The spin that Secretary of State John Kerry is selling to the Sunday talk shows is that President Barack Obama is acting courageously by seeking Congressional approval for a military response to Syria's use of chemical weapons against its own people. I'm sure Vladimir Putin would agree.
Congress, when they finally decide, will scream, "Give us Barabbas.!"
And Obama will wash his hands.
Wonder how he'd handle the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Today's one-liner: "The shortest way to the distinguishing excellence of any writer is through his hostile critics." Richard LeGallienne
Local Government TV
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Sunday, September 01, 2013
176 comments:
You own views are appreciated, especially if they differ from mine. But remember, commenting is a privilege, not a right. I will delete personal attacks or off-topic remarks at my discretion. Comments that play into the tribalism that has consumed this nation will be declined. So will comments alleging voter fraud unless backed up by concrete evidence. If you attack someone personally, I expect you to identify yourself. I will delete criticisms of my comment policy, vulgarities, cut-and-paste jobs from other sources and any suggestion of violence towards anyone. I will also delete sweeping generalizations about mainstream parties or ideologies, i.e. identity politics. My decisions on these matters are made on a case by case basis, and may be affected by my mood that day, my access to the blog at the time the comment was made or other information that isn’t readily apparent.
Disgusting "humor" piece Bernie, Barack Hussein Obama is a follower of Christ yet you compare him to the person who sentenced him to death? Strikes cannot be made without Congressional authorization, we know you love to play hero and protector but there is something called protocol.
ReplyDeleteThis is not humor. I am calling Obama a phony. If he can't make strikes without congressional authorization, his presidency up until now has been a joke. He certainly did not seek congressional authority for most of the military strikes he authorized, nor should he.
ReplyDeleteBarak Hussein Obama is a moron.
ReplyDeleteThe left screamed and yelled about iraq and yet they stay silent with libya, and now syria...that's humor, if the Potus' intelligence wasn't funny enough.
Let's drop the left v. right crap and the not-too-thinly disguised Muslim bigotry. It's getting old and solves nothing.
ReplyDeletewhere is bigotry? It certainly bares mentioning, the absolute hypocrisy of not only the left but the national media as well.
ReplyDeleteLearn the difference between bare and bear.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteYour comment is OT. I am not going to tolerate the usual i hate conservatives or I hate liberal arguments. is Obama right or wrong? Of you can't discuss that, don't comment.
ReplyDeleteThe Valleys Syrian community is solidly behind the sitting government.
ReplyDeleteWhile Pilate may be equated with the "washing of hands", let us not forget his famous question, "what is truth?"
ReplyDeleteThe truth of the matter is that the US turned a blind eye to Hussein's use of chemical weapons in the 80s...the enemy of my enemy is my friend.
The truth of the matter is that nearly 100,000 have been killed in the Syrian civil war. What makes the 98-99,000 killed by non-chemical weapons less worthy of "moral outrage" than the (latest number I've read) 1,400 killed by chemical weapons? Why now must we act? What US strategic interest has changed?
The truth of the matter: what would dropping a few missiles accomplish beyond "saving face" after a "read my lips, no new..." er, "red lines," and a perceived ripple effect that would have on Iran, etc?
The truth of the matter is that Obama was extremely unwise to make such a throw-away "red-line" statement in the hope of never having to worry about it. Yet, he has been conditioned that whatever stance he takes, Republicans will take the opposite stance without consequence, regardless of issue. It was already happening on Syria... John "bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb Iran"(to the Beach Boys) McCain visiting the Syrian rebels and critical the US isn't arming them. Yet when Obama talks of military action in Bush-esque tones, you hear from both L and R, "whoa, you need to come to us first!" I think throwing it back at Congress is not so much as a Pilate "washing of hands" but a shrewd pull from the W playbook to get Congress' blessing so any future critics of how messy it may become are effectively cut off at the knees. (e.g., John Kerry in 2004 over his Iraq vote)
Truth of the matter....be careful what you ask for. Just who are the good guys and bad guys in Syria? Looks weak, but there are limits to what the US can impose, and staying out of Syria has probably been a wise decision to date. Assad gone and replaced with -?- equals peace and security for Syrians, Lebanon, Israel, US?? Truth of the matter, we don't have that crystal ball.
I read this blog every day but very rarely comment. The only phonies involved in the Syrian situation are the people who think they have a simple answer for an incredibly complex situation in which the outcome is not obvious. Not every historically well known leader who avoided war was a Neville Chamberlain and not every leader who went to war was a victorious and morally correct Abe Lincoln. God bless America and for the sake of the little kids lets hope someone gets this right!
ReplyDeleteLighthouse, I stopped watching TV during the genocide in Rwanda, when the death screams of children could be heard clearly in several of the broadcasts. We did nothing. none of our business. No strategic interests. In fact, we hesitated to use the word "genocide" bc that would legally trigger responses we did not want to make. Now, we are playing games again. Assad has crossed the red line Obama spoke of. If we stand for anything, if only for basic human decency, we need to make it impossible for him to do this again. I have no desire to affect the outcome of the vblood bath going on. But I do desire to stop the use of chemical weapons and the senseless killing of children, which Obama claims is 400.
ReplyDeleteThis inaction is sending a signal to Iran to just go ahead with its nuclear project. It is telling NNorth Korea to thumb its nose at the paper tiger even more. Putin must be laughing. I'll lay odds that Israel is disgusted at its supposed ally.
ReplyDeleteI do respect your compassion for the kids. Unfortunately, they and their parents have already been dying by non-chemical weapons. You just don't hear/see them.
ReplyDeleteIn domestic policy, I believe it is legitimate for our government to be guided by underlying ideals and compassion (but, whose ideals?). With foreign policy, I much prefer a cold realpolitik with an eye on the long view, as opposed to short term knee jerk reactions, or following a policy of "good intentions." What is in America's clearly defined best interest? Period.
Re Iran, we would be best to not get sucked into no-win-for-the-US civil wars like in Syria. To do so, will weaken us, contrary to the argument that we have to save face for the Iranians. The US led economic sanctions have actually worked in getting Iran interested in diplomacy, as evidenced by recent elections. Another US mid-East quagmire will only remind them why they wanted nukes.
I have close friends who feel otherwise, so I honestly respect your stance. Agree to disagree on this one.
I am not smart enough to know what to do. The Bashar regime is obviously controlled by evil men. Are the opponents any better? I don't know.
ReplyDeleteIt sort of remind me of the Iran-Iraq War years ago. I wanted both sides to lose.
If we bomb Bashar and they stay in power, have we accomplished anything more than killing people?
If we bomb the regime and we help the rebels win, have we just put Al Quada in control of Syria?
There just may be no good option for America.
I agree there is no good option. A strike to neutralize the ability to use chemical weapons is all that is warranted, but it is warranted. We look very weak right now.
ReplyDeleteWe will see if the far right that controls congress will put the good of humanity over their desire to demonize the President. So far they have a poor record of representing responsibility.
