The Insider Threat

Check out our thread over at TAA.

http://www.transasianaxis.com/showthread.php?11609-The-Insider-Threat-Program

Now… understand I’m talking about something that is targeting a whole lot of old, white guys, who own guns in the government.

Let me explain my post above.

A while back in the facility where I work they went through some drills. You know, typical duck-and-cover bullshit. Active shooter stuff. Run and hide. Lock the doors. Fight if you gotta… blah blah. The general population wasn’t really involved, or they were just told they didn’t have to participate (and no one did).

Just a few security folks from what I gather, on the outside of the building played the game.  Scenario was simple….

The postulated, imitation shooter was a “disgruntled former worker who was a White male, age 50-something, armed with an assault rifle and moving from building to building shooting personnel.” (words to that effect anyway).

ok, fine. No biggy.  Play your silly-assed games…. BUT….

In this building where I work we have a dozen or more Muslims.

Mostly black males. Some were in the military.  Some likely have seen jail time (Yes, they hire people with criminal backgrounds in the government).  MOST of them are fine individuals, who have the mission at heart.

At least… one would think.

Except:

Taqiyya – Saying something that isn’t true.

Kitman – Lying by omission. An example would be when Muslim apologists quote only a fragment of verse 5:32 (that if anyone kills “it shall be as if he had killed all mankind”) while neglecting to mention that the rest of the verse (and the next) mandate murder in undefined cases of “corruption” and “mischief.”

So – why do we have such people in the system, with clearances, with the ability to walk into a secured compound with a weapon if they chose to do so. Or walk in with a backpack loaded with explosives? We all carry backpacks into the facility. Checks are made (I’ll point out there are certainly holes in any system, and I won’t give details of how things are checked, when or by whom) but suffice it to say I get checked rarely.

Why am I saying all this?

We have Muslims “in the system”.

Men who are going to fight and die for a bunch of BAD GUYS overseas, who believe strongly in their “religion”.  These are men who could be lying to us, face to face.  These are men who are to be considered INSIDER THREATS.  Do we, as a group, as a people, as a company, nation, corporation or a government look at them, profile them and consider them threats? NO, we go after PATRIOTIC AMERICANS, Veterans, gun owners, Conservatives, Christians, Jews and anyone else who is in the MAJORITY of the population as if they were the criminals.

We look at Old, White Men, with Guns as a threat, not as a military or protectors.

And Yet….

ISIS is “here”, as we pointed out yesterday.  They are here, in front of the White House, in front of buildings in YOUR city, taking pictures, threatening us, warning us of what is to come.

ISIS is nothing more than a whole lot of radical Muslims who are falling into line with a “strong group”. Muslims follow the strong horse, not the weak. ISIS appears strong. America appears weak.

While I’m certain the easy targets are malls and schools – there are places, military installations, churches, companies and corporations FULL of these people who hide their radical tendencies just awaiting the day they can do something.

They lie by omission or they flat out lie about their loyalty.

Those at risk will be you and I.

9-11 approaches

 

 

With: Catherine Herridge, Fox News Chief Intel Correspondent; Lt. Col. Oliver North

 This is a rush transcript from “On the Record,” August 26, 2014. This copy may not be in its final form and may be updated.

GRETA VAN SUSTEREN, FOX NEWS HOST: This is a FOX News alert. FOX News confirming an American was killed in Syria while fighting for ISIS. Yes, for ISIS. That’s the same group that executed James Foley.

For the very latest, FOX News chief intelligence correspondent, Catherine Herridge, joins us — Catherine?

CATHERINE HERRIDGE, FOX NEWS CHIEF INTELLIGENCE CORRESPONDENT: Thank you, Greta. Within the last hour, senior law enforcement official confirmed to FOX News that the American citizen killed in Syria was known to the U.S. government and his affiliation also with ISIS. FOX News has been told that the family of Douglas McAuthur McCain, of San Diego, California, has also been notified.

Evidence of his death, including a photo of his American passport, was first reported by the Free Syrian Army, which is fighting against ISIS for control of eastern Syria.

On Twitter in June, he told his ISIS contact that he would soon be meeting them in that country. And as his radicalization deepened, he changed his name it and adopted this moniker, Slave of Allah.

The FBI is tracking dozens of cases of Americans traveling from the U.S. to Syria. And the TSA has instituted new security measures, which help it rack individuals of interest for returning from the region to the United States within 72 hours of their flight. But that system does not flag everyone — Greta?

VAN SUSTEREN: If you fly, of course, first to London and sit there two weeks, you are not in the system at you will, right?

HERRIDGE: You can still be in the system depending on what level of interest you are to the U.S. government.

VAN SUSTEREN: Was this man of sufficient interest that he would have gotten caught?

HERRIDGE: He was of significant interest to the U.S. government and they had been tracking him, it’s now clear to me, for several months.

The interesting continuing thing to me tonight is when the National Security Council put out a statement about his death, they said it was evidence that Americans should not travel to Syria. What they neglected to mention is that he was fighting for ISIS. And this is not a mistake. This is an act of commission.

VAN SUSTEREN: It’s a little absurd to put out a travel advisory to Americans not to travel to Syria.

(CROSSTALK)

VAN SUSTEREN: Not to travel to Syria. That’s almost absurd to tell Americans not to travel to Syria.

HERRIDGE: Well, to mention his death and not the fact that he was affiliated with the group that —

(CROSSTALK)

VAN SUSTEREN: Why didn’t they? Why wouldn’t they?

HERRIDGE: I don’t know. But I think that you do see a pattern often where the affiliation with known terrorist groups is dropped. And it takes me back to the original reporting we did on Major Nidal Hasan and the Fort Hood massacre where that was classified as work-place violence and a great effort to distance him from his al Qaeda affiliation with a cleric in Yemen.

Catherine, thank you.

HERRIDGE: You’re welcome.

VAN SUSTEREN: And Lieutenant Colonel Oliver North joins us. Good evening, sir.

LT. COL. OLIVER NORTH, FOX NEWS HOST, ‘WAR STORIES’: Greta, good to be with you?

VAN SUSTEREN: Catherine just reporting this very disheartening news. Douglas McCain, an American, fighting for ISIS, but NSC gives us a travel warning and doesn’t want to say that he is working with ISIS or was working with ISIS.

NORTH: Douglas McAuthur McCain was his adopted name. When you are looking at now two in a week, the Brit who murdered James Foley, and now an American, you’ve got to recognize, I think, that the State Department and our Department of Homeland Security and our immigration folks and the FBI would be concerned. There appear to be a lot of Westerners. And as Catherine just reported, we really don’t know how many there are. And the estimates vary widely from 300-plus to 3,000-plus.

VAN SUSTEREN: This whole travel alert business, remember the guy who had — the underwear bomber. He must have been — there are so many ways to get passed these no fly lists.

NORTH: There is a lot more of them now than when Richard Reid was doing-and the underwear bomber as well.

(CROSSTALK)

VAN SUSTEREN: — into Detroit.

NORTH: That’s right. The system has improved. But, as everybody acknowledges, it is not foolproof. There are ways to evade it. And one would think that given their sophistication — the folks running ISIS recruiting know how to do it. In other words, if you fly to Turkey, or if you fly to Greece and then motor to Turkey, and then go from Turkey into Syria to become part of ISIS or ISIL or whatever they are calling themselves this week, you may not be in the system when you come back out. We have to be very concerned about what’s happening with these radicalized jihadists coming back to the United States, just like the Europeans.

VAN SUSTEREN: Flying to Montreal and walking across the border of Vermont or whatever.

Anyway, let me go to this other question. You spoke at the American Legion and so did President Obama at the national convention down in North Carolina. How was he received by the American Legion?

NORTH: I think it the proper word would be politely. They are veterans, 2.4 million represented by the 96th meeting of the American Legion. They were polite to him. He did say some things they wanted to hear about improving veterans’ care. The rest of it was almost like it was prepared by several different people. And he just read from the teleprompter. My line was that I learned to speak because I work for a president who spoke from the heart. He speaks from a teleprompter. It was very — it was disjointed. It was irrational in some parts. Quite frankly, we ought to be concerned about that aspect of it because it’s not just detachment. It’s almost delusional. And when he speaks the way he does about our coalition, what coalition?

(CROSSTALK)

VAN SUSTEREN: He said, “In times of crisis, no other nation can rally such broad coalitions to stand up for international norms and peace.” I remember a year ago when he wanted to bomb Syria, the U.K. said — our best friends wouldn’t go with us.

NORTH: And today, for example, it was announced by the Pentagon that we are conducting intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance flights over Syria. Yesterday, we were being told by the same Pentagon that the reason why we are dropping bombs in Iraq and not in Syria is because we were in Iraq at the invitation of the Iraqi government. And to this point, one of the reasons why Mr. Obama withdrew everybody in December of 2011 was because we did not have a Status of Forces agreement. Do we have one now? And no one asks him these things at these briefings.

VAN SUSTEREN: I’m going to ask a question about the vets. He said as soon as it was disclosed, the vet problem. “I got before the American people and I said we would not tolerate it.” That’s what he ran on in 2008. Did the vets politely accept that one?

NORTH: Yeah. They were polite. He is the commander and chief. They were polite. Quite frankly, I was concerned at the end of the whole presentation because it appears to be so detached from the reality of what’s going on in the world today.

VAN SUSTEREN: Colonel North, nice to see you, sir.

Syria Admits Having 41 Chemical-Arms Facilities

Oct. 29, 2013

OPCW Director General Ahmet Üzümcü speaks on Oct. 11 during a press conference in The Hague. He reportedly said Syria has declared having 23 chemical-weapons sites at a total of 41 facilities -- a detail that could explain discrepancies in measurements of the country's chemical arsenal (Bas Czerwinski/Getty Images).
OPCW Director General Ahmet Üzümcü speaks on Oct. 11 during a press conference in The Hague. He reportedly said Syria has declared having 23 chemical-weapons sites at a total of 41 facilities — a detail that could explain discrepancies in measurements of the country’s chemical arsenal (Bas Czerwinski/Getty Images).

The Syrian government has admitted to having 41 chemical-weapons facilities at 23 sites, according to a Associated Press report on Monday that might resolve questions over the country’s disclosure about its chemical arsenal.

Syrian President Bashar Assad’s regime submitted a “formal initial declaration” of its chemical-weapons program to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons last Thursday. However, it was not immediately clear if the confidential document stated that the country has more than the 23 chemical sites it identified in a September preliminary declaration.

U.S. officials believe the Assad regime has at least 45 chemical-arms sites, and questioned if the new Syrian declaration — announced on Sunday by the Hague-based oversight body — was incomplete, or if the government had consolidated its chemical-arms stocks.

A report from OPCW Director General Ahmet Üzümcü — described by news outlets including AP, the New York Times and the London Telegraph — could explain the discrepancy.

Syria declared having 23 chemical-weapons sites at a total of 41 facilities — made up of 18 structures for producing chemical arms and 12 for storing them, along with eight mobile units for filling chemical weapons and three related facilities, Üzümcü reportedly said in the document he submitted to the U.N. Security Council. The Middle Eastern country admitted to having roughly 1,000 metric tons of “Category 1” chemical weapons, which are mainly precursors rarely used for peaceful purposes, along with approximately 290 tons of “Category 2” chemicals that are still considered toxic and dangerous. Syria also acknowledged possession of 1,230 unfilled munitions that could be used to deliver the poison, Üzümcü wrote.

“In addition, the Syrian authorities have reported finding two cylinders not belonging to them, which are believed to contain chemical weapons,” Üzümcü said.

Despite the disclosure of this report, U.S. officials have not ruled out the possibility that Syria has not fully disclosed all of its chemical development, storage and testing locations, according to the Times.

Assad acknowledged that he possessed chemical weapons and agreed to their destruction in September, shortly after a nerve-gas attack on civilians just outside Damascus spurred international condemnation and the threat of a U.S. military strike. The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons then launched an ambitious effort to inventory and eliminate the Syrian chemical arsenal by mid-2014.

The organization announced on Monday that international chemical-arms inspectors completed their first round of verification activities in Syria, but were not able to visit two of the 23 sites because of security concerns in the war-battered nation.

http://www.nti.org/gsn/article/syria-admits-having-41-chemical-arms-facilities/?mgs1=495bdyiOSe

 

 

When this was sent to me it was prefaced with these words:

Designed by DoD Office of Heraldry:   In anticipation of the “limited action” in Syria…New Shoulder Patch for US Troops in Syria…”

https://i0.wp.com/aewa.aewa.org/pipermail/aewa/attachments/20130922/24de41fd/attachment.jpg

However, I suspect that anyone who has ever been in long enough for any expeditionary medal deserves it.

 

 

http://aewa.aewa.org/pipermail/aewa/attachments/20130922/24de41fd/attachment.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

Russian naval warships will deploy Gulf of Aden

More ships….

 

Russian Missile Cruiser Variag Heads to Pacific
Local Editor
Russia: Variag Missile CruiserRussian warships started on Wednesday moving to the Indian Ocean, spokesman of the leadership of the Russian Pacific Fleet Colonel Roman Martov said.

The fleet consists of Variag-type missile cruiser, SB-522 Navy Tanker and Boris Botoma carrier.

