veteranstoday--2020-02-11--NEO – Erdogan threatens war on the Syrian Arab Army (SAA)

…by Jim W. Dean , VT Editor , …with New Eastern Outlook , Moscow , …and the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences , a research institution for the study of the countries and cultures of Asia and North Africa .
[ Editor ’ s Note : Erdogan is off in never-never landing , putting out phony reports on all the massive retaliation on the Syrian Army for killing a few of his troops .
He ought to read the news more to see photos and video of his troops fighting alongside HTS , and then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ burned out , where VT estimates 60 dead at least .
Sure , the manpads he sent in got a Syrian chopper shot down today , but that will just make Syrians want to kill Turkish troops that much more , even blowing through the jihadis to get at them .
The risk Erdogan is taking is the Turkish military does not like to take casualties .
He can try to cover up his losses , but the whole army command will hear about it .
If he continues to send them into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ die for them , he enters an political domestic danger zone .
And yes , the whispers of “ new leadership ” will begin .
Don ’ t under estimate him .
If he felt the ground rumbling under him he would do his own big false flag to enrage his people .
Once the M-5 is secured , and with the Kurdish area seeming to be stabilized , the SAA can concentrate on liberating Idlib , which will push the jihadis and family into Turkey giving Erdo another big headache , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But Erdogan ’ s back up plans could include pushing back into the Kurdis border area as that was his original plan , to resettle the hostile Syrian Sunnis there and have a forever supply of their men wanting to fight for $ 200 a month to keep their families fed… Jim W. Dean ] Jim 's Editor ’ s Notes are solely crowdfunded via PayPal Jim 's work includes research , field trips , Heritage TV Legacy archiving & more .
Thanks for helping .
Click to donate > > Jihadi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have launched a general counter-attack on the west flank of Saraqib , both north and south of the M-4 highway .
Erdogan has now cast his fate openly with the terrorists to prevent the liberation of Idlib .
I am wrapping up this current Idlib-Aleppo battlefront report on Sunday , February 9th .
You will find two earlier sections below , picking up the Idlib battle after the major city Maraat al-Numaan was taken on the M-5 highway .
The last three days have seen major SAA coalition gains , despite two days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not flown but the ground forces continued their methodical advance in clearing the Saraqib flanks of jihadi forces .
Syria ’ s 25th Special Forces Division continued pushing north up the M-5 to eventually meet the SAA elite 4th Division , Republican Guard , and Lebanon ’ s Hezbollah , pushing south to reconnect Damascus and Aleppo with their main logistics road critically needed for launching the final battle to clear Idlib .
Special Forces troops pushing up from Saraqib city have captured the key hilltop al-Ais position ( 365 meters high ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and south and deep into its west flank .
News photos showed the troops gaining the peak in darkness , freeing more Syrian territory from the grip of the US coalition terror proxies created to overthrow and carve up Syria .
At the end of the article , I have a 38 minute combat video link of the Saraqib fight , from the Abkhazia News crew where you will get a first hand look at some of the tactics used , including the full use of drones behind the battle lines to locate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ equipment only to be followed and destroyed in their lairs , saving a lot of lives for the SAA .
The fighting morale of the jihadis in Idlib City will have to be affected by all those who never come home from the M-5 highway battle .
Sunday , today , the planes were back in the air , striking targets of opportunity with the news that we saw no counter attacks against last week ’ s gains .
Aleppo forces have been pushing south on the M-5 and appear in position to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pushing north .
Turkey ’ s observation posts , designed to protect its proxy terrorists , have backfired with all of them in the current liberated areas surrounded and unofficial prisoners of the SAA .
Mr. Erdogan continues to ship more special forces and armor into the area , apparently to increase his bargaining hand at the negotiations he claims he wants to have .
Fortunately , there have been no Turkish or Russian combat deaths reported in the last two days .
Erdogan has a weak hand , as the world has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Astana agreement by doing nothing to separate the various al-Qaeda groups from the Syrian militant ones .
His plan to Balkanize northeast Syria into a Turkish de facto colony is not working out as he had wanted .
He incredibly has demanded that the Syrian Army leave Idlib , its own territory , by the end of February .
That was considered a bad joke .
Although he has mention he has a plan B and C , so do the Syrians and Russians .
Putin has no intention of fighting in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quiet in the Putin-Erdogan showdown , despite Iran having militias on the Aleppo western front in combat .
This will be a delicate political situation to prevent its escalation .
Erodgan has already broken his agreement , so he is now “ Turkey ’ s Trump , ” in terms of what is the point of making a new deal with the guy that broke the last one ?
Everyone understands that Erdogan does not want all those unhappy jihadis coming back to into Turkey .
Will he threaten to unleash them on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ front , maybe the Kurdish north to make more trouble ?
The SAA allies take Saraqib with few casualties We woke up this morning , February 6th to see that the Syrian army had completely taken Saraqib and its three Turkish observation posts .
When I went to bed , they had cut the M-5 highway to the north , but this morning the battlemaps showed that Tiger Force unit continued on to take Afis and Sarmin to the west , blocking the escape road to Idlib .
The video reports were all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Syrian soldiers who had cleared Saraqib ’ s center and were redeploying to new positions .
There have been no estimates of casualties on this fast moving battle .
Erdogan ’ s response was an amazing statement that if the Syrian army did not desist in retaking its own territory , Turkey would have to intercede to push them out .
He might go down in history to have made such an outlandish demand .
Most considered this a big bluff , but there ’ s reports claiming that Russia would love to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has not forgotten the Russian pilot who was shot down and murdered by Turkish militants after he was captured .
That would make for one huge geopolitical mess when Russia and Turkey have a lot of joint interests at stake .
Moscow knows that Idlib must be cleared of jihadis before any election can be held in the country , which is why Erdogan wants to keep the jihadis there .
He has been a subversive partner to the Astana process , never honoring his word to separate the terror jihadists from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Idlib deployed some of their forces during the afternoon to counter attack on the west flank of the M-5 road below Saraqib , obviously trying to tie down Syrian forces in defensive positions there and threaten the critical supply road .
Another counterattack was launched north of Saraqib on both flanks of the M-5 in an attempt to bottle up the Syrian attack there .
Later news came that a Turkish column with dozens of armored fighting vehicle had arrived in Taftanaz airbase in central north Idlib .
This appears to have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a staging base , as it is equidistant from Idlib , Saraqib , and Aleppo so it can shift replacement equipment where needed , especially to be able to threaten a Syrian advance on the M-5 road .
I would bet the Turks want to keep the battle for the highway as drawn out as possible .
That said , we had a morning report that part of the Saraqib assault forces had been detached to Aleppo .
Ideally the best strategy would be retaking the M-5 from both directions to divide the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They have a huge disadvantage in that they will have to maneuver to attack over open territory where they will be subject to attack on the move and in their advance positions .
Due to the effective air cover they have had , the Syrian Army has avoided losing a lot of its experienced combat troops .
Saraqib city in Idlib province is being attacked by the Syrian Army 25th Special Forces Division .
One of the specialties it was trained in was night attacks , as the attacking force sustains fewer casualties @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have night vision capability .
This action will be another combined operations affair involving Syrian artillery , the 25th , both the Syrian and Russian air forces and their drones for both surveillance and combat operations .
If nothing good has come out of the Syrian war , at least it has honed both countries ’ fighting forces into being the most experienced counter-terrorism forces on the planet .
I cover the Part 1 of the second Idlib advance below , which I had stopped after Maraat al-Numaan was taken and the advance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two weeks .
We did not know if the 25th division might be split in half to give Aleppo an attacking force to push the jihadis in the west back out of grad rocket range .
If so , we expected it would next start taking the M-5 highway going south , while the rest of the division continued the attack north from Maraat al-Numaan up the M-5 which connects the western part of Syria from Damascus to Aleppo .
I could not foresee the Syrian coalition making a final push to clear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ until they had the entire M-5 highway controlled , with all jihadis cleared out of its eastern side and a safe buffer on the west .
One can not launch the final battle without completely secure lines of supply .
The advance up M-5 highway from Maraat al-Numaan The SAA ’ s attacking strategy was not to battle their way on the M-5 north through a gauntlet of IEDs and anti-armor missiles that would inflict losses which Syria can not afford , especially among its best troops .
The attack was a right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ al-Numaan , as this compels the enemy to spread its forces out more sparsely .
This gives the respective air forces more opportunity to target them while they are on the roads and to locate supply and command centers from traffic patterns and communications intercepts .
This advance moved west out of Syrian controlled territory east of the M-5 , while simultaneously clearing all jihadi forces on this flank .
When that was completed , the SAA cut the M-5 at Khan al-Sobol , midway between Maraat al-Numaan and Saraqib .
With the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ north on the M-5 while clearing its western flank from enemy forces to have the road usable for logistic supplies to sustain the Syrian attack .
Jihadi and Turkish backed militants made attempts to contest clearing this western flank , but the air forces played a key role in eliminating those units .
Further north , the Tiger forces had pushed up M-5 , from Khan al-Sobol to the southern approaches to Saraqib and had to stop while the right flank was cleared .
That is when Turkey decided to put its forces @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Syrian advance .
A ring of new Turkish observation posts had been quickly set up around the city as a “ trip wire ” for the Syrian army not to cross .
The Syrian army stopped its M5 north advance and began retaking towns and villages east and west of the highway , starting to go around the Turkish outposts .
The next day a Turkish column with lots of armor and Turkish troops was attacked by air and seems to have disappeared since then .
Erdogan claimed the Syrian air force had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shelling and F-1 bombing runs against the Syrian forces .
After Erdogan made the claim for which mysteriously there were no photos or video confirmations , he began back pedaling on his threats to invade Syria if it did not stop clearing Erdogan ’ s favorite terrorists out of Idlib .
While Erdogan talked and threatened , the Syrian 25th Special Ops division flanked Saraqib on its west flank first , cutting the M-4 highway , and then the following day cleared the eastern flank to within mortar range and swung north to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ observation post , making a bag of three of them that are surrounded and isolated .
There is a secondary road open to the west to Idlib , what the infamous Sun Tzu called the golden bridge that should always be left open for an enemy to break and flee .
If the jihadis cleared out in time , some might have made it to Idlib .
For those who engaged in a night fight with the 25th , if they find themselves retreating west in the morning I suspect the planes will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be no sense in letting them get back to Idlib to fight from the prepared defenses there .
The Maraat al-Numaan campaign up the M-5 highway After the long delays since the successful south Idlib advance by the SAA , many Syria watchers were dismayed to see the attack fizzle when Damascus had the advantage over defeated and dispirited jihadis facing them in the north .
Traditional military doctrine would have expected Assad to have had fresh troops lined up to kick off a stage two advance to keep the momentum rolling northward @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prepared defensive lines that would be more costly to take .
We were wrong .
While we waited with the winter weather conditions coming on , the Russian and Syrian air forces continued their systematic hunting down and precision bombing of terrorist and militant ammo and supply dumps , along with their command centers .
There had been talk of an Aleppo offensive , sorely needed as the battle lines there had left the jihadi formations west of the city within rocket range of the center of downtown Aleppo .
As the SAA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it was just a matter of time before HTS forces in western Aleppo would start shelling the city to relieve pressure on Idlib , and they did .
The formerly named Tiger forces who have made major gains in defeating ISIS in the eastern and northeastern parts of the country had their command renamed 25th Special Forces Division .
It is specially trained in launching night attacks , which have been effective in the past .
After a methodical westward advance into Idlib province along a broad front toward the M-5 highway @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that dispersed the militant defensive forces , the SAA got close to being within shelling distance of the city .
Then the jihadi defenses seemed to have collapsed , either through attrition from the air attacks or the Idlib central command pulling troops northward to defend the Aleppo front .
Some analysts have suggested that evacuation corridors that had allowed 350,000 Idlib residents get out of harm ’ s way allowed the Syrian coalition to be more aggressive with its firepower tactics .
The mad terrorists in Idlib city still had their civilian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worst bombing and wanted to save their fighting power for the major battle to come there .
What will Turkey do as the jihadis go down ?
Mr. Erdogan has calmed down over the northeast Syria Kurdish front , after his endless claims of a hoard of Kurdish terrorists ready to attack Turkey from Syria , an hysterical show that no one believed .
I never heard or read of a Kurdish terrorist attack anywhere along the Syrian northern border .
His attention had shifted to Libya , where he has invested Turkish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Syria and paid $ 3000 a month to fight for Tripoli when they were getting paid $ 400 inside Syria .
Erdogan also has big gas dreams in his eyes , with his sudden claim of having a joint economic zone with Libya extending between their two respective countries and through which the new Israeli operating gas platform had planned to build a pipeline .
There will be a big political battle over that .
Here is the Abkhazian Network News Agency ( ANNA ) 38 minutes of combat video footage on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ SAA and it allies .
This is among the best footage I have seen during the war to show what has really gone on there .
An appropriate age confirmation is required to watch it .
Jim W. Dean , managing editor for Veterans Today , producer/host of Heritage TV Atlanta , specially for the online magazine “ New Eastern Outlook ” .

