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Morrigu 
Joined: 11 Aug 2001
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^ lol reminds me of Africa where the locals called the donkey cart the Kalahari Ferrari 
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Jezza 
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Joined: 06 Sep 2010
Location: Ponsford End
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Interesting article back in September I found about the Kurdish leader who believes the collapse of the Assad regime in Syria would be an absolute disaster despite the poor treatment they've received from the government over the years.
It certainly raises strong doubts about the "moderate" rebel forces and whether they can be a better alternative to Assad.
Full article in the link below:
| Quote: | Syria civil war: Kurdish leader says collapse of Assad regime 'would be a disaster' despite its treatment of his people
The overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad by Isis and rebel groups that are affiliated to al-Qaeda would be a calamity for the world, says the Syrian Kurdish leader Saleh Muslim.
In an interview with The Independent he warned that if the regime collapses because of the salafis [fundamentalist Islamic militants] it would be a disaster for everyone.
Mr Muslim said he was fully in favour of Mr Assad and his government being replaced by a more acceptable alternative. But he is concerned that Isis and other extreme Islamist groups are now close to Damascus on several sides, saying that this is dangerous. During a recent Isis offensive in the north eastern city of Hasaka, the Kurdish YPG (Peoples Protection Units) militia and the Syrian Army both came under attack from Isis, but Mr Muslim denied that there was any collaboration between the two.
The Syrian Kurds, previously marginalised and discriminated against by the Damascus government, have become crucial players in the countrys civil war over the last year. In January, they defeated Isis at Kobani with the aid of US airstrikes after a four-and-a-half month siege and their forces are still advancing. While Mr Muslim said that he wants an end to rule by Mr Assad, he makes clear that he considers Isis to be the main enemy.
Our main goal is the defeat of Daesh [Isis], he said. We would not feel safe in our home so long as there is one Daesh [Isis] left alive. The threat did not come from them alone, he said, but also from al-Qaeda clones such as Jabhat al-Nusra and Ahrar al-Sham. They all have the same mentality.
Mr Muslim is the president of the Democratic Union Party (PYD) that rules Rojava, as Kurds call the three Kurdish enclaves just south of the Turkish border. A stocky and affable man, aged 64, he apologised before the interview in the city of Ramalan for his broken English though it turned out to be fluent, something explained by a year spent in Britain learning English and 12 years as an oil industry engineer in Saudi Arabia, where the working language was also English. |
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/syria-civil-war-kurdish-leader-says-collapse-of-assad-regime-would-be-a-disaster-despite-its-10515922.html
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Jezza
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Iraqi forces with the backing of Sunni tribesman are advancing in their attempt to re-capture the city of Ramadi in the Anbar Province (west of Baghdad) which was captured and taken over by ISIS in May this year.
| Quote: | Islamic State conflict: Iraqi forces 'move into Ramadi'
Iraqi forces are advancing into the centre of Ramadi, after launching a major assault to drive Islamic State militants from the city, officials say.
Security sources told the BBC troops and allied tribesmen, backed by US-led air strikes, had already retaken two districts, and entered two others.
They are heading towards the main government complex, and have come up against snipers and suicide bombers.
Ramadi fell to IS in May in an embarrassing defeat for the Iraqi army.
Last month, government forces completed their encirclement of the predominantly Sunni Arab city, about 90km (55 miles) west of Baghdad, cutting off militants inside the centre from strongholds elsewhere in Anbar province and in neighbouring Syria.
Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service spokesman Sabah al-Numani said its troops, supported by soldiers, police and Sunni tribesmen, had begun the assault on central Ramadi at dawn and were advancing on the government complex. |
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-35158105
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think positive 
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Joined: 30 Jun 2005
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David
I dare you to try
Joined: 27 Jul 2003
Location: Andromeda
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Yep, great news. Next stop Mosul.
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Jezza
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Very good news. The next realistic target for the Iraqi forces would be to recapture Fallujah (approximately 60km east of Ramadi) and some of the small surrounding towns.
Mosul will be a more difficult proposition in the immediate future.
It's also no coincidence that Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi comes out with an audio message for the first time in seven months (coincidentally his last audio message coincided with the capture of Ramadi in May) threatening Israel and Saudi Arabia and diverting the attention away from ISIS' recent setbacks in Iraq.
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Wokko 
Come and take it.
Joined: 04 Oct 2005
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think positive
Side By Side
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Good, but gees I hope no one is tracking me after clicking the link, I feel dirty.
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Jezza
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Good news Wokko!
I do wonder whether the Kurds have aspirations towards Raqqa or whether their sole intention is to defend their lands but not to expand itself any further.
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David
I dare you to try
Joined: 27 Jul 2003
Location: Andromeda
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It's a good question, Jezza. The black and white portrayal of the Kurds (i.e. 'the good guys') in the Western newspapers doesn't really give us much chance to consider such nuances.
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stui magpie 
Prepare for the worst, hope for the best.
Joined: 03 May 2005
Location: In flagrante delicto
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think positive
Side By Side
Joined: 30 Jun 2005
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the iraqis need a new jeep!
man there are some funny replies there! and from non muslims too!! cool link!!
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You cant fix stupid, turns out you cant quarantine it either! |
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think positive
Side By Side
Joined: 30 Jun 2005
Location: somewhere
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stui magpie
Prepare for the worst, hope for the best.
Joined: 03 May 2005
Location: In flagrante delicto
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Yep, them there rules are positively enlightened.  
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Jezza
2023 PREMIERS!
Joined: 06 Sep 2010
Location: Ponsford End
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Good article on the rebel group known as Jaysh Al-Islam and what the future holds for the group in the conflict after the death of its leader via an airstrike (which is presumably either Russian or Syrian but hasn't been fully determined yet).
The article certainly vindicates the point that the so-called "moderate" opposition has a lot of radical groups with views not too dissimilar to other Salafi groups like ISIS and Al-Qaeda and that Assad's release of political prisoners such as the former leader of Jaysh Al-Islam back in 2011 to taint the revolution seems to have benefited him greatly.
http://www.joshualandis.com/blog/death-of-zahran-alloush-by-aron-lund/?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=New%20Campaign&utm_term=*Mideast%20Brief
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