Gates2Assad:Beat It - The Orange Mane

Butterscotch Stallion · 03-27-2011, 10:40 AM

Assad already has a few dozen deaths to his name. Gotta go a long way before he catches daddy.

"Syria should follow Egypt’s lead and the Syrian army should 'empower a revolution', Robert Gates, US secretary of defence, argued as thousands marched in a southern city."

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/f4197d9c-5...#axzz1Hp4BXt00

That One Guy · 03-27-2011, 10:46 AM

You have to be registered to be able to access it, can you copy the relevant portions?

And if the US is going to be on the hook for backing all these revolutions, I wish everyone would just let them play on their own. F the Middle East.

Butterscotch Stallion · 03-27-2011, 10:52 AM

Gates calls for Syrian forces to move aside

By FT reporters
Published: March 24 2011 15:13 | Last updated: March 24 2011 21:59
Syria should follow Egypt’s lead and the Syrian army should “empower a revolution”, Robert Gates, US secretary of defence, argued as thousands marched in a southern city.

Mr Gates made his comments – some of the toughest remarks to date by a US official about the rule of Bashar al-Assad, Syria’s president – on a day of further upheaval in the Middle East and beyond.

EDITOR’S CHOICE
Editorial Comment: The Syrian revolt - Mar-24

The White House signalled it was preparing for a change in power in Yemen, where it has been allied with the government of Ali Abdullah Saleh, president. Nato allies reached a deal in which the alliance will take over command of the Libyan no-fly zone, although responsibility for strikes on forces loyal to Col Muammer Gaddafi will not immediately come under the Nato umbrella.

Drawing a parallel between the unrest in Syria and the protests that unseated Hosni Mubarak, Egypt’s former president, Mr Gates said: “I’ve just come from Egypt, where the Egyptian army stood on the sidelines and allowed people to demonstrate and in fact empowered a revolution. The Syrians might take a lesson from that.”

His comments came as thousands of people marched on Thursday in Deraa, southern Syria, where at least 44 people are now thought to have been killed in a week of protests, and as Mr Assad announced salary increases and promised greater freedom.

“I would say that what the Syrian government is confronting is in fact the same challenge that faces so many governments across the region, and that is the unmet political and economic grievances of their people,” Reuters quoted Mr Gates as saying during a trip to Israel.

The Obama administration has been careful to avoid the language of regime change when dealing with the Middle East and it was not clear if the White House shared Mr Gates’s sentiments.

Barack Obama, US president, has argued that the two key principles the US is backing are respect of universal rights and non-violence in dealing with protesters.

With the exception of the case of Col Gaddafi, the US has not explicitly called for any of the Arab world’s leaders to leave office. The administration insists it is popular will, rather than the US’s opinion, that should determine the fate of the Arab world’s leaders, while maintaining alliances with strategically important countries.

On Thursday, Washington signalled it was ready to deal with a new government in Yemen in the event of Mr Saleh’s departure.

“We do not build our policy in any country around a single person,” said Jay Carney, White House press secretary. “And we obviously will look forward to having a solid relationship with the leader of Yemen.”

The White House said it strongly condemned “the Syrian government’s “brutal repression of demonstrations.”

In Syria, after days of protests and bloodshed, angry crowds turned out for the latest funerals in Deraa amid a huge security presence. Witnesses heard chants of “The blood of our martyrs is not spilt in waste!” and “God, Syria, freedom!”

Officials at the main hospital in Deraa have reported receiving 37 bodies, according to Reuters.

More FT video
Mr Gates, while in Egypt, had called on the Egyptian authorities to give new political forces more time to organise as the country takes its first steps towards democracy.

Egypt is due to hold parliamentary elections in September, but the young political activists who launched the revolution have been pressing for a longer transition to allow them to organise. Politicians and analysts say only the Muslim Brotherhood opposition and remnants of Mr Mubarak’s National Democratic Party are sufficiently prepared for elections.

While not openly calling for the elections to be postponed, Mr Gates said: “It is important to allow those new elements that have become active in Egyptian politics – some of them, for the first time – to have the time to develop political parties … so they can play the same kind of leading role in Egypt in the future that they played in bringing about this change in the first place.”

