I've never debated anyone who wants limited child abuse or small-scale slavery or carefully circumscribed rape. It's always war. It's always the worst crime, the crime least susceptible to control once begun, and the crime that includes all the others, the crime defined at Nuremberg as the greatest of them all because it includes all the others. And it's always in blatant violation of the law.

Here's a liberal progressive war advocate employed by a center funded by a war profiteer pushing for "coercive measures" and "threats of force" without ever discussing the actual killing he wants done. I debate him below on The Real News .com.

Turkey News - Mar 5

New leak exposes Erdoğan's meddling in judiciary, sparks criticism - Today's Zaman

Turkey's Alevi community concerned about wiretapped remarks, “Voice recording is proof of government's profiling against Alevis” - Today's Zaman

PM Erdoğan reopened bid on national warship project to friend's company - Today's Zaman

AUDIO (Turkish): Erdogan pressures justice minister over decisions in tycoon Aydin Dogan's tax case - YouTube

AUDIO (Turkish): PM Erdoğan reopened bid on national warship project to friend's company - Today's Zaman

AUDIO (Turkish): PM's son Bilal Erdogan allegedly talks with public official about how to illegally transfer ownership of hystorical lodge to TÜRGEV - YouTube

Legal proceedings for four former ministers sent to Turkish Parliament - hurriyetdailynews.com

Graft suspect manager rejoins state-run Halkbank - Today's Zaman

Releases of graft suspects hurt public conscious: Turkish deputy PM - hurriyetdailynews.com

State-run Anadolu Agency censors Turkish Deputy PM Arınç's comments on graft case - hurriyetdailynews.com

Turkey bans film Nymphomaniac over nudity, a dissenting member of the cinema board says the decision is tantamount to "censorship" - Telegraph

POLL: Public unhappy about gov't media interference, Internet law - CİHAN

3 taken into custody for asking Minister Ala questions - Today's Zaman

Man beaten by police for holding sign at Erdoğan rally - Today's Zaman

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Court decision to halt construction of Prime Ministry in Ankara forest - Today's Zaman

‘SİT' applications spike under AK Party rule, protected sites where construction is restricted or forbidden - Today's Zaman

Turkey loses over 164,000 hectares of forests in 12 years - Today's Zaman

Turkey's Turmoil Puts Real-Estate Market at Risk - WSJ.com

EU confirms Turkey probe, Erasmus funds at risk - Today's Zaman

Unimpressed by Turkish ‘parallel structure' defense, MEPs approve critical report - Today's Zaman

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Turkey News - Mar 4

EU launches probe into corruption claims at former EU Affairs Minister Egemen Bagış who is implicated in the Turkey government scandal - Today's Zaman

European Parliament report criticizes Turkey amid corruption scandal - Today's Zaman

Summaries of proceedings for former ministers, Bozdağ still not in Parliament - Today's Zaman

Interior Ministry fails to reinstate police officers despite court rulings - Today's Zaman

Interior Ministry changes regulation on police specialization - Today's Zaman

ARCHIVE: Reza Zarrab, one of the key figures in the bribery case, delivered $ 1.5 million to former EU Affairs Minister Egemen Bagis - Turkey Islamic Justice and Development

VIDEO ARCHIVE: Reza Zarrab filmed carrying bribe to the former Minister Egemen Bagis - YouTube

VIDEO ARCHIVE: A TV program on Reza Zarrab and Egemen Bagis - YouTube

Giant US Wiretap HQ Revealed in Ankara,The international NSA scandal had revealed that Turkish government officials had also been wiretapped by the US actively - Aydinlik

Wiretapping scandal: Secure encrypted phone lines used by PM Erdogan and other public officials left open for evasdropping - Euro Asia News

US and British spy agencies are able to decipher data even with the supposedly secure encryption to make it private - hurriyetdailynews.com

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Erdogan thwarts Murdoch as graft probe reveals Turkey media grab, A 252-page police account of phone intercepts and video surveillance - Bloomberg

Profit-seeking Erdoğan eyes environmentally protected zones - Today's Zaman

Turkish gov't mulls taking full control over competition authority - Today's Zaman

Main opposition CHP questions prime minister about Çatalca villas - Today's Zaman

Ministry allegedly profiled students of dershanes close to Hizmet - Today's Zaman

PM Erdoğan allegedly interferes in election at Fenerbahçe - Today's Zaman

AUDIO: PM Erdoğan allegedly interferes in election at Fenerbahçe - YouTube

Erdoğan's hate speech, slanders and insults graver every day - Today's Zaman

VIDEO: AK Party supporters attack protester at Erdoğan rally, throw punches at him who had raised a banner that read “There is a thief” - Today's Zaman

Turkey PM faces popularity slide as graft scandal closes in - Yahoo!7

315 AK Party members resign in Adana, join opposition MHP - Today's Zaman

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Turkey News - Mar 3

Recordings seem to confirm bribe to Bilal Erdoğan's TÜRGEV - Today's Zaman

AUDIO: Graft suspect Zarrab sends bribe to TÜRGEV under guise of donation - YouTube

VIDEO: Graft suspect Zarrab sends bribe to TÜRGEV under guise of donation - haberler.com

AUDIO: Bargain for public land donation to TÜRGEV in exchange for mayoral candidacy - YouTube

AUDIO: Ciner Group deputy chairman Fatih Saraç allegedly tells Bilal Erdoğan that Ali Kibar would make a donation of TL 1 million to TÜRGEV - YouTube

MIT believes that all recordings about Erdogan and others were transferred to addresses in the U.S. and accessible by the NSA - hurriyetdailynews

Main opposition CHP leader calls on citizens to 'punish thieves' at elections - hurriyetdailynews.com

Who still supports Turkey’s AKP? Let’s first look at the numbers - Al-Monitor

Turkey's ruling AKP sees any vote higher than 38.8 at local polls as 'success' - hurriyetdailynews.com

PM will be voted out with 51 percent, says opposition leader - Today's Zaman

Turkey unfamiliar with resignation tradition, graft probe shows - Today's Zaman

Protesters rally against corruption in Turkey - hurriyetdailynews.com

VIDEO: Turkey - Anti government protesters clash with police - BBC News

Chairman of Turkey's biggest company Mustafa Koc calls on Erdogan to address graft charges to lower tensions - Reuters

Interview with Turkey prominent businessman Mustafa Koç - hurriyetdailynews.com

TUSKON challenges Erdoğan to enter business, defies threats - Today's Zaman

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Court ignored evidence when releasing graft suspects, say legal experts - Today's Zaman

