Syrian Civil War: News #3

JohninMK wrote:A bit about the legality of foreign intervention. This is the last part of the article

However, if even more concrete proof emerges that the French attacks were masterminded and directed from inside ISIL bases in Syria, NATO states would still face more international legal hurdles over the question of increased military intervention, principally because ISIL is not considered to be a legitimate state.

In similar international law cases against non-legitimate states, the right to self-defense has been ruled to be unlawful.

This was demonstrated in a 2004 International Court of Justice decision, which ruled that Israel's construction of a security wall in the Palestinian territories was illegal, as self-defense clauses could only be invoked against states, and Israel hadn't recognized Palestinian statehood. The precedent also opens up many questions about the legality of the US-led international coalition's current fight against ISIL positions in Syria.

While the US, France and other countries have justified their decision to bomb ISIL targets in Syria based on threats to national security, the fact that many states haven't sought the approval of Bashar al-Assad's Syrian government raises more legal questions.

The issue of legality is also central to the ISIL debate in the UK, with lawmakers — seemingly still affected by the illegal Iraq invasion of 2003 — unwilling to ratify a military campaign in Syria without UN approval.

While the West has criticized Russia's intervention in Syria in recent times, officials in Moscow point out that unlike the legal uncertainties surrounding the US-led anti-ISIL campaign, Russia has clearly adhered to international law, by becoming involved in Syria following a request from Damascus.

So, despite many agreeing with Hollande that the weekend's tragic events need to be dealt with mercilessly, it seems there are still many legal questions as to whether the West can wage all out war against ISIL.  

Read more: http://sputniknews.com/europe/20151116/1030190121/isil-syria-intervention-legality.html#ixzz3rfrPsq8a

"In Syria, we're looking for the political solution to the problem, which is not Bashar Assad. Our enemy in Syria is ISIL," French president Francois Hollande said during the emergency meeting of the French parliament.

Moreover, France is going to intensify its participation in the Syrian coalition, Francois Hollande said at the French parliament.

"France is going to intensify its operations in Syria… We will continue to strike [at the terrorist targets] in the coming weeks," the French president said.

French President Francois Hollande called on the country’s parliamentarians on Monday to consider a bill, extending the nationwide state of emergency by three months.

"I decided to introduce a bill prolonging the state of emergency for three months and adapting it to the new threats for the parliament’s consideration," Hollande stated, calling on lawmakers to "adopt it by the end of the week."

The French president also voiced intention to create at least 5,000 jobs at the law enforcement agencies and 1,000 new jobs at the customs services within two years to ensure the country’s safety.

French President Francois Hollande said he would meet with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin and US leader Barack Obama in the upcoming days to discuss counterterrorism measures.

Speaking before France's Congress, Hollande, who skipped the weekend's G20 summit in Turkey due to the terrorist attacks in Paris, said he would travel to Washington and Moscow seeking to "join forces" against terrorism.

On November 13, eight extremists carrying automatic weapons and wearing explosive belts coordinated and perpetrated seven attacks at venues across Paris, killing some 130 people, at restaurants, the Bataclan concert hall and in the vicinity of the Stade de France stadium.

PM says splits over Assad must not be ‘altar on which Syria is slaughtered’ as it emerged that seven Isis plots had been thwarted in UK this year..........

Russia opposed the inclusion of Australia – which is participating in airstrikes against Isis – in talks involving 20 countries or regional groupings...........

Neutrality wrote:Holy crap, is this real? Or am I simply dreaming. Hollande wants to create a coalition with Russia to fight against ISIS. Cameron and Obama both pointed out that the Russian military effort in Syria is very important.

JohninMK wrote:

ultron wrote:Russia knows who shot down the Russian airliners. It was a bomb planted by IS. IS even claimed responsibility for it. IS never claims responsibility for something it has not done. Russia knows who did it and killed all 224 people on board. Russia knows.

WTF has this got to do with this thread? Pleased to see you are still all knowledgeable.

PapaDragon wrote:
How interesting...

Assad is Not the Enemy of France, ISIL is - Hollande

President Francois Holland said that the Islamic State is his country's biggest enemy, not Syrian president Bashar Assad.

http://sputniknews.com/politics/20151116/1030206647/holland-isil-france-enemy-not-assad.html

JohninMK wrote:

PapaDragon wrote:

JohninMK wrote:

ultron wrote:Russia knows who shot down the Russian airliners. It was a bomb planted by IS. IS even claimed responsibility for it. IS never claims responsibility for something it has not done. Russia knows who did it and killed all 224 people on board. Russia knows.

WTF has this got to do with this thread? Pleased to see you are still all knowledgeable.

John do not quote that scrotum please. Thank you.

OK mate, I am sorry and I realise that it screws 'ignore' functions but I just needed to get that rant off my chest. It was so good without him here.

I want to comment here too on your Ukraine post about Russia rescheduling its $3B loan due at the end of the year. As I said in the other thread, that Russia agreeing to this pretty serious step, helping the IMF/US out of a hole they had dug for themselves, may be a factor in the sudden move by many Western leaders to regard Russian actions in Syria in a more positive light.

As they say, 'scratch my back, I'll scratch yours' or in days long past, quid pro quo. Worth a thought?