This page has been archived and commenting is disabled.

A Caliph In A Wilderness Of Mirrors

Tyler Durden's picture




 

Authored by Pepe Escobar, originally posted at Asia Times,

I'm aiming at you, lover
Cause killing you is killing myself

- Orson Welles (director), The Lady from Shanghai,1947

He's invincible. He beheads. He smuggles. He conquers. He's the ultimate jack-of-all-trades. No Tomahawk or Hellfire can touch him. He always gets what he wants; in Kobani; in Anbar province; with the House of Saud (which he wants to replace) trying to make Putin (who he wants to behead) suffer because of low oil prices.

If this was a remake of Orson Welles's noir classic The Lady from Shanghai, in the mirror sequence the lawyer (American?) and the femme fatale (Shi'ite?) would also get killed; but The Caliph of Islamic State would survive as a larger than life Welles, free to roam, plunder and "give my love to the sunrise" - as in a Brave Caliphate World shining in "Syraq" over the ashes of the Sykes-Picot agreement.

He's winning big in Iraq's Anbar province. The Caliph's goons are now closing in on - of all places - Abu Ghraib; Dubya, Dick and Rummy's former Torture Central. They are at a mere 12 kilometers away from Baghdad International. A shoulder-launched surface-to-air missile (or MANPAD) away from downing a passenger jet. Certainly not an Emirates flight - after all these are trusted sponsors.

Hit, in Anbar province, is now Caliph territory. The police forces and the province's operational command have lost almost complete control of Ramadi. The Caliph now controls the crucial axis formed by Hit, Ramadi, Fallujah; Highway 1 between Baghdad and the Jordanian border; and Highway 12 between Baghdad and the Syrian border.

The Caliph's goons are no less than taking over the whole, notorious Baghdad belt, the previous "triangle of death" in those hardcore days of American occupation circa 2004. Message to Donald Rumsfeld: remember your "remnants"? They're back. And they're in charge.

Both Ramadi and Fallujah have been reduced to an accumulation of bombed-out schools, hospitals, homes, mosques and bridges. Residential streets are virtually deserted. According to the United Nations, there are a least 360,803 internally displaced persons in Anbar, as well as 115,000 others in areas under The Caliph's control. At least 63% of the 1.6 million people living in the province are classified as "in need" - with hair-raising minimal access to water, food and health care, and receiving little to absolutely zero humanitarian support from that fiction, the "international community." US Ambassador to the UN Samantha Power is not screaming her lungs out for R2P ("responsibility to protect").

How could the Pentagon's spectacular Full Spectrum Dominance possibly not see any of this happening? Of course they see it. But they don't give a damn. The Pentagon occasionally uses AH-64 Apache helicopters to attack some of The Caliph's goons in Ramadi and Hit. But Apaches can be easily hit with MANPADS. They are stationed at Baghdad International and their only mission is to protect the airport. Who cares about local, civilian "collateral damage"?

Married to the Mob
In Kobani, the former third-biggest town in Syrian Kurdistan, in the far northeast, The Caliph also wins big. Another biblical exodus has reached 300,000 refugees - and counting, with over 180,000 headed to Turkey.

The Caliph counts on indirect help from The Sultan (or alternate Caliph), aka Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan. Tehran is - rightfully - furious, as it sees the "West" - and Turkey - betraying the Kurds all over again. It's no secret Sultan Erdogan is doing nothing because he wants to screw the guerrillas of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and the Syrian-Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD); let them die instead of repelling The Caliph and then be strong enough to threaten Turkish domination of those huge, essentially Kurdish patches of Anatolia. Thus the only thing Sultan Erdogan does support is aimless bombing by the Pentagon cum coalition of the clueless-cowards.

Anybody who believes the US Central Command's spin that House of Saud and United Arab Emirates fighter jets conduct "bombing raids" on the outskirts of Kobani gets a one-way ticket to Oz. Imagine these clowns being able to deploy precision-guided bombs or trained laser spotters. To start with, the Pentagon has zero local intel - as in zero operatives able to paint lasers on targets. Thus the "coalition" can barely hit the odd tank (out of 25 around Kobani) or Humvee out of 2,000 crammed in a valley for almost two weeks now.

But the "coalition" certainly is able - miraculously! - to hit Syrian state infrastructure, as in energy installations. In June, the official Pentagon excuse was, "We don't have any drone assets in Iraq." Now there's no excuse for drones which can read a "Smoking Kills!" warning in a packet of Marlboros not hitting The Caliph's assets in Kobani - or in Anbar province for that matter. So it's down to a mix of incompetence and neglect. It was so much easier to hit Pashtun wedding parties in the Waziristans. Especially because no one was paying attention.

Erdogan's own goons, meanwhile, have instituted a curfew on all major towns and cities in southeast Anatolia, and are even gunning down peaceful Kurdish protesters. Fifteen million Kurds in Anatolia cannot be wrong; Erdogan wants Kobani to fall. Ankara remains for all practical purposes the top logistical hub for The Caliph's goons. The Sultan is using The Caliph as a proxy army to smash the Kurds.

Terminal evidence has been offered by the leader of the Kurdish PYD, Salih Muslim, meeting Turkish military intel and asking for help. Conditions: abandon any hope of self-determination for Syrian Kurds; give up all your self-governing towns and regions; and watch as we install a Turkish "buffer"/no-fly zone inside Syrian territory.

Don't expect the Obama "Don't Do Stupid Stuff/We Have No Strategy" administration to sentence, "Erdogan must go". Besides, the pathetic club of National Security Advisor Susan Rice and her deputy Ben Rhodes has no clue about what's goin' on.

To the Green Zone!
Tehran, for its part, has clearly identified Erdogan's nasty game. The Sultan knows monster B1-B bombers flying over Kobani are absolutely useless - while The Caliph's goons deploy massive car bombs and keep advancing. "Boots on the ground" will be needed. Enter NATO asset Turkey. But with one condition: regime change in Damascus, or at least a prelude, via that "buffer"/no-fly zone over Syria.

