MEZOPOTAMIA KURDISTAN DAILY INDEPENDENT NEWSSERVICE
Mezopotamian Development Society (Registered) GERMANY
THE MOST REQUESTED DAILY & ONLY INDEPENDENT NEWSSERVICE ON KURDISTAN FOR THE HIGHLY INVOLVED PEOPLE – email : mesop@online.de – Watch our website : www.mesop.de
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MESOP : ISRAEL’S DEFINITE CHOICE IS DONALD TRUMP !?
Donald Trump delivers a prepared speech at AIPAC on March 21.
“… And then Trump took the stage. No, not as the final speaker but, unexpectedly, the penultimate one. Everyone looked around; where were the Reform rabbis who were going to get up and leave? How many were they supposed to be, a thousand? Two thousand? Nothing. There were awkward cheers and applause, the blobby shape of politeness, and suddenly it was clear that Trump was reading a prepared speech.” MIDDLE EAST FORUM USA
More on: www.mesop.de
MESOP : DONALD TRUMP’S ROSEMARIES BABY & THE JEWISH BABY (THE AIPAC SPEECH)
“Are those in attendance likely to remember the protests, or what Trump actually said, or what he unsaid, or the AIPAC president’s scolding, but what was very nearly a genuine emotion from Trump, about his daughter’s forthcoming “beautiful Jewish baby?” Mother and forthcoming child should only be healthy. …” More on www.mesop.de
PRO ASYL / NUCLEAR POWER GROUND ZERO EUROPE – Brussels Attacks: Bombers Filmed Nuclear Researcher, Expert Says
Nancy Ing and Alexander Smith | NBC News – 24 March 2016 –
The brothers behind this week’s Brussels bombings also spied on a top nuclear researcher and hoped to build a so-called “dirty bomb,” an expert involved in a probe into ISIS threats told NBC News on Thursday. Khalid and Ibrahim El Bakraoui were responsible for planting a hidden camera outside the Belgian researcher’s house, according to Claude Moniquet, a French former intelligence official who was hired to investigate potential plots targeting Europe’s nuclear sector. Read all http://www.mesop.de/?p=72461
MESOP : READ JOOST HILTERMANN
FROM SOUTH TRAIN STATION BRUSSEL VIA MAIN ROAD EN ROUTE BOURSE TO MOLENBEEK – BELGIUM’S CAPITAL ALREADY TIGHT IN ISLAM’S HANDS
Not just Moroccan mosques or Belgium. This is a well-funded disease the West knows well but turns a blind eye to. —— “Money frm #Gulf contries has done a lot of damge 2 #Moroccn mosques n #Belgium”.Must Read D.Leroy/ @JoostHiltermann http://www.nybooks.com/daily/2016/03/24/brussels-attacks-isis-why-belgium/ …
MESOP NOW : INTEL-BREXIT !
Brussels Attacks Add Urgency to Debate Over Britain’s E.U. Membership
By STEVEN ERLANGER – NEW ORK TIMES – 25 March 2016 – A former director of the British intelligence service said on Thursday that the security of the nation would benefit if it departed from the bloc. www.mesop.de
MESOP : HOW TO BREAD TERRORISTS ? EDUCATE REFUGEES WITHOUT GUARANTEE OF WELL PAYED JOBS ! – Hell hath no fury like a frustrated elite.”
