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Bolstered by 16 Russian warships, Assad nixes dialogue with “Western puppets”
Debkafile ^ | January 6, 2013 | Unknown

Posted on 01/19/2013 6:08:41 AM PST by kindred

Bashar Assad is upbeat after 60,000 Syrian deathsWith a buildup of 16 Russian warships carrying thousands of marines on the Syrian coast “to deter the West from deploying ground forces in Syria,” Syrian Bashar Assad could afford to brazen it out in his first public speech in seven months. Speaking at the Damascus opera house, Sunday, Jan. 6, Assad said Syria no longer takes dictation from anyone and called on Syrian citizens to defend the country against “a war fought by only a handful of Syrians and many foreigners.” He rejected dialogue with the opposition which he referred to as “puppets fabricated by the West.”

DEBKA-Net-Weekly, in its latest issue of Jan. 4, revealed that both Washington and Moscow may be encouraging the rush to Syria of al Qaeda and other radical Islamist fighters so as to put them in harm’s way on the Syrian battlefield instead of their staying home to make trouble in Asian, European and other Middle East countries.

On this point, Assad remarked: “The West tried to get rid of these terrorists by drawing them into conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan and other places, but were unsuccessful. Now they are sending them to Syria. “

The Syrian ruler went on to maintain that it would not be too hard to get rid of them, if “all citizens are mobilized against these outside forces.” It was important, too, he said, to fight the terrorists’ ideas, before they permeated Syrian society. He vowed to fight terror “so long as a single terrorist remains in the country" and to combat the rebels fighting to overthrow his regime, whom he called “terrorists” and “criminals” who "harbor al Qaeda’s extremist ideology." debkafile: Assad’s emphasis on this point indicates he counts on his war against Islamist terrorism as a long-term insurance policy for bolstering his regime’s survival.

In Moscow, a senior military spokesman announced that Russian vessels, including battleships and landing craft carrying marines and military vehicles, would remain in Syrian waters until Easter. He said quite candidly that the presence of Russian marines near Syrian waters “will deter the West from deploying ground forces in Syria." The Russian flotilla and marines are intended to be the counterweight to the six NATO Patriot missile interceptors, the US, Germany and Holland have installed on the Turkish-Syrian border. Russia along with Iran is providing Assad with a strong military shield, which is supplemented by Chinese diplomatic support. The Syrian ruler’s speech Sunday was therefore far more upbeat than his last address in June. Then, he defended himself against pressing international demands to step down by vowing to “live and die in Syria.” In this speech, he makes no mention of resigning or throwing in the towel. In contrast to current predictions of his downfall, to be found in Western and Israeli media, Assad felt secure enough to set out his blueprint for ending the Syrian conflict.

The first stage of a political solution would require that “the regional powers stop funding and arming the opposition” – a reference to Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Western powers.

He then invited “those who have not betrayed Syria” to a conference of reconciliation, followed by a referendum on a new constitution, the formation of a government and an amnesty. He rejected the Syrian opposition movement as “puppets fabricated by the West,” and said that Syria wanted to negotiate with the "master not the servants."


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Israel; News/Current Events; Russia; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: israel; russia; syria; waronterror
The communist/islamic obamanition regime is continuiong its war against Israel and all conservatives as he shrewdly deceives the simple minded democrats and rinos of his intentions towards Israel, and all conservatives,is of peace.
1 posted on 01/19/2013 6:08:48 AM PST by kindred
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To: kindred

Geee........
He don’t wanna get KaDAFFIED!!

Whooda thunk it? How could that possibley BE??? I mean, choose to FIGHT, ‘n all that?


2 posted on 01/19/2013 6:12:34 AM PST by Flintlock (PARANOIA--means having all the facts.)
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To: kindred

Assad is a chip off the old block. His father crushed a revolt by killing thousands of rebels, and stayed in office for years thereafter. Hillary and BO can talk all they want about their “Arab Spring,” but it’s no match for Russian warships.

After the sequester hits the Defense Dept., BO will be hard-pressed to “lead from behind.” The US will be eating dust back there, as History’s parade moves on.


3 posted on 01/19/2013 6:15:22 AM PST by txrefugee
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To: kindred

The orthodox Christians of Syria have historically viewed the Russians as their protectors from their Muslim rulers.If you were a Christian in Syria would you reason would be more likely to help and protect... Obama or Putin? Sad choice.


4 posted on 01/19/2013 6:18:35 AM PST by allendale
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To: kindred
The once formidable Soviet Navy, now Russia's 80s retro collection of obsolete surface rust buckets and mostly no longer serviceable submarines, managed to drift in to make a showing so that Obama has an excuse to surrender to Putin—as he promised Medvedev knowing the low information dumbass 47% (plus the Marxists) will reelect him.

No real threat yet, but after the Obama’s “sequestration” cuts in our defense, “WE” will make the Rooskies a naval superpower again.

5 posted on 01/19/2013 6:26:53 AM PST by Happy Rain ("Banning guns over Adam Lanza would be like banning speech over Bill Maher.")
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To: allendale

“If you were a Christian in Syria..”
If I were a Christian in Syria, my first priority would be to become a Christian formerly in Syria.
That region is destined to become green glass, why stay for the party?


