5 New Messages
Digest #4438
Messages
Sat Jul 21, 2012 6:39 am (PDT) . Posted by:
"Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff
http://rickrozoff.
Stop NATO: Digest for July 13-July 21
*****
Why NATO States’ Syria Resolution Failed Again
http://rickrozoff.
Rebel “Storm” In Damascus: Reality Or A Show?
http://rickrozoff.
U.S. Plans To Act Against Syria Outside UN Troubling: Russian Diplomat
http://rickrozoff.
Russian Envoy On Syria: More Western Geopolitics Than Humanitarianism
http://rickrozoff.
Syria and Bulgaria: U.S. Double Standards on Terrorism
http://rickrozoff.
NATO Praises Libyan Puppet Regime, War
http://rickrozoff.
NATO Supports Suicide Bombers
http://rickrozoff.
Opposing Military Interventon: China, Russia Veto Third Syria Resolution
http://rickrozoff.
Interview: Ukraine Dragged Into NATO
http://rickrozoff.
U.S. Missile Shield May Spark Chinese Nuclear Upgrade
http://rickrozoff.
March on Damascus: Precedents
http://rickrozoff.
Mali: Next Victim Of Western “Peace Crusade”
http://rickrozoff.
Nothing Civil About Washington’s War on Syria
http://rickrozoff.
Experience of NATO States Provides Stark Warning To Scotland
http://rickrozoff.
Scotland: NATO and Nuclear Hypocrisy
http://rickrozoff.
U.S. Extends NATO Interceptor Missile System Into Persian Gulf
http://rickrozoff.
Interview: Call for global outcry against U.S. drone killings
http://rickrozoff.
U.S. Policy in the Balkans: Imperial Ambition or Side Issue?
http://rickrozoff.
U.S. Dilemma In Encircling And Targeting China
http://rickrozoff.
Pentagon Accelerates Carrier Group Deployment To Persian Gulf
http://rickrozoff.
U.S. Drones Recognize No Miranda Rights
http://rickrozoff.
Strategically Timed Syrian Massacre
http://rickrozoff.
Afghan Endgame: The Dilemma
http://rickrozoff.
NATO Supplies And The Common Man
http://rickrozoff.
Montenegrin Prelate: NATO Should Break Up
http://rickrozoff.
Washington’s Man in Tripoli
http://rickrozoff.
Clinton Engineers Expansion of Asian NATO to Contain China
http://rickrozoff.
U.S. Intervention Not Conducive To Asia-Pacific Stability
http://rickrozoff.
Another Congo War
http://rickrozoff.
Paraguay: Velvet Coup
http://rickrozoff.
NGOs On Steroids: U.S.’s “Victory Without War” In Russia
http://rickrozoff.
August War? U.S. Deploys Fourth Aircraft Carrier To Persian Gulf
http://rickrozoff.
NATO Not Delivering For Gulf Cooperation Council
http://rickrozoff.
The Template: NATO Consolidates Grip On Former Yugoslavia
http://rickrozoff.
============
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:
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============
Stop NATO: Digest for July 13-July 21
*****
Why NATO States’ Syria Resolution Failed Again
http://rickrozoff.
Rebel “Storm” In Damascus: Reality Or A Show?
http://rickrozoff.
U.S. Plans To Act Against Syria Outside UN Troubling: Russian Diplomat
http://rickrozoff.
Russian Envoy On Syria: More Western Geopolitics Than Humanitarianism
http://rickrozoff.
Syria and Bulgaria: U.S. Double Standards on Terrorism
http://rickrozoff.
NATO Praises Libyan Puppet Regime, War
http://rickrozoff.
NATO Supports Suicide Bombers
http://rickrozoff.
Opposing Military Interventon: China, Russia Veto Third Syria Resolution
http://rickrozoff.
Interview: Ukraine Dragged Into NATO
http://rickrozoff.
U.S. Missile Shield May Spark Chinese Nuclear Upgrade
http://rickrozoff.
March on Damascus: Precedents
http://rickrozoff.
Mali: Next Victim Of Western “Peace Crusade”
http://rickrozoff.
Nothing Civil About Washington’s War on Syria
http://rickrozoff.
