So now we finally have the answer to the key question whether Trump was for real of a fake: he has just ordered a cruise missile attack on Syria. Words fail me to express my total disgust with Trump.
All I will say is this: this is a moment as crucial as the US/NATO aggression against Yugoslavia in 1999. When that happened, Evgenii Primakov, then Prime Minister of Russia, who was in an aircraft on the way to an official visit to Washington DC, ordered his pilot to turn around.
Russia needs to cancel the planned visit of Rex Tillerson to Moscow scheduled for April 11-12.
This is not a time for business as usual. There can be no excuses.
The Saker
With the highest level of respect and personal admiration for President Putin, his reaction to Trump’s bombing of the Syrian Arab Army was predictable, as I wrote in my article for Geopolitika.Ru yesterday which accurately forecast Russia’s behavior.
I’m not condemning or criticizing it in any way, but am drawing attention to the fact that it’s possible to forecast these statements if one retains a sober and objective mindset when conducting scenario analyses.
If questions still remain, please refer to my entire article for a comprehensive explanation about Russia’s reaction:
“Libya Redux:
To sum it all up, Russia will assuredly react to any intensified American aggression against Syria, whether executed unilaterally or together with its Turkish and possible Saudi-led “coalition” allies, but it won’t militarily respond to these moves in any way that would risk setting off a larger Great Power conflict.
Russia’s expected rhetoric would represent a moral victory, especially if it emphasized that the US was behaving in contravention of international law just like it was in Iraq and Libya, but this would actually be a pyrrhic one because its words would be powerless to change any of the rapidly unfolding events on the ground.
They might align with the prevailing “politically correct” zeitgeist in the Alt-Media community which self-righteously preaches the primacy of international law and Russia’s relative “moral” standing, but the “realpolitik” motivations which are guiding Russia’s strategists – for better or for worse – contradict these slogans.”
http://www.geopolitica.ru/en/article/how-neocons-are-tempting-trump-syria
Sorry but I cannot take any of your comments seriously after reading your articles in The Duran,
where you are emphasising time and time again that Israel is Russian ally.
“Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu praises US strike on Syria”
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=11834257
The US strike is possibly to assist ISIS at Deir Ezzor as the Shayrat base was used along with T4 primarily for hitting ISIS in the Palmyra / Deir Ezzor areas.
I cannot see Russia simply concentrating on ISIS/AQ while the US systematically destroys Syrian military infrastructure.
That might very well be the case, but I would suggest there are some easy targets that aren’t covered by any NATO defence agreements.
They are Riyadh, Doha, Manama, Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, Kuwait City – and their glittering towers of Babel, and the assorted oil infrastructure and military bases scattered around this area.
I’m not suggesting Russia should launch an attack now, but if Russia (with Iran’s consent of course) moved dozens of strategic nukes to Southern Iran for defensive reasons – do you think these Gulf Arabs might re-think their eagerness to tear down Assad?
I do.
Come to think of it – why not announce Russia is moving two dozen nukes into Syria for purely defensive reasons.
Sure, the West would howl, but so what?
Trump is on record as stating don’t start wars with nuclear powers. Sure, he’s broken other promises of his with this reckless act.
But the Russian nukes in Syria/ Iran would give him a new reason to u-turn away from conflict again.
What do you think Israel/GCC/Turkey would be advising him if Russia had 100-200 nukes in theatre?
I can tell you exactly what they’d be telling him actually.
BACK OFF.
That isn’t what they’re saying at the moment though is it.
Thank you Andrew for the link and comment.
Strategic plans absorb tactical events.
Trump is a prisoner.
Putin is constructing a future Russia.
Russia will not “match”, “counter” or “defeat” the US hegemon.
Russia will preserve its future.
The only thing that changes that is a direct attack against Russia.
The word “realpolitik” covers many evils.
I am not gleeful to say “I told all so”. Trumpet was and is merely a Pied Pipper of DC who sings the same melody in a different tune.
My prediction was based on my persona experience as a refugee for the past 4 decades: NEVER EVER trust the DC government machinery. The president is merely window dressing, ne it Hopey-Changey or Firsty-Greaty.
They again broke the momentum of the Syria-Russia-Ian coalition, by projecting a fantoom of collaboration and de-escalation, while aggressively preparing and executing a plan for role back of the gains of the anti-Salafi/anti-Jihadi front.
This is the third time: when is the anti-Al-Saud coalition going to learn their lesson. The final conclusion should be a decision to achieve the final solution by total distraction of the Fundamentalist Jihadi Salafists and ALL their Wahabi financiers, irregardless of their government position. Their center of gravity is a persona one: take out any and all member of the Al Saud family.
Agreed. Defensive nukes to Southern Iran.
Come on Russia. Are you serious about your allies or not?
Canada ‘fully supports’ U.S. missile strike in Syria: Trudeau
I see most of comments blaming the decision on trump (I wrote it like this by purpose). I think that trump (as obama before) have no real power they are just puppets of the deep state. trump ma be was not from the beginning men then he surrendered (as PCR correctly claims). The real reasons why this happend we will never know. Threats to his or familys security, blackmailing, him being stupid. Just everyones guess.
On short note:
According to the US Department of Defence’s annual budget, a single Tomahawk missile costs $1.59 million.
Combine that by the 59 missiles the US ordered to be fired off two warships in the Mediterranean Sea, and you’re looking at a bill of around $94 million.
[ from http://finance.nine.com.au/2017/04/07/15/09/how-much-a-tomahawk-missile-costs#VBtjYidBUilWkQhs.99 ]
According to Sputnik report, the damages are not significant at all.
Questioning – what was the purpose of this stupid show?
tanto
You are leaving out the delivery costs, such as the ships used, their fuel consumption to position themselves off the coast of Syria, and the ship personnel costs. The two ships that fired the missiles also had their escorts, probably a submarine or two as well as their own air and submarine defense vessels.
The all in cost is for six to eight vessels for this show.
I would estimate, off the cuff, the US needs to calculate at least 500 million USD for this spectacular event.
I would like to suggest that the cost of the false flag poison-gas operation serving as a pretex be added. Neither the propaganda machinery nor the mercenaries are working for free. (Udo Ulfkotte: Gekaufte Journalisten)
That cost is most probably peanuts compared to the cost of the hadware, but it could be usefull to be reminded of it.
Trump no longer his own man. Has bowed his knee and grovels to the deep state.
I think that the Americans just got shot in his left foot. this attack cancels their role in the fight against terrorism and puts them legally by side with the terrorists. they had the right to intervene in Syria in the areas that the government does not control when it comes to fighting terrorism. and this without the consent of the Syrian government after the shaky interpretation of UN rules. it is now past. now they are enemies of Syria without a UN mandate for intervention, illegaly in every way by every aspect and every armed american killed there will be a legal act.
I think that the russians acted correctly not destroying cruise missiles. I believe in russians and I’m sure they know already how the war would end.
to shot ~50 rockets much of air defense must be exposed. see the war in Yugoslavia. masked dance has just begun.
Just been watching some of the Australian news coverage …. well, as much as I could stand
Of interest was the former Australian Ambassador to Syria. He use the ‘IF’ word ….
‘If’ the Syrian government was responsible …… the interviewer completely missed the point and continued on with her agenda.
