Syria - civil war incoming?

For discussion of religion and politics

Moderators: LawBeefaroni, $iljanus

User avatar
Holman
Posts: 28906
Joined: Sun Oct 24, 2004 8:00 pm
Location: Between the Schuylkill and the Wissahickon

Re: Syria - civil war incoming?

Post by Holman »

Theresa May just announced that these strikes are not about regime change but only about deterring chemical weapons use.
Much prefer my Nazis Nuremberged.
User avatar
Max Peck
Posts: 13682
Joined: Fri Aug 05, 2005 8:09 pm
Location: Down the Rabbit-Hole

Re: Syria - civil war incoming?

Post by Max Peck »

Via BBC:
Officials at a Pentagon briefing listed three targets that had been struck:
  • A scientific research facility in Damascus, allegedly connected to the production chemical and biological weapons
  • A chemical weapons storage facility west of Homs
  • A chemical weapons equipment storage and an important command post, also near Homs
Syrian state television said government forces had shot down more than a dozen missiles.

The government's main ally, Russia, issued a statement through its US ambassador, saying "such actions will not be left without consequences".

US Secretary of Defence James Mattis told reporters there were no reports of losses in the operation.

"Right now, this is a one-time shot, and I believe it has sent a very strong message," he said, saying the first wave of strikes was over.

President Trump had earlier said: "We are prepared to sustain this response until the Syrian regime stops its use of prohibited chemical agents."
"What? What? What?" -- The 14th Doctor

It's not enough to be a good player... you also have to play well. -- Siegbert Tarrasch
User avatar
Exodor
Posts: 17196
Joined: Tue Oct 12, 2004 11:10 pm
Location: Portland, OR

Re: Syria - civil war incoming?

Post by Exodor »

there's always a tweet:



sometimes several

User avatar
Skinypupy
Posts: 20333
Joined: Tue Dec 07, 2004 10:12 am
Location: Utah

Re: Syria - civil war incoming?

Post by Skinypupy »

So, I'm guessing we're still going to ban the children of Syria...while bombing Syria on behalf of those same children.

This timeline is fucked.
When darkness veils the world, four Warriors of Light shall come.
User avatar
Kraken
Posts: 43688
Joined: Tue Oct 12, 2004 11:59 pm
Location: The Hub of the Universe
Contact:

Re: Syria - civil war incoming?

Post by Kraken »

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?
Makes him look tough and decisive. From initial reports it looks like a carefully calibrated move that checks all the boxes with little risk. I won't go so far as to applaud, but neither do I denounce it.
User avatar
Daehawk
Posts: 63524
Joined: Sat Jan 01, 2005 1:11 am

Re: Syria - civil war incoming?

Post by Daehawk »

Lets get out there and win one for the mandarin
--------------------------------------------
I am Dyslexic of Borg, prepare to have your ass laminated.
I guess Ray Butts has ate his last pancake.
http://steamcommunity.com/id/daehawk
"Has high IQ. Refuses to apply it"
User avatar
Kurth
Posts: 5882
Joined: Tue Jan 04, 2005 1:19 am
Location: Portland

Re: Syria - civil war incoming?

Post by Kurth »

I’m glad we took action. We cannot allow Assad to gas his people. There are (or should be) lines that should not be crossed.
Just 'cause you feel it, doesn't mean it's there -- Radiohead
Do you believe me? Do you trust me? Do you like me? 😳
User avatar
Max Peck
Posts: 13682
Joined: Fri Aug 05, 2005 8:09 pm
Location: Down the Rabbit-Hole

Re: Syria - civil war incoming?

Post by Max Peck »

Wow, I'm shocked that early reports are indicating that the Syrians had already evacuated many of the facilities targetted by the strikes. How could they possibly have seen this coming... :think:
"What? What? What?" -- The 14th Doctor

It's not enough to be a good player... you also have to play well. -- Siegbert Tarrasch
User avatar
Daehawk
Posts: 63524
Joined: Sat Jan 01, 2005 1:11 am

Re: Syria - civil war incoming?

