Championship Subdivision Football | FCS Football | Stadiums | Blogs | Forums

The four big reasons that Russia wants to protect Assad, the importance of which vary depending on whom you ask, are: (1) Russia has a naval installation in Syria, which is strategically important and Russia’s last foreign military base outside the former Soviet Union; (2) Russia still has a bit of a Cold War mentality, as well as a touch of national insecurity, which makes it care very much about maintaining one of its last military alliances; (3) Russia also hates the idea of “international intervention” against countries like Syria because it sees this as Cold War-style Western imperialism and ultimately a threat to Russia; (4) Syria buys a lot of Russian military exports, and Russia needs the money.

9. Hi, there was too much text so I skipped to the bottom to find the big take-away. What’s going to happen?
Short-term maybe the United States and some allies will launch some limited, brief strikes against Syria and maybe they won’t. Either way, these things seem pretty certain in the long-term:
• The killing will continue, probably for years. There’s no one to sign a peace treaty on the rebel side, even if the regime side were interested, and there’s no foreseeable victory for either. Refugees will continue fleeing into neighboring countries, causing instability and an entire other humanitarian crisis as conditions in the camps worsen.
• Syria as we know it, an ancient place with a rich and celebrated culture and history, will be a broken, failed society, probably for a generation or more. It’s very hard to see how you rebuild a functioning state after this. Maybe worse, it’s hard to see how you get back to a working social contract where everyone agrees to get along.
• Russia will continue to block international action, the window for which has maybe closed anyway. The United States might try to pressure, cajole or even horse-trade Moscow into changing its mind, but there’s not much we can offer them that they care about as much as Syria.
• At some point the conflict will cool, either from a partial victory or from exhaustion. The world could maybe send in some peacekeepers or even broker a fragile peace between the various ethnic, religious and political factions. Probably the best model is Lebanon, which fought a brutal civil war that lasted 15 years from 1975 to 1990 and has been slowly, slowly recovering ever since. It had some bombings just last week.

houndawg wrote:The short version: Syria has 2.5 billion barrels of proven oil reserves.

CID1990 wrote:

houndawg wrote:The short version: Syria has 2.5 billion barrels of proven oil reserves.

You're really starting to sound like a broken record, HD.

Why don't you explain to us all precisely how strikes on Assad will free up those oil reserves for our own profit?

Via THR:
President Obama has postponed a Los Angeles fundraiser scheduled for next Monday.

houndawg wrote:

CID1990 wrote:
You're really starting to sound like a broken record, HD.

Why don't you explain to us all precisely how strikes on Assad will free up those oil reserves for our own profit?

Maybe they'll free them up maybe they won't, but right now we aren't getting any of it.

Why don't you explain to us all why we're suddenly concerned about the use of chemical weapons.

CID1990 wrote:

houndawg wrote:
Maybe they'll free them up maybe they won't, but right now we aren't getting any of it.

Why don't you explain to us all why we're suddenly concerned about the use of chemical weapons.

I'm not concerned about the use of chemical weapons.

Ibanez wrote:Not bad.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wor ... map=%5B%5D" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Here is my favorite

The four big reasons that Russia wants to protect Assad, the importance of which vary depending on whom you ask, are: (1) Russia has a naval installation in Syria, which is strategically important and Russia’s last foreign military base outside the former Soviet Union; (2) Russia still has a bit of a Cold War mentality, as well as a touch of national insecurity, which makes it care very much about maintaining one of its last military alliances; (3) Russia also hates the idea of “international intervention” against countries like Syria because it sees this as Cold War-style Western imperialism and ultimately a threat to Russia; (4) Syria buys a lot of Russian military exports, and Russia needs the money.

Ibanez wrote:Not bad.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wor ... map=%5B%5D" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Here is my favorite

The four big reasons that Russia wants to protect Assad, the importance of which vary depending on whom you ask, are: (1) Russia has a naval installation in Syria, which is strategically important and Russia’s last foreign military base outside the former Soviet Union; (2) Russia still has a bit of a Cold War mentality, as well as a touch of national insecurity, which makes it care very much about maintaining one of its last military alliances; (3) Russia also hates the idea of “international intervention” against countries like Syria because it sees this as Cold War-style Western imperialism and ultimately a threat to Russia; (4) Syria buys a lot of Russian military exports, and Russia needs the money.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Dozens of people opposed to President Barack Obama’s call for a U.S. military strike against Syria are picketing outside the White House.

