MESOPOTAMIA KURDISTAN INDEPENDENT DAILY NEWSSAMPLER
Mezopotamian Development Society (Registered) GERMANY – FRANKFURT
THE MOST REQUESTED DAILY & ONLY INDEPENDENT NEWSSERVICE ON KURDISTAN FOR THE HIGHLY INVOLVED PEOPLE – email : mesop@online.de – Watch our website : www.mesop.de
UN Representative: Amnesty Allegations of YPG Crimes Must Be Investigated
“Need for accountability in Syria”: Farhan Haq – Basnews | Luke Coleman – 15.10.2015 14:04
ERBIL – Following the publication of an Amnesty International report on Tuesday this week, in which the People’s Protection Units (YPG) were accused of forcibly displacing Arabs in areas under their control in Syrian Kurdistan, UN spokesperson Farhan Haq has called for an investigation. Read all: http://www.mesop.de/?p=66303
MESOP TODAYS RELEVANT TWEETS & SHORT CUTS
MESOP : THE USEFUL PUTIN
UK Against ISIL @UKAgainstISIL 6m6 minutes ago – Russia has handed #ISIL a ‘big win’ by avoiding it & targeting the opposition. @hxhassan: ISIL is useful to #Russia http://bit.ly/1jqKnze
Aymenn J Al-Tamimi @ajaltamimi 10m10 minutes ago – #Iraq: de jure mayor of Baiji claims a number of advances for govt forces in the area against IS since new offensive http://almadapress.com/ar/news/57647/%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%82%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D9%85%D9%86%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%AA%D8%AD%D9%82%D9%82-%D8%A3%D9%87%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%81%D9%87%D8%A7-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%A8%D9%8A%D8%AC%D9%8A …
MESOP : THE LEADERSHIP OF IRANIAN GROUND TROPP INTERVENTION IN SYRIA – ClICK FOR PICS
Leader of Assad Allah al-Ghalib Forces discussed w/ no. of security personnel his militia’s role in #Iraq & #Syria Watch pics : http://www.mesop.de/?p=66294
MESOP: “SWEET FEELING ANYWAY”!
Elijah J. Magnier @EjmAlrai 45m45 minutes ago – #SAA and #Hezbollah completed the control of Tal-Naam supporting by #Russia air Force after a battle with #ISIS in reef #Aleppo. +
Elijah J. Magnier @EjmAlrai 38m38 minutes ago
Elijah J. Magnier Retweeted Jeff Seldin – If #Russia airstrikes are considered a failure by the #USA, why the concern? It is sweet feeling anyway.
Jeff Seldin @jseldin – “Our counter #ISIL fight will proceed unchanged as we continue to urge #Russia to change its failing strategy” – US SecDef Ash Carter
MESOP : NO LINKS TO ARABS ! A CONFESSION
Kurdish #Jews Have No Links to Iraqi Arabs: #KRG Jewish Representative – #BasNews http://www.basnews.com/en/news/2015/10/15/kurdish-jews-have-no-links-to-iraqi-arabs-krg-jewish-representative/ … via @EnglishBasNews
MESOP : QUASEM SOLEIMANI RALLIES
Barbara Slavin @barbaraslavin1 1h1 hour ago – #Qods Force commander Qassem #Soleimani rallies #Iranian officers, #Hezbollah in #Syria | The Long War Journal http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2015/
MESOP : PYD/PKK & COMPANIIONS – CLICK FOR PICS
Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) has officially been established in Haseke. See member groups: https://twitter.com/4rj1n/status/653516181018705920 … Watch pics http://www.mesop.de/?p=66297
MESOP : “LONG LIVE INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY OF THE DICTATORS” Top Cuban general, key forces in Syria to aid Assad, Russia, sources say
October 14, 2015FoxNews.com – Cuban military operatives reportedly have been spotted in Syria, where sources believe they are advising President Bashar al-Assad’s soldiers and may be preparing to man Russian-made tanks to aid Damascus in fighting rebel forces backed by the U.S.Gen. Leopoldo Cintra Frias, head of Cuba’s Armed Forces, recently visited Syria to lead a group of Cuban military personnel joining forces with Russia in their support of Assad, according to information received by the University of Miami’s Institute for Cuban and Cuban-American Studies. On Wednesday, a U.S. official confirmed to Fox News that Cuban paramilitary and special forces units are on the ground in Syria, citing evidence from intelligence reports. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Cuban troops may have been training in Russia and may have arrived in Syria on Russian planes. ” … it would indicate that General Raul Castro is more interested in supporting his allies, Russia and Syria, than in continuing to normalize relations with the U.S.” – Institute for Cuban and Cuban-American Studies, University of Miami – Read all: http://www.mesop.de/?p=66276
MESOP LISTEN TO MICHAEL GUNTER’S INTERVIEW ABOUT THE ANKARA BOMBINGS / WBEZ WORLDVIEW
Follow WBEZ’s Worldview and others on SoundCloud.
