Posted on 10/04/2015 2:56:27 PM PDT by tcrlaf
Russian fighter jets launched from a new airbase in Syria have persuaded western critics to mute their demands for the removal of President Bashar al-Assad, but another group of his opponents sees Moscow’s intervention as more provocative than decisive.
Regional powers have quietly, but effectively, channelled funds, weapons and other support to rebel groups making the biggest inroads against the forces from Damascus. In doing so, they are investing heavily in a conflict which they see as part of a wider regional struggle for influence with bitter rival Iran.
In a week when Russia made dozens of bombing raids, those countries have made it clear that they remain at least as committed to removing Assad as Moscow is to preserving him.
“There is no future for Assad in Syria,” Saudi foreign minister Adel Al-Jubeir warned, a few hours before the first Russian bombing sorties began. If that was not blunt enough, he spelled out that if the president did not step down as part of a political transition, his country would embrace a military option, “which also would end with the removal of Bashar al-Assad from power”.
(Excerpt) Read more at theguardian.com ...
That’s funny. It’s always about pipelines. You could pick the most mountainous region on the Planet, and someone will come along and claim it’s about pipelines.
Looks to me the ME is getting mighty close to full fledged war.
haven’t heard much from Israel. Or are they preparing quietly maybe?
Hopefully, President Trump will cut off the importing of any oil from the Middle East. We are awash in domestic production and do not need to prop up these disgusting regimes by buying their oil in the future. Let them sink into the desert sand.
What kind of military response?
Israel has made a deal of some kind with Russia.
The worst part about such an event would be Obama's response. He would not be able to resist meddling on the behalf of the Saudis. And there would be no prior consultation with Congress, of course.
Bingo! Let’s develop at home, and drop ME oil forever. Nothing good has come from filling their coffers with our cash.
I think the Kingdom's future is up. :-)
H8w do we pay the Saudis back for 9/11?
Who’s going to rein in Hamas?
No one outside of dark parental basements gives a hoot about mythological “pipelines.”
You say that, forgetting that Russia’s future and economic livelihood depend on being Europe’s sole major
gas supplier, right now.
It’s why doing whatever Obama could to stop the South Stream Pipeline project was so important.
This is becoming an existential fight.
see #14
I think it’s an Alex Jones thing . . . it’s only a matter of time before one goes full-pipeline . . . .
I second that!
All coming out now since Russia started bombing.
Saudi’s have paid the Western Govts off,. Obama has not been bombing ISIS, but instead Assad forces, therefore Obama has started another war with another country and the media stays silent about the Nobel peace prize winner.
Pipelines = money and power. The Gulf states are realizing they may have to fend for themselves as long as Obama is groveling to Putin.
“Pipelines” are a fantasy narrative. People completely out of the loop of active geopolitics, such as kids living in their parents’ basements, buy off on “pipelines” as the excuse for every action in the M-E.
It’s silly, clueless, and utterly wrong.
No one cares about pipelines. Heck, the Nigerians can’t keep bogies from stealing from and/or igniting their pipelines. Impossible to defend.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.