Every popular uprising in the world being stomped down with chemical weapons.

[Motown_Johnny]

Is that what we should stand for?

If the Muslim Brotherhood had gassed the crowds in the streets of Egypt a few weeks ago, would that have been OK too?

If we don't get involved now, then when? How many must die?

If the Muslim Brotherhood had gassed the crowds in the streets of Egypt a few weeks ago, would that have been OK too?

The rationalization to me is fairly simple. In war, you try to inflict damage on your enemy while preventing your enemy from inflicting damage on you. If the use of chemical weapons guarantees that you will take more damage than you inflicted on your enemy, it ceases to be a viable tactic.



I'm not crazy about what is going on, but I don't confuse Pres. Obama's use of our military with Pres. Bush's abuse of our military. When Pres. Obama says this won't even be another Libya, I believe him.

I think that six weeks from now this will be all over and the news cycle will be all fiscal cliff all the time. This isn't Iraq.

[Cooley Hurd]

1. ...except for the pledges by Iran and Russia to defend Syria.

[Daniel537]

3. Neither of those countries is going to risk war with the US over a tinpot like Assad. n/t

[Cooley Hurd]

4. Maybe, but not likely.

Once Syria/Iran start chucking missiles at Israel, this will blow up.

I hope you're right, but I seriously doubt it.

The entire world welcomed Obama in 2009, and have been sorely disappointed (i.e. Drones and GITMO). They are thinking that, if they band together, they can stop the US's Imperialism.

The bed we've made in the last 60 years is ready to be laid in.

[Daniel537]

5. Nobody's going to attack Israel, except maybe some fringe extremist group in Lebanon or Gaza.

Iran and Syria know that if they attack Israel the response they'll get will be more than just a couple of cruise missiles.

[Cooley Hurd]

7. You're new at Geo-Politics, aren't you?

[hack89]

8. How do you think Israel will respond to a WMD attack?

it will mean the end of Syria.

[Cooley Hurd]

9. Syria has a defense pact with Iran...

Syria is small potatoes. It's pact-mate, Iran, is not. And, Iran is pact-mates with Russia.

Put Russia and Iran together, and we have a formidable foe.

[Daniel537]

11. So you think Russia is going to start WWIII over Iran?

Lol, i remembering hearing this nonsense right before the start of the Iraq war. It was absurd then, its even more absurd now.

[hack89]

12. Iran is small potatoes militarily.

they would not openly attack Israel - there would be a mushroom cloud over Tehran. Russia would not intervene militarily - they can't project conventional power in the region and they not going to start a nuclear war over either Syria or Iran.

[Cooley Hurd]

14. They have modern equipment supplied by Sino-Russia...

And, no one is talking "nuclear" (nice attempt at hyperbole), since, with modern conventional weapons and with terrorism, they can fuck with us pretty bad.

Remember how the country freaked out because two assholes with crockpots blew up the Boston Marathon? Imagine that happening in 7 of the US's major cities concurrently.

[hack89]

15. Iran can only reach Israel with missiles and WMDs

they have no way to project conventional military power that far.

If Iran attacked us via terrorism, Obama would bomb them back to the middle ages - and he will have plenty of public support for that.

[Cooley Hurd]

16. Syria is just across the Golan Heights...

...and Syria likely has delivery systems that can chuck warheads over the Golan Heights - especially if supplied by Iran-Russia.

[hack89]

17. And Israel will nuke Syria

Assad is fighting desperately to keep his power. I don't think an exchange of WMDs with a nuclear power will further that particular ambition.

[Cooley Hurd]

19. Israel will not nuke Syria...

...they will, however, attack the shit out of Iran. Which will draw the bigger players in.

[hack89]

20. If Syria launches a massive chemical attack on Israel, then yes they will

what other option do they have?

Israel will not attack Iran - removing Assad from power will destroy Iran's influence in Syria and Lebanon. Hezbollah is what Israel really wants to destroy.

[Daniel537]

10. You're new at understanding meaningless sabre-rattling from dictators, aren't you?

Every time somethings pops up in the Middle East these loons in Tehran, Damascus, Beirut etc....threaten Israel. This crap is nothing new. But hey, if you want to believe the Mullah's, knock yourself out, Boss.

[Cooley Hurd]

13. Let's hope you're right, Skippy...

All of the countries you've named are allied with Russia and China. China will hold off (due to economic ties with the US), but Russia has pledged to attack Saudi Arabia should Iran be attacked (which is the main reason why Israel hasn't attacked Iran for the last 10+ years) because they would consider an attack on their main oil supplier as justification to attack OUR main oil supplier.

Knock yourself out with THAT, Skippy.

[KittyWampus]

2. I think we are at proxy war with Russia right now. And it's more serious shit than NeoCon wet dreams

of toppling a few regimes here and there and giving Halliburton some sweet contracts.

[msongs]

6. bullets are chemical weapons, let's get rid of them as well nt

[MFrohike]

18. Came for a thread about tear gas

Left disappointed.

[NuclearDem]

21. No one's saying using chemical weapons is ok.

Not wanting to militarily intervene in Syria is not the same as tolerating the use of chemical weapons.