However, for me, it was the first sensible thing said in the whole coverage
But nobody is listening it seems ….. the is no ‘IF’ allowed
And any comments by Russia or any country that does not agree with America are dismissed as obvious lies. It is interesting that they fail to see the flaw in their logic. Why believe America without proof and not believe Russia or any other country?
Journalists today must get up in the morning, lubricate their backside and wait for Rupert to turn them into a glove puppet.
Either that, or all of us and the Saker are wrong.
I have watched the interviews with Assad and Putin and I know who I believe, and it ain’t Trump and his merry band of war criminals.
‘if’ is a powerful word to dismiss if you are preparing to kill people
.
“Australian news coverage …” — it is not news!!! … it’s evidence-free propaganda from Rupert Inc.
Well, that says it all, and it didn’t take too many words.
Maybe now someone from the West will finally suggest that the bodies of those allegedly killed by sarin gas be autopsied and chemical evidence of sarin gas anywhere in the nearby environment confirmed or discounted. Since there is so much video footage of the alleged atrocity and response to it by the “white helmets,” there should be a goldmine of evidence pointing one way or the other right there. It is nothing short of amazing that the care givers did not perish themselves by exposure through their bare flesh and lack of proper respiratory protection. Perhaps cannisters of sarin can even be found now at the site of the atrocity or at the airfield from which Trump insists it was delivered, which he has expediently destroyed. There is much to be ascertained belatedly that should have been determined BEFORE the act of war perpetrated by the United States. Or, doesn’t the world, and especially purportedly civilised Europe, care about such things any more?
Comforting to recall this happened just 6 months ago:
The Duran
40 million Russians prepare for Nuclear War
ANGELA BOROZNA
October 5, 2016, 12:44 am 0 18,989
As international tensions rise, Russia undertakes its biggest civil defence exercise since the end of the Cold War.
More than 40 million people will take part in the nationwide nuclear preparedness exercises in Russia between October 4th and 7th, /(2016)/according to the director of the Department of Civilian Defense, Oleg Manuilo.
Meanwhile in US and vassals, people were kept entertained with some kardashian krap. Or equivalent.
http://theduran.com/40-million-russians-prepare-nationwide-nuclear-preparedness-exercise-taking-place-in-russia/
what trump did is theatre.. have a look at the movie.. the sum of all fears…
jump to minute 38 where a gas attack takes place as the setup for turmp to look strong
then after the carrier attack jump to minute 1hr 31 minutes into the movie to see how these people think and how they react. i will wager something like this conversation actually took place before the strike at homs
what we saw is life imitating art.
trump gets the neocons of his back at least for a while
putin was warned it was coming and accepted a one time loss of face to help trumps domestic poll numbers which trunp will pay back down the road
xi is encouraged to do something about north korea
Guys and girls. Have you seen recent pictures of the “devastation” posted by RT? Take a look. If this “damage” was caused by 59 missiles, I don’t know… Something is not right.
Watch the video.https://www.rt.com/news/383857-video-syria-missile-attack-us/
I think it was a purely internal political move to show how tough he is.
It may also be directed at the Russia-Trump-link critics to show that Trump is tough on Russia.
Certainly doesn’t look like the start of the WW3. Some Russian roads look worse that this airstrip after the 59 cruise missile attacks :-)
These are not my words so don’t blame me but here they come anyway:
“The bastard is digging his own grave, more deeply with each passing day. If the anti-Trump resistance does its job, then, barring gross Democratic Party malfeasance, the time is coming when he will find himself unable to get out of town quickly enough.
Then the whole world can breathe a sigh of relief.”
– Andrew Levine
http://www.counterpunch.org/2017/04/07/trump-the-loser/
Who knows what is really happening, but I found this interesting.
Russian military to strengthen Syrian air defences – AP
The Russian military says it will help Syria strengthen its air defences after the US strike on a Syrian air base, the Associated Press (AP) reports.
Russian defence ministry spokesman Maj Gen Igor Konashenkov said that a “complex of measures” to strengthen Syrian air defences will be done shortly to help “protect the most sensitive Syrian infrastructure facilities.”
Konashenkov said “the combat efficiency of the U.S. strike was very low,” adding that only 23 of the 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles reached the Shayrat air base in the province of Homs.
He said it destroyed six MiG-23 fighter jets of the Syrian air force which were under repairs, but didn’t damage other Syrian warplanes at the base.
Konashenkov added that the base’s runway also has been left undamaged.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2017/apr/07/us-syria-response-donald-trump-assad-pentagon-live
I’m sure the Russian defence systems have a rational economic model algorithm — why waste a valuable missile asset on a few dud flying fire crackers when it’s less expensive to simply rebuild the concrete runways? And so if only 23 arrived then do we assume the others were phantom’s from the opera — of did Putin get a few Yankee turkeys on the fly over?
Btw, It’s starting to look like a false false flag flag — I’m wondering of something in the DC swamp is not the real target? Killary is out on a limb and a few heads will roll if the big boy commander in chief has been mislead. Perfect double sting operation? Plausible, but weak scenario, imo. If Trump is the Big Man he’ll fold with ‘mia cupla’ when the facts come in and crucify some local chumps. But I’m not holding my breath. He’s looking like yesterday’s news already and it’s only April. And such a large hotel and gambling chain to defend as well.
Trump just proved that what’s bred in the bone, will out in the flesh. I, along with many others are fooled no more. He’s been on my “watch list” for the last month or so, and the results are in.
A lot of questions above regarding how China and Russia are to respond. Both speak softly, and both carry very big sticks, and not just their military sticks.
Russia holds Europe’s energy lifeblood in its hands, and China holds the US’ financial lifeblood. One word from either, and the markets would take the West down so fast there wouldn’t be time to see which way the drain was circling.
If this was a truly a surprise attack, Xi and Putin have every reason to say “Enough” and to pull the plugs. They don’t need to fire a shot, though a few destroyers on the bottom of the Med and the Gulf may be an elegant way to say Доброй ночи/晚安.
‘According to the Russian data recording technology, only 23 cruise missiles reached the Syrian airbase. It is not clear where the other 36 cruise missiles landed,” Major General Konashenkov said at a briefing.
Wonder if he knows what happened to the ‘missing 36’?
Within the first couple of days in office, Obama understood completely that his role was mostly ceremonial, particularly with regard to foreign policy. He was to do what he was told. Period Or else…(and fill this with a long list of options)
Trump may have taken a bit longer to come to the same conclusion. Get with the program. Or else.
When a puppet has one of the strings of the puppeteer attached to his testicles, this always results in unusually jerky, contorted and pathetic movements.
Speaking of contortions, it is interesting to see the ridiculous postures people adopt to keep justifying what Trump does and says.
And Russia? Well, it may voice a soft complaint or two about the naughty behaviour of its “partners”. It may express some sadness at not being liked by its partners. It will ask its partners to improve their table manners. Things like that.
People, you really should be checking in with TASS. _ the Russians were slow to get responses out, but they are making up for it now! Heaps of gems.
Have to share this one:
Top military brass notes only 40% of Tomahawk missiles fired hit targeted Syrian base
Russian radar data show that the Tomahawk missiles were fired from the US destroyers Porter and Ross in the Mediterranean between 03:42 and 03:56 Moscow time, the general said.
