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EPA
A column of smoke rises over Damascus, Syria, on Wednesday after two bomb blasts were reported.
UNITED NATIONS -- Arab nations should intervene in Syria given the U.N. Security Council's failure to stop the civil war in the country, Qatari Emir Sheik Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani said Tuesday.
"The Security Council failed to reach an effective position. In view of this, I think that it is better for the Arab countries themselves to interfere out of their national, humanitarian, political and military duties and do what is necessary to stop the bloodshed in Syria," Sheik Hamad, speaking through an interpreter, said in a U.N. General Assembly speech.
Western powers have made clear they are opposed to direct intervention and the Security Council will not sanction action against the wishes of Russia and China. President Barack Obama on Tuesday called again for the ouster of Syrian President Bashar Assad but provided no clear direction forward.
The Syrian conflict grinds on. Cities are under attack leaving them crushed by heavy shelling. NBC's Bill Neely reports.
Sheik Hamad suggested that bypassing the U.N. Security Council would enable a peaceful transition of power in Syria.
"We had a similar precedent when Arab forces intervened in Lebanon in the mid-'70s ... to stop internal fighting there in a step that proved to be effective and useful," he added.
'Senseless' torture and violence: Charity appeals for help for Syria's children
In 1976, an Arab League summit in Cairo authorized the deployment of an Arab peacekeeping force in Lebanon, according to the BBC.
NBC News
People resisting the army of President Bashar al-Assad in northern Syria cope with loss and prepare for fighting.
Qatar, along with Saudi Arabia and Turkey, strongly supports the mainly Sunni Muslim Syrian rebels, while Shiite Iran backs Assad, whose Alawite minority is an offshoot of Shiite Islam.
More international coverage from NBC News
Sheik Hamad further urged all countries that believe in the cause of the Syrian people to provide "all sorts of support" to Syrians until they gain legitimate rights.
Activists say that 27,000 people have been killed in Syria's uprising, which began as peaceful demonstrations for reform 18 months ago but turned into an armed insurgency fighting to topple Assad, with sectarian overtones that could drag in regional powers.
Obama denounces violence in Middle East, calls for tolerance and democracy
Meanwhile, state-run media said two massive explosions targeted the army command headquarters in Damascus on Wednesday, setting off clashes and a huge fire inside the building.
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A look back at the violence that has overtaken the country
The rebel Free Syrian Army claimed responsibility for the bombings.
Press TV via EPA file
An undated handout television grab taken from Iran's state-run news network Press TV shows its correspondent Maya Nasser who was killed in Syria Wednesday.
"The Free Army hit the general staff building in Damascus' Umayyad Square and dozens were killed in the two powerful blasts," the information office for the FSA military council said in a statement. Syria's Information Minister Omran Zoabi had earlier said that the blasts caused only material damage.
The army said four guards were killed and 14 wounded in what it said were suicide attacks. No senior officers were hurt in the blasts, which shook the whole city just before the start of the working day, it said.
Iran's Press TV also said Wednesday that one of its correspondents was killed in Syria covering the twin blasts and gun battles in the Damascus.
Machine guns operated by motorcycle brakes? Get a glimpse at the rebels fighting against Assad's forces in Syria's mountainous Jabal al-Zawiya area.
Press TV identified the correspondent as 33-year-old Maya Nasser, a Syrian national.
More Syria coverage from NBC News
Syrian authorities accuse Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey of arming the rebels.
In July, Gulf sources told Reuters that Turkey had set up a secret base with Saudi Arabia and Qatar to direct vital military and communications aid to Syria's rebels.
Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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When the Neo Nazi Nationalists in the former Yugoslavia committed internal war and genocide against their own citizens, their neighbors in Europe, the same ones rescued from Hitler and the Nazis less than 70 years ago, stood by and DID NOTHING. The US president (a democrat, no less) Bill Clinton ordered bombing (no US troops) on the leaders headquarters and military target. We accidently hit the Chinese Embassy, and the Chinese, who care about nothing more than making money even if the people they are dealing with are murderers, got all ticked off. We apologized but kept up the attacks. Thanks to us, these Neo Nazis went down and even though the country got broken up into different countries, the genocide stopped and now the people live without fear of being rounded up and eliminated. NOW WE HAVE SYRIA. Like Europe, who should have stepped in becasue it was THEIR OWN NEIGHBORHOOD. it is time for the ARAB countries to REALLY HELP their Arab borhters and sisters. Saudi Arabia has cash. There are willing fighters. Give them what they need. Lots of surface to air missles. Maybe even a no fly zone. Assad is a psycho and bully, We all know the way to handle a bully is to stand up to him. The are the biggest cry babies when confronted with someone not afraid of them. I hope the Arab countries have the courage and will to do the right thing.
