Taking a break

The last few weeks have been "pressurized" as the Brits say.  I am a bit tired and will take some tme off until Sunday or Monday barring a catastrophe.  pl

Comments

[MM]

Before you go, give me your opinion on this.....

Why Syrian Rebels May Block CW Plan
http://consortiumnews.com/2013/09/12/why-syrian-rebels-may-obstruct-cw-plan/

[Kyle Pearson]

Best wishes, Col.

[turcopolier]

MM

I agree with RP. The rebels want the US to dismantle the Syrian government for them. The gas thing is just tactics. pl

[Jose]

Col. an "expert" on CNN expressed the sentiment that Assad was losing due to the Syrian Army only representing 15% of the Syrian manpower versus 85% for the rebels, any thoughts before your break?

[turcopolier]

Jose

1- They are not losing. 2- There are many Sunnis who back the government 3- Nearly all Christians, Alawis, and Shia are on the government side. 4- This amounts to a lot more than 15%. 5- All the heavy weaponry belongs to the government except for a few odds and ends captured from the government. 6- Who are you talking about? pl

[Medicine Man]

Cheers Col.

[confusedponderer]

Wiki on Syria's census:

"Sunni Arabs account for 59–60% of the population, most Kurds (9%) and Turkomen (3%)are Sunni, while 13% are Shia (Alawite, Twelvers, and Ismailis combined), 10% Christian (the majority Antiochian Orthodox, the rest including Greek Catholic, Assyrian Church of the East, Armenian Orthodox, Protestants and other denominations), and 3% Druze. Druze number around 500,000, and concentrate mainly in the southern area of Jabal al-Druze."

Taking into account (2) and (3) that could even make it a 50/50 affair.

Interesting factor are the Kurds. They are 'out' there doing their thing, after Assad granted them a level of autonomy and there have been reports of sporadic Islamist-Kurdish fighting.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/07/20/us-syria-crisis-idUSBRE96J06D20130720

Though not allied with Assad, the Kurds and Assad share enemies.

[confusedponderer]

I second that.

[kxd]

Thank you Colonel, for your constant tutelage.

[David Habakkuk]

Get a good rest. It seems all too possible that the next weeks, and indeed months, are going to have plenty of 'pressurized' times, and you will need all your strength.

[Alba Etie]

Thank you Col Lang for helping us all understand our FP better . Breaks are a good idea. Did you purchase your new bicycle yet , perhaps that can add to the "depressurization " ..

[At The Virginia Capes]

We should be having cooler, drier weather this weekend.
Enjoy!

[r whitman]

Enjoy the single malt.

[William R. Cumming]

While resting PL please note as a highly trained INTEL official how the Obama Administration has started to break down in detail, not just policy errors or lack of formulation.

MY LIST WOULD INCLUDE THE INABILITY TO ATTRACT HIGHLY QUALIFIED APPOINTEES. Long way to go until January 20, 2017!

[ISL]

May I recommend the equivalent of hill walking in your neck of the woods, a favorite back in Galway. Always accompanied by a few pubs, too.

[mac]

I hear you Colonel.....

[Charles I]

Rest easy.

[Tony]

Colonel,

Enjoy the time off. Have a great weekend.

[Tyler]

Sir,

Have a nice R&R.

[JohnH]

A well deserved rest! Just don't watch TV Sunday morning. That will ruin it.

[Jose]

Was not paying attention to AC360 Later when some "analyst" made the comment. I have not found the direct quote or any clips of the statement.

This is the closet I have gotten:

http://www.newsmax.com/Headline/syria-expert-assad-regime/2013/08/26/id/522332

[Augustin L]

Well deserved rest, thank you for your commitment. Have a good rest.

[Fred]

On a much more palatable note I enjoyed breakfast the other day at the 'Hi-Neighbor' cafe in Strasburg which you had perviously recombined. It was definitely great Southern fare. Thanks for the recommendation. I made a stop at Crabill's before my return to Detroit. I will have to call ahead the next time I'm in the valley to order one of their hams.

Perhaps a food post next time out? It would sure beat the latest recipes out of Foggy Bottom.

[VietnamVet]

Colonel,

Enjoy R&R.