Syrian MP: US decision to send troops is act of aggression

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Syrian MP: US decision to send troops is act of aggression

ALBERT AJI, Associated Press

BASSEM MROUE, Associated Press

DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — The United States' decision to send troops into Syria is an act of aggression because it does not have the government's agreement, a Syrian member of parliament said Saturday.

Sharif Shehadeh told The Associated Press that the troops will have no effect on the ground, but that Washington wants to say it is present in Syria.

"What has happened to make America realize, after five years, that it should send between 30 and 50 military advisers?" asked Shehadeh, referring to the start of the country's crisis in March 2011 that has since killed more than 250,000 people.

American officials say up to 50 special operations troops will be sent to assist Kurdish and Arab forces in northern Syria.

A U.S.-led coalition has been targeting the Islamic State group with airstrikes since September 2014, killing 12,000 extremists without weakening the group.

The decision to send U.S. troops to Syria comes a month after Russia began launching airstrikes against insurgents in the country. Russia's airstrikes were agreed upon with the Syrian government.

"When America sends ground forces into Syrian territories without an agreement with the Syrian government it becomes an intervention and aggression," Shehadeh said by telephone. "Will America allow Russian ground forces to go into America without an agreement? I think the answer is no."

The U.S. has conducted special operations raids in Syria before and is expected to continue to carry out more unilateral raids.

The U.S. decision came as activists said some rebel groups, as well as the main U.S.-backed Kurdish militia known as the YPG, are preparing for an offensive against IS in its de facto capital of Raqqa. Earlier this month, U.S. cargo planes dropped small arms and ammunition to Arab groups fighting IS in northern Syria in what appeared to be preparation for the attack.

On Saturday, the Democratic Forces of Syria, a coalition of Arab, Christian and Kurdish factions in northern Syria, declared that they have started an operation to "liberate" areas south of the northeastern city of Hassekeh.

IS has several strongholds in the predominantly Kurdish province of Hassakeh that borders Iraq.

The announcement was carried by the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and social media pages of rebel groups.

The Rebels Army group carried the statement from the coalition's spokesman who goes by the name of Abu Ali as vowing to "cleanse Syria's soil from the filth of terrorist groups."

In the northern province of Aleppo, airstrikes believed to have been carried out by Russian warplanes have killed at least 64 people since Friday, the Observatory said. Another activist group, the Local Coordination Committees said airstrikes have killed about 75 people.

The surge in violence came after more than a dozen countries, including the U.S. and Russia, agreed during talks in Vienna on Friday to pursue a new peace effort involving Syria's government and opposition groups.

Also Saturday, international medical aid organization Doctors Without Borders said an airstrike and shelling in a market in the rebel-held Damascus suburb of Douma the previous day killed at least 70 people and wounded 550.

The group, also known by its French acronym MSF, said its facility nearest to the market had been bombed a day earlier and medical workers struggled to cope with the influx of wounded people. Many needed amputations and blood infusions, and the makeshift hospital could not handle the flood of critically wounded patients with its limited resources, the group said.

MSF has sent emergency supplies of IV fluids and bags of blood to the Douma hospital, where 15 people died and 100 were hurt on Thursday when the entrance was bombed.

"This massive bombing on a crowded market and the repeated destruction of the few available medical facilities breaches everything that the rules of war stand for," says Brice de le Vingne, Director of Syria Operations for MSF.

-- (c) Associated Press 2015-11-01

[micmichd]

For every US soldier sent to Syria there will be at least one Syrian refugee heading towards Europe. At least.

U.S.A. might as well send troops to Europe directly.

Edited November 1, 2015 by micmichd

[konying]

Sadly, he is not wrong.

US does not own Syria, nor does it have any right to support the rebels

US presence is really a violation of Syrian sovereignty, could even be interpreted as an act of war.

[konying]

For every US soldier sent to Syria there will be at least one Syrian refugee heading towards Europe. At least.

U.S.A. might as well send troops to Europe directly.

Wait for a year or so, once they settle in and learn how easy and lax Western laws are, they would be doing everything and anything illegal.

After all in EU, they will not cut off your hand for stealing, but rather a slap and off you go.

Not to mention nice comfy jails

[ravip]

If the US minded there own business without poking their nose into everyone's crap, this world would be a much better place for everyone to live in.

[ggt]

"What has happened to make America realize, after five years, that it should send between 30 and 50 military advisers?" asked Shehadeh,

Many Americans are wondering the same thing...what is the "real" motivation here...especially after Obama went before the American people and said that there was no way he would send in American troops...

