The Syrian Invasion

[Svartalf]

half term is late 2014, after that, the lame duck will look at the teabaggers tearing down what little he managed to accomplish before stepping down in 2016.

[Coito ergo sum]

So, where is the proof? http://washington.cbslocal.com/2013/08/ ... ely-wrong/

Anyone interested?

[Svartalf]

Who cares... either it's true and the attack is justified, or it's not and O is taking a leaf from his predecessor's book... either way, there's precedent.

[klr]

So, where is the proof? http://washington.cbslocal.com/2013/08/ ... ely-wrong/

Anyone interested?

That page just won't load for me, but going by the link, some Syrian government official is dissing the claim that the Assad regime carried out the attack.

"Well he would (say that), wouldn't he" - Mandy Rice-Davies

[mistermack]

America and the other western powers sowed the seeds for this a while ago.
All this bollocks about red lines being crossed, was an open invitation to the Syrian Opposition. If the war starts to go badly for you, you have a last resort.
Let off a chemical weapon on your own people, and the West will give Asad a kicking.

It was pretty obvious that this was coming, if the balance of the fighting went against the opposition.

That's not to say that the government side didn't set off the chemical weapon. But if I had to bet my life, I would bet it was the other side.

Anyway, they are treating it as if it was Asad. Unless they publish the proof, that's absolute bollocks.
It's fifty-fifty at the absolute best. I personally think it's odds-on the opposition.
They have the motive. Asad has no motive, he's already winning.

[cronus]

America and the other western powers sowed the seeds for this a while ago.
All this bollocks about red lines being crossed, was an open invitation to the Syrian Opposition. If the war starts to go badly for you, you have a last resort.
Let off a chemical weapon on your own people, and the West will give Asad a kicking.

It was pretty obvious that this was coming, if the balance of the fighting went against the opposition.

That's not to say that the government side didn't set off the chemical weapon. But if I had to bet my life, I would bet it was the other side.

Anyway, they are treating it as if it was Asad. Unless they publish the proof, that's absolute bollocks.
It's fifty-fifty at the absolute best. I personally think it's odds-on the opposition.
They have the motive. Asad has no motive, he's already winning.

He should go on a cruise to celebrate his win?

[ronmcd]

Assad told by the west that using such weapons would cross a line. Chemical weapons then used on civilians. Definitely Assad. Yes. Must be. Surely.

[JimC]

No good options anywhere that I can see...

Intervention will not achieve anything except more chaos, and a Syria run by Islamist warlords if Assad topples.

Not intervening will allow Assad to maintain his death struggle with his own people...

Lose-lose...

[Pappa]

It's a bit strange listening to the discussions about it on the radio here. It's going to be debated in Parliament on Thursday, but with little detail about what the Government's plans are and how they see intervention improving the situation it's a bit difficult to form an opinion either way.

[Ian]

So, where is the proof? http://washington.cbslocal.com/2013/08/ ... ely-wrong/

Anyone interested?

I doubt anything is going to happen until the UN team comes back with some confirmation. A strike is going to be unpopular enough, but it'll be a public relations disaster if the UN inspection report is iffy.

[ronmcd]

US is just waiting for Cameron to get his political problems out the way on thurs at Westminister, and then it'll be bombs away!

Evidence, you say? We can't be doing with all that nonsense. The bombs will be falling long before any UN document has a chance to be published or presented, by which time ... oops, oh well.

[klr]

So, where is the proof? http://washington.cbslocal.com/2013/08/ ... ely-wrong/

Anyone interested?

I doubt anything is going to happen until the UN team comes back with some confirmation. A strike is going to be unpopular enough, but it'll be a public relations disaster if the UN inspection report is iffy.

But regardless of what the report says, China and (especially) Russia would still veto any military action.

[Warren Dew]

"I opposed American involvement in Libya because I did not believe vital U.S. interests were threatened and I oppose any involvement in Syria for the same reason. If President Obama wants to commit military forces in the Syrian civil war he must make the case to the American people, win their broad support and secure a vote approving any involvement from the United States Congress. Absent an imminent threat to American interests I believe unilateral action without the approval of Congress would not be consistent with the requirements of our Constitution and I will oppose any such action.”

US Congresswoman Candace Miller http://macomb.patch.com/groups/politics ... reat-to-us

I notice they omitted her political party. Since she's saying something politically correct, can I conclude she's Republican?

[Warren Dew]

So, where is the proof? http://washington.cbslocal.com/2013/08/ ... ely-wrong/

Anyone interested?

I doubt anything is going to happen until the UN team comes back with some confirmation. A strike is going to be unpopular enough, but it'll be a public relations disaster if the UN inspection report is iffy.

I thought the U.N. team had given up already, due to Al Qaeda unknown snipers.

[Ian]

So, where is the proof? http://washington.cbslocal.com/2013/08/ ... ely-wrong/

Anyone interested?

I doubt anything is going to happen until the UN team comes back with some confirmation. A strike is going to be unpopular enough, but it'll be a public relations disaster if the UN inspection report is iffy.

But regardless of what the report says, China and (especially) Russia would still veto any military action.

It won't be a UN-sponsored action. But the US/UK/France/whomever else is going to want UN-produced verification that chemical weapons were used.

I thought the U.N. team had given up already, due to Al Qaeda unknown snipers.

They laid low today because of safety concerns. But they haven't left the country yet AFAIK.