Developments in the Syrian war

Between stories of Russian missiles, the refugee crisis in Europe and reports below of changing German attitudes things are changing very rapidly

I cannot vouch for the veracity of this. I do not know anything about the original source, Deutsche Wirtschaftliche Nachrichten.

SYRIA: GERMANY LEAVING THE RANKS OF THE US-ALLIANCE AGAINST RUSSIA

Syrien: Deutschland bricht aus US-Allianz gegen Russland aus

In a surprise move Germany left the anti-Putin-alliance formed by the USA: Germany is now officially welcoming Moscow’s readiness to act in Syria and is starting an initiative together with the Russians and the French to bring an end to the war. This is to stop the constant stream of refugees. Germany has ordered thousands of soldiers into readiness.

South Front,

13 September, 2015

This article originally appeared at DWN, translated by Frank Jakob exclusively for SouthFront

Germany surprisingly left the alliance formed together with the United States which intended to block Russia’s entry into the Syrian conflict.

Minister of Defence Ursula von der Leyen told Der Spiegel that she welcomed president Putin’s intentions of joining the fight against the extremist organization “Islamic State”. It would be a matter of mutual interests, she said.

A speaker of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs added, Germany would welcome additional efforts of Russia in the fight against IS. Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier even announced the starting of a joint venture between him, Russian foreign minister Lavrov and their French colleague Laurent Fabius with the aim of bringing the Syrian civil war to an end. Lavrov and Fabius are expected to arrive in Berlin this Saturday.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov called upon the US-Ministry of Defence to coordinate their efforts with the Russian military. Because both sides are actively invested in Syria it would be paramount for the US to reinstate the previously ceased operational cooperation with Russia, said Lavrov on Friday in Moscow. This was intended to avoid “unintentional incidents”. Russia’s military drills in the Mediterranean would be in accordance to international law. Larvrov explained furthermore, that Russia would keep delivering weapons to the troops of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad to support their struggle against the extremist organization of Islamic State (IS).

Russia already began a diplomatic offensive weeks ago. The Americans did not precisely indicate whether they would support the Russian initiative. Under no circumstances would the US give Russia credit for solving the deadlocked situation, should Russia in fact be successful. Therefore the US-government warned precautionary of a worsening in the refugee crisis should Russia intervene.

Especially the neocons are issuing warnings of any cooperation with Russia in whatever matter. US-President Obama did not clearly state whether the Russian initiative was done in coordination with the White House. Foreign Minister John Kerry went on a surprise visit to Russia in spring which, however, remained without results regarding the Syrian matter. It is likely that the US-government changed their mind in the face of the worsening of the refugee crisis so that they are now willing to cooperate with Russia in the Middle East.

German Frank-Walther Steinmeier has long been trying to conciliate behind the curtains and is therefore constantly in touch with his Russian colleague Lavrov. It looks like he is the only on in the German government who realizes that the refugee crisis will get completely out of control if the war in the middle east continues. Austria and Spain signaled days ago that a Russian participation in the battle against IS was crucial. Russia began expanding its military activities in Syria.

German Minister of Defence Ursula von der Leyen wants to expand the deployment of the Bundeswehr in Iraq.They Bundeswehr would be ready to continue its successful work in Kurdish regions in cooperation with the Iraqi government, she told Der Spiegel on Saturday. First steps would already be undertaken. Germany delivered medical supplies, helmets and hazard-protections masks. Up to 100 Bundeswehr soldiers are training Kurdish Peshmerga fighters in northern Iraq. Weapons were also delivered.

Von-der Leyen also ordered thousands of German soldiers into readiness in the wake of the refugee crisis. If this was done because of the refugees or hints of terror threats is still unknown. The order was given to the troops a day before, said a speaker of the ministry on Friday in response to a report by Der Spiegel. Up to 4000 soldiers are under constant readiness to be deployed. Hundreds of soldiers were deployed to help accommodate newly-arrived refugees last weekend. The solders are financially compensated for their services under this deployment order.

