarian
                      lines - have failed.

                      That failure will fatally wound the US dream, announced a decade ago
                      by Bush junior, for a subservient 'New Middle East'.

                      Syria's victory is a combination of coherent popular support for the
                      national army, in face of a vicious sectarian Islamists (takfiris),
                      firm backing by key allies, and fragmentation of the international
                      forces lined up against them.

                      The economic hardships, including regular blackouts, are now worse but
                      have not broken the Syrian people's will to resist. The government
                      ensures basic foods are affordable and maintains education, health,
                      sports, cultural and other services. A string of formerly hostile
                      states and UN agencies are resuming their relations with Syria. An
                      improved security situation, the recent big power agreement with Iran
                      and other favourable diplomatic moves are all signs that the Axis of
                      Resistance has strengthened.

                      You wouldn't know much of this by reading the western media, which has
                      lied persistently about the character of the conflict and developments
                      in the crisis. Key features of that deception have been to hide NATO's
                      backing for the takfiri groups, yet trumpet their advances and ignore
                      the Syrian Army roll-backs. In fact, these western-backed terrorists
                      have made no real strategic advance since a flood of foreign fighters
                      helped them take parts of northern Aleppo, back in mid-2012.

                      In my second visit to Syria during the crisis, in July 2015, I
                      could see how security had improved around the major cities. In my
                      first visit in December 2013, although NATO's throat-cutters had been
                      ejected from much of Homs and Qsayr, they were in the ancient village
                      of Maloula and along the Qalamoun Mountains, as well as attacking
                      the road south to Sweida. This year we were able to travel freely
                      by road from Sweida to Damascus to Homs to Latakia, with just one
                      minor detour around Harasta. In late 2013 there was daily mortaring
                      of eastern Damascus; this year it was far less common. The army seems
                      to control 90% of the heavily populated areas.

                      Fact check one: there never were any 'moderate rebels'. A genuine
                      political reform movement was displaced by a Saudi-backed Islamist
                      insurrection, through March-April 2011. In the first few months
                      of the crisis, from Daraa to Homs, key armed groups like the Farouq
                      brigade were extremists backed by Saudi Arabia and Qatar, who practised
                      public atrocities and blew up hospitals, using genocidal slogans and
                      practising sectarian ethnic cleansing (1). Syrians these days call them
                      all 'Daesh' (ISIL) or just 'mercenaries', not bothering too much with
                      the different brand names. The recent statement by 'moderate rebel'
                      leader Lamia Nahas that Syria's 'minorities are evil and must be
                      disposed of', just as Hitler and the Ottomans disposed of minorities
                      (2), only underlines that fact. The character of the armed conflict
                      has always been between a confrontation between an authoritarian but
                      pluralist and socially inclusive state, and Saudi-style sectarian
                      Islamists, acting as proxy armies for the big powers.

                      Fact check two: almost all the atrocities blamed on the Syrian
                      Army have been committed by western-backed gangs, as part of their
                      strategy to attract deeper western intervention. That includes the
                      discredited chemical weapons claims (3) and the collateral damage
                      claims of the so-called 'barrel bombing'. US journalist Nir Rosen
                      wrote back in 2012, 'Every day the opposition gives a death toll,
                      usually without any explanation ... Many of those reported killed
                      are in fact dead opposition fighters but ... described in reports as
                      innocent civilians killed by security forces' (4).

                      Those opposition reports are still relied on by partisan groups such as
                      Amnesty International (US) and Human Rights Watch, to bolster the war
                      propaganda. The Syrian Army has indeed executed captured terrorists,
                      and the secret police continue to detain and mistreat those suspected
                      of collaborating with those terrorists. But this is an army which
                      enjoys very strong public support. The Islamist gangs, on the other
                      hand, openly boast of their atrocities and have minimal public support.

                      Fact check three: while there is a terrorist 'presence' in large parts
                      of Syria, neither Daesh/ISIL nor any other armed group 'controls' much
                      of the populated Syrian territory. Western agencies (such as Janes
                      and ISW) regularly confuse presence with control. Notwithstanding the
                      Daesh/ISIL offensives in Daraa, Idlib and Eastern Homs, the heavily
                      populated areas of Syria are under noticeably stronger army control
                      than they were in 2013. Only a few areas have been held for months or
                      years. In any sustained confrontation, the Army generally wins; but
                      it is under pressure and not infrequently makes a tactical retreat,
                      because it is fighting on dozens of fronts.

