Octopus Overlords

The U.N. human rights chief has been blocked from speaking to the Security Council about the situation in Syria after Russia, backed by China and others, protested that the U.N. body charged with ensuring international peace and security should not be discussing human rights.

At the start of Monday afternoon’s council meeting that was to be addressed by High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein, Russia demanded a procedural vote on whether the meeting should be held.

Under council rules, nine “yes” votes are required.

After the issue was put to a vote, the result was 8 countries in favor, 4 against and 3 abstentions. So the meeting was canceled.

It was a very rare defeat on a procedural issue at an open council meeting.

But it reflected deep divisions at the Security Council over seven years of Syrian conflict that has involved President Bashar Assad’s key ally Russia and Western nations including the U.S. and other supporters of the Syrian opposition.

Rescuers in Syria say at least 150 people have died after toxic gas was dropped on Douma, the last rebel-held town in Eastern Ghouta.

Volunteer rescue force The White Helmets tweeted graphic images showing scores of bodies in a basement. It said the death toll is likely to rise.

There has been no independent verification of the reports.

Syria's government has called the allegations of a chemical attack a "fabrication".

The US state department said it is monitoring the reports, and that Russia - which is fighting alongside the Syrian government - should be held responsible if deadly chemicals had been used.

"The regime's history of using chemical weapons against its own people in not in dispute," said the State Department.

"Russia ultimately bears responsibility for the brutal targeting of countless Syrians with chemical weapons."

The pro-opposition Ghouta Media Center tweeted that more than a thousand people had suffered the effects of the alleged gas attack.

It blamed a barrel bomb allegedly dropped by a helicopter which it said contained sarin, a toxic nerve agent.

Douma is the last rebel-held town in Syria's Eastern Ghouta region, and is under siege from government forces.

Isgrimnur wrote: ↑Sat Apr 07, 2018 9:49 pm Throwing Russia under the bus for Syrian chemical weapons attacks without direct evidence of involvement seems reasonable and unlikely to cause an increase in tensions. /s

Stefan Stirzaker wrote: ↑Sun Apr 08, 2018 11:36 pm Reports coming in of cruise missile or missile strikes on an syrian mil airport. USA have denied reaponsibility. Possibly israel or france??

pr0ner wrote: ↑Sun Apr 08, 2018 11:41 pm

Stefan Stirzaker wrote: ↑Sun Apr 08, 2018 11:36 pm Reports coming in of cruise missile or missile strikes on an syrian mil airport. USA have denied reaponsibility. Possibly israel or france??

France did say they would unilaterally strike at Syria if chemical weapons were used again.

Stefan Stirzaker wrote: ↑Wed Apr 11, 2018 8:37 am According to your Chief, you're firing missiles soon, so yes now none will be shot down as the game plan has been laid out via twitter. Stealth! Planning! The best Planners!

"SMART"

Spoiler:

Russia vows to shoot down any and all missiles fired at Syria. Get ready Russia, because they will be coming, nice and new and “smart!” You shouldn’t be partners with a Gas Killing Animal who kills his people and enjoys it!

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/sta ... 5440747520

Donald Trump wrote:@walaa_3ssaf No, dopey, I would not go into Syria, but if I did it would be by surprise and not blurted all over the media like fools.

Commander-in-Chief wrote:Never said when an attack on Syria would take place. Could be very soon or not so soon at all! In any event, the United States, under my Administration, has done a great job of ridding the region of ISIS. Where is our “Thank you America?”

YellowKing wrote:Oh my God he sounds like one of my kids when called out on something. "I didn't say I wasn't doing my homework. I said I MIGHT not be doing my homework RIGHT NOW." Seriously how can any grown adult support this imbecile, regardless of political views?

Russian officials in recent days had warned of the possibility of a direct military confrontation with the United States as a result of a U.S. strike. Any missile attack that puts Russian lives at risk, Moscow has said, would result in Russia striking back at the missiles and at the planes or ships that launched them.
...
In the wake of Trump’s Wednesday tweet warning Russia of a planned U.S. missile strike, however, Moscow appears to be trying to make clear that it does not want a war and that a limited attack that doesn’t risk Russian lives would not precipitate a military response.
...
The Kommersant newspaper quoted anonymous Defense Ministry sources as saying that Russia’s General Staff was in touch with the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff and expected to receive coordinates on airstrike targets from the Pentagon to avoid Russian casualties.

