West Asia News and Discussions

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 09 Sep 2013 11:31

I think what Russia is trying to achieve is in any future negotiations the minority ( Alawaite, Shia.Chiristians ) are not completely overwhelmed and eclipsed by Sunni and the government when ever it comes is well balanced .......that would also keep Iran and Iraq interest well represented.

What is the Role of Iraq so far in this conflict ? Do they support Assad or are just neutral to the whole thing considering Iraq is a Shia majority country ?

member_27444 · Post by **member_27444** » 09 Sep 2013 11:43

But Kerry has found underwriters for this campaign 1) is KSA 2) is Qatar
No wonder some one posted an article that questions Kerry saying in testimony tha KSA would pay,
So are marines for hire mercenaries ?

In a way that underwriters dollars will reach US treasury and what ever Iran has will reach Russia I guess

Iraq has declared it's against the strikes they have Kurds and Sunni problem as it is Shia being majority

Lalmohan · Post by **Lalmohan** » 09 Sep 2013 11:44

the compromise - US provides 'intel' and 'recon' whilst all the shiny new saudi and qatari and emirati fighter jets go do some shock n awe. and the russians can advise the syrians and any iranian volunteer pilots who take to the skies to defend their faith and way of life and extra chili on the humus.

let 'em duke it out i says

habal · Post by **habal** » 09 Sep 2013 11:46

It seems that Putin indeed has put Saudi's & their bandar on some kind of notice for any more dirty tricks. A news first appeared on conspiracy sites and was not taken seriously. But it seems to not have been just another rumor.

So much for bandar's much touted diplomatic skills.

"Q: Is Putin Really Planning To Bomb Saudi Arabia?

(A: In 2008, Cheney Really Did Plan To Bomb Russia)

One of the wildest rumors about the Syria War going around last week claimed that Vladimir Putin ordered Russia’s military chiefs to draw up plans for a full-scale military attack on Saudi Arabia if US-led forces bomb Syria.

I initially ignored the rumor as it made the rounds on Russian websites and some dicey English-language conspiracy sites. But then I got a note forwarded to me written by a retired French intelligence officer making the same claim: that Putin has ordered his forces to prepare for full-scale war on Saudi Arabia.

The only other time this source had communicated to me (through a longtime mutual friend) was in the early days of the 2008 Georgia-Russia war in South Ossetia. He had rightly identified the Georgians as starting that conflict at a time when all the Western media and political leaders claimed the opposite, that Putin had invaded Georgia unprovoked"

Continue:

https://www.nsfwcorp.com/dispatch/putin ... f4e43c40d/

@ Austin
Western Iraq that is closer to Syria is predominantly Sunni and a CIA/Saudi hunting ground for Al-Nusra types who have on ocassion being caught crossing border over to Syria to help the rebels. Eastern Iraq is more solidly pro-Assad being Shia and home to Karbala and Najaf. Iranian's have managed to hammer together an Abu Fadal Al-Abbas brigade to operate in Syria from the Iraqi militia of Moqtada Al-Sadr's Mahdi Army and some other Iran backed militias in Iraq. They are going on individual basis and coordinated by Iran and not with an official endoresement or even backup of their militias.

@LM
bring on those cruise missiles obomber .. whatcha waiting for .. eh

habal · Post by **habal** » 09 Sep 2013 13:02

Germans it seems are leaving an exit for Obama to retreat with honour & dignity via backdoor.

Syria chemical weapons attack not ordered by Assad - report

http://voiceofrussia.com/news/2013_09_0 ... port-7665/

Assad may not be responsible for Syria chemical attack: German paper

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world ... 345938.htm

So no new intel, no intercept of Syrian comms, but Syria never used CW. The fact some of the child victims were identified as kidnapped by the terrorists weeks prior, dispels any question of who was behind whatever CW attack had occured.

This German ruse may be intended to be interpreted as a situation where rogue elements in Syria's army were responsible and not Assad directly. This could allow Obama to 'back down with grace' if he so wanted, because it wasn't officialy the Syrian govt who done it, but some zealous louts. Obama could back off without looking like a cowardly bully who got called.

A recent American news network interview with Assad also gave airtime to Assad's insistence of 'no evidence of chemical weapons used by Syrian govt'. This could also be interpreted as an open hint to Obama.