Experience of NATO States Provides Stark Warning To Scotland
http://rickrozoff.
Scotland: NATO and Nuclear Hypocrisy
http://rickrozoff.
U.S. Extends NATO Interceptor Missile System Into Persian Gulf
http://rickrozoff.
Interview: Call for global outcry against U.S. drone killings
http://rickrozoff.
U.S. Policy in the Balkans: Imperial Ambition or Side Issue?
http://rickrozoff.
U.S. Dilemma In Encircling And Targeting China
http://rickrozoff.
Pentagon Accelerates Carrier Group Deployment To Persian Gulf
http://rickrozoff.
U.S. Drones Recognize No Miranda Rights
http://rickrozoff.
Strategically Timed Syrian Massacre
http://rickrozoff.
Afghan Endgame: The Dilemma
http://rickrozoff.
NATO Supplies And The Common Man
http://rickrozoff.
Montenegrin Prelate: NATO Should Break Up
http://rickrozoff.
Washington’s Man in Tripoli
http://rickrozoff.
Clinton Engineers Expansion of Asian NATO to Contain China
http://rickrozoff.
U.S. Intervention Not Conducive To Asia-Pacific Stability
http://rickrozoff.
Another Congo War
http://rickrozoff.
Paraguay: Velvet Coup
http://rickrozoff.
NGOs On Steroids: U.S.’s “Victory Without War” In Russia
http://rickrozoff.
August War? U.S. Deploys Fourth Aircraft Carrier To Persian Gulf
http://rickrozoff.
NATO Not Delivering For Gulf Cooperation Council
http://rickrozoff.
The Template: NATO Consolidates Grip On Former Yugoslavia
http://rickrozoff.
============
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 Jul 21, 2012 6:39 am (PDT) . Posted by:
"Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff
http://news.
Xinhua News Agency
July 20, 2012
Why Western-backed Syria draft resolution fails again
By Wei Wei
====
During intensive negotiations in the past several days, the Security Council's consultation room has turned into a fierce diplomatic battle zone and the core disagreement is whether to invoke Chapter VII of the Charter.
A diplomatic source told Xinhua that on the issue of Chapter VII, the Western powers showed no sincerity and acted in a rigid and arrogant way, ignoring other countries' concerns, thus undermining the common basis for further negotiations.
[W]ithout putting much thought on extending the UNSMIS mandate, the Western-proposed draft resolution raised the issue as an excuse to interfere in Syria's internal affairs via mandatory actions and thus clear the way for military intervention.
====
UNITED NATIONS: Russia and China, two permanent members of the UN Security Council, wielded their veto power Thursday over a Western-proposed draft resolution which threatens sanction measures against the Syrian government if it fails to withdraw troops and heavy weapons from populated areas within 10 days. This is the third time since October 2011 that Russia and China used a veto to block a Security Council draft resolution on the Middle East nation.
Analysts said that the failed draft resolution indicated a foiled attempt of the Western countries trying to use sanctions to interfere in Syria's internal affairs. It also showed deep division within the Security Council, which may prolong the process of settling the Syria crisis.
CHAPTER VII AS "RED LINE"
The Security Council approved in April the establishing of a UN Supervision Mission in Syria (UNSMIS) of 300 unarmed military observers to oversee a ceasefire in Syria and monitor the implementation of UN-Arab League Joint Special Envoy Kofi Annan's six-point plan. As the mandate of the mission expires on July 20, the Council must decide whether to extend it or not by then.
On July 11, more than a week before the due expiration date, France, Germany, Portugal, Britain and the United States co-sponsored a draft resolution which grants extension of UNSMIS for a period of 45 days and threatens non-military sanctions by invoking Chapter VII of the UN Charter should the Syrian government fail to pull out troops and heavy weapons from populated areas within 10 days.
During intensive negotiations in the past several days, the Security Council's consultation room has turned into a fierce diplomatic battle zone and the core disagreement is whether to invoke Chapter VII of the Charter.
Chapter VII gives the Council the right to employ measures ranging from economic and diplomatic sanctions to military intervention to give effect to its decision.
