Portland, Ore. — In downtown, it is a common occurrence to see people screaming and acting erratically on the streets. Left-wing homeless activist groups say people need safe access to drugs. Video by @kevinvdahlgren: pic.twitter.com/w4aPXsr5A8
#4
I keep reading that so and so agency has seized a shipment of such stuff that could kill everyone in the country three times over. How about just giving it to these people so the problem will solve itself in a very short time.
An award-winning Guardian writer named Fatma Aydemir laments that the European Football Championship is happening in Germany because some are displaying patriotism and nationalism, which she argues is white supremacist. She wants the German team to be kicked out quickly to stop… pic.twitter.com/fVCKWimchA
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited. by Dmitry Polyakov
[REGNUM] The most discussed event in the political life of Syria was the local elections in the northeast of the country. The election campaign was planned for mid-June and was to take place in the provinces of Raqqa, Hasakah, northern Deir ez-Zor and eastern Aleppo.
Northeast Syria is largely outside the control of the government in Damascus. The region is governed by the self-proclaimed Autonomous Administration of Northern and Eastern Syria (AASAS). The main military-political player in these territories is the Kurdish-Arab alliance - the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
This armed formation was created on the basis of the Kurdish People's Defense Units (YPG). In the territories controlled by the AASWS, political life is well developed - there is a local parliament and many parties.
Two stand out among them. The first is the Democratic Union Party (PYD), which is actually the Syrian branch of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). It is the PYD that controls the Kurdish Self-Defense Forces, and its members dominate local government. The second key local political force is the Kurdish National Council (KNC), which is associated with Iraqi Kurdistan and focuses on the Barzani clan that rules it (Mustafa Barzani is a Kurdish national hero, his son Masud is the 1st president of South Kurdistan, his grandson is the current president. - Editor's note).
The holding of municipal elections was initiated by the Democratic Union Party in order to legalize its ruling status within the Autonomous Administration. However, immediately after the announcement of the start date of the election campaign, many obstacles arose.
First of all, these are contradictions within the Kurdish movements. To participate in municipal elections, a party must obtain a special license from the election commission. About 30 parties were able to receive it.
At first glance, this is a fairly large number of political actors. However, in reality, all of them are either in the same political bloc with the PDS, or are on good terms with it.
Meanwhile, the Kurdish National Council, the main opponent of the ruling party, and the political movements associated with it were not allowed to participate in the election campaign. The current situation nullifies the idea of democratic elections, which is promoted by the AASBC government.
At the same time, the Kurdish-Arab confrontation continues. The actions of the Kurdish authorities are unpopular in the territories inhabited by Arab tribes, especially in the province of Deir ez-Zor. The peak of the confrontation occurred in the second half of 2023, when the situation resulted in the Arab uprising.
Armed clashes between Kurdish forces and Arab tribal militias continued for almost six months. Today the situation has only been partially resolved and the frozen crisis may worsen again.
The Arab population's dissatisfaction with the Kurdish authorities is based on three key aspects.
Firstly, the province of Deir ez-Zor provides more than half of the Autonomous Administration's total revenues through the development of oil fields on its territory, but the region accounts for only 16% of the expenditures of the entire budget.
Secondly, members of the Kurdistan Workers' Party, many of whom are not Syrians and do not even speak Arabic, have actually begun to play the role of political commissars, which is viewed with hostility by the tribal population.
Thirdly, representatives of Arab tribes are practically absent from the local councils of the AASWS.
All this suggests that in areas inhabited by the Arab population, turnout in municipal elections would be extremely low.
As a result, the election campaign was postponed until August. The formal reason for this decision was the request of four parties to postpone the elections due to lack of time. However, there are also external circumstances that determine such a decision.
TURKISH PRESSURE
The Turkish authorities reacted negatively to the Kurds' desire to hold a municipal election campaign. Ankara views the elections (and, accordingly, the legitimation of the Autonomous Administration through them) as a threat to its national security.
The PYD and its affiliated defense forces are considered an extension of the PKK in Turkey, and the Kurdistan Workers' Party itself is designated a terrorist organization.