WASHINGTON, DC: The White House just confirmed... the embassy attacks were the fault of George W. Bush. In fact, they think he personally might have planned and carried out the attacks since every other person, and group, on Earth LOVES Barack Hussein Obama because he is SO COOL! More from The White House, the reason Obama did not respond to the attacks sooner (as our ambassador was being dragged through the streets like a sceme from "Weekend at Bernie's") had nothing to do with the fact he was stumping a Vegas hooker.
Radical Muslims? President Obama might be following the best plan: leave them alone to self destruct. The US military can't solve hatred.
Wow, there is one Arab who has some guts and brains to solve their own problems. Go get it done Sheik Hamad......
Rick-868962,
Ummm... hopefully you didn't spend too much time coming up with those words of wit, because it looks like you're not getting the attention you wanted.
Finally!! I guess they figured out that we are sick and tired of cleaning up their sh.t. Please send your own people to kill your own people and stop the Syrian war vs. killing Americans for any/all reasons.
Middle Eastern country's politics are way to religious based for a group effort on anything. Nice thought but not reality based.
Bill says "Give them what they need. Lots of surface to air missles (sic)."
It may be just what they need but definately not what we (the West) need. Only a matter of time before those same missiles would be used to bring down our planes (civilian and military).
That said, I like the thought of the Arab neighbors stepping in and doing something about it. We can't afford to keep fighting these battles. We spend our money and spill our blood only to have them stab us in the back with our knives.
Toosano, boiling down all ME geopolitics to "it's all a series of religious conflicts" comically underestimates the complexity of the situation, and is hardly rooted in reality. Money, power, resources, history, and influence all play a huge part in the region's conflicts, not just Islam. These people are humans, and have motivations beyond what their holy book or priest of choice says.
Nothing, absolutely NOTHING, will be done by the Arab Nations. That is like trying to get this administration leading in the ME and North Africa.
BTW NBC-NDC: WHERE, oh where, is the ARTICLE on Iran's ABSURD comments at the UNITED NATIONS today ? Is this administration trying to figure out what to say or will it be left to Mr. Canary at a press briefing or Mrs. Clinton doing the dirty work ?
Waiting, waiting, waiting.
Rick,
You should remove the first O from your OBOZO icon.
SF, you are in serious LaLaLand. Religion is absolutely the first step in virtually any decision made by these third world countries where the super rich hide behind gates and the rest are left to be controlled by their God. They could not possibly organize themselves in the name of business to do something about Syria. They could do it it one day if they made it a religious conflict.
It's about time someone in the neighborhood stood up and said something rational!
KZ
I agree.
But I think that they will not put boots on the ground to stop the fighting. Instead they will come knocking on our door to do their dirty work for them. Nothing will change.
Standing up and saying something is only the start. Unfortunately, the Arab Nations have been standing up and saying something about Islamic Terrorists... and that's all they have done.
They've got the easy part done ..... talking about it.
Saying something and doing something are two different things. Arab leaders love to hear themselves talk but they usually never back up there words with any action at all. Then again they do love to burn our Flag, call us the Great Satan and kill Americans as well as their own citizens. But when it comes to going up against other Arabs they usually just do a lot of talking....
The will and the resources are there. And since Quatar and SA are NOT democracies, it's not like they need the people's permission.
As soon as they decide that they have more to gain than lose from ending the conflict, I believe they'll do so.
No way, they are too busy protesting some bull@!$%# cartoon.
It's way more important that they kill innocent Americans than dare to question one of their "own" who uses artillery on civilians.
All for the religion of peace and love, believe it or die by their loving hands!
WASHINGTON, DC: The White House just confirmed... the embassy attacks were the fault of George W. Bush. In fact, they think he personally might have planned and carried out the attacks since every other person, and group, on Earth LOVES Barack Hussein Obama because he is SO COOL! More from The White House, the reason Obama did not respond to the attacks sooner (as our ambassador was being dragged through the streets like a sceme from "Weekend at Bernie's") had nothing to do with the fact he was stumping a Vegas hooker.
dear ric,
if you stop sucking your own penis long enough to take those medications your delusion of grandure will subside...