The US official was in Cairo for talks with Field Marshal Mohammed Hussein Tantawi, the defence minister and head of the Supreme Military Council which has been running the country since the fall of the Mubarak regime.

Mr Gates praised Field Marshal Tantawi and the Egyptian military for refusing to use violence against protesters during the uprising.

“He told me the army would protect the people,” said Mr Gates. “And in everything that ensued, he and the army kept their word.”

Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2011. You may share using our article tools. Please don't cut articles from FT.com and redistribute by email or post to the web.

That One Guy · 03-27-2011, 11:01 AM

This whole theme brings up something I occasionally think about... at what point does it become clear that the government doesn't have our interests at heart? Would anyone ever try a revolt against the US government or does it require more of a radical population than we currently have? We're always told the constitution gave us the right to bear arms so as to be able to resist an oppressive government but could that ever be enough? Could even the most well armed citizens do away with the government in a revolution? Would our military just obliterate us?

I don't think the US is anywhere close to needing something like that, even with all the problems we have, but I really don't think that would be a possibility either. I think those in charge can continue to turn up their exploitation of the people and we'd never have the power to do anything about it. We'd stand by and ask for another piece of bread.

That One Guy · 03-27-2011, 11:02 AM

Oh, and thanks for pasting the article.

cutthemdown · 03-27-2011, 12:14 PM

Wow this administration is playing with fire. What about when the Shia want the Saudi Army to step aside.

Boomhauer · 03-27-2011, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Butterscotch Stallion

...
"Syria should follow Egypt’s lead and the Syrian army should 'empower a revolution', Robert Gates, US secretary of defence, argued as thousands marched in a southern city."
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/f4197d9c-5...#axzz1Hp4BXt00

Gonna have to disagree with Gates on this. Some Arab countries are having protests, some revolution. I'd put Syria in the same group as Morocco, Oman and Jordan while Yemen, Bahrain and Libya are in the latter. Algeria and Iraq fall inbetween.

The only reason Gates went out on a limb against Syria is because they're a target of Israel, not because revolution is nessisary, wanted or likely. I'd even wondered if Mossad are shooting innocent Syrian civilans to try and stir uprising. Gaff could probably elaborate on that.

03-27-2011, 10:40 AM	#1
Butterscotch Stallion Perennial Pro-bowler Lab Rat Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 823 Adopt-a-Bronco: Steve Atwater	Gates2Assad:Beat It Assad already has a few dozen deaths to his name. Gotta go a long way before he catches daddy. "Syria should follow Egypt’s lead and the Syrian army should 'empower a revolution', Robert Gates, US secretary of defence, argued as thousands marched in a southern city." http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/f4197d9c-5...#axzz1Hp4BXt00 Last edited by Butterscotch Stallion; 03-27-2011 at 10:42 AM.. Reason: Forgot the quote from article

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03-27-2011, 10:46 AM	#2
That One Guy Producer of Nonsense Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Sun and Beachville Posts: 14,042 Adopt-a-Bronco: None	You have to be registered to be able to access it, can you copy the relevant portions? And if the US is going to be on the hook for backing all these revolutions, I wish everyone would just let them play on their own. F the Middle East.

