Robert Ford @fordrs58 Twitter profile

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Robert Ford

2 years

i'd be very sorry to see Twitter disappear; i have gained much from seeing what others think/write. but Mastadon has an appeal - so there I'm @RobertFordinMaine @newsie .social.

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Robert Ford

@fordrs58

3 months

i've seen Israel humiliate previous US administrations, but aside from murderous 1967 Israeli airstrike against US navy ship Liberty, now forcing USA to do airdrops of aid to Gaza as if USA is no better than Egypt & Jordan is Israel's worst humiliation of USA i've ever seen.

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Robert Ford

@fordrs58

3 months

i should add that USA will do humanitarian aid airdrops to Gazans if the Israeli Air Force graciously agrees not to shoot down the American planes over Gaza.

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Robert Ford

@fordrs58

3 months

@JudgyJudes not better in any morale sense. no. but USA supposed to have far greater, closer relations w Israel than the relations between Israel and Jordan or Egypt. yet Washington has no more influence than Cairo or Amman on Israel's actions in the humanitarian space in Gaza.

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Robert Ford

@fordrs58

7 months

remarkable -- in Mexico City. No such worldwide protests when Israel hammered Beirut in 1982 or Lebanon in 2006 or Gaza over the years. Not sure Israel or Washington understand how perceptions have shifted.

Trita Parsi

@tparsi

7 months

Don't believe for a second that Biden's greenlighting of Israel's slaughter in Gaza only hurts America's standing in the Middle East. This is Mexico City. I cannot recall the last time there was a protest of this size in Mexico against Israel's war.

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Robert Ford

@fordrs58

3 years

nothing i said garnered much interest, but by golly Room Rater liked the painting by Iraqi artist Turki Abdul Amir Auda and the ceramic plates from Istanbul.

Room Rater

@ratemyskyperoom

3 years

Depth. Art. Wall plates. Natural lighting. 9/10 @fordrs58

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Robert Ford

@fordrs58

3 years

in fact, one community did not have safety and security even before the "current violence" and that is the root of the"current violence."

Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield

@USAmbUN

3 years

Israelis and Palestinians equally have a right to live in safety and security. The current violence has deprived both communities of this basic right. This morning, the UN Security Council will meet to discuss the crisis and how to end the cycle of violence.

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Robert Ford

@fordrs58

2 years

Another interesting account of US-Saudi interaction before last week's OPEC+ announcement of production cut. per article, Biden admin asked Saudis to delay for one month the decision to cut - after the US elections.

WSJ News Exclusive | Saudi Arabia Defied U.S. Warnings Ahead of OPEC+ Production Cut

Riyadh rejected American requests to delay the cut for a month, deepening the rift between the two countries.

www.wsj.com

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Robert Ford

@fordrs58

4 years

if there is no hope of getting Iraqi forces to protect the US embassy in Baghdad and we must rely on Apaches flying over firing flares, then I respectfully suggest we start destroying sensitive materials and equipment. It's easier if done in orderly fashion.

just dog content for now

@chadgarland

4 years

“Iraqi security forces made no effort to stop the [crowd] as they marched to the heavily-fortified Green Zone after a funeral held for those killed in the U.S. airstrikes, letting them pass through a security checkpoint leading to the area.”

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Robert Ford

@fordrs58

7 years

The way for Syr govt, Russia and Iran to disprove horror stories in E Aleppo is to allow international aid staff in right now & UN must ok.

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Robert Ford

@fordrs58

7 years

during various transitions n my 28 years @ State, can't recall story like this ever before. tom is a well seasoned expert on non-pro issues.

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Robert Ford

@fordrs58

7 months

i pity u.s. diplomats now in the middle east/north africa who have to defend some of the public comments from this administration.

Laura Rozen

@lrozen

7 months

John Kirby says he has not seen the news yet that Israel concedes it hit a Palestinian refugee camp, says “We have indications that they are trying” on Israel trying to avoid civilian casualties. “I’m not predicting that on any given day they aren’t going to fail to met their own

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Robert Ford

@fordrs58

6 years

what was syria's 3rd largest city and rising commerce hub. bashar al-assad and his supporters now can enjoy (in his words) a "healthier, more homogeneous society."

Steve Rosenberg

@BBCSteveR

6 years

This is what I saw driving into Homs, Syria: utter devastation.

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Robert Ford

@fordrs58

3 months

How can anyone take seriously the Biden administration claim that it will work for a two-state solution when it won't even restore funding for UNRWA or explain what hard evidence against UNRWA compels it to halt funding?

