Another Middle East Crisis, Syrian Special "WMD"

[ronin sparthos]

Isn't the point that we really don't give a shit about the war?

So don't parade the pictures of dead children and frame this as a humanitarian nightmare like John Kerry did to the press/public? These strikes are a political gambit and a middle finger to Russia and Iran designed to remind them that 'Murica is alive and well in the war department. There is no threat to national security, no threat to Israel and no threat of AQ smuggling these weapons to 'Murica or the West.

The international community isn't outraged enough to back a multilateral attack. The countries that are interested either want something more significant like McCain often proposes or want no part of this. Keep your Islamists and bloodshed within the Syrian border and most are fine with the status quo.

[archibaldcrane]

So don't parade the pictures of dead children

Those children were killed with chemical weapons - the point is that using chems is what we care about, not the war itself.

[ronin sparthos]

Those children were killed with chemical weapons - the point is that using chems is what we care about, not the war itself.

And how does symbolically attacking Syria stop more of those children from dying? We attack Assad, he potentially doesn't use more chemical weapons? I'm pretty sure he's confident we don't have the balls to put boots on the ground when we're constantly saying we wont put boots on the ground. If he switches back to conventional weapons then well, more kids are gonna die from mortar shells rather than sarin/cyanide gas. Yay?

Assad could provoke more countries to get involved in directly ousting him if he used more chemical weapons but between the UN and other sources we aren't even sure the rebels aren't also deploying chemical weapons so it's not like swooping in to save the day will result in anything other than another nation building adventure.

[archibaldcrane]

And how does symbolically attacking Syria stop more of those children from dying? We attack Assad, he potentially doesn't use more chemical weapons?

That's the idea. If you think limited strikes expressly because of chemical weapons use will have no effect on his likelihood to use chemical weapons, feel free to express that.

[Boyiee]

So, has anyone looked at facebook lately?

Joe: We should stay out of it altogether. It's not our business.

Karen: we should.. but the damn government needs to be in everyone's business... hell with our own people who are starving and loosing their homes... I just don't understand. Its none of our business... if that crazy man wants to kill his own people...its up to those people and army to do something about it. I am so tired of the US being the bad guy and the police for the world even though we ask for it.

[thetruepandagod]

we aren't even sure the rebels aren't also deploying chemical weapons

Except we know that they are and have for the past year in isolated cases.

[Ragnus]

So, has anyone looked at facebook lately?

I'm not sure what is being said here...

[Ragnus]

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/...&utm_campaign=

Motion to take military action passes a Senate panel 10-7 with one member voting present. Vote moves onto the full Senate.

[archibaldcrane]

Voting present, lol. Dude was one vote from being the decider with his present.

[BaneTheBrawler]

I am the decider.

[Rhinox]

I've said it from the beginning. the whole vote in congress is just a sham.

[Byrthnoth]

Are we really going to attack these middle eastern countries . . . Syrially?

I mean . . . for Syrias?

[Kuya]

Are we really going to attack these middle eastern countries . . . Syrially?

I mean . . . for Syrias?

[Callisto]

http://catholicism.about.com/b/2013/...e-in-syria.htm

Whew, don't worry guys, war's as good as over with this many people praying about it.

[Day]

Shirley you can't be syrias

[Rhinox]

[Callisto]

There was a fair amount of talk on NPR this morning of what kind of message would be sent if the US didn't do anything, to both sides of the conflict. I'm wondering if the US can just do nothing but then blame it all on Russia and paint them as standing up for genocide, since it looks like Putin is going to go the full distance with the Security Council cockblock.

[Outlaw]

I just came across a video I saw a long time ago and thought it should be in this thread. It's old but it's more relevant then ever before.

[quannum]

[notorious bum]

Why am I not surprised that the Qatari pipeline still isn't even included in this redundant war rhetoric? Even most progressive site articles I've read choose to ignore the simplest, yet most obvious motivator for war. I know it kind of makes this war banter less exciting, but it would be nice to give people, who know this song and dance sounds familiar, a little confirmation that history continues to repeat itself, Absolute power corrupts absolutely, etc.