In Syria: Suspected chemical substance dropped from planes but no one broke the worlds red line, so?

Report in Syria: Suspected chemical substance dropped from planes: Videos uploaded by the Qatari news network show casualties having difficulties breathing treated in makeshift hospitals. One video showed a healthcare professional drawing attention to the white foam coming out of an injured man's mouth. 

The issue of possible chemical attacks by President Bashar Assad's government has become a crucial factor that could lead to the United States and other western powers stepping up their involvement in the Syrian civil war. Al-Arabi newspaper published statements by a Lebanese source claiming that Hezbollah is prepared for any military development. According to the source, this is in light of the meeting between Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov and Hezbollah chief. 

 Iran says use of chemical arms by anyone in Syria is Red Line: In calling chemical weapons use a "red line" for Iran, Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi did not indicate what action Tehran - one of Assad's staunchest political and military allies - might take in the case that a poison gas attack by either side in the conflict were to be proven.

"We have always emphasized that the use of chemical weapons on the part of anyone is our red line," Salehi said, according to the ISNA news agency. "Iran is opposed to the use of any kind of weapon of mass destruction, and not just their use but their production, accumulation, and use." Salehi also reiterated calls for the United Nations to investigate assertions by the Syrian government that Syrian insurgents had used chemical weapons.

Wait a minute! You mean Russia is officially allied with Hezbollah a terrorist group when it comes to Syria? What the hell is that?

* Step toward possible military intervention in Syria: The Pentagon is sending about 200 troops to Jordan, the vanguard of a potential U.S. military force of 20,000 or more that could be deployed if the Obama administration decides to intervene in Syria to secure chemical weapons arsenals or to prevent the 2-year-old civil war from spilling into neighboring nations.

For months there have been tit for tat accusations of chemical weapon use. Personally I believe it to be the Assad regime. However you know we are going to end up right in the middle of this. From the beginning of the chaos in Syria we have been saying that Iran more specifically the IRG (Iran Revolutionary Guard) was in Syria helping if not leading the way in trying to quell the uprising along with Hezbollah.

You know Assad's only other regional friend Iran is dictating that this slaughter is a necessity though Syria knows how to brutalize its people all to well. Iran will not allow a Democracy at her doorstep further isolating her.

'Iran building militias in Syria in case Assad falls': The Post quoted a senior Obama administration official as saying that Iran was backing as many as 50,000 militiamen. “The immediate intention seems to be to support the Syrian regime. But it’s important for Iran to have a force in Syria that is reliable and can be counted on,” the official stated.

Now that we know how involved Russia, Iran and Hezbollah are in the slaughtering that is going on around the country that is beginning to look like the beginning of their fight not nearing the end.You have to be very concerned about what is happening in Syria especially.

Russia, China, and Iran are not going to allow Syria to fall to Democracy. What we saw after the voter fraud in Iran was mild compared to what the IRG will do if this movement spreads to Iran. I really wish Bashar would step down but Iran is the elephant in the room any way you look at it. The total middle east breakdown we have written about numerous times is well under way. We can only hope we keep it from erupting into WW3.

By attacking and defeating Iraq we freed Iran up to pursue her version of new middle East order by interfering wherever she could while Bush was doing the same thing with his Middle East Democratization program. I think you can see how successful Bush and Cheney were with chaos creating Middle East Democracy program but you are barely seeing the results they created in Iran and throughout the Middle East.

The goal absolutely is to be the country who decides which direction the new Middle East (dis)order will take. Bush started it by attacking Iraq to get into the middle east to destabilize it and start the new middle east order the idiot said God told him to do now it will be up to Iran and Saudi Arabia at least up front fight it out whether this goes the Iranian Shiite way or the Saudi Arabian Sunni way and do not forget Israel!

*The total middle east breakdown Sunni against Shiite is well under way. Iraq can't afford to help Iran as Iraq is busy blowing itself. I have changed my thought on this and think this developing middle east sectarian war could be a good thing if the United States, Russia, and China can remain on the side lines but it doesn't look like it, so?.

We are told chemical weapons are being moved into Hezbollah's control. If that is true you know they are using them to control the "vermin" 

All world leaders that are controlling this proxy war say that using chemical weapons is a red line but both sides are using them. If the rebel's have them, many are Islamists who will use them.

Now we hear Obama who does not want another war' is moving the line back saying small amounts will not be acted on. We will keep monitoring the situation so larger amounts will not be used.

We are told once again that Russia has the right to continue to fill old weapons contracts.They have since this civil war started supplied millions of weapons and rounds along with advanced missile defense systems and other advanced weapons that must be manned by Russian's who of course will defend their own.

 A civilian Russian aircraft was just fired on by 2 missiles. The plane was missed as the pilot was able to avert them.

No one is safe, we are allowing Syria to be turned into a free fire zone where no one is responsible for doing anything. Russia has been fired on and don't forget they have the submarine base in Tartus they are not going to let go.

Russia has als sold Syria a pretty advanced missile defense system along with numerous varied advance systems manned by Russians who are ordered to defend themselves. Hezbollah and Iran are already openly involved.

It looks like Syria is going to be the excuse for a Iran, United States war that will only fuel this proxy civil war. I still have hopes we can keep this regional and not a world war.

 James Joiner
Gardner, Ma
http://anaverageamericanpatriot.blogspot.com

U.S. Army unit deployed to Jordan to "prepare for a number of scenarios" as Syria is out of control

 Israel military official: Syria has used chemical weapons many times : Brig. Gen. Itai Brun, the head of research and analysis in Israeli military intelligence, said that Syrian President Bashar Assad's regime has used chemical weapons multiple times. 