Russia has repeatedly warned that it would not agree to a resolution containing any threat of sanctions against Syria. After Security Council consultations late Tuesday, Russian deputy permanent representative to the UN Alexander Pankin said no mention of sanctions in the draft remains "red lines".
In an effort to break the deadlock, Russia put forward its alternative draft resolution which proposed extending the mandate of UNSMIS for another three months, reducing the number of military observers and asking the operation to take on a more political mission without any threat of sanctions.
However, Western countries insisted on invoking Chapter VII and refused to make any revision to the draft regarding the issue.
A diplomatic source told Xinhua that on the issue of Chapter VII, the Western powers showed no sincerity and acted in a rigid and arrogant way, ignoring other countries' concerns, thus undermining the common basis for further negotiations.
WHY VETO IS JUSTIFIED
Russia and China had long made it clear that they support extension of UNSMIS and the mediation efforts of Kofi Annan. Yet the Western countries pegged the issue to unilateral sanctions against the Syrian government, and pressed for a vote when there was still time for consultation.
Li Baodong, China's UN envoy, said in his explanatory statements that "under circumstances when parties were still seriously divided and there was still enough time for continued consultation, the sponsoring countries refused to heed the call of China, some other Security Council members and Special Envoy Annan for further consultation until a text acceptable to all parties was formed and pressed for a vote on the draft resolution".
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Monday ahead of Anna's second visit to Moscow that the Western-proposed draft resolution contains "elements of blackmail."
In fact, without putting much thought on extending the UNSMIS mandate, the Western-proposed draft resolution raised the issue as an excuse to interfere in Syria's internal affairs via mandatory actions and thus clear the way for military intervention.
The Western countries also calculated that if Russia and China vetoed the draft resolution, they could shift the blame for failing to renew the mandate of UNSMIS to the two countries.
Had such a biased, flawed draft resolution passed the council, it could have increased the possibility of a civil war in Syria and destabilized other countries in the region, analysts said.
While Russia does have strategic interests in Syria which serves its Middle East policy, China has no self-interest in Syria.
"We have all along maintained that the prospect and destiny of Syria should be independently determined by the Syrian people, rather than imposed by outside forces. We believe the Syrian issue must be resolved through political means, and military means would go nowhere," Li said. "This is China's consistent position on international affairs. It is not targeted at a particular incident or at a certain time. Our purpose is to safeguard the interests of the Syrian people and Arab countries, the interests of all countries, the small and medium-sized countries in particular, the role and authority of the United Nations and its Security Council, as well as the basic norms governing international relations."
CONTINUED DIPLOMATIC BATTLE
It is notable that failure of this draft resolution does not mean the death of UNSMIS nor the end of Annan's mediation efforts and a political solution to the Syrian crisis, analysts said.
First, the mandate of UNSMIS expires at 12:00 p.m., July 20 which gives the Council more than one day to agree on a rollover resolution.
Russian UN envoy Vitaly Churkin suggested the Council on Thursday adopt a "brief, depoliticized" resolution on a technical extension of UNSMIS' mandate for a specific period of time with a view to "preserving the useful potential" of the mission.
Diplomatic sources close to the council told Xinhua that Pakistan and South Africa, two non-permanent members of the Council, have introduced a draft resolution demanding extension of UNSMIS for 45 days.
Secondly, the mandate of Annan was authorized by the UN General Assembly not the Security Council. The unadopted draft resolution on Syria would not affect Annan's ability to continue conducting his mediation efforts as special envoy. In fact, it is the vetoed resolution with unbalanced content that fundamentally violated the consensus reached at the foreign ministers' meeting of the Action Group in Geneva and disrupted the new round of mediation efforts made by Annan.
Analysts observed that the diplomatic battle around Syria will continue as long as the Western countries, out of their own interests, try to push for a regime change in Syria, which is doomed to meet objections by most countries in the world upholding basic norms governing international relations.
============
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:
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============
Xinhua News Agency
July 20, 2012
Why Western-backed Syria draft resolution fails again
By Wei Wei
====
During intensive negotiations in the past several days, the Security Council's consultation room has turned into a fierce diplomatic battle zone and the core disagreement is whether to invoke Chapter VII of the Charter.