…by Jim W. Dean, VT Editor, …with New Eastern Outlook, Moscow, …and the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, a research institution for the study of the countries and cultures of Asia and North Africa.
[ Editor’s Note: Erdogan is off in never never land, putting out phony reports on all the massive retaliation on the Syrian Army for killing a few of his troops. He ought to read the news more to see photos and video of his troops fighting alongside HTS, and then those of an armor transport column totally burned out, where VT estimates 60 dead at least.
Sure, the manpads he sent in got a Syrian chopper shot down today, but that will just make Syrians want to kill Turkish troops that much more, even blowing through the jihadis to get at them.
The risk Erdogan is taking is that the Turkish military does not like to take casualties. He can try to cover up his losses, but the whole army command will hear about it. If he continues to send them into another country to fight for terrorists and die for them, he enters a domestic political danger zone. Then the whispers of “new leadership” will begin.
Don’t under estimate him. If he felt the ground rumbling under him, he would do his own false flag to enrage his people.
Once the M-5 is secured, and with the Kurdish area seeming to be stabilized, the SAA can concentrate on liberating Idlib, which will push the jihadis and family into Turkey giving Erdo another big headache, as I expect they will be angry.
Erdogan’s back up plans could include pushing back into the Kurdish border area, as that was his original plan to resettle the hostile Syrian Sunnis there and have a forever supply of their men wanting to fight for $200 a month to keep their families fed… Jim W. Dean ]
Jim's Editor’s Notes are solely crowdfunded via PayPal
Jim's work includes research, field trips, Heritage TV Legacy archiving & more. Thanks for helping. Click to donate >>
– First published … February 11, 2020 –
Jihadi forces backed by Turkish infantry and artillery have launched a general counter-attack on the west flank of Saraqib, both north and south of the M-4 highway. Erdogan has now cast his fate openly with the terrorists to prevent the liberation of Idlib.
I am wrapping up this current Idlib-Aleppo battlefront report on Sunday, February 9th. You will find two earlier sections below, picking up the Idlib battle after the major city Maraat al-Numaan was taken on the M-5 highway.
The last three days have seen major SAA coalition gains, despite two days of bad weather where air strikes were not flown but the ground forces continued their methodical advance in clearing the Saraqib flanks of jihadi forces.
Syria’s 25th Special Forces Division continued pushing north up the M-5 to eventually meet the SAA elite 4th Division, Republican Guard, and Lebanon’s Hezbollah, pushing south to reconnect Damascus and Aleppo with their main logistics road critically needed for launching the final battle to clear Idlib.
Special Forces troops pushing up from Saraqib city have captured the key hilltop al-Ais position (365 meters high) that can observe M5 traffic both north and south and deep into its west flank. News photos showed the troops gaining the peak in darkness, freeing more Syrian territory from the grip of the US coalition terror proxies created to overthrow and carve up Syria.
At the end of the article, I have a 38 minute combat video link of the Saraqib fight, from the Abkhazia News crew where you will get a first hand look at some of the tactics used, including the full use of drones behind the battle lines to locate jihadi groups trying to hide with their equipment only to be followed and destroyed in their lairs, saving a lot of lives for the SAA.
Syrian coalition advancing with low casualties
The fighting morale of the jihadis in Idlib City will have to be affected by all those who never come home from the M-5 highway battle. Sunday, today, the planes were back in the air, striking targets of opportunity with the news that we saw no counter attacks against last week’s gains.
Aleppo forces have been pushing south on the M-5 and appear in position to be able to connect with their compatriots pushing north. Turkey’s observation posts, designed to protect its proxy terrorists, have backfired with all of them in the current liberated areas surrounded and unofficial prisoners of the SAA.
Mr. Erdogan continues to ship more special forces and armor into the area, apparently to increase his bargaining hand at the negotiations he claims he wants to have. Fortunately, there have been no Turkish or Russian combat deaths reported in the last two days.
Erdogan has a weak hand, as the world has seen that he exploited his partnership in the Astana agreement by doing nothing to separate the various al-Qaeda groups from the Syrian militant ones. His plan to Balkanize northeast Syria into a Turkish de facto colony is not working out as he had wanted.
He incredibly has demanded that the Syrian Army leave Idlib, its own territory, by the end of February. That was considered a bad joke. Although he has mention he has a plan B and C, so do the Syrians and Russians. Putin has no intention of fighting in Syria indefinitely.
Iran has been deathly quiet in the Putin-Erdogan showdown, despite Iran having militias on the Aleppo western front in combat. This will be a delicate political situation to prevent its escalation.
Erodgan has already broken his agreement, so he is now “Turkey’s Trump,” in terms of what is the point of making a new deal with the guy that broke the last one? Everyone understands that Erdogan does not want all those unhappy jihadis coming back to into Turkey. Will he threaten to unleash them on Europe, or shift them to another front, maybe the Kurdish north to make more trouble?
The SAA allies take Saraqib with few casualties
We woke up this morning, February 6th to see that the Syrian army had completely taken Saraqib and its three Turkish observation posts. When I went to bed, they had cut the M-5 highway to the north, but this morning the battlemaps showed that Tiger Force unit continued on to take Afis and Sarmin to the west, blocking the escape road to Idlib.
The video reports were all in Arabic but showed truckloads of jubilant Syrian soldiers who had cleared Saraqib’s center and were redeploying to new positions. There have been no estimates of casualties on this fast moving battle.
Erdogan’s response was an amazing statement that if the Syrian army did not desist in retaking its own territory, Turkey would have to intercede to push them out. He might go down in history to have made such an outlandish demand.
Most considered this a big bluff, but there’s reports claiming that Russia would love to take the Turks on, as it has not forgotten the Russian pilot who was shot down and murdered by Turkish militants after he was captured.
That would make for one huge geopolitical mess when Russia and Turkey have a lot of joint interests at stake. Moscow knows that Idlib must be cleared of jihadis before any election can be held in the country, which is why Erdogan wants to keep the jihadis there. He has been a subversive partner to the Astana process, never honoring his word to separate the terror jihadists from the militant forces there.
The jihadi leadership in Idlib deployed some of their forces during the afternoon to counter attack on the west flank of the M-5 road below Saraqib, obviously trying to tie down Syrian forces in defensive positions there and threaten the critical supply road.
Another counterattack was launched north of Saraqib on both flanks of the M-5 in an attempt to bottle up the Syrian attack there. Later news came that a Turkish column with dozens of armored fighting vehicle had arrived in Taftanaz airbase in central north Idlib.
This appears to have been chosen by the Turkish military as a staging base, as it is equidistant from Idlib, Saraqib, and Aleppo so it can shift replacement equipment where needed, especially to be able to threaten a Syrian advance on the M-5 road.
I would bet the Turks want to keep the battle for the highway as drawn out as possible. That said, we had a morning report that part of the Saraqib assault forces had been detached to Aleppo. Ideally the best strategy would be retaking the M-5 from both directions to divide the fire power of the Idlib jihadis.
They have a huge disadvantage in that they will have to maneuver to attack over open territory where they will be subject to attack on the move and in their advance positions. Due to the effective air cover they have had, the Syrian Army has avoided losing a lot of its experienced combat troops.
The battle for Saraqib – February 5
Saraqib city in Idlib province is being attacked by the Syrian Army 25th Special Forces Division. One of the specialties it was trained in was night attacks, as the attacking force sustains fewer casualties from an entrenched opponent not known to have night vision capability.
This action will be another combined operations affair involving Syrian artillery, the 25th, both the Syrian and Russian air forces and their drones for both surveillance and combat operations. If nothing good has come out of the Syrian war, at least it has honed both countries’ fighting forces into being the most experienced counter-terrorism forces on the planet.
I cover the Part 1 of the second Idlib advance below, which I had stopped after Maraat al-Numaan was taken and the advance got bogged down in bad weather for two weeks. We did not know if the 25th division might be split in half to give Aleppo an attacking force to push the jihadis in the west back out of grad rocket range.
If so, we expected it would next start taking the M-5 highway going south, while the rest of the division continued the attack north from Maraat al-Numaan up the M-5 which connects the western part of Syria from Damascus to Aleppo.
I could not foresee the Syrian coalition making a final push to clear the entrenched jihadis out of northern Idlib until they had the entire M-5 highway controlled, with all jihadis cleared out of its eastern side and a safe buffer on the west. One cannot launch the final battle without completely secure lines of supply.
The advance up M-5 highway from Maraat al-Numaan
The SAA’s attacking strategy was not to battle their way on the M-5 north through a gauntlet of IEDs and anti-armor missiles that would inflict losses which Syria cannot afford, especially among its best troops.
The attack was a right flank on a broad flank from around al-Numaan, as this compels the enemy to spread its forces out more sparsely. This gives the respective air forces more opportunity to target them while they are on the roads and to locate supply and command centers from traffic patterns and communications intercepts.
This advance moved west out of Syrian controlled territory east of the M-5, while simultaneously clearing all jihadi forces on this flank. When that was completed, the SAA cut the M-5 at Khan al-Sobol, midway between Maraat al-Numaan and Saraqib.
With the road cut, Syrian forces began moving north on the M-5 while clearing its western flank from enemy forces to have the road usable for logistic supplies to sustain the Syrian attack. Jihadi and Turkish backed militants made attempts to contest clearing this western flank, but the air forces played a key role in eliminating those units.
Further north, the Tiger forces had pushed up M-5, from Khan al-Sobol to the southern approaches to Saraqib and had to stop while the right flank was cleared. That is when Turkey decided to put its forces into a blocking position to stop the Syrian advance.
Turkish outposts in Syria fail to intimidate SAA
A ring of new Turkish observation posts had been quickly set up around the city as a “trip wire” for the Syrian army not to cross. The Syrian army stopped its M5 north advance and began retaking towns and villages east and west of the highway, starting to go around the Turkish outposts.
The next day a Turkish column with lots of armor and Turkish troops was attacked by air and seems to have disappeared since then. Erdogan claimed the Syrian air force had attacked and that Turkey retaliated with heavy shelling and F-1 bombing runs against the Syrian forces.
After Erdogan made the claim for which mysteriously there were no photos or video confirmations, he began back pedaling on his threats to invade Syria if it did not stop clearing Erdogan’s favorite terrorists out of Idlib.
While Erdogan talked and threatened, the Syrian 25th Special Ops division flanked Saraqib on its west flank first, cutting the M-4 highway, and then the following day cleared the eastern flank to within mortar range and swung north to cut the M-5 road behind the Turkish observation post, making a bag of three of them that are surrounded and isolated.
There is a secondary road open to the west to Idlib, what the infamous Sun Tzu called the golden bridge that should always be left open for an enemy to break and flee.
If the jihadis cleared out in time, some might have made it to Idlib. For those who engaged in a night fight with the 25th, if they find themselves retreating west in the morning I suspect the planes will be on them, and there would be no sense in letting them get back to Idlib to fight from the prepared defenses there.
The Maraat al-Numaan campaign up the M-5 highway
After the long delays since the successful south Idlib advance by the SAA, many Syria watchers were dismayed to see the attack fizzle when Damascus had the advantage over defeated and dispirited jihadis facing them in the north.
Traditional military doctrine would have expected Assad to have had fresh troops lined up to kick off a stage two advance to keep the momentum rolling northward before the jihadis dug themselves into newly prepared defensive lines that would be more costly to take. We were wrong.
While we waited with the winter weather conditions coming on, the Russian and Syrian air forces continued their systematic hunting down and precision bombing of terrorist and militant ammo and supply dumps, along with their command centers.
There had been talk of an Aleppo offensive, sorely needed as the battle lines there had left the jihadi formations west of the city within rocket range of the center of downtown Aleppo. As the SAA coalition bombing campaign rolled on in Idlib, it was just a matter of time before HTS forces in western Aleppo would start shelling the city to relieve pressure on Idlib, and they did.
The formerly named Tiger forces who have made major gains in defeating ISIS in the eastern and northeastern parts of the country had their command renamed 25th Special Forces Division. It is specially trained in launching night attacks, which have been effective in the past.
After a methodical westward advance into Idlib province along a broad front toward the M-5 highway to the next major city Maraat al-Numaan that dispersed the militant defensive forces, the SAA got close to being within shelling distance of the city.
Then the jihadi defenses seemed to have collapsed, either through attrition from the air attacks or the Idlib central command pulling troops northward to defend the Aleppo front. Some analysts have suggested that evacuation corridors that had allowed 350,000 Idlib residents get out of harm’s way allowed the Syrian coalition to be more aggressive with its firepower tactics.
The mad terrorists in Idlib city still had their civilian human shields as some protection from the worst bombing and wanted to save their fighting power for the major battle to come there.
What will Turkey do as the jihadis go down?
Mr. Erdogan has calmed down over the northeast Syria Kurdish front, after his endless claims of a hoard of Kurdish terrorists ready to attack Turkey from Syria, an hysterical show that no one believed. I never heard or read of a Kurdish terrorist attack anywhere along the Syrian northern border.
His attention had shifted to Libya, where he has invested Turkish proxy forces we think were pulled out of Syria and paid $3000 a month to fight for Tripoli when they were getting paid $400 inside Syria.
Erdogan also has big gas dreams in his eyes, with his sudden claim of having a joint economic zone with Libya extending between their two respective countries and through which the new Israeli operating gas platform had planned to build a pipeline. There will be a big political battle over that.
Here is the Abkhazian Network News Agency (ANNA) 38 minutes of combat video footage on the liberation of Saraqib city by the SAA and it allies. This is among the best footage I have seen during the war to show what has really gone on there. An appropriate age confirmation is required to watch it.
Jim W. Dean, managing editor for VT, producer/host of Heritage TV Atlanta, specially for the online magazine “New Eastern Outlook”.


