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maddezmom

(135,060 posts)
Fri Jan 20, 2012, 05:45 PM Jan 2012

U.S. preparing to close embassy in Syria

Last edited Fri Jan 20, 2012, 06:22 PM - Edit history (2)

By Karen DeYoung and Liz Sly, Updated: Friday, January 20, 3:05 PM

The Obama administration is preparing to close the U.S. embassy in Damascus and evacuate all American personnel by the end of this month amid rapid deterioration of the security situation in Syria, senior administration officials said.

The embassy will be shuttered, officials said, unless embattled Syrian President Bashar al-Assad provides enhanced protection that he has so far been unwilling to authorize. “Unless we see that, we have no choice,” said one U.S. official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to speak about internal planning on the Syrian crisis.

The move follows a recent spate of car bombings. Although the administration has not ruled out Syrian government responsibility for the attacks, officials said signs point to Syrian and Iraqi militants that have been affiliated with al-Qaeda.

more:http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/us-preparing-close-embassy-in-syria/2012/01/20/gIQAhOxREQ_story.html



U.S. probes report of American's arrest in Syria

(CNN) -- The U.S. government is looking into reports of an arrest of a U.S. citizen in Syria, a senior State Department official told CNN on Friday.

The arrest of a man named Abdelkadar Chaar possibly took place in Aleppo on January 8, the official said.

"We have been in contact with the Syrian authorities and have requested confirmation of the arrest and consular access," he said.

The man's uncle said the family has been in contact with the U.S. Embassy in Damascus. The family has also reached out to Sen. Charles Schumer of New York, but has yet to receive a response from his office, Sam Chaar said.

Abdelkadar Chaar, 22, was born in Syracuse, New York, moved to Aleppo with his parents when he was a boy and is currently a medical student at Aleppo University, his uncle said. He was arrested early in the morning on January 8; his family has not been told why, the elder Chaar said.

more: http://www.cnn.com/2012/01/20/world/meast/syria-us-citizen/index.html

The Syrian Expatriates Organization Reports That American Citizen, Obada Mzaik, is Missing in Syria

Detroit, MI (PRWEB) January 20, 2012

The Syrian Expatriates Organization reports that: on Jan 03-2012, U.S. born American citizen Obada Mzaik disappeared in Damascus, Syria as reported by Obada's family member Mr. Firas Naashef in Detroit Michigan.

According to flight records, Obada Mzaik departed from Detroit Metro Airport on January 03-2012 on board a Royal Jordanioan Airliner, flight number RJ268 connecting in Amman, Jordan on flight RJ 435 bound to Damascus, Syria. He was never seen exiting the immigration clearance at Damascus airport according to Obada's receiving family in Syria.

The U.S embassy was promptly informed of Obada's disappearance. The family has attempted to follow up with Syrian authorities and the U.S. Embassy in Damascus but has been unsuccessful in securing any information that pertains to his whereabouts.

Obada Mzaik is a 21 year old American citizen. He is a civil engineering student at Al-Yarmouk University in Damascus, Syria. He attended Fall classes at Oakland Community College in Farmington Hills, Michigan where he also has family members there.

more:http://www.prweb.com/releases/Syrian-Expatriate-Org/American-obada-mzaik/prweb9120263.htm

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Ruby the Liberal

(26,217 posts)
4. October? Interesting.
Fri Jan 20, 2012, 11:20 PM
Jan 2012

I know from Nadin that evac orders are in place for citizens. Guessing the closing of the Embassy means we have pulled the Ambassador.

Tx4obama

(36,974 posts)
3. Update
Fri Jan 20, 2012, 10:35 PM
Jan 2012

SNIP

UPDATE: 5:30 p.m. -- The State Department put out a statement confirming the reports late on Friday.

"While no decision has been made, we have serious concerns about the deteriorating security situation in Damascus, including the recent spate of car bombs, and about the safety and security of embassy personnel. We have requested that the government of Syria take additional security measures to protect our embassy, and the Syrian government is considering that request. We have also advised the Syrian government that unless concrete steps are taken in the coming days we may have no choice but to close the mission."

