For the record, I am against any military intervention in any Muslim country except for declaring the entire country our enemy and attacking WW II and then getting out letting them rebuild their own country, upon them attacking us of coarse (like Afghanistan did with 9/11, but the response should have been differently). Gaddiffi remaining in power was good for America! He got rid of his WMD programs and kept an important oil producing country stable (prior to this). Not a threat to us also. Ditto for Syria. I hope ASSSSad will win and remain in power also! So the question is: How is the situation in syria different than Libya? Syria is in the mist of violent protests! The Assssad regime is firing live rounds killing many unarmed protesters. They are using the air force to suppress their people. Assad supports terrorist organizations, such as Hezbollah and Hamas. They have a one party government, the current Presidential election allow only one name, ASSSad, to be in the ballot. There are many political prisoners and the Syrian people are suppressed just like Gaddiffi does to the Libyanese people. So how is the situation any different in Syria (or even Bahrain, Tunsia, Jordan or Yemen for that matter) any different than it is in Libya? The answer, IT'S NOT!!! So how can this inept American government rationalize the ill-conceived plan of attacking Libya and then hypocritically not intervening in Syria? Do they really think the America people are that stupid? Does Obama think if he then turns the agenda to amnesty and immigration reform that he can ride the back of the Latino and ever loyal Black community in 2012? WTF is going on. Syria's Assad deploys army; Clinton: US won't intervene
Good Friday massacre in Syria makes Assad look like another Kaddafi... Syrian Security Forces Fire on Funeral Processions Causing More Bloodshed April 23, 2011 - Casualties, including at least 12 people dead, are being reported in at several Syrian cities Saturday as witnesses say government security forces opened fire on thousands of funeral goers. The bloodshed comes as U.S. President Barack Obama condemns the use of force against peaceful protesters and accuses Iran of helping in the repression. See also: Obama Condemns Syria for 'Outrageous' Violence April 22, 2011 - President says Assad has ignored the Syrian people's calls for freedom
Its time to pack up and come home. Obama, fails at this miserably. [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qs6aaaJBAv0]YouTube - Niel Young Ohio Lyrics[/ame]
If you are going to use limited military force in these situation the way to do it is to target the "head of the snake!" Take out the top levels of government and military with cruise missiles or drone strikes. Once the top levels are decapitated the army will be leaderless and more inclined to to go with the people. Granted in some of these situations that armies officer corps is minority. But this method of interdiction is cheaper and more effective than destroying tanks in a popular uprising.
Syria is not Libya for a number of reasons. But you are right that Obama created a dangerous precedent in going into Libya, something he should have foreseen. Of course with the klowns we hafve running U.S. policy they couldn't agree on a dinner menu, much less foreign policy.
Now dey shootin' at the womens... Syria forces open fire on women's group 7 May`11 - Government forces storm Banias Sunni districts to try and quell protests
There might be very good reeasons why an intervention in one place is justified but not in another. But I dont have any confidence on Obama's foreign policy team that they can articulate what any of those reasons are.
Libya vs Syria The difference between Libya and Syria is approximately two consonants. Other than that...not much else.