1. Is it certain that Assad’s regime really used the chemical weapons? There is so much manufacture of atrocities in that region, it cannot be taken for granted that he has, especially since there is no clear benefit to him in doing so.
2. What is the endgame? The removal of Assad? No doubt Assad is a scoundrel, but what replaces him is likely to be worse.
3. Is it certain that the strikes will actually reduce the production of chemical weapons and end their use?
4. Every U.S. intervention in the Middle East has been disastrous, as they were based on false assumptions. Will this one be different?
Bourne Infidel says
God help us all
aSally says
What is the plan? Will he point his little finger at Assad and say, “YOU’RE FIRED!”? After all, it always works on TV. That is the problem when you put a tabloid celebrity with no real world experience and no maturity in the most important job in the world. The Middle East is not his sandbox. The missiles are not his toys. And he might find out that the Russians are not the pushovers he is used to in everyday life. It would have been better if he needed a break from Mar al Lago or the bankrupt hotels for him to have his agent get him on “Dancing with the Stars”. At least the rest of the world wouldn’t be in the crosshairs.
This is how WWI began – with superpowers meddling in the affairs of a legitimate government. When the heir to the thrown of the Austro-Hungarian Empire was assassinated in one of its provinces, the whole world took the side of the assassin for various secret and illegitimate reasons. The result was a horrific world war which no one won in the end. Terrible loss of life and Europe was teed up for WWII. Without the effects of WWI perhaps the Bolshevik revolution would have been avoided, Hitler might never have risen to power and the Islamic world might have stayed in the bottle, so to speak. Now we see a similar scenario – major world powers meddling in the domestic affairs of Syria.
Too bad Trump was too busy planning his third wedding to notice what else has been going on as a result of American tinkering in Middle Eastern governments. Our toppling of Saddam Hussein created a climate in which Isis came to the fore, our meddling in Egypt brought about disaster, and our elimination of Qaddafi resulted in a tsunami of African mass migration into Europe – which we read about regularly in the crime reports and terrorist stories coming out of that besieged continent. We will see civil war there in our lifetime as a result. Had we left Libya alone maybe not so much.
I hope there is more of a plan than we have seen before with this lunatic. It won’t due for him to tweet an about face in a couple of days, as is his wont. You can’t tweet your way out of a world war.
Nancy Assaf says
Yeah. Obama and Bush both ordered air strikes in Syria. So it’s Trump’s fault, right? Geez.
Avenger says
Nancy, most people who voted for Trump wanted the US out of the Middle East not to become a lap dog for the Saudis and EU globalists. The meeting with Saudi prince Mohammed Salman at the White House had a huge influence on what is now transpiring in Syria.
Another US President bought and sold by the House of Saud.
Peggy says
It is for this one. He’s the president now, not them.
maghan says
And the bombings and invasions of the ME by Bush 1, Bush II, Clinton, and Obama. Obama and Hillary bombed Libya into the desert dust causing maximum chaos, then crazy Hillary launched the Ukraine war and the Syrian war. Barry was just outside riding his bike.
Mae says
Is that you, Sally Yates? It’s so cute how you get all emotional and personal, Sally. Why, next thing you’re going to break out with “hey, hey, whadya say, how many kids did you kill today?” Leftie talking points are soooo precious.
A few facts to get you through those rough spots when you have to actually think, Sally…
Syrian Targets
Middle East Perspectives
by Rick Francona·Friday, April 13, 2018
Syria military sources stated that American strikes that lasted for at least an hour targeted upwards of 10 locations in Syria, most of them concentrated in the Damascus and its suburbs, in addition to Homs in the center of the country.
According to the military sources the following areas were targeted:
1. 105th Republican Guard Brigade
2. Air Defense Base, Qasiyun Mountain, Damascus
3. Al-Mazzah Air Base
4. Al-Dumayr air base
5. Scientific Research Center, Barzah, Damascus
6. Scientific Research Center, Jamariyah, Damascus suburbs
7. 41st Special Forces Brigade
8. Military sites near al-Ruhaybah in the Eastern al-Qalamun in the Damscus suburbs
9. Sites in al-Kiswah – Damascus suburbs
=================
My notes:
1. Primary regime protection unit in Damascus, suspected of using chemical weapons
2. Huge facility overlooking Damascus, used in 2013 to launch chemicals into the eastern suburb
3. Air base in southern section of Damascus – all sorts of special units there, likely chemicals as well
4. Major air base about 25 miles northeast of Damascus – helicopters probably operated from here
5. Primary R&D facility for advanced weapons
6. Primary R&D facility for advanced weapons
7. Elite commando unit
8. Numerous missile bases, and a chemical weapons storage area
9. Major air/air defense command and control center
There you go, Hon. Hope you’re soon out of your funk and into prison, Sal.
Mae says
Joan, watch this for answers to your questions (except, of course, for the Prophet Isaiah reference)…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvnyKoWawgQ
Brian hoff says
Most nerve gas are binary agent kept separate from each other just before you use then you mix the together in the shell warhead or bomb the nerve gas is only last afew minutes before break down.
nvdev says
you are an idiot by claiming trump is wrong
who will stand up for the oppressed if he does not
Peggy says
Bombing Assad is helping ISIS. Now who’s the oppressor?
Jeremy Snell says
Biblical prophecy being fulfilled at an exponential rate
J D S says
If Assad is to be replaced and surely he should be, Then his countrymen should replace him…How that replacement plays out is left up yo those countrymen..Do they want to continue with the same or actually have a real change..Of course there is a dark horse in the race….Russia!
Kessler says
Replaced with what? The question non of our leaders want to hear because it’s inconvenient.
The ones fighting in the battlefield against Asssad are the ones who will seize power in case of Assad’s departure. It’s not the “moderate” governmental oppositions – they have no actual power. Those with guns and determination to die for their cause do.
Unfortunately these fighters are largely Islamists with an agenda to change Syria into a Sunni religious Sharia state. Assad’s departure will be the end of the pluralism which survived for so long in Syria.
There will be no positive outcome of Western intervention – just like it was the case in Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya. The stupidity and ignorance is sraggering.
Kessler says
*staggering
Will there ever be an edit function?!?
Carol (the 1st) says
Kessler…Sounds like the type of thing Alex Jones is saying (e.g. “BREAKING : War In Syria Is The Globalists’ Last Desperate Attempt To Destroy Trump”). Jones seems to feel it’s all an attempt to get past Syria and use it as an excuse to get into Russia for looting etc.
The next article I happened upon however makes one better understand the position Mr. Trump is faced with when dealing with chemical weapons:
https://www.meforum.org/articles/2018/the-case-for-bombing-assad?
Roderick MacUalraig says
Agreed, Avenger. I voted for him because before the election he was denouncing Barack and Hillary’s involvement and blunders.
I think this boils down to us continuing to be involved in a Sunni / Shiite conflict. I don’t want to see another American man or woman lose their life in that conflict. And I don’t want my tax dollars going towards more ordnance being dropped on other countries. We can’t even square away our own country and we’re going to go fix the ME? Let the Muslanimals fight each other until they’re all dead. The day we all wake up and there’s no more Pisslam cannot come soon enough.
This is sick. I feel rage. I believed Trump.
Granddaddy says
It sounds like we’re not being told everything.
Keys says
Yes, as usual.
Richard says
You may recall Kosovo, where we began bombing Serbia on Good Friday because supposedly the Serbs opened fire with a cannon against the Muslims. After it was all over, we discovered the Muslims opened fire on their own people to bring us in. As bad as Assad may or may not be, he is the sole protector of Christians in Syria, just as Saddam Hussain was in Iraq. With Assad gone, there will be a bloodbath.
Ibrahim itace muhammed says
It is another round of crusade wars of genocide to spill bloods to appease the satan (holy spirit) in yahweh and his wife Ashera hero gods
Gerald Mucci says
The Russians know this. Why don’t we?
Buzz says
Once the commies (and the others with blood lust) get “their guy” in control no ordnance will be left to protect the Christians and Alawites, they will naturally be on their own and will be begging Kurds and Russians for help. No good can come from all this.
