Ace of Spades HQ

July 18, 2012

Syrian Defense Minister Killed in Suicide Bombing
— Dave in Texas

Along with Baby Assad's brother in law, a deputy defense minister, killed by one of his bodyguards.

BEIRUT/AMMAN (Reuters) - Syria's defense minister and President Bashar al-Assad's brother-in-law were killed in a Damascus suicide bomb attack carried out by a bodyguard on Wednesday, the most serious blow to Assad's high command in the country's 16-month-old rebellion.
The bomber, said by a security source to be a bodyguard assigned to Assad's inner circle, struck a meeting attended by ministers and senior security officials as battles raged within sight of the presidential palace.

Inner circles are for suckers.

Posted by: Dave in Texas at 08:41 AM | Comments (80)
Post contains 110 words, total size 1 kb.

1 Barack Obama is a stuttering clusterf*ck of a miserable tyrant.

Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) Channelling Breitbart at July 18, 2012 08:41 AM (8y9MW)

2 Ummm... "Boom goes the dynamite?"

Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) Channelling Breitbart at July 18, 2012 08:42 AM (8y9MW)

3 Me so horny!

Posted by: Sandy Flook at July 18, 2012 08:43 AM (YYyqq)

4 Yay disappearing comments!

Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) Channelling Breitbart at July 18, 2012 08:43 AM (8y9MW)

5 Allah will sort them out.

Posted by: logprof at July 18, 2012 08:43 AM (6YPY+)

6 Like I said in the headline thread: Assad should grab the hot wife and the cold gold and fly to London tonight, because al Qaeda, an Iranian puppet government, or the Islamic Brotherhood is going to be running his country before September.

Posted by: joncelli, heartless Con and all around unpleasant guy at July 18, 2012 08:44 AM (RD7QR)

7 Man, it will be a wonderful day when that chinless Assad is dangling from his heels from a telephone pole, joined by his lovely and well-dressed Vanity Fair-loving bride...

Posted by: GuyfromNH at July 18, 2012 08:44 AM (kbOju)

8 Suicide bombing. Can't they just shoot a guy anymore?

Posted by: AmishDude at July 18, 2012 08:45 AM (T0NGe)

9 6 Like I said in the headline thread: Assad should grab the hot wife and the cold gold and fly to London tonight, because al Qaeda, an Iranian puppet government, or the Islamic Brotherhood is going to be running his country before September. Posted by: joncelli, heartless Con and all around unpleasant guy at July 18, 2012 12:44 PM (RD7QR) I don't know about that. The syrian military don't play that muzztard shit. They like their special positions in society and will kill to keep it.

Posted by: Oldsailors Poet, Team Dagny at July 18, 2012 08:45 AM (9TTOe)

10 I'd hate to be a member of that bodyguard's immediate or extended family.

Posted by: Dr Spank at July 18, 2012 08:48 AM (4cRnj)

11 I don't know about that. The syrian military don't play that muzztard shit. They like their special positions in society and will kill to keep it.

Posted by: Oldsailors Poet, Team Dagny at July 18, 2012 12:45 PM (9TTOe)

Maybe the officers but the rank and file are either deserting or going over to the rebels. I would be surprised if there were a single unit in the Syrian army at more than half strength. Officers above a certain rank will head for Europe and the rest will bury their uniforms and head home.

Posted by: joncelli, heartless Con and all around unpleasant guy at July 18, 2012 08:49 AM (RD7QR)

12 I am fairly certain that body guard will not be considered for employee of the month.

Posted by: AndrewsDad at July 18, 2012 08:49 AM (C2//T)

13 Bionic Dave knees Ace's post out of the way!

Posted by: Mama AJ at July 18, 2012 08:49 AM (SUKHu)

14 I don't know about that. The syrian military don't play that muzztard shit. They like their special positions in society and will kill to keep it.Posted by: Oldsailors Poet

The 'rebel's are in Damascus, the capitol. The mil may want to keep their positions but when 'rebel's are fucking you up in your capitol, your vote is being erased.

Posted by: weft cut-loop [/i] [/b] at July 18, 2012 08:49 AM (mIoJ0)

15 S*&T's getting real!

Posted by: runningrn at July 18, 2012 08:51 AM (WGmy2)

16 I wonder if the bomber used a catch line before detonation? Something like, "Eat grenades, stupids!"

Posted by: Wyatt Earp at July 18, 2012 08:51 AM (Agn5J)

17 Any anal sex involved in fitting the bomb in a body cavity?

Posted by: The Huggable Robot Devil at July 18, 2012 08:51 AM (136wp)

18 As I said this morning, ho-hum kill some more. We have no dog in this hunt. Let them keep killing each other until only two are left.

