IMF Head Would Resort to Belly Dancing to Get Banking Reforms.

IMF Head Would Resort to Belly Dancing to Get Banking Reforms. (RN).

 The International Monetary Fund’s Managing Director Christine Lagarde joked before reporters Thursday that she would belly dance in front of the US Congress if it resulted in the banking reforms the institution is looking for, the Washington political insider’s newspaper The Hill reported.

“I have threatened even doing belly dancing. If that’s what it takes, then I will deliver it. But I hope it doesn’t,” the 58-year-old former French Finance Minister said in jest before the news conference, the source said.

Lagarde, who is participating in this week’s IMF and G20 fall sessions in Washington DC, pleaded with the US Congress, which she claimed was stalling the quota and governance reforms that had been proposed by the institution.

The proposals include doubling the requirements of members’ financial contributions to the bank’s general loan fund to a total of $755 billion. They also propose increasing the vote share of emerging economies such as China, Russia and India. This is something US Senate Republicans are reluctant to accept; as a result, the proposal has been blocked for nearly four years, despite support from President Barack Obama and most of the Senate Democrats.

The United States presently has a 16.73 percent vote share in the organization, giving it an effective veto power on amendments to the institution, which require an 85 percent supermajority in order to pass.

“Everybody knows that it is currently stuck before the U.S. Congress,” Lagarde said, cited by Reuters.

“We very much hope that the different branches of the U.S. authorities ... will understand the relevance of having an IMF that is representative of the global economy and includes the people that should sit at the table," she added.

The IMF chief’s comments were echoed in the Communique of representatives from the Group of 24 developing nations, which also met in Washington Thursday. The communique stated that the organization remains “deeply disappointed that the IMF quota and governance reforms agreed to in 2010 have not yet come into effect,” and urges “the U.S. to complete ratification.” The communique adds that “this remains a significant impediment to the credibility and effectiveness of the IMF and unjustifiably delays forward-looking commitments." Hmmm......Anyone else feels another 'executive order' coming?

Center for Immigration Studies challenges legality of Obama 'Admin’s' relaxation of security screening for refugees

Center for Immigration Studies challenges legality of Obama Administration’s relaxation of security screening for refugees.HT: Refugeeresettlementwatch.

Another case where Obama used his pen? (or his minions did!)

We told you yesterday that Obama, bowing to international pressure and lobbying from refugee resettlement contractors anxious to bring in thousands of Syrians this year, has relaxed a security screening law put in place after 9/11, here.

Now, we see, that the Center for Immigration Studies is challenging his legal right to do that.

From Catholic Online:

Former State Department official and current director of policy studies for the Center for Immigration Studies Jessica Vaughan questioned the administration’s right to unilaterally change the law.

“[T]here is a very legitimate question as to whether the administration actually has the authority to change the law in this way,” Vaughan wrote in an email. “It seems to me that they are announcing that they will be disregarding yet another law written by Congress that they don’t like and are replacing it with their own guidelines, which in this case appear to be extremely broad and vague, and which are sure to be exploited by those seeking to game our generous refugee admissions program.”

While Vaughan admitted that there are a number of immigrants seeking protection who have been denied due to unintentional contact with terrorists, she sees the exemptions as likely another opportunity for people to bypass the system.

“If the recent past is any guide, those evaluating these cases will be ordered to ignore red flags in the applications, especially if the applicant is supported by one of the many advocacy groups that have the ear of senior DHS staff,” she explained.

“The administration already approves of the admission of gang members as asylees and criminals in the DACA program and grants of prosecutorial discretion, so I don’t expect them to be troubled by the admission of terrorists and garden variety fraudsters in our refugee program.  This is how we end up with families like the Tsarnaev brothers [the Boston marathon bombers], who were originally admitted for political asylum.”

Just a reminder it was the federal refugee contractors complaining to a Senate hearing in January, here, that refugees were being held up for admission because they gave a “sandwich to a terrorist”  (one of the US’s favored terrorists in Syria), that got this done!  One group testifying was the US Conference of Catholic Bishops which said that it wants 15,000 Syrians admitted ASAP!

"I Have A Pen" - Obama 'Admin' eases restrictions on asylum seekers with loose terror ties.

"I Have A Pen" - Obama 'Admin' eases restrictions on asylum seekers with loose terror ties.(Fox).

The Obama administration has unilaterally eased restrictions on asylum seekers with loose or incidental ties to terror and insurgent groups, in a move one senator called "deeply alarming."