We all just confirmed...Rick is an idiot.
Our I kind of like Jeffs thought...still say you need to remove the first O from your Icon.
I agree with KZ. It is about time that the Countries in the Middle East grew up and started acting like adults. It is NOT the responsibilty of the Unites State to go in and protect the civilians of every country in the world.
Here you are wrong. According to our Democrats (really Modern Progressives) believe we should and the people from those countries should be forced to believe and live like we do. In turn the United States will fight for their liberties (which consist of the best of their abilities).
Progressives do not believe in capitalism, they believe in a hiearchy of intelligence.
They are why we (the US) has Guam, the Phillipines, Puerto Rico, Samoa etc. and at one time Cuba. We see how that is working for these people.
debbie,
You might want to view the presidents speech at the UN 9/25/12.
It states the exact opposite as to the US intentions in front of the world.
I applaud your keeping comments delusional....
So should they be forced to live as some crackpot dictator wants them to instead, Debbie? These people are rebelling for a reason.
There are already Arab fighters on the ground in Syria- Egyptian jihadists/Libyan rebel remnants, Syrians opposing Assad. Turkey is seesawing with their SNC in Turkey-various rebels belonging to FSA but not adhering to any co-ordination with other jihadists/rebels (the main problem) to any military plans. Then Turkey is at its wit's end for housing the Syrian refugees and no monies for their upkeep. What is not reported in Obama's America is that Jordan who has 200,000 Syrian refugees has real problems in the UN refugee camps- i.e. in Northern Jordan for 30,000 refugees where they have isolated unmarried men and where clashes with Jordanian police have taken place- to court and facing deportation back to Syria (Gulf News). Syria is the real Hell on Earth- its cultural items stolen from Heritage sites (looting )-its miscellaneous populace hated or loved by their Arab Brethen depending weho is behind whom. Atrocities by both sides (or multiple sides)in the conflict- now the reporters are the prey of sharpshooters- anyone peaceful not daring to leave their homes (safe haven) depending who is on the streets shooting.
If it is anyone's responsibilty to intervene it is most certainly the Arab world and the neighbor countries effected by this war. Since we never seem to, by their comments, know who or what we're doing or supporting or understand a thing about their culture, I say have at it Arab nations. Russia and China if they don't like it, take it up with your oil suppliers.
And while they are at it, finally taking the lead instead of watching, how about they start useing their oil wealth for the people of the middle east. The Arab nations, are just like a street begger with a buck in his pocket asking you for a buck for coffee, why spend theirs if they can get us to spend ours. It's time we stop the flood of bleeding heart pitty for the less to do Arabs and let the wealthy Arab nations do for their own. Who knows they might actually stop all the terrorist bombings when its their own money rebuilding the same thing over and over again.
"....President Barack Obama on Tuesday called again for the ouster of Syrian President Bashar Assad but provided no clear direction forward...."
No surprise there. Maybe the girls on the view could help.
Obamass wants the Muslim Brotherhood to take over.
He called for the WORLD to be put on notice!
Should he have assigned YOU to be sent to take up arms? Or again ask our troops?
it is prejudiced, hateful americans to claim an outright lie that Obama wants to help Muslim Brotherhood to take over. Obama wants the genocide of a evil dictator to stop killing and torturing citizens and children in syria, be real, Jeffrey must be a republican that falsely claim that Obama wasn't a american and supports terrorists that hate americans, when the true is that Obama hunted down bin laden and killed him when bush failed to do so miserably. Obama will be re-elected for a reason and that reason is that he is a decent president unlike the previous president that nearly drove us to a great depression and Obama came in cleaning up his mess to get the country back on the right track
Obama wants to maintain global stability and America's dominance in the world...same as every other modern president has in the past. Some are just better at it than others...but they have all been pretty much the same.
Qatar is right. Those arab nations in that area should clean up the mess that is Syria.
This is what needs to happen. Despite the fact that the West would be helping them, there would still be animosity towards the West for interfering in their affairs. We aren't going to solve the problems in the Arab world. They need to settle them internally.
The UN wants to use Syria as a tool to start World War III.
