(2019-10-20). Confronted by impeachment, Trump adds to the chaos. thecanary.co 
The impeachment investigation into President Donald Trump has thrust Washington into a political crisis. And Trump keeps adding to the chaos.In the four weeks since house speaker Nancy Pelosi launched the investigation, Trump has taken steps that have drawn more criticism, not less, repeatedly testing the loyalty of his stalwart Republican allies. His actions have both intensified the questions at the centre of the inquiry and opened new areas of concern.Trump angered GOP leaders and US allies by clearing the way for Turkish attacks on Syrian Kurdish fighters, key American partners in the fight against Daesh (Isi…
(2019-10-20). Donald Trump thanks Pentagon chief Mark 'Esperanto' for 'securing oil' in Syria, whatever that might mean. rt.com 
Donald Trump has fired off another typo-laden tweet, this time sharing a quote from his defense secretary, Mark "Esperanto." The US president also doubled down on his belief that the US has "secured" Syria's oil. | Trump wrote that the situation in Syria has stabilized, citing a statement from Defense Secretary Mark Esper in regards to the status of the fragile ceasefire between Turkish forces and Kurdish militias. | | The Tweeter in Chief, however, had difficulty spelling Esper's name. Another possibility: He fell victim to auto-correct. | As an added bonus, the message included another boast about how the…
(2019-10-20). Lebanon braced for massive anti-government protests. thecanary.co 
Lebanon is braced for what many expect to be the largest protests in the fourth day of anti-government demonstrations.Thousands of people of all ages were gathering in Beirut's central square on Sunday, waving Lebanese flags and chanting the "people want to bring down the regime".Anti-government protesters in Beirut (Hassan Ammar/AP)The protests are Lebanon's largest in five years, spreading beyond Beirut to its main cities and towns.The unrest erupted after the government proposed new taxes, part of stringent austerity measures amid a growing economic crisis.The demonstrations unleashed long-simmering anger at a…
(2019-10-20). Video: Turkish-funded Syrian National Army and Myth of United Syrian Opposition. globalresearch.ca Turkey's Operation Peace Spring once again drew wide attention not only to the so-called Kurdish question, but also to attempts by Ankara to create a unified Syrian opposition as an alternative to the Assad government. According to official Turkish statements, …
(2019-10-20). 'A Million Protesters' Flood Lebanese Capital Beirut on 4th Day. telesurenglish.net Protesters in Lebanon flooded the streets Sunday, keeping pressure on Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri as a self-imposed deadline to deliver a package of badly needed reforms for the country's crumbling economy drew near. | Anti-government protests that have swept the country since Thursday have pulled together all segments of Lebanese society in an unusually unified call for the downfall of a political elite that protesters blame for plunging the economy into crisis. | On Sunday demonstrators clogged streets across the country for a fourth day with marches resembling outdoor festivals. Loudspeakers blared natio…
(2019-10-20). Noam Chomsky signs call to boycott Turkey and prevent the ethnic cleansing of Kurdish people. thecanary.co Noam Chomsky, David Graeber, and Brian Eno have joined hundreds of academics and artists around the world to sign an academic and cultural call to boycott Turkey. The call asks for: academics, artists and intellectuals around the world to oppose the Turkish invasion of north-eastern Syria [Rojava] by boycotting Turkish government sponsored academic, artistic and musical events taking place inside and outside of Turkey. | "Rojava…
(2019-10-20). US/Turkey Deal on Syria, Like Carving Up Cuba Scene from the Godfather Trilogy. globalresearch.ca One of the trilogy's most memorable scenes was in pre-liberated Cuba where mafia dons are seen carving up a cake representing the country. | The Hyman Roth character explains that "all of you will share" in plundering the island state in …
(2019-10-20). 'In the chaos of a full-scale war, it can be hard to get clear answers'. UK Internationalists shed light on the deal with Assad. thecanary.co This is the second piece The Canary is publishing from British Internationalists currently volunteering in north east Syria (Rojava). It's written by Berivan Qereàßox and Natalia Szarek. | On 14 October, a military agreement was announced between the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) of the Autonomous Administration and the Syrian Arab Army (SAA), the fo…
(2019-10-20). Video: Assad Troops Deploy on Border Amid 120-hour Ceasefire. globalresearch.ca On October 16 and 17, the Russian Aerospace Forces were conducting airstrikes on positions of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham in northern Lattakia and southern Idlib. According to local sources, the most intense strikes took place near Tahtaya, Kafar Sijnah and Rakaya …
