Syria’s [un]Civil War

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After years of feckless foreign policy, there remain few options for dealing with Syria. None of them is particularly good.

https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2018/04/the_problem_of_syria_and_what_to_do_about_it.html

[A superbly-written, brief recent history of the Syrian nation and the debacle it has become, in large part — and not the least bit surprisingly — due to the Obama/Clinton crime families.]

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    Seven years of civil war in Syria has killed nearly half a million Syrian civilians and soldiers. Millions of others have become internal and external refugees. But who’s fighting whom in Syria?
    The civil war in Syria has pitted the murderous minority Alwaite-led (an offshoot of Shiite Islam) Assad regime against the majority of Sunni-Syrian rebels.
    Iran and its Shiite militias, along with Russia, are helping the Assad regime militarily by training and supporting Iranian-controlled Shiite militias from Lebanon (Hezbollah), Afghanistan, Iraq, and Yemen. The Russian, Iranian and Tehran-supported Shiite militias are not in Syria to combat ISIS. Their ostensible purpose is to maintain the Assad regime in power [perpetuating Putin’s “warm water port“], and make Syria Tehran’s satellite.
    Putin took advantage of Obama’s unwillingness to confront the Russian military buildup in Syria. As a result, Russia has become the ‘Strong Horse’ in the region.          The Turks now run to Moscow and not to Washington to ask permission to use air power in Syria.
    Turkey is supporting the anti-Assad forces despite having recently established closer relations with both Moscow and Tehran.
    Turkey is also fighting Syrian Kurds who have been a major factor in defeating ISIS in Syria and seek their own independence. Turkey uses that Kurdish goal as a pretext that the Kurds will then threaten Turkish sovereignty along its border with Syria.
    The U.S. has roughly 2,000 troops in Syria who are part of an international, U.S. led coalition against ISIS.
    Tukey wants U.S. troops out of Syria because of previous U.S. support for the Kurds [recently revoked by Donald Trump].
    Should Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, or its sponsored militias, come closer to the Golan Heights or the Lebanese-Israeli border, Israel will certainly respond with force.
    Iran and its controlled militias won’t hesitate to target American troops if given the opportunity.
    Should the Turks use aerial bombing against the Kurds and in the process target American troops, it may escalate into a U.S. – Turkish confrontation.
    Finally, there have also been clashes between the Iranian sponsored militias and the Turkish army, which might yet develop into a major new fault-line in the Syrian civil war.

https://www.frontpagemag.com/fpm/269271/whos-fighting-whom-syria-joseph-puder

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2018: Assad’s Re-Use of Chem Weapons

[We should remember, first, that…]

“Russian patron and arms supplier Vladimir Putin [&] Syria’s President Assad… agreed [in 2013] to sign on to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC)… [but] the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW, the Hague-based outfit that implements the CWC)… replicates many of the UN’s failings, including the tendency to promise grand things it is simply not configured to deliver.”

http://pjmedia.com/claudiarosett/axis-of-the-chemical-weapons-convention/?print=1

[Which is exactly why Putin never required Assad to terminate his WsMD programs.]

and…

World fury mounts over Syrian regime ‘nerve gas’ attack that killed 70

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/5999393/trump-twitter-russia-putin-syria-chemical-attack-blame-assad/?editorialView=yes

and…

Russia knew of Syrian chemical attack in advance, US official says

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/04/10/russia-knew-syrian-chemical-attack-in-advance-us-official-says.html

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Three Questions Regarding The U.S., British & French Bombing of Syria
1. Is Our Bombing Part of a Larger Plan? Do We Have a Strategy in Place?
2. Are We 100 Percent Sure That Assad Did Use Chemical Weapons Against His Own People?
3. Why Draw the Line With Chemical Weapons?
https://stream.org/3-questions-regarding-bombing-syria/

The Answers:

Why Chemical Weapons Are Banned

https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2018/04/why_chemical_weapons_are_banned.html

… &

The U.N.’s colossal failure to stop Syria’s chemical weapons

http://thehill.com/opinion/national-security/382723-the-uns-colossal-failure-to-stop-syrias-chemical-weapons

… &

Pre 4/15/18 Attack: Why It’s Justified To Strike Syria Again For Using Chemical Weapons

http://thefederalist.com/2018/04/11/justified-strike-syria-using-chemical-weapons/

… &

Chemical Attack in Syria Demand[ed] Stiff Response From US, Allies

https://www.heritage.org/middle-east/commentary/chemical-attack-syria-demands-stiff-response-us-allies

… &

The Importance of Striking Syria’s Scientific Studies and Research Center

https://pjmedia.com/claudiarosett/importance-striking-syrias-scientific-studies-research-center/

… &

“Syria has become a proving ground for some of the world’s most advanced weapons systems, deployed both by the US and Russia.”

