WMDs In The UNSC - History Repeats Itself, First As Tragedy, Second As Farce
Pic: April 5 2017 - U.S. Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley during an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council
Nikki Haley, the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, on Wednesday strongly condemned the Syrian government in the wake of an alleged chemical weapons attack perpetrated on its own civilians this week. "When the UN consistently fails in its duty to act collectively, there are times in the life of states that we are compelled to take our own action," Haley said. She added that if the UN doesn't take collective action, "we may."
Posted by b on April 5, 2017 at 17:29 UTC | Permalink
next page »Next stop, Megiddo? If anything does happen, look for Trump's son-in-law Kushner, first to scurry out of Iraq, where's he's doing God knows what.
Poison Gas seems to be a fav tactic of a certain group of con artists who want to destroy the ME so Israel can steal their way to Eretz Israel and finish off the genocide of Palestinians.
US Moves Military Equipment in Striking Distance of Damascus
Is the US Preparing to Invade Damascus?
As absurd as this may sound the evidence seems to stack up in favor of this scenario of a US led invasion of Damascus, Syria. The movement of US desert Camo military equipment was done in a way to avoid detection by Russia. First to Germany to make it appear as a buildup on Russia’s border, then to Poland final to a port in Romania, then reloaded at set sail to Beirut Lebanon where Damascus comes into view. All the while Israeli US Italian and UAE military work in Greece to overcome Russia s300 air defense system. Israel moves their forces into the Golan for supposed drills. All troops in position Damascus to be hit next.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pjEdHH0Jys
Posted by: Greg Bacon | Apr 5 2017 17:47 utc | 2
Hackers Expose U.S. False Flag to Frame Syria
Hacked emails from a British mercenary company were posted online, leading to claims Washington was backing a dirty war against Syria in which a chemical attack on Syria could be blamed on the Syrian regime, thereby strengthening the case for immediate intervention on the part of the United States military.
One of the hacked emails that has resulted in the most embarrassment for the U.S. government concerned Syria. The email reads as follows:
Phil, we’ve got a new offer. It’s about Syria again. Qataris propose an attractive deal and swear that the idea is approved in Washington. We’ll have to deliver a CW to Homs, a Soviet origin g-shell [sic] 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 is a good idea but the sums proposed are enormous. Your opinion?Kind regards,
David
http://americanfreepress.net/hackers-expose-u-s-false-flag-to-frame-syria/
Posted by: Greg Bacon | Apr 5 2017 17:54 utc | 3
Jesus, these people are insane, why on earth do Trump that have spoken out against useless war put this stupid woman in the UN?
What the F is wrong with these warloving people?
Posted by: Anon1 | Apr 5 2017 18:15 utc | 5
Nikki Haley is carrying water for Israel during the month when US is the President of the UNSC. In addition she has the full backing of the UK and France, though France is limping a bit since we don't know what will happen in a month.
Her chief of staff is from the Heritage Foundation .
Posted by: Yul | Apr 5 2017 18:27 utc | 6
Trump said the images of those Syrian children changed him and he refuses to say what action he will take: you will see. Again (opaque) he keeps his plans for Syria a secret.
Here's the thing: the site of Syrian children moves him, but the site of the women and children he slaughtered in Yemen doesn't; this White House even tried to lied there were no civilian casualties; the site of children being slaughtered in Mosul - nada, nicht, nil...no reaction. Why is that only Syrian children matter for the U.S. - not Iraqi children, not Palestinian children slaughtered by Israel, not Yemeni children ONLY SYRIAN CHILDREN MATTER.
It's possible this chemgas incident will be used as an excuse to put Trump's secret plan for Syria in motion. Watch...
Posted by: Circe | Apr 5 2017 18:31 utc | 7
Yet another US spokes person pretends to a humanitarianism she doesn't feel ot is overridden by a report she too readily believes . Syria has no Chem weapons and US change of govt more illusion than reality
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201704051052321244-unsc-russia-syria-idlib/
Posted by: Brian | Apr 5 2017 18:39 utc | 8
So finally Trump got slapped in the face and started to regurgitate psychotic delusions of his MIC and Wall Street masters.Now he is ready for war with Russia while his face stil sours.
Here I found a prophetic post about Trump from just a week before his election 2016.
Posted by: Kalen | Apr 5 2017 18:40 utc | 9
THERE WAS NO GAS ATTACK ON KHAN SHEIKHOUN!
If dead children are paraded in front of cameras, it does not show a chemical weapons attack. It is proof of murder, someone massacred these children and their families.
To claim a gas attack, you have to show photos and videos of the attack site; dead families in or outside their homes. Dead animals. Rescue workers breaking into houses and discovering the bodies.
The Western press is buying the hoax narrative. I have heard hysterical screaming on the radio all day. No one ever asked or answered the essential questions: When and where did the attack happen? How was the chemical delivered? What neighborhoods were affected? Where was the wind blowing from? How were the victims taken to the place where they were first filmed? Who did the rescue work? Where where the White Helmets and their camera crews when this happened?
The White Helmets did not exist in 2013. Today they are an Oscar-winning film crew, with GoPro action cams attached to their signature helmets. They film each and every real and fake rescue operation they take part in. So why no video of the Khan Sheikhoun rescue and recovery work?
This is just another staged hoax, like the Ghouta chemical massacre of August 2013. Hostages were kept in cellars and then gassed with chlorine when the time came to make propaganda videos and call for a No-Fly Zone.
Posted by: Petri Krohn | Apr 5 2017 18:40 utc | 10
@7
Shows how easy it is to manipulate simple minds. Post any image of children and you can twist people to do what ever you wAnd
Posted by: Brian | Apr 5 2017 18:41 utc | 11
Two good articles on the gas attack:
https://consortiumnews.com/2017/04/05/another-dangerous-rush-to-judgment-in-syria/
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/46801.htm
Posted by: Madeira | Apr 5 2017 18:44 utc | 12
Actually, if Trump really does sneak attack Damascus and take on Putin if he tries to intervene it would prove his Russian connections are meaningless and he's not a quisling afterall, therefore, the news spectacle surrounding this issue and the investigation by the Senate can be dropped even though there will be no one left to set the record straight except a few cockroaches and last time I checked they don't have opposable thumbs so therefore they aren't up to the task if they were so inclined.
My what tangled webs we weave.
Posted by: The Stephen Miller Band | Apr 5 2017 18:45 utc | 13
Hundreds civilians killed by Saudi bombs do not make headline anymore. Bombing of a hospital brings limited interest, while a few civilians killed by chemical gas shake the world and bring tears to Trump's eyes
Conclusion: Yemen badly needs a chemical attack to make the headline and unveil the horrors going in there.
Posted by: virgile | Apr 5 2017 18:50 utc | 14
Petri Krohn @10:
The Western press is buying the hoax narrative.I think we know enough by now to know that they are not dupes. They are complicit.
