Syrian military knew the US raid was coming and evacuated personnel and equipment: ABC News

[book_worm]

Sec. of State Rex Tillerson revealed late Thursday that the U.S. warned Russia that they would be bombing the airfield in Homs, Syria since there was Russian military in the vicinity.

ABC News reported early Friday that the Syrian military seemed to know that something might happen. Eyewitnesses claim the military then evacuated personnel and moved equipment before the strike took place.

https://www.rawstory.com/2017/04/syrian-military-knew-the-us-raid-was-coming-and-evacuated-personnel-and-equipment-abc-news/

[Tanuki]

1. The Syrian and Russian governments knew about it before

the U.S. Congress did.

[dalton99a]

2. +1

[uponit7771]

10. +1

[KewlKat]

14. Schiff said he was told as the missles were being launched. No advance notice.

Other said that they surely notified Ru$$ia to avoid any of their people from being harmed. Of course Ru$$ia would let Syria know. I want to know just HOW MUCH WARNING did they give Ru$$ia? That might be telling?

[Moostache]

23. Cue the Trump quotes regarding warning of attacks from campaign...(n/t)

[Democrats_win]

94. Trump would be talking about this epic fail for years.

...if it had been a Democratic president. "Weak" "I'd bomb the hell out of them."

WTF, Trump? You really do have a small organ!

[Blue_true]

58. An evacuation likely takes a while. nt

[Alice11111]

67. Several sources said we talked w the Russians throughout the day.

So, of course the Syrians were alerted too.

[workinclasszero]

24. Kabuki theater

Failing puppet administration of Russia decides to blow off 60 million dollars worth of missiles on an empty airfield in Syria.

Look news media...shiny!

[AntiFascist]

77. The real story is about a natural gas pipeline through Syria...

Russians stand to make billions providing natural gas to Europe. Neocons are probably chomping at the bit to start a war that involves Iran. Trump was trying to setup a "backchannel" with Putin, after a meeting where Erik Prince, of Blackwater, was trying to broker a deal where Russia would sever its ties with Iran. Hmmmm....

[debsy]

83. That is the story and nobody is paying attention...

Surprise, Surprise - Ukraine has a bunch of gas too! Check out the map at:

https://miningawareness.wordpress.com/2014/05/02/putin-rosnefts-sour-grapes-in-ukraine-new-oil-gas-wars-and-scuttling-the-ukraines-energy-independence/

Sure, it is old but... look! there are big reserves on the border of Turkey and Syria! Can anyone say "Erdoğan"?? Oh wait, wasn't Mike Flynn getting paid by the Turks? Oh, wait, didn't Trump build something in Azerbaijan? Wait, what? Ivanka told Daddy Donald to bomb Syria because she was sad for all the people she saw on TV? Wait, Rex Tillerson says our relations with Russia might be at an all-time low but he went to Moscow?? Give me a fucking break! It is a shell (or EXXON) game but people are dying (as they have in all our wars) while the people playing it are laughing all the way to the bank (in Cyprus - can anyone say Wilbur Ross - Secretary of Commerce since 2/28/2017??). good grief.

[AntiFascist]

86. I can see why Qatar has competition...

“The Yuzivska gas field is a Ukrainian natural gas field that was discovered in 2010. It will begin production in 2017 and will produce natural gas and condensates. The total proven reserves of the Yuzivska gas field are around 70.8 trillion cubic feet (2000×109m³) and production is slated to be around 960 million cubic feet/day (27.4×106m³). The total exploration investment is expected to range between 250-300 million US$. [1][2]

[JonLP24]

84. Qatar has been trying to establish a pipeline from Turkey to Qatar

Iraq was taken care of but Assad nationalizes oil production. Qatar lobbied France to take him out -- this was in the Saudi cables. They're all fighting for the same piece.

