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Subscribe to RSSRussia is sending a new shipment of helicopter gunships to Syria, a move that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Tuesday could escalate the conflict "quite dramatically."
Syria already has a fleet of the Russian gunships which are armed with rockets, cannons and heavy machine guns.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is one of Russia’s main weapons customers, according to Reuters, and Moscow sold a large shipment to the country as recently as mid-May.
Russia’s business relationship with Syria has presented a problem on the U.N. Security Council, which has been seeking a unified stance in confronting the Assad regime. Russia along with China -- two of the council’s five permanent members -- has been reluctant to admonish the Syrian leader, despite the growing bloody toll in a conflict that a U.N. official said Tuesday had all the characteristics of a civil war.
The violence that has left more than 10,000 people dead since the uprising against Assad’s government began 15 months ago. Most of the dead were civilians, according to opposition groups.
It is not clear when this latest batch of attack helicopters is due to arrive in Syria and there is no indication the U.S. would attempt to intercept the shipment. Officials refused to divulge the source of the intelligence reports.
NBC's Richard Engel talks about the situation in Syria and descriptions by a top U.N. official who described "large chunks" of Syrian cities as being under the control of the anti-government rebels.
Secretary Clinton disclosed the shipment during a question-and-answer session at the Brookings Institution.
NATO chief sees parallel between Syria and the Balkans
Meantime, there is a debate as to whether Russia and China have slowed a potential U.N. military intervention in Syria.
In an online question-and-answer for The New Yorker, writer Philip Gourevitch wrote that it was unlikely that Western forces would get involved in the Syrian conflict, even if China and Russia were out of the equation. He said that China and Russia have given "someone for us to blame."
"I'm not at all sure that there's any Western appetite to go into Syria," Gourevitch said.
UN struggles for answers as Syrian truce falls apart
"When Russia and China refused to sign on to a toothless resolution condemning Assad and calling for him to step down early this year, Hillary Clinton called their action (or inaction) ‘despicable,'" Gourevitch said. “But without their resistance, we would not look more effective -- and we might look much less effective.”
Msnbc.com's Isolde Raftery contributed to this report.
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- NBC News: Egypt's ex-dictator Hosni Mubarak slips into coma
- Reports: UK PM David Cameron leaves 8-year-old daughter in pub
Follow us on Twitter: @msnbc_world
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Mitt is about as real as a “Plastic Banana”.
Is it Mitt ______________Romney.
“Country Club”
“Profits Over People”
“Not To Much…Out of Touch”
“Corporations are People Too”.
“F” da Poor
"Let Detroit Go Bankrupt"
“Pray da Gay Away”
Mitt “Profit Over People” Romney Solution to all Problems…….Prayer and a Moment of Silence.
Stick to the story IDGIT
Things are going to go from bad to worse as we get closer to the end times. All of this is happening to prepare the world for the antichrist to take control over the world. Keep your eyes focused on the middle east as that is the bullseye for future events.
Speaking of Gawd:
Why doesn’t Jesus make an Appearance at Half Time of da Super Bowl? Wouldn’t that answer a lot of Questions and make a lot of Ministers, Priest’ etc. real Nervous.
Based on the "Vatican" Actions, it’s ok to be a “Pedophile” as long as you are Raping little boys. However being Gay is a Sin, Unacceptable and will not be Tolerated!
Why does da Pope surround himself with Armed Body Guards? Doesn’t he have Faith in Gawd?
Remember Folks….Da more you Donate Da more your Prayers are Answered.
Why do People become Really Religious when they get Really Old or go to Prison?
Why doesn't these Republican TeaBilly Conservative Religious Freaks demand to see a Birth Certificate for Gawd?
old or go to Prison:: hahaha so True
Terry, since the end of times are coming let me send you my address and you can send me any cash you have laying around. You won't be needing it at the rapture
Thomas, you're right. I take it you're planning on staying here?
yawn, the "doomsday" folks are "zero for everything" so far. I'm betting on their continued failure.
Terry, for a small nominal fee I'll watch your pets for you after the rapture. And yes, I'll be sticking around because I wouldn't want to miss this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbb92PePH4I
We invade Libya, but yet do nothing about this. Tell me how this makes sense?
Ya mean da Bush Administration Invaded Iraq and started da "Financial Armageddon for da U.S.
You BetCha....Fer Sure.
give the rebels handheld heat seeking missiles to blow the russian helicopters out of the sky
I hope the chinese gives the government carrier killer missles and lets america know it. So maybe we'll sit this one out. Let the middle east figure this one out for themselves.
stay classy Jon..glad i can be on one of those targets for you that you would love to see get hit
Brilliant Gene, more likely they use them against Americans. Arming people that hate the US is never a good idea.
Yo everybody ......just Relax. Sarah Palin can see Russia from her Kitchen Window.
You BetCha....Fer Sure.
Stand down!
What???? A Superpower trying to get their way in the Middle East??? When the hell was that ever accepted...?? Let me think... Hmmmm Iraq maybe? I sure don't support Russia in this matter and wish Syrian President Bashar al-Assad anything but a long and painful death. But maybe we might reflect on our own Self Righteousness and the misguided worship of the burning Bush.
I dont really care if the whole nation wipes themselves out. I dont get bothered over dead muslims. Not even alittle bit.
The Middle East is the Land of da Devil. The U S should just stay out of there. They will never have Peace.
Why do all the Middle Eastern women have to dress up like “Cousin It”?
Hopefully there will come a day when we can tell them to “Drink their Oil and Eat their Sand”.
Remember Republicans, when these Foreign Countries ask for Aid and Funding….just say No.
