MONDOWEISS—Given the way Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) leader Abu Mohammed al-Jolani has been reaching out to the West, and the way he has avoided speaking out against Israel’s invasion, it may well be that Israel sees itself as a potential “silent partner” supporting a new Syrian regime quietly, but brutally. 

This aligns well for Israel with Türkiye’s activities in the north of the country, where they are pressing the U.S.-backed Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), as well as Turkiye’s support for HTS. While relations between Israel and Turkiye have been severed again over Israel’s genocide in Gaza, Turkish President Recip Tayyip Erdogan is nothing if not a pragmatist when it comes to Israel and the Kurds. If he sees an opportunity to work with Israel to control a new Syria and make it less hospitable for Kurdish nationalism, he will leap at it.

GEORGE HAZIM—The US and Israel have long played a key role in destabilising Syria, but it’s been Erdoğan’s duplicity that has been instrumental in the downfall of Assad’s government. Regional ambition, ideological opportunism and Erdogan’s duplicity haven’t only contributed to Syria’s collapse but set the stage for his own potential downfall as Turkey’s leader.

LARRY C. JOHNSON touches on and clarifies numerous aspects of the confusing situation in Ukraine and Syria, noting that a rush to judgment is probably premature and conducive to huge errors. That said, he is severe in his evaluation of Bashar al-Assad, a man he thinks will go down in history as a “man without consequence.” Assad could have begged (and probably secured) economic and development help from China, Russia and Iran, thereby avoiding the rapid weakening of the Syrian nation. He could have accepted Moscow’s offers to train up and fortify his army, which he inexplicably turned down (and whose dilapidated and demoralised condition apparently did not concern him enough to properly ascertain). Instead, he sought readmission into the pro-West club of Arab states, many of whom are now busily betraying Syria.

LARRY C. JOHNSON—Turning to the situation in Syria. With each passing day I’m more convinced that Putin had good intel on the Western plan to take out Assad and, based on intel provided in part from China, correctly assessed that in light of Assad’s refusal to listen to Russian and Iranian advice that Turkey and the West were going to create for themselves a shit sandwich. Neither was prepared to deal with the consequences of a rapid collapse of Syria.

JORDAN CHARITON—Jordan Chariton reacts to Corporate Media and their meltdown over American citizens being undeterred by UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson’s death. In fact, since Luigi Mangione’s capture, the support for Luigi seems to have only grown. Jordan breaks down these media reactions, and explains just how wrong they are.

MIKE MIHAJLOVIC—Strategically, eliminating Assad was a golden opportunity while simultaneously cutting the land connection between Iran and Hezbollah – mission accomplished. A border war with Hezbollah in Lebanon showed that Hezbollah is still strong, but it is a matter of time before it starts to weaken. It may take years, but remember that Israel plans for the long haul, looking decades into the future. Israel will soon have its army behind the Hezbollah-controlled areas, and what may happen is that Lebanon may plunge into a sectarian war, especially now that the SAA is gone.

RACHEL BLEVINS—It has been nearly one week since Bashar al-Assad was overthrown and the Syrian people were left to the mercy of Al-Qaeda in Syria. While the U.S. is supposed to have Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) classified as a terrorist organization, Sec. of State Antony Blinken admitted that the Biden Admin was in direct communication with the group. Independent Journalist Vanessa Beeley, who was based in Damascus up until last week, discussed her evacuation from Syria, and what the end of the Assad Government means for the Syrian people and the future of foreign interference in the country.

EDITORS—In this video edition, a multitude of important topics discussed with Garland’s and Joti’s usual lucidity: The Killing of UHC CEO Brian Thompson in perspective  • The Jan. 6 “insurrection” no such thing, except for an outburst of anger and frustration by the masses against a progressively stifling status quo enforced by the elites and their flunkies in media and politics • Anger is now near universal in the “collective West”, constantly bubbling under the surface of “peaceful Western society”. • Workers now live under CHRONIC stress and anxiety • This act of defiance focusing on the “healthcare insurance business” has clearly re-started the national conversation about HOW this utterly privatised capitalist system extracts extreme wealth from the masses without delivering anything of real value in return • Clarifies the urgent need for people to dismiss a system of “public health” expressly designed to DENY and MINIMISE access and benefits to services, a grotesque absurdity • And much more.

AMIR KHAN—In the time since Moore’s film, Obamacare has done nothing to stop the bleeding. Perhaps coverage can no longer be denied due to pre-existing conditions but once coverage is in place, said coverage can most certainly be “denied” and “delayed” indefinitely. Obamacare does nothing to overturn the insurer’s right to “defend” itself against claims. At least Mangione changed “delay” to “depose.”

In short, Obamacare forces people to pay but does not force companies to pay out. In the aftermath of both Sicko and Obamacare, and under the stewardship of Thompson, UnitedHealthcare’s profits have soared from 60 million in 2020 to 90 billion in the 12 months prior to September 2024. That’s billion with a b.

EDITOR—Trump’s Latest Interviews Reveal A More Focused Vision; Why The CNN Syria Rescue [with notorious Anglo disinformer Clarissa Ward] Deserves Skepticism; Is There Anyone Who Opposes All Luigi-Style Vigilantism?