Unless friendly bombs has taken on even more Orwellesque names, you mean “hugh car bomb” not “huge care bomb”.

Posted by: a swedish kind of death | Dec 12 2012 19:29 utc | 3

@ASKOD – thanks – corrected
These sources seem more reliable to me: Sources: Syrian Rebels Training On Anti-Aircraft Weapons In Jordan

NPR has learned that there are movements behind the scenes. In Jordan, several Syrian sources said that Jordanian authorities, along with their U.S. and British counterparts, have organized training for Syrian rebels on sophisticated anti-aircraft weapons.
The Syrian sources would not identify the weapons or where they came from, but they indicated they were the kind of arms that could have a dramatic impact in the fight against Assad’s military.
…
One Syrian rebel fighter, who did not want to be named, said he attended a training course in Jordan and that the training was not led by uniformed Western soldiers, but rather by men in plainclothes who spoke several different dialects of Arabic. This suggests the trainers may have been private contractors, who are sometimes used by the U.S. for training and assembly of sophisticated weaponry. The rebel fighter also said members of the Jordanian military attended the training sessions.
The source said he and about 25 others took part in the course. He said a handful of rebel groups fighting inside Syria each sent a few men to the training.
Another source said hundreds of men have done the training in the past two to three months.
These two sources — along with two other sources (none of whom wanted to be named) — said it was their impression that the sophisticated anti-aircraft weapons are present in Jordan and could be transferred into Syria at any time.
“You have to unite first,” a source quoted one American as saying during a training session. The reference is to disparate rebel groups fighting in Syria who don’t follow a clear chain of command.
“They want us to have structures. It’s all about structures,” said a second source, a Syrian army officer who defected and comes from a prominent family.
This same source said uniformed U.S. military officials regularly meet with Syrian defectors to discuss military planning. He said the current debate centers around whether rebel fighters should first seize the southern Syrian region of Dera’a, just across the border from Jordan, before making a march to the Syrian capital, Damascus, just an hour’s drive away.

Posted by: b | Dec 12 2012 19:33 utc | 5

and only minutes later… here it comes
http://www.spiegel.de/politik/ausland/syrien-krieg-assad-feuert-mit-scud-raketen-auf-rebellen-a-872609.html
it’s a german link and paper, but i guess you can read the headline even if you don’t understand any.

Posted by: peter radiator | Dec 12 2012 20:11 utc | 7

What’s wrong with using rockets in an insurgency? As in Afghanistan? Here General Allen visits rocket troops in Parwan.

Posted by: Don Bacon | Dec 12 2012 20:22 utc | 9

gets funnier – the Wall Street Journal adds a new twist

WASHINGTON—The Syrian government has fired Scud missiles at targets inside Syria in recent days, U.S. officials said Wednesday, a development some saw as a sign of an escalating battle.
A U.S. official said there have been no confirmed casualties from the missile strikes and the American government hasn’t determined why forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad launched the weapons.
The Scuds were fired from Damascus into northern Syria. Some officials played down the significance of the weapons, saying Mr. Assad’s intent was unclear.
Chemical weapons could be loaded onto Scuds, but there is no evidence that Mr. Assad was testing the missiles for that purpose, the official said.
The regime also could have just been firing the Scuds to scare Syrian rebels or signal its intent to use tougher tactics.
“Why? For what purpose? What does it mean? Those type of things go to intent and you have to get inside Assad’s head and that is hard,” said the U.S. official.
The Obama administration has warned the Assad regime against using chemical weapons against his own people, so evidence that the Scuds were intended for the delivery of chemical weapons could lead to new steps by the U.S.

Posted by: somebody | Dec 12 2012 20:53 utc | 11

@somebody#10:
The Syrian Army surely has much more sophisticated Soviet-grade weaponry than scuds. The WSJ angle on the story gives a better clue to why this is a neocon plant. Not only does this story advance the possibility of R2P engagement over alleged “tests” for using chemical weapons, it also brings back the scary memories of scuds that Sadaam used against Israel in the 1st Gulf War (which could have carried chemical weapons but didn’t). This is incredibly stupid propaganda, worthy of the “f***ing stupidest guy in Washington.” Even if Feith is no longer at the Pentagon, there must be a few Israel Lobby mouthpieces in the administration. No wonder it’s off the record.

