Snipers in Syria shoot at UN chemical inspectors: UN
Source: AFP
NEW YORK — Unidentified snipers shot at UN experts Monday forcing them to suspend their attempt to investigate claims that chemical weapons had been used near Damascus, a UN spokesman said.
"The first vehicle of the chemical weapons investigation team was deliberately shot at multiple times by unidentified snipers," said UN spokesman Martin Nesirky. No injuries were reported.
Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5htK39AK4XUzfRIhmO11UIuO-vyhA?docId=CNG.b9c0353b374c9937dec8064278433213.341
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dipsydoodle
(42,239 posts).
Ghost Dog
(16,881 posts)(if not our own 'special ops' themselves).
Syrian state media blamed opposition "terrorists" for the attack, though the claim could not be verified.
...
The US said there was little doubt Syrian forces used chemical weapons in the attacks, which reportedly killed more than 300 people in rebel-held areas... {<--Although the BBC does not point out that this claim has not been verified, either}...
/... http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-23838900
Turborama
(22,109 posts)
Ash_F
(5,861 posts)Respect. 
jakeXT
(10,575 posts)The incident has allegedly forced the UN inspectors to suspend the investigation, a UN spokesman pointed out, as cited by AFP. However, NBC news reported that the team will return to the inspection area after replacing the vehicle at the checkpoint.
The inspectors’ car “was deliberately shot at multiple times by unidentified snipers in the buffer zone area," the spokesman for the UN secretary-general, Martin Nesirky, said. He added the car was no longer serviceable and a replacement vehicle was being obtained.
http://rt.com/news/un-chemical-oservers-shot-000/
warrant46
(2,205 posts)Mighty Mouse will be there soon to "Save the Day"
Turborama
(22,109 posts)It's been well documented his snipers have been suppressing the opposition from the offset.
Syrian mourners say government snipers carried out massacre: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/apr/03/syria-demonstrations-douma-funerals
And, more recently...
Syrian regime 'importing snipers' for protests: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/syrian-regime-importing-snipers-for-protests/story-e6frg6so-1226254330519
Snipers kill two foreign reporters in Syria: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-01-19/snipers-kill-two-foreign-reporters-in-syria/4472050
John2
(2,730 posts)time, you've played that Pro War side. You have no proof but your title claims likely Assad snipers. So you think Assad OKed the investigation only to ambush the investigators huh? Assad also blew up his own cities with chemicals even though the rebels were losing badly. It is either stupidity or propaganda. Are you looking for stupid people to believe this? You and the other supporters of the rebels make no sense. And when there are massacres, the Terrorists did it, and not the innocent rebels. So where is General Idriss at now? Shouldn't it be time for another video appearance, just to be safe? In other news, rebels kills the Governor of Hama and his three children. Syrian Army also discovers mass graves in Lakatia. Just how many atrocities have the rebels committed now and how about kidnappings, or killing journalists? It is just a matter of whom to believe. President Obama and his Administration, Holland or the guy in France. Saudi Arabia, Gatar, Turkey or Netanyahu. If you can prove none of or even one of these Governments have ever told lies, then maybe they should be believed. I'll give you that, if you can prove it? And if you can't, why should anybody beleive you now?
Turborama
(22,109 posts)And I provided links to back that historical fact up. I think that it is likely, given that it's been Assad's snipers in the news over the years for shooting civilians, it was his snipers. If you disagree and have evidence of rebel snipers' previous action, fine. Make your case or not, up to you.
With regards to your strawman mackery. I don't see how saying it is likely to be Assad's snipers is "pro-war". What, we can't criticise brutal dictators now in case we get insulted by being classed as pro-war?
And my other comments weren't pro-war. I have never said anything to you about being pro-war. You, however, have freely admitted to being pro-retaliatory-war against the US.
I don't care whether you "believe" me or not, I am coming to my own conclusions. You want to believe Assad over anyone else despite his previous use of snipers to do his dirty work, knock yourself out. That's your prerogative.
pampango
(24,692 posts)After initially balking, Syria agreed on Sunday to allow the inspectors to visit the Ghouta area of eastern Damascus, where hundreds of people died and thousands were injured last Wednesday in what is widely suspected to have been a chemical attack.
The U.N. Chemical Weapons Investigation Team, wearing body armor, left the Four Seasons Hotel in central Damascus mid-morning on Monday in a convoy of seven vehicles, according to an Associated Press photographer at the scene who witnessed the departure.