03-27-2011, 10:52 AM	#3
Butterscotch Stallion Perennial Pro-bowler Lab Rat Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 823 Adopt-a-Bronco: Steve Atwater	Gates calls for Syrian forces to move aside By FT reporters Published: March 24 2011 15:13 \| Last updated: March 24 2011 21:59 Syria should follow Egypt’s lead and the Syrian army should “empower a revolution”, Robert Gates, US secretary of defence, argued as thousands marched in a southern city. Mr Gates made his comments – some of the toughest remarks to date by a US official about the rule of Bashar al-Assad, Syria’s president – on a day of further upheaval in the Middle East and beyond. EDITOR’S CHOICE Editorial Comment: The Syrian revolt - Mar-24 The White House signalled it was preparing for a change in power in Yemen, where it has been allied with the government of Ali Abdullah Saleh, president. Nato allies reached a deal in which the alliance will take over command of the Libyan no-fly zone, although responsibility for strikes on forces loyal to Col Muammer Gaddafi will not immediately come under the Nato umbrella. Drawing a parallel between the unrest in Syria and the protests that unseated Hosni Mubarak, Egypt’s former president, Mr Gates said: “I’ve just come from Egypt, where the Egyptian army stood on the sidelines and allowed people to demonstrate and in fact empowered a revolution. The Syrians might take a lesson from that.” His comments came as thousands of people marched on Thursday in Deraa, southern Syria, where at least 44 people are now thought to have been killed in a week of protests, and as Mr Assad announced salary increases and promised greater freedom. “I would say that what the Syrian government is confronting is in fact the same challenge that faces so many governments across the region, and that is the unmet political and economic grievances of their people,” Reuters quoted Mr Gates as saying during a trip to Israel. The Obama administration has been careful to avoid the language of regime change when dealing with the Middle East and it was not clear if the White House shared Mr Gates’s sentiments. Barack Obama, US president, has argued that the two key principles the US is backing are respect of universal rights and non-violence in dealing with protesters. With the exception of the case of Col Gaddafi, the US has not explicitly called for any of the Arab world’s leaders to leave office. The administration insists it is popular will, rather than the US’s opinion, that should determine the fate of the Arab world’s leaders, while maintaining alliances with strategically important countries. On Thursday, Washington signalled it was ready to deal with a new government in Yemen in the event of Mr Saleh’s departure. “We do not build our policy in any country around a single person,” said Jay Carney, White House press secretary. “And we obviously will look forward to having a solid relationship with the leader of Yemen.” The White House said it strongly condemned “the Syrian government’s “brutal repression of demonstrations.” In Syria, after days of protests and bloodshed, angry crowds turned out for the latest funerals in Deraa amid a huge security presence. Witnesses heard chants of “The blood of our martyrs is not spilt in waste!” and “God, Syria, freedom!” Officials at the main hospital in Deraa have reported receiving 37 bodies, according to Reuters. More FT video Mr Gates, while in Egypt, had called on the Egyptian authorities to give new political forces more time to organise as the country takes its first steps towards democracy. Egypt is due to hold parliamentary elections in September, but the young political activists who launched the revolution have been pressing for a longer transition to allow them to organise. Politicians and analysts say only the Muslim Brotherhood opposition and remnants of Mr Mubarak’s National Democratic Party are sufficiently prepared for elections. While not openly calling for the elections to be postponed, Mr Gates said: “It is important to allow those new elements that have become active in Egyptian politics – some of them, for the first time – to have the time to develop political parties … so they can play the same kind of leading role in Egypt in the future that they played in bringing about this change in the first place.” The US official was in Cairo for talks with Field Marshal Mohammed Hussein Tantawi, the defence minister and head of the Supreme Military Council which has been running the country since the fall of the Mubarak regime. Mr Gates praised Field Marshal Tantawi and the Egyptian military for refusing to use violence against protesters during the uprising. “He told me the army would protect the people,” said Mr Gates. “And in everything that ensued, he and the army kept their word.” Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2011. You may share using our article tools. Please don't cut articles from FT.com and redistribute by email or post to the web.

03-27-2011, 11:01 AM	#4
That One Guy Producer of Nonsense Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Sun and Beachville Posts: 14,042 Adopt-a-Bronco: None	This whole theme brings up something I occasionally think about... at what point does it become clear that the government doesn't have our interests at heart? Would anyone ever try a revolt against the US government or does it require more of a radical population than we currently have? We're always told the constitution gave us the right to bear arms so as to be able to resist an oppressive government but could that ever be enough? Could even the most well armed citizens do away with the government in a revolution? Would our military just obliterate us? I don't think the US is anywhere close to needing something like that, even with all the problems we have, but I really don't think that would be a possibility either. I think those in charge can continue to turn up their exploitation of the people and we'd never have the power to do anything about it. We'd stand by and ask for another piece of bread.

03-27-2011, 11:02 AM	#5
That One Guy Producer of Nonsense Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Sun and Beachville Posts: 14,042 Adopt-a-Bronco: None	Oh, and thanks for pasting the article.

03-27-2011, 12:14 PM	#6
cutthemdown A verbis ad verbera Zimm to HOF Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Long Beach Posts: 32,531	Wow this administration is playing with fire. What about when the Shia want the Saudi Army to step aside.