veteranstoday--2020-02-11--Newly Discovered: “Reaper” Tyrannosaur

Newly Discovered: “Reaper” Tyrannosaur

Newly Discovered Tyrannosaur Was Key to the Rise of Giant Meat-Eaters Paleontologists are uncovering tyrannosaurs at a fast and furious pace .
The classic Tyrannosaurus rex may remain the most famous of all , but , in the last year alone , experts have described the bones of pipsqueaks that were far from the top of the food chain , leggy predators that lived in the shadow of other carnivorous giants , and short-snouted species that stalked the floodplains of the ancient west over 10 million years before the tyrant lizard king itself .
Now University of Calgary paleontologist Darla @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tyrannosaur family , and this particular flesh-ripper reveals a surprise about the early days of the ferocious family .
The tyrannosaurs that roamed North America during the last 10 million years of the Cretaceous were large , impressive animals with equally menacing names .
Dinosaurs such as Gorgosaurus , Albertosaurus , Daspletosaurus and Tyrannosaurus itself became rock stars thanks to multiple , well-preserved skeletons found from sites in Montana and the Dakotas , as well as the Canadian provinces of Saskatchewan and Alberta .
But in the past ten years paleontologists have begun @ @ @ @ @ @ @ south , among the roughly 80 million-year-old rocks of Utah and New Mexico .
There didn ’ t seem to be any tyrannosaurs from rocks of similar age to the north .
Until now .