6 posted on 01/19/2013 6:29:57 AM PST by Fireone (Impeach and imprison, NOW! Treason and murder are still crimes.)
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To: AdmSmith; AnonymousConservative; Berosus; bigheadfred; Bockscar; ColdOne; Convert from ECUSA; ...

Thanks kindred.
In Moscow, a senior military spokesman announced that Russian vessels, including battleships and landing craft carrying marines and military vehicles, would remain in Syrian waters until Easter. He said quite candidly that the presence of Russian marines near Syrian waters “will deter the West from deploying ground forces in Syria."
The correct move here, diplomatically, would be for Zero's quislings in the State Dep't to cite this, and note that it has once again been made clear that Russia isn't part of western civilization.

Note: source is Debka.


7 posted on 01/19/2013 6:31:10 AM PST by SunkenCiv (Romney would have been worse, if you're a dumb ass.)
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To: kindred

B Bu But what about the Arab spring? Haven’t the Syrians/Russkies been reading their social media tweets? Hashtag Barry, hashhag Hillary.


8 posted on 01/19/2013 6:31:53 AM PST by PGalt
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Bashar Assad is upbeat after 60,000 Syrian deaths


9 posted on 01/19/2013 6:35:26 AM PST by SunkenCiv (Romney would have been worse, if you're a dumb ass.)
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To: SunkenCiv

I wonder about how many deaths the obamanation regime has caused through its evil policies, both forign and domestic.


10 posted on 01/19/2013 6:39:46 AM PST by kindred (Jesus Christ is the Lord God Messiah of Israel, a present help in time of trouble.)
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To: PGalt
Syria,like Iraq was, is old school communist—Obama and Putin will not let it fall to any but replacement communists who follow international communist dogma...Obama, unlike W, would have never invaded Iraq but only because it was orthodox communist.
11 posted on 01/19/2013 6:41:39 AM PST by Happy Rain ("Banning guns over Adam Lanza would be like banning speech over Bill Maher.")
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To: kindred

The solution to this is that Russia needs to be persuaded to abandon this dimwit.

Russia could have to pay a price, for example the loss of one or more of its warships. This would involve an anti-ship missile being fired from the shore, or a few unexpected naval mines cropping up. It would be especially tragic if Assad happened to be on one of those ships.

This would be even more amusing if those ships were sunk with Chinese naval mines, of which they have many which are fairly advanced. Even better would be Iranian torpedoes, killing two s***birds with one stone, as it were.


12 posted on 01/19/2013 6:51:05 AM PST by yefragetuwrabrumuy (Best WoT news at rantburg.com)
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To: kindred

Why do I hope Assad prevails?


13 posted on 01/19/2013 7:01:51 AM PST by yldstrk (My heroes have always been cowboys)
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To: yefragetuwrabrumuy

Bunny

we do not need al quaida in charge in Syria


14 posted on 01/19/2013 7:04:13 AM PST by yldstrk (My heroes have always been cowboys)
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To: txrefugee

“Assad is a chip off the old block. His father crushed a revolt by killing thousands of rebels...” — 30,000 of Arafat’s Palistinine freedom fighters ...

Assad has now beaten his father in body count.


15 posted on 01/19/2013 7:32:51 AM PST by PIF (They came for me and mine ... now it is your turn ...)
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To: kindred

Russia’s getting bogged down in a long-term struggle that it can’t win; ultimately it will be humiliated in Syria, its puppet overthrown or driven into exile, and its last ally, Iran, will turn on it, leaving Russia diplomatically isolated, and militarily at the end of its rope. US policy has been to give rhetorical support but nothing military, and let the locals tear at Assad, at Russian interests, and at each other, without putting boots on the ground.

IOW, Zero’s foreign policy in Syria has been an over-the-top success.


16 posted on 01/19/2013 7:47:02 AM PST by SunkenCiv (Romney would have been worse, if you're a dumb ass.)
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To: kindred

I’m kind of rooting for Assad now


17 posted on 01/19/2013 8:44:09 AM PST by PGR88
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To: yldstrk

That is a good question. Under Assad, Syria was effectively a puppet of Iran, hoping to use it as a launching pad against not just Israel, but the Mediterranean nations as well. Likewise it is armed with advanced Russian weapons and has been actively proliferating chemical, and attempting to proliferate, nuclear weapons.

Under al Qaeda, the Sunni nations that fear Iranian influence in the region would strongly support the Muslim Brotherhood’s efforts to marginalize al Qaeda as well, as has happened in Egypt. Granted there are radical Salafists in Egypt, but they are more interested in ruling Egypt than making trouble elsewhere.

So, bottom line, Assad was moving in the direction of extremely bad conflict, supported by Russian arms. Without Assad, it is no longer a playground for either Iran or Russia.

Either situation is not good, but I would prefer a less well armed and competent foe.


18 posted on 01/19/2013 11:07:53 AM PST by yefragetuwrabrumuy (Best WoT news at rantburg.com)
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To: kindred

And the RINO’s, DINO’s and Neocons told us Assad was gonna be gone last summer. Got news for you’all. Assad is still there and Al Qeada is coming back with a vengeance. The only good news is the incompetence and lack of intelligence in the RINO’S, DINO’s and Neocons.


19 posted on 01/19/2013 11:20:35 AM PST by justa-hairyape
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