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The Forum > Article Comments > Responsibly protecting Syrians > Comments

Responsibly protecting Syrians : Comments

By N A J Taylor, published 30/8/2013

We seem to be rushing to war in Syria on very little hard information.

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Something truly momentous could be happening in world affairs. For the first time in living memory, the world could be saying No to the US war machine. Obama is trying to turn his Yes, We Can into a Yes, I Can, and the global response might be, just might be, No, You Can't.
This is huge, and the final verdict is far from in.
While the House of Commons may have refused to sanction any action on Syria until more is known, the pressure on those who crossed the floor will now be ramped up.
French President Francois Hollande has said he is willing to sign off on a bombs away campaign, but tellingly he suggested action could come ahead of Wednesday's extraordinary session of the French parliament called to discuss the Syria situation. Is he jumping the gun to avoid being slapped down?
Reports indicate that the US Congress wants to be consulted, but that will require reconvening from holidays. If Obama goes without that consultation, will he face impeachment? Does he even care, in his headlong rush to save face?
Dangerous times. Obama is wounded and out on a limb. He also controls a war machine of frightening potential. He is also facing a trip to St Petersburg with egg on his face. Embarrassing doesn't even begin to cover it, but if it turns out that way, Mr Obama has only himself to blame for being in such a position.
And the pressure is on. Even someone as respected as Geoffrey Robertson, a former UN Appeals Judge, can write in today's Australian of culpability for mass murdering 1000 civilians by poison gas while the true number seems to be about 350. At least he acknowledges that the perpetrator is still unknown, although that doesn't seem to be stopping him from calling for the bombs to fall.
Dangerous, dangerous times.
Posted by halduell, Saturday, 31 August 2013 9:04:14 AM
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I'll bet it wasn't the Mormons who done it, N.A.J Taylor.
Posted by LEGO, Saturday, 31 August 2013 8:47:13 PM
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Halduell is right. The Western Oligarchs are too eager for war.
Posted by Arjay, Sunday, 1 September 2013 5:08:13 PM
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Missing from the sniggering triumphalism of the anti-US brigade is any coherent suggestion as to what would, in fact, represent a sensible policy. Should we simply turn away, on the basis that the Syrian population needs to learn to fend for itself? Should we look to the UN for leadership on the issue? Should we perhaps set about convincing ourselves that it isn't actually happening, it's just a conspiracy concocted by Arjay's "Western Oligarchs" to sell more military hardware, and there weren't really any children being dosed with poison gas in Ghouta.

Obama, Cameron, Merkel, Hollande, Erdogan and the rest have been placed in an unenviable position. Damned if they do - "popular opinion" seems to be flowing against any punitive action...

"Americans are against the intervention by a 60% majority; similar or larger majorities in Germany, France, the UK, Turkey, Egypt, and what looks like most of the world are also against it."

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/aug/30/obama-opposition-mounting-syria-strike

...and damned if they don't, according to those most directly affected:

"He believes America has deserted Syrians. 'We know what this means,' he said. 'It means nothing is going to happen. Not in a day, not in a week, not in a month. He said it didn't matter if it was a week or a month. But it will never happen.'"

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/01/syrian-refugee-obama-lied-zaatari

There are some people out there trying hard to make a decision that has a positive outcome for the people of Syria. All Mr Taylor can offer is a few sniping remarks from his corner seat in the pub. He seems more than ready to believe that nothing worth mentioning actually happened...

"...the veracity of the various claims, are hotly contested... few have the evidence or specialist knowledge at their disposal... the UN inspectors and staff at the OPCW labs will not make their findings public, and are neither in a position, nor tasked, with identifying those responsible."

Have another beer, Mr Taylor, and talk about the footy instead.
Posted by Pericles, Monday, 2 September 2013 10:15:27 AM
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The whole population of Syria is not worth a scratch on any Oz serviceman. Journalists can visit, provide they don't expect help from home.

Time to let the middle eastern ratbags get on with reducing the population of the area to something near its carrying capacity.
Posted by Hasbeen, Monday, 2 September 2013 3:24:45 PM
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