The Big Picture remains the same. Sultan Erdogan and the House of Saud want regime change in Damascus (Erdogan dreams of a Sunni puppet as a vassal of Ankara; the Saudis want their own Wahhabi schemer). Israel merrily agrees. And if that comes with a bonus - attacking the new Iraqi government, still supported by Iran, in the American-made Green Zone - even better. The lowdown: "Don't Do Stupid Stuff" translates as the Gulf Cooperation Council, Turkey and Israel using Washington to advance their quite explicit agenda.

Sultan Erdogan, as a Mob boss, does seem to heave learned a thing or two from watching Martin Scorsese's Goodfellas. He's extracting the maximum pound of flesh from the bewildered "Don't do Stupid Stuff" team. The Sultan is boldly aiming at Turkish boots on the ground gloriously invading Syria in NATO "humanitarian intervention" mode. And all this sold as NATO offering "protection" to a member-nation. NATO's new secretary-general, former Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg, has just been to Ankara. Saudi Arabia has already "voted" out loud for the "buffer"/no-fly zone. Same for General Francois Hollande, that pitiful excuse for President of France.

Once again, it's Tehran to the rescue. The Foreign Ministry has duly announced Iran is ready to liberate Kobani from The Caliph's goons (and they can do it) if Bashar Al-Assad says the word. Now that's how you work the chessboard; NATO is left with zero excuses to mount an invasion of Syria, whatever Mob Boss Erdogan comes up with.

Operation Hands Off My Toyota
The Caliph also wins big in the "bleeding the Pentagon" department. A single US "strike" against his goons - involving F-15s, F-16s or F-22s - costs up to US$500,000. The Pentagon has just revealed it has spent no less than $1.1 billion against The Caliph since June.

What for? Virtually all the assets being destroyed by American bombing are made in the USA, deployed to the Iraqi army and then duly captured during The Caliph's offensive. So here we have the Empire of Chaos spending a fortune from the US Treasury to smash tanks, Humvees and other gear already paid for by American taxpayers. No wonder taxpayers are fuming. Thus Operation Hands off My Toyota.

Additionally, the Pentagon does not have a clue on how to build its Obama-designed proxy "rebel" force to fight The Caliph (with no US soldiers or marines; only fanatic Wahhabis and assorted mercenaries).

To start with, they have no clue who the hell qualifies as a "moderate rebel". The rabble must be "vetted" - and then sent to, of all places, Saudi Arabia for training. There the guy in charge will be - who else - a Special Ops honcho, Major General Michael Nagata. Even under the most optimistic scenario, the Pentagon won't have its proxy "moderate rebel" army on the ground in Syria before the summer of 2015.

Hefty bottles of Chateau Margaux can be bet that all this prime US weaponized know how will ultimately end up captured by The Caliph's goons. Same applies to reliable "rebel" intel on the ground.

But the real Dadaist masterpiece is that first these "rebels" will be politely asked by the Pentagon to forget about getting rid of Assad to fight The Caliph. At least for a while. Re-enter Stoltenberg, the new NATO head: "Next year, at the ministerial meeting, we will take decisions regarding the so-called spearhead but, even before it is established, NATO has a strong army after all. We can deploy it wherever we want to." OK, tough guy; why not "Syraq"?

If this all sounds like a plot straight out of hit series Blacklist, that's because it is. Why not get Red (James Spader) to fight The Caliph? And then again, what if Red is The Caliph? He pretends to fight himself - and he wins, handsomely. Back to Welles' The Lady from Shanghai: "Killing you is killing myself". Yet nobody could possibly want The Caliph dead when he's such a smashing, undisputed box-office success.

*  *  *
Pepe Escobar is the author of Globalistan: How the Globalized World is Dissolving into Liquid War (Nimble Books, 2007), Red Zone Blues: a snapshot of Baghdad during the surge (Nimble Books, 2007), and Obama does Globalistan (Nimble Books, 2009).

 

 

- advertisements -

Comment viewing options

Select your preferred way to display the comments and click "Save settings" to activate your changes.
Mon, 10/20/2014 - 22:55 | 5357885 fibonacci's claus
fibonacci's claus's picture

  what does the caliph hitler and napolean have in common?  buehler?  buehler?  buehler?

Mon, 10/20/2014 - 23:03 | 5357907 trulz4lulz
trulz4lulz's picture

They all drove brand new American made Toyota Tundras and Ford F-150's?

Mon, 10/20/2014 - 23:06 | 5357914 TahoeBilly2012
TahoeBilly2012's picture

XLT trim packages with upgrade Delco radio and power windows.

Mon, 10/20/2014 - 23:23 | 5357977 palmdetroit
palmdetroit's picture

Poor Russia, they are kinda close

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 01:49 | 5358257 knukles
knukles's picture

Pipelines  Gas Pipelines  To Europe 
Use this Prism for All Views

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 05:53 | 5358418 negative rates
negative rates's picture

Talk about taking back your country, Hillary would be ashamed, if she only knew, lets keep this a secret.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 06:53 | 5358451 GeorgeWKush
GeorgeWKush's picture

Sometimes I wonder; has the people playing behind the scenes in the US totally screwed up in the middle east, or is this what they wanted all along?

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 07:04 | 5358471 VAD
VAD's picture

"...has the people playing behind the scenes in the US totally screwed up in the middle east, or is this what they wanted all along?"

 

Yes.

Mon, 10/20/2014 - 23:25 | 5357988 Cliff Claven Cheers
Cliff Claven Cheers's picture

Interesting:  This was on Drudge but it looks like the AP has now buried it or removed it.  I googled but cant find on AP any longer, even on their own site.  Other news orgs are now carrying it. 

