34 thoughts on “Prospect for U.S. Military Intervention in Syria Increases – Tikun Olam תיקון עולם إصلاح العالم
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  1. The question to be answered here is ‘Qui bono?’ To whose advantage?
    On my understanding of the situation in Syria, the Syrian Government forces have had the upper hand for some time now and little of the country in percentage terms is under the control of the insurgents.
    What possible benefit would the Syrian Government hope to gain by using chemical weapons? After the last alleged use of chemical weapons when it was alleged that the Government had used Sarin, Assad’s Government would be under no delusions about the likely Western response. If they are winning, why would they? If you now look at the perspective of the insurgents, they are losing the civil war, they are trying to get Western intervention on their side without success, would they carry out a false flag operation? Would they rate the sacrifice of some innocent lives as worth it if it led to Western intervention and their ultimate victory?
    On balance, it seems to me that the insurgents have more to gain from an attack like this than the Government.

    1. @ Blabbaer: I agree, it’s widely believed that the Syrian Government is “winning” the war, and so I agree it makes no sense at all for them to launch a chemical attack of this kind — especially with the UN chemical weapons inspectors they invited staying only a few miles away. The explanation that “the Syrian Government is evil” (while perhaps true) is neither sufficient nor serious, and Western governments and media should not insult people by demanding they accept it.

      So I too am highly skeptical of the allegations, although I’ve also considered the possibility that the attack could have been carried out by Government forces without the authorization of their superiors. Odd as that scenario is — especially as I doubt just any Alawite officer would have arbitrary access to such munitions — it seems more plausible than Assad deciding it’s a good idea to launch this attack under the present circumstances.

      Still, there are too many glaring problems here, and too many possible alternative explanations, for me to be convinced without seeing actual proof — especially since the Western world (or rather, the anti-Shia world) seems on the verge of making a huge and unacceptable mistake in trying to intervene directly in the conflict. The burden of proof is on those advocating a potentially catastrophic escalation of war, or making such assertions as would inevitably result in such escalation.

    2. You are right about the missing motive for Assad to do this, but no mention about the massive Israeli motives to supply terrorist in Syria to do this. This invasion will kill hundreds more women and children in Syria to teach ASSAD a lesson not to kill does not make any sense at all. So far no western Muppet Media News have delivered any proof that Assad launched these gas missiles but every one accuses him of doing it. The truth is Israel needs the US to destroy the Russian defensive missiles and destroy their aircraft so that Israel can fly over entire middle east with impunity. Notice how quiet Netanyahu gets just before he orders his White House “shvartze” to invade Syria. This was planned when “shvartze” came to visit Israel because Netanyahu has tried to destroy Russian missiles but failed three times. Now it’s up to the shvartze to do it.

    1. H. Mor: I didn’t lose anything. If you’re talking about the U.S. government, if it lost its reputation it’s because of following blindly militarists and adventurers in your country who’d lead us down the garden path to war & devestation. A path Israel has followed for many years.

      I’ve asked you once to explain your bona fides to discuss Iron Dome issues. You’ve not responded. An honest person shouldn’t have a problem saying who’s their employer and where they come by their expertise. If you refuse, I can only judge your contributions being in less than good faith.

      1. “If you’re talking about the U.S. government, if it lost its reputation it’s because of following blindly militarists and adventurers in your country who’d lead us down the garden path to war & devestation. A path Israel has followed for many years.”

        Oh, are you trying to claim that because of Israel the US invaded Afghanistan ? Or maybe because of Israel you invaded Iraq ?

        Both claims are false, in a matter of fact the Bush administration based their intelligence on Ahmed Chalabi, Israeli intelligence tried to warn the US administration the Ahmed Chalabi was not telling the truth. But hey, if you can blame Israel, why not. (Ronen Bergman published as such in one of his books)

        The US lost it’s reputation in the region because it supported the wrong side in the region’s conflict between secularism and Islamism, Obama lost it’s reputation because he didn’t support the US allies in the region, because he always reacted after the fact, and showed no coherent policy. Israel has absolutely nothing to do with it, Israel does not determine US foreign policy in the middle east or elsewhere.

