Posted on 09/12/2006 12:30:17 AM PDT by Eurotwit
Edited on 09/12/2006 12:46:33 AM PDT by Admin Moderator. [history]
10:25 Witnesses: Syrian forces surround U.S. embassy in Damascus, seal off area (Reuters)
10:22 Witnesses: Heavy gunfire heard in central Damascus (Reuters)
10:21 Black smoke said rising from area around U.S. embassy in Damascus (Reuters)
Update
Last update - 10:38 12/09/2006
Witnesses: Gunfire, explosions near U.S. embassy in Damascus
By Haaretz Service and news agencies
Syrian security forces surrounded the U.S. embassy in Damascus early on Tuesday and sealed off the area, witnesses said, adding that heavy gunfire and explosions had been heard in the area.
"It appears that the embassy is coming under attack," one resident in the area told Reuters.
There was no independent confirmation of the initial reports.
Thanks Got a right to Life? . . Huh?
Hopefully, in the scramble for power there a popular uprising will allow someone reasonable to grab ahold of the reins. Do you think Fidel is still among the living?
"The thing with Syria, the United States is almost as much against them as Iran. Since there isn't an embassy in Iran (because of the hostages taken before Reagan can to power?), it would be somewhat understandable if the United States wouldn't have one in Syria"
i am not sure the US has *voluntarily* closed an embassy in my lifetime.(possible exception being the successfully bombed african embassies). you gain nothing but some public posturing by doing so, and give up diplomatic access, contacts, etc.
Thanks admin.
Right ... our brave Marines were on the spot, firing at the terrorists (hopefully eliminating them). God bless our troops there and everywhere. Odd that Syria would be helping to defend our embassy, if that's what I'm interpreting.
Several militants launched the attack against the U.S. embassy at about 10:05 a.m. (0705 GMT), using machine guns and rockets from atop a nearby building, they said. Casualties were caused by the attack, they added.
"Just blanks right?" - Bluto Blutarsky
On CNN NOW!
Enemy contact! woohoo!
Oh man, I thought the "all clear" siren had sounded.
That's my take too. For a variety of reasons, it was (is) a smart move on Syria's part.
It's not so much that they would dare, rather it's they are too damned stupid to properly assess the consequences of their actions....i.e. kidnapping 2 IDF soldiers...
Agreed. I don't think we will ever have frendly relations with Iran or North Korea. IMHO both the embassy and the USS Pueblo should be destroyed...by 150 strategic bombers dropping 15,400 Mk. 82 JDAMS.
"Do you think Fidel is still among the living?"
I know almost nothing about the types of cancer he might have/have had, nor survivability rates, but it wouldn't surprise me if he is still alive, though substantially incapacitated. he is around 80 after all. Either way, the 'transfer of power' was a major statement of his condition.
Re scramble for power, I would assume a junta would take over after raul goes, or maybe during, and at that point their major interests would become much more pragmatic. conventional despots are MUCH easier to deal with than ideologues - they understand money and power, rather than ideology.
UPDATE...
Note: The following news brief is a quote:
---
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3302848,00.html
Damascus report: Syrian officer killed in clash at US embassy
Published: 09.12.06, 11:25
At least one Syrian police officer was killed when gunmen attacked the US embassy in Damascus Tuesday, eyewitnesses said.
Further it was reported that the attackers detonated a car bomb across from the embassy building. According to reports no US nationals were hurt in the attack. (Reuters)
I believe we are are still officially at war with North Korea. We are only in a cease fire status under the terms of the armistice of 1953.
Militants attack with guns, rockets, possibly truck bombs, at 10 am, and by 10:38 not only have Syrian troops put the attack down, but the Syrian government has also issued a statement, to boot?
Sounds fishy to me.
Eggssssssactly.....and Bush has caused ALL of the terrorism in the world. (\sarcasm)
i disagree. troops placed around embassies have a fairly clear job, and they do it. hostiles are hostiles, and soldiers are trained to kill people and break things.
what would be surprising would be syrian troops standing aside, which would show clear orders from above on this specific event.
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