According to Martov, the fleet will enter the South China Sea in the near future, while missile cruiser Variag will enter the Gulf of Aden area in early October.

On their way, Russian ships will visit the ports of Sri Lanka, he indicated.

Martov also noted that a group of 5 vessels, belonging to the Russian Pacific Fleet and led by anti-submarine vessel Admiral Pantilyev, has been implementing tasks in the Mediterranean region for five months.

The fleet left its base of Vladivostok in March last year to form the nucleus of  Russian Navy ships in the Mediterranean, he added.

The spokesman said that two Russian landing ships Berisvi and Admiral Nevelsqui which accomplished their missions in Mediterranean are moving now to the Russian port of Novorossiysk in the Black Sea.

“Ten Russian warships of the Pacific Fleet are currently functioning in various regions of the global ocean,” Martov went on to say.

 

http://www.almanar.com.lb/english/adetails.php?eid=111109&frid=22&seccatid=45&cid=22&fromval=1

Breaking News: HQ NSSC breached!

Monday, September 16, 2013

BREAKING! Headquarters for the Naval Sea Systems Command breached!

STICKY POST FOR NOW – CONSTANTLY UPDATED AS WE LEARN MORE

Washington Navy Yard. Less than a mile from the U.S. Capitol, I believe.

The Navy Yard is an extremely secure facility! Documents with the highest classification!

This post stuck here for a while so that updates can be added as they occur.

For local coverage that is really on top of developments, go to WUSA.

PASTORIUS UPDATE – This is a Secure Operations building – highly classified – The War Plans are in this building.

FOX NEWS PUT UP A SCROLL A FEW MINUTES AGO, SAYING, “AMBULANCES ARRIVE ON SCENE WITH POLICE ESCORT.

I have never heard of ambulances being given a Police Escort before.

This could mean one of two things,

1) they anticipated terrible traffic problems, so they believe they needed a convoy of Emergency vehicles all with sirens blaring (but frankly, that would just cause even more trouble,

or

2) THEY BELIEVE THIS IS A TERRORIST OPERATION WHICH MAY ROLL OUT IN STAGES, and that a stage might be planned wherein Emergency responders are attacked.

THIS COULD BE THE FIRST STAGE OF JIHADIST ATTACKS IRAN THREATENED US WITH IN RESPONSE TO SYRIA.

RELATED? – This story came out yesterday – FBI WARNS: MUSLIM TERRORISTS PLAN TO ATTACK FUEL STORAGE PLANTS INSIDE U.S.

AOW here….This facility houses the command center for naval operations in the eastern Mediterranean.

4 civilians and one officer shot.

Another man shot very close to one of the Navy Yard’s gates @ New Jersey and M.

All flights at DCA (Reagan Washington National) are grounded indefinitely.

11th Street Bridge is closed and being used as triage center.

Streets being closed all over D.C., including those around Capitol Hill.

PASTORIUS – This photograph (picked up from Twitter) seems to indicate the shooter SHOT HIS WAY INTO THE BUILDING.

AOW here….Local news now stating that at least 10 people have been shot.

PASTORIUS –

NBC4 Washington: Four Dead, 12 Shot at D.C. Navy Yard; Active Shooter Still At Large
live feed Washington DC Fire, and EMS Live Audio Feed

Shooter 'contained'...
3,000 workers told to 'shelter in place'...
NBC: At least 2 cops among victims...
Flights halted out of Reagan airport...
WH: 'Citizens: Listen to the Authorities'...

KRLA LOS ANGELES RADIO: SHOOTER DESCRIBED AS A “BLACK MALE, WITH A BEARD, WEARING A CAP”

MULTIPLE SHOOTERS ARE BEING REPORTED BY SOME SOURCES NOW, INCLUDING THE WASHINGTON POST:

WaPo sticking with three gunmen, according to police spokeswoman

WaPo
One of the shooters is “down,” police said, but two remain in a building on the grounds.

One of the shooters at large is dressed in fatigues. At least one has a long gun, police said.


NBC: Authorities originally believed there was a lone gunman, but sources later confirmed to News4 that the shooting was carried out by at least two gunmen.


USA TODAY – The shooter was described as a black male with a dark complexion, approximately 5’10” to 6 feet tall, 170 pound with a black shirt and black hat. He is believed to be barricaded somewhere and have multiple guns.

Where have all the chemical weapons gone, long time passing….

Where have all the chemical weapons gone, long time passing?
Where have all the chemical weapons gone, long time ago?
Where have all the chemical weapons gone?
Unit 450 picked them everyone.
Oh, when will Obama ever learn?
Oh, when will Obama ever learn?

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324755104579071330713553794.html

Syria Update for Friday

This is getting interesting.

 

Tweet:

negin shiraghaei ‏@neginsh24m
@Diplomat_APAC: China’s embassy in Syria has come under fire and rebel snipers have targeted its ambassador. http://bit.ly/1g74BWi

Syrian Rebels Attack Chinese Diplomats, Embassy

By Zachary Keck

September 13, 2013

Chinese diplomats in Syria as well as Beijing’s embassy are under regular threat from rebel attacks, China’s ambassador to Syria has confided to local media outlets.

In an interview with the Global Times, Zhang Xun, China’s ambassador to Syria said that Beijing’s embassy in Damascus has increasingly been caught in the cross-hairs of fighting between rebel and government forces in recent months.

In one notable instance, shrapnel and shell fragments from a mortar attack deflected off a nearby building and landed inside the Chinese embassy.

“A shell hit the ceiling of a building some 60 meters away and the fragments bounced into our building,” Zhang told reporters from the Global Times, showing them the actual shells, which he kept in an envelope in his office.

Zhang said that in another attack last month, Syrian rebels fired mortar shells at President Bashar al-Assad’s motorcade. They missed the Syrian leader but hit a building that was located just 10 meters from the Chinese embassy. The shock from the attack damaged the nearby embassy, however.

“Several windows in our corridor were shattered. Some of the shrapnel fell onto my balcony,” Zhang said of the attack, which took place on the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr.

According to the report, the Chinese embassy is located in the heart of Damascus near the Bashar al-Assad’s presidential palace and key military buildings, which unsurprisingly are often the targets of rebel attacks.

Another diplomat from the embassy told the Global Times that Chinese personnel have been targeted directly by rebel forces, particularly when they are meeting with Syrian officials. Indeed, according to a Want China Times report, Zhang was nearly killed in a sniper attack during a meeting he held with Syria’s foreign minister.

The Global Times article says that Zhang now keeps a bullet-proof vest, gas mask and pistol in his office.

There are also reports that the rebels are actively plotting attacks against the Chinese embassy, presumably in retaliation for China’s continued support for the Assad regime. The Want China Times report said that a brigade commander in the Free Syrian Army, one of the rebel forces fighting the Syrian government, has vowed to launch a “full-scale attack” on the Chinese embassy.

Meanwhile, the Global Times claims that a local driver the embassy had employed was arrested earlier this year by Syrian authorities for allegedly planning to place bombs under the embassy car. The article, which said the driver had confessed to the crime, added that he had been recruited by Syrian rebel forces during a trip to Jordan in February.

Following the incident Beijing assigned eight armed Chinese police officers to protect the embassy and its personnel. The only other Chinese embassies to have such protection are those in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Ambassador Zhang admitted that he has been frightened by the uptick in violence.

“To be honest, it would be a lie if I said I’m not a little bit scared,” Zhang was quoted as saying in the report.

This was a dramatic admission given Zhang’s past statements on the issue of safety in the country. Soon after taking over the ambassadorship in 2011, Zhang dismissed concerns that Chinese nationals in Syria were in any danger.

“Their lives are guaranteed and their properties as well,” Zhang told state media at the time, referring to Chinese nationals. “”There is no need for extra worries.”

The Chinese nationals themselves apparently disagreed, judging from the exodus away from the war-torn nation in the nearly two years since then. According to Chinese media reports, there were around 1,200 Chinese nationals inside Syria when Zhang took over as ambassador. Today there are just 20, not counting the embassy staff itself. Eight of those remaining are reporters.

This is probably a huge relief to the Chinese government. Beijing was profoundly affected by the situation in Libya in early 2010, when the Chinese government had to evacuate 36,000 nationals from that country in just 10 days after civil war broke out as part of the initial Arab Spring wave.

Nonetheless, China has remained defiant on maintaining a diplomatic presence in Syria. According to the Global Times report, China is one of just a dozen or so countries that haven’t closed down their embassies during the past two and a half years of fighting. Some of the other countries that have maintained their diplomatic presence in Syria include Russia, Iran, North Korea, Venezuela and Cuba.

Chinese diplomats in Syria say they intend to continue to hold out in Syria.

“”Diplomats must stick to their positions until the last Chinese national willing to leave Syria is pulled out,” GT quoted one person at the embassy as saying.

Update: Syria: Russian and American Ships

I got more information about what I posted earlier here.

 

Apparently everyone is concerned about the actual CW in Syria.  The Russians provided this stuff according to our own intelligence groups.

The Russians want CONTROL of the situation to prevent US from seeing they provided it.

The US wants to collect it, remove it, and turn it over to an “International Group”.

The Russians want to collect it, remove it and HIDE the crap.

This is why so many ships are showing up, why Russia has so many landing ships.  This is why we’re ready to BOMB the crap, we want it gone – the Russians want it hidden from sight.  The Syrians want to use it.  The Russians want the Arabs to USE it on the Israelis.

This is a lot deeper and darker than most of us in the US knew or thought.

If we go in there, we need to do the job RIGHT and Obama isn’t the guy to do it, neither is Kerry the guy to diplomatically clean this up.  Hillary would have been better (I just threw up a little in my mouth….).

Either way this shit isn’t going to get cleaned up EASILY.

Brace yourselves – this will continue to escalate until the United States gets their hands on, or destroys the chemical weapons stocks, or the Russians remove it, hide it and convince the US it’s gone or didn’t exist.

I don’t care what some of you are saying about Russia having the “high moral ground”, “Putin is a Christian” or “Putin is a real leader”… The RUSSIANS ARE NOT TO BE TRUSTED, PERIOD.

Check your bags, weapons and supplies.

Prepare.

Syria: Nothing to see here, move along

Obama says is shifting to domestic priorities from Syria focus

 

(Reuters) – President Barack Obama said on Thursday he is shifting his focus to domestic priorities from a tense period during which he sought congressional approval to use military force against Syria for its suspected use of chemical weapons.

“Even as we have been spending a lot of time on the Syria issue and making sure that international attention is focused on the horrible tragedy that occurred there, it is still important to recognize that we’ve got a lot more stuff to do here in this government,” the president said before a meeting with his Cabinet at the White House.

The president said he hopes meetings between Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will result in action to eliminate Syria’s ability to use chemical weapons again.

Obama has asked Congress to authorize military strikes against Syria in response to what the United States says was a chemical weapons attack by the government that killed more than 1,400 people on August 21. The issue is on hold pending diplomatic efforts to disarm Syria of chemical weapons.

“I am hopeful that the discussions that Secretary Kerry had with Foreign Minister Lavrov as well as some of the other players in this can yield a concrete result,” Obama said.

Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov were to hold talks on Syria in Geneva.

The president cited the budget, immigration, and implementation of his signature healthcare legislation as concerns he is turning to.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/09/12/us-usa-obama-syria-idUSBRE98B0RF20130912

 

US and Russian Ships playing Chicken

There have been “reports” (mostly rumors) that US and Russian ships are paying a kind of “Chicken” game today and yesterday.

Fox News allegedly announced (I did NOT hear this personally and am trying to get confirmation now) that the US is attempting to see what the Russians are doing with their “landing ships” but it appears the US is trying to see if the Russians are pulling Chemical Weapons off the coast being brought to them by the Syrians.

If that is the case, there’s a REASON now that the US wanted to WHACK those sites.  They gave too much warning, vacillated too much, and gave Putin an edge.

YOU CAN NOT TRUST THE RUSSIANS!

 

Bloggers and Forums getting hacked all over

The attack is purportedly being carried out by a nebulous group of hackers who claim affiliation with both Anonymous and the Syrian Electronic Army (SEA), which supports embattled President Bashar al Assad.

Alert folks.  Bloggers and forum owners, you’re being attacked.

Lock down your sites, change your passwords, upgrade the software:

Looks like others have recently gotten hit too.

http://rgvtruckperformance.net/rgvtr…V-HACKED/page2

http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2013/0…rines-website/

http://www.mspaforums.com/showthread…-else-see-this

http://www.godlikeproductions.com/fo…age2351859/pg1

http://yourtubenews.ning.com/forum/t…ource=activity


Anonymous, Syrian Hackers Target Israel on 9/11

My “Survival Pages”

Good morning folks.  In the past few weeks we’ve watch a very classic Cold War Escalation Scenario.   I don’t think I have to cover it all, but a very basic summary here:

Someone in Syria uses Chemical Weapons on civilians.  About 1200 confirmed dead.

Videos come out showing some victims twitching, drooling, and with other symptoms of either Sarin or VX gas (Nerve agents).

The US has “intelligence” it is Assad.

Assad blames the Rebels.

We know the rebels are in large part groups of Al Qaeda, and other terrorist groups.

Russia is allied with Assad

The Russians can’t be trusted to do the right thing – regardless of those of you taken with him.