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/apr/14/russia-claims-syria-air-defences-shot-down-majority-missiles

[See, also…
http://www.foxnews.com/tech/2018/04/11/navy-calls-for-urgently-fast-tracked-new-weapons-to-counter-russia-and-china.html
&
https://pjmedia.com/trending/video-israeli-missile-destroys-russian-made-missile-defense-system/
&
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2018/05/10/israel-strikes-nearly-all-iranian-infrastructure-in-syria-after-iran-rocket-attack-minister-says.html ]

… &

Yes, America’s interests are being served by striking Assad.

https://www.frontpagemag.com/fpm/269893/why-bomb-syria-bruce-thornton

… &

Strikes against Syrian regime bolster locals’ hopes that U.S. will stay for long haul

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2018/04/14/strikes-against-syrian-regime-bolster-locals-hopes-that-u-s-will-stay-for-long-haul.html

… &

Trump’s Second Missile Strike Against Syria’s Chemical Weapons Both Appropriate and Necessary

https://www.dailysignal.com//print?post_id=407229

… &

“What was once a civil war in Syria evolved into a broader battle against armed Islamic radicals under the umbrella of ISIS and its quest to establish a caliphate. Now that the extremists have been largely defeated, Syria is occupied by military forces from other countries adverse to the United States.”

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/white-house/article208910104.html

… &

A ‘Goldilocks’ air strike on Syria

https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2018/04/a_goldilocks_air_strike_on_syria.html

… &

Allied air strike on Syria socked the mullahs inside Iran, too

https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2018/04/allied_airstrike_on_syria_socked_the_mullahs_inside_iran_too.html

… &

Warship Ruse and New Stealth Missiles: How the U.S. and Allies Attacked Syria

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-04-14/warship-ruse-and-new-stealth-missiles-how-they-attacked-syria

The Consequences:

Russia’s New Post-Syrian-WMD-Attack Cyber War

https://www.hannity.com/media-room/cyber-war-uk-us-accuse-putin-of-launching-global-hacking-campaign/

… &

‘Adversaries’ [i.e. Russia] jamming Air Force gunships in Syria, Special Ops general says

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2018/04/25/adversaries-jamming-air-force-gunships-in-syria-special-ops-general-says.html

… &

Russian reinforcements head for Syria: Warships laden with tanks, military trucks and armoured patrol boats sail towards the Middle East

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5618609/Russian-ships-laden-tanks-seen-Bosphorus-en-route-Tartus-Syria-led-air-strikes.html

… &

Limited Western Strike on Assad Leaves Israel Worried

https://pjmedia.com/trending/limited-western-strike-assad-leaves-israel-worried/

… &

Russia, Syria block inspectors from chemical weapons attack site

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2018/04/16/russia-syria-block-inspectors-from-chemical-weapons-attack-site.html

… &

Would a US Invasion of Syria Be a Just War?
If the follow-up resembles our invasion of Iraq, no.

https://stream.org/would-a-u-s-invasion-of-syria-be-a-just-war-or-sinful-and-wicked/

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Historically, Who Has Used Chemical Weapons in Syria?

Assad’s WsMD:

[First and foremost, also back in 2012…]

“Syria is believed to have a substantial chemical weapons program, which includes mustard gas and sophisticated nerve agents, such as sarin gas, as well as biological weapons. Syria has also refused IAEA requests to make available facilities that were part of its nuclear weapons program and may still be in operation.”

http://thecable.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2012/02/24/exclusive_state_department_quietly_warning_region_on_syrian_wmds

[ASND wondered all along where Syria got those WsMD .]

