TA-ANALYSIS: Russia Condemns US For Accusations Of Syrian Terrorism Ties

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Yakovenko told Interfax news on Friday that US accusations that Syria has ties to terrorism harms security in the Middle East. He also said that it is important to the Middle East peace process that talks resume with Israel on the Syrian question. Condoleezza Rice warned Syria of impending new sanctions because of its suspected interference in Iraq and ties to terrorism, while Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon voiced opposition to Russian President Vladimir Putin on the issue of Russian SA-18 missile sales to Syria.




While both Russia and Syria continue to officially deny the talks, one must question why then are there so many reports about it? Putin has not responded to Sharon's plea. And Russia's involvement in the Iranian nuclear question is also something the US is concerned about. Is another cold war looming ahead of us?

Related News Links:
www.aljazeera.com
www.canada.com
www.interfax.ru

Related AboveTopSecret.com Discussion Threads:
TA-ANALYSIS: Russia Denies Pending Missile Deal With Syria
WAR: Russia Denies Secret Talks With Syria Over Missile System
US warns Russia on selling missiles to Syria
WAR: Russia to sell defense system to Syria

Of course they're in talks with the Syrians. Whether they'll be any actual arms sales is the question. I think Russia is just posturing...but this is exactly what they did in Iraq and it emboldened Saddam and made him feel safe because he thought the French and the Russians were protecting him. No matter what it's dangerous.

The SA-18 is equivelent to our newest Stinger missle variant. Israel should be worried more about short and long range tactical missles. The Russians need hard currency and they are selling war material to fill there barren vaults.

watch the world take sides in the next World War
it's obviously happening and you already know exactly who is going to be on whose side.

Well I suppose one question that looms from this situation is how Russia might react to US military strikes or an invasion of Syria or Iran. As usual, they probably won't do anything, just like China, who with Russia also opposed the war in Iraq, but didn't do much if anything about it. Will the Bush administration start the long process of UN Security Council sanctions against Iran and Syria? Or will they be bolder quicker this time, and bypass the whole UN process and go straight for the throat?

I have become pretty apathetic to the whole situation, as it is apparent that no country has any interest in stopping by force the will and actions of this administration. Bush has projected his intentions in the inauguration speech. "Freedom: Coming soon to a tyranny near you." We could wipe out Iran, Syria, and North Korea, and still, no one will do anything. And this despite recent polls which say that only 7% of Americans are concerned with ending tyrannies overseas, and are much more concerned with domestic issues. It's as if the administration has completely forgotten the will of the people, and has immersed itself into its own vision.

I'm getting sick of Russia shooting it's mouth off and trying to make arms deals with Countries the U.S isn't friendly with.Maybe it's time for the U.S to start shiping some weapons to Chechnya mercenaries, see how they like it!!!

This post is in response to "True American". If you feel so strongly about the direction our administration is taking why don't you denounce your citizenship and immigrat to the Syria!

Originally posted by thecry
I'm getting sick of Russia shooting it's mouth off and trying to make arms deals with Countries the U.S isn't friendly with.Maybe it's time for the U.S to start shiping some weapons to Chechnya mercenaries, see how they like it!!!

We are probably what started the Chechnya rebels,and the break up of USSR. Any power that tests us will crumble because of our intelligence agencies. I especially liked the revolution we caused to get the Panama Canal put in place for the right price, that was my favorite. Except in the case of now, Iraq and Afghanistan.
The wars never end, even in peacetime.

[edit on 21-1-2005 by Prince_Machiavelli]

[edit on 21-1-2005 by Prince_Machiavelli]

Originally posted by flycatch
This post is in response to "True American". If you feel so strongly about the direction our administration is taking why don't you denounce your citizenship and immigrat to the Syria!

this is so nasty and so typical of Bush lovers at ATS. It makes me sick. This is the only answer for us on the left. Dont listen to us, dont try to see where we're coming from. Just accuse us of being idiots and why dont we leave the country. Well, that would be so easy wouldnt it. NO we're not going anywhere. Im answering this post because i have taken a daily beating here myself today. I would suggest that you Bush allies listen to us before its too late. Hell, what am i saying, it IS too late.

Originally posted by flycatch
This post is in response to "True American". If you feel so strongly about the direction our administration is taking why don't you denounce your citizenship and immigrat to the Syria!

Oh, I see, its that "you're either with us, or against us," thing again is it? Shame on you. Just because you question your government, it doesn't mean that you don't love your country or are unpatriotic.

Questioning your government isn't just an American thing, its a "freedom" and "liberty" thing - worldwide!

Originally posted by flycatch
This post is in response to "True American". If you feel so strongly about the direction our administration is taking why don't you denounce your citizenship and immigrat to the Syria!

I can believe that still the "anti-American" and the "UN-American" is still being used here, just because one person does not agree with what is going in the world and our administration.