US lobbies others for Unrwa funds while cutting own donations

A US official tried to convince Turkey to provide more funds after Washington froze its donations following Israeli claims that Unwra staff were involved in the 7 October attack

www.middleeasteye.net

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Robert Ford

@fordrs58

7 years

Morell quite right. leak of classified State cables also put at risk people in authoritarian countries who dared speak to US diplomats

CBS News

@CBSNews

7 years

NEW: Former CIA Deputy Director Michael Morell resigns as Senior Fellow at Harvard Kennedy school over hiring of Chelsea Manning

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Robert Ford

@fordrs58

2 years

The intel- including signals intel from that day - showed Syrian army had ordered the attack. The AP article notes, as we saw, that the intel didn't say Assad personally ordered the attack. (Given the Syrian system, he probably did OK it, but in any case Syrian govt responsible.)

Aaron Maté

@aaronjmate

2 years

US gov't continues to accuse Syria despite knowing at the time -- as its own officials leaked () -- that the evidence didn't support it. All evidence points to the Ghouta attack being carried out by sectarian death squads. ()

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Robert Ford

@fordrs58

1 year

effort to train/equip FSA fighters vs ISIS failed largely b/c US required fighters to pledge not ever to use new weapons vs Syrian govt. Obama admin lawyers crafted approach to be defensible under international law. Big majority of FSA fighters, naturally, refused to pledge.

Robert Ford

@fordrs58

1 year

US tried to train/equip FSA fighters vs ISIS but effort failed - badly. working w organized, brave PKK-affiliated Syr Kurdish fighters vs ISIS was resulting short-term expedient. Washington saw long-term political risks as far back as 2015 but never worked on alternative force.

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Robert Ford

@fordrs58

5 years

I doubt six months ago many of us Iraq watchers expected to see the Iranian consulate in Karbala burned before any American facility was attacked. NOT a call for US triumphalism - rather, a reminder we should be humble about what we think we know about Iraq.

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Robert Ford

@fordrs58

4 years

Most people following Syria also agree huge Russian & Iranian logistical & tactical help to the Syrian security forces enabled them to continue to pursue a strategy of military victory for years, which cost thousands of Syrian lives. Opposition willing to negotiate, not Assad.

Joshua Landis

@joshua_landis

4 years

@LouisProyect1 Most people who follow Syria agree that international efforts to support, fund, and arm the rebels extended the life and severity of the rebellion by years without changing the outcome. This cost thousands of Syrian lives.

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Robert Ford

@fordrs58

6 years

Odd - where are the al-Qaida flags ? where are the fires and destroyed buildings and cars that jihadi terrorist-led mobs were supposed to be destroying from the beginning of the uprising?

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Robert Ford

@fordrs58

6 years

Kyle was polite - he didn't mention the informal, tactical military cooperation that the Syr govt undertook with ISIS for ex, near Marea in 2015. Sometimes Syr govt/ISIS fight, sometimes they don't. There are no black & whites in the Syr civil war.

Kyle Orton

@KyleWOrton

6 years

Asad spent a decade assisting ISIS in Iraq, deliberately bolstered jihadists in the Syrian insurgency while murdering peaceful protesters, and let ISIS build its caliphate to force a binary choice -- the dictator or terrorists. But sure, damaging Asad's CWMD is helping ISIS.

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Robert Ford

@fordrs58

1 year

partners of US special operations forces.

Rena Netjes

@RenaNetjes

1 year

Ok guys. I'm going public with this. For the past few weeks I h been receiving death threats and other warnings from Rojava Kurdish accounts (incl from Paris). Tonight I got emails that they made my profile on lesbian/gay/sex accounts. I pay a price for exposing PYD propaganda.

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Robert Ford

@fordrs58

3 months

@ElvirMuslimovic I'm crying for Gazans. And for my own lost country.

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Robert Ford

@fordrs58

7 years

not clear if the Coalition understands that the picture is not the problem? that it is simply a symbol of the problem?

Ragıp Soylu

@ragipsoylu

7 years

#BREAKING US-led coalition spokesman Col. Dillon on Ocalan posters in Raqqah, “Coalition doesn’t approve divisive imagery. ”

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Robert Ford

@fordrs58

7 years

imagine if those were, say, Hamas or Hizballah flags there. think there'd be US political reaction to presence of US forces at the funeral?

Charles Lister

@Charles_Lister

7 years

U.S. troops attend the funeral of Kurdish militants killed in #Turkey strikes… … With flag of a Designated Terrorist Organization on show.

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Robert Ford

@fordrs58

5 years

after watching "For Sama" last night, I must remind that the SDF had far more US support than the FSA ever did. Starting with a No Fly Zone that has prevented the Syrian/Russian air forces from blasting eastern Syria cities/towns as they did to E Aleppo, Rif Dimeshq, Homs, etc.

Wladimir van Wilgenburg

@vvanwilgenburg

5 years

When US designated Al Qaida-affiliate Nusra as a terrorist group, FSA's Brig. Gen. Salim Idriss in 2012 said Nusra fighters were not terrorists. Now Idriss leads the 'united' Turkish national army that will most likely attack the SDF in the near future.

