I’ve written twice about the use of US replica of the Shahed recently

Turkey, next Iran- we have seen the script

If the United States and Israel succeed in destroying Iran, Turkey may be next. This is no longer a speculative provocation whispered on the margins of Washington’s ( If these were “whispers”how the heck did I hear them?) think tank ecosystem. It is increasingly an articulated narrative, voiced by senior Israeli political figures, echoed by right wing American commentators, and amplified by a growing constellation of states allied with Israel.

The language being used is not new. Rather, it is a familiar script – one that has preceded sanctions, destabilisation, and war across the Middle East for decades. The implications are unmistakable: a powerful regional actor that refuses subordination to Israel is being rebranded as an existential threat requiring containment – or worse.

This shift is not merely rhetorical. Bennett explicitly argued that “a weakened Tehran” creates “a summons to hunt down enemies ‘throughout the Middle East’ before they can solidify.” In this formulation, Turkey is no longer a rival power – it is a future target.

The warning signs extend beyond Bennett.

On 27 February, former Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant also escalated criticism of Ankara. While Gallant emphasized diplomacy, he simultaneously gestured towards coercive measures, suggesting Western states reconsider arms sales to Turkey, despite its status as a NATO member. The contradiction in this proposed strategy is revealing – because diplomacy, in this framing, is not engagement between equals but pressure designed to force Turkey back into alignment with Israel.

Rupture in Israel– Turkey relations

The deterioration of relations between Turkey and Israel did not occur in a vacuum. Since coming to power in the early 2000s, Erdogan has been increasingly critical of Israel, particularly following Israel’s 2010 attack on a Gaza bound flotilla that killed ten Turkish activists – a defining rupture in bilateral relations. Israel’s military operations against Palestinians, particularly in Gaza, over the past decade and a half has further inflamed Turkish public opinion, pushing Ankara towards an openly confrontational stance against Israel’s genocidal policies and territorial ambitions, especially after October 2023.

Recall my mentioning Turkey being subject to an intentionally misleading propaganda campaign, most often presented in the alternative media?

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently outlined a “hexagon of alliances” – including India, Greece, Cyprus, and unspecified Arab, African, and Asian countries – designed to constrain Turkey’s regional influence. In recent months, Israel has hosted the leaders of Greece, Cyprus, and India to cement this alliance. (Could this be why the Duran’s 2 Alex’s endlessly harp on against Turkey?)

Iran let Turkish-owned ship cross Hormuz strait, Turkish minister says

A Turkish-owned ship was able to cross the Strait of Hormuz with Iran’s permission, Turkey’s transport minister said.

The Strait of Hormuz is a critical shipping route that Iran has closed since Israel and the United States attacked it on February 28.

“We have 15 Turkish-owned ships in the Strait of Hormuz and were able to get one of them through after obtaining permission from the Iranian authorities,” Abdulkadir Uraloglu told journalists late Thursday, in comments only published today.

The US has long targeted Turkish banks- I know because that’s a topic I’ve written on! (Censored site) Turkey helping Iran circumvent the insane US sanctions regime..

The Hill

The Turkish state-owned lender Halkbank has served as a conduit for illicit Iranian financing networks. It was indicted in the U.S. in 2019 for one of the largest sanctions-evasion schemes in modern history, and at least two of its employees were convicted during the first Trump administration for their involvement.

The US is playing for time with Turkey-

ArabWeekly

Planned Israeli strikes against Iran that would have prompted retaliation against American forces pushed the United States to launch its weekend strikes against Tehran, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Monday.

“We knew that there was going to be an Israeli action, we knew that that would precipitate an attack against American forces, and we knew that if we didn’t preemptively go after them before they launched those attacks, we would suffer higher casualties,” Rubio told reporters.

“And so the president made the very wise decision” to hit alongside Israel, he added.

JTA

“We knew that there was going to be an Israeli action, we knew that that would precipitate an attack against American forces, and we knew that if we didn’t preemptively go after them before they launched those attacks, we would suffer higher casualties,” Rubio told reporters in Washington, D.C.

After a reporter asked Rubio to clarify whether the United States was forced to strike because of Israel’s plans, the secretary said no.

“This operation needed to happen because Iran in about a year or a year and a half would cross the line of immunity, meaning they would have so many short-range missiles, so many drones, that no one could do anything about it because they could hold the whole world hostage,” Rubio said. He added, “Obviously, we were aware of Israeli intentions and understood what that would mean for us, and we had to be prepared to act as a result of it. But this had to happen no matter what.”

Judge Napolitano and John Mersheimer

Posted for what Mersheimer said about Turkey being Israel’s next target- Turkey has been the subject of an intense propaganda campaign of demonization to justify taking out the next country Israel wants destabilized and balkanized.

In a statement shared on X on Monday, the UAE Foreign Ministry said it would also not provide logistical support for a US action

Amidst the possibility of a US attack on Iran, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has declared that it will not allow its airspace and territory to be used for any military action against Iran.

