Waterworks II.

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Here links to various previous blog entries the topic the breaching of dams and dikes as a weapon of war. An ancient and venerable practice and as relevant to most recent events the Ukraine Conflict:

From that period of the Islamic State [ISIL] insurgency:

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2017/04/tabqa.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2015/04/thar-thar.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2014/08/mosul-dam.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2014/07/haditha-mosul.html 

From that period of the Saddam insurgency in the aftermath of Gulf War Two:

https://www.danielpipes.org/blog/2007/11/the-latest-about-mosul-dam

Further and in historical context the Yellow River flood, 1938-47:

"In June 1938, Chinese Nationalist armies under the command of Chiang Kai-shek breached the Yellow River’s dikes at Huayuankou in Henan province in a desperate attempt to block a Japanese military advance . . . Perhaps the single most environmentally damaging act of warfare in world history . . . Between 1938 and 1947, this disaster killed more than 800,000 people in Henan, Anhui, and Jiangsu and displaced nearly four million."

And the culprit the Dneiper river flooding is? We might never know with any degree of certainty?

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Bizarre.

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"Sources suggest that members of the all-women al-Khanssaa Brigade in Raqqa, Syria, are running brothels to satisfy the fighters' desires. One said: 'These women are using barbaric interpretations of the Islamic faith to justify their actions. They believe the militants can use these women as they please as they are non-Muslims. The Yazidi people are being ethnically cleansed, and their women are being subjected to the most brutal treatment. It is the British women who have risen to the top of the Islamic State's sharia police and now they are in charge of this operation. It is as bizarre as it is perverse.'" - - From the Daniel Pipes blog as reported back in 2014.

Taking on a significance in the aftermath of the capture of the American Allison? Lady jihadist a commnander [?] of the Islamic State female paramilitary unit. Allison indeed can be charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity? Merely aiding and abetting terrorism hardly adequate charges?

"EXCLUSIVE: British female jihadis running ISIS 'brothels' allowing killers to rape kidnapped Yazidi women"

As seen at the British tabloid Daily Mirror Internet web site from 2014.

"Members of the all-women al-Khanssaa Brigade in Raqqa, Syria, are running brothels for Islamic State murderers"

"British female jihadis are running brothels full of women kidnapped and forced into sex slavery by Islamic State militants."

"It is understood they are members of an ultra-religious IS ‘police’ force tasked with looking after girls captured from the Yazidi tribe in Iraq."

Allison the American female jihadi as I have said before probably needs to be charged with much more serious crimes othe than "aiding and abetting terrorism". Crimes against humanity more approriate surely. 

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MH-60.

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More on the Delta Force [?] raid that killed the Islamic State # 1 honcho Abu Ibrahim.

American forces having to destroy their own MH-60 helicopter. Chopper grounded and perhaps destroyed by an airstrike after valuable electronics removed!

Courtesy here the Internet web site "The Aviationist" STEFANO D'URSO and DAVID CENCIOTTI.

"U.S. MH-60M Helicopter Used In Raid To Kill ISIS Leader in Syria Blown Up On The Ground By U.S. Forces"

"What we know about the U.S. Special Forces raid on al-Qurayshi in Syria and the MH-60M helicopter destroyed on the ground because it was 'not going to be usable' for the return flight."

Further:

"Following the explosion, the Special Forces were engaged in a gunfight with a ISIS top lieutenant who lived on the second floor with his family. The explosion and gunfight contributed to the number of women and children among the 13 reported casualties, which official said were not due to U.S. weaponry. Several children were evacuated from the second floor, along with the other civilian family on the first floor that was successfully evacuated at the beginning of the raid."

Again, place the blame for civilian deaths on the bad guy who refused to surrender when facing overwhelming force. NOT Americans responsible and let it be known so.

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Abu Ibrahim.

