Conversation

Notices

1. Embed this notice
   Tim Mak (timkmak@journa.host)'s status on Tuesday, 21-Nov-2023 07:01:52 JST Tim Mak

   Good morning to readers; Kyiv remains in Ukrainian hands.

   Today we have a travelogue from my trip to the Syrian-Turkish border, followed by what we are reading today and a bonus Dog of War!

   To read the full issue, go to our substack:

   https://counteroffensive.substack.com

   • Embed this notice
     Tim Mak (timkmak@journa.host)'s status on Tuesday, 21-Nov-2023 07:01:46 JST Tim Mak

     in reply to

     Ukrainian mothers rescuing children from Russian-occupied territory by going undercover.

     https://www.cbsnews.com/video/rescuing-abducted-ukrainian-children-60-minutes-video-2023-11-19/

   • Embed this notice
     Tim Mak (timkmak@journa.host)'s status on Tuesday, 21-Nov-2023 07:01:47 JST Tim Mak

     in reply to

     Congress wants to approve additional aid to Ukraine in an aid package before Christmas.

     The package will include aid to Israel, Ukraine and changes to the immigration system.

     If both parties are unable to agree on this before the New Year, the chance of getting all four parts of the plan decrease significantly.

     https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/congressional-leaders-are-aiming-pass-ukraine-israel-supplemental-aid-rcna125845

   • Embed this notice
     Tim Mak (timkmak@journa.host)'s status on Tuesday, 21-Nov-2023 07:01:47 JST Tim Mak

     in reply to

     Western air defense are making Kyiv safe.

     Kyiv’s defenses are now bolstered by 🇩🇪 Gepard and 🇺🇸 Avenger systems that shoot down drones and cruise missiles. So, 🇺🇦 Air defense forces can integrate modern systems with Soviet ones.

     https://www.politico.eu/article/western-air-defenses-ukraine-kyiv-rare-safe-spot-war-russia/

     Robbie Norlyn, Author 👾 repeated this.
   • Embed this notice
     Tim Mak (timkmak@journa.host)'s status on Tuesday, 21-Nov-2023 07:01:48 JST Tim Mak

     in reply to

     These people are inspiring.

     And their continued determination is a lesson for Ukrainians who might be feeling a lot forgotten. 

     “Sometimes you get pessimistic, but eventually, you have to rise up from there and just keep living,” al-Hamouri said. 

     It’s a reminder that Ukrainians can go on.

     Because they must. 

   • Embed this notice
     Tim Mak (timkmak@journa.host)'s status on Tuesday, 21-Nov-2023 07:01:48 JST Tim Mak

     in reply to

     Today’s Dog of War, Flynn. This handsome pup was spotted by Alessandra.

   • Embed this notice
     Tim Mak (timkmak@journa.host)'s status on Tuesday, 21-Nov-2023 07:01:48 JST Tim Mak

     in reply to

     Here’s what we are reading today:

     Ukrainian forces launched a counterattack near Avdiivka, a city in the heart of the Donetsk region, and advanced, ISW reports.

     Ukrainian and Russian troops continue to fight in eastern and southern Ukraine, however, fighting is likely to be slowed down by rain until winter weather sets in.

     https://twitter.com/TheStudyofWar/status/1726392403563573742

   • Embed this notice
     Tim Mak (timkmak@journa.host)'s status on Tuesday, 21-Nov-2023 07:01:49 JST Tim Mak

     in reply to

     She is now undergoing physical therapy in Turkey and she is studying to be a therapist. She wants to help children who, just like her, had been wracked by the events of war. 

     After the injury her parents gave her a golden necklace with her name on it, so that if something happens to her in the future at least people would know her name.

   • Embed this notice
     Tim Mak (timkmak@journa.host)'s status on Tuesday, 21-Nov-2023 07:01:50 JST Tim Mak

     in reply to

     Mohammed Noor Yaserji is the director of an orphanage in the Turkish border town of Kilis, just a stone’s throw away from Syria.

     “A lot of the kids… that we have here have no birth certificate… They were born into the war. They lost their parents. They were never registered. So a lot of the kids that we have here, too, are just essentially stateless,” said Yaserji.

     “And so we try to provide them with whatever we can... based on donations we receive.”

   • Embed this notice
     Tim Mak (timkmak@journa.host)'s status on Tuesday, 21-Nov-2023 07:01:50 JST Tim Mak

     in reply to

     Yaserji arrived in Turkey as a refugee himself twelve years ago, after his home in Aleppo was destroyed. Yet, twelve years into the war, he opened up the orphanage just in the last year – almost as an act of defiance.

     “It is the Russians, and Putin, that are in complete control,” he said. “They can stop at any point bombing schools and hospitals and kids. They can stop at any point creating more orphans and they decide not to.” 

   • Embed this notice
     Tim Mak (timkmak@journa.host)'s status on Tuesday, 21-Nov-2023 07:01:51 JST Tim Mak

     in reply to

     Their war has been going on since 2011. 

     “We used to be the war most people paid attention to. Now, that’s over,” one advocate said to me.

     And despite how long it's been many Syrians are still extremely motivated. 

     They’re still fighting for a democratic society.

   • Embed this notice
     Tim Mak (timkmak@journa.host)'s status on Tuesday, 21-Nov-2023 07:01:52 JST Tim Mak

     in reply to

     There’s a common Arabic phrase, inshallah, which means ‘if God wills it.’

     All of this is to say that I was supposed to travel into Syria but ultimately could not. 
     Inshallah, we will try again.

     However, I am coming back from Turkey with a lot of wonder for Syrians. 

     The war in Ukraine has now lasted more than 600 days. The dominant feeling is one of exhaustion. But after my trip – it feels self-pitying to talk about the war. in this way.