Syrian Prime Minister 'Flees To Jordan'

[daveza]

http://news.sky.com/story/969333/syr...lees-to-jordan

Syria's prime minister Riyad Hijab has fled to Jordan, according to sources - as a blast hits Syrian state television.

President Bashar al Assad appointed the former agriculture minister as his PM in June, following elections in May.

Conflicting reports from Syrian state television claim Hijab was "dismissed" as he was about to announce his support for Syria's anti-Assad opposition.

In a statement read out on Al Jazeera, a spokesperson for Hijab said: "I announce today my defection from the killing and terrorist regime and I announce that I have joined the ranks of the freedom and dignity revolution. I announce that I am from today a soldier in this blessed revolution."

Time is running out for Assad ?

[BigBullBully]

Im sure the Americans are holding thumbs. I bet the Halliburton trucks are stacking up on the ports already.

[killadoob]

http://news.sky.com/story/969333/syr...lees-to-jordan



Time is running out for Assad ?

Perhaps but he if is going to go down, only a libya style intervention can do it. The rebels are well armed and doing well but against planes, heli's and artillery they are a bit fked

[thestaggy]

Perhaps but he if is going to go down, only a libya style intervention can do it. The rebels are well armed and doing well but against planes, heli's and artillery they are a bit fked

Won't happen.

[killadoob]

Won't happen.

Yup, considering it is an armed conflict and a civil war the US can longer say syria is slaughtering innocent people.

Yesterday there was a grave of about 20 people that the rebels slaughtered, both sides are sick but the US would prefer a sick west friendly government no doubt.

[thestaggy]

Yup, considering it is an armed conflict and a civil war the US can longer say syria is slaughtering innocent people.

Yesterday there was a grave of about 20 people that the rebels slaughtered, both sides are sick but the US would prefer a sick west friendly government no doubt.

True.

Naturally. That is also why the Russians want good 'ol Bashar to hang on, hammering away at his people. He's convenient for their agenda.

Interesting to see what happens there. But I don't think it will end well for Al-Assad anyway.

[killadoob]

True.

Naturally. That is also why the Russians want good 'ol Bashar to hang on, hammering away at his people. He's convenient for their agenda.

Interesting to see what happens there. But I don't think it will end well for Al-Assad anyway.

I read that obama has now authorized helping the rebels but they say it happened months ago which we know of course. Unless he is suppling them with planes and heli's they are fighting a losing battle, well it won't be a losing battle but more of a stalemate similar to what the US experienced in afghanistan and iraq. Guerrilla warfare, no idea what your enemy looks like.

We will have to wait unlil obama is re-elected to see how he approaches iran and syria. For now i think he is chilled waiting for his second term.

Yea no doubt russia don't want assad to fall for their own gains but they are not actively helping the regime where as the US are actively helping the rebels.

[thestaggy]

I read that obama has now authorized helping the rebels but they say it happened months ago which we know of course. Unless he is suppling them with planes and heli's they are fighting a losing battle, well it won't be a losing battle but more of a stalemate similar to what the US experienced in afghanistan and iraq. Guerrilla warfare, no idea what your enemy looks like.

We will have to wait unlil obama is re-elected to see how he approaches iran and syria. For now i think he is chilled waiting for his second term.

Yea no doubt russia don't want assad to fall for their own gains but they are not actively helping the regime where as the US are actively helping the rebels.

I saw an article in the Washington Post that mentioned that Obama was willing to explore other avenues. Right now it is by proxy though. Weapons, training & funds are being supplied by Turkey and Saudi Arabia, which ostensibly comes from the US. Outside above the table arms deals, Russia is not known to be doing anything else, but their diplomatic support seems to be doing wonders for the regime. No doubt had they not vetoed the second resolution, things may be a little different.

I somehow don't see the US doing anything unilaterally. Surely they must have learnt from Iraq by now. Public support will be low me thinks. As will the available dollars.

[killadoob]

Russia's stance is pretty simple, let them sort it out. Without russia and china you can bet the war planes would have been pounding syria by now so they have helped but then again sometimes your friends need help and the US has no issue helping their friends.

Russia got badly burnt in libya, what was suppose to a no fly zone, turned into a bombing campaign, from that moment russia knew they were dealing with people who were not true to their word.

Yea the US do many things via proxies but granted so do other countries . The iranian situation has cooled for now though by the look of it.

The US cannot pull an iraq on syria, they have used up their excuses and many people are no longer buying the BS they spew. Available dollars will be there it's just a small matter of the elections from there things will heat up quickly.

Romney if somehow manages to win will support an iranian strike, although he is an ass licker of note.

[thestaggy]

Russia's stance is pretty simple, let them sort it out. Without russia and china you can bet the war planes would have been pounding syria by now so they have helped but then again sometimes your friends need help and the US has no issue helping their friends.

Russia got badly burnt in libya, what was suppose to a no fly zone, turned into a bombing campaign, from that moment russia knew they were dealing with people who were not true to their word.

Yea the US do many things via proxies but granted so do other countries . The iranian situation has cooled for now though by the look of it.

The West made no bones about Libya. They were going in to Libya in order to down Libyan aircraft and destroy armour and heavy weapons. And in the process Libya's air defense capabilities were also targeted, which makes sense. You can't rule the sky and enforce a no-fly zone if you still risk getting a SAM up your nozzle. It's the same argument they used in Syria; stop using armour, heavy weapons and aircraft or we will do it for you.

If Russia thought enforcing a no-fly zone meant having tea and scones and a lively debate, then she was being silly.

[killadoob]

Fair enough but the bombing went beyond what they said. They dropped 30000 bombs on libya.

They targeted more than what they said they would. They basically bombed the libyan regime and ensured they were overthrown which was not a bad thing of course but much like iraq nato ignored many things and just went for it.

After libya russia will never trust the western nations again my opinion, china won't either. If anything china is getting annoyed with the US for interfering with their disputes at the moment.

The US biggest issue is they are making more enemies than friends.

[thestaggy]

Fair enough but the bombing went beyond what they said. They dropped 30000 bombs on libya.

They targeted more than what they said they would. They basically bombed the libyan regime and ensured they were overthrown which was not a bad thing of course but much like iraq nato ignored many things and just went for it.

After libya russia will never trust the western nations again my opinion, china won't either. If anything china is getting annoyed with the US for interfering with their disputes at the moment.

Well yes, they may have done a little more, but the Russians should have been wise to that and the NTC in Libya was pefectly okay with the goings on.

What would happen if the Syrian National Council/Free Syrian Army/Syrian Liberation Army called for assistance, as the NTC did?

I just get the idea China likes to say the opposite of what the US says, just because. It has no vested interest in Syria, only by extension through her ties with Russia and Iran. No doubt US dealings with Taiwan is also a bit of a sticking point.

[killadoob]

I don't agree with china, they never vetoed libya nor did russia. What happened was they sat on the fence thinking it was a no fly zone. Then the bombs started landing and then russia and china saw this was not what they thought it would be.

The ntc cannot call for help while they are bombing and attacking the regime. Unless china and russia allow it no one can help them by doing a libya style "no fly zone" aka bomb the living crap out of the regime . Russia and china will veto anything put forward.

Russia i think are also sick of the americans meddling in every conflict and perhaps even enhancing the conflict, at some point russia and american are going to butt heads again, china and america are following the same course. Interesting times ahead though no doubt.