Russia 'suspends' missile components delivery to Syria

[Turborama]

Source: AP (Via ITV UK)

President Vladimir Putin said Russia had provided some components of the S-300 air defence missile system to Syria but had frozen further shipments.

He suggested that Russia may sell the missile systems elsewhere if western nations attack Syria without UN Security Council backing.

In an interview with The Associated Press and Russia's state Channel 1 television, he said: "We have a contract for the delivery of the S-300s. We have supplied some of the components, but the delivery hasn't been completed. We have suspended it for now.

"But if we see that steps are taken that violate the existing international norms, we shall think how we should act in the future, in particular regarding supplies of such sensitive weapons to certain regions of the world."

Read more: http://www.itv.com/news/update/2013-09-04/russia-suspends-missile-components-delivery-to-syria/

---

PUTIN: RUSSIA 'DOESN'T EXCLUDE' BACKING SYRIA STRIKE

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said Russia "doesn't exclude" supporting Western military action in Syria, so long as it is approved by the United Nations Security Council and based on conclusive proof that President Bashar al-Assad's government used chemical weapons against civilians.

In a joint interview with Russian state television network Channel One and the Associated Press, published Wednesday, Putin appeared to strike a more diplomatic tone ahead of a G20 summit in St. Petersburg this week that will likely be dominated by the Syrian crisis.

While he renewed what have become routine warnings by the Kremlin against a unilateral US strike against the Assad regime, Putin also said that Russia had suspended shipments to Damascus of its S-300 missiles. Only some components of the powerful surface-to-air missiles have been delivered, according to comments reported by the Associated Press.

Russia's multi-billion-dollar arms trade with Damascus, including its shipments of the S-300 rockets, has become a sticking point for Western critics who have slammed what they say is Russia's tacit backing of Assad.

More: http://www.denverpost.com/nationworld/ci_24012055/putin-russia-doesnt-exclude-backing-syria-strike



From the Guardian...



Vladimir Putin under growing pressure

Russian president to be urged at G20 summit to come closer to accepting that Bashar al-Assad has to stand aside



Vladimir Putin is to be confronted at the G20 summit of world leaders in St Petersburg this week with an array of western intelligence including damning new French evidence directly linking Syrian government forces with a massive and co-ordinated chemical attack on 21 August that led to hundreds of civilian deaths.

The Russian president will also be urged to show a new diplomatic flexibility and come closer to accepting that the Syrian leader, Bashar al-Assad, has to stand aside.

A nine-page declassified French intelligence report was released on Monday which claimed to show Assad forces had launched an attack on Damascus suburbs held by opposition units using a combination of conventional weapons and "the massive use of chemical weapons".

The report follows similar documents from British and American intelligence.

The Nato secretary-general, Anders Fogh Rasmussen also insisted that "personally I am convinced, not only that a chemical attack has taken place … but I am also convinced that the Syrian regime is responsible."

The French intelligence includes satellite imagery showing the attacks coming from government-controlled areas to the east and west of Damascus and targeting rebel-held zones. The report said Assad's forces had since bombed the areas to wipe out evidence.

"Unlike previous attacks that used small amounts of chemicals and were aimed at terrorising people, this attack was tactical and aimed at regaining territory," the report said.

The full article: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/02/vladimir-putin-syria

[alcibiades_mystery]

1. Did he say "International Norms"

Oh my.

[karynnj]

5. echo noted - This really is an interesting political dance

It is interesting that he used this rather than the stronger "international law" which he could have used -- and the US really can't - thus the unusual "international norms".

Also interesting is that "selling them elsewhere" is not actually a really strong threat. Could this suggest that Russia may be moving away from their earlier stronger defenses of Syria. (Also interesting that they are getting on record that they have frozen deliveries. )

[joshcryer]

10. Whoops.

Sounds like Russia has intel that it doesn't want to disclose at this point in time. And they're not happy.

