The war in Syria

[beancounter]

MOD POST
This thread is about the war in Syria.
If you would like to discuss which politicians are more conservative than others, please start a new thread.

 

[Freesia]

I don't see how what I wrote was off-topic, sorry. We are talking about Obama, and he is the one trying to order the missile strikes.

 

[Blobbenstein]

Maybe politicians in the US just have to promote the idea that weapons are the solution to problems.

 

[ledboots]

Maybe politicians in the US just have to promote the idea that weapons are the solution to problems.

I feel that is exactly what the war-mongers in congress are going to do. Just like after September 11th, when so many were convinced that attacking other countries would somehow make us safe.

 

[Blobbenstein]

I suppose that weapons are the fast-food of problem solving. Fast, simple, and not very good for you, plus they look good on Fox News...finally people's demons are getting back some hell-fire.

 

[Second Summer]

As long as Russia is part of the UN, the organization is pretty useless.

So what is our business? I'd say for as long as we need oil and strategic partners there, the middle east is our business.

I think your criticism is more pertinent with regards to the Security Council, and not necessarily the UN as a whole.

Just like Russia (and I think China as well?) is now holding its hand over Syria, saying "njet" to every proposed resolution, the US has been holding its hand over Israel for decades. The chickens have come home to roost and all that.

 

[yakherder]

I don't think Obama has any intention of attacking Syria. If he did, he could legally do so without congressional approval. I think he's banking on his belief that his request will be denied, which would allow him to both salvage his credibility and not be directly responsible for the consequences.

As for what should or shouldn't be done, I don't think it really matters in the mid to long term. There's a **** storm on the way whether we launch an air strike or not, and we're eventually going to get pulled into it.

Obama wanted to be known as the president that got us out of the middle east. He's finding that to be slightly more impossible than he anticipated.

 

[rainforests1]

As long as the Middle East has oil, we'll never get out of the Middle East.

 

[das_nut]

I don't think Obama has any intention of attacking Syria. If he did, he could legally do so without congressional approval. I think he's banking on his belief that his request will be denied, which would allow him to both salvage his credibility and not be directly responsible for the consequences.

As for what should or shouldn't be done, I don't think it really matters in the mid to long term. There's a **** storm on the way whether we launch an air strike or not, and we're eventually going to get pulled into it.

Obama was bluffing with his "red line" speech. Syria's called that bluff.

Which means future despots wouldn't be as hesitant to gas their own people.

 

[ledboots]

Well leaders on both sides of the aisle are supporting the bombing.
http://m.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/sep/3/boehner-pelosi-back-obama-syria-strike/

 

[rainforests1]

What happens with Iran in this conflict? Does the United States bomb them quietly while attention is on Syria? Or do they stay out completely and try to help repair their economy with the sanctions against them that are being ignored?

 

[Second Summer]

I don't think Obama has any intention of attacking Syria. If he did, he could legally do so without congressional approval. I think he's banking on his belief that his request will be denied, which would allow him to both salvage his credibility and not be directly responsible for the consequences.

I read an interesting piece today that touched on this subject. Apparently Obama had made a statement back in 2007, before he was elected president, to the effect that the president needs to ask Congress for approval before going to war on another country. Therefore it would be very difficult for him to go back on his words now. Obama was previously a lecturer in constitutional law at University of Chicago Law School, so he couldn't claim he didn't know what he was talking about either.

 

[ledboots]

I read an interesting piece today that touched on this subject. Apparently Obama had made a statement back in 2007, before he was elected president, to the effect that the president needs to ask Congress for approval before going to war on another country. Therefore it would be very difficult for him to go back on his words now. Obama was previously a lecturer in constitutional law at University of Chicago Law School, so he couldn't claim he didn't know what he was talking about either.

One of the main reasons I voted for Obama was that very statement. Yet when he bombed Libya, he had no such congressional approval. He then said, Oh, it was a limited attack and not subject to needing the approval of Congress.

 

[Freesia]

I wish the whole world would go back to bicycles. Then none of this would happen.

 

[yakherder]

Yay, human shields. Who didn't see that coming?

 

[Calliegirl]

I so hope at some point she runs for president...

Elizabeth Warren - “What’s important is that we have a plan and a realistic way to execute on that plan. We need to remember unintended consequences of any action. Good intentions alone will not help us. What Assad has done is reprehensible. It violates international law, and it violates the law of humanity. But it is critically important that before we act that we have a plan, a goal and we have a reasonable way for ensuring that goal. I think we’re now in a state of flux.”

http://www.forwardprogressives.com/...nalysis-of-possible-u-s-involvement-in-syria/

 

[Freesia]

A plan not to go to war is the best kind of plan. Let's make one of those.

 

[Second Summer]

One of the main reasons I voted for Obama was that very statement. Yet when he bombed Libya, he had no such congressional approval. He then said, Oh, it was a limited attack and not subject to needing the approval of Congress.

Yes, I too struggle to see how the attack on Libya could be justified when your stance is you need the approval of Congress to wage war. I suppose a lot of the bombing there was done by other NATO countries. I remember France was praised for saving the rebels from disaster in Benghazi in the very last minute. Little Norway did a lot of bombing too for a while, and I'm sure the UK was heavily involved.

 

[Blobbenstein]

 

[Second Summer]

According to unreliable sources, China is sending a warship to the coast of Syria to monitor the situation. (Can't seem to verify this on any reputable news sites yet.)