Syrian war between unsavoury sides: Abbott

[Coyotl]

Source: dailytelegraph.com.au

OPPOSITION Leader Tony Abbott says Syria's civil war involves "two pretty much equally unsavoury sides" and Australia should be cautious of making a bad situation worse.

Mr Abbott says elements of the Syrian rebel forces are "highly influenced by al-Qaeda" but the Bashar al-Assad regime's use of chemical weapons against its own people is an "unspeakable abomination".

"That's why I say frankly it's a civil war between two pretty much equally unsavoury sides," he told ABC Television's 730 on Monday.

"We've got to be very careful dealing in a powder keg like the Middle East that we don't take action, well-intentioned action, which could end up making a bad situation worse."

Read more: http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/breaking-news/pm-questions-abbotts-judgment-on-syria/story-fni0xqi3-1226708766222

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Words of wisdom!

[iandhr]

1. Credit where credit is do.

Though I probably would disagree with Mr. Abbott on most issues he is spot on here.

[HooptieWagon]

2. A position taken by almost the entire world.

Does Obama think he's smarter than everyone else? Or is he just participating in a pissing contest?

[Coyotl]

3. Neither. That is not a very applicable either-or question.

[HooptieWagon]

4. Then what is a pointless missle strike supposed to accomplish?

Cant bomb chemical weapons sites, or it spreads to population. Cant bomb military without incurring more civilian casualties. Can't eliminate Assad without handing over an entire country and its military to Al Queda. And an already defiant Assad isn't going to be less so with a symbolic, but ineffective, gesture.
So what, exactly, is going to be accomplished?