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Subscribe to RSSThe International Red Cross declares the conflict in Syria to be a civil war. NBC's Ayman Mohyeldin reports on the significance of the designation.
Updated at 2:01 p.m. ET: The International Committee of the Red Cross said on Sunday it now considers the conflict in Syria a civil war, meaning international humanitarian law applies throughout the country. The declaration came as opposition fighters battled Syrian government forces in Damascus.
The Geneva-based group's assessment is an important reference that helps parties in a conflict determine how much and what type of force they can or cannot use.
ICRC spokesman Hicham Hassan said Sunday that the humanitarian law now applies wherever hostilities are taking place in Syria, where fighting has spread beyond the hotspots of Idlib, Homs and Hama.
International humanitarian law grants parties to a conflict the right to use appropriate force to achieve their aims. But attacks on civilians and abuse or killing of detainees can constitute war crimes.
Syria denied U.N. claims that government forces used heavy weapons during a military operation that has brought widespread international condemnation against President Bashar Assad's regime.
Syrian Foreign Ministry spokesman Jihad Makdissi said the violence Thursday was not a massacre, but a military operation targeting armed fighters who had taken control of the village of Tremseh.
"What happened wasn't an attack on civilians," Makdissi told reporters in Damascus. "What has been said about the use of heavy weapons is baseless."
But the United Nations has already implicated Assad's forces in the assault. The head of the U.N. observer mission said Friday that monitors stationed near Tremseh saw the army using heavy weaponry and attack helicopters.
The latest massacre began with a military bombardment of the village of Tremsi. After the heavy artillery and shelling, villagers said pro-government militia men swept in to kill at close range. NBC's Richard Engel reports.
On Saturday, U.N. observers investigating the killings found pools of blood in homes and spent bullets, mortars and artillery shells, adding details to the emerging picture of what anti-regime activists have called one of the deadliest events of Syria's uprising. The observers were expected to return to Tremseh on Sunday.
Dozens of people have already been buried in a mass grave, and activists are still struggling to determine the total number of people killed in what they say was a bombardment by government tanks and helicopters on Thursday.
Some of the emerging details suggested that, rather than the outright shelling of civilians that the opposition has depicted, the violence in Tremseh may have been a lopsided fight between the army pursuing the opposition and activists and locals trying to defend the village. Nearly all of the dead are men, including dozens of armed rebels. The U.N. observers said the assault appeared to target specific homes of army defectors or opposition figures.
Running tolls ranged from around 100 to 152, including dozens of bodies buried in neighboring villages or burned beyond recognition. The activists expected the number to rise since hundreds of residents remain unaccounted for, and locals believe bodies remained in nearby fields or were dumped into the Orontes River.
Independent verification of the events is nearly impossible in Syria, one of the Middle East's strictest police states, which bars most media from working in the country. The observers are in the country as part of an all but mordant peace plan by U.N. special envoy Kofi Annan, who has been trying for months to negotiate a solution to Syria's crisis.
In Damascus on Sunday, numerous residents contacted by Reuters said they could hear loud explosions, persistent gunfire and sirens wailing. Thick black smoke was visible above the Damascus skyline in live internet video links.
"I can't believe it, it sounds incredibly close. I hear shooting and other stuff, like blasts. I can hear the sounds of ambulances rushing past. I am so afraid. People may die tonight," said a resident in a district close to the fighting, contacted by telephone.
Cousins who defected from the army fled to a valley along with more than 100 other men and boys. For the first few hours they appeared to be safe, until Syrian forces found them. NBC's Richard Engel reports.
Activist Samir al-Shami, who spoke to Reuters by Skype from Damascus, said the fighting was under way in the al-Tadamon district in the capital's south, after a night of sustained battles in the nearby Hajar al-Aswad district.
"There is the sound of heavy gunfire. And there is smoke rising from the area. There are already some wounded and residents are trying to flee the area," he said, using Skype to show live video images of smoke visible over the skyline.
"There are also armored vehicles heading towards the southern part of the neighborhood," he said.
Like others contacted by Reuters, he described it as the most intense fighting he had heard in the capital.
"This area has had a lot of fighting ... The area is kind of a slum. The people who live there are poor. There's a lot of people and a lot of grassy areas around it so it's easy for rebels to sneak in and out," he said.
An explosion hit a security forces bus in Damascus on Sunday and wounded several people, activists said. Residents said they heard a powerful blast, followed by the sirens of ambulances rushing toward Damascus's southern ring road near the neighborhood of Midan.
