SURVEY: Will Russia's involvement in the Syrian conflict bring stability to Syria and the ME?

[simple1]

Gulf states plan military response as Putin raises the stakes in Syria

“overall, the risks from escalation go beyond Syria, he said. “The degree to which Tehran and Riyadh are now in a confrontation mode across a number of regional hotspots is worrisome,” said Levy. “Who can act now as the de-escalating mediator?

“Americans are not in a position to do that, nor Russians, and Iran and Saudi Arabia are not sufficiently talking to each other … you’re now left with almost no one at senior levels on the respective sides who can engage with each other. This is going to be a dangerous place.”

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/oct/04/russia-bombing-syria-affects-ousting-of-assad?CMP=share_btn_tw&utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=New%20Campaign&utm_term=*Mideast%20Brief

...Daniel Levy, Middle East and North Africa programme director at the European Council on Foreign Relations...

Do you think what I think ?

Maybe I'm naive, but based upon his background I would think he's very much invested in identifying pathways to conflict resolution; what do you think?

Daniel was a member of the Israeli delegation to the 2001 Taba negotiations with the Palestinians and served on the Israeli negotiating team to the 1995 “Oslo B” agreement under Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. He was the lead Israeli drafter of the Geneva Initiative, a joint Israeli-Palestinian effort suggesting a detailed model for a peace agreement to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

http://www.ecfr.eu/profile/C128

Quote from your link :

"The European Council for Foreign Relations is a unique European strategic community of over 200 members - including serving foreign ministers, members of parliament, members of the European parliament, EU senior officials, former NATO secretary generals, intellectuals, journalists and business leaders - from the EU’s member states and candidate countries."

http://www.ecfr.eu/profile/C128

Quote from my link :

"Daniel Levy is a Senior Research Fellow and Co-Director of the Middle East Task Force at the New America Foundation and a Senior Fellow and Director of the Prospects for Peace Initiative at The Century Foundation. He serves as a co-editor of The Middle East Channel, an online initiative of Foreign Policy Magazine and the Project on Middle East Political Science at George Washington University together with NAF’s Middle East Task Force."

http://www.politico.com/arena/bio/daniel_levy.html

He left the UK for Israel in 1991 when elected Chair of the World Union of Jewish Students in Jerusalem, a position he served in from 1991 to 1994, after which he enlisted for a year of military service in the Israeli Defense Forces as a non-commissioned officer.

During the Barak Government of 1999-2001, Levy worked in the Israeli Prime Minister's Office as special adviser and head of Jerusalem Affairs.

Mr. Levy worked as senior policy adviser to then Israeli Minister of Justice, Yossi Beilin.

Now, he works for the European Council for Foreign Relations as geopolitical and strategic advisor for a EU organisation.

Furthermore, he's also active in New America Foundation. A US think tank who's sponsored directly by the US State Department. President of this organisation is no less than Anne-Marie Slaughter, Bilderberg member and personal adviser of Hillary Cinton.

In fact, he worked back in 1995 for the Oslo B accords with a green olive shirt and trousers from the IDF.

In fact, he's working as an Israeli citizen for a diplomatic EU organisation with links to NATO. We know that Israel is no memeber of EU and also no member of NATO.

In fact, he's also working for a strategic think tank linked to US States Department as an Israeli citizen.

Most organisations above that I've mentioned are active now in supplying strategic support to the coalition forces in Syria.

You cant receive these special assignments without political cards.

Israel didn't entered into the Syrian conflict, but it's not a secret that Netanyahu urged to visit Putin in Moscow after the US pulled its aircraft carrier from Mediterranean Sea to the Persian gulf.

Putin came with the largest submarine ever made, equipped with 200 nukes. Looks like Mavi Marmara, but much lower.

http://tomfernandez28.com/2015/09/09/russian-submarine-with-20-icbms-and-200-nuclear-warheads-is-sailing-to-syria/

Perhaps we should ask Daniel what EU and US should do now after creating such a mess ?

Regards Syria, don't you think Assad has the primary responsibility for the 'mess'?

