U.S. Officials Express Growing Confidence Bomb Downed Russian

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

U.S. Officials Express Growing Confidence Bomb Downed Russian Chefe da Seção de Nr. Código COMPREENSÃO LEITORA Certificação em Inglês Fl 1/8 INGLÊS – NÍVEL 3 ________________ ____________________ 1st QUESTION (15 points) PART I Read the following text. Then, choose the answers to items 01 to 07. U.S. officials express growing confidence bomb downed Russian plane By Barbara Starr, Jethro Mullen and Steve Almasy, CNN Updated 0851 GMT (1651 HKT) November 8, 2015 Video Source: CNN The U.S. appears to be increasingly confident that a terrorist bomb brought down the Russian passenger jet that broke apart over Egypt. The growing belief was indicated by several senior U.S. officials in the intelligence, military and national security community who spoke to CNN on Saturday. The remarks are stronger than those made by President Barack Obama on Thursday when he said there was "a possibility" a bomb was on Metrojet Flight 9268, which disintegrated over the Sinai Peninsula on October 31, killing all 224 people aboard. The view also contrasts with the cautious stance taken by Egyptian officials, who are in charge of the main investigation into the air crash and insist that no conclusion has been reached yet. "All the scenarios are out on the table," Ayman al-Muqaddam, the head of the investigation, told reporters Saturday. "We don't know what happened exactly." ISIS chatter analyzed The belief that a bomb was most likely to blame centers to a large extent on British and U.S. intercepts of communications after the crash from the Islamic militant group ISIS' affiliate in Sinai to ISIS operatives in Syria, according to officials. The Sinai affiliate has publicly claimed responsibility for downing the Russian jet, which was flying from the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh to St. Petersburg, but so far hasn't explained how it was done. The two Western countries have been analyzing the specific language in the chatter to determine to what extent the operatives were talking about the type of bomb and detonator used, and whether that language was a true representation of what happened, one official told CNN. Several officials said it's the specificity of the chatter that has directly contributed to the U.S. and British view that a bomb was most likely used. Chefe da Seção de Nr. Código COMPREENSÃO LEITORA Certificação em Inglês Fl 2/8 INGLÊS – NÍVEL 3 ________________ ____________________ Talks over possible FBI role in investigation But officials in Washington and London don't have all the pieces of the puzzle at their disposal. Neither country is directly involved in the Egyptian investigation into the crash or has physical evidence from it to examine. Talks between the United States, Egypt and Russia could result in the FBI providing some experts, particularly bomb technicians, to assist in the investigation, according to a U.S. official. Muqaddam, the head of the investigation, said Egyptian authorities have not been provided any information or evidence tied to reports suggesting that a bomb took down the flight. He urged the sources of the reports to pass along related evidence to Egyptian investigators. The investigation does include experts from Egypt, Russia, France, Germany and Ireland - countries that are connected in various ways to the aircraft that crashed, an Airbus A321-200. Noise heard at end of cockpit recording The TV station France 2 reported Friday that European investigators who analyzed the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder from Flight 9268 are saying the crash is not an accident. The investigators said the cockpit voice recorder indicates an explosion, and the flight data recorder shows the blast was not accidental, according to France 2, which is a CNN affiliate. Muqaddam, however, was more circumspect in his comments Saturday on the contents of the flight recorders. He confirmed a noise was heard in the final second of the cockpit recording as the aircraft was on autopilot and ascending. But he offered no description of the sound, saying a specialized analysis would be carried out to identify it. The crash might have been caused by a lithium battery, an explosion or a mechanical issue, Muqaddam said, noting that the investigation was being hampered by bad weather. Efforts to repatriate British, Russian tourists Amid concerns over what happened to Flight 9268, Britain has suspended flights to Sharm el-Sheikh and is working to bring its citizens home from the resort. Passengers flying back to Britain are being carried in separate planes from their baggage, reflecting fears that the Russian plane was brought down by a bomb placed in the luggage hold. The Russian government, which initially played down suggestions that the crash was caused by terrorists, has suspended all air traffic with Egypt until the cause of the crash is determined. Russian authorities are taking similar steps to the British to repatriate citizens. Other countries have issued