I bleed red. I support intervention in Syria.

[IdaBriggs]

Honestly, I have supported it for a while now.

I want the US military to go in, remove that murdering asshole from power, escort his generals to the Hague, and then offer support to the people of Syria while they put the pieces back together.

The people of Syria are victims of murder by an oppressive government. They have done everything they can do, and at this point, somebody with a bigger stick needs to come in and save them from their oppressors.

Yes, I realize this is making the United States a "police force" against tyranny, oppression and murder. I am good with it. I don't want us to be there to "prop up" anyone.

I just want us to go in, take the bad guy out, and help out just like we would if a natural disaster took over - you know, let them tell us what they need, and then make sure supplies get where they need to be while the shock wears off.

Get in, take them out, offer the support decent human beings offer when a neighbor has gone through a tragedy, and then get out.

I have children. I am a human being. The families in Syria who are burying their dead are my brothers and sisters, and their children were supposed to be part of my future.

The world is both a small and a big place. State sanctioned murder of civilians - have you seen the photos of the dead? - is an abomination.

The number of dead should not be this high.

I support intervention in Syria.

[JaneyVee]

1. This is where I'm torn and I feel your pain.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

2. You should call 1-888-550-ARMY (2769).

Cyber-recruiters are standing by.


http://www.goarmy.com/talk-with-us/phone.html

[markiv]

65. chicken hawks never put on the uniform

that's the one thing they all have in common

they never put on the uniform, when it's offered to them

they're all for war, just having others fight it for them

[HardTimes99]

107. They always seem to have, one might say, "other

priorities."

[CreekDog]

132. She "bleeds red", clearly she is sacrificing her own blood for the good of Syria

she must already be in the army and serving abroad.

right?

or were those empty, total BS words?

brb, let me check who wrote it...

er, um, that's affirmative.

[AsahinaKimi]

100. This!

[Jamastiene]

156. Precisely.

If the OP bleeds red, they sound like they are offering up their own blood to back up their stance on this. What better way to do it than to enlist?

Great post.

[1awake]

3. Would you be okay with another country using a military strike in the US

if they deemed it necessary? Would that mean war? Or is it a question of Syria being to small for us to need to worry about any measurable retaliation? Is the UN only good if it serves our needs?

Not you, but there seems to be a huge double standard for many who are for military action. A country isn't sovereign unless it can fight back regardless if they are wrong or right.

[otohara]

164. We're Okay With Daily Gun Deaths

You'd think saving American's from the nuts with guns would be first on their agenda.
Those who try get recalled.

America is fucked up!

[Arctic Dave]

4. SIgn up or shut up.

There is zero proof so if you are for "taking out bad guys"you are talking out your ass.

I hope you are for marching bush, cheney, obama, biden and all their generals to the hague for killing civilians.

[IdaBriggs]

16. Actually, I have friends with family in Syria.

So I am confident I know what is going on at a level I really would prefer not to know.

Yes, I marched against the war in Iraq; I am also friends with a family of Iraqi refugees. (The husband is/was a civil engineer who worked with the US Army; when we pulled out, they received a few hours of warning he was going to be killed, and they fled. He can't get a job in his field here because the only jobs are with the Army, and since he can't become a citizen for seven years - sigh. Good people; his wife is an amazing cook.)

No, I will not sign up; I support the military with my tax dollars, and taking out evil tyrants is one of the things I am good with them doing.

Please note that I do not support us staying in the region. I support the perpetrators being dragged to the Hague.

[leftstreet]

22. You don't even know what you're talking about

There is no plan by the WH to remove Assad

[IdaBriggs]

35. Have I *said* there was a plan to remove Assad?

I am stating what *I* want.

I want Assad removed, along with his generals, preferably to the Hague.

Reading comprehension can be a problem when you are reading what you want to see, instead of what I write.

[leftstreet]

40. Your bloodthirsty rant is noted

You have definitive proof Assad is a 'murdering asshole'

[IdaBriggs]

44. Google is your friend. Go use it. nt

[leftstreet]

56. You first n/t

[muriel_volestrangler]

141. Amnesty: Satellite images prove Assad violates human rights

Amnesty International has released on Wednesday satellite images of indiscriminate aerial bombardment in civilian areas of the Syrian city of Aleppo. Amnesty says

http://www.i24news.tv/en/news/international/middle-east/130807-amnesty-satellite-images-prove-assad-violates-human-rights

Human Rights in Syria during Bashar al-Asad’s First Ten Years in Power
Executive Summary
I. Repression of Political and Human Rights Activism
II. Restrictions on Freedom of Expression
III. Torture, Ill-Treatment, and Enforced Disappearances
IV. Repression of Kurds
V. Legacy of Enforced Disappearances
VI. Annex: List of Political and Human Rights Activists Detained during Bashar al-Asad’s First Decade in Power

http://www.hrw.org/reports/2010/07/16/wasted-decade

[leftstreet]

142. Yet the WH wants Assad to stay

interesting

[muriel_volestrangler]

143. What makes you say that?

Obama and Erdogan: Syria's Assad Must Go

President Obama, speaking at a joint press conference with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, says that Turkey and the U.S. agree that Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad must give up power to a transitional government.

http://live.wsj.com/video/obama-and-erdogan-syria-assad-must-go/A714C6EE-C4BA-4FCF-B9BF-57567F1026B6.html#!A714C6EE-C4BA-4FCF-B9BF-57567F1026B6

If you're referring to today's "the options that we are considering are not about regime change", that's saying they are not going to attack to force him out. They want him to leave power voluntarily.

[leftstreet]

144. If he left voluntarily that wouldn't be regime change?

I mean, I don't know

These official WH statements are probably meant for people other than us

[muriel_volestrangler]

145. What they are saying is they're not using military force to make it happen

They think he should go.

[Arctic Dave]

26. Obama included?

Not sure what the rest of your post has to do with anything. Great, you know a guy. And if you asked a thousand other guys they would tell you a different story.

[Vinnie From Indy]

39. "No, I will not sign up"

What about your children? How about sending them to fight?

[IdaBriggs]

46. Well, like many of the dead, they are too young (being six).

So I think we will leave the "taking out of tyrants" to those who do it for a living, while I am blessed to have mine start elementary school next week.

And yes, I think the people of Syria should be worrying about school supplies instead of burial shrouds for their children, too.

It may be a tough concept, but instead of "conquering places for rich people" I like the idea of "keeping people safe from murdering tyrants" as a reasonable use of military force.

[magical thyme]

48. how very convenient.

