Monday, December 11, 2017
Though Withdrawing from Syria, Russia ‘Is Back in the Middle East’
Russian President Vladimir Putin paid a surprise visit to Syria on Monday, where he announced that his nation would begin to withdraw “a significant part” of their military forces deployed in the Middle Eastern nation as its long civil war draws to a close.
Putin's announcement was discussed on Radio Sputnik's Loud & Clear by hosts Brian Becker and John Kiriakou and guests Mark Sleboda and Rick Sterling. Sleboda is a Russia-based international relations and security analyst and frequent critic of US policy, while Sterling is a journalist and member of the Syria Solidarity Movement, an organization that supports the Syrian government.
"It was a surprise," said Sleboda. "Putin was obviously headed on the way to Cairo, and then on the way back to Turkey, but the side trip to Syria and particularly to the Russian airbase in Syria certainly was a surprise. As for this announcement, this ‘mission accomplished' moment… we've heard several previous such ‘Russia is withdrawing their military forces from Syria' claims before."
"I think there were certainly enough caveats and qualifications to Putin's statement that, while recognizing the significant victories that have been achieved, we should take this announcement with a grain of salt. Russia is not leaving Syria, they are not leaving their military bases. There remain significant military hurdles: significant terrorist concentrations, the entirety of Idlib governance is under the control of al Qaeda. I think this was probably primarily an announcement for domestic political consumption, as Putin announces his intent to run again for another six-year term in 2018."
"It's also a reminder to the Americans that at least the majority of the fighting in east Syria against [Daesh] is done," Sleboda added. "They no longer at least hold any urban areas, at least there the military mission is accomplished. The US no longer has any excuse, not that they ever had any legal remit for their operations in east Syria. But Putin was letting them know that it's time for them to pack their bags and go home."
Becker pointed out a CNN headline from early 2016 that was quite similar to the recent one — but Russia did not pull forces out as CNN claimed; they actually intensified their military involvement.
Sterling elaborated on Moscow's movements: "It's an indication of an intent. They don't plan on maintaining a large military force there indefinitely, but they can come back if needed. The fact is that Russia is not very far from Syria, only about 600 miles from Sochi, their air base. It's not very hard for the Russian Air Force to move at least some of their airplanes and pilots and so forth up into southern Russia, and if needed they can still be called into duty in Syria."
Kiriakou asked the guests if they believed it possible that Russia could end up in an quagmire in Syria, similar to what has happened to the US in Iraq and Afghanistan. Sleboda replied that Russia was likely to remain in the Middle East for years to come, but of their own volition.
"Russia is back in a big way in the Middle East. Suddenly everyone in the Middle East [is working with Moscow]: Iraq, which the government there, although showing a lot of the signs of independence, was installed as a result of the US invasion and regime change there. Saudi Arabia has come to the table with Russia to sign oil deals and potential military deals after losing this oil price war."
"Qatar, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, they're all now looking to Russia because Russia has showed the willpower, resolve, and capability to back up military force with hard diplomacy and achieve results in the Middle East — something that the US and all of their regime change and intervention has not shown anything with anywhere near so positive a result."
"So Russia is back in the Middle East. They're not leaving Syria, they have no intentions of leaving Syria."
Video & Report - #Putin orders withdrawal of #Russian troops from #Syria during surprise visit to Khmeimim Airbase
Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered the withdrawal of Russian troops from Syria. He announced the move during his first visit to the country, as he arrived with no advance notice at Khmeimim Airbase in Syria’s Latakia province on Monday morning. A “significant part” of the Russian military contingent in Syria should return to Russia, Putin announced, addressing Russian military personnel at Khmeimim. The order to withdraw followed the defeat of “the most battle-hardened grouping of international terrorists” by the Russian and Syrian militaries in the space of two years.
As he arrived at the base, which houses Russian forces assisting Syria in the battle against Islamic State terrorists (IS, formerly ISIS), Putin was greeted by his Syrian counterpart, Bashar Assad, and by Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu, in a brief stop on the Russian leader's way to bilateral talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in Cairo, followed by a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara.
