EU sanctions against Syria actually did something!

[cybrsage]

Sanctions are not often effective, but in this case they actually stopped attack helocopters from being sent to Syria (at least for now).

A British marine insurer cancelled its coverage of a Russian ship after learning the ship may be carrying helicopters and missiles to Syria, The Telegraph reported.
The ship, named MV Alaed, reportedly picked up the Mi25 helicopters known as “flying tanks,” which were being repaired at the Russian port of Kaliningrad, the report said. The helicopters were then shipped on a course that most likely would lead them to the Syrian port of Tartous, the report said.
The European Union, under sanctions announced last year, banned the export of arms to Syria and do not allow companies to provide insurance for those exports, the report said. With no insurance, sources tell the paper that the ship cannot complete its voyage.
After being informed by the British government that insuring the shipment would likely be a breach of EU sanctions, Standard Club, the insurer, reportedly stopped covering any ship owned by Femco, the Russian cargo line, The Telegraph said.
"We were made aware of the allegations that the Alaed was carrying munitions destined for Syria," the company said in a statement to the paper. "We have already informed the ship owner that their insurance cover ceased automatically in view of the nature of the voyage."
Officials told the paper that they will continue to monitor the ship, which now sits off the coast to Hebrides, Scotland.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/world/2012/0...pters-to-syria/?test=latestnews#ixzz1yFEr8WXe

If I was Russia, I would insure the vessel for the trip, just to spite everyone.

 

[dank69]

I've heard the road to heaven is paved with spite.

 

[cybrsage]

I've heard the road to heaven is paved with spite.

I heard it was good intentions...which is what sanctions usually are. In this instance, they actually did something positive.

 

[dank69]

I heard it was good intentions...which is what sanctions usually are. In this instance, they actually did something positive.

You are thinking of hell. The road to hell is paved with good intentions.

 

[cybrsage]

You are thinking of hell. The road to hell is paved with good intentions.

Oh yeah, you are right. But in thinking more about it, I realize there is no road to Heaven - it is a stairway.

That said, what do you think about the topic of the thread?

 

[dank69]

Oh yeah, you are right. But in thinking more about it, I realize there is no road to Heaven - it is a stairway.

That said, what do you think about the topic of the thread?

I don't give a shit about the middle east. I was just commenting on your commentary.

 

[cybrsage]

I don't give a shit about the middle east. I was just commenting on your commentary.

So your purpose is to derail the thread. That is against the rules. Just a friendly warning to you.

Back to the actual topic, which is listed quite clearly in the thread title.

 

[dank69]

So your purpose is to derail the thread. That is against the rules. Just a friendly warning to you.

Back to the actual topic, which is listed quite clearly in the thread title.

Commenting on your commentary is not derailing the thread, AFAIK.


It is derailing the thread when it goes on for more than one post. Please don't derail the thread, it is not about the road to hell or steps to heaven, perpetuating derail is no less derailing than starting the derail process in the first place.

Administrator Idontcare

 

[EagleKeeper]

According to Russia (different articles); these helicopters were Syrian owned ; sent back to Russia for refurbishment

How can one ban something that is already owned

banned the export of arms to Syria

 

[cybrsage]

According to Russia (different articles); these helicopters were Syrian owned ; sent back to Russia for refurbishment

How can one ban something that is already owned

Not sure about EU law, but in US law exporting also covers services and not just goods. Russia exported their repair services for the helos, part of which is the transport of the helos.

That would be my best guess at it. Either that or the insurance company was simply afraid of losing all their EU business if they continued to insure the ship even if they were in the legal right.

 

[Jaskalas]

Russia and China intend to protect the Middle East in massacring its own people. This is a challenge to world powers, to determine just how far each side is willing to go when the ultimate destination is nuclear war.

The question is, where do we draw the line and simply let Syrians die? It'd be for our own good with Russia backing Assad.

 

[Anarchist420]

In related news, Dr. Paul will introduce legislation that would enforce the law against Obama. I don't expect it to work though.

 

[cybrsage]

Syria has no oil (unlike Libya), we do not need a law saying not to go to war there.


I always understood sanctions to only be effective if you don't actually have to use them - the threat of them is the real power. This shows there is some benefit after they are put in place too.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Russia and China intend to protect the Middle East in massacring its own people. This is a challenge to world powers, to determine just how far each side is willing to go when the ultimate destination is nuclear war.

The question is, where do we draw the line and simply let Syrians die? It'd be for our own good with Russia backing Assad.

Russia and China believe that the West should leave countries alone; stop intervening when they want to impose there political ideology on the area.
The West has it's sphere of influence - no need to try to expand it.

 

[Rainsford]

I heard it was good intentions...which is what sanctions usually are. In this instance, they actually did something positive.

I don't know, I think sanctions covering the right things can be reasonably useful. Even with the rise of China, the combination of the US and EU controls a huge portion of the world economy either directly or indirectly. It can't cover every situation, but the threat of economic isolation can be a decent one.

 

[cybrsage]

Usually the threat is what forces the country to comply. If you have to actually make good on the threat, the effect actually ends up hurting the leadership very little if at all.

 

[bfdd]

Actually it's more like Obama and Cameron got to talking to Putin in Mexico and got him to see their side of it. Merkle was there as was Hollande. Cameron broke the news not long ago.

PS It wasn't out of the niceness of Putins heart. The West made concessions, we'll just have to wait and see what they are. I'm guessing we've promised Putin a sweet deal over a % of the energy industry in Syria.

PSS Take every piece of news you get about Syria with a grain of salt as no real reporting is being done in the area. "Civilians being mortared!" Of course they're just "civilians" and not armed protestors. Syria looks more like Libya and that's even more reason to STAY THE FUCK OUT!