Posted by: Jackrabbit | Apr 5 2017 18:55 utc | 15
Nikki Haley barks very loudly and may be getting on Trump's nerves. He must regret not having chosen Bolton at the UN. At least he was predictable and would have submitted to Trump's authority.
Nikki is a wild goose.
Posted by: virgile | Apr 5 2017 18:57 utc | 16
@14 Virgile: Worth noting that this attack happens just after the kind of independant reports Western shill media love so much finally showed up that the US is the biggets killer of civilians in the Middle-East - having killed more people in the last weeks than Russia and Syria. My, what a convenient way to deflect such a criticism.
@11 Brian: that's why you need genuine psychopaths as world leaders. They don't give a shit about dead children and will keep acting calmly and coldly without being pressured by silly feelings to act rashly and be manipulated by the first crook they meet.
As for Putin, I hope he has at long last the guts to say nukes are on the board if the US does truly stupid shit. It's time either we put the mad dogs down for real or we all go out in flames. It's becoming increasingly tiring to live in this current shitty world, better leave it out behind, one way or another. Mankind would be better for it, whatever the outcome.
Posted by: Clueless Joe | Apr 5 2017 19:01 utc | 17
Another "exciting" turn in the Great Inter-Muslim War. When it's over, all borders as far away as Pakistan will be redrawn, more than few countries will disappear altogether, Kurdistan will become a reality, and at best no more than half (and very likely, a lot less) of today's population will remain alive. This meat-grinder is just getting started.
Posted by: telescope | Apr 5 2017 19:05 utc | 18
Over the last days I recall reading the UN-OPCW had taken ALL Syria’s chemical weapon on ship out to sea for destruction. Was I dreaming?
Here is a report for you
4 September 2014
Ninety-six percent of Syria’s declared chemical weapons destroyed – UN-OPCW mission chief
UN Link
The Special Coordinator for the Joint Mission of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and the United Nations (OPCW-UN) told the Security Council today that 96 percent of Syria’s declared stockpile, including the most dangerous chemicals, had been destroyed and preparation were underway to destroy the remaining 12 production facilities.
“This is a chemical weapons disarmament process, it’s been unique,” said Sigrid Kaag after her final briefing to the Security Council in her capacity as the head of the joint mission dealing with Syria’s chemical weapons, which is winding up its work at the end of September.
“At the same time, we reiterate our strong hope that if this is achieved, that conditions for peace and security and the political process will be centre stage for the benefit of the people of Syria and that of the region, particularly in these days of profound crisis.”
Ms. Kaag told a press conference at UN Headquarters following her closed-door briefing to the Council that the mission had overseen that destruction of 100 percent of “priority chemicals” and 96 percent of Syria’s chemical weapons stockpile, but the good offices of the UN Secretary-General on this issue, discussions on monitoring verification, and accurate reporting to the Council will be continued [.]
See..I did not dream that ship, it’s real AND it was a U.S. vessel
“UN chief welcomes destruction of Syrian chemical weapons aboard U.S. vessel”
UN Link
The Secretary-General welcomes the destruction of the declared chemical weapons material on board the United States Maritime Vessel Cape Ray. This marks a significant achievement in the international community’s efforts to eliminate the chemical weapons programme of the Syrian Arab Republic following the framework agreement between the Russian Federation and the United States of America.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The USUKEU should stop throwing sh**T. Propaganda Fatigue has taken root. There is the Net for instant recall. As b observed, if it was sarin, how is it those timely "rescuers" were not affected?
Intelligence insulted.
Posted by: likklemore | Apr 5 2017 19:22 utc | 19
Every time Assad is winning, we have a chemical attack or humanitarian trajedy. Oh sure, I believe it. The propaganda and false flags will continue until the SAA finally wins. Putin best have his EW and S-400s ready and both Russia and Iran need to send more troops to help Assad win already.
Posted by: Alaric | Apr 5 2017 19:34 utc | 20
The Syrian opposition has stated their motive for the attack. Suspicions of who's responsible lies strongly with the opposition.
A suspected Syrian government chemical attack in Syria was a "direct consequence" of recent U.S. statements that it was not now focused on making Syrian President Bashar al-Assad leave power, a Syrian opposition member said on Tuesday.
"The first reaction from Syrians is that this is a direct consequence of American statements about Assad not being a priority and giving him time and allowing him to stay in power," Basma Kodmani told Reuters in Washington.
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-opposition-idUSKBN1762QC
Posted by: Les | Apr 5 2017 19:36 utc | 21
Just checked comments & likes in a major conservative European newspaper: Roughly 5% seem to believe that Assad is to blame.
Nikki Haley is as Neocon as Samantha Power, now who would've guessed. As I've been saying for a year: Even if Trump has a different foreign policy agenda (which I doubt), he's far too weak to stand up to them. In times of crisis, a country needs a strong president, not a narcissist showmaster.
Posted by: smuks | Apr 5 2017 20:04 utc | 22
2:15:04 PM | 5
"Jesus, these people are insane, why on earth do Trump that have spoken out against useless war put this stupid woman in the UN?"
Well , I think this is Tronalds way out of the pressure he's under. Start a war, then they will unite behind their Führer.
Posted by: Pnyx | Apr 5 2017 20:05 utc | 23
Bannon is replaced by Rick Perry at the NSC? Neoconia rules..
Wonder what those flyboys in Quatar are up to today?
Posted by: Lozion | Apr 5 2017 20:39 utc | 24
Anyone care to comment on the military feasibility of the post by Greg Bacon? (Apr 5, 2017 1:47:31 PM | 2 )
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pjEdHH0Jys
US Moves Military Equipment in Striking Distance of Damascus
Is the US Preparing to Invade Damascus?
Offhand it seems like a hell of lot of troops and equipment would be required for such an operation, is this even possible/feasible?
If so, I can't see the Russians sitting idly by, at the very least the S400s would go to work . . .
Posted by: Perimetr | Apr 5 2017 20:42 utc | 25
Bullshit propaganda storm.
https://www.mintpressnews.com/u-s-led-coalition-already-using-idlib. . .
Interestingly the corporate media outlets that ardently backed Hillary Clinton (Guardian, MSNBC, etc.) are the ones hyping up the story the most and calling for a no-fly zone over Syria.
Posted by: nonsense factory | Apr 5 2017 20:47 utc | 26
smuks - 22
I fear you may be right. Neo-cons on a roll again. This chemical farce is clearly designed to put pressure on Trump to see which way he turns. Looks like he may move away from his 'America First' isolationist rhetoric in a desperate bid to say something meaningful. Loads of Neo-cons on his back to push for more mayhem in the Middle East. Things aren't the way they were in 2003 tho', so probably won't go for the invasion. Cantonisation of Syria is probably what the neo-cons are after. Shit crazy.
Posted by: aniteleya | Apr 5 2017 20:52 utc | 27
This is like a re-run of the summer of 2014 when all Sarin roads led to Adana!!
If at first you dont succeed ...
