Video Link: US Secretary of State about to make an address regarding Syria

Originally posted by khimbar
I know Twitter isn't the most reliable but...

'@NewsBreaker : NEW: White House has declined TV networks request for live coverage of President Obama's remarks on Syria at 2:30 p.m'.

So it's pre-recorded? Fuuuuhhhh! Shown while he's safe in his bunker?

That's almost as outrageous as what he is likely to announce.

So did they already replace Obama with a clone/android/pod person and they're busily editing old clips of him to create a new speech, or what? Or maybe he pre-recorded something previously because he's much too busy vacationing or partying with celebrities to speak live about this? Or maybe he really is hunkered down in a bunker.

No decision...again

Limited act if it takes place..

Sounds like the drones are looking for their target.

Peace

reply to post by jam321

Originally posted by jam321
Sounds like the drones are looking for their target.

Drones you say?

Well, in that case there is no need for due process or reasoning of course.

My company seems to think something is up!

The locations affected by this alert are:
• Turkey
• Israel
• Jordan
• Lebanon
• Syria
This alert began 29 Aug 2013 01:15 GMT and is scheduled to expire 03 Sep 2013 23:59 GMT.
Summary
The governments of the US, UK, France and other regional allies continue to make preparations for a possible military intervention against the Syrian government in response to a purported Aug. 21 chemical weapons attack by Syrian military forces against a rebel-held district in eastern Damascus.

Possible Strike Parameters
At this stage, the exact targets, time frame and location of such an attack are unclear. Anonymous statements from US and UK officials suggest that a military action would be relatively short in duration, entail the targeting of Syrian bases and assets that were used in the chemical attack and would not be aimed at removing President Bashar al-Assad from power or shifting conditions to decisively favor Syrian insurgents. Other statements have claimed that chemical weapons facilities would not be directly targeted. Regardless, any possible action is likely to target military headquarters and supply depots on the western and southern outskirts of Damascus.

A UN team is currently conducting an on-site investigation into the Aug. 21 attack. While the US and UK have stated that they will seek UN approval for any punitive action against the Syrian government, US officials have stated that the chances of a diplomatic breakthrough is highly unlikely. Although the team is NOT set to depart the country until Sept. 1 at the earliest, the Syrian government has asked the UN team to stay past that date and may be counting on their presence to deter an attack.

Retaliatory Scenarios
The Syrian and Iranian governments have threatened to violently retaliate if a strike occurs. The scale of any possible retaliation would likely be proportional to the strike itself, with an overwhelming and expansive allied military action likely to provoke a stronger response than one more limited in scope. While Syria still maintains a large number of tanks, attack aircraft, and long-range ballistic missiles, its military forces largely remain occupied with fighting insurgent groups, therefore making a conventional military response against any or all of its neighbors unlikely. However, the government is linked to numerous militant groups around the region, and may instead activate them for unconventional, asymmetric attacks. While nearly all of Syria's neighbors are at some level of risk of being targeted, Israel and Lebanon are subject to the greatest degree of exposure, with Jordan and Turkey less likely to experience violent retaliation.

Israel: The Syrian government has publicly warned that Israeli territory would be targeted in retaliation for a strike, despite it being highly unlikely that Israeli military forces directly take part in a military action. In response, the Israeli government stated that any attack against its territory would invite a massive retaliation, and have bolstered domestic preparedness as a precautionary measure. The Syrian government declined to retaliate during two previous unilateral Israeli airstrikes in January and June of 2013, likely out of fear of provoking just such a counterattack by Israel, and may decline again in this instance should an attack occur. Similarly, Iran is unlikely to retaliate with conventional military forces due to the possibility of widening the conflict and the high likelihood of failure due to logistical concerns.

The Israeli military has deployed Iron Dome and Patriot anti-ballistic missile interceptors near the cities of Haifa, Eilat and Ashkelon and has placed at least 1,000 reserve soldiers (mostly from air and civil defense units) on alert. Government officials have advised people to remain vigilant, but have not urged citizens to seek shelter or otherwise alter their daily routines.

