Hopefully.. Assad will listen to the Russians.... http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/227...ad-iran-russia-china-reformns-un-sanction.htm Friday, October 7, 2011 12:58 PM EDT Why Are Russia and China Reluctant to Push Syria? The president of Russia, Dmitry Medvedev, has demanded that Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad enact reforms or resign from power, according to reports. After almost eight months of anti-government unrest in Syria, a brutal crackdown by Assads regime has resulted in the deaths of nearly 3,000 people and the detention of thousands more. Assad has promised certain reforms, but has largely failed to act on any of them. "If the Syrian leadership is incapable of conducting such reforms, it will have to go, but this decision should be taken not in NATO or certain European countries, it should be taken by the Syrian people and the Syrian leadership," Medvedev said, according to Russian news agencies. Medvedev seems to be suggesting that Moscow would oppose any attempts by foreign forces to oust the Syrian leader. Russia and China were bitterly criticized by the U.S. and Western European nations for exercising a veto on a resolution by the United Nations Security Council to impose harsher sanctions on Syria and Assad. Syrian opposition leaders have rebuked Russia and China for their refusal to make moves against Assad. Faruk Tayfur, deputy chairman of the Istanbul-based Syrian National Council, told Turkeys state-run Anatolia news agency that Russia in only interested in its economic interests in Syria, citing that Moscow sells weapons to Syria and keeps a naval base there. According to Moscow Times, Russian exports to Syria totaled $1.1-billlion in 2010, and its investments in Syria amounted to nearly $20-billion in 2009. Dilshod Achilov, a professor of political science at East Tennessee State University, and an expert on the Middle East, told International Business Times that it was not a surprise that Russia and China vetoed the proposed sanctions against Syria. This reluctance largely stems from geostrategic interests and security concerns of two mighty titans of the East -- Russia and China, he said. Both Russia and China are the main suppliers of arms to Syria. Russia views Syria (and Iran, to a certain degree) as a proxy partner in the region and a gateway to the largely pro-Western Arab world (Iraq, Lebanon, Israel, Turkey and the Gulf states). Achilov added that after the collapse of Saddams Husseins Baathist regime in Iraq, only two anti-Western players were left in the Middle East: Syria and Iran. However, Medvedev now appears to be mildly stepping back from his previous intransigent position. "Russia wants as much as the other countries for Syria to end the bloodshed and demands that the Syrian leadership conduct the necessary reforms," Medvedev said. Medvedev had earlier criticized the NATO bombing campaign of Libya as illegitimate and adhered to that policy line. "Russia will continue standing against attempts to legitimize through the UN Security Council unilateral sanctions aimed at toppling various regimes," he said. Indeed, Achilov opines that Russia cannot afford to lose Syria as an ally, as that would diminish its strategic share of regional influence in the Middle East. This is why Russia was quick to send its naval vessels to the eastern Mediterranean to protect Syria from possible military threat, he noted. China and Russia are ideologically well-aligned in terms of foreign policy and regional security with respect to [Middle East North Africa] region. Both China and Russia view Syria as a regional strategic ally and a counterweight against rapidly expanding Western influence in the region.
I'll bet Obama is wondering the same thing you are. Bleeding heart libs only see one real enemy in the whole world and that is conservatives in this country. But the Russians and Chinese conduct foreign policy according to their own national interests. They see America as an adversary and make moves to hurt us. They don't see Syria as an enemy and really could care less what the Syrian government does to its own people.
How is this about "hurting the US"? Russia want Assad to make the reforms or step down and neither the US nor the GCC want to see Syria implode.
Yes, I do. They have not declared war on us nor do they want to. But they are competitors economically, politically and militarily.
I see. You think America is so strong that no one can possibly challenge us and so they are all going to be our friends instead. It doesn't work that way. What was the military budget of North Vietnam compared to the United States? Or, why is China building new aircraft carriers if we cannot possibly be beaten in a military conflict? It seems they are just wasting their money.
I think the Cold War is over. http://www.politicalforum.com/current-events/214492-irans-bahraini-ambitions.html
The competition between the great powers never ends. Why does China need an aircraft carrier if A: we are best friends or B: we are too strong for the Chinese to use it anyway?
russia and china are not going to war in their backyard, its easier for the US to demand trouble in that region also they still need the middle east card to play in case of world war for oil
Competition for natural resources is certainly being minimized by new technologies.. and at some point Baluchistan will open up.
I'm not sure if this is entirely just and east vs west thing. China and Russia have odd relations with Islam. China and Russia are genuinly oppressing Muslims. Russia is still holding onto some oil rich Soviet holdings in Chechnya. China put down compaining Muslims pretty visiously, and are engaging in population transferes to get them under control. But they aren't getting any crap in the Islamic community as a whole, and I think that's because they avoid getting on the wrong side of any Muslims in power. So they're playing this soft.
Maybe the Chinese and Russians can tell the difference between radical Muslims and business partners.
I think they've figured out that if they play their cards right there doesn't have to be a difference. They can whomp and oppress the Muslims in their countries all they want and the radicals still hate the US, but are happy to do business with them. Well, the people they're oppressing don't like it. But those may not be long for this world, and don't get much play in any case, and seemlingly little sympathy in the rest of the Islamic world. Really quite a diplomatic accomplishment.
Things are changing... Today China envoy says Syria unrest 'cannot continue' AFP - ‎1 hour ago‎ CAIRO - China's Middle East envoy Wu Sike cautioned Syria during a visit to Damascus of the dangers of a government crackdown on dissent...
Russia, China weasel out - support Assad carnage again... Rising child deaths in Syria prompt calls for war crimes probe Wed, Jan 16, 2013 - International calls for a war crimes probe into the 22-month Syrian conflict are growing after a watchdog reported that at least 26 children have been killed in the latest violence. See also: Report: At Least 52 Killed in Syria University Blast January 15, 2013 - A Syrian rights group says two explosions killed at least 52 people Tuesday at the University of Aleppo, in Syria's largest city.
grandpa told me as he was a b-52 bomber in Vietnam, they bomb the heck out of the large city of Hanoi in the north killing lot of kids, and said they where Vietcong
Hmmm, message must be lost in translation... Kerry: US message to Russia not to sell missiles to Syria is 'crystal clear' May 9, 2013 -- Secretary of State John Kerry said Thursday the transfer of advanced missile defense systems from Russia to Syria would be a "destabilizing" factor for Israel's security. See also: Russia says it will keep selling weapon systems to Syria May 10, 2013 Russia defended its sales of anti-aircraft systems to the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad, just days after joining forces with the U.S. for a new push to end Syria's civil war through negotiations.
If Russia gonna make money off sellin' weapons to Assad, den we oughta be able to sell weapons to the rebels... Russia sends advanced missiles to aid Assad in Syria 5/17/2013 - 'Ship killer' likely to help deter establishment of no-fly zone, supply of rebels from sea
I heard today that Russia has transferred anti-ship cruise missiles to Assad that are capable of taking out NATO warships off Syria's coast.
The Russians need the warm water sea port in the Med that Syria offers, and Iran is an ally to both syria and russia. Assad has been living on a russian warship for the last several months.... The russians know exactly where hes at.... and China doesnt give a damn, theyre too busy supporting North Korea.