[shinobi602]

Three prominent US senators have called for direct US military aid to Syrian rebels, including use of US air power to protect rebel-controlled areas in the country. The senators -- John McCain, Joseph Lieberman and Lindsey Graham - said in an op-ed piece in The Washington Post they were aware of the risks associated with deepening US involvement in the conflict in Syria. "But inaction carries even greater risks for the United States -- in lives lost, strategic opportunities squandered and values compromised," they argued. The senators said the United States should "directly and openly" provide assistance to the armed opposition, including weapons, intelligence and training. "Whatever the risks of our doing so, they are far outweighed by the risks of continuing to sit on our hands, hoping for the best," they said. The authors noted that US help should go to those groups that reject extremism and sectarianism in both word and deed. The senators said the United States should work with its allies to reinforce those areas within Syria that the rebels have established as de facto safe zones. "This would not require any US troops on the ground but could involve limited use of our airpower and other unique US assets," they wrote. The lawmakers did not specify what assets they had in mind. The senators warned that because of its reluctance to assist the Syrian rebels, the United States is increasingly seen across the Middle East as acquiescing to the continued slaughter of Arab and Muslim civilians. "This reluctance to lead will, we fear -- like our failure to stop the slaughter of the Kurds and Shiites under Saddam Hussein in Iraq or of the Tutsis in Rwanda - haunt our nation for years to come," they concluded. The appeal came as Syrian regime warplanes pounded rebel positions in the country's second city of Aleppo on Sunday ahead of a threatened ground assault by more than 20,000 troops assembled around the commercial capital. http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/bre...-1226443880074

Shit...this is getting out of hand, fast.

[neoemonk]

Let China handle it now. They're the rich superpower using all the oil.

[Escape Goat]

Why is it always McCain and Lieberman? Dont these guys have other stuff to legislate?

Though its important not to overreact-

Shit...this is getting out of hand, fast.

Doh.

[Funky Papa]

Either use a UN mandate (as impossible as it may be) or let the Middle East sort itself out, FFS.

Let China handle it now. They're the rich superpower using all the oil.

You could say they are handling it...

[Darklord]

[metalslimer]

The senators warned that because of its reluctance to assist the Syrian rebels, the United States is increasingly seen across the Middle East as acquiescing to the continued slaughter of Arab and Muslim civilians.

Do they even understand how the middle east views us? The US is already seen as doing that after Iraq and its even worse with Iran. Donate money and funds sure, but we don't have to deploy our own weapons here.

[jchap]

It is probably in the best interest of the US to let the civil war play out. Assad's power is weakened by the rebellions and even if he manages to suppress the war, its a reoccurring problem he will have to deal with for decades to comes.

[Wilsongt]

Fuck off, Lindsey Graham. You always want military intervention.

[Half and half]

We're broke, we'll get the next one maybe.

[Technosteve]

Republicans smh

[Salvor.Hardin]

Lieberman lol. Dude needs to join the Republican party.

[neoemonk]

You could say they are handling it...

I don't understand what you mean.

[marrec]

Another week, another Op Ed by Mcain, Lieberman, and Graham calling for us to go to war.

[el retorno]

Either use a UN mandate (as impossible as it may be) or let the Middle East sort itself out, FFS.

I'm not sure where I stand on this with Syria but in general why do people keep saying this? Why they hell should we always be beholden to an institution which doesn't always get it right?

"Let Rwanda or the Balkans sort themselves out"

[Wilsongt]

I don't understand what you mean.

They're buddy-buddy.

[Funky Papa]

I don't understand what you mean.

China and Russia are propping up the regime.

[Forsete]

Either use a UN mandate (as impossible as it may be) or let the Middle East sort itself out, FFS.

*nods*

It is probably for the best.

[neoemonk]

They're buddy-buddy.

Oh. That seems sinister for some reason.

[themadcowtipper]

Republicans smh

Yes because democrats do not want to get involved..........hence why we are using the CIA, and money to arm the rebels.

[Clevinger]

When I read the title I figured: Rubio, McCain, and Graham. I only got one wrong.

[Jason Raize '75 - '04]

Do they even understand how the middle east views us?

I think thats a standardised format for any such opinion piece by a senator.

As the war in [insert region here] intensifies, a growing sense of concern dawns in the world of the state of [insert oppressed people here]. At a period of time where our country is looked upon to lead in democracy and liberty of all, we cannot waiver in our pursuit of freedom for the [insert oppressed people here]. The price of inaction is far too great, not just for the people of [insert country here], but our nations interests. We must employ our American values to counter this great evil from [insert enemy here] and our great nation will not rest until it is so. Unfortunately the [insert opposing party administration] have adopted a soft approach, weakening our global standing at the cost of the lives of countless innocent [insert oppressed people here].

[Steelrain]

Nope, way too late now.

They'll get their own houses in order.

[BertramCooper]

We can't afford it - financially or politically.

[entrement]

Can we just give up on the Middle East? It's a lost cause in terms of Western intervention.

[Utako]

NO.

STOP.

[Canis lupus]

Drop some ammo on FSA and they're good to go, maybe some old M1A1 tanks in the depots.

