France was ready to strike Syria, Obama decided to go to Congress instead
France was all ready to strike Syria. The strike had even been scheduled for August 31. But then, President Hussein Obama
decided to go to Congress instead.
France was ready for a strike on chemical weapons facilities in Syria
on the day US President Barack Obama decided to seek approval from
Congress for the strike, French weekly Le Nouvel Observateur reported on Sunday.
...
Rafale fighter jets, armed with Scalp cruise missiles with a range of
250 km, were ready to fire at targets in western Syria, including
Damascus, the paper reported. The jets were to attack while flying over
international waters in the Mediterranean, avoiding Turkish airspace to
prevent Syrian retaliation against its neighbor.
...
The
strike was due to start at 3 a.m. on September 1, while everyone are
asleep, to minimize civilian casualties, a government official told the
paper.
After receiving indications from the Americans that the
strike was imminent in the days leading up to the US president's
announcement, Obama called Hollande on Saturday August 31 at 6:15 p.m.,
telling him he had decided to ask for Congress's approval before going
ahead with the strike.
Hollande was stunned, the paper reported, and tried to convince Obama to reconsider, but was unsuccessful.
And you can bet that the next time that the US wants to enlist France in military action, the French will just be rarin' to go....
Labels: Barack Hussein Obama, Bashar al-Assad, chemical weapons, France, Francois Hollande, Syria, US attack on Syria
Israel's and the United States' interest in Syria
What are the interests of Israel and the United States in the current situation in Syria?
This is one of the better analyses I've seen - mainly because it consults several experts. Here's one of the more detailed analyses cited:
Prof. Barry Rubin, director of the GLORIA Center and a columnist for
the Post, said that the civil war is in a state of deadlock and that
there has been little change in the last year in the balance of power
between the sides. This, Rubin added, is likely to continue for years
unless outside intervention tips the scales.
Israeli interests in
light of the Syrian conflict revolve around the following points,
according to Rubin. First, by attacking, the US would show it lives up
to its commitments; secondly, the impact of action or inaction by the US
on Iran¹s nuclear weapon program; thirdly, the identity of who will be
running the show in next-door Syria; and fourth, Israel¹s fear that it
won¹t be attacked and/or that chemical weapons may be sent to Hezbollah.
A
key question that has not been discussed much, says Rubin, is what Iran
wants out of this – does it seek total victory in Syria or would it be
happy with some kind of partition of the country in order to maintain
its access to the Mediterranean? Asked about the latter possibility,
Rubin said it might not be agreed upon, but it is possible that it could
become a de facto reality, or it might come about if some kind of
Western-backed agreement implements a cease-fire based on geographical
lines.
In any case, he said, “a US attack is not going to settle the civil war.”
Read the whole thing.
Labels: al-Qaeda, Bashar al-Assad, chemical weapons, Free Syrian Army, Nusra Front, Syria, Syrian uprising, US attack on Syria
Full Charlie Rose interview with Bashar al-Assad
Here's the full Charlie Rose interview with Bashar al-Assad (uploaded by Assad's office so it's in English with Arabic subtitles).
Let's go to the videotape.
Labels: Bashar al-Assad, chemical weapons, Syria, Syrian uprising, US attack on Syria
Russia evacuating citizens from Syria
Russia has sent an Ilyushin Il-76 passenger plane to Latakia, Syria to
evacuate its own citizens as well as those of other CIS countries from Syria (Hat Tip:
MFS - The Other News).
An airliner of the Emergency Situations' Ministry has arrived in Syria to pick up Russians wishing to leave the country.
"An Ilyushin Il-76 landed in Latakia and will collect from Syria both
citizens of Russia and CIS countries wishing to leave," official
spokesman for the ministry Irina Rossius told Interfax.
The plane is carrying a team of rescuers and psychologists who will help the passengers during the flight.
People wishing to leave Syria are at Latakia airport already. Their number is being finalized.
The Russians obviously expect a Western attack to happen. Are they right?
Labels: Bashar al-Assad, Latakia, Russia, Syria, US attack on Syria
How Assad could retaliate against the US?
Syria's President Bashar al Assad says there will be a response if the
U.S. attacks Syria. For more on that potential reaction, CBS News senior
correspondent John Miller, a former deputy director of national
intelligence, speaks with the "CBS This Morning" co-hosts about the
situation and what options are available to Assad.
Let's go to the videotape.
Note what's not mentioned: Israel
Labels: Bashar al-Assad, chemical weapons, Syria, US attack on Syria
Kerry issues an ultimatum to Assad: 'Turn over your chem weapons by the end of this week'
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, responding to Charlie Rose's
interview with Syria's President Bashar Assad, said the U.S. knows
Assad's regime gave orders to prepare for a chemical attack, deployed
forces and put them in places where the chemical attack took place.
Also, Kerry asserted videos on social media that "exploded" after the
attacks "could not be contrived." Jeff Glor reports on Kerry's response
and his ultimatum to Assad.
Let's go to the videotape.
So do we expect an attack next week?
Labels: Bashar al-Assad, chemical weapons, John Kerry, Syria, US attack on Syria
Assad says he believes that the US will attack him
In an exclusive interview with CBS News, Bashar al-Assad tells Charlie Rose that he believes that the US will attack Syria.
Let's go to the videotape.
Labels: Bashar al-Assad, Syria, US attack on Syria
Assad: 'Expect everything' if US attacks Syria
Charlie Rose asked Syria's President Bashar Assad what kind of
retaliation American interests might face, if the U.S. decides to launch
strikes. Assad, who referenced the September 11, 2001, attacks, said
the U.S. should "have to expect everything."
Let's go to the videotape.
Labels: 9/11, Barack Hussein Obama, Bashar al-Assad, chemical weapons, Syria, US attack on Syria