Should Syria or Iran decide to target Israel, it may instead do so through asymmetric means (namely terror attacks) and may strike at Israeli interests far outside the region and at a later time of their choosing. The Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) was linked to a series of bombings against Israeli diplomats in India and Georgia in February 2012, and the Lebanese Shia' militant group Hizballah was implicated in a July 2012 suicide bombing against Israeli tourists in Bulgaria.

Lebanon: The principal threat to those operating in Lebanon stems from a possible escalation of preexisting sectarian and political conflicts. The areas most at risk would be neighborhoods near south and central Beirut (particularly Dahiyeh, Chiyah, and Tariq al-Jdeideh), the northern city of Tripoli, and the Akkar district adjacent to the Syrian border. If violent clashes occur in south Beirut, the main road linking the city with Rafiq Hariri International Airport (BEY) may be blocked by fighting or by angry demonstrators. Additionally, Syrian insurgents or their Sunni sympathizers may again attack Shia' Hizballah targets in southern Beirut, as they have done several times since mid-2013. Such actions would increase the likelihood of civil strife in Beirut.

Hizballah, the well-armed Shia' militant group with longstanding military and financial ties to Iran and Syria, may launch rockets or conduct other attacks into northern Israel. However, doing so would certainly invite an Israeli response that could devastate the group's historical base in southern Lebanon as well as large portions of Beirut itself. Hizballah would be unlikely to launch large-scale attacks unless it believed the survival of the Syrian government is at risk. Other groups, namely the Abdullah Azzam Brigades or the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), may launch rockets into northern Israel as they did on Aug. 22; the Israeli government would likely retaliate with limited air or artillery strikes.

Turkey: Despite its longstanding support for Syrian opposition and rebel groups, Turkey is unlikely to be directly targeted by Syria. Much of the border region between northern Syria and southern Turkey is under rebel control, and Syrian military forces still in the area are largely besieged, heavily engaged in combat with insurgent groups. Additionally, Turkey's partners in NATO have deployed six Patriot missile interceptors along the border area, and would likely be able to interdict any Syrian military aircraft or missiles launched at Turkish territory.
However, the Syrian government may instead opt to retaliate by carrying out bombings in cities and towns near the border area or by ordering Kurdish groups to stage attacks in southern Turkey.

Jordan: The Jordanian government has also been hostile to the Syrian government, although its involvement in the conflict is minimal compared to Turkey. However, the Syrian government has warned that Jordan would also be subject to retaliation if a Western military action occurs. Although Amman lies approximately 180 km (110 miles) south of Damascus and well within range of Syrian warplanes and ballistic missiles, the capital is defended by US-supplied Patriot missile interceptors. Additionally, Syria's Dara'a Province, which borders Jordan, is currently heavily contested by insurgent and government forces; consequently, the ability of the Syrian government to mount a significant attack into Jordan is heavily constrained.

Advice
Consider deferring non-essential travel to the affected areas. Revise business continuity plans and consider instituting check-in protocols for travelers in the region. Maintain contact with your diplomatic mission. In the event of military action against Syria, avoid all crowds and rallies.

So they announced a follow-up address from President Obama for 2:15 PM EST. Then the White House said that the address could not be broadcast live. Now all news of such an address seems to have vanished from both CNN and Fox as well as other news sites.

Either there is a lot of chaos and uncertainty or they are really bungling things. Or maybe Obama just hung Kerry out to dry like Bush did with Colin Powell?

I just finished reading up to this point. I'm very dissapointed, and angry... What the flock is wrong with our leaders (besides what seems to be the obvious...) Does anyone have any other information about our POTUS addressing the issue? Is this happening??? Please advise...

reply to post by ikonoklast


No actually this is what you call desperation past the cusp of madness. It's a brave new world, it's not easy being an Empire you know.

BBC News

UN chemical weapons inspectors are investigating the alleged poison-gas attacks and will present their evidence to the UN after they leave Damascus on Saturday.

But Mr Kerry said the US already had the facts, and nothing that the UN weapons inspectors found could tell the world anything new.

If that's not proof positive that the U.S. is just hell bent on war, I don't know what is.

reply to post by Kram09


Yep, facts dont matter, hearsay and assumptions are enough now to launch an attack it seems.
Quite easy to do, just pick a side and go.