by Riley Black/Smithsonianmag.com
Paleontologists are uncovering tyrannosaurs at a fast and furious pace. The classic Tyrannosaurus rex may remain the most famous of all, but, in the last year alone, experts have described the bones of pipsqueaks that were far from the top of the food chain, leggy predators that lived in the shadow of other carnivorous giants, and short-snouted species that stalked the floodplains of the ancient west over 10 million years before the tyrant lizard king itself.
Now the University of Calgary paleontologist Darla Zelenitsky has added another dinosaur to the tyrannosaur family, and this particular flesh-ripper reveals a surprise about the early days of the ferocious family.
The tyrannosaurs that roamed North America during the last 10 million years of the Cretaceous were large, impressive animals with equally menacing names. Dinosaurs such as Gorgosaurus, Albertosaurus, Daspletosaurus and Tyrannosaurus itself became rock stars thanks to multiple, well-preserved skeletons found from sites in Montana and the Dakotas, as well as the Canadian provinces of Saskatchewan and Alberta.
But in the past ten years, paleontologists have begun announcing even older tyrannosaurs found much farther south, among the roughly 80 million-year-old rocks of Utah and New Mexico. There didn’t seem to be any tyrannosaurs from rocks of similar age to the north. Until now.


veteranstoday--2020-02-11--Stone Faces 7 to 10 Years Unless Trump Pardon’s Him

Politico : Federal prosecutors are urging that longtime Donald Trump adviser and Republican political provocateur Roger Stone be sent to @ @ @ @ @ nine years for his conviction on charges of lying and witness tampering during investigations of @ @ @ @ @ Trump campaign .
The stern recommendation is starkly at odds with a suggestion from Stone @ @ @ @ @ he should be sentenced to probation — and no jail time — in the case @ @ @ @ @ last November , a Washington jury found Stone guilty on all seven felony counts he @ @ @ @ @ false statements to Congress , one of obst ruction of Congress , and one of @ @ @ @ @ House Intelligence Committee inquiry and special counsel Robert Mueller ’ s probe .
In a @ @ @ @ @ from the U.S. Attorney ’ s Office in Washington argued that Stone ’ s conduct @ @ @ @ @ the importance of those investigations and the danger of overseas influence on U.S. elections .

Politico: Federal prosecutors are urging that longtime Donald Trump adviser and Republican political provocateur Roger Stone be sent to prison for about seven to nine years for his conviction on charges of lying and witness tampering during investigations of ties between Russia and the Trump campaign.
The stern recommendation is starkly at odds with a suggestion from Stone’s defense team that he should be sentenced to probation — and no jail time — in the case.
Following a weeklong trial last November, a Washington jury found Stone guilty on all seven felony counts he faced: five of making false statements to Congress, one of obstruction of Congress, and one of witness tampering with both the House Intelligence Committee inquiry and special counsel Robert Mueller’s probe. In a sentencing filing Monday, prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Washington argued that Stone’s conduct was exceptionally sinister because of the importance of those investigations and the danger of overseas influence on U.S. elections. Roger Stone sentencing memo by Law&Crime on Scribd Roger Stone Indictment by Anonymous oACulqU on Scribd Source: Politico.com


veteranstoday--2020-02-11--Revised Timeline for Monoliths of Easter Island

New Research Rewrites the Demise of Easter Island The story of Easter Island—home to the famous moai monoliths—is a tragic one .
But depending on the individual you ask , the harbingers of its early demise aren ’ t always the same .
In one version , the island—a remote outpost thousands of miles off the western coast of South America—was settled in the 13th century by a small group of Polynesians .
Over time , the migrants papered the landscape , once rich with trees and rolling hills , with crop fields and monoliths .
The transformation eroded the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a path of destruction .
As the trees dwindled , so did the people who had felled them : By the time Dutch explorers arrived on Easter Island in 1722 , this early society had long since collapsed .
But in recent years , evidence has mounted for an alternative narrative—one that paints the inhabitants of the island they called Rapa Nui not as exploiters of ecosystems , but as sustainable farmers who were still thriving when Europeans first made contact .
In this account , other factors conspired to end a pivotal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ research to support this idea , published recently in the Journal of Archaeological Science , comes from an analysis of the …..Read More :

By Katherine J. Wu/Smithsonianmag.com
The story of Easter Island—home to the famous moai monoliths—is a tragic one. But depending on the individual you ask, the harbingers of its early demise aren’t always the same.
In one version, the island—a remote outpost thousands of miles off the western coast of South America—was settled in the 13th century by a small group of Polynesians. Over time, the migrants papered the landscape, once rich with trees and rolling hills, with crop fields and monoliths. The transformation eroded the nutrient-rich soil, catapulting the island onto a path of destruction. As the trees dwindled, so did the people who had felled them: By the time Dutch explorers arrived on Easter Island in 1722, this early society had long since collapsed.
But in recent years, evidence has mounted for an alternative narrative—one that paints the inhabitants of the island they called Rapa Nui not as exploiters of ecosystems, but as sustainable farmers who were still thriving when Europeans first made contact. In this account, other factors conspired to end a pivotal era on Easter Island.
The latest research to support this idea, published recently in the Journal of Archaeological Science, comes from an analysis of the …


veteranstoday--2020-02-11--Raqqah:  US bombing of former ISIS capitol kills 13,000 civilians (censored video)

All content herein is owned by author exclusively .
Expressed opinions are NOT necessarily the views of VT , authors @ @ @ @ @ sponsors , partners or technicians .
Some content may be satirical in nature .
All @ @ @ @ @ of author and NOT VT .

The Russian Armed Forces entered Raqqa. The city in northern Syria was the “capital” of the barbarian caliphate for four years. The sight of it is astonishing. There are ruins in the place of the city that once flourished.
Entire boroughs are smashed to pieces, the infrastructure is completely ruined. Residents of the city urgently need food, drinking water, and medicine.


