4 New Messages
Digest #4785
Messages
Sat Aug 24, 2013 9:00 am (PDT) . Posted by:
"ANTIC.org-SNN" minimaks
<http://www.nytimes.
_____
August 23, 2013
Air War in Kosovo Seen as Precedent in Possible Response to Syria Chemical Attack
By MARK LANDLER <http://topics.
WASHINGTON — As President Obama <http://topics.
With Russia <http://topics.
“If the U.S. goes in and attacks another country without a U.N. mandate and without clear evidence that can be presented, then there are questions in terms of whether international law supports it, do we have the coalition to make it work?” Mr. Obama said on Friday to CNN, in his first public comments after the deadly attack on Wednesday.
Mr. Obama described the attack <http://www.nytimes.
Mr. Obama was meeting on Saturday morning with his national security staff to discuss Syria, according to a White House official, having returned from a two-day bus tour of upstate New York and Pennsylvania.
“We are going to act very deliberately so that we’re making decisions consistent with our national interest as well as our assessment of what can advance our objectives in Syria,” the official said.
Kosovo is an obvious precedent for Mr. Obama because, as in Syria, civilians were killed and Russia had longstanding ties to the government authorities accused of the abuses. In 1999, President Bill Clinton used the endorsement of NATO and the rationale of protecting a vulnerable population to justify 78 days of airstrikes <http://www.nytimes.
A senior administration official said the Kosovo precedent was one of many subjects discussed in continuing White House meetings on the crisis in Syria. Officials are also debating whether a military strike would have unintended consequences, destabilize neighbors like Lebanon, or lead to even greater flows of refugees into Jordan, Turkey and Egypt.
“It’s a step too far to say we’re drawing up legal justifications for an action, given that the president hasn’t made a decision,” said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the deliberations. “But Kosovo, of course, is a precedent of something that is perhaps similar.”
In the Mediterranean, the Navy’s regional commander postponed a scheduled port call in Naples, Italy, for a destroyer so that the ship would remain with a second destroyer in striking distance of Syria during the crisis. Pentagon officials said the decision did not reflect any specific orders from Washington, but both destroyers had on board Tomahawk cruise missiles, long-range weapons that probably would be among the first launched against targets in Syria should the president decide to take military action.
On Friday, the Russian government called on President Bashar al-Assad <http://topics.
In a statement, Russia’s foreign ministry put the onus on Syria’s opposition forces to provide secure access to the site of the “reported incident.” A second statement suggested that the Russians believed the attack was actually a provocation by the rebels. It cited reports criticizing government troops that were posted on the Internet hours before the attack.
“More and more evidence emerges indicating that this criminal act had an openly provocative character,” Aleksandr K. Lukashevich, a spokesman for Russia’s foreign ministry, said in the statement. “The talk here is about a previously planned action.”
However, Mr. Lukashevich may have been confused by YouTube’s practice of time-stamping uploaded videos based on the time in its California headquarters, no matter the originating time zone. The attacks occurred early Wednesday in Syria, when it would still have been Tuesday in California for about eight more hours.
Mr. Lukashevich praised the Assad government for welcoming Carla del Ponte, a member of a United Nations commission on Syria who suggested in May that the rebels had used chemical weapons, and he accused the Syrian opposition of not cooperating with the investigation by United Nations experts.
The Syrian government did not comment on Friday.
On Friday CBS News, citing administration officials, reported that American intelligence agencies detected activity at locations known to be chemical weapons sites before Wednesday’s attack. The activity, these officials believe, may have been preparations for the assault.
Other Western officials have been less cautious than Mr. Obama. “I know that some people in the world would like to say that this is some kind of conspiracy brought about by the opposition in Syria,” said William Hague, Britain’s foreign secretary, in an interview with Sky News. “I think the chances of that are vanishingly small, and so we do believe that this is a chemical attack by the Assad regime.”
Mr. Hague did not speak of using force, as France has, if the government was found to have been behind the attack. But he said it was “not something that a humane or civilized world can ignore.”
