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.

Russia is on Assad's side , you would expect them to shoot down missiles aimed at his troops wouldn't you ? I believe they have the capability to do it , given where they are positioned , so not an empty threat.
Does the US , the UK or France have the capability to get past the Russians defences ? Personally I am not sure, from a strategic point of view, the Russians seem to have the upper hand even though there is plenty of firepower positioned elsewhere in the area.
My concern is for the poor innocent people in Syria who may become collateral damage or be used as human shields

Why is it for US and EU to talk?

Syria isn't an EU issue, you saying that Russia would "probably not" veto any kind of UN intervention hasn't really got a grasp of what is going on there and the factions involved, sorry.

I'm also in the 'what will be will be' camp.

It isn't that I don't care, I just recognise that for all my hand wringing, and sleepness nights and sick in the pit of my stomach worrying, it doesn't make an ha'peth of difference either way.

Really, the most that the electorate can do is to keep going and casting as well informed a vote as we can, when asked to, and hope for the best.

Has anyone mentioned Yemen yet ?

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
^^^^
Lurker. You think in a proxy war the dropping of bombs by one interested party would help? Russia has already said it would respond. A possible answer to protect the people of Syria is a peacekeeping force composed of all these different factions ( and yes we have to talk to fundamentalists too because eventually we always do, even secretly). This is why I mention boots on the ground but admittedly a lot more talk before we get there.

Does the US , the UK or France have the capability to get past the Russians defences ? Personally I am not sure, from a strategic point of view, the Russians seem to have the upper hand even though there is plenty of firepower positioned elsewhere in the area.

In military terms the US/UK/France could take out Russia's tech yes, its not going to be a walkover by no means, but military the collective we are more advanced.

The problem is if Russia does intervene in us striking Assad, the probable scenario is that russia will sit back and let the strikes happen and keep the proxy war for Assad by the back door.

Therefore the a signal has been sent out as to the contravention of international law re CW and we step back and let the shit show continue (which is what those who want no intervention are doing).

There’s a Conference on Syria’s future in Brussels in a couple of weeks. It has asked the Assad Gov to stand down and supports the Syrian National Council. The EU has influence with Turkey and Iran and has a massive stake in calming this unsettled situation in the Eastern Med.
I think it’s You hasn’t got a grasp of all the issues Lurker. Your solution seems to be “ drop a bomb”

I ask again Lurker. What does the bombing achieve. Syria has been bombed for years by various parties. Do you really think this latest will change anything.
And, as I said, what do we do if Assad uses them again? It’s not the first time is it?

Has anyone mentioned Yemen yet ?

You can if you wish, but Yemen is not the same situation.

If people were concerned about Assad (including yourself) we would have intervened long ago, if there was we would have intervened over the last five years when he was doing it at the rate of a hundred thousand a year with cluster munitions and double taps.

The only interest here is in making sure Assad kills his people using conventional weapons and does not feel tempted to start using chemical weapons near to neighbouring states or areas that might have US troops in, this applies to all those saying we should keep out as well.

As for Israel, it is pretty much looking after itself. I cannot imagine they are pleased about the chemicals but they've been hitting a lot of facilities and convoys to make sure that Hezbollah dont get their hands on the stuff.

Do you have anything to add?

Is the last comment for me or frumpety

Lurker taking out their tech would mean a direct strike on Russian positions/airbases ? complete luddite so not sure of the options when it comes to disabling the Russians defences in the region.

I feel like another person who's old enough to have seen it all before.

I have heard it said that it is almost insulting for us in the 'safe West' to worry. We really don't, compared to many in the world, have a great deal to worry about. I haven't RTWT so apologies if this has been said already up thread.

I mention Yemen Lurker because it is another ongoing humanitarian crisis in the region. One that largely seems to get very little media coverage , the cynic in me does wonder why that would be ?

There’s a Conference on Syria’s future in Brussels in a couple of weeks. It has asked the Assad Gov to stand down and supports the Syrian National Council. The EU has influence with Turkey and Iran and has a massive stake in calming this unsettled situation in the Eastern Med.
I think it’s You hasn’t got a grasp of all the issues Lurker. Your solution seems to be “ drop a bomb”

Oh, is this the first conference on asking the Assad government to step down? (hint no), you apparently understand that its a shit show proxy war (and yet think that Russia will not veto any UN interaction).

I do think its you who hasn't got the handle on the shit show when you suggest sending in boots on the ground without any kind of irony.

The US by the way has actively involved itself in Syria from way back. It has armed and supported the old Al Nusra front. It has also struck at various military targets - achieved nothing!

I didn't mention Israel Lurker ?

I profoundly disagree with your approach Lurker. We have a totally different take on this so let’s just leave it there and see how it plays out eh?

I mention Yemen Lurker because it is another ongoing humanitarian crisis in the region. One that largely seems to get very little media coverage , the cynic in me does wonder why that would be ?

Because the UK's making a tidy profit selling weapons to the Saudis, who in turn are using them to carpet-bomb Yemen?

What does the bombing achieve. Syria has been bombed for years by various parties. Do you really think this latest will change anything.

I think you need to see where you are coming from, you are saying let the EU talk to Assad and ask him to step down, and whilst Russia are backing him (for some legitimate reasons, which is why the was has stood back) and think they will not veto it.

You are ignoring that this potential strike is because of the use of chemical weapons and the slippery slope involved.

I feel sick every time a news alert comes on my phone. However my dad was around in the war and has said he's not worried.

Part of me thinks there's nothing I can do whatever happens will happen. It has made me appreciate life abit more and make the most of days, I should have been doing this before considering how precious life is and how fortunate our current situation is.

I agree with you Lurker in so far as the slippery slope argument, the world cannot be seen to be allowing the use of chemical weapons. Spot on wrt Yemen.

Because the UK's making a tidy profit selling weapons to the Saudis, who in turn are using them to carpet-bomb Yemen?

Well Sweden and other countries are too, but you could look a bit deeper into the situation other than regurgitating memes but you might not be able to virtue signal so much if you did really care.

Someone asked "why do we not hear about Yemen in our media?"

Well, that's why. Because if people saw pictures then realised we were enabling it, they'd be outraged (rightly)!

I profoundly disagree with your approach Lurker. We have a totally different take on this so let’s just leave it there and see how it plays out eh?

I agree, but if you are hoping on a UN backed mission you are going to be very disappointed was my initial starting point.

Hoping that Russia might not veto does show some lack of knowledge of the situation at hand at the minute.

I'm not being personally against you etc, lets agree to disagree

Lurker. You seriously misrepresented what I said. “ all interested parties”. You shot back that they were not involved, as well as mixing up mine and Frumpetys posts. Read more carefully.