veteranstoday--2020-02-11--Fighting Malaria: Taken To A New Level

Fighting Malaria: Taken To A New Level

Health Editor ’ s Note : Malaria , one of the world ’ s oldest diseases continues to be a death bringer for hundreds of thousands every year…..Carol Tropical medicine has its share of wily microbes .
Among the most clever is the mosquito-borne protozoan Plasmodium falciparum , which is the cause of the most common—and most lethal—form of malaria .
For decades , doctors have used antimalarial drugs against P. falciparum .
But just when malaria appeared to be well on its way to eradication , this parasitic protozoan mutated in ways that has enabled it to resist frontline @ @ @ @ @ @ @ major reason that malaria , one of the world ’ s oldest diseases , still claims the lives of about 400,000 people each year [ 1 ] .
This is a situation with which I have personal experience .
Thirty years ago before traveling to Nigeria , I followed directions and took chloroquine to prevent malaria .
But the resistance to the drug was already widespread , and I came down with malaria anyway .
Fortunately , the parasite that a mosquito delivered to me was sensitive to another drug called Fansidar , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was pretty sick for a few days , but recovered without lasting consequences .
While new drugs are being developed to thwart P. falciparum , some researchers are busy developing tools to predict what mutations are likely to occur next in the parasite ’ s genome .
And that ’ s what is so exciting about the image above .
It presents the unprecedented , 3D atomic-resolution structure of a protein made by P. falciparum that ’ s been a major source of its resistance : the chloroquine-resistance transporter protein , or PfCRT @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you see part of the protein ’ s biochemical structure .
The colorized area displays the long , winding chain of amino acids within the protein as helices in shades of green , blue and gold .
These helices enclose a central cavity essential for the function of the protein , whose electrostatic properties are shown here as negative ( red ) , positive ( blue ) , and neutral ( white ) .
All this structural information was captured using cryo-electron microscopy ( cryo-EM ) .
The technique involves flash-freezing molecules in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to capture their images with a special camera .
This groundbreaking work , published recently in Nature , comes from an NIH-supported multidisciplinary research team , led by David Fidock , Matthias Quick , and Filippo Mancia , Columbia University Irving Medical Center , New York [ 2 ] .
It marks a major feat for structural biology , because PfCRT is on the small side for standard cryo-EM and , as Mancia discovered , the protein is almost featureless .
These two strikes made Mancia and colleagues wonder at first whether they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to image the protein .
With the help of coauthor Anthony Kossiakoff , a researcher at the University of Chicago , the team complexed PfCRT to a bulkier antibody fragment .
That doubled the size of their subject , and the fragment helped to draw out PfCRT ’ s hidden features .
One year and a lot of hard work later , they got their homerun .
PfCRT is a transport protein embedded in the surface membrane of what passes for the gut of P. falciparum .
Because the gene encoding it is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its structure many years ago , enabling it to pump out and render ineffective several drugs in a major class of antimalarials called 4-aminoquinolines .
That includes chloroquine .
Now , with the atomic structure in hand , researchers can map the locations of existing mutations and study how they work .
This information will also allow them to model which regions of the protein to be on the lookout for the next adaptive mutations .
The hope is this work will help to prolong the effectiveness of today ’ s antimalarial drugs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a 4-aminoquinoline agent , is now used in combination with another antimalarial .
The combination has proved quite effective .
But recent reports show that P. falciparum has acquired resistance to piperaquine , driven by mutations in PfCRT that are spreading rapidly across Southeast Asia [ 3 ] .
Interestingly , the researchers say they have already pinpointed single mutations that could confer piperaquine resistance to parasites from South America .
They ’ ve also located where new mutations are likely to occur to compromise the drug ’ s action in Africa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ occur .
So , this atomic structure is already being put to good use .
Researchers also hope that this model will allow drug designers to make structural adjustments to old , less effective malarial drugs and perhaps restore them to their former potency .
Perhaps this could even be done by modifying chloroquine , introduced in the 1940s as the first effective antimalarial .
It was used worldwide but was largely shelved a few decades later due to resistance—as I experienced three decades ago .
Malaria remains a constant health threat for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the world .
Wouldn ’ t it be great to restore chloroquine to the status of a frontline antimalarial ?
The drug is inexpensive , taken orally , and safe .
Through the power of science , its return is no longer out of the question .
[ 2 ] Structure and drug resistance of the Plasmodium falciparum transporter PfCRT .
Kim J , Tan YZ , Wicht KJ , Erramilli SK , Dhingra SK , Okombo J , Vendome J , Hagenah LM , Giacometti SI , Warren AL , Nosol @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Carragher B , Kossiakoff AA , Quick M , Fidock DA , Mancia F. Nature .
2019 Dec ; 576 ( 7786 ) :315-320 .
[ 3 ] Determinants of dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine treatment failure in Plasmodium falciparum malaria in Cambodia , Thailand , and Vietnam : a prospective clinical , pharmacological , and genetic study .
van der Pluijm RW , Imwong M , Chau NH , Hoa NT , et .
al .
Lancet Infect Dis .
2019 Sep ; 19 ( 9 ) :952-961 .
NIH Support : National Institute of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of General Medical Sciences ; National Heart , Lung , and Blood Institute

Health Editor’s Note: Malaria, one of the world’s oldest diseases continues to be a death bringer for hundreds of thousands every year…..Carol
by Dr. Francis Collins/National Institutes of Health Director’s Blog
Tropical medicine has its share of wily microbes. Among the most clever is the mosquito-borne protozoan Plasmodium falciparum, which is the cause of the most common—and most lethal—a form of malaria. For decades, doctors have used antimalarial drugs against P. falciparum. But just when malaria appeared to be well on its way to eradication, this parasitic protozoan mutated in ways that have enabled it to resist frontline antimalarial drugs. This resistance is a major reason that malaria, one of the world’s oldest diseases, still claims the lives of about 400,000 people each year [1].
This is a situation with which I have personal experience. Thirty years ago before traveling to Nigeria, I followed directions and took chloroquine to prevent malaria. But the resistance to the drug was already widespread, and I came down with malaria anyway. Fortunately, the parasite that a mosquito delivered to me was sensitive to another drug called Fansidar, which acts through another mechanism. I was pretty sick for a few days but recovered without lasting consequences.
While new drugs are being developed to thwart P. falciparum, some researchers are busy developing tools to predict what mutations are likely to occur next in the parasite’s genome. And that’s what is so exciting about the image above. It presents the unprecedented, 3D atomic-resolution structure of a protein made by P. falciparum that’s been a major source of its resistance: the chloroquine-resistance transporter protein, or PfCRT.
In this cropped density map, you see part of the protein’s biochemical structure. The colorized area displays the long, winding chain of amino acids within the protein as helices in shades of green, blue and gold. These helices enclose a central cavity essential for the function of the protein, whose electrostatic properties are shown here as negative (red), positive (blue), and neutral (white). All this structural information was captured using cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM). The technique involves flash-freezing molecules in liquid nitrogen and bombarding them with electrons to capture their images with a special camera.
This groundbreaking work, published recently in Nature, comes from an NIH-supported multidisciplinary research team, led by David Fidock, Matthias Quick, and Filippo Mancia, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York [2]. It marks a major feat for structural biology, because PfCRT is on the small side for standard cryo-EM and, as Mancia discovered, the protein is almost featureless.
These two strikes made Mancia and colleagues wonder at first whether they would swing and miss at their attempt to image the protein. With the help of coauthor Anthony Kossiakoff, a researcher at the University of Chicago, the team complexed PfCRT to a bulkier antibody fragment. That doubled the size of their subject, and the fragment helped to draw out PfCRT’s hidden features. One year and a lot of hard work later, they got their homerun.
PfCRT is a transport protein embedded in the surface membrane of what passes for the gut of P. falciparum. Because the gene encoding it is highly mutable, the PfCRT protein modified its structure many years ago, enabling it to pump out and render ineffective several drugs in a major class of antimalarials called 4-aminoquinolines. That includes chloroquine.
Now, with the atomic structure in hand, researchers can map the locations of existing mutations and study how they work. This information will also allow them to model which regions of the protein to be on the lookout for the next adaptive mutations. The hope is this work will help to prolong the effectiveness of today’s antimalarial drugs.
For example, the drug piperaquine, a 4-aminoquinoline agent, is now used in combination with another antimalarial. The combination has proved quite effective. But recent reports show that P. falciparum has acquired resistance to piperaquine, driven by mutations in PfCRT that are spreading rapidly across Southeast Asia [3].
Interestingly, the researchers say they have already pinpointed single mutations that could confer piperaquine resistance to parasites from South America. They’ve also located where new mutations are likely to occur to compromise the drug’s action in Africa, where most malaria infections and deaths occur. So, this atomic structure is already being put to good use.
Researchers also hope that this model will allow drug designers to make structural adjustments to old, less effective malarial drugs and perhaps restore them to their former potency. Perhaps this could even be done by modifying chloroquine, introduced in the 1940s as the first effective antimalarial. It was used worldwide but was largely shelved a few decades later due to resistance—as I experienced three decades ago.
Malaria remains a constant health threat for millions of people living in subtropical areas of the world. Wouldn’t it be great to restore chloroquine to the status of a frontline antimalarial? The drug is inexpensive, taken orally, and safe. Through the power of science, its return is no longer out of the question.
References:
[1] World malaria report 2019 . World Health Organization, December 4, 2019
[2] Structure and drug resistance of the Plasmodium falciparum transporter PfCRT. Kim J, Tan YZ, Wicht KJ, Erramilli SK, Dhingra SK, Okombo J, Vendome J, Hagenah LM, Giacometti SI, Warren AL, Nosol K, Roepe PD, Potter CS, Carragher B, Kossiakoff AA, Quick M, Fidock DA, Mancia F. Nature. 2019 Dec;576(7786):315-320.
[3] Determinants of dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine treatment failure in Plasmodium falciparum malaria in Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam: a prospective clinical, pharmacological, and genetic study. van der Pluijm RW, Imwong M, Chau NH, Hoa NT, et. al. Lancet Infect Dis. 2019 Sep;19(9):952-961.
Links:
NIH Support: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases; National Institute of General Medical Sciences; National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute


veteranstoday--2020-02-11--Trump’s Failed Plan: Kissing international law goodbye to satisfy Israeli greed