Oh, well, just another feather in the cap of the Obama legacy...

[konying]

"What has happened to make America realize, after five years, that it should send between 30 and 50 military advisers?" asked Shehadeh,

Many Americans are wondering the same thing...what is the "real" motivation here...especially after Obama went before the American people and said that there was no way he would send in American troops...

Oh, well, just another feather in the cap of the Obama legacy...

You know the irony is Obama won Nobel Peace Prize

[kiniyow]

When is the World going to realize USA is Not the Planets Police force?

[JHolmesJr]

Wait for a year or so, once they settle in and learn how easy and lax Western laws are, they would be doing everything and anything illegal.

After all in EU, they will not cut off your hand for stealing, but rather a slap and off you go.

Not to mention nice comfy jails

Plus they love a bit of backdoor action…so, win win.

[ravip]

When is the World going to realize USA is Not the Planets Police force?

The World realised it decades ago, just that the US and it's apologists that are still deaf and blind.

Sooner than later, someone will make them realise it for sure.

[ravip]

"What has happened to make America realize, after five years, that it should send between 30 and 50 military advisers?" asked Shehadeh,

Many Americans are wondering the same thing...what is the "real" motivation here...especially after Obama went before the American people and said that there was no way he would send in American troops...

Oh, well, just another feather in the cap of the Obama legacy...

You know the irony is Obama won Nobel Peace Prize

Nobel for some.

All these are worth less than til foil today.

Each could decorate themseves with their own trinkets!

[micmichd]

Sooner or later, maybe when it's too late.

Right now, they make war in the Middle East and leave Europe alone with the war refugees. Germany might become a big detention camp where they sort out "terrorists", all under surveillance from the USA.

[konying]

Sooner or later, maybe when it's too late.

Right now, they make war in the Middle East and leave Europe alone with the war refugees. Germany might become a big detention camp where they sort out "terrorists", all under surveillance from the USA.

I hope that i am wrong, but i feel US after long being rather silent,has decided to add fuel to the fire.

Russia is in Syria already with Syrian invitation and makes no secret bombing ISIL as well as rebels.

US putting boots to "protect" rebels may be a way to spark a conflict with Russia which US has been trying to do so hard even from Ukraine days.

Not to mention, should Russia succeed, lots of dirt may come out who created what and supported who

[faraday]

Not that Russia or China are any better....

but the us is way too fond of 'helping' ie invading other countries.

[Chicog]

I suppose Russia bombing Syrians who oppose Assad's dictatorship is therefore "gentle nurturing", is it?

[ResandePohm]

When is the World going to realize USA is Not the Planets Police force?

When is the USA going to realise that it is not the Planets Police Force??

[cookee68]

Why not pull everyone out and see how Syria gets on by its self,

[konying]

I suppose Russia bombing Syrians who oppose Assad's dictatorship is therefore "gentle nurturing", is it?

Well, Assad is still a legal president,

Only US thinks otherwise.

The so called rebels are mercenaries who are paid.

Regular folks are demanding social benefits in EU

So yeah, Russian presence is legal, while US presence is totally illegal no matter how you look at it

[konying]

Anyone following or interested, turn on Aljazeera, as i thought earlier, it is now considered by some analysts and statements by Russian FM as US trying to start proxy war with Russia

[Credo]

Anyone following or interested, turn on Aljazeera, as i thought earlier, it is now considered by some analysts and statements by Russian FM as US trying to start proxy war with Russia

Well, with 50 ground forces on the ground, that should be a short war.

[konying]

Anyone following or interested, turn on Aljazeera, as i thought earlier, it is now considered by some analysts and statements by Russian FM as US trying to start proxy war with Russia

Well, with 50 ground forces on the ground, that should be a short war.

Its not about the numbers, its about an act itself.

Putting aside that official number may well be far from the actual numbers

[ravip]

Anyone following or interested, turn on Aljazeera, as i thought earlier, it is now considered by some analysts and statements by Russian FM as US trying to start proxy war with Russia

What a pathetic mind set...

Destruction is the only vision

[Chicog]

I suppose Russia bombing Syrians who oppose Assad's dictatorship is therefore "gentle nurturing", is it?

Well, Assad is still a legal president,

Only US thinks otherwise.

The so called rebels are mercenaries who are paid.

