Iranian ships reach Syria, Assad allies show support

[dipsydoodle]

(Reuters) - Russia, China and Iran showed support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Monday, days before an international meeting likely to pile more pressure on him to step down in the face of an increasingly bloody uprising.

Assad met a senior Russian politician in Damascus, who reiterated Moscow's support for his self-styled reform program and spoke out against any foreign intervention in the conflict, Russian and Syrian news agencies reported.

China accused Western countries of stirring up civil war in Syria, and two Iranian warships docked at a Syrian naval base, underscoring rising international tensions over the near year-long crisis.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/20/us-syria-idUSL5E8DB0BH20120220

[Ruby the Liberal]

1. This is just getting nastier by exponential leaps

and I fear is not going to end well. Fighting apparently now breaking out in Damascus.

[Catherina]

2. Like Ruby, I'm not happy to watch any of this develop

We all know where this is heading and it ain't good.

I was watching some videos earlier of the escalating tension at the UN. Not good at all.

Then this one: Col. Wilkerson: US War w Iran '3 yrs. Away'

[stockholmer]

3. wow, the title of the video does it so little justice, Wilkerson just nails it, except I dont think

it will be 3 years from now, it will be 10 to 14 months MAX.

[riderinthestorm]

4. I have NEVER understood it when people say Assad's time is limited! or that he's cornered now!

Or the handwritings on the wall and he should leave while he can....

With friends like Assad has, there's no way he's going to leave power willingly, maybe never.

[christx30]

5. Assad

can do whatever he wants to do. The US might be able to defeat Iran in a war, but it would be costly, and VERY bloody on both sides. But with China or Russia? We would have no chance. We had damn well better make peace with Beijing if we want to have any hope for our country.
There is no way we can stop Assad from gunning down every man, woman, and child in his country. And the UN is useless. They could pass 200 resolutions per day calling for Assad to stop the killing and/or step down, and Assad would just chuckle at them and keep killing.
As long as Syrian money is flowing into the coffers of Russia's arms manufacturers, they'll never abandon their "friend".

[riderinthestorm]

7. +1 nt

[ellisonz]

6. Don't underestimate the will of an enraged populace. n/t

[riderinthestorm]

8. I hope they can shake Assad loose and string him up (or bring him to justice, whichever they want)

Unfortunately, if you don't have the ammunition, it becomes exceedingly hard to overthrow a guy with the kinds of backup support that Assad has. I'm bracing for a long civil war. These kinds of things can take decades once they settle in imho (I/P conflict, Ireland/UK, South Africa etc) regardless of how outraged the populace may be