Open-sea US Navy testing will kill hundreds of dolphins and whales

The US Navy admits its underwater training and experiments will result in the deaths of hundreds of dolphins and whales over the next five years – but insists that its testing program is essential.

Computer models showed that the Navy will likely kill 186 whales and dolphins off the East Coast and 155 near the coast of Hawaii and Southern California – its main operation areas – between 2014 and 2019.

Results also showed that marine mammals on both coasts would likely suffer more than 13 thousand serious injuries and nearly 4 million minor ones. 

source  rt.com

UK officials asked New York Times to destroy Snowden docs

According to the report published Friday afternoon, the executive editor of the Times was approached by a senior official at the British Embassy earlier this month and was asked to purge any files her paper had received about UK intelligence from Mr. Snowden.

The Guardian, which along with the Washington Post first published leaked intelligence attributed to Snowden, reported previously that they used power tools to break a collection of computer drives and other data devices at the paper’s London office on July 20 upon demand from the UK’s GCHQ intelligence agency. 

source rt.com

US allies are calling to wait for the UN probe

In order to get an unbiased picture of what really happened and decide on further steps in terms of the Syrian crisis, the United Nations Security Council may have to wait as long as two weeks before reviewing the final results of an analysis of samples taken from where chemical weapons were used in Syria, diplomats told Reuters on Friday.

source rt.com 

Syria civil war

A number of residents have been wounded as a result of regime artillery shelling on the township amid clashes between the Free Syrian Army (FSA) and regime forces in the area.

Clashes between the Free Syrian Army (FSA) and regime forces are occurring on the road connecting Alashrafiyah and Assakhoor districts as the latter attempts to invade the area. Fierce artillery shelling is also targeting the western side of Assakhoor district

Russian Foreign Ministry

Given the lack of evidence, any unilateral military action bypassing the UN Security Council – “no matter how limited it is” – would be a direct violation of international law and would undermine the prospects for a political and diplomatic solution to the conflict in Syria and will lead to a new round of confrontation and victims, Lukashevich concludes.

rebels drift back to take Assad amnesty

Disillusioned by the Islamist twist that the "revolution" in Syria has taken, exhausted after more than two years of conflict and feeling that they are losing, growing numbers of rebels are signing up to a negotiated amnesty offered by the Assad regime.

At the same time, the families of retreating fighters have begun quietly moving back to government-controlled territory, seen as a safer place to live as the regime continues its intense military push against rebel-held areas.

source telegraph.co.uk

Syria Iran Russia and Israel are on high alert

What the consequences of such a Western led attack would be are unknown, but presumably the risks have been calculated.  Almost certainly, Hezbollah, egged on by Iran, will launch a series of rockets from south Lebanon against Israel.

Israel is reported this morning to have all its missile intercept systems, short, medium and long range, on high alert but if it is struck by rockets from Lebanon or Syria it will inevitably strike back.

Russia’s likely reaction is as yet unknown but there have been suggestions that they could set in motion a limited attack on US ally, Saudi Arabia.

Erring on the side of caution though Russia is reported to have evacuated 100 personnel from Syria with 2 planes in the last 48 hours flying from Latakia airport near the Mediterranean coast. There are additionally unconfirmed reports that the Syrian elite are sending their families across the border into Lebanon.

Syrian Foreign Minister

Syrian Foreign Minister, Walid Muallem, described the accusations that his Government had used chemical weapons as “a lie” and commenting on the predicted US strike, we will defend ourselves”, without specifying what action the Assad regime would take.

Prime Minister's phone call with President Obama

The PM explained that he wanted to build a consensual approach in Britain for our response and that the government had accepted the clear view of the House against British military action. President Obama said he fully respected the PM’s approach and that he had not yet taken a decision on the US response.

The President stressed his appreciation of his strong friendship with the Prime Minister and of the strength, durability and depth of the special relationship between our two countries. They agreed that their co-operation on international issues would continue in the future and both reiterated their determination to find a political solution to the Syrian conflict by bringing all sides together.

Obama considers 'limited' military action against Syria

The world has an obligation to make sure that we maintain the law against the use of chemical weapons,” Obama said from the White House’s oval office. “I have not made a final decision about the various actions that might be taken to help us enforce that goal. But, as I already said, I have had my military and our team look at a wide range of options.”

 

The United States claim that it has “no doubt” that Syria was behind last week’s chemical attack also there are two distinct conversations going on about the legitimacy of the West’s expected military campaign against Syrian president Bashar al-Assad

The first has to do with whether military action is an appropriate response to the wanton violation of a near-universally held norm -- in this case, the taboo against the use of chemical weapons, which the Assad regime allegedly violated last week. The second centers on whether military action is an appropriate means for protecting civilian populations from atrocities (of whatever kind) committed by their governments.