Syria - What happens next?

[Reynard Bleu]

I find the stories coming out of Syria at the moment really harrowing and disturbing. The world appears hamstrung and unable to do anything positive to help. I am not advocating direct military intervention, but should we stand by and watch civillian casualties mount? Do we accept the current regime's right to crush the protest by all means at its disposal?

What should the UK or indeed the rest of the world do?

[Fox92]

I know I am going to probably sound horrible, but why should we get involved anyway? It's got nothing to do with us has it? I'd rather our government help our country first, if you know what I mean.

[Darkon84]

Thought this was going to be a 'LeicesterPool' type poll. I was going to vote for Mick McCarthy to come in and impose a straight talking, but ultimately media-friendly regime change.

Little bit disappointed now

[Reynard Bleu]

Fair point, but we helped Libya out?

[Webbo]

Chances are if we help chuck out the Assad regime the new regime will turn out to be worse.

[steveherbe]

Keep out. We insist on diving in all over the place. FK 'em, we've got our own country to think about first. maybe if we weren't policing Afghanistan, Iraq and other places, we wouldn't have a national debt, income tax would be reasonable, and petrol duty wouldn't be 84p for every litre at £1.44. Even our 'intervention' in Libya cost a small fortune. D'you know how much it costs to launch a Tornado or Typhoon? And the missiles we toss around are hundreds of thousands a pop. Bring everyone home, pull up the barricades and let the Arabs sort themselves out. (Ok, thats a bit simplistic as we'd get no oil, but you get my drift?)

[z-layrex]

Why don't the ****ing Arab league do something about it for once? Probably because they're all evil old men like al-Assad.

We need to keep out of it. At most provide air support to an organised rebel army.

[Trav Le Bleu]

[Finnegan]

Interesting to me how we all look back with fondness at how 'we' saved the world from Nazism, yet nobody's really keen to aid Syria and Libya was met with very mixed responses.

Surely WW2 was just as much about humanitarian causes as it was maintaining our own safety and sovereignty?

[Charl91]

Keep out. We insist on diving in all over the place. FK 'em, we've got our own country to think about first. maybe if we weren't policing Afghanistan, Iraq and other places, we wouldn't have a national debt, income tax would be reasonable, and petrol duty wouldn't be 84p for every litre at £1.44. Even our 'intervention' in Libya cost a small fortune. D'you know how much it costs to launch a Tornado or Typhoon? And the missiles we toss around are hundreds of thousands a pop. Bring everyone home, pull up the barricades and let the Arabs sort themselves out. (Ok, thats a bit simplistic as we'd get no oil, but you get my drift?)

Yeah, you tell 'em. We have enough first world problems as it is - why should we care about thousands of people being slaughtered, when it costs us a little more petrol money to get around from place to place! They think they have problems, if we carry on at this rate, and soon we'l only be able to afford five TV channels each and have to get the bus to places. Only this morning, I had to buy a regular sandwich instead of the nicer deep-fill ginsters one - surely, the sign that Britain has it tough.

So a couple of thousand of them die. They're only foreigners, right? Everyone knows they're not really people, they don't have feelings and stuff.

[z-layrex]

Yeah, you tell 'em. We have enough first world problems as it is - why should we care about thousands of people being slaughtered, when it costs us a little more petrol money to get around from place to place! They think they have problems, if we carry on at this rate, and soon we'l only be able to afford five TV channels each and have to get the bus to places!!

So a couple of thousand of them die. They're only foreigners, right? Everyone knows they're not really people, they don't have feelings and stuff.

But why is it always us who have to help? When it comes down to it, Islamic nations never do anything to help each other out. Or if they do it ends up in double-crossing and treachery (Egyptian/Israeli war for example).

I want to see the more powerful countries in the region act for once. What is the point in the Arab league if all they do is argue amongst themselves?

[Charl91]

But why is it always us who have to help? When it comes down to it, Islamic nations never do anything to help each other out. Or if they do it ends up in double-crossing and treachery (Egyptian/Israeli war for example).

I want to see the more powerful countries in the region act for once. What is the point in the Arab league if all they do is argue amongst themselves?

I'm not saying you're wrong; everyone who has the ability to help should do so. But just because as county they're happy to sit back and let people die, it doesn't mean we should be. You're right - it's not fair. But it's also not fair that thousands of people are being killed. I'd like to think that if the situations were reversed, then there would be someone to help us.

I don't know whether we can help or not. But if we can do some good, then we should.

[accessory]

Yeah, you tell 'em. We have enough first world problems as it is - why should we care about thousands of people being slaughtered, when it costs us a little more petrol money to get around from place to place! They think they have problems, if we carry on at this rate, and soon we'l only be able to afford five TV channels each and have to get the bus to places. Only this morning, I had to buy a regular sandwich instead of the nicer deep-fill ginsters one - surely, the sign that Britain has it tough.