Palestinian chiefs say that Trump ’ s so-called peace plan contains 300 violations of international law and they will take it up with the Security Council .
That ’ s nearly two violations per page .
Given the document was put together by America and Israel , both lawless and criminal to the core , no-one is surprised .
It is a brazen expression of criminal intent from start to finish .
In the UK our new Foreign Secretary , Dominic Raab , has shot to prominence .
We ’ re told he spent the summer of 1998 at Birzeit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bank ) working for one of the PLO ’ s chief negotiators on the Oslo peace accords .
That doomed-to-fail initiative began in 1993 and created a form of interim governance and framework for a final treaty by the end of 1998 .
So Mr Raab was there at a time when the two sides had been faffing about for 5 years achieving nothing .
In October 1998 the US , desperate to keep the charade going , convened a summit at Maryland ’ s Wye River Plantation at which Clinton with Yasser @ @ @ @ @ @ @ negotiators produced the Wye River Memorandum .
Not that this did much good either .
But Raab must have learned a lot about Israeli perversity and intransigence , not to mention America ’ s shortcomings as an honest broker .
Before entering Parliament Raab joined the Foreign Office and worked at the The Hague bringing war criminals to justice , then became an adviser on the Arab-Israeli conflict .
But you wouldn ’ t think so when looking at his latest performances .
As reported in Jewish News Raab welcomed Trump ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ serious proposal , reflecting extensive time and effort .
A peace agreement between Israelis and Palestinians that leads to peaceful coexistence could unlock the potential of the entire region , and provide both sides with the opportunity for a brighter future .
Only the leaders of Israel and the Palestinian territories can determine whether these proposals can meet the needs and aspirations of the people they represent .
“ We encourage them to give these plans genuine and fair consideration , and explore whether they might prove a first step on the road @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Johnson said of it : “ No peace plan is perfect , but this has the merit of a two-state solution .
It is a two-state solution .
It would ensure that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel and of the Palestinian people.
” That was a fatuous remark if ever there was one because ( a ) he clearly hadn ’ t read it carefully , ( b ) the Palestinians weren ’ t consulted , and ( c ) as Jewish News stated , a Palestinian capital would be established on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Jerusalem , including the sublime and ancient walled city ( which is officially Palestinian ) , would remain under Israeli control .
That is perhaps the cruelest part of the Zionist swindle .
In the Global Britain debate on 3 February Raab pompously declared that “ the third pillar of our global Britain will be the UK as an even stronger force for good in the world .
Our guiding lights will remain the values of democracy , human rights and the international rule of law ” .
But Alistair Carmichael ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ balloon , asking : “ If the concept of a global Britain is to have any meaning and value , surely it must have respect for human rights and an international rules-based order at its heart .
With that in mind , will the Foreign Secretary reconsider the unqualified support he gave to President Trump last week in respect of the so-called peace plan for Palestine ?
Will the right hon .
Gentleman repudiate the proposed annexation of the West Bank and at long last support the recognition of a Palestinian state ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ say to the right hon .
Gentleman that I do not think he has read the detail of this .
Whatever else he may disagree with , the one thing that the plan put forward by the US included was a recognition of and commitment to a two-state solution .
We have been absolutely clear that that is the only way in which the conflict can be resolved… .
Rather than just rejecting the plan , it is important that we try to bring the parties together around the negotiating table .
That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a two-state solution.
” I ’ d have expected Raab , by now , to be extremely skeptical of any two-state solution given the many irreversible facts on the ground that Israel has been allowed to create with impunity .
And he would know better than most how many times the sides have come to the table for grotesquely lopsided negotiations and how the Israelis never honour the agreements they make .
Raab won the Clive Parry Prize for International Law while at Cambridge .
So if he ’ s so wedded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rights and the international rule of law , why are these vital ingredients missing from his recipe for peace ?
It must be obvious to everyone – except Government ministers – that you can not achieve peace without justice .
And justice in the form of UN resolutions and international and humanitarian law has already spoken several times .
It waits… and waits… and waits… to be implemented .
Then we had Dr Andrew Murrison , Minister of State for International Development & the Middle East , in answer to a written question @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deep concern about the suggestion that any parts of the Occupied Palestinian Territories should be annexed… .
Any declaration of a unilateral border change undermines the rules-based international order and the UN Charter .
The UK calls on all parties to refrain from actions in contravention of international law that would imperil the viability of a two-state solution , based on the 1967 lines , and make it harder to achieve a just and lasting peace.
” Dr Murrison can ’ t have been paying attention .
Illegal border changes departing from 1947 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and other actions in contempt of international law and the UN Charter have been going on for 70 years simply because none of those pillars of modern civilisation have been enforced where Israel ’ s concerned .
Rules-based international order has been constantly undermined and is now non-existent in the Holy Land .
The question is , what does the UK Government , which is largely responsible for this sorry state of affairs , going to do about it besides mouthing the usual limp-wristed idiocy ?
Is the Johnson administration happy , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the US-UK-Israeli boot to stamp on the human face of the Palestinians for ever ?
And as if the Holy Land fiasco wasn ’ t enough we must put up with crass ministerial utterances on the home front .
Robert Jenrick , the Secretary of State for Housing , Communities & Local Government , complains that only 136 of the 343 local authorities in England have agreed to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance ( IHRA ) definition of anti-Semitism and insists that all universities and local councils “ must adopt ” it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and they fail to tackle anti-Semitism , they can expect to lose public funding .
According to the Jewish Chronicle he vowed to take action against universities and “ parts of local government ” who have become “ corrupted ” by anti-Semitism .
Writing in the Sunday Express , he added : “ I will use my position as Secretary of State to write to all universities and local authorities to insist that they adopt the IHRA definition at the earliest opportunity .
I expect them to confirm to me when they do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so should respect warnings by top legal opinion ( for example Hugh Tomlinson QC , Sir Stephen Sedley and Geoffrey Robertson QC ) that the IHRA definition is “ most unsatisfactory ” , has no legal force , and using it to punish could be unlawful .
It also undermines Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 10 of the UK ’ s own Human Rights Act 1998 .
But Jenrick seems to have aligned himself with sinister moves by Johnson aimed at protecting Israel from the consequences of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crimes against the Palestinians by banning public bodies from imposing their own boycotts , disinvestment or sanctions ( BDS ) .
What could any decent administration possibly fear from BDS ?
It is simply a peaceful response to Israel ’ s thuggery .
It urges non-violent pressure on Israel until it complies with international law by meeting three perfectly reasonable demands : • Ending its unlawful occupation and colonization of all Arab lands and dismantling the Wall ( international law recognises the West Bank including East Jerusalem , Gaza and the Syrian Golan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ • Recognizing the fundamental rights of the Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel to full equality .
• Respecting , protecting and promoting the rights of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes and properties as stipulated in UN Resolution 194 .
So how is Boris Johnson proposing to block BDS ?
Briefing notes accompanying the Queen ’ s Speech to Parliament , which set out his Government ’ s programme , said : ● We will stop public institutions from imposing their own approach or views about international relations , through preventing boycotts , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and those who trade with them .
● This will create a coherent approach to foreign relations from all public institutions , by ensuring that they do not go beyond the UK Government ’ s settled policy towards a foreign country .
The UK Government is responsible for foreign relations and determining the best way to interact with its international neighbours .
The ban will apply to institutions across the public sector , not just councils , and will cover purchasing , procurement and investment decisions .
Johnson and his underlings just don @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a legitimate , peaceful way of opposing the Israel ’ s illegal occupation .
Put simply , as long as the Occupation is business as usual for Israel , there should be no business with Israel .
Furthermore the foreign policies of successive UK governments have not met with the approval of the British people , and never will with US-Israel pimps dictating at Westminster .
If the Government ’ s “ settled policy ” towards Israel was consistent with international law and human rights conventions – as it should be – there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaigns because the UK would already be applying sanctions .
Furthermore the Conservatives ’ election manifesto pledged to “ ensure that no one is put off from engaging in politics… .
by threats , harassment or abuse , whether in person or online ” .
They also promised to champion the rule of law , human rights , free trade , anti-corruption efforts and a rules-based international system – all of which Israel refuses to comply with .
Yet , only last month Jenrick announced to a Conservative Friends of Israel parliamentary reception @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the day ” when Britain ’ s embassy in Israel will be “ moved to Jerusalem ” .
And he told the Board of Deputies of British Jews he would not tolerate local authority approved BDS campaigns in the UK .
“ Local authorities should not be wasting time and taxpayer ’ s money by dabbling in foreign policy or pursuing anti-Israel political obsessions.
” By the same token one might ask why the Secretary of State for Housing , Communities and Local Government is wasting time and taxpayers ’ money dabbling in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a foreign military power ?
It ’ s not in his job spec .
Kenrick has an Israeli-born wife and is a member of Conservative Friends of Israel .
Before he tries ordering local authorities what to think and do he should have the courtesy to declare these interests .
According to the Guardian he ’ s an MP who is “ on the up ” .
Heaven help us .
Johnson is expected to hold a Cabinet reshuffle this week .
His administration is already top-heavy with Zionists and , as 80 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Friends of Israel , there ’ s no shortage of compliant stooge material to fill even more top posts .