ReplyDeleteThe far right controls Congress? Man what planet are you living on?
ReplyDeleteIf you'd switch off MSNBC for a bit, you'd realize that the liberal progressives (primarily Democrats, but from both parties) have been living their dreams).
I'm all for staying out of this one. In fact, I think we should bring every young soldier home from the Middle East, but I digress.
ReplyDeleteObama made the mistake of claiming chemical weapons was a "red line." They were used, but public sentiment is against getting involved in another conflict. He's thrown his problem to Congress and gets a win for himself no matter their decision.
Congress says, "No," he can claim he wanted to do something, but was prevented. Congress says, "Yes," he can tell an angry public that Congress (as our representatives) gave him approval.
Hard evidence hasn't even been presented that the Assad regime is responsible. We're being told that by U.S. sponsored investigators. Nothing has been determined by the U.N. investigation team yet.
A report by an AP reporter, Dale Gavlak, is slowly coming to light on non-U.S. controlled media that the rebels themselves may have set off chemical weapons they were transporting for terrorist factions.
http://www.infowars.com/rebels-admit-responsibility-for-chemical-weapons-attack/
Considering Assad has been winning the war and regaining lost ground in the last 6 weeks, I find the report credible. Why would he risk U.S. involvement by using chemical weapons?. Their use wasn't needed.
When we elected Obama, we were tired of a decade of war and got wrapped up in electing the first (kinda) black president. Everybody knew we were electing a rank amateur with a tendency toward liking a job's benefits, but not liking doing the job. He was only a Senator for two years, most of which he spent running for President. He voted present when he did rarely show up and still doesn't take daily intelligence briefings. He didn't take any during his presidential campaign. He's called himself lazy. We elected a rank amateur to feel good about ourselves for electing a black guy. To paraphrase the good Reverend Wright, those chickens are coming home to roost.
ReplyDeleteBernie
ReplyDeleteOn this Labor Day 2013, thank you for your labor of knowledge and the courage that accompanies it to educate those of us who want to learn what is really going on in town. Thank you for all you do!
" we need to make it impossible for him to do this again"
ReplyDeletewhat's this "we"? you want to, go right ahead.
not with my sons...
And phony? We knew that when he enrolled his little ones in private school after talking a big game about public schools. Then, Michelle ordered public school kids to be fed dogfood for health. Her kids had pizza at Sidwell Friends last week.
ReplyDeleteSave the security comment. Carter sent Amy to DC public schools.
ReplyDeleteAnyone not familiar with the term, "False Flag"?
ReplyDelete"not with my sons"
ReplyDeleteAdd mine to the list. I didn't raise cannon fodder for a corporate controlled country running on a war machine economy.
I don't believe people were gassed by chemical weapons. There is nothing remotely approaching solid proof from an administration that still maintains Benghazi was about a bad film review. Susan Rice, who five times repeated this assertion is our National Security Adviser. She's either nearly retarded or incredibly dishonest. Showing film of gas victims is as old as broadcast media. Arabs do it routinely to show purported Israeli atrocities. This administration is not to be believed.
ReplyDeleteI personally like the precedent set of the President asking permission of congress before he has the power of attacking another sovereign nation. The Presidents reason for doing it aside, I think it should be demanded every time someone in that office thinks about attacking another nation that isn't a clear and present danger to the security of the United States or its citizens.
ReplyDelete11:16 learn the difference between of and or.
ReplyDeleteOK response for me would be to remove Syria's airports, destroy any visible aircraft. This way, both unsavory sides will be equalized and the matter can sort itself out.
ReplyDeleteBut, it's not that easy. The minute U.S. makes any aggression in Syria, some faction will strike back at Israel. Israel will respond with great force and the whole region will inflame. Americans WILL die over there.
Obama gets criticized for practically everything he does so I can accept if he wants to get Congressional approval. It's like his insurance policy.
ReplyDeleteIf the delay makes us look bad, that can't be helped. There is suffering and atrocities in so many places, the US can't do it all.
7:25
ReplyDeleteNot with my sons.....
AMEN!
Valleys Syrians say NO!
ReplyDeleteValley Jews saw BOMB!
Bernie,it's not that this post is such contrived bullshit that is vexing,but that you know damn well what contrived bullshit it is.
ReplyDeleteI like it better when you don't do the cheap pandering.
It is my understanding that the C IA knew that 40 truck loads of chemical weapons were shipped to Syria from Iraq days before the Iraq invasion. Why didn't the US and United Nations do something then?
ReplyDelete8:04 AM said,
ReplyDelete"learn the difference between of and or."
Figure out what typo error you want to make an issue about. "Of" or "If" is what you meant, you idiot.
You'll be busy if you spend time correcting all the typos found among the comments.
We're dancing around the edges of World War III because of Obama's need to save face after showing his foreign policy incompetence.
ReplyDeletethis action has nothing to do with innocent children getting gassed and everything to do with the Saudis and the Qataris wanting to run gas lines through Syria to Turkey and into S. Europe.
ReplyDeleteThis Country has stopped being the guiding light of freedom and peace years ago and foreign policy is based more on corporate interests rather than moral interests.
Think of all the good we have done in the last 15 years.
Iraq is a stable democracy
Afghanistan is a model of human rights
Eqypt is a peaceful democracy
Libya is a stable economic power.
oh wait...nothing changed in any of these places and all our funds and blood invested here went to waste.
It is time we stop nation building over there and nation build here. And if they want to kill themselves, we let them.
Strange how our media doesn't make an issue of the fact that most of the "Freedom Fighters" battling against Assad aren't Syrians, but have ties to terrorist organizations and are imposing Sharia Law in areas they control. One thing Assad did not do was persecute Christians under his rule. He allowed them to practice their faith. That won't happen if the rebels are successful.
ReplyDeleteReally twisting and turning to be controversial but not to really commit yourself here BOH ?
ReplyDeleteNot your most honest post.
@8:56
ReplyDeleteLV Syrians are starting to weight in .
By law a President can authorize a military attack at his/her discretion but after a certain period must report his action to Congress and seek their approval to continue the action ...History teaches us about the 30 years war which was fought in 4 phases ... In that war France's Cardinal Richelieu as Minister of the French government betrayed the Catholic Church while backing the Protestant side. ... Truth is, our President has seen the polls and for the sake of advancing his future programs has backtracked from his statements to put the onus on Congress. That is his style... That is his cowardice ... And by the way he backtracked from his position yes because of the polls but maybe too that Russians placed some Naval ships in the area. This is Obama's Cuban Missile Crisis and this time the American President temporarily or permanently blinked ... Indeed I worry about the cost of U.S. Military assets if he actually went through with it. How would replacement of these assets be replaced . Would other areas of the Budget be effected. The fact is, if ASSAD used Chemical weapons he should be condemned by the world. But I also say the world should condemn the bloodshed in Syria coming from both sides. And in Assad's favor local members of the Syrian Community in the Lehigh Valley favor him. The reason -- He has allowed Christians in Syria to worship and build Churches. Something the Muslim leaning rebel forces would never do. Clearly the President is in a fix ,Saudi Arabia and the Arab League have come out against Assad but we can't give aid and comfort to Al-Queda in Syria. This may sound silly but I would attack and humiliate both sides ... Not with the Tomahawk Cruise missile ... But with something else. First I would gather up all the sludge and manure that we can get and dump it on all sides. @nd I would gether up all the Skunk scent we can get and dump it on both sides. Next since these people rabble rouse with fire and brimstone, I would dump both sides with fire retardant and file since their thoughts are in the toilet I would dump both sides with toilet paper.
