SYRIA thread

[AE Bravo]

Apparently, by now the Syrian Army is an Alawite-populated husk of commissioned officers and heavy weapons units that leaves most of the ground fighting to sectarian militias, i.e. more of a brand than a professional institution. Could explain why they've performed much better on the offense than defense.

I don't think this crop will ever prove up to storming the Golan Heights. Maybe the air force has improved?

Man I had to dig this up because it stuck with me. It's very interesting you put it that way but I'm skeptical, it seems hyperbolic. I've read the publication you linked but it doesn't exactly allude to this claim. I imagine every country in the middle east would take this initiative when faced with a conscription crisis.

Not sure if the example was a figure of speech, but paramilitaries are effectively part of the regime in Syria. These institutional shortcomings are common across many states in the middle east. How do we know that they are sectarian? They seem to be no more so than the regime, people of Damascus, and "Assadist" diaspora are.

Not to mention the (incorrect) implication that the actual army is inactive/not fighting.

[Montmorency]

Man I had to dig this up because it stuck with me. It's very interesting you put it that way but I'm skeptical, it seems hyperbolic. I've read the publication you linked but it doesn't exactly allude to this claim. I imagine every country in the middle east would take this initiative when faced with a conscription crisis.

Not sure if the example was a figure of speech, but paramilitaries are effectively part of the regime in Syria. These institutional shortcomings are common across many states in the middle east. How do we know that they are sectarian? They seem to be no more so than the regime, people of Damascus, and "Assadist" diaspora are.

Not to mention the (incorrect) implication that the actual army is inactive/not fighting.

My tone was uncharitable, but I just followed the conclusions of the analysis, which were that the Syrian army had since the beginning of the war become less professional, less focused on its own infantry ranks than on paramilitaries, but that this had in the specific context of the fractured Syrian battlescape allowed it to be more flexible and shield itself from the worst casualties.

I did not say that it was more inactive than in the past, but did mean to suggest that it was less conventionally effective.

Not sure what you are trying to say about sectarianism. So that's just right. As opposed to 5 years ago, the commissioned ranks clearly seem to be more homogeneous in denomination.

[AE Bravo]

My tone was uncharitable, but I just followed the conclusions of the analysis, which were that the Syrian army had since the beginning of the war become less professional, less focused on its own infantry ranks than on paramilitaries, but that this had in the specific context of the fractured Syrian battlescape allowed it to be more flexible and shield itself from the worst casualties.

I did not say that it was more inactive than in the past, but did mean to suggest that it was less conventionally effective.

Not sure what you are trying to say about sectarianism. So that's just right. As opposed to 5 years ago, the commissioned ranks clearly seem to be more homogeneous in denomination.

Makes sense.

As for the last part, that it is more homogenous in denomination makes it as sectarian as almost every military institution in the region. Assad was cornered and showed his true colors like his counterparts in the region possessed by default. It's just interesting that this has been labelled a sectarian operation mostly due to the war, or else it would be (rightfully) stamped to other states as well.

Basically, he became what the rebels have accused him of being for years and hardly by choice.

[Fragony]

What's your take? Interested in it, I'm only a clown if things aren't serious. It's all really confusing and musings won't do anymore. Where is our resident Syrian when you need him I don't understand things anymore

[AE Bravo]

What's your take? Interested in it, I'm only a clown if things aren't serious. It's all really confusing and musings won't do anymore. Where is our resident Syrian when you need him I don't understand things anymore

There are many Syrians here, not one of them is pro-regime. Though to be fair, I don't think they'd let them in if they were suspected pro-regime. I have Libyan friends from both "sides," in my circle the girls are pro-Qaddafi and men pro-rebel which makes sense considering the state of women in Libya now. I think the same could be true for Syria, at least for feminists or the women who don't cover their heads.

It's a shame because Syria was such a fun place, you'd like it. Ten years ago this was the vacation spot (like Morocco) where you could go for a drink and meet all kinds of Arabs/Assyrians without fear of being spotted by some bored relative.