The Syrian army’s air defense system will be reinforced in the near future to protect the most important infrastructure facilities, Konashenkov assured.
In 2016, several batteries of Russia’s air defense system S-300 were moved to the naval logistic facility at Tartus to provide protection for the base and Russian ships off Syria’s shores. Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said a multi-tier defense system had been created around Tartus and the Hmeymim air base. At the end of November the newest air defense system S-400 was delivered to Syria after a Turkish F-18 fighter shot down Russia’s Sukhoi-24 bomber.
Pantsir systems protect Russian military facilities from low-flying aircraft and missiles. Also, the defense of Russian facilities incorporates the system Bastion, capable of hitting naval and ground targets 350-450 kilometers away. Russia has helped Syria to restore the operation of its S-200 air defense systems that protect Russian bases from potential attacks from the east. Also, the Syrian army uses air defense systems Buk.
The chemical attack
The US missile strike in Syria had been planned in advance, while the chemical weapons incident was used just as a pretext, Konashenkov has noted.
“It is nakedly clear that the attack on a Syrian air base with US cruise missiles had been planned well beforehand,” he said.
“For any specialist it is clear that the decision to conduct the missile strike on Syria had been made in Washington long before the events at Khan Shaykhun, which were used a far-fetched pretext.
The show of military muscle stemmed exclusively from internal political reasons,” the ministry’s spokesman added.
Cooperation with Pentagon
The Russian Defense Ministry has suspended cooperation with Pentagon on prevention of incidents in Syria.
“We consider these steps taken by the United States to be a blatant violation of the 2015 Memorandum on preventing military incidents and ensuring security during operations in Syria’s air space,” the ministry’s spokesman said.
“The Russian Defense Ministry is suspending cooperation with Pentagon aimed at the implementation of the memorandum.”
“To protect the most sensitive facilities of the Syrian infrastructure, a set of measures will be taken in the immediate future to reinforce and raise the effectiveness of the Syrian armed forces’ air defense system,” he added.
Syria’ losses
US strikes on military airfield in Homs province leave six dead — Syrian armed forces.
“According to the air base command, two Syrian servicemen went missing, while four were killed and six sustained burn injuries while combating the fire,” Konashenkov said.
At the same time, according to the Syrian army command, the attack killed six people.
According to the Russian Defense Ministry, six Mikoyan MiG-23 fighter jets, a radar station and other equipment have been destroyed.
“The strike destroyed a logistics warehouse, a training building, a canteen, six MiG-23 planes in the repair hangars and also a radar station.”
“The runway, taxiways and parked planes of the Syrian Air Force have not been damaged,” the spokesman said.
Trump admits he issued order for missile strike on Syrian airbase
On Thursday night, at the direction of US President Donald Trump, the US forces fired 59 Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles on a Syrian military air base located in the Homs Governorate. The attack came as a response to the alleged use of chemical weapons in the Idlib Governorate on April 4. The US authorities believe that the airstrike on Idlib was launched from that air base.
Visit
http://tass.com/defense/940012
We do seem to live in interesting times. What happened to the other 60% of missiles launched? What does the revocation of the 2015 Memorandum really mean?
US and its allies’ biggest enemy is its lies and its people that may cause the system to implode from within. Just wait until the American people have had enough of all the lies.
Venezuela is also under pressure right now. An invasion is imminent with Colombian tanks in the frontier.
USA wants to control our resources, criminals rule this planet. Syria is another victim of these lunatics, the only language they understand is Brutal force.
We need to be prepare for the worse. If Russia and China can’t do a thing the rest of the planet is f***.
Just like Saker said: Flynn out and everyone should have realized that Trump was castrated. Dear there – don’t be so naive. And to Putin – why to co-operate with USA and EU at all? If Putin is so weak Russia needs new Stalin. And even Stalin made his pathetic mistake with Hitler in 1941.
When you said Trump was a “noodle” you were correct.
Courts of Law can determine culpulabiility given the facts. Trump cannot. HIs stupidity without due consideration is infantile unless he listens to those who would be his puppet masters. If so I feel for the .long term demise of the rationality of the once promising improvement to rationality that breifly gained credence.Sadly the malleable noodle is a proven and the US vision for the world is as tiny and disengenuous as was some of the worst empires of history.
Apologies for cross posting from MoA — but comment is important, if correct.
“Please, people. Educate yourselves. This is important.
This best way to see immediately that the victims have not died from sarin intoxication is that in almost every case their skin is red/pink. Sarin turns people blue — always. Sarin makes people puke on themselves, urinate on themselves, shit themselves. Show me the evidence of sarin. Scores and scores of “sarin victims,” not a single one has the constellation of symptoms produced by sarin. Not a single one.
The red/pink color of the victims in the vids suggests the people were executed with cyanide or carbon monoxide, which, in turn, suggests these scenes are staged after the executions. The evidence for KS is just now being collected. The evidence for Ghouta is very, very strong: those people were gassed by the terrorists using, probably, CO.
Please quit spreading the lie that these are sarin victims and sarin attacks. They are false flags and now that there is a moron in the WH we see how effective those false flags will be unless the public understands what is going on biologically.
My PhD is in pharmacology, specializing in neuropharmacology, University of Virginia. My postdoc was at Harvard in neurosciences. I am a lawyer. I know bullshit when I smell it. This sarin bullshit has to stop. ” (Posted by: Denis | Apr 7, 2017 8:09:40 AM | 47)
Anyone want to confirm or disagree?
It is just a theater, nothing really happened, check the Konoshenko report from the Russia Minnistry of Defense
I am an American, and offer my apology for my arrogant disgusting government. This goes out to all nations and people along with the Syrians that we have attacked. I am so sorry for all those who have lost their lives and their families in this display of cowardice. I really want all those here to know that our government can get away with this because most Americans just don’t care about those people in the countries we attack, militarily or economically. As long as we can, shop, go to movies, enjoy our lives and homes it doesn’t matter how many innocent people we kill. I know this just from the people I talk to that I , try to engage on our crimes we commit abroad. One day I would like to live in a country that I could be proud of. It will never happen here. I truly believe it will never change for the American people unless we feel the impact and horrors of war here. We dont know the hardship, misery, murder, and destruction we so willingly impose on other people and nations. Sadly when war does come here it will leave only radioactive ash and be too late, yet many in the world may smile. I may not blame them.
Hello kalchain.
A voice to support yours, but joining you from a quisling, supine, pathetically willing-vassal state.
All of what you say about the selfishness and complicit-ness of US citizens is true of a hundred other countries.
Nearby (in this part of the comments) someone has listed the “cheer squad” of other “leaders” chanting “USA-USA-USA” as loud as Trump, his neo-con owners and the US sheeple.
See RT – where the RF ambassador to the UN tells some “home truths”….. All around him are nations ignoring, embarrassed and too cowardly to support. Only Bolivia – poor benighted Bolivia – has the courage to challenge the sickening fabricated narrative.
Your last point – that USA has not felt the pain and distress of war – thus has no understanding and empathy for the people and nations it devastates.
Russia is of course the complete opposite of this- the last century she lost ????? Millions to war, devastation, pillage.
Hence the Russian leadership – a generation who’s parents fought or survived WW2 – is not that keen to “kick ass” just for fun and profit.
