The Assad regime continues to move troops and materiel in an effort to limit losses in any US strike

[pampango]

Reuters reports. The latest moves include the removal of Scud missiles and dozens of launchers from a base north of Damascus in the foothills of the Qalamoun mountains.

Rebel raids and fighting near key roads had blocked a wider evacuation of the hundreds of security and army bases that dot the country of 22 million, where Assad's late father imposed his autocratic dynasty four decades ago. [...]

At the headquarters of the army's 155th Brigade, a missile unit whose base sprawls along the western edge of Syria's main highway running north from the capital to Homs, rebel scouts saw dozens mobile Scud launchers pulling out early on Thursday.

Rebel military sources said spotters saw missiles draped in tarpaulins on the launchers, as well as trailer trucks carrying other rockets and equipment. More than two dozen Scuds - 11-metre (35-foot) long ballistic missiles with ranges of 300 km (200 miles) and more - were fired from the base in the Qalamoun area this year, some of which hit even Aleppo in the far north. [...]

Assad's forces appeared already by Wednesday to have evacuated most personnel from army and security command headquarters in central Damascus, residents and opposition sources in the capital said.

Read the full piece here.

To the extent that Obama wanted to send a "shot across the bow" that seems to have been accomplished without firing an actual shot. McCain and his like will not understand anything other than actual destruction, but my guess is that the message has been delivered.

If the UN inspectors' report implicates the regime or if a future use of chemical weapons is proven to come from the regime, I think Assad knows well what will happen.

There is no need for any attack at this time.

[KittyWampus]

1. Someone suggested Obama was trolling Assad. Satellite intel will certainly give us more info as he

moves stuff around.

[TwilightGardener]

2. At least we have an opportunity to try to see where those chem weapons caches might be.

[sarisataka]

3. The disruption to the Syrian military

having to move these assets is probably greater than an actual missile strike would have been. Fixed sites could still be hit but likely steps have been taken to mitigate damage.

[railsback]

4. Assad can move shit wherever he wants - unfortunately for him, the eyes in the sky see everything

Maybe we don't need to do anything, just threaten Assad. Then he takes all his shit offline, and the rebels can launch a full out blitz.

[Comrade Grumpy]

5. ...and achieve the martyrdom they so desire and richly deserve.

[another_liberal]

6. If the rebels had the where with all to launch a "full out blitz" . . .

Don't you think that if the rebels had the where with all to launch a "full out blitz" they would have done so long ago?

I'll tell you what, Lets just see if we can't keep making up imaginary scenarios to somehow justify the U.S. attacking Syria. That's the real need isn't it: We need to attack Syria because we need to attack Syria, right?

[Celefin]

10. 'Blitz' is aptly chosen wording

Especially in the light of the events that will likely follow a victory by these nutcases.
Look, Assad is an evil fucker.
But he's not a mad evil fucker.

Do not wish for a decisive victory for any of the involved parties if you care about what comes after in the slightest. You know, two or three years after a rebel takeover you might actually be able to garner full support for a strike on Syria even here on DU because the intolerability of the status quo in and around what was once Syria has gone off the charts.

[backscatter712]

7. The whole strike is little more than a ritual.

Obama's not interested in overthrowing Assad 's regime in the absence of a US-friendly strongman to take his place.

The idea is to look tough, show the politicians in DC and elsewhere that we're thumping our chests sufficiently, and give Assad little more than a wag of the finger.

So, we'll see a dangerous and expensive fireworks show.

[DontTreadOnMe]

8. Assad can't move anywhere without being watched...

The only protection would be underground, and they don't have that is Syria.

But as pointed out, this "disruption" of a potential attack might be even more successful than any real strike.

[Fozzledick]

9. My fantasy: Obama to Assad - "Ha ha, made ya flinch!"