The following is a transcript of my discussion with Don Lemon about Syria. Does the Free Syrian Army have a chance? Should the U.S. arm the Syrian opposition? What does instability in Syria mean for Iran? Let me know what you think.
Don Lemon: Straight off the top here, does this small rebel force in Syria stand any chance against the powerful Syrian armed forces?
Fareed Zakaria: It doesn't seem that they have much of a chance because the regime has decided to be utterly brutal.
This is a regime that looked at Gadhafi and that looked at Mubarak and said the lesson is don't waver, don't show any weakness and just grind them down. The one problem they face is the regime is not an oil-rich regime - it's not like Saudi Arabia. It can't bribe its people. It doesn't have that kind of ability even to bribe the army.
Eventually, they're going to face real cash shortfalls. And what that means going forward is a really interesting question. This is not a regime that can outlive the sanctions and all this pressure unendingly. They have got one source of cash right now, Iran. And that too is drying up.
Don Lemon: We are hearing, Fareed, calls here and there to arm the Syrian rebels. I want you to put yourself, if you will, in the shoes of the president of the United States. What would you do?
Fareed Zakaria: I think it would be a very risky move and I wouldn't do it. I will tell you why.
Firstly, this is geographically a difficult place. It's landlocked. You don't have the kind of access you had in Libya. In Libya, you had the country divided into two parts. There was an eastern part with Benghazi that could be easily supplied from the sea. You had rebels who set up a capital there. They created a transitional government. And you could funnel arms and money to them through Egypt and through the Mediterranean. None of that is available in Syria.
In addition, the Chinese and Russians are dead set against this. So it couldn't happen through the United Nations. There would be effectively a kind of unilateral or NATO operation with no international legitimacy. And finally, the odds of success are frankly not that high. This is a still a regime very much in control with no real defections from the army, no defections from the intelligence service. There's no point in doing something noble and failing. I would be very, very reluctant to advocate an American intervention.
Don Lemon: You mentioned the surrounding areas, the neighbors there. How will the outcome in Syria affect its neighbors, Iraq and what about Syria's ally Iran?
Fareed Zakaria: If you assume what's going to happen is a slow-motion either civil war or collapse of the regime over the next year or two, the biggest loser here is Iran.
Iran is all-in in Syria. It has made a huge number of bets on the regime. It is supporting the regime. And as it unravels, it faces the prospect of the loss of an ally, the loss of a buffer. The Russians don't look too good. But frankly, nobody looks very good because you're going to having low-grade chaos and instability in the region. Everyone's going to get worried.
The great danger is that Syria becomes a proxy battleground for the forces of Iran and the forces of Saudi Arabia, which will tend to be Sunni, somewhat religiously motivated militias that will go in - in the name of God and in the name of jihad - to overturn the Assad regime.
A sort of replay of what happened in Iraq might take place in Syria. Remember, in Iraq it took a decade before it stabilized. And there were 140,000 American troops helping stabilize it. This could get very messy for very long.
Don Lemon: And, Fareed, as you know, the Russians are being accused of giving aid and comfort to President Bashar al-Assad and to giving a green light for this slaughter that is occurring in Homs. What's the Russians' motivation here?
Fareed Zakaria: The Russians have always been very, very reluctant to have the U.N. be used as an instrument to get rid of the regimes. They have an alliance with the Syrians. It's really their last Cold War alliance.
If you think about it, the Soviet Union used to support half these Middle Eastern countries. We used to support the other half. The Soviet Union collapsed. They're left with Syria. Syria is the one Russian ally. I think some of it is that.
But finally, remember, if the U.N. is allowed to intervene every time you see mass protests on the street, claiming that a regime is undemocratic - they have got protests taking place all over Russia, and the last thing the Russians want to do is establish some kind of international principle that when you have protests against an undemocratic regime, the U.N. Security Council can vote to intervene in some way or the other.
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Insightful. I have been trying to figure out Russia's interest in Syria and it is Russia's last Cold War ally. Of course. I also see how the UN intervention could set a precedent for justifying engagement when the society is deemed un-democratic due to mass civil protests. Thanks for these insights... good thinking...
Syria is an important ally of Russia first because the Russians have a naval base at Tartus giving their Navy access to the Mediteranean and secondly they have supplied arms to the Syrians. Assad has been good to the Russians so it is in their interests to maintain the status quo
WHAT THE HH EEEEEE LLLLL IS THE WHITE HOUSE WAITING FOR???? GET THESE SYRIANS WHO ARE
FIGHTING FOR FREEDOM THE HHHEEEEELLLLL O U T OF T H E R E now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
hey fareed.... TIME FOR YOU TO WAKE UP....ARE U AS INSANE AS ASSAD IS???
IS IT RISKY TO SAVE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES FROM MASSACRE.... HOW WOULD YOU FEEL IF IT
WAS YOUR 2 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER OR SON THAT IS BOMBED????
Really get a REALITY PILL zakaria,,, get off your band wagon and CALL THE F.........ING WHITE HOUSE
TO HELP INSTEAD OF TAKING ASSAD'S SIDE YOU MORONNNNN!!!!!!!!!!
Norm, take your meds, you know how you get when you don't take them. You tend to type in all caps, like that makes your comment more important, it only make you look silly and takes away from the message.
Fareed....it is so very easy for you to discuss the syrian situation in your Cnn desk....so easy.
All the while children are losing their arms, legs ears, heads to assss ad's henchmen.....
You have to seriously ask yourself Mr. Zakaria.....What are you doing?/ Is it about making money for you
to desensitize the syrian issue.....Wake up Zakaria and smell the roses..... DO SOMETHING WITH
YOUR INFLUENCE TO HELP THESE FAMILIES AND CHILDREN in Syria instead of analysing , posturing and
strategizing the Syrian issue... People are being massacred over there WAKE UP or LEAVE CNN you
are an absolute idiot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Norm....your in the minority here. There are literally dozens of places on the globe where people are being brutalized. If you want something done, go do it....don't send my boy. You think if they changed regimes, the new one would welcome us with open arms? Get real. It's a nasty situation but we need to aid in changing it without our boots there.
Fareed, Syria is not landlocked. It has a coastline on the Mediteranaean. That's why Russia doesn't want to lose Assad, because his father Hafez had leased the Russians the port Tartus 30 years ago for their Black Sea fleet.
Our interest is really not the world peace. Our interest is to bomb the hell out of where the conflicts are. Doesn't matter if Sunni and Shiite are in conflict for many hundreds of years, all we do is to universally pick the side of the opposition side and bomb their government and infrastructure into rubble, and then leave them into a civil war that they can finish them off themselves. And of cause our bomb manufacturing jobs will be back, share holders will see a bigger profit and cash will flood into the super packs. Damn you to veto our legitimacy to bomb.
Here is webster tarpley take on it: The CIA and other international agencies are sniping down the civilian protesters from hidden places to blame it on Syrian authorities.
/www(dot)youtube(dot)com/watch?v=5L49L6iZSSg&feature=share
True, It's difficult for the opposition to get rid of Assad. His regime survives longer than Gaddafi's due to its meticulous implementation of TTPs – Tactics, Techniques and Procedure, His forces are not invincible. Be patient and look for Assad's Achilles heel. The GCC countries have money and can do a lot, if they want to.
Yes, and since Russia is so intent on holding on to Syria as an ally in the area we can not get involved. After all, we are so scared of the Russian Bear still.
Where were the cries when Bush and Cheney invaded Iraq for not reason at all and in the process over 200,000 innocent Iraqis, women, children etc got bombed and killed and many assassinated by our GIs? Suddenly this is worse?
Why is Bush and Cheny and their pals free instead of jail for their crimes against humanity!!
Hey Fareed, did you know that many US americans don't even have maps? We should help the Iraq, South Africa, and such that...get them maps
Norm, anyone as stupid as you should not be hurling insults at anyone! Why don't you go somewhere and stick your head back up your @s$ where it belongs!
j. von hettlingen et al; Tartus is on the Mediterranean Sea. Syria has no territory along the Black Sea! Don't know where the notion of it being landlocked cmoes from!!!!
Norm, stop surfing and buy a ticket to Homs and do something useful. Bump it up to the next level.
NORM!!!!! Did you see this???
James Trainor
Where were the cries when Bush and Cheney invaded Iraq for not reason at all and in the process over 200,000 innocent Iraqis, women, children etc got bombed and killed and many assassinated by our GIs? Suddenly this is worse?
Why is Bush and Cheny and their pals free instead of jail for their crimes against humanity!!
He is EXACTLY RIGHT!!! Where were YOU THEN??????? I think you're two faced idiot!!!