Flavius Claudius Iulianus says
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAlBVVw0ghA
Andy says
Thanks for the video Flavius
Andy says
Nigel Farage: Globalists Hate Christians And Want War With Russia
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_CM8GAqD-g
Thomaspj Poovathinkal says
IF America goes to WAR with Russia, it is ONLY Antichrist who will rejoice.
Gail says
I know Jay Boo, but the guy who did the documentary was the son of a holocaust survivor who taught at Harvard. Goldhager is the name. Basically those of us who stay silent in the face of genocide allow evil. With these cosmetic strikes at Syria at least send warning that the world will do something. Genghis would have blown up Assads house. So would have I.
Gail says
Bull on the video. Snopes the white helmets which had a founder with a French name. They are not a terrorist organization. 115 plus have been killed by the Assad forces and Assad and Russian media want to put the spin that the White Helmets are somehow the experts on fake videos. This guy Lee works for RT news. Russian news. I am very disappointed and disillusioned by what I am reading here on Jihad Watch. I have been a reader since 1998 and am going to resign my readership.
Robert Spencer says
White Helmets are al-Qaeda. This is abundantly documented. Here: https://www.globalresearch.ca/the-white-helmets-are-black-helmets-they-are-al-qaeda/5634301
So long.
Gail says
I don’t think this is really Robert Spencer answering me or even writing the original article. If the white helmets are Al Qaeda then they are made up of men and WOMEN who are risking their lives to dig babies out of rubble. So bravo to them. And as to why Assad would use chemical weapons while he is winning, probably just to see what would be our response. And he saw it. But now the world is saying “You done good but don’t go further or the big boys will kick your butt, we can’t handle that”. Watch the PBS presentation ‘Worse than War’. What happens when the U.N. and other countries do NOTHING. And if this was really Robert then aloha to you. I did unsubscribe after many many years of dedicated reading and sharing.
Gail says
I don’t think that the list was written by Robert. He must have either been hacked or kidnapped by the Russians. Seriously.
Robert Spencer says
Seriously?
Gail says
Pamela was hacked yesterday and it took her IT people most of the day to get up and running again. Even then it had issues ,
I bet Jihadwatch is hacked and Robert did not write this.
Robert Spencer says
Sorry. I wrote it.
Gail says
Ok but sad.
Simone says
I am also suspicious, like you Gail of this article and the comment by ‘Robert’
Something doesn’t seem right.
Gail says
Simone glad you noticed the irregularities in ‘Robert’s ‘ articles. And Jay Boo you have been on for many moons but it is BPS not NPR on YouTube that has that documentary on Genocide.
Gail says
Jay boo, PBS not bps, damn auto corrrct.
Indiana Tom says
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gp5JCrSXkJY
Norma Ayuso says
Hate these videos! Can’t people write?
Thomaspj Poovathinkal says
WRITING is better.
Indiana Tom says
I dunno, everytime i see governments, militaries, and news information that makes very little sense, this song begins playing in my head,
You always have to wonder about the real alternative methods, motives, and reasoning behind the stated information spoon fed to the public.
Assad using Sarin gas really makes no sense at this point in the war.
Most certainly did not help him out militarily or politically.
If I was an enemy of Assad, I would want him to do what he did for my own propaganda purposes.
The USA attacking Syria will do what exactly? Regime change? Why are we involved? What does winning look like? Will this strengthen the Jihadis?
maghan says
Maybe this could help.
http://www.oil-price.net/en/articles/crude-oil-syrian-conflict.php
Also try to get a copy of Machiavelli’s “The Prince”.
JawsV says
I enjoyed Buffalo Springfield, Tom. Young Neil Young is something. Love 1960’s music.
esther says
duh
Garfield says
It sure sounds fishy that Assad would use gas right now…I’m asking myself who wants this war right now…Prince Bin Salman of Saudi Arabia HATES Iran. This Syria thing is ABOUT Iran and Hezbollah Hezbollah is an Iran proxy and it’s drug running fuels a lot of terror (there’s a good article on politico about project cassandra and how the Obama WH stifled it to get the Iran nuke deal….They backed off RICO cases that would have stopped Iran funded Hezbollah drug cartels).
It seems that MBS in saudi arabia would be very happy to draw Iran into a conflict. It all seems crazy….but Assad is rumored to run torture prisons…Hezbollah is entrenched in south america….Hezbollah/lebanese drug cartels are bolstering ms-13, influencing Venezuela…this is a threat to South and central America and that’s right below the border. This Syria thing is about Iran and drugs….and maybe MBS jockeying for influence. Maybe it needs to happen. Maybe Assad really gassed people. Maybe Trump knows what he’s doing.
maghan says
Assad did not gas his own people. Why? He is an ophthalmologist–which would signify a modicum of reasoning powers. False Flag all along to suck Trump back into war against Assad. What has Assad done wrong? He has simply blocked Qatar and Saudi Arabia from pushing that gas line from Qatar to Western Europe.
http://www.oil-price.net/en/articles/crude-oil-syrian-conflict.php
asma bint marwan says
he became an ophthalmologist because in his own words, he hated the sight of blood. I fail to see the connection between that and reasoning. Assad remains a dictator even if he protects the Christian’s over there.
Carolyne says
I sincerely hope Mr. trump knows what he is doing. He has access to information none of us have so maybe this bombing is justified. On the surface, though, it could appear that the poison gas attack was done by Mr. Assad’s enemies to achieve this very result.
Peggy says
Which makes Trump at best naïve.
Keys says
What if the Iranians used the chemical weapons in order to draw the US and Russia into conflict ?
“The Only Thing Necessary for the Triumph of Evil is that Good Men Do Nothing.”
The public (including me) just do not have enough information.
Keys says
Also, why did the Germans, NATO allies, Saudi Arabia, etc., not participate ?
Are they on standby ? How are they helpiing ?
Rev G says
France and England are involved
Liston says
UK not just England
Avenger says
Our staunch money bag Saudis offered the use of their Air Force. Does this tell you mentally challenged American stooges something?!
Carolyne says
I don’t know where you live, Avenger, but I bet its one of those countries which have allowed themselves to be taken over by the barbarian hordes. Mentally challenged indeed.
Garfield says
Prince bin Salman was just in France talking to Macron last week. France sells S.A. a lot of weapons.
Bin Salman hates Iran. He’s also tired of Iran funded Houthis in Yemen. So yes, MBS would like to blast down Iran and its proxies the Houthis and Hezbollah.
It’s not about Syria only. It’s about drugs, Russian ports and shipping routes, oil pipelines….the world runs on money power and drugs.
Demsci says
Well, in that case, the guilty party was not Assads regime, but Iran. But these two are allies and so in that case Iran is responsible for this Western reaction. And the counterattack of America, UK, France is still “justified” because Syria and Iran are inextricably connected and responsible, if not for the chemical attack, then still for alliance with the one who did do it (in case Iran did it instead of Syria, as you suggested).
Notmoron says
Assad is winning the war, he has no reason to use those weapons, but what about the Turks?
Keys says
Yes, and Assad has the Russians and Iranians on his side.
Brian hoff says
Hitler said on dec 07 1941 it would be stupid for germany to declare war on america after pearl. America would be fighting japan and america will cut back on they support of UK. Afew day later germany declared war on america. Congress only declare war on japan on dec 8 1941.
Demsci says
Yes, that seems an ironclad argument to me too (that Assad was winning anyway) but the other day I heard a military expert on Syria saying on TV that since the last Western counterattack a year ago, the Syrian regime had already used chemical weapons 7 or 8 times. And I vaguely recalled the news about such accusations. Accusations about use of chemical weapons by the regime in Idlib for instance.
That would make it appear as if the lack of response from the West to these earlier chemical attacks, combined with the stubborn resistance in Douma by Jaish Islam rebels made the Syrian regime gamble on forcing the issue with the chemical weapons. And Jaish Islam indeed “folded” immediately thereafter.
maghan says
What makes you think these military men like telling the truth. Note that LIES are all part of STRATEGIC decision-making in conflict situations.