travel warnings. Chefe da Seção de Nr. Código COMPREENSÃO LEITORA Certificação em Inglês Fl 3/8 INGLÊS – NÍVEL 3 ________________ ____________________ U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson told CNN that officials were taking "precautionary interim steps" to increase security on international flights into the United States during the investigation of the Egypt air disaster. "ISIL is out there now active in a lot of different areas and, while this investigation is pending and because we have this group claiming responsibility, we believe it's significant to do these things on an interim basis," he said, using an alternative name for ISIS. Johnson said authorities are evaluating whether additional measures were necessary. (Available at http://edition.cnn.com/2015/11/08/middleeast/russian-plane-crash-egypt-sinai/index.html) Based on the previous text, decide which the correct answer (A, B, C or D) to items 01 to 07 is and mark your answers on your ANSWER SHEET. 01. The Egyptians ... (A) have provided the Americans and the British with physical evidence from the accident site. (B) accepted FBI bomb technician assistance. (C) received data and evidence from the Americans concerning the fact that a bomb took down the jet. (D) are cautious and careful about their comments on the jet crash. 02. What statement is correct? (A) British and American agencies do not believe that the Sinai affiliate caused the crash. (B) U.S. and British officials believe that the jet was hit from the outside. (C) Western authorities already know how the downing was done. (D) American and British intel agencies have intercepted ISIS conversations after the crash. 03. The U.S. … (A) is sure that a terrorist group brought down the Russian passenger jet. (B) has an increasing belief that a terrorist bomb was the cause for the bringing down of the Russian jet. (C) is in charge of the main investigation of the jet crash. (D) president also made stronger remarks concerning the jet crash. Chefe da Seção de Nr. Código COMPREENSÃO LEITORA Certificação em Inglês Fl 4/8 INGLÊS – NÍVEL 3 ________________ ____________________ 04. American officials... (A) are taking long-term measures in relation to air traffic to Egypt. (B) are taking temporary steps in air traffic to Egypt. (C) are taking permanent measures in relation to flights from and to Egypt. (D) said the investigations were concluded. 05. Which statement is true? (A) Al-Qaeda claimed responsibility for the plane crash. (B) The Taliban has connection with the plane bringing down. (C) The Sinai affiliate to ISIS took responsibility for the Russian jet crash. (D) Up to now, no organization has claimed responsibility for the Russian jet downing. 06. According to the TV Station France 2 report, ... (A) both the cockpit voice recorder and the flight data recorder indicated that there was an explosion. (B) Europeans investigators said the crash was an accident. (C) the pilot was flying the jet when the crash happened. (D) a noise was heard at the beginning of the recording. 07. Which statement is correct? (A) British citizens are flying back home with their luggage on the same plane which they embarked on. (B) British planes are allowed to fly to Shar el-Sheikh. (C) There are flights from Russia to Egypt. (D) Russia and the Great Britain are taking similar measures to repatriate their citizens. PART II Read the following text. Then, choose the answers to items 08 to 15. Chefe da Seção de Nr. Código COMPREENSÃO LEITORA Certificação em Inglês Fl 5/8 INGLÊS – NÍVEL 3 ________________ ____________________ Reaching a Plateau in Language Learning – How to Get Out of It? By Sam Gendreau There is probably nothing as frustrating as putting a hell of work, and not feeling like you’re making any progress. Sadly, though, this situation happens to a lot of language learners, and it often becomes a dominant factor in people’s decision to stop learning a foreign language halfway through their goals. This is what we commonly call “reaching a plateau”. So why does it happen, and how can we avoid it, or at least, get out of it? Routine, and Reaching the Autonomous Stage Dr. K. Anders Ericsson, a Swedish psychologist and Professor at Florida State University, is widely recognized as one of the world’s leading theoretical and experimental researchers on expertise. According to him, hitting plateaus is a common occurrence in skill development (not only limited to language learning). Far from being a steady linear progression, mastery comes in bursts. There are many causes of plateaus but a major one seems to be routine. Sticking to the same habits, whether it’s writing, typing, learning a language, or programming, often results in failing to progress, despite investing a lot of time. Author Joshua Foer says that when people first learn to use a keyboard, they improve very quickly from sloppy single-finger pecking to careful two-handed typing, until eventually the fingers move so effortlessly across the keys that the whole process becomes unconscious and the fingers seem to take on a mind of their own.
