A quick housekeeping note: I’m still feeling horrid, so I’m just going to work the basics again tonight and then rack out.
We now know why President Zelenskyy did not make an address yesterday or today. He was traveling to Paris, where he held a trilateral meeting with President Macron and the President-elect.
In Paris, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy participated in a trilateral meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron and U.S. President-elect Donald Trump.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked Donald Trump for his unwavering resolve and expressed particular gratitude to Emmanuel Macron for organizing the meeting.
The discussion focused on our people and ways to support them, the overall situation, and the establishment of a just peace.
“We all want peace. But it is crucial for us, and this is our position, that the peace is just for all of us, and that Russia, Putin, or any other aggressor has no possibility of ever returning. And this is the most important thing — just peace and security guarantees, strong security guarantees for Ukraine,” the President concluded.
The leaders committed to continued cooperation and communication.
Following a meeting with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris on Dec. 7, President Volodymyr Zelensky praised the meeting as “productive and meaningful.”
— The Kyiv Independent (@kyivindependent.com) December 7, 2024 at 1:28 PM
The previously unannounced meeting comes ahead of the January inauguration of Trump. It is the first in-person encounter between Zelensky and Trump since Trump won the U.S. presidential election in November.
— The Kyiv Independent (@kyivindependent.com) December 7, 2024 at 1:28 PM
From The Kyiv Independent:
Editor’s note: This is a developing story and is being updated.
President Volodymyr Zelensky met with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris for a trilateral meeting on Dec. 7, as world leaders visited France for the reopening of the Notre Dame Cathedral.
The three leaders reportedly spoke for about 35 minute at the Elysee Palace. Zelensky praised the meeting as “productive and meaningful” in a post on social media.
“President Trump is, as always, resolute,” Zelensky said. “I thank him. I also extend my gratitude to Emmanuel (Macron) for organizing this important meeting.”
The three leaders “spoke about our people, the situation on the ground, and a just peace,” Zelensky said, without providing further details.
The previously unannounced meeting comes ahead of Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20. It also marks the first in-person encounter between Zelensky and Trump since Trump won the U.S. presidential election in November.
While Trump has pledged to get the U.S. “out” of Russia’s war and negotiate a quick peace deal, Ukrainian officials have urged the president-elect to maintain support and adopt a “peace through strength” approach in dealings with Russia — sentiments that Zelensky echoed in his statement following the meeting.
“Peace through strength is possible,” Zelensky wrote.
“We all want this war to end as soon as possible and in a just way.”
Zelensky and Trump previously met on Sept. 27 in New York, while Trump was still the Republican nominee for president. Zelensky used the occasion to present his five-part victory plan.
Two of the ideas in the plan were explicitly prepared for Trump, according to the Financial Times (FT).
The leaders then held a phone call on Nov. 7 after Trump won the U.S. election. Zelensky congratulated Trump on his victory during the call.
A Ukrainian delegation, led by Presidential Office head Andriy Yermak, also met with Vice President-elect JD Vance and other aides to Trump in Washington on Dec. 4.
About 50 heads of state and government convened for the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral, which has been under reconstruction since 2019 due to a fire.
There are two separate issues here. The first is that President Zelenskyy clearly has a detailed strategy for dealing with the President-elect to, if not get what he thinks Ukraine needs from the US after the inauguration at the end of January 2025, then at least minimize the potential damage from the change of administration and the President-elect’s return to the presidency. This is smart on President Zelenskyy’s part. The second issue is more troubling for Americans: it appears that the President-elect and his people have decided that he is, for all intents and purposes, already the president again. Unsurprisingly, there seems to be little adherence, let alone acknowledgement, that the US only has one president at a time. Moreover, it does not appear that President Biden nor his people really seem to care.
This is a problem, regardless of the fact that the lame duck period and the two and a half months between election and inauguration is too long and too often leaves the US in the weird limbo we’re now in. A limbo that is exacerbated by a clearly exhausted President Biden, who, along with his senior appointees, is impotent in the face of international and domestic challenges and threats.
