Russia brings the fight to ISIS in Syria!!!

#1,051
#1,051
volinbham said:
During my grad studies I needed an elective and took a Political Economy class. Made me wish I'd taken more of them.

One thing that always stood out was Hegemonic Stability Theory.
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My true loves have always been Russian Studies and International Relations. I never went that route professionally, and it is just as well: only the elite of the elite ever make it. As you well know, it has nothing to do with how insightful or intelligent you are; it's primarily about who you know, and as a bumpkin from the rural South, I have never known anyone.

I am a subscriber to Hegemonic Stability Theory - often because I think it is the best route for achieving a state of "enlightened self-interest," which is the foundation of peace. Although we are certainly not in a unipolar world anymore, as we were during the 90s and 00s, I'm not as convinced as some that we're necessarily in a bipolar or multipolar world either, if that makes any sense. A multilateral world may be a better way of describing it, but I'm not sure that Russia or China currently carry the kind of clout to be "poles" in and of themselves.

Some recent critics keep referencing our current time back to Thucydides' trap, pointing to the US as the established but decaying power (Sparta) and Russia and China as the rising powers (Athens). If that paradigm is truly applicable, I'm not so sure they have the math right. I think it may very well be the other way around, particularly as regards Russia. We'll probably have to deal with China for eternity, but I think we may be seeing the final gasps of great power status from Russia, an impressive final flurry kind of like the end of a fireworks show. I think Russia knows this too, and she is on the move as a result.
 
#1,052
#1,052
volinbham said:
Big Oil controls our FP sure but so does Big Pharma, Big Ag, Big Labor, Big (insert your favorite special interest impacted by global activity).

Some of this is influence, some is strategic but some of it is inertia and institutionalized thinking.

I sorta pulling for either Trump or Sanders as a crack in the ice of old thinking; an assault on the inertia of conventional wisdom.

We need disruptive innovation in thinking about government. Obviously my preference is that the disruption would be grounded in Constitutional principles but either way some disruptive factor is needed.

Time for a midlife crisis
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You need to walk with me and throw your support behind Hillary Clinton. If you really have a desire to turn over the table, then I can think of no one better that could be a catalyst for a political reset in this country.
 
#1,053
#1,053
No, there are still some of us at least who like the idea of our life's savings actually being worth something.
 
#1,054
#1,054
Rasputin_Vol said:
You need to walk with me and throw your support behind Hillary Clinton. If you really have a desire to turn over the table, then I can think of no one better that could be a catalyst for a political reset in this country.
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She'll have no more impact than W.

I'm not seeking the revolution but if it comes down to Trump v Sanders then I think we win either way (though I won't want Sanders)
 
#1,055
#1,055
volprof said:
My true loves have always been Russian Studies and International Relations. I never went that route professionally, and it is just as well: only the elite of the elite ever make it. As you well know, it has nothing to do with how insightful or intelligent you are; it's primarily about who you know, and as a bumpkin from the rural South, I have never known anyone.

I am a subscriber to Hegemonic Stability Theory - often because I think it is the best route for achieving a state of "enlightened self-interest," which is the foundation of peace. Although we are certainly not in a unipolar world anymore, as we were during the 90s and 00s, I'm not as convinced as some that we're necessarily in a bipolar or multipolar world either, if that makes any sense. A multilateral world may be a better way of describing it, but I'm not sure that Russia or China currently carry the kind of clout to be "poles" in and of themselves.

Some recent critics keep referencing our current time back to Thucydides' trap, pointing to the US as the established but decaying power (Sparta) and Russia and China as the rising powers (Athens). If that paradigm is truly applicable, I'm not so sure they have the math right. I think it may very well be the other way around, particularly as regards Russia. We'll probably have to deal with China for eternity, but I think we may be seeing the final gasps of great power status from Russia, an impressive final flurry kind of like the end of a fireworks show. I think Russia knows this too, and she is on the move as a result.
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Most of the theories and analogies are interesting and illustrative but they depend on a relative static nature of human behavior (not entirely unrealistic) and long periods of time.

I agree that Russia is on the downward slope. China and India are contenders by sheer numbers of people.