You also want to maintain this status quo in Saudia, Bahrain, Dubai, Abudhabi and many other countries.Check out who supported Musharaf in Pakistan( read Rice book).Please think before writing. USA has done the same thing in many countries and still doing the same thing which Russia and China do.Get some awareness on world affairs.I advice you to see some non US TV channels.
We have to act. The ruthless and bloody dictator of Syria is murdering innocents. Prevent more genocide!
Norm.. Man first off if the kids were dying in my country and my government did this I would pick up arms in a heartbeat. I am a soldier for freedom and the American way of life and I will always stand ready to defend and engage the enemy of the U.S. foreign or domestic. I will give my life to see that would not happen and I am sure other would as well. I would not need no money and I would do what I can. It is sad on what is happening over their but at some point the ppl of that country will have to stand up for itself as one. If a group is as one no way to stop them regardless of government. even 50% of population would take back their government. Remember Soldiers have families will they kill their family for their government? I doubt it.
This Country will not jump to war when you want or where you want. We need build our economy and compete with countries like China... go find someone else to fight your wars...
We need to step back away from this. Let's look at it like this: If East LA decided to buck the system, and our police and army stepped in, do we really want China or Russia supplying arms?
arming syrian freedom fighters RISKY?,...
wHAT are you talking about ZaKaria.....ARE YOU not intelligent?
The risk in arming Syria's Freedom activists OUTWEIGH the risk posed by an insane dictator as assad..
Are taking the syrian Government side ZaKARIA???? Maybe you are the one who is propaganda..ing
the fight for freedom ...WAKE UP ZACHARIA and STOP your HYPOCRISY~!
It is a risk. We've armed rebels before in the Middle East. And then they became the Taliban...yeah we should try to avoid doing that again...
How about you wake up and think rationally. Zakaria didn't say he doesn't want the regime to be changed or the good of the Syrian people. He is being unbiased and practical. You can't make decisions based on emotions. It has to be calculated. Arming the opposition isn't going to do much good against aircraft and armor. The opposition don't have the ability to be mobile like in Libya, the terrain is different. Libya is vast and mostly empty so the gov't couldnt cover all the ground. In Syria the country is small enough for the gov't to cover everything and prevent the opposition from moving around. Right now the opposition is scattered, to be effective they need to merge into one physical force but because they cant get to each other its unlikely to happen.
I agree with Connor. Norm, learn how to spell.
The stark truth is there is injustice going on everywhere. It should be our goal to help, but you have to pick your spots or you end up both making things just as bad/worse for the people and looking like a bad guy yourself. If we acted unilaterally it would stink too much of Iraq, and I'm not sure even the majority of Syrians would see it the way we want them to.
I love you passion Norm; Zakaria's position from the start of the Syrian revolution was and still is to try to demoralize the opposition and offer moral support to the regime. It's shameful that a man of his standing as a political analyst can bring himeself to defend such a brutal dictatorship, specially now in the face of what's happening in the cities of Homs and Zabadany.
Thank you MOYA ,,, it is appreciated as not too many people on here are passionate about saving children
from being massacred...I guess it is not their child......(november birthdays are always passionate...)
People are dying everywhere in the world, including in the USA. Intervening in every conflict on earth is not only unrealistic it is also done at the detriment of the american people who need education and health care in order to improve their abysmal life expectancy.
Also, no offense, but please review your punctuation, sentence structure and grammar before posting your hate filled gibberish, it will go a long way in making you seem less ignorant.
Settle down Norm. Zakaria is making a lot of sense here. Syria isn't Lybia, and it isn't Iraq or Afghanistan, either. Who's side do we take there? Do you think the anti-Assad groups are pro-West? Or do you want to fight both sides at the same time. And, if so, what would a victory look like? The US needs to take a deep breath and think before we make our next move... just a suggestion.
I Food for thought...... If we just standby and not do anything about Syria's children or families being massacred
Then we are exactly like the hencmen in syria and the despot assad. Our values and system of humanity is
measured on the activities we exert. Not intervening in syria's massacre of children is a dispassionate let alone
a coward act of thinking only about ourselves. We strive for justice, equality and freedom in North America, but
when it comes time to apply these principles and values we forget them mainly because they do not apply to us.
Our ignorance of these horrors in the world identifies our creed and honour. By letting children or families
being massacred and standing idle we are being ingnorant of our place in the world. We are the light of
the world. The hope of many coutries where atrocity exists are in North Amercan values and honour.
By distancing ourselves from these well founded values which have existed for 300 or so years, we
destroy the essence of our being and our honour. And, the world will view us as the America or North Amercica
that had honour and is now defunct because of the non-belief in humanity and honour.
Think about how our precious values and essence is now being tested in the world. If we fail the test
we risk losing our prestige in the world as the solid foundation of democracy in North America.
God bless us all!!
Dictator might just might kill some rioters, no big deal. Arming the opposition will threaten the security of Israel, which is an absolute no no no!
Who is dumber than Fareed, answer.... still thinking....
Fareed is clueless. The landlocked remark was not in passing. He contemplated it and even said how it was not like Lybia. CLUELESS. CNN, are you serious??? Fire Fareed immediately, you can still be politically correct and find someone with an Arabic name that actually knows Syria is not landlocked. Hire Miss Teen South Carolina, at least she knows Americans are idiots in general when it come to geography, hell, she's probably studied that hell out of maps by now, and most importantly she's a hotty!!!
Norm, let me refresh your memory. Remember arming Bin Laden during Soviet occupation? That turned out very good for us, right?
Norm, all scream and no action. Influence people rather than making them hate you more than Jar Jar Binks with your screaming. Pull your self together soldier!
Norm, You need to ask yourself "Why am I willing to go to war with Russia?". THAT is the only reason we are not doing something militarily against Assad.
Are you REALLY not concerned about military conflict with Russia????? Please tell me you are not that challenged?
Norm, you really are a dick head
We have to act. Fareed, do you have a heart? Innocents are being murdered and tortured. Genocide has been tolerated in the previous century.
I also support freedom for Syria, but your way of talking and the fact that its unreasonable at this point for us to send aid at this point makes me think it might be you with a slight mental problem.....
I think US and UN need to stop supplying the arms to those rebels and fuel the war propaganda. All I see now is a propaganda of war on TV and CNN. Showing people marching against Putin – why dont you show the whole truth. Like the match against US intervention in Syria. How about Grece? THere are people duyng there but no news. Children are killed there daily- and CNN is not there. US does not need another war. But elections are a too close and candidates will throw many lives in the oven just to get the seat. Very sad.
Russians are arming already so it's only fair, otherwise they should hold shipments if they were truly neutral.
Cold War Part 2 – proxies and plausible deniability
I bet some AT shipments via west or Saudis are already on the way
Fuel the war propaganda benefits USA. You have to get some work out of those US soldiers living all around the world after all you are paying them your tax money.These solders should at least bring some benefit to US and not always eat while sitting.Where you will sell your weapons if there will be peace.Have you not read and heard the Bush and Rice statements on Iraq war that this war was for the benefit of USA.Killing of people for benefit of USA has been always welcomed in USA.For proof you can have a look at the US Parlimant voting on iraq war, how member senators voted for killing iraqi people for US interest.
Get a heart– or buy one. Innocents are being murdered every day by a bloody dictator of Syria.
Save up a buy a copy of hooked on phonics.
Our interest is really not the world peace. Our interest is to bomb the hell out of where the conflicts are. Doesn't matter if Sunni and Shiite are in conflict for many hundreds of years, all we do is to universally pick the side of the opposition side and bomb their government and infrastructure into rubble, and then leave them into a civil war that they can finish them off themselves. And of cause our bomb manufacturing jobs will be back, share holders will see a bigger profit and cash will flood into the super packs. Damn you to veto our legitimacy to bomb.
David Miller, are you the previous mayor of Toronto? You were an idiot then and you are an idiot now........
My last comment...... If we just standby and not do anything about Syria's children or families being massacred
Then we are exactly like the hencmen in syria and the despot assad. Our values and system of humanity is
measured on the activities we exert. Not intervening in syria's massacre of children is a dispassionate let alone
a coward act of thinking only about ourselves. We strive for justice, equality and freedom in North America, but
when it comes time to apply these principles and values we forget them mainly because they do not apply to us.
Our ignorance of these horrors in the world identifies our creed and honour. By letting children or families
being massacred and standing idle we are being ingnorant of our place in the world. We are the light of
the world. The hope of many coutries where atrocity exists are in North Amercan values and honour.
By distancing ourselves from these well founded values which have existed for 300 or so years, we
destroy the essence of our being and our honour. And, the world will view us as the America or North Amercica
that had honour and is now defunct because of the non-belief in humanity and honour.