[Montmorency]

There are many Syrians here, not one of them is pro-regime. Though to be fair, I don't think they'd let them in if they were suspected pro-regime. I have Libyan friends from both "sides," in my circle the girls are pro-Qaddafi and men pro-rebel which makes sense considering the state of women in Libya now. I think the same could be true for Syria, at least for feminists or the women who don't cover their heads.

It's a shame because Syria was such a fun place, you'd like it. Ten years ago this was the vacation spot (like Morocco) where you could go for a drink and meet all kinds of Arabs/Assyrians without fear of being spotted by some bored relative.

When you say "here", at first I thought you meant the Org, but that can't be it. And I believe you said you're not in America any longer, right?

By and by, this video might interest you.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

More properly our Assyrian in America.

RVG? Why? He hasn't been active in a few years.

[Sarmatian]

One thing to consider is that sarin doesn't have to be a binary agent. All sarin Syrian government surrendered was binary, but that doesn't mean that low grade sarin terrorists produce is binary also, in which case an explosion would disperse the gas with lethal effects.

Where is our resident Syrian

We have a resident Syrian?

[Montmorency]

One was looking for computer advice in the Tech forum recently. That one? Or Dariush? I don't think he identified as a Syrian, did he?

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

One thing to consider is that sarin doesn't have to be a binary agent. All sarin Syrian government surrendered was binary, but that doesn't mean that low grade sarin terrorists produce is binary also, in which case an explosion would disperse the gas with lethal effects.

Sarin won't keep when combined, so in order for it to have been from a Rebel stockpile it would have needed to be awaiting imminent deployment.

In order for the narrative to be as the Russian suggest.

We have a resident Syrian?

One was looking for computer advice in the Tech forum recently. That one? Or Dariush? I don't think he identified as a Syrian, did he?

More properly our Assyrian in America.

[Sarmatian]

Sarin won't keep when combined, so in order for it to have been from a Rebel stockpile it would have needed to be awaiting imminent deployment.

In order for the narrative to be as the Russian suggest.

Actually, no. Even low grade sarin, made of impure precursors, will keep for a few weeks, but back when chemical weapons were a thing, a lot of nations kept sarin in unitary state, adding stabilizer chemicals, like tributylamine and diisopropylcarbodiimide. Nations with access to better technology kept it in binary state, because it was safer, but that required more complicated mechanism of deployment.

Even US kept both unitary and binary sarin. In the preparation for the Gulf War, CIA wrote a report that concluded that "CIA ANALYSTS BELIEVE THAT THE SHELF LIFE PROBLEM WAS ONLY TEMPORARY AND THAT THE IRAQIS CAN NOW PRODUCE UNITARY AGENTS OF SUFFICIENT QUALITY BY ADDING A STABILIZER OR IMPROVING THE PRODUCTION PROCESS."

Sarin used by terrorists is usually of low-grade, unitary kind (like in Tokyo terror attack) because they lack the expertise and technology to keep it binary and make effective firing mechanism. The unitary sarin has simple deployment - destroy the container and gas gets released.

More properly our Assyrian in America.

Well, he is really not a resident Syrian.

[drone]

One was looking for computer advice in the Tech forum recently. That one? Or Dariush? I don't think he identified as a Syrian, did he?

I believe Dariush is Iranian. And I'm pretty sure Leith has never posted in the Backroom.

[Elmetiacos]

The contortions and goalpost moving from the Putin bots...
It never happened, it was all fake footage by the rebels, who are all terrorists!
Disproven.
It wasn't sarin, it was only chlorine!
Disproven.
If it was sarin, it was rebel sarin accidentally released by the bombing!
Disproven.
If sarin can't be released accidentally, rebels must be making their own sarin! They must have found a way to store it by means of adding a stabilising chemical, yes, that's it!
When this is disproven too, no doubt they'll be blaming it on aliens.