Light/Breezes

Light/Breezes
SUNRISE AT DEATH VALLEY-Photo by Tom Cochrun

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

AVOIDING THE WAR PATH

CAUTION
     Being engaged in another intractable war is madness, thus the United States and our disparate political factions need to think deeply, expansively and move very slowly.
     The latest threat of course is the civil war in Syria. Hawkish voices, many of them from the American right, are foolishly looking to force the Obama administration into an action of some sort.  That is not a step we want to take.
John Kerry's attempt to counsel with Russia's Putin is the right action for now.  
     The Bush invasion of Iraq, and the Obama escalation of Afghanistan validate the lessons of history.  It does not go well for a western power to step into the insane slipstream of middle eastern ancient hatreds.  Iraq is worse off post American invasion.  The US will retreat from Afghanistan as the Russians did before us, confounded by the dark age reality of tribalism, war lords, and a nation that is stuck in a world of ignorance, superstition and a religion of death.
     I have never understood the penchant of politicians who want to rush to war.  Just look at our own history.  How many times have we leaped into the fire, based on emotion, hot air and rhetoric? 
     All of the options for Syria are bad.  Assad is probably worthy of a daily flogging for the rest of his miserable and evil life, but the post Assad Syria is absolutely problematic for the world.  The further disintegration of a civil society is an almost certain outcome.  Just look at Iraq post Saddam.
Any American move into that hellish stew will hurt and cost us in ways we can not afford.  My concern is that we are seeing the early signs of what could be a catastrophic regional war fare between Shias and Sunnis.  
     Thus far Israel has shown it can and will protect its interests.  In the meantime we should not be goaded or talked into an engagement in Syria. If indeed the regime has ordered the use of chemical weapons on civilians, the United Nations must respond.  We can not let American windbag politicians talk us into something we should not do.  The president can find more appropriate language than the discussion of "red lines" and the ankle biters in the House and Senate need to realize the world is more serious than all their blather and political gamesmanship.  
      There is suffering, ignorance, disease, and hurting in this world where we could or should be.  Syria seems bound for a war amongst themselves, and I can't see that this nation has a player in that game.  Post Assad Syria could be the next step to a Muslim war.  Let them fight it. In the meantime we can be part of a team to deal with humanitarian relief and aid.
GLIMPSES OF SPRING




   See you down the trail.

16 comments:

  1. Your thoughts regarding an Islamic civil war are timely, and, I think accurate. There were analysts with the intelligence community who ruminated about the possibility two decades ago and one of the triggers contemplated was a long term insurrection in a country where the Shia and Sunni occupied unequal positions. I never heard Syria and specific locations were never discussed in my circles, but the thoughts you expressed were certainly a big part of the discussion.

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    1. John,
      Thanks for the feedback and your analysis. Good to know we are not off base.
      Take care brother.

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  2. So well said, Thomas. We can't impose a 21st century mind-set on a world hopelessly mired in Medieval barbarism and religious rivalries.

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    1. Tom-
      Thank. Hope intelligent heads prevail in the decision making.

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  3. Your photos today are stunning.

    Agree totally on the Middle East.

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    1. Bruce-
      Thanks and thanks.
      The photos are merely a point and shoot opportunity.

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  4. Amen and where are the flowers?

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    1. Thank you Reverend.
      The yellow in the shot with the ground in the foreground are marigolds.

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  5. Assad, the son of the former leader of Syria, is a British trained eye surgeon, I wonder if he ever thinks about how life would be with a nice practice in Hyde Park.

    We really dodged a big bullet when McCaine lost the election. If he'd been elected we'd be at war with Iran, Pakistan, Egypt, all over North Africa, North Korea and Syria. Lindsey Graham would be be Secretary of state, Dick Chaney would be a leading advisor and Palin would be in charge of the economy. Yikes

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    1. Bob-
      What a nightmare scenario you paint. Yikes and double yikes!!

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  6. Your words on Syria are so well expressed that I wish they were mine. Interesting how so many of the people clamoring for war have never fought in one or seen a child of theirs march off to one.

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    1. Stephen-
      I appreciate your kind words. Your observation about those who make war is so true.

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  7. So, why does the USA always make the wrong decision on this stuff? Could it be that our "leaders" always have nefarious goals?

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    1. As in putting special interests above those of the commonweal.

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