Syria

[tut]

Apart from anything, Assad is a chinless looking squirt, would have been bullied rotten at an English school.

At least Saddam Hussein, Gaddafi, Osama Bin Laden looked the part, he looks like a big girls blouse.

tut

[kenny]

Apart from anything, Assad is a chinless looking squirt, would have been bullied rotten at an English school.

His wife is quite hot mind you.

The middle east baffles me. I can't quite decide who we are supporting. Assad is a baddy, cos he is bff with Iran, who are baddies and got support from Russia, sorta goodies these days but Putin is a baddy, and the chinese kinda mucker up on his side too. Then there are the rebels who are supposed to be the goodies but are apparently backed by Al qaeda who are baddies.

Which ones are on my team?

Swinging towards the opinion that the massive clusterfcuk that is the middle east should be left to their own devices to sort out their medieval tribal battles by themselves.

[tut]

Swinging that way myself Kenny, and yes, must admit I would slip her one.

tut

[kenny]

If SE was in charge of foreign relations and international diplomacy...

and yes, must admit I would slip her one.

[robin]

If SE was in charge of foreign relations and international diplomacy...

His wife is quite hot mind you.

yes, must admit I would slip her one.

[robin]

Swinging towards the opinion that the massive clusterfcuk that is the middle east should be left to their own devices to sort out their medieval tribal battles by themselves.

That's certainly a point of view that is comfortable.

Two problems with it -

(1) The middle east in its current guise is largely an invention of the west, and if we left them to sort themselves out, several states would probably vanish - e.g. Israel.
(2) Oil - perhaps mitigated by the dash for shale and its pals.
(3) [OK, I lied with it being two problems] if you think so-called Islamic Fundamentalists are a problem now ...

I don't have a better solution, mind you!

Cheers,
Robin

[H8OAG]

Another one for the leave them to it faction..............


Syrians have been squabbling with everyone since 10,000 BC............ and now have turned to fighting amongst themselves.
Intervention in civil wars is not always a good strategy as they tend to be long drawn out affairs.
I was speaking to a group of visitors from Ohio (Crieff Highland Games are twinned with Ohio Scottish Games) and they are bemused by the fact that their President's
keep wanting to intervene in other countries affairs. They also were quick to point out that the UK does not have its troubles to seek either.
(They had visited Belfast, stayed in a city centre hotel and got caught up in the street riots where 54 Police Officers were injured)
I tend to agree with their view that the UK government needs to look closer to home and sort out the rising troubles in Northern Ireland.
Granted one side is not bombing the other with chemical weapons, but bombings and random shooting of Police Officers and opposing factions are becoming more prevalent.

[Gareth]

I tend to agree with their view that the UK government needs to look closer to home and sort out the rising troubles in Northern Ireland.
Granted one side is not bombing the other with chemical weapons, but bombings and random shooting of Police Officers and opposing factions are becoming more prevalent.

I was under the impression NI was fixed now...?
Gerry and McG are goodies now.....pals with the Queen.

[Rosssco]

This isn't really about Syria though is it.. Its about:

1) Showing that American foreign policy still has teeth, primarily directed at Iran, North Korea, and perhaps to a lesser extent, China (as a growing power)
2) Indicating that the use of CW or WMD's (in what ever form) will not be tolerated, primarily by America (as the UN is toothless and relatively useless with the exception of handing out tents)

Syria has become nothing more than a proxy war between regional powers, and therein lies the risk of tipping the balance of showing too much support for one faction over the other. I have no problems in "punishing" a dictatorship if they have used WMD's, but the likelyhood is that this will inflame the existing proxy war, and lead to those countries that support one side or the other upping its support.. For instance, the Russians may choose (a bit like they did in Vietnam) to increase their military support / supply..

The biggest mistake was the public declaration of the "Red-line" by Obama. This threat should have been made privately only, as I think they thought he wouldn't use them. No they cannot back-track for fear of looking feable, hence the Tomohawks will start flying.