Geopolitics, Turkey, Syria and the IS, Le Pen responds to terror: Links 3 on June 29 – 2015

1. Exclusive: In turf war with Afghan Taliban, Islamic State loyalists gain ground

(If Lex Luthor was to go to war with Professor Moriarty…)

Fighters loyal to Islamic State have seized substantial territory in Afghanistan for the first time, witnesses and officials said, wresting areas in the east from rival Taliban insurgents in a new threat to stability.

Witnesses who fled fighting in Nangarhar province told Reuters that hundreds of insurgents pledging allegiance to Islamic State pushed out the Taliban, scorching opium poppy fields that help to fund the Taliban’s campaign to overthrow the Afghan government.

They also distributed directives purportedly from Islamic State’s Middle East-based chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, although it was not clear whether he issued them for the Afghan theater or if previous edicts may have been translated.

2. Fifth arrest made in New Jersey for terror-related charges

NEWARK, N.J. — A New Jersey man has been arrested on suspicion of conspiring to provide material support to terrorists, the fifth such arrest of a tri-state area resident this month, the FBI said Monday.

Alaa Saadeh, 23, of West New York, N.J., was taken into custody Monday morning at his home, the FBI said.

In addition to accusations he conspired with other men in New Jersey and New York to provide services and personnel to the Islamic State terror group, Saadeh is suspected of trying to persuade a witness to lie to the FBI, the agency said.

The 23-year-old is expected to appear before a judge Monday afternoon.

3. New York Times video interview of ex-muslim convert.

(If the embed code doesn’t work, click above and watch the video. Its the best I’ve seen on tard grooming of the naive. Article at link as well)

4. Putin reinforces support of Syrian government

Referring to four years of civil war and an assortment of rebel groups attempting to overthrow the Syrian government, Putin said “we’re sure that the Syrian people will win in the final run and our policy of supporting Syria, its leadership and its people remains unchanged.”

Putin spoke at a meeting in Moscow with Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Mouallem.

At another press conference later in the day, attended by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Mouallem said Putin promised Syria continued political, military and economic support, adding the visit to Moscow was directed at finding a political solution to Syria’s crisis.

5. As Kurds gain in Syria, Turkish govt ponders military action

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan began chairing a National Security Council meeting Monday, only days after he vowed to prevent the Kurds from establishing a state in Syria.

Pro-government newspapers are rife with purported proposals, ranging from loosening the rules of engagement to give Turkish troops a freer hand to fire into Syria, to a tanks-and-troops invasion aimed at occupying a 110-kilometer (70-mile) long, 33-kilometer (20-mile) wide buffer zone.

The burst of tough talk has analysts “scratching their heads about what to make of all of this,” Aaron Stein, an associate fellow at the London-based RUSI think tank, said in a Twitter message.

(I think we can help those analysts. Erdogan is using this as an opportunity to crush the Kurds and advantage the Islamic State. It will go that way, and anyone who acts surprised afterwards needs to be studies closely)

6. This video of Marine le Pen is a bit odd. There are peculiar audio errors but you will still get the gist of what is said. She reacts to the spate of muslim caused, mass deaths, or ‘mosque inspired muslim tragedies’, or islamic religion inspired heavy metal spraying resulting in mass casualties’ or ‘serious unwellness of people in proximity to heavily bearded religious muslims’ or whatever the allowed terms are for this time of day.

Thank you M., Oz-Rita, GoV., Maria J., Richard and all who sent in materials for this and all posts today. More to come.