Posted by: Vic at July 18, 2012 08:51 AM (YdQQY)

Obama is feverishly working on a strongly worded letter--to the rebels...

"FORE!!!ELEVENTY!!"

Posted by: runningrn at July 18, 2012 08:52 AM (WGmy2)

20 13 Bionic Dave knees Ace's post out of the way! Posted by: Mama AJ at July 18, 2012 12:49 PM (SUKHu) Ace may be down, but he's not out. Expect an epic triple post!

Posted by: The Huggable Robot Devil at July 18, 2012 08:52 AM (136wp)

21 Holy disappearing post, Batman.

Posted by: HeatherRadish™ at July 18, 2012 08:52 AM (ZKzrr)

22 Ok, ace has posted and remove TWO threads. WT?

Posted by: Tami at July 18, 2012 08:53 AM (X6akg)

23 18 As I said this morning, ho-hum kill some more. We have no dog in this hunt. Let them keep killing each other until only two are left. Posted by: Vic at July 18, 2012 12:51 PM (YdQQY) And then... Steel Cage Death Match!

Posted by: The Huggable Robot Devil at July 18, 2012 08:53 AM (136wp)

Let them keep killing each other until only two are left.

Then give them both a suicide vest and tell them the other said something bad about his goat being ugly.

Posted by: BackwardsBoy at July 18, 2012 08:53 AM (d0Tfm)

25 If a suicide bomber blew baby Assad's chin off, would he look any different?

Posted by: Captain Hate (dagny solidarity) at July 18, 2012 08:53 AM (XouIm)

26 Maybe the officers but the rank and file are either deserting or going over to the rebels. I would be surprised if there were a single unit in the Syrian army at more than half strength. Officers above a certain rank will head for Europe and the rest will bury their uniforms and head home. Posted by: joncelli, heartless Con and all around unpleasant guy at July 18, 2012 12:49 PM (RD7QR) The 'rebel's are in Damascus, the capitol. The mil may want to keep their positions but when 'rebel's are fucking you up in your capitol, your vote is being erased. Posted by: weft cut-loop at July 18, 2012 12:49 PM (mIoJ0) Both good points, Asaad is a real prick, he's his daddy's boy. He knows the mericans won't show, he's going to hang tough. But you both could br right.

Posted by: Oldsailors Poet, Team Dagny at July 18, 2012 08:54 AM (9TTOe)

27 Live by the sword, die by the sword assholes

Posted by: The Jackhole at July 18, 2012 08:54 AM (nTgAI)

28 So was it death by bung bomb?

Posted by: YIKES! at July 18, 2012 08:54 AM (EcmWI)

29 Red on Red.

Posted by: toby928© at July 18, 2012 08:54 AM (QupBk)

30 As I said this morning, ho-hum kill some more. We have no dog in this hunt. Let them keep killing each other until only two are left.

This. Unlike Mubarak in Egypt, Assad has never even pretended to be our friend. We don't really lose anything no matter how this goes down (the same was true in Libya, by the way).

However, it seems that Israeli nationals touring various areas (at least some of them outside the middle east) have been targeted for attacks in the last few weeks. I'm just now hearing about that- anyone know more?

Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) Channelling Breitbart at July 18, 2012 08:54 AM (8y9MW)

31 Then give them both a suicide vest and tell them the other said something bad about his goat being ugly.

Posted by: BackwardsBoy at July 18, 2012 12:53 PM (d0Tfm)

Dude, you can spit on a jihadi's wife or kids but don't insult his goat if you know what's good for you.

Posted by: joncelli, heartless Con and all around unpleasant guy at July 18, 2012 08:54 AM (RD7QR)

I predict a Romania scenario- the Assads, just like the Ceasescus, hanging from the lamposts. But not before Assad kills a bunch more people.

Other news: apparent bomb on Israeli tour bus in Bulgaria kills seven Israelis.

It's Hillary's three am phone call. Hope Mitt has a good foreign policy advisor.

Posted by: Jim in Virginia at July 18, 2012 08:55 AM (+ciOu)

33 Sometimes bad things happen to bad people. Syria is already an Iranian puppet it isn't like they are our friends who have been tamping down Islamofascists. Eff them.