Post by Daehawk »

I can no longer bring myself to care all that much. All this shit the idiot does and nothing ever comes of it. people can post and repost the idiot conflicting himself and his supporters will not give a shit and the ones who do may post a bit about it but nothing comes of it. Im not longer in a caring flying fucking mood.
--------------------------------------------
I am Dyslexic of Borg, prepare to have your ass laminated.
I guess Ray Butts has ate his last pancake.
http://steamcommunity.com/id/daehawk
"Has high IQ. Refuses to apply it"
User avatar
Alefroth
Posts: 8486
Joined: Thu Oct 14, 2004 1:56 pm
Location: Bellingham WA

Re: Syria - civil war incoming?

Post by Alefroth »

Max Peck wrote: Sat Apr 14, 2018 12:54 am Wow, I'm shocked that early reports are indicating that the Syrians had already evacuated many of the facilities targetted by the strikes. How could they possibly have seen this coming... :think:
I don't see a problem with minimizing loss of life while destroying infrastructure and capacity.
User avatar
gbasden
Posts: 7664
Joined: Wed Oct 13, 2004 1:57 am
Location: Sacramento, CA

Re: Syria - civil war incoming?

Post by gbasden »

Alefroth wrote: Sat Apr 14, 2018 3:45 am
I don't see a problem with minimizing loss of life while destroying infrastructure and capacity.
Assuming it does. The strikes last year had minimal impact, and chemical weapons aren't that difficult to make elsewhere.
User avatar
Daehawk
Posts: 63524
Joined: Sat Jan 01, 2005 1:11 am

Re: Syria - civil war incoming?

Post by Daehawk »

Syria claims to have intercepted most of the missiles and has posted this to prove it.

Enlarge Image
--------------------------------------------
I am Dyslexic of Borg, prepare to have your ass laminated.
I guess Ray Butts has ate his last pancake.
http://steamcommunity.com/id/daehawk
"Has high IQ. Refuses to apply it"
User avatar
Fitzy
Posts: 2030
Joined: Wed Oct 13, 2004 4:15 pm
Location: Rockville, MD

Re: Syria - civil war incoming?

Post by Fitzy »

Max Peck wrote: Fri Apr 13, 2018 10:44 pm
The government's main ally, Russia, issued a statement through its US ambassador, saying "such actions will not be left without consequences".
Incoming pee tape?
User avatar
The Meal
Posts: 27987
Joined: Tue Oct 12, 2004 10:33 pm
Location: 2005 Stanley Cup Champion

Vladdie, care to help out with a bit of a distraction?

Post by The Meal »

Max Peck wrote: Sat Apr 14, 2018 12:54 am Wow, I'm shocked that early reports are indicating that the Syrians had already evacuated many of the facilities targetted by the strikes. How could they possibly have seen this coming... :think:
The Meal wrote: Wed Apr 11, 2018 10:11 am From the 30,000' view, the Syria thing looks like a coordinated way for us to show that we're not in cahoots with the Ruskies. You know, over someone else's country.
"Better to talk to people than communicate via tweet." — Elontra
User avatar
Holman
Posts: 28906
Joined: Sun Oct 24, 2004 8:00 pm
Location: Between the Schuylkill and the Wissahickon

Re: Syria - civil war incoming?

Post by Holman »

Barring further escalation, this probably comes down to the Allies claiming credit for taking action and the Russians claiming credit for not escalating it.

There could be a few more strikes on airfields, etc, but that still leaves things at the above.
Much prefer my Nazis Nuremberged.
User avatar
pr0ner
Posts: 17424
Joined: Mon Dec 06, 2004 3:00 pm
Location: Northern Virginia, VA
Contact:

Re: Syria - civil war incoming?

Post by pr0ner »

Well, Alex Jones has decided that was the last straw with regards to Trump.
“If he had been a piece of crap from the beginning, it wouldn’t be so bad,” a visibly emotional Jones said of Trump. “We’ve made so many sacrifices and now he’s crapping all over us. It makes me sick."

Jones said the decision to strike Syria was especially painful because Trump had been “doing so good.”

“Trump’s now a fraud,” Jones later said. “Done.”

