Podcasts about syrian kurds

A deal signed earlier this week by Syria's interim president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, and the commander in chief of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, Mazlum Kobane, is viewed by many as a turning point for Syria's Kurds. It also comes amid escalating violence across Syria which has cast serious doubts over al-Sharaa's ability to earn the trust of his people and govern. Steven Cook, the Eni Enrico Mattei senior fellow for Middle East and Africa studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, joins Thanos Davelis to explore whether this deal is really a game changer for Syria and Syria's Kurds, and break down the roles of outside forces - particularly the US and Turkey - in this story.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Syrian Kurds celebrate deal with Damascus as coastal residents remain wary after violenceSyria's Kurds win big as Sharaa shakes hands with Kobane to save his own skinKonstantinos Tasoulas to be sworn in as president ThursdayPM eyes major cabinet shake-upThe EU wants to increase deportations and supports ‘return hubs' in third countriesEurope cracks down on migration. The far right is cheering.

It's a volatile world these days. While Europe wonders if it's just lost its US security umbrella, while a Gaza ceasefire hangs by a thread, while Syria figures out how to hold it together after the fall of Assad, major regional player Turkey looks to get its own house in order with the announced dissolution of a 40-year-old Kurdish insurgency. Why did Recep Tayyip Erdogan and imprisoned PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan agree to open a path to peace? And why now?  Will it work this time? The pair have tried and failed before to bury the hatchet.We discuss the cross-border consequences in Iraq, where many guerrillas have their base, and in Syria, where Ankara-backed militias are openly fighting Syrian YPG Kurdish fighters, the secular Syrian Kurds who as part of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have the backing of US troops as they take on the remnants of the Islamic State group.On that score, will that support from Washington continue? With Iran in retreat and Russia elsewhere occupied, how does the Trump administration see its role?Produced by Rebecca Gnignati, Ilayda Habib and Aurore Laborie. 

The imprisoned leader of the Kurdistan Workers Party, the PKK, Abdullah Ocalan, has called for an end to the fight against the Turkish state. This may open the door to ending four decades of conflict that has claimed over 40,000 lives. RFI's correspondent in Istanbul looks at the implications for the wider region. In a packed conference hall in an Istanbul hotel, Ahmet Turk, a leading member of Turkey's pro-Kurdish Dem Party, read a statement by Ocalan calling for the organization, which he founded, to disarm and dissolve itself, declaring an end to the decades-long conflict. The PKK, designated as a terrorist organization by the European Union and the United States, has been fighting for autonomy and Kurdish minority rights in Turkey since the 1980s.Ocalan, imprisoned in a Turkish jail since 1999, made his disarmament call after the PKK suffered significant military setbacks in recent years. "The PKK is almost finished within the borders of Turkey," explained Mesut Yegen, a political scientist at the Istanbul-based Reform Institute.However, Yegen claims with the PKK now primarily based in northern Iraq on Turkey's frontier, while its affiliate in Syria, the SDF, controls a large swathe of territory bordering Turkey all sides still have an interest in peace."We know that the Turkish state needs a peace process because it's worried about the future development in the region in Syria and Iraq," added Yegen.Turkey looks for regional help in its battle against Kurdish rebels in Iraq Cautious responseThe Turkish government gave a cautious response to Ocalan's statement, saying it's waiting for the PKK to disarm. The PKK leadership based in Iraq, ahead of Ocalan's statement, declared it is looking for gestures from the government before any disarmament."The peace process in Turkey will largely depend on what emerges, what kind of a deal emerges inside Syria," Asli Aydintasbas, a visiting senior fellow with the Brookings Institution in Washington, said."So we're also seeing Turkey be more cautious. That doesn't mean, you know, Turkey won't reverse course if it feels there's no room to go with Syrian Kurds or inside the peace process in Turkey."Turkish armed forces are massed on the Syrian border with Ankara, demanding the SDF merge with the Syrian army under the control of Syria's new rulers, with whom the Turkish government has close ties.For now, the SDF leader Mazloum Abdi declared his force is not bound by Ocalan's disarmament call while demanding Ankara end its ongoing attacks on its troops.Turkey's Saturday Mothers keep up vigil for lost relativesScepticismAnalyst Mesut Yegen adds that ending the PKK conflict will come at a price for Ankara.  "They're (PKK) expecting that in return for that, the state promises that at least a kind of autonomy or status for Syrian Kurds is going to be recognised by the Syrian regime, the new regime, and that the Turkish state also supports this kind of solution."In addition to this, of course, the expectation is that some reforms will be implemented in Turkey with regards to the Kurdish question."Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has distanced himself from the current efforts to end the conflict, other than saying a historic opportunity exists for Kurds and Turks to live in peace but offering no concessions.For months, a crackdown on Turkey's legal Kurdish movement continues, with the removal of elected mayors and arrests of journalists and human rights activists. Trial of alleged PKK figures accused of financing terror begins in FranceTurkish commentator on Turkey's Politikyol news portal, Sezin Oney, warns unless the causes of the conflict are addressed, there's little hope of a permanent peace. "Probably, any disarmament or any disbanding of PKK would be a gimmick," warns Oney."It wouldn't be a real actual disbanding, and it might just appear in a year under a different name. Because they would still have the pretext to argue that armed struggle is necessary because the Kurds in Turkey don't have their democratic rights."With previous peace efforts failing, opinion polls indicate that the public remains sceptical of this latest effort. But for 75-year-old Ocalan, analysts warn it may be his last chance of any hope of freedom.

On December 8, the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime was widely celebrated across Syria, but also in neighbouring countries that have been home to millions of Syrian refugees for more than a decade. Although Assad's departure has revived hopes of a return from Iraqi Kurdistan, where almost 300,000 Syrian Kurds still live mostly in camps, the question of the Kurds' place in the new Syria is not yet clear. They have high expectations of the negotiations with Damascus, at a time when a union is taking shape between Kurdish political groups, which had until now been deeply divided. FRANCE 24's Josh Vardey, Marie-Charlotte Roupie and Stella Martany report.

Can Syria keep its promises? After the fall of Bashar al-Assad last December, the new rulers of Damascus are convening a one-day national dialogue conference. On paper, the outcomes sound promising: transitional justice, inclusive democracy and the disarmament of the country's numerous militias in favour of a unified national army. In practice, it's far more complicated. The US-backed Syrian Kurds in the north feel excluded and have no intention of surrendering their weapons while they continue to fight both IS group remnants and Turkey-backed militias.  Integrating them, while also building trust with the Islamist-led factions that brought Ahmed al-Shaara to power, won't happen overnight. We explore how this can be achieved and how far the West is willing to go, now that the EU has lifted sanctions. With Israel's ongoing air strikes and its demands for Syria's military to retreat from the Golan Heights, how can the international community support lasting stability and peace in a country that desperately seeks it?Produced by François Picard, Rebecca Gnignati, Guillaume Gougeon and Ilayda Habip.