Posted by: Golan Globus at July 18, 2012 08:55 AM (/1U3u)

34 I feel like one of the moron bloggers here should cover that "viral" picture of an Israeli girl in a bikini at the beach with an assault rifle. For thoroughness's sake.

Posted by: red sweater at July 18, 2012 08:55 AM (CUi62)

35 @34 - You mean this one? http://bit.ly/LUa2dE

Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) Channelling Breitbart at July 18, 2012 08:57 AM (8y9MW)

36 Dave puts baby in the corner.

Posted by: eleven at July 18, 2012 08:57 AM (KXm42)

37 Yeah, I wonder what the mullahs are thinking now. I'm guessing when the Iranian tasked with stiffening Bashar's spine jumps the last flight for Tehran it's all over.

Posted by: joncelli, heartless Con and all around unpleasant guy at July 18, 2012 08:58 AM (RD7QR)

38 Yes, that one. I know it's a little old, at least the original, but for some reason it's popping up all over (again? or for the first time?) now.

Posted by: red sweater at July 18, 2012 08:58 AM (CUi62)

39 Remember this when the jihadists take over Syria and the New York Times annoints them as moderates who love democracy and the West. Then when some of them blow up Americans, the CIA was responsible for their rise in power

Leftist historians have erasers on their pencils for a reason

Posted by: kbdabear at July 18, 2012 08:58 AM (Y7XKa)

40 I remember a few years back, someone saying that Saddam relocated his WMD stockpile to Syria. I wonder if that's what Assad is using now against the rebels? They did say that they were using gas on them on the news recently.

Posted by: BackwardsBoy at July 18, 2012 08:59 AM (d0Tfm)

41 Boy Assad is going to take it out on the populace. Not that I particularly care, but he's going to be enraged that this was a poke at him, directly.

Posted by: Empire of Jeff at July 18, 2012 08:59 AM (jCyfP)

42 How many dictators die of natural causes in their own country these days?

Posted by: Ghost of Lee Atwater at July 18, 2012 08:59 AM (JxMoP)

43 "Watching soldiers perform in Egypt is much like going to the circus (photo)". There is much to fear from their circus skills http://tinyurl.com/6rp5ocu

Posted by: The Huggable Robot Devil at July 18, 2012 08:59 AM (136wp)

>>Red on Red.

Hey, I think they just posted at the same time, man. It's not that bad...

Posted by: Mama AJ at July 18, 2012 08:59 AM (SUKHu)

45 Suicide bombing. Can't they just shoot a guy anymore?

Is there any embiggening required for that? no? well....

Posted by: eleven at July 18, 2012 08:59 AM (KXm42)

46 >>Inner circles are for suckers.

Ayup.

Posted by: Ernst Röhm at July 18, 2012 09:00 AM (ZKzrr)

47 "...until only two are left. "

Posted by: Vic at July 18, 2012 12:51 PM (YdQQY)

Ah, a humanitarian.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo (NJConservative) at July 18, 2012 09:00 AM (nEUpB)

Re the Syrian military- they may play this like the Egyptians where the Army has promised to hand over power, allowed elections, but is blocking any real power to the newly elected government. Of course it's not a sure thing yet how Egypt will turn out.

Maybe the Saudis and the emirates can send in troops to occupy Syria and Egypt. They could probably recruit South Africans and Filipinos as mercenaries.

Posted by: Jim in Virginia at July 18, 2012 09:00 AM (+ciOu)

49 40 I remember a few years back, someone saying that Saddam relocated his WMD stockpile to Syria. I wonder if that's what Assad is using now against the rebels? They did say that they were using gas on them on the news recently.

Posted by: BackwardsBoy at July 18, 2012 12:59 PM (d0Tfm)

I guess he could go Gotterdamerung (imagine umlauts there) but that doesn't seem like Bashar's style. I'm guessing he really, really wants to go back to his ophthalmology practice now.