        1. @ H. Mor: “Israel has absolutely nothing to do with it, Israel does not determine US foreign policy in the middle east or elsewhere.”

          You’re saying that Israel has nothing to do with US foreign policy, and its lack of credibility? Really?

          1. So your claim is that Israel determines US foreign policy ? that AIPAC controls the Secretary of state that does whatever the Israeli government wants ?
            If so, could you please tell me how did we fail so miserably ? after-all the US didn’t bombard Iranian nuclear facilities just yet , did it ?

          2. @ H. Mor: “Just yet” is the operative phrase. Bibi and his minions in the Jewish communal leadership are hard at work & have been for years to bring war against Iran. They haven’t failed yet. But if you examine our policy toward Palestine, it is entirely emasculated by Israeli obstructionism.

          3. @ H. Mor: No, that is not my claim. That would be absurd.

            Israel obviously does not determine US foreign policy, but it does obviously exercise a powerful influence on US foreign policy.

            AIPAC obviously does not control the US Secretary of State, but it does obviously dominate significant parts of Congress.

            It is, in significant part, because of these circumstances and because they are so widely known, that US foreign policy in the Middle East is viewed with derision and cynicism across the world.

            Do you disagree with any of this?

            As for your assessment that the Israel lobby has “failed” in any way when it comes to US foreign policy, that is ridiculous. Under US protection in the Security Council, under the US military umbrella on the ground, and with the money of the American taxpayer, Israel has been able to do pretty much whatever it wants, essentially without significant concessions, for the past several decades, despite the outrage and protestations of the world community. So no, I’d hardly call that a miserable failure. The fact that the US has not bombarded Iran is a childish yardstick to go by and signifies nothing.

          4. @Daniel: Actually, if you’ll recall the confirmation hearings for Chuck Hagel and Samantha Powers, each had to pledge fealty to Israel after especially feisty, independent & inconvenient remarks they each made about Israel. Remarks that were very critical. They were forced to eat crow & renounce their former views in order to be confirmed. John Kerry has never been an independent voice on this issue so he’s had nothing to retract. So does the Lobby control senior U.S. officials when it comes to Israel related policy? You bet. You may say “control” is too strong a word. But the Lobby dominates every aspect of policy concerning Israel-Palestine.

          5. @ Daniel

            Only US military umbrella on the ground ? what about the american pilots that flew our airplanes during the six days war and Yom Kippur war ?

            American tax payers money ? Do you have any idea what’s Israel’s defense budget was ? what’s percentage is the American support is out of this budget ? i’m afraid it’s quite different then what you think.
            Israeli defense yearly budget is $17,084,182,857 US yearly support is approximately $3,000,000,000, 17% of the Israel defense budget, and 2.5% of the state budget which is $115,763,800,000. Israel will do without the US military aid quite well.

            The only thing we can do with the said support is buying US goods, and Israel buy US goods in an amount exceeding the US military Aid budget. For example in 2010 Israel decided to buy 20 F35’s to the tune of 3 Billion Dollars. The Aid gives the US access to Israeli technology, and prevents Israel from acting against US interest in the world, for example in 2000 Israel had canceled a deal with the Chinese to sell them an early warning air system due to American pressure.

            In short, reality is quite different then what you portray it to be. Throughout history we heard many times that the Jewish plan for global domination. There is nothing original in your claims.

          6. @H. Mor:

            what about the american pilots that flew our airplanes during the six days war and Yom Kippur war ?

            This is WAY off-topic. COnfine comments directly to the subject of the post on which you’re commenting.

            You think Israel can do without U.S. military support equaling 17% of the Israeli military budget? Where will it get the funds to replace 1 dollar in every five it spends on defense? From Holocaust survivors? The Israeli poor? Nochi Danker or Judy Mozes?

            Not to mention if Israel can do without U.S. aid will you publicly demand such a policy from your government? If not, you’re nothing but a hypocrite.

