British: You'll have to take our word that the Russians did it

UPDATE
See also Moon of Alabama's 9/5 report, The Strange Timestamp In The New Novichok 'Evidence,' published during the height of the uproar Mrs May set off today. As for the strange timestamp and other oddities Bernhard points out -- the British will find a way to explain their way out of this one. They always do.    
END UPDATE

"Later in the day Zakharova told reporters that the UK's ambassador to Russia turned down a request to provide further information on the suspects, including their fingerprints, which she recalled were a requirement for Russian citizens seeking to get UK visas."

"Why not just Ivanov? Then you could grab every third Russian and say it's him." -- Viktoria Skripal, Sergei Skripal's niece, commenting on the two aliases released by the Metropolitan Police today along with CCTV images and the following photo.

Suspicious-looking characters if I ever saw some

Just in time to set off an uproar ahead of Friday's UNSC meeting to, er, 'discuss' Syria's Russian-backed Idlib Offensive, a discussion which I hope does not include U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley holding up pictures of dead Syrian babies, this news today from Sputnik:  

"We were right to say in March the Russian state was responsible," said the UK Prime Minister Theresa May, addressing Parliament on Wednesday with an update on the Salisbury incident [i.e., alleged poisoning of Russian ex-spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury, England].

"Based on the body of intelligence, the government has concluded that the two individuals named by the police and CPS are officers from the Russian military intelligence service, also known as the GRU. GRU is a highly disciplined organization with a well-established chain of command," Mrs. May told the parliament.

She added that "this was not a rogue operation."

"It was almost certainly also approved outside the GRU at a senior level of the Russian state."

Evidence? We'll have to take Mrs May's word as evidence and besides she didn't say she had evidence; she has a body of intelligence. Sputnik picks up the story in an updated report:

[...]

Suspects Named

On Wednesday, the Metropolitan Police released photos of two men, identified as Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov, whom UK prosecutors have accused of being responsible for the March 4 poisoning attack against the Skripals in the southern English town of Salisbury.

The men, who traveled to London from Moscow on Russian passports and are suspected of being Russian nationals, are also believed to have used aliases, according to the police.

In addition to the photos, the police showed a series of still CCTV images of the two men traveling in and around the UK, including London and Salisbury, where they were shown near Sergei Skripal's home. There, the police say, the suspects contaminated the house's front door with the Novichok nerve agent. The two men are said to have been in the UK from March 2 to March 4.

Officials said they would not request the suspects' extradition [Russia has no extradition treaties], but that a European arrest warrant had been issued instead.

The UK Foreign Office issued a formal summons to Russia's charge d'affaires in London on Wednesday to confront him on the new information. The US ambassador to the UK tweeted that Washington stood "firmly together" with its British allies "in holding Russia accountable for its aggression on UK soil."

Moscow Demands 'Practical Cooperation'

Responding to the Met's new claims, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that the published names and photos "do not tell us anything," and urged London to "switch from public accusations and the manipulation of information to practical cooperation between law enforcement agencies."

Later in the day, Zakharova told reporters that the UK's ambassador to Russia turned down a request to provide further information on the suspects, including their fingerprints, which she recalled were a requirement for Russian citizens seeking to get UK visas. "The ambassador said the British side will not provide any materials," Zakharova said.

"London refused to provide any information at all about the case — their passport numbers, patronymics, personal details, etc.," Zakharova added. "We will proceed from the idea that this information will be transferred through the Interpol line," she added.

Echoing Zakharova, the Russian Prosecutor General's Office told Sputnik that it was ready to cooperate with British law enforcement on the Skripal case, but also said that it expected to receive material evidence of the possible involvement of Russian citizens.

[...]

Vladimir Ushakov, an aide to the Russian president, said ...   "We have heard about two names, but these names do not tell me anything, just as they don't tell you anything, I think. Moreover, there was a commentary by Scotland Yard that these names are supposedly fake. [So] I don't understand what kind of signal the UK is trying to send. It's difficult to understand," Ushakov told Sputnik.

Finally, Viktoria Skripal, Sergei Skripal's niece, commented on the names released by the Met: "Why not just Ivanov? Then you could grab every third [Russian] and say 'it's him,' " she said to Sputnik.

[END REPORT]

UPDATE

From RT Newsline:

"Britain to present Salisbury poison evidence to UNSC on Thursday – spokesman"

********

"Breaking News: Syrian, Russian jets swarm southwest Idlib"

"The Syrian Arab Army is now expected to launch their long-awaited [Idlib] offensive in the next ten days ..."

By Leith Aboufadel
September 5, 2018
AMN

BEIRUT, LEBANON (11:45 A.M.) – The Syrian and Russian air forces have resumed their airstrikes over the southwestern countryside of the Idlib Governorate today.

Using their Sukhoi jets, the Syrian and Russian air forces heavily bombarded the Jisr Al-Shughour District for the second straight day.

According to a field report, the Syrian and Russian air forces struck Hay’at Tahrir Al-Sham’s positions near the Al-Ghaab Plain and Turkish border before turning their attention to the northern countryside of Hama.

