Syria Disintegrating: Part 2

[garbon]

Obama lost Syria.     Just like he lost Crimea.   

And now he's lost East Harlem.

Even I know East Harlem has more than one building.

[dps]

Obama lost Syria.     Just like he lost Crimea.   

And now he's lost East Harlem.

Even I know East Harlem has more than one building.

Yeah, but will they still by the time President Obama leaves office? 

[mongers]

Possibility of a Turkish military intervention in N.Syria within the next couple of weeks, odds?

Maybe over the issue of a Turkish cultural 'relic'?

[jimmy olsen]

Possibility of a Turkish military intervention in N.Syria within the next couple of weeks, odds?

Maybe over the issue of a Turkish cultural 'relic'?

There has been fighting over a border crossing recently, but if they didn't intervene over that plane that was shot down or the mortars crossing the border it seems unlikely.

Rebels Clash Near Border

[mongers]

Possibility of a Turkish military intervention in N.Syria within the next couple of weeks, odds?

Maybe over the issue of a Turkish cultural 'relic'?

There has been fighting over a border crossing recently, but if they didn't intervene over that plane that was shot down or the mortars crossing the border it seems unlikely.

Rebels Clash Near Border

A start ?

Turkey downs Syria military jet 'in airspace violation'

Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan says its armed forces have shot down a Syrian military jet which had violated its airspace.

He warned such action by Syria merited a "heavy response".

But Syria accused Turkey of "blatant aggression", saying the plane had been over Syrian territory at the time.

The incident reportedly occurred in an area where Syrian rebels and government forces have been fighting for control of a border crossing.

Turkey and Syria - once allies - have more than 500 miles (800km) of common border.

The BBC's James Reynolds in Istanbul says Turkey and Syria have been on opposing sides in Syria's war since October 2011, and there have been a number of engagements and firefights.

However neither side is interested in a direct, sustained, open war or conflict between the two countries, our correspondent says.
'Caught fire and crashed'

Speaking at a rally of supporters, Mr Erdogan congratulated his air force on its actions on Sunday.

"A Syrian plane violated our airspace. Our F-16s took off and hit this plane. Why? because if you violate my airspace, our slap after this will be hard," he said.
......

rest of item here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-26706417

[Viking]

Turkey downs Syria military jet 'in airspace violation'

Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan says its armed forces have shot down a Syrian military jet which had violated its airspace.

He warned such action by Syria merited a "heavy response".

But Syria accused Turkey of "blatant aggression", saying the plane had been over Syrian territory at the time.

The incident reportedly occurred in an area where Syrian rebels and government forces have been fighting for control of a border crossing.

Turkey and Syria - once allies - have more than 500 miles (800km) of common border.

The BBC's James Reynolds in Istanbul says Turkey and Syria have been on opposing sides in Syria's war since October 2011, and there have been a number of engagements and firefights.

However neither side is interested in a direct, sustained, open war or conflict between the two countries, our correspondent says.
'Caught fire and crashed'

Speaking at a rally of supporters, Mr Erdogan congratulated his air force on its actions on Sunday.

"A Syrian plane violated our airspace. Our F-16s took off and hit this plane. Why? because if you violate my airspace, our slap after this will be hard," he said.
......

I bolded the bit that worried me. It says more about Erdogan's state of mind rather than the state of turkish ROE, but still, "My airspace"?

[mongers]

I bolded the bit that worried me. It says more about Erdogan's state of mind rather than the state of turkish ROE, but still, "My airspace"?

My thinking is an autocratic ruler facing trouble at home, corruption allegations and so forth, seeks a foreign policy crisis to quell or divert domestic opposition.

[Viking]

I bolded the bit that worried me. It says more about Erdogan's state of mind rather than the state of turkish ROE, but still, "My airspace"?

My thinking is an autocratic ruler facing trouble at home, corruption allegations and so forth, seeks a foreign policy crisis to quell or divert domestic opposition.

Well, duh, it's just that he's not supposed to be an autocratic ruler. Just a year ago people were still putting him forward as a role model for arab democracy in the arab spring.

I'm just wondering what act of his will be the one history looks back on to be the one that finally confirmed his autocratic shark jumping completed.

[mongers]

I bolded the bit that worried me. It says more about Erdogan's state of mind rather than the state of turkish ROE, but still, "My airspace"?

My thinking is an autocratic ruler facing trouble at home, corruption allegations and so forth, seeks a foreign policy crisis to quell or divert domestic opposition.

Well, duh, it's just that he's not supposed to be an autocratic ruler. Just a year ago people were still putting him forward as a role model for arab democracy in the arab spring.

I'm just wondering what act of his will be the one history looks back on to be the one that finally confirmed his autocratic shark jumping completed.

I think plenty of people have had doubts about him for a fair few years now.

I've already staked my claim to what that might be.     

[mongers]

Possibility of a Turkish military intervention in N.Syria within the next couple of weeks, odds?

Maybe over the issue of a Turkish cultural 'relic'?

Turkey moves to block YouTube access after 'audio leak'

Turkey has moved to block access to YouTube, a day after a court ordered the suspension of a ban on Twitter, which PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan backed.

The telecoms authority (TIB) said it had taken an "administrative measure" against the site but another report suggests that talks are under way.

Some users found access blocked while others could still use the site.

Earlier, what appeared to be a leaked audio recording of Turkish officials discussing Syria appeared on YouTube.

It relates to a discussion of possible military operations in Syria, which was apparently attended by Turkey's intelligence chief, its foreign minister and the deputy head of the armed forces.
.....

rest of article here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26773702

[mongers]

Video news report from Crac des Chevaliers crusader castle, worth a view to see the damage:

http://blogs.channel4.com/lindsey-hilsum-on-international-affairs/syrias-war-controls-castle/3711?1

[mongers]

More quality reporting about Syria from Channel 4 -

Three reports worth watching firstly from Homs about the 1000 remainding holdout rebels.
Next surprising inside access to Hizbullah's war in Syria and the ramifications/war spilling into Lebanon.
The last item is the story of a British muslim activist driving an ambulance in Aleppo.

http://www.channel4.com/news/catch-up/

[KRonn]

Video news report from Crac des Chevaliers crusader castle, worth a view to see the damage:

http://blogs.channel4.com/lindsey-hilsum-on-international-affairs/syrias-war-controls-castle/3711?1

The rebels are slowly being crushed, though most now are likely radical Islamics. The reprisals against any Syrians suspected of being against Asad is going to continue for a long time now too.

[Valmy]

At least the Crac got to come out of retirement for one more bloody battle and it wasn't fatal.

[Malthus]

At least the Crac got to come out of retirement for one more bloody battle and it wasn't fatal.

Did Assad call a coupla hard, pipe-hittin' niggers, who got to work on the homes there with a pair of pliers and a blow torch? Did he get medieval on their asses - literally?