President Zelenskyy also met with the President of Georgia while he was in Paris:
⚡️Zelensky meets with Georgian President Zourabichvili, urges Georgians to ‘not let government surrender country to Putin.’
“Ukraine supports and stands in solidarity with the Georgian people, who are currently fighting for a worthy future,” Zelensky told Zourabichvili during their meeting in Paris.
— The Kyiv Independent (@kyivindependent.com) December 7, 2024 at 2:26 PM
“It is important to always respect the will of the people and not let the Ivanishvili government surrender the country to (Russian President Vladimir) Putin,” Zelensky added.
— The Kyiv Independent (@kyivindependent.com) December 7, 2024 at 2:26 PM
The details from The Kyiv Independent after the jump.
President Volodymyr Zelensky met with Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili on Dec. 7, on the sidelines of the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral.
The meeting comes as protest against the Georgian Dream party in Tbilisi continue after Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced the suspension of the South Caucasus’ EU accession process until at least 2028.
“Ukraine supports and stands in solidarity with the Georgian people, who are currently fighting for a worthy future for themselves,” Zelensky told Zourabichvili during the meeting. “It is important to always respect the will of the people and not let the Ivanishvili government surrender the country to (Russian President Vladimir) Putin.”
The outbreak of protests comes amid simmering tension for months in Georgia, as the ruling Georgian Dream party has been accused of democratic backsliding and dragging Georgia into the Kremlin’s orbit.
Georgian Dream, led by de facto leader Bidzina Ivanishvili, declared victory in the October elections, which was broadly disputed by domestic opposition and international observers. Election observers documented a range of violations, from the distribution of pre-filled ballots to the confiscation of personal identification cards.
Zourabichvili, the country’s pro-EU president, spoke to Zelensky about these violations, namely the restrictions Georgians abroad faced when voting. The Georgian leader also thanked Zelensky for his support and welcomed Ukrainian sanctions on key Georgian Dream officials.
The sanctions target Ivanishvili, an oligarch with business ties in Russia who is seen as the de facto leader of the ruling Georgian Dream party, Kobakhidze, and 17 other individuals.
Zelensky affirmed his support for Georgia, saying Ukraine wants to show strong international partners such as the U.S and EU the importance of standing with the Georgian people.
Zourabichvili, who has been present at protests in Tbilisi, said on Nov. 30 that she would remain president until a legitimate parliament is elected.
Previously, the country’s ruling party, Georgian Dream, announced that the presidential election would be held on Dec. 14 and the inauguration on Dec. 29. For the first time, the president of Georgia will not be elected by the population but by the Electoral Board, in which the Georgian Dream will have the majority.
Georgia:
This is important!
Three judges of the fully-captured judicial system just spoke up against the violence (and the regime): Eka Areshidze, Mamuka Tsiklauri, and Levan Darbaidze. #terrorinGeorgia #GeorgiaProtests
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) December 7, 2024 at 5:55 PM
I missed the fourth judge, Badri Niparishvili.
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) December 7, 2024 at 7:52 PM
Reportedly, the Christmas tree is currently being set up in front of the Parliament, a matter of principle for the regime and the Tbilisi Mayor Kaladze.
People are furious.— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) December 7, 2024 at 7:36 PM
04:45, December 8 – #Tbilisi
The construction of the Christmas tree is underway in front of #Georgia’s Parliament.
#GeorgiaProtests
— Batumelebi&Netgazeti (@netgazeti.org) December 7, 2024 at 7:49 PM
03:00, Dec. 8 – #Tbilisi
🔻 No special forces and protesters on Rustaveli Ave.
