What's the US Govt's problem with Syria?

[Solver]

People like you always keep my courage up, GP .

[TCO]

What did you think of those Moo3 reviews by DanQ? Were they aweful or what? And he never beleived people when they told him that. Thought they were picking on him. NO DAN, THEY REALLY SUCKED!

I would like another FOA. (not by you though).

[Solver]

Much as your statements are outstanding, you could really stop the threadjacking and take it to PMs, or make another thread, if you really need to. Never read anything at all about MOO3, BTW.

Your critics of me remain inspiring.

[TCO]

Ok...I will stop.

[The Mad Monk]

Originally posted by Sirotnikov
Who exactly are you asking?

You, the IDF boy wonder.

[Sirotnikov]

That's what I thought. You know better than to ask me that.

I'm limiting myself to quoting official publications from the media.

My opinion may be based on things which shouldn't be public, and if I say it, and then get dragged in an arguement, I may accidentally say too much.

[CerberusIV]

The US has to have a bogeyman. Saddam is gone, NK isn't an option much can actually be done about, Libya is getting out of the firing line by making the right noises so Syria is all that's left.

Kind of like pass the parcel but the parcel has "Made in the USA" printed on it and contains a bomb. Assad is holding the parcel and the music is winding down (unless Bush actually loses the election - then the tune changes).

[St Leo]

Bush is a bigger threat to the US than Syria.

[PLATO]

Originally posted by Spiffor
the neoconservative dream of forcing the Middle East to become "democratic" and west-friendly.

So do those who are not "neoconservative" dream of an "undemocratic" and west-unfriendly regime system? Being supplied with French arms to be sure. Their leaders vacationing on the French Med coast...Going to Paris to say how bad the US is...Is this the "neoliberal" view??? Beginning to sound like it.

[:) Smiley]

Justified or not, invading a country to get a few thousand terrorists to pack their bags and move elsewhere is major overkill.

[Sirotnikov]

Justified or not, invading a country to get a few thousand terrorists to pack their bags and move elsewhere is major overkill.

I don't think it's an overkill, because if you do cold math, the Iraqis are better of as they are now. Now they have freedom and will in some time have a much better personal and economic situation.

Same with Syria. The Syrian economy isn't exactly free or healthy and people are opressed by the govt.

Same also goes for other non democratic regime's like the one run by Mugabe. Though admittedly he threatens western countries and thier allies much less than Syria.

[Gatekeeper]

**shrug** It's always overkill until something near and dear to your heart gets blown away.

[Spiffor]

Originally posted by Sirotnikov
Same with Syria. The Syrian economy isn't exactly free or healthy and people are opressed by the govt.

Syria's govt is by far less murderous than Saddam's regime. A war against Syria has very high chances of killing and crippling many, many more people than what Assad Boy would do, if he continues on the same pace.

Syria mostly uses imprisonment and banishment to punish public dissent, and the general populace is only slightly threatened by this repression, if they keep their mouthes shut or nearly shut. The Syrian government tries to govern on apathy rather than on fear.

As a result, the opposition to the regime is likely to be much inferior than what was seen in Iraq, and the nationalistic guerilla that would ensue an American conquest will probably be much deadlier than the Iraqi one. And much deadlier than Assad Boy's regime.

[Sirotnikov]

As a result, the opposition to the regime is likely to be much inferior than what was seen in Iraq, and the nationalistic guerilla that would ensue an American conquest will probably be much deadlier than the Iraqi one. And much deadlier than Assad Boy's regime.

Actually I disagree with you.

The problem is that Iraq is facing religious and ethnical turmoil. Democracy will cause a shift of status between the previous elites and arising powers. Thus the local support for terror. The rest is international supporters enflamed by islamic or plain arabic anti-US propoganda.

In Syria there isn't such a large ethnical and religious divide. There is a minority rule, but in the case of an overthrow, I don't think the Alawis are strong enough to continue fighting for long. Then again, I don't claim to know as much about it.

[chequita guevara]

NYC should invade the South. After all, the economy is much better in NYC, and the governments in the South are far more repressive.

[Sirotnikov]

[chequita guevara]

Guess that justification's only good on countries you don't like.