Posted by: Rusty Pipes | Dec 12 2012 21:13 utc | 13

The term Scud has an especially potent propaganda value to western audiences. It was Iraqi Scuds that were fired into Israel during the first Gulf war and the use of the Scud as the ultimate evil weapon was deeply impregnated upon the western psyche by the occupied media at that time. Since then, the mere mention of Scud sends shivers of horror and fear among western audiences.
The use of these missiles to attack Syrian targets is a ludicrous proposal. The missiles have a 500-700 km range and are ballistic. That means they travel up out of the earth’s atmosphere (or at least in the very upper region) and then return, which makes them useless for close range use. They are designed to hit targets 100s of km away. Syria has plenty of artillery rockets designed to hit closer range targets in its arsenal. These are designed to be used like tube artillery and this is the only sort of use the Syrian government could use rocketry in this conflict. If they were going to use rockets, they would use their artillery rockets. The Scuds are for use against foreign countries in a nation against nation war – like Saddam used them.
The occupied media uses the term Scud because it knows this will propagandise the western public a lot more than if they talked about artillery rockets. They’d have no story to hype/invent if they talked about the latter weapons.

Posted by: вот так | Dec 12 2012 21:21 utc | 15

The US rocket system I linked to in my #8 above, that General Allen is so proud of, is the HIMARS which has been used in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The high-mobility artillery rocket system (HIMARS) is the newest member of the multiple-launch rocket system (MLRS) family. HIMARS is a highly-mobile artillery rocket system offering the firepower of MLRS on a wheeled chassis. HIMARS was developed by Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control under an advanced concept technology demonstration (ACTD) programme, placed in 1996.
In addition to the standard MLRS round, HIMARS is capable of launching the entire MLRS family of munitions, including the extended-range rocket, the reduced-range practice rocket and all future variants. HIMARS carries a single six-pack of MLRS rockets, or one army tactical missile system (ATACMS) missile.
The extension of the rocket motor has resulted in a reduction in the payload to 518 M85 grenades, but the dispersion of the grenades is improved for better effectiveness with fewer grenades.

M85 grenades have another name — cluster bombs — which some narrow-minded anti-Americans want to ban. In the past there have been large numbers of unexploded M85 submunitions that have failed to detonate as designed and failed to self-destruct afterwards. In effect these submunitions are more dangerous than other types because the self destruct mechanism makes them more problematic to deal with. Children are attracted to them, and then suffer grievous injuries when the explode.
Michael Gordon probably didn’t notice.

Posted by: Don Bacon | Dec 12 2012 21:42 utc | 17

Bottalk @ 14
“The term Scud has an especially potent propaganda value to western audiences.”
How right you are
Just put this up in the comment section at my place
dailystarlebanon
It was not immediately clear why Assad’s forces would deploy Scuds, which can have a range of up to a few hundred km and are best-known internationally from the 1991 Gulf War when Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein fired them at Israel.
wash, rinse, repeat
It’s always the same old, same old

Posted by: Penny | Dec 12 2012 22:16 utc | 19

@ askod [#3]
Q: I call bullshit
R: wonder how that sounds on the phone… :o)

Posted by: Daniel Rich | Dec 12 2012 22:30 utc | 21

@ Rusty Pipes [#12]
Q: The WSJ angle on the story gives a better clue to why this is a neocon plant.
R: Why not call a bull a bull? Do not trust rags run by Jews when it comes to the M.E. Uh-oh… Not PC? Scuds are [ancient duds] for large/r, static targets. The opposite of the supposedly fluid, Syrian guerrilla hordes.

Posted by: Daniel Rich | Dec 12 2012 22:37 utc | 23

@ BOT TAK [#14]
Q: Since then, the mere mention of Scud sends shivers of horror and fear among western audiences.
R: My testicles cringe a little and say ‘Bullocks.’ That’s about it.

Posted by: Daniel Rich | Dec 12 2012 22:42 utc | 25

@Daniel Rich #22
Do not trust rags run by rightwing Zionists. At one time, the WSJ was known for its crackpot editorial page and its crackerjack reporting. It’s all crackpot now since the neocons have taken over.

Posted by: Rusty Pipes | Dec 12 2012 23:42 utc | 27

Penny @n 1 — Indeed, that’s what Nobel Peace Prize presidents of the USA do! Make war, not peace.
BTW, how many wars has Obama launched on his own during his presidency? Yemen, or was that a continuation of a Bush war? Syria absolutely is his.
Where else?