During today’s rally, groups of masked men roamed nearby streets, beating journalists, citizens and attacking party offices, while police didn’t react.📹Attack on TV Pirveli cameraman
#GeorgiaProtests #TerrorinGeorgia— Batumelebi&Netgazeti (@netgazeti.org) December 7, 2024 at 6:38 PM
President of #Georgia Salome Zourabichvili announced meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron and U.S. President-elect Donald Trump.
The Georgian Dream government has claimed Trump’s administration will support their policies and resolve current misunderstandings with the U.S.
— Batumelebi&Netgazeti (@netgazeti.org) December 7, 2024 at 5:05 PM
Let’s hope that our only legitimate leader has just checkmated the Russian regime in Georgia.
Whatever the case, however, she’s a heroine for all her efforts for her people.— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) December 7, 2024 at 5:26 PM
President of #Georgia, Salome Zourabichvili, has condemned titushky attacks on politicians, media, & civilians.
In a separate post on X, she stated: “No regime can stand against the will of the people, no matter the means they deploy. Georgian Dream would do well to remember that.”
#GeorgiaProtests— Batumelebi&Netgazeti (@netgazeti.org) December 7, 2024 at 4:16 PM
The police just walk by Titushky that hold batons, after citizens forcing them to react and their initial inaction. More evidence of police-thug cooperation. The first scene is the later development, and there’s a throwback after a few seconds. #terrorinGeorgia #GeorgiaProtests
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) December 7, 2024 at 7:10 PM
Giorgi Laliashvili, one of the Titushky jumping on the TV Pirveli cameraman, is believed to be a policeman in the Isani-Samgori district of Tbilisi. #terrorinGeorgia #GeorgiaProtests
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) December 7, 2024 at 5:27 PM
In this video, protesters had heard the Titushky (regime thugs) were in this park near the Parliament and rushed to deal with them. “Glory to Georgia!” they are crying out. #terrorinGeorgia #GeorgiaProtests
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) December 7, 2024 at 3:27 PM
The US:
US announced new military aid package for Ukraine. This package commits an additional $988 million in support through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) that will provide Ukraine with munitions for rocket systems and Unmanned Aerial Systems. www.defense.gov/News/Release…
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) December 7, 2024 at 4:42 PM
From the Department of Defense:
Biden Administration Announces New Security Assistance Package for Ukraine
Dec. 7, 2024Today, the Department of Defense (DoD) announced a significant new security assistance package to ensure Ukraine has the tools it needs to prevail in its fight against Russian aggression. This security assistance package commits an additional $988 million in support through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) that will provide Ukraine with munitions for rocket systems and Unmanned Aerial Systems. This package also includes support for maintenance and repair programs to help Ukraine reconstitute its forces and build and sustain combat power.
The capabilities in this announcement include:
- Ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS);
- Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS); and
- Equipment, components, and spare parts to maintain, repair, and overhaul artillery systems, tanks, and armored vehicles.
This is the Biden Administration’s twenty-second USAI package and part of the surge of aid for Ukraine. The United States will continue to work together with some 50 Allies and partners through the Ukraine Defense Contact Group and its associated capability coalitions to provide the support Ukraine needs to win the war.
All of this stuff was in the last several announced package. It is still unclear from the reporting if any of this material is actually making it to Ukraine or if the DOD is just re-announcing aid they’ve previously stated they were sending, but has not actually been sent.
Romania and the UK:
2024: Romania annuls an election because of Russian interference
2020: Boris Johnson says there was no Russian interference in the Brexit referendum
Stewart Hosie who was on the Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament said the Conservative government did not look for it; Romanians did
— Farrukh (@implausibleblog.bsky.social) December 6, 2024 at 7:17 PM
Ukraine expecting another 100+ Russian/Iranian Shahed drone attack tonight. Russia’s Tu-95 bombers have also been active recently and we’re in the window for another big missile attack (they come every 7-10 days, last one was on Nov. 28).
