via Obama re-election signals new phase in Syria war – Yahoo! News.
ZAATARI, Jordan (AP) — Western efforts to
oust Syrian President Bashar Assad shifted dramatically Wednesday, with
Britain announcing it will deal directly with rebel military leaders and
Turkey saying NATO members have discussed using Patriot missiles to
protect a safe zone inside Syria.
The developments came within hours of
Barack Obama’s re-election, with U.S. allies anticipating a new, bolder
approach from the American president to end the deadlocked civil war
that has killed more than 36,000 people since an uprising against Assad
began in March 2011.
British Prime Minister David Cameron,
visiting a camp Wednesday for Syrian refugees in Jordan, said the U.S.,
Britain and other allies should do more to “shape the opposition” into a
coherent force and open channels of communication directly with rebel
military commanders.
Previously, Britain and the U.S. have
acknowledged contacts only with exile groups and political opposition
figures — some connected to rebel forces — inside Syria.
“There is an opportunity for Britain, for
America, for Saudi Arabia, Jordan and like-minded allies to come
together and try to help shape the opposition, outside Syria and inside
Syria,” Cameron said. “And try to help them achieve their goal, which is
our goal of a Syria without Assad.”
The Turkish official who reported Patriot
missile discussions between his nation and its allies, including the
United States, said planning for the safe zone inside Syria had been put
on hold pending the U.S. election.
The foreign ministry official spoke on condition of anonymity because of ministry prohibitions on contact with the media.
He also said any missile deployment might
happen under a “NATO umbrella,” though NATO has insisted it will not
intervene without a clear United Nations mandate.
“With the re-election of Obama, what you
have is a strong confidence on the British side that the U.S.
administration will be engaged more on Syria from the get-go,” said
Shashank Joshi, an analyst at London’s Royal United Services Institute, a
military and security think tank.
On the ground in Syria, rebels were making
a new push into the capital Wednesday, clashing heavily with troops in
the suburbs of Damascus, including Ghouta and Harasta.
Britain would offer an extra 14 million
pounds ($22 million) in humanitarian aid, bringing its total funding to
53.5 million pounds ($85.5 million) — making it the second largest donor
after the United States.
Did Romney offer an alternative plan? No he didn't. We all nodded our heads out of fear, but if you watched the debate you know Romney was committed to arming the rebels in Syria
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