US Helicopters: How a Gentleman Flexes*

US troops at Syria base say they’ll keep pressure on IS
A senior U.S. coalition commander at a base in Syria says American troops are redeploying to bases, including in some new locations, to keep up the pressure on the Islamic State militants

So, this guy below started tweeting from a military helicopter the other day—I mentioned to Darnell’s Son in real time that I thought it was hilarious even before I saw the follow up—and you couldn’t hear him and he didn’t explain why or fucking how he was in the helicopter wearing his Press flack jacket. It was hilarious. There are more than a few of these kinds of public statements that the various players make that have ostensibly no direct purpose.

It’s not a threat, it just lets people know.

Like, there has been precious little about US helicopters except for scattered Tweeted reports, the military didn’t talk about them despite talking at length a about attempts at gotcha questions about the Bradleys, and I think some people weren’t sure they were really still around, as opposed to the HD Russian helicopter video going around.

And then all of a sudden this guy sends out video from a helicopter without explaining. Our military’s sub-Tweet game is strong. Troll game too.

Like, this time they broadcast it live on local TV. Hey, sometimes the most effective propaganda is the truth!  

And I mean, who is he anyway just some press guy, I bet his friend hooked hi—oh.

Speaking of Iraq and sub-Tweeting, there’s this:

Remember: US’s stated policy on violence in the region is: Everybody knows where we are.

@Darnell’s Son knows that one of my favorite Twitter accounts now is SpecOps OIR. Which makes sense; it’s part of their mission.

Oh—and we will fucking kill you underground.

This all went down on Twitter yesterday (Nov 12), the day before Erdogan visited the White House.

*I am fully aware of the audacity of posting this as I am by no means an expert on this, particularly in this forum. But this emerged organically across my feed and I thought it worth sharing.

Not much movement on the ground, as expected what with the meetings at the White House today; the usual exceptions being the case, i.d. Idlib in the west and super-strategic Tal Tamr to the east what with the highways there.

A couple things of note today:

Erdogan Cracks Down on More Turkish Mayors Before Jetting to DC

Reuters: Turkey removes four more Kurdish mayors over alleged terror links

He must get up very early in the morning.

Turkey Attacks Tal Tamr Region During PC

Special Presidential Envoy for the Global Coalition to Counter ISIL Explains the US Position, Such As It Is

Between this and the Ukraine stuff, I’m worried about this guy. He might have an aneurism. Great follow.

Today’s Local Color: Kurds also love—

Just Kidding!

They like football.

Apaches!!

Why don’t we still have whistling emojis? I need a whistling emoji…

Is everybody tired of winning yet?

Turkish media paints White House visit as Erdoğan triumph over Trump

The Hill: Turkish media paints White House visit as Erdoğan triumph over Trump

Turkey To Extradite American IS Suspect

MAST: Turkey to extradite American IS suspect ‘stranded on border’

Meanwhile, in Syria… 

Fortunately, we have a have weapons of our own.

And that’s a brief summary of the international political situation with America with respect to the Syrian Civil War.

I wanted to circle back in this, both to post about him in his death, but also to grapple with the fact that, WTF: I literally don’t know what to believe about some things anymore. Or how to.

Idlib: Everything is pretty much the same, except, while not in Syria per se, the founder of the White Helmets fell off of a balcony in Istanbul and died.

The Guardian: British founder of White Helmets found dead in Istanbul

So, the death of James Le Masurier has been ruled suicide by the Turkish police; they report no forensic evidence of struggle.

The Guardian: No signs of foul play in death of White Helmets founder, say Turkish police

DailyMail.co.uk: Heartbroken wife of British White Helmet founder James Le Mesurier arrives at Istanbul police station after visiting his body, as report into his death finds no sign

It must be noted, though, that Le Masurier and the White Helmets have been under consistent attack by Syria and Russia because their work uncovers war crimes.

