Syria - civil war incoming?
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- Holman
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Re: Syria - civil war incoming?
Theresa May just announced that these strikes are not about regime change but only about deterring chemical weapons use.
Much prefer my Nazis Nuremberged.
- Max Peck
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Re: Syria - civil war incoming?
Via BBC:
Officials at a Pentagon briefing listed three targets that had been struck:Syrian state television said government forces had shot down more than a dozen missiles.
- A scientific research facility in Damascus, allegedly connected to the production chemical and biological weapons
- A chemical weapons storage facility west of Homs
- A chemical weapons equipment storage and an important command post, also near Homs
The government's main ally, Russia, issued a statement through its US ambassador, saying "such actions will not be left without consequences".
US Secretary of Defence James Mattis told reporters there were no reports of losses in the operation.
"Right now, this is a one-time shot, and I believe it has sent a very strong message," he said, saying the first wave of strikes was over.
President Trump had earlier said: "We are prepared to sustain this response until the Syrian regime stops its use of prohibited chemical agents."
"What? What? What?" -- The 14th Doctor
It's not enough to be a good player... you also have to play well. -- Siegbert Tarrasch
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- Exodor
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Re: Syria - civil war incoming?
there's always a tweet:
sometimes several
sometimes several
- Skinypupy
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Re: Syria - civil war incoming?
So, I'm guessing we're still going to ban the children of Syria...while bombing Syria on behalf of those same children.
This timeline is fucked.
This timeline is fucked.
When darkness veils the world, four Warriors of Light shall come.
- Kraken
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Re: Syria - civil war incoming?
Makes him look tough and decisive. From initial reports it looks like a carefully calibrated move that checks all the boxes with little risk. I won't go so far as to applaud, but neither do I denounce it.
- Daehawk
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Re: Syria - civil war incoming?
Lets get out there and win one for the mandarin
--------------------------------------------
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I am Dyslexic of Borg, prepare to have your ass laminated.
I guess Ray Butts has ate his last pancake.
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- Kurth
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Re: Syria - civil war incoming?
I’m glad we took action. We cannot allow Assad to gas his people. There are (or should be) lines that should not be crossed.
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- Max Peck
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Re: Syria - civil war incoming?
Wow, I'm shocked that early reports are indicating that the Syrians had already evacuated many of the facilities targetted by the strikes. How could they possibly have seen this coming...
"What? What? What?" -- The 14th Doctor
It's not enough to be a good player... you also have to play well. -- Siegbert Tarrasch
It's not enough to be a good player... you also have to play well. -- Siegbert Tarrasch
- Daehawk
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Re: Syria - civil war incoming?
I can no longer bring myself to care all that much. All this shit the idiot does and nothing ever comes of it. people can post and repost the idiot conflicting himself and his supporters will not give a shit and the ones who do may post a bit about it but nothing comes of it. Im not longer in a caring flying fucking mood.
--------------------------------------------
I am Dyslexic of Borg, prepare to have your ass laminated.
I guess Ray Butts has ate his last pancake.
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"Has high IQ. Refuses to apply it"
I am Dyslexic of Borg, prepare to have your ass laminated.
I guess Ray Butts has ate his last pancake.
http://steamcommunity.com/id/daehawk
"Has high IQ. Refuses to apply it"
- Alefroth
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Re: Syria - civil war incoming?
I don't see a problem with minimizing loss of life while destroying infrastructure and capacity.
- gbasden
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- Daehawk
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Re: Syria - civil war incoming?
--------------------------------------------
I am Dyslexic of Borg, prepare to have your ass laminated.
I guess Ray Butts has ate his last pancake.
http://steamcommunity.com/id/daehawk
"Has high IQ. Refuses to apply it"
I am Dyslexic of Borg, prepare to have your ass laminated.
I guess Ray Butts has ate his last pancake.
http://steamcommunity.com/id/daehawk
"Has high IQ. Refuses to apply it"
- Fitzy
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- The Meal
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Vladdie, care to help out with a bit of a distraction?
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- Holman
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Re: Syria - civil war incoming?
Barring further escalation, this probably comes down to the Allies claiming credit for taking action and the Russians claiming credit for not escalating it.
There could be a few more strikes on airfields, etc, but that still leaves things at the above.
There could be a few more strikes on airfields, etc, but that still leaves things at the above.
Much prefer my Nazis Nuremberged.
- pr0ner
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Re: Syria - civil war incoming?
Well, Alex Jones has decided that was the last straw with regards to Trump.
