'Friends Of Syria' Countries Meet To Map Out Arming Rebels
Source: NPR
Update At 10:20 a.m. ET:
Reuters reports that the "Friends of Syria" group of ministers has issued a joint statement in Doha saying they agree to "provide urgently all necessary materiel and equipment to opposition on the ground."
Here's our original post:
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and representatives of ten other countries are meeting in Qatar to coordinate military support to Syrian rebels vying to overthrow President Bashar al-Assad.
The group, dubbed "Friends of Syria", is meeing in the Qatari capital, Doha, and includes European powers and regional Sunni Muslim-dominated countries. It could provide Syrian insurgents with the anti-aircraft and anti-tank weapons they say they need to defeat Assad's military.
Reuters, quoting two Gulf sources reports that Saudi Arabia has stepped up its lead role in arming the rebels.
Read more: http://wprl.org/post/friends-syria-countries-meet-map-out-arming-rebels
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Lugal Zaggesi
(366 posts)between "rebels" using violence to overthrow a Government,
and "terrorists" using violence to overthrow a Government ?
Sand Wind
(1,573 posts)Assad is not a government.
leveymg
(36,418 posts)This is not a revolution, or about changing any particular leader, it's the latest installment in an 800 year old religious war that the Western powers have been coaxed into by petrodollar diplomacy and Israeli special interest groups.
John2
(2,730 posts)quit with the semantics and going along with the propaganda. Assad has been the President of Syria for over a Decade. President Obama and certain Governments are trying to overthrow the Syrian Government because they disagree with it. He is using U.S. tax dollars and the military to bring it about. This is Obama's and the neocons War as far as I'm concern.
If President Obama and his Adminstration have evidence the Syrian Government used chemical weapons to justify arming the so called rebels, I think U.S. citizens ought to demand his Administration lay the evidence out. The hell with the secrecy. I think John Kerry and everybody in this Administration ought to be held accountable for what they do. I think the American people should know just who they are vetting and how they are doing it. I think Americans have the right to know what he is using U.S. military resources to do. He has not made any case what interest this has for the United States, other than serving the interests of other Foreign countries. And I'm going to continue to oppose him and adamant about it just like that lady who leads Code Pink. I don't care if he is a Democrat or Republican! Every day, I'm beginning to take Snowden's side.
leveymg
(36,418 posts)Syria is already many multiples of the Libya operation, and the sheer awfulness of our moral position in Syria almost guarantees that -- even if we somehow escape a mass casualty terrorist attack -- that the country will be damaged in ways large and small that will have at least the same cost as 9/11.
It's awful to see Kerry using up his credibility like this. His brand used to have real value to me.
John2
(2,730 posts)I will speak up for what I don't like, because I have a right to. The Obama Administration and the Congress needs to answer to the American people period. They are doing too many things secretly, using National Interest as a cover. I think they need to be transparent on the chemicals and just who they are training. We need to put oversight on them!
Lugal Zaggesi
(366 posts)a Government ?
Or is it OK for terrorists to start killing civilians there to overthrow the non-government ?
How about the hereditary constitutional monarchy of Kuwait ?
Is that not a government ?
What about Brunei ? Cambodia ? Liechtenstein ? Luxembourg ? Malaysia ? Morocco ?
Netherlands ? Qatar ? Spain ? Sweden ? Thailand ? UAE ?
Terrorists have a very large playing field for overthrowing "non-governments" that don't meet democratic standards.
I wonder how many "rebels" China will back when they are the new Superpower.
John2
(2,730 posts)reports about this so called Ally of the American Government. These reports alleged they have imprisoned nd killed protestors to put down dissent under their rule. Are the reports true, people are not allowed to assemble and protest their rule! Let Sandwind answer this question and see what he says? I'm an American citizen, I ask the question again to him, is he an American citizen? That is to let him know where I'm coming from. We have rights in this country to question our Government, without repercussions.
indio55555
(162 posts)Saudi citizens can't go fight in Syria. If they do they will be arrested when they return.
King can call jihads and such, but has to cover his ass back home.
This stinks so bad, just hope we don't send our troops.
okaawhatever
(9,461 posts)al-Assad agreed to drop it because of the uprising, but he's still a political torturer. He got the job by way of his father, who got the job by way military coup (I think they called it corrective revolution). Once the coup was over the Dad got rid of all the Ba'th party members who created it and then turned it into Alawite rule. The son has taken over as dictator. Excuse me, they had free and fair elections once they lowered the age so al-Assad could run. There was one person on the ballot. He received the overwhelming majority vote. 97-98%. That was after a clean sweep of military and government officials loyal to someone other than al-Assad.
