A "No-Fly Zone" By Any Other Name - The "ISIL-Free Zone" In Syria

Brandon Turbeville
Activist Post
July 29, 2015 

As the NATO Article 4 meeting concludes with little or no fanfare and no major decisions made regarding a “no-fly zone” over Syria, many onlookers may take the opportunity to sit back in satisfaction that the meeting was concluded without any announcement of further direct military involvement in Syrian affairs. For many, the lackluster meeting was simply more proof that Turkey and the United States will not attempt a frontal assault on the Middle Eastern country.

Unfortunately, however, the big decision was not made at the NATO Article 4 meeting, it was made bilaterally days before between Turkey and the United States.

The new agreement effectively creates a “buffer zone” that will span from the Turkish border line into Syria. It will extend from Azaz in the East to Jarablus in the West and as far south as al-Bab. The width of the zone would be about 68 miles and would extend around 40 miles deep into Syria, right on the doorstep of Aleppo.

The zone will be much smaller than that which Turkey and the United States have been calling for over the last few years and will not even stretch the length of the Turkey-Syria border. But it is a start.

True to form, the US and Turkey are attempting to obfuscate the fact that their new agreement is the creation of a no-fly zone by renaming it an “ISIL-free zone.” This is the same tactic used when the term “no-fly zone” and “buffer zone” began to draw too much ire from observers only a year ago. Then, the term became “safe zone.” Now, the NATO powers are playing semantics yet again and deeming the area an “ISIL-free zone” as if it were merely the unveiling of a new soda minus a crucial ingredient.

Obama's Speech to America: Stop ISIL by Funding ISIL

Brandon Turbeville
Activist Post
September 10, 2014

As many had expected as soon as the announcement was made that Barack Obama would make a speech on September 10 regarding his strategy against ISIS, the U.S. President has confirmed that he reserves the right to engage in airstrikes inside Syria.

The President outlined a four-point strategy that would, according to him, "degrade and ultimately destroy" ISIS. Obama stated that, "if left unchecked, ISIS could prove a threat across the middle eastern region" and possibly the American "homeland." Obama warned that ISIS terrorists originating from the United States and Europe could return home and engage in terrorist attacks on both American and European soil.

The President also announced his desire to create a "broad coalition" to "roll back the terrorist threat."

The four-point strategy is allegedly 1) "a systematic campaign of airstrikes" against terrorists in Iraq as well as a plan to work with the Iraqi government and the Iraqi military forces. 2) To increase support to forces fighting ISIL on the ground. This will take the form of 475 additional U.S. service members. Obama claims that these troops will not have a combat mission, but instead an advisory role. Obama also stated his intention to increase assistance to Syrian death squad fighters fighting against Bashar Al Assad. 3) Increase counter-terrorism efforts, cut off funding to terrorist groups and improve intelligence on the ground. Obama stated that he intends to convene a meeting of the UN Security Council in two weeks to discuss these matters. 4) Increase humanitarian assistance to the victims of the crisis in Iraq and Syria.

The Roots of ISIS

Brandon Turbeville
Activist Post
September 10, 2014

As the United States and NATO gear up for the second attempt at drumming up popular support for airstrikes against Syria, the narrative of ISIS and justifications for invading the sovereign nation have become so convoluted in the mainstream media that a casual observer can scarcely keep track of the narrative spun by Western governments and their media mouthpieces. Unfortunately, that is part of the plan – to keep the general public so confused as to what is actually occurring overseas that, eventually, with their opinions formed for them on social media, television shows, and interspersed nightly news clips, they rely on the media to do their thinking for them. Their opinions are not their own but those of the world oligarchy.

Real men do not desire war and “average” people have nothing to gain from it.

Still, the general population, with the right amount of propaganda, can be convinced to sacrifice the lives of countless others based on a foolish masculinity contest or the idiocy of humanitarian intervention and the Responsibility to Protect doctrine. The vast majority, of course, will continue to stare off listlessly into their television screens with no opinion formed whatsoever.

Still, on the eve of Obama’s announcement regarding his strategy against ISIS, it is important to remember the true narrative of that fighting group.

There Is No Moderate Opposition

According to the Associated Press, “Obama has told congressional lawmakers that he has the authority to proceed with much of his plan without their formal approval. However, he is seeking authorization from Congress for the train-and-equip operation for Syrian rebels, a request he first made earlier this summer.”