ReplyDeleteFrom Dennis Pearson
Stay out of this conflict and let Syrians straighten it out.
ReplyDeleteThe US has its own problems when 30 percent of children here are starving or malnourished. We have a realistic unemployment rate of 20 percent. We have MILLIONS of people with no insurance, driving up health care costs for the working people. We have college graduates that cannot get a job. We have the NSA tapping our phones and invading our privacy with no transparency or recourse. We have people with mental health issues getting little to no help. Veterans on waitin lists and deplorable hospitals they have to get treated.
This is another smoke screen to run and hide from our own problems here and rally around a supposed "humanistic cause."
It is time for us to call upon our congressional representatives and let them know to straighten our country out first!
People need to wake up from the coma and deal with what Americans are facing, before it is too late.
You're so right. We are trying to police the world when we can't even solve our own issues. Our veterans come home broken and can't get the help they need. We live in a society that throws money at people for their talent in acting or singing a song or their ability to play a game. Those that provide a true service, who put their lives on the line daily are not compensated nearly enough. It's pathetic and sad.
Delete"Labor Day is a day to honor hard working people like myself and drink lots of liquor."
ReplyDelete-Robert Balch
@ 7:37 AM
ReplyDeleteWag the Dog?
We send them a message by bombing their infrastructure; They send US a message with a Sept. 11 style event.
ReplyDeleteThe situation is intractable.
I agree with those here who've said that the President should not have designated a "red line". I suppose he thought it made the U.S. look like it wasn't entirely insensitive to what was happening in Syria. He should have gone with his first instinct "stay out of it". Now, the "best" that can happen is that we wait for the U.N. report and if it shows undeniable proof that Assad used chemical weapons, than a surgical strike against munitions and air capabilities is the only feasible response. By waiting for the U.N. report, it will take the air out of Putin's sails. By launching a surgical strike, it will show a willingness to follow through in a disciplined, limited manner. What cascade of events unfolds after that is where the real size of the storm will be determined.
ReplyDeleteDid anyone ever hear of the UNITED NATIONS? Why is all the worlds problems our personal problems. Why do we have to sacrifice the lives of our youth, suffer the agonies of war, and spend our money as the policemen of the world. This should be a United effort of the U.N. No Country should stand by while these atrocities take place. We can't even get our allies to stand by us on this issue even though they agree something should be done. We are still the breadbasket of the world. We know how to get results without pissing off half the world. I personally (having been in that part of the world during my military years) believe peace will not come to this region for another thousand years. These people are fanatical religious dictators that have no regard for human life. That being said, STAY THE HELL OUT OF THAT AREA AND LET THE UNITED NATIONS TAKE A STAND. If they decide to not do anything, then you finally get to see what a waste the U.N. really is.
ReplyDeleteThe news article I read stated the President wanted "The will of People" to be represented in the Vote. We either want to, or not.
ReplyDelete10:44
ReplyDeleteWe already know the UN is a waste. If you need more evidence after all these years, one more example isn't going to convince you.
Bernie, nice job of not letting the teabaggers take control of the topic and not attacking the President.
ReplyDeleteNOT!
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteAt least Bernie takes comments. MM on Allentown won't take comments. It's unfortunate.
ReplyDeleteToo bad. I miss it.
And TM creates her own!
ReplyDeleteThe UN's charge is ONLY to determine if gas was used, not to determine who used it. I think everyone posting here agrees that gas was used.
ReplyDeleteThere has also been a report from Egypt that during the trial of Morsy documents will show VERY damaging behavior on the part of our State Department in that country that will expose Obama for funding the Muslim Brotherhood, a group whose finances are controlled by Obama's brother. IF true, a strike on Syria could be seen as a way to cover-up yet another scandal.
Bottom line, there has been so much obfuscation on both sides of the Atlantic, it's difficult to trust the validity of anything going on from EITHER side.
The internet has made it too difficult to hide clandestine operations.
I watched the Sunday shows as SOS Kerry painfully did his job covering for this incompetent and egotistical POTUS.
ReplyDeleteCut the losses and say no. We have been humiliated in the world by a marginalized lame duck. A half baked slap at Syria is of no use anyhow. This president could not deal with the difficult events after a real strike.
POTUS is looking for someone to take the blame for his lack of interest in the tough part of the job. The president isn't supposed to be just a community activist. Hillary Clinton called it when she said "who do you want picking up the phone at 3 AM in a crisis"?
Please let him hide out on the golf course and stay out of international affairs.
If you think clandestine operations have been made impossible by the internet, prepare top be disabuse. I need only point to the Osama situation to prove you wrong, buit there are many others. If Obama wants to engage in a military operation to divert attention away from some coverup, the last thing he would do is seek congressional approval.
ReplyDeleteMM will take comments, but they have to say something instead of just being some hateful and hurtful remark.
ReplyDelete" A half baked slap at Syria is of no use anyhow."
ReplyDeleteReally? State that to the next round of dead children. Obama has damaged himself by not taking action NOW, but Confgress has to give him the authority bc he and we do have the ability to prevent this from happening again. Saying No simply for politics is worse than asking for Congressional approval.
"Really twisting and turning to be controversial but not to really commit yourself here BOH ?
ReplyDeleteNot your most honest post."
Says an anonymous coward. I don't know how I can be more frickin' clear. I called Obama a Pontius Pilate for not launching a military strike and i will call you a coward every day of the week. This is why MM does not like many comments. They are both stupid and worse, nasty.
Bernie
ReplyDeleteThe problem is that nothing happens in a vacuum. There is always a reaction to whatever we do. What we do now may save some children, yet ultimately result I others being killed later.
We have known about Syrua having chemical weapons for years. If there was a concern about people being killed by them something should have been done before they were used.
US foreign policy over the last 5 years has set the region on fire, to the detriment of our national interest. That the chemical weapons that we knew were there are now being used should not come as a surprise.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteYou don't have any respect or would not be posting that comment here. Take is up with MM.
ReplyDelete"There is always a reaction to whatever we do"
ReplyDeleteThere is also a reaction to what we don't do. Based on this logic, we should never do anything.
Come on! Do we stand for something or not? o we stand against the use of chemical weapons or not? Do we keep our "red line" word or not?
