America's top diplomat called his Russian counterpart Wednesday to warn that Moscow's military buildup of troops in Syria could escalate the bloody conflict there that has engulfed the region for more than four years.
The U.S. has been watching Russia's movement of military personnel with concern for several days, though the Foreign Ministry only confirmed the buildup Wednesday.
There are "Russian military experts in Syria who are instructing (the Syrians) on the use of the military systems being delivered" to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, a close Moscow ally, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a statement.
That confirmation follows repeated warnings from Secretary of State John Kerry to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov about how such activity could intensify the raging civil war there.
In a call to Lavrov Wednesday, Kerry "reiterated our concern about these reports of Russian military activities, or buildup if you will, in Syria and made very clear our view that, if true and borne out, could lead to greater violence and even more instability in Syria," State Department spokesman John Kirby told reporters.
The United States has called for al-Assad to go, but with help from Russia and Iran, al-Assad has been able to hold onto power. Yet both Moscow and Washington oppose ISIS, which has rushed to fill the vacuum caused by the extended civil war.
U.S. officials are still trying to determine the true intent behind the Russian moves in Syria, but they say the possibilities range from preparations to attack ISIS positions to the more likely scenario of attacking moderate Syrian rebel forces fighting the Syrian military.
One official watching the situation closely said the United States will continue to press for more specifics, but that Russia has still "not provided a clear answer" about its intentions in Syria.
U.S. officials said two amphibious ships have unloaded gear at the Syrian port of Tartus, though the exact nature of the cargo is unclear. U.S. satellites have also seen more than 100 Russian naval infantry troops -- the equivalent of U.S. Marines -- on the ground and dozens of vehicles.
This comes as U.S. satellites also spotted at least three Russian Antonov An-124 "Condor" planes offloading building supplies and air traffic control equipment.
While he declined to comment on any diplomatic conversations with the Iraqi government regarding Russian flights over Iraq, Kirby said the United States has asked its allies in the region "to ask some pretty tough questions of the Russians" about their intentions.
Analysts who follow the situation closely say continued Russian military involvement in Syria only increases the possibility for miscalculation, with a variety of actors currently operating inside the country.
"It not only would cause potential conflicts in the sky between (U.S.-led) coalition air forces going after ISIS targets that are in the area, but it would also risk a confrontation between Russian forces and the coalition forces," retired Air Force Col. Cedric Leighton said.
A research group within Islamic State is alleged to have developed and used warfare poisonous agents in the areas under their control. Russia's Foreign Ministry says ISIS now has the scientific documentation necessary to produce chemical weapons.
An anonymous US official cited by the BBC believes Islamic State (formerly ISIS/ISIL) has formed a group to produce toxic chemicals such as mustard and chlorine gas (mustard agent, dichloroethyl sulfide, HD blister agent).
“They're using mustard. We know they are,” BBC cited an unnamed US official as saying, adding that the use of chemical warfare by ISIS has been registered on several occasions.
“We've seen them use it on at least four separate occasions on both sides of the border – both in Iraq and Syria,” the official was quoted as saying.
According to the BBC, the US intelligence community believes that most possibly Islamic State arranged for the production of chemical agents of their own.
“We assess that they have an active chemical weapons little research cell that they're working on to try and get better at it,” the official told BBC, explaining that mustard agent is “not a complex chemical to produce.”
The Oath Keepers, a patriotic-minded grouping of individuals with military and law enforcement ties who stand fast against unconstitutional orders, have activated to Kentucky, to defend clerk Kim Davis from any unauthorized detainment by the law.
Stewart Rhodes, founder of the organization, said in a statement: “We believe the federal Distrit Court Judge David Bunning grossly overstepped his bounds and violated Mrs. Davis’ due process rights and in particulary, her right to a jury trial. This judge has assumed unto himself not just the powers of all three branches of government, but has also taken on the powers of judge, jury and ‘executioner.’ … The judge is violating the Constitution in his anger and desire to punish her for going against his will.”
Rhodes then referred to the “imperial presidency” America is experiencing under President Obama and the expanded war powers of the White House office that began under former President George W. Bush and intensified in recent years, particularly through the “unlawful combatant” tag the executive can place on any American.
“Now we see the rise of an imperial judiciary that not only legislates from the bench but is attempting to expand their “contempt” power to likewise swallow up our Bill of Rights and circumvent jury trial,” he said, in a written statement on the Oath Keepers’ website. “Both methods are used to allow the powerful office holder to merely point his finger and have his opponent thrown behind bars without a grand jury indictment and without being found guilty by a jury of their peers.”
Rhodes then said the end result “is a dictatorship, whether done by a president or by a judge.”
He wrapped: “No one man should have that kind of power in his hands alone to decide guilt and impose a sentence of indefinite detention. Under our Constitution, that dictatorial power does not exist. We must stand against this. And so we will protect her and prevent it from happening again.”
Talking Points Memo reported the group was planning to picket Bunning’s home and their overall intent was to help Davis withstand any U.S. Marshals Service attempt to take the clerk, who spent five days in jail for refusing to issue gay marriage certificates, back into custody.
Oath Keepers reported its members have been on the ground in Rowan County for over a week, and vow they will “continue to have a presence.” Rhodes, meanwhile, has been in contact with attorneys who are defending Davis and has offered them support, “to ensure she will not be illegally detained again,” the Oath Keepers reported.
Also see:
Did CERN See Another Dimension Today?? - The Daily Coin
Office Depot Accused Of Discrimination | The Daily Caller
Mere Existence of Su-35 Fighter Already Problem for US Air Superiority
Office Depot Accused Of Discrimination | The Daily Caller
Mere Existence of Su-35 Fighter Already Problem for US Air Superiority
We seem to have a problem here. An "on the ground" and a credibility problem.
ReplyDeleteThe US says we're in Syria to fight ISIS, we don't support/supply ISIS, they are butchers, and we're at war with them.
Lots of evidence say ISIS is ours, our creation, we supply and pay for this butchery.
NOw Russia goes in the same theater to really fight ISIS.
Now we start getting panicky and saying it will cause more conflict in the area and could cause direct conflict between Russia and the US. If we're both fighting the same enemy, this should be a good thing. Somebody appears to be fibbing.
Again, the Oboma, Kerry, and Clinton gang looks a little suspect.
Exactly
ReplyDeleteScott, we really are close to our redemption!
ReplyDeleteOn a happy note with all the bad news, I have another grandson just 5 days old, what happiness is a new born baby.
Scott, thank you for all your hard work. Brothers and sisters just keep looking up!
Sandra
Caver excellent analysis!
ReplyDelete