The whole world should be against the globalists in the New World Order which is tied to the United Nations.
Lock and Load America.
There are a few thousand of them and millions of us.
Tell the Americans to get out of your country. We have enough problems at home to deal with.
And who, in your half-baked Cold War fantasy world, would be on Assad's side? For a World War you need an awful lot of countries fighting. On the Syrian rebels' side you have NATO and the Arab League, and on Assad's side you have... Iran, maybe? They wouldn't last a week. Russia would never go to war with anyone so far away just for one measly port. China would be happy to bankroll other people's wars, but doesn't want to fight one themselves.
It is kind of funny though that your imaginary NWO globalists have the arbitrary goal of destroying globalization through warfare. Did you come up with that yourself or just rip it from some conspiracy nut's blog?
Ya SF accountant you forgot Alqaida and the Muslims brother hood going to be on NATO side , because that's who's arming them and training them , and don't go crying when its blows up in your face .
Well, that would just make the war even MORE one sided. With the forces of the world's richest nations and the random religious zealots on the same side, who's left to fight against them? There's not really anywhere to hide when you've got suicide bombers on the ground, tanks surrounding the city, and planes gunning for you from the skies.
Really now, you guys make this too easy.
I think it more likely that a conflict involving Isreal and Iran will be the catalyst for the start of WW3 than an Arab civil war. In fact, given the track record of the collective Arab world, god help us all if they ever start working together. It would be like putting all the africanized honeybees all in one big hive and then throwing a firecracker at it. Let them fight with eachother and work out their own problems. Not so sure why we are there in a military fashion in the first place. We only get 10% of our imported oil from the middle east. The Asians and Europeans are getting onwards of 50% and in some cases much more of their oil from the middleeast. Why can't they help the Arabs. It's their backyard. Let's keep our own clean. I'm betting more people have died in Mexico over drugs in the last two years than have died in the Syrian civil war. And unlike Syria, the dope smoking portion of our population is directly responsible for their deaths....I also find it more than coincidence that we seem to jump into every conflict involving an oil nation and our politicians preach that "it's not the oil we want, it's the bloodshed we want to stop" yet we seem to have an obvious hands-off approach to conflict in the rest of the world where there are no strategic resources. Not saying it's wrong, but we all know the truth of things. Why not simply speak the truth. There is no value added to helping the Syrians on either side. The country is simply not even on our radar as anything important.....and that is kind of sad. Even more sad is that the rest of the world would allow for this.
If the Arab nations respond to Syria like they have for every other crisis they should have become involved in, Assad has another 16 or 17 years before any of those Arab nations finally decides to actually do something. Otherwise, they're all talk and no action.
maybe a coalition of arab forces in tanks and jets can take out the assad regime and russsia and china can kiss the area goodbye because of the lack of support they gave tanks from other countries rolling in from other countries mainly arabs sure would be nice to see
If I'm Arab, that's what I would do.
I totally respect Emir Sheik Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thanithe's proposal that he put before the UN!
Even though I won't pretend to know how to pronounce his name...his position is the right one!
Dear Syrians,
Wengerocracy is a form of government where the people watch the ruler entirely amongst their reign. Wengerocracy prevents the leader of a country from covering up unlawful behavior going on.
Over 100 million lives died in the 20th century alone because of leaders of numerous countries covering up unlawful behavior.
Nathaniel Wenger
NathanielWenger@NathanielWenger.com
PS Why isn't Anne Frank writing and publishing books on the importance of instating wengerocracy in Germany?
Answer the question.
I am teaching the importance to instate wengerocracy. Google it.
I have been teaching the importance to instate wengerocracy for over five years.
Why aren't you writing and publishing articles on the importance of instating wengerocracy in Syria?
What are you paid off to silence wengerocracy?
Sounds like a good idea, all we have to do is make a video of Assad urinating and wacking off on a Koran and mock Muhammad and the savages will explode, rampage, pillage and burn Syria to the ground forcing Assad out of the country into permanent exile.
Then again, they only get into a tizzy if it is done by Americans or in America. On a more serious note, why don't these Zillionaire Oil states put their armies together and help out Syria...? Won't happen, everyone in the world is waiting for the US to put our troops on the line.
This is about the most intelligent statement I have ever heard coming from a Mid-Eastern leader. If your own neighbors won't help you in time of crisis why should some one half way around the world help you?
