MEZOPOTAMIA KURDISTAN DAILY INDEPENDENT NEWSSERVICE
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
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MESOP TODAYS SHORT CUTS ABOUT THE STATUS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
COULD A ROBOT RUN FOR PRESIDENT IN 2020?
BY ANTHONY CUTHBERTSON ON 2/16/16 AT 11:29 AM – NEWSWEEK – Artificial intelligence robot president IBM Watson Zoltan Istvan AI transhumanism – An illustration imagining IBM’s supercomputer Watson as the U.S. president. Artificial intelligence enthusiasts believe a robot could run for office in 2020.
Artificial Intelligence Algorithm Taught to Recognise Humor
The machine-learning algorithm was created by scientists at Virginia Tech.
Robots Read Books to Learn Right and Wrong
Artificial intelligence researchers have turned to literature to try to teach ethics to machines.
MESOP TODAY EXCLUSIVE : Whistleblowers Warned Top Spy About Skewed ISIS Intel
16 Feb 216 – THE DAILY BEAST – It wasn’t just the generals who were warned that ISIS intelligence assessments were overly rosy. The office of the director of national intelligence knew, too.
U.S. military analysts told the nation’s top intelligence official that their reports on ISIS were skewed and manipulated by their bosses, The Daily Beast has learned. The result: an overly optimistic account of the campaign against the terror group. The complaints, lodged by analysts at U.S. Central Command in 2015, are separate from allegations that analysts made to the Defense Department inspector general, who is now investigating “whether there was any falsification, distortion, delay, suppression, or improper modification of intelligence information” by the senior officials that run CENTCOM’s intelligence group. Read all http://www.mesop.de/?p=71315
MESOP Arguments & Analysis – “After the Geneva Talks: Re-setting U.S. Strategy for Western Syria” (Ilan Goldenberg, Nicholas A. Heras, and Paul Scharre, War on the Rocks)
“Instead of so aggressively pursuing negotiations, U.S. strategy in Syria and Iraq must start by changing conditions on the ground first before negotiations can proceed productively. U.S. actions should aim to fill the security and governance vacuums with acceptable and sustainable alternatives that eliminate safe havens for those who threaten the United States and its partners with terrorist attacks and regional destabilization. This means shifting from an approach where the United States focuses on whom it is against (Assad, ISIL, Jabhat al-Nusra) to one that emphasizes whom it is for. Otherwise, it risks pursuing a strategy that defeats one enemy but yields to another. A bloody Assad takeover of Syria, for example, would not only be horrific from a humanitarian perspective but would lead to perpetual instability and permanent pockets of extremism. Therefore, the first phase of any American policy must be to empower acceptable elements in the Syrian opposition so that they can become the center of gravity for rebel forces on the ground.” Read all http://www.mesop.de/?p=71303
MESOP ARGUMENTS & ANALYSIS (II) : “Were there irregularities in Turkey’s 2015 elections? We used this new forensic toolkit to check.” (Walter R. Mebane, Jr., Allen Hicken, and Ken Kollman, Monkey Cage) THE WASHINGTON POST
“Mapping hot spots shows that higher than average frauds probabilities occur in eastern Turkey. Towns where these signs of frauds occur significantly more often than average are red and significantly less often than average are blue. The high probabilities of AKP-favoring frauds occur not merely in eastern Turkey but in areas where the party that supports Kurdish interests (HDP, Peoples’ Democratic Party) is the dominant party. Many districts have anomalous features. The currently ruling AKP is the party that by most measures benefited from the extensive frauds that we detect, especially in eastern Turkey.” Read all http://www.mesop.de/?p=71305
MESOP TODAYS MOST RELEVANT TWEETS & SHORT CUTS
Fun detail from @ajaltamimi on “al-Khal,” original figurehead of weirdo jihadist clan Liwa Shuhada al-Yarmouk: http://www.joshualandis.com/blog/the-life-of-al-khal-founder-first-leader-of-liwa-shuhada-al-yarmouk/ …
MESOP BRITISH UK LEFT WORKED HARD TO GET HIM OUT OF GUANTANAMO
Ex-Guantanamo detainee prominently featured in al Qaeda propaganda http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2016/02/ex-guantanamo-detainee-prominently-featured-al-qaeda-propaganda.php … by @thomasjoscelyn
WEST KURDISTAN (SYRIA)
MESOP ANKARA : Turkey continues to shell PYD, threatens ‘harshest’ reaction, criticizes Russia, US
February 16, 2016, TODAY’S ZAMAN | ANKARA – Turkey on Monday continued to shell the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) near the town of Azez in northern Syria for a third day, threatened to render the air base seized by Kurds “unusable” and warned that it will show the “harshest reaction,” while criticizing Russia and the US for their actions in the Middle East.Speaking to the reporters en route to Ukraine, Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu said on Monday that the PYD’s armed wing People’s Protection Units (YPG) militia would have taken control of the towns of Azez and Tal Rifaat in the south had it not been for Turkish shelling at the PYD over the weekend.“The YPG elements were forced away from near Azez. If they get closer again, they will see the harshest reaction. We will not allow Azez to fall,” said Davutoğlu. Read all http://www.mesop.de/?p=71291
MESOP THIS MORNING : Rebel Defenses Collapsing in Northern Aleppo
by Scott Lucas – eaworldview – 16 Feb 2016 – After months of attacks from three sides, rebel defenses are collapsing in northern Aleppo Province in northern Syria.