[AntiFascist]

85. Qatar also funds al-Qaeda and rebel groups in Syria:

In a detailed paper on Qatar’s relations with terror, Denis MacEoin, a Distinguished Senior Fellow at the Gatestone Institute reveals that four branches of the Qatari government are in charge of relations with armed groups in Syria and Libya. These are the Foreign and Defense Ministries, the Intelligence Agency, and the office of the Emir. Large amounts of money are passed to intermediaries in Turkey, and this money is used for the purchase of weapons from other countries. The weapons are then transferred to rebel groups in Syria. “Qatar has also financed terrorists in northern Mali operations, including Ansar Dine, alleged to be linked to al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb [North Africa], says MacEoin.

http://www.thefiscaltimes.com/2015/12/29/How-Qatar-Funding-al-Qaeda-and-Why-Could-Help-US

[JonLP24]

87. Yep.

No disagreement from me there.

[Idoru]

44. I assumed this from the start

Many here disagreed last night and were a bit hysterical, believing he would go to war with Russia. Which is, as they say, to laugh.

[triron]

82. Very likely

[DK504]

88. That's illegal.

Telling enemies top secret info before the Congress. F-ing traitors - all of them.

[olegramps]

93. The situation is hopeless. People sat on the ass and didn't vote. This is what we get.

It is not going to affect me since my days are numbered. I wish I could be around for the fireworks that I think will eventually be the result. We have a White Supremacist fascist in the White House and a beady eyed weasel for vice president who is only waiting around for the right opportunity to throw Herr Trump under the bus. Could get real interesting before it is over. When I watched the inaugural procession it reminded me of Hunchback of Notre Dame. It was the Parade of Fools with a new leading character as Quasimodo. I was anxiously waiting for him to stop the procession, climb the belfry and ring the bells.

[DFW]

3. This makes sense to the point of being obvious

Putin would have been furious with his buddy Tillerson if Russians had been killed by missiles America had fired, knowing that Russians could be among the casualties. When the Russians started evacuating the area in a hurry, the Syrians present would have asked themselves if there was a reason for this. Even if the Russians didn't tell them, the Syrians probably concluded that it was not because of a party with free food, booze and sex being held fifty miles down the road somewhere.

[Docreed2003]

27. Exactly...

BTW...we have a German exchange student living with us who is terrified by all of this. My wife did a great job of calming her fears this morning, but she's terrified that this will impact her going home next week. She's said multiple times, although very politely, that our president is a bad man!

[DFW]

48. She's not wrong

My wife is apprehensive, though after 8 years of Cheneybush, not exactly terrifies yet. Our daughter as well as my siblings still live in the States, and we can't very well tell them all to uproot their lives and flee. At least our daughter has dual citizenship, and can come home to live in Germany any time she wants.

No German exchange student need fear going to or from the USA. I just flew in from Amsterdam to Chicago on Tuesday, and no one seemed to have been given a hard time getting through--not in the US citizens line, nor the "visitors" line. I haven't been back to Atlanta since Trump was installed in office, though. My wife was detained there two years on a row, now, and for completely bullshit reasons. Last December, it was because the CBP idiot said there was a "fingerprint mismatch," although her hand had the same fingers on it that she had shown them the last 100 times she had entered the States.

[Solly Mack]

57. Agreed.

[IssuesOverParties]

79. Sounds Right

Given the situation, I think you are correct. Assad was given a chance to give up his CWs through negotiation which he obviously did not do. Trump was able to strike and say he retaliated for the chemical attack and also avoid a serious escalation with Russia. There was also likely pressure from his military advisors to strike and honestly. Had he not warned them and Russians died, they would be responding much differently.
It would be interesting to know whether Assad had Putin's permission to use Sarin.

Even though the strike was not effective, I hope Assad will think twice before using Sarin again.

[Swagman]

81. no evidence Syria was responsible

and previously claims he used chemical weapons turned out to be false.

Odd assumptions you make re: Assad asking Putin's permission.