“Right now, the talk is about the necessity of de-escalation,” said Alexander Golts, an independent military analyst in Moscow. “We’ve practically come to the brink of war.”

GreenGoo wrote: ↑Thu Apr 12, 2018 11:27 amAlso, for all of Putin's bluster, Russia's economy isn't exactly going gangbusters.

Associated Press wrote:BREAKING: The Russian military says that an alleged chemical attack in Syria was staged and directed by Britain.

Russian Defense Ministry spokesman, Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov, released statements by medics from Douma’s hospital who said a group of people toting video cameras entered the hospital, shouting that its patients were struck with chemical weapons and causing panic. The medics said none of the patients were hurt by chemicals.

Konashenkov said Friday that Britain was “directly involved in the provocation,” but didn’t elaborate or provide evidence.

Moscow, he said, has “irrefutable information that it was another fabrication.” Lavrov did not offer evidence to back up his claim. Other Russian officials – both from Moscow and speaking at the United Nations – alleged quickly after Saturday’s suspected attack that the images of the victims in Douma were a sham.

Rip wrote: ↑Fri Apr 13, 2018 5:36 pm I'm thinking shit will start getting blown up this weekend.

Should be by far the largest attack we have made on them.

Fitzy wrote: ↑Fri Apr 13, 2018 8:05 pm

Rip wrote: ↑Fri Apr 13, 2018 5:36 pm I'm thinking shit will start getting blown up this weekend.

Should be by far the largest attack we have made on them.

What will it accomplish?

Fitzy wrote: ↑Fri Apr 13, 2018 8:05 pm

Rip wrote: ↑Fri Apr 13, 2018 5:36 pm I'm thinking shit will start getting blown up this weekend.

Should be by far the largest attack we have made on them.

What will it accomplish?

Daehawk wrote: ↑Fri Apr 13, 2018 8:18 pm For an America First president he sure does a lot of foreign shooting.

We should support our Kurdish allies and friends and that be our involvement. Just support them.

Rip wrote: ↑Fri Apr 13, 2018 8:13 pm

Fitzy wrote: ↑Fri Apr 13, 2018 8:05 pm

Rip wrote: ↑Fri Apr 13, 2018 5:36 pm I'm thinking shit will start getting blown up this weekend.

Should be by far the largest attack we have made on them.

What will it accomplish?

That if you use chemical/biological weapons there will be a price exacted, no matter if you have powerful friends watching your back or not.

What would you suggest and what would your suggestion accomplish?

On Wednesday morning, President Trump tweeted that, in response to Syria’s latest chemical weapons attack, against civilians in Douma, the United States would be launching another missile attack against the Assad regime using “new and ‘smart’ ” weapons. The next day, he tweeted that such an attack might — or might not — occur.

Even with that caution, any preview of future military operations contradicts Trump’s statements as a candidate. While campaigning, he repeatedly criticized President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for announcing impending military operations against the Iraqi city of Mosul.

Why the changes of heart?

Sometimes there are reasons to publicize military operations before a major offensive — especially if the warning is specific about the intended targets, which Trump’s tweet was not. But the kind of airstrikes that Trump suggested Wednesday require the element of surprise. All of which suggests that Trump’s tweet is less likely to have genuinely been a military announcement, and much more likely to have been an appeal to his domestic political base as the special counsel’s investigation escalates and midterm elections approach.

Why has Trump been threatening to attack Syria? (Hint: It’s probably not about Syria.)

$iljanus wrote: ↑Fri Apr 13, 2018 9:05 pm Strike launched against Syria. President talking on TV. France and the UK also on board.

Blackhawk wrote: ↑Fri Apr 13, 2018 9:16 pm Let the distraction commence!

Blackhawk wrote: ↑Fri Apr 13, 2018 9:16 pm Let the distraction commence!