"No, I will not sign up; I support the military with my tax dollars" You can pay other people to do your dirty work for you, and if they happen to end up trapped and enslaved in the "back door draft" like happened with Iraq, well isn't that too bad for them.

The US took out the "evil tyrant" Saddam Hussein. How many hundreds of thousands of Iraqis died, and continue to die, as a result.

Not to mention how many are now being born with birth defects due to our (apparently not obscene) use of depleted uranium?

[IdaBriggs]

52. The situations are not the same.

Also, I am not advocating us staying there and robbing the place.

[magical thyme]

57. So you bleed red, but not for your friends the Syrians, and

you advocate going in, taking out the government, leaveing behind the various rebel factions, both Syrian and from interested countries, plus al Qaeda to continue fighting each other and killing hundreds of thousands more civilians until somebody is left standing?

Really, you have absolutely no clue what you are wishing for.

[HardTimes99]

109. + Infinity! - nt

[HangOnKids]

167. Did the US rob Iraq?

Your post suggests that. Take your time Ida.

[markiv]

76. we have both back door and economic drafts

which i'm sure the OP's family is not subject to

[magical thyme]

82. True. And the poster has made clear *she* has no intention of bleeding red or any other color

for her friends.

She can pay for others to do the bleeding. How very nice for her to have the power to wish *others* be forced into kill or be killed situations, while sitting safely at home, with no fear of retaliation from Syria after we invade their soveveign nation.

[markiv]

85. yup - makes me sick nt

[CreekDog]

133. you said you "bleed red" but you won't sign up? so those words were hollow?

why would you say you "bleed red" if you actually would not sacrifice a drop of your own blood for the cause?

i could understand supporting it, but why would you claim to "bleed red" for it?

[backscatter712]

160. Then you are a coward. n/t

[treestar]

58. So only those acceptable to the military can have an opinion?

Just what the right wingers did when they said if you were against Iraq, you were against the military and should shut up.

[Arctic Dave]

64. If you want to spout off about killing other people then sign up.

Sitting on one's ass, in the comfort of one's home and espousing killing other people to "send messages" or to "take out bad guys" makes you a repuke chickenhawk or a cruise missile liberal. Both are in the severe douchebag category.

Kill away, but heaven forbid, just don't interrupt their life.

[treestar]

70. Thus everyone over 31 can have no opinion right?

Or whatever is the maximum age for the military? Women should not have a say?

Maybe the Constitution should be amended to say that only those in the military now can vote whether to be involved. That would sit all right with me.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

118. Classic strawman.

Nobody said you couldn't have an opinion. You are arguing against a position not proposed.

Sure, you can have an opinion. Have at it.

Just be prepared to be called a chickenhawk. And if that truth hurts, too fucking bad.

[treestar]

146. So that applies to all older people?

Too old to go into the military?

Hardly seems fair.

[mythology]

148. More accurately they can have an opinion that agrees with you or you will call them names

There was a time in which it was considered uncivil to have to resort to name calling.

[Marr]

80. +1, It was true in the Bush years, and it's true today.

Odd how it's the same people who instinctively line up on the authority side of every other argument, isn't it?

[markiv]

81. it's not about 'only those acceptable to the military' having

an opinion

because so many the are acceptable, and spout off, dont sign up

they want OTHERS to 'bleed red'

[cali]

5. honestly then, you need to do more research

the rebel opposition consists of different factions- they're already at odds and killing each other as well as killing Christians.

What the fuck do you think will happen if we remove Assad from power?

Try an even worse civil war, genocide of Alawites and ethnic cleansing of Christians and other Shia.

Read this. Read the links. Learn about the situation.

http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2013/08/before-you-conclude-that-precision-bombing-makes-sense-with-syria/279086/

[IdaBriggs]

20. Assad needs to go. Period.

I am as informed as I feel I need to be. I am friends with people who are from Syria, who still have family there. This situation has been going on for several years, and it is getting worse.

Please note that I am not supporting any specific "rebel faction" - I am supporting the removal of Assad and his murdering generals.

[cali]

24. that's just ignorant as can be.. sorry, Ida, but you clearly aren't informed

the removal of Assad will lead to far worse genocide.

As Douglas Carpenter keeps reminding people:

"Christians to Beirut, Alawites to the grave"

Not a single expert thinks removing Assad will do anything but make things worse.

[IdaBriggs]

31. The "experts" have their opinion.

Mine is strongly influenced by my social network.

Do you have any idea how many Syrians have died since that asshole came to power?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bashar_al-Assad

By the end of January 2012, it was reported that over 5,000 civilians and protesters (including armed militants) had been killed by the Syrian army, militia (Shabeeha) and security agents, while 1,100 people had been killed by the anti-government forces.[79]

On 10 January 2012, Assad gave a speech in which he accused the uprising of being plotted by foreign countries and claimed that "victory [was] near". He also said that the Arab League, by suspending Syria, revealed that it was no longer Arab. However, al-Assad also said the country would not "close doors" to an Arab-brokered solution if "national sovereignty" was respected. He also said a referendum on a new constitution could be held in March.[80]

On 27 February, Syria claimed that a referendum on an update to the nation's constitution, hailed as 'a showpiece of reform' received 90% support. The referendum imposes a fourteen-year cumulative term limit for the president of Syria. The referendum has been claimed as meaningless by foreign nations including the US and Turkey, and the European Union announced fresh sanctions against key government figures.[81] On 16 July 2012, Russia voicing concern at the blackmail on Syria by the western nations, laid to rest any speculations that it was distancing itself from Bashir Al-Assad. Moscow also vowed not to allow a UN resolution pass that aims at sanctions against Syria.[82]

On 15 July, the International Committee of the Red Cross had officially declared Syria to be in a state of civil war,[83] as the nationwide death toll for all sides was reported to have neared 20,000.[84]

Per my friends, the number is higher.

[cali]

38. wow. clueless.

Yes, damned straight I know. I know that 100,000 Syrians have died in this war.

And YOU are wrong about everything. The missile attacks that the U.S. plans to launch have zip to do with taking out Assad. The administration does not want that outcome, for reasons which you are ignorant of.

You are totally talking out of your hat in every frickin' post in your thread. It's appalling.

[frylock]

121. you sound exactly like the people who had friends from iraq..

exactly like them.