[AngryAmish]

4. Who do you think leaked this?

[FBaggins]

7. The press

It was pretty clear that an attack was imminent

[leftynyc]

8. I was watching Chris Matthews

and he was talking like he knew that something was going to happen last night. Obviously NBC has excellent sources.

[KewlKat]

15. Yes, 5PM MT Matthews was spewing about it, so just how many hours notice did they give?

The Pentagon Subway sign early in the day also laid speculation that something was amiss.

[leftynyc]

33. Our threat level must have risen also

Coming through Grand Central this morning I was met with SWAT teams and national guard in full gear and rifles.

[LanternWaste]

42. Press receive and disseminate leaks, rather than being leaks in and of themselves.

Press receive and disseminate leaks, rather than being leaks in and of themselves.

[Alice11111]

68. It wasn't a leak. There were deliberate ongoing communications

[GitRDun]

5. Non-story

As much as I despise Trump, this was done correctly.

There are 6 more airfields. Another chemical weapons attack gives you the option of hitting them WITH NO NOTICE.....

The attack was a shot across the bow.

Let's not make more of it than that.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

6. I agree... Killing a bunch of Russians would be catastrophic.

We have been able to go through our history without directly or deliberately killing any.

[uponit7771]

11. No, big story ... more collusion with Russia by Benedict Donald ... no one is giving this traitor

... the benefit of the doubt

[mitch96]

20. Agree.. I think this is a way of keeping our eye off the ball

Telling the Russians and Syrians about the attack covers his butt and makes him look like a hero back home.. Anything to keep us away from looking at the tRump collusion with russians in the election and more..
Possible false flag attack to make tRump look good? I'm curious where this is gonna go.. All recent presidents have to have their signature war, eh?
m

[uponit7771]

21. +1

[Cosmocat]

12. correct

45 is a raging POS, but, outside of not getting congressional approval, for five minutes he acted like an adult, asked the chiefs what needed to be done, then said do it.

[uponit7771]

22. No, ... no... not at all, Russia was warned through "deescalation" lines that the missiles were ...

... coming and now on MSNBC vids showing the runway wasn't hit and none of the planes were hit.

Also, Russia was warned !!!

No, this was staged ... period

[lapfog_1]

29. Change the narrative

oh look Trump takes action

$90M spent on empty gesture. No runways hit, Russians and Syrians and Iranians all warned ahead of time.

Trump is stronger than Obama (never mind that he tweeted multiple times that Obama should not involve us in the Syrian civil war.

Trump is NOT in bed with Russia because he just launched a strike against Russia's close allies.

Trump cares about refugees because he took action when those "beautiful little babies" were killed.
(never mind that he refuses to grant even a few thousand of those "beautiful babies" Asylum)

so...

goals met:

Trump is stronger than Obama.
Trump cares about Syrian people.
Trump is not Putin's puppet so quit looking at the election.
Trump is now a "war time" President so quit being all critical of him.
Trump approval rating probably over 40 percent again.
News people are not covering stories like Trump admin asking Twitter to "unmask" a user who is simply critical of Trump (bet some of you missed that)


All goals met. Only cost $90M. I'm guessing that Trump and Putin cooked this all up BEFORE the gas attack (and by extension from Putin... Assad)

These people are EVIL.

[uponit7771]

30. +1

[NoMoreRepugs]

36. agree 100%

[furtheradu]

38. Yes. :( nt

[mitch96]

41. +1!!!

[Idoru]

45. Yup

Pretty much.

[Mr.Bill]

55. A scripted war.

I predict this won't go well, considering the cast.

[Alice11111]

69. I agree. TG for the generals, which coincided w Bannon's demotion.

This was completely and deliberately telegraphed. Of course, it was obvious that if we told the Russians, they would alert Assad. A warning, though stronger than a verbal warning, backed up with force. $$$

I hate DT too. It is still scary, as tomorrow, he could have the Bannon Whisperer back in his ear. I think McMaster drove a tough bargain to reorganize the NSC, and we have experts in charge there. Hope it holds. It is way better now than a few months ago when Bannon and Flynn were in charge.

