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2013/04/26 19:33:19
Subject: Syrian Freedom Fighters Pledge Allegiance to Al Qaeda And Islamist Cause
I believe the US centric rhetoric is largely a by-product of its adventurism and interventionism during the Cold War and afterwards. The US cannot deny having been a large player in the area in the past and several of the messes that engulf the area are the results of said interventionism. If the US didn't have a recent history of picking winners in the area no would call on them to help.
Secondly the US is seen rightly or wrongly as the leader of the Western World, the world which supposedly endorses and supports freedom and human rights and humanitarian aid yet is pretty much unwilling to actually help anyone in a meaningful way despite all of the grandstanding about democracy and freedom we do. It's seen as hypocritical, and often rightly so.
And before you start ignoring my opinion because I'm not American nor am I in the military, A) My father is American and his family is off the Mayflower. B) I've tried enlisting in both the Marines, Army, and Canadian forces but have failed every time due to medical reasons. I'm very willing but it's not my fault they won't take me.
2013/04/26 19:41:34
Subject: Syrian Freedom Fighters Pledge Allegiance to Al Qaeda And Islamist Cause
The actual act of seizing and controlling colonies went out of fashion (with the exception of Africa) in the mid 1800's. Look at the Opium wars, the Great Colonial powers realised it was cheaper to just enforce one sided trade agreements and leave the nation to it's own devices as long as their interests were protected. That's been America's MO since the 50's.
2013/04/26 19:43:57
Subject: Syrian Freedom Fighters Pledge Allegiance to Al Qaeda And Islamist Cause
Ratbarf wrote: I didn't say the US was good at it, only that was its intent.
The you're either lying or ignorant, which is it?
While I might be the latter, I don't exactly think so. The reason they propped up regimes that would at first glance be anithema to their supposed moral outlook was for either economic gain or for containing soviet influence. Some of these failed spectacularly, others where somewhat successful, the perceived gain of propping up these various regimes must have outweighed the cost otherwise why would they do it?
As to the question where is Canada, well we were in Libya, we were in the Sinai, we were in the Golan Heights, we were in Afghanistan. We didn't go into Iraq because we thought you were lying to us and that it would be a stupid waste, and we've already said we would go into Syria if we found some friends willing to go along for the ride. We simply don't have the logistical power necessary to project force at that distance by ourselves. That would be like asking Holland to invade Madagascar because of a humanitarian crises. I don't doubt they would like to help, they simply don't have the means to do so in a meaningful way.
2013/04/27 15:41:30
Subject: Syrian Freedom Fighters Pledge Allegiance to Al Qaeda And Islamist Cause
And the middle east is pretty much any country that fell under the Umayyad Caliphate minus Spain and plus Turkey if one wants to use the average persons perception on the topic.
2013/04/29 22:17:33
Subject: Syrian Freedom Fighters Pledge Allegiance to Al Qaeda And Islamist Cause
Morocco counts, Portugal doesn't, it's my fault that I forgot the Portuguese exist. Probably should have said the Iberian/Spanish Peninsula instead of just Spain.
Though to quote the English, "Wogs begin at Calais."
2013/05/14 17:19:59
Subject: Syrian Freedom Fighters Pledge Allegiance to Al Qaeda And Islamist Cause
He didn't claim it was America's fault. He was simply correcting the statement that America had as much to do with Syria as Sweden, which is not the case. He wasn't blaming America for the current fiasco.
Well one of mine said, "The right of a nation to kill a tyrant in case of necessity can no more be doubted than to hang a robber, or kill a flea." Kudos if you know who it is.
(And it's Vive L'Empereur!)
2013/05/14 21:21:50
Subject: Syrian Freedom Fighters Pledge Allegiance to Al Qaeda And Islamist Cause
Frazzled wrote:That whole 'death to America' thing gets a little boring though.
Is it really that much different then your calling for a glassing of the whole region? I mean, "Death to America!" is a bit tamer than, "Nuke every country within a certain geographical area!"
It's kind of funny though because America bombed them first.
Frazzled wrote: That whole 'death to America' thing gets a little boring though.
Right, but it's pretty understandable when you look at the whole situation. Not to mention the US basically says death to Iran all the time. If we could actually communicate with each other, and chill on the rhetoric,I think we would find we have more in common that most other countries in the region. They are by far the lessor and more stable of many of many of the evils there.
When has American Officials (or anyone for that matter) chanted "death to Iran"?
While not exactly word for word, I think the sentiment is similar.
And Catchy!
and
2013/05/16 23:46:08
Subject: Syrian Freedom Fighters Pledge Allegiance to Al Qaeda And Islamist Cause
I would suggest that this is not what they started out as, but what they have become. Had we helped earlier I don't think they would have stooped to this.
2013/05/17 21:25:45
Subject: Syrian Freedom Fighters Pledge Allegiance to Al Qaeda And Islamist Cause
Ratbarf wrote: I would suggest that this is not what they started out as, but what they have become. Had we helped earlier I don't think they would have stooped to this.
Considering this is the third year of the conflict, and those examples are from the second, I think it's still an applicable theory that had we helped with the same kind of speed as seen in Libya they would not have degenerated into this kind of barbarism. As wars get longer they tend to get more brutal, we had a chance to end it early, now we're going to pay the price of waiting.
2013/05/17 22:46:31
Subject: Syrian Freedom Fighters Pledge Allegiance to Al Qaeda And Islamist Cause
Ratbarf wrote: I'm relatively sure they wouldn't have been eating people's hearts.
Why? That region is notoriously violent. The only think that would have stopped it may have been intervention....temporarily but then as soon as the boots leave it all starts anew. Unless you want to constantly baby sit. All intervention does is increase the targets and possibly put bulls eyes on yourself. Let them kill each other, its a win/win.
The region is also notoriously lacking in the cannibal department.
2013/05/18 21:58:56
Subject: Syrian Freedom Fighters Pledge Allegiance to Al Qaeda And Islamist Cause
Ratbarf wrote: I'm relatively sure they wouldn't have been eating people's hearts.
Why? That region is notoriously violent. The only think that would have stopped it may have been intervention....temporarily but then as soon as the boots leave it all starts anew. Unless you want to constantly baby sit. All intervention does is increase the targets and possibly put bulls eyes on yourself. Let them kill each other, its a win/win.
The region is also notoriously lacking in the cannibal department.
Indeed. There are a few places where cannibalism does/once existed. That area isn't one of them.
That you know of! Remember one indecent does not make an epidemic. I'm sure we get reports of every weird thing that happens in a conflict. You make it sound like its routine and all the soldiers are doing it. Eating a heart is shocking but cutting innocent peoples throats on the internet is fine, or car bombing streets full of women and children? All I've learned is that in that the whole middle east region has plenty of savages, am I really shocked that one of them was filmed eating somebody's heart? Not really. The way I see it, just more reason to stay out of it and let them wipe each other out. Let the Shia and the Sunnie wipe each other out. Remember "an attack on one Muslim, is an attack on all Muslims!" so right now they must all be killing each other.
The stuff that was and still is going on in Africa for the last 30 years is worse than this. Why are you not crying out for intervention there?
I have voiced my feelings for Imperialism several times prior. Personally all for it, bring back the Pax Britannica!
