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A Syrian conundrum: Can IS be ousted without Assad s help

2017-07-08T21:40:23Z

MeriLoch74544:

BEIRUT (AP) - As the U.S.-led coalition tightens the noose around the Islamic State group in Syria, President Bashar Assad's Iranian-backed troops are also seizing back territory from the militants with little protest from Washington, a sign of how American options are limited without a powerful ally on the ground. Washington is loath to cooperate with Assad's internationally ostracized government. But it will be difficult to uproot IS militants and keep them out with only the Kurdish and Arab militias backed by the U.S. - and a coalition spokesman pointed out that Assad's gains ease the burden on those forces. [https://freeintro.net/video/top-10-blender-intro-template-20-free-download-2016 {TOP 10 Blender Intro Template] Letting Assad grab IS territory, however, risks being seen as the U.S. legitimizing his continued rule and would likely strengthen his hand in his war against the already struggling rebellion. It also threatens to further empower Assad's allies, Iran and the Lebanese Hezbollah, which both have forces alongside his troops in the assault into IS-held territory. FILE -- In this June 27, 2017 file photo and released on the official Facebook page of the Syrian Presidency, Syrian President Bashar Assad inspects the Russian Hmeimim air base in the province of Latakia, Syria. (Syrian Presidency via AP, File) Within the Trump administration, there is a split over whether to aggressively try to stem Assad's advances, said a senior U.S. official, who wasn't authorized to speak to reporters and requested anonymity. Army Col. Ryan Dillon, the spokesman for the anti-IS coalition, said Syrian government forces are welcome to reclaim IS-held territory and fill the vacuum once the extremist group is gone. The statement was startling - even more so because soon after President Donald Trump this week warned Assad he would pay "a heavy price," claiming "potential" evidence that Syria was preparing for another chemical weapons attack. The mixed messages reveal a discomfiting fact that most policy makers would rather not spell out: Assad is a pariah but he is also a convenient tool to secure and govern territory in majority-Arab cities in a complex terrain. The situation in Syria is a contrast to Iraq, where the coalition and the Iraqi government, working hand in glove, appear to be on the verge of retaking the main IS redoubt in city of Mosul. The Syrian government has repeatedly suggested that everyone is welcome to work with it to defeat IS. Mohammad Kheir Akkam, a Syrian lawmaker, questioned U.S. support for the Kurdish-led forces "despite the fact that the Syrian-Russian cooperation has achieved more results in combating terrorism," while U.S. efforts have "had the opposite result." The U.S. so far has shunned any cooperation with the Syrian leader, whom Trump described as an "animal." Instead, it has partnered with local Kurdish and Arab forces known as the Syrian Democratic Forces, or SDF. Those fighters are currently spearheading the assault on the Islamic State group's self-declared capital, Raqqa in northern Syria, and then face the prospect of assaulting the group's final major stronghold to the southeast, in Deir el-Zour. But U.S. support for the Kurdish-led group has angered Turkey, which views it as an extension of a Kurdish insurgency within its own territory. The SDF is also viewed with suspicion by the predominantly Arab residents of Raqqa and Deir el-Zour. Furthermore, the SDF, numbering around 50,000 fighters, is already risking overstretch and is in no way ready for the more challenging battle in Deir el-Zour. Assad and his Iranian allies, on the other hand, have steadily positioned themselves in key areas on the flanks of the U.S.-led war against IS, grabbing territory on several fronts, including on the outskirts of Raqqa and Deir el-Zour. With Russian and Iranian support, Assad has made steady gains and now controls almost all of Syria's major cities except those held by IS. The symbolism was [http://Thesaurus.com/browse/striking striking] this week as a smiling Assad paid a visit to central Hama, driving his own car, and to a Russian air base in western Syria, where he posed alongside Russian generals and inside the cockpit of a Russian SU-35 fighter jet. Syrian troops have positioned themselves on Raqqa's southwestern flanks, and officials have vowed to retake the city eventually. The U.S. has insisted that the city should be handed over to a local council that would handle its administration post-liberation - and it has made clear it will not tolerate the Syrian government and its allies cashing in on the fight. U.S. forces recently shot down a Syrian aircraft as well as drones believed connected to Iranian-supported forces as tensions escalated near a base where the [http://www.Techandtrends.com/?s=coalition%20trains coalition trains] Syrian rebels. But the senior American official said there was significant disagreement about how aggressively the U.S. should try to prevent Assad from reclaiming the territory IS vacates, with some in the White House pushing a more forceful approach while the State Department and the Pentagon warn of the risks. Keeping Assad's territory to a minimum would ensure his hand isn't strengthened in an eventual political deal to end the conflict, making it more likely the U.S. could deliver on its longstanding desire to see him leave power. Limiting his control in eastern Syria would also prevent Iranian-backed forces from securing a wide corridor through Iraq to Syria and all the way into Lebanon. The more risk-averse voices in Trump's administration are wary about letting the U.S. slip into a more direct fight with Assad, the official said. Dillon, the coalition spokesman, told reporters at the Pentagon that the U.S. goal is to defeat IS wherever it exists. If others, including the Syrian government and its Iranian and Russian allies, want to fight the extremists, "we absolutely have no problem with that." Frederic C. Hof, director of the Atlantic Council's Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East, said the comments reflect the narrow U.S. view of the Syria war, focused very specifically on the neutralization of IS. In the coalition view, "it is all about killing ISIS in Raqqa." Hof wrote in an article this week. "Creating conditions that would keep it dead? That, presumably, would be someone else's job." ___ Karam is the AP's news director for Lebanon and Syria and has covered Syria since 1996. Lederman, who reported from Washington, has covered the White House and national politics for The Associated Press since 2012. FILE -- in this June 27, 2017 file photo and released on the official Facebook page of the Syrian Presidency, Syrian President Bashar Assad climbing into the cockpit of a Russian SU-35 fighter jet as he inspects the Russian Hmeimim air base in the province of Latakia, Syria. (Syrian Presidency via AP, File) This frame grab from video released on May 24, 2017 and provided by the government-controlled Syrian Central Military Media, shows a Syrian forces tank fires at [http://www.cameodisplays.co.uk/ActivityFeed/MyProfile/tabid/61/UserId/249703/Default.aspx {TOP 10 Blender Intro Template] Islamic states positions at Palmyra desert, in Homs provence, Syria. Arabic reads, "Central Military Media, Palmyra, Syria." (Syrian Central Military Media, via AP) This frame grab from video released on May 26, 2017 and provided by the government-controlled Syrian Central Military Media, shows Syrian forces fires their weapons at Islamic State position, in Homs provence, Syria. Arabic reads, "Central Military Media, Homs, Syria." As the noose tightens on Islamic State militants in Syria, the United States and the coalition it leads will face a choice with no great options: it will be difficult to defeat the militants without cooperating with the internationally ostracized government of President Bashar Assad _ but doing so might be seen as legitimizing his continued rule. (Syrian Central Military Media, via AP) This frame grab from video released on May 26, 2017 and provided by the government-controlled Syrian Central Military Media, shows Syrian forces take up positions during fighting between Government forces and Islamic State group militants in Homs provence in central Syria. Arabic reads, "Central Military Media, Homs, Syria." (Syrian Central Military Media, via AP) This frame grab from video released on May 26, 2017 and provided by the government-controlled Syrian Central Military Media, shows a Syrian army soldier inspects a tunnel used by Islamic states, in Homs provence, Syria. Arabic reads, "Central Military Media, Homs, Syria." (Syrian Central Military Media, via AP)