Sorry, but I don't take news emanating from blogs/Debka seriously, just too many reports that turn out to be false. e.g.

http://foxtrotalpha.jalopnik.com/no-russias-largest-ballistic-missile-submarine-probabl-1730867680

[lvr181]

By Russia getting involved with Iran it has checkmated the US who have if you care to have a look at a map of the Middle east being actively destabilising the entire region with political and military intervention in several nations, history shows us when this happens a vacuum appears hence IS and the Taliban become new players in the region.

Western media paint Putin as a devil and Assad of Syria a tyrant, well folks until the spring uprising and the US envelopment in Afghanistan and Iraq there was peace through out the area, if anything the US and the world should stop backing Israel to pressure them into a long lasting settlement of the Palistine issue, this is all related one goes with the other.

Huh? The Soviets were trying to impose their will on Afghanistan in the 80s and being opposed by the Mujihadeen (Muslims) before the U.S. and its allies joined with the Muslims to kickout the "communist aggressors". And you say this was a peaceful period? I think you have selective memory loss!

[Naam]

Russia are hardly stable-anything they touch turns to sh1t.

were you recently touched by a Russian?

Edited October 15, 2015 by Naam

[Blackheart1916]

Call me a pessimist if you must, but the ME has never been stable and never will be. Past history and more recent history has shown this. When hatred is taught to a baby from day 1, not much will change.

[FangFerang]

The stability the Russians want and the stability NATO wants are two different things. Until the Biog Boys decide to compromise, something neither side is any good at, the country will be a horrid meat grinder.

[Scott]

A comment on moderation has been removed.

[727Sky]

Will Russia make a difference in Syria and bring stability in the region.. No, but it is a start.. with a mind set according to many recent polls for those who are not Muslim we can only hope after Syria a few bombs get dropped on other Muslim places.

I am in the crowd who thinks there are two types of Muslims.

Extremist and moderate.

Extremist Muslims want to kill all non Muslims and are even OK if other Muslims that do not belong to their particular sect are terminated.

Moderate Muslims want extremist Muslims to kill all non Muslims and don't mind those of a different sect getting terminated too. Why for it is Allah's will in their demented way of thinking.... not really their fault for as soon as they could walk they were taught to knock their head in the mat or dirt for Allah....

counterjihadreport.com...

People-Press: 31% of Turks support suicide attacks against Westerners in Iraq.

people-press.org...

YNet: One third of Palestinians (32%) supported the slaughter of a Jewish family, including the children:

pajamasmedia.com...

www.ynetnews.com...

World Public Opinion: 61% of Egyptians approve of attacks on Americans

32% of Indonesians approve of attacks on Americans

41% of Pakistanis approve of attacks on Americans

38% of Moroccans approve of attacks on Americans

83% of Palestinians approve of some or most groups that attack Americans (only 14% oppose)

62% of Jordanians approve of some or most groups that attack Americans (21% oppose)

42% of Turks approve of some or most groups that attack Americans (45% oppose)

A minority of Muslims disagreed entirely with terror attacks on Americans:

(Egypt 34%; Indonesia 45%; Pakistan 33%)

About half of those opposed to attacking Americans were sympathetic with al-Qaedas attitude toward the U.S.

www.worldpublicopinion.org...

Pew Research (2010): 55% of Jordanians have a positive view of Hezbollah

30% of Egyptians have a positive view of Hezbollah

45% of Nigerian Muslims have a positive view of Hezbollah (26% negative)

43% of Indonesians have a positive view of Hezbollah (30% negative)

pewglobal.org...

Pew Research (2010): 60% of Jordanians have a positive view of Hamas (34% negative).

49% of Egyptians have a positive view of Hamas (48% negative)

49% of Nigerian Muslims have a positive view of Hamas (25% negative)

39% of Indonesians have a positive view of Hamas (33% negative)

pewglobal.org...

Pew Research (2010): 15% of Indonesians believe suicide bombings are often or sometimes justified.

34% of Nigerian Muslims believe suicide bombings are often or sometimes justified.

pewglobal.org...

16% of young Muslims in Belgium state terrorism is "acceptable".

www.hln.be...

Populus Poll (2006): 12% of young Muslims in Britain (and 12% overall) believe that suicide attacks against civilians in Britain can be justified. 1 in 4 support suicide attacks against British troops.

www.populuslimited.com...

www.danielpipes.org...

