12-26-2012, 05:46 PM
(12-26-2012, 05:18 PM)BlueTiki Wrote:(12-26-2012, 01:47 PM)HairOfTheDog Wrote: He graduated from medical school . . .
I guess the Hippocratic Medical Oath only applies to your patients . . . not your citizens.
He's no longer practicing, but it does reek of hypocrisy.
I'd like to see the slaughter stop, of course, and I'm not defending Assad. He really didn't have any political experience when he took over for his father (aside from being the son of a 30 year ruler) a decade ago and I believe that he gravely mishandled the original protests that ignited this whole shit storm. I think that Syria lowered the age requirement by several years so that he could be sworn in and he registered a popular vote of over 90% (at least, according to the government, so I take that with a grain of salt).
Whatever he may be aside from relatively young and now in the world's eye (corrupt, evil, monster... maybe amongst his characteristics), Assad is not a stupid man nor is he without his supporters in and outside of Syria. It took decades to take out Hussein and Gadaffi and whether or not Iraqis and Libyans are better off (at least in the short term) is debatable, imo. It's another world.
What I find interesting is those who chime in emotionally from the sidelines that Assad ought to have already been wiped off the planet within two years of this civil war. That suggestion, to me, indicates a lack of understanding regarding the potential repercussions and how that action might well worsen the situation for the Syrians in the short term and expand into a multi-country "conflict" of great proportion.
I could be wrong, but I don't believe the Australian army is going to the lead the charge on such an extreme action. Nor do I think that Australia would govern the country in the absence of a qualified Syrian leader and administration.
The US has its hands full already, at home and elsewhere. But, our involvement in Syria is increasing and I do expect something major to go down in 2013. I don't have answers, but lots of concerns. I'm tired of war, period. But, it ain't going anywhere.