Attack on Syria - joint op USA U.K. and France

[wraymond]

Can't help wondering what, if any, course of action or strategy the objectors to the Anglo/USA/French reaction would recommend. And if history has a lesson to teach us it must be one of vigilance concealing a mailed fist. The well-meaning will never see the fist but the war criminal will feel it.

[Lordy]

Originally Posted by rustymotor

IMO It sends a clear signal to Moscow that the US, UK and France are not afraid to use muscle against a regime which has now killed 500,000 people and backed by Russia and Iran.

Russia has a terrible track record with Ukraine, Crimea, Georgia, the Malaysian airliner shot down etc. It wouldn't be too long before the red army is sweeping through Poland yet again.

If that does happen that they do sweep across Europe you know what my answer would be?

FIGHT BACK!!!!!!!!!!!

[coolcat]

Originally Posted by Lord Rover

If that does happen that they do sweep across Europe you know what my answer would be?

FIGHT BACK!!!!!!!!!!!

If they did and we fought back there would be nothing left fighting for me thinks

I'm off to cheer myself up watching a DVD of "Threads"

[MSS]

I think many people still incorrectly believe that Russia is a world super power. It is not - the USSR was but that entity no longer exists. Russia is a regional power with a few isolated areas of interest still left around the world e.g. Syria. It does not have the assets to challenge NATO or the US so there is no chance of Russian tanks rolling across Europe.

Russia does still attempt to project it's power around the globe and as a result we are more likely to see proxy wars fought in smaller countries.

China is the new Super Power that is flexing its muscle across the world and challenging western interests. It is doing this very well through a combined military and financial strategy. I believe this is what worries Trump but he is at a loss on how to respond effectively.

[rustymotor]

Yes China and Russia together provides an effective east west balance. China also has trillions of us dollars at it's disposal.

[MSS]

Originally Posted by Darcydog

Amnesty International have severely criticised both Russia and China over their regular vetoing at the UN - any investigation of exactly how these chemical weapons are made and deployed against civilians in Syria.

Russia has applied its veto on SEVEN occasions

China has applied its veto on SIX occaisions.

So far from China being quiet on the issue - it sided with Russia to achieve a stalemate so that Syria can continue its appalling actions.

The use of veto is not as one-sided as one might be led to believe. Here are the list of resolutions on which a veto has been exercised since the year 2000.

