Good morning everyone.
The latest on our misadventures in the Middle East, are reports that the US military and five of our “Arab Allies” have started bombing the Islamic State or whatever one chooses to call it in Syria (hat tip to Oui – go read his diary). From the BBC:
The US and five Arab allies have launched the first strikes against Islamic State (IS) militants in Syria.
The Pentagon said warplanes, drones and Tomahawk missiles were used in the attacks, which targeted several areas including IS stronghold Raqqa. […]
Separately, Centcom said US forces also attacked a network of al-Qaeda veterans named Khorasan who had established a safe haven west of Aleppo and were plotting imminent attacks against the West.
The LA Times is reporting the attacks on Aleppo, as well.
Though Aleppo is the largest city in Syria, I’m sure we and our friends only bombed the bad guys, and not any women, children or other innocent people.
Oh wait, maybe not:
The strikes targeted Raqqa, an IS stronghold in eastern Syria the group captured in 2013, and the cities of Deir al-Zour, Hassakeh and Abu Kamal.
The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which has a network of activists on the ground, said more than 20 militants were killed in two strikes on IS positions in Raqqa.
Earlier, it said 30 al-Qaeda-linked fighters were also killed in strikes west of Aleppo, but it later raised the figure to 50. Eight civilians, including three children, were reported to have died.
Well, they are only “collateral” damage, right? Gotta kill a few civilians break a few eggs to make an omelet (or scrambled eggs). I’m sure no one will hold it against us. The BBC story, by the way has a nice map graphic showing the cities and towns in Syria that were struck in this latest episode of our never-ending war on terror.
Meanwhile Israel is back in the news as well, as its defense forces claim they shot down a Syrian jet fighter “attempting to infiltrate Israeli airspace in the Golan Heights…” Not exactly what I would call an encouraging development. The IDF also says that in Hebron yesterday they shot and killed two “suspects” wanted for the killing of those two Jewish teenagers in the West Bank back in June. The same teens whose murder led to a retaliation murder of a Palestinian boy “Muhammad Abu Khdeir, in his East Jerusalem neighborhood of Shuafat” by “Jewish extremists” (NY Times description, people, not mine), which led to you know what:
The June 12 disappearance of Naftali Fraenkel and Gilad Shaar, both 16, and Eyal Yifrach, 19, as they hitchhiked home from their West Bank yeshivas, and the subsequent Israeli crackdown in Hebron and surrounding areas, helped set off an escalation of violence that culminated in a seven-week battle between Israel and Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip.
Well enough about the Middle East, drones, tomahawk missiles and air strikes.
As for me, I’m bone tired, but I appreciate everyone who has provided diaries to post here or stories via my email (stevendbt at yahoo dot com). You folks deserve plaudits and if I could remember what those things were, I’d send you some (yes, that’s my feeble attempt at humor). But seriously, I hope to have a few new stories up from you guys later today, after I go pick up my wife’s medications, which I must do shortly.
Regarding Booman, I am still awaiting updates from Cabin Girl on his status. With any luck, it will be good news. Sorry I don’t have more to tell you. But let’s end this on an up note shall we? So, hmmm. Let me think a bit.
Have a nice day?