A diplomatic source told Xinhua that on the issue of Chapter VII, the Western powers showed no sincerity and acted in a rigid and arrogant way, ignoring other countries' concerns, thus undermining the common basis for further negotiations.
[W]ithout putting much thought on extending the UNSMIS mandate, the Western-proposed draft resolution raised the issue as an excuse to interfere in Syria's internal affairs via mandatory actions and thus clear the way for military intervention.
====
UNITED NATIONS: Russia and China, two permanent members of the UN Security Council, wielded their veto power Thursday over a Western-proposed draft resolution which threatens sanction measures against the Syrian government if it fails to withdraw troops and heavy weapons from populated areas within 10 days. This is the third time since October 2011 that Russia and China used a veto to block a Security Council draft resolution on the Middle East nation.
Analysts said that the failed draft resolution indicated a foiled attempt of the Western countries trying to use sanctions to interfere in Syria's internal affairs. It also showed deep division within the Security Council, which may prolong the process of settling the Syria crisis.
CHAPTER VII AS "RED LINE"
The Security Council approved in April the establishing of a UN Supervision Mission in Syria (UNSMIS) of 300 unarmed military observers to oversee a ceasefire in Syria and monitor the implementation of UN-Arab League Joint Special Envoy Kofi Annan's six-point plan. As the mandate of the mission expires on July 20, the Council must decide whether to extend it or not by then.
On July 11, more than a week before the due expiration date, France, Germany, Portugal, Britain and the United States co-sponsored a draft resolution which grants extension of UNSMIS for a period of 45 days and threatens non-military sanctions by invoking Chapter VII of the UN Charter should the Syrian government fail to pull out troops and heavy weapons from populated areas within 10 days.
During intensive negotiations in the past several days, the Security Council's consultation room has turned into a fierce diplomatic battle zone and the core disagreement is whether to invoke Chapter VII of the Charter.
Chapter VII gives the Council the right to employ measures ranging from economic and diplomatic sanctions to military intervention to give effect to its decision.
Russia has repeatedly warned that it would not agree to a resolution containing any threat of sanctions against Syria. After Security Council consultations late Tuesday, Russian deputy permanent representative to the UN Alexander Pankin said no mention of sanctions in the draft remains "red lines".
In an effort to break the deadlock, Russia put forward its alternative draft resolution which proposed extending the mandate of UNSMIS for another three months, reducing the number of military observers and asking the operation to take on a more political mission without any threat of sanctions.
However, Western countries insisted on invoking Chapter VII and refused to make any revision to the draft regarding the issue.
A diplomatic source told Xinhua that on the issue of Chapter VII, the Western powers showed no sincerity and acted in a rigid and arrogant way, ignoring other countries' concerns, thus undermining the common basis for further negotiations.
WHY VETO IS JUSTIFIED
Russia and China had long made it clear that they support extension of UNSMIS and the mediation efforts of Kofi Annan. Yet the Western countries pegged the issue to unilateral sanctions against the Syrian government, and pressed for a vote when there was still time for consultation.
Li Baodong, China's UN envoy, said in his explanatory statements that "under circumstances when parties were still seriously divided and there was still enough time for continued consultation, the sponsoring countries refused to heed the call of China, some other Security Council members and Special Envoy Annan for further consultation until a text acceptable to all parties was formed and pressed for a vote on the draft resolution".
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Monday ahead of Anna's second visit to Moscow that the Western-proposed draft resolution contains "elements of blackmail."
In fact, without putting much thought on extending the UNSMIS mandate, the Western-proposed draft resolution raised the issue as an excuse to interfere in Syria's internal affairs via mandatory actions and thus clear the way for military intervention.
The Western countries also calculated that if Russia and China vetoed the draft resolution, they could shift the blame for failing to renew the mandate of UNSMIS to the two countries.
Had such a biased, flawed draft resolution passed the council, it could have increased the possibility of a civil war in Syria and destabilized other countries in the region, analysts said.
While Russia does have strategic interests in Syria which serves its Middle East policy, China has no self-interest in Syria.
