Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
Editorials & Other Articles
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
Veterans
Related: About this forum4 Big Pushers of War in Iraq Now Gunning for Intervention in Syria -- Consequences be Damned!
http://www.alternet.org/news-amp-politics/4-big-pushers-war-iraq-now-gunning-intervention-syria-consequences-be-damned?akid=10402.1084699.6WKaxw&rd=1&src=newsletter835875&t=3&paging=off4 Big Pushers of War in Iraq Now Gunning for Intervention in Syria -- Consequences be Damned!
By Alex KaneMay 6, 2013 |
The news from Syria over the past week has been dizzying. But if you can keep your head on straight youll recognize an uptick in strident calls for American intervention in Syria, though it remains unlikely the Obama administration will commit to full-scale war.
The Israeli strikes have been hailed by war hawks as proof that the U.S. and Western allies can easily pummel the Syrian regime to the ground and pave the way for a rebel victory. Calls for intervention have been ratcheting up since Israel, Britain, France and finally the U.S. concluded that there had been chemical weapons use by the Assad regime--a red line the Obama administration has warned Syria not to cross. But the chemical weapons use claims were muddied up yesterday when a UN investigator said that it may have been the Syrian rebels that used sarin gas--not the Assad regime. If the UN investigator is right--and theres no guarantee of that--it should complicate the calls for the U.S. to directly arm the rebels. But considering their track record, proponents for more intervention cant be stopped by much.
Since the news broke of chemical weapons use, war hawks and their allies in the U.S. have taken to the airwaves and Op-Ed pages to push for U.S. intervention. Whats missing from their analysis is recognition that U.S. intervention to depose Assad would lead to a power vacuum with unknown consequences; that the U.S. would become a target for those opposed to the West, including among the rebel groups; that America has a poor track record of intervening in the Middle East; and that the vast majority of Americans have no desire to get embroiled in another war. Also not on the table: a serious attempt to negotiate, with all international powers, an agreement to end the fighting and begin a transition in Syria. While that wont be easy, the U.S. and allies have stymied chances of that in the past.
Still, the Obama administration has been cautious. While the red line remark was ill-advised, the administration has not rushed into fully diving into the Syrian conflict, although they have helped militarize the civil war by facilitating weapons transfers to Syrian rebels via the CIA.
InfoView thread info, including edit history
TrashPut this thread in your Trash Can (My DU » Trash Can)
BookmarkAdd this thread to your Bookmarks (My DU » Bookmarks)
1 replies, 1769 views
ShareGet links to this post and/or share on social media
AlertAlert this post for a rule violation
PowersThere are no powers you can use on this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
ReplyReply to this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
Rec (1)
ReplyReply to this post
1 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
4 Big Pushers of War in Iraq Now Gunning for Intervention in Syria -- Consequences be Damned! (Original Post)
unhappycamper
May 2013
OP
jimmyolsenblues
(28 posts)1. Hunter said it best...
"Make no mistake about it: We are At War now -- with somebody -- and we will stay At War with that mysterious Enemy for the rest of our lives. "
http://proxy.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?id=1250751
There are too many billions and trillions to be made by corporations and politicans and lobbyists, and the american people care more about Amanda Bynes, Kim Kardashian, Reese Witherspoon.
http://costofwar.com/