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Author Topic: Syrian crisis - what should be done?  (Read 47291 times)

Ray

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Re: Syrian crisis - what should be done?
« Reply #200 on: September 12, 2013, 12:19:36 pm »


An absolute victory to whichever faction used the stuff. Next time?


Rob,
We don't know who used the chemical weapons. However, the surest way of preventing their repeated use, or reducing the risk of their repeated use, is to remove them from circulation.

I guess one would not expect this idea to occur naturally to many Americans, in view of their great resistance to removing firearms from circulation.
As I recall, you were not in favor of the principle of America removing firearms from public circulation after that school tragedy almost a year ago, as a result of some feelings of insecurity about possible attacks upon yourself.
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Chairman Bill

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Re: Syrian crisis - what should be done?
« Reply #201 on: September 12, 2013, 12:22:58 pm »

I want to see the fall of Assad's regime, but I want to see a secular democracy in its place. Not a client state of some other world power, not some other autocrat, and not a theocracy either. The question is, assuming this is pretty much what the rest of us would like to see, how would we get from here to there?

Toppling Assad will leave a vacuum. Who knows who/what might fill it? What we do know is that something would, and we might not like it very much. In fact, it might be appreciably worse than Assad.

We could do as some politicians have suggested - arm the rebels, balance the situation so Assad doesn't have such overwhelming force to call on. Of course, that will prolong the agony. Approx. 1400 people died in the Damascus gas attack. About 1500 - 1700+ have died by more conventional means since. Helping drag the conflict on for months or years, benefits no one.

So what can we do? Here's my suggestion. Feel free to disagree, but your reasoning for doing so would be appreciated.

The partition of Syria. Syria as it is now, is the creation of Western powers (as are most of the nations of the Middle East). Partition isn't going to impact on age-old borders and the like, and anyway, it need not be anything but temporary. The Alawite population are no doubt terrified of the retribution that would be visited upon them by any new regime. So why not an Alawite state? Leave them to make what they will of Assad. Alongside that, a UN protectorate. Kick out the Islamists of Al-Qeada & their ilk, let a secular democracy arise - the UN Declaration of Human Rights would make a pretty good Bill of Rights for the new Free Syria. And maybe, at some future moment in time, the old Syria might be fit to be reunited with it's neighbour.

Vladimirovich

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Re: Syrian crisis - what should be done?
« Reply #202 on: September 12, 2013, 02:06:39 pm »

So what can we do? Here's my suggestion.

give Assad couple of nukes... that will strongly discourage 3rd parties to meddle and let him suppress the enemies w/o the likes of Qatar arming those
« Last Edit: September 15, 2013, 08:27:15 am by Vladimirovich »
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Ray

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Re: Syrian crisis - what should be done?
« Reply #203 on: September 14, 2013, 12:10:51 pm »

Well, there we are. Common sense appears to be prevailing. It looks as though America and Russia have agreed to a plan to 'eliminate' Syria's chemical weapons. Isn't that a much better idea than a missile strike from America?  ;)

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/10309493/America-and-Russia-agree-plan-to-eliminate-Syrias-chemical-weapons.html
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Chris_Brown

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Re: Syrian crisis - what should be done?
« Reply #204 on: September 15, 2013, 01:31:00 am »

Isn't that a much better idea than a missile strike from America?

Hell yes.
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Rob C

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Re: Syrian crisis - what should be done?
« Reply #205 on: September 15, 2013, 05:43:46 am »

Well, there we are. Common sense appears to be prevailing. It looks as though America and Russia have agreed to a plan to 'eliminate' Syria's chemical weapons. Isn't that a much better idea than a missile strike from America?  ;)





Simplistic reasoning. Whilst it might be possible to control some of the 'government' weapons, how do you achieve that with the 'rebel' forces, assuming that they have chemicals too? They agreed to nothing.

"Alongside that, a UN protectorate. Kick out the Islamists of Al-Qeada & their ilk, let a secular democracy arise" -Chairman Bill.

Isn't that pretty much what was supposed to be happening in Afghanistan? And who's to decide if Al.K is or is not unpopular? Or does popularity not apply in the Midle East as a basis for voting in a party? We seem to love it in the West, where the more impossible the dream on offer at election time, the more popularity and support it can get... Do we really, really want to waste even more money and resource via the UN?

IMO, as long as they stay willing to sell us oil, why stick unwelcome noses into their business? Any calls for our 'help' are but ploys to give whichever faction the muscle it takes to give them victory they can't get alone and unaided. They don't want us; they want our power to kill.

Rob C
« Last Edit: September 15, 2013, 05:45:47 am by Rob C »
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Vladimirovich

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Re: Syrian crisis - what should be done?
« Reply #206 on: September 15, 2013, 08:29:00 am »

It looks as though America and Russia have agreed to a plan to 'eliminate' Syria's chemical weapons.
one boy, mr. P.,  thinks that he has a way in and another boy, mr. O., thinks that he has a way out...
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Slobodan Blagojevic

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Re: Syrian crisis - what should be done?
« Reply #207 on: September 15, 2013, 12:43:43 pm »

Damn Putin! He just ruined Obama's Kickstarter campaign for WWIII:

http://rt.com/usa/kickstarter-campaign-ww3-obama-725/

;D
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