[haele]

50. It was a $90 Million shot across the bow.

And a wonderful subsidy program for the investors in Raytheon and GD. Though I don't think they're going to be hiring any more people at their munitions and parts plants; maybe they just won't lay off a bunch as they were planning.
Heck, we may have to break federal military acquisition regulations and go to some of these international firms - like maybe a Russian or Chinese manufacturer - for parts to replace the T-Hawks we expended. Wouldn't you just love to know your "smart missiles" had networking components and associated software made in Russia? I know Russia would...they need jobs for their peasantry to keep them complacent just as much as the U.S. does.

Hmmm. I see lots going on here than just a simple slap at a dictator or an attempt at political deflection.

Haele

[moondust]

52. A "shot across the bow"

does not require the expenditure of 59 Tomahawk missiles. A handful would suffice, particularly if you're not trying to do any serious damage.

[Cha]

9. The more than the children got which trump is blaming on

President Obama.. so blotus can go fuck himself

[burnbaby]

13. apparently the Syrians didn't move as fast as the russians

The Syrian army said the strikes led to "big material losses", but Russia said they had "extremely low" military effectiveness with just 23 US rockets hitting their target and only destroying six planes in repair hangers.

[uponit7771]

16. They didn't crater the runway, ... 60 missiles and the runway is operational?! The rest of it is ...

... some crap that can be replaced in hours

[burnbaby]

17. hmmm

I'm googling around and can't seem to find and article to backup what you said.
I didn't think I would read this

Anti-Assad Syrians have been celebrating the strike after the horrific chemical weapons attack.

Some said they had been hugging people in the street and crying after news that the Americans had intervhttp://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4389754/First-images-damage-Assad-s-burnt-airbase.htmlened emerged.

One wrote on Facebook: 'I've worked my tail off for six damn years to see this moment. You have no idea how cathartic it is for me. I've been hugging everyone.

'If you run into me now chances are I'll hug you and cry. This is the first time in almost half a century that the Assad regime has been held accountable for a crime they committed. Only Syrians will fully understand what this means. I'm choking back tears.'

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4389754/First-images-damage-Assad-s-burnt-airbase.html#ixzz4dZoi7Mqc
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

[uponit7771]

18. This was being reported by Brian Williams last night, I don't have a quote of it. Link inside to

Russia being warned and assets being moved

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10028903752

[WoonTars]

60. The Daily Mail?

Isn't that a right wing British fishwrap?

[tazkcmo]

78. I saw it on CNN.

They showed the the airfield in operational status. Also, Tomahawks aren't designed to take our runways. There are specific systems for this:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-runway_penetration_bomb

"One system available from 1977 diverging from the French/Israeli runway piercing bomb development used in 1967 was the Matra Durandal, a single 450 lb bomb with parachute braking, rocket booster, and two warheads. The device worked after being dropped by an aircraft flying at low level braking by parachute, then when at the correct angle firing a rocket to impact the runway, first igniting a large warhead to create a crater and then subsequently using a smaller charge that had penetrated the crater to displace adjacent concrete slabs. The slabs, once displaced, are far harder to deal with than a simple hole that could be patched with asphalt. The Durandal has been widely exported.[2][4]The Durandal was used by the USAF in the initial stages of the 1991 operation Desert Storm against Iraqi airfields, delivered by F-111s.[5]

[EX500rider]

54. Tomahawks not really used for runway cratering..

.....they wouldn't do much damage, you need a penetrating weapon for that.
But they are all bomber delivered.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-runway_penetration_bomb

[Bear Creek]

19. What

The air strike costs about 15 million. Did no damage except to replaceable buildings. Did not crater the runways. What was this for? Trump was rash with this response. Syria needed help way before this.

