Reply #11: One doesn't pull flowers up by the roots to help them grow [View All]

[vixengrl]

and by the same token, encouraging change in a certain direction doesn't mean one will get what one is hoping for. This may especially be true if the nature of the changes is misunderstood. It seems, since the U.S. interest in a ceasefire and strong diplomatic intervention appears half-hearted, that there's some belief that they sides will "fight it out" and well, of course Israel will come out on top.

"The problem is that Syria doesn’t act when people talk to them." Telling. Because examining what Syria has to say--that is, listening instead of dictating, might be helpful here. This does not mean being dictated to, just trying to get a real picture of what is going on, to be prepared for the next move. And "nobody, nobody, nobody" benefiting from a civil war? Um, I think I recall as little as like, a year ago (okay, call it a year and a half) there were Syrian troops in Lebanon. Hmm.

Jus what about Syria and Iran? I don't think the hopes for a "new Middle East" have yet to show that practical response towards Syria--I think the US diplomacy strategy goes something like this: We don't take violence off the table. So where does that leave it--worst case scenario? The routes from Lebanon to Syria have been targeted, if Syria itself has not. Rice has made comments regarding the desire for Syria to stay out of it (all the while with the Arab street being aware that we back Israel). If Syria finds its way into this mess--is Iran, who is currently busying itself asserting a disregard for UN resolutions regarding a nuke program, far behind? We have what, now? 130,000 or so of our own troops in Iraq? Geographically, Iran's involvement would have them proceeding, where?

I think through Iraq, and when it happens, we are geographically too far away to have rapid response.

This is not necessarily a formula for positive change.

Just saying.