Judge who released graft suspects found to be Erdoğan supporter - Today's Zaman

Turkish authorities issue warning to Samanyolu TV for ‘biased' broadcasts - Today's Zaman

Opposition calls restrictions on Parliament TV censorship by Erdoğan - Today's Zaman

Main opposition CHP to make 3rd appeal to top court on HSYK law - hurriyetdailynews.com

A new era in new Turkey: 'law within law', Intimidation and fear reign in the judiciary - Today's Zaman

'State of rule of law suspended in Turkey, if not completely eliminated' - Today's Zaman

EU offers Ankara small chance to discuss paramount chapter which covers the judiciary and fundamental rights - hurriyetdailynews.com

Turkey failing badly in press freedom, says British justice minister - Today's Zaman

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Ukraine News - Mar 2

Obama Calls Putin Over Ukraine - APA

Readout of President Obama’s Call with President Putin - The White House

Putin: Russian citizens, troops threatened in Ukraine, need armed forces’ protection - RT News

Russian Parliament Approves Military Action in Ukraine - RIA Novosti

U.S. Lawmakers See Sanctions Not Troops as Ukraine Response - Bloomberg

Chuck Hagel Speaks With Russian Defense Chief About Crimea Tensions - huffingtonpost.com

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Russian Troops Take Over Ukraine's Crimea Region - ABC News

Pro-Russia leader of Crimea claims military control; troops guard official sites, airports - The Washington Post

VIDEO: Unidentified soldiers took up positions outside parliament in Ukraine's autonomous Crimea - VOA

Russian forces in Ukraine: What does the Black Sea Fleet in Crimea look like? - The Washington Post

Gunmen from Kiev attempted to seize Crimea's Interior Ministry overnight - Russia - RT News

Ukraine forces on high alert after Putin gets permission to use military - Fox News

Ukraine Appeals to NATO for Assistance - APA

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Thousands rally against 'illegitimate govt', raise Russian flags in eastern Ukraine (VIDEO) - RT News

In northeast Ukraine, pro-Maidan occupiers are routed by counter-demonstrators - The Washington Post

VIDEO: Ukraine: Violent clashes in Kharkiv leave dozens injured - euronews

VIDEO: Pro-Russian Protests Get Violent in Crimea - UNEDITED - YouTube

All government agencies in Sevastopol support decision to disobey Kiev - APA

Up to 143,000 Ukrainians requested asylum in Russia in two weeks - RT News

Russia starts giving out passports to Ukraine’s ex-Berkut officers pelted with ‘threats’ - RT News

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Canceled language law in Ukraine sparks concern among Russian and EU diplomats - RT News

European Parliament urges respect for Russian language in Ukraine resolution - ITAR-TASS

VIDEO: Emotions run high: “Some politicians say that the Russian language is not a state language of Crimea. That’s why people are protesting” - euronews

Is it too late for Kiev to woo Russian-speaking Ukraine? A series of missteps may mean the new government has lost what influence it had in the southern regions - CSMonitor.com

Can Ukraine Control Its Far Right Ultranationalists? - The Daily Beast

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Turkey News - Feb 29

New recording shows Bilal Erdoğan involved in $35 million island deal - Today's Zaman

AUDIO: New recording shows Bilal Erdoğan involved in $35 million island deal - YouTube

AUDIO: PM Erdoğan’s family searches for ‘a big shredder’ to destroy documents - Aydinlik

TRANSCRIPT (English): PM Erdoğan’s family searches for ‘a big shredder’ to destroy documents - Aydinlik

Document confirms prosecutors' order to destroy evidence in graft probe including wiretapped recordings - Today's Zaman

American company says Erdoğan voice recording genuine - Today's Zaman

CHP files complaint against PM Erdoğan on false asset declaration - Today's Zaman

Turkish PM accuses prosecutors and police of spying for another country - hurriyetdailynews.com

Turkey's science watchdog under probe over leaked recordings - turkishweekly.net

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Turkish government appoints new HSYK members, hundreds of officials working at the high court dismissed - hurriyetdailynews.com

No suspects left in jail in Turkey's corruption probe, 24 people were arrested in the initial stages - hurriyetdailynews.com

Sakarya police see unprecedented purge amid graft probe as more than 10,000 police officers have been reassigned across Turkey - CİHAN

Hakkari police chief resigns in reaction to police purge - Today's Zaman

Acquittal for policeman reassigned after complaint by Zarrab - Today's Zaman

Interior Ministry license plates issued to Zarrab, daily says - Today's Zaman

Candidates on 'red list' denied jobs despite high test scores, Taraf reports - Today's Zaman

Pulling of strings got candidates off 'red list,' daily says - Today's Zaman

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Erdoğan orders TV station to interview minister in prep school row - CİHAN

Turkish authorities penalize news program on TV channel for being 'biased', a documentary on Turkish birds will be broadcast in its place - Today's Zaman

Official documents reveal false reporting by pro-government Yeni Şafak - CİHAN

Press council expresses concerns over controversial intelligence bill - Today's Zaman

Main opposition CHP: Rule of law being replaced by intelligence state - Today's Zaman

Turkish opposition decides to stop calling Erdoğan 'prime minister' - Today's Zaman

Parliamentary plenary session canceled due to fighting - Today's Zaman

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US State Department report slams Turkish gov’t over corruption scandal, calls for respect for rule of law - Today's Zaman

More on the US State Department report on Turkey - hurriyetdailynews.com

FULL REPORT: Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2013: Turkey - state.gov

Middle East funds negative on Turkey, warm to Egypt - Today's Zaman

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Syria News - Feb 28

Tenuous Truces: Local ceasefires agreed by the government and the Free Syrian Army continue to hold in the Damascus suburbs - gulftoday

There are now over 70 local cease-fires being negotiated across Syria, some marred by mistrust and disagreements - THE DAILY STAR

Syrian government sees an end game, local truces include end of the government siege and pledge by residents to renounce violence - huffingtonpost

Ghalioun: Geneva Talks Suspended as Assad Regime Evades Implementation of UNSC Resolution on Humanitarian Aid - Syrian National Coalition

Food rations distributed to besieged Damascus areas where rebels and the army reached a truce - THE DAILY STAR

Syria: UN agency delivers supplies to besieged camp amid ‘unbelievable devastation’ - United Nations News Centre

PHOTO: Harrowing photo of humanitarian assistance in Yarmouk - YouTube

VIDEO: Harrowing video of humanitarian assistance in Yarmouk - YouTube

REPORT: Yarmouk Refugee Camp and the Syrian Uprising: A View from Within - palestine-studies.org

