The 20th anniversary of the Iraq war marks a colossal failure of the mainstream media

It bought into phony Bush admin claims about Iraq's stockpiles of WMD & cheerled our nation into a war that killed 1,000s of Americans & 100s of
thousands of Iraqis [_link]

— Joshua Landis (@joshua_landis) March 20, 2023

A million lives later, I cannot forgive what American terrorism did to my country, Iraq

By @sinanantoon Heartbreaking.
[_link]

— Joshua Landis (@joshua_landis) March 20, 2023

President Sheikh Mohamed holds talks with Syria's Bashar Al Assad | The National |

Top Emirati official says Syria should be brought back into the fold for the stability of the Middle East

President Sheikh Mohamed met Syrian President Bashar Al Assad in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, where the two leaders discussed stability in the Middle East.

The Syrian leader and first lady Asma Al Assad arrived on an official visit on Sunday. The couple were welcomed at a ceremony at Qasr Al Watan on the capital's waterfront.

Sheikh Mohamed accompanied Mr Al Assad during a rendition of the Syrian national anthem as he was welcomed with an honour guard salute.

"I welcomed President Bashar Al Assad of Syria to the UAE today, and we held constructive talks aimed at developing relations between our two countries," Sheikh Mohamed Sheikh Mohamed said on Twitter.

"Our discussions also explored ways of enhancing co-operation to accelerate stability and progress in Syria and the region."

Mr Al Assad last visited the UAE last March, marking his first trip to an Arab country since the Syrian civil war began in 2011.

Dr. Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the President, said there was a need to bring Syria and its government back into the fold.

"The UAE's position is clear regarding the need for Syria to return ... and this was confirmed by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed during his meeting today with President Bashar Al Assad," Dr Gargash wrote on Twitter.

At last ... sovereignty for Arab States rejecting decades of neo-con policy boosting Israel and European neo-colonialism. Rejecting the offer to join NATO alliance. Wising up.

'Sapere aude'

Monday's front page #TomorrowsPapersToday [_link] pic.twitter.com/jJRP3DdI0J

— Arab News (@arabnews) March 19, 2023

Obama, Erdogan talk Syria, say 'Assad needs to go' | TOI - 16 May 2013 |

US remains reluctant to take the kind of action demanded by Turkey, including more aggressive steps to topple the regime

President Obama, speaking at a joint press conference with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, says that Turkey and the U.S. agree that Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad must give up power to a transitional government.

Obama says Assad must go for peace in Syria [_link] pic.twitter.com/EDwgTW4xS7

— AFP News Agency (@AFP) December 18, 2015

Obama says Assad must go to end Syria civil war | TOI - Dec. 2015 |

As Washington, Moscow appear to agree on a peace plan, US president insists embattled leader can't take part in future elections

US President Barack Obama on Thursday said Syria's civil war would not end unless Bashar Assad leaves power, discounting suggestions the Middle Eastern leader could take part in future elections.

"I do not foresee a situation in which we can end the civil war in Syria while Assad remains in power," Obama said on the sidelines of a trade summit in Manila.

Assad's fate has become a key stumbling block to peace in Syria and a point of contention between the West and Assad's backers in Moscow and Tehran.

Senator Joe Biden of the Foreign Intelligence Committee, voted for the Iraq War and bears full responsibility. In addition, he led foreign policy during eight years of the Obama administration. He is not a man of peace, diplomacy or compromise

'Sapere aude'

Mohamed ElBaradei: 'The Iraq war was about regime change, not WMDs' [_link] pic.twitter.com/OHysf4o0IM

— Marc Perelman (@mperelman) March 24, 2023

Visiting Iraq, Germany's Baerbock calls for international support, Türkiye and Iran excepted | DW News |

Speaking alongside Fuad Hussein, her Iraqi counterpart, Baerbock criticized Iran's disrespect for Iraqi sovereignty.

The Iranian regime "is apparently prepared to jeopardize lives and stability in the region [in order] to maintain power," said Baerbock. "This is completely unacceptable and dangerous for the region as a whole." 

Baerbock believes if Iraq is successful in maintaining a stable environment, without undue influence from external actors like Iran, or Turkey, it can provide a model of stability for the entire region.

Iranian meddling in Iraq's affairs is an 'exaggeration', says premier Al-Sudani | Kurdistan24 - 15 March 2023 |

German FM Baerbock said during a visit to Baghdad that Iran is jeopardizing "stability" in the Middle East | DW News |

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock called on Iran to cease its missile attacks on Iraqi territory during a visit to Baghdad.

"The Iranian regime shows with its missile attacks that it not only represses its own population with recklessness and brutality, but is apparently prepared to jeopardize lives and stability in the entire region to maintain power," Baerbock said after meeting her Iraqi counterpart, Fuad Hussein.