"Shrunken pupils, foaming at the mouth and other signs indicate, in our view, that lethal chemical weapons were used," he said. He said sarin, a lethal nerve agent, was probably used. He also said the Syrian regime was using less lethal chemical weapons, and that Russia has continued to arm the Syrian military with weapons such as advanced SA-17 air defense missiles.

No coincidence in the timing of that statement. Israel knows we have already announced that the use of chemical weapons was a red line and the west would have to act to remedy the situation and secure the WMD. Israel knows A U.S. Army headquarters element has been deployed to Jordan to, as Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel put it, "prepare for a number of scenarios" and help the country defend its border with Syria. I happen to agree but the timing for Israel is perfect for Israel.

*Britain, France claim Syria used chemical weapons: In letters to U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, the two European powers said soil samples, witness interviews and opposition sources support charges that nerve agents were used in and around the cities of Aleppo, Homs and possibly Damascus, the officials said, speaking on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.

The European accounts are in part aimed at countering accusations by the Syrian government that opposition forces had fired chemical weapons during fighting in the town of Khan al-Asal near Aleppo on March 19, killing 26 people, including Syrian troops. 

* US Soldiers Deployed To Jordan To Defend Border With Syria: A U.S. Army headquarters element has been deployed to Jordan to, as Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel put it, "prepare for a number of scenarios" and help the country defend its border with Syria.Hagel told the Senate Armed Services Committee that he ordered the deployment last week. But he added that U.S. military intervention in Syria's civil war should be an option of last resort: 

“The best outcome for Syria -- and the region -- is a negotiated, political transition.” However, Hagel told the panel, if Syrian president President Bashar al-Assad crosses the red line painted by Obama, things could change:President Obama has made clear that if Assad and those under his command use chemical weapons, or fail to meet their obligations to secure them, there will be consequences, and they will be held accountable. 

* Step toward possible military intervention in Syria: The Pentagon is sending about 200 troops to Jordan, the vanguard of a potential U.S. military force of 20,000 or more that could be deployed if the Obama administration decides to intervene in Syria to secure chemical weapons arsenals or to prevent the 2-year-old civil war from spilling into neighboring nations.

For months there have been tit for tat accusations of chemical weapon use. Personally I believe it to be the Assad regime. However you know we are going to end up right in the middle of this. From the beginning of the chaos in Syria we have been saying that Iran more specifically the IRG (Iran Revolutionary Guard) was in Syria helping if not leading the way in trying to quell the uprising along with Hezbollah.

You know Assad's only other regional friend Iran is dictating that this slaughter is a necessity though Syria knows how to brutalize its people all to well. Iran will not allow a Democracy at her doorstep further isolating her.

'Iran building militias in Syria in case Assad falls': The Post quoted a senior Obama administration official as saying that Iran was backing as many as 50,000 militiamen. “The immediate intention seems to be to support the Syrian regime. But it’s important for Iran to have a force in Syria that is reliable and can be counted on,” the official stated.

Now that we know how involved Russia, Iran and Hezbollah are in the slaughtering that is going on around the country that is beginning to look like the beginning of their fight not nearing the end.You have to be very concerned about what is happening in Syria especially.

Russia, China, and Iran are not going to allow Syria to fall to Democracy. What we saw after the voter fraud in Iran was mild compared to what the IRG will do if this movement spreads to Iran. I really wish Bashar would step down but Iran is the elephant in the room any way you look at it. The total middle east breakdown we have written about numerous times is well under way. We can only hope we keep it from erupting into WW3.

By attacking and defeating Iraq we freed Iran up to pursue her version of new middle East order by interfering wherever she could while Bush was doing the same thing with his Middle East Democratization program. I think you can see how successful Bush and Cheney were with chaos creating Middle East Democracy program but you are barely seeing the results they created in Iran and throughout the Middle East.

The goal absolutely is to be the country who decides which direction the new Middle East (dis)order will take. Bush started it by attacking Iraq to get into the middle east to destabilize it and start the new middle east order the idiot said God told him to do now it will be up to Iran and Saudi Arabia at least up front fight it out whether this goes the Iranian Shiite way or the Saudi Arabian Sunni way and do not forget Israel!

*The total middle east breakdown Sunni against Shiite is well under way. Iraq can't afford to help Iran as Iraq is busy blowing itself. I have changed my thought on this and think this developing middle east sectarian war could be a good thing if the United States, Russia, and China can remain on the side lines but it doesn't look like it, so?.

James Joiner
Gardner, Ma
http://anaverageamericanpatriot.blogspot.com

Another Step toward military intervention in Syria:

 

 *Britain, France claim Syria used chemical weapons: In letters to U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, the two European powers said soil samples, witness interviews and opposition sources support charges that nerve agents were used in and around the cities of Aleppo, Homs and possibly Damascus, the officials said, speaking on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.

The European accounts are in part aimed at countering accusations by the Syrian government that opposition forces had fired chemical weapons during fighting in the town of Khan al-Asal near Aleppo on March 19, killing 26 people, including Syrian troops. 

* US Soldiers Deployed To Jordan To Defend Border With Syria: A U.S. Army headquarters element has been deployed to Jordan to, as Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel put it, "prepare for a number of scenarios" and help the country defend its border with Syria.Hagel told the Senate Armed Services Committee that he ordered the deployment last week. But he added that U.S. military intervention in Syria's civil war should be an option of last resort: 

“The best outcome for Syria -- and the region -- is a negotiated, political transition.” However, Hagel told the panel, if Syrian president President Bashar al-Assad crosses the red line painted by Obama, things could change:President Obama has made clear that if Assad and those under his command use chemical weapons, or fail to meet their obligations to secure them, there will be consequences, and they will be held accountable. 

