U.S., Britain split on Assad

Washington Times ^ | Friday, September 19, 2003 | By Andrew Borowiec

[JohnHuang2]

NICOSIA, Cyprus — A rift is developing between the United States and Great Britain on how to confront Syrian President Bashar Assad and his uncompromising stand against Israel.

According to diplomats in the region, if the rift is allowed to grow, it may damage the cooperation between the two countries in Iraq.

[JohnHuang2]

Friday, September 19, 2003

Quote of the Day by bootyist-monk

[FairOpinion]

Looks like Syria is definitely next.

[JohnHuang2]

That's my read of the situation, too.

[ApesForEvolution]

The Brits had better grow some meat and topple Tony and the EUriners quick - or total irrelevancy could be coming quick to the UK...

[etcetera]

"Britain has warned Washington it would not participate in any armed action against Syria."

In the run-up to the Iraq war, Blair was wrong to insist that the U.S. seek U.N. approval. Blair is wrong on Syria, too.

[Light Speed]

How the resolve and character wane [English like that word].

A nation which lacked focus prior to WW-2..at least rose to the challenge of its rival...then went for the couch and tea cart after.
The way the nation dumped or dispatched Winston Churchill is telling.

Socialist Island..with a penchant for drama around that place they call..The Tower of London.

Colorfull entrepanuers like "Sir Bloody Walter Raleigh" eventuually were rewarded for their endeavors with a stay in the Tower...the collective gathering below..chanting

"Off with his head..off with his head".

The scene in the movie 'Robinhood'..where Morgan Freeman..the Saracen Muslim is freaking ouut..

"English..is there no damn Sun in this land"!

How prophetic [Sarcasm]

I get to chat with Brits alot on the net..common ground..my family has some famous types in the RAF..some Spitfire pilots ..Wing leaders.
Lots to chat about..but it all seems to be past tense.

It seems the Sun is setting on Britannia.

[Pubbie]

"Diplomats say Britain believes Syria should be included in the crippled U.S. "road map" to peace in the Middle East, particularly in view of Mr. Assad's recent economic-reform plans and some overtures toward his political opponents."

Hah! Typical Delusional "Phony" Blair.

The Road Map is as dead as a doornail; and only a Western European could have his head so far up his ass that he could not see this obvious fact.

But if the Sniveling coward British don't want us to attack Syria, then we can always let the Israelis (Our REAL Ally) kick the Islamonazis in the ass one more time.

And when they're done they can go after the English for forcing to swallow the "Road Map" and "Oslo" "Peace Process" that prevented the Israelis from having the final showdown with the Inbred-Devil Worshiping, Palestinians.

[ARCADIA]

Perhaps it is time to put our country on a war footing and add a few more divisions. Whatever we did in Iraq wasn't shocking or conclusive enough to convince its brutal neighbors to toe the line. If we have to go into Syria we should be prepared to take the gloves off. Reduce the precision munitions out of the mix and bomb indiscriminately. It is time to play an adults war and to adopt the Grant/Sheridan maxim of making war painful enough to force our enemies to end the conflict quickly.

[Light Speed]

There is some truth to what you are saying...the war did not frighten them..nor were they really thankfull and willing to come out and build something new.

Libertion day..became looting day..which was then extended as it was very popular social extraveganza.

Now wives and daughters ares shut inside their homes for fear of rape.
The morgue is filled daily with Iraqi's offing each other ..but then they go to mosque and kiss and hug.

Watching the little childen dancing on the T.V. today with peices of American vehicles destroyed in the ambushes...little imps grinning from ear to ear while pappa smiles aprovingly.

A wicked and selfish people ...

So much for that great Book they read.

[Prodigal Son]

It seems the Sun is setting on Britannia.

Why? Because they're not eager to send more of their troops off to another place? We haven't even finished in Iraq. There are still loads of options open to us on Syria.

[Prodigal Son]

Reduce the precision munitions out of the mix and bomb indiscriminately.

That would take forever. The high ration of precision munitions was one of the key factors in being able to deal a quick blow to Saddam's regime. Why would you want to take one of our troops best assets off the table?

It is time to play an adults war

War is not a game.

[Toskrin]

I don't think we will be going to war with Syria. The young Assad is a wimp. He will cave; but only if the pressure continues. Which is all the more reason not to compromise with him.

Reagan did the same with Gorbachev. Gorbachev wasn't a great reformer; he just capitulated to Reagan's will.

[ARCADIA]

We haven't even finished in Iraq.

Perhaps we never will finish in Iraq, as long as we allow the enemy to continue to stage out of Syria and Iran. These countries are the Laos and Cambodia of the present conflict.

Why would you want to take one of our troops best assets off the table?

You are missing my point. Wars end when people get tired of fighting them. If you overwhelm their system by killing their military where it sits and consider collateral damage as a positive, then detroy their ability to water and feed their population; and, make so that no one can sleep at night out of fear that some errand bomb may land on them; then, the war will be over quickly. Target military targets, but do so whether the weapons system in the middle of an open field or sitting in the backyard of a school. Make the pressure high enough, and put the responsibility and onus on the stubborness of the present regime, and the population will deliver their heads and spare you the need to go hunting for them door to door.

[Prodigal Son]

Germany didn't quit after Dresden. That's the whole point to effects based warfare. It's been borne out that raw brutal bombing only strengthens the will of the opposition. The Japanese would've fought on after the atomic bombs as well had the emperor not interceded.

[ARCADIA]

It's been borne out that raw brutal bombing only strengthens the will of the opposition.

It does for a while; then it wearies; then it surrenders. It has also been borne out that we have won few clear cut victories since the Second World War. War has to be brutal enough to clear out the diehard fanatics, and to totally discredit their point of view.

[Prodigal Son]

It does for a while; then it wearies; then it surrenders.

Germany never capitulated to this type of bombing. They didn't quit until Berlin was captured by ground forces. The thing is, it has been demonstrated that a bombed populace never suffers the psychological trauma that one might expect. Studies have shown this. Hitler never achieved it by bombing London. We never achieved it by bombing Germany. We dropped an incredible amount of ordnance on the Vietnamese as well and what do we have to show for it?

Iraq fell in three weeks using effects based warfare and precision munitions. It's hard to argue with that.

[Starrgaizr]

Looks like Syria is definitely next.

But how can this come about? Pres. Bush could have attacked in April with a "hot pursuit" argument. Now, would he go back to Congress with claims about WMDs? He might go to the UN this time and denounce Syria's support for terror, but he'd never get a UN resolution, and he'd have a hard time getting a Congressional vote. It will take another masterful political move to galvanize enough people behind the next battle, but this president has pulled it off before.

[Starrgaizr]

Unfortunately, you are right about targeting weapons deliberately placed near soft targets. Our enemies adapt, and as long as we divert Maverick missles when we see the target is next to a school, people like Saddam will fill schools and hospitals with weapons.

It is time to announce clearly that in future conflicts, the US will attack hostile forces wherever they sit, and afterwards try for war crimes all that participated in the human shield plan. It is, after all, a violation of the Geneva Convention, I believe.

[Prodigal Son]

It is time to announce clearly that in future conflicts, the US will attack hostile forces wherever they sit,

Can you cite examples where this has worked?

[Da_Shrimp]

the Sniveling coward British

What a short memory you have.

I only wish I was surprised by your comment.