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Why so Syriaous (Syria Megathread)


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55 minutes ago, InkaUtexas said:

Russia pulled navy out of Syria. Just sitting out at sea. Article speculates where they could go. As noted, Libya is a consideration.

Russian naval vessels appear to have temporarily left their main port in Syria, satellite images reviewed by BBC Verify show, amid continuing uncertainty about Moscow's military future in the country after the fall of its ally, Bashar al-Assad.

The new satellite images show Moscow has at least temporarily brought its ships out of the port, with two guided missile frigates moored about 13km (eight miles) off the Syrian coast. It is unclear where the remainder of the fleet - pictured in earlier images - currently is.

Analysts have speculated that if Russia is forced to close the Tartous naval facility, it could redeploy its presence to Tobruk in Libya. The region is controlled by the Kremlin-backed Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar and already hosts some Russian airbases.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckgn8e2zznno

So we need the Ukrainians to send a few marine drones to the Syrian rebels.

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Drugs for all or no drugs for anyone.

Shutting down Captagon trade will leave Syria with almost no revenue

Joshua Landis, the director of the Center for Middle East Studies at the University of Oklahoma, says the Captagon trade was an essential and lucrative business for al-Assad’s government.

“Syria was a failed state. The regime had become completely corrupt, and it didn’t have any money,” Landis told Al Jazeera.

Spoiler

So, shutting down the Captagon trade is going to leave the Syrian state “without anything”, he said.

The country’s new leaders will need to ask the international community to lift sanctions and seek to revive its oil and gas industry, which is currently in territory controlled by US forces, Landis said. He noted that 50 percent of government revenue before the civil war came from fossil fuels.

“And I’m sure Qatar, Turkiye and other countries are stepping forward with important amounts of money to replace this Captagon trade,” the analyst added. “Syria needs to rebuild desperately, and that’s what the new government is going to do, to get outside investment to replace these terrible sources of income.”

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/12/12/syria-live-news-new-leaders-vow-to-secure-chemical-weapon-sites?update=3381143

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29 minutes ago, InkaUtexas said:

Drugs for all or no drugs for anyone.

Shutting down Captagon trade will leave Syria with almost no revenue

Joshua Landis, the director of the Center for Middle East Studies at the University of Oklahoma, says the Captagon trade was an essential and lucrative business for al-Assad’s government.

“Syria was a failed state. The regime had become completely corrupt, and it didn’t have any money,” Landis told Al Jazeera.

  Reveal hidden contents

So, shutting down the Captagon trade is going to leave the Syrian state “without anything”, he said.

The country’s new leaders will need to ask the international community to lift sanctions and seek to revive its oil and gas industry, which is currently in territory controlled by US forces, Landis said. He noted that 50 percent of government revenue before the civil war came from fossil fuels.

“And I’m sure Qatar, Turkiye and other countries are stepping forward with important amounts of money to replace this Captagon trade,” the analyst added. “Syria needs to rebuild desperately, and that’s what the new government is going to do, to get outside investment to replace these terrible sources of income.”

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/12/12/syria-live-news-new-leaders-vow-to-secure-chemical-weapon-sites?update=3381143



From the article:  "Experts say most of global Captagon production is now in Syria, with the wealthy Gulf states as the primary destination."

That doesn't sound very Haram.

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45 minutes ago, Horn Under a Bad Sign said:



From the article:  "Experts say most of global Captagon production is now in Syria, with the wealthy Gulf states as the primary destination."

That doesn't sound very Haram.

Nope. So I expect it to move to Iraq, Iran, or into the Caucus.

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1 hour ago, InkaUtexas said:

Joshua Landis, the director of the Center for Middle East Studies at the University of Oklahoma, says the Captagon trade was an essential and lucrative business for al-Assad’s government.

On the one hand, it's an OU prof talking about the Middle East.

On the other hand, it's an Okie and they probably know a shit-ton about drugs.

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12 hours ago, Horn Under a Bad Sign said:



From the article:  "Experts say most of global Captagon production is now in Syria, with the wealthy Gulf states as the primary destination."

That doesn't sound very Haram.

 

11 hours ago, InkaUtexas said:

Nope. So I expect it to move to Iraq, Iran, or into the Caucus.

Can you share the use of this word Haram?  It is new to me. It reads to me like you're using it ironically, if so, I just missed why you're using it ironically.

From Wiki:  Haram (/həˈrɑːm, hæˈ-, hɑːˈ-, -ˈræm/;[1][2] Arabic: حَرَام ḥarām [ħɑˈrɑːm]) is an Arabic term meaning 'forbidden'.[3]: 471  

Seems to be on the opposite spectrum of Halal (permissible).  So "That doesn't sound very Haram (forbidden/off limits)" is like a double negative?  = That sounds like it's legal.

The non-ironic would probably be "That doesn't sound very Halal (Permissible)"

 

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40 minutes ago, TexasEd said:

 

Can you share the use of this word Haram?  It is new to me. It reads to me like you're using it ironically, if so, I just missed why you're using it ironically.