Carol (the 1st) says
In a video provided by Mae above: “New Pentagon Press Conference. The Morning After”, Pentagon Chief Spokesperson, Dana White, is asked (28:57) by a foreign-sounding reporter (who’s curiously poor with tenses):
“You’re talking about evidence of chemical weapons attack, we haven’t seen any actual evidence really – that’s what you’re saying – however *there’s* an organization on the ground in Syria, the OPCW and it *will* conduct an investigation, – why didn’t you *WAIT* for that investigation to end?” [What? – BEFORE holding a press conference? – or to accidentally sneak in the misleading suggestion that they had acted prematurely?]
Dana replied:
“Let’s remember that OPCW and others HAVE BEEN blocked from entering (x?) and Douma by the Assad regime, we were VERY CONFIDENT about the *evidence* we had, it was clear, and the Secretary said yesterday he was very confident about the *intelligence* as well, and that’s why we moved forward”. (29:55)
mummymovie says
Wow, this is all just so predictable, so lame, and so depressing, just like all other “news” these days.
This will just prolong the misery in Syria and continue to encourage “refugee” horde flows into Europe, and will essentially provide more cover and pretext for the unholy Kalergian hijra-invasion of third world muslims into civilized lands, and just in time for the summer migration season!
Why would Assad sabotage his own victory there? Was this staged by the jihad-supporting white helmets? They would have had access to all the necessary props. And we are now acting as the air force for the islamic state- What an accomplishment!
Jihadis around the world are celebrating tonight, especially in the region. So much for “winning hearts and minds”.
VRWC member77 says
“winning hearts and minds” …….and that is the crux of the argument. How do you go about doing that in a region of the world where Islam lingers in this part of the world like a pervasive mutating cancer?
Syria being part of the former Ottoman Empire, has a significant Alawite and Alevi population group. These sects are considered Shia-Jafri Islamic offshoots and I’m guessing there are way too many influential individuals throughout the Trump, Obama and Bush administrations that have and CONTINUE to view these groups as “moderate” muslims.
I have a theory that these Shia groups developed as a way of skirting around the brutal aspects of sharia. For example:
Key Alevi characteristics include:
— Love and respect for all people (“The important thing is not religion, but being a human being”)
— Tolerance towards other religions and ethnic groups (“If you hurt another person, the ritual prayers
you have done are counted as worthless”)
— Respect for working people (“The greatest act of worship is to work”)
Anyone who has done a moderate amount of study into the basics of sharia would see straight away that the above characteristics are haram to any Sunni Islamic sect. But if a tribe or group could allow for certain “human indulgences” and continue to call themselves muslims, they could avoid being subject to the apostasy rule. The Sufis in the Caucus region got away with that for many years. Unfortunately for them, most were wiped out in that region by the Sunnis who practiced doctrine Islam.
So in light of this view how is it possible to “win the hearts and minds” of such mutant variable? It’s obviously a doomed approach. Can someone show me where I’m wrong?
mummymovie says
Wow- thanks for the bit of education, VRWC!
Admittedly, something about the some sects of the Shia always seemed a sliver more rational to me than the Sunni, for some reason, and likely this is why.
I’ve never really bought into the whole “hearts and minds” thing very much, quite honestly, and for the same reason you mentioned. I’ve always thought it a bit of an impossibility in the face of islam itself.
maghan says
We live in world of brutal geopolitics governed by the principles of Real Politik(sic). Just another opinion.
http://www.oil-price.net/en/articles/crude-oil-syrian-conflict.php
mummymovie says
http://www.breitbart.com/london/2018/04/14/france-germany-express-concern-syria-strikes-spark-new-migrant-crisis/
David says
Not sure this will do anything positive.Trump may have won the election by opposing these stupid interventions.
Garfield says
Bigger picture is that Iran funds Hezbollah. This is about the various proxy groups in Syria not Syria and Syrian people as if every country is all about people and each has a nice little white picket fence around it.
The world situation is fueled by money. Power, drugs, corruption, business deals…not “politics” like we want to believe. Sure, it’s ugly, but shipping routes, oil, weapons, drugs…..that’s what shapes geopolitical realities. Not people or the environment or any other idealistic kumbaya idea.
Iran has big interests in syria. So does russia. Saudi Arabia HATES iran. This could all be a big plan to get rid of Iran and back Russia up and route out Iran funded narco terrorist group hezbollah. Why? Bc they (iran/Hezbollah/lebanon) are a huge threat not only to Israel but they are working in South and central America to develop violent drug cartels meanwhile ruining nations, like Venezuela, turning them into threats south of our border. (Why are the Mexican cartels doing beheddings? They’ve been infiltrated by Isis style terrorists).
So maybe as crazy as this false flag looking gas attack looks, there’s a good reason to get rid of Iran AND Assad.
Demsci says
Regime change in Iran and for those excellent reasons you explain, seems like a good logical motivation (next to halting proliferation of chemical weapons). If Iran falls, what happens to Hezbollah? Assad? Michael Ledeen of PJMedia long since advocates regime change in Tehran.
And it is not like Mike Pompeo and John Bolton don;t like the idea (they like it very much). And it seems now the time is almost ripe.
aSally says
It is hard to make a case for the integrity of US borders and then go into Syria to get involved in something entirely within Syria’s borders. We have a moron in the White House.
Mae says
Isn’t aSally a wonderful little leftie? My, my how she can talk smack! It’s just the most engaging thing.
Infidel says
AS PREDICTED : MUSLIM LEADERS IN INDIA LAY THE SEEDS FOR A SECOND PARTITION OF INDIA.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/muslim-groups-call-protest-rally-to-save-religion-save-country/articleshow/63754484.cms
Chand says
This news link is not relevant on this article here but nonetheless these two recent events in India could be why Muslims, minorities and the lower castes/Dalits are worried. Hindu goons are getting emboldened by the Hindu supremacist party ruling the country.
An eight year old Muslim girl was gang raped and killed by Hindu men.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-43749235
A 16 yr old girl from the lower caste or Dalit was gang raped by a group of men led by a politician from the ruling BJP.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-43735542
PATRICIA FRANCES KOENIG says
President Trump calls President Assad a “monster” and an “animal.” Yet Assad has better morals than Donald Trump. This does not make sense as Trump denounced the war in Syria before he became president. So what changed? President Trump’s advisers are GLOBALISTS.
Vann Boseman says
I am pretty dubious about the claim that Assad has better morals than Trump. Bombing Syria is just one issue. Patricia needs to provide a lot more information on both individuals before her judgement of the morals of these two people has any meaning.
In the campaign, Trump demonstrated a knowledge and approach to Islam and the Middle East that was better than the other candidates. That does not mean he had a great understanding, only that he was the best of the lot. Since the campaign, he has gone back and forth with the knowledge he seemed to have during the campaign. It appears that he is less than he could be because of those he has surrounded himself with.
It looks like a US president is seeking to punish a country for using weapons that he believes to be immoral by bombing that country. Considering Spencer’s points 2, 3, and 4, this makes no sense. It is easy to question Trump’s judgement on foreign policy because, even though McMaster has left, Trump thought it was acceptable to bring him on in the first place. Trump’s image that he created during the campaign of surrounding himself with quality people has not worked out well. Trump has a mixed bag of advisers at best. Trump won the election. But what we have is Trump choosing advisers, some of which represent a mind-boggling amazement to me combined with an FBI and other central government creations that are impotent to accept that Trump is the president. There is a better case at this point for abolishing the FBI than there is for retaining it.
Trump is the most competent to make the decision of whether to bomb Syria, or not, of all those who ran against him in the primary and the general election. That does not mean that he is actually competent to make such a decision. If Trump could understand that he is not competent to make the decision to bomb Syria or not, then maybe he would have refrained from doing so.
