Congress should be very inquisitive and meticulous in the coming debate on Syria

Congress should be very inquisitive about the evidence that Assad was behind the chemical weapons attack. The evidence so far is purely circumstantial.
Far more credible evidence exists that the chemical agents released came from the insurgents, but nobody knows who was behind the attack at the moment.

Congress should also be very meticulous in assessing the risks of adverse consequences of launching any military attacks on Syria.
It is possible that it will lead to a full blown regional conflict with Israel involved or suffering casualties.

What happens if America or Israel suffer casualties from retaliatory actions by Assad or Shia extremist groups?

Kerry has also stated that after some cruise missile strikes "it may be possible to assist the insurgents further".
Congress should ensure that any approval for a limited action is not seen as the green light for significant other actions.
How would Congress be able to stop covert actions to broaden American involvement?

There are already hundreds of CIA and U.S. "training" forces in Jordan that are already intervening in Syria.

Saudi Arabia and Qatar are openly arming the Islamic Extremists in Syria.

Who stands to benefit from attacking Syria?
It would primarily be Saudi Arabia.

It is not in America's interests to install an Islamic Extremist government in Syria.
It is not in America's interests to waste more billions of dollars on pursuing another ill-advised war in the ME.
America should not be getting involved at all.

Syria is sounding more like an Iran-Contra type affair every day. 

There are various reports that chemical weapons were supplied to the insurgents by outside agents. 
The Egyptian military government has now joined the fray with their own story on this. 

The reports that Prince Bandar and Saudi Arabia have been supplying chemical weapons to the Islamic Extremist insurgents need to be thoroughly investigated by an independent agent (not the U.S. government).

There are now also reports that U.S. military intelligence were involved in the chemical weapons release. 

Colonel MacDonald of U.S. Intelligence should be brought before Congress to testify. 

The U.S. should be mindful that arming the mujahadin in Afghanistan led to Al-Qaeda and 9/11. 

The U.S. should not repeat the mistakes of the '80's. 

There are numerous possible risks that direct military action will lead to Blowback. 

Ter rorist attacks from Shia extremists such as Hezbollah and Hamas. 

The threat of further destabilising Lebanon, Turkey, Jordan, Iraq etc. 

The threat of terrorist strikes on Americans and American assets both at home and abroad. 

The threat of Iran covertly stirring up trouble and possible cyber attacks. 

The threat of rocket attacks or similar on U.S. bases in Kuwait from Iraq. 

Southern Iraq is Shia. 

There are 23,000 U.S. troops stationed in Kuwait. 

Russia is also likely to supply Assad with more and better weaponry after any American intervention. 

They are sending more surveillance to the Eastern Med. 

Why won't they supply this info to Assad to launch attacks against American warships as an act of self defense? 

Point-By-Point Rebuttal of U.S. Case for War In Syria 
http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2013/09/point-by-point-rebuttal-of-u-s-case-for-war-in-syria.html

My previous comments on the risks of adverse consequences of any American direct military action 

http://ian56.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/the-risks-of-retaliatory-actions-and.html 

The facts about the conflict in Syria that Obama does not want you to see 

http://ian56.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/action-in-syria-what-would-it-achieve.html

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The risks of retaliatory actions and adverse consequences from an American attack on Syria

Where is Obama's analysis of the risks of adverse consequences from a military attack on Syria? 

These risks (and others) should be included in the Congressional debate that Obama now says will happen before any direct military action is taken in Syria.

An accidental chemical weapons release, killing thousands of civilians, from a cruise missile strike.
From retaliatory / self defense actions by Assad.
From retaliatory actions by extremist Shia groups such as Hezbollah and Hamas
The risks to American lives, including civilians from retaliatory terrorist strikes from America's illegal (under international law) actions
Retaliatory action by Iran such as impeding traffic in the straits of Hormuz or further assistance to Shia terrorist groups such as Hezbollah
The risk of further adverse reactions from the new military government of Egypt. There are already reports of Egypt preventing American warships from passing through the Suez canal.
Retaliatory action from Russia - e.g. giving Assad even better weapons
The risk of an attack on American warships by Assad
The risk to America's military bases in Kuwait, e.g. from attacks launched by Shia extremists in Iraq. There are 23,000 American troops stationed in Kuwait. What happens if rockets/small shells with chemical weapons are launched from inside Iraq?
The risk of the further destabilisation and increase in violence in Iraq, Jordan and Lebanon.
The risk of further destabilising Turkey.
The risk of attacks on Israel and drawing Israel directly into the conflict
The risk of terrorist attacks on American soil.
The risk of terrorist attacks in France as they are supporting the American action.
The risk to other American assets around the globe - e.g. embassies or even just Corporations or American civilians abroad.