* Step toward possible military intervention in Syria: The Pentagon is sending about 200 troops to Jordan, the vanguard of a potential U.S. military force of 20,000 or more that could be deployed if the Obama administration decides to intervene in Syria to secure chemical weapons arsenals or to prevent the 2-year-old civil war from spilling into neighboring nations.

For months there have been tit for tat accusations of chemical weapon use. Personally I believe it to be the Assad regime. However you know we are going to end up right in the middle of this. From the beginning of the chaos in Syria we have been saying that Iran more specifically the IRG (Iran Revolutionary Guard) was in Syria helping if not leading the way in trying to quell the uprising along with Hezbollah.

You know Assad's only other regional friend Iran is dictating that this slaughter is a necessity though Syria knows how to brutalize its people all to well. Iran will not allow a Democracy at her doorstep further isolating her.

 

'Iran building militias in Syria in case Assad falls': The Post quoted a senior Obama administration official as saying that Iran was backing as many as 50,000 militiamen. “The immediate intention seems to be to support the Syrian regime. But it’s important for Iran to have a force in Syria that is reliable and can be counted on,” the official stated.

Now that we know how involved Russia, Iran and Hezbollah are in the slaughtering that is going on around the country that is beginning to look like the beginning of their fight not nearing the end.You have to be very concerned about what is happening in Syria especially. 

Russia, China, and Iran are not going to allow Syria to fall to Democracy. What we saw after the voter fraud in Iran was mild compared to what the IRG will do if this movement spreads to Iran. I really wish Bashar would step down but Iran is the elephant in the room any way you look at it. The total middle east breakdown we have written about numerous times is well under way. We can only hope we keep it from erupting into WW3.

By attacking and defeating Iraq we freed Iran up to pursue her version of new middle East order by interfering wherever she could while Bush was doing the same thing with his Middle East Democratization program. I think you can see how successful Bush and Cheney were with chaos creating Middle East Democracy program but you are barely seeing the results they created in Iran and throughout the Middle East.

The goal absolutely is to be the country who decides which direction the new Middle East (dis)order will take. Bush started it by attacking Iraq to get into the middle east to destabilize it and start the new middle east order the idiot said God told him to do now it will be up to Iran and Saudi Arabia at least up front fight it out whether this goes the Iranian Shiite way or the Saudi Arabian Sunni way and do not forget Israel!

*The total middle east breakdown Sunni against Shiite is well under way. Iraq can't afford to help Iran as Iraq is busy blowing itself. I have changed my thought on this and think this developing middle east sectarian war could be a good thing if the United States, Russia, and China can remain on the side lines but it doesn't look like it, so?.

James Joiner
Gardner, Ma
http://anaverageamericanpatriot.blogspot.com

Syria says it will Use Chemical Weapons: opposition and Israeli's ready to protect them

Syria has threatened to use deadly chemical or biological weapons if it is attacked by outside forces

The Free Syrian Army believes that the Assad regime has moved chemical weapons to airports near the country's borders, in what the rebels say is a bid to put "pressure on the region and the international community," according to the Telegraph. Remember Assad says he will only use the chemical weapons on foreign agents and People take that as soothing but remember he thinks foriegn terrorists is doing this to him and are behind the protesters.

Defector: Syria Ready To Use Chemical Weapons: A senior Syrian military defector has said President Bashar al Assad's forces are set to use chemical weapons to "perpetrate a sea of blood". General Mustafa Sheikh, who fled the army in January, said regime forces wanted to "burn the country". "The regime has started moving its chemical stockpile and redistributing it to prepare for its use," he said in an interview with the Reuters news agency.

"They are moving it from warehouses to new locations. They want to burn the country. The regime cannot fall without perpetrating a sea of blood." Western and Israeli officials, concerned that chemical stockpiles could fall into the hands of militants, said a week ago that Syria appeared to be shifting weapons from storage sites. However it was not clear whether the operation was a security precaution or a preparation for deployment. "The coming phase will witness a phase of bloodshed that is unprecedented and the regime will resort to non-conventional weapons. Every action will trigger a bigger reaction."

The United States is closely monitoring Syria's chemical weapons stockpile and is "actively consulting" Damascus's neighbors to stress concerns over the security of those weapons and Syria's responsibility to safeguard them, the White House said on Saturday. "We believe Syria's chemical weapons stockpile remains under Syrian government control," White House spokesman Tommy Vietor said. "Given the escalation of violence in Syria and the regime's increasing attacks on their people, we remain very concerned about these weapons."

That was the White House response to a question about a Syrian military defector's claim that Syrian President Bashar Assad's forces were moving chemical weapons across the country for possible use against the opposition in a military retaliation for the killing of four top security officials. The Free Syrian Army is forming a team to secure the country's chemical weapons, an FSA general told The Daily Telegraph on Saturday.

Amid the continuing violence, there were reports that two more Syrian generals have crossed the border into Turkey. Video footage of one of them, Brigadier General Adelnasser Ferzat, showed him speaking in fluent Russian - perhaps under duress - directly to the Russian government, calling on them to stop supporting Mr Assads's regime.

"We ask you, both the authorities and the people, to stand up for our freedom and right cause, for our will," he says in the video. Another senior military defector has claimed Mr Assad's forces are set to use chemical weapons to "perpetrate a sea of blood". General Mustafa Sheikh, who fled the army in January, said regime forces wanted to "burn the country". "The regime has started moving its chemical stockpile and redistributing it to prepare for its use," he said.