Translators comment:

It has been reported that Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov called into question the effectiveness of the US-led coalition against Islamic State (IS). According to PNP magazine he stated, that concerned colleagues from within the US-led coalition turned to him. They informed him that the US-military did not give clearances to their fighter pilots even though they clearly located and identified Islamic State positions.

Lavrov: Russia has 

information that the US 

knows the position of the IG, 

but not to bomb them

Лавров: У России есть информация о том, что США знают позиции ИГ, но не бомбят их

https://translate.google.de/translate?sl=ru&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=de&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pnp.ru%2Fnews%2Fdetail%2F97168&edit-text=&act=url

Electronic Translation

Russia has information that the US know the specific location point of the "Islamic State" (extremist organization banned in Russia), but did not give an order to strike on the positions "of the IG," said Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

In the program "Sunday times" on the "First Channel" Lavrov said that the US government "was not originally a very carefully created a coalition, or conspired to it so that it is not the goals that have been declared." According to the Foreign Minister, the coalition was created spontaneously, "just a few days it was announced that it includes a number of countries have begun any punches." Lavrov said that the analysis of aviation operations in countries included in the coalition, "creates a strange impression," - as if in addition to fighting "the IG" "there is something else in the problems of the coalition."

The Minister said: "I hope not to disappoint anyone, saying that some of our colleagues from the incoming coalition of countries say they have is information on where exactly, on what positions are these or other subdivision" IG ", and the commander of the Coalition (the United States ) does not give consent to the striking. "

Britain needs to destroy ISIS NOW by joining forces with PUTIN and ASSAD, says Chris Ryan

BRITAIN needs to form a controversial alliance with Vladimir Putin and Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad in order destroy the growing threat of Islamic State (ISIS), it has been claimed today.

Syria: Germany, France break out of U.S. Alliance against Russia

Germany, Europe Fully Back Russian Involvement in Syria

Veterans Today,

12 September, 2015

Editor’s note:  VT has been under both “hack” and “denial of service” attacks since running, out of “courtesy,” the unusual article on Israel and Russia that uses humor to burn down a major disinformation network including Reuters and their news partners.

Germany is surprisingly quitting the anti-Putin Alliance created by the United States: Germany now officially welcomes Moscow’s readiness to engage with Syria and launches an initiative to end the war with the Russians and the French. Thus, the stream of refugees is to be stopped. Germany put thousands of soldiers on standby.

Germany  surprising quits Alliance with the United States, which wanted to prevent a participation of Russia in Syria.

Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen told der Spiegel, they Welcome Russia’s PresidentVladimir Putin’s involvement in the fight against the extremist Islamic State. It is in the common interest, to combat the IS, she said.

A spokesman of the Foreign Ministry also said Germany would welcome a greater engagement of Russia in the fight against the IS. German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier even announced, with Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov and the French colleague Laurent Fabius, a push to start to end the civil war in Syria. Lavrov and Fabius are expected in Berlin on Saturday.

New strategy receives support of the Federal Government from Bavaria: CSU leaders agreed in finding a peace solution for Syria calls for closer cooperation with the Russian leadership. Without the participation of Russian President Vladimir Putin , the situation in Syria “is hopeless,”  CSU Chief Horst Seehofer says the Mirror. Development Minister Gerd Müller is for an integration of Russia: «we need a joint diplomatic initiative of the United Nations with the participation of Russia, the United States, the EU and the regional powers», said Müller according to DPA. On Monday, the CSU Party Chairman wants to advise how could look a cooperation with Moscow.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergej Lavrov prompted the Department of Defense to the vote with the Russian military. Because forces of both sides are in action in and around Syria, the United States would have to resume the last operational coordination with Russia, Lavrov said in Moscow on Friday. So, «unintended incidents» should be avoided.Russia military maneuvers in the Mediterranean Sea were in accordance with international law. Lavrov also said the Moscow Government will also continue to deliver weapons to the troops by Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad, to support them in their fight against the extremist militia Islamic State (IS).

