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Subscribe to RSSInternational pressure is mounting on Syrian leader Bashar Assad, as diplomats from about 80 nations gather in Tunisia to discuss the crisis. NBC's Richard Engel reports.
Updated at 8:21 a.m. ET: LONDON -- Secretary of State Hillary Clinton suggested that Syria's opposition will ultimately arm itself and said she would bet against President Bashar Assad staying in power.
Her comments came ahead of a meeting of Western and Arab nations on Friday that was expected to demand that Syria implement an immediate cease-fire to allow aid in for desperate civilians in bombarded cities such as Homs amid an 11-month-old revolt.
Speaking directly to Russia and China, which have blocked U.N. Security Council resolutions designed to end the violence in Syria, Clinton said Thursday that the government's "brutality" against its own people was unsustainable in the Internet age.
"The strategy followed by the Syrians and their allies is one that can't stand the test of legitimacy or even brutality for any length of time," Clinton told reporters in London.
"There will be increasingly capable opposition forces. They will from somewhere, somehow, find the means to defend themselves as well as begin offensive measures," she added.
GOP rivals back arming Syria's rebels
"It is clear to me there will be a breaking point," Clinton said. "I wish it would be sooner, so that more lives would be saved, than later, but I have absolutely no doubt there will be such a breaking point."
Western and Arab foreign ministers were due to meet in Tunis on Friday.
While speaking to a group in London on Thursday, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton discusses the violent situation in Syria and the future of President Bashar al-Assad.
The "Friends of Syria" meeting, that Clinton will attend, will call on Syrian forces to stop firing to give international aid groups access to areas worst hit by the violence which are running out of medicine and food, according to a draft declaration obtained by Reuters.
Activists demand cease-fire, aid access in Syria
The draft also "recognized the Syrian National Council as a legitimate representative of Syrians seeking peaceful democratic change," a phrase which appeared to fall short of full endorsement of the most prominent group opposed to Assad.
About 70 nations, including the United States, Turkey, and European and Arab countries that want Assad to step down, will take part in the talks, but Russia and China, which have jointly vetoed two U.N. Security Council resolutions on Syria, say they will stay away.
U.S. officials avoided answering questions on whether the group may discuss the possibility of arming the opposition, something that some nations favor and that the United States, in a change in emphasis, on Tuesday suggested could become an alternative.
NYT: US should help Syria rebels, McCain says
Alexei Pushkov, a Russian lawmaker, said Friday after meeting Assad that the Syrian president sounded confident and demonstrated no sign he would he step aside. Pushkov warned that arming the Syrian opposition would fuel civil war.
Under mounting international pressure against Syria, the United Nations says Syria is guilty of crimes against humanity. ITV's Paul Davies reports.
The Syrian military pounded rebel-held Sunni Muslim districts of the besieged city of Homs for the 20th day on Thursday, despite international protest over the previous day's death toll of more than 80, including two Western journalists, activists said.
Assad's tanks move in to Syrian rebel stronghold
Overnight, at least two people were killed as Syrian troops resumed the shelling of Homs, activists said.
More than 5,400 people have been killed in the nearly year-old uprising.
The draft conclusion of the "Friends of Syria" meeting also calls on Damascus "immediately to cease all violence" and pledges to deliver humanitarian supplies within 48 hours if Syria "stopped its assault on civilian areas and permitted access."
The group will also commit to enforce sanctions aimed at pressuring Syria authorities to halt violence, including travel bans, asset freezes, a halt to purchase of Syrian oil, ceasing infrastructure investment and financial services relating to Syria, reducing diplomatic ties and preventing arms shipments to the Syrian government.
After the death of two more journalists, Marie Colvin and Remi Ochlik, the city of Homs remains under siege and civilians have few medical supplies. NBC's Richard Engel reports.
If Assad fails to comply within 72 hours, a senior administration official in Washington said repercussions from the Tunis group might include new steps to plug the gap in sanctions Syria has tried to evade, including efforts to move money through Asia, Russia and Eastern Europe.
Another possibility, the official said, would be broadening an arms embargo already enforced by the United States, the European Union and Turkey, and being more rigorous in forcing the revocation of insurance for any ships that might carry weapons to Syria.
NYT: As others isolate Syria, Chavez ships fuel to it
The official said members of the "Friends of Syria" group were likely to pledge specific amounts of aid but did not expect them to consider arming the opposition. Arab diplomats have suggested, however, that formal or informal moves to arm the rebels may be discussed.
