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More => Music, Movies, Politics, and Other Cheap Thrills => Topic started by: Bizarroterl on September 13, 2016, 01:49:03 pm

Title: Syria's Bashar al-Assad
Post by: Bizarroterl on September 13, 2016, 01:49:03 pm
Can anyone explain why the US is set on Assad being removed from power?
Title: Re: Syria's Bashar al-Assad
Post by: Bizarroterl on September 14, 2016, 09:42:02 pm
So far, the best I can figure is we're against him because Israel and Saudi Arabia are against and Iran & Russia are for. 
Title: Re: Syria's Bashar al-Assad
Post by: DarkPenguin on September 15, 2016, 09:21:35 am
There is also that using poison gas on his own citizens thing.
Title: Re: Syria's Bashar al-Assad
Post by: Bizarroterl on September 15, 2016, 09:58:39 am
That probably depends on what the definition of "his own citizens" is.  Likely in his experience they are terrorists trying to destroy his country and he is entitled to do anything he can to protect it.

If we were truly against "bad leaders" there are others that are much worse.  We're doing nothing about Somalia and their body count is 25% higher that the Syria civil war. 
Title: Re: Syria's Bashar al-Assad
Post by: DarkPenguin on September 15, 2016, 06:20:23 pm
That probably depends on what the definition of "his own citizens" is.  Likely in his experience they are terrorists trying to destroy his country and he is entitled to do anything he can to protect it.

If we were truly against "bad leaders" there are others that are much worse.  We're doing nothing about Somalia and their body count is 25% higher that the Syria civil war.
I think the definition was Syrian citizens who happened to be in opposition territory. Likely in his experience it is expedient to label them terrorists trying to destroy his country.

You're quite right, tho. There are worse so why bother doing anything? (Not that the US is actually doing anything other than bombing ISIS and saying they don't like Assad.)
Title: Re: Syria's Bashar al-Assad
Post by: KingSparta on September 15, 2016, 07:14:41 pm
War crimes and crimes against humanity charges
Title: Re: Syria's Bashar al-Assad
Post by: Bizarroterl on September 16, 2016, 09:04:38 am
Undoubtedly Assad is a harsh leader.  To be a leader in that part of the world one would have to be.  If Assad were removed from power whomever took his place would have to be at least as bad. 

From what little I have read, it seems that maybe that's Israel & Saudi Arabia's goal - a fractured and weak Syria.  It worked with Iraq, and it appears Syria is next.  That may be inline with Israel & Saudi Arabia's goal, but it empowers the Al-Quaeda/ISIS/etc groups.  And we all know how those radical organizations feel about the west and America in particular.

It seems that by trying to remove Assad from power we're going against our best interests. 
Title: Re: Syria's Bashar al-Assad
Post by: DarkPenguin on September 17, 2016, 10:29:06 pm
"a harsh leader" is an interesting way to describe him. I'd have gone with monster.