The commander of the Russian forces in Syria, Colonel-General Sergey Surovikin, informed Putin that about 70,000 sq km of Syrian territory had been liberated and 32,000 terrorists killed in the last seven months of the operation. Russian special forces, military police, sapper teams and 25 aircraft will now leave Syria, and the field hospital will be removed.
Putin also warned that should terrorists attempt to “rear their heads” in Syria again, Russia will strike them as “they have never seen before.” Russia will continue to use Khmeimim Airbase and the Syrian port of Tartus, which provides technical support for the Russian Navy, while the Russian Reconciliation Center for Syria will also remain.
Syria was “preserved as a sovereign and independent state” and refugees are returning home, the Russian president noted. He is expected to discuss the organization of a Syrian people’s congress and further steps towards peaceful settlement, with the leaders of Egypt and Turkey on Monday.
President Assad once again expressed deep gratitude to the Russian Air Force, following up on his surprise visit to Russia’s Sochi just three weeks ago, when the Syrian leader had also expressed thanks for Moscow’s help in the fight against terrorism.
The Russian General Staff declared the liberation of Syria from IS on December 6, saying that “all terrorist units of ISIS” in the country had been destroyed. Putin later said that the military work was completed “with a full victory,” adding that there “might be some spots of resistance.”
Russia’s campaign in Syria was launched on September 30, 2015, after Damascus asked for Moscow’s help in the fight against extremist Islamist forces trying to overthrow the government. In March 2016, Russia partially withdrew its air force from Khmeimim Airbase, saying its objectives there had been largely achieved.
Video Report - New York explosion suspect identified , 27-year-old of #Bangladeshi descent
New York police have named 27-year-old Brooklyn resident Akayed Ullah as the suspect who was wearing a homemade explosive device that detonated at the Port Authority bus terminal near Times Square. Ullah is of Bangladeshi descent. New York Mayor Bill Di Blasio has describe the event as an attempted terrorist attack.
UN Women Pakistan’s Human Rights Day video has everyone in awe
UN Women Pakistan unveiled their #LeaveNoOneBehind campaign on this International Day of Human Rights and had a strong message everyone should pay attention to. This year, they dedicated their campaign to highlight the plight of transgender persons in Pakistan and how they are discriminated against in every walk of life.
The video also presents a beautiful picture of how this marginalised section of society can become equally productive if provided with equal opportunities.
Pakistan - Bilawal Bhutto condemns withdrawal of FATA Reforms Bill by PML-N from NA
Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has strongly condemned PML-N government’s move of withdrawal of FATA Reforms Bill at the eleventh from the National Assembly Agenda on Monday.
In a statement, the PPP Chairman said that the decision of PML-N to withdraw the Bill smells its hatred towards the people of FATA but pledged that his Party would merge FATA into Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa as per the aspiration of the people of tribal areas.
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari pointed out that in August 2011, President Asif Ali Zardari amended the Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR), a British-era law curtailing FATA residents’ rights, and extended the Political Parties Act (PPA) 2002 to the tribal areas.
PPP Chairman further said that PPP has already vowed to integrate FATA in KPK, extension of High Courts jurisdiction and end to FCR.
https://mediacellppp.wordpress.com/2017/12/11/bilawal-bhutto-zardari-condemns-withdrawal-of-fata-reforms-bill-by-pml-n-from-na/
#Pakistan - Opposition irked by govt failure to present FATA Reforms Bill in NA
The government on Monday failed to table a bill pertaining to FATA's merger with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, drawing the opposition's ire over the delay.
Lawmakers from the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and those from FATA tore copies of the assembly agenda in protest over the delay.
MNA Shahabuddin, who is also a member of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) from FATA, protested over the change in the assembly agenda. He was joined by other lawmakers from tribal areas.
The protesting members said the agenda included the FATA Reforms Bill and questioned why it was changed.