I looked at the map, not sure how much difference it might make? It’s just interesting to read. Turkey is also opposed to an Iranian strike, that stance has not changed.

Trump is claiming Iran wants a deal?

Donald Trump has claimed that Iran is willing to make a deal with the US after his “big armada” arrived in the Middle East, amid growing fears that Washington could order an attack.

But he added that a diplomatic resolution was still possible, adding: “They want to make a deal. I know so. They called on numerous occasions. They want to talk.”

Why would he make this claim now? If he attacks Iran after stating they want to make a deal, and in fact have reached out to the US, it just makes the US look bad. Or does he have doubts about undertaking this strike? Not sure?

Something else I’ve seen, but, can’t really verify save for the report below claiming Russia & China may assist in defending. Including 16 military cargo planes from China to Iran and at least 6 Russian cargo planes

The Chinese airlift then arrived as defensive support for Iran, coinciding with General Brad Cooper’s visit to Israel.

This aligns with leaks from American and Israeli sources regarding strong Chinese support for Iran in the face of any potential military strikes. Israeli intelligence and military reports published by newspapers, such as “Maariv,” indicated that more than 16 Chinese military cargo planes landed in the Iranian capital, Tehran, in just 56 hours. It is believed that these Chinese military aircraft transported advanced air defense systems, electronic warfare equipment, and possibly anti-ship missiles, with the aim of bolstering Iran’s defensive capabilities against any imminent American-Israeli attack. This military cooperation between China and Iran falls within a broader framework of long-term strategic, military, and intelligence agreements between the two countries, such as the “25-year agreement,” which includes massive Chinese investments in exchange for oil supplies.

The Chinese airlift comes days after similar movements by Russian military transport aircraft, which recorded approximately six flights during the first month of January alone. This is unusual military activity in the region and significantly higher than in previous periods.

There you have it-

Have these shipments occurred?

Have they given USrael pause for thought on this attack?

Has Iran’s shut down of the internet and the western backed destabilizing forces in Iran impeded US and Israeli plans?

Back in 2011-

The US, Israel & other allies began, in earnest, to destabilize Syria with an eye to balkanization along the lines of what they had done in Iraq.

So called ISIL (Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant) which later rebranded into ISIS(Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) came via Northern Iraq and entered into North Eastern Syria. Often times in marketing the same product is rebranded to create a different perception in the mind of the targeted audience.. Hence the name change from ISIL to ISIS once the western backed terror group entered Syria

The common denominator in those two areas were the PKK affiliated Kurds. Not all Kurds are PKK. But many are. These irregulars crossed freely back and forth between those two regions for some time now. Always benefiting from the long present, well established American bases in place in Iraq. The move from Iraq to Syria was easy enough to make as the they could be and were supplied with their weapons of death and destruction

Erbil is often mentioned, but, there is a lesser known American base in Duhok as well as others

Erbil airbase (Iraq) – Used by US forces for air operations, particularly in northern Iraq and Syria, where troops advise Kurdish and Iraqi forces.

Let’s read about the other bases? Established long ago.. Enabling the US to attack Turkey. Iraq. Iran. And to shift fighters in and out of the area

U.S. to open three huge US military bases in Iraqi Kurdistan region  31.5.2007

Sulaimaniyah, Erbil, Duhok, Kurdistan region (Iraq)

Although it is expected that today responsibility for security will be handed over to the Kurdistan authorities, exclusive military sources have told Hawlati that the US forces intend to open three huge US military bases in the Erbil, Duhok, and Sulaimaniyah areas. Meanwhile, senior peshmerga forces’ officials expressed their pleasure at such a move.

The three bases will be located in Qaradagh (south of Sulaimaniyah), Zakho area (north of Duhok), while the third one will be based near Erbil. There is also a possibility that the Incirlik base in Turkey, opened in 1992, will be transferred to the Kurdistan Region, (tells you the goal for the region- Southern Turkey annexed) which is heralded as an important achievement by Kurdistan regional government military officials who said they would welcome such requests from the coalition forces.

Have we forgotten the mass of Toyota trucks, brand spanking new, that ISIS had at their ready? Seriously, how does anyone think Toyota would have supplied that many vehicles to a terror group unless that had some sort of official okay?

US officials want to know how ISIS got all those Toyota Trucks

Toyota officials based in Japan, claimed they didn’t know? That’s not credible. NOT AT ALL!

The US and allies peppered the ISIS/ISIL irregulars with other fighters. They brought in, for example, Georgian fighters to fight alongside their Kurdish proxies. Many were trained by the US in the regular Georgian army. Much more information at my censored site on this topic, but the link included below should suffice

U.S. training helped mold Islamic State’s top military commander

According to Batirashvili’s ex-comrades in the Georgian military, Batirashvili was tapped immediately upon his enlistment to join Georgia’s U.S.-trained special forces.