[Actually, no we didn’t because we read the articles cited by our own embedded hyperlinks , like those articles cited just above. Numerous other experts around the world confirm that Bashar al Assad obtained most of his initial stock of chemical weapons from Saddam Hussein:

Syria Was Storing Iraq’s WMDs in 2003

http://www.frontpagemag.com/fpm/262694/archives-syria-storing-iraqs-wmds-bill-gertz

… &

“… [American liberals have repeatedly] overlooked the fact Syria was the recipient of so many of the chemical weapons that were delivered from Iraq [just prior to the 2003 U.S. invasion]…”

https://www.onenewsnow.com/perspectives/guest-commentary/2018/03/12/lost-in-the-nuclear-noise-n-korea-in-cahoots-with-syria

However, ASND is also aware that Assad’s Syria has a long history of WsMD R&D.]

Syria’s chemical and biological weapons
How Syria built and configured them

http://www.meforum.org/493/guile-gas-and-germs-syrias-ultimate-weapons

https://www.meforum.org/articles/other/poisoned-missiles-syria-s-doomsday-deterrent

… &

Syria moves chemical weapons

http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2012/07/syria_moves_chemical_weapons.html

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Syria confirms it has chemical weapons

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/83da4c76-d4c2-11e1-bb88-00144feabdc0.html#axzz21UUAh9SS

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Syria loads chemical weapons into bombs; military awaits Assad’s order

http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/12/05/15706380-syria-loads-chemical-weapons-into-bombs-military-awaits-assads-order?lite

… &

Assad forces behind deadly 2017 sarin attack – UN

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-41771133

and…

Syrian Rebels’ WsMD:

Islamist Syrian Rebels Had Chemical Weapons as early as 2012

http://frontpagemag.com/2012/theodore-and-walid-shoebat/syrian-rebels-now-have-chemical-weapons/print/

[Yet, not surprisingly, Barack Obama openly and repeatedly supported them — with your money.]

… &

Syria chemical weapons: finger pointed at jihadists [2013]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/9950036/Syria-chemical-weapons-finger-pointed-at-jihadists.html

… &

The Syrian ‘Rebels’ and Chemical Weapons: Remembering Your Al-Qaeda History

http://pjmedia.com/andrewmccarthy/2013/09/03/the-syrian-rebels-and-chemical-weapons-remembering-your-al-qaeda-history/?print=1

… &

Video: Islamist Syrian Rebel Admits Using Chemical Weapons

http://www.infowars.com/video-syrian-rebel-admits-using-chemical-weapons/

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Putin’s/Russia’s Support of Assad:

Russia has figured out how to jam U.S. drones in Syria

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/military/russia-has-figured-out-how-jam-u-s-drones-syria-n863931

and…

Israeli Satellite Reveals Russia’s New Stealth Fighter Jets in Syria

https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/syria/israeli-satellites-reveal-russia-s-fleet-of-stealth-bombers-1.5846248

and…

Russia to Send Advanced Anti-aircraft Missiles to Assad, Warning Israel of ‘Catastrophic Consequences’

https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/syria/.premium-russians-to-supply-s-300-antiaircraft-systems-to-syria-for-free-1.6016095

and…

Russia, U.S. May Be on a Collision Course in Syria

https://pjmedia.com/trending/2017/04/10/russia-us-may-be-on-a-collision-course-in-syria/

and…

“Russia Is Ready to Use Military Power to Defend Iran and Syria”

http://www.memri.org/report/en/0/0/0/0/0/0/6057.htm

and…

Report: Russia deliver[ed] anti-ship missiles to Syria [2011]

http://www.jpost.com/Defense/Article.aspx?id=247811

and…

U.S. State Dept.: Russia and Iran still arming Bashar al-Assad [2012]

http://thecable.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2012/02/15/state_dept_russia_and_iran_still_arming_bashar_al_assad

and…

“Russia… has serious equities in protecting the al-Assad regime through its two major naval bases in Syria [which Putin considers “warm water ports“ for Russia]. In addition, Moscow has sold considerable arms to the Syrian regime.“

http://www.wnd.com/2012/02/russia-resuming-nuclear-armed-missions/print/

… &

“In docking at Tartous in Syria, the Iranian warships also were at a port where the Russians recently have expanded facilities to accommodate their warships under an agreement with the al-Assad regime.“

http://www.wnd.com/2012/02/iranian-navy-showing-support-for-assad/print/

and…

Russian special forces arrive[d] in Syria [2012]

http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2012/03/russian_special_forces_arrive_in_syria.html

and…

Russia warns war is coming [to Syria] [2012]

http://www.wnd.com/2012/06/russia-warns-war-is-coming/print/

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Iran’s Support of Assad:

