Syria - Red Line Crossed

Last Update: August 27




Following eyewitness accounts and videos from Syria, the international community is shocked by what seems to prove the application of nerve gas Sarin by troops of the Assad regime. The West now feels obliged to stop the use of chemical weapons against civilians, however, the situation is more complicated than it looks at first sight.



Above picture from Syrian video showing victims of chemical attack.

According to Al-Jazeera, a UN commission has now been allowed
to enter the site of the chemical attack. That commission is already
in Damascus for talks with Syrian government on the issue. British
government circles, however, are saying that main evidence should
have already been destroyed. [Al-Jazeera / English, on August 25]

According to CNN, UN inspectors were targeted by snipers on their
inspection tour, even though government and opposition forces had
declared to support their mission. [CNN mobile news, on August 26]


Above picture from an article about Free Army reports of rocket attacks using Sarin.
Article published by The Yemen Economist الاقتصادي اليمني on August 24, 2013.

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حقيقة الخيارات المحتملة لتدخل عسكري في سوريا,,,ـ

Headline:
The reality of probable options for a military intervention in Syria ...

ذكرت وكالة الصحافة الفرنسية أن الولايات المتحدة وحلفائها الغربيين يواجهون ضغوطاً متزايدة تدعو إلى التحرك لوقف العنف في سوريا، واشتدت هذه الضغوط إثر اتهام المعارضة النظام بشن هجوم كيماوي أوقع بحسب المعلومات أكثر من 1300 قتيل.ـ

The French press agency quoted that the United States and their Western allies are facing increasing pressure [calling for] an interruption of violence in Syria. That pressure has intensified after the opposition accused the system of having launched a chemical attack which caused the death of more than 1.300 of the [notifying] party.

غير أن المخاوف تبقى قائمة لدى السلطات والرأي العام من الانجرار إلى حرب جديدة في الشرق الأوسط والاضطرار إلى إرسال قوات على الأرض، وهو ما تُجمع واشنطن وباريس على استبعاده بشكل قاطع.ـ

Without dangers remaining permanent for the authorities, public opinion [is attracted by] a new war in the Middle East and the obligation of a global deployment of troops. That is what makes Washington and Paris unite in a categoric denial.

وإزاء هذا الوضع تواجه الأسرة الدولية سيناريوات مختلفة لتدخل عسكري في سوريا تتراوح بين القضاء على ترسانة النظام من الأسلحة الكيماوية وإقامة منطقة حظر جوي، غير أنها تنطوي جميعها على عواقب ومخاطر تثنيها منذ أكثر من سنتين عن التدخل.ـ

In the presence of such situation, the national [also: international] family is facing a variety of scenarios for a military intervention in Syria, alternating between the judgement [or rather: annihilation] of the regime's [leadership] [on the subject of] chemical weapons and the installation of a regional air defense [system]. However, every [action] includes its consequences and the risks of [an unpleasant change] lasting more years than the intervention.

[Source: General Organization of Radio and TV - Syria الهيئة العامة للإذاعة والتلفزيون - سورية on August 24, 2013]


CNN on August 24: Iran blames opposition, warns against intervention,
and, by the way, actual U.S. - Russian relations aren't to good either ...



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Here is a related article discussing Israel's position in the chemical weapons affair. It has been written by Jacky Hugi, an Arab affairs analyst for Israel's army radio Galie-Zahal, a columnist for the business newspaper Globes and the former Arab Affairs correspondent for Maariv:
Israel Urged to Speak Out Against Chemical Weapons Use in Syria



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كتيبة مدرّبة في الأردن دخلت سوريا قبل يومين من المجزرة
لوفيغارو: الأسد استعان بغاز سارين لصد هجوم غربي... والمعارضة تنفي

A battalion trained in Jordan entered into Syria two days before the massacre.
Le Figaro: "Al-Assad resorts to Sarin gas to reject a Western attack ... and the
opposition [makes profit from it]."

