MESOPOTAMIA KURDISTAN DAILY INDEPENDENT NEWSSERVICE
MESOPOTAMIA 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 NEWS “NO NEW TOILET ERECTING” : DONALD D. STOPS THE CENTRAL ART & LIFE PROJECT OF THE WHOLE LBGTI CULTURE – What a crime in our days?!
TrumpWatch, Day 34: Administration Pulls Back Transgender Rights with extra toilets
by Scott Lucas – Despite internal debate, Trump Administration proceeds with withdrawal of transgender rights – www.mesop.de
MESOP NEWS TODAYS RELEVANT TWEETS & SHORT CUTS
MESOP NEWS : THE OLD BASTARDS ARE THE NEWS ONE – ISIS Says British Militant Carried Out Suicide Attack in Iraq
By KIMIKO de FREYTAS-TAMURA – NYT – The possibility that a former Guantánamo inmate known as Jamal al Harith (formerly Ronald Fiddler) had blown himself up stirred outrage in British tabloids, and prompted a strong response from former Prime Minister Tony Blair. NEW York Times 23 Febr 2017 www.mesop.de
!KNOW BETTER WITH MESOP NEWS! : 22 Februar 2017 – GENEVA IV
Geneva IV: Who is coming? What do they want? And will it matter? All you need to know about Syria’s new peace talks. irinnews.org/analysis/2017/… Read all http://www.mesop.de/?p=83020
MESOP TODAYS NEWS FLASH II : 22 Febr 2017 – Click for more
Israel jets bombs Damascus suburb in Syria — The JPost m.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-C…
MESOP NEWS NEW : U.S.-Backed Forces Enter Syria’s Deir ez-Zour
The Syrian Democratic Forces entered Syria’s Deir ez-Zour in bid to cut off the Islamic State’s (Al Jazeera) supply lines to Raqqa. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a monitoring group, reported that at least eleven people were killed in air strikes in the province, an area where the U.S.-led coalition’s planes operate. www.mesop.de
MESOP NEWS : A PRO PKK TRANSLATOR ?
Translator working for the US Consulate in Adana detained on terror charges related to PKK membership. twitter.com/tvahaber/statu… https://twitter.com/tvahaber/status/834742664268505088
MESOP EAST KURDISTAN – IRAN – NEW KURDISH KOMALA RECR UITS
WATCH PICTURE GALLERY
MESOP NEWS TODAYS ANALYSIS : HEZBOLLAH LOSING ITS LUSTER UNDER SOLEIMANI
By Hanin Ghaddar – PolicyWatch 2766 – February 22, 2017
Many Hezbollah fighters believe their Iranian supervisor in Syria views them as easily replaceable Arab cannon fodder, and the resultant tension is generating disillusionment about Tehran’s claims of pan-Shiite unity.
The deteriorating relations between Hezbollah and Syrian regime fighters are no longer secret. Lebanese social media platforms affiliated with Shiite supporters of Hezbollah are replete with mockery of the Syrian army’s incompetence, corruption, clumsiness, cowardice, and lack of resources. Bashar al-Assad’s forces are often blamed for causing Hezbollah losses or hampering operations against the rebels. While this trend has seemingly inflated egos among the group’s core supporters back home, it also suggests that political and military alliances are more complicated on the ground in Syria.
Relations between Hezbollah fighters and their commanders in Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) are similarly complicated, but much more problematic to discuss publicly. Hezbollah remains Iran’s most skilled militia, but anecdotal accounts indicate that it may no longer enjoy its privileged status with Tehran, at least in terms of how its forces are treated on the battlefield. The war in Syria has uncovered Iran’s true expansionist intentions, along with a Persian arrogance toward Arab Shiites that Hezbollah fighters are not used to. Read all http://www.mesop.de/?p=83030
MESOP DOCUMENTS & PROSPECTS : Middle East Forum Plans Out a “White House Commission on Radical Islam”
News from the Middle East Forum – February 22, 2017
PHILADELPHIA – February 22, 2017 – Six months ago, Donald Trump announced his intention to “establish a commission on radical Islam” early in his presidency, designed to investigate and explain the “core convictions and beliefs of radical Islam,” identify “warning signs of radicalization,” and expose “the networks in our society that support radicalization.”
In an effort to aid President Trump in implementing this pledge, the Middle East Forum has prepared a comprehensive plan for a White House Commission on Radical Islam.