The team’s first vehicle was in a buffer zone between government and rebel positions when it was “deliberately shot at multiple times by unidentified snipers,” a U.N. statement said.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/un-team-headed-to-site-of-alleged-chemical-attack-comes-under-sniper-fire-turns-back/2013/08/26/5ea074c8-0e3f-11e3-8cdd-bcdc09410972_story.html
Sunlei
(22,651 posts)
Sand Wind
(1,573 posts)happyslug
(14,779 posts)Given that the Iranian Army is a draftee army, with popular support, I doubt these are MERCENARIES (people HIRED to be soldiers) but either volunteers who want to help the Syrian Government, or actual troops of Iran. In either case NOT mercenaries.
Iran is a fairly tightly run country. It has been so for the last 2500 years. The extent of the Country has varied over that 2500 year period, but most Iranians, see themselves as Iranian.
Now, Iranians also see what is called "Greater Iran" or "Greater Persia" (if you want to use the old name for Iran). This include areas with a large number of speakers if Iranian or closely related languages. Please note, Nationalism is a recent introduction into this area, unheard of prior to 1800. Religion and language was more important then nationality prior to at least 1800 and to a good extent to this day.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greater_Iran
This also includes most of the people living on what is called the Iranian Plateau, an area more united then divided over the last 2500 years.
The extant extent of "Greater Iran" is open to debate, but in most people's idea, Syria East of the Anti-Lebanon Mountains is in Greater Iran, while Syria along the Mediterranean coast is not (Through that coast is considered Iran's outlet to the Mediterranean sea and thus important to them, this can be seen when during the Crusade this area opened up trade that bypassed Constantinople, in many ways that trade route was the death call of the Byzantine Empire, for once Constantinople lost control of the East-West trade route, it went into terminal decline).
Sorry, this is within traditional areas of Persian/Iranian rule and/or area of concern (The Roman Empire destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD was more to make a point to Persia that Rome would control the Mediterranean coast and Persia should stay in the Mesopotamian valley and out of both Palestine AND Syria, through both countries would fight over where the exact border was over the next 500 years, till the time of the Arab Conquest, which push both Empires out of Syria, both Empires had fought a nasty war that weakened both, when for the only time in History Arabia was united and this opened up the area for Conquest).
After the Arab Conquest, Iran was subdued, but it slowly became the main power behind Islamic Rule, as Islam replaced Zoroastrianism as the main Religion of Iran. The Turks skipped over Iran, but retain part of the tradition of being part of Greater Iran, till the Ottomans took over and allied themselves with the Greeks and by thus by 1300 had replaced the Greek Empire as the main opponent to Persia. The Mongol Conquest put both Empires into crisis, but once the Mongols retreated back to Mongolia (and was replaced by Russia in the Steeps of Russia) Persia and Turkey ended up doing what Roman and Persia had done a 1000 years before, have a border alone the Anti-Lebanon mountains, with temporary changes ever so many years. Sometime Turkey would have Baghdad and Mesopotamia, other times Persia. Barsa, being Arab but Pro-Persia embraced Shiite Islam along with Persia while Baghdad and West embraced Sunni Islam and Turkey. There is a lot of overlap between these two groups, depending on who the local look at for assistance.
Sand Wind
(1,573 posts)The Hezbollah and some IRG are paid bonus to go in Syria.
Iran is paying for that.
The Syrian regime losed control over its security forces and is thus forced to hire mercenaries from Iran, Iraq and Lebanon.
John2
(2,730 posts)this guy printed now. "The Syrian regime losed control over its security forces and is thus forced to hire mercenaries from Iran, Iraq and Lebanon."
Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey, CIA and Britain hasn't done this? There are no foreign mercenaries sent by these entities into Syria? There was no Jihad called by Salafists and Muslim Brotherhood members into Syria. The Taliban lied when they claimed they went to Syria.