Think about how our precious values and essence is now being tested in the world. If we fail the test
we risk losing our prestige in the world as the solid foundation of democracy in North America.
God bless us all!!
Given his use of the term "North America" and spelling of "honour," I think Norm's a Canadian. Funny how he's pushing for U.S. involvement when he's likely not even a U.S. citizen.
Canadians actually use the same US spelling, it was taught in their school system. British spelling is only used in other continents, or for the ESL people.
Norm - honestly now, have you ever served in the military? Are you a veteran who experienced combat? I seriously doubt it. Either get your butt down to the recruiting station or shut your war mongering pie hole.
"By distancing ourselves from these well founded values which have existed for 300 or so years, we
destroy the essence of our being and our honour."
The USA practiced ISOLATIONISM for at least half of the three centuries you describe. We stood by and watched while other countries blew themselves to bits. Check your history.
You can use the phrase "Syria's massacre of children" until you're blue in the face... it doesn't make it fact. And it doesn't mean that our intervention is the answer. The Syrian opposition may be asking for help and weapons, but they aren't asking for Western Democracy, nor a longterm US presence in their country.
Mr. Zakaria has some very good insights into what is going on in Syria. The last thing the U.S. needs is to get involved in another civil war in the Middle East.
"If we fail the test we risk losing our prestige in the world as the solid foundation of democracy in North America." ???You mean the "best" democracy money can buy don't you!
To Miller via Norm. Canadians do not spell the same as Americans. Harbour is not spelled harbor. Centre is not spelled center.
James Trainor
Where were the cries when Bush and Cheney invaded Iraq for not reason at all and in the process over 200,000 innocent Iraqis, women, children etc got bombed and killed and many assassinated by our GIs? Suddenly this is worse?
Why is Bush and Cheny and their pals free instead of jail for their crimes against humanity!!
Until this matter is fully addressed, the rest of the world will see the Americans for what they are, war mongers interested in profit over freedom.
The latest is Lybia where over 50,000 were slaughtered in the name of freedom er Oil.
Think about America...we are in bad shape. First we have to take care of our own people and infrastructure. If you did not cry for a longer period of time, just visit West Virginia. People are poor and eating dog food!
Please– these folks eating dog food- have they not heard of food stamps??? What about AFDC, WIC, etc.
Russia convinced china to side with Syria in hopes that we would intervene thus drawing china even closer to them. Russia is on the rise but they can only continue that momentum with Chinas help. NO, We should not arm the rebels the consequence would only be a bolstered China/Rus partnership.
I am amazed that hardly anyone posting here has a heart. Are you human, do you people not have any sympathy or grief at the horrors that are taking place over there? The US could take care of bloody Assad in one day.
Dont help the rebels? should we just nuke Syria and put them out of their misery?
you might be think twice about ally russia have serect ally more that us what happen is those guy don't talk they goverment business into public or have this stuff call freedom of information act. everything in russia is behind the firewall
Of course, Russia and china smash protests in their own countries, so they do not want anyone to intervene while assad and his thugs mass slaughter old ladies, babies and children in syria....its quite pathetic, the main goal of the UN is to protect the innocent from mass murder.....but it looks like once again just like in darfur and rwanda, they are allowing it to continue.....go in, get assad, and drag him to the ICC........or kill him, whatever is easier......
execute order 66
I agree. As much as one would love to come to the rescue of the oppressed in Syria, what is the endgame? How many troops do you commit for how many years at what cost in deaths and money? I would rather spend money feeding the poor in Appalachia then aiding the Syrian opposition who might turn against us anyway.
Say it again and again, and say it loud so everyone can hear you!!!
Landlocked??? I know many caught that already, but both of them lose credibility. CNN, are you listening?
Fareed is clueless. The landlocked remark was not in passing. He contemplated it and even said how it was not like Lybia. CLUELESS. CNN, are you serious??? Fire Fareed immediately, you can still be politically correct and find someone with an Arabic name that actually knows Syria is not landlocked. Hire Miss Teen South Carolina, at least she knows Americans are idiots in general when it come to geography, hell, she's probably studied that hell out of maps by now, and most importantly she's a hotty!!!
It has much more narrow naval access that is vulnerable to powerful land based fire where as Libya was much more easier to approach by sea.
roundhouse: You wrote that Fareed's article was very insightful, and good thinking. For the most part it was, except that he partially based his argument on his belief that Syria is landlocked, which it is not. It has ports on the Med. Fareed is a smart guy, but I hestiate to rely on the advice of someone who makes glaring errors in stating the premises of his argument.
If the Russian Fleet is based there, and the Russian's are backing Assad, then the Syrian opposition is basically LANDLOCKED. It's not like we could just push the Russian's aside without there being a conflict.
yes, the "landlocked" comment was off but I was focusing more on the historical connections. It seems old tensions persist, the distrust between the US and Russia. I am not surprised by this but a bit fatigued. The violence is the thing to get under control. Dictatorships cannot abide outoken or engaged civilians bc they present a threat to authority and evoke the frightening notion of change.
Also, for those who lament the loss of life for women, children and the elderly - I "get" that but men and boys have valuable lives too!
Mr. Zakaria has some very good insights into the situation in Syria. The last thing the U.S. needs is to get involved in another civil war in the Middle East.
It is very essential to kill people all around otherwise where US will sell its weapons.If there will be peace who will buy American weapons.What will happens with the jobs related to weapons. Saudia is always buying weapons due to US iran conflict because it knows that if there will be a war Iran will attack Saudia. Feuling the iran conflict is helping US to sell its weapons.
This killing needs to Stop. It needs to stop now. These men who are doing the killing need to stop and take a look at what they are doing and who for. What reasons are behind this wanton killing of their countrymen, their neighbors, their families, their friends? Who is going to gain from all this? Is it worth it? Just put the guns down and stop the killing. Do it now. Where are all the people around the world who are watching this wanton killing and not saying anything? Stand up now and demand this killing stop. Put the guns down, stop the intimidation, torture, and abuse of your citizens.
It's about power Becca. When you have power.... you don't want to give it up. Look at Cuba..... Venezuela is getting to be that way. Regimes don't want to give up their power. The US has changes all the times. Elections.... GOP...Democrats... etc. And even if Assad was to change policy tmw; give the ppl the rights to vote and such. He would still have to stand trials of all the things he has done. Would you give up power and do the "right" things to go through that? Look at Mubarak.... he stepped down and he's gonna be facing trials that may or may not happen. Why then would anyone want to give up their power?!
a. Russia has the only Naval port in the Med, leased from Syria.
b. Syria buys about 4.5 Billlion dollars worth of Russian military hardware.
Don Lemon: We are hearing, Fareed, calls here and there to arm the Syrian rebels. I want you to put yourself, if you will, in the shoes of the president of the United States. What would you do?
The UN, Chinese and Russian embassadors should encourage whats-his-name in Syria to establish a safe exit for those who do not want to fight and/or be killed–the innocent Syrian public–and provide them with provisions in a safe, temporary haven. Maybe a small township under close scrutiny to separate the traitors. Then he can have his way with those that oppose him. If they want to war, let them have it without the innocent being involved. It would separate the friends from foe, albeit temporarily, and provide an avenue for those who want violence.
It might be an extreme solution, but not as extreme as what is happening there now.
Otherwise, I'd label him a hypocrite and nuke the no good S.O.B.
I think the US, UN, and NATO are still reflecting on their actions that put terrorists in power in Libya. Ali Tarhouni is now the NTC Finance Minister in Libya after Gaddafi exiled him for corruption in the early 1970s. He returned to Libya just as the rebels started to take military action and his first order of business was to organize and carry out the robbery of the Libyan Central Bank in Benghazi, the haul was just over $320,000,000 in cash and an unknown amount of gold.
Reflection would be good. I wonder the extent to which cultural blindness contributed to the support for dictators. Why not engage the populace before now? Surely there was reason and incentive to encouraging a transition to democracy before now. Did the US, UN, and NATO simply not think of engaging civilians and getting the people's insights on governing before? Is this really such a new idea? What gives?
The great IRONY in these discussions about Syria is that you see many arabs countries representatives beating the drums about intervention in Syria. Most of them are THEMSELVES dictatorial regimes. Takes Saoudi Arabia. The most backward country in the world where women cannot even drive a car. The is more freedom in Syria than in Saoudi Arabia. At this very moment, Saoudi Arabia's military is putting down a protest in Bahrain. The majority of the people in Bahrain are shiite and they are being massacred by sunni Saoudi Arabia. Is Qatar a democracy? How about Jordan? This is a travesty and a joke. And no one in the american media is talkingbout that.
