Live Thread: Syria Crisis Continuous Updates

Wednesday, August 28, 2013 | Kristinn

[kristinn]

As the war drums for Syria get louder, let this thread serve as a repository for news, background, Tweets, photos, video, on-the-ground reports, etc., as was done recently with Egypt.

[HollyB]

Dont get too excited. Obama will brief congress today.

[maggief]

[HollyB]

Dont you live how they want to bomb Syria for humanitarian reasons?

[HollyB]

Live=love

[maggief]

[maggief]

In a nutshell...

Intelligence + legal grounds:

“Some intelligence”
“Highly likely” Syrian government behind it
Legal “under the doctrine of humanitarian intervention”

[maggief]

http://freebeacon.com/u-s-al-qaeda-linked-group-behind-benghazi-attack-trains-jihadists-for-syrian-rebel-groups/

U.S.: Al Qaeda-linked Group Behind Benghazi Attack Trains Jihadists for Syrian Rebel Groups

Ansar al-Sharia running training camps in Benghazi and Darnah

EXCERPT

The officials said the terror training camps have been in operation since at least May and are part of a network that funnels foreign fighters to Syrian rebel groups, including the Al-Nusra Front, the most organized of the Islamist rebel groups fighting the Bashar al-Assad regime in Damascus.

The officials said the jihadist training is a clear indication that Ansar al-Sharia continues to conduct terrorist activities and is linked to jihadists in both Syria and North Africa.

http://freebeacon.com/mccain-the-claim-we-cannot-help-free-syrian-army-without-helping-al-qaeda-is-a-lie/

McCain: The Claim We Cannot Help Free Syrian Army Without Helping Al Qaeda Is a Lie

Arizona Senator says he is concerned Obama may elect to employ a ‘cosmetic’ cruise missile strike

(Greta-”On the Record”)

EXCERPT

The senior senator from Arizona also revealed he has learned not one weapon from the United States has been given to the Free Syrian Army, a statistic he termed as “shameful.”

Additionally, requests from the moderate rebels for gas masks have been denied by the CIA, McCain said.

Moreover, McCain related he is concerned President Obama may decide to employ a “cosmetic” cruise missile assault on Assad without embracing any goal of regime change.

This course of action could be perilous, according to McCain, as it disinclines U.S. Arab League partners from putting their full weight behind the Syrian rebels, thus drawing out the conflict and destabilizing the region

[McGruff]

Another case of foot in mouth disease?

Vice President Joe Biden says there is "no doubt" that Syrian President
Bashar Assad's government is responsible for the use of chemical
weapons in an attack last week. (Aug. 27, 2013)

[McGruff]

A snapshot of Drudge's current headline stories.

AP: INTELLIGENCE ON CHEMICAL WEAPONS USE NO 'SLAM DUNK'...
NYT: 'No smoking gun' that links Assad to attacks...
UK Cameron backs down on urgent Syria strikes amid revolt...
France changes tone, seeks 'political solution'...
Israelis rush for gas masks, brace for retaliation...
Allies face fight over timetable...
The worst, least-bad scenarios...
Russia sends warships...

[HollyB]

Former Egyptian presidential candidate says an attack on Syria is an attack on Egypt. It will cause instability and unleash terrorists in the region.

http://www.memri.org/clip/en/0/0/0/0/0/0/3961.htm

[maggief]

A German government statement says that Chancellor Angela Merkel and Russian President Vladimir Putin agree that the U.N. must deal with the situation in Syria, and that the conflict can only be solved politically. Merkel has called on Putin to use U.N. Security Council discussions for a “quick, unanimous international reaction”.
by Reuters: Mark Kolmar 8:18 AM

ajamlive 1m

German government statement: Germany’s Merkel, Russia’s Putin agree the UN must deal with the situation in #Syria-@Reuters #breaking

[HollyB]

Hollande - France has joined the movement for a ‘political’ resolution.

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4423880,00.html

[maggief]

http://voiceofrussia.com/news/2013_08_29/Putin-and-Merkel-discuss-crisis-in-Syria-4488/

Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Angela Merkel had a phone conversation on Thursday, the Kremlin press service reported.

The conversation was Merkel’s initiative, the press service reported.

Putin and Merkel had a detailed discussion about various aspects of the crisis in Syria, the report says.

“Both parties are operating on the assumption that active work on issues relating to the political and diplomatic settlement of the current situation will continue in the UN and in other formats. Specifically, they pointed out the importance of discussing in the Security Council the UN inspectors’ report on possible evidence of chemical weapons use in Syria,” the Kremlin said.

Voice of Russia, Interfax

[no-to-illegals]

Quiet footsteps caww ... quiet footsteps.

[no-to-illegals]

one forward two back.

[maggief]

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/aug/28/70-tories-not-convinced-syria-strike

Up to 70 Tory MPs ‘not convinced’ by coalition case for Syria strike

Hostility for Cameron prompts second Commons vote as sceptical MPs in party doubt benefits of military intervention

EXCERPT

Cameron and Nick Clegg, the Liberal Democrat leader, have a majority of 77 in the House of Commons, so they will need to win round sceptics in the debate, which starts at 2.30 and could run for eight hours.

[no-to-illegals]

Another case of foot in mouth disease?

Maybe biden needs a beer to wash his foot down?

[maggief]

Chris Williamson
@ChriswMP

Labour MP for Derby North.

Derby

Chris Williamson 5m

Labour will be opposing the govt’s motion on #Syria and proposing our own amendment. Debate just started.

[maggief]

WATCH LIVE: British parliament debates military action in #Syria: http://ow.ly/onxYL

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-23877247#TWEET872096

[pollywog]

At least THEIR debating it!!!
Our leaders are on vacation!!!
BOEHNER!!! BRING CONGRESS BACK INTO SESSION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!