Demsci says
Trump and Assad are persons, and I for one rate Trump as the much more moral one. Which of the two is killing people all the time, especially in his own country? (and surely Assad did it when protests were still only peacefully)
but besides that, Trump is the leader of a democratic country, government, under rule of law, which to a high degree permits freedom of speech and openness. Assad of course is a ruthless dictator, with brutal censorship and very biased propaganda.
I like to read prof. Clay Fuller of American Enterprise Institute. And he elaborates why democracies as a general rule promote more peace and prosperity, and less corruption, whereas they hardly ever (but not never, only much less) war against other democracies.
What changed? He primarily enforces this red line of NO CHEMICAL WEAPONS. He said friday he still intends to let “America leave Syria”.
Chand says
What is ‘better morals’, Patricia?
You mean in their personal lives and conduct?
Well, Assad was married once and there are no scandals about his personal life although that does not mean much as Syria is a dictatorship with news monitoring and such and the public wouldn’t know. But I don’t think he was involved in any illicit affairs as Syria is a closed and conservative society.
Trump, compared to him, seems a scumbag with about two dozen scandals and his talk denigrating women and his despicable sexual comments about his own daughter Ivanka.
Or do you mean their political positions?
Assad and his father Hafez had to deal with Islamism and Jihadism for decades and ruling that part of that world necessitates hard rulers. Nonetheless, they tried to be secular and protected the Christians and other minorities and were brutal on Jihadis and Islamic fundamentalists.
So although there are legitimate grievances of the Sunni majority against his regime, the popular uprising of the Arab Spring was taken over by Sunni Jihadis and the world knows full well about the ruthlessness and barbarity of Sunni Jihadis.
So Trump is inadvertently helping the Sunni jihadis and endangering the Christians and other minorities and there is no conclusive proof that Assad has used chemical weapons.
So Assad has proven to be more ‘moral’ by default here.
So maybe you are right on both counts, Patricia Frances Koenig.
maghan says
Silly chatter. How do you know that Assad does not have a private harem. He is a Muslim after all.
So which of these do rate as having better morals than Trump?
http://www.ruthlessreviews.com/21031/great-cocksmen-american-presidency-bill-clinton/
Flavius Claudius Iulianus says
Good post Chand. You’ve briefly gone over many of the points.
Assad and his government are tough, no doubt about it. But considering IS was made up of some of the characters he had to deal with, I would say he is the right man for the job.
I might add that I’ve also seen film footage of Assad and his wife interacting with the various minority groups in Syria. There is genuine affection for the Assads.
I personally wouldn’t undertake to judge either man as being more ‘moral’ than the other. It will be up to posterity to do that job.
Notmoron says
Christians will be eliminated in Syria if the SECULAR Assad fail.
Jay says
Yes, an another tragedy on top what has already happened in Iraq and Egypt.
PMP says
HUGE MISTAKE. HUGE MISTAKE. There is no proof whatsoever. NONE. Merely suppositions based on hearsay only. Why not wait a couple of days longer and see the “evidence” that Russia says proves they are not the perpetrators. Then take action if appropriate. There is way too much questionable premise, that does indicate that there may indeed be 3rd party (country) involvement.
Furthermore, why hasn’t the United States, France and Britain made public the “incontrovertible” proof that they claim to have that places the blame and proof at the doorstep of Assad. To place the World at the Event Horizon (brink) of World Nuclear War without ABSOLUTE PROOF is insanity. And UTTERLY FOOLISH. May God have mercy on us all.
maghan says
That effete and weird Macron along with Theresa May were the ones pushing for the bombs. Trump was just conned into joining the gang. The French and the Brits pulled the same game to overthrow and kill Gadaffi. Hillary then dragged Obama into providing the most weaponry.
PATRICIA FRANCES KOENIG says
The war in Syria is about natural gas pipelines and central banks. It is not a “humanitarian war.”
Flavius Claudius Iulianus says
True. Also …. the oil reserves under the Golan Heights. Ever heard of Genie Oil and Gas? Take a look at their advisory board. See any names you recognized?
https://genieoilgas.com/about-us/strategic-advisory-board/
Ed Lee says
Interesting list. It’s all about the money. If you add up the cash held by the companies comprising the S&P 500, it dwarfs all the countries in the world, combined. He who has the gold makes the rules, and it’s not Trump, Merkel, Macron, Putin, Xi, Trudeau, etc.
Buzz says
Things seem to be getting curiouser and curiouser…of course these parasites will do/say/write whatever is needed to get their desired results.
Janwaar Bibi says
Switch your brains off and repeat after me: USA, USA, USA.
Debi Brand says
Wow, Bibi, that was great!
I feel so much better now! What an experience!!!
Thanks for the tip.
Keys says
This does remind me of Saddam.
Yes, he has WMDs.
But we couldn’t find them once we got there.
Assad.
Yes, he, not someone else, used chemical weapons.
Have we even been there to see who did it ?
Flavius Claudius Iulianus says
I’m reposting:
The narratives constructed to justify these interventions are rarely the truth. Sometimes they are made up of lies built up on lies, or confusion or partisan domestic politics. Sometimes people write books. Or sometimes the narratives are created by immoral, greedy carpetbaggers who want a failed state so they can get obscenely rich. And then this narrative is sold to the American public and they always buy it – because not to buy it would be unpatriotic.
For example, the truth about Sadam Hussein is that he always did what the Americans told him to do. He was terrified of crossing the Americans. He knew how fickle American foreign policy was: one day you’re the good guy – next, you’re the bad guy, depending on the narrative of the day. He asked if it was okay to invade Kuwait. He got the green light. But Bush had another plan and there was nothing Sadam could do to save himself because he wasn’t the real target.
It is now (with all the released memos, notes, emails, affidavits, etc., which I have neither the time nor the interest to get into) an incontrovertible fact that the invasion was a Bush created false-flag with the aim of making a few people sickeningly rich.
The fact is, every time Americans engage in “nation building,” failed states result and hundreds of thousands die. EVERY SINGLE TIME!
Look at Trump: a few weeks ago he said that the US was to leave Syria and that it should be left for others to deal with. Then, all of a sudden, he pipes up that it’s time for police action against big, bad Assad, even before any confirmation of ‘gas attacks’ comes in. Somethings not right there. Somethings going on behind the scenes.
I ask the rhetorical question, when will the American people get tired of being deceived? I ask because, the day the American electorate smarten up, is the day the world will become safe from reckless and destructive interventionism.
Demsci says
Very interesting what you wrote and I do not reject anything of it. But I do take the long view.
You describe that there are covert motivations for war (as well as overt expressed ones). And you describe motivation of getting very rich for warmongers and getting powerful for their paymasters. I daresay; true.
But I am a reader of prof. Steven Pinker’s “the better angels of our nature” (2011) and “Enlightenment now” (2017). And of prof. Clay Fuller of AEI. And they argue convincingly that war is decreasing over the centuries. Per capita mind you. Most people are well informed about the present and you exceptionally well. But how well do we know the entire human history of violence?
As long as humans existed there was fighting. As long as (city)states existed there was war. With all these motivations of winning loot, plunder and power, almost everywhere among humans.
Pinker and Fuller choose to focus on what good behavior of humans, what good ideas (like democracy, huge global trade and cooperation, or more civilized morals, or more exposure, or nuclear threat or anything else) did cause the decrease in war,
that can be shown, like after the calamitous 17th century, the world wars, the Cold War.
And you describe, no doubt accurately, what is still possible in the 21st century due to the still existing human motivations of greed and lust for power, and what not, and the remaining opportunities for war in this day and age. But the overall trend does seem GOOD! For now and already for some time now.
Carol (the 1st) says
Demsci…I provided a link in a post above to an article that actually has a graph (by Prof. Steven Pinker) of war-related deaths since the end of World War II (that war would make a *flat line* of all later wars, and so it was not even included). Here’s the link again:
https://www.meforum.org/articles/2018/the-case-for-bombing-assad?
Indiana Tom says
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3W7-ngmO_p8
Indiana Tom says
I sort of thought this song sums up a lot of our involvement in the Middle East concerning nation building.
