Meanwhile, In Syria

[Mermaid]

RichyBoy said:

.. Surely none of this would be happening if it was a west friendly dictator in there, buying weapons from the west.

The truth does not help the vigorous discussion we are having.

[chim]

MX7 said:

Victor McDade said:

So will the USA and others side with al-Qaeda, Jordan's Muslim Brotherhood, and anti-Shia Iraqi tribes (who have been arming the opposition) to support Syria's opposition?

I don't think that having a common emeny means that you have to side with anyone. If AQ blew up a pub, would the government feel that it's positive measure to tackle binge drinking?!!

It's about opposing Assad, not supporting anyone else.

chim said:

Can we just leave them to slug it out now

I know that you are finding this quite hard to understand, but there really hasn't been much serious talk of anything else. Even William Hague has come out and said that if we do have a peacekeeping force with the Arab League, it'll only be after Assad has stopped the violence.

chim said:

had already mentioned that Assad operates a secular goverment

Eh? No you didn't. You said,

MX7 said:

chim said:

They have never liked Assad, his regime is fundamentally Christian

How do you work that one out?

Not that I was expecting an answer!

So by opposing Assad what do you think the outcome will be, in your world that will be they all turn in to well behaved little democratic stalwarts and live happily ever after. The rest of the realists understand that the alternative will make the current level of violence look like a staged wrestling match

Are you really gullible enough to think that the Arab league just want us to send a letter telling him to stop being naughty. Scratch that, you are. As for Assad stoping the violence, again, are you really that stupid that you think the opposition will just say thats fine, we are all happy now. They want this fight more than Assad does, it's how they operate, create anarchy and step into the divide with the big religious stick.

Shoot me, I typed to quick and stuck down Christian, my meaning was secular, as in all religions get there place but no political clout. This was done due to the disparate number of opposing faiths that had been at war with each other for years prior to the Assad dynasty taking power.

So you think the Muslim governments that surround Syria are happy with him. They want a Muslim government in place, it's the will of Allah

Edited by chim on Monday 13th February 23:34

[MX7]

chim said:

So by opposing Assad what do you think the outcome will be, in your world that will be they all turn in to well behaved little democratic stalwarts and live happily ever after.

I didn't say anything of the sort. Stop being so ridiculous.

It's the role of the UN to condemn violence, and I think that the actions in Syria are worthy of condemnation. I've asked you before, why you think it's appropriate to condone a despot?

chim said:

The rest of the realists understand that the alternative will make the current level of violence look like a staged wrestling match

What do you mean? It's not a simple 'either/or' situation. What alternative are you talking about? No one without the power to see into the future has any idea what will develop.

chim said:

Are you really gullible enough to think that the Arab league just want us to send a letter telling him to stop being naughty. Scratch that, you are.

That's all they have asked for, as yet, so why would you deny them? You really come across as quite patronising, which is amusing as you are also fairly clueless.

chim said:

As for Assad stoping the violence, again, are you really that stupid that you think the opposition will just say thats fine, we are all happy now. They want this fight more than Assad does, it's how they operate, create anarchy and step into the divide with the big religious stick.

There will be an element of that, as there has been in all the countries involved in the Arab Spring, however so far we haven't seen any overly oppressive religious elements rise to the top.

chim said:

Shoot me, I typed to quick and stuck down Christian

You really expect me to believe that you meant to type 'secular', but instead typed 'Christian'?!!! I think it's far more likely that you don't have any idea what you're talking about. No one could be that stupid.

chim said:

So you think the Muslim governments that surround Syria are happy with him. They want a Muslim government in place, it's the will of Allah

Are happy with who? Assad? No, I don't think that, have you not read the statements from the Arab League?

[MX7]

Syria to hold referendum on new constitution

"The document drops the article giving the ruling Baath Party unique status as the "leader of state and society"."



I can't see this working. The violence has been to deep and vicious for the people to accept that Assad could play any future role in Syria. Assad should have seen how King Mohammed of Morocco survived far, far earlier.

[Mermaid]

MX7 said:

Syria to hold referendum on new constitution

"The document drops the article giving the ruling Baath Party unique status as the "leader of state and society"."

I can't see this working. The violence has been to deep and vicious for the people to accept that Assad could play any future role in Syria.

I think it is a good move by Assad.

[MX7]

Mermaid said:

I think it is a good move by Assad.

You think it'll appease the people?

[Mermaid]

MX7 said:

Mermaid said:

I think it is a good move by Assad.

You think it'll appease the people?

It may do, but it is a PR move. I hope they they all settle down and come to a sensible arrangement, I don't rule that out. What a lovely country.

The majority, it seems, are not against Assad.

[MX7]

Mermaid said:

The majority do not seem to be against Assad.

Based on what?

[Mermaid]

MX7 said:

Mermaid said:

The majority do not seem to be against Assad.

Based on what?

Work it out yourself
Been mentioned before on this thread.

[MX7]

Mermaid said:

Work it out yourself
Been mentioned before on this thread.

Has it? Where?

[hornetrider]

Interesting this topic has been dormant for three months.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleea...

Shocking. Can't be long before we get military intervention?

[Asterix]

hornetrider said:

Interesting this topic has been dormant for three months.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleea...

Shocking. Can't be long before we get military intervention?

'Violence in the Middle East' - not news any more just an ongoing occurence for many now.

I read that article this morning and I fully agree with you that it can't go on much longer without something significant happening - I'm guessing it will be wishful thinking that the region could sort out its own mess but it simply isn't the Arab way.

[Tartan Pixie]

hornetrider said:

Interesting this topic has been dormant for three months.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleea...

Shocking. Can't be long before we get military intervention?

Western military intervention? Assad is Russia's pet, not NATO's. I suspect the Kremlin doesn't see it much different to Chechnya and is dealing with it in a similar manner.

[Mermaid]

Tartan Pixie said:

Western military intervention? Assad is Russia's pet, not NATO's. I suspect the Kremlin doesn't see it much different to Chechnya and is dealing with it in a similar manner.

It is seen as a local problem by many. The government seem to have used excessive force, but as they say you cannot clap with one hand. When the majority of Syria is against Assad, he will have no choice but to step down.

[joe_90]

hornetrider said:

Interesting this topic has been dormant for three months.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleea...

Shocking. Can't be long before we get military intervention?

Politically impossible, and Syria know this.

[Apache]

joe_90 said:

hornetrider said:

Interesting this topic has been dormant for three months.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleea...

Shocking. Can't be long before we get military intervention?

Politically impossible, and Syria know this.

Well, several MPs have condemned it in the strongest possible terms what more do you want. On a serious note it is a scandal that no one can do anything and I'd have thought The Arab Brotherhood or whatever they're called would show their hand by now or is the roaring silence it?

[smegmore]

joe_90 said:

Politically impossible, and Syria know this.

Does nobody know anything?

It's the will of Allah.

[Roggia]

smegmore said:

Does nobody know anything?

It's the will of Allah.

Oh aren't you a clever man.

[TallbutBuxomly]

Yet again i dont see the issue here and quite frankly if the uk gov get involved in anything other than harsh words I will be severely pissed off.

This is not our problem nor are the "freedom fighters" who have been shown to be faking incidents for international sympathy effect.

Not our problem.

[Mermaid]

TallbutBuxomly said:

Yet again i dont see the issue here and quite frankly if the uk gov get involved in anything other than harsh words I will be severely pissed off.

This is not our problem nor are the "freedom fighters" who have been shown to be faking incidents for international sympathy effect.

Not our problem.