"F--- Trump," he vented Friday.
Hodor.
User avatar
LordMortis
Posts: 70100
Joined: Tue Oct 12, 2004 11:26 pm

Re: Syria - civil war incoming?

Post by LordMortis »

Kraken wrote: Fri Apr 13, 2018 11:28 pm From initial reports it looks like a carefully calibrated move that checks all the boxes with little risk. I won't go so far as to applaud, but neither do I denounce it.
+1
User avatar
Zaxxon
Forum Moderator
Posts: 28118
Joined: Wed Oct 13, 2004 12:11 am
Location: Surrounded by Mountains

Re: Syria - civil war incoming?

Post by Zaxxon »

User avatar
Holman
Posts: 28906
Joined: Sun Oct 24, 2004 8:00 pm
Location: Between the Schuylkill and the Wissahickon

Re: Syria - civil war incoming?

Post by Holman »


A perfectly executed strike last night. Thank you to France and the United Kingdom for their wisdom and the power of their fine Military. Could not have had a better result. Mission Accomplished!
Mission. Accomplished.
Much prefer my Nazis Nuremberged.
User avatar
Rip
Posts: 26891
Joined: Tue Oct 12, 2004 9:34 pm
Location: Cajun Country!
Contact:

Re: Syria - civil war incoming?

Post by Rip »

Awesome, what time is tee off?
User avatar
Defiant
Posts: 21045
Joined: Tue Oct 12, 2004 11:09 pm
Location: Tongue in cheek

Re: Syria - civil war incoming?

Post by Defiant »

Alefroth wrote: Sat Apr 14, 2018 3:45 am
I don't see a problem with minimizing loss of life while destroying infrastructure and capacity.
The question is were people the only thing evacuated from those locations?
User avatar
Max Peck
Posts: 13682
Joined: Fri Aug 05, 2005 8:09 pm
Location: Down the Rabbit-Hole

Re: Syria - civil war incoming?

Post by Max Peck »

Holman wrote: Sat Apr 14, 2018 10:02 am
A perfectly executed strike last night. Thank you to France and the United Kingdom for their wisdom and the power of their fine Military. Could not have had a better result. Mission Accomplished!
Mission. Accomplished.
Heh...
Mr Trump will be content to count this as a victory and move on - he has already declared "Mission Accomplished!" in a follow-up tweet - but that depends on Syria, Russia and Iran and whether they get the message this time.

Of course, the last time an American president employed those words, it represented a serious misreading of the challenge he confronted. But Syria isn't Iraq. It's actually much more complicated.
"What? What? What?" -- The 14th Doctor

It's not enough to be a good player... you also have to play well. -- Siegbert Tarrasch
User avatar
Kraken
Posts: 43688
Joined: Tue Oct 12, 2004 11:59 pm
Location: The Hub of the Universe
Contact:

Re: Syria - civil war incoming?

Post by Kraken »

If Putin wants to draw the US deeper into Syria, then Trump has given him a playbook for doing so. As with much of Trump's foreign "policy" (such as it is), the salient questions is "What does Putin want?"
User avatar
Rip
Posts: 26891
Joined: Tue Oct 12, 2004 9:34 pm
Location: Cajun Country!
Contact:

Re: Syria - civil war incoming?

Post by Rip »

"I spoke to President Trump this morning and he said if the Syrian regime uses this poisonous gas again, the United States is locked and loaded," she said.
Haley promised that Trump would not waver: “When our president draws a red line, our president enforces the red line."
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2018/04 ... again.html

Image
User avatar
Skinypupy
Posts: 20333
Joined: Tue Dec 07, 2004 10:12 am
Location: Utah

Re: Syria - civil war incoming?

Post by Skinypupy »

I’d think that Trump warning them in advance to get everyone and everything out of the way because an attack is incoming changes the equation somewhat.
When darkness veils the world, four Warriors of Light shall come.
User avatar
hepcat
Posts: 51302
Joined: Wed Oct 13, 2004 3:02 pm
Location: Chicago, IL Home of the triple homicide!

Re: Syria - civil war incoming?