VRWC member77 says
It was easy, liquid bravado for Country Joe to sing in the comfort confines of a Woodstock stage as he belted out his “moral” chant. while young combat troops were fighting a nasty war half a world away. In my mind Vietnam War Veterans were the greatest war generation -NOT the WWII generation (and my dad was a D-day war vet) as they had to endure hardship overseas and domestically.
Yes, involvement with Vietnam was highly questionable (much like Iraq) and perhaps the cost was too high, but it sure put the Soviet Union on high cost alert in THEIR hemisphere.
David says
Nonsense. First, no one of the Woodstock nation/mentality disrespected the troops fighting in Vietnam nor did the lyrics of Country Joe’s song so infer. It was all about the generals the warmongering politicians who lackeys to big corp interests. If that sounds canned…it’s because it was so very obviously true.
Second, to believe that the US folly in Vietnam scared the USSR into not intervening in their sphere is belied by the facts – it never drew back from occupation until the home grown revolt during the much later regime of Gorbachev when communism began to show cracks in its philosophical structure. It just wasn’t working.
I glad to see RS asking questions – Islam/jihad and politics are inseparable so it is self-evident that a scholar on Islam would necessarily be active in world politics, however, someone like RS would do well to understand that forces other than jihad and religion may drive political events in places like Syria.
Nevertheless, I have read some astute remarks in this thread – such that I’m encouraged the JW readership has matured to more than the “my god is better than your god” mindlessness I see too often in the comments.
VRWC member77 says
“:First, no one of the Woodstock nation/mentality disrespected the troops fighting in Vietnam nor did the lyrics of Country Joe’s song so infer.”
Yeah David? Did I say as much? But since you POINTEDLY infer I inferred as such:
“One, Two three wadda we fight’n for?…don’t ask me I don’t give a damn, next stop is VEEatNAM…….five, six, seven open up the pealy gates….well I AIN’t GOT TIME TO WONDER WHY whoopee!!…we’re all gonna die.”
Yeah, those lyrics reek of patriotism. Or perhaps you get what I don’t – his intellectual message about big business and their conspiracy to wage war.
And your idea that America’s involvement didn’t rattle the then Soviet Union is NONSENSE…….it is false. They absolutely took notice especially when we started mining Haiphong harbor, because why?……..because the Soviets were sending shipping supplies through that area and they weren’t exclusively paper products.
By the time Gorbachev came to power Vietnam was long history, with the Soviet Union already on the fast track to decline. Reagan expedited the process by forcing them into bankruptcy through an arms race.
I for one could care less about what you consider “astute comments” so go pontificate to someone who does.
762x51FMJ says
Assad has never trusted any tribe
except Alawi and the Baath party.
If he were to open his unity government
to all his countrymen he could achieve
great things for the Syrian people.
But today I fear the usual sad story of Islam
What was once the garden of god
becomes another bombed out ruin.
Flavius Claudius Iulianus says
“If he were to open his unity government to all his countrymen …”
How well did that work for Lebanon? Why are the Iraqi shias resisting doing the same? Why did Egypt pull back from an Ikwan led government?
The answer, 762x51FMJ , is some of his countrymen are fanatics who want to impose shariah, no matter what the cost.
There is only one reason for Syria (“what was once the garden of God …”) having become a bombed out ruin: Mohammadism.
338 Lapua says
Syria under the Assad’s, was a stable, at peace nation for all ethnic groups including its Sunni majority. Christians were thriving even building new and more houses of worship. Sunni Muslims cannot and will not share power, they must control and institute their sharia law. The Arab spring was their chance for “Land Grab”
In a nut shell the US supports Saudi Arabia and Russia supports Iran. Assad is no worse than any other Middle East strongman but he’s not our (US) strongman. Now we have your “bomded out ruin”.
Indiana Tom says
Hamburger Hill; was it worth it?
Indiana Tom says
To expand, Syrian rebels against Assad are usually radicals, and if they succeed will be like the Taliban or ISIS. The USA to some degree keeps the wars going on in that region and we really do not have a good loyal dog in that fight. I don’t know what winning looks like to Graham and McCain; but for America this is going to be about not how much we are going to win, but how much we are going to lose. This will be a hollow victory at best. This is not worth American blood and treasure.,
Thomaspj Poovathinkal says
The BEST is to go by the COUNSEL of THE LORD : coming through Fr. Mathew Naicomparampil, Divine Retreat Centre, St. Augustin’s Abbey, Ramsgate, Kent, U.K
gravenimage says
Assad is a thug. The alternatives are still worse, though.
Jay says
Agreed, that is why the Christians of Syria have supported the Assad regime.
RichardL says
Correct. Mattis said two important things: he is completely convinced Assad did it and it is a one shot operation. The removal of Assad is not the goal. Deterrence is.
Demsci says
Agreed. And perhaps it is as well if Syrian regime wins and Russia keeps its influence and bases there. I think Russians also help the Syrian Christians. And why not let them have the costs and the problems?
But Iran seems determined to threathen Israel. And it has this large force of “Shiite militias” in Syria (I heard 80,000 of them!) and these bases. Which gives Israel headaches.
And Turkey threathens the Kurds, which are Muslim in majority. Are they really these logical allies of America? And can the Kurds not make deals with the Syrian regime and Russians to hold Turkey at bay? So, is n’t Trump right to withdraw from Syria totally after ISIS is taken care of?
Keys says
To your last question – Yes.
As long as Iran does not use Syria as another “base” to attack Israel.
Avenger says
The United States of America bombing of Syria ranks at the top as the most cruel and self serving attack on a sovereign nation in US history. The government and people of Syria had nothing to do with this manufactured “gas attack. The globalist dogs of greed and war couldn’t wait for proof of Syrian complicity because they knew there wasn’t any! The dead children supposedly gassed by Assad’s army and put up for display were most likely murdered Shiite or Christian children being used as props. How stupid or better yet how evil is our US State Dept? How stupid or greedy is our “drain the swamp” President Trump?!
Oh Wellington, Oh Gravenimage please explain to me how this obscene use of American military power stymies global jihad?!
Indiana Tom says
The United States of America bombing of Syria ranks at the top as the most cruel and self serving attack on a sovereign nation in US history.
You have gotta be kidding. People in WWII air raids would have taken a nap during these strikes.
PRODOS says
I support the USA + UK + France strike on Syria and what amounts to a challenge of Russian and Iranian control of the region.
Avenger says
With that same retarded thinking that’s why we have Muslim Sharia Indonesia, Taliban controlled Afghanistan, nuclear armed Pakistan, Muslims flowing into Europe from Libya, 2,500,000 million Christians murdered in Turkey and Christians being murdered daily in Egypt.
You are a fool PRODOS or a dirt bag Sunni Muslim
Flavius Claudius Iulianus says
I’d be interested in knowing your reasons for backing them in this hasty action. There is no doubt that Iran wants greater influence but Russia has stated that it would like to withdraw troops from the region. So how would this strike keep Iran from getting greater influence? It would just drag out the conflict. This whole mess, which some would say, the US created by trying to remove Assad, has actually increased Iran’s influence in the region. So the fix is to throw more gasoline on the fire?
War is not spectator team sport. You don’t pick your favorite teams and cheer them on. You need to have very good reasons for supporting a war stance otherwise you are supporting mindless interventionist adventurism.
Indiana Tom says
Amen.
AleX says
@PRODOS
Post seconded.
First time in years when I see this site inundated with RT-style posts (and new commentators) enunciating anti-American, ‘intellectual’, politicized editorials.
Interventionism is at the order of the day, regardless of side.
I too support USA + UK + FRANCE strikes on Syria.
Garfield says
A prisoner in one of Assads torture prisons smuggled out photos. The Ceasar Photos or the Ceasr Papers, sorry I can’t remember what they were called..point is Assad probably does need to go. This action might look bad or hasty but I also think it’s necessary.
PRODOS says
@AleX & @Garfield, thanks for speaking up.
It looks like we are a tiny minority on this thread — both in our viewpoint on the strike and our good manners.