Posted by: joncelli, heartless Con and all around unpleasant guy at July 18, 2012 09:00 AM (RD7QR)

50 It sounds more like one of Dante's Circles to me.

Posted by: dfbaskwill at July 18, 2012 09:00 AM (71LDo)

51 Too bad we cannot expect a better outcome with the change in leadership.

Posted by: willow at July 18, 2012 09:01 AM (TomZ9)

52 47 "...until only two are left. " Posted by: Vic at July 18, 2012 12:51 PM (YdQQY) Ah, a humanitarian. Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo (NJConservative) at July 18, 2012 01:00 PM (nEUpB) Unless they cross his lawn... then, let loose the "Dogs Of War"

Posted by: The Huggable Robot Devil at July 18, 2012 09:01 AM (136wp)

53 All that Asshead has to do is provoke Israel in a way so they can't avoid retaliation, then claim the insurgents are working for Israel

Muslim Arabs hate the Jews more than Asshead or any other murdering dictator

Posted by: kbdabear at July 18, 2012 09:01 AM (Y7XKa)

54 That guy didn't build that bomb alone. Somebody had to teach him how, some one had to piss him off, someone had to oppress him enough to blow himself up. Government did that. (not that I care)

Posted by: Thunderb at July 18, 2012 09:02 AM (Dnbau)

55 Baby Assad no no no call him the dorktator credit to Meryl yourish!

Posted by: Robert at July 18, 2012 09:04 AM (VSfsH)

8 Suicide bombing. Can't they just shoot a guy anymore?

Posted by: AmishDude at July 18, 2012 12:45 PM (T0NGe)

Nuance.

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Hobbit and ABO Supporter at July 18, 2012 09:04 AM (4df7R)

57 Bodyguards. Can't live with 'em. Can't live without 'em.

Posted by: Caligula at July 18, 2012 09:04 AM (QKKT0)

58 8 Suicide bombing. Can't they just shoot a guy anymore? Posted by: AmishDude at July 18, 2012 12:45 PM (T0NGe) What and skip having anal sex?

Posted by: The Huggable Robot Devil at July 18, 2012 09:05 AM (136wp)

59 I think what is going on in Syria is a precursor to Iran, which is a precursor to WW III. All the major players are there. China, Russia, Iran, Syria on one side. U. S., Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Israel,NATO on the other.

Posted by: Nukie at July 18, 2012 09:05 AM (4yFKY)

Yeesh...talk about a made for TV-Liftime moment.

Posted by: dananjcon at July 18, 2012 09:05 AM (eavT+)

61 It's good to see that Syria's evil leadership is being overthrown by wonderful, idealistic young students who love freedom and democracy. The current Syrian government is bad, so therefore things will work out GREAT once it's overthrown. But seriously, as bad as Assad is, in the short term (and the medium-term and probably the long-term too) whatever government replaces him is likely to be a lot worse. It will be every bit as much a dictatorship, even if it assumes power through elections. And it will be made up of fanatic Muslims, which is a lot worse than the current leadership. The Alawites claim to be Muslims, but they're not. That makes them more tolerant and secularist than the Hamas/Taliban/Al Qaida that will replace them.

Posted by: Daryl Herbert at July 18, 2012 09:07 AM (ZMu3z)

62 As I said this morning, ho-hum kill some more. We have no dog in this hunt. Let them keep killing each other until only two are left.

Posted by: Vic at July 18, 2012 12:51 PM (YdQQY)

Amen. If only all Muz would be so accomodating. Alas, they never seem to get the job done, leaving work for us.

Whichever side is losing, we should secretly be backing. Keep this thing going for as long as possible.

Posted by: Reactionary at July 18, 2012 09:07 AM (xUM1Q)

63 57 Bodyguards. Can't live with 'em. Can't live without 'em.

Posted by: Caligula at July 18, 2012 01:04 PM (QKKT0)

Yeah, you got that right.

Posted by: Rajiv Ghandi at July 18, 2012 09:07 AM (RD7QR)

64 Suicide bombing. Can't they just shoot a guy anymore?

Yeah. I give up.

Posted by: Scott Evil at July 18, 2012 09:07 AM (QKKT0)

65 Yeah, you got that right.

Posted by: Rajiv Ghandi at July 18, 2012 01:07 PM (RD7QR)

Ay! Wrong Gandhi!

Posted by: Indira Gandhi at July 18, 2012 09:11 AM (RD7QR)

66 63 Yeah, you got that right

No kidding.

Posted by: Salman Taseer at July 18, 2012 09:13 AM (+XVQe)

67 >>Bodyguards. Can't live with 'em. Can't live without 'em.

And IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII-YIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII-YIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
Will always
Love YEEEWWWWWWWWWWWWWW

Posted by: Zombie Whitney Houston at July 18, 2012 09:14 AM (ZKzrr)

Does anyone know what the goals of the Syrian rebels are? After Syria falls, is it going to be run by Muslim Brotherhood types, a new dictator, or is it going to become a democratic state?