by Stuart Littlewood, Scotland
Palestinian chiefs say that Trump’s so-called peace plan contains 300 violations of international law and they will take it up with the Security Council. That’s nearly two violations per page. Given the document was put together by America and Israel, both lawless and criminal to the core, no-one is surprised. It is a brazen expression of criminal intent from start to finish.
In the UK our new Foreign Secretary, Dominic Raab, has shot to prominence. We’re told he spent the summer of 1998 at Birzeit University (in Palestine’s West Bank) working for one of the PLO’s chief negotiators on the Oslo peace accords.
That doomed-to-fail initiative began in 1993 and created a form of interim governance and framework for a final treaty by the end of 1998. So Mr. Raab was there at a time when the two sides had been faffing about for 5 years achieving nothing.
In October 1998 the US, desperate to keep the charade going, convened a summit at Maryland’s Wye River Plantation at which Clinton with Yasser Arafat, Benjamin Netanyahu, and senior negotiators produced the Wye River Memorandum. Not that this did much good either. But Raab must have learned a lot about Israeli perversity and intransigence, not to mention America’s shortcomings as an honest broker.
Before entering Parliament Raab joined the Foreign Office and worked at The Hague bringing war criminals to justice, then became an adviser on the Arab-Israeli conflict. But you wouldn’t think so when looking at his latest performances.
As reported in Jewish News Raab welcomed Trump’s so-called peace plan calling it “a serious proposal, reflecting extensive time and effort. A peace agreement between Israelis and Palestinians that leads to peaceful coexistence could unlock the potential of the entire region, and provide both sides with the opportunity for a brighter future. Only the leaders of Israel and the Palestinian territories can determine whether these proposals can meet the needs and aspirations of the people they represent.
“We encourage them to give these plans genuine and fair consideration, and explore whether they might prove a first step on the road back to negotiations.”
His boss Boris Johnson said of it:
“No peace plan is perfect, but this has the merit of a two-state solution. It is a two-state solution. It would ensure that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel and of the Palestinian people.”
That was a fatuous remark if ever there was one because (a) he clearly hadn’t read it carefully, (b) the Palestinians weren’t consulted, and (c) as Jewish News stated, a Palestinian capital would be established on the outskirts of East Jerusalem while most of Jerusalem, including the sublime and ancient walled city (which is officially Palestinian), would remain under Israeli control. That is perhaps the cruelest part of the Zionist swindle.
UK Government a ‘Force for Good’?
In the Global Britain debate on 3 February Raab pompously declared that “the third pillar of our global Britain will be the UK as an even stronger force for good in the world. Our guiding lights will remain the values of democracy, human rights and the international rule of law”.
But Alistair Carmichael (LibDem) pricked Raab’s pretty balloon, asking: “If the concept of a global Britain is to have any meaning and value, surely it must have respect for human rights and international rules-based order at its heart. With that in mind, will the Foreign Secretary reconsider the unqualified support he gave to President Trump last week in respect of the so-called peace plan for Palestine? Will the right hon. Gentleman repudiates the proposed annexation of the West Bank and at long last supports the recognition of a Palestinian state?”
Raab replied:
“I gently say to the right hon. The gentleman that I do not think he has read the detail of this. Whatever else he may disagree with, the one thing that the plan put forward by the US included was a recognition of and commitment to a two-state solution. We have been absolutely clear that that is the only way in which the conflict can be resolved…. Rather than just rejecting the plan, it is important that we try to bring the parties together around the negotiating table. That is the only path to peace and to a two-state solution.”
I’d have expected Raab, by now, to be extremely skeptical of any two-state solution given the many irreversible facts on the ground that Israel has been allowed to create with impunity. And he would know better than most how many times the sides have come to the table for grotesquely lopsided negotiations and how the Israelis never honor the agreements they make.
Raab won the Clive Parry Prize for International Law while at Cambridge. So if he’s so wedded to the values of democracy, human rights and the international rule of law, why are these vital ingredients missing from his recipe for peace? It must be obvious to everyone – except Government ministers – that you cannot achieve peace without justice. And justice in the form of UN resolutions and international and humanitarian law has already spoken several times. It waits… and waits… and waits… to be implemented.
Then we had Dr. Andrew Murrison, Minister of State for International Development & the Middle East, in answer to a written question: “We have made clear our deep concern about the suggestion that any parts of the Occupied Palestinian Territories should be annexed….
Any declaration of a unilateral border change undermines the rules-based international order and the UN Charter. The UK calls on all parties to refrain from actions in contravention of international law that would imperil the viability of a two-state solution, based on the 1967 lines, and make it harder to achieve a just and lasting peace.”
Dr. Murrison can’t have been paying attention. Illegal border changes departing from 1947 Partition lines and 1967 lines, annexations and other actions in contempt of international law and the UN Charter have been going on for 70 years simply because none of those pillars of modern civilization have been enforced where Israel’s concerned. The rules-based international order has been constantly undermined and is now non-existent in the Holy Land.
The question is, what does the UK Government, which is largely responsible for this sorry state of affairs, going to do about it besides mouthing the usual limp-wristed idiocy? Is the Johnson administration happy, in George Orwell’s words, for the US-UK-Israeli boot to stamp on the human face of the Palestinians forever?
BDS targeted
And as if the Holy Land fiasco wasn’t enough we must put up with crass ministerial utterances on the home front. Robert Jenrick, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities & Local Government, complains that only 136 of the 343 local authorities in England have agreed to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of anti-Semitism and insists that all universities and local councils “must adopt” it. If they don’t, and they fail to tackle anti-Semitism, they can expect to lose public funding.
According to the Jewish Chronicle, he vowed to take action against universities and “parts of local government” who have become “corrupted” by anti-Semitism. Writing in the Sunday Express, he added: “I will use my position as Secretary of State to write to all universities and local authorities to insist that they adopt the IHRA definition at the earliest opportunity. I expect them to confirm to me when they do so.”
Jenrick qualified as a lawyer so should respect warnings by top legal opinion (for example Hugh Tomlinson QC, Sir Stephen Sedley, and Geoffrey Robertson QC) that the IHRA definition is “most unsatisfactory”, has no legal force, and using it to punish could be unlawful. It also undermines Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 10 of the UK’s own Human Rights Act 1998.
But Jenrick seems to have aligned himself with sinister moves by Johnson aimed at protecting Israel from the consequences of its countless breaches of international law and crimes against the Palestinians by banning public bodies from imposing their own boycotts, disinvestment or sanctions (BDS).
What could any decent administration possibly fear from BDS? It is simply a peaceful response to Israel’s thuggery. It urges non-violent pressure on Israel until it complies with international law by meeting three perfectly reasonable demands:
• Ending its unlawful occupation and colonization of all Arab lands and dismantling the Wall (international law recognizes the West Bank including East Jerusalem, Gaza and the Syrian Golan Heights as occupied by Israel).
• Recognizing the fundamental rights of the Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel to full equality.
• Respecting, protecting and promoting the rights of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes and properties as stipulated in UN Resolution 194.
So how is Boris Johnson proposing to block BDS? Briefing notes accompanying the Queen’s Speech to Parliament, which set out his Government’s program, said:
● We will stop public institutions from imposing their own approach or views about international relations, through preventing boycotts, divestment or sanctions campaigns against foreign countries and those who trade with them.
● This will create a coherent approach to foreign relations from all public institutions, by ensuring that they do not go beyond the UK Government’s settled policy towards a foreign country. The UK Government is responsible for foreign relations and determining the best way to interact with its international neighbors.
The ban will apply to institutions across the public sector, not just councils, and will cover purchasing, procurement, and investment decisions.
Johnson and his underlings just don’t get it. BDS is a legitimate, peaceful way of opposing Israel’s illegal occupation. Put simply, as long as the Occupation is business as usual for Israel, there should be no business with Israel.
Furthermore, the foreign policies of successive UK governments have not met with the approval of the British people, and never will with US-Israel pimps dictating at Westminster.
If the Government’s “settled policy” towards Israel was consistent with international law and human rights conventions – as it should be – there’d be no need for BDS campaigns because the UK would already be applying sanctions.
Furthermore, the Conservatives’ election manifesto pledged to “ensure that no one is put off from engaging in politics…. by threats, harassment or abuse, whether in person or online”. They also promised to champion the rule of law, human rights, free trade, anti-corruption efforts, and a rules-based international system – all of which Israel refuses to comply with.
Yet, only last month Jenrick announced to a Conservative Friends of Israel parliamentary reception that he would “look forward to the day” when Britain’s embassy in Israel will be “moved to Jerusalem”. And he told the Board of Deputies of British Jews he would not tolerate local authority approved BDS campaigns in the UK. “Local authorities should not be wasting time and taxpayer’s money by dabbling in foreign policy or pursuing anti-Israel political obsessions.”
By the same token, one might ask why the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities, and Local Government is wasting time and taxpayers’ money dabbling in foreign policy and advocating on behalf of a foreign military power? It’s not in his job spec.
Kenrick has an Israeli-born wife and is a member of the Conservative Friends of Israel. Before he tries ordering local authorities what to think and so he should have the courtesy to declare these interests. According to the Guardian, he’s an MP who is “on the up”. Heaven help us.
Johnson is expected to hold a Cabinet reshuffle this week. His administration is already top-heavy with Zionists and, as 80 percent of Conservative MPs are reportedly signed-up Friends of Israel, there’s no shortage of compliant stooge material to fill even more top posts.
© 2020 Stuart Littlewood


