Obama, Putin and Syria: A bullet point update
Vladimir Putin's overall strategy is to prop up Russia's long-time regional ally, Syrian President Bashar al Assad.
Russia has bombed targets in northwestern Syria, an area mainly held by non-ISIS rebel groups such as the Free Syrian Army and an Islamist coalition, Jaysh al-Fatah.
The aim is to eliminate non-ISIS groups first. Then the Syrian, Russian, Iranian, Hezbollah alliance can turn its attention to ISIS and, thereby, force the United States to support or, at least, do nothing to hinder their operations.
Controlling northwest Syria also safeguards Assad's Shia-Alawite home region and his base of support, as well as securing the strategically critical coastal area containing the Latakia airbase used by Russian forces and the important port of Tartus.
With Russia filling the power vacuum left by Obama's feckless foreign policy, the big losers in the region are the United States, Turkey and, to some extent, the nations that have supported the Sunni rebels, such as Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is a Sunni Islamist, an opponent of Syria's Assad and a fervent supporter of the Sunni Muslim Brotherhood.
Like Erdogan, Obama also demonstrated ardent support for the Muslim Brotherhood regime in Egypt.
Some have argued that the Muslim Brotherhood exerts undue influence on the Obama Administration.
Together with another strong supporter of the Muslim Brotherhood, Qatar, which acted as an intermediary, Erdogan and Obama were likely shipping arms from Libya through Turkey to the Syrian rebels, which led, at least in part, to the death of Americans in Benghazi on September 11, 2012.
Obama, having outsourced the Syrian rebel supply effort to Turkey and Qatar, not unexpectedly, lost control of the funding, the weapons distribution and any significant influence in the region with Turkey and Qatar pursuing their own interests.
Russia and the Shia-axis of Assad, Iran and Hezbollah are now positioned to drive events in the region, all of which will only to be strengthened by Obama's incompetent lead-from-behind foreign policy and his perilous Iran nuclear deal.
New information about the Russian disinformation campaign added October 4, 2015 from the Institute for the Study of War website - Russian airstrikes continue to primarily target Syrian opposition groups in areas far from ISIS's core terrain. These strikes are concentrated in northwestern Syria, particularly in rebel-held areas of Idlib Province and the northern countryside of Hama Province. The Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) claimed only three airstrikes targeting positions in known ISIS-held terrain between October 1 and October 3. However, local reporting only confirmed two of these strikes. The Russian air campaign in Syria appears to be largely focused on supporting the Syrian regime and its fight against the Syrian opposition, rather than combating ISIS.
Lawrence Sellin, Ph.D. is a retired colonel with 29 years of service in the US Army Reserve and a veteran of Afghanistan and Iraq. Colonel Sellin is the author of "Restoring the Republic: Arguments for a Second American Revolution.” He receives email at [email protected].
Lawrence Sellin, Ph.D.
Email
Carefree, save the trees
I applaud the job that Mayor Peterson, Vice Mayor Crane, and Councilman Farrar did to win approval for only two primary Gateways in Carefree as opposed to the four or more proposed by the ‘spend it until its gone‘ crowd. At the September Council meeting, when the discussion of the Gateway proposals was open for comment, I urged that the site on Cave Creek Road be at Hum Road instead of Carefree Drive. Here were my reasons:
1) There are only 5 trees between Elbow Bend Rd and Tom Darlington
2) If the Gateway goes up on Carefree Drive the two trees to the East will most likely be destroyed as they might block the west bound view of the Gateway.
3) Then when Ms. Price and her gang gets the huge artwork approved for the middle of that roundabout, another great tree will be destroyed.
4) When east bound traffic cannot see the new art work, the two trees to the west of the roundabout will be targeted for destruction.
The Town Council and staff keep talking about the feel of a "village", as in Carefree Village. A village is often defined as “a group of houses and associated buildings, larger than a hamlet and smaller than a town, situated in a rural area.” Or “a self-contained district or community within a town or city, regarded as having features characteristic of village life” – implying comfort, familiarity, convenient shops, trees, and landscaping that all work in harmony to provide the feeling of peace and tranquility. If we destroy all of the trees in this 3 block area, in addition to all the trees and landscaping already destroyed because of moving the Gila slide, building fireplaces, and a splash pad (in time for fall/winter) we sure would be doing the wrong thing for ‘our village’. Don’t forget about all the upset this coming season because of Bike lane construction.