The big wild card is global communications and the creation of virtual communities where any given geographically defined power is undermined by the ability of citizens to see other ways.

Interesting times.
 
#1,057
#1,057
volinbham said:
Most of the theories and analogies are interesting and illustrative but they depend on a relative static nature of human behavior (not entirely unrealistic) and long periods of time.

I agree that Russia is on the downward slope. China and India are contenders by sheer numbers of people.

The big wild card is global communications and the creation of virtual communities where any given geographically defined power is undermined by the ability of citizens to see other ways.

Interesting times.
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We've never had a more complex time. As I walked my dogs this evening, observing the sunlight going down over the mountains of Northern California, I thought about the strange contrast between the simplicity of the land and the complexity of our times. How warfare, for instance, is more complicated today than it has ever been. Although our wars are not necessarily as deadly today, relatively speaking, long gone it seems are the days of simply kicking someone's ass and then having them accept said ass-kicking. This is all the result of the technology and communications of which you speak. One of the great ironies of human history will be that the same tool (Internet) we thought would ultimately liberate humanity will most likely only throw away the key to our handcuffs for good. How are we to combat adversaries like Russia, China, and Islamic radicals when they can make just as much use out of the Internet, social media, and cybertech as we can? Why, ISIS, beyond its founders, is largely just the product of social media and networking while Russia uses the Internet and proactive, "hip" propaganda (like RT), disguised as legitimate "news networks," to subvert European unity and trust in Western values. So the same gift that the West gave to humanity is used to tell humanity how awful the West is. I doubt Al Gore ever had that in mind when he invented it.

Interesting times indeed.
 
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#1,058
#1,058
A walk with the dog brings a lot into perspective.

For me the perspective is that we have it really good relatively speaking and the big issues of world power and domestic politics matter but they don't. Maybe that's selfish but my reality is that whoever is elected or whatever Putin does really won't change my life.
 
#1,059
#1,059
volprof said:
We've never had a more complex time. As I walked my dogs this evening, observing the sunlight going down over the mountains of Northern California, I thought about the strange contrast between the simplicity of the land and the complexity of our times. How warfare, for instance, is more complicated today than it has ever been. Although our wars are not necessarily as deadly today, relatively speaking, long gone it seems are the days of simply kicking someone's ass and then having them accept said ass-kicking. This is all the result of the technology and communications of which you speak. One of the great ironies of human history will be that the same tool (Internet) we thought would ultimately liberate humanity will most likely only throw away the key to our handcuffs for good. How are we to combat adversaries like Russia, China, and Islamic radicals when they can make just as much use out of the Internet, social media, and cybertech as we can? Why, ISIS, beyond its founders, is largely just the product of social media and networking while Russia uses the Internet and proactive, "hip" propaganda (like RT), disguised as legitimate "news networks," to subvert European unity and trust in Western values. So the same gift that the West gave to humanity is used to tell humanity how awful the West is. I doubt Al Gore ever had that in mind when he invented it.

Interesting times indeed.
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it was the same with warfare. escalation. the side that can't escalate loses. The internet being a tool for us remains true as long as are the only ones with it. just like nukes, airplanes and tanks. when new they were great for whoever had them but they end up becoming another front one has to contend with.
 
#1,060
#1,060
While the US can't claim any moral superiority on the subject this is still reprehensible actions. Syria crisis: Strikes on hospitals and schools kill 'up to 50' - BBC News

and no we had no planes in the area and unless ISIS has started flying that doesn't leave a lot of options.

and some more news, ISIS using chemical weapons (origin unknown) in Iraq against the Kurds. At what point does a people start developing an immunity to that stuff?

Samples 'confirm IS used mustard agent in Iraq attack' - BBC News
 
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#1,061
LouderVol said:
While the US can't claim any moral superiority on the subject this is still reprehensible actions. Syria crisis: Strikes on hospitals and schools kill 'up to 50' - BBC News

and no we had no planes in the area and unless ISIS has started flying that doesn't leave a lot of options.

and some more news, ISIS using chemical weapons (origin unknown) in Iraq against the Kurds. At what point does a people start developing an immunity to that stuff?