There have been abot 140 plus recorded Hezebullah fighters that have died in Syria and less than a handful of Iranians. Most of these Deaths were recorded last during the attack on Al Quesair in the South, months ago. Lately, it has been assaults by the Syrian Army and many deaths among Syrian soldiers around Aleppo, Lakatia and Damascas, yet this guy continues to trott out the usual proganda on this forum. The Syrian Army is actually kicking these guys ass and the United States and their Allies know it. They can't stand it, because they are losing and this is nothing but a desperate attempt to save the rebels. They can't stand to see Assad still in power and people giving up arms and siding with the Syrian Army to protect their country against foreign invasion. That is the truth of the matter. You are a Tunisian and should really worry about your own country. That goes for Saudi Arabia and Qatar. You saw what happened in Egypt. It will happen in Tunisia and eventually spread to Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Those monarchs have a short life span which would be devastating for Britain, France and the United States and corporate interests. That is what this is really about when all is said and done and I say good riddance.
Sand Wind
(1,573 posts)tainted...
Paladin
(28,243 posts)
daleo
(21,317 posts)Remember The Maine. Babies thrown fom incubators. Vials of anthrax at the UN. Sixteen words. Etc.
yoloisalie
(55 posts)Viagra fueled rape army. It made no sense raping women and children while you have rebels troops breathing down your neck and it makes no sense now using chemical weapons on civilians while the UN chemical inspectors are in town.
Turborama
(22,109 posts)happyslug
(14,779 posts)All he wrote as under the circumstances in Libya when the accusations were made, it made no sense. That is all, no more no less. Remember the accusation was Qaddafi was handing out Viagra so his men could rape even more women. That clearly made no sense from a military point of view for all it would do would turn the Civilian population against him, and he needed all the support he could muster.
I tend to paraphrase General Patton on this subject "Such acts will occur in war, it is the duty to report such incidents AND punished the people who did so". Rape occurs, even in Civilian life, in Combat the issue quickly become how to control it from occurring (and the way, is the same as in Civilian Society, punish the rapists and do NOT tolerate rape).
The writer just wanted to report that being an army under attack, the troops could NOT afford to commit rape, nor did they have the time to do so. That is all, you were the one who took it to mean rape is permissible in some war activity, not the writer.
yoloisalie
(55 posts)Just what I had in mind when I typed it. You don't pull down your pants when the enemy are still on the battle field to rape women. In most wars where there is rape, the invading force usually waits for the town, city or country to be rid of the enemy before any raping starts, be it in Germany after Hitlers defeat or in Rwanda.
Turborama
(22,109 posts)And Gadaffi's forces were not invading their own country, they were in control of areas that were being attacked by the rebels.
Regardless, whatever happened has nothing to do with what's going on in Syria and is a false analogy, anyway.
daleo
(21,317 posts)Like when they are allied with the Syrian rebels, according to recent thinking.
dflprincess
(28,072 posts)
Catherina
(35,568 posts)Maybe that's why they're being shot at now.
IthinkThereforeIAM
(3,075 posts)... folks seem to forget about the raids earlier this year or late last year upon Syrian weapons depots and that previous chemical weapons incident.
Spitfire of ATJ
(32,723 posts)dipsydoodle
(42,239 posts)the UN's remit is to establish use only : not to establish who used chemicals.
John2
(2,730 posts)fingers are also supplying the weapons. The United States is supplying weapons to the rebels. The Syrian Government has also claimed, Saudi Arabia has been supplying chemicals secretly. That would be manufacturing evidence to start a War. The last time that happened was with Iraq. The same people are at it again. Just because Obama is the President, doesn't mean the people in the intelligence or his Administration are different people. They are the same people. They are playing the masses for stupid again.
HooptieWagon
(17,064 posts)Most of the rebel groups are associated with AQ....and the Administration position has publicly been not to supply arms to rebel groups lest they fall in to terrorist's possession. I believe non-lethal aid is being given... food, medicine, possibly intelligence.
ConcernedCanuk
(13,509 posts).
.
.
MIC desperately wants to use their trigger fingers.
USA/MIC has been fomenting wars for decades.
It ain't the Presidents - it the money people.
Dubya was a willing participant,
Obama is not imo.
CC
pampango
(24,692 posts)UN inspectors were not able to visit at least a half-dozen key sites in the area of the suspected chemical weapons attack in Ghouta, according to a doctor who met the group. ... The inspectors "were supposed to stay for six hours but they stayed for an hour and a half only".
They took samples of the soil and some affected animals. They took a chicken. They refused to take the chemical rocket. It seems they are not allowed to take the rocket with them.
After an hour and a half, they got an order from the regime to leave ASAP. The security force told the committee if they did not leave now, they could not guarantee their security. They could not visit the main six sites where the chemical rockets had fallen and lots of people were killed.
