Syria’s Just Deserts

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We learned quickly when I was in Fallujah in 2003 that jihadists were infiltrating into Iraq from Syria.  As early as June 2003, we were capturing jihadists claiming to have be from the Arab nation.  Throughout 2003 and into 2004, these terrorists built a base in the Al Anbar Province cities of Ramadi and Fallujah.

This led to a major military operation to root out these dug in forces, costing many American lives. It was the perfect storm of a heavy influx of foreign fighters and a new “hands-off” policy that removed military patrols through the neighborhoods.

It seemed at the time that the Syrian government wasn’t doing anything to stem the tide. If anything, we felt like they were condoning the exportation of these fighters to de-legitimize our efforts.  Early intelligence immediately following the March 20th invasion indicated that Saddam had moved at least some of his WMD efforts into the country.

It seems now that Syria is getting what it deserves for contributing to the American and Iraqi death toll:

Al-Qaeda fighters are crossing from Iraq to Syria to carry out attacks there, Iraq’s foreign minister said on Thursday, as Syrian activists accused regime loyalists of committing atrocities in an opposition stronghold just outside Damascus.

Hoshyar Zebari said he had “solid information” about the movement of terrorist operatives into Syria, where President Bashar al-Assad’s forces have launched fresh offensives against residential areas amid rising military casualties.

The author (center, holding map) and his team during a pre-mission briefing into Fallujah.

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Just Deserts – ha, I can appreciate that.

a group of around twenty individuals claiming to be part of the Free Syrian Army (FSA), released a video message to YouTube announcing the formation of a new battalion named the al-Bara’ ibn Malik Martyrs Brigade. It should be noted that during the Iraq war, al-Qa’ida in Iraq (AQI) also named one of their battalions the al-Bara’ ibn Malik Martyrs Brigade.

From your favorite jawas: http://mypetjawa.mu.nu/archives/211192.php

Here’s the elephant in the room. Syria’s chemical and biological weapons. And the very real possibility that the Iraqi convoys of 18wheelers prior to our offensive moved Iraqi WMDs to their fellow Ba’athists in Syria.

Make no mistake that Syrian WMD create a method operandi for many actions and recourses. A week or two proceding Turkey’s involvlement, there was a huge spike in chatter that the Russians were to become involved. Hindsight: Misdirection.

The spike in chatter now is the aligning Shia axis: Iran, Hizbullah, Syria. Iran is now saber rattling, warning any involvment in Syria will provoke a response.

Some are saying the US played some chess to move their NATO pieces closer to check-mate.

Turkey and Syria were at least neutral, I thought they enjoyed good relations but Turkey is now well involved with a military build up on their shared border. With these moves, articles four and five have been moved closer to the gaming board and are much closer to being in play.

With WMDs in play, it’s hard to see this playing out as another Libya.

@mossomo:

Here’s the elephant in the room. Syria’s chemical and biological weapons. And the very real possibility that the Iraqi convoys of 18wheelers prior to our offensive moved Iraqi WMDs to their fellow Ba’athists in Syria.

Please, give me a break. We keep hearing about this every time an Arab nation falls. When Libya fell we heard over and over that planes would be falling from the sky like rain due to the pilfering of some 30,000 MANPADS (some people on Flopping Aces were in HYSTERICS over this bogus story) as well as Libya’s NBC weapon’s.

Ditto with Egypt. Remember how the Suez was minutes away from being closed? Or we were about to see a repeat of the ’73 war in the Sinai?

Nothing. It all amounted to nothing, because the CIA, MI6, etc. have their ship together and secure this stuff well in advance.

My advice: Stop with the fear mongering.

@mossomo, six of one.. half a dozen of the other. Will pretty much be a clean sweep in the region for the fundamental Islamic leadership, despite their names. The Libyan transition council threw their weight behind the Syrian opposition movement late last fall, including closing the Syrian embassy in Tripoli. CJ is correct that Assad’s Syria will be getting it’s “just deserts”. Assad’s racking up Islamic enemies left and right, and they have no need for stinkin’ badges and UN resolutions to fight dirty.

Two months after the public support of the Syrian opposition, the Libyan army found stockpiles of mustard and nerve gas, a manufacturing plant plus and underground storage containing ammo and munitions. We’re instructed to feel comfortable that they are safely guarded by the Libyan army…. uh huh. Of course, Libya is still wracked with tribal warfare themselves, so who the heck knows what that means in the long run?

Wouldn’t be surprised if there’s some shifting of WMD resources from Libya to the Syrian opposition in order to level the playing field for their “freedom fighter” fundamentalist buds there. Works for me… We had no business dabbling in the politics and civil wars of these countries… most especially those that did volunteer to cooperate with the US. Let them blow each other up, then the west will end up dealing with what is left after the dust settles in the region. Zawahiri told us years ago in an interview how this was going to come down. Step One, get US forces out of the region. Step Two, take down any apostate Islam leader and replace with fundamental governments. Step Three, mount united Islamic ME against Israel and infidels of the west. So far, all is going according to his plan.

And the Saudi’s are also keeping a watchful eye. They are feeling none too comfortable with what’s going on.

Speaking of missiles, stockpiles and whatnot, and coincidentally just one month before the announcement of Syrian rebel support by Libya, here’s the Sept 2011 post about the missing Libyan missiles, including SA-7s and 482 SA-24s. Of course I guess some will think they’ll just drop all those bio-weapons in an envelope, seal it with a lick and send it via camel with a kiss, eh?