What will the economic impacts be of military action in Syria?

The risk of a rise in the oil price which will choke off any economic recovery in the West.
The oil price and the price of gas at the pumps is already rising.
What will American public reaction be to a significant rise in the price of gas?

What will be the impact on the already high levels of unemployment in the West?
U6 unemployment is already at 14%.

America will spend more on war and increase it's already unsustainable levels of debt.

What are the risks of escalation and more countries becoming involved in the conflict? 

The risk that American or Israeli casualties will lead to demands for further military action.
The risk that Russia will become more involved in the conflict than just arming Assad.
The risk that China will respond with economic actions - e.g. selling U.S. Treasuries.

World War 1 started with a very minor event - the assassination of an Arch Duke in Serbia, the escalation and declarations of war spread like wildfire.
What are the risks of starting something akin to World War 3?
There are quite a few countries lined up on each side. See this

Dangerous Crossroads. A War on Syria, Prelude to a World War III Scenario?
http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2013/08/dangerous-crossroads-a-war-on-syria-prelude-to-a-world-war-iii-scenario.html

I am sure I have missed quite a few of the possible adverse consequences of direct military action in Syria. 

The above are just some of them. 

Other

America also lacks the moral authority to act. 

It condoned and assisted Saddam's chemical weapon attacks on Iran. 

It turned a blind eye to Saddam's gassing 5,000 Kurds. 

It didn't condemn Israel's recent use of white phosphorous in Gaza. 

It used chemical weapons in Vietnam - Napalm and Agent Orange. 

It recently used depleted Uranium in Iraq which is causing hundreds of birth defects in Fallujah and Basra. 

It recently used white phosphorous in Fallujah.    

Nobody knows which of these risks will actually happen - at least some of them undoubtedly will.

America will create more enemies of America if it proceeds with military action in Syria. 

Public opinion around the world is against it (I am not just referring to Muslim countries). 

It will aid China in gaining more and stronger economic allies throughout the world. 

It will aid China's rise and America's decline in relative global power.  

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It is very difficult to sort out fact from fiction in Syria - this comment immediately censored by Huffington Po

It is very difficult to sort out fact from fiction in Syria. 

Both sides in the conflict have committed multiple atrocities and continue to do so.

To say that one side is better than the other is just propaganda. 
There are no "good guys" in the Syrian conflict. 

Both sides are cold blooded ruthless murderers and thugs. 

America should stay out of it. 

They certainly should not be helping to install another Islamic Extremist regime in the ME as they are currently doing. 
It is not in the best interests of America. 

But hey when did that ever stop anything when the warmongers can smell there is money to be made - look at Iraq. 
It's only taxpayers that are going to end up footing the bill - but they don't make huge campaign contributions like the arms companies do.

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Team Sunni vs Team Shia in Syria

Syria started out as legitimate peaceful protests by Syrians with legitimate grievances against the Assad regime.

It has now turned into a bloody, vicious war operating on many levels.

U.S. vs Russia
Saudi Arabia vs Iran
Sunni Muslims vs Shia Muslims

The full Team Sunni line up :-
Sunni Islamic Extremists - the "rebels" many of which are foreigners, e.g. Libyans
U.S.
Saudi Arabia
Qatar
France
Turkey
Israel
UK (only non-direct military logistical support is now possible after the UK Parliament's vote on 08/29)
Jordan (Jordan is being used as a base by America to train up insurgents - around 300 are reported to be on the Syrian border or may have already entered Syria)

The full Team Shia line up :-
Assad
Russia
Iran
China
Shia extremists, including groups such as HezBollah

Neutrals

The Arab League
Egypt (under it's new military rulers - the Muslim Brotherhood were on Team Sunni)

100,000 people have already been killed in the bloody Syrian war.
Multiple atrocities have been committed by both sides.