Regular folks are demanding social benefits in EU

So yeah, Russian presence is legal, while US presence is totally illegal no matter how you look at it

He's never been a legal president. He inherited the job from his equally genocidal father.

Similar election tactics to North Korea.

[devaram]

Its becasuse they plan to deploy anti-aircraft missles for thevfirst time and cannot simply hand over these types of weapons to the rebels.

It is part of a wider war with Hezbolla and Iran. WW3 Could be triggered from this flashpoint. Figure ten years it will all be over..I am a science fiction fan not a prophet

[konying]

Anyone following or interested, turn on Aljazeera, as i thought earlier, it is now considered by some analysts and statements by Russian FM as US trying to start proxy war with Russia

What a pathetic mind set...

Destruction is the only vision

Do not shoot the messenger, these are the thoughts and statements by analysts.

Someone from US, was claiming special forces were always on the ground so this is nothing new, in which case that would mean Obama lied to American people and the rest of the world.

The same US person was claiming that special forces are there to coordinate with rebel forces for US low flying jets to carry out strikes against ISIS.

Best let you watch it, i am sure there will be a re run

[konying]

I suppose Russia bombing Syrians who oppose Assad's dictatorship is therefore "gentle nurturing", is it?

Well, Assad is still a legal president,

Only US thinks otherwise.

The so called rebels are mercenaries who are paid.

Regular folks are demanding social benefits in EU

So yeah, Russian presence is legal, while US presence is totally illegal no matter how you look at it

He's never been a legal president. He inherited the job from his equally genocidal father.

Similar election tactics to North Korea.

Again from American point of view

[Chicog]

I'm not American.

[Publicus]

I suppose Russia bombing Syrians who oppose Assad's dictatorship is therefore "gentle nurturing", is it?

Well, Assad is still a legal president,

Only US thinks otherwise.

The so called rebels are mercenaries who are paid.

Regular folks are demanding social benefits in EU

So yeah, Russian presence is legal, while US presence is totally illegal no matter how you look at it

The United States and its allies or partners have an international legal basis to be present in Syria and operating in Syria.

This is true. It is fact.

This because International law provides to lawfully arm rebels (but not to fund them) in a foreign country where there are existing rebel movements....and....when the rebel movements are widespread, well established....and....when the rebel groups control territory. Syria is four for four. Syria has been four for four for more than four years now.

International law in fact provides for considerably more.

International law might well obligate a country to arm rebels in another country when the country's legal government is engaged in genocide or crimes against humanity.

This is indeed the case in Syria. The Syrian government has killed more than 270,000 Syrians using weapons to include poison gas and barrel bombs, and the Syrian government has created millions of refugees flooding neighboring and other countries to escape the Syrian government's campaign of mass slaughter and domestic terror.

That's four for four in respect of international law....five for five actually....more like six for six and counting.

http://foreignpolicy...ernational-law/

If it weren't for the United States over the past 70 years there would not be international law. No UN for starters.

There would only be Nazi law or the Soviet Union Russian law, or going back further in the century, the Kaiser's law or Ottoman law. There presently would be the CCP China law, the Islamic Republic of Iran law, Brazil law, Rhodesia/Zimbabwe law, Burma or Thailand law etc.

Almost all posts to this thread are vacuous pro-Assad global rightwing opinion. Yes there is a government in Syria and it is recognised by the United Nations. The government however governs only a part of the country. The specific provisions of international law cited and documented (linked) in this post recognise the fact and address the realities of it.

Edited November 1, 2015 by Publicus

[billd766]

Sadly, he is not wrong.

US does not own Syria, nor does it have any right to support the rebels

US presence is really a violation of Syrian sovereignty, could even be interpreted as an act of war.

Equally what right has the IS to be in Syria. Is that not an act of war also?

[Publicus]

Why not pull everyone out and see how Syria gets on by its self,

From the OP:

In the northern province of Aleppo, airstrikes believed to have been carried out by Russian warplanes have killed at least 64 people since Friday, the Observatory said. Another activist group, the Local Coordination Committees said airstrikes have killed about 75 people.

Also Saturday, international medical aid organization Doctors Without Borders said an airstrike and shelling in a market in the rebel-held Damascus suburb of Douma the previous day killed at least 70 people and wounded 550.

"This massive bombing on a crowded market and the repeated destruction of the few available medical facilities breaches everything that the rules of war stand for," says Brice de le Vingne, Director of Syria Operations for MSF.

Bombed if you do and bombed if you don't. It is the nature of the beast over there.