[lapfog_1]

31. each cruise missile cost around $1.4M

more like $80 to $90 M for the 59 used.

[Bear Creek]

34. Even worse

Probably would have been put to better use if put towards the refugees from Syria.

[Bear Creek]

37. Read that

[link:http://finance.yahoo.com/news/heres-firing-59-tomahawk-missiles-035600272.html;_ylt=AwrBT.EumudYjycA2q7BGOd_;_ylu=X3oDMTByNXM5bzY5BGNvbG8DYmYxBHBvcwMzBHZ0aWQDBHNlYwNzcg--|
The missles were 250,000 a piece. Either way money would have been put to better use on the refugees or building a coalition. Whisey Tango Foxtrot Billy Bob Thortons role General Hollanek: Jesus, you have got to be shitting me. You just shot a Javelin... at a fucking car. That's an eighty thousand dollar piece of ordnance. Can any of you geniuses tell be the Kelly Blue Book value of an 1989 Toyota pickup?

[Thor_MN]

62. I've read the replacement cost being north of $1.5 Million in today's dollars.

I don't think that have ever been as cheap as $250 thousand. $250 K won't buy a kit that they strap on a WWII gravity bomb to make it laser steerable.

[Alice11111]

70. Media were reporting avg costs of $500k each

[Thor_MN]

74. Do you trust "Media"?

They were more than $500 K 18 years ago...

[Alice11111]

75. I don't necessarily trust anyone...MSNBC, CNN,just were reporting

from their sources. Not arguing, as I am not an expert about the modern cost, although I did do a graduate thesis many years ago about that. I was just saying what was being reported. Obviously, your sources are better than their's are.

[mitch96]

46. Wiki says a BGM109 tomahawk used in the raid cost

about 830,000.00 in 2001 dollars each or about $1,151,658.00 in todays dollars. That's about
67,947845.00 dollars for the missiles used in the raid. Chump change to fool the US population into thinking he is a hero..
m

[Tommy_Carcetti]

25. As I suspected.

[workinclasszero]

51. Yup, good show

NK is next on the program. Damn the MIC is celebrating today I bet!

[Billy Jingo]

26. So this was basically a live fire exercise for Russian air defenses

<OPE>

[George II]

28. Didn't trump say earlier in the day that he "doesn't tell the enemy what he's planning"?*

*paraphrasing, I can't bear to re-watch the video of him.

[lapfog_1]

32. One can only conclude that Russia

and by extension, Assad and the Iranians... are not Trump's enemies.

[rgbecker]

35. Lapfog_1 brings logic to the DU! LOL and thanks. n/t

[Iggo]

47. Russia's not his enemy. (n/t)

EDIT: Oops. Redundant.

((Read before post, Iggo. Read before post. )

[Honeycombe8]

39. OMG. Seriously? He told Russia? OMG. nt

[Bear Creek]

40. Treason

[link:http://18 U.S. Code § 2381 - Treason Current through Pub. L. 114-38. (See Public Laws for the current Congress.) US Code Notes prev | next Whoever, owing allegiance to the United States, levies war against them or adheres to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort within the United States or elsewhere, is guilty of treason and shall suffer death, or shall be imprisoned not less than five years and fined under this title but not less than $10,000; and shall be incapable of holding any office under the United States. (June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 807; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(2)(J), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2148.) |

18 U.S. Code § 2381 - Treason

Whoever, owing allegiance to the United States, levies war against them or adheres to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort within the United States or elsewhere, is guilty of treason and shall suffer death, or shall be imprisoned not less than five years and fined under this title but not less than $10,000; and shall be incapable of holding any office under the United States.
(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 807; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(2)(J), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2148.)

[lark]

43. Tillerson may have been effective and successful as an oilman.

But he is a total and complete failure as SOS. Warning the Russians ahead of time, so they could warn Syria, just means we wasted probably millions of dollars in missiles for zero effect. Syria wasn't hurt, the planes are still intact, and Drumpf once again is proven to be a spectacular failure as so called president.