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Comment Immediately censored by Huffington Post - Possible Syrian False Flag attack should be investigated

The following allegations should be thoroughly investigated before launching any attack on Syria. 

"The U.S. was offering enormous sums of money for a false flag chemical weapons attack"
http://www.mathaba.net/news/?x=633428

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Israel Grants First Golan Heights Oil Drilling License To Dick Cheney, Jacob Rothschild, Rupert Murdoch Linked Company

Israel has granted a U.S. company the first license to explore for oil and gas in the occupied Golan Heights, John Reed of the Financial Times reports.

A local subsidiary of the New York-listed company Genie Energy — which is advised by former vice president Dick Cheney and whose shareholders include Jacob Rothschild and Rupert Murdoch — will now have exclusive rights to a 153-square mile radius in the southern part of the Golan Heights.

That geographic location will likely prove controversial. Israel seized the Golan Heights in the Six-Day War in 1967 and annexed the territory in 1981. Its administration of the area — which is not recognized by international law — has been mostly peaceful until the Syrian civil war broke out 23 months ago.

"This action is mostly political – it’s an attempt to deepen Israeli commitment to the occupied Golan Heights," Israeli political analyst Yaron Ezrahi told FT. "The timing is directly related to the fact that the Syrian government is dealing with violence and chaos and is not free to deal with this problem.”

Read more at:-
http://www.businessinsider.com/israel-grants-golan-heights-oil-license-2013-2#ixzz2dC0y3AFP

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The facts behind the conflict in Syria that Obama does not want you to see Updated 09/27

The surface explanation of Syria
On one side of the Syrian conflict we have Assad, backed by Russia and Iran - a cold blooded ruthless murderer. 
On the other side of the Syrian conflict we have the Islamic Extremist insurgents - backed by the U.S. Saudi Arabia and Qatar - cold blooded ruthless murderers.

There is ZERO evidence that Assad was behind the recent chemical weapons attack in Damascus. 
It would be entirely against his interests - it has been telegraphed that this would bring about overt Western intervention. 

On the other hand the Islamic Extremists have every reason to stage a False Flag attack. 
They have access to chemicals captured from Assad's stockpiles some months ago. 
They have the means of launching them over short distances (mortar / light artillery range). 
They have already used chemical weapons according to the chief UN Weapons inspector Carla Del Ponte - from May. 
Assad has now formally asked the UN to investigate three other possible uses of chemical weapons by the insurgents. 

There have already been 100,000 people killed by pieces of metal and explosives in Syria's civil war. 
I fail to see how another 1,000 people getting killed by something else makes much of a difference. 
So the Americans are going to try and stop Syrians from killing each other with chemicals, by killing Syrians with cruise missiles instead?

The only realistic way to reduce the level of bloodshed and killing in Syria would be for America, Qatar and Saudi Arabia to stop arming and funding the Islamic Extremist insurgents. 
The insurgents would wither away without foreign support.

So America and the UK start launching cruise missiles at Syria on behalf of the Islamic Extremists.

The cruise missiles are to target Syrian military bases.
Why won't Assad leave chemical stockpiles at military bases likely to be targeted?
The resultant release of chemical agents could kill many thousands of civilians.

Russia gives Syria more powerful missiles. 

Syria fires missiles at American warships or the British base in Cyprus - in  a retaliatory action for self defense. 

What happens if the Syrians sink an American warship or cause major casualties in Cyprus? 

Is this what Obama and Cameron want to happen?

Even the architect of the Syrian war plan, doubts that the use of cruise missiles will work
But that is of little concern to the politicians pushing for war.

Quite rightly the public is overwhelmingly against getting more involved in the Neocon war in Syria. 
60% of Americans are against U.S. military intervention in Syria.
Only 9% are for it. See this 
Judging by the comments on the BBC website on 27th August, Brits are even more overwhelmingly against it.

So the media are launching a massive propaganda campaign full of lies, half truths, obfuscations and omissions, to try and persuade more people to accept it.
Exactly like the massive propaganda campaign for the Iraq invasion in 2002/2003 - which was a complete pack of lies.

