Justifying the Use of Force against Syria. Will rational thought prevail?

Allies Attack Assad but the Message wont sink in because his regime is Irrational and controlled by other powers.

Click on the link and read the article below.
Totten presents an interesting perspective. If in fact true, human kind is progressing away from violence. But while talking about warfare and weapons of mass destruction. He fails to mention that mankind continues to develop these weapons that are more destructive and more of a threat to our very existence.  So the point really is ... as conflict winds down and the United Nations becomes the United Federation of Planets, any one conflict has much more potential for ending the human race today than in the past.

Michael Totten's point that rightfully justifies is the use of force for  "The objective is (or at least should be) making the use of a weapon of mass destruction more costly than not using it, to demonstrate not just to Assad but also to every other would-be war criminal that the norm established in 1993 on behalf of every human being will not go down without a fight. "

This is in part a cold war premise and presumes that you're dealing with a rational opponent that would view the devastation or destruction of his or her nation as counterproductive. The problem is that with the new Rogue regimes and Apocalyptic driven Islam, the concept of a deterrent based on MAD is no longer valid. Violence isn't a means to an end, it is the end in itself !!!  North Korea and Iran's leaders are more than willing to send millions of their own people to the hereafter journey.

https://www.meforum.org/articles/2018/the-case-for-bombing-assad

Great Article About Syria and Assads Continued Rule- No its not a good Thing Duh

Syria's civil war is a disaster and humanitarian disaster for the country and region. Iran and Russia involvement only make this cauldron of Evil more of a hell on earth every day. As long as these powers are involved there will be no end to the suffering or progress made towards stability in the Middle East.  Until this and the ISIS crisis is resolved, intellectually speaking the region will remain violent and lawless with daily atrocities galore!!

Read what the academics at the ME forum say here:

Assad is Bad News

Jay

Russia Involvement in Syria: Putin is not doing the US a Favor!!!

http://theweek.com/articles/580677/putin-isnt-humiliating-obama-syria-hes-doing-favor

Damon Linker makes a valid point in his article. Training proxy armies never works and creating viable alternatives to replace "undesireable" governments usually fails or brings to power an even worse option. 

The present dynamic in the Middle East Fertile Crescent arena has moved way past the post 911 and the deviated Bush Doctrines failed policies. 

Russia's presence in Syria is extremely worrisome. 

First: The Middle East was one of the main cold war arenas, where Russian military equipment and advisers were pitted against the American military's in the Israeli Arab wars. A lot of
Russia's bolstering and support led Nasser and Syria to feel confident to challenge
Israel in 67 and again in 73 where the Arab armies maid gains and actually
fought quite well. So the Russian's presence in Syria has extremely negative
ramifications.
Secondly: Chaos and conflict are the Arab Spring!!!
Isis was created in the US holding camps in Iraq and is not a creation of the Syrian
Rebellion as the author infers. The US withdrawal in Iraq, and Assad's decline
lead to a power vacuum that Isis leaders using the disposed troops of Saddam's
army and its former military commanders were in a prime position to exploit and
advance practically unchallenged.
Third: Two wrongs don't make a right and if Russia is successful in sustaining Assad's rule this will not fair well for the region. Russia is also aligned with Iran which is aligned with Hizbollah. As the Arms flows the powder keg grows.
Lastly: The author is correct that we shouldn't waste millions on State creation and foreign military forces. But we do have an obligation not to turn a blind eye, or worse live in a state of
denial about the threat that militant extremist Islam poses. That is both the
Sunni Isis version and the Shiite apocalyptic Iranian version. The two are
locked in a battle for control of the Islamic world. Still, both ideologies remain dedicated to the killing and murder of the infidels whenever they can. 
This approach, like Hitler׳s,  an approach that focuses enormous amount of resources to
fanaticism and death still alludes the western world's comprehension levels.
No Russia is not doing Obama a Favor!!!
The chance of conflagration due to a miscalculation by the Russians, Americans, Syrians, Hizbollah, or the Israelis is a real concern.


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Are we all racists now?

I like Ben Afflek he is handsome, intelligent and a good Actor. His recent defense and points made on Islam are common views. Still we should have a right to look at this religion and even criticize some of its teaching and values without being called racist. For example, I think some of the tradition and practices of Hassidic Jews are quite bizarre! Does that make me an antisemite and racist? Obviously to some it might and the Hassidic leaders might claim that I'm not a real Jew but they're unlikely to issue a ruling (Fatwa) calling for my death because I've criticized their religious practices. One of the main differences among the faiths unfortunately is the justification for the use of violence. This is wrong and if these Religions of "Peace" resort to violence as and end to justify their means, we should have the right to condemn and speak out against it without being called racists.

