General Trump is scum re. the kurds
- Thread starter Toelocku
- Start date
Slightly off topic but look for the next 'color revolution/destructive regime change war to possibly occur next door in Lebanon:
View: https://twitter.com/timand2037/status/1189111487253532674?s=20
A Profile of Robert Gallagher, the Man Who Was Spotted Lecturing Lebanese Protesters about ‘Their Solutions’
By Mona Issa
Beirut - On the night of October 17, 2019, was the first outbreak of the Lebanon protests. Corruption has eaten the country up to the brim, and the Lebanese, astonishingly united for the first time in years, took it to the streets.
The core of Lebanese grievance comes from deprivation of basic needs that the government doesn’t provide, and the majority of those on the ground are poor, working class citizens; however, there is a good slice of the population riding different tides.
A video circulated the internet of what is clearly an American man, stating that capitalism is the problem, that we should open soup kitchens (culturally very Western, but okay). The video was situated in “The Egg,” a historical monumental building in Central Beirut which protesters broke into, and are using it to propagate ‘educational’ sit-ins.
Luckily, we were able to digest the jagged ensemble of ideas that the speaker was casually promoting, until this man jumps to his grand solution - to establish a “parallel government.” The transition is quite an escalation, almost as if he wanted to cut right to the chase.
The man in the video has a name – and it’s Robert L. Gallagher.
Gallagher is an American citizen who has been in Lebanon since 2007. Other than previously working for the American embassy in Beirut, he was a professor in civilization sequence at the American University of Beirut ever since, quitting in 2015 before establishing what he called “Eudemian Institute.” Being the director of it, the Eudemian Institute is an organization established by Gallagher himself, David Konstan and Spencer Pack, who are all New York-based professors. Pack, an economist, is a pro-‘Israel’, anti-BDS American Jew who has written multiple publications in favor of neoliberal fiscal policies, capitalism, including a written review of ‘Israeli’ economy. The function of the “Eudemian Institute,” in Beirut, is to sell political economy plans to governments as well as political organizations to promote change and “social welfare.”
After this establishment, Gallagher flew to Serbia in 2018 and served as an “Honorary Research Associate” at the University of Belgrade – except that there is absolutely no evidence or trace for his participation in Serbian academia, neither in publication nor on official records. After supposedly spending time in Serbia, Gallagher makes it back to Beirut and rebirths himself as a “Certified counselor and life coach” who aims to create a dent in the global drug addiction epidemic, claiming that he got his training and certification from Edinburgh.
It really seems as though Gallagher was an honorary associate in Serbia in 2018, then made his way to England to become a private addiction practitioner in 2019, then updated all of his LinkedIn, Facebook, and online CVs in August 2019 from professor to “coach.” Then finally, by mere chance, he’s back in Beirut to “coach” the Lebanese on how to overthrow their government and establish a parallel state - reminds you of anything?
The Lebanese may be somewhat divided on what they want – but the majority of demonstrators are working class; and I’ll tell you what they don’t want – another neoliberal econometric policy driven by another American.
View: https://twitter.com/timand2037/status/1189111487253532674?s=20
A Profile of Robert Gallagher, the Man Who Was Spotted Lecturing Lebanese Protesters about ‘Their Solutions’
By Mona Issa
Beirut - On the night of October 17, 2019, was the first outbreak of the Lebanon protests. Corruption has eaten the country up to the brim, and the Lebanese, astonishingly united for the first time in years, took it to the streets.
The core of Lebanese grievance comes from deprivation of basic needs that the government doesn’t provide, and the majority of those on the ground are poor, working class citizens; however, there is a good slice of the population riding different tides.
A video circulated the internet of what is clearly an American man, stating that capitalism is the problem, that we should open soup kitchens (culturally very Western, but okay). The video was situated in “The Egg,” a historical monumental building in Central Beirut which protesters broke into, and are using it to propagate ‘educational’ sit-ins.
Luckily, we were able to digest the jagged ensemble of ideas that the speaker was casually promoting, until this man jumps to his grand solution - to establish a “parallel government.” The transition is quite an escalation, almost as if he wanted to cut right to the chase.
The man in the video has a name – and it’s Robert L. Gallagher.
Gallagher is an American citizen who has been in Lebanon since 2007. Other than previously working for the American embassy in Beirut, he was a professor in civilization sequence at the American University of Beirut ever since, quitting in 2015 before establishing what he called “Eudemian Institute.” Being the director of it, the Eudemian Institute is an organization established by Gallagher himself, David Konstan and Spencer Pack, who are all New York-based professors. Pack, an economist, is a pro-‘Israel’, anti-BDS American Jew who has written multiple publications in favor of neoliberal fiscal policies, capitalism, including a written review of ‘Israeli’ economy. The function of the “Eudemian Institute,” in Beirut, is to sell political economy plans to governments as well as political organizations to promote change and “social welfare.”
After this establishment, Gallagher flew to Serbia in 2018 and served as an “Honorary Research Associate” at the University of Belgrade – except that there is absolutely no evidence or trace for his participation in Serbian academia, neither in publication nor on official records. After supposedly spending time in Serbia, Gallagher makes it back to Beirut and rebirths himself as a “Certified counselor and life coach” who aims to create a dent in the global drug addiction epidemic, claiming that he got his training and certification from Edinburgh.