The Real Reasons for the conflict in Syria 

Escalating the violence and tensions in the Middle East and overt military action in Syria is obviously a very good way of increasing arms spending in both America and the UK.
Britain has dropped out of the top 5 arms exporting countries and I didn't see any news reports of any new arms or trade deals with India from Cameron's visit and sales pitch earlier this year.
Perhaps the arms companies are pressuring again to start some more wars.

If you want to understand what goes on in the world, you have to ignore the political spin and rhetoric such as "humanitarian concerns" and play "Follow the Money" instead.
The vast majority of why certain things happened, or didn't happen, or are being pushed to happen are then easily explained in the vast majority of cases.

The Americans, Qatar and Saudi Arabia are already arming and funding the Islamic Extremists insurgents in Syria. A fact never mentioned in the Western media.

The simplest way of reducing the bloodshed and violence in Syria would of course be for America, Saudi Arabia and Qatar to stop arming and funding the Islamic Extremist insurgents in Syria.
The insurgents would wither away without foreign support.
But there is no profit in Peace.

Arming the insurgents is itself an illegal act under international law - there is no UN resolution to authorise it.
It is also unconstitutional - acts of war can only be authorized by Congress and no such debate or vote has been held.

Qatar and Saudi Arabia are arming the Islamic Extremist insurgents quite openly, with the full support of the American government.

In case anyone has any doubts that America is also already arming the insurgents:-
There was a major CIA operation to smuggle Gaddafi's arms out of Benghazi to Syria, via Turkey.
That's why there is a continuing cover up of the circumstances of the murder of Ambassador Christopher Stevens. See this
That's why there were 35 CIA agents in the "annex" near to the rented villa that Christopher Stevens was using to hold his meetings in Benghazi.
That's why the survivors of the 35 CIA agents are being subject to monthly or bi-monthly polygraph tests, to ensure they do not speak to members of Congress or leak to the Press. See this

William Hague and the White House are playing down UN involvement to authorise an attack on Syria.
They know it will never happen - Russia and China will veto it.
Putin rejects Saudi offfer to drop Assad for rich arms and oil deal

Whether or not America intervenes in Syria, the decision will have absolutely nothing to do with any humanitarian concerns or any uses of chemical weapons.
They are just the PR excuses and political spin to try and persuade more of the gullible into accepting an escalation of Western involvement in the Syrian civil war.

Syria is part of the Neocon agenda to destabilize the entire Middle East and to force regime change in six Middle Eastern countries.
It has been in the planning since 1991 and was published in PNAC - the Neocon agenda in 1997.
General Wesley Clark, 2004 Presidential candidate, on the Neocon policy coup in Washington DC.

It is also part of the Neocon agenda to complete the Corporate take over of America.
Bill Moyers essay: The End Game for democracy

And to shred the Bill of Rights and institute a Police State in America

The sub texts to the escalation of the civil war in Syria are :-

The sectarian war between Sunni and Shia Muslims which is now going on in the Middle East (just like Protestants and Catholics fought several wars in Europe during the 1500's / 1600's).

The regional power struggle between Saudi Arabia and Iran.

The proposed Iran-Iraq-Syria gas pipeline
This pipeline will run from Iran's South Pars gas field which is the largest in the world and exit on the coast of Syria or Lebanon.
The deal for this was signed on 25th July 2013 between Iran, Iraq and Syria.
This deal is absolutely against the interests of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey and Israel.
http://ian56.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/the-iran-iraq-syria-gas-pipeline.html

The proposed plans to build a gas pipeline from the Gulf States through Syria and Turkey to Europe.

The proposed plan to build an oil pipeline from Northern Iraq to Israel or Jordan and bypass the straits of Hormuz.
This has been on the books since Rumsfeld worked for Reagan (circa 1983 vintage).

Neither of these pipeline plans are remotely viable given conditions on the ground - they are too vulnerable to sabotage.
That's why the Iraq oil pipeline plan is no further advanced now, than it was before the Iraq invasion in 2003.
But viability never stopped the Neocons from coming up with stupid plans in the past.

Israel wants to destroy Syria as a viable regional power.
But for the life of me I cannot understand why Israel thinks it will help them to have a violent unstable country on their border, ruled by Islamic Extremists. They complain about Iran enough.
Syria will be unstable for decades if the Islamic Extremists ever do take control (like Iraq and Libya still are).