"One of the things you are going to see coming out of the meeting tomorrow are concrete proposals on how we, the international community, plan to support humanitarian organizations ... within days, meaning that the challenge is on the Syrian regime to respond to this," said a U.S. official.
U.S. officials are denouncing Syria for the killings of two foreign journalists, including American Marie Colvin, but the condemnations haven't stopped Syrian forces from carrying out new attacks on opposition strongholds. NBC's Richard Engel reports.
For more than a year the Syrian opposition has called for Assad, whose family has ruled Syria for four decades, to step down in the latest of the "Arab Spring" uprisings against authoritarian rulers in the Middle East.
The continued strife reflects both Assad's determination to remain in office as well as the major powers' inability to agree on a strategy on whether to try to ease, or force, him out.
Russia has repeatedly said it does not want a resolution to become a pretext for regime change, something it believes took place when the Security Council authorized the use of force to protect civilians in Libya and that ultimately helped drive former dictator Moammar Gadhafi from power.
Clinton, however, suggested Russia and China may not be able to sustain their opposition forever.
"The pressure will build on countries like Russia and China because world opinion is not going to stand idly by. Arab opinion is not going to be satisfied watching two nations, one for commercial reasons one for commercial and ideological reasons, bolstering a regime that is defying every rule of modern international norms," she added.
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Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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as a Republican, I'd think Hillary would make a better President than any of the candidates or incumbent
No thanks I prefer to be able to keep my guns. Hillary wants to get us about where england is on gun control.
She is better playing proxy war over there with Russia and China. Ever notice the freedoms she offers abroad are the same ones she wants to take away here?
Indeed Cavey! This unfortunately will be lost on the American people who have a very short memory.
lol Skeeter, unfortunately I was alive in the nineties and remember all the cool Clintonian buzzwords.
Damn, Cavey......why do the nineties seem so long ago?
Because you like war and meddling in other countries' affairs? You should call your self a neocon because you're not a Republican. If fact, most "Republicans" are neocons.
The Syrian 'rebels' have been armed from the start by NATO through Turkey. The New World Order needs to bring down Syria before they can attack Iran. The attack on Iran will have Hezbollah firing rockets into Israel, and since the only lives that matter are Jews, Hezbollah must be disrupted via bringing down Syria.
The media is completely exaggerating about Syria, as to increase support behind bringing down Syria. Not just the regime, the New World Order masters are looking to start full scale civil war. Starting wars and making money on other people's blood is truly what they do best and enjoy the most.
When Iran retaliates and fires missiles on US forces in the Gulf, The Elites won't care. It will be great for their plan because than America can NUKE Iran. All of us are just cannon fodder anyway.
If a US ship is attacked in the Gulf before the Iran strike, you can bet your last dollar that it is a false flag Israeli attack. JUST LIKE THE USS LIBERTY WAS.
Hillary would rank right up there. In the real world, however, your GOP sponsored PACs would drive a 24/7 campaign against her and convince you that she either wasn't qualified, not religious enough, or somehow "different" from us "true Americans".
The grass is greener until the PACs get involved.
The term neoconservative, originally was used by a socialist to criticize the politics of Social Democrats.
Arming Syrian rebels will not help much.
Hillary and others may imagine 100 things as before and during Iraqi wars and Afghanistan.
Syria will get more arms from Russia and China.
World opinion is against US and allies and Saudi interventions in Syria.
Iraqi wars made more enemies than friends.
The west should take a better look at the pedigree of these so-called rebels before they go arming them. They are really just different sects of Islam who all want control for themselves. This is the reason they have not been able to unite into a single force to fight against Assad, they hate each other as much as they hate Assad. This is the problem with many of these Muslim sects, they each feel that they are the only valid form of Islam and anyone who does not go along with their particular views is an infidel to be killed. Having Assad leave will not make things in Syria any better. In fact, it could very well make things worse. Under Assad's rule, all of the different flavors of Islam were free to worship as they chose. I would not go so far as to say Assad is a secularist, but he is far more tolerant of other sects of Islam than many other rulers in the region. I do not support Assad or condone what he is doing in any way. All I am saying here is that to a degree I understand why he is doing it.
The different flavors of Islam and their underlying attitudes towards each other is the reason why real democracy will never work in the Middle East. The only way to unify a country where the people practice different flavors of Islam is through a strong hand. It takes a strong ruler with might and the willingness to use it in order to keep the varying sects in line and keep them from fighting with each other. Iraq is a prime example of this. Now that the US has left, the entire country has descended into sectarian violence with the different Islamic groups are attacking each other and fighting for power. It is impossible to get them to come to the table and work together in unison because each feels the other should not even exist and because of this they refuse to share power with each other. You see it is not just non-Muslims that these fanatics hat, it is anyone who does not adhere to their particular brand of Islam. I am not sure of the exact count, but I believe that there are something like 17 or 19 major different branches of Islam. Of course some are more violent and less tolerant than others, but each feels that they are the only true Muslims.