            As for reality being different than YOU portray it: that’s true.

            the Jewish plan for global domination

            I’m offended by this nonsense. Others have tried playing the anti-Semitism card here & you’re no different. Don’t try this again. It’s another comment rule violation. Read the rules & respect them.

          7. @ H. Mor: “Throughout history we heard many times that the Jewish plan for global domination. There is nothing original in your claims.”

            Please keep your disgusting and false imputations to yourself. I have never suggested a “Jewish plan for global domination”.

            The US would automatically intervene to protect Israel in the event that the latter were ever seriously threatened. That is the reality of the American umbrella. Do you dispute this?

            “Israel will do without the US military aid quite well.”

            Great. Perhaps someone should inform Washington and the Knesset of this.

            “In short, reality is quite different then what you portray it to be.”

            I asked, ‘Do you disagree with any of this?’ with regards to my earlier assertions. You haven’t answered. I assume you have no answer.

          8. @ Daniel
            “I have never suggested a “Jewish plan for global domination”, really ?

            So how do you suggest the state of Israel has that influence over the most powerful (the only – but not for long) empire in the world ? is it a voodoo doll we use to stare US politicians ? or is it AIPAC a Jewish organization that controls politicians through donations to their campaign ? How exactly we achieve that influence ?

            The nice thing about your Umbrella argument is that it was never tested. US presidential commitments regarding Israel however were ignored by US other presidents – more then once.

            If you didn’t understand from my reply that i do not agree with your statement, there is nothing i can do to help. And just to be clear, i do not think that Israel’s influence in the US is as big as you claim it is.

            In fact let me ask you this, if the Influence is so big how come until 1969 Coke-Cola wasn’t sold in Israel ?

          9. @H. Mor:

            is it AIPAC a Jewish organization that controls politicians through donations to their campaign ?

            How does the Lobby control U.S. policy toward Israel? Let’s start with Sheldon Adelson’s $150-million in the last presidential campaign. Let’s continue with hundreds of millions of dollars from other pro-Israel donors funneled ONLY to pro-Israel politicians. These people see the handwriting on the wall. They know they will lose elections if they take on the Lobby. So they don’t.

            US presidential commitments regarding Israel however were ignored by US other presidents – more then once.

            Other than George Bush the First no U.S. president has crossed the Lobby in the past 60 yrs. None.

            how come until 1969 Coke-Cola wasn’t sold in Israel ?

            WAY, WAY off-topic.

          10. @ H. Mor: ““I have never suggested a “Jewish plan for global domination”, really ?”

            Yes, really. And if you’re going to keep bringing up vile anti-Semitic tropes, I have no interest in discussing further with you.

            “So how do you suggest the state of Israel has that influence over the most powerful (the only – but not for long) empire in the world ? is it a voodoo doll we use to stare US politicians ? or is it AIPAC a Jewish organization that controls politicians through donations to their campaign ? How exactly we achieve that influence ?”

            It’s called lobbying. Have you heard of it? Or perhaps you really think this is done by magic and voodoo dolls? Try looking it up: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lobbying

            “The nice thing about your Umbrella argument is that it was never tested. US presidential commitments regarding Israel however were ignored by US other presidents – more then once.”

            I doubt anyone else in the world shares this skepticism about the American commitment to Israel’s security. Even if America were to betray Israel at the last minute, which is a ridiculous scenario, there is no-one in the world who would count on that. The American-Israeli alliance is a deterrent, whether you trust it or not.

            “In fact let me ask you this, if the Influence is so big how come until 1969 Coke-Cola wasn’t sold in Israel ?”

            What the Hell does that have to do with anything? Why would that be a measure of influence over foreign policy?

            You haven’t put forward a single serious argument to support your notion that Israeli and American foreign policy have nothing to do with each other.

            This conversation is starting to look like a dead end, and I doubt anyone else reading these comments would be interested in us continuing.

          11. @ Daniel

            Excuse me, Lobbying is using means to influence a decision. What means are being used ? Political threats: which includes donation cutoff, Media exposure and persuasion. If you would be honest with yourself and you’ll brake down your accusation to the smallest components you will see, that your allegations and the ones written in many places about Jewry controlled media and money markets are very similar.

