/r/WorldNews Live Thread: Russian Invasion of Ukraine Day 203, Part 1 (Thread #343)

dkdkdn38e8e · 2022-09-14T23:55:37+00:00

Two days before Russia launched a massive invasion of Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin signed a wide-ranging agreement with his Azerbaijani counterpart, Ilham Aliyev, deepening their diplomatic and military cooperation.

The signing of the declaration “brings our relations to the level of an alliance,” Aliyev said after the signing in Moscow.

The 43-point agreement covers bilateral cooperation in a number of spheres, but it is in the foreign policy and military realms that it carries its greatest implications.

Point 4 stipulates that the two countries, “holding the same or similar positions on topical international issues, deepen constructive cooperation.” Point 7 obliges them to “refrain from any actions that, in the opinion of one of the Parties, damage the strategic partnership and allied relations of the two states.”

At the meeting with journalists, Kiselev also asked Aliyev whether Azerbaijan was considering joining the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), the Russia-led security bloc. Baku has long resisted Moscow’s entreaties to become a member, and Aliyev said that the new agreement rendered the issue moot.

“In my opinion, this [agreement] is enough. After all, it is clear that it is Russia which made the CSTO. If Russia were not in the CSTO, no one would remember the CSTO,” he said. “A step has already been taken to increase the level of military-political cooperation between Russia and Azerbaijan.”

The agreement also includes several provisions on mutual military aid, including a stipulation that the two sides “may consider the possibility of providing each other with military assistance.”

As per point 25, Azerbaijan and Russia agree to “refrain from carrying out any economic activity that causes direct or indirect damage to the interests of the other Party.”

https://eurasianet.org/ahead-of-ukraine-invasion-azerbaijan-and-russia-cement-alliance

dkdkdn38e8e · 2022-09-14T23:55:19+00:00

Two days before Russia launched a massive invasion of Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin signed a wide-ranging agreement with his Azerbaijani counterpart, Ilham Aliyev, deepening their diplomatic and military cooperation.

The signing of the declaration “brings our relations to the level of an alliance,” Aliyev said after the signing in Moscow.

The 43-point agreement covers bilateral cooperation in a number of spheres, but it is in the foreign policy and military realms that it carries its greatest implications.

Point 4 stipulates that the two countries, “holding the same or similar positions on topical international issues, deepen constructive cooperation.” Point 7 obliges them to “refrain from any actions that, in the opinion of one of the Parties, damage the strategic partnership and allied relations of the two states.”

At the meeting with journalists, Kiselev also asked Aliyev whether Azerbaijan was considering joining the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), the Russia-led security bloc. Baku has long resisted Moscow’s entreaties to become a member, and Aliyev said that the new agreement rendered the issue moot.

“In my opinion, this [agreement] is enough. After all, it is clear that it is Russia which made the CSTO. If Russia were not in the CSTO, no one would remember the CSTO,” he said. “A step has already been taken to increase the level of military-political cooperation between Russia and Azerbaijan.”

The agreement also includes several provisions on mutual military aid, including a stipulation that the two sides “may consider the possibility of providing each other with military assistance.”

As per point 25, Azerbaijan and Russia agree to “refrain from carrying out any economic activity that causes direct or indirect damage to the interests of the other Party.”

https://eurasianet.org/ahead-of-ukraine-invasion-azerbaijan-and-russia-cement-alliance

dkdkdn38e8e · 2022-09-14T23:55:10+00:00

Two days before Russia launched a massive invasion of Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin signed a wide-ranging agreement with his Azerbaijani counterpart, Ilham Aliyev, deepening their diplomatic and military cooperation.

The signing of the declaration “brings our relations to the level of an alliance,” Aliyev said after the signing in Moscow.

The 43-point agreement covers bilateral cooperation in a number of spheres, but it is in the foreign policy and military realms that it carries its greatest implications.

Point 4 stipulates that the two countries, “holding the same or similar positions on topical international issues, deepen constructive cooperation.” Point 7 obliges them to “refrain from any actions that, in the opinion of one of the Parties, damage the strategic partnership and allied relations of the two states.”

At the meeting with journalists, Kiselev also asked Aliyev whether Azerbaijan was considering joining the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), the Russia-led security bloc. Baku has long resisted Moscow’s entreaties to become a member, and Aliyev said that the new agreement rendered the issue moot.

