Civil War in Syria
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  Civil War in Syria
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Author Topic: Civil War in Syria  (Read 206253 times)
danny
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« Reply #50 on: February 05, 2012, 04:53:08 PM »

Big guns aren't as useful when the people that are supposed to operate them keep defecting.
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danny
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« Reply #51 on: February 05, 2012, 04:59:06 PM »

They'd much rather do it on their own.
Not really, they seem to be quite supportive of foreign intervention.
But they are not going to get it, so they will have to do it alone.
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they don't love you like i love you
BRTD
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« Reply #52 on: February 12, 2012, 01:22:18 AM »

Well opposition is getting SERIOUS: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-202_162-57375542/syrian-general-slain-in-damascus-regime-says

I think it's obvious how they're going to operate now to speed up the collapse of the regime since it's obvious what will happen to any official who stood with Assad if Assad were to flee and the regime fell. How many non-exiled SAVAK officers survived into the 80s?
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Bunwahaha [still dunno why, but well, so be it]
tsionebreicruoc
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« Reply #53 on: February 13, 2012, 04:29:38 PM »

Well opposition is getting SERIOUS: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-202_162-57375542/syrian-general-slain-in-damascus-regime-says

I think it's obvious how they're going to operate now to speed up the collapse of the regime since it's obvious what will happen to any official who stood with Assad if Assad were to flee and the regime fell. How many non-exiled SAVAK officers survived into the 80s?

Nothing says that the opposition did it.

All what is blown all over Syrian State TV is suspect. Same for Alep terrorist attacks.

Could as well be the fact that this high-ranked official could have been close to defect to the opposition, no matter how he would be depicted as close to the regime or not, denounced by one of the thousands Syrian secret services, and then executed by them. Win-win operation, eliminate a betrayer, and accuse opposition of murder.

Could also be some isolated part of the opposition, there are several petty attempts at creating some new opposition forces that wouldn't necessarily be in line with the mainstream ones.

One week ago, there was a quite interesting one hour debate about it on France24, in which the spokeswoman of the Free Syrian Army said that a small group who had already claimed the death of a colonel on last Monday was totally small, not tied to them, and led by a small wanna be Saddam Hussein. She also said that the cooperation and the coordination between the Free Syrian Army and the National Syrian Council was under construction but kept going bigger, those 2 entities trying to be the most coordinated possible and imposing themselves as the only credible opposition in Syria. If something likes that happens we would be with an official political alternative which has its official force, something stronger that gives still more credit to the opposition, inside and outside of the country.

What happened yesterday is quite important, it shows a determination of the Arab League not to abandon Syria, and it's the 1st time an operation with external forces and/or external material and political help will be officially proposed. Also, since yesterday seems that the NSC will be more and more considered like the official opposition entity and maybe it could reach the status of official representation of Syria, like what happened with NTC in Libya.

The French and/or Qatari initiative (I'm not sure) to create a council of the 'Friends of the Syrian Revolution' is one more step toward a stronger support of Syria, and one week ago some people said that this structure could even be eventually used to skip the decision of the UNSC, to eventually go toward an intervention, some forces or some help. It will gether itself for the 1st time in Tunis in a few days, it could eventually be the occasion for NSC to become this official entity of the opposition, then maybe it's not time for them to screw their credibility with assassinations, I'd be surprised those things are approved by those who lead those entities.
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Bunwahaha [still dunno why, but well, so be it]
tsionebreicruoc
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« Reply #54 on: February 17, 2012, 04:12:55 PM »

The fancy band of brothers that opposed the UNAG, without surprise:

Belarus
Bolivia
Cuba
China
Ecuador
Iran
Nicaragua
North Korea
Russia
Syria
Venezuela
Zimbabwe.

Could eventually be the list of countries to know some regime change in a more or less short term.

Those who abstained:

Angola
Algeria
Armenia
Cameroon
Comoros
Fiji
Lebanon
Myanmar
Namibia
Nepal
Sri Lanka
St. Vincent
Suriname
Tanzania
Tuvalu
Uganda
Vietnam

Yesterday Juppé spoke with Lavrov in Vienna, after that he said that a compromise with Russia could be possible on the short term to, at least, send a humanitarian help through a next UN resolution, he had to make clear a next Libya would be out of question.

Maybe Moscow always need to have a Stalingrad to move then...

Lavrov stated that it wouldn't accept an 'inequitable' resolution though. Then nothing done but if it continues to turn into war massacres, Russia's rhetoric about 'equality of treatment' will look weaker and weaker...

Big demonstration day all over Syria today apparently, Homs, Hama, Idleb, Deraa, for the main ones, with a tough repression in those cities too, but also, for the 1st time, there has been significant demonstrations in some districts of Damas and Alep, which almost didn't move so far.
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opebo
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« Reply #55 on: February 17, 2012, 04:32:25 PM »

Too bad.
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exnaderite
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« Reply #56 on: February 17, 2012, 06:47:11 PM »

This is beginning to really remind me of the Chinese Civil War. On the one side, a morally bankrupt dictator with overwhelming conventional military power concentrated in the big cities. On the other side, a mostly rural group of rebels with greater popular support and rapidly growing numbers and weaponry despite still being massively outgunned.

