Middle East

Syria strike could bring Raytheon payday

"A U.S. attack on Syria could translate into big bucks for defense giant Raytheon, which makes the Tomahawk cruise missile that’s said to be President Barack Obama’s weapon of choice. Reports that the White House is planning an attack to punish Damascus for the use of chemical weapons sent Raytheon’s stock price to a 52-week high this week — and have reawakened grumblings in Congress that the military doesn’t buy enough Tomahawks. Raytheon has delivered 252 missiles this fiscal year and 361 last fiscal year. And any Tomahawks fired at Syria would almost certainly represent a future increase in orders for the missiles, which can go for about $1 million apiece." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSyria strike could bring Raytheon payday

The Middle East, explained in one (sort of terrifying) chart

"Sir, Iran is backing Assad. Gulf states are against Assad! Assad is against Muslim Brotherhood. Muslim Brotherhood and Obama are against General Sisi. But Gulf states are pro-Sisi! Which means they are against Muslim Brotherhood! Iran is pro-Hamas, but Hamas is backing Muslim Brotherhood! Obama is backing Muslim Brotherhood, yet Hamas is against the U.S.! Gulf states are pro-U.S. But Turkey is with Gulf states against Assad; yet Turkey is pro-Muslim Brotherhood against General Sisi. And General Sisi is being backed by the Gulf states! Welcome to the Middle East and have a nice day." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingThe Middle East, explained in one (sort of terrifying) chart

Pakistan orders fresh murder charges against Pervez Musharraf

"An anti-terrorism court last month charged Musharraf with the murder of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, who died in a gun and suicide attack after a political rally in December 2007. It was the first time a head of Pakistan’s army has been charged with a crime, challenging beliefs that the military is immune from prosecution and threatening to fan tensions with civilian institutions. While murder will be difficult to prove, it may embolden efforts to try Musharraf for treason for seizing power in 1999 and for violating the constitution by sacking judges and imposing emergency rule in 2007. Treason can carry the death penalty." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingPakistan orders fresh murder charges against Pervez Musharraf

Bombing Syria Is An Act of War

"2 years ago the president told Assad to leave office. Looking for the lowest-cost way to accomplish this objective (without explicitly using American forces), the president then supported the rebels covertly. When the rebels lost ground in the last year, the president looked for a pretext. The chemical event, no matter how it came to be, is that pretext. Although the president has tried to sell bombing as a limited one-time event in response to a chemical event, none of the major players believes this. They know that it is an act of war. The president further acknowledges that it is an act of war by seeking congressional approval." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingBombing Syria Is An Act of War

France will ‘prove’ Syria regime behind chemical attack

"France will hand over evidence to lawmakers on Monday proving President Bashar al-Assad’s regime was behind last month’s chemical weapons attack in Syria, a government source told AFP. 'It will be a set of evidence of different kinds that will allow the regime to be clearly identified as responsible for the August 21 chemical attack,' the source said. Another government source said the evidence would include 'declassified secret documents' and that 'some of them could be made public'. France has become Washington’s main ally in the Syria crisis after the British parliament in a shock move rejected plans for military action mooted by Washington." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFrance will ‘prove’ Syria regime behind chemical attack

U.S. transport ship with hundreds of Marines deployed to the Mediterranean

"The US Navy has deployed an amphibious transport ship to the Mediterranean, where five destroyers are already in place for possible missile strikes on Syria, a defense official said on Sunday. The USS San Antonio, with several helicopters and hundreds of Marines on board, is 'on station in the Eastern Mediterranean' but 'has received no specific tasking,' said the defense official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. Unlike the destroyers deployed to the area, the San Antonio carries no Tomahawk cruise missiles but can ferry up to four helicopters and is designed to bring Marines ashore by chopper or landing craft." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingU.S. transport ship with hundreds of Marines deployed to the Mediterranean

Syria opposition ‘disappointed’ but thinks Congress will OK strike

"Syria’s main opposition bloc said Sunday it was disappointed with US President Barack Obama’s decision to seek approval from Congress for action against the regime, but said it believed lawmakers would OK a strike. 'We had a feeling of disappointment. We were expecting things to be quicker, that a strike would be imminent… But we believe Congress will approve a strike,' said Samir Nashar, a top official at the Syrian National Coalition. To general surprise, Obama on Saturday postponed threatened missile strikes against Syria that the world had thought were imminent, opting instead for the risky gamble of getting Congress approval." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSyria opposition ‘disappointed’ but thinks Congress will OK strike

Nine Reasons Why Bombing Syria Is Not an Act of Justice

"If the U.S. unilaterally bombs Syria, it can’t possibly be an act of neutral justice in response to a chemical attack. Why not? Several reasons. (1) The U.S. has supported anti-Assad (anti-Syrian) rebel forces against Assad for several years. (2) The U.S. has not been a neutral presence in that region since 1919. [..] (3) The U.S. has selected immediate violence as a response without taking the time to pursue other remedies. (4) The U.S. is threatening to act on incomplete information. (5) The existing framework of international law doesn’t allow for unilateral bombing by the U.S. or any other state. (6) Any attack may kill and wound innocent Syrians. [..] " Continue reading →

Continue ReadingNine Reasons Why Bombing Syria Is Not an Act of Justice

Experts: Syria attack could escalate violence and further destabilize region

"According to an article at the top of the New York Times website, even a well-executed strategic strike against the nation could aggravate tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia — both nations that seek to dominate the region politically and militarily — and actually have the effect of buoying up Syria’s beleaguered President Bashar al-Assad. Middle East watchers say that the only truly predictable thing about the highly unstable region is that any actions will produce unintended consequences. They warn of a possible Assad-bolstering surge of anti-Americanism or even a spreading of hostilities to other countries in the region, including Turkey and Israel." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingExperts: Syria attack could escalate violence and further destabilize region

Mark Steyn Correctly Worries about Obama’s Looming Syrian Adventure

"The problem with the American way of war is that, technologically, it can’t lose, but, in every other sense, it can’t win. No one in his right mind wants to get into a tank battle or a naval bombardment with the guys responsible for over 40 percent of the planet’s military expenditures. Which is why these days there aren’t a lot of tank battles. The consummate interventionist Robert Kagan wrote in his recent book that the American military 'remains unmatched.' It’s unmatched in the sense that the only guy in town with a tennis racket isn’t going to be playing a lot of tennis matches." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMark Steyn Correctly Worries about Obama’s Looming Syrian Adventure