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Syria-Lebanon-Iran
At least 27 dead in 'Great Friday' riots in Syria
2011-04-22
Headline at link now says "At least 40 dead ..." @ 17:39

Drudge has death toll up to 90 now.
Posted by:ryuge

#15  Well, there's this little bit of payback that the Iraqis could provide for all the aid and abetting of the terrorist funded, supplied, and deployed from Syria.

I don't see how that's going to happen. Shiite are in charge of Iraq. Alawites are basically Shiite heretics - cousins, if you will. I don't really see al Assad as backing terrorists in Iraq so much as using Iraq as an outlet for all the Sunni nutjobs who would otherwise be making trouble in Syria. Assad's philosophy was probably closer to "Better you than me" than "Kill the infidel", given that Sunnis consider Alawites infidels (or worse, apostates).
Posted by: Zhang Fei   2011-04-22 23:54  

#14  In reality the West can do little, except useless sanctions.

Well, there's this little bit of payback that the Iraqis could provide for all the aid and abetting of the terrorist funded, supplied, and deployed from Syria. Not to mention acting as a shelter for the butchers who fled their old handiwork in Iraq. Just talking up the possibility with the Iraqis playing the role, maneuvering some troops to the border could produce some interesting anxiety in Damascus.
Posted by: Procopius2k   2011-04-22 23:33  

#13  Yep, Assad has to stop this quickly. Otherwise, post Libya, the West will have to been seen to do something to stop the killings.

In reality the West can do little, except useless sanctions.


I don't think it's the West he has to worry about - it's government officials who see an opportunity to strike out on their own, by claiming to represent the rebels or the grievances of the populace. Pretty standard issue palace politics.
Posted by: Zhang Fei   2011-04-22 22:33  

#12  lol

from Barry_044 on twitter,

Damnit! That F'n CNN is showing all this Syria BS. They're gonna force me into a humanitarian mission in the next month
Posted by: phil_b   2011-04-22 22:13  

#11  True, tw, though I'd be shocked if it weren't to both countries.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut   2011-04-22 22:06  

#10  Obama condemns 'outrageous' use of force
Strongly worded letter to follow, that 'ill teach 'em.
Posted by: tipper   2011-04-22 22:03  

#9  Syria didn't give up Iraq's WMD, either. >:-(

As I recall, they were trucked into Lebanon's Beqaa Valley, Barbara.
Posted by: trailing wife   2011-04-22 21:14  

#8  Yep, Assad has to stop this quickly. Otherwise, post Libya, the West will have to been seen to do something to stop the killings.

In reality the West can do little, except useless sanctions.

Otherwise we are hearing little about Syria's Kurds, and I expect them to be well armed and some trained via Iraqi Kurdistan.

If Syria does go into a Libya-type slide into civil war, Turkey will panic and may well invade Syrian Kurdistan.
Posted by: phil_b   2011-04-22 20:49  

#7  Death toll more than 50 now.

Bashir Assad's a pussycat compared to his dad. If he wants to end this quickly, he will need to re-enact Hama soon.
Posted by: Zhang Fei   2011-04-22 17:02  

#6  He gave up Scuds C = ability to reach out to Europe.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru   2011-04-22 15:25  

#5  I thought that Libya had held on to CBW weapons even though they lost the nukes, no?
Posted by: AlanC   2011-04-22 15:21  

#4  "Syria did not give up its WMD."

Syria didn't give up Iraq's WMD, either. >:-(
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut   2011-04-22 15:13  

#3  Think Obumble will undertake some more Kinetic Military Action??

Nope. Syria did not give up its WMD.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru   2011-04-22 14:58  

#2  Death toll more than 50 now.
Posted by: tipper   2011-04-22 14:24  

#1  Hey, Iraq's right next door! Think Obumble will undertake some more Kinetic Military Action??

If 3 wars are good 4 must be better.
Posted by: AlanC   2011-04-22 13:13  

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