Here it comes: Syria
With all this talk of Assad dispersing his forces in reponse to Obama's threats, it's got me wondering whether that's actually the US plan - presumably the regime forces are more vulnerable to rebel "interference" if they are spread out and away from barracks? Although quite why we want to help the rebels is anyone's guess.
Do you think if we could wind the clock back to 2011, we'd tell the restive Syrian populace to sit tight and enjoy the relative stability of life in their police state? I think we just might.
Do you think if we could wind the clock back to 2011, we'd tell the restive Syrian populace to sit tight and enjoy the relative stability of life in their police state? I think we just might.
Last edited by Easy Street; 3rd Sep 2013 at 21:08.
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Lonewolf:
It will... No matter how you cut it the 14th century retards somewhere will use it as an excuse to keep going. They'll kill people who don't deserve to be killed in the name of some sky pixie and we'll be forced to put boots down somewhere eventually. In the end our worthless politicians only end up killing good people when they begin addressing foreign policy. Personally, I'd rather have the direct approach. Go firmly to war with any country that does not turn over all their Islamists to us immediately, no equivocation. And yes, for people like Broadsword, if they'll have me, I'll volunteer.
Broadsword:
Flying over people, fixing and loading aircraft or stacking blankets doesn't really count. Bullets winging by and IED's would get my respect.
High Spirits:
Along with the belief in a supreme being the fallacy that human life matters is just that, a fallacy.... Ask any hungry bear, tiger or shark.
2. What President Obama proposes doesn't put a lot of people into harms way.
Broadsword:
Flying over people, fixing and loading aircraft or stacking blankets doesn't really count. Bullets winging by and IED's would get my respect.
High Spirits:
Along with the belief in a supreme being the fallacy that human life matters is just that, a fallacy.... Ask any hungry bear, tiger or shark.
What has happened in Damascus is a challenge to our humanity.
Mssrs Clausewitz and Tsu understood there was exactly one message to be sent to your Enemies. Surrender or Die. What other message do we need to send.
Every time we have ignored the teachings of those two.....we lose.
Here we go again!
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Go firmly to war with any country that does not turn over all their Islamists to us immediately, no equivocation.
I think someone was reading a little too much 'Richard the Lionheart' when he was younger. Crusades are so High Middle Ages. Though I guess they were fun. I have dibs on the Cross of St George ceramic armour plates!
I think someone was reading a little too much 'Richard the Lionheart' when he was younger. Crusades are so High Middle Ages. Though I guess they were fun. I have dibs on the Cross of St George ceramic armour plates!
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Broadsword:
Flying over people, fixing and loading aircraft or stacking blankets doesn't really count. Bullets winging by and IED's would get my respect.
Flying over people, fixing and loading aircraft or stacking blankets doesn't really count. Bullets winging by and IED's would get my respect.
Flying over people, fixing and loading aircraft or stacking blankets doesn't really count.
The inaction in Rwanda can't be used as a comparison - we did nothing then, so why now?- because of what it led to; it helped to create many of the current 'I want military action' brigade, who contended that human life really did matter, and that we mustn't be found wanting again. Circumstance (spelt 'P-U-T-I-N') might be said to have prevented anything being done until now, but crossing the threshold of using a weapon type barred by international treaty seems to have given the would-be interventionists the foundation for arguing that the responsibility to protect has reached the point where UNSC Resolutions, etc, have to be regarded as 'nice to have', since there's now an imperative to intervene that was lacking before.
That's not me justifying intervention, BTW, merely endeavouring to offer a view on why there is a body of opinion which strongly endorses the idea, including some people whose political opinions appear to make them unlikely members of such a corpus.
AA:
It may play out as you say, boots on ground, or it may not. The political will to "put boots on ground" in Syria is not merely weak, my analysis of the latest round of posturing is that it is utterly absent.
What is going on smacks of Clintonian (and futile) lobbing of high explosives to send a message. The message is "we sort of care, here's how much" and then ... silence?
It may play out as you say, boots on ground, or it may not. The political will to "put boots on ground" in Syria is not merely weak, my analysis of the latest round of posturing is that it is utterly absent.
What is going on smacks of Clintonian (and futile) lobbing of high explosives to send a message. The message is "we sort of care, here's how much" and then ... silence?
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Hanoijane:
I say, how crass... Henry V old chap, Henry V... If it isn't Shakespeare it's mere fiction...
Broadsword:
I might have a "little stroking" thing over an actual broadsword for it is a weapon of war to be used judiciously in the overall policy of a country... The moment you started typing you came up wanting...
Toadstool:
A large proportion of the military contribute in a fine way yet from a position of safety. My comments are not designed to denigrate anyone's service but rather to shed light on the armchair warriors like Broadsword who would happily send men and women into combat, (a place they avoided), to give their leftist feeling of worth some twisted credibility....