From Wiki:  Haram (/həˈrɑːm, hæˈ-, hɑːˈ-, -ˈræm/;[1][2] Arabic: حَرَام ḥarām [ħɑˈrɑːm]) is an Arabic term meaning 'forbidden'.[3]: 471  

Seems to be on the opposite spectrum of Halal (permissible).  So "That doesn't sound very Haram (forbidden/off limits)" is like a double negative?  = That sounds like it's legal.

The non-ironic would probably be "That doesn't sound very Halal (Permissible)"

 

He's using it ironically.  As in "huh--that doesn't sound like they're treating illegal drugs as very haram after all."

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On 12/11/2024 at 11:53 AM, InkaUtexas said:

Russia pulled navy out of Syria. Just sitting out at sea. Article speculates where they could go. As noted, Libya is a consideration.

Russian naval vessels appear to have temporarily left their main port in Syria, satellite images reviewed by BBC Verify show, amid continuing uncertainty about Moscow's military future in the country after the fall of its ally, Bashar al-Assad.

The new satellite images show Moscow has at least temporarily brought its ships out of the port, with two guided missile frigates moored about 13km (eight miles) off the Syrian coast. It is unclear where the remainder of the fleet - pictured in earlier images - currently is.

Analysts have speculated that if Russia is forced to close the Tartous naval facility, it could redeploy its presence to Tobruk in Libya. The region is controlled by the Kremlin-backed Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar and already hosts some Russian airbases.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckgn8e2zznno

It appears the Russian's have lost control of both their naval and air base, at least for the time being, which would explain why we and the Isrealis have been bombing the shit out of everything with impunity, since Ivan can no long provide a viable air cover for people to hide under 

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On 12/11/2024 at 10:53 AM, InkaUtexas said:

Russia pulled navy out of Syria. Just sitting out at sea. Article speculates where they could go. As noted, Libya is a consideration.

Russian naval vessels appear to have temporarily left their main port in Syria, satellite images reviewed by BBC Verify show, amid continuing uncertainty about Moscow's military future in the country after the fall of its ally, Bashar al-Assad.

The new satellite images show Moscow has at least temporarily brought its ships out of the port, with two guided missile frigates moored about 13km (eight miles) off the Syrian coast. It is unclear where the remainder of the fleet - pictured in earlier images - currently is.

Analysts have speculated that if Russia is forced to close the Tartous naval facility, it could redeploy its presence to Tobruk in Libya. The region is controlled by the Kremlin-backed Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar and already hosts some Russian airbases.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckgn8e2zznno

They're Russians. Make them sail around enough, and they'll all find a way to sink.

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12 hours ago, gsoda3 said:

Assad lived in a 1980s Hilton?

33 minutes ago, jdhorn92 said:

Sure looks that way.  My first thought was it looks like the Dallas Harvey Hotel at 635 and Coit circa '84.

Would have been so much cooler if it was a 1980s Holiday Inn Holidome.  I wanted to live in one when I was a kid.

Holidome-South-Dakota.jpg

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10 minutes ago, 956 Worldwide said:

If you’re not on the Ukraine thread, Kofman is the best RUS military analyst and he thinks they are prepping to bail from Syria. 
 

 

I figured since it's clear that Turkey is backing this venture in large part, they'd have an opinion as to whether Russia hung around or not.  It wouldn't surprise me one bit if they moved in to assist their friends in Syria by protecting their naval bases while they got their act together.  Which of course, is an indefinite time period.  

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2 hours ago, SurlyGator said:

These were peak family travel highlights throughout my childhood.  There were no connections with Syria throughout my childhood.  Carry on.

We had a Holiday Inn booklet that detailed the amenities at each location, including whether there was a Holidome. I'd always try to steer my folks towards those locations, with some success.

Thinking back we stayed at a lot of Holiday Inns that were like $35 a night, and a really nice one in a good location might be $50/night. For a long time that figure ($50) was fixed in my mind as the price for a "really nice" hotel.  Now a Motel 6 is that much, most locations. Fuck I'm old.

 

 

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1 hour ago, Paper_jam said:

For a long time that figure ($50) was fixed in my mind as the price for a "really nice" hotel.  Now a Motel 6 is that much, most locations. Fuck I'm old.

If you slip the Motel 6 front desk clerk a $10, you can get a room by the hour and save yourself a few bucks.

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From AJ.

Official says Russian cargo plane departs Syria for Libya: Report

The plane has taken off from Russia’s air base in Latakia for Libya, a Syrian security official stationed outside the facility tells the Reuters news agency.

The official stationed at the gate told Reuters that additional Russian departures from the Hmeimim air base in Syria’s coastal Latakia province are expected in the coming days.

On Friday, satellite images showed Russia moving military equipment at Syria’s Hmeimim air base, with two Antonov AN-124 cargo planes visible, the agency also said.

