The U.S. is leaving a

artappraiser — Sun, 16 Jun 2013 05:35:37 +0000

In reply to Syria: Inventing a Religious War

The U.S. is leaving a detachment of F-16 fighter jets and and some Patriot missile systems in Jordan at Jordan's request, after military exercises end next week,

according to Michael Gordon & Thom Shanker @ the New York Times in .

U.S. to Keep Warplanes in Jordan, Pressing Syria June 15/16, 2013

They also say that

American officials said Patriot missiles and F-16s would be kept in Jordan to reassure an important ally that has aligned itself with the United States in the political and military campaign against the Assad government.

The Central Intelligence Agency has been training rebels in Jordan under a covert program, and weapons that are to be sent to the opposition by the United States are expected to be funneled through Jordan, both of which might heighten the risk of Syrian retaliation, including against possible training areas.

and that

Benjamin J. Rhodes, the deputy national security adviser, highlighted the challenges in imposing a no-fly zone in Syria in a conference call with reporters on Thursday, and made it clear that the White House was not eager to take on such an open-ended commitment.

But the Patriots and F-16s would have some utility if the United States decided to support the establishment of a buffer zone between Syria and Jordan. Contingency plans for such a zone, which would be enforced by Jordanian troops on the Syrian side of the border and supported politically by the United States, have already been developed.

Also that

In Cairo, President Mohamed Morsi of Egypt announced that he was severing diplomatic relations with the Syrian government, withdrawing the Egyptian envoy from Damascus and closing the Syrian Embassy in Cairo.

In Washington, Secretary of State John Kerry renewed his efforts to persuade Iraq to curtail Iranian air shipments of arms to Syria.

and

American, Dutch and German Patriot antimissile batteries have already been deployed in Turkey to augment that nation’s defense against the threat of an attack with chemical-tipped ballistic missiles.

There's also more on Kerry's efforts in Iraq, on the Egypt reaction, and a lot on the Russian's push back to U.S. efforts.

I'll put this here as part of

A Guy Called LULU — Sun, 16 Jun 2013 03:01:37 +0000

In reply to Syria: Inventing a Religious War

I'll put this here as part of the same subject rather than as a new heading.

Why Obama is Declaring War on Syria

This is a very pessimistic article.

http://www.counterpunch.org/2013/06/14/why-obama-is-declaring-war-on-syria/

dagblog - Comments for "Syria: Inventing a Religious War"

The U.S. is leaving a

I'll put this here as part of

Why Obama is Declaring War on Syria