— Euan MacDonald (@euanmacdonald.bsky.social) December 7, 2024 at 3:55 PM
Shaheed kamikaze drone intercepted by Ukrainian Mi-8 helicopter
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) December 7, 2024 at 5:14 AM
Russian occupied Crimea, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, and Luhansk Oblasts:
The “Yellow Ribbon” civil resistance movement is endlessly leaving their mark in Crimea, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk and Luhansk regions, to let the occupiers know that this is not their land!❤️
— Sofia (@sofiaukraini.bsky.social) December 7, 2024 at 8:51 AM
Zaporizhzhia:
Another Russian Tor M-2 air defence system hunted down by “NEMESIS” unit. Zaporizhzhia front.
t.me/usf_army/290— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) December 7, 2024 at 4:19 AM
Two children were among the ten people killed in russia’s brutal strike on Zaporizhzhia, according to the head of the regional administration. Another 26 people were injured.
— Iryna Voichuk (@irynavoichuk.bsky.social) December 7, 2024 at 8:43 AM
The Russian occupied Black Sea off the coast of Russian occupied Crimea:
Ukrainian Naval FPV Drone which are launched from the unmanned boats.
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) December 7, 2024 at 4:07 AM
Ukrainian naval unmanned drones attacked Russian-seized gas platforms in the Black Sea near Crimea, destroying Russian-installed surveillance systems.
(Video Part 2)
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) December 7, 2024 at 4:04 AM
The next step in the development of unmanned systems. Unmanned boat + FPV drones.
It looks like the boat has 4 slots for FPV drones, each of which contains 2 FPVs one on top of the other. Thus, 1 boat can carry 8 FPVs.
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) December 7, 2024 at 4:06 AM
The Kursk cross border offensive:
Ukrainian Armed Forces apparently re-obtained control over Martynovka in the Kursk Operational Zone. The settlement is on the edge of the northeastern part of the bridgehead.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) December 7, 2024 at 5:43 AM
That’s enough for tonight.
Your daily Patron!
There are no new Patron tweets or videos today. Here is some adjacent material.
Black Sea dolphin accompanies Ukrainian unmanned boat on combat mission
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) December 7, 2024 at 5:50 AM
Open thread!
Jay
Thank you, Adam.
Rest well.
Jay
https://nitter.poast.org/AndrewPerpetua/status/1865418696073625826#m
Gin & Tonic
Joseph R. Biden’s de facto abdication of his post is disgraceful.
Nukular Biskits
I know you don’t have time but, given your ability to provide updates on what’s happening in Ukraine, sure would be nice if you could clone yourself to provide updates on Georgia, Syria, Gaza, Lebanon/Hezbollah.
Gin & Tonic
That hand-lettered sign in the opening frame of the “yellow ribbon” video says “Yalta is Ukraine.”
Chris
@Nukular Biskits:
If Putin’s lucky, he may be about to get a batch of Syrian mercenaries to toss into the meatgrinder.
Jay
@Chris:
Word is that the Syrians/Hezbollah columns fleeing towards Lebanon are getting the crap bombed out of them by the IAF.
The ones fleeing towards Turkey are being disarmed and detained.
The ones fleeing towards Damascus seem to have joined in on a military coup that surrendered the city to the anti-Assad Forces.
A large number seem to have “dropped trou” and are pretending they always were civilians.
JiveTurkin
Biden should have resigned the presidency when he dropped out.
Gin & Tonic
@Jay: Maybe Tulsi Gabbard can help Assad get a position at CIA or something.
Chris
@Jay:
“Hello. I am retired pacifist and window cleaner, without doing war crimes.”
Jay
https://nitter.poast.org/Tendar/status/1865553739265769514#m
dimmsdale
Thanks, Adam, and hope you’re feeling better soon. Appreciate everything you do.
Jay
https://nitter.poast.org/Tendar/status/1865572689588396308#m
Nukular Biskits
@Chris:
Which will suck for Ukraine.
Jay
@Nukular Biskits:
SAA people are not fleeing to ruZZia. Thay have enough experience of being brutalized and thrown into meat assaults by the ruZZians in Syria.