UN: Uncertain if all Iranian nuke work is peaceful

VIENNA (AP) — The head of the U.N. nuclear agency is sounding a note of caution about Iran's claims that it is not interested in nuclear arms, saying he cannot guarantee that all the country's atomic activities are civilian in nature.

Though not new, Yukiya Amano's comments Monday are significant amid a renewed deadlock in the 12-year probe by his International Atomic Agency of suspected nuclear weapons work by Iran.

Iran denies such activities.

Amano's comments also come as the U.S. and five other powers try to persuade Tehran to allow the IAEA greater sleuthing powers, allowing the agency to do snap inspections of sites suspected of possible unreported nuclear work.

Amano told an IAEA meeting in Vienna that his agency cannot "conclude that all nuclear material in Iran is in peaceful activities."

Mon, 10/20/2014 - 23:42 | 5358034 Seize Mars
Seize Mars's picture

Interesting:

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PFHs3qhA6Hs/TwxioL65IxI/AAAAAAAAEgA/XBkeF_qAJA...

Iran has been accused of being moments away from nukes...for 40-odd years.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 00:00 | 5358078 Cliff Claven Cheers
Cliff Claven Cheers's picture

My point is the news is being burried by the liberal media.  It is kind of a big deal.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 00:02 | 5358088 The9thDoctor
The9thDoctor's picture

My point is the news is being promoted by the conservative media. It is kind of a small deal.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 00:18 | 5358119 Cliff Claven Cheers
Cliff Claven Cheers's picture

If it comes out that Iran is not developing nuclear weapons I will personally eat your shorts.  I will bet you a hundred dollars to a dog turd and I will let you hold the stakes in your teeth that Iran is developing nuclear weapons.  Now you can try to side track the arguement by telling the news anchor had an ugly tie or needed a haircut or some such shit if you want.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 00:32 | 5358141 Four chan
Four chan's picture

after watching "stealing the fire" i am of no doubt they are making a bomb and will use it in the final solution the old nazis couldn't do.

they were given the centrifuge technology by the old guard german nazis to finish the task.

islam is the 4th reich.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 00:35 | 5358147 Cliff Claven Cheers
Cliff Claven Cheers's picture

I agree but you cant just say that on ZH without getting blasted.  You would have to be some nutter to believe Iran has any bad intentions.  Most people are so blinded by their hate of Israel they could care less if Iran gets the bomb and actually used it on Israel.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 00:59 | 5358188 Mensch
Mensch's picture

Israel has nukes--Iran knows this.  Iran doesn't want to unleash armageddon by nuking Israel.  Iran wants a nuke so it doesn't end up like Iraq.

It's just like the propaganda about a N. Korea nuke--that North Korea's leaders were crazy and paranoid and would nuke the South if they ever got a nuke.  Still hasn't happened, and it won't, because now the ruling party knows an invasion by Uncle Sam is highly unlikely due to their small nuke arsenal.

Funny that people like you still buy this line of bullshit sold by the USG that our enemies are everywhere and we need to go smite them no matter the cost; after Vietnam, Syria, Iraq, Libya, Afghanistan and whatever other failures of regime change I've forgot.  The last time the people of Iran waged an aggressive war, they were worshipping fire.  Please pull your head out of your ass and see that these endless wars are immoral and are bankrupting the US for the benefit of a very few, and yes, Israel.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 01:07 | 5358200 Cliff Claven Cheers
Cliff Claven Cheers's picture

Actually I would disagree with you while were fuking around in all the places we didnt need to we allowed N. Korea to get the bomb and we are doing the same with Iran.  I agree from a rational stand point getting a bomb means security and if I or your were in their shoes then we would want the bomb for self defense or to prevent invasion..  Very rational.  However one thing no one on this site want to address is the possibility that Iran is not rational and what that might mean.  IE will they use it unilatterally via terrorism.   How bout them apples.  What if Iran is not rational?  

Iraq, Afiganinstan, libya all a waste of time.  We should have prempted N. Korea and I think Israel will prement Iran regardless of what I, you, the US or the world wants.  I am just am observer who supports Israel most of the time but not unconditionally.

 

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 01:21 | 5358224 Mensch
Mensch's picture

"What if Iran is not rational?"  

 

Ooh, a hypothetical.  That's definitely what I would use if I had no argument at all.  

Here's a fact:  The modern state of Iran (even going back to the Shahs Pahlavi) has not waged an aggressive war.

Here's something pulled from your ass:  What if Iran is not rational? 

What if you don't know what you are talking about?

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 01:56 | 5358261 knukles
knukles's picture

Obie is in cahoots with Iran, wants a treaty with Iran which cannot be found to be whole and ratified by the Senate, so it's off to the political image machine, Iran is all Good and Roses, "Why it's the Original Home of Flying Magic Carpets and Rainbow Colored Unicorns!" so he can make it His Way by Executive Order.
So, no wonder anything not dear and in His Image is removed from the Liberal Media

Funny, how once upon a time when the media was chewing on Clinton's dick, his wifie called it a "Great Right Wing Conspiracy"
Now to not remove info like that is just plain racist.
Go figure

Somewhere in here, the media is going to have to dump Obie, openly, forcibly and meanly, in order that Hillary not be Associated with the Obama Democratic Progressive Wing of the People's Free Shit Army Party, etc., etc., etc.

 

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 02:54 | 5358325 zhandax
zhandax's picture

One could almost wonder if there is lack of consensus among MIC, AIPAC, and the House of Saud on how to prosecute the Oded Yinon playbook at this juncture.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 05:34 | 5358407 conscious being
conscious being's picture

I just read that US C130s dropped wespons, ammunition and supplies on Kobani. Turkey is supposed to be furious. So yeah, I agree. Confusion reigns.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 06:34 | 5358438 nmewn
nmewn's picture

Turkey (Erdogan) is fine with ISIS killing as many Kurds as possible. He has the added luxury of accepting Kurdish refugees from the south (making him look like a humanitarian) while allowing transit through his country of Chechen fighters to kill his armed enemy.