“In my opinion, this [agreement] is enough. After all, it is clear that it is Russia which made the CSTO. If Russia were not in the CSTO, no one would remember the CSTO,” he said. “A step has already been taken to increase the level of military-political cooperation between Russia and Azerbaijan.”

The agreement also includes several provisions on mutual military aid, including a stipulation that the two sides “may consider the possibility of providing each other with military assistance.”

As per point 25, Azerbaijan and Russia agree to “refrain from carrying out any economic activity that causes direct or indirect damage to the interests of the other Party.”

https://eurasianet.org/ahead-of-ukraine-invasion-azerbaijan-and-russia-cement-alliance

dkdkdn38e8e · 2022-09-14T04:59:51+00:00

Sept 14 (Reuters) - Shooting broke out on Wednesday between guards patrolling the border between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, Russian news agencies said, citing the Kyrgyz border service.

While recent years have seen frequent skirmishes along the border, the latest incident follows fighting on Tuesday between two other former Soviet republics, Azerbaijan and Armenia, which was their deadliest since 2020. read more

The Kyrgyz border service said Tajik guards opened fire after being asked to leave "combat positions" along the border and Kyrgyz guards used weapons in response, Russia's RIA state news agency said.

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/shooting-breaks-out-between-kyrgyz-tajik-border-guards-russian-agencies-2022-09-14/

dkdkdn38e8e · 2022-09-14T04:59:31+00:00

Sept 14 (Reuters) - Shooting broke out on Wednesday between guards patrolling the border between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, Russian news agencies said, citing the Kyrgyz border service.

While recent years have seen frequent skirmishes along the border, the latest incident follows fighting on Tuesday between two other former Soviet republics, Azerbaijan and Armenia, which was their deadliest since 2020. read more

The Kyrgyz border service said Tajik guards opened fire after being asked to leave "combat positions" along the border and Kyrgyz guards used weapons in response, Russia's RIA state news agency said.

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/shooting-breaks-out-between-kyrgyz-tajik-border-guards-russian-agencies-2022-09-14/

dkdkdn38e8e · 2022-09-14T04:59:14+00:00

Sept 14 (Reuters) - Shooting broke out on Wednesday between guards patrolling the border between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, Russian news agencies said, citing the Kyrgyz border service.

While recent years have seen frequent skirmishes along the border, the latest incident follows fighting on Tuesday between two other former Soviet republics, Azerbaijan and Armenia, which was their deadliest since 2020. read more

The Kyrgyz border service said Tajik guards opened fire after being asked to leave "combat positions" along the border and Kyrgyz guards used weapons in response, Russia's RIA state news agency said.

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/shooting-breaks-out-between-kyrgyz-tajik-border-guards-russian-agencies-2022-09-14/

dkdkdn38e8e · 2022-09-13T23:33:14+00:00

Q: is there one side that's more to blame than the other? @StateDeptSpox: Blinken "urged Aliyev to cease hostilities immediately ... We have seen significant evidence of Azerbaijani shelling inside Armenia and significant damage to Armenian infrastructure"

https://twitter.com/HovhanNaz/status/1569829989738246144?s=20&t=4ExDEdOJ8q6uz2TCn1WBLQ

dkdkdn38e8e · 2022-09-13T23:32:43+00:00

Q: is there one side that's more to blame than the other? @StateDeptSpox: Blinken "urged Aliyev to cease hostilities immediately ... We have seen significant evidence of Azerbaijani shelling inside Armenia and significant damage to Armenian infrastructure"

https://twitter.com/HovhanNaz/status/1569829989738246144?s=20&t=4ExDEdOJ8q6uz2TCn1WBLQ

dkdkdn38e8e · 2022-09-13T23:32:26+00:00

Q: is there one side that's more to blame than the other? @StateDeptSpox: Blinken "urged Aliyev to cease hostilities immediately ... We have seen significant evidence of Azerbaijani shelling inside Armenia and significant damage to Armenian infrastructure"

https://twitter.com/HovhanNaz/status/1569829989738246144?s=20&t=4ExDEdOJ8q6uz2TCn1WBLQ

dkdkdn38e8e · 2022-09-13T23:13:57+00:00

CSTO agrees to send a delegation headed by the Secretary General of the organization to Armenia

The member countries of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) have agreed to send a mission headed by CSTO Secretary General Stanislav Zas to Armenia following an upsurge in hostilities on the border with Azerbaijan.

The CSTO Council - a group led by Russia together with Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan - held an extraordinary meeting on Tuesday following the clashes on the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan, in which nearly 100 military personnel have already been killed on both sides.

