Category Archives: Iraq

The Fortunes of War – four killed in Manbij

Posted on January 17, 2019 by Pat Lang

(a Templar – We had ours too) "Two U.S. service members, one Department of Defense (DoD) civilian and one contractor supporting DoD were killed and three service members were injured in the recent attack in the northern Syrian city of … Continue reading →

Posted in Borg Wars, Iraq, Middle East, Syria, Turkey | Comments Off on The Fortunes of War – four killed in Manbij

It appears that Trump has rejected neocon opinion on Syria

Posted on January 11, 2019 by Pat Lang

"The U.S. military began the process of withdrawing its troops from Syria following a drawdown ordered by President Donald Trump, a military official said Friday. Col. Sean Ryan, a spokesman for the U.S.-coalition fighting the Islamic State group in Syria … Continue reading →

Posted in As The Borg Turns, government, Iraq, Middle East, Syria | Comments Off on It appears that Trump has rejected neocon opinion on Syria

Chickens coming home to roost for Trump

Posted on January 9, 2019 by Pat Lang

Foreign Affairs.   Middle East.  Bolton had his ass kicked on this trip.  The Turks made it clear that my view of them as neo-Ottomans unwilling to kow-tow to the US or anyone else is correct.  The manner of Turkish … Continue reading →

Posted in As The Borg Turns, government, Iraq, Israel, Middle East, Politics, Syria | Comments Off on Chickens coming home to roost for Trump

Iraq is proposing Re-admittance of Syria to the Arab League

Posted on January 4, 2019 by Pat Lang

"Iraqi top diplomat Mohamed Alhakim has confirmed the country’s support for Syria’s return to the Arab League, in a statement quoted by the Foreign Ministry. “Iraq supports the unity of Syria and its return to its normal position in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Iraq, Syria | Comments Off on Iraq is proposing Re-admittance of Syria to the Arab League

“Whither the Kurds?” Dorsey

Posted on December 29, 2018 by Pat Lang

"Kurdish hopes are often vested in predictions articulated by former CIA and National Security Agency director Michael Hayden that “Iraq no longer exists, Syria no longer exists”[v][5] as well as the disintegration of Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia in the wake of … Continue reading →

Posted in As The Borg Turns, Borg Wars, Iran, Iraq, Middle East, Syria, Turkey | Comments Off on “Whither the Kurds?” Dorsey

A New England Brahmin through and through

Posted on December 2, 2018 by Pat Lang

In the context of Desert Storm I was sent over from the Pentagon to brief him in the Oval Office. The benevolent grandpa image being propagated in the media on the occasion of his death and emerging apotheosis does not … Continue reading →

Posted in Current Affairs, History, Iraq | Comments Off on A New England Brahmin through and through

Iraq doesn’t care about US sanctions on Iran

Posted on November 18, 2018 by Pat Lang

  "On November 16th, Iran and Iraq agreed on the establishment of a free trade zone, according to Iranian President Hassan Rouhani. “We have agreed to create a free trade zone between the two countries, which will enable us to … Continue reading →

Posted in As The Borg Turns, Iran, Iraq, Middle East | Comments Off on Iraq doesn’t care about US sanctions on Iran

YPG has withdrawn from the Euphrates fight with IS

Posted on November 7, 2018 by Pat Lang

  "The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which consist mainly of members of various Kurdish armed groups, declared on October 31 that they had halted their operation against ISIS in the Euphrates Valley because of Turkish attacks on their positions … Continue reading →

Posted in As The Borg Turns, Borg Wars, Current Affairs, Iraq, Middle East, Syria | Comments Off on YPG has withdrawn from the Euphrates fight with IS

“Who needs Saudi Arabia?” Washpost editorial

Posted on October 16, 2018 by Pat Lang

  "As for arms sales, someone needs to brief Mr. Trump on the actual results of the promises made to him when he visited Riyadh last year. As Bruce Riedel of the Brookings Institution sums it up, “The Saudis have not … Continue reading →

Posted in As The Borg Turns, France, government, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Lebanon, Middle East, Palestine, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, Yemen | Comments Off on “Who needs Saudi Arabia?” Washpost editorial

Janissaries will march across northern Syria and Iraq?

Posted on August 19, 2018 by Pat Lang

   "The Turkish military will expand the area of its operations in northern Syria, up to the  Iraqi border, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced on August 18. “The operations of the Turkish army in Jarabulus, Al Bab and Afrin will … Continue reading →

Posted in Borg Wars, Iraq, Middle East, Russia, Syria, Turkey | Comments Off on Janissaries will march across northern Syria and Iraq?