The Washington Post is reporting the Aleppo has lost internet connectivity. While mobile internet tools like accessing websites or apps might not be available, many social media sites, such as Facebook and Twitter, allow users to post via SMS, or text messaging. Losing the internet does not necessarily mean people cannot access the web -- it just severely limits their ability to communicate and share multimedia such as photos, videos, and longer form text.

And so the blackouts begin.

blogs.aljazeera.com...

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday that a limited operation against Syria will not satisfy him.

"The operation should not be 1-2 days hit and withdraw, it should bring the regime to the point of leaving' he said.

earthling42
blogs.aljazeera.com...

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday that a limited operation against Syria will not satisfy him.

"The operation should not be 1-2 days hit and withdraw, it should bring the regime to the point of leaving' he said.

Yeah I just saw that too.

Beggars can't be choosers!!

I'm not liking the narative being created in the media that the UK has made a mistake, by taking the democratic route in this process. Not something that should be frowned upon , but applauded. So what if France are Americas new bezzie mate. It was only 10 years ago when we had the "freedom fries" nonsense.
It's being reduced to the level of the school yard. Pathetic.

Seems like a pretty strange way to handle this. First have the Secretary of State make a speech where he essentially says the US must strike because of "the children" and because not striking would make the US look bad to its enemies. Then schedule an almost immediate follow-up speech by the President that apparently never happens.

I do not think America has any business taking military action in Syria, but I think this administration just blew it if they didn't want to look weak or inept in front of enemies.

It makes me wonder what's going on. Did Putin just call and say Russia is serious about standing up for Syria? Is Obama curled up in a corner shaking uncontrollably, unable to make a decision? Is there a power struggle going on between factions in the high echelons of the US government? Or maybe within [insert your favorite conspiracy to rule the world here]?

There is an old saying, "It is better to look like a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt."

woodwardjnr
I'm not liking the narative being created in the media that the UK has made a mistake, by taking the democratic route in this process. Not something that should be frowned upon , but applauded. So what if France are Americas new bezzie mate. It was only 10 years ago when we had the "freedom fries" nonsense.
It's being reduced to the level of the school yard. Pathetic.

The democratic route should have been taken in the first place then. I feel Mr. Cameron made himself look like an idiot by his initial approach. IMHO

Apparently the latest and greatest?

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama says he hasn't made a final decision about a military strike against Syria. But he says he's considering a limited and narrow action in response to a chemical weapons attack that he says Syria's government carried out last week.

news.yahoo.com...

Looks l ike Obama blinked...

At first I thought all the sudden silence and him not giving a speech he said he was would be an indicator to flying cruise missiles but maybe he actually blinked.

Another words:

"As president and Commander -N- Chief of the United States Armed Forces, I am committed to saving face for the egos of all Americans. As you know, Mr. John Kerry our Sec Def had made a very clear speech that we as a nation will not tolerate these types of acts of violence, unless of course they are perputrated by yours truly. All that being said, because we have issued a serious of threats at Syria but unbeknownst to me and my cabinent, that we were actually expected to produce evidence of our claim, leaves us with no position other than to attack them anyway. I know what I am saying may not make any sense, but as you watch the time tick and we then begin to look back at history, the world will see why we did what we did. Besides, truth betold, before you even get the truth behind these incidents accepted as offical truth, I will be nothing but a memory. Thank you America and good night."

woodwardjnrIt's being reduced to the level of the school yard. Pathetic.

Most ignorant statement of the day. You win the Yorkshire pudding prize.

csimon

woodwardjnrIt's being reduced to the level of the school yard. Pathetic.

Most ignorant statement of the day. You win the Yorkshire pudding prize.

That'll be the "freedom pudding prize" from now on.

woodwardjnr
I'm not liking the narative being created in the media that the UK has made a mistake, by taking the democratic route in this process. Not something that should be frowned upon , but applauded. So what if France are Americas new bezzie mate. It was only 10 years ago when we had the "freedom fries" nonsense.
It's being reduced to the level of the school yard. Pathetic.

Storm in a teacup. Being friends with somebody does not mean you are obliged to make a suicide pact.

This has happened before. We sat out Vietnam and we sat out Somalia. We may be loyal but we're not stupid.

In any event, on this issue the public of both nations are pretty well aligned. As are the governments. Its just that neither government is aligned with its population.