Do you think now the world has it's eyes opened to the true horror unfolding in Syria, they will now actually do something about ISIS?

[Whoknewitcouldbeso]

I know efforts are being made by some nations to try and counteract ISIS with the aid of drones and counter intelligence but I wonder if the refugee crisis may serve to instigate some direct action by more of the World's heavyweights?

I have just read the story of how Aylan's father has traveled back to Kobane to bury his family and has no intention of leaving the country again. It is his home and he was only leaving to try and save his family after 11 of his extended family were murdered by ISIS. There has been so much talk about migrants and asylum seekers and trying to help those who are fleeing, but most of these people would not be fleeing if it wasn't for the fact that they fear for their lives.

Surely we should be doing more to make their own country safe or do you think that's not possible and the only solution is to allow the ethnic cleansing to carry on taking place.

'Got it.'

Good, you finally understand.

You still refuse to even acknowledge that at least 75% of the indigenous population has had to go through for decades, the 'Meet the Assads' actions against their own people AND Russia and Irans roll in supporting them for 40-odd years.

But then you're not allowed to, are you?

As I said on the other page, unless Putin changes his puppet from an aggressive Syrian Sweep to a dovish Syrian Sooty, the people of Syria will not accept any other external attempt to keep them in/get them back - and anyone who says they should are either ignorant of the past 45-years, or have their own agenda.

If Putin hasn't got the guts to do it, the West will have to do it, as the UN or anyone else who thinks papering over/rebuilding Syria will fix the problem - when it is like Hitler 'making over' a concentration camp to make it more palatable - have no cares for the Sunni population of Syria.

Putin either 'puts up' with the cash to depose Sweep and rebuild Syria, or 'butts out' as his country is in an economic/financial downward spiral and his time and money can be better spent on THEM.

Time is not of Russia's side; as they are financially bleeding out and could not take any more Western sanctions, and Assad is bleeding out fighting a rear guard action on less and less Syrian land.

The refugee card has been played, they are being absorbed, and only a long-term future without Assad can put that genie back in the bottle. Pass it on.

Clueless about world affairs. There's one born every minute.

Never has what Benjamin Franklin said been more apt

"We are all born ignorant, but one must work hard to remain stupid."

and no one works harder than you.

Sez the paid denier - who on the one hand says 'wot problem' for 75% of the Syrian population - and on the other writes the British government isn't doing £££ enough for the refugees around Syria on another thread.

When the last time I heard, the UK had pumped in close to £1 billion, which was more than the other Eurozone members combined.

How much has Russia financially put in, or refugees taken in?

'How much has Russia financially put in, or refugees taken in?'

I don't know because I don't speak Russian and can't read it. But I would like to know why the World Food Programme has cut its food voucher value by half in Lebanon and what steps the British government has taken to make sure this is brought up at the UN and that every country funds the UN so that it can meet its obligations. If Russia are not doing their fair share, then I want pressure to be brought on them by the British government in a UN forum.

I guess we will find out when Corbyn takes over and asks the question.

Claig ?? as you are only allowed to regurgitate anti western propaganda, let me help you see what the Syrian regimes greatest supporter is doing on behalf of the Syrian people - once their man over reacted to those people questioning and peacefully demonstrating against 45-years of oppression and fired on them without warning ?? with the up-to-date Russian official line.

September 10 2015; Russia refuses to help Syrian refugees

Russia refuses to join any scheme to help Syrian refugees and blames Western powers for Europe??s migration crisis
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/russia/11856922/Russia-refuses-to-help-Syrian-refugees.html

^The Kremlin has been the biggest supplier of advanced weaponry for Bashar al-Assad??s regime in Syria, selling munitions that have been used to devastate large areas of the country.

A trickle of migrants have entered Russia ?? but the country has granted asylum to only two Syrians so far this year.

Nonetheless, Russia blamed the West for Syria??s bloodshed and for the outflow of refugees. ??We expect that for the most part that expenditures [for dealing with refugees] will fall on the countries linked to causing the catastrophic situation,?? said Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman, according to Interfax news agency.

The Kremlin has recently provided Mr Assad with more military support by sending a contingent of Russian troops to Syria. Their role appears to be to protect the Russian naval facility at Tartous, on Syria??s Mediterranean coast, and provide training and expertise for the regime??s forces, which are responsible for the great majority of civilian deaths in the conflict.

Last week, President Vladimir Putin said that Europe??s migration crisis was ??completely predictable??, adding: ??These are the policies of our American partners.

Well we can see where ALL their money is going, in the supplying of the Syrian military ordinance to Assads ??dogs of war?? that were used to kill and drive Syrian citizens out of their homes.

You must either be very proud or be prepared to speak out against it on here, which is it?

