Article

2011-10-29 Syria-Lebanon-Iran

37 Killed as Syrian Protesters Call for No-Fly Zone

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Posted by Fred 2011-10-29 00:00|| || Front Page|| [11132 views ] Top
File under: Govt of Syria

#1 A "No Fly Zone?" Isn't the problem ground fire?

Posted by JohnQC 2011-10-29 10:44|| 2011-10-29 10:44|| Front Page Top

#2 But how did it work out in practical terms, JQC?

Posted by g(r)omgoru 2011-10-29 11:29|| 2011-10-29 11:29|| Front Page Top

#3 If NATO intervenes, the Islamists could win. I'd be interested to see if Iraq actively assists Assad (since the Alawi faith is, arguably, an offshoot of the Shiite faith), given the national security implications of having an Sunni Islamist state next door firing up Sunni Al Qaeda-ists in Iraq.

Israel's perspective is more complex. Assad the Alawite stirs up trouble from time to time because he needs to boost his pan-Arab street cred and remind the Sunnis in Syria that he is simpatico with respect to their Jew-hatred. An Islamist government in Syria will stir up trouble with Israel because it believes Allah wills it.

Posted by Zhang Fei 2011-10-29 17:20|| 2011-10-29 17:20|| Front Page Top

#4 given the national security implications of having an Sunni Islamist state next door firing up Sunni Al Qaeda-ists in Iraq.

Except the Alawites _did_ fire up Sunni Al-Qaeda-ists in Iraq for about a seven year period and suffered zero repercussions in their relationship with Iraq as a result.

Posted by Thing From Snowy Mountain 2011-10-29 18:00|| 2011-10-29 18:00|| Front Page Top

#5 Except the Alawites _did_ fire up Sunni Al-Qaeda-ists in Iraq for about a seven year period and suffered zero repercussions in their relationship with Iraq as a result.

That's my point exactly. Ultimately, to the rulers of Iraq, the Alawites are fellow Shiites. Yes, they off-loaded their Sunni vermin to Iraq, but a rich Uncle from across the Atlantic was happy to slaughter them in Iraq's behalf. Do Iraqi Shiites understand why Assad hates and fears the Sunnis in his country? Having lived under Saddam and been the target of numerous additional massacres under Turkish rule, I have no doubt they're cognizant of the threat from Sunnis.

Posted by Zhang Fei 2011-10-29 21:31|| 2011-10-29 21:31|| Front Page Top

#6 Ultimately, I suspect one of the reasons for the Iraqi Shiite insistence on a US troop departure is the desire to impose a quick and dirty solution to the terrorist problem - large scale massacres of Sunnis in retaliation for attacks on Shiites. It's a solution they can't impose until Uncle Sam is completely out of the picture.

Posted by Zhang Fei 2011-10-29 21:38|| 2011-10-29 21:38|| Front Page Top

#7 Ultimately, I suspect one of the reasons for the Iraqi Shiite insistence on a US troop departure is the desire to impose a quick and dirty solution to the terrorist problem - large scale massacres of Sunnis in retaliation for attacks on Shiites. It's a solution they can't impose until Uncle Sam is completely out of the picture.

Posted by Zhang Fei 2011-10-29 21:38|| 2011-10-29 21:38|| Front Page Top

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