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California delegation at Sen. Feinstein’s office
Members of the local chapter of the Syrian American Council participated in the National Advocacy Day for Syria on Capitol Hill on Thursday with Syrian-Americans and their supporters from across the country. The ‘advocacy day’ was organized by the Coalition for a Democratic Syria, of which SAC is a founding member, to urge Members of Congress to support House and Senate bills that would provide funding and other assistance to the opposition, permit securing and destroying Assad’s chemical weapons, and increase humanitarian aid.
The coalition reached many Senatorial and Congressional offices and delivered a policy brief to every office in both houses, including both CA Senators Feinstein and Boxer. Participants asked U.S. legislators to support the Syrian opposition by voting in favor of H.R. 1327 The Free Syria Act and S. 617 the Syria Democratic Transition Act, and by targeting the enablers of the Assad regime.
On the same day, Sen. Feinstein released a statement following reports confirming that Assad has use of chemical weapons. President Obama warned Assad late last year that the use of, or preparation for use of, chemical weapons was a “red line” that would have “enormous consequences”.
In a statement released Thursday, Sen. Feinstein said:
It is clear that ‘red lines’ have been crossed and action must be taken to prevent larger scale use. Syria has the ability to kill tens of thousands with its chemical weapons. The world must come together to prevent this by unified action which results in the secure containment of Syria’s significant stockpile of chemical weapons.
A statement on Syria was also issued by Speaker Boehner yesterday.
After two years of brutal conflict, it’s past time for the President to have a robust conversation with the Congress and the American people about how best to bring Assad’s tyranny to an end.
The Syrian Support Group, a U.S.-based group licensed to support the Free Syrian Army, issued a release confirming that chemical weapons have been used on Thursday.:
The Syrian Support Group (SSG) has learned from information sources in Damascus that two separate chemical attacks were conducted in the southern portion of the town of Daraya, near the town of Sahnaya, at 1:00am and 7:00am (Damascus time) on the morning of Thursday, April 25th. Roughly 105 victims were reported.
Damascus-based doctors operating in a Daraya medical center reported to SSG that a chemicalfilled rocket struck southern Daraya, near the neighboring town of Sahnaya, approximately eight miles southwest of the Damascus city center. Similar to the March 19, 2013 attacks in Damascus and Khan al-Asal, victims who were exposed to the chemical substance experienced symptoms including muscle spasms, bronchial spasms, headaches, dizziness, vomiting, and miosis. 75 individuals were delivered to a Daraya medical facility following the initial attack at 1:00am. Another 30 individuals were affected by a second strike at 7:00 am.
Doctors reported that victims were treated with atropine injections, oxygen, and pain relievers.Those treated responded positively within the first hour of arrival to the medical facility. At this time,specific numbers of individuals wounded or killed are not available. Large numbers of livestock were also killed by the attack. See the video… for raw footage of the attacks’ effects, as recorded by Daraya Local Coordination Committee sources on the morning of April 25th.
Doctors have not yet confirmed the type of chemical used in the attacks. Symptoms mimic theeffects of the March 19th chemical attacks in Damascus and Khan al-Asal, in which Echothiophate—an organophosphate and chemical weapons “simulant” similar to Sarin—was used against rebel forces and civilian areas.
Since the beginning of the Syrian revolution in March 2011, more than 80,000 people have been killed and millions have been displaced. For more than a year, Syrian-American groups have been advocating for more U.S. involvement in support of the opposition in order to tip the balance and finish off the regime. The community’s asks have shifted overtime from the establishment of “safe zones and humanitarian corridors” to a “no-fly zone” to supporting the vetted elements of the FSA and the local civilian administrative councils.
When I contributed this blogpost back in December 2012, the death toll was 40,000. Four months later, the death toll has doubled. Obama must step up to save Syria instead of drawing blurry color-coded lines.