Marcopolo
Seeing posts now that the Syrian rebel forces have taken Damascus. They have told their folks not to approach public institutions & to not fire into the air. Temporary authority over gov’t buildings is in the hands of a former Syrian PM.
Russia is doing evacuation flights out of their naval/air base at Latakia (or something close to that) on the Mediterranean. Assad has decamped (missed a speech he was supposed to deliver) but not quite sure where to atm.
One person noted the the Syrian gov’t collapsed faster than the Afghans which puts an interesting spin on events.
Jay
@Marcopolo:
One of the last Antonov’s out of Damascus appears to has been shot down near Homs, it is rumored Assad was on board.
Marcopolo
@Jay: haven’t seen that but it would be appropriate karma. Fun thing for me is being able to use bluesky to follow all this in real time. had really been missing the old twitter after it went to the dark side.
Great comments from folks trying to follow what is happening in Syria using US cable news & noting they had totally dropped the ball—at least until the last 15 minutes or so.
karen marie
I hope that Zelenskyy understands that Trump is not someone whose word can be trusted. Just reading about him having to humiliate himself by having to act respectful makes me feel ill.
Librarian
I have a feeling that if it were up to Blinken and Sullivan, Assad would still be in power. Just like they would rather keep Putin in power. They’re terrified of any change in the status quo.
KatKapCC
@karen marie: I think he understands that better than almost anyone, considering that old phone call. But Zelenskyy is a diplomat and is doing what he has to, much as it probably turns his stomach.
Josie (also)
That is a lot of reporting on the entire area. Thank you.
Gvg
Macron shouldn’t be acting like Trump is already President. It makes the situation worse.
Biden has to do a lot before the change over. I have been thinking about it. There is a lot of intelligence information that has to be buried. Very strange situation. All the people who investigated Trump as a part of their jobs have to be protected. I hope Biden is doing this and other things. I have been hoping we would finish giving Ukraine more before it’s too late. I know there have been delays. I also hope it doesn’t get announced though.
Jay
@Gvg:
Neither Trudeau, Macron, Starmer or Zelenskii are acting like Dolt47 is President.
They are being “diplomatic” in light of the Logan Act being worthless.
And once Dolt47 is President, they will continue to be diplomatic, just like Claudia Sheinbaum.
They will save the swearwords for the back door conversations and stick to the diplomatic versions of “fuck you”.
way2blue
@Gin & Tonic: Agreed. Those Paris snippets are appalling. But where is the Biden administration? I don’t get it.
Jay
@way2blue:
They aren’t “official meetings”, just a gathering of supposed Dignitaries in Paris to “celebrate” the restoration of Notre Dame.
Gloria DryGarden
Since that Paris meeting was unannounced, I wonder if Biden or someone in his state department could get a meeting w macron and zelensky, to do what they can. Because, indeed Biden is the president in USA. not TFFG.
What’s the name of the congressional committee that handles war funding, Ukraine, nato, international, relations, and or state diplomacy? I’m wondering who to call.
. I agree that extra aid, getting to Ukraine now, should be unannounced, too. I wish we could use every available ship and transport system to get equipment and ammo and whatever we’ve already funded, over to them ,or to a nearby ally for immediate transport. Can we even get to Odessa or any Black Sea ports? Where is the next closest place to deliver things, for ease of getting it brought further? It’s all mountains going north to Ukraine isn’t it? Turkiye, the Balkan states, it’s all mountains, isn’t it?
I have no idea.
Throwing ideas down here like they are prayers.
I hope USA sent someone in current admin, for the Notre dame opening. It’s an ancient, revered sacred site, as well as a special place for Catholics and Christians. I don’t know the politics of this, but it seems like the re opening was akin to a royal wedding. So it’s weird. Weird, the TFG went and had official meetings. And it would be weird if USA didn’t send someone.
does anyone know?
gods, of course, if WG were on this thread she’d tell me to google it. I’d rather ask, and be in dialogue with you all.