Arguments and Analysis – “Does Engineering Education Breed Terrorists?” (Dan Berrett, Chronicle of Higher Education)
“The question then becomes: Why? What makes engineering unique? Gambetta and Hertog’s first explanation is sociological. When people’s hopes for individual and social advancement are raised and then dashed, a dynamic called relative deprivation can occur. People who experience relative deprivation don’t need to be objectively disadvantaged; they must simply feel they’ve been denied their due. The theory makes intuitive sense for engineers in developing countries, where the programs’ graduates enjoy high social status. Instead of finding lucrative careers, however, they often encounter limited job prospects in sclerotic economies. The gap between expectations and opportunities can come to feel galling, perhaps even humiliating. Hell hath no fury like a frustrated elite.” http://www.mesop.de/?p=72489
MESOP EASTER-JOKE / THREE CHEERS FOR OBAMA’S INTELLIGENCE PEOPLE – “TAKE IT – AS YOU LIKE! (PUTIN KNOWS BETTER)
US Still Views PKK and PYD “Separate Entities”: US Official
WASHINGTON — 24 March 2016 – The US State Department Spokesperson has made it clear that Washington views the Democratic Union Party (PYD) and Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) as “two separate entities.”Earlier this week, Kurdistan Region President Massoud Barzani told al-Monitor that PYD and PKK are “exactly one and the same thing”, and the US knows that very well. Read more http://www.mesop.de/?p=72463
MESOP TODAYS COMMENTARY BY ARIAN MUFID / A DEPRAVED LEADERSHIP OF DOWNGOING PUK
KDP is Sole Beneficiary of PUK Civil War – By Arian Mufid
24 March 2016 – Kurdistan Tribune : The people of the south of Kurdistan are suffering an ever-increasing sense of insecurity. A PUK (Patriotic Union of Kurdistan) civil war is looming and there appears to be no solution to this broken unity. When Jalal Talabani fell ill in December 2012 the only fear coming from the PUK leadership was of a breakdown of their authority with their members. Since then, with the absence of Talabani, the PUK has incurred heavy losses and for that reason the Talabani family and party politburo has never provided a true picture of his health. So, who is benefiting from the disunity of the PUK leadership? The gaps within the leadership are widening day by day over several issues. Read all http://www.mesop.de/?p=72473
MESOP TODAYS MOST RELEVANT SHORT CUTS & TWEETS
MESOP : NEWS FROM KAFRANBEL
#Kafranabel: “Terrorism is an octopus; #Assad is its head & its arms reach everywhere except #Russia & #Iran“
MESOP : THE MOSUL TEA-CUP
Charles Lister @Charles_Lister – “Launch” of #Mosul offensive is storm in a teacup: – Ops are 90km from #Mosul – #Tigris river still uncrossed – Insufficient ISF capacity
The main objective of today’s operation is 2 clear areas E of #Qayyarah thus preventing #ISIS from hitting #Makmour, & not 2 clear #Mosul. IS snipers, landmines and suicide bombers slow battle for Mosul http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/anti-forces-push-retake-mosul-us-help-981708752 … via @MiddleEastEye
MESOP : GOOD ACTION BY US !
In wake of Brussels attacks, US steps up effort to close last ISIS route out of Syria through Turkey: http://www.wsj.com/articles/brussels-attacks-fuel-push-to-close-off-militants-highway-1458781674 …
Kurdistan #Newroz! @UniteKurdistan – ENKS suspends participation in Opposition Delegation and demand Asaad Al-Zoubi’s resignation and apologies.
MESOP : NO PEACE – NO CEASEFIRE IN SYRIA !
Violent incidents betw’n #Syria’s opposition & pro-regime forces have steadily increased over past 48hrs; especially intensified airstrikes.
Kyle W. Orton @KyleWOrton 6h6 hours ago – Seeing #Assad‘s PR battle with #IS in Palmyra held up as evidence the regime and Russia are really committed to fighting IS: mind-blowing.
#Syria-n Coalition Holds Teleconference with New Administration of #Aleppo Prov. Council http://ow.ly/ZTZhp
MESOP NEWS FROM MOSCOW / DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Laura Rozen @lrozen – Kerry, Putin, Lavrov all sounding positive about US Russia engagement. Lavrov says he and Kerry met 18 times in last 10 Months
MESOP : THE PALMYRA PR
Charles Lister @Charles_Lister – PT: Intriguingly, one US airstrike has been officially reported in the vicinity of #Palmyra = possible 1st case of US-#Russia coordination?
MESOP ESSENTIALS TO READ
Here are the “Essential Principles of a Political Solution in #Syria,” by Staffan de Mistura (& via @ibrahimhamidi )
MESOP : HEAVY FIGHTING ALL AROUND MAXMUR THIS MOMENT
Fighting going on for control of villages around Maxmur. #iraq #Peshmerga #isf
Patrick Osgood @PatrickOsgood – ISF not getting it all own way this morning. Heavy fighting in al-Nasr village. IS burning fuel oil burned to shroud it from air strikes.
Per reporting we’re getting and by looking at that pic, these look like fuel oil burn pits lit by ISIS to deter air strikes. www.mesop.de
#Makhmour op was 4 pronged with #Sunni tribes taking two areas and #Peshemrga / #ISF supporting. Significant #IED presence reported. Hashtag
Tom Robinson @RiseTomrob
Sunni Tribes (Sobawi) make gains west of Makhmour with ISF and Peshmerga support. Civilians remain in houses as ISIS flee with little fight
Iraqi forces on offensive; Peshmerga alert for ISIS counterattac http://rudaw.net/english/kurdistan/24032016 … via @RudawEnglish
Report of progress south of Qayarra-Makhmour road. Perimater around Makhmour town expanding.
