Justin Trudeau's Perfidious Justice

"Trudeau is trading Canada's bedrock principles of fairness and equality for a UN Security Council seat."
"By voting for a resolution co-sponsored by North Korea and Zimbabwe, he has entered a Faustian bargain with dictatorships that does not bode well for a free and democratic society."
"[Canada has ] joined the jackals."
"[This year’s vote change] is dramatic. If the government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wanted to shift, it] could have moved from a No, as it voted last year with U.S., to an Abstain, as Australia voted. Instead, they jumped all the way to a Yes – for the first time in years and breaking bi-partisan tradition."
"[The resolution condemns Israel for 'occupying' [the] Jewish Quarter of Jerusalem and holiest sites of Judaism [and] ignores hundreds of Palestinian rockets just fired at Israelis."
Hillel Neuer, Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy

"[Canada remains fully opposed to the] singling out [of Israel] and has voted against the vast majority of these yearly Israel-related votes [at the United Nations]."
"In keeping with Canada's long-standing position, it is important at this time to reiterate our commitment to a two-state solution and the equal rights and self-determination of all peoples."
Adam Austen, spokesman, Foreign Affairs Canada

"That neither this resolution nor any other currently being considered even acknowledge the obscene barrage of Palestinian-launched rockets and missiles raining down on Israel's civilian population reflects just how distorted and one-sided these resolutions are."
Joel Reitman, co-chair, Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, Canada

"[The vote is] a distressing departure not only from the Canadian voting record at the United Nations, but a betrayal of long-standing Canadian foreign policy that rejects prejudgement of the outcome of negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians."
"Palestinian self-determination cannot come at the expense of Israel's security."
Jeff Rosenthal, co-chair, CIJA

A picture taken from the Palestinian village of Kifl Hares shows the Israeli Jewish settlement of Revava in the West Bank, Nov. 19, 2019.    Jaafar Ashtiyeh/AFP via Getty Images

As a course reversal, it is of little significance to this Liberal government with Justin Trudeau at the helm, but of monumental importance to Israel, which has few staunch friends as it is in the international community. That the Trudeau government took this step, however, is no big surprise. While giving lip service to befriending and supporting the Jewish state, it has been no secret that this is a half-hearted commitment by this government which has been adept at forgetting its moral conscience to political expedience whenever a conflict arises between appearing to 'do the right thing' and committing to the honourable direction.

Above all else, this is a government in deep practise of a new religious devotion; one that is seen to never waver on the side of 'social justice', irrespective of whether that social justice is contrived or a reflection of an authentic issue. Stripped of annoying little details that render data on background, historical precedents and the inclusion of all relevant facts, doing the 'right thing' is relatively simple...just go with the flow and if there is enough popular opinion based on the view of social justice through a 'progressive' lens that discreetly hovers on the razor's edge of hypocritical sanctimony that's then the direction to choose.

There is no justice much less even-handedness in the United Nations corridors of political conspiracy trumping truth when it comes to the critical issue of demonizing one state out of hundreds. No fewer than 21 condemnatory resolutions were introduced and passed against Israel at the United Nations last year, this year and every year, as opposed to a paltry 6 against any other UN member-countries, many of which regularly engage in spectacular human rights crimes of mass repression, persecution, conflict, ethnic cleansing and massive bloodshed.

Justin Trudeau prides himself on now and again up-ending democratic conventions and traditions in Canadian affairs. From surface delinking politically-appointed Senate members from presumed loyalty to political parties, to centralizing government in Canada to the detriment of some of its provinces; from freeing up entry to greater numbers of emigrants and refugees despite popular public opposition, to charming his way out of consequences for illegal and unethical personal practices as prime minister of a democratic nation.

That a Canadian prime minister would see fit to support a resolution sponsored by North Korea, Zimbabwe, the "State of Palestine", and others of similar questionable repute is a conscience-shocker, but obviously not a Trudeau conscience-shocker. That the resolution makes mention of the protective wall Israel was forced to construct separating it from the West Bank under the duress of countless lethal attacks on Israelis by Palestinians is referred to in the resolution as that it "severely impedes the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination", when in fact it severely impeded the ongoing slaughter of Israelis by Palestinians.

Peace offers from Israeli negotiators to Palestinian counterparts have always hit the roadblock of 'not enough', even when the offers have included all the demands put forward by the Palestinians. Having received assent that Israel is prepared to sacrifice much to achieve peace, Palestinian negotiators simply add on additional demands until it becomes apparent that nothing but the dissolution of the Jewish state will satisfy the Palestinians. More than adequately demonstrated by the Palestinian Authority's student curricula framing Jews as enemy occupiers, its celebration of 'martyrs' and pay-outs to terrorism-related atrocities targeting Jews and its refusal to return to the bargaining table.

