Gas attack in Syria kills dozens: US forces launch strike on Shayrat Airbase in Homs (4+ dead)

[thatrapsfan]

And some of those strikes killed Syrian soldiers right?

Very few incidents of Syrian soldiers getting killed by coalition strikes. The one prominent incident, the U.S. apologized for. Fact is the "anti-interventionists" only mean dont touch the glorious Syrian state. Thats why they were OK with the status quo until 1 strike had a regime target. Syria is obviously already a global war filled with international actors.

 

[The Odum of Ala Igbo]

You've speculated the chemical attack could've come from rebels multiple times throughout this thread.

This is more loose yarns being tied together to fit into a grand narrative. The U.S. tried to arm vetted rebels and the program was largely a failure. They were overpowered and never gained much credibility. Post-2013, the U.S.'s policy was by and large focused on fighting ISIS while dividing spheres of influence with Russia and avoiding direct confrontation with the regime. You cannot seriously believe the U.S.'s main policy intent was regime change under Obama? The CIA programs budget and support pales in comparison to hundreds of billions spent on ISIS airstrikes, arming YPG, and putting special forces on the ground. The U.S. definitively did not want to get pulled into a war with Assad under Obama. Whether this changes now who knows. I suspect that it wont and the big picture is fixed.

The sad thing is you cant make a principled argument for non-intervention that acknowledges: the Assad Regimes nature, that international intervention is already happening and focused on ISIS as well as propping up Syrian regime, and that the U.S. has largely been trying its best to avoid confrontation with the Russia or the regime.

- Your first sentence is a lie.
- If regime change wasn't the objective then why arm non-Kurdish rebels?

- I can make a principled stance for non intervention based on the fact that's the fact that US foreign policy lacks consistent principles.

 

[levitate]

Yes I'm sure Assad gives a fukk about the people of rebel-held Idlib. He has a long track record of compassion with citizens who oppose him.

But does he not give a fukk about...himself?

This move seems highly illogical and counter to not only his interests..but his own survival.

Have a significant portion of the international community come down on you for using chemical weapons...when conventional weapons would have been just as effective?

Use chemical weapons just a couple of days after the Trump administration comes out and says that you are not the enemy/target?

Questioning the actions of the past few days is not venturing into tin foil territory..it's simply asking for an explanation that's based in logic.

Perhaps he is genuinely "don't give a fukk" crazy?

 

[Liu Kang]

at brehs surprised at @4d 6f 6e 65 79 support of American bombings. Dude has always been a consistent war hawk when it comes to foreign policies. He never deviated to be honest. Brehs thought just because he was anti-Trump he somehow became a leftist, that stance was just him being anti-Russia nothing more.

 

[The Odum of Ala Igbo]

at brehs surprised at @4d 6f 6e 65 79 support of American bombings. Dude has always been a consistent war hawk when it comes to foreign policies. He never deviated to be honest. Brehs thought just because he was anti-Trump he somehow became a leftist, that stance was just him being anti-Russia nothing more.

He is an imperialist

 

[thatrapsfan]

- Your first sentence is a lie.
- If regime change wasn't the objective then why arm non-Kurdish rebels?

- I can make a principled stance for non intervention based on the fact that's the fact that US foreign policy lacks consistent principles.

Are you seriously comparing US support for the YPG to the CIA train and equip program? Perhaps google the differences between the two financially and militarily before you make this assertion. The rebels ( or shall I say "rebels" as you guys prefer) never had the ability to call in American air support in all combat instances as the YPG had. In fact part of the reason they received less support and the program failed was because of competing priorities, with the U.S. being more focused on ISIS while rebels would rather target regime.

Like I said in my post the Obama admin had competing positions and priorities, but ultimately settled on an anti-ISIS focus post 2013 chemicals deal. Any serious look at the conflict would agree with this. How much information do you have to ignore to argue that Obama was focused on Assad? I dont even think the regime itself believed this.

 

[NkrumahWasRight Is Wrong]

Why would Assad attack his own people? Especially when he's about to win the conflict.

He wouldn't.

It's crazy watching these warmongering chickenhawks feeling themselves and suddenly praising Don Cheeto...

Look at this Dravidian Dracula looking fukkboi

Where Tulsi Gabbard? Need to see her response.

 

[Arithmetic]

Who's the source for the casualties?

 

[Worthless Loser]

CNN just said 9 people were killed and 4 of the 9 were kids. I'm looking at other outlets to make sure this is accurate.

 

[thatrapsfan]

But does he not give a fukk about...himself?

This move seems highly illogical and counter to not only his interests..but his own survival.

Have a significant portion of the international community come down on you for using chemical weapons...when conventional weapons would have been just as effective?

Use chemical weapons just a couple of days after the Trump administration comes out and says that you are not the enemy/target?

Questioning the actions of the past few days is not venturing into tin foil territory..it's simply asking for an explanation that's based in logic.

Perhaps he is genuinely "don't give a fukk" crazy?

You seem to be assuming this strike is indicative of a major change in the Syrian conflict. Unless there is more U.S. escalation focused on regime (highly unlikely) this was symbolic and nothing has changed. The regime has made the (correct) calculation that the conflict is tilted in its favour after Russian and Iranian intervention, and that with the ISIS campaign, there is no path of action that can seriously hurt it.

Do you think the regime's future is at risk now and their military advantage is lost? If not , then whys it hard to believe they used chemical weapons in a rebel-held region in the countrys hinterlands where it has zero support?

 

[☑︎#VoteDemocrat]

at brehs surprised at @4d 6f 6e 65 79 support of American bombings. Dude has always been a consistent war hawk when it comes to foreign policies. He never deviated to be honest. Brehs thought just because he was anti-Trump he somehow became a leftist, that stance was just him being anti-Russia nothing more.

There's no connection between being on the left and opposing foreign intervention.

I oppposed the Iraq war.

I think the Afghanistan war should have been limited to toppling the taliban and nothing more.

I think the Libya strikes were poorly done.

Obama missed the chance to end the Syrian war years ago. I support the specific strikes yesterday.

 

[Arithmetic]

 

[Poetical Poltergeist]

CNN just said 9 people were killed and 4 of the 9 were kids. I'm looking at other outlets to make sure this is accurate.

 

[☑︎#VoteDemocrat]

But does he not give a fukk about...himself?

This move seems highly illogical and counter to not only his interests..but his own survival.

Have a significant portion of the international community come down on you for using chemical weapons...when conventional weapons would have been just as effective?

Use chemical weapons just a couple of days after the Trump administration comes out and says that you are not the enemy/target?

Questioning the actions of the past few days is not venturing into tin foil territory..it's simply asking for an explanation that's based in logic.

Perhaps he is genuinely "don't give a fukk" crazy?

Why do you keep giving Assad so much credit?

Assad felt safe. Up to two days ago trump and tillerson kept saying they were taking a hands of approach. That came to bite Trump in the ass.

Dictators do irrational shyt all the time.

This is a war. People don't act rationally. You're applying your skewed and naïve view of war and international actors.

Saddam did the same thing. And he was winning.

 

[Worthless Loser]

A US missile strike targeting an airbase in central Syria killed nine civilians, including four children, on Friday, state news agency SANA reported, as the office of Syrian ruler Bashar Assad denounced the raid as “reckless and irresponsible.”

I just hate when kids are involved no matter who is the attacker. I got a soft spot for kids.