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Robert Ford

@fordrs58

5 years

FSA would rather have had that air cover/no fly zone than the goodies you list (support at UN - Russian vetos?). Recall al-Qusayr 2013. resources were always unreliable, worsened corruption. meanwhile, without US air power, not clear SDF would have enjoyed such successes.

Nicholas A Heras

@NicholasAHeras

5 years

@im_PULSE @flintsparc @fordrs58 It meant billions of $ in lethal and nonlethal assistance, US-brokered int'l legitimacy, an OFAC license to spend as much $ as desired in the USA, access to US lawmakers, US-supported position in UN process, and first dibs on C-ISIS campaign. SDF gets/got air cover to fight ISIS.

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Robert Ford

@fordrs58

6 years

Russian military has largely prevailed in Syrian civil war, but now Moscow (a) seems not to know what to do next and (b) certainly doesn't want responsibility long-term stabilization/recovery in Syria. Different kind of quagmire. Still hopes West will help save its equities.

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Robert Ford

@fordrs58

5 years

first time I've ever heard of a US national security interest in Syria related to global oil markets.

Katie Bo Lillis

@KatieBoLillis

5 years

@joshrogin What is the U.S. interest in Syria? Jeffrey: Terror threat. And, he says, "It is the center of the middle east." It matters for our trading partners which means it has an impact on global market for oil, and so your price at the pump.

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Robert Ford

@fordrs58

7 years

Historical fact: FSA units have fought with both ISIS and AQ. Didn't win, but that's in no small part bc they were caught b/t SAA & jihadis.

Charles Lister

@Charles_Lister

7 years

Do you lie so blatantly to your students? - #FSA groups lost 100s/1,000s fighting #ISIS - FSA groups who fought AQ were abandoned to lose

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Robert Ford

@fordrs58

6 years

Not sure Tillerson treated career senior diplomats like Pat Kennedy, Tom Countryman, Kristi Kenney, Linda Thomas Greenfield, Bill Miller and Gentry Smith any better when they were shown the door last year.

Robert Wright

@robertwrighter

6 years

@GregDjerejian @lrozen Face-to-face? He didn't even do it phone-to-phone, right? Tillerson had to do the modern equivalent of reading it in the papers.

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Robert Ford

@fordrs58

5 years

Josh, please identify the US operation that "sent" future AQ jihadis to sabotage Assad/Iran. You are saying US sent foreign fighters to Syria. Evidence?

Joshua Landis

@joshua_landis

5 years

@RenaNetjes @NicholasAHeras Very true. And US sent 1,000s of future AQ jihadis to Afghanistan to sabotage RU operations. And to Syria to sabotage Assad/Iran. It seems AQ jihadis are everyone's favorite gift to their enemy. Sad state of affairs in poor Mid East, where all govs seems willing to work w AQ

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Robert Ford

@fordrs58

6 years

amazing: john bolton told media in israel that russia wants iranian "entrenchment" n syria & its support to hizballah to end. and sec state pompeo said u.s. to work for "enduring" fix 2 syria war that includes constitution reform & elections. we never learn.

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Robert Ford

@fordrs58

3 years

problems w Turkish policy are real. but the letter didn't mention that Turkish drones did more to halt major Syrian govt assault in 2020 against northwest Syria, full of internally displaced Syrian civilians, than anything US did, including pontificating by members of Congress.

Rich Ghazal - ܣܘܪܝܝܐ

@richghazal

3 years

27 Members of Congress send a bipartisan letter to @SecBlinken sounding the alarm on Turkey's malign UAV program, which destabilizes the world, and threatens US interests. @indefchristians was glad to work with our friends @ANCA_DC & @HellenicLeaders

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Robert Ford

@fordrs58

7 years

a sharply contrasting view of the situation in idlib city.

Waging Nonviolence

@wagingnv

7 years

Syrians roll back extremism in Idlib without military intervention:

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Robert Ford

@fordrs58

8 years

so much for advocating transparency.

Post Politics

@postpolitics

8 years

Julian Assange won’t say whether a foreign government was involved in DNC email leak

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Robert Ford

@fordrs58

4 months

Nov. 9 US Govt IG quarterly report based on US intel: "ISIS capabilities remained degraded in Iraq & Syria and the group operated in survival mode..." And keeping 3,500 US soldiers in Iraq & Syria vs very degraded ISIS is worth wider Middle East war? Really?

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Robert Ford

@fordrs58

7 years

New constitution? As if Seidnaya prison "executions", bombing hospitals, blocking of food/medicines, etc is just a constitution problem

Robert Ford

@fordrs58

7 years

At #Syria talks, UN's DeMistura aims at 3 simultaneous working groups on governance, new constitution & elections

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Robert Ford

@fordrs58

4 years

many of these people were already under US sanctions, per E.O. 13572 & 13573. But Bushra Assad has property in UAE - will US now target UAE firms that do business w/ her there ? Hamsho has business in Central Europe - will US target Euro firms there? We'll see how this unfolds

Tobias Schneider

@tobiaschneider

4 years

US Secretary of State Pompeo announces the first round of designations under the Caesar Act, naming mostly members of the Assad families and its closest cronies, as well as one Iranian-led militia. The full list of 39 designees to be released later today.