"We have all along maintained that the prospect and destiny of Syria should be independently determined by the Syrian people, rather than imposed by outside forces. We believe the Syrian issue must be resolved through political means, and military means would go nowhere," Li said. "This is China's consistent position on international affairs. It is not targeted at a particular incident or at a certain time. Our purpose is to safeguard the interests of the Syrian people and Arab countries, the interests of all countries, the small and medium-sized countries in particular, the role and authority of the United Nations and its Security Council, as well as the basic norms governing international relations."
CONTINUED DIPLOMATIC BATTLE
It is notable that failure of this draft resolution does not mean the death of UNSMIS nor the end of Annan's mediation efforts and a political solution to the Syrian crisis, analysts said.
First, the mandate of UNSMIS expires at 12:00 p.m., July 20 which gives the Council more than one day to agree on a rollover resolution.
Russian UN envoy Vitaly Churkin suggested the Council on Thursday adopt a "brief, depoliticized" resolution on a technical extension of UNSMIS' mandate for a specific period of time with a view to "preserving the useful potential" of the mission.
Diplomatic sources close to the council told Xinhua that Pakistan and South Africa, two non-permanent members of the Council, have introduced a draft resolution demanding extension of UNSMIS for 45 days.
Secondly, the mandate of Annan was authorized by the UN General Assembly not the Security Council. The unadopted draft resolution on Syria would not affect Annan's ability to continue conducting his mediation efforts as special envoy. In fact, it is the vetoed resolution with unbalanced content that fundamentally violated the consensus reached at the foreign ministers' meeting of the Action Group in Geneva and disrupted the new round of mediation efforts made by Annan.
Analysts observed that the diplomatic battle around Syria will continue as long as the Western countries, out of their own interests, try to push for a regime change in Syria, which is doomed to meet objections by most countries in the world upholding basic norms governing international relations.
============
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 Jul 21, 2012 6:39 am (PDT) . Posted by:
"Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff
http://english.
Voice of Russia
July 21, 2012
“Storm of Damascus” – a reality or a show?
Andrei Ontikov
====
It is well-known that the generous financing of the rebels also comes from some of the Arab monarchies of the Persian Gulf. Besides, according to some experts, the Syrian revolution is paid for with the money from Muammar Gaddafi’s accounts. At issue is the sum of 150-200 billion dollars, which were frozen at the beginning of the Libyan crisis, and then disappeared without a trace.
====
Russia and China have vetoed the West’s draft of the UN Security Council’s resolution on Syria providing for tough sanctions against the authorities in Damascus in case they do not fulfill a number of demands. Russia's permanent representative in the UN Vitaly Churkin has cleared up the Moscow's position: "It was a singularly one-sided draft. Threats of pressure and sanctions were exclusively addressed to the Syrian government. This does not reflect the actual situation in the country."
And the reality is that it is not the Syrian government that should be deterred, but the implacable opposition. Its detachments have openly announced the beginning of the "volcano in Damascus - earthquake in Syria" plan implementation. In accordance with this plan, the rebels, in their own words, have flung about 30 thousand fighters on the capital of the country.
However, many observers, both in the region and abroad, consider this number to be tens of times overstated, and at issue is some kind of propaganda operation.
Russian orientalist Leonid Isaev comments:
"Until now the Syrian rebels could not establish long-time control over a single city. If they manage to fulfill their plans, and Damascus surrenders, then, of course, the situation will change overnight. However, in point of fact, the current offensive is a gesture of despair. The Syrian army is still strong, and rebel forces are not being replenished. Except money and weapons, there is no other help from the West so far. At least, as long as the Russian position remains tough.
"Nevertheless, as for the money, the Syrian opposition is receiving plenty of it. Meanwhile, the last meeting of the opposition in Cairo, just like the previous one, has ended with a quarrel between the oppositionists who have failed to reach an agreement. The sponsors of the opposition are already beginning to doubt whether this project is worth their generous financial assistance. And rebels in Syria are beginning to run out of forces. Therefore, the so-called 'storm of Damascus' is a show, designed for restoring the financing of the irreconcilable opposition."
It is not surprising that the budget of the Syrian Spring project has long exceeded the preliminary calculations of the sponsors. The original scenario of the Syrian crisis development had apparently presupposed a quick outcome.