Russia had already begun a few weeks ago in addition to new military activities with a diplomatic offensive. Americans have not clearly recognize, whether they support the Russian advance. Washington wants to wait and see if the Russians actually succeed, to reassure the failing position. Therefore the Government has warned as a precautionary measure, that a Russian intervention could lead to more refugees.

The American “neo-cons”  warn about cooperation with Russian President Vladimir Putin. US President Barack Obama has to not clearly admitted whether Russia’s “new initiative” in Syria has been discussed with the White House.

Secretary of State John Kerry had become surprisingly to a visit to Russia this spring too slowly, however Kerry has not, in regards to public disclosures, indicated a change in policy toward Russia and Assad.

 It is well possible that the U.S. Government has reconsidered its position in the face of the new waves of refugees to Europe and is now willing to cooperate East with the Russians in the middle.

Steinmeier is trying for a long time behind the scenes to a mediation proposal and also in constant contact with his Russian colleague Lawrow. It seems to be clearest of all German Government leaders that the refugee crisis in Europe out of control device, if further fighting in the Middle East.

Austria and Spain already have some days signaled to keep the involvement of Russia in the struggle IS essential.

Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen wants to expand the Mission of the Bundeswehr in the Iraq. The Bundeswehr is willing to continue the successful work in the Kurdish areas also with the Iraqi Central Government, the CDU-politician told der Spiegel on Saturday. First steps were already done. Germany have provided medical material, helmets and NBC protective masks. Up to 100 Bundeswehr soldiers train Kurdish fighters of nestled in the northern Iraq, among other things. In addition, weapons were delivered.

Thousands of soldiers has brought into Germany of Leyen for the refugee in call. Whether because of the refugees or due to evidence of a terrorist threat is done, is unclear. An equivalent statement had gone the previous day on the force, a Ministry spokeswoman said on Friday to a report of the «level». Up to 4000 members of the German armed forces were then always available and accessible. Last weekend, soldiers in the field had been nationwide, to help accommodate thousands of newly arrived refugees. The soldiers receive compensation for on-call times.

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The German news source for this can be reached through the links.  Machine translation was poor, I improved part of it, improving implied meaning which machine translators can’t do.  Few Americans and Brits read German anymore.  VT editors are going to be in Germany on and off over the nest two weeks.  This is a vital time.

"NATO and the United States should change their policy because the time when they dictate their conditions to the world has passed," Ahmadinejad said in a speech in Dushanbe, capital of the Central Asian republic of Tajikistan

Is EU Finally breaking away from U.S?

Eric Zuesse

Off-Guardian,

13 September, 2015

On Saturday, September 12th, United Kingdom’s Labour Party elected as its leader and their candidate to lead the UK, Jeremy Corbyn, who has been the most vocal British critic of the UK’s serving as the lap-dog of an aggressive imperialistic United States of America.

Simultaneously, the leader of German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s own Christian Social Union Party, Horst Seehofer, a man who, prior to his being appointed to be the Party-chief had been Chancellor Merkel’s Agriculture Minister, has now turned against Chancellor Merkel (who until now was the most powerful leader in all of Europe) and denounced her policy on the refugee crisis, and has now stated publicly that Germany should instead ally with Russia and against NATO on the entire Syrian war.

This public statement, which is really a sea-change in history, was reported Friday night, 11 September, in Germany’s leading magazine, The Mirror, Der Spiegel, and it represents the breaking-point in Germany’s foreign policy, finally yielding now to the rapidly rising anti-Americanism within Germany that results from America’s prioritizing America’s war against Russia as being a more impotant goal than the global war against Islamic jihad, which is clearly the most pressing threat to national security not only within Germany, and not only within all Western countries, but even within Pakistan and many other countries that have majority-Islamic populations, as well as in India, China, and other nations around the world.