While their air force struck Jisr Al-Shughour, the Syrian Arab Army concentrated their shelling and missiles on the Al-Hawash, Khirbat Al-Naqous, and Al-Hawijah.

The Syrian Arab Army is now expected to launch their long-awaited offensive in the next ten days, as they finalize their plans for attack.

[END REPORT]

********

"It is unconscionable to leave 1-2 million Syrian civilians under the rule of al-Qaeda".

"Today the Syrian army began to prepare the battlefield for the upcoming fight. Some 30 bombing attacks were flown by the Syrian and Russian air force. The targets were depots and headquarters of the Jihadis.  Removing their supplies is the easiest way to shorten the fight and thereby prevent unnecessary civilian casualties."

Syria - UN, U.S. Try To Delay Idlib's Liberation
September 4, 2018 - 2:08 PM
Moon of Alabama

The United Nations Special Envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura and his Special Advisor, Jan Egeland, held a press conference (vid) today. They appealed to Russian President Putin and President Erdogan of Turkey to find a solution for Idleb province that would avoid the upcoming Syrian army attack on the province ruled by al-Qaeda.

De Mistura claimed that there are 2.9 million civilians in the area. That number is nonsense. In 2011 Idleb governorate had a population of 1.5 million. Several hundred thousands of those -- Christians, Alawites, government employees, soldiers and their families -- fled in 2015 when al-Qaeda and its Free Syrian Army allies attacked and occupied it. 

Some new people, 10-20,000 Chinese Uyghurs as well as other foreign Jihadis, arrived. But their total numbers were in the ten thousands, not in the hundred thousands. When in 2017 the Syrian army liberated Aleppo and then east Ghouta and other areas, about 50,000 people in total asked to be put on buses and to be shipped off to Idleb. The total number of people in the province and the attached areas held by the Jihadis must be well under 2 million.

As for the number of terrorists in Idleb, de Mistura only spoke of some 10,000 of the al-Qaeda aligned Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the former Jabhat Al-Nusra Front. But the total number of radical Jihadists in the governorate is much larger. There are two large groups of "rebels" in Idleb.

Turkey’s favourite is the NLF, which is led by Fadlallah al-Hajji, a Muslim Brotherhood ally. The NLF includes Turkey-friendly Islamists like Ahrar al-Sham, the Noureddine al-Zengi Brigades, Failaq al-Sham, Jaish al-Ahrar, and groups that fought under the Free Syrian Army banner, like the Victory Army and the 2nd Coastal Division.

Big but brittle, the NLF is held together by Turkish sponsorship and shared enemies: al-Assad’s government, Syrian Kurdish groups, and hardline jihadists.

These ain't your friendly neighbors but brutal Islamists. Ahrar al Sham is a recognized terrorist group founded by a senior al-Qaeda veteran. The al-Zengi [Zenki] brigades became famous when they published a video which showed them beheading a wounded 12 year old boy.

The second, larger and even more brutal group, is the alliance around HTS under its leader Abu Mohammed al-Golani. It includes several thousand Uyghur and Chechen fighters:

Some of al-Golani’s jihadist critics, many of whom are Jordanians and Palestinians, have gathered in a pro-al-Qaeda splinter faction known as Hurras al-Deen.
...
Hurras al-Deen is accompanied by a number of small foreign-led factions close to Tahrir al-Sham, including the Chechens of Junoud al-Sham. The so-called Islamic State also operates clandestine cells in the area, hunted by both the NLF and Tahrir al-Sham.Jaish al-Ezzah, a Free Syrian Army-flagged faction based near Hama, has not joined the Turkish-backed NLF like many of its former comrades. Some see the group as a covert Tahrir al-Sham ally ...
...
In the western part of the enclave, Jisr al-Shughour has emerged as a stronghold of the Turkestan Islamic Party, TIP, a group of Uyghur Chinese jihadists.

HTS and other Jihadis have rejected Turkish requests to dissolve themselves. When the liberation of Idleb starts the Turkish influenced NLF will join HTS and other Jihadis in the fight:

[T]o the Syrian government, Idlib’s rebels are all terrorists pure and simple – and the Idlib fighters themselves also see al-Assad as their primary enemy, transcending factional divides. Aba-Zeid insisted that if Russia green-lights a Syrian government offensive on Idlib, no matter how the various groups view Turkey or each other, they would all “prioritise repelling the attack”.

Mustafa Sejari, a leader in the Ankara-backed Moutassem Brigade, agreed. “This is the last fortress of the Syrian opposition and preserving it is everyone’s obligation,” he said.

HTS and its allies must have some 15-25,000 fighters, the groups aligned with Turkey may have a slightly lower number, some are locals and they are probably less willing to fight. In total the Syrian army is likely to face a force of some 30-45,000 capable and willing fighters.