I think we have to act, before more innocent children, women, and men are murdered by the ruthless dictator of Syria. There were terrible genocides in the past, and the world did nothing.
Obama is a coward. Pipsqueeks, harmless pipsqueeks he'll go after, Libya hadn't made a move on the U.S. since Reagan bombed them in the 1980's. Syria on the other hand is a known terrorist trainer and armourer, so of course, chicken Muslim Obama slinks away from that conflict.
First and foremost - Obama is not Muslim, please let's not fan those flames again.
If we accept your idea that Libya "hadn't made a move on the US since Reagan..." - good. That the US stepped in to assist transition in a country that posed no obvious military or terrorist threat is a good sign bc it suggests the US intervention may have been guided by humanitarian not capitalist interests.
Syria seems to be a more complex geopolitical actor bc the relationship with Russia and China must be considered. Calling Obama a coward is not productive and doesn't take into consideration the complexity of considerations in the case of Syria.
We can't afford the Jewish hatred of Non-Jews to take hold, such as the western Jewish-zionist funding of the Syrian "opposition" (they are really terrorists killing, sniping, shelling with mortars, the Syrian civilians). Going down such a path leads to the genocide of 65 million people in the Jewish Marxist USSR (Lenin was Jewish). Smart people have to support Assad and Syria.
It seems as if Iran govt is absorbing the Syrian govt.
There are more than enough countries with an interest and the means to arm the opposition in the region. Let them do it Farweed.
Did I miss something? Has Fareed Zakaria been promoted to world class diplomat? Reporters and journalists should stick to reporting and chronicling events; that's what they're supposed to do. Opinions about action or inaction toward a foreign conflict should be left up to the foreign policy experts who are trained and paid to do so. Just gimme the facts baby!
He's not a reporter numnuts, hes a political analyst that also works for a news media company.
Like a reporter?
Fareed IS a foreign policy expert. Although you see him with a show on CNN, he's far from your typical talking head.
Fareed was the former managing editor of Foreign Affairs, which is the world's leading publication to discuss foreign policy. He's written several books on foreign policy.
This isn't Andersen Cooper or Katie Couric here. The guy is an intellectual heavyweight.
Right an intellectual heavyweight IDIOT ,
Never seen him giving his own opinion – only recollections what he has heard or read.
Fareed is an idiot...and if you think hes so smart you are an idiot as well.....
So you want Fareed just to type word-for-word what comes across from the wire services like an electronic parrot?
He is a foreign policy expert hence why this article was written and he was consulted, congrats on being able to complete sentences..
Syria is not landlocked, Fareed!
But the part controlled by rebels is and that's what he meant by dangers of arming the rebels.
NATO airstrikes need no drop zones. Just target tanks with NATO drones and "boom goes the dynamite." Then do what the Syrian officials do after slaughtering democratic protesters and say "that wasn't us, we don't know what your talking about." Libya was cheap relative to other dictator topplings. And we don't get our men and women shot at for "occupying" their country. This is the formula for success.
I'm opposed to arming the rebels. What is needed is a ceasefire resolution. But if this story is true, and arms are being smuggled over land, it's sort of moot to need sea access, although it's hard to believe that route is totally cut off by government forces.
http://www.theworld.org/2012/02/smuggling-routes-bring-guns-and-bullets-into-syria/
I know, that kinda drew my attention, too. I had to pull a map up just to check. They're on the Mediterranean Sea. And it's not like it's hard to reach, both from sea and the thousand odd miles of Iraq it borders
Growing up I never realized how stupid people were. The goverment controls all the border areas including the access to the sea. In Libya it was different. Read and COMPREHEND the article.
The stupidest people on earth are the ones who call others stupid in anonymous Internet postings.
Fareed – get a globe. You know – those round colorfull things in Wall mart. They show where Syria is. Not asking to visit it as I did but that should help.
I *THINK* he meant the areas where the rebels are – but you're right, he didn't make that very clear. It sounded like he needed a refresher in geography.
Thank you sir for your analysis.The Syrian people are showing a great bravery to stand against one of the ugliest and deadliest regimes which is competing to be worse than another Baathist dictatorship -the one that Saddam had – and it going to be far brutal than what we suffered in Iraq hf there is no international and legitimate intervention to stop this bloodshed by Assad's forces.
Don't forget, Syria and all it's people are anti-Israel. They would like to see Israel wiped off the face of the globe!
As one who is for the state of Israel, let's see how this goes!
If opposition wants help, let them ask the state of Israel and let's see what happens!
Typical of this commentator:Indecision,dosen't know what side to come down on??? Hmmmm sounds like Obama looking for the latest poll!
Indecision? He said he wouldn't support arming the opposition. You need to go back to ESL.
As HE was on world TV encouraging these poor people to rise up and overthrow their despotic leaders' in the glorious Arab Spring – where is he now?
He was full of it then. Where is he now? Ah, yes, electioneering.
He talks big about placing sanctions on Iran when we know that any gutless object can stop a bank account ! – specially in election year!
Since when Syria is landlocked country? It even has a small Navy. I like your Mr. Zakaria, but I would strongly recommend to upgrade your knowledge of geography. It may help. FYI. Syria has one port with Russian naval base.
He meant virtually landlocked, relative to Libya. Very little coast for the UN to access.
He probably meant that the Syrian opposition group in Homs and Hama are landlocked, which they are, unlike Bengazi in Libya which was on the coast.
arming syrian freedom fighters RISKY?,...
wHAT are you talking about Zacharia.....ARE YOU not intelligent?
The risk in arming Syria's Freedom activists OUTWEIGH the risk posed by an insane dictator as assad..
Are taking the syrian Government side Zacharia???? Maybe you are the one who is propaganda..ing
the fight for freedom ...WAKE UP ZACHARIA and STOP your HYPOCRISY~!
Norm, I get it – you don't like Assad, but the opposition has NO LEADERSHIP. As such, they have no platform, no uniform goal, no plan. All the opposition has in common is that they are against Assad. Arming the opposition is relatively easy (compared to occupation), but it runs the same risk that Fast & Furious did here in the US re: drug and gun smuggling. You don't know what the opposition's plan is. You don't know that they are going to respect human rights, the Geneva Convention, etc. What's to keep them from turning the guns on Iraq or Israel? The last thing you want to do in a chaotic situation is to provide loads weapons with no way to manage their use.
Arming the rebels? Risky.
Arming the government? Oh so profitable, comrades.
It's sickening that the U.S. continues to allow the murder of innocent muslim children and women. Since it's not in the interest of national security we are not acting to condem the government of Syria, Russia, and China! Now if it was one of national interest countries in the middle east we would be voceing of outrage! The world will continue to sit idle and just watch the killing of innocense and do nothing about it. WAKE UP WORLD! WE SHOULD BE SICKENED JUST LIKE WHEN WE WERE ATTACKED!
JOSE ....
Agree with you 100%..... wHAT THE HEEELLLL IS America doing? just watching and DISCUSSING HOW
Children, kids . families are massacred...
Where the heeelllll is the Sec of State, Where the fff.......k is Obama,,, HAVING THEIR TEA IN THE WHITE
HOUSE and planning their next vacation....
Jose is right WAKE UP AMERICA WAKE UP WORLD WAKE UP ALL OF YOU.....GET these innocents
OUT OF SYRIA..... now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If America is NOT GOING TO GO THERE AND FIGHT FOR FREEDOM, THEN
LETS GET THESE FREEDOM LOVING SYRIAN S OF HOMS THE HE.................LLLLLLLLLLL OUT OF THERE...
NOW ..
GET OFF YOUR HASSSSSES AT THE WHITE HOUSE AND SEND RESCUE PARTYS N O W now now NOW!!!!!
So, we're going to air-lift the entire city of Homs out of harms way... and then what? Where will we take them? What will they do when they get there? Who will subsidize the cost on this? You want action before you have a plan. Think Norm. Think.
Not every world problem is the US's responsibility. There are plenty of Muslim Countries that could arm the Syrian freedom fighters if they wanted to. Jose/norm, people, innocent women and chlildren are killed each day in many Countries, what makes Syria so special. Most of the African Countries are run by dictators that don't care about their people. Freedom loving people (Syrians) – they don't even know what freedom is. They are and will be part of a Muslim Country, a religion that does not value individual freedom.
Hey T..... Nice to see that you support a tyrant such as assad.....guess hitler would have been also fine by you...
you need to take your reality pilll and fast T ....
