New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

War Drums - Page 2

post #51 of 396
2/16/12 at 10:53am
Thread Starter 

Syria begins shelling second city:

 

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2012/02/20122169150227154.html

 

Artillery in place for other assaults:

 

http://www.globalsecurity.org/intell/library/imint/syria.htm

Reply
post #52 of 396
2/22/12 at 11:19am
Thread Starter 

Marie Colvin's death is brining greater focus on Syria:

 

http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/newsdesk/2012/02/postscript-marie-colvin-1957-2012.html

 

Her last report is truly heartbreaking.

Reply
post #53 of 396
2/24/12 at 3:53am

http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2012/02/201222385252948572.html

Reply
post #54 of 396
2/26/12 at 6:42pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by The Closer View Post

http://rt.com/news/iran-close-strait-hormuz-embargo-455/

 

A small part of me kind of hopes this happens.  As Ive mentioned on this forum once or twice in the past, realistically it will take something like this for us to get up off of our asses, combine military and civilian resources, and come up with a viable energy alternative.

 

The way exists, we just need the will.  $200/oil would probably nudge us in the right direction.


 

If this or nuclear war in the meddle east happens, Coming up with a come up with a viable energy alternative will be the least of our worries. The fist question can the US EC and Chine get the situation under control before their strategic oil supplies run out, and their citizens start dieing. Two weeks after a g7 country oil supply is gone between 50% and 90% of their population will be dead. Many third world counties will be able to handle it better then the rich countries, but even they will be affected.


 

 

Reply
post #55 of 396
2/27/12 at 12:01pm
Thread Starter 


Quote:

 

Originally Posted by Robert Hill View Post


 

If this or nuclear war in the meddle east happens, Coming up with a come up with a viable energy alternative will be the least of our worries. The fist question can the US EC and Chine get the situation under control before their strategic oil supplies run out, and their citizens start dieing. Two weeks after a g7 country oil supply is gone between 50% and 90% of their population will be dead. Many third world counties will be able to handle it better then the rich countries, but even they will be affected.

 


 

True, incapacitating the Strait would severely curtail supply, though not cause Armageddon.  Europe still has native production, as does North America and Asia.

 

But yeah, if a conflict went nuclear, we would all have other things to worry about, at least until we were flash-fried.

Reply
post #56 of 396
3/16/12 at 9:29am
Thread Starter 

Sanctions will cut off all interbank trade with Iran tomorrow:

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-17390456

 

Three Carrier groups and a big Amphibious assault flotilla are now in the gulf.  There are more minesweepers en route.

 

That and the strong Israeli rhetoric about preventing Iran from getting the bomb?  I'll be surprised if there isn't another war this summer.

Reply
post #57 of 396
3/16/12 at 10:29am

Yup. Sadly, we don't seem to be able to avoid that.

 

Our policy in the Middle East post-Ottoman collapse makes me so fucking angry. We just keep messing up, time and time again. There was literally no country more suited to be our ally in that region than Persia. With all this wealth of examples of failure, of what NOT to do, we ignore I can now safely assume we want to fuck up there. Plus as a Greek I carry a millenia old genetic disposition making me find Persian women super hot and stuff that make them opening up to the world more difficult make me angry.

Reply
post #58 of 396
3/16/12 at 10:40am
Quote:
Originally Posted by stelios View Post

Yup. Sadly, we don't seem to be able to avoid that.

 

Our policy in the Middle East post-Ottoman collapse makes me so fucking angry. We just keep messing up, time and time again. There was literally no country more suited to be our ally in that region than Persia. With all this wealth of examples of failure, of what NOT to do, we ignore I can now safely assume we want to fuck up there. Plus as a Greek I carry a millenia old genetic disposition making me find Persian women super hot and stuff that make them opening up to the world more difficult make me angry.

 

+1

there was a good interview on the Daily Show with Trita Parsi...

(there's 2 parts)

National Iranian American Council President Trita Parsi explains how skepticism gets in the way of diplomatic negotiations between America and Iran.


 

 

Reply
post #59 of 396
3/16/12 at 3:24pm
Thread Starter 

 

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by stelios View Post

Yup. Sadly, we don't seem to be able to avoid that.

 

Our policy in the Middle East post-Ottoman collapse makes me so fucking angry. We just keep messing up, time and time again. There was literally no country more suited to be our ally in that region than Persia. With all this wealth of examples of failure, of what NOT to do, we ignore I can now safely assume we want to fuck up there. Plus as a Greek I carry a millenia old genetic disposition making me find Persian women super hot and stuff that make them opening up to the world more difficult make me angry.