Russia does not want the Qatari/Saudi gas pipeline built.
It will affect their near monopoly position of supplying gas to the whole of Europe, through the pipeline via Ukraine to Germany.

Russia wants to keep it's naval base in Tartus, Syria.
While not in any way large, it is the only base that Russia has in the Mediterranean.
The only other foreign military base that Russia now has is at Sebastopol on the Black Sea, which it is leasing from Ukraine. This base is massive.
Other than that Russia only has the large naval facility in Murmansk, which gets iced in during the winter and the naval base at Vladivostok - opposite Japan.

Originally Syria started out with peaceful protests with valid grievances against the Assad regime.
Since snipers started firing on and killing some of the peaceful protesters, Syria has escalated into a bloody civil war.
It has also escalated into a bloody civil war ever since John McCain went to Syria in April 2012 to meet with the Islamic Extremists insurgents.
The main protagonists against Assad are Sunni Islamic Extremists and a lot of them are foreign fighters - just like the situation in Iraq after the American invasion.

Due to the stupid American actions in Syria, we now have the following ridiculous situation :-
Iraqi "insurgents" can cross the border into Syria, become "rebels" and pick up American arms, then cross back to Iraq and become "insurgents" again to further destabilize Iraq.
Violence in Iraq is increasing.
I fail to see how that helps anyone.

The fact that Western media calls anti-government fighters in Iraq "insurgents" but anti-government fighters in Syria "rebels" is itself propaganda.
They are both insurgents.

Nobody knows the circumstances around the release of chemical weapons in Syria, but the warmongers cannot even wait for the preliminary results of the UN inspection team.
America has a very long history of conducting False Flag operations in order to start wars

Addenda 

Somebody else's dispassionate assessment of the situation in Syria - from Bob SmithWalker 
Syria - Back to the Stone Age and Beyond

From June - Syria Chemical Weapons Used ..... But Used By Whom?

Update 08/28

The following allegations should be thoroughly investigated before launching any attack on Syria.
"The U.S. was offering enormous sums of money for a false flag chemical weapons attack"
http://www.mathaba.net/news/?x=633428

Update 08/29

CBS : Syria has just received Russia's MOST ADVANCED Anti Ship Missile System
http://youtu.be/p6GVSNiT-xE

22 Reasons Why Starting World War 3 In The Middle East Is A Really Bad Idea
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2013-08-28/22-reasons-why-starting-world-war-3-middle-east-really-bad-idea

Alan Grayson: attacking Syria is the "wrong decision," Obama "boxed himself in" w/the "redline"
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023556530

The Wheels Just Came Off the Syria War Wagon
http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2013/08/the-wheels-just-came-off-the-syrian-war-wagon.html

U.S. Admits It Has No Idea WHO Carried Out Syrian Chemical Weapons Attack
Did a rogue low level officer order the chemical weapons attack?
http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2013/08/u-s-admits-it-has-no-idea-who-carried-out-syrian-chemical-weapons-attack.html

Updates 08/30 

The UK Parliament votes against taking any military action in Syria.
David Cameron says he will abide by the wishes of the British Parliament and the British people.

Dozens of protests are being organized throughout the U.S. on 8/31
A list of events
http://interoccupy.net/blog/map-of-nowarwithsyria-protests/

An Alan Grayson petition against military action in Syria has been started.
Petition: "The Administration is considering intervening in the Syrian civil war. We oppose this. There's no vital national security involved, even if the Syrian government is proved to have deliberately used chemical weapons, which is a big "if." The evidence put forward so far on the deliberate use of chemical weapons by the Syrian government is ambiguous at best. What is not ambiguous is that defense contractor Raytheon's stock is up 20% in the last 60 days. It seems that nobody wants US intervention in Syria except the military-industrial complex. I oppose US military intervention in Syria. Join me."
http://dontattacksyria.com/

Lobby your Congressmen to support Thomas Massie's HR2507 War Powers Protection Act
This forces Obama to hold a full debate in Congress with a full vote to obtain a declaration of war before any attacks on Syria are carried out.
Don't let Obama bypass Congress.
Give your Congressmen the information contained in this article - the great majority of them won't know most of it.