You know what is even more sickening? That all these Muslim countries, The Religion Of Peace", sit back and watch all the women and children of their neighboring country be massacred by their own Govt. and Army and do nothing about it.
how many times have other countries begged and pleaded for the U.S. to help and save them only to be back-stabbed and attacked in thanks? Does anybody remember Mogaddishu?...How about the burning bodies of Contractors hanging from the bridge in Iraq? The Arab League is a joke! They can't resolve anything. They all sit around counting their oil money and thank Allah that it's not their country up-rising against them so they don't get involved. Not even any condemnation for these women and children being massacred....for whatever those hollow words would be worth. I suggest the surrounding Muslim countries go in and Police their own backyard for a change.
So you see a house on fire with kids screaming to get out and you see a hose on the front lawn that you can use but wait!
You would rather the neighbour comes out and saves them because he is closer to them than U R.
"It's sickening that the U.S. continues to allow the murder of innocent muslim children and women"
Allow? The US "allows" the murders? So, we are in CONTROL and we deem it worthy? Everything that happens in the world happens with our blessing??? We can't even control Afghanistan and we have 150,000 troops on the ground. Exactly how much control do you think the US has over FOREIGN, SOVEREIGN COUNTRIES? Did the US allow the riots in Vancouver after the NHL championship? Did we "allow" the earthquake in Haiti? Everytime something bad happens in the world you think you're right to blame the US for allowing it to occur??? Incredible...
It is not just allowed but it is triggered by USA. You destroyed the police and army of Iraq and then blamed Iraqi people, why are you killing each other. Just imagine New York without police for one day and then you will see what great Americans do with each other in one day.If you are interested in stopping killings in Syria just stop your support for Syrian opposition you will see no blood in any street next day.Stop destroying the peace of world in the name of democracy.
lowgrade chaos describes the middle east since dawn of time
Chaos described Europe until the 50s and even then there was still the cold war.
yes, Ahmed, Chaos did rule Europe until the '50s... but Europe didn't develop into a World War (TWICE) until after the world started sending in weapons. Lots and lots of weapons.
The Romulans would definitely arm the Syrian freedom fighters with disruptor and photon torpedoes.
Over the Klingon's dead bodies. Ka-plah.
There arent enough Jedi to protect Syria anymore
CNN considers this man Mr.FAREED ZAKARIA on expert on everything under the sun and particulary on Middle Eastern affairs. BTW, he also runs a weekly quiz to test our knowledge and this is what he says.
"Firstly, this is geographically a difficult place. IT's LANDLOCKED"
Honestly Mr. Zakaria your ignorance of ME geography is just STOUNDING! Look up the map plz. Syria has a coastline of over 100 miles on the meditaranean!!!!!
"It doesn't seem that they have much of a chance"
"This is a still a regime very much in control with no real defections from the army"
Really, Mr.Zakaria? As a layman I can say that Al Assad's days are numbered. He may be gone in weeks if not days!
" Remember, in Iraq it took a decade before it stabilized."
Yet again, your ignorance is glaring. Do you call Iraq stable?
The single biggest reason one of greatest Islamic supportes and rabidly ant-Semite Mr.Zakaria is on Al Assad's side is b'coz Al Assad is the greatest supporter of Hezbollah and Hamas which are an eternal threat to Israel.
The rest is balooney!
Amit-Atlanta-USA
What do you have swishing around in your empty head? pss? The govt controls all borders and coastline, hence the opposition is landlocked. versus Libya where the opposition held territory along the coastline. Weeks if not days? It took the opposition in Libya months after they were armed and that included NATO assistance against a relatively weak govt force and the fact that they had a control of a good staging area which could be resupplied by sea. versus Syrian military being much stronger and effective than Libyas military and NATO has not indicated they will be stepping in, and once again the opposition is spread out thin and cannot be easily resupplied. Iraq today is not what it was during the past decade balls for brains.As for your last comment thats just bull.
Amit, you forgot your medication?
I'm in full agreement with you; Zakaria's position from the start of the Syrian revolution was and still is to try to demoralize the opposition and offer moral support to the rtegime. It's shameful that a man of his standing as a political analyst can bring himeself to defend such a brutal dictatorship, specially now in the face of what's happening in the cities of Homs and Zabadany.
Fareed I get your points but I don't agree with your believe that UN intervention against a killer like Assad will set a precedence for further UN intervention in any country where there happens to be a mass protest against an "undemocratic regime". A threat to life and good governance somewhere is a threat to life and good governance everywhere!
I think the great unknown here is part of Fareed's comment "The great danger is that Syria becomes a proxy battleground for the forces of Iran and the forces of Saudi Arabia." The great unknown and undisplayed power is Saudi Arabia. The Saudis have been low profile, almost neutral in inter-governmental/tribal activities and support for U.S. led military activities in the region, but if they flex their U.S. armed military might against Iran via Syria, will the Russians intervene? Will the U.S. be obligated to support the Saudis if this turns into a hot war, or will we coerce the Saudis to be the proxy aggressor here to eliminate the "Iranian" nuclear weapon problem ? This is way beyond the debate capabilities of the current crop of candidates for U.S. President. Just a thought...
Great point. If I know the Saudis, it is that they proceed very cautiously, especially that things are going very well for them right now. Will they risk a regional war with Iran? Only if they are attacked first, which will not happen because both them and the Iranians are assured of mutual annihilation as both are equally well armed.
Fareeed -
Now is not the time for you to waiver here. We are dying by the day and have nothing to lose. If arming us is 'risky' what do you think is happening now? Risk has materialized in our country. You are way off base – we stand a good chance since the army is made up of primarily soldiers who do not hail from a Pan-Assad faith. They are with us. The units doing the most damage are the forces led by the President's brother, Maher al-Assad. WHAT WE NEED IS A NO FLY ZONE AND SOME STANDARD ISSUE ARMS, NOTHING FANCY. Implementing the NFZ will stir large defections, the regime will fall within 2 weeks. We will take it from there and we very much appreciate the assistance of the United States of America.
Resupply can take place through Askenderun (a former Syrian territory which we happily have ceded to the Turks) in cooperation with the Turkish leadership. Not to mention, we will have the ports of Tartus and Lattakia after they fall out of the regime's hands.
If you're in Syria I'm Mickey Mouse.
Fareed
I am a big fan. Some comments. First, Syria is not landlocked.Second, the Iranian interest comes from the fact that the Al-Assads and the Baathists are Shia,and 74% of Syrian population is Sunni. Otherwise, good analysis.
Where did he talk about what the Iranian interest is? And he never said Syria is landlocked. The opposition is.
Syria is a country that has a Mediterranean coastline MR ZAKARIA!
Yeah, and the regime has total control of it, KK.
Russians have their Navy in the Syrian port of Tartus. It is the base of their access to Mediterranean See. Also they have lucrative arms contracts with Syria worth at least $4 billion, Russian firms have a substantial presence in Syria's infrastructure, energy and tourism industries. Russia will not support any action against Syria.
China needs oil and, therefore, their relationship with Iran is very important for them. But Iran has a very close relationships with Syria, and, therefore, China will not support any action against Syria.
The USA is not in a position to project its power anymore. The USA Government is bankrupt. We have gotten into two wars without any real reasons. We are still involved in them. BTW. What is a result of so-called Arab spring in Libya and Egypt? Violence, violence and more violence. Is Democracy there already?
The USA should stay away from this mess as far as possible. There are number of Muslim countries which should get involve and help.
First off America is not bankrupt, FAR FROM IT....one of the richest countries in the world....secondly,. we went into afghanistan because we were attacked on 9/11 from people being harbored by the taliban who were the afghan rulers....you dont call that a good reason? Your entire post is discredited....
I agree that the situation in Syria is very difficult to the opposition. But the regime is weak from inside. There are many people and individuals in places of responsibility waiting for a chance to get out from Syria.
@Johnny Seven: I can't speak for Mr. Zakaria, but I can find his credentials "Zakaria attended the Cathedral and John Connon School in Mumbai. He received a Bachelor of Arts from Yale University,[1] where he was president of the Yale Political Union, editor-in-chief of the Yale Political Monthly, a member of the Scroll and Key society, and a member of the Party of the Right. He later earned a Doctor of Philosophy in political science from Harvard University in 1993,[1] where he studied under Samuel P. Huntington and Stanley Hoffmann" I find him better qualified in foreign affairs than most government appointees! His poor choice of words about Syria being "Land locked" (if you read the article) was referring to Libya being accessible from two coasts. The Russian naval base at Tartus could well be the trip-wire that sets off a nasty confrontation that Putin needs to divert Russian attention. This won't be easy.
But don't think the U.S or Russia don't jump at the chance to ally with each others enemies.
Hmmm! Hey Fareed! I am thinking that you may not be totally out of touch after all. You may still have some common senses unless this is a prelude to one of your completely disoriented GPS.
FIGHT BACK, SYRIA!!! If your country isn't worth you fighting for why should anyone else fight for it.