“We trained him well, and we had lots of help from America,” said a former Georgian defense official who asked to not be identified because of the sensitivity of Batirashvili’s role in the Islamic State. “In fact, the only reason he didn’t go to Iraq to fight alongside America was that we needed his skills here in Georgia.” Even before Georgia and Russia came to blows in 2008, Batirashvili had earned a reputation for fighting Russians. While a part of Georgia, the Pankisi Valley’s northern end abuts Chechnya, where separatists fought a brutal war for independence from Russia in the 1990s. Batirashvili’s mother was Chechen, and his father has told local journalists that young Batirashvili had seen a handful of military operations as a rebel in Chechnya before joining Georgia’s military in 2006 at age 20.

They, the US and company, also funneled in their allies among the Uighur population, the ones they’ve assembled to target China. There are others, but, this should give anyone reading a basic idea of how this all started out

Kurds and ISIS

Please do understand that the Kurds and ISIS are equivalent to opposite sides of the same coin- Both groups propped up mainly by the US and Israel. Can you imagine that there would be any real or substantive conflict between them? I’m sure there’s some fighting over stolen goods, arms, smuggling, drugs sales. The kind of thing criminal organizations battle over- but higher up, there is coordination. Because both these groups have the same overseer.

Turkeys role

The disinfo or fog of war about Turkey’s role in all this has been thick and plentiful- It creates a smoke screen that helps obfuscate some of the realities were going to talk about.

• The biggest tell that Turkey was not on board with the Usrael backed plot was the fact they would not go along with a NATO no fly zone on their southern border (Syria’s north) opting instead to partner with Russia for overflights. And routine patrols.

The US floated the idea of a no fly zone October 2011- Had the piece below at my former site- Council on Foreign relations

There are two reasons put forward for why a NFZ is needed in Syria. First, some opposition members contend that it will protect civilians. Senator Joe Lieberman, who already supported a Syrian NFZ six months ago, more recently endorsed “safe zones inside Syria, particularly along the Turkish and Jordanian borders,” which would be enforced through a NFZ

Jordan went along Turkey didn’t

People conveniently forget this history.. to push an agenda

Turkey had it’s own reasons for entering Syria- and it did. Supporting the FSA. The empowerment of the Kurdish PKK by the US and Israel was the main impetus for Turkey to enter

I’m hoping this is enough background for readers to have a better understanding as we talk about the latest in N/E Syria.

Damascus was attempting unification

There are claims that Damascus was moving on the Kurds in N/E Syria. So the Kurds responded by releasing the ISIS fighters they allegedly held in some prison camp. Supposedly there was fighting. Probably was. But remember ISIS and Kurds have the same master, so, what ever fighting was short lived.

There were people suggesting this was Turkish disinfo about Kurds releasing ISIS. Ah,NO! The Kurds would make a public show of releasing their ISIS brethren for a number of reasons. Listed below…

1- Draw the US further in to “fight ISIS”- Though they’ve never left- But most don’t realize this

• US Strikes ISIS in Syria- earlier this month
• Islamic State fighters escape prison

2- Draw Israel in.

Notice the propagandistic, emotionally manipulative headline?

‘October 7 moment for Kurds’: Israel must assist Syria’s Kurds amid attacks, analysts tell ‘Post

Over the last decade, the SDF worked with the US and defeated ISIS in Syria. However, now the SDF is facing major setbacks, and Kurds fear they may be massacred.

3- Apply pressure on Damascus- the dupe in charge foolishly thinks he’s going to rebuild Syria

4- Message Turkey, we aren’t laying down arms

• Contrary to what Ocalan had claimed.. less than a year ago– and that was never going to happen, but, it was nice public relations, right?
• Turkey’s Erdogan says lay down your arms and disband

5- Draw more Kurdish fighters into Syria on the pretext of humanitarianism and fighting ISIS

• Kurdistan mobilizing support for Kurds in North eastern Syria

Meanwhile, public mobilization has intensified across the Region where hundreds of residents, activists, and Syrian Kurds recently held demonstrations in Al-Sulaymaniyah and Erbil, including protests outside the United Nations mission and the US consulate, calling for international intervention to halt military operations in northern Syria and to facilitate humanitarian access.

In plain and clear language- The Kurds of N/E Syria almost certainly released their ISIS prisoners in hopes of increasing pressure on Damascus and Turkey. Knowing that US and Israel would chomp at the bit. Considering how venomous Israel is towards Turkey- A Turkey that has been impeding their desired Israel 2.0 aka Greater Kurdistan for at least a decade now.

Pretty sure there is more than enough information here for you guys and gals to understand where I’m coming from.

Lastly there seems to have been some assassinations on Kurdish leadership hiding out in Iraq-

Iranian Kurd opposition party in Iraq accuses Iran of attack on HQ

Considering what the PKK affiliated Iranian Kurds did in Iran during this most recent uprising in Iran- I’m not surprised that Iran would undertake such action

The plane crash in Turkey caught my eye a few days ago- The Libyan government (UN recognized official government of Libya) & Turkish government relationship is frowned up on by Israel, Greece, Cyprus, UK and the US. There is some way back reporting at my former site on this subject, if time permits it will be moved here. Haftar is allied to the US and Israel. Let’s say the US made him the man he is today. If you’ve been paying attention to Trump’s rhetoric regarding Somalia- He was trash talking for a reason- just not the reason most think.