Sheikh Aftab Ahmed, minister for parliamentary affairs, said a debate on FATA reforms was temporarily postponed and the matter would soon be made part of the assembly agenda.
"There is further consultation required on the bill, which is why it was not tabled," Aftab explained.
Opposition Leader Khursheed Shah also criticised the government for putting the matter on hold and referred to the entire episode as a "joke".
"Another joke was played today. The matter is under process since the incumbent government came into power and it is beyond comprehension as to why the matter was excluded from the agenda after its inclusion," Shah said.
"The entire nation wants FATA to become a constitutional part of the country, but the government is merely passing its time in the parliament."
Murtaza Javed Abbasi, the deputy speaker of the assembly, intervened and attempted to defuse the situation.
"The minister for parliamentary affairs has given an explanation and the bill would be tabled in the house in the next two to three days," Abbasi said, adding that the bill could not be included in the agenda on "technical basis."
At this, the opposition leader warned that they would continue to stage a walk-out from the assembly if the matter was not resolved.
Some members of the opposition also tore copies of the agenda and staged a sit-in before the speaker's dais, followed by a walk-out by PPP members.
PTI's Shah Mehmood Qureshi lamented that all the members of the House were given agenda of Monday's session a night before, which had the FATA Reforms Bill, but it was excluded from the agenda copies distributed today.
"They are showing us the way that issues are resolved through sit-ins, not by the parliament," Qureshi said.
The opposition members rejected all explanations furnished by the treasury.
The opposition leader added the government should clearly state that a few individuals are against this bill. "Or at least tell us why this bill was excluded from the agenda," he demanded.
Later, all opposition members walked out of the assembly hall, after which the session was adjourned until 10:30am on Tuesday.
The recommendations to bring FATA at par with the rest of the country were approved at the Cabinet meeting on FATA reforms on March 2.
Once FATA is made part of KP, the province's share in the National Finance Commission will increase, as 3 per cent will be earmarked for the region.
The KP Assembly had adopted a resolution on December 14, 2016, in favour of merging FATA with KP that would help rehabilitate and reconstruct the infrastructure including roads, communications, power lines, water supply, education and health facilities.
#Pakistan - Bilawal Bhutto concerned over human rights violations by PML-N
Pakistan People’s Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said that violent extremism poses severe threats to the human rights in the country, which needs to be tackled carefully.
In his message on the Human Rights Day, the PPP chairman also expressed concern over the violations of human rights during PML-N government.
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari stated that PPP believes in the full protection of human rights . PPP passed several laws and established institutions to safeguard basic human rightsof the people of Pakistan, he added. He pledged that PPP won’t tolerate violations of human rights as it was not only a national inclusive political party but is the nation’s largest movement for human rights as well.
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that strong and democratic nations keep human rights as their highest priority and we also need more efforts to improve the situation.
He reiterated that PPP leadership and workers would continue their fight for the protection of human rights in the country as well as in the world.
Meanwhile, in a statement issued on Sunday, PPPP Senator Aajiz Dhamrah responded to Shebaz Sharif over leveling allegations of corruption on Shehbaz Sharif and said that chief minister Punjab has lost his mind after seeing the gallows in front of himself after the publication of Model Town enquiry commission report.
He said that PML-N itself is surrounded by corrupt people and it is unfortunate for the country that a person who is involved in taking commissioning LNG issue is positioned as the prime minister of the country by the PML-N leadership.
“The prime minister should also think twice before leveling allegations at the PPP leadership and should first initiate an enquiry on rental power projects.”
He said that PPPP President Asif Ali Zardari had faced the so-called accountability campaign from Nawaz Sharif and Shehbaz Sharif for more than 11 years and later the courts had acquitted him.
“Shehbaz Sharif should now tell the nation that why millions were spend on an accountability process that had yielded no result.”
He said that Nawaz Sharif and his associates could no longer fool people through their lies and they should know that the accountability commission chief who filed cases against Asif Zardari had to apologize over fake cases.
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