Post by hepcat »

Good thing Trump let Russia know all about his plans before they happened. God forbid he does anything that might get the pee tape released. :mrgreen:
Covfefe!
User avatar
Holman
Posts: 28906
Joined: Sun Oct 24, 2004 8:00 pm
Location: Between the Schuylkill and the Wissahickon

Re: Syria - civil war incoming?

Post by Holman »


The Syrian raid was so perfectly carried out, with such precision, that the only way the Fake News Media could demean was by my use of the term “Mission Accomplished.” I knew they would seize on this but felt it is such a great Military term, it should be brought back. Use often!
Such a great Military term! Use often!

#MMAGA
Much prefer my Nazis Nuremberged.
User avatar
YellowKing
Posts: 30125
Joined: Wed Oct 13, 2004 2:02 pm

Re: Syria - civil war incoming?

Post by YellowKing »

I'll use that term once Mueller has Trump thrown out on his ass.
User avatar
GreenGoo
Posts: 42239
Joined: Thu Oct 14, 2004 10:46 pm
Location: Ottawa, ON

Re: Syria - civil war incoming?

Post by GreenGoo »

Used that term last night after "relations".

It was noted that I may haved used it prematurely.
User avatar
$iljanus
Forum Moderator
Posts: 13676
Joined: Wed Oct 13, 2004 3:46 pm
Location: New England...or under your bed

Re: Syria - civil war incoming?

Post by $iljanus »

Holman wrote:
The Syrian raid was so perfectly carried out, with such precision, that the only way the Fake News Media could demean was by my use of the term “Mission Accomplished.” I knew they would seize on this but felt it is such a great Military term, it should be brought back. Use often!
Such a great Military term! Use often!

#MMAGA
Why can't he just shut the fuck up and act like a President instead of a hurt man child that needs to respond to every little slight? I know he's incapable of being presidential but had to vent. We now return to the shit show that is the Trump presidency.
Black lives matter!

Wise words of warning from Smoove B: Oh, how you all laughed when I warned you about the semen. Well, who's laughing now?
User avatar
Carpet_pissr
Posts: 19979
Joined: Thu Nov 04, 2004 5:32 pm
Location: Columbia, SC

Re: Syria - civil war incoming?

Post by Carpet_pissr »

GreenGoo wrote:Used that term last night after "relations".

It was noted that I may haved used it prematurely.
Ha!

Try “Bam! That just happened!” next time for a different reaction. :p
User avatar
$iljanus
Forum Moderator
Posts: 13676
Joined: Wed Oct 13, 2004 3:46 pm
Location: New England...or under your bed

Re: Syria - civil war incoming?

Post by $iljanus »

Of course this happened. It's good for Moscow to give its bitch some room to roam but in the end you bring it to heel to sit at the feet of its master.

WaPo report on our "president" and how "strong and decisive" he is (not)...


President Trump on Monday put the brakes on a preliminary plan to impose additional economic sanctions on Russia, walking back a Sunday announcement by U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley that the Kremlin had swiftly denounced as “international economic raiding.”

Preparations to punish Russia anew for its support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s government over the alleged chemical weapons attack in Syria caused consternation at the White House. Haley had said on CBS News’s “Face the Nation” that sanctions on Russian companies behind the equipment related to Assad’s alleged chemical weapons attack would be announced Monday by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin.

But Trump conferred with his national security advisers later Sunday and told them he was upset the sanctions were being officially rolled out because he was not yet comfortable executing them, according to several people familiar with the plan.

Administration officials said the economic sanctions were under serious consideration, along with other measures that could be taken against Russia, but said Trump had not given final authorization to implement them. Administration officials said Monday it was unlikely Trump would approve any additional sanctions without another triggering event by Russia, describing the strategy as being in a holding pattern.

Sometime after Haley’s comments on CBS, the Trump administration notified the Russian Embassy in Washington that the sanctions were not in fact coming, a Russian Foreign Ministry official said Monday.

The Trump team decided to publicly characterize Haley’s announcement as a misstatement. White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said in a statement Monday: “We are considering additional sanctions on Russia and a decision will be made in the near future.”
Black lives matter!