Posted by: JustLikeDavidHasselhoff at July 18, 2012 09:19 AM (WYTHl)

69 Syrian Defense Minister Killed in Suicide Bombing Every time I've read that today I think he killed himself. But, as Obama teaches us, you don't do anything by yourself.

Posted by: t-bird at July 18, 2012 09:22 AM (FcR7P)

68: Does anyone know what the goals of the Syrian rebels are?

No. Seriously, if anyone has asked, I've not seen an answer. The rebels are a pretty Motley Crue.

Posted by: Jim in Virginia at July 18, 2012 09:27 AM (+ciOu)

71 Ynetnews (Israel) reports

:"Soldiers from the (Syrian) 3rd Armored Division are withdrawing from Damascus and abandoning their tanks in the streets following an explosion which claimed the lives of a number of senior officials from President Bashar Assad's inner circle, Al Arabiya reported Wednesday afternoon."

Has the rout started?

Posted by: Jim in Virginia at July 18, 2012 09:30 AM (+ciOu)

72 The rebels are a pretty Motley Crue.

Posted by: Jim in Virginia at July 18, 2012 01:27 PM (+ciOu)

Rock on!

Posted by: Temper Tantrum at July 18, 2012 09:31 AM (AWmfW)

73 There was great report on all this on BBC Radio this morning, and a couple of Syrian expats strongly suggested that this was NOT a suicide bombing, it was a bomb set by an insider who had top security clearance. The bodyguard just happened to be one of the victims.

Posted by: rockmom at July 18, 2012 09:32 AM (NYnoe)

74 There is an appropriate Rock and Roll song for every occasion.

Posted by: Jim in Virginia at July 18, 2012 09:52 AM (+ciOu)

75 The goal of the rebels is identical to the goal of the government: blood, theft, and tyranny. There is some dispute as to who should wield the whip, however.

Posted by: WalrusRex at July 18, 2012 09:53 AM (8Diwy)

In unrelated news, I've made the historic decision to uh, replace my Secret Service team with a Fruits of Islam security detail and TOTUS is to be replaced by a naked midget with cue cards.

A guy can't be too uh, careful nowadays.

Posted by: Obama's Left Nut at July 18, 2012 10:13 AM (I6SyK)

Russia and China imo are driving this issue now not the US or any mideastern blocs. The US can and should be interweb espionage'ing Sryia up the wazoo, but thats about all the west is good for right now.

Imo both China and Russia could care less whether Assad runs Syria or a friendly General runs Syria.

They'd be perfectly happy to muscle Assad out of the way and hand him over to the bed-wetting West for a show trial while Syrian Army Generals long favored by Russia, China and Islamic fundies quietly take over.

Meanwhile the West is still spaced out by the shiny new phrase "Arab Spring" as if its a George Winston album full of songs about unicorns, rainbows, multicultural rights and near-total absence of the hated imperialist racist US/Israel/Western bloc.

Posted by: MikeD at July 18, 2012 10:58 AM (p8QOg)

78 75 The goal of the rebels is identical to the goal of the government: blood, theft, and tyranny. There is some dispute as to who should wield the whip, however. Posted by: WalrusRex at July 18, 2012 01:53 PM (8Diwy) Spot on. The question is only one of thugs beholden to apocalyptic zealots (Shia) or xenophobic zealots (Sunni).

Posted by: Spartacus at July 18, 2012 12:25 PM (jts1f)

79 61 And it will be made up of fanatic Muslims, which is a lot worse than the current leadership. The Alawites claim to be Muslims, but they're not. That makes them more tolerant and secularist than the Hamas/Taliban/Al Qaida that will replace them.

This is just wrong. The current government is an Iranian client state and is a major factor in keeping Hezzbollah armed and supplied. They support Iran and its goals of the extermination of Israel 100%. Assad is a "secular dictator" only in theory, he is totally in bed with the Islamists and "destroy Israel" crowd.

The worst case scenario is that a new weaker Islamist government is formed. But even in that case, I find it unlikely they'll align with Iran, given that Iran has been working very hard along with the Russkies to keep al-Asshat in power. They're more likely to align with the Saudis who decry Israel but aren't actually planning to blow them up like the Iranians.

I find this recent, sudden outpouring of support for Assad on the political right to be really bizarre. Is it because people are afraid the toppling of the Syrian government will be seen as some sort of "success" for Obama?

Posted by: Doomberg at July 18, 2012 03:14 PM (eN6r4)

80 Obama is a stuttering clusterf*ck of a miserable failure.

Posted by: steevy at July 18, 2012 03:32 PM (6o4Fb)

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