In addition, the first thing anyone will see turning into the proposed Carefree Dive gateway from Cave Creek Road will be a large gravel parking lot on the left and an empty unkempt lot of desert flora on the right. That will be a fine ‘Welcome to Carefree Village’. I wish the Town would take another good look at Hum Road as a far better alternative. It presents resident or visitor alike with the immediate sensation they have entered a village instead of an empty festival parking area. You can see photos of the fine trees mention above on the CarefreesFutureMatters website. Take a look at the website, or drive by soon and see for yourself, because those trees may not be there long if town government has its way.
Often times 'the second right answer' is the best one.
Jim Van Allen
Carefree
Nothing more to say . . . .
I’m proud, VERY proud to say that the PRICE-MILLER-ORRICO-GEARHART Council Members have made a BIG IMPACT toward the vibrancy and economic development recovery of the Carefree Town Center. You know, Council Member/Residents that 'individually think for themselves', know their Town and don’t need 'someone else to make a decision for them', actually shop at Bashas, dine at Carefree restaurants, walk the gardens, know the business owners by name, and attend/work the events in the Town Center.
It’s easy for the nay sayers to criticize since they aren’t out there making decisions, creating change, and taking action. They do not have the courage to roll up their sleeves, calculate risk, and be open to vulnerability. Now, I confess . . . I am astounded when I hear Councilmen exaggerate but because they say it ‘loudly, over and over again' and with ‘conviction’ — people believe it must be true! And, I laugh when I read comments by former Councilmen who 'never let the truth' get in the way of a 'good story.’ Perhaps I’m being a pollyanna, but I believe smart people do their homework and talk to council members to obtain both sides of an issue. Hide behind your web site and letters, boys, . . . leave the action to those who are positive catalysts and are successful in their endeavors to make the economic engine of the Town healthy.
I hope people realize our record speaks for itself – we have accomplished more in "the last six months" than in "the last four-plus years," and MUCH of it through generous DONATIONS sought by those Council Members’ initiative! Has anyone calculated the amount of money this Town has SAVED because of all the time donated to the Town over the last 10 years by Councilman Miller? Change is inevitable, this new Council will manage it successfully with Fiscal Conservancy AND Vision.
Councilwoman Melissa Price
Carefree
Thinking out of the box...
To: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
CC: [email protected], [email protected]
Sent: 9/30/2015 7:50:07 P.M. US Mountain Standard Time
Ian:
While I have moved out of Cave Creek, I continue to follow the foibles of the town. New faces seem to do little to change the situation. Even Don, the Kingmaker, is unhappy. I am speaking of the shutting down of one lane on each side of Cave Creek road for “Biker Events”. It causes me to smile and then to shake my head. I had proposed a solution to the parking issue FIVE + years ago, different council (in some cases), but same issue... lack of parking in the “entertainment section” of town. It is even more evident today and with the change of ownership of the Tap House, even easier to do!
All you need to do to get more parking is buy TC’s lot behind the Tap House (all or most), pave it so bikers can park there, knock a hole in the fence between that property and the Tap House (or whatever they are calling it today) so the bikers can walk through ... and charge all parkers five bucks a day. This could be easily used for all of the town events including the 4th of July. I had discussed this with you 5 years ago, and yes, the financial conditions probably could not handle it then... but today is a different story... and TC may be hard up for some bucks. I suspect you could get several hundred bikes and/or cars in there. At only five bucks a car it could pay for itself pretty quickly.
Brainstorm the purchase, whether the town buys it or you make it a joint purchase with the major players in that area ie.. Harold’s, the Chip, the Tap House, Binkley’s etc.... with access via Vermeersch, you guys are smart enough to work out the details including sound berms and low lighting to protect the BMS folks.
This would certainly make a lot of residents happy, maybe even Don! Good Luck! Bob
Bob Moore
Email
“Outpost” before Scottsdale Planning Commission
The Planning Commission hearing on the “Outpost” (gas station and commercial development on the northwest corner of Pima and Dynamite) is at city hall on October 28 at 5 p.m. at Scottsdale City Hall Kiva, 3939 N. Drinkwater Blvd., Scottsdale. The Planning Commission will make a final recommendation to the city council.
You are encouraged to attend both and also write the Planning Commission expressing your opinion on this proposal. We need people to attend both meetings and express their concerns. I have provided some issues with it below that you can use, but please feel free to express your own opinion. Written comments can be sent to the Planning Commission staff representative, Tim Curtis at [email protected]. Copy city staff handling the case: Taylor Reynolds ([email protected]) and Jesus Murillo ([email protected]) too. Put “For the Public Record” on the top and ask Tim to distribute it to all Planning Commissioners.