"The news article I read stated the President wanted "The will of People" to be represented in the Vote. We either want to, or not"
ReplyDeleteGee did he seek the will of the people before going after Osama? Before his mini-surge? He is tghe Executive, the C-in-C. There are times when you seek congressional approval and times you don't. This is one of the latter. His sole basis for doing so is political, and that disgusts me.
ReplyDeleteWe need to do better with all of out working poor, including vets.
We also need to stand for something. I would think that we'd stand against the gassing of innocent children. I would think that a president who talked about a red line being crossed would actually do something instead of embarrassing us internationally.
"By law a President can authorize a military attack at his/her discretion but after a certain period must report his action to Congress and seek their approval to continue the action"
ReplyDeleteNobody is talking about an invasion or boots on the ground. It is a simple, limited, surgical strike, the kind intended to send a message and to degrade Syria's ability to gas its children again.
". One thing Assad did not do was persecute Christians under his rule. He allowed them to practice their faith."
ReplyDeleteChristians should not support a monster simply bc he builds their playgrounds while gassing their children.
Bernie, according to some polls 91% of Americans do not want to get in the middle of that mess over there. Even now, it is NOT clear who actually put those weapons into use. The way things are manipulated these days it's almost impossible to know.
ReplyDeleteSome believe Obama threw it over to Congress hoping they decide against all of this. Others believe, even if Congress decides against, Obama will do something anyway. No one can predict this will remain a rather harmless action by America. It certainly will not remove the chemical weapons.
Even a limited demonstration strike against Syria will set off a response against American interests. That we are moving a nuclear carrier group into the region demonstrates the VERY real probability for this. Then what?
I have NO confidence in Obama, Kerry, Hagel, etc. to guide us through what's next. Neither does Great Britain.
"this action has nothing to do with innocent children getting gassed and everything to do with the Saudis and the Qataris wanting to run gas lines through Syria to Turkey and into S. Europe."
ReplyDeleteActually, this limited milityary strike, designed only to degrade Assad's ability to gas his own people, has EVERYTHING to do with him gassing his own children. We war not nation building or trying to affect the outcome. It is a clear violation of the 1925 Geneva Protocol.
Christians should not support a monster simply bc he builds their playgrounds while gassing their children.
ReplyDeleteNo hard evidence Assad was behind the attack, other than the word of our government and we all know how much that is worth. With your reasoning, we should support those who would behead Christians, instead.
You're wrong on this one, Bernie. More, "Aluminum Cylinders For Iraq Nukes" bullshit.
" 91% of Americans do not want to get in the middle of that mess over there. Even now, it is NOT clear who actually put those weapons into use. The way things are manipulated these days it's almost impossible to know."
ReplyDeleteOh, I see. We take polls now to decide on military reactions?
We know that sarin gas was used. We know it was used in east Damascus. We know Assad prepared for and is responsible for an outrageous crime against humanity.
When you are arguing the same position asserted by Vladimir Putin, it's time for you to re-examine.
It's a damn we can't bring George W Bush back.
ReplyDeleteHe was a military leader, a distinguished war vet and a true leader of men.
Damn shame.
" MISSION ACCOMPLISHED "
@Bernie,
ReplyDeleteThe true question is whether or not chemical weapons use by another country during a civil war is a justifiable reason for American kids to get involved at the behest of their government. I take the isolationist stance that without a direct attack on the US or an ally by treaty the US has no business interfering with direct military intervention no matter how ghastly the actions of a dictator on his own people. The N.Korean death camps kill more people and are much more ghastly than Assad's possible use of Chemical weapons. I don't support overthrowing him with Military force either.
"No hard evidence Assad was behind the attack, other than the word of our government and we all know how much that is worth. With your reasoning, we should support those who would behead Christians, instead."
ReplyDeleteExcuse me? Even with the nonclassified documents, the evidence is very clear. We know that gas was used and 1,400 people were killed. We know that Assad has the gas. We know that, on the morning of the attack, the Assad regime was observed preparing for the attack. They were seen donning their gas masks. "We know where the rockets were launched from and at what time," Kerry said. "We know where they landed and when. We know rockets came only from regime-controlled areas and went only to opposition-controlled or contested neighborhoods."
Come on! Don't be an idiot. I am not suggesting for one minute that the opposition there is any better than Assad. In fact, they are in some respect even bigger monsters and i have condemned the beheading of a Christian bishop on this blog.
A military strike is not intended to place those forces in power,. It is intended to make it impossible for Assad to engage in more monstrous gas attacks.
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/08/30/kerry-says-clear-evidence-chemical-weapons-used-in-syria-as-intelligence/#ixzz2dlFnlMMD
"The true question is whether or not chemical weapons use by another country during a civil war is a justifiable reason for American kids to get involved at the behest of their government."
ReplyDeleteI say we have to stand for something. We are not invading the country.
"It is my understanding that the C IA knew that 40 truck loads of chemical weapons were shipped to Syria from Iraq days before the Iraq invasion. Why didn't the US and United Nations do something then? "
ReplyDeleteI would have taken them out then, and I would argue that anything from Russia be stopped. Let him scream that it is humanitarian. He has already been caught slipping weapons into the mix.
"I personally like the precedent set of the President asking permission of congress before he has the power of attacking another sovereign nation"
ReplyDeleteFor a limited strike, it is counterproductive and emasculates this nation's ability to respond decisively and swiftly, as only this nation can.
Again, you cite what someone promoting action, says. Kerry, the honest one, hasn't produced the Intel to anyone that supports his claims, including the Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov.
ReplyDeleteIf such evidence exists, you would think our government would all too quickly present it to those nations who advocate against action. For Iraq, evidence was falsified. For Syria, it's too secret to reveal.
http://rt.com/news/lavrov-chemicals-syria-secret-295/
"I don't believe people were gassed by chemical weapons."
ReplyDeleteThe Officer Barbrady School of Foreign Policy. Nothing to see here, folks. Move along.
Give me a break.
2:35, Now you are citing Russian propaganda. Vladimir Putin will give you a red star for your forehead.
ReplyDeleteThere's no independent proof of chemical weapons and dead children. None. We have only allegations from an administration that ran for election last year, saying al Qaeda was in the run. Ni war without proof this time. Kerry, of all people, should know this after his ridiculous dithering on Iraq and Afghanistan. Again, there's NO PROOF. we have only the word of this administration.
ReplyDeleteI certainly do not look to Putin for guidance. I don't think even Putin knows what really went on there. Those polls merely show, like me, a huge number of Americans do not have sufficient amount of faith in the current administration's foreign policy. This is not as obvious as Pearl Harbor was.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, AMERICA has chemical weapons. What should some other country do about that?
And you are citing Fox News. I, at least, expand my understanding beyond U.S. mainstream media and listen to other countries point of view before I advocate the use of military might, to further the corporate agenda.
ReplyDeleteHow long did it take you to come around and figure out Vietnam was a farce? Or, perhaps you think we should never have left? Rhetorical questions. The point is, don't be so quick to believe everything you're told by Fox, CNN, MSNBC, and the rest.