Pew Research (2007): 26% of younger Muslims in America believe suicide bombings are justified.

35% of young Muslims in Britain believe suicide bombings are justified (24% overall).

42% of young Muslims in France believe suicide bombings are justified (35% overall).

22% of young Muslims in Germany believe suicide bombings are justified.(13% overall).

29% of young Muslims in Spain believe suicide bombings are justified.(25% overall).

pewresearch.org...=60

Pew Research (2011): 8% of Muslims in America believe suicide bombings are often or sometimes justified (81% never).

28% of Egyptian Muslims believe suicide bombings are often or sometimes justified (38% never).

www.people-press.org...

Pew Research (2007): Muslim-Americans who identify more strongly with their religion are three times more likely to feel that suicide bombings are justified

pewresearch.org...=60

ICM: 5% of Muslims in Britain tell pollsters they would not report a planned Islamic terror attack to authorities.

27% do not support the deportation of Islamic extremists preaching violence and hate.

www.scotsman.com...

www.danielpipes.org...

Federation of Student Islamic Societies: About 1 in 5 Muslim students in Britain (18%) would not report a fellow Muslim planning a terror attack.

www.fosis.org.uk...

www.danielpipes.org...

ICM Poll: 25% of British Muslims disagree that a Muslim has an obligation to report terrorists to police.

www.icmresearch.co.uk...

www.danielpipes.org...

Populus Poll (2006): 16% of British Muslims believe suicide attacks against Israelis are justified.

37% believe Jews in Britain are a "legitimate target".

www.populuslimited.com...

www.danielpipes.org...

Pew Research (2013): At least 1 in 4 Muslims do not reject violence against civilians (study did not distinguish between those who believe it is partially justified and never justified).

www.pewforum.org...

Pew Research (2013): 15% of Muslims in Turkey support suicide bombings (also 11% in Kosovo, 26% in Malaysia and 26% in Bangladesh).

www.pewforum.org...

PCPO (2014): 89% of Palestinians support Hamas and other terrorists firing rockets at Israeli civilians.

www.jihadwatch.org...

Pew Research (2013): Only 57% of Muslims worldwide disapprove of al-Qaeda. Only 51% disapprove of the Taliban. 13% support both groups and 1 in 4 refuse to say.

www.pewglobal.org...

BBC Radio (2015): 45% of British Muslims agree that clerics preaching violence against the West represent "mainstream Islam".

comres.co.uk...

Palestinian Center for Political Research (2015): 74% of Palestinians support Hamas terror attacks.

www.israelnationalnews.com...

Pew Research (2014): 47% of Bangladeshi Muslims says suicide bombings and violence are justified to "defend Islam". 1 in 4 believed the same in Tanzania and Egypt. 1 in 5 Muslims in the 'moderate' countries of Turkey and Malaysia.

www.pewglobal.org...

The Polling Company CSP Poll (2015): 19% of Muslim-Americans say that violence is justified in order to make Sharia the law in the United States (66% disagree).

www.centerforsecuritypolicy.org...

The Polling Company CSP Poll (2015): 25% of Muslim-Americans say that violence against Americans in the United States is justified as part of the "global Jihad (64% disagree).

www.centerforsecuritypolicy.or...

[Scott]

Off-topic post removed. The topic is not Afghanistan.

[hawker9000]

Will Russia make a difference in Syria and bring stability in the region.. No, but it is a start.. with a mind set according to many recent polls for those who are not Muslim we can only hope after Syria a few bombs get dropped on other Muslim places.

I am in the crowd who thinks there are two types of Muslims.

Extremist and moderate.

Extremist Muslims want to kill all non Muslims and are even OK if other Muslims that do not belong to their particular sect are terminated.

Moderate Muslims want extremist Muslims to kill all non Muslims and don't mind those of a different sect getting terminated too. Why for it is Allah's will in their demented way of thinking.... not really their fault for as soon as they could walk they were taught to knock their head in the mat or dirt for Allah....

counterjihadreport.com...

People-Press: 31% of Turks support suicide attacks against Westerners in Iraq.

people-press.org...

YNet: One third of Palestinians (32%) supported the slaughter of a Jewish family, including the children:

pajamasmedia.com...

www.ynetnews.com...

