Against the background of the ever mounting number of terrorist attacks around the globe, including the recent tragic events in Nice, a particular emphasis should be laid on the strengthening of anti-terrorist efforts. Certain positive results can be attributed to the anti-terrorist operations in Iraq and Syria, that are being carried out by the so-called “coalition forces”. ISIS forces are not simply suffering losses, they found themselves unable to coordinate their operations properly. The continuous bombardment of the illegal oil infrastructure in Syria and Iraq has deprive terrorists of financial incomes, which resulted in ISIS being unable to pay its militants for their “services.”
In the previous years terrorists were pretty comfortable in their ability to capture swiftly new territories and create new formation in Libya, Saudi Arabia and other neighboring states. It’s been reported that ISIS units have even reached Afghanistan. However, as both Russian and American forces stepped their efforts up against ISIS, the surviving terrorists started searching areas of the Middle East where they won’t fall victims of military actions against them. Given the fact that the anti-terrorist actions against ISIS remain uncoordinated between the leader of the coalition, while the regional contradictions remain unresolved, ISIS militants are taking full advantage of the fact that they can enjoy relative security in certain areas of the world.
The German domestic intelligence service BfV has already confirmed officially the worst fears of analysts, reporting that an ever growing number of former ISIS operatives are arriving to Europe under the guise of refugees. This, of course, is a reason for grave concern for both the German government and the governments of the neighboring European countries, since there’s a growing propability of new terrorist acts being committed in Europe. Last March the then Supreme Allied Commander Europe commander General Philip Breedlove announced that ISIS is taking advantage of the refugee crisis to infiltrate Europe and the United States with its terrorist cells. According to Breedlove, over 1.5 thousand ISIS militants have returned to Europe from the Middle East. Speaking before the Senate Committee on Armed Services, Breedlove announced that the ISIS ideology is spreading among refugees like cancer.
However, Europe is not the only region infiltrated by terrorists, as experts are ringing the alarm about the worsening situation in the Central Asia, since there’s a serious possibility that ISIS may raise its head there, moving the majority of its forces along with its headquarters to certain Central Asian states.
These concerns have been aggravated by the tragic events of June 29 that shook the airport in Istanbul, when the blood of Central Asia and the Caucasus citizens was spilled in the course of a terrorist attack. According to various reports, a total of 6000 militants from Central Asia and the Caucasus have already been enlisted in ISIS ranks.
One shouldn’t forget that a certain number of ISIS units was withdrawn from Syria immediately after the launch of a large-scale international anti-terrorist operations. These forces were later deployed to Libya, which now serves as a secondary base for ISIS. A great number of militants that had families went to Turkey and scattered there in a bid to hide from prosecution. Certain groups fled to Pakistan and Afghanistan.
The considerable reduction in the numbers of people ISIS can recruit into its ranks in the Middle East doesn’t necessarily mean that this trend will continue with other similar organizations and networks. In particular, one cannot ignore the fact that the Al-Nusra Front is getting stronger in Syria and Al-Qaeda is receiving more and more support as ISIS is getting weaker in Iraq and Syria.
Various sources say that at least 500 and 800 Kyrgyz citizens have visited at some point ISIS training camps. Experts say there’s over a thousand Uzbek and Tajik militants still fighting under the black banner of ISIS. Religious fanatics are trying to undermine a number of Kyrgyz cities, including in the capital – Bishkek.
The seriousness of the terrorist threat in the post-Soviet Central Asia, aggravated by a generally high degree of support for radical Islamic movements among the local population. There’s facts that some of the most dangerous terrorist organizations in this region were created the active support of the US and NATO special services. It seems that US geopolitical interests requite certain destabilizing acts of aggression to be committed, and Islamic terrorists seems to suit this purpose perfectly. In an effort to expand American influence in the region, Washington has repeatedly provided support for local extremist and terrorist organizations in a bid to overthrow the unwanted local regimes.
In doing so, Washington is acting on the assumption that any military conflicts in the region will cause a lot of troubles to Russia. China can fall the victim of this meddling pretty easily too, since it has faced radicalism on the part of Uighur separatists time and time again. The population of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China is over 15 million people, while 60% of this number are Turks and Muslim. That is why the US and its NATO allies, under certain conditions, may assist extremists in strengthening their influence in the region to put additional pressure on Russia and China.
US intelligence agencies are now convinced that they will be able to eliminate terrorist groups after putting them to “good use”. However, Washington’s belief that it is able to control the terrorists is simply delusional. Such “double games” have backfired time and time again during the course of history, therefore one must put aside all disagreements to join efforts in the fight against terrorism and its current flagship – ISIS.
A recent report on the Iran nuclear deal sheds light on a highly problematic aspect of the agreement, namely, that the Islamic Republic has been authorized to upgrade its uranium enrichment abilities, a senior Israeli arms expert warned on Tuesday.
Emily Landau, head of the Arms Control and Regional Security Program at the Tel Aviv-based Institute for National Security Studies, told The Jerusalem Post that a report by the Associated Press underlined "a big concern - that Iran is allowed to work on research and development of a full range of advanced centrifuge models."
