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© (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012.Syrian jets bomb rebel base near Turkey border
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nath
Remember two months ago, when the FSA touted that it was moving its base "deep" within Syria to be with their Brethren fighters. Yet the only moved to 2km from the border. So why did they move in the first place? Answer; they were booted out of Turkey by the locals who hated them because of their thievery and mistreatment of locals. This was widely reported in Turkish newspapers.
Weapons from Turkey? I thought the rebels fashioned their own weapons with duct-tape and shoestrings. At least that was the theory six months ago. It's fair to say now that there is no doubt whatsoever that foreign powers are actively backing the Islamist rebels.
Is Mr. Ki-moon aware that the French-backed SNC has refused any and all dialog with the Syrian government.
Here's a crazy thought, stop giving weapons to the rebels and giving them shelter and you won't have to worry about Al Qaeda getting their hands on chemical weapons.
slumdog
That, in addition to the invisible Blackwater and hundreds of captured French troops, were your theories alone. In fact, you certainly have kept busy with all your theories. Just try to keep track that you are creating them, okay?
Tamarama
Here's a crazy thought - you continue to support a regime that buys and stockpiles chemical weapons. And whilst you are so concerned about foreign involvement, I wonder how you feel about the Russians and Iranians continuing to supply the regime with weapons? Is it OK for one side to get foreign weapons? Both? None?
SuperLib
The reports I'm seeing say the Russians are covertly helping the opposition in an effort to boost arms sales to Syria, which is partially being financed by China. Makes sense when you see all of the heavy weapons the Syrians are using now. The Russians are helping with the Al Queda angle, even providing Syria and Iran with fictitious reports at a time when Syria thinks it needs weapons the most. Russia and China might present a united front but they have a long, long history of conflict. Keeping the weapons and the financing separate is their way of keeping the other in check. The blockage at the UN is a strategy to protect their investment, all while playing Assad like a fool. And it's working perfectly.
nath
Long slow descent into oblivion for Syria. Soon the whole region.
Tamarama
Here's a report that supports what I've said. From yesterday.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-20491697
SuperLib are you suggesting that the Russians are supporting both the Regime and the Rebels? Or just the Rebels?
I wouldn't mind seeing the reports you refer to.
Tamarama
Here's another interesting read. This one should be of particular interest to our Pro-Assad contributors - because the refugees accuse you of supporting the slaughter of civilians.
No doubt you will be able to play it off as an 'unreliable source' or a fabrication, or part of the 'great conspiracy', because it will make you feel a little more comfortable about yourself.
Check it out.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-20493528
nath
For State bodies to exchange arms is one thing. Canada and the US regularly exchange and trade arms and weapons. They are both nation states and both members of the UN. The same goes for Russia and Syria. They are allowed to exchange arms as long as it's within international law and guidelines.
However for a country like Turkey to be arming the Al Qaeda rebels is a totally different thing. Al Qaeda is not a state and they don't have a seat at the UN, nor are they party to any international organization regarding the regulation of the flow of weapons. Hence the Al Qaeda rebels have no right to be supplied with Military arms.
Turkey supplying military grade weapons to the Al Qaeda rebels in Syria is akin to China giving military grade weapons to Triad gangs in LA or the Hells Angels.
@Superlib; I'm not sure I follow your new theory about Russia arming both the Al Qaeda rebels in Syria and Al Qaeda's opponent, the Syrian Army. Tell us more about this interesting theory you devised.
Tamarama
Would you mind providing a source for this information, please?
nath
Did you read the article? It's right there.
slumdog
I read the article. It said weapons movements. But it said nothing about the weapons moving to al-Qaeda or that Turkey intended for them to be. Could it be that weapons from Turkey were going to the FSA, which is not part of al-Qaeda? Mustafa Al-Sheikh is the head of the FSA and a former general in the Syrian army and most decidedly not a member of al-Qaeda whatever else he may or may not be.
Wanna try again?
Oh, I almost forgot, you meant to get back to me with the percentage with which Assad was elected president in 2000 and 2007. So, which party was the majority in those elections that Assad won and by what percentage did he win? Who were his opponents, what parties did they belong to and what percentage did they get?
