General Discussion

LibAsHell

(180 posts)

148. I feel like shooting missiles and bombs is the knee-jerk reaction

Wed Sep 4, 2013, 01:55 PM

Sep 2013

My non-military response would be to continue to exert political pressure, leverage Syria's neighbors, allies, the Arab League, and U.N. to get more involved and push for reconciliation.

After all, if the evidence we have is SO strong, then we shouldn't have a problem convincing Syria's buddies like Russia and China to engage Assad; perhaps even impose sanctions and send a strong message that they can't support him anymore.

Does that really not sound more logical than blowing shit up, especially as Kerry has explicitly stated that we're not getting involved in the civil war, but just trying to reduce Assad's capability in HOPE of the opposition gaining ground and then overthrowing the regime?

We are essentially saying, "we're going to shoot some missiles, then pray it all works out." I don't see how that is defensible.

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You know the hysterics regarding Syria are truly disrespectful [View all] pasto76 Sep 2013 OP

You have no idea what you're talking about. David__77 Sep 2013 #1

+10000000 NuclearDem Sep 2013 #5

no, you're correct, I dont have 'a sense' pasto76 Sep 2013 #33

It's not about me personally. David__77 Sep 2013 #39

Exactly...that's how Vietnam got started. First 'advisors' JimDandy Sep 2013 #67

That isn't the template for every intervention BainsBane Sep 2013 #99

I get where you are coming from. No problem. lumpy Sep 2013 #42

An easy rule of thumb to figure if something is a war or not Fumesucker Sep 2013 #2

This n/t tazkcmo Sep 2013 #6

You beat me to it LearningCurve Sep 2013 #24

+1000 Hydra Sep 2013 #26

Actually, technically, here's the thing Proud Public Servant Sep 2013 #43

Unless it was an act against the Bush Administration right? VanillaRhapsody Sep 2013 #53

Thread winner. pa28 Sep 2013 #63

Agreed! n/t dflprincess Sep 2013 #85

Totally Hydra Sep 2013 #97

This could be the post of the month. Nicely said. n/t DisgustipatedinCA Sep 2013 #104

I think you are parsing words. avaistheone1 Sep 2013 #113

Oh, snap! - nt HardTimes99 Sep 2013 #121

Thank you. woo me with science Sep 2013 #65

Bingo. n/t DirkGently Sep 2013 #71

now that's reasonable Supersedeas Sep 2013 #94

I think so, fumesucker. avaistheone1 Sep 2013 #114

We'll call it a war when Syria or its allies sink one or more of our ships (as she HardTimes99 Sep 2013 #119

+1,000 malaise Sep 2013 #144

Bullshit. US Military Industrial Complex has earned its reputation leftstreet Sep 2013 #3

Yup. unhappycamper Sep 2013 #146

Frankly, I'm more concerned about what is about to happen to the Syrians. rug Sep 2013 #4

Right. They certainly didn't volunteer for getting gassed and will not volunteer for any future lumpy Sep 2013 #45

They didn't volunteer to be in the middle of air strikes either. rug Sep 2013 #81

If it's really as minimal as you say, it will have a minimal impact on Syria. reformist2 Sep 2013 #7

International war crimes are just that whether by Bush or oBOMBa. daa Sep 2013 #8

Im sorry I 'dont sound like a veteran' to you pasto76 Sep 2013 #37

What do you call "way leftie people"? rug Sep 2013 #82

"way leftie people" RetroLounge Sep 2013 #100

Het bud daa Sep 2013 #152

We are NOT declaring a war...Hysterics is right! VanillaRhapsody Sep 2013 #60

LOL, you realize that soldiers are required to fire these missiles? Soldiers that are away... Logical Sep 2013 #9

uh, no sailor will fire them. Sailors that are on float already pasto76 Sep 2013 #34

Yeah...huh...I am aware...I am the child of a "Lifer" VanillaRhapsody Sep 2013 #107

If it is not war, what is it (would it be)? Just plain old murder? Taitertots Sep 2013 #10

or could it be....diminishing his ability to use more chemical weapons VanillaRhapsody Sep 2013 #62

You are so romantic. truebluegreen Sep 2013 #90

You are linking to an Onion piece and you call me "romantic"? VanillaRhapsody Sep 2013 #95

It could be that too Taitertots Sep 2013 #154

if we just remove his chemical weapons....that is not necessarily a war... VanillaRhapsody Sep 2013 #155

The way you say it almost trivializes what you are proposing Taitertots Sep 2013 #156

