Russian Plane Shot Down near Turkish border
-
https://www.rt.com/news/323240-russia-turkey-warplane-downed/
Leaked cable shows Russian plane went into Turkish airspace, about 1.36 miles in depth and 1.15 in length, for about 17 seconds and was shot down by Turkey for this.
Wikileaks had a few things to say: "Turkey statement to UN odd. Distance/time shows jet would be flying near stall speed at 391km/h (max speed 2320km/h)"
"Journalists: Learn to do basic maths. Look at Turkey's statement to UN: 1.15 miles / 17 seconds x 60 x 60 = 243 miles/hour = 391 km/hour"http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/Default.aspx?pageID=238&nID=91459&NewsCatID=352
Turkmen, a fairly violent pro-Turkey group has existed a bit along Syrian border and a bit south of it in a few clusters. They number somewhere around 3 million within Syria. Russia has been into their whole bombing campaign against various terrorist groups, which are especially active in this region. The Turkish PM seemed very eager to complain about all this, and has repeatedly asked for Russia to stop attacking ISIS and other terrorist groups near their border. A bit of this is because Turkey is getting overwhelmed by refugees from these terrorist dominated areas that are now being attacked. An issue with the Turkmen group is that they are often of the opinion that the Turkish border must be stretched further south than where it is, likely to where they exist within Syria which leads to their desire to fight Assad.
-
Russian rescue helicopter was also shot down by Syrian 'rebels' with US made missile. Free Syrian Army posted the video of this so might have been a bragging event for them. Keep in mind this is one of the 'friendly' terrorist groups the US has backed and which are sprinkled about with the Syrian refugees going to Europe and US.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/footage-shows-syrian-rebels-fire-6892118
Also seems the first thing Turkey did after shooting down the jet was to contact NATO rather than Russia. Which seems to suggest that they're scared shitless about confronting Russia on the matter. NATO isn't required to help if a member country is the one that initiated the conflict which is possible to be viewed as the case here.
Pentagon put out a statement supporting Turkey.
Russian foreign minister Lavrov canceled the summit that was to go on tomorrow (or sometime this next week?) in light of events and Russia has stated that Russians should stay out of Turkey for the time being.
-
Can read some of the leaked cables regarding Turkmen here.
-
http://fortruss.blogspot.rs/2015/11/turkish-intelligence-chief-isis-is.html
_Mr. Hakan Fidan, Turkish President's staunchest ally, condemned Russian military intervention in Syria, accusing Moscow of trying to 'smother' Syria's Islamist revolution and serious breach of United Nations law.
“ISIS is a reality and we have to accept that we cannot eradicate a well-organized and popular establishment such as the Islamic State; therefore I urge my western colleagues to revise their mindset about Islamic political currents, put aside their cynical mentalité and thwart Vladimir Putin's plans to crush Syrian Islamist revolutionaries,” - Anadolu News Agency quoted Mr. Fidan as saying on Sunday.
Fidan further added that in order to deal with the vast number of foreign Jihadists craving to travel to Syria, it is imperative that ISIS must set up a consulate or at least a political office in Istanbul. He underlined that it is Turkey’s firm belief to provide medical care for all injured people fleeing Russian ruthless airstrikes regardless of their political or religious affiliation._
So Turkey's government seems to be fully in favor of ISIS due to it being an Islamic group. Seems like Turkey is really damn upset about the whole notion of Russia bombing oil trucks and oil fields since the oil was passed on to Turkey.
-
http://www.alraimedia.com/ar/article/special-reports/2015/11/30/639168/nr/syria
Russia may soon get a 2nd airbase in Syria, Sha’ayrat airport southeast of Homs. The base may host up to 100 jets
https://ruposters.ru/news/01-12-2015/den-sirijskoj-operacii
_Additional funds not required for the Russian military operation against terrorists in Syria, said the newspaper "Izvestia", citing a senior official in the government.
"One day of the operation in Syria is much smaller than the day of the exercise of the Ministry of Defense. The military operation in Syria does not affect the increase in the budget. The exercises are often much more expensive. All costs of the military operation came in the final budget for 2016 will remain at the same level ", - said the source publication.
The Defense Ministry confirmed this information. According to the military authorities, it was decided to abandon some military exercises next year and send the funds available to the military operation in Syria.
"Military operations against the terrorist organization in Syria - it is a reality, not a doctrine. But that there was no additional cost, agreed to delete some military exercises planned in the next year ", - said the source publication. Data on how many teachings and in what regions abolished, he did not disclose.
