Puppet War in Syria

[rebound]

Nice pic, but I quoted you first.   Your first quote says nothing about the weapons.  I countered that with a position that Obama did not say Syria was a direct threat to the US.  Your second post speaks to the chemical weapons, and you post the link (which I quoted) where Obama specifically talks about the weapons stockpile, not Syria directly.  To paraphrase Clinton, it depends upon what "Syria" means. 

He is specifically not  arguing Syria is a direct threat.  He is saying the weapons are a threat, if they somehow get out of Syria's control.  Which is again obviously true, and is great political slight of hand, and is a great way to convince some people that "we must do something".    To suggest that Syria would directly use those weapons against the US is ridiculous, and he knows it.  But to suggest that they might lose control of them and somebody else might use them against us is at least arguable.   

But if you follow that line of thought, since the weapons already exist and we can't readily destroy them or guarantee their security if the regime falls, would it not make more sense (from a purely "secure the weapons" standpoint) to actually help stabilize the regime, instead of trying to take it down?   The "loose weapons" argument is a political canard designed to confuse the easily swayed. 

[Gaspar]

[Gaspar]

Welcome back to the cold war.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/theoval/2013/09/05/obama-kerry-putin-syria-russia-g-20/2769683/

[guido911]

Our French ally...




http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/world/europe/article3860487.ece

[guido911]

I just found out that I am on the same side as Howard Dean...

[dbacksfan 2.0]

Our French ally...




http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/world/europe/article3860487.ece

"That's Chief Inspector Clouseau."

[guido911]

[Gaspar]

Now it seems very likely that this will not pass a House vote by any stretch, and several in the Senate are also having reservations now that the scope has begun to creep and international support (the little that exists) has vanished.

We now have a Marine landing vessel included with our forces and 300 assault troops.  The president is also expanding his list of targets because all of the early warnings allowed Assad to move forces and equipment into neighborhoods.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/06/world/middleeast/pentagon-is-ordered-to-expand-potential-targets-in-syria-with-a-focus-on-forces.html?hp&_r=1&

If Congress says NO.  I believe that President Obama will abide by that, at least I hope.
Both Democrat and Republican support for the president is at an all time low, and there is suspicion that, like Benghazi, intelligence reports may have been manipulated to make the president's case.
http://www.usnews.com/news/blogs/washington-whispers/2013/09/05/alan-grayson-syria-intelligence-manipulated

Funny, how just a few years ago, these guys were the bad guys that we were trying to kill, now we want to make their our allies.
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/09/06/syria-video-turns-the-debate-on-u-s-intervention.html

As NPR originally reported back in August, and now Russia seems to be presenting evidence to support, the Al Qaeda backed rebels may be responsible for the chemical attacks in an effort to goad the west into taking action against Assad.
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2013/09/05/201268/russia-releases-100-page-report.html#.UinmcGRATGc
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/08/27/216172145/is-it-possible-the-syrian-rebels-not-assad-used-chemical-weapons
http://www.infowars.com/rebels-admit-responsibility-for-chemical-weapons-attack/
If so, the embarrassing rebuke by Congress may actually be a blessing in disguise for President Obama.

It seems like we may have a case of "ready, fire, aim" again.

[Conan71]

And he's gained precious little support from our allies at the G-20 conference.

I'm curious why the 98,000 people killed before the chemical attacks wasn't enough of a trigger for us to sound the alarm much earlier?  Why does the manner in how these people died make the mission more or less of a priority?  Chemical weaponry doesn't make them any deader than an AK-47 or mortar round.

[Gaspar]

And he's gained precious little support from our allies at the G-20 conference.

I'm curious why the 98,000 people killed before the chemical attacks wasn't enough of a trigger for us to sound the alarm much earlier?  Why does the manner in how these people died make the mission more or less of a priority?  Chemical weaponry doesn't make them any deader than an AK-47 or mortar round.

Because he made the "Red Line" statement that he is currently trying to blame on everyone else for.

"I didn't draw a red line. Somebody else did that."

Shoots mouth off, then has to incompetently attempt to back it up.  Recurring theme.

[heironymouspasparagus]

And yet, these 1400 are somehow more significant than the tens of millions....

Just a sampling - very graphic, very disturbing, go here at your own risk.

http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/featured/africa-atrocities-pictures/15969

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UEMOtmgNx0

[Conan71]

Because he made the "Red Line" statement that he is currently trying to blame on everyone else for.

"I didn't draw a red line. Somebody else did that."

Shoots mouth off, then has to incompetently attempt to back it up.  Recurring theme.

Now now.  You make it sound as if he's constantly blaming everyone else for his love ups and takes credit for other's successes.  Let's not exaggerate here.

[Gaspar]

Now now.  You make it sound as if he's constantly blaming everyone else for his love ups and takes credit for other's successes.  Let's not exaggerate here.

Must be my ODS again. 

[AquaMan]

Because he made the "Red Line" statement that he is currently trying to blame on everyone else for.

"I didn't draw a red line. Somebody else did that."

Shoots mouth off, then has to incompetently attempt to back it up.  Recurring theme.

Huh. Just like you.

[Gaspar]

Iraq has vowed to attack US interests if we attack Syria, and Putin has agreed to support Syria if we attack. 
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2414139/Syria-Russia-vows-help-Syria-America-carries-military-strikes-Assad-s-regime.html
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323893004579057271019210230.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_LEFTTopStories

This has to be a record for eroding international relations.


This is getting more and more surreal every day.