Hundreds? How do you know that?... VanillaRhapsody Sep 2013 #157

Hundreds? Reasonable estimation Taitertots Sep 2013 #158

Plain ole imperialism - nt HardTimes99 Sep 2013 #122

Under the UN Conventions we have signed it is a war crime nadinbrzezinski Sep 2013 #11

Ive seen multi posts calling for the end of the UN too here tonight lunasun Sep 2013 #128

I really wonder if the Syrian people are feeling hysterics. Autumn Sep 2013 #12

This may sound crass and selffish Lee-Lee Sep 2013 #13

so if Iran were to fire 100+ cruise missiles at the United States - that would not be war? Douglas Carpenter Sep 2013 #14

I guess the bombing of Pearl Harbor wasn't an act of war either? n/t Moses2SandyKoufax Sep 2013 #28

You know that even 1 missile fired from Iran would be an Act of War n2doc Sep 2013 #52

Exactly! nt City Lights Sep 2013 #59

the op asked for r*e*s*p*e*c*t hopemountain Sep 2013 #15

Where are people disrespecting soldiers? leftstreet Sep 2013 #17

"Agree with me or you hate the troops" durablend Sep 2013 #19

That used to be a rightwing tactic leftstreet Sep 2013 #20

That's it, it's officially 2003 again. n/t Moses2SandyKoufax Sep 2013 #29

An argument that probably works.. sendero Sep 2013 #32

Im glad you dont see it pasto76 Sep 2013 #46

You accused DUers of disrespecting troops leftstreet Sep 2013 #101

A lot of them probably do mean to be, I'd wager. Posteritatis Sep 2013 #18

You want my r*e*s*p*e*c*t? 99Forever Sep 2013 #36

+100 truebluegreen Sep 2013 #92

Thank you. nt woo me with science Sep 2013 #102

They must think they're furthering their cause to Cha Sep 2013 #55

That is not true. I don't see disrespect of vets in the posts at all. cui bono Sep 2013 #64

He demanded respect but gave none. last1standing Sep 2013 #68

Stop waving the bloody shirt. It's unseemly - nt HardTimes99 Sep 2013 #126

I can claim to be a vet on the 'net and you cant prove I'm not elehhhhna Sep 2013 #159

codswallop. Attacking another country with missiles is war cali Sep 2013 #16

No one in The USA was saying we were 'at war' with Libya when Obama intervened over in Libya Tx4obama Sep 2013 #23

plenty of people were, but one major difference was that Libya was cali Sep 2013 #31

so if NATO was used in Syria it would not be war ? JI7 Sep 2013 #38

uh, I was one of the people that was against Libya so your question is silly cali Sep 2013 #49

So when France helped us in the Revolutionary war...France then declared war on Great Britain? VanillaRhapsody Sep 2013 #110

Yes, there was a formal state of war between Britain and France (and Spain, for that matter) muriel_volestrangler Sep 2013 #139

We were also fighting to overthrow Kadaffi MNBrewer Sep 2013 #41

thanks for calling my 18 years of service 'not having a clue' pasto76 Sep 2013 #47

Well, let's see, you were pretyy dismissive of sailors upthread. rug Sep 2013 #83

Thank you for your service Pasto76....but don't expect an apology from most on this thread. pkdu Sep 2013 #112

exactly could you imagine if American command and control centers on U.S. soil were hit by 100+ Douglas Carpenter Sep 2013 #125

My experience is protesting wars. No, I don't automatically respect you for serving in cali Sep 2013 #140

It's just a few missiles neverforget Sep 2013 #21

Maybe to save thousands of lives. jessie04 Sep 2013 #22

How will us firing missiles at Syria save thousands of lives? neverforget Sep 2013 #25

We "saved" millions of people in Iraq Hydra Sep 2013 #27

Silly Hydra, don't you understand that we 'liberated' them? (At HardTimes99 Sep 2013 #127

But there's a lot of work to do!!! longship Sep 2013 #30

More war.. sendero Sep 2013 #35

I don't believe that my post expressed an opinion on war. longship Sep 2013 #48

Very True Denis 11 Sep 2013 #87

Well one could do something other than rail at the machine. longship Sep 2013 #89

Wow. now that's a unique spin technique I haven't seen yet MNBrewer Sep 2013 #40

That was a winner during Iraq. polly7 Sep 2013 #44

This was a little different, wasn't it? MNBrewer Sep 2013 #56

How was it different? polly7 Sep 2013 #70

We who opposed the Iraq war were told we didn't respect or support the troops MNBrewer Sep 2013 #72