The resolution, as all such resolutions do, passed handily with 164 countries voting for, including European countries for whom the 'nuisance' value of their citizens being perpetually under rocket siege has never been a problem. As for "Palestinian" land, heritage and indigenous status; there has never been any such reality. And repeating it endlessly will never make it so. The land, the heritage and indigenous status are all Judaic; denials aside. Jordan now occupies great swathes of Judaic heritage land. And Jordan also hosts 'Palestinian' Arabs at an estimated 60 percent of their population base. There is the Palestinian State, not on land where modern-day Israel sits.

The Hashemite Kingdom is yet another construct of the competing French-English colonialist powers in the Middle East seeking to mete out favours to allies, and to keep them from one another's throats, as occurred between the Hashemites and the Saudis, each claiming Arabia for their own, presenting Britain with a dilemma it solved at the expense of a future Jewish state. Britain dishonoured its own Balfour Declaration in the process, but when you are the occupying power you can do anything that is expedient. 

Claiming the West Bank in its entirety as 'Palestinian' when at the turn of the 20th Century and before only Jews were considered to be Palestinians, is a miscarriage of history and human events. The 'West Bank' has always been traditionally heritage Jewish land. Israelis are not colonialists; they are simply returning to their geographic roots. Willing to live among Palestinians, while the Palestinian Authority has made it abundantly clear that Jews will never be accepted as neighbours living in close geographic proximity to Arabs. And therein lies the crux of the matter.

Sanctions? Just Kidding Chum!

"Despite the agreement to halt the fighting, air and artillery attacks continue to target the positions of fighters, civilian settlements and the hospital [in Ras al-Ayn]."
"Turkey is violating the ceasefire agreement by continuing to attack the town since last night."
Mustafa Bali, chief spokesperson, northeastern Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF)

"[D]espite the cease-fire deal, the Turks are still continuing airstrikes and ground offensive against Ras al Ain."
"Some civilians have been killed in Turkish strikes, as they were trying to save some injured [people] stuck inside the city."
Ilhan Hamed, Syrian Kurdish politician

"I never expected it to hold, as each side read it completely differently, and there’s no enforcement mechanism."
"We have very little to no leverage here. Honestly, I don’t know what to say other than that amidst this idiocy."
Faysal Itani, Syria expert, Atlantic Council, Washington

Deadly Turkish air strikes on Friday shattered an hours-old US-brokered deal to stop Ankara's military offensive against Kurdish forces in northeastern Syria

“As far as he [SDF commander, Mazloum Kobani] is concerned, the ceasefire is only where there’s active fighting and he totally rejects the idea of any kind of withdrawal, any removal of heavy weapons."
"So everyone seems to be talking a different language, which can only spell more trouble."
Charles Lister, Syria expert, Middle East Institute

None of which stops U.S. President Donald Trump from crowing that he has single-handedly, as a reflection of the great wisdom with which he is endowed, solved a long-standing problem in the Middle East. Throwing the loyal Kurds whose fighting mettle and sacrifices of over a thousand fighters in the conflict against Islamic State, assured the United States that the virulent threat of Islamist jihad reaching out to the United States no longer loomed as a concern.

A misapprehended belief on Trump's part to begin with, content to leave the tens of thousands of Islamic State prisoners for the Syrian Democratic Forces to be saddled with, guarding the venomous serpents from escape and the inevitable re-invigoration of their marauding, slaughtering forces on the local ethnic and religious minority populations along with outreach to foreign conscripts to jihad under the black-death banner of ISIL.

The brilliant tactical brain that modestly admitted that he had personally 'solved' the Islamic State threat to the world at large, appeared not to have envisaged the end result of allowing a Kurd-hating Erdogan free reign to cleanse the border of Syria of its stable Kurdish presence to create a "safe zone" for the Turkish president to dump millions of Syrian Sunni refugees. At one fell swoop extinguishing Syrian Kurds from the area, while forcibly settling Arab Syrians in their place as a buffer.

That wonderful agreement between an eastern and a western tyrant, saw one allowing the other to hold onto the territory his troops and allies had taken from Kurdish fighters, in the gullible pretence that Turkey had no intention, none whatever, of expanding its breach into Syrian territory. And since Recep Tayyip Erdogan had so obligingly agreed to presenting alongside Trump the facade of a withdrawal, the reward is twofold; Ankara retains plundered Syrian-Kurdish territory, and "massive" new sanctions will not be implemented.

Syrian rebel fighters in the border town of Tal Abyad.  Khalil Ashawi/Reuters

As shams go, the affair could not conceivably be any shabbier and transparent. While committing to a permanent ceasefire in the wake of a Kurdish retreat, no promise to withdraw the Turkey-partnering Free Syrian Army fighters, enabling them to continue enjoying their murderous conquest spree. Eliciting a comment from a Turkish official that thanks to the agreement, Turkey "got exactly what we wanted out of the meeting". 