Turkey’s premier says the Islamic State is the prime suspect in the country’s deadliest terror attack that occurred over the weekend. But opponents of President Tayyip Erdogan continue to hold him responsible for the suicide bombings that killed at least 97 people and injured many more. Some have said he was complicit in the attacks by stirring up nationalist anti-Kurdish sentiment. We’ll talk about the increasing polarization in Turkey with Michael Gunter, a professor of political science at Tennessee Tech University. https://soundcloud.com/wbez-worldview/is-erdogan-at-fault-for-terror-attack-in-turkey?in=wbez-worldview/sets/worldview-october-13-2015
WEST KURDISTAN (SYRIA)
MESOP NEWS : Russian Military Uses Syria as Proving Ground, and West Takes Notice
By STEVEN LEE MYERS and ERIC SCHMITTOCT. 14, 2015 – NEW YORK TIMES – WASHINGTON — Two weeks of air and missile strikes in Syria have given Western intelligence and military officials a deeper appreciation of the transformation that Russia’s military has undergone under President Vladimir V. Putin, showcasing its ability to conduct operations beyond its borders and providing a public demonstration of new weaponry, tactics and strategy.The strikes have involved aircraft never before tested in combat, including the Sukhoi Su-34 strike fighter, which NATO calls the Fullback, and a ship-based cruise missile fired more than 900 miles from the Caspian Sea, which, according to some analysts, surpasses the American equivalent in technological capability. Read all: http://www.mesop.de/?p=66272
MESOP : Russian Military Activity: October 8 – 14, 2015 BY ISW
Key Takeaway: – President Vladimir Putin seeks to project Russian military force forward into the territory of the former Soviet Union while competing with the U.S. for influence in the Middle East. Putin is expected to reach an agreement to create joint border patrol groups to manage crises along the borders of former Soviet republics including Tajikistan during a regional summit in Kazakhstan. Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov said Moscow was “ready” to open new information coordination centers in the Middle East and North Africa in addition to the cell in Baghdad, which is reportedly already providing intelligence for Iraqi airstrikes against ISIS. Lavrov also said this week that Russia would bolster Afghan security forces in order to prevent what it cast as an ISIS-led insurgency in Afghanistan from spreading into Central Asia. He later revealed that President Putin would consider a potential request by Kabul to help combat ISIS. Afghanistan comprises the nexus of two of Putin’s objectives: to counter the U.S. and NATO; and to expand Russia’s military presence on the fringes of the former Soviet Union. While it remains unlikely that Putin would seriously involve Russia in a counterinsurgency in Afghanistan, it is clear that Putin sees instability in Afghanistan as an opportunity to advance his objectives vis-à-vis the West. Meanwhile, Russia’s air campaign in Syria has escalated, increasing pressure upon the U.S. and its allies to accept Russian leadership of a new anti-ISIS coalition, to challenge Russia, or to withdraw. Watch MAP and more: http://www.mesop.de/?p=66278
MESOP REPORTS Joint Syrian-Iranian-Russian Offensive Achieves Only Limited Initial Gains
By Christopher Kozak – 15 Oct 2015 – Key Takeaway: The Syrian regime has not gained much terrain in the first week of its large-scale ground offensive against rebel forces, despite support from intensified Russian airstrikes and hundreds of Iranian proxy reinforcements. Operations against the Syrian opposition will likely prove harder and slower than anticipated by either Russia or Iran, protracting the conflict and exacerbating extremism. Watch more and pictures MAP : http://www.mesop.de/?p=66280
China Says Not Planning to Send Military Ships to Syria
2015-10-14 18:29 GMT – (Reuters) — China said on Wednesday it had no plans to send military ships to Syria to fight with Russian forces after reports in overseas media that it was planning to do so. Read all_ http://www.mesop.de/?p=66282
High ranking Chinese military negotiate new military ties in Tehran / LENZIRAN
