"Imagine if this was a week before D day. We tell the germans surrender or we will attack off the coast of france by Normandie."
Except this isn't anything like D-Day so comparing the two situations is kind of futile.
The most successful example of a country getting rid of it's chemical weapons is Libya. Kaddafi wasn't a stand up guy either but gave up his weapons due to international pressure and the desire to do business with Western corporations. He never used chemical weapons again.
The situation is changing hourly.
This "blunder" and "gaffe" may actually turn out to be a huge win for the Obama administration.
The Russians are backing away from the chemical-weapons deal because Obama wants to get UN approval. If both US and worldwide public opinion goes in favor of a supervised destruction of the Syrian chemical-weapons stockpile, Kerry and Obama will have justified Obama's Nobel Peace Prize.
Even if the Syrians secretly keep a little hidden warehouse of Sarin, it will still be a public repudiation of the use of chemicals, and Obama's vacillation will turn to steadfastness. His "red line" will have worked and further bombing of Syrian civilians and a suicidal ground invasion will have been avoided, as will the inevitable Broterhood-fueled and Al Qaeda-linked reprisals.
Don't anyone think you have this situation all figured out. Where it goes is anybody's guess, no one's certainty.
Not that they can't change their mind again but...
"MOSCOW, Sept 10 (Reuters) - Russia told France on Tuesday that a proposal to adopt a U.N. Security Council resolution holding the Syrian government responsible for the possible use of chemical weapons was unacceptable."
Russia bails on UN resolution
Well no matter how you slice it this is a major win for Putin.
He so desperately craves to be a big player on the world stage, and now this despot who is one step away from being a Nazi has basically reigned in the US and stopped a calamitous war.
We, on the other hand, look like war mongers.
Make no mistake, I am vehemently against a strike, but Obama really made a mess out of the whole situation.
The worst thing President Nobel Prize could do is make Putin look like the reasonable one. Its all a big game to him. I wouldve never thought that was possible. NO SARCASM
At this point, Nancy Pelosi must be poisoned by all her BOTOX
If Obama trusts Putin on this, he is more naïve than I thought he was. Putin is one of Syria's major suppliers of arms. He know Obama was painted into a corner and he hates Obama. Why than would he do something to help Obama? Putin is doing this to help Putin and for no other reason. Mr KGB is not to be trusted.
If Obama kept his promise of supporting the rebels with small arms to defend themselves, this might not have happened.He could have helped back than before it got to this stage and said "Well we helped them"
If anyone believes Mc Cain's foreign policy would have been the same, I have a bridge I would like to sell them.
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/31/69
So No war, removal of Syria's chemical weapons, the UN lines up on our side to sanction Syria....And somehow people are still trying to spin this as a bd thing caused by Obama's incompetence?
This is the greatest foreign policy triumph for the US since WWII.
McCain's foreign policy would have been much worse. We would have been at war with Iran by now.
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/28/13
"So No war, removal of Syria's chemical weapons, the UN lines up on our side to sanction Syria."
Sure. In a perfect world that happens. In this world? Not likely. Syria will not give up its chemical weapons. Sorry.. I'm a glass half empty guy.
"If Obama kept his promise of supporting the rebels with small arms to defend themselves, this might not have happened."
Roxy, are you aware of the fact that those same rebels are laying siege to every town or village occupied by Christian inhabitants, at every turn? They are on a crusade to convert all of Syria to Sunni Islam or off with a few heads. I'm still not comfortable with our being in bed with the rebels. But Obama is not at all naive as you insinuate. He's an astute politico who's adept at doing some fancy footwork to save lives, bend a lackluster Congress to his will on occasion, and score a few points (and funds) for his party in the process. That's what a clever POTUS does, but of course you already knew that.
Syria Islamist rebels take control of historic Christian town of Maaloula
I don't doubt Obamas talent for dancing around an issue Javero..
But what he did is give Putie everything he wanta. And that is tothe World Stage and Super Power. Staus. That may prove helpful short term but long term he rebuild the beast I'm afraid. Now he will tell russians that he brought them power that they have seeked since ivan the terrible
The President would be wise to take President Reagans lead....TRUST BUT VERIFY
Roxy--you oughta understand this. It's been all over Fox News.
did i miss this getting posted?
A Plea For Caution From Russia
There's a separate thread. But did you ever hear about the time that Vladimir Putin got double-banged by two porpoises?
Those are dolphins
Nativos americanos, algo, algo
From the look on his face, Putin likes getting delivers at the back door!
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/22/03
Me gusto, mg.
pj, you stole that pic from me sending it to nick kristof!
No, I didn't. I got it from the porpoise's Grindr page.
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/22/03
"Who cares how we avoided a war and got a dictator to give up his chemical weapons if we avoided a war and got a dictator to give up his chemical weapons." -- Comrade Jon Styewart
PJ thank you for a well needed laugh!
I love when people get their facts from Comedians. I bet Lisa Lampenella has some amazing insights on the the deficit
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