The U.S. then felt free to agreeably convince the YPG forces to withdraw. "Good news", tweeted the world's premier twit. "This deal could never have been made three days ago. There needed to be some 'tough' love in order to get it done. Great for everybody. Proud of all!" According to U.S. Vice-President Pence, YPG leaders had "greatly welcomed", the deal. He also stated U.S. readiness to work with the YPG on an "orderly withdrawal" from the 32km zone, already underway on Thursday evening.

The YPG, on the other hand indicated no intention to surrender that territory.

Donald J. Trump ✔ @realDonaldTrump

Just spoke to President @RTErdogan of Turkey. He told me there was minor sniper and mortar fire that was quickly eliminated. He very much wants the ceasefire, or pause, to work. Likewise, the Kurds want it, and the ultimate solution, to happen. Too bad there wasn’t.....

54.9K

11:42 AM - Oct 18, 2019

Why Is Turkey Still a NATO Member?

"The United States does not endorse this attack and has made it clear to Turkey that this operation is a bad idea."

"From the first day I entered the political arena, I made it clear that I did not want to fight these endless, senseless wars -- especially those that don't benefit the United States ... We expect Turkey to abide by all of its commitments, and we continue to monitor the situation closely."

"I told Turkey if they do anything outside of what we think is humane ... they could suffer the wrath of an extremely decimated economy."

U.S. President Donald J.Trump

 

"We will clash against the Turks to not allow them to cross the border. We will use all our possibilities against Turkish aggression."

"[The SDF had turned back the ground incursion near the border town of Til Abyad.] No advance as of now."

"[ISIS] 'sleeper cells' [attacked Kurdish positions in Raqqa, Syria, in the early hours]." 

Mustafa Bali, spokesman, Syrian Democratic Forces 

A photo taken from Turkey's Sanliurfa province shows smoke rising at the site of Ras al-Ain

"[The border areas of northeast Syria] are on the edge of a possible humanitarian catastrophe." 

"[We call upon the international community and those countries fighting against ISIS] to carry out their responsibilities [to avoid a] possible impending humanitarian disaster."

Syrian Democratic Forces,  General Command

 

 "[The country had\s] completed our preparations and action plan." 

"[We are ready to launch a] ground and air operation [east of the Euphrates river, with the goal of establishing] peace [by clearing the region of] terrorists."

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan 

Turkish army soldiers drive towards the border with Syria near Akcakale in Sanliurfa province on October 8, 2019

"Turkey is one of the countries most affected by DAESH's bloody activities and has fought against this terrorist organization both domestically and beyond its borders with increasing tempo and intensity", the blatantly disingenuous statement by the Turkish Defence Ministry, when it was clear years ago that Islamic State principals had safe haven in Turkey, and used the country as a black market conduit for the crude oil shipments it extracted from the oil installations it commandeered in Iraq and Syria.

 

Turkey's Minister of National Defense, Hulusi Akar, tweeted that the United States, United Nations and NATO, among others, had been informed of its intended offensive operation in northeast Syria at 7 a.m. ET. The response from the United Nations and NATO is absolutely deafening. No ostensible objections whatever. It appears that Syria's mass murdering tyrant Bashar al-Assad was right when he warned in the early stages of the Syrian civil war that disrupting Syria would have far-reaching, profound effects across the Middle East and beyond.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan's long-wished-for 'safe corridor' between Syria and Turkey (on the Syrian side) where his intention has always been to forcefully move the Kurdish presence away from the border where the YPG and the PKK have been too comfortable in their shared antagonism against Turkey and its response to their push for a greater Kurdistan to be established on its own heritage territory absorbed within the borders of Iran, Iraq, Syria and Turkey all of which refuse to surrender to the 40 million Kurds what is long overdue.

A tank trundles down from a truck as Turkish armed forces approach the border with Syria near Akcakale in Sanliurfa province on October 8, 2019.BULENT KILIC/AFP via Getty Images)

The perpetually bad-natured, demanding, tyrannical Erdogan has appealed to U.S. President Donald Trump's vanity in pressing him to make a decision he has demanded to yank the Kurdish presence in Syria further from the Turkish border. Resisted halfheartedly to this point, though Trump has always intended to withdraw the U.S. presence from the area. One angrily demanding telephone conversation on Sunday succeeded in convincing Trump that the Kurds were no longer worth defending, despite the U.S. dependence on the Kurdish valiant fighting spirit to challenge and defeat the Islamic State.

Now, the tens of thousands of ISIL terrorists held by the SDF are in danger of breaking free from prison camps no longer as closely guarded by Kurdish soldiers, hurriedly dispatched as a suddenly-imposed priority to the scenes of Turkish attack, in defence of Kurdish towns and villages in direct danger of aerial bombardment and Howitzer attacks by the second largest military in NATO, and one of the best equipped, prepared to shed as much Kurdish blood as it will take to cleanse the border area of their presence under guise of fighting "terrorists".