The future of American troops in Syria is in the spotlight, as Turkey and Israel push competing agendas with the Trump administration regarding the role of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces in countering the Islamic State group. The United States' military presence in Syria has been called into question, as President Donald Trump faces conflicting pressure from Turkey and Israel over the 2000-strong US force supporting a Syrian Kurdish-led coalition.The US force is supporting an Arab-Kurdish coalition of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in its war against the Islamic State (IS) group.Thousands of IS militants are currently being held in SDF prisons, but the US military presence now hangs in the balance. Turkey analyst Sinan Ciddi, of the Washington-based research institute, the Foundation for Defense of Democracies says Trump is in a dilemma because he ran on this promise of putting America first. "Getting out of foreign entanglements, not committing US troops and US money to parts of the world in which the US doesn't have any interest," he tells RFI.However, Ciddi warns a quick withdrawal would not be without risk: "The dilemma for Trump is that in a theatre such as Syria, if he were to pull back 2,000 troops, then you've got this major security threat."Turkey's Erdogan sees new Trump presidency as opportunityTurkey labels SDF 'insurgents'However, a US pullout would be welcomed by its NATO ally Turkey. Ankara strongly opposes Washington's military support for the SDF, which it accuses of being linked to Kurdish insurgents fighting Turkey.International relations expert Bilgehan Alagoz, of Istanbul's Marmara University, maintains the US deployment has poisoned relations between the two allies, but says a withdrawal by Trump would offer a reset in ties."I believe that there is going to be a new ground between Turkey and the United States," Alagoz said. "And Turkey will guarantee the safety of US soldiers and a successful withdrawal from Syria. So it is all going to be a kind of new negotiation between Turkey and the United States."Until now, US soldiers in Syria have prevented the Turkish military – massed on the Syrian border – from overwhelming the SDF, but time may be running out for the Kurdish-led forces."Assuming that the US withdraws at one point from Syria ... this will mean the end of the diplomatic umbrella for the SDF that the US was able to put over them," according to Aydin Selcen, a former Turkish diplomat and now foreign policy analyst for Turkey's Medyascope independent news outlet.Selcen warns that the SDF has only a small window to secure its future: "Time is of the essence for the SDF to get their act together and join forces with Damascus... to fold their forces into the Syrian armed forces, which would also satisfy Ankara's security concerns."Turkey steps up military action against Kurds in Syria as power shiftsIsrael sees SDF as key against ISTurkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has close ties with Syria's new leaders, and is demanding that the SDF disband or face a Turkish assault.However, the Israeli government is voicing support for American backing for the SDF, given the risk posed by the Islamic State."We know that the SDF controls prisons in which there are around 10,000 Islamic State fighters and families," explains Gallia Lindenstrauss, a foreign policy specialist at the Institute for National Security Studies in Tel Aviv."Nobody wants to see the resurgence of the Islamic State. And I think in this respect, the US understands this is a small number of troops [and] they are effective. So why pull them out?"Paris hosts global conference on shaping Syria's futureLindenstrauss told RFI: "Israel has voiced that it does want to see the West continue supporting the Kurdish presence in northeast Syria, so there will be Israeli diplomatic efforts to keep the [US] troops there."Israel's foreign minister, Gideon Saar, recently underlined the importance of the Syrian Kurds as an ally to Israel – a message that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is likely to have delivered to Trump during his visit to Washington this month, Ciddi believes."We've seen an increase in moves by the Israeli government to provide more formal and government support for non-state actors, such as the Syrian Kurds," he said. "Because they understand that hitherto they've been entirely reliable in thwarting some of the major security concerns that the Israelis hold close to their heart."

Israel's demolition of the ill-equipped Syrian military and the recent occupation of additional Syrian territory beyond the Golan Heights it conquered in the 1967 Middle East war is just one obstacle. So is a daunting list of challenges that, if unresolved, threaten the new Syrian rulers' ability to rebuild an economy ravaged by 14 years of civil war and, potentially, the country's territorial integrity. The challenges include Turkey's military presence in northern Syria, fighting between a pro-Turkish militia and Syrian Kurds, differences over whether Syria should be a centralised state or a federation, the failure of large numbers of Al-Assad conscripts to turn in their weapons despite being promised amnesty, and concerns about the place of religious minorities in the future Syria.

“Syria is a mix of everything. There are multiple Christian cultures, multiple Muslim cultures, and multiple languages. It’s the crossroads of the world. It made for some of my best travel memories from that time of my life.” —Rolf Potts In this episode of Deviate (which was remixed from an episode of Ari Shaffir’s You Be Trippin’ podcast), Rolf and Ari talk about when and why Rolf traveled to Syria back in the day, and what it was like when he got there (3:30); his experience in staying in a Christian monastery in the mountains outside of Damascus (18:30); Rolf’s journey to the Tigris River, his experience with the Kurds he met in a Syria-Turkey border town, and the types of food on offer in Syria (28:30); Rolf’s enjoyable experience of watching the movie Con Air on a long-distance bus in Syria, and his experience of going to a Sudanese refugee church in Damascus (37:00); Rolf’s experience of accepting hospitality from Syrian Kurds, the experience of eavesdropping on American music at an Aleppo hotel, and what it’s like to watch American movies in other countries (47:00); old travel clothing and gear that Rolf still uses 25 years on, and Rolf’s travel tips and next destinations (1:07:00). Ari Shaffir (@AriShaffir) is a comedian, writer, podcaster, and actor. He is the host of theYou Be Trippin’ podcast,. His latest comedy special, JEW, is available on YouTube. Notable Links: Ari Shaffir on Deviate (archive of podcast episodes) Paris Writing Workshops (Rolf’s travel memoir classes) 2011 Syrian revolution (protests and uprisings in Syria) Five Pillars of Islam (fundamental religious practices) Alawites (Arab ethnoreligious group) Ba’athism (Arab nationalist ideology) Qamishli (city on the Syria-Turkey border) Greater Kurdistan (geo-cultural region) Deir Mar Musa (Syriac Catholic monastery) Traveler ideals and hospitality in Syria (Deviate episode) Suicide door (style of automobile door) KDP (Kurdistan Democratic Party) No-fly zone (area protected from specific aircraft) Fuul (Egyptian stew of cooked fava beans) Con Air (1997 movie) Hannibal Lecter (fictional character) Second Sudanese Civil War (1983-2005 conflict) Marco Polo Didn’t Go There, by Rolf Potts (book) Ibn Battuta (14th century Arab traveler) Benjamin of Tudela (12th century Jewish traveler) Anthem Soul (Rolf’s 2001 radio essay about Syria) James Brown (American singer) Djellaba (unisex robe worn in North Africa) Souvenir, by Rolf Potts (book) Tortuga (travel backpack brand) Vanuatu (South Pacific island nation) Animism (belief system) Cargo Cult (Melanesian spiritual movement) The Deviate theme music comes from the title track of Cedar Van Tassel's 2017 album Lumber. Note: We don't host a “comments” section, but we're happy to hear your questions and insights via email, at deviate@rolfpotts.com.

Syria's new ruler says he wants all weapons and armed factions to come under state control - and that includes the Syrian Kurds. Also on the programme: Israel's latest targets in Gaza include an abandoned school housing homeless families and a barely functioning hospital; we hear from a woman who had an online exchange with the Saudi man accused of murder after five people were killed in a car attack at a Christmas market in Germany.And the Ugandan athlete who's just run from Cape Town to London. Photo: Syria's rebel leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, also known as Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, Credit: Turkish Foreign Ministry Press Office Handout EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstoc

After battling insurgency for 13 years, the Bashar al Assad regime has collapsed in Syria. Assad and his family have fled to Russia where they have been given asylum. An Al Qaida affiliate that today goes by the name of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) has taken control of the Syrian capital Damascus. The immediate future of Syria now depends on the leader of the HTS, Abu Muhammad al-Jolani, a man who was handpicked by Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi to establish a branch in Syria. What were factors behind the sudden overthrow of the Assad regime, which not many had foreseen? What are the implications of this for Russia and Iran, Assad's biggest backers? What are the implications for the various minorities such as Shias, Christians and the Syrian Kurds? And what does this mean for Palestinians in Gaza and for Lebanon?   Guest: Iftikhar Gilani, a senior journalist who has reported for three decades from South Asia and the Middle East and is currently based in Ankara. Host: G. Sampath, Social Affairs Editor, The Hindu. Edited by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian.

