Consolidated Syria Conflict Thread

[MikeGER]

I am still trying to figure out why the Syrians used chemicals so close to their final victory. Unless it wasn't the Syrian gov't, but some rebel group to make it look like it was the Syrian gov't.

here is your briefing, Sir  :)

1. the Russkies had negotiated a ceasefire and orderly withdraw with the 'rebels' including supporters (family), which seemed to work fine first, then fizzled and then failed because of the ever struggling sub-factions and sub-sub-factions (welcome to the Orient) even inside that smallish 'rebels'-enclave.
They hided in deep dug tunnels in addition to existing cellars under the buildings. then a 'hazard industrial chemical', as a 'makeshift teargas/chem weapon' plus a grind of some real chemical weapons (Sarin?) (here comes the tricky part, who released that, was it in the mix before or did some rebels sub faction released a smallish amount when they got smoked out, on-top for White Helmet propaganda war purpose'?) was used to drive them and their supporting families out from those underground structures.
rebels returned to the negotiated plan after the 'smoke out' attack immediately, so it worked out very well for Assad and the Russkies (those surly don't want close combat in an urban environment clearing out tunnel by tunnel with squads, the causality rate can be up to 10:1 for the attacker) 

2. Assad's Syrian population in Damascus was outraged after fresh real! civilians death by shelling with rockets from that rebels enclave and demanded a fitting cruel retaliation (welcome to the Orient again) so the 'smoke them out attack' was also the political right thing to dare by the Assad-faction for his inner politics.
   

[bayonetbrant]

So I personally know 2 different neutral middle east experts - one's Canadian and another is Greek - that will both tell you in no uncertain terms that the White Helmets are the unsung heroes of the Middle East who are worked their damned asses off to do nothing more than save civilian lives.  They don't care which side you're on or how you got hit.  If you're in the free fire zone, they're trying to patch you up and get you out, at a significant exposure of themselves to personal harm.

I'll take the personal on-the-ground experience of a pair of people who I trust completely and were actually there at some point within the past 18 months over the long-distance disparagement of anyone claiming the White Helmets are some sort of nefarious plot to dupe/confuse people already prone to fall for the conspiracy-theory-du-jour.

[Gusington]

Why not just wait the remaining rebels out, if you're the Syrian gov't, instead of using chemicals and pissing off the entire world?

[Airborne Rifles]

So I personally know 2 different neutral middle east experts - one's Canadian and another is Greek - that will both tell you in no uncertain terms that the White Helmets are the unsung heroes of the Middle East who are worked their damned asses off to do nothing more than save civilian lives.  They don't care which side you're on or how you got hit.  If you're in the free fire zone, they're trying to patch you up and get you out, at a significant exposure of themselves to personal harm.

I'll take the personal on-the-ground experience of a pair of people who I trust completely and were actually there at some point within the past 18 months over the long-distance disparagement of anyone claiming the White Helmets are some sort of nefarious plot to dupe/confuse people already prone to fall for the conspiracy-theory-du-jour.

+1

[OJsDad]

Putin warns of 'chaos' in international order if Syria gets attacked again - https://www.cnbc.com/id/105133001?view=story&trk=mostpopular::1:102527204

[Staggerwing]

Putin warns of 'chaos' in international order if Syria gets attacked again - https://www.cnbc.com/id/105133001?view=story&trk=mostpopular::1:102527204

Putin should know- just look at Ukraine/Crimea.

[Sir Slash]

I have 4 gallon jugs of Chlorine to use in my swimming pool. Do I need to register these with the United Nations does anyone know? And am I now stronger than the Syrian Army?

[mirth]

https://politics.theonion.com/u-s-won-t-rule-out-escalating-defense-sector-profits-f-1825304781

[mirth]

http://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/20191/conflicting-claims-swirl-as-israel-continues-air-war-against-iranian-interests-in-syria

[mirth]

https://www.bellingcat.com/news/mena/2018/04/18/belgium-illegally-shipped-96-tonnes-sarin-precursor-syria/

[OJsDad]

https://twitter.com/defense_news/status/986704880852185088

[Airborne Rifles]

Add Iraq to the growing list of countries dropping ordnance in Syria: http://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/20237/now-iraq-has-started-bombing-targets-in-syria-too

Of all the countries doing so, I kinda feel like Iraq has the best justification.

[Staggerwing]

Kind of like Pershing going after Panch Villa?

[bayonetbrant]

Missile fire over Damascus  (click to enlarge)

[Hofstadter]

Posted in wrong place. JFC....