I say, how crass... Henry V old chap, Henry V... If it isn't Shakespeare it's mere fiction...
Broadsword:
I might have a "little stroking" thing over an actual broadsword for it is a weapon of war to be used judiciously in the overall policy of a country... The moment you started typing you came up wanting...
Toadstool:
A large proportion of the military contribute in a fine way yet from a position of safety. My comments are not designed to denigrate anyone's service but rather to shed light on the armchair warriors like Broadsword who would happily send men and women into combat, (a place they avoided), to give their leftist feeling of worth some twisted credibility....
For over a year I have been harping about General Martin Dempsey, Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff....suggesting he is a buffoon of the lowest order.
I was criticized by most for taking ol' Martin....who I consider to be Obama's Boy....but perhaps this exchange today when he was testifying about our strategic goals in Syria....but was unable to say what it was we were actually trying to accomplish.
This is our most Senior Military Leader in the county.....he is the Top Dog....and when called before Congress.....this is the very best answer the Moron can come up with as we seem to be getting ready to go to War with Syria?
Jesus....this is getting so sad it makes one want to cry.....or Shoulder Pitch Forks and drag out some Fence Rails after gathering up a bucket of Tar and a bag of feathers.
Dempsey Can't Say What U.S. is Seeking in Syria | Washington Free Beacon
I was criticized by most for taking ol' Martin....who I consider to be Obama's Boy....but perhaps this exchange today when he was testifying about our strategic goals in Syria....but was unable to say what it was we were actually trying to accomplish.
This is our most Senior Military Leader in the county.....he is the Top Dog....and when called before Congress.....this is the very best answer the Moron can come up with as we seem to be getting ready to go to War with Syria?
Jesus....this is getting so sad it makes one want to cry.....or Shoulder Pitch Forks and drag out some Fence Rails after gathering up a bucket of Tar and a bag of feathers.
Dempsey Can't Say What U.S. is Seeking in Syria | Washington Free Beacon
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A large proportion of the military contribute in a fine way yet from a position of safety. My comments are not designed to denigrate anyone's service but rather to shed light on the armchair warriors like Broadsword who would happily send men and women into combat, (a place they avoided), to give their leftist feeling of worth some twisted credibility....
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AA,
Your thoughts 'are as two grains of wheat hidden in two bushels of chaff; you shall seek all day ere you find them, and when you have them they are not worth the search'.
Not from Henry V but seem appropriate nevertheless...
Your thoughts 'are as two grains of wheat hidden in two bushels of chaff; you shall seek all day ere you find them, and when you have them they are not worth the search'.
Not from Henry V but seem appropriate nevertheless...
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They'll kill people who don't deserve to be killed in the name of some sky pixie and we'll be forced to put boots down somewhere eventually.
Along with the belief in a supreme being the fallacy that human life matters is just that, a fallacy.... Ask any hungry bear, tiger or shark.
Flying over people, fixing and loading aircraft or stacking blankets doesn't really count. Bullets winging by and IED's would get my respect.
Utter utter nonsense, never mind the contradiction in the philosophy.
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It is isn't it. I may be so wrong on this but don't they have a history of making a lot of noise but hold off getting involved. Like I say I may be wrong, and stand by to be corrected, but when was the last time they actually intervened in an op we were involved in. Kosovo- Pristina?
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Much as they would like to keep their foothold in the Med, the Russians can probably see the writing on the wall. The evidence regarding chemical weapons and who used them is becoming pretty overwhelming. In the circs, they can hardly keep saying 'nyet' and remain credible, let alone contemplate taking any military action in Assad's favour.
Last edited by Broadsword***; 3rd Sep 2013 at 22:31.
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Hanoi:
Merchant of Venice... A fine play...
Tom:
No-one "deserves to be killed" until they start doing nasty things to others... But, in the end, human life is irrelevant in the "superior to all other creatures" way many see ourselves. You need to learn to separate your feelings from logic and good sense, you look such a twit when you "think" with your heart.
Broadsword:
My ignorance and stupidity is rife in the mind of the likes of you... Without saying, up front, what it was you did for 25 years you have all the credibility of the armchair warrior you seem to be... Fess up or shut up... It's that simple.... anything else makes you look evasive and, frankly, childish.
Merchant of Venice... A fine play...
Tom:
No-one "deserves to be killed" until they start doing nasty things to others... But, in the end, human life is irrelevant in the "superior to all other creatures" way many see ourselves. You need to learn to separate your feelings from logic and good sense, you look such a twit when you "think" with your heart.
Broadsword:
My ignorance and stupidity is rife in the mind of the likes of you... Without saying, up front, what it was you did for 25 years you have all the credibility of the armchair warrior you seem to be... Fess up or shut up... It's that simple.... anything else makes you look evasive and, frankly, childish.