US, France and UK launch strikes in Syria in response to suspected chemical attack

 (Ford Williams/U.S. Navy)

The United States, in a coordinated action with its European allies (France and United Kingdom), launched strikes on Friday against Syrian research, storage and military targets as President Trump sought to punish President Bashar al-Assad for a suspected chemical attack near Damascus last weekend that killed more than 40 people.

Britain and France joined the United States in the strikes in a coordinated operation that was intended to show Western resolve in the face of what the leaders of the three nations called persistent violations of international law. Mr. Trump characterized it as the beginning of a sustained effort to force Mr. Assad to stop using banned weapons.

The strikes, carried with ship-based cruise missiles and manned aircraft, targeted three facilities associated with Syria’s chemical weapons arsenal, including a scientific research facility around Damascus, a chemical weapons storage facility around Homs alleged to be used for sarin gas and a nearby command post, the Pentagon said.

The Syrian Observatory said the Syrian Army’s 4th Division and Republican Guard was among the targets. Residents of Damascus, the capital, woke to the sounds of multiple explosions shaking the city before the dawn call to prayer. The city and the hills are surrounded by military facilities, and it appeared that these were among the first targets.

Syrian State television said government air defense systems were responding to “the American aggression” and aired video of missiles being fired into a dark night sky. It was not clear if they hit anything. It reported that 13 missiles had been shot down by Syrian air defenses near Al-Kiswa, a town south of Damascus.

The targets were chosen to minimize the risk of accidentally hitting Russian troops stationed in Syria, according to Gen. James F. Dunford Jr., the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis told reporters at the Pentagon on Friday night that the strike was completed and was designed as a one-night operation. “Right now this is a one-time shot and I believe it has sent a very strong message to dissuade him to deter him from doing it again,” he said.

Mr. Trump called on Syria’s patrons in Russia and Iran to force Mr. Assad to halt the use of poison gas in the seven-year-old civil war that has wracked his country.

“To Iran and to Russia I ask: What kind of a nation wants to be associated with the mass murder of innocent men, women and children?” he said. “The nations of the world can be judged by the friends they keep. No nation can succeed in the long run by supporting rogue states, brutal tyrants and murderous dictators.”

The strikes marked the second time that Mr. Trump has attacked Syria to punish the government after it was accused of using chemical weapons. The White House had sought to craft a response that would be more robust than the attack in April 2017, when the United States fired 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles at a Syrian air base that was back in use a day later.

Sources: BBC, The Washington Post, The New York Times, Al Jazeera

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Trump promises “the closest relation in history” to Argentina

“Argentina is a great country” and Argentina and the US will have “the closest relation in history”, according to the official version from the administration of president Mauricio Macri who on Monday was on the phone with president elect Donald Trump to congratulate him on his presidential victory.

 Accordingly, Macri told Trump he was expecting to see him in Argentina in 2018, when the country organizes the G20 summit in Buenos Aires, to which the US incoming president replied he would like to see him at the White House sometime before that year.

During the fifteen-minute talk both recalled their personal relation, (years ago) and agreed to work in a joint agenda to boost growth of the two countries.

“Argentina is a great country and we will have the closest relation between our countries in history”, Trump was quoted, according to the official Casa Rosada release.

Later in the day foreign minister Susana Malcorra said that the outstanding part of the dialogue between both presidents, was that “the personal link was confirmed and reestablished, which has many years”, and in effect “Trump was very appreciative in remembering old times”.

“There's no possible task a ministry or diplomacy can advance if there is no chemistry between persons and the conversation confirmed that the chemistry exists”, said Malcorra.

The minister said it was a very important starting point since it was Trump who told Macri that he is convinced that “we have to work in a joint agenda and he understands that Argentina has opened to the world, and the US is a very important partner in that opening”.

“President Trump is convinced that it is essential we work together and both confirmed that we should hold a meeting of our teams the sooner the better. We will work on that, and he also said he expected to see him soon at the White House, that is a very good signal”.

Malcorra underlined the significance that the president elect had included Macri in his agenda of contacts. “There are not many calls from world leaders during these transitions”, and it is “essential” for Argentina to have been included in that agenda less than a week after winning the election.

