Global turmoil & analysis

Today in the province of Balochistan in Pakistan, a broad terror attack took place. The BLA (Balochistan Liberation Army) claimed responsibility for the attack, which lasted roughly fifteen hours. During the attack fighting between militants and the Pakistani Military took place in twelve separate locations throughout the province. The Pakistani Military killed ninety-two militants, also fifteen soldiers were killed, along with eighteen civilians. In addition to the obvious concerns that arise from this sort of attack, it is also concerning that Pakistan is saying that India backed the attack. In my opinion that allegation is notable because the two countries have been threatening for months to renew their decades long conflict, which has been under a ceasefire since the last round of fighting last May. I think they might use this attack as a reason to resume the fighting.

 This post is going to be about Iran, and some words that been said today suggesting there is still a chance the United States will not attack Iran. Before I begin, this post is about my opinion and as I have said many times nothing on this blog will ever be based on politics. Today the President of the United States said, "Iran wants a deal." The Foreign Minister of Iran also said that the United States wants to negotiate. As I have implied in previous posts, what Iran has and still is doing to its own people is evil. They have also been a danger to the world for nearly fifty years. As I said in the post yesterday it is my opinion that the U.S needs to not only take military action on Iran but needs to hit them very hard and is fully justified to do so. From the British when our country was formed. To Hitler, Mussolini, and imperial Japan during WW2, and Sadaam in the early two thousands, the United States has almost always (I have reservations about Venezuela) treated evil ...

 The title of this post refers to the situation in Iran and the military buildup at various places across the Middle East. As I have said in past posts about the deadly protests in Iran (the current estimates are 30-50,000 dead) which were intended to crush the protesters and quell dissent, the west (specifically the United States) is not only justified in taking strong military action on Iran but has an obligation to do so. In this post I will mention some of the signals (there are too many to list them all) that suggest that action is close to beginning. In a previous post I mentioned the USS Abraham Lincoln was heading towards the Middle East. Earlier this week the aircraft carrier along with its strike group (the carrier is part of it) arrived in the area of responsibility for Central command (near Iran). In addition, equipment and personnel have been arriving in the Middle East for the last several days including, fighter jets, missile defense batteries, and the personal that ...

 This post is going to be an update from the third all-time post on this blog titled " What is going on in Venezuela."  Since the raid in Venezuela by the United States Military that resulted in the arrest of the illegitimate president of the county Nicolas Maduro, many questions remain as what the end game is, or even what was accomplished with the raid. In the post from the past that I referenced in the first paragraph that was about the raid to capture Maduro, my main question after the operation was what now? After all it is a regime that rules Venezuela, and by definition a regime consists of more than one person. Only the leader of the regime was captured meaning the rest is still in place.  With the massive amount of news happening around the world this week, I wanted to find room to post about this story. Because on Sunday Delcy Rodriguez who was vice president under Maduro and replaced him when he was arrested, said she is done working with the United States. Sin...

 The title of this post refers to the situation with ISIS, specifically in Syria. Today I read an article in The Jerusalem Post in which they quote an interview that the  National Intelligence Service Directo in Iraq did with the Washington Post.  In the interview the official discussed the situation in Syria. He said the intelligence in Iraq estimates that since last year ISIS has grown from around two thousand fighters to ten thousand.  Another Iraqi official when talking about the fighting removing Kurdish territory from Syria (many believe the Kurds are the only thing preventing a reconstituting of ISIS) as "a disaster". In previous posts I have discussed this possibility, and unfortunately the situation seems to be playing out the way that I feared it would.

 This post is going to be about an opinion of mine. As with each post that lays out my opinion on a matter it is based soley on history. The reason for this post is what took place in China over the weekend, and why I think it should be a warning sign to the world. Before I even get to what happened in China, and why I think it matters, most people are familiar with who Hitler is and the evil acts/decisions he is guilty of. I will mention second but first, you might read the title of this post and wonder who the second Hitler is I am referring to...Putin. The reason that I think Putin is a Hitler is not only because he is a dictator. Among many reasons that I think he is a Hitler is for the topic of this post, his ambitions in Ukraine and to a degree his actions exactly mirror the stated reasons for the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union. This will be important to remember when I state my opinion. Since I assume most people know about the evils of Hitler, let me state who I think th...

 To finish the week in this post I will mention three very interesting updates about the countries listed in the title (one update per country). The first country that I will mention is Syria. In Syria, yesterday the government and SDF agreed to a ceasefire and today extended it for fifteen days.  Before anyone assumes the situation will stay calm, it is important to remember that last week the fighting began when the government attacked the SDF before a deadline for the SDF to withdraw from Aleppo.  Next, in Iraq the PMF (Popular Mobilization Forces) have deployed soldiers to the border with Syria. Two factors are important to note about the PMF, first they are largely made of groups that the United States have designated as terrorists. Second, it is unclear exactly why the PMF have deployed to the border, but the Iraqi border with Syria is approximately 99 miles long. There is a video that has been floating around in which a fighter for the government forces in Syria sa...