From the first link:

Their work has earned them Nobel peace prize nominations and a documentary on the group won an Oscar in 2017. But they have also been targeted by the Syrian government and its Russian allies, who have labelled the group a terrorist organisation and alleged, without presenting evidence, that Le Mesurier worked for western intelligence.

I don’t know what to think. But that fact that people simply don’t know and cannot know is both symptom and tool of repression.

Like, even if you know that a guy didn’t kill the guy, that fact that a death inherently makes you think he could do it and get away with it is generally enough to put the dampers on certain kinds of expression and behavior.

I don’t like not knowing what to think here. Maybe we should have a politics of conspiracy theory culture thread. I don’t know.

Having said that, I should round this out with some pieces written on his life and death.

NYT: The Brief and Inspiring Life of James Le Mesurier

Wikipedia: James Le Mesurier

The Guardian: James Le Mesurier obituary: Former British Army officer who co-founded the White Helmets civil defence group in Syria

I’ve got to think that only Assad would compare James Le Mesurier to Jeffrey Epstein.

Ground Deployment Stuff

So the US is at least partially withdrawing from Qamishli and the Russians are moving in. There are reports of TFSA incursion to surround not only Manbij/Kobanî and to cut off the administrative capital of Ayn Issa from the rest. I’m afraid to look in on Idlib, and Tal Tamer would be moving into that territory if it wasn’t so strategic and therefore important to understand. It’s still bad there with fierce Turkish incursion; many contend that it’s at least in part because of the minority groups in the area:

Frankly, given the lack of international response this far, it makes dark brutal sense to try to drive away the Christians that still have the potential to be a PR disaster in the US. Unless they disappear; I don’t know if Erdogan cares about how it to where they disappear, but he’s shown a fondness for whacking dispossessed peoples. Maybe he thinks they give the Kurds in Turkey hope? I dunno.

Stick Diplomacy

And then the United States Special Representative for Syria Engagement and the Special Envoy for the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIL James Jeffery is popping off. Again. Which surprises the shit out of me.

This is just weird.

I mean, it really surprised me after the memo thing—for a refresher, he wrote the internal memo obtained by the NYTimes that an official called “lengthy and harsh” as it took the Trump administration outside he woodshed, verbally anyway:

PBS: Senior U.S. envoy in Syria highly critical of troop withdrawal, memo shows

He sounds pretty serious though:

In fact, I feel a bit dumb here because I had assumed he’s been axed or thrown off a balcony or something.

But this is a big deal because he’s Dept. of State. He doesn’t just sound serious, he sounds like the Pentagon.

Very interesting developments, both on the ground and in the whole geopolitical thing.

Troop Movement & Battles

East to west today.

Russians Moving into Rmelan Airfield NE of Qamishli

Rumors have been circulating for awhile but it’s firming up. (I try to follow their lead and not post rumors, although some minor sources prove to be remarkably reliable.) Of course, nobody knows what’s happening until it happens. The rumors have been around for awhile, but Russia started mum.

Reuters: Russia sets up helicopter base in northern Syria after U.S. exit

NPA: Russian forces establish helicopter base in Qamishli following U.S. forces withdrawal

This Means WAR!! a Build Up of Forces Around the Airfield

Here’s an example Russia is offering:

Heavy weapons could be moved towards Tal Tamer as well.

Speaking of Tal Tamr: It’s Always Sunny

Aircraft Over Deir ez-Zur

Manbij: Skirmishes with TSFA. And Ominous Waiting

Idlib: How Are They Still A Thing?

[SPOILER=”Detail”]If a super terrorist ever evolves through sheer natural selection of being some place fucked and brutal like in Golgo 13 or Doomsday in Superman, this might be the place it happens.

Translation: An airstrike by Russian warplanes targeted the houses of civilians in the town of Svohen in Idlib countryside, on Thursday noon, which caused significant material damage to the homes of civilians and their properties without causing any injuries. #الخوذ_البيضاء

ISIS has not claimed the Qamishli bombing 

(and that may be bad)

ISIS usually claims attacks within 48 hours. But the attack isn’t the suspect perps’ MO. So it’s a mystery for now.

