Annegret.

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Brain death as meaning no leadership at the top? Devoted readers to the blog will have to decide for themselves. From a variety of sources.

1. "France’s Macron says NATO is experiencing ‘brain death’"

"French President Emmanuel Macron said he believed NATO was undergoing 'brain death,' lamenting a lack of coordination between Europe and the United States and unilateral action in Syria by key member Turkey"

FRENCH TROOP DEPLOYMENTS IN NE SYRIA OF MAJOR CONCERN TO THE FRENCH. ONE NATO PARTNER LEAVES [USA], THE FRENCH LEFT HIGH AND DRY ALSO AT THE MERCY OF ANOTHER NATO PARTNER [TURKEY].

2. "Germany commits to NATO spending goal by 2031 for first time"

"BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany will reach a NATO defense spending target by 2031, its defense minister said, missing a 2024 deadline agreed by the allies who are under heavy U.S. pressure to beef up their military budgets."

"Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer said Germany would spend 2% of its economic output on defense by 2031, belatedly reaching the goal set by NATO leaders at a 2014 summit"

Goal as I understand the meaning of the word something to be worked toward but not an absolute MUST achieve. So we wait with bated breath as they say. 2031 here we come.

coolbert.

Base.

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"The plan is the base from which all change is made."

How many times do I have to say it?

Northeast Syria a dynamic situation necessitating a dynamic change.

From the latest edition of the DEBKAfile newsletter:

1. "US races Russia for military positions in NE Syria, including new air bases"

6 November.

"A large influx of US troops is entering northeastern Syria this month as new Russian plans keep pace. The Trump administration was widely condemned for abandoning the US allied Kurds, the core of the Syrian Democratic Forces which defeated ISIS and opening the door for Iran to surge across the Iraqi-Syrian border. However, a DEBKAfile investigation uncovers a totally different reality. While US contingents were indeed withdrawn from their Syrian bases to Iraq, US troop replacements have been pouring in and continue to arrive in northeastern Syria. While retaining existing bases, new positions are being set up, including two or more new US air bases, and taking over Syria’s oil and gas fields."

2. "Russian lawmaker: US to build two military bases near Syrian oilfields"

6 November.

"Senior Russian lawmaker accuses the US of planning to build two military bases near Syria’s oilfield, a violation of its sovereignty, in an attempt to recoup the costs of US military operations in the country. The charge was leveled by Konstantin Kosachev, a member of Russia’s upper house of parliament and chairman of the foreign affairs [committee]."

Comment:

IN MY ESTIMATION THE "SEIZURE" OF THE OILFIELDS THOSE INSTALLATIONS NOT FOR THE ENRICHMENT OF THE USA BUT TO BE USED AS BARGAINING CHIPS IF AND WHEN NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN ASSAD AND THE SDF/YPG BEGIN. AN AMICABLE SOLUTION ARRIVED AT IN AN AMICABLE MANNER.

See my previous blog entry from over a year ago the withdrawal of American military force from NE Syria as was described at the time to be planned, phased, gradual and with consideration given to modification as the situation might warrant.

coolbert.

Abominable.

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Nine-dash line! Chinese territorial claims in the South China Sea again the source of controversy. Here we go again.

The moment I saw this as reported on television I knew this was good material for a blog entry.

"Abominable: anger grows over controversial map in Chinese children's film"

"Three countries object to animated movie scene showing Chinese territorial claims in South China Sea"

"The film 'Abominable' has sparked tensions in the region over a map that shows China’s nine-dash line"

AN ANIMATED FILM FOR CHILDREN AND SUCH A FUSS? THIS IS WHAT MAKES FOR INTERNATIONAL INTRIGUE.

See previous blog entries as germane:

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2019/03/india-pakistan.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2012/11/stamps-maps.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2014/06/insets.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2012/11/passport.html

"All men are brothers, like the seas throughout the world; So why do winds and waves clash so fiercely everywhere?" - - Hirohito.

Seas to include the South China Sea? It is just an animated movie for children, isn't it?

coolbert.

Burn.

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The future is now? At least to an extent! 6th generation jet fighter! 

