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Generational Dynamics Web Log for 31-May-2013
31-May-13 World View -- Syria tensions grow as al-Assad claims he's winning

Web Log - May, 2013

31-May-13 World View -- Syria tensions grow as al-Assad claims he's winning

Israel prepares to launch airstrikes at Russian S-300 missiles

This morning's key headlines from GenerationalDynamics.com

Claim of S-300 missile delivery to Syria is denied
Israel prepares to launch airstrikes at S-300s
Confident Bashar al-Assad says that his side is winning

Claim of S-300 missile delivery to Syria is denied

Al-Assad in tv interview (SANA)

Al-Assad in tv interview (SANA)

In a televised interview, Bashar al-Assad, the psychopathic president of Syria, appeared to be claiming that Russia has already delivered advanced long-range S-300 anti-aircraft missiles to Syria, and that more of them were on the way. However, that report was apparently put forth by an over-anxious editor at Al Akhbar, a Lebanese newspaper. Careful analysis of al-Assad's words reveal that he hedged on the question. One possible explanation for the confusion is that a few components for the S-300 missile systems have already been delivered, but the main delivery is yet to come. Ria Novosti and VOA

Israel prepares to launch airstrikes at Russian S-300 missiles

During the 2006 Israeli war with Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hezbollah launched about 4,000 rockets at Israel. These rockets had limited range and no guidance systems, so their effectiveness was not great.

The S-300 missile systems that Russia is delivering to Syria are far from the purely defensive that Russia is claiming. They have sophisticated guidance systems and a range of 125 miles, in a climate where al-Assad is threatening war with Israel. With those capabilities, the al-Assad regime could destroy a civilian aircraft during takeoff and landing, or could establish a no-fly zone over Israeli territory.

If and when Russia delivers the S-300s to Syria, it's thought that they will be installed and operated by hundreds of Russian military personnel who would be killed in an Israeli air strike. Israel is saying that they will not be attacked until they're deployed, which will be a few weeks or months after they're delivered. Reuters and Reuters

Confident Bashar al-Assad says that his side is winning

Syria's president Bashar al-Assad appeared confident during his televised interview that his side was winning in the two-year-old Syrian conflict. Analysts agree that in recent weeks the war has turned in al-Assad's favor, for several reasons:

Russia and Iran continue to supply heavy weapons to the al-Assad regime, while the opposition forces are short of weapons.

Hezbollah has sent some 7,000 militia fighters to join the Syrian regime army.

The opposition forces are becoming increasingly fragmented, with some al-Qaeda linked groups and some "moderate" groups all competing for attention and poorly coordinating their forces.

The al-Assad regime supporter nations -- mainly Russia and Iran -- are unequivocal in their support, while Western nations supporting the opposition have confused, chaotic policies loaded with empty, meaningless "red line" threats.

VOA and McClatchy

(Comments: For reader comments, questions and discussion, see the 31-May-13 World View -- Syria tensions grow as al-Assad claims he's winning thread of the Generational Dynamics forum. Comments may be posted anonymously.) (31-May-2013) Permanent Link
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Generational Dynamics Web Log for 31-May-2013 31-May-13 World View -- Syria tensions grow as al-Assad claims he's winning

Claim of S-300 missile delivery to Syria is denied

Israel prepares to launch airstrikes at Russian S-300 missiles

Confident Bashar al-Assad says that his side is winning

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Generational Dynamics Web Log for 31-May-2013
31-May-13 World View -- Syria tensions grow as al-Assad claims he's winning