'We expect that for the most part that expenditures [for dealing with refugees] will fall on the countries linked to causing the catastrophic situation,?? said Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman, according to Interfax news agency.'

I agree with the Russians. Backing the rebel uprising against Assad has led to the crisis. I'm with Rod Liddle of the Spectator

"If I could see, two years back, that Assad was infinitely preferable to the majority of those people who took arms against him, then why couldn??t our politicians?"

"I agree with the Russians." - no shit, Sherlock.

""If I could see, two years back, that Assad was infinitely preferable" - preferable to who, the Syrian Sunnis getting murdered by Russian military ordinance, or Mr Liddle puffing on a cigarette and living safely in the West?

I used to support the Tories, but in the end I have to admit that Cameron has made too many foreign policy mistakes, has messed up over the Juncker election and made other foreign policy mistakes. His Libyan intervention created a disaster and his Syria policy has also led to the current crisis. I prefer Corbyn. He makes more sense.

"Cameron??s unthinking policy on Syria has fuelled the rise of British jihadism

The current focus on domestic politics and the election shouldn??t blind voters to the fact that this prime minister has been a foreign policy disaster
...
Foreign policy is virtually absent from the election campaign. But if David Cameron had had his way, we could have been embroiled by now ?? more than we already are ?? in yet another Middle East war. As it is, his Syria policy has still backfired, contributing to the rise of jihadism in our own back yard.

Cameron should not be let off the hook for supporting the armed opposition in Syria and being ready to start bombing Syrian government forces in 2013 after the Syrians had apparently used chemical weapons. The planes were ready to take off from Cyprus. It was only parliament, in a historic and too-soon-forgotten vote, that stopped this recklessness in its tracks."

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/apr/07/david-cameron-failure-fuelled-british-jihadism

You support Cameron willy-nilly, whatever mistakes he makes.

I agree with General Lord Dannatt that we should deal with Assad in order to defeat Isis.

This is what former head of the British Armed Forces was reported as saying in a new biography of Cameron publicised in the Daily Mail

"The former head of Britain??s Armed Forces has blamed David Cameron for the rise of Islamic State, saying he lacked ??the balls?? to crush them militarily when they first emerged as a threat.

In a scathing attack on Cameron??s record on Libya and Syria, General Sir David Richards, ex-chief of the defence staff, said the Prime Minister was more interested in pursuing a ??Notting Hill liberal agenda?? than showing serious ??statecraft??. Richards was backed by Britain??s spy chief, who delivered an astonishing personal slap-down to Cameron in a bitter Downing Street clash over Libya."

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3215566/Ex-Army-head-PM-blame-rise-ISIS-Damning-accusation-Chief-Staff-explosive-new-Cameron-biography.html

I think Isis is the problem, not Assad. I think our Syrian foreign policy has been a mistake and I think Corbyn will change it if he wins the election and I think that will be a good thing.

Tory MP Crispin Blunt rightly says

"Demanding Assad's removal, without recognising the complexities, is not the best way to conduct foreign policy. Assad has so far survived the challenge of both the Free Syrian Army supported by the liberal democracies, and the Islamist based movements, such as the Nusra Front.

It is time to acknowledge that among our priorities and values is the protection of human security through a political solution that ends the violence, even if it creates some difficult moral dilemmas."

So we may not need to wait for Corbyn, our policy may change sooner which will be good for our reputation and for the people of Syria and for the EU countries now taking in huge numbers of refugees and for Lebanon, Turkey and Jordan which have already taken in huge numbers of refugees flwwing this disaster.

...or any of the other armchair Syrian experts, not under Assads efforts to drive them from their Syrian homes, who's quotes you are about to pathetically wheel out for the 5th time on as many pages here.

ooops ..too late, the quotes are in again.

Claig ..... re your I used to support the Tories ..........p-l-e-a-s-e don't continue to insult our little grey cells further, your cover is blown, how many fecking Russians can vote Tory, never mind support them. Guffaw.

I use quotes by the former head of the British Army and the former head of British Armed Forces in order to educate you. You have no arguments except to smear me as being paid by Putin. The reason is you are unknowledgeable and don't understand foreign policy.

The former head of British Armed Forces said "the Prime Minister was more interested in pursuing a "Notting Hill liberal agenda". Are you from Notting Hill?

You didn't even know that it was about a Qatari/Saudi pipeline and Assad's refusal to go along with the deal. My "quotes" from the US Armed Forces Journal have at least taught you that.

And I have already thanked you, as now I know why Russia will protect its oil/gas interests by keeping a Syrian mass murderer in power, no matter how many Syrian citizens and displaced or killed.

The Syrian Sunnis did not peacefully protest in 2011 not wanting some new pipeline going through their land, it was due to the decades of Assad family oppression and the then shortages of basic necessities.