Thanks to the tip from Jay:

"F-35 stealth fighter jets on fast track to receive laser-based offensive and defensive capabilities"

"The Air Force Research Lab and Office of Naval Research are currently developing fast and precise laser weapons that can 'burn holes' through enemy targets at the speed of light. Concurrently, the U.S. Navy is developing a laser-application for its Marine Corps F-35B, intended to effectively maintain the stealth fighter for future decades of war"

See previous blog entries the subject the Sixth Generation fighter plane and directed energy weaponry:

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2019/07/dew.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2019/06/sixth-i.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2018/07/growth.html

coolbert.

NES II.

This is coolbert:

NES = Northeast Syria.

Conclusion!

From the blog of the acerbic and iconoclastic Carlton Meyer his comments regarding the American withdrawal from Syria and the alleged abandonment of the Syrian Kurd YPG.

"Oct 14, 2019 - The Results of Stupidity in Syria"

"The fake news about Syria in the American media is based on three lies."

* "First, the Kurds [YPG] are not American allies."

* "Second, the fleeing Kurdish terrorist army [YPG] will not leave a gap that ISIS will fill".

* "Third, Trump didn’t green light anything."

Devoted readers to the blog need to read the whole entry for themselves.

AND WITH SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON AN ASPECT OF LIE # 3 AS IDENTIFIED BY CARLTON MEYER!

* "The Turks have more air power in the region and resistance was futile."

See prior blog entries. Turkish air force their combat capability severely diminished in the aftermath of the 2016 purge. Front-line combat aviators, staff and command personnel all gone. Personnel crucial and now the ranks of such persons decimated.

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2018/03/f-16-turkey.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2018/05/purge.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2018/06/doomed.html

coolbert.

NES I.

This is coolbert:

NES = Northeast Syria.

Appreciations and scenarios as to how the endgame may play out. Syria, Kurds, Turk, Russian.

Thanks to the Russian Internet media outlet Sputnik.

"Three Scenarios of How Kurds, Turkey and Damascus Could Solve Northeast Syria Crisis"

"According to various reports, Kurdish forces have been withdrawing from the 120-kilometre (75 miles) wide and 30-kilometre (20 miles) deep Turkey-proposed 'safe zone' in north-eastern Syria. However, the situation on the ground is changing rapidly, international observers say, describing scenarios of further developments in the region."

APPRECIATIONS AND SCENARIO AS SUGGEST BY EXPERTS THE DEVOTED READER TO THE BLOG WILL HAVE TO READ FOR THEMSELVES.

"The plan is the base from which all change is made." "War is too important to be left to the generals." "War is politics by other means." Etc.

coolbert.

Caleb.

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Lots of red here. Alarmist? I guess time will tell. Better safe than sorry too.

From the latest edition of the DEBKAfile news letter the threat of Iranian precision missiles and drones not denied.

WE BE NOT ABLE?

1. "US Mid-East forces relocate out of Iranian cruise missile range. The IDF begins overhaul"

 29 October.

"The US like Israel has no adequate answer for Iran’s cruise missile and drones . . . Tehran is deploying those missiles against Israel in Yemen, as well as Iraq, Syria and Lebanon . . . This alarming gap in US and Israeli defenses shot into sight in Iran’s Sept. 14, attack on Saudi oil infrastructure. Those cruise missiles were not only undetected but proved an unknown precision guidance capacity of 5-10 m. [fifteen to thirty feet] . . . The Pentagon is moving sensitive elements out of range"

Sensitive elements as listed to include the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier and CENTCOM air force and intelligence command posts 

WE BE ABLE?

 2. "Israel’s Air Force chief: Our air defenses ready for Iranian cruise missiles, drones" 

 31 October.

 "Air Force Commander Maj. Gen. Amikam Nurkin made his first public comment on Wednesday about the danger of Iranian cruise missiles and exploding drones. Addressing graduates of the course on anti-air defense systems, Nurkin said: The Arrow, Yahlom, David’s Sling and Iron Dome batteries are on high alert. 'Our defense challenges have grown in complexity in the face of the boosting of Iran’s rockets by the addition of attack drones and cruise missiles.'”

"'We can't attack those people; they are stronger than we are.' 'The land we explored devours those living in it. All the people we saw there were of great size. We saw the Nephilim there . . . We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them.'" — Numbers, 13:31-33.

As it was over three thousand years ago as it is now? The moral as to the physical is three to one?

coolbert.