What these groups currently lack is the supply of weapons and ammunition. In August 2018 not one anti-tank guided missiles was used against the Syrian army. The U.S. officially ended its supplies for the "rebels". The Gulf states have washed their hands over Idelb. It is no longer their fight. Turkey also seems to have stopped weapon supplies. Without constant resupply of anti-tank weapons and especially artillery ammunition the "rebel" groups will soon run out of the basic necessities for waging war.

But there are still calls for further arming the Jihadis. The "eminent scholar" and warmonger Anthony Cordesman of CSIS just advised to re-up such supplies:

If anything, the U.S. should begin now to evaluate the kind of aid it might give any renewed Sunni or other rebels faction both now in Idlib or later.

This is in line with the idea of U.S. administration officials who want to "create quagmires" for Syria and Russia.

The New York Times did its best to push for that with an op-ed of some "democratic" Jihadi fan-girl and a propagandistic "news" piece on Idleb that took the reader to the 21st paragraph [before revealing] that the province is ruled by al-Qaeda:

H.T.S. has controlled much of Idlib since 2015, acting as de facto governmental authority, facilitating trade across the long border with Turkey and organizing aid deliveries.

The "de-facto governmental authority" HTS is known to publicly execute women accused of adultery. It "facilitates trade" by taxing it to finance its terrorist activities. It "organizes aid deliveries" by talking half of any aid that is brought in. That is the reason why the Inspector General of USAID recently shut down its aid program in Idleb.

If the U.S. wants to "create a quagmire" in Idleb it will need Turkish support to restart its arming of the terrorists. Today U.S. emissaries arrived in Ankara likely to offer a deal:

United States Special Envoy for Syria James Jeffrey held talks with Defense Minister Hulusi Akar and Deputy Foreign Minister Sedat Önal in the Turkish capital on Sept. 4.

Jeffrey had served as the U.S. Ambassador to Ankara between the years of 2008 and 2010 and thus have great knowledge on the importance of Turkish-American ties.
...
The top three issues in regards to the current situation on Syrian soil that Turkish officials discussed with Jeffrey were the looming Idlib operation by Syria-Russia, delays in the implementation of the Manbij deal and efforts to speed up political settlement in Syria.

On Idlib, Turkey and the U.S. are on the same page and have expressed that a massive operation into the overpopulated province would create an unprecedented humanitarian tragedy if civilians are not separated from terrorists. Both countries think al-Nusra and affiliated groups should be eliminated but this should be done carefully and without civilian casualties.

The de Mistura press conference today made the same point and was likely coordinated with these talks.

But neither de Mistura nor James Jeffrey nor any Turkish official have presented an idea of how to achieve that. Turkey was given several months to solve the Jihadist problem in Idleb by talks. It tried and failed.

The current situation cannot continue. It is unconscionable to leave the 1-2 million civilians in Syria under the rule of al-Qaeda. HTS is just now arresting hundreds of civilians who want to reconcile with the government. It builds gallows as a warning to not talk to the government. It executes those who do and publishes pictures of it.

Two UN Security Council resolutions demand to fight the "Al-Nusra Front (ANF), and all other individuals, groups, undertakings, and entities associated with Al Qaeda or ISIL, and other terrorist groups" and "to eradicate the safe haven they have established over significant parts of Syria ...".

How is that supposed to be done without fighting them? Will the U.S. offer to resettle HTS and the other Jihadis in Wyoming? Will Turkey give them apartments in Antalya? No? Then what?

U.S. President Trump added another warning against the Idelb operation:

Donald J. Trump @realDonaldTrump - 22:20 utc - 3 Sep 2018
"President Bashar al-Assad of Syria must not recklessly attack Idlib Province. The Russians and Iranians would be making a grave humanitarian mistake to take part in this potential human tragedy. Hundreds of thousands of people could be killed. Don’t let that happen!"

(Note: Instead of the "animal Assad" Trump used in an earlier tweet he properly addressed Syria's president.)

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Joseph Dunford, chimed in:

“We don’t see any way that significant military operations are going to be beneficial to the people of Syria,” Dunford told reporters during a trip to Athens. “If major military operations take place we can expect humanitarian catastrophe and I think we would all want to see that be avoided” ...
...
Pressed about the best course, Dunford said: “More of a discussion between the Turks, the Syrians and the Russians at more precise counterterrorism operations — as opposed to large scale conventional operations — would be the right approach.”

The U.S. is not a friend of the people of Syria. If it gives advice the Syrian government and its allies should do the opposite. Any delay of the liberation of Idleb will strengthen their enemy. They should launch the operation as soon as possible.

Today the Syrian army began to prepare the battlefield for the upcoming fight. Some 30 bombing attacks were flown by the Syrian and Russian air force. The targets were depots and headquarters of the Jihadis.  Removing their supplies is the easiest way to shorten the fight and to thereby prevent unnecessary civilian casualties.