Chanting “They say more war; we say no war,” speakers say Saturday’s picket line marks a line Congress should not cross as it prepares to vote on the issue.

Obama left the White House during the protest, traveling by car to Andrews Air Force Base to play golf with three aides.

Super Hawk Nancy Pelosi Writes Fifth Letter To Congressional Democrats Urging Support For Obama’s War In Syria…

Via Politico:

Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi sent a fifth letter to Democratic colleagues in a week in an attempt to bolster support for a measure to authorize a U.S. strike in Syria.

houndawg wrote:

CID1990 wrote:
I'm not concerned about the use of chemical weapons.

Nice dodge!

wah
wah
wah
wah
waaaaaahhhhh

CID1990 wrote:

houndawg wrote:
Nice dodge!

wah
wah
wah
wah
waaaaaahhhhh

The only person dodging is you, HD.

Just about every post you have made in the past couple weeks has been with a war for profit slant. So if you don't want to be Spandos' Mini-Me, you might want to start to substantiate what you are saying.

As for me, I have never had even the slightest concern about Saddam or Assad or any other two bit Middle Eastern tyrant brutalizing their own people, whether with chem or conventional weapons. They are not a significant threat to us, and intervening is not in our interest. So there is no sudden concern on my part. In fact, if Assad can take out a few thousand of those murder monkeys I'd say that's a good start.

houndawg wrote:

CID1990 wrote:
The only person dodging is you, HD.

Just about every post you have made in the past couple weeks has been with a war for profit slant. So if you don't want to be Spandos' Mini-Me, you might want to start to substantiate what you are saying.

As for me, I have never had even the slightest concern about Saddam or Assad or any other two bit Middle Eastern tyrant brutalizing their own people, whether with chem or conventional weapons. They are not a significant threat to us, and intervening is not in our interest. So there is no sudden concern on my part. In fact, if Assad can take out a few thousand of those murder monkeys I'd say that's a good start.

Yes, of course. Don't see things like CID and you must be spandos.

All wars are fought for money - Expandosocrates.

"I spent thirty-three years and four months in active military service and during that period I spent most of my time as a high class muscle man for Big Business, for Wall Street and the bankers. In short I was a racketeer, a gangster for capitalism. I helped make Mexico and especially Tampico safe for American oil interests in 1914. I helped make Haiti and Cuba a decent place for the National City Bank boys to collect revenues in. I helped in the raping of half a dozen Central American republics for the benefit of Wall Street. I helped purify Nicaraugua for the International Banking House of Brown Brothers in 1902-1912. I brought light to the Dominican Republic for the American sugar interests in 1916. I helped make Hounduras right for the American fruit companies in 1903. In China in 1927 I helped see to it that Standard Oil went on its way unmolested." General Smedley Butler

"The pressure of this approaching crisis, I am certain, has gone beyond the ability of the Morgan financial agency for the British and French governments. The financial necessities of the Allies are too great and urgent for any private agency to handle, for every such agency has to encounter business rivalries and sectional antagonism. It is not improbable that that the only way of maintaining our present preeminent trade position and averting a panic is by declaring war on Germany." Ambassador to Great Britain, Walter Hines Page, in a cable to Woodrow Wilson

AZGrizFan wrote:

houndawg wrote:
Yes, of course. Don't see things like CID and you must be spandos.

All wars are fought for money - Expandosocrates.

"I spent thirty-three years and four months in active military service and during that period I spent most of my time as a high class muscle man for Big Business, for Wall Street and the bankers. In short I was a racketeer, a gangster for capitalism. I helped make Mexico and especially Tampico safe for American oil interests in 1914. I helped make Haiti and Cuba a decent place for the National City Bank boys to collect revenues in. I helped in the raping of half a dozen Central American republics for the benefit of Wall Street. I helped purify Nicaraugua for the International Banking House of Brown Brothers in 1902-1912. I brought light to the Dominican Republic for the American sugar interests in 1916. I helped make Hounduras right for the American fruit companies in 1903. In China in 1927 I helped see to it that Standard Oil went on its way unmolested." General Smedley Butler

"The pressure of this approaching crisis, I am certain, has gone beyond the ability of the Morgan financial agency for the British and French governments. The financial necessities of the Allies are too great and urgent for any private agency to handle, for every such agency has to encounter business rivalries and sectional antagonism. It is not improbable that that the only way of maintaining our present preeminent trade position and averting a panic is by declaring war on Germany." Ambassador to Great Britain, Walter Hines Page, in a cable to Woodrow Wilson

In other breaking news, the sun rose in the east today.

houndawg wrote:

CID1990 wrote:
The only person dodging is you, HD.