Fox News is more severe on Obama though:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2MntUMa3iQ

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 09 Sep 2013 13:39

@habal , Thanks , so its in Iraq interest to see the Sunni majority rebels do not completely take over Syria.

Fox News is what i read was GOP mouth piece , think GOP will leave no opportunity to target Obama considering the Syrian war has not much much public support in US , works in GOP's favour

pankajs · Post by **pankajs** » 09 Sep 2013 14:54

American threats widen fault lines among Syria's rebels

When Barack Obama vowed to attack Bashar al-Assad, several thousand jihadists on the plains of northern Syria knew exactly what to do. Ever since, they have been hiding their big guns, evacuating bases, parking cars in cow sheds and spreading themselves thin among farms, factories and the communities that reluctantly host them.

<snip>

"There are many among us [who] fought in Iraq and Afghanistan," said a second jihadist, a 26-year-old softly spoken Saudi, who called himself Abu Abid. "Our emir knows how to deal with them. And all know that while the Americans say they want to attack the regime, we are their real enemy."

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 09 Sep 2013 14:59

Kerry says that the risk of not acting is greater than the risk of acting.

I do understand the risk of acting, but, what is the risk of not acting ?

pankajs · Post by **pankajs** » 09 Sep 2013 15:06

After Bold Step on Syria, French Leader Finds Himself Dismissed as Lackey

PARIS — As portrayed in a satirical television show here this week, President François Hollande is left behind to hold President Obama’s coat while the American leader and President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia hold private talks. Mr. Hollande gullibly concludes he is playing a key role.

Later in the show, “Les Guignols de L’Info,” a rough French equivalent of Jon Stewart’s “The Daily Show,” Mr. Hollande is seen interrupting a visit to a school to ask Mr. Obama’s permission to use the bathroom.

If Mr. Hollande ever thought that his decision to stand steadfast alongside the United States in backing a retaliatory strike against Syria would give him new stature on the global stage or help him at home, the last week has been a sharp shock.

Public opinion is running strongly against him; a poll published this weekend in the conservative daily newspaper Le Figaro showed about two-thirds of the French opposed to military action against Syria. There are growing demands that he grant Parliament a vote on the matter, and considerable speculation that he could lose if he did.

<snip>

Perhaps most of all, he is being criticized for failing a basic test of French politics — protecting the country’s pride. Having quickly agreed to join in a military action, France is now forced to wait on the sidelines while Congress debates whether to give its approval. Mr. Hollande’s critics say he looks like a lackey.

Even some who have endorsed a military strike have taken Mr. Hollande to task for his handling of the issue. A front-page editorial in Le Figaro by Paul-Henri du Limbert said that no one could criticize Mr. Hollande for wanting to face down barbarity, but nonetheless his strategy left something to be desired. The president, he said, had somehow managed to “throw a spotlight on his own powerlessness.”

pankajs · Post by **pankajs** » 09 Sep 2013 15:16

Syria sends jets to taunt Cyprus

TENSIONS soared when two RAF Typhoon jets were scrambled after reports that Syrian ground attack fighters had entered Cypriot airspace.

The incursion, later dubbed a “goad-and-probe” sortie, happened within days of six Typhoon fighters, the UK’s newest interceptor jets, arriving at RAF Atrokiri, Britain’s military base in Cyprus, in readiness for any attack by Syrian forces.

The scare also led to Turkey scrambling two F-16 fighters from its base in Incirlik after radar detected “suspicious flights” over Northern Cyprus’s eastern coast.

pankajs · Post by **pankajs** » 09 Sep 2013 15:22

Analysis: Obama growing isolated on Syria as support wanes

(Reuters) - White House efforts to convince the U.S. Congress to back military action against Syria are not only failing, they seem to be stiffening the opposition.

That was the assessment on Sunday, not of an opponent but of an early and ardent Republican supporter of Obama's plan for attacking Syria, the influential Republican chairman of the House intelligence committee, Mike Rogers.

Rogers told CBS's "Face the Nation" the White House had made a "confusing mess" of the Syria issue. Now, he said, "I'm skeptical myself."

<snip>

Some Democratic opponents of a military strike, meanwhile, were looking for a way to spare Obama's administration the effects of a "no" vote.