We’ll go with the plane crash first- It’s unsurprising that a good chunk of the officially recognized government went down in the crash- By the way this recent plane crash reminds me so very much of the plane crash about 15 years ago that dead headed the Polish government- The one that was wanting friendlier relations with Russia? I did bring those reports here from my former site. Check em out via the search!

Warning…..we’re going long!

Euronews

General Mohammed Ali Ahmed al-Haddad, military chief of Libya’s UN-recognised government in Tripoli, died with seven others when the plane crashed near the Turkish capital Ankara.

The Falcon 50 business jet crashed in the Haymana district some 70 kilometres south of Ankara shortly after takeoff from Esenboga International Airport, killing all eight people on board.

Libyan Prime Minister Abdul-Hamid Dbeibah, who leads the Government of National Unity based in Tripoli, confirmed the deaths in a statement on Facebook on Tuesday evening.

“It is with deep sadness and great sorrow that we learnt of the death of the Libyan army’s chief of general staff, Lieutenant General Mohammed al-Haddad,” Dbeibah said, calling the incident a “tragic accident”.

Key military officials died in the crash as well

Four other senior Libyan military officials died in the crash alongside al-Haddad, including General Al-Fitouri Ghraibil, head of Libya’s ground forces, Brigadier General Mahmoud Al-Qatawi, director of the Military Manufacturing Authority, an advisor to the chief of staff and a military photographer.

Something happened with that plane- I’m leaning towards sabotage myself. Wildly speculative, but it makes so much sense when you understand the back ground and the likely geo political ramifications of that crash & those deaths.

Three crew members also died in the crash. Turkish officials said the jet was registered in Malta and had been leased. The identities of the crew members were not immediately released.

Libya has announced it will send a team to Ankara to work with Turkish authorities on investigating the crash. Walid Ellafi, state minister of political affairs and communication for the Government of National Unity, told Libyan broadcaster Libya Alahrar that it was not clear when a crash report would be ready.

The country is split between the UN-recognised Government of National Unity in Tripoli, led by Dbeibah, and a rival administration in eastern Libya led by military commander Khalifa Haftar.

Turkey has been allied with Libya’s government in the west, providing economic and military support, though Ankara has recently taken steps to improve ties with the eastern-based government as well.

General Khalifa Haftar, who controls eastern Libya, issued a statement expressing his “deep sorrow over this tragic loss” and extended condolences for the deaths of al-Haddad and Ghraibil.

Haftar is a snake in the grass

Pro-Haftar Libyan official opposes 2019 deal with Türkiye (Dec 17/25)

There’s coverage of this deal at my censored site-

In the fall of 2019, Türkiye and Libya signed a deal setting marine jurisdictions, rejecting unilateral and illegal activities by regional countries and international firms, and protecting the rights of both countries. The deal was registered by the U.N. in October 2020.

So a plane crashes… just after a huge arms deal is made Between Haftar’s forces and Pakistan. The arms will surely be used to challenge the unity government

Pakistan said to have reached $4 billion arms deal with Haftar’s forces in Libya

The deal is said to include the purchase of 16 JF-17 fighter jets, a multi-role combat aircraft that has been jointly developed by Pakistan and China.
Pakistan has reportedly reached a deal worth over $4 billion to sell military equipment to the Libyan National Army (LNA), based in the eastern part of the country, despite a UN arms embargo on the fractured North African country.

The deal, one of Pakistan’s largest-ever weapons sales, was finalised after a meeting held last week in Benghazi week between Pakistan military chief Field Marshal Asim Munir and Saddam Khalifa Haftar, deputy commander-in-chief of the LNA and son of eastern Libya strongman Khalifa Haftar, Pakistani officials told Reuters.

The officials, all involved in defence matters, declined to be identified because of the sensitivity of the deal.

Generally speaking Pakistan has always been heavily allied, subordinated to the US.

Understanding that US backed Israel is looking for trouble with Turkey, as mentioned here. we shouldn’t be surprised to now find out Israel, yes, Israel recognizes Somaliland. Which is Somalia or it was until other interested parties became involved in the separatist aspirations

Israel slights Turkey by recognizing Somaliland

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recognized Somaliland on Friday, making Israel the first country to do so and prompting a strong rebuke from Turkey.

What happened: Netanyahu said Israel and Somaliland signed a “joint and mutual declaration.” Netanyahu and Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi were present at the virtual ceremony, the Israeli premier said on X.

“The State of Israel plans to immediately expand its relations with the Republic of Somaliland through extensive cooperation in the fields of agriculture, health, technology and economy,” said Netanyahu.

In a video posted by his office, Netanyahu said he would inform US President Donald Trump of Somaliland’s desire to join the Abraham Accords.

“I’ll communicate to President Trump your willingness and desire to join the Abraham Accords,” said Netanyahu on the US-brokered normalization agreements between Israel and other states in the wider region.

Abdillahi said in a post on X that he affirms Somaliland’s “readiness” to join the accords.