Meanwhile, the Iranian foreign minister was quoted as saying that Iran is ready to host talks between the Syrian government and opposition groups, but members of the opposition quickly rejected the offer.
The statement by Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi appeared to suggest a possible shift in the Iranian leadership's approach. Iran has consistently supported Assad's efforts to suppress the 17-month-long uprising.
Tehran has repeatedly accused Western and regional powers of meddling in Syria's internal affairs through backing extremist militant groups.
"The Islamic Republic of Iran is ready to sit down with the Syrian opposition and invite them to Iran," Salehi was quoted as saying by the Iranian Students' News Agency. "We are ready to facilitate and provide the conditions for talks between the opposition and the government."
Samir Nashir, an executive board member of the exile Syrian National Council, turned down the offer.
"We will not participate in any meetings or talks with the regime as long as Assad is in power. Assad does not need talks, he needs to go to the International Criminal Court for the massacres he's committed," he said.
"We will not speak to any mediators whether they are Iranian, Syrian or Russian."
The Associated Press, Reuters and msnbc.com's Alastair Jamieson contributed to this report.
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What a revelation......
Someone give those families guns to protect themselves, they should not be slaughtered just because they're there, I thought the world was past that.
Dude, that Assad would even kill his own children to make a point across television.
So lets see Iran and Russia backing the government errr dictatorship. Now who is backing the people? Does the US even have a position on this one or are we ignoring because it might have a negative affect on the polls for the President if he actually takes a stand. No wait he'll back the UN process and therefore nothing will be done...its the preferred out for him.
I think whoever is sending Assad money to kill should be more ashamed... wouldn't be surprised some of that chemical weaponry will be found in the tainted Vodka unexpectedly... Russia and China 5th of August wouldn't be a surprise for us to see.
I think this article is typical of American media beating the war drums and propaganda to desensitize Americans into a false sense we should go there with the industrial military complex.
Media justification is pathetic and not news. Saying the red cross determines what is and is not a "civil" war is just a media sham to get you to believe America's war machine needs something to do to generate untold rich's for the very few.
Red Cross determines war and calls it a civil war?.. LOL... There is absolutely NOTHING CIVIL about war.
Since the RED CROSS said it and not a politician then of course it must be true.
A year later the Red Cross has to do what nations won't.
Because nations want to look the other way, even though they can't. They try to avoid calling things what they are so they can avoid holding themselves responsible for what is happening.
See, if Russia encourages Syrians to be shot in the back, if those Syrians won't hack an infant to pieces....
...and China prefers to call hacking an infant to pieces okay in the name of national sovereignty...
...and the West doesn't want to created difficulties with Russia or China out of fear....
then what you get is not a Civil War, even with tens of thousands of people dead from a fight inside of Syria, see?
Syria needs to figure this out on their own. When are we going to get tired of baby sitting the world and move on to new and better things?
The Syrian Army attacks the Rebels (Activist) that started this Civil War and it's called a "Massacre"; however, the Rebels (Activist) and it's called a "Battle". Other countries and Terrorist Groups should stay out of Syria and let the Rebels (who started this Civil War) either win or loose on their own merits. They should not have started this conflict if they did not have the means to win.
You bozos blaming Obama for not getting involved are the same that would criticize him if he did.
did the red cross redefine what constitutes a civil war? i dont see citizen against citizen in syria, all i see is the government aggressively and indiscriminately attacking islamic insurgents who are using the citizens to hide among. there is no such thing as 'humanitarian laws' as no nation state unless a signatory to some international treaty has to abide by any so-called 'laws' created by an unrepresented body and even so, anyone can just flip you the bird and tell you to go kick rocks and the only recourse is invasion because sanctions have never worked.
the only people who are blaming obama are the ones who like to get involved with everyones business but then again obama likes to get involved with everyones business and attack countries without congressional approval -Libya. im sure he is waiting till after the election as there is no way he would ever win if he attacked syria. if mitt wins im sure the dems will be calling for a war with syria just like they did with iraq.
i would say let syria do its thing because we have no right to dictate what other countries do as long as that country does no harm to us and since we no longer conquer nations we attack, its a waste to get involved just to lose tons of money and many lives, all in vain as was vietnam, korea, bosnia, iraq, afganistan, libya, etc. if we are not to gain the treasures of war then there is not point to attack another state, only defend endlessly.