Posted by: AtaBrit | Apr 5 2017 20:53 utc | 28
If Trump is going all teary eyed over this unclear, suspect, plausibly 'WMD' false flag, he is a child, an ignoramus, or too near the raw onions; or he is being fed hogwash. If he is posturing 'tactically' to justify making more war, he is a fiend and war criminal. One might hope that this was merely a random neural-tweet-impulse by force of habit, signifying nothing much.
Posted by: canuck | Apr 5 2017 20:54 utc | 29
So, I guess everyone would be absolutely shocked to hear Europe is signing contracts for a new Israeli gas pipe line via the med.?
From mintpress news:
Europe currently only has two suppliers for natural gas: Russia and the North Sea. Experts estimate that roughly half of the North Sea’s gas reserves have already been depleted. The new pipeline will allow Europe to completely dump Russia in favor of Israel for gas– if they so please. The EU makes up a hefty majority of Russia’s gas exports.
http://www.mintpressnews.com/eu-snubs-russia-favor-new-israeli-pipeline/226618/
Apologies if this has already been posted elsewhere.
Posted by: Wwinsti | Apr 5 2017 21:04 utc | 30
"Well , I think this is Tronalds way out of the pressure he's under. Start a war, then they will unite behind their Führer." 23
Yep. that's what it feels like to me. The abject snivel of his response serves that purpose absolutely. God. How STUPID people can be! Kidnap then murder then staging with the dead..fcking white helmets necrophilia ..
Posted by: rm | Apr 5 2017 21:04 utc | 31
There's an alarming "hey, batter, batter" heckling "what'za matta, you chicken??" quality to the media war drums. I can't tell if people actually want Trump to "do something" (as they are demanding) or hoping that he punts or walks, this time at bat. It's (presidenting) "harder than it looks" has been a popular refrain for weeks and the still insulted Obama crowd seems more interested in seeing Trump shamed, than that anything be "done" about Assad or Syria ... coming within two weeks of our 200 dead in Mosul, Trump's self-proclaimed change of heart wrt Assad (of course undefined) seems right out of PT Barnum ... The timing really couldn't be better for something showy, given China's Xi Jinping's imminent arrival at Mar-A-Lago ... want's to top the theatrical show they he put-on Abe of Japan (on the event ot a Korean missle launch) ... I am and have been nauseated with anxiety
Posted by: Susan Sunflower | Apr 5 2017 21:56 utc | 32
These photos and videos that we saw of Khan Sheikhoun, some of them showed a site with white rock in the background and sleazy white mud on the ground (like here: https://youtu.be/fGPa0k3J4vI). Some have described it as a rebel dugout.
Maybe it was hit by the Syrian Airforce, though almost certainly not with any chemical ammunitions. I think that the hit on said site could be in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYOMEDK_uVs - third impact on the right, where much brighter dust is rising, but much slower than from the other impact sites, plus the height and shape of the cloud is very different.
I'm saying "maybe" it was hit by the Syrian Airforce because to me, it seems equally likely that something was set off on the ground there - by rebels, in that case. It would explain the strikingly different appearance of this one cloud that I mentioned (and there has to be an explanation for it).
This whitish rock background that I mentioned in the beginning looks very much like limestone or chalk to my eyes. Maybe it's a limestone quarry turned rebel hideout. Anyway, for any makeshift Sarin production or storage facility a limestone/chalk surrounding would be the perfect setting. Short of a state-of-the-art chemical plant, you couldn't make up any better location, and there's two reasons for that.
One concerns possible manufacturing of Sarin. Whatever process you use, there will be leftover acids in your end product. You have to get rid of those in order for your product to have an acceptable shelf life. Even the most masterfully created Sarin will be usable for only about 5 years. This time is strongly reduced if you don’t purify it by eliminating the excess acids in the product. This can only be done with a nice base or alkaline substance, and limestone/chalk is the perfect raw material to create such an alkaline (namely lye or brine or whatever you want to call it), large scale.
The other reason a limestone surrounding such as seen in Khan Sheikhoun is a perfect match for Sarin has to do with safeguarding against the obvious hazards of dealing with Sarin – accidental spilling and poisoning. For decontamination and neutralizing purposes any strong and simple alkaline is, again, the go-to substance. While Sarin victims need to have atropine injected asap to even have the slightest chance for survival, their clothes and the body have to be thoroughly rinsed with an alkaline solution, too.
And even if you don’t use the limestone for anything at all, just moving in a “limy” environment when having to deal with Sarin release will help, and would have helped the White Helmets in this case. This might help to explain why so many of them were able to “do their thing” there and then without wearing any protective gear. As it happens, limestone/chalk will also help with destroying any Sarin-related evidence.
We could also see some kind of tanker truck in the pictures. People were sprayed with liquid coming from this truck. It’s not just water that comes to mind here, it could also have been ready-made lye solution in that tank.
But whatever had been going on in this place prior to the incident, I’m also wondering what all those children and young people were doing there. Why would they gather (or be gathered) right there, of all places? I know this will sound gross, but some of the bodies I saw didn’t look so “recently deceased” either.
This whole thing, it’s just… All the BS we’re getting from western politicians and the MSM right now - nothing adds up, nothing makes sense here, and yet it’s cheered as a pretext for more war?
Posted by: Scotch Bingeington | Apr 5 2017 22:04 utc | 33
Hey B, the quotation in your heading is slightly off. Marx wrote in "The 18th Brumaire" that history first happens as a tragedy but if it should repeat later, then as a farce. Now you are saying that the first time history repeats, it repeats as a tragedy, while Marx said, already the first repetition is a farce. Sorry I am so pedantic about this.
Posted by: Martin | Apr 5 2017 22:09 utc | 34
A lone voice speaks. Notice how the anchor tries to make him look like a Putin/Assad lover...
http://us.cnn.com/2017/04/05/politics/thomas-massie-syria-attack-not-assad/index.html
Posted by: dh | Apr 5 2017 22:14 utc | 35
This sort of crap has happened so often and is always proven to be fake it's becoming rather tiresome. The constant rattle of lies so completely blatant delivered by the usual showboating liars. Where's the Genie to grant my--and many many others undoubtedly--wish that all the damned liars, their allies and proxies be liquidated?
Posted by: karlof1 | Apr 5 2017 23:15 utc | 36
Unknown airstrikes reportedly hit Army positions in southern Syria
“It’s very, very possible, and I will tell you it has already happened, that my attitude toward Syria and Assad, has changed very much,” Mr. Trump said
all aboard! the train is leaving the station.
Posted by: jfl | Apr 5 2017 23:19 utc | 37
”If Trump is going all teary eyed over this unclear, suspect, plausibly 'WMD' false flag, he is a child, an ignoramus, or too near the raw onions; or he is being fed hogwash. If he is posturing 'tactically' to justify making more war, he is a fiend and war criminal. One might hope that this was merely a random neural-tweet-impulse by force of habit, signifying nothing much.”
