This is such a crap situation to be in. I do think Obama is handling it as well as anyone. There's just no good solution. Something needs to be done. The violation of chemical warfare bans can't just be ignored. I don't trust Russia a bit though. But, it definitely needs to be explored, because I don't think a true norm for holding countries responsible for their actions can be established by having one country (US) do the dirty work. We need more countries behind us in order for it to be a long term solution. BUT, someone has to do it, and if no one else is, we need to go with the short term scare tactic. It won't be pretty though. If a strike is going to be big enough to not be a "pin prick" it's going to kill a lot of people indiscriminately. It could be ugly.
I believe we as human beings have a moral imperative to protect civilians from attacks like Assad's. I do hope, wish and pray that we can successfully do so with diplomacy.
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This is where I'm conflicted, because the soft heart in me says, '"Yes, protect the innocents; go in and stop the attacks," while the pragmatist in me says, "Why them? Why now? Why not protect the civilians in the Sudan? In North Korea?"
I can't speak to what we didn't do in the past (in terms of what happened in the Sudan), but we know that this is happening right now and maybe we're in the position to stop it. Yeah, there's awful stuff going on all over, and I wish we could stop it all. But i believe (and maybe I'm wrong!) that we're in a position to stop this particular atrocity.
I'm going to pull the Jew card here and feel free to tell me I'm being silly, or too emotional, or even that it's not the same. And I debated posting this and deleted it more than once. But my people were gassed (yes, on a much larger scale) during WW2. And we look back and yell that no one did enough to stop it then. I can't stand silent while someone else is doing it now to others. I can't. There's something about chemical weapons that's different for me. Is Assad rounding people up and putting them in gas chambers? No. But what if he decides that's next?
This is where I'm conflicted, because the soft heart in me says, '"Yes, protect the innocents; go in and stop the attacks," while the pragmatist in me says, "Why them? Why now? Why not protect the civilians in the Sudan? In North Korea?"
I can't speak to what we didn't do in the past (in terms of what happened in the Sudan), but we know that this is happening right now and maybe we're in the position to stop it. Yeah, there's awful stuff going on all over, and I wish we could stop it all. But i believe (and maybe I'm wrong!) that we're in a position to stop this particular atrocity.
I'm going to pull the Jew card here and feel free to tell me I'm being silly, or too emotional, or even that it's not the same. And I debated posting this and deleted it more than once. But my people were gassed (yes, on a much larger scale) during WW2. And we look back and yell that no one did enough to stop it then. I can't stand silent while someone else is doing it now to others. I can't. There's something about chemical weapons that's different for me. Is Assad rounding people up and putting them in gas chambers? No. But what if he decides that's next?
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That's where I am. I keep thinking and reliving history. This can not and should not happen again. The world has let this happen too many times and we can not stand idly by as another dictator perpetuates a genocide on minority group of people.
I agree the line is drawn at chemical weapons. We cannot sit by allow these types of weapons to be used on innocent people. I only wish more countries would get involved so it doesn't have to just be us. But if one country starts using these chemical weapons and gets away with it then what's to stop everyone else from using them too?
This is a good article I think kind of like Syria for dummies
This is where I'm conflicted, because the soft heart in me says, '"Yes, protect the innocents; go in and stop the attacks," while the pragmatist in me says, "Why them? Why now? Why not protect the civilians in the Sudan? In North Korea?"
I can't speak to what we didn't do in the past (in terms of what happened in the Sudan), but we know that this is happening right now and maybe we're in the position to stop it. Yeah, there's awful stuff going on all over, and I wish we could stop it all. But i believe (and maybe I'm wrong!) that we're in a position to stop this particular atrocity.
I'm going to pull the Jew card here and feel free to tell me I'm being silly, or too emotional, or even that it's not the same. And I debated posting this and deleted it more than once. But my people were gassed (yes, on a much larger scale) during WW2. And we look back and yell that no one did enough to stop it then. I can't stand silent while someone else is doing it now to others. I can't. There's something about chemical weapons that's different for me. Is Assad rounding people up and putting them in gas chambers? No. But what if he decides that's next?
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I think you absolutely have the right to reference the Holocaust, and I think it's an appropriate analogy. I just wish there was some rhyme or reason to when we step in and when we leave it alone. North Korea has had concentration camps (and let's face it, that's what they are) for over 5 decades. We know they are there. We knew about Sudan. About so many other times.
I'm not criticizing the initiative to stop Assad. I think he needs to be stopped. I just wish I knew why this one is considered bad enough, when the others weren't.
I can't speak to what we didn't do in the past (in terms of what happened in the Sudan), but we know that this is happening right now and maybe we're in the position to stop it. Yeah, there's awful stuff going on all over, and I wish we could stop it all. But i believe (and maybe I'm wrong!) that we're in a position to stop this particular atrocity.
I'm going to pull the Jew card here and feel free to tell me I'm being silly, or too emotional, or even that it's not the same. And I debated posting this and deleted it more than once. But my people were gassed (yes, on a much larger scale) during WW2. And we look back and yell that no one did enough to stop it then. I can't stand silent while someone else is doing it now to others. I can't. There's something about chemical weapons that's different for me. Is Assad rounding people up and putting them in gas chambers? No. But what if he decides that's next?
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I think you absolutely have the right to reference the Holocaust, and I think it's an appropriate analogy. I just wish there was some rhyme or reason to when we step in and when we leave it alone. North Korea has had concentration camps (and let's face it, that's what they are) for over 5 decades. We know they are there. We knew about Sudan. About so many other times.
I'm not criticizing the initiative to stop Assad. I think he needs to be stopped. I just wish I knew why this one is considered bad enough, when the others weren't.
Maybe its a question of ability to be able to stop it? My understanding is that North Korea is much more dangerous than Syria in terms of counter attack to the US/allies of the US.
Someone correct me if I'm wrong because I only know what I've read in passing about this.
ETA: I think its a matter of fighting the battles you know you have a very good chance of winning. N Korea has the potential to send the entire world into devastation without question. Syria, not so much. Until Russia comes into play, which is why it is now about more diplomacy.
I feel so much in my gut that while the US has power, it is not the sole responsibility of one nation to fix the world's problems. On the other hand, if one nation won't, then who will?
I wish the UN were more effective than it currently is.
rjamz- I am glad you brought up the comparison to WWII. That's exactly how I see it and why I feel we have to do something to stop it. I was hesitant to being up the analogy, though, because as a non-Jew, I don't think it is fair for me to try to compare that horrible tragedy to anything else. My ancestors weren't affected directly (my family lived in Italy and their lives were affected but in no way comparable to the Jews). I hope that makes sense.
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