The United States took this long to commit to arming SDF, despite its stated objective of destroying ISIS, because of concerns from the Turkish government.

The young United States florist headed to Raqqa, Syria, as a volunteer with the People’s Defense Units, or YPG, is known to most on Twitter as PissPigGranddad. He’s a part of ‘weird Twitter’—what’s been described as a sort of Dadaist subculture that most often experiments with elements of irony. For nearly

Next Cold War Roundup 10/25/16 Iraqi coalition advancement on Mosul continues. Sec. Defense Carter intervened between Turkey and Iraq and made matters worse. ISIS militants flee Mosul to Syria. The Economist signals western factions want them to have a safe corridor. The Russian air force monitors and pledges to strike them.

Next Cold War Roundup 8/26/16 Operation Euphrates Shield, a battle to take the town of Jarablus from ISIS included Turkish and American military, Turkish-backed Syrian opposition rebels, and the operation may have changed everything in the Syrian war. VP Joe Biden went to Turkey with copious praise and denials on

President Obama—who has been at war longer and reduced nuclear weapons less than any other president—called for peace and an end to nuclear proliferation.

Next Cold War Roundup 3/16/16 Geneva talks are on. Russia does a surprise semi-withdrawal from Syria, leaving a well equipped Syrian coalition but increasing pressure on Assad to compromise. The US brings to the table a weakened position on the ground but a threat of a Turkish invasion and the

Next Cold War Roundup 2/26/16 The Cessation of Hostilities in Syria is scheduled to begin today at 5pm Eastern (Feb 27 00:00 Damascus time).  There was a significant contrast between the words and tones of Pres. Obama and Pres. Putin in their delivered messages to their respective countries on the ceasefire

Next Cold War Roundup 2/24/16 Javelin Missiles Show Up on Battlefield in Syria _ Just as a cessation of hostilities agreement is being implemented, Javelin anti-tank guided missiles are showing up on the battlefield in Syria, in the hands of YPG Kurds in Shaddadi, in the Hasakah region.  Many US-backed

Next Cold War 2/22/16 Saber Rattling Saudi FM Tells Der Spiegel Saudis Want Syrian Rebels MANPADs. _ “In an interview, Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir expresses his continued support for regime change in Syria and his desire for rebels to be supplied with anti-aircraft missiles that could shift the balance

Next Cold War Roundup 1/29 Turkey Threatens to Enter War on Syrian Border. _ The Times in UK claims that Russia is working on a deal to create a Kurdish “enclave” and the Times frames this as a Russia provoking Turkey: “Kremlin provokes Akara with deal to secure Kurd enclave“: