Houla massacre: Lessons from Iran

Coach is Right ^ | June 2nd, 2012 | Jim Emerson

[darkwing104]

This week the world learned of a massacre in the township of Houla Syria. According to witnesses over 100 people have been slaughtered by Syrian militias intent upon killing opponents of the Syrian regime and their families. Because Houla, located in Western Syria, is a strong hold of the Free Syria Army rebel forces and is the home of many military defectors and their families it’s a prime target for Syrian forces.

State Department Spokeswoman Victoria Nuland stated that, “Iran’s hand is clearly visible in the killing of more than 100 people, including scores of young children”. The group commonly believed to have carried out the slaughter is a pro Assad militia known as the Shabiha. The Shabiha is a well-armed organized street gang modeled after a similar gang operating in Iran, The Basij. The gangs are used by the government to terrorize the civilian population into compliance without actually using government assets in the process. When someone else is doing the dirty work the Syrian leadership can plead ignorance of the event, gaining plausible deniability. The Syrian government denied it had anything to do with the murders but blamed the rebels. Assad’s government claims to be investigating and promises to prosecute the people behind the killings – wink wink.

Iranian connection

[darkwing104]

[nuconvert]

The UN has announced that it will be sending a letter of condemnation, so that will take care of everything.

[Logical me]

It is way past time. Taking Iran out will stop things like the Houla massacre in Syria. I will always believe that taking Iran out will reduce Pakistan to bubbling idiots.

[ClearCase_guy]

Iran is a huge country with many people and many resources. Iran would be the toughest opponent the country has faced since WWII -- just in terms of the nation itself. Plus they have quite a few weapons.

Conquering Iran and attempting to build a better nation at that location would be a foolish effort indeed.

I oppose nation building. I oppose boots on the ground. However, I do recommend nuking them from orbit; it's the only way to be sure. (And yes: I'm serious.)

[Gabrial]

Putin is quoted in the WSJ today as saying none of the arms provided to the Assad regime by Russia have been used to kill civilians.

And yet Obama wants to provide even more flexibility to Putin.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks darkwing104.

According to witnesses over 100 people have been slaughtered by Syrian militias intent upon killing opponents of the Syrian regime and their families. Because Houla, located in Western Syria, is a strong hold of the Free Syria Army rebel forces and is the home of many military defectors and their families it's a prime target for Syrian forces.