Posted on 08/28/2013 7:53:51 AM PDT by xzins
The Obama administration is right to be caution about US intervention in Syria. For the US to launch a military strike without UN Security Council sanction would constitute an illegal 'act of war' against a sovereign state. (The Kosovo precedent cannot make an illegal act legal).
Awkwardly, reality is rather different: There has been absolutely no evidence published to support the allegation that President Bashar al-Assads forces were responsible for this latest, or any other gas attack in Syria.
Unwelcome as it may be to certain European and regional governments, who have been cheerleading the case for American intervention, neither the Russians nor the Chinese, both of whom are well represented on the ground in Syria, have believed either the earlier US finding of the use of chemical weapons by Syrian security forces or indeed this latest allegation.
On the contrary, Russia previously has given evidence to the UN Security Council to show it has seen opposition forces that have used sarin gas against civilians (echoing the conclusion of Carla del Ponte, the former international prosecutor and current UN commissioner on Syria). And Russian officials state that the latest use of gas was delivered by a homemade missile, fired from a position known to be under opposition control.
Wars are always treacherous in their facts, and for the US to launch a military strike without Security Council sanction (which it will not get) would constitute an illegal act of war against a sovereign state and a crime. (The Kosovo precedent cannot change an illegal act into a legal one).
But more substantially, what might be the outcome of, let us say, a cruise missile fired at a military target in Syria: a rhetorical strike, as it were, rather than a major military intervention?
(Excerpt) Read more at csmonitor.com ...
That was what made Bosnia illegal, but didn't stop us there or in Iraq.
Well then. My mind’s made up. If this violates UN sanctions - THEN BOMBS AWAY!!!
Another point is this:
The US can’t claim to be shocked by the violations of the Geneva Accords, and then violate the UN’s relationship to the accords as the now-accepted arbitrators of the “protecting powers” provisions.
Because Geneva is violated we’re going to violate Geneva.
This point is important too:
Not everyone is convinced yet of Syria’s culpability and of the true culprit.
War is hell. Calling it 'legal' or 'illegal' does not change that fact. If governments have blundered themselves into a position that war is the only option; or if one is attacked or threatened so that war is the only option - then it is war. Trying to wrap such a disaster up in a ribbon and stamp it with some Tribunal's Good Housekeeping stamp of approval is a perverse mental exercise.
Regarding Syria - just walk away (and stop arming the Al Queda/Muslim Brotherhood group).
"And the bombing will continue until the polls show that no one is paying attention to all those republican congressional hearings."
Normally, I would not be an adherent to the ICC and its prosecution of war crimes and criminals. But, in this case, I'd be fully for the extradition of any head of state responsible for such an act as this against Syria, with the backdrop of lies and apparent use of chemicals by the rebels.
even if the criminal happened to be in possession of the Nobel peace prize.
Evidence: Syria gas attack work of U.S. allies
Contrary evidence arises as U.S. considers punishing Assad regime
http://www.wnd.com/2013/08/video-shows-rebels-launching-gas-attack-in-syria/print/
Shades of Spanish-American War? U.S.S. Maine?
I have been burning up the airwaves to Washington, begging, pleading and downright telling these people DO NOT INVOLVE US IN SYRIA. WE DON’T HAVE A DOG IN THIS FIGHT. THERE ARE NO GOOD GUYS IN THIS FIGHT, AND WHOEVER WINS WILL BE JUST AS BAD AS THE ONE THEY REPLACED.
Please, I’m begging every FREE PER to burn the airwaves to Washington and telling anyone in Washington that still has a pair of cojones to stop these people, cause they will just get us into a WW3. Russia and China has already warned us not to get involved with Syria.
Rep Peter King was on Fox this AM saying its Constitutional for presidents to start wars on their own because other presidents have done it before them. With jerks like that in positions of authority in DC its no wonder the Constitution has been shredded beyond all recognition. He dodged direct questions about what the threat to the USA was and prattled on and on about how other presidents had done it so it was OK. Jeeeez! Even FDR went to Congress and asked that a state of war be declared. FDR for God’s sake. The hero of heroes to the lefties. King has been given way too much recognition by Fox and is IMHO another RINO in disguise.
Get a formal declaration of war from Congress. No Presidential work-arounds that have been going on since Truman. Roosevelt was the last President with the fortitude to ask for the support of the nation. He was also the last President to win a war. Note to Obama see how Truman, Johnson, Bush, Clinton, and Bush made out.
Even if they are, so what? Do we really need to get involved in ANOTHER haji country's internal strife? Let 'em wipe each other out; nothing but good can come from fewer Muslims in the world.
Have you never read The Prince ???
There are those who can do things with immunity that other lessor men would be condemned for
kinda like the thinking of the main charactor and his experimentation in Crime and Punishment
not saying Barry is of The Prince quality..
more of a perfect fit into the C&P shoes...
Why would this clown care he does what he wants and most of it is illegal.
No.
But especially if they're accused of something not yet proven.
On one hand the spectacle of the Nobel Peace Prize Laureate sending the bombers in is too delicious.
Bosnia was the first time we bombed Christians to support Jihadis. We are still paying for that stupidity.
By the way, the Bosnian war placed George Soros at the forefront of RAT foreign policy. He’s been there ever since.
Notice how the Obama-Drama in all of these conflicts follows the same pattern?
He shows hesitancy to the public but then “reluctantly” gets drawn into the conflict.
But he always jumps in on the side of Al Queada, the Muslim Brotherhood, or some other muslim terrorist group.
Hiostorically, whenever Israel and the muslims go to war, the US jumps in and “brokers” (forces on Israel) a cease fire as soon as Israel starts wiping the muslims out.
But in all of Obama’s “Arab Spring” revolutions, and in this Syrian civil war, there has not been the first mention or effort by our worthless leaders to broker a cease fire.
The first concrete step our government has taken in each conflict is to funnel weapons surreptitiously to the rebels while lying about it to the American public and the world.
The second step is to trump up some excuse to jump in on the side of the rebels and start bombing the government forces until they fall to the rebels.
Good summation of King’s interview on Fox. His rationale and comments were appalling. He basically said to let presidents do whatever they want to do. King is both naive and unprincipled, if not dangerous.
They're on vacation Sept. 9th. I don't see them rushing to get back. OTOH, Mr. Peace Prize has said time and again he doesn't need Congress for anything.
So the once highly-esteemed Christian Science Monitor can no longer afford an editor? How about "right to be cautious" is that what he meant?
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