Trump Says Obama Hates Israel

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

Yesterday Donald Trump said that he thinks that Barack Obama hates Israel.

Trump did not just blurt this out or shout out like he sometimes does. Trump was responding to someone who called out the word "Israel" when he said "I heard the beautiful name of Israel."

The Donald followed up his own comment by pointing at himself and declaring: "Israel is safe with this one."

From there Trump commented on the Iran deal, saying the deal "is so bad for Israel, so dangerous." And then he spoke about President Barack Obama.

Trump said: "They [Israel] have a president who they actually think Obama hates Israel. I think he does..." He said that Israel is "in such a massive amount of trouble. Because of the agreement."

This was an observation --- not one of the rants we have grown so accustomed to from Donald Trump. This was the expression of a sincere sentiment. Donald Trump truly believes that Barack Obama hates Israel.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com 

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Plane From Spain Says: Landing In Palestine

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

An Iberia Air airliner landing in Tel Aviv sent shock waves throughout Israel. Why you might ask?

Here's why. As they were landing the captain came over the loudspeaker, as is customary, and made his announcement. The captain announced that in a few minutes they would be landing at Ben Gurion Airport. They would, he said, be touching down in Palestine.

The announcement was made in both Spanish and in English. Throughout the entire trip the announcements never once mentioned Israel. Airplane personnel instead spoke of Palestine, Tel Aviv and Ben Gurion Airport.

This is more than not PC. It is actually an international diplomatic incident. Iberia is the national airline of Spain, not dissimilar to Israel's national airline El Al.

There has yet to be a comment from Spain or from the airline.
Channel 2 TV News in Israel was the first to broadcast the story and then almost every media outlet in Israel ran with the story.

Ben Gurion Airport is in Israel. It is in Israel according to everyone who is involved in any negotiation. Only those who deny Israel's right to exist actually believe that Tel Aviv is in Palestine. Those deniers include Hamas, Iran and Hezbollah.

It is very unusual that Spain would side with Hamas, Iran and Hezbollah.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com 

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ISIS & Asia

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:
Russia's director of intelligence, Alexander Bortnikov, was quoted in a Russian paper saying that ISIS is making headway in Central Asia, especially in Afghanistan. He added that ISIS is also popping up in Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

Up until now, ISIS was recruiting online in these areas and the recruits would then travel to Iraq and Syria. But now it seems that some fighters who have pledged support for ISIS are remaining local.
It is not clear if we are dealing with only future fighters or also with returning fighters.

From the figures that we do have, what is clear is that over 50% of ISIS fighters in Syria and Iraq are not local. They are foreign recruits. And the overwhelming percent of those recruits are from Asia - especially Central Asia.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com 

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Kurds are the Answer in Syria

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

The secret to the next stage in the Middle East is - the Kurds.

There are 30,000 Kurds who compose a well trained, fully operational and well disciplined fighting force. It is the only force that has successfully pushed back ISIS across the region.

Now the Russians want the Kurds to be part of their ground force. Part of the deal is that the Russians will support the Kurds militarily and also support their bid for Kurdish autonomy.

The United States cannot let that happen. So the US has begun to lure the Kurds and recently engaged in a joint raid against ISIS and a major weapons drop that delivered US small arms to the Kurds.

Over the next weeks the Kurds are going to have to make their decision. Who will it be - the Russians or the United States. Soon enough, we will know.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com 

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Russia - Syria Agreement

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

The RIA News Agency in Russia has reported that President Assad is willing and ready to stand for elections and to making changes to the country's constitution after things calm down in Syria and order is restored.

Part of the Russian / Syrian deal, in which Russia came to save Syria and Assad from ISIS and al Qaeda, was exactly this - having Assad agree in principle to stepping down as president and holding elections.

Assad of course believes that he will win an election when the time comes and he is probably correct. Some observers of the Russia / Syria collaboration assumed that new elections meant that Assad would step down and not run. That is clearly not the case.

Russia knows that they need Assad in place for now if for no other reason than to keep Syrians untied against ISIS and al Qaeda.

The heartening news is that a plan is in place and everyone involved is on board.

The Russian leader was quoted in the article as saying "Assad said that if the Syrian people consider it necessary, he would not be against taking part in presidential elections."

In that part of the world that is not hedging, it is a declaration of intent.