The strategy followed by the Syrians and their allies is one that can't stand the test of legitimacy or even brutality for any length of time
Not to seem careless, but we are already fighting other fronts, and we can't any longer be the cop of the world. If other nations, such as China, want to start "helping"the Syrians by selling them arms, so be it.
In due time, other countries need to share the burden of being "the bad guy" The Chinese and other countries only benefit from what we do, and they do not put any money on it.
What you mean? hillary was president, Bill only held the title.
I am absolutely not a Democrat; I wholeheartedly agree with the #1 post so long as it pertains to foreign policy. Obama is still a glaring amateur despite holding argueably the most powerful political office in existence...skilled political leaders from around the world make him look like a newb.
I think her domestic policy would be atrocious but still better than Obama's. Hillary has more ballz in her purse.
Once again, a Clinton puts foot in mouth!!!! Thanks for letting the World know that the U.S., for the 3rd time, will be arming known terrorist groups and then complain when they start Americans & their interest worldwide. This is Syrian problem and needs handled by Syrians and/or the Arab League. I don't think Legal U.S. Citizens want a Cold War with Russia or China. O'Bama & his cronies need to heed the wishes of the American taxpayer -- no mor money for those that wish us harm - someone in this Administration has to put the American taxpayer first. O'Bama will be facing his own armed rebellions if he continues to ignore the Constitution and the dwindling U.S. Taxpayer. What's next, a no-fly zone over Russia, Saudi Arabia, Oman, China (where people are murdered everyday by the regime)?? America has to take care of Americans and NOT continue to wreck our economy, not support the invasion from Mexico by not protecting our borders, and giving a Presidential approval to those who break our Federal Laws just because those in charge break the same laws and get appointed to head Federal Agencies. NO U.S. TAX DOLLARS TO GIVE ARMS TO THE SYRIAN REBELS (ACTIVIST) AND THE TERRORIST THAT SUPPORT THE SYRIAN TERRORIST. Legal Tax Paying American citizens reject O'Bamas redistribution of wealth and his Socialistic Goals for America. O"BAMA'S NEEDS REMOVED FROM OFFICE.
Looking at events around the War with Libya, Hillary IS President. Obama only holds the title.
In fact, these statements from her about Syria appear to be exactly what was done with Libya. Interesting enough that Russia and China blocked the UN Security Council resolution that would have set in NATO on "humanitarian reasons", enforce an no-fly zone, and do what ever it takes to protect civilians by bombing the civilian capital of the country. Now we get to see if she is able to find a back door to get NATO in there, for "humanitarian reasons" of course. They will not call it a war of course. It will most likely be called a 'military Homms street cleaning' instead.
Amen hadenough 345906.
Syria doesn't have oil. So we will only intervene if this spreads to their neighbors.
Oil is National Security.
Don't underestimate Obama. Hillary needs to be careful. Proxy wars can turn around and bite, and bite hard. The Soviet union is closer to the engagement and so is Syria as well as Hezbollah. The regime is closest of all. We sent arms to the Mujaheddin and to Al Qaida to help them in their effort to "liberate" Afghanistan. They repaid the debt. After the effort in Libya, the victors hoisted up an Al Qaida flag at the courthouse in Bengazi where it all began.
It is tempting to win friends by assisting them in their desperation. It is brutally disheartening to see the shelling of civilians in their homes. Are we in a position to know these rebels, who are they? What is their plan? When they replace the existing government, do they have a plan? They also shout Allahu Akbar after firing each shot. We best know our "friends" before we supply them with arms against our "enemies".
In the American revolution, there was a plan and an agenda, and progressive leadership. We need to see this before we begin.
The Syrians are one of the great people in the world. Damascus is the oldest, continually inhabited city. I am torn by seeing the shelling.
To end the conflict there are 2 choices:
Choosing sides must be engaged with the cautious forsight that the final outcome will be the most beneficial to Syria and all of her people. And it must be done decisively, not with a trickle of arms that feeds a bloody bloody, prolonged civil war.
This means we already have something in the works. The Arab Spring must go on!!
why dont we fish our side of the pond and when the ragheads get through killing each other then fish theirs
Somehow: Means that we will launder money highest levels to fund an illegal and covert operation, just like Charlie Wilson did for Afghanistan..and as you can see that worked out really well for US and the world!!!! since our only motive was to bankrupt the Russians and nothing to do with the country or long term stability. Same short sighted planning here. Next administration change and they'll unwind what the previous one did.