Syria: ICRC delivers emergency relief in Barzeh - ICRC

VIDEO (English subtitles): [Syria] Barzeh: Flip side of negotiations - YouTube

91 men evacuated from Syria's Homs still held, 431 have been released : governor - THE DAILY STAR

Officer in Presidential Palace Suggested Homs Truce, Assad Accepted - The Syrian Observer

Plane Carrying WFP Aid Arrives in Qamishli - The Syrian Observer

Kids fathered by Saudis toil with mothers in Syria camps - Arab News

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Saudi 'seeking Pakistani arms for Syrian rebels' - Yahoo News

No deal with Saudi Arabia on arming Syrian rebels: Pakistan - Business Standard

Saudi Arabia and the U.S. to cooperate on Syria - Al Arabiya News

Russia condemns rumored Saudi plans to arm Syrian rebels with anti-air missiles - RT News

Operation Room in Jordan Coordinates Battles in Southern Syria - The Syrian Observer

Jordan denies Syrian rebels trained for Damascus attack on its territory - ASHARQ AL-AWSAT

US, Israel, Jordan enlarge South Syrian foothold - DEBKAfile

Report: The firing of General Salim Idriss as FSA military chief is part of a push-back against the influence of the Muslim Brotherhood and its sponsors in Qatar and Turkey - clarionproject.org

Kerry: Russia stepping up aid to Assad - AFP

Exclusive: Iranian oil exports rise in February, more to ally Syria - Reuters

Qatar FM backs Syria political solution on Iran visit - THE DAILY STAR

Exclusive: Iraq signs deal to buy arms, ammunition from Iran - documents - Reuters

Syrian Coalition Holds the Iraqi Government Responsible For Terrorism and The Killing of Syrians - Syrian National Coalition

Abbas tells Obama: Assad must stay - Al Akhbar English

White House waging secret debate over cyberwar against Syria - The Seattle Times

Syrian Web Censorship Techniques Revealed - MIT Technology Review

Syria says two attempted attacks on chemical weapons convoys: U.N. - Reuters

OPCW expects more from Syria after mustard gas shipped out - UPI.com

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YPG Announces Suspension of All Military Operations, saying they will act only on the basis of legitimate defence in the event of an attack - Rudaw

YPG Calls On Residents Of Til Meruf To Evacuate Ahead Of Operation, a joint-attack was launched by ISIS, Nusra Front and Ahrar al-Sham - The Rojava Report

ISIS, YPG Clash in Several Key Kurdish Towns - Syria Deeply

Arab tribal outrage as Kurdish YPG forces control Syrian city after three weeks of clashes with ISIS and other battalions including Ahrar al-Sham - aranews.org

Hasakah province: ISIS and allied battalions exploded a Sufi shrine in the village of Tal-Ma’rof which is exposed to clashes with YPG - Syrian Observatory for Human Rights

ISIS arrests 17 Kurdish civilians north Syria - aranews.org

Kobanê Canton warns people about abductions - ekurd

PHOTO: Beheading of a suspected 'PKK' member by ISIS in the middle of Azaz on Valentine's Day - Twitter / ajaltamimi

AUDIO: Interview eith Rêdur Xelîl, spokesperson of the YPG - BBC

VIDEO (Arabic): Syria Kurdish YPG Commander`s Speech - YouTube

The People’s Rule: An Interview With Saleh Muslim, Part I - Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Syrian regime, PYD and Shammar tribe reach agreement over oil-rich Rumailan - aranews.org

Afrin Canton VP: There Is Freedom In This Model - The Rojava Report

Minority Kurds promote cultural diversity amid Syria's civil war (VIDEO) - Your Middle East

The women of Syrian Kurdistan, Rojava, have broken their chains - ekurd

Syrian Kurdish parties: PYD cantons illegitimate - Anadolu Agency

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Oppose Force to Save Starving Syrians

I've been asked to debate Danny Postel on the question of Syria, and so have read the op-ed he co-authored with Nader Hashemi, "Use Force to Save Starving Syrians." Excellent responses have been published by Coleen Rowley and Rob Prince and probably others. And my basic thinking on Syria has not changed fundamentally since I wrote down my top 10 reasons not to attack Syria and lots and lots of other writing on Syria over the years. But replying to Postel's op-ed might be helpful to people who've read it and found it convincing or at least disturbing. It might also allow Postel to most efficiently find out where I'm coming from prior to our debate.

So, here's where I'm coming from. Postel's op-ed proposes the use of force as if force hadn't been tried yet, as if force were not in fact the very problem waiting to be solved. What he is proposing is increased force. The arming and funding and training of one side in Syria by the CIA, Saudi Arabia, et al, and the other side by Russia, et al, is not enough; more is needed, Postel believes. But "force" is a very non-descriptive term, as are all the other terms Postel uses to refer to what he wants: "air cover," "coercive measures," "Mr. Assad ... [should] be left behind."

I find it hard to imagine people on the ground while NATO dropped thousands of bombs on Libya pointing to the sky and remarking "Check out the air cover!"

Or this: "What happened to your children, Ma'am?" "They experienced some coercive measures."

Or this: "What became of Gadaffi?" "Oh, him? He was left behind."

When people who experience modern wars that wealthy nations launch against poor ones talk about them, they describe detailed horror, terror, and trauma. They recount what it's like to try to hold a loved one's guts into their mutilated body as they gasp their last. Even the accounts of recovering and regretful drone pilots in the U.S. have much more humanity and reality in them than do Postel's euphemisms.

I'm not questioning the sincerity of Postel's belief that, despite its long record of abysmal failure, humanitarian war would find success in a nation as divided as Syria, of all unlikely places. But Postel should trust his readers to share his conclusion after being presented with the full facts of the case. If Postel believes that the people whose lives would be ended or devastated by "air cover" are out-weighed by the people who he believes would be thereby saved from starvation, he should say so. He should at the very least acknowledge that people would be killed in the process and guesstimate how many they would be.

Postel claims Somalia as a past example of a "humanitarian intervention," without dwelling on the chaos and violence aggravated and ongoing there. This seems another shortcoming to me. If you are going to make a moral decision, not only should it include the negative side of the ledger, but it should include the likely medium-term and long-term results, good and bad. Looking at Somalia with a broader view hurts Postel's case, but so does looking at Libya, Afghanistan, or Iraq. Studies by Erica Chenoweth and others have documented that violent solutions to oppression and tyranny are not only less likely to succeed, but if they succeed their success is shorter lived. Violence breeds violence. "Force," translated into the reality of killing people's loved ones, breeds resentment, not reconciliation.