Patrick Osgood @PatrickOsgood
Here’s a rush map of offensive area relative to Makhmour & Qayyara, launch site for rocket that killed US Marine. Patrick Osgood @PatrickOsgood Suffice to say big difference between retaking Iraq’s second largest city and clearing uncontested smattering of hamlets 50km to the south.
MESOP : PKK & PYD ARE TWINS UNDER KANDIL COMMAND – WHAT ELSE ?
Prez #Barzani to @AlMonitor: #PYD and PKK are exactly one and the same @amberinzaman – http://almon.co/2md8 – More an wwww.mesop.de
SOUTH KURDISTAN (IRAQ)
MESOP : 5 MINUTES AGO / BREAKING NEWS / KURDISH ROAD TO BAGHDAD NOW CLOSED !
Baghdad Freezing Relations with Erbil: Kurdish Politician / Mahmoud Othman says Baghdad is quite certain that Kurds are not willing to return to Baghdad
Karzan Hawrami – BasNews – 25 March 2016 – ERBIL — The Iraqi government is practically suspending its relations with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) as it is certain that “Erbil won’t return to Baghdad for negotiations”, a Kurdish prominent politician says. Read all http://www.mesop.de/?p=72493
MESOP INSIGHT : To The Victor, The Spoils? / THE PKK PROBLEM – A PROBLEM FOR KURDS
Kurdish Military Scrap With Rival Kurdish Militia Over Mosul’s Future / By Histyar Qader
Which armed forces should free Mosul of the Islamic State? And who will take care of security after they’ve gone? Nobody can seem to agree, especially not within the Kurdish community.
24.03.2016 | Sulaymaniyah niqash – On the border between Mosul and Iraqi Kurdistan: Mosul under extremist rule has closed itself to Iraq, and opened roads to Syria. To many observers, it feels as though the battle for the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, to free it of the extremist group known as the Islamic State, must begin soon. Various different armed forces appear to be moving into position for an attack on the city, a stronghold of the Islamic State, or IS, group. Read all http://www.mesop.de/?p=72465
MESOP Warning: Iraq’s Shi’a Parties Split Over Cabinet Reshuffle Amidst Protests
By Patrick Martin with Emily Anagnostos, Rachel Bessette & Hannah Werman (ISW)
25 March 2016 – Key Take-away: Political violence may erupt in Iraq as supporters of Muqtada al-Sadr continue large-scale protests to pressure the current government to reshuffle the cabinet fundamentally. Sadr had threatened on February 26 to withdraw his support from Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi if such an overhaul did not occur by March 29, 2016. The Sadrists began a large sit-in at the entrance to the Green Zone on March 18 and are harnessing the power of street demonstrations to either compel PM Abadi to comply or make it possible for him to do so. Former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and his supporters within the State of Law Alliance (SLA), rather than Abadi, seem to be the chief obstacle to a cabinet reshuffle. Read all http://www.mesop.de/?p=72485
MESOP MIDDLE EAST
MESOP PSYCHOLOGY UNIT : AIPAC, Trump & the Land of Shadows / by Alexander H. Joffe (MIDDLE EAST FORUM)
Donald Trump delivers a prepared speech at AIPAC on March 21.
… And then Trump took the stage. No, not as the final speaker but, unexpectedly, the penultimate one. Everyone looked around; where were the Reform rabbis who were going to get up and leave? How many were they supposed to be, a thousand? Two thousand? Nothing. There were awkward cheers and applause, the blobby shape of politeness, and suddenly it was clear that Trump was reading a prepared speech. He wasn’t winging it, free associating, but carefully reading prepackaged points to a specific audience. No one knew how to react; Tweets snarked on the awkward and halting delivery. Ha, he’s not such a good reader, is he? But then he began to zero in, he relaxed, he paused, and mugged, and waved his finger, reading the room, ad-libbing more and more. Read all http://www.mesop.de/?p=72467
WEST KURDISTAN (SYRIA)
MESOP Syria Daily: Warm Words But No Substance from Kerry-Putin Meeting
Scott Lucas – 25 March 2016 – eaworldview – US Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian President Vladimir Putin have exchanged warm words, but revealed little of substance in a four-hour meeting in Moscow about Syria’s crisis. – Kerry said at the start of Thursday’s talks: The serious approach that we have been able to cooperate on has made a difference to the life of people in Syria and to the possibilities of making progress on peace,” Kerry said at the start of talks with Putin in Moscow. Read all http://www.mesop.de/?p=72475
MESOP : PUTIN DOESN’T SEE LONG TERM PERSPECTIVE WITH PYD/PKK KURDS IN SYRIA
Sergei Demidenko | Special to Russia Beyond The Headlines RBTH – Sergei Demidenko is a Middle East expert and professor at the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration’s Institute of Social Sciences.