Further on Malcorra pointed out that ”president Macri told me there was not a single mention during the conversation to the issue of the (Argentine) support for Hillary. The world is accommodating to Trump's victory and this is positive because relations among countries must be done through the governments their peoples elect“

As to the future Trump cabinet, Malcorra admitted that ”it is obvious there are going to be great changes and this will delay things, but it is our job to ensure that as far as Argentina is concerned that delay is the briefest possible“.

But Malcorra also underlined it was time to des-dramatize things, ”on our side there is much work ahead, particularly at the ministry (of foreign affairs), time is gold, we need to continue with the agenda that we expect will generate investments, improve the exchange and it is done without interruptions”.

Source: Mercopress Agency

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South American Presidents: who they would like to see at the White House and how they reacted to Trump victory?

A majority of South American Presidents would prefer to see former Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, at the White House, while a few believe whoever wins will make not much of a difference for the continent. Nevertheless, be it Hillary or Trump, the Presidents defended respect to US institutions.

In Brazil, President Michel Temer, a Constitutional Professor, was more diplomatic than his own Chancellor, José Serra (who mentioned that a Trump victory would be a "nightmare"), and said he was concerned with the result of Tuesday's presidential election. But Temer argumented that “no US President can do whatever he pleases”, since "in the United States institutions work with an effective system of checks and balances".

Likewise, Argentine President Mauricio Macri said that “the United States is far greater than any name and we expect to continue with the excellent relations between the two countries, whoever wins”. Nevertheless, Macri admitted that if Hillary wins, there “will be a continuity in current affairs”.

But, in Bolivia, Evo Morales said he was indifferent to whoever wins in the US Presidential Election, since “there are no differences between candidates”. Morales claimed that “the US has an only policy which is intervention and meddling in other countries affairs, and whoever wins makes no difference since elected Presidents do not rule, this is done by the big banks and business people”

Michelle Bachelet from Chile has no doubts about her complete support for Hillary Clinton. “We have developed a good friendship” and she is a very capable, intelligent and committed woman", and “we need more women presidents in the world”. However she also apologized for having such a partial opinion. “She's a friend”, Chilean President said.

In Ecuador, Rafael Correa was a bit ambiguous in his interpretation of Tuesday's vote and its impact on Latin-American. "Why shouldn't a Trump presidency be good for the region?", asked Correa. “When did progressive governments reach office in the continent, with Obama or with Bush?...the same could happen with Trump, why not?”. However, Correa admitted a close relation with the former Secretary of State. “I wish Hillary wins”, argued.

Peruvian President, Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, leading a conservative government has been the most critical of the Republican candidate. “Mr. Trump wants to build a wall, which is a crime”, said Kuczynski who admitted having told US President Obama in a private phone call that he was concerned “about one of the candidates”.

Venezuela's controversial Nicolas Maduro openly supported Senator Bernie Sanders during the Democrat primary, but following on Hillary's victory he pointed all his heavy guns on Trump calling him “mentally ill”. However, he did not support Hillary, rather the contrary, “we can't expect nothing good from any of the two candidates". "Nor Trump, nor Clinton will arrive with good wishes and interests for Venezuela or Latin America”.

Colombia's Juan Manuel Santos also expressed a negative opinion on the Republican candidate. Admitting he does not know Trump, Santos argues that his announced policies “are not in accordance with what Colombia expects from the US and what Colombia wishes from the rest of the world: free trade and immigration policies which are convincing to all countries”. Santos also recalled that President Clinton launched Plan Colombia, “which has been very useful in achieving what we have achieved” and has been supportive of peace talks with the FARC guerrilla. “As far as I know, Hillary offers more guarantees” concluded the Nobel Peace Prize winner.

Finally, Horacio Cartes (Paraguayan President) and Tabaré Vazquez (from Uruguay) have not made public statements on the issue. Who did talk was the former Uruguayan President, José Mujica, who answered to a question about what would he do in a hippotetical Trump victory: “I don't know because so far there is no escape gate to Mars”. 

“I'm not scared about Trump, but about the people who support him" Mujica continued. "The image is so grotesque that one feels certain affinity with Mrs. Clinton, who I must admit is quite conservative”, underlined Mujica.

 Source: Mercopress Agency

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