Recommended publications
  • Geopolitical Overview of Conflicts 2017
    Geopolitical overview of Spanish Institute of conflicts 2017 Strategic Studies MINISTERIO DE DEFENSA Geopolitical overview Spanish Institute of of conflicts 2017 Strategic Studies MINISTERIO DE DEFENSA SPANISH OFFICIAL PUBLICATIONS CATALOGUE http://publicacionesoficiales.boe.es Edita: SECRETARÍA GENERAL TÉCNICA http://publicaciones.defensa.gob.es/ © Author and Publisher, 2018 NIPO: 083-16-308-8 (print on demand) NIPO: 083-16-309-3 (e-book edition) Publication date: july 2018 The authors are solely responsible for the opinions expresed in the articles in this publication. The exploitation righits of this work are protected by the Spanish Intellectual Property Act. No parts of this publication may be produced, stored or transmitted in any way nor by any means, electronic, mechanical or print, including photo- copies or any other means without prior, express, written consent of the © copyright holders. ÍNDICE Page Chapter one Mali: Obstacles and Responses to a Complex Threat ............................................... 11 Jesús Díez Alcalde Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 13 Background ................................................................................................................................... 14 Current status of the conflict ...................................................................................................... 20 The role of external players .....................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Security Brief for Egypt Prepared On: Jul 12, 2021 5:59:41 PM UTC
    Security Brief for Egypt prepared on: Jul 12, 2021 5:59:41 PM UTC Security Assessment Rating Security Rating for Egypt: 4 - High Sub-Ratings 1 2 3 4 5 Crime 3 Overall Rating: Security Services 3 4 Civil Unrest 3 Terrorism 4 High Kidnapping 3 Geopolitical 3 Security Overview : Overview of Egypt There are military operations against militants in North Sinai and along the Libyan border. Armed assaults and bombings have been reported. The terrorist threat stems from North Sinai-based Islamist militants, suspected Muslim Brotherhood offshoots, and those motivated by left-wing views. Most terrorist attacks target commercial, economic, and infrastructure installations as well as Christian minorities and security forces. Foreigners have also been targeted. Most crimes are petty thefts, such as pickpocketing and bag-snatching, but armed robberies, muggings, sexual assaults, rapes, break-ins, and carjackings have also been reported. Opposition to the government and socioeconomic factors are drivers for civil unrest. Islamist protests have been pushed out of downtown areas, and rallies motivated by economic factors are now a greater potential threat to security. Protests can turn violent and disrupt travel. The risk of civil unrest rises during significant anniversaries. Related Advice: General guidelines to protect yourself against terrorism. Related Advice: Recognizing suspicious objects and the threat of hidden explosives while traveling Related Advice: Protecting yourself from crime when using taxis abroad. Related Advice: Tips and guidelines for surviving an airline hijacking Related Advice: Increasing your personal security while traveling. Security Alerts & Advisories Informational Alerts Terrorism: Authorities in Egypt extend the existing State of Emergency through at least Oct.