In the Syrian conflict, which has lasted for more than five years, Moscow’s support for the Syrian Kurds has been a tactical instrument and is opportunistic in nature, with Russia remembering them mainly after the deterioration in its relations with Turkey in November 2015.Moscow understands that the Turks always react tempestuously to any issue related to the Kurds. For example, Russia’s initiative to open the (first in the world) Syrian Kurd representative office in Moscow in the middle of February this year says that first and foremost Russia wishes to prick Turkey. Read all http://www.mesop.de/?p=72477
MESOP Syria Analysis: Why Was Assad’s Military Commander Brother Demoted?
by Scott Lucas – 25 March 2016 – eaworldview – Well-placed sources in and near Syria have confirmed the effective demotion of President Assad’s brother Maher, moving him from command of an elite military brigade. Some pro-regime outlets noted the sidelining of Maher al-Assad last week, as he was “transferred from the command of 4th Armored Division’s 42nd Brigade to the General Staff” of the Syrian Army. Others tried to portray the move as a promotion, giving Assad the rank of Major General. Read all http://www.mesop.de/?p=72479
MESOP: GENEVE IS A BEAUTIFUL PLACE – Syrian Peace Talks Adjourn until April
The latest round of Syrian peace talks concluded yesterday in Geneva after ten days of discussions. The proximity talks — in which the regime and opposition factions never met directly — produced agreement on some key principles and U.N. Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura, who mediated the discussions, stressed that there were “no breakdowns, no walkouts,” though the regime remains unwilling to discuss a political transition. After meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow yesterday, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said that both Russia and the United States will encourage participation in continued talks. De Mistura has set April 9 as a tentative date for those discussions to resume. “Next time, we put the principles aside and we look now (to) the political process,” he said. More on : http://www.mesop.de/?p=72487
MESOP : 5 MINUTES AGO / THE KERRY – PUTIN AGREEMENT ON SYRIA
Kerry and Putin agree over need to push for political transition in Syria
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – 25 March 2016 – RUDAW : Following four hours of talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin the United States Secretary of State John Kerry announced that both Washington and Moscow have agreed that a draft version of a new Syrian constitution should be drafted by August. – “We agreed on a target schedule for establishing a framework for a political transition and also a draft constitution, both of which we targeted by August,” Kerry told a joint press conference he held with Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Read more http://www.mesop.de/?p=72481
MESOP INSIGHT : Prisons Under Syrian Rebel Groups: Some Considerations
By Jalal Ibrahim. Translated by Maya Milani. – 25 March 2016 – When prisoner turns warden, an odd switch can quickly occur turning him into the very codes and practices he once endured. As soon as fate hands over one of his old torturers, or even those representing them, a revenge flame is ignited to strike back with his worst. It also occurs that this flame catches fire upon the very civilians he once claimed to protect. The victim turns perpetrator, but one with fatal knowledge and precision. Read all http://www.mesop.de/?p=72483
MESOP : KURDISCHER POLITIKER SELAHATTIN DEMIRTAS (HDP) & GARETH JENKINS (Institut für Sicherheits- und Entwicklungspolitik (ISDP) WARNEN VOR OFFENEN GRENZEN MIT VISA-FREIHEIT
Ende der Visumpflicht für Türkei- Kurdischer Politiker warnt vor Zustrom von türkischen Flüchtlingen in die EU
Freitag, 25.03.2016, FOCUS – Die EU hat der Türkei von Ende Juni an Visumfreiheit in Aussicht gestellt – im Gegenzug für das Entgegenkommen Ankaras in der Flüchtlingskrise. Doch kurdische Politiker und Türkei-Experten warnen: Ein Ende der Visumpflicht könnte zu einem neuen Zustrom von Flüchtlingen nach Europa führen. Die Rede ist von einer halben Million Menschen. Volltext http://www.mesop.de/?p=72491