Kerry Announces Saudi Support for Syrian Strike

[n2doc]

Source: NYT

By MICHAEL R. GORDON
Published: September 8, 2013

PARIS — Secretary of State John Kerry said Sunday that Saudi Arabia had agreed to support military intervention in Syria.

At a news conference on the sidebar of a meeting with Arab League foreign ministers, Mr. Kerry noted that he had received Saudi assurances of support for what he called “the strike.”

Qatar’s foreign minister, Khalid Al Attiya, who joined Mr. Kerry at the news conference, stopped short of explicitly endorsing a military strike but said that his nation would back foreign intervention.

Mr. Attiya said that supporters of the President Bashar al-Assad of Syria had already intervened in the conflict, an allusion to Iran and Hezbollah. He called on “all countries to intervene to protect the Syrian people” and said that Qatar was looking at what it could provide to help safeguard the Syrian population.


Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/09/world/middleeast/kerry-announces-saudi-support-for-syrian-strike.html?hp&_r=0

[backscatter712]

1. They're not only endorsing it, they're offering to pay for it.

Hmmm. Very generous. What's in it for them?

Oh yeah, it allows them to tighten their oil monopoly, and to spread their fanatical Wahhabist flavor of Islam to more places.

So why should the U.S. allow themselves to be Saudi Arabia's hired mercenary army?

[L0oniX]

22. Yeah we're so happy that our economy is improving now that they dropped the price of oil by 2 cents.

[warrant46]

39. But only after the Princes have one last fling in the South of France

[wordpix]

47. unless/until SA sends in its own military, we shouldn't even entertain the thought

Let the Saudis risk life and limb and then we'll talk. Until then, we are NOT SA's hired mercenary force.

[Autumn]

2. Bless their little hearts. We need an announcement for this after him saying they

would be willing to pay for it? And bless Kerry's little heart too.

[dipsydoodle]

3. Kerry also said

the number of countries in favor of miliatary intervention now in double figures..........whoo hoo.

It would however appear to be a secret exactly who they are other than Saudi above a few of tiny emirates.

[Autumn]

8. Maybe who they are is classified too. Just as their "proof" is classified

[jakeXT]

10. I remember he mentioned Poland during the hearings, but they said they won't participate and think

it's a bad idea.

“Poland will not participate in any type of military intervention in Syria,” Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Wednesday morning.
...

Though he understands the reasons and motivation for the US, UK, France, Turkey and others who are in favour of military intervention following the alleged chemical attacks by the Syrian regime near Damascus last week, Prime Minister Tusk does “not share the faith and enthusiasm of those who believe that such an intervention will have the desired effect”.

...

“We have experience in this part of the world, which shows that military intervention, even from the most obvious and noble motives, rarely produces the desired effect,” Tusk added, referring to Poland’s experience of sending troops to Iraq and Afghanistan.

...

http://www.thenews.pl/1/10/Artykul/145573,Poland-will-not-join-strikes-on-Syria

A further 30 or more have said Assad was responsible, according to the State Department, and nine were in support of US military action: Australia, Albania, Kosovo, Canada, Denmark, France, Poland, Romania and Turkey. An unspecified number had offered military support of their own, but the US says it has the capacity to act alone if necessary.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/05/obama-syria-support-g20-congress

[wordpix]

48. "in support" and sending armed forces to back rebels are 2 different things

That's the disingenuous part

[karynnj]

12. 11 of the 20 EU countries declared there support yesterday

[Bluenorthwest]

16. They did not declare support for military action and none of them offered to join

So your post is disingenuous at best.

[warrant46]

40. You see a lot of disingenuous key board activity lately

A lot of which is just plain wrong

[L0oniX]

19. He crosses his eyes and he see's double. n/t

[avaistheone1]

29. These little known countries are only offering moral support.

They have no skin in the game whatsoever. That sure big of those guys.

[GeorgeGist]

4. He may be refering to Bandar's offer to pay for it.

[former9thward]

5. al Queda supporters support a strike to help the al Queda rebels.

Quite an accomplishment SOS Kerry!

[bread_and_roses]

6. Well! That's all right then!

If that pillar of democracy and human rights says it's OK, who could argue?

[Carolina]

20. exactly!

and 15 of the 19 hijackers along with bin Laden were Saudi...

With friends/supporters like these....

[christx30]

21. Are they actually going to send troops?

Probably not. They need those brave men there to stop alcohol use. And to prevent women from driving. That's important stuff.
Can't let society go to hell.

[jakeXT]

25. Hey look, a new a law against the abuse of women, will it be enforced ?

Saudi Arabia cabinet passes ban on domestic violence


Saudi Arabia's cabinet has passed a ban on domestic violence and other forms of abuse against women for the first time in the Kingdom's history.

The cabinet approved the ban on physical or sexual violence earlier this week, which applies both at home or within the work place.

The legislation makes domestic violence a punishable crime for the first time. It also provides treatment and shelter for victims of abuse and holds law enforcement agencies accountable for investigating and prosecuting allegations of abuse.