So, I think Postel's case for dropping tons of deadly "coercive measures" on Syria would be a weak one even were it likely to resemble his outline. Sadly, it isn't. The war on Libya three years ago was sold as an emergency use of "force" to protect supposedly threatened people in Benghazi. It was immediately, illegally, predictably, cynically, and disastrously turned into a campaign of bombing the nation to overthrow its government -- a government that, like Syria's, had long been on a Pentagon list to be overthrown for anything but humanitarian reasons. Postel presents a quick and antiseptic "leaving behind" operation to provide food to the starving, but surely he knows that is not what it would remain for any longer than it takes to say "R2P." Why else does Postel refer so vaguely to leaving Assad behind?

It may be worth noting that it's not aid workers advocating for "coercion" strikes on Syria. I spoke with a U.S. government aid worker in Syria some months back who had this to say:

"Before we contemplate military strikes against the Syrian regime, we would do well to carefully consider what impact such strikes would have on our ongoing humanitarian programs, both those funded by the U.S. and by other countries and international organizations. These programs currently reach hundreds of thousands of vulnerable people throughout Syria, in areas controlled both by the regime and the opposition. We know from past military interventions, such as in Yugoslavia and Iraq, that airstrikes launched for humanitarian reasons often result in the unintended deaths of many civilians. The destruction of roads, bridges, and other infrastructure, which such airstrikes may entail, would significantly hamper the delivery of humanitarian aid in Syria.

"The provision of this assistance in regime controlled areas requires the agreement, and in many cases the cooperation, of the Asad government. Were the Asad regime, in response to U.S. military operations, to suspend this cooperation, and prohibit the UN and Nongovernmental Organizations from operating in territory under its control, hundreds of thousands of Syrian civilians would be denied access to food, shelter, and medical care. In such a scenario, we would be sacrificing programs of proven effectiveness in helping the people of Syria, in favor of ill considered actions that may or may not prevent the future use of chemical weapons, or otherwise contribute to U.S. objectives in any meaningful way."

Let's grant that the crisis has continued for months and worsened. It remains the fact that it is advocates of war advocating war, not aid workers advocating war. The option of ceasing to arm both sides, and of pursuing a negotiated settlement, is simply ignored by the war advocates. The option of nonviolent efforts to deliver aid is avoided entirely. The failure to provide adequate aid to refugees who ~~where that~~ can be reached seems far less pressing than the failure to provide aid where that failure can become a justification for an escalated war.

"Humanitarian interventions," Postel writes, "typically occur when moral principles overlap with political interests." This seems to be an acknowledgment that political interests are something other than moral. So, there's no cry for "humanitarian intervention" in Bahrain or Palestine or Egypt because it doesn't fit "political interests." That seems like an accurate analysis. And presumably some interventions that do fit political interests are not moral and humanitarian. The question is which are which. Postel believes there have been enough humanitarian interventions to describe something as being typical of them, but he doesn't list them. In fact, the record of U.S. military and CIA interventions is a unbroken string of anti-humanitarian horrors. And in most cases, if not every case, actual aid would have served humanity better than guns and bombs, and so would have ceasing pre-existing involvement rather than escalating it and calling that an intervention.

But once you've accepted that the tool of war should be encouraged in certain cases, even though it's misused in other cases, then something else has to be added to your moral calculation, namely the propagation of war and preparations for war. Those of us who cannot find a single war worth supporting differ only slightly perhaps from those who find one war in a hundred worth backing. But it's a difference that shifts opposition to support for an investment that costs the world some $2 trillion a year. The United Nations believes that $30 billion a year could end serious starvation around the world. Imagine what, say, $300 billion could do for food, water, medicine, education, and green energy. Imagine if the United States were to offer that kind of aid to every nation able to peacefully and democratically accept it. Would polls continue to find the U.S. viewed as the greatest threat to peace on earth? Would the title of most beloved nation on earth begin to look plausible?

Members of the nonviolent peaceforce, Nobel peace laureate Mairead Maguire, and other advocates of de-escalation in Syria traveled freely around Syria some months back. How were they able to do that? What might trainers in creative nonviolent action offer Syria that CIA and military trainers aren't offering? The alternative is never even considered by advocates of war-or-nothing. Postel wants to back "democratically oriented" rebel groups, but is violence clearly democratically oriented? Turning our eyes back on ourselves suggests a rather disturbing answer. In September 2013, President Obama gave us the hard sell. Watch these videos of suffering children, he said, and support striking their nation with missiles or support their ongoing suffering. And a huge majority in the U.S. rejected the idea that those were the only two choices. A majority opposed the strikes. An even larger majority opposed arming the rebels. And a large majority favored humanitarian aid. There is a case to be made that democracy would be better spread by example than by defying the will of the U.S. people in order to bomb yet another nation in democracy's name.

Postel, to his credit, calls the "Responsibility to Protect" a "principle." Some have called it a "law." But it cannot undo the U.N. Charter. War being illegal, its use damages the rule of law. That result must also be factored into a full moral calculation of how to act. Act we must, as Postel says repeatedly. The question is how. Rob Prince presents a useful plan of action in the article linked above.

Postel's most persuasive argument is probably, for many readers, his contention that only threatening to act will save the day. He claims that Syria has responded positively to threats of force. But this is not true. Syria was always willing to give up its chemical weapons and had long since proposed a WMD-free Middle East -- a proposal that ran up against the lack of "political interest" in eliminating Israel's illegal weapons. Also false, of course, were claims by the Obama administration to know that Assad had used chemical weapons. See Coleen Rowley's summary of how that case has collapsed in the article linked above.

Granted, there can be a good honest case for an action for which misguided, false, and fraudulent cases have been offered. But I haven't seen such a case yet for taking an action in Syria that would, to be sure, dramatically declare that action was being taken, release a lot of pent-up tension, and enrich Raytheon's owners, but almost certainly leave Syrians, Americans, and the world worse off.