AlaskaReader
Thanks Adam
Gloria DryGarden
Adam, if you see this in the morning, there was an utterly delightful thread last night, Friday, title “little things that make you happy”
no fights, no politics, no hostilities. If you need a kindness break, you might enjoy a lurking read through some beautiful shares and successes. Up beat, positive. Children, pets, nature, etc.
Jay
@Gloria DryGarden:
There isn’t one. State and DOD handle arms shipments to Ukraine.
No
Hills and plains. most aid is shipped in by truck and rail through Poland.
They weren’t “official meetings”, they were basically sideline chats, informal.
President Joe Biden did not attend, but first lady Jill Biden and her daughter, Ashley, were on hand.
bjacques
@Marcopolo: someone on Bluesky or Xitter listed RuZZia’s half dozen or so boats at Latakia, and I’m wondering where they will go. Will Erdogan allow them through the Bosphorus Strait to the Black Sea or must they fuck off to Arkhangelsk? Be a shame if something were to happen to them in Syria.
Jay
@bjacques:
They can’t travel to the Black Sea, so probably Saint Petersburg.
Roberto el oso
It was certainly disgusting to see the oafish Trump at Notre Dame. Just as disgusting was to see Elon Musk, looking pissed at being stuck way in the back. But why was he even there? So far as I know he’s never commented on or about religion in any way.
From the quote in the 2nd comment (Jay’s): “the American tradition of being vastly too late and for the wrong reasons” ….. this has been sadly true for pretty much the entirety of my life.
Harrison Wesley
I don’t understand why people on this site are celebrating al Qaeda winning in Syria. Assad is no prize, but the forces replacing him are far worse. For the folks who live there,of course, but they’re just a bunch of ragheads, like the Palestinians, so who gives a shit.
Jay
@Harrison Wesley:
Yeah, they arn’t Al Qaida.
They are the SDF, HTS, the Druse, the Peshmerga, Royjova, the SFA, about two dozen different factions of the survivors of the Syrian Civil War, and they have all been working together, with out conflict so far, which they didn’t manage to during most of the Syrian Civil War. The last element is the SAA, (Assad’s Guys) who “couped” Assad and will form the core of what ever Syria manages to form as a National Government.
You are kinda showing your Islamophobia and racism here.
bjacques
@Harrison Wesley: from what I read, HTS split from al-Qaeda several years ago. They’re currently making all the right noises right now, so good on them. Assad probably couldn’t have bought its way into the West’s good graces like Ghadafy did, but good riddance to both of them. They received praise as modernists from people who didn’t know anyone tortured to death in their prisons.
I hope “Caesar” the photographer who had the unspeakable is still alive today:
https://amp.theguardian.com/world/2015/oct/01/they-were-torturing-to-kill-inside-syrias-death-machine-caesar
EDIT: On a happier note, and back on topic, I watched the Notre Dame reopening and was pleasantly surprised to see President Zelenskyy (and Olena?) there.
(The discordant organ music sounded like the hymn to the Alpha-Omega bomb in Beneath The Planet Of The Apes.)
Jay
@bjacques:
It was ISIL and not al-Quida, and HTS has spent the past 5 years hunting ISIL.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tahrir_al-Sham
bjacques
@Jay: thanks! Like the comedian Stewart Lee, I’ve done no research.
Gloria DryGarden
@Jay: thank you.
ask and you shall receive. I’m glad FLOTUS Jill, and her daughter Ashley went. I hope they got to stay someplace nice in Paris and eat some great food. I feel such relief to know this; of course we went!
Just headline-grabber guy blocked my view of the official people.
glad to know those are being seen as informal meetings. good.
good to know how arms arrive to Ukraine via Poland.
thank you thank you.
now I can light another prayer candle on my virtual altar.
