01-05-2013, 04:11 PM
(01-05-2013, 10:58 AM)Jimbone Wrote: Sure, Assad is a complete douche. But the "freedom fighters" fighting him aren't just oppressed citizens... they are radicals who flooded in to pick the fight in the hope they can establish more power.
That's definitely a concern.
There's so much propaganda out there from both sides and the media that it's hard for me to know what's fact, what's exaggeration, and what's straight up fiction. It's difficult for the Red Cross and UN as well, both of which are investigating increasing reports of atrocities by both sides.
This is not a religious or ethnic war, it's a political one for power and the victims and fighters are mixed (making it harder for neutral organizations to determine who's who, in my opinion). For example, the video of the rebel army executing civilians and surrendered soldiers that circulated in July was later authenticated. At that point, the rebel leadership claimed that Islamic extremists had unknowingly infiltrated its army, committed those war crimes, and then fled. True or false? IDK.
In any event, there are a lot of civilians who are government/Assad loyalists in Syria. That's not a crime, though it's a fact that some are being killed and loyalists will still be there tomorrow even if Assad isn't. The whole country is not part of the rebellion and different sources cite very different numbers when estimating loyalists vs. rebels, just as they do when reporting how much ground the rebels have taken, etc...
This is civil war; if any unbiased outside party had an immediate resolution to end it for the Syrian people without compromising its own best interests and those of other countries, it would be implemented imo. I think it's a very small portion of humanity that doesn't give a shit about thousands of civilian lives being lost, even in countries like the US which have been vilified by Syrians for decades. Not everyone seems to understand that lack of extreme immediate action and apathy aren't synonymous (I know that you do).
(01-05-2013, 02:09 PM)Duchess Wrote:(01-05-2013, 12:52 AM)aussiefriend Wrote: No 'Bitch Club' tshirt for Duch.
I wouldn't be opposed to a coffee cup.
I'm not sure who's all in the club, but I like this logo for the cups and t-shirts.