The truth is that bush does not own the world and Russia is not a colony of the US.

They can pretty much do whatever they feel they want to do and is up to their government to react or not react to the US policies.

And they can either agree or disagree with what bush wants or not.

International laws were enacted to protect sovereign countries around the world from invasions from other countries and they have their rights to defend themselves, bush is ignoring this laws and that does not mean that the rest of the world has the right to keep abiding by them, and to ostracize the countries bush and the US for what he has done.

Just because bush has declared now "war against tyranny" does not mean he can not be considered a tyrant himself for invading and taking governments from other sovereign countries.

Yes the international community can stop bush agenda anytime, and is nothing bush will be able to do about it.

This not about the American people but against our administration.



[edit on 21-1-2005 by marg6043]

Originally posted by flycatch
This post is in response to "True American". If you feel so strongly about the direction our administration is taking why don't you denounce your citizenship and immigrat to the Syria!

Because I don't want to live in Syria, and if you so agree with the direction our administration is taking, then maybe you should be on the front lines in Iraq risking your life for WMD's and a supposed threat that doesn't exist. It never did. Not to us. And yet our sons and daughters must still yet fight and die, and many die horrible painful deaths. This hurts me, when I know for a fact that we went to war without a just cause. Faulty intelligence, no WMDS's AND WE ARE STILL THERE. Killing, maiming innocent people, and invading a once sovereign country. Insurgents my friggin ass. Those people are trying to defend their country the way I certainly would if we were invaded by China or something. I wouldn't mind dying for that. But for this? It is not right man.

NO I don't agree with the inhumane way that Saddam treated some of his people. But for that matter you could say the same about China, North Korea, Iran, some African nations, and plenty of others. I mean Jesus, why aren't we attacking ALL those countries in the name of freedom? Why didn't we declare war on tyranny and just plan to invade all countries of such rule at once? OH, because we don't have the manpower or the money? Or the public support? Bush may take your money for his causes, and get the manpower through reinstating the draft. But he will never have the public support.

Look man, let's talk about what is RIGHT. Morally right. Inherintly right. And the war in Iraq is not one of those things IMO. And luckily, while it lasts, since we are in America, I am simply exercising my right to free speech, whether Iraq, Syria, Iran, NK, or whoever has those rights or not. It is not my, your, or our collective business to see to it and install those rights in other countries, and impose our "freedom". We have enough damn problems that need addressing here in this country.

Good point, TrueAmerican.

Quotes from The Prince that relate to President Bush:

"a man who wishes to act entirely up to his professions of virtue soon meets with what destroys him among so much that is evil. "

"he who has not first laid his foundations may be able with great ability to lay them afterwards, but they will be laid with trouble to the architect and danger to the building. "

"It is not titles that honor men, but men that honor titles."

"War should be the only study of a prince. He should consider peace only as a breathing-time, which gives him leisure to contrive, and furnishes as ability to execute, military plans. "

More of the same old hypocrisy emanating from Sharon.

TrueAmerican, these rabid right wing lovers of everything Bush will never place themselves in harms way. YOUR sons and daughters must fight and die for THEIR perverse agendas. Their patriotism is grounded in their wagging tongue, that’s all. The reason we aren't attacking those countries in the name of freedom is because (1) they could resist, (2) they might embarass us, (3) they don’t have something we want, or (4) because Israel isn’t directing us to attack them at the moment.

To theCry: Go take a cold shower and a valium.

FlyCatch, don't you know anything about the founding principles of the U.S.A.. Stuff written by Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh, and Anne Coulter doesn't count.

One of our greatest leaders said that we must be vigilant and always questioning what our political leaders are doing. That it true patriotism. Failing to do so is treachery and treason.

Some other statements by well-repected American leaders:

Shake off all the fears of servile prejudices, under which weak minds are servilely crouched. Question with boldness even the existence of a God...
--T. Jefferson

Posterity -- you will never know how much it has cost my generation to preserve your freedom. I hope you will make good use of it.-- John Quincy Adams

If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or your arms. Crouch down and lick the hands [boots] which feed [stomp] you. May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen. -- Samuel Adams

Once a government is committed to the principle of silencing the voice of opposition, it has only one way to go, and that is down the path of increasingly repressive measures, until it becomes a source of terror to all its citizens and creates a country where everyone lives in fear -- Harry S. Truman

In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the militaryindustrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist. -- President Dwight D. Eisenhower

OTHER quotes:

Those who have been intoxicated with power... can never willingly abandon it. -- Edmund Burke

The only power any government has is the power to crack down on criminals. Well, when there aren't enough criminals, one makes them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible to live without breaking laws. -- Ayn Rand

No matter how great and destructive your problems may seem now, remember, you've probably only seen the tip of them. [Author not listed]

One death is a tragedy, but a million deaths are a statistic. -- Josef Stalin

If you do not make the truth your own, someone else will make your truth
for you, and that 'truth' will almost certainly be a lie. Larken Rose, 2004

Border relations between Canada and Mexico have never been better. -- George W Bush

So, FlyCatch, if it's time for anyone to pack bags, it's your time. If you want to stay, figure out which country you're living in at the present time and find out what this country stands for and then do something to defend it from the enemies that are operating from within. Your blind and ignorant support of whatever is dispensed by those who occupy positions of power is pathetic.

