Article

2013-09-04 Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Kerry: No Time for 'Armchair Isolationism' on Syria

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Posted by Fred 2013-09-04 00:00|| || Front Page|| [11131 views ] Top
File under: Govt of Syria

#1 Hmm... in over a year we still can't get a straight answer about Benghazi in territory that is much more open to our intelligence gathering, yet in Syria, within a matter of days, we have proof positive, not only of a sarin attack, but who did it, and the exact number of casualties (higher even than what the rebels sent us)? Considering most of the dead were buried within 24 hours per custom, how the heck can we know that number? Amazing the level of bull that is being tossed by the administration, and people credulously accepting it given the previous track record. Kerry today would not rule out involvement of ground troops. Ready for another Mogadishu?

How will this further US National Security? And what is the goal, the end-state? How do these strikes achieve that? What are the probable and possible downstream consequences of these actions in Syria and in the region over the next few years?

I have yet to see those questions adequately addressed. That is why oppose our getting involved by putting our military in harm's way to hit Pencilneck. Then there is the problem that the striked may end up helping Al Qaeda and Iran far more than it does the people of Syria or others in the region (especially the Kurds).

As seen elsewhere, "Outrage is not a strategy"

Posted by OldSpook 2013-09-04 01:56|| 2013-09-04 01:56|| Front Page Top

#2 One other thing to consider - Obama is always playing politics. His angle here? Use the Syria crisis to either macho-up and cover his earlier error about "red line", or else dump the blood of the Syrian rebels in the GOP's lap if they vote it down. And the press will be willing accomplices either way.

I remember back when we had a free press in the US that reported fairly openly instead of openly partisan and lying by commission and omission like Pravda. I wonder if I will see that again before I die?

Posted by OldSpook 2013-09-04 02:21|| 2013-09-04 02:21|| Front Page Top

#3 What on earth is "armchair isolationism"? The phrase is new to me.

Posted by trailing wife 2013-09-04 06:48|| 2013-09-04 06:48|| Front Page Top

#4 Not taking credit for this, Jonah Goldberg wrote it:

Isolationist: n. Someone who occasionally opposes bombing foreigners.

Posted by M. Murcek 2013-09-04 06:57|| 2013-09-04 06:57|| Front Page Top

Posted by Pappy 2013-09-04 08:19|| 2013-09-04 08:19|| Front Page Top

#6 Do they all watch Blazing Saddles before writing these speeches?

Posted by Bright Pebbles 2013-09-04 08:34|| 2013-09-04 08:34|| Front Page Top

#7 The fatigue shirt: The only difference btwn Kerry and Hanoi Jane. Spit, sleeve wipe, spit again, walk away.

Posted by Besoeker 2013-09-04 08:38|| 2013-09-04 08:38|| Front Page Top

Posted by Thing From Snowy Mountain 2013-09-04 09:54|| 2013-09-04 09:54|| Front Page Top

#9 Obama today:
"First of all, I didn't set a red line," said Obama. "The world set a red line. The world set a red line when governments representing 98 percent of the world's population said the use of chemical weapons are [inaudble] and passed a treaty forbidding their use, even when countries are engaged in war. Congress set a red line when it ratified that treaty. Congress set a red line when it indicated that in a piece of legislation entitled the Syria Accountability Act that some of the horrendous things happening on the ground there need to be answered for. So, when I said in a press conference that my calculus about what's happening in Syria would be altered by the use of chemical weapons, which the overwhelming consensus of humanity says is wrong, that wasn't something I just kind of made up. I didn't pluck it out of thin air. There's a reason for it."

"Present! Who ya gonna believe? Me or your lying eyes and ears"

Posted by Frank G 2013-09-04 09:55|| 2013-09-04 09:55|| Front Page Top

#10 While I'm at it...

Posted by Thing From Snowy Mountain 2013-09-04 10:06|| 2013-09-04 10:06|| Front Page Top

#11 Waging limited war is expensive. Of course we'll soon need to raise the national debt limit and borrow more money from China, but we'll be saving untold numbers of Syrian women and children. Did I mention the children ?

Posted by Besoeker 2013-09-04 10:15|| 2013-09-04 10:15|| Front Page Top

#12 This may end up being a very important vote for reasons that have nothing to do with Syria or War.

0 only decided to submit this to Congress when the British Parliament said no thanks. The Tory MPs, who are supposed to be a rubber stamp for the PM voted with their constituents.

