RufflesTheGuineaPig Posted April 17, 2013 Share Posted April 17, 2013 Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has said the West will pay a high price for what he described as its support for al-Qaeda in his country's conflict.In a TV interview, Mr Assad compared the situation to US support for Islamists in Afghanistan leading to the rise of the Taliban and al-Qaeda. Syria's rebel al-Nusra Front recently pledged allegiance to al-Qaeda and is on a US terror blacklist. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-22193054 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snugglybear Posted April 18, 2013 Share Posted April 18, 2013 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-22193054 Well, Assad would say that, wouldn't he? On the other hand, I think the Daily Mash probably had the situation covered in their story two years ago about Libya. http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/international/fingers-crossed-libyan-rebels-arent-insane-201103183639 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StuG III Posted April 18, 2013 Share Posted April 18, 2013 I dont think theres much doubt that the FSA are a bunch of islamist nutters. If only there was some historical precedent we could draw on to learn what happens when we arm islamist nutters fighting a secular regime....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frederick Posted April 18, 2013 Share Posted April 18, 2013 Well, St Toney wanted us to directly intervene, with what I don't know and when the troops could get out, who knows. We all know what will happen, a massive blood bath and a fundamentalist state massively anti west. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PopGun Posted April 18, 2013 Share Posted April 18, 2013 If only there was some historical precedent we could draw on to learn what happens when we arm islamist nutters fighting a secular regime....... Indeed, but then history it seems is only for losers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yokel Posted April 18, 2013 Share Posted April 18, 2013 Indeed, but then history it seems is only for losers. No, according to Michael Gove, history is the memorising of key facts and dates from British history. Re Syria, Remember David `Lord' Levy - Blairs mate who he made a `special envoy' to the Middle East including Syria. I remember reading at the time that the Foreign Office's highly experienced and specialised staff working in and on that area were mightily pi**ed off that they were sidelined by Blair's belief that all it needed diplomatically was a capuccino and a chat with guys like Assad. A lot of detailed knowledge of the historical and geographical complexities was ignored. And now that is replaced with Hague's simplistic view: Assad bad so Assad's enemies good. Y Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
easy2012 Posted April 18, 2013 Share Posted April 18, 2013 (edited) I dont think theres much doubt that the FSA are a bunch of islamist nutters. If only there was some historical precedent we could draw on to learn what happens when we arm islamist nutters fighting a secular regime....... Actually they are loosely coupled diverse groups of fighters - some no doubt are as you described, some have tribal allegiances, some are fighting for hatred etc. Though I doubt that any of the group has allegiance to the west in its charter. Edited April 18, 2013 by easy2012 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cashinmattress Posted April 18, 2013 Share Posted April 18, 2013 Syria is about topping the head of middle east nationalism. Also geographic uncertainty is keeping energy prices nice and high. Win win. You can't have switched on guys like Assad talking cooperation with it's neighbours. Just as with all those who fell before. America, Britain, France are raking in huge profits from selling guns to brainwashed and uneducated Islamic religious fanatics. Nothing should come as a surprise here, especially for those aware of the Carter doctrine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PopGun Posted April 18, 2013 Share Posted April 18, 2013 (edited) No, according to Michael Gove, history is the memorising of key facts and dates from British history. Re Syria, Remember David `Lord' Levy - Blairs mate who he made a `special envoy' to the Middle East including Syria. I remember reading at the time that the Foreign Office's highly experienced and specialised staff working in and on that area were mightily pi**ed off that they were sidelined by Blair's belief that all it needed diplomatically was a capuccino and a chat with guys like Assad. A lot of detailed knowledge of the historical and geographical complexities was ignored. And now that is replaced with Hague's simplistic view: Assad bad so Assad's enemies good. Y Strange isn't it that the Middle East went pop after Blair's tour as