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Turkish military forces are carrying out an air assault on US-backed Kurdish forces in Syria, and Ankara has warned that a land operation may follow. The crackdown comes amid reports that Washington may pull its forces out of Syria and Iraq. Turkey's government accuses Kurdish forces in north-eastern Syria of being linked to attacks on its army. Turkish drone strikes are bombarding oil refineries and electricity production in the Syrian border region controlled by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a coalition of ethnic militias and rebel groups."The targets are energy infrastructure and that sort of stuff. Obviously, the goal is to make that area not sustainable, as a sustainable haven for the SDF," says Aydin Selcen, a former senior Turkish diplomat and now regional analyst for the Medyascope news portal.The SDF's ranks include the Kurdish People's Defence Units (YPG) and Women's Protection Units (YPJ), which Ankara accuses of being affiliated with the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK. The armed movement is considered a terrorist organisation by both Ankara and Washington."The end game as defined by the Turkish authorities is to prevent a terrorist statelet [being created] beyond Turkish borders," explains Selcen."This means allowing the PKK or its Syrian affiliates, the YPG and YPJ, to establish a local administration in that area. War on terror is perhaps the number one priority for this government." Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan last month threatened a new land invasion into Syria.Turkish forces already control a large swathe of Syrian territory from previous operations against Syrian Kurdish forces.Possible US withdrawalThe SDF is backed by a US military force of around 900 soldiers in the war against the so-called Islamic State group, raising the possibility of a conflict between NATO and its allies.Ankara's ongoing assault comes amid reports that Washington is considering pulling its forces out of Syria and Iraq."Washington may be preparing to hand off SDF as a partner to the Syrian regime and saying: 'you guys sort yourselves out, we are actually going to leave'," said Turkey analyst Sinan Ciddi of the US-based Foundation for Defense of Democracies."The administration is apparently toying with the idea that it's no longer worth keeping US troops there because they are in harm's way," he said.At least some in the US administration want to explore, if they pulled their troops from northern Syria, "the extent to which Turkey could sort out its problems with the Kurds via engaging with the Syrian regime", Ciddi added.US-Turkey resetA US withdrawal from Syria would relieve years of tension between NATO allies Turkey and the United States."Unfortunately, this relationship with the United States and YPG creates a barrier between Turkey and the United States," said Bilgehan Alagoz, a professor of international relations at Istanbul's Marmara University. "A NATO ally should not act against other allies' national concerns," she said. "That's the main reason why Turkey perceives US policy in Syria as a national security concern." Sweden deal unlikely to resolve bitter dispute between NATO and TurkeyWith Ankara last month lifting its veto on Sweden's NATO membership and the White House reciprocating by green-lighting the sale of military jets to Turkey, the NATO allies appear to be seeking to reset ties. Analyst Selcen warns time may be running out for the SDF."If the Americans leave, it will be very difficult for the SDF to survive unless they cut a deal with Damascus," Selcen said. "But the timing is of the essence, of course – they cannot get the same terms that they will get once the Americans leave."Damascus compromiseBut Selcen suggests if the SDF moves quickly, it could secure a deal with Damascus that ensures its survival – at least in the short term, given the weakness of the Syrian security forces."At the end of the day, they will have to come up with some kind of modus vivendi with [Syrian President Bashar Al] Assad. It does not mean that Assad will come to control this region again as he did. But they will have to come up with some sort of a solution with Damascus."There could equally be advantages for the Turkish government, he believes. Turkey lays the ground for a smoothing of relations with Syria"It will also be, in the end, a kind of a safe face-saving formula for Ankara, which can now take Damascus as the main interlocutor to deal with this [Kurdish problem]," Selcen said."All these sides will be very happy to see the American presence leave the region – with the exception of, of course, the Iraqi Kurds and the Syrian Kurds."Opposition to the US military presence in Syria is rare common ground between Ankara and Damascus.If Damascus was to retake control of the predominantly Kurdish region, analysts say, it could be enough for Erdogan to claim victory over the SDF, end Turkey's assault, and remove the main point of tension between Ankara and Washington.

In a major escalation in the Middle East crisis, three US service members were killed and dozens more injured in a drone strike on the Syrian-Jordanian border by the Iranian-backed Islamic Resistance. This comes as attacks on US personnel in Iraq and Syria have surged since October, and as Washington has been debating a full withdrawal from Syria. Amberin Zaman, Al-Monitor's chief correspondent covering major stories on the Middle East and North Africa, joins Thanos Davelis to discuss this latest deadly attack, what it could mean for the region, and what a potential US withdrawal from Syria would mean for America's partners on the ground - the Syrian Kurds - and for the fight against ISIS.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:U.S. troops killed, wounded in Jordan attack blamed on Iranian proxiesPentagon floats plan for its Syrian Kurd allies to partner with Assad against ISISAmerica Is Planning to Withdraw From Syria—and Create a DisasterUS opens F-35 window to AnkaraUS ready to welcome Turkey ‘back into F-35 family' if S-400 issue is resolved

Join us for a dynamic episode featuring three exceptional guests who bring diverse insights to the forefront. Paul McLeary, a seasoned defense journalist at Politico with unparalleled reporting experiences; Dr. Zuhdi Jasser, a former Navy Lieutenant Commander, physician, and political candidate running in Arizona's 4th Congressional District; and Rick VanMeter, the Executive Director of The Coalition for App Fairness, leading a bipartisan effort to address anti-competitive policies from tech giants Apple and Google. -Connect with us:www.breakingbattlegrounds.voteTwitter: www.twitter.com/Breaking_BattleFacebook: www.facebook.com/breakingbattlegroundsInstagram: www.instagram.com/breakingbattlegroundsLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/breakingbattlegrounds-About our guestsPaul McLeary covers major defense programs and acquisitions policy for POLITICO. He previously covered the Pentagon for Foreign Policy, Defense News and Breaking Defense, and has embedded with U.S. forces in Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria.In Afghanistan, he was the first reporter to get inside the secretive ODIN program that targeted insurgents planting roadside bombs, and later accompanied U.S. special operations forces training Syrian Kurds in northern Syria. He has also traveled to the Arctic with the Norwegian military.-Dr. Zuhdi Jasser, a former Navy Lieutenant Commander, physician, and political candidate running in Arizona's 4th Congressional District-Rick VanMeter is the Executive Director of The Coalition for App Fairness. A bipartisan Congressional effort aimed to address anti-competitive policies from Big Tech companies Apple and Google. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit breakingbattlegrounds.substack.com