(2019-10-20). Turkey, Russia To Discuss Kurds Forces Removal from Syria Towns. telesurenglish.net Turkey and Russia will discuss the removal of the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia from the northern Syrian towns of Manbij and Kobani during talks in Sochi next week, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Sunday. | RELATED: | Erdogan Throws Trump's Syria Letter in the Trash | Turkey paused its military offensive into northeastern Syria after President Tayyip Erdogan agreed on Thursday, in talks with U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, a five-day ceasefire to allow the YPG to withdraw from a "
(2019-10-20). The Road to Damascus: How the Syria War Was Won. globalresearch.ca What is happening in Syria, following yet another Russia-brokered deal, is a massive geopolitical game-changer. I've tried to summarize it in a single paragraph this way: | "It's a quadruple win. The U.S. performs a face saving withdrawal, which Trump can …
(2019-10-20). Video: Terrorists' Air Force: Improvised Attack Drones in Syria and Iraq. globalresearch.ca Over the past years, the usage of improvised armed unmanned aerial vehicles by various armed groups and paramilitary formations has become an inherent part of conflicts in the Middle East. | First reports about the usage of such unmanned aerial vehicles …
(2019-10-20). The U.S. armed and funded extremists in Syria. mronline.org 
The US armed and funded extremists in Syria to overthrow the Syrian government and the media cheered. Those same extremists then attacked the Kurds on Turkey's behalf to the horror of the same media. Now what? | Source
(2019-10-19). 'We don't own Syria': Lee Camp shreds media's 'manipulative' coverage of US troop withdrawal (VIDEO). rt.com 
President Trump's decision to pull troops out of northern Syria sent the mainstream media into a full-blown meltdown, Redacted Tonight's Lee Camp said, slamming their hawkish coverage as mindless and deceitful. | The withdrawal of US forces stationed in the region prompted the New York Times to run a front-page headline decrying how Syrian forces would soon take control of the "US void"… in their own country. | None of this makes sense, Camp argued. | There are certain things you will never hear from the mainstream media. For one thing, we don't own Syria. This is an illegal invasion of ours… The way they…
(2019-10-19). Turkish Troops are Ready to Resume Northern Syria Operation: DM. telesurenglish.net The Turkish military and their allied rebel forces are ready to resume their offensive dubbed Operation Peace Spring in northern Syria, Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said on Saturday. | RELATED: | Turkey Agrees with US To Pause Syria Attack, Kurds To Speak Soon | Akar vowed to resume the Turkish military operation if the Kurdish fighters along the Syrian border do not withdraw from the area that was supposed to be a safe zone. | Turkey and Washington agreed on Thursday…
(2019-10-19). Wide-Scale Anti-Gov't Protests Continue Across Lebanon. telesurenglish.net The Lebanese people ignored Prime Minister Saad Hariri's 72-hour-long pledge Friday to take to the streets for the third straight day of protests against government corruption. | RELATED: | Lebanese PM Gives Gov't 72 Hours to Find Solution to Crisis | Thousands of demonstrators poured into Lebanon's streets on Saturday, directing growing rage at a political elite they blame for driving the country to the economic brink. | In central Beirut, the mood was fiery and festive with prot…
(2019-10-19). Trump Blows It Big Time in Syria. commondreams.org Syrian Arab and Kurdish civilians flee amid Turkish bombardment on Syria's northeastern town of Ras al-Ain in the Hasakeh province along the Turkish border on October 9, 2019. (Photo: Delil Souleiman/AFP/Getty Images) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/erlich.jpg …
(2019-10-19). "Greater Israel": The Zionist Plan for the Middle East. globalresearch.ca When viewed in the current context, the war on Iraq, the 2006 war on Lebanon, the 2011 war on Libya, the ongoing wars on Syria and Iraq, the war on Yemen, must be understood in relation to the Zionist Plan for the Middle East…
(2019-10-19). Media Alarmed by Imaginary US Pullout From Syria. commondreams.org Two U.S. soldiers keep an eye on the demarcation line during a security patrol outside Manbij, Syria, June 26, 2018. (Photo: Staff Sgt. Timothy R. Koster/U.S. Army) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/syria-not-withdrawal.jpg …
(2019-10-19). Fighting continues in wake of US-Turkish agreement on northern Syria. wsws.org The "ceasefire" deal has only intensified opposition within US ruling circles, where the withdrawal of US troops from Syria is seen as strengthening Russia's hand in the Middle East.
