US urges american citizens to flee Syria, New measures considered for Syria

www.wrcbtv.com...

WASHINGTON (AP) - The State Department on Friday urged Americans in Syria to leave the country immediately and advised those who remain in the country to restrict their movements, as the Syrian government intensified a violent crackdown on opposition protesters.

In a new travel warning, the department said Americans should depart Syria while commercial flights and other transportation are still available "given the ongoing uncertainty and volatility of the situation." It noted that Syrian authorities had imposed tight restrictions on the ability of U.S. and other diplomats to move around the country.

sg.news.yahoo.com...

The US, French and German leaders have pledged to consider new steps to punish Syria after security forces shot dead at least 16 people as tens of thousands staged anti-regime protests on the first Friday of Ramadan.

"They welcomed the August 3 presidential statement by the UN Security Council condemning Syria's actions, but also agreed to consider additional steps to pressure the Assad regime and support the Syrian people."

The telephone consultations came as Washington appeared to be moving towards a direct call for Assad to leave, after saying this week his presence was now fomenting instability and leading the Middle East down a dangerous path.

Ever since Russia backed away from supporting Syria earlier in the week, things seem to be moving faster and faster.

The UN Security Council condemed Syria just a few days ago, and sanctions have already been placed on Syria. The US, France, and Germany today have said they're considering new steps to punish Syria, but what else is there left to do? They have already said Assad has lost all legitimacy, and Russia said Assad is facing a "Sad Fate".

It looks like Turkey has also stopped an arms shipment from Iran to Syria.

www.latimes.com...

ISTANBUL, Aug 5 (Reuters) - Turkey's Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu on Friday confirmed that government authorities have intercepted an arms shipment from Iran to Syria, state-run Anatolian news agency said.

Are they just trying to pile on as much stuff as they can onto Syria now?

ETA - Forgot to mention the Syrian government has placed severe constraint on US diplomats in the country


Another interesting thread on the Syria situation

Russian envoy to NATO : NATO planning campaign on Syria, Iran

If you're American in Syria you should have left long ago. Unless of course you work for Haliburton or Blackwater. I am terrified that we are on the brink of WWIII. War, that's how we always fix our economic/population problems and brother, we got both.