Rumors of War: Syria?

There are a lot of rumors floating around today regarding the possibility of significant involvement in Syria, beginning with a "no-fly" zone, exactly as seen in the early stages of Libya:

U.S. urges Americans to leave Syria "immediately"

The U.S. Embassy in Damascus urged its citizens in Syria to depart "immediately," and Turkey's foreign ministry urged Turkish pilgrims to opt for flights to return home from Saudi Arabia to avoid traveling through Syria.

"The U.S. Embassy continues to urge U.S. citizens in Syria to depart immediately while commercial transportation is available," said a statement issued to the American community in Syria Wednesday and posted on the Embassy's website.

And then we see this from ZeroHedge:

"No Fly Zone" Over Syria Imminent?

Roughly six months after the imposition of the No Fly Zone over Libya, which ultimately led to the liberation of the country's Light Sweet Crude and the placement of an Eni SpA executive (Italy's largest oil company) as Libya's oil minister and also had a side effect of getting Gaddafi murdered in broad daylight by the reformed freedom fighters, the script is about to be rewound from the beginning, and a few thousand miles east, this time next to explosive powderkeg Syria.

Albawaba news, which cites Kuwait's al Rai daily, reports that Arab jet fighters, and possibly Turkish warplanes, backed by American logistic support will implement a no fly zone in Syria's skies, after the Arab League will issue a decision, under its Charter, calling for the protection of Syrian civilians.

In other words, foreign countries will take it upon themselves to do what only America has done with impunity so far: decide what is best for a given sovereign nation's population.

Or, also known as "Responsibility to Protect". This powder-keg in Syria may end up being much larger than previously thought:

Which then leads to a sobering conclusion: if indeed Europe and the Western world is dead set upon an aerial campaign above Syria, then all eyes turn to the East, and specifically Russia and China, which have made it very clear they will not tolerate any intervention.

And naturally the biggest unknown of all is Iran, which has said than any invasion of Syria will be dealt with swiftly and severely.

These quotes below come directly from Al Bawaba

Senior European sources said that Arab jet fighters, and possibly Turkish warplanes, backed by American logistic support will implement a no fly zone in Syria's skies, after the Arab League will issue a decision, under its Charter, calling for the protection of Syrian civilians.

The sources told Kuwait's al Rai daily that the no fly ban will include a ban on the movement of Syrian military vehicles, including tanks, personnel carriers and artillery, adding that this move would aim at curbing the movement of Assad forces, and cripple their ability to bomb cities. The European sources said the no fly ban might lead to the paralysis of the Syrian regime forces "in less than 24 hours."

Meanwhile, it is reported that the leadership of the Turkish General Staff informed all the concerned parties with the Syrian issue its rejection of the idea that the Turkish army would launch any invasion to the Syrian territory including the area adjacent to the Turkish border to establish a "buffer zone" to protect civilians fleeing the violence.

And from Washington's Blog:

Is the U.S. About to Invade Syria...and Pick a Fight with China and Russia?

This is even more dangerous because China has warned the U.S. against attacking Syria, and Russia has reportedly moved warships into Syrian waters to defend Syria from a U.S. attack.

Relations between the U.S. and Russia have degraded recently. See this and this. This is largely due to the U.S. threatening war against any nation which becomes an economic rival.

For the first time in many months, [the aircraft carrier] CVN 77 George H.W. Bush has left its traditional theater of operations just off the Straits of Hormuz, a critical choke point, where it traditionally accompanies the Stennis, and has parked… right next to Syria.

And this:

As Predicted, Arab League and Turkey Reportedly Plan No-Fly Zone Over Syria With U.S. Logistical Support

This article contains a number of good links. After repeating some of the same information as above, we see this:

Israeli news outlet YNet News said that the plan is already complete and that it will not only restrict the movement of the Syrian military but also follow Assad’s Presidential Palace, military command and intelligence activities.

These countries making such a decision to intervene in Syria while knowing that it very well could spark a larger conflict with Russia and perhaps China is beyond any and all reason.

The looming issue is that the countries involved could bring the wrath of countries like Russia and China on their heads for intervening in Syria, and as Assad has previously said, it could very well lead to an “earthquake” in the region if the West intervenes.

If the plan materializes, which it looks like it will if al Rai’s reporting is accurate, the Obama administration will likely use the same ridiculous justification they used in the case of Libya, claiming that it does not amount to “hostilities” under the War Powers Act.

What is even more worrisome is that Russia and China might not be the only ones involved in opposing intervention in Syria.

Indeed in mid-August the spokesman for the Iranian foreign ministry, Ramin Mehmanparast, warned against any Western intervention in Syria.

Also see this related article:

Medvedev takes aim at U.S. missile shield, targeting also Israel's missile defenses

After deploying three warships in Syrian waters, Moscow continues to beat war drums against the United States followed closely by Tehran. Wednesday, Nov. 23, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev told state television:

"I have ordered the armed forces to develop measures to ensure if necessary that we can destroy the command and control systems" of the planned US missile-defense system in Europe.

DEBKAfile's military sources report that the US missile shield's command and control systems which the Russian president spoke of destroying are linked directly to Israel's missile defense network against Iranian, Syria and Hizballah missiles and the X-Band radar station located in the southern Israeli Negev.

Medvedev's threat to American "command and control systems" was therefore comprehensive.

It referred not just to the US anti-missile shield facilities planned for Europe, but also to preparing measures for use ("if necessary") - in the course of a possible American or Israeli attack on Iran or Syria - for striking the US missile defense systems in Europe before they can intercept Iranian missiles.

Knocking out the European shield would leave Israel completely exposed to Iranian missile attack.

In a very few terse words, the Russian president has made it clear that the Kremlin will not allow Iran and its Middle East allies be prevented from missile retaliation in the event of war.

That threat also explains why at least two of the three Russian naval vessels moved into Syrian territorial waters last week were equipped for surveillance and electronic warfare, exactly what is needed for a Russian operation to destroy US missile shield command and control centers near the Syrian border, such as the one stationed in Turkey.

Is The U.S. About To Invade Syria?

Rumors of war indeed. Just as Jesus warned. The way things are going now, Syria may be on the verge of knocking Iran from the lead spot in the ever present race for the tipping point.

One thing seems certain. Assad is desperate and appears to be in his last days. Will he attack Israel as he has threatened?