Recall October 3, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said that the costs of actions of the Russian armed forces in Syria are fully covered by the funds that are already laid down in their software._
-
So Russia came out with an explanation of how Turkey profits from the ISIS oil trade.
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2015-12-02/russia-presents-detailed-evidence-isis-turkey-oil-trade
_"
International terrorism - is the main threat of our time. This threat is not illusory but real, and many countries, primarily Russia, knows this firsthand. The notorious "Is Islamic state" - the absolute leader of the terrorist international. This is a rearing monster of international terrorism can be countered. And you can win. Over the past two months, Aerospace Russian forces is clearly demonstrated.
We are firmly convinced that victory over LIH need to deliver a powerful and devastating blow to the sources of its funding, as repeatedly mentioned by President Vladimir Putin. Terrorism has no money - is a beast without teeth. Oil revenues are a major source of terrorist activity in Syria. They earn about $ 2 billion. Dollars annually, spending this money on hiring fighters around the world, providing them with weapons, equipment and weapons. That's why so LIH protects thieves oil infrastructure in Syria and Iraq.
The main consumer of stolen from legitimate owners - Syria and Iraq - the oil is Turkey. According to the data entered in this criminal business involved the highest political leadership of the country - President Erdogan and his family.
We have repeatedly talked about the dangers of flirting with terrorists. It's like that stokes. The fire from one country can spill over to others. This situation we are seeing in the Middle East. Today, we present only part of the facts, confirming that the region has a team of bandits and Turkish elites stealing oil from the neighbors.
This oil in large numbers on an industrial scale, for the living pipelines from thousands of oil tankers entering the territory of Turkey. We are absolutely convinced today present you the hard facts about what the final destination of the stolen oil - Turkey. There is a large number of media representatives, and Our briefing will see more of your colleagues. In this regard, I would like to say the following. We know and appreciate the work of journalists. We know that in the journalistic community, many courageous, fearless people honestly do its job.Today, we have clearly shown you how the illegal trade in oil, the result of which - the financing of terrorism. Provided concrete evidence that, in our opinion, may be the subject of investigative journalism.
We are confident that the truth with your help will, will find its way. We know the price to Erdogan. He has already been caught in a lie again Turkish journalists who opened Turkey delivery of arms and ammunition to militants under the guise of humanitarian convoys. For this imprisoned journalists.
Do not resign Turkish leaders, particularly Mr. Erdogan, and did not recognize, even if their faces will be smeared by oil thieves. I might be too harsh, but at the hands of the Turkish military killed our comrades. The cynicism of the Turkish leadership is unlimited. Look what they're doing ?! Climbed to a foreign country, it shamelessly robbed. And if the owners interfere, then they have to be addressed.
I stress that Erdogan's resignation is not our goal. It is - it is the people of Turkey. Our goal and the goal to which we urge you, ladies and gentlemen, - joint action to block the sources of funding for terrorism. We will continue to provide evidence of robbery by Turkey of its neighbors. Maybe I'll be too straightforward, but the control of these thieves in business can be entrusted only to the most close people.
No one in the West, I wonder, does not cause the issue that the son of the President of Turkey is the leader of one of the largest energy companies, and son-in-appointed Minister of Energy? What a brilliant family business!
This, in general, may elsewhere? Well, once again, of course, such cases can not be charging anyone, only the closest people. Votes this fact in the Western media we do not see much, but it sure can not hide the truth. Yes, of course, dirty petrodollars will work. I am sure that there are now discussions about the fact that everything you see here, - falsification. Well. If it did not - let be allowed in those places that we showed journalists.
It is obvious that today the publicity was devoted only part of the information about the monstrous crimes of the Turkish elites who directly finance international terrorism. We believe that any sane journalist should fight this plague of the XXI century. The world experience has repeatedly argued that the objective journalism is able to be an effective and formidable tool in the fight against various financial corruption schemes. We invite colleagues to investigative journalism on the disclosure of financial schemes and supplies oil from the terrorists to the consumers. Especially since the oil produced in the controlled militants territories in transit through Turkish ports shipped to other regions. For its part, the Ministry of Defense of Russia will continue to disclose new evidence on the supply of terrorists oil to foreign countries and to talk about the conduct of aerospace forces of Russia operations in Syria.Let's unite our efforts. We will destroy the sources of financing of terrorism in Syria, as you get involved in the kind of work abroad. "_
-
There are murmurs that Turkey was planning on shooting down a Russian plane for weeks now. Apparently the idea being to help rouse the Turkish people into a patriotic fervor to help keeping Erdrogan's power intact.