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Robert Ford

@fordrs58

9 days

Syrians could have told the Palestinians not to get their hopes up regarding the international community.

Al Jazeera English

@AJEnglish

10 days

"Palestinians believe that the entire international community has let them down with the closure of borders and the suspension of aid flow into the Gaza Strip.'' Al Jazeera's Tareq Abu Azzoum reports on the dire situation in Gaza as a result of Israel's attacks on the enclave.

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Robert Ford

@fordrs58

2 months

polite question. it's impossible to argue that Biden administration is naive or incompetent when dozens of mid-level officials across the bureaucracy are warning of the situation and the administration leaders do nothing concrete. oh, and Congressional majority complicit too.

Sarah Leah Whitson

@sarahleah1

2 months

"the Biden administration’s occasional expressions of concern with the civilian death toll in Gaza while enabling the war raises a disturbing question: Is the Biden administration knowingly complicit in maximizing civilian killing in one of the most deadly military campaigns in

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Robert Ford

@fordrs58

6 months

still shaking my head about 1.7 of 2.2 million Gazans now homeless. horrible; sickening. US Govt carries a huge responsibility, so our tax dollars will & must help Palestinians survive now, rebuild later. but big funding from Israel must accompany our funding. no free ride.

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Robert Ford

@fordrs58

5 years

who authorized their making promises of defense? was it trump himself? process seems so broken. meanwhile, US special forces seem not so distraught about Syrian civilians suffering and in some cases dying at Rukban camp under the watchful eye of other US special ops personnel.

Richard Engel

@RichardEngel

5 years

A sr military official told me US special forces troops distraught, upset, morally disturbed by having to tell their kurdish allies in Syria that, because of orders, their promises of defense won’t be kept.

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Robert Ford

@fordrs58

5 years

American PYD/YPG allies in north Syria celebrate Abdallah Ocalan's birthday as Washington threatens Turkey against intervention in N Syria & blasts pending procurement of Russian missiles.

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Robert Ford

@fordrs58

4 months

hope at White House and State press conferences Monday journalists ask the US Govt what impact shutting off funds to UNRWA will have on the grim hunger situation in Gaza and what steps Washington and Israel are taking to replace UNRWA food aid.

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Robert Ford

@fordrs58

7 years

everybody knows about Syrian military intelligence ties for at least 12 years w/al-Qaeda. Well documented.

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Robert Ford

@fordrs58

4 years

SAA fought AQ sometimes, sometimes manipulated/used it in Iraq & Syria; sometimes fought ISIS, sometimes helped it (Hassakeh 2013; Marea 2015, etc). check out the photo of Assad & Katerji who did multiple business deals with ISIS. Assad clearly furious about those deals.

Doloroso - #FBPE

@Pyrmha

4 years

. USA fought Daesh only in NE Syria as an ally of SDF (which it then betrayed). SAA fought AQ, Daesh, & a thousand other Jihadist gangs all over Syria. It's childish to compare plums & pineapples. .

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Robert Ford

@fordrs58

3 years

Wow -- look at all the al-Qaida flags!

Harun al-Aswad

@harun_alaswad

3 years

Footage showing the Al-Midan neighborhood in #Damascus in 2011, in which al- #Assad appeared a few days ago eating shawarma!

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Robert Ford

@fordrs58

6 years

White House might, maybe, want to get an ambassador posted in Ankara. Just sayin....

Ragıp Soylu

@ragipsoylu

6 years

#BREAKING US Nat Sec Advisor Gen. McMaster speaks with senior Turkish Presidential Advisor Kalın amid Turkish moves against Syria’s Afrin. Kalın presses McMaster to end US aid to YPG. Both agrees upon a political transition process in Syria that wouldn’t harm neighbours

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Robert Ford

@fordrs58

2 years

would that apply to Iran as well ?

Eli Lake

@EliLake

2 years

One lesson of Russia’s war on Ukraine is that whatever the great powers promise, never give up your nukes.

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Robert Ford

@fordrs58

5 years

US govt line is, 2b polite, crud. they have an airstrip; they have influence w/Jordan that used to allow aid access. if US wanted 2 meet its international legal responsibilities w/ Rukban it would. instead, it ignores those responsibilities, punts, blames others. phony.

Lara Seligman

@laraseligman

5 years

U.S. officials tell me the Syrian regime is to blame for the dire conditions at Rukban, where thousands of refugees are starving. The U.S. is “pursuing every possible avenue to deliver aid to Rukban.” @ForeignPolicy

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Robert Ford

@fordrs58

7 years

easy prediction: no one will do anything to stop such killings, and there will never be accountability for the top Syrian officials.