[4Q2u2]

103. You cannot turn a Blind eye to what your actions can Cause

You do know that Al Qeada makes up part of the rebel force and is trying to help install the Caliphate and a Theocracy. Things most certanly will get worse with Assad gone.



http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/356920/kucinich-striking-syria-will-make-us-military-al-qaedas-air-force-sterling-beard

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/08/28/how-u-s-strikes-on-syria-help-al-qaeda.html

http://abcnews.go.com/International/hezbollah-al-qaeda-fighters-edging-closer-confrontation/story?id=19144119

[CreekDog]

135. this is as well thought out as your medical experiments

[CreekDog]

139. oh, this is what I'm talking about

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002789232

[IdaBriggs]

149. Why, THANK YOU! The nicest reply in the thread!

http://m.

&feature=share&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Dvlsx0K_mXAw%26feature%3Dshare

NOTE: Not in the Project, but followed the protocol. Video shared with permission.

You should see what is going on with the 9-year old from last year, or the other 120 children seeing benefit. Unfortunately, we only have an 83% success rate, which means I have 40 other children who have seen no benefit.

I know you think you were just being sarcastic, but yeah!

[NealK]

172. OFFS. In addition of being totally clueless about the situation in Syria and pushing for a bloodbath

you're also scamming desperate people.

[IdaBriggs]

173. ROFLMAO! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

"Scamming!"

We can fix a lot of things; I recommend you click on the link in my sig line.

Seriously, with that level of "investigative journalism" you should get a job on Fox!

[NealK]

174. I did some searching.

Ida Briggs, Executive Director at Preemie Growth Project, Inc.

The "donations" are not tax deductible, no independent scientific review of your "cure".

You're promoting and selling a bogus miracle cure to people who are very vulnerable. I find that despicable.

[IdaBriggs]

182. Again, Fox News worthy investigation.

a) Never sold a dratted thing. We are a non-profit, and have zero financial interests in any of the products.

b) NO ONE at Preemie Growth Project receives *any* compensation of any kind what-so-ever. Period. The people involved (including myself) are strictly volunteers. You can discuss your contempt for them on Facebook at the "Preemie Growth Project Parent Group" where they will share their opinions on the Project with you. (Please come - it should be fun to watch!)

c) "Cure" is a strong word, and my early ignorance of its appropriate use was and has been corrected. We are politely using "cause, prevention, and treatment" to describe the effects on *some* forms of cerebral palsy. We are also extremely clear that is is "early stages" of investigation, and we are still figuring a lot of this stuff out. (The effects on sensory processing, for example, were completely unexpected.)

The information we have is actually based on extremely well documented medical textbooks/papers, and appears to be a major breakthrough in the understanding of neuromuscular issues. We can turn sensory issues on-and-off like a water faucet, have good statistical data on the types of issues that are seeing benefit (and those that aren't), a regular pattern of identifiable improvement, and are working with medical professionals all over the world (literally - 38 states, 6 countries, and folks everywhere from the NIH to World Health paying attention). They will investigate, and write the papers. We will support their research and investigation.

In the meantime, I've got 121 children seeing "dramatic improvement" and another 40 who saw no improvement. 74% of my "failure to thrive" children are no longer in that category within 90 days. Children who were confined to wheelchairs are walking. (My favorite story in this vein is of a child who was using a walker, got frustrated because of a snowfall situation, and just picked it up and started carrying it - woo hoo! Mom about fell over.)

So, while I appreciate your passion for defending vulnerable populations from attempted fraud, I can politely assure you that there is nothing to worry about here. I would also advise you to "self-delete" the comment because as this gets more wide-spread attention (the compounds are available over-the-counter under many different labels, and we have good reports on almost all of them), you *will* end up looking ... foolish.

But I am good either way, because one of the mom's in our parent group posted this:

"We have just started the minerals 5 days ago and I was wondering if anyone has seen a reduction in tone? We have been going to myofascial release twice a week for more than 3 years and today his therapist commented that his hamstrings weren't too bad. Normally she has to give him a good stretching all over. I just thought the comment was worth noting."

Nope, she wasn't the first, and the other moms have been chiming in - tee hee! (The breakdown for speed of response is 1/5 sees *very fast* response, 2/5 see "good" within 8 weeks, 1/5 see "slow" within 16 weeks, and 1/5 see nothing. )

Life is good.

[NealK]

185. Yeah, sure.

You support the bombing of nerve agent plants that will results in countless numbers of people dying or ending up with severe disabilities. You're a real saint and the epitome of rationality. And please stop sending me creepy PMs.

[IdaBriggs]

189. Not a problem, Faux News Guy.

Whatever.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

140. "I am as informed as I feel I need to be."

Way to stick your fingers in your ears and la-la-la.

[RKP5637]

177. The US throwing more rocks in the pond won't calm the pond waters. It will aggitate

an already bad situation.

[leveymg]

6. Then you should also support the US marching into Jeddah and Doha and Amman and Ankara to march

those murdering bastards off to the Hague because they have contributed to just as many deaths in Syria as has the regime in Damascus. Come to think of it, there's the enablers behind this civil war in Paris, London, Washington, Moscow, Beijing, and Tehran.

Really, once we start, where do we stop?

[The Magistrate]

7. I Sympathize With Your Feelings, Ma'am

But it seldom works out that cleanly in practice, and in this particular case, almost certainly would not.

[bobGandolf]

17. I feel likewise!

[Amonester]

8. I support someone's intervention in... the US of A.

The oppression against the sick, the old, the poor, the homeless, the hungry, the schoolchildren, the voiceless, the victims of criminal acts et al bothers me to the nth degree. I just want us to get in, take the bad 1% guys out, and help out just like we would if a natural disaster took over - you know, let them tell us what they need, and then make sure supplies get where they need to be while the shock wears off.

Get in, take them out, offer the support decent human beings offer when a neighbor has gone through a tragedy, and then get out.

I have children. I am a human being. The families in Syria who are burying their dead are my brothers and sisters, and their children were supposed to be part of my future.

(Also.)

[HangOnKids]

112. I think this message might be lost on the OP

Great post BTW.

[HardTimes99]

134. Canada, please liberate us. We apologize for all the moose jokes. - nt

[CJCRANE]

9. We can't even rebuild our own country.

Many of the people who advocate for war are the same ones who say we don't have enough money to look after own people and rebuild our own infrastructure.

[StopTheNeoCons]

10. While the Syrian people are in a tight spot..

I have to agree with most of the posters here, after our reckless and stupid history in that region, we are not qualified to help the Syrian people, the UN needs to do it.

[sinkingfeeling]

11. And the hell with the aftermath? What if Iran comes to the aid of Syria? Or

Russia? What if Israel or Saudi Arabia is struck in retaliation? Shall we be responsible for WWIII?