Somaliland is a breakaway state from Somalia that has governed itself since 1991.

The Somaliland presidency said in a post on X that Netanyahu’s decision “affirms Somaliland’s enduring statehood,” adding that Netanyahu invited Abdillahi to visit Israel.

The announcement was made during a virtual meeting and the two leaders spoke by video call, according to images released by Netanyahu’s office. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar held a call of his own with Abdillahi on Friday to discuss bilateral ties, he said on X.

The recognition provoked the ire of Turkey, a country already at odds with Israel. Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oncu Keceli called the recognition a “new example of the Netanyahu government’s unlawful actions aimed at creating instability at both regional and global levels.”

Oh and if you’ve been paying attention Donald Trump was talking non stop about Somalia this past little while- As well as bombing Somalia in escalating attacks.

US dramatically escalates air strikes on Somalia under Trump this year

Trump’s strike total on conflict-ridden East African nation exceeds Bush, Obama and Biden administrations combined

Let’s talk about Bob al Mandeb

Bob al Mandeb is a strategic choke point and definitely has something to do with the Somalia/Somaliland – Israel, Turkey conflagaration

Trump’s relentless diatribes served a purpose. Just not the one most people thought it did!

https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=41073

Just the basics

The report directly below is a follow up or following along update on the situation between Turkey and Israel & their Kurdish allies the PKK, rebranded long ago as the SDF to obfuscate the US/Israel/NATO ties to this known terror group. As previously mentioned there is conflict between Turkey and Israel regarding Syria… this is bound to worsen.

Yetkin Report

Tension over Syria is rising in Ankara on two interconnected levels. One is the military pressure Israel is exerting on the Ahmed al-Shara administration and on Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The other is the SDF’s reluctance to take responsibility for the disarmament process—acting as if it has no connection whatsoever with the PKK—while keeping an eye on Israeli support, thereby disrupting the “Terror-Free Türkiye” process.

Because the PKK was never going to disarm- these claims were always rubbish

This situation is now testing Ankara’s “red lines,” which can no longer be summarized in just one item but in two:

1. Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity must not be undermined.
2. No security threat must emanate from Syria toward Türkiye.

In fact—as I will elaborate shortly—the strain on these two conditions is leading to increased activity within Türkiye’s three institutions involved in the process and to a hardening of messages.

Rising Tension, Hardening Messages

1. The coordination of the process is under the responsibility of MIT Director İbrahim Kalın. As the process has progressed, the messages coming from PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan have begun to diverge from the statements made by DEM. While Öcalan claims to be persuading the SDF, (he’s not persuading them to disarm) there is suspicion that, through his deliberately ambiguous language, he is in fact trying to rein the SDF in. The role of PKK member Veysi Aktaş, who was released from İmralı, has drawn attention in this process. In this context, MHP’s Feti Yıldız using the same wording as the AK Party leadership—saying “It won’t work unless all elements lay down their arms”—right before the visit by DEM Party’s İmralı delegation (Pervin Buldan and Mithat Sancar, together with Öcalan’s lawyer Faik Özgür Erol) to Devlet Bahçeli on December 13 should be read as a move to leave no room for ambiguity.
2. On the same day, December 12, National Defense Minister Yaşar Güler, while defending the 2026 budget in parliament, raised the emphasis a notch higher by saying “We will not allow it.” This should be read within the same framework. The Turkish Armed Forces increasing their activity in northern Syria last week in coordination with the Damascus administration, and Chief of General Staff Selçuk Bayraktaroğlu’s visit to Damascus, may be interpreted by the PKK as “They can’t do anything; Israel will apply pressure, the U.S. will block it,” but relying on this assumption could be misleading.
3. Also on December 12, the remarks made by Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in his interview with Al Jazeera both increased the tone and directly targeted the Israel–SDF connection—now in a way that gives the impression of being based on specific intelligence:
   • “There is a relationship, a correlation, between Israel’s activity in Syria and the SDF’s reluctance. This now needs to be said. This is not a decision taken by the YPG alone. On the day Israel reaches a certain agreement framework with Syria, you will also see the future of the YPG.”

Having said a few days earlier that there cannot be two armies in one country, yet opening a door to compromise by stating that if they reach an agreement with Damascus the police force could come from the SDF, Fidan also emphasized in the Al Jazeera interview that Türkiye  would not allow the opposite scenario.

Read the rest at the link above- Clearly Turkey’s walking a fine line on one side- With Israel, US and PKK allies on the other.

There are claims being made in the media this peace deal is all in favour of Russia- This narrative is very concerning because it’s being pushed to create a specific belief in the mind of the reader. That if Russia doesn’t accept this so called deal, which is allegedly so grossly skewed to their benefit, well, then Russia must simply be irrational, barbaric and the like. Russia is not, but the groundwork for that type of spin is being created.

1st thing on my mind: I’m really wondering if the US is working towards pushing Zelensky out? The massive corruption scandal, really isn’t a good look for the so called Ukrainian “democracy” propped up by the West.