Posted by: jawbone | Dec 13 2012 0:09 utc | 29

Once again, all this shows is that the US and NATO and Israel are concerned over the very existence of Syrian missiles, as well as Hizballah missiles in Lebanon, and the entire Syrian crisis is over how to degrade Syrian and Hizballah missiles arsenals and military capability so as to better enable an Iran war.
The only way to do that is to have the US and NATO (and possibly Turkey and Israel) attack Syria with air strikes to destroy Syria’s missile arsenal and launchers and more importantly its command and control capability, as well as enable Israel to attack Hizballah in both the south of Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley.
This is the goal, this is the plan and it has been so all along despite any and all statements to the contrary by the US and NATO. They have been lying from day one about their intentions to attack Syria.

Posted by: Richard Steven Hack | Dec 13 2012 0:14 utc | 31

State’s Nuland: “as the regime becomes more and more desperate . .it is resorting to increased lethality and more vicious weapons” and that now includes ” use of another egregious weapon, this kind of barrel bomb.”
Nuland likes “egregious” — past such utterances have included
-one of the most egregious and disgusting cover-ups
-egregious abuses that the regime is exacting on its people.
-the most egregious and horrific violence we’ve seen exacted
-who has egregiously violated its international commitments
-suffer from egregious violations of their human rights.
Today:

MS. NULAND: We talked about this a little bit yesterday, Jill. I think that I was able to confirm yesterday what we had said to you on background in our conference call that as the regime becomes more and more desperate, we see it resorting to increased lethality and more vicious weapons moving forward. And we have in recent days seen missiles deployed. I’m not going to comment, because it’s going to take me into intelligence, in terms of precise kinds of missiles. I would also say that we’re seeing use of another egregious weapon, this kind of barrel bomb, which is an incendiary bomb that contains flammable materials. It’s sort of a napalm-like thing, and it’s completely indiscriminate in terms of civilians, so very, very concerning and indicative of the regime’s desperation and the regime’s brutality.

So look for barrel bomb in the NYTimes. Chemical weapons are so yesterday.

Posted by: Don Bacon | Dec 13 2012 0:21 utc | 33

@ RSH 29 — [attack Syria with air strikes] is the goal, this is the plan
So why haven’t they done it, in your view? What are they waiting for?

Posted by: Don Bacon | Dec 13 2012 0:23 utc | 35

@31 is egregious worse than unacceptable? They both cause outrage.

Posted by: dh | Dec 13 2012 0:32 utc | 37

One Syria “weapons expert” is UK-based (of course) Brown Moses. He has been quoted by FP and it’s no surprise when he’s quoted by others who are trying to build a case. On his site you will see the naval mines, incendiary bombs and Grad missiles as a part of Syria’s “escalation” because of “desperation.”
Of course even if true this is far below the US level of “shock and awe” devastation.

Posted by: Don Bacon | Dec 13 2012 1:06 utc | 39

@Don Bacon #31
Nuland appears to be going off-message by mentioning napalm:

I would also say that we’re seeing use of another egregious weapon, this kind of barrel bomb, which is an incendiary bomb that contains flammable materials. It’s sort of a napalm-like thing, and it’s completely indiscriminate in terms of civilians, so very, very concerning and indicative of the regime’s desperation and the regime’s brutality.

When trying to demonize Assad for the American public, you’d think Administration officials would avoid mentioning weapons like napalm that call to mind American Vietnam atrocities (not to mention Israel’s use of DIME in Gaza). It’s harder to type them as egregious “others” when you raise images that parallel “us.”

Posted by: Rusty Pipes | Dec 13 2012 1:20 utc | 41

On the Scuds it does seem a bit like using a sledgehammer to crack a walnut. I would doubt Scuds would be effective against a guerilla force but you never know (if the rebels have seized a few of those ghost towns around Damascus).
On the topic of Scuds the most prominent use I can think of was the “War of the Cities” during the Iran-Iraq war between Baghdad and Tehran. Baghdad fired so much Scud-B missiles that 2,000 Tehran residents were killed. Iran responded by buying Hwasong-5s, a SCUD varient, from North Korea and launching them at Baghdad.
Like most I don’t see any moral outrage at using SCUD’s. If you are sitting at your computer and a US cruise missile drops in through your roof, you are likely dead…. If you are sitting at your computer and a SCUD missile drops in through your roof, you are likely just as dead. Hard to argue that one is moral and one is immoral. In short bombs are bombs, they all do the same thing.
The only area morality comes in is who you are aiming the bombs at. Sounds like Damascus is firing them at the front lines of the rebel advance (in short Military targets). I read on this site earlier today that the FSA packed 200 Alawites into a building and fired mortars at it (civilian targets).
Finally don’t know if this was mentioned already, but anyone think the SCUD line is being promoted to defend the deployment of Patriots in Turkey. Patriots can down SCUDs.

