Syria:- WMD "Found"

[verdo]

Re: Syria:- WMD "Found"

Here's my take on this (I wrote this in another thread)

I don't buy these allegations, to be frank. Assad (with some Russian aid) was destroying the rebels handedly and really is on the verge of finishing them off for good after a few significant victories in the field. Now we're supposed to believe that all of a sudden, Assad was like, " Hmm, you know something...I'm whooping these rebels and am on the verge of defeating them, but things are just too damn boring atm. I think I'll use some chemical weapons to give the US a pretext to introduce a no fly zone, further arm the rebels, and tip the balance in the rebels favor once NATO starts its bombing runs." Ehh, I'm not really buying it. If Assad was loosing and the rebels were closing in around his fortress, then yes I can see the motive for using chemical weapons. But the rebels are being smashed by Assad's army, and like magic, allegations that he used chemical weapons appears right when the rebels are nearing defeat? Makes zero sense. What makes more sense to me is that the rebels used it (if you read the kind of things these religiously fanatical rebels have already done like beheading christians in broad daylight, this isn't surprising), knowing that they need to do anything to stop Assad from finishing them off, and knowing that it could easily be blamed on Assad because they have western cover

[GRG55]

Re: Syria:- WMD "Found"

...I'd say that the worst possible thing for Saudi Arabia in Bahrain is to have US troops come in and shoot Muslims. This would validate the allegations that Osama and others have been making for years - that the ruling regime in Saudi Arabia is a US puppet. Much like having US troops maintain order in the KSA would do the same thing.

There are only two reasons I can think of why the USA would ever do that in a place like Bahrain:

A breech of the US Embassy building itself, or a breech of the US Navy 5th Fleet headquarters compound in Juffair/Mina Salman.

When the US Embassy in Manama, Bahrain was attacked in April 2002 the outer perimeter wall had not been equipped with anti-climb provisions because it wasn't considered to be a potential threat. Most everything inside the compound walls was destroyed including the satellite communications equipment and all the Embassy vehicles, which were set on fire. Despite this the US Marines tasked with defending the Embassy building itself (within the compound) did not open fire with live ammunition because the building was never under direct potential of being breeched.

Other than that sort of scenario there is no chance that US troops are going to be brought in to shoot civilians. And certainly not to save the Al Saud family...

[lakedaemonian]

Re: Syria:- WMD "Found"

There are only two reasons I can think of why the USA would ever do that in a place like Bahrain:

A breech of the US Embassy building itself, or a breech of the US Navy 5th Fleet headquarters compound in Juffair/Mina Salman.

When the US Embassy in Manama, Bahrain was attacked in April 2002 the outer perimeter wall had not been equipped with anti-climb provisions because it wasn't considered to be a potential threat. Most everything inside the compound walls was destroyed including the satellite communications equipment and all the Embassy vehicles, which were set on fire. Despite this the US Marines tasked with defending the Embassy building itself (within the compound) did not open fire with live ammunition because the building was never under direct potential of being breeched.

Other than that sort of scenario there is no chance that US troops are going to be brought in to shoot civilians. And certainly not to save the Al Saud family...

To c1ue's post about Saud getting others to do the heavy lifting, I'm thinking examples such as:

Pakistan(having provided "advisors" who are actually in active service to the house of Saud in many capacities, including close protection of the family...and I suspect an outsourced nuclear deterrent option if Iran gets nukes)

France(providing SF to retake the Grand Mosque

I'm also aware of another country in the GCC that uses specialist western expats in quite sensitive roles other than training/advising

[GRG55]

Re: Syria:- WMD "Found"

To c1ue's post about Saud getting others to do the heavy lifting, I'm thinking examples such as:

Pakistan(having provided "advisors" who are actually in active service to the house of Saud in many capacities, including close protection of the family...and I suspect an outsourced nuclear deterrent option if Iran gets nukes)

France(providing SF to retake the Grand Mosque

I'm also aware of another country in the GCC that uses specialist western expats in quite sensitive roles other than training/advising

EVERY country in the GCC uses outside military and security advisors. The primary advisers to the Qataris is Israel. Every country in the GCC also has outside police and special security forces. The "enemy within" is the greatest threat to these Ruling Families/Governments (those two are one in the same thing). They don't trust a police or security force made up of nationals to put down an insurrection of nationals - they cannot be counted on to shoot their own countrymen. The House of Saud is far from unique in that regard.

For the Americans, Europeans and Israelis it's a great opportunity to promote more arms sales into the already most heavily armed place on earth outside of Hawthorne.

[c1ue]

Re: Syria:- WMD "Found"

Interesting note from a link Mega put up:

Youtube video showing a rebel launching a shoulder launched anti-aircraft missile.

Now that's a good idea - giving shoulder launched anti-aircraft missiles to al-Q as they fight the 'anti-democracy' Assad forces.

Extra bonus fun: Egypt's Morsi cutting off relations with Syria - the first step towards Egyptian official participation in a Middle Eastern conflict?

Good thing Arab Spring brought peace to the region...

[FrankL]

Re: Syria:- WMD "Found"

1) Convenient time for a distraction from the scandals at home.
2) There's no such thing as an "orderly process" of succession in the Arab world.
3) Syria is a police state, run by the military. Assad is a figurehead who rules at their behest. That's why removing him doesn't really change anything.
4) What exactly is the "problem" that western military intervention is trying to solve here?
- Remove an odious leader and "liberate" the people of Syria?
- Prevent the spread of chemical WMOs?
- Run a blocking move on Iran and Hezbollah?
- Take a swipe at Russia (and China?)
- Prevent the spread of "radical" (read Shi'a) Islam (even though the 9/11 attacks were by Sunni Muslims)?
- All of the above?
- None of the above?
- Something else entirely?

P.S. The NSA approves this message...

Is it just me, or does the Arab spring and what's happening in Syria appear to be an embrace by the Western bloc to destabilize the gulf region by inciting sectarian violence between the Sunni and Shia sects?

I remember British troops being caught in the south of Iraq trying to achieve similar results, but in a way with more direct participation.