Its interesting the comments in this string appear to reflect the slight UK majority (public and Parliamentary) opinion against military action in Syria.

Between the lines my article pointed out the downsides of Western "boots on the ground" in Syria and the limitations of cruise missile use.

Still its interesting that the US appears prepared to act alone against Syria. http://www.latimes.com/world/middleeast/la-fg-us-syria-intel-20130830,0,1708580.story However French military participation is still likely and sigint support from many NATO countries (and Israel) will remain ongoing.

There are also a couple of low key classes of weapons the US can wield against Syria.

Issues of timing of action appear to point to Sunday or Monday (US time). This timing is geared to:

- the US building a more publicly evocative case for action

- the withdrawal of UN weapon inspectors late Saturday, and

- preferably preceding the ETA of Russian naval units (the cruiser Moskva and an ASW frigate) from the Black Sea (Sevostopol) into the eastern Mediterranean where 5 US destroyers and (probably) 2 subs are ready to fire their cruise missiles.

Pete

in my opinion..the timing is wrong

but to comment..on..<<..building a more publicly evocative case for action >>

their working on it
http://whatreallyhappened.com/IMAGES/obamajustifiessyria.jpg

but also..there is a suggestion box
wrh@whatreallyhappened.com

i..like to have faith..our leaders arnt stupid

Leaked documents reveal US sees Israel as a spying threat
http://thehill.com/blogs/global-affairs/middle-east-north-africa/319513-leaked-documents-reveal-us-sees-israel-as-a-major-spying-threat

The Obama administration views Israel as one of the top spying threats facing its intelligence services, leaked documents reveal.

A secret budget request obtained by The Washington Post from former NSA contractor Edward Snowden lumps Israel alongside U.S. foes Iran and Cuba as “key targets” for U.S. counterintelligence efforts.

The document suggests Israel does not believe U.S. assurances that its interests are aligned with Israel's on crucial issues such as Iran and peace talks with the Palestinians.

25 most memorable quotes..SO...FAR*
http://www.activistpost.com/2013/08/25-quotes-about-coming-war-with-syria.html

simple
dont target nuthin
[you break it you fix it]
UOG,
I'm sure most people here would agree with that. But we're not the problem, we're not mass-producing people to jump onto boats to head for Australia. You really need to convince them of your idea.

Hi Peter/Plantagenet,

I’m not a supporter of any military interference in Syria for the reasons given above but they are probably not the same reasons as the Russians or Chinese might give.

I’m not convinced that your promotion of US cruise missiles as primary strike weapons is valid, probably more of a distraction to both the Russians and the Syrians.

I think the last time US cruise missiles were used in anger was the gulf war in 1991 and they have come a long way since then. The Syrians have the S 300 (SA10 Grumble) ADS bought from Russia. The S300 ADS, like the conventional cruise missiles are hopelessly out of date.

In the last 20 years the US has achieved superiority in stealth, stand off, UAV and Electronic Warfare (Growler) technology. The S-300 system can track multiple targets and engage multiple targets, unfortunately; first the S 300 must find the targets. So it could potentially knock off a few conventional cruise missiles but not much else, even with the support of the Russians. Not to mention the Air Launched X45/X51 hypersonic cruise missiles the US now has.

Whilst hoping that none of this technology is used, if the US chooses from its current technology the Syrians would not know what hit them, where it came from, how it got there or when it is coming next. At best the Russian Navy could join the US fleet in their box seat to watch the fireworks.

Alternatively they could drink more Vodka, March up and down the decks singing military songs, or even go on the new Russian submarines which have glass bottoms so the current Russian Navy can get a really good look at the Old Russian Navy.

Cruise missiles, maybe? But not the ones we think we know.

What Spindoc and Shadow Minister can't get their tiny minds around is that the U.S. with all its superior technology and power couldn't even beat a handful of so-called terrorists in Iraq and Afghanistan!

Only retarded people could glorify what the imperial U.S. has become since 1945 and how many millions they have killed! The U.S. has its tentacles spread all over the world in its effort to achieve global domination.

Of course, you need a brain that thinks to become aware of this reality and what it means for the world.

Uncle Sam is Big Brother!

Spindoc, you wrote "At best the Russian Navy could join the US fleet in their box seat to watch the fireworks. Alternatively they could drink more Vodka, March up and down the decks singing military songs, or even go on the new Russian submarines which have glass bottoms so the current Russian Navy can get a really good look at the Old Russian Navy."

I would suggest that perhaps you may underestimate the Russian implication. What if their vessels are on station prior to any US/other nation first strike effort on Syria and what might be the outcome if the Russians decide to counter such an offensive, with missiles of their own, capable of significantly reducing any major impact on Syria.

This may see far-fetched, but Putin is not stupid and this situation could rapidly escalate beyond what has been proposed above.

I am not suggesting it will happen like this, but the possibility that this may occur. Do we really need this possibility to occur? Me thinks not.

Assad may be a tyrant, but regime change and most likely the 'failed State' will become the result, and who will benefit, certainly not the Syrian people, despite the horrendous death toll too date.

Empires rise and fall all the time, its just such a pity the US has chosen such a poor path to follow as they journey down the spiral into irrelevance as the years progress. Arrogance is the only word that comes to mind.