What do you believe is the main factor driving the U.S. toward military action against Syria?

[Douglas Carpenter]

4 votes, 1 pass | Time left: Unlimited
	There might be other factors - but humanitarian concerns are the main reason that is driving the U.S. toward military action against Syria
	0 (0%)
	There might be other factors - but domestic U.S. politics are the main reasons that are driving the U.S. toward military action against Syria
	0 (0%)
	There might be other reasons – but oil interest in the Middle East is the main factor driving the U.S. toward military action against Syria
	1 (25%)
	There might be other factors – but the main issue driving the U.S. toward military action against Syria is Syria’s alliance with Iran.
	0 (0%)
	There might be other factors – but the main issue driving the U.S. toward military action against Syria is America’s alliance with the State of Israel.
	1 (25%)
	There might be other factors but need for the U.S. to maintain a credible threat is the main issue driving the U.S. toward military action against Syria.
	1 (25%)
	Numbers 3, 4. 5 and 6 are all leading factors
	1 (25%)
	Numbers 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 are all leading factors
	0 (0%)
	All of the above - They are all roughly equal factors that cumulatively are driving the U.S. toward military action against Syria
	0 (0%)
	All of this talk about the Middle East has gotten me hungry. I could sure use a decent Shawarma or some Falafel, perhaps some hummus and a nice juicy lamb kebab with some REAL Arabic bread.
	0 (0%)
	1 DU member did not wish to select any of the options provided.
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[Scootaloo]

1. As I pointed out in another thread, this is mostly that our authoritah was not respected

If we gave a shit about dead Syrians, we would have done something long ago, or at the least would be seeking some method to end the war rather than exacerbating it.

But now that you mention it, falafel sounds absolutely delicious, thanks

[Nuclear Unicorn]

8. My vote as well.

[LostOne4Ever]

9. Agree on everything

But the food.

How about Chinese instead? The Schezwan Chicken is supposed to be very good.

[Tobin S.]

2. I think the overall goal for U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East

is to try to create an area of the world that is friendly to U.S. interests. I think that's true across party lines for the most part. That's a tall order for a place that in large part has been very much anti-American for a long time. So there are many factors.

The question is, do you pursue that agenda even if it means a war? What about many wars? The Bush administration and the neocons were prepared to fight many wars to transform the Middle East.

[Recursion]

3. Our Gulf "friends" are losing

And that's bad for us. Call it a mashup of Gulf allies, Israel/Iran, and WMD.

[wandy]

4. Other: Right up front, humanitarian efforts are of little concern...........

Oil and profit are the driving factors.
For some this makes for a win,win situation.

Controlling the resources in that part of the world has always been attractive. The type of oil is easer to extract and considerably easier to refine than that obtained from 'tar sand'. The finished product would not be intended for US consumption (neither is that from the tar sands) but can be sold at a greater profit to emerging countries such as China.

As the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan draw to a close, profits for companies generally considered the M.I.C have been shrinking. Numerous programs might be canceled in a peaceful environment. One example..
http://www.bizjournals.com/dayton/blog/morning_call/2013/04/army-says-doesnt-need-upgraded-abrams.html
Other problem ridden projects such as the F-135 may be difficult fund.

Overcommitment to Israel is also a driving factor. Israel has frequent implied that if the US does not lead in war, they will.

[tecelote]

6. You said it better than I could.

If the reason was a humanitarian one, bombs would not be the answer and Syria would not be the only target. Commercial interests rule our country.

[LuvNewcastle]

5. It's mainly 4 and 5, I think.

It's about our relationship with Israel and the enmity between Israel and Iran. It's a love/hate triangle, and Syria itself actually has little to do with it.

[muriel_volestrangler]

7. Fear of the proliferation of chemical weapons

They think that if there isn't some reaction to the obvious use of chemical weapons, several countries will decide they are now just seen as another weapon, and threaten their use, actually use them, or trade them to terrorist organisations.

[arely staircase]

10. Although I voted "humanitarian factors" I think it is specifically the use of nerve gas on civilians

As has been pointed out here many times we have set back and watched Assad kill tens of thouands of people without getting involved. However, I think in the eyes of this administration, the use of nerve gas on civilians crosses a threshold that the US should push back against.

[mick063]

11. Pass

I didn't see the proper reason.


Justification of an enormous defense budget.

[Agony]

12. all the money to be made...

replacing our "missiles of exhausted diplomacy"

[Douglas Carpenter]

13. knr

[kenny blankenship]

14. When the knife plunged into Iraq,

more than one set of fingerprints were on the handle. Some of them are the same this time. But this occasion is much more of a great power pissing match than Iraq was - and a personal grudge match between the leaders of those powers.