Turkey/Syria News - Feb 27

Turkish Prime Minister targeted in second audio tape - Yahoo News

AUDIO: Erdogan talks to his son about getting 10 million from SOM Petrol owner, advises son not to take it until he brings the "promised" amount - YouTube

AUDIO: Specific preparation for the day of the evacuation of the money from the Prime Minister's house - YouTube

AK Party founders slam PM Erdoğan over leaked corruption recording - Today's Zaman

CHP: Either PM resigns or he will drag Turkey into social, economic chaos - CİHAN

Turkish gov’t, opposition clash over accuracy of tapes - hurriyetdailynews.com

PM Erdoğan's tapes not doctored, specialists agree - Today's Zaman

Erdogan recordings appear real, US analyst says, as Turkey scandal grows - McClatchy DC News

Minister of Science, Industry and Technology: Should the Prime Ministry request an analysis of the tapes, The Scientific and Technological Research Council (Tubitak) will be happy to undertake it - turkishpress.com

AK Party deputy: People don't believe voice recordings even if they are true - CİHAN

Leaked recording deepens divisions in Turks' views of Erdoğan - Today's Zaman

AK Party deputies almost attacked their CHP counterparts over the tapes - Today's Zaman

AUDIO (English): In voice recordings posted 2 days ago Erdogan and his son Bilal allegedly discuss how to hide huge sums of cash - YouTube

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Turkey sees anti-corruption protests for second day -AFP

VIDEO: Anti-government protests in Istanbul Wednesday - YouTube

Opposition throws fake money in Taksim during rally over tape incriminating Turkish PM - hurriyetdailynews.com

VIDEO: Opposition throws fake money in Taksim during rally over tape incriminating Turkish PM - YouTube

PHOTO ALBUM: Anti-corruption protests continue in Turkey - The Washington Post

ODTÜ students stage protest ahead of highway opening in Ankara - CİHAN

VIDEO: Turkey: students protest against new highway - YouTube

Turkey Moves to Close Prep Schools Linked to Rival Gulen - SFGate

Schools to become partisan, claim education unions - Today's Zaman

Turkish police uses tear gas to disperse National Education Bill protestors - CİHAN

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President Gül approves disputed bill increasing gov’t grip over judiciary - hurriyetdailynews.com

Turkish main opposition takes judicial bill to Constitutional Court - hurriyetdailynews.com

Former minister says new law makes MİT resemble criminal JİTEM - Today's Zaman

Association says MIT intelligence bill huge blow to press freedom - Today's Zaman

Gov't censorship not limited to media, extends to party ads - Today's Zaman

Draft law grants economic privileges to Turkey's military - Al-Monitor

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Turkey's Dirty Money: Why Ankara Is Still on the FATF's Gray List of Terrorism Financing - Foreign Affairs

The Gray List : Turkey’s Financing of Terrorism - digitaljournal.com

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Syrian troops ambush, kill at least 150 rebels east of Damascus, source says the men were civilians and fighters trying to escape the siege - The Washington Post

VIDEO: Live footage of Syrian army ambushing dozens of Islamist rebels in Otaibah, Damascus - LiveLeak.com

VIDEO: Aftermath of the ambush by the Syrian Army against Islamists in Otaybah, Damascus - LiveLeak.com

Syria rebel infighting 'kills 3,300 since January' - THE DAILY STAR

ISIS imposes restrictions on Christians in Raqqa, demand levy - THE DAILY STAR

The Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham's dhimmi pact for the Christians of Raqqa province - Syria Comment

Top ISIS commander killed in Homs - ZAMAN ALWSL

Lebanon arrests a commander of Syria's Al-Nusra: security - Yahoo News

Netherlands: Jihadist threat level remains at ‘substantial’; government action still necessary - National Coordinator for Security and Counterterrorism

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Turkey/Syria News - Feb 26

Prosecutor's office begins investigation into Turkish PM Erdogan over 'mind-blowing' corruption tapes - US News

Main opposition says gov't lost legitimacy, calls on Erdoğan to quit - Today's Zaman

MHP leader says gov't lost legitimacy, urges judiciary to intervene - Today's Zaman

Prime Ministry says new tapes incriminating Erdogan "montage and completely false” - hurriyetdailynews.com

VIDEO: Turkish PM Erdogan denies graft claims in 'fake' audio - Video Dailymotion

CHP says voice recording of PM and son 'not a montage' - Today's Zaman

BDP says ‘it only takes 20 minutes’ to find out if tape incriminating PM is authentic - hurriyetdailynews.com

Engineers confirm authenticity of voice recording between PM, son - Today's Zaman

A scientific analysis on the authenticity of Erdogan tapes: (in Turkish) - Kivanc Kitapci

Erdoğan's voice recordings with son gets 2 mln viewers on YouTube - Today's Zaman

TRANSCRIPT (English): Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan's alleged phone talks with his son Bilal, about where to hide the money - LiveLeak.com

AUDIO (Turkish): In new voice recordings Erdogan and his son Bilal allegedly discuss how to hide huge sums of cash - YouTube

Thousands of Turks protest deepening corruption, call on gov't to resign - Today's Zaman

VIDEOS: Turkish protesters call Government to resign after tape scandal - LiveLeak.com

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HSYK to investigate claims of mass wiretaps - Today's Zaman

Prosecutor Çimen denies wiretapping claims - Today's Zaman

İstanbul Prosecutor's Office says 2,280 people wiretapped, investigation continues - Today's Zaman

Pro-gov't dailies' reports on mass wiretaps full of contradictions - Today's Zaman

Media deception of the century on mass wiretaps - Today's Zaman

Ex-minister confesses to ‘unlawful practices' in wiretapped conversation - CİHAN

Recording shows government asking MİT to deny profiling reports - Today's Zaman

Turkish finance minister declines to comment on ‘color lists' - Today's Zaman

A police officer allegedly responsible for placing a bugging device in Erdogan's residence worked as a bodyguard for 'terror financier’ Yasin al-Qadi - Today's Zaman

120 police officers reassigned in southeastern Turkey - Today's Zaman

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Concerns of Turkey political turmoil rattle markets after new leak hits headlines - Today's Zaman

Lira Drops With Turkey Stocks as Opposition Demands Erdogan Quit - Businessweek

Turkish PM Erdoğan cancels top defense industry meeting - hurriyetdailynews.com

MIT Law Could Harm Economy, Warns Bars Chief - Aydinlik

Foreign companies in Turkey face squeeze - Reuters

Turkey's credit card crackdown irks consumers - AFP

Deputy PM Arınç refutes claims of Obama-Erdoğan cool down - CİHAN

Is the United States getting tougher with Turkey? - Today's Zaman

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Jabhat al-Nusra gives rival ISIS ultimatum to accept mediation to end their infighting or face a war - Reuters

VIDEO: Jabhat al-Nusra leader in Syria mourns fellow commander, attacks ISIS: statement - ZAMAN ALWSL

Nusra leader Jolani also declared SNC/SMC apostates -Twitter / Charles_Lister

Ahrar a-Sham on ISIS: 'Killing them is permitted' - Syria Direct

Islamic Front, Al Mujahedeen Army and Al Qaeda-affiliated Al Nusra Front form joint command room in Aleppo to repel Assad’s attacks - ZAMAN ALWSL