Meaning what? That is their civil war. Don't ask us for support and donations!!! We have great need in this country for many hungry and homeless folks.
Charity starts at HOME! is the manta. Besides, they don't like us anyway and I feel the same for them.
Shosyn - I agree with you. And I think it is pathetic that the Red Cross, an organization that is supposed to be based on helping those in need, has allowed itself to become a political tool.
Well duh it's a civil war now cause the crazy civilians are getting access to weapons.
Muslims killing Muslims is not a problem for me. The USA needs to stay the hell away from this. This is a good thing. Maybe it will spill over into Iran.
It is extremely hard to beat an armed society. Look what Afghanistan did to Russia..........
Civil War - Noun: A war between citizens of the same country.
Welp.....there you have it, folks. Sounds like it's time to let them work it out on their own.
How conveneiant, Iran pops there nose into it this late in the game, now that their buddy Assad might get his butt kicked. Inviting Assad to Iran at a time like this is saying here's your way out. It'll look like the rebels took advantage of you being here to over run your palace and than we can come to your aid and fight the rebels to help you out. You know, since they wouldn't come to talk peace in "Nuteral" Iran. Yeh, I see the transparency here. What a Setup, Assad, you better take it.
Say what you want about this war, any war or any side. The Red Cross is one of the best organizations there is and the people who go into harms way are true heroes.
Red Cross is partisan and has no business in Syria.
Muslims do have their own Red Crescent. Rich Sunni Saudis, Kuwaiti, UAE and other rich ME sharks should fund them.
Followers of Islamic cult, especially Sunni Saudi inspired Islamic radicals and militants (al-Qaida, Salaffi, Wahhabi, MB and other label ones), are fast marching backwards to their seventh century desert tribal days of rapings, lootings, killings and genocides of non-Muslims and killing Muslims.
Did these Red Cross and other partisan groups apply these laws in Darfur, S. Sudan, Nigeria, Iraq and other places?
How many have been punished by their big laws?
Did they apply them in Pakistan, where there were genocides of minorities including Shiites? In those days and now, they have been singing their songs in other places where they would get name and fame!
In many Muslim trouble spots, Red Cross are regarded as Christians and doing evangelism. They are kidnapped for ransom or killed.
They, human rights groups, UN and agencies should leave their double standards and work for the needy regardless of the monies and fames.
ummm the Red Crescent is apart of the International Committee of the Red Cross which is the international body and part of the Geneva Conventions. The Red Crescent is simply a more accepted symbol in Muslim countries, the goals of the organization are the same regardless of country or religion of its members. In addition to the above symbols there is a red Star of David, and Red Crystal all recognized by International Law. #educatingyourselfwillhelpyounotlookstupid
OK Jonathan...let me know when the Red Crescent shows up!!!
tag,
Are you referring to the International Committee of the Red Cross discussed in the article or just the American Red Cross?
you are a idiot !
@Baco78
You are AN* idiot.
Red Crescent will show up when they get maximum bang for the buck like their Ramadan style soap operas!
They need huge band of cheerleaders to write all sorts of crap like followers of Islam believe in "charity", "love", "peace" and so on!
Till then many Muslims will be shrieking: "What world is doing? Where is Amerika? ...."
civil war just now hmmm. thanks for the timely update
I think that means the same law that would be applied in Russia, China, or even for Assad's burnt little palace to restore his charred furniture.
Take a good long look at what is going on there. Then realize like what it would be here if we have another civil war. And if we have a civil war here, it will be between the two political parties and their minions (base). Both side do have arms, and both sides know how to use them. And if you don't know, then I suggest you learn how to use a weapon. Your life may depend on it.
The militia called, it's time for one of your doomsday meetings........
If we have a war here between political parties what will the anti gun liberal side fight back with? Soft bullets from their limp peckers as they cower in a corner while the UN does their fighting for them?
Seven2Seven,
With the political division as bad as it has become and the hostility between the two parties, the possibility of its degenerating into a civil war is not all that far fetched. We already had one civil war that killed over 500,000 Americans, and we could very well have another. Don't rule out the possibility.
I ain't ruling it out, I'm counting on it, hoping for it. I along with millions of other red blooded patriotic Americans are sick and tired of the way the bleeding heart anti American liberal communist faction in this nation are totally destroying it. $hitting on our constitution and rubbing it in. Stripping away our freedoms on a continuous daily basis. I'd much rather go down fighting than to sit back and watch while the bastards tear my beloved America down one building block at a time. Enough is enough! Damn right, bring it on! I've been ready and waiting for yrs. now.