Here is an article with a more detailed explanation.

Portrait of Islam - Is Ben Afflek right in using the racist card?

Two Evils Don't make a Right!!!

Today, ISIS and the new fledgling US led coalition to stop these Islamic marauders have stolen the news. But there are other dangers brewing in the Middle East that are equally as threatening and will possibly have far more reaching consequences in the Middle East and the world. I'm talking about Iran and its continued march towards nuclearization. Iran is one of the biggest state supporters of terrorism in the world. The Islamic Republic's support of Bashar Assad and the failure of the west to help moderate rebels or the devastated populations in these areas has largely led to the current power vacuum and anarchy that is sweeping through the area. Isis now has control of large parts of Iraq, Syria and is now at Lebanon's footstep as well.

Isis has a brutal -maniacal ideology and they should be stopped. But as this coalition is built the West needs to be careful who it courts. The enemy of my enemy isn't necessarily my friend. Once united the world shouldn't have too much difficulty stopping ISIS in its tracks. But if the US coalition sacrifices principles by aligning with Iran and the Assad regime, then the region will continue down the path of darkness and conflict. Remember that hundreds and thousands have been killed and displaced way before ISIS came on the scene.

For a more precise look at what is taking place read the article below.

14 Million Refugees Make the Levant Unmanageable

This is an excellent article that seems to support what I said in my last post about the Kurds . The kurds need to be support as they can play a pivotal role in stopping ISIS and the Islamic madness that is sweeping through the fertile crescent.

An-ominous-silence-armies-at-a-stalemate-as-isis-battles-toward-a-kurdish-capital-swollen-with-refugees/

Isis and Israel

Now about ISIS, they are swallowing everything in their path but haven't really encountered a real opponent except for the Kurds. This was probably a matter of the Kurds lacking arms than being able to fight ISIS. The Kurds are fierce and if we want to hurt ISIS we need to arm the Kurds better(Not Assad) or the Lebanese Army. 

Also ISIS affiliated rebels have established a presence on the Israel border on the Golan Heights. Have you noticed any cross border attacks on Israel except for a random shell here or there. Hamas has being doing it but they have tunnels to hide in from Israel's counter attacks. ISIS hasnt had time to dig in so their vulnerable. Now its time to hit them. Israel wont do it because thery're not messing with us yet. They will try sometime soon and I'm willing to bet that they will be on the losing side of any encounter with the IDF. They might suprise us but that will only arise us!!!

The Silent Jihad

Why the world attention is focused on multiple crisis, Europe continues to fall deeper and deeper into the abyss of Islamization.

The Silent Take Over -ISIS, Islam and Europe

A friend of mine recently asked me what can be done that hasn't already been done to achieve Middle East Peace.  My answer was this - If you really want Peace then it's really simple- change the meaning of the word!!!  

Read On!!

No News Twenty Years after the Oslo Agreement

by Daniel Pipes
September 13, 2013
Cross-posted from National Review Online, The Corner

http://www.danielpipes.org/blog/2013/09/no-news-twenty-years-after-the-oslo-agreement

Strangely, twenty years on, I find nothing new to say about the Oslo accords signed on Sep. 13, 1993.

I reread what I wrote on the 10^th anniversary and realize that no major changes have occurred. The players remain in their customary positions, with the one exception that Israelis have wised up to Palestinian intentions, making them less inclined to make painful but fruitless concessions. Decadal stasis points to the sterility of the Arab-Israeli diplomatic process, a creation of the "peace processors'" dreams rather than a reflection of reality.

Especially at a time like this, when an American attack on Syria looms and Egypt is convulsed over the dispatch of the Morsi government, when the Iranian nuclear centrifuges are spinning and Erdoğan is daily turning into more of a dictator, when Libya and Tunisia are falling apart, it's a perfect opportunity to ignore this dismal topic, which I plan to do from this second on. (September 13, 2013)

Turmoil in the Middle East Likely to Continue

Things continue to deteriorate in the area with increased instability in Egypt as both sides, the Military and Moslem Brotherhood, dig in for an extended struggle. The Military's attempt to break up the protest has left many civilians dead and the US administration very displeased. US military and Foreign aid to Egypt a constant for the last 30 years are no longer guaranteed if you listen to the Rhetoric coming out of Washington.

