To be seriously scared

[biscuitraider]

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.

MessyMcDoogal Trump is not in the White House because Russia put him there. He is the president because people such as myself put him there. We did not want Hillary who is anti-American with her dreams of no borders. I was a former Democrat who voted for Trump.

We elected a billionaire who loves America. We did not want another slick talking polished money grabbing politician. Sex scandals! I don’t give a shit and I didn’t either when President Bill Clinton was getting blow-jobs from interns - remember how Hillary attacked the women?

You are not "super duper informed” as you think you are because you are obliviously only getting your information from anti -Trump sources and your calling the President of the United States a “poison Orange Goblin” speaks volumes.

For the record she doesn't speak for the majority of Americans^ but I'd say her lack of understanding of how her president got there is pretty telling of the general Trump voter.

Just so you know nearly 3 million more voters voted for the anti american Clinton over Trump. Trump won because of an outdated voting system. He did as well as he did there because FOX news needed an idiot in the Whitehouse. And yes, we all know that Russia was involved too but mostly it comes down to stupid people who wanted a TV star "billionaire" in office. The billionaire who still won't show anyone his tax papers and has gone bankrupt several times.

As for Trump's access to the big red button. I'm not keen on the republican party and have never suported them but the people around the president are mostly intelligent reasonable people money grubbing bastards who hate the poor and free healthcare but still reasonable people who don't want nuclear war.

edition.cnn.com/2017/11/18/politics/air-force-general-john-hyten-nuclear-strike-donald-trump/index.html

PeanutbutterBuns

I voted Johnson, Trump was my second choice. Anything was better than Clinton.

Would Trump risk America? Yes, because I'm not sure he understands that he would be. However, on this one, he has a point. If chemical weapons have been used against a civilian population then that's an unacceptable line crossed and it's shameful that no real response has been made.

This is a real worry for me too, but hopefully just because I am ill informed and don't know enough about international relations. How do we reconcile heinous acts like chemical attacks if there is a constant threat of war inducing retaliation? Surely we can't stand by while innocent people are enduring this, but what happens when we genuinely take action? Are there non military options are are these just trivial in reality? Does retaliation absolutely mean war or are we jumping the gun in thinking that?

I wish I knew enough to make better sense of this, but I honestly can't find the time to sit down and figure it all out.

I've lived long enough to take this in my stride.

All huff and puff. If it isn't, there's bugger all we can do about it so no point in worrying. Total waste of energy.

@user1492877024 - I was in Cyprus a few years ago when it all kicked off in Syria. A few jet fighters flying about but probably safer than Turkey.

This was discussed on loose women, itv lunchtime, today if you want news lite. Janet street porter seemed quite sensible
Watch rt news for the other propaganda, write to your mp?

I've been around for a while, and when in my teens, I was terrified about the possibility of war. 30+ years down the line I have lived through many such scares. We're still here. I avoid the news, it focuses on creating fear (often, I think, as a way of distracting us from other more relevant stuff like sliding through NHS privatisation...). If anything really important happens, friends soon let me know. I do also think in these days of global economy, all but the total fanatics recognise their is too much to be lost by large scale war.

I also found, in a rather shallow way, that losing myself in book box set or good book helped if I got really anxious :)

I'm worrying more about Brexit than this. I have a sneaky suspicion the two are linked. Can't fix the Brexit problem?? - let's create a war with Russia so we can blame our country hitting the shit fan on someone else. A war is a bit too convenient right now. And it seems to be TM doing all the prodding with the shitty stick.

Mr Tangerine Man has back pedalled today according to the news.
'I never said when an attack would take place. Could be very soon or not so soon at all!'
Oh, what a tease 🙄

Trump is all big mouth and no substance. Remember what happened with North Korea - everyone was terrified about the diplomatic and military disaster that could entail, etc etc. What happened? Backpedalling like crazy.

All Trump cares about is looking good. As soon as things get complicated and messy (as they always do), he withdraws and pretends it didn't happen. I wouldn't worry about it.

I’m not scared but I am concerned.
Those poor people who have been attacked with this gas. Now, to “ help” them we are going to drop a few more bombs?

It doesn’t make sense to me. More talk between all parties involved is my solution.
Assad is a nightmare for his people but in despair they will turn to the religious nutters if we are not careful.

Try not to worry, OP.

This current spat is nowhere near as bad as the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis.

That really was a scary moment in history.