According to certain information, the radical oppositionists have been thoroughly trained for several years. Many people in the leadership of the Syrian National Council (SNA) are linked with Western intelligence services. For example, Basma Kodmani, a member of the SNA Executive Bureau, has worked for U.S. research organizations associated with the CIA. Another SNA leader, Rudvan Ziyade, took part in the meeting of the Syrian opposition in Washington back in 2008. The opposition is being financed by organizations from the United States and the United Kingdom, and it goes without saying that these are public organizations.
It is well-known that the generous financing of the rebels also comes from some of the Arab monarchies of the Persian Gulf. Besides, according to some experts, the Syrian revolution is paid for with the money from Muammar Gaddafi’s accounts. At issue is the sum of 150-200 billion dollars, which were frozen at the beginning of the Libyan crisis, and then disappeared without a trace.
In any case, the “Syrian project” absorbs a lot of money, but there is no result yet. The regime in Damascus still parries blows and keeps its firm position. As a result, the implacable opposition begins to organize performances in order to support its reputation in the eyes of the sponsors,. This also applies to the so-called "storm of Damascus," believes Syrian military analyst Mohammed Isa:
"Now there are small armed groups in Damascus that are obviously under the control of Saudi Arabia. They are making sallies and shooting. But as soon as security forces appear, the rebels immediately get lost, and after some time those who have survived make a sally in another quarter. They are making a lot of noise, but without any practical result. But at the same time, a detached observer may decide that a full-scale war is under way in Damascus."
Today it is difficult to assess the real scale of the Syrian rebels’ operations – the informational "smoke screen" over the places of the incidents is even denser than smoke from real fires. And yet there is an impression that the script is coming to an end. And the question of the winner will be decided in the near future.
============
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@
============
Voice of Russia
July 21, 2012
“Storm of Damascus” – a reality or a show?
Andrei Ontikov
====
It is well-known that the generous financing of the rebels also comes from some of the Arab monarchies of the Persian Gulf. Besides, according to some experts, the Syrian revolution is paid for with the money from Muammar Gaddafi’s accounts. At issue is the sum of 150-200 billion dollars, which were frozen at the beginning of the Libyan crisis, and then disappeared without a trace.
====
Russia and China have vetoed the West’s draft of the UN Security Council’s resolution on Syria providing for tough sanctions against the authorities in Damascus in case they do not fulfill a number of demands. Russia's permanent representative in the UN Vitaly Churkin has cleared up the Moscow's position: "It was a singularly one-sided draft. Threats of pressure and sanctions were exclusively addressed to the Syrian government. This does not reflect the actual situation in the country."
And the reality is that it is not the Syrian government that should be deterred, but the implacable opposition. Its detachments have openly announced the beginning of the "volcano in Damascus - earthquake in Syria" plan implementation. In accordance with this plan, the rebels, in their own words, have flung about 30 thousand fighters on the capital of the country.
However, many observers, both in the region and abroad, consider this number to be tens of times overstated, and at issue is some kind of propaganda operation.
Russian orientalist Leonid Isaev comments:
"Until now the Syrian rebels could not establish long-time control over a single city. If they manage to fulfill their plans, and Damascus surrenders, then, of course, the situation will change overnight. However, in point of fact, the current offensive is a gesture of despair. The Syrian army is still strong, and rebel forces are not being replenished. Except money and weapons, there is no other help from the West so far. At least, as long as the Russian position remains tough.
"Nevertheless, as for the money, the Syrian opposition is receiving plenty of it. Meanwhile, the last meeting of the opposition in Cairo, just like the previous one, has ended with a quarrel between the oppositionists who have failed to reach an agreement. The sponsors of the opposition are already beginning to doubt whether this project is worth their generous financial assistance. And rebels in Syria are beginning to run out of forces. Therefore, the so-called 'storm of Damascus' is a show, designed for restoring the financing of the irreconcilable opposition."
It is not surprising that the budget of the Syrian Spring project has long exceeded the preliminary calculations of the sponsors. The original scenario of the Syrian crisis development had apparently presupposed a quick outcome.
