Article

2012-06-18 Syria-Lebanon-Iran

MOSCOW The Interfax news agency said Monday that two Russian navy ships are to sail to Syria to protect Russian citizens and its naval base there. This would mark the first time since the uprising in Syria started that Russia is sending extra troops to its base in Syria.

Interfax quoted an unidentified Russian navy official as saying that the Nikolai Filchenkov and Caesar Kunikov amphibious assault vessels will be heading to the Syrian port of Tartus, but didnt give a precise date.

No word on the name of the sea-going tugboat that will accompany them...

The official said the ships will carry an unspecified number of marines to protect Russians in Syria and evacuate ~~Saddam's weapons of mass destruction~~ materials from Tartus if necessary.

Tartus is Russias only naval base outside the former Soviet Union with Russian personnel of an unspecified size. The bulk of Russian military men in Syria are military advisers teaching Syrians how to use Russian weapons.

Russia has shielded Syrias regime from international sanctions over its crackdown on protests. It also continued to provide it with arms.

Posted by Steve White 2012-06-18 07:45|| || Front Page|| [11136 views ] Top

#1 Thanks Obummer. The vacuum in geopolitics and the diminishing of national strength will haunt us for a long time.

Posted by JohnQC 2012-06-18 09:38|| 2012-06-18 09:38|| Front Page Top

#2 The designers of the Mistral class could not be reached for comment.

Posted by Thing From Snowy Mountain 2012-06-18 11:08|| 2012-06-18 11:08|| Front Page Top

#3 This will end well.

Posted by DarthVader 2012-06-18 12:12|| 2012-06-18 12:12|| Front Page Top

#4 I'll order more popcorn.

Posted by Barbara 2012-06-18 13:08|| 2012-06-18 13:08|| Front Page Top

#5 Well now we know why the UN observers left. No Vodka in Syria means some VERY cranky soldiers.

Posted by Charles 2012-06-18 13:09|| 2012-06-18 13:09|| Front Page Top

#6 Good old times is here again!

Posted by g(r)omgoru 2012-06-18 14:35|| 2012-06-18 14:35|| Front Page Top

#7 The Caesar Kunikov is a Ropucha-I (Project 775) class large landing ship, not a Mistral.

The Large Landing Ship Nikolay Filchenkov is a Project 1171 / Alligator Class ship, also not a Mistral.

Posted by Steve White 2012-06-18 14:50|| 2012-06-18 14:50|| Front Page Top

#8 * FREEREPUBLIC this AM > [Itar-Tass = Russia]BLACK SEA FLEET SHIPS READY TO GO TO SYRIA - GENERAL STAFF.

* SAME > IRAN, RUSSIA, CHINA, + SYRIA TO LAUNCH BIGGEST JOINT WARGAME IN MIDDLE EAST.

* TOPIX > RUSSIA: WE WILL NOT SUPPORT ANY FOREIGN FORCE INTERVENTION IN SYRIA.

I'm interpreting the above Artic as Russia saying it will not support any US-led or non-US led, "Libyuh/Gaddafi-style"?, UN Coalition = "Coalition of the Willing" agz Assad.

On a separate note, I don't see Russia giving up its Med base at Tartarus under any conditions, Assad or post-Assad.

'Tis a serious "Catch-22" for Russia - the anti-Assad Syrian rebels are supported by the Radical Islam whom also directly or indirectly support the Caucasus jihadis-insurgents. Russia also has an interest in protecting its Caucasus security [strategic flank(s)] by making sure neither Iran nor Turkey, etc. achieve their ambitions of regional + trans-regional ethnic reunification vee the former Soviet -Stans. OUTSIDE OF RECOVERING THE GOLAN HEIGHTS VEE ISRAEL, SYRIA MAY BE IRAN'S ALLY BUT HAS NEVER DISPLAYED THE EXPANSIONIST ZEAL OF IRAN. RUSSIA DOES NOT WANT ANY "ASSAD/SYRIA DOMINO" TO EXTEND TO THE CAUCASUS + CENTRAL ASIA.

Posted by JosephMendiola 2012-06-18 20:10|| 2012-06-18 20:10|| Front Page Top

#9 RUSSIA = CHINA in SCS + Taiwan = "front-line" of Russia's geopolitical security + desired future "manifest destiny" under alleged
"proxy/surrogate" US-Western threat, i.e. US-NATO, UNO support for anti-Assad, pro-Islamist Syrian rebels.

A situation which is NOT helped by allegations by the Catholic Patriarchate of Jerusalem that the SYRIAN REBELS ARE USING CHRISTIANS AS "HUMAN SHIELDS" AGZ ASSAD'S SECURITY FORCES.

Posted by JosephMendiola 2012-06-18 20:19|| 2012-06-18 20:19|| Front Page Top

#10 Clearing out Tartus.

Posted by Nimble Spemble 2012-06-18 21:03|| 2012-06-18 21:03|| Front Page Top

#11 ION GLOBAL NATION > MCCAIN URGES US-LED AIR WAR ON SYRIA.

and

* TOPIX > MCCAIN: GROUND TROOPS NEEDED IN SYRIA.

* SAME > REPORT: US-BACKED REBELS COMMITTING CHRISTIAN GENOCIDE IN SYRIA.

Arise, "Red-Star" Turbans, arise ...

Posted by JosephMendiola 2012-06-18 23:24|| 2012-06-18 23:24|| Front Page Top

08:52 Matt
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