BREAKING: Raise readiness, Assad tells Syrian Army

[Subdivisions]

Reuters reporting this:

http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=newsOne&storyID=2006-07-31T211537Z_01_L31883392_RTRUKOC_0_US-MIDEAST-ASSAD.xml

[katty]

1. yup, just saw this--once Syria's in-that's it, they have their war

[Subdivisions]

2. Yep. They are the last piece of the puzzle

[HereSince1628]

3. Inching toward the brink. I hope someone notices that this

is not unlike the way that Russia and Germany ended up stumbling into the beginning of WWI. Everyone keeps going one step further toward readiness, until they have a conflagration absolutely no one was ready for.

[katty]

5. they want to have their wargasm before election midterms

[Maat]

4. Here we go ...

this is SO SICK AND TWISTED.

It's like a train is headed toward us and we're on the tracks (along with people around the world, all victims of their monstrous government officials and other NUTS in the mix).

[Scurrilous]

6. Assad: We won't be deterred from helping Lebanon

In statement issued on 61st anniversary of establishment of Syrian army Assad says Damascus won't be deterred from helping Lebanon; military put on high alert

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3284437,00.html

<snip>

"Syrian President Bashar Assad put the Syrian army on high alert in anticipation of any developments. In a statement issued to mark the army's 61st anniversary Assad said Syria will not be deterred from helping Lebanon.

"The occupying enemy hasn't forgotten the humiliating defeat and its submissive exit from south Lebanon under the strikes bold resistance," the statement read.

"Syria, which stood by its brother (Lebanon) and sacrificed martyrs to defend Lebanon's freedom as we did for Syria's sovereignty, remains as always adamant in standing by our Arab people who's fighting in Lebanon and Palestine, and by the bold national resistance who struck the enemy. All threats voiced by powers in the world who support the enemy won't deter us from continuing to support our brothers," he said."

[Vinca]

7. Next up: Iran. What a fucking mess. nt

[Monkeyman]

8. Sat. Arab news said Iran has called up theirs

[Massacure]

15. Iran is mobilizing but I don't think they are on hair trigger alert.

[daleo]

9. It would make sense for Syria to be prepared

After all, there has been pretty fierce bombing in the border area. I would expect they wouldn't want to be caught flat-footed if the worst happens. I don't see them starting it, though.

On the other hand, as someone pointed out regarding WWI, mobilization can create its own momentum.

[BrotherBuzz]

16. Indeed, it would be foolish if they didn't takes this step

mobilization can create its own momentum - that's an ominous thought we all need to dwell on.

[Megahurtz]

10. Yikes Again!

:hide::yoiks::nuke:

[lapfog_1]

11. Bashar Assad and Bush are like two peas in a pod

Both are reputed to be "below normal" in intelligence.

Both are in their positions because of their fathers.

Both are held captive (perhaps willingly) of extremists hardliners in their countries.

Now both are about to get into another ill-advised war which neither can win but which could cost them dear.

[megatherium]

14. Bashar is multilingual and he's an ophamologist.

Where'd you hear he's sub-par in intelligence?

[lapfog_1]

17. Hmm...

I remember that from a piece run on the Syrian/Hezbollah connection over the weekend on CNN.

My bad... never trust the MSM.

[AliceWonderland]

21. Interview with Assad on Democracy Now

This was interesting, I thought --

http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=06/07/18/1442253

There's aren't a lot of interviews with Arab leaders in the American press, so I thought this was informative.

[Laotra]

18. Interview

The SyriaComment blog has a recent interview of the guy. Seems quite sensible, speaks in realpolitik terms without the ad nauseam hypocritical and projecting moralizing that the hysterical Western leaders and media are so accustomed to. I allways like that kind of relatively honest talk, whether I agree or not.

[geek tragedy]

27. Did they ask him how it feels to have his throne resting

on the skulls of the children of Hama?