[END REPORT]

********

"US, Turkey Agree 'Any' Syrian Offensive in Idlib 'Unacceptable' - US State Dept"

Uh oh. Has President Erdogan pulled a switcheroo?  Or is this just more fog of war? Elijah Magnier's sources told him:

Turkey has offered substantial information, which has been added to Syrian intelligence and Russian information gathering. This has created a bank of objectives against HTS, Tanzim Hurras al-Deen (THD) and all the other jihadists and foreign fighters in the city and its rural area.

However, while Turkey has finally designated HTS a terrorist organization --

... it is still trying, to date, to convince its leader Abu Mohammad al-Joulani, an ex-ISIS (ISIL/Daesh) Emir, to dissolve its group and join, with his 12 to 15,000 men, the pro-Turkish groups in the north. Turkey also asked Joulani to detach himself from all foreign fighters so that the city of Idlib can be spared the assault, since Damascus is determined to recover every inch of Syria, including Idlib.

We'll just have to see what comes from the Russia-Turkey-Iran summit in Iran on, uh, oh dear I can't remember -- soon. A few days.   


23:36 - 04.09.2018 (updated 23:46)
Sputnik

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo spoke on Tuesday over the phone with his Turkish counterpart, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, about the situation in Idlib, Syria.

The statement on the call, attributable to State Department Spokeswoman Heather Nauert, takes a stronger position against than the one taken by US President Donald Trump the day prior.

"President Bashar al-Assad of Syria must not recklessly attack Idlib Province. The Russians and Iranians would be making a grave humanitarian mistake to take part in this potential human tragedy," Trump tweeted on Monday. "Hundreds of thousands of people could be killed. Don’t let that happen!"

Now, it appears that the State Department and the White House aren't exactly on the same page. While Trump cautioned against a "reckless attack," the State Department, in conjunction with the Turkish Foreign Ministry, is calling "any Assad military offensive" in Idlib "unacceptable."

Pompeo and Cavusoglu "agreed that any Assad regime military offensive in Idlib would be an unacceptable, reckless escalation of the conflict in Syria," the statement reads.

As the government, backed by Russian air power, has liberated major cities and districts from the jihadists since the start of the war more than seven years ago, they have allowed them evacuation into Idlib. On Friday, the United Nations Security Council will convene and US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley will discuss the situation in Idlib, she told reporters on Tuesday.

[...]

[END REPORT]

*********

Can Argonaut Villager purifiers help relieve Basra's drinking water crisis?

The Argonaut Villager (AV) filtration system, whether powered by solar, portable generator, or water pressure, provides 16 gallons per minute 24 hours a day of purified water from even the most polluted water source. I understand it's built to serve villages not city populations, and I don't know how many of the units would be available on short notice, but I think several units might alleviate at least some of the immediate crisis in Basra. 

And while it's built as a long-term solution for purifying a village's water source, it can be used in any humanitarian crisis. It starts working in 15 minutes after set-up, it's child's play to use, and doesn't require routine maintenance. There are no filters to replace because the AV uses a backwash system that operates while the unit is still purifying water.  

Three of the AV units can be hooked up to a single portable generator. 

The polluted water in Basra is also very salty, but I assume the AV could take care of that; however, given its level of filtration I'd guess the purified water would have to be remineralized -- not hard or expensive; there are mineral drops for that purpose. 

I don't know the cost of each unit but if they worked out in Ethiopia, where I'd guess they were field-tested, maybe the Ethiopian government could chip in several units as a humanitarian gesture for the Basrans. His Imperial Highness Prince Ermias Sahle-Selassie Haile-Selassie had told Gregory Copley, whose brainstorm had started development of the AV, that he wanted the system for every community in Africa.  

Right now the only recourse those people in Basra have is bottled water, which is expensive and scarce, so they're drinking poisoned water and getting sick by the thousands -- and now the hospitals are overwhelmed and don't have enough medicines to treat all the ill. 

The situation is a nightmare; it's going to require a massive international aid effort as a stopgap measure, but I thought of AV when I learned about the crisis. For readers who don't know about the AV system, here's how it works:

As to how the crisis came about -- see the Al-Monitor report below for details but in short: Basra gets its water from the Shatt al-Arab, the waterway formed by the juncture of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, both of which are at historic lows. This has created "staggering" levels of pollution in a water supply system that was on its last legs to begin with, and which the local and central governments have not fixed. 

This touched off a drinking water crisis in Basra starting in August. The crisis has led to intermittent rioting, which picked up again on September 2. 

Here's a few quotes from the Al-Monitor report that quickly convey the seriousness of the situation:

"Basra Governor Asaad al-Eidani asserted in an Aug. 25 statement to the press, “Basra’s water is not suitable for human use" ... The number of people sickened continues to increase, with Abu Al-Khasib General Hospital alone receiving 400 patients a day ... According to statistics from the health directorate, Basra's water pollution is staggering. Chemical contamination stands at 100% and the bacterial pollution at 50%, including water from household taps. The High Commission for Human Rights noted, “[Residents] are drinking water from tank cars, most of which transport sewage waste. ... The commission has also noted the lack of water treatment plants capable of helping resolve the problem. “Most of the small stations are not operational due to their low capacity and lack of maintenance” ... There are apparently no emergency plans for responding effectively to such circumstances. ... For the moment, bottled water appears to be the only truly safe drinking water in Basra, but even when it is available it is often unaffordable. "

As to the rioting:

Margaret Griffis, Anti-war, September 2:  Clean Water Protests Resume; Eight Killed in Iraq:

Thousands of demonstrators returned to the provincial government building in Basra, Iraq, where they set tires on fire to call attention to the dire water situation in the province. A separate group of about 150 protesters gathered outside the Nahr Bin Omar oilfield and threatened to prevent oil production until they get clean water. ... At least eight people were killed and four were wounded in recent violence. [...]

