(2019-10-22). 'The Revolution Is Lit': Jubilant Lebanon Uprising Fueled By Music, Dancing, and… 'Baby Shark'. commondreams.org "Only in Lebanon would a song like 'Baby Shark,' which is now being played at every crowd gathering, become the anthem of a revolution." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/lebanon_raving.jpeg …
(2019-10-22). Diplomat: Trump Linked Ukraine Aid to Demand for Probe. truthdig.com 
WASHINGTON — Former U.S. Ambassador William Taylor provided lawmakers Tuesday with a vivid, detailed and what some lawmakers called "disturbing" account of the way President Donald Trump wanted to put the new Ukraine president "in a public box" by demanding a quid pro quo at the center of the impeachment probe. | In a lengthy opening statement to House investigators, Taylor described the way Trump's demand that "everything" Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy wanted, including vital military aid to counter Russia, hinged on makin…
(2019-10-22). The Kurds as U.S. Sacrificial Lambs. counterpunch.org 
How often have we heard in the last few days—from countless retired military officers and intelligence officials, security analysts, think tank talking heads—that the Kurds in Syria "died for us"? You know, sort of like Jesus on the cross?nAs though in fighting ISIL–a grotesque by-product of the criminal U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003–the Syrian Kurds were doing anything other than protecting their homeland? More
(2019-10-22). 'This Is the Latest Chapter of a Long History of US Betrayal of Kurds' – Khury Petersen-Smith on the Turkish Invasion of Syria. fair.org 
Janine Jackson interviewed IPS's Khury Petersen-Smith about the Turkish invasion of Syria for the October 18, 2019, episode of CounterSpin. This is a lightly edited transcript. | Media…
(2019-10-22). The US Tore the Middle East Apart. Can They Abandon It on a Whim? therealnews.com 
The Kurds fought in U.S. wars. Iraq and Syria are dismembered. Why is no one talking about diplomacy and aid?
(2019-10-22). Trump's Fake Withdrawal From Endless War. counterpunch.org 
On Monday, October 7th, the U.S. withdrew 50 to 100 troops from positions near Syria's border with Turkey, and two days later Turkey invaded Rojava, the de facto autonomous Kurdish region of northeast Syria. Trump is now taking credit for a temporary, tenuous ceasefire. In a blizzard of tweets and statements, Donald Trump has portrayed More
(2019-10-22). Shamima Begum exposed to real risk of torture or death, court told. thecanary.co 
The decision to revoke the British citizenship of Shamima Begum — one of three east London schoolgirls who travelled to Syria to join Daesh (Isis / Isil) — has exposed her to a "real risk" of torture or death, a court has heard.Begum left the UK in February 2015 and lived under Daesh rule for more than three years. She was found, nine months pregnant, in a Syrian refugee camp in February this year.Former home secretary Sajid Javid stripped her of her British citizenship, a decision her lawyers argue was unlawful as it rendered her stateless. Such a decision is lawful only if an individual is entitled to…
(2019-10-22). Russia, Turkey Seal Power in Northeast Syria With Accord. truthdig.com 
ANKARA, Turkey — Russia and Turkey announced an agreement Tuesday to jointly patrol almost the entire northeastern Syrian border after the withdrawal of Kurdish fighters, cementing the two countries' power in Syria in the wake of President Donald Trump's abrupt withdrawal of U.S. forces. | The announcement came as Kurdish fighters completed their pullout from a section of the Syrian-Turkish border as required by a U.S.-brokered cease-fire that was set to expire Tuesday night. Together the arrangements transform the map of northeast Syria, leaving Turkey in sole control over one section in the middle of the…
(2019-10-22). Video: Syrian Army Takes Control of Abandoned US Bases. globalresearch.ca The northeastern Syria ceasefire, agreed by Washington and Ankara, immediately collapsed. Under the terms of the reached agreement, Turkey had to halt its Operation Peace Spring for 120 hours to allow units of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to …
(2019-10-22). Protests Rage Across Lebanon as People Demand an End to Austerity. truthout.org Mass protests in Lebanon have entered their sixth day as hundreds of thousands around the country are taking to the streets to demonstrate against dire economic conditions, austerity and corruption, demanding the country's leaders step down. The protests were sparked last week when the government announced a tax on WhatsApp calls, but the massive demonstrations have since grown into a call for revolution. More than a million demonstrators flooded the streets of Beirut, Tripoli and other cities over the wee…
(2019-10-22). US Syria Pullout Leaves Troops in North and South. globalresearch.ca US aggression, occupation and control of Syrian territory is a flagrant UN Charter breach — a hard truth establishment media ignore, falsely blaming Bashar al-Assad for US-led imperial high crimes committed against his country. | The same goes for US actions …
