Russia, Turkey Readying for Syria War as Obama Seeks Support

[Purveyor]

By Ben Holland and Selcan Hacaoglu - Sep 6, 2013

Russia and Turkey stepped up preparations for an escalation of the 2 1/2-year civil war in Syria, in which they’re backing opposing sides.

Russia, one of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s main international allies, sent an amphibious assault ship to join its forces off the Syrian coast in the east Mediterranean, Interfax news agency reported. The Nikolay Filchenkov, which departed Sevastopol today, is the latest reinforcement to the fleet. Two destroyers, a missile cruiser and other vessels were dispatched earlier.

In Turkey, one of the most vocal supporters of the rebels fighting to oust Assad, the army has bolstered its deployment along the 900-kilometer (559-mile) border, where hilltop gun emplacements face Syria. The government set up a decontamination unit to disinfect cars arriving from Syria, on concern they may carry traces of chemical weapons, and said it may commandeer off-road vehicles for military use, Hurriyet newspaper said.

Russia’s Vladimir Putin and Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan are among world leaders gathered in St. Petersburg today for a Group of 20 summit, where President Barack Obama is seeking support for his argument that force must be used to punish Assad for allegedly using chemical weapons against civilians. Assad’s government denies the charge, and Putin has questioned the evidence that the U.S. says supports it. Erdogan has repeatedly said Turkey will join a coalition against Assad.

more...

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-09-06/russia-turkey-raise-syria-war-readiness-as-obama-seeks-support.html

[leveymg]

1. The Guns of August become the Threats of September become the Missiles of October?

This is increasingly like World War One Meets the Cuban Missile Crisis. The escalation and sabre rattling must stop, or else.

We've seen before what can happen when war and threats of war aren't stopped.

[NuclearDem]

2. You read my mind.

[leveymg]

3. We're all tapping into the same Gestalt, and it's growing - except inside the bubble around DC

which is a sort of alternative universe with its own perverse group mind. And, that group mind wants to prove that it has control over events in the greater real world that it doesn't have, anymore.

Dangerous when perceptions clash with reality.

[HooptieWagon]

4. Oil futures a good investment.

Price is going to soar, esp if Iran joins in the fight.