According to certain information, the radical oppositionists have been thoroughly trained for several years. Many people in the leadership of the Syrian National Council (SNA) are linked with Western intelligence services. For example, Basma Kodmani, a member of the SNA Executive Bureau, has worked for U.S. research organizations associated with the CIA. Another SNA leader, Rudvan Ziyade, took part in the meeting of the Syrian opposition in Washington back in 2008. The opposition is being financed by organizations from the United States and the United Kingdom, and it goes without saying that these are public organizations.
It is well-known that the generous financing of the rebels also comes from some of the Arab monarchies of the Persian Gulf. Besides, according to some experts, the Syrian revolution is paid for with the money from Muammar Gaddafi’s accounts. At issue is the sum of 150-200 billion dollars, which were frozen at the beginning of the Libyan crisis, and then disappeared without a trace.
In any case, the “Syrian project” absorbs a lot of money, but there is no result yet. The regime in Damascus still parries blows and keeps its firm position. As a result, the implacable opposition begins to organize performances in order to support its reputation in the eyes of the sponsors,. This also applies to the so-called "storm of Damascus," believes Syrian military analyst Mohammed Isa:
"Now there are small armed groups in Damascus that are obviously under the control of Saudi Arabia. They are making sallies and shooting. But as soon as security forces appear, the rebels immediately get lost, and after some time those who have survived make a sally in another quarter. They are making a lot of noise, but without any practical result. But at the same time, a detached observer may decide that a full-scale war is under way in Damascus."
Today it is difficult to assess the real scale of the Syrian rebels’ operations – the informational "smoke screen" over the places of the incidents is even denser than smoke from real fires. And yet there is an impression that the script is coming to an end. And the question of the winner will be decided in the near future.
============
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 Jul 21, 2012 6:39 am (PDT) . Posted by:
"Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff
http://www.eur.
U.S. Army Europe
July 19, 2012
USAREUR Commander travels to Armenia
By Kelly Schloesser, U.S. Army Europe
In a visit to the Caucasus region, US Army Europe Commander, Lt. Gen. Mark P. Hertling met with military and diplomatic leaders of Armenia to further strengthen security cooperation and partnership initiatives in the region. Hertling first met with U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Heffern and country team to discuss political, economic, and defense issues currently facing the state.
Following the engagement, the USAREUR Commander participated in a training demonstration at the Armenian Military Academy by the academy's cadets and Peacekeeping Brigade Soldiers. The training prepares Armenian forces for their particpation in NATO Peacekeaping Operations such as the Kosovo Force (KFOR). Hertling then traveled to the Ministry of Defense, where he discussed current challenges and defense issues in the region with the Minister of Defense, Seryan Ohanyan.
Additionally, the commander met with the Chief of Defense, Col. Gen. Yuri Khachaturov and Deputy Minister of Defense David Tonoyan, where they discussed further developing the Armenian military through further partnership events, training exchanges, and exercises with the U.S. Army in Europe..
Hertling highlighted the importance of Armenia's support to NATO Peacekeeping Operations and contribution to International Security Forces in Afghanistan. He also noted the significant step for Armenia's military in training at the Joint Multinational Readiness Ceneter in Hohenfels starting later this year.
============
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@
============
U.S. Army Europe
July 19, 2012
USAREUR Commander travels to Armenia
By Kelly Schloesser, U.S. Army Europe
In a visit to the Caucasus region, US Army Europe Commander, Lt. Gen. Mark P. Hertling met with military and diplomatic leaders of Armenia to further strengthen security cooperation and partnership initiatives in the region. Hertling first met with U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Heffern and country team to discuss political, economic, and defense issues currently facing the state.
Following the engagement, the USAREUR Commander participated in a training demonstration at the Armenian Military Academy by the academy's cadets and Peacekeeping Brigade Soldiers. The training prepares Armenian forces for their particpation in NATO Peacekeaping Operations such as the Kosovo Force (KFOR). Hertling then traveled to the Ministry of Defense, where he discussed current challenges and defense issues in the region with the Minister of Defense, Seryan Ohanyan.
