Well, no because I don't allow comments, not going to allow comments, and when I tried to allow comments it still didn't take. So, no, readers, we can't talk. I'm here to provide information, education, and analysis under fair u$e provisions (I paid for that printed pos and web subscription).
"While the momentum appears to be shifting in the rebels’ direction, the regime’s grip on Damascus remains firm, and Assad’s fall is far from imminent."
What, after my agenda-pushing mouthpiece media has made it seem for months like his fall is just around the corner?
You know, I don't want to talk about Syria anymore. I've been talking about Syria for a week now and I'm still getting the same crapola of rebels winning, rebels gaining, etc, etc, etc. I want to move on to something else for a while.
"John Kerry to meet with Syrian fighters" February 19, 2013
WASHINGTON — The maiden overseas voyage for the new Secretary of State John F. Kerry will take him to the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar, the State Department said Tuesday.
A key issue on the agenda will be the ongoing civil war in Syria, where tens of thousands of civilians have been killed by forces loyal to President Bashar Assad since 2011....
The announcement came as the US Agency for International Development said in Geneva the United States will provide an additional $19 million, on top of the $385 million already set aside, to help ease the country’s humanitarian crisis.
AID = CIA
Related: Taking Refuge in This Post
Not in the fact that the American taxpayer's bill for refugees keeps rising.
The new funding, some of which will be administered by the International Red Cross, “will provide additional medical supplies and emergency medical care for those in need in Syria,” the State Department said in a statement.
The money will also provide food vouchers for 50,000 Syrian refugees in Jordan.
As food stamps are cut here in AmeriKa due to austerity.
Kerry will also stop in Egypt, where he will meet with political leaders, members of civil society, and the business community “to encourage greater political consensus and moving forward on economic reforms,” according to the statement.
During the stop he will also meet with the secretary general of the Arab League, Nabil Al-Araby.
While in Saudi Arabia, Kerry will meet with counterparts from the Gulf Cooperation Council nations....
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Related:
"But it was not all pomp and circumstance. As the blue jean clad Kerry boarded the plane — a hulking 757 aircraft, emblazoned with the American flag and “United States of America” — he forgot to turn and wave to photographers waiting to capture the moment."
Uh-oh.
So let's sit down and talk:
"Syrian rebel leaders agree to meet with John Kerry; Opposition won’t be ‘left dangling’ in wind, he says" by Matt Viser | Globe Staff, February 26, 2013
BERLIN — Syrian opposition leaders agreed on Monday to meet with Secretary of State John Kerry this week in Rome, backing off from their threat to boycott the session after a day of public and private lobbying by Kerry to persuade them to attend what is expected to be a centerpiece of his nine-country tour.
That would have looked really bad on his first trip, huh? Talk about a stumbling start.
The opposition leaders agreed to meet with Kerry after he signaled he has unspecified new strategies for ousting Syria’s president, Bashar al-Assad. That thrust Kerry to the forefront of efforts to end a civil war that has cost tens of thousands of Syrian lives.
During a press conference Monday in London, Kerry condemned Assad, saying that bloodshed in the country was “unacceptable” and suggesting that Americans may develop a new approach for the region.
World War III will be here shortly.
“We are determined that the Syrian opposition is not going to be dangling in the wind, wondering where the support is, if it is coming,” he said. “We are not going to let the Syrian opposition not have its ability to have its voice properly heard in this process.”
I didn't know they had been.
Kerry made the remarks during his first stop on a swing through Europe and the Middle East. He has a hectic itinerary and plans to address a range of topics as he tries to make an impact in his first weeks as secretary of state.
But the topic that has come to dominate his trip — and one that is testing his diplomatic skills from the start — is the civil war in Syria, which Washington has tried unsuccessfully to defuse since 2011.
Such a lie.
The situation has grown more complicated as Assad, who Kerry once considered a potential reformer, has stepped up a bloody crackdown. For example, militants with links to Al Qaeda have reportedly taken control of some opposition forces seeking to oust Assad, which has made arming the militants all the more complicated.
Kerry held his press conference with British Foreign Secretary William Hague, who continued to nudge the Americans — and the international community — to take a more aggressive posture in aiding the Syrian rebels.
Up until the past few days, members of the Syrian Opposition Coalition had been planning to meet with Kerry and other European leaders in Rome later this week. But some in the deeply divided coalition began suggesting they would boycott the talks, frustrated by what they saw as an international community too slow to come to their aid.
Starting Saturday night, State Department officials began sending stronger signals to the Syrians that they sympathized with them. Robert Ford, the US ambassador to Syria, was dispatched on Sunday to meet with the opposition leaders in Cairo....
Got the message.
