Syria

[HairOfTheDog]

HoTD, I have addressed this issue. The alternative is to come up with an opposition similar to what happened in Iraq during that transition of power. The Iraqi opposition groups were organised and had to come together outside of Iraq, this was facilitated and assisted by the International community.

No, you first indicated that it was past due that Assad be "taken out". Then you said that he should be tried in the Hague for war crimes. Now, you're saying (for the first time) that the Iraqi model should be followed in order to help the innocents in Syria.

Given your Middle Eastern expertise, I'm sure you're aware that CIA reports indicate that support for Iraqi opposition groups and efforts to organize them began at least as early as 1992. After 10 years of that support from the "international community", including several of those off-site meetings that you alluded to, they continued to lack the ability to take over and lead. Invasion and occupation came next. Another 10 years of continued US military presence (and lost lives) have been required and Iraq is still not considered a stable democracy by anyone's definition; further confirmed by the recent sectarian bombings that took place within the country. Saddam Hussein continued to rule the country for 14 of the 20 years that this intervention by the international community to help the Iraqi opposition has been underway.

So, since you're recommending the "Iraq intervention" model, you are obviously aware that the anti-Assad international community has already begun attempts to legitimatize and support the opposition, there is nothing close to an overnight solution to improve the existing situation, and you're now okay with another 12 years of Assad in order to replicate the Iraqi success story?

Personally, I hope for better for the Syrian people and don't wish to see the US invest the lives, money, time and focus in another Middle Eastern war - especially not one where the side that we'd be supporting includes terrorist factions. Ten years fighting a global war on terror, remember? I do.

I am not responding any further, it has descended into personal attacks and abuse as usual. I was being serious about this subject, as the events in Syria has disturbed me greatly and accepting the status quo is just not an option for those surviving day to day in hell.

In any serious discussion, you become a self-absorbed whiner. That's not a personal attack, it's an observation and an opinion. You dish it out and then play the victim when anyone, even respectfully, challenges you to back up your shit. Hell, by your definition, username and I have "personally attacked and abused" each more in this thread than anyone else (translation: "mocked and sparred with each other" for those without consummate victim mentalities). You're not abused here, imo, just treated like everyone else when people aren't tip-toeing around you or coddling you. Suck it up.