The Associated Press

@AP

7 years

BREAKING: US accuses Syria of killing thousands of prisoners and burning the dead bodies in large crematorium outside Damascus.

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Robert Ford

@fordrs58

5 years

huh? (1) trying 2get Syrian Kurdish PYD in UN Constitution talks not same as promising 2protect their autonomous zone; (2) US overestimated its influence in broader civil war because (3) it didn't understand the broader Syrian war NOT mainly about ISIS. For us, yes but others, no

Face The Nation

@FaceTheNation

5 years

ICYMI: Gen. Thomas contradicts State claims that no promise was made to the Kurds to help protect them: “Brett McGurk and I were there in Kobani where we said that they would be part of the future discussion of Syria in return for doing our bidding.”

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Robert Ford

@fordrs58

4 months

so many of us would like to see this generation of Democratic Party leaders finally step aside.

Trita Parsi

@tparsi

4 months

OMG! Is this the Dem Party's plan to delegitimize authentic fury over the slaughter in Gaza? Labeling Gaza ceasefire calls as "Putin's message"? That's what Pelosi tells CNN. She wants FBI to investigate links between protesters and Putin. How's this different from Trump's MO?

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Robert Ford

@fordrs58

5 years

since US Government cannot define timeline or conditions 4 its forces' withdrawal, this answer is, well, not convincing. And in the case of Tanf, against US obligations under international humanitarian law.

The Aspen Institute

@AspenInstitute

5 years

. @joshrogin : We have the capability to feed [people starving in Syria], why not just feed them? James Jeffrey, US Special Representative for Syria: “If we feed them, it will look like we’re going to stay there forever.” Watch more: #AspenSecurity

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Robert Ford

@fordrs58

6 years

@SecPompeo @MPPregent no new mythologies, please. hizballah has been rising for years; it seized control of beirut by force of arms in 2008 during another u.s. presidency (GOP). yes, it is rising, but not solely because of JCPOA.

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Robert Ford

@fordrs58

4 years

very few US weapons ended up with al-Qaeda. Careful research such as by @Rebel44CZ shows that. Sorry, truth hurts. And how did all those AKs and other Russian weapons end up with al-Qaeda and ISIS? Oh, the Syrian army....

Jewish Russophile

@JewRussophile

4 years

@SyriaGeneral How did all those US weapons end up in the hands of al Qaeda? 🤔 @fordrs58 @joshua_landis @mattduss

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Robert Ford

@fordrs58

5 years

Instead of helping finance ISIS n eastern Syria as its air force &Russian allies focused on hitting FSA in western Syria, Damascus could have negotiated a transition government n Geneva under UN 2join w opposition against ISIS. Syr govt chose to cooperate directly $$ w ISIS.

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Robert Ford

@fordrs58

5 years

If you're an Arab citizen resident in Middle East/North Africa who pushes 4 greater respect of all rights listed in 1948 UN universal declaration, usually your govt, not Iran, is main problem. US likely cant fix but at least we can have honest analysis, seek balance in policy.

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Robert Ford

@fordrs58

2 months

Blinken and Biden don't get it. Really. An investigation is meaningless UNLESS there is swift, public accountability, certain, public punishment and an immediate change in Israeli forces' behavior/rules of engagement. all are measureable.

Barak Ravid

@BarakRavid

2 months

Secretary of State Blinken said in a press conference in Paris that the U.S. expressed concern to the Israeli government about the targeting of the WCK convoy and asked for a swift investigation around the incident

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Robert Ford

@fordrs58

7 years

The Syrian state was already rotten inside. As Syrian public came to demand accountability, state could only survive by employing extreme violence.

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Robert Ford

@fordrs58

5 years

rather than platitudes about diplomacy, direct analysis is (1) Syr govt rejected any negotiations, consistently; (2) Syr govt was always going to kill its way out, w/RU & Iran help. Thus Arab League, Annan initiatives failed 2011-2012.

Joshua Landis

@joshua_landis

5 years

@faysalitani @academia Yes, diplomats must often suspect that their diplomacy is destined to fail, but they push ahead with diplomacy anyway because the alternative - war - is worse. Clinton did this with Iraq. His government was supposed to be committed to regime-change, but he did so half-heartedly

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Robert Ford

@fordrs58

3 years

Zaitun Agency reports that Russian media "reveal" establishment of Russian-Iranian-Syrian ops center to "break the economic siege" on Syria with Russian warships escorting Iranian tankers from Suez Canal to Syrian ports to ensure their safe arrival.

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Robert Ford

@fordrs58

8 years

I used to think US admin doesn't understand. Now I think it just doesn't care much about underlying Syrian conflict.

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Robert Ford

@fordrs58

2 months

ahhh, defining those pesky red lines. i recall serious discussions inside the Obama administration late 2012/early 2013 about how many Syrian civilian casualties from ongoing Syrian army chem attacks would constitute Assad crossing Obama's red line.