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 "He was on our target list from the earliest days of the campaign. He was Baghdadi's right-hand man, and ... was personally responsible for some of the most vicious ISIS atrocities," 

Abu Ibrahim gone. Swims with the fishes. # 2 man in the Islamic State hierarchy and apparently # 1 since the death of Caliph Ibrahim [Al-Baghdadi].

"Inside U.S. raid on ISIS leader: Months of preparation, then a deadly blast"

Thatnks to Reuters and the story by Phil Stewart and Trevor Hunnicutt.

"WASHINGTON, Feb 3 (Reuters) - U.S. forces rehearsed the helicopter raid over and over, hoping to capture Islamic State's leader on the third floor of a residential building in a Syrian town on the Turkish border, where he was holed up with his family."

"But before they [American special forces] could reach him, Abu Ibrahim al-Hashemi al-Quraishi detonated a suicide bomb, triggering a large explosion that blew mangled bodies -- including his own -- out of the building into the streets outside."

His body, the body of his wives and children also now bits and pieces. Also some of his comrades and other civilians blow up by the detonation.

DON'T TRY TO BLAME THE DEATHS OF INNOCENTS ON THE  USA. ONLY ONE MAN TO BLAME AND THAT IS ABU IBRAHIM.

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Allison.

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The evening news USA today considered this to be a story of proportions beyond normal. And with good reason.

In many species the female is often the more dangerous?

American Islamic State adherent and much more than a mere operative so it seems.

Allison Elizabeth Fluke-Ekren, 42 years of age and an American schoolteacher.

"Kansas Woman Accused of Leading ISIS Battalion Ordered Held Without Bail"

From Epoch Times the story by Alice Giordano and Zachary Stieber.

"A Kansas woman who is accused of plotting terrorist attacks on American soil was ordered held without bail during a hearing on Monday."

“Fluke-Ekren is charged with providing and conspiring to provide material support or resources to a foreign terrorist organization. If convicted, she faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties."

Allison apparently much more than a run-of-the-mill operative. Better understood as an organizer and leader. Part and parcel of a terrorist organization hierarchy responsible for crimes against humanity.

"run-of-the-mill: Common, standard, or average; mediocre."

Read further of this Allison and her Islamic state adventure:

"Allison Fluke-Ekren: Overbrook, Kansas, Teacher Accused in ISIS Plot"

As far as I understand American law, this Allison cannot be tried for treason or sedition. Can be tried as apparently charged with only [?] "providing material support or resources" to a terrorist organization. She should be charged with crimes against humanity. Tried in a Nuremberg style court and given an appropriate punishment to include the death penalty if possible. Doubt it will happen but wish it would be so.

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ASRAAM.

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Courtesy the Aviationist. I am not sure if any of this is good or bad!

"RAF [British Royal Air Force] Typhoon's First Air-To-Air Kill: Terrorist Drone Shot Down In Syria"

"In what the UK Ministry of Defence called an 'unprecedented event', an RAF Typhoon conducted the type’s first ever operational air-to-air engagement in Syria on Dec. 14, 2021. The event marked also the first RAF air-to-air missile firing during Operation SHADER, the UK’s contribution to the military campaign against ISIL (Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant),"

"The kill was carried out using an Advanced Short Range Air to Air Missile (ASRAAM) that successfully hit and destroyed a small-sized drone."

Small-sized drone taken out by an air-to-air missile. Does the pilot get full credit for a kill? Or is it half a kill or one quarter?

And consider how cost effective is all this? Price of a single ASRAAM: "COST: $274,830 per missile".

Contrast with the of a small-sized commercially available drone: "Chinese Skywalker X8 drone . . . less than 200 US Dollars". [My assumption here is that this was a commercially available drone modified by the Islamic State weapons experts. Military grade small-sized drones can be very expensive.]

Consider also:

"US Gen. David Perkins made headlines last week when he announced that a US ally had used a $3 million Patriot missile to destroy a single small ISIS drone." [May 2017]

I guess as long as it saves the life of one troop it is OK?

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Incredulous.

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For such a powerful and distinguished American Senator to have even suggested such a thing seems ridiculous to me. Preposterous even. But it seems to be so. 

From the Russian Internet media outlet Sputnik:

1. "US Troops 'Will Be Going Back Into Afghanistan': Lindsey Graham"

"Republican Senator Lindsey Graham has been ramping up calls to impeach US President Joe Biden over the hectic troop pullout from Afghanistan, insisting that the 'derelict' commander-in-chief had 'ignored sound advice' in relation to the withdrawal operation."

"Sen. Lindsay Graham (R-S.C.) believes that American troops will return to Afghanistan despite the chaotic military withdrawal from the country that was completed on 30 August."

Presumably the presence of American military forces in Afghan would to aid and enable the Taliban to defeat remnants of Islamic State Khorasan and Al Qaeda still present in Afghan.

Special operations [USA] combat elements guiding drone air strikes a possible??

Also see from the Internet web site Anti-War.

2. "Taliban Declare Do Not Want American Help in Fighting ISIS — Afghan Civilians Breathe a Sigh of Relief"

"Probably a lot safer for Afghan civilians this way"

Anti-War is referring to those drone strikes with Afghan civilians killed!

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Confirmed.

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Confirmed! Thousands?

Courtesy Breitbart.

Islamic State Khorasan [ISKP] active in Afghan and having perpetrated the suicide bombing at Kabul airport the Taliban have released as alleged "thousands" of ISIP prisoners as previously captured.

"Pentagon Confirms ‘Thousands’ of Islamic State Prisoners Released by Taliban"

"Pentagon press secretary John Kirby confirmed Friday that 'thousands' of Islamic State prisoners were freed after the United States handed over bases to the Afghan government."

"The freeing of thousands of Islamic State prisoners is under scrutiny after an Islamic State suicide attacker killed 13 American service members and a number of Afghan and other nations’ civilians at a gate at the Hamid Karzai International Airport on Thursday."

Taliban a predominantly Pushtun ethnic movement. ISKP more of an international terrorist organization in contrast. Goals between the two groups differ. The Afghan highly against any foreign presence. Fighting of a very significant nature must have been occurring and for a long time that so many ISKP prisoner in captivity.

See previous blog entry, covert American airstrikes IN SUPPORT OF THE TALIBAN perhaps not such a rare occurrence.

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ISKP.

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From Freeper and the original story by the BBC:

More dope on the Islamic State Khorasan. As alleged responsible for the suicide bombings at the Kabul airport.

"Afghanistan crisis: Who are Isis-K? (Profile of one more Islamofascistic gang)"

"Islamic State militants have been blamed for a series of deadly attacks in recent years - like this one on a wedding hall in Kabul in 2019"

"Isis-K - or to give it its more accurate name, Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) - is the regional affiliate of Isis (or so-called Islamic State) that is active in Afghanistan and Pakistan."

"It is the most extreme and violent of all the jihadist militant groups in Afghanistan."

"It recruits from both Afghan and Pakistani jihadists, especially defecting members of the Afghan Taliban who don't see their own organization as extreme enough." Go read it all. 

My original blog entry on the Khorasan group way back in 2015. Devoted readers to the blog can be grateful and thankful they are so ahead of the game.

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Airport.

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The situation at the Kabul airport deteriorates markedly. Suicide bomber kills and maims.

Courtesy the tip from Commander Salamander.

"Suicide bombing kills, injures several at Kabul airport"

"Two explosions near Kabul airport, one of which was a suicide bombing, have killed at least 13 and injured over 60."

As is thought that suicide bomber an affiliation with the Islamic State - Khorosan.

"The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant – Khorasan Province . . . is a self-proclaimed branch of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) active in South Asia and Central Asia, though ISIL denies any connection. Some media sources also use the terms ISK, ISISK, IS-KP, ISIS-K or Daesh-Khorasan in referring to the group. The Khorasan group has been active in Afghanistan and its area of operations also includes other parts such as Pakistan, Tajikistan, and India where some individuals have pledged allegiance to it."