Big difference is that Syria is riddled with sectarian undertones, where the dominant minority is genuinely afraid of the majority.
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phk
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« Reply #57 on: February 23, 2012, 03:20:18 PM »

A lot of the rebels are probably Sunni fundamentalist assholes anyway.
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Bunwahaha [still dunno why, but well, so be it]
tsionebreicruoc
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« Reply #58 on: February 24, 2012, 03:08:35 PM »

Evacuation of injured people from Homs has begun about 2 hours ago by a joint-convoy of Red Cross and Syrian Red Crescent, announced by the spokeswoman of International Committee of Red Cross on France24, and this after several days of negotiations with authorities and opposition. Oh the spokeswoman is speaking again, she announces that 7 women and children have just been evacuated from the murdered district of Bab Amr to the hospital of Homs, and that the ICRC is looking for more action all over the country.

The conference of the 'Friends of Syria' (renamed the 'Enemies of Syria' on Syrian TV) didn't give a lot apparently.

Overall officially rejects any kind of military intervention, directly or by sending weapons, only KSA would preach for sending weapons. Not much clear though because Tunisia and Qatar would preach for an Arab peace keeping force. Apparently mainly new sanctions are planed, notably from EU. And Kofi Annan would become the special envoy for UN and Arab League. Interesting thing, in the press conference that closed the summit about an hour ago, the amnesty for Assad's family would be rejected, unlike what was said in the opening of the conference. Also comforted the NSC in its role of main opposition force but didn't give it an international recognition role, unlike Lybia's NTC, inviting it to integrate the most Syrian representativity possible (which I guess means, 'please try to convince the most Alawites possible'), that one said being disappointed by those decisions.

Nothing clear and significant then, next meeting in 3 weeks in Istanbul.
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politicus
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« Reply #59 on: March 30, 2012, 11:31:46 AM »

Bump..

Should be merget with Gerenal Syria Thread
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Kalwejt
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« Reply #60 on: March 30, 2012, 11:59:03 AM »

According to Al-Arabiyah, there was an assasination attempt on Assad today, when he was visiting already seized Homs.

This is just a rumour with no official confirmation.
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Antonio the Sixth
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« Reply #61 on: March 30, 2012, 12:19:20 PM »

I really don't see how the "end of the Bashar Al Assad Regime" is "in sight" right now.
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Kalwejt
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« Reply #62 on: March 30, 2012, 01:19:51 PM »
« Edited: March 30, 2012, 01:22:18 PM by Plantagenet Palliser »

I really don't see how the "end of the Bashar Al Assad Regime" is "in sight" right now.

It appears that Assad regime will slaughter few more thousands and regain control. There will be a loud outrage abroad, some time of isolation, and then, in few years, we'll see total normalization in foreign relations.

So typical story, isn't it?
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Antonio the Sixth
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« Reply #63 on: March 30, 2012, 01:21:09 PM »

I really don't see how the "end of the Bashar Al Assad Regime" is "in sight" right now.

Well, old megathread was bumped, that's all.

Anyways, I've never had the impression he was seriously under threat (unfortunately).
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RodPresident
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« Reply #64 on: March 30, 2012, 07:02:20 PM »

Assad was saved by Gaddafi.
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dead0man
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« Reply #65 on: March 30, 2012, 11:34:19 PM »

I really don't see how the "end of the Bashar Al Assad Regime" is "in sight" right now.

It appears that Assad regime will slaughter few more thousands and regain control. There will be a loud outrage abroad, some time of isolation, and then, in few years, we'll see total normalization in foreign relations.

So typical story, isn't it?
Indeed.  Some people aren't worth saving it seems.  Yeah, yeah, an attack might kill thousands (mostly bastards loyal to Assad) and would be horrible....as if leaving him in power is somehow less horrible.  But the pansies can feel safe in knowing they stopped another dreaded invasion of a foreign land by the warmongering West. Roll Eyes
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Frodo
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« Reply #66 on: April 01, 2012, 05:28:57 PM »

Well, this is a start:

At Meeting, Nations Move to Expand Aid for Syrian Rebels

By STEVEN LEE MYERS
Published: April 1, 2012

 
ISTANBUL — The United States and dozens of other countries moved closer on Sunday to direct intervention in the fighting in Syria, with Arab nations pledging $100 million to pay opposition fighters and the Obama administration agreeing to send communications equipment to help rebels organize and evade Syria’s military, according to participants gathered here.

The moves reflected a growing consensus, at least among the officials who met here this weekend under the rubric “Friends of Syria,” that mediation efforts by the United Nations peace envoy, Kofi Annan, were failing to halt the violence in Syria and that more forceful action was needed. With Russia and China blocking measures that could open the way for military action by the United Nations, the countries lined up against the government of President Bashar al-Assad have sought to bolster Syria’s beleaguered opposition through means that seemed to stretch the definition of humanitarian assistance.

