Israel and Syria

So who is the savage??

I Had Never Heard Of These People

Good luck to them.

And here's another interesting article about the Kurds.

Chemical Weapons In Syria

Hmmmmm. And where did they say So-Damned-Insane's chemical weapons went again?

Syria admits it has four more chemical weapons plants, says UN official

Syria discloses four secret chemical weapons facilities, UN says

Four secret Syrian chemical weapons factories revealed

Syria declares new chemical weapons facilities

U.S. Says Syria Still Has Several Chemical-Weapons Facilities

Syria Unveils Four More Chemical Weapon Facilities

Syria Declares 4 More Chemical Weapons Facilities

Diplomat: Syria has four chemical weapons facilities it didn't disclose

That's right. Syria. How strange that they should now show up there, then.

Count Iggy Resurfaces

Iggy was always much better at this sort of Ivory Tower baffle gab stuff than actually implementing solutions to political problems. Here's in interesting interview with him about the current round of slaughter in the Middle East:

Michael Ignatieff Interview:'Those Fighting Islamic State Are the Lesser Evil'

I Have Some New Heroes

Filipino force defied UN commander in Golan crisis

Yup

Hummmm

Tribesmen in Eastern Syria Rise Up Against Islamic State Extremists

"More than 170,000 people have been killed in Syria in more than three years of fighting, activists say."

I wonder what all this means? Are Islamists being replaced with something worse, the same or better? And why isn't the lamestream media covering this to the same extent as the troubles between Israel and Hamas? (Don't answer that. We know all that.)

When They're Killing Each Other...

...don't stop them:

86 Dead As Jihadi Rivals Whack Each Other In Syria

Pot. Meet Kettle.

Saudi ideology a threat to world: Al Assad

"Damascus: Syrian President Bashar Al Assad warned during a meeting in Damascus on Wednesday with Iran’s foreign minister that Saudi Arabia’s political and religious ideology is “a threat to the world”, state television reported.

He was referring to Wahhabism, an ultra-conservative Sunni Muslim tradition, which is predominant in Saudi Arabia, a key backer of Syria’s revolt against Al Assad.

“President Al Assad warns during his meeting with Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif of the threat posed by Wahhabi thinking to all the world, not just to the region,” the report said."

You can't make this shit up.

Meanwhile, in Egypt. It ain't over 'till it's over. And it ain't over.

And Another One Bites The Dust

Senior Hezbollah Commander Dies in Syria

Of course, as usual, they try their best at "positive spin".

"A senior Hezbollah commander died on Saturday after he was wounded in Syria several days ago, Al Arabiya reported, citing a pro-Hezbollah website.

“The Islamic resistance in Hezbollah proudly weds a new Knight...Ali Shabeeb (Abu Trab al-Rweis) who died as he was performing his sacred religious duty,” the website was quoted as having said."

And they always sacrifice others, but never themselves.

"Hezbollah chief Nasrallah has promised that his group will be wherever is needed in Syria and has even declared he was willing to go fight in Syria himself."

Bluster and phoney bravado on display here, as usual. I think we're winning folks.

BWHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

Syrian rebel 'beheaded in case of mistaken identity'

"An al-Qaeda affiliated rebel group in Syria is reported to have asked for forgiveness after beheading a fellow rebel in a case of mistaken identity.

A video recently posted online showed members of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) brandishing the severed, bearded head of a man.

They said was (sic) an Iraqi Shia caught fighting on the government side.

But other rebel fighters watching the video recognised the man and said he was one of their commanders."

[---]

"In a separate development, activists said a senior figure in another Islamist rebel group had been killed in an air strike near Aleppo."

Just another story that makes me believe al Qaeda just hasn't got the stuff it use to have. Bin Laden's bones must be rattling at the bottom of the ocean.

Moving Right Along

French intel: Syrian regime led chemical attack

"A French intelligence report on Monday alleged that the Syrian regime launched an attack on Aug. 21 that involved a "massive use of chemical agents" and could carry out similar strikes in the future.

The government, on its Web site, published a 9-page intelligence synopsis about Syria's chemical weapons program that found that at least 281 deaths could be attributed to the attack in rebel-held areas outside Damascus. The analysis based that count in part on dozens of videos culled by French intelligence services."

[---]

"The intelligence estimate also said it didn't appear to be the first time that chemical weapons were used in Syria this year. It said French intelligence services had collected urine, blood, soil and munitions samples from two attacks in April — in Saraqeb and Jobar — that confirmed the use of sarin gas."

I wonder if they're worried about a resurgence of car-be-ques?

Big Oops!