When RF goes to war, it will be final.
Of course the US “insults” sting and hurt the RF pride – but because the Russian people have a pride beyond ego – a genuine, spiritual pride – they can bear these insults. Beyond insults – well nuclear exchange. It’s final.
Perhaps only then will people – and we know from DNA – we are – all of us – all 7 billion – “one”, maybe then we will choose to live in peace and cooperation?
Finally an answer to the question why Russia didn’t take these missiles out. Russia wont obviously admit it openly but the fact that only 23 of 59 missiles hit their target suggest that, instead of shooting them down, which may have been difficult with such a barrage, Russia decided to jam their homing system instead.
All in all a very poor result for something that costs $1.59 million a pop. My condolences for the victims of this heinous crime
Very plausible, but why then did any get through?
The only way to see change in the world is to start with yourself. How many, who comment here, still paying your taxes or have money in the bank? Starve the beast, the way cancer can be starved in the body, by pulling out from the Matrix. By the way, how many know about the Geoengineering/HAARP programs to dim out the Sun, even Russia and China are involved. The planet is dying, we are in the sixth mass extinction, but I haven’t heard Putin or Xi say a word about it. If the good leaders of the world wanted to wake people up and stop all wars they would let humanity know we don’t have much time left on this once beautiful, thriving planet.
Look into MMT, such as at http://neweconomicperspectives.org/ . The US doesn’t need taxes to pay for war since it can creat as much money as it wants to, but non-payment would disrupt the lies it does — but that would likely result in cuts in social and other domestic spending first, which the war mongers would like.
More effective would be massive opposition of the people to this, and that likely requires neutering the lying media. The ‘machine’ has to be hit where it will hurt.
“Destroying countries in order to save them is the story of every empire there has been. But as history reveals, every empire carries within itself the seeds of its own destruction. Donald Trump is now on course to end up going down in history as a leader who rather than save the US from itself, may only have helped speed it down the path to its ultimate demise.”
http://www.counterpunch.org/2017/04/07/airstrikes-without-justice/
I have always been skeptic for political prophets but i do agree with John Wight and Johan Galtung. All evidence and backgrounds are suggesting Trump just like George W.Bush is speeding the collapse of US Global Empire.
Actually its done at least some favours in the exposure of the USA and its intent.
Firstly we now know US weapons are sub standard and their military little better.
Of 59 missiles fired – only 23 managed to hit an airfield – so much for inside windows.
36 are lost around goat pastures and the Med Sea.
And it certainly says little about the efficiency or lack of – in the US military itself.
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2017-04-07/first-images-aftermath-inefficient-us-missile-strikes-emerge
Russia fires missiles at terrorists – not those fighting them – and has a near 100% hit rate.
Then we now know that there is active collusion between the US and ISIS.
Last night ISIS was given advance warning of the missile strike – enabling it to launch an unsuccessful attack on the Palmyra oil fields under the missile shield – so all pretense is gone.
It is convention in war for a military and country to openly expose who they are fighting with and for.
Time now for the USA, who created ISIS, to openly display the black flag of terrorism on all military and equipment.
The Americans can take pride in its display.
Lets forget the play acting shall we.
No more pretending.
The USA and ISIS are hand in glove.
The brutal attack in violation of international law – last night – has proved that without question.
How Raqqa must have celebrated their new hero Donald Trump – last night.
OK…so I’m going to post a comment before having read all the previous comments as I normally do…just too much material right now…
First thing…reports from Sputnik say only 23 of 59 Tomahawks got through…the rest are ‘unaccounted for’…
What this means is not yet clear…the only thing that we can take at face value is the figure of 23 out of 59 hitting the target [or its vicinity]…satellite pics are good enough to clearly show crater damage so there is no way to hide facts and fudge numbers…
So we have a case of just 40 percent effectiveness of the Tomahawk weapon system…whether the Russian or Syrian air defenses or fighter jets shot some of them down has not been made clear…and it would not be in the interest of the defenders to make such information public if this in fact were the case…it’s enough that the enemy knows…
But it does not really matter…however you cut it this is militarily a disaster…if the defense stopped 60 percent…then the defense has won this skirmish…if 60 percent were duds then it’s huge egg on the face of US military and the technical capability of one of its most vaunted weapons systems…
Let’s not forget the Tomahawk has been a mainstay in beating up little countries for decades…nearly a thousand were launched against little Serbia in 1999…a much bigger salvo was unleashed on Iraq in 2003…the list goes on…
Second issue…whether the Russians received any prior notice…at this time I would say with good confidence that they did not…
Tillerson said as much himself…that some Russian media reports say otherwise…ie some unknown US military spokespeople claim that a warning was issued on the ‘deconfliction’ line…this is very weak by comparison…who is the name behind this story…?…some junior PR officer paid to read a script…?…of course media pick up on each and every scrap of ‘official’ announcements…but in this case Tillerson says Russia wasn’t told and that can be considered authoritative…
Also worth noting is that the Russian side…ie Konashenkov… would have acknowledged receiving any notice…and no one on the Russian side has said so…
Third is the issue that this was perhaps a ‘pretend’ strike since the target appears to be a boneyard where retired warplanes are dismantled…
Now I cannot stress this enough…this is very dangerous thinking…in fact not thinking but blind hoping…
Think back to your schoolyard days…the bully always starts with a little shove…not a haymaker to the side of the head…then the shoves get harder and harder…and when he realizes that you are not going to fight back…that’s when the large-scale violence starts…
The Russian leadership I’m sure is assuming that this first little shove was exactly what it appears to be…Trump testing the waters to see how much pushback he’s going to get…
Already the Russians have made two significant announcements that point to Russian escalation not backing down…
First is that they are sending in more air defense systems…both land and ship-based…second is that they have pulled the plug on the ‘deconfliction’ hotline which is supposed to provide for avoidance of air ‘incidents’ between the Russian and US side in Syrian airspace…
This latter is particularly significant because it puts the US on notice that an ‘accident’ could now happen to one of its planes…whether such an ‘accident’ does in fact happen we will have to wait and see…
Next on the list is the subject of Drumpf himself…I will say that the reaction of [former] supporters here and elsewhere is encouraging…he has just made ‘snowflakes’ out of all of us…and he must be made to pay a political price for this stab in the back to the hordes of honest Americans who supported him…as well as those in the international community whose trust and faith he likewise betrayed…
And make no mistake…this betrayal is stunning in its brazenness…what he has done here is bombing for ISIS…and there is much more to come than this little first pinprick…Tillerson has now stated that the US policy is to ‘remove’ Assad…
http://news.antiwar.com/2017/04/06/tillerson-steps-already-underway-for-us-removal-of-assad/
This implies a major military action on the scale of the 2003 invasion of Iraq…and subsequent long-term occupation…
The big question…what is Russia going to do about it…?