"The tree of liberty should be watered from time to time with the blood of tyrants and patriots"
Thomas Jefferson
The tree is dying, the watering is way, way overdue!
Take a pill Midnight....you are getting too excited
How many more massacres has to happen before the world intervenes and save the people of Syria! What is the excuse left for not doing anything. Russia is stopping their arm shipments to Syria. China has said they will reconsider their support of Assad.The rebels have established a safe zone in nothern Syria. The time to help the oppoosition is now!What is the world waithing for? Thousands more Syrian civilians to be massacred!
Yes, the time to help the oppositions is now. Good Post Adrian IF Not Now, When?
I realize this is off-the-wall and not pertinant to the discussion,but could someone explain to me why certain posts have "reply" in the corner and most don't? I have wanted to reply specifically to a statement but had to go find somewhere that said "reply", which in most cases makes my comment out of context. Also,where the heck is the "spell checker"?
R.Bondy
You can only reply to the thread as a whole, basically meaning your reply is to the first post. If you want to reply to another comment in the thread, you have to do what I did and put the person's name at the top of your comment. I hate that about this board, but it's worth it to come in and see crazy morons like Midnightridr post stupid diatribes about how they think Liberals are unpatriotic.
the opposition is radical islamists just like in ever other crap-hole country we encouraged/helped them to take.
R. Bondy,
"where the heck is the "spell checker"?"
"FactoftheMatter" responded to the first part of your question but not the second. The spell checker is the check-mark on the right side of the toolbar above the editor window with the letters "ABC" above it. It's not all that great, in my opinion, but it's better than nothing.
R. Bondy,
If you hover your mouse pointer over each button on the toolbar, a tooltip will pop up that tells you what each button does.
I read two tones in posts.
When it comes to Afghanistan, many are screaming: "bring the troops home."
This section is fed up of wars.
When it comes to Syria and Iran, many scream: "what is Obama doing?"
Another section always wants some wars.
Before Iraqi wars, most common screams were: "go and bomb the hell out of Saddam."
Bush popularity soared.
When dead bodies started coming, injured started arriving, and oil prices started going up bringing unemployment, health care problems, then scream from the same section became: "bring troops home."
Obama won with "bring troops home from Iraq."
At least, we should learn from past mistakes.
Shiites vs Sunni battles are not ours. Let them handle them.
Look back on Iraqi wars: not much would happened if Saddam was still there. At least we would have been saved of Saudi oil price manipulations and many Salaffi and Wahhabi mosques in our streets.
Care to elaborate on what would have happened if Saddam was still there and why?
Timmer.. If Saddam was there.. noone would know.. it would have quietly been dealt with. And.. I think Saddam was right.. about the Saudis .. the Kuwaitis.. and he learned to keep the peace in his borders.. Obviously.. these Mid East psuedo kingdoms need a strong Dictator or King to keep the Muslim populace toeing the mark..
Timmer2: Did Saudis and Kuwaitis send their soldiers to battle in Iraq? At least, they should met some expenses of Iraqi wars for them.
Instead, they manipulated oil prices bankrupting many European nations (PIIGS) and the US into heavy debts.
The most ungrateful Kuwaiti ruler did not help when the NATO forces needed a little help during second Iraqi war.
Sunni Saudi, Kuwaiti, UAE and many of their Arab League nations are so ungrateful and backtabbers that tomorrow they will join with Shiites in declaring that US is No. 1 enemy.
Examine what al-Qaida, MB, Salaffi are doing in other places in the world.
cool lets arm one side so they can turn the weapons against us down the road spend a trillion dollars making the war profiteers richer in a 10 year war lose a bunch of young people to something no one cares about and further ignore our economy.
After the weapons of mass destruction that never turned up in Iraq, the Bin Laden raid and his dead body no one ever got to see, the yellow cake Iraq was trying to purchase which was a fabricated lie...can any American with the intelligence above that of a five year old believe anything the govt or the media says?
Hmmm I think they found the Yellow Cake...Tons of it Google is your friend eh...and gee what was in all the trucks that left Iraq for Syria so many questions no answers eh...
Sometimes I believe a five yr old has better sense than most adults when it comes to not believing what the gov says. If that statement were false by any measure, then WTF are we in the shape we are in for? If you can answer that one you just might be able to salvage whats left of this dieing nation.