The change, approved by Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson and Secretary of State John Kerry, was announced Wednesday in the Federal Register. It would allow some individuals who provided "limited material support" to terror groups to be considered for entry into the U.S.

Critics say despite the good intentions, the change raises security concerns, particularly after a report published Thursday on asylum fraud.

"In light of these and other facts, it is thus deeply alarming that the Obama administration would move unilaterally to relax admissions standards for asylum seekers and potentially numerous other applicants for admission who have possible connections to insurgent or terrorist groups," Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., said in a statement on Thursday. "We need to tighten security standards for asylum, not relax them even further."

Sessions also complained that the administration was, on its own, altering the Immigration and Nationality Act. "What is the point of Congress passing a law if the administration abuses its 'discretion' to say that law simply no longer applies?" he said. Though the change would apply to those who helped non-designated terror groups, Sessions noted that Al Qaeda, for example, was not officially designated as a foreign terror organization until 1999.

Dan Stein, president of the Federation for American Immigration Reform, claimed the change was another effort to maximize the number of people being allowed into the country.

"This administration no longer deserves the benefit of the doubt in making these kinds of rule changes," he said. "The consequences are potentially dire for ... public safety." Hmmmm....Anyone saying "Syrian fugitives" Hello Al-Nusra.Read the full story here.

Pres Obama signs defense bill to facilitate transfer of prisoners from Gitmo and raises gov Spending limit!

Report: U.S. to Release Three Taliban Leaders from Guantanamo Bay, as in Muslim Brotherhood Sheikh Youssef Qaradawi plan. 

Pres Obama signs defense bill to facilitate transfer of prisoners from Gitmo and raises gov Spending limit!(RT).

The American President signed the legislation into law while holidaying with his family in Hawaii."I am encouraged that this act provides the executive greater flexibility to transfer Guantanamo detainees abroad, and look forward to working with the Congress to take the additional steps needed to close the facility," Obama said in a statement. 

The president said that the continued operation of the prison was detrimental to the US economy and its relationship with its allies.

The bill still does not allow for the transfer of Guantanamo prisoners onto US soil. Obama has voiced his opposition to this on a number of occasions.
“For the past several years, Congress has enacted unwarranted and burdensome restrictions that have impeded my ability to transfer detainees from Guantanamo,” Obama said in a written statement.

As part of his presidential campaign in 2008 Obama pledged to take steps to close down the facility, however, he has made little headway during his time in power.


Although a number of the restrictions governing repatriation have been lifted, the process remains slow and fraught with difficulties. As there is no set procedure for the monitoring of repatriated detainees in their new country, the US often has to conduct negotiations to keep track of the former prisoners.

Obama also signed into law economic measures aimed at avoiding another possible government shutdown after January 15 – the date when Republicans and Democrats will have to negotiate a number of spending bills for 2014.

The legislation raises the $967 billion limit for 2013 spending to $1.012 trillion next year and $1.014 trillion in 2015, and reduces the deficit by about $23 billion over 10 years.

The government shutdown in October this year paralyzed the US for 16 days and could cost the US up to $50 billion, Moody’s analytics estimates.Hmmmm.....As i said before the worst bills and laws are passed around the Christmas period, keep watching! 

Senior Iranian MP: Russian Warships in Offensive Arrangement for Syrian War.

Senior Iranian MP: Russian Warships in Offensive Arrangement for Syrian War.(Fars).

Russian warships in the Mediterranean are on the offensive waiting for the slightest aggressive move by the US against Syria, a senior Iranian legislator said.

"Practically, the Russians have lost their bases in the region and the only point that they have kept in the Middle-East is Syria. Therefore, Russians will not repeat their previous mistakes and will not allow the Americans to take control of their allies in the region," Chairman of the parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Commission Alaeddin Boroujerdi said in an interview with Iran-based Arabic-language al-Alam news channel Sunday night.

"The Russian warships have taken offensive arrangement to take action to defend their defined interests in the Middle-East," he added.

Boroujerdi warned about the unpredictable consequences of war against Syria, and said if the US attacks Syria, Russian President Vladimir Putin will enter the scene and Syrians will attack Israel; and then the US congress may show reaction and impeach Obama.

In relevant remarks earlier this month, another prominent Iranian lawmaker said that Barack Obama is trying to distance himself from the expenses of a military strike on Damascus by asking the Congress to make the relevant decision.

