UN suspends Syria peace mission

[dipsydoodle]

Source: BBC News 16 June 2012 Last updated at 13:29

The head of the UN Stabilisation Mission in Syria (UNSMIS) says the mission has been suspended because of escalating violence, agencies report.

On Friday, the Norwegian Gen Robert Mood said there appeared to be a "lack of willingness" from Syria's government and opposition to seek peace.

He also said violence had intensified in the preceding 10 days, putting his unarmed observers at significant risk.

Earlier, activists said troops had been shelling parts of Homs and Damascus.

Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-18471686

---

U.N. suspends observer mission in Syria.

(CNN) -- The United Nations suspended all activities in Syria on Saturday due to the escalating levels of violence, the head of the global body's mission said.

"There has been an intensification of armed violence across Syria over the past 10 days," said Gen. Robert Mood, head of the U.N. Supervision Mission in Syria.

"This escalation is limiting our ability to observe, verify, report as well as assist in local dialogue and stability projects -- basically impeding our ability to carry out our mandate," Mood said.

The situation, Mood said, was too high risk.

http://edition.cnn.com/2012/06/16/world/meast/syria-un-monitors/

[may3rd]

1. France may send Syrian rebels communications equipment

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/sns-rt-us-france-syria-rebelsbre85e0to-20120615,0,2090292.story

Anybody else check out this Face Book page ? :

Syrian Truth | English
https://www.facebook.com/login.php

I wonder if the freedom fighters have a polar opposite? We all know Syria was the most anti internet country in the world.
North Korea doesn't count, those numb tards are happy without knowing of "internet"

[joshcryer]

8. Yes, there's the Syrian Revolution Facebook page.

Use Google Chrome to translate it: http://www.facebook.com/Syrian.Revolution

Libya had a similar page: http://www.facebook.com/17022011libya

Generally I avoid these sources (on both sides) because they do have propaganda (people, for their own reasons, making information up).

[maddezmom]

2. expected but not good news

[may3rd]

3. Deja-clue

Clinton and Hariri discuss developments in Syria

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called former PM and Future Movement leader MP Saad Hariri and discussed regional situation , particularly the developments in Syria, according to a statement by Hariri’s press office without elaborating any further.

Over 14,100 people have been killed since an anti-regime revolt broke out in mid-March 2011 in Syria, including 9,862 civilians, 3,470 soldiers and 783 army defectors, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights



Photo: file photo of US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former Lebanese PM and Future Movement leader MP Saad Hariri
http://www.yalibnan.com/2012/06/15/clinton-and-hariri-discuss-developments-in-syria/







Saad-eddine Rafiq Al-Hariri is a Saudi-Lebanese billionaire who served as the Prime Minister of Lebanon from 2009 until 2011. He is the second son of Rafiq Hariri, the former Lebanese Prime Minister who was assassinated in 2005.
Wikipedia


Born: April 18, 1970 (age 42), Riyadh

Spouse: Lara Bashir

Parents: Rafic Hariri

Education: Georgetown University, McDonough School of Business


That underdeveloped airbase south of Tripoli may see a construction boom and an economic shot in the arm for the ex French colony. Humanitarian airlift aid to Syria and all.

What is that saying about history ?
Just saying

[maddezmom]

4. Lebanon must end rifts to withstand Syria turmoil

`SNIP`
Lebanon is still recovering from its bloody 1975-1990 civil war, but unrest in its larger and more powerful neighbor Syria has fuelled long-running tensions, sparking violent clashes on the streets of its northern port city of Tripoli and of its capital Beirut.

The opposition March 14 grouping has called on Prime Minister Najib Mikati's government, a coalition which includes Charbel's mainly Christian Free Patriotic Movement and the Shi'ite Hezbollah group, to be replaced by a "salvation government."

It is also pressing for the disarmament of Hezbollah, Lebanon's powerful Shi'ite militant and political group that fought a war against Israel in 2006. Hezbollah supports Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in his crackdown on his opponents.

more: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/sns-rt-us-syria-crisis-lebanonbre85f086-20120616,0,2070666.story




U.S. military completes initial planning for Syria

¬snip¬


The military planning includes a scenario for a no-fly zone as well as protecting chemical and biological sites. Officials say all the scenarios would be difficult to enact and involve large numbers of U.S. troops and extended operations.

The planning, officials insist, is being done protectively and there have been no orders for any action from the White House.

The U.S. Navy is maintaining a presence of three surface combatants and a submarine in the eastern Mediterranean to conduct electronic surveillance and reconnaissance on the Syrian regime, a senior Pentagon official said. The official emphasized that the U.S. routinely maintains this type of naval presence in the eastern Mediterranean, but acknowledged the current focus is on Syria.

The United States, Britain and France have all been discussing contingency scenarios, potential training and sharing of intelligence about what is happening in Syria with neighboring countries including Jordan, Turkey and Israel. But it is Jordan, so far, that is most seeking the help because of its relatively small military and potential need for outside help if unrest in southern Syria were to impact Jordan's security.

