See other War, War, War Articles
Title: Strong signs Iran is supplying Syria with weapons, US says
Source:
Fox News
URL Source: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/201 ... ng-syria-with-weapons-us-says/
Published: Jan 17, 2012
Author: Associated Press
Post Date: 2012-01-17 21:38:17 by Dakmar
Keywords: strong signs says US says
Views: 177
Comments: 8
WASHINGTON – A recent visit by the commander of Iran's elite Quds force to Damascus is the strongest sign yet that Iran is supplying weapons to aid Bashar Assad's crackdown on the Syrian people, a senior Obama administration official said Tuesday. While the U.S. has long believed Iran is helping drive the deadly crackdown on dissent in Syria, the official says the visit by Quds Force Commander Ghassem Soleimani provides a concrete example of direct high-level cooperation between Iran and Syria. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because this person was not authorized to speak publicly. The administration's assertion comes amid heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran. Under the threat of increased U.S. sanctions, Iran has said it could block the strategic Strait of Hormuz; the Obama administration says it has warned Iran against taking such action. Persian Iran has been Arab Syria's closest ally for decades, and the Islamic Republic has been a vocal supporter of Assad since the uprising against his regime began in March. The revolt in Syria has turned increasingly militarized in recent months, with a growing risk of civil war. The U.N. says about 400 people have been killed in the past three weeks, on top of an earlier estimate of more than 5,000 dead over the past 10 months. White House national security council spokesman Tommy Vietor said Iran's aid to Syria is a sign of Assad's "desperation." "Assad is running out of money to continue financing his crackdown and has turned to Syria's only ally left," Vietor said. "No citizen in the world deserves to be repressed by its own government, and certainly not by Assad's lone friend." Read more: www.foxnews.com/politics/...ns-us-says/#ixzz1jm0EsBhG Poster Comment: White House national security council spokesman Tommy Vietor said Iran's aid to Syria is a sign of Assad's "desperation." Change....hope!
Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
#1. To: Dakmar (#0)
This calls for a very large series of random bombings by US forces.
What's this random garbage. Obama is in the whitehouse at least 3 times a year when not on vacation. Specific bombing is the preferred method. Just check his work schedule and you'll know when to place the order.
Other than the agitprop value (the subheading should be "You are commanded to hate Iran") this is a concern of the government of The United States in what way? I don't see any difference between Iran assisting Syria and America assisting Israel. What's good for the Goose is good for the Gander.
It is vital to understand that there is no truth without discernment and no wisdom without the truth. What then is “faith” but an effort to confound truth and wisdom?
Moonie, to the OBots, Obama's wholesale slaughter of innocents is a tool for peace. Don't believe me? Ask one of the two remaining Nesters.
I didn't know that rifles/mortars/cannons/tanks needed replacement if they are rarely fired and maintained in armories and depots. It's not like Syria has been at war and wore out their weapons..... Strong signs Iran is supplying Syria with weapons, US says
#2. To: Jethro Tull (#1)
#3. To: Dakmar (#0)
Strong signs Iran is supplying Syria with weapons, US says
#4. To: Dakmar (#0)
#5. To: bush_is_a_moonie (#2)
#6. To: Dakmar (#0)
the strongest sign yet that Iran is supplying weapons
-Alex Kurtagic
#7. To: Dakmar (#0)
This is news? The article even said that Iran and Syria have been super close allies for a long time. LOL
#8. To: All (#7)
www.forwardsyria.com/stor...ria:%20Welcoming%20Russia Syria: Welcoming Russia by Robert Tashima Damascus last month played host to Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, who made his first official visit to Syria since assuming office in 2008. The bilateral relationship was formerly one of the region’s most significant, yet following the fall of the Soviet Union and a period of Russian retrenchment in the 1990s its importance to both parties diminished. With Syria looking to win some $40bn in foreign investment over the next five years, and Russia also looking to extend its diplomatic reach in the Middle East, officials in both Damascus and Moscow will be hoping the visit can breathe new life into the entente. Speaking to Russian news agency RIA Novosti ahead of President Medvedev’s visit, an official at the Syrian Ministry of Economy highlighted the historic role that Russia – as part of the former USSR – had played in the development of Syria’s economy. “Thanks to the cooperation between our countries that has been developing since the 1950s, the foundation of Syria’s economic potential was established,” Ramzi Asawda Aswada said, adding that, “With the participation of the USSR and then Russia, 90 industrial facilities and pieces of infrastructure have been built in Syria.” According to Aswada, Soviet-era assistance led to the development of one-third of Syria’s electric power capacity, one-third of its oil-processing facilities, and the three-fold expansion of land under irrigation. With Russia now committed to free-market policies, and Syria moving towards greater economic liberalization, hopes for future cooperation between the two nations rest upon increased trade and investment. Ali Hamra, the economy editor of the Syrian daily, Al Watan, was also quoted by RIA as saying that, “Syrians are interested in attracting Russian companies into large economic projects and also in Russian investments, which are rather modest so far.” Likely areas of Russian interest include the development of Syrian oil and gas fields, as well as construction projects in fields such as power generation, sea ports, and the renovation of Syria’s industrial infrastructure. Russia’s oil and gas companies may also be interested in partnering with the Syrian government in constructing additional refinery capacity. A recently planned 140,000-bpd refinery in conjunction with Kuwait’s Noor Financial was mothballed last month, and the government is still looking to enhance the country’s domestic refinery capacity. According to Asawda, “Damascus is also interested in increasing bilateral trade volumes. The removal of customs barriers might contribute to achieving this goal.” He added that Syria hoped to increase its presence in Russia’s agriculture and textile sectors, while in turn Russia could supply Syria with equipment and machinery. Enhanced cooperation with Russia is taking place in other areas too. Following President Bashar al-Assad’s visit to Moscow in 2008, Syria agreed to allow Russia to modernize port facilities at Tartous and Latakia to provide the Russian Navy with Mediterranean berthing. As a result of that agreement, the flagship of Russia’s northern fleet, the nuclear-powered missile cruiser Pyotr Veliky, last month stopped off in Tartous on its way to exercises in the Indian Ocean. Some 50 Russian naval officers are reported to be deployed in Tartous to maintain and supply ships in the Mediterranean. The 2008 meeting also reportedly involved Syria signing new contracts for Russian missile units. With a significant history of cooperation behind them, and with many Russian energy companies focusing on expansion abroad in recent years, it would seem that Syria and Russia have much to offer each other. The result is likely to see this bilateral relationship develop once more into a key feature of the Middle East’s strategic landscape. Wait until Faux News gets a hold of this!
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest