Abu the Chechen is Dead
Some times, old news is what we should look at and not ignore. The following news item is from last year.
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-iraq-shishani-idUSKCN0ZU1CG
The Islamic State’s best recruiter was a red-bearded Chechen who, some time back, fought against the Russian Army during those disruptions in the Central Asian states. Now he’s dead, killed a while back per US MI, and the ISers are looking for a replacement who speaks Russian. Last July (2016) Abu Omar al-Shishani (Abu the Chechen), a close military adviser to Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, was killed in combat in the Iraqi district of Shirqat, south of Mosul, Amaq, as reported by a news agency that supports IS in July 2016. He was considered to be the ISers best recruiter because he spoke Russian.
Last Spring (2016), there was a war going on in Azerbaijan between some Armenians and local native Azers. How many times has Azerbaijan popped up in the news? And how many times has anyone sent military forces in there? It appears to still be underway, as a local serviceman, Fuad Gafarov, was KIA by shelling from Armenian forces on Feb. 11. However, Russia is attempting to intercede by providing a diplomat to work on conciliation between the two countries of the South Caucusus. http://news.az/articles/karabakh/118796
Azerbaijan is a beautiful country. The mountains of the area are just stunning. Hikers, photographers and birders would groove on the landscape. The Azers want stability and prosperity, not disruption and destruction.You can’t market your exotic products if shipments can’t get out. You can’t attract tourists to your local beauty spots or cuisine if they’re worried about getting shot at, can you? I did not know that Azerbaijan was famous for its cuisine, but apparently, the kabab and the sherbet and baklava should definitely be on your agenda. The Azerbaijan government does want to expand its ties with the U.S.
If you look at the Google maps of the South Caucusus, the whole area is not just awash in oil and other nice things; it’s also next door neighbors to Iran. Bound on one side by the Caspian Sea and on the other by Armenia and Georgia, Azerbaijan is kind of stuck in the middle of a squabble it didn’t start.
Why does this matter? Because Russia wants a stable Central Asia and South Caucusus, too. Without stability in the region, the entire area of Central Asian states will go up in smoke again, and Putin will have to deal with more than just a few disgruntled Chechens.
Category: Foreign Policy
I’m not certain about that “kind of stuck in the middle of a squabble it didn’t start” statement, Ex-PH2. There’s a long history of conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia. The most recent serious flare-up was the Nagorno-Karabakh War” in the early 1990s. There were additional flare-ups in 2008, 2014, and 2016; during the latter two, Azeri forces were reportedly the aggressors.
That’s true, Hondo, but this conflict which started last year was initiated (from the reports I’ve read) by Armenia with the help of some Kurds. I don’t think we really ‘get’ the importance of the area to the Middle Eastern conflict. There’s also this: if US-Azerbaijan ties do expand, there is the possibility of putting a US military base there. 🙂 Just a thought.
“there is the possibility of putting a US military base there.”
Right at Iran’s back door….hehe
Would be curious to find out what the extent of that “with the help of some Kurds” was… they seem to be dogged in pursuit of a homeland and if you ain’t for ’em, you ‘re agin ’em. Not saying that is a bad thing, but I gwet the impression they have long been a thorn in the side of the governments of EVERY country in which they reside.
Here we go: I know this was a CNN source, but it’s shorter than the other stories. The conflict last year started in April, with the Azers claiming that Armenia started it by shelling civilian areas and attacking Azerbaijani forces.
http://www.cnn.com/2016/04/03/asia/armenia-azerbaiajan-nagorno-karabakh-explainer/
I know: it’s CNN, but they aren’t smart enough to do anything except repeat the news feed. There were some good photos on Reuters.
The Azerbaijanis were responsible for the security of Haditha Dam when we were there in 2004. Some poor Iraqi fisherman found out the hard way they were fishing too close the dam. Their ROE was a lot more strict than ours was.
This is a partial answer to David’s question about the Kurds. Their history is mostly as a nomadic people in the mountains of Iran. Iran refused to recognize them as a distinct ethnic group. Turkey, ditto.
The Treaty of Lausanne gave control of the entire region, including what was called Kurdistan, to the Turks, and it’s been conflict ever since.
The area which the Kurds claimed as theirs is in northern Iran, on the southern border of Azerbaijan.
WAR STORY WARNING: Did an election in Azerbaijan a few years back and it was one of the better countries in that part of the world. Saw a lot of beautiful hot women in Baku wearing those tight low cut jeans. Was dispatched to a town 10 clicks from the border with Iran and the people were great, food okay and even enjoyed warm beer. Applied for an election in Armenia next month but since the State Department contractor is apparently using old age as a non-selection factor, don’t think I’ll be selected. Shame, need to do more shopping in those bazaars.
Take a lot of pictures if you get the job! What I saw on the news feed on Reuters last year, at the start of that conflict, doesn’t do justice to the country.
I filed an age discrimination complaint against Dept of State and their contractor. Nice to be on the giving end of one of those for a change. They just don’t get it that some of us geezers still got game. I take lots of pictures of interesting sights but none of the women cause the blond does not have a sense of humor, well except a gaggle of Uzbek ladies in Kryz next to the Uzbek border. They had mouths full of gold work worth more than my pickup. Every one had their mouth closed when I got home and viewed them.
Dyslexia’s a bitch. I thought the headline was “Abu the Chicken” is Dead.
Heeheehee!
Abu? Adieu!