Getting down to business in Syria

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

Anyone paying attention to the beating of the war drums in the West in regards to Syria?

Now that the US Presidential election is over there is an obvious change in tone and position on Syria. Before the election they knew about Syria's chemical weapons and the conflict had already reached Damascus. After the election we're hearing from officials this week that Assad's regime appears to be getting more desperate as the opposition closes in on Damascus. That intelligence reports show chemical weapons inside Syria are being moved and mixed. We also have US officials and even the President saying that this is a red line for the US. If Assad uses his chemical weapons on his own people that crosses the line. So we're going from a policy of "We can't interfere because Syria is not Libya. It's much bigger and more complicated." To a policy of "Ok we can interfere now, enough is enough."

Germany has already sent two ship. Today NATO is authorizing sending two ships to aid Turkey following right behind Germany. Probably the biggest shift is coming in the change of tone from Russia. Putin and the head of the Parliament both made a public statement of their doubts in the Assad regime to fulfill it's tasks and said that their influence is diminishing with the Syrian government. They also said they are in consultations with international groups about Syria. Analysts are saying that it seems Russia may be taking the window of opportunity here to change sides and not have a total loss in regards to losing their ally in Syria.

[Teddy B 17,252]

Sounds quite a bit similar to the way the Iraqi war started, over WMD. Granted there were never any large quantities of chemical weapons found in Iraq, but it was heavily rumored that they were moved to Syria. This part of the world is a mess.

[^_^ 5,021]

Whatever the Obama administration decides, it better not involve US ground troops in Syria. Syria isn't worth it. Syrians aren't worth it.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

[quote name=' timestamp='1354895586' post='5860150]Whatever the Obama administration decides, it better not involve US ground troops in Syria. Syria isn't worth it. Syrians aren't worth it.

I don't see any ground troops in Syria. Assad is losing Russia's support. Without Russia, he's dead meat.

[^_^ 5,021]

I don't see any ground troops in Syria. Assad is losing Russia's support. Without Russia, he's dead meat.

The Russians lie. Just because they say something doesn't mean they mean it.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

[quote name=' timestamp='1354896123' post='5860166]The Russians lie. Just because they say something doesn't mean they mean it.

Assad is a dead man walking.

[^_^ 5,021]

Israel’s Haaretz newspaper has reported that beleaguered Syrian President Bashar al Assad is studying the possibility of seeking political asylum in Cuba, Venezuela or Ecuador if he’s forced to flee Damascus.

http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/12/07/3130446/assad-reportedly-seeking-asylum.html

Edited December 7, 2012 by ^_^

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

[quote name=' timestamp='1354896328' post='5860172]http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/12/07/3130446/assad-reportedly-seeking-asylum.html

He'd have to get out of Syria first. I don't see that happen.

[^_^ 5,021]

He'd have to get out of Syria first. I don't see that happen.

I don't know about that. The West would love to avoid a huge firefight involving western personnel. If he says he'll slink away and spend the rest of his life in relative quiet in Ambato, I bet they let him go.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

[quote name=' timestamp='1354896733' post='5860181]I don't know about that. The West would love to avoid a huge firefight involving western personnel. If he says he'll slink away and spend the rest of his life in relative quiet in Ambato, I bet they let him go.

It's not the West he's got to worry about. It's the people in Syria that will snuff his sorry ####### out. Same as what happened to his buddy in Libya.

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

Sounds quite a bit similar to the way the Iraqi war started, over WMD. Granted there were never any large quantities of chemical weapons found in Iraq, but it was heavily rumored that they were moved to Syria. This part of the world is a mess.

Kind of though it's not "yellow cake".

Saddam used chemical weapons on the kurds in the north of Iraq but we didn't interfere then. Also Saddam was proven to be a deterrable dictator meaning he would or wouldn't do something based on the green and red lights the US would give him. Several of the bigger named political scientist have said and published this sentiment prior to us going into Iraq.

Assad is the opposite. He's proven to be an undeterrable dictator and therefore more dangerous. I suspect you're right in that what is left of the chemical weapons from Iraq are the same ones in Syria. Syria's population and size is much more similar to Iraq than Libya. It's slightly smaller than Iraq. However, their weapons sophistication and military capability is much better than Iraq's. For the West to seek going into Syria now is like heading into a hornets nest. They're asking for a heap of trouble. They are aware of this and I suspect that's why they've put it off this long. Not only that but Syria's greatest ally right now is Iran and I doubt they'll sit ideally by while the West directly interferes in Syria. Which means they have to have a coordinated plan of attack not just for going into Syria but also taking care of Iran and I suspect it won't be alone with NATO's involvement and other western nations and allies. They have made no secret over the last four years of their fear of Iran's nuclear program advancing.

They don't really need a reason to go into either place because there will never be a good time to do it. They've sat by and watched Iran's nuclear advancements and they've watched as Assad's regime murdered, raped and tortured tens of thousands of their own people, so it's not really about saving the people at this point. I'd think it was a farce to say we're going in there for the people because chemical weapons is a "No No" to use against them. No it's about something bigger. I'd say it was a long term plan for the region because of our involvement and being embroiled there for quite some time now. The optimist in me would like to believe it's for a more lasting peace and safer world. I won't even get into what the cynic in me says.

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

Boom shock-a-la-ka!

Pentagon sends missiles and 400 troops to Turkey.

In order to help with the Syrian conflict.