Posted by: canuck | Apr 5, 2017 4:54:07 PM | 29
While I agree with your sentiment, war crimes are not defined by the perpetrators' states of minds. Threatening the UNSC to go with the US 'or else' is a war crime already, full stop. I'm sure many thought launching a war of aggression on Iraq and Afghanistan was the 'right' or 'moral' position at the time (however deluded that may be), but they are still war criminals.
I think many of us need to separate any actions in question from intent and reasons when it comes to war crimes. It's like the US saying "well we bombed a hospital by accident sorry but we thought we were striking a weapons cache. Terrible tragedy and it won't happen again" - even if every they said was true it doesn't make it any less of a war crime. Maybe easier for us as individuals to sympathise with but that should be another question as a whole.
I think people would be well served to read a little about the subject (not directing this at you cancuck so don't get me wrong). There's a lot of misconceptions I see held by many, including here and other similar forums.
Regardless of all that, to threaten the security council to do what they want - coming only hours after initial reports and with no confirmation for much of the official western state sanctioned story - it doesn't look good. I follow developments in Syria awful closely and I really am blown away and would never have expected such a development. Really came out of no where. I had few if any hopes for change from Trump re foreign policy but goddamn I def didn't expect this. I really hope its just further bluster and big talk, but i doubt it would do that job effectively. Just seems counterproductive towards western goals (unless goal is overt aggression and occupation). Crazy day.
I implore everyone here to keep Syria and its people in your thoughts and/or prayers these coming days. I suppose that goes for basically the entire MENA region the way it'd go up like tinder if another US occupation force entered.
Posted by: FecklessLeft | Apr 5 2017 23:20 utc | 38
Well this is interesting isn't it.
Huge ‘potentially hazardous’ asteroid hurtling towards Earth
Published time: 3 Apr 2017 | 10:12 GMT
According to NASA the encounter on April 19 will be the closest the asteroid comes to Earth in 400 years, and no projected future encounters will be as close for at least another 480 years.
https://www.rt.com/viral/383187-asteroid-earth-flyby-approach/
Well well well. Wouldn't want this 1km weapon striking a major city now would we.
Far be it from anyone to mistake a large explosion wiping out a Western city as a nuclear weapon.
Is it possible this could happen?
Would anyone suggest we could have heightened global tension on April 19?
Maybe an asteroid strike driven tsunami somewhere in the Atlantic would be just the tonic the world needs at this point in time???
I may be biased, but Powell's performance at UN is a tough act to follow. Steady delivery, deep baritone, and the gaze so straight that it could drill brain of any doubter. That said, Tony Blair was a clear champion in the tenor class. While Powell was all experience of a principled elder, Blair was in his own words "passionate", like a 9 year old boy describing how he was personally instructed by Our Lady of Fatima (together with two pre-teen girls, now we have 100-th anniversary*). Which gives pointers to soprano section.
Condoleeza Rice was a total miscast in that role. Shifty eyes, unsteady diction, twitching head. Perhaps I will check a video of Nikki Halley.
Posted by: Piotr Berman | Apr 6 2017 0:05 utc | 40
I regret to say that Nikki is from the Condi school. But at least she looks better than Ms. Powell, and boys, she has guts: fuchsia business suit!!
Posted by: Piotr Berman | Apr 6 2017 0:17 utc | 41
Petri Krohn | Apr 5, 2017 2:40:44 PM | 10: To claim a gas attack, you have to show photos and videos of the attack site;
The Guardian shows a photo: a bomb was apparently so powerful that it made a pothole in the street pavement.
Posted by: Piotr Berman | Apr 6 2017 0:24 utc | 42
The "War and Peace Report" strikes again:
Syria Has Become a Circus of Death: Doctor Warns of Growing Humanitarian Crisis as War Rages On
AMY GOODMAN: Let me go to a clip from the 2013 BBC documentary Saving Syria’s Children, where the filmmakers traveled with you, Dr. Rola Hallam, inside Syria to reveal how children are impacted by the war. This is Dr. Hallam describing the aftermath of an airstrike at a school playground, as patients pour into a hospital in Aleppo.
Posted by: Tobin Paz | Apr 6 2017 0:31 utc | 43
The US doesnt want a military conflict with Russia over the Syria Crisis. Trumps stance has changed towards Assad. Therefore expect a US response to events (as aluded to at the UNSC). The only way to achieve all three of the above is a precision strike against Assad personally.
Posted by: Hermius | Apr 6 2017 0:33 utc | 44
Looking at Europe, obviously we have (perhaps) the last hope Marine Le Pen up in the next few days, but surely some countries must strongly be considering withdrawing from NATO using their recklessness (about to happen in Syria?) as a pretext.
I'm thinking specifically of Hungary.
Why wouldn't Viktor Orban announce Hungary's withdrawal from NATO in the near future and a declaration of neutrality alongside their long (non NATO) ally and neighbour Austria.
A Central European Spring. Switzerland-Liechtenstein-Austria-Hungary. 4 Non-NATO members in the heart of Europe.
Would there be any other takers of this position? Czech Republic? Slovakia perhaps?
it looks like someone was tweeting about the gas attack before it happened.
https://twitter.com/sahouraxo/status/849635794994286592
Posted by: mischi | Apr 6 2017 0:34 utc | 46
This is indeed interesting. A doctor in Idlib province (or is it northern Hama) who testified on video about the heinous chemical attack is a REAL PERSON! I found a link to a "leftist quasi-news website" which in turn linked to Daily Telegraph.
Quote: "It is alleged that[Shajul] Islam, with others, unlawfully and injuriously imprisoned John Cantlie and Jeroen Oerlemans against their will, between July 17 and 26. He was remanded in custody and is next due to appear at the Old Bailey on November 2."
Interestingly, even though two journalists testified that Islam was member of an armed band that detained them in 2012, he dared to returned to his native England and his daring was fully justified (now he is in Syria, probably, and surely not in prison).
Posted by: Piotr Berman | Apr 6 2017 0:47 utc | 47
"The only way to achieve all three of the above is a precision strike against Assad personally."
This would force a military conflict with Russia and Iran. Openly decapitating the government both are supporting is definitely an act of war against Iran and Russia. The US would make a huge mistake if it tried it.
Trump might not do anything but talk more cr*p which is his main talent.
Posted by: Alaric | Apr 6 2017 0:51 utc | 48
Developing that idea of a Central European - "Sensible Centrist" polity.
We have the Visegrad Group (Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland & Slovakia).
Dump the crazy stupid Poles from that group, and replace them with Austria.
And then add the 3 other Central European States (Liechtenstein, Slovenia & Switzerland).
You then have a 7 country "Sensible Centrist Alliance"
Czech Republic (10.6 million)
Hungary (9.9 million)
Austria (8.6 million)
Switzerland (8.4 million)
Slovakia (5.5 million)
Slovenia (2.1 million)
Liechtenstein (40,000)
TOTAL POPULATION (45.1 million)
If these 7 countries could stand up for themselves and chart a course independent of NATO they may do enough to avert catastrophe.