“The US is now facing the problem of the expenses it has to pay in case of attacking Syria …, hence it seems that Obama is looking for a decent way to escape this attack,” member of the parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Commission Ibrahim Ebrahim Aqamohammadi said, pointing to the US president’s asking the Congress to make a decision in this regard.

He underlined that the US Republicans are warmongers and they want Obama’s annihilation, hence they persuade the US president to attack Syria in order to make him pay for the expenses of such attack.

“The US intended to intervene in Syria in a blatant and bullying manner as it did in Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya … but the world’s situation has changed now,” Aqamohammadi said.

Former Israeli Nat Sec Council dir Uzi Arad : "Pres Obama has bitten off more than he could chew."

Former Israeli National Security Council director Uzi Arad : "President Barack H. Obama has bitten off more than he could chew."HT: INN.

Former National Security Council director Uzi Arad said Sunday that he was not sure an attack on Bashar al-Assad's forces would be successful, or a good idea altogether.

Speaking Sunday at the International Institute for Counter-Terrorism's (ICT) World Summit on Counter-Terrorism, taking place at the Herzliya Interdisciplinary Center (IDC), Arad said that President Barack H. Obama had bitten off more than he could chew, and that the best thing he could do now was extricate himself from the corner he had backed himself into with as much dignity as possible.

“Syria is not a signatory to international conventions against the use of chemical weapons,” said Arad, so the legal basis for intervention by the West was somewhat shoddy. “You cannot say that Assad violated an international convention Syria is not signed onto.” Assad, therefore, sees no reason not to use such weapons against anyone he feels threatens his rule.

As a result, Arad said, there is a real possibility that any country that takes on Assad may find itself mired in a very ugly situation. “I find it hard to believe that intervention will bring about a substantially better situation,” he said. “The best thing now would be for Obama to carefully bring the crisis to an end, without creating negative ramifications in the region and the world, whether before or after an attack,” Arad added.

US plans for 3 days of intensive attacks on Syria: Report.

US plans for 3 days of intensive attacks on Syria: Report. (HD).

The Pentagon is readying more intense and longer attacks on Syria than originally planned, set to last three days, the Los Angeles Times reported Sunday.

War planners now aim to unleash a heavy barrage of missile strikes to be followed swiftly by additional attacks on targets that may have been missed or remain standing after the initial launch, the Times cited officials as saying.

Two US officers told the newspaper that the White House has asked for an expanded target list to include "many more" than the initial list of around 50 targets.

The move is part of an effort to obtain additional firepower to damage Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's dispersed forces. Pentagon planners are now considering using Air Force bombers, as well as five US missile destroyers currently patrolling the eastern Mediterranean Sea, to launch cruise missiles and air-to-surface missiles from far out of range of Syrian air defenses, according to the report.

The USS Nimitz aircraft carrier strike group with one cruiser and three destroyers positioned in the Read Sea can also fire cruise missiles at Syria.

"There will be several volleys and an assessment after each volley, but all within 72 hours and a clear indication when we are done," an officer familiar with the planning told the Times.

The intensified military planning comes as President Barack Obama prepares to personally make his case to the American people and further press reluctant lawmakers on the need for action after Assad allegedly used chemical weapons on his own people last month.

Obama is scheduled to tape interviews Monday with anchors of the three major broadcast networks, as well as with PBS, CNN and Fox News.

The interviews, to air that night, will precede Obama's address to the nation Tuesday ahead of an expected full Senate vote.

The president favors a limited attack with only a reduced number of warplanes to drop bombs over Syria, according to the Times.

Amid doubts that a limited US offensive would sufficiently hamper Assad's military capabilities, one officer told the newspaper that the planned operation would amount to a "show of force" over several days that would not fundamentally change the situation on the ground.

The planned US strike "will not strategically impact the current situation in the war, which the Syrians have well in hand, though fighting could go on for another two years," another US officer said.


Hmmm.....Kerry on 04 September: US President Barack Obama is not asking the United States to go to war but to authorise him to “degrade and deter” Syria’s capability to use chemical weapons, US Secretary of State John Kerry said on Tuesday.

Reid faces double-digit defections on Syria strike measure.

Reid faces double-digit defections on Syria strike measure.HT: TheHill.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) is bracing for double-digit defections in the Democratic caucus on the resolution authorizing military strikes on Syria, which will get a vote this coming week.