In Erbil, Germany's military is training Kurdish security forces in the fight against the "Islamic State" (IS) extremist group.

Baerbock recalled that IS killed thousands of people in northern Iraq and abducted and enslaved women and children.

"Because the world community did not prevent this genocide, we have all the more responsibility to ensure that these crimes are solved and that the survivors receive justice," she said.

The arrogance visiting Iraq in the month the West launched a barrage of cruise missiles at the start of an invasion, occupation and over half a million deaths just 20 years ago. War crimes, torture, Abu Ghraib leading to a revenge by Sunni population and the creation of AQI which evolved into ISIL as fanatic mujahideen fighters from all corners of the Islamic world traveled to Syria through Türkiye, ally of NATO partners to overthrow Bashar Assad after the "successes" of Afghanistan and Libya.

Obama Admits He Lacks A Strategy to Combat ISIL in the Levant | Aug 29, 2014 |

'Sapere aude'

Containing Shiite Militias: The Battle for Stability in Iraq | Brookings Policy Briefing - Dec. 2017 |

Many of Iraq's Shiite militias mobilized in response to Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani's fatwa that called on all able-bodied Iraqis to defend their country when the Iraqi army collapsed and Mosul fell to ISIS in June 2014. An umbrella militia organization known as the "Hashd al-Shaabi," or Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), was established in response. On the surface, the PMF constitutes a state- sanctioned organization that reports to the federal government, but in practice, it is dominated by Iran-aligned, pre-existing militia groups such as Asaib Ahl al-Haq, Kataib Hezbollah, Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada, and the Badr Brigade.

US Ally Soleimani's Global Fight Against Sunni Terror | Jan. 2020 |

Coordinated assassination of Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad by Trump & company in coordination with intelligence from UK and Israel ... cowards.

'Sapere aude'

"Before the invasion, a good life was possible, seeking employment was possible, even security existed.

"Compared to the current situation, our lives have worsened. Things were previously better"

- Raho al-Abbas, Mosul resident[_link]

— Middle East Eye (@MiddleEastEye) March 21, 2023

• The Fight for Mosul 2003-2007 | ISW |
• Sectarian strife grips North Iraq as Sunni Arabs drive out Kurds | NY Times - May 30, 2007 |
• In Joe Biden's Own Words of Truth; Our Arab Allies Funded ISIS! | Oct 5, 2014 |

Related reading ...

War Talk by Joe Biden In Turkey Ahead of Syria Conference | Jan 23, 2016 |

'Sapere aude'

🇮🇶 20 years on
'After the 2003 invasion, the work of journalists in Iraq did almost nothing to sway the apparent mendacity, shamelessness and ignorance of the US's official narrative,' writes @tcambanis [_link]

— Chatham House MENA (@CH_MENAP) March 24, 2023

Syria and Saudi Arabia agree to reopen their embassies in April

The decision was the result of talks in KSA Arabia with a senior Syrian intelligence official

The high-ranking Syrian intelligence official "stayed for days" in Riyadh

[_link]

— Joshua Landis (@joshua_landis) March 23, 2023

Saudi's Foreign Minister Prince Faisal Bin Farhan Al Saud earlier this month said engagement with Assad could lead to Syria's return to the Arab League, but it was currently too early to discuss such a step.

The UAE reopened its embassy in Damascus in 2018, arguing Arab countries needed more of a presence in resolving the Syrian conflict.

'Sapere aude'

If the US is on the sidelines in Syria, it is by choice.

The US botched its #Syria policy by presuming liberals would take over & by committing itself to Assad's overthrow.

Then it got spooked by the Islamist opposition & decided the Syrian army was preferable after all [_link]

— Joshua Landis (@joshua_landis) March 23, 2023

Rockets hit US military base after airstrikes target Syrian troops [_link]

— Press TV (@PressTV) March 24, 2023

American troops in Syria are violating international law by being there. They should come home. [_link]

— Robert Wright (@robertwrighter) March 25, 2023

Redacted FBI document hints at Israeli efforts to help Trump in 2016 campaign [_link]

— The Times of Israel (@TimesofIsrael) April 29, 2020

Trump Does Have Friends Across Middle East | May 19, 2018 |

UAE, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain welcome Trump's exit from Iran nuclear deal | The National - UAE |

The president said in his announcement that US had consulted with 'friends from across the Middle East' ...

Iran's rhetoric & aggressive regional actions were the background to a flawed deal. The veneer of Tehran's compliance contradicted its bellicose policies. President Trump's decision is the correct one.

