Syria Superthread [merged]

[57Chevy]

Would this mean that it's alright to use force, but not to exagerate ?  :

From Reuters and shared with provisions of The Copyright Act

Islamic body urges Syria to stop "excessive force"
Asma Alsharif, JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia 01 Dec

(Reuters) - The world's largest Islamic body urged Syria on Wednesday to "immediately stop the use of excessive force" against its citizens to avert the threat of foreign intervention.

Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, secretary-general of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, told a news conference in the Red Sea City of Jeddah that foreign ministers attending an OIC meeting called on Damascus to quickly enter into a dialogue with its opponents and rejected foreign intervention in Syria.

"The executive committee (of the OIC) ... urges the Syrian authorities to immediately stop using excessive force against citizens and to respect human rights," a final statement said.

Syrian security forces have been using lethal force to crack down on demonstrations that began in March against 41 years of rule by Bashar al-Assad's family. Assad says his forces are confronting saboteurs inspired by foreign powers.

Wednesday's OIC meeting came after the Arab League suspended Syria and imposed sanctions over its violent crackdown on eight months of protests.

The League has demanded that Damascus allow a 500-strong monitoring mission into Syria.

A technical committee of the Arab League is scheduled to meet in the Qatari capital Doha on Saturday to discuss and announce what sanctions will be imposed on Damascus.

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem left after the end of the meeting on Wednesday without speaking to journalists.

NO TO OUTSIDE INTERVENTION

Ihsanoglu earlier said the 57-member body wanted to try to resolve the crisis in Syria within the OIC without foreign intervention, saying the group opposed any plans to take the issue to the international community.

"We are keen to preserve Syria's safety, security and stability, and insist on rejecting the internationalisation of the Syrian crisis and on working towards resolving it within the broader Islamic family as represented by the OIC," Ihsanoglu said at the start of the meeting.

"We need to reiterate our stand against any internationalisation of the Syrian crisis," he told the meeting.

But at a news conference after the session, Ihsanoglu warned that Syria's failure to heed calls for a peaceful resolution would make internationalisation inevitable.

"If this problem is not solved within this family, it will go to other places ... We think and Syria thinks that it is better to solve the problem within this framework," he said.

Asked if the OIC had considered expelling Syria from its ranks, Ihsanoglu said that was not considered.

"Even in the Libyan crisis lately, the organisation did not take such a decision because expulsion does not achieve any goals but cuts lines of communication," he said.

Syria's biggest trade partner Turkey suspended all financial credit dealings with it on Wednesday and froze its government's assets, joining the Arab League in isolating President Bashar al-Assad over his military crackdown on opponents.

United Arab Emirates Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahayan said he was still hoping Syria would admit observers and avoid sanctions.

European and Arab diplomats say the top United Nations human rights forum will paint a grim picture of events in Syria at a special session on Friday which is likely to condemn the Syrian government for crimes against humanity.

A U.N. report said on Monday Syrian forces have committed murder, torture and rape against pro-democracy protesters.

 

[Jed]

If Jack Granatstein's assessment of this Debka web site info ("usually reliable") is correct, Canadians may be part of a team looking at "humanitarian corridors" in Syria:Full Debka report attached for a touch more context.

I seem to recall that these plans were CONOPS done by tasked pers in the old UNTSO or UNDOF missions.

 

[Retired AF Guy]

If Jack Granatstein's assessment of this Debka web site info ("usually reliable") is correct, Canadians may be part of a team looking at "humanitarian corridors" in Syria:Full Debka report attached for a touch more context.

In the past, I've always taken anything from Debka with a grain of salt. The same goes for the reports here, especially the part about Canadian officers going to Turkey to setup some kind of intervention force in Syria. The thing is that I seem to remember our defence minister stating, recently, that Canada has no plans to intervene in Syria. The one part that I could believe is about the Turks intervening in northern Syria, but they've been saying that for some time, so nothing really new here.

 

[57Chevy]

Shared with provisions of The Copyright Act

Russia delivers missiles to Syria
AFP 01 Dechttp://www.yourmiddleeast.com/news/russia-delivers-missiles-to-syria_3246

Russia has delivered supersonic cruise missiles to Syria despite the violence shaking the Arab country and Israel's furious condemnation of the deal, a news report said on Thursday.

"The Yakhont supersonic anti-ship cruise missiles have been delivered to Syria," a military source told the Interfax news agency without disclosing when the shipment was made.

