Assad and Family Are in Moscow.

Moscow confirms.

Бывший президент Сирии Башар Асад вместе с семьей находится в Москве, где ему предоставлено убежище по гуманитарным соображениям, сообщил источник в Кремле.

Translation: Former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his family are in Moscow, where he has been granted asylum for humanitarian reasons, a Kremlin source said.

 

Well, Arab Militaries...

 ... I want to remind AGAIN about the article by Colonel Atkine--Why Arabs Lose Wars. If one disregards the nonsense Atkine writes about Soviet Armed Forces, of which he has about zero knowledge, his delving into the nature of Arab militaries is valid, as are testimonies of a majority of Soviet/Russian military advisers who trained, as an example, Iraqi and Syrian militaries. I knew a few of them really well. 

Allegedly, these are "opposition" forces already in Presidential Palace in Damascus. 

Now, classic Arab apologetics starts with blaming everybody but themselves. Here is a classic Middle Eastern Army--selling itself to the highest bidder. 

The Syrian Army command announced on Sunday that President Bashar Assad’s 24-year rule has come to an end, according to a Syrian officer who spoke to Reuters. The announcement follows a rapid offensive by jihadist forces in the capital. The jihadists claim that Damascus is “now free of Assad” and are expected to make their first public statement via state TV, Reuters reports, citing two anti-government sources. In response to the political uncertainty, Prime Minister Mohammad al-Jalali stated that he is “ready to cooperate with any leadership chosen by the people,” as quoted by Al Jazeera. He added that he remains at home and is inclined to support the continuity of government.

The question always is how much is worth Arab military high ranking officer(s) for betrayal. Evidently, as early as the  last week Iran (if to believe WSJ) told official Damascus about reducing its military aid and started removing command of some of its forces from Syria. Syrian Girl reports that SAA "was ordered not to fight". I don't doubt for a second that there was a high level military-intel treason, but let's also face the fact that if not for Russian and Iranian forces in Syria it wouldn't have survived by now. In other words--it takes outside forces to prop up most of regional militaries.

Now about hysterics re: Russia, especially by all kinds of "concerned citizens". If to believe reports about Assad family flying to Moscow (big if, though)--it becomes clear that Russia knew what was afoot. Fast advancement of the HTS forces and cowardly abandonment of Syrian towns and cities by SAA was not due to HTS military prowess but due to SAA ceasing to exist as a viable fighting force due to corruption, military incompetence, cowardice and treason--all classic traits of such militaries. But as I repeat ad nauseam--Russian bases in Syria ARE NOT there to "defend" Syria, let alone fight the war for Syrians... again. If Syrians do not want to fight for their country, neither does Russia, nor does Iran, as it should be. Is it bad? For Syria it certainly is, for Russia--let's wait and see. Because Syria for Russia is not a priority. 

Were Russian lives lost in Syria in vain? Absolutely, as far as the Syrian statehood is concerned--it is an undeniable fact and it merely reinforces a well established pattern of backstabbing being one of the major traits of the region. So, we have to wait and see how it plays out for Russia, but it is clear that Russia made a decision not to support official Damascus anymore, but Russia can reinforce her bases in the region if need be. The situation is very fluid and we need to be patient and very cautious in making conclusions before clearer picture emerges.

48 Hours Expired, Still Tick-Tock, Tick-Tock...

Meanwhile Russia sent yet another signal that she is not intimidated--delegation of Russia's Duma MPs departed to Syria to see President Assad (in Russian). Putin spoke with Bibi too in the last couple of hours and mighty Israel stated that she will not allow Iran to get a foothold in Syria (in Russian). It is, obviously, not for Israel to decide but when she has whole US Congress and White House working for her, sure, one may lose a bit of reference points. Hey, even POTUS serves Israel. Well, Israel and Saudi Arabia, of course. 

Trump, obviously, enters now this pre-action pause which is a very tricky thing--the more he delays the action the worst it becomes for him and establishment. Can Pentagon reverse his actions? I don't know who really runs affairs in America anymore, but, hey Mattis has a chance to show himself a good professional and a sensible politician, even a statesman. Those promised by Trump 24-48 hours have long since expired. It is also remarkable that suddenly Sarah Sanders, a spokeswoman for White House just now announces at her briefing that POTUS actually is looking for means other than missile strikes to deal with Syria (in Russian from Ria). Moreover, she stated that the decision hasn't been made yet. 

The inevitable question is this--who in their mind would want to deal with this kind of people? As someone on Colonel Lang's blog asked about Putin and I responded, I will repeat it here. As famous Russian military journalist Vlad Shurigin correctly stated prior to Russia's presidential elections on March 18, Russia was not electing a President, she was electing a Supreme Commander. This is not the first time when Russia did it, tacitly or through democratic procedure. On the US side, however, I may throw in a theory--Trump should understand that starting any confrontation with Russia he may actually accelerate greatly the end of his presidency even if the world in general, and US in particular survive this ordeal. Impeachment? Possibly. But who knows how he may be removed against the background of the threat of the escalation to a nuclear threshold. In the end--nobody made him twit this morning what could be the abrupt end of what remains of Pax Americana.  Zug Zwang, tick-tock, tick-tock.

Well, That Was Fast.

Remember this?

       

Well, we are now back into the same play, Act II:    

Trump: Syria gas attack had ‘a big impact’ on me.

That was a horrible, horrible thing, and I’ve been watching it and seeing it. And it doesn’t get any worse than that. And I have that flexibility. And it’s very, very possible and I will tell you it’s already happened that my attitude toward Syria and Assad has changed very much.

    

So, it is Assad now, again, not US friendly jihadists and terrorists who use the so called "chemical weapons". Back to square one, I guess. Another US warmonger in UN today calling on war. Sure, why not start WW III. I heard some D.C. politicians and generals are itching to do so. Did they finally take over Trump? At this stage it sure as hell looks like it. Didn't take three months.