Such statements carry echoes of Kosovo, where the Yugoslav government of Slobodan Milosevic brutally cracked down on ethnic Albanians in 1998 and 1999, prompting the Clinton administration to decide to act militarily in concert with NATO allies.
Mr. Clinton knew there was no prospect of securing a resolution from the Security Council authorizing the use of force. Russia was a longtime supporter of the Milosevic government and was certain to wield its vote in the Security Council to block action.
So the Clinton administration justified its actions, in part, as an intervention to protect a vulnerable and embattled population. NATO carried out airstrikes before Mr. Milosevic agreed to NATO demands, which required the withdrawal of Yugoslav forces.
“The argument in 1999 in the case of Kosovo was that there was a grave humanitarian emergency and the international community had the responsibility to act and, if necessary, to do so with force,” said Ivo H. Daalder, a former United States ambassador to NATO who is now the president of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs.
In the case of Syria, Mr. Daalder said, the administration could argue that the use of chemical weapons had created a grave humanitarian emergency and that without a forceful response there would be a danger that the Assad government might use it on a large scale once again. Another basis for intervening in Syria, Mr. Daalder said, might be violation of the 1925 Geneva Protocol, which outlaws the use in war of poison gas. Dennis B. Ross, a former adviser to Mr. Obama on the Middle East, said that if the president wanted to develop a legal justification for acting, “there are lots of ways to do it outside the U.N. context.”
Reporting was contributed by Mark Mazzetti and Thom Shanker from Washington, Steven Lee Myers from Moscow and David Jolly from Paris.
<http://nyti.
Sat Aug 24, 2013 9:00 am (PDT) . Posted by:
"Dave Parnas" dlpdddd
Dear CBC As it Happens,
As the former Syrian spokesman,Jihad Makdissi, said when you interviewed him on Friday, if the Assad regime did use chemical weapons to kill Syrian civilians just 20 minutes away from a UN inspection team, they are suicidal. While the Assad regime does not appear to have suicidal tendencies, one cannot rule out the possibility that someone within the Syrian Arab Army did wish the death of the regime. As your guests agreed, only an objective investigation could reveal the truth and even an investigation might not be able to attribute fault.
However, when the "international community" demands that the Syrian Government allow the UN team to inspect the site, they are being disingenuous. The Syrian Government does not control the site; it is controlled by the rebels. That is why Syria is attacking that area. Any doubt about this fact can be eliminated by noting that one of the opposition groups, the SNC, has offered to provide safe conduct to the site. They could not do this, if the government controlled the site.
On the other hand, the SNC could offer safe passage only if the Syrian Government agrees to stop shelling. In other words, providing access to the inspectors would require the cooperation of both sides. Neither side can do it alone and neither side can be blamed for the other side's refusal to make the inspection possible.
The situation is made very difficult because of the military situation. The rebels occupy the site and the Syrian Army is trying to regain control. If the rebels withdraw, the Syrian Army will advance with the inspectors. If the rebels don't withdraw, and the Syrian Army stops shelling, the rebels will be able to reinforce their positions. It will take a very carefully crafted truce agreement to allow an inspection without giving either side a major military advantage. The guilty side will not want the inspection to take place; it will be very easy for them to claim that it was the other side that made the inspection impossible. Failure of the UN team to gain access, will not provide clear evidence of either side being guilty.
I am sure that our government, and the international community in general, understand the situation on the ground and the dilemma faced by Syria. If they try to blame either side for the lack of an inspection, they will be trying to mislead us.
Dave Parnas
David Lorge Parnas
Suite 1606
3580 Rivergate Way
Ottawa Ontario K1V 1V5
Canada
Parnas@mcmaster.
land line: +1 613 249 8038
cell: +1 613 322 5128
As the former Syrian spokesman,Jihad Makdissi, said when you interviewed him on Friday, if the Assad regime did use chemical weapons to kill Syrian civilians just 20 minutes away from a UN inspection team, they are suicidal. While the Assad regime does not appear to have suicidal tendencies, one cannot rule out the possibility that someone within the Syrian Arab Army did wish the death of the regime. As your guests agreed, only an objective investigation could reveal the truth and even an investigation might not be able to attribute fault.