            The coke-cola argument was brought to show you that the biggest corporations in the US didn’t pay homage to the most powerful “lobbying” group in the world (You need to be very influential to determine a superpower foreign policy)

            I never claimed that ” Israeli and American foreign policy have nothing to do with each other.”
            Israel and the US share many values and interests, and that’s what determines US foreign policy, not some folk tales about how influential the Israeli lobby was. The US never made a decision that contradicts its own interest (with respect to Israel of course).

            You didn’t provide any argument to support your argument.

            And yes absolutely, let’s stop here.

        2. @H. Mor: No. I’m arguing that Israel has dragged the U.S. to the verge of conflict with Iran, to support at least tacitly a military coup in Egypt, to support continuing Israeli Occupation of Palestine, to support wars against Lebanon & Gaza, and into foolhardy weapons systems like Iron Dome. Independently, of course the U.S. has made its share of foolhardy choices in terms of initiating Middle Eastern wars. But in many of these, Israeli militarists supported these adventures as well.

          You’re precisely wrong on every element of your final paragraph. We lost our reputation because OBama gave one good speech in Cairo and then didn’t have the courage of his convictions to follow through on the admirable sentiments expressed. We should’ve supported the Arab SPring (though not necessarily the MB). We should’ve supported Palestinian reconciliation, talks with Hamas, negotiations with Iran, and democratization in the region including in Israel. Instead, we waffled. We pined for our former strongmen allies. We lost the opportunity to cultivate opposition forces.

          Of course Israel has tremendous influence on U.S. ME policy. If there’s a war with Iran it will be largely due to Likudist pressure for one. If we refuse to strongly oppose the Egyptian military coup, it will be in large part because of Israeli & Israel lobby pressure not to do so. If we refuse to pressure Israel to cease hostilities with Palestine & Lebanon it will be largely because we’ve bought Israel’s bogus strategy hook, line & sinker.

  2. Somehow there’s the feeling of a repetition of the past, and lessons seem not o have been learned from it……..

    First of, the United States of America is NOT the police of the world, and without authorization of and by the United Nations intervention by the USA into Syria would mean a warcrime!
    America would be very wise to at least wait for acknowledgement of the crime of using chemical weapons by the Syrian regime of Assad, and then no acknowledgement by the American intelligence services (they failed before and have not learned as present day activities on collecting evidence of whatever kind show clearly!).
    Only neutral un-biased organizations can provide evidence on this!

    Secondly, what will the USA do when it turns out that there was use of chemical weapons and that these chemical weapons were used by the opposition of the Syrian regime of Assad?
    Will the USA then also speak of “crossing a red line”?
    Parties in Syria are untrustworthy, de facto as they are using all tactics that are considered under international military law as warcrimes, and under international human rights laws also as crimes… so who is in fact the perpetrator?
    There is not one opposition against the Assad regime, there are splitted groups who fight the regime, and each other, and the ones suffering is the population, innocent children en women are killed, people are feeling the warzone and nobody cares about them, the UN is unable to estimate the number of refugees (showing its inability to even make good estimates of refugees, showing that the UN is a starting to even become as inadequate in helping people as in solving disputes!), and the USA is (again) starting to act as if they are the police of the world (which they are not!)…..

    Thirdly, and this is a general observation on and about the region, the countries in the Middle East are failing were it concerns democracy, human rights and a judicial system that is based on justice instead of revenge! All so-called efforts of a Spring in the Middle East are failing!
    Why?
    Simple… there’s no experience with democracy, there’s no knowledge of human rights nor the desire to implement the Universal Declaration and Rules of Human Rights, and as long as there is an overall willingness and eagerness to implement religious rules and laws in a society that in fact is opposing to them, no freedom, no equality and no democracy will be possible!
    Division based on religious doctrines obstruct freedom, prevent equality and block democracy!
    And, that is not only the case in the Middle East but all around the world, in the Middle East as well as the West, were religious representatives open their mouth (on whatever level) freedom is gone, and blocked!