The uk sold the chemicals to Syria in 2013. Never believe for a minute that the people in charge care a bit about the average person. They aren’t starting this war because they care about the victims, they are doing it because it makes money for the elite

Remember what happened with North Korea - everyone was terrified about the diplomatic and military disaster that could entail, etc etc. What happened? Backpedalling like crazy.

Was there any back peddling?

I thought it was just the usual annual bluster from North Korea and it has ended with quite a significant meeting between the two some time in the future.

I mean, I hate trump as much as anyone but this is just heart on the sleeve signalling that lacks the history of geopolitics of North Korea

Just like last year when America launched 59 cruise missiles at the airfield, the yanks pre Warned the Russians that they will hit it!

I have no doubt that the yanks will fire more cruise missiles again this time, with the same warning to the Russians

And fyi the Russians don't have anything that can shoot down a cruise missiles

Those poor people who have been attacked with this gas. Now, to “ help” them we are going to drop a few more bombs?

It's not as though anyone is suggesting carpet bombing Syria in response, it will be a targeted response.

It doesn’t make sense to me. More talk between all parties involved is my solution.
We have been talking and trying to let it play out for 7 years, this is about stopping the creep of accepting chemical weapons as just a byproduct of war.

We have been talking and trying to let it play out for 7 years, this is about stopping the creep of accepting chemical weapons as just a byproduct of war

Lurker. I agree it can’t be tolerated but even targeted bombing is going to involve flesh and blood people. Then there will be the collateral damage. Remember the hospital in Libya?
Saddam Hussein used gas. Our intervention there made things worse not better.
It’s serious. The response needs to be through the UN. jaw jaw, not war war.

Additionally. Lurker. Explain. How will bombing stop the creep of chemical weapons? Only boots on the ground will help

@nursy1

We both agree its a clusterfuck and has been for years, but you do understand that we are potentially going to strike because of a contravention of international law concerning the use of chemical weapons?

You do realise that any UN directive can just be vetoed by Russia?

When people talk about collateral damage ect they seem to ignore the 100,000 or so that has been killed so far and seem to just want it to continue, Syria is a signatory of the Chemical Weapons Convention and is alleged to have flagrantly violated it multiple times. If there are no costs associated with use of such weapons, it will likely become more commonplace, ergo international powers have an incentive to strongly respond, and impose some.

going to strike because of a contravention of international law concerning the use of chemical weapons?

Yes of course but bombing? it’s not a long term solution is it? If Assad uses them again what’s the next step? Nuke ‘em?

Boots on the ground, establishment of a safe area. I might be able to support that but I’d rather this galvanised the world into doing something and not just ignoring this. I don’t believe the US EU have seriously talked as you seem to suggest. It seems to be felt that it’s just too difficult.
I realise as a permanent member Russia may veto but perhaps not. Do they support Assad because the threat of spread of Isil is worse? Serious talk has not been exhausted.

My concern is about the UK becoming involved. Given our track record of not achieving anything when we have "invaded" a country eg Iraq, Afghanistan, really feel Syria would be the same. Trump and Putin, well enough said, I do think it is a bit of chest beating on boths' part. Apparently the hot line between Russian and American armed forces has been in use since the threats to try and ensure if there is a missile launched on Syria the Russian forces already there will be avoided.

Only boots on the ground will help

How so?

This now essentially being a proxy war, sticking boots on the ground is Iraq 2.0 but with far more invested parties involved, Turkey, Iran, Russia and that's before we even get onto the Islamic fundamentalist groups.

Well seems from the lastest news from the states its a bit on the back burner now and Ms May and co seem to be debating the issue still so one only can hope it will blow over and not up.

What does concern me is that this can esclate into a much bigger conflict maybe not an all out Nuclear exchange as even if both sides do have some anti misslie missile systems like THHAD some will get through and the world will be back for the greater part to a pre medevial age trhen there the nucleear winter effect that will drag on for some years crops failinmg and all what we used to know gone.

And this is the real worry and accidential conflict the was a Russion radar officer died last year IIRC he saw what looked like a large incoming fleet of missles on his screen he was unsure as to alert those higher up the chain who would have in all certianty launched a counter strike. His nerve held and there was no nuke attack on Russia what had caused it was that the radar system interprted the sun reflecting on an odd cloud type looked exaclty like incoming missiles!

But what could have been if Putin and Trump got their heads together and banged several other warring factions heads together in Syria and made then see sense a political solution is needed to fix that there not more bombs chemicals missiles and death;(