Ken 119 Posted April 7, 2017 Share Posted April 7, 2017 We (the West) could've snapped Assad like a twig 3-4 years ago when he was on the brink, but we stood by and did nothing. Now that he's already retaken Aleppo, butchered a quarter of his people and sent another quarter fleeing through Turkey to Europe, feeding the likes of Wilders, Orhan, Le Pen and Farage, NOW some gas is a step too far. A handful of missiles are too little, too late. This is a show of force to prove Trump's independence from Russia and make him look decisive and presidential. He won't escalate in Syria. He won't stop Assad, any more than Obama did. Yeah spot on. It is designed to show that he is assertive when it comes to international affairs, Assad thought he had free reign when Trump got into power as he stated that he had no business there when he came into office, and recently as last week too, and that he was focused on internal affairs rather than external. It only emboldened Assad which explains why his war strategy includes cruelty like poison gas and blockade/bomb/starvation methods to defeat and oppress his opposition. This strike has allowed Trump the opportunity to get on his moral high horse and to make him look human at the same time. Good guys, bad guys mentality. It also serves as a warning to China and North Korea; Firstly for China who are expanding their influence in international waters within the South China Sea which China claims in its entirety. Also to North Korea who continue to develop nuclear weapons, and who are suspected of having chemical weapons (by the method in which Kim's brother was assassinated in Malaysia) and also the deliver systems (submarines and ballistic missiles) to lob these payloads to their targets which is getting closer to mainland America very month it seems. Like Assad, North Korea's gangster leadership could have been destroyed in the 90's before having developed such dangerous toys. Any military action taken against them now would be catastrophic and unprecedented when it comes to potential loss of life and destruction. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex 30212 Posted April 7, 2017 Share Posted April 7, 2017 Seems like a horribly callous thing to say but we might as well keep out of the likes of Syria (and the same probably applies to North Korea) since the removal of 'rogue' heads of state due to western intervention seems to have made things worse anyway. It's lose-lose, but at least in the case of non-intervention, we minimise our losses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rayvin 4948 Posted April 7, 2017 Share Posted April 7, 2017 Seems like a horribly callous thing to say but we might as well keep out of the likes of Syria (and the same probably applies to North Korea) since the removal of 'rogue' heads of state due to western intervention seems to have made things worse anyway. It's lose-lose, but at least in the case of non-intervention, we minimise our losses. Absolutely agree, but surely if we don't stand tall in the face of chemical weapons, we run the risk of a very real race to the bottom. It might not be our problem but we have to live in the same world as these people. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken 119 Posted April 7, 2017 Share Posted April 7, 2017 Seems like a horribly callous thing to say but we might as well keep out of the likes of Syria (and the same probably applies to North Korea) since the removal of 'rogue' heads of state due to western intervention seems to have made things worse anyway. It's lose-lose, but at least in the case of non-intervention, we minimise our losses. I don't think Trump cares about Syria tbh, but North Korea is different and more serious. He has made it quite clear with his words and now also his actions. More than a coincidence that this missile attack on Syria was happening at exactly the same time Trump and China's Premier were having dinner in his hotel. It is a clear message to China - stop expanding and re-writing the rules in the South China Sea and do something to reign in North Korea or else... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex 30212 Posted April 7, 2017 Share Posted April 7, 2017 Didn't really word that as I should've since North Korea isn't a viable option anyway, more in response to your comments about how the issue could've maybe been tackled a couple of decades back but the post-conflict state-building would've been the absolute shitshow it always is when the yanks wade in Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken 119 Posted April 7, 2017 Share Posted April 7, 2017 Back then before NK had WMD's is better than now though. Agree, impossible to do anything now. Well, any rational person would think so. But Trump acts on the go and he wants a resolution to this either way - diplomatically or militarily it would seem before he leaves office. China aren't the type to cave in and do what America says. Who is to say what will happen tbh. Genuinely scary times. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex 30212 Posted April 7, 2017 Share Posted April 7, 2017 Not really that bothered about it if we're being honest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Gloom 19716 Posted April 7, 2017 Share Posted April 7, 2017 (edited) Unlike Iraq, this is one where we could have legitimately invaded on the pretext of wmds. Edited April 7, 2017 by Dr Gloom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken 119 Posted April 7, 2017 Share Posted April 7, 2017 Unlike Iraq, this is one where we could have legitamely invaded on the pretext of wmds. True. But we won't. Trump knows Iraq was a big fuck up that cost loads of money. He won't make that mistake again. If there will be anymore strikes they'll be like the one yesterday and that will only happen if Assad or anyone else uses them again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Face 29 Posted April 7, 2017 Author Share Posted April 7, 2017 @@Happy Face What do you make of these guys? https://off-guardian.org/ Definitely looks worth a subscription on inoreader. Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ewerk 26116 Posted April 7, 2017 Share Posted April 7, 2017 True. But we won't. Trump knows Iraq was a big fuck up that cost loads of money. He won't make that mistake again. If there will be anymore strikes they'll be like the one yesterday and that will only happen if Assad or anyone else uses them again. It's not like Trump has just pumped a shitload of money into defense. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anorthernsoul 1221 Posted April 7, 2017 Share Posted April 7, 2017 Russia gets Syria to use chemical weapons/fakes use of them. $100m of cruise missiles target evacuated base. Trumps all time low approval ratings rise a tiny bit. Trump looks less like compromised Putin stooge (to simpletons) Russia sells more equipment to Syria to replace what was destroyed. Putin wins again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken 119 Posted April 7, 2017 Share Posted April 7, 2017 It's not like Trump has just pumped a shitload of money into defense. What I meant was a successful invasion requires long term occupation and rebuild afterwards. Goes against his mantra of "making America strong again". Russia wouldn't have it anyway. They won't give up their influence there. And China are about to launch their second aircraft carrier and may want to stick their nose in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Face 29 Posted April 7, 2017 Author Share Posted April 7, 2017 Lhttps://twitter.com/adamjohnsonNYC/status/850206506205102080?s=09 Good job the media learned its lessons from Iraq. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Park Life 70 Posted April 8, 2017 Share Posted April 8, 2017 It's funny how all these Syria articles never mention the money and logistics coming from Saudi and the Gulf States, the flow of other support through Turkey and so on....It's very rare where the focus of an article is on Isis logistics and how to stop it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ohhh_yeah 2758 Posted April 9, 2017 Share Posted April 9, 2017 Making his second move. "The US Navy Carl Vinson strike group, which includes an aircraft carrier, will make its way from Singapore toward the Korean Peninsula according to a US official." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rayvin 4948 Posted April 9, 2017 Share Posted April 9, 2017 I find the North Korea stance a bit bewildering. Has NK even done anything lately to warrant a response? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Park Life 70 Posted April 9, 2017 Share Posted April 9, 2017 Kim released that concept album last week. 6hrs of 70's synths and his speeches looped. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Park Life 70 Posted April 9, 2017 Share Posted April 9, 2017 I didn't realise this Tillerson geezer was ex-Exxon Mobil. Maybe they will get that pipeline through Syria now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Gloom 19716 Posted April 9, 2017 Share Posted April 9, 2017 A key player in the richest cabinet ever assembled by a US president. Draining the swamp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Park Life 70 Posted April 9, 2017 Share Posted April 9, 2017 (edited) This 'Nicky Haley' seems like the new Trump nutter at the U.N. says U.N. spends too much time worrying about Israel and there shouldn't even be a Palestinian committee. The Trump admin is becoming too target rich for even me to resist. “For too long, the U.N. has been unfairly biased in favour of the Palestinian Authority to the detriment of our allies in Israel,” Haley said. "Going forward, the United States will act, not just talk, in support of our allies." http://www.newsweek.com/trump-un-ambassador-nikki-haley-pledges-end-israel-bashing-575092 Edited April 9, 2017 by Park Life Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Gloom 19716 Posted April 9, 2017 Share Posted April 9, 2017 (edited) Going to shift the embassy to Jerusalem too, which is obviously great news for the comatose peace process Edited April 9, 2017 by Dr Gloom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tooj 17 Posted April 9, 2017 Share Posted April 9, 2017 Too much time worried about Palestine ffs. Obviously there's blame on both sides but people like that who can't see the wrong in what Israel do need a reality check. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Park Life 70 Posted April 9, 2017 Share Posted April 9, 2017 (edited) Trump base in full rebellion. Anti-intervention Bannon removal making sense now. Edited April 9, 2017 by Park Life Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken 119 Posted April 9, 2017 Share Posted April 9, 2017 I find the North Korea stance a bit bewildering. Has NK even done anything lately to warrant a response? They've been lobbing ballistic missiles into the Sea of Japan quite frequently over the last year. NK are speculated to test fire an ICBM on April 15 - a day they call the Day of the Sun - the founding ruler's 105th anniversary, and they're a about a year away from being able to put one of these nuke tips onto an ICBM which can reach mainland America. They are also planning to detonate their 6th nuke bomb soon. Satellite images suggest they are ramping up efforts to do this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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