2nd- Is the yet another example of the US feigning diplomacy while planning for more/expanded warfare?

28 point peace plan??

Donald Trump approves of a secret deal being proposed by US and Russian officials that would force Ukraine to give up some of its arms and lease key territories to Russia, it has been reported.

The deal would require Kyiv to cede control of the eastern Donbas region while legally retaining ownership of it, in exchange for an undisclosed rental fee from Moscow, officials familiar with the deal told the Telegraph.

Anyone find that odd? Moscow is going to pay rent to Ukraine?

While Zelensky was in Turkey, allegedly talking peace. The Pentagon sent a high level delegation to Kiev. Who’d they meet with if Zelensky was out of country? WSJ via Archive.ph

Secretary Driscoll is traveling to Ukraine to get a sense of facts on the ground. He will participate in meetings in Ukraine and report his findings back to the White House,” said a senior administration official. “The president has been clear that it is time to stop the killing and make a deal to end the war.”
Driscoll’s mission is to restart peace talks on Trump’s behalf, another of the officials said.
Driscoll’s boss, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, hasn’t visited Kyiv since taking office in January. The decision to send the civilian head of the Army, whose job is focused mainly on training and equipping soldiers, is unusual. But Trump often relies on unorthodox emissaries, including former real-estate developer Steve Witkoff, Trump’s special envoy.

The U.S. delegation in Kyiv, which includes Gen. Chris Donahue, the top U.S. Army commander in Europe, and Gen. Randy George, the Army chief of staff, was expected to discuss developments on the battlefield and weapons production while in Ukraine, in addition to ideas for halting the war.

Donahue has been a key figure in sending weapons to Ukraine, dating back to his time as the commander of the Army’s 18th Airborne Corps in 2022 when it formed a unit to help coordinate military aid to Kyiv.

Driscoll has led an effort to revamp the Army’s decades-old acquisition system. Trump called Driscoll a “killer” in an Oval Office announcement that he was deploying the National Guard to Memphis, Tenn., and refers to him as “the drone guy,” a reference to Driscoll’s focus on fielding a million new drones for the Army. Along with his position as Army Secretary, Trump named Driscoll to lead the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms.

Witkoff, who has been the administration’s point man on negotiations with the Kremlin, helped prepare Driscoll for the talks in Kyiv, one of the officials said. The two know each other from working on Trump’s presidential campaign.

Driscoll and George flew to Germany on Monday, where they received intelligence briefings at a U.S. military base with Donahue, the officials said. The group discussed the battlefield over maps with soldiers who have been working on Ukraine for years. They then flew to Poland on Tuesday and boarded an overnight train for Kyiv late Tuesday night.

I’m just seeing yet another US peace ruse while preparing for escalation.

Two-Front Diplomacy: Zelensky in Turkey, Trump Officials in Kyiv

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky launched a new round of peace efforts on Wednesday, holding talks in Turkey as US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll and top American generals arrived in Kyiv on a parallel mission from the Trump administration to revive negotiations with both Kyiv and Moscow.

Two face diplomacy- that’s what it looks like to me!

Zelensky arrived on a working visit to Turkey on Wednesday, Nov. 19, where he was met at the airport by National Security and Defense Council Secretary Rustem Umerov, Ankara Deputy Mayor Faruk Keyluoglu reported on X.

Of course I could be wrong but this just all feels very off.

Updating begins!!

CNN

US officials said the plan was still being worked on, and that any final agreement would require concessions from both sides, not just Ukraine. Some of the points being circulated now – including some that appear weighted toward Moscow’s demands – are not final, officials said, and will almost certainly evolve. During a Thursday afternoon briefing, the White House press secretary said the plan remained “in flux.”

Secretary of State Marco Rubio suggested late Wednesday the document was a “list of potential ideas” rather than a completed proposal.

Update # 2– ExplainerToday

So the full document, which is a list of potential ideas in flux, hasn’t been released? How could it be?

Trump claims to have reached ‘historic’ peace deal between Armenia and Azerbaijan

All western/5 eyes media ignored the historic agreement when it actually did happen, 5 years ago, because the peace was made under the guidance of the Russian leadership- And the West can’t have this truth, this reality, known globally.

‘Scuse my railings but, Trump is a raving lunatic, who through his bombastic and incessant rantings is endangering us all, globally. That is honestly the way I feel about his piss poor leadership!

To quote my husband, “Trump is reckless”

As I’d explained previously and rehashed in a recent post- Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan signed a peace agreement in 2020. That’s the first Trump lie. I’m going to relink the news about that agreement

Territorial claims contained in Armenian Constitution today prevented signing of peace agreement – President Ilham Aliyev

BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 9. The territorial claims contained in the Constitution of Armenia today prevented the signing of a peace agreement, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said in an interview with local media, Trend reports.

