Syria: daily events - US envolvement

[Zacha341]

Various articles and coverage [[updated):

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/syria/

McManus: Obama, Syria and the Aspin Doctrine

From article:

There's a precedent President Obama can follow in his approach to Syria known as the Aspin Doctrine, named after President Clinton's first secretary of defense, Les Aspin. The doctrine states that military intervention doesn't have to be a slippery slope as long as you keep the option of walking away.

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/...6767132.column

President Obama will discuss US-Syria relations at G8 summit

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013...#ixzz2WOLsxR6z

[JBMcB]

Based on our track record over there, staying the hell out seems like a fantastic option.

[oladub]

The doctrine states that military intervention doesn't have to be a slippery slope as long as you keep the option of walking away.

President Obama's executive order bombing of Libya contributed to the Islamist invasion of Mali, Benghazi, and attacks on blacks in Libya. Maybe contributing weapons to Al Queda factions will work out better than bombing Libya or handing out rifles to Mexican drug lords. Meanwhile, Iran is contributing 4,000 soldiers to fight for the Syrian government. Russia is contributing weapons to The Syrian government. How could the President's initiative possibly go wrong?

Just in case it does go wrong, or for eventual Democratic votes, or whatever, the President is considering inviting Syrian refugees to come live in the US.

[Bobl]

Let's see: The invasion of Iraq made billions for war profiteers, resulted in the expulsion of virtually all Christians, and elevated Iran's status.
Why not try again, this time in Syria?
Forgive the sarcasm, folks.

[Honky Tonk]

Too little too late, IMO. They should have quietly amputated right @ the beginning. You're right, now it's going to turn into another drawn out pissing match amongst all the powers concerned. War, our GNP.

[Papasito]

Sarah Palin said something wise for once over the weekend:
"Let Allah Sort It Out"

I don't have a problem with that. The Syrian opposition is partially run by the Muslim Brotherhood, the Muslim Brotherhood run Egypt, and there is plenty of backing right in the Middle East for this opposition to get backed without the US getting involved.

Syria is a tiny little country that can not defeat us, the Syrian uprising is not a direct national security threat, and we need to stop being the world's policeman when our own budgetary needs can not be met, our standard of living is slipping, and our country has it's own set of problems.

Let Allah and the Middle East handle this.
We have our own domestic problems.

[TKshreve]

the Syrian uprising is not a direct national security threat,

I've heard quite the contrary. Perhaps you can back that claim?

I agree with the rest of your post however.

[Papasito]

Perhaps you can back that claim?

Syria has no chance of conquering the United States. Syria is not about to declare war against the US under an Assad regime. We would crush them.

Assad has human rights violations and is an all around bad guy, but an Assad victory over the "Free Syrian Army" would be a defeat of Al Queda and Muslim Brotherhood forces, so it's not really all that bad.

The question is: Do we want a dictator like Assad in power of Syria, or do we want Al Queda and the Muslim Brotherhood in charge of Syria?

Personally, I don't think it's worth millions of taxpayer dollars and American lives to influence this outcome. We need to stay out of the internal business of other regions, and stop playing Bush-Cheney World Police.

[rb336]

I've heard quite the contrary. Perhaps you can back that claim?

I agree with the rest of your post however.

How is Syria a DIRECT threat to us? They have a third-rate army [[a tad over 100K men), a third-rate air force and a navy barely worth mentioning. at their most productive, their oil industry produced barely 3% of US consumption [[600k bbl/day v 19.5 million bbl/day). Israel and Turkey could both wipe them off the map in a couple of days.

BTW - a significant % of Syria's xtian population are palestinian refugees from israel

[TKshreve]

I was alluding to the fallout, and who would be left "in charge" should the FSA actually prevail in this civil war. If Al Qaeda and its alliances were to assume control of Syria, would that not have dire consequences to the U.S.'s future. After all, the Middle East is seemingly rife with civil unrest and who assumes control when the dust settles has a lasting impact on our national security moving forward.

As seen in Afghanistan, Libya, Egypt and Iraq...... these are not friendly territories no mater how much assistance the US did or did not provide to them during their overthrowing of the then-in-place regimes.

Bottom line; with veiled puppet governments in place, many of these religiously charged groups can plot against the US for future terrorist strikes.

Saddam [[with all his human rights violations) kept his backyard in control. The same was said for many of those other mid-east countries. Benghazi could be contributed to the aftermath of such upheavals.

[rb336]

I was alluding to the fallout, and who would be left "in charge" should the FSA actually prevail in this civil war. If Al Qaeda and its alliances were to assume control of Syria, would that not have dire consequences to the U.S.'s future. After all, the Middle East is seemingly rife with civil unrest and who assumes control when the dust settles has a lasting impact on our national security moving forward.

I doubt Syria will ever amount to much more than a puppet of Iran regardless of who comes out on top - the Iranians have armed BOTH sides and sent their Hezbollah thugs in to back the government. It is situated between two more powerful countries - Turkey and Israel - who will act against them. It will not be a safe haven for terrorists.

Saddam [[with all his human rights violations) kept his backyard in control. The same was said for many of those other mid-east countries. Benghazi could be contributed to the aftermath of such upheavals.

yes, and most terrorist funding comes from/goes through our "great friends" Saudi Arabia and Dubai

[Papasito]

yes, and most terrorist funding comes from/goes through our "great friends" Saudi Arabia and Dubai

Sounds like there needed to be Change we could believe in.