So it's not a civil war until the Red Cross says it is?
Man if I get recalled for this nonsense I'm going to be really, really angry. You activists need to STFU and go find another cause to rally around.
Stay out! Clinton will help the extremists, Hizbollah/Hamas/Al Qaeda and Iran to take over, if she can.
@!$%#ing bitch!
In the recent past, all nations of the planet should have convened at the UN to allow foreign intervention in Syria, when they had a chance to do so. Syria is for the Syrian people to live in peace and with dignity! But now, they are being slaughtered like pigs and the international community should not allow it! For God´s sake, we live in the 21st century. Especially, in this particular case, the Arab League Nations should act overwhelmingly to cause the fall of those demented murderers Assad, both Bashar and Naher.
By their vote, many times, against military intervention, Russia and China have demonstrated that they too want to have a free hand in their countries to maim, assassinate and jail their nationals, at will. They have plenty of experience in producing dead and mutilated bodies all over their countryside.
With this background, Assad promoted a fake, cynical referendum, on constitutional changes, to make everybody believe that he is the good guy, and that the people of Syria deserve to be slaughtered day after day, with no international reaction in sight.
Of course, all this, also, after recent elections in Yemen where a single candidate, the Vice-president of Saleh, another assassin, ran for reelection; and, of course, won.
And, not a word from the State Department or the majority of chanceries across the world, especially of those countries that consider themselves highly industrialized, super developed, and the world´s guardians of freedom, free democracy, and human rights.
Additionally, why doesn´t the International Penal Court seek to investigate and prosecute Assad´s animal behavior, ASP?
Sure, a cease fire is good news, but the Assassin himself – Assad family – should step down and be tried internationally for crimes against humanity. If this is not an aim of the UN, they will have failed miserably.
The problem with Bashar is that he loves chemicals, and is already past the point of no return. He has gone mad! Assad uses Bath salts that contain amphetamine-like chemicals such as methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV), mephedrone, and pyrovalerone. These are designer drugs of the phenethylamine class. He, and his wife, also use amphetamines, mescaline, and ephedrine. Assad prefers the powdered form of MDPV, inhaled, swallowed or shot into a vein. He uses Bath Salts as "cocaine substitutes" or "synthetic LSD". Better get rid of this guy, ASP, before he massacres thousands of Syrians using real chemical weapons. He has turned into a fun loving cannibal.
[But, NO!, stupid Hillary now wants Assad to be granted immunity. I guess they´ll put him up in Blair House and allow him to go jogging every morning around the White House, and Memorial Bridge, Foggy Bottom, Potomac Park, and the like, just so as to keep an eye on him. Meanwhile, if extradited to the US, harmless Julian Assange, of Wiki Leaks, will probably be sent to Guantanamo, to be tortured, first, and executed later according to US law. This shows the hypocritical nature of the State Department´s foreign policy guidelines].
Nice, huh, after 40 years of his family being in power, this stupid animal named Bashar Assad -- all he knows is killing his own people with his country´s army. He´s been president for 11 years, but he has reached the point of no return and should be killed, alongside his family. The referendum should be for his ouster from this planet, period! He´ll surely lose. Lest, of course, in the case of Assad, countries like the UK, try to give him asylum. At this point, any type of sectarian violence is better than outright killings by this demented moron and his brother Maher. The Sunni Muslims will in the end prevail, while the Alawite, related to Shiite Islam, will probably be massacred in Syria.
The Royal Saudis, and other blue blooded Arabs, including Assad, and other (assassins) “presidents” of the region´s economies, are not reforming anything in the political arena, like redefining their rules for economic growth in democracy, western-type. They´ll all be kicked out eventually! And, when the population realizes that the West did not help, they´ll surely turn to more fanatic means, engulfing both politics and religion, as in Iran!! Eventually, to protect oil sources the West might have to set up a NO-FLY ZONE all over the Middle East, case by case.
Bashar Al Assad is a despot, demented moron, and murderer – an international shame for the 21st century -- and should be executed quickly by Syria´s (shabiha in rebellion), or foreign, armed forces – the Mossad -- even for the sake of saving their skins if not solely to save Arab lives, while at the same time taking over and installing a temporary military government,, that over a period of 2 years could bring things back to normal. Needless to say, in the process, the armed forces there should be purged of any of Assad´s cronies so that these freedom fights continue for the benefit of the Syrian population.