Turkey's President Erdogan appears to be shifting away from his initial moderate tone following the shocking Hamas terror attack this past weekend. Instead, he slammed Israel and the US this week over their response to this terrorist attack. At the same time, Erdogan vowed on Wednesday to escalate Ankara's ongoing military campaign against the Kurds in northeast Syria even as Syrian Kurds accuse Turkey of war crimes. Amberin Zaman, the chief correspondent of Al Monitor, joins Thanos Davelis to discuss Erdogan's latest escalation of rhetoric against Israel and the US, look into his threats to step up Ankara's military campaign against the Kurds in northeast Syria, and break down whether Syria's Kurds are slipping further down Washington's list of priorities following the Hamas attack.Read Amberin Zaman's latest here: Syrian Kurds accuse Turkey of war crimes as Erdogan vows escalationTurkey's Erdogan strikes moderate stance as Israel-Hamas war ragesYou can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Notice on the Continuation of the National Emergency With Respect to the Situation in and in Relation to SyriaGaza war tests fragile Israel-Turkey rapprochement as Erdogan ups rhetoricWhy Israel-Hamas is Erdoğan's new ‘mission impossible'EU Commission's Schinas stresses ‘respect for democracy' for West Balkans' accessionGreeks denounce Albanian trial of mayor-elect as politicalND aiming for complete dominance

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says he wants to meet his longtime nemesis Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Many see Ankara's recent efforts to fix relations with Damascus as part of Erdogan's election strategy, amid promises to send back millions of unwanted Syrian refugees. Others say it's part of an effort to crush the Syrian Kurds' autonomous entity. Either way, normalizing Assad without holding him to account for his crimes will hurt the Syrian people and those countries which engage with him, warns the UK's Syria envoy Jonathan Hargreaves.For more on Turkey's courtship of the Assad regime tune in to last week's episode of On The Middle East:https://www.al-monitor.com/podcasts/syrian-commentator-ibrahim-hamidi-says-kurds-have-surpassed-jihadis-assad-regimes-greatestand read the United States' Peace Institute's Middle East expert Mona Yacoubian's latest for War on the Rocks: https://warontherocks.com/2023/01/ukraines-consequences-are-finally-spreading-to-syria/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Turkey has been threatening since last month to launch a major ground invasion against the Kurds of northeast Syria. More than a month has passed and Russia and the United States have aired their objections to Turkey's plans. Turkey has yet to strike. Does this mean that it has caved to US and Russian pressure? Syria expert Fabrice Balanche thinks not. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Turkey has been bombing northeast Syria and the SDF - America's indispensable allies in the fight against the Islamic State - since November, and it appears that Ankara is massing more troops on the Syrian border, threatening a cross-border ground operation. Expert David Phillips joins Thanos Davelis to look at whether a Turkish ground operation in Syria is on the horizon, why Turkey's aggression against the Syrian Kurds is a gift to the Islamic State, and break down what steps the United States should take to make it clear to Ankara that it stands with its Kurdish partners and that this aggression is unacceptable. David Phillips is Director of the Program on Human Rights and Peacebuilding at Columbia University. He has also served as a Senior Adviser and Foreign Affairs Expert at the State Department during the Clinton, Bush, and Obama administrations.Read David Phillips' piece in The National Interest here: Turkish Aggression in Syria Is a Gift to ISISYou can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Erdoğan warns Greece that Turkish missiles can reach AthensErdogan threatens Greece with missile strikeGreek foreign minister slams Turkey's missile threatTurkey's stance towards Finland, Sweden weakens NATO

As Turkey threatens to mount a fresh ground assault against the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces in northeast Syria, America's Syrian Kurdish allies are warning that Washington and the Kremlin need to take a much firmer stance to prevent a Turkish offensive that will further undermine the battle against the Islamic State. While Washington has expressed “strong opposition” to a new Turkish military operation in Syria, sources have also indicated that Turkey is spurning all mediation efforts. Amberin Zaman, a senior correspondent reporting from the Middle East, North Africa and Europe exclusively for Al-Monitor, joins Thanos Davelis to discuss the increasing likelihood of a Turkish offensive, the response from Washington and Moscow, and the options on the table for Syria's Kurds. Read Amberin Zaman's latest reports here: Syrian Kurdish commander says Kobani likely target of threatened Turkish ground offensiveSyrian Kurdish commander slams US response to Turkish attacks as US diplomats evacuated from SyriaAmerican aid volunteer David Eubank says Syrian Kurds feel even more betrayed by US in wake of Turkey's most recent attacksYou can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Greece to get EU-funded anti-disinformation hubGreece, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary agree to boost gas grid interconnections

The U.S. military says the leader of ISIS was killed last month by anti-regime forces in Syria's southwest. It is Syria's northern border with NATO member Turkey that has the U.S. concerned about new violence. The Turkish military has been attacking Syrian Kurds, the U.S.'s partner in fighting ISIS. Nick Schifrin spoke with the Kurd's commander and examines the implications. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

The U.S. military says the leader of ISIS was killed last month by anti-regime forces in Syria's southwest. It is Syria's northern border with NATO member Turkey that has the U.S. concerned about new violence. The Turkish military has been attacking Syrian Kurds, the U.S.'s partner in fighting ISIS. Nick Schifrin spoke with the Kurd's commander and examines the implications. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Turkey is threatening to mount a fresh ground assault against the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces in northeast Syria after a wave of airstrikes that left 11 civilians and numerous Kurdish fighters dead. US officials say they are trying to de-escalate the situation, but their Syrian Kurdish allies say Washington's response has been weak and is unlikely to stave off another Turkish offensive. David Eubank, founder of the Free Burma Rangers, a volunteer group that assists civilians in conflict zones, came out of northeast Syria yesterday where he witnessed the devastation wreaked by Turkey's latest airstrikes. He told Al-Monitor that the sense of betrayal by the United States is even deeper than when President Donald Trump gave Turkey the green light to invade large chunks of northeast Syria in 2019. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Turkish drones have gained international recognition for their role in a number of regional conflicts - from Nagorno Karabakh to Ukraine. Now, Turkey is using its drones to add a new dimension to its provocations against Greece, increasingly using UAVs to violate Greek airspace and territory in the Aegean. Amidst these developments Athens is taking steps to bolster its UAV and other air defense capabilities, implementing a counter drone system using Israeli technology and recently approving a $400 million drone purchase from the US. General (ret.) Taxiarchis Sardellis, HALC's Nonresident Senior Fellow for Defense and Security Policy, joins me to look at the latest moves Greece is making in the field of UAVs on its own and with partners like Israel, and break down why the US needs to support these efforts.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Greece Looks to Israel for Defenses Against Turkish DronesTurkey's rapprochement with Syria leaves regional refugees fearfulTurkey signals new rules of engagement to Syrian Kurds, DamascusGreece seen tapping the bond market in September 