Representative Jim McGovern of Massachusetts suggested that the president withdraw his request before it is defeated, saying on CNN's "State of the Union" that there was insufficient support for it in Congress.

pankajs · Post by **pankajs** » 09 Sep 2013 15:38

Activists Condemn Both Syria and the U.S. for Use of Cluster Bombs

U.S. Congress debates on Monday whether to authorize a punitive strike on Syria for crossing President Barack Obama’s “red line” and using chemical weapons. But as the threat of war looms, another controversial weapon is coming into the spotlight. When rumblings of a U.S. strike emerged last month, the Cluster Munition Coalition (CMC) issued a strong warning: the international community must not let the U.S. use cluster munitions in an attack.

“It makes absolutely no sense to use banned weapons to retaliate for the use of another banned weapon,” Sarah Blakemore, director of the international civil-society campaign, said in the public letter on Aug. 28.{What International law .. err .. norm .. err ... whatever is being talked about? Why should an international Convention that neither US nor Syria are party to dictate a purely bilateral ~~war~~ relationship .. the one between US and Syria?}

While reports suggest the U.S. military is more inclined to use sea-launched Tomahawk cruise missiles, the U.S. is, along with Syria, one of only a handful of countries in the world to have used the weapon since 2009, according to the Cluster Munition Monitor 2013 report released by CMC last week. Most of the world condemns cluster munition for its potential, like chemical weapons, to indiscriminately harm civilians. The bomb splits into dozens of dispersed explosives that, if they fail to explode, turn effectively into land mines long after the attack.

<snip>

The CMC report also cites photo evidence from Amnesty International that indicates the U.S. used cluster munition on Dec. 17, 2009, in a strike on a village in Yemen that killed more than 40 civilians, though neither the U.S. nor Yemen have confirmed the allegation.

habal · Post by **habal** » 09 Sep 2013 15:44

Kerry's continued exposure to Pakistanis, it seems has affected him deeply and profoundly.

Never before has a politician at the international stage, lost the plot so spectacularly as this one. & he is still out on the loose .. what is he expected to prove .. maybe to impress upon kids the portability of his visage on halloween pumpkins.

& he never stops lying.

'Bashar al-Assad has used chemical weapons at least 11 times' - John Kerry

http://voiceofrussia.com/news/2013_09_0 ... erry-5043/

Lalmohan · Post by **Lalmohan** » 09 Sep 2013 16:26

at least the jihadis quoted above aint dumb, they know that they are going to get whacked anyway...
this is better than watching the sopranos!

RamaY · Post by **RamaY** » 09 Sep 2013 16:33

Do(two) fridins passed, but there is no UK, US! Israeli ground invasion....

Looks like Ombaba and his poodle do not have access to sources.... Sigh...

Lalmohan · Post by **Lalmohan** » 09 Sep 2013 16:34

getting the feeling that ombaba has made a hospital pass to kerry-ud-din
if there is no son et lumiere show after all this, someone's gonna have to fall on the sword

abhik · Post by **abhik** » 09 Sep 2013 16:43

habal wrote:
"Q: Is Putin Really Planning To Bomb Saudi Arabia?

Russia attacking Saudi Arabia? I'm quivering with excitement. Too bad it won't really happen

. Though, I'm willing to settle for the saudi's attacking Syria directly.

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 09 Sep 2013 17:28

Is Russia Supporting Syria Because It 'Needs The Money?'

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 09 Sep 2013 17:33

Lavrov: Enough proof of rebels' crimes in Syria

MOSCOW, September 9 (Itar-Tass) - There is enough proof that the opposition committed crimes, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.

“There is enough proof of the crimes that armed militants are committing. There are video pictures showing that militants commend their behavior,” Lavrov said.

At the same time, the minister said, “there are professional assessments, given, for example, by member of the International Commission Carla Del Ponte saying there are data on the use of chemical toxic agents by militants.”

“Finally there are the facts of August 21 proving that the incident was orchestrated,” he added.

habal · Post by **habal** » 09 Sep 2013 18:06

the lying Kerry has some company now in form of a megalomaniac ..

McDonough says attack on Assad regime would send message to Iran
http://presspass.nbcnews.com/_news/2013 ... -iran?lite

err why not just attack Iran to send message to Iran.

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 09 Sep 2013 18:08

Austin wrote:Is Russia Supporting Syria Because It 'Needs The Money?'