Micah@MicahaHalpern.com 

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Abbas' Family Uses Israeli Hospital

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

This is a story I read on YNET. It speaks volumes about Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

Abbas' brother-in-law was just admitted to Assuta, a private hospital in Tel Aviv, to undergo heart surgery. The surgery was deemed essential, a matter of life or death.

Last June Abbas' wife had surgery in the very same hospital.

Even more interesting is that the head of Hezbollah's daughter, Ismail Haniyah's daughter, a woman in her 20's, was brought to Israel in an emergency situation and admitted to Icholov Hospital after a routine operation went wrong. That happened last year.

And Haniyah's sister was treated in an Israeli hospital about three years ago when she had an emergency. And then most recently, only six months ago, his granddaughter was also brought to Israel for care after an emergency.

All these cases were considered humanitarian medical acts.

Despite all the care his family has received, despite all the care any Palestinian receives in Israeli medical institutions, at this very moment, Abbas is still on his high horse shouting to all who will hear that Israel is executing and murdering Palestinian children in cold blood.

Ironic? Typical? I am still undecided.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com 

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UNESCO Mistake

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

The Jewish world was up in arms when a handful of Arab countries proposed to the UNESCO board that the Western Wall be declared a Muslim holy site, connected to the Mosques above.

There was huge blow back and indeed - the proposal was altered.

The alteration was very significant - and the new proposal passed.

BUT-- and it's a big BUT - the new proposal says that The Tomb of the Patriarchs (Marat HaMachpela) in Hebron and Rachel's Tomb (Kever Rachel) in Bethlehem are holy Muslim Sites.

The status of these two sites had already resolved as part of the peace agreements and they are managed by Israel.

Throwing a UNESCO decision into the works will undoubtedly create a real change in status. And that change will cause serious strife and raise the real possibility of serious violence.

The phrase goes: be careful what you wish for. We need to add: and be sure to read the fine print.

This is a mess. Why didn't Israel see this coming?!

Micah@MicahHalpern.com 

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Israeli Press is Covering Terror in West Bank

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:
Another reason this terror spree throughout Israel is so different from previous periods of terror is that mainstream Israelis and the press are taking notice of terror that takes place in the West Bank.

Almost the entire population of Israel lives on the coastal plain from just north of Haifa to just south of Tel Aviv. It is a very narrow strip of land.

In the past, Israelis living on the coastal plain did not take an interest in any acts of terror perpetrated against settlers - stone throwing, stabbings, shootings - on the West Bank.

Terror against settlers only came into their field of vision if it was covered by national news. There were websites that specifically informed those who cared about the events. Arutz Sheva is one such site.

The mainstream media in general did cover terror in the West Bank or Gaza. If they did, it would be buried. For the mainstream media and hence for main stream Israel, what happened in the West Bank to the setter population was not important - or maybe, mainstream Israelis thought that settlers who chose to live there, knew and accepted the risks.

Last summer there was one glaring exception to this almost iron clad rule. It centered around the three boys kidnapped in the West Bank. When that tragedy struck the nation galvanized around their parents who lived in Israel proper.

Now, once again, Israelis are showing concern and care for all other Israelis affected by terror and tragedy - regardless of address.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com 

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Over 2110 Died in Mecca Stampede

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:
It was a horrific tragedy. On September 26th a stampede of people just outside of Mecca trampled 769 people to death and injuring 934 others.

We all knew that the numbers were low and that the number of deaths would creep higher and higher.
But there was no update on the numbers.

AP, the Associated Press, did their own tally and according to their count at least 2,110 Muslim pilgrims died in the stampede.

This past Sunday a meeting took place in Saudi Arabia, chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Naif who is also the minister of the"interior. The Saudi Press Agency reported on the meeting saying:
"The crown prince was reassured on the progress of the investigation..."

"He directed the committee's members to continue their efforts to find the causes of the accident, praying to Allah Almighty to accept the martyrs and wishing the injured a speedy recovery."

Well, if they cannot update their own numbers it is very unlikely that the Saudis will actually conduct a true investigation.

And the numbers of deaths, reported or not, will probably still go higher.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com 

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Terror by Arabs w/ Israeli ID's

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

While it is definitely terror, the terror that Israel is confronting today is different from the terror Israel faced in the past.

One significant difference is that terrorists attacking Israelis over these past few weeks hold Israeli IDs. This is true for many of the attacks perpetrated throughout the country and almost every single attack perpetrated in the Jerusalem area.

Holders of Israeli IDs have an easier time making their way in Jerusalem and around the country than those without Israeli identification certificates.