(2019-10-19). Democrats link Trump impeachment drive to dissent in military over Syria pullback. wsws.org Retired Special Operations Commander William McRaven published an op-ed piece in the New York Times Thursday calling for Trump's removal "the sooner, the better."
(2019-10-18). Khury Petersen-Smith on Turkey & the Kurds, Alex Vitale on the Purpose of Policing. fair.org 
Media…
(2019-10-18). Pressing Done Here: Syria, Iraq and "Informed Discussion" counterpunch.org 
Yes, Iraq too again. Innocent Iraqis, most of them young, are being shot and killed now by the hundreds as they protest the corruption and incompetence of the current government. The title of Patrick Cockburn's last article about Iraq is "Iraq is in Revolt" (CounterPunch, October 7, 2019). The US "liberation" of Iraq in 2003 More
(2019-10-18). Lebanese PM Gives Gov't 72 Hours to Find Solution to Crisis. telesurenglish.net Lebanon's Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri gave a 72-hour deadline on Friday to his "partners in government" to stop obstructing reforms and threatened to take a different approach otherwise, but stopped short of resigning. | RELATED: | One Dead, 18 Hospitalized in Lebanon's Massive Wildfire | Hariri, addressing massive protests across the country, said Lebanon was going through an "unprecedented, difficult time". | He added that his efforts to enact reforms have been blocked by others i…
(2019-10-18). Foreign Correspondent: Trump Dumps Kurds as the Empire Crumbles. progressive.org They say politics makes strange bedfellows. So does war.
(2019-10-18). Kurds Say Turkey Used Chem Weapons & US Announces Syria Ceasefire That Turkey Says Isn't A Ceasefire. thelastamericanvagabond.com Welcome to The Daily Wrap Up, a concise show dedicated to bringing you the most relevant independent news, as we see it, from the last 24 hours (10/17/19). As always, take the information discussed in the video below and research it for yourself, and come to your own conclusions. Anyone telling you what the truth …
(2019-10-18). Amid ongoing fighting in northeast Syria, hundreds cross Iraqi border in search of safety. un.org Shelling and clashes in northern Syria on the border with Turkey continue to cause hundreds of people to flee, the UN said on Friday, despite a cessation of hostilities deal between Turkish forces and Syrian-backed Kurdish military.
(2019-10-18). Headlines for October 18, 2019. democracynow.org Under U.S. Deal, Turkish Occupation of Northern Syria Continues; Ethnic Cleansing Feared, "We Do That All the Time": Mulvaney Admits to Quid Pro Quo over Ukraine, Ambassador Sondland Confirms Giuliani Pushed Ukraine Policy, Energy Secretary Rick Perry to Resign, U.S. to Host G7 at Trump Resort in Possible Violation of Constitution, Civilian Casualties Reach New High in Afghanistan, Corbyn Urges Labour Party Members to Reject New Brexit Deal, Chicago Teacher Strike Enters Second Day, NYC City Council Backs Plan to Close Rikers as Activists Call for No New Jails, Cuban Asylum Seeker Dies in Solitary Confinement in…
(2019-10-18). US Democrats Cultivated the Barbarism of Isis. dissidentvoice.org 
There is something profoundly deceitful in the Democratic Party and corporate media's framing of Donald Trump's decision to pull troops out of Syria. One does not need to like Trump or ignore the dangers posed to the Kurds, at least in the short term, by the sudden departure of US forces from northern Syria to …
(2019-10-18). Ocasio-Cortez nails why Trump's latest pact is so utterly disturbing. thecanary.co 
On 17 October, the US announced a highly controversial deal with Turkey that would supposedly see Turkish-led invaders suspend their attacks on northern Syria (aka Rojava). The condition was essentially that the largely-Kurdish communities of Rojava would have to stop resisting and leave their homes behind. Turkey would then move other people into the area to replace them (as it previousl…
(2019-10-18). Media Alarmed by Imaginary US Pullout From Syria. fair.org 
President Donald Trump's modification of the US's Syria policy has generated a torrent of confusion, so it's worth reviewing the record. | White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham announced on October 6: Turkey will soon be moving forward with its long-planned operation into Northern Syria . The United States Armed Forces will not support or be involved in the operation, and United States forces, having defeated the ISIS territorial "Caliphate," will no longer be in the immediate area. | The statement is notable both b…
(2019-10-17). Nobody Has a Plan for Thousands of ISIS Fighters Detained by Kurds in Syria. theintercept.com 
The abrupt U.S. withdrawal from Syria means nobody knows who will eventually control the 10,000 ISIS fighters there or where they will wind up.