The ban includes penalties of a maximum12 month jail sentence and fines of up to $13,000.


http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/saudi-arabia-cabinet-passes-ban-on-domestic-violence-8789358.html

[Bjorn Against]

7. Saudi Arabia executes people for being gay

If the Saudis are our allies in a "humanitarian mission" then we should really question whether it is truly humanitarian as the Saudi government is not exactly known for a great human rights record. I can assure you that the Saudis involvement has nothing to do with concern for the human rights of the people of Syria.

[tawadi]

45. This was my thinking

We have to keep the Saudi's offer in perspective.

[Coyotl]

9. Agreed to "support" but no way are they going to do it themselves!!!!!! Right?

This is hilarious. They already fund the conflict and reap billions in profits for doing so.

Mission Accomplished = Crude Oil at 28-Month High on Heightened Syria Tensions = Saudi's Profits $$$
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023616321

[daleo]

11. I don't think that was ever in question

Since their government supports the same Islamic fundamentalist ideology as the majority of the Syrian rebels do.

[ocpagu]

13. Saudi Arabia, always worried about humanitarian issues... n/t

[Ocelot]

14. Yes, their record on GLBT rights has been stunning

Even more so than Russia's. I'm sure our GLBT men and women in uniform will enjoy dying for their cause!

[CanonRay]

15. No shit. Oil is going to $150 a barrell.

Gee, wonder why the Saudi's support this?

[L0oniX]

17. Kerry can go announce my fart gas! n/t

[Brigid]

33. LOonix, you are on a roll today!

[elias49]

18. Screw SA....let Israel do the deed.

It seems to me that Israel has the most to lose/gain in the region. Let them do what the US has no right to do. Let them do the surgical (or non-surgical strikes). There's a shit-storm brewing in the Mid-East. Why not let 'er rip. Get it over with.

[leveymg]

23. Nothing could possibly be better,as far as they are concerned, than a regional war that drives up

oil prices - provided, of course, that their precious reserves, pipelines, and ports are protected. Guess who's going to do that?

[blkmusclmachine]

24. Kerry, War Hawk

?!

[Little Star]

26. Hey Kerry, no shit sherlock!

[JEB]

27. How about the fucking Saudis do the killing

since we are going to pay for it one way or higher oil prices anyway?

[pangaia]

28. 'Qatar’s foreign minister, Khalid Al Attiya......

called on “all countries to intervene to protect the Syrian people” and said that Qatar was looking at what it could provide to help safeguard the Syrian population. '

Oh bull... GAS think GAS !!!

[toby jo]

30. Kerry needs to check out what China & Russia are willing to pay to put out their little

hotspots, too.

[sarcasmo]

31. Hell No! Stay out of the Syrian civil war.

[Doctor_J]

32. Could you see Bandar Bush's lips move?

[oldandhappy]

34. I know we have budget problems,

but hiring our military out as mercenaries is not the answer. Let the Arab League step up. Let the Saudi planes do this.

[n2doc]

35. These are the same Saudis who sent 1200 death row inmates over to fight against Assad

And we can help support them!
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2013/01/21/saudi-inmates-fight-syria-commute-death-sentences/1852629/

[jakeXT]

41. And now they can do the beheading /nt

[AnotherMcIntosh]

36. So the Saudis, like other chicken-hawks, are going to be behind our troops?

How far behind?

[totodeinhere]

37. Isn't it great to have support from a country that treats LGBT's with

imprisonment, corporal punishment and capital punishment? And yes I realize that the Russians who support Assad also have an abysmal record on LGBT rights but Kerry isn't claiming support from them. He's touting support from that bastion of human rights Saudi Arabia.

[ConcernedCanuk]

38. Interesting Acronym that "SOS" - Take ur pick Kerry . . .

.
.
.

Sack Of Stuff (polite form)

Same 'ol Situation

Send Our Ships

Shoot on Site

Significant Other Strike

Snake Oil Salesman

more - http://www.acronymfinder.com/SOS.html

CC

[roamer65]

42. This ought to get Iran going.

Tensions between SA and Iran are already at the boiling point.

[winter is coming]

43. The Saudis should do their own dirty work.

I've yet to see any convincing arguments that bombing will accomplish anything other than stirring up an already fiery situation.

[99th_Monkey]

44. That's the LEAST the Saudis can do. After all, they provided the Sarin in the first place. nt

[mazzarro]

46. Hey - Saudis Just Get Up And Do It Yourselves Along With GCC Partners!

Since you have all those gold-plated super-duper weapons that you bought from the US and the western countries that are far superior to whatever Assad has. It would an easy walkover for you - Saudis. Don't you think?

[Marrah_G]

49. The Saudi Arabia can go bomb Syria

Leave us the fuck out of it.

[jsr]

50. Awesome!

We Need to Talk About Prince Bandar
http://www.greanvillepost.com/2013/09/04/we-need-to-talk-about-prince-bandar/

[HooptieWagon]

51. When Bandar Bush is involved, you can count on two things:

Saudi Royals will get the profits, and the US will get the Tarbaby.

[fujiyama]

52. That's nice

Is that supposed to actually make anyone better about this? Is this supposed to be reassuring in some way - that we are the Saudis' hired hitmen, their mercenaries?

Sorry Sec. Kerry, you're not fooling anyone.