It's up to Orban to pull these countries together and lead this group.
I'm sure he'll find willing support in other countries in the area.
Vaclav Klaus anyone? In Czech Republic. Another sensible politician with his eyes open.
Julian - if something sounds too good to be true, then it probably is.
Heck, while wishfully thinking, why not chuck Croatia in too? Just because Germany's wouldn't be among?
Posted by: Quadriad | Apr 6 2017 1:12 utc | 50
Re: Posted by: Quadriad | Apr 5, 2017 9:12:53 PM | 48
Probably right, but I don't see why Orban wouldn't do this. Surely if you can accept that, you'd have to expect he'd seek allies in doing so. Whether he would be successful or not?
I think this is where Assad finally goes under the bus, with Putin's hand in his back. We'll see.
Posted by: paul | Apr 6 2017 1:37 utc | 52
If these 7 countries could stand up for themselves and chart a course independent of NATO they may do enough to avert catastrophe.
Posted by: Julian | Apr 5, 2017 8:54:21 PM | 47
OK, I am a stupid Pole , so I am a bit prejudiced, but please illuminate me: how an aliance of Czechs, Swiss, Lichtensteiners, Austrians etc. can "avert catastrophe"? If this is something minor, like asteroid that can crush the Earth, perhaps, but independence from NATO? Belgium has more guts than all those folks taken together. Sure, all those countries have their merits, reviewing from the West: watches, discrete banks (but leaking from time to time), schnitzel, recycling (Slovenia), gulash (Czechs seem to have like 10 different kinds, all quite good, if you are a vegan try their beer), etc. but averting catastrophe?
Posted by: Piotr Berman | Apr 6 2017 2:21 utc | 53
Scotch Bingeington @ 33:
Any possibility that that limestone site in Khan Shaykhun could already have been a mass grave? I've seen some photos of the dead children and all the children featured had head wounds and injuries that suggest they might have been bludgeoned.
Posted by: Jen | Apr 6 2017 2:25 utc | 54
For a very good report done at the time of the last "Assad did it" effort back in 2013 by the US and friends to get troops on the ground and a no fly zone in Syria see:
https://willyloman.wordpress.com/2017/04/05/remember-when-bbc-news-was-caught-staging-another-fake-chemical-weapons-attack-in-syria/
This site does a great job of stripping away the lies and lunacy.
Posted by: frances | Apr 6 2017 2:39 utc | 55
SYRIAN AVIATION AIRSTRIKE IN IDLIB TARGETED CHEMICAL ARMS LAB - RUSSIAN DEFENSE MINISTRY -
"MOSCOW, April 5. /TASS/. A Syrian aviation airstrike on the eastern outskirts of Khan Sheikhun on Tuesday targeted workshops to produce chemical-laden projectiles, a spokesman for the Russian Defense Ministry said Wednesday.
"According to Russian airspace monitoring systems, yesterday between 11.30 and 12.30 local time the Syrian aviation carried out an airstrike on the eastern outskirts of Khan Sheikhun, targeting a major ammunition storage facility of terrorists and a cluster of military hardware. The territory of this storage facility housed workshops to produce projectiles stuffed with toxic agents," Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said.
"From this major arsenal, chemical-laden weapons were delivered by militants to Iraq. Their use by terrorists was confirmed on numerous occasions by international organizations and official authorities of the country," he said.
The spokesman added that these projectiles were similar to those used by militants in Syria’s Aleppo, where their use was recorded by Russian military specialists.
[...]
Of course Trump knows this. No question. If he takes any kind of military action whatsoever in Syria against sovereign troops, over a really lame propaganda campaign all of us can see through, well, that's about as dumb as it gets. If I know this, a lowly news aggregator blogger, you can damn well be sure Trump knows this.
Anyone and everyone who can read or talk or see knows for a fact that the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA'S military has not been invited into Syria by Syria nor has the U.S. Congress passed a WAR RESOLUTION. Thus, if the U.S. Military takes aim at Syria and her government it will be under the extremely nimble CIA article whatever for covert action. And no lawyer worth chit can, not even Gonzalez, twist the law into the pretzel necessary to take 'legal' covert military action.
If I'm wrong please feel free to inform me with the facts. I'm happy to be wrong...
We already some some boots on the ground in Syria (and Iraq of course). I think what I fear is something akin to Clinton's cruise missile strike on Bin Laden's Afghan training camps and, notoriously, the Sudanese aspirin factory, some macho bravado of the "never ask permission and never apologize" macho man stunt.
Posted by: Susan Sunflower | Apr 6 2017 3:15 utc | 58
btw, here's the link to the TASS news story I cited @54 http://tass.com/world/939417
Yes, Susan @56 the U.S. does have 'covert' boots on the ground. But to even consider, let alone think about enforcing a 'no fly zone' in Syria under whatever Title the U.S. has been using for covert action is just plain nutso. If the U.S. under Trump wants WAR they must secure a WAR RESOLUTION from congress. And they ain't going to grant it over Syria. Not gonna happen. Hell, these useless morons can't even pass a healthcare law their constituents have been demanding for eight very, very long years - they are useless and beholden.
actually, as Greenwald has documented today on his twitter feed, all Trump need do is follow Obama's lead ...
https://twitter.com/ggreenwald
specifically -- https://twitter.com/jacklgoldsmith/status/849744432169660416
I'm not saying it's not "insane" ... or that it would not be an utter disaster ...
Obama could not get congress' approval so he used special ops and -- note that "we" have been attacking ISIS in Syria for years now (Did Assad agree to our "mission" at some point?)
Actually, that's the point -- that Trump's macho-man maverick rule-breaker persona (or wannabe persona) may not be confined by "normal" constraints ... like congressional or UN permission ... It's equally possible he will have bigger fish to fry with China and let Syria cool on a back burner ... the problem being his tendency to be reactive when he is ridiculed.
Posted by: Susan Sunflower | Apr 6 2017 3:56 utc | 61
Re: Posted by: Piotr Berman | Apr 5, 2017 10:21:45 PM | 51
Fair points, but to be frank, you sound nothing like a crazy, stupid Pole. Perhaps you could find a way to disinfect the Polish polity of their rabid, insane Russophobia (but of course their jobs and their perks depend on it).
Until that happens I don't see any chance of Poland doing anything sensible like resigning from NATO. Sorry.
Am I to presume you're a Pole in America Piotr?
Let me clarify I suppose, I doubt that anywhere near a majority of the Polish people support the short of rabid Russophobia we see from Polish politicians, but unfortunately they don't do much about it!
As for what a Hungarian resignation from NATO, hopefully followed in quickly succession by the Czech Republic, Slovakia & Slovenia would achieve it is to show that membership of NATO is not irreversible.
Indeed, Le Pen wants to leave NATO does she not? Pity it appears that she won't be elected to carry this out!!