Mr. Zakaria....it is so very easy for you to discuss the syrian situation in your Cnn desk....so easy.
All the while children are losing their arms, legs ears, heads to assss ad's henchmen.....
You have to seriously ask yourself Mr. Zakaria.....What are you doing?/ Is it about making money for you
to desensitize the syrian issue.....Wake up Zakaria and smell the roses..... DO SOMETHING WITH
YOUR INFLUENCE TO HELP THESE FAMILIES AND CHILDREN in Syria instead of analysing , posturing and
strategizing the Syrian issue... People are being massacred over there WAKE UP or LEAVE CNN you
are an absolute idiot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
YES! WE SHOULD ALWAYS BASE GEOPOLITICAL DECISIONS ON EMOTION RATHER THAN REASON, AND TYPE IN ALL CAPS TO MAKE OUR POINT!!!
We should not even discuss this nonsense – military involvement in Syria. This idea, I speculate, is created in narrow-minded brains of our military brass. They would like to have another war. It means promotions, perks and other similar things. How much money was made by our military industrial complex in Iraq and Afghanistan? We'll never known, of course. Innocent men, women and children? How many of them were killed by our bombs in Iraq?
Or may be it is just our illiterate and brainless media would like to talk about it, keeping our illiterate TV viewer interested.
IT IS NOT RISKY AT ALL...WE MUST DO THAT , REMEMBER A THUG NAMED HITLER, HE DONE THE SAME EVIL SYRIA AND IRAN ARE DOING, AND THE WORLD WAS SILENT THEN IT WAS TOO LATE.
ATTACK THOSE THUGS BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE.
Syria invaded Poland? When?
Your an idiot melvin go play with your lizard...
Steve invaded Poland?
Fareed, Fareed, Fareed. 1. Syria is not landlocked, it borders the Med. on the west. 2. Money and arms can be funneled to the opposition from this side and a safe zone can also be established there. 3. The intervening force has the legitimacy of the Security Council except for China and Russia who would take similar action vs their own populations thus China and Russia are the one's without legitimacy. 4. Turkey to the north is already a NATO member whose president and Syrian opposition are the same ethnicity and is already providing safe haven for refugees and the opposition. 5. This is another opportunity for the West to promote democracy, create stability, and demonstrate that those who aspire for freedom have friends and will not be abandoned.
How would we react to Russia arming the Palestinians? Not well.
They already do, along with hizbollah, indirectly through iran.....
Wow, the irony. Steve calls me an idiot, then, just 2 or 3 lines down... we agree on something. Steve's an idiot, too? hmmm...
Great point, although I think that's what Russia's been doing all along thru their Proxies Syria/Lebanon/Iran.
Arming against USA is wrong and is considered as a terrorist activity.You cannot arm Palestine it will be a terrorist activity.Terrorism will be defined by US on the basis of MIGHT IS RIGHT law.As long as USA is super power please follow this definition and don't waste your time.
I think we should intervene in Syria. People are being butchered in the streets. It's crazy. I personally dont care if China and Russia don't want to intervene. The rest of the world is shocked and outraged by what is going on. We shouldent let 2 countries stop the world from deposing a brutal dictator. If China and Russia want to isolate themselves by supporting the Assad regime, let them. My opinion is arm the Syrian resistance and impose sanctions on the Syrian government. If the Russians and Chinese get a bee in their bonnet because of it, so be it. I do, however, think we should get as many other countries on our side as possible. The world cannot stand for this!
Steve....100% Agreement.... If we do not intervene,,,,, you WILL have these murderers on your doorstep in
the near future.... In the meantime, Obama and Clinton are having tea and talking about how to give more
sanctions to syria...while children are losing their heads or arms in syria.....Very astute leaders....NOT!!!
Sign up Chicken Hawk.
You got her wro0ng.... you're the Chicken......not us!!!!!!!!!
Norm doesn't know what a chicken hawk is HAHAHAHAHA
"Usefull Idiot". You have been watching too many action movies. Clean up Libya, then get back to us.
I think tht you should be the first one to sign up to go to Syria. You are nothing but a Chicken Hawk, just like most Republicans.
If the world can not stand , Steve , tell the world to sit down. People are being butchered and starved all over the world all the time and Assad in my opinion is fighting terrorists who are trying to destroy the stability of his country. We support kings mostly, he is a Socialist at least. We want war with Iran , that is what all the propaganda is about. The consequenses of a move can be very unpredictable. Easy to start wars – remember Sarajevo ? The idiots called Kaisers and generals killed millions of fine , healthy men and destroyed infrastuctures and for a one person killing ? So it is today. We can be dragged into an absolute nightmare by insane people. Vote Ron Paul if there is time left.
Please...somebody turn off the administration's teleprompter.
Oh Yeah, Arming other countries , malitias, drug dealers, ETC,works so well. These people use the arms that we give them against us. Remember the Mexican Drug Cartel,that worked out real well. Holder should be hel accountable.
I personally believe that there are more than one way to defuse a civil war like the one in Syria! Secondly, I am totally appalled that almost a year into this conflict, all we keep hearing from the west is whether arming the opposition would work or whether sanctions would work. So what about the third option? You know inviting the opposition and the foreign minister of the current administration to the UN or to a neutral site to discuss their differences?
Furthermore, almost a year into this conflict, the west is yet to shed light publicly into the reason for the unrest and why the opposition is protesting. For example, during the Libyan crisis the opposition wasn't calling for regime change but for democratic reform, better wages and living conditions. But the Ghadaffi regime used deadly force to curtail the protests and the opposition had no choice but to pick up arms to defend themselves. And the end result was the demise of Colonel Ghadaffi.
So what is the opposition in Syria calling for? Regime change or just democratic reform? And if it is regime change then how do you accomplish this fete without an all out bloody civil war? And it is very difficult to change regime in a country that does not hold open elections. But perhaps the opposition doesn't want regime change and perhaps their demands are still for democratic changes that allow for more freedoms, better wages and living conditions. But regardless of what is fueling this conflict, I believe that it is premature and risky to start to entertain the notion of military intervention or arming the opposition without bringing the two sides to a neutral site where light can be shed on the whole picture and a peaceful resolution could possibly be achieved.
Furthermore, is it too risky for Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to meet with the foreign minister of Syria and the opposition at a neutral site to work out a resolution? There's a saying if you don't succeed, try again! The UN has failed the Syrian people in big time so does that mean we give up on diplomacy and resort to military intervention? The foreign minister of Russia went to Syria a week ago but the bloodshed continues! So why can't this administration set up an appointment with Hillary Clinton to meet with the Syrian government and the opposition? During the Libyan crisis Ms. Clinton was very visible as she met with the European Union and other world leaders to try to bring about a resolution to the Libyan conflict. So why not Syria? Recently Hillary Clinton also met with the Myanmar's government to talk about democratic reform and yet there's no unrest in that country. So isn't it time that Ms. Clinton take charge and try to accomplish what the UN is unwilling to do? To me that's a no brainer!
I could not have said it better...Bravo !!!
With the failure of "Arab Spring," and make no mistake, it has failed, the US is faced with the unpleasant prospect of having supported movements which will not be in power in the region. The intervention by the US military represents one of the greatest blunders committed by this administration, and I think the White House realizes that now. Syria is not so far away from the sea that intervention is out of the question, and we have allies in the region that have probably had enough and would be willing to cooperate (Turkey and Israel are pretty sketchy as allies, but that's who we have). So why hasn't the administration moved on this? First, there's nothing corporate America needs there. Second, the rebellion is not wide-spread, and with the exception of a few special ops, has been stuck in one city. Third, movement by the US here means movement by the Russians and Chinese elsewhere. Fourth, movement here most likely results in a response from Iran who, instead of attacking the US directly, will likely go after Israel, or possibly use the opportunity to gobble Iraq. Fifth, no matter what the outcome, the US would once again see a power vacuum like that in Iraq, allowing Al Queda yet another safe haven.
Israel is a sketchy ally? Probably one of the most trusted the US could have.....turkey on the other hand.........
Isreal is the worst thing ha
Oh yeah! That's a good idea! Arming al-Qaeda!
Absolutely. While we're at it, let's arm the Occupy Wall Street folks. That would be really interesting. I heard that somebody somewhere got hit, or shot, or killed, or something... it's all the justification we need, right? Bomb wall street and send billions of dollars to the squatters. Send in military trainers and let's get it on!
{sarcasm}
US: Why not arm rioters?
Russia: Indeed, why not arm governmewnt with BOMB?
the russians and chinese have made fools of themselves for the last time.....no one could support such a vile regime(same as the mullahs in iran) and have any credibility
these guys don't care if a millions children die at the hands of assad or the mullahs, as long as they get to make money on syria and iran.....pure and simple.....
there's a special place in hell for these guys, you can bet on that!