TrueAmerican is true to his moniker. Just read his posts.

Dgtempe, their nastiness speaks volumes only about themselves. Through it they prominently display their utter ignorance of what it means to be an American.

A wise person said,

Your enemy might become your friend, if you allow him to be who he is.

That speaks volumes.


[edit on 1/22/2005 by dubiousone]

[edit on 1/22/2005 by dubiousone]

dubiousone: f------ A!

I love how Israel complains about Russia selling essentially a defensive weapon, the SA-18, to Syria. It really goes to show who are the bad guys here.

thanks,
drfunk

It certainly is funny how Russia is quick to aid known countries that harbor and protect known terrorist groups!

I thought they would've wisened up after last September's attack on the Belsan elementary school.

Are they trying to cavort to terrorists like the liberals do it here in the U.S.?

Sometimes I'm at a loss to what to think about the world and who's running it!

I am talking about cowardly pacifists here you know!

[edit on 23/1/05 by Intelearthling]

Originally posted by dgtempe

This is so nasty and so typical of Bush lovers at ATS. It makes me sick. This is the only answer for us on the left. Dont listen to us, dont try to see where we're coming from. Just accuse us of being idiots and why dont we leave the country. Well, that would be so easy wouldnt it. NO we're not going anywhere. Im answering this post because i have taken a daily beating here myself today. I would suggest that you Bush allies listen to us before its too late. Hell, what am i saying, it IS too late.

DG...as opposed to you loving and backing the agenda of communists and socialists...before you back up claims made by UCLA, or A.N.W.S.E.R. INTERNATIONAL and other "supposedly" peaceful organizations, why don't you find out who is backing them up and who is setting up all the protests that are done only to countries such as the US, but none of these groups protest about what happens in socialist or communist countries...

I have given many links with info on it, but if you don't trust me as it seems you don't pay much attention to many of the links i have given in the past, do the search yourself before you fall into the trap of communists again like what happened in Cuba DG....

[edit on 23-1-2005 by Muaddib]

Originally posted by marg6043
...................
The truth is that bush does not own the world and Russia is not a colony of the US.
.....................

First of, president Bush has never said that he, or the US own the world... we are going after groups of terrorists, including Al-Qaeda and countries that keep backing these terrorists....

Originally posted by marg6043

International laws were enacted to protect sovereign countries around the world from invasions from other countries and they have their rights to defend themselves, bush is ignoring this laws and that does not mean that the rest of the world has the right to keep abiding by them, and to ostracize the countries bush and the US for what he has done.

As you say international laws make sure that we defend ourselves from another 9/11, or even another attempt of terrorists attacking the US, even if it means going after governments that have real tyrants who back such terrorists.

Originally posted by marg6043

Just because bush has declared now "war against tyranny" does not mean he can not be considered a tyrant himself for invading and taking governments from other sovereign countries.

Yes the international community can stop bush agenda anytime, and is nothing bush will be able to do about it.

This not about the American people but against our administration.
[edit on 21-1-2005 by marg6043]

Perhaps you haven't realized it yet but there are quite a few countries in the "international community" that are with the US..... Those countries that are agaisnt the US have been proven to have had deals with tyrants such as Saddam meanwhile almost 2 million people in places like Iraq died as these countries which are against the US now became richer....

[edit on 23-1-2005 by Muaddib]

dubiousone, thanks for that compelling post. I try and stay focused on valid arguments, and indeed some ATS posters have changed my views on certain things.

But back on topic, for all we know, Syria may have asked Russia, as a conditional part of the Russian-Syrian missile sale, to publicly condemn the US accusations of Syrian ties to terrorism. I'd be interested to know any more info about this, and why Russia would do such a thing. My only guess would be some kind of alterior motive, such as what I have suggested.

One distinction I think we should all be aware of is that there is the Syrian government as one entity, and then there are those forces embedded in Syria possibly as a separate entity. To what extent the two are linked I really don't know, and to what extent either entity has supported the insurgency in Iraq is unclear to me.

But one thing is clear to me- and that is if Russia is condemning the US for the accusations publicly, then that means that Russia does not believe that Syria has any ties to terrorism, publicly. And that to me is what makes the topic interesting. Our intel says yes, while Russia's intel says no?