Theres certainly no confusion about that.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 07:01 | 5358467 effendi
effendi's picture

Iran used to send boys carrying the "keys to paradise" across minefields during the Iran-Iraq war. Is that the actions of a rational  theocracy? If you can send thousands of boys to their deaths then you can also obliterate more by using nukes if you think the theocracy is about to fall to satan (be that Israel or an Iranian youth uprising).

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 09:38 | 5358888 alfredthered
alfredthered's picture

"What if Iran is not rational" is indeed a pathetic argument with regard to the legitimacy of it's nuclear ambitions. That said, Iran is a theocracy, and there is nothing rational about a bunch of grown men ruling a country (regardless of the size or stature) based on the whims and demands of their imaginary friend in the sky.

Iran very well may be pursuing nuclear capabilities simply and solely for peaceful energy. There has only ever been speculation to the contrary. However, they're certainly not rational. Nothing about Islam is rational. Islam is to intellectualism what dog shit is to apple pie. (Judaism and Christianity are dog shit also, for all of you anti-semites out there).

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 07:15 | 5358487 GeorgeWKush
GeorgeWKush's picture

And why no concerns over the Saudi nuclear activities? This propaganda bullshit about Iran is ridiculous, for how many years have people been nagging about this and displaying Iranian bombs in UN assemblies while attempting to beat the world record in hypocrisy? Amazing that anyone still believes in this shit.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 01:09 | 5358203 WTFRLY
WTFRLY's picture

US Citizen, Press TV reporter dead in car crash near Syria 2 days after Turkey calls her a spy http://wtfrly.com/2014/10/20/us-citizen-press-tv-reporter-dead-in-car-cr...

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 03:49 | 5358345 LostandFound
LostandFound's picture

Some say Iran has created a source of energy that will free the 3rd world from Oil, probably this and the fact it can be used for nuclear purposes.

There is alot to these negotiations, that we are not aware of.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 08:38 | 5358673 N0TME
N0TME's picture

"Israel has nukes--Iran knows this.  Iran doesn't want to unleash armageddon by nuking Israel.  Iran wants a nuke so it doesn't end up like Iraq."

 

Bingo!

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 08:31 | 5358657 SWRichmond
SWRichmond's picture

CCC,

Most people are so blinded by their hate of Israel they could care less if Iran gets the bomb and actually used it on Israel.

I don't hate Israel, but I couldn't care less if Iran gets the bomb and actually used it on israel.  Which they wouldn't, because Israel has them, courtesy of the ME-destabilizing USA.  But even if they did, I couldn't care less, for one very simple reason: I don't live there, it's none of my business.  People who think they can control the world, and what happens in it, are certifiably nuts.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 10:12 | 5359045 BraveSirRobin
BraveSirRobin's picture

Actually, if you knew anything about Iran you would know that its leadership is mesianic and belives its mission is to bring forth the 12th Imam and the muslim version of the end of the world and the rapture via "Collective Martydom" which is basically a doctrine of national level suicide in which Iran incites massive retaliation from nuclear powers to kill as many Iranians as possible thereby creating as many martyers as possible. Modern Islam is a mass death cult. You cannot view them through western lenses. They are not, in our way of thinking, rational actors.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 10:14 | 5359084 LULZBank
LULZBank's picture

Not even through Western Rapture believing Christian lenses?

Know about the 12th Imam charade, but first time heard about the Collective Martyrdom thing.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 07:30 | 5358506 GeorgeWKush
GeorgeWKush's picture

One upvote for your tinder dry sarcasm.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 03:09 | 5358332 Global Observer
Global Observer's picture

If it comes out that Iran is not developing nuclear weapons ...

 

If it comes out that Iran is not secretly hosting Greys from Zeta Retculi who are planning the destruction of earth, I will transfer all my wealth to you (I considered offering to personally eat your shorts, but thought this was better). Let me know as soon as it comes out.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 00:21 | 5358121 TruthInSunshine
TruthInSunshine's picture

Cliff Claven - what an appropriate name for one inextricably wedded to the false left-right paradigm.

Blue Team, Red Team
Left, Left, Right
Blue Team, Red Team
Fight Fight Fight!

Boehner, Pelosi, Reid, McCain & Graham
Our Guy, Your Guy, Funded by The Same
Vote for this/that "party," Don't be lame!

Goooooo Team!
[Cheerleader style pom-pom flailing & kicking]

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 00:26 | 5358135 Cliff Claven Cheers
Cliff Claven Cheers's picture

Pointing out differences in liberal vs conservative media makes me a cheerleader?  I think your drinking a little too much of your own truth koolaid.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 00:40 | 5358158 TruthInSunshine
TruthInSunshine's picture

What's the difference between MSNBC, Fox News, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, etc.?

Do you honestly believe any of these media sources report accurate, unbiased news, and that they have the inherent interests of their readers/consumers in mind, or would you agree that they're merely different players in the same disinformation game?

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 00:50 | 5358171 Cliff Claven Cheers
Cliff Claven Cheers's picture

I actually just listen to what the leaders actually say.  ahmadinejad was a holocaust denier who wanted to remove Israel from the pages of history.  He was on video stating he had a vision he was to help usher in the 12 iman and that is done through major war and world wide chaos.  Do some research on what and how they think the muslim mesiah is going to return and convert the entire world to islam.   Just sayin.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 00:57 | 5358183 TruthInSunshine
TruthInSunshine's picture

Serious question: Do you speak Farsi, and if not, how do know what he truly said?

Consider this a "jumping off"point for what is a much, much larger and more intellectually rigorous debate.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 00:59 | 5358185 Cliff Claven Cheers
Cliff Claven Cheers's picture

You got me, I don't speak farsi so I am taking some elses word for it.  I would debate you but seriously I am getting ready to hit the sack.  But give it shot.

