Editor's Note

US President Barack Obama canceled a one-on-one meeting with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the Leaders' Summit of the Group of Twenty (G20) slated for September 5-6 in Russia, as relations between the two countries had turned sour over the past year, in particular over Syria, missile defense, human rights and Russia's granting of asylum to Edward Snowden, the fugitive former US National Security Agency (NSA) surveillance program leaker.

From the Frontlines

First group of Syrian refugees to be relocated to Germany
With assistance of the UN, a group of more than 100 Syrian refugees will leave Lebanon on Wednesday for temporary relocation in Germany, a UN spokesperson said here Tuesday.

Putin urges US to drop military strike plan against Syria
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday that placing Syrian chemical weapons under international control makes sense only if the US drops its military strike plan against Syria.

Kerry to meet Russian counterpart on diplomatic solution to Syria crisis
US Secretary of State John Kerry is to meet with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Geneva on Thursday to discuss Russia's proposal for Syria to surrender its chemical weapons to avert a US military strike, a media report said Tuesday.

GT reporter Yang  Jingjie in Damascus

Syria accepts handover of chemical weapons
Syrian Prime Minister Wael al-Halki Tuesday said his country has agreed a Russian proposal for Damascus to give up chemical weapons to avoid possible US military strikes. The US said the option of military action remains on the table.

Putin softens tone over Syria strike
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday indicated that Russia will not rule out backing US-led military action in Syria if solid proof is given that the Syrian government used chemical weapons, but he also warned that the use of force without UN approval would be an "aggression."

False alarm over Syria as Israel tests missiles
Israel Tuesday confirmed that two missiles launched from the Mediterranean in the direction of Syria was part of a joint US-Israel military exercise, amid growing expectations of Western military action in the Middle East country.

US aircraft carrier heads to Syria
A US aircraft carrier is heading closer to Syria, as President Obama labors in seeking the support of Congress over the limited military strike against the Syrian government.

Tension eases in Damascus after Obama speech
Global Times reporters Sunday morning entered Syria through the Lebanese border crossing point of Masnaa.

At around 9 am, dozens of sedans and buses lined outside the crossing point, with dozens of people queuing to enter Lebanon. Opposite the Lebanese immigration office, two UN Human Rights Council tents were being built.

Syria mocks Obama ‘retreat’
Syrians were already celebrating an "historic American retreat" on Sunday after US President Barack Obama said he would seek Congress' approval before launching a strike against Syria.

Latest News

No boots on ground in Syria, only limited action	US, France step up military deployment around Syria

US  vs. Russia

Diplomacy channel
US postpones meeting with Russia on Syria The United States on Monday announced to postpone a meeting with Russia on Syria due to "ongoing consultations" over alleged use of chemical weapons in the Middle East country.	Russia disappointed with US postponement of meeting on Syria Russia was very disappointed with the US decision to postpone a bilateral meeting on the preparations for an international conference on Syria, the Foreign Ministry said Tuesday.
No Obama-Putin bilat at G20: official US President Barack Obama will not have a one-on-one meeting with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the Leaders' Summit of the Group of Twenty (G20) slated for Sept. 5-6 in St. Petersburg, Russia, a senior US official said Friday.
Military channel
Fifth US destroyer dispatched near Syria: report The fifth US guided missile destroyer, USS Stout, is to arrive in the eastern Mediterranean near Syria later Thursday, US media reported. USS Stout was originally intended to relieve one of the four destroyers already in the area, said WTKR-TV, which serves the Norfolk, Va. area, where the ship was based. US aircraft carrier heads to Syria A US aircraft carrier is heading closer to Syria, as President Obama labors in seeking the support of Congress over the limited military strike against the Syrian government.	Russian Navy to rotate warships in Mediterranean Russian Navy will conduct a routine ships rotation early September in the Mediterranean Sea, the country's Defense Ministry said Thursday. Currently, guard ship Neustrashimy, large assault landing ships Shabalin, Admiral Nevelsky and Peresvet are fulfilling tasks in strategic regions in the Mediterranean, the ministry said in a report issued Thursday. Russia denies delivering new weapons to Syria Moscow has not supplied Syria with new weapons since 2011 unless those envisaged by contracts signed before, state arms export agency Rosoboronexport said on Friday.