 



Cognitive dissonance.  Saudi Arabia is good, but Iran is evil.

 

Crude prices jumped on a hyperbolic headline that the Israeli cabinet had voted 8 to 6 for military action against Iran.  They didn't, it was an opinion poll.

Reply
post #60 of 396
3/22/12 at 4:19pm

There was just a military coup in Mali. 

Reply
post #61 of 396
3/22/12 at 4:24pm

No one gives a shit about Mali. Which is a shame, since this is the kind of upheavals we really don't want to be seeing over there.

Reply
post #62 of 396
3/22/12 at 4:55pm
Thread Starter 

Certainly bad news for the region, but not a peep from the usual news sources:

 

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2012/03/201232251320110970.html

 

No reports of casualties?

Reply
post #63 of 396
3/22/12 at 5:22pm

Time to polish my resume! If things work out, I just may have a new job...President for Life!

Reply
post #64 of 396
3/26/12 at 10:09am
Thread Starter 

North Korea going head with a new Satellite launch:

 

http://www.cnn.com/2012/03/26/world/asia/korea-obama-visit/index.html?hpt=hp_t3

 

Probably nothing going to happen, Norker Satellites don't have a great track record of making it out of the atmosphere, the fear is that stages will fall on South Korea.

Reply
post #65 of 396
5/29/12 at 9:33am
Thread Starter 

The UN continues to fail miserably in Syria:

 

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2012/05/2012529103325815473.html

Reply
post #66 of 396
5/29/12 at 9:38am

Not meant against you but there's something I'd like to ask, especially the whole "the UN is incompetent" crowd. Removal of veto powers from permanent Security Council members. Yes or no?

Reply
post #67 of 396
5/29/12 at 9:41am

Judging from what Russia just did due to, I'm guessing, trade agreements etc., I'd say yes. 

Reply
post #68 of 396
5/29/12 at 9:52am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by stelios View Post

Not meant against you but there's something I'd like to ask, especially the whole "the UN is incompetent" crowd. Removal of veto powers from permanent Security Council members. Yes or no?

 

Knee jerk response?  Yes.

Reply
post #69 of 396
5/29/12 at 1:00pm
Thread Starter 

Coincidentally, if the UN wants to be taken more seriously, maybe not make Robert Mugabe your 'Leader of Tourism?'

Reply
post #70 of 396
6/22/12 at 10:20am
Thread Starter 

Happy World War III everyone.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-18554246

 

 

 

Quote:

 

Turkish warplane 'missing' near Syrian border

Turkey's government has called an emergency security meeting amid reports that one of its fighter jets was shot down by Syrian security forces.

Reply
post #71 of 396
6/22/12 at 12:04pm

Ottoman Empire Strikes Back?

Reply
post #72 of 396
6/22/12 at 2:14pm
Thread Starter 

It's still pretty murky.  Lebanese news outlets with sources in the Syrian government said right away the plane was shot down in Syrian territory.  The Turkish president said in transit that Syria had apologized and both pilots were safe. After the president landed he called a press conference and then couldn't give any specifics, and couldn't confirm his earlier statements, butsaid that a search was on for the pilots.  Then he went right into a security meeting.

 

So this could be nothing, or it could be the expansion of the Syrian conflict into another vietnam (NATO on one side, Russia and Iran on the other).

 

Conspiracy time!  My guess is the F-4 was a Wild Weasel variant doing some kind of electronic warfare, or recon.  Possibly in support of NATO troops already on the ground in Syria.  Turkey has been VERY careful not to make Syria angry, or provoke them in any way.  So the presence of a jet from a northern base (per BBC) in or near Syrian territory is kinda suspicious.

Reply
post #73 of 396
7/3/12 at 3:50pm
Thread Starter 

Syria said sorry about the jet.

 

The US naval buildup in the gulf is getting noticed: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/03/world/middleeast/us-adds-forces-in-persian-gulf-a-signal-to-iran.html?_r=1&hp

Reply
post #74 of 396
7/18/12 at 11:15am
Thread Starter 

US insists the huge naval buildup in the Persian Gulf is just an exercise:

 

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-07-17/u-dot-s-dot-allies-to-stage-persian-gulf-region-minesweeping-drill

 

Breaking: Israeli Youth Basketball team's bus bombed in Bulgaria, Israel blames Iran:

 

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/europe/2012/07/2012718153738369580.html

 

And just now The Free Syrian army hit several high-ranking cabinet members, apparently it was a suicide bombing:

 

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2012/07/20127189355415804.html

 

So that's all bad.