You act as if the Qatar to Turkey to Europe pipeline has been some kind of secret, but it wasn??t and in fact the route through Syria was one of two proposed routes.

Qatar -Saudi Arabia-Jordan-Syria-Turkey

OR

Qatar-Saudi Arabia-Kuwait-Iraq-Turkey.

And in fact, while both routes would have political risks, the second route that did NOT include Syria, is the more economical.

January 2011; Is the Qatar-Iraq-Turkey-Europe Natural Gas Pipeline project Feasible
www.orsam.org.tr/en/enUploads/Article/Files/2011110_orsam.katar.eng.pdf

A. Potential Qatar - Turkey Pipeline (A Route Working)

The route illustrated on the map envisages the most economic route for a pipeline to be built between Qatar and Turkey. According to this route Qatar ?? Turkey Pipeline is planned to start from Ras Laffan in Qatar, pass through Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the neutral zone, Kuwait waters and then finally enters Iraqi waters.

As for any U.S. military magazines or other sources e.g. arms contractors, that have their own agendas for keeping American military on a heightened alert and the recipient of ever extra $billions of funding ?? they all went into overdrive since 9/11, expecting conflicts with pro Iranian countries or organisations AND the ??protection?? of western oil interests ?? but politics and the energy situation has changed markedly since then.

• The U.S. in the past several years through shale oil and gas (and other techniques coming on line) is virtually self sufficient in energy and will soon be able to export the stuff.

• The U.S. and shale are responsible for oil prices down at $40 odd a barrel, rather than the $110 that Russia needs, just over a year ago ?? with some expecting oil to hit $20 a barrel over the next year, especially as Iran??s oil comes more on stream as the western embargo has recently been lifted.

• Qatar??s gas pipeline is more likely to go through Kuwait and Iraq rather than Syria, as ISIS are in both Iraq and Syria (but headquartered and more firmly dug in the latter) ?? and Syria will always protect Russia??s interests going back over 40-years, not those in the west.

• So should any 3rd largest producer Qatari gas pipeline be affecting the politics and position of President Assad in Syria, it will be due to 1st and 2nd largest reserves Russia and Iran NOT WANTING Qatari gas, currently only sent to Europe by tankers in liquefied form, being piped to Europe via Turkey ?? both lowing their influence on the European market supply and the price of gas.

In Russia and Iran??s view, President Assad could displace or murder 75% of the Syrian population if he wanted; they have their own agenda to keep him in place and it is indeed energy related.

So rather than keep quoting possibly mis-informed FORMER UK citizens NOT LIVING IN SYRIA UNDER ASSAD, what do you disagree with on all the above FACTS, this time trying to use your own words sweetie.

'And I have already thanked you, as now I know why Russia will protect its oil/gas interests by keeping a Syrian mass murderer in power, no matter how many Syrian citizens and displaced or killed.'

Good so you have learned something and maybe now understand why this could lead to a far greater war if it is handled incorrectly.

'The Syrian Sunnis did not peacefully protest in 2011 not wanting some new pipeline going through their land, it was due to the decades of Assad family oppression and the then shortages of basic necessities.'

But you still have lots to learn. It was instigated, stirred up by outside forces in order to begin the process of toppling Assad because he wouldn't play ball and agree with the pipeline deal. The Bahrain regime brutally puts down its people's rebellions but no one cares because no one wants a new pipeline through there that the leadership disagrees with.

'You act as if the Qatar to Turkey to Europe pipeline has been some kind of secret, but it wasn??t'

It was only a secret to you because you didn't know about it. Every observer of foreign affairs knew all about it. Assad didn't go along with it which is why it all kicked off against him. Blair wanted to give him an honorary knighthood. Only later did he not go along with the pipeline and is now enemy number one.

'As for any U.S. military magazines or other sources e.g. arms contractors, that have their own agendas for keeping American military on a heightened alert and the recipient of ever extra $billions of funding ?'

But the US Armed Forces Journal article was not a war mongering article, it explained why the war was happening and that it was really about money which US soldiers do not want to fight and die for so that oil moguls can get rich.

' The U.S. in the past several years through shale oil and gas (and other techniques coming on line) is virtually self sufficient in energy and will soon be able to export the stuff.

• The U.S. and shale are responsible for oil prices down at $40 odd a barrel,'

I thought you were supposed to have some kind of financial market knowledge. The Saudis crashed teh price of oil by producing more in order to hit Russia economically and also to break the shale gas industry where firms in Texas are now going bust and thousands are losing their jobs and Wall Street banks are on the line for tens of millions that they lent to shale companies that are now uneconomic. Read oil analyst, William Engdahl, he said that shale was a scam years ago and now the Saudis have bust it.

'Qatar??s gas pipeline is more likely to go through Kuwait and Iraq rather than Syria, as ISIS are in both Iraq and Syria (but headquartered and more firmly dug in the latter) ?? and Syria will always protect Russia??s interests going back over 40-years, not those in the west.'