    My opinion.

  3. I’ve spend quite some hours looking through the sources and videos about the alleged attack from the Syrian army. The videos are truly heartbreaking and horrific, though no proof whether Sarin nerve agent was used, a cocktail of chemicals or some professional deceit in a false flag operation. There are some indications part of the videos and photo’s were staged. Some photo’s of deceased children show no signs of post-mortem changes such as skin tone. The videos have been sourced to the main propaganda channels, which would be true by definition. A serie of videos were readied with full translations in the following languages English, Italian, Greek, French, Russian, German, Portoguese, Spanish, Swedish and Persian.

    A listing of video’s all translated by the Syrians Translators Union (STU). Facebook page of Muhamad Zehrawi Beak located near Ankara, Turkey.

  4. RE: “Pres. Obama and his advisors have begun speaking publicly, albeit in muted terms so far, of the prospect for a Kosovo-style military intervention in Syria to punish Bashir Assad’s government for alleged use of chemical weapons.”

    MY SNARK: Success, at long last!*

    * REGARDING A HACKED E-MAIL (DATED DECEMBER 24, 2012) INVOLVING A QATARI SCHEME TO STAGE A FALSE FLAG CHEMICAL WEAPONS ATTACK IN SYRIA, SEE:
    “Britamgate: Staging False Flag Attacks in Syria”, Voltaire.org [original source – Oriental Review (Russia)], 2/04/12

    [EXCERPTS] On January 22 a telling leak cropped up in the Internet. British defense contractor’s BRITAM server was hacked and megabytes of classified internal files of the firm were released to the public. . .
    . . . The key finding is a mail dated December 24, 2012 sent by Britam Defence’s Business Development Director David Goulding to Dynamic Director of the firm Phillip Doughty, who is a former SAS officer:

    Phil
    We’ve got a new offer. It’s about Syria again. Qataris propose an attractive deal and swear that the idea is approved by Washington. We’ll have to deliver a CW to Homs, a Soviet origin g-shell from Libya similar to those that Assad should have.
    They want us to deploy our Ukrainian personnel that should speak Russian and make a video record.

    Frankly, I don’t think it’s a good idea but the sums proposed are enormous. Your opinion?
    Kind regards
    David

    To clarify the things, CW is a standard abbreviation for Chemical Weapons; ‘g-shell’ is a bomb consisting of an explosive projectile filled with toxic gas.
    Taking into account the memorable Barack Obama’s warning that the ‘use or even transportation of chemical weapons by the Assad regime would represent a “red line” that would precipitate military intervention’, a message he reiterated last month after the election to the second term, the plotted operation, if carried out, would provide an ideal pretext for the foreign intervention into Syria. Israel has voiced the same warnings last week.
    Who would perpetrate the video-recorded delivery of CWs to Homs? The text of mail clearly indicates that they would use Britam’s Ukrainian personnel for forging videos. . .
    . . . Summing up these facts we can conclude that a provocation in Syria is the only option left for the war-mongers. Having exhaustive information on the real situation in Syria and being aware of inability of the corrupted rebel group to make any significant change in Damascus, they have nothing to do but hire a second-rate British PSC for another round of dirty job. We have no doubt that numerous tragic ‘revelations’ of atrocities committed by ‘pro-Assad army’ that were repeatedly hitting YouTube for the last two years, were also ‘ordered’ for enormous fee to the former British ‘berets’. The latest leakage deserves thorough investigation and consideration on the top international political level. . .

