Reumsfeld Warns Syria Against Providing Aid

[Timber Loftis]

Syria is against the war, and has been vocal about it. If I were Syria I'd say "F-U Rumsfeld, you ditch all of your allies and we'll go away."

I mean, I support my country and all but what kind of an idiot amasses his allies to fight a war and expects the other side not to do the same? It reminds me of an article in The Onion to the tune of "Bush Warns Iraqi Army Not to Fight Back." LoL.

Here's the frightening thing: we can't get in a wrangle with Syria. If we do, we will see a domino effect. It will simply be Muslim nations versus non-Muslim nations in the Crusades 2003, brought to you by PepsiCo and Budweiser with limited commercial interruption. Seriously, though, we start it up with Syria all of a sudden WWIII looms on the horizon. With Turkey being the first big concern as a "flippable" ally.

This part is especially frightening:

In Pakistan some clerics called on worshipers during Friday prayers to take up arms against the coalition partners in Iraq."We should revive the spirit of jihad to defend Iraqi Muslims against U.S. aggression," said Mohammed Abdul Aziz, prayer leader at Islamabad's main Red Mosque. Muslims, he added, "always fight against their numerically superior enemy."

This part frightens me for two reasons: (1) the obvious - see my WWIII comment above; and (2) it shows how absolutely deplorable math and counting skills are in the Muslim world. To wit, the US/UK, et al, have about 160K troops on the ground, whereas the Iraqi army has about that many in just Republican Guard and nut-job Fedayeen. In short, we have been fighting a war for the past 8 days where our side is outnumbered 10:1 or more.

Anyway, enjoy the article, from today's NY Times:
_________________________________________________
Rumsfeld Warns Syria Against Providing Military Aid to Iraq
By JOEL BRINKLEY

WASHINGTON, March 28 — Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld accused Syria today of shipping sophisticated military equipment including night-vision goggles to the Iraqi military and called the shipments "hostile acts."

He added that the United States would hold the Syrian government accountable, though he would not say what might be done.

His remarks came during a wide-ranging news briefing in which he alternately berated the regime of Saddam Hussein for brutality and criticized news media coverage of the war, calling it inconsistent and "breathless," a major theme of the Bush administration's remarks today.

Ari Fleischer, the White House spokesman, said, "The American people should be prepared for something that is long, lengthy and dangerous." His remarks, and similar statements by other officials, were part of the government's continuing effort to recalibrate public perceptions of the war as coalition troops face persistent and aggressive Iraqi forces.

Lt. Gen. William Wallace, speaking to reporters on Thursday in central Iraq, said, "The enemy we are fighting is a bit different than the one we war gamed against." All day today, military and political officials in Washington have been trying to play down what General Wallace said without directly criticizing him.

Asked about the general's remarks, Mr. Rumsfeld said, "I suppose everyone could have their own view."

Tony Blair, the British Prime Minister, asserted that he was not surprised by the turn of events on the battlefield.

"I think what we expected is what we got, which is that there will be fierce resistance from those people loyal" to Saddam Hussein, the Iraqi leader. They "owe their existence to his regime," Mr. Blair added.

But Mr. Blair also voiced frustration with the continual questioning, primarily from the news media, about the war's progress — a view that several senior officials in Washington also expressed. This morning, one senior administration official told reporters that he viewed discussion of the war's progress and duration in the news media as "silly."

Mr. Blair said, "You get speculations about how long it's going to take, and you're asked the question continually. And if you don't say it's going to be over within the next few days, people say its going to take months" and "speculate about the number of casualties.

"We're barely a week into the campaign," he added with a hint of pique.

Thus far, officials said today, 26 Americans have been killed in Iraq or Kuwait and 17 are missing or prisoners of war. Twenty British have been killed and 2 are missing.

Mr. Rumsfeld declined to say whether he believed the Syrian government was aware of the shipments of military equipment to the Iraqis, calling it an "intelligence issue. But he added: "They control their border. We're hoping that kind of thing doesn't happen.

"There's no question but that to the extent that military supplies or equipment or people are moving across the borders between Iraq and Syria, it vastly complicates our situation."

American military officials have said they believe their night vision equipment gives them a clear advantage over the Iraqis.

Syria has been an outspoken opponent of the war and its president, Bashar Assad, has described it as "clear occupation and a flagrant aggression against a United Nations member state."