                      The Syrian Army has tightened its cordon around northern Aleppo,
                      Douma and Harasta, and has had recent victories in Hasaka, Idlib
                      and Daraa. With Hezbollah forces the Army has virtually eliminated
                      Daesh/ISIL and its squabbling partners from the Qalamoun mountains,
                      along the border with Lebanon.

                      Despite years of mass terrorism and western sanctions the Syrian
                      state is functioning surprisingly well. In July 2015 our group
                      visited large sports centres, schools and hospitals. Millions of
                      Syrian children attend school and hundreds of thousands still study
                      in mostly fee-free universities. Unemployment, shortages and power
                      blackouts plague the country. Takfiri groups have targeted hospitals
                      for demolition since 2011. They also regularly attack power plants,
                      leading to government rationing of electricity, until the system
                      is back up. There are serious shortages and widespread poverty but,
                      despite the war, everyday life goes on.

                      For example, there was controversy in 2014 over building the 'Uptown'
                      complex in New Sham, a large satellite city outside Damascus. The
                      facility comprises restaurants, shops, sports facilities and, at
                      the centre, children's rides and other entertainment. 'How could the
                      state spend so much money on this, when so many people were suffering
                      from the war?' one side of the argument ran. On the other side it was
                      said that life goes on and families have to live their lives. After
                      Ramadan, during Eid, we saw thousands of families making use of this
                      very child-friendly complex.

                      Security procedures have become 'normal'. Frequent army checkpoints
                      are met with remarkable patience. Syrians know they are for their
                      security, especially against the car and truck bombs used by the
                      Islamists. Soldiers are efficient but human, often exchanging friendly
                      chat with the people. Most families have members in the Army and many
                      have lost loved ones. Syrians do not endure curfews or cower from
                      soldiers, as so many did under the US-backed fascist dictatorships
                      of Chile and El Salvador, in the past.

                      In the north, the Mayor of Latakia told us that this province of 1.3
                      million now has over three million, having absorbed displaced people
                      from Aleppo, Idlib and other northern areas affected by incursions
                      of sectarian terrorists. Most are in free or subsidised government
                      housing, with family and friends, renting or in small businesses. We
                      saw one group of about 5,000, many from Hama, at Latakia's large
                      sports complex. In the south, Sweida has been hosting 130,000
                      displaced families from the Daraa area, doubling the population of
                      that province. Yet Damascus holds the greater part of the six million
                      internally displaced people and, with a little help from the UNHCR,
                      the government and army are the main ones organising their care. The
                      western media only tells you about the refugee camps in Turkey and
                      Jordan, facilities mostly controlled by the armed groups.

                      The 'regime attacking civilians' or 'indiscriminately' bombing civilian
                      areas only has a basis in the Islamist propaganda on which much of
                      the western media relies.

                      The fact that, after three years, Syrian planes and artillery have
                      not flattened hold-out areas like Jobar, Douma and parts of northern
                      Aleppo, gives the lie to claims against the Army. You can be almost
                      certain that the next time western media say 'civilians' are being
                      killed by 'indiscriminate' Syrian government bombing, it is the
                      Islamist sources themselves who are under attack.

                      This war is being fought on the ground, building to building, with
                      many army casualties. Many Syrians we spoke to said they wished the
                      government would indeed flatten these ghost towns, saying that the only
                      civilians left there are the families of and collaborators with the
                      extremist groups. The Syrian Government proceeds with greater caution.

                      Regional states see what is coming, and have begun to rebuild ties
                      with Syria. Washington still pushes its chemical weapons lies (in
                      face of the independent evidence), but lost its stomach for any major
                      escalation back in late 2013, after the confrontation with Russia.

                      There is still much sabre rattling (5), but it is noteworthy that
                      Egypt and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), enemies of Syria just a
                      little while back, are now normalising their diplomatic relations
                      with Damascus.

                      The UAE, perhaps the most 'flexible' of the Gulf monarchies, but
                      also linked by Vice President Joe Biden to support for Daesh/ISIL
                      (6), has its own worries. It recently arrested dozens of Islamists
                      over a plot to turn the absolutist monarchy into an absolutist
                      caliphate (7). Egypt, back in military hands after a short-lived
                      Muslim Brotherhood Government that wanted to join in the attacks on
                      Syria, is now dealing with its own sectarian terrorism, from that same
                      Brotherhood. The largest of Arab countries now defends the territorial
                      integrity of Syria and backs (at least verbally) the Syrian campaigns
                      against terrorism. Egyptian analyst Hassan Abou Taleb calls this
                      message 'a condemnation and rejection of Turkey's unilateral moves'
                      against Syria (8).