Quotation of the French paper "Le Figaro" by the independent Arabic news portal Elaph إيلاف on August 24, 2013. The French article, published on August 22, refers to a specially trained Syrian opposition unit that entered into Syria under the guidance of U.S., Israeli and Jordanian troops some days ago.



Operation Anti-Assad Has Begun

According to our informations, Syrian opposition [fighters],
embedded into Jordanian, Israeli and American commandos,
are advancing towards Damascus since the middle of August.
That offensive might explain the possible resort to chemical
weapons by the Syrian president. [Info Le Figaro, August 22]

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[Opinion Trend] of the Egyptian People

التيار الشعبي: تلويح أمريكا بالعدوان على سوريا مخطط لـ"تقسيم الدول العربية وإضعاف جيوشها"ـ

Trend of the People:
America's signal of hostility towards Syria is planning " the division of Arab nations and the weakening of their armies ".

[Source: Al-Ahram الاهرام, Cairo, on August 26, 2013]

مسؤول أمريكي: «أوباما» لم يقرر تحركا عسكريا ضد سوريا وسيكون محدودا

U.S. official: Obama has not [yet] decided in favor of some military action against Syria and
which should [even more] be limited.

[Source: Egypt Today مصر اليوم on August 27, 2013]

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A choice of recent visitors to "blueprint news":

Egypt's difficult approach to democracy from the Islamic district of Cairo ...



Search for the "devil within" at the University of Swaziland (East Africa) ...



Refreshing studies at the University of the South Pacific (Fiji) ...



Japan's latest territorial claims observed from Pearl Harbor (Hawaii) ...

Egypt - Mediator Needed

Yesterday, August 17, Al-Jazeera reported on both channels in Arabic and English about further clashes between security forces and pro-Morsy demonstrators in the frame of a military clearing of Cairo's Al-Fatah Mosque from opponents of the new Egyptian administration.



قوات الأمن المصرية تقتحم مسجد الفتح في القاهرة

Egyptian security forces are entering Al-Fatah Mosque in Cairo.
[Above image: Soldiers aiming at snipers on top of the minaret.]

While the Arabic program offered lots of pictures showing some kind of civil war scenario, Al-Jazeera's English program brought an interview with Fawaz Gerges, a London based expert for the Middle East:



Gerges underlined that no neutral party could be found in Egypt today, able to assume the task of mediating between the rivalling groups. Therefore, it would make sense to employ influential foreign governments. As the U.S. have lost much credit in the Middle East, the European Union might take over to unite pro- and contra-Morsy groups in serious negotiations. Namely Europe's special envoy, Catherine Ashton, could then play a decisive role in trying to smoothe tensions within a deeply divided Egyptian society and promote decisive talks between the main opponents.

This, however, is contested by other spectators of the proceedings as Egypt News - ENN had already pointed out in their article on August 1st, 2013.



ـ“صحف أوروبية”: أشتون وسيط غير فعال بين الأطراف المتنازعة في مصر

"European Media": Ashton [is] an inefficient mediator between the rivalling parties in Egypt.

Egypt - The Day After

After the military clearance of camps installed by pro-Morsy demonstrators on public places, here is what Al-Arabiya TV, Dubai, wrote on their website the day after, August 15, 2013:

مشاعر قلق تخيم على البلاد ما دفع معظم المصريين إلى أخذ ما يشبه العطلة الاختيارية

Troubled feelings ruling over the [townships] is what the majority of Egyptians has led to the [acception] of what resembles an absence of options.