Turkish leaders continue to threaten another military offensive against the Syrian Kurds. But they need either the Kremlin's or Washington's approval to mount any such offensive in the zones that are under Russian and US control. Salih Muslim, the leader of the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party that hold power in northeast Syria says Erdogan is unpredictable and might carry out a military operation.Muslim recalls in this conversaton with Amberin Zaman the days when he used to travel to Turkey when Ankara was holding peace talks with the Kurdistan Workers Party leader Abdullah Ocalan and his commanders in the field. Muslim says until Turkey solves its Kurdish question there cannot be peace in the region.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In Episode 127 of the CounterVortex podcast, Bill Weinberg notes that the Kurdish-controlled Syrian city of Kobani, which became a global icon of resistance to ISIS in 2014, is now under threat of Turkish aggression. The Syrian Kurds were betrayed in 2019, when their autoomous zone of Rojava was greatly reduced by Turkey's first thrust into their territory. Erdogan is now threatening to extinguish it altogether, and incorporate all of Rojava into his "security zone." There is growing speculation that the US could "green light" this aggression in exchange for Turkey dropping its objections to Sweden and Finland joining NATO. Meanwhile, the Yazidis of northern Iraq, who were subjected to genocide at the hands of ISIS in 2014, now face extermination of their hard-won autonomous zone of Ezidikhan at the hands of Baghdad's military—acting under pressure from Turkey. Great Power meddling in Syrian and Iraqi Kurdistan alike is pitting the peoples of the region against each other, portending a disastrous Arab-Kurdish ethnic war. How can activists in the West help break this trajectory? Listen on SoundCloud or via Patreon. https://www.patreon.com/countervortex Production by Chris Rywalt We ask listeners to donate just $1 per weekly podcast via Patreon -- or $2 for our new special offer! We now have 41 subscribers. If you appreciate our work, please become Number 42!

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is vowing to crush the presence of the Kurdish militant group PKK in Iraq. But as the Turkish military closes in on the group, some analysts predict its fighters could turn to Iran, with implications across the region. Turkish forces, backed by jets and drones, are driving the PKK Kurdish militant group from its bases across Iraqi Kurdistan. For decades, the mountainous region has provided the PKK a sanctuary to launch attacks in its battle for greater minority rights across the border in Turkey. With Erdogan claiming to have the support of local Iraqi Kurdish forces, the PKK's once deemed impregnable headquarters in the Qandil mountains is now the target of Turkish troops.  "The politicians have to speak with symbols," said Aydin Selcen, the former head of Turkey's consulate in Iraqi Kurdistan. "When you say Qandil is our ultimate target or aim, whatever, it means that the ultimate step is to stop the PKK from existing altogether." Mountain headquarters The PKK bases in the Qandil mountains border Iran, a rival of Turkey. As the Turkish military steps up its offensive, some analysts suggest the PKK could turn to Iran for support. Despite having its own restive Kurdish minority, Tehran has in the past found common ground with the PKK, whose influence extends to Iraqi and Syrian Kurds. "Iran supported PKK in the 80s and 90s very strongly," says Huseyin Bagci, president of the Foreign Policy Institute, a research organisation in Ankara. "And now when Russians are out of the scene, not so strong, and probably Iran will take their place and the PKK and PYD, of course, they will try to use PKK as a leverage in their relations with Turkey." Tehran has developed close links with armed groups across the region. Turkey threatens to dash Swedish, Finnish hopes of quick NATO entry The escaping Russians finding a better life in Turkey "We don't know relations with Iranian revolutionary guards or the Quds forces relations with the PKK. As they have connections with every armed group in the area, they should have some sort of communication with the PKK as well," says Selcen. Iranian-backed Iraqi militia like the PMU already have contacts with groups linked to the PKK. "Right inside the Iraqi border in Sengal, Sinjar area, the PMU, and YBS the PKK affiliate in the area, they have friendly relations, or they depend on each other, perhaps," says Selcen. "So, in order to survive, all these local actors will need bigger actors than themselves like Turkey, Iran, or global powers like the Americans, the United States," he added. Undermining US forces In Syria, Kurdish forces linked to the PKK cooperate with American forces in the war against the Islamic State group. For Tehran, which backs the Damascus regime, deepening cooperation with the PKK offers the opportunity to undermine the American presence in Syria. "Tehran and Ankara are very pragmatic. They are aware of the very big differences in Syria in the Caucasus and other parts of the world," said Zaur Gasimiov, a senior research fellow in the history department at the University of Bonn. But any Iranian cooperation with the PKK will involve a careful balancing act, says Gasimiov. "I can imagine that the ties between PKK and Tehran would be staid, and maintained, and maybe boosted, but I can't imagine that Tehran would overplay, become a promoter of the PKK or supporter in the region, jeopardising its relations with Ankara. "They learned to cooperate but being aware of the differences." Relations between Turkey and Iran are often characterised as a combination of competition and cooperation. Iran's battered economy relies heavily on Turkish trade – a point Erdogan is likely to stress in his expected visit to Tehran in the coming weeks.

On COI #174, Kyle Anzalone breaks down the recent news in the US Cold War against China. Reuters reports that the US has been sending special operations soldiers to Taiwan for training. The US has sent Coast Guard and arms trainers to Taiwan previously, but the special operations forces would be a serious escalation. The UK is following Washington's lead with its own “tilt” to the Indo-Pacific. The UK's new aircraft carrier is currently docked in Singapore while two other UK warships are preparing for new homes in Japan.  Kyle discusses US-Iran tensions. Iran has signaled a willingness to return to nuclear negotiations in Vienna. However, the Biden administration has largely met the new Iranian president's overtures with threats of more sanctions. Last week, the US removed sanctions on two Iranian entities. The move could have been a signal to Iran that the US was open to removing additional penalties, but the Treasury Department made clear that the sanctions relief did not indicate an overall policy change and more measures could come soon.  Kyle updates the situation in Syria. The Syrian Kurds recently met with US officials and said Washington gave a firm commitment that US troops would remain in Syria. The occupation of some of Syria's more profitable regions is causing suffering for average Syrians. Eventually, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad will challenge the US in the eastern regions, potentially provoking clashes with American forces. The US effort to overthrow Assad in Syria is lost, and even American allies who took part in the prior regime change effort – such as Jordan – are reforging ties with Assad.    Odysee Rumble  Donate LBRY Credits bTTEiLoteVdMbLS7YqDVSZyjEY1eMgW7CP Donate Bitcoin 36PP4kT28jjUZcL44dXDonFwrVVDHntsrk Donate Bitcoin Cash Qp6gznu4xm97cj7j9vqepqxcfuctq2exvvqu7aamz6 Patreon Subscribe Star YouTube Facebook  Twitter  MeWe Apple Podcast  Amazon Music Google Podcasts Spotify iHeart Radio Support Our Sponsor Visit Paloma Verde and use code PEACE for 25% off our CBD  

On COI #174, Kyle Anzalone breaks down the recent news in the US Cold War against China. Reuters reports that the US has been sending special operations soldiers to Taiwan for training. The US has sent Coast Guard and arms trainers to Taiwan previously, but the special operations forces would be a serious escalation. The UK is following Washington's lead with its own “tilt” to the Indo-Pacific. The UK's new aircraft carrier is currently docked in Singapore while two other UK warships are preparing for new homes in Japan.  Kyle discusses US-Iran tensions. Iran has signaled a willingness to return to nuclear negotiations in Vienna. However, the Biden administration has largely met the new Iranian president's overtures with threats of more sanctions. Last week, the US removed sanctions on two Iranian entities. The move could have been a signal to Iran that the US was open to removing additional penalties, but the Treasury Department made clear that the sanctions relief did not indicate an overall policy change and more measures could come soon.  Kyle updates the situation in Syria. The Syrian Kurds recently met with US officials and said Washington gave a firm commitment that US troops would remain in Syria. The occupation of some of Syria's more profitable regions is causing suffering for average Syrians. Eventually, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad will challenge the US in the eastern regions, potentially provoking clashes with American forces. The US effort to overthrow Assad in Syria is lost, and even American allies who took part in the prior regime change effort – such as Jordan – are reforging ties with Assad.  Odysee Rumble  Donate LBRY Credits bTTEiLoteVdMbLS7YqDVSZyjEY1eMgW7CP Donate Bitcoin 36PP4kT28jjUZcL44dXDonFwrVVDHntsrk Donate Bitcoin Cash Qp6gznu4xm97cj7j9vqepqxcfuctq2exvvqu7aamz6 Patreon Subscribe Star YouTube Facebook  Twitter  MeWe Apple Podcast  Amazon Music Google Podcasts Spotify iHeart Radio Support Our Sponsor Visit Paloma Verde and use code PEACE for 25% off our CBD