Yes! Arm the insurgents so they can bathe themselves in the blood of the Allowites and Christians! Or, we could just stay out of it since there is no acceptable outcome without occupation and all you have to do is look south of Syria to see what that costs and what it's worth. The ME is overdue for the cyclical culling of it's population that has typified the region and the culture for many centuries. We have enough to worry about here at home. Let's deal with the consequences of their collapse and move on.
Sounds like Clinton, Obama and McCain don't give a damn what the American people think.
Can there be no breaks to wars and warmongering?
Head Priest.... yes we know.... she's nothing new. she's just a waste of time. we have no need for her ancient ways the world is doing fine.
Hillary got one thing correct this is unsustainable. Yes this will not go on forever one side will win and the other will lose. The winner and loser are to be determined stay tuned for developments.
Glad to see the Republican spin-machine is already on overdrive.
What are the two parties saying? Republicans through the collective morons they've amassed as candidates are calling for arming the Syrian Rebels. You've even got your old war-hawk McCain out there saying the same damn thing.
On the other side, you've got Obama trying to de-escalate matters and keep the US neutral. I will concede there are Democrats in congress beating their chests right along with the Republicans... but since they're not the ones with the authority to commit our troops, their opinions amount to a hill of beans.
Of COURSE, Hil-dog is going to tell people that all options are on the table. Duh. The message from the American people has primarily been (for whatever our own particular reasons... we can't afford it... we need to focus on matters at home first... we don't need to be involved in another war... why are we in the Middle East at all... take your pick) stay the heck out of Syria. The Republican war-machine wants us in there because for every bomb we drop, it's another bomb they get to profit on building.
I hope and pray that - for once - the President listens to the voice of the people telling him to stay out as opposed to believing the spin-machine of the Republican party who will whisper sweet lies in his ear that this is secretly a war the American people want/need.
Yes Mrs. Clinton, the Syrian rebels will get arms somehow. Unfortunately the Syrian government will continue to get arms as well. The government will get theirs from Iran and Russia. The rebels will likely get theirs either smuggled into the country or via sympathizers within the government.
So far we've seen the Syrian government use their power and arms against their own people. They've used tanks, mortars, small arms, etc. against their citizens- killing thousands. We've seen the world stand back and let them slaughter their own. I'm less worried about the "rebels" and the danger they present than the Assad government's willingness to murder civilians.
The US needs to just keep its nose out of this one. The US will not benefit from any outcome. If we left the mideast to tend to itself Americans everywhere would be safer. That includes Israel and Iran. Israel does not need us.
If every household in America was required to give up one gun Syrian rebels would have enough firepower to take over their govt and the world if they desired to
Tired of Stupidity-946705, I am confused by your post. Can you link the reference material you have that Hillary Rodum Clinton has officially switched parties?
Just have Sarah Palin be Hillary's vice president to let protect your gun rights and you have the perfect combo. One person to direct policy and one person to look cute and visit hospitals and open shopping malls
People have sunk to new lows, must be the influences in the Obama Narwhal room. Pretending to be medical people, members of the opposition party, military and anything else just to try to swing intelligent people onto Obama's side. NOT Happening! NOT working. Hillary is "hinting" that in the backroom like the Mexican gun shipments, it is being worked out how our administration can send guns to Syria. We need to stay out of it. It is either Al Quida trying to take down the last controlled country in the Middle east or just another civil war between @!$%#es and sunnis. Either way, we've watched our current administration snatch defeat from the jaws of victory in both wars that we were winning when he came into office and waste billions arming people we know nothing about. Hillary wants to give Syria guns and take ours, go figure. I guess they are really scared in WAshington that the people have had enough of their corruption.
RichardWalking, a good posting, but where have you been? There is always a back door!!!!!
Like I said yesterday, if it's al Qaeda and the Muslim Brotherhood vs. Assad, Iran, China, and Russia, I say pass the popcorn and root for the bullets!
@jonathan, you said:
Yet, the only people opposed to the action are Iran, Russia and China. Every other country in the region (the Arab League) and everyone else on the security council at the UN have voted for some kind of intervention to the violence-- therefore, world opinion is actually FOR intervention in Syria, not against it. Not sure where you are accumulating your facts, or maybe you simply misstated them, but world opinion is certainly not on Syria's side. They have 3 allies in this fight, and China isn't even really an ally; they consistently vote against interventions of any kind (not necessarily a bad policy)-- so really, they have just two "real" allies, one ally-by-vote-proxy, and the rest of the world, including all immediately adjacent countries, as opposition. "World opinion" is not exactly on Assad's side.