Iraq's government has also ordered for the Turkish troops that have invaded them to leave, and has requested NATO do something about their buddy.
During this Erdrogan apparently trying to get friendlier with the de facto autonomous Kurds (a group Turks are often vehemently racist against) of Iraq to help with getting a gas pipeline from them into Turkey in anticipation of Russia turning their gas off. Turkey is also training people in an ISIS held area which is kinda odd.
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-iraq-turkey-idUSKBN0TN2HZ20151205
https://www.rt.com/news/324787-turkish-troops-deployed-iraq/
http://pmo.iq/pme/press2015en/5-12-20151en.htm
https://twitter.com/UyusukKursun/status/673216243290218496
https://archive.is/mZTQ3#selection-367.0-385.0
_Now Erdogan is attempting to mobilise his voters by a threat of war. Turks are patriotic chaps, they were brought up on worshiping their WWI hero General Kemal Ataturk. For them (like for many nations), a threat of war is a clarion call for unity and support of government. For this reason he plans to pull Turkey to the brink of war with Russia. So claims the Turkish “Deep Throat”, an anonymous and knowledgeable insider who sends his twits under nickname fuat avni https://twitter.com/fuatavni_f He has a strong record of disclosing noxious plans of the government. Now he claims Erdogan has given orders to shoot down Russian planes operating in Syria while claiming they have intruded into Turkish air space.
Turkish forces already shot down a drone, claiming it was a Russian one. At the same time, they carry out operations against Syrian Kurds, the preferred allies of the Americans. The Turkish opposition insists that the big terrorist attack on the Kurd peace demo in Ankara (95 dead, 215 wounded) perpetrated by ISIS had been used, or even instigated by Erdogan. Bearing in mind that Erdogan was the architect of a new peaceful policy towards the Turkish Kurds, this is a particularly unpleasant development.
Erdogan has lost his allies. The US prefers the Kurds and is annoyed that Turkey bombs them while declaring they fight against ISIS, the main enemy of the Kurds. It is not clear whether they will rush to his support in case of trouble with the Russians._
-
https://www.rt.com/news/325825-sarin-gas-syria-turkey/
_Islamic State terrorists in Syria received all necessary materials to produce deadly sarin gas via Turkey, Turkish MP Eren Erdem has told RT, insisting there are grounds to believe a cover up has taken place.
The main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) member, Erdem, brought up the issue for public discussion in parliament last week, citing evidence from an abruptly-closed criminal case. He accused Ankara of failing to investigate Turkish supply routes used to provide terrorists with toxic sarin gas ingredients.
“There is data in this indictment. Chemical weapon materials are being brought to Turkey and being put together in Syria in camps of ISIS which was known as Iraqi Al Qaeda during that time," Erdem told RT._
So some people in Turkey's government are mentioning how Turkey plays a bit of a hand in allowing weapons to find their way in Syria.
It's worth remembering that there was the outed story of how the US planned to use chemical weapons in Syria and then blame Assad.
_Leaked emails have allegedly proved that the White House gave the green light to a chemical weapons attack in Syria that could be blamed on Assad's regime and in turn, spur international military action in the devastated country.
A report released on Monday contains an email exchange between two senior officials at British-based contractor Britam Defence where a scheme 'approved by Washington' is outlined explaining that Qatar would fund rebel forces in Syria to use chemical weapons._
Plus there this:
https://www.rt.com/news/325826-turkey-us-isis-oil-un/
Turkey, US failed to notify UN Security Council of ISIS oil smuggling - Russian UN envoy Churkin
_Ankara and Washington contravened the UN resolution on financing terrorism by failing to inform the Security Council about Islamic State illegally trafficking stolen oil, Russia’s UN envoy has said.“We’ve got serious complaints about the implementation of [UN] resolution (#2199, banning financing of the terrorist organization),” Vitaly Churkin told RIA Novosti news agency.
“Under Resolution 2199, adopted on our initiative in February, countries are obliged to provide information (about financing terrorists) to the Security Council - if they have such information. That means the Americans had to provide such information, and of course Turkey, which should have reported any illegal [oil] trade going on there. They didn't do it,” Churkin said._
-
-
http://www.nybooks.com/articles/2015/12/17/erdogan-sultan-turkey/
Turkey seems more insane these days than I would thought.