Wise words of warning from Smoove B: Oh, how you all laughed when I warned you about the semen. Well, who's laughing now?
User avatar
Holman
Posts: 28906
Joined: Sun Oct 24, 2004 8:00 pm
Location: Between the Schuylkill and the Wissahickon

Re: Syria - civil war incoming?

Post by Holman »

The true history of this era is going to fascinating. I pray it gets written.

Saw a thread earlier detailing how this happens *every time* there's a gesture to get tough on Russia: experienced hands try to implement sanctions or even just warnings, and Trump personally halts it or tries to slow walk it or otherwise minimize the impact.

And it happened this time after Russia literally *warned* the US this weekend not to impose new sanctions.
Much prefer my Nazis Nuremberged.
User avatar
GreenGoo
Posts: 42239
Joined: Thu Oct 14, 2004 10:46 pm
Location: Ottawa, ON

Re: Syria - civil war incoming?

Post by GreenGoo »

Our kids might not know who Benedict Arnold was, but they sure as hell will know who Drumpf was.

In 10-20 years, no one will know anyone who voted for him.

On the plus side, the internet never forgets.
User avatar
Defiant
Posts: 21045
Joined: Tue Oct 12, 2004 11:09 pm
Location: Tongue in cheek

Re: Syria - civil war incoming?

Post by Defiant »

Thomas L. Friedman: The Real Next War in Syria: Iran vs. Israel


Round one occurred on Feb. 10, when an Iranian drone launched by a Revolutionary Guards Quds Force unit operating out of Syria’s T4 air base, east of Homs in central Syria, was shot down with a missile from an Israeli Apache helicopter that was following it after it penetrated Israeli airspace.

Initial reports were that the Iranian drone was purely on a reconnaissance mission. But the official Israeli Army spokesman, Brig. Gen. Ronen Manelis, said Friday that the drone’s flight path and Israel’s “intelligence and operational analysis of the parts of the Iranian unmanned vehicle” indicated that “the aircraft was carrying explosives” and that its mission was “an act of sabotage in Israeli territory.”

I have no ability to independently verify that claim. But the fact that the Israelis are putting it out should raise alarm bells.
Since then, senior Israeli defense officials have let it be known that if the Iranians were to strike back at Israeli targets, Israel may use the opportunity to make a massive counterstrike on Iran’s entire military infrastructure in Syria, where Iran is attempting to establish both a forward air base, as well as a factory for GPS-guided missiles that could hit targets inside Israel with much greater accuracy — inside a 50-meter radius — and deploy them from Syria and with Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Tehran’s attempt to build a network of bases and missile factories in Syria — now that it has helped Assad largely crush the uprising against him — appears to be an ego-power play by Iran’s Quds Force leader Suleimani to extend Iran’s grip on key parts of the Sunni Arab world and advance his power struggle with President Hassan Rouhani. Suleimani’s Quds Force now more or less controls — through proxies — four Arab capitals: Damascus, Beirut, Baghdad and Sana.

Iran has actually become the biggest “occupying power” in the Arab world today. But Suleimani may be overplaying his hand, especially if he finds himself in a direct confrontation with Israel in Syria, far from Iran, without air cover.

After all, even before this, many average Iranians were publicly asking what in the world is Iran doing spending billions of dollars — which were supposed to go to Iranians as a result of the lifting of sanctions from the Iran nuclear deal — fighting wars in Syria, Lebanon and Yemen.
Iran’s currency is collapsing back home. Consider this April 12 story on CNBC.com:

The Iranian rial “has plummeted to a record low amid growing economic and political uncertainty, causing a rush to the banks as Iranians desperately try to acquire U.S. dollars with exchanges forced to shut their doors to prevent long and chaotic lines.” The rial has lost one-third of its value just this year, the story noted.