Kerry also called Mouaz al-Khatib, head of the Syrian Opposition Council, and encouraged him to come to Rome, according to a senior State Department official. The official also confirmed on Monday night that Khatib later posted a Facebook message confirming he and opposition leaders will attend the Rome meeting.
Kerry said he understood the frustration of the Syrian rebels....
Kerry has said he has new ideas to propose to solve the crisis in Syria, but he declined several opportunities to provide any public details. He said that those terms were still part of negotiations....
He has a secret plan to end the war!
“I want our friends in the Syrian Opposition Council to know that we are not coming to Rome simply to talk,” Kerry said. “We are coming to Rome to make a decision about next steps and perhaps even other options that may or may not be discussed further after that.”
How cryptic.
The pressure from Kerry to meet with the Syrian opposition — and perhaps bolster the US backing of their cause — came as Syria’s government signaled it would like to negotiate....
Bolster the terrorists?
The comments came during a visit to Moscow, where he met with Russia’s foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov. The Russians back the Syrian government and could influence Assad. Kerry is scheduled to meet with Lavrov Tuesday in Berlin, where Kerry arrived late Monday. His day Monday began with breakfast with Prime Minister David Cameron, followed by lunch with Hague.
During the press conference, Kerry stood sentry as his British counterpart spoke, looking ahead and nodding occasionally. Kerry at times had a casual tone, referring to the British foreign minister numerous times as William and cracking several jokes....
Get link, please no more funnies. It's not you, John.
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Related: Kerry pushes US-Europe free trade agreement
Also see: Kerry defends liberties, says Americans have "right to be stupid"
Oh, the stench of a stinking elite as his class laughs at the comments. That's how much he respects you, Amurkn. Now I see how he can sleep at night after sending your sons and daughters off to wars based on lies. It will be interesting to see if the Globe picks up on the faux pas.
Related: Kerry revisits childhood days in Berlin visit
They picked up on it, but totally twisted it as Kerry keeps telling jokes! I thought his job as Secretary of State was a serious position, not one of comic relief. Lord help us all!
Printed paper update: "He cracked jokes, often at his own expense."
Something else he thinks is worth fighting for:
“I think that in the next days, the government of Afghanistan’s response to anticorruption efforts are a key test of its ability to regain the confidence of the.... American people [who] are prepared to support with hard-earned tax dollars and with most importantly, with the treasure of our country — the lives of young American men and women.... and say, ‘Hey, that’s something worth dying for.’ ’’
What happened to you, Senator? Was it the money and power?
"After threatening boycott, Syrian leaders to meet" by Matthew Lee | Associated Press, February 25, 2013
BERLIN (AP) — Skeptical Syrian opposition leaders agreed Monday to attend an international conference in Rome after first threatening to boycott the session that was to be the centerpiece of Secretary of State John Kerry’s his first overseas mission in his new job.
Opposition leaders had protested what they see as inaction by other nations in the face of violence from Syrian President Bashar Assad’s regime.
Kerry not only made a public plea at a joint news conference Monday with British Foreign Secretary William Hague, he also called Moaz Khatib, leader of the Syrian Opposition Council, ‘‘to encourage him to come to Rome,’’ a senior U.S. official said. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn’t authorized to speak publicly on the matter, described the conversation as ‘‘good’’ but declined to offer more detail.
Spokesman Walid al-Bunni said the council had decided to send a delegation to Rome after all.
Al-Bunni told Al-Arabiya TV the decision was made based on guarantees al-Khatib heard from western diplomats that the conference would be different and that the opposition would receive real commitments this time. ‘‘We will go and we will see if the promises are different this time,’’ he said.
After speaking with Khatib, Kerry flew to Berlin from London, the first stop of his first trip as secretary of state — a hectic nine-country dash through Europe and the Middle East.
Kerry had also dispatched his top Syrian envoy to Cairo in hopes of convincing opposition leaders that their participation is critical to addressing questions from potential donors and securing additional aid from the United States and Europe.
‘‘We are determined that the Syrian opposition is not going to be dangling in the wind, wondering where the support is, if it is coming,’’ Kerry told reporters in London after meeting British Prime Minister David Cameron and Hague. ‘‘We are not going to let the Syrian opposition not have its ability to have its voice properly heard in this process.’’
For his part, Hague said the violence in Syria, especially recent scud missile attacks on the city of Aleppo, was unacceptable and that the west’s current position could not be sustained while an ‘‘appalling injustice’’ is being done to Syrian citizens.
‘‘In the face of such murder and threat of instability, our policy cannot stay static as the weeks go by,’’ Hague told reporters, standing beside Kerry. ‘‘We must significantly increase support for the Syrian opposition. We are preparing to do just that.’’
Kerry agreed.