                      The Erdogan Government tried to position Turkey at the head of a
                      Muslim Brotherhood region, but has lost allies, is often at odds with
                      its anti-Syrian partners and faces dissent at home. Washington has
                      tried to use the separatist Kurds against both Baghdad and Damascus,
                      while Turkey sees them as key enemies and the Saudi-backed Islamists
                      slaughter them as 'apostate' Muslims. For their part, the Kurdish
                      communities have enjoyed greater autonomy and acceptance under Iran
                      and Syria.

                      Washington's recent agreement with Iran is an important development,
                      as the Islamic Republic remains the most important regional ally of
                      secular Syria and a firm opponent of Saudi-style Islamists. Affirmation
                      of Iran's role in the region upsets the Saudis and Israel, but bodes
                      well for Syria. All commentators see a diplomatic jockeying for
                      position after the Iran deal and - despite Iran's recent exclusion
                      from a meeting between Russian, US and Saudi foreign ministers -
                      there can be little doubt that Iran's hand has been strengthened in
                      regional affairs. An unusual meeting between Syria's intelligence
                      chief, Brigadier-General Ali Mamlouk, and the Saudi Defence Minister,
                      Prince Mohammed Bin Salman (9), also shows that the Syrian Government
                      has resumed direct discussions with the major sponsor of terrorism
                      in the region.

                      Syria is winning because the Syrian people have backed their army
                      against sectarian provocations, mostly fighting their own battles
                      against NATO and Gulf Monarchy sponsored multi-national terrorism.

                      Syrians, including most devout Sunni Muslims, will never accept that
                      head-chopping, vicious and sectarian perversion of Islam promoted by
                      the Gulf monarchies.

                      Syria's victory will have wider implications. It spells an end to
                      Washington's roller coaster of 'regime change' across the region,
                      from Afghanistan to Iraq to Libya. Out of the death and misery
                      caused by this dirty war we are seeing the emergence of a stronger
                      'Axis of Resistance'. Syria's victory will also be that of Iran and
                      of the Lebanese Resistance, led by Hezbollah.

                      Further, the conflict has helped built significant measures of
                      cooperation with Iraq. The gradual incorporation of Baghdad into this
                      Axis will seal the humiliating defeat of plans for a US-Israel-Saudi
                      dominated 'New Middle East'. This regional unity comes at a terrible
                      cost, but it is coming, nonetheless.

                      References

                      (1) Tim Anderson (2015) 'Daraa 2011: Syria's
                      Islamist Insurrection in Disguise', Global Research, 5
                      June,online:http://www.globalresearch.ca/daraa-2...-insurrection-
                      in-disguise/5460547

                      (2) The Angry Arab (2015) 'This is what the candidate for Syria's
                      provisional (opposition) government wrote on Facebook: a holocaust', 4
                      August,online:http://angryarab.blogspot.fr/2015/08...date-for-syria
                      s.html

                      (3) Tim Anderson (2015) 'Chemical Fabrications: East
                      Ghouta and Syria's Missing Children', Global Research, 12
                      April,online:http://www.globalresearch.ca/chemica...-ghouta-and-sy
                      rias-missing-children/5442334

                      (4) Nir Rosen (2012) 'Q&A: Nir Rosen on
                      Syria's armed opposition', Al Jazeera, 13
                      Feb,online:http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/fea...21315020166516.

                      html

                      (5) Press TV (2015) 'Syria 'should not interfere'
                      in militant ops by US-backed groups', 3 August,online:

                      assad-josh-earnest

                      (6) Adam Taylor (2014) 'Behind Biden's gaffe lie real concerns
                      about allies' role in rise of the Islamic State', Washington Post, 6
                      October,online:https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/...10/06/behind-b
                      idens-gaffe-some-legitimate-concerns-about-americas-middle-east-allies/

                      (7) Bloomberg (2015) 'U.A.E. to Prosecute
                      41 Accused of Trying to Establish Caliphate', 2
                      August,online:http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articl...-to-prosecute-
                      41-accused-of-trying-to-establish-caliphate

                      (8) Reuters (2015) Egypt defends Syria's territorial
                      unity after Turkey moves against IS', 2 July,online:

                      ypt-idUKKCN0Q31AY20150729

                      (9) Zeina Karam and Adam Schreck (2015) 'Iran
                      nuclear deal opens diplomatic channels for Syria', AP, 6
                      August,online:http://news.yahoo.com/iran-nuclear-d...c-channels-syr
                      ia-161740195.html

                      Hayastan or Bust.

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