That is a mis-leading tile; it must have been "Russia is not in it for money" because that is what the article is all about. This is a Forbes perfidy.

Garooda · Post by **Garooda** » 09 Sep 2013 19:16

Syrian Parliament Letter To The US House Of Representatives

Garooda · Post by **Garooda** » 09 Sep 2013 19:18

Legitimate attempt for peace or buying time?

Syria, Iran and Russia working on counter-proposal to U.S. strike

While United States President Barack Obama and his Secretary of State John Kerry continue their never-ending efforts to convince the Congress and America's allies to support an attack on Syria, Iran and Russia are promoting a proposal for a diplomatic compromise that could prevent such an attack.

Garooda · Post by **Garooda** » 09 Sep 2013 19:20

Syria Live Blog

Garooda · Post by **Garooda** » 09 Sep 2013 19:21

Syria Interractive Target Map

Garooda · Post by **Garooda** » 09 Sep 2013 19:24

Legit or BS by Iran?

A video has surfaced that shows former Iranian President Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani clearly blaming Damascus for chemical attacks, despite the Iranian government's claim that the media had wrongly reported his remarks.
The video, posted on the website Bolaghnews.com, shows Rafsanjani speaking last weekend in Savad Kooh in Mazandaran Province.
He says, "People are being subjected to chemical attacks by their own government and also have to wait for American bombs to fall."
Rafsanjani's remarks were first quoted verbatim by the semiofficial Iranian Labor News Agency on September 1.
The news agency later amended its report to remove Rafsanjani blaming Damascus.
Iran's Foreign Ministry claimed on September 2 that the original quote had been "distorted."
Tehran officially maintains that rebels were responsible for the reported poison-gas attacks on the outskirts of Damascus on August 21.
Iran is Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s strongest ally and supplies his regime with funds and weapons, including missiles.
Rafsanjani is often described as a pragmatic conservative who favors a moderate position internationally that seeks to avoid conflict with the West.
He declared his candidacy for Iran's June presidential election, reviving hopes among the country's reformers for a change in the country's hard-line-dominated foreign policy.
However, his candidacy angered hard-liners, who believed it would challenge their authority. He was disqualified from the presidential race in May by the Guardians Council.
In his speech over the weekend, Rafsanjani not only spoke about Syria but also about the impasse that sanctions-hit Iran has reached in its confrontation with the West over its nuclear program.
"The current difficulties we face are real difficulties. We are under sanctions and besieged," he said.
"We cannot utilize our natural resources. We cannot sell our oil. Even when we sell the oil, we cannot repatriate the money. When we buy goods, we have to pay extra and then also pay more for transportation. And many more problems."
The remarks offer a challenge to Iran’s official position that the country is not suffering under sanctions.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei maintains that the country's economic problems are due not to Western pressure but to inefficiencies and administrative shortcomings.

Video

Garooda · Post by **Garooda** » 09 Sep 2013 19:45

Iranians fighting in Syria?

member_27444 · Post by **member_27444** » 09 Sep 2013 19:50

Ok Russia says Syria should put its chemical weapons under UN control
Escape for Ombaba?

Steve McQueen role with a ural motor cycle copy of BMW

Trying to be reasonable?
Or killing the bombing effort peacefully?

Peace prize for
Putin?

.....,,
If congress votes no to strike

Will Ombaba do it?
Do while true
Bomb to keep word
Bomb to preserve the dignity of office
Set no precedents
Set no limits on presidency
Democrats are strong on defence
Pressure from Hillary to keep her chance hot
End do while

Russia is playing it very well

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 09 Sep 2013 20:32

SSridhar wrote:
Austin wrote:Is Russia Supporting Syria Because It 'Needs The Money?'
That is a mis-leading tile; it must have been "Russia is not in it for money" because that is what the article is all about. This is a Forbes perfidy.

The author was just responding to an article by Western Media claiming money was one of the incentive to support Assad hence the rhetorical question

habal · Post by **habal** » 09 Sep 2013 20:36

Some conspiracy rumors state that the 'special' package that Nikolai Filchenko is taking to Syria is nuke weapon. Because in military parlance 'special' only means one thing. Nothing else is special.

a lot of fight going on over this
http://kfgo.com/news/articles/2013/sep/ ... r-meeting/

this also seems to be a code word. A 'damascus reactor' is actually not really about a critical reactor but either a nuke or WMD which if exploded even in Damascus will take its toxic payload right upto Tel Aviv. This is what both Syrians and Russians are blackmailing the US with.

