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2018-03-21 Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia

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Posted by Besoeker 2018-03-21 08:19|| || Front Page|| [11126 views ] Top

#1 Why on Earth are we in Syria? What possible national interest is served there? You know our "allies" in Syria are groups like al-Nusra, who are Islamist headchoppers, right? Because they are.

Posted by Herb McCoy7309 2018-03-21 10:42|| 2018-03-21 10:42|| Front Page Top

#2 Why on Earth are we in Syria? What possible national interest is served there? You know our "allies" in Syria are groups like al-Nusra, who are Islamist headchoppers, right? Because they are.

No good reason and the answer to your second question is "correct." But Ralph Peters, John McCain, Bill Kristol, the Notional Review, Langley, Foggy Bottom and InjunBucket will call you a moron for thinking like that.

Posted by M. Murcek 2018-03-21 11:11|| 2018-03-21 11:11|| Front Page Top

#3 >Why on Earth are we in Syria?

To make the CIA staff rich of course.

Posted by Bright Pebbles 2018-03-21 12:49|| 2018-03-21 12:49|| Front Page Top

#4 Why on Earth are we in Syria?

Don't ask me - I still haven't figured why you conquered Kosovo for Islam.

Posted by g(r)omgoru 2018-03-21 14:15|| 2018-03-21 14:15|| Front Page Top

#5 I can't figure that one out, either, grom.

Posted by Deacon Blues 2018-03-21 14:26|| 2018-03-21 14:26|| Front Page Top

#6 Why on Earth are we in Syria?
When it comes to intra-Islamic fighting, we should provide arms and information to whichever side is losing.

Posted by Glenmore 2018-03-21 14:48|| 2018-03-21 14:48|| Front Page Top

#7 Unfortunately the United States has a long history of abandoning allies or friends when the going gets tough. From the shores of Tripoli c1804 to Vietnam to Libya and Mubarak recently, these actions have damaged us and made others lose faith in us. To abandon the Kurds we have supported in Iraq and Syria or to abandon the government of Afghanistan would be disasters comparable to Obama's ceding our influence in Syria to Russia. It would encourage Iran and North Korea to wait for us to let them have their way. My impression, based on very incomplete information is that the CIA was not very useful in Syria, that is not the issue. The significance of an action has little to do with its direct intent and very much to do with what impression it makes on other actors on the world scene.
It is true that Carter's incompetent foreign policy got Sadat to seek direct peace with Israel, but that is insufficient reason to promote incompetence in such matters.

Posted by Daniel 2018-03-21 18:02|| 2018-03-21 18:02|| Front Page Top

#8 Ref #7: I recall the difficulties gaining 'Zonie' (US Citizen) support in 1989, in the lead up to Operation Just Cause. They wanted to help, but were fearful of the consequences if dictator Manuel Noriega was not effectively removed. "Look what happened in Vietnam" was a frequent retort.

Posted by Besoeker 2018-03-21 18:28|| 2018-03-21 18:28|| Front Page Top

#9 Unfortunately the United States has a long history of abandoning allies or friends when the going gets tough.

Democracies don't have staying power - Jerry Pournelle.

Posted by g(r)omgoru 2018-03-21 19:13|| 2018-03-21 19:13|| Front Page Top

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