Here, the Senate looks like it is lining up with 0. Likewise, the leadership of both parties in the House has lined up with 0. Ultimately it is the rank and file in the House, especially those in competitive districts, who are going to throw a monkey wrench into 0's works. Because they're listening to their constituents.

What could be happening here is a rejection of the elite by the hoi polloi. If so, 2014 could be very interesting. The answer is blowing in the wind.

Posted by Nimble Spemble 2013-09-04 10:25|| 2013-09-04 10:25|| Front Page Top

#13 Limited war would be bad enough but there are no freaking objectives. I guess that makes it easier to walk away and say we're done but it also guarantees the enemy will claim they survived and chased you away making it a victory for Assad and his allies.

Far better to just recind the No Assassinations executive order and let the enemies imaginations run wild for awhile.

Posted by rjschwarz 2013-09-04 10:29|| 2013-09-04 10:29|| Front Page Top

#14 Here, the Senate looks like it is lining up with 0. Likewise, the leadership of both parties in the House has lined up with 0

Now witness the power of these fully armed and operational propaganda stations.

Armchair Isolationists: liberal arts majors/dropouts living in their parent's basement blogging about the cruel world.

Would you believe it if I suggested that over the last week, there was a team put together to come up with the best slur for the opposition?

The answer is not as important as that there was a question.

Posted by swksvolFF 2013-09-04 10:47|| 2013-09-04 10:47|| Front Page Top

#15 180 countries signed the poison gas treaties. If the only one who cares about it is the USA then the treaties are worthless and we should walk away

Posted by 3dc 2013-09-04 10:56|| 2013-09-04 10:56|| Front Page Top

#16 He is correct. It is time for "Operation Recliner...."

Posted by Uncle Phester 2013-09-04 11:06|| 2013-09-04 11:06|| Front Page Top

#17 With the exception of France, the rest of the world has shown zero inclination to send men and equipment to bomb Syria. If we're isolationists, then being isolationist means "being more or less in line with the rest of the world".

Posted by Zhang Fei 2013-09-04 11:37|| 2013-09-04 11:37|| Front Page Top

#18 The Hildabeast got out just in time and left Obumbles with the Lurch. I mean, In the Lurch.

Posted by Deacon Blues 2013-09-04 12:16|| 2013-09-04 12:16|| Front Page Top

#19 Ya' had it right the first time, Deacon. ;-p

Posted by Barbara 2013-09-04 13:04|| 2013-09-04 13:04|| Front Page Top

#20 Last night I watched the Senate on C-SPan and gave obama 50/50 of winning in the Senate, now watching the house ... he's going to lose big.

Posted by 3dc 2013-09-04 14:12|| 2013-09-04 14:12|| Front Page Top

#21 Poor Jawny. He's become everything he grew up hating...

Posted by tu3031 2013-09-04 16:56|| 2013-09-04 16:56|| Front Page Top

#22 He SHOULD lose big! It's a total cock-up of an idea. Those who vote 'yes' should be called to account.

Posted by Besoeker 2013-09-04 17:00|| 2013-09-04 17:00|| Front Page Top

#23 Of course it doesn't enter these twits minds, that while you're watching and getting hyper ventilated with Syria, that once America executes basically unilaterally, the ~~Soviets~~ Russian take care of the Georgia 'problem' using the same rationale and unilateral application of force.

Posted by Procopius2k 2013-09-04 17:40|| 2013-09-04 17:40|| Front Page Top

#24 The optics of this side-by-each with the results of our cruise missiles will be interesting....:

Meanwhile, Al Qaeda Distributes Back-To-School Materials In Syria

Posted by Uncle Phester 2013-09-04 18:30|| 2013-09-04 18:30|| Front Page Top

#25 Why shouldn't AL-Q worry about back to school.

They expect to have Obumbles and his infidels do their heavy lifting for them in Syria.

Posted by CrazyFool 2013-09-04 18:47|| 2013-09-04 18:47|| Front Page Top

#26 Good point P2K. And if they have that would be very flexible.

Posted by swksvolFF 2013-09-04 18:49|| 2013-09-04 18:49|| Front Page Top

#27 Let us support Kerry and Obama exactly how Kerry supported America, our troops and the president in 1973

Posted by Airandee 2013-09-04 20:33|| 2013-09-04 20:33|| Front Page Top

#28

Posted by 3dc 2013-09-04 20:53|| 2013-09-04 20:53|| Front Page Top

#29 Thing about Armchair Isolationism is that you can always change your mind. While once you go in its hard to undo.

Posted by rjschwarz 2013-09-04 21:06|| 2013-09-04 21:06|| Front Page Top

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