So by providing an example to other countries this sort of act would puncture the seeming inevitability of NATO. And who would be next???
Look no further than debt wrecked & wracked Italy.
There's an Election coming up in Italy around the same time as the Russian Presidential election - first half of 2018.
What does a country with huge debts like Italy gain from NATO membership? Just more costs they can ill afford!!
Also - what does Five Start Leader Beppe Grillo think of NATO. I haven't checked but judging by his views on the Euro he surely couldn't be a big fan of NATO. If a string of countries were to resign from NATO who's to say that a newly elected Italian Prime Minister Grillo wouldn't himself follow suit? Whether unilaterally or via referendum??
If that were to happen, surely the likes of equally debt wrecked and wracked Portugal, and perhaps even Spain wouldn't be that far behind.
Hell, there could even be another justification footer making such a move - a desire to moved away from insane warmongering policies of non-EU US/UK/Turkey even and instead support a so-called EU army - this indeed might pull other countries along and you might find NATO becomes a rump with US/UK/Canada and a bunch of poor Eastern European former Soviet-bloc countries without any real strategic depth.
Hey, that's being optimistic sure, but it has to start somewhere and Orban appears the only current statesman in Europe to get the ball rolling.
Piotr Berman @45 Shajul Islam is indeed a terrorist. His prosecution was abandoned because the two main witnesses could not give evidence, one of them being John Cantlie. I was always suspicious of Cantlie. Only a fool would go back to the place where he had recently been kidnapped but it was one of the few places that would render it impossible for him to testify against Shajul and Jubayer Chowdhury, his co-defendant. Conveniently for the pair, the charges were dropped and Shajul (at least) was obviously allowed to return to Syria. Cantlie, as we all know has been producing propaganda for ISIS, supposedly under duress but I suspect both are British Intelligence assets.
Posted by: duplicitousdemocracy | Apr 6 2017 4:41 utc | 63
Paul @50 Why would Putin be ready to push him under a bus if Russia has just vetoed the UN resolution against him? It seems some people are almost urging the betrayal of Assad, despite the fact there are no CW's in SAA hands (as confirmed by both US and Russian inspectors). What more convincing evidence is required?
200 people were kidnapped from government held areas just recently, some of the children allegedly killed by CW's appear to have head injuries and anyone suspected of supporting Assad is regarded as an 'infidel' by the head choppers. As other people have mentioned, there has been no confirmed site for this alleged attack. Were all those kids playing at a quarry at 6-15 am local time? If so, why did it take over 2 hours to get them to the hospital? That is the time Shajul claims they were admitted. This fake attack is an unmitigated disaster so far as making it look real is concerned. I hope someone a lot brighter than myself is in the process of doing what you Americans might call a 'slam dunk' rebuttal of these outlandish claims and accusations.
Posted by: duplicitousdemocracy | Apr 6 2017 5:00 utc | 64
Yes, I have a Polish passport and I live in USA.
Russophobia in Poland is somewhat smaller than what you could conclude from news about Polish government, unfortunately the political scene is currently divided in a way that makes a saner approach hard to articulate. The dominant themes are "pathological Russophobia" in the current parliamentary majority, which is kind of harmless (e.g. minister of defense broke with supine following of NATO armament standards, canceled a large order of combat helicopter and instead procured a large fleet of luxury armored sedans for VIPs), and the former majority which was supinely following NATO.
On the folk level, dislike of Ukrainians seem to top the dislike of Russians quite a bit. Which is a bit new, and related to post-Maidan political order in Ukraine. E.g. quite rarely "Banderowcy" would be dubbed "fascist" (it would be like using "unchaste prostitute" as an invective, why bother discussing chastity in that case?). Thus most people would things that Crimeans would be mentally challenged if they wished to return to their previous mother country.
And on Middle East the gap between the elite and the people is even wider. Except that most people care very little. One can find many analogies to American politics (like pro-NATO orthodoxy versus bewildering stupidity, and very low priority among the "common people" given to foreign affairs).
That said, look at the epitomes of statesmanship in our region. Czech republic accepted anti-missile facilities after prolonged nudging from USA, to the annoyance of Russia, and ALL of them kept voting to extend sanctions on Russia because "Minsk agreements remain unfulfilled", ignoring the role of Kiev government.
Posted by: Piotr Berman | Apr 6 2017 5:09 utc | 65
And I will tell you, it’s already happened that my attitude toward Syria and Assad has changed very much.
[notice he says: it already happened therefore the plan for Syria was already in the works and the chemical attack was like 9/11 for justifying the plan] Syrian chemical attack crossed a lot of lines for me...beyond a red line. I now have responsibility. [translation: I now have the excuse, cover to expand this war] That responsibility could be made a lot easier if it was handled years ago. [don't blame me for what I'm about to unleash; blame the other guy who hesitated to put boots on the ground and kicked the can to me.]
I'm not saying I'm doing anything one way or another, but I'm certainly not going to be telling you. [sneaky, opaque agenda]
Trump Neocon-speak in italics.
Sigh...if only Obama had put boots on the ground and expanded this war, then Trump man-god wouldn't have to burst the bubble of his adoring followers here and we could all keep on pretending we don't see the Emperor's naked ass and keep blaming Obama for all Trump's screw-ups. Trump and Mattis met with the Saudi Defense Minister and blacked-out the press on that meeting, but we're supposed to believe that a plan wasn't in the works and that Trump is moved solely to defend the innocent in Syria, while he helps the Saudis slaughter children on the brink of starvation in Yemen.
Every day I'm vindicated more and more.
Posted by: Circe | Apr 6 2017 5:38 utc | 66
In the Various Issues thread, 'maningi' at #101 points out that young children don't usually stray far from their mothers. This makes images depicting lots of dead young children, but no dead mothers, smell a bit fishy.
How selective is sarin?
Posted by: Hoarsewhisperer | Apr 6 2017 5:56 utc | 68
no country for Trumpsters
Translation: both healthcare and tax reform are now indefinitely dead, which means that a suddenly pivoting Trump, who earlier today said he had "changed his mind" on Syria, may have no choice but to begin war with Assad to distract from everything else that is going on in the US.
Cream rises till its sours. Trump looks really out of his league atm.
Posted by: ThatDamnGood | Apr 6 2017 6:02 utc | 69
The only woman I've seen in any of the MSM's 'news' was alive and purported to be recovering in a hospital in Turkey which, imo, could be any hospital, anywhere, on the planet.
Posted by: Hoarsewhisperer | Apr 6 2017 6:05 utc | 70
@62
Why would Putin be ready to push him under a bus if Russia has just vetoed the UN resolution against him? It seems some people are almost urging the betrayal of Assad, despite the fact there are no CW's in SAA hands (as confirmed by both US and Russian inspectors). What more convincing evidence is required?