On its face…allowing such an unopposed war against Russian ally Syria would be disastrous for the RF…it would lose its naval and air presence in the country…and Syria would become a launching pad for US aggression against both Russia and Iran…
At this point we have to assume that Drumpf is a dangerous megalomaniac on the order of Hitler…and just as dangerous…
If Russia doesn’t want to fight another war on its own soil it had better prepare to fight an all-out war in Syria…it’s as simple as that…
On a political level it would mean the end of Putin…and rightfully so…the country needs an ‘Uncle Joe’ at this time…and if Putin can’t fill the shoes then see ya’…
Assuming that VVP has read the writing on the wall…and has the cojones to draw the line in the sand…and I believe at least the first part is true…his comments today that this strike against Syria has been in the making for some time…means that he understands the situation fully…
On to practical matters…
First and foremost…the Tillerson visit to Moscow has to be called off…in fact all communications with the US must bne cut off…telephone or otherwise…the only talking can take place at the UNSC…
Second…the RF needs a full mobilization of men and equipment into Syria asap…
At this point it is a logistics contest…and the US is in a better position…the US has lots of men and equipment close enough in various bases throughout the region that it can get a big force in place quickly…the obvious logic being that the scrawny Russian force in Syria now would have no choice but to walk away…
Also let’s not forget Turkey…The Turks can actually be first on the scene with a massive mechanized and air invasion of the Alawite heartland of the north…
Erdo…like Drumpf has shown his true colors…he is cheering the US missile strike and is making war noises himself…he has already said that Astana is dead as far as he’s concerned…
So much for the Russia Turkey ‘partnership’ which a lot of ‘analysts’ have been blowing into giant soap bubbles…
In concrete terms VVP needs to start the AN-124 and IL-76 transports going to Syria 24/7…
This is war folks…there is no time to dither…it has been a long time in the making and Drumpf has pulled the trigger…
The most important piece of equipment the RF needs to get into theater immediately is several brigades of 9K720 Iskander…
This is an offensive weapon folks…
Drumpf and Erdo are calculating that RF is simply going to remain in defensive posture…the biggest card VVP can play is to prick that bubble…
The RF needs to take a play from the US playbook…ie beating up on the enemy’s allies instead of the enemy directly…
Airmail a few Iskanders to Incirlik…flying time less than five minutes…
Massive salvos of Kalibr from Caspian ships…
Kh-101s [air launched kalibr] from supersonic Tu160 heavy bombers and Tu22M medium bombers…a supersonic dash across Iran and let loose from standoff range…
Turn Idlib into dust…they want civilian casualties…?…war criminal Mattis had no problem leveling Fallujah and burying thousands of civilians in depleted uranium dust…
Call the bluff and raise…
The Drumpf and all the chickenhawk calculus has a fatal flaw…it is more bluff and bluster than real capability…
A war in Syria against the RF is not going to go well for the empire…even if they get all of Nato to chip in what rusty tins they can throw into the donnybrook…
US public will finally turn nasty when this war starts bogging down…you can take that to the bank…another Vietnam in the making…
An invasion of Russia is out of the question…a nuclear strike even less so…
So what does Russia have to lose…?…if they want a fight in Syria let them have it…if nothing else it will provide a good injection of employment and national income to the assembly lines churning out bombs and missiles…
But make sure you now answer this cowardly, half-assed bully shove with real force…
Two can play this game…The Russians now have a pretext to go full court press…with international law on their side…not that it has ever meant much in time of war…
Pre-emptively destroy any and all threats in the neighborhood of Syria…especially on Turkish territory…
Article 5…?…yeah right…we’re long past that now…
Although I would not hit Israel…the Khazars are clever players…their game plan is always the best strategy of first staying on the sidelines and seeing who will win…if they see VVP coming out on top they will flip in a heartbeat…
And that’s where we are now…
Let’s give the bastards the fight they’ve been itching for…for a long time…
Well, Flankerbandit, that’s a pretty interesting scenario you’ve written. So you are all for VVP pulling a full bore response to what was in essence a pinprick of an attack that was more of a failure than a real attack, principle of the attack being another subject.
I am sure that Mother’s response will be reasoned and rapier sharp but the response certainly will not be telegraphed in advance. As for your information that VVP was not warned of the coming attack, my information says otherwise, be the warning official or not. Besides, those DD’s off the coast of Syria are monitored microscopically 24/7. One electronic suite going to targeting mode and/or one missile tube hatch opening and everyone concerned would know, ergo VVP and VKS did not need warning, they knew the moment the first electron hit the ether, not to mention the odd informant here and there.
Bottom line, all we can do is sit back and watch, what will be will be and the only thing I/we really hope for is that this does not turn in to a full blown war. If it does, it’s been nice knowing all of you because the first missile heading ‘west’ will bring a like number heading to our bucolic little village overlooking Sevastopol Harbor. We are not afraid at all, that is just the reality of life.
As an aside, today was a normal day in this berg. I’m up at 05 or shortly thereafter and I have my morning smoke and caffeine hit on the balcony overlooking our little street. As usual and right on time, 06:15, the first Company Grades began to head for the bus stop to report for duty. We’ve got about 10 living on our street and around the little park on it. All were absolutely normal and the few we know quietly called the usual morning greetings to us as they walked up the street.
Auslander
Author
Never The Last One http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ZGCY8KK
An Incident On Simonka, NATO Is Invited To Leave https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01ERKH3IU
Beg to differ Auslander…
I will stake here right now that this is the opening shot…not some PR pinprick…
As for my advocating a full-out military response by VVP…yes…I think it’s long overdue…
Again…we cannot know what VVP and the Russian military staff knows at this time…but we can safely assume that there is a very long dossier of info that has been accumulating over many months…
My personal guess is that the said RF staff knows very well if this is the opening shot in a Syria invasion or not…
And my follow on guess is that this is indeed the said opening shot and that VVP and co. know this…
I further suggest that the only course of action that makes sense is getting forces in place asap…
I do not doubt that Russia does not want war…Russia has never wanted war…but she has often been the target of aggression…
The only logical military move at this point is one of first deterrence by getting men and equipment into theater…and…if…and this is a big if…the enemy is indeed planning a large follow-up strike…then the plan must be to strike pre-emptively…
I do not believe that such a course of action would prompt the enemy to double down and escalate…in fact I believe the opposite…a bloody nose is sometimes the best deterrent…
Auslander…I have to address also your point about ‘prior notice…’
The fact that RF defense electronics would have picked up the Tomahawk launch almost instantly is technically valid…but does not have anything to do with formal notice…
This is part of the long series of ‘coincidences’ and writings on the wall that make me believe that Drumpf is indeed going to launch a war on Syria…
Let us not forget the historical meaning of a declaration of war…even Hitler declared war on Russia before actually launching…
Yes…the US has gone medieval for quite some time now…with traditional cieties like declarations of war clearly unnecessary for the exceptional nation…
But to blindside Putin with an unannounced strike flying over the heads of Russian troops is a very serious matter…
Call it reading between the diplomatic lines…yes…the attack itself was a pinprick…but the lack of formal prior notice speaks to something much deeper and darker…
Formal notice means nothing, be it from President Trump or some lowly minion who decided to notify his friend on the other side. My opinion is there was back door formal notice. The fact is VKS and SAAF had enough notice to evacuate most anything of real value before the attack and that takes more than 5 minutes. As for the attack itself, the missing 36 missiles is exactly the basic missile load of 3 Pantsir-S1 complexes (3 x 12 = 36). I have no doubts that VKS was tracking each and every one of those missiles from the instant they left the launch tubes. Were 3 Pantsir systems in operation in the aerodrome area? I have no idea, I wasn’t there.