*They need dates, locations, numbers of casualties, numbers of victims, on site documentation and solid and verifiable statements by those affected that are still alive. Maybe…better yet would be at least two different Rebel Groups…..which report the same things. This should be no different than when Saddam gassed the Kurds..by so-called Chemical Ali – who was hanged January 10th, 2010 by the new Iraqui Govenment.
Define “Obama must step up.” What does that look like?
I think maybe the same thing Rashad is encouraging the Congress to do in his first paragraph: “provide funding and other assistance to the opposition, permit securing and destroying Assad’s chemical weapons, and increase humanitarian aid.”
Increasing funding and humanitarian aid is easy. But how are we going to go about “securing and destroying Assad’s chemical weapons”?
Here we go again. We are the self appointed world cops
Self-appointed? I believe these are Syrians and other Arabs asking for our help, whether it’s prudent or not.
They come to us because we always show up…*if* there is something in it for us. Our boys love to blow shit up and the ones who make the weapons love the $$$. Its never ending….
What’s happening in Syria is a genocide and the world has a responsibility to stop the killing. Otherwise phrases such as “Never Again” mean nothing.
So far U.S. policy has been give the rebel enough support to continue fighting, but not enough to topple the regime. Let it keep escalating. Daniel Pipes spells out what the U.S. is doing: http://youtu.be/A8MJNAFqzOo
In the wake of Iraq, and our overextended stay in Afghanistan, it is incumbent on those calling for the Administration to “step up” to spell out EXACTLY what that means.
The administration knows exactly what it needs to do. In this post I did not get into the “demands” but provided links of what should be done in Syria, and they do NOT include U.S. ground troops.
Read my December post here: http://www.orangejuiceblog.com/2012/12/syria-inaction-is-the-wrong-action-1/
For more detailed policy recommendations, check the Syrian American Council’s policy paper: http://www.sacouncil.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Click-here-to-download-Syria_A_Clear_Path.pdf
And your posts conveniently exclude any mention of actions we have already undertaken, including things like this…
http://www.businessinsider.com/obama-admin-admits-to-covertly-sending-heavy-weapons-to-syrian-rebels-2012-12
All you do is call for “escalation” with no specifics. It’s not a word some of us take lightly.
I would submit that the Administration is not entirely certain about it’s next moves in the wake of the sarin story. They are characterizing the evidence of sarin use as less than “ironclad.” You will find that in this President, you are not dealing with someone akin to the trigger-happy George W. Bush. Unfortunately, Obama has boxed himself in a bit of a corner with his thoughtless “red line” comment.
Rashad,
May I suggest you sign up with the Army? You can then help lots of countries who ask for our help militarily.
I completely agree with Anon. How many countries are in the world??? Why is it always the USA who steps in???? No one else gets involved? Why is that? Don’t you find that weird???
No one else gets involved? Is that how you remember Libya? or Afghanistan for that matter?
Obama Undercuts Military Opposition to Syria Intervention
April 26, 2013 • 7:45AM
The key words in the White House Letter are:
“The chain of custody is not clear, so we cannot confirm how the exposure (the chemical agent sarin) occurred and under what conditions”. (Or if the chemicals were use by Syria’s regime).
http://larouchepac.com/node/26345
But his very words no not stop the Obama/McCain war drive, claiming that Obama’s “Red Line” has been crossed.
“The Obama White House undercut Pentagon resistance to a U.S. military intervention in Syria, yesterday, with a letter to Senators Carl Levin (D-Mich.) and John McCain (R-Ariz.) claiming that U.S. intelligence agencies DO, AFTER ALL, have some evidence of use of chemical weapons by the Syrian regime against the armed opposition.”
……………………………………………………………….
Washington Post: There Is No Legal Basis for U.S. Forces Striking Syrian Targets
April 26, 2013 • 7:49AM
http://larouchepac.com/node/26346
Obama and McCain are pure evil. Both know that the Syrians have advanced Russian fighter planes and air defense weapons. A ‘No-Fly Zone’ could easily escalate into WWIII. All this to bring the Muslim Brotherhood to power in Syria.