Randa Slim

@rmslim

2 months

did @JoeBiden administration give #Israel a specific range of how many women & children they can kill in #Rafah ? We know he does not want 2see 30K killed in an #Israeli ground invasion of Rafah. How about 20k? Will that be acceptable 2him?

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Robert Ford

@fordrs58

5 years

correct.

Idrees Ahmad | idreesahmad.bsky.social

@im_PULSE

5 years

@NicholasAHeras @flintsparc @fordrs58 You know you are talking bollocks, right? The CIA’s main preoccupation in 2012 was to vet weapons that other allies were sending to make sure game-changing weapons such as MANPADS were not slipping through.

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Robert Ford

@fordrs58

6 years

US is in northern Syria to "check Russia" in "the great power competition in Syria"? That is a major US national interest? Stop Iranian landbridge? Iranian never had one before & Damascus airport worked very well for them. Geneva process leverage? please...

David Ignatius

@IgnatiusPost

6 years

Modern history’s saddest recurring theme: The Kurds are expendable in the Great Game.

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Robert Ford

@fordrs58

4 years

i'm no expert on Russia policy n Syria but unless Moscow has lined up an alternative to Assad, it would expect chaos n Damascus if Assad govt falls. Assad collapse would be defeat 4Russia. So, it wont accept Assad suffering big battlefield defeat. My opinion.

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Robert Ford

@fordrs58

5 years

I met Ahrar Fall 2013 to urge they accept Geneva 2 talks in January 2014. We gave no aid of any kind-zero. Didn't even publicly acknowledge meeting. They stressed they were not a JN affiliate, but they feared JN retaliation if they publicly backed Genv2. So they kept silent.

Charles Lister

@Charles_Lister

5 years

I’m sorry Nick, the US did not work with Ahrar, that’s BS. I know that for a fact. And your secondary claims are straight up inaccurate.

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Robert Ford

@fordrs58

4 years

Libya is very bad, but it is not as bad as Syria.

Bassem

@BBassem7

4 years

US got what it wanted in Libya with removal of Qaddafi, there is no Iran or Hizbullah there, how is Libya today?

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Robert Ford

@fordrs58

4 years

Elizabeth Warren is the best choice for president. She'll start addressing problems at home that if ignored will hurt our efforts abroad. Her ideas are the best for strengthening US diplomacy while setting realistic, achievable goals for US military ops in places like Middle East

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Robert Ford

@fordrs58

5 years

nothing justifies TFSA abuses in Afrin and now in NE Syria, but saying the US killed democracy in Syria is not right either. the article's accusation doesn't really merit a serious response. people believe what they want to believe, and facts stop mattering for them.

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Robert Ford

@fordrs58

5 years

Ummm, there are literally millions of civilians, thousands more already killed under Syrian + Russian airstrikes. Even harder to deny than climate change. Suggest you see the documentary film "For Sama" for a sense of civilians' plight.

Stephen McIntyre

@ClimateAudit

5 years

former US ambassador articulates one of most "urgent, immediate issues" from perspective of former Obama admin official: how to protect AlQaeda allies in Idlib.

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Robert Ford

@fordrs58

4 years

I've met top leaders from 8 Arab states & Assad was only one who lied face-to-face when confronted w/ an ugly truth. Leaders w stature &dignity would say, "you Americans will have 2be patient" or "tough - you'll just have live with what we do." Assad knows we know & lies anyway.

Elizabeth Tsurkov🌻

@Elizrael

4 years

In the same interview, Assad also says they don't torture in regime prisons and are tolerant toward former opposition-held areas. Believe what the regime does, not what it says. Assad repeatedly instrumentalized jihadists for political benefit (Iraq war, mass releases in 2011).

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Robert Ford

@fordrs58

5 years

not true. fact: Feb 2014 @ Geneva 2 talks, Syr oppo, backed by armed oppo groups w/reps n Geneva also, in writing 2UN rep L Brahimi proposed negotiating each member of transition govt, including President. It did not pre-condition Assad departure. Syr govt immediately rejected

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Robert Ford

@fordrs58

4 years

you miss even bigger point: the vast majority of Syrian civilians killed n this awful war R victims not of Syrian rebel groups, atrocious as many of their actions R. Instead, the majority of victims died due 2 Syrian & Russian military operations -they killed even more than ISIS.

Bassem

@BBassem7

4 years

@fordrs58 You are missing the bigger point and that is you supported militants that directly and or indirectly were existential threat to many communities in Syria

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Robert Ford

@fordrs58

6 years

This ongoing atrocity doesnt just result from Syria's constitution. There is no rule of law n Syria. As much as Moscow &UN team want focus on amending constitution they miss the mark & change nothing. They simply have nothing else to offer.

Marc Nelson 🌊 🇺🇦 🇵🇸

@Marcnelsonart

6 years

Sketch. Omar Alshogre , survivor of Assad’s hellish prisons. Now a brave voice for the thousands still detained. "We were heaped, sticking to each other, extremely tight, just like pickled cucumbers in a jar. inmates started to drink their own urine. detainees perished in tens."

