...here we go...

[Figjam]

U.S. Military Proposal to Arm Rebels Includes No-Fly Zone in Syria

...now if republicans will stick to their mantra of "we don't do this unless we cut something"...

...let me guess now, they won't...

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323734304578543761501124132.html

 

[NightSwimmer]

Meh. Diplomatic bargaining chip.

Did I hear a rattle?

 

[Corruptbuddha]

Unemployment stuck above 7%', all time high food stamp rolls, and we're talking about arming rebels who hate us?

Ain't America grand?

 

[fairsheet]

When it appeared that the rebels (whoever they are) had the upper hand, the common consensus from most all sides seemed to be, "whatever will be, will be". But, now that things seem to've swung back towards Ass-ad, people - from most sides - seem to be panicking just a tad. Frankly, I think "whatever will be, will be" should work both ways.

 

[Bo-4]

My take? (not as if anyone really cares mind ya) ...

STAY THE FUCCK OUT.

Was that clear enough?

 

[Figjam]

...exactly Bo

 

[NightSwimmer]

When it appeared that the rebels (whoever they are) had the upper hand, the common consensus from most all sides seemed to be, "whatever will be, will be". But, now that things seem to've swung back towards Ass-ad, people - from most sides - seem to be panicking just a tad. Frankly, I think "whatever will be, will be" should work both ways.

That's the ideologically pure position that I support as well. That said, there is apparently now a strong case for Assad's use of illegal weapons. The threat to intercede is quite real, I'm sure. One would hope, however, that the US, Russia and Syria's neighbors can come to the table and reach a political agreement instead.

"To jaw-jaw is always better than to war-war." - Winston Churchill

 

[Figjam]

"To jaw-jaw is always better than to war-war." - Winston Churchill [/FONT]

Problem is there are no "Churchill's" leading the band...

 

[NightSwimmer]

Problem is there are no "Churchill's" leading the band...

Neither was Churchill yet "Churchill" back when he was jawing.

 

[Corruptbuddha]

That's the ideologically pure position that I support as well. That said, there is apparently now a strong case for Assad's use of illegal weapons. The threat to intercede is quite real, I'm sure. One would hope, however, that the US, Russia and Syria's neighbors can come to the table and reach a political agreement instead.

"To jaw-jaw is always better than to war-war." - Winston Churchill

I don't know if I have enough faith in this government to beleive any chemical weapons bullshit they throw out.

Scratch that...I do know...I don't have any faith in this government to be honest.

 

[Figjam]

Neither was Churchill yet "Churchill" back when he was jawing.

...now there we could disagree - Churchill was a strong personality and leader - today we may have some strong personalities but no one I would characterize as a strong leader - no one...

...two weeks ago this past Sunday, the NYT's had a particularly disturbing article about the religious/political make-up of Syria - entering this theater is not a win-win for the US - in fact it is a lose-lose.

 

[Figjam]

I don't know if I have enough faith in this government to beleive any chemical weapons bullshit they throw out.

Scratch that...I do know...I don't have any faith in this government to be honest.

...I could give a rats-a$$ whether or not chemical weapons were used - let the Syrian's and their fellow Arabs figure this out - the US should NOT intervene...

 

[Corruptbuddha]

...I could give a rats-a$$ whether or not chemical weapons were used - let the Syrian's and their fellow Arabs figure this out - the US should NOT intervene...

I wish I could give you 100 likes.

 

[NightSwimmer]

I don't know if I have enough faith in this government to beleive any chemical weapons bullshit they throw out.

Scratch that...I do know...I don't have any faith in this government to be honest.

To me, it's a moot question anyway. I don't really see much difference between killing people with poison gas or killing them with mortar rounds. The dead are just as dead, either way. That whole "red line" business was/is equivalent to a kid on the playground putting a stick on his shoulder. Well, they knocked it off. What now?

I hope that we stay out of this militarily. I believe that we can.

 

[LeRoy_Was_Here]

I don't know if I have enough faith in this government to beleive any chemical weapons bullshit they throw out.

Scratch that...I do know...I don't have any faith in this government to be honest.

It is mostly the governments of Britain and France that have been saying Assad has used chemical weapons.

I would say let Britain and France do something about it, then. They have weapons. They have big defense budgets. [Though nowhere NEAR as gargantuan as ours.]

 

[NightSwimmer]

It is mostly the governments of Britain and France that have been saying Assad has used chemical weapons.

I would say let Britain and France do something about it, then. They have weapons. They have big defense budgets. [Though nowhere NEAR as gargantuan as ours.]

They also have business interests in the region, I suspect. They should be involved in the diplomacy and in any coalition that may form as a result of diplomatic negotiations. If there is eventual military intervention, the US shouldn't be taking the lead.

 

[LeRoy_Was_Here]

They also have business interests in the region, I suspect. They should be involved in the diplomacy and in any coalition that may form as a result of diplomatic negotiations. If there is eventual military intervention, the US shouldn't be taking the lead.

I agree. Syria is a hornet's nest. Having said that, I do fear there is a very real possibility of this escalating into a much wider regional war, involving Iraq, Lebanon, Turkey, and Israel. Could get VERY ugly, very quickly.

 

[NightSwimmer]

I agree. Syria is a hornet's nest. Having said that, I do fear there is a very real possibility of this escalating into a much wider regional war, involving Iraq, Lebanon, Turkey, and Israel. Could get VERY ugly, very quickly.

Yes, it could. All the more motivation to make the jaw-jaw work, one would hope.