Moreover, Israeli military officials believe Russian President Vladimir Putin and Suleimani are no longer natural allies. Putin wants and needs a stable Syria where his puppet Bashar Assad can be in control and Russia can maintain a forward naval and air presence and look like a superpower again — on the cheap. Iran’s President Rouhani probably also prefers a stable Syria, where Assad has consolidated his power and that is not a drain on the Iranian budget. But Suleimani and the Quds Force seem to aspire to greater dominance of the Arab world and putting more pressure on Israel.
User avatar
Max Peck
Posts: 13682
Joined: Fri Aug 05, 2005 8:09 pm
Location: Down the Rabbit-Hole

Re: Syria - civil war incoming?

Post by Max Peck »

'Iranian personnel among dozens dead' in missile attacks
Missiles hit a number of military sites in northern Syria on Sunday night, state media say, with unconfirmed reports of dozens of fatalities.

The Syrian military said facilities in Hama and Aleppo provinces were struck.

It did not immediately report any casualties. But a UK-based monitoring group said 26 pro-government fighters were killed, most of them Iranians.

It is not known who was behind the attacks. Western nations and Israel have previously hit sites in Syria.
:think:
"What? What? What?" -- The 14th Doctor

It's not enough to be a good player... you also have to play well. -- Siegbert Tarrasch
User avatar
Max Peck
Posts: 13682
Joined: Fri Aug 05, 2005 8:09 pm
Location: Down the Rabbit-Hole

Re: Syria - civil war incoming?

Post by Max Peck »

Russia to showcase robot tank in WW2 victory parade
Russia's big Victory Day parade on Wednesday will feature a remote-controlled tank and other new weapons systems combat-tested in Syria.

The Uran-9 tank is armed with anti-tank rockets, a cannon and a machine-gun.

President Vladimir Putin restored the Soviet-era tradition of parading the latest armour and missiles on 9 May. It is the day Russians honour the millions who died fighting Nazi Germany.

New infantry buggies, drones and an anti-ship missile will also go on show.

Russia's Gazeta.ru news reports (in Russian) that the Uran-9 and a "robot sapper" - a mine-clearing vehicle - called Uran-6 have both performed well for Russian forces fighting in Syria.

Russia has deployed special forces and a big array of warplanes to help Syrian President Bashar al-Assad against various rebel groups, including Islamic State (IS).

Gazeta.ru reports that the Uran-9 can locate a target itself but the decision to fire is taken by a commander sitting in an armoured truck up to 3km (1.8 miles) away.

The Uran-6 robot-sapper was used to clear mines in the Syrian hotspots of Palmyra, Aleppo and Deir al-Zour. Its controller steers it from a distance of up to 1km.

The Uran-6 blew up mines at a safe distance from government troops, enabling them to move into rebel-held areas, Gazeta.ru said, quoting Russian Deputy Defence Minister Yuri Borisov.
I wonder if the Uran-9 can fall back into a fully autonymous mode if the command link goes down.
"What? What? What?" -- The 14th Doctor

It's not enough to be a good player... you also have to play well. -- Siegbert Tarrasch
User avatar
Remus West
Posts: 33592
Joined: Mon May 09, 2005 5:39 pm
Location: Not in Westland

Re: Syria - civil war incoming?

Post by Remus West »

Uran-6 and -9? Seriously? Does nobody in Russia understand the concept of a dirty mind?
“As democracy is perfected, the office of president represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart's desire at last and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron.” - H.L. Mencken
User avatar
Sepiche
Posts: 8112
Joined: Mon Feb 21, 2005 12:00 pm
Location: Olathe, KS

Re: Syria - civil war incoming?

Post by Sepiche »

It's worth keeping in mind when Russia unveils new hardware like this, that for all their chest thumping, they are years if not decades behind us in a lot of areas, including robotics. They are definitely going down the path of autonomous units to help make up for their lack of available manpower, but bottom line is Russia is an economy roughly the size of Mexico's trying to pretend it's still a super power.
User avatar
Isgrimnur
Posts: 82085
Joined: Sun Oct 15, 2006 12:29 am
Location: Chookity pok
Contact:

Re: Syria - civil war incoming?

Post by Isgrimnur »

They're also half of our population.
The current population of the Russian Federation is 143,968,344 as of Wednesday, May 9, 2018, based on the latest United Nations estimates.
It's almost as if people are the problem.
Post Reply