 Margaret Griffis, Anti-war, September 3: Basra Protests Turn Violent; 16 Killed in Iraq

Video has surfaced of what is purportedly a group of Federal Police tear-gassing detained protesters at an unknown location. Protesters also reportedly set fire to the mayor’s home in Shatt al-Arab. There are also multiple reports on the Internet of security forces killing and wounding protesters in Basra. [...]

And here's the complete Al-Monitor report:

Mustafa Saadoun, August 31: Basra residents reeling from contaminated drinking water

BASRA, Iraq — Human rights advocates and health officials estimate that 17,000 to 18,000 residents of Basra province have been poisoned by heavily polluted and salty drinking water. On Aug. 26, hundreds of residents stormed the Basra Health Directorate to protest the poor health services provided to those made ill, but relief is not in sight.

Basra hospitals have been struggling since Aug. 12 to treat patients suffering from intestinal and skin diseases. Some hospitals have been so overwhelmed by the sheer number of patients and lack of medicines that were unable to provide assistance in thousands of cases.

The Iraqi Observatory for Human Rights documented 7,000 cases in just two days, Aug. 25-26. In an Aug. 25 report, the organization said, “The health services provided by the Basra hospitals can hardly cater to the needs of 15% of the cases. Some patients were left to lie on the floor as they failed to receive any treatment.”

The number of people sickened continues to increase, with Abu Al-Khasib General Hospital alone receiving 400 patients a day. Statistics compiled by the provincial health directorate for Aug. 12-28 revealed close to 2,000 cases each day throughout the province. Those affected are presenting with colic, diarrhea and poisoning due to water contamination.

According to statistics from the health directorate, Basra's water pollution is staggering. Chemical contamination stands at 100% and the bacterial pollution at 50%, including in water from household taps. The High Commission for Human Rights noted, “[Residents] are drinking water from tank cars, most of which transport sewage waste.”

In a video posted to YouTube on Aug. 23, a man in Basra can be heard laughing about the foul water running from a hose. The black liquid is obviously unsuitable for human consumption or use. “How can Iraqis survive when this is the water they drink?” one person says.

When shown the video, one local man, Ruaa al-Furaiji, asked Al-Monitor, “Is this the water we were drinking?”

Basra gets its water from the Shatt al-Arab, the waterway formed by the juncture of the Euphrates and Tigris. In an Aug. 28 statement, the High Commission for Human Rights said it has found high levels of salinity in the water feeding the Shatt al-Arab, a decline in water levels in the rivers feeding residential areas and an increase in chemical and biological contaminants in the Shatt al-Arab from sewage and industrial waste.

The commission has also noted the lack of water treatment plants capable of helping resolve the problem. “Most of the small stations are not operational due to their low capacity and lack of maintenance,” the commission reported. Basra’s water has long been known to be high in salinity and heavily polluted.

On Aug. 28, Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi said at his weekly press conference, “We have tasked a high-level government team with examining Basra’s water needs and pollution levels, and we have made important decisions in this regard.” He offered no details, but his statement made it clear that whatever actions the government has in mind, they will not end Basra's suffering anytime soon. There are apparently no emergency plans for responding effectively to such circumstances.

Basra Governor Asaad al-Eidani asserted in an Aug. 25 statement to the press, “Basra’s water is not suitable for human use, and the services and funds that Abadi promised ... have yet to be provided.” He added, “The water network in Basra province hasn't been upgraded in 30 years, and it overlaps with the sewage networks, which are also old and whose water flows into the Shatt al-Arab.”

On Aug. 17, activists from the province posted a video on YouTube of water from a residential water pipe containing unidentified insects. Some residents have also used their cell phones to record examples of polluted water. For the moment, bottled water appears to be the only truly safe drinking water in Basra, but even when it is available it is often unaffordable.

Fatima al-Zarkani, a former parliament member who represented Basra province, told Al-Monitor, “There are [thousands of] cases of poisoning, and people are suffering from very difficult conditions due to water pollution. The government should carry out its responsibilities as soon as possible.”

She added, “People have been drinking water containing toxins due to government neglect and a lack of solutions to their suffering, which has been ongoing for years now, and [the conditions are] degenerating. ... The situation in Basra is tragic.”

Iraqi Health Minister Adila Hammoud has tried to downplay the severity of the situation, claiming that only 1,500 people have been affected, ignoring the much higher figures issued by the Basra Health Directorate and the High Commission for Human Rights.