Apparently something was initialed with signatures yet to come

Since Azerbaijan and Armenia have already initialed a peace agreement, its official signing should not take long, said President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev during an interview with the Azerbaijani press in Washington

Armenia will have to amend their constitution

When a peace agreement is signed, every issue must be resolved, and the baseless territorial claims against us must be removed. Therefore, I have no doubts regarding this matter,” President Ilham Aliyev emphasized

Alieyev is contradicting Trump’s claim- Trump said the peace agreement was signed. Azeri President said it wasn’t signed because of Armenian territorial claims, that will necessitate a consitutional change on the part of Armenia.- but it was initialed to be signed in the future- at some time.

I’ll update when there is more news- That said it seemed doubtful to me there was any type of real agreement- Trump is really pushing the idea that he should be given a Nobel Peace Prize? Which is as bogus a prize as one can imagine. Trump winning one would carry on the tradition of sham winners being awarded perception managing prizes so all these undeserving cretins will be remembered as something they are not! That includes Obama. Or as I liked to call him Obomba!

Link– from Azeri media Caliber

According to Armenian media, during a meeting with residents of Syunik (Zangezur), he stated the following: “If we can open the gates of Syunik—I mean the opportunities of those 43 kilometres—then you can be sure that the future will offer us great prospects for development. The ‘Crossroads of Peace’ is very well received by the international community.

First of all, what did Khachaturyan mean by the “opportunity of 43 kilometres”? Given the ending of his tirade—“Our goal is to sign a peace agreement in the near future”—he was referring to the Zangezur Corridor. But then, what does the much-touted “Crossroads of Peace” have to do with this? It’s a complete logical fallacy and a glaring absence of common sense. Let’s break it down further.

The Zangezur Corridor is a transport route intended to connect mainland Azerbaijan with the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic through Zangezur—a provision clearly laid out in Point 9 of the trilateral statement signed on November 10, 2020, which was personally endorsed by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. The corridor is planned to include both road and railway links, and in the future, it could become part of the Middle Corridor—an international trade route connecting Asia and Europe via the Caspian Sea. The creation of the Zangezur Corridor is supported by both Azerbaijan and Türkiye, and even two countries that can hardly be called allies—Russia and the United States—back the project.

At my former site- I have a post on this agreement- The TRILATERAL agreement was signed between Azerbaijan, Armenia and Russia- The link is still viable and is below;

11 point peace plan from 2020 (nearly 5 years ago)

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, during one of his press conferences, spoke in considerable detail on the subject, noting in particular: “It is very unfortunate that such a practical and beneficial thing as the opening of a route through Zangezur for Armenia still remains only on paper. It is Armenia that is facing difficulties in implementing the opening of the transport corridor.”

Moreover, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan made several statements regarding the U.S. initiative—characteristically contradictory in tone. Initially, he declared that the option proposed by Ambassador Tom Barrack—regarding the potential transfer of a section of Armenian territory under the control of a third party—was unacceptable and legally impossible. But, as the saying goes, it wasn’t long before he changed his stance. At a subsequent press conference, he confirmed that discussions had indeed taken place on transferring control of the Zangezur Corridor to a private company representing a third party.

Interestingly, at the time, the Spanish outlet Periodista Digital reported that it had obtained a secret memorandum concerning the Zangezur Corridor, allegedly signed between Armenia and the United States.

As I’d mentioned previously- any agreement regarding this corridor was most likely favoured only by Armenia.

Keep in mind I’m quoting from an Azerbaijani media outlet

Overall, the U.S. initiative concerning the Zangezur Corridor once again confirms that this project lies within the sphere of interest of major global players—and not only for economic reasons. The point is that the corridor plays a critical role in the current era of global order transformation. Specifically, the U.S. interest is motivated, among other things, by Washington’s desire, first, to weaken Moscow’s position in the South Caucasus region; second, to undermine the interests of Iran, which is well known for its opposition to the implementation of the corridor; and third, to use the issue of the Zangezur Corridor to push forward Armenian-Azerbaijani negotiations, ultimately leading to a peace agreement under the auspices of the American track.

Azerbaijan understands that the US will use the issue of the corridor to influence negotiation with an attempt to implement an agreement that is favourable to Pax Americana

As for the Zangezur Corridor, Azerbaijan’s position remains unwavering, grounded in international law and on the commitments made by Armenia itself. As Ilham Aliyev stated at the III Shusha Global Media Forum, if Armenia continues to block the process related to the opening of the Zangezur Corridor, its chances of ever becoming a transit country are approaching zero.

“Unfortunately, no work has been done on the Armenian side in the last five years, as this issue is deliberately removed from the agenda. But under such circumstances, the chances for Armenia to ever become a transit country are close to zero. If they continue to block this process, I think that they will find themselves not only in transport isolation, which they already are in today, but also in political isolation to a certain extent,” the president said.

Unless America steps in. Which is what Armenia is wanting. Which is why Armenia is and has been stalling.

These words from the President of Azerbaijan, directed clearly at Yerevan, also serve as a clear message to the international community: Armenia is the main stumbling block to realising important processes in a geopolitically significant region such as the South Caucasus, where the interests of global powers intersect.