Israel fears Syria may hand chemical weapons to Hezbollah, May act to stop Syria arms reaching Hezbollah: Israel said on Friday it would consider military action if needed to ensure Syrian missiles or chemical weapons did not reach President Bashar al-Assad's allies in Lebanon, the Shi'ite Islamist movement Hezbollah.

"I have instructed the military to increase its intelligence preparations and prepare what is needed so that ... (if necessary) ... we will be able to consider carrying out an operation," Defence Minister Ehud Barak said in an interview on Channel 10 television. "We are following ... the possible transfer of advanced munitions systems, mainly anti-aircraft missiles or heavy ground-to-ground missiles, but there could also be a possibility of the transfer of chemical means (weapons) from Syria to Lebanon," said Barak.

Syrian opposition ready to secure chemical weapons': The Free Syrian Army is forming a team to secure the country's chemical weapons, an FSA general told The Daily Telegraph on Saturday. According to the report, the rebel general was once in charge of drafting plans to secure the same sites in his previous role as a general in Syrian President Bashar Assad's army. He came out of retirement to join the opposition earlier this year. "We have a group just to deal with chemical weapons," General Adnan Silou told the Telegraph.

I like much of the world am long convinced that Assad is a mad man. If he is still alive he is getting beyond increasingly desperate. At the very least he will use them on the opposition and in the process sacrifice many of his own supporters.

Syria is largely thought to have the largest stockpile of chemical weapons in the world and the most extensive and deadliest. Yes they are moving them around supposedly to protect them but I would not count on that. One of the General's now in the opposition is making a plan to secure them. Under Assad he was in control of them so he knows where they all are.

Not just that but you know Israel is monitoring their movement and knows where they are. They will do anything to keep them out of the hands of Hezbollah who absolutely would use them on Israel.

Lastly do not discount Iran's ability to get her hands on them "clandestinely of course" and get them into the hands of anyone eager to use them on Israel. This is not a good situation in an already volatile predicament. Not with everyone involved there eager to gain the upper hand in influencing which way the new middle east order goes.

James Joiner
Gardner, Ma
http://anaverageamericanpatriot.blogspot.com

Aleppo will be the graveyard of the tanks" of the Syrian army

Syria Rebel Commander says Aleppo will be the Graveyard of Syrian tanks

Russia has doubts about Syria president's ability to hold on: "In daily consultations, Assad keeps telling us he is still very much in control," the official said. "We are trying to ascertain for ourselves whether the point of no return has been reached, and frankly we are not so sure either way anymore." The first sign that Russia is abandoning Assad would be a decision to evacuate its citizens, the official said, and that could soon be followed by the Syrian leader's departure.

On Saturday, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov denied that any asylum plans were being made, telling journalists, "We are not even thinking about it."
Russia's objections to the campaign to oust Assad have had little to do with loyalty to a longtime ally or unease over a loss of influence in the Middle East, analysts and officials said. Instead, the Kremlin fears what it sees as a broader pattern of the West using its political and military power to squeeze out leaders friendly to Moscow.

Aleppo, the latest battleground in Syria's 16-month uprising, will be the Syrian army's "graveyard," said Colonel Abdel Jabbar al-Oqaidi, the head of the rebels in the city. Despite the heat and fierce fighting a few hours earlier, the former colonel in President Bashar al-Assad's army appears relaxed and confident that his men will win the battle and bring down the regime. "Aleppo will be the graveyard of the tanks" of the Syrian army, Oqaidi declares after a day in which the rebels claimed to have destroyed "eight tanks and some armored vehicles and killed more than 100 soldiers." "We ask the West for a no-fly zone," he says in order to prevent aerial raids carried out by Assad's forces.

The rebels have so far managed to fend off the assault although the shelling by regime forces continued on Sunday. "We are ready to bring down this regime," He assures that the rebel Free Syrian Army will not withdraw, as it did in Damascus earlier this month, but that it will face the attack. We await the attack," he says, refusing to reveal how many rebels are fighting in Aleppo as these were "military secrets." He said his men were positioned across Aleppo, adding that regime troops faced obstacles when it comes to entering the city. "We are positioned throughout the city and we have arms to defend ourselves against helicopters," "We expect them to commit a very great slaughter, and we urge the international community to intervene to prevent these crimes," the colonel says. "The Syrian army wavers, it is collapsing. It stands for no specific cause,"

The tide seems to have changed against Assad but this is going to be a long dirty tough fight. The climax is building but I like much of the world am long convinced that Assad is a mad man. If he is still alive he is getting beyond increasingly desperate. At the very least he will use chemical weapons on his own people that he calls foreigners and terrorists and in the process sacrifice many of his own supporters.

Syria is largely thought to have the largest stockpile of chemical weapons in the world and the most extensive and deadliest. Yes they are moving them around supposedly to protect them but I would not count on that. One of the General's now in the opposition is making a plan to secure them. Under Assad he was in control of them so he knows where they all are.

Not just that but you know Israel is monitoring their movement and knows where they are. They will do anything to keep them out of the hands of Hezbollah who absolutely would use them on Israel.

Lastly do not discount Iran's ability to get her hands on them "clandestinely of course" and get them into the hands of anyone eager to use them on Israel. This is not a good situation in an already volatile predicament. Not with everyone involved there eager to gain the upper hand in influencing which way the new middle east order goes.