[Name removed]

29. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[AnOhioan]

22. I would add Olmert to that list as well

[umtalal]

12. Within Hours of Senator Hagel Statement

Did you notice that within hours of Hagels statement, the Big I PR machine started spinning wildly about Syria "warring up"? Let's hope the moderates don't fold and hang tough with the Go Israel steamrollers. Also, will be interesting whether the Dems join the moderate/sanity fold or continue with Fox News and AIPAC.

Kissinger is responding now: "...fundamental to settle the immediate issue and get rid of militias...." Fear this is GobblyGook for Green light: letting Israle unleash military might on all legitimate resistance groups who oppose Occupation, Settlements, etc., even if democractically elected or legitimated by UN resolution, Geneva conventions, etc. . If Israel gets to supportt UN 1559 with guns, why can't there be military support for UN 242, etc.

The fight on Capitol Hill for the soul of American foreign policy is just beginning.
Big question is whether the moderates or anyone else opposing the Israel-First steamrollers will get any traction. Big I will definitely be ratcheting up the media propoganda with spin, doubletalk and misleading information as well as the bombs.
Pray for Peace and the demise of the Darkside.

[loudsue]

13. Oh shit. This sucks.

There are a bunch of madmen running the countries of the world. It's time for the citizens of all of these countries to stop their so-called "leaders"... who are actually followers...following their penises around with "macho man" written all over their guns.

This just sucks.

[muryan]

19. Regardless of how much you want peace

sometimes you just have to sit back and let people fight. Syria wants to fight, israel wants to fight, hezzbollah wants to fight, iran wants to fight, hamas wants to fight. Keep american troops of the situation and let them blow each other up, neither side wants to negotiate or settle things diplomatically.

[Fovea]

24. Given the size of the potential hostile forces in the area

the US forces will have to tuck tail and skidaddle if they want to survive. But I don't think that is going to happen. We have mercs that will cut and run first thing, and lots of oil hardware to guard. We have our dick well and truly caught in the hoover at this point.

When this goes regional, we will be stuck in theater, and the Wahabbist Arabs, Iranian forces, and Iraqi Sunnis will eat our lunch.
Sure we can bomb the crap out of things, but bombing will not increase security on the ground for forces fighting both a conventional and asymmetrical war at once.

I hope the war fans who voted for their mad cowboy are singing hosannas, because they are inches away from getting their gottendamerung.
We are going to be taken down hard- militarily, economically, and politically. Nuclear exchanges, bio-weapons, I suspect we will see it all. I predict that the US will leave this decade looking quite a lot like Germany in 1919-- only worse.

I suggest anyone still alive after WWIII comes home to roost treat the PNAC supporters like the French did their Nazi collaberators.

[alcibiades_mystery]

20. That's not an order: the press is trying to fan the flames

There is a specific military order that would "raise readiness." None has been issued. This is rather an address to the army urging that they be alert and prepared. Earlier today there was a similiar article about Iran, with a similarly deceptive headline. Why Reuters, etc., want a real big Mideast War is anyone's guess, but this is yellow journalism at its most reckless.

[lanlady]

23. Assad is a missed opportunity

I can't remember where I read this, but supposedly he started out as Western-oriented, open to dialogue. He represented the younger generation of Arab leaders etc. The Busheviks, due to their usual incompetence, managed to sideline him and turn him into a foe.

[geek tragedy]

28. Well, that and Syria's Baathist regime is thoroughly evil.

Who knows how much power he actually wields there, as opposed to his daddy's henchmen and executioners.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

30. No, wait, let me guess.

He has WMDs, was involved in 9/11, and puts his adversaries through giant meat grinders, right?

[AmericasReporter]

25. The WH is OBVIOUSLY not paying attention

because that would be TOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO HHHAAARRRDDDD for them to do. IDIOTS



START THE REVOLUTION
START THE IMPEACHMENT

[Sretto]

26. Time for

a regime change?