Want to punish Assad? Bankrupt him, his family, and cronies

[Dems to Win]

I sent this letter to my reps and local paper:



Why do American leaders believe cruise missiles are an effective way to 'send a message' and 'hold a dictator accountable'?

Cruise missiles are an expensive, risky, deadly, ineffective way to 'send a message'.

During the decade between the two US wars on Iraq, the US regularly, routinely launched bombs and missiles into Iraq to 'send Saddam a message'. The US bombed Iraq over 150 times, but Saddam never got the message, never changed his behavior, never was injured or killed (though many Iraqi conscripts and civilians were killed by US bombs), never personally suffered from the bombings. There is no reason to believe bombing Syria will be more effective.

To hold Assad accountable, hit him where it hurts -- his pocketbook. He and his family and cronies have about $1.5 billion stashed overseas, according to a July 2012 article in The Guardian. ( link: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/jul/19/bashar-al-assad-950m-fortune )

Make them all paupers. Now THAT would be a message!

I would support the US assembling a crack team of hackers to go after Assad's money, be it in Russia or Hong Kong or Cayman Islands or anywhere on the globe, and transferring the funds to NGOs assisting the 2 million Syrian refugees.

I do not support military strikes against Syria. Bombs and weapons have already killed 100,000 Syrians over the last two years. More bombs dropped from the sky, this time from the US, won't help the situation.

Intervening in a 7 or 8 sided civil war on the other side of the globe is a terrible idea, with many of the rebel groups as cruel and corrupt as the Assad regime. Sometimes the enemy of my enemy is also my enemy. I don't want the US taking military action that will effectively be in support of abhorrent groups.

I urge Senators Feinstein and Boxer and Representative Huffman to vote No.

[Wounded Bear]

1. Silly, silly DtW.....

The 1% would never allow such a rational idea to take hold. After all, if you could do this to a tin pot 3rd world dictator, where would it stop?



BTW, I've often wondered why we don't 'invade' places that would really help out the situation, like the Cayman Islands, or maybe Switzerland.

[bhikkhu]

2. That's one I would support as well

...though I think the main worry is "unintended consequences". Governments might look at it as precedent to "hoover up" the assets of rivals. I'd still rather see economic warfare than bombs and so forth, and it would probably be more effective.

[bvar22]

3. DURec.

The best way to "send a message" that I can think of.
Kudos!

"During the decade between the two US wars on Iraq, the US regularly, routinely launched bombs and missiles into Iraq to 'send Saddam a message'. The US bombed Iraq over 150 times, but Saddam never got the message, never changed his behavior, never was injured or killed (though many Iraqi conscripts and civilians were killed by US bombs), never personally suffered from the bombings. There is no reason to believe bombing Syria will be more effective.

[Scuba]

4. If you offer his money to the MIC that just might work!

[oldhippie]

5. I think you have watched or read too many cyber-thrillers ......

I would support the US assembling a crack team of hackers to go after Assad's money, be it in Russia or Hong Kong or Cayman Islands or anywhere on the globe, and transferring the funds to NGOs assisting the 2 million Syrian refugees.

If someone was able to do this, it would have already been done. (Except the funds wouldn't go to any NGOs.) And why stop with Assad? Why not any leader we don't like?

[Dems to Win]

11. Anonymous doesn't have the resources of the US govt:

satellites, tunnels into phone systems, all those NSA connections into the worldwide communication systems.

My proposal is no more or less outrageous or contrary to international law than the proposed bombing without UN approval.

The US is far too eager to bomb the countries ruled by dictators we don't like. If we must be so high-handed, I'd prefer we not leave so many innocent victims drowning in blood.

"And why stop with Assad? Why not any leader we don't like?" Same questions apply to the proposed bombing.

[nebenaube]

28. swiss bank account passwords still pass as packets...

Unless of course, one is actually deep inside the mountain.

[avaistheone1]

6. As they say, if we cut off the money, we cut terrorism off at the knees.

I think your idea would be an effective one.

[whathehell]

16. We have frozen the assets of other countries before. n/t

[Dems to Win]

17. The US and EU have already frozen Syrian assets, but it didn't affect Assad's

personal and family money, according to the article. Those funds are held in places like Russia and Cayman Islands, which didn't freeze them, so the US would have to take further (extralegal) action to impact Assad and his cronies.

[whathehell]

32. I see, but

I believe the Caymans are governed by Britain...I would think they'd be happy to freeze his assets, if possible.

[Sand Wind]

7. i support the most part of that post, but

Just on question, how will financial procedure will make it impossible for him and his brother to use again his chimical weapons again the people of Syria?

Russia and Iran will make sure he got enought money to pay his mercenaries...

The only way to do it is with an action that will accelerate the opposition victory. Now, just the possibility of missile to come soon is already accelarating his fall, the Spiegle and the Guardian report: defection, moving of asset, desorganisation and panic ...

[Maedhros]

9. Yes, accelerat the opposition victory

so the Al Nusra Front and the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant can have the chemical weapon stockpiles.

Brilliant! What could go wrong?