 

Seems like they have access to a few. Going to be interesting to see how they consolidate and grow here and try to make it a replacement for Syria.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/12/03/russia-expands-military-presence-libya-pictures/

image.thumb.jpeg.260892bb0f40087d9104b015bdaaddae.jpeg

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6 hours ago, InkaUtexas said:

From AJ.

Official says Russian cargo plane departs Syria for Libya: Report

The plane has taken off from Russia’s air base in Latakia for Libya, a Syrian security official stationed outside the facility tells the Reuters news agency.

The official stationed at the gate told Reuters that additional Russian departures from the Hmeimim air base in Syria’s coastal Latakia province are expected in the coming days.

On Friday, satellite images showed Russia moving military equipment at Syria’s Hmeimim air base, with two Antonov AN-124 cargo planes visible, the agency also said.

 

Seems like they have access to a few. Going to be interesting to see how they consolidate and grow here and try to make it a replacement for Syria.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/12/03/russia-expands-military-presence-libya-pictures/

image.thumb.jpeg.260892bb0f40087d9104b015bdaaddae.jpeg

I'd think France would be all over that.

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On 12/12/2024 at 10:19 AM, TexasEd said:

 

Can you share the use of this word Haram?  It is new to me. It reads to me like you're using it ironically, if so, I just missed why you're using it ironically.

From Wiki:  Haram (/həˈrɑːm, hæˈ-, hɑːˈ-, -ˈræm/;[1][2] Arabic: حَرَام ḥarām [ħɑˈrɑːm]) is an Arabic term meaning 'forbidden'.[3]: 471  

Seems to be on the opposite spectrum of Halal (permissible).  So "That doesn't sound very Haram (forbidden/off limits)" is like a double negative?  = That sounds like it's legal.

The non-ironic would probably be "That doesn't sound very Halal (Permissible)"

 

IMG_3784.gif.20c1696304e1917e6be69ab0222de436.gif

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Now we know what the rent was.

Al-Assad transferred $250mn to Russia while still in power: Report

UK newspaper The Financial Times says it has uncovered documents that show Syria’s central bank under former President Bashar al-Assad air lifted the money in cash to Moscow over a two-year period.

Its report says that the currency was flown in $100 bills and €500 notes to Moscow to be deposited in sanctioned Russian banks between 2018 and 2019.

The al-Assad government was frequently cash-strapped due to war and Western sanctions, and oversaw a desperate financial crisis that made life extremely difficult for Syrians.

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1 minute ago, Parliament said:

And once they have it, then what?  Buy good from the few nations who will do business with you and fly them USD cash to pay the bills?

Gets recycled for exportable vodka. Then ship that vodka to Dubai for Russian tourists, their hookers and good emirate Muslims. oh, and export to Ouagadougou for Russian mercs. 

See, they got a plan!

Assad Vodka, found in a bread line near you.

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On 12/13/2024 at 6:11 PM, Paper_jam said:

We had a Holiday Inn booklet that detailed the amenities at each location, including whether there was a Holidome. I'd always try to steer my folks towards those locations, with some success.

Thinking back we stayed at a lot of Holiday Inns that were like $35 a night, and a really nice one in a good location might be $50/night. For a long time that figure ($50) was fixed in my mind as the price for a "really nice" hotel.  Now a Motel 6 is that much, most locations. Fuck I'm old.

 

 

I have a theory that whatever things cost when you're in your 20s is what down deep you think they should cost forever. So I'm stuck on 80s prices, as in, about 1/3 of now. Hey, it works when I go to Mexico.

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5 hours ago, Parliament said:

$250MM.  How big is that pile?  Like literally how big?

Garrick Saito

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Lives in Los Angeles

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Originally Answered: How big would a metal box be to hold $250,000.000.00 of $100.00 dollar bills?

It should fit comfortably into a cube-shaped metal box measuring 5' x 5' x 5'.

$250M hundred dollars bills is 2.5 million pieces of paper.

Our present currency measures 2.61 inches wide by 6.14 inches long, and the thickness is 0.0043 inches [1].

The height of 2.5M bills stacked one on top of each other would be 10,750 inches (2.5M x .0043 inches). The width and length of that stack would be 2.61 inches by 6.14.

The volume of paper would be 172,273 cubic inches (10750 x 2.61 x 6.14).

The cube root of 172,273 cubic inches is 55.64 inches (or 4.64 feet).

[1] Source: Facts About U.S. Money

image.png.944ee5f1eef891a832f1e2ce75088f18.png

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Just now, Parliament said:

So a pallet.  Figured it'd be a lot more tbh.

Might even be smaller depending on how many 500Euro "Bin Ladens" they used in the mix.

My only experience with hiding chunks of valuables was when my old girlfriend got gifted a 100 oz Silver ingot from her grammaw. She wrapped it in a towel and used it as a doorstop. Hope she didn't sell it back when it was $9/0z.

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