Negative rhetoric immediately appeared in the statements of Turkish politicians.
Thus, the leader of the far-right Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), Davlet Bahçeli, called on the country's government to launch a joint military operation with the official Syrian authorities aimed at eliminating the PKK.
After this, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Ankara was closely monitoring “the aggressive actions of the terrorist organization (Syrian Democratic Forces - editor’s note) against the territorial integrity of our country and Syria under the pretext of elections.”
The Turkish leader also added that his country "will never allow a separatist organization to create a terrorist state just beyond its southern borders, in northern Syria and Iraq."
Erdogan even mentioned the possibility of a new Turkish operation in Syria.
“We did what was necessary in the past in the face of a fait accompli. We will not hesitate to act again if we encounter the same situation,” the Turkish President said.
Ankara has already carried out several military operations in the north and northeast of Syria: “Euphrates Shield” (2016–2017), “Olive Branch” (2018), “Spring of Peace” (2019). As a result, three unrelated enclaves were created, informally referred to as the “Zone of Turkish Occupation.”
In 2022, the Turkish side officially announced its intention to conduct a fourth operation and connect the enclaves with each other. But hostilities never began.
Today in Turkey they are again talking about the need to carry out a new operation, and the elections are a suitable pretext for this. The situation in the border zone has worsened in recent days. The Turkish armed forces regularly attack SDF positions.
The Kurds describe these actions as an attempt to “undermine security and stability in the region, as well as sow fear among residents in order to disrupt the legitimate procedures of municipal elections.”
US PRESSURE
Unexpectedly, the United States opposed the elections in northeast Syria. So at a press briefing, First Deputy Representative of the US State Department Vedant Patel said:
“Any elections that take place in Syria must be free, fair, transparent and inclusive, as required by UN Security Council Resolution 2254, and we do not believe that the conditions for such elections are currently in place in northeast Syria. And we brought this to the attention of a number of actors in northeast Syria."
Apparently, it was Washington’s point of view that became decisive on the issue of postponing the elections.
The US position is critical. In fact, an American military protectorate has been established over the Autonomous Administration, which allows the White House to determine the political course of the AASWS.
Today in Washington there are serious fears of a new Turkish operation, which could destroy the structure of self-proclaimed autonomy in the northeast, which will lead to the withdrawal of most of the American military contingent from Syria.
The decision of the Kurdish forces not to antagonize their main ally is quite logical. However, it is unclear whether they will abandon the elections altogether or whether they are really talking about postponing them.
The local administration has put a lot of effort into preparing for the election campaign, and in this situation, a significant pause could not only reduce enthusiasm in the Kurdish society, but also nullify most of the efforts.
The election campaign itself is not just about consolidating the dominant position of the PDS. The elections are also aimed at increasing the legitimacy of the self-proclaimed Autonomous Administration.
The maximum plan is to achieve autonomy status similar to Iraqi Kurdistan. Therefore, the Kurdish forces will try to do everything to ensure that the elections take place.
Posted by: badanov ||
06/15/2024 00:00 ||
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#1
Wanna bet Turks are going to kill thousands of Kurds and not a single dog: starting with Tony the Toad, and ending with the dumbest US diversity student; will bark?
[THEPOSTMILLENNIAL] A Kentucky man has been convicted on multiple terrorism charges after a federal jury found him guilty on Tuesday of joining the Islamic State ...formerly ISIS or ISIL, depending on your preference. Before that they were al-Qaeda in Iraq, as shaped by Abu Musab Zarqawi. They're really very devout, committing every atrocity they can find in the Koran and inventing a few more. They fling Allah around with every other sentence, but to hear western pols talk they're not really Moslems.... of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), a designated foreign terrorist organization.
Mirsad Hariz Adem Ramic, 34, of Bowling Green, had been accused of conspiring to provide material support to ISIS and receiving military-type training from ISIS, according to the Department of Justice. Ramic is a dual US-Bosnian citizen.