*Larouche of course is always our sentimental favorite. He has been battling the power structure since 1958. Probably..before that. The issues in Syrian “are complicated”, if you will forgive that expression. No single identifyable Rebel Power Group has stepped up to the plate and said: “We are the other guys!” “We are not the Muslim Brotherhood and we are not dupes for Assad!”……..They need the equivalent of the Afghan Northern Alliance Chief Massoud…..to become the so-called “Sub-Commandante Marcos Leader”….of the Rebel forces which both the International Press and the NATO and UN Forces can direct their aid to. “A responsible party….for all intense purposes!”. If this person exists….it is the best kept secret of 2013.
We also totally disagree with the Larouche concept that “The US Military is afraid of high tech Russian Jets…….” Come on now……we have drones that can take those puppies out…much less our naval assets….that is nonsense. If not, guess we will have to double our defense budget next year….or ask the Chinese to do some R & D to take those puppies out too!
The key problem is making sure that WHEN Assad goes…..we actually have a strong group or Rebel Leader that will not resemble Fidel Castro after he kicked out Fulgencio Batista! He should be making secret trips to a third party country right now – meeting with NATO officials…..telling his tale.
It appears that Mr Obama, has put himself in a box. He has never wanted to intervene in Syria. He is looking for iron clad proof that Syria has used chemical weapons on his own people approximately 70,000 people (Fox News). It is so well advanced now, I do not think he will do anything and he is not going to do anything about the crisis in Syria.
His indecisiveness is a problem and a serious political factor, what is the cost to the American people, especially after Boston his inaction could be a consequence?
America is still waiting for him to do anything with the economy.
“America is still waiting for him to do anything with the economy.”
Among other legislative and monetary policy moves, he introduced The American Jobs Act in early 2012 and the obstructionists in Congress refuse to take it up.
*KD, you might consider that until we find the equivalent of Chemical Ali….in Syria….as they did in Iraq…..the true intelligence may never come out. They need eye witness testimony and several local warlords……or Free Syrian Army Forces that are willing to go on-line or make the appropriate trip to a engaged NATO or UN Country to make there testimony. Right now, the fog of war or insurrection is having a tough time separating Fly Poop from the Pepper….and we need serious authentication….before we impose the NO FLY Zone and take on those Soviet Surface to Air missiles…even against our drones and Cruise Missiles. No need to look real stupid …..later when they find out that those Chemical Weapons were stolen and used by Al-Qaeda off shoots………like the Tzaranev Bros.
The questions I keep asking is, who is it that we should support?
If we help them, will they be our allies when the dust settles?
Do we think the aid is worth charging it on our children’s credit cards? Maybe we should be asking the kids in Jr High, if they want to pay for it, since they are the ones who would be paying for it.
I keep hearing most of those who are “anti-imperialists”, that we shouldn’t have gone into Iraq, because it was all about oil, I disagree with that, while I still say we shouldn’t have gone into Iraq or Afghanistan, but I understand why we did and it wasn’t all about natural resources. We’ve spent too much in both lives and money there.
My personal feeling is that if we do get in, we must go all in. You can’t fight a half ass war. I learned a very long time ago that true aggression isn’t cheap or easy, but if you are going to get into it, you go all in. We are darn good at war, not as much in nation building, especially those who refuse to play along.
Right now, I’m not seeing the up side to adding to our debts or our children’s lives, to that pyre, called the Middle East.
I wish them well, and may the God of Abraham bless and keep them and that they find their path to true freedom and peace. But until there are some answers, I can’t support much of any kind of substantive support for a cause that is so enigmatic.
Nicely written Carl. To present another view, my wife thinks we ought to turn the Middle East into glass.
Hahaha!! Your wife is very funny too! You two make quite a pair of comics!
War is no longer the answer to solve problems. When are people going to get it? We keep doing the same thing over and over hoping to have a different outcome. Dropping bombs to “go all in” just kills innocent people.