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Robert Ford

@fordrs58

8 years

The Bill Clinton team admitted Rwanda mistake; the current team will blame rebels, Turks, Saudis, Qataris 4 Syria

Joyce Karam

@Joyce_Karam

8 years

#RwandaGenocide 22 yrs today.A moment to reflect on our politics, humanity &hypocrisy. Never Again? #Syria ? Burundi?

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Robert Ford

@fordrs58

1 year

aftermath of 2013 Washington-Moscow diplomatic deal to eliminate Syrian chemical weapons.

Scott Lucas

@ScottLucas_EA

1 year

UN: "Long-standing gaps, inconsistencies and discrepancies remain unresolved -- #Assad regime account "cannot be considered accurate and complete in accordance with the Chemical Weapons Convention" "Imperative to hold accountable all those who would dare to use chemical weapons"

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Robert Ford

@fordrs58

1 year

A pity you helped lead House opposition to Obama strike against dictator Assad's criminal forces in Sept 2013 after they had used chemical weapons that killed hundreds.

Joe Wilson

@RepJoeWilson

1 year

I am grateful that my bill countering the brutal dictator Assad passed the @HouseForeignGOP markup unanimously.

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Robert Ford

@fordrs58

6 years

I do hope you can visit the Eastern Ghouta, 12 minute drive from Bab Touma, to see how a 5 year Syrian Govt firework "demonstration" turned out.

Giles Fraser

@giles_fraser

6 years

Damascus such a beautiful place. Some people I have met talked about going onto their roofs to watch the US's "firework display". Most seem to have slept through it.

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Robert Ford

@fordrs58

5 years

YPG had some big advantages for USA in ISIS fight: (1) unified command; FSA had multiple outside patrons undermining unified command; (2) YPG didn't have Syr Arab Army at its throat n NES, as FSA did n W Syria leading FSA to cooperate w/ Nusra. USA took easiest short-term path

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Robert Ford

@fordrs58

3 years

cannot believe our good fortune: Aron could be in Syria tomorrow to give us his on-the-spot coverage of the hotly contested Syrian presidential election.

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Robert Ford

@fordrs58

7 years

this looks just like a government that will be able to rebuild a shattered country, use aid wisely, fight corruption & speed reconciliation

Orwa Nyrabia

@orwany

7 years

A #Assad #SAA special forces classified operation in progress: steal everything u find, ACs are particularly interesting! #Aleppo #Syria

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Robert Ford

@fordrs58

4 years

No. Riyadh by July 2011 wanted Assad gone &was pushing Obama (with some Eur states) to make his statement. Turks switched hard vs Assad after August 2011 deal collapsed w Hama, DeZ events. US was still urging dialog, no violence. All this b4 Syria Friends 1st mtg n Tunis Feb 2012

Joshua Landis

@joshua_landis

4 years

@IbrahimAlAssil @AbuJamajem @fordrs58 You may be right, but the US misjudged the Syrian army's staying power. It led the effort to get Turkey & Saudi to back the opp. US State Dept organized the "Friends-of-Syria" group, etc., much as it did the Libyan opposition, which it declared united & ready to take power.

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Robert Ford

@fordrs58

5 years

And Sam Dagher's book, "Assad or We Burn the Country" is rich in stories and anecdotes, superb context and very readable, with sources carefully noted for those who would doubt. (i was not one of his many sources.)

Sam Dagher

@samdagher

5 years

Today at ⁦ @WashInstitute ⁩ 2 ex ambassadors to #Syria ⁦ @MrjDuclos ⁩ & ⁦ @fordrs58 ⁩ reminded audience that fundamentals of #Assad “regime of fear & terror” have not changed and will not change. Amb. Duclos just published “The Long Syrian Night” in French, congrats!

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Robert Ford

@fordrs58

6 years

the banner in top left reads, in Arabic, Sham Legion, as does the fighter's armband. They do not say "Nusra Front". Fares, who speaks Arabic far better than I could ever hope to, knows this but retweeted anyway.

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Robert Ford

@fordrs58

3 years

so per WashPost, we changed policy to hit pro-Iran militias more readily 2defend US troops n Iraq. those forces there 2help Iraqi govt vs ISIS. meanwhile, US sanctions vs Iran impede Iraqi imports of Iranian energy for Iraqi electricity, threatening Iraq govt that US seeks 2help

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Robert Ford

@fordrs58

4 years

I dont recall US govt bombing Boston schools & homes after the marathon bombing, or FBI torturing thousands during subsequent search or hundreds of Bostonians fleeing towards Canada

Camille Alex Otrakji

@CamilleOtrakji

4 years

@fordrs58 And what was the alternative that would have satisfied soft-Heart @Charles_Lister and all of the humanitarians in the west? Jaish Al-Islam forever in charge of Douma and Al-Qaeda in Idlib? ... remember how the US reacted to ONE “Boston bomber”?