RichardWalking -
You'll have to explain yourself. The article and my response were pretty self explanatory. Hilary isn't a "dog of war". If you read the article, it's pretty clear that we're still pushing for the government of Syria to disengage in the slaughter of its citizentry.
"All options are on the table" is an appeasement to those dogs of war.
Is it possible that we might arm the rebels covertly rather than openly? Yep. I hope to God we don't.
Look at Afghanistan. Look at Iraq. Any time we've overtly or covertly supplied weapons to "rebels" for what we thought was in our best interests, it's blown up in our faces.
Let the Middle East sort out their own problems. We've got enough of our own. And who knows. Israel very well may drag our collective butts into a Middle Eastern conflict soon enough.
WMG: Which world are you in?
Before Iraqi wars dictated by Saudi Arabia, oil companies and their lobbyists, US and allies were held in high esteem all over the world.
After the Iraqi war, all over the world at the drop of a hat, there are chants: "death to Amerika."
Are you not following the Quran burning in Afghanistan?
Now with economic mess, even in the US we have Occupy Wall Street movement.
About the UN and other Saudi Agents, lesser said the better. Most of them have ZERO credibility after the Iraqi wars.
You can play dramas once. But playing them again and again in an equally foolish manner will end up making fools of oneself!
That is what many US politicians, UN and other agencies are placing themselves.
Look at the credibility of the US politicians. Most of them have ended up as jokers!
If Islamic beasts of Saudi Arabia direct the dances, such dances have no value either with participants looking like a bunch of idiots, cheap sold out agents and more!
World is changing fast and you can't repeat foolish acts giving some garbage as reasons and excuses.
Ah, English is not your first language I see. I only pointed out the obvious fact that the majority of the world has called for an intervention of some kind after your statement that world opinion was against us on this one-- that was incorrect. Just like this:
Is also incorrect, in that you seem to think that this behavior (death chanting) is directly correlated to the Iraq war. But, people have been saying "Death to America" for a long time. The Nazis said it. The Japanese said it. The Russians said it. The Vietnamese said it. Now crazy religious extremists are saying it. It would help if literacy rates were over 20% in the region. It would also help if the Mullah's, in all of their "wisdom," would stop declaring science an aberration, progress blasphemy, and pronouncing fatwah's on the more intelligent figures that emerge in that cesspit of cultural malaise we know as the Middle East. Cheers.
Hillary wants to run the World Bank. She deffinately doesn`t need to be POTUS, though, we already have one UN puppet in there now.
Yep, we need another rogue cowboy like Bush, who's only puppet-master is his VP. It worked out so well before.
Bash Bush all you want. But if the United States starts bombing the government and military of Syria, the number of wars the current Administration started will equal those of the previous Administration. The question will be which cowboy was more honest it about it. The one that told the world he would not go to war unlaterally or the one that never made that promise?
Really I do not see American troops in Libya. What war are we talking about that Obama started? I think Europe had a bigger role in starting that one.
War is defined as one nation killing the citizen, government representatives, and military personal of another nation. War is not defined as a piece of leather being placed on dirt or sand of another nation. On December 7, 1941, the Japanese military did not place a boot on the ground in Hawaii, yet it was an act that resulted in war. On March 18, 2011, the United States fired missiles and dropped bombs on the city of Tripoli. If we call that action anything other than 'war' we are attempting to rationalize an action that we are really not proud of doing.
i call that payback.
I assume you may be referring to the German nightclub bombing and Pam103 that it was believed Qaddafi may have order? Is that correct? If so, let me see if I understand your form of "justice". You believe of those deaths of approximately 150 people or so, it was justified to kill Qaddafi adopted daughter and several thousand Libya citizens and military personal all of whom had nothing to do with those events and many of which were not even born then? That is basically what you are saying.
Hillary would have been a great President. Hopefully SHE can "slip" the rebels some weapons as we did in Libya. But with no air cover the tanks will rule for awhile longer.
Just a dozen anti-tank rockets would slow the Syrian armour down and make them think twice before entering a town.
GOD Bless OUR 2nd Amendment.
Defend America Forever
Hillary could just get Eric Holder to do it, It has happened before, Just create deniability and play stupid if your caught?
If it was so easy as you make out, Iraqi wars and Afghanistan wars would have been over longtime back.
Hope you remember, we had to withdraw from Iraq badly beaten.
