Syria conflict: 'Chemical attacks kill hundreds'

[ikalugin]

Originally Posted by Commander Wallace

Just like the poor showing of Russia in Afghanistan where they got their hands handed to them from 1979 to 1989 ?

I guess you could try to compare Iraq to Afghanistan but then:
- there was no interference by major powers in Iraq.
- Pro-Soviet regime in Afghanistan worked after Soviets left as long as it was supplied. Compare and contrast with what happened in Iraq with ISIS.

[Skybird]

Trump's quick decision to strike Assad's forces came nearly three-and-a-half years after President Barack Obama threatened military action after hundreds were killed in a chemical attack in a Damascus suburb.


Obama declared a "red line" and was posed to strike Assad's forces before reversing course, opening him to criticism that he did not enforce his red lines and emboldened US opponents.

http://www.dw.com/en/us-launches-cru...ria/a-38332229

[Skybird]

What remains to be seen, however, is whether this was just a singular event, a PR missile, so to speak, or indicates a lasting change in Trumpian policies. Because in principle he is not interested in the region and Syria.

[Onkel Neal]

My question is: I thought there was a deal where the Russians ensured this would not happen again.

[ikalugin]

Originally Posted by Onkel Neal

My question is: I thought there was a deal where the Russians ensured this would not happen again.

You mean chemical weapons wise?

We promised that Assad would be disarmed under UN control, and we delivered. Either UN screwed up or it wasnt Assad.

[Commander Wallace]

Originally Posted by ikalugin

You mean chemical weapons wise?

We promised that Assad would be disarmed under UN control, and we delivered. Either UN screwed up or it wasnt Assad.

And of course Assad has never used chemical weapons on his own people before ? Typical, use chemical weapons and then blame someone else.

Where did Assad get his chemical munitions ?

[ikalugin]

Originally Posted by Commander Wallace

And of course Assad has never used chemical weapons on his own people before ? Typical, use chemical weapons and then blame someone else.

Where did Assad get his chemical munitions ?

You didnt read my post, did you?

As I have said either UN screwed up and did not get Assad to comply with the chemical weapons ban treaty for example during their inspections, or it wasn't Assad. Now both are possible and it is too early to tell which one was the case. What we can tell is that the US response was rash.

But yes, if it wasn't Assad it would be typical of the 3rd party (say the desperate rebels) to use the weapons and then blame the demonised Assad.

[Catfish]

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2017-0...ident-question

It seems some Sarin has been produced in Saudi-Arabia.

"It is strategically counterintuitive to assume that Bashar al-Assad would engage in a chemical attack on Syrians just one week after figures in the American government expressed the opinion that they would be willing to allow him to remain in power. The Syrian government no longer even possesses chemical weapons, as the United Nations and U.S. Department of State have already confirmed."

"Swedish Medical Associations Says White Helmets Murdered Kids for Fake Gas Attack Videos"
What?

What is true is, that Putin obviously has not much control over Assad

[Skybird]

Russian frigate Admiral Grigorowich (Black sea fleet) deployes to Syria once again. Its the lead ship of the new class 11356, specialising in anti-ship and anti-submarine warfare.

Russian media threaten with announcements that it is "in full combat readiness".

I hope it is. Its a freaking warship, isn't it. It ought to be in full combat readiness.

In other words: the war will continue by the means of words now. I also do not expect fzrther actions by Trump if Assad does not overstep these ominous red lines once again.

That makes me wonder again. What will Trump do if Assad compensates the "loss" of the chemical option by intensifying barrel-bomb bombardment once again? And must this situation not be temtping for rebels to trigger chemical attacks or stage them themselves, blame it ion Assad and demand Trump to once again punish him, to the benefit of their own cause?

For the moment, the action looks satisfying and pleases the Western ego. The lasting longterm effect so far is unclear, even uncertain.

[Mr Quatro]

Originally Posted by Commander Wallace

And of course Assad has never used chemical weapons on his own people before ? Typical, use chemical weapons and then blame someone else.

Where did Assad get his chemical munitions ?

We don't know where he got them ... probably kept back from Russia's clean sweep of Chemical weapons, but we know that the US tried to avoid where they might be stored.

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer...al-attack.html

The strike targeted hardened aircraft shelters, petroleum and logistical storage, ammunition supply bunkers, air defense systems, and radars. The U.S. military avoided hitting a suspected sarin gas storage facility because they feared it would disperse the deadly gas.