[Sand Wind]

3. But but but, John2 , our preacher who wish for an Hezbollah attack on USA, said otherwise :

"I don't know what game Putin is playing but now there are reports Syria does have all these sophiscated missile systems and even more delivered to them by Russia, just in case the U.S. carries out their strike. The Winds of War are unpredictable but they claim they are ready for it and anticipated it. It sounds like the Iranians will really act militarily now, with the intervention of the U.S., despite the claims they already sent troops into Syria. The idea is this is only a pretext to strike Iran by the U.S., Saudi Arabia and Turkey. If the war widens, Hezbullah claims they will act on Israel with full force."

Oh wait, he take that in an Assad's media..., So they know better than Putin.

[Iliyah]

4. Russia knows that Assad was behind

the gasing of his own people, but still must deny it.

[Sand Wind]

7. Everybody know that, even the Assad base here who say otherwise. Nt

[John2]

14. How many times have

you accused posters of being Assad's Base? Are you the Taliban's Base? Putin probably knows the U.S. will carry out an Attack. It is not going to be O.K.ed through the U.N. He used the words without any Doubt, which the u.S. cannot produce and he knows they can't. The U.S. politicians needs to stop talking and get it on, because I'm curious now over what will happen. I think it is a trap, to draw the U.S. into yet another War, which will bring a decline.
The sooner we get this over with, the sooner we can get rid of those clowns in Washington. They will not be able to blame anyone or even the Intelligence this time. This War will not solve Israel's problem either. It will bankrupt the American economy even more and put us into more Debt, which these clowns will burden the American people with while they live in their mansions. Our Government is corrupt.

You are a Tunisian, but there is a story from Greek Mythology about a certain creature that frightened people. You ever heard of the tale of the Medussa? It was a mythical creature with the head of several snakes. People thought this creature was invincible until a secret about how to defeat it was reveal to a Greek heroe. Congress reminds me of that creature, the Medussa with the heads of several snakes. If anyone looked directly at the creature, they will turn to stone. The key to defeat the creature is always the head. If you cut off one head after the other it will weaken the creature and finally the body will die. I've said before, I don't like the U.S. allies such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey or the Likud Government in Israel and Netanyahu. Anybody can find out that I'm an American and not even an Arab, but you. You are a Tunisian with few Posts. How do we know you are not with Al Qaeda in Tunisia, planted on this Board? Did anyone check you out and how you got into this country? I'll put my credentials and nationality against you any time. Every one of your Posts have been calling for a war in Syria since you started posting. Mine beganned during the Election of President Obama.

I did not began to question Mr Obama until the Budget fight and him introducing CPI. Then he gave up some cuts on social programs to increase the military budget. In the last Debate that Romney had with the President, he made a remark which caught my attention. Does Obama has any investments in another Foreign country, which Mr Romney seemed to insinuate but Obama's reply, "They are not as big as yours," overshadowed the main question. Why would the President of the United States have investments in Foreign countries?

Then there is the pretense of fighting for Susan Rice but selecting Kerry anyway. He is exactly what John McCain and Lindsy Graham offered. And it surprised me when Susan Rice literally got on her knees apologizing to John McCain and claiming how much respect she had for him. Follow the money of the Israeli Lobby and how much control they have over U.S. politicians especially from New York or New Jersey. Netanyahu loves Hillary Clinton. She is smart but clever. Mrs Clinton can be sly and mean too. She is a very ambitious woman as is her entire family. It is time for the Left to fight back. I do believe in the Holocaust but I also believe there was a event called the Atlantic Slave Trade, which killed millions of prople. There was also a Civil War in this country and a Civil Rights era which involved lynchings. Two wrongs don't make a right. Racism is still racism in any form. Anybody can be a racist, even Jews. There are millions of displaced Palestinians that were pushed out of their homes yet the same people in Congress ignores those Human Rights violations. How many women and children has Mr Obama killed with drones, in order to strike Terrorists now? I also think the U.S. and her Allies, which includes foreign terrorists, are lying about them not having access to chemical weapons. If the U.S., Saudi Arabia, Britain, Israel and Turkey have access to chemical weapons, then so do the people they support.

