The Russian Masterpiece in Syria: Everyone Wins

The Russian Masterpiece in Syria: Everyone Wins

“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 illegal foreign presence. Trilateral talks between Iran, Turkey and Russia occurred in Astana at Moscow’s…

Will Iran be the Next to Withdraw from Syria?

Will Iran be the Next to Withdraw from Syria?

The smoothness with which the US’ “sudden” withdrawal played out and the Pentagon’s decision not to militantly enforce the so-called “deconfliction line” along the Euphrates River after the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) triumphantly crossed it en route to protecting their new Kurdish “allies” strongly suggest that these were premeditated decisions indirectly coordinated with Russia in…

Winners and Losers in the Turkish attack on Kurds in Syria? Part 1

Winners and Losers in the Turkish attack on Kurds in Syria? Part 1

President Donald Trump has given the orders to begin a “deliberate withdrawal” of his troops and end the occupation of north-east Syria (NES). This is accelerating the race between the Turkish and the Syrian forces to control NES. Turkey is in a rush to establish its 30-35km wide safe zone on the borders with Syria…

Trump Unchained: How the ‘God-Emperor’ Is Ending American Empire with Syria Gambit

Trump Unchained: How the ‘God-Emperor’ Is Ending American Empire with Syria Gambit

US President Donald Trump’s decision to pull US troops out of Syria is drawing fire from Democrats, media and some in his own party as well. He doesn’t seem to care, insisting on his 2016 campaign promise to end the endless wars. At a press conference on Wednesday, Trump batted away every attempt at criticism…

Russia to Salvage US Mess

Russia to Salvage US Mess

It’s going to be a precarious balancing act, but only one nation can possibly help bring stability to the chaos unleashed in Syria by US President Donald Trump. That’s Russia. Reports of a deal brokered over the weekend by Russia between Syrian government forces and Kurdish militia are a prelude to a wider effort by…

China’s $3.6 bn Bailout Insulates Turkey from US

China’s $3.6 bn Bailout Insulates Turkey from US

Despite the US threat to “obliterate and destroy” Turkey’s economy, the Turkish lira and Turkish interest rates barely have budged in the past week (Turkish stocks, especially banks, are down sharply, in part due to the US criminal charges against Halkbank for aiding Iran sanctions violations). That is remarkable given the fragility of Turkey’s currency…