Another Middle East Crisis, Syrian Special "WMD"

[Fiye]

Legit?

[Zetanio]

I'm gonna read it, as usual. Still can't listen to the man talk.

[Day]

I don't think so? I just read Russia got warning of the strike.

[Quicklet]

So, do we think that's the beginning and end of it? Sending a message? Or just the opening salvo on crippling Assad's air capabilities?

I'm sure Assad and Russia will be totally cool with this.

I know people want to be rah-rah over doing something, but I'm still worried about what comes next.

[Day]

Wonder what china pres is thinking rn

[DrClout]

I travel through Manhattan to Brooklyn for work. Should I be going to work tomorrow with or without my emergency kit.

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[archibaldcrane]

I'm sure Assad and Russia will be totally cool with this.

Assad isn't supposed to be cool with it. Russia is going to have to tolerate it - but there's always a risk there.

[archibaldcrane]

Wonder what china pres is thinking rn

What is China's stake here? Serious question.

[Quicklet]

Assad isn't supposed to be cool with it. Russia is going to have to tolerate it - but there's always a risk there.

What's to stop Assad from escalating this with Russia's support? Syria is a strategic interest to Russia because of its naval presence there. They're not going to tolerate anything that is more than symbolic that could threaten their foothold there, unless they can extract something else meaningful out of it (like recognition of Crimea as Russian territory).

[Day]

What is China's stake here? Serious question.

Im not sure tbh, I was thinking more of a message re: NK, just wondering because hes with Xi rn and for the weekend

[Day]

How can Russia be upset they elected him I thought

[Day]

Trumps remarks... respectable I guess.

https://twitter.com/cspan/status/850...483488768?s=09

[tyven]

i like to think he let hillary push the button

[archibaldcrane]

What's to stop Assad from escalating this

What would he have to gain by drawing a military power far beyond his own us further into this war? And how would he? I mean, I don't love that we have 400 troops on the ground now that he could attack, but his options to retaliate are quite limited.

[Quicklet]

What would he have to gain by drawing a military power far beyond his own us further into this war? And how would he? I mean, I don't love that we have 400 troops on the ground now that he could attack, but his options to retaliate are quite limited.

Assad will do what he thinks is necessary to hold onto power. The more endangered he feels, either by the US or by rebels/ISIS, the more desperate he'll be in his actions. It's not like the systematic bombing of hospitals by his air forces was any less devastating than the chemical attack given the scope of the campaign. Is Trump going to do something about those too?

There's just so much that could go wrong here and I'm reserving judgment about whether this was prudent until we see the consequences play out.

[Day]

Pentagon statement they apparently released video too. Will link if I see it. Russia was notified beforehand per statement.
https://twitter.com/JasonLeopold/sta...74681575378944

[Katlan]

How does this make us better than them? Trump just ordered an attack that killed tons of innocent people. Of course there is going to be retaliation

[Zetanio]

Considering they attacked a Syrian base innocent is VERY subjective. I don't think we should get involved but it's too late now.

[Xajii]

Im not sure tbh, I was thinking more of a message re: NK, just wondering because hes with Xi rn and for the weekend

I think this is definitely part of it. Everyone in the world wants China to reign in North Korea.

I also think this is probably something that has been "on the table" in terms of if-then tactics for years. Hillary saying hours before it happened that she thinks we should bomb their airfields kinda says it all.

I get that his non-interventionist supporters are mad but that's reality. Trump seemed to fully believe in noninterventionism until he got briefed, talked with the DEEP STATE and DoD, and began bearing the burden of his office. His tune changed so quickly. He immediately adopted a "I'll do what the situation calls for" fluidity because he finally got it through his head how complex and nonbinary geopolitics are. A lesson all noninterventionists could probably use.



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[Quicklet]

How does this make us better than them? Trump just ordered an attack that killed tons of innocent people. Of course there is going to be retaliation

No word on if these missile strikes even resulted in any casualties.

If you want to talk about the US airstrikes that have been occurring in Syria and Iraq that have resulted in dozens of civilian deaths, though...