Court documents state that Ramic departed the United States along with two co-conspirators on June 3, 2014. They arrived separately in Istanbul, The Sick Man of Europe Turkey ...the only place on the face of the earth that misses the Ottoman Empire... . Upon arrival, they ditched their purchased travel itineraries and purchased a flight to Gaziantep, Turkey, which is located near the Turkey-Syrian border. From there, Ramic and the two co-conspirators crossed into Syria and joined ISIS.
After joining ISIS, Ramic attended an ISIS training camp and received military-type training, according to evidence presented at trial. A photograph of Ramic posted on social media shows him wearing camouflage clothing and standing in front of a truck with an anti-aircraft gun and the ISIS flag.
Ramic and his co-conspirators remained in contact after joining ISIS and discussed his use of an anti-aircraft weapon to shoot at planes, among other things. They also discussed jihad, martyrdom, and fighting for ISIS, per the DOJ.
Court documents state that Ramic joined an ISIS fighting unit comprised of mostly Bosnian imported muscle. He participated in an ISIS offensive in Kobane, Syria. Ramic was deported to the United States from Turkey in 2021 and has been in federal custody since.
Ramic faces a maximum penalty of 50 years in prison, a fine of $750,000, and a term of supervised release up to life. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 5.
[Rudaw] Iraq’s interior ministry on Tuesday revealed that over 200 drug-trafficking networks have been disbanded across the country in the past year and a half, stressing the government’s commitment to the war on drugs.
Miqdad Miri, spokesperson for the interior ministry, told Iraqi state-owned al-Sabah newspaper that a total of 204 local drug trafficking networks and 20 international networks have been dismantled since 2023.
"After disengaging the narcotics control directorate from the ministry’s agency for police affairs, and linking it to the minister’s office during the year 2022, it achieved very high results, after gaining the necessary support, including vehicles and weapons, and harnessing the intelligence effort, security regiments, rapid response, and federal forces," said Miri.
Over 1.5 tons of narcotics have been seized in the first six months of 2024, according to the spokesperson, adding that around five tons of psychotropic substances have been confiscated since 2023.
At least 17 drug suspects were killed in festivities with security forces in 2023, while at least four have been killed since the start of the year, Miri added.
There has been an alarming rise in drug dealing and use in Iraq in recent years, despite strict measures taken by the government to curb the phenomenon.
Iraq’s Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudan ...a Moslem country located in the Horn of Africa. It is noted for its affinity for rule by ex- or current generals, its holy men, and for the oppression of the native Afro population by its Arab conquerors. South Sudan, populated mostly by the natives, split off from Sudan proper, which left North and South Darfur to be oppressed by the guys with turbans... i has ordered the establishment of rehabilitation centers in all Iraqi provinces, excluding the Kurdistan Region, as part of his cabinet’s commitment to combat drugs with the same determination as it fights terrorism.
On Sunday, a Baghdad court sentenced seven narcos to death, including a convict of foreign nationality.
In 2023, more than 19,000 people were arrested across Iraq on drug-related charges and over 15 tons of psychotropic substances were seized.
That’s one perspective, crrtainly. Possibly driven more by pride than reality…
[Rudaw] Remnants of the Islamic State ...formerly ISIS or ISIL, depending on your preference. Before that they were al-Qaeda in Iraq, as shaped by Abu Musab Zarqawi. They're really very devout, committing every atrocity they can find in the Koran and inventing a few more. They fling Allah around with every other sentence, but to hear western pols talk they're not really Moslems.... (ISIS) are no longer a threat to Iraq with the country enjoying security and stability and on a trajectory of recovery, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudan ...a Moslem country located in the Horn of Africa. It is noted for its affinity for rule by ex- or current generals, its holy men, and for the oppression of the native Afro population by its Arab conquerors. South Sudan, populated mostly by the natives, split off from Sudan proper, which left North and South Darfur to be oppressed by the guys with turbans... i said on Monday, on the tenth anniversary of the fall of djinn-infested Mosul ... the home of a particularly ferocious and hairy djinn... to the murderous Moslem group.
ISIS swept through Iraq in 2014, capturing cities across the center and north of the country in a brazen offensive, including Mosul, Iraq’s second-largest city and the capital of Nineveh province, where the group’s former leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi declared its so-called "caliphate."