Iran and Russia to top it off are not going to allow a western influenced Government take control of Syria. Russia is not going to give up Tartus or let go of her interests in Syria. This is onl the beginning of the fight to control the direction of the world in the 21st century. Worse is the question of which way China will go, with the US or with Russia?


James Joiner
Gardner, Ma
http://anaverageamericanpatriot.blogspot.com

4th member of Syria's law makers defects amidst an increased crackdown, however?

Highlights: Syrian ambassador to Iraq joins revolt, urges military to turn on murderous Government, In a related development, a member of the Syrian parliament representing the city of Aleppo, Ikhlas al Badawi, Friday became the fourth member to defect. "I crossed the Turkish border and left this tyrannical regime because of the repression and savage torture to which it uses against a nation that calls for minimum rights," Unthinkable a month ago, it was the name of regime's former golden boy Brigadier General Manaf Tlass that was on delegate's lips yesterday as the fractured Syrian opposition met in Qatar to hash out plans for a transitional government.

Unthinkable a month ago, it was the name of regime's former golden boy Brigadier General Manaf Tlass that was on delegate's lips yesterday as the fractured Syrian opposition met in Qatar to hash out plans for a transitional government.

In his first interview since becoming the uprising's most high profile defector so far, the chiselled 48-year-old yesterday put himself forward as the man best placed to bring unity to the multitude of factions hoping to oust his former friend and confidante President Bashar al-Assad. "I left [Syria]… to try to help the best I can to unite the honourable people inside and outside Syria to set out a road map to get Syria out of this crisis," he told the Asharq Alawsat newspaper in Jeddah.

Syrian ambassador to Iraq joins revolt, urges military to turn on murderous Government- CNN: The defection of Nawaf al-Fares, Syria's ambassador to Iraq, follows the defection last week of a brigadier general in protest of the killing of his fellow Sunnis. Al-Fares is the highest-ranking diplomat so far to leave the regime. He also announced his defection from the ruling Baath party, becoming the most senior member to leave.

"To my brothers in the military, your military doctrine is to defend the homeland against external aggression and protect its borders," al-Fares said in a video statement taped in front of a Syrian opposition flag and given to the TV network Al Jazeera Arabic. "So did your fathers, sons, and sisters become the enemies now? And are they the ones who you should fight? Is that what you have learned in your military schools?" Photos: Massacre in Syria

Two more Syrian diplomats defect from Assad regime
Two more Syrian diplomats defect from Assad regime: The United States on Wednesday confirmed the defections of two more senior Syrian diplomats, describing this as further evidence that President Bashar al-Assad's days are "numbered." "We can confirm the defections of Syrian ambassadors to both the UAE and Cyprus," White House spokesman Jay Carney told reporters aboard Air Force One.

Earlier, sources had told AFP the two envoys had defected from the regime. Carney said the move showed that "senior officials around the Assad inner circle are fleeing the government because of the heinous actions taken by Assad against his own people, and the recognition that Assad's days are numbered."

Clashes continue as Syrian MP defects: One week after the opening of this new front, the regime's special forces were deployed on the eastern flank of the city and other troops arrived to participated in a massive offensive, according to opposition sources. The United States said on Thursday it was fearing a massacre in Aleppo.

In a related development, a member of the Syrian parliament representing the city of Aleppo, Ikhlas al Badawi, Friday became the fourth member to defect. "I crossed the Turkish border and left this tyrannical regime because of the repression and savage torture to which it uses against a nation that calls for minimum rights," she told Sky News Arabia.

This brings the total of senior diplomats, "law makers" defecting so far to 4! In January, Imad Ghalioun, a member of the parliamentary budget committee, announced he was seeking refuge in Egypt, calling on the opposition to ensure the interest of the Syrian people "who want to achieve freedom". Badawi, a member of Assad's Baath party, is the first member of the parliament elected in May to renounce him, however.

Plus Even as state media reported the suicide attack in Damascus — a notion that would once have been unthinkable in decades of iron-fisted control by the Assad family — the country’s Russian-armed military was reported to have suffered further defections among its top ranks, with two brigadier generals among 600 Syrians who fled to Turkey overnight, Reuters reported.

Their action brought to 20 the number of such high-ranking figures, who include a onetime close associate of Mr. Assad, Gen. Manaf Tlass, the son of a former defense minister.

The tide seems to have changed against Assad but this is going to be a long dirty tough fight. The climax is building but I like much of the world am long convinced that Assad is a mad man. If he is still alive he is getting beyond increasingly desperate. At the very least he will use chemical weapons on his own people that he calls foreigners and terrorists and in the process sacrifice many of his own supporters.

Syria is largely thought to have the largest stockpile of chemical weapons in the world and the most extensive and deadliest. Yes they are moving them around supposedly to protect them but I would not count on that. One of the General's now in the opposition is making a plan to secure them. Under Assad he was in control of them so he knows where they all are.

Not just that but you know Israel is monitoring their movement and knows where they are. They will do anything to keep them out of the hands of Hezbollah who absolutely would use them on Israel.

Lastly do not discount Iran's ability to get her hands on them "clandestinely of course" and get them into the hands of anyone eager to use them on Israel. This is not a good situation in an already volatile predicament. Not with everyone involved there eager to gain the upper hand in influencing which way the new middle east order goes.

Iran and Russia to top it off are not going to allow a western influenced Government take control of Syria. Russia is not going to give up Tartus or let go of her interests in Syria. This is onl the beginning of the fight to control the direction of the world in the 21st century. Worse is the question of which way China will go, with the US or with Russia?


