Syria government 'losing control' - Russian official

BBC News ^ | Thursday, December 13, 2012

[MinorityRepublican]

A Russian official has said for the first time that the Syrian government may be defeated by opposition forces.

President Bashar al-Assad's forces are "losing more and more control and territory", deputy foreign minister Mikhail Bogdanov said.

He said Russia, one of Syria's staunchest allies, was making plans for a possible evacuation of thousands of its citizens.

Separately, Syria denied reports it had fired Scud missiles at rebels.

Nato's Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen earlier said the organisation had detected the launch of such short-range missiles, saying it showed an "utter disregard" for the lives of the Syrian people.

'Unacceptable price'

Russia, along with China, has used its veto at the UN Security Council to block resolutions condemning the Syrian government's use of violence.

But Mr Bogdanov said on Thursday: "Unfortunately, we cannot rule out the victory of the Syrian opposition."

[MinorityRepublican]

It's going to be open season on the Alawites and the Christians in Syria.

[COBOL2Java]

[BlackVeil]

Yes. What you said.

The Iraqi Christians can tell them exactly what it is like. Heartbreaking.

[Viennacon]

He had better use the chemical weapons soon if he wants to save himself, and potentially the world from an upcoming conflict of epic proportions.

The forces of evil are beginning to align.

[lookout88]

Wow, first time in my life I’m for the Syrian government

[Tailgunner Joe]

Putin's policy has been a failure.

Russia has united the entire Arab world against it, patriot missiles will soon be deployed to eastern Turkey, and Assad is going down anyway.

Was it worth it, Putin?

[SoFloFreeper]

Bingo. “Today, America...tomorrow, The World!”

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Gonna get Ugly!

[TigersEye]

When Assad falls I guess we’ll find out what 0bama’s friends are really made of.

[MestaMachine]

"It's going to be open season on the Alawites and the Christians in Syria."

Not good.

Anyone wanting on or off this ping list, please advise.

[justa-hairyape]

Yeah. Well Damascus was supposed to fall last summer along with Aleppo. At least now the Russians are admitting there is a chance Assad can lose. So that really means the games have just begun.

[Marine_Uncle]

RE: "Gonna get Ugly!"

IMHO, it has already gone beyond "ugly".

[Tzimisce]

Just what we need: another al Queda loving, Muslim Brotherhood ally in the middle east.

Great.

[Thunder90]

The problem is that if Assad wins, the Iranians and Hezbollah win too. It would be best that we let them kill each other off.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Roachs always survive in the dark corners.

[Grampa Dave]

May each side keep fighting and killing their enemies for many years.

The Alawites and the Christians need to get out of Syria, like yesterday.

[F15Eagle]

heh

[Hacksaw]

The Alawites and the Christians need to get out of Syria, like yesterday.

It's their home. Where are they supposed to go? The US is making every middle east Christian cannon fodder by destabilizing the nations they live in. And all for what?

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Ernest.

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• [pro-Assad / pro-Putin FFFs] Chemical weapons in Syria? Just say no to imperialism and its dirty war plans
• [pro-Assad / pro-Putin FFFs] Bunny snuff: Syrian rebels have chemical weapons too
• Syria: Assad Already Using Chemical Weapons On Civilians -- Activists
• Oren: Chemical Weapons in Wrong Hands Would be 'Game Changer'(Israeli Amb.)
• The US Finally Admits To Sending Heavy Weapons From Libya To Syrian Rebels
• Will Saddam's WMDs Fall into the Hands of Al Qaeda?
• Israeli ambassador: Chemical weapons passed from Syria to Hezbollah would be 'game-changer'
• Video Claims Proof Assad Unleashed Chemical Weapons
• FLASHBACK: 7/20/12 Syria's Chemical Weapons Came From Saddam's Iraq
• Report: Israel Special Forces Tracking Chemical Weapons In Syria
• "Friends of Syria" grant Assad's opponents recognition but not weapons
• U.S. Increases Aid to Syria, Now Totals $210 Million
• Regarding the Syria Mess: Maybe Morocco can help
• 'Israel Paid Syria $100 Million for Golan,' says Sadat Aide
• Middle East to Become an EVEN MORE Convoluted Mess as Syria Splits....
• USS Eisenhower arrives near Syrian border (From Reason.com -- adds validity)

[SunkenCiv]

• Syrian Scuds Land Near Turkish Border -- NATO
• Syria Fires Scud Missiles at Insurgents, U.S. Says
• [ridiculous rationalization dep't:] Assad Fires Scuds To Stop Al Qaeda Arm Seizing Chemical Arms at Al Safira