    [Show full text]
  • Crash Investigation Keith Rankin, 7 November 2015
    Crash Investigation Keith Rankin, 7 November 2015 One television programme I find quite compelling is National Geographic's Air Crash Investigation, or 'Mayday' when it's screened on Prime. Indeed the crash of the Air New Zealand test flight near Perpignan in France on 29 November 2008 has featured on this programme, though I recall no major news reportage at the time the case was finally resolved. (See Final moments of Air NZ test flight, Stuff 3 March 2014.) There's the painstaking use of the scientific method that accompanies a truly professional inquiry. Different hypothetical causes of a crash are systematically tested and then ruled out (disproved). Then there's the fact that catastrophic outcomes generally have multiple causes, including human error arising usually from confusion or deference. If something – even something major – goes wrong in the mechanics of a modern airliner, that aircraft can usually still be guided towards a non-catastrophic outcome, if the people concerned make the optimal decisions. New Zealand is not covered in glory when it comes to major crash investigations. The 29 November 1978 crash on My Erebus was subject to two major investigations which yielded two apparently conflicting culprits. The reality of course is that both findings were correct, but that neither told the whole story. The airline did mis-programme the DC10 aircraft, and tried to cover up their mistake. Yet the pilots should never have been flying at low altitude anywhere vaguely near a mountain that they couldn't see. The recent investigation into the 4 September 2010 Fox Glacier crash was a fiasco.
    [Show full text]
  • Commentaries
    Commentaries Draining the Swamp? Egypt’s Intractable Challenge in Containing the Sinai Insurgency Saud al-Sarhan King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies, Riyadh. Sebastian Maier Middle East Director, GMTL Political Risk, London. During Friday prayers on November 24, 2017, militants staged a coordinated attack on the al-Rawda mosque in the town of Bir al-Abed, the home of one of the largest Sufi orders in the North Sinai governorate. With an appallingly high confirmed 305 killed and more than 100 injured. This despicable act of barbarity marks, by all appearances, the deadliest terrorist atrocity to ever occur on Egyptian soil in modern times. This tragic event is a chilling reminder that perpetrators manage to blend conventional suicide attacks with increasingly complex tactics. After all, the recent attack is said to have involved more than three dozen assailants acting in a coordinated manner. One of the assailants blew himself up in the mosque, while others fired indiscriminately on the fleeing worshippers, all the while surveilling and blocking the adjacent streets and reportedly targeting ambulances that rushed to the scene. The Sinai peninsula, and, in particular, the affected land strip in the vicinity of the northern coastal town of El-Arish, has been the staging ground for a variety of spectacular militant attacks in recent years. In 2015, a suicide bombing and subsequent shooting shattered the Swiss Inn Resort in Arish, while in October 2014 and March 2016 local security checkpoints were targeted, killing dozens of security personnel from both the army and the police. In all instances, the local ISIS offshoot, Wilayat Sinai, has claimed responsibility, including in 2015 when it brought down Russian Metrojet flight 9268 from the resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, ultimately killing all 224 passengers and crew on board.
    [Show full text]
  • Terrorism and the Rise of ISIS in Egypt
    BearWorks MSU Graduate Theses Fall 2015 Terrorism and the Rise of ISIS in Egypt Jantzen William Garnett As with any intellectual project, the content and views expressed in this thesis may be considered objectionable by some readers. However, this student-scholar’s work has been judged to have academic value by the student’s thesis committee members trained in the discipline. The content and views expressed in this thesis are those of the student-scholar and are not endorsed by Missouri State University, its Graduate College, or its employees. Follow this and additional works at: https://bearworks.missouristate.edu/theses Part of the Defense and Security Studies Commons Recommended Citation Garnett, Jantzen William, "Terrorism and the Rise of ISIS in Egypt" (2015). MSU Graduate Theses. 2551. https://bearworks.missouristate.edu/theses/2551 This article or document was made available through BearWorks, the institutional repository of Missouri State University. The work contained in it may be protected by copyright and require permission of the copyright holder for reuse or redistribution. For more information, please contact [email protected]. TERRORISM AND THE RISE OF ISIS IN EGYPT A Masters Thesis Presented to The Graduate College of Missouri State University TEMPLATE In Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Science, Defense and Strategic Studies By Jantzen W. Garnett December 2015 Copyright 2015 by Jantzen William Marlow Garnett ii TERRORISM AND THE RISE OF ISIS IN EGYPT Defense and Strategic Studies Missouri State University, December 2015 Master of Science Jantzen W. Garnett ABSTRACT Using mostly primary source materials this thesis seeks to understand the evolution of and linkages between different terrorist organization that have operated in Egypt and the Sinai, in particular.