Before I get to updates let me explain the title. First confusion, almost nothing makes sense and it is aggravating to track. Syria, Iraq and Iran are the cause of a lot of confusion and bewilderment. In this post I will do my best to update the situations concerning each country. The first country that I will mention is Iraq. The only update regarding Iraq is not new (in terms of every detail) but it is notable. The convoy made up of U.S Military vehicles that was supposed to move ISIS detainees from Syria to Iraq, has not left Syria yet. Because the situation is so chaotic the detainees have not even been handed over to U.S Forces yet. Next is Syria, the most interesting update there is that the siege on Kobane has intensified. Most power has been cut off and leaders in the town are appealing to international bodies to stabilize the situation. Lastly, regarding Iran it appears that the anticipated United States attacks on Iran are close to beginning. Today multiple airlines have canc...

 As the title suggests in this post, I am going to provide more updates on the situation in Syria. Also, I will discuss some developments from Iraq and why they in my opinion are alarming. First, in Syria shelling has increased around the town of Kobane. One shell destroyed a house killing the family of five who lived there. The other main update (there are many) is that members of ISIS who were released from the Al Hol camp have been seen setting fire to tents of humanitarian organizations. Next, in Iraq tanks and other heavy weapons have been set up on its border with Syria. Yesterday a convoy of vehicles from the United States military transferred 150 ISIS detainees from Syria to Iraq.  In my opinion both updates from Iraq are alarming.  The military equipment on the border is alarming because it clearly shows that Iraq is concerned that the offensive in Syria will spread into Iraq.  In addition, the detainees being moved to Iraq is alarming (it did not feel right...

 The title of this post should alarm everyone. Yesterday I said that ISIS might be resurging, but more evidence has come out since yesterday that leaves no doubt that that unfortunately is the case. In this post I am going to mention some of that evidence (it is impossible to mention all of it) of what in my opinion is the most under the radar big story on earth. In the last twenty-four hours videos have started to come out of women having their hair cut by government forces, and SDF fighters who have been captured being beheaded by government forces. However, the incidents that I just mentioned are not the clearest signal. The most alarming update I have read from Syria since yesterday is that the town of Kobane is under siege. The siege of Kobane is significant because it has been a symbol of resistance for the Kurds ever since it became the first town that was taken from ISIS in 2015. Today I even saw a video of a fighter in the government forces waving an ISIS flag which I didn...

This post will be brief not because of an insignificance of the topic, the brevity is largely due to the fact that currently very few concrete facts are known.  Al Hol Camp has served different purposes since it was created in 1991 to house refugees of the First Gulf War. This post is regarding what the camp has been used for since 2019 after the battle of Al-Baghuz Fawqani. Since then, the camp has been used as the largest detention center for ISIS militants and their families in Syria which brings us to the news of today Before today the camp held roughly twenty-five thousand people most of them members of ISIS. The reason I said before today is because the SDF (Syrian Democratic Forces) who were guarding the camp fled today and the government forces took control of the prison. It is currently unclear if any or how many detainees have been let loose but based on the reports over the last few days of ISIS fighters being set free in other towns and cities the chances are high that ...

 To start the week there are a myriad of actions taking place around the world many of them pose direct threats to the United States and the world. In today's post I am going to talk about the least covered and likely most immediate threat... ISIS. The offensive being carried out by the Syrian Interim Government is continuing and very concerning reports have been coming out of the country. Chief among these concerns is that the government forces (terrorists) as they have been taking over territory, they have been releasing ISIS families and the militants themselves from the prisons. The development mentioned above is not only alarming, but it is the exact same tactic the group used to grow in Iraq that would (combined with fighters in Syria) lead to the formation of a caliphate that at its height was roughly the size of Indiana. To say the least this would pose a threat to the world and this is only one of the big stories taking place at the same time history is being written.