Samples 'confirm IS used mustard agent in Iraq attack' - BBC News
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We'll see if they own it. Thus far, Russian media is trying its hardest to deflect. Most nations, including the US, never admit responsibility for the majority of strikes that kill civilians, but you often have to admit blame when it gets too bad.

If I'm not mistaken, officially, Russia has yet to kill a single civilian in Syria. (I could be wrong about that though.) Come on, Putie! This isn't the 1950s anymore, before the Internet, when naive domestic populations actually believed it when a government told them they hadn't killed a single civilian in a military act. This isn't 1945 anymore, when you could take Berlin without a single civilian casualty, according to Soviet authorities. You need to own it every now and then, or else you look like Lil' Kim and his defecation-less rectum.
 
#1,062
#1,062
Week Eighteen of the Russian Intervention in Syria: A dramatic escalation appears imminent - The Unz Review

This strategic Russian and Syrian victory meant that all the nations supporting Daesh, including Turkey, Saudi Arabia and the USA were facing a complete collapse of their efforts to overthrow Assad and to break-up Syria and turn part of it into a “Jihadistan”. The Americans could not admit this, of course; as for the Saudis, their threats to invade Syria were rather laughable. Which left the main role to Erdogan who was more than happy to provide the West with yet another maniacal ally willing to act in a completely irresponsible way just to deny the “other side” anything looking like a victory.
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Needless to say, the Turks and the Saudis have also announced joint military exercises. They have even announced that Saudi aircraft will conduct airstrikes from the Incirlik air base in support of an invasion of Syria.
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Needless to say, we will see more hospital and civilian bombings in Syria's future. The west has to spin this into a humanitarian job for the faithful followers....the same ole sad contrary song..
 
#1,064
#1,064
I am still waiting on the explanation of how/why we are supporting ISIS, the rebels and the Kurds, and yet we want ISIS to win.....

the conspiracies have never gotten around to that side of it.
 
#1,065
#1,065
LouderVol said:
I am still waiting on the explanation of how/why we are supporting ISIS, the rebels and the Kurds, and yet we want ISIS to win.....

the conspiracies have never gotten around to that side of it.
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There is no conspiracy. If you would take that MSM infusion pump out of your arm, you would see that.

This is about removing Assad by all or any means necessary. Most everyone fighting the Syrian govt is US backed.....financially and intelligently. Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan, France, U.K., Austailia, ISIS, Al Nusra, etc...ALL work for and are in bed with the US.

This is about two things. Money(resources), while diminishing any Russian influence in the ME. It's about weakening Russia....the only power that will stand up to US hegemony and global supremacy...money, money, money. Not one thing humanitarian about it....to the contrary actually...

Russia is a nuclear armed enemy. Let's just hope that the incompetent in Washington know what they're doing. I'm sure they have your full support to do whatever...
 
#1,066
#1,066
ISIS sex slave survivor relives moment her mother and brothers were massacred | Daily Mail Online

An ISIS sex slave survivor who was forced to watch her family be brutally murdered by jihadists before being taken into captivity has called for humanity to 'unite' against the terrorists.

Nadia Murad Basee Taha, 21, was orphaned when ISIS extremists slaughtered six of her brothers as well as her mother in the northern Iraqi town of Sinjar in August 2014.

She was among more than 5,000 Yazidi women taken captive when extremists swept through the town and was held in a building in the ISIS stronghold of Mosul where she was raped and tortured.

She managed to escape the clutches of the jihadists three months later and now lives in Germany, where she works closed with the United Nations (UN) to tell of her experiences.

'Imagine until now, for more than a year and a half, girls as young as nine are being rented and sold out [for sex].'

'They were committing all kinds; murder, rape and displacing people by force in the name of Islam.


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Straight from a victims mouth. And yet there are muslim apologists that would blame it on isis as being some rogue group when in reality they're just doing what islam has taught them to do. Their trying to speed up the process to fulfill their f'ed up prophecy. Sickening.
 