Yep. Lemme expand on that: some people would rather see Putin betray Assad, and in consequence Iran so we could be fooled into believing that the mythical bond between Trump and Putin is so real so unbreakable that Putin would just lie down for Trump and waive the fact that the U.S. intend to re-draw the map of Syria and set up a permanent base in the Eastern part, and set up safe zones with its allies and put Zionist and Qatari pipelines through basically having Putin sell off the farm to Zionist U.S. Saudi rule when Iran, Syria and Russia were on the brink of routing the Saudi proxies and defeating PNAC expansionism.
ROTFLMAO. There's a whole lot of deluded projection going around.
Posted by: Circe | Apr 6 2017 6:10 utc | 71
Posted by: Hoarsewhisperer | Apr 6, 2017 1:56:10 AM | 66
How selective is sarin?
It kills warm blooded animals. It is absorbed through skin, one drop is enough to kill.
If that was indeed sarin attack, there would be scores of dead people, dogs, cats, rats, sheep, cows, chicken and white helmets littered all around in all kinds of contorted positions.
Oxygen masks on vicims are pointless. The affected are in neural shock, muscles twitching and spasming over all body. There is no coughing, because coughing reflex is disrupted.
Only treatment is atropine injection straight to the muscle. You need gas mask and full hazmat overall and gloves to enter the contaminated zone. Surgical mask over face will help you nil.
Posted by: hopehely | Apr 6 2017 6:38 utc | 72
Okay, this is probably low hanging fruit, but if you relish those moments when neocons get nearly run of the stage as much as I do, the following might be the pick-me-up that will get you through the day.
Nikki Haley was practically booed off stage at an MSNBC woman's forum.
Posted by: Wwinsti | Apr 6 2017 6:40 utc | 73
so where's whatsername, the anti-war Hindu(aside from her wishy-washy twitter feed)?
didn't she just deliver a love letter to the good eye doctor from mr. Trump?
Posted by: john | Apr 6 2017 8:07 utc | 74
Tillerson to meet Lavrov in Moscow next week
By MADELINE CONWAY 04/05/17 11:09 AM EDT
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will travel to Moscow next Wednesday for a meeting with Russian officials, including the Kremlin’s foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov.
Tillerson plans to discuss issues including Ukraine, North Korea, Syria, and counterterrorism with the officials while in Moscow, according to the State Department.
The “trip is part of our effort to maintain direct lines of communication with senior Russian officials and to ensure U.S. views are clearly conveyed, including on next steps in Minsk implementation,” the department said in a statement.
http://www.politico.com/story/2017/04/rex-tillerson-moscow-trip-236906
I'll be interested to see what comes out of this - meeting on Wednesday April 12, 2017.
Re: Posted by: john | Apr 6, 2017 4:07:00 AM | 72
Tulsi Gabbard. Being roundly ignored by the MSM of course.
They won't be having her on anytime soon (except to try and make her look stupid of course).
@ Perimetr | Apr 5, 2017 4:42:23 PM | 25
I have it on good authority from Lebanese army general that no USA military ware has either docked, or will be docking in Beirut port. The pro Bashar and pro Iran Christian Lebanese Prez would never allow such a maneuver that would decidedly put Lebanon's security at such high risk: if there's no security in Damascus, then there's no security in Lebanon either. The vid that Greg posted is by zio-jew and his channel is specifically for all them waiting-for-jesus christian zionists: the only insider info the channel dude has is from IDF and it's usually common knowledge published in israel media.
I predict that in a couple of days, Trump will say 'an investigation is necessary before we send mass troops to Syria' - pretty much what Obama said after the ziocons tricked him into talking about 'red lines' etc back in 2004.
The pathetic Tillerson shows what a weak person he is
Russia must stop support for Syria
http://presstv.ir/Detail/2017/04/06/516934/Tillerson-calls-on-Russia-to-rethink-support-for-Syrian-government
Posted by: neocon butcher | Apr 6 2017 8:57 utc | 78
#75 Taxi
No excuses for Trumpster on this one.
To be a Zionist patsy just like Obama doesn't sound too good for Trump's presidential resume.
The difference between the Orange Small Handed Man and Bi*ch from Hell Hitlery is growing thinner by the day.
Posted by: Quadriad | Apr 6 2017 9:04 utc | 79
If at first, you don't succeed in unseating Assad; try, try again. The UN has given proof it was not Assad, but they just can't help themselves. Their big money masters from the US and UK want him out of power. The responsibility for this lands squarely on Clintons and Soroses doorstep. What amazing is that they did this before and failed yet they did it again. Just how stupid do they think global citizen are? More to the point, just how stupid do they think Assad is. He knows the world is watching Syria. He has not lasted this long by being stupid.
Posted by: Luisa S Sonnek | Apr 6 2017 9:42 utc | 80
Matthew Rycroft, the barking UK UN representative, once worked with NATO and also Tony Blair. He was the author of the infamous secret memo about the lead up to the Iraq war in which he said words to the effect that 'facts' and 'intelligence' were being fixed to comply with policy. Nothing has changed. 'Facts' and 'intelligence' are still being fixed to policy.
Posted by: Yonatan | Apr 6 2017 10:11 utc | 81
Nice to see you Taxi. This mass hysteria from Western Politicians and MSM against Assad 'Sentance first, verdict afterwards' should only serve to instruct Putin and Assad that regime change [by any means necessary] are the ultimate goals of the West, and formulate their policies accordingly. Many in the West like neo con John McCain think US aggression against Assad will not receive push back from Russia. Now might be the right time for Putin to quietly disabuse the US of that notion.
Posted by: harrylaw | Apr 6 2017 10:18 utc | 82
80 harrylaw
Agreed re: Now might be the right time for Putin to quietly disabuse the US of that notion. I happen to think this is potentially a colossal error in judgement on part of the Exceptionals & Co - and a sad part of me welcomes that. The western msm might be beating the drums of war like Iraq and Libya...but the reality of the Syrian theatre is an entirely different animal.
Posted by: MadMax2 | Apr 6 2017 10:38 utc | 83
Posted by: john | Apr 6, 2017 4:07:00 AM | 72
I don't think that exchange took place. I think it was a message via Al Akhbar that if the US want anything from Syria they have to talk to Assad directly.
The 'chemical attack' scare might have been an answer. On the other hand can someone explain what the strategy in Idlib is?
All the active fighting opposition seems to have been bussed there. So now they are meant to flee to Turkey?
Posted by: somebody | Apr 6 2017 10:57 utc | 84
somebody
you're probably right, but ms. Gabbard has a bully pulpit, shouldn't she be making a lot of noise right about now?
Posted by: john | Apr 6 2017 11:21 utc | 85
Posted by: john | Apr 6, 2017 7:21:02 AM | 83
Look at her twitter feed, she says all that can be said.
Posted by: somebody | Apr 6 2017 11:45 utc | 86
Don't look now, but what if the attack was a botched weapons test? I read somewhere that the Russians are taking the opportunity to test vaious kinds of experimental weapons in Syria, what if this was one of those?
