Syria, thinking aloud

[arely staircase]

On the one hand I do believe the use of chemical weapons against civilians crosses a line that makes me want to support military action against the Assad regime. I do not buy the pacifist position that the US shouldn't ever intervene militarily under any circumstances (I wish Clinton had intervened in Rwanda and I supported his use of force against the Serbs in Bosnia and Kosova.) I supported Bush's toppling of the Taliban and wish he had seen it through instead of shifting to an illegal war of aggression in Iraq, thereby leaving both Afghanistan and Iraq the mess they are today.

But then I fear we will be a catalyst for something worse (a fundamentalist/Taliban like replacement.) I feel like our only choices are sitting back and watching a Rwanda style massacre or aiding and abetting Al Qaeda/Taliban fundamentalists.

What Is my position then? I don't know what I would advise the president. It makes me so sad and all I can do is pray for the poor people of Syria and that the president makes the right decision.

Really, as anyone here at DU who knows me understands I am very opinionated (but on this my heart just breaks) I can't endorse military action nor can I say it shouldn't be done.

Sad, so sad.

[arely staircase]

1. yeah I'm kicking my own thread

just so both sides of this argument understand where I'm coming from.

[treestar]

2. Back in Clinton's Day, it did not seem to even be an issue

We were not affected by the wars in the Balkans or the situation in Rwanda. But that we should do some humanitarian mission seemed a given.

This is far worse but suddenly it's a big deal and shouldn't be done.

[arely staircase]

3. I was very critical of Clinton at the time regarding the Serbian genocide in the Balkans

in that he should have acted sooner. But he eventually did, and he saved probably thousands of lives. He admits he was neglectful regarding Rwanda. Hey, I'm a liberal Democrat. As such I oppose the tremendous amount of money we spend maintain the war machine we have when the kids I teach don't eat anything but the two measly meals they get at school. But it makes me crazy that having military hegemony we sit back and watch the slaughter of innocents by mad men.

For the record I am still not endorsing intervention in Syria (I am now leaning toward it). But we (under Clinton, who I love) sat back and watched thousands slaughtered and maimed in Rwanda. And that weighs heavily on my mind right now.

[Cha]

4. Kicking your thread, arely. If we were advisors

to PBO we would know a hellava lot more than we do now.

Bottom line with me is.. I know Kerry and the President want to do the best for all concerned and it's an impossible situation to be in right now, but, that's their job. And, I hope that all the Forces of Good are with them.

[arely staircase]

5. yes, I trust President Obama and Sec. Kerry to make such decisions.

I find the comparison to the Bush Adm. to be offensive. Whatever they decide, I hope it saves lives and I am glad it is them and not a McCain/Palin or Romney/Ryan administration making the call.

[Xolodno]

6. Well...here's the thing....

...The Mid-East should have been declared a WMD free zone jointly by USA, Europe & Russia and if any country started developing them, face the wrath of all declared nations military. But that won't happen....In addition for Syria having to give up its chemical weapons....Israel would have to give up its nukes. And given that interested parties have their favorites in this multi-demensional version game that resembles Axis and Allies....it not going to happen.

Something like this was always a concern...but the powers that be...did absolutely nothing. All for the sake ego and power.

[arely staircase]

7. I agree with you about Israel's nukes.

Somehow those aren't considered nuclear proliferation in the ME. No argument here on that.

[cali]

8. I think your fears are grounded in reality and recent history

[arely staircase]

9. yeah, cali its a fucking mess nt