See previous blog entry the Islamic State Khorosan and the Afghan connection:

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2015/12/wilayat-khorasan.html

This is all rather intuitive, isn't it? That airport becomes a battleground no more Americans or other foreign nationals will be able to leave the country. Land-locked nation and those marooned left to the tender mercies of the revengeful Taliban and Islamic State.

Something got to be done and fast!

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Stalked!

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Consider this not to be: 1. A goodwill voyage. 2. A show-the-flag exercise. 3. A shake-down cruise. Hardly confined to any of that.

Queen Elizabeth II the first operational sailing. And YES does involve combat and cat-and-mouse.. From Freeper and thanks to same.

"UK Scrambled Sub-Hunting Aircraft As Russian Submarine ‘Stalked’ Carrier In Mediterranean"

"UK media on Friday revealed another major military close encounter with a Russian vessel following the June 23 Black Sea warning shot incident – but this time in the Mediterranean where a Russian submarine was said to be 'stalking' the Royal Navy’s Carrier Strike Group in the waters."

See from the Aviationist an article the topic F-35B from the QE II a combat mission as flown against Islamic State combatants.

"F-35B Jets From HMS Queen Elizabeth Have Joined The Fight Against Daesh"

"UK Carrier Strike Group launching F-35B missions in support of Operation Shader from the eastern Mediterranean Sea."

See all previous blog entries the topic the first operational voyage of the Queen Elizabeth II:

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2021/06/force-21.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2021/05/elizabeth-ii.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2021/04/britannia-ii.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2021/04/britannia.html

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Display.

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Once more from the Internet web site English Russia we have images of captured Islamic State [ISIL] munitions. As displayed at the "Patriot Park", Moscow.

1. "Examples of ISIS Artillery on Display in Moscow"

"In Moscow there is an exposition showcasing different Syrian armaments that were seized there and brought by military planes to Russia. We already had a display of Syrian militants armored vehicles and trucks. And today here thanks to Twower we can see the artillery of Syria militants."

Not necessarily artillery as thought of in the normal sense. Rather think rocket artillery and heavy mortars. The Islamic State munition makers seem to be aware of the spigot mortar. Useful when fire a propane canister to function in the manner of a fuel-air explosive.

2. "Hand Grenade Launchers of Syrian Militants on Display in Russia"

"Russia’s 'Patriot Park' featured an exhibition of hand grenade launchers seized from various militant groups in Syria. The weapons have various makers – Russian, Soviet, NATO countries and self modified ones. Here are some of them, thanks to Twower"

NOT hand-grenade launchers. Launchers for anti-tank rocket-propelled grenade rounds. AND as mentioned from a variety of nations.

See additionally further displays of captured ISIL weaponry.

Russians seem to be quite proud of their military success in Syria!

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Prize.

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Thanks here to the Internet web site English Russia for the articles and images.

Captured Islamic State [ISIL] war munitions, expedient and modified.

Prizes of war on display. Munitions and ordnance both battlefield trophies of the Russian military.

1. "Trophy ISIS Armored Vehicles Now Traveling Thru Russia [7 photos]"

2. "Examples of ISIS Artillery on Display in Moscow"

3. "ISIS Armored Vehicles Captured During Battle for Oil Fields in Syria on Expo in Moscow"

4. "Hand Grenade Launchers of Syrian Militants on Display in Russia"

5. "Russia Army Shows Syrian Militants Shot Down drones"

Devoted readers to the blog please enjoy, one and all.

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Caliphate II.

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Mozambique. Now the Caliphate II.

Here with a gist of observations from an acknowledged African authority the situation Mozambique now acute in the extreme.

* City of Palma totally in the hands of the Islamic State.

* Security forces totally routed. In disarray.

* Cabo Delgado region of Mozambique also lost.

* African Caliphate will be declared.

INSURGENTS NOW TRIUMPHANT AND IT SEEMS TOTALLY SO EVEN BEYOND THEIR EXPECTIONS [AS IT WAS IN IRAQ AND  SYRIA PREVIOUSLY].