Posted by: Grim Deadman | Apr 6 2017 11:51 utc | 87
I've noticed that the news makes sure they say these are "activist" reports. Why? Is it because people are paying attention to their sources now like for the story of Viagra given to Gaddhafi's black mercenaries, a story they later had to retract? Is it to give them insurance if they are later proven wrong so they can do some blame-shifting?
After researching the rebel commander yesterday only to find his al Nusra, CIA, US/Saudi/Qatar connections I looked up the expert and doctor. The expert consults to NGOs and is primarily assigned to WMDs in Syria. And the doctor quoted in the articles didn't seem to have a history prior to that event. But the fact that they're working with White Helmets should make us suspicious enough.
Posted by: Curtis | Apr 6 2017 12:30 utc | 88
Petri Krohn 10
The MSM includes Ghouta and other attacks in all these stories. It's like saying, "if you doubt this, just look at the past attacks of Assad against his own people." It uses a prior assumed event that is itself reinforced and as evidence to support the current event. Shameless media!
Posted by: Curtis | Apr 6 2017 12:38 utc | 89
Posted by: Grim Deadman | Apr 6, 2017 7:51:22 AM | 85
Doubt it. You don't have to test chemicals - their effect is well known.
Plus. The Russians never used chemical weapons in a meaningful way. Ever.
There were doubtful claims in Chechnya and the US tried hard to prove their use in Afghanistan, but did not come up with anything convincing. Russians did nothing like the US did with Agent Orange in Vietnam.
Chemical weapons only make sense when you don't mind or even intend hitting civilians. Or, to scare people, so that they flee. They are no use when your own soldiers are on the ground and when you are not sure where the wind blows.
The main modern use of chemical weapons was in the Iraq-Iran war, where Iraq was supported by "the West", Western companies supplied Iraq's chemical weapons programme.
You need a lot of amnesia to believe Nikki Haley's act at the UN.
That does not mean Russians don't have powerful stuff - like the stuff they used in the Moscow theatre.
Posted by: somebody | Apr 6 2017 12:42 utc | 90
Grim Deadman | Apr 6, 2017 7:51:22 AM | 85
Oooo, the kool-aide crowd doesn't inhabit this blog; perhaps you were mis-directed?
Posted by: V. Arnold | Apr 6 2017 12:50 utc | 91
telescope 18
With the borders redrawn, that leaves a lot of weaker, damaged states that will not support any resistance to Israel. We've had two big announcements by Israel this past week. The first was a gas pipeline from Israel to the EU. And the second was a rail line via Jordan to/through Saudi Arabia. In the announcement, Israel said they wanted closer relations with the Saudis thanks to mutual opposition to Iran. We can say goodbye to secularism in the middle east except very isolated pockets.
Posted by: Curtis | Apr 6 2017 12:57 utc | 92
@aniteleya 27
Standard operating procedure of right-wing politicians:
When you don't get anything accomplished domestically, distract with some foreign policy 'adventure'/ escalation and watch them rally around the flag. Trump's yielding to Neocon interventionist demands was just a matter of time, as it was obvious that he wouldn't be able to 'deliver' on economic issues etc.
There won't be a 'full-scale' invasion like 2003, but an increased use of SF embedded with the regional (or foreign jihadi) allies. To make sure the war goes on for as long as possible, hopefully get Russia and Iran drawn deeper into that quagmire, or at least prevent them from securing their positions.
There's no international support whatsoever (apart from the GCC), but Trump is not the one who'd care. So it seems the only thing that could stop this would be the US running out of money...
Note that a couple of days ago, the US govt stopped disclosing the number of troops deployed:
http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-trump-deployment-20170330-story.html
Posted by: smuks | Apr 6 2017 12:59 utc | 93
Her name is not "Nikki Haley" - that is an alias. Her name is Nimrata Randhawa. She is not an American. She is a fake American that should be be sent back to whatever street-shitting mudpit her ancestors came from. I don't care if her family has been here for 10 generations. She is not an American and it is because of her race and ethnicity that she is not and can never be an American.
Posted by: Pareto | Apr 6 2017 13:07 utc | 94
Just passing through and reading all the pessimistic comments about the new US administration. People seem to give up pretty easily.
Trump is not going to war against Syria. US military knows better than that. This is all a war of words, sound and fury signifying nothing.
All that matters about the US is what actually gets done. Theater, false flags, bluster, words that seem to imply an actual course - none of this should be rated very highly. What's clear is that Trump represents the conservative and working people of the US. Nobody in that camp wants war or even any particular involvement with the rest of the world except for the hope of being able to afford vacations there when the economy improves.
The policy of the Trump administration is domestic. When it comes to foreign affairs, Trump is content to play with the words of the moment and see where they go. All the players on the stage are throwing themselves at the refrigerator. We'll see what sticks and what slides down to the floor.
I can afford to watch and wait, but if I had to bet my own money today, I'd bet that the neocons over time will continue to fall and Trump will continue to rise. US foreign policy will continue to be a massacre with everything it touches, but over time will settle down. The influence of the multi-polar world (led by Russia) will over the next 2-3 years come to be seen as making a distinct impression on the US president and his policies.
Posted by: Grieved | Apr 6 2017 13:13 utc | 95
@93 grieved 'What's clear is that Trump represents the conservative and working people of the US.'
you actually believe that?
i hope that your forecast cones true. don't see it myself.
Posted by: jfl | Apr 6 2017 13:19 utc | 96
Somebody 88
I'm reminded of Cheney's One Percent doctrine.
"It's not about our analysis, or finding a preponderance of evidence. It's about our response."
Posted by: Curtis | Apr 6 2017 13:19 utc | 97
@somebody 88
That I know, what I meant was what if those weren't chemical weapons at all?
As I said, I read somewhere on the web (don't remember where though, so maybe it was just more fake news) that the Russians are testing all their new toys right now in Syria, so what if one of those misfired?
Highly unlikely, of course, but not impossible IMO
Posted by: Grim Deadman | Apr 6 2017 13:28 utc | 98
@37 FecklessLeft
Thanks: Sometimes my brevity is not the soul of wit....
Alongside countless already accomplished certifiable war crimes involving bullets. explosions, etc, there is the war crime of "Planning, preparation ... of [the next] war of aggression or a war in violation of international treaties, agreements or assurances...."
That's what I had in mind: if Trump's 'trauma' was tactical, ' a public perception management' charade, a part of "planning, preparation...." to 'justify' more direct attacks on Syria.
Posted by: canuck | Apr 6 2017 13:34 utc | 99
@93
I'd bet that the neocons over time will continue to fall and Trump will continue to rise.
That's funny, I thought he's scraping 35% in the polls. The Emperor is butt-naked, but you're claiming it's our lying eyes.
Posted by: Circe | Apr 6 2017 13:35 utc | 100
The comments to this entry are closed.
And all this time I thought Nikki Haley was a woman...
Posted by: xLemming | Apr 5 2017 17:45 utc | 1