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Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Assad summering on Russian yacht
2013-01-15
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Jan. 14 (UPI) -- Syrian President Bashar Assad and his family have been hiding living on a warship, with security provided by Russia, intelligence sources told a Saudi newspaper.

An Al-Watan report Monday says the family and Assad aides are residing on the ship in the Mediterranean Sea and that he travels to Syria by helicopter to attend official meetings and receptions. Otherwise, he cowers stays on the warship, the sources told the Arabic language newspaper.

When he flies to his embattled country, the president lands at undisclosed locations and is transported to the presidential palace under heavy guard, the sources said.

The Russian-guarded warship provides a safe environment for Assad, who has lost confidence in his own security detail, the report said.
Wonder why...
Assad's presence on the warship suggests he has been granted political asylum by Russia but there has been no official comment from Moscow, the newspaper said. The circumstances reinforce Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's comment Sunday that Assad's removal from power is "impossible to implement," the newspaper said.
Not without a torpedo or limpet mine...
Assad's presence on the ship could be a sign of looming negotiations on the conflict in Syria, the report said.

"It is necessary to make everybody, including the opposition, which is still categorically denying any dialogue, to sit down at the negotiating table, Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty quoted Lavrov as saying during a visit to the Ukraine.
Posted by:Steve White

#6  Proving he is just a little bit smarter than QDaffy if not quite as brave.
Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305   2013-01-15 18:48  

#5  And when it's time for him to bug out of Syria,he's ready to go.
Posted by: Rambler in Virginia   2013-01-15 13:22  

#4  I used to get invited to the Chief's mess, much to the consternation of the executive officer (he was 'unwelcomed').

That said, Assad is probably in the flag quarters; out of sight and out of the way.
Posted by: Pappy   2013-01-15 12:28  

#3  I never liked asking the Captain "May I join you sir?". The conversations were always dry and the ring-knockers were blatantly treated with favoritism. I always had a better time on the mess deck with my guys every so often. I found eating chow with them and randomly covering a watch for any of them went a long way for all of us.
Posted by: Yosemite Sam   2013-01-15 11:10  

#2  Dining with the Captain every night must get awfully tiring.
Posted by: Besoeker   2013-01-15 01:31  

#1  It might be a fun exercise to get hold of the AShM "hidden" in Aroud that region, and feed it that target. Just sayin'
Posted by: OldSpook   2013-01-15 00:46  

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