From Wiki:
Initially seen by the domestic and international community as a potential reformer, this expectation ceased when he ordered a mass crackdown and military sieges on protesters during the Arab Spring, which gave way to the events of the Syrian civil war.[3] The domestic Syrian opposition and large parts of the wider international community have subsequently called for al-Assad's resignation from power
To further weaken the old Syrian order in Lebanon, Bashar replaced the long serving de facto Syrian High Commissioner of Lebanon, Ghazi Kanaan, with loyal ally Rustum Ghazali.[23] Under Bashar, Syrian corruption in Lebanon, which was already estimated at $2 billion per year in the 1990s,[24] became more rampant and was publicly exposed with the collapse in 2003 of the Lebanese Al-Madina bank.[25] Al-Madina was used to launder kickback money in the illegal gaming of the UN's Iraqi oil-for-food programme. Sources put the amount transferred and laundered through al-Madina at more than $1 billion, with a 25 percent commission going to Syrian officials and their Lebanese allies.
In his domestic policy, he has been criticised for a disregard for human rights, economic lapses, and corruption.[29][30][31] In his foreign policy, Al-Assad is an outspoken critic of the United States, Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey.
A 2007 law required internet cafes to record all the comments users post on chat forums.[39] Websites such as Wikipedia Arabic, YouTube and Facebook were blocked intermittently between 2008 and February 2011.[40][41][42]
Human Rights groups, such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, have detailed how Bashar's government and secret police routinely tortured, imprisoned, and killed political opponents, and those who speak out against the government. Since 2006 it expanded the use of travel bans against dissidents. In that regard, Syria is the worst offender among Arab states.
So, no. Syria is only a legitimate government if you consider 50 years of emergency rule, followed by an election with one under age candidate on the ballot who had tortured, killed, or silenced all opposition.
Comrade Grumpy
(13,184 posts)There are a whole lot of "not legitimate" governments in this world, including some of the very ones trying to overthrow this one. Maybe when you get done with Assad, you can get to work on the Emir of Qatar and the House of Saud, you know, the MONARCHIES spending billions to get rid of him, no matter how many Syrians get killed.
The latest Pew poll has support for US intervention in Syria at 20%, with 70% opposed.
Lugal Zaggesi
(366 posts)when the people overthrew the illegitimate government of murderous corrupt dictator Mohammad Rezā Shāh Pahlavī (the Last Shah of Iran), kept in power for decades by the feared and despised SAVAK (trained by Major General Herbert Norman Schwarzkopf, father of "Stormin' Norman" Schwarzkopf, Jr., of Persian Gulf War fame - little known fact).
I wonder when the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation will fund and arm the rebels that want to overthrow the illegitimate government of Saudi Arabia - SCO would love to get in on the ground floor with the new Government of that oil rich nation. The next step is to start killing civilians, like the rebels in Syria, since peaceful change is going nowhere in KSA:
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2013/04/30/190034/in-saudi-arabia-advocating-peaceful.html#.UcY99TRwrK0
Saudi Arabia’s Specialized Criminal Court, created five years ago to handle terrorism suspects, would seem a strange venue to try two of the country’s foremost human rights champions. The case against them reads not like a terror plot but a mission statement for a civil liberties group.
But the court ruled last month that their Saudi Civil and Political Rights Association, which called for peaceful change, the rule of law, free elections and a parliament, was “like al Qaida” because it challenged the legitimacy of the absolute monarchy.
It sentenced Mohammed al Qahtani and Abdullah al Hamid to 10 years and 11 years, respectively, in prison, to be followed by long bans on travel outside Saudi Arabia. It also ordered the closing of their group.
John2
(2,730 posts)American!
indio55555
(162 posts)Friends bomb their own country.
Comrade Grumpy
(13,184 posts)
Wolf Frankula
(3,600 posts)Some of al-Qaeda's enemies meet to arm al-Qaeda?
Wolf
dipsydoodle
(42,239 posts)An Aleppo woman has described the moment she saw Syrian rebels murder her 14-year-old son for cracking a joke about the Prophet Mohammed.
Mohammed Katta was shot dead in broad daylight by Islamist fighters in the city which has been at the heart of the insurrection against the regime of President Bashar Assad.
Nadia Umm Faud, Mohammed's mother, was just yards away when her son, a drummer boy in the revolution's early protest marches, was shot three times and left for dead.
Her testimony comes as the U.S. sought to persuade Western and Arab allies to commit to directing all aid to Syrian rebels through the Western-backed Supreme Military Council to try to reduce the power of jihadi groups.
She told the Daily Telegraph how she was at home in Aleppo's Shaar district when the rebel fighters, who she believes were foreigners, drove her badly beaten son back to his home neighbourhood.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2346375/Rebels-murdered-14-year-old-joke-Anguish-Syrian-mother-saw-son-shot-dead.html#ixzz2Wy1MEnhS
Syria: 'I saw rebels execute my boy for no more than a joke’
Nadia Umm Fuad watched her son being shot by Islamist rebels in Syria after the 14-year-old referred to the Prophet Mohammed as he joked with a customer at his coffee stall in Aleppo. She speaks to Richard Spencer.
