This is about kicking Russia out of Syria. Full Stop.

[Junkdrawer]

The BIG Picture re: Syria – BRICS vs NATO

Nothing else makes a lick of sense. This is a provocation. This is "get it done while we still can."

We are in the middle of a slow-motion Cuban Missile Crisis kind of deal. Last time both Kruschev and Kennedy backed down with Kruschev taking the public hit.

I think Putin is open to a mutual backdown, but now its a question of who takes the public hit. Here's the rub: I think there are MANY hawks on our side want to to take it all the way. Star Wars ABM and all.

This is bad, you guys. This is bad.

[Blue_Tires]

1. Well I definitely think that this whole charade has NOTHING to do with

"helping people" or even removing Assad...

[Catherina]

2. Go back to Brzezinski's "The Grand Chessboard"

when we armed Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan to fuck over Russia. Brzezinski laid the precursory plans for PNAC and it's all very clear. Zbigniew Brzezinski is Obama's main advisor.

2+2+2 really does = 6.

[Junkdrawer]

4. Obama's "This is the time to think strategically" quote....

smelled of Z-Big.

And, yeah, I'm aware Z-Big is PUBLICLY saying this is dumb.

[Catherina]

10. Yeah, publicly while his ground plans come true

I figured you would be but it needs to be brought up over and over again so people understand how deep the bipartisan complicity is.

"This is the time to think strategically"

They really think we're that distracted by I-pads and Kim Kardashian!

[MisterP]

12. same as Clark: they describe the chessboard while still wanting to play

[dixiegrrrrl]

11. Yep.

Global chess, in a war for energy, pipelines, ports.
Any map of US bases, esp. in the middle east, says everything there is to know.

[KittyWampus]

3. Except there's an Opthamologist involved who thinks he owns Syria and refuses to step down.

[Junkdrawer]

5. Last time the wild card was Castro....

And our side didn't know he had command of tactical nukes capable of hitting Florida.

McNamara almost had a heart attack when he found out decades later.

[KittyWampus]

7. there's also the tribal, Sunni/Shiia thing. I'm not of the mindset that thinks primarily of feuds

blood feuds… I constantly have to remind myself the enmity goes back centuries.

[Junkdrawer]

8. Seymore Hersh The Redirection March 5, 2007

In the past few months, as the situation in Iraq has deteriorated, the Bush Administration, in both its public diplomacy and its covert operations, has significantly shifted its Middle East strategy. The “redirection,” as some inside the White House have called the new strategy, has brought the United States closer to an open confrontation with Iran and, in parts of the region, propelled it into a widening sectarian conflict between Shiite and Sunni Muslims.

To undermine Iran, which is predominantly Shiite, the Bush Administration has decided, in effect, to reconfigure its priorities in the Middle East. In Lebanon, the Administration has coöperated with Saudi Arabia’s government, which is Sunni, in clandestine operations that are intended to weaken Hezbollah, the Shiite organization that is backed by Iran. The U.S. has also taken part in clandestine operations aimed at Iran and its ally Syria. A by-product of these activities has been the bolstering of Sunni extremist groups that espouse a militant vision of Islam and are hostile to America and sympathetic to Al Qaeda.

....


The Administration’s effort to diminish Iranian authority in the Middle East has relied heavily on Saudi Arabia and on Prince Bandar, the Saudi national-security adviser. Bandar served as the Ambassador to the United States for twenty-two years, until 2005, and has maintained a friendship with President Bush and Vice-President Cheney. In his new post, he continues to meet privately with them. Senior White House officials have made several visits to Saudi Arabia recently, some of them not disclosed.

...


The Bush Administration’s reliance on clandestine operations that have not been reported to Congress and its dealings with intermediaries with questionable agendas have recalled, for some in Washington, an earlier chapter in history. Two decades ago, the Reagan Administration attempted to fund the Nicaraguan contras illegally, with the help of secret arms sales to Iran. Saudi money was involved in what became known as the Iran-Contra scandal, and a few of the players back then—notably Prince Bandar and Elliott Abrams—are involved in today’s dealings.

http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2007/03/05/070305fa_fact_hersh?currentPage=all

Tip 'o the hat to jakeXT:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023595188#post4

[HooptieWagon]

6. Russians will keep up the proxy war, as long as US does.

When the US ups the ante with missle strikes or boots on the ground, its logical to assume the Russians will respond in kind. Is Syria worth going toe to toe with Russians over? Syria has little strategic importance to the US. They are not a threat, and the US already has dozens of military bases in the Mediteranean and Middle East. We don't need Syria. Russia doesn't have many bases in the Mediteranean and Middle East, and desparately wants to hold on to the few it has. Pipeline...Saudi Arabia wants to build a gas pipeline through Syria to Europe. Russia doesn't want a pipeline, so they can keep their gas monopoly in Europe. US has no compelling self-interest in whether a pipeline is built or not.
In short, the US has no reason to get involved in Syrian fight...especially since it risks spreading the fight to neighboring US allies, or even fighting Russian military directly. Is taking away one Russian Naval base, and enabling Saudi pipeline profits worth the cost and lives of US servicepeople? Not in my opinion.

[Junkdrawer]

9. Great fun until someone loses an eye....

or a missile cruiser.

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

13. Or a city.

Ever read or watch On the Beach?

[Junkdrawer]

14. Mr. President, I'm not saying we wouldn't get our hair mussed.

But I do say no more than ten to twenty million killed, tops. Uh, depending on the breaks.