"MOSCOW (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton sparked controversy this week when she accused Russia of escalating the conflict in Syria by sending it attack helicopters. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov rejected the claim, saying that Russia is only shipping air defense systems under previously signed contracts.
The State Department acknowledged Thursday that the helicopters Clinton referred to were being returned to Syria after refurbishment and are not new tools against Syrian opposition groups. Nonetheless, Russia has shipped billions of dollars' worth of missiles, tanks, artillery and other military gear to Syria over more than four decades."
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Recent events I've seen and heard make it sound as if the United States and Russia (most of which made up the former USSR) are at it again. Washington and Moscow used to use military equipment issues to Israel and Syria, respectively ,as a way to preserve power-blocs and hegemony in the Middle East triangle of Israel, Syria and Lebanon during and after the October 1973 "Yom Kippur" war and the rape of Lebanon in the 1970s and 80s.
So much time has passed, but what has changed?
It's doubtful to me given the sparse on-site reporting we are getting from a variety of sources that anybody really knows where these arms are winding up or who they are being used upon. Many of the rebel groups are apparently deserters from Assad's army, some are violent sectarians and others are involved in the conflict because of hatred for the Assad Dynasty which has ruled this nation, ruthlessly when needed, since 1970.
The State Department says the Russians and the Iranians are supplying the Assad government and other sourcess say that NATO and other groups are supporting the various opposition forces. Others like RT television, the main Russian government conduit to the outside world, say most of the arming and butchery is on the rebel side and the USA and NATO is to blame.
One thing is certain: more arms shipments from any source will NOT lead to peace!
All the Security Council nations in the UN should stand aside and call for a peace program. Finger-pointing while men are beaten, women are raped and children are being blown to pieces is less than inhumane.
"(Reuters) - The Syrian town of Haffeh was smoldering and nearly deserted on Thursday after days of clashes between government forces and rebels, while activists reported more army assaults on pro-opposition areas across the country.
"United Nations monitors had been trying to enter the town after several days of fighting but were forced to turn back on Tuesday when a crowd attacked them.
"They finally gained access on Thursday to find state buildings burnt down, shops abandoned and a body lying in the street. Smoke rose from destroyed buildings and burnt-out cars littered the roads. There were signs of heavy bombardment."
It's like another Rwanda Doug. Yet no one wishes to even touch it.
ReplyDeleteYeah Jack. I don't see a lot of good endings to that situation.
ReplyDeleteI will return Doug, there is much to say within ethics on this one. As you have addressed here.
ReplyDeletewow!! it all seems so hopeless over there :(
ReplyDeleteI fear we may be heading for a similar situation in this country if the wrong folks get control of our government this fall.
ReplyDeleteOne main thing is that there is forthright dialogue to Russia right now, and ironically China could be a country that comes out being a great allie with this one - just a thought.
ReplyDeleteGreed knows no boundary. So sad!
ReplyDeleteIt seems like average people are in hell there that's for certain, Mike.
ReplyDeleteI don't think it could get as bad as Syria that fast, but I could be too optimistic
ReplyDeleteI think the ball is in Putin's court. He and Obama will meet next week so maybe they can put together a plan that saves face for Mosocw and gets Assad out of there. I believe NATO charging in there right now would make things worse.
ReplyDeleteYou said it, Tinh.
ReplyDeleteIrnonically Mike there is more of a understanding (praise to Sen. Clinton) with China than with Russia. I would tend to bet that China will play a key role with Russia. While Obama acts as the diplomate which at this time is best. Putin realizes what the status of America is right now. Hence this will be another covert op.
ReplyDelete(dang I sound like Jesse Ventura)...but lets see what happens as it's good time for some others to put up the capital and tend to things rather that what those of this last 3rd world war have.
I can't see why a UN-style Arab Nations organisation can't intervene. They'd have more credibility with both sides than Western or Eastern Europeans that only ever use the Middle-East for their own ends in the first place.
ReplyDeleteI agree, Oakie, that some sort of stabilizing force led by the Arab League, financed by the oil-rich states, makes a lot more sense as an option than a Western intervention.
ReplyDeleteI don't believe, Jack, outside of some old Neo-Cons, military contractors and some US media "war-chasers", that there is really any appetite in the USA for another "nation-building" enterprise. We have blundered enough at the expense of those who serve in the armed forces.
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