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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsOne step closer to war: U.S. wins Arab League backing as plans emerge for strike against Syria
CAIRO -- The Arab League on Tuesday declared the Syrian regime fully responsible for an alleged chemical weapons attack, giving the Obama administration symbolic regional cover to proceed with a punitive offensive that could begin within days.
Two U.S. defense officials, speaking on condition of anonymity so as to discuss sensitive military plans, told McClatchy that military commanders were ready to execute a sea-based strike but were awaiting orders from the White House. The officials said the attack would be carried out exclusively by the four destroyers currently based in the eastern Mediterranean and would not include airstrikes to supplement the expected missile barrage.
U.S. officials emphasized that any military action would be punishment for the Syrian governments apparent use of chemical weapons, and not an operation to remove President Bashar Assad. That distinction is important to the Obama administration as it searches for a response that deters Assad from chemical warfare but doesnt drag the United States into a devastating conflict thats already spilling across borders and inflaming the Middle East.
Vice President Joe Biden told the American Legion National Convention in Houston that there was no doubt the Assad regime was responsible for the heinous use of chemical weapons.
http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/08/27/3589790/us-wins-arab-league-backing-as.html
KittyWampus
(55,894 posts)Scootaloo
(25,699 posts)David__77
(23,558 posts)There would be no retaliation against Russia, I assure you. Everyone thinks that the US can do whatever it wants with no body count. One of these days, that fallacy will be clearly and totally destroyed.
I ask those supporting aggression against Syria: how many dead Americans is it worth?
Cali_Democrat
(30,439 posts)David__77
(23,558 posts)Especially if it was cloaked as a Syrian attack. Syria actually has pretty good anti-ship capabilities. They'd be stupid not to preemptively use them.
I think the warmongers in the US want war on the cheap. Few US deaths. Russia has thousands of nukes and other means to make any conflict have an unacceptably high cost. It could at least wreck the economy. So, no, I don't think they would retaliate.
oldhippie
(3,249 posts)Firing a shot at Russians would be a whole new ballgame, and President Obama is not going to do it.
I don't want to see a stare down between him and Putin.
David__77
(23,558 posts)Because I know that Obama would back down. He know that US interests do not involve support these terrorists in Syria. But he's a captive of these evil forces in DC, including, apparently, his own secretary of state (and former one). He needs to stand strong and resist the urge to yet another, illegal war with no approval by the UN even.
Cali_Democrat
(30,439 posts)The US also has thousands of nukes.
Your assertion that Russia can attack US ships, but the US can't attack Russian ships doesn't make much sense to me.
David__77
(23,558 posts)But the US acts like mutually assured destruction doesn't exist any more. To strongly remind US elite policy makers that it DOES exist would change their calculations about attacking this or that country, thinking they can do it on the cheap. The US already fucks over Russia geostrategically, it's got little to lose.
Cali_Democrat
(30,439 posts)I really don't think Russia would directly attack a US Navy ship. It wouldn't make sense for them to do that.
David__77
(23,558 posts)I don't think the US would escalate, especially if Russia made it look like a Syrian attack. I could be wrong, but I don't see it. I think Obama would turn tail like Reagan in Lebanon in 83. The people of this country don't want Americans dying for al Qaeda, and that's how it would go down in history. But thankfully, this is conjectural, and Obama doesn't have to do anything at all, except heed the wishes of the people who elected him.
DevonRex
(22,541 posts)What the fucking HELL???????
leftstreet
(36,117 posts)This is so fucking confusing
Bomb al Qaeda in Yemen and Pakistan, ally with them in Syria?
Harmony Blue
(3,978 posts)which is Kurdish controlled. That is why the Iraqi Kurds have decided to forge an uneasy truce and alliance with the Iraqi government to fight AQ in Iraq.
leftstreet
(36,117 posts)David__77
(23,558 posts)If you took out AQ, the "Syrian Civil War" would soon be over, within a year or so anyway.
Harmony Blue
(3,978 posts)AQ themselves. Chechnyan and other foreign religious fundamentalists also loosely affiliate with AQ but have similar goals of establishing an Islamic state. FSA, and then the rebels trained and backed by U.S. British and French intelligence from Jordan (they entered Syria about two weeks ago).
Probably many more that I missed.
Hezbollah obviously is fighting on the side of Syria but they have peeved off the Lebanese Christians and Hamas in Lebanon.