Syrian human rights violators & the Olympics

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**PhantomViper**

Tibbsy wrote:
PhantomViper wrote:
Except that they are not inflicting mass punishment on the general population, they are bombing civilians that support the rebels, since rebels have a tendency to hide amongst civilian populations, that's kind of inevitable.

Except that they are inflicting punishment on the general population, I've bolded the crucial point here. They may "support" the rebels, but they're not physically doing anything, they're innocent bystanders. And you say it's ok to drop an artillery strike on them?

I'm saying it is as okay as shooting them.

Its a civil war, in a civil war both sides tend to commit atrocities. We have reports that at least some of the atrocities attributed to Assad's bombings have actually been committed by the rebels shooting the civilians to try and increase the body count for the cameras or perform some type of ethnic cleansing or other some such!

I'm saying that we don't actually understand the situation and that in the light of these reports, the rebels that the western public opinion is so intent in supporting are probably just as bad if not worse that the current regime, so we need to stay out of it instead of risking deposing another dictator just to replace him with something worse both for western interests and the majority of the Syrian people!

**Frazzled**

Bongo_clive wrote:In the 90's, Yugoslavia was a happy and pleasant country and the common man really didn't give 2 hoots whether a Serb, Croat or Bosniak was in charge, as they all lived cheek by jowl anyway, and were all quite happy.

But of course this wasn't good enough for some, so the country tore itself apart, as disparate political bodies decided they wanted to become self governing.

Europe watched as it slid into armed conflict, but didn't do too much as they thought it would be sorted politically, democratically or diplomatically. This was, after all, Europe.

But they did do one crucial, crucial thing. They forbade the selling of arms to all parties. A sensible course surely! Except the Bosnian Serbs were being supplied by Serbia, who made their own weapons.

The Bosniaks could barely scrape a few hundred rifles together. The Serbs had tanks.

A few years later, and we have to witness concentration camps, ethnic cleansing and massacres the like of which hadn't been seen since World War 2. Bosniaks burned alive, mass graves, massacred with chainsaws, shot down by snipers as they went to get water, shelled into oblivion, and gunned down (even as UN peace keepers watched).

So to say we should back off and let them "sort it out themselves" is ridiculous, naive and slowed. This is not an attempt to enrage you, but really, you are a slow, if you cannot see why this cannot be allowed to happen any more.

its a lot more involved then that, but I'll let you believe thats how it went down.
Its only important to note that:
1) Both Bosnia and Kosovo are gakholes run by what amounts to warlords. I can't remember which one but I believe one is a major player in the sex slave business.
2) Both have sent martyrs to kill Americans.

Automatically Appended Next Post:

Bongo_clive wrote:[Absolutely, with clear rules of engagement that were severely lacking in Bosnia. ie If you shoot in our vicinity, you will be shot. Quite clear.

I live in the Arab states, and I can tell you they love democracy just as much as everyone else. They love arguing, shouting and making a racket, but above all they like NOT BEING SHOT FOR DOING IT!!! Governments should never be allowed to kill their own population, and freedom of speech is something every human being has a right to.

Any government not allowing that needs to be removed

No. As a nation we've done our bit for king and country for the world. We have no compelling national interest in their welfare one way or the other.

**Medium of Death**

Reports from Homs are of a pro government Militia committing the killings.

The details are pretty gruesome and you can find them with a google search.

As for the UN getting involved, how about the Arab League does something instead?

**Frazzled**

Bongo_clive wrote:
So you can sit and pontificate in your mothers house, but people are dying right now.

So? Its no interest to us.

They are being killed indiscriminately without a shed of proof that they are even opposed to the regime. And you would have us sit back and do nothing.

You betcha. Its no interest to us.

I am ashamed of you and for you

You go. Just buy a ticket for Turkey, and get your walking shoes on. When the sun rises put it to your left and then keep walking until you hear gunfire.

**Hazardous Harry**

Medium of Death wrote:Reports from Homs are of a pro government Militia committing the killings.

The details are pretty gruesome and you can find them with a google search.

Certainly wouldn't be the first time non-uniformed government forces have done this kind of thing.

As for the UN getting involved, how about the Arab League does something instead?

That would imply that the Arab League is concerned with the welfare and liberty of their populace.

**Melissia**

Kilkrazy wrote:I'm afraid that in my eyes, the UN observers' reporting is more reliable than the mouthpiece of the regime.

Which says a lot of bad things about the regime.

UN observers have long since been the butt of many jokes when it comes to inability to do anything of value.