World Public Opinion: 61% of Egyptians approve of attacks on Americans

32% of Indonesians approve of attacks on Americans

41% of Pakistanis approve of attacks on Americans

38% of Moroccans approve of attacks on Americans

83% of Palestinians approve of some or most groups that attack Americans (only 14% oppose)

62% of Jordanians approve of some or most groups that attack Americans (21% oppose)

42% of Turks approve of some or most groups that attack Americans (45% oppose)

A minority of Muslims disagreed entirely with terror attacks on Americans:

(Egypt 34%; Indonesia 45%; Pakistan 33%)

About half of those opposed to attacking Americans were sympathetic with al-Qaedas attitude toward the U.S.

www.worldpublicopinion.org...

Pew Research (2010): 55% of Jordanians have a positive view of Hezbollah

30% of Egyptians have a positive view of Hezbollah

45% of Nigerian Muslims have a positive view of Hezbollah (26% negative)

43% of Indonesians have a positive view of Hezbollah (30% negative)

pewglobal.org...

Pew Research (2010): 60% of Jordanians have a positive view of Hamas (34% negative).

49% of Egyptians have a positive view of Hamas (48% negative)

49% of Nigerian Muslims have a positive view of Hamas (25% negative)

39% of Indonesians have a positive view of Hamas (33% negative)

pewglobal.org...

Pew Research (2010): 15% of Indonesians believe suicide bombings are often or sometimes justified.

34% of Nigerian Muslims believe suicide bombings are often or sometimes justified.

pewglobal.org...

16% of young Muslims in Belgium state terrorism is "acceptable".

www.hln.be...

Populus Poll (2006): 12% of young Muslims in Britain (and 12% overall) believe that suicide attacks against civilians in Britain can be justified. 1 in 4 support suicide attacks against British troops.

www.populuslimited.com...

www.danielpipes.org...

Pew Research (2007): 26% of younger Muslims in America believe suicide bombings are justified.

35% of young Muslims in Britain believe suicide bombings are justified (24% overall).

42% of young Muslims in France believe suicide bombings are justified (35% overall).

22% of young Muslims in Germany believe suicide bombings are justified.(13% overall).

29% of young Muslims in Spain believe suicide bombings are justified.(25% overall).

pewresearch.org...=60

Pew Research (2011): 8% of Muslims in America believe suicide bombings are often or sometimes justified (81% never).

28% of Egyptian Muslims believe suicide bombings are often or sometimes justified (38% never).

www.people-press.org...

Pew Research (2007): Muslim-Americans who identify more strongly with their religion are three times more likely to feel that suicide bombings are justified

pewresearch.org...=60

ICM: 5% of Muslims in Britain tell pollsters they would not report a planned Islamic terror attack to authorities.

27% do not support the deportation of Islamic extremists preaching violence and hate.

www.scotsman.com...

www.danielpipes.org...

Federation of Student Islamic Societies: About 1 in 5 Muslim students in Britain (18%) would not report a fellow Muslim planning a terror attack.

www.fosis.org.uk...

www.danielpipes.org...

ICM Poll: 25% of British Muslims disagree that a Muslim has an obligation to report terrorists to police.

www.icmresearch.co.uk...

www.danielpipes.org...

Populus Poll (2006): 16% of British Muslims believe suicide attacks against Israelis are justified.

37% believe Jews in Britain are a "legitimate target".

www.populuslimited.com...

www.danielpipes.org...

Pew Research (2013): At least 1 in 4 Muslims do not reject violence against civilians (study did not distinguish between those who believe it is partially justified and never justified).

www.pewforum.org...

Pew Research (2013): 15% of Muslims in Turkey support suicide bombings (also 11% in Kosovo, 26% in Malaysia and 26% in Bangladesh).

www.pewforum.org...

PCPO (2014): 89% of Palestinians support Hamas and other terrorists firing rockets at Israeli civilians.

www.jihadwatch.org...

Pew Research (2013): Only 57% of Muslims worldwide disapprove of al-Qaeda. Only 51% disapprove of the Taliban. 13% support both groups and 1 in 4 refuse to say.

www.pewglobal.org...