But there’s (also?) some shadowy group with the stated purpose of freeing the nation operating against the SDF. It’s important to note here that “nation” in these contexts often refers to the sorts of people’s revolutionary Marxist movements that tend towards the autocratic, so that could offer some insight. Not clear if this would be home grown or a Turkish black flag op to undermine unity and perception of legitimacy of Rojava, just new terrorist tactics by an existing or new group, or what.

This is a good piece on some of the ethnic tensions and conflicting loyalties within Rojava, in addition to using that to provide context for the guessed at purpose of and mystery of these attacks.

The National: Mystery attacks in north-east Syria reflect challenge to SDF control

One way or another, terrorist bullshit is in the rise.

It might seem to demean the lives lost to call it bullshit, but I don’t think so. It is bullshit. Sorta like how domestic terrorists are criminals. Period. Fuck their delusions of grandeur.

Like, the Asshole King is still an asshole.

They posted this to the internet so you know. Quite intentionally to make sure that you know.

The killed priest. I think the message is “recognize.” But we do. Oh, but we definitely do…

Rojova Information Center Has a Webpage.

Rojava Information Center (RIC)

Rojava Information Center (RIC) is an independent, volunteer-staffed organisation based in North East Syria. So far, RIC has assisted reporters and researchers from: the Wall Street Journal, The Independent, The Guardian and Haaretz; the BBC, ITV, NBC and ABC; news agencies Associated Press, Agence-France Press, DPA, EFE and ANSA; Cambridge, Yale and Madrid Universities; and many other national and international newspapers, websites and news sources with their work.

Some of us are international journalists and media activists who traveled to Rojava with the aim of sharing our skills in a region which has only enjoyed the benefits of a free press since its liberation from the control of the Assad regime in 2012. Our team also includes local people and other foreign volunteers who saw the importance of this project, and have agreed to share their time and expertise.

There is a lack of clear and objective reporting on Rojava, and journalists are often unable to make contact with ordinary civilians and people on the ground.

So we set up the RIC to fill this gap. We aim to provide journalists, researchers and the general public with accurate, well-sourced, transparent information.

We work in partnership with civil and political institutions, journalists and media activists across the region to get journalists the information they need and put them in touch with the peoples of Rojava.

Services for journalists:

• Set up interviews with ordinary civilians, representatives of local organisations, members of the military structures (SDF/YPG/YPJ) and international volunteers in Rojava
• Advise journalists who wish to travel to Rojava on what steps to take
• Provide exclusive photos and video from on the ground
• Corroborate information in breaking-news situations
• Propose stories, leads and contacts to journalists wanting to cover the region
• Translate Kurdish material into all world languages

My man.

Mr. Enes Goes to Washington:

Congress Critters Met With (Partial, I Assume):

• Rep. Barr – @RepAndyBarr
• Sen. Wicker – @SenatorWicker
• Sen. Markey – @SenMarkey
• Sen. Wyden – @RonWyden

These last two gave him a nice platform for this short clip for why he doesn’t shut up despite great personal cost, financial and otherwise:

He’s met with others in the past, such as MA Rep. Ayanna Pressley. Other political types have been Tweeting about him, and he generally tweets them back. Unless, of course, there’s people he ignores. I don’t actually google “Enes Kanter Super Star” every day.

Kanter & WSJ Piece Name Checked by Human Rights Foundation

Some people have wondered about dealing with the INTERPOL bullshit. (Note: This bullshit is a fucking problem; INTERPOL must hate this. Basically, Turkey fucking up he alliances again, such that one entity can make it unworkable.

I love that his headshot photo looks like he’s doing “Magnum” from Zoolander.

As @Marciano490 noted up thread, how did France at least not see this impending problem when NATO was set up. France is worried now. Mr. Kanter has been trying to tell us about there is danger. There is harm. Look how he spent his off day!

I mean, this stuff has happened before; heck, the Weimar Republic was built to be a system founded on freedom that would never fail…

Enes Explains Why He Loves America

Great two minute clip that really gets at what he is all about. It’s enough to make even the most dyed in the wool liberal want to grab an American flag and ride around in dune buggies. Because we can.

