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Edited by Mrph1 on Nov 30th 2023 at 11:03:59 AM
I don't think we're the instigators in this one. Any dictator who terrorizes his or her own people in the modern age of the internet has declared themselves an enemy of the human race. They should be treated as an outlaw in the old style. Fair game for whoever puts the first bullet into them. Or whoever handcuffs them and drags them to a show trial before execution, anyway.
ETA:
It confirms PART of the dossier was true. Show the whole thing, not bits and pieces. The best lies start from the truth and without the rest of it, we have no way of truly knowing that a pee tape isn't the only truth to be found in it.
edited 6th Apr '17 6:36:30 PM by Journeyman
The Pee Tape's existence would prove, or at least hint very heavily, that the Russian Dossier by the British Agent was 100% true: That the Russian Government was blackmailing Trump during his campaign and forcing him to be pro-Russian. It'd also prove that several of Trump's Allies were in direct cahoots with the Russian Government, which is already slowly becoming a reality, but that doesn't prove Trump has any direct ties, the Pee Tape would. Even if the Trumpeteers don't care, not even the staunchest Trumpeteer in Congress could support him anymore: They would essentially have to disown the President and even try to impeach him.
Also, proving the entire GOP is directly tied to Russia is not only impossible right now, as no evidence suggest the entire Party is behind them and we'd need proof of something like that to get the ball rolling, it's also improbable that every single member of the GOP is tied to Russia. Hell, proving the entire Trump Administration is tied to Russia is improbable, at least directly (you can argue that anyone working for Trump basically makes them tied to Russia).
Because this asset is no longer being an asset to them, but a hindrance to them? I mean, if you befriend a rich guy, but he constantly harasses you and breaks your stuff, is he still a friend? No, not really...
edited 6th Apr '17 6:40:17 PM by DingoWalley1
The US would hardly be an instigator, this war has been going on for years, the fact that the US now finally feels that Assad has crossed a line... Some of us feel he crossed it years ago and should have been dealt with then.
“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran![]()
That picture only shows a lot of [removed].
I wonder how far this will go? I know that ground forces are a no go, but how much will the US seek to degrade Assad's capability? Enough to stalemate the conflict? Allow the rebels to meaningfully counter attack? Just blow some shit up, wave the flag, and go home?
Hopefully this doesn't take the focus off of Iraq/Mosul. Or create a power vacuum that the lads in ISIS can fill...
Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.According to Buzz Feed:
Indeed, the Pentagon had no sense that it would be conducting strikes when Trump first suggested US intervention in Syria. Planning began Wednesday but full-steam preparations did not happen until Thursday when the Pentagon and the White House spent the day exchanging ideas and counter ideas over secure lines.
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About that, this twitter thread is interesting, if a bit .
edited 6th Apr '17 6:50:51 PM by IFwanderer
1 2 We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be. -KVI'm just terrified of the prospect that Trump, unlike LBJ or Nixon, isn't going to review planned targets to check if there are any Soviet/Russian personnel confirmed to be on the ground when the strikes occur. Strict RO Es sure as hell frustrated the airmen who had to bomb North Vietnam, but they at least served a necessary purpose in preventing an international flare-up due to Russian troops being the wrong place at the wrong time.
All depends on the follow through. If this makes things worse, there will be boomerang effects for him. If he does it right, maybe this is his baptism by fire, at least as far as foreign affairs are concerned. I can dream anyway.
Also, do remember that for every step forward he takes, he takes at least one or two back the very next week.
I doubt the Russians will mind that much, in the end they don't want Assad going rabid, it's easier for them if the US plays bad cop to their good cop with him.
In the end this is liable to be nothing but a show of force, Assad won't be removed, nothing serious will change on the ground, Assad will simply switch back to slaughtering civilians with conventional weapons, the world will then turn away, content with a job well done.
“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ CyranTrump might lose 5-10% of his Core, although he might regain it with Neocons who were afraid Trump was going to be too Isolationist. Considering America's apatite for War is at an all time low, and how Trump campaigned as a person who wouldn't do this stuff, he might get a small boost, but it won't last, especially if it starts to escalate, or the Russians retaliate, either militarily or politically.
Putin just threatened Trump with "negative consequences" : http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/788960/Vladimir-Putin-Russia-threatnes-Donald-Trump-with-negative-consequences-Syria-Assad
edited 6th Apr '17 7:00:58 PM by Bat178

Assad was the instigator. He's been the instigator for the better part of this decade. Letting him fester has only made things worse.