Yes, I understood that from the OP. polly7 Sep 2013 #76

For certain! MNBrewer Sep 2013 #78

try not using 'war' pasto76 Sep 2013 #50

I imagine the people on the receiving end of our missile strikes would love to trade MNBrewer Sep 2013 #61

^^^this^^^ progressoid Sep 2013 #129

You realize neither Iraq nor Afghanistan are declared wars, don't you? rug Sep 2013 #84

Pretty transparently disingenuous though, eh? DirkGently Sep 2013 #73

They only leave behind Freedom Shrapnel. MNBrewer Sep 2013 #74

And patriot stains? DirkGently Sep 2013 #77

Depends on the stain MNBrewer Sep 2013 #79

Or "bug splats." woo me with science Sep 2013 #88

Cruise missiles are viewed differently by those who are on the receiving end. arcane1 Sep 2013 #51

No low you won't sink to n2doc Sep 2013 #54

Y'know what? Not calling this shit a 'war' is disrespectful to the cthulu2016 Sep 2013 #57

Did you enlist yet? And your kids? chimpymustgo Sep 2013 #58

I respect your service but that doesn't mean you get to frame the debate. last1standing Sep 2013 #66

Indeed! arcane1 Sep 2013 #86

What's disrespectful is the way elected officials serve... polichick Sep 2013 #69

wow.that was painfully ridiclous. bowens43 Sep 2013 #75

are you talking about us or them? Skittles Sep 2013 #80

Well, if it's not war Nevernose Sep 2013 #91

You do not speak for this veteran mick063 Sep 2013 #93

I disagree and here is why: jimlup Sep 2013 #96

Thank you. We can sit here and discuss what is war and what isn't snappyturtle Sep 2013 #153

Agreed. And remember, its the knee jerk reactionist who are always the loudest..... MzShellG Sep 2013 #98

Completely irrelevant LibAsHell Sep 2013 #106

The administation has been evaluating and gathering intelligence on this situation for a while..... MzShellG Sep 2013 #111

You can weigh the options, too LibAsHell Sep 2013 #115

Youre intitled to your opinion. I can respect that we will just have to disagree.... MzShellG Sep 2013 #117

I feel like shooting missiles and bombs is the knee-jerk reaction LibAsHell Sep 2013 #148

Absolutely. That sounds like a pretty logical option.... MzShellG Sep 2013 #149

Using the military to carry out foreign policy is war. When innocents die by our bombs, it is war. morningfog Sep 2013 #103

Fine, I won't call it a war LibAsHell Sep 2013 #105

The deal is that they have already engaged against Syria in a proxy war nolabels Sep 2013 #133

Kick for some rationality in this debate. Nt Sand Wind Sep 2013 #108

I'm a veteran with an Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal. You DON'T speak for me. cherokeeprogressive Sep 2013 #109

Interesting how the Syrian innocent civilians who'll die do not appear in your equation. ocpagu Sep 2013 #116

What the FUCK? sibelian Sep 2013 #118

So your definition of war is increased American divorce rates? cthulu2016 Sep 2013 #120

But But it is the hyperbole that matters! n/t HangOnKids Sep 2013 #124

Right a lot of hysteria from the Assad fan base. Nt Sand Wind Sep 2013 #123

Assad fan base? progressoid Sep 2013 #130

It's the latest trend by the third wayers around here. Oakenshield Sep 2013 #136

War is the correct term. ZombieHorde Sep 2013 #131

Good god you talk like the only lives that matter are American soldiers Matariki Sep 2013 #132

Wait a minute... Oakenshield Sep 2013 #137

As a human that has had hard times, you have my compassion. Bonobo Sep 2013 #134

I'm beginning to see a lot of one issue voters B Calm Sep 2013 #135

Let me ask you this: Th1onein Sep 2013 #138

We have barely begun to be disrespectful about this dishonest crap yet , Sir. nt bemildred Sep 2013 #141

Bullshit. Iggo Sep 2013 #142

What a load of elephant dung. LWolf Sep 2013 #143

Pasto, a missle strike is an act of war Marrah_G Sep 2013 #145

Im sorry, but this is like those RWers screaming over the word "marriage". bunnies Sep 2013 #147

By this standard Germany was not at "war" with England during the Battle of Britain. nt Demo_Chris Sep 2013 #150

More hysterical than this whiny little missive? n/t Egalitarian Thug Sep 2013 #151