Russia signed a contract reportedly worth at least $300 million (222 million euros) in 2007 to supply its traditional Arab world ally with a large shipment of the cruise missiles.

Reports said Russia intended to deliver 72 of the missiles to Syria in all.

The deal immediately angered Israel, which fears the weapons may fall into the hands of Hezbollah militants in neighbouring Lebanon.

Russia has since also come under growing pressure from Washington, which wants all military sales to President Bashar al-Assad's regime halted because of his deadly crackdown on Syrian street protests.

But Moscow has defended Assad against global pressure and this week argued that its arms sales were permitted under international law and would continue.
                                    ___________________________________________

P-800 Oniks (Yakhont)

The P-800 Oniks (Russian: П-800 Оникс, alternatively termed Yakhont (Яхонт) for export markets; "Oniks" is onyx, and "Yakhont" is ruby or sapphire in English) is a Russian (former Soviet) supersonic anti-ship cruise missile developed by NPO Mashinostroyeniya as a ramjet version of P-80 Zubr. Its GRAU designation is 3M55. Development reportedly started in 1983, and by 2001 allowed the launch of the missile from land, sea, air and submarine. The missile has the NATO reporting codename SS-N-26. It is reportedly a replacement for the P-270 Moskit, but possibly also for the P-700 Granit. The P-800 was reportedly used as the basis for the joint Russian-Indian supersonic missile the PJ-10 BrahMos.

Sergei Prikhodko, senior adviser to the Russia President, has said that Russia intends to deliver P-800 to Syria. However Syria lacks any aircraft that can launch this missile and any ability to track targets over the horizon for it, so will be limited to line of sight attacks from ships and ground platforms. Israel is more concerned that these missiles may be transferred to Hezbollah for a repeat of the INS Hanit incident.
                                ____________________________________________

YouTube
P-800 Oniks (Yakhont) Anti-ship Cruise Missile Launch
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNztSsjmLYU

 

[tamouh]

Interesting video, the journalist is in Syria and gets the opinions of Syrian citizens. Who knows if this video is bias or not.  Seems odd, since I had thought, that the Assad regime did not let in foreign media. The reporters seems to be transported by the Syrian government, it is ironic that almost everyone he meets are pro Assad or more anti protesters. The video states that the protestors are mainly sunni.

http://www.youtube.com/user/journeymanpictures?blend=1&ob=4#p/c/3A4C018BB1B234EC/2/Zh7ksVJuseg

Fully biased journalisim. It is a matter of fact that foreign journalists are not allowed in Syria, and if anyone allowed would be on the condition they travel with a government designated personnel (claim for security, but really to manipulate where/what they can see).

If you want unbiased journalism, check France, SkyNews, BBC whom sent undercover journalists to Syria in the past few months. Some of the journalists had to smuggle themselves into the country. Others, came down as tourists and disappeared.

Exmaple of the how difficult it will be to get in even as a tourist, Try to land in Damascus airport, and just bring up you're remotely associated with the BBC, the security agents will not let you leave the airport at best!

 

[57Chevy]

              From the Vancouver Sun and shared with provisions of The Copyright Act


Canada arranging 'voluntary evacuation' from Syria
Postmedia News, 15 Dec
http://www.vancouversun.com/travel/Canada+arranging+voluntary+evacuation+from+Syria/5864932/story.html

Urging Canadians to flee the volatility in Syria now before it's too late, Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird on Thursday announced Canada is launching a "voluntary evacuation" to help the estimated 5,000 Canadians who are believed to be in that country.

Baird expressed concerns sanctions imposed by the Arab League on Thursday, limiting air travel, could leave Canadians trapped if they don't move quickly to flee the deteriorating situation.

"The time to leave Syria is now," he told a news conference in Ottawa.

"The writing on the wall could not be more clear."

Baird said that, as part of the voluntary evacuation, Canadian officials "will provide facilitated services to assist Canadians in preparing for their departure."

The minister also said that military involvement in Syria — such as Canada undertook during the NATO mission to Libya — is not something this country is considering.

The uprising in Syria against the regime of President Bashar al-Assad is now in its 10th month.

Syria has also imposed restrictions on the movements of Canadian diplomats in the country, Baird said.

Diane Ablonczy, the minister of State of Foreign Affairs, said Thursday that Canadians can go to the embassy in Damascus for help, go online, or call the hotline.