[rdharma]

12. Were you also for the invasion of Iraq?

Be honest.

And do you want to bomb Syria because Syria bombed Syria?

[IdaBriggs]

21. No, I opposed the invation of Iraq.

Also, I do not want to "bomb them" - I want Assad and his generals taken alive to the Hague.

I want "accountability" when it comes to killing your own civilians.

[rdharma]

27. I'll have to take your word that you weren't for the invasion of Iraq.

I know many folks who were for the invasion of Iraq and now claim they were against it from the "git go".

[IdaBriggs]

37. I took my dogs to the march in Lansing, Michigan.

Afterward I felt the march was a complete waste of time because it was OBVIOUS that SOB and his war criminals were going to do it regardless. (Don't get me started!)

You can find many of my posts over the years where I bemoan the fact they *aren't* being prosecuted.

[woo me with science]

13. You won't bleed nearly as much as the human beings we will be bombing.

Give us a fucking break. We have seen this obscene manipulation by the MIC over and over and over and over and over again.

The bloodshed and misery this will become will vastly exceed the transparent excuse for going in. Going into Syria was planned a long time ago.

What a scam. What a fucking scam.

[HardTimes99]

43. +Infinity! - nt

[cali]

14. More info: There is no plan on the table to take Assad out

and the Administration is aware of the huge dangers that would pose for Syria and the region. Even a limited strike poses the dangers of worsening the civil war in Syria, setting off a wider regional conflagration that would draw in Iran, Israel, Turkey and Lebanon and so much more.

It's not a nail. The U.S. needs to put down the hammer.

[atreides1]

15. I don't have any brothers or sisters in Syria

[former9thward]

18. Go join.

Then you can take them out.

[KurtNYC]

19. So you don't like murder but you like war? What do you suppose we will bomb them with? Prozac?

Ecstasy ? Bubble wrap ?

Is Iraq today a paradise of freedom and democracy?

Some seem to be suffering from Am-new-sia on this. Amnewsia -- (noun), the state of not remembering how this shit turned out last time because one watches the MSM news and they never mention it.

[IdaBriggs]

23. I do not want to BOMB them; I want the leaders taken out.

I would prefer some of my very expensive "crack troops" went in and took out the leadership/removed them to the Hague.

The options aren't just "ignore them or bomb them."

[cali]

28. It just doesn't get more clueless than advocating that we remove

Assad. Period. Full Stop.

That is unless you want a wider conflagration and much, much fucking worse genocide. I know that you don't want that.

[IdaBriggs]

41. Yes, removing a "hereditary" rule who has amassed billions of dollars

who is SLAUGHTERING his people from power --

What am I thinking?

Why, look what happened to all those silly slaves after the civil war! Best, indeed, if they had been left in shackles!

[cali]

45. It's what Chogyam Trungpa called "idiot compassion"

the comparison to the civil war is patently ridiculous and again a manifestation of ignorance.

What part of this don't you understand:

Removing Assad would lead to more death and destruction for more Syrians. There isn't a whole helluva lot of debate about that, dear.

[IdaBriggs]

51. Sigh. We simply have to agree to disagree.

Realistically, neither of our opinions is going to matter to the people who make the decisions.

I support taking Assad out. Yes, I expect some of the other (hereditary) rulers in the area will have a problem with it.

Don't care. I am clear on what I want. We will see if I get it.

I also trust Obama with this type of decision much more than I trust the last regime.

We will see what happens.

You may want to join an internet chat group that features the opinions of "actual Syrians" to see what their opinion is; "make them stop killing us!" seems to be the overwhelming opinion I get from my social network.

I think it is a reasonable stance to have.

[IdaBriggs]

127. You know, I was being okay with the disagreement.

Yes, there are a bunch of idiots who just like to jump all over people - the "go join the military" morons (apparently even Obama can't have an opinion on military use unless he joins, per these nitwits, who seem to forget that the military is under the control of the civilians, but whatever) and the "you must love Bush" (wtf?) and the "how dare you support murder" (seriously?) but honest to pete -

ENOUGH WITH THE PERSONAL INSULTS, CALI.

"I'm actually not surprised to see this level of ignorance from you." <== Yeah, that is a personal insult.

I'm not going to alert on it. We've known each other for YEARS. We've disagreed sometimes, agreed sometimes, and I really don't care if you don't like my opinion, because It. Is. My. Opinion.

I've known about the shit in Syria for YEARS; my kids went to school with other kids who have relatives there, the last school my kids were at had systems in place for dealing with the kids who had personally witnessed the violence because THEY LIVED THROUGH IT, and my current daycare provider immigrated from Syria, and I trust his analysis of the situation a lot more than I trust yours.

Yes, maybe if someone took Hitler out, we would have ended up with a worse dictator. I don't know that. I know that Assad has been killing people in the THOUSANDS for several years now. I don't like it, and I want it to stop.

That doesn't mean I want a caliphate, and it doesn't mean I support "moral" law (aka Sharia). It means I want people to quit dying - especially CHILDREN - and since the victims actually need someone to save them, I support using my military forces to do it. I don't want to prop up a bad regime afterward; I want to go in, help out, and get out.

Have a different opinion? Think their lives aren't as valuable as yours, or that the situation in the Middle East will simply destabilize, or that the next bad guy there is going to be worse?

You have a right to that opinion. I HAVE A RIGHT TO MINE.

And you personally insulting me - well, that isn't changing it. It is making me think you are a rude, obnoxious insulting person who I shouldn't trust.

Telling me I was wrong about this - that was okay. "I'm actually not surprised to see this level of ignorance from you" -- well, kindly escort yourself to the near mirror, and take a good, hard look.

It isn't "pride" that makes me hold this opinion. It is freaking HORROR. And if you can't tell the difference, well, your judgment is beyond suspect, because you have the ability to take an old friend who you could discuss twenty billion things with, disagree about a lot of them, and still talk, into someone who is about ready to make you the second person on her ignore list because *passion* is one thing, but personal insults ---

[CreekDog]

131. you "bleed red"? oh, when do you go on active duty to take military action in Syria?

pretty brave of you to be willing to "bleed" for Syria.

[jessie04]

165. I do respect your opinion.

Those insults against you were beyond disgusting.

[cali]

29. yeah, that's gonna happen. NOT A CHANCE.

though that would be a ghastly idea and again showcases your ignorance of the situation. A few crack troops would be slaughtered.