_Erdoğan’s dominance of Turkish politics is both a consequence and a cause of the weakness of the country’s institutions. As an ambitious prime minister in the 2000s, he cut back the power of the country’s secular military and civilian bureaucracies, which had used strong-arm tactics with many human rights abuses including torture, aimed at preventing Islamists such as Erdoğan from assuming power in the past. This campaign culminated in August 2013 with the jailing of dozens of high army officers, including a former chief of the general staff, for plotting against the government. Senior officers nowadays shy away from making any decision of consequence. As a European diplomat in Turkey put it, “You won’t find four Turkish generals in a room these days, for fear of being accused of plotting.” Every army promotion above the rank of major has to be approved by the president.
Also in 2013 Erdoğan was challenged by a powerful religious movement inspired by Fethullah Gülen, a Turkish preacher living in eastern Pennsylvania who enjoys strong support from Turkey’s judiciary and police. The movement has been called a “moderate blend of Islam”; although its workings are often obscure, its publications emphasize science, technology, and multiparty democracy. Erdoğan had previously been able to intimidate military officers, but judges and prosecutors, some connected with Gülen, have been able to preserve independent power. In December 2013 more than fifty prominent pro-government figures were questioned about corruption by prosecutors, some of them thought to be sympathetic to Gülen. Later the same investigation was said to raise questions about the corrupt behavior of Erdoğan’s son Bilal. Since then Erdoğan has said he is trying to eradicate the “parallel structure” within the bureaucracy that allegedly has ties to Gülen. Thousands of prosecutors and police officers have been sacked or transferred. Several judicial officials have been jailed (including a judge who had awarded bail to arrested followers of Gülen).
Just after the recent election, in the early hours of November 2, forty-four officials in the İzmir region, including senior bureaucrats and policemen, were arrested by police officers loyal to Erdoğan. An Istanbul court has banned travel by a further fifty-four prosecutors and judges on suspicion of terrorism or attempting to overthrow the government. Rightly or wrongly, some have been said to have connections with Gülen._
-
http://www.lrb.co.uk/v38/n01/seymour-m-hersh/military-to-military
Funky article about nonsense with Turkey being dealt with by intelligence folks.
_Lieutenant General Michael Flynn, director of the DIA between 2012 and 2014, confirmed that his agency had sent a constant stream of classified warnings to the civilian leadership about the dire consequences of toppling Assad. The jihadists, he said, were in control of the opposition. Turkey wasn’t doing enough to stop the smuggling of foreign fighters and weapons across the border. ‘If the American public saw the intelligence we were producing daily, at the most sensitive level, they would go ballistic,’ Flynn told me. ‘We understood Isis’s long-term strategy and its campaign plans, and we also discussed the fact that Turkey was looking the other way when it came to the growth of the Islamic State inside Syria.’ The DIA’s reporting, he said, ‘got enormous pushback’ from the Obama administration. ‘I felt that they did not want to hear the truth.’
‘Our policy of arming the opposition to Assad was unsuccessful and actually having a negative impact,’ the former JCS adviser said. ‘The Joint Chiefs believed that Assad should not be replaced by fundamentalists. The administration’s policy was contradictory. They wanted Assad to go but the opposition was dominated by extremists. So who was going to replace him? To say Assad’s got to go is fine, but if you follow that through – therefore anyone is better. It’s the “anybody else is better” issue that the JCS had with Obama’s policy.’ The Joint Chiefs felt that a direct challenge to Obama’s policy would have ‘had a zero chance of success’.
So in the autumn of 2013 they decided to take steps against the extremists without going through political channels, by providing US intelligence to the militaries of other nations, on the understanding that it would be passed on to the Syrian army and used against the common enemy, Jabhat al-Nusra and Islamic State._
I like this bit too.
_The press conference failed to deal with the far more urgent impasse between the two men on the matter of Erdoğan. Obama defended Turkey’s right to defend its borders; Hollande said it was ‘a matter of urgency’ for Turkey to take action against terrorists. The JCS adviser told me that one of Hollande’s main goals in flying to Washington had been to try to persuade Obama to join the EU in a mutual declaration of war against Islamic State. Obama said no.
The Europeans had pointedly not gone to Nato, to which Turkey belongs, for such a declaration. ‘Turkey is the problem,’ the JCS adviser said._