WE CAN EXPECT MOZAMBIQUE AS THE SECOND ISLAMIC STATE CALIPHATE TO NOW BE A RALLYING POINT FOR WORLD-WIDE JIHAD AND INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM.

See previous relevant and most recent blog entries the topic Mozambique:

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2021/03/palma.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2021/03/moz-ii.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2021/03/moz-i.html

P.S.: Again according acknowledged Africa authority the bad guys at Pemba captured intact 1,000+ vehicles plus quantities of munitions.

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TF Albatros.

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The Islamic state combatants [ISIL] laid low. Italian style. And we are the better for it.

"The little known EC-27J JEDI (Jamming and Electronic Defense Instrumentation) aircraft is the only non-American asset flying the Electronic Support and Protection mission in support of Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR)"

Five-thousand hours in the air and counting! Great praise due!!

"The EC-27J JEDI is a variant of the successful Leonardo C-27J Spartan military transport aircraft that has been heavily modified to perform Electronic Warfare missions: the aircraft carries an internal JEDI system that is coupled with a tail antenna to to jam the frequency bands used to remotely operate IEDs and UAVs, in order to neutralize them and thus protect personnel on the ground around areas of interest."

Image and article also courtesy "The Aviationist"and David Cenciotti.

See from the wiki entry a description of ELECTRONIC WARFARE. JEDI aircraft also able to control remotely drone UAV.

ALL CREDIT DUE THE ITALIANS AND A BIG THANK YOU. WE MUST NOT DISMISS THE ITALIAN MILITARY!

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Choppers.

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Some items courtesy the Iranian PressTV.

American military forces Afghanistan and Iraq both AIDING fighters of the Islamic State [ISIL]? 

So it is alleged.

1. "US military lands Daesh terrorists behind PMU positions in Jurf al-Sakhar: Expert"

"The US military airlifts groups of Daesh Takfiri terrorists to areas behind the positions of the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) in Jurf al-Sakhar region in the central province of Babil, says an Iraqi security expert."

2. "US forces ‘transporting by choppers’ Daesh terrorists in Afghanistan: Taliban"

"The Taliban says the US occupation forces in Afghanistan are engaged in 'transporting by their choppers' members of the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group in the war-torn country’s east."

Daesh = Islamic State = ISIL. PMU = Popular Mobilization Unit = Iraqi Shia paramilitary fighters.

Within the context of a previous blog entry all of this sounds very strange indeed. As was previously posted the Taliban much to their amazement has benefited from apparently deliberate American close-air-support. 

The enemy of my enemy is my friend? How the world turns.

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Sennacherib.

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Indiana Jones and the Palace of Sennacherib? Unfortunately no! The Islamic State and Palace of Sennacherib. And all for the worst!

From the British media outlet Express and the article by Brian McGleenon

"Archaeologists find treasure trove of Assyrian kings discovered in ISIS excavated tunnels"

"ISIS fighters discovered an ancient Assyrian palace under the ruins of Mosul, but unfortunately, they looted and sold off the tantalizing treasures they discovered."

"The previously unknown palace of the Assyrian kings was discovered when the terrorist group blew up the tomb of the prophet Jonah for ideological reasons. Archaeologists spent two months exploring the tunnels dug by ISIS under the destroyed tomb. The tunnels were found to lead to the military palace founded by the Assyrian King Sennacherib in the 7th century BC."

The destruction of the Tomb of Jonah, 2014. Jonah a Prophet as mentioned in the Holy Bible. This was a Sunni mosque but for some reason as not explained the Islamic State deemed it worthy of being blown up. Enormous explosion with a swarm of persons climbing over the ruins in the aftermath of the blast. That "long-lost" palace of Sennacherib uncovered during further tunneling by Islamic State [ISIL] diggers finding treasure subsequently looted and sold on the international black market.

