Russia Sends Warships to Syrian Waters to Stem Intervention

[Seth]

From AntiWar


Russia Sends Warships to Syrian Waters to Stem Intervention (http://news.antiwar.com/2011/11/18/russia-sends-warships-to-syrian-waters-to-stem-intervention/)

An anonymous Syrian official agreed "in principle" to an intervention by the Arab League to send hundreds of observers

by John Glaser, November 18, 2011

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Russian warships are on route to Syrian territorial waters (http://www.haaretz.com/news/middle-east/report-russia-warships-to-enter-syria-waters-in-bid-to-stem-foreign-intervention-1.396359) in a move that sends a clear message from Moscow that they would not allow any foreign intervention into Syria’s civil unrest.
http://news.antiwar.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/syria.gifSyria’s President Bashar al Assad, a close ally of Russia’s, has been violently cracking down on mass Syrian protests against his rule. Over 3,000 citizens have been killed by security forces, according to rights groups, and some soldiers have begun to defect, launching small operations against Assad’s forces.
Russia claims Syria’s trouble is a civil war and advocates against foreign intervention, despite it’s own interventions in the form of economic aid and diplomatic bolstering of Assad’s regime.
NATO spokespeople have so far denied any intention to intervene in Syria (http://news.antiwar.com/2011/10/31/nato-chief-no-intention-of-attacking-syria/).
On Friday, though, a Syrian official said Damascus has agreed “in principle” to allow an Arab League observer mission into the country after the Arab League proposed sending hundreds of observers to help end the bloodshed, for which they suspended Syria earlier this week. Still, the Assad regime is likely to continue resisting intervention on Syrian soil.

[ВАЛТЕР]

Oh shit...

Relax, I think the Russians have always had a flotilla stationed there.

If not, then I return to my previous statement of "Oh Shit..."

[Seth]

Yeah they have a port there that used to be used by the USSR and in the last couple years has started to be used by the Russian Federation navy.

That's probably the reason NATO hasn't tried to pull another Libya yet. The west only likes to pick on weak powers they and their puppets know they can gang up on and win.

[Os Cangaceiros]

Every capitalist country likes to protect it's investments.

[Jose Gracchus]

Now now, the base was built under Brezhnev, so it must be a 'non-exploitative' 'anti-imperialist' investment, surely.

[rundontwalk]

Warships won't exactly do much. If you'll notice NATO can still arm the opposition as much as it pleases on the Israeli/Iraqi/Jordanian/Turkish borders. Assad is, almost literally, surrounded.

[North Star]

What Russia is doing is actually great. This move is not out of their relations with Assad, which I would normally be critical of but consider this: with talk of an Israeli strike on Iran, a lot Iranian retaliation would come through Syria, Hezbollah and Hamas. Taking out Assad first, cuts the supply line limiting the amount supplies given to Hezbollah, Hamas and other Palestinian groups they may seek to attack Israel for attacking Iran. Hezbollah would essentially be unable to be resupplied, though they have stockpiled a lot of weapons. Not having Assad in power may also deter Hezbollah's involvement. Without Assad in Syria they would not have any serious last line of defense should the IDF send tanks into Lebanon. So what Russia is doing is making sure that the consequences of Israel attacking Iran will be quite high in attempt to deter the Israelis from doing so.

[Die Neue Zeit]

What Russia is doing is actually great. This move is not out of their relations with Assad, which I would normally be critical of but consider this: with talk of an Israeli strike on Iran, a lot Iranian retaliation would come through Syria, Hezbollah and Hamas. Taking out Assad first, cuts the supply line limiting the amount supplies given to Hezbollah, Hamas and other Palestinian groups they may seek to attack Israel for attacking Iran. Hezbollah would essentially be unable to be resupplied, though they have stockpiled a lot of weapons. Not having Assad in power may also deter Hezbollah's involvement. Without Assad in Syria they would not have any serious last line of defense should the IDF send tanks into Lebanon. So what Russia is doing is making sure that the consequences of Israel attacking Iran will be quite high in attempt to deter the Israelis from doing so.

So much for the sarcasm about "non-exploitative," "anti-imperialist" investments. :)

[Jose Gracchus]

Israel is not going to attack Iran, because it would require such U.S. support as to make it pointless for the U.S. to not simply launch an all-out surprise attack themselves on Iran. Israel's planes cannot even get to Iran without use of Iraqi airspace, and cannot transport sufficient ordinance and escorts to reliably penetrate Iranian strategic air defense (including S-300 Russian SAMs, state-of-the-art, and still-servicable Grumman F-14s) to mount a worthwhile attack. The theory of some surprise wink-wink-nudge-nudge Israeli attack on the U.S.'s behalf is simply not tenable. This is just more brinkmanship for the benefit of domestic populations who need to be disciplined by fear of the other. The theory simply doesn't line up with the facts.

The only plausible reason for Russia's move here is to prop up an ally whom they have already-vested strategic interests with (opposition to U.S. hegemony, and a Soviet-era naval base).

[Smyg]

Oh, sweet sweet imperialism, what would we do without you.

[X5N]

The U.S. and Europe intervening on behalf of the people being brutally murdered by the Syrian government? Imperialism!

Russia intervening on behalf of the government brutally murdering people? Not imperialism!

Durr

[ВАЛТЕР]

The U.S. and Europe intervening on behalf of the people being brutally murdered by the Syrian government? Imperialism!

Russia intervening on behalf of the government brutally murdering people? Not imperialism!

Durr

International politics aren't that black and white.

Fucked if we know what is really happening in Syria at the moment. Considering there are swarms of Assad supporters as well as opposition forces, both sides killing innocents. It is in the best interest for other nations not to intervene.

Russia isn't sending logistical support to Assad, or any other kind of support. In fact Russia is calling for a peaceful resolution to take place. While NATO can't wait to start dropping bombs on peoples heads again.

All they are doing is deterring western intervention. Which is the last thing we need. Since the second the west gets involved, all hope for any real change is lost.

Best solution is for everyone to sit this one out. If the people really don't want Assad, they will get rid of him even without external support.

[Smyg]

I'll rather take my chances on international uprising and overthrow than do what we did in Libya again.

[Grigori]

Unfortunately this kind of makes sense. Talks of oppression are non existent when the country is a ally of the u s (bahrain, Yemen). Russia is attempting to defend their investments in the region. (they are still pieces of shit though)

[Small Geezer]

What Russia is doing is actually great. This move is not out of their relations with Assad, which I would normally be critical of but consider this: with talk of an Israeli strike on Iran, a lot Iranian retaliation would come through Syria, Hezbollah and Hamas. Taking out Assad first, cuts the supply line limiting the amount supplies given to Hezbollah, Hamas and other Palestinian groups they may seek to attack Israel for attacking Iran. Hezbollah would essentially be unable to be resupplied, though they have stockpiled a lot of weapons. Not having Assad in power may also deter Hezbollah's involvement. Without Assad in Syria they would not have any serious last line of defense should the IDF send tanks into Lebanon. So what Russia is doing is making sure that the consequences of Israel attacking Iran will be quite high in attempt to deter the Israelis from doing so.

So Russia's imperialist scheming should be commended because it might giving the Islamic Republic of Iran and it's mates more ability do fight its rival?