Madverts
"But it said nothing about the weapons moving to al-Qaeda or that Turkey intended for them to be. "
Hey, get yourself down to Infowars.com I've read they have all the latest facts on the Turks arming al Qaeda.
You'll need to be sporting one of these to believe it though:
http://goodstuff4u.multiply.com/journal/item/88/_Aluminum_Foil_Deflector_Hat
That's the new improved model preferred by those with an unhinged Syrian agenda. Sure to keep out Obama's mind rays.
Tamarama
Yeah, I was asking for a reference on Turkey supplying Al Qaida. Is this another case of you making stuff up? Because this is clearly not the reference you need.
slumdog
Madverts,
I appreciate the information. It is important to use all means necessary to get up to date information about this.
nath
"Could it be" is the correct wording since it's only your personal speculation.
So based on your theory, what exactly is the relationship between the FSA and Al Qaeda. Are they enemies? Are they fighting each other?
What evidence do you have that Turkey's weapons are not flowing into Al Qaeda's hands?
How is Al Qaeda being armed in Syria? Where are the weapons and ammo that Al Qaeda is using to slaughter Syrians coming from and how are they crossing across the border into Syria?
slumdog
As was asked before: Yours is based on what exactly? Do you have some credible sources?
You have this backwards. What evidence do you have that they are?
Stiil waiting for those percentages of Assad's wins in 2000 and 2007 you gave the impression you knew, but you do not seem to.
nath
I took the time to format and post the election results by party and with percentages, check the history, it's all there. I'm not your personal researcher.
Here are just a few links indicating the involvement of Al Qaeda in Syria, as the rebel force fighting against the Syrian government.
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/opinion/alqaeda-now-a-us-ally-in-syria-20120910-25oby.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/10/world/middleeast/qaeda-linked-group-says-it-struck-compound-on-edge-of-damascus.html?_r=0
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2012/10/22/syrian-anti-assad-activists-say-al-qaeda-getting-weapons-to-hijack-revolution/1650291/
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2012/08/syria-al-qaedas-new-playground.html
Note that all the above are mainstream papers.
There's nothing "tinfoil" about Al Qaeda being in Syria and fighting against the Syrian government and killing Syrian people.
slumdog
No, you gave me result for parlimentary elections that took place this year. I already knew that and did not ask for it. I asked for, and you acted as though you knew the answer, for the specifice results of the 2000 and 2007 presidential elections. You claimed my figures were wrong and you cannot back up your claim. I guess I was right when I wrote that Assad got 98% of the vote average of both elections. That is some democracy, huh? In other words, it is called a dictatorship. Thanks for the confirmation that no other numbers were available. Your silence on the matter is indeed golden.
Don't need them. However, I for one would love to see links indicating 100% of the rebels are al-Qaeda members, which is what you have claimed.
Maybe there is something tinfoil about not being able to understand other people's posts?
Madverts
Never submit,
"Here are just a few links indicating the involvement of Al Qaeda in Syria, as the rebel force fighting against the Syrian government."
"The" rebel force fighting against the Syrian government?
Heh, the agenda* is looking more whacked-out than ever.
*New revised by 360° 2012 Autumn Edition
nath
Madverts,
So exactly whose side is Al Qaeda on and who are they fighting against? In your view.
Madverts
Al Qaeda are on al Qaeda's side.
And when your man al Assad has fled or ended up like Ghadaffi (when not if), they will be doing what they do best in stricken Syria, horrific car bombs and other associated unspeakable acts of terror as they try to carve out a territory to install their own insane version of islam.
I realize I have zero chance of getting you to submit to reality, but if your boy the dictator had stepped aside back when you were pushing your Blackwater/CIA fantasies, as per the will of the people, I dare say the situation wouldn't be so dire.
In fact, Assad by proxy is responsible for al Qaeda actually being in Syria, so I guess that makes you an al Qaeda supporter too.
Well, until you change you story again that is.
