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The Real Reason to Intervene in Syria
foreignpolicy.com ^ | JUNE 4, 2012 | JAMES P. RUBIN

Posted on 06/05/2012 10:14:20 AM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach

Cutting Iran's link to the Mediterranean Sea is a strategic prize worth the risk

We're not done with the possibility of an Israeli strike on Iran. Given that the current round of negotiations with the world's major powers will not fundamentally change Iran's nuclear program, the question of an Israeli attack on Iran's nuclear facilities is likely to return to center stage later this year. In addition to hard-headed diplomacy and economic sanctions, there is an important step the United States can take to change Israel's calculations -- helping the people of Syria in their battle against President Bashar al-Assad's regime.

(Excerpt) Read more at foreignpolicy.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Israel; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: iran; israel; isreal; syria
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1 posted on 06/05/2012 10:14:35 AM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach
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To: SJackson; SunkenCiv
H/T to Hotair.

Neuterring Hizbollah is the goal.

2 posted on 06/05/2012 10:16:55 AM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach (The Global Warming Hoax was a Criminal Act....where is Al Gore?)
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

That presuposes that the current administration considers your suggest to be a goal. I believe we refer to that as a “fact not in evidence”.


3 posted on 06/05/2012 10:29:28 AM PDT by Pecos (Constitution? Oh, you mean that thing we USED to have.)
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

That presuposes that the current administration considers your suggestion to be a goal. I believe we refer to that as a “fact not in evidence”.


4 posted on 06/05/2012 10:29:42 AM PDT by Pecos (Constitution? Oh, you mean that thing we USED to have.)
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
...there is an important step the United States can take to change Israel's calculations -- helping the people of Syria in their battle against President Bashar al-Assad's regime.

LOL, the Muslim Brotherhood knife in Israel's back will certainly stabilize the Middle East,... for the Caliphate.

5 posted on 06/05/2012 10:35:30 AM PDT by Navy Patriot (Join the Democrats, it's not Fascism when WE do it and the law is what WE say it is.)
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
We're not done with the possibility of an Israeli strike on Iran

IMHO it is IMMINENT!!!

6 posted on 06/05/2012 10:38:16 AM PDT by Don Corleone ("Oil the gun..eat the cannoli. Take it to the Mattress.")
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

There is no good reason to intervene in Syria. The current status quo is a win win for the USA. Let the Sunnis and Shiites have it out against each other. Let the Jihadis turn their suicide bombers against Iran and her allies, which currently include Russia and China. The long term threat is Iran and her nuclear weapons. By letting the bloodbath continue in Syria, the Sunni world, the vast majority in the ME, will turn its vengence against the Shiite trio of Iran, Assad, and Hezbollah, with Russia and China to boot. So again, why should the United States get involved when the status quo is to our favor.


7 posted on 06/05/2012 10:39:43 AM PDT by gusty
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

Either lying or a moron.

The Syrian opposition is very Iran friendly, Islamic, Muslim brotherhood types looking to overthrow a secular Nationalist government.

It would give Iran MORE power, not less, and open up yet another front for Islamic jihad.


8 posted on 06/05/2012 10:41:54 AM PDT by bill1952 (Choice is an illusion created between those with power - and those without)
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To: bill1952

You couldn’t be more wrong if you tried. The Assads have been joined at the hip with Iran since 1979. The Syrian opposition is Sunni and hates Iran with a passion. The Syrian situation is Sunni vs Shiite. The Assads are from the Alawite sect, an offshoot of Shiism. We should stay out of this one, and let the bloodbath inflame the Sunni world against Iran, Hezbollah, Russia, and China. A win win for us.


9 posted on 06/05/2012 10:50:16 AM PDT by gusty
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

I agree. Beyond that we’re talking about one of the biggest supporters of terrorism on the planet. Hezbollah, Hamas, ultimately even Al Fatah were all supported by Syria.

Syria arms these groups. Hezbollah is essentially a military arm of Syria. It has pushed to take over Lebanon. It has taken over Southern Lebanon. It’s Israel’s number one enemy.

Defang Syria, and you’ve partially defanged Iran.

I’m by no means saying Syria would be perfect if Assad were gone, but it would probably be better. I’ve read reports that Hezbollah would be severely impacted if the leadership of Syria were shaken up. I’d sure like to think that would be the case.


10 posted on 06/05/2012 10:52:36 AM PDT by DoughtyOne (Republicanism: Y1 Rant Y2 Rant Y3 Rant Y4, Oh nevermind, vote for him anyway. Rinse & Repeat!)
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To: Navy Patriot

I am sympathetic to your premise as it relates to the Muslim Brotherhood. I have referred to recent developments in the Middle East as the foundation of the United States of Iran.

With regard to Syria, I’m not convinced there isn’t something to be gained by a change in leadership.

Syria has been the terrorists best friend for decades. They are essentially a proxy for Iran at the current time. They help finance, arm, and drive policy for the major terrorist groups in the Middle East.

