Putin + Assad + Trump = Calamity
Have a heart that never hardens, and a temper that never tires, and a touch that never hurts.
— Charles Dickens
The past four years have brought pain, misery and death to millions across the Earth. Emperor Vladimir Putin has gained a windfall from the chaos, confusion, crisis and incompetence of the former president of the U.S. While his own economy has shriveled to less than that of California, Putin has continued to gain influence through misinformation, security hacks, and political interference. His poisoning and subsequent arrest of his chief political opponent Alexei Navalny, however, has brought harsh reaction from opponents across Russia. This plus the worldwide pandemic has been devastating.
Putin’s military escapades include helping Syria’s despot Bashar al-assad in the latter years of the ten-year civil war there. Bombing and gassing schools, hospitals, and houses of worship were routine. Murder, rape and torture still occur. Then there are the over thirty million Kurds. They are an Iranic ethnic group of Western Asia, primarily living in Central Anatolia, Khorasan, the Caucasus, western Turkey and Western Europe.
For years these brave people helped the United States fight ISIS in the northwestern parts of the country. The fighters included women of the YPJ, or Women’s Protection Units, who bore arms with their men to confront the enemy. Many died or were wounded. Together they formed the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). They provided critical ground war against ISIS, While the U.S. provided military assistance, training and air support.
In 2019 Turkey began its invasion of Syria, launching a series of airstrikes against the Kurds. Former President Donnyt abandoned them falsely declaring victory over ISIS. Critics have called this action inappropriate. Counterisis strategist Brett Mcgurk under President Obama and Trump saw evidence of “war crimes” and “terrible acts of barbarity” following Turkey’s invasion of Kurdish-held areas. It resulted in a “complete unraveling of the entire tapestry of northeast Syria,” he said. Hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced from their homes, leading to ethnic cleansing. “Definitely the United States bears some responsibility.”
Gen. Joseph Votel, former commander of U.S. Central Command indicated that America’s ability to operate effectively in the region was diminished and said he feared that Russia, Turkey and Iran would now be in control.
The Kurds would like an autonomous state, Turkestan, from portions of Syria, Turkey and Iraq. Trump denied them this. Hopefully the Biden administration will be able to negotiate a settlement including Turkestan to bring partial peace to the Middle East.
A tale of three leaders who broke laws, caused enormous misery, and countless deaths. These are international laws that demand restitution. The Russian people can turn out the Vlad and restore democracy to their country. Without Putin al-assad’s fragile hold on his government will collapse and Syria will be free.
That leaves Donnyt. We now know that the January 6th attack on the Capitol was well planned, organized, equipped and funded by ultra-right-wing factions loyal to Trump. Many have attested to it when arraigned.
During last week’s joint Senate committee hearing on the attack, Republican Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin offered unfounded conspiracy theories that the attackers were Antifa members pretending to be Trump supporters. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s editorial board is now saying the senator “must go.”
The Senate hearings keep uncovering details about how Trump and his allies incited, aided and abetted the riots. While 53 Republican senators ignored the evidence and let the ex-prez escape the Impeachment Trial, the latest information has become undeniable. Trump has broken many laws. And we must not forget the state cases coming in Alabama and New York. More to come…