These countries are not allies of the United States and should not be treated as such.
“US Defense Intelligence Agency says Turkey, Qatar supported al-Nusra Front,” by Abdullah Bozkurt, Nordic Monitor, December 10, 2019:
Turkey and Qatar likely provided support to Syrian al-Qaeda group Jabhat al-Nusra, or the al-Nusra Front, the US Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) concluded in 2016.
According to a classified DIA report, a copy of which was seen by Nordic Monitor, it was concluded that the al-Nusra Front “probably received logistical, financial and material assistance from the elements of the Turkish and Qatari governments.” The report, dated June 2, 2016, provided a detailed account of the status of major combatants in Syria with al-Nusra boasting as many as 10,400 fighters due to increased recruitment.
The DIA underlined that al-Nusra maintained a supply of equipment and a robust facilitation network to sustain supplies, ammunition and weapons flows. It drew attention to its cooperation with opposition groups and how it adapted to challenges to participate in key battles against the Syrian regime.
The agency described al-Nusra as “one of the most effective antiregime forces because of its persistence and ability to adapt to the changing operating environment.” It noted that al-Nusra regularly cooperated with other opposition groups, including ones that were party to the Cessation of Hostilities agreement. In February 2016 al-Nusra and the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) agreed to a six-month truce in Aleppo and Idlib provinces, highlighting their willingness to cooperate at the tactical level, the report pointed out.
The report was prepared by DIA’s Middle East/Africa Center and Defense Combating Terrorism Center….
Frank Anderson says
And the US keeps 50 B61 nuclear bombs at Incirlik air base in Turkey which Turkey demands to keep there; or Turkey will get its own bombs. Makes sense to me?
ElderlyZionist says
Nothing to see here. Al-Nusra are the ‘pro-western democratic’ Syrian rebels that the Clinton State Department of the Obama administration armed and supplied by various means, such as the CIA covert operation that they ran from the Benghazi embassy. They’re our friends. Can anyone tell me where Al-Nusra ends and the Turkish proxy Free Syrian Army begins?
mortimer says
The support for JIHAD TERRORISM by Muslim countries will surprise no one acquainted with the JIHAD DOCTRINE of warfare against the dirty KUFAAR ‘for the sake of Allah’.
Muslims who do not participate in jihad will be excluded from Islamic paradise.
Kesselman says
It’s obvious to most engaged in the politics of Jihad, that all Arab Moslem countries in one way or the other are sympathetic to Moslem Jihad groups. The sight and sound may be diverse but they are backing them all right.
Infidel says
This has been well known since the beginning. We’ve all discussed Turkey and NATO, but aside from that, Qatar too needs to be confronted. There is no reason CENTCOM should be based in Qatar: it’s time to move them out of there and relocate their Middle Eastern command to Israel. Also, there is no reason for the US to mediate b/w Qatar and Saudi-led Arabs: while I’m no fan of the latter, they happen to be correct vis a vis Qatar
As for al Nusra, a complete US withdrawal from Syria, as demanded by the president, would force Russia and Turkey to face off, since Turkey is pretty firm on supporting al Nusra, while Russia is pretty firm on supporting Assad. There is no reason for the US to be caught in b/w. Nor for the matter, the Kurds
Frank Anderson says
I think there is a terrific reason for a US base in Qatar. Think of all the information exposed. The only questions are who is looking at it and who gets it as it is passed on. Like Turkey in NATO, there are no meaningful secrets once they see them. Qatar has few if any secrets that would interest the US, so it is obvious the leaks (or FLOW) goes one way.
James Lincoln says
Frank Anderson,
My initial knee-jerk reaction was to agree with Infidel, above. That’s why, regarding a complex issue, I generally ponder the issue before I post.
No offense meant toward Infidel, he is incredibly intelligent / well-informed.
On balance, I believe that you are correct, CENTCOM’s forward headquarters should remain in Qatar.