James Joiner
Gardner, Ma
http://anaverageamericanpatriot.blogspot.com

Clashes so fierce in Aleppo and morale so low troops running away and defecting on the spot

Syria: Troops and rebels reinforce for big Aleppo battle: Syrian rebels have stepped up their stockpiling of ammunition and medical supplies in preparation for a major battle in Aleppo, a BBC reporter says. The rebels, who are in control large parts of Syria's second city, have set up checkpoints and sniper positions. Activists say columns of government troops and tanks are heading towards the city from other areas. Aleppo is the country's commercial capital, and is key to the battle to control the north of the country. Street battles have been reported throughout Aleppo for almost a week, as rebels try to hold on to seized neighborhoods.

Clashes so fierce in Aleppo and morale so low troops running away and defecting on the spot. Syria crisis: battles in Damascus and Aleppo - live updates:  Israeli has confirmed that its leaders have discussed with US officials how to manage a Syrian government collapse, AP reports.

:A "large number" of troops have been moved from the northwestern province of Idlib to join the fighting in Aleppo, a rebel spokesman told AFP via Skype. Free Syrian Army Colonel Abdel Jabbar al-Oqaidi said he believed the reinforcements were being sent because of the intensity of clashes in Aleppo, where several districts were "liberated" on Monday. "There are clashes right now in Aleppo, so fierce that many of their troops are running away, while dozens of others are defecting on the spot," Oqaidi said. "Their morale is very low." 

Syrian rebels to counterattack regime: Rebel forces were working to gain control of Aleppo neighborhoods, activists said."There is random shelling of the eastern portion of the city as the Syrian Army is trying to force out the FSA (Free Syrian Army). They are hitting civilian homes over and over," one activist told CNN via Skype.CNN's Ivan Watson, who is in northern Syria, said he has noticed the rebels have become better armed in the past few months. Where once they only had shotguns, they now have rocket-propelled grenades and assault rifles.

 The increased firepower has helped the rebels successfully attack armored vehicles and force some Syrian forces to take resupply by helicopter. The rebels have also been able to establish growing enclaves in northern Syria and from there try to seize a number of key border crossings. Watson said in the village he was in that hundreds of rebels loaded up with ammunition Monday night and headed to fight in Aleppo. 

Syria crisis: battles in Damascus and Aleppo - live updates: • The European Union has agreed to strengthen its arms embargo and increase sanctions again against the Assad regime, Reuters reports. Speaking after a meeting of foreign minister EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said: These sanctions are important because they will allow ships to be examined to see what cargo they're carrying, and that will prevent, I hope, any arms reaching Syria.

 • Israel has confirmed that its leaders have discussed with US officials how to manage a Syrian government collapse, AP reports. An official said: "You can presume that these sorts of issues came up with American officials when they visited recently in Israel."

 • UN blogger Nabil Abi Saab, claims the Arab League's decision to change Kofi Annan's mission in Syria (see 9.10am) represents the end of the joint envoy's mission. 9.47am: Rebel troops have been filmed capturing a government tank in the Shakour district of Aleppo.

The climax is building but I like much of the world am long convinced that Assad is a mad man. If he is still alive he is getting beyond increasingly desperate. At the very least he will use chemical weapons on his own people that he calls foreigners and terrorists and in the process sacrifice many of his own supporters.
Syria is largely thought to have the largest stockpile of chemical weapons in the world and the most extensive and deadliest. Yes they are moving them around supposedly to protect them but I would not count on that. One of the General's now in the opposition is making a plan to secure them. Under Assad he was in control of them so he knows where they all are.

Not just that but you know Israel is monitoring their movement and knows where they are. They will do anything to keep them out of the hands of Hezbollah who absolutely would use them on Israel.

Lastly do not discount Iran's ability to get her hands on them "clandestinely of course" and get them into the hands of anyone eager to use them on Israel. This is not a good situation in an already volatile predicament. Not with everyone involved there eager to gain the upper hand in influencing which way the new middle east order goes.

James Joiner
Gardner, Ma
http://anaverageamericanpatriot.blogspot.com

Syria: Assad regime starts to unravel, so goes the middle east

Syria: Assad regime starts to unravel: With the situation changing by the hour, the government's control over large parts of the country continued to unravel. The FSA said it had captured two border crossings between Syria and Turkey as well as one in Iraq. The regime still holds key cities, at least during the day, but it appears increasingly vulnerable to guerilla raids.

Diplomats revealed that Assad had phoned the head of the UN monitoring mission, General Robert Mood, pledging to implement Kofi Annan's peace plan shortly after Wednesday's devastating bomb attack in Damascus, which killed four senior members of his military-security command. Residents have reported that some banks were running out of cash, with queues for bread and other foodstuffs seen as Ramadan gets underway. In a further sign of regime erosion a Syrian general was reported to have fled to Turkey, bringing the number of fugitive generals there to 22.
The battle for Syria is a battle for the entire Middle East: Its fall will obviously transform Syria, a country that has lived under the boot-heel of that clan for four decades. But it will also radically affect the wider region. Syria, which borders Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon, Turkey and Israel, does not keep itself to itself. As one former Obama official says: "Syria won't implode; it will explode." Put simply, the battle for Syria is a battle for the entire Middle East.

This is going to be a long tough fight because Iran will not allow a possible anti Iran regime change in Syria nor it seems will Russia and China. You would think that after Gaddafi's brutal death Bashar Al-Assad would take heed but he does not have to as China and Russia support his brutality to protect their interests and the old order.