Obama can’t be trusted to do the right thing – regardless of those of you taken with him.

Military Warships from Britain, France, United States, China, Russia and other countries converge on the Mediterranean.

We threaten.  Syria threatens.  Russia Threatens.  China sides with Russia.  France sides with us.  Venezuela threatens (didn’t see that coming did you?).

MORE warships filter into the area.  Rumors of US troops being prepared for deployment are hitting the airwaves.

Russia threatens some MORE today.

Folks, if this doesn’t settle down soon there will be a tipping point that none of us in the United States want to see happen.  The MAJORITY of Americans don’t want to even bother with Syria while we have Congress and the President “debating” the politics, we’re all sitting back aghast at what is dumb and dumber working diplomatic channels (That would be Obama and Kerry).

If that tipping point happens we will see at least a conventional war or some kind of military intervention from Russia.  Now, I think we all KNOW American and stomp them into the ground, but we don’t really want to have to do that. Putin is now button pushing (as is Obama for that matter) – and either way it happens we’re all (Americans and Russians) are about to get caught up in the middle of a world war we don’t want.

The issue at hand is this could be THE War to End ALL Wars.  Nuclear weapons could be used and this is my greatest fear.

There are plenty of reasons to think this won’t happen.  There are as many reasons to think it can.

What I am writing this post for is simply to implore each of you to consider your personal options for survival.  We all want to live.  But if nuclear weapons become involved we’re all going to be in deep, deep trouble without us doing ANYTHING to deserve it.

So – read, collect information, get your affairs in order quickly.  Prepare for the worst and hope for the best.

If you come over to my site, look at the right hand column under survival pages.  There is some VERY basic information there which might or might not be helpful to you.

My advice is to read it, print it, make a book out of it.  Go to the links I provide and from there collect other data and links.  Build a “Survival Manual”.  Hard copy (and sure put it all on a thumb drive).

If nuclear weapons start flying EMP will destroy most computer systems.  The Internet will be disconnected in places, if not altogether.  Cities will be hit.  People will die.  Commerce will cease.  The world will slow to a crawl.  Planes won’t be flying.  Bombs will fall.  Invasions will occur.  You will either starve, dehydrate, die in an attack, be killed by roving bands of gangs and scavengers or you can buckle down and practice your self defense, shooting, and collect some food and water and be prepared for anything.

Am I predicting this? No.  Do I think it will happen?  Probably not.  But there is still a chance that given the state of the world right now, the actual, on-going escalation that a mistake or even a very, very dumb move on someone’s part will trigger just such an event.

Those of you who are “preppers” already are ready.  Those of us who’ve have contacts with local militias are probably ready.  Those who have been preparing for the worst in the USA are prepared.

I’m talking to you skeptics, and those who believe in all their hearts “It can’t happen here” – I don’t want you people surprised.  My job, my life has been spent teaching people to take care of themselves, to train themselves, to THINK for themselves.  If you don’t believe me, believe what you are reading in the news.

If you think 9-11 changed America (and not for the better) imagine what even a couple of nuclear devices could do to this country.

Wake up and PAY ATTENTION!

https://americanpatriotrealitycheck.wordpress.com

 

Russia went on war alert over missile test

Putin notified that launches were detected after U.S.-Israel exercise

Published: 16 hours ago

F. Michael Maloof, staff writer for WND and G2Bulletin, is a former senior security policy analyst in the office of the secretary of defense.
ArrowMissile

WASHINGTON – Just as the Syrian crisis was getting under way, a joint U.S.-Israeli test of an anti-missile system prompted the Russian General Staff to go on “high alert” and notify President Vladimir Putin that missiles may be incoming on Syria.

The reason: Neither the United States nor Israel bothered to notify Russia that the Sept. 2 test was going on in the Mediterranean near Syria.

Moscow’s response was immediate.

The Russian General Staff thought Israel had launched a preemptive attack on Syria in the eastern Mediterranean which some Russian officials said could have led to World War III.

The U.S. and Israel were conducting a joint test of Israel’s Arrow-3 anti-missile system when it launched two Israeli Ankor, or Sparrow, missiles as targets from the central Mediterranean toward the eastern Mediterranean coast.

The Arrow is Israel’s most advanced anti-missile system and the U.S. has spent billions of dollars in its development.

According to various sources, the Russian ballistic missile early warning radar at Armavir on the Black Sea detected the launch of the two Ankor target missiles, heading toward Syria.

Armavir provides early warning of incoming missile attacks on Russia from Europe and the Middle East.

Putin was immediately notified of the launches.

When the truth came out about the unannounced anti-missile test, Russian Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov criticized Israel for undertaking such a launch during a crisis occurring in the neighboring country of Syria.

Referring to the Mediterranean region as a “powder keg,” Antonov warned that anything such as an unannounced missile test could explode into war.

Russia went on war alert over missile test

Russia’s ‘carrier-killer’ Moskva enters Mediterranean

Published time: September 11, 2013 15:18
Edited time: September 11, 2013 15:53
Missile cruiser "Moskva" (RIA Novosti/Vitaliy Ankov)Missile cruiser “Moskva” (RIA Novosti/Vitaliy Ankov)

Russia’s Moskva missile cruiser, dubbed a “carrier-killer” by NATO, has passed through the Straits of Gibraltar and is now heading toward the eastern Mediterranean to assume command of the Russian naval force there.

The Russian Navy said in a statement that the Moskva cruiser passed through the Straits of Gibraltar on September 10.

Interfax news agency added that the Moskva cruiser, “commanded by Sergey Tronev, Captain 1st Rank of the Guards… has enough room for maneuver now.”

“The Black Sea flagship entered the Russian Navy’s area of responsibility in the Mediterranean at 11:00 pm Moscow time yesterday,” the agency reported a military source as saying.

The missile-carrying cruiser is expected to join its final destination in eastern Mediterranean on September 15 or 16.

Upon arrival, the command of the Russian Navy unit in the Mediterranean, currently stationed onboard the Admiral Panteleyev anti-submarine ship, will be relocated to the Moskva.

“The armaments and technical equipment of the missile cruiser are in working condition. The crew is ready to perform combat missions,” the source said.

http://rt.com/news/russia-moskva-cruiser-mediterranean-720/

The Benghazi deception: CNN confirms WND report of suspected CIA gun-running

Clinton testifies before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee about the September 11 attacks against the U.S. mission in Benghazi.

Alex Wong/Getty Images
August 3, 2013

The lies and deception perpetrated on the American public about Benghazi continue. However, yesterday another media outlet has joined the ranks of those reporting about the deception. On August 2, CNN confirmed WND’s previous report on suspected CIA gun-running in Benghazi.

WND was among the first to report about the CIA’s suspected illicit behavior. The alleged gun-running is being blamed for the deaths of Ambassador Stevens and three other Americans in the Sept. 11, 2012 attack on the U.S. mission and CIA annex.

Supposedly, Stevens coordinated the recruitment by Saudi Arabia of Islamic fighters from North Africa and Libya. He also reportedly sent the names of potential terrorist recruits to U.S. organizations for consideration.

The Business Insider reported U.S. Ambassador Stevens may have been linked to jihadist rebels in Syria, (October 29, 2012). In the report they said:

There’s growing evidence that U.S. agents — particularly murdered ambassador Chris Stevens — were at least aware of heavy weapons moving from Libya to jihadist Syrian rebels.

The CIA annex in Benghazi reportedly collected information concerning weapons looted from Libyan government arsenals. Among these weapons were surface-to-air missiles.

http://www.examiner.com/article/the-benghazi-deception-cnn-confirms-wnd-report-of-suspected-cia-gun-running

Reality Check Survival Communications

I just published a handful of pages on the blog in case anyone cares, or is interested, or wants to learn something quickly.

(https://americanpatriotrealitycheck.wordpress.com/survival-pages/survival-communications/)

Survival Communications Pages can be found on the top of the page and there is a tab with a lot of links.

Not everything is correctly in order yet, I’ve not checked for grammatical and spelling errors everywhere, and I’ve not verified that all the links are still functional.  So use it and if you find errors, feel free to comment under the proper page.

I’m an expert on radio communications. I’ve posted things in a simple form for you to read, so it’s understandable, kept math and science to a minimum and ask only that you read it for information.

Those that want to argue points with me on this or that is fine, but I sincerely don’t have time – and to be honest with you, I’ll be right on this subject where most will be wrong.

EMP is NOT complete.

FAQ is NOT complete.

There are other pages with links as well, like Nuclear War, Finding Water, etc.  Not all of those are completed either, but they are better than nothing for anyone who might find themselves suddenly thrown into “being a prepper”.

Good luck, God Bless everyone… let’s hope the Russians and Americans can get their acts together before the people of both countries wind up being nuclear particles floating on a westerly breeze.

USS Barry deployed off coast of Syria

Nope, not kidding.  It’s real.

 

Navy Deploys USS Barry to Middle East

Bashar al-Assad’s forces may find themselves face-to-face with Barry, who is already in the region in case military strikes are launched against Syria. The USS Barry, that is.

Along with the destroyer sharing the nickname of the president, the Navy has deployed three other ships to the Mediterranean in preparation for the possible military action: the USS Ramage, Gravely, and Stout.

The destroyer is, in fact, named after the American Revolutionary War officer John Barry, who went on to be the nation’s first commissioned naval officer.

Russian Ultimatium

Putin: Syria chem arms handover will work only if US calls off strike

Published time: September 10, 2013 17:00

Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Syria’s chemical arms handover will only work if the US and its allies renounce the use of force against Damascus.

“Certainly, this is all reasonable, it will function and will work out, only if the US and those who support it on this issue pledge to renounce the use of force, because it is difficult to make any country – Syria or any other country in the world – to unilaterally disarm if there is military action against it under consideration,” President Putin said on Tuesday.

Putin said the disarmament of Syria’s chemical weapons had been extensively discussed by experts and politicians.

The Russian president said that he and President Barack Obama had “indeed discussed” such a possibility on the sidelines of the G20 summit in St. Petersburg last week.

It was agreed, Putin said, “to instruct Secretary of State [John Kerry] and Foreign Minister [Sergey Lavrov] to get in touch” and “try to move this idea forward.”

President Putin’s comments came shortly after the Syrian government said it would agree to place its chemical weapons arsenal under international control.

Despite voicing “some serious skepticism,” Western countries supported the move, stressing the importance of Assad fulfilling the agreement and surrendering the weapons stockpiles.

Britain said it would like Russia and Syria to show that the proposal to President Bashar Assad is “serious and genuine.”

In Washington, the White House echoed the UK statement, saying it wanted to verify that Syria was serious in its intentions.

Obama:”Take it with a grain of salt”

President Barack Obama expressed skepticism at a Russian proposal for Syria to hand over its chemical weapons to international inspectors to avert U.S. military strikes — even as the Arab republic publicly welcomed the initiative.

“I think you have to take it with a grain of salt initially,” Obama told NBC News’ Savannah Guthrie on Monday night. “This represents a potentially positive development. We are gonna run this to ground.”

“I think what we’re seeing is that a credible threat of a military strike from the United States, supported potentially by a number of other countries around the world, has given them pause and makes them consider whether or not they would make this move,” Obama added.

Obama to address nation on Syria, pursues U.N. deal

Wishful thinking on USA Today’s part?

WASHINGTON — President Obama will address the nation Tuesday night on chemical weapons in Syria, as he and aides pursue a diplomatic proposal at the United Nations that has put military and congressional action on hold.

Obama spoke Tuesday with the leaders of France and the United Kingdom, and agreed to explore whether a Russian proposal to put Syria’s weapons under international weapons is workable, senior White House officials said.

The U.S. and allies discussed the proposal Tuesday at the United Nations, said officials who requested anonymity because negotiations are ongoing.

Russia — ally of Syria and opponent of U.S. military strikes — said Monday it would ask Bashar Assad’s government to put chemical weapons under international control and have them dismantled; Syria announced Tuesday it would accept Russia’s offer.

 

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2013/09/10/obama-syria-prime-time-speech-russia-france-congress/2791373/

 

John Kerry, Chuck Hagel Pitch Syrian Strike to Congress

Top Obama officials must convince skeptical members, public

By

September 3, 2013 RSS Feed Print

President Barack Obama meets in the Situation Room with his national security advisors to discuss strategy in Syria. Several top advisors will make the case for intervention to Congress Tuesday afternoon.President Barack Obama meets in the Situation Room with his national security advisors to discuss strategy in Syria. Several top advisors will make the case for intervention to Congress Tuesday afternoon.

Top Obama administration officials heading to Capitol Hill Tuesday are likely to make the case for a military strike in Syria by playing up the importance of U.S. credibility, now that President Barack Obama has called for action.

Secretary of State John Kerry, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff are tasked with making the case for the unpopular mission following a chemical weapons attack against citizens by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. They are scheduled to meet with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Tuesday afternoon and the House counterpart Wednesday.

Obama himself continued to press for support in remarks Tuesday morning before meeting with House and Senate leaders at the White House.

“I’ve made a decision that America should take action, but I also believe that we will be much more effective, we will be stronger, if we take action together as one nation,” Obama said.

The president emphasized, as he did all last week, that he does not want to send troops into Syria, but rather pursue a more targeted approach.