VIDEO: Islamic Front, Al Mujahedeen Army and Al Nusra Front form joint command room in Aleppo to repel Assad’s attacks - Twitter / aron_ld

Abu Issa al Sheikh, Islamic Front leader, calls people of Daraya to reject agreement w regime. Says martyrdom is preferable -Twitter / joshua_landis

“ISIL” blows a headquarter of al-Nusra - islamicinvitationturkey.com

VIDEO: Video footage of the yesterdays ISIS-bomber who had blown up the other terrorist faction - LiveLeak.com

VIDEO: ISIS convinces 72 yr old Egyptian man to blow himself up by lying to him about the target, sending him to rebels - Twitter / joshua_landis

ISIS holds a public execution of a claimed regime soldier in Raqqa - Twitter / ajaltamimi

Alleged ISIS car bomb kills 14 on Syria-Turkey border near a field hospital (VIDEO) - Haaretz

ISIS leader Abu Dua in a new photo - TIME.com

Jabhat al-Nusra Claims Latest Lebanon Bombing - Israel National News

PHOTO: Nusra tweeters claim responsibility for beheadings in Quneitra - Twitter / joshua_landis

Syrian Jihadists Target Children for Indoctrination, Training - VOA

Al Qaeda's chief representative in Syria reportedly killed - The Long War Journal

Islamic Front official posts pictures of al Qaeda's top representative in Syria - The Long War Journal

Syria: How “Al Qa’eda Mediator” Abu Khaled Al-Suri Was Assassinated — A Jihadist’s Account - EA WorldView

Who and What Was Abu Khalid al-Suri, Al Qaeda's chief representative in Syria? Part I - Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Who and What Was Abu Khalid al-Suri, Al Qaeda's chief representative in Syria? Part II - Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

“Hide These Jihadists That I Can’t See: The French Volunteers In Syria” - JIHADOLOGY

Syria: Notes on a Dagestani-Led Group in Islamic State of Iraq - EA WorldView

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Turkey News - Feb 25

In voice recordings Erdogan and his son Bilal allegedly discuss how to hide huge sums of cash, Turkish main opposition calls on PM to quit - Today's Zaman

AUDIO (Turkish): In new voice recordings Erdogan and his son Bilal allegedly discuss how to hide huge sums of cash - YouTube

Turkey's Erdogan says incriminating corruption tapes leaked onto Internet are fake - Fox News

VIDEO (Turkish): Abdüllatif Sener, Former Finance Minister and Deputy PM of Erdogan, confirm the authenticity of the recording - YouTube

Usama Qutb, pointman of US-designated terror financier Yasin al-Qadi, allegedly called Erdogan to report car accident - Today's Zaman

AUDIO (Turkish): Usama Qutb, pointman of US-designated terror financier Yasin al-Qadi, allegedly called Erdogan to report car accident - YouTube

Reports of widespread wiretapping make waves in Ankara, Thousands of people including PM Erdogan and national intelligence chief Hakan Fidan allegedely wiretapped for years by the police - hurriyetdailynews

Turkish government spokesperson describes wiretapping of officials as 'illegal’ - Anadolu Agency

Reports of en masse wiretappings denied by prosecutors - Today's Zaman

Gül says HSYK law violates 15 articles of Constitution - CİHAN

CHP to appeal laws on Internet and HSYK - Cihan News Agency

Parliament commission passes bill granting excessive power to Turkey's MIT intel body - hurriyetdailynews

CHP deputy Aksünger says PM uses MİT as his private intelligence agency - Today's Zaman, your gateway to Turkish daily news

Despite amendments, MIT intel bill worrisome, identical to regime change - Today's Zaman

First hearing of a trial of 29 Gezi protesters over messages they posted on Twitter - Today's Zaman

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Turkey News - Feb 24

In new leaks, gov't allegedly meddles in media, insults YÖK head - Today's Zaman

AUDIO: Erdoğan allegedly tells Ciner Media Group's deputy chairman Saraç to take a program on Show TV off the air mid-broadcast - YouTube

Ruling AK Party engineering media via advertisements, loans - Today's Zaman

AUDIO (Turkish): Varank 1 - In leaked voice recordings Mustafa Varank, an adviser to Erdoğan, allegedly meddles in media - YouTube

AUDIO (Turkish): Varank 2 - In leaked voice recordings Mustafa Varank, an adviser to Erdoğan, allegedly meddles in media - YouTube

AUDIO (Turkish): Varank 3 - In leaked voice recordings Mustafa Varank, an adviser to Erdoğan, allegedly meddles in media - YouTube

AUDIO (Turkish): Varank 4 - In leaked voice recordings Mustafa Varank, an adviser to Erdoğan, allegedly meddles in media - YouTube

AUDIO (Turkish): Varank 5 - In leaked voice recordings Mustafa Varank, an adviser to Erdoğan, allegedly meddles in media - YouTube

AUDIO (Turkish): Varank 6 - In leaked voice recordings Mustafa Varank, an adviser to Erdoğan, allegedly meddles in media - YouTube

AUDIO (Turkish): Varank 7 - In leaked voice recordings Mustafa Varank, an adviser to Erdoğan, allegedly meddles in media - YouTube

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Police put down protest against controversial Internet law in Istanbul - hurriyetdailynews.com

New Internet bill aims to cover up corruption allegations, say analysts - Today's Zaman

'Turkey's new Internet law is the first step toward surveillance society,' says cyberlaw expert - hurriyetdailynews.com

VIDEO: Police and protesters clash over new Turkish internet law - BBC

VIDEO: Police and protesters clash over new Turkish internet law - Euronews

VIDEO: Police and protesters clash over new Turkish internet law - RT

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Villas in İzmir's Urla constructed over last four years, undermining the prime minister's claim that the villas were built 35 years ago (PHOTO) - Today's Zaman

PHOTO: The Urla Villas - Google Search

AUDIO: The Urla Villas - YouTube

Taksim Solidarity Platform set to sue state over Gezi protest crackdowns - hurriyetdailynews.com

Erdogan tells Taksim Platform to know its place, dismisses demands - turkishpress.com

Interview with former AKP deputy İdris Bal (1) - Today's Zaman

Murky Turkish football politics mesh with massive graft scandal - hurriyetdailynews.com

Corruption cover-up may raise eyebrows in OECD, CoE - Airing News

EU expected to freeze Turkey’s application over Erdogan autocratic style - The Times

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Turkish gov't takes a step back on intel bill upon harsh criticism - hurriyetdailynews.com