BTW how do I discern between good and evil?

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 01:16 | 5358216 TruthInSunshine
TruthInSunshine's picture

Since you're going to bed, I'm merely reminding anyone (as I have to remind myself from time to time) that main stream media really is a truly corrupted "institution" and is as compromised now in terms of its integrity and trustworthiness as it has ever been.

I've had the good fortune to travel the world, and the US MSM is even more homogenous in its tone, message and blatant misinformation and misdirection than that in many self-described socialist nations.

Lest we forget, every network, cable station, newspaper, magazine, radio station or other media outlet in the US is owned by one of 8 corporations, many of whom own other corporations with ties to the government itself.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 01:23 | 5358227 Cliff Claven Cheers
Cliff Claven Cheers's picture

Thanks and I agree and respect most of what you have to say.  I do my best to read and watch multiple sources and then try to apply my limited intellect to disceern truth and lies, good and evil to the best of my ability.  I am a pretty good bullshiter so I have a good sense of when I am being bullshitted.

Have a good night and sorry if I hurt anyones feelings, you know it is all good and fun until someone gets their feelings hurt.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 01:34 | 5358240 TruthInSunshine
TruthInSunshine's picture

My feelings aren't hurt nor should yours be.

It's unfortunate that we live in a system and during times when people expend more energy and time debating or arguing with their fellow citizens, neighbors, friends and even family, over issues that only serve as bait by TPTB, without in large part by the captured MSM, designed to divide and conquer, instead of uniting & focusing on the real domestic enemies that are constantly trying to beat them into dust, from within.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 01:07 | 5358199 Mensch
Mensch's picture

Ahmadenijad isn't in power.  He's barely in politics anymore.  Why bring him up?  

You might as well predict Obama's next move by quoting some crazy shit Bush said.  Please make sense.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 01:13 | 5358208 Cliff Claven Cheers
Cliff Claven Cheers's picture

The ayatollahs run the place.  Are you so naive to believe that they do not select any and all leaders.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 07:28 | 5358504 Muh Raf
Muh Raf's picture

Iranian politics is far more complex than the drivel you have been posting. The Grand Ayaatullahs (Murjat-ul-Taqleed) choose one from amongst them to become the spiritual leader of the country. This is a religious guidance function and not a head of state function. Iran then has free elections to decide who their political leadership should be, which is where the president comes in. The country's spiritual leader (titled the Wilaayat-ul-Faqih) is the de facto representative of their 'hidden' 12th Imaam (hence twelver shi'ism) descended directly from the prophet Muhammad (SAA) who according to them is alive and already over 1000 years old. This is where the religious 'authority' of the twelver scholars is derived from. The function of the spiritual leader is to decide whether or not the policies of the political leadership remain within the acceptabilities of twelver shi'ite jurisprudence or, take a deep breath everyone, the twelver shari'ah. Wooo. In practise the Iranians are a bunch of slippery toads up to their eyeballs in mischief whilst enrobing themselves in the cloak of piety. The only good thing to come out of Iran and twelver shi'ism is Hizbollah. As for trying to get a nuke weapon together, what country isn't? Just pointing at Iran because it's a fake theocracy is precisely the grounds for why Israel shouldn't have nuke either.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 09:09 | 5358774 effendi
effendi's picture

You cannot have free elections in Iran if the candidates must first be vetted by the theocrats. Can any non shite person (or females) go on the ballot paper for president? Sounds like you are well versed in practicing Taqqiya about the practice of islam being both a religion and a political entity.

Lots of countries (the majority) have no intention to get a nuke weapon. Ireland, Italy, Iceland are all countries starting with I that don't have nuclear plants.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 06:54 | 5358458 Optimusprime
Optimusprime's picture

All serious people are "Holocaust deniers".

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 05:36 | 5358408 BrosephStiglitz
BrosephStiglitz's picture

Most likely because every time they get a new generation of nuclear scientists, the Mossad run in and blow them up.

"Congratulations to the Nuclear Physicists in the Tehran University class of 2014.  If you could kindly exit stage to the right, and make your way to the parking lot before you get us all blown up.  Thanks."

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 08:05 | 5358582 localizer
localizer's picture

You know I've never been able to figure out why is it that Pakistan can have nuclear weapon and Iran cannot?

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 10:01 | 5359017 AynRandFan
AynRandFan's picture

Neither would be better.  Pakistan basically stole the technology.

Mon, 10/20/2014 - 23:52 | 5358056 Paveway IV
Paveway IV's picture

When is Israel going to allow snap inspections of sites suspected of possible unreported nuclear work? For that matter, when is the IAEA going to demand Israel return my stolen W-54 cores? Either return them or cough up a reciept proving that the U.S. taxpayers were properly paid before Israel illegaly removal from Pantex. 

I guess IAEA's 'sleuthing' doesn't extend to Israel [ sigh... ].

Mon, 10/20/2014 - 23:55 | 5358065 Cliff Claven Cheers
Cliff Claven Cheers's picture

Good point they should.  But on the other hand they are not threatening to wipe nations off the map or to make nations disappear from the pages of history.  I don't think some people get the fact that the rulers of Iran are not rational actors.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 00:04 | 5358090 The9thDoctor
The9thDoctor's picture

I don't think some people get the fact that the rulers of Israel are not rational actors.

On the other hand Israel doesn't recognize Palestine.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 00:22 | 5358125 Cliff Claven Cheers
Cliff Claven Cheers's picture

Possibly not on the palestinian issue.  It was a nation borne in fear and I would agree that they are heavy handed and may even have committed war crimes.  But in all things it take two to fight.  To tell you the truth if I lost most of my land because it was given away by the UN and the other half was lost in war then I too would call myself a freedom fighter.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 03:50 | 5358347 Advoc8tr
Advoc8tr's picture

not threatening ... just quietly and relentlessly doing.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 05:56 | 5358419 negative rates
negative rates's picture

Don't forget the suicide driver, got to have one of those too, to make it all work proper. I hear some work cheap.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 04:18 | 5358373 sarz
sarz's picture

I read somewhere that that particular Toyota Tundra is made only in Texas. So what's keeping the NSA from pulling off a few thousand more Michael Hastings farewell-ops? 