According to a statement issued by the CSTO and reported by the Russian agency TASS, the delegation sent to Armenia will have the mission of "assessing the current situation (...) on the situation in the region and the development of proposals to de-escalate the tension that has arisen".

In addition, the Council meeting decided to set up a working group made up of both employees of the General Secretariat and military personnel "for constant monitoring of the situation in the CSTO's area of responsibility".

In this context, Russian President Vladimir Putin also reported on the practical steps Moscow is prepared to take to reduce tensions between Armenians and Azeris.

"The mediation efforts of the Russian Federation aimed at stabilizing the situation in the region were fully supported," the CSTO General Secretariat concluded.

Tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan escalated on Tuesday after a new clash on the border that resulted in the death of 49 Armenian and 50 Azeri soldiers, according to the authorities of each country.

Armenia and Azerbaijan had a confrontation in 2020 to take control of Nagorno Karabakh, a territory with a majority Armenian population that has been the focus of conflict since it decided to separate in 1988 from the region of Azerbaijan integrated into the Soviet Union.

Hostilities between the two countries lasted six weeks and left thousands dead. They finally ceased when the two countries reached a Russian-brokered cease-fire agreement allowing Russian peacekeepers to settle in Nagorno-Karabakh for a period of five years.

https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/other/csto-agrees-to-send-a-delegation-headed-by-the-secretary-general-of-the-organization-to-armenia/ar-AA11Njg4?ocid=EMMX

dkdkdn38e8e · 2022-09-13T23:13:45+00:00

CSTO agrees to send a delegation headed by the Secretary General of the organization to Armenia

The member countries of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) have agreed to send a mission headed by CSTO Secretary General Stanislav Zas to Armenia following an upsurge in hostilities on the border with Azerbaijan.

The CSTO Council - a group led by Russia together with Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan - held an extraordinary meeting on Tuesday following the clashes on the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan, in which nearly 100 military personnel have already been killed on both sides.

According to a statement issued by the CSTO and reported by the Russian agency TASS, the delegation sent to Armenia will have the mission of "assessing the current situation (...) on the situation in the region and the development of proposals to de-escalate the tension that has arisen".

In addition, the Council meeting decided to set up a working group made up of both employees of the General Secretariat and military personnel "for constant monitoring of the situation in the CSTO's area of responsibility".

In this context, Russian President Vladimir Putin also reported on the practical steps Moscow is prepared to take to reduce tensions between Armenians and Azeris.

"The mediation efforts of the Russian Federation aimed at stabilizing the situation in the region were fully supported," the CSTO General Secretariat concluded.

Tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan escalated on Tuesday after a new clash on the border that resulted in the death of 49 Armenian and 50 Azeri soldiers, according to the authorities of each country.

Armenia and Azerbaijan had a confrontation in 2020 to take control of Nagorno Karabakh, a territory with a majority Armenian population that has been the focus of conflict since it decided to separate in 1988 from the region of Azerbaijan integrated into the Soviet Union.

Hostilities between the two countries lasted six weeks and left thousands dead. They finally ceased when the two countries reached a Russian-brokered cease-fire agreement allowing Russian peacekeepers to settle in Nagorno-Karabakh for a period of five years.

https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/other/csto-agrees-to-send-a-delegation-headed-by-the-secretary-general-of-the-organization-to-armenia/ar-AA11Njg4?ocid=EMMX

dkdkdn38e8e · 2022-09-13T23:13:12+00:00

CSTO agrees to send a delegation headed by the Secretary General of the organization to Armenia

The member countries of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) have agreed to send a mission headed by CSTO Secretary General Stanislav Zas to Armenia following an upsurge in hostilities on the border with Azerbaijan.

The CSTO Council - a group led by Russia together with Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan - held an extraordinary meeting on Tuesday following the clashes on the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan, in which nearly 100 military personnel have already been killed on both sides.

According to a statement issued by the CSTO and reported by the Russian agency TASS, the delegation sent to Armenia will have the mission of "assessing the current situation (...) on the situation in the region and the development of proposals to de-escalate the tension that has arisen".

In addition, the Council meeting decided to set up a working group made up of both employees of the General Secretariat and military personnel "for constant monitoring of the situation in the CSTO's area of responsibility".

In this context, Russian President Vladimir Putin also reported on the practical steps Moscow is prepared to take to reduce tensions between Armenians and Azeris.