Turkish opposition unsatisfied with changes to intelligence bill - Today's Zaman

Demirtaş: The BDP is opposed to the MIT draft bill - ANF

Turkey reveals scale of spying by agency, eavesdrops on almost 2,500 people, mostly foreigners - RT News

Foreign Ministry dismisses reports Taliban opened office in Turkey - hurriyetdailynews.com

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Syria News - Feb 23

U.N. Orders Both Sides in Syria to Allow Humanitarian Aid - NYTimes.com

VIDEO: Syria UN Envoy Ja'afari on humanitarian resolution - YouTube

Syrian Coalition Welcomes UNSC Resolution on Humanitarian Aid - Syrian National Coalition

Syria: Local rebels willing to compromise but are ready for all scenarios - Al Akhbar English

Syria reconciliation, a complicated matter of forgiveness - en.alalam.ir

The Islamic Front threatens all who make a truce with Syrian Army - breakingnews.sy

VIDEO: Syrian army officers & FSA rebels eating together!!!!!!!!!!!! - LiveLeak.com

VIDEO: NDF woman with a FSA rebel in Babila - The video - LiveLeak.com

WFP Sends 39 Tons of Food to Qamishli - The Syrian Observer

Governor: 38 male Homs evacuees freed in Syria - Al Arabiya News

Syrian troops capture areas along Israeli Golan Heights - The Times of Israel

New Rebel Attack on the Aleppo Central Prison is Repulsed by the Syrian Arab Army - syrianfreepress

Bashar al- Assad supporters hold rally in Qamishlo - Kurdpress News Aganecy

VIDEO: Pro-Assad protest in Qamishli - Transnational Middle-East Observer

VIDEO: Syria’s Deputy Foreign Minister: President Assad's future 'not up for discussion’ - BBC News

Iran boosts military support in Syria to bolster Assad - Reuters

Why The Syrian Electronic Army Hacked Us: An Interview With The Attackers - Forbes

Syria submits new 100-day plan for removal of chemical weapons - Reuters

Chemical arms watchdog split on Syria delays - dailytimes.com.pk

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U.S., allies agree on standards for which opposition groups in Syria will receive aid - The Washington Post

Saudi Arabia is trying to ease differences on Syria with Washington, say diplomatic sources in the Gulf - Reuters

Suicide bomber kills three in e. Lebanon - THE DAILY STAR

Al-Nusra leader appoints Salafi sheikh to head Lebanon branch - en.alalam.ir

Syria says ready to help Lebanon fight terrorism - THE DAILY STAR

Turkmen leader: Syrian Turkmen threatened by ISIS forces - Anadolu Agency

ISIS confiscates arms from former allies - aranews.org

ISIS changes official weekend in Raqqa - THE DAILY STAR

Neglected Sex: The Jihadis’ Exclusion of Women From Jihad - Taylor & Francis Online

This Rebel Commander Is Fighting Islamic Extremists In Syria — Is It Enough To Get U.S. Support - buzzfeed.com

Will Selim Idriss’s Removal Further Fragment the Opposition? - Syria Deeply

VIDEO (Arabic): Idriss’s fiery statements to BBC - Twitter / joshua_landis

Salim Idriss may keep his post, opposition to avoid more escalations: source - ZAMAN ALWSL

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Nearly 30 Rebels Die as Kurds Take a Syrian Town - NYTimes.com

Syria's Kurds Struggle With Islamist Factions for Control of Oil - aina.org

ISIS linked Arab tribal fighters declare war on Kurdish YPG forces, north Syria - aranews.org

VIDEO: ISIS suicide car bomb attack against YPG - YouTube

Women join the Kurdish fight in Syria, They are third of the fighters - DW.DE

Reports of trafficking of Syrian Kurdish women are false - BAS NEWS

Kurds and Christians cooperate in parts of northern Syria - digitaljournal.com

European Christians fighting with Syria Kurdish factions - Al-Monitor

Syria: Has an Autonomous Kurdistan Been Established in the North? - EA WorldView

Syrian Kurdish Self-Rule Criticized By Many As UnrepresentativE - RUDAW

PYD should end rifts with other Kurdish forces to gain recognition: PUK Chairman - aranews.org

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Turkey News - Feb 22

Meeting behind closed doors exposed, attended by Erdogan, “Qaeda financier" Yasin al-Qadi and the MIT intelligence chief Hakan Fidan - Today's Zaman

PHOTOS: Erdogan, “Qaeda financier" Yasin al-Qadi and the MIT intelligence chief Hakan Fidan meet in Istanbul - sozcu.com.tr

US think tank report warns about terrorism finance in Turkey - CİHAN

FULL REPORT: Terrorism Finance in Turkey: A Growing Concern - defenddemocracy.org

Turkey becoming world’s leading terrorism finance hub - Washington Free Beacon

Why Is Turkey Harboring Terrorists? - NationalJournal.com

ARCHIVE: Turkey’s Double-Speak on Al-Qaeda - Commentary Magazine

ARCHIVE: Yasin al-Qadi and the Erdoğan family - Today's Zaman

ARCHIVE: Yasin al-Qadi escorted by Turkey PM's security detail, daily reports - Today's Zaman

ARCHIVE: Yasin al Qadi Designated By US As Al Qaeda Financier - The Global Muslim Brotherhood Daily Watch

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Daily claims Paris murder suspect has ties to MİT - CİHAN

Turkey Implicated in Paris Assassinations of Kurdish PKKs - clarionproject.org

Turkish intelligence MIT number in Omer Guney's telephone: Paris Kurd killings - ekurd

Turkey's embattled Erdoğan seeks wider powers for spy agency MIT- Today's Zaman

Opposition slams MİT bill - CİHAN

President Gül urged MIT chief not to accede prosecutor’s call for interrogation - hurriyetdailynews.com

Almost 1,000 officers removed from post in İzmir, Ankara - Today's Zaman

40 police chiefs reassigned in Tekirdağ province - CİHAN

Ankara court issues search warrant as under emergency rule - Today's Zaman

Prime Ministry asks president to purge 'parallel state' in his office - Today's Zaman

Turkish government refutes ‘purges,’ calls mass replacements ‘routine’ - hurriyetdailynews.com

Gov't criticized for allegedly forcing scientific researcher to alter report - CİHAN

Inspector candidate labeled 'red' by ministry confirms profiling reports - CİHAN

Recruiting based on 'color lists' breach of Constitution - Today's Zaman

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29 Gezi protesters face 3 years' imprisonment for Twitter messages - CİHAN