Several of the war's opponents continued battering the coalition today, saying they were even more troubled now that it is becoming clear that the conflict will protracted.

"The military operation is becoming bitter and long drawn out," President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia said today. "This threatens to shake the very basis of global stability and international rights."

In Paris today, a spokesman for the Foreign Ministry said reports of Dominique de Villepin's remarks in which he declined to say who he hoped would win the war "are stoking anti-French sentiment" and insisted that France hopes for a United States victory.

Scattered protests continued around the world today, as they do almost every day. In Pakistan some clerics called on worshipers during Friday prayers to take up arms against the coalition partners in Iraq.

"We should revive the spirit of jihad to defend Iraqi Muslims against U.S. aggression," said Mohammed Abdul Aziz, prayer leader at Islamabad's main Red Mosque. Muslims, he added, "always fight against their numerically superior enemy."

[skywalker]

Rumsfeld needs a muzzle. This war seems like it may escalate into a much bigger mess than it already is and he is not helping.

Mark

[Charean]

Syria has always been a hotbed for terrorists. I find it interesting they waited as long as they did, really.

I am wondering if Israel may jump in.

This may turn into a free-for-all if we aren't careful... and I don't thing Rumsfeld is.

[pritchke]

Rumsfeld is one of the 10 that is manipulating Bush. I believe Pearl slipped and said Syria was next on their list of targets. Is it any wonder that they are so angry in Syria. What would you feel like if you expected to be the next target? If the Bush regime goes after Syria than that will be a major mistake and it is one of the reasons this war with Iraq, at this time, with the current Hawks in the White House has me on edge. Hopefully Blair and Powell will be able to influence Bush to stop after Iraq.

[Rokenn]

Originally posted by pritchke: Hopefully Blair and Powell will be able to influence Bush to stop after Iraq.

I wouldn't bet on it, it seems Powell has been stuck back in the freezer. And Blair seems to have his hands full at home

[Bardan the Slayer]

Originally posted by Rokenn: Quote: Originally posted by pritchke: Hopefully Blair and Powell will be able to influence Bush to stop after Iraq.

I wouldn't bet on it, it seems Powell has been stuck back in the freezer. And Blair seems to have his hands full at home [/QUOTE]It wouldn't matter even if he could - GWB is not the one who needs convincing, because he's not the one who runs America. He's a figurehead, but the power brokers that got him elected call the shots.

Something tells me that after spending the money they did to get Bush elected, they're not going to change their course of action for anybody.

[ 03-28-2003, 05:51 PM: Message edited by: Bardan the Slayer ]

[Timber Loftis]

Time to put Syria back on the "State Sponsors" list. Read the last line - Brig. Gen. Yossi Kupperwasser of Israel is already setting the stage for a US excuse to invade Syria (He said Saddam transferred his WoMD there).

I still think it's stupid to expect allies not to help each other. If Syria wants to be our enemy, who are we to deny them that right? Sure, the decision may have consequences, but it's their decision to take.

Oh, and let's not forget there is NO EVIDENCE yet.

Today's NY Times:

Syria and U.S. Escalate War of Words Over Support to Iraq
By JOEL BRINKLEY

WASHINGTON, March 31 — The war of words between the United States and Syria escalated today when the Syrian Foreign Ministry said it hoped to "see the invaders defeated in Iraq."

The latest bellicose remarks came after a speech on Sunday night by Secretary of State Colin L. Powell to a Jewish group in which he accused Syria of providing "direct support for terrorist groups and the dying regime of Saddam Hussein."

He added, "Syria bears the responsibility for its choices, and for the consequences."

Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld. had started the war of words on Friday, when he accused Damascus of shipping sensitive military technology to the Iraqi Army, specifically night-vision goggles. These shipments, Mr. Rumsfeld said, "pose a direct threat to coalition forces." He added, "We consider such trafficking as hostile acts and will hold the Syrian government responsible."

The United States military considers its night vision technology to be a major advantage over the Iraqis. But today, a senior American commander serving in the Gulf said he had seen no evidence that the Iraqi Army has obtained night-vision goggles.

"We have not to my knowledge seen any at this point," Brig. Gen. Vincent Brooks said during a news briefing in Qatar.

In his speech on Friday, Mr. Rumsfeld also warned Iran to rein in the Badr Corps, a unit of several hundred Iraqis who have been trained, equipped and financed by Iran's Revolutionary Guard to fight the forces of Mr. Hussein.