The committee did not visit any house in the district. We asked the committee to exhume the bodies for checking them. But they refused. They say that there was no need to do that. We had prepared samples for the committee from some bodies and video documentation. There were urine and blood samples as well as clothes. But they refused to take them.
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/aug/26/un-chemical-weapons-syria-90-minutes
dipsydoodle
(42,239 posts)UN chemical weapons inspectors are due to start a second day of investigations into last week's attacks in the suburbs of the Syrian capital, Damascus.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-23845800
pampango
(24,692 posts)The United Nations says that a team of chemical weapons experts in Syria has delayed a second trip to investigate an alleged poison gas attack near Damascus by one day.
The U.N. says in a statement the decision was made Tuesday in order to improve preparedness and safety for the team, after unidentified snipers opened fire on their convoy on Monday.
Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem said at a press conference earlier that Tuesday's trip was postponed because of disputes between rebel groups.
The U.N. statement only mentioned security precautions. It urged all sides in the conflict to give safe passage and access to the team, adding it was in the interest of all sides to cooperate with the investigation.
http://www.islandpacket.com/2013/08/27/2651093/syria-accuses-kerry-of-lying-disregarding.html
Catherina
(35,568 posts)U.S., Citing 'Moral Obscenity' in Syria, Weighs Response
Kerry Calls Attacks 'Undeniable'; U.N. Reaches Attack Site After U.S. Issued Caution Over Mission
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said Monday that the use of chemical weapons against Syrian civilians is a "moral obscenity," delivering the clearest indication yet that the Obama administration is preparing to attack President Bashar al-Assad's regime.
In a forceful statement delivered in Washington, Mr. Kerry called the attacks "undeniable" and said the administration has developed conclusive evidence that chemical weapons were used last week in the suburbs of Damascus, killing hundreds of civilians. Syria's delays in allowing international monitors to reach alleged attack sites implies its guilt, he said, adding that the U.S. and its allies are "actively consulting" on how to respond.
...
Mr. Kerry's statement came as United Nations inspectors faced gunfire from unidentified snipers as they set out to investigate reports of the chemical-weapons attack in a Damascus suburb.
The U.N. team turned back, but later in the day made it to Mouadhamiya, where one of the suspected chemical-weapons attacks took place. The team visited two hospitals, interviewed survivors and doctors, and collected samples, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in a statement Monday.
...
The U.N. weapons inspectors arrived at the site after the U.S. delivered a caution to Mr. Ban, telling him it was no longer safe for the inspectors to remain in Syria and that their mission was pointless, said a person familiar with the matter. Mr. Ban "stood firm on principle," ordering his team to continue their work establishing whether chemical weapons or toxins were responsible for the estimated hundreds of deaths of Syrian civilians.
...
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323407104579036173795495190.html
dipsydoodle
(42,239 posts)- wouldn't they.
Celefin
(532 posts)Damn it.
I remember press conferences in the distant past with officials squirming under a bombardment of awkward questions... like this:
Yes, you certainly 'developed' evidence. But where is the proof that it was Assad's army? That it wasn't the rebels? That it wasn't an artillery shell unintentionally hitting a hidden chemical weapons stash? That it wasn't a completely different third party with its own motives?
Why is the UN inspectors' work pointless and why should they leave immediately? Would you consider air-strikes on rebel positions if they were proven to be the responsible party? Would you refrain from involvement in case the attack actually was the result of unintentionally blowing up a weapons dump?
Where is the proof you say you have that justifies yet another war?!
WHY is NOBODY publicly asking these questions anymore?
Where are the damn journalists?
/rant
*kicks a door*
dipsydoodle
(42,239 posts)See 11.09am BST
In Damascus Walid Muallem, the Syrian, foreign minister, is holding a press conference. Sky News are covering it live.
He says the UN weapons inspectors told the Syrians which sites they wanted to visit. The Syrians agreed.
Yesterday the weapons inspectors visited a site under the control of Syrian forces. There were no problems.
But there was a problem when they visited an area outside Syrian control.
Last night the UN team said they wanted to visit another area. But this was under the control of armed groups, and they could not guarantee the team's safety.
http://www.theguardian.com/world/middle-east-live/2013/aug/27/syria-crisis-military-intervention-un-inspectors