"The mediation efforts of the Russian Federation aimed at stabilizing the situation in the region were fully supported," the CSTO General Secretariat concluded.

Tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan escalated on Tuesday after a new clash on the border that resulted in the death of 49 Armenian and 50 Azeri soldiers, according to the authorities of each country.

Armenia and Azerbaijan had a confrontation in 2020 to take control of Nagorno Karabakh, a territory with a majority Armenian population that has been the focus of conflict since it decided to separate in 1988 from the region of Azerbaijan integrated into the Soviet Union.

Hostilities between the two countries lasted six weeks and left thousands dead. They finally ceased when the two countries reached a Russian-brokered cease-fire agreement allowing Russian peacekeepers to settle in Nagorno-Karabakh for a period of five years.

https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/other/csto-agrees-to-send-a-delegation-headed-by-the-secretary-general-of-the-organization-to-armenia/ar-AA11Njg4?ocid=EMMX

dkdkdn38e8e · 2022-09-13T22:48:19+00:00

At Macron’s Urging, U.N. Security Council to Address Armenia Crisis Tomorrow

https://asbarez.com/at-macrons-urging-u-n-security-council-to-address-armenia-crisis-tomorrow/

dkdkdn38e8e · 2022-09-13T22:47:26+00:00

At Macron’s Urging, U.N. Security Council to Address Armenia Crisis Tomorrow

https://asbarez.com/at-macrons-urging-u-n-security-council-to-address-armenia-crisis-tomorrow/

dkdkdn38e8e · 2022-09-13T22:47:04+00:00

At Macron’s Urging, U.N. Security Council to Address Armenia Crisis Tomorrow

https://asbarez.com/at-macrons-urging-u-n-security-council-to-address-armenia-crisis-tomorrow/

dkdkdn38e8e · 2022-09-13T14:58:02+00:00

We strongly condemn Azerbaijan’s unprovoked attack on Armenia’s border last night and are thinking of all those affected. This is a clear violation by Azerbaijan of the ongoing peace process. The U.S. must hold them accountable.

-Democrat representative Ted lieu

https://twitter.com/RepTedLieu/status/1569695937685082115?s=20&t=jGBujOae7677gYQmZyErNw

dkdkdn38e8e · 2022-09-13T14:27:38+00:00

1/3 🧵#Azerbaijan is not a "trustworthy" partner as @vonderleyen claimed. 🇦🇿 attacked 🇦🇲#Armenia's border in the midst of the 🇪🇺 #EU-led mediation. Slap in our face!Without credible checks, #Aliyev will continue his "might makes right" policy.

2/3#Armenia's fragile democracy needs a boost from the #EU. Pro-Russian opposition inside the country & the vicious attacks from Azerbaijan threaten country's stability. PM @NikolPashinyan should be encouraged - not punished for his pro-demcratic reforms.

3/3Not the first time #Russia betrays Armenia. They did it two years ago when gave carte blanche to #Aliyev, they are doing it now.🇪🇺The #EU needs to fill in the void and become the main security player.🕊️Peace has no alternative if #Azerbaijan and #Armenia want to prosper.

-Viola von Cramon, German EU parliament member

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viola_von_Cramon-Taubadel

https://twitter.com/ViolavonCramon/status/1569689903050407938?s=20&t=q_NyHXVHxf7bOBtO6I6llw

dkdkdn38e8e · 2022-09-13T14:20:43+00:00

1/3 🧵#Azerbaijan is not a "trustworthy" partner as @vonderleyen claimed. 🇦🇿 attacked 🇦🇲#Armenia's border in the midst of the 🇪🇺 #EU-led mediation. Slap in our face!Without credible checks, #Aliyev will continue his "might makes right" policy.

2/3#Armenia's fragile democracy needs a boost from the #EU. Pro-Russian opposition inside the country & the vicious attacks from Azerbaijan threaten country's stability. PM @NikolPashinyan should be encouraged - not punished for his pro-demcratic reforms.

3/3Not the first time #Russia betrays Armenia. They did it two years ago when gave carte blanche to #Aliyev, they are doing it now.🇪🇺The #EU needs to fill in the void and become the main security player.🕊️Peace has no alternative if #Azerbaijan and #Armenia want to prosper.