The Syria resolution presents Reid with one of the biggest tests of his leadership this Congress and the outcome has significant effects for President Obama’s domestic and foreign policy agendas.

Failure of the measure in the Democratic-controlled upper chamber could spur House Republicans to pick a fight with the weakened president over the budget, as well as embolden the regimes of Iran and North Korea.

“The president’s team has really given him a tough one this time but, as always, when the president asks him to do something, Sen. Reid quickly tries to get it done,” said Jim Manley, a former senior advisor to Reid.

With already four Democratic senators saying they will likely oppose the measure, the pressure is building on Reid to reach out across the aisle.

“If this vote were to fail, it will have huge consequences not only for the president’s domestic policy but also his foreign policy and for the people of Syria. This is about as high stakes as you can get,” Manley added. “How’s Iran and North Korea going to react to a defeat? How are House Republicans going to deal with the debt limit?”

“The goal is not to keep the caucus together, it’s to pass this resolution,” said a senior Senate Democratic aide. “I think we’ll lose a fair number of Democrats. We’ll probably lose double-digits Democrats.”

Liberal grassroots activists are ratcheting up the pressure on Democratic senators.

“I would hope and expect to see opposition build among Senate Democrats and House Democrats in the next few days,” said Anna Galland, executive director of MoveOn.org Civic Action.

Galland said members of MoveOn.org would hold Democratic lawmakers accountable for their vote in future elections.

“It is a consequential vote for the future and our members will look back at this vote when trying to figure out whom to vote for in future elections,” she said.

She said MoveOn.org polled its entire membership before taking a position against the resolution.

Reid remains confident he will be able to pass the controversial measure by relying on Republican votes to overcome the 60-vote threshold required. Read the full story here.

‘Syria, Iran, Hezbollah set up situation room’.

‘Syria, Iran, Hezbollah set up situation room’.(TOI).

Iran, Syria and Hezbollah have set up a joint situation room in preparation for a potential US-led strike in Syria, with Hezbollah mobilizing “tens of thousands” of fighters for the occasion.

The military operations coordination between the three is meant to plan for the monitoring of targets and organizing of retaliation, the Lebanese Daily Star reported Friday, citing senior Lebanese political and diplomatic sources.

“Iran, Syria and Hezbollah don’t have a clear picture about what Americans have planned,” said one diplomat,“but [they] too are prepared for various scenarios.”

Political sources said Hezbollah put “tens of thousands” of fighters and reservists on alert in anticipation of a US strike.“Everyone in Hezbollah who has been trained to use weapons has been put on high alert,” one political source told the Lebanese daily. “The party is ready for all eventualities.”

Iran and Hezbollah have repeatedly indicated that they would back Syria’s Bashar Assad regime in the event of a strike in response to the reported use of chemical weapons in a Damascus suburb on August 

21, which the US says killed 1,429 people.

Lebanese officials cited in the Daily Star report warned that Iran and Hezbollah see the targeting of Syrian army posts, airfields and weapons depots as a strategic threat to their interests and of course to Assad, which would give them a reason to intervene. But the officials indicated that they were likely to do so only if the US strike seriously threatened the regime’s rule.

But Syria too has a bank of targets, according to the Lebanese report, having already threatened to strike Israel, Turkey and Jordan in retaliation for any attack.

Meanwhile, the US is also preparing for an expansion of targets should the decision to carry out an attack come through. On Friday, it was reported that US President Barack Obama instructed the Pentagon to add Syrian sites to its target list, with the order coming in response to intelligence indications that the Syrian government has moved troops and equipment used to employ chemical weapons.

The US is considering employing Air Force bombers in addition to ship-launched cruise missiles.Hmmm.....'Limited strike'....yeah whatevah.

Obama: As Commander-in-Chief I've decided we should attack Syria.

Obama: As Commander-in-Chief I've decided we should attack Syria. HT: Investor's Business Daily.

Almost three weeks ago in Syria, more than 1,000 innocent people — including hundreds of children — were murdered in the worst chemical weapons attack of the 21st century. And the United States has presented a powerful case to the world that the Syrian government was responsible for this horrific attack on its own people.

This was not only a direct attack on human dignity; it is a serious threat to our national security.

There’s a reason governments representing 98 percent of the world’s people have agreed to ban the use of chemical weapons. Not only because they cause death and destruction in the most indiscriminate and inhumane way possible — but because they can also fall into the hands of terrorist groups who wish to do us harm.