Mr. Powell made no reference to the Badr Corps on Sunday night, but he did warn Iran to "end its support for terrorists, including groups violently opposed to Israel and to the Middle East peace process." He added, "Tehran must stop pursing weapons of mass destruction and the means to deliver them."

Tehran has not responded to either the remarks by Mr. Powell or Mr. Rumsfeld. But relations between Iran and Washington have been especially testy since the United States urged Russia last month to end it program to help Iran build a nuclear reactor that Washington believes could be used to develop nuclear weapons.

The State Department announced this morning that Mr. Powell will leave Tuesday for Belgium and Turkey to discuss the war and its aftermath.

In Ankara, Mr. Powell will meet the leaders of the new government and try to patch up relations after the failed effort to win permission to station troops on Turkey's northern border. Mr. Powell also intends to reinforce the American position that Turkey should not send troops into Northern Iraq.

The Turkish prime minister, Tayyip Erdogan, said that Turkey would not send troops into Iraq unilaterally but needed to maintain the ability to defend itself against any "terrorist infiltration." His remarks were published in an op-ed column in today's European edition of The Wall Street Journal.

The United States was in the process until today of transporting military supplies out of Turkey that had been prepositioned there for the troops Washington wanted to place in Turkey so they could open a northern front in Iraq. The United States suspended the move of the equipment because Turks who oppose the war were pelting the trucks with eggs and stones, breaking several truck windows.

There were conflicting signals today on possible reconciliation between Europe and the United States. In Germany, the American ambassador, Daniel R. Coats, thanked the German government for cooperation with the United States, specifically for treating wounded American soldiers at the Landstuhl medical center in Western Germany.

At the same time, however, France and Russia demanded that the United Nations be prepared to verify any contentions that coalition troops may make if they find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.

The request indicated that those two countries are not immediately prepared to believe any claims the United States and Britain may make.

"If there are claims by coalition forces about discovering weapons of mass destruction," said Igor Ivanov, the Russian foreign minister, "only international inspectors can make a conclusive assessment of the origin of these weapons."

A spokesman in the French foreign minister's office made similar remarks.

The statement by the Syrian foreign ministry today mirrored that of President Bashar al-Assad, who told a Lebanese newspaper on Friday that he hoped the invasion of Iraq would fail and that "popular resistance" would prevent the United States from controlling Iraq.

The foreign ministry seemed almost jubilant that Mr. Powell had made his remarks to a Jewish group, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. Syria, like much of the Arab world, likes to portray Israel, as the evil hand behind every American action in the Middle East.

The speech by Mr. Powell "affirmed that all the actions of the U.S. administration in the region serve Israel interests and plans — and satisfy Ariel Sharon," the Israeli prime minister, the foreign ministry statement said. "The officials of this administration are thereby obtaining good conduct certificates from Israel and its supporters in the United States."

Mr. Powell held talks in Washington today with the Israeli Foreign Minister, Silvan Shalom.

Amr Moussa, secretary general of the Arab League, defended Syria today, saying the American accusations "will only inflame the situation further. No evidence has been presented to support this accusation."

In Jerusalem today, Brig. Gen. Yossi Kupperwasser, a senior Israeli intelligence official, told a parliamentary committee that Iraq may be hiding its chemical and biological weapons in Syria. "It is possible that Iraq transferred missiles and weapons of mass destruction into Syria," he said.

[Skunk]

I thought that they were accusing Russia of selling of the night vision goggles to Iraq???
"White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said: "The United States has credible evidence that Russian companies have provided assistance and prohibited hardware to the Iraqi regime.

"They are things such as night vision goggles, Global Positioning System jammers and anti-tank guided missiles."
http://www.itv.com/news/236553.html

The White House is very paranoid these days...

[Ronn_Bman]

I think the Russian equipment is moved through Syria.

Well I was just watching the propaganda channel, I mean CNN, and they showed coalition troops uncovering a cache of Iraqi weapons that were housed in as many as forty buildings....many of them with J-O-R-D-A-N stenciled across the outside of the crates.

Stated that it is not clear when these weapons were purchased from a U.S. ally, it just goes to show that a bigger can of worms gets opened every day.

The U.S. put pressure on Syria to "choose one side or the other" and they did...can you blame them? It is their part of the world, their religion, their way of life.