Should US bomb Syria?

[tim722]

Just wondering how everyone thinks about this. Part of me feels that we should stop innocent civilians from bring killed. We are/were the greatest country in the world. Kinda the big brother for others. Another part feels that they are in a civil war and whoever wins will still hate us. Why bother? We should just mind our own business, get out of the middle east, and protect ourselves. Any thoughts? It looks like Obama wants to bomb Assad.

[Galeongirl]

I don't think that any western country should interfere anymore. Look at what happened in Iraq, look at Afghanistan and now Egypt. Nothing changed, and we keep pouring money and lives of our soldiers in those bottomless pits. Let them fight it out amongst themselves.

[tim722]

Originally Posted by Galeongirl

I don't think that any western country should interfere anymore. Look at what happened in Iraq, look at Afghanistan and now Egypt. Nothing changed, and we keep pouring money and lives of our soldiers in those bottomless pits. Let them fight it out amongst themselves.

Yes I'm thinking you are right. We are hated by so many in the Middle East. It's hard cause they used chemical weapons but I'm starting to feel that it's not our problem. It's sad that this is happening against humanity but why get involved. This isn't like Bosnia. They are not our friends.

[cobl04]

I never know enough about these sorts of situations to make a comment, and that is most definitely the case here, but it breaks your heart to hear of chemical attacks, and I wish there was a way for other countries or the UN or whatever to put a stop to innocent people being killed.

I remember when the US bombed Iraq. I was in the early years of high school. I remember seeing vision on the news and just feeling so sad about it all.

[Vlad n U 2]

No, it never ends well.

Originally Posted by tim722

We are/were the greatest country in the world. Kinda the big brother for others.

Turn up the nationalism just a little more.

[Kieran McConville]

The short answer; no.

The longer answer: there are no good answers, but some tried-and-true anti-sarin-gas assistance mightn't hurt.

Syria, lest we forget, is in the throes of a civil war. The government—a nastily dynastic version of the Ba'athist quasi-fascist ideology that dominated many Arab nations between the mid-1950s and the early noughties—is fighting a varied bunch of rebels. Note that the government is largely dominated by secularized elements of the Shi'ite Alawite minority, who make up around 12% of the population; the majority are Sunni (74%), Christian (10%) and a variety of other sects.

If this sounds like the same sort of demographic split as Iraq, with Christians instead of Kurds, then give yourself a gold star: both "nations" were carved out of the bleeding carcass of the Ottoman Empire by France and the UK in the wake of the First World War under the auspices of the Sykes-Picot Agreement.

Incidentally, the linked piece is worth it just as a check to the 'because Islam' reaction to nearly any trouble afflicting this part of the world.

[tim722]

Originally Posted by Vlad n U 2

No, it never ends well.

Turn up the nationalism just a little more.

What other country has been there to protect the innocent or donated more money to deserving countries over the last 30 yrs? You go Vlad wherever you are from.

[Vlad n U 2]

I live in Australia, but where I live is irrelevant.

So I guess you strongly believe your country has helped others, can you give me some examples? I want to understand this from your point of view.

[tim722]

Originally Posted by Vlad n U 2

I live in Australia, but where I live is irrelevant.

So I guess you strongly believe your country has helped others, can you give me some examples? I want to understand this from your point of view.

Not even worth my time Vlad. Enjoy Australia. Hope to visit it some say.

[Vlad n U 2]

Beware the dropbears and crocodiles.

[tim722]

Originally Posted by Vlad n U 2

Beware the dropbears and crocodiles.

Thanks buddy I will. Heard recently about people getting eaten by the crocs there. Must me a great place to live. Are you living right up close to them? I'll buy you a Fosters when I arrive.

[cobl04]

Originally Posted by tim722

I'll buy you a Fosters when I arrive.

You'll be deported immediately. We don't drink Fosters.

[tim722]

Originally Posted by cobl04

You'll be deported immediately. We don't drink Fosters.

What's going on with this world. Just found out the Irish drink Heineken and not Guinness.

[Galeongirl]

Kinda hilarious how Heineken is looked down upon by us Dutch people, annd it's majorly praised all over the world.

[cobl04]

And apparently the Dutch hate Heineken and Mexicans hate Corona. Both are popular here.

[Galeongirl]

Yeah, though I beg to differ. I'm fine with Heineken, it's nothing special but it's drinkable. Bavaria on the other hand...
Don't think I've ever had Fosters.

[mikal]

America is to the world what Tony Dungy is to troubled NFL players. Of course we should bomb Syria, as we should bomb anyone that gets out of line. We're 'Murica!

[LemonMirrorSky]

No good can come from war. It's a humongous waste of money and no matter who you side, you upset somebody else who will then plot to terrorize your country. Simply not worth it. There has got to be other means to try to end this chemical warfare.

[Irvine511]

Originally Posted by LemonMirrorSky

There has got to be other means to try to end this chemical warfare.

what are they? i really want to know.

[bono_212]

This isn't the particular article I was looking for, I'll have to go track it down on my stubmleupon account, but The Onion has really been taking quite a bit on with the Syria situation:

Hi, In The Past 2 Years, You Have Allowed Me To Kill 70,000 People | The Onion - America's Finest News Source