Posted by: Colm O’ Toole | Dec 13 2012 1:29 utc | 43

@ Rusty Pipes 39
Well I agree with you. One of the aspects that really flips my bic is that the US can do whatever in foreign countries, destroying people like they’re squirrels, and call it counter-insurgency, when the US is really defending a military occupation and a puppet government, but when a government (like Syria) encounters a real challenge and uses 1/10 of the killing power the US uses it’s somehow a crime against humanity. The US has regularly used napalm, cluster bombs and WP. In Fallujah, Iraq: “Medical staff and others reported seeing people, dead and alive, with melted faces and limbs, injuries consistent with the use of phosphorous bombs.”

Posted by: Don Bacon | Dec 13 2012 1:48 utc | 45

Syria is a continuation of what was started under Bush
That’s the way to look at it. At least the US, give it credit, has linked al-Nusrah directly to the al-Qaeda the US, intentionally or not, brought to power in Iraq. It’s a direct consequence of Operation Iraqi Fiasco which was started under Bush, yes, but was a fully bipartisan affair.

Posted by: Don Bacon | Dec 13 2012 1:55 utc | 47

Obomber sponsoring another terror group [totally off topic – sorry. Just very much po]:
After Deadly Siege in Gaza, US to Restock Israeli Munitions Israel continues its retaliation over Palestinian observer status
– Jacob Chamberlain, staff writer
The U.S. Department of Defense stated this week that it will now replenish all of the munitions used by Israel in its recent eight day siege on Gaza, which lead to the deaths of over 180 Palestinians and hundreds of injuries—a large portion being children.
The DoD notified Congress on Monday of the $647 million deal with Israel to restock the Israel Air Force (IAF) with munitions used in the over one thousand bombings conducted during the “Operation Pillar of Defense” on Gaza last month. Congress is expected to approve the deal this week.
The DoD said the deal includes roughly 7,000 Joint Attack Munitions kits, and 10,000 bombs of various kinds, mostly bunker-buster bombs, including 1,725 BLU-109 bunker-buster bombs, and 3,450 GBU-39 bunker-buster bombs.
In addition to the large amount of civilian casualties, the assault on Gaza also destroyed roughly 8,000 buildings and roughly $1.2 billion in infrastructural damage, according to Palestinian officials.
“The United States is committed to the security of Israel, and it is vital to U.S. national interests to assist Israel to develop and maintain a strong and ready self-defense capability,” the Pentagon said in a statement.
Meanwhile, Israeli officials announced Wednesday that it will now withhold needed tax revenues from the Palestinian administration in the West Bank for at least four months in retaliation for the Palestinians’ bid for observer status at the UN this month. The December funds transfer was already withheld.

Posted by: Daniel Rich | Dec 13 2012 2:54 utc | 49

Damn. What a shame we haven’t had a major attack on a North American urban center that the assholes in DC can blame on Assad. Where the fuck is Dick Cheney when we need him?

Posted by: PissedOffAmerican | Dec 13 2012 3:33 utc | 51

Ambassador to Syria Robert Ford speaking, Dec 12
It’s President Assad’s fault that AQ is in Syria. . .

The Assad regime’s brutality has created an environment inside Syria that al-Qa’ida in Iraq (AQI) is working hard to exploit.

. . .and the terrorists aren’t responsible for violence . .

I want to be clear: President Assad and his inner circle bear the overwhelming responsibility for the violence that continues to escalate inside of Syria.

. . .so stop that rebel support for al-Nusrah . .

We call on all responsible actors to speak out against and distance themselves from al-Nusrah Front

. . .because the resolved fat cats are demonstrating. . .

This week’s Friends of the Syrian People meeting hosted by the Government of Morocco will demonstrate the international community’s growing resolve

. . .and we want you to remember, in spite of ther victories, AQ is bad.