Seehofer’s statement simply cannot be ignored by the Chancellor, because it comes from the leader of her own Party (“Christian Social Union” is the Party’s name in Munich and throughout Bavaria, but elsewhere in Germany the Party is called instead the “Christian Democratic Union”). She has mainly ignored German public opinion thus far and cooperated with U.S. President Barack Obama’s war against Russia, which Obama is waging via his proxies in Ukraine, Syria, Libya, and elsewhere. But Merkel now will have to bend; and this could end up breaking NATO itself, since NATO is the international military alliance that was originally against the Soviet Union and that then became against Russia as soon as the Soviet Union ended communism and broke up into Russia and the other nations of the former Soviet Union.

That continuation of the Cold War, now against Russia alone, even without the former ideological excuse of there being communism, was initiated by U.S. President George Herbet Walker Bush himself. It was reluctantly picked up by then West-German Chancellor Helmut Kohl, whose protégée was Angela Merkel. “Bush made his feelings about compromising with Moscow clear to Kohl: ‘To hell with that!’ he said. ‘We prevailed, they didn’t.’” (This “compromise” was that NATO not expand “one inch eastward”; the promise that Bush’s own Secretary of State had made to the then-Soviet leader, Mikhail Gorbachev, and on the basis of which Gorbachev allowed the Soviet Union and Warsaw Pact to end and East Germany to be taken by West Germany.)

And so, the Cold War never really ended in the West (though Gorbachev was promised that it would); but, now, it might be finally forced to end, without a nuclear war (which continues to be the U.S. threat but becomes far less likely without there being allies for that on America’s side), because the current U.S. President’s intensification of the long-suppressed ongoing U.S. war against Russia is becoming too much for Germany, and for many other countries within the NATO alliance, to continue supporting. A serious international movement to destroy all nuclear weapons might even begin now.

The only NATO member-nations that are still highly supportive of America’s ongoing war against Russia are some former member-nations of the former Soviet Union and of the Soviet Union’s equivalent of NATO, the Warsaw Pact, which broke up in 1991 when the Soviet Union itself did. Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia, are among the now-NATO, former Soviet and Warsaw Pact, nations that are as anti-Russian as is the American ruling class (which President Obama represents).

However, America’s former allies when the United States used to be a democracy, the West-European nations, are now starting to abandon the U.S., and so too are some of the East-European nations that were formerly under the Soviet yoke, such as Czech Republic, and Hungary.

America’s deepest control extended especially into two nations: UK, and Germany. However, the decision that George Herbert Walker Bush made in 1990, and that has been adhered to by his successors, to continue the former Cold War until Russia itself is defeated and becomes added to the America Empire, is now being increasingly abandoned by America’s formerly obedient vassal-nations. The American Empire has reached its zenith, and is now breaking apart.

Investigative historian Eric Zuesse is the author, most recently, of They’re Not Even Close: The Democratic vs. Republican Economic Records, 1910-2010, and of CHRIST’S VENTRILOQUISTS: The Event that Created Christianity.

Lack of Russian-US 'Military-to-Military' Contact in Syria May Prove Lethal

Sputnik News,

13 September, 2015

The absence of strategic and tactical-level military-to-military communication between Russian advisors and US aircraft on bombing missions in Syria poses imminent risks of unintended military incidents and needs to change, according to US-based defense news site Defense One.

With Russian weapons, equipment and humanitarian supplies being ferried to Syria's western provinces with the help of Russian air and naval resources, while the US continues to lead its air campaign against the Islamic State terror group in the country's east, some experts are concerned that the lack of coordination could lead to unintended military incidents and casualties as the two powers find themselves concentrating their forces in the war-torn country.