However, when the "international community" demands that the Syrian Government allow the UN team to inspect the site, they are being disingenuous. The Syrian Government does not control the site; it is controlled by the rebels. That is why Syria is attacking that area. Any doubt about this fact can be eliminated by noting that one of the opposition groups, the SNC, has offered to provide safe conduct to the site. They could not do this, if the government controlled the site.
On the other hand, the SNC could offer safe passage only if the Syrian Government agrees to stop shelling. In other words, providing access to the inspectors would require the cooperation of both sides. Neither side can do it alone and neither side can be blamed for the other side's refusal to make the inspection possible.
The situation is made very difficult because of the military situation. The rebels occupy the site and the Syrian Army is trying to regain control. If the rebels withdraw, the Syrian Army will advance with the inspectors. If the rebels don't withdraw, and the Syrian Army stops shelling, the rebels will be able to reinforce their positions. It will take a very carefully crafted truce agreement to allow an inspection without giving either side a major military advantage. The guilty side will not want the inspection to take place; it will be very easy for them to claim that it was the other side that made the inspection impossible. Failure of the UN team to gain access, will not provide clear evidence of either side being guilty.
I am sure that our government, and the international community in general, understand the situation on the ground and the dilemma faced by Syria. If they try to blame either side for the lack of an inspection, they will be trying to mislead us.
Dave Parnas
David Lorge Parnas
Suite 1606
3580 Rivergate Way
Ottawa Ontario K1V 1V5
Canada
Parnas@mcmaster.
land line: +1 613 249 8038
cell: +1 613 322 5128
Sat Aug 24, 2013 9:27 am (PDT) . Posted by:
"Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff
http://news.
Estonian Public Broadcasting
August 6, 2013
Steadfast Jazz to Feature Baltic Invasion Scenario
More details have been reported by a daily regarding this fall's Steadfast Jazz exercise, the first time that NATO member states play out a specific Article Five scenario in which they rescue members from a simulated foreign invasion.
According to Eesti Päevaleht, in the scenario the Baltic states have been invaded and the NATO Response Force - a special quick deployment cross-branch element - intervenes. In five days, 5,000 men will "put out the fire" in the operating area, supported by thousands of troops. The daily characterized the operation as troops "running through the Polish forests with Estonian maps."
Estonia will contribute 300 personnel but host only the behind-the-scenes staff operations, while the "action" takes place in the Lithuanian and Polish countryside.
"The last exercise with this type of focus took place on Cape Verde in 2006, when the new NATO response strategy was still being tested," said Roland Murof, Defense Forces spokesman.
Taking place a few months after the joint Russian-Belarusian Zapad 2013 exercise, observers have sought a parallel. "Officially it's not [related]," said Kaarel Kaas, a researcher with the Center for Defense Studies. "But unofficially, Russia's aggressive behavior in recent years has undoubtedly impacted the local security picture and it is a clear reason that such an exercise is being held in such a place with such a scenario."
Defense Minister Urmas Reinsalu played down a direct link to Zapad, and emphasized deterrence effect. He also noted policy differences - NATO, unlike Russia, never names a specific adversary in its exercises, he said. He added: "The exercise is undoubtedly tied to real circumstances in our region and this area."
============
Stop NATO e-mail list home page with archives and search engine:
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Stop NATO website and articles:
http://rickrozoff.
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============
Estonian Public Broadcasting
August 6, 2013
Steadfast Jazz to Feature Baltic Invasion Scenario
More details have been reported by a daily regarding this fall's Steadfast Jazz exercise, the first time that NATO member states play out a specific Article Five scenario in which they rescue members from a simulated foreign invasion.
According to Eesti Päevaleht, in the scenario the Baltic states have been invaded and the NATO Response Force - a special quick deployment cross-branch element - intervenes. In five days, 5,000 men will "put out the fire" in the operating area, supported by thousands of troops. The daily characterized the operation as troops "running through the Polish forests with Estonian maps."