middle east peace envoy?... justsayinghashtag Edited April 18, 2013 by PopGun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Executive Sadman Posted April 18, 2013 Share Posted April 18, 2013 No, according to Michael Gove, history is the memorising of key facts and dates from British history. Re Syria, Remember David `Lord' Levy - Blairs mate who he made a `special envoy' to the Middle East including Syria. I remember reading at the time that the Foreign Office's highly experienced and specialised staff working in and on that area were mightily pi**ed off that they were sidelined by Blair's belief that all it needed diplomatically was a capuccino and a chat with guys like Assad. A lot of detailed knowledge of the historical and geographical complexities was ignored. And now that is replaced with Hague's simplistic view: Assad bad so Assad's enemies good. Y This is the same Bliar who's response to IRA terrorism was to release convicted murderers and give their organizers top government jobs. I was thinking isnt Putin awful recently, aligning himself with the islamist Kadyrov...such a thing could never happen here, only in a dysfunctional govt system like Russia's. Then I recalled Bliar did pretty much exactly the same thing. The only thing about Bliar that would surprise me is if he ever made a moral decision. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moneyscam Posted April 18, 2013 Share Posted April 18, 2013 http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=0db_1366210555 non MSM documentary on Syria, good but graphic - savagery on both sides Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sour Mash Posted April 18, 2013 Share Posted April 18, 2013 Syria is about topping the head of middle east nationalism. Also geographic uncertainty is keeping energy prices nice and high. Win win. You can't have switched on guys like Assad talking cooperation with it's neighbours. Just as with all those who fell before. America, Britain, France are raking in huge profits from selling guns to brainwashed and uneducated Islamic religious fanatics. Nothing should come as a surprise here, especially for those aware of the Carter doctrine. Indeed - the issue our government has with Syria under the current regime is that it is (or was) a relatively powerful, unified state that didn't play ball with the West. They'd prefer to see their own pet dictator/puppet on the throne but they'll settle for seeing the country broken and divided, taking it out of the game. Hence they're doing their best to undermine the Syrian govt but not giving their enemies enough firepower to make a quick, effective takeover. Whoever 'wins' the civil war is going to end up in a fractured country with very little military might. Job done, too bad about the tens of thousands (maybe hundreds of thousands by the time this is done) who have to die. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erranta Posted April 18, 2013 Share Posted April 18, 2013 Indeed - the issue our government has with Syria under the current regime is that it is (or was) a relatively powerful, unified state that didn't play ball with the West. They'd prefer to see their own pet dictator/puppet on the throne but they'll settle for seeing the country broken and divided, taking it out of the game. Hence they're doing their best to undermine the Syrian govt but not giving their enemies enough firepower to make a quick, effective takeover. Whoever 'wins' the civil war is going to end up in a fractured country with very little military might. Job done, too bad about the tens of thousands (maybe hundreds of thousands by the time this is done) who have to die. During Thatcher era the SAS/Govt were teaching Afghanis guerilla tactics in secret bases in Scotland and covertly supported Bin Laden with CIA - killing knowledge they apply to UK Troops today with IFD's etc they dont have a chance on the killing fields (esp when UK Govt deliberatly send them over with no body armour, incorrect vehicles, sand blocked guns etc etc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gadget Posted April 18, 2013 Share Posted April 18, 2013 I dont think theres much doubt that the FSA are a bunch of islamist nutters. Actually they're not the FSA at all. The "islamist nutters" as you put it are the ones with the guns (and experience) and are being armed by Saudi Quatar et al. Meanwhile we um and ah about arming the FSA. If you're a bloke getting shot at do you join the FSA (where you'll get a broom handle) or the islamist nutters (where you'll get some decent weaponry). Was a documentary last night on Syria. Some guy got access to both the syrian army and the FSA and followed them round the frontline with his camcorder. Surprisingly sympathetic to both sides. The FSA seemed slightly disorganised, noone knew how to use the few bits of kit they had managed to steal, they had a few bullets each. By the end of the program the FSA kid they had been following left the FSA to join the "Islamist nutters". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cashinmattress Posted April 18, 2013 Share Posted April 18, 2013 Actually they're not the FSA at all. The "islamist nutters" as you put it are the ones with the guns (and experience) and are being armed by Saudi Quatar et al. Meanwhile we um and ah about arming the FSA. If you're a bloke getting shot at do you join the FSA (where you'll get a broom handle) or the islamist nutters (where you'll get some decent weaponry). Was a documentary last night on Syria. Some guy got access to both the syrian army and the FSA and followed them round the frontline with his camcorder. Surprisingly sympathetic to both sides. The FSA seemed slightly disorganised, noone knew how to use the few bits of kit they had managed to steal, they had a few bullets each. By the end of the program the FSA kid they had been following left the FSA to join the "Islamist nutters". By foreign Islamic nutters you really mean mercs, because that is what they are. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yokel Posted April 18, 2013 Share Posted April 18, 2013 Was a documentary last night on Syria. Some guy got access to both the syrian army and the FSA and followed them round the frontline with his camcorder. Surprisingly sympathetic to both sides. The FSA seemed slightly disorganised, noone knew how to use the few bits of kit they had managed to steal, they had a few bullets each. By the end of the program the FSA kid they had been following left the FSA to join the "Islamist nutters". I saw this `Dispatches' programme. I thought it was very good journalism - not too much editorialising and, compared to John Sweeney's effort in North Korea it was 10 times better. Sweeney seemed to concentrate on himself "I flew in to blah blah blah", Dispatches allowed the complexity and the bewilderment, fear and anger of both sides to come through. It was very very sad viewing though. Y Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nuggets Mahoney Posted April 18, 2013 Share Posted April 18, 2013 (edited) I dont think theres much doubt that the FSA are a bunch of islamist nutters. If only there was some historical precedent we could draw on to learn what happens when we arm islamist nutters fighting a secular regime....... Quite I'm inclined to think the people arming and training the Islamist nutters/ mercs/ noble freedom fighters know full well what happens but are kind of hoping ordinary mortals aren't keeping up or, more likely, don't give a monkey's about a 'quarrel in a far away country'. This is a decent read on the background; Sykes-Picot and sundry other not especially honourable shenanigans... Amz: A Line in the Sand: Britain, France and the Struggle That Shaped the Middle East Edited April 18, 2013 by Nuggets Mahoney Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StuG III Posted April 18, 2013 Share Posted April 18, 2013 America, Britain, France are raking in huge profits from selling guns to brainwashed and uneducated Islamic religious fanatics. They are? Any evidence to support this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RufflesTheGuineaPig Posted April 19, 2013 Author Share Posted April 19, 2013 During Thatcher era the SAS/Govt were teaching Afghanis guerilla tactics in secret bases in Scotland and covertly supported Bin Laden with CIA- killing knowledge they apply to UK Troops today with IFD's etc they dont have a chance on the killing fields (esp when UK Govt deliberatly send them over with no body armour, incorrect vehicles, sand blocked guns etc etc Rambo 2 was dedicate to the "Brave people fighting in Afghanistan".... the Mujahideen. In James Bond's "The Living Daylights" Bond joins forces with the Mujahideen, the local leader of which is an Oxford graduate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cashinmattress Posted April 19, 2013 Share Posted April 19, 2013 (edited) They are? Any evidence to support this? Do you think some silly EU sanctions are stopping them from 'supplying' the FSA and mercs with guns, ammo, training, intel and tech? No. Do you think our government is simply giving away weapons? No, they're not. Unless you've spent your life in a cave I find it hard to fathom how you'd be so ignorant of war and associated profiteering. Edited April 19, 2013 by cashinmattress Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
U235 Posted April 19, 2013 Share Posted April 19, 2013 Rambo 2 was dedicate to the "Brave people fighting in Afghanistan".... the Mujahideen. In James Bond's "The Living Daylights" Bond joins forces with the Mujahideen, the local leader of which is an Oxford graduate. Rambo III -- 2 was in Vietnam. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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