Thomas Massie : "When you deliver missiles into somebody’s country, that is an act of war."

Contact details for Congress - including email/Twitter/Facebook details
http://ian56.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/contact-details-for-representatives-and.html

Russia again says it will fulfill S-300 missile deal with Syria | Times of Israel June 20th
S-300 missiles can take out cruise missiles. 
They can be unloaded from a transport plane and be operational in as little as an hour.
http://toi.sr/UrzR96

Syrians in Ghouta Claim Saudi-Supplied Rebels Behind Chemical Attack

Update 09/21 Dale Gavlak has requested that her name be removed from the article because she had no part in researching it.
http://brown-moses.blogspot.com/2013/09/more-from-dale-gavlak-on-mint-press.html?spref=tw

Abdel-Moneim said his son and 12 other rebels were killed inside of a tunnel used to store weapons provided by a Saudi militant, known as Abu Ayesha, who was leading a fighting battalion. The father described the weapons as having a “tube-like structure” while others were like a “huge gas bottle.”

Ghouta townspeople said the rebels were using mosques and private houses to sleep while storing their weapons in tunnels.

Abdel-Moneim said his son and the others died during the chemical weapons attack. That same day, the militant group Jabhat al-Nusra, which is linked to al-Qaida, announced that it would similarly attack civilians in the Assad regime’s heartland of Latakia on Syria’s western coast, in purported retaliation.

“They didn’t tell us what these arms were or how to use them,” complained a female fighter named ‘K.’ “We didn’t know they were chemical weapons. We never imagined they were chemical weapons.”

“When Saudi Prince Bandar gives such weapons to people, he must give them to those who know how to handle and use them,” she warned. She, like other Syrians, do not want to use their full names for fear of retribution.

A well-known rebel leader in Ghouta named ‘J’ agreed. “Jabhat al-Nusra militants do not cooperate with other rebels, except with fighting on the ground. They do not share secret information. They merely used some ordinary rebels to carry and operate this material,” he said.

“We were very curious about these arms. And unfortunately, some of the fighters handled the weapons improperly and set off the explosions,” ‘J’ said.

http://landdestroyer.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/syrians-in-ghouta-claim-saudi-supplied_29.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iz0TxVmq3-Q&feature=youtu.be

“Flash Mob of Protests”: “No War With Syria” Rallies Planned in Over 70 Cities for Saturday, 8/31
http://wtfrly.com/2013/08/29/flash-mob-of-protests-no-war-with-syria-rallies-planned-in-over-70-cities-for-saturday-831/#.UiEtr_upr3i.twitter

Updates 08/31

Syria: A Colossal Foreign Policy Blunder That Obama Can Still Avoid
http://wp.me/p1gI5E-1Iv

How the "teams" line up in Syria's Sunni vs Shia "civil war"
http://ian56.blogspot.com/2013/08/the-syrian-civil-war-explained.html

PNAC's neocon agenda continues unabated under Barack Obama
http://ian56.blogspot.com/2012/12/pnacs-neocon-agenda-continues-unabated.html

The pay offs have already started
Israel Grants First Golan Heights Oil Drilling License To Dick Cheney, Jacob Rothschild, Rupert Murdoch Linked Company
http://ian56.blogspot.com/2013/08/israel-grants-first-golan-heights-oil.html

Updates 09/01

The Geneva II peace talks have been cancelled because of the escalation of the war in Syria.
The resumption of these talks at least offers the possibility of a way forward.
More warmongering has the opposite effect.
Putin has said that Syria should be discussed at the G20 meeting in St Petersberg on September 5th/6th.
Putin has also requested that the American evidence on the chemical weapons in Damascus be presented to the UN Security Council.

