Another war ... ?

[kp41]

Obama to seek Congress vote on Syria military action

US President Barack Obama says he is to seek Congressional authorisation for military operations against Syria.

Mr Obama said the US should take action in Syria, but it was important to have a debate and vote in Congress, which reconvenes on 9 September.

The US says its intelligence reports indicate the Syrian government carried out chemical weapons attacks on 21 August in which 1,429 people died.

The Syrian government denies it was behind the attacks and blames rebels.

UN inspectors have now left Syria with samples from site visits, which will go to laboratories in Europe for testing.

Mr Obama said the operation would be limited in duration and strong to deter future chemical attacks.

He said the military operation could happen tomorrow, next week or in the near future.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-23916752

 

[Sepak]

How the hell did Obama win the Nobel Peace Prize?

 

[Filipower]

Yeah how come the committees didn't look to the future and see he would get into a war? I don't agree with him getting it, though.

It's the same old story, yes a war is terrible in many different levels, but you have to agree that what's going on in Syria is criminal.

 

[clash]

The most annoying thing for me about all this is how US-centered it has all become.

Another war, another occupation, Obama this, Obama that - but this is not about the US, this is about Syria. This is very different. There already IS a war going. A civil war, which was at first a continuation of the ´Arab spring´. Unlike in Egypt and Algeria, the regime in Syria didn't falter. As the conflict lasted, it soon became a full-scale armed conflict between a popular uprising and a regime that has ruled Syria for decades (Bashar al-Assad took over after his father died in 2000).

Now we are in a position where tens and hundreds of innocent people are dying daily. While the rebels do enjoy popular support, you can't help it that a regime that has been in place for such long time, has the financial and military power to last through this kind of resistance. What next? I do not support the US foreign policies, but the lack of help provided to the rebels by the UN, EU and the USA itself in past two years, have made the situation to go from bad to worse and without armed help from abroad, the rebels will probably lose and even if the al-Assads faithful will change sides to join the uprise, it would take years and millions of lives. Therefore, I wouldn't mind if the US would do a Lybia-esque quickie on Syria. I wouldn't cheer for it, but I wouldn't critizise it too much.

 

[kp41]

It's strange situation, I don't believe Assad used chemical weapons knowing USA will attack them. Also, Obama should wait for UN examinations first ...

 

[kp41]

And do you know these rebels? Some of them are backed by radicals and al-qaeda.

 

[clash]

Who we call the rebels, are infact, a very diverse resistance. You have people from accross the political spectrum, you have extremists of different type etc. Look at the Spanish Civil War, for an example, you could generalize and say "the folk who fought Franco", but if you look into it, you had the republicans, anarchists, communists, stalinists, basque fighters, volunteers from accross Europe etc. You might not be a stalinist, you might actually hate their gut, but they were a part of the coalition against the fascists.

The syrian rebels, much like the anti-fascist coalition in Spain, were both popular fronts. People in Syria DO back the rebels and they DO oppose the dictatorship of al-Assad. Without that support, the conflict would have never gotten this far. It would've died soon as a vanguard by few looney militants. Their reserves would be up by now, if they wouldn't have that support.

 

[MaestroZidane]

Quite a quandary, Obama finds himself in. If he gets approval and goes for the limited attack, he will helping the "better people" being backed by al-queada. If nothing happens, he will have allowed a president that gas innocent people, remain in power and with the possibly of it being repeated multiple other times without any repercussions. Also, as time passes, you allow such weapons to be moved and be hidden, safe from any attack, or be placed among civilian population.

So if any attack is to take place, it should have been done a while back, it will have little effect now, other than to create a much bigger conflict IMO, the likes of which we have no way of knowing. It may just give Assad the excuse, or Iran, to retaliate against Israel, as they have threatened.

Really, really difficult position to be in.

 

[kp41]

He should aid Syrian groups that are trustworthy without direct involvement.

Also, he should pursue peace talks ... I think Assad government will listen at this stage, also, Iran dosnt have radical president anymore, I have may friends in Syria, I hope they end this peacefully ...

 

[clash]

I think is an extremly good article on this issue. Do read it, if interested, it's a good step towards seeing how complex this situation is:
http://therepublicgs.net/2013/08/30/regarding-a-potential-military-intervention-in-syria/

 

[ShiftyPowers]

Dammit Obama

 

[MaestroZidane]

Agree with that article. We'll see what congress does here and the U.S. People here are divided when it comes to military intervention. We all saw what just happened in Britian when they voted, so until congress returns, it's a toss up. On the bright side, we have France backing if the U.S goes for it.

 

[kp41]

French are surrenders ...

That Snowden case is very effective here, Russia-US relationship is shit now, Both blame each other atm ... Innocent people are the victims of this power play again ...

 

[MaestroZidane]

Which is even more surprising that they are ready to back the U.S.

Russia's only interest is selling weapons, as I recently heard someone said, Putin mom herself could come out and show him evidence of the gas being used and he still would turn a blind eye. Truly shameful that both Russia and China would just sit back and do nothing. At least they should have pressure Assad into unilateral talks, and continue pressuring him.

 

[kp41]

Yeah, but thats too much expectation from Russia/China ...

There are so many conflicts in middle east now ... Big war is really dangerous.

 

[clash]

Yeah, two main forces who have supported the current regime are Russia and Hezbollah. While the latter is not much of a surprise, Russia has several reasons to keep an eye on the region and try to keep shit together in terms of stability in Syria.

Firstly, the weapon industry already mentioned. Also the fact that Russia has a small, but rather important naval base in Syria. It is also thought that around 25 - 30 000 russians live in Syria. Finally, the power play mentioned by kp. Putin has become so popular thanks to the promise of turning Russia into a strong, imperial-like country again. It's like cold war all over again witht he US and Russia both trying to tilt the power/influence balance to their own favour. For some reasons, Russia by doing so doesn not get blamed for being imperialist, while the US does.

 

[chygry]

I know this is a very serious discussion, but just couldn't resist.

 

[kp41]

 

[regularcat]

i wish my country would learn to keep it's nose out of shit that does not concern it.

we have no reason to interfere in any other country's business whether it be for personal gain or for it being the right thing to do morally.

we simply need to tend to our own issues and let the rest of the world do the same.

 

[Alex]

Yeah, I was going to say something similar but refrained.

Half of the reason the middle east is as it is, is because of the western interference