Reply
post #75 of 396
7/24/12 at 5:34pm

Man, this is a depressing thread. Let's all take a breath and look at an 8 week old orange kitten playing

 

 

And to keep that good feeling going, a daschund puppy discovering his reflection in a mirror.

 


 

Reply
post #76 of 396
7/27/12 at 10:12am
Thread Starter 

The good cheer is appreciated.

 

Saudi Police open fire on protestors:

 

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2012/07/201272713452985699.html

 

'Hot War' erupting with Iran:

 

http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2012/07/iran-hot-war


US Warns of Syrian Government Preparations for Aleppo Massacre:

 

http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/library/news/syria/2012/syria-120726-voa01.htm

Reply
post #77 of 396
8/17/12 at 1:17pm
Thread Starter 

The Syrian civil war is spilling over into Lebanon: http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-08-16/news/sns-rt-us-syria-crisis-lebanonbre87f1e0-20120816_1_prime-minister-najib-mikati-lebanese-shi-ites-alawite-community 

Reply
post #78 of 396
9/3/12 at 9:28pm

Situation in Syria from someone who lives there: http://knowyourmeme.com/forums/general/topics/17683-syrian-conflict?page=1#forum_post_415826

Reply
post #79 of 396
9/5/12 at 12:17pm
Thread Starter 

That thread is heartbreaking.  Each update is devastating, then I (spoilered for sadness:) 

Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show)

Hit the picture of the wounded ginger kitty,

and have now completely lost it.

Reply
post #80 of 396
9/16/12 at 11:23am
Thread Starter 

Thoughts on the utter lack of political will by the UN, NATO, Arab League, etc. to do anything but tisk tisk the Syrian civil war?

 

In that-escalated-quickly news, anti-Japan protests are getting violent in China, over a set of disputed islands: 

 

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/asia-pacific/2012/09/201291663859335183.html

 

Quote:
The territorial dispute escalated on Friday when China sent six surveillance ships to the uninhabited islands, after the Japanese government bought them from their private owners.

Though Japan has controlled the islands for decades, China saw the purchase as further proof of Japan's refusal to negotiate.

China is under strong popular pressure to take a tough line with Japan.

It will also have to be cautious not to let the protests spin out of control.

The influential Chinese tabloid, the Global Times, published by the Communist Party mouthpiece People's Daily, said backing off was not an option for China.

"China should be confident about strategically overwhelming Japan," it wrote, saying the Chinese military should "increase their preparation and intensify their deterrence" against Japan.

"China will not shy away if Japan chooses to resort to its military."

Earlier, Al Jazeera's Ortigas said the protests may have been encouraged to distract the Chinese nationals from their domestic concerns.

"There have been accusations of corruption," she said.

"There has also been widespread unrest socially in China from what we understand. At the same time there have been questions about the smoothness of the leadership transition, which is in the works for the end of this year."

 

Hopefully it's all just heated rhetoric.

Reply
post #81 of 396
9/16/12 at 8:09pm

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7421910n&tag=contentBody;storyMediaBox

Reply
post #82 of 396
9/17/12 at 8:47am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by JuddL View Post

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7421910n&tag=contentBody;storyMediaBox

 

Fascinating.  Arms Control Wonk is my go-to on Iran.  The latest article does a good job outlining why the new 'Red Line' is probably just more bluster:

 

http://lewis.armscontrolwonk.com/archive/5699/how-close-is-iran-to-bomb-1

Reply
post #83 of 396
10/3/12 at 12:58pm
Thread Starter 

Syrian mortars hit Turkey, five killed:

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-19822253

 

Unconfirmed reports of return fire from Turkey.

Reply
post #84 of 396
10/4/12 at 7:14am

It's getting worse.

 

http://news.yahoo.com/turkey-authorizes-military-operations-syria-115920854.html
 

Reply
post #85 of 396
10/8/12 at 1:44pm
Thread Starter 

Sixth strait day of cross-border artillery fire: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/09/world/middleeast/syria-turkey.html

Reply
post #86 of 396
10/8/12 at 9:31pm

I really wonder how much longer this is going to play out before the UN decides to do something. Part of me is wondering if they are waiting to see who wins the US election before really moving forward...