<Benny Hill music starts playing>
don't get involved in this mess. theres no winning.
Agree with you 110% Joe, this has been going on for 6000 years over there, why end the fun now? These savages will find a reason to attack and kill each other regardless, usually over the goodness of religion though. Obama is doing the right thing by hanging back no matter how much the Hawks are trying to goad him into another war, stand your ground Obama and stay out of Syria.
Freedom is fought for. Just like we in the U.S.A. did. I say let them fight for their right for freedom and earn it. We did and so should they. We should just stay out of it all together or let them become part of the U.S.A. I get sick of fighting everyones battles and not getting anything but hate over it.
Exactly Sanddune, those people over there are going to hate us no matter what we do so let's let them hate us for standing by. They should fight harder for their freedom, they are already getting millions of dollars of aid from around the world, FIGHT HARDER!!
We did fight for our freedom, but we had help. And Britain didn't exactly have an armored vehicle corp and air force.
Syria needs help, but nowadays it's trendier to be more afraid of terrorists than dictators (I wonder which one of those things destroys and ruins more people annually?). So America turned its back on them. Hopefully the other Arab nations will step up to the plate. Not for freedom, of course, but I'm sure the Syrians aren't too picky about the why at this point.
"Qatari leader calls for Arab nations to intervene and 'stop the bloodshed in Syria'"
DUH! Ya THINK???
SOooo much for their BULLSHYYTTT & SMOKE-SCREEN tactics and lies, evermore forthcomming each day, NON-STOP smoke up our POLITITIONz a-wholes, (BUT they du buy it too uno).
Juss - senddd'umm sum mo money cousin!!! Thass whut Relatives du uno.
I do not know who's dumber the people on this site or the leaders of the world , Obama wants ASSAD out , no shiiit . hell ya he wants out , so he and his FING SAUDIS AND QATARIS ALQIDA can take over Syria with little blood shed , they want to save the lives of their Alqaida and Muslims Brother hood , not the Civilians of Syria nor the Christians of that country , all 2 millions of them , Obama , Hilary , McCain , Graham , Lieberman and all of you senators that want Syria destroyed , Shame on you , Why don;t you tell the American people the Fing Truth , WHO'S KILLING WHO IN SYRIA ?????? Mr.Obama ...... You and your FING DEM'S and Rep.'s agree on one thing at least . and that's in arming Alqaida and these thugs all over the world to kill the Christians In the ME so their Saudis and Qataris that people that paid to attack us here on 9/11 , can rule the part of the wolrd with their fanatics , but I guess what happened in Libya woke the American people for couple of days , but then they bought all the BS from our media and politicians .
Hey Turn! How's it going? Still cheerleading for mass murderers? It's been a while since I've seen your horribly mangled English! I've been pretty busy at work (not that you asked).
So on to the usual questions... why would American leaders want to see Christians killed? Why is it more important to protect Christian lives than Muslim lives? And WHO IS KILLING WHO IN SYRIA?
That last one is just a joke, of course; obviously, both sides are killing each other. But one side is still fighting for freedom from Assad's tyranny and corrupt police state, while the other is still fighting to preserve the illegitimate rule of one man over all the levers of power, so I still, of course, side with the rebels/terrorists/foreign agents or whatever you've decided to label them as this week.
Good to hear from you, turn!