    [Show full text]
  • Islamic State Vs. Al-Qaeda
    NEW INTERNATIONAL AMERICA SECURITY DAVEED GARTENSTEIN-ROSS, JASON FRITZ, BRIDGET MORENG AND NATHANIEL BARR ISLAMIC STATE VS. AL-QAEDA STRATEGIC DIMENSIONS OF A PATRICIDAL CONFLICT DECEMBER 2015 About the Authors Daveed Gartenstein-Ross’s academic Nathaniel Barr is an analyst at Valens and professional work has focused on Global whose work focuses on violent non- understanding the evolving role of violent state actors in North Africa, the Sahel, and non-state actors in the world, with a the Horn of Africa. Barr has co-authored concentration in al-Qaeda and the Islamic four monographs, including a report State. He is a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense examining the Islamic State’s propaganda strategy, and of Democracies and the chief executive officer of the has been published in Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, and consulting firm Valens Global. An adjunct professor Jamestown Foundation’s Militant Leadership Monitor. at Georgetown University and lecturer at the Catholic Before coming to Valens Global, Barr worked as a research University of America, Gartenstein-Ross is the author assistant with the Western Jihadism Project, a research or volume editor of nineteen books and monographs, project funded by the National Institute of Justice that including Bin Laden’s Legacy, which Georgetown explores radicalization and salafi jihadist networks in the University terrorism scholar Bruce Hoffman described West. Barr received his bachelor’s degree from Brandeis as “one of the few books to probe systematically [al- University. Qaeda’s] strategy and its effect on the U.S. and its allies.” Gartenstein-Ross has also been published widely in the academic and popular press, including in The New Jason Fritz is a senior researcher at York Times, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, Foreign Valens Global and a doctoral student in the Policy, and the peer-reviewed journals Studies in Conflict Department of Justice, Law and Criminology and Terrorism and Terrorism and Political Violence.
    [Show full text]
  • Terrorist Attack in the Sinai Peninsula
    INSIGHTi Egypt: Terrorist Attack in the Sinai Peninsula ,name redacted, Specialist in Middle Eastern Affairs November 27, 2017 Background Terrorists based in the Sinai Peninsula have been waging an insurgency against the Egyptian government for more than six years. While the terrorist landscape in Egypt is evolving and encompasses several groups, Sinai Province (SP) is known as the most lethal. Since its affiliation with the Islamic State in 2014, SP has attacked the Egyptian military continually, targeted Coptic Christian individuals and places of worship, and occasionally fired rockets into Israel. In October 2015, SP targeted Russian tourists departing the Sinai by allegedly planting a bomb aboard Metrojet Flight 9268, which exploded mid-air, killing all 224 passengers and crew aboard. For U.S. policymakers, including Congress, continued terrorist attacks in the Sinai Peninsula raise concerns over Egypt’s stability, the security of neighboring Israel, the safety of U.S. military personnel serving as peacekeepers in the Multinational Force and Observers, and the growing capabilities of terrorist groups based in Egypt. The November 24, 2017, Attack On November 24, approximately 25-30 gunmen launched a coordinated attack against the Al Rawdah mosque in the town of Bir al Abed in northern Sinai, killing at least 305 people in the deadliest terrorist attack in Egypt’s modern history. According to Egyptian authorities, the terrorists drove up to the mosque in five vehicles carrying flags of the Islamic State before they detonated bombs inside the mosque and shot worshippers both inside and outside. According to the Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy, the November 24 attack “brings the total attacks in 2017 to over 338, with at least 322 and 401 security forces and civilians killed in attacks.” Congressional Research Service 7-...