VKS and SAAF have been returning everything to the base since mid morning and the runways were basically unharmed. I’ve seen the Russian vid of the airborne inspection of same while the hit spots were still glowing in the night vision. In essence 59 missiles with a value in excess of 90 million dollars were expended to destroy half a dozen worn out and ancient airframes that were in the repair holes as a source of spare parts for their comrades who were still flying.
I still say this was a pinprick operation that looks more and more like something staged for domestic consumption than an attack on a fully manned and operational aerodrome hosting both SAAF and VKS in active combat against the bad guys. The operations, by the by, resumed by noon local time this day.
Auslander
“As for the attack itself, the missing 36 missiles is exactly the basic missile load of 3 Pantsir-S1 complexes (3 x 12 = 36). I have no doubts that VKS was tracking each and every one of those missiles from the instant they left the launch tubes. Were 3 Pantsir systems in operation in the aerodrome area? I have no idea, I wasn’t there.”
If true, and I tend to believe that this is more plausible than the “jamming” theory, this means a 100 percent kill rate for the most overrated and antiquated “cruise missile” system on the planet.
That, if true, is a very clear message to a strategic test/probe of Russian defense systems, which this might partly have been.
Take Care
Kent
Pantsir system sold to Syria.
http://www.military-today.com/missiles/pantsyr.htm
Take Care
Kent
Perhaps now is a good time to take a look at the essential political dilemma in which the Don finds himself at this juncture in world history. Our CINC has opted to become an imperial war-criminal because he is caught, like the rat that he has always been, in a trap of his own bombastic and narcissistic design. Regardless of the truth (and there appears to be very little, if any) to the allegation that Russia manipulated this imbecile’s election as POTUS, the Don has been forever tarnished by the MSM and the Dems with this unproven allegation.
However, as a result of this big lie, the imperial establishment now has virtually full control over this disgusting bloviating rodent of a POTUS through blackmail. And, just like the cornered rat that he is, the Don will do whatever his warmongering handlers ‘advise’ him to do. In short, the Don has come to learn, the hard way, that he is not his own man, except in his own sick and twisted narcissistic mind. The Don has been neutered and he is now the prisoner/slave of the pentagon, the CIA, and, of course and regardless of anything else, he is also the enthralled flunky-gofer of the neocon-zionazis (who have always influenced, supported, and financed him).
The only thing that can keep this insane Clown-in-Chief in office for his entire presidential term, is for Donnie to be a good little boy and follow orders when it comes to whatever the Atlantic Council, NATO, Israel, and the Arab Gulf states (led by Saudi Arabia) want. Yes, the Don has always been violent and martial by nature and he will certainly enjoy his power to make war, even when it is clearly a war crime, as it was, when he gave the order for the unconstitutional, illegal, and unilateral attack on the sovereign nation of Syria. This pre-planned and premeditated war crime was perpetrated without on a vague suspicion that the Syrian government was behind the still undetermined cause of the death of over 80 civilians, that happened just a few days ago in Idlib, Syria. There is absolutely no evidence that the Syrian government attacked its own citizens. Was there even an investigation? The empire has a long and sordid history of falsifying and exaggerating the pretexts for its uncivilized imperial wars of conquest and its blatant acts of unwarranted aggression.
Trump is the empire’s joker, their trump card in the 52 plus playing-card deck and their classic fool in the tarot card deck. As usual those who control the money-flow are calling all of the shots and the silly, self-righteous, tweet-twit is blindly firing away for them. Just imagine folks, we have a screwy Baby Huey with nukes on our hands. USA, USA, USA! Blah, blah, blah…blah, blah, blah… blah, blah, blah.
Fight Against Syrian Legitimate Gov’t US Administration’s Real Goal – Russian PM
https://sputniknews.com/politics/201704071052418517-syria-government-target-trump-medvedev/
“By authorizing missile strikes in Syria, the US administration proved that its real goal is the fight against Syria’s legitimate government, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said Friday.
MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Medvedev added that by its military action in Syria, the Donald Trump administration proved its extreme dependence on the opinion of the Washington establishment.
“Instead of the widely publicized thesis on the joint fight against the main enemy — ISIL [Daesh], the Trump administration proved that it would fiercely fight the legitimate government of Syria. In tough contradiction with the norms of international law, without the UN approval,” Medvedev wrote on Facebook.
“In violation of its own procedures, which establish the need to notify Congress in advance of a military operation that is not linked to an attack on the United States. On the brink of military clashes with Russia,” he wrote.
Medvedev said that the Russian-US relations have hit the bottom following the recent US missile strikes on Syrian government military facilities.
“Nobody exaggerates the value of election promises but, after all, there are limits of decency followed by absolute lack of trust. Which is sad for our completely spoiled relations. And of course, perfect for terrorists,” Medvedev wrote in his Facebook blog.”
can someone explain why all the us missiles weren’t shot down?
after all the noise about the s300/s400 systems why did this even happen? I thought the russian air defences were state of the art and that even without being informed by the us beforehand about the intended strikes, the “growler” systems would have picked up on the launch??
It’s a day late, but I have an answer for you:
MOSCOW, April 8. /TASS
Military & Defense April 08, 2:43 UTC+3
Syria unable to repel US air strike at Shayrat airbase — Russian expert
The Syrian air defense system covers separate facilities and, possibly, the Syrians did not have air defense missile systems around that base, Igor Korotchenko said
The Syrian Army could not repel the U.S. missile strike at the Shayrat airbase in the early hours of Friday, as the Syrian air defense system covers separate facilities and, quite possibly, the Syrians did not have air defense missile systems around that base, Igor Korotchenko, the editor-in-chief of the Moscow-based National Defense magazine told TASS.
“In the first place, the Syrians have island-like air defenses,” he said.
“This means that the units and weaponry systems cover separate facilities. They don’t have an integrated air defense net and I don’t rule out there were no air defenses around that base at all.”
“Secondly, apart from Pantsyr (a surface-to-air and antitank missile system all other systems are outdated because they were manufactured back during the Soviet era and they stand in need of upgrading,” Korotchenko said.
“That’s why the Syrians couldn’t rebuff the strike meaningfully.”
He voiced the confidence that more strikes might follow, saying: “America has unsealed Pandora’s box and has demonstrated once again its thinking in the categories of a global policeman. This line of logic may prompt Trump to make new ill-conceived steps.”
Viktor Murakhovsky, the editor-in-chief of Arsenal Otechestva (the Arsenal of the Homeland) magazine, also does not rule out a possibility of more missile strike. The next volley of missiles will likely target the facilities where, according to U.S. surmising, the Syrians store chemical weapons.
“In the first place, these are airbases and the bases of permanent deployment controlled by the Syrian government forces,” he said.
Korotchenko believes the launch of 59 Tomahawk missiles from aboard to destroyers might be a signal Trump was sending to China. “At the moment of the attack, Trump was hosting Chinese President Xi Jinping and this was clearly a graphic demonstration of force to China, since Trump said earlier China was among the apparent political contenders of the U.S.”
Murakhovsky said on his part the Pentagon had warned the Russian side about the forthcoming strike. “Our commanders at Hmeymim (airbase) received a notification two hours prior to the strike that is was coming up because the Americans had the apprehensions that Russian servicemen might turn out on the Shayrat base.”
