(January 17, 2018 at 9:33 pm)vulcanlogician Wrote: See? There are other ways to wag the dog other than waiting (and hoping) for a terrorist attack.

Sorry Meuller, Trump is way too busy with big boy war activities to play with you today.

How about accusing Trump of fulfilling Obama's "redline" threat and standing back and watching conservative heads exploding like popcorn !!!

To be fair, there are no obvious, constructive, viable solutions for the situation in Syria and the surrounding area.

(January 18, 2018 at 10:28 am)LuisDantas Wrote: To be fair, there are no obvious, constructive, viable solutions for the situation in Syria and the surrounding area.

Yep, they have to fight somebody. Seven thousand years of grudges.

I've often wondered how anyone in the US can expect to effectuate a peace process in the Middle East. They've been killing each other for Millennia, as you stated. Of course, the way the US and allies are "helping" only makes it worse, IMHO.

(January 18, 2018 at 11:20 am)Fireball Wrote: I've often wondered how anyone in the US can expect to effectuate a peace process in the Middle East. They've been killing each other for Millennia, as you stated. Of course, the way the US and allies are "helping" only makes it worse, IMHO.

"Never get involved in a land war in Asia." 

I'm a military historian and I approved this message.

(January 18, 2018 at 10:28 am)LuisDantas Wrote: To be fair, there are no obvious, constructive, viable solutions for the situation in Syria and the surrounding area.

Making things worse is not the way to start.

(January 17, 2018 at 9:33 pm)The Valkyrie Wrote:

(January 17, 2018 at 9:30 pm)chimp3 Wrote: Is this at the behest of Assad? Or some other tyrants that will not honor equal status to their women or Jews?

Trump's buddy Putin.

I strongly doubt Putin is eager to ensnarl the US into a protracted commitment in Syria in order to bind turkey and Iran, or say nothing of Assad, more closely to Russia.

Nothing binds Iran to Russia more effectively than trump’s threat to gratuitously tear up the nuclear deal with Iran.

Russia is not above facilities more american threats to Iran in order to make Iran more dependent on Russia.

---

(January 18, 2018 at 11:20 am)Fireball Wrote: I've often wondered how anyone in the US can expect to effectuate a peace process in the Middle East. They've been killing each other for Millennia, as you stated. Of course, the way the US and allies are "helping" only makes it worse, IMHO.

Could have reined in Israel during the late 40 years.

Could have not gone into Iraq in 2001.

Could have not been taken in by the mirage of Arab spring.

Could have not elected trump.

(January 18, 2018 at 12:13 pm)Minimalist Wrote:

(January 18, 2018 at 10:28 am)LuisDantas Wrote: To be fair, there are no obvious, constructive, viable solutions for the situation in Syria and the surrounding area.

Making things worse is not the way to start.

Meh, only changes who gets blamed. They will destroy each other with or without us.

(January 18, 2018 at 10:28 am)LuisDantas Wrote: To be fair, there are no obvious, constructive, viable solutions for the situation in Syria and the surrounding area.

No but i don't think occupation need be a solution