“The key point that I want to emphasize to the American people [is] the military plan that has been developed by the joint chiefs – and that I believe is appropriate – is proportional; it is limited; it does not involve boots on the ground,” Obama said. “This is not Iraq, and this is not Afghanistan.”

Doug Bandow, a senior fellow at the libertarian Cato Institute, says Obama’s best hope for winning congressional approval is to continue to emphasize he intends a limited approach.

“I would assume that there would be some division of duties there. That the larger foreign policy context, that’s what you expect from secretary of state and the more practical, what sorts of things do we want to hit and the potential implications, I would expect that more from Hagel,” he says.

Bandow adds that the administration also needs to lean on Congress to support the president so as not to show weakness in the international community.

“The only pitch that works well is American credibility,” he says

Obama scored nominal support for action from House Speaker John Boehner and House Majority Leader Eric Cantor Tuesday, as well as House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi.

“I believe that my colleagues should support this call for action,” Boehner said after leaving the briefing with Obama at the White House.

http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2013/09/03/john-kerry-chuck-hagel-pitch-syrian-strike-to-congress?bcsi-ac-f883d00464788be6=20EC69AB000000027p+UENTRkEMPXnYaE+SLsF37SpZkGAAAAgAAANegWwCEAwAALgAAADiABQA=

Russian, Libyan Foreign Chiefs Meet to Discuss Key Issues in Region

While the Russians and Libyans discuss the problems is Syria, Hagel and Kerry are going in front of Congress to ask for “limited strikes” on Syria. Interestingly, it appears that they are pushing this a lot harder than the American public wants them too, even at the risk of dragging Russia into this with the use of nukes.

I know some of you keep saying “Russia won’t nuke us” and so forth – and I hope to God you’re right, but they are playing this game of chess better than Obama, Obama is an incompetent clown and Russia CAN NOT BE TRUSTED FOLKS!

The Truth hurts, but America is no longer the most powerful country on the planet, thanks again to Obama. This is all part of some bigger plan I suppose. You know who is going to suffer? Innocent Syrians, Americans and Russians – and others, when it is all said and done. This will escalate quicker than you can imagine to levels you never thought or believed possible. Brace yourselves, and prepare for the worst. Even if you DON’T BELIEVE ME, believe your EYES and EARS.

newsworldrussia

статья 1 англ

Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has underscored the importance of today’s meeting with his Libyan counterpart, Mohamed Abdulaziz, saying these consultations were instrumental in Russia’s decision-making on the region.

Mr. Lavrov welcomed Libya’s new foreign chief to Moscow, saying the agenda was abundant with urgent issues that must be solved as soon as possible. He also stressed that some of the problems of mutual interest must be followed through at the highest level.

Mohamed Abdulaziz congratulated Russia on successful G20 summit, adding it proved Russia’s key role in the modern world.

View original post

Syria

It is looking like the Russians are going to come out on top of this conflict.

They are making a deal with Syria to give up their WMD.

America looks like a country full of idiots, run by a clown.

Russia looks strong, morally superior and Putin looks like a true leader now.

A possible nuclear war may has been averted.

Tonight Obama will go on television and “claim victory”.

Only in America.

 

 

More Tweets about Syria

Read the very last set at the bottom….

US State Department on Syria: We believe a military response is appropriate, and we’ll continue working with Congress, international partners toward that – @HannahAllam

National security adviser Rice says US intends to renew push for UN-sponsored Geneva peace process in Syria following any limited military strikes – @Reuters

State Department: US to take ‘hard look’ at Russian proposal for Syria to turn over chemical weapons – @AP
29 secs ago by editor

National security adviser Susan Rice says any US military action against Syria ‘would not be another war’ – @AP
2 mins ago from bigstory.ap.org by editor


jim sciutto ‏@jimsciuttoCNN 35s
US official says “no one in admin taking Syria proposal seriously.”

Agence France-Presse ‏@AFP 1m
BREAKING: US to ‘follow up’ with Russia on Syria weapons plan: senior official

And finally, here is the admission after all. As expected, the whole point of this entire frace was to topple Assad and replace him with a pro-Syria, pro-Qatar, anti-Russia regime:

White House Live @WHLive
Rice: “Our overarching goal is to end the underlying conflict through a negotiated, political transition in which Assad leaves power” #Syria
2:27 PM – 9 Sep 2013

Assad: US ‘should expect everything’ if it attacks Syria | JPost | Israel News

Assad: US ‘should expect everything’ if it attacks Syria | JPost | Israel News.

Yes, yes we should.

Some believe he means “Russia”.  Others believe “asymmetrical attacks on America”.

I think we should expect anything, up to and including direct attacks in America by terror cells that are obviously here (they crossed a porous border), and perhaps the unknown like a nuclear bomb in a harbor someplace, a direct attack by Russians on our military in the region or naval vessels in the Med.

We don’t know with any surety that Assad used weapons on the Syrians, or whether the Muslim Brotherhood did it.  We don’t know who provided the weapons (we believe it was Saddam).  We don’t know why the President suddenly wants to do this thing without the approval of the American people and Congress.

There is no strategic plan, there is no politic plan to fuse the military action with fixing the problem and there is no real threat to America – at the moment.  If we attack them and Iran, Hezbollah, Russia and God-Knows-Who-Else jumps in and piles on – well, all bets are off.

Hillary Clinton weighs in on Syria: Weapons handover ‘important step’ – CNN.com

Hillary Clinton weighs in on Syria: Weapons handover ‘important step’ – CNN.com.

“Secretary Clinton supports the president’s effort to enlist the Congress in pursuing a strong and targeted response to the Assad regime’s horrific use of chemical weapons,” the aide said.

Clinton is scheduled to appear Monday afternoon at a forum on wildlife trafficking.

She will likely repeat her White House comments during her speech Tuesday night at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, the source added.

In addition to pushing for diplomatic efforts to remove al-Assad from power, Clinton backed a proposal last year to provide weapons to Syrian rebels when she served as secretary of state.

Clinton also issued warnings in January shortly before leaving office about Iran’s involvement in Syria, saying the country was providing al-Assad’s regime with military supplies. She urged Iran, as well as Russia, to reconsider their aid to the war-torn country.

White House Statement: Syria

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
September 09, 2013

Statement on Additional Countries in Support of September 6 Joint Statement on Syria

On September 6, the United States and 10 other countries issued a joint statement on Syria, condemning in the strongest terms the Assad regime’s use of chemical weapons on August 21 in the suburbs of Damascus and calling for a strong international response. The statement explicitly supports the efforts undertaken by the United States and other countries to reinforce the prohibition on the use of chemical weapons.

Since the issuance of that statement, additional countries (marked by an asterisk) have signed on to the statement and publicly support its content. The countries now formally supporting this statement are:

Albania*

Australia

Canada

Croatia*

Denmark*

Estonia*

France

Germany*

Honduras*

Hungary*

Italy

Japan

Republic of Korea

Kosovo*

Latvia*

Lithuania*

Morocco*

Qatar*

Romania*

Saudi Arabia

Spain

Turkey

United Arab Emirates*

United Kingdom

United States

We welcome additional countries expressing their support for this statement and our continued efforts to hold the Assad regime accountable and enforce the international norm against the use of chemical weapons. The statement will continue to be updated and can be found at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/foreign-policy/syria.

Text of Joint Statement on Syria:

The international norm against the use of chemical weapons is longstanding and universal.  The use of chemical weapons anywhere diminishes the security of people everywhere.  Left unchallenged, it increases the risk of further use and proliferation of these weapons.

We condemn in the strongest terms the horrific chemical weapons attack in the suburbs of Damascus on August 21st that claimed the lives of so many men, women, and children.  The evidence clearly points to the Syrian government being responsible for the attack, which is part of a pattern of chemical weapons use by the regime.

We call for a strong international response to this grave violation of the world’s rules and conscience that will send a clear message that this kind of atrocity can never be repeated. Those who perpetrated these crimes must be held accountable.

Signatories have consistently supported a strong UN Security Council Resolution, given the Security Council’s responsibilities to lead the international response, but recognize that the Council remains paralyzed as it has been for two and a half years.  The world cannot wait for endless failed processes that can only lead to increased suffering in Syria and regional instability.  We support efforts undertaken by the United States and other countries to reinforce the prohibition on the use of chemical weapons.

We commit to supporting longer term international efforts, including through the United Nations, to address the enduring security challenge posed by Syria’s chemical weapons stockpiles.  Signatories have also called for the UN fact finding mission to present its results as soon as possible, and for the Security Council to act accordingly.

We condemn in the strongest terms all human rights violations in Syria on all sides.  More than 100,000 people have been killed in the conflict, more than 2 million people have become refugees, and approximately 5 million are internally displaced.  Recognizing that Syria’s conflict has no military solution, we reaffirm our commitment to seek a peaceful political settlement through full implementation of the 2012 Geneva Communique.  We are committed to a political solution which will result in a united, inclusive and democratic Syria.

We have contributed generously to the latest United Nations (UN) and ICRC appeals for humanitarian assistance and will continue to provide support to address the growing humanitarian needs in Syria and their impact on regional countries. We welcome the contributions announced at the meeting of donor countries on the margins of the G20.  We call upon all parties to allow humanitarian actors safe and unhindered access to those in need.

European signatories will continue to engage in promoting a common European position.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/09/09/statement-additional-countries-support-september-6-joint-statement-syria

 

Breaking: US to ignore Russian Proposal

JPOST BREAKING: US official to ‘Post’: Russia proposal to put Syria chemical arms under global control will go ignored

RAGreeneCNN‏@RAGreeneCNN3m
US official calls Kerry remark on #Syria chemical weapons “a major goof,” says he “went off script,” CNN’s @jimsciuttoCNN reports

More tweets on Syria

Report: Senior administration official says Russia’s push for Syria to place its chemical weapons under international control is ‘another delay tactic’ – @PeterAlexander

2 mins ago from twitter.com/PeterAlexander by editor

RT @BreakingNews: Syrian Foreign Minister: Syria welcomes Russia’s proposal for Damascus to put its chemical weapons under international control – @Reuters

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says should UN report confirm the use of chemical weapons, the Security Council could unite around it – @AJELive
1 min ago from twitter.com/AJELive by editor

Max Fisher‏@Max_Fisher4m
Even if Russia’s Syria chem weapons proposal is just a bluff, it shows that Obama’s threats are actually working: http://wapo.st/1cZ3J6p

UK Prime Minister David Cameron says chemical weapons handover idea for Syria must not be used as a ‘distraction tactic’ – @Reuters
38 secs ago by editor

Assad threatens ‘repercussions’ if US launches strike on Syria

launches strike on Syria

Published September 09, 2013

FoxNews.com

 

Syrian President Bashar Assad, during an interview that aired Monday morning, threatened “repercussions” from any American attack on Syria.

The Syrian leader, speaking with CBS News, said the U.S. can expect “every action” if America strikes. He suggested retaliation could come from the opposition, as well as his own government and its allies.

“You should expect everything,” Assad said. Asked to elaborate, he added: “You should expect everything. Not necessarily from the government. … You have different parties, you have different factions, you have different ideology.”

Asked specifically if the attack could trigger more chemical warfare, Assad suggested the rebels would be the ones who would use them. He said that outcome depends on whether “terrorist” rebels possess those weapons, adding: “It could happen.”

Assad used the interview to challenge the Obama administration’s claims that his regime used chemical weapons in an attack that killed hundreds on Aug. 21. He said his soldiers were “in another area” at the time of the attack.

It comes as President Obama prepares to deliver a national address on Tuesday making his case for a military strike on Syria. The matter is currently before Congress, which will begin a set of votes this week on a resolution authorizing the use of force.

Obama on Monday also planned to make his case, in a string of interviews, for punishing Assad.

Top administration officials are heading to Capitol Hill for more classified briefings. And White House national security adviser Susan Rice is scheduled for a speech at a Washington think tank timed to the public relations blitz aimed at ensuring people the administration isn’t contemplating another commitment like Iraq and Afghanistan.

Lindsey Graham: Attack Syria Or Iran Will Nuke Charleston

For the past week I’ve been seeing articles that keep going back to Infowars.com about this.  Today Lindsey Graham is now saying it.

I don’t usually listen to, or believe ANYTHING that comes out of Alex Jones’ mouth, and less the Infowars “reporters” most of the time.

But, I’m posting this article, intact just because it’s important.  Go to the link to read the original copy.

Lindsey Graham: Attack Syria Or Iran Will Nuke Charleston

There’s a reason U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham (RINO-S.C.) refuses to show up for public meetings unless they are attended by his hand-picked supporters: He knows only a pre-selected group of ”sheeple” will sit in silence and swallow his increasingly shameless fear-mongering.

At an invitation-only breakfast for establishment Republican types in Mount Pleasant, S.C. this week, Graham said that if America doesn’t take military action against the regime of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, Iran will acquire a nuclear weapon by the end of 2014.

“I believe that if we get Syria wrong, within six months – and you can quote me on this – there will be a war between Iran and Israel over their nuclear program,” Graham said, according to U.S. News and World Report.

But the fear-mongering didn’t stop there. Graham says this conflict will come home to – of all places – Charleston, S.C.