Mon, 10/20/2014 - 23:05 | 5357910 TahoeBilly2012
TahoeBilly2012's picture

Rockin' the Casbah...

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 00:10 | 5358100 Bloppy
Bloppy's picture

New campaign issue in Texas gubernatorial race: dildoes!

http://tinyurl.com/kcdo2b8

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 02:34 | 5358288 CASTBOUND
CASTBOUND's picture

my neighbor's half-sister makes $63 /hour on the internet . She has been out of work for 10 months but last month her pay was $16551 just working on the internet for a few hours. More Info... www.job-reports.com

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 03:55 | 5358349 Rakshas
Rakshas's picture

.....what a co-inky-dink my Vietnamese girfriends Romanian lesbian lovers mother makes 1500 a night providing spritual counselling to wayward souls in need of compassion and understanding ....... 

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 04:04 | 5358360 LULZBank
LULZBank's picture

Whats her website?

I'll definitely sign up for that!

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 08:48 | 5358705 drendebe10
drendebe10's picture

Oops, for a moment there i thought they were describing the incompetent liar in chief.

Mon, 10/20/2014 - 23:01 | 5357899 CuriousPasserby
CuriousPasserby's picture

Dead man walking. His hours are numbered.

 

Mon, 10/20/2014 - 23:15 | 5357942 toady
toady's picture

He's my hero.

Mon, 10/20/2014 - 23:18 | 5357952 stacking12321
stacking12321's picture

yeah, right!

he's ussa's best agent in the area, more likely they'll give him a medal.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 03:57 | 5358350 Rakshas
Rakshas's picture

....... so long as he only sells oil for USD he'll be right as rain...

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 07:14 | 5358488 Refuse-Resist
Refuse-Resist's picture

Oy Vey Yeah!

Da da, dun dun dun....

Ozzy & Company (Geezer, Tony, Bill) only slightly messed up chorus.

 

 

 

Mon, 10/20/2014 - 23:03 | 5357906 jm
jm's picture

Hey pepe... Nothing a whole lot of napalm can't solve.

Mon, 10/20/2014 - 23:08 | 5357926 The_Prisoner
The_Prisoner's picture

Napalm is so 1960's. I though you cats used white phosphorous nowadays.

The weapon of choice of the 21st century war criminal.

Mon, 10/20/2014 - 23:39 | 5358023 Paveway IV
Paveway IV's picture

WP only brings you to the 90's, Grandpa!

DIME - Dense Inert Metal Explosives - AKA Child Shredders or Cancer Bombs are all the rage today.

Volumetric weapons - thermobarics - will have their day in the sun. Why perforate a human being when you can liquify their internal organs? 

Mon, 10/20/2014 - 23:43 | 5358035 trulz4lulz
trulz4lulz's picture

"Thermobarics-We Kill'em Before we Cook'em!"

Mon, 10/20/2014 - 23:45 | 5358041 The_Prisoner
The_Prisoner's picture

Thanks for the update, mate. I don't keep up with weapons of mass destruction.

I do keep up with the war criminals, though.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 01:16 | 5358217 gonetogalt
gonetogalt's picture

I used plenty of Willey Pete back in '67. It's been around for a good while.

Mon, 10/20/2014 - 23:05 | 5357911 ebworthen
ebworthen's picture

Well, it keeps the bombs flying and the M.I.C. spending going.

It keeps the fear and police state going at home.

And the oil keeps flowing.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 00:21 | 5358124 Urban Roman
Urban Roman's picture

Juss zo dey never invade Saudi or trample Israel.

Mon, 10/20/2014 - 23:05 | 5357913 BringOnTheAsteroid
BringOnTheAsteroid's picture

I get the sense that this author thinks the US screwed up.

Mon, 10/20/2014 - 23:27 | 5357992 The_Prisoner
The_Prisoner's picture

ya think?

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 07:36 | 5358510 new game
new game's picture

if the game was to end it would be 49-3, with 17 trillion spent and counting, all with power concentrated in fewer sociopahtic killers... yep, same game, and with the season ending soon, we can look forward to the super war game...

Mon, 10/20/2014 - 23:06 | 5357919 The_Prisoner
The_Prisoner's picture

Pepe names names. Biggest set of balls in international journalism.

New expression being forged. "To go Pepe on his ass"

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 00:01 | 5358086 YHC-FTSE
YHC-FTSE's picture

When the caliph gets to the Green zone, (If he isn't there already directing operations), it'll be interesting to see what happens. Another scene from "The fall of Saigon"? Operation Frequent Wind?

The embassy of the USA Baghdad, in the southern part of the Green Zone, is the largest and most expensive embassy in the world, nearly as large as Vatican City.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 00:22 | 5358127 The_Prisoner
The_Prisoner's picture

Mate, I think you're correct in positing out that the green zone might be his HQ.

Do anyone else think this whole caliph beheading thing reads like the plot of Iron Man 3?

http://jaysanalysis.com/2014/09/14/staged-isis-videos-are-the-plot-of-ir...

It's all Theatre, except the innocent people dying part, that much is real.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 00:35 | 5358145 BraveSirRobin
BraveSirRobin's picture

Are you kidding me, it will be "Embassy? What embassy? We never had an embassy in Bagdad you silly racist."

Or they will just drop all before the word "racist."

Mon, 10/20/2014 - 23:20 | 5357937 alexcojones
alexcojones's picture

Tribe Approved-!

Riddle me this, Pepe: Why do ISIS flags read All! Jew!

