U.S., rebels urge gloomy Moscow to help oust Assad

Reuters ^ | Thursday, December 13, 2012 | Oliver Holmes

[SunkenCiv]

"We want to commend the Russian government for finally waking up to the reality and acknowledging that the regime's days are numbered," the U.S. State Department spokeswoman said after a senior Kremlin envoy conceded publicly on Thursday that Assad's opponents could win the 20-month-old civil war.

"The question now is, will the Russian government join those of us in the international community who are working with the opposition to try to have a smooth democratic transition?" U.S. spokeswoman Victoria Nuland added in Washington...

...rebel political leader Mouaz al-Khatib said he believed Russia, ally and arms supplier to the Assad dynasty since Soviet times, was looking for ways out of its support for a lost cause... Russia has blocked U.N. efforts to squeeze Assad, who has also had strong support from his long-time sponsor Iran...

International envoy Lakhdar Brahimi, who has met Russian and U.S. officials twice in the past week, is seeking a solution based on an agreement reached in Geneva in June that called for the creation of a transitional government in Syria.

But Russia has repeated warnings that recognition of al-Khatib's coalition, notably by the United States, is undermining diplomacy, and rejected U.S. contentions that the Geneva agreement sent a clear message that Assad should step down...

The opposition chief said he was willing to listen to proposals for Assad to escape with his life... and outlined three scenarios for a change of power:

Al-Khatib ruled out the Russian proposal suggesting Assad hand over power to a transitional government while remaining president, saying it was "disgraceful for a slaughtered nation to accept to have a killer and criminal at its head".

[SunkenCiv]

"(Additional reporting by Steve Gutterman in Moscow and Andrew Quinn in Washington; Writing by Alastair Macdonald; Editing by Michael Roddy)"

Post a Foreign Policy topic

[SunkenCiv]

Russia and Its Syrian Debacle: When the Enemy of My Friend Becomes My Friend
Time | Friday, December 14, 2012 | Simon Shuster
Posted on Sun Dec 16 04:58:02 2012 by SunkenCiv
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2969221/posts

Syria opposition forms body to preserve state institutions
Reuters | Saturday, December 15, 2012 | Suleiman Al-Khalidi; Editing by Tom Pfeiffer
Posted on Sun Dec 16 05:13:40 2012 by SunkenCiv
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2969223/posts

[Truth29]

The Russians should encourage the Alawites to fall back to their home territory and centered on the Russian naval base. The present situation will lead to the mass slaughter of the Alawites and the Christians by the US backed Islamists.

[SunkenCiv]

The Russians should have STFU and STF out of it, and for that matter, should just in general drop dead. They are the primary enemy of the US, and the source of the weapons and training used by generations of jihadists.

Furthermore, had Assad been allowed to fall, instead of propped up like the corpse he is, the unarmed protesters would have been in charge over a year ago. Instead, there’s been an upward spiral of violence and flow of weapons from jihadist states Iran and Saudi Arabia. That too is the fault of Russia.

[SunkenCiv]

Here’s something for all the pro-Russky/Assad/Iran dingleberries:

Iran: U.S. Massacre Just Like Killings in Syria, Iraq
By Gil Ronen
First Publish: 12/15/2012, 7:20 PM
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/163171

Tehran draws parallel between Newtown tragedy and child victims of armed actions in Iraq and Syria, where it is heavily involved itself.

Iran expressed condemnation Saturday of the Connecticut school massacre but added that there is “no difference” between it and the killing of children in various hotspots in the Middle East, including Syria and Iraq — where Iran itself is involved in killing tens of thousands of civilians, including thousands of children.

[melsec]

You are 100% correct in that the Iran has been behind and involved in Syria and Lebanon and Hamas for that matter for as long as the Mullahs have been in power. You are also correct that the regime has been backed by Soviet and now Russian money and arms.

If what is coming down the road is any better I will be quite surprised and in my opinion, for what it’s worth, it will probably end up being a lot worse. What is coming is just another sort of Socialism - in some ways a worse one as it is religiously enforcable under Sharia.

Forces are still struggling in Egypt to bring about a true Democratic process - under Obama’s mate Morsi that is not going to happen. Radical Islamists are already in charge in Lybia. I don’t foresee a change for the better in Syria.

So not wanting to see a change in government in Syria (at this time) is cautious not Pro Russia etc.

Mel

[Venturer]

Syria is a doomed country. They will have Sharia law and return to the 10th century.

[melsec]

Yeah I think so - trouble is they are armed like the 20th century and a threat to Israel.

Mel

[cunning_fish]

>>>Furthermore, had Assad been allowed to fall, instead of propped up like the corpse he is, the unarmed protesters would have been in charge over a year ago.<<<

Delusion. What unarmed protesters in charge in that part of the world? You must be kidding.

[cunning_fish]

>>>Furthermore, had Assad been allowed to fall, instead of propped up like the corpse he is, the unarmed protesters would have been in charge over a year ago.<<<

Delusion. What unarmed protesters in charge in that part of the world? You must be kidding.

[yldstrk]

au contraire mon frere Russia needs to help him stabilize against al quaida

[x_plus_one]

Russia is the only pro-christian nation left in the world?

[yldstrk]

so it seems, thanks to the Russian Orthodox church

[norwaypinesavage]

"We want to commend the Russian government for finally waking up to the reality and acknowledging that the regime's days are numbered," the U.S. State Department spokeswoman said"

It's not clear to me who woke up last - Obama or Russia. From my vantage, it's a tie.

[freedomfiter2]

It would seem that the primary enemy is the US government as they are the ones arming and aiding the Muslim extremists. Lately, Russia has been doing a better job of protecting me than the US State department has. It’s not just Syria,there’s Libya, Egypt and even Bosnia. Our government has consistently sided with the Al Qeada types over the Christian tolerant groups.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

“...smooth democratic transition...” ?
Who are they kidding ?

[Venturer]

It ius becoing so the the whole Middle east is a threat to israel and a threat to any Christian living there.

Obama has been very vsuccessful in turning the Middle East into a Sharia law, muslim olgarchy.
Soon crazed Mullahs will be running the whole thing and encouraging Muslims to kill off all infidels.

That in itself is bad enough, but they are spreading their BS around the world and progresslively,stealthily invading Christian countries that will be conquered at a later date.

[melsec]

Indeed! One thing we can do is tell those who are ignorant as to what is really going on. This is the least we can do to stand by Israel and our Christian brothers and sisters and maybe get people to wise up for the sake of our own countries.

Mel

[Owl558]

“Russia is the only pro-christian nation left in the world?”

I don’t think the Russian government gives a rat’s butt about Christianity. It is more likely that the Russians are simply supporting a long-term client state and trying to protect an important Mediterranean military base. If Assad is ousted, the Russian ability to project power will be curtailed. It is only coincidence that your interests line up. Are you willing to consider that you may be projecting your pro-Syrian Christian view with Russian motivations?

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Thanks for the ping....passing it on.