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#1,068
#1,068
you forget that we have provided plenty of actionable intelligence on ISIS, just not the rebels, to both Syria and Russia. That was part of your argument that we were in cahoots with the rebels that we had info and weren't sharing like we did with ISIS. and again if we were so hell bent on removing Assad he would be a crater in the ground. and apparently we can coordinate the mass revolution of multiple distinct forces but can't coordinate an assassination? either with our own forces or using our proxies (rebels not ISIS). and you would think that we would have really stepped up before Russia could have gotten involved.

I don't understand the dichotomy of it all. We are evil mastermind geniuses capable of overturning national governments and yet we can't pull off simple tactical level missions? Don't even pull the MSM bs with me, again if we are "so" good at it why aren't we seeing results? its either we aren't doing anything at all, we don't want these things to happen and nothing is happening, or we are constantly being stopped, which means we aren't all that good at this. and if we are being stopped were are these stops happening? and if we are constantly being stopped why are we such a threat?
 
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#1,069
#1,069
LouderVol said:
you forget that we have provided plenty of actionable intelligence on ISIS, just not the rebels, to both Syria and Russia. That was part of your argument that we were in cahoots with the rebels that we had info and weren't sharing like we did with ISIS. and again if we were so hell bent on removing Assad he would be a crater in the ground. and apparently we can coordinate the mass revolution of multiple distinct forces but can't coordinate an assassination? either with our own forces or using our proxies (rebels not ISIS). and you would think that we would have really stepped up before Russia could have gotten involved.

I don't understand the dichotomy of it all. We are evil mastermind geniuses capable of overturning national governments and yet we can't pull off simple tactical level missions? Don't even pull the MSM bs with me, again if we are "so" good at it why aren't we seeing results? its either we aren't doing anything at all, we don't want these things to happen and nothing is happening, or we are constantly being stopped, which means we aren't all that good at this. and if we are being stopped were are these stops happening? and if we are constantly being stopped why are we such a threat?
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Of course we could've/can take out Assad if we wanted to. But, that in itself, wouldn't create the chaos and and turmoil needed in making Syria the staging ground for the same interference into Iran, which is in the plans.

These efforts are about money. Resources(oil) and the constant supplying or selling of weapons that make billions for arms manufacturers and the crooked politicians that are in bed with them...

You keep referring to our good efforts and deeds in fighting ISIS. I don't see them. The fact is now the terrorist that are supported directly by Turkey, S.A. and us are being pushed backwards. Thus, the Turkish military escalation on the border. A safe zone or a no fly zones purpose would only be established to keep the pipeline of weapons and terrorist needed in toppling Assad. Although there are civilians suffering, as in any war, that is hardly the reason for these corridors...
 
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#1,070
#1,070
Pacer92 said:
Of course we could've/can take out Assad if we wanted to. But, that in itself, wouldn't create the chaos and and turmoil needed in making Syria the staging ground for the same interference into Iran, which is in the plans.

These efforts are about money. Resources(oil) and the constant supplying or selling of weapons that make billions for arms manufacturers and the crooked politicians that are in bed with them...

You keep referring to our good efforts and deeds in fighting ISIS. I don't see them. The fact is now the terrorist that are supported directly by Turkey, S.A. and us are being pushed backwards. Thus, the Turkish military escalation on the border. A safe zone or a no fly zones purpose would only be established to keep the pipeline of weapons and terrorist needed in toppling Assad. Although there are civilians suffering, as in any war, that is hardly the reason for these corridors...
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or maybe its to keep from shooting down more Russian planes? again something you called for earlier and now that it might happen you are upset? this is the problem I have with you and Ras is that your views and goals for any situation always shift to cast the "US" side in a bad light. if you kept a constant line I could respect it but you don't.
 
#1,072
#1,072
LouderVol said:
or maybe its to keep from shooting down more Russian planes? again something you called for earlier and now that it might happen you are upset? this is the problem I have with you and Ras is that your views and goals for any situation always shift to cast the "US" side in a bad light. if you kept a constant line I could respect it but you don't.
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Who's upset? First off, I won't speak for Ras, but my views have never shifted. I bring the stuff you don't want to hear. It doesn't portray the US as the sweet, angelic country that MSM does.

My line is constant. It doesn't gee-haw with yours, so you don't respect it? Ok...
 
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