Same or worse is going to happen in Afghanistan.
Better keep away at least for a decade from meddling in ME and any Muslim nation.
Mean while, let us recover internally for future wars and planners like you!
Hillary is imaginging like her husband that every nation is Bosnia!
If you take an analysis look at the Iraq War and the Libya War, you can see some interesting things. Iraq War resulted in the a regime change of a non-favorable national government within 1 month of the start (government did not have control of the country) and took the leader into custody within the year to be placed on trial in a civilian court for his crimes. It then resulted in 10+ years of occupation mainly for the purpose of suppressing the insurrection in the country. While that insurrection did cause many deaths and some accidental killing, it was limited and controlled.
If you take the Libya War tactic, it resulted in the regime change of a non-favorable national government in 7+ months (government did not have control of the country) and resulted in the leader to be summarily executed without any civilian trial. It also resulted in his child being summarily shot without any civilian trial. Just like Iraq, in the wake of the removal of the controlling government, there is a power vacuum in the country allowing the insurrection to rise. The problem is that there is no controlling fact to prevent the most horrendous parts of this insurrection as there was in Iraq. More civilians have been reported killed and tortured in Libya in a given month now than the original government ever committed. There is no control in the country after the United States went to war with Libya.
Now, with this article and much of the general trends in the Western media, there is at least a desire to send Syria down the same path. The question is which one will it take. A 10+ year occupation of the country after a regime change or on going increased (and seeming ignored) torture and summary executions of civilians after the West facilitates another regime change without an occupation.
I am totally confused how we (as human beings) think facilitating a regime change via military involvement can ever be stated as for "humanitary reasons" to stop the "attracities of a corrupt regime". And we make that statement in contridiction to many other past example the same thing. In most of these 'regime changes" more civilians have been killed and tortured after the controlling government is gone then was being done by the government prior.
I guess that is the price of trying to spread our own ideals across the world. We have enough friends we need to leave our enemies alone. Just like Iraq I am not afraid of Syria attacking the US so leave them alone.
I'm about to throw up. EVERY Nation around Israel is an enemy to them. Think about the MAJOR question concerning Syria: WHY is Russia and China not supporting our interpretation of the situation in Syria??
Oil
Did we support Russia in Chechnya, Georgia and former Yugoslavia?
What the hell does Israel have to do with this? Israel chooses to keep those nations as enemies instead of making any attempt at friendship, but Im still not sure what that has to do with anything.
Sure, supple weapons to those who will turn them on us at their first opportunity. The PLO, the Contra's, the mujahedin, meddle, meddle, meddle. Then after a few years, they will bring them here. Good plan. Give weapons to future extremists. Wow, have we learned nothing?
Apparently, we haven't learned, especially if we're listening to Bozobama or this sad, old, worn looking woman who's his SOS.
Somehow: Means that goverments will launder money at the highest levels to fund an illegal and covert operation, just like Charlie Wilson did for Afghanistan..and as you can see that worked out really well for the US and the world!!!! since our only motive was to bankrupt the Russians and nothing to do with the country or long term stability. Same short sighted planning here. Next administration change and they'll unwind what the previous one did.
kraussk uhhhh you sound really stupid. GOP wants to arm the rebels and will attack Obama for not arming them if they have their way. They are the ones that own the guns in the first place!
Alfred Weston, this article is about Hilliary Clinton stating that the rebels will be armed.
Some of you aren't capable of strategic thinking. When Russia, Iran and Hezbollah are on the side of Assad and supplying him with arms it's clearly in their best interest to have him survive. So it's in OUR BEST INTEREST for Syria to fall from Assad's choke hold. A free Syria presents a major problem for these most evil countries and terrorist organization.
If anyone wants weapons to attack the U.S. they can find already. No more excuses for allowing these dictators to murder their citizens.
Wow, Id forgotten about Hillery, along with All the other cabinet members...
Think barry keeps them in the closet... so hes the only one in the spotlight...?
Hilary the "pig" Clinton is at it again.
Ollie North 2012
Hilary "the pig" Clinton is at it again.
Hillary has just made a VERY, VERY stupid diplomatic move. It was too one sided and dictative and very, very few nations throughout the world will support her statement.
Actaully it appears that every nation but 2 support her statement, so it seems that you just want to argue for arguments sake
Haven't we been selling advanced miltary equipment like F-16s to countries like Saudi Arabia?? And isn't this a savage nation that treats women like dogs? I'd like to see these clowns get off their robed asses just one time, and fight for a just cause in their own back yard---just one flippin' time!! Why don't they send some of their superior male species to help out their brother Syrians? Do the Saudis EVER use their military to help out people in their own back yard???