Just about every post you have made in the past couple weeks has been with a war for profit slant. So if you don't want to be Spandos' Mini-Me, you might want to start to substantiate what you are saying.

As for me, I have never had even the slightest concern about Saddam or Assad or any other two bit Middle Eastern tyrant brutalizing their own people, whether with chem or conventional weapons. They are not a significant threat to us, and intervening is not in our interest. So there is no sudden concern on my part. In fact, if Assad can take out a few thousand of those murder monkeys I'd say that's a good start.

Yes, of course. Don't see things like CID and you must be spandos.

All wars are fought for money - Expandosocrates.

"I spent thirty-three years and four months in active military service and during that period I spent most of my time as a high class muscle man for Big Business, for Wall Street and the bankers. In short I was a racketeer, a gangster for capitalism. I helped make Mexico and especially Tampico safe for American oil interests in 1914. I helped make Haiti and Cuba a decent place for the National City Bank boys to collect revenues in. I helped in the raping of half a dozen Central American republics for the benefit of Wall Street. I helped purify Nicaraugua for the International Banking House of Brown Brothers in 1902-1912. I brought light to the Dominican Republic for the American sugar interests in 1916. I helped make Hounduras right for the American fruit companies in 1903. In China in 1927 I helped see to it that Standard Oil went on its way unmolested." General Smedley Butler

"The pressure of this approaching crisis, I am certain, has gone beyond the ability of the Morgan financial agency for the British and French governments. The financial necessities of the Allies are too great and urgent for any private agency to handle, for every such agency has to encounter business rivalries and sectional antagonism. It is not improbable that that the only way of maintaining our present preeminent trade position and averting a panic is by declaring war on Germany." Ambassador to Great Britain, Walter Hines Page, in a cable to Woodrow Wilson

houndawg wrote:

CID1990 wrote:
You're really starting to sound like a broken record, HD.

Why don't you explain to us all precisely how strikes on Assad will free up those oil reserves for our own profit?

Maybe they'll free them up maybe they won't, but right now we aren't getting any of it.

Why don't you explain to us all why we're suddenly concerned about the use of chemical weapons.

houndawg wrote:

AZGrizFan wrote:
In other breaking news, the sun rose in the east today.

Tell it to your boy STD.

ASUMountaineer wrote:

houndawg wrote:
Maybe they'll free them up maybe they won't, but right now we aren't getting any of it.

Why don't you explain to us all why we're suddenly concerned about the use of chemical weapons.

That's a good question. You should ask your "Peace President."

ASUMountaineer wrote:

houndawg wrote:
Tell it to your boy STD.

Do you have any original thoughts, or do you just parrot D1Backjon exclusively now?

houndawg wrote:

ASUMountaineer wrote:
That's a good question. You should ask your "Peace President."

Thank you.

Barack doesn't return my calls anymore. I think the NSA told him I voted for Willie Nelson in '12.

ASUMountaineer wrote:

houndawg wrote:
Thank you.

Barack doesn't return my calls anymore. I think the NSA told him I voted for Willie Nelson in '12.

That's a damn shame...that you voted for a tax evader. You libs sure do love taxes and those that don't pay them. Hell, y'all even make them Treasury Secretary.

houndawg wrote:

ASUMountaineer wrote:
That's a damn shame...that you voted for a tax evader. You libs sure do love taxes and those that don't pay them. Hell, y'all even make them Treasury Secretary.

How sharper than a serpents tooth.....

ASUMountaineer wrote:

houndawg wrote:

How sharper than a serpents tooth.....

Ehh...didn't sleep much last night and am just full of piss and vinegar today.