I'm one that remembers the Tuskegee incident. So don't play games with me. There are many examples in American History has shown the U.S. Government lying. Some cases are very recent also such as torturing, but the U.S. Courts applying immunity for the purpose of National Security. Obama has taken advantage of this also. This is the Administration with a Justice Department claiming some Banks and corporations are above the laws. The American people do not have to accept that answer. People need to be removed from office by the American people period!

[blm]

22. Susan Rice is far more hawkish and Interventionist than Kerry.

In fact, had Obama tapped Kerry instead of Hillary Clinton, diplomatic solutions for Syria would have been much more easily attainable. Assad always knew Clinton supported extending war into Syria, and never considered her an honest broker.

[blm]

6. THIS is a great first sign that Russia's responding to leverage

to urge Assad to step aside....and THAT would be the best case scenario we hoped for.

[YvonneCa]

18. ...

...

[Sunlei]

8. Putin can sell wholesale to the 'middlemen' and let them sell to Syria Exterminate humans dept.

Let the gunrunner war profiteers make their cut of the sales.

[Turborama]

9. This from Kerry about the deal in May...

Kerry blasts Russia on arms sales to Syria

Secretary of State John Kerry on Friday strongly criticized Russia’s pledge to send advanced antiaircraft weapons to Syria, saying that its actions threatened to disrupt efforts to negotiate a political settlement of the Syrian conflict and posed an unacceptable risk to Israel.

“Whether it’s an old contract or not, it has a profoundly negative impact on the balance of interests and the stability of the region, and it does put Israel at risk,” Kerry said at the State Department, making his most pointed statement yet about Russia’s arming of the government of President Bashar Assad.

Russia’s announcement last week that it would go ahead with the sale of S-300 missiles to Syria — and Assad’s boasts Thursday about the durability of his Russian weapons supply — have added a dangerous new dimension to the civil war, even as Kerry and his Russian counterpart, Sergey V. Lavrov, have worked to hold an international conference in hopes of finding a way to end the fighting.

Kerry, who appeared with Germany’s foreign minister, Guido Westerwelle, suggested Russia’s continued sale of sophisticated wea­ponry to Assad’s government called into question its commitment to the political process that he and Lavrov had announced May 7 in Moscow.

We will learn very quickly whether or not they and others are acting in good faith” to negotiate a settlement, Kerry said in remarks that also criticized Hezbollah and Iran for intervening directly on Assad’s behalf. “If they’re not, the world will know it.”

Full article: http://www.bostonglobe.com/news/world/2013/06/01/kerry-blasts-russia-arms-sales-syria/6zFDqIFfPRjZYb0zwSaRjP/story.html

[DLnyc]

11. Sounds like Russia is getting a little uncomfortable sitting so close to the gasman.

If only we had, say, a president dedicated to diplomacy and compromise and a secretary of state, say, with an background in the Vietnam era anti-war movement, say, maybe this crisis could be converted into an opportunity for a wider political settlement of some sort in the Middle East.

[Benton D Struckcheon]

12. Sounds almost like a plan. n/t

[YvonneCa]

19. If only...

...

[blm]

20. That's a vision I'd be happy to see manifest.

.

[Xolodno]

13. Sounds like the final chapter has been written...

Assad and family exit to Iran. Leaders and generals loyal to Assad meet with leaders and generals (of which they are probably already familiar with while working together under Assad) of the FSA. Strike a deal, keep Al Qaeda out, still remain a client state to Russia, etc.

Or Assad can throw his brother under the bus, claim he ordered the Chemical attacks without authorization...brother escapes to Iran. Assad remains as "adviser" to new government, but remains well taken care of.

Number of scenario's can play out, but its obvious both the west and east have decided they are done with this. The west won't be able to get a government that is completely friendly to them like Libya. But can save face by having Assad and his family out of main control. Russia still has a client state and keeps its port in Syria.

[DLnyc]

15. Sounds fairly plausible to me.

But I've learned not to underestimate the ability of great leaders to end up making stupid decisions.

[Behind the Aegis]

16. Somthing isn't right.

I am almost wondering, given the Russian changes, if proof that meets their scrutiny is about to be presented. Or they have been offered something in exchange.

[blm]

21. Or both, very likely.

.

[Coyotl]

17. K 'n R that