One way of securing Israel is to cut it off from the West Bank and to limit the movement of people who do not have Israeli IDs. That is done by way of road blocks and police and army patrols roaming the streets and checking for IDs. When terrorists carry Israeli IDs they more easily blend in with the crowd.

Today's terrorists need to sniffed out through behavior, actions, signs and signals that alert trained security personnel that something is wrong.

The Old City of Jerusalem is blanketed with monitors and security cameras and has teams of people watching the cameras and alerting police in the field to anything unusual or anyone arousing suspicion.

Cell phones and messages are canvassed - that means that all communication is tapped. Email, sms, whats app, facebook, pintrest are all monitored in real time. If you broadcast or send a message in certain areas, know that it will be read.

Israel is defending itself from threats perpetrated by Palestinians who live over the green line and inside Israel. The Israelis are using highly sophisticated tools operated by top notch techies and highly trained technicians.

Even then, terrorists still slip through the cracks.

Micah@MicahHalpern 

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Israeli Save Refugees at Sea

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:
On Sunday morning, 12 drowning Syrian and Iraqi refugees were fished out of the sea near Greece by an Israeli yacht.

The Israelis saved the refugees who were wearing life vests and floating in the sea. Their raft was destroyed.

A six month old infant died in the water cradled in her mother's arms. She held the dead baby the entire time on the yacht.

An older man had a heart attack in the water and suffered diabetic shock. He was given sweets and administered first aid.

Everyone received food, water and phones to call their families.

The Greek navy was alerted and they came to pick up the refugees after a few hours. When the refugees were told that their saviors were Israelis, the refugees hugged and kissed the Israelis.

The Israelis were not simply motivated by the code of Maritime law and culture. These Israelis saved people in need.

Israelis, in general, save people in need.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com 

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Lies Lies and Lies by the PA

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

By now everyone has heard about the 13 year old terrorist - the boy PA President Abbas spoke about claiming that he had been "executed" by Israelis. The 13 year old terrorist boy who is now alive and doing well in Jerusalem' Hadassah Hospital.

I have heard claims that the boy was innocent and just beaten up by Jews. And even though Abbas has now downplayed his rhetoric and exchanged the word "executed" for "killed in cold blood", I have yet to hear an acknowledgment from him, or from the PA press, that their propaganda tool is alive and kicking.

We've heard a lot about him, now it's time to hear from him. Here is part of the statement he gave to the Jerusalem police.

"I went there with my cousin Hassan in order to stab Jews." He said that his cousin Hassan planned the terror attack and Hassan brought the knives.

This is a confession from a terrorist if ever there was one. He may be a 13 year old, but he is a terrorist none the less, a terrorist who stabbed and tried to murder Jews. Tapes show that he was kept on the ground by locals and that he was kicked and his knife was taken from him. His cousin kept running and then turned and crossed the street, knife held over his head, lunging at the police. The police shot the older cousin as he ran toward them and he died on the spot.

There are lies and there are truths. Many people, people who should know better, want to sell the lie.

That's pitiful. And it's shameful, too.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com 

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Abbas Fomenting Terror

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

Jerusalem has been victim of a flood of terror. In order to stem the tide policies that limit movement in Jerusalem have been instituted.

Israeli leadership needs to stop the terror. These new policies may seem harsh to Americans but restoring order and preventing daily terror attacks by young adults - boys and men who enter the holy city is one effective way of accomplishing that.

Creating a monstrous police presence is another effective method.

Israel cannot permit this wave of terror to continue any longer. More than one attack in more than three or four cities on the same day is unacceptable.

Israelis have started to strike back on their own. There have been several cases of Israelis stabbing Arabs. This is wrong - it's vigilantism. Israelis should maintain their honor and not sink to the level of those who are trying to annihilate them.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com 

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India Pays Iran for Oil

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:
Yesterday India paid Iran $700 million. It was the second of 2 installments totaling $1.4 billion.

Iran has been providing oil to India - however, under the sanctions, India could not pay them. But now they are paying. Iran is India's seventh largest supplier of oil. Before 2013 when sanctions kicked, in Iran was their number two.

Even during sanctions India found a way through a back door bank in Turkey so that they could continue paying Iran, but that was discovered and blocked.

India has deposited another 170 billion rupees which is equivalent to $2.6 billion in their own UCO bank which is, of course, headquartered in India. This money will also be transferred to Iran.

There is one snag.

India will not convert the rupees into dollars and Iran wants dollars.

