Thread: The crisis in Syria

Originally Posted by Hanna

I have no idea who Chuck Norris is....

He is a right-wing American superhero...
Or, in other words, a poor actor who starred in a bunch of action flicks, including some very stupid anti-Russian ones, but whose real "fame" came from selling athletic equipment and mounting political campaigns to force children to read the bible in public schools and to destroy the separation of church and state.

He is another raging teabagger similar to Ted Nugent. He loves war, the bible, guns and roundhouse kicks, not necessarily in that order...

Originally Posted by Deborski

He is a right-wing American superhero...
Or, in other words, a poor actor who starred in a bunch of action flicks, including some very stupid anti-Russian ones, but whose real "fame" came from selling athletic equipment and mounting political campaigns to force children to read the bible in public schools and to destroy the separation of church and state.

He is another raging teabagger similar to Ted Nugent. He loves war, the bible, guns and roundhouse kicks, not necessarily in that order...

I know this guy! He is the one who was beaten by bruce Lee in The Way of the Dragon.

It's a solution! Obama said he wouldn't strike if Assad turns over his chemical weapons! Assad agreed and Russia will work with Assad so I just know this will happen.
Obama says Russian Syria proposal could be a breakthrough
Syria says it ‘welcomes’ Russia proposal on chemical weapons - The Washington Post

U.S. officials said Kerry’s comment, made in response to a question at a news conference in London, was not intended to be a diplomatic opening... As Kerry flew back to Washington to help lobby lawmakers, he received a midair call from Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who said he had heard the secretary’s remarks and was about to make a public announcement.

Наши дипломаты поймали бедного Керри на слове. Но его никто за язык не тянул. Думаю, что ему объявят строгий выговор за срыв войны. Но слово не воробей, вылетит - не поймаешь.

Originally Posted by Юрка

Наши дипломаты поймали бедного Керри на слове. Но его никто за язык не тянул. Думаю, что ему объявят строгий выговор за срыв войны. Но слово не воробей, вылетит - не поймаешь.

I was telling an American Facebook friend about this yesterday and he simply could not give the Russians credit. He kept saying that Obama deserved all the credit "for putting the pressure on the Russians" and that it never would have happened if Obama hadn't threatened the air-strike. When I argued with him, he said "Putin is a thug." I deleted him from my friends' list because I am so tired of that kind of stale cold war thinking. But other friends of mine were really happy about Russia's proposal and were celebrating, hoping that this means there will not be a war after all.

I am keeping my fingers crossed. Until Obama formally states that the air-strikes are completely off the table, I will not be able to relax. And meanwhile, who will unarm the jihadists? And if they have chemical weapons, who can make sure they turn those over and do not use them?

I hope the Russian proposal works out and that Obama takes this "out" to cancel his plans for invading Syria. Congress will still put it to a vote tomorrow, but it looks likely that the majority will vote against military action.

Originally Posted by Deborski

But other friends of mine were really happy about Russia's proposal and were celebrating, hoping that this means there will not be a war after all.

Гарантии пока нет. Обама вроде сказал, что всё зависит теперь от решения Конгресса.
Наши дипломаты сейчас вместе с сирийскими дипломатами разрабатывают подробный план постановки химического оружия Сирии под контроль. Работа чисто техническая, но её лучше сделать быстро, чтобы никто не сослался на технические трудности реализации нашего предложения. Вообще мне нравится, как действует Лавров и его команда. Правительственные награды они заслужили, если будет результат (отсутствие войны).

Originally Posted by Deborski

And meanwhile, who will unarm the jihadists?

Асад. Он добьёт эти банды, даже если арабские страны и Запад будут продолжать поддерживать их оружием и людьми.

Originally Posted by Deborski

And if they have chemical weapons, who can make sure they turn those over and do not use them?

Позавчера по российскому телевидению сказали, что по данным разведки сирийская "оппозиция" готовит новую провокацию: применение химического оружия против Израиля. Причём, с территории, находящейся под контролем Сирии. А Израиль в этом случае может ответить незамедлительно, без всякий слушаний в Конгрессе.

Originally Posted by Deborski

I deleted him from my friends' list because I am so tired of that kind of stale cold war thinking.

Дебора, у Вас там нешуточные баталии. Держитесь, я с Вами.