‘‘We are not coming to Rome simply to talk, we are coming to Rome to talk about next steps,’’ Kerry said, adding that he was sympathetic to opposition complaints that they were not getting the support they need to defend themselves against the Assad regime or oust him from power.
‘‘I am very sensitive to that frustration,’’ recalling that as a U.S. senator he was one of several who pushed the administration to consider military aid to the Syrian opposition.
‘‘But I am the new secretary of state ... and the president of the United States has sent me here and sent me to this series of meetings and in Rome because he is concerned about the course of events.
‘‘This moment is ripe for us to be considering what more we can do,’’ he said, adding that if the opposition wants results, ‘‘join us’’ in Rome.
Meanwhile, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem said Monday the Assad regime was ready to hold talks with opposition leaders, the first time that a high-ranking Syrian official has stated publicly that the government would meet with the opposition. Al-Moallem made his comments after meeting in Moscow with Russian officials.
In Washington, State Department spokesman Patrick Ventrell said Moallem’s remarks appeared positive but expressed caution about the seriousness of the offer.
‘‘I don’t know their motivations, other than to say they continue to rain down horrific attacks on their own people,’’ Ventrell told reporters. ‘‘So that speaks pretty loudly and clearly.’’
If the Assad regime is serious, he said, it should inform the U.N. peace envoy, Lakhdar Brahimi of its readiness for talks. Ventrell said the Assad regime hasn’t yet done that.
Obama administration officials have debated whether the U.S. should arm the rebels, with Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Martin Dempsey having said they urged such a course of action. The White House has been unwilling to do so for fears the weapons could end up in the wrong hands.
What are we to do when the same lie is repeated and repeated and repeated and repeated?
"US intelligence agents have helped funnel arms to rebel groups."
Currently, the U.S. provides only non-lethal support and humanitarian aid.
Oh, is that what they are calling it?
The United Nations says at least 70,000 people have been killed in Syria’s 2-year civil war, which began as an uprising against Assad’s regime.
Kerry said the Syrian people ‘‘deserve better’’ than the violence currently gripping their country as he stood alongside Britain’s Foreign Secretary William Hague.
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"Syria indicates it is willing to negotiate with rebels; Proposal unlikely to lead to talks; blasts rock capital" by Ryan Lucas | Associated Press, February 26, 2013
Interesting. My printed headline reads "As rebels advance, Syria indicates it is willing to negotiate."
BEIRUT — Syria said Monday it is prepared to hold talks with the armed rebels bent on overthrowing President Bashar Assad, the clearest signal yet that the regime is growing increasingly nervous about its long-term prospects to hold on to power as opposition fighters make slow but persistent headway in the civil war.
Sigh. Any wonder I don't want to talk about this anymore?
The offer, by Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem during a visit to Moscow, came hours before residents of Damascus and state-run TV reported a huge explosion and a series of smaller blasts in the capital, followed by heavy gunfire.
State-run news agency SANA said there were multiple casualties from the explosion, which it said was a suicide car bombing. Britain-based activist group the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the explosions targeted a checkpoint, adding there were initial reports of at least five regime forces killed and several wounded.
But it's okay when it's our guys committing terrorism. Look at how blase the reporting is.
The proposal marked the first time that a high-ranking regime official has stated publicly that Damascus would be willing to meet with the armed opposition. But Moallem did not spell out whether rebels would first have to lay down their weapons before negotiations could begin, a crucial sticking point in the past.
The regime’s proposal is unlikely to lead to talks....
I didn't think it would.
But the timing of the proposal suggests the regime is warming to the idea of a settlement as it struggles to hold territory and claw back ground it has lost to the rebels in the nearly 2-year-old conflict.
In a sign of a shift among world governments to more active efforts to break the stalemate, Saudi Arabia has financed a large purchase of infantry arms from Croatia and sent them to antigovernment fighters in Syria, The New York Times reported in Monday’s editions, citing officials familiar with the deal.
Yeah, no problem. Now if were a purchase by Iran....
Opposition fighters have scored several tactical victories in recent weeks, capturing the nation’s largest hydroelectric dam and overtaking airbases in the northeast. In Damascus, they have advanced from their strongholds in the suburbs into neighborhoods in the northeast and southern rim of the capital, while peppering the center of the city with mortar rounds for days.
??
While the momentum appears to be shifting in the rebels’ direction, the regime’s grip on Damascus remains firm, and Assad’s fall is far from imminent.
Still, Monday’s offer to negotiate with the armed opposition reflects the regime’s realization that in the long run, its chances of keeping its grip on power are slim.
Says who?
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Oh.
Related:
"State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said that Assad is living in a “fantasy world” if he thinks he can survive the rebellion."
Someone is living in a fantasy world.
Wants a peaceful resolution does he?
