Countdown Syria: nerve gas to be used on the Syrian people?

[longeyes]

It's not just about funneling weapons to extremists.

It's about bringing those same people here after we conclude a "peace."

[brimic]

The major reason we are all up in the trees about WMDs in general, and nerve gas in particular, is that we fear such an assault by terrorists on our soil, and so want to be able to credibly threaten nuclear retaliation while maintaining our smug and sanctimonious sense of moral superiority.  I fully embrace the notion of American exceptionalism, btw, but the particular weapon we choose to smite evil has nothing to do with it.

The more NBC weapons the screaming mullahs use in the middle east and north africa, the less of them (NBC weapons and screaming Mullahs) will be around, let alone available to use these weapons in the western hemisphere.

[longeyes]

From what I can see around me we need to broaden and deepen our definition of "WMD."  I see the destruction of our culture, high and low, as the result of numerous variants of "WMDs" used against this nation's heart and soul.

[roo_ster]

Speaking of funneling weapons into the hands of extremists....

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/dec/6/muslim-brotherhood-inherits-us-war-gear/

.... looks like it wont just be post-soviet era crap from Gadaffi's horde, but shiny new U.S. arms as well. I'm suddenly reminded of the scene in Iron Man where Tony Stark nearly gets killed by a mortar round emblazoned "Stark Industries." I wonder how many Javelins and Stingers are included along with the M1A1's and F-16's?


This is my shocked face ->

If they go off the reservation, no more spare parts and maint contracts. The prblem fixes itself, to some extent.

[RaspberrySurprise]

Would someone please explain to me why over 1.5 years of Assad killing his own people is ok, but it's suddenly an outrage now that he's about to use chemicals?

I come here to the Politics section to learn about what's really going on in the world.
You guys are better than any "news" source to me.

Because it's just not sporting old chap.

[slingshot]

Yep, it's not sporting. :D

From what I can see around me we need to broaden and deepen our definition of "WMD."  I see the destruction of our culture, high and low, as the result of numerous variants of "WMDs" used against this nation's heart and soul.

Our worst enemy is US (The enemy within). We will "right and wrong" the nation to its knees.  The US Supreme Court could be called a WMD.

If Assad uses chemical agents, I don't think we should respond with a war.  We won't win.  We won't gain anything.  So why should we bother fighting for people who have no interest in freedom. They are just another part of the raging hord of muslims that will eventually descend upon us.

[TommyGunn]

Yep, it's not sporting. :D

Our worst enemy is US (The enemy within). We will "right and wrong" the nation to its knees.  The US Supreme Court could be called a WMD.

If Assad uses chemical agents, I don't think we should respond with a war.  We won't win.  We won't gain anything.  So why should we bother fighting for people who have no interest in freedom. They are just another part of the raging hord of muslims that will eventually descend upon us.

Do you really think the US military is incapable of kicking Syria's butt back to the Pliocene???
It really is only a matter of will.
Don't get me wrong I'm not saying we should -- and given the milquetoast who is in office I really think it would be to our general benefit to avoid another sandbox war altogether.  We have plenty of problems at home and our current foreign policy is going to screw up the world enough as it is.

[Fitz]

Do you really think the US military is incapable of kicking Syria's butt back to the Pliocene???
It really is only a matter of will.
Don't get me wrong I'm not saying we should -- and given the milquetoast who is in office I really think it would be to our general benefit to avoid another sandbox war altogether.  We have plenty of problems at home and our current foreign policy is going to screw up the world enough as it is.

Yeah, just like we quickly and cleanly beat the crap out of saddam's army, and the taliban...

Only problem is, then the nation building and insurgency starts. I'm sick of that.

[TommyGunn]

Yeah, just like we quickly and cleanly beat the crap out of saddam's army, and the taliban...

Only problem is, then the nation building and insurgency starts. I'm sick of that.

True dat.   If we just could "nuke them from orbit..."   
Seriously we SHOULD just blow the **** outta the next country  we fight and leave it that way.  No nation building cr@p; just let them fix it themselves if they think they can.  Maybe the nutcakes would decide to keep their squabbles away from us.

Ever see the movie "The Mouse That Roared?"

[Fitz]

That would require leadership, and a populace, with balls.

Neither of which america has

[birdman]

True dat.   If we just could "nuke them from orbit..."   
Seriously we SHOULD just blow the **** outta the next country  we fight and leave it that way.  No nation building cr@p; just let them fix it themselves if they think they can.  Maybe the nutcakes would decide to keep their squabbles away from us.

Ever see the movie "The Mouse That Roared?"

Agreed.
Annihilate regime.
Leave, see what develops,
If we don't like it, do it again.

At some point, either they will get the idea, or the area will be depopulated.

Sort of a lather-rinse-repeat for nations.

[RocketMan]

Agreed.
Annihilate regime.
Leave, see what develops,
If we don't like it, do it again.

At some point, either they will get the idea, or the area will be depopulated.

Sort of a lather-rinse-repeat for nations.

The simplicity of this holds a certain appeal.

[slingshot]

If chemical or biological weapons are used, I fully expect the USA to be there via NATO.  Our President doesn't have the stones to do something like this on his own.

All that said, I say...  let them fight it out themselves and see who wins.  The human cost is not our problem unless it is our people.  If we actually do fight there, what on earth would be gain and I feel we have to gain something.  Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, and Egypt have really worked out for us and our ideals whatever they are anymore.

[kgbsquirrel]

The simplicity of this holds a certain appeal.

Operation Reset Button.



A thought, other than the secret nuclear facility that got flattened, has Assad really done anything to cheese off Israel? I'm curious if they might intervene on his behalf simply because they'd rather keep a noisy-but-mostly-harmless dictator next door rather than letting the screaming beards take over. Be kinda a bad proposition to allow the fanatics to slowly surround your country by topping the regional governments. Speaking of, anything of interest coming out of Jordan?