Again: You know, I am thinking about all that is happening today in the United States and more pointedly around the entire world not just in North Africa and the Middle East and I am reminded of something we were told right after 9/11 and that was that this is a new volatile world we live in today and we must act accordingly. When I was a kid I learned "adapt, overcome, and move ahead successfully" We are not doing that, once again we have failed to take our own good advice.

This is not the 20th century. The times they are a changing and we must be smart enough to change with them or be trampled. WW 3 we do not want, it is not survivable for us or the planet with the awesome destruction of today's weapons. Just looking at the two telling links above I realized Russia and the United States are playing the same old power and control games instead of realizing this is a new world and like it or not we must adapt with it or destroy it.

Now China feels emboldened to play a role in pushing her desires on the "Arab Spring" too and this is all a recipe for disaster. The US can no longer stand by Israel blindly. Unless Israel realizes like it or not it is time for a 2 state solution to allow us to progress through the 21 century in this new world not the old one those in control are trying to hold on to.

Likewise it is wrong for Russia and China to embolden Syria and defend their Brutality in order to protect their selfish old interests. Like it or not we must let go. We the current powers are creating more problems not solving them. We must step back and let the baby be born. We can not have things the way we want. We must realize that instead of using weapons to try and have our way.

We must let the chips fall where they may then pick up what we can, adapt, overcome, and move forward successfully hopefully. The US is in trouble, Europe is in trouble, the Middle East is in trouble, the entire world is in trouble unless we wake up, stop trying to interfere with it, and help put together whatever is left.

That said, I thought it was our attack on Iraq that would be the start of the middle east breakdown now I am afraid it will be the Arab Spring or more pointedly Assad's Syrian winter. I still see a total civil war Sunni against Shiite erupting in the Middle East because Bush freed up Iran to instigate it on their end and they are. I still am concerned we will have a permanent presence in the Middle East but feel we will have to largely leave Iraq to her own demise. We will still be there but it looks like Yemen, and the Gulf of Aden will be the prime focus unless Iran gets something going between the US and Iran.

As you know, I talk about it often as I watch Bush's new Middle East (dis)order progress. He ignored Afghanistan so he could use the patriot acts powers to divert from Afghanistan to attack Iraq using the excuse of unseating Saddam so he could get in the Middle East to help Israel establish a buffer zone and establish a new middle east (dis) order or so Israel and Cheney thought. Bush at Cheney's urging made an abrupt shift in policy towards Syria, a shift that has now brought the entire Mideast region to the brink of war and chaos. Much worse than the hell on earth they created for Iraq. Did you ever read A clean Break a 2003 Executive intelligence Review that tells the truth as to our diabolical plans

That plan was put together in 1996 for Israel. They were just waiting for an idiot to come along so they could implement their plan for the Middle East. Along came the life long follower and life long alcoholic loser Georgie Bush. I wish I could say the rest is History but this is still barely beginning and just beginning to take shape. All Bush did by ignoring Afghanistan and attacking Iraq was to guarantee a loss of everything and a complete Middle East and Asian Breakdown.

We freed Iran up to pursue her version of new middle East order by interfering wherever she could while Bush was doing the same thing with his Middle East Democratization program. I think you can see how successful Bush and Cheney were with chaos creating Middle East Democracy program but you are barely seeing the results they created in Iran.

The goal absolutely is to be the country who decides which direction the new Middle East (dis)order will take. Bush started it by attacking Iraq to get into the middle east to destabilize it and start the new middle east order the idiot said God told him to do now it will be up to Iran and Saudi Arabia at least up front fight it out whether this goes the Iranian Shiite way or the Saudi Arabian Sunni way and do not forget Israel!

James Joiner
Gardner, Ma
http://anaverageamericanpatriot.blogspot.com

Lebanon dragged deeper into spreading Syrian violence as US reaches out to Moscow

Syria's deadly violence spills over to Lebanon: Fierce gunbattles between supporters and opponents of Syria’s President Assad have erupted in neighbouring Lebanon leaving at least seven people dead and 30 wounded. The fighting is raging in the port city of Tripoli between gunmen from Assad’s Alawite sect of Shi’ite Islam, and Sunni Muslims from a district nearby. Lebanese troops have moved into the area to try to quell the violence. The international peace envoy for Syria, Kofi Annan expressed his fears of a wider regional conflict if the killings in Syria continue.

Lebanon: Residents of the northern city of Tripoli held a general strike Monday to protest the deadly clashes that gripped the area last week, killing at least 14 and wounding 52.

Washington reached out to Syria's most important ally and protector Saturday, urging Russia to join a coordinated effort to resolve the deadly conflict as the violence spilled across the border into Lebanon, a senior State Department official said. Fears also have risen the violence could spread and provoke a regional conflagration. Already clashes have broken out between pro- and anti-Syrian groups in northern Lebanon, with at least eight people killed late Friday and early Saturday, Lebanese security officials said.
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton discussed the situation with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in a telephone call on Saturday, a senior State Department official said. "They both agreed that we have to work together," said the official, who provided details of the private discussion on condition of anonymity. "Her message to him was that we have to start working together to help Syrians with a serious political transition strategy."

Assad blames Syria's hell on an outside influence and yes there is a growing outside influence and it is on both sides. Assad says tyhere is a danger this growing conflagration will envelop the entire middle east a nd it will. Because of actions taken by those who want to see him stay in power to protect their interest I am afraid this is going to grow way beyond Lebanon. We will be lucky to keep this from becoming world war three.