Originally Posted by Юрка

Гарантии пока нет. Обама вроде сказал, что всё зависит теперь от решения Конгресса.
Наши дипломаты сейчас вместе с сирийскими дипломатами разрабатывают подробный план постановки химического оружия Сирии под контроль. Работа чисто техническая, но её лучше сделать быстро, чтобы никто не сослался на технические трудности реализации нашего предложения. Вообще мне нравится, как действует Лавров и его команда. Правительственные награды они заслужили, если будет результат (отсутствие войны).
Асад. Он добьёт эти банды, даже если арабские страны и Запад будут продолжать поддерживать их оружием и людьми.
Позавчера по российскому телевидению сказали, что по данным разведки сирийская "оппозиция" готовит новую провокацию: применение химического оружия против Израиля. Причём, с территории, находящейся под контролем Сирии. А Израиль в этом случае может ответить незамедлительно, без всякий слушаний в Конгрессе.
Дебора, у Вас там нешуточные баталии. Держитесь, я с Вами.

Спасибо - я рада, что я не одна ))))

Но это тоже моя забота, что "оппозиция" готовит новую провокацию...

Obama has announced that he will formally address the nation tonight at 9:00 EST. Keep your fingers crossed!

My Syrian friend, who lives in Canada, just sent me this video of her husband who was interviewed on TV again, this time in English. He has been working long hours trying to get medical supplies to the more than two million Syrian refugees, especially the little children, as well as serving in the refugee camps himself, as a doctor. Because of laws in Syria preventing the delivery of the medical supplies, he has been smuggling them in and has risked his own life in his war-torn homeland. A very brave man!

In case anyone would like to help get medical equipment to the refugees - the group which my friend's husband volunteers for is called Canadian Relief for Syria. You can see him in a video clip which I posted earlier today in this thread, doing an interview on Canadian news.

Here is a link to the group's website: Home

You can donate directly on their site! So if you can spare anything - and you feel compelled to help the many thousands of Syrians, including little children, who have been injured during the war in Syria, I highly recommend this group.

My friend's husband has risked his life smuggling medical equipment into the region and treating injured children there and even though there has been a breakthrough diplomatically, the fighting has not stopped yet and these people are still in desperate need of help.

Thank you!

Okay.
President Obama screaming for "limited" strikes = Fail.
President Putin getting with Syria to put the chemical weapons under international control = Win.

Yeah, I think President Putin deserves the Nobel Peace prize, not President Obama. And I'm not the only one that thinks that:
Putin is the one who really deserves that Nobel Peace Prize | Fox News

Originally Posted by UhOhXplode

Okay.
President Obama screaming for "limited" strikes = Fail.
President Putin getting with Syria to put the chemical weapons under international control = Win.

To be just, getting any kind of international control over Syrian Chemical weapon (unless it is empty words) would hardly be possible without intensive preparation of USA to war. So they can say later that the whole mess was a performance to get control over CW, and take Nobels for O as the best actor in a leading role and P as the best supporting actor.

Originally Posted by it-ogo

To be just, getting any kind of international control over Syrian Chemical weapon (unless it is empty words) would hardly be possible without intensive preparation of USA to war. So they can say later that the whole mess was a performance to get control over CW, and take Nobels for O as the best actor in a leading role and P as the best supporting actor.

Так, глядишь, Обама и вторую медаль получит. Но до Брежнева ему всё равно далеко.

Here is the entire video of Obama's speech last night, for those who did not see it:

Как же непросто сдерживать этих нобелевских лауреатов мира... (подумал Путин, вытирая со лба пот).

I think both Obama and Putin deserve credit if this plan can forestall a global conflict! But Americans are more likely to see Obama as the "victor" here because many of them have an intense (and unjustified) hatred for Putin. Right-wing Americans are only praising Putin because they hate Obama. The moment Putin does something that isn't in line with Republican core "values" they will go back to their Cold War era "Red Dawn" inspired hatred of Putin and all things Russian.

As for Obama's language during his address to the nation last night: I was nodding my head enthusiastically though the first few moments of his speech, but when he slipped into the rhetoric about how the US must be the World Police and all, I was shaking my head and saying, "oh please just shut up and stop while you're ahead."

My husband told me to calm down and said, "he has to add all that rhetoric to please the mass majority of constituents who fall for that stuff." But listen carefully to his words. He said "action" would be needed. He did not specifically say "military action". So Obama stated that our troops are "standing by" and ready to strike if Assad does not cooperate with the international team, he did not state that the strike will commence regardless.

The significant thing he said was at the beginning of the speech, where he stated that the Congressional vote for military action has been "postponed." He also gave Putin some credit and talked about cooperation with Russia and other nations - and this is a HUGE step which should not be overlooked!