That’s why, last weekend, I announced that, as Commander in Chief, I decided that the United States should take military action against the Syrian regime. This is not a decision I made lightly. Deciding to use military force is the most solemn decision we can make as a nation.

As the leader of the world’s oldest Constitutional democracy, I also know that our country will be stronger if we act together, and our actions will be more effective. That’s why I asked Members of Congress to debate this issue and vote on authorizing the use of force.

What we’re talking about is not an open-ended intervention. This would not be another Iraq or Afghanistan. There would be no American boots on the ground. Any action we take would be limited, both in time and scope — designed to deter the Syrian government from gassing its own people again and degrade its ability to do so.

I know that the American people are weary after a decade of war, even as the war in Iraq has ended, and the war in Afghanistan is winding down. That’s why we’re not putting our troops in the middle of somebody else’s war. Hmmm..........'My Military',  Obama Cuts Hazard Pay for Soldiers Serving in Harm’s Way Read the full story here.

Putin - Russia will help Syria in case of external aggression

Putin - Russia will help Syria in case of external aggression.(ItarTass).

The United States, Turkey, Canada, France, Saudi Arabia and Britain back the strike on Syria at the G20 summit, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.

Speaking at a final press conference, Putin said Russia, China, India, Indonesia, Brazil, South Africa and Italy came against military actions in Syria.

The U.N. secretary-general and Pope Francis also came against the use of force against Syria, the president said, adding that the population in these Western countries were against the military operation in Syria.

Putin had spoken to President Barack Obama for about thirty minutes but neither of them had changed his positions as a result of the meeting.

“This was a meaty and fruitful conversation and it took place in a friendly atmosphere but each of us remained clinging to old positions as a the result,” he said.

Putin noted that despite disagreements, he and President Obama understood each other’s arguments. “We listen to them and try to analyze,” Putin said.

The Russian leader said that he and his U.S. counterpart had agreed on ‘some options’ of a peaceful settlement of the Syrian problem. The Russian Foreign Ministry and the U.S. State Department will discuss the theme soon.

He indicated that the problem of the former CIA technology analyst Edward Snowden, whom Russia had granted asylum, was not discussed at the meeting.

Russian President Vladimir Putin also said he had spoken to President Barack Obama for about thirty minutes but neither of them had changed his stance.

At the same time, Vladimir Putin said Russia will help Syria in case of external aggression,

“Will we help Syria? We will,” the Russian leader said recalling that Russia had already been helping Syria through arms supplies and economic and humanitarian cooperation, including provision of humanitarian aid.

In reply to the question what other country in the world may theoretically be subjected to aggression similar to that Syria is facing, Putin said, “I do not want to think that any other country will be subjected to any external aggression.”

A military action against Syria will have a highly deplorable impact on international security at large, Putin emphasized.

He said he was surprised to see that ever more participants in the summit, including the leader of India, Brazil, the South African Republic, and Indonesia were speaking vehemently against a possible military operation in Syria.

Putin cited the words of the South African President, Jacob Zuma, who said many countries were feeling unprotected against such actions undertaken by stronger countries.

“Given the conditions as they, how would you convince the North Koreans, for example, to give up their nuclear program,” he said. “Just tell them to put everything into storage today and they’ll be pulled to bits tomorrow.”

He underlined the presence of only one method for maintaining stability – “an unconditional observance of international law norms.”

Infographic: Picturing Where Congress Stands On Syria.

Infographic: Picturing Where Congress Stands On Syria.HT: Wapo.


As WaPo illustrates in the great infographic below, lawmakers appear to be tentatively dividing into four camps over military action in Syria.

Each dot represents a lawmaker who has indicated how he or she might vote, and the sentiment of the quote is mapped across the four categories.

Rebel leaders in Syria were Muslim advisors to Obama admin.

Rebel leaders in Syria were Muslim advisors to Obama admin.HT: Ibloga.

Bill Gertz’s Geostrategy Direct:

WASHINGTON — The leaders of the Sunni revolt in Syria included Saudi-financed advisers of the United States, a report said.

The Gloria Center asserted that Muslim advisers to the administration of President Barack Obama defected and became leading members of the Sunni revolt in Syria.

In a report titled “Blind to Terror: The U.S. Goverment’s Disastrous Muslim Outreach Efforts and the Impact on U.S. Mideast Policy,” author Patrick Poole identified a handful of Muslim advisers to the Defense Department, U.S. military and FBI now linked to Syrian rebel militias inspired by Al Qaida and the Muslim Brotherhood.