Fuck.

[Scootaloo]

33. I'm sorry, but even Hollywood would call that script "unrealistic"

[oldhippie]

49. Just have some of our Spec Ops troops .....

..... walk into the palace and say, "Book'em, Dano!"

[deutsey]

119. Yeah, that's what I was thinking

This might have been a blockbuster movie in the '80s starring Sylvester Stallone or Arnold Schwarzeneger, but as for being a viable plan of action...

[enlightenment]

61. How, Ida?

Do you honestly think that our special forces can get in there and remove Assad and his leadership? That's Hollywood, not reality.

Name a recent event when our "crack troops" have successfully completed a "hostile extraction" (i.e., kidnapping) of a foreign leader, much less a foreign leadership.

Seriously, Ida - a lot of people are equally horrified by what Assad and his leadership are doing in Syria, but you're not suggesting anything realistic.

[GreenStormCloud]

25. You would replace one murdering asshole with some even worse murdering assholes.

At least Assad doesn't want to impose Sharia Law on the entire world.

[Scootaloo]

30. Which murdering asshole would you put in the previous murdering asshole's place?

For that matter, which murdering asshole are we removing? Syria's kind of a gif place, and apparently a lot of murdering assholes handed in their resume. Going to have to narrow it down.

[Iggo]

183. She said "Period", goddamit!

No aftermath allowed!

[magical thyme]

32. I take this to mean you are enlisting right now.

Anybody promoting acts of war should be putting their bodies where their mouths (and fingers) are.

After the clusterfucks that are Afghanistan and Iraq, you honestly think we can go in there and fix things?

You do realize if we take out Assad, the country continue to be a war zone while rival factions fight for control.

We don't even know that Assad used chemical weapons. Prove it. Prove it wasn't one of the many, many rebel groups, including al Qaeda, fighting in that region. Prove it wasn't a PNAC/MIC/CIA action intended to pull us into another war in a country that happens to be next on PNAC's list.

Demonstrate exactly how taking out the Syrian government will end better than taking out Iraq's government.

[PowerToThePeople]

34. March your happy arse over to Syria and put the hurt on them, please. n/t

[CJCRANE]

36. I've seen this movie before. It didn't end well

I didn't like it the first time and I don't want to see it again.

[cali]

42. By far and away the most uninformed nonsense posted

about this.

[Dash87]

47. Couple of things wrong with that:

- Our troops bleed red too, and bullets and bombs make that happen.

- Our "allies" in this war include Al Qaeda, an army that condones ripping someone's heart out and eating it, and psychopaths that hate us and will use our own weapons to kill us after Assad falls.

- Syria would just be another endless war with insurgents.

- Al Qaeda will get their hands on nerve gas and kill civilians with it, possibly even in US cities

- The rebels are murdering as many civilians as Assad is, and they're just as bad (but more irrational and unpredictable).

- This is another war cheered on by the defense industry with natural resource hoarding in mind.

[Vinnie From Indy]

50. I find your ideas quite grotesque.

Your wants and desires would be paid for with the lives of others sons and daughters. In short, this is one of the most evil, immature, uninformed and bloodthirsty posts I have ever read here on DU.

Cheers!

[AsahinaKimi]

106. +1000

spot on Vinnie!

[markiv]

53. Only those Americans in uniform, will be bleeding red

if you're not going over there in uniform, you support OTHERS bleeding red

[n2doc]

54. Then you support Al Qaida

Because they would be the greatest beneficiaries of our actions there. They already control several cities. They have already imposed harsh Sharia laws on the women and children in the areas they control. They are the strongest groups in the opposition.

Ask yourself- how long did it take us, in complete control of Iraq, to finally capture/kill Saddam and his sons? How much harder would that be in a country with many well armed warring factions already? How many Americans are you willing to see die so your justice can be served?

[NightWatcher]

55. Just like we did in Iraq? How'd that work out?

Another10 year war with 5000 dead on our side and nearly a million from their side.


This is none of our business. We are being pulled into theatre by outside actors (Saudi, Qatar, ....).

[ConcernedCanuk]

122. Quite well really

.
.
.

kisses and hugs all over Iraq.

dincha notice?

CC

[markiv]

59. In the 1970s-80s, it was viewed that a Mideast involvement would get us into WWIII

but we got over that fear with Gulf war one and the end of the soviet union

and afganistan and gulf war II

but russia didnt go away, and syria is one of russia's longest mideast clients

the fear of wwiii went away

but the reality, didnt

[IdaBriggs]

62. FYI - Not abandoning thread.

I have stated my opinion clearly.

I am not advocating "random bombing"; I am advocating the taking out of the leadership and the generals responsible for killing their own civilians.

I am clear on what I want, which may not be what I eventually get.

I don't think Iraq is a reasonable example, and I don't want Afghanistan to be the role model.

No, I will not join the military, even if I was eligible (which I am not).

No, I am not going to send my six year olds there, either.

Yes, I believe that my very expensive and well trained troops can go in, take care of business, then get the heck out after helping with some basic supply runs. (I am not a war expert, but this is something I feel is within the scope of their calling. I am not interested in them becoming occupiers, but as a police force against murder - yes, I am good with that.)

My information and knowledge is limited, and I am not an "expert"; I find my friends to be reliable sources of information, and I believe "stop killing us!" is a reasonable request from any people to their government.

If you have anything else to add (I think the people telling me "you are an idiot/you don't know what you are talking about/you must have liked us invading Iraq/why don't you join yourself/don't you know we can only make it worse/you are obviously a horrible human being" has all been covered), and it looks like it might be worth responding, I will come back later.

Best to all. I don't think anyone's mind has been changed, but my opinion, for what it is worth, is out there.

I want the people of Syria to stop being killed by their own government; I want Assad and his generals prosecuted.

I still support intervention.

[Vinnie From Indy]

68. Who gives a shit really?

I believe your ideas on this matter make you the definition of the banality of evil.

Cheers!

[cali]

71. hey vinny

I wish you'd rephrase this so it doesn't get deleted.

[Lizzie Poppet]

95. No need, apparently. Results:

Juror #1 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE and said: No explanation given
Juror #2 voted to HIDE IT and said: Not sure what it means, but it sounds pretty nasty.
Juror #3 voted to HIDE IT and said: This is a glaring example of the type of post that makes DU suck. This poster is a frequent contributor to the suckage.
Juror #4 voted to HIDE IT and said: No explanation given
Juror #5 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE and said: meh
Juror #6 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE and said: No explanation given

[HardTimes99]

111. OMG - Juror #2, WTF???? - nt

[HardTimes99]

137. Serious props to you for the allusion to

Hannah Arendt. Totally a propos, although I'm sure it sailed right over the OP's head.

