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AIBU?

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Original poster

To be seriously scared

237 replies

biscuitraider · 11/04/2018 13:57

About the situation with Russia and the US. Putin said he'll shoot down any US missiles fired at Assad forces. Are we on the verge of all out war? Please calm me down.

OP posts:
WrongOnTheInternet · 11/04/2018 15:41

SiverDoe It's weird isn't it. My understanding, only from watching the news and stuff, is that the Syrian civil war was pretty much, apart from a few pockets, over.

The ambassador claims it could be islamist jihadists trying to stir things up. At least, if Russia is inviting observers in, let's take them up on the offer.

There was some suggestion of fiddling in the Skripal affair too, although that seems less likely.

RockyBayEve · 11/04/2018 15:43

YetAnotherSpartacus, I agree.

I lived through the Cold War too and I agree this is the most worrying development I have ever come across.

To me it seems on par with the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962 which was before I was born and must have been terrifying to live through.

Sty90 · 11/04/2018 15:45

Neither Trump or Putin are thick, you don’t get to that position without a certain degree of intelligence.

Putin is a former KGB intelligence officer so clearly has military experience.

On the other hand Trump has been calling people’s bluff (NK) which is a tactic that apparently works.

Any battle will be conventional and local to the Middle East so you don’t need to worry about bombs landing at home. Worst case it will be “Desert storm 3”

FranticallyPeaceful · 11/04/2018 15:45

It’s all a show. Don’t worry. They might fire some stuff for show but it’s just pantomime - you’re safe

Sty90 · 11/04/2018 15:47

My understanding, only from watching the news and stuff, is that the Syrian civil war was pretty much, apart from a few pockets, over.

It was, it’s evol into a Proxy war. It’s to dangerous and destabilizing for USA and Russia to fight head to head. But using a proxy country to test out new weapons and tactics as a experiment Is ok

YetAnotherSpartacus · 11/04/2018 15:47

To me it seems on par with the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962 which was before I was born and must have been terrifying to live through

Before I was born too - but I do recall teachers telling me of the terror. I guess in the safety of retrospect I still see that a sabre rattling whereas now it is the complete unpredictability and 'wackiness' of the leaders that terrifies me. Trump is a loose cannon, Putin too and Jong Un is worse. In the 70s and 80s party discipline ruled. It is less so now and I find that worrying.

user1474652148 · 11/04/2018 15:48

My grandmother said to me before she died that the greatest gift we all have is to live in peace, and that no one must ever feel it is a forgone conclusion. Complacency is perhaps the biggest danger of all, especially by those whom have never lived through a war.

milliegeobotandyou · 11/04/2018 15:49

YANBU but there's no point in worrying because it's out of our hands. There was the same situation with Korea not long ago, but unlike that situation, Trump is playing with fire more when it comes to Russians.

There's a lot going on behind the scenes that we don't know about and let's just hope it blows over.

pigmcpigface · 11/04/2018 15:50

"I''m not even sure (obviously, as if I'd be privvy to such information) how exactly they have come to the conclusion that the attack happened, when Russia are so adamant it didn't. I think that's the danger."

The problem with these cases is that there is no way of 'knowing' because the area in question is closed off, and international observers can't get in very easily to get the samples that are needed for labs. All that can be said is that a lot of people were suffering symptoms that look very much like a chemical weapon was used. Of course the Syrian government is going to deny such a violation of international law - and its allies, which include Russia, will naturally back them. Russia is also blocking UN efforts to establish an investigative body who could establish whether a chemical weapon was used.

The thing people don't seem to understand about Syria is that, for a long time, the situation has not been a civil war. All kinds of other powers are already involved in a kind of shadow-conflict there. So Israel have been bombing Assad in a proxy war against Iran and Hezbollah; the US are ostensibly active to defeat ISIS but are also furthering their own geopolitical ambitions in maintaining a (confused) presence against Iran/Russia while supporting the Kurds; Turkey are anti-ISIS and hence might appear an ally of the US, but are actually also worried about Kurdish independence; Iran are supporting Assad with resources and troops; and a host of other nations are secretly involved in arming sides (e.g. the Saudis against Assad). There is already a multi-national conflict happening, and it's a tinderbox situation that could explode into direct war.