This might be our most controversial episode, yet.   What is the relationship between the Assad regime and Syrian Kurds? How did Kurds react to the Syrian revolution? Why is it that a majority of Syrian Kurds came to prefer the YPG over the Free Syrian Army?   A lot of it has to do with societal attitudes that go back decades before the Syrian Revolution.   Peshmerge is a Syrian Kurd from Aleppo who participated in the 2011 protests and vehemently supported the Syrian Opposition. His opinion changed as the opposition gradually changed from a big tent movement to one dominated by racists and religious fundamentalism.   Music licensing: Come and Get It By Scott Holmes Creative Commons - Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Scott_Holmes/media-music-mix/come-and-get-it   Fragments by Nomyn https://soundcloud.com/nomyn Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0 Free Download / Stream: http://bit.ly/l-fragments Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/ndyyIhwojys   Genocide by Silent Carrion Creative Commons - attribution-noncommercial-noderivatives 4.0 international (cc by-nc-nd 4.0) https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Silent_Carrion/Suprematism_EP_III_Sol/Silent_Carrion_-_Suprematism_EP_III_Sol_-_01_Genocide

Turkey's strongman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will try to use some "magic" to reset the relationship with U.S. President Joe Biden at their upcoming meeting in June. His “magic,” however, is unlikely to work at this time, Dr. Aykan Erdemir, senior director of the Turkey Program at the Foundation for the Defence of Democracies (FDD) in Washington D.C., told Hot Pursuit. Erdemir said that the meeting between the leaders offers little chance to fix the structural problems in the relationship between the two countries. Both countries have a number of serious issues to resolve. While the U.S. administration asks Turkey to remove the Russian-made S-400 air defence missile system from Turkish soil, Ankara wants Washington to stop Syrian Kurds who seem to be a threat to Turkey’s own national security. The Biden administration will ask the Erdoğan government to improve on its human rights records and democratic standards while the Erdoğan government asks the U.S. government to lift sanctions on some of the weapons systems. What is more, the bilateral meeting will be held under the shadow of the Belarus crisis, Erdemir added. Diplomats have told Reuters, Ankara pushed for the scrapping of any mention of support for sanctions on Belarus and calls for the release of other political prisoners in Belarus after last week’s forced landing of a passenger plane and the subsequent arrest of a dissident journalist by Belarus. There is one topic that has a chance for both leaders to make some progress and for Erdoğan to gain ground, and that is Afghanistan, Erdemir added. Biden will withdraw all American troops from Afghanistan over the coming months, U.S. officials said previously, completing the military exit by the Sept. 11, 2021. Taliban attacks had drawn the United States into the region and its longest war. Turkey has presented itself as a key partner in Afghanistan and was set to host the peace talks between the Taliban and the U.S. government. However, the talk plans have collapsed. Erdemir said that beyond some potential agreement with regards to Afghanistan, there appears to be no easy way to salvage the relationship.

Turkey's strongman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will try to use some "magic" to reset the relationship with U.S. President Joe Biden at their upcoming meeting in June. His “magic,” however, is unlikely to work at this time, Dr. Aykan Erdemir, senior director of the Turkey Program at the Foundation for the Defence of Democracies (FDD) in Washington D.C., told Hot Pursuit.Erdemir said that the meeting between the leaders offers little chance to fix the structural problems in the relationship between the two countries. Both countries have a number of serious issues to resolve. While the U.S. administration asks Turkey to remove the Russian-made S-400 air defence missile system from Turkish soil, Ankara wants Washington to stop Syrian Kurds who seem to be a threat to Turkey’s own national security. The Biden administration will ask the Erdoğan government to improve on its human rights records and democratic standards while the Erdoğan government asks the U.S. government to lift sanctions on some of the weapons systems.What is more, the bilateral meeting will be held under the shadow of the Belarus crisis, Erdemir added. Diplomats have told Reuters, Ankara pushed for the scrapping of any mention of support for sanctions on Belarus and calls for the release of other political prisoners in Belarus after last week’s forced landing of a passenger plane and the subsequent arrest of a dissident journalist by Belarus.There is one topic that has a chance for both leaders to make some progress and for Erdoğan to gain ground, and that is Afghanistan, Erdemir added. Biden will withdraw all American troops from Afghanistan over the coming months, U.S. officials said previously, completing the military exit by the Sept. 11, 2021. Taliban attacks had drawn the United States into the region and its longest war. Turkey has presented itself as a key partner in Afghanistan and was set to host the peace talks between the Taliban and the U.S. government. However, the talk plans have collapsed. Erdemir said that beyond some potential agreement with regards to Afghanistan, there appears to be no easy way to salvage the relationship.

A dramatic drop in water levels on the Euphrates River in recent weeks has increased tensions between Turkey and Syrian Kurdish forces. Kurdish officials in northeast Syria accuse Turkey of reducing the levels of water flowing from the Euphrates, causing an agricultural crisis and a major power shortage in the region. Turkey's Foreign Ministry denies that this is taking place. USCIRF Commissioner Nadine Maenza joins The Greek Current to discuss reports that Turkey is weaponizing water rights in northeast Syria, and why this is a threat to regional stability and to vulnerable religious minority communities in the area.Nadine Maenza is a Commissioner with the USCIRF and the President of the organization Patriot Voices. She has represented USCIRF in various delegations, and has traveled in her own personal capacity to better understand religious freedom conditions in Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Bangladesh, as well as recently spending a month in northeast Syria. You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Water Drop in Euphrates River Increases Tensions Between Syrian Kurds, Turkey Syria: Are water supplies being weaponized by Turkey?USCIRF Annual Report 2021USCIRF Commissioner Nadine Maenza's statementEU Confident of COVID-19 Travel Certificate for SummerGovernment seeking to vaccinate all islanders by end-JuneGreek, Spanish PMs see joint EU debt as precedent for more fiscal integrationSchinas says Greek recovery plan will be approved ‘within June'

Dr. Denise Natali, former Assistant Secretary of State for Conflict and Stabilization Operations and Director of the Center for Strategic Research at the National Defense University’s Institute for National Strategic Studies, discusses the impact of the bipartisan Global Fragility Act on US policy; the challenges of re-integration of non-state armed individuals and groups in the Middle East; why post-conflict stabilization in Yemen will need to be locally driven and supported by its neighbors; and the prospects for common ground between the US and Turkish policies toward Syria and the Syrian Kurds….also, Andrew’s take on the Biden Administration’s policy, so far, toward Iran.

