Shadow Minister, as the good reactionary he is, once more offers us the conservative mantra KILL,KILL,KILL. Without a second thought he prepossess we counter the murderous Syrian regime, with an equally outrageous killing spree by the American imperialist and their new army of 'drones'.
What about this; "It is clear that the democratic countries can no longer stand by and watch the slaughter of innocents." You are proposing that the so called "democratic countries", rather than watching, join in slaughter of innocents as per Afganistan and Iraq, no doubt.
I note the comment "If they don't have the stomach to put pilots on the line", WELL! SM a perfect opportunity for you to become a modern day Biggles, put yourself and the rest of that motley bunch of conservatives, who masquerade as the Liberal Party and their supporters, "on the line". You can lead the charge into Syria. It will make a refreshing change from all the previous wars, and there have been many, your ilk have promoted. Where once upon a time the home grown war mongers sat comfortably in their mansions in Tookak Melbourne, or Vaucluse in Sydney, counting their war profits, they will be in the front line, possibly under the command of Corporal Shadow Minister.

RM,

Read my post, I called for the elimination of Assad's heavy weapons that he is using to massacre his own civilians. The small number of casualties will by compensated many fold by the number of civilians that survive.

Russia is already involved in selling heavy weapons to Assad, but I think you over estimate the extent to which Russia will back up a regime that uses chemical weapons against its civilians.

As for proof of the use of chemical weapons, who would you consider credible, The Russians, the Syrians?

Paul,

The good socialist would rather see Comrade Assad maintained and protect the handful of tank and artillery crews than the thousands of civilians that they are shooting. Paul is quite happy to see hundreds of thousands die as long as they are not killed by "imperialists", but by good socialists.

I am a conservative and an atheist. I really do not understand why we are supporting the Syrian rebels, the greater part of which are Islamists connected with Al Qaeda. I see no benefit in replacing Assad's admittedly illiberal regime with a yet more illiberal Islamist Government. Can anyone explain this to me?

I am confused, I have been told that Al Quiada is Shia but they are
opposed to Assad who has Iranian Shia support.
I have been told that Saudi Arabia population is Shia but government
is Sunni.

I don't think we should support either branch of Islam.
Let them get stuck in and we will sit on the sidelines in case one side
or the other wins.
I prefer them both to lose.

They will not change, this war has been going on since Mohammad died
in the 7th century.
They only attack us to divert their own battles away from each other.
This time it is only an inter religious war so we do not need to get involved.

Send the Drones into Syria?
And cause the biggest refugee crisis on the face
of this planet.
Right, that makes sense.

Seriously, Australia is taking the lead - and joining
other nations by acting through humanitarian aid and non-lethal
support to the Syrian Opposition.

The following link explains what is being done and why:

http://www.news.com.au/national-news/bob-carr-reveals-plan-to-take-lead-role-in-aid-for-syrian-refugees/story-fncynjr2-1226625447328

Lexi,

I see logic is not your strong point!

The civil war which has as yet no end in sight is causing tens of thousands of civilian casualties, and millions of internal and external refugees. The point is to stop the war, and allow refugees to return.

In Lybia, Gaddafi's army was stopped by Nato's precision strikes, so the purpose of the drones is to knock out the heavy weapons that cause the huge civilian casualties.