This is your revolution, your country, and your future – not al-Qa’ida’s.

. . .that’s it folks, from my Cairo penthouse.

Posted by: Don Bacon | Dec 13 2012 4:12 utc | 53

AP has quoted the Russian deputy foreign minister as saying that the “rebels” might win. It is all over mainstream media.
What he said in fact was this:

Moscow has admitted the possibility that the Syrian opposition may emerge victorious as government forces continue to lose more territory as the conflict rages on, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov said.
An opposition victory in Syria cannot be ruled out and Russia is working on plans to evacuate its citizens from the Middle Eastern nation if necessary, Russian news agencies quoted the Kremlin’s special envoy for Middle East affairs as saying on Thursday.
“One must look the facts in the face … the regime and government in Syria is losing control of more and more territory,” state-run RIA quoted the envoy, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov, as saying. “Unfortunately, the victory of the Syrian opposition cannot be ruled out.”
Moscow warns Syria rebels could seize chemical weapons
Moscow has voiced concern that Syrian chemical weapons could fall into the hands of rebels and terrorists.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov warned Thursday of emerging terrorist hotbeds that had been sprouting throughout Syria and the Sinai Peninsula.
“Al-Qaeda extremists constitute a large part of the armed opposition forces,” he said, adding Syrian militants could and actually had already been seizing arms stockpiles.
In the long run, Mr. Bogdanov said, the same fate would befall the government’s chemical arsenal.

Posted by: somebody | Dec 13 2012 11:34 utc | 55

in case syria falls to the hand of these western backed monsters ….

Posted by: Kalimbour | Dec 13 2012 12:13 utc | 57

@58, well the thing is, some political analysts suggest Israel has all its interest for the Sinai to become a terrorist hotbed, so Israel has an excuse to invade the Sinai (multiple reasons), i even think one of these article has been relayed by MoA. As if Morsi was going do do ANYTHING about it! That muslim bro slides up and down the Ziofascist D@%#! sorry for my language, im just disgusted and desperate! Everything is just SO OBVIOUS!

Posted by: Kalimbour | Dec 13 2012 12:42 utc | 59

Russia really couldn’t have done any more than it already has done. Only Syrians can decide their fate. If the people of Syria are not prepared to fight for their Government, they have effectively chosen sides with the opposition, in which case they can only blame themselves for not preventing what is happening.
If Syrians are happy to see their country decimated in the process of getting a new head of State, with hundreds of thousands killed, then they’re welcome to do so, but more fool them. They will have to go through those who wish to protect their present way of life.
Sure foreign extremists have entered the fray, but have only succeeded because the opposition supports them. If these are the sort of characters that the opposition sides itself with, and that the opposition really does represent the Syrian majority, then Syria isn’t worth saving.
But the will of the people will prevail.
As a side note, however, I wonder if Russia would facilitate the creation of a breakaway republic along the mountains and down to the coast – A return to the Alawite state..

Posted by: Pat Bateman | Dec 13 2012 13:06 utc | 61

6 scuds fired is meaningful?

Posted by: scottindallas | Dec 13 2012 13:46 utc | 63

This is what Russia & China could have done to save Syria.
They could have requested to be a major part of a UN peacekeeping force to be deployed on Syria’s borders. The mission would have been to stop the infiltration of Libyan and other foreign Jihadists. Of course its too late for that. They could actually put their words into action even now. Why not say that the Syrian Govt has requested boots on the ground to protect civilian areas from terrorists like Nusra Front. In the end, I regret to say, Syria is not worth the sacrifice for Russia & China. These two major powers may be paving the way for the color revolutions ultimate destination: (Moscow & Beijing)
It seems to me they should have drawn the line on Syria. The next battle against zionist think tanks & ngos will be on Russian & Chinese soil. Putin should have been more wise.

Posted by: Hilmi Hakim | Dec 13 2012 15:15 utc | 65

@ Pat Bateman

Only Syrians can decide their fate. If the people of Syria are not prepared to fight for their Government, they have effectively chosen sides with the opposition

If more Syrians are prepared to fight for the Government than those fighting against it, Assad wouldn’t be going anywhere

There is more to it than that. Fighters are flooding in from all over the Middle East. As the US learned during the Iraq war, foreign fighters are an almost inexhaustable supply. It is not just a question of “If Assad falls it’s because his people didn’t fight for him” they have been fighting almost 2 years now.
But how do you fight against someone who can flood in thousands of new fighters every month, who has Saudi Arabian wealth buying them new supplies and well established logistical routes through neighbouring countries.