For the US to COOPERATE with Russia and other nations is practically revolutionary during this era of America's "lone cowboy" antics of running roughshod all around the globe without seeking anyone's permission!

I am beginning to believe that my husband has been right all along, and that Obama actually is playing a very complex and masterful game of chess here. He got to appear strong by calling for the airstrikes, then he got to show his "respect for the people" by putting the vote to the right-wing-majority Congress, all the while knowing they would disapprove because they disapprove of everything he tries to do. Meanwhile, he met privately with Putin while he was in St. Petersburg, and they worked out this brilliant diplomatic plan to disarm Syria of its chemical weapons.

Of course this could still be completely wrong and he could turn around and announce that we will attack Syria after all. But I rather doubt that. I think if anyone makes a new proposal to attack Syria, it will be the right-wing neocons who will jump on the idea - but only after Obama abandons it completely.

Originally Posted by Deborski

He also gave Putin some credit and talked about cooperation with Russia and other nations

Я обратил внимание на формулировки.
1. Амерканцы сделали вид, то это их заслуга. Мол, Америка надавила на Сирию, заставила сотрудничать Россию, и результат пришёл. Да здравствует сила.
2. Путин в своём выступлении был дипломатичен. Не говорил, что это победа России, или что Америка была поймана на слове. Тем самым даёт Обаме шанс сохранить лицо.

Но это риторика, главное результат.

P.S. А как зовут журналиста, задавшего в Лондоне вопрос Керри? Его тоже надо наградить.

Originally Posted by Юрка

Я обратил внимание на формулировки.
1. Амерканцы сделали вид, то это их заслуга. Мол, Америка надавила на Сирию, заставила сотрудничать Россию, и результат пришёл. Да здравствует сила.
2. Путин в своём выступлении был дипломатичен. Не говорил, что это победа России, или что Америка была поймана на слове. Тем самым даёт Обаме шанс сохранить лицо.

Но это риторика, главное результат.

P.S. А как зовут журналиста, задавшего в Лондоне вопрос Керри? Его тоже надо наградить.

Я согласна, что это риторика. Я не люблю реторику, но что делать? Вот наши руководители так говорят постояно. Я предпочитаю, чтобы они говорили прямо и честно, но это лишь мечта.

I have lost any ounce of respect for that man.
I actually prefer Bush Jr, because he was so dim, that it was kind of understandable that he acted the way he did. . Obama isn't - he is intelligent and an achiever.

He must know that he is talking tosh, regurgitating propaganda and is being used as a puppet for economic interests more powerful than the presidency.

And the big deal about Obama being "black" is also rather silly. He grew up with his WHITE mother who is an academic.
His father is NOT the descendant of American slaves, but just some random Kenyan guy who happened to date his mother. His skin colour is completely incidental, and he grew up in a white culture. I'll be impressed when somebody whose ancestors was dragged over to the USA in chains, becomes president.

He's a murderer for not putting a stop to the drone strikes, and an arrogant tyrant for imagining that his country has the right to topple any regime it doesn't like, or kill foreign citizens in countries that has done nothing against the USA.
The USA seems to be more aggressive for every dollar its foreign debt grows by.... Seems it won't rest until every single nation in the world is a USA puppet.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/12/wo...ria.html?_r=1&


U.N. Rights Panel Cites Evidence of War Crimes by Both Sides in Syria

GENEVA — As the United States and Russia searched for a diplomatic solution to the crisis over Syria’s chemical weapons, a four-person United Nations rights panel presented detailed evidence on Wednesday of what it said were war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by pro-government forces and, to a lesser extent, rebels in the 30-month-old conflict.

Bolstered by weapons and money from regional and global powers waging a proxy war, Syria’s government and rebel forces have committed murder, torture, rape and indiscriminate attacks on civilians, without fear of future punishment, the panel, a Commission of Inquiry that was expanded last fall, said in its latest report, to be presented to the United Nations Human Rights Council here in Geneva on Monday.

The report was careful to hold both sides responsible, but the unevenness of the conflict — with heavily armed government forces battling rebels with scanty, sometimes homemade arsenals — was evident. Of the nine mass killings the panel investigated for the report, eight were attributed to the government side and one to rebels.

Emphasizing the warring parties’ sense of impunity, the panel pointed out that it had continued to update its list of individuals and institutions identified as responsible for crimes and atrocities. In comments to reporters earlier in the week, one panel member, Carla Del Ponte, a former chief prosecutor of two United Nations criminal law tribunals, said, “It’s a long list.”