Estonia will contribute 300 personnel but host only the behind-the-scenes staff operations, while the "action" takes place in the Lithuanian and Polish countryside.
"The last exercise with this type of focus took place on Cape Verde in 2006, when the new NATO response strategy was still being tested," said Roland Murof, Defense Forces spokesman.
Taking place a few months after the joint Russian-Belarusian Zapad 2013 exercise, observers have sought a parallel. "Officially it's not [related]," said Kaarel Kaas, a researcher with the Center for Defense Studies. "But unofficially, Russia's aggressive behavior in recent years has undoubtedly impacted the local security picture and it is a clear reason that such an exercise is being held in such a place with such a scenario."
Defense Minister Urmas Reinsalu played down a direct link to Zapad, and emphasized deterrence effect. He also noted policy differences - NATO, unlike Russia, never names a specific adversary in its exercises, he said. He added: "The exercise is undoubtedly tied to real circumstances in our region and this area."
============
Stop NATO e-mail list home page with archives and search engine:
http://groups.
Stop NATO website and articles:
http://rickrozoff.
To subscribe for individual e-mails or the daily digest, unsubscribe, and otherwise change subscription status:
stopnato-subscribe@
============
Sat Aug 24, 2013 11:03 am (PDT) . Posted by:
"Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff
http://www.stripes.
Stars and Stripes
August 24, 2013
Eyes on Syrian border, US troops stand ready to defend Turkey's skies
By John Vandiver
GAZIANTEP, Turkey: Inside his cramped command post perched high above this southern Turkish city, 1st Lt. Brandon Burgess keeps a steady eye on the radar, looking for anything soaring high and fast.
He’s known as the “button pusher,” the guy who will release multimillion-
“It’s a huge responsibility. I’m in there defending the sky,” said Burgess, a tactical control officer with 3rd Battalion, 2nd Air Defense Artillery’s Battery C, located less than 80 miles from Aleppo, a major hot spot in Syria’s bloody civil war.
It has been eight months since two Patriot missile batteries from the unit deployed to Turkey from Fort Sill, Okla...
Last year, Turkey called on NATO to send anti-missile Patriot batteries...
...
Over the next few months, NATO, along with Turkey and the nations contributing the batteries, will assess the security situation and determine any further requirements, he said.
“All decisions will be taken in light of NATO’s strong commitment to protect and defend Turkey,” Janzen said.
For its part, the U.S. team of about 400 troops is close to wrapping up its year deployment in Gaziantep, a city of 1.5 million people that is just 40 miles from the Syrian border...
“There a have been some things that have put us on edge,” said Lt. Col. John Dawber, the U.S. commander on the ground in Gaziantep. “It’s a complex threat spectrum.”
While no missiles have crossed into Turkey, there have been some close calls, as soldiers eye the radar and watch as rockets make sudden breaks away from the border area. With Syrian jets routinely bombing rebel strongholds — Aleppo is one of the main sites for aerial bombardment and rockets flying through the air on a regular basis — the Patriot batteries’ high-powered radars are tracking it all.
“It sees anything that flies. It’s really high-fidelity stuff,” said Capt. Andrew Simons, commander of Battery C. “You have to be ready for anything.”
“It’ll nuke you,” added Staff Sgt. Brandon O’Brien, referring to powerful waves of radiation that project from the missile tracking device. “Drop a bag of popcorn in front of it and it’ll be cooked before it hits the ground.”
Needless to say, no one walks in front of a Patriot battery’s radar.
While the Americans’ primary mission is to defend Gaziantep from ballistic missiles, the unit keeps its eyes out for any aerial threat to the city they are charged to protect. That means 24-hour, seven-day-a-
Because of the unit’s heightened state of alert, it also means around-the-clock days for everyone else in the field. It’s an unprecedented pace of work for an air defense unit, according to Sgt. 1st Class Henry Scott, who serves as the first sergeant for Battery B.
“We’re rewriting Army doctrine,” Scott said. “No one [in air defense] has ever done this before.”
