by | Jan 25, 2024 | Aggregate
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The leaks have started and that almost always is a great indicator about an impending shift in U.S. foreign policy. In this case it concerns Syria, Iraq, Iran and Turkey. The United States has been engaged in a decade long military adventure in Syria. It started out in 2014 as an ostensible mission by special ops forces to find, fix and finish ISIS (that is military speak for killing the âterroristsâ), but it evolved into an insurgent support operation to assist the Kurds in their battles against Syria and Turkey. Oh yeah. Almost forgot. The U.S. military personnel primary mission was to protect the Conoco oil facility on Kurdish territory. It is all about the oil. Looks like there is a change on the horizon.
One of the U.S. military contractors employed as a social media influencer, OSINTdefender, posted the following today:
This coincided with a Foreign Policy piece by Charles Lister, who is frantically waving the the continuing threat of ISIS (they are like zombies, canât eradicate them) in a desperate plea to stay in place in Syria. He notes that the Hamas Oct 7 attack in Israel has changed the Middle East calculus:
it should not come as a surprise that the Biden administration is reconsidering its military priorities in the region.
It should be cause for significant concern, however, that this could involve a full withdrawal of U.S. troops from Syria. While no definitive decision has been made to leave, four sources within the Defense and State departments said the White House is no longer invested in sustaining a mission that it perceives as unnecessary. Active internal discussions are now underway to determine how and when a withdrawal may take place.
Notwithstanding the catastrophic effect that a withdrawal would have on U.S. and allied influence over the unresolved and acutely volatile crisis in Syria, it would also be a gift to the Islamic State. While significantly weakened, the group is in fact primed for a resurgence in Syria, if given the space to do so.
This is total bullshit. ISIS is not primed to do anything. ISIS is an excuse for keeping U.S. forces in a place.
Waving the Islamic State boogeyman in front of the American audience is predicated on the ignorance of the American public. Islamic State folks want to overthrow Bashir Assad. So do we. Islamic State fanatics hate Iran and Iran would like to destroy them. So I guess that makes us allies of the Islamic State extremists when it comes to hating Iran. Who the hell are we pretending to fight? That is the problem behind allowing the U.S. military presence in Syria to continue. We are illegally occupying Syrian territory.
U.S. and Israeli attacks on Hezbollah and IRGC targets over the past month have sparked a relentless barrage of drones, rockets and ballistic missiles on the U.S. outposts in Syria and northern Iraq. The Commander of CENTCOM and the Joint Chiefs of Staff now realize this is not a sustainable mission. At a minimum the 900 U.S. soldiers manning these Middel East versions of Fort Apache, are targets waiting for a missile strike. If the United States decides to launch a direct attack on Iran, which means inside Iran, then the survivability of these bases/outposts are in question.
I do not discount the possibility that the decision to close down these bases could be in anticipation of an eventual U.S. military strike on Iran. But I think it is a genuine effort to reduce the profile when these soldiers are not carrying out a critical, essential mission. And there is something else driving the decision.
Staff officers in U.S. Central Command and U.S. Indopacom Command are watching a massive political battle unfold pitting CENTCOMâs Air Force component, CENTAF, against INDOPACOMâs Air Force counterpart, PACAF.
The phrase of the day is âGreat Power Competition.â It is the new hotness, the top issue, and itâs all China, China, China. The four star generals in the respective theater commands are duking it out over realigning forces. INDOPACOM wants as many air assets as possible on the table to be prepared to fight China. CENTCOM is insisting it absolutely needs the aircraft and re-fuelers in order to stop the Houthis from shuttering Israelâs ports. Word is that INDOPACOM has the upper hand.
It is the more Cow Bell strategy. If you think that wars in Ukraine, Gaza and Yemen, with a potential blow up on the Iran front, are sufficient to keep the Defense establishment happy, you are dead ass wrong. We need more Cow Bell.
I also think it is time for Country Joe and the Fish to update the lyrics from Vietnam to China. It has been 55 years. More Cow Bell.
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The post U.S. Prepping To Abandon Bases In Eastern Syria And Turn To China appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
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by | Jan 25, 2024 | Aggregate
 Photo: Getty Images
In a significant escalation of tensions over the U.S.-Mexico border policies, several Republican governors are uniting in support of Texas Governor Greg Abbottâs challenge against the Biden regime.
This move comes in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Courtâs decision allowing the removal of razor wire installed by Texas at the border.
Governor Abbott deployed approximately 30 miles of razor wire near Eagle Pass, Texas, as a barrier against illegal immigration.
However, this move was challenged in court, leading to a complex legal battle. Despite setbacks in lower courts, the stateâs efforts were momentarily buoyed by a decision from the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, which was overturned by the Supreme Courtâs 5-4 vote.
Conservative justices Roberts and Amy Coney Barrett (Trump appointee) sided with the liberals and granted the Biden Regimeâs emergency request. This is the 9th time that the Supreme Court has sided with the Biden regime out of 14 emergency applications.
Despite the Supreme Courtâs decision, Texas officials, including Governor Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton, have expressed their intent to continue measures to reinforce the border. Texas National Guard members began installing more razor wire in Eagle Pass.
âThe Supreme Courtâs temporary order allows Biden to continue his illegal effort to aid the foreign invasion of America,â Attorney General Paxton said.
âThe destruction of Texasâs border barriers will not help enforce the law or keep American citizens safe. This fight is not over, and I look forward to defending our stateâs sovereignty,â he added.
Governor Abbott, in a fiery statement, lambasted Joe Biden for failing to enforce immigration laws and thereby violating his oath of office. He then declared an âinvasionâ under Article I, § 10, Clause 3, asserting Texasâs right to self-defense.
Despite having been put on notice in a series of lettersâone of which I delivered to him by handâPresident Biden has ignored Texasâs demand that he perform his constitutional duties.