“Now that we’ve suspended effectuation of the Russian-U.S. memorandum on prevention of dangerous incidents in Syrian airspace, we won’t be receiving any notifications from the Americans and that’s a strong signal to them that they should behave reasonably,” he said.
More:
http://tass.com/defense/940239
My un-informed opinion as to why the Syrian air base was so poorly defended?
The stated purpose of the RF involvement in Syria has been and remains to fight terrorism – labeled ISIS, Daesh, or whatever name the Salafists want to call themselves.
Syria did not protect its airfield because The Salafists did not have an airforces- they were ground forces only…… until the USA unmasked itself as the terrorist’s airforce…
So now RF is assisting with more air defence..
thanks
your response is appreciated!
regards
The small ray of hope of having peace in the world with russian/usa
co-operation has died a quick death. It is all about Deception and Ignorance.
The truth is the victim, but when it rises it will be too late for tears.
We have lost the basic process of verifying the facts , however can we expect
any better from a godless hegemonic power like the usa leadership to see?
Well! What do you know!? Just like even a broken clock is be right twice a day, the liberals were right about Trump being just as dangerous as ISIS.
I’ll go even further than that, I’d say he’s now officially working for ISIS. He might as well start running around in the White House lawn screaming Allu Akbar! Allu Akbar! And call it a day.
(I’m listening to the Russian Ambassador to the UN live, and he is pissed! Excellent speech if you folks manage to catch it. I’d be great to put it up here on the site)
–
ISIS and Al Qaeda praise Trump. Celebrate the US attack on Assad
http://theduran.com/isis-al-qaeda-praise-trump-celebrate-us-attack-assad/
Daesh Militants Attacked Syrian Army Positions Simultaneously With US Strike
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201704071052388059-daesh-us-strike-syria/
–
Russia suspends flight safety agreement with US
“[..] According to short statement released from the Russian Foreign Ministry,
— “Russia suspends the memorandum on the prevention of incidents and ensuring air safety during operations in Syria reached with the US”.
Russia and the US are now officially hostile to one another’s intentions in Syria.”
http://theduran.com/breakingrussia-suspends-flight-safety-agreement-us/
–
Marine Le Pen joines chorus of Trump critics
“[..] Trump has lost his biggest supporters both domestically and internationally. He has traded them for deep state apparatchiks who will Lilly chew him up before spitting him out.”
http://theduran.com/marine-le-pen-joines-chorus-of-trump-critics/
-TL2Q
PS: Apologies if some links have been already posted. I’m just catching up with messages and headlines after the breaking news kept me up till 7 am this morning.
First Israel strikes, now the U.S. strikes.
Folks, this is Zionism. Plain and simple. There is a plot against the Arab people, and pipe-lines, etc are just secondary.
The plan is for a Greater Israel, with enormous land and wealth, that both the Jewish and Evangelical Christian Zionists want, and see as their only hope of survival.
Its a desperate move. Just look at the language of the Russian Rep. at the U.N. Also, Putin is saying its an ‘Act of Aggression’.
It will fail to achieve anything. Its an escalation and Russia, China , Iran, Iraq, and Syria and its people, will defeat.
So Trump does a surprise attack on Syria while China Xi is in country. What if Xi attacked Britain while US president was visiting China. The US is not trustworthy and uses diplomacy as way to cripple opponents.
You are totally right Saker.
If superpowers: Russia & China won’t take decisive action against the Evil Empire, so help us God.
There won’t be peace on this beautiful planet of us if that GringoJewsih devils are here. That’s the truth we, as the citizens of this world, must accept.
The ultimate goal is to break up both Syria and Iraq.
You see, Israel bombs, now the U.S. bombs. Its a Zionist project co-signed by Jewish Zionist dreamers of a ‘Greater Israel’, and Evangelical U.S. Christian Zionists who are on board for destroying the Arabs for the sake of the Zionist dream.
But this is all in desperation. You see, the Zionist project is running behind schedule, and the East is rising fast. And the empire should heed the Russian U.N. Representative when he said its not a good idea to ‘quarrel’ with the Arab people. Arabs are sick and tired of the bullshit being played on them. The Silly Zionists I mentioned dont realize it but they are pushing the Arab world right into the arms of Iran, Russia and China.
Then you have the 1.6 billion Muslims whom are also sick and tired of their culture and religion dragged into the mud daily by western Leaders and main stream media. Let alone, the bombing, death destruction and mayhem unleashed on said people. They too will join the ‘alternative’ vision for mankind. One built on mutual respect, equality, justice and fair trade. Morals and health would also improve. Once the One-Road, One – Belt initiative goes into full speed, the dream of a ‘Greater Israel’ and taking down the Arabs as if they were or are American Indians, will be up in smoke. In fact, Israel as it is today i wager will not survive more than another 50 years.
I have trust that Russia and Syria will do the right thing, and show what ‘balls’ are really like.
very interesting take on the situation by Meyssan here:
http://www.voltairenet.org/article195897.html
in French, but google translate does a good job.
either he’s a genius or a complete fool.
Let’s forget about Trump for a nano-second… the responses coming from the so-called “world leaders” about the US bombing Syria are positively beyond disgusting:
[* BTW: this is a copy/paste job – a compilation done by some other poster from elsewhere, not mine]
‘British Prime Minister Theresa May said the action was an “appropriate response” to the “barbaric” chemical weapons attack launched by the Syrian regime.’
‘“President Assad bears sole responsibility for this development,” declared German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President François Hollande in a joint statement Friday. “His repeated use of chemical weapons and his crimes against his own population had to be sanctioned.”’
‘German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel called the attack “understandable” after the failure of the Security Council to come together in chastising Syria.’
‘“Israel fully supports President Trump’s decision and hopes that this message of resolve in the face of the Assad regime’s horrific actions will resonate not only in Damascus, but in Tehran, Pyongyang and elsewhere,” Netanyahu said.’
‘Australian Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull said his government fully supported the strike, called the move a “swift and just response.”’
“This was a proportionate response by the United States. It is not designed to overthrow the Assad regime,” he said.
‘Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe offered his full support for the U.S. strike, and noted that Japan “highly appreciates” the Trump administration’s commitment to maintaining global order and working with its allies at a time when “the threat from weapons of mass destruction is also growing more serious in East Asia.”
–
And I’m sure there are more statements like the examples given above from the likes of Boris Johnson, John McCain [etc] ….and don’t even get me started on what Turdogan said….
Turkey ‘welcomes’ US attack on Syria but believes it’s ‘not enough’ – Erdogan
“Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said he welcomes the US strike on Syria, but believes it isn’t sufficient. He has also called for a no-fly zone to be set up over Syria [..]”
https://www.rt.com/news/383959-turkey-us-attack-syria/
–
But, seriously people! Take a good, loooong hard look at them all! Hellish demons, every single last one of them.
Look at what they say! Look at how they expose themselves with no-shame-whatsoever for what they truly are! Look at how they’re all patting themselves on the back for bringing the stray sheep [Trump] back into the reservation. They can hardly hide their glee, their joy, their jubilus demonic feeding-frenzy.
Someone ought to write ALL of them names down and put them on a black-list for future reference. I would do it myself, but I’m way too stressed out – with all that’s been transpiring – at the moment to take-up on the task.