Reply
post #87 of 396
10/9/12 at 9:51am
Thread Starter 

Syria's stockpile of chemical and biological weapons is not something to mess around with, and I think the regime would use them if there was an official incursion by foreign forces.

 

Turkey deploys F-16's to the border:

 

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2012/10/2012109113457809700.html

Reply
post #88 of 396
10/12/12 at 12:58pm
Thread Starter 

Turkey forced a Syrian passenger jet from Russia to land, took radar equipment off:

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-19928139

 

Russia, Syria, pissed.

 

Also jets scrambled as Syrian chopper nears Turkish border:

 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/9605697/Turkey-scrambles-fighter-jets-as-fighting-threatens-to-engulf-Syrian-border.html

Reply
post #89 of 396
10/24/12 at 4:23pm
Thread Starter 

Israel may have bombed a munitions plant in Sudan:

 

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2012/10/20121024142531802810.html

 

But it's not like the Sudanese government is all that trustworthy.

Reply
post #90 of 396
10/31/12 at 11:19am
Thread Starter 

Remember when the Polish president and most of his staff died in a mysterious plane crash in Russia two years ago?

 

Turns out, it was probably an assassination:

 

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/30/poland-crash-idUSL5E8LU3O920121030

Reply
post #91 of 396
11/8/12 at 7:39pm

Morons

 

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/iran-fired-u-drone-over-gulf-pentagon-020148709.html
 

Reply
post #92 of 396
11/10/12 at 8:43pm
Thread Starter 

Constantly send non-stealthy spyplanes over a sovereign nation and a few are going to get shot down.  Iran should have done it over their territory though, harder to object to.

Reply
post #93 of 396
11/13/12 at 8:32am
Thread Starter 

The Syrian civil war is again threatening to spill over:

 

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2012/11/2012111311331387159.html

 

While Israel attacks Gaza:

 

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2012/11/20121112205723641623.html

Reply
post #94 of 396
12/3/12 at 1:55pm
Thread Starter 

This doesn't sound good at all:

 

"US Warns Syria may be preparing Chemical Weapons"

 

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2012/12/2012123194243690946.html

 

And the UN is pulling out of Syria.

Reply
post #95 of 396
12/4/12 at 2:54pm
Thread Starter 

Who's drone did Iran capture?

 

http://www.rferl.org/content/iran-irgc-guards-claim-capture-of-us-drone/24788663.html

 

More Syrian civil was spillover in Lebanon:

 

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2012/12/2012124152513238762.html

 

Turkey gets ok for Patriot Missile batteries on the Syrian border:

 

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/europe/2012/12/201212418813394904.html

 

And Iraq denies a Turkish plane from landing in Kurdistan.

 

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2012/12/2012124135957215550.html

 

All of that seems like escalation to me, sadly.

Reply
post #96 of 396
12/4/12 at 11:46pm
Ugh! The Middle East is in powder keg mode! Can we just build a giant wall around it so we don't have to deal with them until they grow up!

Not like some acquaintances have suggested like nuking them into Stone Age. This would be very bad, I'm all for giant wall idea.
Reply
post #97 of 396
12/5/12 at 10:29am
Thread Starter 

This thread is my personal worry-doll.  If I keep posting things here, they won't get worse. It's LOST island, a cork for all the evil in the Titus Welliver!

 

Except for Syria and Gaza, those keep getting worse.

Reply
post #98 of 396
12/5/12 at 10:35am

I don't think the Navy would necessarily straight-up lie like that.  It's probably an Israeli drone.

 

My biggest fear about what's going on in the world right now is about the expanding Israeli settlements. 

 

I really don't think Iran is actively pursuing nuclear weapons.  There has been no evidence of that, just a lot of war hawk posturing. 
 

Reply
post #99 of 396
12/5/12 at 6:12pm

So what are our realistic options if Syria does use chemical weapons? Seems like only air strikes. No way in hell boots go on the ground.
 

 

Edit

Oh shit


Edited by bigbrother - 12/5/12 at 7:02pm
Reply
post #100 of 396
12/5/12 at 10:40pm
Thread Starter 
Boots on the ground is inevitable if breaking rumors are to be believed. Can't just bomb,if the sarin is ready, then bombing is to dangerous. there are 70 estimated depots around Syria. Those have to be secured to keep the regime from using them, and to keep the rebels from getting control over them because they don't have a good track record either.NATO or UN intervention very likely.
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Political Discourse