Situation in Syria

Seems to be getting worse and worse:

http://www.cnn.com/2012/02/07/world/meast/syria-scene/index.html?hpt=hp_t1

And the Gulf Arab states are expelling Syrian ambassadors:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-16932556

 

US, France, UK, Turkey, Italy prepare for military intervention in Syria
Exclusive Report February 23, 2012, 10:29 AM (GMT+02:00) Despite public denials, military preparations for intervention in the horrendous Syrian crisis are quietly afoot in Washington, Paris, Rome, London and Ankara. President Barack Obama is poised for a final decision after the Pentagon submits operational plans for protecting Syrian rebels and beleaguered populations from the brutal assaults of Bashar Assad’s army, Washington sources disclose.
This process is also underway in allied capitals which joined the US in the Libyan operation that ended Muammar Qaddafi’s rule in August, 2011. They are waiting for a White House decision before going forward.

The US president is also waiting for Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s report on the mood at a Tunis conference. He wants to know in particular if Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar and the UAR will support US-led Western intervention in Syria, both politically and financially.
http://www.debka.com/article/21762/

 

Pretty soon, the sun will not set on the American "Empire" either?

 

Exclusive: State Department quietly warning region on Syrian WMDs
Posted By Josh Rogin Friday, February 24, 2012 - 3:03 PM Share

The State Department has begun coordinating with Syria's neighbors to prepare for the handling of President Bashar al-Assad's extensive weapons of mass destruction if and when his regime collapses, The Cable has learned.

This week, the State Department sent a diplomatic demarche to Syria's neighbors Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Saudi Arabia, warning them about the possibility of Syria's WMDs crossing their borders and offering U.S. government help in dealing with the problem, three Obama administration officials confirmed to The Cable. For concerned parties both inside and outside the U.S. government, the demarche signifies that the United States is increasingly developing plans to deal with the dangers of a post-Assad Syria -- while simultaneously highlighting the lack of planning for how to directly bring about Assad's downfall.

Syria is believed to have a substantial chemical weapons program, which includes mustard gas and sophisticated nerve agents, such as sarin gas, as well as biological weapons. Syria has also refused IAEA requests to make available facilities that were part of its nuclear weapons program and may still be in operation. http://thecable.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2012/02/24/exclusive_state_department_quietly_warning_region_on_syrian_wmds

 

Another massacre in Homs:

http://www.cnn.com/2012/02/27/world/meast/syria-unrest/index.html?on.cnn=1

 

Meanwhile the muslim world is more concerned with inadvertent koran burnings in Afghanistan.

 

They approved the referendum with "89.4" percent of the vote.

Well, at least I give the regime credit for not claiming that 100.7 percent approved the vote.

 

All of the Arabic states, and even Syria's former proxy, Hamas, has condemned the Syrian regime.

 

Full article behind pay wall but here is abstract from Jon Lee Anderson story in The New Yorker on Syria:

http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2012/02/27/120227fa_fact_anderson

This guy just amazes me. He always seems to be at the front of every uprising that has occurred in the last 20 years.

Seems pretty clear that the problems in Syria are going to get worse before they get better.

 

Time for a joint communique. That will show Assad.

 

I'm shocked he hasn't issued a formal apology yet.

 

The big problem in Syria is the sectarian divide.

It's ruled by a minority, which has -- to some degree -- protected other minorities.

If the regime falls, there will be lots of retribution.

The Times explore this today: