Syrian government falls in stunning end to 50-year rule of Assad family

[0james0]

On 12/8/2024 at 9:08 PM, TedG said:

Which conflict are you referring to? 

For starters the one in your head 

[TedG]

1 hour ago, 0james0 said:

For starters the one in your head 

Expaine. 

[frank83628]

2 hours ago, transam said:

Meaning, he doesn't tell lies like your leader....GOT IT.............

No, he just reads other peoples lies from the teleprompter 

[transam]

12 minutes ago, frank83628 said:

No, he just reads other peoples lies from the teleprompter 

Yeh, riiiiiiiiiight, you just crack on reading your Red Book instructions, there's a good chap.........

[John Drake]

1 hour ago, daveAustin said:

While of course good that Assad is out, the folks that will come in could make things worse.

 

Almost every change in that region is always for the worse. Things were more stable under the Ottomans. Same for central Europe and the Balkans with Austria-Hungary.

[HK MacPhooey]

On 12/8/2024 at 9:35 PM, G_Money said:

Trump made the right call by saying Best to Keep Out of the conflict.

 

Personally , I think their replacing one mad man with a group of mad men

 

Locals may be honking their horns now in joy but I highly doubt their lives and rights will get any better.

Do you mean their lives and rights in London, Paris, Amsterdam and Brussels?

[Hawaiian]

3 hours ago, 0ffshore360 said:

As yet the Russian bases in Syria have been left untouched and in general the assumption of full control by the "rebel" forces has been significantly uneventful.

It is being revealed that the demise of Assad was a negotiated outcome.

It will be interesting to see if the new admin will combine military assets to focus on regaining the Golan Heights ?

Trump may yet have to take a position on that as an ally of Israel despite declaring "not our fight" in Syria even when US forces have just undertaken massive airstrikes on purported ISIS camps in central Syria.

Certainly nothing has really been simplified in the region !

 

 

The Russian fleet has left supposedly headed to Kaliningrad in the Baltic. 

[simple1]

On 12/8/2024 at 6:34 PM, stevenl said:

Good this has ended. I'm afraid though the new regime will be even worse, Daesh style .

 

Very much up in the air at the moment. The new guy is claiming he supports an open society (don't persecute the Alawites etc) and even reports of a Christian to manage Aleppo.

 

https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2024/12/islamist-rebels-seek-assure-christians-syrias-aleppo

 

Naturally if he has insufficient support from the various factions it could well descend into chaos and violence yet again; let's hope not.

 

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/12/8/ex-syrian-pm-to-supervise-state-bodies-until-transition-al-julani-says

[sandyf]

On 12/8/2024 at 3:13 PM, simon43 said:

Well this is good news. 

 

[sarcasm]

All the Syrian illegal (and legal) immigrants in the UK will now be able to return home to rebuild their country.

[/sarcasm]...

A Home Office spokesperson said: “The Home Office has paused decisions on Syrian asylum claims whilst we assess the current situation. We keep all country guidance relating to asylum claims under constant review so we can respond to emerging issues.”

 https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/syrian-asylum-claims-paused-uk-assad-b2661432.html?lid=kz3dowsvmrrh&utm_medium=email&utm_source=braze&utm_campaign=Morning Headlines Newsletter 10-12-2024&utm_term=IND_Headlines_Masterlist_CDP&empar=3ecb0a14961159ae2d4bc396450ec9796a1489f400e007e352cda343bc7b577c

[0ffshore360]

2 hours ago, Hawaiian said:

The Russian fleet has left supposedly headed to Kaliningrad in the Baltic. 

As of yesterday Russia has a tentative agreement to stay. They have a lease on the Port site and the airfield which in the interest of cooperation may be honored?

Given the  complexity of the situation I doubt Russia will vacate completely.

[Lacessit]

16 minutes ago, frank83628 said:

oh look, so the UK can suddenly decide who is a terrorist or who isnt., guess these terrorists were actually  'freedom fighters' after all, fighting for the people, i wonder who funded them

no doubt in a few months they'll be doing the rounds at the golden globes, oscars , UN conferences, etc etc  getting billions in  'aid' from the UK, US for dibs on their oil and resources  just like the wests Hero Zelensky. 