Expedited visas will be made available for people travelling with Canadians, Baird said.

There are about 1,500 Canadians registered as being in Syria and an estimated 5,000 believed to be there in total.

"The government is ready to provide specialized consular services to those who wish to leave," Baird explained.

"Our embassy in Damascus is also available to assist Canadians in Syria, as well as their spouses and their dependent children, with the needed travel documents, visas between now and Jan. 14, 2012.

"I must warn that should Canadians stay in Syria, we will not be able to guarantee the current service at our embassy or that commercial options to leave the country will remain available. I will end by re-iterating again, we strongly encourage Canadian citizens and their spouses and dependents to apply for travel documents now."

He added that while there are no plans at the moment to close the embassy in Syria, officials have relocated the children of embassy staff.

Canadian citizens in Syria requiring consular assistance should contact the Canadian Embassy in Damascus at 963 (11) 611-6692, 611-6851, or 611-6870, or call Foreign Affairs Canada's Emergency Operations Centre collect at 613-944-2471.

 

[57Chevy]

                        From BBC News and shared with provisions of The Copyright Act

Syria crisis: Russia circulates surprise UN resolution
15 Dec
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-16210330

Russia has circulated a UN Security Council resolution aimed at ending the crisis in Syria, in a move that surprised the Western nations.

The draft condemns the violence by both Syria's government and the opposition, but does not mention sanctions.

Western nations said the proposal was not tough enough, but that they were prepared to work on the document.

article continues at link...

 

[Journeyman]

From CBC today:
UN tells Syrian leader to 'stop killing your people'

Finally. That ought to quiet things down.  :




Someone please tell me again why we even bother with League of Nations 2

 

[57Chevy]

                                Shared with provisions of The Copyright Act

Russia circulates revised Syria resolution 17 Jan
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle11.asp?xfile=data/middleeast/2012/January/middleeast_January454.xml&section=middleeast

Russia circulated a revised UN Security Council resolution on the violence in Syria but Western diplomats said it fell short of their demand for strong condemnation of President Bashar Assad’s crackdown on civilians.

The Security Council has been unable to agree on a resolution since the violence began in March because of deep divisions between its veto-wielding permanent members.

In October, Russia and China vetoed a West European draft resolution, backed by the U.S., that condemned Assad’s attacks and threatened sanctions.

Moscow and Beijing oppose any mention of sanctions and say Assad’s militant opponents must also be condemned, but Western nations say there can be no equivalence between the violence caused by the Syrian regime and the attacks by militant opponents of Assad.

Russia took the council by surprise in mid-December, introducing a draft resolution that called on all parties to stop the violence. It cited the ‘disproportionate use of force by Syrian authorities’ and urged the Syrian government ‘to put an end to suppression of those exercising their rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association’ but contained no threat of sanctions.

Although the Russian draft didn’t meet Western demands, the US and its European allies saw it as a potentially positive sign and submitted a series of amendments. Western nations have complained publicly and privately at Russia’s slow response in coming up with a revised text — a charge Russia’s UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin rejected in late December.

Diplomats said the draft resolution sent to the 15 council nations Monday doesn’t appear to be a compromise.

Rather than producing new language, diplomats said, the Russians included their original text alongside most amendments proposed by other council members — but Moscow didn’t make clear whether it has accepted any changes or not.

The diplomats, speaking on condition of anonymity because the text has not been make public, said council experts would meet Tuesday afternoon to discuss the new draft.

 

[a_majoor]

Syria still has friends:

http://blogs.the-american-interest.com/wrm/2012/01/19/tehran-and-moscow-double-down-in-syria/

Tehran and Moscow Double Down in Syria

The Syrian outlook continues to worsen.

Latest update: Russia and Iran have been caught with their hands in the Syrian cookie jar. The U.S. Treasury Department recently exposed Iran’s efforts to help Syria evade international sanctions on oil exports, while Russia was caught shipping weapons to Assad. The WSJ reports:
American officials investigating the Iranian operation said it is designed to quietly ship Syrian crude oil to Iran, where it can be sold on the international market, with revenue going back to Damascus…

This month, Cyprus intercepted a St. Petersburg-based ship, the Chariot, that was moving four containers of munitions bound for the Syrian port of Tartus, according to Cypriot officials. Cyprus eventually released the ship after assurances from its Russian owners that it wouldn’t complete the delivery, according to Cypriot officials.

But Moscow this week confirmed the arms shipment was made.