So a couple of thousand of them die. They're only foreigners, right? Everyone knows they're not really people, they don't have feelings and stuff.

The footage from Syria is horrendous.

But these massacres have been going on all over the Middle East for ages.

Why is Britain not outraged by events in Saudi Arabia or the West Bank? Could it be because the Saudi and Israeli governments, unlike the Syrians, are valued customers and allies?

[Reynard Bleu]

The footage from Syria is horrendous.

But these massacres have been going on all over the Middle East for ages.

Why is Britain not outraged by events in Saudi Arabia or the West Bank? Could it be because the Saudi and Israeli governments, unlike the Syrians, are valued customers and allies?

The last point you make is valid. We turn a blind eye to many of the unsavoury things our allies get up to, the usual excuse its that its not in the UK's interests to intervene. I wished we did not, I wished we had the courage to stand against injustice wherever it occurs, especially at home. I just weep when I see the suffering of civillians being targetted in a military campaign which is not only aimed at killing those who oppose the state but cares not how many others die as a consequence. Its not the only odious regime in the region, but its the one demonstrating its total disregard for its citizens in open view of the world at this moment.

I have seen the results of similar campaigns close up, in the Balkans and Iraq. It changes you.

[Captain...]

A couple of things:

1. If the UN resolution on intervention in Syria hadn't been vetoed by China and Russia we probably would be involved, legally and with the full backing of the UN (unlike Iraq).

2. We cannot police the whole world, whether we should or not is one matter, but we don't have the resources to get involved in all conflicts, I read that we don't actually have the resources to go into Syria with our other military operations going on at the moment.

3. We don't have the economic muscle or political clout any more to impose sanctions and apply political and economic pressure on the Syrian government, we have been severely weakened by the economic crisis and the fact we have distanced ourselves from Europe. Any attempts made would be undermined by China and Russia supporting Assad.

[steveherbe]

Yeah, you tell 'em. We have enough first world problems as it is - why should we care about thousands of people being slaughtered, when it costs us a little more petrol money to get around from place to place! They think they have problems, if we carry on at this rate, and soon we'l only be able to afford five TV channels each and have to get the bus to places. Only this morning, I had to buy a regular sandwich instead of the nicer deep-fill ginsters one - surely, the sign that Britain has it tough.

So a couple of thousand of them die. They're only foreigners, right? Everyone knows they're not really people, they don't have feelings and stuff.

Too right, I mean, they get all the good weather, they should have to suffer a little bit!! And if you can afford to buy sandwiches every day my lad (lass?), you can afford to help your Arab friends out - I can't.

[Charl91]

2. We cannot police the whole world, whether we should or not is one matter, but we don't have the resources to get involved in all conflicts, I read that we don't actually have the resources to go into Syria with our other military operations going on at the moment.

3. We don't have the economic muscle or political clout any more to impose sanctions and apply political and economic pressure on the Syrian government, we have been severely weakened by the economic crisis and the fact we have distanced ourselves from Europe. Any attempts made would be undermined by China and Russia supporting Assad.

Yeah, I think this is the important bit. Personally, I think whether we should or not is a no-brainer. However I guess the important question is whether we actually have the resources to do so.

[Charl91]

Too right, I mean, they get all the good weather, they should have to suffer a little bit!! And if you can afford to buy sandwiches every day my lad (lass?), you can afford to help your Arab friends out - I can't.

The point I was making is that so many people think they're not well off. Do you have running water? Food? A house? A computer? A TV? I'm guessing yes to all of them.

If so, then you're not hard done by, so stop complaining.

[Leicfox]

Let China sort it out.

[Guest Bilo]

In an ideal world, we would be able to help the Syrian people.

The problem is, if we're to help the Syrians why can't we help the Saudi people? Or the Palestinians? Or the North Koreans? Or the Tibetans? Or the Zimbabweans? How about the Iranians?

As much as the Bush and Blair governments tried to behave to the contrary, we are not the world's policeman. We shouldn't try and we have no legitimacy in doing so.

Libya was only a success because we offered some air support as part of a globally approved coalition and not one British military boot touched Libyan soil. Syria could very easily turn into another Iraq without global support for the campaign.

Also, would Syria become a democracy if we helped them? Egypt hasn't. Libya probably won't. Iraq is flawed. Afghanistan is still at war.

Leave well alone, we've had our fingers burned more than enough times by dabbling in the Middle East.

[steveherbe]

The point I was making is that so many people think they're not well off. Do you have running water? Food? A house? A computer? A TV? I'm guessing yes to all of them.