Images for ISIS flags

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 00:41 | 5358156 BraveSirRobin
BraveSirRobin's picture

Quite funny! The translation from Arabic of that part of the flag is ""Muhammad is the Messenger of God." But it does look like All! Jew! indeed. 

Mon, 10/20/2014 - 23:14 | 5357938 q99x2
q99x2's picture

Arrest Prince Bandar Rumsfeld and Cheney- for taking down the WTCs.

Mon, 10/20/2014 - 23:16 | 5357947 Ban KKiller
Ban KKiller's picture

Middle east is farce a Rooney. Banks must have destruction to fund rebuild.

Mon, 10/20/2014 - 23:18 | 5357949 alexcojones
alexcojones's picture

Wise up, Pepe:

ISIS is 100% Mossad approved

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 00:26 | 5358133 Excursionist
Excursionist's picture

Better yet:  Pepe, why are you spilling so much ink on ISIS?

If the world simply ignored the group and let Turkey / Iran / Saudi Arabia do with it whatever suited them best, would the world be worse off?

Mon, 10/20/2014 - 23:19 | 5357966 apu123
apu123's picture

What kind of odds could I get on this Caliph Vs. Putin in a cage match?  I would go with Putin.  Actually given Putin's past both as an athelete and KGB Colonel I would give him odds in a one on one vs all most any head of state.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 00:23 | 5357997 The_Prisoner
The_Prisoner's picture

As to the Caliph's capabilities, ask John McCain, they are pals.

Mon, 10/20/2014 - 23:34 | 5358001 tony wilson
tony wilson's picture

al bagdadi

is that like bagdad iraq

or just conki dink

al bagdadi

eliot shimon

simon elliot

who is this mysterious man

murdochs jewish directors at vice tv spent weeks filming with isis in iraq and secret in israel

and know backgrounder on the man

no bbc tv specials on eliott shimon

is he an arab a muslim

is he a filthy turk

or just a kosher wondering mossadink talmudick yahoo

 

 

Mon, 10/20/2014 - 23:40 | 5358030 Cliff Claven Cheers
Cliff Claven Cheers's picture

Tony Wilson I found a picture of you too.  Looks like you combined your hatred of jews with your love of dicks:

Your not Francis Sawyer are you?

I guess each to his own.

Dick Swasdicker

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 04:09 | 5358365 Rakshas
Rakshas's picture

.......interesting fascination you have with the penis, seems somewhat compensatory .... seen one up close have we ..... perhaps that nice old man in the park just wanted to be friends right?? It happens.... 

Mon, 10/20/2014 - 23:45 | 5358038 Aussiekiwi
Aussiekiwi's picture

Tony buddy, I have missed your bigoted hate speech, always makes me smile :))

Mon, 10/20/2014 - 23:41 | 5358027 dogismycopilot
dogismycopilot's picture

Brilliant article. The author tells it like it is with Turkey. The fact that NATO and the US let Turkey have their cake and eat it too is obscene. Turkey of course wants to have a new Ottoman Empire and they see the ISIS has being able to facilitate this while also killing off the Kurds for them. Turkey is now the latest state to mistakenly think they can control the Jinn that has come out of the bottle which is ISIS.

The blowback on Erdogan will be Turkish Exports to Iraq. Turkish contractors and construction companies and products are soon going to be PNG in the Iraqi oil fields.

The interesting thing about the IS boys: these guys are like zombies in that they love death more than life. How do you fight an army of the Undead who, upon taking over a town, immediately convert their captives into the Walking Dead. The people who are enthralled by the Walking Dead TV Show have no idea that there is a real zombie war underway in Iraq / Syria.

 

"Submit to Islam and be safe. Or agree to the payment of the Jizya, and you and your people will be under our protection, else you will have only yourself to blame for the consequences, for I bring the men who desire death as ardently as you desire life."

http://www.easy-strategy.com/quotes-of-khalid.html

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 01:11 | 5358210 BraveSirRobin
BraveSirRobin's picture

I pointed out the Turkish strategy a while back and got a lot crap from the crowd here. Everyone over there has their own agenda. Turkey wants a "buffer zone" it administers to bring "peace" to the area. It is hoping the "international community" will demand it, and so is supporting all kinds of vile and evil in the area to re-establish the Ottoman Empire. The Kurds are trying to parlay the issue into an independent state. The Iranians are trying to re-institute the Persian Empire. The Russians want to stop a pipeline. Qatar and Emirates want a pipeline. Saudi Arabia wants to emasculate Iran and keep Turkish influences at bay. The US wants cheap oil from whomever will sell it - just don't disrupt supplies. Isreal wants them all to kill each other to the last Persian and Arab. The "Iraqis" are trying to breakup a disliked and artificial state imposed upon them and ethnically/religeously realign, as are the "Syrians." 

There really is no way to square all these knots. It's a free for all. 

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 00:54 | 5358029 alexcojones
alexcojones's picture

ISIS Health department? In Israel?

Israel Treated Over 1,400 Wounded Syria Terrorists

to their credit, this report first originated in an Israeli paper

Mon, 10/20/2014 - 23:46 | 5358039 Alcoholic Nativ...
Alcoholic Native American's picture

What the fuck did i just read.

Mon, 10/20/2014 - 23:57 | 5358070 toady
toady's picture

Don't worry about it. It doesn't fit the MSM meme, so it can't be trusted.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 00:00 | 5358084 The_Prisoner
The_Prisoner's picture

The truth, bro.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 07:47 | 5358545 craus
craus's picture

Alcoholic Nativ... Is that a horsie in your icon?

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 09:21 | 5358822 loonyleft
loonyleft's picture

and some people here say the quality of posters have gone down hill. 

I can only imagine the twisted thoughts of a person who A. would use an icon like that, B would use an icon that has LOL  for a scene like that. 

It is beyond disgusting. 

Mon, 10/20/2014 - 23:47 | 5358040 Alcoholic Nativ...
Alcoholic Native American's picture

Double post. 

