Hollande - "A Day Late and a Dollar Short," as usual.

"French President Francois Hollande on Wednesday joined calls for international observers to oversee the evacuation of civilians trapped under fire in the Syrian city of Aleppo.

At a meeting with his defence cabinet, Hollande said those trapped by the fighting should “be evacuated in a dignified and safe manner, under the supervision of international observers and in the presence of humanitarian organisations,” the presidency said in a statement.

Hollande also demanded that the population of eastern Aleppo receive “unconditional aid and protection” and said only a negotiated political transition could lead to “a lasting victory over terrorism” in Syria."  AFP & AMN

https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/%ef%bb%bffrance-calls-international-monitoring-aleppo-evacuation/

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What is this "stiff" polling at now?  4%?  6%?" 

On MJ today Mika bleated "but where are they going, all these poor families?"  Ayman Mohy ad-Din told her that they were going to Idlib.   "Where is that" she stammered.  Ayman replied that this is a city and province still held by the jihadis.  She stared blankly at him.  It appears that she is as stupid and uninformed as Hollande.

The Borgist press carefully avoids describing the civilians voluntarily leaving East Aleppo by Green Bus (Assad Transport, Inc.) as the dependent families of jihadis as well as civilian jihadi cadres themselves.  Get on the bus!

BTW I think Francois Fillon looks like a good man to be president of France, but then, I guess I am interfering in the French electoral process. 

**********

"The Syrian army has driven militant groups out of the Aleppo areas that remined under their control, First Deputy Head of the Main Operations Department at the Russian General Staff Lieutenant General Viktor Poznikhir announced on December 15.

“The militants have been driven out of all the quarters that remained under their control as a result of the Syrian troops’ offensive. During the operation, over 900 terrorists have been killed, dozens pieces of heavy weapons and other military equipment have been destroyed,” the general said.

Poznikhir added that “105 city quarters with a total area of 78.5 square kilometers” have been liberated by government forces since the start of the offensive in November, 2016.

Over 3,000 militants have withdrawn from Aleppo under the agreement with the Syrian government. Over a half of the militant have been pardoned by the government.

“A total of 3,033 militants have left Aleppo voluntarily, 1,524 of them have been amnestied and released, while the rest are checked,” Poznikhir said.

Separately, over 1,000 militants have been evacuated from Aleppo via a humanitarian corridor opened from Salah al-Din to the settlement of Al-Rashidin-4." 

https://southfront.org/govt-forces-control-100-of-aleppo-city-russian-general-staff/

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 Well, well, well.  You heard that this would happen first here and at MoA.  It seems that  "b" and SSTers can read a map and comprehend what happens when forces meet on a battlefield or in a campaign area.

The Palmyra area needs some reinforcement.  The IS "reivers" ("Serenity" reference) should not be allowed to get west of Tiyas.  The Palmyra salient was basically untenable with the troops available.

Idlib and the Bab al-Hawa crossing should have priority of resources in the next phase.  pl  

 

Comments

[jonst]

National Socialist, Jack. I mean that in the generic use of the term.

[LeaNder]

Are you aware that the European Council of Foreign Relations is a newcomer among think thanks on the scene?

"foreign powers could collude to destabilise". No doubt. How many get the "could", and what is the Daily Mail's interest with this snippet?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Council_on_Foreign_Relations

Profile:
http://www.ecfr.eu/profile/C346

Interests activity:
http://ecfr.academia.edu/GustavGressel/Activity

*****
I guess, were I British, I would avoid the paper.

[Jack]

Jonst & PA

I used the "candidate from the right is more socialist" more tongue in cheek.

Marine Le Pen is interesting. She pushed over her Dad to take control of the party. He made far to many statements that were deemed anti-Semitic. What I find interesting about her is not her anti-immigration stance but her euro-skepticism. She has stated that if elected she'll have referendum on whether France should retain the Euro. If France exits that is the end of the EU bloc.

She like Fillon also want better relations with Russia. Where the two diverge is in economic policy. Fillon prefering a more capitalist framework whereas Le Pen prefers a more "managed" trade environment.

It will be difficult for her to win considering that in the second round the entire establishment will back her opponent who is likely to be Fillon.

[Laguerre]

Fillon is that Thatcher of France only in the propaganda. He was the doormat of Sarkozy. To be a Thatcher, you need a backbone, even if those policies were the right solution, which is doubtful.

[Laguerre]

I don't think so. Did you know the FN only has one député, and two senators? Even if she wins, she'll be powerless.

[fasteddiez]

Since the Zbig is fairly smart, crafty as all hell, as devious as they come and does not seem foolish nor glib and inarticulate during interviews ....... Mika must be the milkman's daughter.