18-06-2013, 12:04 AM
US masses soldiers near Syrian border
Sunday 16 June 2013
by Our Foreign Desk
The US vowed at the weekend to go ahead with provocative war games involving thousands of troops less than 100 miles from Syria.
Operation Eager Lion will see 4,500 US troops, as well as soldiers from 18 other countries including 500 from Britain, engage in manoeuvres in neighbouring Jordan.
And US President Barack Obama confirmed on Saturday that F-16 fighter jets and Patriot missiles will remain in Jordan even after the exercises finish.
Russia angrily condemned the deployment. Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said: "Foreign weapons are being pumped into an explosive region. This is happening very close to Syria, where for two years the flames of a devastating conflict have been burning."
It called for the US to give priority to peace talks that Moscow and Washington are supposed to be brokering in Geneva between Syria's government and opposition.
But days after declaring that it planned to arm Syria's fractious rebel groups directly the US seemed determined to pour fuel on the fire.
US newspapers reported that the CIA would deliver arms to rebels at secret bases in Jordan, escalating the likelihood of the war spilling over Syria's borders.
The country is already a battlefield for international forces, with Islamist rebels linked to al-Qaida pouring in to wage a Sunni "holy war" against President Bashar al-Assad's regime.
At the same time the Shi'ite Lebanese militia Hezbollah has piled in to fight for the government.
And unconfirmed reports over the weekend suggested Iran might respond to increasing US belligerence by sending up to 4,000 Revolutionary Guards to join Mr Assad.
Egypt also took sides on Saturday, breaking off diplomatic relations with Damascus and calling for the US to enforce a no-fly zone on the country.
Mr Assad had "no future," Islamist President Mohammed Morsi told crowds.
But Russia, which runs the Tartus naval base in Syria, warned the US that attempting to use its Jordan-based aircraft to enforce a no-fly zone would be illegal under international law.
http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/news/...ull/134263
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"He would, wouldn't he?" Mandy Rice-Davies. When asked in court whether she knew that Lord Astor had denied having sex with her.
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"He would, wouldn't he?" Mandy Rice-Davies. When asked in court whether she knew that Lord Astor had denied having sex with her.
“I think it would be a good idea” Ghandi, when asked about Western Civilisation.