Syria: What's the Rush to Enter the War?

There is no doubt that chemical attacks are a crime against humanity, an abomination that should be contained and punished.

But why the rush to launch military strikes against Syria?

It took US President Bush Senior five months after the invasion of Kuwait to start the war on Iraq.


Burning oilfield during Operation Desert Storm...Burning oilfield during Operation Desert Storm, Kuwait (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I'm not suggesting we should wait five months but we should at least put our case together in a strong, legal way. With the United Nations and the international community at large. 

So far, the countries supporting war besides the US are only two: France and Britain. Germany and Italy lean towards seeking UN Security Council approval first - which is no doubt going to be difficult given Russia's position of unfailing support to Syria. Not to mention China's. Still, it should be tried. 

I just can't understand why our politicians act like warmongers. It is fine to be morally indignant about chemical warfare, who isn't? 

But to launch yet another series of air strikes à la Lybia-style when we know that the rebels on the ground are mostly violent muslim extremists, is that wise? 

Or is it a way for Mr. Cameron and Mr. Hollande to draw people's attention away from the economic problems both countries are facing? Guns as a solution to bread and butter issues are a classic...

What do you think? 
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Comments

GiuseppeBonannodiLinguaglossa.info said…
Il ministro degli Esteri Bonino: la posizione del governo di fronte intervento in Siria : «L’Italia non prenderà parte a una soluzione militare al di fuori del contesto del Consiglio di sicurezza».Senza un mandato dell’Onu - che per l’esecutivo rappresenta «l’unico quadro di riferimento giuridico», ha detto Bonino - Roma non concederà nemmeno l’uso delle proprie basi aeree.
Giusto per chi si intende di diritto internazionale.
August 28, 2013 at 10:29 AM
Claude Forthomme said…
You're right, Giuseppe, the Foreign Affairs Minister Bonino was very clear on this: Italy with NOT move without a United Nations mandate - and that also means it will NOT, as you say, allow the use of its airbase facilities to American, French or British troops...
August 28, 2013 at 11:11 AM
Jack Durish said…
What's the rush? Helluva good question. Sadly, I don't trust anyone anymore. I haven't trusted the United Nations to resolve anything since... well, forever. The Security Council has been hamstrung by the veto cast by warring sides in every conflict. I don't trust my own government. This Administration has been ruled by expediency in every matter and it would be greatly helped politically by a war to divert attention from its manifold scandals. Finally, I don't trust anyone in the Middle East. I could easily conceive of a situation wherein a group launched a chemical weapons attack against themselves to attract the ham fisted reaction of Western Powers. Where would they get such weapons? How about the ones that Saddam hid at the behest of Russia, France, and Germany, before the Americans arrived?
August 28, 2013 at 4:11 PM
Impie said…
I am 100% with you on this, Claude. I can't understand why the US & Britain don't learn from their past mistakes a-plenty. They didn't exactly rush to help the Ruandans so what's the rush now? I'm cynical enough to believe there have to be reasons other than humanitarian ones. They do protest too much that they plan to hit only military targets and aren't taking sides? How can you not be taking sides if you are hitting a govt target? We have yet to see the proof on which they are basing these allegations. It's time the world had more open government and more real leaks continued so we can learn the truth of what is happening. We are being constantly surveilled as individuals so why should our elected officials be protected? What happened to the idea of democracy being composed of officials elected to "represent" the views of the people not as "delegates" acting on their own behalf. The whole world suffers the repercussions of the virtually uni-lateral actions in the Middle East taken by our western governments.
August 28, 2013 at 6:52 PM
Claude Forthomme said…
Thanks Jack and Impie for your thoughtful comments - yes, indeed, where has democracy gone? Down the drain, obviously. I also tend to think there's some hidden agenda here. If so, I'm afraid we the people will never learn the truth. Our politicians have highjacked our democracy!

And they have the gall to pretend to police the world and to be the guardians of morality. They're just a bunch of bullies with one goal only: promote themselves!
August 29, 2013 at 8:22 AM
Unknown said…
Too many wars have been fought since WWII with no clear proposed positive outcome. Both sides in this Syrian civil war don't like the U.S., therefore, we should not be involved in their country. There is no outcome we can predict that will end positively for the U.S.

We should have no U.S. soldier injured or killed without at least a clear understanding of the good his/her injury or death accomplished for our country.
August 29, 2013 at 7:33 PM
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