I think you might have meant 'personification' or 'exemplification' and not 'definition' but that's mere niggling on my part.

[Bluenorthwest]

69. Go read up about the World Court.

Your misunderstanding about our involvement with it makes your entire OP seem like fantasy stuff.
'I'm for just hurting the bad guys, taking them to a court we do not recognize and handing out candy!!!!'

[cali]

72. excellent point about the world court

[Bluenorthwest]

75. I only bothered because Ida is pontificating about how uber informed she is.

When she's not.

[cali]

77. Well, I appreciate it. I'd completely forgotten that most salient fact.

[bobduca]

96. carefully cultivated

feigned ignorance.

[cali]

97. it's not feigned. it's real ignorance.

[bobduca]

98. Ok, willfull ignorance is more apt.

I think you are correct, cali. The feigning ignoramuses use more emoticons.

[Bluenorthwest]

110. Willful and active. Note that neither the OP nor those who agree with it have bothered

to acknowledge and address their World Court misconceptions. Introduce a fact and they flee in fear. If they made a gas mask to protect from information, they'd sell millions on the center right.

[Dash87]

89. They aren't your troops.

And despite what they've been forced to do, they aren't the war profiteers' troops either. They belong in friendly US bases, or home and safe.

Because I would never fight in this war and do not see how it's justified, I will never support sending Americans to kill people who have done nothing to us. I won't support helping line the pockets or fullfill the wishes of Bill Kristol, Dick Cheney, Karl Rove, and the MIC.

I believe in just war to defend our country. This is murder for profit, pure and simple.

[Marrah_G]

180. I find your statement "I bleed red." to be offensive

You are not at risk of bleeding anything.

My son and my brother risk not only blood, but also death.

If you or your husband or children were at risk from another was, I wonder if you would be so flippant about it.

[Marrah_G]

63. So stop the murders by killing more civilians?

Because that is what will happen. These strikes are not going to just hit the military, nice and clean, they will also kill women and children, destroy businesses and homes. And it never just ends with a strike. We will end up in another clusterfuck like Afghanistan.

You might support it, but it scares the shit out of me. Both my brother and my son have skin in the game and it was just getting to the point where I wasn't as nervous about them deployed.

My daughter was born on Aug 24 1990. 6 weeks later we accompanied my brother to the airport as he headed for Iraq. It was one of the few times I saw my mother cry. That was the first Iraq war.

Then there was Somalia.

Then Afghanistan.

Then Iraq.

She just turned 23 and has never really known a time that our country was not at war. It's normal to her. Our being at War is her normal.

And that is fucked up!

We need to stop policing the world and start fixing things here at home.

[Bluenorthwest]

66. Ida, I have deep issues with folks who take strong positions while shouting false 'knowledge'

Your OP and all through the thread includes your notion of 'taking them to the Hauge'. This suggests that you are unaware that we, the United States, are not signatory to the World Court, we can not take anyone there as we do not recognize it as a legitimate body. In addition, along with Israel and Sudan, we have indicated that we have no intention of ever joining it.
You make many claims of being very well informed. But......

[mike_c]

67. I do not....

eom

[Autumn]

73. If you are in Syria and we punish them, then you might just bleed red.

I do not support intervention in Syria. IMO a strike by the US military would also be State sanctioned murder of civilians, only by our weapons.

[Vashta Nerada]

74. So...did you join the military yet?

[bowens43]

78. so you want the US to become the murdering asshole....wow

[magical thyme]

79. You have yet to advise us which murdering assholes you would have replace Assad?

Do you have a specific faction in mind?

Seriously, which rebel faction which is now killing civilians in Syria do you want to replace Assad?

In whose hands do you want the conventional and chemical weapons? Which murdering assholes is it to be? Our ally in Syria, al Qaeda the heart eaters? Really?

[cali]

84. She refuses to acknowledge that it could be worse apres Assad

[Marrah_G]

87. Hey, the guy who ate the human heart might make a great new leader!

[David__77]

115. I [Heart Symbol] Syria? New campaign sign...

I can just see the freedom flourishing after this kooky "regime change." Of course the population of Lebanon would triple and every Alawi house of worship and church would be closed. Wow wow wow... such insanity in this original post. Beats ANYTHING else I've seen about Iraq.

[markiv]

83. feel free to put on a uniform and 'bleed red' for real

over there

[cali]

86. As shameful an op as I've ever seen here, but not only because

you support this ridiculous "going in and taking out Assad" crap which isn't on the table, but because you seem proud of yourself for your appalling lack of knowledge and you use trite nonsense to support this bloody fantasy of yours.

I've found other OPs of yours morally questionable, but this one has them all beat.

[Vinnie From Indy]

88. +1000

Cheers!

[tsuki]

90. +10 000

[leftstreet]

93. Excellent fodder for DU parody sites

[steve2470]

124. some are so blase' about other people's kids and grandkids dying.....

Just amazes me.

[donheld]

171. Agreed

[Gormy Cuss]

91. You don't bleed red, you bleed green. You're not alone.

Last edited Wed Aug 28, 2013, 05:34 PM - Edit history (1)

Lacking a draft the majority of Americans can now advocate military interventions without fear that anyone they love will be on the front lines. IMHO that was a major factor in the early support of the war in Iraq.

[HardTimes99]

114. You ought to make this its own OP and build on its themes. At any rate,

I salute your deep insight!

[steve2470]

126. completely agree, excellent point nt

[DrDan]

92. simply amazes me that someone promotes/supports war but is not willing to do any of the

heavy lifting themselves.

To ease your conscience by saying you pay taxes therefore you have the right to ask for military intervention leaves me shaking my head.

No wonder wars are so easy to start - when you have others fight the battles, there is not much of a personal sacrifice - let others take the brunt of it.

[LostOne4Ever]

94. I bleed blood too

I get what you are saying and can respect that.

I ask that you respect my belief that as bad as Assad is, getting rid of him will only allow another blood thirsty asshole in (one who will probably want to install a theocracy) or result in an endless bloody civil war causing only more death and hurt and international terrorism. No matter what we do tons of blood will spill and the only thing getting involved will do is stain our hands with blood as well.

Further, I believe both sides will use us as a scapegoat for anything and everything that goes wrong.

I believe we need to let the people of Syria decide Syria's fate.