Deadly violence flares in Beirut: Gunmen fired rocket-propelled grenades and machine guns early on Monday in intense street battles in Beirut, Iran’s ardent courtship of the Lebanese government indicates that Tehran is scrambling to find a replacement for its closest Arab ally, politicians, diplomats and analysts say.
Deadly violence flares in Beirut: Gunmen fired rocket-propelled grenades and machine guns early on Monday in intense street battles in Beirut, killing two people and wounding at least 18 others."There is an uneasy calm.. streets are relatively empty," Al Jazeera's Zeina Khodr, reported from Beirut."The situation overnight, the clashes that were witnessed in Beirut, were the worst since January 2001 when we saw people take to the streets in protest following the collapse of the government of the former Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri.

"People who took to the streets were supporters of Saad al-Hariri's movement, mainly Sunnis. they were protesting the death and killing of a Sunni cleric and his bodyguard in northern Lebanon," Khodr said. The clashes erupted hours after Sheikh Ahmed Abdul Wahid, a Sunni Muslim cleric, and Muhammed Hussein Miraib, both members of the March 14 alliance, were shot in their car near Tripoli on Sunday as they "sped through a Lebanese army checkpoint without stopping". The fighting, some of the worst in Beirut in years, exacerbated deep political and sectarian divisions, as fears mounted that the conflict in neighbouring Syria was spilling across the border.

Lebanon's new wild card: Shaker al-Barjawi For more than a year, battlelines have been clearly drawn between pro-Bashar al-Assad and anti-Assad politicians in Lebanon, with the March 14 Alliance desperate to see regime change in Syria, and Hezbollah and its allies willing to fight until curtain-fall with Syrian officialdom. On Arabic satellite talk shows, members of the two camps had blasted at each other for months, once even getting into a fist-fight live on air. Last week, pro-Syrian regime and anti-Syrian regime factions

clashed with arms in the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli, prompting Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates to advise their citizens from traveling to Lebanon, and calling on those already in the country to leave. On Sunday, Sheikh Ahmad Abdul Wahed, a prominent Sunni cleric affiliated with ex-prime minister Saad al-Hariri, was shot dead at a checkpoint in Akkar in northern Lebanon, along with his bodyguard, when his car reportedly failed to stop at a military checkpoint. The cleric was heading to the city of Halba to participate in a sit-in against the Syrian regime, staged by Hariri's Future Movement.

Iran Is Seeking Lebanon Stake as Syria Totters: Iran’s eagerness to shower money on Lebanon when its own finances are being squeezed by sanctions is the latest indication of just how worried Tehran is at the prospect that Syria’s leader, Bashar al-Assad, could fall. Iran relies on Syria as its bridge to the Arab world, and as a crucial strategic partner in confronting Israel. But the Arab revolts have shaken Tehran’s calculations, with Mr. Assad unable to vanquish an uprising that is in its 15th month.

Iran’s ardent courtship of the Lebanese government indicates that Tehran is scrambling to find a replacement for its closest Arab ally, politicians, diplomats and analysts say. It is not only financing public projects, but also seeking to forge closer ties through cultural, military and economic agreements. The challenge for Iran’s leaders is that many Lebanese — including the residents of Tannourine, the site of the proposed hydroelectric dam — squirm in that embrace. They see Iran’s gestures not as a show of good will, but as a stealth cultural and military colonization.

With the return of Putin to the Russian Presidency I am again very concerned and see an end to a partner country whose leaders words and actions we can trust and a return to a confrontational relationship with Russia. I do not like the man, I do not trust the man, and I am very concerned as to which direction Russia and the United States are headed now and at a time when China is surging militarily.

Watching what is happening in Syria and Iran at this point it looks like Russia and China are going to unite at least until the shit hits the fan and it will. Russia is going to go to the limit to allow Syria to slaughter its own. At that point China I am hoping will start backing the US I hope.

Forget any thoughts of a peace deal working. Assad calls the protesters and peace workers terrorists and promises to stamp them out. This has barely begun!

We are going to get dragged into this rest assured and you can't really think at least Russia and Iran will not come out in the open: I remember saying from day one that it would take almost the whole military to defect before they would have a chance and now that we know how involved Russia, Iran and Hezbollah are in the slaughtering that is going on around the country that is beginning to look like the beginning of their fight.

You have to be very concerned about what is happening in Syria especially. Russia, China, and Iran are not going to allow Syria to fall to Democracy. What we saw after the voter fraud in Iran was mild compared to what the IRG will do if this movement spreads to Iran. I really wish Bashar would step down but Iran is the elephant in the room any way you look at it. The total middle east breakdown we have written about numerous times is well under way. We can only hope we keep it from erupting into WW3.

In closing: You know Putin just got himself reelected as President, he did this so he could be at the helm of Russia as he like me knows 100% that world war is our future. He plans on marshaling China who is rapidly building a more formidable military and whoever he can to take on US hegemony.Russia watched helplessly as we had our way in Libya. Putin blames what is happening in Syria on our interference and Libya for training the protesters to fight against Bashar Al-Assad. Russia and Iran will not let this be another Libya but?

Putin is going to do everything possible to keep us from helping the Syrian people and I really feel for them. I do not see this going down the way Libya did and Iran and Russia are going to make sure it does not. I am afraid the Syrian people are going to be sacrificed, sacrificed in what is merely an opening salvo in this the wars for future dominance. God help us!

* We now know Iran and probably Russia are preparing for Syria to fall to the protesters or at the very least into total disarray for years. Proof of that is a renewed effort to replace Syria with Lebanon as the new vanguard against what is viewed as US hegemony in this war for middle east and future world dominance.


James Joiner
Gardner, Ma
http://anaverageamericanpatriot.blogspot.com