(2019-10-22). US Stays In Syria, Kurds Call On Israel To Attack Turkey & US Says Israel Has 'Right' To Attack Iran. 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 (10/21/19). 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 …
(2019-10-22). Syrian Journalist: The West, Led by the US, Knows Erdogan Has Been Supporting ISIS for Years, Yet Chooses to Ignore this. globalresearch.ca In an article titled "Erdogan's Terror, Which the West Ignores" in the London-based daily Al-Arab, 'Ali Qassem, a Syrian journalist residing in Tunisia, castigated the West for its stance towards Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. He argued that the …
(2019-10-22). Islamic State in Asia: 'Unintentional' Consequences of Turkey's Syria Operation. globalresearch.ca Turkey began on October 9 its illegal offensive in northern Syria to expel terrorist organizations, primarily the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces and the Islamic State according to Ankara, away from the Turkish border and to establish a safe zone in …
(2019-10-22). The Mother of Messes in Syria. globalresearch.ca What a mess. The imperial cooks in Washington have turned poor Syria into a poison pit of warring factions, with disastrous results for all. | Henry Kissinger once quipped that it is more dangerous being America's ally than its enemy. A …
(2019-10-22). Putin-Erdogan Meeting Aims to Organise Differences and Shorten the Gap Between Allies. globalresearch.ca In the first week of the month of October the US informed Turkey and Russia of its intention to withdraw from north-east Syria (NES). Turkish President Recep Tayyib Erdogan pulled out a plan prepared over a year ago to move …
(2019-10-22). Turkey and Russia Agree to Create 'Safe Zone' in Syria. theantimedia.com Turkey and Russia have reached an agreement that will see the withdrawal of Syrian-Kurdish forces from areas along the Turkish border.
(2019-10-22). Nearly 180,000 displaced by northeast Syria fighting as needs multiply: UN refugee agency. un.org After nearly two weeks of fighting in northeast Syria, the UN's humanitarian wing has estimated that around 180,000 have been forced to leave their homes or shelters, including 80,000 children, all in desperate need of humanitarian assistance.
(2019-10-22). Workers in Lebanon reject tax hikes, demand the government's resignation. wsws.org The protests are part of a broader upsurge that is taking place all over the world and testifies to the primacy of class over ethnicity, nationality and religion.
(2019-10-22). US troops withdraw across Syrian border into Iraq. wsws.org While Trump has sought to strike a phony antiwar posture with his pullout order, the troops leaving Syria will remain in the Middle East.
(2019-10-22). "Unprecedented" Protests Rage Across Lebanon as People Demand PM's Resignation and End to Austerity. democracynow.org 
Mass protests in Lebanon have entered their sixth day as hundreds of thousands around the country are taking to the streets to demonstrate against dire economic conditions, austerity and corruption, demanding the country's leaders step down. The protests were sparked last week when the government announced a tax on WhatsApp calls, but the massive demonstrations have since grown into a call for revolution. More than a million demonstrators flooded the streets of Beirut, Tripoli and other cities over the weekend. Prime Minister Saad Hariri revoked the WhatsApp tax on Monday and announced a package of economic refor…
(2019-10-22). Headlines for October 22, 2019. democracynow.org Erdogan Meets with Putin as Turkish Ceasefire in Syria Expires, William Taylor Testifies in Impeachment Hearings, NYT: U.S. Has Quietly Pulled Thousands of Troops Out of Afghanistan, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Held onto Power in Tight Elections, Israel: Netanyahu Fails to Form Coalition Government, Massive Protests Continue in Chile, Northern Ireland Decriminalizes Abortion & Legalizes Marriage Equality, Indonesia: Former General Prabowo Subianto to Join the Cabinet, ExxonMobil Goes on Trial in New York over Climate Change, Four Drug Companies Reach Settlement with Two Ohio Counties, Macy's to Stop Se…
(2019-10-22). The Stunning Hypocrisy of Congress' Syria Vote. truthdig.com 
This piece originally appeared on antiwar.com. | We are through the looking glass, Alice. For years now I've lambasted the U.S. Congress for shirking it's constitutionally mandated duty to actually declare and oversee America's wars. Now, in a cruel joke of sorts, it has finally decided to do so, symbolically voting to condemn the president for pull…
(2019-10-21). The United States Air Force at Incirlik, Our National "Black Eye" counterpunch.org 
Current events concerning Turkey and the Kurds in Syria remind me of a conversation I had with a US Air Force colonel almost 17 years ago in a courtroom in Des Moines. To refresh my memory, I dug deep into my closet and dusted off the transcript of the case, "STATE OF IOWA, plaintiff vs. More
(2019-10-21). Ditch the Kurds, grab the oil? Trump says US 'never committed' to Syrian allies, but SecDef says Washington still committed to oil. rt.com 
President Donald Trump has said that the US never committed to the security of Kurds in northern Syria, ahead of the end of the Turkish ceasefire. His defense secretary meanwhile says the US troops had a job to "secure the oil."
