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Obama plunges into high-stakes week on Syria

23 Comments
By JOSH LEDERMAN

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23 Comments
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THis is sarin gas we are talking about, same stuff that was used in 1995 in the Tokyo subways

Yes, but then we knew who used the sarin gas. Here, we only have suspicions. Maybe I am in the minority here, but I think the world should see some real evidence that the Assad regime are the ones that used them before the US jumps into a situation that could well be a huge mistake.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

The president is going to go about this media blitz by urgently linking the Syria situation as an example to all nuclear rogue countries (Iran, North Korea etc) that they could be our next target. And even if dragging in those higher stakes players does make far more sense strategically, I and I think most Americans have zero trust in Obama and his ilk being in charge of such an operation.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Lizz, I have zero trust in Obama and his ilk being in charge of anything more than a 5¢lemonade stand.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Assad could not have benefitted from using chemical weapons against his people. The American regime could benefit a lot from letting its "allies" in Syria use this weapon, in order to frame Assad. Obama capitalizes on the use of chemical weapons by Assad, which never took place in reality.

Gotta love your jump in logic there. Assad doesn't gain anything by using CW, therefore it must be a false flag!

2 ( +3 / -1 )

The first U.S. vote on going to war in the Middle East will take place on 9/11.

Oh, the irony.

RR

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Secretary of State John Kerry did endorse a 'clear and strong response' to an attack they said strongly points to Assad's government.

It would be better if it unequivocally pointed to Assad as opposed to strongly. Murders get off scott free for that type of evidence and hearsay yet they want to go to war on a whole government. First Obama wants to sell arms to the rebels that could fall into the hands of terrorists they are trying to stop all the time and now that didn't work so well he wants to go to war. Whats the real agenda here?

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Einstein once said "I do not know with what weapons World War 3 will be fought, but World War 4 will be fought with sticks and stones".

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Lizz, I have zero trust in Obama and his ilk being in charge of anything more than a 5¢lemonade stand.

It came home to me in the worst way reading that Samantha Powers, our UN Ambassador, was hoping that with the right UN team in Syria Iran would be outraged enough by use of chemical weapons by Assad to dump them as an ally for the US. Do these people actually believe their ridiculous view of the world, or just that the top US foreign policy priority should be stopping 'genocide?'' The Iranian missile batteries in Syria are currently the only thing preventing Israel from attacking Iran with impunity. A new Syrian regime would force the Iranians to leave Syria and would prevent them from positioning missiles in Syria. That would be a huge strategic shift and cannot be accomplished with a "limited strike." It will be a horrendous conflict with boots and American blood on the ground.. No doubt these heavy hitters of public intellectual life in the Obama administration realize their ideas are basic, simple, even clichéd, and are still no less committed to their fundamental goodness and truth. lol

1 ( +3 / -2 )

It is all frightening with the power players involved. We are nothing to those trying to move or change governments to their agenda. Nothing at all. Death matters little.

Today was a day of fasting and prayer for peace by the Vatican. Beautiful four hour service. Why do people pray? Because only with a change of hearts will we have peace. Most people want peace to raise their families and have a life. It matters little of religion or lack their of.

One thing certain is that the Americans do not want war. It would be better to protect humanitarian efforts and get some dialog going. NO MORE WARS. Syria is a lovely country and have grand people as in all the world over. NO MORE WARS PLEASE. Pray PEACE.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

“We are the United States of America. We cannot turn a blind eye to images like the ones we’ve seen out of Syria,”

But the rest of the world can. Obama is never going to get U.N. approval for any military attacks on Syrian forces.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

As an American cotizen, i would prefer my government rebuild our cities before we drop bombs on another foreign city. Building and repairing remain more humane than destroying and killing.

I have often been deeply impressed with the resilience of the Japanese people. The resurrection oh Hiroshima particularly impresses me - especially when juxtaposed with Detroit's rapid decline after the race riots in the 1860s. From my perspective, the American government must learn to focus our real needs and avoid military misadventures.

