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jazzimov

(1,456 posts)
17. Excellent analysis.
Mon Sep 2, 2013, 08:08 PM
Sep 2013

There is no "good option". The best thing we can do is just keep our noses out of it and let them work it out for themselves. Yes, this will take many, many years.

However, the evidence is growing that pro-Assad forces used chemical weapons. President Obama said that was a "red-line", and I have to agree with him on that point. Whether he ordered the strikes himself or not, he is responsible for them. Someone must do "something" to make sure these weapons are not used again.

The interesting thing is that the use of these weapons proved ineffective in "stopping" the rebels, since the areas attacked were also shelled shortly thereafter and yet they still remain under rebel control.

Bearing in mind that any response is NOT for regime change but simply for the use of chemical weapons, I would prefer that any response comes from the UNSC. That appears to be unlikely, since Russia and China will probably veto any action. My next choice would be a response from NATO. With the recent British Parliament vote, that seems unlikely also. My understanding is that most MP's were voting to delay response until more information was known - which I can certainly understand. I also have the impression that most voting "No" were expecting another vote, which now seems unlikely as the PM seems willing to block any further action like a petulant child. But that is his choice and his maneuvering.

Now, there is a side of this that no one seems to have considered. Much has been made of the fact that one of the rebel factions is al Qaeda related. If the perception is that the US helped them out, this might take some of the teeth out of anti-US rhetoric in some of the organizations. I am only talking perception. I am not recommending we do that. In fact, my recommendation is that we maintain the perception that we are being neutral, and do everything we can to maintain that perception.

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It appears the Syrian government is responsible so far. lumpy Sep 2013 #1
Ok, so how involved will we be? Savannahmann Sep 2013 #2
Some how we need to squeeze Assad's balls and get him to retire in luxury somewheres. Let his regime KittyWampus Sep 2013 #4
That would be Regime Change Savannahmann Sep 2013 #6
Ah, no. Keep the regime just have the next in line take the top spot & restart negotiating. KittyWampus Sep 2013 #11
That would be this fellow Savannahmann Sep 2013 #15
Excellent analysis. jazzimov Sep 2013 #17
It's almost no question. READ DER SPEIGEL. Assad is losing & desperate. The next wave of refugees KittyWampus Sep 2013 #3
Assad is winning.... Junkdrawer Sep 2013 #7
from today's Der Spiegel: Assad is desperate & forces are defecting. You're misinformed re:rebels KittyWampus Sep 2013 #9
Key Free Syria Army rebel 'killed by Islamist group' Junkdrawer Sep 2013 #12
The problem is that Warpy Sep 2013 #5
Exactly. 3 days of UN investigation is a joke.... Junkdrawer Sep 2013 #10
Agree...we need a Joe Wilson...a higher up who can reveal...but in this KoKo Sep 2013 #14
If instead of the US using this as a pretext for bombing, we treat it as a CRIME... Junkdrawer Sep 2013 #16
This is the way it was supposed to work...with United Nations... KoKo Sep 2013 #18
So you are saying the Syrian Gov. did not turn on it's own people? vaberella Sep 2013 #8
He knows Obama has been trying to stay out of the conflict, but that the CW Red Line was out there. Junkdrawer Sep 2013 #13
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