If it is proven Assad used chemical weapons

[applegrove]

the UN should bomb Syrian airbases and destroy their 50 aircraft.

[Arctic Dave]

1. If it is proven the "rebels" did it, then what?

Seems weird that Assad would do this the day the UN inspectors show up. Makes zero sense.

Of course the rebels are AQ and other fundy scumbags who are bent on seeing a religiously controlled country. You can't really trust anyone with a god insanity.

[backscatter712]

10. I say bomb both sides.

Anywhere where there's a whiff of sarin, make craters.

[Arctic Dave]

12. And we do that how without breaking the law?

Who bombs us for our transgressions?

[Wait Wut]

2. Crap.

I don't know what to think. I used to think I knew, but after the Arab Spring...everything changed. Now I'm not sure, anymore.

I just want it all to stop. I want them to all experience true peace. I want the beauty of their culture to be celebrated.

I want Assad dead. Does that sound contradictory? Wanting peace for the people and death for Assad? Too freakin' bad. That's what I want.

I don't know that I want the UN, US, etc. involved, but I think that may be their only hope.

[Jackpine Radical]

6. I think our best course is to stay out.

There are no good outcomes. It's a negative-sum game, a terrible trap. No way for us to "win" (whatever THAT might mean).

[dipsydoodle]

3. In the absense of Russia and China agreeing

The UN isn't doing anything let alone bombing airbases.

[TheMightyFavog]

4. Airbases wouldn't be enough.

You'd have to go after their missile and gun artillery and take out every Transporter Erector Launcher vehicles and static launch sites, and possibly every artillery emplacement he has.

Pretty tall order.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

5. The UN? Bomb with what?

[applegrove]

7. The French want something done too.

Maybe NATO?

[dixiegrrrrl]

8. One more piece of evidence:

Rebels: Syrian medics die after treating attack victims

Some first responders to a reported chemical attack in Syria have died after treating victims, providing more evidence that a weapon of mass destruction was indeed used, opposition forces said Thursday.

"Some of them came down with similar symptoms and passed away," said Khaled Saleh, a spokesman for the Supreme Military Council of the Free Syrian Army, which the United States has provided with non-lethal aid. Saleh said at least six doctors had died after treating victims. "We don't have the (total) number of dead first responders yet," he said.

Despite seemingly overwhelming evidence, the Syrian government continues to deny that it used chemical weapons. Three dozen countries, including the U.S., have now called for a United Nations investigation.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2013/08/22/syria-chemical-attack-responders-die/2686971/

[railsback]

9. I think the time to get involved has passed

Its just a proxy war now, squabbling super powers arming each side. This could go on for years.

[99Forever]

11. Fuck no.

We need to stay the fuck out of other nations business. We've got enough crap right here at home to fix first.

If YOU think you want to stick YOUR nose into it, more power to you. Do it on your OWN dime and OWN ass on the front line.

[bhikkhu]

13. For what purpose?

Take out the air force, and the military remains, still fighting. Take out the whole Assad leadership, and you still have an entrenched civil war. Install any new pseudo-leadership, and it would have a minority of support in Syria and be mired in years of civil war...

Not to be defeatist, or to say that standing aside and watching atrocities is better than getting involved, but I think that the opportunity to improve matters (from the outside) there has passed.

[applegrove]

14. Destroy airbases. Destroy them. Sure he can rebuild, but with the understanding

that they will be destroyed again if Assad uses chemical weapons. Make it a 'negative taxis' http://www.biology-online.org/dictionary/Positive_taxis
so, like the single celled organism Assad is, he stays away from chemical weapons. That all he understands. If I do 'x' then 'y' results so I better not do 'x'. Won't stop the civil war. But 1300 dead in one day? Children too. Genocide. The French want to do something...maybe they can bomb the airbases if the USA is too heavily engaged in wars elsewhere.