"A report by an AP reporter, Dale Gavlak, is slowly coming to light on non-U.S. controlled media that the rebels themselves may have set off chemical weapons they were transporting for terrorist factions."
ReplyDeleteGavlak is a stringer who has written for AP, BBC and NPR. I have looked at some of her other reports and she is obviously pro-rebel and anti-Assad. She is now writing for Mint press, a Shia-advocacy site known to be anti-American, anti-Saudi and anti-Israel.
http://pjmedia.com/tatler/2013/08/31/shia-advocacy-journalism-behind-story-claiming-saudis-gave-rebels-chemical-weapons/
"The story doesn’t address questions such as why Saudi Arabia would send chemical weapons to the rebels when President Bashar al-Assad and his forces are easily targeted with proper conventional munitions."
You are being spun.
"There's no independent proof of chemical weapons and dead children. None. We have only allegations from an administration ...."
ReplyDeleteOfficer Barbrady, we have frickin' pictures, hair and other samples showing sarin, etc. Even Putin concedes there was an attack. Don't be ridiculous.
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2013-08-30/dont-show-obama-report-about-who-really-behind-syrian-chemical-attacks
ReplyDeleteFunny, reports out of the war zone from overseas news paints a very different picture of who is gassing who.
I firmly believe that it will not stop there with a surgical strike and there will be an escalation and there will be boots on the ground.
Let me ask you this Bernie, that grandson you write so lovingly about, if he was of serving age, is his life worth risking for a civil for people who ultimately hate us to start with?
Our government brought the public's mistrust of them upon themselves. Lie to us enough times and we don't take your word for anything you might tell us.
ReplyDeleteWe're tired of money going to wars that are accomplishing nothing, when our economy is in shambles, people are homeless, unemployment is rampant, our infrastructure is in need of repair... and the list goes on.
Show me proof it was the Assad regime and not the rebels who mishandled gas they were transporting.
2:58, This is the very same Dale Gavlek report i referred to before.
ReplyDelete@ 2:58
ReplyDeleteI also provided a link to that story on another website, earlier in this thread.
What strikes me odd about Assad deciding to use Sarin is that he has been winning, regaining ground, and driving back the rebels. Nobody seems to be asking why he would use gas knowing that would be an invitation to the U.S. to intervene. On the other hand, the U.S. desperately wants Assad overthrown and would gladly pin a "False Flag" on the deaths to turn the tide against Assad.
Obama is always in a tough spot; being dem and blk. He is damned if he does and damned if he doesn't. Many folks i know feel he is doing the exact right thing in this situation. It is an internal country's punishable act but "Not an immediate criminal cross border attack and war machine". He is giving America a chance to weigh in and can and will act if the measure is warranted more! I see nothing wrong with his leadership. He did successfully get the Notorious criminal and other very secure accomplishments like pulling our men out of 'deaths grasps' at the right time and way! Stand by our President instead of always belittling and badgering him is a more respective recourse!
ReplyDelete3:07, It is the same frickin' story, by the same frickin' reporter.
ReplyDeleteIsrael has been unable to stop Katyuska rocket attack's for decade's. They can be fitted with chem. weapon's. Improvised weaponry is mobile and sufficiently effective. Let Israel handle it. They have the most to lose in a regional conflict. I bet that more than 1400 people are killed in our retalitory strike's. Futhermore, we are obligated to defend Istael if they are attacked.
ReplyDeleteSend in the Drone's?
Take a look at this paragraph in Gavlik's story:
ReplyDelete"The U.S. and others are not interested in examining any contrary evidence, with U.S Secretary of State John Kerry saying Monday that Assad’s guilt was 'a judgment … already clear to the world.'"
Now that's fine in a blog, but not in a news story. Her declaration that the US is not interested in contrary evidence is a statement of bias. It is not objective journalism. I find it interesting that Gavlik shared a byline with Yahya Ababneh, a "journalist" who writes for a newspaper who praised the 9/11 attacks.
You are being spun. Because it suits your agenda, you are allowing yourself to be spun.
Be better than this.
"Futhermore, we are obligated to defend Istael if they are attacked."
ReplyDeleteAre we? Or will Obama go to Congress, hat in hand, and say "May I?"
At this very moment, McCain and his joined at-the-hip Graham is calling for something MORE than a pin-prick done from a distance.
ReplyDeleteWhat shall we make of this?
Politics. It's disgusting. That is why you don't ask. You do.
ReplyDeleteGavlak is a stringer who has written for AP, BBC and NPR. I have looked at some of her other reports and she is obviously pro-rebel and anti-Assad. She is now writing for Mint press, a Shia-advocacy site known to be anti-American, anti-Saudi and anti-Israel.
ReplyDeleteC'mon Bernie,
If she is so "pro-rebel and anti-Assad" why write a story about the rebels being responsible?
Stop spinning and throwing out BS. Did you take the time to actually visit Mint Press and read the stories?
Try this one. It's sooooo anti-Israel. You can see the site obviously hates Jews. You'll find the rest of the site is sooooo anti-American.
http://www.minnpost.com/stroll/2012/11/cluster-jewish-cemeteries-once-among-farmlands-now-rest-suburbia
"3:07, It is the same frickin' story, by the same frickin' reporter."
ReplyDeleteNo shit. I said that, Brainiac.
Just because everyone knows you're wrong on this subject and is taking you to task, don't get all pissy.
Are you really thant dumb?
ReplyDeleteYou are confusing the Minnesota Post with the Mint Press News.
Now you know why MM refuses to publish many of the comments he gets. They are incredibly stupid.
Are you really thant dumb?
ReplyDeleteApparently so, but not so bullheaded to apologize when I make a mistake. I jumped to a link promoted on the site and it took me there and started reading.
Hope you'll be so accommodating when you realize you're wrong.
We now know that Dale Gavlak, the reporter who is claiming that rebels gassed themselves, wasn't there and wrote her story from Jordan.
ReplyDelete"Clarification: Dale Gavlak assisted in the research and writing process of this article, but was not on the ground in Syria. Reporter Yahya Ababneh, with whom the report was written in collaboration, was the correspondent on the ground in Ghouta who spoke directly with the rebels, their family members, victims of the chemical weapons attacks and local residents.
Gavlak is a MintPress News Middle East correspondent who has been freelancing for the AP as a Amman, Jordan correspondent for nearly a decade. This report is not an Associated Press article; rather it is exclusive to MintPress News."
This reporter is full of shit. He does not even have the right nerve agent. His previous reports have been for propaganda papers that praised the 9/11 attacks. Now he is writing for an online news source that is very mysterious.
"What about Mint Press News itself? When it was founded in late 2011, it came out with a bang, going on a hiring spree across the media landscape. What was puzzling was simply how were they able to do it? The companies founder worked for a local NBC affiliate, being known for wearing traditional Islamic garb on-air, yet somehow she burst onto the international scene, with apparent access to large reserves of money to support this start-up. They are a near mystery, with no indications as to who is actually financing them. Yet, their new voice was given a boost by Russia’s nationally owned and operated news broadcaster, Voice of Russia. This all sounds a little too convenient."