Education officials have voiced concerns about the possible spread of disease among students at the start of the new school year. Meanwhile, the widespread illness in Basra has led to a lull in one of the largest protest movements in Iraq in years over public services, but the dire situation might ultimately be the catalyst for mobilizing an even bigger movement.

[END REPORT]

********

"Advanced weapons supplied to terrorists in Syria by foreign sponsors via bogus companies"

TASS reported on the first news to come out of the security/anti-terrorism conference in Moscow, which began yesterday and winds up today. No names named as yet -- at least not to the press.

MOSCOW, September 3. /TASS/. State-of-the-art weapons, including drones, were supplied to terrorists in Syria by foreign sponsors via bogus companies, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an address to the participants in an anti-terror conference in Moscow that was read out by Deputy Foreign Minister Oleg Syromolotov on Monday.

Terrorists’ resistance in Syria has not been broken down to the end," Lavrov said in the address. "Scattered groups of terrorists continue fierce fighting. Notably, militants suffer no shortage of weapons and munitions. Moreover, they use state-of-the-art weapons, such as unmanned aerial vehicles. Evidently, it would be impossible without foreign sponsors."

"The counter-terrorist operation in Syria has exposed numerous evidence of supplies of various weapons and hardware to terrorists by bogus companies via third countries," the document says.

The Russian top diplomat called on the world community to do away with the so-called "grey zones" in the economy used as a channel to supply militants with weapons. He also insisted that the practice of dividing terrorists into "good" and "bad" be stopped. 

"Life proves that everyone loses in the long run," he underscored.

[END REPORT]

So what are the chances the Russians will name names? I note that in June the Russians announced at a presser:

Chemical weapons production equipment found in the Syrian town of Douma and used by terrorists based there was manufactured in Western Europe.

[...]

We are ready to transfer specific information in a working procedure to our colleagues, if they display interest in that, and provide the corresponding proofs that this equipment got into terrorists’ and militants’ hands from Western Europe.

[...]

Representatives of the diplomatic corps and the media were invited to the news briefing of Russia’s Foreign and Defense Ministries on the probe into the incidents of the use of chemical weapons in Syria.

After introductory statements by [Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova] and Chief of Russia’s Nuclear, Biological and Chemical (NBC) Protection Forces Major-General Igor Kirillov, the media representatives were requested to leave the conference room.

The news briefing continued behind closed doors for foreign diplomats only.

From that I'd surmise that any naming of bogus companies will also done behind closed doors. But I think that kind of information will not remain under wraps for too long. 

********

Syrian War's last major battle: present stance of Turkey, Saudi Arabia, USA, Russia

"Even those who financed, facilitated and supported the war (i.e. Saudi Arabia) are shifting from their original positions." 

Will the Battle of Idlib Start While Russian Task Force is in the Mediterranean?

By Elijah J. Magnier

American Herald Tribune

September 3, 2018

Russia has amassed large naval and air forces in the Mediterranean opposite the Syrian coast under the command of the Russian Navy commander Admiral Vladimir Korolov. 25 warships and 30 aircraft are involved in these extensive manoeuvres: Tu-160 bombers, Tu-142s, II38 anti-submarine, Su-33s and Su-30SMs, and other aircraft. The drill is announced to end one day after the Tehran Summit between presidents Vladimir Putin, Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Hassan Rouhani, to decide the fate and outcome of the battle of Idlib. This may indicate that Russia is about to provide huge firepower for the Syrian Army offensive in the north of Syria against jihadists, thus creating a shield for the dissuasion of a possible US tactical attack against Damascus.

Sources close to the leadership command in Syria said that there is no doubt that the battle of Idlib will take place, regardless of US threats. It will be divided into several steps. The first objective is to ensure the safety of the Russian Hameymeem military base on the Syrian coast that has been subject to several armed drone attacks, carried out by al-Nusra, aka Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the ex-al Qaeda in Syria, as claimed by Russia. This makes the rural Latakia area the first objective, followed by rural Idlib. 

Turkey has offered substantial information which has been added to Syrian intelligence and Russian information gathering. This has created a bank of objectives against HTS, Tanzim Hurras al-Deen (THD) and all the other jihadists and foreign fighters in the city and its rural area.

According to the sources, Jisr al-Shughur, Khan Shaikhoon, Saraqeb and Sahl al-Ghab are the favourite initial objectives to be targeted by the Syrian army and Russia to dislodge and eliminate jihadists in these locations, with Turkish approval.

Turkey has classified HTS as a terrorist organisation: however, it is still trying, to date, to convince its leader Abu Mohammad al-Joulani, an ex-ISIS (ISIL/Daesh) Emir, to dissolve its group and join, with his 12 to 15,000 men, the pro-Turkish groups in the north. Turkey also asked Joulani to detach himself from all foreign fighters so that the city of Idlib can be spared the assault, since Damascus is determined to recover every inch of Syria, including Idlib.

