Presidential Leadership on Syria -- Mission Accomplished

Originally posted by moon1969
It is really a logic stretch to suggest that dismantling Syrian chemical weapons is a bad thing and somehow further destabilized Syria in a negative way.

As for US military intervention, I agree with the President and McCain, but the American people do not. And the US is a representative democracy.

There you go. You can't or won't grasp the fact, evident to a child, that dismantling chemical weapons won't make a scrap of difference. My only question is whether ideological or cognitive dissonance is responsible for your lack of savvy.

Originally posted by Bosse de Nage
There you go. You can't or won't grasp the fact, evident to a child, that dismantling chemical weapons won't make a scrap of difference. My only question is whether ideological or cognitive dissonance is responsible for your lack of savvy.

I understand your point, but I do not think it so clear that the US involvement in prodding the dismantling of Syrian chemical weapons embolden and strengthen Islamic extremists, for example. Further, merely because there is a vast array of weapons does not mean getting rid of chemical weapons is bad.

To be sure, it is a nice world precedent to draw a humanity line in the sand with regard to chemical weapons, no matter what impact on Islamic extremist recruitment or no matter the availability of other types of weapons of death or the percentages of deaths per weapon type.

And again, I would like to have to seen the US join militarily with the FSA (and Assad defectors) a long time ago, and lead the world in getting rid of both Assad and the Islamic militant extremists. Yet, I wouldn't be an American fighting over there (too old and not a member of the US military).

Originally posted by moon1969
Kudos to President Obama for exerting leadership and pressure to bring focus to the Syrian chemical weapons -- without firing a shot.

[quote][b]Experts begin dismantling Syrian chemical program

BEIRUT (AP) — International disarmament experts on Sunday began dismantling and destroying Syria's chemical weapons arsenal and the equipment used to produ ...[text shortened]... .com/news/world/article/Experts-begin-dismantling-Syrian-chemical-program-4873341.php?cmpid=hpts[/b]

You're an idiot. If you think that elevating Putin to the role of statesman, while simultaneously emasculating the United States in the Middle East and allowing Russia to assume the role of regional hegemon, was a good idea, than you have less of an understanding of geopolitical dynamics in the region than my girlfriend's ten-year-old daughter.

Originally posted by sasquatch672
You're an idiot. If you think that elevating Putin to the role of statesman, while simultaneously emasculating the United States in the Middle East and allowing Russia to assume the role of regional hegemon, was a good idea, than you have less of an understanding of geopolitical dynamics in the region than my girlfriend's ten-year-old daughter.

Is it not slightly odd that you and I, ordinarily political polar opposites, agree on this, whilst the "anti-war" theme has brought knuckle-dragging TPs and fellow-travelling Lefties together under the same death-promoting banner?

Originally posted by sasquatch672
You're an idiot. If you think that elevating Putin to the role of statesman, while simultaneously emasculating the United States in the Middle East and allowing Russia to assume the role of regional hegemon, was a good idea, than you have less of an understanding of geopolitical dynamics in the region than my girlfriend's ten-year-old daughter.

Your hero Putin caved big time. Putin had originally denied that Syria even had chemical weapons. The insecure Putin wanted the long-lost limelight and got it for a few minutes, at the manipulation of a great western leader, President Obama.

The President accomplished getting rid of Syrian chemical weapons, without firing a shot. Awesome presidential leadership.

Originally posted by Bosse de Nage
Is it not slightly odd that you and I, ordinarily political polar opposites, agree on this, whilst the "anti-war" theme has brought knuckle-dragging TPs and fellow-travelling Lefties together under the same death-promoting banner?

I like reading your posts. And I respect your opinions. We might disagree, but you don't bore me. So, odd? A fair reading of the scenario, in my humble opinion...

Originally posted by moon1969
Your hero Putin caved big time. Putin had originally denied that Syrian even had chemical weapons. The insecure Putin wanted the long-lost limelight and got it for a few minutes, at the manipulation of a great western leader, President Obama.

The President accomplished getting rid of Syrian chemical weapons, without firing a shot. Awesome presidential leadership.

You're so much fun...I'll tell you what, I'd have a hell of a better time hanging out with Putin than I would with Obama. Let's see - this:

http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/5134c738eab8ea8d2a00001b-1200/heres-putin-riding-a-harley-davidson-to-a-meeting-with-motorcycle-enthusiasts-in-crimea-in-2010.jpg

or this?

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0A3V6RGnrjQ/TkfpAMZmhEI/AAAAAAAAAzA/hw6dBm2zWKY/s1600/obama_mom_jeans3.jpg