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Post by Daniel on Apr 11, 2018 11:09:43 GMT -5
US, France, UK prepare air, navy units for sustained assault in Syria
April 10, 2018 Debka.com
US President Donald Trump’s “major decision” on Syria is contingent on the rallying of sufficient air and naval strength and allied participation. DEBKAfile’s military sources report that the only US warship immediately available for the promised US military response to Bashar Assad’s use of chemical weapons in Douma is the guided missile destroyer USS Donald Cook, which sailed from Larnaca Monday, April 9, on its way to the eastern Mediterranean. The USS Iwo Jima strike group, which visited Haifa last month, is now cruising in the Arabian Sea, days away from the scene, whereas the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group only departs the US port for the Middle East on Wednesday, April 11, and is not due in the Mediterranean before next week.
The Trump administration is negotiating with Britain, France and other allies, including Arab governments, for their roles in the Syrian operation. Our Washington sources report that the commander-in-chief is looking at a major operation in Syria, to unfold over several days and lead to a concerted allied assault on the Iranian military presence embedded in that country. This extended goal may give US allies pause.
more www.debka.com/us-france-uk-prepare-air-navy-units-for-sustained-assault-in-syria/
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Post by Daniel on Apr 14, 2018 8:44:48 GMT -5
Not shock and awe: U.K., U.S. and France opt for limited option in Syria
By Seth J. Frantzman April 14, 2018
President Donald Trump announced air strikes saying that the US does not want maintain an “indefinite” presence in Syria.
UK Prime Minister Theresa May announced air strikes on Syria by declaring that they were not about “intervening in the civil war or regime change.” She said they were a limited and targeted strike.
The US and France have both stressed that this is a limited action, and in so doing indicate that the momentous air strikes on Syria are not a version of “shock and awe,” the term Washington used in 2003 when announcing the attack on Saddam Hussein.
US Secretary of Defense James Mattis characterized the more than 100 Tomahawk cruise missiles fired at Syria as a “one time shot” and said that “right now we have no additional attacks planned.”
In Paris, Emmanuel Macron said the strike was limited to hitting the “Syrian regime’s capabilities to produce and use chemical weapons.”
This proportionate, limited and targeted response sends a message to Russia that the three Western allies do not want a wider war. It also allowed Moscow to save face by not requiring it to get deeply involved.
more www.jpost.com/Middle-East/Not-shock-and-awe-UK-US-and-France-opt-for-limited-option-in-Syria-549773
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Post by Daniel on Apr 14, 2018 9:34:59 GMT -5
‘Mission Accomplished’ in Syria, Trump declares after strikes
By Robert Burns, Jill Colvin and Zeke Miller April 14, 2018
WASHINGTON (AP) — Allied missiles struck at the heart of Syrian chemical weapons arsenal in a show of force and resolve aimed at punishing the Assad government for a suspected poison gas attack against civilians and deterring the possible future use of such banned weapons.
“A perfectly executed strike,” President Donald Trump tweeted Saturday in the aftermath of his second decision in two years to fire missiles against Syria. “Could not have had a better result. Mission Accomplished!”
His choice of words recalled a similar claim associated with President George W. Bush following the US-led invasion of Iraq. Bush addressed sailors aboard a ship in May 2003 alongside a “Mission Accomplished” banner, just weeks before it became apparent that Iraqis had organized an insurgency that tied down US forces for years.
Syria’s chief allies, Russia and Iran, called the use of force by the United States, Britain and France a “military crime” and “act of aggression” with the potential to worsen a humanitarian crisis after years of civil war. The UN Security Council planned to meet later Saturday at Moscow’s request.
"A perfectly executed strike last night. Thank you to France and the United Kingdom for their wisdom and the power of their fine Military. Could not have had a better result. Mission Accomplished!"
— Donald J. Trump (@realdonaldtrump) April 14, 2018"
more www.timesofisrael.com/mission-accomplished-in-syria-trump-declares-after-strikes/
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Post by Daniel on Apr 15, 2018 9:04:55 GMT -5
Haley: US 'locked and loaded' if Syria uses poison gas again
Arutz Sheva Staff, 14/04/18
US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley on Saturday told the UN Security Council that the US is "locked and loaded" to strike if Syrian President Bashar al-Assad uses chemical weapons again.
"The United States of America will not allow the Assad regime to continue to use chemical weapons. Last night, we obliterated the major research facility that it used to assemble weapons of mass murder," Haley said at the meeting, which was called by Russia.
"I spoke to the president this morning and he said if the Syrian regime uses this poisonous gas again, the United States is locked and loaded."
"When our our president draws a red line, our president enforces the red line.
more www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/244401
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