It's called realpolitik, or pragmatism. After all, Menachem Begin was designated a terrorist before becoming the prime minister of Israel.

 

I guess the Declaration of Independence by 13 colonies was regarded as a terrorist manifesto too.

[metisdead]

A post with a screenshot of a news item with a copyrighted image from an unknown source has been removed:

• You will not post any copyrighted material except as fair use laws apply (as in the case of news articles). Only post a link, the headline and three sentences from the article. Content in the public domain is limited to the same restrictions.

[Hawaiian]

15 hours ago, 0ffshore360 said:

As of yesterday Russia has a tentative agreement to stay. They have a lease on the Port site and the airfield which in the interest of cooperation may be honored?

Given the  complexity of the situation I doubt Russia will vacate completely.

As you say, this is a complicated situation and I think the Russians are waiting to see what happens next.  While the Iranian Embassy has been trashed the demonstrators have left the Russian Embassy intact.  Taking no chances, the Russian fleet has anchored offshore and it has been reported that Russian aircraft are standing by at Khmeimim Air Base to airlift Russian troops out of the country.  The Israelis are taking no chances either and have sunk the Syrian navy.

Again, only time will tell what comes next.

[Hummin]

10 hours ago, Lacessit said:

It's called realpolitik, or pragmatism. After all, Menachem Begin was designated a terrorist before becoming the prime minister of Israel.

 

I guess the Declaration of Independence by 13 colonies was regarded as a terrorist manifesto too.

After all i is Turkeys masterclass, or?

 

Looks like Al Jolani have made som good choices along his way to power, and continue to do. Securing the institutions instead of doing the same mistake US did in Iraq.

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0q0w1g8zqvo

[Hawaiian]

29 minutes ago, Hummin said:

After all i is Turkeys masterclass, or?

 

Looks like Al Jolani have made som good choices along his way to power, and continue to do. Securing the institutions instead of doing the same mistake US did in Iraq.

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0q0w1g8zqvo

While Al Jolani has made some good moves he has a rough road ahead considering all the factions involved.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c2ex7ek9pyeo

[Hummin]

2 minutes ago, Hawaiian said:

While Al Jolani has made some good moves he has a rough road ahead considering all the factions involved.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c2ex7ek9pyeo

I guess there is a few key players who can take advantage of the situation, for an instance Usa, UK, Turkey, 

[Yagoda]

Syria was an artificial creation of the Brits and should re rearranged. Turkey would be enthusiastic about that.

 

 

[kwilco]

1 hour ago, Yagoda said:

Syria was an artificial creation of the Brits and should re rearranged. Turkey would be enthusiastic about that.

 

 

Not just the British, Syria was"invented" by the victor's of WW1.

It was originally run by the French

[kwilco]

2 hours ago, Hawaiian said:

As you say, this is a complicated situation and I think the Russians are waiting to see what happens next.  While the Iranian Embassy has been trashed the demonstrators have left the Russian Embassy intact.  Taking no chances, the Russian fleet has anchored offshore and it has been reported that Russian aircraft are standing by at Khmeimim Air Base to airlift Russian troops out of the country.  The Israelis are taking no chances either and have sunk the Syrian navy.

Again, only time will tell what comes next.

I think the Russians,or rather Putin allowed this to happen. I think he couldn't see the point of Assad any more and a weak power vacuum in that region is to his advantage. He may be going through the motions ...e.g. giving Assad asylum but that is asmall price to pay.

[Hawaiian]

1 hour ago, kwilco said:

I think the Russians,or rather Putin allowed this to happen. I think he couldn't see the point of Assad any more and a weak power vacuum in that region is to his advantage. He may be going through the motions ...e.g. giving Assad asylum but that is asmall price to pay.

I think the problems Putin is having at home and the situation in Ukraine might have persuaded him to sacrifice Syria to save himself.