Posted by: Colm O’ Toole | Dec 13 2012 15:48 utc | 67

Today, the propaganda machines were in full operation. It was obvious to us that something was being built up. The Russian Deputy Foreign Minister was misquoted in headlines couched in language suggesting Russia’s surrender to NATO machinations. If you read the articles, all Mr. Bogdanov says is that the Syrian government is losing control of some parts of the country and that “it is possible” that the opposition might win. Instead of reading his statements as speculation, they are offered to an audience as headlines conclusively heralding Russia’s abandonment of Dr. Assad.
Sergei Lavrov announced clearly that the United States has violated its agreement under the Geneva Declaration; that NATO is, in fact, directly involved in fighting in Syria. This is basically a declaration of war. Iran’s forces will soon begin pouring across Iraq to begin the much-anticipated process of exterminating the Jihadist garbage infesting Syria. You see Iran is not only fighting for it’s survival but it is also fighting the survival of Shiaism, the protection of it’s holy shrines and mosques. This cannot be allowed to happen.
This is the much vaunted Mayan Night Wave, the victory of Islam and Rus against the Khazars and their Islamic and Christian mercenaries. Time is very short indeed.

Posted by: hans | Dec 13 2012 16:46 utc | 69

The propaganda machine has been in full motion from the onset.
@Pirouz
As I understand it, 75% of Syria is barren wasteland. I am yet to see any proof of rebel controlled areas that are anything more than ruinous ghost ghettos or where farm animals make up the majority of the population.
@Colm
Fair point. That being said, the ultimate aim of rebel supporters must then be the destruction of Syria. It’s clearly not about democracy – Bahrain showed us that. If an armed victory is only achieved through foreign fighters, it is a misrepresentation of what Syrians really want. Rebel supporters will be defeated by Syrians at the polls. They must be aware of this…unless Syrians are only given a choice between head of the Syrian National Council and the head of the Syrian National Coalition..

Posted by: Pat Bateman | Dec 13 2012 17:03 utc | 71

Hans,
This is not about Shiah-Sunni split in Syria – most Sunnis – I will argue – prefer the current govt. in Syria then what the Jihadist terrorist got to offer, which is basically Taliban Afghanistan ala 1990s. Who wants to live in an islamic Emirates where the only entertainment is weekly beheadings by kids – Syrian Sunni islam is very different to what the Wahabi Saudis are trying to force on that country. This is also a war within Sunni Islam – either join Jihadist groups who view you as semi-Muslim to oust the govt. and maybe kill you afterwards (like what happend in Libya) or stick with the govt. and see these terrorists defeated. Did you know that the tomb of the Sufi shaykh Sirajuddin in Aleppo was attacked and damaged by salafi/wahabi terrorists? The same thing has happened in Libya with the tomb of Ahmad Zarruq.

Posted by: Irshad | Dec 13 2012 17:16 utc | 73

Irshad,
I did not mention any Shiah-Sunni split or conflict, what I am saying is that the Khazars with their Islam and Christian mercenaries are battling Islam led by Iran and Orthodox Christianity led by the Rus. The end result is the new enlightment as forecast by the Mayans (my interpretation).

Posted by: hans | Dec 13 2012 17:51 utc | 75

Syria denies using Scud missiles against militants
http://english.ruvr.ru/2012_12_13/Syria-denies-using-Scud-missiles-against-militants/
In a statement on Thursday, the Syrian Foreign Ministry denied the reports that the Syrian government is using Scud missiles against armed opposition groups.
The statement described the reports as “little more than a conspiracy.”
On Wednesday, a source in the US Administration told Fox News that the Syrian troops fired Scud missiles at northern areas controlled by the Free Syrian Army.”

