Syria (merged)

[nwhn3]

36 countries have referred the apparent chemical weapons attacks to the UN. France are talking about using force if the Security Council can't sort the issue.

France is seeking a reaction with "force" if a massacre in Syria involving chemical weapons is confirmed, its foreign minister has said.

"If it is proven, France's position is that there must be a reaction, a reaction that could take the form of a reaction with force," Laurent Fabius told BFM-TV.

"There are possibilities for responding," he said without elaborating.

He added that if the UN Security Council could not make a decision, one would have to be taken "in other ways".

The Syrian government has been urged to allow UN inspectors to visit the site where it is claimed more than 1,300 people died in a chemical weapons attack.

The National Coalition claims toxic gas was used by President Bashar al Assad's forces during a bombardment of rebel-held areas outside Damascus.

It said the death toll was likely to rise after a neighbourhood with many casualties was discovered in Zamalka.

Government officials said the claims were "totally false" and the international news organisations reporting them were "implicated in the shedding of Syrian blood and support terrorism".

<a class="postlink" href="http://news.sky.com/story/1131742/syria-call-for-force-if-chemicals-proven" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://news.sky.com/story/1131742/syria ... als-proven</a>

France is seeking a reaction with force, since when have France been forceful, and who's force, how many troops are they putting forward in a France lead forceful reaction. Unless they are referring to sanctions

 

[Josh Blue]

I'm not sure if you are being satirical/ironic in your short answer there Josh.

Nobody does irony like JBLUE

 

[SWP's back]

I'm not sure if you are being satirical/ironic in your short answer there Josh.

Nobody does irony like JBLUE

Gangsta'

Me like it bredren, braaap braaap.

 

[Josh Blue]

I'm not sure if you are being satirical/ironic in your short answer there Josh.

Nobody does irony like JBLUE

Gangsta'

Me like it bredren, braaap braaap.

Homo rhodesiensis? Me like this, me scratch this grunt grunt grunt.

 

[BlueMo']

I'm sure William Hague will sort it, no better Man.

 

[Josh Blue]

I'm sure William Hague will sort it, no better lizard.

 

[west didsblue]

False flag

Its so obviously the "rebels". The Syrian government is in a decent position, what benefit do they get from gassing their own people (who a big chunk of on their side)? <a class="postlink" href="http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/MID-03-050613.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_Eas ... 50613.html</a>
They know the powers that be are fishing for a pretext to intervene, it goes completely against their own interests.

Wonder why the Syrian government won't allow the UN to investigate the alleged chemical attacks.

 

[RandomJ]

Anyone else find it ridiculous that the rest of the world have now drawn the line only after chemical weapons have been used. So they were fine with them killing thousands and thousands of innocent men women and children every single day but oh no now chemical weapons have been used we need to do something.

I'm not eager for us to be drawn into another war but we could at least send a few jets over to help no need to put men on the ground. Guess theres nothing in it for us to get involved with this conflict.

 

[shadygiz]

36 countries have referred the apparent chemical weapons attacks to the UN. France are talking about using force if the Security Council can't sort the issue.

France is seeking a reaction with "force" if a massacre in Syria involving chemical weapons is confirmed, its foreign minister has said.

"If it is proven, France's position is that there must be a reaction, a reaction that could take the form of a reaction with force," Laurent Fabius told BFM-TV.

"There are possibilities for responding," he said without elaborating.

He added that if the UN Security Council could not make a decision, one would have to be taken "in other ways".

The Syrian government has been urged to allow UN inspectors to visit the site where it is claimed more than 1,300 people died in a chemical weapons attack.

The National Coalition claims toxic gas was used by President Bashar al Assad's forces during a bombardment of rebel-held areas outside Damascus.

It said the death toll was likely to rise after a neighbourhood with many casualties was discovered in Zamalka.

Government officials said the claims were "totally false" and the international news organisations reporting them were "implicated in the shedding of Syrian blood and support terrorism".