The Turkish-Syrian relationship has moved out of its critical stage to a less aggressive phase. Indeed, Foreign Minister Waleed al-Moallem has said “Damascus is not aiming to confront Turkey”. This is the first non-aggressive statement by the Syrian authorities towards Turkey since the start of the seven years of war imposed on Syria. 

Even those who financed, facilitated and supported the war (i.e. Saudi Arabia) are shifting from their original positions. Moallem sent a positive signal to his Saudi counterpart Adel al-Jubeir, who had endlessly repeated throughout these years that “Assad should stand down by peaceful or by military means”. 

All the signs indicate that Syria is recovering and slowly coming out of the state of war, with only small pockets remaining in the north, equivalent to around a third of the country’s geography but occupied by less than 10% of the estimated total Syrian population before the war.

Moreover, Ankara confirmed to Russia its intention to pull out of Syria once a political solution is offered to those who fought against the Syrian Army and are now under Turkish mentoring. Moscow and Damascus have been informed of the Turkish intentions and appreciate its effort to facilitate the elimination of all jihadists in the north. Ankara is willing to let go of these jihadists, force them to leave or to face death.

In the middle of all these preparations, the US establishment takes every opportunity to threaten the Syrian government, taking the side of the jihadists and the city of Idlib that was once described by the US presidential envoy Brett McGurk as the “largest concentration of al-Qaeda since 9/11”.

[Pundita note: I believe McGurk's full statement, made last year, was  “Idlib province is the largest al-Qaeda safe haven since 9/11, tied to directly to Ayman al Zawahiri; this is a huge problem.”]

It is therefore unclear why the US is protecting al-Qaeda, who is supposed to be considered one of its most lethal enemies.

Indeed, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said “Sergei Lavrov is defending the Syrian and Russian assault on Idlib. The US see this as an escalation of an already dangerous conflict”. Pompeo has failed to take into account, yet again, the fact that Syria is a sovereign state. As such Syria is unwilling to keep al-Qaeda in a safe haven on its territory and it is therefore in need of eliminating the threat from these experienced ideologues and dangerous jihadists aiming to establish an Islamic Emirates where, under their rule, there would be no room for secular or other religions.

Pompeo also said that Idlib hosts “3 million Syrian refugees” whereas the head of the UN’s humanitarian task force for Syria Jan Egeland said there are “2 million in the city of which more than half are displaced persons”, including foreign fighters and their families.

The most surprising statement was pronounced by the UN Special Envoy for Syria, Staffan De Mistura, who offered to “personally escort residents of Idlib to safety” in any attack. “There is no other Idlib, where they can go…?”. What Di Mistura failed to acknowledge is that, in fact, the Syrian and Russian armies have established safe corridors used already by thousands of inhabitants but then blocked by jihadists who imprisoned any Syrians willing to reconcile with government forces or leave the city while under jihadist control. 

Moreover, Di Mistura didn’t clarify or state whether the UN is willing to take all jihadists, including al-Qaeda, to a safe place outside Syria. It is unclear exactly why the US and the UN are offering al-Qaeda and similar jihadists and foreign fighters either protection (by wanting to stop an attack on their stronghold) or safe passage and to where.

Russia is determined to help Syria eradicate jihadists, as Waleed Moallem said, and to prevent these from returning home, particularly when many of these are Russian nationals: “This abcess needs to be liquidated”, said Lavrov. Moallem said “the army will try to avoid civilian casualties”. This is an impossible objective for the US: even when using precision bombs they have killed around 6,000 civilians so far in Syria and Iraq in the recent years.

US bombing against Syrian objectives is highly unlikely to change the power dynamic in the Levant. Russia is determined to stand against any US aggression against Syria, while its army is engaged in regaining control of the country and eliminating jihadists. 

Now it must be borne in mind that President Trump is facing an internal struggle which profoundly questions his leadership of the country. Therefore, an attack against Syria which flirts with warlike hostility against Russia may give him space to breathe for a little while. Nevertheless, no one can predict the ultimate consequences of two superpowers operating so closely with their significant military apparatus in such a small area of the Middle East. One thing, however, is predictable: Syria will regain its control over Idlib sooner or later, come what may.

[END REPORT]

*********

Syria: The Not So Calm Before the Storm

> Two-day international security conference in Moscow kicked off today. Will Russian government use conference to name governments and spy agencies it's recently accused of directly transferring weapons to Islamic State? Russians claim to have proof. 

> Syrian uprisings continue against foreign occupiers: Residents of Afrin in N.W. Syria call for expulsion of Turkish army and its allied militias; in response Turkish army cuts down thousands of olive trees and destroys hundreds of hectares of farmland in region.

> The New York Times craps in its pants in attempt to portray al Qaeda in Idlib as humanitarian-minded victims. 

> Al Qaeda in Idlib using kidnapping and firing squads to block rival militants in province from making peace with Syrian government.  

> Colonel Pat Lang announces groundwork for the Syrian army's Idlib Offensive now complete with Turkey abandoning support for al Qaeda in Idlib, Tehran announcing complete support for SAA offensive in Idlib, Russian navy now massed off Syrian coast in Mediterranean; ball now in U.S. court.