“If he had been a piece of crap from the beginning, it wouldn’t be so bad,” a visibly emotional Jones said of Trump. “We’ve made so many sacrifices and now he’s crapping all over us. It makes me sick."
Jones said the decision to strike Syria was especially painful because Trump had been “doing so good.”
“Trump’s now a fraud,” Jones later said. “Done.”
"F--- Trump," he vented Friday.
Hodor.
- LordMortis
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- Zaxxon
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- Holman
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Re: Syria - civil war incoming?
Mission. Accomplished.A perfectly executed strike last night. Thank you to France and the United Kingdom for their wisdom and the power of their fine Military. Could not have had a better result. Mission Accomplished!
Much prefer my Nazis Nuremberged.
- Rip
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Re: Syria - civil war incoming?
Awesome, what time is tee off?
- Defiant
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Re: Syria - civil war incoming?
The question is were people the only thing evacuated from those locations?
- Max Peck
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Re: Syria - civil war incoming?
Heh...
Mr Trump will be content to count this as a victory and move on - he has already declared "Mission Accomplished!" in a follow-up tweet - but that depends on Syria, Russia and Iran and whether they get the message this time.
Of course, the last time an American president employed those words, it represented a serious misreading of the challenge he confronted. But Syria isn't Iraq. It's actually much more complicated.
"What? What? What?" -- The 14th Doctor
It's not enough to be a good player... you also have to play well. -- Siegbert Tarrasch
It's not enough to be a good player... you also have to play well. -- Siegbert Tarrasch
- Kraken
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Re: Syria - civil war incoming?
If Putin wants to draw the US deeper into Syria, then Trump has given him a playbook for doing so. As with much of Trump's foreign "policy" (such as it is), the salient questions is "What does Putin want?"
- Rip
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Re: Syria - civil war incoming?
"I spoke to President Trump this morning and he said if the Syrian regime uses this poisonous gas again, the United States is locked and loaded," she said.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2018/04 ... again.htmlHaley promised that Trump would not waver: “When our president draws a red line, our president enforces the red line."
- Skinypupy
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Re: Syria - civil war incoming?
I’d think that Trump warning them in advance to get everyone and everything out of the way because an attack is incoming changes the equation somewhat.
When darkness veils the world, four Warriors of Light shall come.
- hepcat
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Re: Syria - civil war incoming?
Good thing Trump let Russia know all about his plans before they happened. God forbid he does anything that might get the pee tape released.
Now depoliticized.
- Holman
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Re: Syria - civil war incoming?
Such a great Military term! Use often!The Syrian raid was so perfectly carried out, with such precision, that the only way the Fake News Media could demean was by my use of the term “Mission Accomplished.” I knew they would seize on this but felt it is such a great Military term, it should be brought back. Use often!
#MMAGA
Much prefer my Nazis Nuremberged.
- YellowKing
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Re: Syria - civil war incoming?
I'll use that term once Mueller has Trump thrown out on his ass.
- GreenGoo
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Re: Syria - civil war incoming?
Used that term last night after "relations".
It was noted that I may haved used it prematurely.
It was noted that I may haved used it prematurely.
- $iljanus
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Re: Syria - civil war incoming?
Why can't he just shut the fuck up and act like a President instead of a hurt man child that needs to respond to every little slight? I know he's incapable of being presidential but had to vent. We now return to the shit show that is the Trump presidency.Holman wrote:
Such a great Military term! Use often!The Syrian raid was so perfectly carried out, with such precision, that the only way the Fake News Media could demean was by my use of the term “Mission Accomplished.” I knew they would seize on this but felt it is such a great Military term, it should be brought back. Use often!
#MMAGA
Black lives matter!
Wise words of warning from Smoove B: Oh, how you all laughed when I warned you about the semen. Well, who's laughing now?
Wise words of warning from Smoove B: Oh, how you all laughed when I warned you about the semen. Well, who's laughing now?
- Carpet_pissr
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Re: Syria - civil war incoming?
Ha!GreenGoo wrote:Used that term last night after "relations".
It was noted that I may haved used it prematurely.
Try “Bam! That just happened!” next time for a different reaction. :p
- $iljanus
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Re: Syria - civil war incoming?
Of course this happened. It's good for Moscow to give its bitch some room to roam but in the end you bring it to heel to sit at the feet of its master.
WaPo report on our "president" and how "strong and decisive" he is (not)...
WaPo report on our "president" and how "strong and decisive" he is (not)...