No idea where this “30,000 MANPADS” and “planes would be falling from the sky like rain” hyperbole comes from. But then some have a vivid imagination about all that transpired. Anyone can read my post, click on the hotlinks, and read the forum conversation for themselves to determine just who was actually the one suffering from “HYSTERICS”. Well, maybe a few of us were hysterically laughing at Aye’s adept vivisection skills… does that count? :0)

Archives are wonderful…

@MataHarley:

No idea where this “30,000 MANPADS” and “planes would be falling from the sky like rain” hyperbole comes from.

Of course you don’t. To face the truth you were in HYSTERICS over the MANPADS would require you to leave the fantasy land of yours that you exist in continuously.

As I predicted, their “liberation” from the regime’s clutches was a non-event. No plane were or have been shot down.

@MataHarley:

Will pretty much be a clean sweep in the region for the fundamental Islamic leadership, despite their names.

Mata,

If these new governments are “fundamentalist”, how come they don’t break diplomatic relations with Israel?

Ever think about that?

Those weapons will eventually show up. The point is, where? The target? We can guarantee it won’t be aimed against anyone but the evil West.

As implied back in 2011, when? You make it sound like the planes are ready go be shot down any moment.

HYSTERICS. Your comments were, as pointed out, HYSTERICAL.

But how convenient that this stuff easily gets sweep under the rug from headlines, as we are distracted with other things.

Zzzzzz….zzzzzz….because their “disappearance” isn’t news.

From post #14 from that thread:

This is much worse than originally suspected, and I’ve updated the OP above.

OH MY GOD! The sky is falling. Where, I ask, are all the downed Israeli planes from these supposed MANPADs being smuggled into Gaza?

UPDATE from CS Monitor, who notes that 482 SA-24s were shipped to Libya in 2004, and none can be found.

Given they haven’t been used, could it be that our intelligence services have disposed of them? Did you think about that?

You see, Mata, there are only two scenarios:
1. AQ and their allies have them. But if they aren’t being used, so what?
2. Western forces have/had them and disposed of them.

Scenario #2 should be obvious to anyone as what has happened.

Obviously, if scenario #1 had happened, we’d have seen some attacks on airliners-the SAM-24 is a lethal platform and I can’t see the Islamist trouble-makers not using them if they had them.

Mata said,

One thing is certain… NATO and the rebels’ NTA have been derelict in securing these weapons, and apparently there are all too many in their midst with an entirely different agenda. And it’s most likely the targets will be western military powers or, worse yet… another passenger jetliner.

Another fantastic claim. “Derelict”? Really Mata? How so? Got proof we didn’t get those weapons and dispose of them?

Or is AQ holding on to them for some spectacular attack where they take out 100 or so airliners in a day?

@Ivan:

“fundamentalist”, how come they don’t break diplomatic relations with Israel?

Your rhetoric is another man’s threat; today’s headline: Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood’s Leader Says Jihad on Israel Is Every Muslim’s Duty.

@mossomo:

Your rhetoric is another man’s threat; today’s headline: Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood’s Leader Says Jihad on Israel Is Every Muslim’s Duty.

Controlled opposition. All that talk is to placate the nut-jobs in the Islamic movement.

Basically, action speaks louder than words. If the brotherhood was as bad as everyone said they were, they’d break off diplomatic relations with the United States, aka “Great Satan”, and Israel.

@mossomo:

Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood’s Leader Says Jihad on Israel Is Every Muslim’s Duty.

Blah, blah, blah. Again, this guy is just spouting off. Action is far more important than words.

Blah, blah, blah.

Infantitis says what? 😉 Apologies but you kind of earned it. So. Actions. I got it. You’re little bit blind to it. Again, you’ll call it rhetoric and dismiss another man’s threat. Gas supplies cut. & Rocket attack from Sinai.

@mossomo:

Infantitis says what? 😉 Apologies but you kind of earned it.

The blah, blah, blah wasn’t directed at you, but making a mockery of the Islamist and all the BS he spouts.

Dog and pony show for the masses, that is all it is.

@mossomo:

Your rhetoric is another man’s threat; today’s headline: Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood’s Leader Says Jihad on Israel Is Every Muslim’s Duty.

Yet, when in control the government, the “fundamentalist” do nothing to advance the entire concept of “jihadist duty.”

Like I said, action speaks louder than words.

@Ivan: Actions? There was a recent youtube of a Jordonian parliamentary pulling a gun on the opposition on live television.

…crazy and thats what we are dealing with. “Something bad is coming” I just heard on the TV while I finished that sentence… crazy. Take it for whatever. Truth.

But I just had a thought. Plot the decline of Copts, Christians, and Jews in the Middle East/Egypt-Levant-Mesopotamia-Arabia geographic area. Measure that against the murder rate of those groups and their exodus from that area. And tell me with a straight face “jihadist duty” IS NOT HAPPENING.

Africa. No Jews. No English. No Americans. No Iraqi war. No afghanistan. No Bush. But Black African Christians Continue To Be Killed By Islamists, Daily. Let me not mention the Sahel. Where slavery still exists.

Common Denominator: Islam. Only jackasses would say it’s not. Actions speak louder than words.

@mossomo:

Sorry a lil emotion crept out, hope I didn’t burn too much FA karma.

But there is real genocide occurring in the ME and increasingly in N.Africa. And just because it’s not happening in a generation, people dismiss it and ignore it. However examining the last three hundred years of ME history, you’ll see the proportion of Jews, Copts, and Christians is on the continuous decline. Lebanon was a Christian country. What’s the cause of this population trend? Mainly the threat of death by their muslim neighbors.