He has to know that firing chemical weapons upon other nations' armed forces... particularly those of the US or NATO... would be the last thing he or anyone else in the Assad regime would ever have the opportunity to do.

Honest Bender:As opposed to domestic aggressors? Who would use nukes against their own country?

Assad and the Syrian Military are not nice, or logical people at this point in the game.

They are currently engaged in a campaign of extermination against anyone in their country who would defy them. They have fired into unarmed crowds for kicks, summarily executed women and children, and raped and tortured people. They've deliberately targeted schools and hospitals with artillery strikes.

I wouldn't put it past him to use Mustard or Sarin on a city where they can't get the rebels out. And be damned the consequences of it.

Marine1:He has to know that firing chemical weapons upon other nations' armed forces... particularly those of the US or NATO... would be the last thing he or anyone else in the Assad regime would ever have the opportunity to do.

JonnyG:Marine1: He has to know that firing chemical weapons upon other nations' armed forces... particularly those of the US or NATO... would be the last thing he or anyone else in the Assad regime would ever have the opportunity to do.

Why do you think it would be so difficult?

Well, I suppose firing chemical shells on your opponents would be an easy act in and of itself. Now, staring down the barrel of the chemical/biological/nuclear arsenal of a body like NATO, now justified in their use of those weapons for retaliation... that's the difficult part, and probably not a consequence that Assad, a man obsessed with self-preservation, would like.

Sock Ruh Tease:Jihad also means "internal struggle" or something to that effect. TMYK.jpg

The word Israel is often translated "one who struggles with both God and Man" as well. The notion of emotional and spiritual work to strengthen one's faith is a prime commonality (among many others) between Islam and Judaism, and Sikhism too for that matter.

That's the new kid? I hear his name is Jihad.Jihad? What's he trying to prove? Hey Jihad! Are you Jihading? (laughter). Why aren't you laughing Jihad? Are you planning a Jihad. Here. (punch) Stop Jihading yourself! (punch) Stop Jihading yourself!

Be warned, bullies. Some day, I shall be the spokesman for the military and you will all suffer.

Fribble:Trance750: You know, really, leave them alone and they'll leave us alone. If they want to bomb the hell out of each other, as long as they're not attacking us, is it really any of our business?

I don't know man we have gained a lot of experiencegained lots of oil in middle eastern wars the last 10 years... Would hate for that to all go to waste.

Marine1:He has to know that firing chemical weapons upon other nations' armed forces... particularly those of the US or NATO... would be the last thing he or anyone else in the Assad regime would ever have the opportunity to do.

1) Chemical weapons would be ineffective against NATO forces. Our troops have MOP gear for a reason

2) Any NATO "intervention" is likely to occur at about 15,000 feet and MACH 2, or witht he business end of a cruise missile. I'm honestly not sure if we HAVE any spare ground troops right now

3) Therefore in the history of stupid things to say, providing the west with a casus belli, why not effectively threatening them in any way, has to rank right up there

Magorn:Marine1: He has to know that firing chemical weapons upon other nations' armed forces... particularly those of the US or NATO... would be the last thing he or anyone else in the Assad regime would ever have the opportunity to do.

1) Chemical weapons would be ineffective against NATO forces. Our troops have MOP gear for a reason

2) Any NATO "intervention" is likely to occur at about 15,000 feet and MACH 2, or witht he business end of a cruise missile. I'm honestly not sure if we HAVE any spare ground troops right now

3) Therefore in the history of stupid things to say, providing the west with a casus belli, why not effectively threatening them in any way, has to rank right up there

Oh, I know it'd be ineffective on the whole. Effectiveness isn't the primary concern, though.

Marine1:JonnyG: Marine1: He has to know that firing chemical weapons upon other nations' armed forces... particularly those of the US or NATO... would be the last thing he or anyone else in the Assad regime would ever have the opportunity to do.

Why do you think it would be so difficult?

Well, I suppose firing chemical shells on your opponents would be an easy act in and of itself. Now, staring down the barrel of the chemical/biological/nuclear arsenal of a body like NATO, now justified in their use of those weapons for retaliation... that's the difficult part, and probably not a consequence that Assad, a man obsessed with self-preservation, would like.

I hear what you're saying. Personally, I don't think Assad gives two sh*ts what happens from here on out - I reckon he knows it's a matter of time. I think he's got a whole lot more crazy left in him and I do believe he's ready to go down in flames rather than be removed from power, be it from his people or from outsiders. My guess is that, while it's horribly messy right now, it's going to become a much bigger mess before too long.

pnome:filter: I have a friend named Jihad-- travel is hell for him. It is a relatively normal name and a misunderstood word.

Misunderstood? Only by people who try to whitewash it.

And you're going to back that up by posting your academic credentials in advanced linguistics?

What? You don't have those? Stunning. Well then, Do you speak Arabic? No? Shocker. So mebbe unless you do, you really shouldn't be posting on the subtle variations of meaning that an Arabic word might or might not have, because it's not the meaning YOU heard?

Marine1:Trance750: You know, really, leave them alone and they'll leave us alone. If they want to bomb the hell out of each other, as long as they're not attacking us, is it really any of our business?

Yes, because ignoring the unwarranted suffering of your fellow human being is a perfectly acceptable course of action. Worked fine for the French in WWII...

All I know, is we'd be upset and angry if a foreign governemt was dictiating how we were allowed to govern or not. Now imagine how the rest of the world feels

The US has stuck her nose where it doesn't belong for years, and now when somebody decides to call us out, all of the sudden we're the innocent victims.

Did you know that 'Eid Mubarak' means "Blessed Festival"? And that the word Mubarak means "blessed one." Therefore, Hosni Mubarak must have been a cheery, blessed leader who farted rainbow puppies, Submitter!

Trance750:Marine1: Trance750: You know, really, leave them alone and they'll leave us alone. If they want to bomb the hell out of each other, as long as they're not attacking us, is it really any of our business?

Yes, because ignoring the unwarranted suffering of your fellow human being is a perfectly acceptable course of action. Worked fine for the French in WWII...

All I know, is we'd be upset and angry if a foreign governemt was dictiating how we were allowed to govern or not. Now imagine how the rest of the world feels

The US has stuck her nose where it doesn't belong for years, and now when somebody decides to call us out, all of the sudden we're the innocent victims.

I think not, my friend. I think not.

Whether you're American or not is inconsequential. I don't feel guilt over stopping the massacre of innocents. Actually, I'd feel far more guilt if nothing was done.

Somacandra:Trance750: You know, really, leave them alone and they'll leave us alone. If they want to bomb the hell out of each other, as long as they're not attacking us, is it really any of our business?

Tell that the to the thousands of men and boys massacred at Srebrenica. Genocide or its imminent threat are ethical reasons for anyone to intervene and stop it.

Are Assad and co. a different ethnicity from the rebels? Serious question.

Marine1:He has to know that firing chemical weapons upon other nations' armed forces... particularly those of the US or NATO... would be the last thing he or anyone else in the Assad regime would ever have the opportunity to do.

If NATO troops are already coming into the country he's picking out last things anyway.