Rebels have held the area since 2012 but have faced a foreign-led regime offensive, enabled by intense Russian bombing, since October 2015. They have been at war with the Islamic State, including a frontline near the town of Mare’, since early 2014. This month, the Kurdish YPG militia — now also supported by Russian airstrikes — have advanced. Read all http://www.mesop.de/?p=71293
MESOP’S IDEALISTIC COMMENTARY BY MARTIN CHULOV – Kurds carve out new reality in northern Syria
Kurdish YPG – viewed warily by the opposition and given a wide berth by the regime – advancing towards areas they have previously avoided – Martin Chulov Middle East correspondent – Tuesday 16 February 2016 – THE GUARDIAN
Amid the chaos in northern Syria in recent months, several themes have emerged. – The first is that Islamic State has been spared from intensified Russian airstrikes and advances by pro-regime forces. The second, and potentially more important development, is that one of the war’s least visible players – the Kurds – have done more than anyone else to carve out a new reality. Read all http://www.mesop.de/?p=71295
NORTH KURDISTAN (TURKEY)
Syria Special: Is Turkey Ready to Move Without the US? (Not Quite.)
by Scott Lucas – eaworldview – 16 Feb 2016 – Is Turkey preparing to act unilaterally to support Syrian rebels, defying years of American reticence, as it faces both Kurdish and foreign-led regime offensives changing the situation in northern Syria along the Turkish border?
A newspaper close to Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) has called for a break with the US over the Syrian crisis, if Washington is “unwilling or unable to lead” for a resolution of the conflict.
Daily Sabah, established in 2014 to support the AKP, makes the argument in a lengthy editorial on Tuesday, citing Russia’s military intervention and the advance of the Kurdish militia YPG against rebels in northwest Syria: Read all http://www.mesop.de/?p=71307
MESOP : THE FRUITLESS MERKEL / ERDOGAN CONTRACT VIA BRUSSELS / MARC PIERINI
The EU-Turkey Refugee Deal Needs a Reset
MARC PIERINI – FEBRUARY 16, 2016 – Carnegie Endowment – Less than three months after being agreed to, the November 29, 2015, EU-Turkey joint action plan on refugees is far from yielding any significant results, despite countless visits in both directions by political figures and senior officials. So far, the deal has essentially produced acrimonious statements, and its success is by no means assured due to the worsening conflict in Syria, the EU’s flawed approach, and a tense domestic situation in Turkey. – Well beyond the refugee issue, the bigger picture is staggering. For the first time ever, Ankara finds itself in a position to be an actor—along with Russia—in dismantling a major element of the European political architecture, namely the Schengen Agreement on passport-free travel, and in feeding an EU-wide political crisis. Read all http://www.mesop.de/?p=71309
SOUTH KURDISTAN (IRAQ)
MESOP : THE BARZANI / TALABANI FAMILY CORRUPTION IN KURDISTAN
Questioning the Drastic Failures of the Nichirvan Barzani & Ashti Hawrami Model
15 Feb 2016 – By Arian Mufid: Kurdistan Tribune – Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) prime minister Nichirvan Barzani is no doubt aware that the general perception people hold of his role in the south of Kurdistan is that his efforts have been exclusively focused on his plans to change the south of Kurdistan into another Dubai. Of course Nirchirvan Barzani speaks from a position of privilege; he is Masud Barzani’s nephew and son-in-law. Like most of that family he seeks to perpetuate privileges solely for his own self-interests. Over the last decade his policies have proven that his interests have been focused upon preserving privileges for the wealthy and upper classes. For example big companies in Erbil have been exempt from tax and electricity payments etc. – http://www.mesop.de/?p=71297
EAST KURDISTAN (IRAN)
MESOP : ZARIF & PUTIN THREATENS WEST – WEST REACTS WITH APPEASEMENT
Iran Daily: Zarif Warns Turkey and Saudi Arabia Over Syria
by Scott Lucas – eaworldview – 16 Feb 2016 – Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has warned Turkey and Saudi that there will be no ceasefire in Syria if the two countries continue to support rebels and intervene directly in the five-year conflict.
