(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). Khury Petersen-Smith on Turkey & the Kurds, Alex Vitale on the Purpose of Policing. fair.org 
Media…
(2019-10-18). Trump's Fake Withdrawal From Endless War. commondreams.org Kurdish Syrian civilians flee the town of Kobane on the Turkish border on October 16, 2019 as Turkey and its allies continue their assault on Kurdish-held border towns in northeastern Syria. – Turkey rebuffed international pressure to curb its military offensive against Kurdish militants in Syria today as US President Donald Trump dispatched his deputy Mike Pence to Ankara to demand a ceasefire. (Photo: Bakr Alkasem/AFP via Getty Images) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/trump_endless_war_syria_kurds.jpg …
(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). Contradictory US/Turkey Ceasefire in Northern Syria. Turkey is Playing the US and Russia Cards Simultaneously. globalresearch.ca On Thursday in Ankara, Turkish President Erdogan met with Mike Pence and Pompeo, a joint statement by both sides issued following talks. See below. | Trump regime hardliners want their imperial agenda in Syria continued, notably aiming to undermine Russian efforts …
(2019-10-18). US Military Unlikely to Withdraw from Eastern Syria and Its Oil Fields. globalresearch.ca The U.S. Armed Forces are not withdrawing from the eastern Euphrates River Valley region of Deir Ezzor or its plethora of oil fields, a military source in Damascus told Al-Masdar News. | According to the source, the U.S. Armed Forces won't …
(2019-10-18). "Meltdown": Trump defends Syria withdrawal as house votes 354 to 60 to condemn his actions. nationofchange.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 …
(2019-10-18). Syrian Army Entered Ayn al-Arab at the Borders with Turkey. globalresearch.ca The Syrian Arab Army is deploying at Ayn Al-Arab, the tip of the Syrian northern borders with Turkey, its vanguards arriving in Raqqa, the city which US forces obliterated quite deliberately and claimed it had been liberated it from its …
(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). Winners and Losers in the Turkish Attack on Syria. Russia is the Most Successful Player. globalresearch.ca The United States of America emerged victorious from the Second World War, and came out stronger than any other country in the world. The allies- notably the Soviet Union- won the war but emerged much weaker. They needed to reconstruct …
(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). Is Trump More Concerned With Erdoƒüan Relationship Than With Kurdish Lives? truthout.org After meeting with Vice President Mike Pence in Ankara on Thursday, Turkish officials agreed to temporarily pause Turkey's invasion of the Rojava autonomous region in northeast Syria in exchange for the lifting of U.S. sanctions. While the agreement may prevent further bloodshed and blunt a growing humanitarian crisis, it represents a victory for Turkey's authoritarian president and a setback for Syrian Kurdish militias that allied with the United States in the fight against ISIS. | The Syrian D…
(2019-10-18). The Syrian Debacle Is Actually Well Planned Chaos. globalresearch.ca For many years now I have focused a considerable amount of analysis on the subject of Syria, with an emphasis on the country's importance to the global elites as a kind of geopolitical detonator; the first domino in a …
(2019-10-18). The Russian Masterpiece in Syria: Everyone Wins. globalresearch.ca "Moscow and Damascus have always maintained they are against any form of partition or illegal foreign presence in Syria." | Moscow has managed to maintain contacts with all parties in the conflict, even in spite of its stance against partition and …
(2019-10-18). It's Curtains for US in Syria. Russia, Iran Owe Big Thanks to Erdogan. globalresearch.ca The scenario agreed on behind the curtains through months of confidential exchanges, often one-on-one, between the Russian and Turkish leaders regarding north-eastern Syria is entering a critical phase of implementation on the ground with the agreement between the Kurds and …
(2019-10-18). US claims "ceasefire" deal in Turkey's invasion of Syria. wsws.org After US Vice President Pence and Turkish President Erdogan met Thursday, Turkish officials bragged that Ankara got everything it wanted.