I know it sounds backwards. Why does Iran, the nation pit against the United States want US dollars? Iran is the nemesis of the US.

There is no other nation in the world --- not North Korea and not Cuba - that has that distinction.

The answer to why Iran wants US dollars is clear. Iran does business in a world that honors the greenback. They want the dollar to support their economy.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com 

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Wright Spouts More A/S

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

Remember Reverend Jeremiah Wright? He was the pastor of President Obama's church.

Yesterday Reverend Wright spoke at a rally in Washington DC sponsored by Louis Farrakhan.
Wright said some very contentious things, especially because the name of the rally was "Justice or Else." The rally was held in honor of the 20th anniversary of Farrakhan's "Million Man March."

Wright said that: "Jesus was a Palestinian."

Wright concluded his talk saying: "We are grateful to God to be able to be here and to speak a word on behalf of Palestinian justice. Palestinians are saying 'Palestinian lives matter.' We stand with you, we support you, we say God bless you."

Wright argued that Palestinians were the first to live in Palestine and then Europeans came and took over the land. Wright called Palestinians the original people in the land.

Wright spoke about Palestinians, Native Americans and African Americans as people who were victims of a "three-headed demon" of "racism, militarism and capitalism."

What foolishness. And people actually believe this material.

There is little doubt that Reverend Wright is an anti-Semite and there is no doubt that he has a huge impact on the many people who listen to him.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com 

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Iran Deal Violates Obama's Law

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:
Today's NY Post ran an editorial which was stimulated by James Rosen of Fox News.

The piece blasted the Iran deal in a way that claims that applying the agreement would violate United States law. Actually, it would violate a US law that was signed into effect by Barack Obama himself in 2012.

The law is called "The Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act." It says, according to the NY Post, that reducing restrictions and sanction on Iran can only happen "if Iran is removed from the State Department's list of terror sponsors and the president certifies that Iran has permanently ceased the pursuit of weapons of mass destruction."

Thank you James Rosen and the NY Post. I have been saying this for months. The only way to stop the agreement is through the courts.

The courts are the most independent branch of government and the only place where there is a chance to get a fair hearing on this issue.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com 

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State Dept --- Finally Calls It Terror

I've Been Thinking:

A major change in terminology emerged out of a briefing at the State Department on Friday.

John Kirby, the spokesman for the State Department, briefed reporters and told them how the US views the increase of terror in Israel.

Normally, the State Department would have called the terror "events" or "incidents". They would also use terms like "violence" and "acts".

Until now, when Americans and Israelis were murdered by terrorists in Jerusalem or in East Jerusalem, the State Department termed the terror "incidents".

But on Friday October 9, 2015, Kirby said that the US "condemns in the strongest possible terms violence against both Israeli and Palestinian citizens."

And then the State Department spokesman said: "We consider these violent acts that we're talking about specifically here acts of terror ... this terrorism."

Terror. He actually used the word.

This is a huge change in terms and one which puts the United States on the right side of this scenario. Up until now the US attempted to be neutral on this issue.

It looks like the United States finally understands.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com 

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De Blasio to Israel

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

New York mayors travel to Jerusalem. That is a tradition.

And next Thursday, New York's current mayor, Bill de Blasio, will make his mayoral trip. He leaves New York Thursday evening, arrives on Friday and is scheduled to depart Israel on Sunday evening.

On the agenda are several events and talks. The reason for the trip is the Annual Mayors Conference that takes place in Jerusalem.

This conference is a great opportunity for mayors across the world to share and learn. As it has been for several years, the top on the agenda will be security. That is a topic that Mayor de Blasio can both teach and learn. And Israel is the perfect place for that.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com 

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Israel Palestine Conflict Must De-Escalate

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

Palestinian terror reached a new high these past few days.

It is bad. It does not matter what we call the terror - some say it is an "Intifada" while others say we are not yet in an Intifada.

What matters is that it be stopped. Immediately.

Here is the best way to stop it: Do not allow vigilantism. Arrest extremists. Create a large security presence in all areas where tensions might emerge. Keep security personnel calm. Security must go to great lengths not to kill anyone even by accident - unless it is absolutely necessary and that is especially the case when it comes to children and youths.

Abbas and Netanyahu must make public statements against violence.

They must call for calm on both sides. They must meet and have a joint press conference. They must speak about calm - not about the peace process.