Zarif put out the message at a press conference after meeting the European Union’s foreign policy chief Federica de Mogherini in Brussels on Monday: “We agreed…that the fight against terrorism, especially against ISIL [the Islamic State] and [Jabhat] al-Nusra, will not stop to allow the allies of certain regions to regroup and that is extremely important.” Read all http://www.mesop.de/?p=71299
MESOP TOP OF THE AGENDA
MESOP TOP OF THE AGENDA / RELEVANT COMMENTARIES & ANALYSIS : Strikes on Syrian Hospitals Sow Doubts Over Cease-Fire
At least fifty people, including children, died in a series of air strikes on schools and hospitals in northern Syria Monday (Reuters), the United Nations said, setting off fresh doubts over the proposal for a “cessation of hostilities” scheduled to go into effect Friday. Turkey’s foreign ministry accused Russia of carrying out the strikes; Moscow denied the claim (BBC). Meanwhile, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said it was unlikely the cease-fire plan, announced last week, would begin Friday as planned (AFP), saying it would be “difficult” to meet all the conditions necessary to implement it within the next few days. MESOP ANALYSIS BY : Guardian – Crisis Group and AP Sources : Read all http://www.mesop.de/?p=71313
THE GERMAN KURDISH CHAPTER
MESOP: APO OECALAN’S TRUPPE ALS PUTINS KOLONIALARMEE / PKK KURDEN SCHIESSEN IN ALEPPO AUF FLÜCHTLINGE / MOSKAUER PYD BÜRO MIT DONEZK SCHERGEN
Syrischer Bürgerkrieg – Russlands neue Freunde (PKK/PYD)
Im Konflikt mit der Türkei unterstützt Moskau jetzt die kurdischen Milizen in Syrien – und fordert auch ihre Teilnahme an den Genfer-Friedensgesprächen. Hofft Putin, die Nato spalten zu können? – 15.02.2016, von Christoph Ehrhardt, Beirut und Friedrich Schmidt, Moskau FAZ
Schwere Vorwürfe gegen Kurden in Aleppo
Seit Mittwoch voriger Woche gibt es in Moskau eine „Vertretung des syrischen Kurdistans“, die zweite nach einer Vertretung in der autonomen Kurdenregion im Nordirak. Sie hat den Status einer Nichtregierungsorganisation, zur Eröffnung kamen keine aktiven russischen Diplomaten, dafür Vertreter von Moskaus Vasallen in den abtrünnigen georgischen Gebieten Südossetien und Abchasien sowie der „Volksrepublik“ von Donezk. Dass die Unterstützung Moskaus für die PYD mehr als ein Zweckbündnis ist, wird auch von den Kurden bezweifelt:
Zugleich arrangieren sich die syrischen Kurden auch mit den Kräften Assads. In Aleppo etwa kontrollieren YPG-Milizionäre den Stadtteil Scheich Maqsud. Aktivisten und Rebellen werfen ihnen vor, Scharfschützen auf Hilfslieferungen und Fahrzeuge mit fliehenden Zivilisten feuern zu lassen. „Die Kurden versperren der verzweifelten Bevölkerung auch den Weg in ihr Territorium“, sagte ein Rebellenkommandeur. Volltext http://www.mesop.de/?p=71301
MESOP : PKK/PYD PARTNER RUSSLANDS GEGEN EUROPA !
Ahmed Agdas – CDU-Jungpolitiker, Publizist, Student Sozioökonomie – HUFFINGTON POST
Wer wirklich von einem unabhängigen Kurdistan profitieren würde – Partner Russlands
Die vorderste Front der Kämpfer für ein Kurdistan ist die als terroristische Organisation eingetragene PKK, dessen Führer Abdullah Öcalan auf der Insel Imrali seit über 15 Jahren in Gefangenschaft ist. Die PKK, die sich als Partei versteht, würde die Führung in einem möglichen Kurdistan übernehmen und eine sozialistische Diktatur installieren. Der politische Kader müsste sich schnell, um seine Infrastruktur aufzubauen, seine Bevölkerung zu ernähren und internationale Anerkennung zu genießen, auf Partnerschaft mit Russland setzen. Volltext http://www.mesop.de/?p=71311
MESOP : BILANZ DER INTERNEN MORDE IN DER PKK – Morde innerhalb der PKK
Einleitung
Morde an Mitgliedern “der ersten Stunde”
Weitere Angaben
Morde in Europa
Morde aus neuerer Zeit
Morde im Gefängnis
Allgemeine Angaben (weitere Listen)
Einleitung
Das Phänomen der Morde innerhalb der Kurdischen Arbeiterpartei PKK ist fast so “alt”, wie die Partei selber. In erster Linie wird darauf verwiesen, dass Abdullah Öcalan mit diesen Morden seine Widersacher (Kritiker) in der Partei aus dem Wege räumen wollte. Von den Frauen und Männern der “ersten Stunde” soll nur noch Cemil Bayik und Halil Atac in den Reihen der PKK sein. Aus der ursprünglichen Führungsriege kamen einige im Gefängnis oder bei Gefechten mit den türkischen Sicherheitskräften um und nur die, die sich wie Hüseyin Yıldırım oder Kesire Yıldırım (einst die Frau von Öcalan) ins Ausland absetzen konnten, entgingen einer Bestrafung (mit dem Tod) als “Verräter”. Volltext http://www.mesop.de/?p=71317