Has the storm passed, or is this just the calm before?
A few hours research more today and I'm none the wiser. So much conflicting information. So much partisanship. But sometimes that is where the useful info is - on the other side. Very few seem to know just what the hell is really going on here.
Some news:
LONDON (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Theresa May has ordered British submarines to move within missile range of Syria in readiness for strikes against the Syrian military that could begin as early as Thursday night, the Daily Telegraph newspaper said.
https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-mideas...KKBN1HI34U
Meanwhile, yesterday Russia moved out a dozen of its warships from the port of Tartus (their 'warm water port' and a major geopolitical asset to them). They left a Kilo-class sub there though.
Incoming?
They said it was a 'naval exercise'.
As for the issue of chemical weapons? Well, you may or may not know of bellingcat. Well respected military analysis site to some, propaganda out let to others:
https://www.bellingcat.com/news/mena/201...pril-2018/
On April 7th 2018 reports began emerging of alleged chemical attacks on the city of Douma, in the rebel held pocket of Eastern Ghouta, Syria. Reports indicated that a significant number of people, including children, had been killed by these attacks. This report will assess and verify the open source information regarding these attacks, and draw conclusions from the available evidence.
Summary
A large compressed gas cylinder of a type used in previous aerial chlorine attacks was filmed on top of the building where a large number of fatalities were documented.
The number of dead bodies that can be established through open source data is 34+.
Aircraft spotters reported two Mi-8 Hip helicopters heading southwest from Dumayr Airbase, in the direction of Douma, 30 minutes before the chemical attack in Douma, and two Hip helicopters were observed above Douma shortly before the attack.
The Syrian Government has previously been identified as using Mi-8 Hip helicopters to drop chlorine cylinders on opposition held areas.
Conclusion
Based on the available evidence, it is highly likely the 34+ victims killed in the 1930 attack on the apartment building near al-Shuhada Square were killed as a result of a gas cylinder filled with what is most likely chlorine gas being dropped from a Hip helicopter originating from Dumayr Airbase.
You may find it interesting. Lots of people taking it very seriously. People who are prepared to go to war over such things.
Chlorine gas cylinders called in to question:
https://twitter.com/WithinSyriaBlog/stat...96/photo/1
Lots of Anti-Russian sentiment from certain quarters (UK). Lots of Anti-Trump sentiment too.
I tend to think this will blow over. Or that Russia will acquiesce as much as it is allowed to save face. Failing that, we might have a real shit-show on our hands in the next days. Still not the new World War I was predicting. But may be a precursor to it.
The Syrians have their viewpoint. But who listens to them?
The Americans have their viewpoint and seem to still want to police the world.
The Russians have their viewpoint. Whether you believe that is 'bullying' those around them, or just being a 'weakened state' and trying to hold on to power.
The British have their viewpoint. It's a pretty strong one. We seem to think we can police the world as well.
The French? Well, they're sticking their oar in to the swamp as well.
And all the while, Saudi Arabia and China look on from the sidelines, not so much laughing, but hoping for the right outcome for them.
You might like to have a look at this twitter thing too (sorry, don't know how to embed):
It shows Easter in Syria -
https://twitter.com/ilarieyes/status/982...88/photo/1
I've a feeling all that kind of thing might be a distant memory past if this meddling goes on much longer.
More and more I don't see bad guys here (and that is why I am still prepared to stand by Trump and give him a pass for now). I just see a fight that has got well out of hand, even though it had clear objectives to start with. And I see people who maybe thought they could bluff their way out of a major 'row', now realising they may have to make a stand, not only to save face, but perhaps for political survival.
Assad is no saint. Neither is Putin. We can debate until the cows come home about how they are doing all this for 'survival' or 'expansion' and how they may have no choice, or they are just being bullies, respectively.
I don't think The Don is a bad guy. I think he's just up against it. Sharia May and now Tony 'warmonger' Blair coming out of the woodwork are just evil despicable people (I say this neither being Labour or Tory). Same as the House of Saud - don't trust them fuckers either. Russia, Iran, Syria?
The whole shadow play is unfolding before us, and maybe even the main players can not see the whole picture yet.
We certainly don't. This can't go on much longer until someone's hand is forced or exposed for all the world to see. Wait and see! It won't be long now.
There will be a few "I told you so's" from whatever side, maybe even both. Hopefully we can still shitpost on the internet about it and be entertained by our bread and circuses. Life will roll along. Hopefully. Well, for most of us anyway. Not the poor fuckers getting gassed and the others getting blown to smithereens in retaliation, of course.
As always, my views are just for entertainment.
I've a feeling though in the next few days most of us aren't going to need any deep explanations or expositions.
I hope I'm wrong.
We'll see.