> Moon of Alabama announces that two major pockets of Islamic State left in Syria are located in regions under U.S. military control.

> Summit in Iran between Iran, Turkey, and Russia leaders to discuss resolution of Syrian crisis scheduled for September 7. All signs Idlib Offensive will launch directly after summit or at conclusion of Russian navy/air force drills off Syria's coast on September 8  -- making it three days before 9/11 anniversary. Here's hoping the New York Times editorial board and Pentagon choke on the launch date.

As to the rest of Americans -- grab a Russian flag in one hand and a Syrian flag in the other and cheer on the Syrian forces and their allies in the battle. 

In his Idlib battle sitrep, published today, Elijah Magnier noted, "It is unclear exactly why the US and the UN are offering al-Qaeda and similar jihadists and foreign fighters either protection (by wanting to stop an attack on their stronghold) or safe passage and to where."

It no longer matters why to this American. What matters to me is that al Qaeda ran rings around four consecutive American regimes, two Democratic, two Republican. I don't think they could have done that unless the regimes, and the U.S. Congress, had blindfolded themselves.

*********

"5 potentially dangerous hurricane preparation myths debunked" I'd believed two of them.

By Ashley Williams, AccuWeather Staff Writer
(undated article but published sometime after 2017 Hurricane Irma)
AccuWeather

[...]

[Popular idea but wrong]

(Photo/lisafx/Getty Images)

Myth 1: Taping windows will prevent hurricane-force winds from shattering them.

Fifty-four percent of Americans believe that placing tape over their homes' windows will protect the glass from breaking, according to the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes.

“The bottom line is that, when it comes to glass, tape is not the answer,” said Tommy Patterson, director of product development and technical services for Glass Doctor, a glass maintenance and installation company.

“That whole pane is going to come out of the window frame,” he added.

Even window film sold as impact-resistant film may be an unwise option for protecting windows, because the window itself isn’t designed to withstand a hurricane, Patterson said. Experts consider storm shutters or plywood that covers the entire window to be safer choices.

Myth 2: Storing your valuables in a dishwasher will guard them from floodwater damage.

The idea behind this popular myth is that because a dishwasher is great at keeping water from escaping, it could also help prevent floodwaters from rushing inside.

Despite being touted as a handy tip by a number of social media users and media outlets, the fact checkers at Snopes.com believe this so-called hurricane hack could potentially ruin your belongings.

If your home can get flooded, then so can your dishwasher, according to experts.

Myth 3: A few days’ worth of important medication is all that’s needed ahead of a storm.

Minimizing the chance of running low on essential prescription medications will require some planning ahead in case pharmacies remain closed for weeks after a hurricane.

“We are seeing that more states, especially states in the Gulf Coast region, that are waiving the limits of pharmacy refills,” said Dr. Nicolette Louissaint, executive director of non-profit disaster response organization Healthcare Ready.

RELATED: 
5 expert tips for protecting your home against hurricane damage 
Essential items for your evacuation go bag 
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“Patients can have refills before they would be due in order to make sure that they have consistent medicine to make it through a storm,” Louissaint said.

Myth 4: Opening windows during a hurricane will stabilize pressure.

“The belief is that you need to open up windows and garage doors to equalize pressure, but it’s not correct,” Silver said.

Buildings aren’t airtight, and there are many little openings throughout a home that would make opening windows unnecessary, according to Silver.

Opening windows and garage doors while a hurricane batters your home can cause much worse wind damage than otherwise would have occurred, Silver added.

“Structurally, leaving those large openings allows for wind to come in, which means that the wind has to move forcibly and can cause a lot of damage,” she said.

Myth 5: An evacuation order was issued, but the weather looks fine. There’s no rush to leave town.

If a mandatory evacuation order is issued ahead of potential hurricane impacts, experts advise that you leave your home sooner rather than later.

Officials often strongly advise against waiting until the last minute to evacuate, which potentially puts yourself in danger as well as the emergency responders who may have to rescue you during and after the storm.

During Hurricane Sandy in 2012, it was estimated that hundreds of stranded residents who chose not to evacuate called for help during the height of the storm.

[...]

Misconceptions circulating around tropical cyclones during hurricane season are nothing new.

The rumor mill swirled so much around 2017’s Hurricane Irma that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) had to set the record straight about the plethora of false reports.

The powerful storm evoked the idea that there is such a thing as a Category 6 hurricane.

In fact, the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale classification does not exceed Category 5, no matter how strong a storm’s winds become. 

Some of the many other widely accepted hurricane myths can prove to be dangerous.

“Believing common disaster myths can be anything from harmless to potentially causing significant challenges in terms of injuries or damages,” said Amber Silver, assistant professor at the University at Albany’s College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity.

“Ultimately, misinformation management is key, so it’s an appreciation of how it is we can communicate good information to aid in decision making,” Silver said.

[...]

[END REPORT]