The Sunni -Shiite conflict continues to flare up in Lebanon with the bombing of a Hezbollah string hold in Beirut.

In Syria there has been no significant developments except that these other events have taken some of the focus away from them. The Civil War marches on with no end in site.

So the only stable thing we can count on in this region for the foreseeable future is the instability.

Want to read more?  

Obama not happy with Egypt civilian loss-  http://www.haaretz.com/news/world/1.541781


Blast in Beirut - http://www.haaretz.com/news/middle-east/1.541796

Military Coup in Egypt not necessarily a bad thing!

The US disapproval of the military coup in Egypt once again seems to be based on misguided presumptions. Morsi's almost democratically elected government headed by the Moslem Brotherhood was intent in establishing an Islamic theocracy based on the Sunni model in Egypt. How this would have been good for the US interests or the Egyptian people sure beats me.

If you want to read more about the US support of ill fated coups in Egypt click here

http://www.israpundit.com/archives/56806

An Angry Afternoon

I'm back and getting ready for the start of School. Today I'm watching my 2 kids and spending time reading the news. The news about the Middle East and the Arab Winter which has totally been misnamed the Arab Spring. Well it's hot here this summer in the big ME and the fauna isn't quite flowering yet. Then again either is democracy!!! But that's not the topic today. Today I want to try again to bring to your attention the terrible plight of the Christians here in the Holy Lands. Quite frankly they are being butchered. As the leaders of the western world continue to back the Moslem Brotherhoos in Egypt , the Al Queda factions fighting Assad in Syria, they've turned their backs on their own. Religious persecution and racism is the status quo in this part of the world. Pretty soon their wont be any Christians to protect. At least the State of Israel is here to stand up and protect the Jews and give religious freedom to the Arab and Christians here. Israel does have to work for creating more of an atmosphere of equality but still these people are free to live and move about as they wish here. Christians and no not even Palestinians are being gunned down, raped and slaughtered in Israel. If you believe otherwise, don't read my blog and ARGO F Yourself!!!

Want to read more.....  http://www.meforum.org/3571/muslim-persecution-of-christians-may-2013

I've been watching the news summaries here in Israel and the government's decision to stop is largely unpopular. It's true that from a foreign policy point of view, Israel was seen as  a rational player with a justified reason. But here 1 million citizens have been under sporadic rocket attack for the last 12 years. Now with the more advanced Fajr 5 in Hamas Possession 3.5 million Israelis are within range plus a majority of the country's economy is driven from jobs within this area. 

Israelis want to see this threat eliminated and they don't care what the world thinks. A whole generation of children in the south is growing up with Post Tramatic Stress Disorder.

But that's not even the main point. The main point is that while 30 to 40 thousand troops were massed on the border. Over a million citizens were forced to remain for extended period of time in bomb shelters. So in fact in order to prevent the loss of life of Soldiers or a mishap on the battle field that would have unfortunately killed Palestinian civilians, Israel was willing to risk the lives of over a  millions of its citizens with the hope that they were adequately protected and direct hits would be limited. The citizens in fact were put in the front line and asked to face fire so the soldiers wouldn't have to. This is against all military doctrine and many Israelis feel a rather absurd policy. 

I've got to post another article that points out the misconception that the so caled Arab Spring and overthrow of dictatorships in the Middle East is a sure sign of better things to come. While the deposed, hanged and murdered tryants that have left the scene deserve no tears, it's too soon to rejoice and conclude that the region is emerging into a new enlightened era. Does the "Arab Spring" really mean that democracy is finally taking root here in the Middle East? I think it's way too soon to tell but the warning sign are all over. As in the case of many past revolutions some People might just turn out to be more equal than others.

Gaddafi dead - So What?

http://www.meforum.org/3065/egypt-destroying-churches

http://www.meforum.org/3065/egypt-destroying-churches

Dead Sea Scrolls go live

I'd like to start my postings with the article marking that the Dead Sea Scrolls will now be available for viewing online. There are many people in this region (The Middle East) that deny that the Jewish people or the state of Israel have any historical or biblical connection to the land. I think that making historically significant artifacts and writings available provides a great service. Slowly and surely the naysayers and haters of the people of the book will have their voices removed as people become more and more enlightened by the spread of ideas and good will through the global network access.