Syria

[Black Orchid]

Something big is brewing.

[BigP]

Something big is brewing.

A large teabag ?

[Black Orchid]

US President Donald Trump has warned Russia of imminent military action in Syria over a suspected poison gas attack, declaring that missiles "will be coming" and lambasting Moscow for standing by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

The White House pushed back against suggestions that Trump had broadcast his plans for military strikes via Twitter, saying he had not laid out a timetable for action, that all options were still on the table and he was assessing how to respond.

Trump's tweet was reacting to a warning from Russia that any US missiles fired at Syria over the deadly assault at the weekend on the rebel enclave of Douma near Damascus would be shot down and the launch sites targeted.

His comments raised the prospect of direct conflict over Syria for the first time between the two world powers backing opposing sides in the seven-year-old civil war, which has aggravated instability across the Middle East.

"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!'," Trump wrote on Twitter.

"You shouldn't be partners with a Gas Killing Animal who kills his people and enjoys it!" Trump tweeted, referring to Moscow's alliance with Assad.

In response, Russia's foreign ministry said: "Smart missiles should fly towards terrorists, not towards the lawful government."

http://www.afr.com/news/world/middle-ea ... 412-h0yofy

Assad's government are terrorists!!

First we had tweets of "Little rocket man" now we have "Gas killing animal". Both of which are absolutely correct. No doubt about it Trump is crazy but ya gotta love him lol

[Black Orchid]

And so it begins.

The US, UK and France have launched "precision strikes" on targets linked to chemical weapons in Syria in response to the alleged poison gas attack which killed dozens of people in the Syrian town of Douma.

In a televised address to the nation, US President Donald Trump said the three nations had "marshalled their righteous power against barbarism and brutality".

Reuters reported several explosions had been heard in the Syrian capital of Damascus.

Smoke was seen rising from the area.

Syrian state TV said the US, UK and France had launched attacks and said anti-aircraft units had responded.

Mr Trump said the strikes were in response to the "evil and the despicable" chemical attack which "left mothers and fathers, infants and children, thrashing in pain and gasping for air".

"These are not the actions of a man, they are crimes of a monster," he said, referring to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

British Prime Minister Theresa May confirmed the UK had authorised armed forces to conduct co-ordinated and targeted strikes to degrade the Syrian regime's chemical weapons capability and deter their use.

"We cannot allow the use of chemical weapons to become normalised within Syria, on the streets of the UK or anywhere else in our world," Ms May said.

"This is not about intervening in a civil war. It is not about a regime change.

"It is a limited and targeted strike that does not further escalate tensions in the region and that does everything possible to prevent civilian casualties."

French President Emmanuel Macron said the military operation with US and Britain were targeting a "clandestine chemical arsenal" in Syria.

UK's Defence Ministry said four RAF Tornado jets took part in the strike, firing Storm Shadow cruise missiles.

Mr Trump said the US was not seeking an "indefinite presence" in Syria.

He said the US would be a "partner and a friend" to the Middle East but the fate of the region lay in the hands of its own people.

"As other nations step up their contributions, we look forward to the day when we can bring our warriors home," he said.

"No amount of American blood or treasure can produce lasting peace and security in the Middle East.

"We will try to make it better, but it is a troubled place."

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-04-14/u ... ck/9658900

[Rorschach]

They should just take Assad out...

[Black Orchid]

They can't because there are a thousand more who are worse than Assad who will take his place.

Putin needs to wake up and work with the US and allies as it is in his best interests to do so.

[Nom De Plume]

As the Americans put it, the most likely scenario is a military strike against the Syrian army bases from which the planes were launched; in other words, another revenge operation similar to the one executed by Washington at beginning of the Trump administration. This would avoid embarking on an open confrontation which would place the United States in direct opposition to Russia and Iran.

Neither Washington nor Moscow are concerned about this level of escalation for the following two reasons: First, the dead end of having to carry the high cost of such a confrontation by both sides; and second, the U.S. having no alternative to the Russian scenario in Syria. Destroying the Syrian regime or toppling it by force translates into the rebirth of mayhem in Syria. In addition, Islamic State would regain its capabilities and organizational structure, wasting the gains achieved by the international coalition in Syria and Iraq which destroyed the Islamic State group and regained control over the most prominent cities which the group had previously controlled.

exerts from
http://watchingamerica.com/WA/2018/04/1 ... nst-syria/

[Nicole]

As the Americans put it, the most likely scenario is a military strike against the Syrian army bases from which the planes were launched; in other words, another revenge operation similar to the one executed by Washington at beginning of the Trump administration. This would avoid embarking on an open confrontation which would place the United States in direct opposition to Russia and Iran.

Neither Washington nor Moscow are concerned about this level of escalation for the following two reasons: First, the dead end of having to carry the high cost of such a confrontation by both sides; and second, the U.S. having no alternative to the Russian scenario in Syria. Destroying the Syrian regime or toppling it by force translates into the rebirth of mayhem in Syria. In addition, Islamic State would regain its capabilities and organizational structure, wasting the gains achieved by the international coalition in Syria and Iraq which destroyed the Islamic State group and regained control over the most prominent cities which the group had previously controlled.

exerts from
http://watchingamerica.com/WA/2018/04/1 ... nst-syria/

Good ref Nom.

[Nom De Plume]

I find it interesting that the strikes occurred just prior to UN investigators getting to the site. Also, were their respective governments aware of the leaders intent to strike on the weekend?

[BigP]

I find it interesting that the strikes occurred just prior to UN investigators getting to the site. Also, were their respective governments aware of the leaders intent to strike on the weekend?

They should nuke the shithole , Or stay well away from it and let them sort out their problems