Post Strike Assessment
BLUF - Targeted facilities blowed up real good. Rhetoric to continues. I expect the news wires to have an abundance of claims on the success/failure of the raid.
Russian military claims 71 out of 103 missiles intercepted. Most seem to believe this is out there for propaganda. Observers report a lot of russian/syrian air cover over western syria - better late than never.
video shows the rubble of the “Scientific Research Center” in Damascus.
Iran threatening follow on actions on a regional level. Area to watch is the Gulf and playing chicken with US ships as well as increased Houti attacks on saudi arabia.
UNSC meeting today - expect more rants but little more.
Israel has declared the golan heights area a ‘no fly zone’.
Interesting final points. Last night was the first use by France of its sea-launched cruse missiles as well as the US’s first use of the new air launched missiles from the B1
p
Final post attack observations
BLUF - they got blowed up real gud
As the pundits and politicians bloviated over the weekend, it is pretty clear that -
1. AA fire over Syria was ineffective
2. The facility in Damascus (targeted since Bush 2) was completely obliterated to the extent that none of the surrounding buildings sustained significant damage other than probably blown out windows - remarkable post attack photos on the webs.
3. Russian is assessing its vulnerabilities and tactics in the face of this attack. Also in major face saving mode since they boasted so much about countering any attack and counter strikes.
4. iran, though still hot against Israel, appears to be tempering its rhetoric too.
In answer to many as to WHY Assad would gas Syrians when his forces were on the verge of defeating them conventionally one must not view it from the WESTERN MINDSET. For us in the Judeo-Christian west, such actions are largely unthinkable. But from an Islamic, middle eastern mind set it is to be expected. Not only do dictators want to defeat their opposition, but crush and terrorize them into not even dreaming about uprising again and such actions would further serve as a deterrent to other opposition groups.