[Sand Wind]

12. these are a minority in the opposition contrairy

To the myth :

Armed Conflict in Syria: U.S. and International Response Jeremy M. Sharp Specialist in Middle Eastern Affairs Christopher M. Blanchard Specialist in Middle Eastern Affairs June 14, 2013 CRS Report for Congress Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress Congressional Research Service 7-5700 www.crs.gov RL33487 European and Middle Eastern media have published estimates of the number of volunteers in the mid-hundreds to low-thousands, along with anecdotal reports about individuals from Europe, North Africa, Turkey, the Gulf states, and the Levant.37 Northern Lebanon and the Turkish border with northern Syria appear to be the most popular transit points for volunteers, presumably because of better regional air-travel linkages with Beirut and Turkish cities. Statements from some armed groups indicate that their leaders are cognizant of the risks that certain tactics and rhetoric may pose (i.e., suicide bombing or attacks against civilians). The underlying incompatibility of different groups’ motives and intentions is difficult to ignore, particularly to the extent that some extremist groups are critical of other armed groups and may oppose efforts to establish democracy in any post-Asad Syria. The pro-sharia rhetoric and transnational orientation of some extremist groups make it possible that they may end up in conflict with secular, nationalist, or Islamist opposition elements. The prominent Syrian Salafist- Jihadist ideologue Abu Basir al Tartusi has openly rejected other jihadists’ criticism of the Free Syrian Army and characterized some of the groups and individuals now active in Syria as “extremists” and “fanatics.”38 34 Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyam Zebari said, “We have solid information and intelligence that members of Al Qaeda’s terrorist network have gone to Syria.” Al Jazeera English, “Iraq says al-Qaeda flowing into Syria,” July 5, 2012. See also, Al Qaeda in Iraq leader Abu-Bakr al Baghdadi’s remarks in OSC Report GMP20120721586002, “Islamic State of Iraq Amir Calls on Sunni Tribes to ‘Repent,’” July 21, 2012. 35 OSC Report GMP20120618125001, “Al Shinqiti Calls Jihad in Syria ‘Duty,’ Advocates Joining Al Nusrah Front,” July 6, 2012; OSC Analysis GMF20120706420001, “Syria—Salafis Possibly Eying Larger Role in Post-Al-Asad Syria,” July 6, 2012. 36 OSC Report GMP20120612405002, “Abu-Yahya al-Libi Urges Iraqi, Jordanian, Turkish Mujahidin ‘To Champion’ Syria,” June 12, 2012. 37 The National (Abu Dhabi) “Syria, Jihad And the Boys From Tunisia’s Ben Guerdane,” July 3, 2012; OSC Report GMP20120607648001, “Al-Jazirah.net Says Jordan Charges 6 With Trying To Enter Syria To Wage Jihad,” Al- Jazirah.net (Doha), June 6, 2012; OSC Report EUP20120523029004, “Foreign Jihadis Flock To Syria in Bid To Overthrow Al Asad,” Le Figaro (Paris) May 22, 2012. 38 “Abu Basir al Tartusi” is the pen name of Abdel Moneim Mustafa Halimah. For more on this topic, see Aron Lund, “Holier Than Thou: Rival Clerics in the Syrian Jihad,” Jamestown Foundation Terrorism Monitor, Volume: 10, Issue:

[Maedhros]

30. And we can trust the others? [n/t]

[Dems to Win]

10. I didn't say it would make chemical warfare by Assad impossible,

I said it was a better way of sending a message than cruise missiles.

How will a missile strike make it impossible for Assad to use CW?

[Sand Wind]

13. by accelerating his fall, this is the only thing he

Last edited Mon Sep 2, 2013, 06:54 PM - Edit history (1)

Is afraid.

But yes that was not the main concern of your proposition, its a question from me...

[DeSwiss]

8. If this were about punishing Assad, that might make sense.

- But it's not. And if the Russians are at his back, where do you think his money is?

[Spitfire of ATJ]

14. Don't use the latest weapons. Use the law. If he broke it then it's off to the ICC.

[Chan790]

18. I'm tired of saying this...

this is outside the jurisdiction of the ICC. He can't be dragged before the ICC.

Syria is not a party to the Rome Statute, they signed it but never approved the treaty to be subject to the court. (Other nations to take that same course of action include the United States and Russia.) The only way the Syrian Civil War enters into the purview of the ICC is if the UN Security Council puts it there...Russia has already vetoed that action and said they will continue to do so.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

21. Still, bombing isn't the answer....

Ever hear the idiots who claim "we should bomb them for electing the guy" and when it's pointed out they didn't elect him then "we should bomb them for not getting rid of the guy"?

[Dems to Win]

26. Agreed, that's the bottom line: bombing isn't the answer.

Won't send a message, won't solve the problem.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

27. As it is, I doubt Assad would do it again,...if he did it the first time. Message sent.

[Dems to Win]

24. Thanks for the good info.

[KittyWampus]

15. Love the idea. Let him and his brother retire in luxury somewheres in Iran. Or Qatar (quietly).

[Dems to Win]

22. I'd prefer they retire in poverty, and not be invited to all the best parties.

That would really send the message that use of chemical weapons is intolerable.

I'm dreaming, I know. Might as well dream big.

[City Lights]

19. Excellent letter!

[valerief]

20. Making very rich people unrich is a terrifying thought to the very rich.

It's like cannabalism to them.

[Dems to Win]

23. True, very true.

That's why I like the idea so much. It's a real 99-percenter plan.

[valerief]

29. I like it, too, if he's really the guilty party, but only the very rich can make it happen. nt

[pjt7]

25. How about we punish Al-Queda instead?

EOM

[Hekate]

31. I like creativity -- this is a good suggestion. nt

[SHRED]

33. What about due process? Oh nevermind.

[Dems to Win]

34. Every bit as much due process as the current bombing plan.

[Rebellious Republican]

35. Spot on! It will be an escalation, until boots are on the ground!

A war can not be won without boots on the ground! Pure and simple, I think there are a few Vets here that understand what I am saying.