It really seems as though Gallagher was an honorary associate in Serbia in 2018, then made his way to England to become a private addiction practitioner in 2019, then updated all of his LinkedIn, Facebook, and online CVs in August 2019 from professor to “coach.” Then finally, by mere chance, he’s back in Beirut to “coach” the Lebanese on how to overthrow their government and establish a parallel state - reminds you of anything?
The Lebanese may be somewhat divided on what they want – but the majority of demonstrators are working class; and I’ll tell you what they don’t want – another neoliberal econometric policy driven by another American.
In the face of the larger narrative being built in this thread, I'll go against the grain a little:
We told the Kurds that we are embedded and nothing will happen to them as a result. They made defensive And offensive changes due to that agreement. They were in fact a large portion of the body count against isis. Implied and factually, I think we all agree that our presence is the only reason that Russia and Turkey weren't already in the area wrecking the Kurds.
We can say all day that the Kurds aren't "allies" and try to relabel them partners or whatever. But the reality is that we set the stage for them to get overrun with ease. Turkey creating a "safe zone" is 100% propaganda. Turkey looks to divide Kurdish populations for their own domestic political issues. 300,000+ Kurds that are not fighters in anyway are currently displaced since the offensive and Turkey is not at all and acting a ceasefire.
Maybe you think it's great that Turkey is doing this and we are pulling back. Some seem to think so for lots of different reasons (us leaving or even a realpolitik move to bog down Syria with Turkey invading) But at least call it what it is. It is not Turkey creating a Syrian safe zone to repatriate refugees.
Another unpopular opinion...
Syrian oil fields are legitimate military considerations. The biggest problem is the Helter skelter US policy in Syria, But if we are going to be there performing military action this is a legitimate part of that. It is initially legitimate even under peacekeeping and ISIS removal.
The big question is what is the US policy on Assad? Is now very poorly defined.
If we are returning to a demand of removal, then the oil fields should be prevented from Assad and ISIS. We also owe a UN mandate for Assad removal if that is the case. Which will never due to Russia and China.
If that is not our demand, which has seemed the case since Trump got elected, then the oilfields should be released into the new Kurdish/Syrian alliance that came about as a block against the Turkish invasion we incited. But then we still started a new and enhanced the civil war.
Tldr: no matter what we screwed over the Kurds and we shouldn't have.
We told the Kurds that we are embedded and nothing will happen to them as a result. They made defensive And offensive changes due to that agreement. They were in fact a large portion of the body count against isis. Implied and factually, I think we all agree that our presence is the only reason that Russia and Turkey weren't already in the area wrecking the Kurds.
We can say all day that the Kurds aren't "allies" and try to relabel them partners or whatever. But the reality is that we set the stage for them to get overrun with ease. Turkey creating a "safe zone" is 100% propaganda. Turkey looks to divide Kurdish populations for their own domestic political issues. 300,000+ Kurds that are not fighters in anyway are currently displaced since the offensive and Turkey is not at all and acting a ceasefire.
Maybe you think it's great that Turkey is doing this and we are pulling back. Some seem to think so for lots of different reasons (us leaving or even a realpolitik move to bog down Syria with Turkey invading) But at least call it what it is. It is not Turkey creating a Syrian safe zone to repatriate refugees.
Another unpopular opinion...
Syrian oil fields are legitimate military considerations. The biggest problem is the Helter skelter US policy in Syria, But if we are going to be there performing military action this is a legitimate part of that. It is initially legitimate even under peacekeeping and ISIS removal.
The big question is what is the US policy on Assad? Is now very poorly defined.
If we are returning to a demand of removal, then the oil fields should be prevented from Assad and ISIS. We also owe a UN mandate for Assad removal if that is the case. Which will never due to Russia and China.
If that is not our demand, which has seemed the case since Trump got elected, then the oilfields should be released into the new Kurdish/Syrian alliance that came about as a block against the Turkish invasion we incited. But then we still started a new and enhanced the civil war.
Tldr: no matter what we screwed over the Kurds and we shouldn't have.
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You must love Sleepy Joe then!
Damned if he didn't do it Rusty. I'll admit I didn't believe the old boy had it in him but he ended the damn 20 years war and he deserves all the accolades in the world for doing it.
Big time respect for Joe Biden from me for ending this horrible war.
The exit strategy will be remembered for a hundred years as an unmitigated disaster.
A phased withdrawal allowing weapons and machinery to be shipped back wasn't impossible nor was it beyond the wit of US man to start getting personnel out before the exit plan was in full swing. Despite the doha deal there was no way the Taliban would have made their big push if they knew they had proper resistance.
It's all so simple! It's a shame you're not President rather than a random spastic on a MMA forum. If only they had listened to you.
Yeah, the withdrawal was a disaster but it beats another 20 years war, to me at least.
A lot of things about the withdrawal don't add up, like abandoning Bagram air base. They're sitting ducks in that airport surrounded by high ground. Like you say, this will be analyzed for years to come.
I have influence. They would have listened. I just chose to keep my powder dry on this occasion.
Note this occasion.
If it heads further south I might break my society's rules of getting involved with the human.
Falling back to one indefensible location and trying to evacuate everyone in the country from there was a head scratcher. They should have held onto the airbase plus some other locations around the country like from Herat, Mazar I Sharif etc. There are still US contractors, people working with NGOs and other US government people stuck all over the place that are going to have to find their own way out. I just heard today that the former Blackwater boss Erik Prince is charging $6500 to fly people out privately, from Kabul I'm guessing.
