"Let me be perfectly clear...make no mistake about it": Syria Edition

[kentonio]

It boils down to two things: are we going to back our words (and yes, I will leave that dangling there ), and do the use of chemical weapons mean anything?

Obama has already laid down the line. The "threat" is already out there. Does he back it up in some way, or does he pretend it didn't happen? Iran and North Korea are watching, this isn't happening in a vacuum.

Who says he isn't going to do anything? What I'm taking issue with is the incessant right wing whining that implies Obama should have immediately sent in the troops in a grand invasion the day after the news broke. It's nothing to do with any realistic response or lack of response, it's just chickenhawk little *****es taking cheap shots at Obama (I'm not including you in that, obviously).

[giblets]

Did Obama define exactly what action would result from Syria crossing that red line? Specifically?



Ironic considering I don't think he's a particularly good President.

Also ironic considering that you're allegedly a conservative.

[kentonio]

Also ironic considering that you're allegedly a conservative.

We've long ago covering the simple fact that a European conservative has next to nothing in common with a modern American conservative. The GOP would be a hate group here.

[Colonâ„¢]

Seems reasonable to look for irrefutable evidence that Assad used chemical weapons before sending in the cavalry. I'd hate to see the US and the West get involved in this mess over false reports. The need for further evidence was explicitly stated in reaction to the reports.

[regexcellent]

Was hoping to get in on the ground floor of this inevitable Zevico thread but that's what you get for getting up at 1PM. **** it, it's Saturday, I'm sleeping in.

If you set a red line and don't follow through on it you are a paper tiger, which is sorta how the Obama administration has always looked so this is par for the course unfortunately.

Zevico is right as usual.

[regexcellent]

We've long ago covering the simple fact that a European conservative has next to nothing in common with a modern American conservative. The GOP would be a hate group here.

They have more in common with American conservatives than you do. You call yourself conservative, because you supported Thatcher and the current lib dem/conservative coalition government. Thatcher was replacing crazy socialists and this government is decidedly moderate.

[kentonio]

If you set a red line and don't follow through on it you are a paper tiger, which is sorta how the Obama administration has always looked so this is par for the course unfortunately.

Sure, putting a bullet through Bin Laden's brain and helping overthrow Ghaddafi without losing American lives in combat definitely sent a message that Obama is a 'paper tiger'..

Zevico is right as usual.

That could be the single stupidest thing you've ever said, and I genuinely didn't believe that was possible.

[kentonio]

They have more in common with American conservatives than you do. You call yourself conservative, because you supported Thatcher and the current lib dem/conservative coalition government. Thatcher was replacing crazy socialists and this government is decidedly moderate.

I wish you actually understood how ridiculous and simply nonsensical what you just said was.

[regexcellent]

The situation in Libya was basically your small, very weak friend (France and the UK) having two or three too many at the bar and deciding he wants to get into a fight. Then after one or two punches he passes out and you're stuck with it.

We weren't going to get involved in Libya until it turned out that all of Europe is insanely weak on AWACS, ISR, tanking, ASW, and logistics, so our NATO allies couldn't continue a war for more than a couple days. Only Canada was remotely prepared for it.

[kentonio]

The situation in Libya was basically your small, very weak friend (France and the UK) having two or three too many at the bar and deciding he wants to get into a fight. Then after one or two punches he passes out and you're stuck with it.

We weren't going to get involved in Libya until it turned out that all of Europe is insanely weak on AWACS, ISR, tanking, ASW, and logistics, so our NATO allies couldn't continue a war for more than a couple days. Only Canada was remotely prepared for it.

Is there anything that you actually are informed about? Seriously, you just continually embarrass yourself.

[regexcellent]

Yeah, let's start with that. The UK and France have meager air refueling fleets, not enough munitions stocks to carry on a war for more than a few days of combat, not enough UAVs or air-to-ground radar aircraft like JSTARS to collect information on targets, not enough ships and aircraft to defend against submarines, and not enough airlift and sealift to keep their forces supplied over long distances.

None of the European countries are really capable of operating in an expeditionary manner without our help. France is stuck relying on us for UAVs and airlift in Mali.

[DinoDoc]

Did Obama define exactly what action would result from Syria crossing that red line? Specifically?

May I ask what you believe is commonly meant when a nation states that a certain event happening serves as a "game changer" and a crossing a "red line" and pledges to hold it accountable if that happens?

[giblets]

We've long ago covering the simple fact that a European conservative has next to nothing in common with a modern American conservative. The GOP would be a hate group here.

Or at least the figment of your imagination you call the GOP would be a hate group.

[kentonio]

May I ask what you believe is commonly meant when a nation states that a certain event happening serves as a "game changer" and a crossing a "red line" and pledges to hold it accountable if that happens?

Sure, at some point I'd expect significant US effort going into overthrowing the guilty regime. I'd also expect this to take time, and be done in a careful and calculated way to avoid creating wider regional issues and risking an unnecessarily large number of US and civilian lives.

[kentonio]

Or at least the figment of your imagination you call the GOP would be a hate group.

Aww bless, you're trying to challenge Reg for least informed person in the thread. You keep it up skippy, one day you'll take that coveted crown.

There are many, many statements made by national GOP figures that would destroy any political career in this country. Muslims, gays, immigrants the list is nearly endless.