Read more: http://www.addictinginfo.org/2013/09/02/russia-pushes-story-attempting-to-blame-chemical-weapons-attack-on-syrian-rebels/#ixzz2dlbxHh00
I would be interested in you answering the question you avoided when slamming the anonymous commenter about the wrong website linked to.
ReplyDeleteIf Gavlik is so pro-rebel and anti-Assad why did she write a story about the rebels being responsible?
"Are we? Or will Obama go to Congress, hat in hand, and say "May I?" 3:25 PM"
ReplyDeleteThe 1952
U.S.-Israeli Mutual Defense Assistance Agreement
The President want's to be able to spread the blame equally amongst the member's of Congress, if this action results in a larger conflict, resulting in American's dying.
Ostensibly....
"If Gavlik is so pro-rebel and anti-Assad why did she write a story about the rebels being responsible?"
ReplyDeleteDid you bother reading the story? The claim is that the rebels were supplied by the Saudis (Russian enemy), not told they were chemical weapons and accidentally set them off. It is ridiculous on its face, which is just one of many reasons why no real paper will go with this story. Anyone who has been in the military, likely not you, knows damn well the difference between chemical and other weapons.
BOH knows more than the local Syrian community.
ReplyDeleteBernie Knows FOR A FACT what is going on in Syria.
Bernie knows more than the UN ABC experts!
ReplyDeleteAnonymous said...
ReplyDeleteValleys Syrians say NO!
Valley Jews saw BOMB!
8:36 AM
@ 8:36 a.m., i don't think any valley jews said to bomb, especially since syria has said it would respond by striking israel. israel has been handing out gas masks ever since obama said that syria crossed a red line, implying an impending USA response. i wrote a blog post condemning obama for his vacillation, but i certainly don't speak for any jew beyond myself. i could have accepted (but not approved) of obama not responding to the massacre, but once articulated, his waffling will now be his legacy.
I think our local Syrian community has been a big positive for the Lehigh Valley. It's a big, hard-working and religious community. They have LOTS of family over there. Their opinion means a lot to me.
ReplyDeleteQuestion . . how unified are our Syrian neighbors over this situation?
@ 4:25 PM
ReplyDeleteYour hard earned tax dollars are about to explode, in a Foreign country, for which you will gain nothing in return.
Life is so shitty living in the LV because it is financially broke. Where did the Money go?
@4:32, apparently you don't read the local paper, which just did a feature on your very question.
ReplyDeletethe local syrian community is in a very difficult position to be objective. if assad falls, their close relatives will most likely be an unprotected minority in a state of anarchy. they need our prayers.
We here at home are proud of Father Alex. He has been over in Syria in the camps tending to the needs of the refugees. He had some horror stories to tell when he came back to the States. He is the one whose opinion I would like to hear.
ReplyDeleteActually, wiseass, Father Alex has just returned from a visit to Lebanon, where he did speak to many refugees. But I would caution him against commenting here and exposing himself to haters like you.
ReplyDeleteThe claim is that the rebels were supplied by the Saudis (Russian enemy), not told they were chemical weapons and accidentally set them off. It is ridiculous on its face, which is just one of many reasons why no real paper will go with this story. Anyone who has been in the military, likely not you, knows damn well the difference between chemical and other weapons.
ReplyDeleteBernie, you being asshole is showing. To preface, I did serve in the military and those who have never seen a chemical shell probably wouldn't know what was inside if it wasn't plainly marked as such. Just like you wouldn't know you were looking at a nuclear REV if you tripped over it.
So, according to you, the writer throws her friends, the rebels, under the bus by blaming them and hopefully preventing U.S. intervention against her enemy, Assad. All to implicate the Saudis.
But hey, it's your blog. I'll leave you to convince everyone else we need to get involved in another Middle East civil war.
And you call others idiots.
I'm not calling others idiots. Just you. I doubt very much you served in the military, unless it was the Russian military. Those of us who did know there is a big difference between between a chemical weapon and others. They look different, are marked different, and even feel different. Only a moron could buy the story being floated in a pro-Putin propaganda piece. And no, rebels would not be so foolish as to "accidentally" set off weapons with which we are unfamiliar. This is nonsense on its face. It's why no real news source gives it credibility. Only idiots.
ReplyDeletehttp://youtu.be/8cqMKZVEvP8
ReplyDeletein addition to the christian community being protected by assad, there is also the remnant (about 50 older men) of an ancient jewish community in damascus, also under assad's protection. small jewish communities still exist in some arab countries.
ReplyDeleteMr Molovinsky,
ReplyDeleteTraditionally, Hebrew's protect their own. If this community, of which you speak , is crucial to the Hebrew faith, arrangement's will be made to extract/protect them.
The Bush neo-cons have all become Doves. What a difference a Black Democratic President makes.
ReplyDeleteThat's a fair criticism, and it is equally fair to note that Obama is a phony whose flipflop on foreign policy will hurt us all.
ReplyDeleteCongress is like the barking dog chasing a car, when it comes to anything the President proposes. Now he has decided to stop the car and let the dog catch up, lets see what it does.
ReplyDeleteTough dog?
clinton@5:45, i thought my comment at 5:31 was an interesting tidbit to the dialogue. however, your comment is so full of stereotypes, that it begs a reply. although the world knows of the palestinian refugees, little thought is given to the jewish refugees. about 800,000 jew were displaced from arab lands to israel between 1948 and the early 1950's, often with just the clothes on their back. israel did launch some notable mass rescues. most of the jews who now remain in arab lands are there by choice. the jews of damascus are on their own, as they have been for decades.
ReplyDeleteHow many drivers do you know who stop bc barking dogs are chasing them? Obama has made a fool out of himself, but also has made a fool out of this country.
ReplyDelete@ "most of the jews who now remain in arab lands are there by choice. the jews of damascus are on their own, as they have been for decades. 6:50 PM"
ReplyDeleteThe connotation of the Statue of Liberty & Cuban amnesty/citizenship, mean's you reach the shore's of America.
"about 800,000 jew were displaced from arab lands to israel between 1948 "
ReplyDeleteisrael declared independence in 1948 & we accepted it.
Why are we bitching now?
Maybe bc those 800,000 people, many of whom already had homes and jobs, didn't like being yanked away.
ReplyDeleteTens of thousands Syriac Christians – members of the oldest Christian community in the world – have fled their ancestral provinces of Deir al-Zour and Hasakah in northeastern Syria, residents have said.
ReplyDelete"It breaks my heart to think how our long history is being uprooted," said Ishow Goriye, the head of a Syriac Christian political Hasakah.
Mr Goriye, told newspaper reporters that over the past two years he has watched as Christian families from Hasakah pack their possessions on the rooftops of their vehicles and flee their homes "with little plan to come back".