[Alice11111]

73. He is unbelievably pathetic...an embarrassment.

[PeacefulPeavey]

53. Let's wait a bit before jumping to conclusions

I'm reading Reuters reports that the damage was pretty serious, and no planes were able to depart prior, with many destroyed. I'm sure we will be seeing post attack assessment satellite images that should be independently verifiable that will show just how effective (or not) this raid was. If nothing of consequence was destroyed that will tell us a lot. Not sure why so many people are categorically stating Syria moved everthing of value out prior to the missiles hitting - these folks will look pretty silly if we start seeing reporters standing next to smoldering plane wrecks. The
Logistics of moving all those airplanes and equipment in a short amount of would be challenging, but time will tell.

[uponit7771]

56. nope, Syrian planes from airbase that was just attacked carry out airstrikes in HOM ...

http://www.rawstory.com/2017/04/warplanes-from-syrian-base-hit-by-us-just-carried-out-airstrikes-in-homs/

[WoonTars]

59. And the airfield is still fully functional...

...so yeah...a whole bunch of 'winning'....

[Thor_MN]

61. So all that talk about keeping plans secret was total bullshit.

The GOP can pay the replacement cost of everything used up in the attack. I'd like to see an $80 Million check for the Tomahawks, payable to the US Treasury.

[keithbvadu2]

63. Trump decides to strike Syria ... and then;

Trump decides to strike Syria ... and then;

Trump forewarns Putin.

Putin forewarns Syria.

Syria moves weapons, aircraft and equipment away from strike zone.

Thursday... Trump strikes Syrian air base with many Tomahawks to show how tough he is.

http://www.rawstory.com/2017/04/warplanes-from-syrian-base-hit-by-us-just-carried-out-airstrikes-in-homs/

Friday... Syrian warplanes took off from the airbase struck Thursday night by U.S. cruise missiles

Wonder if critical parts of the air base were really targeted?

Boy, that sure showed Assad, eh?

Are they giving out points in this game?

[burrowowl]

64. Russia - Trump

nothing to see here, MSN focused on useless Tomahwk barrage, ok wait Tomahawk makers stocks went up!

[Cha]

65. I will give Trump credit-it was a well executed airstrike

Link to tweet

[jeanmarc]

66. We didn't want Russian casualties, which makes sense

Even if the Russian connections weren't there, we wouldn't want to kill Russians. Russia's presence in Syria makes things more complicated. They made the right call, even if it gave the Syrians fair warning.

I don't understand why so many here don't understand we shouldn't be killing Russians. The Russian connection is a separate issue.

[EX500rider]

71. I agree, starting WWIII over this would be a very bad idea.

[Alice11111]

72. It was intended to be a public, worldwide slap in the face to Assad

It accomplished that. Assad is about as bad as Hitler.

The other benefit to DT was to knock all of the Russian investigations off the front page and show DT standing up to Russia.

Now, DT needs to give refuge to some of those "beautiful babies," and their folks.

[democratisphere]

76. Staged, just like everything else. Expensive target practice.

[Hulk]

80. No surprise there....

Just for show. It's all dRumpf is capable of. He and his misfits running the country are manipulating the weak minds of the populace and the "shiny object infatuated media". I am so ashamed of this country. It's no wonder we are slipping into third world status. Once the corporations have soaked the last few precious drops of blood out of the country, we'll be no better than any other third world country, except at least we have the memory of being more.

[greymattermom]

92. It's a reality tv show

and they are all staged.

[YOHABLO]

89. The American public is being played in a big big way. I'm no idiot.

[jpak]

90. Aid and Comfort

Im-fucking-peach

yup

[onecent]

91. Yeah and Putiin KNEW the bombing was coming in the first place.

We have got to get Trump OUT OUT OUT!!!!!