The Syrian Question

[harlock999]

Let's first call a spade a spade: Syria is in a state of civil war. People have been wringing their hands about outside intervention leading to civil war--but that train has now left the station. The government is using tanks and artillery, soldiers have deserted to join the other side, and the death toll is at least 6,000 and rising. And the

Comments

[harlock999]

I'm afraid that's just not an appropriate analogy. If the OWS movement had started terrorism, it would no longer be Occupy Wall Street, it would be more like the "Symbionese Liberation Army" of decades back. I know of no credible evidence that the Syrian protesters had used deadly violence before their government started attacking them. It is no coincidence that the Assad regime refused to allow foreign journalists to operate inside Syria until the Arab League pressured them to accept.

But now that foreign journalists have been killed and numerous YouTube videos have been uploaded, only the most ideologically blinded can still maintain this is a struggle against internal terrorists. This is a massive campaign of state-sanctioned murder and torture. How would I feel if the Obama administration were committing atrocities like this? Hell, I'd probably be on the barricades fighting against them. And believe me I'd be far from alone: this is exactly what the Second Amendment supporters keep talking about.

As a matter a fact, China *is* trying very hard to prevent other countries from selling arms to Taiwan. But if the U.S. decided to sell arms to mainland China and not to Taiwan, there would be a storm of protest both here and internationally.

As for the lack of Security Council resolutions: it is highly instructive to examine exactly *why* there are none. (Hint: veto power of certain permanent members.) I know it's tough to find out that your government is on the side of evil. There are chapters in our history books on the African slave trade and the treatment of American Indians that make me want to put my head in my hands. But true patriotism is not "my country right or wrong".

[shock_and_awww]

>>I know of no credible evidence that the Syrian protesters had used deadly violence before their government started attacking them.
Oh I’m sure you don’t! With American news agencies broadcasting only the info needed to form the right opinion I’d be surprised if you did. I’ve brought you some interesting sources below, so keep reading if you’re interested.

>>But now that foreign journalists have been killed and numerous YouTube videos have been uploaded, only the most ideologically blinded can still maintain this is a struggle against internal terrorists.
Excuse me, but who exactly is to blame for journalists’ deaths in a war-struck region? Yes, the government is battling internal terrorists, who are backed up by Al-Quaeda and the astoundingly ‘democratic’ regime of Qatar which never ever had any elections (and, by the way, neither had Saudi Arabia - the USA’s closest ally in the Middle East). The journos knew what they were risking there, and it was their choice and their responsibility. I feel sorry for their families though.

YouTube videos? You mean the ones where the same actor pretends to be injured/dead on different days and locations? Or the one where a man in a white coat shows a crying child all covered in ‘blood’ and talks into the camera instead of actually treating him? Yes, there are a lot of those. These people here even keep count and show HOW all these videos are made. You might find a lot of interesting info there, but my personal favorite is the video which is said to show Syrian security forces attack civilans, but which was in fact filmed in 2008 and in Lebanon!

>>As a matter a fact, China *is* trying very hard to prevent other countries from selling arms to Taiwan. But if the U.S. decided to sell arms to mainland China and not to Taiwan, there would be a storm of protest both here and internationally.
I’m perfectly aware of the China-Taiwan situation actually. The thing here is - no matter what China thinks, the US can do whatever it wants as long as it doesn’t break any laws, so it is the same for Russia and Syria. My point is that your word choice with violating was utterly wrong and might’ve confused people who are less aware on the subject. I’d like to think that you didn’t do it on purpose, I really would.