Below is an oped from CommonSpace.eu, 22 July 2025
Onnik James Krikorian

For the first time in 31 years of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, the situation feels more unpredictable than ever. In the past, there was a grim certainty that another war would erupt just as it did in September 2020 while peace, on the other hand, always seemed distant. In recent weeks, comments from U.S. President Donald Trump that it was almost a done deal simply solicited disagreement among analysts and political commentators. As if that wasn’t confusion enough, and although both Baku and Yerevan have said that the 10 July meeting between the leaders in Abu Dhabi was constructive, another issue has emerged unexpectedly to distract and deflect attention.

What began seemingly as speculation by a prominent U.S. think tank on 1 July now appears to be gaining traction. Washington might have proposed that an American company manage any transit route from Azerbaijan to Nakhchivan, running through Armenia, as envisaged by the November 2020 ceasefire statement. The situation was further muddled by the article in question appearing more focused on the need for Washington to push Ankara to open its border in the north.

However, the southern route, referred to as the “Zangezur Corridor” in Azerbaijan and Turkiye, would place the U.S. in direct proximity to Iran and Russian FSB border guards deployed in precisely the same area. Tehran has consistently warned that it will not tolerate any geopolitical changes on its border. The original article also suggested that an anonymous U.S. official opined that President Trump could win a Nobel Peace Prize if he helped facilitate the route.

This idea of Trump winning a Nobel Peace Prize for anything is deranged

This raised eyebrows given that several other ethnic Armenian commentators had pushed the same incentive of the coveted prize, though not guaranteed, since the beginning of June if he were to support Armenia’s position on unblocking regional communications. Again, the main focus was convincing or even pressuring Turkiye to open its border with Armenia before an agreement to normalise relations between Baku and Yerevan is signed. Ankara currently refuses to do so unless one is.

Recall my saying if anyone wanted the US involved in this area it was Armenia after having made a sharp turn towards the west. Not Turkey, or Iran. Not Azerbaijan. Not Russia.

However, the southern route, referred to as the “Zangezur Corridor” in Azerbaijan and Turkiye, would place the U.S. in direct proximity to Iran and Russian FSB border guards deployed in precisely the same area. Tehran has consistently warned that it will not tolerate any geopolitical changes on its border. The original article also suggested that an anonymous U.S. official opined that President Trump could win a Nobel Peace Prize if he helped facilitate the route.

This raised eyebrows given that several other ethnic Armenian commentators had pushed the same incentive of the coveted prize, though not guaranteed, since the beginning of June if he were to support Armenia’s position on unblocking regional communications. Again, the main focus was convincing or even pressuring Turkiye to open its border with Armenia before an agreement to normalise relations between Baku and Yerevan is signed. Ankara currently refuses to do so unless one is. (Ankara will not open the border until there is an agreement between Baku and Yerevan)

The articles also suggested that such a move could isolate Iran in the region, sideline Russia, and contain emerging Chinese ambitions. For many analysts in Armenia and Azerbaijan, this potential geopolitical escalation is precisely what the current bilateral track, suggested first by Baku in October 2023, sought to avoid. Since then there has reportedly been greater progress than earlier attempts by the EU, U.S., and Russia since 2021. All three had previously been criticised in the past.

The intention was to avoid the geopolitical escalation. First suggested by Baku, to avoid isolating Iran, sidelining Russia and containing China. Yet, Armenia has been working with the Americans, including promoting a potential Nobel Peace Prize for Trump- Sounds just like Netanyahu.

Domestically, Pashinyan appears increasingly determined to remove the Russian FSB from the same route the U.S. would oversee. The recent move against Samvel Karapetyan, an Armenian-Russian oligarch, has also been seen similarly. Pashinyan threatened to nationalise the electricity distribution network the businessman controls. This echoed an idea offered by a Yerevan analyst over a year ago that nationalising the Armenia-Iran gas pipeline could wrest it from Moscow’s control.

Meanwhile, both Azerbaijan and Turkiye reportedly oppose the U.S. proposal. At the weekend, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev reiterated that Baku expects unhindered transit through Armenia and that it will not permit a U.S. company to operate on its own territory. He further stated that Armenia would not become a transit country, likely a reference to Pashinyan’s ambiguous “Crossroads of Peace” proposal introduced as an alternative to Baku’s “Zangezur Corridor.”

AA-

Back to the CommonSpaceoped

In parallel, pro-Pashinyan voices on social media have ramped up pressure on Washington, urging sanctions against Baku if it rejects the U.S. deal. They also continue to press the U.S. to pressure Ankara to open the Armenia-Turkiye border before the peace treaty is signed. Aliyev instead revealed that Baku prefers to initial the agreement until the two main sticking points are resolved

Moreover, there is little clarity on whether Washington intends to pursue this plan while other Armenian commentators suggest it is less about logistics and more about the U.S. taking on the role of a security guarantor, not unlike its recent deal with Ukraine on minerals. At least one Azerbaijani analyst believes this a trap set by Yerevan to sour Baku’s relations with Moscow further.

There are several more paragraphs to be read from the oped- Find them at the opening link.