<a class="postlink" href="http://news.sky.com/story/1131742/syria-call-for-force-if-chemicals-proven" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://news.sky.com/story/1131742/syria ... als-proven</a>

France is seeking a reaction with force, since when have France been forceful, and who's force, how many troops are they putting forward in a France lead forceful reaction. Unless they are referring to sanctions

believe it or not, france has one of the best equipped fighting forces in the world and are already spread over a 1/3rd of the world on peace keeping duties.

 

[Damocles]

Er...this is a bit embarrassing but my grasp on current events are akin to a greased rope.

Can somebody informed upon the current situation tell me how the Arab Spring degraded into this in Syria?

I don't understand how the situation has developed. Let alone the morality behind it.

Pretend I'm an idiot (which shouldn't be that difficult)

 

[johnny on the spot]

Er...this is a bit embarrassing but my grasp on current events are akin to a greased rope.

Can somebody informed upon the current situation tell me how the Arab Spring degraded into this in Syria?

I don't understand how the situation has developed. Let alone the morality behind it.

Pretend I'm an idiot (which shouldn't be that difficult)

Quite a complex situation. Takes a bit of reading:

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-23788674" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-23788674</a>

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/spotlight/syria/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/spotlight/syria/</a>

 

[Prestwich_Blue]

Er...this is a bit embarrassing but my grasp on current events are akin to a greased rope.

Can somebody informed upon the current situation tell me how the Arab Spring degraded into this in Syria?

I don't understand how the situation has developed. Let alone the morality behind it.

Pretend I'm an idiot (which shouldn't be that difficult)

In a very basic sense, you can compare Syria to Northern Ireland. One religious/tribal group, the Shia Alawites, ruled and oppressed the Sunni majority. The Arab Spring encouraged the Sunnis to rebel but the Assad government, at one point seemingly on the verge of collapse, was utterly ruthless in attempting to suppress the rebellion.

Now, every man and his dog in the area has entered the conflict, with militant, Al Qaeda aligned Sunni groups on the rebel side and Hezbollah on the government side. The Russians are also supporting the government side.

 

[JoeMercer'sWay]

Er...this is a bit embarrassing but my grasp on current events are akin to a greased rope.

Can somebody informed upon the current situation tell me how the Arab Spring degraded into this in Syria?

I don't understand how the situation has developed. Let alone the morality behind it.

Pretend I'm an idiot (which shouldn't be that difficult)

In a very basic sense, you can compare Syria to Northern Ireland. One religious/tribal group, the Shia Alawites, ruled and oppressed the Sunni majority. The Arab Spring encouraged the Sunnis to rebel but the Assad government, at one point seemingly on the verge of collapse, was utterly ruthless in attempting to suppress the rebellion.

Now, every man and his dog in the area has entered the conflict, with militant, Al Qaeda aligned Sunni groups on the rebel side and Hezbollah on the government side. The Russians are also supporting the government side.

neither side was or is good, and in the midst are honest, decent people who are having their lives ruined.

 

[Ducado]

Er...this is a bit embarrassing but my grasp on current events are akin to a greased rope.

Can somebody informed upon the current situation tell me how the Arab Spring degraded into this in Syria?

I don't understand how the situation has developed. Let alone the morality behind it.

Pretend I'm an idiot (which shouldn't be that difficult)

In a very basic sense, you can compare Syria to Northern Ireland. One religious/tribal group, the Shia Alawites, ruled and oppressed the Sunni majority. The Arab Spring encouraged the Sunnis to rebel but the Assad government, at one point seemingly on the verge of collapse, was utterly ruthless in attempting to suppress the rebellion.

Now, every man and his dog in the area has entered the conflict, with militant, Al Qaeda aligned Sunni groups on the rebel side and Hezbollah on the government side. The Russians are also supporting the government side.

You also have to factor in that Assad's Father was responsible for one of he biggest massacre in recent Middle Eastern history when he crushed the Muslim Brotherhood in Hama, (1982) Robert Fisk always reckoned that upwards of 20,000 people were killed (mainly civilians) although estimates vary.