    ENTIRE ARTICLE – http://www.voltairenet.org/article177357.html

    1. P.S. ALSO SEE: “Fear Spreads Through Palestinian Camps in Syria”, by Franklin lamb, CounterPunch.org, 8/23/13

      [EXCERPTS] . . . Palestinian Popular Committee in al-Yarmouk Camp as well as the other twelve camps (two “unofficial” ) have reported both directly and indirectly to this observer that they possess information that clearly suggests the possibility, indeed probability, of a terrorist use of chemical weapons in the Camp, calling the Palestinian factions to take preemptive steps to prevent that.
      The Popular Committee inside the “free” area of Yarmouk, pockets inside the eastern edge of the camp, advised in a statement, “in the framework of agitating the political and media war against the government of Syria, channels of destruction and sedition have started to air misleading propaganda, claiming that the Syrian Arab Army would fire mortars and or missiles into the Camp with chemical gases, whereas these elements themselves are planning chemical attacks to blame the government much as what happened in Irbin.” . . .
      . . . Palestinian sentiment expressed to this observer by refugees in Damascus and Homs, on the subject this crime against humanity, appears to agree with the Syrian government position that allegations of Syrian military involvement are probably false and often point to the illogical timing of the attack, just days after the arrival of the inspectors, as evidence that they were probably not responsible.
      This initial tentative conclusion could change. . .
      . . . As of early morning 8/23/13, many of the remaining Palestinians in Yarmouk are seeking somewhere to flee to, visibly afraid that chemical weapons will be used in Yarmouk in the coming days.

      SOURCE – http://www.counterpunch.org/2013/08/23/fear-spreads-through-palestinian-camps-in-syria/

    2. P.P.S. AND SEE:“Syria accuses rebels of having ‘chemical agents'” ~ By Patrick J. McDonnell, L.A. Times, 8/24/13

      [EXCERPT] BEIRUT — Three days after an alleged chemical attack purportedly killed hundreds of civilians, Syria’s state media reported Saturday that government troops had discovered “chemical agents” in a rebel stronghold northeast of Damascus.
      State TV said the toxic substances were found in tunnels in the heavily contested Damascus suburb of Jobar, which has long been the site of combat between government and rebel forces.
      An unspecified number of soldiers suffered from “suffocation” and some were hospitalized in critical condition, said the official Syrian Arab News Agency. It was not immediately clear how the soldiers were said to have been exposed.
      On Wednesday, opposition activists accused the government of a poison-gas attack on several districts outside Damascus, killing hundreds of people in what they termed a “chemical massacre.” The government has denied the allegations.
      Several of the areas allegedly affected in Wednesday’s reported attacks are close to Jobar, along the northeast limits of the capital. The area northeast of Damascus has long been a rebel bastion.
      In Jobar, the state media said, soldiers discovered barrels of apparent chemical agents, along with a “large number” of protective masks. State TV showed images of what appeared to be a storeroom with barrels and other items. Official accounts spoke of the agents being found in tunnels and a warehouse.
      The official media said the army pushed into the zone after “violent clashes” with “terrorist groups,” the standard government term for rebels. . .

      SOURCE – http://www.latimes.com/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-syria-chemical-weapons-accusation-20130824,0,6477582.story

      SYRIAN ARMY FINDS CHEMICALS IN MILITANTS’ TUNNELS IN JOBAR, [VIDEO, 04:14] – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YaVEOItMfjc

    3. P.P.P.S. LASTLY, SEE: “Materials implicating Syrian govt in chemical attack prepared before incident – Russia”, RT (Russia Today), 8/23/13

      [EXCERPT] Materials implicating the forces of Syrian president Bashar Assad in chemical weapons use near Damascus were prepared prior to the alleged incident on August 21, the Russian foreign ministry said.
      Moscow continues to monitor closely the event surrounding the “alleged” chemical attack near Damascus, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman, Aleksandr Lukashevich, said in a statement.
      “We’re getting more new evidence that this criminal act was of a provocative nature,” he stressed. “In particular, there are reports circulating on the Internet, in particular that the materials of the incident and accusations against government troops had been posted for several hours before the so-called attack. Thus, it was a pre-planned action.”
      Below are the three videos posted on Youtube said to be showing the child victims affected by chemical weapons near Damascus. Despite the date of the alleged attack – August 21 – being mentioned in their titles, they were posted on YouTube on the previous day, August 20.
      Despite the 7-hour time difference between Syria and the US, where the YouTube server is located, the mismatch of the dates in the videos raised concerns among some experts about the exact time of the upload. . .