NATO Supreme Allied Commander James Stavridis told Defense One that "it is very dangerous to have both Russian and US troops in a confined battle space, essentially on opposite sides of a civil war, without contact for deconfliction of any combat or support activities." The former commander emphasized that "open communication at the strategic and tactical level are both important."

Stavridis cited the practice of US and Soviet naval forces sharing detailed action plans during the Cold War to avoid accidental escalation, noting that "we need similar dialogue, and possibly such protocols, to avoid incidents in Syria."

Syrians walk amid the rubble of destroyed buildings following reported air strikes by regime forces in the rebel-held area of Douma, east of the capital Damascus, on August 30, 2015

Stavridis's comments follow on remarks made Friday by a spokesman for US Central Command, noted in a regular press briefing that "to my knowledge there is no military-to-military contact at this point" between Russia and the US-led coalition. "We're keeping an eye on the Russian situation there, but right now again there's really no deconfliction to do." The spokesman added that he would not "speculate or talk about hypotheticals" regarding "Russian military or air activity" in the area.

Earlier this month, Western media were driven into a frenzy after 'discovering' the presence of Russian military advisors in Syria. On Thursday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov confirmed that the Russian military personnel are present in the country, but highlighted that this was not something that should have surprised or shocked anyone.

"There are Russian military personnel in Syria; they have been there for several years," the foreign minister noted. "Their presence is tied to the deliveries of arms for the Syrian Army that is taking the brunt in the fight against terrorism from the Islamic State and other extremist groups; Russian military personnel are there in order to help the Syrian military master their equipment and prepare it for use in the anti-terrorist fight."

Over the past week, Lavrov and other Russian officials have repeatedly stressed that the Russian military does not have a combat role in the conflict-torn country, and that the Russian weapons and equipment delivered to Syria are provided "in accordance with existing contracts" and in full compliance with international law.

In his comments Thursday, the foreign minister said that Moscow would whole-heartedly support direct military-to-military communications between Russia and NATO, cut off by the US amid the crisis in Ukraine. He added that Russia fully understands the importance of such contacts in avoiding "undesired, unintended incidents. We are always in favor of military people talking to each other in a professional way. They understand each other very well," he noted. Lavrov noted that at the moment, it is the US side that "wants those channels frozen."

Differing Ideas on How to Crush ISIL for Good

Defense One warned that the presence of both Russian and American forces and their allies in Syria could have unintended consequences, including military incidents between the two powers. While Russia has long-maintained that the Syrian army is now the only force capable of confronting the Islamic State on the ground in Syria, the US has been "deepening agreements with Turkey to use its bases and clear its border of ISIS fighters" and "training and equipping Syrian fighters and reinserting them into the fight in Syria, where it has vowed to defend them against ISIL or Assad."

Russian and American strategists are openly divided when it comes to ideas on how to crush ISIL once and for all. In its regular press briefing Friday, the Pentagon noted that while the US would "welcome constructive anti-ISIL efforts by Russia…it can't start with, and it can't be a function of, continued support to the Assad regime."

Lavrov offered a response Sunday, in an interview for Russian television. The foreign minister noted that the anti-ISIL coalition would be more efficient in its anti-ISIL campaign if it cooperated with Damascus, stating that air strikes will never suffice, and that if the coalition's "goal is to prevent the consolidation of Iraqi and Syrian territories as the heartland of an ISIL-promoted caliphate, they should focus on helping those who are fighting these rebels on the ground –the Iraqi army, the Iraqi Kurds, the Syrian army and Syrian Kurdish militias." He added that attempts to withdraw "the Syrian army from the fight against the Islamic State" would be "absurd."

Syria has been mired in a bloody civil war since 2011, with forces loyal to President Assad fighting several opposition groups, among them several strains of radical Islamists, including al-Qaeda affiliate al-Nusra and elements which have since morphed into the Islamic State. The US, Turkey and Saudi Arabia have supported various anti-Assad groups over that time, with the US and Turkey presently settling on what they say are 'moderate' Syrian opposition forces, while Russia maintains that Assad is the only legitimate, democratically elected authority in the country.