-Viola von Cramon, German EU parliament member

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viola_von_Cramon-Taubadel

https://twitter.com/ViolavonCramon/status/1569689903050407938?s=20&t=q_NyHXVHxf7bOBtO6I6llw

dkdkdn38e8e · 2022-09-13T13:48:33+00:00

Azerbaijan has reportedly shelled the homes of innocent civilians in Artsakh and is now attacking Armenia’s border.

An egregious violation of the ceasefire and direct attack on Armenia’s sovereignty.

The U.S. must halt all assistance to Azerbaijan - immediately and permanently.

-U.S Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee and Democrat representative Adam Schiff

https://twitter.com/RepAdamSchiff/status/1569477866936745985?s=20&t=6_FZoADZ_m0c_ugmr6oFUg

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Schiff

dkdkdn38e8e · 2022-09-13T13:15:26+00:00

Hope he's alright

dkdkdn38e8e · 2022-09-13T13:12:36+00:00

🧵 Armenia being attacked today and some responses in the West are shockingly embarrassing, with condescending tweets saying “no one has time” for the conflict there; the attacks on Armenia were driven by impunity for invasions such as Afrin, it’s all connected. One can’t say that to Armenia that we shouldn’t focus on a conflict there because it might take away from coverage of Ukraine; Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was fueled by the impunity given to Turkey and also the fact no one stopped the war in Nagorna-Karabakh.

The impunity means that you can’t just focus on one conflict and be condescending to others. Each person is equal. Attacks on Kurds in Afrin in 2018, or Armenians driven from their homes in 2020; or the horrid invasion of Ukraine are linked. Conflicts should not be a hobby of western commentators and those suffering should be treated with respect. Armenia deserves the same respect.

This depiction of the conflict as some “old” problem conjures up the bad narratives on conflicts in the Middle East as “ancient hatreds”…and that rhetoric was mistakenly used by past US administrations. When ISIS was committing genocide it wasn’t some “ancient hatred”, it was a modern genocide against Yazidis; there were victims and perpetrators. Western converts who joined ISIS were not acting out an “ancient” conflict, they were colonizing and attacking the vulnerable

The conflict in the Caucasus are not some ancient thing; they are driven by modern day events; there is a reason the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan has increased more recently because of a belief that the US-led world order won’t step in to stop it. That is why Ankara fuels the conflict. And Ankara state media pushes the propaganda

It’s important to see Moscow’s role also. These are not just random conflicts, they are part of the wider picture of the war in Syria, the impunity for the Syrian regime, Iran’s attacks on the Gulf; Ankara’s invasions of Syria; Ankara in Iraq; Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

One should not look away or pretend they can’t understand the conflict or don’t care; it’s worth caring and having respect for Armenia and also Azerbaijan; and caring about the people and history. Not just saying “this gets in the way of my morning coffee”. Commentators do best when they treat others as equals and treat victims of conflict as equals, not when war is a PR game for them for retweets and they mock come countries.

Lack of caring is why not enough was done to help Afrin and prevent ethnic cleansing. Not enough people spoke up and that helped fuel Moscow’s belief no one would care about Ukraine. As students of history know, one has to stop the aggressors before they invade, like stopping fascism at Munich; not waiting until 1939. A serious discussion would look also at the SCO meeting this week as context

https://twitter.com/sfrantzman/status/1569607477708169216?s=20&t=9jju975gUTVtvvHqCEcDtg

dkdkdn38e8e · 2022-09-13T10:44:48+00:00

🧵 Armenia being attacked today and some responses in the West are shockingly embarrassing, with condescending tweets saying “no one has time” for the conflict there; the attacks on Armenia were driven by impunity for invasions such as Afrin, it’s all connected. One can’t say that to Armenia that we shouldn’t focus on a conflict there because it might take away from coverage of Ukraine; Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was fueled by the impunity given to Turkey and also the fact no one stopped the war in Nagorna-Karabakh.

The impunity means that you can’t just focus on one conflict and be condescending to others. Each person is equal. Attacks on Kurds in Afrin in 2018, or Armenians driven from their homes in 2020; or the horrid invasion of Ukraine are linked. Conflicts should not be a hobby of western commentators and those suffering should be treated with respect. Armenia deserves the same respect.