If this were truly a movement driven by Iran and radicals of the Middle East in Syria right now, why would they push to overturn a regime that has been doing essentially everything the most radical elements in the Middle East have desired?

A change in Syria’s leadership, may very well be a good thing. It hasn’t been acting in a somewhat reason like Mubarak and others. It has been a driving force behind evil.


11 posted on 06/05/2012 11:01:30 AM PDT by DoughtyOne (Republicanism: Y1 Rant Y2 Rant Y3 Rant Y4, Oh nevermind, vote for him anyway. Rinse & Repeat!)
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To: gusty

Sounds good to me.


12 posted on 06/05/2012 11:01:45 AM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach (The Global Warming Hoax was a Criminal Act....where is Al Gore?)
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To: bill1952

I believe all ME revolutions, in our lifetime, will result in empowering Jihad. Sunni and Shiite are joined at the hip as soon as they have a non-Moslem to focus upon. Eg., USA and Israel are the primary targets(enemies) of Jihad.


13 posted on 06/05/2012 11:03:47 AM PDT by veracious
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To: veracious

So lets be smart and coax them to focus on each other. We have that opportunity in Syria, so why don’t we let the Sunnis and Shiites go to war against each other. And let the Sunnis know from smart propaganda that Russia and China stand behind the Shiites also. Syria is a great strategic opporunity just waiting to be played right. It is low hanging fruit if the US plays chess not checkers.


14 posted on 06/05/2012 11:11:50 AM PDT by gusty
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To: gusty

I say we arm both sides very heavily and then get out of their way, let them tear each other to shreds.


15 posted on 06/05/2012 11:15:09 AM PDT by Finatic (I ran out of change and have given up on hope. FUBO, I am so sick of your sorry a$$ you effin punk)
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

Russia will want more then just a reset button to give up their port use in Syria. What will Obama give them in exchange ? Georgia ? (no not the peach state).


16 posted on 06/05/2012 11:34:36 AM PDT by justa-hairyape
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach; Olog-hai; AdmSmith; AnonymousConservative; Berosus; bigheadfred; Bockscar; ...

Thanks Ernest.
17 posted on 06/05/2012 5:21:16 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: justa-hairyape

>What will Obama give them in exchange ? Georgia ?

Interesting, but its not his to give - its Russia’s to take.
No, it would have to be something real, not theoretical


18 posted on 06/06/2012 4:06:53 AM PDT by bill1952 (Choice is an illusion created between those with power - and those without)
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To: gusty

Oh I could be more wrong - and so could you.

Did you not see the little crisis that came up when a member of the muslim brotherhood was appointed leader in this fight?
He had to step down for PR reasons, i.e, money flow & Western support.

While the Alawites give lip service to Iran, you aren’t seeing armed Hezbollah or similar types roaming the countryside.
No, that is for Lebanon, Syria’s little playground in its rat a tat tat again Israel.
If the Hez type factions ever gave Syria an edge in some dispute with Israel they would very likely see what happens to all useful idiots after a victory, i.e, a purge.

While I support your idea of staying out & letting the blood flow, your other premises are not completely correct.
Iran & the muslim brotherhood, supported by Iran, are the power brokers of the rebels in Syria & nothing different will come of the Sunni v. Shiite situation either.

After,all, that has been going on since Fatima raised the flag so many centuries ago.
Thank you for your post.


19 posted on 06/06/2012 4:20:55 AM PDT by bill1952 (Choice is an illusion created between those with power - and those without)
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To: DoughtyOne
Syria has been the terrorists best friend for decades. They are essentially a proxy for Iran at the current time. They help finance, arm, and drive policy for the major terrorist groups in the Middle East.

Absolutely true.

If this were truly a movement driven by Iran and radicals of the Middle East in Syria right now, why would they push to overturn a regime that has been doing essentially everything the most radical elements in the Middle East have desired?

Fortunately, you qualified with an "if", because the Muslim Brotherhood operation in Syria is not a movement driven by Iran.

Iran and the Muslim Brotherhood do NOT agree on who should run the Caliphate or much of anything else other that the annihilation of Israel and the murder of every Jew on the planet.

The MB is weak in Syria because Assad and more notably his father have effectively killed them en masse to the point that they could not pursue their goal of a Caliphate from Syria. Nasser, Sadat and Mubarak effectively denied them Egypt, so they pretended peaceful, and spun off al Queda to Afghanistan where the government was poor, stupid, and incapable of controlling them.

The Muslim Brotherhood's younger clone perpetrated 911 upon the US with Saudi funding.

It is ludicrous to believe that a Muslim Brotherhood, Caliphate striker state of Syria would be ANY improvement for the United States or Israel.

20 posted on 06/06/2012 9:27:34 AM PDT by Navy Patriot (Join the Democrats, it's not Fascism when WE do it and the law is what WE say it is.)
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