Howard Myers
Scottsdale
See the issues: www.sonorannews.com/archives/ 2015/151007/letters2e.html
Obama’s impassioned mass-murder speech includes error
The President’s impassioned Oregon speech, moving as it was, missed a key point that could lead to real progress on this terrible issue of mass murder.
The 16 black Americans shot and murdered in ghettos that same day, and the day before, tragically got no news coverage.
This is stunning, unmentioned – and those lives matter.
That black-lives gunfire atrocity is repeated, daily. And will remain true tomorrow when another 16 are murdered, but get no “coverage” – 6,000 per year.
The “Graph of Death” Mr. Obama asked for is already available here:
http://www.gunlaws.com/GunshotDemographics.htm (with gut-wrenching explanation).
By focusing on an isolated “newsworthy” tragedy in one place, Mr. Obama unknowingly obscures the real issue, and does indeed politicize it -- as he forthrightly admitted.
Note that every action of this Oregon murderer is already 100 percent illegal -- legal scholars know the call for new laws is superfluous and disingenuous. It is a political agenda that weakens support and the true effort to solve the problem.
The President made a repeated and critical mistake: New laws affecting all Americans will not affect the lone psychotics who commit these atrocities –
The medical community stands as the greatest obstacle in getting to the psychotics.
And the biggest ignored issue of all is: The existing background checks have stopped two million people from buying guns because they are known criminals or mentally unfit – and they are simply turned loose on the streets.
We have their names and addresses – and our government just sets them free, right after they try to buy guns.*
Mr. President, do something about that if you’re really serious.
Don’t try to pass something else you know and admit Congress and the public will resist. Act now.
If you want more common-sense solutions, call me.
Alan Korwin
The Uninvited Ombudsman
Dr. Kelli Ward for U.S. Senate: The right medicine for Arizona
From SeeingRedAZ
It’s time to replace John McCain — he deserves a rest and we deserve representation.
Most of us were not able to be in attendance to hear state Senator Kelli Ward at the Pima County Republican Club last week. She has been traveling the state, meeting the voters and getting her message out.
The Lake Havasu City conservative Republican, currently representing Legislative District 5, is mounting a challenge to Sen. John McCain, who is running for his sixth 6-year term. First elected in 1982, he will be 80 by Election Day 2016 and nearly ninety if elected and were to serve out the term.
Seeing Red AZ strongly supports the candidacy of Sen. Kelli Ward and has written numerous posts about her: Here are a few:
Feb. 27, 2015: AZ 2016 U.S. Senate race takes bright, right turn
March 14, 2015: McCain vulnerable in 2016: All eyes on Sen. Kelli Ward
May 21, 2015: Sen. Kelli Ward: Conservative leadership AZ needs in DC
June 6, 2015: Breitbart takes note of Sen. Kelli Ward; McCain fares badly
July 14, 2015: It’s official! Dr. Kelli Ward announces for U.S. Senate
H/T Video courtesy of Tillman News Information
Submitted by Russell Pearce
Historically challenged historical society
The Arizona Historical Society, now a state agency, proudly boasts that it was founded in 1864. Unfortunately, the claim is not true. An organization called the Arizona Historical Society was established in1864 by the first territorial legislature in Prescott, but it faded into oblivion in the 1870s. The first AHS had no known connection to the present day AHS which was founded in Tucson in 1884 by Charles D. Poston. When established, it was named the Society of Arizona Pioneers, and it was primarily an elite social organization that excluded many people. The name did not become the Arizona Historical Society until nearly a century later.
If the present day AHS cannot even properly interpret its own history, why are Arizona taxpayers giving it millions of dollars per year to preserve Arizona history?
Dick Zimmermann
Tempe
14 yr old Texan hoaxster pulls the wool over Obama’s eyes!
The manner by which the press covered up Pres. Obama “comical” bad judgment of the 14 year old Ahmed Mohamed’s” invention” speaks volumes about our controlled press and the competency of our president and his staff. Ahmed Mohamed did not invent anything! He took an old alarm clock out it’s original case and stuck it in a pencil box. That’s it!
The first teacher he showed it to said “nice” and cautioned him not to show it to anyone else. The 14 year old Texan intentionally ignored the teacher’s sage advice and kept going from one teacher to another until the alarm went off and the clock was confiscated. Mission accomplished! The media did damage control for their President and had this brat on every show possible with offers from Obama’s buddies coming in from all over for scholarships. Ahmed said in an interview that he wanted to get on some reality show. Now that most of the media is aware of this hoax they remain silent about it. So ask yourself what if anything can you believe from the major media when they proved once again that they are just a mere propaganda operation for the Federal Reserve, Goldman Sachs, Bilderberg group picked presidents and the Military Industrial Complex? So will Obama still have this brat take up his time at the White House? It should be interesting.
