Iraq unravels!

[finnbow]

Originally Posted by nailer

Our desire to replace the Syrian Baathist regime with a secular Arab democracy

That was our aim in Iraq as well. How'd that work out? Unfortunately, Arab countries are about as ready for a secular democracy as I am for a sex change operation.

[piece-itpete]

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/11/op...f=opinion&_r=2

"....

Cash for small salaries, together with reliable supplies of food, medicine and ammunition, would also put the moderate armed forces on an equal footing with the Qaeda groups that have long offered these enticements to recruit Syrian fighters. The Free Syrian Army commanders often pleaded with me for such basic items.

......"

Pete

[finnbow]

Originally Posted by piece-itpete

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/11/op...f=opinion&_r=2

"....

Cash for small salaries, together with reliable supplies of food, medicine and ammunition, would also put the moderate armed forces on an equal footing with the Qaeda groups that have long offered these enticements to recruit Syrian fighters. The Free Syrian Army commanders often pleaded with me for such basic items.

......"

Pete

He's entitled to his (self-serving) opinion, but the fact remains that the very same Sunnis who fought against us in Iraq later came over to our side during the "surge," but then went again to the other side as soon as Maliki started purging/persecuting Sunnis. The bottom line is that even the "moderate" Sunnis hate Assad and Maliki (one of whom is our enemy on the Syrian side of the border and the other an "ally" on the Iraqi side) more than they hate each other.

You're guilty of the same simplistic thinking as Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz, Paul Bremer and the rest of the NeoCons. Just a few more weapons to the (hard-to-identify and trust) Sunni moderates in Syria and things will go swimmingly. You deceive yourself, Pete. Tribal and religious ties are far stronger there than anybody's allegiance to us. If the "moderates" feel it necessary to align themselves with ISIS in order to defeat either Assad or Maliki, they'll do it in a heartbeat.

[nailer]

Originally Posted by finnbow

That was our aim in Iraq as well. How'd that work out? Unfortunately, Arab countries are about as ready for a secular democracy as I am for a sex change operation.

The result was known before we went in. General Shinseki's 300K boots on the ground observation comes to mind. Our glorious OIF victory helped pave the way for the coming Islamic regime.

I've seen your picture and fully agree.

[piece-itpete]

ISIS will and do put the FSA's heads on pikes. Keep in mind Obama agreed with Ford, and used a recess appointment to get him in. Or is Obama the same as "Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz, Paul Bremer and the rest of the NeoCons"?

So who's right? Obie's picked career diplomat, or you and I?

Pete

[Rajoo]

Originally Posted by piece-itpete

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/11/op...f=opinion&_r=2

"....

Cash for small salaries, together with reliable supplies of food, medicine and ammunition, would also put the moderate armed forces on an equal footing with the Qaeda groups that have long offered these enticements to recruit Syrian fighters. The Free Syrian Army commanders often pleaded with me for such basic items.

......"

Pete

From Wiki: "On October 24, 2011, Ford was recalled from Syria due to what the U.S. State Department described as "credible threats" to his safety.[10] Ford had attracted the ire of pro-Assad Syrians due to his strong support of the Syrian uprising. According to American officials, Ford had been attacked by an armed pro-government mob, and Syrian state television had begun running reports blaming him for the formation of death squads similar to those in Iraq. This led to fears that supporters of the Syrian government might try to kill him.[11]"

Not an objective analysis IMO.

[piece-itpete]

Air support I see. Obie must've talked to Rumsfeld

What's next, arms and supplies?

Pete

[piece-itpete]

http://cdn.twentytwowords.com/wp-con...ama.png?b739c3

Pete

[Tom Joad]

Originally Posted by piece-itpete

and it's past time we helped the Free Syria Army fight them too. ISIS is evil.

Pete

We?

What this "we" shit you Chickenhawk motherfucker?

You never served in the armed forces.

You just like to promote wars so that people like me or my son can go fight in them.

[piece-itpete]

One issue - I've been saying we should give them supplies and perhaps air support.

Yes indeed I pay my taxes.

Pete