If so, then you're not hard done by, so stop complaining.

Not all, I have no access to a computer.

[BoneDog]

Most people in Syria are pro-Assad, are opposed to the alternative (as they rightly were in Iran recently) and they want the Syrian Army in their towns to stop the terrorists and death squads (imported by the West and their helpers in the UAE, Qatar etc.) who have been killing civilians for nearly a year.

My advice to anybody serious is to listen to these videos for a better understanding of the situation. The BBC, Al Jazeera and Sky News are twisting the truth with some disgusting reporting. Tarpley is the man to get you started. He's spent quite alot of time in Syria and the region recently.

"What you are dealing with here are death squads and terror commandos. The kind of thing that everybody remembers from Argentina and Central America. This is a typical CIA method. In this case it's a joint production of the CIA, Mossad, MI6 and others. It's got money coming from Saudi Arabia, The UAE and Qatar." - Tarpley.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0rIX1ckUs4

More Tarpley.

This last video is long but very important to hear if you want to start sifting through the truth and lies about the situation. It has contributions from Eric Margolis (over 20 years as foreign correspondent for The Toronto Sun), Webster Tarpley, Thierry Meyssan, Nizar Nayouf (Syrian journalist) and others. There is some footage of civilians throwing bread across streets that are being terrorized by snipers.

As for the original question, "Syria - What happens next?" Well, if Clinton et al get their way then probably about 500,000 immediate deaths due to war and hundreds of thousands of future horrible deaths because of depleted uranium and babies being born seriously deformed and ill. Most of these children will be lucky (for want of a better word) to live for a year. Just another country in total despair due to carefully orchestrated terror campaigns.

I'm appalled by what's happening and am surprised that many people still haven't learned anything from the recent past. It seems that a large proportion of our nation enjoys being lied to and taken for fools. It's baffling to see and hear people having debates about the lies as if they are truths! We are told these lies about places like Syria, Iran, Egypt etc. and then so-called intellectuals have month long pointless debates about them.

[Captain...]

Most people in Syria are pro-Assad, are opposed to the alternative (as they rightly were in Iran recently) and they want the Syrian Army in their towns to stop the terrorists and death squads (imported by the West and their helpers in the UAE, Qatar etc.) who have been killing civilians for nearly a year.

My advice to anybody serious is to listen to these videos for a better understanding of the situation. The BBC, Al Jazeera and Sky News are twisting the truth with some disgusting reporting. Tarpley is the man to get you started. He's spent quite alot of time in Syria and the region recently.

"What you are dealing with here are death squads and terror commandos. The kind of thing that everybody remembers from Argentina and Central America. This is a typical CIA method. In this case it's a joint production of the CIA, Mossad, MI6 and others. It's got money coming from Saudi Arabia, The UAE and Qatar." - Tarpley.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0rIX1ckUs4

More Tarpley.

This last video is long but very important to hear if you want to start sifting through the truth and lies about the situation. It has contributions from Eric Margolis (over 20 years as foreign correspondent for The Toronto Sun), Webster Tarpley, Thierry Meyssan, Nizar Nayouf (Syrian journalist) and others. There is some footage of civilians throwing bread across streets that are being terrorized by snipers.

As for the original question, "Syria - What happens next?" Well, if Clinton et al get their way then probably about 500,000 immediate deaths due to war and hundreds of thousands of future horrible deaths because of depleted uranium and babies being born seriously deformed and ill. Most of these children will be lucky (for want of a better word) to live for a year. Just another country in total despair due to carefully orchestrated terror campaigns.

I'm appalled by what's happening and am surprised that many people still haven't learned anything from the recent past. It seems that a large proportion of our nation enjoys being lied to and taken for fools. It's baffling to see and hear people having debates about the lies as if they are truths! We are told these lies about places like Syria, Iran, Egypt etc. and then so-called intellectuals have month long pointless debates about them.

I have not had chance to watch all of those videos, but I will get round to it, but I am pretty sure as always the real truth lies somewhere between the official Western propaganda and the Assad propaganda, Nelson Mandela and Ghandi were terrorists if you look at it form the point of view of the rulers at the time.

[Zingari]

Interesting stuff Empty , I really don’t know what to believe anymore .

I think USA and UK did try something similar in Syria in the 50s but the Russians got wind of it and were greater allies back then and warned them off .

[marko]

So let me get this right, according to El Empty the Syrian rebels in Homs are terrorists who've hoodwinked the West, UN, Arab League and various humanitarian organistions and made them believe that the Assad regime are killing Syrian citizens, when in actual fact it's the rebels who are doing the killings? Or have I misunderstood?