SF accountant I wish I can say the same about you , and more FING time , I do not give a dame if you like my English or not , at least I have brain to speak more than couple of languages , and better yet I have brain and clear mind to see who's wrong and who's Right . Just because Assad is a leader that our dumb ass and paid off senators do not like , does not make him bad , he is good for his country and that's all what count , fuuuck the Saudis and the Qataris and NATO for that matter , and after all these FING reports about Alqaida being in Syria , and you still support them , that's do not say much about you or all these no good for nothing senators here . check their fing bank accounts and see how much money they are getting for selling the American troops and [people out , but people like you what's wrong with our country now , why don't invite these thugs to your neighbor hood and see how much you like them , you saw what they did to the guy that helped them in Libya , they were very thankful . weren't they ??? and now in Syria t they are murdering Christians and destroying their homes , and yes assss hole I care about Christian , because I am one them , an dI do care about peaceful Muslims , but not these SOB'S Alqaida and Wahhabi's and Muslims brother hood thugs , AND IF CARE SO FING MUCH , I WILL BE GLAD TO PAY FOR YOUR TRIP OVER THERE , AND LET YOU JOIN YOUR BROTHERS IN ARMS . GO ASSAD GO CHRISTIANS , ANDS I WISH MR. OBAMA AND ALL THESE DUMB POLITICIANS WE GOT HERE , QUIT TELLING COUNTRIES HOW TO LIVE AND WHO'S THEIR LEADERS SHOULD BE . AND FOR SURE THE SOB FROM QATAR IS THE LAST PERSON COULD TALK ABOUT FREEDOM , THE SOB PUT HIS OWN FATHER IN PRISON AND TOOK OVER AS NO GOOD RULER, CHECK HIS COUNTRY AND ALL THESE SMALL;L KINGDOMS , IF IT WAS NOT FOR THEIR MONEY AND OIL , WE WOULD NOT PISS ON THESE CLOWNS . BUT I GUESS MONEY TALKS AND BS GOES TO THE UN .
True. It's all the murdering people and torture of civilians imprisoned without trial and using artillery on his own cities that make him bad. We're in TOTAL agreement on this. Whether or not America's senators like him doesn't matter one bit. Hey, I think we're making progress, here!
Ooh, gonna have to disagree with you here, Turn. It's hard to claim that he was good for his country when his decisions plunged it into civil war. I know you hold up the safety of Christians above all else (you admit as much), but religious freedoms are not more important than basic political freedoms, freedom of expression, proper judicial procedure, or some sense of humanity. No matter how many times you declare that the rebels are "thugs" (sorry, I forgot that was your favorite label for them), that does not change the fact that the Syrians have legitimate complaints about the way their government treated them. Assad was clearly not good for the country from any perspective.
I can't even tell if you're being serious anymore. You do know that America legislators can't deploy troops, right? That's not how our government works. So the Arabs would have to bribe the entire legislative branch PLUS the President of the United States. That's just silly, especially since it didn't work (we haven't sent any troops there yet, you know).
Which is slightly ironic, considering that you're telling the rebels how they should live peacefully under a cruel dictatorship and to accept Assad as their leader. Or, wait, are you still arguing that the rebels are all foreign terrorists? Dude, even the Syrian propoganda has given up on that story. Assad himself admits he's in a civil war. Meaning he's at war with his own citizens, the population of his country, who he was responsible for caring for. You need to update your rant, Turn.
I'll give you that one. But hey, after Syria is freed from their corrupt, murderous dictator, maybe Qatar and Saudi Arabia will be next! Wouldn't that be cool?
SF accountant is right and my turn is a mass murderer supporter to prevent decent citizens of syria from winning their freedom and the right to elect the leader of "their" choosing instead of a evil hitler like dictator electing himself while squashing syrians rights and freedom thinking only of his sorry self. Yes, my turn is a supporter to prevent freedom and wants a evil mass murderer dictator to kill thousands upon thousands more including children. Making my turn a very evil person
I don't see the Arabs states doing anything but TALK. Aren't the majority of them run by dictators? If they did go to the rescue wouldn't that open them up for their subjects wanting change? Its much easier for them to drag us into it so they can tell their people, "see there goes the US again, all your problems are because of them."
Actually, the Arab states have been taking in refugees and funding the rebellion for quite some time now. They just haven't taken any overt state action because the UN gets twitchy about direct military intervention. You're right though that they're dictatorships, which probably blunts their motivation for helping the Syrians achieve democracy. Still, if they keep letting the fighting continue, things might get worse in the region than if they did nothing, so here they are.
SF,
While I don't fully agree with John I do share the same anger about our military men and women fighting and dying in a desert for people who in most cases don't even stand up and fight for themselves. I am not speaking of Syria of course since obviously we have yet to intervene militarily but of the Arab World collectively.
You sound like a pretty informed guy judging only by these posts so help me understand why we even give a damn about Syria one way or the other.....why we should even give a damn about anything that happens in the middle east. We are not the ones who rely the most heavily on the oil there. Let the EU, Russians and Chinese maintain stability. Why do we always have to be the ones to fight for freedom and prosperity and blahblah?.... OK, that last question was rhetorical and I already know the answer. Just looking for a reason to give a rats behind about what happens over there when we could be "nation building" right here at home.