ذكر التلفزيون المصري، اليوم الخميس، أن الفريق أول عبدالفتاح السيسي، وزير الدفاع، وجه الهيئة الهندسية بإجراء كل الإصلاحات بمسجد رابعة العدوية الذي لحقت به أضرار في اشتباكات أمس، فضلاً عن المصالح الحكومية والمنشآت المتضررة، وإعادة الميدان إلى طبيعته بمشاركة القوات المسلحة

Today, Thursday [15] , Egypt's [state] TV reminded that the first group of Abdulfatah Assisi, minister of defense, instructed the engineering corps with the execution of all repairs on the fourth mosque [where hostilities] inflicted damages during yesterday's fightings, not to speak of government offices and damaged institutions [or: enterprises] as well as the restauration of the original character of public place[s] with the contribution of the armed forces.



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Above: Turkey's ambassador to Egypt.



استدعت تركيا سفيرها في مصر من أجل التشاور، حسب ما أعلنت وزارة الخارجية التركية، وذلك بعد أن فضت قوات الأمن المظاهرات المؤيدة للرئيس المعزول محمد مرسي

Turkey recalled its ambassador to Egypt for consultations according to an announcement of the Turkish ministry of foreign affairs. [This happened] after security forces broke up demonstrations in favour of [deposed / isolated] president Mohammad Morsy.

[Source: Al-Ahram الأهرام, Cairo, quoting the French news agency AFP on August 16, 2013]

Yemen - Business as Usual

Last Update: August 13

Despite U.S. fears of an immediate Al-Qaeda attack in Yemen or Pakistan and that should be targeting foreign diplomats, nothing really surprising has happened up to now. Even though terrorist operations against U.S. and allied embassy staff might be expected as a possible retaliation for recent drone attacks against Al-Qaeda activists in Yemen and Northern Pakistan, the following report is rather showing that Al-Qaeda is following their " business as usual ":

أفادت الأنباء الواردة من اليمن بمقتل 5 جنود وإصابة آخرين في هجوم شنه مسلحون على نقطة سيطرة قرب منشأة بلحاف لانتاج الغاز الطبيعي في محافظة شبوة جنوب شرقي البلاد

Informations from Yemen are indicating that 5 soldiers have been killed and 2 others wounded in an armed attack launched against some checkpoint ..... in the South-Eastern part of the country.

ونقل مراسل بي بي سي في صنعاء عبد الله غراب عن مصدر أمني قوله إن الهجوم يحمل بصمات تنظيم القاعدة

According to BBC reporter Abdullah Gharab in Sanaa, a security source told him the attack is bearing the footprint of Al-Qaeda organization.

[Source: BBC Arabic on August 11, 2013]



ـ38 من عناصر القاعدة قتلوا في اليمن بتسع غارات شنتها طائرات من دون طيار

38 Yemenite members of Al-Qaeda died in nine [air] raids when
unmanned planes were launched. [Al-Jazeera Arabic, August 12]

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Update for August 13:



اليمن يتحول إلى مركز دولي لمواجهة «القاعدة»ـ

Yemen is turning into an international
center of confrontation with Al-Qaeda.

[Al-Bayan البيان, Dubai, August 13]

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Country related visitor statistics for "blueprint news", covering the time before and after a maintenance break which was needed to improve information access to earlier blogspots:

Syria - Al-Qaeda on the Rise

Last Update: July 22



طالبان الباكستانية تمد القاعدة في سوريا بمئات المقاتلين ضد الجيش الحر

Pakistani Taliban are [expanding] al-Qaeda in Syria with hundreds of warriors opposing the Free Army.



وجاء اعلان طالبان باكستان بعد ساعات من انذار الجيش الحر للقاعدة بتسليم قتلة كمال حمامي عضو المجلس العسكري للجيش الحر في اللاذقية

[Only] hours after an announcement by the Free Army [that] al-Qaeda [is considered] having killed Kamal Khamami, member of the military council of the Free Army in Latakia, a declaration from Pakistan's Taliban arrived.

[Source: Azzaman الزمان The Epoch, Pan Arab Newspaper, Baghdad - London - Beirut, on July 14, 2013]


Human Rights Network of Syria: More than 1450 mosques have
been either totally or partly destroyed in different regions of Syria.