Conflict in the area, desperate economic conditions, lawlessness, and persecution by rebel groups born from the perception that Christians support the regime, remain the main reasons for why Christian families are fleeing the area.
The growing presence of radical jihadist groups, including al-Qaeda, has also seen Christians targeted.
"It began as kidnapping for money, but then they started telling me I should worship Allah," a male Christian resident of Hasakah who was kidnapped by jihadists said.
"I was with five others. We were tied and blindfolded and pushed down on our knees. One of the kidnappers leant so close to my face I could feel his breath. He hissed: 'Why don't you become a Muslim? Then you can be free'."
Another Christian in Hasakah said he knew of "five forced conversions" in recent weeks.
Mr Goriye's Christian 'Syriac Union' party has long been in opposition to President Bashar al-Assad's regime.
While speaking to newspaper reporters, its members were loath to criticize the opposition rebels, but many confessed that the situation had become "too bad" not to talk about it.
Hasakah and other towns in northeastern Syria have long been one of the main population centers for Christians, who make up approximately 10 per cent of the country's population. Residents estimate that at least a third of Christians in northeastern Syria have fled, with few expecting to return.
One Hasakah resident who has now escaped the area said: "Rebels said we had to pay money for the revolution. My cousin is a farmer, and wanted to check on his land. I warned him he should take armed security but he refused. A group kidnapped him in the barn of his farm. We had to pay $60,000 [£52,000] for his release. They are milking the Christians".
Though accused by some opposition groups of supporting Mr Assad, much of Syria's Christian community has avoided "choosing sides" in the war, seeking self-preservation in neutrality.
Dennis Pearson --- Being asked to turn Muslim means the rejection of Jesus Christ as the Messiah ... A devout Christian could never do that ... In fact in an earlier epoch many people from the Alsace-Lorraine area of Europe and the Holy Roman Empire faced a life/death or slavery question over whether to come back to the Catholic faith after they turned Protestant. Many were killed, others were put into slavery, there children taken away from them and if they were able to they fled to America... I ask - has the world really changed?
neither did the 6-9 million during hitler, or the 25 million that disappeared behind "the Iron Curtain" durin Stalin.
ReplyDeleteLogic & Reason are not mainstay's of religous fanatic's. They speak to GOD directly. Is our democracy going to stop that?
the jews in the arab lands lived under oppression in the good times, and persecution in the bad. when israel was declared in 48, the atmosphere in the arab lands became very hostile. they fled the hostility, and israel absorbed close to a million people.
ReplyDelete""It breaks my heart to think how our long history is being uprooted," said Ishow Goriye, the head of a Syriac Christian political Hasakah."
ReplyDeleteDidn't Easton destroy the Lebanonese communities Housing, in the 1970's?
Yes, it did. A terrible mistake, in my view.
ReplyDelete@ "when israel was declared in 48, the atmosphere in the arab lands became very hostile. they fled the hostility, and israel absorbed close to a million people."
ReplyDeletePlease, let us not get the story twisted....The Chosen One's returned to the Promised Land. That is why it was Declared!
They have been removing the opposition, ever since.
http://youtu.be/17yupESOaC4
ReplyDeleteCourtesy of the tax-paying citizen's of NORCO County
Multiculturalism only work's out, if, in the word's of Rodney King....Can't we all just get along?
ReplyDeleteLet us know when you push your grandkid into the military to serve in the Middle East, Bernie. We'll still be involved 20 years from now.
ReplyDeleteYou're quick to advocate putting others children in harms way, you moron.
Really? What part of "no boots on the ground" do you fail to understand? Obama was pretty clear that no ground forces will be committed. I doubt that a single life would be lost. But I would be delighted to see my grandson enter the military, a very noble profession. I also served myself.
ReplyDeleteHOME: the place you are not, because you are chasing the Almighty Dollar; to pay your taxes.
ReplyDeleteIt deserves being said: Chasing intellectual pursuit's is not sustaining, if your basic need's aren't met. Which one of us/ya'll, is going to pay back the 16.9 trillion already owed?
ReplyDeleteIf our identity is theifed....insurance will pay for it!
America #1
*thiefed*
ReplyDeleteIt still comes down to the fact that those who would like to see the president order strikes, which could then escalate into further action, see the U.S. as the world's policeman.
ReplyDeleteAnd yet, we know for a fact that there have been many instances, in many countries, where atrocities have been ignored. When no U.S. corporate interests were at stake, or it was within their interests to have atrocities ignored.
You will have to excuse the common citizen for not wanting involvement in yet another fiasco which is not a direct threat to the U.S. Can anyone blame the majority of U.S. common folk for not wanting to risk the lives of their sons, daughters, and loved ones for people who may in the near future turn around and try and kill them?
I feel horrible about the death of innocents. But I also feel the injustice for those who must face death, die, and are crippled for the high morals of political desk jockeys.
If you think we should sit on our hands, you obviously don't feel horrible. You are no better than those who step over someone who has fainted and fallen on a sidewalk, bc it has nothing to do with you. I believe we always have an obligation to respond, whether it is Rwanda or Syria. It is a basic question of human decency and what we actually stand for. I do not subscribe to the Realpolitik of Henry Kissinger, but believe we are a great nation precisely bc, historically, we have cared.
ReplyDelete9:01
ReplyDeleteWe pay our taxes to provide service's to us. Something is not working correctly, in county gov't.
Bernie
ReplyDeleteYou advocate a swift and limited strike to degrade Assad's ability to gas his own people.
Well guess what? The window's closed on that option. If that's what Obama wanted to do, you don't announce it, or take it to Congress, or take or to the UN. You just do it to minimize the risk to your own troops and your allies in the region. Obama has done just the opposite.
And to those crying that the opposition to Obama's strategy (if there is one) is because he's black, get a grip.
The opposition to the current course of action is because it is incompetent and it ends up getting our people or our allies' people killed.
Ever since Schwarzkopf allowed our intentions to be televized, Troop Security has been compromised.
ReplyDeleteObama denies it, but I suspect you are right. Elliot Abrams echoes your concerns in a recent op-ed, entitled "How not to run a foreign policy."
ReplyDeleteI believe we have to launch a strike, now more than ever. But Obama has made us unbelievable and untrustworthy.
"Who, in Jerusalem or Tehran, will now believe that “all options are on the table” and that the president might really use military force to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons? Which neighbor of China, facing that nation’s rising military power and hoping for America to offset it, will now believe that the “pivot to Asia” has any real military content? Who in Moscow or Beijing will now think this president is a leader who must be feared?"