And most of all, I believe we should seek every single peaceful method to bring an end to this conflict before even thinking of using military force. We have not come close to doing that.

I respect your opinion, please respect mine in VEHEMENTLY disagreeing with you.

[deutsey]

99. Do you honestly believe the US can just "go in, remove that murdering asshole from power, etc."

and then just "get out"?

I'm not being facetious. When has that ever happened, especially in a chaotic place like Syria where multiple factions are vying for power?

[backscatter712]

101. They said that about Iraq...

Saddam was a bastard, had to go, the people would welcome us as liberators, and the Middle East would burst out in Democracy and Sunshine!

It certainly exploded all right...

[HangOnKids]

105. It Has Only Been 10 Years But People Must Have Forgotten

The shock and awe has turned into AWE FUCK. The Iraqi's forgot to toss flowers.

[Recursion]

102. I've bled red, on this country's orders. I don't see a compelling interest for this country

I respect your opinion, but I don't see a way this makes our country or the region more secure.

[rurallib]

104. then what? cause the problems won't end there.

If you believe it go sign up with the rebels.
Good luck.
I don't want my taxes and children going into poorly planned and executed wars for nothing.

[whatchamacallit]

108. Ultra Fail n/t

[David__77]

113. So you support al Qaeda?

Wow.

[Dawson Leery]

116. Any assistance to the rebels will aid Al Qaeda.

They have throughly infiltrated the rebels and are waiting for weapons shipments.

[KamaAina]

117. So once Assad goes, everything will be peachy keen?

Y'know, just like after Saddam left?

[AsahinaKimi]

120. pssst..

Sometimes I miss the unrec button.

[MisterP]

123. puhleeze--like you would if Bush were pushing for this

Last edited Wed Aug 28, 2013, 03:22 PM - Edit history (1)

you're the sort that's only antiwar if The Wrong Guy is for it: if someone with a sufficiently low albedo and smooth speechmaking ability and the right dog and party and kids shills for it, it magically becomes humanitarian and you can salve your ulcerous, rancid, septic conscience
(and that goes DOUBLE for all you "I'm so Red that I support the draft": the draft took THIRTY THOUSAND DEAD and--what, eight years--to do anything about 'Nam)

[steve2470]

125. my stance, not gonna copy and paste every time:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=3548203

[notadmblnd]

128. Hot Spots: Central African Republic, Democrati Republic of Congo, Egypt, Mali, Nigeria, Somalia,

Sudan, Sud Sudan. And do you also advocate intervention by the US in these conflicts? If not, why not? Innocents are dying and horrible atrocities are occurring in these countries. What makes Syria more deserving of US intervention then these currently ongoing conflicts?

[steve2470]

152. excellent point nt

[notadmblnd]

190. Good thing I didn't hold my breath for an answer.

nt

[IdaBriggs]

193. Sorry - when it became obvious this was a flame fest

(and nothing wrong with that - it is a discussion board) the actual DISCUSSION was moved to this thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023553266

This thread is being left open for those who want to disagree with the stance and make snarky comments about what a stupid/ignorant/uniformed/idiot/murderous/Bush-loving-Republican/non-military fool I am.

They seem to be having fun. And everyone needs to have a good foaming "HOW CAN YOU BE SUCH AN IDIOT - ISN'T STUPIDITY THIS OBVIOUS AUTOMATICALLY INSTANTLY FATAL?" rant once in a while (its good for the blood pressure, and as Democrats, if there isn't a good Republican target, we love to turn on our own!), so I am letting it continue to play out.

[notadmblnd]

195. I didn't have any desire to call you any names.

And I can understand you abandoning a thread that accomplishes only that.

[IdaBriggs]

196. Thank you. Your post did have some good points in it, too.

And to be fair, I am in favor of someone (even us) being Planetary Police Officers with regime change implemented when state sponsored massacres start happening.

It is not a popular view, and I understand the arguments against it.

[notadmblnd]

197. Fair enough. I'm not in favor of being the Planetary Police

So I guess we will leave it at that.

[CreekDog]

129. luckily, if we take out the bad guy, no matter what happens, it will be better afterwards

so let those bombs fly!

[LeftyMom]

130. Said the wealthy American non-combatant from the comfort and safety of home.

[MNBrewer]

136. Where next? China? Russia? North Korea? Uganda? Zimbabwe? Iran?

What is to happen once we go in and "stabilize" Syria with out boots on the ground? Replay of Iraq?

Once we leave, the slaughter of the Christian and Alawite minorities?

Will their deaths be less terrible than those that have already happened?

How shall we pay for this military adventure?

Shall we cut Food Stamps and Head Start?

God forbid we raise taxes on the wealthy (who will be the only people who REALLY benefit from our military adventures)!

[nadinbrzezinski]

138. Two things

Having others dying for your blood lust is what chickenhawks do.

Secondly, what if the WMD's were deployed by a rebel faction? It is not 100% clear who did it.

Thirdly, go read the pnac site

[darkangel218]

147. Good luck in the war.

You're about to enlist, right?

[Bradical79]

150. If only it were that simple

If war in the real world actually worked like the fantasy version you are hoping for, I'd be all for intervention too.

[JustAnotherGen]

151. I sort of disagree

I want NATO to intervene. . I want a global full court press.

This is genocide. This is the Kurds all over again.

Note - I consider myself a pacifist. My father was one of the first Green Berets - and as strong mentally as he was - I remember him screaming in the closet when I was a little girl. War did something to that man. And it does something to men and now . . . Women.

He hated war. Brought us down to DC ten years ago to protest Iraq. But I knew my dad. If we have a chance as a global community to help people - we must.

I'm just not willing to throw ONLY American men and women under the bus. If the UN won't act - I want it disbanded tomorrow. I don't want some woman at the next DU in 60 years to say: We had another S. S. St. Louis.

These people aren't showing up and looking for refuge - they aren't even asking for help.

But if we can pinpoint where that gas is . . .

[REP]

153. It's easy to send other people's children off to die, isn't it? I guess for some it is.

Aren't yours too young to serve? Maybe that makes it easier not think about what you're asking of other people's children.

I don't have children. Never wanted any. Still don't want to send them off to die in pointless wars.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

154. Your plan sounds an awful lot like a GI Joe script except

more unrealistic.

[REP]

155. "And knowing is half the battle!"

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

158. And I'm not saying it can't be done. But the question is.

Would both Duke and Snake Eyes have to go in order for this to work?