“It won’t come to America on top of a missile, it’ll come in the belly of a ship in the Charleston or New York harbor,” he said.

Wait … what?

We’ve heard some over-the-top excuses in support of American military intervention in the Syrian civil war, but this one takes the cake.

As we’ve stated repeatedly, our government had no business getting involved in Syria in the first place and has no business escalating that involvement through direct military intervention. The American people don’t want this war.  Our allies don’t want this war. Our generals don’t want this war.

More to the point, there is no compelling national interest served by getting involved.

“The national defense is a core function of government outlined in our constitution,” we wrote recently. “But in no universe is intervening in this conflict – on the side of terrorist organizations like al-Qaeda, no less – acting in defense of those interests. Intervening would, however, encroach on the sovereignty of another nation, incite anti-American fervor in the Middle East and fundamentally make our people less safe.”

Lindsey Graham: Attack Syria Or Iran Will Nuke Charleston

 

America is in danger of going rogue under Obama

Jeffrey T. Kuhner
Friday, September 6th, 2013

President Obama is on the verge of plunging America into another war.

Unlike Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya, however, bombing Syria would trigger a regional conflagration — one that potentially could lead to a global war. World War I began in Sarajevo. World War III may start in Syria.

Hyperbole? In 1914, Europe became engulfed in a bloodbath. The spark was a conflict in a far-off corner of the Balkans. Britain, France, Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy, Turkey, Russia and eventually, America — all were propelled into a larger war, resulting in the deaths of millions. By issuing reckless ultimatums, arrogant leaders were sleepwalking their nations into disaster.

Syria is a modern-day powder keg. For over two years, it has been torn apart by a vicious, sectarian civil war. Over 100,000 Syrians have died. Nearly one-third of the population has fled into exile. Iran, Hizbullah and Russia support Syria’s strongman Bashar Assad. The Islamist rebels have the backing of Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Al Qaida. Foreign jihadists have poured in to bolster the ranks of the anti-Assad opposition.

The conflict pits Shi’ite Alawites against Sunni Wahhabites, Muslims against Christians, and Islamic fundamentalists versus Arab secularists. In short, U.S. military intervention risks dragging in almost every major regional power — including Israel — because Assad’s allies have a vested interest in his survival. Hizbullah has vowed to attack Israeli and U.S. targets in the wake of American military action. Iran has also threatened to rain missiles upon Tel Aviv. Moscow has vowed to increase weapon shipments to Damascus. Bombing Syria will light the fuse that could set-off the Mideast tinderbox.

Obama is pushing the United States toward a disastrous war for one reason: to salvage his ego. In August 2012, he publicly drew a “red line” in Syria over the use of poison gas.

The administration claims that Assad’s forces recently launched a chemical weapons attack upon civilians in rebel-held territory, murdering hundreds. To redeem his ultimatum, the president is asking Congress to authorize military force. The House and Senate should vote no.

Obama risks becoming the 21st century equivalent of Austro-Hungarian Emperor Franz Josef — a bungling buffoon, whose reckless military aggression triggers calamitous consequences.

The only justification to go to war is to protect America’s vital national security interests. Assad’s regime is brutal and ruthless.

But it has not attacked or threatened us. Hence, Obama seeks to wage an illegitimate war. There is no moral or strategic basis to bomb Syria. It is bellicose imperialism masquerading as humanitarian interventionism. The Syrian civil war is none of our business.

In fact, Obama wants the United States to do the unthinkable: side with Al Qaida — the very group responsible for the mass murder of 3,000 Americans and the worst terrorist atrocity on U.S. soil. Contrary to the claims of Secretary of State John Kerry, the Syrian rebels are not dominated by “moderates”; rather, their ranks are filled with Muslim extremists, who have committed numerous atrocities.

Read the rest at: http://www.worldtribune.com/2013/09/06/america-is-in-danger-of-going-rogue-under-obama/

 

 

Today’s Tweets and Knowledge on Syria

Below is some information collected by some good people on our web site.  Tweets, and various pieces of information will appear here.

More: Russia’s foreign minister urges US not to take military action, says President Obama is backing terrorists – @Reuters
59 mins ago by editor

John Kerry says Assad could prevent attack by turning over all chemical weapons to the international community within next week – @Reuters
6 mins ago by editor

More: Kerry says evidence is compelling that Assad launched chemical weapons attack
– @AP
11 mins ago by editor

John Kerry says rebels do not have scientific capacity to carry out chemical attack, despite regime claims – live video
18 mins ago by editor

John Kerry says he had productive and informative talks with Palestinian President Abbas on Sunday – @Reuters
29 mins ago by editor

US Secretary of State Kerry says relationship with Britain is special despite the vote in UK parliament on Syria intervention – @Reuters
33 mins ago by editor

Britain’s foreign minister says we must defer further chemical attacks during conference with Secretary of State Kerry
– @BBCNews
40 mins ago by editor

Russia’s foreign minister says Russia, Syria urge United States to focus on convening peace talks, not military action – @Reuters
1 hour ago by editor

Russian FM Lavrov says the investigation into Syrian chemical weapons must be professional, results must be submitted to UN Security Council
– @AlArabiya_Eng
1 hour ago by editor

Update: Control of chemical weapons in Syria restricted to President Assad, his brother Maher and an unnamed general, Kerry says – @Reuters
14 mins ago by editor

When asked if there will be attacks on American interests in the region, Assad says ‘you should expect everything’ – @CBSThisMorning
2 mins ago by editor

President Assad calls on Obama to ‘present what you have as evidence to the public, be transparent’ on chemical attack – @CBSThisMorning
4 mins ago by editor

Syria’s Assad denies his forces were responsible for chemical attack, says his own forces came under chemical attack – @CBSThisMorning
5 mins ago by editor

‘He presented his confidence, he presented his convictions… he didn’t present any evidence, nothing so far, not a shred of evidence’ Assad says when asked about evidence John Kerry says he has – @CBSThisMorning
7 mins ago by editor

‘Our soldiers in another area, were attacked chemically’ President Assad of Syria says in interview – @CBSThisMorning
9 mins ago by editor

 

Updated Just now:

Some points from a statement from Lavrov, Russia’s FM

Steve Rosenberg‏@BBCSteveR53s
Russian Foreign Min Lavrov: Russia will urge Syria to put chemical weapons under international control if it helps avoid military strikes

gandalf greybeard‏@gerrydogma1m
Lavrov has just urged Syria to hand over its chemical weapons. Hopes for a positive response from Syria @lrozen

Peter Diapre‏@skybod1m
AFP: Russia calls on Syria to hand over and then destroy chemical weapons: Lavrov

Laura Rozen‏@lrozen1m
did I get that right Lavrov said ‘we do not know’ if Syria will accept what Kerry said? but propose to find out? @tggrove

cigolo‏@cigolo1m
Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov Says Moscow Does Not Know Whether Syria Will Accept Proposal

Olivier Fehr‏@oliviernfehr1m
Surprise: #Russia ready to help convince #Syria to hand over Chemical Weapons to IC: Lavrov

Roland Oliphant‏@RolandOliphant1m
Lavrov says he likes John Kerry’s offer of handing over Syrian chemical weapons to avoid strike on Syria.

Anya Arda‏@AnyaArda2m
Russian FM Sergei Lavrov calls for Syrian govt to hand over chemical weapons

Simon Marks‏@SimonMarksFSN2m
Per @AnyaArda Lavrov has just urged Syria to hand over its chemical weapons.

عربي سوري‏@3arabiSouri3m
#Russia wants to bargain on #Syria’s strategic defense and national security. No way Mr. GasPutin and Mr. Lavrov.. Play another game.

Kerry dead set on bombing Syria

It’s kind of funny to watch a meltdown of a former war-protester-turned-warmonger, AKA John Kerry.

It appears that Obama and Kerry will do just about anything possible, say anything, lie or make up stories to get the chance to bomb Syria.

Now he is going on about the “Arab League” and their “Red Line”.

Whose Red Line is it Anyway?

http://www.smh.com.au/world/kerry-arab-league-agrees-syria-crossed-global-red-line-20130909-2tenz.html

 

 

Obama Appeals For Backing To Hit Syria, Europeans Urge Delay

The US President is emphasising that he only plans limited strikes on Syria to deter future chemical weapons attacks.

Reuters

President Barack Obama urged Americans on Saturday to back him in launching an attack on Syria, as diplomatic pressure grew on the United States to wait for a U.N. report expected in a week’s time before beginning military action.

Fresh from a European trip in which he failed to forge a consensus among global leaders, Obama plunged into a campaign on radio and television to try to convince a skeptical U.S. public and Congress of the need for a military strike on Syria.

In Europe, pressure increased for delay. European Union foreign ministers meeting in Lithuania on Saturday blamed the Aug. 21 chemical weapons attack in Syria on President Bashar al-Assad’s government. But they did not endorse military action and made clear the bloc wanted the United Nations to have a role in agreeing on an international response.

Pope Francis, who two days ago branded a military solution in Syria “a futile pursuit,” led the world’s 1.2 billion Roman Catholics in a global day of prayer and fasting for peace in Syria, the Middle East and the world.

Obama, clearly still the reluctant warrior who rose to political prominence on his opposition to the Iraq war, emphasised he favored limited strikes on Syria to deter future chemical weapons attacks – not another costly and protracted conflict.

“This would not be another Iraq or Afghanistan,” Obama declared in his weekly radio address, previewing arguments he will make in a nationally televised address on Tuesday.

“I know that the American people are weary after a decade of war, even as the war in Iraq has ended, and the war in Afghanistan is winding down. That’s why we’re not putting our troops in the middle of somebody else’s war,” Obama said.

Obama will give interviews on Monday to the three network news anchors, as well as PBS, CNN and Fox News, more evidence of a “full-court press” strategy before pivotal congressional votes on military strikes in Syria.

The interviews will air during each network’s Monday evening news broadcast, the White House said.

Lawmakers returning to Washington after a summer break say many of their constituents have told them they do not think the United States should respond militarily to the August chemical weapons attack that Washington blames on Assad’s government.

The Obama administration says over 1,400 people were killed by the poison gas, hundreds of them children. A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll said 56 per cent of Americans believed the United States should not intervene in Syria; 19 per cent backed action.

Obama is seeking congressional approval for a strike, but early vote-count estimates do not look encouraging for the president, with scores of lawmakers still undecided. The Senate is expected to take action next week. The House of Representatives will vote later, but the time is not set.

As the White House cranked up its campaign, CNN showed excerpts on Saturday from the gruesome aftermath of the attack taken from a DVD shown to lawmakers and compiled from publicly available videos on YouTube and other internet sites.

PRESSURE RISES FOR DELAY IN EUROPE

Many EU governments have expressed reservations about using military force to punish Assad, now fighting a 2-1/2-year battle against rebels in which more than 100,000 people have died.

In a carefully worded message, the foreign ministers of 28 EU governments stopped short of endorsing possible U.S. and French military action against Syria ahead of the U.N. report.

French President Francois Hollande said the report could be made public at the end of next week and he suggested that France might then wish to take the matter to the U.N. Security Council, a step that could further delay any action.

“When the (U.S.) Congress will have voted on Thursday or Friday and when we will have the inspectors’ report, likely at the end of the week, a decision will have to be made, including after possibly referring the matter to the United Nations (Security Council),” Hollande said, speaking from the southeastern city of Nice after a meeting with his Lebanese counterpart.

An iFop poll published in Le Figaro on Saturday found that 64 percent of the French opposed any kind of international military intervention in Syria, up 19 percentage points in just one week, with even more – 68 percent – opposing a French intervention in the war-torn country.

A senior Obama administration official suggested on Friday that the White House could wait for a U.N. inspectors’ report on chemical arms use in Syria before ordering U.S. naval forces gathered in the Mediterranean to hit Syria.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, who was also in Lithuania, said later that Obama had made no decisions about waiting for the U.N. inspectors and was keeping options open.

Apart from anything else, delay in attacking Syria might help the White House gather more support in Congress and among public opinion.

The senior official told reporters that during Obama’s discussions with other G20 leaders in Russia on Friday on the timing of any military response to the Syrian crisis, it was apparent that “a number of countries feel it’s important that the U.N. inspectors have time to report back their findings first.

“That’s entirely consistent with our timetable,” the official said. Final votes in Congress could come after the U.N. report is announced.

SCRAMBLING FOR VOTES

Supporters of military action scrambled for votes in Congress. House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi on Saturday sent her fifth letter to Democratic lawmakers urging them to back Obama, noting that Congress had voted overwhelmingly to condemn Syria’s acquisition of weapons of mass destruction a decade ago.

The influential pro-Israel group AIPAC said it planned a major lobbying effort next week to try to round up support for military action, with about 250 activists in Washington to meet senators and representatives.

But it was unclear whether the effort was working.

Iraq joins Iran in Opposing US on Syria

By , Sunday, September 8, 1:16 PM

BEIRUT — Iran won Iraqi support for its efforts to oppose a U.S.-led military strike on Syria during a visit to Baghdad on Sunday by the new Iranian foreign minister, highlighting how close the two countries have grown since U.S. forces withdrew in 2011.

Speaking during his first visit abroad since he was appointed last month, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javed Zarif warned that U.S. intervention in Syria risks igniting a region-wide war.