A high ranking Chinese military delegation , lead by a Chinese admiral is negotiating new ties in Tehran on Wednesday 14-10 – Read all http://lenziran.com/2015/10/14/high-ranking-chinese-military-negotiate-new-military-ties-in-tehran/
MESOP TODAYS COMMENTARY : How the Syrian crisis will change matters in Iraq – By Hassan Hassan (Chatham House Middle East)
Hassan Hassan – October 12, 2015 Updated: October 12, 2015 – Nearly two weeks after the Russian intervention began in Syria, one could say it has not got off to a good start. Last week, the Syrian regime launched its first ground offensive against the rebels under Russian air support. The assault, in Hama’s northern countryside, failed spectacularly – rebels affiliated to the Free Syrian Army destroyed at least 18 tanks and held their ground. The anti-government forces had advanced last month towards Al Masasnah, where the battles took place on Monday, and one of the villages that would lead the rebels further into the regime’s heartlands. The offensive was thus an important operation for the government and at the heart of the Russian forces’ role in Syria. Read all: http://www.mesop.de/?p=66284
MESOP Mr: STEINMEIER’S (GERMANY) SECURITY DIALOGUE PARTNERS – Iran broadcasts footage of underground missile base
Middle East – Daily Star Beirut – Oct. 15, 2015 | TEHRAN: Iranian state television broadcast unprecedented footage Wednesday of a deep underground tunnel packed with missiles and launcher units, which officials said could be used if “enemies make a mistake”. Read all http://www.mesop.de/?p=66286
MESOP TODAYS WEST KURDISTAN – SYRIA AGENDA – Iran- and Russia-Backed Offensive Closes in on Rebels in Aleppo
The Islamic State is pushing into new towns along the northern outskirts of Aleppo and Assad regime troops backed by hundreds of Iranian troops are pinching rebels in the city. The introduction the new foreign troops is the first overt deployment of Iranian combat forces of the civil war. “There are mobilizations by the regime in most parts of Aleppo,” a Syrian rebel commander told Reuters. “There were advances (by Islamic State) at dawn but we were able to recover Ahras entirely. There are battles in Tel Jabin.” The Assad regime is also trying to push forward on other fronts near Hama and east of Damascus. The United States has reportedly increased its resupplying of rebels in Syria’s north, prompting concern from Turkey, which summoned the U.S. ambassador on Wednesday to voice its disagreement over U.S. ties to Kurdish militias in Syria. Read all: http://www.mesop.de/?p=66288
MESOP ANALYSIS : Joint Syrian-Iranian-Russian Offensive Achieves Only Limited Initial Gains” (Chris Kozak, Institute for the Study of War)
“Operations against the Syrian opposition will likely prove harder and slower than anticipated by either Russia or Iran. On October 2, head of the Russian Duma’s Foreign Affairs Committee Alexei Pushkov predicted that Russian operations in Syria would only last ‘three or four months’ although he noted that there is ‘always a risk of getting bogged down.’ Russian President Vladimir Putin has also suggested that Russian air support will be sufficient to ‘stabilize the legitimate authorities and create conditions for finding a political compromise’ in Syria. Meanwhile, Iranian National Security and Foreign Policy Committee chairman Alaeddin Boroujerdi insisted during a visit to Damascus on October 14 that cooperation between Syria, Iraq, Iran and Russia has already been ‘positive and successful.’ The stiff defense mounted by rebel forces thus far belies this wishful thinking. The foreign allies of the Syrian regime may be forced to expend further financial and military resources in order to preserve their initial gains. The expanded interventions of both Russia and Iran will likely incentivize the Syrian regime to prioritize a military solution to the Syrian Civil War, protracting the conflict and leading to further bloodshed rather than movement towards a political solution. The heightened pressure being brought to bear upon the Syrian opposition may also drive moderate rebel factions towards closer relationships with Syrian al-Qaeda affiliate Jabhat al-Nusra (JN) and other malign Salafi-jihadist groups, further constraining U.S. policy options in the country.”