 Many details are still in the air, but as predicted yesterday the Syrian forces started attacking the Kurds again. The fighting started earlier today and is ongoing. The Syrian Government Forces (terrorists) are feared to have taken control of a few Kurdish towns so far, and the fighting is moving toward the strategic dam in Tabqa.  The Tabqa dam is significant among other reasons because it is the largest dam in Syria. The dam is also located approximately twenty-five miles upstream from the town of Raqqa. Most people might remember the name Raqqa because it was the Capitol of the ISIS Caliphate. As I said at the beginning of this post details are unclear, but some analysts think that the Syrian government is pushing to create a caliphate.  This is a significant developing story 

 The level of interest in this post will vary depending on how closely you track Syria and your views on global stability. For example, if you think the current President of Syria is simply a reformed terrorist this post will puzzle you.  Whatever your level of interest is of the events taking place in Syria, as long as you have an interest in global events (which if you are reading this blog, you presumably do), then keep reading because there are very important developments to discuss. To begin note I am not claiming to know everything about Syria as I do not think that is possible. Today the President of Syria signed a decree stating many rights for the Kurdish minority in the country among them the right to citizenship for Kurds and making the Kurdish language (which has different dialects) a national language. At the same time the SDF (Syrian Democratic Forces) have said they will withdraw east of Aleppo by 7 am local time. The reason the developments mentioned in the pre...

 This post is about my opinion as always backed by history, but I hope it is not only my opinion but shared by most people. The United States is the strongest, most just, and continuously stable country in history. The qualities of the country that I just listed make us (I live in the United States) a global superpower.  Being a global superpower comes with certain responsibilities, one of which is to defend and help the oppressed. During World War II we invaded Europe to free people under the Nazis.  We invaded Iraq and captured Saddam Hussein, who ruled his country as a cruel dictator. There are more examples I could list. Now we come to Iran. In Iran the internet has been shut down for a week so far, phone lines are cut rendering any sort of communication outside of face to face impossible, and worst of all thousands of protesters have been murdered simply for marching to voice their dissent of government policies. In my opinion the United States has an obligation to h...

 This post is going to be brief because nothing is actually happening at this second. However, with the number of signals today, I would be surprised if the post tomorrow is not about some action that has taken place or will be taking place. Here is a short list of some of the notable developments is: The United States is evacuating planes and personnel from a base in Qatar, the British embassy in Iran has closed and their ambassador has been evacuated, Iraq is in the process of closing their airspace, and Iran itself has issued a notam (notice to airmen) for two hours. The above list is far from exhaustive but shows the most telling developments. Now we wait and watch for what happens.

 This post is about my opinion but as I said in the first post on this blog, the only opinions that will ever be expressed on here are based on history. I understand some maybe even most people will not be in agreement with the title of this post (it is referring to Iran) however I believe it is necessary and, in this post, I am going to explain why. Today many reports have been coming out saying that so far during the protests in Iran between twelve to twenty thousand protesters have been killed. As I said the protests are still ongoing and the internet is still down. The internet has been down since Thursday meaning the true extent of the carnage is not known. The previous paragraph is not the only reason that I think a "strong military response is warranted " but it should be the most obvious reason. Many developments are taking place today even as I type which depending on what happens I may mention some of them later. Regarding this post if you disagree with my argument ...

 To begin what I assume will be a long week, I thought it would be a good idea to do a short post about an important concept. People are increasingly (especially in the United States) unfamiliar with the idea of real evil and too often deny that it even exists. It is apparent that evil is becoming acknowledged less and less by the usage of phrases such as "it is the twenty first century ". The reason for this post is not to be self-righteous or to sound as if I know it all but rather to say a word of advice during these unprecedented times.  Currently in the world we have Putin in Russia carrying out a barbaric war of choice against Ukraine, the Ayatollah in Iran maiming and killing thousands of his own citizens to quell dissent, and the regime in Venezuela still ruling with an iron fist (despite what you'll hear in the media) to list a few examples. To deny that the examples listed above are not evil is to largely deny reality. Keep this post in mind not only as we go th...

In this post I am going to discuss some of the ramifications of what is taking place in Iran. To begin let me give a brief list of some events that are taking place in the Middle East outside of Iran to show how the revolution in Iran could be a spark for the entire region. Early this week the " interim government " in Syria ended a siege on the city of Aleppo and started fighting the Kurdish Forces in the city. The fighting in Aleppo is the latest incident is the government's attempt to cleanse the population of the country to fit their ideological standard. The next notable move that points towards Iran serving as a regional fuse is multiple airlines in the Middle East are canceling flights to Iran. Also, the United States carried out airstrikes today against ISIS targets in Syria and warned that they are prepared to intervene in Iran on behalf of the protesters. Meanwhile in Iran tonight riots are continuing. The Regime shut off the lights in the capital and there are ...

 The title of this post is an overused word and attempting to incite one is almost always wrong. As people finish their work week and enjoy their freedom, it is important to consider that right now historic actual revolution is taking place in Iran. The reason for the previous paragraph is not to criticize people for enjoying themselves but to encourage people in be aware of the times we are living in. Today in Iran the internet is still out for a second day in a row (although some connections are coming back due to Starlink) a day after roughly 50 protesters were killed.  Reports are coming out of Iran that the second largest city in the country is either being taken over by the protesters or is about to be. Huge events are happening in the world the kind which make the earth shake so as you enjoy your weekend do not miss the history taking place around you.