Mon, 10/20/2014 - 23:52 | 5358061 Fuku Ben
Fuku Ben's picture

Just another Phoenician pirate that should be wearing a patch on eye, carrying a parrot on his shoulder and walking on a peg leg. Instead of a pirate wench he probably has many cabin boys

He's traded in some of his ill gotten booty for a nice watch which is conveniently cut out of the post picture

His expensive time piece is worn in honor of his service to his true master Father Time

Mon, 10/20/2014 - 23:52 | 5358062 williambanzai7
williambanzai7's picture

The Sultan of Bling

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 00:25 | 5358130 thebigunit
thebigunit's picture

It's getting more and more difficult to figure out who needs killing.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 01:00 | 5358189 alexcojones
alexcojones's picture

BraveSirRobin

To me, it is simply Brilliant how the Illumined ones hide things in plain sight.

Their goals, designs and cruel intentions.

Rubbing it in our slave faces, daring us to do something about it

ISIS = Brilliant Hubris

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 10:18 | 5358225 BraveSirRobin
BraveSirRobin's picture

And sometimes and odd coincidence is just an odd coincidence. The Arabic phrase on the flag has been around quite long time. Well longer than the modern english language that would produce All! Jew! But quite funny, and ironic. Thanks for pointing it out!

And I think ISIS is making a mistake in Kobani. It will become a kind of Stalingrad for them, sucking massive resources and blood. I think the Turks will eventually intervene and rip them up. They will, and are probably now, allowing Kurdish fighers and supplies in. The Turks want chaos, too. But they want to be the ones to instill order, at the begging of the "international community." If you impose the ISIS control map over the Ottoman Empire map, you will see ISIS controls a great proportion of the old Ottoman areas. It's certainly not the whole thing, but it's big chunk.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 10:27 | 5359128 BraveSirRobin
BraveSirRobin's picture

I've been saying for a long time Turkey is one the great driving forces in all this. They want chaos so they can waltz in under international manadate to "restore order" which really means restore the Ottoman Empire. So now the Turks are giving aid the KURDS of all people in Kobani to keep the fighting raging. I does no good for ISIS to win, or for Kurds to stop being killed, in their eyes. All this means the war must go on.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/21/world/middleeast/kobani-turkey-kurdish...

They will play all sides off against each other for as long as possible. They do not want the US to waltz in and impose order (we agree on that), but it has nothing to do with concern for the good ol' US of A. Such action by the US would block their designs in the region.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 01:33 | 5358239 starman
starman's picture

Darwin was right Arabs are from monkeys!

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 01:40 | 5358250 TeethVillage88s
TeethVillage88s's picture

Sure that wasn't Blavatsky?

As she says: .... There are, however, considerable numbers of the mixed Lemuro-Atlantean peoples produced by various crossings with such semi-human stocks -- e.g., the wild men of Borneo, the Veddhas of Ceylon, classed by Prof. Flower among Aryans (!), most of the remaining Australians, Bushmen, Negritos, Andaman Islanders, etc" (The Secret Doctrine, Vol. 2, pp 195-6).

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 03:58 | 5358324 sheikurbootie
sheikurbootie's picture

Obola is playing checkers and everyone else in the world is playing chess. 

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 04:14 | 5358370 Rakshas
Rakshas's picture

....what do you use ........woods for that??

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 06:08 | 5358423 BruntFCA
BruntFCA's picture

Well I know a Nuclear state which is irrational, has dropped multiple nukes on cities, and is endlessly waging wars. Let's not mention the idea of destroying the eco-system South East Asia with chemical weapons like agent orange.

Who is this "we" your talking about in your posts? There is no "we" other than in your imagination. The US is pretty much becoming ungovernable mess of different tribal and ethnic identities ruled over by a fascist elite.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 07:18 | 5358492 Refuse-Resist
Refuse-Resist's picture

"But, they hate us for our freedoms! We have to kill them!" -- media brainwashed sheople and government employees.

Which they? The one that lives in the District of Columbia, that works tirelessly day and night to eliminate those freedoms, for our own safety and security of course.

America?

FUCK YEAH!!

 

 

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 07:37 | 5358519 Space Animatoltipap
Space Animatoltipap's picture

The fate of Kali is already going on for 5000 years. Muslims, funny people. Blind also, btw.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 08:13 | 5358568 headhunt
headhunt's picture

..

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 08:03 | 5358575 coast
coast's picture

out of the mouth of Bryzinski:  it is easier to kill one million people than to control one million people..

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 08:30 | 5358652 esum
esum's picture

sunni (saud and turks) vs shia (iran).... stand back and enjoy the next 10 years...

ussa sits on sidelines cheering for both sides.... (now that we are oil independent... that is unless the new epa regs against ozone kick in, debilitating the industry.... we do need a reason to fight for foreign oil again)

iran gets nuke....shortly followed by  nuke (ussa) explosions in iran... hey their bombs went off... gee whiz

meantime destabilzation against putin goes ahead... oligharchs losing too much profit, ruble destabilization underway, and putin is expendable... car/plane crash or eaten by a tiger... yeah the later, leaves some dignity to the liitle boy...

perhaps a false flag or two in the ussa with ____________ (fill in the blank) found to be behind it...

follwed by yellow fever outbreak and entero virus rampaging through schools, mass quarantine

followed by amnesty to 35 nillion illegals and a trumpet calll for another 20 milion beanos ..

yeah things are going to be just fine as crony capitalism rocks on.... oh and obamacare kicks in cratering ths ussa economy and a national strike followed by a military coup.... 

 

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 09:58 | 5359001 AynRandFan
AynRandFan's picture

Congratulations, President Obama, for losing the peace in Iraq. With this strategy, maybe the Russkies can move back into East Berlin soon.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 22:54 | 5362037 earleflorida
earleflorida's picture

BRAVO!

Tyler :-)

Do NOT follow this link or you will be banned from the site!