(2019-10-17). Can the US Protect the Kurds Without Using Military Force? therealnews.com 
The House overwhelmingly passed a resolution condemning Trump's troop withdrawal from Syria, making it look like Democrats are wedded to military intervention. Is there an alternative that protects the Kurds without the use of the U.S. military?
(2019-10-17). Agreement to pause Turkey's campaign in Syria destroys US credibility, top Democrats say, despite demanding it. rt.com 
Can Trump do anything right? House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer don't seem to think so, calling his agreement to pause Turkey's military campaign in northeastern Syria a "sham." | The US-Turkey agreement to pause Ankara's operation "seriously undermines the credibility of America's foreign policy and sends a dangerous message to our allies and adversaries alike that our word cannot be trusted," Pelosi and Schumer said in a statement on Thursday. | President Erdogan has given up nothing, and President Trump has given him everything. | Just last week, however, the pair were teari…
(2019-10-17). Sorting Facts From Fiction About the US Withdrawal From Syria. mintpressnews.com 
If one believes in the restoration of international law and the tenets of the UN Charter, then the withdrawal of U.S. military forces from northern Syria is a good thing. Here are some facts and history that explain why.
(2019-10-17). Syria: Exposing Western Radical Collaboration with Imperialism. dissidentvoice.org Despite so many self-defined radicals' reading and claims to understand Gramsci's corrective to Marxism-Leninism's mechanistic understanding of the relationship between the base and the ideological superstructure, the ease by which some radicals are manipulated by the crude ideological machinations of the ruling class is truly astonishing. It is quite understandable that liberals would be manipulated …
(2019-10-17). Why Withdrawing US Troops from Northern Syria is GOOD. dissidentvoice.org The foreign policy elite is in an uproar. They claim "we have abandoned our allies". They question "how can America be trusted?" They say the decision to withdraw from northern Syria was a "gift" to Russia, Iran, and Assad, even ISIS. It is true that the policy of US/NATO interventionism is failing. But that has been …
(2019-10-17). Iran 'Has Evidence' US, Israel, Saudis Attacked Tanker & Why The Kurds In Syria Are Just Terrorists. thelastamericanvagabond.com Welcome to The Daily Wrap Up, a concise show dedicated to bringing you the most relevant independent news, as we see it, from the last 24 hours (10/16/19). As always, take the information discussed in the video below and research it for yourself, and come to your own conclusions. Anyone telling you what the truth …
(2019-10-17). In Lebanon, a Census Is Too Dangerous to Implement. thenation.com In Lebanon, a Census Is Too Dangerous to Implement…
(2019-10-17). Headlines for October 17, 2019. democracynow.org Trump Has "Meltdown" After Lawmakers Rebuke His Actions on Syria, Gordon Sondland to Testify in Impeachment Inquiry Today, Britain and European Union Reach Brexit Deal, Protests Continue in Catalonia After Sentencing of Separatist Leaders, Trump Admin Proposes Opening Up Tongass National Forest to Logging, 500,000 Kids Could Lose Free School Lunches Under Changes to Food Stamp Program, Chicago Public School Teachers on Strike Today, General Motors and UAW Reach Tentative Deal Aimed at Ending Strike, NYC Council Slated to Vote on $8 Billion Plan to Close Rikers & Build New Jails, Maryland Congressmember Elijah Cum…
(2019-10-17). "Meltdown": Trump Defends Syria Withdrawal as House Votes 354 to 60 to Condemn His Actions. democracynow.org 
As the displacement of 300,000 civilians over Turkey's assault on Kurdish-controlled areas continues in northern Syria, the House of Representatives voted Wednesday to condemn President Trump's actions. Turkey invaded the region on October 9, shortly after Trump virtually greenlit the Turkey assault by abruptly withdrawing a small number of U.S. troops who were protecting Kurdish areas in northern Syria. Since then, the Kurds have aligned themselves with the Syrian government, and a number of former ISIS fighters who were being held by the Kurds have escaped. We speak with Ozlem Goner, assistant professor of soci…