President Biden has violated his oath to faithfully execute immigration laws enacted by Congress. Instead of prosecuting immigrants for the federal crime of illegal entry, President Biden has sent his lawyers into federal courts to sue Texas for taking action to secure the border.
President Biden has instructed his agencies to ignore federal statutes that mandate the detention of illegal immigrants. The effect is to illegally allow their en masse parole into the United States.
By wasting taxpayer dollars to tear open Texasâs border security infrastructure, President Biden has enticed illegal immigrants away from the 28 legal entry points along this Stateâs southern borderâ bridges where nobody drownsâand into the dangerous waters of the Rio Grande.
The failure of the Biden Administration to fulfill the duties imposed by Article IV, § 4 has triggered Article I, § 10, Clause 3, which reserves to this State the right of self-defense. For these reasons, I have already declared an invasion under Article I, § 10, Clause 3 to invoke Texasâs constitutional authority to defend and protect itself. That authority is the supreme law of the land and supersedes any federal statutes to the contrary. The Texas National Guard, the Texas Department of Public Safety, and other Texas personnel are acting on that authority, as well as state law, to secure the Texas border.
The Texas response has drawn backing from several other Republican-led states, fueling a growing standoff between state and federal authorities. Governors from Virginia, Florida, South Dakota, Georgia, Montana, and Oklahoma have publicly declared their support for Texasâs right to self-defense against the lawless Biden regime.
Floridaâs Governor Ron DeSantis expressed his stance, emphasizing constitutional principles and pledging ongoing assistance to Texas.
âIf the Constitution really made states powerless to defend themselves against an invasion, it wouldnât have been ratified in the first place and Texas would have never joined the union when it did. TX is upholding the law while Biden is flouting it. FL will keep assisting Texas with personnel and assets.â
If the Constitution really made states powerless to defend themselves against an invasion, it wouldnât have been ratified in the first place and Texas would have never joined the union when it did.
TX is upholding the law while Biden is flouting it.
FL will keep assisting⊠https://t.co/qOJY2zT1hG
â Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) January 24, 2024
South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem praised Texasâs actions and criticized the Biden regime for creating a national security crisis.
âGreg Abbott is exactly right to invoke Texasâ constitutional authority to defend itself. The Biden Administration has created a national security crisis and put Americans in danger. Their failure is an unconstitutional dereliction of duty. South Dakota has been proud to help Gov. Abbottâs efforts to secure our border.â
.@GregAbbott_TX is exactly right to invoke Texasâ constitutional authority to defend itself.
The Biden Administration has created a national security crisis and put Americans in danger. Their failure is an unconstitutional dereliction of duty.
South Dakota has been proud to⊠https://t.co/s4NMyvyu3Y
â Kristi Noem (@KristiNoem) January 24, 2024
Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin also weighed in, arguing that the Biden regimeâs policies have effectively turned every state into a border state, with widespread implications for national security and public safety.
âVirginia stands with Texas. Greg Abbott is doing the job Joe Biden and his border czar refuse to do to secure our border. The Biden administration has turned every state into a border state. We must stop the flow of fentanyl, save lives, and secure our southern border.â
Virginia stands with Texas. @GregAbbott_TX is doing the job Joe Biden and his border czar refuse to do to secure our border.
The Biden administration has turned every state into a border state. We must stop the flow of fentanyl, save lives, and secure our southern border. https://t.co/XaPu2RqJBP
â Glenn Youngkin (@GlennYoungkin) January 25, 2024
Oklahomaâs Kevin Stitt and Montanaâs Greg Gianforte echoed the sentiments of their colleagues, with Gianforte condemning the federal governmentâs inaction and attributing it to an increase in drug trafficking and related criminal activity.
Oklahoma stands with Texas. https://t.co/67VzVEfEv1
â Governor Kevin Stitt (@GovStitt) January 24, 2024
âGovernor Greg Abbott is doing what POTUS wonât. By refusing to act, President Biden is inviting cartels, illegal drugs, and human trafficking into the United States. We must secure the southern border.â
Governor @GregAbbott_TX is doing what @POTUS wonât.
By refusing to act, President Biden is inviting cartels, illegal drugs, and human trafficking into the United States.
We must secure the southern border. https://t.co/K1tAy6pE4e
â Governor Greg Gianforte (@GovGianforte) January 24, 2024
Even RINO Georgia Governor Brian Kemp voiced his frustration with the situation at the southern border, asserting that the state of Texas has Georgiaâs full support in its efforts.
âEnough is enough. Our southern border is in crisis thanks to the Biden administrationâs refusal to do their job. Greg Abbott and the state of Texas have our full support.â
Enough is enough. Our southern border is in crisis thanks to the Biden administrationâs refusal to do their job.@GregAbbott_TX and the state of Texas have our full support. https://t.co/dmJKMsviTV
â Brian Kemp (@BrianKempGA) January 25, 2024
This unified stand among Red State governors represents a significant challenge to the Biden regime that could signal a prolonged legal and political battle over state versus federal authority in immigration enforcement.
According to the Texas government, âIn August, Governor Abbott held a press conference in Eagle Pass with Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt, and South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem to provide an update on their joint efforts under Texasâ Operation Lone Star to respond to President Bidenâs reckless open border policies. The border visit came after Governor Abbott sent letters to Americaâs Governors in May requesting support for Texasâ border security mission following President Bidenâs decision to end Title 42.
In total, 14 statesâArkansas, Florida, Iowa, Idaho, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyomingâhave stepped up to support Texasâ efforts and deployed personnel and resources to secure the border in President Bidenâs absence.â
The post DEVELOPING: Red State Governors Stand with Texas Against Lawless Biden Regime Over Border Crisis appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
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