Tim, that's because Saudi Arabia is ALREADY knee deep in the little country of Bahrain with its troops helping the king keep the demonstrators that are demanding reforms down. :-)
The Saudis are above this, so they think! All they do is murder foreign nationals for blaspheme. If hey actually have to work at something I think it would kill them. Most of the 9/11 terrorists came from the Saudi Kingdom We did jack s h i t about 'cause people are more concerned about driving than being attacked by airliners in skyscrapers. But wait until the next major terrorist attack and you'll be more willing to stop driving those cars with one occupant per vehicle.
Don't Hilary for the G.O.P. greed behind oil companies that deal with the Saudis, Syria, Russia, U.A.E., Kuwait etc.
Her boss and DOJ can get that job done and then when the smoke clears and the investigations show wrong doing Holder can say the ones looking at him are racist. Democracy will not prevail in the middle east. Blind and aroogant leaders we have here in America
steve; I believe you would be hard pressed to actually find a leader in the US.
To be sure.
there has been war in this region since the beginning of time, what makes anyone believe it will end now?
what is at the root of all this warring? Religion! Even people in the same religion have different ways to observe and will die to defend or push their beliefs on the others. I think we should monitor the area and make sure their problems stay within their borders. We need to realize the situation WILL NEVER CHANGE!
Their belief system is one of destruction and killing, whether it's us or each other, and the sooner we come to grips and deal with that reality with a long term strategy, the better off we wil be. It's time for us to smarten up.
Poss
It's not just their religion. They were fighting before Islam came on the scene. I don't think enough Americans realize that the vast majority of the mid-east and south Asia people are divided by tribal alliances. We see the fighting, hear about the stonings, honor killings, etc and attribute them to religion and that's not true. Those are cultural practices that are now being justified with religion. All religions do this. They take cultural practices and incorporate them. If you take Islam out of the mix, they would still be doing it.
That being said, there's no way we will ever change their culture. We should just leave them to it. Either they will evolve or not. We can't force it.
If we could use our own natural gas and oil we wouldn't even need to worry about those litter boxes over there. We should have enough reserves to last until they kill each other off then deal with the survivors/winners. probaly get a better price per barrel that way also
The thing that always amazes me is all of the comments on this post show that no one thinks of God when they want to make policy choices, but all claim they are so good, advanced, and evolved. Do unto others, protect Gods creation the Earth and it's inhabitants, not just Humans. Noah did not build an ark and take 50 Humans and just a few animals, he saved every animal, but we don't care about the environment lets destroy ecosystems for some oil we need money. Well if you are broke get like those that are not and go to school again to learn more.
Hillary needs to shut her big mouth and fall back. She is on the verge of starting a world war. She was the one who influenced the Obama administration the most for regime change in Libya. Libya is disaster. Al Qeada is now running Libya. She also caused further strain between Russia and the US by interfering in Russian elections by publicly denouncing Putin. Now she want to arm rebels who may be worst than the regime and where Al qaeda is strong. Hillary go sit down somewhere.
Idiot! Al-Qaeda does not run Libya! Right-wing propaganda that is all lies! Bush would start a war without provocation and you think talk is provocation. Stupid beeeoootch!
Lisa Hampton is correct. And stated it without calling anyone names.
"Syria rebels will get arms 'somehow,' Hillary Clinton says"
Okay all you libloons and Redumblicans......here we go. Does ANYONE think the U.S. won't be involved in this one way or another? Fools. Libya, Egypt, Tunisia......how's that working out for you?
If ANYONE, other than Ron Paul, is elected in November it will be business as usual - American blood and treasure thrown down the Middle East rat hole ad infinitum with the same result we're seeing in those three countries and, worse, in the lost cause called Afghanistan.
All you moms and dads of ten-year-olds, five-year-olds and the ones on the way begin to resolve yourselves to the fact that some of them will be sacrificed on the alter of regime change for religious fanatics that still live in the fifteenth century. No doubt there will be a number of Nobel Peace Prizes along the way.
See you in November.
Just write the check and SHUT UP!
All you need to do is look at Egypt to know where regime change will get us, deeper in trouble in the Middle East. You don't see the Chinese running around all over the place spending their money to butt their noses into the affairs of other countries. Why in hell do we think we have a personal responsibility to save the world whether it wants saved or not? Look at the mess we left in Iraq, no dictator in charge and now mass chaos with daily bombings headed to a civil war. While I'm not a Ron Paul fan, I like his foreign policy approach - shutdown bases that waste money and bring our troops home. If the Syrians, Iraqis, and other extremists want to kill themselves, let them have it. What we're doing is the same as the Chinese rushing into Detroit to restore law and order!!!