Sudani referred to the defeat of ISIS as a "civilizational victory," stating that it was achieved through the cohesion of the Iraqi people and sacrifices from all the national components of the country.
"We emerged from this experience stronger and more determined to continue rebuilding, developing, and advancing Iraq, and to nurture generations that bear responsibility and look to a promising future," read the statement.
While the group was declared territorially defeated in 2017 in Iraq, it still continues to pose serious security risks through hit-and-run attacks, bombings, and abductions, especially across the Syrian desert as well as several Iraqi provinces.
"The remnants of terrorism no longer pose a threat to the existence of the Iraqi state. Today, our people enjoy security and stability as a result of the sacrifices of our righteous deaders," stressed Sudani.
The snuffies are particularly active in stretches of land disputed by Baghdad and Erbil, which include a security vacuum that includes parts of Kirkuk, ... a thick stew of Arabs, Turkmen, Kurds, and probably Antarcticans, all of them mutually hostile most of the time... Salahaddin, and Diyala.
Mosul was retaken in a major Iraqi and Kurdish counteroffensive in 2017, supported by the US-led global coalition.
Mosul’s Old City, on the western bank of the Tigris River that divides the city into two, was severely damaged as a result of the fight against ISIS and bombardments by both the Iraqi air force and the US-led coalition.
[Rudaw] The Iraqi government does not allow the global coalition against the Islamic State to provide the Kurdish Peshmerga forces with drones and other weapons to defend themselves from attacks, a military advisor at the Kurdistan Region Presidency said.
"We have said several times that we do not want things [weapons] used to attack or threaten others. We want to have defense things [systems]. We have not received anything yet despite the fact that oil fields and their [coalition] base at the airport in Erbil are frequently attacked by rockets,” Babakir Zebari told Rudaw’s Nwenar Fatih on Tuesday, describing the coalition aid to Peshmerga as “limited.”
"They have not provided Peshmerga with any weapons that would make them happy. They say Iraq prevents it and that this is not possible without the permission of Iraq," added the advisor.
Erbil has come under dozens of drone and rockets attacks blamed on pro-Iran militia groups.
"They [coalition] wanted to bring in some drones but they [Iraq] made many obstacles and prevented it," Zebari, a former chief of staff of the Iraqi army, charged, adding that Baghdad does not share with Peshmerga weapons it purchases.
When ISIS seized swathes of the Iraqi and Syria territories in 2014, Peshmerga played a key role in driving the extremist group out of the areas disputed between Erbil and Baghdad, especially Kirkuk. The US-led global coalition provided Peshmerga and Iraqi forces with military assistance defeat ISIS territorially in 2017.
The US has provided the Kurdish Peshmerga with several rounds of military aid over the years.
Following the collapse of Saddam Hussein’s regime in 2003, most governmental and military positions in Iraq were distributed to Shiites, Sunnis, Kurds and other ethnic and religious groups based on their estimated population.
"I was the army’s chief of staff for 11 years. The Kurds made up 20 percent of the army at the time, Sunnis were 25, Shiite 45 and other entities 10. This was the case as long as I was in the position. I do not think the Kurdish percentage is even 2 now,” Zebari said.
He added that this distribution was based on an agreement between the US and Iraq.
Zebari also said Kurds no longer hold most of the top military positions they used to hold.
The Iraqi government said in 2015 that Zebari had been “retired” on prime minister’s order but the Kurdish military expert later said he retired from the position because he could not exercise his power.
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
...formerly ISIS or ISIL, depending on your preference. Before that they were al-Qaeda in Iraq, as shaped by Abu Musab Zarqawi. They're really very devout, committing every atrocity they can find in the Koran and inventing a few more. They fling 
...a Moslem country located in the Horn of Africa. It is noted for its affinity for rule by ex- or current generals, its holy men, and for the oppression of the native Afro population by its Arab conquerors. South Sudan, populated mostly by the natives, split off from Sudan proper, which left North and South Darfur to be oppressed by the guys with turbans...