"Among the leaders of the Islamic groups favored by the U.S. government are even wanted international war criminals," the report said.

Dated June 10, the report cited Louay Safi, who for years advised the Pentagon on Islamic affairs, including the approval of chaplains. In August 2011, after a meeting at the White House, Safi appeared in Turkey as a leader of the rebel Syrian National Council. The report said Safi, now based in Qatar, has become the council’s political director.

The report said the Pentagon made Safi into an adviser despite a federal investigation that linked him to financing such groups as Palestinian Islamic Jihad, deemed a terrorist organization by the State Department. In 2005, Safi was named an unindicted co-conspirator in the trial of Jihad leader Sami Arian.

"Safi’s involvement with the Pentagon became an issue following the Fort Hood attacks, when 13 members of Congress sent a letter to Defense Secretary Gates complaining that not only was Safi endorsing Muslim chaplains for the Defense Department on behalf of ISNA, but also teaching classes on the ‘Theology of Islam’ to troops departing for Afghanistan at Fort Hood and Fort Bliss under a subcontract with the Naval Postgraduate School," the report said.

Another Syrian opposition leader who began as an Islamist lobbyist in the United States was identified as Ghassan Hitto, a businessman from Dallas. In March 2013, Hitto, supported by the Syrian Muslim Brotherhood and aligned with Qatar, was selected interim prime minister of the Sunni revolt against Assad.

Poole, a counter-insurgency consultant, also said the administration was courting those indicted on war crimes by the International Criminal Court. Nafie Al Nafie, invited by the State Department in May 2012, has been charged with planning the mass killing of civilians in Sudan’s Nuba mountains and Darfour province. The State Department invitation was canceled when more than 100 Holocaust scholars urged Obama to intervene.

A leading Muslim group that advises the administration on outreach has been headed by a Sudanese accused of crimes. Abu Bakar Al Shingieta, head of the American Muslims for Constructive Engagement, was the adviser to Sudanese President Omar Bashir during the regime’s massacre of Christians in the south.

"As these examples demonstrate, the U.S. government’s ignoring the terrorist support of its Muslim outreach partners has had a slippery-slope effect in its foreign policy by inviting members of terrorist groups and war criminals to Washington, D.C. for ‘dialogue,’" the report said.

Safi was born in Damascus where he received his early education. He moved to the United States in the early eighties where he received his B.Sc. in civil engineering, and later a M.A. and a Ph.D. in Political Science from Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. He has written books on social and political development, modernization, democracy, human rights, and Islam and the Middle East.

Safi has served as Executive Director and Director of Research for the International Institute of Islamic Thought (IIIT), editor of the Journal of Islamic Social Sciences, and President of the Association of Muslim Social Scientists (1999–2003). He has also taught at Wayne State University inDetroit, Michigan, the International Islamic University in Malaysia and George Washington University in Washington, DC.

ANY QUESTIONS?????

Related:

EXCLUSIVE: U.S. Muslim Brotherhood Leader Central Figure In Newly Formed Syrian Opposition Council

The Dallas Morning News Discovers Louay Safi Is Syrian Opposition Leader; We Told You About It Two years Ago

Obama compares impending Syria strike to 'helping the British during the German Blitz'.

Obama compares impending Syria strike to 'helping the British during the German Blitz'. HT: WhiteHouseDossier.By KeithKoffler.

President Obama today refused to rule out attacking Syria anyway even if Congress fails to support him, though he will address the nation Tuesday from the White House to try to build support for his decision and put pressure on Congress to approve it.

Obama, who spoke during a press conference at the conclusion of the G-20 Summit in St. Petersburg, Russia, hinted at a possible justification for acting unilaterally by noting that his decision to put the matter before Congress was not just motivated by a desire for Congressional approval, but to prompt debate about the issue and make sure the American people fully understand why he wants to bomb Syria.
Asserting the critical need to uphold the principle of preventing the use of chemical weapons in the world, Obama said he wanted to make “sure that the American people understand it is important before I take action.”
Obama said Americans need to hash this out because the threat posed by chemical weapons is the type America will be facing in coming years. “I think it’s the right thing to do,” Obama said of the decision to prompt a debate in Congress. “I think it’s good for our democracy.”
But the president also suggested he might be constrained from acting without Congress, noting that part of the reason he sought a vote was that he “could not honestly claim” the situation “was a direct or imminent threat to the United States” that would force him to move quickly without Congress. And in contrast to Libya, where Muammar Qaddafi was about to crush his opposition, the U.S. response to the Syrian chemical weapons attacks could wait a bit.
Obama repeatedly suggested that with polls showing a strike against Syria unpopular, lawmakers might want to consider acting against the will of their constituents. He argued that action to prevent the genocide in Rwanda – the lack of which is widely lamented – would “probably wouldn’t poll very well” if it were at issue today. He even noted that helping the British during the German Blitz was not popular either with the public or Congress.