Gloria DryGarden
@Jay: this helps me start a glossary guide to the groups, main players and which bigger countries are behind them. I really haven’t followed it enough.
I’m aware we blew off a lot of Kurds and our alliances with them, awhile back, which upset me.
the Middle East has been more complex than a chess game, and has too many layers and underlying motives. It hurts to look at it. I will try.
Gloria DryGarden
Adam, thank you for the dolphin. “Adjacent material”
Jay
@Gloria DryGarden:
In this event, there is nobody “officially” behind any of the Syrian Resistance. It appears so far on all sides, to be an “unsanctioned Liberation”.
So far the only “sanctioned allied ops” have been US A-10’s hitting Hezbollah forces attacking the Royjovan Kurds near Dier Ezzor a couple days ago, and the IDF strikes against Hezbollah forces and SSA trying to flee into Lebanon.
The key thing is can the Syrian’s create a National Government of Reconciliation going forward with out infighting.
Geminid
@Jay: I think the U.S. A-10 attacks a few days ago were against one or two convoys of Iran-backed militias traveling from Iraq on their way to bolster Assad’s forces. The U.S. waited for them to cross into Syria, then blasted them.
And in the “Big if True” category, Middle East Eye reporter Ragip Soylu posted this a half hour ago:
“Two Syrian sources say there is a high probability that Assad may have been killed in a plane crash as it was a mystery why the plane took a U turn and disappeared off the map according to data from the Flightradar website. — Reuters”
Jay
@Geminid:
The SDF captured a lot of intact Air Defenses in Homs, and they know how to use them.
We will see.
Assad and his family flew to the UAE the day before yesterday, but he supposedly then flew back to Damascus.
TBone
Is it possible that there is a lot we don’t truly know about the efforts of our current President and his administration in the foreign policy realm? The headlines and narrative are always hijacked, yanked away, and also too no MSM really promotes this admin, President, or their deeds. I must give them the benefit of privacy, and I think their avoidance of leak stories and attention-grabbing headlines and narrative is warranted because of the treatment President Biden has (not) been given by the MSM.
I don’t usually comment on any war pages or comments because I have nothing to add. I truly don’t think we’ll know the real story until years have passed and books are written.
brantl
@Gin & Tonic: Oh, bullshit.
YY_Sima Qian
@Geminid:
@Jay:
If al-Jolani can be something approximating a Paul Kagame-like figure (developmentally minded authoritarian leader of Rwanda for the past 3 decades, who ended the Rwandan Genocide by deposing the Hutu-led former government) for the parts of Syria he manages to control, that is probably the best case scenario. Kagame has really turned Rwanda into a model for economic development in Sub-Saharan Africa. OTOH, in spite of the urbane & sophisticated exterior, Kagame runs a hard authoritarian regime that is ruthless against dissent & opposition, & has run a hegemonic foreign policy that has directly contributed to massive bloodletting & population displacement in the neighboring DRC. One can see the parallels w/ the way the HTS has run Idlib.
The Alawites probably will not actively resist the new order as long as Sunni factions do not seek to exact blood vengeance for the Assad regime’s brutality, in which almost all Alawite elites & many (most?) Alawite ranks & file were neck deep in.
The worst case scenario for post-Assad Syria is post-Qaddafi Libya redux.
YY_Sima Qian
It seems to me that the ruling by the Romanian Constitutional Court to annul the recent election is an overreaction that might have very negative medium to long term consequences. Even if Călin Georgescu wins the presidency, he will be constrained by Romania’s memberships in the NATO & the EU in how far he can push the country toward Russia. I doubt he can go as far as Orban, who holds entrenched position in Hungary & dominate Hungarian politics. OTOH, annulling a vote that I have not seen the EU decry as non-free & unfair, using coordinated Russian influence campaign as justification, will only serve to discredit the Romanian democratic process in the eyes of every persons who voted for Georgescu.