The whole of the zionist press is full of Russian missiles in Syria. This is the nominally more trustworthy Haaretz

Russia Sending Advanced Anti-aircraft Missiles to Syria

Moscow claims transfer of military equipment is meant to help combat against ISIS, but the presence of air defense systems in Syria may stoke tensions with Israel.

Haaretz,

11 September, 2015

REUTERS - Moscow is sending an advanced anti-aircraft missile system to Syria, two Western officials and a Russian source said, as part of what the West believes is stepped-up military support for embattled President Bashar Assad. 

The Western officials said the SA-22 system would be operated by Russian troops, rather than Syrians. It was on its way to Syria but had not yet arrived. 

"This system is the advanced version used by Russia and it's meant to be operated by Russians in Syria," said one of the sources, a Western diplomat who is regularly briefed on U.S., Israeli and other intelligence assessments. 

A U.S. official separately confirmed the information. 

The Russian source, who is close to the Russian navy, said the delivery would not be the first time Moscow had sent the SA-22 system, known as Pantsir-S1 in Russian, to Syria. It had been sent in 2013, the source said. 

"There are plans now to send a new set," the source said, without detailing how far along the process was. However, the Western diplomat said the version of the SA-22 on its way to Syria was newer than previous missile systems deployed there. Syrian officials could not be reached for comment. 

The United States has been leading a campaign of air strikes in Syrian air space for a year, joined by aircraft from European and regional allies including Britain, France, Jordan and Turkey. U.S. forces operating in the area are concerned about the potential introduction of the weapon, the diplomat said. U.S. officials say they believe Moscow has been sending troops and equipment to Syria, although they say Russia's intentions are not clear.

Lebanese sources have told Reuters that Russian troops have begun participating in combat operations on behalf of the Assad government. Moscow has not commented on those reports. Speaking at a news conference in Moscow, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Russia was sending military equipment to Syria to help the Assad government combat Islamic State fighters, and had sent experts to help train the Syrian army to use it. 

However, the dispatch of advanced anti-aircraft missiles would appear to undermine that justification, since neither Islamic State nor any other Syrian rebel group possesses any aircraft. Lavrov also said coordination was needed between Russia's military and the Pentagon to avoid "unintended incidents" around Syria. Russia was conducting pre-planned naval drills in the eastern Mediterranean, he said.

This year has seen momentum shift against Assad's government in Syria's 4-year-old civil war, which has killed 250,000 people and driven around half of Syria's 23 million people from their homes.

An ally of Damascus since the Cold War, Moscow maintains its only Mediterranean naval base at Tartous on the Syrian coast, and protecting it would be a strategic objective. Recent months have also seen talk of a new role for outside forces in Syria, with NATO-member Turkey proposing the creation of a "safe zone" free from both Islamic State and government forces near its Syrian border.

Even if Russians operated the missiles and kept them out of the hands of the Syrian army, the arrival of such an advanced anti-aircraft system could also unsettle Israel, which in the past has bombed sophisticated arms it suspected were being handed to Assad's Lebanese guerrilla allies, Hezbollah. 

"In the Middle East you never know what will happen. If the Russians end up handing it (SA-22) over to the Syrian military I don't think the Israelis would intervene but they would go bananas if they see it heading towards Hezbollah in Lebanon," the diplomatic source said. An Israeli military spokesman declined to comment on the missile system. A senior Israeli defense official briefing reporters on Thursday said Israel was in contact with Moscow and would continue its policy of stopping advanced weapons reaching Hezbollah.

"We have open relations with the Russians who have come to save Assad in the civil war. Along with this, we will not allow our sovereignty to be compromised or the transfer of advanced or chemical weapons (to Hezbollah). We are following the developments and keeping open channels with Moscow."