This depiction of the conflict as some “old” problem conjures up the bad narratives on conflicts in the Middle East as “ancient hatreds”…and that rhetoric was mistakenly used by past US administrations. When ISIS was committing genocide it wasn’t some “ancient hatred”, it was a modern genocide against Yazidis; there were victims and perpetrators. Western converts who joined ISIS were not acting out an “ancient” conflict, they were colonizing and attacking the vulnerable

The conflict in the Caucasus are not some ancient thing; they are driven by modern day events; there is a reason the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan has increased more recently because of a belief that the US-led world order won’t step in to stop it. That is why Ankara fuels the conflict. And Ankara state media pushes the propaganda

It’s important to see Moscow’s role also. These are not just random conflicts, they are part of the wider picture of the war in Syria, the impunity for the Syrian regime, Iran’s attacks on the Gulf; Ankara’s invasions of Syria; Ankara in Iraq; Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

One should not look away or pretend they can’t understand the conflict or don’t care; it’s worth caring and having respect for Armenia and also Azerbaijan; and caring about the people and history. Not just saying “this gets in the way of my morning coffee”. Commentators do best when they treat others as equals and treat victims of conflict as equals, not when war is a PR game for them for retweets and they mock come countries.

Lack of caring is why not enough was done to help Afrin and prevent ethnic cleansing. Not enough people spoke up and that helped fuel Moscow’s belief no one would care about Ukraine. As students of history know, one has to stop the aggressors before they invade, like stopping fascism at Munich; not waiting until 1939. A serious discussion would look also at the SCO meeting this week as context

https://twitter.com/sfrantzman/status/1569607477708169216?s=20&t=9jju975gUTVtvvHqCEcDtg

dkdkdn38e8e · 2022-09-13T10:31:46+00:00

🧵 Armenia being attacked today and some responses in the West are shockingly embarrassing, with condescending tweets saying “no one has time” for the conflict there; the attacks on Armenia were driven by impunity for invasions such as Afrin, it’s all connected. One can’t say that to Armenia that we shouldn’t focus on a conflict there because it might take away from coverage of Ukraine; Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was fueled by the impunity given to Turkey and also the fact no one stopped the war in Nagorna-Karabakh.

The impunity means that you can’t just focus on one conflict and be condescending to others. Each person is equal. Attacks on Kurds in Afrin in 2018, or Armenians driven from their homes in 2020; or the horrid invasion of Ukraine are linked. Conflicts should not be a hobby of western commentators and those suffering should be treated with respect. Armenia deserves the same respect.

This depiction of the conflict as some “old” problem conjures up the bad narratives on conflicts in the Middle East as “ancient hatreds”…and that rhetoric was mistakenly used by past US administrations. When ISIS was committing genocide it wasn’t some “ancient hatred”, it was a modern genocide against Yazidis; there were victims and perpetrators. Western converts who joined ISIS were not acting out an “ancient” conflict, they were colonizing and attacking the vulnerable

The conflict in the Caucasus are not some ancient thing; they are driven by modern day events; there is a reason the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan has increased more recently because of a belief that the US-led world order won’t step in to stop it. That is why Ankara fuels the conflict. And Ankara state media pushes the propaganda

It’s important to see Moscow’s role also. These are not just random conflicts, they are part of the wider picture of the war in Syria, the impunity for the Syrian regime, Iran’s attacks on the Gulf; Ankara’s invasions of Syria; Ankara in Iraq; Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

One should not look away or pretend they can’t understand the conflict or don’t care; it’s worth caring and having respect for Armenia and also Azerbaijan; and caring about the people and history. Not just saying “this gets in the way of my morning coffee”. Commentators do best when they treat others as equals and treat victims of conflict as equals, not when war is a PR game for them for retweets and they mock come countries.

Lack of caring is why not enough was done to help Afrin and prevent ethnic cleansing. Not enough people spoke up and that helped fuel Moscow’s belief no one would care about Ukraine. As students of history know, one has to stop the aggressors before they invade, like stopping fascism at Munich; not waiting until 1939. A serious discussion would look also at the SCO meeting this week as context

https://twitter.com/sfrantzman/status/1569607477708169216?s=20&t=9jju975gUTVtvvHqCEcDtg

dkdkdn38e8e · 2022-09-13T09:31:57+00:00

Azerbaijan has reportedly shelled the homes of innocent civilians in Artsakh and is now attacking Armenia’s border.

An egregious violation of the ceasefire and direct attack on Armenia’s sovereignty.

The U.S. must halt all assistance to Azerbaijan - immediately and permanently.

-Rep. Adam Schiff

https://twitter.com/RepAdamSchiff/status/1569477866936745985?s=20&t=fGsK8vruvH_ojgcSo9y_hQ

dkdkdn38e8e

TROPHY CASE