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Hagel: US discusses 'facts' on Syria with allies
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Published: 30.08.13, 08:04
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10 Talkbacks for this article
1. Heres where Obama and Putin can make a difference
Tim ,   Brighton   (08.30.13)
Both accept publicly and without reservation that the use of Chemical Weapons is anathema in a civilised world They can quite easily negotiate that for the Allies to agree not to attack the Regimes Poison Chemical Stockpile the Regime under Supervision must agree to destroy it That way its a WIN WIN for Obama and Putin Obama stops any further use of Chemical Weapons by the Regime and Putin stops a US attack on Syria
2. #1 Tim
Albrecht Klein ,   Germany   (08.30.13)
You mean like, if Bashar al-Assad kills his people with conventional weapons, it's OK?
3. More Blah... Blah... Blah... from Superpowers!!!
Son of Cyrus ,   UK   (08.30.13)
4. #2. Of course not...
Tim ,   Brighton   (08.30.13)
And your point gets to the heart of the tragedy Whats going on in Syria played out in front of the world is a massacre And the world sits on its hands aghast, immobile and witless whilst Assad under the nod of the Russians and Chinese carries on unhindered Who cant NOT be moved by the cries and screams of injured children..clearly NOT Assad or indeed Putin who sleep calmly in their beds But using Chemical Weapons does take this barbarity to another level This is MASS MURDER and SLOW DEATH on an unimaginable scale..JUST THIS ONE USE And if the world does not react...how many more will be used? And if Putin thinks Russia is immune from a Sarin attack..think Tokyo. His silence on the use of Chemical Weapons though is bordering on the criminal negligence at best...because even for his OWN National Self Interest SURELY he doesn't want to give the impression to Home Grown Terrorists that ITS OK to use these weapons?
5. What "allies"?
Dan ,   Israel   (08.30.13)
France and the UK are broken former empires ruled by a bunch of spineless and impotent cowards. NATO is essentially another name for the US. The only effective and credible US ally is a Western democracy which the Europeans love to hate. That's right, Israel.
6. #4 Tim
Albrecht Klein ,   Germany   (08.30.13)
The problem is: if Assad and his cronies win, they will slaughter the opposition; if the opposition wins (with or without help from the West), they will slaughter Assad and his cronies. The only way to stop this bloodshed is to send millions of UN peacekeepers to Syria. And this isn't going to happen.
7. this is how a true leader leads
Michelangelo ,   Cleveland   (08.30.13)
Obama is the only fearless leader willing to unilaterally put an end to the genocide. he sees innocent women and children being massacred and must put an end to it. but be careful israel, he might somehow try and burn you in the end if this turns out to be one major spectacle.
8. How come the world doesn't want to get involved
Talula ,   Israel   (08.30.13)
when thousands of Syrians are being slaughtered - but when we attack Gaza because of constant rocket fire, the world stands up and starts screaming, boycotting, and making us out to be terrorists? One rule for the world, and one for us, it seems.
9. #4 Tim and #6 Albreact: You have good points but...
David ,   The Galilee, Israel   (08.30.13)
You are missing the real and most dangerous one. Putin is on a power trip and is obsessed with re-establishing Russia as a "Superpower". Russia lost its Black Sea ports when the Soviet Union broke up and he needs the naval base south of Aleppo. Without it Russia has no "warm water" port for its navy. Unfortunately the loss of human lives doesn't concern Vladimir Putin. Look at what he did to the people of Grozny. He is establishing a dictatorship and has already stifled freedom of speech and civil liberties. I know that many are saying that the UK is just a Squib that is fizzling out. However, is the Syrian situation really the problem of the West? Actually it is an Arab problem and the Arab League should do their own dirty work instead of expecting the US and others to do it form them. Anyone who knows anything about Arabs knows very well that they worship death while the West puts life ahead of all. The important thing is that British have shown the world that when the chips are down they will close their eyes and look the other way! Fortunately Israel has never relied on the UK and, hopefully, never will!
10. #8. Talula: That's why
Tom W ,   USA   (08.31.13)
Because Syria is a Soviet/Russian protectorate that the world accepts as a fait accompli. Soviet/Russia was always at ease to act freely any which way it wants within its sphere of interest because of the legacy of WWII. Remember the various Russian military invasions in E. Europe and elsewhere; - nobody protested en mass. Israel is regarded as a still "free prey" on which various parties are haggling over because of it's flux, unsettled position that easy to hijack for political gains.
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