Author Archives: guyinachair

This is a good summary of the state of the situation as of Friday afternoon (EST): WATCH: Richard Engel gives the latest updates from Nothern Syria. #mtpdaily @RichardEngel: "[The Kurds] are hanging on every word because they know their fate right now is still in the United States' hands and they are disgusted." pic.twitter.com/XZru6sJZA7 —Continue reading “Oct 19 (2/3): Summary & Messaging”

This piece from 2015 is long, but the first section has a really good explanation of why ISIS started operating in Syria, which of course is how we ended up there, and the forms that they’ve taken on the ground. The Guardian: Why Isis fights Jihadi fighters in Iraq and Syria reveal the apocalyptic motivations ofContinue reading “Oct 19 (1/3): Why ISIS Fights”

White Helmets [Edit: I mistakenly identified these rescue workers as White Helmets.] headed to Ras al-Ain (a.k.a. Sari Kani or Serekaniye in Kurdish) even though it’s still a combat zone to help with medical, evac, S&R, etc. British civil defense volunteer @lapinesque part of civilian convoy going to Ras al-Ain (Serekaniye) pic.twitter.com/3QuJBsuxHk — Wladimir (@vvanwilgenburg) OctoberContinue reading “Oct 18 (4/4): Like Some Crazy Postmodern WWIII”

Multiple reports that not only are there still air strikes around Ras al-Ain, but they are targeting ambulances. From American medical volunteer from Roj Hospital inside Serêkanîyê ( Ras al-Ain) the situation of the injured people and the latest situation on the ground @ICRC @MSF pic.twitter.com/aXuwcLuQtE — Mutlu Civiroglu (@mutludc) October 18, 2019 Almost backContinue reading “Oct 18 (3/4): Reports: Targeting Ambulances”

teddywingman There is nothing good about any of this, but perhaps a book by Rev. This has WWIII written all over it, except this time we hold no ethical high ground. Reverend Ask those posters from earlier about Dabiq. Gdiguy The only reason I think the WWIII comps are silly is that it’s not remotelyContinue reading “Oct 18 (2/4): 9 Questions: Covered Like a Mega-Tarp”

Apparently there wasn’t really a cease fire. TFSA/SNA* forces continued to fight with SDF,  just Turkey stopped shelling and air strikes. For awhile. Like, after a few hours. But now there are reports that TSK (Turkey army) recommenced shelling/ rocket attacks (People on the ground can always tell the difference.) Ras al-Ain and Ain IssaContinue reading “Oct 18 (1/4): There Was No Cease Fire”

Gunfighter 09 said: I am trying very very hard to view this through any lens that makes sense and the only one I can see is that if Trump was determined to be out of the Syria business regardless of any and all costs this is only about the 4th or 5th worst way toContinue reading “Oct 17 (7/7): No Nukes!”

Reverend Erdogan is meeting with Putin in Sochi on Tuesday. So, if you’re scoring at home, the day before Pompeo and Pence visited with Erdogan, Turkey began bombarding two Kurdish cities, and then got to magnanimously restrain themselves for five days as a some kind of favor to the US… at the end of whichContinue reading “Oct 17 (6/7): The Trump Who Stole Christmas”

geoduck no quahog “Mr. Trump, why couldn’t you have made this unbelievably great deal a couple of weeks ago, before Kurds were killed, ISIS strengthened, Russian intervention and the American military embarrassed? Or are you just playing 12 dimensional chess with us and this was your plan all along. You are a genius, sir.” ReverendContinue reading “Oct 17 (5/7): What’s Happening? Dunno.”

[REDACTED COMMENTS: PLACEHOLDER] “Are we so weak and so inept diplomatically that Turkey forced the hand of the United States of America? Turkey?!?” – Senator Mitt Romney pic.twitter.com/9lZkiWn5zB — Acyn Torabi (@Acyn) October 17, 2019 Gaetano Incognito We? Mitt, wtf. It’s Trump. Just say it already you coward.