Absolutely!!!!
I often agree with Zakaria. However, the last paragraph that speaks to the 'UN stepping in when they are protest' is totally off base. They should step in not because of the protest, but because of the mass blood shed. Lets not forget, the creation of the UN, was, in part, a result of mass killings – the Holocost. And wether you think there were 6 mil killed or 600,000 or 60,000 killed – an entire etnic group was targeted – not unlike what is happening here (Sunni's). The risk of non-action here far out-weights thoughtful action, we need to help these people now!!!
Dear Fareed:
I am curious why you did not discuss the controversial report of the Arab League Observer mission on events in Syria? Considering the topic it seems as if you avoided discussing the report intentionally.
Keep starting and getting involved in wars so that our soldiers can be kept busy. What will they do if they all come back now. Let the economy improve better first.
Why do Americans like to pretend? The americans have been formenting unrest in Syria, and has been arming the rebels all along. So why even bother talking about whether americans should arm the syrian rebels? It has already been done.
Could someone tell me what they are fighting about. I dont get this......
OMG!!! For the fist time I agree with a Zakaria article. I thought that would never happen. Surprise, surprise!
Mr. Zakaria, PLEASE make sure our adventurous/political advantage taker of a president reads your article thoroughly. Just to score political points before the 2012 elections, he mat try his adventurism under the guise of helping the Syrian people, AGAIN!
We have 100 reasons to stay away from Syria and not a good one to go help them. They ask us for help now after hundreds clapped, danced, celebrated and burned American flags in the streets of Damascus while the World Trade Center was collapsing with 3,000 people inside. So, Syria go save yourself.
The problem is that most Americans forget way too fast, even though 9/11 happened only 10 years ago. I work 1 block from the WTC site… every day I get a reminder that the Islamic world is backways and not WORTH to be aided.
There is no point in us wasting 1 drop of American blood and half of a penny in helping ANY ISLAMIC COUNTRY. They do not know the meaning of the words TOLERANCE, RESPECT and SHAME, not even among themselves; forget with Jews, Christians, Atheists, Mormons or ANY OTHER.
Regardless of what we do to help them, it is just a matter of time before they point their middle fingers to us. For them we are a land of infidels and we are nothing more than a bunch of imperialist. So call your Arab friends to help you, or Allah or Mohammed… don’t call America to save you.
But it's fine to let China, Russia and Iran help the Syrian government.
Totally agree and hopefully the powers that be in the US take heed of this. So many reasons not to intervene, it would be suicide, financially and bodily. Do not send our troops into this place. It's a misuse of our military forces and our tax dollars. The people voted Democrat in the hopes that we would get out of war, not into another long, protracted battle which may wage for many decades to come. This is an insanity the US does not need. We are trying to heal our economy not make more mistakes and drag us down. Forward thinking is in order. Repeating past mistakes are going to be our undoing....and our children will not thank us for bring them down with us.
CNN REMOVE THAT ARABIC LINK... WE ARE IN AMERICA AND OUR LANGUAGE IS ENGLISH
By all means, arm the rebels and when Assad is deposed you can take pride in the the fact that you helped establish another islamic fundamentalist state.
Here is webster tarpley take on it: The CIA and other international agencies are sniping down the civilian protesters from hidden places to blame it on Syrian authorities.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5L49L6iZSSg&feature=share
I can't believe with all the high tech weaponry we have we can't take Assad out. Just a few bunker busters, a few cruise missiles on his palace, defense installations, airfields and munition dumps, he'd be gone. Don't forget to wipe out his hiidden bank accounts all over the world. For God sake, there are women , children and innocent people dying
Let's stop screwing around, and worrying abour political correctness. Get it done! As for Iran, they want a nuke?
Give them one, right on the Ayatollah's palace. What would have Patton done?
That worked soooooooo well against Sadaam
The idea of the US arming anyone should sicken all of our stomachs, simply because implied in that arming is a desire for blood to be shed. I was personally hoping that we could advance as a nation to such diplomacy that bloodshed would not be on the table. Are not there sanctions enough that could deal unbloodied blows to the Syrian government while advancing the protesters without needless loss of life? I personally despise bloodshed.
Well the Russians sell guns to anyone, have done for years, but it is not about ideology, spreading communism anymore, it is profit. So Putin would have been in a difficult position if he suggested that arms not be supplied to both sides if Viktor was free. So you would have the Russian Government supply Assad and the black market (ex-KGB) and nothing Putin could do about it Put the price of chicken down say what Lt Col. $$$$$
Fareed,
Once again, this is a very insightful analysis. Even I feel that we need to do the waiting thing here and see how this rolls out by 2013-2014. Assad may run out of capital and Iran would not have resources to dispense. Once Syria is liberated then Iran would soon follow suite. And who know Russia may have there own freedom revolution pretty soon thereafter.
To all the folks who are spewing venom here I just have to say this; that the land of the free and home of the brave does not mean we keep going and cleaning others backyard no matter how messy it looks.
I leave you with this...... If we just standby and not do anything about Syria's children or families being massacred
Then we are exactly like the hencmen in syria and the despot assad. Our values and system of humanity is
measured on the activities we exert. Not intervening in syria's massacre of children is a dispassionate let alone
a coward act of thinking only about ourselves. We strive for justice, equality and freedom in North America, but
when it comes time to apply these principles and values we forget them mainly because they do not apply to us.
Our ignorance of these horrors in the world identifies our creed and honour. By letting children or families
being massacred and standing idle we are being ingnorant of our place in the world. We are the light of
the world. The hope of many coutries where atrocity exists are in North Amercan values and honour.
By distancing ourselves from these well founded values which have existed for 300 or so years, we
destroy the essence of our being and our honour. And, the world will view us as the America or North Amercica
that had honour and is now defunct because of the non-belief in humanity and honour.
Think about how our precious values and essence is now being tested in the world. If we fail the test
we risk losing our prestige in the world as the solid foundation of democracy in North America.
God bless us all!!
God bless you, too. 'bye
In the background of the policies of Russia and China is the fact that the dictators of these countries have been using the same tactics against their own people for decades. It is normal procedure in their minds to do away with opposition by any means necessary. They do not see anything wrong with Assad's methods, but see it as proper strategy. We can not expect anything more of them.
Somehow, you see Russia and China responsible for the events in Syria. It's not so. Taking no action is not a crime. We are not the world police. If Syrians do want a violent rebellion, they don't need our support for spilling blood of their compatriots.
These tactics are not only used by dictators but also by democratic governments like india under the umbrella of USA.So don't blame Russia, China and Syria. Have a visit to Indian Kashmir to get some knowledge of world affairs.
Isn't it funny how all white people always want a nation overthrown but theirs? Everyone in the world loves them and is living comfortably under their rule as well. What a joke.
Wow, I almost made it to the end of the comments before seeing a baseless racism comment. Thanks; that would have wrecked my streak!
So it's just the white half of Obama that is involved in this discussion?
Very risky to arm the opposition (also known as "unarmed men, women and innocent children" !!!). I think Mr. Zakaria you are like Pontius Pilate who washed his hands and preferring not to assume responsibility even to save the poor people of Homs who are dying like vermin.
So, to use your comparison, Syrian citizens = Jesus Christ? Are you saying it is God's plan to martyr the Syrian's for our salvation? Weak.
Why shouldn't we arm the opposition forces. We have been assisting the drug cartels fight against the Mexican government and the Mexican people for years. Now we hear from Tony Caulson head of the DEA in Tucson that every agency in the Justice Department was involved in this scandal and everybody at the top levels knew about it.
Do you think it is only case.Wake up America.
Fared--Would you rather die fighting for freedom and the lives of your friends and family or be systematically blown to pieces by a blood thirsty tyrant like Assad.We should remember Idi Amin,Pol Pot and the millions of defenseless Cambodian and Ugandans butchered.Of course we can disregard the great risks of involvement in Syria but we should not allow these people to abandoned to the inhumanity of Assad and this regime.
All options should be placed on the table. Arming the opposition is only one of them. In WWII the Nazis had a plan to kidnap Churchill out of England. I think along with our allies this plan is feasible and get Assad out of Syria. The violence will stop immediately. This is a shorter and less complicated fix then arming the opposition
Bosnia ll over again!!!
First: Deprive those who are gettig slaughter of any kind of weapons in the name of good relationship with Russia and Britain and who know who else.
Second: Once they open concetration camps we have to pretend we are shocked, and then let's go and have McDonalds
Third: Once 200,000 dies then we will have Fareed saying: Ok we need to do something (oh, by the, islamic radicals and other idiots will be there already).