Joseph DuPont
Towanda, Pennyslvania
2015 Christmas stamps
The other day I sent an email inquiry to the United States Postal Service asking when the 2015 Christmas stamps would be available. I was told that the Charlie Brown stamp would go on sale October 1 but there would be no religious stamp issued for Christmas 2015. No Magi, no Christ child, no Holy Family, no Virgin Mary.
I found that hard to believe so I called the USPS's 800-number and was told the same thing. They said that local post offices would likely have some left-over religious stamps from prior years, but none would be issued this year. The person I spoke with also pushed the Charlie Brown stamp and pointed out that there is also a Kwanzaa stamp, which honors African-American heritage. But that is not a religious holiday. There are in fact a couple of stamps, however, which are religious in nature.
The Hanukkah stamp celebrates the rededication of the Holy Temple and is celebrated by Jews worldwide. But I'm a Christian, so that won't work.
And then there is the EID stamp, which recognizes the Islamic festival celebrated by Muslims worldwide. But I'm not a Muslim, so that one is out too.
I guess His Holiness Pope Francis neglected to mention this oversight to our self-proclaimed Christian president during his recent (non-political) visit.
In a recent article, USPS officials said the reason they were not printing a religious Christmas stamp in 2015 was because there were 'billions' left over from previous years. I went to my local post office and was told this was far from the truth. The clerk informed me that they ran out of the 2014 stamp three weeks before Christmas and the same was true in all the prior years she worked there. I went to two other Scottsdale post offices and was told virtually the same thing. One clerk even had the courage to say that this was yet another example of the lies which come out of Washington. (She added that things might be different once we get a Christian back in the White House).
So it appears as though I won't be sending out Christmas cards this year. Perhaps I'll be forced to mail Holiday cards and use the cartoon stamp.
You're a good man, Charlie Brown . . . something I can't say about our alleged Commander-in-Chief or the postal arm of our United States government.
Jim Vail
Scottsdale
Supreme Court and gay marriage
The recent controversial decision by a sharply divided (5-4) Supreme Court to concoct a Constitutional "right" to homosexual "marriage" won't be the last word on the subject. The ideologically based, politically biased decision, which basically puts heterophobic homosexuals on the same level as normal heterosexuals, so flies in the face of reason that it will eventually be overturned by more intelligent, less biased judges.
Thinking people have known for centuries that homosexual activity is immoral and a bad legal precedent. The ancient and primitive Greek and Roman societies once valued homosexual activity, but people ultimately wised up and deprecated it. Plato, for example, wisely and logically opposed it as unethical. Some Supreme Court Justices should be as wise as Plato on this subject.
As female minds in male bodies and male minds in female bodies are sure signs that something went wrong somewhere (in nature and/or nurture), so homosexual minds in heterosexual bodies are also sure signs of mind/body mismatches, are sure signs of disorders. To put obvious disorders like homosexuality on a par with normal heterosexuality is clearly absurd. To equate homosexual "marriage" with heterosexual marriage is nonsensical.
Someday in the future people will look back at this regressive, inane decision and wonder "What were they thinking?" (or IF they were thinking). In the meantime, it's up to decent ethical people to work to overturn it. Let's get started.
Wayne Lela
Downers Grove, Illinois
Clinton's folly, past and present
Past
Derided by many, the original "Clintons Folly" referenced the Erie Canal, a pet project of NY Governor De Witt Clinton. This canal originally ran about 363 miles (584 km) from Albany, on the Hudson River to Buffalo, at Lake Erie. Built to create a navigable water route from New York City and the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes. The canal is now part of the New York State Canal System.
Present
The new "Clinton's Folly" references the presidential campaign and aspirations of Hillary Rodham Clinton. A woman so lacking in accomplishments that neither she nor her most avid supporters can name one. A woman who as Secretary of State carried out the disastrous Obama foreign policy laughingly known as the "Arab Spring". A woman who as Secretary of State in collusion with a cowardly administration abandoned four Americans to die instead of marching towards the gunfire. A woman who unabashedly lied to the parents of the slain Americans. A woman who lied to Congress, the press and the American people repeatedly. A woman who lies so often she can no longer keep her foot from her mouth. A woman so ethically challenged she was fired by the Democratic leadership and relieved of any all participation in the Watergate investigation. A rude condescending woman who thinks she is above the law.
To paraphrase ..... Wake up, you ain't in Arkansas anymore.
Tom Carbone
Phoenix
