Hi James,

Back in 1967, was Syria about to launch an attack on Israel from the Golan Heights and did it in fact launch an initial air attack on Israel ? Yes, as I recall it. Under international law, if that was so, Israel had the right to seize those Heights, in order to respond to an attack on its territory. Assad's father, also from faulty memory, was head of the Air Force at the time. So let's move on.

Putin has committed Russia to defend the Assad regime, and to defeat its enemies, including ISIS. Putin is not remotely interested in allowing anything like 'moderate' or 'democratic' forces to exist in Syria if they, in any say, threaten Russia's interests, and secondarily, Assad's. Yes, his air force will wipe out those forces soon enough, but sooner or later, the Russians will have to confront ISIS. maybe it could call on its allies in the CIS ? Remember the CIS ?

But Putin being a complete opportunist, as psychotics necessarily are, thinking only of his own interests, I suspect that he will do a deal with ISIS, and come to some sort of 'understanding' - at least, until he can be in the position to wipe them out as well. I wouldn't put it past him to use the Big One when that time comes.

Still, he's your boy, James. You're stuck with him.

Joe

It is pretty much a known fact Moshe Dayan, a known psychopath, clandestinely started the war of '67, therefore the Golan Heights should be returned to Syrian control, but we know that's not going to happen don't we!

No conspiracy here, just a fact, despite what the MSM and revisionist historians tell the steeple.

Peter & Joe. I am not beholden to Putin or anybody else. I happen to think that along with Xi they are the two smartest guys in the room. Don't confuse western media BS with what is really going on.

Secondly I was not referring to anything I had written, but the threads that emerged in the comments on the article. If you want to read what I have written, go to Counterpunch, Gumshoe News, New Eastern Outlook and New Matilda for some recent stuff.

Joe, what moderate rebels? Only in the land of Oz are there good witches and bad witches. Assad, who happens to head the only legitimate government Syria has, regardless of what you think of him, is under threat by a whole range of groups. He, quite rightly, is happy to kill them all. Lavrov has asked the americans to produce these so-called "moderates" and of course they can't. The americans train, finance, arm and send off people sure, but the first thing they do is hand their weapons over to IS. The americans admitted as recently as last week that their $500 million investment in the "moderates" had produced exactly 5 people.

As for international law, Article 51 of the UN Charter limits when you can attack another country: either when you are attacked, in self-defence; or when an attack is imminent. The response must be proportionate to the threat. You may NOT continue to occupy territory won in battle. The Israelis have no right whatsoever to occupy the Golan Heights.

The third reason you can bomb a country is when the lawful government asks you to, as Assad did with Russia. No such invitation went out to the US, Australia or any other member of the "coalition". Ergo, we are also in breach of international law. The self defence of another (in this case Iraq) that Bishop has feebly offered as her legal justification for bombing Syria also does not wash. The ICJ ruled in 1974 that that applies only to States, not non-state actors such as ISIS.

Hi Loudmouth.
You say, "Yes, possibly all those Syrians crossing the sea to Europe are just on their annual holidays, nothing to do with Assad, who is doing a bit of renovation while they are away."

Syrian people could have run away years ago, but instead they are doing it now.
Reason is more likely because they have heard air attacks are going to increase, including with Australia coming to bomb Syria.

I ask again, what has Assad actually done that is illegal?

Many Syrian people support Assad.

Hi James

You've again been evasive in saying "If you want to read what I have written, go to Counterpunch, Gumshoe News, New Eastern Outlook and New Matilda for some recent stuff."

Everyone provides comments.

Some links to some of your actual articles, please.

Pete