“Those who are short-sighted and are beating the drums of war are starting a fire that will burn everyone,” Zarif said during a news conference.

Standing alongside him, Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said all of Syria’s neighbors, including Iraq, would be harmed by American involvement in Syria’s two-year-old conflict.

“What I can say conclusively is that Iraq will not be a base for any attack, nor will it facilitate any such attack on Syria,” Zebari told reporters after holding talks with Zarif.

Zebari, a Kurd, was a staunch supporter of the U.S. invasion of Iraq a decade ago and has warm relations with the United States, but Iraq has been pulled closer into Iran’s orbit since the U.S. troop withdrawal, and the Syrian revolt threatens to revive the sectarian conflicts left unresolved with the troops’ departure. That Zarif chose Baghdad for his first trip abroad underscores the importance of the relationship.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/iraq-joins-iran-in-opposing-us-led-military-strike-in-syria/2013/09/08/9187c1f6-18b8-11e3-8685-5021e0c41964_story.html

 

US to notify Israel “hours” prior to an attack

By Dan Williams, Reuters

HERZLIYA, Israel — The United States would notify Israel hours in advance of an attack on Syria, an Israeli official said on Sunday.

While formally on the sidelines of the Syrian crisis, Israel fears coming under reprisals from its northern foe should the United States launch strikes to punish Damascus for alleged use of chemical weaponry.

Asked how much advance notice Israel would get from its U.S. ally about such attacks, an Israeli official briefed on contacts with Washington told Reuters: “Hours.”

But a senior strategist for the Defense Ministry said separately Israel was, like the rest of the world, in the dark at present.

“Will the United States attack? Will it not attack? What will the consequences be? All of these things are unknowns,” Amos Gilad said in a speech at the International Institute for Counter-Terrorism near Tel Aviv.

President Barack Obama has run into formidable U.S. domestic opposition to military action. Wary of appearing to meddle in American affairs, most Israeli officials have not publicly commented on the debate.

Israel plans to deploy anti-missile systems and troop reinforcements on its Syrian and Lebanese fronts if Obama green-lights strikes against Syria.

http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/09/08/20388459-us-would-notify-israel-hours-before-syria-attack-israeli-official?lite

 

 

Things to know today about Syria

Looks like the “No Boots on the Ground” was bullshit from the get-go…  Below is some stuff we collected.  Read through it all and think carefully about what you’ve done today to prepare for nuclear war, or major terrorism in the United States, because frankly, it’s leading to an all out war with Islam, possibly Russia, China and who knows who else…

B’Claw Unfettered ‏@2009superglide 25s
Over 1500 US Troops have died in Afghanistan since Obama took office. He wants us dragged into Syria
@RealJamesWoods @KenWahl1 #Syria

Wil Herman ‏@wilherman 1m
Footage of Chemical Attack in #Syria is a Fraud, says Mother Agnes, a catholic nun working in Syria http://www.filmsforaction.org/news/f…IbwxEw.twitter

Art Vandelay ‏@therealArtV 39s
@DanaPerino what do you make of the Gazprom/pipeline theory? And why is no one asking why #qatar and #saud want to fund a US strike? #syria

De’Vohn Roman ‏@DeVohnR 1m
Don’t let #Syria distract you from government surveillance! #NSA

AFP: #Germany signs statement urging ‘strong response’ on #Syria

EU calls for “clear and strong” response to use of CW in #syria, but wants to wait for UN inspectors’ report before military action

BREAKING: Germany to join US-drawn #G20 declaration on #Syria – FM

11:20 GMT: President Obama said that a small military force may be needed in Syria after all, to deter future chemical weapons attacks – according to Reuters. Although he said on his weekly radio and internet address that a protracted conflict like “Iraq or Afghanistan” is not something he wants. http://rt.com/news/syria-crisis-live-updates-047/

beforeitsnews ‏@beforeitsnews 1m
100000 Iranian Volunteers Now In Syria To Fight US If Obama Strikes http://b4in.org/sEU

Breitbart News ‏@BreitbartNews 35s
Kerry: Obama Can Bomb Syria With or Without Congressional Go Ahead: Even as he lobbies former Congressional co… http://bit.ly/1fJH11R

Jim Watts ‏@wattsjim 2m
MSM in full Obama Mode, repeatedly showing #Syria Casualty Videos and Obama lapdogs pounding war drums #StayOutOfSyria

Padraig Cæl ‏@Peetweefish 4m
Emotions, people. Not reason. MT @WhiteHouse: “We cannot turn a blind eye to images like the ones we’ve seen out of #Syria” —President Obama

Rami al-Lolah‏@RamiAlLolah25m
#BreakingNews Massive explosion in Bab al-Hawa in #Syria #Turkey borders!

Rami al-Lolah‏@RamiAlLolah20m
#BreakingNews The explosion occurred near #Syria #Turkey borders was caused by a car loaded with huge mass of explosives!

Jenan Moussa‏@jenanmoussa1m
Important to remember that FSA Ahfad AlRasul (where car bomb exploded) are big enemies of AlQaeda linked ISIS. @akhbar #Syria

Jenan Moussa‏@jenanmoussa4m
#Breaking: Head of Ahfad Al Rasul (moderate FSA) Major Mohammad Al Ali seriously injured in car bomb at #Syria Turkey border.

Jenan Moussa‏@jenanmoussa13m
Car bomb exploded close to Supreme Military Council (SMC) HQ. Significant especially now cz SMC supports Western strikes against #Assad.

Jenan Moussa‏@jenanmoussa17m
Bab El Hawa where car bomb exploded is at #Turkey #Syria border, 6 kms from where I was short time ago. No info yet about the damage. #pt

Jenan Moussa‏@jenanmoussa19m
Source tells me: car bomb went off next 2 FSA Ahfad AlRasul HQ in Bab ElHawa, 500m from HQ of Western backed Supreme Military Council #Syria

Blogs of War‏@BlogsofWar2h
Al Furqan Brigades claim 2 attacks on ships in Suez Canal, threaten more http://ow.ly/2zIw9h

Blogs of War‏@BlogsofWar2h
Pryor deals blow to Obama, opposes military action in Syria http://ow.ly/2zIw9i

Barbara Starr‏@barbarastarrcnn7m
Petraeus just issued publIc statement in support of POTUS on Syria

Retweeted by Nathan J Hunt

Operator‏@911BUFF8m
JUST IN: PRESIDENT OBAMA WILL ADDRESS THE NATION FROM THE WHITE HOUSE ON TUESDAY AT 9:00 PM EST ON THE SYRIAN CRISIS. CBS. #911BUFF

Operator‏@911BUFF17m
URGENT! TURKEY IS SENDING ADDITIONAL TANKS, ARMORED VEHICLES COAST GUARD BOATS AND HAVE SCRAMBLED F-16’S TO THE SYRIAN BORDER. SUNDAYSZAMAN.

Jonah Mandelþ@mandeljonah12m
#Israel deploys its Iron Dome missile defense system by Jerusalem, an @AFP photographer reports, as the #US lobbies for a #Syria strike

UN drawing up emergency plan

 

 

SEPTEMBER 6, 2013

UN draws up emergency plan for Syria strike

UN agencies have drawn up emergency plans for a military strike on Syria but are determined to keep delivering aid in the stricken country, a top UN official said Friday. “We continue to update and look at our contingency planning” in case the numbers of refugees fleeing Syria rises, UN humanitarian chief Valerie Amos said after a trip to Damascus. The United Nations has concerns about the safety of its 4,500 staff in Syria, she added. But Amos said: “We have a commitment to continue our humanitarian operations.” Amos said the mainly Syrian staff “want to continue to work for the good of Syrians” but “at the same time they are mindful of the impact that any possible military action might have on themselves and their families.” UN agencies and private aid groups already have problems reaching many areas in Syria because of fallout from the 29-month-old conflict which the UN says has left more than 100,000 dead. Eleven UN workers have been killed in the war. Amos, speaking by video conference from Beirut, said she had discussed lifting obstacles to getting approval for aid deliveries, convoys and visas for aid workers with officials in President Bashar al-Assad’s government. More than 4.25 million people have fled their homes in Syria and two million are registered as refugees in countries around Syria, according to UN figures. Amos highlighted the case of Lebanon. The UN humanitarian coordinator in Lebanon, Robert Watkins, said there are now 726,000 Syrians registered with UN agencies and the figure is expected to rise above one million by the end of year. The UN said this week that it would have to cut aid to more than a quarter of the Syrian refugees in Lebanon because of funding shortages. The world body has launched its biggest ever annual appeal, $4.4 billion, for Syria. Less than half has been raised so far.

https://now.mmedia.me/lb/en/nowsyrialatestnews/un-draws-up-emergency-plan-for-syria-strike

 

 

Build Up to World War

This is what we know so far…. Naval Forces in the region, as well as some daily intelligence to digest here. We have not provided specific links but all of this information is gleaned from unclassified, open source information.  Please remember we will not put exact locations, troop numbers, troop movements or any other information about America and Allied forces out.  This is a one time list just to show that we are building up for something much greater than a “limited in scope and duration” attack on Syrian WMD.  We will be contending with China, Russia, Iran and perhaps other Communist, Islamic forces, including but not limited to terror cells deployed within the United States proper.

Russia:

Kaliningrad (landing ship)
Shabalin (landing ship)
Saratov (landing ship)
Avoz (landing ship)
Smetlivy (submarine destroyer)
Admiral Chabanenko (anti-submarine destroyer)
Moskva (guided missile cruiser)
Priazovye (intelligence and reconnaissance ship)
Novocherkassk (landing ship)
Minsk (landing ship)
Nikolai Filchenkov (large landing ship, en route to Syria)
RFS Admiral Panteleyev (may be present)
RFS Peresvet (may be present)
RFS Admiral Nevelskoi (may be present)

USA:

USS Nimitz
Princeton (cruiser)
William P. Lawrence (destroyer)
Stockdale (destroyer)
Shoup (destroyer)
Stout (destroyer)
Mahan (destroyer)
Ramage (destroyer)
Barry (destroyer)
Graveley (destroyer)
USS Florida (sub)
USS Georgia (sub)
USS San Antonio (amphibious landing ship)

British:

Illustrious (helicopter carrier)
Bulwark (landing ship)
Montrose (frigate)
Westminster (frigate)
Tireless (Sub)

French:

Chevalier Paul (anti-aircraft frigate)

China:

Jinggangshan (confirmed to be present)

Internet communications being monitored by several news outlets tell of China sending ships through the Red Sea into the Bosphorus to “observe” Russian and US naval and military activities there. China reportedly already has several ships laying off the Syria coast, but their names and types are currently unknown.

A multitude of missiles, both US and Russia, French and British are present in the region.  Chinese radar systems are deployed at this time in Syria.  Russian radar and anti-missile systems are deployed within Syria at this time, along with an unknown Russian presence.  The Syrians are believed to have S-300 long range anti-aircraft missile systems deployed in the region as well.

Iran may or may not have a submarine in the area, and they have reportedly (rumors) deployed Republican Guard troops to the region.  The Iranians have also “ordered” their “militias” to retaliate against America if Syria is attacked.  The Iranians may also have a ship in the region at this time, but there are no firm details as of yet.

Today the US removed diplomats from Lebanon, Turkey Amid Threats to embassies and Russia cancelled it’s “lobbying” mission to DC to try to convince Congress to back off.

US Navy destroyers in the Mediterranean are “fully ready” to launch cruise missiles into Syria as part of a US military campaign that would not involve “extraordinary” monetary costs, a top admiral said Thursday.

Syria is moving the chemical weapons assets at this time and obviously they will place them in schools, hospitals and civilian population centers.

US-Russia military escalation in eastern Med

Another ten ships join in the escalating naval military build up in the Med.

Syria: US-Russia military escalation in eastern Med

Another 10 warships joining those already deployed near Syria

(ANSAmed) – NICOSIA, SEPTEMBER 6 – As diplomatic tensions over the Syrian crisis rise between the US and Russia, the escalation between the two superpowers is also playing out in terms of their respective warships in the waters off the embattled Arab nation ahead of a possible strike against the Damascus regime.

While there were 19 warships in the eastern Mediterranean just a few days ago – eight American, five Russian, five British and one French – that sector is about to get much more crowded in the next few hours with the arrival of four US ships, including an aircraft carrier, and six Russian ones.

THE US’ nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Nimitz is in the Red Sea along with four ships from its strike group: the Princeton cruiser plus the William P. Lawrence, Stockdale and Shoup destroyers. They are awaiting orders to enter the Mediterranean in case of a strike. The USS Nimitz has 3,200 seamen, 2,480 pilots and 90 aircraft, both warplanes and helicopters.

The USS Princeton carries 390 troops and is armed with Tomahawk and Harpoon missiles, while the other three ships have 380 crew and marines on board and are packing Tomahawk missiles.

This group has joined five missile-equipped destroyers already in the area: the USS Stout, Mahan, Ramage, Barry and Graveley, each with 280 troops on board. They can intercept ballistic missiles and launch Tomahawk missiles, and will team up with two nuclear-propelled guided-missile submarines, the USS Florida and Georgia, each with a crew of 140. These are ported at the Souda Bay naval base on the Greek island of Crete, along with the USS San Antonio, an amphibious landing ship carrying 700 seamen and 360 Marines.