(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). As Trump Downplays Attack on Kurds, Amnesty Details Turkish War Crimes and 'Utterly Callous Disregard for Civilian Life'. commondreams.org "Killing defenseless people in cold blood is utterly reprehensible and a blatant war crime," said Amnesty International secretary general Kumi Naidoo | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/syria_kurds_turkey.jpg …
(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…
(2019-10-17). 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). It's Curtains for US in Syria: Russia, Iran Owe Big Thanks to Erdogan. dissidentvoice.org 
The scenario agreed on behind the curtains through months of confidential exchanges, often one-on-one, between the Russian and Turkish leaders regarding north-eastern Syria is entering a critical phase of implementation on the ground with the agreement between the Kurds and the Assad regime. We have a complex scenario where on the one hand the Turkish …
(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). U.S., Turkey Agree on Turkish Cease-Fire with Syrian Kurds. truthdig.com 
ANKARA, Turkey — The U.S. and Turkey agreed Thursday to a cease-fire in the Turks' deadly attacks on Kurdish fighters in northern Syria, requiring the Kurds to vacate the area in an arrangement that largely solidifies Turkey's position and aims in the weeklong conflict. The deal includes a conditional halt to American economic sanctions. | After negotiations with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, U.S. Vice President Mike Pence hailed the five-day cease-fire as the way to end the bloodshed caused by Turkey's invasion of Syria. He remained silent on whether it amounted to a second abandonment of America…
(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). Could Turkish Aggression Boost Peace in Syria? Has Triggered Exit of US, Britain and France. globalresearch.ca 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 …
(2019-10-17). With just one tweet, the youngest ever MSP destroys Trump's drivel on Turkey's invasion of Syria. thecanary.co Ross Greer, the youngest ever member of the Scottish parliament (MSP), has brilliantly taken down Donald Trump's latest drivel on Turkey's illegal invasion of northern Syria (aka Rojava). | Schooled: | NATO's second largest army is currently attacking Ku…
(2019-10-17). Truth About Syria."How Could Corporate Journalists Get Away with Their Lies…" globalresearch.ca Damascus, December 2018. Two great independent journalists sit down together: | Eva Bartlett and Vanessa Beeley | Eva Bartlett: 'when I arrived on the 29th (of December 2018) I was told that, aside from yourself (gestures to Vanessa Beeley), I was …
(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). We need to force the government to end all arms deals with Turkey, not just some. thecanary.co On Tuesday 15 October, the British government suspended new arms sales to Turkey over its invasion of northern Syria. | Foreign secretary Dominic Raab announced that no more export licences would be granted "for items that might be used in milita…
(2019-10-17). "Voices from Syria": Syria's War for Humanity. globalresearch.ca Global Research Publishers bring you "Voices from Syria", an important book by Mark Taliano. The book is available for order on our online store. | Click HERE to order. | Mark Taliano is an author and independent investigative reporter who …
(2019-10-17). Turkey Agrees with US To Pause Syria Attack, Kurds To Speak Soon. telesurenglish.net Turkey agreed on Thursday to pause its five-day offensive on Syria to let Kurdish forces withdraw from a "safe zone" that Ankara had sought to capture in a deal hailed by the Trump administration and Turkey as a complete victory. | RELATED: | Erdogan Throws Trump's Syria Letter in the Trash | The truce was announced by United States Vice President Mike Pence after talks in Ankara with Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan. | If implemented, it would achieve all the main objectives Turkey announc…
(2019-10-17). Video: Syrian Army Entering Kobani and Raqqa. globalresearch.ca On October 16, units of the Syrian Army entered the city of Raqqah for the first time since 2014. The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) has controlled the city since 2017, when they with help from the United States seized …
(2019-10-17). Erdogan Throws Trump's Syria Letter in the Trash. telesurenglish.net U.S. Vice President Mike Pence visited Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday to urge him to halt his country's incursion into Syria, the Reuters News Agency reported. | RELATED: | Syrian Kurds Fleeing to Iraq: 'Life Will Never Be the Same' | Pence's visit came shortly after a letter penned by U.S. President Donald Trump to his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan was leaked on Twitter. | In the letter, Trump warns Erdogan to not test the U.S.' patience with their Sy…
(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). A rare moment of truth on the US support for Al Qaeda. wsws.org Representative Tulsi Gabbard described the terrorist group as the "ground force" for the American "regime-change" operation in Syria.
(2019-10-17). Democratic debate shows cross-party support for imperialist intervention in Syria. wsws.org All 12 candidates for the Democratic presidential nomination called for a continued US military presence.
(2019-10-17). Trump defends US pullback in Syria. wsws.org Amid mounting opposition from within Congress and the military, Trump defended his order to withdraw a small contingent of US special forces from northeastern Syria.
(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). "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). 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). Democrats Have No Answer for Trump's Anti-War Posture. truthdig.com I hate to say I told you so, but well … as predicted, in the wake of Trump's commanded military withdrawal from northeast Syria, the once U.S.-backed Kurds cut a deal with the Assad regime. (And Vice President Mike Pence has now brokered a five-day cease-fire.) Admittedly, Trump the "dealmaker" ought to have brokered something similar before pulling out and before the Turkish Army—and its Sunni Arab…
(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). House condemns Trump's pullout of US troops they never bothered to authorize to be in Syria at all. rt.com 
Democrats and 129 of the Republicans in the House of Representatives voted to pass a non-binding resolution disapproving of President Donald Trump's pullout of US troops from Syria — never authorized by Congress to be there. | The House Joint Resolution 77 describes the presence of US troops in northeastern Syria as "certain… efforts to prevent Turkish military operations against Syrian Kurdish forces," and formally voices opposition to their withdrawal, but does not offer an alternative.
(2019-10-16). 'Really fake news': Trump dunks on ABC after channel claims footage from Kentucky gun range is Syria. rt.com 
US President Donald Trump has ripped into ABC News, scolding them for a truly humiliating mishap in which they claimed footage from a gun range in Kentucky showed a Turkish assault on Kurds in Syria. | Answering questions at a press conference with Italian President Sergio Mattarella on Wednesday, Trump called on ABC's Jonathan Karl, who asked if he regretted giving the "green light" to Turkish President Recep Erdogan to attack the Kurds in northern Syria. | President Trump on ABC Syria hoax: It was a terrible thing pic.twitter.com/HjbmaEduVq— Wojciech Pawelczyk ?…
(2019-10-16). Trump promises 'devastating' sanctions on Turkey if Erdogan-Pence meeting on Syria op fails. rt.com 
US President Donald Trump has issued a new threat against NATO ally Turkey, promising to impose "devastating" sanctions on the country if the upcoming meeting between President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and US VP Mike Pence flops. | Speaking during a joint press conference with his Italian counterpart Sergio Mattarella, Trump did not mince his words, warning the Turkish leadership that the Thursday meeting better be a success. | "I think they will have a successful meeting. If they don't, the sanctions and tariffs and other things that we're going, we will do and are doing to Turkey, will be devastating to Turkey's…