SNIP

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/20/syria-us-embassy_n_1219901.html


Ruby the Liberal

(26,217 posts)
5. The Canadians have also ordered an evac of their Citizens from the country
Fri Jan 20, 2012, 11:23 PM
Jan 2012

with Canadian government support, as needed.

Not good. I hope the Syrian people stay safe. Sounds like it is going to go full Mad Max over there if western governments are starting to fully pull out.

Odd, we didn't see this with the other Arab Spring nations....

 

riderinthestorm

(23,272 posts)
6. No oil in Syria, proximity to Israel, Allawite govt allied with Iran means it's a whole new world
Fri Jan 20, 2012, 11:46 PM
Jan 2012

Plus Russia and China are allying against the US and Nato countries. The fact that there's no oil is the biggie - you won't see any breathless updates on DU about Syria, it's just not important THAT way. But its strategic and important in other ways on a far grander scale than petty oil plutocracies.... "western governments pulling out" is laughable - they are now just fully getting in (behind the scenes).

Israel's proximity is paramount. Shia vs. Sunni - always big in the region. That the US, China and Russia are squaring off in a proxy war for the first time since the Cold War is sobering - especially since China is flexing it's muscle.

This isn't going full Mad Max imho. It will be a hideous civil war UNLESS the major players are invoked. Pray the biggies stay in the back ground.....

pampango

(24,692 posts)
7. Oil is Syria's largest export, but there isn't nearly as much as in Libya or Saudi Arabia.
Sat Jan 21, 2012, 12:17 AM
Jan 2012

Exports: $12.84 billion (2010 est.)
Export goods: crude oil, minerals, petroleum products, fruits and vegetables, cotton fiber, clothing, meat and live animals, wheat

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Syria

I don't think that Russia is protecting Syria in the UN because it doesn't have as much oil as Libya (which Russia and China did not protect). Syria is a major buyer of Russian military goods and has a Russian naval base.

As you said, Israel's proximity is a big factor in the politics of any diplomatic, economic or military intervention in Syria. The country's geography makes is less suitable for any potential military action.


Juan Cole: Why a No-Fly Zone won’t Work in Syria

http://www.juancole.com/2011/10/why-a-no-fly-zone-wont-work-in-syria.html

There are many reasons for which the protesters will not get their wish for a no-fly zone over Syria.

Most important, a no-fly zone is not a practical response to the Baath government’s repression. On Friday, troops just shot into the crowds. Unlike Qaddafi, Bashar al-Assad is not bombing his cities with jets from the air. Nor are helicopter gunships or tank units central to the coercive abilities of the Syrian state. Syrian geography is complex, and plinking tanks from the air is not an option in Syria.

There is no Arab League resolution urging UN intervention in Syria. There is no United Nations Security Council resolution authorizing war. In the absence of a UNSC resolution, any attack on Syria would be considered an act of aggression and could open US politicians and military men to prosecution in international courts.

Russia and China are against Western intervention, which dooms any condemnatory resolution at the UN security council. In international law since 1945, especially in the UN charter, the only grounds for going to war are self-defense or as a result of a UNSC resolution. Neither obtains in Syria and any foreign intervention would therefore be illegal, and the pilots could be tried in international courts.

It breaks my heart to say all this. The youth of Syria is being cold-bloodedly shot down by army snipers. You wish there was a way to stop it. But there isn’t. There isn’t a practical set of military tactics outsiders could deploy effectively in this situation. There is no international framework of legality for an intervention.

But it should be remembered that the political wing of the Syrian opposition in any case does not want such an intervention, and that most Syrians are determined to go it alone. They want to do what the Tunisians and Egyptians did. They should be given a chance, since that would be the best outcome possible.

David__77

(23,220 posts)
8. I agree with parts, not with others.
Sat Jan 21, 2012, 07:56 PM
Jan 2012

I agree that the best thing is for the Syrian people to decide their own fate. But I don't agree that it would somehow be preferable if the situation were more conducive to outside interference.

There are certainly anti-Assad elements I have great respect for. Unlike in most of the Arab countries, there is an actual left in Syria. The rabid fundamentalists probably hate the leftists more than they hate the Baathists.

David__77

(23,220 posts)
9. BS... nothing to do with the "security situation."
Sat Jan 21, 2012, 07:57 PM
Jan 2012

It's just one step along the path to anti-Syria aggression.

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