    [Show full text]
  • Boko Haram, Iran, and Syria
    SEPT 2016 Vol 2 Thr eat Tactics Report Thr eat Tactics Report Compendium Compendium BBookk oo HHaarraamm,, IIrraann,, aanndd SSyyrriiaa Includes a sampling of Threat Action Reports and Red Diamond articles TRADOC G-2 ACE Threats Integration DISTRIBUTION RESTRICTION: Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. Threat Tactics Report Compendium, Vol 2 Introduction TRADOC G-2 ACE Threats Integration (ACE-TI) is the source of the Threat Tactics Report (TTR) series of products. TTRs serve to explain to the Army training community how an actor fights. Elements that contribute to this understanding may include an actor’s doctrine, force structure, weapons and equipment, education, and warfighting functions. An explanation of an actor’s tactics and techniques is provided in detail along with recent examples of tactical actions, if they exist. An actor may be regular or irregular, and a TTR will have a discussion of what a particular actor’s capabilities mean to the US and its allies. An important element of any TTR is the comparison of the real-world tactics to threat doctrinal concepts and terminology. A TTR will also identify where the conditions specific to the actor are present in the Decisive Action Training Environment (DATE) and other training materials so that these conditions can easily be implemented across all training venues. Volume 2: Boko Haram, Iran, and Syria This compendium of Threat Tactics Reports, Volume 2, features the most current versions of three TTRs: Boko Haram (Version 1.0, published October 2015); Iran (Version 1.0, published June 2016); and Syria (Version 1.0, published February 2016).
    [Show full text]
  • The Fight Against ISI.Pdf
    House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee Understanding How The ISIL Ideology Directs Terrorism And The Necessity To Counter Its Narrative Written evidence from Dr. Sajjan M. Gohel, International Security Director, Asia-Pacific Foundation Dr. Sajjan M. Gohel is International Security Director for the London-based Asia-Pacific Foundation, a policy assessment think-tank monitoring emerging geopolitical threats and analysing the radical ideologies that feed violent extremism. Dr. Gohel collaborates with governments and multilateral organizations such as the European Union, NATO, UNHCR and OSCE. Dr. Gohel has fieldwork experience in 23 countries and has provided expert witness testimony to the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee on the evolving challenges in Afghanistan-Pakistan, North Africa and the Middle East. In his role as Senior Advisor to the Partnership for Peace Consortium’s Combating Terrorism Working Group, involving 50 nations, Dr. Gohel heads its programme development on countering violent extremism. Dr. Gohel received his BA (Hons) in Politics from Queen Mary, University of London and holds both a Master’s degree in Comparative Politics and a PhD in International History from the London School of Economics & Political Science (LSE). His thesis was entitled ‘Insurrection Of The Ideologues: The Evolution of Egyptian Islamist Radical Thought from Hasan al-Banna to Ayman al-Zawahiri.’ Dr. Gohel also serves as a visiting lecturer for Master’s students at the LSE, for military officers and diplomats at the NATO Centers in Germany and Turkey, and the George C. Marshall Center. Dr. Gohel appears as a guest analyst on CNN, BBC and Sky News and his commentaries feature in Time Magazine, New York Times, Washington Post, Reuters and Associated Press.