Intl Reactions

Syria to "decisively" respond to foreign military action Syrian Defense Minister Fahed al- Fraij said Thursday that the army will "decisively" respond to any form of foreign military action, the state-TV reported. Syria says US report "fabricated" as Washington building case for strike Syria on Friday accused the United States of fabricating an intelligence report claiming the government used chemical weapons, while signs showed that the Obama administration is preparing for military actions against the Middle East country.	Obama seeks congressional blessing for attacking Syria US President Barack Obama was in no mood to seek congressional blessing, and his administration once built up its case to a point in the past days that a military attack on Syria seemed impending. Obama asks Congress to delay Syria vote US President Barack Obama has asked Congress to delay the vote on the resolution authorizing military attack against Syria, in order to give diplomatic process more time to work, media reports quoted senators as saying Tuesday.
Countries of supporting Syria	Countries of supporting US
Putin pressures Obama over Syria President Vladimir Putin addressed Saturday his US counterpart Barack Obama as a Nobel Peace Prize winner, urging the latter not to initiate armed intervention into Syria. Putin calls US claims on Syria's chemical weapons use "utter nonsense" Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday dismissed as "utter nonsense" the US claims that the Syrian government forces have used chemical weapons. Russia, Syria's ally, warned any military strikes would "deal a serious blow to the entire system of world order."	France backs action on Syria while China advocates caution French President Francois Hollande gave a boost Friday to US hopes of forging a coalition for possible strikes against Syria after British lawmakers rejected any involvement.   "France wants firm and proportionate action against the Damascus regime," Hollande told Le Monde newspaper, hinting an attack was possible by Wednesday. US says 8 more countries join call for intl response to alleged Syrian chemical attack The White House said Tuesday eight more countries have signed on to a joint statement that supports the US call for a strong international response to the alleged use of chemical weapons by Syria last month. Hollande, Obama hold phone talk on Moscow's diplomatic initiative on Syria French President Francois Hollande on Tuesday had a phone conversation with his US counterpart Barack Obama over Russia's proposal to place Syrian chemical arms under international control and to ensure their "total" and "effective" destruction, a French Presidency statement said.
Iran may directly involve in conflict As Syria's main ally in the region, Iran cannot stay aloof from the US attack as a disinterested spectator, according to Iranian officials and analysts.	Turkey urges intl punitive action against Syria Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu urged Friday a US-led decision for punitive action against the Syrian government over the alleged use of chemical weapons.
Traditional US allies not to participate in Syria attack
Israel not to participate in US strike on Syria Israel will maintain its non- interference policy if the United States decides to strike Syria for its alleged use of chemical weapons, analysts told Xinhua, noting the preparation taken in the country, such as limited draft of reservists and deployment of anti-aircraft and anti-missile batteries, are strictly for defensive purposes. British parliament votes against government motion of military intervention in Syria Britain's House of Commons on Thursday voted to reject a government motion on military action against Syria after eight hours of intense debate. Canada has no plan for military mission in Syria: PM Canada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Thursday that Canada has no plans for a military mission of its own in Syria, although the government supports its allies and has been convinced of the need for "forceful action." Germany has no plan to join military actions against Syria Germany has no plans to join military actions against Syria, a government spokesman said Friday.   "We haven't considered any German military participation and still aren't doing so," government spokesman Steffen Seibert said Friday. NATO not to take part in Syria attack: NATO chief A Danish newspaper on Friday quoted NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen as saying that NATO will not take part in the possible attack against Syria in response to alleged use of chemical weapons.
Wait-and-see countries
Japan to work closely with US on Syria issue, urges swift fact-finding Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said Wednesday that Japan will work closely with the United States and other countries to help improve the situation in Syria, but urged that the facts should first be carefully verified.
Iraq is deeply concerned over terrorism Already mired in sectarian conflicts and worsening violence, Iraq, as one of Syria's neighbors with a long shared border, will be severely affected if some Western countries launch military strikes against Assad's administration, Iraqi observers said.
Lebanon is on verge of sectarian strife Given to Lebanon's long history of involvement in the wars of major powers and its close relations with Syria, the country will be significantly affected if the United States decides to strike its neighboring Syria, local analysts told Xinhua.

Comments

Global Times:
Only bad choices left for US in Syria
A post-conflict Syria with Assad still in power is not to the US' and its allies' liking, but neither is an Islamist Syria. There seem to be few options on the table other than the military one that will wreak death and destruction, and still see the conflict rage on. 

China should remain firm on anti-strike Syria stance
Beijing is simply pursuing the principle of prompting a political solution to the Syrian crisis, which should not be complicated by any external military intervention. China should be confident when insisting on its policy position and do what it can.

Xinhua:
Strong opposition forces Obama to kick Syria ball to Congress
With hurdles seemingly too great to overcome, and results of military action hard to foresee, Obama chose a way out by kicking the ball to Congress. 

US could be dragged into broader conflict by attacking Syria
As the United States is poised to strike Syria, experts warned Thursday that any direct intervention in the war-torn country could pose the risk of dragging Washington into a broader conflict it has so far tried to avoid.

China National Radio (cnr.com):
What would a possible US military strike against Syria entail?
Fang Bing, associate professor at the PLA ‘s National Defense University, said it’s unlikely that the US will use ground forces to attack Syria. If media reports are accurate, the US is more likely to launch a short-term and fast-paced pinpoint strike. 

For example, several destroyers equipped with about 200 cruise missiles could be dispatched during the first strike. If needed, an array of US fighters could be deployed from allied bases in northern Turkey and southern Saudi Arabia, as well as from US-occupied eastern Iraq. 

Anti-war Protest Photos

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Economic Impact

	US dollar rises amid Syria speculations The US dollar advanced against most major currencies Friday amid continuous market speculations about whether there would be a military strike against the Syrian government.
	Gold falls on profit taking Negative to gold were fading market expectations for an imminent military action against Syria. British parliament has rejected the use of force in Syria and a further vote has been set for early next week. The Obama administration is now working on a unilateral military action against Syria.
	Oil prices retreat on easing Syria concerns Oil prices retreated Thursday on weakened concerns over Syrian and rising market speculations about US Federal Reserve's stimulus tapering.

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News Vocab

化学武器 huàxué wǔqì 

“化学” n. chemistry, adj. chemical（Source: 《新世纪汉英大词典》）
“武器” n. weapon; arms（Source: 《新世纪汉英大词典》）
“化学武器” n. chemical weapons（Source: 《新世纪汉英大词典》）
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