[maggief]

http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2013/08/27/Russia-Syria-has-defences-to-prevent-easy-victory-.html

AFP, Moscow

A possible Western intervention in Syria would not bring an “easy victory” because the Damascus government has enough air defense systems to rebuff attacks, the Interfax news agency said Tuesday.

“If the U.S. army together with NATO launch an operation against Syria there won’t be an easy victory,” the news agency quoted a military-diplomatic source as saying.

“Multi-functional surface-to-air missile system Buk-M2E and other means of air defense that the Syrian troops possess will give a proper response to the aggressors,” the source added.

The source said Syria currently has up to 10 batteries of such air defense systems.

The Soviet and Russian-made Buk are medium-range surface-to-air missile systems designed to engage cruise missiles, bombs and unmanned aircraft.

[econjack]

We have defences which will surprise others...

Perhaps, but my guess is that we may have a few surprises for you, as well. That wasn't Baghdad Bob being quoted, was it?

[Little Pig]

On the one hand, every one of these two-bit tinhorn middle east dictators says the same thing when threatened: “Mother of all wars”, “we have defenses that will surprise you” etc etc.

On the other hand, one of these days, one of them just might turn out not to be bluffing.

[EQAndyBuzz]

If Obama thinks that launching missiles from 50 miles off shore won’t provoke a response from Syria, he is sadly mistaken.

[Netz]

“Defenses” such as Soviet, oops, I mean advanced Russian systems? Yes? That's why Obambi might use Tomahawks ONLY. Of course the Russkies will launch Silkworm type coastal defense missiles at US ships. What else do they have? SCUD B, C and Ds? Does it matter?

When/if they launch this stuff, the lights will go out in Damascus and it will be Shock and Awe all over again.

I am beginning to think that all of the US campaigns are based on weapon system expiration dates. It would seem that many Tomahawks are old by now, time to fire ‘em off, just gotta find a villain:

70’s - Indo-China
80’s - Lebanese Druze, Haiti, Russkies in Afghanistan, Contras, Libya.
90’s - Serbs, Iraq, Afghanistan
2000’s - Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan
2013 - Syria?
2014 - American Republicans?

[Psalm 73]

Maybe Syria has a couple of black-market nukes from the dismantling of the old Soviet Union (maybe dozens unaccounted for).

[MestaMachine]

obie don’t wanna. Britain and France are pushing this as hard as they can. What is mildly perplexing is john mccain’s hysterical insistence that we attack. Does he owe someone something he MUST repay?

[B.O. Plenty]

Seeing as how Pres Zer0 ignores laws willy-nilly..

...why doesn't he just kill Basher Assad with a drone strike?

...heck, lets get this nonsense over with...why extend the misery to our children?

...there will be no "peace" with muslims until they are dead....or we are dead..

...lets find out what "peace" looks like...

...the peace of oppression...

...or the Peace of God...

[ConorMacNessa]

John F'n Kerry is expressing moral outrage at the use of gas in Syria - who the Hell is he to express moral outrage about anything? The blood of several hundred thousand freedom-loving Vietnamese is on his hands.

The rebels are slaughtering Christians, burning churches and houses, effectively cleansing Syria of Christians. Where's his moral outrage about that?

And what about the elements of MB and AQ involved with the rebels? In my view, this is one we should stay out of. It's the wrong war in the wrong place at the wrong time - and against the wrong enemy. Not that I excuse any of Assad's crimes - I abhor them. Notwithstanding that, this is one case in which the enemy of my enemy is not my friend.

America demands Justice for the Fallen of Benghazi!

Genuflectimus non ad principem sed ad Principem Pacis!

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Isaiah 49:1 KJV)

[freeangel]

“’We have defences which will surprise others”

Might that be China and Russia?

[dfwgator]

From the people that brought you “Baghdad Bob”, we now give you “Damascus Dan.”

[Henri Gaudier-Brzeska]

Are these the same defenses that allowed Israel to take out, at will, their nuclear facilities and arms shipments?

[null and void]

How many mulsim "refugees", H-1Bs,"students", illegal border crossers and L-1s do we have inside our borders right now??

[Slings and Arrows]