Syria - civil war

[Roch]

Does it look as if the Assad regime will collapse?  Syrians are pouring over the border in to Lebanon seeking safety and it's border with Turkey is repeatedly changing hands between rebels and the regime.  It looks like the whole place will go up because the rebels are growing in strength. 

Will Assad end up being dragged through the streets and murdered in grisly fashion like Gaddafi?  That was disturbing to watch but it certainly sent out a message to dictators.  Assad seems to have failed to heed the message?

[maggie]

Does it look as if the Assad regime will collapse?  Syrians are pouring over the border in to Lebanon seeking safety and it's border with Turkey is repeatedly changing hands between rebels and the regime.  It looks like the whole place will go up because the rebels are growing in strength. 

Will Assad end up being dragged through the streets and murdered in grisly fashion like Gaddafi?  That was disturbing to watch but it certainly sent out a message to dictators.  Assad seems to have failed to heed the message?

Exactly Roch, Assad had a perfect example of what may happen to him if he continued to murder his own people. Unfortunately these people are psychopathic and have no ability to relate to anything other than themselves.  It's a dreadfull situation but Syria has been under the iron fist for far too long.  Those  poor people caught in the middle of all his, I hope to goodness we don't have a repeat of what happened to Gaddafi but I fear we might, aparrently his British born wife has already left the country.

[Roch]

Exactly Roch, Assad had a perfect example of what may happen to him if he continued to murder his own people. Unfortunately these people are psychopathic and have no ability to relate to anything other than themselves.  It's a dreadfull situation but Syria has been under the iron fist for far too long.  Those  poor people caught in the middle of all his, I hope to goodness we don't have a repeat of what happened to Gaddafi but I fear we might, aparrently his British born wife has already left the country.

It's certainly an unsettling time for middle east autocracies.  People have sussed on that it's worth riding out the suppression phase in response to rebellions, no matter how bloody it gets.  The tide eventually turns in the rebels' favour.

[boheme]

The problem with the Arab spring is that the old regime will be replaced by an extreme Islamic group such as the Muslim Brotherhood who will try and impose Sharia law - The Russians do not want that on their borders and will do all they can to prevent it...

[mertol22]

The British born wife of Assad has flown to Russia with her children, so that speaks words, he could fall by the end of the year if not sooner, should he use chemical weapons i fear we could be involved with airstrikes i hope it does not come to that, if caught he will have the same fate of Gadaffi or Saddam Hussein.

[Roch]

The British born wife of Assad has flown to Russia with her children, so that speaks words, he could fall by the end of the year if not sooner, should he use chemical weapons i fear we could be involved with airstrikes i hope it does not come to that, if caught he will have the same fate of Gadaffi or Saddam Hussein.

I think it's nearly game over for him.  It will either become a war of attrition like Gaddafi desperately holding on or he will flee.  There's a certain line of defence in these situations, like a turning point.  Once that breaks, he's finished.  It could be defections from his inner circle or within the senior army command.  Or it could be an important strategic gain on the part of the rebels.

[mertol22]

I think it's nearly game over for him.  It will either become a war of attrition like Gaddafi desperately holding on or he will flee.  There's a certain line of defence in these situations, like a turning point.  Once that breaks, he's finished.  It could be defections from his inner circle or within the senior army command.  Or it could be an important strategic gain on the part of the rebels.

Rebels do not fight like the British army, or most developed world Armies, suicide attacks will increase and be more deadly in the sense of the word they will blow up the regime, would like to know who is arming them.

[Jane]

Rebels do not fight like the British army, or most developed world Armies, suicide attacks will increase and be more deadly in the sense of the word they will blow up the regime, would like to know who is arming them.

Mertol, you may not like the answer to that question!!!!!

[maggie]

Mertol, you may not like the answer to that question!!!!!

Trouble is civil wars allow the most cruel and power mad peope to rise to the top on both sides.......psychopaths.

[maggie]

Mertol, you may not like the answer to that question!!!!!

It's possible Iran could be involved, anyone with an axe to grind with the regime, I guess.

[mertol22]

Mertol, you may not like the answer to that question!!!!!

most likely big Al

[Jane]

It's possible Iran could be involved, anyone with an axe to grind with the regime, I guess.

You know what, Maggie? I truly don't believe I could say with any honesty that I think WE are squeaky clean.

I'm absolutely NON party political and because I'm not affiliated, I can say that IMO, most politicians sweet talk us, promising us the earth, or what ever part of it is most important to us, and the minute we vote them in, they seem to enter a different world, one in which we don't exist, and then appear to go with whatever puts the most luxurious feathers in their own nest........and us? We end up as statistics.
I feel better for that!!!!!

[maggie]

You know what, Maggie? I truly don't believe I could say with any honesty that I think WE are squeaky clean.

I'm absolutely NON party political and because I'm not affiliated, I can say that IMO, most politicians sweet talk us, promising us the earth, or what ever part of it is most important to us, and the minute we vote them in, they seem to enter a different world, one in which we don't exist, and then appear to go with whatever puts the most luxurious feathers in their own nest........and us? We end up as statistics.
I feel better for that!!!!!

Oh. I'm sure your'e right April, we no doubt have several fingers in that pie and anywhere else that benefits the old boy network.  I didn't agree with us getting involved in Libya, we shout and scream about human rights violations and then support people who must be violating human rights.  It's one law for us and our friends another for everyone else.

[guest154]

Countries don't like to be freed, there is never any thanks when another country invades (starting a war) to stop a civil war so I'm happy we're now in Syria full force, I think we handled Gaddaffi terribly.

But Gaddaffi and the Assads are completely different regimes - Assad will never stand down, he'll never stop - especially whilst he's got China and Russia.

For Assad I believe it'll end the same way as Gaddaffi, you'll see his dead body all over the news - but it won't be this side of Christmas.

[Jane]

Oh. I'm sure your'e right April, we no doubt have several fingers in that pie and anywhere else that benefits the old boy network.  I didn't agree with us getting involved in Libya, we shout and scream about human rights violations and then support people who must be violating human rights.  It's one law for us and our friends another for everyone else.

So what do we do about it Maggie? Do we vote in yet another party, who inevitably will dip their fingers into the flavour of the month, or do we accept that we have no control  over the wider world and focus on making better, that of those closest to us? I don't have an answer, but it's a bloody hard wall I keep hitting my head on and it hurts.