Having North Korean troops augment his army is a sign of desperation.  Economists say the Russian economy is in bad shape with shortages of many critical items.  Subtract military spending and the GDP doesn't look so hot.

[0ffshore360]

And so now already Russia is assisting in the quest to take back the Golan Heights. The IDF had also extended presence into a "buffer zone inside Syria.

 

 

 

[Lacessit]

1 hour ago, kwilco said:

I think the Russians,or rather Putin allowed this to happen. I think he couldn't see the point of Assad any more and a weak power vacuum in that region is to his advantage. He may be going through the motions ...e.g. giving Assad asylum but that is asmall price to pay.

IMO Putin had no choice. Propping up Assad with Russian troops and equipment was not feasible, when he has his hands full with Ukraine.

[kwilco]

1 hour ago, Hawaiian said:

I think the problems Putin is having at home and the situation in Ukraine might have persuaded him to sacrifice Syria to save himself.

Having North Korean troops augment his army is a sign of desperation.  Economists say the Russian economy is in bad shape with shortages of many critical items.  Subtract military spending and the GDP doesn't look so hot.

I think you have a point.

I don't think it is desperation though, I think it is just cold calculation

[kwilco]

21 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

IMO Putin had no choice. Propping up Assad with Russian troops and equipment was not feasible, when he has his hands full with Ukraine.

I think many people want Putin to have problems, but in reality it is all going his way. And getting rid of Assad is just another advantage.

Russia is on a military economy, the population are not being called up because he is using Koreans instead, sanctions are having no effect and their is no strategic loss in Syria.

He's just got to sit back and watch as the West ties itself in knots

[LosLobo]

58 minutes ago, kwilco said:

I think many people want Putin to have problems, but in reality it is all going his way. And getting rid of Assad is just another advantage.

Russia is on a military economy, the population are not being called up because he is using Koreans instead, sanctions are having no effect and their is no strategic loss in Syria.

He's just got to sit back and watch as the West ties itself in knots

 

Your take on Putin’s situation seems overly optimistic and overlooks several critical realities:
 

"It is all going his way": Russia has faced severe setbacks in Ukraine—territorial losses, a strained military, and massive casualties. Far from thriving, Russia is increasingly isolated and economically weakened.

"Getting rid of Assad is just another advantage": Abandoning Assad undermines Russia’s long-term interests in the Middle East, including its influence and naval access via Tartus. This is no strategic "win."

"Russia is on a military economy": A wartime economy strains resources and civilian sectors. Sanctions and loss of advanced technology access make sustaining this model increasingly unsustainable.

"Using Koreans instead of calling up Russians": This is unsubstantiated. Russia’s heavy reliance on conscription and prisoner recruits reflects genuine manpower issues, not stability.

"Sanctions are having no effect": This assertion is divorced from reality. Sanctions have limited Russia’s access to critical technologies, crippled key industries, and pushed the economy into unsustainable short-term workarounds. Inflation, high interest rates, and food supply chain issues have hit the average Russian hard.

"No strategic loss in Syria": Losing influence in Syria is a clear setback, allowing rivals like Turkey or Iran to expand their presence, reducing Russia’s leverage.

"He can sit back and watch the West in knots": This ignores reality. NATO remains united, and Western sanctions continue to pressure Russia. Putin faces mounting challenges at home and abroad.

In sum, it’s a stark reversal—Russia’s "superpower" status increasingly looks like it’s being propped up by duct tape, borrowed gear, and a collapsing arms export industry. Sanctions, military overreach, and a tarnished reputation for military technology are eroding the pillars of Russian power. Claiming it’s all "going his way" seems more like wishful thinking than a reflection of reality.

[Lacessit]

1 hour ago, kwilco said:

I think many people want Putin to have problems, but in reality it is all going his way. And getting rid of Assad is just another advantage.

Russia is on a military economy, the population are not being called up because he is using Koreans instead, sanctions are having no effect and their is no strategic loss in Syria.

