Posted: 4:23 am ET
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On April 6th America launched 59 cruise missiles at an airfield in central Syria https://t.co/18I0o2Ed97
— The Economist (@TheEconomist) April 7, 2017
Nobody expected Trump to wage a strike to avenge Syrian children who aren’t even allowed to enter the US as refugees https://t.co/dfxGMTV7dT
— POLITICO Magazine (@POLITICOMag) April 7, 2017
Written statement from the Pentagon on US strike on Syria: pic.twitter.com/ml3LTneNaL
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) April 7, 2017
The #USSPorter and #USSRoss fired #Tomahawk missiles into Syria in retaliation for the Assad regime using nerve agents against its people. pic.twitter.com/Ad908k3oIe
— U.S. Dept of Defense (@DeptofDefense) April 7, 2017
Trump's Attack on Syria: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly – War on the Rocks https://t.co/I2veo20825
— War On The Rocks (@WarOnTheRocks) April 7, 2017
SecState Tillerson and NSA McMaster just gave two conflicting statements on Syria strikes. Message discipline sorely needed right now. pic.twitter.com/6cPRrCEgsI
— Christina Wilkie (@christinawilkie) April 7, 2017
Mine dates from August 2013: https://t.co/UxbA8SuNH5
— Kelsey D. Atherton (@AthertonKD) April 7, 2017
I looked at 36 cases of limited US strikes: They achieve military goals 1/2 the time; political goals less than 10%. https://t.co/Yh3sx2YCL8
— Micah Zenko (@MicahZenko) April 7, 2017
Syrian media say U.S. attack caused damage to air base, multiple casualties https://t.co/002MUiKLIb
— Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) April 7, 2017
Air strikes caused 'several deaths' at airbase according to the the governor of Homs province https://t.co/mB58HIS0vi pic.twitter.com/qedO9mYlZy
— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) April 7, 2017
Interesting take on what happens next from @ExumAM. https://t.co/VfH5AquGOn pic.twitter.com/QTqmsSndOd
— Paul Szoldra (@PaulSzoldra) April 7, 2017
Do not underestimate admin's belief that #US airstrikes on #Syria while Trump is hosting Xi send a strong message to #China and #NorthKorea.
— Matt Lee (@APDiploWriter) April 7, 2017
Russia warns of 'negative consequences' if U.S. targets Syria https://t.co/mqa6AzzzjB pic.twitter.com/NtHrIql78W
— Reuters Top News (@Reuters) April 7, 2017
"This can be regarded as an act of aggression on the part of the US"-'Russia to Demand Urgent UNSC Meeting' https://t.co/i6iEp5lb1l
— Alexander Marquardt (@MarquardtA) April 7, 2017
DETAILS: Putin regards strikes as aggression against a sovereign nation, carried out under invented pretext – spox https://t.co/hs3x3GYhx1
— RT (@RT_com) April 7, 2017
Meanwhile in Mar-a-Lago, where President Trump is hosting Chinese President Xi Jinping:
I'm reminded that Trump promised that he would not host a state dinner for China — just a "double size Big Mac." Awaiting word on menu. https://t.co/vxS5GROiH9
— Gregory Korte (@gregorykorte) April 6, 2017
A choice of Dover sole or New York strip steak tonight for the @POTUS-Xi dinner here. pic.twitter.com/EZvC3qiato
— Steve Herman (@W7VOA) April 6, 2017
This photo says it all: Next to Trump's wife, Chinas top diplomat Yang Jiechi. Next to Xi's wife, Jared Kushner. No Tillerson. pic.twitter.com/VTS3ANKiUa
— Isaac Stone Fish (@isaacstonefish) April 7, 2017
Chinese Pres. #XiJinping, wife Peng Liyuan meet w/ @POTUS @realDonaldTrump and First Lady @MELANIATRUMP at Mar-a-Lago #XiVisit pic.twitter.com/ONaek6MbTY
— People's Daily,China (@PDChina) April 7, 2017
#
Seating order matters a lot to the Chinese. So the symmetry of Jared Kushner juxtaposed on the other side with Yang Jiechi says a lot. The other question though is where Foreign Minister Wang Yi was seated and whether Secretary Tillerson had the equivalent seat. (For those unfamiliar, Yang Jiechi is a State Councilor and hence higher than the Foreign Minister in Chinese political terms.) Still the equating of Kushner with Yang says something. Another consideration though is where Tillerson sat in larger plenary meetings and whether he was included in smaller meetings (especially if Kushner was in and Tillerson out).
Just wanted to add that the formal plenary meeting Tillerson was to the right of Trump and Mnuchin to the left. Next to Tillerson on the right was Mattis and next to Mnuchin on the left was McMaster. A much better protocol lineup.
I suspect the message that this attack was meant to convey was being sent to Kim rather than Assad — and the timing meant to impress the Chinese with what might well happen if they did not agree to tighten their reigns on NK.