Avenger says
@AleX + PRODOS
Two wrongs dont make a right.
Demsci says
Well, Russia is welcome to controlling Syria to some of us. While it depletes Russia’s precious resources considerably in a time when its economy is not doing so well, due to permanent low oil prices (it seems, due to American Shale Oil).
Iran seemingly does not know when to stop gaining influence without excessively threathening Israel.
Otherwise they also should be welcome to squander on Syria what little wealth they still have, while their economy is in shambles and their population is facing multiple hardships, including an unimaginable huge drought, a rampant inflation (1 USD is now 62000 Rials or so).
But support for US, UK and France is good for the reason that Chemical weapons are so horrible, terrible. In world war 1 chemical warfare results looked so ghastly, and wearing gas masks all the time soooooo repulsive. In world war 2 reportedly even the Nazi’s did not want to go that way anymore.
and stopping proliferation is so important, lest other agressors target other victims, closer to home, and on bigger scale.
Avenger says
Demsci please provide proof that the Syrian government used gas before you lecture us on the horrors of chemical warfare.
Why would Bashar Assad use gas now while being so close to expelling al Qaeda terrorists from their last strongholds in Damascus?
If you’ve ever watched any interviews of Assad you’d realize his IQ is about 40 points above Trumps, he’s even a little sharper than Obama. Therefore it defies logic that he would authorize this incredibly useless gas attack which would precipitate the wrath of the US.
Demsci says
Well, I like to imagine that the question of who was responsible was examined in a court of law, with Assad as defendant and a prosecutor and defense lawyer. And a judge and jury.
I heard on the media the case for the prosecution using witnesses, various Western agencies and politicians, as well as civilian witnesses, alongside with the footage on TV. And the logical argument that the opposition did not have the air force to deliver the chemicals. Also it was Russia who blocked a proposal to investigate on site in the Security Council, why?
If Assad was not guilty who else could be perpetrator? The alternative explanations are far less probable and downright improbable, as in sensational conspiracy theories.
But were you judge and jury I suppose you would prefer the rule “innocent if not proven guilty”. I get that.
But I consider the possibility that the witnesses know more than the public and keep some secrets, that our politicians + security agencies still have integrity when they present their conclusions.
And I consider that “innocent until proven guilty” has already applied multiple times with Assad or someone in his regime being prime suspect. And that the intelligent Assad was banking on the deniability he so clearly has. While we can see that the usage of Chemical weapons does give him edge and advantage and intimidation of his domestic opponents.
When some (Western) leaders take responsibility for finally acting, based on at least good arguments and probability if not on solid evidence then these leaders are vulnerable. Won;t you forgive them?
But don;t forget, when other leaders do not act when there is probability of a prime suspect actually being guilty, time and time again, those other leaders too have something to answer for; when the same crime keeps happening.
Must we always excuse and forgive those who only want to appease and allow and allow?
Avenger says
I’m really skeptical-cynical because of past US exploitation in foreign affairs like – the Gulf of Tonkin – Vietnam, WMD’s not found Iraq, bombing the crap out of Serbia to protect the KLA, plotting and funding the overthrow of the secular government of Indonesia to usher in a Islamist replacement, plotting and funding the overthrow of the democratically elected government of Iran and inserting the Shah Mohammad Pahlavi, looking the other way as Turkey captures and keeps about 1/2 of Cyprus. I can go on.
This is just another American land grab.
Demsci says
Yes, OK. But I take long view, like to see context and big picture.
In a long view one either sees stasis, deterioration or improvement. I see improvement.
For instance “land grab” in the history of states (mostly dictatorial) used to be quite overt and ubiquitous now land grabbers are forced to be “covert”, and guard against being caught redhanded. It is now happening much less.
The context; there are more superpowers than America only; what is it that the others do? Much of it immoral and covertly. Maybe America is least bad.
And you know what? Even the small opponents of America may be very immoral. But they are not APES, they too, like the Americans, are to be considered accountable HUMANS.
Big picture; you have succeeded in showcasing bad morals, motivations of America. But how often did America behave morally good? Often I say. For instance; the shah was imposed on Iran in 1953, but in 1979 America under Carter allowed him to be overthrown. Even in 2011 America under Obama allowed the dictator Mubarak to be overthrown. Etc.
I am not saying you are like that, but I find it unfair when America ALWAYS and only gets criticism no matter what it does or does NOT do, especially when there are worse offenders aplenty around.
We should Compare America with all countries, in present and past, not just with Denmark or an imaginary saintly country.
Jay says
The West as a Christian civilisation has failed to defend Christian minorities in the Middle East and elsewhere. If we were still willing to defend them, all these disasters which started from the overthrow of Saddam Hussein’s regime would have been avoided.
The overthrow of the Assad is going to mean an another disaster for the Christian minority groups in the Middle East. What have the Christian minority groups (Assyrians, Chaldeans and Copts) have done to deserve this persecution and genocide and they are getting ignored by Western leaders. While the “Rohingya” and “Palestinians” who have waged Jihad against the Jews and Burmese get all the attention.
Future generations if the West successfully fights back against Islamization are likely going to see the Western leaders failure to defend the Christians of the Middle East as an act of treachery.
Avenger says
“I don’t think we’re trying to overthrow Assad” @ WVinMN
Haven’t you been following this 7 year civil war on any newsformat? Maybe you have but you’re too challenged to really grasp that the US and NATO have done almost everything possible to destroy Assad without triggering a war with Russia.
BTW.
That Vietnam war really showed the Soviets and Chinese our brilliant foreign policy strategy.
Demsci says
Naaaah, Obama, the American public at large and even Donald Trump just were not into any thing resembling a big intervention in Syria. Not after the debacles in Afghanistan and Iraq.
And avoiding wars works 2 ways. Russia also carefully avoids war with US and NATO. Russia may have nukes, but its defense budget is not much more than 10 % of the defense budget of the Americans (something like 65 billion versus 585 billion USD). But the Americans let the Russians “have Syria” I suppose.
Look, the situation is not like, say, until 5 years ago, that America desperately needs to control the price of the Middle Eastern oil anymore. The ME is now much less vital, interesting and rewarding for America.
Demsci says
And the flow of ME Oil (also less important than it used to be).
sidney penny says
Great point summary from Robert.
Another one below in this short video form Paul Watson.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-WuPFlMThw&t=5s
ANOTHER STUPID F**KING WAR
Paul Joseph Watson
Published on Apr 12, 2018
What could possibly go wrong?
Arico says
Has anyone considered the possibility that German “Werwolves” now in NATO are seeking vengeance for the Russian rape pogrom in Berlin after WW2 and the bombing of Dresden and Cologne by US and British planes? Could the Werwolves have staged the poisoning in England and the use of chemical weapons in Syria to get the “Allies” and the Russians to fight? Are the Germans too dumb to pull this off?
Stop Kafirophobia says
Trump has been compromised and is now officially part of the swamp. Shadow President John ‘PNAC’ Bolton and his neocon globalist buddies will be calling he shots from here on in. God help us all indeed.
St. Manuel II Palailogos says
This is for Israel. Israel doesn’t want an “Iranian client state” in Syria, so they had ISIS created (which we know from Pentagon documents) and they have this missile fired at Syria.
Your boy Bolton is on board with it Mr. Spencer.
gravenimage says
Oh, good God–someone else ranting that ISIS is actually Jewish. What a load of tripe–nothing could be more Islamic.
Bezelel says
They’re out there
Ibrahim itace muhammed says
ignorant Gravenimage, you are still closing your eyes from obvious that IsIs and terrorists are products of wicked mithraist pagan christians and evil Jews?
WPM says
Right Jews and Christians invented ISIS to do what ?? In what way could invented ISIS advance any Jewish or Christian agenda ??Does ISIS have any “Joos” or “mithraist pagan Christians ” in their ranks ?Can you name one piece of proof or example besides your Islamic fever dreams that there is a link between America and Israel with ISIS ? Is it because ISIS besides killing all Christians is killing some Moslems as well??Moslems have been killing other Moslems all the way back to Mohammad salad days.Sunnis ,Shites ,Kurds ,Turks , all matter of tribes have been killing each other in wars even before America was founded, and Europe was a bunch of different Kingdoms of feudal states. Islamics do not play nice with other tribes of Islamics besides hating Jews Christians .