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Robert Ford

@fordrs58

5 years

Turk intel collusion w/ISIS&Nusra known, but this clip unconvincing. Russians, Kazakhs, Bosnians cited in clip can get entry stamps at Istanbul airport as normal tourists. Exit stamps to Syria wld be more convincing to show Turk intel collusion but reporter didn't ID exit stamps.

Joshua Landis

@joshua_landis

5 years

@MazAlJumaily @bave_walat It corroborates the recent interview by @AnneSpeckhard with an ISIS Emir, Abu Mansour, who was in charge of the border w Turkey. He claimed weekly meetings w Turk intel to obtain proper stamps in passports for transit of ISIS personnel and recruits.

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Robert Ford

@fordrs58

4 years

listen to yourself: a movie is "collective punishment"? a film showing outside Syria in Europe/North America? or, are you saying people inside Syria can watch it freely (like on Dounia TV) and thus are upset by it?

vanessa beeley

@VanessaBeeley

4 years

"For Sama" is a kick in the face, a spit on the grave of Syrian martyrs , a continuation of collective punishment of #Syrian people who hve endured a 9 yr war sustained by lies, dishonesty, misrepresentation & cynical profiteering.

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Robert Ford

@fordrs58

4 years

Plenty of abuse and chaos in Washington for sure. This we know: Schiff, elected, chairs the House Permanent Select Committee on Intel. When the Committee demands information, the DNI by law must provide it. That's rule of law before anything else.

Lee Smith

@LeeSmithDC

4 years

With all due respect, Ambassador Ford, Schiff has been doing the same thing for nearly 4 years, abusing govt institutions & sowing chaos throughout media, politics, & society. The pattern is not hard to discern.

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Robert Ford

@fordrs58

6 years

on #Syria , feel free to send photos if you want. i'll send you back some of HTS and ISIS w/ weapons from Syr Arab Army. Assad generals give them on purpose to terrorists? Or how about photo of Assad shaking hands w/man who bought ISIS oil? Pls don't play innocent victim.

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Robert Ford

@fordrs58

2 years

@joshua_landis @nikolaosvandam do i understand VanDam's argument? since they cannot change Syrian govt policy peacefully or by arms, Syrians should just shut up and suffer dictatorship and abuse, forever while foreigners should shut up too. and scale of war crimes irrelevant so all sides equally guilty.

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Robert Ford

@fordrs58

2 months

i'll believe Biden admin is truly concerned about Palestinian civilians & would press to extend a 6 week ceasefire when (1) it investigates Israeli use of US weapons as US law requires & (2) discloses results & halts deliveries if law then requires. til then, credibility lacking.

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Robert Ford

@fordrs58

4 years

Syrian security forces killed many thousands of civilians, starting with barrel bombs. thousands of extrajudicial killings (Sednaya, ex). please don't make them out to be better than others on the ground in Syria. the scale of SAA/Mukhabarat atrocities far beyond any others.

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Robert Ford

@fordrs58

4 years

USA absolutely did kill some civilians, and that is bad. And the US killed far fewer than has the Syrian govt which you ought to acknowledge to be honest.

Bassem

@BBassem7

4 years

@fordrs58 How many civilians did the US kill in Mosul and Raqqa during their operation there against ISIS?

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Robert Ford

@fordrs58

7 years

true. foreign states were surprised at scale of protest movement in Syria & how quickly uprising spread. no foreign arming/training n 2011.

Josh Rogin

@joshrogin

7 years

False. The Syrian people marched for basic rights before other countries got involved and Assad attacked them.

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Robert Ford

@fordrs58

5 years

I don't know if Turkey is bluffing about invading northeast Syria; it has bluffed before. Its anxieties re Syrian Kurds are very longstanding. If Washington truly concerned re possible Turk actions, a serious Secretary of State would get on the plane to Ankara from Athens now.

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Robert Ford

@fordrs58

4 years

Donors need to start ** preparing legal justification for cross-border w/o UN Security Council ok; ** developing logistical coordination capacity to replace UN role in Idlib sooner or later; ** fixing sanctions regimes so they really doesn't impede humanitarian aid programs

Steven Heydemann

@SHeydemann

4 years

Russia and China determined to starve NW Syria into submission. When the UN fails to protect millions of civilians, member states must find other ways to do so.

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Robert Ford

@fordrs58

5 years

thank you for raising Rukban crisis, Josh. important to note that the US govt is violating international humanitarian law (Geneva 4th Conv) by not acting as provider of last resort of humanitarian assistance to civilians in an area effectively under its military control.

Josh Rogin

@joshrogin

5 years

"One tweet by Trump could allow the U.S. military to do what it does for people suffering all over the world — save their lives... If we don’t act now, our neglect will make us complicit in whatever horror they suffer next." @VoiceofRukban

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