 Today the anti-regime protests are continuing in Iran with a nationwide general strike going into effect. In addition to the strike the regime has implemented an internet blackout and have reportedly begun cutting phone lines. Clashes are ongoing and rapidly increasing in violence with growing incidents of security forces shooting protesters. Many analysts fear that a main reason for the internet being shut down is to attempt to keep the world from seeing the increased deadly force being used to try to quash the riots. There are also rumors circulating that the IRGC has been seen getting into position. In addition to reading this blog I would encourage you to pay close attention to news sources covering the events in Iran as there are strong indications that it is a historic event.

 As part of the United States campaign to "stop the movement of sanctioned oil" which I put in quotation marks because even though the intention has been stated it is unclear. The reason that I feel it is unclear (this blog is not politically sided) is the strategy has not been stated in a clear way instead it has publicly been connected to the situation in Venezuela. The first paragraph was to give the background to the events that have occurred today that are the reason for the title of this post.  About three weeks ago the military started approaching a tanker that was leaving the coast of Venezuela in order to board the vessel. The ship refused to let them board, so a chase ensued. The chase continued until today and how it ended is the reason for the title. During the course of the chase the crew of the runaway ship (the top speed was roughly three and a half knots) the crew painted a Russian flag on to ship. The painting of the flag caused Russia to ask the United State...

Today I originally intended to post more updates solely about Iran however, today the "government" in Syria started fighting the Kurds in Aleppo. I find that both situations mentioned are worth discussion, so in this post I will briefly address each. First, I will update about the situation in Iran.  Yesterday I mentioned how the uprising has turned into a revolution. Today a video came out showing police starting to march with the protesters in one of the cities. The other update about Iran is I just heard that security forces retreated from a city essentially meaning the protesters have taken over their first city. Next, about Aleppo/...  The official government forces (which essentially are Al Qaeda) of Syria started attacking the Kurdish portion in the city of Aleppo. Deaths and injuries have been reported in the city. Unfortunately, I expect the situation to escalate for several reasons many of them require a comprehensive knowledge of groups in Syria and conflicts betwe...

The title of this post is an undeniably true statement that you might even hear people say from time to time. In this post I am going to briefly list the notable events around the world just since this year began five days ago with the goal of showing why people should not be ignorant to the world particularly during this time in history. Just this year an uprising in Iran that began in the last few days of December, has turned into a full-fledged revolution spurred on by riots. A dictator was arrested in Venezuela during a military operation and just today Denmark said that if the United States moves to takeover Greenland than NATO would end along with the post war alliance.  That is not even an exhaustive list, needless to say these are extreme times it is best to stay educated and vigilant.

Early this morning around one eastern time, long anticipated airstrikes took place in different locations across Venezuela. The strikes were carried out by the United States (as well as the entire operation). The majority of the strikes took place in the capital city of Caracas.   In the midst of the strikes Special Forces soldiers came in on helicopters and got on the ground. Once on the ground the soldiers proceeded to the dwelling of the illegitimate president of the country Nicolas Maduro. The soldiers went on (after some firefights) to arrest Maduro and his wife after which they were then flown out of the country. The description of the operation in this post is pretty straight forward so why did I put the title as a question? The title is put as a question because it's unclear how removing Maduro from power is going to improve the situation on the ground in Venezuela. The stated dilemma exists among other reasons because except for Maduro the entire regime is still in place....

 This post is an update on the Protests in Iran which have morphed into an apparent uprising aimed at overthrowing the Iranian government. The protests started approximately six days ago and have grown in size each day as well as increasing in their degree of violence.  Early on in the week police started shooting live ammunition at protesters, an unknown number of deaths have resulted so far and the shooting continues. As of this moment the latest updates I have seen (although it's hard to get a complete picture due the closed nature of state media in Iran) is protesters have started carrying guns and police have been observed shooting at protesters from roofs.  This is a developing situation.

When I was a kid knowledge of two events shaped my interest in global events. The first event that I learned about was 9/11 and I first heard about it in 2009, The second event that shaped my interest and the first thing I tracked as it was happening was the Arab spring in 2011. Ever since I learned about 9/11, I have always paid increasing attention to big stories around the world and at home but have always been annoyed with media outlets selecting which stories to cover instead on simply covering events as they happen. I am starting this blog to cover events in a straightforward way as they occur and to give my insight to those events. When necessary, I will add historical examples that help form my opinion. In a world that seems to be on fire people need reporting and insight without an agenda.