Demsci says
It is an illogical lie. But it hardly matters, because even if ISIS was from Jews, it was Mohammed and Islam who made their job to convince Muslims who were “duped” so easy and successful (and all or almost all ISIS-terrorists were Muslims and in majority cannot have been in on the plot).
If ISIS was initiated and led by Jews, then still they “copied” so much so well from Mohammed and Islamic scriptures and mainstream beliefs. That even if Jews invented ISIS this speaks very bad of Islam.
The most fanatical Muslims were drawn to ISIS and you cannot even blame them for being gullible, so well dit ISIS follow Islamic theology.
JawsV says
WPM, the Reconquista (Spain) was helped immensely due to the Mohammedans’ continual internecine warfare.
Granddaddy says
I don’t see why we should care about Syria, one way or the other. Are we their ally now? I say let them kill each other all they want. Sounds like a good deal to me.
Garfield says
That’s not how world politics on this tiny planet works anymore.
You have no idea that Syria is strategic real estate for a whole bunch of various players? You don’t understand that Iran wants control in Syria
, or a piece of it….that all these various players want shipping routes and naval bases and reources?
We can’t say oh it’s their problem, let them fight it out. Not with the global drug trade, the exportation of terror ideology,human traffiking….Syria IS our business. It is our business to try to maintain some sort of world safety. If we sit idly by….They continue to ramp up their corrupt mafia behavior.
and it spreads. Like to South America and then creeps towards our border. The globe is too small to pretend there’s room to say oh ha let them solve it by killing each other. That’s naive.
JawsV says
“their corrupt mafia behavior”
“There is no mafia. There are only honest businessmen.” — Al Capone
That one always cracks me up!
Granddaddy says
There is no legitimate reason for staying in Syria.
Bezelel says
I’m left wondering how much control does Assad actually have over his forces. It has been done now anyway so the it’s a matter of what next? And by whom. iran hezbollah, Russia, Turkey, Kurds and don’t forget the only good guys in the region, Israel. I just heard about Turkey bullying Greece again. Right now the ball is in Putins court. He can piss and moan and accept it as a very limited attack or he can make things worse. Like it or not I’m on Trump’s side. He’s calling the shots with the best West Point and Annapolis has to offer. Personally I’m soooo glad hillary isn’t in the position that I can count my?our blessings.
don vito says
I don’t see Assad in a wining position in this civil war. I have seen many posts that stated Assad was winning, but I have seen no facts, that suggest, that his side is winning, and if Assad is not winning, that would explain the reason for his alleged use of chemical weapons. If these chemical weapons were delivered by air, none of the rebels have a means to do so. The Russian have be bombing the snot out of neighborhoods not loyal enough to Assad, Syrians have been using helicopters for bomb delivery, so only the Syrians and Russians have that capability, the means to deliver by air.
utis says
I wish some news source would publish a run-down of all the players in this civil war. Al-Qaeda is certainly there and a lot of the “fellow countrymen” Assad was fighting ran off to ISIS (along with the weapons Obama gave them). There is too much simple-minded dualism in journalists and other political entities; once you’re labelled “bad” there is no good in you. If they label you as “good,” your evil aspects do not exist.
Journalists especially do not do their legwork. If Assad goes, all those “rebel fighters” will obliterate the people who support him. The carnage will be immense, and will not be reported by CNN et al.
CogitoErgoSum says
So how many chemicals were destroyed in this attack? Did they all blow up without any trace of ever having been there? Swoosh, boom, poof ….. and they are gone. Just like that. Like they never existed. They are gone, are they not? Well, aren’t they? I feel very confident they are. Yes, yes I do. Oh, the world is so much safer now. Thank you, Mr. Trump.
I hope more Syrians can come to Europe, Canada and the U.S. now too.
Hell Awaits says
It was reported that 100 rockets were fired. I wonder what their targets and if those targets were destroyed. If we know this, we’ll know exactly what’s going on.
Also, remember what involvement in Balkans turned like? Exactly, a Muslim enclave in the heart of Europe.
So, Cui bono?
Ren says
The strike is just a warning. No big deal.
duh swami says
OT…Art Bell the creator of Coast to Coast Am radio, passed away…
He pioneered the idea of the open mind,,,Bye Art…Have a good trip…
On topic…poison gas kills, but so do bombs and bullets…
Bombs and bullets have killed how many?
Chand says
That video of the chemical attack looks suspiciously staged, when looked at closely. I could be wrong though.
Maybe the Western Allies cannot stomach the fact that Assad will remain in power now indefinitely.
The Russian threat to ‘shoot down’ any US missiles turned out to be empty though. Also Pompeo has claimed that US commandos had recently killed 200 Russian mercenaries in Syria.
Debi Brand says
1. Is it certain that Assad’s regime really used the chemical weapons?
Uhhh.. that would be, no; but who needs certainty anyhow—was intel on Iraq certain? and look at how successful that was.
2. What is the endgame?
Endgame?
3. Is it certain that the strikes will actually reduce the production of chemical weapons and end their use?
Well of course it is not certain—is life certain?
4. Every U.S. intervention in the Middle East has been disastrous, as they were based on false assumptions. Will this one be different?
Well there is always, it would seem, at least a small chance it might be less than disastrous, is there not?
Kasey says
Has the West been duped again by the martyr loving Sunnis in Syria again just to gain some support from the West against Assad?
The 3 or 4 different religious groups which make up his regime would all get butchered by the Sunnis if they ever got a chance.
The Sunni leadership can’t be trusted anyway. They believe that in martydom, those who have died have done so for lslam and are in paradise, away from this hell on Earth.
So who really did the gassing is really anyone’s guess.
Debi Brand says
“…who really did the gassing is really anyone’s guess.”
Indeed.
Peter says
Obama drew the “red line” and did not enforce it, thereby weakening U.S. credibility. After that, what happened? Russia planted a flag to claim the Arctic Circle, China fabricated islands in the South China Sea to shore up (no pun intended) its ridiculous maritime claims in the region, Russia reclaimed the Crimea and began nibbling at eastern Ukraine….
Since Trump attacked Assad once over chemical weapons attacks, he has no choice but to follow up, unless the attacks were clearly fabricated (which is of course a possibility if one recalls the Bosnian Muslims mortaring their own people in Sarajevo and blaming their actions on Serb atrocities to get NATO to intervene on their side, which is what inevitably happened).
Furthermore, any sign of lack of resolve or commitment sends signals to not just Russia, China and Iran, but also to North Korea, which must be neutered of its nuclear arsenal and nuclear weapons and ballistic missile technology ties to Iran.
The risks of doing nothing are high, as are those of doing something. Nevertheless, the “axis of bad intentions” needs to know that Trump, a former street tough, is not a pushover like the leftist messiah Obama.
Terry Gain says
Peter
Yours is the best comment on this thread.
maghan says
That was ONE TWEET that Trump should not have sent. Maybe all those MSM vipers are slowly poisoning him with their daily bites–along with Mueller digging and digging hoping to find Democratic gold.
ronyvo says
Well, this is bad news. I don’t know if Assad is using chemical weapons against his people or not. In the Islamic countries this is way of life since Islam was founded. We know that he is, at least not using that against the Christians. Pres. Trump emphasized the logo AMERICCA FIRST. My question is how this war against ASSAD would be coincided with the welfare of Americans? I used to dislike America for just that, sticking it’s nose in other people’s business.
I don’t see a good reason for this strike and at this time. Am I wrong?!!!!!!!