I say we reinstate the draft and anyone men and women under the age of 30 get a chance to fight for “their country” — no exceptions — then we’ll see who is gung-ho about going “all-in”. Its easy to tell someone else to go fight but when its everybody’s ass or kid on the line…my guess we will start to look for alternatives.
We have TOO MANY soldiers doing 5 and 6 tours since Iraq. If there is a draft 1 tour should be enough…if they live through it.
Vern, the US is always the one who sends the bulk of soldiers and spending the bulk of money to fight the wars…any wars. I say those over the age of 30 will then be required to write a fat check to Uncle Sam to help pay the cost of the war…sort of a pay-as-you-go fee. How many will be willing to make that kind of sacrifice????
Too late in the game Skallywag.
Inge,
To be fair, war is sometimes the only answer. Sometimes when violence presents itself, when evil is running rampant, war is the only way to stop it.
We have become the world’s cop, by virtue of being the best at it, along with the willingness to send themselves (they are all volunteers now) in harms way for others. We are not imperialists, taking bounty from others. We now spend more trying to nation build after war than during battle. More in lives and money.
If we could simply pick our “clients” better we would be more successful at it, but we can’t. The bullies of the world however, never seem to pick on countries that have sound social structures, if they do, they break them first. That’s the toughest thing to build back and the most expensive part. It’s also the hardest part to get right, making peace last and instilling trust back into society.
—
I feel very sorry for people living in these countries, I truly do. I wish there were better solutions. I don’t know what the “right thing” to do is for Syria or the rest of the Middle East. I know one thing for sure, that it’s a very dangerous place. I don’t want to send my money or my nephews there and I’m reluctant to send more than humanitarian aid.
I don’t feel at all sorry for the people in those countries Carl – they have the governments that they deserve.
Mr. Overmyer is clearly able to empathize with people. You, however, are not.
I empathize with those who give blood, sweat and tears for their own country – these people we are speaking of do not do so.
You’re saying that about the brave Syrian people? The blood, sweat and tears they’re giving to change their country somehow doesn’t exist?
You’ve hit a new low.
Just breaking today, one of the major problems facing the “freedom fighters”…
“The leader of Lebanon’s Hezbollah militant group said Tuesday that Syrian rebels will not be able to defeat President Bashar Assad’s regime militarily, warning that Syria’s “real friends,” including his Iranian-backed militant group, were ready to intervene on the government’s side.”
This is exactly why I have reservations…
Vern Nelson: “You’re saying that about the brave Syrian people? The blood, sweat and tears they’re giving to change their country somehow doesn’t exist?”
Apparently not enough – if they were armed as we are here (plug for 2nd Amend.) – …. oh, fuck it! ….. what the hell is wrong with those people in the Middle East? I am fucking sick of those assholes.
Apparently I am not the only person f**king tired of the Middle East – by VD Hanson:
The Middle East is becoming irrelevant. The discovery of enormous new oil and gas reserves, along with the use of new oil-recovery technology in North America and China, is steadily curbing the demand for Middle Eastern oil. Soon, countries such as Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Iran are going to have less income and geostrategic clout. In both Iran and the Gulf, domestic demand is rising, while there is neither the technical know-how nor the water to master the new art of fracking to sustain exports.
The recent Boston bombing reminded the West that nearly 12 years after 9/11, most terrorism still follows the same old, same old script — committed by angry young men with Muslim pedigrees claiming to act on radical Islamist impulses, without much popular rebuke from the Muslim world.
Ok, so who has todays playbook and roster, ’cause you sure can’t tell the players without them!
——
Testimony says nerve gas used by Syrian rebels, not govt: UN
TONY EASTLEY: A member of the UN’s Commission of Inquiry on Syria has cited witness testimony accusing the Syrian rebels of using sarin nerve gas.
Carla Del Ponte, a former prosecutor for UN tribunals investigating war crimes, says the evidence came from interviews with victims and physicians.
She did not rule out the possibility that president Assad’s government may also have used chemical agents.
Read more at:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-05-07/testimony-says-nerve-gas-used-by-syrian-rebels-not/4673478