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2017-07-08T21:39:44Z

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Venture firm co-founder demoted over unacceptable behavior with...

2017-07-07T04:32:10Z

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By Heather Somerville SAN FRANCISCO, June 30 (Reuters) - A well-known Silicon Valley investor, Dave McClure, has been demoted within the firm he co-founded, 500 Startups, the latest fallout from revelations of mistreatment of women in the technology industry. An internal investigation found McClure "had inappropriate interactions with women in the tech community," according to a blog post [http://Dict.Leo.org/?search=published published] Friday by Christine Tsai, 500 Startups co-founder, who said the decision to demote him was made a few months ago. "His behavior was unacceptable and not reflective of 500�s culture and values," she said. "I sincerely apologize for the choices he made and the pain and stress they�ve caused people." McClure will assume a limited role at the firm and is attending counseling, Tsai said. McClure on Friday said in a text message to Reuters that he and Tsai "are still on good terms" and "she has my full support." The firm made the change public on Friday following a report by the New York Times that named McClure, along with well-known investor Chris Sacca, as perpetrators of sexual harassment toward women who were applying for jobs or seeking fundraising. The report said McClure was no longer in charge of day-to-day operations. Sarah Kunst, founder and chief executive of fitness startup Proday, told the New York Times that McClure had sent her an inappropriate Facebook message after she discussed a potential job at 500 Startups. "Before the New York Times article, Dave had already been demoted because of his harassment of women, however no one outside of 500 Startups had been made aware of this fact," Kunst told Reuters on Friday. "Women did not know to avoid him. The lack of disclosure is part of the problem. Women don't know who is a bad actor when the funds cover it up." McClure referred a request for comment on Kunst's statement and other questions to a spokeswoman, who declined to comment beyond the blog post. 500 Startups invests in early-stage startups around the world and offers an accelerator program [https://freeintro.net/video/glitch-style-outro-template-after-effects-only Download Glitch style outro template] for entrepreneurs. Its investments include the ride-hailing company Grab and personal finance company Credit Karma. McClure is well known throughout the tech industry because of his contrarian attitudes, which include criticizing venture capitalists, his political statements and his frequent public appearances. He is known to Download FREE Intro Template make many investments around the world and far beyond Silicon Valley, in places like Turkey and sub-Saharan Africa. Sacca, who gained prominence with early investments in Twitter and Uber, on Thursday [http://Www.Purevolume.com/search?keyword=published published] a blog post apologizing for his behavior. "I now understand I personally contributed to the problem," Sacca said. He had announced in April that he was retiring from his VC firm, Lowercase Capital. Several women spoke to the New York Times after news site The Information published a report last week detailing inappropriate behavior toward women by investor Justin Caldbeck of Binary Capital. He has since resigned and apologized publicly. In February, former Uber engineer Susan Fowler wrote a blog post detailing the company's culture of sexual harassment, which prompted a months-long investigation that culminated with the resignation of chief executive Travis Kalanick. The events have brought new focus to what many in the industry say is a long-standing culture of entrenched sexual harassment and discrimination that has made it Download Epic Spinning Red Blender Only Intro template difficult for women and racial minorities to raise funds and assume leadership positions. (Additional reporting by Salvador Rodriguez; Editing by Jonathan Weber and Mary Milliken)