The president, who has frequently referred to the need for international approval before moving militarily, sought to justify his decision to ignore the United Nations this time by charging that the UN was failing to abide by its own rules by not seeking to enforce the international ban on chemical weapons.

WhoDunneIt? Collected Chemical Weapon Posts.

WhoDunneIt? Collected Chemical Weapon Posts.HT: BrownMosesBlog.


Interviews with chemical weapons specialists
A Chemical Weapon Specialist's Thoughts On The UN Visit To Syria
Three Chemical Weapon Specialist Answer Questions About Chemical Weapons In Syria
Chemical Weapon Specialists Talk Sarin, Saraqeb, and Khan Al-Assal - Part 1
Chemical Weapon Specialists Talk Sarin, Saraqeb, and Khan Al-Assal - Part 2

Damascus August 21st Attack
Are These The Munitions Used In Today's Alleged Chemical Weapon Attack?
More Videos Emerge Of Chemical Attack Linked Mystery Munitions
Claims Of Opposition DIY Weapons Used In This Week's Alleged Chemical Attack
Finding The Exact Location Of An Alleged Chemical Munition, And What It Could Mean
Were The UN Inspectors Examining A Chemical Weapon In Medmah Al Sham?

The White Grenades
Links Between Alleged Chemical Attacks In Saraqeb, Idlib, and Sheikh Maghsoud, Aleppo
Jabhat Al-Nusra Photographed With "Chemical Weapons"
Devices Linked To Alleged Chemical Weapon Attacks Captured By The Syrian Opposition
More On The Gas Grenades Linked To Chemical Weapon Attacks In Syria
The Hunt For Chemical Weapon Attack Linked Gas Grenades In Syria

Saraqeb
Video Of An Unknown Object Reportedly Dropped From A Helicopter During The Alleged Chemical Attack In Saraqeb, Idlib
Was The Attack In Saraqeb Chemical Weapons, Or Something Else?

Other
Comments On The Use Of Chemical Weapons In Syria
A Great Example Of How Not To Write About Chemical Weapons And Arms In Syria
DIY Weapon Linked To Alleged Chemical Weapon Attack in Adra, Damascus
Video Claims To Show A Chemical Bomb Dropped On Al-Bab
This Is Not A Chemical Weapon

Majority of Turks , Europe and U.S. against Syria intervention: Survey.

Majority of Turks against Syria intervention: Survey.(HD).

A majority of Turks disapprove of any potential military intervention in Syria, much like their European and American counterparts, a survey has revealed.

In Turkey, 72 percent of respondents to the Transatlantic Trends 2013 survey, which was conducted by the German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF), said their country should stay out of Syria, up 15 percentage points from last year, while only 21 percent – down 11 percentage points – favored intervention.

The respondents were told that there had recently been discussion about intervening in Syria, where the government has been using military force to suppress an opposition movement. They were then asked whether their government should stay out completely or intervene.

Apart from Turkey, 11 European Union member states were surveyed: France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom, as well as the United States. Polling was conducted between June 3 and June 27.

In the U.S., a two-thirds majority, 62 percent, up 7 percentage points from 2012, along with nearly three-fourths of respondents in Europe, 72 percent, up 13 percentage points from 2012, preferred to stay out.

Only one-in-three respondents in the United States, 30 percent, down 5 percentage points from 2012, and even fewer in Europe, 22 percent, down 10 percentage points from 2012, felt their countries ought to intervene in Syria.

In a separate question about recent developments in North Africa and the Middle East, respondents to the survey were asked to choose between two propositions: “stability is more important even if it means accepting non-democratic governments” and “democracy is more important even if it leads to a period of instability.” A majority in Europe, 58 percent, and a plurality in the United States, 47 percent, preferred democracy over stability.