      ENTIRE ARTICLE (WITH VIDEOS EMBEDDED) – http://rt.com/news/syria-chemical-prepared-advance-901/

    4. Britam Defence, David Goulding and Philip Doughty v. Associated Newspapera Ltd. (Mail Online)
      The Claimants’ Solicitor-Advocate (Adam Tudor, Carter-Ruck) statement in the High Court of Justice. Mail Online published an apology on April 18, 2013.

      1. NOTED, but I’m not entirely convinced. “The illegal hacking of Britam Defence’s website remains the
        subject of a criminal investigation.”

  5. RE: “Pres. Obama and his advisors have begun speaking publicly . . . of the prospect for a Kosovo-style military intervention in Syria to punish Bashir Assad’s government for alleged use of chemical weapons.”

    MY SNARK: Quick, find an aspirin factory to bomb! ! !

  6. Richard. Wanted to bring this to your attn:

    “Mossad: “poison gas missile by Syrian government forces”
    According to the findings of Israeli intelligence community, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is responsible for the gas attack in Damascus.One unit of the Military Intelligence Service Amam, which specializes in wireless spy “Unit 8200″, controlled at the time of the gas attack, the communication of the Syrian army.A former Mossad officer told FOCUS, the analysis has clearly shown that the bombardment with poison gas missiles was made by Syrian government forces”.

    http://www.focus.de/politik/ausland/krise-in-der-arabischen-welt/syrien/bundeskanzlerin-im-focus-interview-giftgasmassaker-in-syrien-merkel-fordert-zugang-fuer-un-inspekteure_aid_1080416.html

  7. More than one rebel group associates the gas attacks (there have been several, but only one produced a large death toll) with two brigades commanded by President Assad’s younger brother. They also stress his loyalty to what remains of the ba’ath party more than to his brother, the president.

    So while I think it’s specious to claim the rebels staged it, especially on the strength of Russia Today pictures of a “rebel cache” of gas masks, test kits and antidote injectors, which are all defences against chemical weapons and not chemical weapons themselves, there does seem a strong possibility that none of this is president Assad’s idea. However, as long as the act was committed by what remain his forces, then he’s still responsible.

    What the Ba’ath party’s motive might be is opaque, but I don’t think the president can control the military and the government without them, so they will be calling the shots, no matter how much this is all portrayed in terms of President Assad’s personality and his own imperatives for action.

    I’d be tempted to limit any direct military action to trying to mallet the younger brother and other Ba’ath party leaders and see if that allowed President Assad more room to negotiate. If it’s done the other way round, hitting the president and letting the men in the shadows, remain in the shadows while they run everything, then the situation will get a lot worse.

  8. we are quickly reaching the stage i suggested a while back in my comment about these being very dangerous times.

    i repeat again that Putin will NOT stand idle by and watch Syria over-run by American military assisted by French Israeli and who knows who else.

    i also believe he has drawn a red line of his own secretly that has prevented such an attack up till now.

    so now you see that an obvious attack like chemical weapons had to have occurred to surmount that red line.
    and …magically it has!

    already you see Syria responding to calls for attacking it by announcing Israel will be their target.
    Iran will certainly be involved as will the Chinese.

    Do we know who has the Russian-made 3M-82 Moskit anti-ship cruise missiles (NATO designation: SS-N-22 Sunburn), a weapon for which the US Navy currently has no defense?

    how many casualties will the American people accept in a war against Syria which they oppose by a great majority?
    how many will the people of Israel accept?

    very very quickly any attack against Syria will escalate into unknown and unstoppable destruction.

    who would seek that?

    perhaps some do!

    1. @ jadez:

      While I would wish that Russia could somehow prevent Western adventurism in Syria, I doubt, when push comes to shove, that they can or will do anything, any more than they did in Serbia.

      “Iran will certainly be involved as will the Chinese.”

      Chinese involvement? That seems like an absurd prediction to me. Dare I ask what you base this on?

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