MESOP : PYD/PKK ARMED BY “US IMPERIALISM” – Syrian Kurdish PYD leader says U.S. delivers 50 tons of ammunition, more underway
QAMISHLO, Syrian Kurdistan,— The co-chair of the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) Salih Muslim confirmed that they have recently received weapons from U.S. forces and said “We do not attack anyone but we will defend ourselves against those who attack us” in response to the threats uttered by Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu.Muslim answered ANF’s questions regarding the recent airdrops of weapons to the Syrian Kurdish region by the U.S. and Turkish Prime Minister’s threat that “We could intervene the PYD”. Read more http://www.mesop.de/?p=66300
MESOP MIDDLE EAST
Imagining a New Security Order in the Persian Gulf” (Frederic Wehrey and Richard Sokolsky, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace)
“At the heart of the current dilemma is a clash of visions between the two sides of the Gulf littoral: Iran seeks the departure of U.S. forces so it can exert what it regards as its rightful authority over the region (which it believes is self-evident in the area’s geographic name). Meanwhile, the Gulf Arab states desire a continued American presence to balance what they see as Iran’s historical ambition of hegemony. A new window of opportunity may be opening to resolve this dilemma. The nuclear agreement between Iran and the P5+1 — China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States plus Germany — raises the possibility, albeit a distant one, of creating a new security order in the Gulf, one that could improve relations between Iran and the Gulf Arab states and help reduce the American military commitment. This has been accompanied by the concurrent rise of a more militarily capable bloc of Gulf Arab states who — while still falling short of real self-sufficiency and, in the case of Yemen, using their capability irresponsibly — could presage a new era of confidence among these historically jittery kingdoms.” www.mesop.de
NORTH KURDISTAN (TURKEY)
MESOP : THE EU report on Turkey highlights setbacks in democracy, liberties
October 14, 2015, Wednesday/ 17:39:19/ SELÇUK GÜLTAŞLI / BRUSSELS – Zaman – The EUropean Union is preparing to tell Turkey that it has been backsliding on fundamental freedoms and rights, which are at the core of the Copenhagen criteria, in a report expected to be published on Oct. 21. The draft of the annual progress report obtained by Today’s Zaman has strongly criticized the Turkish government for backtracking on many basic conditions directly related to a possible membership of the EU. The two focal points of concern are the judiciary and freedom of the press, which the European Commission believes, have seriously deteriorated in the past year. The only subject Turkey has been found praiseworthy of is hosting Syrian refugees. Another topic for which Ankara was highly praised in last year’s report, the Kurdish settlement process, has dramatically turned into an area of concern in the draft. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is criticized in the report for his role in the last election held on June 7 without being specifically named. Read all: http://www.mesop.de/?p=66305
SOUTH KURDISTAN
Situation in Kurdistan Region similar to civil war period: professor
A university professor in Exeter University believes the situation in Kurdistan Region is as dire as the situation during Kurdish civil war during 1990s. Crisis has stricken the autonomous region in the north of Iraq as the region has been the scene of demonstrations in the past days and a number of protesters have been killed in protests against corruption and the presidency of the region. Kurdistan Region’s President Massoud Barzani’s prolonged term ended in August 20. Opposition parties believe Barzani cannot run for another term but his KDP party reiterates that he can remain president for another term. In the latest development in the region Parliament speaker, Yusuf Muhammad, a member of Gorran (Change Movement) was not allowed to go to Erbil, the capital, to attend in a parliament meeting and Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani, a leading member of the KDP, sacked four ministers from his cabinet. The ministers were member of Gorran. Professor Gareth Stanfield told Washington Post that political tension in the region is as worse as those during 1994 and 1995 which led to civil war, adding that the parties in the region has blocked all ways to solve the crisis and there is no way out of that. He further reiterated that crisis in the region will affect negatively on fight against the Islamic State (IS). The professor warned that there is a lack of cooperation in the anti-IS front and the jihadist group is seeking an opportunity to hurt Kurds.