Date[1] Draft[1] Meeting record[1] Agenda item[1] Vetoing permanent member[1] 10 April 2018 S/2018/175 S/PV.8228 The Situation in the Middle East (Use of chemical weapons in the Syrian Civil War) France
United Kingdom
United States 10 April 2018 S/2018/322 S/PV.8228 The Situation in the Middle East (Use of chemical weapons in the Syrian Civil War) France
United Kingdom
United States 10 April 2018 S/2018/321 S/PV.8228 The Situation in the Middle East (Use of chemical weapons in the Syrian Civil War) Russia 26 February 2018 S/2018/156 S/PV.8190 Sanctions against Yemen Russia 18 December 2017 S/2017/1060 S/PV.8139 Middle East situation, including the Palestinian question (concerning the United States recognition of Jerusalem as Israeli capital) United States 17 November 2017 S/2017/970 S/PV.8107 Middle East (Use of chemical weapons in the Syrian Civil War) Russia 16 November 2017 S/2017/962 S/PV.8105 Middle East (Use of chemical weapons in the Syrian Civil War) Russia 24 October 2017 S/2017/884 S/PV.8073 Middle East (Use of chemical weapons in the Syrian Civil War) Russia 12 April 2017 S/2017/315 S/PV.7922 Middle East (Use of chemical weapons in the Syrian Civil War) Russia 28 February 2017 S/2017/172 S/PV.7893 Middle East (Use of chemical weapons in the Syrian Civil War) China
Russia 5 December 2016 S/2016/1026 S/PV.7825 Middle East (Syrian Civil War) China
Russia 8 October 2016 S/2016/846 S/PV.7785 Middle East (Syrian Civil War) Russia 29 July 2015 S/2015/562 S/PV.7498 Letter dated 28 February 2014 from the Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council (S/2014/136). (concerning the Russian annexation of the Crimean peninsula) Russia 8 July 2015 S/2015/508 S/PV.7481 The situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina (20th anniversary of the Srebrenica massacre during the Bosnian War) Russia 22 May 2014 S/2014/348 S/PV.7180 Middle East - Syria (Syrian Civil War) China
Russia 15 March 2014 S/2014/189 S/PV.7138 Letter dated 28 February 2014 from the Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council (S/2014/136). (concerning the Russian annexation of the Crimean peninsula) Russia 19 July 2012 S/2012/538 S/PV.6810 Middle East - Syria (Syrian Civil War) China
Russia 4 February 2012 S/2012/77 S/PV.6711 Middle East - Syria (Syrian Civil War) China
Russia 4 October 2011 S/2011/612 S/PV.6627 Middle East - Syria (Syrian Civil War) China
Russia 18 February 2011 S/2011/24 S/PV.6484 Middle East situation, including the Palestinian question (concerning Israeli settlements) United States 15 June 2009 S/2009/310 S/PV.6143 Georgia (Russo-Georgian War) Russia 11 July 2008 S/2008/447 S/PV.5933 Peace and Security - Africa (Zimbabwe) (conflict surrounding Zimbabwean general election, 2008) China
Russia 12 January 2007 S/2007/14 S/PV.5619 Myanmar (concerning Military junta rule preluding the Saffron Revolution) China
Russia 11 November 2006 S/2006/878 S/PV.5565 Middle East situation, including the Palestinian question (concerning the 2006 shelling of Beit Hanoun and Palestinian rocket attacks on Israel) United States 13 July 2006 S/2006/508 S/PV.5418 Middle East situation, including the Palestinian question (concerning the 2006 Hezbollah cross-border raid and the start of the 2006 Lebanon War) United States 5 October 2004 S/2004/783 S/PV.5051 Middle East situation, including the Palestinian question (concerning the Second Intifada) United States 21 April 2004 S/2004/313 S/PV.4947 Cyprus (Cyprus dispute and the Annan Plan for Cyprus) Russia 25 March 2004 S/2004/240 S/PV.4934 Middle East situation, including the Palestinian question (concerning the Second Intifada) United States 14 October 2003 S/2003/980 S/PV.4842 The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question (concerning the Second Intifada) United States 16 September 2003 S/2003/891 S/PV.4828 The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question (concerning the Second Intifada) United States 20 December 2002 S/2002/1385 S/PV.4681 The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question (concerning the Second Intifada) United States 30 June 2002 S/2002/712 S/PV.4563 The situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina (concerning the Dayton Agreement which ended the Bosnian War) United States 14-15 December 2001 S/2001/1199 S/PV.4438 The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question (concerning the Second Intifada) United States 27-28 March 2001 S/2001/270 S/PV.4305 The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question (concerning the Second Intifada) United States

[Graham1961]

Originally Posted by RPWC

No matter who is in charge, we will always be America's puppet.

I agree Kev, although Saddam and Gaddaffi were both tyrannical dictators, the middle east seemed a less volatile place when they were in control. These wars have nothing to do with us.

I have to agree there Richard, we should keep out.

[mileshawk56]

Intolerance seems to be the name of the game doesn't it "I don't want to live the way you want to or the majority have voted for so I will keep on until get what I want- if some one gets roughed up or injured or killed in the process, well that's democracy and I know I am right, they told us that at school, university, madrassa, union meeting" So then we start counting the dead. Chris S.

[stevestrat]

A journalist in Russia who had been reporting on shadowy Russian "mercenaries" fighting in Syria and was highly critical of Putin has died after mysteriously "falling" from the balcony of his fifth floor apartment. Russian authorities have said the incident was "unlikely to be of a criminal nature".

[Groundsman Willie]

Originally Posted by stevestrat

A journalist in Russia who had been reporting on shadowy Russian "mercenaries" fighting in Syria and was highly critical of Putin has died after mysteriously "falling" from the balcony of his fifth floor apartment. Russian authorities have said the incident was "unlikely to be of a criminal nature".

Nothing suspicious, accidents happen, I'm sure the authorities have investigated fully and fairly.............