Give up chemical weapon into UN custody also means that Russia takes Syria under it's nuke umbrella and an odd weapon or two in exchange to be supplied via Filchenko.

Or else Russians are toying around with Kerry.

Garooda · Post by **Garooda** » 09 Sep 2013 21:01

Very Very interesting chess move by Putin.
Syria_Welcomes_Russian_Offer

Syria welcomes Russia’s offer to put its chemical weapons under intl control, Syrian Foreign Minister Al-Muallem said.
It follows Russia's call on Syria to put its chemical weapons under international control for subsequent destruction to avert a possible military strike.

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 09 Sep 2013 21:01

Syria welcomes Russia’s offer to put its chemical weapons under intl control
http://rt.com/news/syria-chemical-weapons-handover-619/

The Syrian Foreign Ministry has welcomed Russia’s call to hand control over its chemical weapons to the international community.

“Syria Arab Republic welcomes Russia’s initiative, based on the Syrian’s government care about the lives of our people and security of our country,” Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem said in response to the statement by his Russian counterpart.

“We are calling on the Syrian authorities not only agree on putting chemical weapons storages under international control, but also for its further destruction and then joining the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons,” Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said earlier.

Anant · Post by **Anant** » 09 Sep 2013 21:13

Habal

The only thing special is the stuff you smoke before posting. Keep up the good work. You're my source of unending amusement. Your so called brave Russians are now running like a dog with its tail between his legs trying to save that looser Ass-ad from eating some Tomahawks. Nuclear weapon. Funny stuff. I always thought Russian exports were vodka and prostitutes.

member_27444 · Post by **member_27444** » 09 Sep 2013 21:17

What if Syria has no chemical weapons at all a la Saddam?

Now where is sir johann after throwing cluster bombs in this thread?

I sure miss Shyamd sir as well. very well timed exit probably. saw it coming from his well informed sources.

It would have been a more lively and multi pronged analysis if the two come back. so much to learn when big things are about to happen finally.

Or shall we throw the pop corn into back to the future machine to get back the corn kernel

Just see that Anant brings interesting perspective. yes Russians seem to have tail but others are still figuring out head or tails you lose!

Anant · Post by **Anant** » 09 Sep 2013 21:24

The only perspective I bring is to watch this thread implode when bff of many here Ass-ad gets his head popped off on the gallows ala Saddam or knife up the butt like qadaffy duck. Will be like three mile Island here. In the meantime the iaf buys more c17's, c130's and American engines. Apparently, they don't share the America sucks analysis.

TSJones · Post by **TSJones** » 09 Sep 2013 21:29

Anant wrote:Habal

The only thing special is the stuff you smoke before posting. Keep up the good work. You're my source of unending amusement. Your so called brave Russians are now running like a dog with its tail between his legs trying to save that looser Ass-ad from eating some Tomahawks. Nuclear weapon. Funny stuff. I always thought Russian exports were vodka and prostitutes.

Equally rewarding is when Caribou Barbie practices her Arabic language skills when she says let "Let Allah sort it out".

The Alaskan Evita loves to show her inter-disciplinary communication skills as a prennial presidential candidate.

Also, Putin is a classy guy all by himself.

No shirt, no shoes, no service, as it were.

member_27444 · Post by **member_27444** » 09 Sep 2013 21:31

There is nothing like sucks
It's all maya
Do you want a weapon system that under performs but listens to the owner?
Or do you want a weapon system that works well when the master says ok not the owner?

Best is not working weapon made in the country at least it will provide some jobs and some pretense of working. Best suited for parades in local weather conditions! No?

member_27444 · Post by **member_27444** » 09 Sep 2013 21:33

A la JFK I guess

Anant · Post by **Anant** » 09 Sep 2013 21:35

Amyrao

In contrast to the constant paranoia in this forum about American weapons systems, the IAF loves them. I'd rather trust their assessment. There is a reason why the lca is mated to an American engine not Russian one. Nuff said. Now back to worshiping Ass-ad as a hero.

Lilo · Post by **Lilo** » 09 Sep 2013 21:38

^^ Is that why no strategic weapons of Amreeki make in IAF... ?