If this violence gets out of control the price both sides pay will be very costly. Many lives will be lost.
This conflict must de-escalate.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com 

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Russian & Israeli Military Meet in Tel Aviv

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

Yesterday Russia's Deputy Chief of Staff met with Israel's Deputy Chief of Staff in Tel Aviv. It was not a private meeting, other officials were also present.

The talks centered around making certain that both sides - both Russia and Israel, understood one another and trusted each other enough to warrant giving each other advance knowledge about and warning of operations.

Most importantly - they would not shoot at one another. Russia and Israel are working out a mechanism to avoid clashing. The most important tool is information, they must keep each other up to date and informed. As long as the advance information does not get leaked, i will be a viable modus operandi.

It is reported that Russian Deputy Chief of Staff Nikolai Bogdanovsky and his Israeli counterpart Yair Golan interacted well and seem to have a working relationship.

Last week Russia attacked several sites in Syria. They informed Israel in advance of the strikes. It was an important gesture.

Israel does not want its control over Syrian airspace curtailed by Russian jets and technology.
Israel maintains, and Russia agrees, that Israel needs to have the ability to fly over Syria in order to maintain stability so that the crisis ripping through Syria does not spill over into Israel.

These meetings will continue. Hopefully there will be no need for emergency sessions.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com 

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Terrorists Mistake Arab for Jew

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

Earlier today an Arab man was stabbed near the entrance to Kiryat Arab which is just next to Hebron.

There has been a rash of Palestinian terror against Jews since Abbas' speech before the UN General Assembly.

The Arab victim in this case was treated by Jewish/Israeli paramedics. He claims that his attackers mistook him for a Jew.

That is possible - but it is more probable that he was targeted as a collaborator or someone who was interacting with Jews, even if he was not an intelligence asset.

The Palestinians are attempting to close ranks and ferret out the many assets, informers and
collaborators who regularly update Israel as to the goings on in the West Bank and Gaza.

These assets are essential to Israel's ability to defend and protect its citizens.

So, yes, one explanation could be that the terrorists mistook this Arab for a Jew. But the other, much more probable, explanation is that this Arab man was dressed in a way and was found in an area that made his attackers assume that he was meeting Israeli contacts.

Micah@Micahhalpern.com 

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Bahrain Expels Iran Diplomat

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

Bahrain has expelled Iran's charge d'affairs and is recalling its own ambassador back from Iran.

The Iranian diplomat has 72 hours to leave Iran and has been labeled persona non grata. The Iranians have not responded officially. And there has been no press coverage of this by any of official Iranian press agencies.

The Bahrainis say that the Iranian diplomat has been involved in terror activity.

Bahrain is a tiny Island very close to Iran and Saudi Arabia. It is controlled by a minority of Sunnis while the majority of the Island is Shiite. The split is about 15% to 85%, Sunni to Shiite.

For the past four years Bahraini leadership has been complaining that Iran has been provoking and sponsoring revolts, demonstrations and violence against them and, simply put, meddling in the internal issue of Bahrain.

On Thursday 1.5 tons of explosives were discovered in a Shiite terror hideout just outside Bahrain's capital.

There is no doubt that Shiite Iran wants to oust the Sunni leadership of Bahrain.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com 

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US Missed Russian Angle in Syria

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:
The press coverage showing Russia NOT hitting ISIS shows a total lack of understanding. Look again.

Russia was hitting al Qaeda representatives called al Nusra. And al Nusra is the group that controls areas essential to transport and movement within Syria.

Al Nusra is a large and very organized force in Syria and they control populated strategic areas. The Russians, Syrians, Hezbollah and Iran are all joining forces to fight them, as well as ISIS.

One source explained "The (Russian) air strikes will in the near future be accompanied by ground advances by the Syrian army and its allies."

This combined force has several targets - ISIS is only one of them. Included in their target list is al Nusra (the al Qaeda group) and any rebel groups supported by the United States. As of last count there are only 4 or 5 of those groups. Included, of course, are all foreign fighters especially Chechnians and that group may number as many as 6,000 fighters.

The objective is more than simply securing Assad and establishing a Russian / Iranian nexus of control and influence. It is getting these factions under control. The entire job should take about a month. Thousands of Iranian commandos have arrived over the past few days. They will join the Syrian, Hezbollah and Russian teams.

The United States thinks that Russia is simply interested in ISIS because the United States is interested in ISIS. But NO there are many other forces on the ground. Once again, the Russian agenda is larger than the United States agenda.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com 

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