With this kind of material and financial support, Assad hopes to keep his side in the game.  Currently, the Free Syrian Army is reported to consist of just a few hundred soldiers; nor do they have the necessary equipment to fight a civil war. Meanwhile, the Syrian political opposition, mostly operating from abroad, is tentatively united, but lacks a clear plan and concrete support.

How will regional powers, like Turkey and Qatar respond? Probably by arming the opposition. If so, we can expect the conflict to grow bloodier still and the sectarian passions ripping at what is left of the fabric of Syrian society will have time to intensify.

For Syria’s sake, and the region’s, the Assad family and its closest friends need to leave.  Via Meadia likes to see murderers behind bars as much as anybody else, but under the circumstances an offer of amnesty and a reasonable cash settlement seem in the best interests of all concerned. Perhaps there are some nice empty dachas somewhere on the Black Sea.

 

[57Chevy]

They are also creating enemies.
Unlike Saleh of Yemen who seeks forgiveness and offers up apologies for his shortcomings,
Assad is gearing up for a tarring from the Saudis.
Article shared with provisions of The Copyright Act.

Pressure mounts on Syria's regime

Saudis pull out; Join Qatar in call for international action

By RICHARD SPENCER and RUTH SHERLOCK, The Daily Telegraph January 23, 2012

Saudi Arabia joined Qatar in calling for international action in Syria Sunday and announced it was pulling its members out of an Arab League monitoring mission.

The region's major oil power put new pressure on President Bashar Assad, accusing his regime of using the month-long mission to "hide its crimes."

"It is not a quality of Arab leaders to kill their people," said Prince Saud al-Faisal, the Saudi Foreign Minister.

The statement overshadowed an Arab League proposal to renew the mission for another month. Qatar called for a review of the mission possibly leading to the dispatch of Arab troops to act as peacekeepers.

Opposition groups reacted angrily to Arab League Secretary-General Nabil al-Araby's proposal, which made no mention of referring the crisis to the United Nations.

"The observers don't do anything," said Rami Shaheen, who had been jailed in the city of Dera'a, but has since managed to flee to Egypt.

"Now our revolutionaries are asking that they refer this to the UN Security Council."

Araby attacked the Assad regime, saying it had not fulfilled its promises to implement the League's peace plan. But he also said the mission was encouraging Syrians to express themselves more freely.

In Douma, clashes began on Saturday night at the funeral of Mohammed Said Maddah, a protester who had been shot.

"The criminal Assad gangs waged a surprise attack and shot at them, using machine guns, rockets and snipers as they approached the Hawwa mosque," said Omar al-Khani, of the Syrian Revolutionary Command in Damascus. "We have confirmation of dozens of casualties."

The Free Syrian Army stepped in, Khani said. Fighting broke out and spread until the army withdrew.

"The FSA managed to kill seven or eight troops and capture one officer," said an activist who claimed to have been present at the funeral.

Video from the town on Sunday showed armed FSA rebels patrolling openly.

Douma is the second town in the vicinity of Damascus to have declared itself free of government control, after Zabadani.

"He is losing his forces, that is apparent. He is getting weaker day by day. More frequently now the leaders of the troops run away," said an activist in Douma.

The Arab League argues that the regime is softening its stance because of the monitors' presence.

The regime may have been keen to avoid the fighting that would be necessary to reclaim the two towns while the League decided on its next steps.

A majority of Arab states, including Tunisia and Egypt, fear that international action might trigger further violence.

However, Saudi Arabia's political clout and Qatar's growing assertiveness mean that those hoping for continued engagement with the Assad regime are holding an ever thinner line.


Photo:
Saudi Prince Saud al-Faisal opposes the Arab League plan.
Photograph by: KHALED DESOUKI AFP, GETTY IMAGES, The Daily Telegraph

 

[GAP]

Russia closes deal on $550 million worth of warplanes for Syria

Russia has remained a staunch supporter of Syria's President Assad, blocking UN efforts to impose an international arms embargo.

By Fred Weir, Correspondent / January 23, 2012
Article Link

Russia has closed a contract to sell half-a-billion dollars worth of warplanes to Syria, just the latest sign that Moscow intends to carry on business-as-usual with the embattled regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

According to the Moscow business daily Kommersant, the $550 million contract to purchase 36 Yak-130 Mitten combat trainers was signed in December, even as the 11-month-old uprising against four decades of rule by the Assad family was gathering steam and turning very bloody. According to United Nations estimates, more than 5,400 people have died since March, when the uprising began.

Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov last week dismissed any questions about Russian arms sales to Syria by saying "we don't consider it necessary to explain ourselves or justify ourselves, because we are not violating any international agreements or any [UN] Security Council resolutions."

The European Union approved an arms embargo on Syria last year. The UN Security Council has sought to do the same, but has been blocked by Russia, which has veto power.
More on link

 

[tomahawk6]

Assad's forces are trying to retake the Ghouta district, a suburb of Damascus.Two thousand troops backed by armor went in at dawn. The revolution is getting closer to the regime every week.

 

[tamouh]

Assad's forces are trying to retake the Ghouta district, a suburb of Damascus.Two thousand troops backed by armor went in at dawn. The revolution is getting closer to the regime every week.

There is continued fighting in the Ghotta district. Yesterday Al-Arabiya and several news outlets had reported Damascus airport was shutdown and the main highway linking Damascus to the airport was heavily fortified by Al-Assad army. Today, the neighbourhood of Saqba in the suburb of Damascus is still in the hands of the FSA (Free Syrian Army). There are reports that the FSA continues to hold ground in the Ghoutta district despite Al-Assad army entering that district.

Fighting is also intensifying in the Deir Zour - eastern city of Syria, Rastan near the restive city of Homs.

 

[jollyjacktar]

Assaud's wife was supposedly stopped trying to get to the airport with her children and was turned around by rebel forces.  http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2093479/Assads-British-born-wife-children-caught-trying-flee-Damascus-Syrian-rebels-blow-key-gas-pipeline.html

 

[a_majoor]

Sadly, there isn't much hope for more than a stalemate right now, and time is not on the side of the revolution:

http://pjmedia.com/barryrubin/2012/01/29/why-syrias-regime-is-surviving-a-revolution/?print=1

Why Syria’s Regime Is Surviving a Revolution

Posted By Barry Rubin On January 29, 2012 @ 4:42 pm In Uncategorized | 28 Comments

Despite what is now the longest-running revolution in Middle Eastern history, the Syrian regime will probably be in power on December 31, 2012. I don’t say that because it’s what I want to happen — Syria’s revolution is more democratic-minded than those in Libya or Egypt; the government is far more repressive than the former dictatorships in Tunisia or Egypt — but because it seems inevitable.

Why is it that, after so many months of massive demonstrations and really bloody repression, President Bashar al-Assad seems likely to survive? Of course no one knows what will happen, but there are three reasons to think that Assad’s regime is surviving, though the cost of that will be a great deal of suffering and the wrecking of the country.

First, the rulers know that it is a case of kill or be killed. Given the hated and sectarian nature of the regime — overwhelmingly dominated by Alawites who comprise only about 12 percent of the population — the elite can expect no mercy if it falls. At least, the Alawite elite and its closest allies among the Sunni Arab Muslims will lose their wealth and power; at most, they and even their families will lose their lives.

A negotiated solution of any sort is not a real possibility and the elite’s members — including army generals — are aware that they must all hang together or they will all hang separately. When they look at Egypt, where they see the former president on trial and the armed forces under serious challenge, they are not encouraged to believe they should compromise with the opposition. And when they saw the former leaders of Iraq and Libya executed, that conclusion is reinforced.

Second, the revolutionaries don’t have a strategy for seizing state power. Daily they hold courageous demonstrations and suffer severe losses through killings and repression, yet the protests cannot force a determined dictatorship out of power. As in Iran — but not as in Egypt and Tunisia, where the armies were unwilling to mow down their own people — the regime’s ruthlessness makes it quite willing to pursue a strategy of brutality.

The Free Syrian Army is the opposition’s other potential route to power. But it remains too small, too inexperienced (many or most of its recruits are not former soldiers), and too lacking in international support to overthrow the dictatorship by force.

Third, the Syrian dictatorship is receiving ample international support, mainly from Iran but also from Russia. While the Arab League has supposedly come out against the regime, its intervention is so toothless and time-wasting that it serves the regime: as long as the League doesn’t call for tougher measures, neither will Western countries.

The lack of Western intervention is another international problem for the opposition and advantage for the regime. At present, the opposition has two main requests, drawn from experience in Iraq and Libya. It asks that the West impose a no-fly zone on the Syrian military and that it help establish an exclusion area along the Turkey-Syria frontier where refugees and dissidents can flee, an opposition government can create a liberated zone, and the Free Syrian Army can mobilize.