A recent New York Times article titled “In Turkey's Safe Zone in Syria, Security and Misery Go Hand in Hand” has been called out by a number of experts who say it whitewashes Turkey's occupation of Afrin in Syria and the removal of Syrian Kurds from the area. Expert David Phillips joins The Greek Current to explain why this report is so problematic, and to give us a picture of the situation on the ground in Afrin and in Turkish controlled parts of Syria. We also look at David Phillips' latest article on the international community's failure to protect civilians in Nagorno Karabakh from human rights abuses.David Phillips is the Director of the Program on Human Rights and Peace-building at Columbia University. Phillips is also a former senior adviser to the UN Secretariat and US State Department, and the author of the books The Great Betrayal: How America Abandoned the Kurds and Lost the Middle East, and An Uncertain Ally: Turkey Under Erdogan's Dictatorship.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here: In Turkey's Safe Zone in Syria, Security and Misery Go Hand in HandNYT accused of whitewashing Turkey's Afrin occupationThe Failure To Protect Civilians In ArtsakhGreece protests to Turkey over research vesselAthens protests new Turkish Navtex for hydrographic surveyAttica's ICUs approaching full capacityExperts seen leaning towards extension of Attica's hard lockdown

The Freedom for Ocalan Report is a production of the trade union Freedom for Ocalan campaign. WWW.FREEDOMFOROCALAN.ORGTwitter - @OcalanFreePatreon - https://www.patreon.com/FreedomForOcalanOur guest in this episode is Elif Sarican - Co-Chair of The Kurdish Assembly UK.Sources for this episode -Database former ISIS fighters - https://rojavainformationcenter.com/2020/10/database-former-isis-members-now-part-of-turkish-backed-forces-in-sere-kaniye-and-tel-abyad/Council of Europe discusses the arrest of journalists in Van - https://anfenglishmobile.com/freedom-of-the-press/council-of-europe-discusses-the-arrest-of-journalists-in-van-47253Four provincial HDP officials detained in fresh raids by Turkish police - https://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeast/turkey/22102020Armenian president: 'Turkey has a completely destructive role in Nagorno-Karabakh' - https://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/the-interview/20201019-armenian-president-turkey-has-a-completely-destructive-role-in-nagorno-karabakhTurkish president threatens Syrian Kurds amid increasing clashes in northeast Syria - https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/news/d4f32d61-621a-4120-bb6c-9b9d7b8f9b6fMehmud Osman: The source of the problems is the Turkish state - https://anfenglishmobile.com/kurdistan/mehmud-osman-the-source-of-the-problems-is-the-turkish-state-47199Our music is Unsilenced by Ketsa and is licensed under creative commons. Thank you for listening

On FPF #528, I discuss reports that an American company had signed an agreement with the Syrian Kurds to produce oil in Syria. The story was pushed by Secretary of State Pompeo and Senator Graham. However, the Syrian Kurds now say no agreement has been made. The Kurds added that American and Russian companies are competing for the contract. The Syrian government has argued that the Kurds do not have a right to award the contract.  Links ISIS made money on Facebook

Sam hosts Jay Willis (@JayWillis), senior contributor at The Appeal, to discuss the Supreme Court's recent ruling on LGBTQ discrimination and what lies ahead for the 2020 court term. On today's show: Covid cases spike in many states. Aubrey Huff says he's not wearing a mask, says he won't stop living because people have preexisting conditions. Sam hosts Jay Willis (@JayWillis), senior contributor at The Appeal, to discuss the Supreme Court's recent ruling on LGBTQ discrimination and what lies ahead for the 2020 court term. The weird logic Neil Gorsuch used to arrive at this opinion. The constitutional principles at play in both the majority opinion and the Alito dissent. How the Chevron doctrine factors in. What other decisions may be coming down the pike? On the fun half: Trump says he'll ban choke holds with the exception of when an officer thinks his life is threatened. Glenn Beck says Soros is paying Syrian Kurds (bad Kurds, commies) to train US protestors to topple America. Steven Crowder gets mad at black mural artist for saying white people call the cops on black people, immediately calls the cops on him. Is Paw Patrol indoctrinating our children with fascist copaganda? Matt Walsh says Pontius Pilate caved to mob rule, implies Jesus was cancelled by PC culture. Tucker says his show last night about BLM's unchecked power was highest rated, says he and his viewers are not crazy for fear that PC mob will come for them. Tom Cotton says Twitter threatened to shut down his account after Cotton said he'd send military to shoot protestors. Plus, your calls and IMs! Become a member at JoinTheMajorityReport.com Check out the Brand New Majority Report Merch Shop https://shop.majorityreportradio.com/ (Merch issues and concerns can be addressed here: majorityreportstore@mirrorimage.com) The AM Quickie is now on YouTube Subscribe to the AM Quickie at https://fans.fm/amquickie Make the AMQ part of your Alexa Flash Briefing too! You can now watch the livestream on Twitch Check out today's sponsor: Embark Dog DNA Test: From breed traits to genetic risk factors for health conditions, Embark provides the resources to help you and your vet best tailor care to your dog’s specific needs. Go to Embarkvet.com now and use promo code MAJORITY to get fifty dollars off your dog breed and health kit. Subscribe to Discourse Blog, a newsletter and website for progressive essays and related fun partly run by AM Quickie writer Jack Crosbie. https://discourseblog.substack.com/ Subscribe to AM Quickie writer Corey Pein’s newsletter at theend.substack.com Check out The Michael Brooks Show at patreon.com/tmbs and Michael Brooks Show on YouTube and the new TMBS website, TMBS.FM Check out The Nomiki Show at patreon.com/thenomikishow Check out Matt’s podcast, Literary Hangover, at Patreon.com/LiteraryHangover, or on iTunes. Check out Jamie’s podcast, The Antifada, at patreon.com/theantifada, on iTunes, or at twitch.tv/theantifada Follow the Majority Report crew on Twitter: @SamSeder @_michaelbrooks @MattLech @jamie_elizabeth @BF1nn

Seattle and DC have allowed the fascist millennials to seize city blocks with no pushback. The Syrian Kurds have a special relationship with Antifa --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/adrianslade/support

Seattle and DC have allowed the fascist millennials to seize city blocks with no pushback. The Syrian Kurds have a special relationship with Antifa --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/adrianslade/support

Hi listeners - today we wanted to give you a preview of the newest project from Robert Evans (host of Behind the Bastards and It Could Happen Here and co-host of Worst Year Ever). It's called The Women's War, and you can listen to episode 1 now over in that feed here. And don't forget to subscribe in the new feed so you never miss an episode! These are...not optimistic times for most Americans. Across the world, the dangers of climate change and the terror of creeping authoritarianism present an increasing danger to all of us. After covering this degeneration for four years, Robert Evans went looking for hope. He found it in the unlikeliest of places: Northeast Syria, in a region known as Rojava that’s become host to a feminist, anti-authoritarian revolution.  When you’ve heard about these folks in the mainstream media, they’re usually just described as the “Syrian Kurds”, and credited with beating ISIS. They did, in fact, beat ISIS. But their military successes were just part of the story. In The Women’s War, Robert will introduce listeners to dozens of men and women fighting a war for the future of the human soul.  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

