The Syrian Emergency / Police Action / Kerfuffle

[Jason]

You got yourselves into this pickle jar with your Cold War jingoism; you can't complain now.

[Ian]

Huh? What kind of chickenshit response is that?

"Can't complain now"... suck my ass. I'll complain about whatever I want to complain about. Complaining about things is how things change. Baaaaaa......

[Jason]

That was meant to be taken in jest, but OK. I forgot this is in a serious forum.

[Ian]

It's late and I'm cranky.

[Clinton Huxley]

All the options available for Syria are shit. I hope the US doesn't get involved militarily because then the UK will feel compelled to join in. You know, to preserve the "special relationship" and pay the "blood price" of our alliance with the Yanks.

[JimC]

All the options available for Syria are shit. I hope the US doesn't get involved militarily because then the UK will feel compelled to join in. You know, to preserve the "special relationship" and pay the "blood price" of our alliance with the Yanks.

I agree, but I think there are more general reasons other than "dragging the UK in"

The only intervention that should occur these days would involve a unanimous consensus in the security council, and near-unanimous consensus in the rest of the UN. All else is partisan politics, one way or another...

If this means that a part of the world dissolves into violent anarchy, so be it. However horrible, it is preferable to the major powers coming to blows over who is to be the world's policeman...

[Clinton Huxley]

Can't see the UN authorising anything. Russia and China will vote against any action.

It's a thorny one - what do you do when every option, including doing nothing, is awful?

[JimC]

Can't see the UN authorising anything. Russia and China will vote against any action.

It's a thorny one - what do you do when every option, including doing nothing, is awful?

I don't disagree - the should was somewhat of a forlorn hope...

[Clinton Huxley]

We need a "Coalition of the Wearily Resigned" to do.....something or other.

[Coito ergo sum]

Obama may order attacks on Syria -- http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldne ... Syria.html

[Mysturji]

The whole thing seems ill-advised. Not a major blunder, but a potential one if we don't keep enough distance. But I can't help but think: what's REALLY going on here?

And of course, I have to gripe about: why the US is being looked to do something or not? Why not Saudi Arabia? They could decisively intervene any time they wanted. India has an air force more than capable of establishing a solid no-fly zone, but nobody's wondering what India will do about Syria...

I thought it was the Brits who were being expected to do something about it - partly because the US (rightly) wants no part of it and would provoke more negative reactions if they did.
But then, I mainly watch BBC.
All media is geographically biased.

[Mysturji]

Our forces are twice as good.

Oh you're serious.

Canada only spends 1.5%, but we field twice as much as Australia who spends 1.9%. Odd that.

You have to protect yourself against a dangerous and unstable neighbour the other side of a long land border. Of course you need a greater field force...

Good point.