Syrian National Council publishes maps of Syrian air defenses **updated
Correction: The website mentioned in the below post is owned by James L’Angelle, a supporter of the Syrian National Council but not an official spokesman for the organization. As such, the images posted on the site — which L’Angelle said that he took from another blog — cannot provide insights into the workings of the SNC. ...
Correction: The website mentioned in the below post is owned by James L'Angelle, a supporter of the Syrian National Council but not an official spokesman for the organization. As such, the images posted on the site -- which L'Angelle said that he took from another blog -- cannot provide insights into the workings of the SNC. The official website of the SNC is www.syriannc.org. We regret the error.
The Syrian National Council (SNC), which was formed on Sunday as an umbrella coalition of groups opposed to President Bashar al-Assad's regime, hinted strongly that it was in favor of a no-fly zone over the country by publishing maps of Syrian air defenses on its website.
The SNC's web page on the implementation of a no-fly zone to protect Syrian civilians, similar to the one that exists over Libya, does not explicitly endorse such an option. It argues that while "the situation itself might warrant an air defense blanket," practical considerations make the creation of a no-fly zone more difficult.
Correction: The website mentioned in the below post is owned by James L’Angelle, a supporter of the Syrian National Council but not an official spokesman for the organization. As such, the images posted on the site — which L’Angelle said that he took from another blog — cannot provide insights into the workings of the SNC. The official website of the SNC is www.syriannc.org. We regret the error.
The Syrian National Council (SNC), which was formed on Sunday as an umbrella coalition of groups opposed to President Bashar al-Assad’s regime, hinted strongly that it was in favor of a no-fly zone over the country by publishing maps of Syrian air defenses on its website.
The SNC’s web page on the implementation of a no-fly zone to protect Syrian civilians, similar to the one that exists over Libya, does not explicitly endorse such an option. It argues that while "the situation itself might warrant an air defense blanket," practical considerations make the creation of a no-fly zone more difficult.
But the pictures on the website tell a different story. Four detailed maps (1,2,3,4) show the placement of Syrian air defenses — specifically the Soviet-designed S-25, S-75, S-125, and S-200 surface-to-air missiles, and the 2K12 "Kub" air defense system — that an international force would presumably need to destroy to implement a no-fly zone. Another chart compares Syria’s total number of anti-aircraft weapons, which it lists at 3,310, those of other nations.
SNC Chairman Burhan Ghalioun affirmed yesterday that the council "rejects any outside interference that undermines the sovereignty of the Syrian people." SNC members, however, have interpreted that statement to rule out the presence of foreign boots on the ground in Syria — but not necessarily a no-fly zone.
More from Foreign Policy

Is Cold War Inevitable?
A new biography of George Kennan, the father of containment, raises questions about whether the old Cold War—and the emerging one with China—could have been avoided.

So You Want to Buy an Ambassadorship
The United States is the only Western government that routinely rewards mega-donors with top diplomatic posts.

Can China Pull Off Its Charm Offensive?
Why Beijing’s foreign-policy reset will—or won’t—work out.

Turkey’s Problem Isn’t Sweden. It’s the United States.
Erdogan has focused on Stockholm’s stance toward Kurdish exile groups, but Ankara’s real demand is the end of U.S. support for Kurds in Syria.