He's just got to sit back and watch as the West ties itself in knots

I guess food inflation at 10%, bank interest rates at 21%, and a ruble that has depreciated from 60 to the dollar to 102 to the dollar are signs of a healthy, vibrant economy. Official data from Russia itself.

I suggest you refrain from giving anyone financial advice.

 

[jacob29]

5 hours ago, kwilco said:

I think the Russians,or rather Putin allowed this to happen. I think he couldn't see the point of Assad any more and a weak power vacuum in that region is to his advantage. He may be going through the motions ...e.g. giving Assad asylum but that is asmall price to pay.

Why can't master strategist Putin just leave Ukraine, and then claim it's to his advantage?

 

The s-400 missile system they're evacuating has a price tag of around a billion USD. Do you really believe someone who planned this, would delay transporting such expensive hardware until the region went hot?

[kwilco]

3 hours ago, Lacessit said:

I guess food inflation at 10%, bank interest rates at 21%, and a ruble that has depreciated from 60 to the dollar to 102 to the dollar are signs of a healthy, vibrant economy. Official data from Russia itself.

I suggest you refrain from giving anyone financial advice.

 

Take it from the Russians you see in Thailand.

[kwilco]

3 hours ago, LosLobo said:

 

Your take on Putin’s situation seems overly optimistic and overlooks several critical realities:
 

"It is all going his way": Russia has faced severe setbacks in Ukraine—territorial losses, a strained military, and massive casualties. Far from thriving, Russia is increasingly isolated and economically weakened.

"Getting rid of Assad is just another advantage": Abandoning Assad undermines Russia’s long-term interests in the Middle East, including its influence and naval access via Tartus. This is no strategic "win."

"Russia is on a military economy": A wartime economy strains resources and civilian sectors. Sanctions and loss of advanced technology access make sustaining this model increasingly unsustainable.

"Using Koreans instead of calling up Russians": This is unsubstantiated. Russia’s heavy reliance on conscription and prisoner recruits reflects genuine manpower issues, not stability.

"Sanctions are having no effect": This assertion is divorced from reality. Sanctions have limited Russia’s access to critical technologies, crippled key industries, and pushed the economy into unsustainable short-term workarounds. Inflation, high interest rates, and food supply chain issues have hit the average Russian hard.

"No strategic loss in Syria": Losing influence in Syria is a clear setback, allowing rivals like Turkey or Iran to expand their presence, reducing Russia’s leverage.

"He can sit back and watch the West in knots": This ignores reality. NATO remains united, and Western sanctions continue to pressure Russia. Putin faces mounting challenges at home and abroad.

In sum, it’s a stark reversal—Russia’s "superpower" status increasingly looks like it’s being propped up by duct tape, borrowed gear, and a collapsing arms export industry. Sanctions, military overreach, and a tarnished reputation for military technology are eroding the pillars of Russian power. Claiming it’s all "going his way" seems more like wishful thinking than a reflection of reality.

You need a reality check....most of what you believe is what the West wants to believe.... but the reality is different.

BTW...he hasn't lost Syria.

[Lacessit]

1 minute ago, kwilco said:

Take it from the Russians you see in Thailand.

Why? They will be parroting the Kremlin version of things. Ask them if they prefer Russian rubles, or American dollars.

 

In an attempt to stabilize the ruble, as of November 28 the central bank has stopped buying ANY foreign currency. That's the equivalent of sticking their head in the sand, and hoping short-sellers will go away.

 

China and India are Russia's biggest trading partners currently. They will only pay for Russian imports in yuan and rupees respectively. They refuse to pay in rubles, no sensible country wants to hold them.

 

If you think sanctions are ineffective, ask yourself why Russian oil sells at a 20% discount to the world price.

 

Better still, test your belief sanctions are not working, and the integrity of Russian domestic aircraft by booking a flight from Moscow to Vladivostok. Russian Boeings and Airbuses are being cannibalized to keep them flying, do you feel lucky?

 

I am posting facts, readily checked. You seem to be posting wishful thinking.