NEXT DAY UPDATE (in light of the recent arms purchase and supply by the Saudis):
"Syrian rebels patch together an arsenal; Many hands cometogether for opposition" by C.J. Chivers | New York Times, August 29, 2012
TAL RIFAAT, Syria — The revolution against Syria’s government has been waged by men who do not themselves often carry guns....
Homemade mortar rounds....
Part of a grass-roots effort to create the fighters’ diverse and idiosyncratic arsenal. That is an essential component of the rebels’ survival and their recent successes against the professionally trained military with which they are locked in a struggle for Syria’s future.
But when it's Palestinians doing the same thing.... (do I have to finish the thought on the double standards in coverage by my agenda-pushing paper?)
Working together and at the urging of antigovernment fighters, local businesses and tradesmen have organized into a network engaged in making weapons, in part by delegating tasks among the various trades. Some shops concoct explosives and propellants, a job that one organizer, Ahmed Turki, said had best been accomplished by a local painter with experience mixing chemicals. Others, who have electricians’ skills, wire together the circuits for makeshift bombs.
So the CHEMICAL WEAPONS could have been released by the opposition? No wonder it didn't get much play.
Machinists and metallurgists assemble rockets and mortars, as well as the bodies for mortar and artillery shells or the large cylinders often used to hold the charges in roadside or truck bombs. (These men also manufacture truck mounts for machine guns captured from government forces; one novel design included using a disc brake from a motorcycle to arrest the movement of the weapon as its operator adjusts the gun’s elevation.)
They do things like that in Gaza and it gets bombed.
Still others remove the propellant from captured tank and artillery rounds, which is then repurposed in the rebels’ arms.
As the forces opposed to Assad have appealed with little success to the West for weapons and foreign air support, the rebels have pursued their own project, developing the dark arts of weapon-making with surprising speed.
Ah, the dark art!
In many ways, the weapons gathered by the uprising here resemble those seen in the insurgencies fought against Western forces by Iraqis, or against Israel by Palestinians.
What was that last one there?
This is in part, participants in the effort said, because they were able to model their weapons on those used in other Middle Eastern uprisings.
“We copied original Palestinian rockets,’’ said Turki....
Uh-huh. Then the heroes of Syrian liberation are.... terrorists?
Mixing arms captured from their enemies with arms smuggled across borders, and adding in weapons that the rebels’ supporters have made in a constellation of hidden shops, Syria’s guerrilla brigades have managed to drive the conventionally equipped Syrian armed forces from areas of the northern countryside and, in certain areas, to put the government to siege.
This shadowy industry — resourceful and effective, but also dangerous — serves as more than a source of supply. It is also an indicator of both the rebels’ local organization and their near absence of outside logistical support.
At this point the mind-manipulating intelligence agency cover that poses as a newspaper has dropped some interesting clues. The dark arts and shadowy industry comments indicate a truth tip that they are western intelligence operations. It's part of the codespeak, but it is also noteworthy that more often than not the attention is thrown of the EUSraeli empire's supplying of arms and on to Turkey, Saudi, Qatar, what have you.
Turki organizes tests for weapons that require a degree of consistency and precision, like rockets and mortars, whose ranges must be determined and whose projectiles’ flight should be stabilized by fins or by spin. The artillery piece he helped move off the drafting board has been fired about 20 times, though its range so far has not been ideal.
Are those the things flying into apartment buildings in Aleppo?
“We are still working on the shells,’’ said Badr, who made the weapon with the help of a 15-year-old assistant, Mohammed.
Help of a 15-year-old? Isn't that a war crime?
The rebels have also acquired many arms and weapons components from smugglers. These include blasting caps for bombs and telephone components used to manufacture remote-control detonators. And the rebels have been aided, they said, by what once would have seemed an unlikely source: the Pentagon’s distribution of weapons for Iraq’s security forces.
Yeah, we really did lose that war.
Two days before Mustafa showed his mortar, a Sunni tribesman who used the name Abu Khaled arrived in a truck at a residential compound used as a rebel base. Abu Khaled, who has family members in Anbar province, Iraq, and in eastern Syria, was a smuggler dropping off arms....
Interesting. So Syria fires some missiles in there, and it's all dead civilians. The U.S. rains down drone missiles and kills civilians, all called rebels, militants, insurgents, what have you.
The rebels said Abu Khaled had been ferrying in weapons from Iraq since the uprising began last year.
In an interview, Abu Khaled said he acquired his weapons from the Iraqi army and police officers, who freely sold old stock and weapons provided them by the United States.
“They sell everything,’’ he said, referring to what he described as Iraq’s corrupt security forces....
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And DOWN the OLD MEMORY HOLE it WENT!
Related: Syrian Rebels Strike Again
I guess we know how now.