The real reasons Obama pulled back from Syria - international isolation plus pressure from Congress & the public
http://nyti.ms/17qSqSV

Contested areas in Syria's civil war as at August 22nd

In Syria, it's a case of all or nothing 
http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/in-syria-its-a-case-of-all-or-nothing-8792975.html

The risks of retaliatory actions and adverse consequences from an American attack on Syria  
http://ian56.blogspot.com/2013/09/the-risks-of-retaliatory-actions-and.html

'Moral superpower'? Give me a break | Haaretz
Reports from Syria are apparently mainly tendentious. No one knows what exactly is going on, or the identity of the good guys and the bad guys, if they can be thus defined. We should listen to the sharp words of a nun from Syria, Sister Agnes-Mariam de la Croix, who complained to me over the weekend - from the Jerusalem monastery where she is staying on her way back from Malaysia to Syria - about the world press. Sister Agnes-Mariam described the picture differently than most: There are some 150,000 foreign jihadists in Syria, she says, and they are responsible for most of the atrocities. The Assad regime is the only one that can stop them, and the only thing the world must do is stop the flow of fighters and arms to them. “I don’t understand what the world wants. To help Al-Qaida? To establish a jihadist state in Syria?” This mother superior, whose monastery is located along the road from Damascus to Homs, is certain that an American strike will only strengthen the jihadists. “That is what the world wants? Another Afghanistan?” 

Perhaps the world knows what it wants, perhaps it doesn’t. But one thing now seems clear: another American attack of choice could become another disaster. 
http://www.haaretz.com/opinion/1.544607

Updates 09/02 

Islamic Extremist terrorist group Al-Nusra operating in Turkey with chemical weapons & Sarin gas.
Al-Nusra are the main insurgent fighting group operating in Syria.
http://mobile.reuters.com/article/idUSBRE94T0YO20130530?irpc=932

Alan Grayson explains why America should not attack Syria

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvY8b4qZabY&feature=youtu.be 

The U.S. prohibition on providing support to Al-Nusra, which the U.S., Saudi Arabia and Qatar are already blatantly flouting. 

http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2012/12/201759.htm#.UiOztYVrCFJ.twitter

Updates 09/03 

The Disastrous Consequences of a U.S. Military Attack on Syria by Ann Wright - former U.S. Diplomat
http://ian56.blogspot.com/2013/09/the-disastrous-consequences-of-us.html

How Congress is lining up
Lobby the Leaning No and Undecideds to vote NO on military action in Syria
Click on the dots to see the names in each column
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2013/09/02/where-the-votes-stand-on-syria/

Point-By-Point Rebuttal of U.S. Case for War In Syria 
http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2013/09/point-by-point-rebuttal-of-u-s-case-for-war-in-syria.html

Heat from House Democrats on WH's Syria Conference Call
Rep. Rick Nolan (D-Minn.) compared Syria to Vietnam
http://demu.gr/10023582227

UN Chief : Military strikes in Syria could produce more turmoil and would be illegal
http://bigstory.ap.org/article/un-chief-strike-syria-may-unleash-more-turmoil

Updates 09/04

Doubts About Who Is Using Chemical Weapons in Syria
Excellent write up on the various possibilities and previous attacks
http://shar.es/zLacc

CIA Analyst Exposes Syrian War Lobbyists - Michael Scheuer
http://ian56.blogspot.com/2013/09/cia-analyst-exposes-syrian-war.html

Syrian Sunni Islamic Extremists fought & killed Americans in Iraq and now America is supporting the same people - what gives?
http://ian56.blogspot.com/2013/09/syrian-sunni-islamic-extremists-fought.html

Asia Times Online :: US: The indispensable (bombing) nation:
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/MID-01-030913.html#.Uibw2QL-Q1h.twitter

This is an unconfirmed story. We await to find out if it's true.
Ex Syrian Defense Minister defects to Turkey. 
A prelude to a Russian initiative to broker a peace deal?
http://www.yalibnan.com/2013/09/04/ex-syrian-defense-minister-defects-to-turkey/

Updates 09/12
Putin's powerful Op-Ed in the NY Times about the Rule of Law and how to improve international relations 
http://nyti.ms/1eFFMCQ

Updates 09/15
Syrian Rebels Say Saudi Arabia Is Stepping Up Weapons Deliveries
http://nyti.ms/19N075C

Military Times Survey: 75% of Troops Oppose Strikes on Syria
http://libertyblitzkrieg.com/2013/09/13/military-times-survey-75-of-troops-oppose-strikes-on-syria/

The People Against the 800 Pound Gorilla » CounterPunch: Tells the Facts, Names the Names
Israel lobbying for war
http://www.counterpunch.org/2013/09/13/the-people-against-the-800-pound-gorilla/