(2019-10-17). Rep. Ro Khanna: We Need a Responsible Withdrawal from Syria, Not One Oblivious to Human Life. democracynow.org 
As hundreds of thousands of civilians face displacement and violence amid Turkey's assault on Kurdish-controlled areas in northern Syria, the House of Representatives voted to condemn Trump's decision to withdraw U.S. support for the Kurds on Wednesday. The measure passed 354 to 60. We speak with Representative Ro Khanna, who says, "We can't just get involved in a place and then walk away and not have some moral responsibility. We have a moral responsibility not just to the Kurds who fought with us against ISIS. We have a moral responsibility to accept Syrian refugees. We have a moral responsibility to help rebui…
(2019-10-17). Could Turkish Aggression Boost Peace in Syria? dissidentvoice.org 
On October 7, 2019, the U.S. President Donald Trump announced the withdrawal of American troops from northeast Syria, where the contingent alongside Kurdish militias controlled the vast territories. Trump clarified that the decision is connected with the intention of Turkey to attack the Kurdish units, posing a threat to Ankara. It's incredible that the Turkish …
(2019-10-16). The US has backed 21 of the 28 'crazy' militias leading Turkey's brutal invasion of northern Syria. thegrayzone.com Former and current US officials have slammed the Turkish mercenary force of "Arab militias" for executing and beheading Kurds in…
(2019-10-16). Photo Essay: Home for the Kurds? progressive.org The Kurds living in northern Syria worked together to create an independent region called Rojava, based on workers rights, equality, feminism, and ecology.
(2019-10-16). Democrats Decry Trump's Syria Policy But Fail to Address Palestine, Yemen, China & Other Issues. democracynow.org 
At Tuesday's debate, Democratic candidates took aim at President Trump's recent move to withdraw support from the Kurds in northern Syria, paving the way for Turkey to invade the region. We speak with Intercept contributor Mehdi Hasan, host of the "Deconstructed" podcast, about the candidates' foreign policy proposals.
(2019-10-16). Headlines for October 16, 2019. democracynow.org 12 Democratic Candidates Take to the Stage in Ohio, Pence Heads to Turkey as Erdogan Vows No Ceasefire in Northern Syria, State Dept. Official: White House Put "Three Amigos" in Charge of Ukraine Policy, Activists Arrested in D.C. over Trump Plan to Gut Refugee Resettlement, British Family Detained for a Week After Mistakenly Driving Across U.S.-Canada Border, Egypt Tortured Journalist & Activist Esraa Abdel Fattah in Custody, Worst Fires in Decades Rage Across Lebanon, Mexican Senate Slated to Vote on Bill to Legalize Marijuana, Man Launches Hunger Strike Amid Mohawk Land Dispute with Real Estate Developers, Cal…
(2019-10-15). Pushback: Aaron Maté and Ben Norton discuss Syria war, US withdrawal, Turkish invasion. thegrayzone.com The Grayzone hosted its first YouTube livestream of Pushback with Aaron Maté, featuring Ben Norton. We discussed the Syria war,…
(2019-10-15). Tuesday's Daily Brief: UNICEF child health report, Peacekeeping operations end in Haiti, Syria-Turkey latest, Haitian migrants deported from Bahamas. un.org A recap of Tuesday's stories: Millions of children undernourished and overweight says landmark report; Security Council marks transition after 15 years of 'blue helmets' in Haiti; violence continues 'on both sides' of Syria-Turkey border; UN human rights office raises concerns over deportation of Haitian migrants from the Bahamas; UN migration agency helps migrants in Algeria return to Niger; rural women celebrated on International Day.
(2019-10-15). Headlines for October 15, 2019. democracynow.org Syrian Troops Advance Across Northern Syria After Deal with Kurds, Ex-Top Russia Adviser Testified Bolton Called Giuliani a "Hand Grenade", 12 Democrats Will Take the Stage for Presidential Debate in Ohio Tonight, Fort Worth Cop Charged for Murder After Killing Atatiana Jefferson, Judge: Trump Broke Law by Declaring Emergency to Secure Border Funding, Arizona: Bulldozers Destroyed Protected Cacti to Clear Way for Trump Wall, 8-Year-Old Girl Easily Scales Replica of Trump's "Impenetrable" Border Wall, Protests Erupt at Barcelona Airport over Sentencing of Catalan Leaders, Mexico: 14 Police Officers Killed in Ambus…