The US government managed to arm Mexican drug lords, so doing the same for Syria's rebels shouldn't be too difficult.
"Somehow, somewhere.." sounds pretty stupid and clueless. Another example of Obama administration's feckles foriegn policy like the diisaster that is shaping up in Egypt.
The arabs need to step up to the plate and clean up their own backyard. Does anyone remember a couple of adventures called Iraq and Asscrackistan?
Again we are telling other countries what they should do? When did we become the worlds voice? Let Syrians take care of thier own situation if Assad stays great if not great i don't care either way. We keep telling other leaders to step down, what if we have a revolt and unrest here is the current administration going to leave? Hell no they would put down the revolt with force and we think we are so much better.
I think we have spent enough money and caused enough damage for one century? If we give them Weapons today they will be using them against us Tomorrow.
Exactly! Well said...
This is an internal conflict and we need to stay out of it. I am all for kicking someone's @ss when it calls for it, but anytime Al Qaeda chims in and says the government of a country has to go, I suggest we stay out of it. The president is looking to please some base of his core, but yet make sure his hands are clean by allowing his cabinet members to rattle the sabre. There is no clear objective here just as there was none in Lybia and Egypt. There were goals, but what was the objective? To put the military in charge in Egypt? To have factions of terror groups trying to capture power in Lybia? If the Syrians want a new government, they can win it themselves, we have no business in this, again it's internal.
This is awful but for the US it is going to cause so many problems for ourselves if we butt in. China already took Assad's positition on this only for econmic reasons and threatend to go to war with us if we go in militarly. Former CIA agent Michael Scheuer already explaned why we shouldn't have gotten involved with Libya and I know he disagrees with interfering with this situation. We look how awful this is and then we give weapons to people who hate us at the same time. When this is over and Assad gets killed who is to say those weapsons won't be used to attack our troops in the middle east. Hillary being president would be exactly like what we have, a lying puppet. So would Romney, Gingrich and Santorum. As bad as Obama is as POTUS, at least it isn't John McCain who would have us going to war with Syria, Iran, China and Russia all at the same time. This isn't the 1930's and we're the only ones with an atom bomb. Hillary Clinton already showed her true colors when she said America is losing the infowar because now we can watch english speaking Russia Today and Al Jazeera which conterdicts our properganda ran media and tells people our gov't secrets they don't tell us.
Let the Arab League supply the weapons to the rebels. We sell weapons to all those countires. If an F-16 piloted by a Saudi happens to bomb a civilian target by mistake they (Syrians) wont give it a second thought. But if it is piloted by an American there will be flag burning and demonstrations that the infidels of the West are killing civilians. Remember the incident in Iraq where extremist were holed up in a mosque. We couldnt return fire (I think it was El Sadir). The only way we got them out of there was letting Iraqi forces attack it. (that was ok). LET THE ARAB LEAGUE ARM THE REBELS!!! Obama is president of the United States....not the world....and Hilary dont you remember you husbands fiasco in Somalia (Pretty sure it was Clinton's)....how did that go for us?
FOR ONCE!!!! LET SOME OTHER COUNTRY'S TAKE SOME RESPONSIBILITY ESPECIALLY IN ISLAMIC COUNTRY'S THE SYRIAN PEOPLE PROBABLY HATE THE US MORE THEN THEY HATE ASAAD
Who will furnish US arms when OUR Government becomes oppressive to its people ??.....Oh wait ,we ARE armed. No wonder the Government hasn't turned yet. Imagine the possibilities if we were NOT armed, or better yet if the Government tried to DISARM it's people.
..exactly what this administration is trying to do.
Rob
I haven't heard of anything about gun control lately. Exactly what laws/mandates, etc has this administration been doing?
What do you think "Fast and Furious" was all about. The administration and Holder thought it would result in tighter gun control in the U.S. if American sold arms were found being used by the drug cartels.......they just didn't plan on a Border Patrol agent being killed with one of them. That little oversight will keep their overreach in check for a while......but not forever.
Where are the Arabs?????????? They seem to be all talk & no action. They need to step up to the plate and take action isntead of waiting for the west to bail them out - as usual. The entire world waits for the west to bail them out & then chastizes the west for doing so. What a totally screwed up part of the world they've created for themselves. The only thing they seem to have is OPIONS. And, they voice them regularly. "Heck, even animals help each other out". Make a move - do something !!!!!