There does not appear to be the slightest chance of this happening. Why? I almost wish that I could say it was due to Western fear of an Islamist takeover of Syria. In fact, however, the U.S. government has actually helped the Islamists there. The real reason is fear of making another Middle East commitment, along with a strange radical ideology in the West which makes it more eager to help anti-Western forces than friendly ones.

Obviously, no one could seriously propose sending Western forces to Syria. Yet enforcing a no-flight zone would be a relatively easy, low-cost effort that might help break the regime that has been the main Arab sponsor of terrorism (always exceeding Iraq in that respect) during the last forty years, and also the Arab government that has done the most to sabotage any Arab-Israeli negotiated settlement. Again though, there isn’t any chance of this happening, certainly not under an Obama administration. Indeed, Russia is selling Syria advanced warplanes so the regime can attack the opposition more effectively! So much for a no-fly zone.

What might break President Bashar al-Assad’s regime? Other than his being assassinated, the only likely development would be if some Syrian generals decided that the rest of the elite can only survive by eliminating him and his family. Even then, though, they would probably try to continue the regime under a different name, offering the opposition a face-saving compromise of making some concessions in exchange for an end to the revolt. This is an offer the opposition, unless it is really desperate by that point, might well reject as insufficient.

Nevertheless, the prospects are quite likely that Assad will be in power when the year ends. If the deadlock goes on without apparent end, the revolution might die down as it did in Iran. Syria will then be another case to show that revolutions usually succeed only when the elite is divided and loses its nerve, rather than being an inevitably victorious response to oppression.

It will also show that in the Middle East only pro-Western regimes (including the temporarily “cooperative” Libyan dictatorship) get overthrown. In contrast, anti-Western governments prosper, often with Western protection or help. Go figure.

Article printed from Rubin Reports: http://pjmedia.com/barryrubin

URL to article: http://pjmedia.com/barryrubin/2012/01/29/why-syrias-regime-is-surviving-a-revolution/

Thinl back to the 2009-2010 Green Revolution, when tens of thousands of Iranians were protesting in the streets. The reason their signs were in English was their hope that the US Administration would provide some sort of support, but no help was forthcoming then, and the Syrians know no help is coming now.

 

[tamouh]

Thinl back to the 2009-2010 Green Revolution, when tens of thousands of Iranians were protesting in the streets. The reason their signs were in English was their hope that the US Administration would provide some sort of support, but no help was forthcoming then, and the Syrians know no help is coming now.

Initially I used to think the same way, however, the situation on the ground had changed so drastically that the resemblance with the Iranian Green Revolution is not plausible. The Green Revolution did not evolve into an urban warfare with small, yet determined, soldiers securing whole neighbourhoods and even cities.

Few things to consider when constructing scenarios for how things will progress in Syria:

a) Corruption is rooted deep in the Syrian regime.  A clear example is how for 8 or so months, the FSA (Free Syrian Army) continues to arm itself.  Another example, many of the brutal videos that showed Assad militiamen torturning and abusing civilians were bought off the person who recorded them. Anything and everything is up for sale.

b) The majority of the population is against the Assad regime. This creates an atmosphere friendly for the opposition and FSA.

c) Economic sanctions are hitting the regime hard. The move to cut off the Syrian regime economically and swiftly has accelerated the deterioration of the regime. Yes, Iran and Russia can still provide support, but the Syrian Lira had dropped 50% in value in the past 3 months. Inflation is running rapid and energy supplies are scarce.

d) The pressure is increasing on the regime both internally and externally. The FSA though small in number have been able to penetrate Damascus to the level they've secured whole neighbourhoods as close as 20 minutes from the presidential palace. This is significant because not until recently, the FSA was limited to the mountain areas and Homs province.  Try to imagine the thoughts in Bashar Al-Assad's head when he hears the shelling and gunfire in his own comfortable palace while everyone around falsely assures him everything is under control.

I doubt Bashar Al-Assad will survive for 3 more months, but his regime and the security state his father had founded may still exist after he is gone. This will all depend on who blinks first, the regime or the people. Though everyone knows the Assad regime has not ran out of options. Until now, heavy weaponry and airplanes have not been used (Lessons learned from Libya perhaps).

