Everything you hear about Syria is a lie.

[Navyblue]

The conduct of many posters (The usual suspects) in this thread is disgusting. Children have died and there are obvious manipulations going on, and some of you have the nerve to use ad hominem garbage on the op?

How do you sleep at night?

[taxi]

I had to stop reading there. You can't be serious.....

[taxi]

The conduct of many posters (The usual suspects) in this thread is disgusting. Children have died and there are obvious manipulations going on, and some of you have the nerve to use ad hominem garbage on the op?

How do you sleep at night?

[taxi]

Well, since everyone is saying ask someone from Syria what is really going on - I did, having studied with a couple of Syrians back in uni days. They said there would be absolutely no reason for the government to have massacres and run around killing civilians when the international spotlight is on them and everyone and their grandma is taping everything on their phone and posting it to youtube. As of now, there are so many small groups vying for power, it is hard to tell who is who, where they are, what they really want. What is clear, is that they are setting up the govt to escalate the tense relationship with the West, so that they will intervene and take down the current power. Then one of the smaller groups will come to light.

So there you go, straight from the horse's mouth.

America has learned nothing though, Egypt and Lybia are both a disaster on the brink of Sharia law. So they must either vote for the awful backwards muslim brotherhood or take a chance on people who are tied to old regimes. Obviously people are torn. Although I'd say anything is better than Sharia law. The Russians don't have the best track record, but don't eff with them for pete's sakes. Hilary is having a cow because they just sent some choppers over there and she better sit her arse down because Putin is not one to be intimidated. All those failed years in Afghanistan and the Russians couldn't change a damn thing. So America and Canada decide they are going to give it a go. Same result. We have enough problems in our own back yard instead of policing the world, rather poorly too I might add.

[Guest BuckFoston]

The horse's mouth? Are those people living in Syria now? When did they move out? Because somoene is from a Syrian background that does not make them an expert. Especially when you have so many people actually in Syria saying the exact opposite.

This has nothing to do with the US. The US was also not responsible for what happened in Lybia and Egypt. If anything the US propped up Mubarek. The operation in Lybia was spearheaded by France and the EU. US involvement was minimal.

[taxi]

Uh yes... those people are in Syria now, considering they did a semester abroad in Canada about 5 years ago. Once in a while we keep in touch. As far as experts go - I am Russian, I read the papers, watch the news, attend some protests if I am there, most of my family is there, but just because I don't live there 365 days a year doesn't mean I don't know what is going on on a daily basis or have people close to me explaining what's happening in case I don't get the feed 100%.

Also, this has everything to do with the US. If you think otherwise you are uninformed or worse - brainwashed. Read up on American history and see how many dictators they helped topple, then aided in putting new ones in power, then toppling those, then putting new ones in power again. Kissing their arses 3 years ago and sending them Christmas cards, then distancing themselves from "the evil regime" when the people get fed up and revolt. Until a new pawn comes into play. It keeps going in circles and will never stop. Just because troop involvement is minimal on paper doesn't mean they aren't pulling the strings.

Your feeble attempt to discredit fails.

[Dittohead]

I heard Syria is a great country so Yes! everything I have heard about Syria is a lie.

[key2thecup]

The truth is the US and Israel have an interest in keeping Assad in power. Their worst nightmare is a fractured Syria where a group similar to Hamas can take over.

[taxi]

That logic would apply to Mubarak and Egypt wouldnt it?

[key2thecup]

US Military completes planning for Syria

CNN

The U.S. military has completed its own planning for how American troops would conduct a variety of operations against Syria, or to assist neighboring countries in the event action was ordered, officials tell CNN.

In recent weeks, the Pentagon has finalized its assessment of what types of units would be needed, how many troops, and even the cost of certain potential operations, officials tell CNN.

The planning comes as the U.S. has become increasingly concerned that the violence in Syria is verging on civil war. Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the recent series of bombings have heightened the worry.

Dempsey said it reminded him of the escalating violence during the Iraq war.

The violence "gives us all pause that have been in Iraq and seen how these issues become sectarian and then they become civil wars and then they become very difficult to resolve," Dempsey told CNN in an exclusive interview on Thursday.

A senior U.S. official said the developments have been a matter of discussion in the Obama administration.

"There is a sense that if the sectarian violence in Syria grows, it could be worse than what we saw in Iraq," the official said.

The military planning includes a scenario for a no-fly zone as well as protecting chemical and biological sites. Officials say all the scenarios would be difficult to enact and involve large numbers of U.S. troops and extended operations.

The planning, officials insist, is being done protectively and there have been no orders for any action from the White House.

The U.S. Navy is maintaining a presence of three surface combatants and a submarine in the eastern Mediterranean to conduct electronic surveillance and reconnaissance on the Syrian regime, a senior Pentagon official said. The official emphasized that the U.S. routinely maintains this type of naval presence in the eastern Mediterranean, but acknowledged the current focus is on Syria.

The United States, Britain and France have all been discussing contingency scenarios, potential training and sharing of intelligence about what is happening in Syria with neighboring countries including Jordan, Turkey and Israel. But it is Jordan, so far, that is most seeking the help because of its relatively small military and potential need for outside help if unrest in southern Syria were to impact Jordan's security.