So there is no loved lost there, in the long run the Sunni will win, and Assad will be strung up in the street, we can only guess what will come next

 

[Blueband Brother]

There is so much evil in this world. People,and governments in positions of power and influence will in my opinion do anything to continue the momentum of their overall project.

The shock factor- it always seem to have the desired impact and there will certainly be the inevitable hindsight- ''oh I always knew, the truth is out'' reaction in the near future when the dust finally settles but by then who knows what stage in the chain reaction the world will be at.

Ultimately, it is the poor Syrian people that are caught in between this tussle and they are the ones suffering. No matter how you access the situation, the near future does not look too good for the Syrian people and my heart goes out to them.

 

[Prestwich_Blue]

Er...this is a bit embarrassing but my grasp on current events are akin to a greased rope.

Can somebody informed upon the current situation tell me how the Arab Spring degraded into this in Syria?

I don't understand how the situation has developed. Let alone the morality behind it.

Pretend I'm an idiot (which shouldn't be that difficult)

In a very basic sense, you can compare Syria to Northern Ireland. One religious/tribal group, the Shia Alawites, ruled and oppressed the Sunni majority. The Arab Spring encouraged the Sunnis to rebel but the Assad government, at one point seemingly on the verge of collapse, was utterly ruthless in attempting to suppress the rebellion.

Now, every man and his dog in the area has entered the conflict, with militant, Al Qaeda aligned Sunni groups on the rebel side and Hezbollah on the government side. The Russians are also supporting the government side.

neither side was or is good, and in the midst are honest, decent people who are having their lives ruined.

That's the problem in most conflicts.

 

[JoeMercer'sWay]

In a very basic sense, you can compare Syria to Northern Ireland. One religious/tribal group, the Shia Alawites, ruled and oppressed the Sunni majority. The Arab Spring encouraged the Sunnis to rebel but the Assad government, at one point seemingly on the verge of collapse, was utterly ruthless in attempting to suppress the rebellion.

Now, every man and his dog in the area has entered the conflict, with militant, Al Qaeda aligned Sunni groups on the rebel side and Hezbollah on the government side. The Russians are also supporting the government side.

neither side was or is good, and in the midst are honest, decent people who are having their lives ruined.

That's the problem in most conflicts.

it is not our place to interfere, we would only replace evil with more evil and give even more reasons, anger and seeking of retribution which would create a prolonged and even more bloody 2nd phase to the civil war.

 

[Scouse_Jimi]

it is not our place to interfere, we would only replace evil with more evil and give even more reasons, anger and seeking of retribution which would create a prolonged and even more bloody 2nd phase to the civil war.

Yup...just look at the "success" of the arab spring, probably killed more people than it's freed sadly

 

[Skashion]

I'm trying to understand why Assad would have used gas and I simply cannot come up with an answer. He was winning, and the world was sitting by, why would he do it? Why would he gas people when he has the upper hand and would surely bring about an international reaction and risk losing the position of strength he regained? Gassing civilians would only make him losing more likely and lose him sympathy with the Sunnis who now see the antebellum status quo as the best of the probable outcomes i.e. better than Al Qaeda affiliates al-Nusra taking power. I cannot rationalise it. Means, motive, opportunity. There's no logical motive. It simply doesn't make sense for him to do it.

 

[Ducado]

I'm trying to understand why Assad would have used gas and I simply cannot come up with an answer. He was winning, and the world was sitting by, why would he do it? Why would he gas people when he has the upper hand and would surely bring about an international reaction and risk losing the position of strength he regained? Gassing civilians would only make him losing more likely and lose him sympathy with the Sunnis who now see the antebellum status quo as the best of the probable outcomes i.e. better than Al Qaeda affiliates al-Nusra taking power. I cannot rationalise it. Means, motive, opportunity. There's no logical motive. It simply doesn't make sense for him to do it.

In answer to the first part he is not in full control of the military and he never has been