Mohammed Katta's mother witnessed the execution of her son in three stages.
She was upstairs at home when she first heard the shouting. The people of the neighbourhood were yelling that "they have brought back the kid", so she rushed out of her apartment.
"I went out on my balcony," Nadia Umm Fuad said. "I said to his father, they are going to shoot your son! Come! Come! Come! I was on the stairs when I heard the first shot. I was at the door when I heard the second shot.
"I saw the third shot. I was shouting, 'That's haram, forbidden! Stop! Stop! You are killing a child.' But they just gave me a dirty look and got into their car. As they went, they drove over my son's arm, as he lay there dying."
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/10135823/Syria-I-saw-rebels-execute-my-boy-for-no-more-than-a-joke.html
Scootaloo
(25,699 posts)
LeftInTX
(25,201 posts)
azurnoir
(45,850 posts)and who are the Rebels ™ again?
John2
(2,730 posts)He hasn't proved anything to us! As far as I'm concerned, you are the one raising the stakes. It is probably why McCain and Graham wanted him to be Secretary of State! I see right through this Bull shit!
delrem
(9,688 posts)BelgianMadCow
(5,379 posts)Guardian: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jun/22/us-arms-syria-rebels-assad-hezbollah
Assad's recapture of the strategic border town of Qusair, an effort spearheaded by Lebanese Hezbollah guerrillas, and an expected assault on the divided northern city of Aleppo have alarmed supporters of the Syrian opposition. The US administration has responded by saying, for the first time, it will arm rebels, while Gulf sources say Saudi Arabia has accelerated the delivery of advanced weapons to the rebels over the last week.
Ministers from the 11 core members of the Friends of Syria group agreed "to provide urgently all the necessary materiel and equipment to the opposition on the ground," according to a statement released at the end of their meeting in Qatar. The statement did not commit all the countries to send weapons, but said each country could provide assistance "in its own way, in order to enable [the rebels] to counter brutal attacks by the regime and its allies".
Syrian newspaper carrying Putin's response: http://www.globalresearch.ca/russian-advanced-weapons-for-syria-unrevealed-secrets-of-vladimir-putins-recent-visit-to-london/5339559
He also added that Russia will supply Syria with Skean 5 ground -to-sea missiles that are capable of hitting and sinking any target up to 250 km off the Syrian coast.
RT doesn't have the bit about Putin's reaction, so maybe take it with a grain of salt.
Coalition of the willing to sell weapons and make more war for oil, anyone?
Wag the dog, too.
dipsydoodle
(42,239 posts)Russia will do what Russia will do to defend its interests.
BelgianMadCow
(5,379 posts)and Putin reacts. Sounds pretty logical. What do you mean he need not react? He's the head of state.
Not saying I'm happy with his reaction, or that Russia is some kind of angel. It's a dirty game all around.
dipsydoodle
(42,239 posts)Whatever - they are creating an absurdity.
BelgianMadCow
(5,379 posts)and yes they are. Orwell is in the rearview mirror now.
Comrade Grumpy
(13,184 posts)And 70% of the American public oppose it. Why does that bill have only four sponsors?
Response to Comrade Grumpy (Reply #22)
karynnj This message was self-deleted by its author.
Comrade Grumpy
(13,184 posts)Because there is no public support for this. Well, not quite no support. 20% support US intervention, 70% oppose, according to the latest Pew poll.
Catherina
(35,568 posts)moondust
(19,966 posts)Its joint statement said the members had agreed to "provide urgently all necessary materiel and equipment to the opposition on the ground, each country in its own way in order to enable them to counter brutal attacks by the regime and its allies".
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-23012637
John2
(2,730 posts)leading Germany is from the right of the political spectrum and a ally of Obama and the leaders of Britain and France. She is only promising anything except weapons, because she has opposition in her Country. She is just a token to put on a united face.
The real culprits in the West are the governments of the US, Britain, and France. If you want to break it even further down, there is more opposition from the opposite political Party in Britain with public backing. So Cameron is even more restricted than the others.
Obama has most of Congress behind him with his yes people in the Democratic Party. As long as they pacify the populace with Domestic issues, than they are free to cause mischief on Foreign policy under the cloak of National Security. The only people causing a fuss are the fringes in both Parties. You got people on the Far left siding with people like Rand Paul on this issue. I never imagined myself agreeing with Rand Paul on anything.
The remaining Governments for the friends of Syria are obvious. The title Friends of Syria is a cover for themselves taking over and bringing Syria under their own influence. Syria will lose its identity and become a vassal state, ruled by puppets. Saudi Arabia and Jordan are monarchies bought to power by Britain. Egypt and Turkey are authoritarian states controlled by religious ideology of the most extreme factions of Islam. The minority groups in both countries don't have freedoms. Coptic Christians use to come on this Forum arguing about religious oppression from the Muslim Brotherhood. That has been placed on the back burner with Syria. The same is happening in Turkey with the Kurds.