RUSSIA has deployed four large but aging landing ships: the Kaliningrad, the Shabalin, the Saratov and the Avoz. Each with a crew of 90-100, they can transport up to 200 tanks and 350 soldiers, and are equipped with surface-to-air missiles. Also in the area is the Smetlivy submarine destroyer, which hails from 1967 and has a crew of 300. It is armed with Uran anti-ship missiles and is transporting an anti-submarine Kamov Ka-25 helicopter. They will be backed up within days by an anti-submarine destroyer (probably the Admiral Chabanenko) and the Moskva guided missile cruiser. The Admiral Chabanenko (manned by 300) is armed with SS-N-14 Silex anti-submarine missiles and SA-N-9 Gauntlet surface-to-air missiles.

Read More  @ http://www.ansamed.info/ansamed/en/news/sections/generalnews/2013/09/06/Syria-US-Russia-military-escalation-eastern-Med_9258725.html

 

On the Verge of World War III

The article at the bottom of my comments is a couple of days old, it’s from Debka – so it’s not the best source but is probably accurate. Basically we’re looking at the following states being involved in this as things heat up:

Syria, Iran, Hezbollah, Russia, China

Australia, Canada, France, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States of America

France is “waiting” for more information from the UN.
UK is really “just waiting”.

Russia has moved about 8 ships total toward the Med. The US has moved a few subs, some destroyers into the Med and the Nimitz Carrier group to the Gulf.

Obama is preparing the country for an attack, “limited in scope and duration”, promising “no boots on the ground”. Anyone who has been in the military KNOWS this isn’t true, isn’t going to be true and can’t possibly work. Anyone with even a limited sense of tactics understands you don’t telegraph your moves to the “enemy”. Anyone with even a rudimentary grasp of strategy knows you don’t put all your eggs in one basket when planning any sort of an attack. And anyone with a clue about life understands you don’t go to war for no good reason and you certainly don’t do it if you can’t PROVE you have a good reason. Obama has not proved anything.

The Senate committee just delivered the Resolution to go into Syria to the full Senate. Congress, both houses will debate and vote likely next week on this.

We’re standing on the verge of World War III – without a “draft”, without American support, without support of the majority of Congress – and we’re less than a week away from September 11. Rumors are rampant on the Internet that there’s more than meets the eye here, and the country is “confused” according to our so-called “leader” Obama.

First he sets a “Red Line” then when the bad guys cross it a month ago, it takes time to verify this, and now he’s ready to go into a limited in scope and duration “war” against the Assad regime, to apparently punish the regime, but to give a leg up to verified enemies of America – Hezbollah, Muslim Brotherhood and other Muslim lunatics. Iran is saying how they will “bring it” to the US. Russia is backing Syria. Syria is claiming their own allies now. The Chinese are going to back the Russians. Obama has castrated our military in recent months through the shut down of units, bases, equipment, and firing of men smarter than himself.

The United States is being set up for failure big time by this man. Americans, whom for the most part are opposed to this “action” in Syria are caught in the middle of all of the forces massing on the horizon.

America is, from intelligence, full of leaderless Islamic cells – from Iranian Revolutionary Guard to Hezbollah, to Al Qaeda. Americans are being disarmed in some states including my own, in an attemp(?) to make us more vulnerable to outside forces.

It is time to stand up and be heard. It’s time to remove this asshat from the White House. It’s time for his Impeachment to begin. Get on the phone and start making the case with your members of Congress. We have to stop this guy from bringing the nukes down on our heads for his own ego.

« Breaking News »

Syria’s Muqdad threatens World War III for US strike
DEBKAfile September 4, 2013, 5:22 PM (GMT+02:00)

Syria’s deputy foreign minister Faisal Muqdad said Wednesday his regime would not give in to threats of a US-led military strike, even if a third world war erupts. In an interview with AFP, Faisal Muqdad said his government had taken “every measure” to counter a potential intervention aimed at punishing the regime of Bashar al-Assad over a suspected deadly poison gas strike, was mobilizing its allies and would take every measure “to retaliate against… aggression.”

DEBKAfile: This is the first time a regime official has intimated that Damascus has invoked the mutual defense pacts existing between Syria, Iran and Hizballah.
http://www.debka.com/newsupdatepopup/5612/

To go to Syria or Not

Up until today I’ve considered this whole Syria thing total folly.

But my American Military Mind started really thinking this through.

Today several Travel Warnings were issued by State.  It occurs to me that the US Government isn’t telling the Public everything.  So, I’m going to lay this out as if I were standing there listening in to the briefings we can’t usually hear.

Pretend for a moment you’re standing in a Congressional Classified Briefing and they bring up the number of “rebel groups” (There are about 1200 different groups).  They bring up that the most powerful among those Rebels are Hezbollah related.  Hearing more information about this and the fact that there are actually chemical weapons available in that country you realize suddenly that if the Rebels WIN this civil war, they get their hands on those WMD.

Now, who do you think will not OWN those items?

Terrorists….

To use that stuff on Americans. On US Embassies.  On Israelis.  On Christians.  On innocents.  On cities.  On subways, trains, airports, malls….

After considering this, perhaps the whole reason the President wants to go in there (other than regime change which I think is his real reason for this) is to stop the terrorists.  Nope.  Obomber doesn’t want to do that, those are his people.  He wants to clear out Assad and allow the Muslim Brotherhood to take over.

The Pentagon, the US military, Congress and most of the American people are smarter than the President gives us credit for being.  The MILITARY will go in there and secure or destroy the WMD to prevent it from falling into the hands of terrorists.

Remember them calling Bush a liar about Iraqi WMD?  Remember most of us saying “It was moved to Syria”?  Remember that Obama doesn’t want Bush to get any credit and is blaming him for everything?

No folks what this is truly about is allowing Obama to appear like a winner, Bush like a loser, hiding the fact that the WMD in Syria belonged to Saddam (and this will vindicate Bush if we can get a-hold of that stuff and prove it) and it will put Obama OUT of Office.

Honestly, this is a lot more complex than just letting Muslims to kill Muslims, or bombing some random camels and tents like Clinton did.  No, no, no, my fellow Patriots.

This is Obama trying to get us nuked.

This is Obama trying to hide the fact the WMD belonged to Saddam.

This is Obama trying to look good.

This is the Pentagon trying to stop terrorists from getting their hands on these weapons.

My final thinking on this is… we probably should go in there.  But do it right.  Everything we’ve got.  Take down BOTH sides of this conflict, destroy the chemical weapons and vindicate Bush, and if we get the chance, kick Russia in the nuts and take them down as well.

America has been made out to be a pansy-assed country by our OWN President.  It’s time to remove this guy from office and do the right thing.  But we have to DO IT RIGHT!

 

US Dept of State Travel Warning: Iraq

Travel Warning
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Bureau of Consular Affairs

Iraq

September 05, 2013

The Department of State warns U.S. citizens against all but essential travel to Iraq. Travel within Iraq remains dangerous given the security situation. This Travel Warning replaces the Travel Warning dated February 25, 2013, to update information on security incidents and to remind U.S. citizens of ongoing security concerns in Iraq, including kidnapping and terrorist violence. The ability of the Embassy to respond to situations in which U.S. citizens face difficulty, including arrests, is extremely limited.

U.S. citizens in Iraq remain at high risk for kidnapping and terrorist violence. Methods of attack have included roadside improvised explosive devices (IEDs), including explosively formed penetrators (EFPs); magnetic IEDs placed on vehicles; human and vehicle-borne IEDs; mines placed on or concealed near roads; mortars and rockets; and shootings using various direct fire weapons. Numerous insurgent groups, including al-Qaida in Iraq, remain active and terrorist activity and sectarian violence persist in many areas of the country at levels unseen since 2008. Due to the potential for political protests and demonstrations to become violent, U.S. citizens in Iraq are strongly urged to avoid protests and large gatherings.

The U.S. government considers the potential threat to U.S. government personnel in Iraq to be serious enough to require them to live and work under strict security guidelines. All U.S. government employees under the authority of the U.S. Chief of Mission must follow strict safety and security procedures when traveling outside the Embassy. State Department guidance to U.S. businesses in Iraq advises the use of protective security details. Detailed security information is available at the U.S. Embassy website.
The U.S. Embassy is located in the International Zone (IZ) in Baghdad. The IZ is a restricted access area. Iraqi authorities are responsible for control of the IZ. Travelers to the IZ should be aware that Iraqi authorities may require special identification to enter the IZ or may issue IZ-specific access badges. Individuals residing and traveling within the IZ should continue to exercise good personal safety precautions.

Increasingly, many U.S. and third-country business people travel throughout much of Iraq; however, they do so under restricted movement conditions and often with security advisors and protective security teams.

Although there have been significantly fewer terrorist attacks and lower levels of insurgent violence in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region (IKR), which includes the governorates of Sulymaniya, Erbil, and Dohuk, than in other parts of Iraq, the security situation throughout the IKR remains dangerous, and threats have increased in recent months. U.S. government personnel in northern Iraq are required to be accompanied by a protective security escort when traveling outside secure facilities.
The Government of Iraq strictly enforces requirements regarding visas and stamps for entry and exit, vehicle registration, authorizations for weapons, and movements through checkpoints. The Embassy highly recommends that all U.S. citizens in Iraq carefully review the status of their travel documents and any necessary licenses and government authorizations to ensure that they are current and valid. U.S. citizens are urged to immediately correct any deficiencies in their travel documents. U.S. citizens are strongly advised against traveling throughout the country with deficient or invalid documents. For more information about entry/exit requirements for U.S. citizens, please see our Country Specific Information page for Iraq.

U.S. citizens should avoid areas near the Syrian, Turkish or Iranian borders, which are especially dangerous and not always clearly defined. The Turkish military appears to have suspended operations against elements of the Kongra-Gel terrorist group (KGK, formerly Kurdistan Workers’ Party or PKK) located along Iraq’s northern border. However, hostilities could commence at any time. Sporadic confrontations also occur between Iranian security and Kurdish rebels in Iran, near the border with Iraq. Additionally, extensive unmarked minefields remain along this border. In many places, the border between Iraq and Syria is not under Iraqi government control and armed groups operate in these areas, which has led to violent incidents at some border crossings. Unrest in Syria has resulted in large numbers of people seeking refuge in the area. Iranian authorities previously detained, for an extended period, U.S. citizens who were hiking in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region (IKR) in the vicinity of the Iranian border. The resources available to the U.S. Embassy to assist U.S. citizens who venture close to or cross the border with Iran are extremely limited.

The ability of the U.S. Embassy to provide consular services to U.S. citizens throughout Iraq, including Baghdad, is particularly limited given the security environment. The U.S. Consulates in Basrah and Kirkuk cannot provide routine services such as passport applications, extra visa pages, and Consular Reports of Birth Abroad. U.S. citizens in need of these services in Erbil must make an appointment with the Consulate on-line, either through the Embassy’s website or the website for the Consulate in Erbil. The Embassy’s website includes consular information and the most recent messages to U.S. citizens in Iraq. U.S. citizens in Iraq who need emergency assistance should call 0770-443-1286.

For information on “What the Department of State Can and Can’t Do in a Crisis,” please visit the Bureau of Consular Affairs’ Emergencies and Crisis link. Up-to-date information on security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States and Canada or, for callers outside the United States and Canada, on a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).

U.S. citizens who choose to visit or reside in Iraq despite this Travel Warning are urged to take responsibility for their own personal security and belongings (including their U.S. passports) and to avoid crowds, especially rallies or demonstrations. U.S. citizens who choose to travel in Iraq should be aware that Iraqi authorities have arrested or detained U.S. citizens whose purpose of travel is not readily apparent. Persons also have been detained for taking photographs of buildings, monuments, or other sites, especially in the IZ in Baghdad.
All U.S. citizens in Iraq, including those working on contract for the U.S. government, are urged to inform the U.S. Embassy of their presence in Iraq by enrolling in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) in order to obtain updated travel information. By enrolling, U.S. citizens make it easier for the Embassy to provide updated security information or to contact them in emergencies. The Embassy also offers SMS text alerts delivered to your mobile phone when new security and emergency messages are released.

U.S. citizens may obtain the latest security information or other information about Iraq by contacting the U.S. Embassy, located in the International Zone, via email, or by accessing U.S. Embassy Baghdad’s website. The after-hours emergency numbers are 011-964-770-443-1286 (from the United States) or 0770-443-1286 (within Iraq). As cell phone service is unreliable in Iraq, emergency calls may also be placed through the Department of State at 1-888-407-4747.

Stay up to date by bookmarking our Bureau of Consular Affairs website, which contains current Travel Warnings and Travel Alerts as well as the Worldwide Caution. You can also download our free Smart Traveler App, available through iTunes and Google Play for travel information at your fingertips. Follow us on Twitter and the Bureau of Consular Affairs page on Facebook as well.

US Dept of State – Travel Warning: Lebanon

Travel Warning
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Bureau of Consular Affairs

Lebanon

September 06, 2013

The Department of State urges U.S. citizens to avoid all travel to Lebanon because of current safety and security concerns. U.S. citizens living and working in Lebanon should understand that they accept risks in remaining and should carefully consider those risks. On September 6, the Department of State drew down non-emergency personnel and family members from Embassy Beirut due to potential threats to U.S. Mission facilities and personnel. This supersedes the Travel Warning issued on April 1, 2013.