RingtheBells · 11/04/2018 15:58

I probably wouldn't use Facebook as your source of news, do people really use Facebook to get their news.

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Coyoacan · 11/04/2018 16:02

FFS,you really, really ABU if you use Facebook as your news source

What media do you recommend? Because I listen to the BBC every day and it just sounds like one great propaganda machine nowadays. It doesn't even have good arguments for the things it repeats unquestioningly.

Gottagetmoving · 11/04/2018 16:03

Neither Trump or Putin are thick, you don’t get to that position without a certain degree of intelligence

Psychopaths can be highly intelligent but create carnage!
It doesn't help that Trump posts threatening Tweets that look like they were written by a teen gang member.

Original poster
biscuitraider · 11/04/2018 16:05

Kennedy was in charge in the Cuban missile crisis, (massive difference) the stakes weren't as high from the Russian point of view. This seems far more complex and worrying.

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Cuisant · 11/04/2018 16:05

If you're Syrian or have relatives in Syria, you should be very worried because clearly no-one cares and no-one from the west is going to do anything meaningful (again).

What will happen is that Trump will make loud noises to impress his base, he'll probably blow up something unimportant like a bit of desert somewhere, so he can show he's a real alpha male and can be seen to have 'done something' (wherever Putin has told him he's allowed to blow up).

And then Assad will go on murdering his own people.

Gottagetmoving · 11/04/2018 16:06

To me it seems on par with the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962 which was before I was born and must have been terrifying to live through

I was a child during that time. I remember people being terrified of a nuclear war and although I didn't understand what it was all about, I was frightened.

SilverDoe · 11/04/2018 16:06

FFS,you really, really ABU if you use Facebook as your news source

What media do you recommend? Because I listen to the BBC every day and it just sounds like one great propaganda machine nowadays. It doesn't even have good arguments for the things it repeats unquestioningly.

Fucking, so much this ^

SuperSara · 11/04/2018 16:07

It’s all very convenient, isn’t it...

But a few months ago Putin and Trump were allegedly far too chummy, with Putin allegedly involved in getting a Trump elected and Trump’s aids having had secret meetings with Russian officials.

“Election rigging..? Noooo not us...”

“We’re the greatest of enemies! Look at us threatening to bomb each other..!”

SilverDoe · 11/04/2018 16:07

Sorry if it was clear but "FFS,you really, really ABU if you use Facebook as your news source" was quoted from a PP and not written by me.

Cuisant · 11/04/2018 16:07

And let's remember, if Trump actually wanted to meaningfully attack Russian forces, he wouldn't helpfully be giving them a handy warning on Twitter.

It's not customary in real warfare to tell your enemy exactly what you're going to do just before attacking them. Hmm Let's just say the element of surprise is missing.

AnitaLovesVictor · 11/04/2018 16:12

You really shouldn't use Facebook as a news source, you know.

youarenotkiddingme · 11/04/2018 16:13

Excellent point supersara.

I read somewhere Russia wanted access to the nerve agent victims as proof it happened and to check we (the UK) are treating them right.

Interesting to read that when the Ambassador above is saying exactly the same thing about the Syrian chemical attack.

Pimpernell182 · 11/04/2018 16:15

This thread is the first I've heard of it.

Seriously, what do you get out of exposure to the news? It's all misery and anxiety inducing and the stuff they're reporting on has / will happen whether you're tuning in to hear it or not. There is no moral or social obligation to be well informed on current events.

If you're not actively sitting down with newspapers / broadcasts then that is a start. Next step is unfollow any organisation or person on whatever social media channels you use who bangs on about things too much. If other things are popping up on your iPad, change the relevant settings so they no longer do so! It's your device! Be in control of it. Don't waste your one life reading the news!

PeanutbutterBuns · 11/04/2018 16:17

FFS,you really, really ABU if you use Facebook as your news source.

Do you even know how FB works? It links to posts by the BBC, CNN etc.

I think they're generally considered to not be fake news. Hmm

Tinkobell · 11/04/2018 16:19

TBH. Yes, it is fucking worrying! What solace can anyone really offer on this?

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