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E.u. Lifts Arms Embargo On Syria

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jim360 | 23:33 Mon 27th May 2013 | News
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BBC link:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-22684948

"European Union foreign ministers have agreed not to renew the union's arms embargo on the Syrian opposition. But there was "no immediate decision to send arms" to Syrian rebels and all other sanctions remained in force, the UK Foreign Secretary William Hague said in a tweet.

The decision came after lengthy talks in Brussels. A far-reaching package of sanctions against the government of Bashar al-Assad was due to expire on 1 June.

Britain and France had been pressing to send weapons to what they call moderate opponents of President Assad. But other countries had opposed the move, saying it would only worsen the violence."

Not expecting much reply tonight, and anyway I am off to bed. But, your thoughts?
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Ah good, arms to 'moderate opponents'. Can 'newly emerged and heavily armed hardline militants' be very far away?
Why oh why does our government always get so heavily involved in other countries problems?
To isolate Iran?
Promote Saudi hegemony?
The embargo was due to run out on Friday. Rather than lift the embargo, EU Foreign Ministers have agree to do nothing, and let it expire.

Three things are happening.
1. The UK and France are frightened that Islamic Jhadists will dominate the Assad Opposition, and they want to strengthen the pro-Western opposition.
2. They want to have a bargaining tool at Peace Talks with Assad. "Give us consessions or we might arm the rebels" is the message.
3. Historically, Assad has been allied with the Russians. The EU and particularly UK and France would be happy to see that broken.
that we shouldn't be arming anyone, that to do so would mean ultimately those weapons falling into hands of those who hate the west, as we have witnessed time and again.
The leading rebels in Syria are muslim fundamentalists who are now getting help from Hezbolla - that speaks volumes in itself - looks like another country going towards rule by the muslim brotherhood - who next - Jordan?
could be, for some reason people are not seeing the rise of the Brotherhood, one hopes they don't get their foot in more doors.
They will not be satisfied em until their party rules the whole arab nation - then they can start on the west.
been coming for a long time, someone on here thinks they are benign and were originally created if that is the word to do charitable, good works, deluded as to the true nature. When watching news, or reading articles it seems clear to me many women across the Arab world fear them, in countries where there had been some democracy, women's rights, only to be reversed or at least taken back to having to be more modest in dress, meaning cover yourself up, and education being denied, or at least curtailed. I wouldn't trust them as far as i could see them, nary a one.
I think Hezbollah are fighting against the rebels, Brenden.
Complicated, aint it.
My mistake Svejk, of course they are - but I think the outcome will be the same.
Hmm - Putting out the fire with gasoleine?

Is it just me or does anybody else see the coincidence that the two nations pushing for this are the two biggest arms manufacturers in the EU?

Anyway I hope people will stop saying the EU is the French and the Germans stitching us up
I assume France and the UK are meddling as the ex-colonial powers in the region. After the fall of the Ottoman empire Syria-Lebanon was split between France ruling Syria and the British taking Palestine.
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So, all in all, not many in favour then?
Hmm

I'm not decided, there is talk that the ground to air missiles being considered have GPS technology embedded that would prevent their use outside of Syria but I'm suspicious these would be the tip of the iceberg.

If the embargo is lifted it's hard to do so on a case by case basis and the floodgates could open resulting in a bloodbath
Firther to my oint 3 above, Russia have just announced...

// Russian arms 'to deter foreign intervention in Syria'

Russia says it will go ahead with deliveries of S-300 anti-aircraft missiles to Syria, and that the arms will help deter foreign intervention.

Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said the missiles were a "stabilising factor" that could dissuade "some hotheads" from entering the conflict.

Russia also criticised a decision by the EU not to renew an arms embargo on the Syrian opposition.

Mr Ryabkov said the move would harm the prospects for a peace conference. //
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Russia giving arms to "discourage intervention"... that's in intervention itself. Sigh.
we should stay out of it. We are no longer a world power, our time has come and gone just like the Romans,Egyptions etc etc. We should accept this and stop trying to be the worlds Policeman as it just brings trouble tgat we cant deal with properly due to right-on liberals and ooman rights brigade.
No one tells us-but is this a War between Shi'ite and Sunni Moslems ?
//as it just brings trouble tgat we cant deal with properly due to right-on liberals and ooman rights brigade. //

Nice spin!

You don't suppose the root cause might be actually the Right Wing wanting to exert British will in other countries do you?

Rather than liberals wanting crazy things like trials for people that are locked up

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