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Visitors to "blueprint news" coming from Saudi Arabia:



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Update for July 16, 2013



بعد قاعدة العراق طالبان باكستان تنجذب إلى سوريا

Headline:
After [leaving their] Iraqi base, Pakistani Taliban are "showing sympathy" for Syria.

Inserted photo: Warriors of the Free Syrian Army being transported in a bus to the region neighbouring Damascus.

يَـتطوّر القتالُ في سوريا إلى صراعٍ ذي تداخلاتٍ إقليمية ودولية متشابكة تـزيدُ من تعقيداته تدخلاتُ تنظيم القاعدة بفرعه العراقي وجماعاتٍ مسلحة من دولٍ أخرى.ـ

The Syrian battle is developing into a complicated regional and international combat [with its multiple] convictions and interventions of al-Qaeda organization's Iraqi branch and armed groups from other countries.

وفي أحدث المؤشرات إلى الزيادة المتنامية لهذه التدخلات إعلانُ حركة طالبان الباكستانية أخيراً أنها أقامت معسكرات ودفعت بمئات المقاتلين إلى سوريا للقتال إلى جانب مقاتلي المعارضة في إطار إستراتيجية تستهدف ترسيخ الصلات مع القيادة المركزية لتنظيم القاعدة.ـ

In the creation of indicators for an increasing [appearance] of such interventions, a declaration from the movement of the Pakistani Taliban to definitely install camps and [deploy] hundreds of warriors in Syria for the common battle of the opposition [can be seen] in a strategic frame that is aiming at a stabilization of connections with the central command for al-Qaeda organization.

[Source: Radio Free Iraq إذاعة العراق الحر on July 16. Please Note ! Radio Free Iraq is affiliated to Radio Free Europe RFE / Radio Liberty RL, a "U.S. friendly" broadcaster. Once targeting Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union from Munich, Western Germany, RFE / RL was relocated to Prague, Czechia, after the Cold War. According to RFE / RL their Iraq service should be an influential pro-democratic station for the people of Iraq with joint facilities in Prague and Baghdad.]

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Choice of visitors to "blueprint news" on July 16-17, 2013, and who could be located by a country tag in their web address:





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Update for July 22, 2013




“基地”组织被曝已制成第二代改良版内裤炸弹

Headline:
Al-Qaeda organization exposed to the sun the second and improved generation of "pants for bombing" that is already being manufactured.

The Chinese article is citing the Hongkong paper "Eastern Daily" with an announcement made by John Pistole on behalf of the U.S. Administration of Traffic Safety. Pistole is quoted having said that Al-Qaeda is planning the use of such "pants for bombing" on board of airplanes.
The above sketch is showing the detonators (upper part) and the bomb device (lower part) which should contain 250 g of explosives.

I agree that one might have some second thoughts about the subject of that article. However, such "bombing pants" are only a consequent solution for terrorists who are trying to find the weak points of modern security management, just like the notorious "shoe bomber" Richard Reid tried before.

[Source: Global Network 环球网 on July 22, 2013]

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Chinese - Russian Naval Exercises

Last Update: July 13


China's missile destroyer No. 115 "Shenyang"
preparing for Chinese - Russian naval drills.

Yesterday, July 8, Chinese-Russian naval exercises began in the Russian military base of Vladivostok. After a ceremonial opening of the joint exercises in the naval academy of Russia's Pacific fleet, all participating ships left the Far Eastern port. Here's a rather literary description of the events given by a correspondent of China's Navy Network:

夏季的符拉迪沃斯托克气候多变，昨天还艳阳高照，今天已是雨雾弥漫。下午2时许，中俄双方参演舰艇在浓浓的大雾中陆续离开军港，奔赴演习海区。

Vladivostok in summer brings a changeable climate. While yesterday a bright sun was still shining high in the sky, today rain and mist are already filling the air. At about two o'clock in the afternoon and in the middle of a huge dense fog, Chinese and Russian naval vessels, participating in the exercise, leave the navy port one after the other, heading for the maritime manoeuvre region.

