Syria's Assad, warn West...

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has warned of an "earthquake" if the West intervenes in his country.

In a rare interview with the UK's Sunday Telegraph newspaper, Mr Assad said involvement risked transforming Syria into "another Afghanistan".

"Syria is the hub now in this region. It is the faultline, and if you play with the ground you will cause an earthquake," he said, .

"Any problem in Syria will burn the whole region. If the plan is to divide Syria, that is to divide the whole region.

"Do you want to see another Afghanistan, or tens of Afghanistans?"


SOURCE ~ BBC NEWS


My question is, why has the U.S. and allies remained so silent on this issue? It seems everyone was eager to ask Egyptian leader Mubarak to step aside. Then could not wait to get involved in Libya, so what is the issue now?

Clearly as reported from within Syria, civilians are being killed in an attempt to stamp out leadership change protest.

Is it possible that the West is so intimidated by Syria's ties to Iran, that they will continue to stand idly by, and watch this slaughter day after day?

...it certainly appears so, to me.

Thoughts, comments welcomed.

 

Hmmm.. Khadafi warned of rivers of blood.

Syria seems awfully wobbly to me...

 

Speculation is rife in Iran that Adahmenijad is planning a military coup..

Syria is blowing smoke.

 

I hope Israel could help somehow but that's out of the question ofc....no side will want to be affiliated with us, still, it could have been a glorious start of new releations....

An armed militia made of diserters of Asad's army is forming, NATO will have to interfer at some point or 2 states will be created...

 

There are bigger games afoot.

http://www.politicalforum.com/curre...nejad-s-team-planning-military-coup-iran.html

 

I find it unsettling that the Obama administration was so eager to ask Mubarak to step aside, and after months, has yet to suggest the same to Assad.

After All, it's not as if Syria has been a friend to the U.S., or it's interest in the region, as Mubarak was. Interestingly, just a couple weeks after he stepped down, Iran sailed two warship through the Suez Canal, en route to Syria. And now there are rumors from Egypt, of a coming military conflict with Israel.

The whole situation between the current U.S. administration and Syria, smells a little foul to me.

 

Syria doesn't have the Suez Canal... which is vital to the whole region.

Iran didn't sail two warships thru the canal.. One was a training ship filled with naval cadets, the other was a supply ship.

Much ado about NOTHING.

 

This quote shows that Assad is panicking. He does not know what to do, his army is tired of shooting civilians. Many are disserting and the money to finance the regime is dwindling.
As long as Kadafi was alive he knew the west will leave him alone, now the pressure will amount to take a stand and help the Syrians who are entitled for a better life.
Assad is counting his last days at the palace.
Now he will find out who are his real friends. The one who will give him asylum is his true friend. Kadafi had none who was willing, I wonder will Assad find one ?

 

My apologies Margot, I try to respond in a timely manner, but it seems that is an impossibility here. *sigh* Perhaps another time, take care.

I didn't suggest Syria had the Suez Canal. And all media reports I read at the time, referred to them as "warship," perhaps military ships would have been a better description, I don't really know.

What I do know is, they certainly didn't look anything like supply ship I have see.

But that aside, my intended point was that it definitely was a significant step in the region. I personally, see it as more than, much ado about nothing. And the U.S. silence on Syria, is troubling to me.


Iranian warships sail through Suez Canal

 

Iran is Syria's only ally and Iran is in a terrible state.. with rumors and accusations of Ahmadinejad staging a coup.

Iran is also in the odd position of importing gas at the rate of $6 billion a year and rationing gas to citizens.

 

I certainly hope you are correct, Free Man.

 

There is no support from the Arab nations for the overthrow of Syria. To mount a campaign against the Syrians without it would not be in the interests of the US and the West. Besides, Russia and China cannot be discounted as they also have an interest in maintaining Syria the way it is.

 

Do you really think Syria is important either way?

What are Chinese and Russian interests in Syria?

http://www.politicalforum.com/curre...nejad-s-team-planning-military-coup-iran.html

 

Yes, good point, and I agree.

At least, it seems, the Arab League is speaking out against the recent killing of demonstrators. Hopefully, it will soon end.

~ Arab League rips Syrian leader ~

 

The GCC has been urging Assad to listen to the people and make reforms for a couple of months now.

 

Gadaffi said something quite similar. It certainly seems to have done wonders for him. I think most Libyans will agree.

 

In Mid February, Khadafi said there would be "rivers of blood".

 

I don't think the USA has connections in Syria, like it had in Egypt (or recently opened to the west Libya), to allow for easy access into the region in support of the rebels.

During the cold war, Syria was the Soviet Unions' Israel, and the political games Israel and Syria would play were a testing ground for USA-Soviet foreign policy elsewhere in the world. I doubt the CIA had a good chance of establishing trustworthy, long-time connections when a counter espionage KGB was looking over their shoulders, well that was the case up until the 1990s financial collapse of the USSR.

 

Ensuring that US interests come to nothing.

 

Meaning what exactly?

Both Russia and China have joint ventures on the Arabian Peninsula and in Africa..

Where does Syria fit in ? Syria has NOTHING to offer either.

 

The U.S. should stay out iof Syria just like they should have stayed out of Libya.

If the U.S. takes no action they will be labeled as evil. If they take action in defense of either side they will be labeled as evil.

We may as well save our money.

They are trying to blame NATO for killing that madman in Libya for heavens sake!!!...after being invited in.

I say let them fight it out...without U.S. help.

 

It would be better for Syria and the region if Assad could regain control and make the necessary reforms rather than having Syria fall apart.

I am not sure he is capable of doing that.. He's a timid, passive man and subject to his family members that are far more aggressive.

 

A 16 year old with a bomb vest will get assad ( For vengence not allah or an Arab Spring thing)

 

Little did he know the blood would be his own. Assad is an idiot if he thinks his threats mean anything. China and Russia would be the only hesitation the West has to intervene. Saddam had the 4th largest military in the world. It never stood a chance. Like Gadaffi, Saddam should have been slightly more prudent. He might still be alive.

 

From what I understand.. the real power lies with the aggressive younger brother.

Assad's younger brother, Maher al-Assad, is the commander of Syria's Republican Guard