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Americans are speaking loud and clear, and they do not want military intervention from U.S forces. If the whole world is soo concerned about what is going on then they can go ahead and deal with it.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Assad could not have benefitted from using chemical weapons against his people. The American regime could benefit a lot from letting its "allies" in Syria use this weapon, in order to frame Assad. Obama capitalizes on the use of chemical weapons by Assad, which never took place in reality.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

The more Obama talks the less support he will get. His Tuesday night address will not help him make his case for war. He never should have asked for a vote and just did what he said needed to be done. Democrats will not even given him very much support. His mishandled the whole matter completely.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

globalwatcher, regarding the evidence please see a post from badsey3 (http://www.japantoday.com/category/world/view/u-s-inaction-on-syria-would-embolden-iran-n-korea-kerry) towards the end of the thread (SEP. 05, 2013 - 07:49PM JST). The evidence has been collected by the Russians. Probably not much detail has been published, but the Russians have compiled a very detailed report (100 pages). Compare this to the 9-page French report, which is a joke (not just because of the breadth), but proclaims to be decisive. Sure, the Russians should be considered an interested party here, just like the Americans. Therefore, whenever there is a conflict involving two parties about evidences and facts, a judiciary process should take place where both parties bring their evidences and extend their claims. Let the UN Security Council hold a thorough discussion: The American, Russian, French and German reports will be on the table. A representative of the Syrian government, as well as representatives of the Syrian opposition factions will be asked questions and will have their opportunity to bring their evidences and extend their claims.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

without a martial response, (Obama) said, a fundamental global prohibition against chemical weapons use could unravel, emboldening other leaders with such weapons at their disposal and making the world more dangerous for years to come.

Sounds a lot like the "Domino Theory" that democrat LBJ used to justify the escalation of the Vietnam Conflict (which I found myself being a part of all those years ago).

Thanks, but no thanks.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

It is fair to say that the next world war will be fought with nuke and CW if the world allows Syrian CW use unpunished. We may even worry about suicide bombers with CW if we do not stand up tall against them. We are living in different world today. Very alarming. .

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

YGHome3Sep. 08, 2013 - 08:10PM JST

there is evidence that chemical weapons were used by the "allies" of the American regime

Okay, I have been too quiet to all your posts on this subject until now. Please provide the evidence on JT, so that all international press can read it.(As a matter of fact, we do.) When you provide the website, please include the information who is behind it financially. We will start from there. If you failed, it makes all your posts as VOID.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Thanks for the info. YGHome3. I think I am connecting some dots who are responsible for distortions.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

9/11 was when Bush let the USA be attacked for the first time since Pearl Harbor. Voting to punish Syria for using chemical weapons is totally different. There is no irony there at all.

So much for the republican meme that Obama leads from behind. He is all out front on this issue and the republicans are lost and confused as usual, other than Ol' Johnny McCain. He is 100% supportive. THis is sarin gas we are talking about, same stuff that was used in 1995 in the Tokyo subways.

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

My guy came back broken from Iraq. Lots of other Fathers, Mothers, Sons, Daughters, Uncles, Aunts came back broken or dead. What did the invasion do for American safety? Nothing! It is even in worse condition due to all of the hatred generated. What about the hundreds of thousands killed by the Americans and its allies? They said they had "weapons of mass destruction" and what did they find? NOTHING! Now the American President wants to attack another nation and on weak evidence. The pictures pull on peoples emotions not logical thought. How many civilians will an American war against Syria produce? What about the complete chaos afterward like Libya? Also what if Russia will support the legal government of Syria? The majority of the world including Americans are against war. Why does President Obama not listen to them?

-3 ( +3 / -6 )

YuriOtani

Hear hear.

Not only did it do nothing for American safety (it was about oil anyway, not American security), it has left Iraq a basket case. The US did no favours for Iraq in all of this.

-3 ( +3 / -6 )

@Deplore

Gotta love your jump in logic there

I am very glad that you are in favor of logic. But that obliges you to be also in favor of orderly and careful international judiciary process, instead of unilateral "judgment" by one interested party. A judiciary process considers the evidences and facts, and it also considers the motives. In this case, beyond the motive issue, which is clear, there is evidence that chemical weapons were used by the "allies" of the American regime.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

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