BBC Radio (2015): 45% of British Muslims agree that clerics preaching violence against the West represent "mainstream Islam".

comres.co.uk...

Palestinian Center for Political Research (2015): 74% of Palestinians support Hamas terror attacks.

www.israelnationalnews.com...

Pew Research (2014): 47% of Bangladeshi Muslims says suicide bombings and violence are justified to "defend Islam". 1 in 4 believed the same in Tanzania and Egypt. 1 in 5 Muslims in the 'moderate' countries of Turkey and Malaysia.

www.pewglobal.org...

The Polling Company CSP Poll (2015): 19% of Muslim-Americans say that violence is justified in order to make Sharia the law in the United States (66% disagree).

www.centerforsecuritypolicy.org...

The Polling Company CSP Poll (2015): 25% of Muslim-Americans say that violence against Americans in the United States is justified as part of the "global Jihad (64% disagree).

www.centerforsecuritypolicy.or...

The "mainstream" is very gradually coming to grasp the reality that it's NOT just a "very few" who are responsible for terror perpetrated in the name of Islam. There's a level of tolerance within the global Muslim community that enables the terror even in the absence of personal involvement, participation, or direct support. These statistics paint the picture. A Muslim spokesman appearing on television bemoaning the terror and trying to insist that the vast majority of Muslims condemn the violence and are therefore being unfairly tarred with a broad brush isn't credible. I'm sure you can find individual communities here and there, particularly in the West, where that might be true, but there's just no global truth to it.

[Pakboong]

An intelligence analyst is not concerned with how evil the dictator may or may not be. It is an objective process only in the context that personal biases and patriotism are not necessary to do a good job. In fact they are often in direct conflict with the job.

We must figure out what is happening, not what we would like to have happening.

The truth doesn't wear a particular uniform nor does it belong to one particular side of the conflict.

[Thorgal]

An intelligence analyst is not concerned with how evil the dictator may or may not be. It is an objective process only in the context that personal biases and patriotism are not necessary to do a good job. In fact they are often in direct conflict with the job.

We must figure out what is happening, not what we would like to have happening.

The truth doesn't wear a particular uniform nor does it belong to one particular side of the conflict.

One would ask himself how Turkey, a NATO member could let all these foreign Jihadi's infiltrate through the Turkish-Syrian border.

Since Syrian independency, the border region was changed into a mine field : +600.000 pcs.

In 2009, Erdogan (ex Muslim Brotherhood)contracted an Israeli private company to de-mine the 550km x 350m border area with lease rights for 44 years to that Israeli company.

The area was de-mined long before the Syrian uprisings from March 2011 and many foreign radical Sunni fighters could reach more easily the Syrian cities and towns.

Makes it for Turkish authorities difficult to hide their irritation when Russian jets and drones are flying nearby.

He who pays the piper calls the tune...

Edited October 16, 2015 by Thorgal

[simple1]

An intelligence analyst is not concerned with how evil the dictator may or may not be. It is an objective process only in the context that personal biases and patriotism are not necessary to do a good job. In fact they are often in direct conflict with the job.

We must figure out what is happening, not what we would like to have happening.

The truth doesn't wear a particular uniform nor does it belong to one particular side of the conflict.

One would ask himself how Turkey, a NATO member could let all these foreign Jihadi's infiltrate through the Turkish-Syrian border.

Since Syrian independency, the border region was changed into a mine field : +600.000 pcs.

In 2009, Erdogan (ex Muslim Brotherhood)contracted an Israeli private company to de-mine the 550km x 350m border area with lease rights for 44 years to that Israeli company.

The area was de-mined long before the Syrian uprisings from March 2011 and many foreign radical Sunni fighters could reach more easily the Syrian cities and towns.

Makes it for Turkish authorities difficult to hide their irritation when Russian jets and drones are flying nearby.

Then there is an alternative version, which one is truthful?

The 10-year period for Turkey to clear the mines expired in March 2014. With progress next to zero, some 1 million mines remain buried in the border regions

Read more: http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2015/01/turkey-massive-minefields-pose-uphill-task.html#ixzz3ojHIWLQH

[craigt3365]

Turkey has over 8, 000 km of coastline. That's a huge problem.