A majority of Turkish respondents, 57 percent, preferred democracy in North Africa and the Middle East, 25 percent said they preferred stability, while 18 percent said they did not know or refused to answer.

Video - Beware of Naive interventionists.

Video - Beware of Naive interventionists.HT: SunNewsNetwork.

Michael Coren warns against western intervention in Syria and points to the real threat coming from Iran.

Video - Syrian Rebels firing gas cilinders, We shall now fire in to the Greek Hospital...with Allah's permission.

HT: InfidelBloggers.

Related and a MUST READ!

A Detailed Summary Of The Evidence On Munitions Linked To The August 21st Attacks

In all but the January 4th Daraya and August 2nd Homs video they are described as chemical munitions. In the case of the 3 videos from Adra on August 5th, they are linked directly to an attack that took place on the same day, with videos of the victims of the attack showing the same kinds of symptoms. I spoke to a doctor in Damascus who claims to have treated victims from both the August 21st attack and August 5th attack, and he claimed the symptoms where the same in both attacks.

The following video may also show the same munition being launched, from Qadam railway station in Damascus, currently under the control of Syrian government forces.

I've taken three close up frames of the munition in the video and pasted them side by side

Report: China Sends Warships to Coast of Syria.

Chinese ship Jinggangshan project

Report: China Sends Warships to Coast of Syria.(Telegrafist).Google Translate.

Despite the fact that the political decision to send warships, apparently, it was decided a long time, we know about it is just now from unofficial sources. Thus, the Chinese military blog that specializes in articles about military equipment the United States, Russia and China, said that several Chinese ships already close to the shores of Syria, citing its sources in the PLA.

The authors openly admit that the ships would not be in any way involved in a potential conflict, but only observe the actions of NATO and Russian ships.

What kind of ships were sent to the coast of Syria is unknown. Meanwhile, the social network Vkontakte citing a confidential source was reported that a Chinese ship Jinggangshan project was seen when passing the Red Sea toward the Suez Canal.

"2:00 this pepelats back among us in the direction of the Suez Canal. Board number 999. Speed ​​14 knots, judging therefore has specific instructions to be at some point. We are now in the Red Sea somewhere in the center, "- wrote the author.

By tail number is later found out that this is a Chinese amphibious assault ship dock Jinggangshan, which can carry on board a landing craft air cushion or other bulky loads.

Recall that, according to several sources in Syria might be Chinese counterparts S-300 systems. Meanwhile, this information officially confirmed no one, and the Chinese amphibious ships were seen in the ports of Syria.

In a related story, China today toughened its rhetoric on Syria, warning President Barack Obama that, “Military action would have a negative impact on the global economy, especially on the oil price – it will cause a hike in the oil price.”

The Global Times, a newspaper described by Foreign Policy Magazine as “hyper nationalistic” and an “angry Chinese government mouthpiece, also published an editorial yesterday which slammed Obama for failing to prove that last month’s chemical weapons attack was the work of the Syrian government, charging that Washington’s “geopolitical interests” in the region were behind the military build-up.

The editorial, which also complains of the total lack of media coverage in America concerning reports that Syrian rebels admitted responsibility for last month’s chemical weapons attack, accuses the White House of “ignoring logic as it beats war drums.”

Three Russian warships cross Bosphorus, en route to Syria.

The Priazovye

Three Russian warships cross Bosphorus, en route to Syria. (HD).

Three Russian warships crossed Turkey's Bosphorus Strait Thursday en route to the eastern Mediterranean, near the Syrian coast, amid concern in the region over potential US-led strikes in response to the Damascus regime's alleged use of chemical weapons.

The SSV-201 intelligence ship Priazovye, accompanied by the two landing ships Minsk and Novocherkassk passed through the Bosphorus known as the Istanbul strait that separates Asia from Europe, an AFP photographer reported. The Priazovye on Sunday started its voyage from its home port of Sevastopol in Ukraine "to the appointed region of military service in the eastern Mediterranean", a military official told the Interfax news agency. Russia, a key ally of Damascus, has kept a constant presence of around four warships in the eastern Mediterranean in the Syrian crisis, rotating them every few months.

It also has a naval base in the Syrian port of Tartus whose origins date back to Moscow's close relationship with Damascus under the Soviet Union.

Moscow vehemently opposes the US-led plans for military action against the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in response to the chemical attack outside Damascus last month. Russian President Vladimir Putin warned on Wednesday that any US Congress approval for a military strike against Syria without UN consensus would represent an "aggression".