(2019-10-21). US Out of Syria and the Middle East. dissidentvoice.org 
US Out of the Middle East, Los Angeles protest against bombing in Syria from ABC7.com. Stop The Turkish Invasion Of Syria The crisis in Syria has taken a new direction with the Turkish invasion into the Northeast ostensibly to push the Kurdish peoples out. The US has added to this crisis by its green light …
(2019-10-21). The Empire Steps Back. counterpunch.org 
What everyone is most upset about with regard to Syria isn't the bloodshed or anything having [to] do with human rights. It's the decline in American control of the Middle East. This is 100% about US imperialism taking a hit. — Rania Khalek, (@RaniaKhalek) October 14, 2019 A series of Donald Trump's decisions, culminating in More
(2019-10-21). Turkey Breaks Ceasefire, US "Secures Syria's Oil" & Assange's Torture & Violation Of Rights Exposed. 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 (10/19/19). 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 …
(2019-10-21). Patriotic Korean students enter U.S. ambassador's Seoul compound, demand U.S. troops out now. fightbacknews.org On October 18 a group of Korean students entered the U.S. ambassador's residential compound in Seoul, Korea to protest the continuing presence of U.S. troops in their country. 20 people, who belong to a coalition of progressive students, scaled the wall of the diplomatic compound and began a demonstration against the U.S. occupation of their county. The students chanted "We don't need U.S. troops," and "Get out!" before being escorted out by police. 19 of the students were detained and questioned by south Korean police. | There are an estimated 28,000 U.S. troops in southern Korea who are essentially engaged in m…
(2019-10-21). Kors and Nyong'o: Food, fashion and film join forces at UN, for the world's hungry. un.org For the seventh year in a row, fashion mogul and UN Goodwill Ambassador Michael Kors, launched his Watch Hunger Stop campaign on Monday – an initiative that supports the UN's World Food Programme (WFP) in its work to feed schoolchildren around the world.
(2019-10-21). Governments remain silent as evidence mounts that Turkey is using white phosphorus. thecanary.co Warning: this article contains images that some readers may find distressing | Social media has been swamped with photos and videos of people with burns so horrific that it's a miracle they've survived. Turkey has been accused of using white phosphorus on…
(2019-10-21). All US Troops Leaving Syria Will Head to Iraq. theantimedia.com According to Secretary of Defense Mark Esper, the current plan is that all US troops leaving Syria will be redeployed into western Iraq.
(2019-10-21). There Was a Smart, Progressive Way to Withdraw From Syria. thenation.com There Was a Smart, Progressive Way to Withdraw From Syria…
(2019-10-21). Military brass denounce Trump's withdrawal of troops from Syria. wsws.org The extraordinary intervention of high-ranking retired generals is a breach of the core constitutional principle of the subordination of the military to civilian authority.
(2019-10-21). Headlines for October 21, 2019. democracynow.org U.S. Troops Leaving Syria Headed for Iraq, Anti-Government Protests Sweep the Globe, Bolivia Presidential Election Appears to Head for a Runoff, Brother of Honduran President Found Guilty of Cocaine Trafficking, Trump Says G7 Will Not Be Held at His Private Golf Course, Hillary Clinton Accuses Jill Stein, Tulsi Gabbard of Being Linked to Russia, Landmark Trial over Opioid Epidemic in Cleveland, Ohio, Tornado Rages Through Dallas, Leaving 100,000 Without Power, Judge Temporarily Blocks Florida Law Limiting Voting by Ex-Felons…
(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). 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). 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…
(2019-10-18). Khury Petersen-Smith on Turkey & the Kurds, Alex Vitale on the Purpose of Policing. fair.org 
Media…
(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). Friday's Daily Brief: Afghan mosque killings, Syrians flee violence, South Sudan floods, Ukraine human trafficking, anti-Semitism rises, Guterres on Mozambique poll. un.org A recap of Friday's main stories: Afghanistan mosque killings condemned by UN chief, Syrian civilians flee violence, thousands affected by flooding in South Sudan, UN migration agency warns of "pervasive" human trafficking in Ukraine, UN expert calls for better education to combat growing anti-Semitism.
(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). 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). 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). 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). 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 …