In the Process, he explains why he’s such a great teammate.

He’s basically the living embodiment of the immigrant American dream. If he could just get his family statesside… though I wouldn’t be surprised if they refused to leave. This is a family that makes statements, and they are brave.

This guy is so easy to root for on the court it’s scary.

Enes Elaborates on Why He’s a Great Teammate:

Thoughts they’re sending our way.

I think this—

It seems as though Syria’s civil war will come to an end, and its president Bashar al-Assad will retake all of the country’s territory. As is typical of a post-war era, regional and global powers are now gearing up to claim the spoils of war.

—is maybe some intense form of irony to get you to read the piece below, but I’m honestly not even sure anymore. On the other hand, this phrasing seems familiar:

Some analysts considered Trump’s stance as one of “blood for oil.”

That’s probably reading too much into it, but it jumped out at me and made me laugh. Anyway, it’s a more thorough treatment of the subject than others I’ve seen, especially on the Russia angle.

Rudaw: Who will control Syria’s oil and gas?

—and then again, maybe not—wait, WAT?

In early 2019, Russia and the Syrian government signed a huge energy deal.

According to the agreement, Russia has full authority to develop and produce Syrian oil and gas. The deal includes all aspects of Syrian oil and gas, such as the rebuilding of oil facilities and energy infrastructure, and even gives advice and training to the labor force of this sector in Syria.

Russia now controls the gas fields near Palmyra, but has not reached oilfields that are under control of SDF. However, after the agreement between Presidents Erdogan and Putin which saw Syrian troops deployed to the Turkish border, the situation could well change.

Human Interest Stories: Recaptured ISIS:

Stop Trying to Make Lindsey Graham Happen! He’s Not Gonna Happen!!

People are really, really in to this guy.

Of course, you never know who’s “connected” to whom in these crazy mixed up times.

He follows 28 people. I got nuthin’.

Just a Thing:

Reuters: Despite ‘wonderful’ meeting, Trump and Erdogan fail to resolve conflicts

Reuters: UPDATE 1-Turkish lira weakens slightly after Erdogan-Trump meeting

New Developments in Rock

Russia turns this rock video into subtle propaganda; rock throwing begins at 01m00s. It’s a brilliant juxtaposition of how they are treated by the locals as compared to the Turkish army

Nota Bene: The above Tweet is part of a thread by a guy who is a downright connoisseur. And, for that matter, a collector.

And this one: I thought it was funny at the time when @BroodsSexton compared this thread to Mad Max.

I had not yet learned the truth of the way of COBRA Commanderism.* I was so näive then.

And round it out with one in the classical style:

Darnell’s Son

I realize sometimes not everyone is “in” on the joke, but if you focus on the last picture in Rev’s post I quote, you’ll see that everyone is throwing rocks, as you do. However, the lady on the far left is throwing a shoe.

Reverend

I bet @teddywingman could write an amazing song about this. Like the Ballad  of the Shoe Throwing Lady. Or something better. Probably better.

*COBRA Commanderism is a theory I am developing the better to understand this mad, mad world we live in. Now that it’s been established beyond all possible doubt that we are all clearly living in a simulation, the next logical step is to realize that the reason everything seems so weird is because we’re not living in our own simulations, but in COBRA Commander’s simulation. We are but supporting characters to COBRA Commander’s protagoneering of the plot. Thus, to figure out what’s going to happen, just consider what narrative is that which is most likely to occur in a world where COBRA Commander is prominently involved. This will inevitaby happen; hey man-it’s COBRA Commander’s world, we’re just living in it. Then it starts to make sense. Like dropping off a terrorist in the middle of a militarized no-man’s land in the east Mediterranean or holding a political prisoner captive on an abandoned island with an entire brigade of men to guard him. Shit like that. At some point, to make sense of the world, one must grasp the truth of COBRA Commanderism. And then things become a lot more clear.