Perhaps you will be surprised to learn that the experts recommend resolute military measures. Or perhaps you won't, since that is what they recommended for Iraq and are still recommending for Iran. Of course these would be controlled, "standoff" uses of force that will work just as planned and will bolster only "vetted moderate elements" of the opposition. Very much as the same experts foresaw the last time they had the stage.
Bomb Syria, Even if It Is Illegal:
But if the White House takes international law seriously — as the State Department does — it cannot try to have it both ways. It must either argue that an “illegal but legitimate” intervention is better than doing nothing, or assert that international law has changed — strategies that I call “constructive noncompliance.” In the case of Syria, I vote for the latter.
An imminent U.S. strike on Syrian government targets in response to the alleged gassing of civilians last week has the potential to draw the United States into the country’s civil war, former U.S. officials said Tuesday, warning that history doesn’t bode well for such limited retaliatory interventions.
The best historical parallels — the 1998 cruise missile strikes on targets in Iraq, Afghanistan and Sudan — are rife with unintended consequences and feature little success.
BAGHDAD, Iraq -- At least 71 people were killed and 201 wounded in a series of bombings and other attacks across Baghdad on Wednesday, police and medical sources said, extending the worst wave of sectarian bloodshed in Iraq for at least five years.
It was not immediately clear who carried out the attacks, which appeared coordinated, but Sunni Muslim insurgents including the al Qaeda-affiliated Islamic State of Iraq have significantly stepped up bombings this year.
Why is nobody comparing this to Kosovo?
okay, I guess some people are.
Doesn’t look like us Brits will be joining the new “Coalition of the Willing” after last night’s vote in Parliament. Sorry Obama, but hey, the French still seem keen.
But aside from this, last night’s events in London will have some interesting repercussions for the UK/US “Special Relationship”. For the first time since the 1950s the UK has basically said “No” to the USA. This is massive. And it’s happened under a Tory government that, until today, were pretty cosy with Obama. No-one saw this coming. I was convinced the vote would go David Cameron’s way. But even though he looks weak at least he didn’t make up evidence like Tony Blair – he asked for a vote, lost it, probably swore a lot and then said “OK, that’s that.” Of course, should the UN decide to give military action a green light then the UK will join … but the UN won’t because Russia and China would never agree to this.
Perhaps Congress will rename “English Muffins” to “Freedom Muffins”?
Perhaps Congress will rename “English Muffins” to “Freedom Muffins”?
Freedom Bacon!
i get the feeling that Congress is about as interested in this war as Parliament. the perennial hawks are singing their usual songs of war, but there doesn’t seem to be much interest from anyone else.
i don’t even think Obama really wants to do anything; he just talked himself into having to look tough.
i guess we’ll know by next week…