Cut off all Funding to Pakistan. Why are we giving them Billions of $$$$$$ just to be our “Little Friend”? Did they Apologize for Hiding Out Bin Laden?
You Bet Cha….Fer Sure
Well we know how to combat Russian Helicopter Gunships: Charlie Wilson's War - send them what they need! And I pity the Israeli's if they get in the way.
Hey, it's all about the money. You know the corrupt Russian government officials don't care. They just want to line their pockets. So, what's new.
I'm confused....OUR government sends guns to Mexico, in order to fuel anti-gun sentiment in this country, one of which is used to kill one of OUR border agents and NOBODY will be held accountable for it....but Russia selling arms to Syria is a BFD! What did I miss here?
Here is all you need to know about Russia and Syria. Read and learn.
I am not a fan of the NY times BTW.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/31/opinion/russias-syrian-power-play.html?_r=1
So no way Obama is going to touch this 5 months from the election. No matter how many kids die.
Lets give a rousing HIP, HIP HOORAY to EVERYONEs pal and friendamy,
... PRESIDENT FOR LIFE VLADIMER PUTIN!
(Also known as "that commie SOB").
Game -On! Time to start playing with the Big boys. Their might be a tribal group we can help win an autonomous region to exploit, I mean help become free and a demockracy. Some Kurds maybe in that country too.
Aaaaand...We're going to do what about it??????
Not one damn thing...
Holy Helicopters ! Remember, a helicopter is a flying crash looking for a place to happen. Ask just about anybody with some experience and you'll discover that shooting down helicopters is a relatively easy task. You set up a "triangular" trap (three guys with RPG's) who cover a specific zone. Send out radio traffic simulating enemy traffic, the other guys intercept and send a recon unit to scope it out. Some brave (read "crazy") souls fire on the recon guys who then call in reinforcements (gunships). When they show up, your triangle guys fire up into the rotor disc, and voila. Scratch one gunship. Save the Stingers/SA-7 for the tactical/close air support that is sure to follow. Works like a charm the first 3-4 times, then change tactics.
WTF ever qualified hillary clinton for the position of secretary of state? simply being the wife of a ex-president doesn't. maybe it was because she showed she could take being literally and figuratively screwed by her husband while not complaining or making a big deal about it until the time was right. the secretary of state position is a job that would put that quality to good use. a woman scorned, with no type of experience or expertise in the field of foreign affairs gets appointed to secretary of state based on her ability to take it deep and not complain! "what a country"
not to mention, many of those Countries do not even Respect a woman or her position
that's one of the dumbest posts ever. Hillary is a knowledgeable, tough, smart person. you might not like her personally, but so what.
and clue for savage: "many of these countries" don't respect anyone from the US...so we shoudl not have one at all?
hillary clinton is a rodham. that coupled with her ability to keep secrets is the only reason she has that job. not ability, not toughness and not smarts. she kept her mouth shut (perhaps if she opened it to bills penis on occasion miss lewinski wouldn't have got the chance to and hillary would not be the current secretary of state. i guess sometimes it pays to keep your head as opposed to giving head!) until it was most benefitial to her. she's no politician and she is definately no foreign affairs specialist. outside of her ability to "hold her tongue", literally and figuratively, she has absolutely no qualifications for the office she currently holds.
So what does Obama plan to do about the massacres in Syria and Russia's aid to Syria? Oh yes, NOTHING! Sounds like Obama. Can't get involved with something that might jeopardize an election, can he now? COWARD!
WHY should he or would he want to get involved.... NOT Americas Business, let them do themselves off, from youngest to oldest.... No more remorse or sympathy here....
Obama likes Russia. Comrade.
lol, no matter what he does the haters always have a problem. If he sends aid he's spending more money..if he sends troops he's a war monger..if he does nothing he's a russian lover. lol.
you guys are so predictable.
When the Russians went into Afghanistan in the 80's, it wasn't mostly about territorial gain and political influence only, as we were led to know. Yuri Andropov the leader stated most emphatically that he hated islam and the muslim way. And for good reason. Maybe, just mybe that philosophy remains...that if they arm this gov't, they will just kill each other off sooner, including controlling the muslim hoard. There's so much we don't know. Russians don't play. When they pulled out of Afghanistan they slaughtered entire villages close to the boarder, just out of vengence and spite. It's all declassified now.
I feel sorry for the Syrian people but they are going to have a long and bloody civil war, there's not much the west can do. We could send the rebels stinger missiles like we did in Afghanistan to combat the helicopters.
We shouldn't send anything larger than bullets.
Iowa, are you sure they still teach history in schools anymore?
Let both sides burn up their ammo and food befor we do anything. Lets save our ammo to kill whoever wins.
WHO gives a CARE, FIX OUR American Country FIRST.... Let them kill themselves, or what ever tickles their fancy, it is NOT Americas Business....
American People should be Americas FIRST and TOP Priority....
Let's let Russia and China defend their decision. Not our fight. Lets learn from our mistakes. We go in help these countries throughout the world and within 6 months of building them back up they attack us verbally, physically and hate us. Draw back. Let Russia and China now deal with the Arab world......good luck. We are done.
They gain no strategic advantage, let them bleed the money.....we went in with good faith and these islamic, terrorist kicked us to the curb....years ago that even includes FRANCE....memories and families continue to talk history in the US. so we hope to limit our mistakes.....good luck world.....we can pretty much deal with everything here....Keep closing bases across the world.....we are not the world police....it will be hard to see the suffering.....but we gave you, the world a chance.....we were committed.....but all you did and do is attack us.....so good luck....voting for the representatives that bring us back and we are closing in. God Bless America.