North Korea aquired nuclear weapons, & all we did was talk the situation to death @ a future date
ReplyDeleteWhether you know it or not, we are proud of Father Alex. He WAS helping the Syrian Refuges in Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan. He stayed in a refugee camp in Jordan and needed the assistance of the Vatican and the U.S. Embassy to get out of Lebanon. He had his U.S. passport instead of his Lebanese passport with him. His American passport should that he was in Israel last year. He was detained for several days and treated poorly, because he had an American, a Lebanese, and a Vatican passports. They thought he was a spy, until he was forced to prove he was a priest. He never told me how he proved it. But his stories of the refugees conditions were apalling. I think the government beat him and didnt feed him. He looked terrible and haggared upon his return.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteFather Alex is a very good person. OI know he just got back bc he dropped me a message to say so. Unfortunately, he is subjected to as much vilification here in the Blogosphere as he was in the Middle East. I'd love to tell his story and will contact him. I just don't want him to post it as a comment here bc haters like the Blog Mentor will come out and attack him. Anonymously, of course, like the cowards they are.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteUnable to argue facts, you resort to the personal attack. Anonymously, of course.
ReplyDeleteStick to your blogging about MezzacRaZy and Gregogoon. You're better at that, than you are at trying to convince people we need to get involved in Syria.
ReplyDeleteCuban missile crisis? Obama would probably do as JFK did and avoid military involvement much to the chagrin of the military leaders.
ReplyDeleteBTW, what's wrong with getting Congressional approval? W did in Iraq. This Republican house demanded it. So Obama is giving it to them. Nothing wrong with putting these chickenhawks on record.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, we should do nothing, but the line was laid and we must now back it up. Moral? Don't lay lines.
What's wrong with getting Congressional approval is (1) it demonstrates weakness; and (2) it gives Assad time to do exactly what he is doing right now, i.e. moving things around.
ReplyDeleteObama felt no moral need to get Congressional approval when we went into Libya with 100 cruise missiles, 12 U.S. Navy ships in the Mediterranean, and 75 U.S. Air Force and Navy aircraft including B-2 bombers.
http://www.politico.com/story/2013/09/how-not-to-run-a-foreign-policy-96147.html#ixzz2dqIlYC5u
Who else gassed these innocent people? It was Assad pure and simple. But as Egypt proved, tyranny loves a vacuum. If Assad is forced out we will have another Islamic republic where Christians and others will be persecuted. Best to stay out of this mess for now.
ReplyDeleteIf it was Assad, why was there no footage of dead soldiers and only civilian women and children? Why on earth would Assad target innocent civilians for no apparent reason?
Libya is a BIT different geopolitically than Syria, no? Why did Bush get Congressional approval for Iraq? Because it was a monumental step that will lead to further repercussions. And Obama was ready to act, I believe, until the Republicans started whining about getting approval. I see nothing wrong with waiting and being cautious on this one. Yosemite Sam reactions helps nothing. As for moving things around, no one is even 100% confident Assad did this.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteI think our local Syrian community has been a big positive for the Lehigh Valley. It's a big, hard-working and religious community. They have LOTS of family over there. Their opinion means a lot to me.
Being "religious" is a "big positive"? Look around and assess the world's problems and then reassess your statement. It is exactly what is wrong with society.
"Libya is a BIT different geopolitically than Syria, no?"
ReplyDeleteNo, Both are in the Middele East.Both had monsters at the helm. And in Syria, a dictator is gassing his own people.
How many drivers do you know who stop bc barking dogs are chasing them? Obama has made a fool out of himself, but also has made a fool out of this country.
ReplyDeleteThis is absolutely ridiculous. The entire world knows the resolve of the United States and any momentary political discourse is just that. Bush waited months to attack Iraq. Your statement reeks of disdain for the President and is completely unfair. Hasty measures lead to sloppy results.
You are correct. I do disdain a President who makes this nation a laughing stock, and who fails to keep his word.
DeleteNo, Both are in the Middele East.Both had monsters at the helm. And in Syria, a dictator is gassing his own people.
ReplyDeleteAnd only one of them is tied closely with Russia and Iran. C'mon. This is elementary stuff. To top it off, Obama dealt with the Libyan insurgence through indirect support of the UN to a direct attack. Libya was at the cusp of winning the revolution as well. They couldn't be more different.
If you think we should sit on our hands, you obviously don't feel horrible. You are no better than those who step over someone who has fainted and fallen on a sidewalk, bc it has nothing to do with you. I believe we always have an obligation to respond, whether it is Rwanda or Syria. It is a basic question of human decency and what we actually stand for. I do not subscribe to the Realpolitik of Henry Kissinger, but believe we are a great nation precisely bc, historically, we have cared.
ReplyDeleteSo since the rest of the world never does anything, I suppose the entire world is uncaring? This is so full of American jingoism, it's nauseating.
Where's independent proof of chemical weapons? We've only heard from our State Department. They have serious credibility issues. Obama made a short legislative career out of voting "present" to avoid being pinned down on tough issues. This is a politician who happens to be our president voting present. It is just as well because there is no independent proof of chemical weapons use by Syria.
ReplyDeleteMaybe you'd prefer the "independent" proof offered by Vladimir Putin. There is ample evidence already, and that is being made more clear every day.
ReplyDeleteTeabaggers don't believe anything this President says Bernie. Sadly, they do believe Putin over this Admisntration. Crazy people.
ReplyDeleteJust because I don't believe the current administration doesn't mean I'll only accept information from Putin. That Putin is the best rhetorical counter you can make to questions about our own government's credibility speaks volumes about the current administration's problems with convincing anybody that they are being honest or know what they're doing. We all know there is no way this country would ever go to war over a phony chemical weapons charge right?
ReplyDeleteJust remember, there are Russian soldiers all over that region of Syria. Many of them are manning Syria's missile defense installations.
ReplyDeleteRussians and Syrian civilians WILL be killed.
If you have full faith that our current administration is prepared enough at this time to respond to the blow back that can come from this action, enjoy the show.
I think the President's mouth, wrote a check, that his ass doesn't want to cash.
ReplyDeleteCongress won't vote until Sept. 9th. The sense of urgency is removed with the passage of time.
As America prepares to mourn the destructive event of Sept. 11, we prepare to unleash one, in another country, simultaneously. Which one will get more new's coverage?
4;15, On Sunday, Assad airstrikes targeted civilians standing in line for bread. You are suggesting we hold off bc Russian advisers are there? Are you sure you aren't Vladimir Putin?
ReplyDeleteJohn Kerry has just stated that the option of "boots on the ground" is not off the table; if, a large cache of WMD's are found, for our security.
ReplyDeleteDeja' Vu Iraq.
No, I am not Putin, but I am DIS-Putin it is wise to strike Syria at this time!
ReplyDeleteWe are a weaker America than we were a few years ago.
I think the game changed completely when the British Parliament voted to NOT support the United States.
ReplyDeleteRemoving this from the discussion only shows the lack of understanding of the issues at hand.
Stay out of Syria as well as cut all foreign aid. We are struggling here in America. That should be the priority
ReplyDeleteIf we get involved in Syria it may be the camel that breaks our collective straw backs and gets people demonstrating in numbers, just as we did during Vietnam.
ReplyDeleteEnough with peacetime vets like Bernie who hawk military action in places we have no business being.
Our government wants to get involved with Syria because it's the link that will take us into Iran.b