Emily Landau, head of the Arms Control and Regional Security Program at the Tel Aviv-based Institute for National Security Studies, told The Jerusalem Post that a report by the Associated Press underlined "a big concern - that Iran is allowed to work on research and development of a full range of advanced centrifuge models."
According to the report, published by the AP on Monday, a confidential add-on agreement linked to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action [JCPOA, or the Iran nuclear deal], spells out Iranian plans to develop and install a range of new enrichment machines after the first ten years of the agreement pass.
That would reduce Iran's breakout time from a year to six months, even though Iran will still be limited to possessing 300 kilograms of low enriched uranium for the first 15 years of the JCPOA, the report said.
The wide-ranging purge launched by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan after last week’s failed military coup is part of his masterplan to turn Turkey into a radical Islamist state, retired US Army Colonel and historian Douglas Macgregor told Sputnik.
Since the failed coup, Erodgan has ordered the arrest of at least 70 generals and admirals, fired 21,000 school teachers across Turkey from their jobs and told CNN he wants Parliament to discuss reintroducing the death penalty, which was abolished in 2004.
Macgregor interpreted these events as signs that Erdogan was showing his true colors as a radical Islamist after 13 years of slowly but steadily increasing his personal power.
“Once elected, Islamists do not surrender power: That is the lesson everyone in the West must finally accept. The coup was the last opportunity to arrest this tragic development.”
Erdogan would still try and present himself to the United States and the European Union (EU) as a moderate democrat but the reality of his political actions would tell a very different story, Macgregor warned.
“In the short-run, Erdogan will attempt to the extent he can to cultivate a ‘moderate’ image but his violent suppression of internal dissent and political opposition will make it very difficult for all but the most gullible to believe in his alleged democratic credentials.”
Macgregor argued that Erdogan had played a far larger role in helping to create and sustain the Daesh, than Western governments and media had realized. He predicted that even though Daesh was being destroyed, Erdogan would seek to replace it with a similar movement.
“Daesh, in large part a creation of Erdogan, Qatar and the Saudis, is now a dying Frankenstein’s monster. As it diminishes, another will arise that is likely more closely aligned with and obedient to Erdogan’s wishes.”
However, as these developments unfolded, Erdogan would no longer be able to present himself to the West as a democrat and moderate, Macgregor predicted.
“In the long-run, the proverbial hand writing is on the wall. Ultimately, Erdogan will be unable to conceal his true identity as Sunni Islam’s leader Jihadist Champion against the West, Russia, Iran and Israel.”
On Tuesday, US Department of State spokesperson Mark Toner rejected media allegations that the US government had any involvement in Friday’s military coup in Turkey that resulted in 300 deaths and more than 1,400 wounded.
The mainstream media will never tell the public the truth, if the truth might incriminate Barack Obama. You have to dig for the truth. You must find credible websites whose owners and writers are not politically correct.
Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the PM of Turkey is a monster. Many of my readers know that I believe that BHO is America’s monster. These men are close friends. When people have very close relationships, it is reasonable to assume that they are in agreement about important issues.
Dr. Daniel Pipes, president of Middle East Forum, is a well respected syndicated writer and speaker. I have communicated with Daniel on numerous occasions. His articles are published in the Washington Times and in many other conservative news sources.
Some readers question that the Republic of Turkey has supported the “Islamic State in Iraq and Syria,” the main Sunni group fighting in Iraq. They point to ISIS attacks on Turkish interests, within Turkey, along its border with Syria, and in Mosul and a successful recent meeting of the Turkish and Iranian presidents. Good points, but they can be explained.
Actually, the Turks offered far more than an easy border crossing: they provided the bulk of ISIS’ funds, logistics, training and arms. Turkish residents near the Syrian border tell of Turkish ambulances going to Kurdish-ISIS battle zones and then evacuating ISIS casualties to Turkish hospitals. Indeed, a sensational photograph has surfaced showing ISIS commander Abu Muhammad in a hospital bed receiving treatment for battle wounds in Hatay State Hospital in April 2014.
One Turkish opposition politician estimates that Turkey has paid $800 million to ISIS for oil shipments. Another politician released information about active duty Turkish soldiers training ISIS members. Critics note that Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has met three times with someone, Yasin al-Qadi, who has close ties to ISIS and has funded it.
Why the Turkish support for wild-eyed extremists? Because Ankara wants to eliminate two Syrian polities, the Assad regime in Damascus and Rojava (the emerging Kurdish state) in the northeast.
Regarding the Assad regime: “Thinking that jihadists would ensure a quick fall for the Assad regime in Syria, Turkey, no matter how vehemently officials deny it, supported the jihadists,” writes Cengiz, “at first along with Western and some Arab countries and later in spite of their warnings.”
Regarding Rojava: Rojava’s leadership being aligned with the PKK, the (formerly) terrorist Kurdish group based in Turkey, the authoritative Turkish journalist Amberin Zaman has little doubt “that until recently, Turkey was allowing jihadist fighters to move unhindered across its borders” to fight the Kurds.
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