MESOP: KURDISTAN KRG GOING TO BE ANOTHER MIDDLE EAST FAILED STATE
15 Oct 2015 – Kurdish ruling in northern Iraq is defeated, situation more dangerous than many imagine: deputy tells Kurdpress
The security and political situation in Kurdistan Region is in danger and it would get worse if leaders in the region do not act responsibly, a deputy from Change Movement (Gorran) told Kurdpress about the recent developments in the Kurdish autonomous region in the north of Iraq. Rabun Ma’rouf stated that the Kurdish- decades-long ruling in the Kurdish region is defeated and it would get even worse if officials in the region do not act responsibly.He stated that the ruling Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) should shoulder responsibility of the defeat, expressing his movement’s support to the protests. He even warned that the situation would be even worse if there would be any protests in Erbil and Dohuk, where KDP enjoys majority.He answered questions by Kurdpress about the developments in the region. Read all: http://www.mesop.de/?p=66307
THE GERMAN KURDISH CHAPTER
Carl Schmitt – Sinisierungen
Flora Sapio schildert in der aktuellen Ausgabe von „The China Story” eine merkwürdige Bewegung unter chinesischen Intellektuellen, die sich vermehrt mit den Theorien Carl Schmitts beschäftigen (www.thechinastory.org/2015/10/carl schmitt-in-china/ ). Sie erwähnt prominente Denker wie Liu Xiaofeng, Gan Yang und Wang Shaoguang. Die Zensur drücke bei deren Werken gern ein Auge zu — lässt sich doch Schmitts Werk als Rechtfertigung der Einparteienherrschaft verstehen. Die Betonung der Rolle des Staates, seiner ordnenden Kraft und der Bewahrung der nationalen Einheit kommt der Einstellung der chinesischen Führung bei der Lösung brennender Gegenwartsprobleme schon begrifflich entgegen.
Ein weiterer Trend bezeichnet die Zunahme protestantischer Glaubensübernahme in der VR China die sehr gut zur Bestätigung des Arbeitsfleißes und Fundierung zukünftiger Bürgerlichkeit geeignet sei. www.mesop.de
MESOP : NEUESTE FEMINISTISCHE CORRECTNESS – NICHT MIT SYRISCHEN FLÜCHTLINGEN MEHR REDEN ! SIE KÖNNEN NUR SCHLECHTES BERICHTEN !
Trigger-Warnungen Achtung, grausame Literatur! (FAZ)
Muss man Studenten vor Literatur schützen, die traumatische Erlebnisse wieder aufwühlen könnte? In Amerika kämpfen einige Gruppierungen dafür: Das Schlechte soll nicht einmal mehr ausgesprochen werden, auf dass niemand verstört werde.
Schöne Zeiten, vor zehn, zwanzig Jahren, in denen man über die Vor- und Nachteile der „political correctness“ streiten konnte. Da ging es noch um etwas, es sollte ja durch die Sprache auch die Wirklichkeit anders werden und besser. Jetzt müssen wir ein neues Wort lernen, eines, das sich gleichfalls mit Worten beschäftigt. Wie damals, so sind auch diesmal die Amerikaner drauf gekommen, aber jede Wette, dass wir es an deutschen Universitäten bald zu hören bekommen. Das Wort heißt „Trigger-Warning“.Das meint: Worte können alte Verletzungen wieder wachrufen, und der oder die Betroffene macht dann alles noch einmal durch. So auch Erzählungen, wie sie sich in der antiken Mythologie finden, von Kriegen und Kriegsverbrechen, von geschändeten jungen Frauen. Der Philomela wurde die Zunge herausgeschnitten, sagt Ovid in den „Metamorphosen“, auf dass sie nicht imstande wäre, den Vergewaltiger zu verraten. Studenten der Columbia-Universität verlangten eine Trigger-Warnung für das Ovid-Seminar, wie die „Washington Post“ am 14. Mai berichtete. Volltext http://www.mesop.de/?p=66268
MESOP : GREAT SURPRISE ! Geheimdienste: BND spionierte europäische und US-Ziele aus
Von Maik Baumgärtner und Jörg Schindler – 15 Okt 2015 – Der Skandal um die sogenannte Selektorenliste der NSA ist noch nicht aufgearbeitet, jetzt geht es um die Vergangenheit des BND: Nach Informationen von SPIEGEL ONLINE spionierte er offenbar selbst in großem Stil Botschaften und andere Institutionen von EU-Ländern und US-Amerikanern aus. www.mesop.de
SCHRIFTSTELLER RAFIK SCHAMI
„Wer unsere Regeln nicht will, muss gehen“ – Kölner Stadtanzeiger
Müssen sich die Flüchtlinge unserer Kultur anpassen? Schriftsteller Rafik Schami, der vor über 40 Jahren Syrien verließ, spricht über deutsche Herzlichkeit und arabisches Desinteresse. Von Martin Oehlen – http://www.ksta.de/kultur/-fluechtlinge-schami-sote-deutschland,15189520,32125806.html