    [Show full text]
  • Database Report Oct 2015
    ICT Incident and Activists Database PERIODIC REVIEW Summary of Terrorist Incidents and Counter-Terrorist Operations Worldwide October 2015 International Institute for Counter Terrorism (ICT) Additional resources are available on the ICT Website: www.ict.org.il On October 1, Rabbi Eitam Henkin and his wife Na’ama were fatally shot by Hamas militants, as they travelled with their children in a private vehicle in the West Bank. The children were physically unharmed but treated for shock. Following this incident, a wave of terrorist incidents targeted Israeli security forces and civilians during October 2015. According to Israeli authorities, during October 2015, 609 terrorist attacks took place, resulting in 11 people (one foreign national and 10 Israelis) killed and 80 others injured. On October 3, Farhad Khalil Mohammad Jabar, 15, fatally shot police worker Curtis Cheng, 58, outside the police headquarters in Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia. No group claimed responsibility but authorities said Jabar had links to Hizb ut-Tahrir. On October 10, 95 people were killed and 246 were wounded in a twin bombing which targeted a peace rally in Ankara, Turkey, organised by leftist groups campaigning against Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) terrorist activities. There was no claim of responsibility for the attack. On October 12, authorities arrested a cell of IS linked militants in an apartment in Moscow, Russia and seized approximately four kilograms of homemade explosives from the suspect’s possession. The National Anti-Terrorism Committee said the cell were planning to target civilians in Moscow and the suspects had attended terrorist training camps in Syria. On October 15, 36 people were killed in multiple suicide attacks in Borno state, Nigeria at a mosque and a residential building.
    [Show full text]
  • Use of Force and Human Rights Considerations on the Russian Intervention in Syria Brendan Delany
    University of Minnesota Law School Scholarship Repository Minnesota Journal of International Law 2017 Just Wars with Unjust Allies: Use of Force and Human Rights Considerations on the Russian Intervention in Syria Brendan Delany Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarship.law.umn.edu/mjil Part of the Law Commons Recommended Citation Delany, Brendan, "Just Wars with Unjust Allies: Use of Force and Human Rights Considerations on the Russian Intervention in Syria" (2017). Minnesota Journal of International Law. 333. https://scholarship.law.umn.edu/mjil/333 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the University of Minnesota Law School. It has been accepted for inclusion in Minnesota Journal of International Law collection by an authorized administrator of the Scholarship Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Note Just Wars with Unjust Allies: Use of Force and Human Rights Considerations on the Russian Intervention in Syria Brendan Delany General Main Syrian Religious/ Armed Loyalist Allies Enemies Ethnic Forces Factions Composition The Syrian Arab Shia The Military Russia, Iran, ISIL, all Arab Republic Muslims, of Syria, all loyalist opposition (“SAR”) (a.k.a. Druze, including the factions, other factions. the Assad Christians, Syrian Arab Iranian regime) other religious Army (“SAA”) backed minority and the militias. groups, pro- irregular (Note: All regime Sunni National loyalist Arab Defense factions have Muslims. Forces a truce with (“NDF”). Syrian Kurdistan.) Hezbollah Shia Arab Irregular Russia, Iran, ISIL, all Muslims armed groups and all opposition loyalist factions. factions. Brendan Delany is a third year law student graduating in May 2017, focusing his legal studies primarily on international and criminal law.
    [Show full text]
  • Jihadi Rivalry: E Islamic State Challenges Al-Qaida
    B D C A P Number 16, January 2016 Jihadi Rivalry: e Islamic State Challenges al-Qaida Charles Lister JIHADI RIVALRY: The Islamic State Challenges al-Qaida Charles Lister The Brookings Institution is a nonprofit organization devoted to independent research and policy solutions. Its mission is to conduct high-quality, independent research and, based on that research, to provide innovative, practical recommendations for policymakers and the public. The conclusions and recommendations of any Brookings publication are solely those of its author(s), and do not reflect the views of the Institution, its management, or its other scholars. Brookings recognizes that the value it provides to any supporter is in its absolute commitment to quality, independence and impact. Activities supported by its donors reflect this commitment and the analysis and recommendations are not determined by any donation. Copyright © 2016 Brookings Institution THE BROOKINGS INSTITUTION 1775 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20036 U.S.A. www.brookings.edu BROOKINGS DOHA CENTER Saha 43, Building 63, West Bay, Doha, Qatar www.brookings.edu/doha Table of Contents I. Executive Summary ...............................................................................................1 II. A Revolution from Within ...................................................................................3 III. Al-Qaida: Localism with an Eye Toward the West ................................................7 IV. Islamic State: Ink Spot Expansionism ................................................................15
    [Show full text]