Meanwhile, if captured alive, the military government should prosecute Assad so that the death penalty can be brought to bear on this god forsaken animal, and his family. Their own and family assets, in general, should be confiscated in Syria as well as outside of the country. Those monies belong to the people of Syria.
In the final analysis given the severity of the situation, the UN/NATO should propose that Syria, a sovereign country, transfer its right to national self-determination to an overseer. The UN should argue that given the failure and the criminality of the Syrian state, UN and NATO members have the power and moral right to suspend the principle of national self-determination. In other words, Syria should be taken over by the rest of the world to stop the mass assassinations being conducted there by Bashar Assad.
Close to TWENTY THOUSAND SYRIANS HAVE ALREADY DIED in their fight for LIBERTY!
Let em die and may the best side win. The American tax payers are tapped out on money and our warriors are tapped out on blood. Let the GD ME fight their own GD wars!
Ahhhh Midnightridr. I love you man. You call yourself a patriot and are now saying our country doesn't have the capacity to do @!$%#. Our country has the capacity to pretty much do whatever we want (Barring the rest the world doesn't jump on us. And even then we'd have a fighting chance.) THANKS FOR BEING SO PATRIOTIC AND HAVING SO MUCH FAITH IN OUR COUNTRY.
The ME should still fight their own wars. No more American lives!
@German... Hey German, while I agree basically with most of what you wrote (without giving it much thought), I strongly dissagree with your... "Meanwhile, if captured alive, the military government should prosecute Assad so that the death penalty can be brought to bear on this god forsaken animal, and his family." Yeah, I mean with the bolded and italicised words... Think about it...
Liberty can't be "given" to a people. Only they can bring it about.
We've stuck our noses in way too many country's business. I say we stay out of it. No troops, no equipment, no money - at all. Let 'um fight it out between themselves.
We need the money here at home.
We need to keep our nose out of their business, they have plenty of muslim countries around them, let them help. They will just turn on us, just like the rest of the Muslim countries. Let em fight their own wars and spend their billions, not ours!!!!
Here we go again. I am sure we will send more aid and troops there now to get involved with a conflict that has nothing what so ever to do with us.
Nope a country is not to interfere with a civil war. Remember in Iraq they tried to say the word civil war if that would have come to fruit we would have had to leave. It was the only time in Sen Murtha's career that I actually agreed with him! Even tho he was the biggest crook to ever be elected!!!
I like how people keep saying "Here we go again, now we'll do this and this and this." We haven't done it in Syria YET and this has been going on for a year.
We are cronic adiccts all ways...
Typical Red Cross, so quick on grasping a situation that has been apparent for a long time. Either way, no matter who wins this civil war, most of the world still loses. Let them fight each other to the death without any assistance from the United States; I grow tired of funding and arming groups that will only turn the weapons we provided to them against us when they have achieved their goals.
Let the Red Cross get their volunteers from the Arab world. We've shed quite enough blood for them. The UN can look in another direction for help.
Get China on the phone and set up a transfer for a billion or two and if thats not enough why then just put the printing presses into a higher gear. The bleeding hearts are frothing at the mouth, lets get her done!! Oh, that's not enough? Say you need American troops? Roll out the troop transports, load em up and get em in the air!! Whatcha wanna bet?
China's smart. They don't get involved in this stuff.
You better believe China is involved.
Don't ya just love endless wars and kiling? The mega corporations and banking syndicate are on quite a roll; Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, Egypt, Tunisia, Syria, etc., etc. Their dutiful little bitches; the West politicians, the CIA, and their Muslim "jihadists" du jour carry out their orders well - as long as they are paid on time.
you don't say ?
One would hope that the US will have the wisdom to stay unengaged in this conflict and allow the two, or however many there are, sides to work it out. Perhaps, if a party that shares US values wins the conflict, the US can participate in the recovery, with food and construction equipment.
One way or another, us and our money that we DO NOT HAVE will get involved. Count on it.
All these United Nations managed civil wars are preplanned in an effort to divide the world into 4 "manageable" zones by 2025 world governance. Council on Foreign Relations= read what this NEW WORLD ORDER THINK TANK is charting for the good people of this world.
