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- The Maple Leaf (https://britishexpats.com/forum/maple-leaf-98/)

- - Syria (https://britishexpats.com/forum/maple-leaf-98/syria-807374/)

Quote:

Originally Posted by caretaker (Post 10879266)

So it would seem. It's just a google away you know. How 'alone' the US is will depend on if they act unilateraly or not and on how many countries chime in or not after the UN decides what to sanction and that might take weeks. With permission to use Greek and Turkish airbases and French materiel support they don't need any other help to launch stand-off raids against Syria. As a member of NATO and the only neighbouring country that's actually been attacked by Syria during this revolution, Turkey has the right to ask NATO to come to it's defence, but at present their plan seems to be to step in and try to keep order after Assad is overthrown. Since a million needy refugees from Syria are camped out in southern Turkey they're anxious to get things settled. There seem to be more variables and possible shifts in the balance of power than in most conflicts. As Assad said, this could inflame the entire region.
HTH

But to what end?

My guess is the president is motivated by the latest polls as well as righteous indignation over nerve gas. There's supposed to be a live update from the UN any minute now on CBC news so maybe things will change. The UN press conference is on, question session beginning. Definition of mandate, etc. It's getting good! The US official line is they're sending a 'message', those allied with Syria call it provocation, and the end ultimately is to try and influence the outcome of the revolution so Al Quaeda isn't in power when it's over.

Looks like he wants to get his hands dirty on this one, just needs a little prod i think, another gas attack should do it

http://m.theglobeandmail.com/news/wo...service=mobile

Obama will be making a statement next, I think they said at 1:15ET. It's hard to imagine a target that wouldn't be moved by now. Think he just wants to give Putin the finger? Well, he says they can go ahead any time they want, but he's going to get congress to debate and vote on it soonest, even though he claims he already has authority. Playing heavily on outrage and resolve, I think public opinion is the unspoken element he's waiting for. While evoking the image of the UN as a world order built out of the ashes of war, he makes no mention of seeking sanction from it before acting.

I think he's nuts. He's about to start a regional war and nobody seems to realize it. F-ing maniac.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bleepedy Bloops (Post 10880544)

I think he's nuts. He's about to start a regional war and nobody seems to realize it.

Just a regional war? When he's talking about attacking one of Russia's biggest allies?

The fundies must be celebrating, because he appears to want to start WWIII and get them all raptured away.

When the economy is bad...it's a good time for a war.

Putin seems to be having a change of heart. The current stance is that if the use of chemical weapons is proved, and UN approval is obtained, Russia could back intervention. If that is not a green light, I don't know what is.

This story is a few months old (first time I'd read that the rebels were using sarin, apologies if it's general knowledge):

GENEVA | Sun May 5, 2013 6:13pm EDT
"(Reuters) - U.N. human rights investigators have gathered testimony from casualties of Syria's civil war and medical staff indicating that rebel forces have used the nerve agent sarin, one of the lead investigators said on Sunday."

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/...94409Z20130505