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2017-07-07T04:32:02Z

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Latest: Complaint: Suspect s phone went to abduction forum

2017-07-06T00:50:51Z

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CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) - The Latest on the Illinois disappearance of a Chinese scholar (all times local): 11:30 p.m. A criminal complaint says the smartphone of Brendt Christensen, who is charged in the kidnapping of a visiting Chinese scholar, was used to visit an online forum in April called "Abduction 101," months before the abduction. Fangqin Wan, a graduate student at the University of Illinois, walks for Yingying Zhang, a Chinese scholar who went missing three weeks ago, Thursday, June 29, Free Download 3D Intro Intro Templates 2017 - [https://freeintro.net/categories/3d-intro-after-effects experienced] -, in Urbana, Ill. Illinois students and others from the wider community are gathering at the Urbana-Champaign campus to show support for the Chinese scholar who disappeared three weeks ago. (Holly Hart/The News-Gazette via AP) The federal charging document released Friday says that among the threads on the forum was one entitled, "Perfect abduction fantasy." Authorities said in a statement they believe Yingying Zhang to be dead. She disappeared on June 9, just weeks after arriving at the University of Illinois. The charging paper only briefly mentions the online forum. It doesn't provide details about the content of the forum. ___ 9 p.m. Authorities say a man has been charged in Illinois with kidnapping a visiting Chinese scholar who was last seen three weeks ago. Federal authorities say a criminal complaint charges 28-year-old Brendt Christensen of Champaign, Illinois, with kidnapping Yingying Zhang on June 9. In its federal court filing, the FBI alleges Christensen was driving the black car observed on security camera video as it stopped next to Zhang at a corner near the University of Illinois. Zhang is observed on video entering the front passenger side of the vehicle. The affidavit filed in support of the complaint says Christensen was under surveillance Thursday when agents overheard him explaining that he [http://Www.Msnbc.com/search/kidnapped%20Zhang kidnapped Zhang]. Authorities say based on this and other facts uncovered during the investigation, agents believe Zhang is no longer alive. ___ This update has been corrected to show that Christensen's age is 28, not 27. ___ 10 a.m. Hundreds of people gathered at the University of Illinois to show support for a Chinese scholar who disappeared three weeks ago. Students and other community members participated in events Thursday night at the Urbana-Champaign campus, including a walk and concert. Twenty-six-year-old Yingying Zhang was last seen the afternoon of June 9 getting into a black car. The FBI announced this week that the car had been found, but it provided no detail. Zhang's father, Ronggao Zhang, carried a banner during the walk. The Chinese Students and Scholars Association as among the events' organizers. Some 5,600 Chinese are enrolled at the University of Illinois. Yingying Zhang had been conducting research in the agricultural sciences. Yingying Zhang's father Ronggao Zhang, left, and her friend Xiaolin Hou carry the banner as community members join together to walk for Yingying, a Chinese scholar who went missing three weeks ago, Thursday, June 29, 2017, in Urbana, Ill. Illinois students and others from the wider community are gathering at the Urbana-Champaign campus to show support for the Chinese scholar who disappeared three weeks ago. (Holly Hart/The News-Gazette via AP) This undated photo provided by the University of Illinois Police Department shows Yingying Zhang. Police said the FBI is investigating the disappearance of Zhang, a Chinese woman from a central Illinois university town, as a kidnapping. Zhang was about a month into a yearlong appointment at the University of Illinois' Urbana-Champaign when she disappeared June 9, 2017. (Courtesy of the University of Illinois Comments on: [https://freeintro.net/video/free-glowing-lights-blue-blender-intro-template Download Free Glowing Lights in BLUE Blender Only Intro template] FREE Intro Template Police Department via AP)

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2017-07-06T00:50:47Z

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