Posted by: вот так | Dec 13 2012 18:42 utc | 77

Won’t Get Fooled Again? Hyping Syria’s WMD ‘Threat’
http://www.medialens.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=712:wont-get-fooled-again-hyping-syrias-wmd-threat&catid=25:alerts-2012&Itemid=69
“Reading about crimes of state over many years, it is tempting to try to fathom the mind-set of political leaders. What actually is going on in their heads when they order sanctions that kill hundreds of thousands of children? What is in their hearts when they wage needless wars that shatter literally millions of lives? Are they desperately cruel, mindlessly stupid? Do they imagine they are living in a kind of hell where monstrous acts have to be committed to avoid even worse outcomes? Are they indifferent, focused on what will bring them short-term political and economic gain? Are they morally resigned, perceiving themselves as essentially powerless in the face of invincible political and economic forces (‘If I didn’t do it, someone else would.’)?
Similar questions come to mind as the US and UK governments once again raise the spectre of ‘weapons of mass destruction’ to demonise a target for ‘regime change’, this time in Syria. What is actually going on in the minds of people who know that exactly the same ploy was exposed as a cynical deception just a few years ago? Do they view the public with contempt? Are they laughing at us? Are they playing the only card they perceive to be available to them; one that they know will work imperfectly, but will have to do?”
I would ask the same questions of the media and especially of the oligarchs behind all this butchery.

Posted by: вот так | Dec 13 2012 19:17 utc | 79

More than 100 countries have recognized the new Syrian opposition coalition, and the coalition head, considering that backing, has endorsed the al-Nusrah Front, which puts him at odds with the U.S.
Ahmad Moaz Al-Khatib: “We love our country. We can differ with parties that adopt political ideas and visions different from ours. But we ensure that the goal of all rebels is the fall of the regime.”
Al-Khatib owes much of his support to the Muslim Brotherhood. The US, France and Qatar carefully ensured that two-thirds of the Coalition leadership had ties to the Muslim Brotherhood or were politically allied with the group, a composition which resembles that of the new Supreme Military Council.
The Muslim Brotherhood has backed up al-Khatib on this issue. US blacklisting of the jihadist Al-Nusra Front as a “terrorist organisation” was “wrong and hurried,” Syria’s influential opposition Muslim Brotherhood said in a statement on Wednesday. “We in the Muslim Brotherhood in Syria believe that some states’ decision to add revolutionary movements in Syria to their lists of terrorist organisations was a hurried, wrong move that should be condemned,” the Brotherhood said.
Meantime, it looks like France may be moving into the schism created by the U.S. At a Friends of Syria conference in Marrakech, Morocco, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said that recognition by the international community could allow for more humanitarian assistance — and possibly military aid — to the rebels. Mr. Fabius said the European Union is renewing its weapons embargo on Syria every three months rather than annually to give it more flexibility as the situation on the ground changes.
“We want to have the ability to continue or to change our attitude on this point — the fact that the coalition, which is asking for the right to defend itself — is now being recognized by a hundred countries, yesterday the U.S. and first France, I think this is a very important point,” he said.

Posted by: Don Bacon | Dec 13 2012 21:13 utc | 81

Yeah Noirette: whether these comments are ironc or not, i think u should jsut imagine urself in such a position! No compassion for suffering ppl? Great ure such a tough guy! Think about what u just said! U will! If ur family was in danger? think about it! Think urself thru the nite! THINK about it! And, Noirette, u are going to think about it! Dream urself to death!

Posted by: Kalimbour | Dec 13 2012 21:34 utc | 83

83) The whole “non-intervention” into Syria is beyond cynical, it is not Noirettes fault, I think she was trying to give an impression of the thinking behind it.
Hardships fuel anti-West rage

For residents with money, food is still available. Yet after 22 months of revolution even those with savings are running out of cash, and the city’s middle class is joining the poor in the food queues.
Water, fuel and electricity are in critical shortage. Medical facilities are often swamped with casualties.
But Aleppo is not an encircled city deep in Syria. It sits just 50km across the border from Turkey, along a direct road link from the Turkish town of Killis straight through opposition-held territory. Killis should be a hub of international aid workers and food warehouses, distributing critical humanitarian aid supplies including flour, medicines and blankets.
It is nothing of the sort, however. In seven assignments in northern Syria this year I have yet to see evidence suggesting that any of the much trumpeted “non-lethal aid” to opposition areas has arrived.
The aid vacuum has created a Western policy failure in its own right, allowing a sense of abandonment to turn into anti-Western sentiment. From faraway Morocco the leaders of Syria’s Western-backed opposition now say they are planning to move hundreds of millions of dollars worth of humanitarian aid into the most deprived areas of the country.
They must move fast before winter turns a disaster into a catastrophe. Even if they succeed, however, they will be too late to turn around the popular perception that the West has washed its hands of Syria’s suffering.