The offer to provide salaries and communications equipment to rebel fighters known as the Free Syrian Army — with the hopes that the money might encourage government soldiers to defect, officials said — is bringing the loose Friends of Syria coalition to the edge of a proxy war against Mr. Assad’s government and its international supporters, principally Iran and Russia.
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Perhaps in the not too distant future we can expand the aid to actual weapons...   
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phk
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« Reply #67 on: April 02, 2012, 01:09:10 AM »

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/14/us-iraq-syria-idUSTRE81D0NX20120214

Iraqi fighters, arms trickle into Syria as violence grows


By Khalid al-Taie
MOSUL, Iraq | Tue Feb 14, 2012 7:44am EST
(Reuters) - Weapons and Sunni Muslim insurgents are seeping from Iraq into Syria, Iraqi officials and arms dealers say, fuelling violence in a country that once sent guns and militants the other way.

The revolt against Syria's President Bashar al-Assad has struck a chord with Sunni tribes in Iraq's border provinces of Anbar and Ninawa, where strong family ties across the poorly guarded frontier have long favored contraband and trafficking.

Iraq, awash with weapons since the 2003 invasion that ousted Saddam Hussein, is still plagued by violence from al-Qaeda affiliates, Sunni Islamists, fighters tied to Saddam's Baathist party, Iranian-backed Shi'ite militias and criminal gangs.

Now Iraqi security officials say there are signs Sunni insurgents are beginning cross the border to join Assad's opponents, and gun smugglers are cashing in as prices double for weapons reaching concealed in commercial cargoes.
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dead0man
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« Reply #68 on: April 11, 2012, 11:51:18 PM »

Erdogan may invoke NATO's Article 5
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If we're gonna do something, the sooner the better.  If we're going to sit around with our thumbs up our collective butts we should probably start coming up with some good excuses to tell our grandkids why we let this play itself out.
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Frodo
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« Reply #69 on: April 21, 2012, 07:18:45 PM »

This might eventually clear the way for a military intervention, assuming that this effort fails to stop the fighting:

U.N. Security Council authorizes team of up to 300 cease-fire observers in Syria

By Colum Lynch and Alice Fordham, Updated: Saturday, April 21, 3:13 PM

UNITED NATIONS — The U.N. Security Council voted Saturday to establish a full-fledged U.N. mission, with up to 300 unarmed military observers and an unspecified number of civilian specialists, to monitor a shaky cease-fire between the Syrian government and armed opposition forces.

The newly minted U.N. Supervision Mission in Syria is set to reinforce a small advance team that began testing the nine-day-old cease-fire this week with visits to a handful of Syrian towns, including a trip Saturday to the city of Homs, the scene of a military crackdown in recent months.

The agreement marks a public show of unity among the United Nations’s fractious big powers in support of U.N.-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan’s six-point plan for ending 13 months of deadly upheaval and clearing the way for a political settlement between President Bashar al-Assad’s government and a diverse array of armed and civilian opponents. The Security Council resolution authorizes the new mission for an initial 90 days but does not include a timetable for its deployment, leaving that decision to U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

After the vote, Susan E. Rice, the United States’s U.N. ambassador, said that although the Obama administration supports the move, there should be “no illusions” that a small mission of U.N. observers will necessarily be capable of halting the Syrian crackdown and that the United States is prepared to pull the plug on it after 90 days if Syria does not comply with Annan’s peace plan.
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Frodo
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« Reply #70 on: May 25, 2012, 06:37:43 AM »

The United States is finally moving to arm the rebels....

US poised to vet possible arms for Syrian rebels

By MATTHEW LEE
Associated Press


WASHINGTON —

As one diplomatic effort after another fails to end more than a year of brutal violence in Syria, the Obama administration is preparing a plan that would essentially give U.S. nods of approval to arms transfers from Arab nations to some Syrian opposition fighters.

The effort, U.S. officials told The Associated Press, would vet members of the Free Syrian Army and other groups to determine whether they are suitable recipients of munitions to fight the Assad government and to ensure that weapons don't wind up in the hands of al-Qaida-linked terrorists or other extremist groups such as Hezbollah that could target Israel.

The plan, which has not yet been finalized, reflects U.S. frustration that none of the previous efforts - including diplomatic rhetoric from the United Nations and the multinational Friends of Syria group, and special envoy Kofi Annan's plan for a cease-fire - has even begun to nudge President Bashar al-Assad from power. The vetting would be the first tiny step the U.S. has made toward ensuring that the Syrian opposition uses the weapons to fight Assad and not to turn it into a full sectarian conflict.

While some intelligence analysts worry that there may be no suitable recipients of lethal aid in the Syria conflict, the vetting plan has arisen as the least objectionable idea in a complicated situation.
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dead0man
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« Reply #71 on: May 25, 2012, 06:43:28 AM »

Good....'bout freaking time.
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Donerail
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« Reply #72 on: May 25, 2012, 06:47:09 AM »

Oh goody, another oil war.
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Cory
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« Reply #73 on: May 25, 2012, 09:18:34 AM »


Aren't you such a rebel?

But anyways Russia and/or China will probably veto any meaningful intervention. 
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The Mikado
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« Reply #74 on: May 25, 2012, 10:50:40 AM »


For all that oil in Syria...right.  Roll Eyes
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