— د. أنور قرقاش (@AnwarGargash) May 8, 2018

Quid pro Quo

International Coalition to Defeat Democrats and Hillary in 2016 | July 8, 2018 |

'Sapere aude'

Here's a great primer on the pre-election "Grand Bargain" that has expanded Mueller's probe from Trump-Russia collusion to Trump-Russia-UAE-Saudi Arabia-Qatar-Israel collusion. I'll say it again: this is the most important and complex story of our lives. [_link]

— Seth Abramson (@SethAbramson) November 4, 2018

PRESS RELEASE: the #ICJ delivers its Judgment on the merits of the case concerning Certain Iranian Assets (#Iran v. #UnitedStates) [_link] pic.twitter.com/fsyMVQThH4

— CIJ_ICJ (@CIJ_ICJ) March 30, 2023

ICJ rules US sanctions against Iran are illegal under international law. [_link]

— Tikun Olam (@richards1052) March 31, 2023

Good overview of Saudi-Syrian relations.

The turning point was 2017, MbS became Crown Prince. "radical shifts began in Riyadh's dealings with Syrian. It stopped military support, and told the Syrian opposition that Assad would remain.

[_link]

— Joshua Landis (@joshua_landis) April 4, 2023

• The Butcher of Christians and Shiites Speaks Out | Jan. 29, 2019 |
• The Tiger Squad: a Saudi hit team
• Salman Offered Candidate Trump Assassination Program on Iran | Nov. 13, 2018 |
I have written regularly about this angle on Trump's impossible victory in the 2016 presidential U.S. Election. While the Hillary Democrats and the US intelligence community went after decoy Putin and Russia. Nice play Bibi Netanyahu.

So much to worry about in a single sentence...
"The training was provided by the Arkansas-based security company Tier 1 Group, which is owned by the private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management."[_link]

— Greg Jaffe (@GregJaffe) June 23, 2021

Four members of the Saudi hit squad that killed US-based journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018 had received paramilitary training in the United States

'Sapere aude'

Dutch Gov't Admits Support for Salafist Jihadists in Syria | Sept. 2018 |

A developing story ...

US citizens and its western allies have been LIED to and clouded by military propaganda from their governments. How many deaths did these criminal acts cause in Syria by extending the civil unrest. How many civilians have fled their homes and millions crossed into Europe causing an "immigration" issue which led directly to a conservative movement of white supremacy and a strong shift to right-wing politics across Europe.

It's all there for you to read in the archives of European Tribune and @BooMan.

• Syria Expendable In Joint US-Israel ME Power Schemes | Dec. 2013 |
• The Butcher of Christians and Shiites Speaks Out
• IDF Forces support Al Nusra militants in Golan Heights exchanges | April 2015 | UNDOF/AJ

• Bolton threatens sanctions against Hague judges if they proceed in case against US war crimes | SCMP - Sept. 10, 2018 |

US President Donald Trump's national security adviser, John Bolton, calls the ICC an 'illegitimate court' and will announce the closure of the PLO office in Washington, according to a draft speech

Here's the video of Trumps adviser John Bolton claiming the U.S. gov is not a threat to other nation's sovereignty. It was at a Federalist Society event yesterday and this was in response to the last question, the only minimally serious one asked. [_link]

— Sam Husseini -- subscribe via husseini.org (@samhusseini) September 11, 2018

John Bolton Admits Planning Coups | #RegimeChange #AmericanEmpire |

Related reading ...

US War Powers, Regime Change and Third Option

'Sapere aude'

The U.S. is either waging war abroad or on the road to doing so, which has left hundreds of thousands of people dead and tens of millions displaced.
Read #WorldInsights: Who's actually running the war-enthusiastic United States? [_link] pic.twitter.com/o5IVhNBZW9

— China Xinhua News (@XHNews) April 10, 2023

Steven Sahiounie: The Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia will travel to Damascus to invite Syrian President Assad to the upcoming Arab League Summit scheduled for May 19 in Riyadh. How significant is this end of isolation for Syria, and what does this mean for the US relationship with Saudi Arabia?
Elijah J. Magnier:  It is clear that Saudi Arabia no longer considers only the US interest, but also the Saudi interest to end all conflicts in the Middle East and start a new relationship with its neighbors, even if they fall under illegal US and EU sanctions. Saudi Arabia has stopped funding the jihadists and takfiris in Syria since 2015. Since then, there have been several meetings between officials from the two countries at the security and political levels. Naturally, the US is unhappy with this rapprochement, as it undermines the effectiveness of its sanctions and isolates the West from the Middle East. But, it is cautious not to rush into a full normalization between Syria and Saudi Arabia, unless the Saudis are prepared to help rebuild more than a decade of war, in which Riyadh has been an active participant and provocateur. It is too early to judge until we see the results.
[...]