My feelings on another civil war in US= If the Government sends death squads to murder innocent USA loving citizen's homes to evacuate firearms. It will be to eliminate political opponents of THE NEW WORLD ORDER. YOU DO NOT HAVE A CHOICE They break the CONSTITUTION you lose it all! NO EXCUSES You can be self blinded politically to understand this. Dont allow these despots to divide the USA further. WE ARE THE SYSTEM STOP COOPERATING!!!!!! PEACEFULLY ASSEMBLE AND BLOCK ALL ROADWAYS ,AIRPORTS, and MILITARY BASES. IF THE GOVERNMENT TURNS MILLION ROUNDS PER MINUTE MINIGUNS ON U.S. CITIZENS YOU WILL UNDERSTAND HOW OFFENSIVE THE GOVERNMENT IS TO LIBERTY. and you will see how stupid a idea private firearm owners threaten the GOV. They have all the WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION remember that. Scorched earth policy the weapon of mass destruction of yesteryear. Imagine today's policy.
Do you feel better now having gotten that off your chest Ownedbyfew? Does it help if you rave in capital letters?
You need to let the nice attendents get you back in restraints! Otherwise they might Taze you and you never did like it very much. Did you?
Satan will rise...it is written!
alfred newman jr. ha ha
@Ownedbyfew
the military is the citizens and states have their own military that is part of the US military. There is just no real way the US govt could turn on the citizens without turning upon itself.
I understand the military is the citizens, I served. I said government not U.S. Military. I served because i loved all my country men and women. To turn on the reason for doing is so opposite of progress its a false train of thought. God.Family.Country when you practice its similarities you recognize its foes.
If the gov is not empowering the people they already turned on themselves. The question is why?
You may as well get ready for the same thing to happen here in the USoA. Between the attempt to take away the 2nd amendment rights and the destruction of the country by the elected officials, it is just a matter of time.
I'm ready, and have been. Would rather die fighting than to sit back and watch this, the greatest nation and ideal in the history of the world slowly be dissolved by the anti American communist SOB's.
You are? Do you belong to a militia? Meet once a week and march around feeling tough?
Metal storm and the XM25, not to mention the old standby, the F-16 and a napalm canister, will render you and your fat friends aches in seconds!
You make it plain for everyone to see what your true colors are.
And YOU make it plain what YOUR true colors are. You're a coward who chooses to fight with guns instead of sitting down and having a discussion, and it's all just because you don't like what Liberals have to say. Go plan your militia meetings elsewhere.
Midnightridr- Oh you silly man, you think that the left (extremists/radicals/whatever you wanna call THOSE types not the moderates) is the only threat? You think your political right can't be a threat themselves? Don't kid yourself man.
They have been killing each other for millennium there,,why should the USA get involved now,, just keep it contained and let them kill each other sooner or later some of them will survive and then we can help, a little.....
All the US have to do , is tell their friends and Alqaida masters , the Saudis and Qataris to keep their dirty money and their murdering Alqaida fighters out of Syria and everything will be fine , we have been arming these thugs on the request of these no good Gulf states and training them , and then smuggling them from Turkey , Lebanon , Jordan and Iraq , that's whats really happening in Syria , we can ignore the facts , but it is going to come back and bite us in the aaasss , every time we deal with these gulf states that's what happened , let our media go to Saudia Arabia today and Bahrain and see all the killing of innocent people , that all they want is little respect and to be treated fair , and what they get in return , Bullets by our democracy loving kings and prince's that been ruling there for years and the human rights have no place in their countries , where is Mrs. Clinton , McCain , Lieberman , Mr. Obama and our honest media , I guess they are getting too much money to close their eyes , ITS A FREAKING SHAME .
We need to stay out of their civil war. We thought the uprisings in Yemen and Egypt were so great and look what happened. Should have learned our lesson. We had our own civil war.
I would like to thank those in charge of these postings for adding the word"reply" to the posts after I wondered why they hadden't on post 4.8. Thank you very much,now if you could tell me where the spell checker is I would be happy for your assistance> Again,thank you very much!!!
What?
And just how should we be past that? Look @ the world we live in. Although, it's made many advancements
and benefits for all mankind, it's very troubled and out of our control. It has this evil spirit to it. Can you explain
for instance this massacre. Who really rules the world. Find out in the most printed and circulated book in many
languages.
I repeat... "Satan is on the RISE".
ya check what's happening in Yemen now and how about the Libya , why our Media stopped reporting from there , there more killing now than before the civilians lives saving mission by the great NATO i guess they got the oil so the hell with every body .