It can't because Iraq is mainly Shia and the government asked the Americans to leave. Iraq is not a certainty. You have to try and understand what Isis is. It is being used to carve out a caliphate independent of Syria on Syrian and Iraqi territory. The pipeline will probably go through there in the end.

'In Russia and Iran??s view, President Assad could displace or murder 75% of the Syrian population if he wanted'

Russia and Iran didn't start the war or the uprising and the influx of terrorists and Jihadists who have been funded to try and topple Assad. If Churchill faced an uprising of terrorists and Jihadis in Britain in the 1940s, he would have tried to defeat it, just as Assad is trying to do in his country because he is in government there.

Here is Crispin Blunt MP, chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, spelling out how it was thought that Assad would fall quickly and that the Free Syrian Army was encouraged. But it hasn't turned out that way. As Frederick Forsyth said in 2013, Assad had won.

"Our stance encouraged the defiance and the formation of the Free Syrian Army, which failed to topple a regime stronger and more implacable than we had allowed for. Uncomfortably, the regime also enjoyed support from Syria??s minorities as well as the more secular Sunni establishment, all of whom look to the regime for protection from the more fundamentalist forces of revolutionary Islam.

Still having trouble understanding that 75% of the Sunni Syrian people displaced, and/or leaving (or wanting to leave) Syria don't give a rats tail what a few Conservative's think? Bless.

it was thought that Assad would fall quickly and that the Free Syrian Army was encouraged. But it hasn't turned out that way. As Frederick Forsyth said in 2013, Assad had won.

So what if he had lost? Did that scenario work out well for Libya after Gaddafi? To quote Tyrion Lannister from Game of Thrones 'Every pile of shit on the side of every road has someone's banner hanging from it.'

And there are at least FOUR piles of do doos in Syria with Assad, the Free Syrians, the Kurds, and ISIS.

Re ISIS it wasn't that long ago they only had about 10,000 fighters across great swathes of land straddling Syria and Iraq, so in theory a united Syria could have easily have taken them.

But I remember in the early days of the Syrian people uprising there were various factions, almost competing with each other, and I have no idea how this has gone i.e. all now working together or the number of leaders thinned out one way or another.

So ex Assad, unless Russia has someone new lined up, I don't know who the majority of the free Syrians will stand behind to oppose ISIS, but we KNOW that it cannot be Assad as the fecker is STILL bombing them.

So on a Syrian peace what comes first, defeat of the the Assad chicken or the ISIS egg, I'd suggest while joining the fight against ISIS Command structures etc within Syria - the first removal to unite the country as best they can, has to be the Assad 'pile'.

Meanwhile it is not clear if the Russians are planning to FURTHER support Assad, or establish a safe bridgehead for them to leave should things go very pear shaped within Syria - as they won't be popular bunnies within Syria having supplied so much of the ordinance fired at them over 4-years.

Russia 'plans forward air operating base' in Syria - US
www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-34252810

It would appear that the (majority of) citizens of Syria are about to be stitched up with a western major powers sticky plaster solution to the Syrian conflict.

Russia (as always) is looking to force the issue/conflict to their advantage, as it now clear that the ‘forward airbase’ they began to set up, is for major offensive purposes, but only on ISIS, not the main cause of the mass murders, suffering, displacement aimed at 80% of the 40-year oppressed Syrian population that are Sunnis.

25/9/15; Assad Is a Winner as Russia Is Seen Making New Offer at UN
www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-09-25/assad-is-a-winner-as-russia-is-seen-offering-new-proposal-at-un

Bashar al-Assad is not going anywhere.

Four years after President Barack Obama’s August 2011 ultimatum that the Syrian president must go, world leaders descending on New York for the United Nations General Assembly are closer to agreeing that Assad can stay.

Now in its fifth year, civil war in Syria has blown up into a regional conflict and created millions of refugees testing Europe’s border. The exodus finally convinced German Chancellor Angela Merkel to wade in and admit no solution is possible without Assad. In so doing, she publicly broke with what was once a prevailing Western position: Assad, step aside.

Exactly as I said. Germany has spoken and told all the Jihadi backers to call it off nd has most probably asked Putin to help solve it politically by first eliminating the Isis/ Al Nusra/Al Qaeda funded and backed Jihadis. It is all because of the electoral threat to EU governments from their people over the refugee crisis caused by the misguided policy of backing fundamentalist Jihadis in the attempt to overthrow the secular Syrian government.

Common sense has finally prevailed after 5 years of the Jihadis being backed and funded and Germany (the economic powerhouse of the EU) has told the friends of the Saudis to end the backing of the Jihadis and Putin, Iran and Assad will see to it that the Jihadis are defeated.