[glaurung]

Presidents who start a war during their term in office always get re-elected.

Not counting the wars that Obama has started already, imagine how much of an awesome guy he becomes when he starts world war three?

Change you can believe in.

[Gustav]

Yes, please. If a regime is killing its own people outside forces need to step in.

[glaurung]

Yes, please. If a regime is killing its own people outside forces need to step in.

Who polices the world police?

[Gustav]

Who polices the world police?

God.

[KingBeyondTheWall]

No. No. No. No. NO!

Terrible idea. The members of government are already stepping down as seen in the news today. Let it work out on its own, we've got more problems here in our own country.

[marrec]

God.

God can't do anything to stop us because Russia keeps refusing to Vote.

Just cause they gots Russian Orthodox they think they can be all high and mighty.

No. No. No. No. NO! Terrible idea. The members of government are already stepping down as seen in the news today. Let it work out on its own, we've got more problems here in our own country.

That's why they're stepping up the pressure, what would happen to all of those precious natural resources if we don't step in and help them?

[thefro]

Shocking news, the 3 biggest war hawks in the Senate want war.

[Edag Plata]

The Three Stooges of the Senate.

[Sir Fragula]

No. No. No. No. NO! Terrible idea. The members of government are already stepping down as seen in the news today. Let it work out on its own, we've got more problems here in our own country.

There are large-scale defections from the periphery of the Syrian regime, but it still has enormous capacity to inflict violence on protesters.

I think it's absolutely right that we should be looking to aid Syrian civilians. A no-fly zone should be a must. Turkish or Arab manned safe-zones too. I know some people think it's incoherent to argue against Iraq on the one hand but in favour of intervention in Syria (and formerly, Libya)... but it's really not. There's a world of difference between invading and replacing a regime unspurred, and aiding a civilian population already in rebellion in doing so.

[Choke on the Magic]

I think we've met our military intervention quota for the first quarter of this century. Win you own freedom Syria. Let the EU get involved they're closer.

[Ravensmash]

Win you own freedom Syria.

Well, the point is that they can't defeat the government - so the situation over there is constantly worsening with innocents being killed.

Bit short sighted to say that when it's clear that this has been the intention from the off.

[Grim1ock]

How come american senators do not call for action when robert mugabe is killing his people or north koreans for example or even gencoide is taking place in ogaden where eithopians kill ethnic somalis?

How come their eyes lit up when it involves arab countries?

[Sir Fragula]

How come american senators do not call for action when robert mugabe is killing his people or north koreans for example or even gencoide is taking place in ogaden where eithopians kill ethnic somalis? How come their eyes lit up when it involves arab countries?

Opportunity.

If North Korea was in open revolt I'd absolutely call for intervention against the government there. But it's not. If Zimbabwe had descended into an actual civil war, again I'd have called for intervention.

Similarly had the West intervened in Iraq's rebellion following the first Gulf War I'd have been in favour.

There's a world of difference between supporting a popular movement and turning up unannounced to take over.

[Brinbe]

John McCain, Joseph Lieberman and Lindsey Graham

Fuck outta here...

[Baraka in the White House]

Seems like it's ALWAYS McCain, Lieberman and Graham.

[PBalfredo]

Damn, GAF, what's with the stance against helping Syria? Is it just an overall weariness of war overriding empathy or is there some reason to not believe Syrians deserve assistance against their government who are massacring civilians?

[Awesome]

This country does need help, the people are defenseless there and Assad is going nowhere unless forced out.

[Choke on the Magic]

Well, the point is that they can't defeat the government - so the situation over there is constantly worsening with innocents being killed. Bit short sighted to say that when it's clear that this has been the intention from the off.

So America is the world police again when it's convenient? Fuck that. Go get'em EU.

[Sealda]

Yes, that would be more honest than black ops operations.

[Bamelin]

What would China and Russia actually do if the US rolled into Syria under a coalition of the willing type deal?

Nothing? Or ww3?

[DY_nasty]

Damn, GAF, what's with the stance against helping Syria? Is it just an overall weariness of war overriding empathy or is there some reason to not believe Syrians deserve assistance against their government who are massacring civilians?

Syria is in a very, very bad spot.

[Omegasquash]

What would China and Russia actually do if the US rolled into Syria under a coalition of the willing type deal? Nothing? Or ww3?

WW3 is a fear. UN backs rebels, Russia/China backs regime. I'm going to doubt that it would escalate to that level, but that's the fear.

[Sealda]

What would China and Russia actually do if the US rolled into Syria under a coalition of the willing type deal? Nothing? Or ww3?

I can see Russia, warning USA, that they would intervene militarily. At which point, USA would stop all plans to invade Syria.

USA basically chickened out of Georgia, i am not sure, why they did it. There was an explanation, they did it in return for something else. Anyone remember the Putin 3 hour documentary, interviewing basically everyone from Rice to Ivanov.

[BertramCooper]

Damn, GAF, what's with the stance against helping Syria? Is it just an overall weariness of war overriding empathy or is there some reason to not believe Syrians deserve assistance against their government who are massacring civilians?

War fatigue + austerity + Russia/China politics

It sucks that Syrians are suffering because of it, but it's just incredibly bad timing.