Syria- Is it time we re-assessed who we support?

Member 581642

They may well be Sunni in theory but hardly supported by the Sunni majority.

johntheexpat

If we had bombed Assad, then presumably that would have weakened him and ISIS would have had an easier time of it?  And then instead of bombing him, we should help him, because my enemy's enemy is my friend.
And this is just one small corner of a region up in flames.  And we are expected to follow this and make informed judgements.
No chance.

Cliff

When I said supported by Arabs I didn't mean it had been put to a vote! I just meant that most of the money was coming from 'rich' Sunni Arabs. But let me qualify even further. If you turned the clock back to when this was kicking off, a vote in the M.E. would have been a majority.
But not now, however monetary Support continues.

jdevil

I must be reading the wrong article as there is no mention of 18 children dying in that attack.

robel

"The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which monitors the war in Syria, said the air force conducted 60 strikes on the Eastern Ghouta district on Thursday and into Friday. Eighteen children and 11 fighters were among the dead, it said"

Cliff

I firmly believe that over the last decade or so the West should have learnt one lesson. That is, do not destroy the existing governance and infrastructure of a country. We did it with Saddam and Gaddaffi, and have seen what happens in other countries when there is no government.

Yes it is sometimes necessary to intervene but not remove the government altogether because chaos and the rise of Islam ensues.

Sonic67

And tested and confirmed at Porton Down.

Inside Britain's Top Secret Science Facility

At 1 minute 30.

Cliff

So Obama will send 50 special forces to Syria to help fight IS.
At the Vienna meeting today..
US: Assad must go, but after political transitionSaudi Arabia: Assad must go "within a specific timeframe" Turkey: Assad must go, though could remain for a "symbolic" six monthsSNC (main Western- and Gulf Arab-backed anti-Assad opposition): Assad must go, Russia: Assad should not be forced to go, Syrians should hold elections and decide Iran: Assad should not step down, Syrians should decide their own political futureAt least most players are willing to allow Assad to stay for a while and not allow a vacuum until there is an alternative.

Syria conflict: Obama to send special forces to fight IS - BBC News

Enki

Looks to me, to be a right bloody mess and Russia to get what it wants from everyone. Even if there is peaceful transition from the Assad regime, it will need policing for decades to come. The fiscal abacus counters won't let that happen.

weaponx031277

Despite all the forces against them and the aerial hammering there taking IS are still advancing.

You would think with all the different opinions at this meeting the first thing everyone should agree on is getting rid of and dealing with IS. Maybe if thats done then and only then should the Assad issue be addressed. Is it me or is it that they want elections as soon as possible while the fighting is still going on with IS?