Tamarama
Thats not what you were asked to provide. You were asked to provide links that show where you are getting your information that Turkey are supplying Al Qaida weapons. You were asked to provide this because you made the claim. The onus is therefore on you to provide evidence to support your claim. As per usual, you can't. You are just making stuff up, aren't you.
hidingout
I find it disgusting that NATO is playing around in the internal politics of these Muslim countries. When GWB led the coalition against Saddam every liberal on the planet screamed bloody murder - but at least the coalition went in after exhausting their options with the UN. Fifteen years on, we seem to have learned nothing from the Iraq debacle.
These days we see the enlightened liberal Europeans (the very hypocrites who screamed loudest about GWB) fiddling around in relatively peaceful, cooperative and stable (considering the region) countries like Egypt (my that's going well isn't it), Libya and now Syria. What's worse is these meddlers are pretending that they aren't actually involved and are only providing "humanitarian aid" etc.
Over the last decade or so it should have been made abundantly clear to even the most simple minded among us that these countries do not want interference from western democracies. And even if some segment of the population does wish to have a different sort of life it isn't up to NATO (or her member countries acting on their own) to deliver regime change.
Anyone who sincerely believes that the downfall of Assad will bring peace, love and hope to the Syrian people hasn't been paying attention. Just like Egypt, a new dictator will arise supported by even more dangerous and uncooperative players than those who supported Mubarak. And just like in Libya the terrorists will murder the envoys of the very people who helped them.
Leave the problems and the politics of these overly religious and fractured countries to their own citizens to settle. Not like the western world doesn't have enough of its own problems anyway.
nath
You're right in noting that the Al Qaeda rebels are the worst of the worst, and their stated goal and M.O. is to massacre and terrorize civilians.
Assad has ordered his army to engage and pursue the Al Qaeda rebels in all corners of Syria to protect the people from Al Qaeda's terror.
Has Mustafa Al-Sheikh, the acclaimed leader of the FSA ordered his fighters to attack Al Qaeda?
As far as I know, he hasn't. And one of two things can be concluded from that;
1 - Mustafa Al-Sheikh is part of or affiliated with Al Qaeda and hence won't fight them.
or
2 - Mustafa Al-Sheikh has no regard for the lives of Syrian civilians and it doesn't bother him that Al Qaeda is massacring Syrians daily. Hence he has no legitimate claim to be the leader or protector of Syrian people.
SuperLib
It's been obvious to anyone who has followed the events that Russia is supplying arms, and both Russia and China have been protecting Syria at the UN.
nath
Superlib; So who is supplying the Al Qaeda rebels?
Hidingout; Some really good points. I myself never thought I would live to see the day when people would chose the Al Qaeda side in a conflict.
There's an old saying, you can tell a man by the company he keeps or doesn't keep for that matter.
The Syrian government and Al Qaeda are enemies. Just like Al Qaeda and all Western governments are enemies.
I'm proud to openly state that I support the Syrian government in their fight against the Al Qaeda rebels.
I'm also proud to state that I abhor anybody or any organization that works with, alongside or in conjunction with Al Qaeda.
Moreover, anybody or any organization that fails to confront Al Qaeda as they go about their horrific deeds, slaughtering women and children, is complicit in their acts of terror.
slumdog
Don't worry, you still have not live the day to see that.
slumdog
Wow.
SuperLib
The Russians are supplying Al Queda through Turkey, and it's being financed by China.
Konsta
What is this nonsense?
Madverts
NeverS,
"Madverts, So exactly whose side is Al Qaeda on and who are they fighting against? In your view."
Quid pro Quo my friend.
I indulged you, so perhaps you could have the decency to explain, and where possible atone for the Blackwater/CIA conspiracy you pushed for so long.
Thanks
nath
This is was happens when an argued position becomes indefensible, ridiculousness sets in.
Can anybody on the anti-Syria side provide any evidence (or even just a semi-logical explanation) for this.
slumdog
Your posts?
SuperLib
Do you have proof that the Russians aren't supplying Al Queda?
nath
I don't ever recall posting that China, Russia, Turkey and Al Qaeda are all working together.
If you're going to accuse me of making such a ridiculous statement could you at least be decent enough to provide the evidence to back your claim.
slumdog
I thought you were referring to your own posts.
Tamarama
He doesn't even have proof that Turkey is supplying AQ, like he first asserted earlier in this thread. He has dodged that question like a rabbit since it was posed to him.