U.S. special forces are training and advising Jordanian troops on a range of specific military tasks they might need to undertake if unrest in Syria spills over into Jordan or poses a threat to that country, three Defense Department officials told CNN. The officials declined to be identified because of the sensitivity of the training. Jordanian officials also are refusing to publicly confirm details, but a senior Middle Eastern government official also confirmed details to CNN

more: http://security.blogs.cnn.com/2012/06/14/u-s-military-completes-planning-for-syria/?hpt=hp_t2

[may3rd]

5. Jordan, so far, that is most seeking the help because of its relatively small military and potential

Jordan, so far, that is most seeking the help because of its relatively small military and potential need for outside help if unrest in southern Syria were to impact Jordan's security.""

People in Jordan want the government to resign over raising the fuel prices




In a rare show of unity, Islamists, liberals, nationalists and youth activists demonstrated in eight of Jordan’s 12 provinces against a surprise government decision this week to raise fuel prices for the second time in less than 10 days.

http://www.yalibnan.com/2012/06/16/jordanians-protest-over-rising-prices-lack-of-reforms/.


US boots on the ground will lead to an insurgency funded in part by some members of the Saudi royals

[joshcryer]

9. What about Russian boots on the ground?

[joshcryer]

6. So much for the whole "if you give them hope they'll keep fighting" idea.

Syrians for well over a year have fought and resisted and the international community managed to do nothing of substance. The escalation here just shows that people will fight back when they're being massacred wholesale and that no amount of outside support or even illusions of support has any relevance to that.

This idea was trotted out a lot last year with regards to Libya. A lot of people claimed if we didn't say we'd help that Gaddafi would've cleaned things up in short order and everything would be calm. That just doesn't work. People don't like being killed wholesale.

I expect Russia's boots on the ground if the escalation continues.

[tabatha]

10. Good point.

Even despite the most vicious and depraved govt/shabiha onslaught.

Syria is beyond tricky - it has the most chemical factories of any country in the world.

Russia has managed to circumvent the chemical treaty it signed by having plants in Syria.

That is probably the #1 reason it is sending troops - to protect its secrets in Syria.

[joshcryer]

11. Good point, as well. And people should be under no illusions. The Syrian's are mostly unarmed:

They really are unarmed for the most part:

Rocks are nothing against a tank.

[tabatha]

12. Pic illustrating your point

http://twitter.com/HamwiyaStrength/status/214014235485802496/photo/1

LebWatch
?@LebWatch
#Saudi authorities confiscated 11 containers containing internationally banned chemicals sent to #Syria from #China #KSA

And did you read Clay Claiborne's latest on Libya?

[joshcryer]

13. Yeah, been reading him regularly.

That's where I got that Syria video (you probably figured that though).

[Comrade Grumpy]

15. Are they beating all those dead soldier and cops to death with feathers?

[tabatha]

16. Some of the live soldiers have been corrupt enough to sell

weapons to the rebels. Other live soldiers, who have managed to defect without being killed, have brought ammo with them.

You do not seem to know what is going on.

Nir Rosen wrote about this, you may remember.

[Comrade Grumpy]

20. And Qatar and Saudi Arabia?

I have some idea what's going on, but thanks for your concern.

[joshcryer]

17. "Mostly unarmed."

[Comrade Grumpy]

19. Except for the armed rebels.

[joshcryer]

7. Oh wow: US official: Russia sends troops to Syria as peace hopes fade

US official: Russia sends troops to Syria as peace hopes fade
Russia is sending armed troops to Syria amid escalating violence there, United States military officials told NBC News Friday, in a move certain to frustrate Western efforts to put pressure on the regime of President Bashir Assad.

Moscow has sent a ship carrying a small contingent of combat forces to guard Russia’s deep-water port and military base at the Syrian city of Tartus, the US officials said.

The U.S. officials also said Russia has not sent additional attack helicopters to the Syrian government, but replacement parts for the Russian helicopters the Syrians are already flying.

It comes after the conflict was declared by France on Wednesday to be a full-blown civil war.

I swear I hadn't read that when I said I expected Russian troops on the ground. But don't worry, this time it's OK to have troops on the ground.

[maddezmom]

14. U.S. says weighing 'next steps' with partners on Syria

The White House said on Saturday it was consulting with international partners on "next steps" in the Syrian crisis after UN observers suspended operations there in response to violence that has escalated despite a ceasefire deal.

"We call again on the Syrian regime to uphold its commitments under the Annan plan, including the full implementation of a ceasefire," White House spokesman Tommy Vietor said in a statement.

U.S. officials have voiced growing skepticism about Syrian President Bashar Assad's willingness to comply with the tattered plan brokered by international mediator Kofi Annan.

But Washington and its Western allies have shown no appetite for a Libya-style military intervention even as Moscow has helped shield Assad from tougher UN measures.

more: http://www.haaretz.com/news/middle-east/u-s-says-weighing-next-steps-with-partners-on-syria-1.436766

[David__77]

18. That is unfortunate.

I certainly do look forward to any official statements by the monitoring group, if any is forthcoming.

It does seem that getting the various parties to officially engage in some forum, unconditionally, is a criterion for moving forward to a peaceful solution to the war.