President Trump on Monday put the brakes on a preliminary plan to impose additional economic sanctions on Russia, walking back a Sunday announcement by U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley that the Kremlin had swiftly denounced as “international economic raiding.”
Preparations to punish Russia anew for its support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s government over the alleged chemical weapons attack in Syria caused consternation at the White House. Haley had said on CBS News’s “Face the Nation” that sanctions on Russian companies behind the equipment related to Assad’s alleged chemical weapons attack would be announced Monday by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin.
But Trump conferred with his national security advisers later Sunday and told them he was upset the sanctions were being officially rolled out because he was not yet comfortable executing them, according to several people familiar with the plan.
Administration officials said the economic sanctions were under serious consideration, along with other measures that could be taken against Russia, but said Trump had not given final authorization to implement them. Administration officials said Monday it was unlikely Trump would approve any additional sanctions without another triggering event by Russia, describing the strategy as being in a holding pattern.
Sometime after Haley’s comments on CBS, the Trump administration notified the Russian Embassy in Washington that the sanctions were not in fact coming, a Russian Foreign Ministry official said Monday.
The Trump team decided to publicly characterize Haley’s announcement as a misstatement. White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said in a statement Monday: “We are considering additional sanctions on Russia and a decision will be made in the near future.”
Black lives matter!
Wise words of warning from Smoove B: Oh, how you all laughed when I warned you about the semen. Well, who's laughing now?
Wise words of warning from Smoove B: Oh, how you all laughed when I warned you about the semen. Well, who's laughing now?
- Holman
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Re: Syria - civil war incoming?
The true history of this era is going to fascinating. I pray it gets written.
Saw a thread earlier detailing how this happens *every time* there's a gesture to get tough on Russia: experienced hands try to implement sanctions or even just warnings, and Trump personally halts it or tries to slow walk it or otherwise minimize the impact.
And it happened this time after Russia literally *warned* the US this weekend not to impose new sanctions.
Saw a thread earlier detailing how this happens *every time* there's a gesture to get tough on Russia: experienced hands try to implement sanctions or even just warnings, and Trump personally halts it or tries to slow walk it or otherwise minimize the impact.
And it happened this time after Russia literally *warned* the US this weekend not to impose new sanctions.
Much prefer my Nazis Nuremberged.
- GreenGoo
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Re: Syria - civil war incoming?
Our kids might not know who Benedict Arnold was, but they sure as hell will know who Drumpf was.
In 10-20 years, no one will know anyone who voted for him.
On the plus side, the internet never forgets.
In 10-20 years, no one will know anyone who voted for him.
On the plus side, the internet never forgets.
- Defiant
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Re: Syria - civil war incoming?
Thomas L. Friedman: The Real Next War in Syria: Iran vs. Israel
Round one occurred on Feb. 10, when an Iranian drone launched by a Revolutionary Guards Quds Force unit operating out of Syria’s T4 air base, east of Homs in central Syria, was shot down with a missile from an Israeli Apache helicopter that was following it after it penetrated Israeli airspace.
Initial reports were that the Iranian drone was purely on a reconnaissance mission. But the official Israeli Army spokesman, Brig. Gen. Ronen Manelis, said Friday that the drone’s flight path and Israel’s “intelligence and operational analysis of the parts of the Iranian unmanned vehicle” indicated that “the aircraft was carrying explosives” and that its mission was “an act of sabotage in Israeli territory.”
I have no ability to independently verify that claim. But the fact that the Israelis are putting it out should raise alarm bells.
Since then, senior Israeli defense officials have let it be known that if the Iranians were to strike back at Israeli targets, Israel may use the opportunity to make a massive counterstrike on Iran’s entire military infrastructure in Syria, where Iran is attempting to establish both a forward air base, as well as a factory for GPS-guided missiles that could hit targets inside Israel with much greater accuracy — inside a 50-meter radius — and deploy them from Syria and with Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Tehran’s attempt to build a network of bases and missile factories in Syria — now that it has helped Assad largely crush the uprising against him — appears to be an ego-power play by Iran’s Quds Force leader Suleimani to extend Iran’s grip on key parts of the Sunni Arab world and advance his power struggle with President Hassan Rouhani. Suleimani’s Quds Force now more or less controls — through proxies — four Arab capitals: Damascus, Beirut, Baghdad and Sana.
Iran has actually become the biggest “occupying power” in the Arab world today. But Suleimani may be overplaying his hand, especially if he finds himself in a direct confrontation with Israel in Syria, far from Iran, without air cover.
