Yep. These are not like guns or planes or regular weapons. We can't just bomb them or you will spread them all over the place and if they are around populated areas (which I can see them doing easily) will kill tens of thousands if not more. The only way to attack and destroy at the same time is use a large nuke, which kinda destroys all those people anyway.

 

To get them out and safely destroy them would require many boots and tanks on the ground and put thousands (or tens of thousands) of our troops at risk. Who is to say that whoever is holding them now is not a fanatic and will release them if "enemy" (whoever they are) troops get near them?

 

The Rebels are Al-Querida. We must stop our support of the them to stabilize the current rulers, which have had these weapons for years, but shown *they* have the sense not to use them. (Still not convinced that Assad's government condoned the release in the first place, it's too convenient for the rebels) The Rebels must NOT get control of any more of them than they already have.

I appreciate what you're saying here sound guy but I would correct you on a couple of the broad-brush notions put forth.

Folks on the right are always fond of saying, "Guns don't kill people, people kill people." The same is true with chemical weapons. What is critical is the notion that Assad's regime needs to know that using chemical weapons is not a good idea. That they have them or may have them is secondary. Instilling in their minds an understanding of why they don't want to use them (Maxwell's Silver hammer comes down upon their head, bang, bang, Maxwells Silver Hammer makes sure that they are dead.) doesn't require their removal, hence does not require they be taken by the force of boots on the ground.

Second, while it is true some of the rebels in Syria are Al Quida, I think it is an exaggeration to suggest they are all Al Quida.

From what I heard the actions contemplated, while they are designed to ding Assad's forces, there really is no desire to take down Assad. Indeed, regime change is not a goal of any contemplated action.

Third, I believe I was among the first to suggest that we let Russia take the lead on this and it seems we may be maneuvering them into doing so. That really is great, IMO.

Anyone familiar with Russia and its problems in the region will recognize that they started this conflict with ... and actually created Al Queda as a response to their invasion of Afghanistan back in the 80s. That is when Osama Bin Laden got his start ... working with the CIA.

The real challenge in all this is that if the US comes across as chastened and weak, that perception will have other ramifications. There is already a move on in international markets to drop the dollar as the reserve currency for the world. One of the reasons we would be reluctant to invite Russia into the Syrian crisis is because of the perception of weakness.

In that context, I don't fault Obama for rattling the swords but (and unlike GWB) actually be willing to use the UN to its fullest including inviting Putin into the ground-game in Syria.

The real point is that possibilities for intrigue and mischief with the Muslim fundamentalists operating all over the region including the XYZ-stans and Southern Russia will actually be a greater deterrent to Russian exploitation of the situation than I think Putin realizes. In addition, if we can maneuver Putin into that situation, we can increase our standing as a broker of a wider peace with that part of the world, IMO, including the Israeli situation, etc.

That McCain is amongst the loudest saber-rattlers in this country, BTW, tells me that the Israeli lobby is likely the strongest sponsor of our intervention.

Finally, let me say that using the UN at this time as the institutional tool will strengthen that institution which frankly remains the best shot at avoiding WWIII anyway.

Regardless, the way to get Putin and the Russians to take the bait will require that we stay united. Indeed, the world's eyes are on us and if we, for instance, go through some gyrations regarding the budget, we may lose our greatest strength - the use of the dollar as the reserve currency for the world. Protecting that status takes precedence over killing obamacare, embarrassing for partisan political gain the administration in other ways. We're playing with fire here folks and the fall out from our political squabbling could well cause us all real pain.

This crisis is really big and the real key to our emerging from this crisis is for us to rally 'round the flag.

pubby

Source: An answer to the Syrian debacle