At the very least I’m hoping, we’ll all be creating a ‘mental-note’ about this.
-TL2Q
The Russian military point out that it would take some time for the attack to be planned, targets identified and resources put into place. They conclude that the missile strike was planned before the gas attack and the false flag was created to justify the missile strike. They also suggest this may be why Bannon left the NSC – a disagreement over this strategy.
http://russia-insider.com/en/politics/zakharova-us-missile-strikes-were-planned-alleged-gas-attack-syria/ri19480
https://z5h64q92x9.net/proxy_u/ru-en.en/colonelcassad.livejournal.com/3345092.html
Only 23 or so of the 59 missiles launched made it to the target. One unexploded warhead was found in the garden of a house in Karto, Tartus.
They should let Tillerson’s visit go ahead, but just tell him they don’t believe a word he’s saying every time he says something.
Did regime change in Iraq and Libya improve the world order condition? Is regime change in Syria likely to? Does Russia have a chemical weapons penchant?
“Nostradamus Predictions 2017 Speak of Donald Trump and U.S.”
I hesitate to post a link like this, but my gut forces me to step up to the plate. Please access the following link:
https://www.lombardiletter.com/nostradamus-predictions-2017/9107/
Saker, you are being too pessimistic.
The Empire is being wound down. Ups and downs will happen.
If this is the best the neo-cons can extract out of Trump, there is a lot to hope for.
This was a slap on the face of the Chinese President Xi, So imperative, a gratuitous aggression against Syria Sovereingty, her people and against international law. An indictable violation against Russian peace workforce in Syria, in order to eradicate so dangerous, ruinous criminals as ISIS and others criminals factions, very well backed by US war machine. Mr. Trump forsake his inaugural patch, putting the entire world in a very perilous time, for now and not so on, in the Korean peninsula too.
Trump was and is a fraud. Answer this question: How many real estate developers are household names? He was a front man for the east coast mobsters. He built their casinos and was a bag man for the FBI.
Anyone who believed he was a renegade is living in a Hollywood movie.
Something related to this horrible event
http://forbiddenknowledgetv.net/ron-paul-zero-chance-assad-did-this/
Possibly you may have read the articles below, but considered if not, you’d find both interesting …
http://www.voltairenet.org/article195904.html
http://journal-neo.org/2017/04/08/syria-trumps-bush-obama-wmd-remix/
Thank you for all your valuable analyses … always so many angles considered … been reading page after page and feel a bit more at ease now, thanks to the clarity your thoughts always bring.
Just wish to add that in my very limited opinion– as an outsider sitting faraway in South Africa, it is patently clear to me that Russia is probably the most sane, responsible and pragmatic country in the world today. In this regard, I cannot see President Putin endangering Russia with a direct military confrontation with the USA– possibly Russia would press very strongly for a decent settlement for Syria and Pres. Assad, but realistically, avoid, what could escalate into a full-blown war between two nuclear powers– I feel Russia would rather accept the best solution/settlement possible for Syria with the unpredictable crazies in the USA, even if in the near future it foregoes its bases in Syria– military and naval? The USA and its redoubtable allies want to push Russia out the oil and gas market in Europe– what if they do?
Russia would then turn full bore to Asia and because Silk Road projects will require everything Russia can produce– the markets massive in both Russia and Asia, assuring Russia a great and stable future, trading with more than half the world. Over the next few years Russia and China will become superpowers too– not only economically, but militarily, so the US will clearly understand that its bully play, will no longer be tolerated and for its survival, it will be forced to engage on all fronts with Russia and China– and doing it with respect too!
It would have been great if China and Russia could’ve collapsed the US economy right now– China probably can– but it could mean a nuclear war. So the only threat to Russia and China right now, is the US’ superior military power, which it is using to save economic collapse and the petrodollar. But is this even possible? Surely China will soon overtake the US and within less than a year, the dollar will stumble and fall to the yuan.
I don’t expect a reply from you– but would very much love it if you perhaps could do an essay on how you see the future (how Syria could pan out) and how you see Russia’s future with US and especially with evermore closer ties to China? I have not touched on Iran here, but do feel a deep concern for Iran, because should Russia be done in Syria– Iran would possibly be next on the list for the USA to mess with– it is already doing it– always has.
Most people in the world today, want peace– they are tired to death of all US wars and for that reason, people globally are increasingly hopeful that Russia, will somehow keep the world from a thermonuclear cataclysm becoming a reality. Putin carries his duties to his people close to his heart and for that reason, Russia will be the greater power, because I know she has the courage and wisdom, to walk away from direct confrontation. But God alone knows, Russia may still be victim to a preemptive first nuclear strike by the USA– out the blue, which the psychos in Washington could commit to in an instant. Russia then has no option to defend herself.
As Maria Zakharova said, the only thing that is predicable about the USA, is its unpredictability! Therefore to avoid such a point be reached, Russia will remain the cool head, saving the world from a nuclear war and the real critical thinking world, would applaud the Russian Federation as saviour of the planet. But, all that said, will the USA allow Russia to walk away, when Russia has always been the ultimate prize, it has desired and has never been able to vanquish or conquer?
Thank you for reading my little thoughts …
Bombing Syria is a crime, period!
Bombing Syria is a crime, period. During the 2014 Israeli war on Gaza, Israel used many weapons banned under international law. All of the civilized nations who protested the use of chemical weapons in Syria turned a blind eye towards the Israeli violations. Let’s not just ignore the fact too that Israel did it for seven decades with funding from the US, UK, and France. The same three countries that bombed a sovereign nation under a false pretext as they did to Iraq in 2003. Later it was proven that Iraq never have weapons of mass destruction (WMD), connections to al-CIA-da or the 9/11 terrorist attack.
In response to the White House claim that Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad ordered the chemical attack on his people near Damascus, Theodore Postol, a professor emeritus at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), issued a series of three reports refuting the US allegation. Professor Postal concluded that the US government’s report does not provide any “concrete” evidence that Assad was responsible, adding it was more likely that the attack was perpetrated by players on the ground. For that reason Germany and Canada together with 190 other UN member states said no thank you and that they will not join U.S. President Donald Trump’s coalition to bomb Syria.
Why hasn’t the UN ever investigated the Syrian Rebels for the use of chemical weapons? The Syrian government has asked for the UN to investigate the rebels, but every request has been denied.
I believe president Trump is being played by P.M. Netanyahu who publicly pressured him on having the US continue destroying Syria for Israel, after Russia, Iran and Hezbollah chased ISIS and her terrorist sisters out. It is rather odd that the US State Department spokeswoman as well as our UN ambassador, Nikki Haley, would say that the US will bomb Syria even if no chemical weapons were used. Ambassador Haley who acts as Israel’s second envoy to the UN could use a lesson in diplomacy. Way to go, snubbing the rules of law, by the US, UK and France. It does look like the US is fighting another dirty war for Israel. Whether you support Assad or not, the West should have no right to bomb a sovereign nation. It is rather odd that the three countries that bombed Syria are the very same ones who lecture us about the rules of law and that we should settle our differences without violence.
Imagine for a moment what would happen if Russia had fired 112 cruise missiles on America after Waco, to punish our government for attacking civilians!
Mahmoud El-Yousseph
Freelance Palestinian writer