After all, even before this, many average Iranians were publicly asking what in the world is Iran doing spending billions of dollars — which were supposed to go to Iranians as a result of the lifting of sanctions from the Iran nuclear deal — fighting wars in Syria, Lebanon and Yemen.
Iran’s currency is collapsing back home. Consider this April 12 story on CNBC.com:
The Iranian rial “has plummeted to a record low amid growing economic and political uncertainty, causing a rush to the banks as Iranians desperately try to acquire U.S. dollars with exchanges forced to shut their doors to prevent long and chaotic lines.” The rial has lost one-third of its value just this year, the story noted.
Moreover, Israeli military officials believe Russian President Vladimir Putin and Suleimani are no longer natural allies. Putin wants and needs a stable Syria where his puppet Bashar Assad can be in control and Russia can maintain a forward naval and air presence and look like a superpower again — on the cheap. Iran’s President Rouhani probably also prefers a stable Syria, where Assad has consolidated his power and that is not a drain on the Iranian budget. But Suleimani and the Quds Force seem to aspire to greater dominance of the Arab world and putting more pressure on Israel.
- Max Peck
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Re: Syria - civil war incoming?
'Iranian personnel among dozens dead' in missile attacks
Missiles hit a number of military sites in northern Syria on Sunday night, state media say, with unconfirmed reports of dozens of fatalities.
The Syrian military said facilities in Hama and Aleppo provinces were struck.
It did not immediately report any casualties. But a UK-based monitoring group said 26 pro-government fighters were killed, most of them Iranians.
It is not known who was behind the attacks. Western nations and Israel have previously hit sites in Syria.
"What? What? What?" -- The 14th Doctor
It's not enough to be a good player... you also have to play well. -- Siegbert Tarrasch
It's not enough to be a good player... you also have to play well. -- Siegbert Tarrasch
- Max Peck
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Re: Syria - civil war incoming?
Russia to showcase robot tank in WW2 victory parade
I wonder if the Uran-9 can fall back into a fully autonymous mode if the command link goes down.Russia's big Victory Day parade on Wednesday will feature a remote-controlled tank and other new weapons systems combat-tested in Syria.
The Uran-9 tank is armed with anti-tank rockets, a cannon and a machine-gun.
President Vladimir Putin restored the Soviet-era tradition of parading the latest armour and missiles on 9 May. It is the day Russians honour the millions who died fighting Nazi Germany.
New infantry buggies, drones and an anti-ship missile will also go on show.
Russia's Gazeta.ru news reports (in Russian) that the Uran-9 and a "robot sapper" - a mine-clearing vehicle - called Uran-6 have both performed well for Russian forces fighting in Syria.
Russia has deployed special forces and a big array of warplanes to help Syrian President Bashar al-Assad against various rebel groups, including Islamic State (IS).
Gazeta.ru reports that the Uran-9 can locate a target itself but the decision to fire is taken by a commander sitting in an armoured truck up to 3km (1.8 miles) away.
The Uran-6 robot-sapper was used to clear mines in the Syrian hotspots of Palmyra, Aleppo and Deir al-Zour. Its controller steers it from a distance of up to 1km.
The Uran-6 blew up mines at a safe distance from government troops, enabling them to move into rebel-held areas, Gazeta.ru said, quoting Russian Deputy Defence Minister Yuri Borisov.
"What? What? What?" -- The 14th Doctor
It's not enough to be a good player... you also have to play well. -- Siegbert Tarrasch
It's not enough to be a good player... you also have to play well. -- Siegbert Tarrasch
- Remus West
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Re: Syria - civil war incoming?
Uran-6 and -9? Seriously? Does nobody in Russia understand the concept of a dirty mind?
“As democracy is perfected, the office of president represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart's desire at last and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron.” - H.L. Mencken
- Sepiche
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Re: Syria - civil war incoming?
It's worth keeping in mind when Russia unveils new hardware like this, that for all their chest thumping, they are years if not decades behind us in a lot of areas, including robotics. They are definitely going down the path of autonomous units to help make up for their lack of available manpower, but bottom line is Russia is an economy roughly the size of Mexico's trying to pretend it's still a super power.
- Isgrimnur
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Re: Syria - civil war incoming?
They're also half of our population.
The current population of the Russian Federation is 143,968,344 as of Wednesday, May 9, 2018, based on the latest United Nations estimates.
It's almost as if people are the problem.