经过数小时的雾中航行，沈阳舰驶入待机锚地。“进锚地战斗警报！” 随着舰长张长龙一声令下，急促的警报声在全舰响起，官兵们迅速跑上战位。“抛锚部署！”一连串的口令下达后，巨大的锚链哗啦啦地抛入大海，沈阳舰准确地在预定锚位下锚。

After navigating a couple of hours through dense fog, the Shenyang sails into its waiting position and anchoring place. "Battle alert in the anchoring place !" Commander Zhang and chief Long are giving order simultaneously. Urgently the alarm tone is sounding all over the warship. Officers and soldiers are hurrying to their fighting positions. "Drop anchor [as planned] !" A chain of commands is transmitted to those in the rear, and a huge anchor chain is noisily tossed into the ocean, putting the Shenyang's anchor precisely into its predetermined position.

[Source: NAVY.81.CN on July 8, 2013]




中俄联演沈阳舰成功“攻击”静音潜艇 苏-24扮导弹

Headline:
In the frame of joint Chinese Russian exercises, the Shenyang successfully "attacked" silent submarines and imitations of [=> Russian made] Su-24 guided missiles.



Shenyang - missile control center.


Russian K-27 helicopter landing
on Chinese destroyer Shenyang.

参演的中俄双方18艘水面舰艇、1艘潜艇、8架飞机以及2个特战分队进行了联合防空、海上补给、通过潜艇威胁区、联合护航、联合解救被劫持船舶、打击海上目标等6大科目的演练。

Participating in the joint Chinese Russian exercises are 18 [water surface] warships, one submarine, eight airplanes as well as two platoons of special troops. They have to care for six main tasks in their drill: Joint air defence, maritime supply, the passing of regions endangered by submarines, [the formation] of joint escorts, joint rescue operations of hijacked ships, and the attack on maritime targets.

[Source: China's Navy quoted by People's Network on July 9, 2013]

专家：中俄军演可使用公用频率通信 规避美日侦察

Headline:
An Expert says the Chinese Russian military exercise can use public frequencies for communication, such avoiding U.S. and Japanese reconnaissance.

The article is quoting a military expert who spoke in the Central TV broadcast "Today's Interest".

[Source: People's Network on July 9, 2013]




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Map of recent Far Eastern visitors to "blueprint news" and
map of the 2013 Chinese - Russian joint naval exercises:



Port of Vladivostok.

Choice of visitors to "blueprint news" on July 10, 2013, and who could be located by a country tag in their web address:



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On July 3, 2013, People's Network quoted the Chinese
magazine Modern Ships 现代舰船 with its new title:




如何击败美国

How To Defeat America

本期专题要谈一谈中美间未来可能发生的冲突。

In this issue a special topic needs to be discussed:
A possible conflict arising in the future between China and America.

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专家：日建亚洲最大宙斯盾战舰群 对付中俄弹道导弹

Expert says: Japan is building Asia's biggest group of warships using the "Aegis" [combat system] to deal with Chinese and Russian ballistic missiles.




[Source: People's Network on July 10, 2013]


Editor's Note:

The Aegis Combat System is an integrated naval weapons system developed by the Missile and Surface Radar Division of RCA, and now produced by Lockheed Martin. It uses powerful computers and radars to track and guide weapons to destroy enemy targets. Its unique feature is the simultaneous tracking and targeting of a multitude of enemy missiles at the same time by using all resources available including those of allied navy ships.

Initially used by the U. S. Navy, Aegis is now used as well by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (photo), Spanish Navy, Royal Norwegian Navy, and Republic of Korea Navy. Over 100 Aegis-equipped ships have been deployed in five navies worldwide. The Royal Australian Navy has selected the Aegis system for placement on its new Air Warfare Destroyers, and it's part of NATO's European missile defence system.

The Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System program is intended to enable the Aegis system to act in a sea-based ballistic missile defense function, to counter short- and medium-range ballistic missiles of the variety typically employed by a number of potential opponent states like North Korea.



Related text on Lockheed Martin's Aegis project
realized in the U.S. Federal State of New Jersey.

Egypt - Scenes of Street Fighting

UPDATE for July 7, 2013: Death toll of bloody riots rising to 36, more than 200 wounded are counted. El-Baradei probably prime minister under interim president Mansour. 中文： 埃及—大规模示威

Here are some snapshots and related news from the Arabic channel of Al-Jazeera TV that are illustrating the most recent developments in Egypt after the military coup d'état against Egypt's president Morsy:


Above: Pro-Morsy demonstration at the University of Cairo

مصدر طبي للجزيرة: 10 قتلى و 318 مصابا في القاهرة و محافظات مصرية أخرى

A medical source for Al-Jazeera [says]:
10 died and 318 were wounded in Cairo and other districts of Egypt.

التلفزيون المصري عن وزارة الصحة: مقتل 17 شخصا اليوم في القاهرة و محافظات أخرى

According to Egypt's television, the ministry of public health announced that 17 persons died during the day in Cairo and other districts.

شهود عيان: مجموعات من البلطجية تتصدى لمتظاهرين مؤيدين لمرسي قرب جامعة القاهرة

Eye witnesses: Groups of [local militants] are opposing demonstrators [in favour of] Morsy near the university of Kairo.



Cairo - Maspero

متحدث عسكري: قوات الجيش تدخلت في ماسبيرو للفصل بين المتظاهرين

A spokesman for the military [says]: Armed forces are entering Maspero [i.e. a Cairo neighbourhood] for a separation of the demonstrators.



Above (left): Treating the wounded in an Alexandria mosque.

صور مباشرة من داخل مسجد سيدي جابر في الأسكندرية الذي تحول لمستشفى ميداني

Direct pictures from the interior of Saidi Jabar Mosque in Alexandria that transformed into an [urban] clinic.



Above: Pro-Morsy demonstration in front of
the Egyptian embassy in Amman / Jordan.

Egypt - Morsy Overthrown

Anti-Morsy demonstrations on Tahrir Square
and in front of the presidential palace.
Pro-Morsy demonstrators gather in Nasr City.

الجيش المصري يعزل الرئيس محمد مرسي

Egypt's Military Deposes President Mohammad Morsy

Cairo is presenting a surreal picture of huge demonstrations pro- and contra-Morsy while representatives of the Egyptian opposition assemble side by side with the military they once critisized in order to express their support of that military coup d`état directed against an elected president.

President Morsy is reported to be held under house arrest. While the constitution has been suspended as well by Egypt's military council, chief justice Adli Mansour has been named as interim president of Egypt until a new round of presidential elections that should follow as soon as possible.



البرادعي: انتخابات رئاسية مبكرة
من خلال توافق على دستور ديمقراطي

El-Baradei:
[There will be] premature presidential elections, based
on correspondence with a democratic constitution.



مراسل الجزيرة:ـ
انقطاع بث قناة مصر 25 الناطقة باسم جماعة الإخوان المسلمين

Al-Jazeera's reporter:
Channel Egypt 25, speaking for the community of the Muslim Brotherhood, has stopped its emission.

[Source: Al-Jazeera, Arabic and English channel, on July 3, 2013]

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الرئيس المصري يدعو على "فيسبوك" إلى تشكيل حكومة ائتلافية

The Egyptian president is demanding on Facebook the formation of a coalition government.

The Al-Arabiya article above confirms that Morsy is not allowed to travel and has to refrain from any rethoric as well as public appearance. The inserted picture is showing the demonstration on Tahrir Square in Cairo.

[Source: Al-Arabiya on July 3, 2013]

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Today's visitor to "blueprint news" coming from Cairo: