France And Britain Pulling Ambassadors From Israel, Russia To Evacuate Nationals From Syria, Video

Sometimes you can glean information about a situation by those who are involved in it and how they react.

Syria has been involved in a national civil war since March of 2011, when national protest for the resignation of President Bashar al-Assad and an almost five decade long Ba’ath Party rule started. This time has been called the Arab Spring.

  On Nov 13th 2012  Israel nailed a direct hit on one of Syria’s tanks after mortar shells landed on Israeli soil for the 2nd time. This is leaving some afraid that Israel could get drawn into its neighbor’s civil war.

  Israel has been trying to avoid getting involved with the Syrian civil war, but as the war begins to creep onto their soil, Israel has become concerned for the safety of its people.

According to the Kremlin’s Middle East envoy Mikhail Bogdanov, Russian emergency services have reserved several planes to evacuate Russian nationals from Syria.

These people are officials, engineers and Russian wives.

Mr Bogdanov advised Russians to postpone travel to Syria.

Syrian opposition set for Moscow talks

According to the Kremlin’s Middle East envoy Mikhail Bogdanov, in the period to the New Year Moscow will host several rounds of talks between Russian officials and foreign representatives of the internal Syria opposition.

The Russian side will try to persuade their factions to unite in accordance with the guidelines set at last June’s Geneva conference on Syria.

Last week, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov hosted a meeting with the chief diplomatic representative of the National Coordination Council of the Syrian opposition Heisam Manaa.

Militarization of Syria conflict in full swing – Russia’s Deputy FM

Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister and Putin’s Middle East envoy Mikhail Bogdanov told reporters Monday that militarization of the Syrian conflict was in full swing.

He said belligerent opposition groups were receiving massive outside arms shipments, including deadly Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, despite the existing embargo.

“There has been a sweeping militarization [of the Syrian conflict], which is of course extremely disturbing because it doesn’t contribute to the peacemaking efforts that should encourage cooperation between all opposition groupings in order to reach an immediate, lasting and comprehensive ceasefire,” Mr. Bogdanov said.

Britain, France, Spain, Sweden and Denmark  Pulling Ambassadors from Israel

European diplomats who say that the two countries are considering “the unprecedented step of recalling their ambassadors.” One told the paper, “This time it won’t just be a condemnation, there will be real action taken against Israel.”

The sobering news comes just three days after Benjamin Netanyahu’s widely publicized and controversial decision to start construction in the 4.6-square-mile E1 zone, a move that many believe will ruin the chances of a two-state solution to the region’s conflict.

Captured by Israel in the 1967 war, the strip of land connects the Jewish settlement of Maale Adumim to Jerusalem.

However, the proposed 3,000 homes built on that land would also cut off Ramallah and Bethlehem from Jerusalem, “making the contiguous Palestinian state endorsed by the United Nations last week virtually impossible,” according to The New York Times.

 It also makes a single contiguous Palestinian state impossible. Along with another recently announced settlements to be built in Ramot and Pisgat Zeev and a stretch of land known as Givat Hamatos — 3,810 units total — Israel is embarking on the biggest settlement construction spree since the 1970s.

France and Britain are obviously incensed by Israel’s behavior, which is widely viewed as Netanyahu’s tit-for-tat response to Palestine’s recent victory in the United Nations.

It’s not just the settlement decision but also how it came about. As the Haaretz report explains, the two countries ” are reportedly angry because they view Israel as having responded ungratefully to the support the two countries gave it during the recent Gaza operation.” They also said that the settlement move crossed a “red line.”

Britain’s Foreign Secretary William Hague said that the settlements were “illegal under international law and undermine trust between parties.”

The United States isn’t exactly thrilled about the situation, either. On Friday, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said, “These activities set back the cause of a negotiated peace.”

That statement will sound a little redundant if you heard Clinton’s comments after the United Nations approved Palestine’s bid for upgraded “nonmember observer state” status.

She also said that was “a step that will not bring us any closer to peace” and that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas “took a step in the wrong direction this week.”