Posted by: somebody | Dec 13 2012 22:44 utc | 85

and this

We are falling under the conditions of a siege – for God’s sake, help us,” Abu Ahmed, 52, the head of Hanano council, said. He shook his fists in the air and there were tears in his eyes.
“We have nothing to do with armed groups. We are civilians, but the regime is using bread as a weapon against us! They want us hungry. We are in crisis.”
The hungry crowd outside pushed and surged, banging their fists against the gates. An FSA fighter suddenly burst into the office and began screaming at the staff, demanding bread for the fighters on the frontlines.
“Two units abandoned their positions today because they hadn’t been fed for 24 hours!” he yelled. “Give us bread or else we’ll lose even more ground.” An official argued with him briefly, but the power of the gun prevailed and a van was loaded with bread.
Support for the FSA is waning as the hunger grows and desperation sets in with the winter.
“We are caught between three rocks,” a man said. “The FSA, who thieve and can’t look after us; a regime that would steal the air from our lungs if it could; and a world that doesn’t care.”

above article blames the Syrian army deliberately targeting civilian infrastructure, however there is this contradictory report

edward dark ‏@edwardedark
can anyone explain why rebels are going for the energy, communication, food & transportation infrastructure of #Syria? whats the purpose?

Posted by: somebody | Dec 13 2012 23:13 utc | 87

Perhaps if we let history shine its wavering light over today’s unfolding pages of time, we might get a better grasp of what’s happening in Syria today. During WW II, when German forces occupied large parts of Europe, the partisans/resistance/freedom fighters ruled the rural areas as well and occasionally did hit and run attacks in larger cities. German forces would burn down entire villages if and when they were attacked by said partisans/resistance/freedom fighters. If the Syrian populace doesn’t stand/rise up against these foreign-backed invaders [like their counterparts in Europe during WW II], they get what they deserve [as did the Europeans]. Armies can not defeat guerrilla warfare. On people can.

Posted by: Daniel Rich | Dec 13 2012 23:57 utc | 89

@90 Short range is right. From Fox to the American public.

Posted by: dh | Dec 14 2012 0:04 utc | 91

Militants in Syria threaten to execute Ukrainian journalist
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2012/12/13/277910/militants-in-syria-may-kill-journalist/
“Militants in Syria have threatened to execute a kidnapped Ukrainian journalist if their demand for a USD-50-million ransom is not met.
Anhar Kochneva, who reported about the Syrian militants for Russian and Ukrainian news outlets, was kidnapped near the western Syria city of Homs on October 10.
Her kidnappers, allegedly from the Members of the terrorist Free Syrian Army, have released videos, saying that they would kill the journalist on December 13 unless Ukraine pays the ransom.
On Tuesday, Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman, Alexander Dikusarov urged Damascus to work more actively to help free the journalist.
Militants have released a video featuring a group of armed, masked fighters, one of whom reads out a statement, calling Kochneva a “spy.”
The statement also included a threat to kill any citizen of Ukraine and Russia, who is captured in Syria.
“The embassy of Ukraine, the embassy of Russia, citizens of these countries…from now on will be the prey and target of all our forces,” it said.
New York-based independent nonprofit organization, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), London-based human rights organization, ARTICLE 19, Vienna-based global organization International Press Institute, and Paris-based international NGO Reporters Without Borders have issued a joint statement, asking Washington, London, and Paris as well as representatives of the EU that they urgently push the so-called National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Free Syrian Army to prevent the murder of Kochneva and facilitate her release.”
Kidnapping for ransom. How very Jewish mafia.

Posted by: вот так | Dec 14 2012 0:57 utc | 93

@94 Ah yes the bomb graph. I remember it well. Then came the Patriots and the chemical weapons. Now we’re hearing about Scuds. Anybody care to predict tomorrow’s headlines?

Posted by: dh | Dec 14 2012 1:46 utc | 95

95) Humanitarian catastrophe in Syria – they are laying the groundwork for that now

Posted by: somebody | Dec 14 2012 8:06 utc | 97

fun with maps
compare this disproportionally drawn out map
with Google Maps Damascus
for the size and importance of rebel held areas …

Posted by: somebody | Dec 14 2012 11:51 utc | 99