Russians building army base at Syria’s Palmyra site
Source: AP
The Russian military is constructing a new army base in the central Syrian town of Palmyra, within the protected zone that holds the archaeological site listed by UNESCO as a world heritage site and without asking for permission from relevant authorities, an American heritage organization and a top Syrian archaeologist said Tuesday.
The American School of Oriental Researchs Cultural Heritage Initiative posted pictures from the satellite imagery and analytics company DigitalGlobe that show the construction on the edge of the ancient site that was damaged by the Islamic State group, which held Palmyra for 10 months.
A UNESCO official said it was unclear whether the encampment was in a buffer zone to the archaeological site but said it does not form a threat to the historic area.
Syrian troops backed by Russian airstrikes captured Palmyra in March and fighting continues miles away until this day. In recent weeks, IS fighters launched a fresh offensive in which they captured a nearby gas field that brought them close to the town.
Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/report-russians-building-army-base-at-syrias-palmyra-site/2016/05/17/7570bab8-1c1b-11e6-82c2-a7dcb313287d_story.html
Russia Denies Building Military Base Near Ancient Palmyra Site
Russia denied that it has built a military base inside a zone that holds the UNESCO world heritage site in the ancient Syrian town of Palmyra.
The Russian military on May 17 described the camp as "temporary," saying its few housing units were being used by explosives experts who are removing mines left behind by Islamic State militants.
It said the Syrian government had given approval to build the camp, which includes a field hospital and bakery used by local residents.
The head of Syria's antiquities department, who noted the town's priceless antiquities are safer thanks to the Russian presence, nonetheless told the Associated Press that he would not have granted Russia permission to build the camp if he had been asked.
cont'd
http://www.rferl.org/content/russia-denies-building-military-base-ancient-palmyra-site-syria/27741966.html
erlewyne
(1,115 posts)They should follow the USA example and how
we protected the ancient heritage and artifacts
in Iraq.
McKim
(2,412 posts)So the Washington Post is stirring up more fear of the Russians! Is this 1956 or what? Good for them that they are securing the town of Palmyra/Tadmour. Those people deserve some protection after what they have been through. I see no harm here and am very tired of the mainstream press always having to have an "enemy". Russia has long been a friend of Syria, so what!
snappyturtle
(14,656 posts)wrong with this article. Let's face it, it's American propaganda poop.
Let's remember Russia is in Syria at Assad's request.
I thought I would be reading about the erection of missile silos and air strips by the tone of the title. Evidence? An old photo.
David__77
(23,503 posts)I think that Russia is defending civilization in Syria.
sofa king
(10,857 posts)...But I do think that Russia will burn Syria to the ground to keep a naval base on the far side of the Dardanelles. We Americans seem unaware that in most winters, even now in this burning climate, 100% of Russian sea commerce has to travel through the Mediterranean and the Black Sea.
We would understand and possibly even support British intervention in Spain if Gibraltar was threatened, or US intervention in Cuba if Guantanamo Bay was threatened, or Chinese intervention in the Spratlys if their concrete aircraft carrier was threatened.
That's all Syria is to the Russians: the country with which they treated to gain a naval base is in danger of going belly-up, and they're not going to surrender their most important overseas strategic asset to a bunch of religious zealot redneck yahoos.
The Russians are no more idealistic than we are. They don't care what the end result is in Syria so long as it guarantees the safety of their naval base at Tartus. Right now the naval base requires an army base to protect it. They second they can save money by shutting it down, they will.
David__77
(23,503 posts)I care about the result of its actions. I think that its defense of the Syrian government and attacks against armed insurgent groups is a defense of civilization in Syria.
sofa king
(10,857 posts)You're closely watching the results, not the garbage all governments cough up to justify their actions. Probably the way to go.
David__77
(23,503 posts)...
lsewpershad
(2,620 posts)is OK only if America is doing it.???
Aristus
(66,462 posts)n/t
PersonNumber503602
(1,134 posts)I don't see anything wrong with Russia building a base in another country, but I find it interesting this is defended by many of the same people who would attack the US if it built a new base in Iraq at Iraq's request.
Jitter65
(3,089 posts)how safe everyone would be.
Ichingcarpenter
(36,988 posts)I find this disturbing rather than trying to find peace we go for chaos.
In the email, released by Wikileaks, then Secretary of State Clinton says that the best way to help Israel is to use force in Syria to overthrow the government.
The document was one of many unclassified by the US Department of State under case number F-2014-20439, Doc No. C05794498, following the uproar over Clintons private email server kept at her house while she served as Secretary of State from 2009 to 2013.
read the document here........... you really need to read this.
https://archive.is/6j4Xd
US Govt FOIA site pdf.
https://foia.state.gov/searchapp/DOCUMENTS/HRCEmail_NovWeb/293/DOC_0C05794498/C05794498.pdf
And what has this policy wrought?
European refuge chaos
more destablization in the middle east
275,000 dead in Syria thousands injuried
growth of unstable anti Syrian Isis groups
unending war
You don't make peace with your friends you make peace with your enemies.
Thankfully after she left Kerry and Obama took a different less belligerent course.
Notice her bringing in the Saudis?
Notice her supporting radical groups?
Notice her Israeli nuke admittance
Notice her Iran nuke hype that was debunked by International watchdogs
McKim
(2,412 posts)Ichingcarpenter, this is the most important post of the day. I had read it before but lost track of it. This story needs to be spread far and wide to all Hillary voters. They need to know exactly what they are voting for, more wars and instability!
GummyBearz
(2,931 posts)alarimer
(16,245 posts)Now building a base in a sensitive archaeological area. Fuck that piece of shit.