So the optimistic picture here is that everybody is backpedaling away from peace. That’s only optimistic because the alternative would be that they’re marching towards war, war that nobody really wants.  

UPDATE: France and Britain have now summoned their respective Israeli ambassadors in London and Paris to discuss the matter with their foreign ministers.

Russia and the UN are pulling their people out. Does this mean they have gotten word about a new offensive or is there concern about the patriot missile system being deployed?

Russian nationals and engineers have been in Syria through all the madness and now they move to pull everyone out?

 It appears to me that either Assad will be whisked away or an entire new development is going on behind the scenes.

Prior to Ambassador Stevens Murder in Sept 11th,  the British embassy in Tripoli pulled the UK diplomats out of Benghaz..  History repeats!

These kind of actions are unprecedented.  This type movement usually preceeds some form of military action.

The United States isn’t exactly thrilled about the situation, either. On Friday, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said, “These activities set back the cause of a negotiated peace.”

That statement will sound a little redundant if you heard Clinton’s comments after the United Nations approved Palestine’s bid for upgraded “nonmember observer state” status.

She also said that was “a step that will not bring us any closer to peace” and that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas “took a step in the wrong direction this week.”

So the optimistic picture here is that everybody is backpedaling away from peace. That’s only optimistic because the alternative would be that they’re marching towards war, war that nobody really wants. If it takes France and Britain running home to prove that, they will.

BREAKING: Just Hours ago itwas announced that NATO countries deploy Patriot batteries along Turkey’s border with Syria.

“The first and overwhelming reason for this is political posturing,” said Christopher Harmer, a retired Navy pilot who has followed the Syrian conflict at the Institute for the Study of War. “There is no real threat from Syria into Turkey.”

The Turks have provided support and a safe haven to Syrian rebel leaders, drawing rebukes from Damascus and its allies, Iran and Russia. Both nations also have criticized the Turkish request for Patriots, saying it could inflame matters.

As fighting between rebels and Syrian forces has escalated in recent weeks, Turkey argued that it needs to bolster its defenses along the border. The request took on a sense of urgency in recent days, amid Syria’s intensifying aerial bombardment of rebel positions close to the Turkish border and growing concerns that Damascus could use chemical weapons against the opposition in a last-ditch move.

Artillery rounds have landed on Turkish soil as rebels and Syrian forces have exchanged fire, though such incursions appear to have been accidental. Patriots are not designed to interdict low-flying weapons and would be of little use to stop such volleys.

The public position is that the batteries are to defend against Syrian missiles, but military experts said Patriots are equally effective against aircraft. Although Turkey and its NATO allies have been reticent to establish a no-fly zone, should the political will for one develop, the Patriots along the border could be instrumental in quickly carving out a 25-mile buffer zone.

 All America Wants For Christmas Is The Truth! Can America Handle The Truth? Here’s The “Truth”

NBC Uses NFL Murder-Suicide Tragedy For Half Time Entertainment To Plea For Gun Ban [VIDEO]

America’s Drought and The Middle Class, Prepare For Rising Unemployment And Rising Prices Video

45 Signs The Middle Class Is Being Systematically Wiped Out Of Existence

Five Real Ways America Is Under Attack by The Oligarchy That Controls The Federal Reserve Video

End The Fed: Chicago Federal Reserve Bank President Just Announced QE 4

Agenda 21 Revealing The Next U.S. Land Grab, The Trojan Horse, Heritage Areas Video.

AS America Falls Over The “Fiscal Cliff”, Obama Skips Town, Announces His 21 Day Vacation Plans

Feud at The Fed: “Horrific Consequences” For Unlimited Quantitative Easing Video

Sinking Currency: U.S. Treasury Phasing Out Pennies And Nickels For Base Metal Value In 2013 Video

A Do-It-Yourself Christmas: 34 Great Homemade Gifts You Can Make This Year – Video

“Fiscal Cliff ” Or Taxmageddon? Tax Hikes Take Further Toll On America’s Middle Class, Video