Written by Christopher C. Hull, a former congressional staffer, the plan centers around:
WEST KURDISTAN (SYRIA)
MESOP FLASH NEWS : CLANDESTINE JOHN – McCain Secretly Visited Syria Last Weekend
Michael Dalder/Reuters 23 Febr 2017 – Sen. John McCain secretly traveled to northern Syria last weekend, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday. The senator’s visit was reportedly organized with help from the U.S. military and was predominantly an effort to allow McCain to speak with American officials and Kurdish fighters leading the charge to push ISIS militants out of Raqqa, the jihadist group’s stronghold. “Mr. McCain is believed to be the first U.S. lawmaker to travel to the Kurdish-controlled area of northeastern Syria since it became a hub for American special-operations forces who are aiding local forces in the fight against Islamic State,” the Journal noted. It is believed that McCain last visited Syria in 2013 when he met with the Free Syrian Army, another rebel group supported by the United States. www.mesop.de
MESOP INSIGHT : JOHN Mc CAIN MET WITH PKK/PYD IN KURDISH KOBANE – SYRIA / US Senator McCain visited Kobani, Kurdish forces fighting ISIS
By Rudaw 6 hours ago – 23 Febr 2018 – ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Republican Senator John McCain made a secret visit to Kobani in Kurdish-controlled northern Syria last week, meeting with American and Kurdish forces fighting to oust ISIS from Raqqa, the Wall Street Journal has reported.
His office confirmed the visit in a statement, saying he “traveled to northern Syria last week to visit US forces deployed there and to discuss the counter-ISIL campaign and ongoing operations to retake Raqqa.” McCain, an army veteran and outspoken critic of US President Donald Trump, is chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, which has jurisdiction over the Department of Defense and armed forces. Read all http://www.mesop.de/?p=83044
MESOP NEWS SYRIA : NO ASSURANCES FÜR PYD/PKK IN MOSCOW – Russia May Have Sidelined PYD in Geneva Talks
Rudaw – 2017-02-22 – Despite the fact that several Kurdish representatives from the Syrian Kurdish opposition are to take part in the Geneva talks as part of the delegation of Saudi-backed High Negotiation Committee (HNC) on Thursday, it is not clear if the ruling Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) in northern Syria will have a seat on the table.
Russia, which has maintained friendly ties with the PYD and has pushed hard to include the Kurds in the fourth round of Geneva talks, may have agreed to sideline the PYD as a concession to Turkey, Munzir Markhus, the spokesperson for the HNC told the pan-Arab Asharq al-Awsat newspaper on Tuesday. Markhus called it a “sacrifice” that Russia, which backs the Syrian regime, has offered to Turkey in the hope that in return it would win concessions to make room for the so-called Moscow platform, named after the Syrian parties that are under the political influence of the Kremlin. Read more http://www.mesop.de/?p=83034
MESOP SYRIA UPDATE TODAY : Political Talks Resume in Geneva
February 23 – By Scott Lucas – eaworldview – Low expectations as Assad regime and Syria’s opposition-rebel delegations resume indirect discussions
“Am I expecting a breakthrough? No, I’m not expecting a breakthrough,” de Mistura told a news conference. “But I am expecting and determined for keeping a very pro-active momentum.” The opposition-rebel delegation, again hoping to expose the regime’s lack of will for any resolution, called for face-to-face negotiations. Spokesman Salem al-Muslet said the group did not want another fruitless round of discussions:
We have experience with this regime. They’re not here to negotiate about a political transition, but they’re here to buy time and commit more crimes in Syria. There’s no trust in this regime. Read all http://www.mesop.de/?p=83036
MESOP NEWS BACKGROUNDER : MEMRI February 21, 2017 – Special Dispatch – No. 6794
The Syrian Regime’s Ambivalence Towards President Trump
Based on statements by Syrian regime officials, chiefly President Bashar Al-Assad himself, and on articles in Syrian government and pro-government press, the regime’s attitude towards U.S. President Donald Trump is characterized by ambivalence. On the one hand, regime officials have thus far expressed cautious optimism regarding the future of relations between the countries out of a desire to maintain good ties with a U.S. administration they see as different from its predecessor and more in line with Russia regarding the Syrian crisis. On the other hand, articles in the official Syrian press did not hold back their criticism of President Trump, particularly after his call to establish safe zones for refugees in Syria.[1]
This report will review the Syrian regime’s position on the Trump administration, as can be gleaned from statements by Assad and articles in the Syrian government and pro-government press:Assad Welcomes Trump Statements On Combating Terrorism, Calls Syrian Safe-Zone Plan Unrealistic Read all http://www.mesop.de/?p=83028
MESOP NEWS “FRONTLINE” SYRIA : Turkish-Rebel Offensive Captures ISIS-Held Al-Bab
February 23 – EAWORLDVIEW – Scott Lucas – Turkish-rebel force claims major victory with capture of al-Bab in Aleppo Province from Islamic State
A Turkish-rebel offensive has declared full control of the city of al-Bab, the Islamic State’s last major position in Aleppo Province in northwestern Syria.The Euphrates Shield operation announced the capture on Thursday morning, following an advance yesterday that moved beyond occupation of 40% of the city to take the Security Square, including the court, post office, and military buildings. Read all http://www.mesop.de/?p=83042
MESOP TODAYS BACKGROUNDER : The Formation of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham & Wider Tensions in Syria’s Insurgency
by Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi – CTC Sentinel – February 22, 2017 –Abstract: Late January 2017 saw a significant realignment of rebel and jihadi factions in Syria. Following aggressive moves by al-Qa’ida-aligned Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, a number of rebel groups sought protection under Ahrar al-Sham. In response, Jabhat Fateh al-Sham and its main allies announced the formation of a new umbrella group, Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, headed by the leader of a hardline former faction of Ahrar al-Sham. If the lines between the two blocs harden, a confrontation between them could further weaken the rebel position in Syria. Read all and watch pics http://www.mesop.de/?p=83048
SOUTH KURDISTAN (IRAQ)
MESOP NEWS – WAR CRIMINAL ASYLANTS IN GERMANY – Former Iraqi Soldier Prosecuted in Germany for War Crimes
Mira Rojkan – 23 February 2017 – BASNEWS – LEEDS — A German court in Berlin started the hearing of a case against a former Iraqi soldier who was charged with war crimes after allegedly taking pictures with and of human heads belonging to two Islamic State (IS) militants. rEAD ALL http://www.mesop.de/?p=83038
NORTH KURDISTAN (TURKEY)
MESOP NEWS BRUSSELS : EU PROTEST CONTRA ERDOGAN – EU criticizes measures against HDP co-chairs
BRUSSELS – 23 Febr 2017 – Hurriyet – The European Union has criticized measures taken in Turkey against the co-chairs of the Kurdish issue-focused Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), Figen Yüksekdağ and Selahattin Demirtaş, saying they “add to the concerns” of the institution. Read full text http://www.mesop.de/?p=83040
MESOP NEWS : TURKISH ACTUAL POSITIONS IN SYR IA – UP TO DAY (CLICK FOR MAP)
#pt: #Turkey-backed Euphrates Shield ops will now focus on 4 areas, circled in red on map, to cut off any possible #Assad regime advance.
#pt: New map shows territory [in green] captured by FSA, Ahrar & #Turkey in Euphrates Shield ops in last 5 months.
MESOP NEWS : HIGH RANKING PKK CADRE SPEAKS IN LIMBURG / GERMANY
23 Febr 2017 – Faruk Bozkurt Limburg’ta anıldı – l Özgürlük Hareketi’nin emektar isimlerinden Faruk Bozkurt (Nasır Karayazı) Almanya’nın Limburg kentinde yapılan etkinlikle anıldı. Anmaya, Bozkurt’un akrabalarının yanı sıra çok sayıda Kürt kurum temsilcisi ile Kürdistanlı katıldı.
21 Şubat 2017 Salı | Toplum-Yaşam – Read details and watch pictures http://www.mesop.de/?p=83052
MESOP NEWS TODAYS SPECIAL : THE UPCOMING NEW COLD WAR – TRUMP SENDS US TROOPS HEADING FOR NORWAY & AUSTRALIA
Today’s Insight – Click bottom link for details
U.S. Marines Head to Norway and Australia | Kaitlin Lavinder and Will Edwards, The Cipher Brief
U.S. Marines are being deployed to Norway and Australia, ostensibly as part of standard procedure, but also to respond to two emerging threats, Russia and China.
Expert Commentary
First Foreign Forces in Norway Since WWII | Karsten Friis, Senior Advisor and Head, Research Group on Security and Defence, Norwegian Institute of International Affairs
“The semi-permanent presence of USMC is in this context welcome, but I think the symbolic value is as important. The presence of U.S. troops is a signal of U.S. commitment to collective defense, and thereby also sends a signal of deterrence towards Russia. The various U.S. deployments in Europe, including this one, thus both serve a military and a political purpose.”
Marines Head to Australia: Still Working Toward a Full Deployment | Andrew Shearer, Director, Alliances and American Leadership Project, Center for Strategic and International Studies
“The Australian and U.S. governments are still working towards full rotations by a 2,500-strong Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF). That force level was originally meant to be achieved by around 2017, but is now likely to take several years longer, owing to drawn-out negotiations on cost sharing that took until October 2016 to conclude.” Read all expert commentaries http://www.mesop.de/?p=83046
THE GERMAN CHAPTER
MESOP LBGT CULTURE : DER „GROSSE BRUDER“ HEISST HEUTE DIE „GROSSE SCHWESTER“
Sprachdiktat stalino-jakobinischer Umerziehung : Kafka’s Verwaltung bearbeitet Anträge nur noch aufgrund sprachlich fundierter Gehirnwäsche
Gendern soll in immer mehr Bezirken Pflicht werden / Tagesspiegel 23 Febr 2017
Die SPD will in der BVV Mitte geschlechtsneutrale Sprache einführen – Vorbild ist Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg. Auch in Lichtenberg wird diskutiert. Lilith Grull
Bei der BVV Mitte wird über geschlechtsneutrale Sprache bei Anträgen diskutiert.
„Es ist wichtig, dass Sprache jeden einschließt, gerade bei Anträgen“, sagt Jules Rothe, stellvertretende Fraktionsvorsitzende der SPD in der Bezirksverordnetenversammlung (BVV) in Mitte. Volltext http://www.mesop.de/?p=83032