The primary challenge is keeping all the pieces working under the heavy strain. Each Patriot launcher — there are 12 on site — comes with its own high-powered generators that are unaccustomed to around-the-clock activation. That means technicians are constantly monitoring, tweaking and cleaning the system to keep it running.
...
The long hours can take their toll though. So can the day-to-day monotony of working on an isolated Turkish army base, where many of the usual amenities of an American base are missing. As the tour nears its end, part of the job of noncommissioned officers is keeping troops focused.
“It’s about keeping morale up and not getting too complacent,” said Sgt. Tina Streible.
Conditions on the base have steadily improved. There’s Internet access for the soldiers as well as a gym and dining facility.
Stars and Stripes
August 24, 2013
Eyes on Syrian border, US troops stand ready to defend Turkey's skies
By John Vandiver
GAZIANTEP, Turkey: Inside his cramped command post perched high above this southern Turkish city, 1st Lt. Brandon Burgess keeps a steady eye on the radar, looking for anything soaring high and fast.
He’s known as the “button pusher,” the guy who will release multimillion-
“It’s a huge responsibility. I’m in there defending the sky,” said Burgess, a tactical control officer with 3rd Battalion, 2nd Air Defense Artillery’s Battery C, located less than 80 miles from Aleppo, a major hot spot in Syria’s bloody civil war.
It has been eight months since two Patriot missile batteries from the unit deployed to Turkey from Fort Sill, Okla...
Last year, Turkey called on NATO to send anti-missile Patriot batteries...
...
Over the next few months, NATO, along with Turkey and the nations contributing the batteries, will assess the security situation and determine any further requirements, he said.
“All decisions will be taken in light of NATO’s strong commitment to protect and defend Turkey,” Janzen said.
For its part, the U.S. team of about 400 troops is close to wrapping up its year deployment in Gaziantep, a city of 1.5 million people that is just 40 miles from the Syrian border...
“There a have been some things that have put us on edge,” said Lt. Col. John Dawber, the U.S. commander on the ground in Gaziantep. “It’s a complex threat spectrum.”
While no missiles have crossed into Turkey, there have been some close calls, as soldiers eye the radar and watch as rockets make sudden breaks away from the border area. With Syrian jets routinely bombing rebel strongholds — Aleppo is one of the main sites for aerial bombardment and rockets flying through the air on a regular basis — the Patriot batteries’ high-powered radars are tracking it all.
“It sees anything that flies. It’s really high-fidelity stuff,” said Capt. Andrew Simons, commander of Battery C. “You have to be ready for anything.”
“It’ll nuke you,” added Staff Sgt. Brandon O’Brien, referring to powerful waves of radiation that project from the missile tracking device. “Drop a bag of popcorn in front of it and it’ll be cooked before it hits the ground.”
Needless to say, no one walks in front of a Patriot battery’s radar.
While the Americans’ primary mission is to defend Gaziantep from ballistic missiles, the unit keeps its eyes out for any aerial threat to the city they are charged to protect. That means 24-hour, seven-day-a-
Because of the unit’s heightened state of alert, it also means around-the-clock days for everyone else in the field. It’s an unprecedented pace of work for an air defense unit, according to Sgt. 1st Class Henry Scott, who serves as the first sergeant for Battery B.
“We’re rewriting Army doctrine,” Scott said. “No one [in air defense] has ever done this before.”
The primary challenge is keeping all the pieces working under the heavy strain. Each Patriot launcher — there are 12 on site — comes with its own high-powered generators that are unaccustomed to around-the-clock activation. That means technicians are constantly monitoring, tweaking and cleaning the system to keep it running.
...
The long hours can take their toll though. So can the day-to-day monotony of working on an isolated Turkish army base, where many of the usual amenities of an American base are missing. As the tour nears its end, part of the job of noncommissioned officers is keeping troops focused.
“It’s about keeping morale up and not getting too complacent,” said Sgt. Tina Streible.
Conditions on the base have steadily improved. There’s Internet access for the soldiers as well as a gym and dining facility.