Russia surely has tried to influence the Romanian election to boost Georgescu, just as Putin has interfered in most elections across Europe, the fUSSR & the US. However, whether the influence operation was decisive is impossible to prove. As is the case everywhere, the populist/nativist/reactionary surge in Romania, that Putin is trying to take advantage of, ultimately has indigenous roots. I don’t think it is an astroturf movement courtesy of the FSB or the GRU. The Constitutional Court annulling the vote will just reinforce (& possibly radicalize) the anti-establishment sentiments of the Georgescu voters, & push Romanian politics further into crisis & dysfunction. That is still a win for Putin.
YY_Sima Qian
@YY_Sima Qian: BTW, I am reading that Tartus was the logistical base supporting the Russian Navy’s sustained presence in the Eastern Mediterranean, given Türkiye had closed the Turkish Straits to Russian Navy vessels going into the Black Sea & the Russian Black Sea Fleet is in no shape to support Mediterranean missions. Meanwhile, Khmeimim had served as the main way station in the logistical tail supporting Russian activities in the Sahel.
Losing both will hurt Putin’s ability to sow chaos around the world.
Gin & Tonic
@bjacques: Odd choice on Zelensky’s part to go. He is Jewish and only a very small minority of Ukrainians are Roman Catholic.
YY_Sima Qian
@Gin & Tonic: The Notre Dame is more than a Roman Catholic cathedral, it is one of the representative symbols of France, & of Western Civilization.
France has been a fairly strong & steady supporter of Ukraine’s war effort (after Macron moved on from delusions of bringing Putin to his senses), & now the Macron government is embattled (entirely self-inflicted). I think that is why Zelenskyy went. (Plus, a chance to meet w/ Trump face to face.)
Adam L Silverman
@Gloria DryGarden: You’re welcome.
Adam L Silverman
@Gloria DryGarden: Thanks for the heads up, but I do not read other posts at this site unless someone reaches out because someone is being abusive in comments and can’t reach another front pager. I also do not comment in other posts. Nor do I do posts on anything other than the nightly war updates. This is the reality of how things work here.
Adam L Silverman
@Gloria DryGarden: She is not permitted in this space. Just as I am only allowed in it.
KatKapCC
@Harrison Wesley: Ragheads? Are you fucking serious with this? Any other slurs you wanna use?
Adam L Silverman
@KatKapCC: I’m waiting for Cole’s permission to trash and ban. Please stand by.
Also, the entirely new comment policy is stupid. All we needed was the ability to actually moderate, not a bunch of new processes and procedures that can be abused and used to excuse stuff like this or antisemitic, racist, homophobic, transphobic, etc comments. Which is what I advocated for. But, as usually, I was ignored.
KatKapCC
@Adam L Silverman: Thank you. And I agree.
glc
@Gloria DryGarden:
Some of us find that kind of thread deeply depressing.
Gin & Tonic
@KatKapCC: I get the impression that that was intended as sarcasm, or whatever it is when you are describing the views of “others” but not yourself. Not sure what that figure of speech is called.
KatKapCC
@Gin & Tonic: I don’t care. Using a slur in an ironic hipster way is still using a slur. If someone did this with the n-word, would we say it was fine? I hope not.
Gin & Tonic
@KatKapCC: Well, sure. My point just being that that wasn’t a commenter who uses that kind of language typically.
But, much as I respect Adam and this space here on BJ, I differ significantly on the topic of banning.
glc
@Gin & Tonic: Whatever it is, it’s subject to Poe’s law.
Something that I need to keep in mind myself when I’m feeling surly, which is pretty much all the time (/s).
I’m reminded of a bumper sticker I saw in the early 2000’s which read “How did our oil get underneath their sand?” I was never entirely sure what it was saying. The tone was clearly sardonic but I was never entirely sure I decoded it correctly.
Of course, one possible response to Poe’s law is to ignore it, as was rather well argued by The Onion in an amicus curiae brief to the Supreme Court.