BBC News uses 'Iraq photo to illustrate Syrian massacre'

And your point is? A Ba'athist is a Ba'athist is a Ba'athist.

Proxy War Already On

Arab League backs action against Syrian government

As long as they don't have to do it themselves.

"Arab states on Sunday urged the international community to take action against the Syrian government over a chemical gas attack that killed hundreds of civilians.

The final resolution passed by an Arab League meeting in Cairo urged the United Nations and international community to “take the deterrent and necessary measures against the culprits of this crime that the Syrian regime bears responsibility for.”"

[---]

"The League foreign ministers also said those responsible for the attack should face trial, as other “war criminals” have.

Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal said condemnation of Syria over the poison gas attack, which U.S. officials say killed 1,429 people, was not enough.

He said opposing international action on the grounds that it was “foreign intervention” was no longer acceptable.

“Any opposition to any international action would only encourage Damascus to move forward with committing its crimes and using all weapons of mass destruction,” said Faisal."

Iran is salivating at the possibilities. Or is that "shaking in their boots", trying to pretend they are invincible.

France is all bluster and bravado, but is Hollande willing to eat anything but cheese? They sat out Iraq, which had also used WMD on her own people, but then Iraq was Britain's former colony, not France's.



"Aux armes, les citoyens!"

Who's Right?

There are many pessimists out there, but I'm not one of them. I like what Heggy says (jokingly) about the French Revolution. That's my view, exactly. It's gonna be a rough ride but they are headed toward democracy.

And Syria:

From The Land Of The Pharoahs

This explains why I am rather encouraged by what is happening, although, God knows, things could easily become derailed:




Egyptian Democratic Coalition Responds to Obama

"The National Salvation Front, a coalition of pro-democratic and secular parties in Egypt, set out its objections to remarks made by President Barack Obama Thursday on the escalating violence in Egypt.

Led by Ahmed Said of the Free Egyptians Party, the group issued the following letter:"

RTWT

Meanwhile, elsewhere in the neighbourhood, Syria is being accused of using chemical weapons. The headlines are quite wild, though. Some report a few hundred dead and one says over 1300.Baby Assad, of course, is denying it.

Only His Hairdresser Knows For Sure

(Okay. Okay. Ya, it sucks, but it's the best title I could come up with for now.)

Netanyahu won't confirm that Israel attacked Syrian port

"The explosions that rocked the Syrian port city of Latakia last week, destroying a weapons cache, continue to reverberate in regional politics as accusations and denials abound.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declined to say Sunday whether Israel was responsible for the July 5 attack, as has been reported. "I am not in the habit of saying what we did do or didn't do," he told CBS' Bob Schieffer on "Face the Nation."

What Netanyahu would say was that his policy is "to prevent the transfer of dangerous weapons to Hezbollah and other terror groups ... and we stand by that policy.""

I wonder how the Mad Mullahs in Iran are doing these days. Shitting their drawers, I bet.

Just A Little Spat

Nothing to see here folks:

Syria slams Egypt's decision to cut diplomatic ties

Nothing is going the change in that part of the world, until there is another revolution in Iran, and I'm not holding my breath for that one. The green movement seems to be dead.

I Wonder What..

...this goon is up to?

Egypt's renouncement of ties with Assad accords with Western polices

"The recent decision of Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi to cut diplomatic ties with Syria is "harmonious" with the Western policies against Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad, especially that it comes after the United States approved providing arms for the Syrian opposition, analysts said."

[---]

""This is a step that conforms with the recent U.S. escalation to arm the Syrian rebels against Assad's administration and conforms with its deliberation over imposing a no-fly zone on Syria," Gamal Salama, head of political science department at Suez University, told Xinhua."

[---]

"Morsi also urged Arab and Islamic countries to have an emergency summit on the latest developments in the Syria conflict.

"This summit is meant to provide an Arab cover for any Western escalation against Assad's administration," the political expert said, citing Western attacks on the former governments of Iraq and Libya as examples.

With regards to Morsi's warning to Lebanon's militant group Hezbollah against involvement in the Syria conflict, Salama said that it was meant to please Islamists, particularly the Salafists. (Emphasis mine)

"Morsi needs their support as an intended massive anti-president protests will be held on June 30," (Ed: I presume this means in Egypt) he said, adding that the protests will be held by activists and the opposition who call for an ousting of Morsi and an early presidential election."

RTWT

I'm betting he'd also like to get his hands on some of those chemical weapons, not to mention Jihadists.

Ya Right!

Obama, Erdogan agree al-Assad must go

But who do they want to replace him? The Muslim Brotherhood?