WPM says
I do not know what the right answer is you are right America did not enter into this thing over night. It took 8 yrs of Obama carrying the water for the Islamic religion and 8 yrs. of the foolishness of Bush that we could sell American values to people stuck in Islamic thinking {proclaiming Islam a religion of peace after 911} Nazis cannot be reformed unless they reject Nazism.I am hoping that this does not start WW3 .Would England and France jump into this to if America did not ?I tend to think both chemical attacks were fabricated ,World War 1 was started over less ,and now with 3 superpowers ,America ,Russia and China all flexing their muscles over “the poor children ” who really in all the death there by everything but poison gas they real give a f*ck about? Where will the next wave of “refugees “from this shit storm go ? I support Trump up to this point ,but I think this is his greats mistake so far.
Edward Cline says
The chemical strikes by Assad have been unconfirmed and reports of them are ambiguous, being from unreliable sources. I think Trump has made an unfortunate decision. Don’t we have satelittes that take visual evidence? Spencer is right; U.S. interventions in that region has always resulted in disaster, usually in a rush to “do something.”
FYI says
No doubt exactly what the Globalist masters want: a war with Russia
NATO have been in a phoney Cyberwar with an increasingly belligerent Russia for years.
All that is needed is a Casus Belli:a chemical weapons attack which may (or may not) have been a
..False Flag operation to begin with.
Syria has been a proxy WW3 battlefield testing ground anyway:and Putin will not abandon support for Assad.
SHUALI says
This is all part of a larger picture. Namely, the problem with Iran and North Korea. The fact that there were chemical plants to bomb is at least a partial reason for the limited bombing attack. Russia promised to eliminate them. Other reasons? Well, don’t forget that when these sort of attacks are done there is much in the way of intelligence that can be gathered for example radar signatures of SS-300 and SS-400 that Russia has installed and that Iran is relying on to protect them. Other data, lots of it is also collected. Don’t forget that the US is going to drop the Iran deal in May and do their best to crush the Iranian regime in the near future. This is all part of that. The Iranians are the MAIN problem in the Middle East and are responsible for much of the chaos in many current volatile situations. This will play out in a better fashion than can be imagined and will serve very good purposes in upcoming battles with Iran and their proxies Hezbollah and Hamas.
maghan says
False Flag flown by some despicable terrorists on the verge of defeat.
http://www.oil-price.net/en/articles/crude-oil-syrian-conflict.php
No Muzzies Here says
There are no good guys in the Middle East. We have only one friend in the Middle East: Israel.
Nothing is simple in the Middle East. Bringing Assad down will destabilize the region, possibly allowing the Islamic State to gain strength again.
Bombing is not the way to go.
Waldo Mari says
https://youtu.be/T7Fmrye4gvM
Terry Gain says
It seems pretty clear that chlorine cylinders were dropped by Assad’s helicopters. As for motive, perhaps Assad wants to end the war sooner than later and this sends a clear message to the rebels as what awaits them if they keep fighting.
If someone can come up with a more probative site than bellingcat I would like to see it.
https://www.bellingcat.com/news/mena/2018/04/11/open-source-survey-alleged-chemical-attacks-douma-7th-april-2018/
mummymovie says
I understand the need to repel Iranian regime influences back in Syria, but the Kalergian aspects of these air strikes are overwhelming in that the charges seemed “trumped-up, the purported “chemical attacks” by al Assad didn’t make any sense, the whole operation was rushed into and had a sense of inevitability about it. And I’m sure John McCain supported it.
This has “SWAMP” written all over it.
Terry Gain says
Mm
It makes sense if Assad thinks these chemical attacks will end the war.
mummymovie says
But he was already in the last lap of victory. Gouda was largely cleared of “rebels” and/or IS fighters already. Why sabotage and risk his victory?
Why self-sabotage with a chem attack, when he knows it will bring international condemnation at the very least, and likely U.S.-led airstrikes.
Very strange.
rbla says
If you look at the photos of the horribly injured children in Syria it is very clear that we had no choice but to bomb. I hear that there is another place where children are being horribly abused with the connivance and collusion of the government authorities. Young girls are being gang raped while their government looks on and justifies this atrocity. I say it’s time to get those bombers flying again — over Rotherham England!
Terry Gain says
rbla
I think you mean over 10 Downing Street, London.
CogitoErgoSum says
I don’t know about bombs. They are so indiscriminate and almost as bad as chemical weapons. The penalty for those who cause mischief in the land should be more civilized than that. Evildoers should be punished in a manner that carries with it the blessings of a Higher Power. Who can dispute the seal of approval granted by the One called The Most Merciful to crucifixion, the cutting off of limbs from alternate sides of the body, or beheading (preferably with a kitchen knife). These are the holiest of ways to be used in keeping others (and yourself) on the right path to sanctimonious submission unto the One also known as The Most Kind and Righteous, The All Forgiving, The Pardoner, The Forgiver, The Ever Pardoning, Ever Relenting, The Forbearing, The Patient, The First, The Last, Inheritor of All, etc., etc…..
Richie says
I sense John Bolton influenced his decision to attack. We don’t need a return to the GW Bush era perpwtual war for searching for elusive WMDs.
Grrrrrrrrr...... says
If you are certain and have not doubt that Assad is a scroundrel, then please post some proof.
Because that may as well be a false assumption.
Richard Courtemanche says
So, how does one reconcile the differences between these two…
https://www.facebook.com/derekmke/videos/599007993778650/?hc_ref=ARQVHp8UQMq-Koth-r_NqSwT_yDEZ4wOkUktUeH4e12p5E2NK6iwWUD3zoerBNFlfFs&fref=gs&dti=241400409392089&hc_location=group
https://www.facebook.com/treka.officialpage/videos/1901339526801862/?fref=mentions
However, if Assad did it…
3. Is it certain that the strikes will actually reduce the production of chemical weapons and end their use?
A: It should. But if the production resumes, bomb again.
Lydia Church says
History repeating itself.
We never get the real story.
Kirk says
This is a strange article, unusual writing from Mr Robert Spencer. I expected the usual profound reflection, yet it reads as a high schooler’s Power Point on the Middle East.
Bourne Infidel says
I thought so too, been reading Mr. Spencer since or around 9/11 , won’t elaborate my thoughts on the big man i have too much respect for him, hope I’m wrong unlike Mr Trump .
Simone says
I also thought the article strange – also have you seen the comment that’s been added in response to others by ‘Robert Spencer’ further up near the top.
nicu says
I bet Assad bombed his own people like Saddam had mass destruction weapons !
nicu says
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfZVu0alU0I
Z says
What the hell is it you all want? If we leave them alone they will just continue to build and expand. I don’t think Trump isn’t doing too much, he’s doing to little. The only way they will behave and finally try to be civil, after generations of barbarism, is to put a gun to their heads and make them for generation’s to come. You can whine moan and complain all you want, but that is the only way to save our people… by dominating theirs
Bourne Infidel says
Stop baying for blood you have no idea the consequences instore for us all
Thomaspj Poovathinkal says
WRITING is better.
TL says
Blowhard Z,
You are just a few generations removed from the lower classes of Europe. Correct?
It is no small irony now that we would do no violence to truth or justice by substituting a phrase like ‘America’s ruling class’ for “them” in your bluster that “If we leave them alone they will just continue to build and expand”.
Lord Lestat says
Trump is a puppet of the leftists, unbeknown to him. With the goal that after him no president will be a real conservative anymore. Lets face the truth. That guy is making insane Twitter tweets, is highly unpredictable, rude, totally incompetent.
Just take a look to what he does. He is the perfect straw-man. Puts everything really great about being conservative in the very dirt and damages the reputation and greatness of everything REALLY conservative. Exactly what the leftists wanted. An enemy leading their enemies to create such an outrage in the public that never ever a conservative have any chance again.
And thanks to the leftist morons we all on Earth are getting drawn in a most likely nuclear war. Well played leftist scum, well played!
Flavius Claudius Iulianus says
Free speech, discussion, open dialogue, sharing of information and debate (mostly civil) are alive and well in the United States of America (and let’s hope Canada, as well … for now).
If ever there was a proof of it, it would be in the comment threads of this article. God bless this amazing Republic.