The potential in Lebanon for a spontaneous upsurge in violence remains.  Lebanese government authorities are not able to guarantee protection for citizens or visitors to the country should violence erupt suddenly.  Access to borders, airports, roads, and seaports can be interrupted with little or no warning.  Public demonstrations occur frequently with little warning and have the potential to become violent.  Family, neighborhood, or sectarian disputes often escalate quickly and can lead to gunfire or other violence with little or no warning.  The ability of U.S. government personnel to reach travelers or provide emergency services may be severely limited. 

The Fulbright and the English Language Fellow programs that provided grants to U.S. scholars to live and work in Lebanon during the academic year remain suspended because of the security situation and the increased possibility of attacks against U.S. citizens in Lebanon.

A number of extremist groups operate in Lebanon, including some, such as Hizballah, that the U.S. government has designated as terrorist organizations.  U.S. citizens have been the target of numerous terrorist attacks in Lebanon in the past, and the threat of anti-Western terrorist activity continues to exist in Lebanon.  U.S. citizens traveling or residing in Lebanon despite this Travel Warning should keep a low profile, assess their personal security, and vary times and routes for all required travel.  U.S. citizens also should pay close attention to their personal security at locations where Westerners generally are known to congregate, and should avoid demonstrations and large gatherings.

Hizballah maintains a strong presence in parts of the southern suburbs of Beirut, portions of the Bekaa Valley, and areas in South Lebanon.  The situation remains tense, and sporadic violence involving Hizballah or other extremist or criminal organizations remains a possibility in many areas of the country.  The U.S. Embassy advises U.S. citizens that clashes between Lebanese authorities and criminal elements have also recently occurred in other areas of the Bekaa and border regions. 

The ongoing conflict in Syria has also resulted in numerous security incidents between the border regions between Lebanon and Syria and coincides with an increasing number of security incidents around the country.  Over the past year there have been regular reports of shelling, originating from Syria, of Lebanese border areas and villages, some of which has resulted in deaths and injuries, as well as reports of armed groups originating from Syria who have kidnapped or attacked Lebanese citizens living in the border area.  On February 1, 2013, gunmen on the outskirts of the village of Arsal killed two soldiers in a retaliatory shoot-out when the army was in pursuit of a wanted suspect.  Two Lebanese nationals were killed and several were injured due to shelling in northern Lebanon February 23-24.  The potential for border violence remains and the U.S. Embassy advises U.S. citizens to avoid the Lebanese-Syrian border region. 

U.S. citizens in Lebanon should monitor ongoing political and security developments in Syria, as this may impact the security situation in Lebanon.  On August 9, 2012 the Lebanese Internal Security Force (ISF) arrested former Lebanese Minister Michel Samaha on charges of having plotted, at the direction of Syrian regime officials, to destabilize Lebanon by setting explosions and planning to assassinate certain Lebanese officials living in Tripoli or the northern region of Akkar.  On October 19, 2012, Wissam al-Hassan, Chief of the Information Branch of the ISF was assassinated in a car bombing in the Ashrafieh neighborhood of Beirut.  Two other people died, and many others were injured in the blast.  There have been increasing numbers of armed clashes with heightened sectarian tensions in the Tripoli neighborhoods of Bab al-Tabbaneh and Jabal Mohsen, in areas of the Bekaa, and in Sidon.

Hizballah and other para-military groups have at times detained U.S. citizens or other foreigners for political motivations as well as for interrogation – sometimes for hours or longer.  Kidnapping, whether for ransom or political motives, remains a problem in Lebanon.  Suspects in kidnappings sometimes have been found to have ties to terrorist or criminal organizations.

On August 16, 2012, the Maqdad clan in Lebanon kidnapped numerous Syrians and two Turkish nationals and claimed its actions were aimed at pressing for the release of one of their family members being held prisoner in Syria, allegedly by a group supporting the Syrian opposition. 

Although the U.S. government places the highest priority on the safe recovery of kidnapped U.S. citizens, it is U.S. policy not to pay ransom.

Demonstrators sometimes block the primary road between downtown Beirut and Rafiq Hariri International Airport without warning.  Access to the airport also may be cut off, sometimes for extended periods, if the security situation deteriorates.

The Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) is a body the United Nations and Lebanon created to investigate past political assassinations.  On June 30, 2011, the STL delivered to Lebanon’s Prosecutor General an indictment containing arrest warrants for four Hizballah members who are still at large. 

Beginning March 1, 2012 the United Nations renewed the STL’s mandate for a second three-year term.  U.S. citizens in Lebanon should monitor ongoing political developments, particularly in relation to the STL, as Lebanese political leaders have warned publicly that the Tribunal’s findings could spark civil unrest. 

Rocket attacks from southern Lebanon into Israel have occurred in the past and remain a potential threat.  These attacks frequently provoke a military response from Israel.  The rocket attacks and responses occur with no warning.  Skirmishes and tense exchanges between the Lebanese Armed Forces and the Israeli Defense Forces, as well as protesters and civilians, along Lebanon’s southern border with Israel also may occur with no warning.  On May 15, 2011, several demonstrators were killed and several, including a U.S. citizen, were severely wounded near the southern Lebanese border town of Maroun ar-Ras after clashes with Israel resulted in open gunfire.  Landmines and unexploded ordnance pose significant dangers throughout southern Lebanon, particularly south of the Litani River, as well as in areas of the country where fighting was intense during the civil war.  More than 40 civilians have been killed and over 300 injured by unexploded ordnance remaining from the July-August 2006 Israel-Hizballah war.  Travelers should watch for posted landmine warnings and strictly avoid all areas where landmines and unexploded ordnance may be present.

Palestinian groups hostile to both the Lebanese government and the United States operate largely autonomously inside refugee and military camps in different areas of the country.  Intra-communal violence within the camps has resulted in violent incidents such as shootings and explosions.  U.S. citizens should avoid travel to Palestinian camps.  Asbat al-Ansar, a terrorist group with alleged links to Al-Qaida, has targeted Lebanese, U.S., and other foreign government interests.  Although the group has been outlawed by the Lebanese government, it continues to maintain a presence in the Ain al-Hilweh refugee camp. 

Armed clashes, exchanges of gunfire, and incidents involving thrown grenades have all occurred, as recently as February 27, 2013, in the areas surrounding Tyre and Sidon.  Similar incidents could occur again without warning.

U.S. citizens traveling or resident in Lebanon despite this Travel Warning should be aware that the U.S. Embassy’s ability to reach all areas of Lebanon is limited.  The Embassy cannot guarantee that Embassy employees will be able to render assistance to U.S. citizens in all areas of the country.

In the event that the security climate in Lebanon and the region worsens, U.S. citizens will be responsible for arranging their own travel out of Lebanon.  U.S. citizens should be aware that the embassy does not offer “protection” services to individuals who feel unsafe.  U.S. citizens with special medical or other needs should be aware of the risks of remaining given their condition, and should be prepared to seek treatment in Lebanon if they cannot arrange for travel out of the country.

U.S. government-facilitated evacuations, such as the evacuation that took place from Lebanon in 2006, occur only when no safe commercial alternatives exist.  Evacuation assistance is provided on a cost-recovery basis, which means the traveler must reimburse the U.S. Government for travel costs.  The lack of a valid U.S. passport may hinder U.S. citizens’ ability to depart the country and may slow the U.S. Embassy’s ability to provide assistance.  U.S. citizens in Lebanon should therefore ensure that they have proper and current documentation at all times.  U.S. Legal Permanent Residents should consult with the Department of Homeland Security before they depart the United States to ensure they have proper documentation to re-enter.  Further information on the Department’s role during emergencies is provided within the Bureau of Consular Affairs website: http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/emergencies/emergencies_1212.html.

The Department of State considers the threat to U.S. Government personnel in Beirut sufficiently serious to require them to live and work under strict security restrictions.  The internal security policies of the U.S. Embassy may be adjusted at any time and without advance notice.  These practices limit, and may occasionally prevent, access by U.S. Embassy officials to certain areas of the country.  Because of security concerns, unofficial travel to Lebanon by U.S. Government employees and their family members is discouraged and strictly limited and requires the Department of State’s prior approval.

U.S. citizens living or traveling in Lebanon should enroll in the Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), https://step.state.gov/step/, at the Bureau of Consular Affairs website, http://www.travel.state.gov/, to receive the latest travel updates and information and to obtain updated information on travel and security within Lebanon.  U.S. citizens without Internet access may enroll directly with the U.S. Embassy in Beirut.  By enrolling, U.S. citizens make it easier for the Embassy to contact them in case of emergency.  The U.S. Embassy is located in Awkar, near Antelias, Beirut, Lebanon.  Public access hours for U.S. citizens are Monday; Tuesday, and Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., U.S. citizens must make appointments, http://lebanon.usembassy.gov/citizenservices/appointments.html, in advance.  U.S. citizens who require emergency services outside these hours, however, may contact the embassy by telephone at any time.  The telephone numbers are (961-4) 542-600, 543-600, and fax 544-209.

Information on consular services and enrollment in STEP can also be found at the U.S. Embassy in Beirut’s website, http://lebanon.usembassy.gov/, or by phone at the above telephone numbers between 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday local time.  U.S. citizens in Lebanon may also contact the consular section by email at BeirutACS@state.gov to schedule an appointment for ACS services.  For all other inquiries regarding a U.S. citizen who is in Lebanon, please send an email to LebanonUSCitizen@state.gov.

Up-to-date information on travel and security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States and Canada or, for callers outside the United States and Canada, on a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444.  These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays). 

For further information, U.S. citizens should consult the Department of State’s Country Specific Information for Lebanon:   http://www.travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_948.html.  You can also stay up to date by bookmarking our Bureau of Consular Affairs website, http://travel.state.gov/, which also contains current Travel Warnings and Travel Alerts:  http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis_pa_tw_1168.html.  Follow us on Twitter, https://twitter.com/travelgov, and the Bureau of Consular Affairs page on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/travelgov, and download our free Smart Traveler app, available through iTunes, https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/smart-traveler/id442693988?mt=8, or Google Play, https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=gov.state.apps.smartravel&hl=en, to have travel information at your fingertips.

If It’s Not “War,” It Sounds Like Checkers

Thursday, September 5, 2013

 

In his book On War, General Carl von Clausewitz explains that war “is controlled by its political object,” which “will set its course, prescribe the scale of means and effort which is required, and makes its influence felt throughout down to the smallest operational detail.” Over the last two days, John Kerry has insisted that “President Obama is not asking America to go to war.” He even goes so far as to suggest that he, General Dempsey and Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel “know the difference between going to war and what President Obama is requesting now.”

Over the last two days John Kerry has made a terrible case for war against Syria to Congress. While seeking action by Congress under the War Powers act, John Kerry has argued forcefully that all definitions of war by experts of warfare throughout history are wrong, and his definition is right. Ryan Evans at War on the Rocks captured the moment when Kerry jumped the shark.

Later, a frustrated Kerry revealed the real logic behind his position: public opinion. He noted that no Americans wanted to go to war with Syria and insisted the White House was of the same mind. “We don’t want to go to war in Syria either!” he exclaimed.  “It’s not what we’re here to ask. The President is not asking you to go to war…He’s simply saying we need to take an action that can degrade the capacity of a man who has been willing to kill his own people by breaking a nearly hundred year-old prohibition [against chemical weapons].”

Then, turning to Dempsey, Kerry asked, “General, do you want to speak to that?”

Dempsey responded, “No, not really, Secretary, thank you for offering.” Why? Because General Dempsey knew that was nonsense.

Words matter, and when they are not allowed to matter in policy, we are not being honest with ourselves. Over the last two days John Kerry described the political object with Syria as “to deter, disrupt, prevent, and degrade the potential for, future uses of chemical weapons or other weapons of mass destruction” by the Assad regime in Syria. The Obama administration has apparently convinced itself that a Desert Fox Part II action in Syria will produce the desired result, apparently ignoring that Desert Fox was in part what led to the invasion of Iraq in 2003. I do not know any serious expert who believes the Obama administrations military approach to Syria will achieve a positive political object for the US.

The Obama administrations national security leadership, in Congressional testimony, is promoting a delusion regarding the act of war, and is incapable of admitting they are about to start a war. Most troubling, they are intentionally dismissing consequences and the gravity of such action under the assumption that military superiority translates to strategic success. The United States does not have a strategy that political leaders can articulate publicly on Syria, nor is the Obama administrations national security leadership publicly seeking meaningful military objectives of consequence to conditions in Syria. The United States does not have a coalition of support to provide legitimacy for military action, a coalition that protects the US from escalation or retaliation. John Kerry, in front of Congress, described those who believe it unwise for the US to inject our nation into another nations civil war uninvited, as armchair isolationists. No one knew for certain the intelligence cited by Colin Powell was wrong in 2003. Every human being educated on the definition of war knows John Kerry is wrong in 2013, and no one credible on the topic of war will ever be able to argue otherwise.

http://www.informationdissemination.net/2013/09/if-its-not-war-it-sounds-like-checkers.html