Syria unrest: 'Deadly military attack' on Latakia port - Polidicks

[url]http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-14520830[/url] [QUOTE][B]Syrian warships have joined a military assault on protesters in the northern port city of Latakia, activists say.[/B] At least 19 people have been killed in the operation, according to activists and human rights groups. Explosions and gunfire have been reported in several districts of the city which have seen large protests against the Syrian government. More than 1,700 people have reportedly died in the six-month uprising against the rule of President Bashar al-Assad. The operation began on Saturday with armoured vehicles and troops moving in. Some 20 tanks and personnel carriers were said to be taking part in the Latakia assault along with at least two gunboats. One witness told Reuters news agency by telephone: "I can see the silhouettes of two grey [naval] vessels. They are firing their guns and the impact is landing on al-Ramleh, al-Filistini and al-Shaab neighbourhoods." A report on state television denied there had been any naval shelling. Activists said at least two people were killed and 15 wounded in Saturday's attacks. They said a large number of residents had fled the city and that telephones and internet connections had been cut off. International journalists face severe restrictions in operating in Syria, and it is hard to verify reports. Thousands of people were said to have come on to the streets of Latakia on Friday to demonstrate against the government. Amateur video footage posted on the Internet also showed what appeared to be armoured personnel in the streets. Latakia has seen many anti-government protests in the past six months. Tens of thousands of people had come out on to the streets across the country again on Friday to protest. The Syrian Observatory said that a large number of troops had also moved into the Saqba and Hamriya districts of the capital Damascus on Sunday, with gunfire heard in both suburbs. Syria has come under increased diplomatic pressure in the past week to stop its crackdown on dissent. [IMG]http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/54591000/gif/_54591888_syria_latak_1408.cmp.gif[/IMG] The US has imposed sanctions on Damascus and has said these could be increased, while calling on other countries to follow. Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Kuwait have all recalled their ambassadors, while Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has described the methods used by the Syrian security forces as "unacceptable". However, it appears the crackdown has intensified, with troops storming several towns and cities. Mr Assad has reiterated promises of political reform, while remaining adamant his government would continue to pursue the "terrorist groups" he has blamed for the unrest. Protests have been targeted in Homs, Hama, Damascus, Deir al-Zour in the east, Deraa in the south and Aleppo and Idlib near Turkey's border. A doctor in Hama told the BBC that medical services there had been severely affected by recent government attacks. He said two hospitals were closed and one had been stormed by troops, injuring many of the medical staff. [/QUOTE] Okay, okay, we shouldn't be the worlds police. Got it. I just want to know why [I]no one at all is doing anything, [/I]other than recalling their ambassadors. The protesters are getting run over with tanks and shelled by warships, and yet we can all seem to turn a blind eye!? /rage rant

Is there even an official reason why we're doing something in Libya, where the people are actually fighting back, and not in Syria, where they're just massacring innocents?

[QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;31730210]Is there even an official reason why we're doing something in Libya, where the people are actually fighting back, and not in Syria, where they're just massacring innocents?[/QUOTE] IIRC, Syria's army is much larger then libya's, and NATO is already fighting 3 wars, starting a 4th isn't very economical.

[QUOTE=Trunk Monkay;31730453]IIRC, Syria's army is much larger then libya's, and NATO is already fighting 3 wars, starting a 4th isn't very economical.[/QUOTE] As if fighting one war is economical :downs:

[QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;31730210]Is there even an official reason why we're doing something in Libya, where the people are actually fighting back, and not in Syria, where they're just massacring innocents?[/QUOTE] I don't think that the public would be too supportive of a war where there are boots on the ground and those boots would most likely suffer from casualties that no American layman would find acceptable given the commonly perceived American strength in "conventional" wars. That's the attitude I commonly see.

[QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;31730512]As if fighting one war is economical :downs:[/QUOTE] Right, war is expensive, and thats why we cant over throw every dictator in the world.

[QUOTE=Trunk Monkay;31730453]IIRC, Syria's army is much larger then libya's, and NATO is already fighting 3 wars, starting a 4th isn't very economical.[/QUOTE] Isn't it because Iran backs Syria and NATO doesn't really want to have to fuck with them right now?

[QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;31730512]As if fighting one war is economical :downs:[/QUOTE] Exactly, so how in the world do you expect them to fight another

[QUOTE=OvB;31731142]Isn't it because Iran backs Syria and NATO doesn't really want to have to fuck with them right now?[/QUOTE] I think it's also because Syria, unlike Libya, doesn't have any organized rebel groups that we could help.

[QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;31730512]As if fighting one war is economical :downs:[/QUOTE] Well the United States spends $600 billion every year on their army. So they could pretty much fight 10 wars on the same time :v:

[QUOTE=Electrocuter;31731392]I think it's also because Syria, unlike Libya, doesn't have any organized rebel groups that we could help.[/QUOTE] "The people they're killing aren't organized enough, so let them die" :v:

[QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;31731441]"The people they're killing aren't organized enough, so let them die" :v:[/QUOTE] You can't give weapons and munitions to an untrained and unorganized protestors. If you are suggesting we send in infantry, well that won't happen. Plus, as said, fighting ANOTHER war is not a very good thing.

[QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;31731441]"The people they're killing aren't organized enough, so let them die" :v:[/QUOTE] Well the only way to help them without invading is if they organized themselves. I don't think we want another invasion.

If we weren't caught up with Iraq and Afghanistan I'd support intervention as long as the civilians of Syria called upon us for help.

[QUOTE=Mr. N;31731490]You can't give weapons and munitions to an untrained and unorganized protestors. If you are suggesting we send in infantry, well that won't happen. Plus, as said, fighting ANOTHER war is not a very good thing.[/QUOTE] I seriously don't want to fight another war. I don't want the wars we're already fighting. But I find the double standard annoying as well.

[QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;31731587]I seriously don't want to fight another war. I don't want the wars we're already fighting. But I find the double standard annoying as well.[/QUOTE] All of a sudden the Second Korean War started.

Syria's military is quite large, and any undertaking against them would be very expensive. To list some of there military numbers.... 2,850 tanks, T-72 being the best 1,125 amphibious light tanks/armored scout cars 2,950 IFV's, BMP-2's being the best 2,000-3,000 APC's They have 300,000 active personel with another 350,000 in reserve. There is conscription for males 15-49 years of age. In addition they also possess a number of tactical ballistic missiles and are thought of having a nuclear weapons project.

Good they need to stop this uprising before it becomes a rebellion considering the only organized resistance is fundamentalists.

[QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;31731441]"The people they're killing aren't organized enough, so let them die" :v:[/QUOTE] well you have to look at it like this, in Libya, theres an organized resistance, that are actively fighting, and Nato is helping them. There isn't much like that, that I've heard of at least, in Syria, so if we just start bombing them, there wont be any infantry to advance and overthrow the dictator.

[QUOTE=Trunk Monkay;31736520]well you have to look at it like this, in Libya, theres an organized resistance, that are actively fighting, and Nato is helping them. There isn't much like that, that I've heard of at least, in Syria, so if we just start bombing them, there wont be any infantry to advance and overthrow the dictator.[/QUOTE] So, help those defending themselves, but leave those who are defenseless?

we're not in Syria because their army would prove a formidable opponent we don't go into countries to overthrow dictators, we go into them to make sure we get the dictator that will help us [editline]14th August 2011[/editline] [QUOTE=tacticalcommand;31735568]Good they need to stop this uprising before it becomes a rebellion considering the only organized resistance is fundamentalists.[/QUOTE] i love it when people like you, whom have no idea what the fuck they're talking about, pretend to know what they're talking about

[QUOTE=JerryK;31736778]we're not in Syria because their army would prove a formidable opponent we don't go into countries to overthrow dictators, we go into them to make sure we get the dictator that will help us [editline]14th August 2011[/editline] i love it when people like you, whom have no idea what the fuck they're talking about, pretend to know what they're talking about[/QUOTE] I love it when stupid people who have no prior knowledge of any situation spurt garbage out of there mouths, backed by shit being dumped into their heads by the mainstream pro-west media.

Syria's like Iran's bitch. You mess with the bitch, the pimp's coming after you.

[QUOTE=CabooseRvB;31738359]Syria's like Iran's bitch. You mess with the bitch, the pimp's coming after you.[/QUOTE] They're allies mostly due to their anti-west stance and although Iran is more powerful Syria is not weak militarily.

oh, thats so sad.[img]http://goo.gl/OgrLN[/img] [highlight](User was permabanned for this post ("Bot" - Craptasket))[/highlight]

[QUOTE=tacticalcommand;31737921]I love it when stupid people who have no prior knowledge of any situation spurt garbage out of there mouths, backed by shit being dumped into their heads by the mainstream pro-west media.[/QUOTE] lol what

Syria promised they'd leave Israel alone, so the west owe them. And looking at Libya I doubt anyones that desperate to have a go in Syria. Althought arn't any Syrian soldiers having any reservations about, you know, slaughtering their own people?