U.S. special forces are training and advising Jordanian troops on a range of specific military tasks they might need to undertake if unrest in Syria spills over into Jordan or poses a threat to that country, three Defense Department officials told CNN. The officials declined to be identified because of the sensitivity of the training. Jordanian officials also are refusing to publicly confirm details, but a senior Middle Eastern government official also confirmed details to CNN.

The U.S. has been training in Jordan using mainly special operations forces under a program called Joint Combined Exchange Training, which sends troops overseas to train foreign soldiers and units in specific missions. Jordan's major security concern is that if the Syrian regime were to suddenly collapse, then it would face unrest on its northern border, as well as the possibility of large refugee flows, weapons smuggling into Jordan, and potential disarray in Syria's chemical and biological weapons complex. Jordan also is considering how and where to potentially set up humanitarian assistance bases inside its borders, another matter the U.S. is advising it on.

The Jordanians do not believe regime of Bashir al-Assad would attack them. But they have made it clear to the United States they want the training so they are ready to move quickly if any scenario develops that could destabilize their country, which is already reeling politically from a collapsing economy. While there's no formal agreement, one of the U.S. officials said the U.S. would come to the defense and support of Jordan in the event any of the Syria scenarios pose a challenge.

While there is no current scenario for putting U.S. troops on the ground in Jordan or Syria, the U.S. could wind up providing air support to move Jordanian troops to the border. In addition, American forces could provide a wide range of intelligence and surveillance capabilities to Jordan so they would have up-to-date information on what is happening on the Syrian side of their border region. In one of the most extreme scenarios, a small unit of Jordanian troops could move into Syria to protect a chemical or biological weapons site.

U.S. satellites are monitoring the chemical and biological weapons sites around the clock, and so far "there is no reason to believe they are not secure," one of the U.S. officials said.

The U.S. believes the facilities are guarded by some of the most elite Alawite troops loyal to al-Assad. But the official noted that the opposition forces appear to be gaining strength in some areas, and that the United States, Jordan and the allies are concerned that as the amount of al-Assad controlled territory shrinks, some of those critical facilities could be open to attacks, pilfering or efforts by terrorist groups to buy material.

"This is getting a fair amount of attention," another U.S. official told CNN. Also discussed with Jordanian forces was the possible need for U.S. chemical and biological weapons detecting equipment, the official said.

The overall assessment by the U.S. is that in the event some action had to be taken to secure Syrian chemical, biological or weapons facilities, troops from some country would have to enter Syria in a matter of hours.

This latest training is said to be separate from the recent multinational "Eager Lion 2012" training exercise that took place in Jordan.

During that exercise, U.S. and Jordanian troops also practiced many of the same scenarios, but the JCET training is much more focused, according to the officials.

http://security.blogs.cnn.com/2012/06/14/u-s-military-completes-planning-for-syria/

[Navyblue]

The OP is clearly exploiting this situation to further his own agenda. He does not give a $@#$ about the children of Syria. Not a single poster here has denied that the rebels are now fighting an armed conflict. However, the idea that the government is not attacking civilians en masse is in total contradiction to statements made by every human rights group on the planet. It also contradicts the wealth of video, picture, first hand testimonial, etc....

[taxi]

So, you respond by attacking his character.

Lol. Good job.

[Red Light Racicot]

[taxi]

Well... if some guy Ive never heard of clad in a tank top says it then that changes everything.

[key2thecup]

HIs name is Adam Kokesh. He's an American:

http://en.wikipedia....iki/Adam_Kokesh

This is from his radio show which was cancelled about a year ago. He keeps it going through YouTube, as noone will pick his show up anymore.

[Navyblue]

So when somebody is clearly pushing an agenda, I'm not allowed to call them on that? Right.

Edit:

While we're on the topic of attacking character:

Gee...that's not an attack in any way. Let's see: "disgusting", the "usual suspects", "ad hominem garbage", "How do you sleep at night?"

By far the worst personal attack in this thread AINEC.

[لني]

Uh yes... those people are in Syria now, considering they did a semester abroad in Canada about 5 years ago. Once in a while we keep in touch. As far as experts go - I am Russian, I read the papers, watch the news, attend some protests if I am there, most of my family is there, but just because I don't live there 365 days a year doesn't mean I don't know what is going on on a daily basis or have people close to me explaining what's happening in case I don't get the feed 100%.

Also, this has everything to do with the US. If you think otherwise you are uninformed or worse - brainwashed. Read up on American history and see how many dictators they helped topple, then aided in putting new ones in power, then toppling those, then putting new ones in power again. Kissing their arses 3 years ago and sending them Christmas cards, then distancing themselves from "the evil regime" when the people get fed up and revolt. Until a new pawn comes into play. It keeps going in circles and will never stop. Just because troop involvement is minimal on paper doesn't mean they aren't pulling the strings.

Your feeble attempt to discredit fails.

[Guest BuckFoston]

Out of curiosity how did these Syrians get the ability to travel to Canada to attend university?

[Buddhas Hand]

Israel can't even be compared to Syria. Israel has done nothing wrong, has to deal with crazies all around them and maintains a positive relationship with the US and President Obama. Syria is run by liars and thugs. How dare you compare the two, HOW dare you.

[Buddhas Hand]

Israel can't even be compared to Syria. Israel has done nothing wrong, has to deal with crazies all around them and maintains a positive relationship with the US and President Obama. Syria is run by liars and thugs. How dare you compare the two, HOW dare you.