US and Turkey plan for 'worst Syria scenario'

[UnrepentantLiberal]

Source: Al Jazeera


Clinton says must prepare for potential use of chemical weapons, as fighting continues in Damascus and Aleppo

August 11, 2012

Hillary Clinton, the US secretary of state, has said her country is setting up a working group with Turkey to plan for worst-case scenarios in Syria, including a possible chemical weapons attack on the government's opponents.

In a joint news conference in Istanbul with Ahmet Davutoglu, Turkey's foreign minister, Clinton said that the group will co-ordinate military, intelligence and political responses to any potential fallout in Syria.

The US and Turkey agreed on the need to plan for "the horrible event that chemical weapons [are] used," Clinton said on Saturday.

"What would that mean in terms of response, humanitarian and medical emergency assistance and, of course, what needs to be done to secure those stocks from ever being used or falling into the wrong hands?"

Read more: http://m.aljazeera.com/story/201281112523717494

[joshcryer]

1. Even if it happens I don't see the US or Turkey getting involved.

Chemical weapons are nasty business and Obama appears to be one who doesn't act without international agreement (ie, unilaterally; note: Osama is a small exception but I don't think it counts in a larger picture and we still don't know for sure if Pakistan had an plausibly deniable agreement on that).

[dipsydoodle]

2. Please post your later link here for completeness

[UnrepentantLiberal]

3. Doh!

It would have been easier if I hadn't deleted it.

Good idea though.

[UnrepentantLiberal]

4. US and Turkey plan Syria intervention

By Thomas Seibert
The National
Aug 12, 2012

ISTANBUL // The United States and Turkey said yesterday they are working on plans for possible intervention in Syria should Bashar Al Assad's regime use chemical weapons.

"We have been closely coordinating over the course of this conflict," Hillary Clinton, the US secretary of state, told reporters in Istanbul after talks with her Turkish foreign minister Ahmet Davutoglu. "But now we need to get into the real details of such operational planning and it needs to be across both of our governments."

She said the US and Turkey had decided to set up a working group of representatives from the two foreign ministries as well as from the intelligence services and the military of both countries. Responding to a question, Ms Clinton confirmed that the establishment of safe havens for refugees and a no-fly-zone for government aircraft inside Syria were being looked at.

"It is one thing to talk about all kinds of potential actions, but you cannot make reasoned decisions without doing intense analysis and operational planning," she said. "We want to hasten the end of the bloodshed and of the Assad regime, that is our strategic goal," Ms Clinton added.

More: http://www.thenational.ae/news/world/middle-east/us-and-turkey-plan-syria-intervention

[UnrepentantLiberal]

5. Aleppo rebels fight flat to flat in Syria

By Hugh Naylor
The National
Aug 12, 2012

ALEPPO //Abu Suleiman's rebel unit has started using unorthodox tactics to help take this strategic city from forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar Al Assad.

Targeted by snipers and indiscriminate bombardments by government warplanes flying overhead, he and his fellow Free Syrian Army (FSA) fighters have learnt to avoid moving through the streets of Aleppo's Salaheddine neighbourhood.

They prefer punching holes through apartment walls, creating networks of indoor passageways to funnel fighters from flat to flat and closer to enemy lines.

This has made for some awkward encounters. "The other day my commander and I broke through a wall and when we looked through, we saw three soldiers from the Syrian Army on the other side," Abu Suleiman said yesterday, as the sound of helicopter gunships firing echoed in the background.

More: http://www.thenational.ae/news/world/middle-east/aleppo-rebels-fight-flat-to-flat-in-syria

[David__77]

6. These fighters, who are not from Aleppo (many not even from Syria) are endangering the city.

They are invading people's homes and businesses and using them as cover to attack and kill. It is sad for the people of Aleppo who are losing their homes and livelihood.