[REP]

162. Duh.

Could you at least pretend to take this seriously? Of course they'd both have to go.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

163. .

OK you win! Well played sir.




.

[backscatter712]

159. It'd be nice if war was actually like a GI Joe cartoon...

with no casualties! Every pilot ejects before his plane blows up, every soldier escapes from his burning tank, everybody leaves the battle with nothing more than some scuffs.

[actslikeacarrot]

157. i understand where you are coming from...

...I truly do. Hell, I was a "true believer" in the early 2000's. So much so, I actually signed up.

But multiple deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan has taught me that no matter how much good we do at the squad, platoon and even company level, the entire mission country wide is fucked, and unwinnable.

I have seen too many civilians killed in a crossfire, and have seen too many family members and widows crying at memorial services for fallen Marines to even THINK that our involvement in Syria will do anybody good, except those that sell bombs and guns to the US GOVERNMENT. I urge you to reconsider.

[Oilwellian]

161. My eyes started bleeding red after reading this OP

This is one of the more disgusting OP's I've ever seen on DU. Absolutely hideous.

[sarcasmo]

194. +1

[fujiyama]

166. Then suit up...

or start a collection.

I'm tired of my taxes going toward bombing people. I really am starting to wonder what else I get for the hard earned money I am forced to contribute in taxes. Universal health care? Nope. World class infrastructure? Ha, we have no high speed rail and our roads are garbage. Safe cities? I live near Detroit.

So have at it. Head over there and join the militias (some of whom are Jihadists and want to impose Sharia law). Maybe it will be exciting. Maybe it will give you a greater sense of purpose in helping the Syrian people. And I sincerely wish you the best of luck.

The world is a very nasty place and humans seem to be less civilized than chimps and other evolutionary relatives. The situation in Syria is appalling and I wish something could be done but after viewing many interventions, and trying to figure out who is who in a nation artificially carved out by colonial powers in the first place, I'm lost.

As for a SEAL raid or something of the sort - you may be thinking too much in Hollywood terms. If the son of a bitch dictator couldn't be killed by now when much of his country despises him, one "crack" team isn't going to do it. Besides, unless you can guarantee that the outcome will be better than the already awful current situation, then all the effort we put into this will be in vain.

I'm more concerned about the fact that the largest city by me is fucking bankrupt. Call me selfish but I can't save the world, but we can and should help those immediately around us first before getting involved in a mess for which we don't have any credible solutions.

[FloridaJudy]

168. Let the UN inspectors do their job

They weren't allowed to finish in Iraq, and we all know how well that worked out. If indeed Assad is gassing civilians as most experts suspect, then that's just about the most despicable war crime going. No nation that pretends to be civilized is going to publicly support him after that. Best case scenario, his allies convince him it's in his best interest to flee to exile. Won't get him in shackles, but he'll be gone.

The problem is Assad may be an evil SOB, but everybody else with a dog in this fight is an evil SOB as well. And poison gas is a very old technology. I could even cook up a nice toxic cloud in my kitchen using ingredients available in any supermarket, and what I learned in Chem 101. That's if I had no conscience and little regard for my personal safety - and doesn't that just about describe your average terrorist?

So give the inspectors the chance to say "Yup, that's poison gas XY, all right. And it matches the chemical signature of the crap that Assad's got a butt-ton of stored in his basement".

Let's wait and see what shakes out after that.

[dflprincess]

169. Really, until we're willing to escort our own murdering assholes to The Hague

we really don't have the moral authority to tell anyone else how to behave.

[jsr]

170. Amen.

[dkf]

175. That's probably because you've convinced your self they will throw flowers and will come together...

And sing kumbayah.

[Sheldon Cooper]

176. lol

Once you sign up and get deployed, let us know and maybe we can organize some care packages for you and your unit.

[demosocialist]

178. not convinced

I don't know if we should proceed with a limited strike or not but it scares me because:

There is a multi-belligerent civil war going on in Syria and I have no clue who would succeed in gaining power.

I also have no clue how a "limited strike" or a regime change would be perceived by Iran or Russia, but my guesses seem pretty grim.

retaliation would most certainly be against innocent people of other nations, namely Israel

I liked Obama because he was against the Iraq Invasion, I really don't understand the thinking in going into Syria, if you are against Iraq. Kurdish and Iranian kids were dying by Iraqs/US chemical weapons, why is Syria more important?

Obama received a lot of votes back in 2008 because of his anti-war stance, I think I am worried most of all about what seems to be a flip flop of that stance.

The last point tells me that this has more to it than the humanitarian purposes.



I see no persuasion in your argument...

[calimary]

192. I'm not, either. So what we offer then is yet another image of the US bombing a Muslim country.

Oh GREAT. EXACTLY what we need. Just freakin' great.

I'm torn - just a little bit. YES it's awful. YES the visuals are awful. But also YES the intel is inconclusive. This is NOT a slam-dunk. Didn't we learn ANYTHING from what happened a decade ago??????????????????? Does NO ONE think there won't be unintended consequences here? Does ANYONE think this will be quick and surgical, and that'll be that? That it won't linger and grow and metastasize out of control as soon as we pull the first trigger? And now soon will boots be on the ground? Hell, we can't cope with the wounded and injured veterans we've already created! Are we sure we can deal with more?

[cynatnite]

179. I support in making sure that his ability to war on his own people is neutralized...

short of putting boots on the ground and attempting regime change.

I hate the bastard, too, but this is not a black and white situation where taking him out makes everything all better. Iraq and Egypt should have taught us that already, but some just never seem to learn that lesson.

[L0oniX]

181. WTF ...don't they know we are exceptional?

[mentalsolstice]

184. Not your first huge FAIL!

Unlikly to be your last! Sure, your children are too young for military service, but it's never too early to start indoctinating them for it! I'm sure Syria, al Queda, and other hotsspots will still be waiting in 12 years when they'll be old enough to serve, particularly if your wishes are granted.

[nadinbrzezinski]

186. Oh and BBC found little support

IN SYRYA no less, this was all but surprising to me.

[alarimer]

187. The problem is the rebels are not good people, either.

They are Al Aqaeda and Hezbollah, among others.

Arming these people or intervening on their behalf will lead to no good.

[Number23]

188. As do I. And I'm DAMN proud to do so. It's the right thing to do

[Aerows]

191. I don't

and I bleed as red as you do. You know why? The more you stir in a pile of shit, the worse it stinks. And it doesn't leave you smelling like a virtuous entity, no matter what flag is on your chest. You end up with more stinking shit, dead bodies, and dead children.