Hi listeners - today we wanted to give you a preview of the newest project from Robert Evans (host of Behind the Bastards and It Could Happen Here and co-host of Worst Year Ever). It's called The Women's War, and you can listen to episode 1 now over in that feed here. And don't forget to subscribe in the new feed so you never miss an episode! These are...not optimistic times for most Americans. Across the world, the dangers of climate change and the terror of creeping authoritarianism present an increasing danger to all of us. After covering this degeneration for four years, Robert Evans went looking for hope. He found it in the unlikeliest of places: Northeast Syria, in a region known as Rojava that’s become host to a feminist, anti-authoritarian revolution.  When you’ve heard about these folks in the mainstream media, they’re usually just described as the “Syrian Kurds”, and credited with beating ISIS. They did, in fact, beat ISIS. But their military successes were just part of the story. In The Women’s War, Robert will introduce listeners to dozens of men and women fighting a war for the future of the human soul.  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

These are...not optimistic times for most Americans. Across the world, the dangers of climate change and the terror of creeping authoritarianism present an increasing danger to all of us. After covering this degeneration for four years, Robert Evans went looking for hope. He found it in the unlikeliest of places: Northeast Syria, in a region known as Rojava that's become host to a feminist, anti-authoritarian revolution. When you've heard about these folks in the mainstream media, they're usually just described as the “Syrian Kurds”, and credited with beating ISIS. They did, in fact, beat ISIS. But their military successes were just part of the story. In The Women's War, Robert will introduce listeners to dozens of men and women fighting a war for the future of the human soul.  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Whose Ally? America's friends? Not all of them. Here's what you may not know about some of the Syrian Kurds.

This Week: Can America trust the Syrian Kurds? What you may not know about them; Democrats hold their biggest debate ever. What they're proposing to win over black voters; How you can bless your pastor; 'Drag Queen Story Hour" becomes a drag queen strip show.

October 15, 2019 Carter and Keri discuss Project Veritas' latest revelations regarding CNN's war against Trump, ABC's blatantly fake footage of a Turkish attack on Syrian Kurds, and the inevitable prevalence of deep state propagandists. Here's a link to the video Carter showed comparing ABC's footage to the Knob Creek Night Shoot in April 2017: https://youtu.be/q_9Ohs_cobc And here's a link to the next Unsafe Space Book Club book: https://amzn.to/2mqMc71 YouTube link to video version of this episode: https://youtu.be/n-k-JcD7JVw

Minorities at Risk around the WorldGuest: Quinn Mecham, Professor of Political Science, BYUThe weekend brought some dramatic developments along Syria's border with Turkey. Turkish forces invaded towns held by Syrian Kurds, who had been key allies of the US in the fight against ISIS. President Donald Trump has ordered US forces to withdraw from the area. And so, the Kurds have turned to the Syrian government of Bashar al Assad for support in fighting the Turks. Processing Processed Food GuiltGuest: Ruth MacDonald, Department Chair / CALS Assistant Dean of Graduate Programs, Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Iowa State UniversityProcessed food is making us overweight and destroying our gut microbiome. I've heard so many versions of that, I feel a bit guilty whenever I eat something that comes in a package. Especially if it's a snack food. But what exactly is it about processed foods that's so bad? Connecting with Nature through Professional Tree ClimbingGuest: Tim Kovar, Founder of Tree Climbing PlanetMost of us stopped climbing trees a long time ago. I was never good at it as a kid, either, honestly. But Tim Kovar never stopped, and now spends his time coaxing adults back into the branches. He's a master tree climbing instructor and founder of Tree Climbing Planet. Colombia Remains Open to Venezuelan Refugees, But the Cost is SteepGuest: Francisco Santos Calderon, Colombia's Ambassador to the US, Former Vice President of ColombiaMore than 3.5 million Venezuelans have fled the country's collapsed economy, government repression and violence over the last three years. Most are living as refugees in neighboring countries –Brazil, Peru, Ecuador. Colombia has welcomed almost half of the displaced Venezuelans and has remained relatively open to new refugees from the crisis as the other countries I mentioned have started imposing restrictions. Update on This Year's Flu and How It SpreadsGuest: William Schaffner, M.D., Professor of Preventive Medicine, Health Policy, and Infectious Diseases at Vanderbilt University Medical CenterWhy is the flu such a big deal? Is it really that contagious? Dr. Schaffner is an expert on flu and provides some surprising information about how it spreads and why we should protect ourselves. And, for those who at a higher risk to be seriously harmed by the flu, there are medications that can help. Walt Disney's Shaping of American IdealsGuest: Bethanee Bemis, Museum Specialist in Political and Military History, Smithsonian National Museum of American HistoryMickey Mouse and his Disney pals embody joy and magic and childlike wonder. For a century, they've also been ambassadors of American culture around the world. Here in the US, Smithsonian Museum curator Bethanee Bemis says, Disney cartoons and theme parks have “played a dominant role in shaping our collective memory of American history.”

This Week: Turkey moves in as U.S. pulls troops out of Syria. What it means for Syria's Christians & Kurds; Suicide USA increasing for boys and white middle-aged males; UK doctor fired because he wouldn't call bearded man madam. & steps to protect Syrian Kurds.

Trump trusted Turkey's Erdogan. This is what he must do now to help America's Kurdish allies.

About the Panel: Iraq and Syria have become major sources of instability in the Middle East, drawing in Islamic extremists from around the world, sending floods of refugees outside of their borders, and seeing genocide at the hands of the Islamic State. The societies of both Iraq and Syria have suffered much from Baathist politics and ideology, which has in many ways set the stage for much of the dysfunction and problems that we are seeing in those countries today – a factor not usually recognized in analyses of events there. Events within Iraq and Syria have also been influenced by external actors jockeying for influence and in pursuit of their own geopolitical goals. In each country, however, there are hopeful signs, despite all of the tragedy. The dynamics in Syria and Iraq are related, yet distinct and different. This panel will explore the distinct dynamics in each country as well as some common dynamics, the changing role of the United States in the region, the role of other external factors such as Russia, Iran, Turkey, and the Gulf States, and will examine what the economic and political future may look like for ethnic and religious minorities in both countries. In Iraq, where the Christian population has dropped by approximately 90% since 2003 and where Yazidis have suffered genocide along with their Christian neighbors, the future role and status of ethnic and religious minorities is critical to that country's stability and future. The Iraqi panelist, Loay Mikhael, is an Iraqi Christian, now living in the Washington, D.C. area. In Syria, approximately 30% of Syrian territory, located in the northeast of the country, is governed by the Self-Administration of North and East Syria, which was announced on 6 September 2018, is heavily populated by Syrian Kurds, along with Arab, Christian and other minorities. The legislature for this body is the Syrian Democratic Council. Two of our panelists, Bassam Ishak, a Syrian Christian, and Sinam Sherkany, a Kurdish Muslim, are part of the SDC, and represent the SDC here in Washington, D.C. They will discuss how they are attempting to build a pluralistic society with protections for freedom of religion, speech, and dissent, in the midst of the chaos of the Syrian civil war. This panel was moderated by IWP Research Professor Paul Coyer, who specializes in the role of religion in foreign affairs and who spent time this past summer with the Yazidi and Christian communities of northern Iraq.

In a landmark decision, British researchers have received permission to begin gene-editing experiments on human embryos. This is the first step toward openly embracing high-tech eugenics. Also: US and UK hack video feeds from Israeli drones, Russia and Turkey trade accusations, ISIS attack on Syria's holiest Shia Muslim shrine, Syrian Kurds plan major offensive on border wtih Turkey, and decaying Mosul dam on the Tigris River threatens 1.5 million people.