 

[57Chevy]

                                          Article shared with provisions of The Copyright Act

Mideast officials slam UN, urge diplomatic break with Syria
Agence France-Presse February 5, 2012
http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Mideast+officials+slam+over+Syria/6104634/story.html#ixzz1lWNdB5dR


MUNICH, Germany — Arab leaders and officials attacked the UN Sunday after Russia and China blocked a resolution condemning the Damascus regime, as Tunisia urged the world to cut diplomatic ties with Syria.

Tunisian Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali said Moscow and Beijing's actions showed the veto system of the Security Council was flawed and said the two countries had "misused" their right to block the resolution against Syria.

"Undoubtedly the international community has to reconsider this mechanism of decision taking," said Jebali.

Turkey's foreign minister, Ahmet Davutoglu, said that "Cold War" logic had prevailed in the Security Council and that Russia and China "did not vote on existing realities."

On Saturday, Russia and China employed their veto to block a UN resolution against Syria that aimed to end violence there after one of the bloodiest weekends since the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad erupted about 11 months ago.

Militants said more than 230 civilians perished under bombardment by Syrian forces in the city of Homs overnight Friday.

Egypt's foreign minister, Mohamed Amr, said the Arab League would convene in Cairo on Saturday and "evaluate" the situation following the Security Council vote.

"Bloodshed has to stop. This is a tragedy that cannot be allowed to continue in our midst," he said.

The criticism was not limited to politicians, with the director of Human Rights Watch, Kenneth Roth, saying the veto had rendered the United Nations "irrelevant".

Jebali said that in the absence of strong UN action, countries should take their own action by cutting all diplomatic ties with Damascus, as Tunisia has already done.

"We have to expel Syrian ambassadors from Arab and other countries," the prime minister said.

"The Syrian people do not expect from us today long statements . . . they are expecting deeds, they are expecting concrete measures . . . the very least we can do is to cut all relations to the Syria regime," he added.

Qatari minister of state for foreign affairs, Khalid Mohamed al-Attiyah, described Saturday as a "sad day".
He said Russia and China's move was a "bad signal to Assad that gives a license to kill, full stop."

Speaking at the same event, Yemeni Nobel peace laureate Tawakkul Karman also called on the international community to expel Syrian ambassadors from their countries and recall diplomats in the wake of the violence there.

"I urge you in the name of the peaceful rebels to expel Syrian ambassadors from your countries and I urge you to call back your ambassadors in Damascus," Karman said.

With their veto, China and Russia "bear the moral and human responsibility for these massacres," she said.

U.S. independent Senator Joe Lieberman said that with their actions, China and Russia were "on the wrong side of history" and they could find themselves as isolated as Assad if they refused to budge.

The United States should look at providing weapons and other aid to Syrian rebels if Russia and China refuse to reconsider, said Lieberman.

"We have a range of support we can give them," he told the panel.

"Some of it is non-lethal, including medical supplies . . . and then ultimately it is providing them with weapons," said the senator.

 

[WRC559]

Hmmm.....a collection of workshops, empty barracks, and some logistic assets intended to support the Russian Mediterranean Squadron -- which was disbanded in 1991.

Yep, that's a pretty compelling reason to believe armageddon is on the horizon.  op:



Edit to add: While I regret giving the tinfoil-hat wackjob "wrc559" any further attention, citing his website as a source for anything (other than to chuckle at conspiracy theorists) speaks volumes about one's "reason."  :

Not a problem mate, We will be looking out for you too.
us "Tin Foil Hat" wearers are pretty scary to be around, especially while the SUPERbowl is on. (We are all entitled to our own opinions) So we hope you enjoy the information we share at WRC559.com and that you can benefit from some information there.

All the best!
WRC559

 

[WRC559]

lol. yeah, maybe i was starting to believe in the conspiracy a little too much about a WW3.
i cant help but think its possible tho. with iran and syria being very close allies also having ties to russia, turkey and saudi want to intervene, backed by nato, israel / rest of the arab nations likley to get involved. who knows what will happen.


im continually following the news in syria.

You my friend, are on the path to success, when we talk of WW3, Why are we classified as Conspiracy theorists. When your american media tells you that the economy is fine, Giving you nothing but false information why are they not discredited. When the Conspiracy theorists have many theories that have been correct, are still put down.. Oh its because we are all trained to follow the crowed. Perhaps remember, Nothing is more powerful then the ability to think for ones self.


ALL THE BEST
WRC559