Houla massacre: US military warns Syria as pressure builds on Obama

[MindMover]

Source: Guardian

The US's top military officer has warned Syria it could face armed intervention as international outrage grows over the massacre of women and children by tanks and artillery in Houla.

General Martin Dempsey, the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, said that following the UN security council's condemnation of the slaughter – in which more than 100 people were killed, many of them children – there needed to be increased diplomatic pressure on Damascus. But he added that the US would be prepared to act militarily if it was "asked to do so".

"There is always a military option," he told Fox News. "You'll always find military leaders to be somewhat cautious about the use of force, because we're never entirely sure what comes out on the other side. But that said, it may come to a point with Syria because of the atrocities."

The warning comes as Barack Obama is under increasing pressure from his Republican opponent in November's presidential election, Mitt Romney, and members of Congress to take tougher action over Syria.

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/may/28/houla-massacre-us-military-warns

[Alamuti Lotus]

1. the butchers of Fallujah warning others about killing? too rich.

sanctimonious, opportunistic hypocrites wailing about something which evidence is beginning to strongly point at being caused by the terrorist opposition gangs they're supporting anyway!

[dipsydoodle]

3. ditto

.

[David__77]

2. "Pressure?" From a gang of neocons?

I'm sure the right in the US would love Obama to militarily intervene, possibly dooming his electoral prospects.

[KamaAina]

4. Welcome to World War III.

Sure, we could do in Syria what we did in Libya, except for two things:

1) They don't have any oil.

2) Seriously, they share a border with Israel. Ever hear of the Golan Heights? U.S. intervention in Syria could quickly escalate to .

Where are all the Arab League countries, and France, who were chomping at the bit to attack Libya? I thought it was a good idea for a country or countries besides the U.S. to handle that one, and I think it's an even better idea in Syria.

[cstanleytech]

8. I'm not sure if the Golan Heights is an apt comparison but even if its not I wonder if

China and Russia might not be better able to handle the mess.
After all if we did the other nations like you mentioned could get their backs up but if China and or Russia did either on their own or together it might go easier.
That is of course assuming China and or Russia believe they are up to the challenge and can handle it, if not then I am not sure what other options there are other than leaving it alone or intervening ourselves.

[KamaAina]

9. I was simply pointing out that the Golan Heights marks the border between Syria and Israel

and has been a flashpoint in the past.

[hack89]

15. Russia supports Assad without apparent reservation.

they also don't really have the military capacity. Neither does China

[Alamuti Lotus]

10. the Saudi Arab League countries are already quite busy with the conspiring..

Saudi Arabia & Qatar -- really, the leading members of the moribund league in defense of royalty -- are already leading the charge in supporting the terrorist insurgency, why do you think they'd have a problem with what this sharply uniformed butcher had to say here?

Further, this whole idea of "it's better if somebody else does it for us" is puzzling, and strikes me of being a gross misinterpretation of problems with tendencies in past and current policy. Delegating the grunt work to some local flunkies for some invasion of Libya, Syria, or some hypothetical event, doesn't negate the fact that the event is still happening or that these local flunkies are probably worse than the target in question. This is a worrying shortcut to thinking, I feel, and does little to address the significantly awful tendencies with the policies in question.

[KamaAina]

11. So you're OK with the U.S. as "Globocop"?

Even on Israel's doorstep, with the risk of a regionwide conflagration?

Or should nobody do anything, and just let the massacres go on?

[Alamuti Lotus]

12. That wasn't my point at all

the US is still "Globocop" even if NATO, the Arab League, or some other flunky is doing some of the heavy lifting -- 'so why is that presented as an alternative'.

And this is NOT a case of "nobody doing anything" at this moment--all of the actors you mention above are already buried up to their necks in the killing. The largely unreported massacres, kidnappings, and other criminal activity carried out by the so-called Free Syrian Army and other terrorist gangs, for instance, are bought and paid for with weapons, intelligence, diplomacy, and cash supplied by the US, UK, Israel, France, the Arab League countries, etc.. so it's not like there isn't already a policy of passive and pseudo-active intervention at this time.

[geek tragedy]

18. Yes, yes, any resistance to an Arab dictator is the work

of the Americans and ze Jews, of course

[Alamuti Lotus]

21. It's never too late to go back to school

They can assist you with those reading comprehension and paraphrasing skills you seem to need help with. Good luck.

[Arctic Dave]

5. This "massacre", what instigated it?

We are being told of the killings but not of what started it. Seems a little fishy to me.

[Harmony Blue]

13. Regardless of the instigation or retaliation this civil war will not end

it has spiraled out of control.

[Dokkie]

14. Lets just hope the

assholes arming the rebels stop cos the way Assad sees it, he and his family are destined the fate of that of Gaddafi and son. Either try to save your country from Islamic thugs and maybe and just maybe save your ass from the end of a big stick or give up and then end up sodomized and dead in the middle of the street. Its hard to see which one he would choose

[geek tragedy]

17. "save your country from Islamic thugs"

Why is it that Assadopologists are also Islsmaphobes?

[geek tragedy]

16. Your buddy Assad has a long history of this.

Your suspicion on behalf of your fellow travelers in the Assad regime is duly noted

[Arctic Dave]

19. And yet you are so sure and give no proof.

I would rather be correct then "certain". That type of thinking is for dipshits like bush. Why do you want to be like him?

[geek tragedy]

20. Here you go, Mr. Irving:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014131997

[Alamuti Lotus]

22. Invocation of Godwin's Law: Argument Immediately Forfeited

[geek tragedy]

23. That poster has a long history of denying atrocities committed

by thugs like Assad and Gaddhafi--frequently offering up open advocacy for violence on the part of such regimes.

[Alamuti Lotus]

24. And you have a longer history of irresponsible personal attacks and irresponsibler hyperbole

You think he's like David Irving?

[geek tragedy]

25. More similar than different.

He supported Gaddhafi shooting at demonstrators.

He supported Assad gunning down protestors.

[geek tragedy]

26. See this thread for some of his classic bootlicking

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4974134#4974152

That's right--in his authoritarian view, chanting anti-Assad slogans justifies a violent response.

[Alamuti Lotus]

27. I'm familiar with this poster, and especially with you

When stripped of the hyperbole and perhaps intentionally miscomprehended opinions you erroneously assign to him, such points of his as you highlight are not only astute in their past context, but somewhat vindicated by events that have unfolded.

Case in point: you march down Pennsylvania Ave with a banner that says "OBAMA WE'RE GOING TO OVERTHROW YOU" -- if you get cell reception from Guantanamo, let me know how it all works out.

[riderinthestorm]

6. Unbelievably stupid rhetoric. Especially today. nt

[Alamuti Lotus]

7. does the recent Paktia massacre warrant similar 'options'?

Or is that sort of thing just not important, particularly considering just who is doing the killing? I repeat, sanctimonious hypocrites.

[Fumesucker]

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