U.N. Security Council at standstill on Syria, reports of deaths rise

[leveymg]

1. Which explains why we're hearing louder drums of war with Iran right now

Revving up the Iranian terror "threat" drowns out the bloody failure and immense suffering caused by the ill-conceived regime change strategy in Syria.

Syria is not Libya. The casualties are likely to be times ten, when it's over, even if there is no foreign direct intervention. Assad may go, but the Ba'ath regime is unlikely to be dislodged because the minority Shi'ia in power since 1964 fear genocide and a division of the country if it is.

Iran is not Iraq. The costs and casualties of a US war with Iran are difficult to calculate. Iraq, times ten? More? Even the neocons now admit that death and mass destruction can't be confined to inside Iran.

War with either country is a war with both, and such a conflict is not containable. The costs to us -- both economic and human casualties -- will be ten, 100 times those of the Iraq and Afghanistan debacles. If Obama wants to destroy what's left of any chance of recovery and peace in the coming decades, go ahead, listen to the neocons - escalate further - press the button.