veteranstoday--2020-02-11--Iraq: Russia to invest $20b in Energy INdustry

RT/Moscow : Russian oil and gas companies could triple their investments in Iraq in the near future , Yury Fyodorov , first deputy chairman of the Economic Policy Committee at the Russian Federation Council , has announced .
The companies may spend up to $ 20 billion on oil projects in Iraq , Fyodorov said at a meeting with Iraqi Ambassador to Russia Abdul-Rahman Al-Husseini , according to Russian media .
ALSO ON RT.COMThe superpowers battling over Iraq ’ s giant oil field “ Today , our leading oil and gas companies such as Lukoil , Bashneft , Gazprom Neft @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The total investment has exceeded $ 10 billion , ” the official said on Monday .
He added that other companies , such as Zarubezhneft , Tatneft , and Rosneftegaz are also interested in working in Iraq .
“ We are exploring the possibility of diversifying the activities of Russian operators , in particular by connecting them to the gas sector .
According to preliminary forecasts , this could triple our companies ’ investment.
” Russia and Iraq resumed cooperation in energy infrastructure , and in the electricity sector in particular .
Some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restoration and development of electric power facilities , while negotiations are under way over the construction of thermal power plants using the assistance of Russian companies .
Iraq ’ s proven oil reserves stand at over 145 billion barrels , while gas reserves exceed 3.7 trillion cubic meters .

RT/Moscow: Russian oil and gas companies could triple their investments in Iraq in the near future, Yury Fyodorov, first deputy chairman of the Economic Policy Committee at the Russian Federation Council, has announced.
The companies may spend up to $20 billion on oil projects in Iraq, Fyodorov said at a meeting with Iraqi Ambassador to Russia Abdul-Rahman Al-Husseini, according to Russian media.
“Today, our leading oil and gas companies such as Lukoil, Bashneft, Gazprom Neft are actively working in your country. The total investment has exceeded $10 billion,” the official said on Monday. He added that other companies, such as Zarubezhneft, Tatneft, and Rosneftegaz are also interested in working in Iraq.
“We are exploring the possibility of diversifying the activities of Russian operators, in particular by connecting them to the gas sector. According to preliminary forecasts, this could triple our companies’ investment.”
Russia and Iraq resumed cooperation in energy infrastructure, and in the electricity sector in particular. Some Russian firms could help Baghdad with the restoration and development of electric power facilities, while negotiations are underway over the construction of thermal power plants using the assistance of Russian companies. Iraq’s proven oil reserves stand at over 145 billion barrels, while gas reserves exceed 3.7 trillion cubic meters. Source: RT.com ALSO ON RT.COM: The superpowers battling over Iraq’s giant oil field


veteranstoday--2020-02-11--Equifax Hack: (your personal data) Indicted Chinese Military Tells Trump ‘Stop Spying on Us or More

Equifax Hack: (your personal data) Indicted Chinese Military Tells Trump ‘Stop Spying on Us or More is Coming’

RT/Moscow : Unlike the US itself , China does not engage in cyberattacks on foreign companies , a Chinese official has said after the US indicted four Chinese military officers over the 2017 breach of the Equifax credit reporting agency .
The US Department of Justice has formally charged four members of China ’ s People ’ s Liberation Army of stealing personal data of some 147.9 million Equifax customers after getting access through a software vulnerability which the company failed to patch .
The Chinese government denied any involvement in the Equifax hack , saying its civilian and military @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of trade secrets , ” according to Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang .
ALSO ON RT.COMBlaming Beijing : US charges 4 Chinese military personnel over massive Equifax hackThe official said Chinese entities often become victims of “ cyber intrusion , surveillance and monitoring activities ” by the US government .
“ We have lodged stern representations to the US and asked it to make explanations and immediately stop such activities , ” he said on Tuesday .
The US considers China a strategic rival and has been ramping up pressure against it on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Monday ’ s indictments identify the alleged military hackers by name , which is a rare occurrence which observers say is a sign of an increasingly tense confrontation between Washington and Beijing .

‘Stop your cyber intrusion & surveillance,’ China tells US after indictment of Chinese military in Equifax hack
RT/Moscow: Unlike the US itself, China does not engage in cyberattacks on foreign companies, a Chinese official has said after the US indicted four Chinese military officers over the 2017 breach of the Equifax credit reporting agency.
The US Department of Justice has formally charged four members of China’s People’s Liberation Army of stealing personal data of some 147.9 million Equifax customers after getting access through a software vulnerability which the company failed to patch.
The Chinese government denied any involvement in the Equifax hack, saying its civilian and military personnel “never engage in cyber theft of trade secrets,” according to Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang.
The official said Chinese entities often become victims of “cyber intrusion, surveillance, and monitoring activities” by the US government. “We have lodged stern representations to the US and asked it to make explanations and immediately stop such activities,” he said on Tuesday. The US considers China a strategic rival and has been ramping up pressure against it on many fronts in the last several years. Monday’s indictments identify the alleged military hackers by name, which is a rare occurrence that observers say is a sign of an increasingly tense confrontation between Washington and Beijing. Source: RT.com ALSO ON RT.COM: Blaming Beijing: US charges 4 Chinese military personnel over massive Equifax hack


veteranstoday--2020-02-11--UK: Four Men Arrested in Murder of Journalist Lyra McKee

BBC/London : Detectives investigating the murder of journalist Lyra McKee have arrested four men in Londonderry .
The four men , aged 20 , 27 , 29 and 52 , were arrested under the Terrorism Act on Tuesday .
Ms McKee , 29 , was shot while observing rioting in Derry ’ s Creggan estate on 18 April last year .
The New IRA has admitted carrying out her murder .
Police have again appealed for anyone with information to come forward .
The 29-year-old writer and campaigner from Belfast had only recently moved to Derry when she was killed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 4×4 vehicle on the night of 18 April 2019 when a masked gunman fired towards officers and onlookers .
Regarded by many as a rising star in Northern Ireland media circles , she had written for many publications , including Buzzfeed , Private Eye , the Atlantic and Mosaic Science .
She was named Sky News young journalist of the year in 2006 and Forbes Magazine named her as one of their 30 under 30 in media in Europe in 2016 .
The Belfast woman had signed a two-book deal with the publisher @ @ @ @ @ @ @ book The Lost Boys due out this year .
According to those who knew her best , the gay rights advocate was someone who “ believed passionately in social and religious tolerance ” .

BBC/London: Detectives investigating the murder of journalist Lyra McKee have arrested four men in Londonderry.
The four men, aged 20, 27, 29 and 52, were arrested under the Terrorism Act on Tuesday.
Ms. McKee, 29, was shot while observing rioting in Derry’s Creggan estate on 18 April last year.
The New IRA has admitted carrying out her murder. Police have again appealed for anyone with information to come forward.
I welcome today's developments in the Lyra McKee murder investigation. Detectives are working hard in the pursuit of justice. Anyone with information should come forward to police. @PoliceServiceNI — Simon Byrne (@ChiefConPSNI) February 11, 2020
The 29-year-old writer and campaigner from Belfast had only recently moved to Derry when she was killed.
She was standing near a police 4×4 vehicle on the night of 18 April 2019 when a masked gunman fired towards officers and onlookers.
Regarded by many as a rising star in Northern Ireland media circles, she had written for many publications, including Buzzfeed, Private Eye, the Atlantic, and Mosaic Science.
She was named Sky News young journalist of the year in 2006 and Forbes Magazine named her as one of their 30 under 30 in media in Europe in 2016.
The Belfast woman had signed a two-book deal with the publisher Faber and Faber, with her forthcoming book The Lost Boys due out this year.
According to those who knew her best, the gay rights advocate was someone who “believed passionately in social and religious tolerance”.
Her death caused widespread revulsion in Northern Ireland.
Read Full Story at BBC.com


veteranstoday--2020-02-12--Syria Retakes Aleppo Highway, Duff on Press TV

Gordon Duff is a Marine combat veteran of the Vietnam War .
He is a disabled veteran and has worked @ @ @ @ @ for decades .
Gordon is an accredited diplomat and is generally accepted as one of @ @ @ @ @ .
He manages the world ’ s largest private intelligence organization and regularly consults with @ @ @ @ @ has traveled extensively , is published around the world and is a regular guest on @ @ @ @ @ than “ several ” countries .
He is also a trained chef , wine enthusiast @ @ @ @ @ specializing in historical weapons and restoration .
Business experience and interests are in energy and @ @ @

Gordon Duff posted articles on VT from 2008 to 2022. He is a Marine combat veteran of the Vietnam War. A disabled veteran, he worked on veterans and POW issues for decades.
Gordon is an accredited diplomat and is generally accepted as one of the top global intelligence specialists. He manages the world’s largest private intelligence organization and regularly consults with governments challenged by security issues.
Duff has traveled extensively, is published around the world, and is a regular guest on TV and radio in more than “several” countries. He is also a trained chef, wine enthusiast, avid motorcyclist, and gunsmith specializing in historical weapons and restoration. Business experience and interests are in energy and defense technology.