That Tomb of Jonah built over the ruins of the palace of Sennacherib the great King of the Assyrians. An immense [?] treasure of artifacts of antiquity stolen and sold to unscrupulous collectors. Archeologists working over the remains of the remains finding items of value but precious little of what was a discovery of potential great value. Now gone!

Any devoted reader to the blog having an idea as to why the Tomb of Jonah a target of demolition by the Islamic State? That tomb a place of worship for Sunni Muslims and not Shia.

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Underwear.

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Autopsy! Jihadi! Abu Bakr!

One again thanks to the tip from Freeper:

"Kurdish General: Informant Stole ISIS Leader al-Baghdadi’s Underwear for U.S."

"A Kurdish general [SDF/YPG] revealed Monday that an informant stole the underwear of ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi to prove to his credibility U.S. intelligence . . . Gen. Mazloum Abdi of the Syrian Democratic Forces, said his intelligence unit had a source who was privy to the layout of al-Baghdadi’s secret compound near the Turkish border."

DNA evidence desirable. Confirm with 100 % assurance that the Caliph is indeed dead. A nasty business but within the realm of counter-insurgency [COIN] that now seems to be standard procedure.

Confirm or deny also the validity of an intelligence source.

Forensics as was reputedly done also on Osama bin Laden. A stool sample obtained. To determine if Osama indeed needed dialysis treatment on a regular basis as an intelligence source has reported. Totally 100 % confirmation to the identity of Osama a plus.

Bona fides in the field of intelligence most important!

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Thierry.

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Anti-state•anti-war•pro-market. Some most recent articles from the LewRockwell.com Internet web site and thanks to same.

The French perspective Rojava/NE Syria thanks to Thierry Meyssan courtesy his Voltairenet.org Internet web site.

1. "Kurdistan, Imagined by French Colonialism".

2. "The Turkish Invasion of Rojava".

* Anadola Agency has found that the French army is actively engaged in Syria in nine different spots. * Even in the event of a U.S pullout from Syria, France said it would continue supporting YPG/PKK terror groups with its roughly 200 troops in the war-torn country. * French troops in Syrian seem almost totally dependent on the U.S. capabilities. * France is far from being capable of filing in for the U.S. military presence should the latter withdraw. Click on image to see a larger view.

U.S. CAPABILITIES AS TO MEAN PREDOMINANTLY LOGISTICAL SUPPORT.

Among the fighters of the Islamic State [ISIL] many French citizens. French determined to not allow those French citizens adherents to the cause of the Islamic State to return home. French presence and determination in the SDF/YPG Syrian Kurd region deemed as absolutely vital to French interests and security.

Even with the U.S troops withdrawal from Rojava French troops will remain?

Hardly I need to remind France as with Turkey constituent members of NATO. Turks and French at odds also hardly a recommended situation.

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Abu Bakr.

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Major headlines. Good news. The self-proclaimed caliph and head of the Islamic State [ISIL] his demise is not greatly exaggerated!!

As from CNN see the total coverage and the responses from various sources:

"Trump: ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is dead"

Also as reported by the outstanding Internet web site isegoria.net and as announced by President Trump:

"He [Abu Bakr] died after running into a dead end tunnel, whimpering and crying and screaming all the way. The compound had been cleared by this time with people either surrendering or being shot and killed. Eleven young children were moved out of the house and are uninjured. The only ones remaining were Baghdadi in the tunnel and he had dragged three of his young children with him. They were led to certain death. He [Abu Bakr] reached the end of the tunnel as our dogs chased him down. He ignited his vest, killing himself and the three children. His body was mutilated by the blast."

My comments:

1. It will be suggested that Abu Bakr was not really killed. The body as purported to be Abu Bakr was blown to bits and positive identification is impossible.

2. It will also be suggested that this raid and demise of Abu Bakr is a publicity stunt. As ordered by President Trump to create distraction from the on-going impeachment inquiry.

Whatever transpires in the future the murderous despot has met his end much as did another murderous despot seventy-four years ago. And we can thank the American Special Operations troops for a job well done.

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