Protesters clash with İstanbul police, throw Molotov cocktails - CİHAN

In intercepted conversation TİB director informs PM's advisor regarding censorship, recording leaks - CİHAN

Turkey's main opposition CHP proposes immediate measures to restore Internet freedom - hurriyetdailynews.com

Journalist at daily Bugün is threatened - CİHAN

EU says concerns remain valid on freedom of expression in Turkey - Today's Zaman

Europe's Duff to Ankara: We have never been this close to suspending talks - Today's Zaman

Obama warns Erdoğan on rule of law, investment environment - Today's Zaman

New Calls For Obama To Confront Turkey: A Letter from 80 foreign policy figures - The Daily Beast

IMF suggests Turkey tighten policy, warns of problems - Today's Zaman

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Syria News - Feb 21

Syrian rebel command appears split by ouster of senior military leader Idris - The Washington Post

Syrian rebels call commander's sacking a coup - ZAMAN ALWSL

Text and signatories of statement by 16 commanders rejecting the Syrian National Coalition' dismissal of Chief of Staff Idris (VIDEO) - EA WorldView

Interview: Idris ally says SMC ‘wants to direct the revolution from abroad’ - Syria Direct

Colonel Saadedine says Idriss' removal was related to the storming of the FSA headquarters by the Islamic Front - The Syrian Observer

Report: The Syrian National Coalition formally severes ties with the National Council - ADN.com

Opposition official says National Council still key Coalition component despite quitting claims - ZAMAN ALWSL

Regional spymasters make tactical changes to bolster Syrian moderates - The Washington Post

Saudi Arabia Replaces Key Official in Effort to Arm Syria Rebels - WSJ.com

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Syria brokering local cease-fires as U.S.-backed talks falter - The Washington Post

UN resumes aid to Yarmuk refugee camp in Damascus - AFP

Crowds rush UNRWA food deliveries in Yarmouk as Nusra withdraws - MiamiHerald.com

700 people evacuated from Yarmouk camp in Syria on humanitarian grounds - KUNA

Governor: More civilians evacuated from Syria’s Homs - Al Arabiya News

UN engages Syria terror group to enable aid - Washtington Post

ISIS jihadists raise rebel banner in truce suburb of Babbila - THE DAILY STAR

Note: ISIS members who entered Babbila to burn the Syrian flag after the truce are now gone, and they went back to Yalda - inagist.com

PHOTOS: ISIS jihadists raise rebel banner and burn the Syrian flag in truce suburb of Babbila - LiveLeak.com

Rebels' grip on border region weakens under Syrian Army assault - CSMonitor.com

Syria rebels battle to prevent regime seizing strategic town - THE DAILY STAR

Ban Ki-moon to push ahead with Syria peace talks - Al Arabiya News

Looking for Syria options U.S. remains cool to using force, has not given up on a diplomatic solution - Reuters

Exclusive: Obama Admin Stiffs Chemical Survivors on New Claim - The Daily Beast

Russia’s Lavrov Warns Against Military Intervention in Syria - RIA Novosti

Russia to Strengthen Mediterranean Force With ‘Stealth’ Subs - RIA Novosti

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Five dead in alleged ISIS car bomb at Turkey-Syria border post - AFP

Al Qaeda-linked group claims Beirut bombings - Reuters

Smuggled video testimony documents harsh rule of Syrian Islamist group ISIS in Raqqa (VIDEO) - theguardian.com

VIDEO: ISIS massacres in Hreitan, pulling people from mass graves, horrific - Twitter / joshua_landis

PHOTOS: New Photo In Memory for the 42 Civilans killed by jihadists in Maan - LiveLeak.com

VIDEO: Daraa man murdered before & after his execution by Salafascist gangsters - LiveLeak.com

Islamists order women to don veil in eastern Syria - ZAMAN ALWSL

Armed group defects from ISIL in Al-Raqqa - Syria Newsdesk

Al-Qaeda-linked group exploits ISIS decline in Aleppo - Al-Monitor

Jihadists in Syria wrangle over money, power and oil - Al-Shorfa

Jabhat al-Nusra tries to create unified council in Syria - Al-Monitor

Belgium’s Syria fighters – A Statistic Analysis - pietervanostaeyen

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Turkey News - Feb 20

CHP takes HSYK law to top court for annulment - CİHAN

HSYK 1st Chamber President Okur: Judiciary under assault - Today's Zaman

Former AK Party affiliates appointed to judiciary - Today's Zaman

Intelligence bill to grant broad powers to MIT, critics say it is designed to deter journalists from making secret documents public - Today's Zaman

EU commissioner Muiznieks raps lack of transparency in disputed laws - Today's Zaman

EU letters put pressure on Ankara for disputed laws - hurriyetdailynews.com

Prosecutors reviewing proceedings on ministers - hurriyetdailynews.com

Bilal Erdoğan claims innocence in low-key testimony - CİHAN

As purge continues in police force, court grants stay of execution - CİHAN

Daily publishes evidence of ‘color lists' used to recruit public sector employee - CİHAN

Ministry of Education supervision office to be abolished - CİHAN

CHP leader: PM paralyzes constitutional order to avoid graft probe - CİHAN

CHP's İstanbul candidate: PM had me censored - CİHAN

Journalist: I was threatened over not supporting government - CİHAN

Turkish PM Erdoğan challenges CHP and Gülen Movement on wiretappings - hurriyetdailynews.com

Turkey's ex-interior minister denounces leaked phone call to son during graft raid as ‘illegal’ - hurriyetdailynews.com

State-funded projects fuel PM Erdoğan’s local election campaign - hurriyetdailynews.com

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Aleppo, Yabrud, and the end of the war on Syria

The Syrian Arab Army may be on the verge of another set of victories that go far beyond those gained in the summer of 2013 when the Syrian army and Hezbollah took the rebel held city of Qusayr. The hotly contested battles rage in the major city of Aleppo and the much smaller mountain city of Yabrud. Major gains in either locale would be significant. Victories in both would raise questions about the various rebel factions and their ability to continue contesting for control of the country. (Image: Michael Swan)

Syria's commercial center and largest city, Aleppo, was divided at the start of the Syrian conflict in July 2012. The government lost control of half of the metropolitan area, key towns surrounding the city, and the international airport.

The situation has changed substantially since October 2013. The Syrian army captured key towns in the countryside surrounding Aleppo, a critical army base, the international airport, and scores of smaller villages. Government forces continue to take key locations in preparation for a final push to retake the city. The tactics on both sides are brutal. Syrian forces drop barrel bombs on Aleppo's rebel strongholds. Rebels recently executed twenty-one Syrian government sympathizers.