Frank Anderson says
James, my comment seems to be confusing. Having “Centcom” headquarters in Qatar is the same as having the Pentagon in Moscow, or the UN in New York. Our “secret” information is exposed to their hacking etc, while they have NOTHING that we might wish to learn about them that we cannot learn otherwise. GET OUT while we can. Why should our service members suddenly be ordered to not have Bible verses on their dog-tags? Obviously to pacify muslim sensibilities.
Look at Turkey’s hostage play on OUR Hydrogen Bombs. Wikipedia has a very detailed article on B61 bombs. Our people, our goods and our information do not need to be offered as hostages for a questionable counterpart. ALL depends on the trustworthiness of the counterpart.
Remember when France threw out NATO from all bases? Do you also remember that France took full payment in advance for 64 Mirage jets for delivery to Israel, and then refused to deliver or return the money shortly before the 1967 war? Israel took the plans and made the Kfir fighter using the US J-79 engine for better performance than the French version. Plus France took full payment for 6 naval patrol boats and refused to deliver them (Israel “collected” them with a commando raid). France did us a favor by showing how stalwart an ally they can be when the chips are down. (I was working in radio at the time and interviewed the local French representative.)
Remember that our ships represent sovereign United States territory in international waters. It is harder to reach our secrets in our own territory, which includes our ships, as long as we have control of “allied” presence aboard. Think of the punch line from Robert Frost, “Good fences make good neighbors.”
I hope this is clearer. Always best wishes..
James Lincoln says
Yes, Frank I did misinterpret your previous post.
Your most recent post is clear and convincing.
I stand corrected – and my apologies to Infidel.
Best wishes!
Frank Anderson says
J.L. my sense of humor, irony and sarcasm are never understood with ease. I have to explain a lot and often.
gravenimage says
Frank, I got what you meant. 🙂
Infidel says
Frank, that was funny ?
Frank Anderson says
My feeble attempts at humor if better written can be both funny and true. Many of them are not understood easily, which makes me careful in my attempts.
gravenimage says
US Defense Intelligence Agency says Turkey, Qatar supported al-Qaeda’s al-Nusra Front
…………….
Why is Turkey still in NATO? Why does any American still consider these Muslim thugs to be allies of ours?
Frank Anderson says
MDIP, More Delusions In Progress.
gravenimage says
I hadn’t heard of MDIP, Frank–but sadly, it is all too apt today.
Frank Anderson says
There is a good reason- I just invented it. I think it will be useful for a long time.
I mentioned a machine a while back that I have been working on 11 years, with quite a few inventions to improve on the “store-bought” version. It’s all working today. FUN. Time for celebration as I head back to the doctors!
gravenimage says
Grimly useful acronym, Frank.
Have you patented your creation yet? And good luck with the doctors.
Frank Anderson says
GI, I have earned a simple and peaceful retirement. My unique machine is too much fun and will remain a trade secret. Who needs the hassle? Another day with my wonderful doctor and outstanding nurses tomorrow, “Doctors put you in the hospital: It’s the NURSES who get you out alive.” God is in charge and will do what is right.
Quick story: When I was about 6 our washing machine killed its electric motor. The power company appliance repair wanted 75 dollars to fix it. My official adopted father fixed it for 25 cents.
A device I wanted for the machine shop sold for 2500 dollars or so. I made one for less than 200.
A church group drilled deep wells for clean water in Africa, but there was no power for electric pumps, and “store bought” manual pumps priced about 2500 dollars. I went to the shop and made a prototype for the group using about 30 dollars worth of materials to show how pumps could be made in Africa with locally available materials for about 300 dollars.
Surprising things can happen if a problem is beaten upon long enough. It took more than 4 years and many tries to make an automatic parts feeder work on my machine. But it is working now better than I imagined when I started, and much better than the ‘store-bought” starting point..
When we started exchanging ideas I had no invention to help. But after time and conversation understanding that the rules of criminal conspiracy cover a certain group regardless of their temporary shield of smoke, mirrors and lies, gives reason to hope for a defeat once and for all of the danger to all liberty.
gravenimage says
Thanks for your account, Frank. So often, necessity really is the mother of innovation.