Kofi-Annan quits, so what now?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailymail....iator-role-Syria.html

Should we take a leaf out of the Russians and Chinese book and keep out of this conflict?

It was interesting to see on the TV news, young Syrian males on the streets of England demonstrating for action.

I wonder why these are not leaving our shores to fight the 'good fight' alongside their compatriots?

Or do they want us to send our troops out there, if so I wonder if they would then volunteer to leave the safety of England, join up in the British forces and go out there?

I very much doubt it.

[pdq1]

We can't decide what side we are on. In Iraq we sided with the Shias to get rid of Saddam and ever since the Sunnis have been letting of bombs and killing people by the hundreds.

With Syria we want to get rid of the present government but this time support the Sunnis and dishing them aid to do it.

The Middle East has turned out a hotch potch of conflicts so we should butt out before we make it any worse.

[youngmafbog]

Looks like TH thinks your an Afghanistani. Are you AOG?

WRT Kofi Annan, it is a pretty pointless jesture. Syria is a totally different kettle of fish to the other conflicts, for a start there is no real organized oppostion to deal with, secondly what oppostion there is seems hellbent on clobbering the Christian minority which have been protected by the current regime. It is totally pointles toppling one despot to only put another one in.

[Gromit]

Even by your standards, that is idiotic rambling.

Syria has nothing we want and they have the protection of China and Russia. Russia are not staying out of it, they are arming Assad's regime. Russia have a naval base in Syria and do not want it run by the west or Islamic fanatics such as Iran.

One bit of optimism for the Syrian rebels is that they are being financed by Saudi Arabia and Qatar both great pillars of freedom and democracy. With that money they are all to buy arms, mostly French and US but probably some British as well, on the international market. Those are delivered via the US airbase in eastern Turkey.

That is about the best we can hope for unless the Russians get assurances about their naval base and stop supporting the status quo.

[Gromit]

I seem to remember a lot of englishmen were very angry (and still are) when the US stayed neutral during the Falklands Conflict. Fortunately they gave us covert support which is probably what they are doing for the Syria rebels.

Nice twist to see AOG supporting the side backed by the Islamic nutters in Saudi.

[anotheoldgit]

youngmafbog

/// Looks like TH thinks your an Afghanistani. Are you AOG? ///

Of course not, but who can fathom out what goes off in the mind of our fellow ABer, triggerhippy?

[anotheoldgit]

Gromit

/// Nice twist to see AOG supporting the side backed by the Islamic nutters in Saudi.///

Before you accuse others of idiotic ramblings, perhaps you should first look closer to home.

Where have I said that I am supporting 'any side', especially any 'Islamic nutters' (your words not mine)?

[Gromit]

Your rescent post when you wrote

// [what sort of message dos it send to all the other nasty violent dictators?]

Yes they say that revenge is sweet, but it is all dependant on how far you wish to go.

Capture him [Assad] and haul him through the streets to the gallows????

That far, would you say? //

Sounds like you have taken sides there.

[ichkeria]

As Gromit says, Russia is actually far more heavily involved than the west, as from day one they have been aiding and abetting Assad's war machine. Without this it's just possible Assad would have gone by now. As it is the situation is now so far gone that to be honest it no longer makes any sense even to call for Assad to go as he is plainly going to fight on - and lose - at terrible cost to Syria and possibly the surrounding region. Kofi Anban's efforts were well meaning but never stood a hope in hell of succeeding. And actually unintentionally made things worse as it allowed Assad and Putin to stall as the Wesr could hardly be seen to be defying a respected ex-UN leader

[anotheoldgit]

Gromit

When you go off on one of your history searches please make sure you are not taking your findings out of context.

The following post was my answer to one of jake-the-peg's posts, copied out below for your reference.

/// On the other what sort of message dos it send to all the other nasty violent dictators? "Do what you want and if it all goes badly you can bargain with the lives of the people" ///

Yes they say that revenge is sweet, but it is all dependant on how far you wish to go.

Capture him and haul him through the streets to the gallows????

That far, would you say?

Once again it still doesn't sound like I have taken sides.