Iran plans to attack Israel from Syria

https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2018/04/iran_plans_to_attack_israel_from_syria.html

… &

Iranian general: ‘Date set’ for destruction of Israel

https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/244550

and…

Iran’s Forces Outnumber Assad’s in Syria

https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/9406/iran-soldiers-syria

and…

Iran establishing another base in Syria

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2018/02/27/new-satellite-photos-show-iran-establishing-another-base-in-syria.html

and…

Iran violating arms embargo with shipments to Syria

http://www.expatica.com/fr/news/french-news/iran-violating-arms-embargo-with-shipments-to-syria-france_201453.html

[See, also… https://www.frontpagemag.com/fpm/176496/obamas-middle-east-iranian-arms-flow-syria-iraq-arnold-ahlert ]

and…

Iran gave Syria $1 billion to aid regime against sanctions, documents reveal

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2012/02/14/iran-gave-syria-1-billion-to-aid-regime-against-sanctions-documents-reveal/

and…

“… the [Syrian] rebels insisted that their captives were members of Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards…”

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/06/world/middleeast/syrian-rebels-say-hostages-are-iranian-guards.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all&pagewanted=print

and…

Israel’s ‘Operation House of Cards’
A humiliating defeat for Iran.

https://www.frontpagemag.com/fpm/270183/5-takeaways-israels-operation-house-cards-ari-lieberman

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Turkey & Syria’s Kurds, Some of Whom are Christians:

The Syrian Revolution’s Dire Threat to Christians

http://frontpagemag.com/2012/theodore-shoebat/the-syrian-revolutions-dire-threat-to-christians/print/

and…

Syria turns Kurds and Christians over to Turkish forces for slaughter
Tens of thousands of civilians sealed in Afrin without food, power

http://mobile.wnd.com/2018/04/syria-turns-kurds-over-to-turkish-forces-for-slaughter/

and…

Turks Use NATO Weapons and al Qaeda Allies for Kurdish Genocide in Syria

https://stream.org/turks-genocide-syria/

and…

Turkish Planes Bomb Ancient Christian Heritage Sites in Northern Syria

http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2018/03/turkish-planes-bomb-ancient-christian-heritage-sites-in-northern-syria/

and…

Christians Between a Rock and a Hard Place Amid Syrian Protests?

http://www.christianpost.com/news/christians-between-a-rock-and-a-hard-place-amid-syrian-protests-67366/print.html

and…

“A regime change in Syria would almost certainly have negative effects on Christians, according to observers of the country’s political situation. The Syrian uprising is ‘not about “democracy” as the West knows it,’ wrote Elisabeth Kendal in the Religious Liberty Prayer Bulletin. ‘It is about restoring [Sunni Muslim domination], Arab hegemony and the Islamic order to Syria.'”

https://www.vomgroups.com/qry/forum/td_index.taf?_function=topic&tdttopc_uid1=101

and…

“Syrian President Basher Assad isn’t the only target of Syrian [Islamist] rebels as Syria’s Orthodox Christian Church reports ‘ongoing ethnic cleansing of Christians’ by al-Qaeda-linked Islamist militant groups in the embattled Syrian city of Homs.“

http://frontpagemag.com/2012/03/29/ethnic-cleansing-of-syrian-christians/print/

and…

Turkey Threatens US Forces in Syria

http://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2018/02/turkeys_actions_in_syria_harm_us_national_security.html

and…

Turkish jets bomb US-backed forces in Iraq, Syria

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2017/04/25/turkish-jets-bomb-us-backed-forces-in-iraq-syria-us-officials-say.html

Yet, despite all that…

Syrian Christians Rise, Unite to Oust Assad

http://pjmedia.com/blog/syrian-christians-rise-unite-to-oust-assad/?print=1

[That was in 2012. The effort failed completely, in part due to Assad’s use of WsMD.]

and…