Do we even need to be there now that Russia is all out war against the entire region?
Definitely not. That area was a cluster #### before Russia got involved, now it's just some confused airspace away from igniting a major world power incident. Glad Trudeau is noping out
Definitely not. That area was a cluster #### before Russia got involved, now it's just some confused airspace away from igniting a major world power incident. Glad Trudeau is noping out
Canada only actually made 4 airstrikes in Syria, and we haven't made any for several months:
This was written and published this morning, before anything happened in France. I wanted to post the link before I lost it. This list doesn't include attacks on foreign soil, or battles for territory, but gives a pretty clear indication of the kind of people that we are dealing with.
Islamic State timeline: A chronology of atrocities and the world's response
This was written and published this morning, before anything happened in France. I wanted to post the link before I lost it. This list doesn't include attacks on foreign soil, or battles for territory, but gives a pretty clear indication of the kind of people that we are dealing with.
Islamic State timeline: A chronology of atrocities and the world's response
Hmm....I'm not sure how accurate that is. By reading that, you would assume that everything was the result of fallout in Iraq and nothing was happening spontaneously in Syria. It's very selective in what facts it chooses to list. It glosses over the actual founding of ISIS (Islamic State in SYRIA) and makes it seem like it was entirely an event that arose in Iraq that met up with elements in Syria. I'd argue the opposite was true. You saw ISIS arise in Syria and then meet up with elements in Iraq.
Hmm....I'm not sure how accurate that is. By reading that, you would assume that everything was the result of fallout in Iraq and nothing was happening spontaneously in Syria. It's very selective in what facts it chooses to list. It glosses over the actual founding of ISIS (Islamic State in SYRIA) and makes it seem like it was entirely an event that arose in Iraq that met up with elements in Syria. I'd argue the opposite was true. You saw ISIS arise in Syria and then meet up with elements in Iraq.
al Baghdadi's black flags were first seen in the summer of 2012 while murdering solders in northern Iraq, the next spring he took over an al Qaeda group in Syria.
A total of 13 organisations have announced the joint establishment of the Democratic Syria Forces.
The 13 organisations include;
- YPG/YPJ (Main Kurdish forces, YPJ is the womens force)
- Al-Sanadid Forces (bedouin tribal militia)
- Syriac Military Council (Christians)
- Burkan Al-Fırat Operations Center (not an actual group, but some kind of a joint Kurd/Arab anti-ISIS command operation)
- Suwar al-Raqqa (rebels from the Raqqa area)
- Shams al-Shamal (rebels from around Aleppo)
- Lîwa Al-Selcuki (Collection of FSA groups)
- Brigade Groups of Al-Jazira (never heard)
- Jabhat Al-Akrad (more Kurds)
- Jaysh Al-Thuwar (another collection of FSA groups)
- Lîwai Al-Tehrîr (no idea)
- Lîwai 99 Muşat (?)
For some background, various Syrian rebel groups forming bigger groups is a continuation of a trend that's been going on all year, and is decisively an anti-ISIS development. The Arab rebels already formed their own anti-ISIS coalition earlier this year, and this is clearly an extension of that. It includes most notably the Kurds but also Assyrians, Turkmens and Syriacs. And of course Arabs. (That's about all the significan ethnic groups in Syria I think.)
To quote:
Quote:
their primary objective was to fight the ISIS and forces attacking the peoples of Syria
Quote:
"This democratic step will enable the democratic unity of all Syrian peoples on the basis of women's freedom. Our basic objective is the founding of a democratic Syria.”
How democratic is anyone's guess, but islamists would never sign on to that part about womens freedom. Which is why I think it's there. (Also I'm guessing YPJ wanted that in there, and since they've been one of the most succesful forces in the fight against ISIS, they have a some pull.)
Last edited by Itse; 11-15-2015 at 10:41 AM.
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For some background, various Syrian rebel groups forming bigger groups is a continuation of a trend that's been going on all year, and is decisively an anti-ISIS development. The Arab rebels already formed their own anti-ISIS coalition earlier this year, and this is clearly an extension of that. It includes most notably the Kurds but also Assyrians, Turkmens and Syriacs. And of course Arabs. (That's about all the significan ethnic groups in Syria I think.)
To quote:
How democratic is anyone's guess, but islamists would never sign on to that part about womens freedom. Which is why I think it's there. (Also I'm guessing YPJ wanted that in there, and since they've been one of the most succesful forces in the fight against ISIS, they have a some pull.)
These are groups that Russia will be targeting, I imagine.
Them joining forces and clearly stating they are going after ISIS will make it politically harder though.
It's also easier to negotiate ceasefires and such between the government and the rebels.
With luck it could be a path to peace.
1) Kick ISIS out
2) Negotiate a ceasefire with Assad and start talking about peace.
One can hope.
Yeah it sounds promising to me as well. I just see the Russians as possibly upsetting the applecart. It's going to be interesting to watch the situation unfold. The West could be going in with all guns blazing with righteous anger. Putin could be put in a tight place where he needs to back out or the war escalates.
Yeah it sounds promising to me as well. I just see the Russians as possibly upsetting the applecart. It's going to be interesting to watch the situation unfold. The West could be going in with all guns blazing with righteous anger. Putin could be put in a tight place where he needs to back out or the war escalates.
Like it or not, Russians being there could be a good thing for Syria.
As long as they're there, it's obvious the rebels can't win, so they'll be more inclined to negotiate. Russians can pretty much tell Assad to negotiate too if they want to.
Russia then establishes permanent bases in Syria to "secure the peace" and pretty much wins in a landslide.
(At which point the US would probably back some group that wants to keep on fighting, because sadly that's what the losing superpower usually does.)
Another Calgary resident has gone to join jihad in Iraq. Farah Mohamed Shirdon has been found speaking on ISIS footage, and makes a threat to Canada and the U.S. Burned his Canadian passport too.
From pouring butter on popcorn at a Calgary movie theatre to the ranks of Interpol’s most wanted.
Farah Mohamed Shirdon, 22, who former co-workers the Chinook Mall movie theatre described to the Sun as a “joker” with a “bubbly personality” is now wanted by the global law enforcement agency on terrorism charges.
The man from a prominent Calgary Somali family gained infamy after he was shown burning his Canadian passport on an ISIS video, surrounded by armed Islamists and shouting threats against Canada and the West.
“We are coming and will destroy you ... this is a message for Canada and for all America,” he said to the camera.
“I left comfort for one reason alone, for Allah.”
[VIDEO] Shirdon tells VICE News: ' I want martyrdom. I want jihad'
Shirdon was born in Toronto, but came to Calgary where he attended John Ware junior high and Henry Wise Wood high school.
He had been attending SAIT as recently as 2012, but friends previously told the Sun he had severed ties with them.
Police said Shirdon left Calgary in 2014 to join Isis in Syria.
Saw this thread pop up and thought I would add a quick personal update.
I no longer work in the area. We had some close encounters with some rockets and car bombs in and around Erbil and coupling that with my father passing away this summer from cancer, I decided to return to work permanently in Canada.
I can still from time to time provide information from my buddies on the ground there in Kurdistan, but it will all be second hand here on out.
Thanks for listening!
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