The crisis in Syria was predictable 2 years ago
http://original.antiwar.com/justin/2011/08/18/d-day-for-damascus/#.UjWRrOlzkow.twitter

The Cost Of Striking Syria: 4 Lessons From Iraq And Afghanistan
The expanding and long term costs of starting wars
http://wbur.fm/1gipKgh

Chomsky on Syria: The Idea That the US Enforces International Law is ‘Hardly Even a Joke’
Obama is trying to rewrite American history
http://antiwar.com/blog/2013/09/12/chomsky-on-syria-the-idea-that-the-us-enforces-international-law-is-hardly-even-a-joke/

Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov on Russian TV : the chemical weapons attack "was fabricated"
Reports of the "insurgents being supplied with chemical agents from outside Syria should be investigated by the UN and blocked"
http://rt.com/news/lavrov-syria-agreement-chemical-868/

U.S. Corporate interests manipulating & writing UN reports on Syria
http://ian56.blogspot.com/2013/09/us-corporate-interests-manipulating.html

The contortions being performed in the American/Russian negotiations over Syria
http://ian56.blogspot.com/2013/09/the-contortions-being-performed-in.html

Updates 09/17

Qatar has spent $3bn so far in arming the Islamic Extremist insurgents, while spending a paltry $2.7 million on humanitarian aid.
Saudi Arabia has spent even more than Qatar in arming the insurgents.
It's not known how much America has so far spent in arming and training insurgent fighters.
http://wp.me/p1jVkN-UR

How will security for up to 2,000 UN weapons inspectors be provided in the middle of a war zone in Syria?
"Unnamed Pentagon sources" say up to 75,000 armed troops will be needed - a backdoor route to get American boots on the ground?
http://ian56.blogspot.com/2013/09/how-will-security-for-up-to-2000-un.html

Updates 09/21

Former British Ambassador - Mossad fabricated evidence on chemical weapon in Syria
http://wallofcontroversy.wordpress.com/2013/09/02/further-reasons-to-doubt-assad-regime-was-behind-ghouta-attack/

Bandar Bush buying votes in Congress for war in Syria
http://www.strategic-culture.org/news/2013/09/21/bandar-bush-buys-votes-for-war-on-syria.html

German Intelligence does not believe that Assad sanctioned the chemical weapon attack in Damascus
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2013/09/09/201515/intercepts-caught-assad-rejecting.html

Moderates comprise only 20-25% of the insurgents in Syria
(From Jane's weekly so this estimate is likely to be on the high side.)
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2013/09/19/202698/islamists-rise-in-syria-undercuts.html#.Uj3Y9sacckg

The Geopolitics of Gas and the Syrian Crisis: Syrian “Opposition” Armed to Thwart Construction of Iran-Iraq-Syria Gas Pipeline
http://ian56.blogspot.com/2013/09/the-geopolitics-of-gas-and-syrian.html

Robert Fisk in the UK's Independent newspaper  

There is something deeply cynical about this chemical weapons ‘timetable’

Turkey’s Syria Nightmare Goes From Bad to Worse 

http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2013/09/al-qaeda-syria-turkey-nightmare-border.html

Updates 09/22
One nun puts entire US intel community to shame over 'stage-managed' Syria footage
http://rt.com/op-edge/syria-chemical-weapons-children-063/

Updates 09/27
Senator John McCain, Foreign Relations “Adviser” to Al Qaeda Death Squads in Syria
http://www.globalresearch.ca/senator-john-mccain-foreign-relations-adviser-to-al-qaeda-death-squads-in-syria/5348383

Draft UN resolution on Syria chemical weapons as agreed by U.S. and Russia
Does PP9 mean that Saudi Arabia will be investigated for supplying chemical weapons to Islamic Extremist insurgents?
This resolution is being filed under Chapter 7 which allows penalties for violations that include sanctions and the use of force.
Other reports state that a second resolution (which Russia would veto) would be required to allow the use of force, but I can't see this in the wording. Awaiting clarification.
Does clause 21 mean that UN action will be taken against the insurgents in the event that they are shown to use chemical weapons in the future?
Specifically not included is any statement that Assad or the Syrian regime was responsible for the chemical weapons attack in Damascus in 21st August.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/09/27/us-un-assembly-resolution-text-idUSBRE98Q01520130927

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