Additionally, the commander met with the Chief of Defense, Col. Gen. Yuri Khachaturov and Deputy Minister of Defense David Tonoyan, where they discussed further developing the Armenian military through further partnership events, training exchanges, and exercises with the U.S. Army in Europe..
Hertling highlighted the importance of Armenia's support to NATO Peacekeeping Operations and contribution to International Security Forces in Afghanistan. He also noted the significant step for Armenia's military in training at the Joint Multinational Readiness Ceneter in Hohenfels starting later this year.
============
Stop NATO e-mail list home page with archives and search engine:
http://groups.
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Sat Jul 21, 2012 6:52 am (PDT) . Posted by:
"Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff
http://www.rt.
RT
July 21, 2012
Bahraini police fire tear gas on thousands of protesters (PHOTOS, VIDEO)
Video and photographs at URL above
Violent clashes erupted in Bahrain as thousands protested the government’s move to limit political marches. Police used tear gas and, reportedly, rubber bullets to disperse the crowd, which responded with firebombs.
Police were using tear gas against the crowds rallying in the Bahraini capital Manama and several other places, as the protests continued into the night.
Demonstrations were aslo held in the villages of Diraz, Bilad al-Qadeem, and Musalla, where protesters called for the ouster of the royal al-Khalifa family. At least one protester was reportedly injured by riot police in Musalla.
The ruling elite want to ban anti-government marches to prevent the disruption to traffic and curb street violence, as at least 50 people have been killed in the country since February 2011.
The opposition described the move as a new attempt by the monarchy to silence it.
The kingdom has been engulfed by more than 17 months of clashes between the Sunni monarchy and kingdom's Shiite majority protesters, who claim systematic discrimination.
The insurrection was originally crushed during a period of martial law, but unrest has continued with repeated clashes between riot police and youths who say the monarchy marginalizes them.
Sayed Hadi al-Mosawi, a member of the opposition who participated in the protests, told RT that Bahraini security forces are deliberately targeting protesters for killing.
“Anyone who is trying to participate in a protest in Bahrain could be in danger, because the riot police forces, they don’t care about people’s lives and they don’t even care of how they treat [the protesters],” he said. “They don’t just prevent you or warn you, they shoot at your body.”
Al-Mosawi says that the government is trying to completely strip people of their freedom of expression.
“They know very well that our protests and our marchers and gatherings are totally peaceful,” he said. “They know that thousands of people come to our protests and they come peacefully, participate peacefully and leave peacefully.”
RT
July 21, 2012
Bahraini police fire tear gas on thousands of protesters (PHOTOS, VIDEO)
Video and photographs at URL above
Violent clashes erupted in Bahrain as thousands protested the government’s move to limit political marches. Police used tear gas and, reportedly, rubber bullets to disperse the crowd, which responded with firebombs.
Police were using tear gas against the crowds rallying in the Bahraini capital Manama and several other places, as the protests continued into the night.
Demonstrations were aslo held in the villages of Diraz, Bilad al-Qadeem, and Musalla, where protesters called for the ouster of the royal al-Khalifa family. At least one protester was reportedly injured by riot police in Musalla.
The ruling elite want to ban anti-government marches to prevent the disruption to traffic and curb street violence, as at least 50 people have been killed in the country since February 2011.
The opposition described the move as a new attempt by the monarchy to silence it.
The kingdom has been engulfed by more than 17 months of clashes between the Sunni monarchy and kingdom's Shiite majority protesters, who claim systematic discrimination.
The insurrection was originally crushed during a period of martial law, but unrest has continued with repeated clashes between riot police and youths who say the monarchy marginalizes them.
Sayed Hadi al-Mosawi, a member of the opposition who participated in the protests, told RT that Bahraini security forces are deliberately targeting protesters for killing.
“Anyone who is trying to participate in a protest in Bahrain could be in danger, because the riot police forces, they don’t care about people’s lives and they don’t even care of how they treat [the protesters],” he said. “They don’t just prevent you or warn you, they shoot at your body.”
Al-Mosawi says that the government is trying to completely strip people of their freedom of expression.
“They know very well that our protests and our marchers and gatherings are totally peaceful,” he said. “They know that thousands of people come to our protests and they come peacefully, participate peacefully and leave peacefully.”