So my point is: fareed, cut the crap!
Fareed. Landlocked? Sometimes your attention to high thinking makes you forget basic facts upon which high thinking is based. Look at a map, please. Does this help you change your mind?
Let’s see how Fareed sees the Syrian crisis:
So, now we have new approach to deal with tyrants even when we admit “The regime has decided to be utterly brutal.”; or do we have different people in Syria than those in Libya?
In what way is Syria “landlocked”; when we have it surrounded by allies to the north and south, not mentioning our new ‘supposedly’ ally, Iraq?
Are we supposed to be satisfied by watching the game when Iran is all-in and when Saudi Arabia, backed by the whole Arab League, love to call the bet?
And do you really think Iraq is now stabilized; well good for you Zakaria; but keep your fingers crossed until the end of this month!
I may ask you to take off your sun glasses so you won’t confuse what’s happening in Syria with “mass protests on the street”.
You know what, Fareed, you could spell it all without spin and not hit around the bush. You may call it the new Arab ‘revolution’ that the US promoted for freedom and democracy; alas, it deviated from the desired goals and turned into Islamic ‘revolution’ from the Ocean to the Gulf!
Have we seen this before? May be when the Afghan Jihadists were invented in the 80s by the … to stop the communist invasion from the north.
What do we have to stop now, Fareed, and coming from which direction?
It is more than a slap in the face to all citizens of supposed "FREE AND DEMOCRATIC" countries. The same countries that sit as members of the United Nations. And where those elected leaders of ours sit on their hands and allow fellow citizens of our world to be slaughtered like cattle, waiting only for a time that benefits their self interests. And then when it's too late, they act and thousands and maybe someday millions of lives will just disappear because of a few men who wield self seeking power. Shame on you!
Stay out of other peoples civil wars. America cares nothing for lives of civilians. It invaded Iraq and gave not so much as a "whoops" for no WMD. America has "interests in Region or it wouldn't have toppled Libya while killing a tone of civilians along the way. If half of them support Assad and the others don't let them fight it out.
America cares NOTHING for lives. Only it's businesses interests.
"Don Lemon: And, Fareed, as you know, the Russians are being accused of giving aid and comfort to President Bashar al-Assad and to giving a green light for this slaughter that is occurring in Homs. What's the Russians' motivation here?
Fareed Zakaria: The Russians have always been very, very reluctant to have the U.N. be used as an instrument to get rid of the regimes. They have an alliance with the Syrians. It's really their last Cold War alliance."
That's interesting. So, Zakaria admits that the aim of the Obama Administration in Syria is the regime change, rather than humanitarian purposes, like Ambassador Susan Rice has said in the U.N. Security Council meeting?
BTW, have a look at our cool forum about politics: http://forum.polismi.org/index.php?/forum/61-news-of-the-world/
Here is a novel solution. Have the Arab League pull together a coalition force comprised of, get this, Arab forces, and go in and fix the damn problem themselves. IIt's their backyard, let them clean it up. Leave the US the hell out of it. All that is going to happen is Assad will eventually fall, the people will "elect" an extremesit leaning government and they will hate us anyway. So why provide them with arms they will end up using against us, the Europeans, Isreal and any other country that does believe Mohammad is the Prophet. (If I spelled Mohammad wrong, sue me and if I offended him, too bad.) Why do we need to involve ourselves yet again with a population that fundamentally hates what we stand for? Let Arabs help themselves for once.
amen
Arab league is composed mostly of despotic kings and sheikhs. They aren;'t willing to intervene because their regimes may be next in line for democratic uprisings.
We have to "save" those scary Arabs we've been programmed to hate!! HAHAHA! No profit in peace huh!? Like the U..S.A. wants to "save" lives with the biggest killing force in the world! Before budget cuts...LOL!
@D_NYC
I was in New York City a few days ago for the Super Bowl Champs New York Giants parade and when the thousands of people started heading out of the subway and onto Broadway, I fell chills up my spine to see scores of people slowing down and looking up at the new Freedom Tower. Some pauzed to take pictures as though they had forgotten that they had ventured onto Broadway to see the Giants parade. I was one of the millions who watched in horror from the New Jersey side as the twin towers fell so I understand your anger and your pain.
However, as Americans and citizens of the free and democratic world, we must learn to control our emotions when warranted and not allowed for our emotions to control and dictate our thinking. Yes some in the Middle East celebrated and cheered when the Twin Towers fell but did all the people of the Middle East and Syria celebrated? I believe not! Furthermore, "Hart" above posted a comment that the UN was formulated so that mass killings like what happened against the jews and millions of others in Europe and around the world doesn't happen again. And the reality is that unless the United Nations does its job by intervening and condeming aggression and atrocities abroad, the UN would be literally giving the green light to dictators and rogues states around the world to commit mass murder. Yes I share your pain and I fully understand your anger over what happened on 9/11/01 and I know those of us Americans who lived near ground zero will never ever forget what happened on that horrific September morning in 2001. But there comes a time when we differentiate between the enemy and everyday civilizians whether its in the United states or the Middle East.
Peace be with you and my fellow Americans! And rest assure America will never be defeated as long as we stick together!
Tell that speech to the widows and mothers of Uranium deforemd babies in Iraq. More Iraqi civi's died in the war than Syria but the body count gets smudged over.The U.S. A is just coporate killing machine. It only takes a few words to speak the truth.
"U.S.A. kills for the profit of a relative few."
See, simple and easy toverify truth.
The VAST majority of Iraqi casualties were caused by fellow followers of the "Religion of Peace" – NOT the United States.
Zakaria, the blood of slaughtered syrians will be on your hands if the Obama administration listens to the advice you are giving them. Innocent people are being slaughtered, and you would deny them the means to defend themselves. Way to go, Zakaria. You might as well be a spokesperson for the Assad tyrants.
you look very worried about syrian people.why are you not so much worried about the african people who are dying for centuries and no body is helping them.Advise Obama for Africa, the syrian people are strong enough they have at least food to eat.Go for the people who don't even have food to eat. Don't love middle east people so much, leave some love for Africa also
Hey Fareed, once again you are a bit dumb and naive...first of all, its not just mass protesting in the streets....its MASS SLAUGHTER in the streets. women, children and old ladies...then again muslims are known for killing innocents.....secondly, what is the UN for??? To interject to stop or avoind slaughters of human beings......its not usually the peoples own regimes doing the killing, but in this case it is.......the UN was created to ensure no further mass slaughters and genocide, yet they have presided over several....darfur, rwanda now syria....it is ridiculous that the world is allowing this slaughter to take place....and I am one who is not always on the side of muslims, yet when I see the world, especially the UN doing nothing when people are getting murdered, and children and old ladies are scared, hiding in basements and being killed...I wonder what the hell the UN is even doing......this has gone on long enough, even the arab league tried to no avail, its time to mass a coalition of the willing, go in and drag assad and his thugs out feet first.....pathetic UN and pathetic zakaria.....
It's actually not mass slaughter in the streets. It's targeted neighborhoods – many Syrians are not supportive of the rebels. Mexico is far, far bloodier in the body count category – should we invade to stop it, genius?
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@JC
In what way has the Arab Spring failed? A few weeks ago Fareed Zakaria wrote an article stating that democracy takes time and the reality is that total stability and democratic change will not happen in countries like Egypt and Libya overnight. Ever heard the phrase "Rome wasn't built in a day?" That is the point!
What makes you think that they want democracy?? You cant have that when women are second class citizens and their laws are like 5,000 yrs old. Also Where were the cries when Bush and Cheney invaded Iraq for not reason at all and in the process over 200,000 innocent Iraqis, women, children etc got bombed and killed and many assassinated by our GIs? Suddenly this is worse?
Why is Bush and Cheny and their pals free instead of jail for their crimes against humanity!!
Sadly, Mr. Trainor is quite right. The basic philosophy of western governance is that man is created in the image of God. Therefore each man has the right to participate in national decisions.
In Islam, Allah is sovereign. There is only Allah and there is none like him. The notion that man is somehow equal or even shares a part in Him is heresy. Therefore the government of choice in Muslim nations is monarchy, caliphate, or failing that some version of warlord.
The hypocritical notion of democracy for all (which America NEVER supports abroad BTW), simply doesn't work. The effort to force a philosophy of government upon a people who are quite happy with their own way is inconsiderate and at its most basic application, a violation of human rights and sovereign initiative.
It sure would be a shame if Syria devolved into a slow-motion civil war between sectarian camps. I'm sure Lebanon will send their condolences.
Let the Saudis send in Al Queda fighters to help their Sunni brothers fight the Shia infidels.
Al-quaeda is busy in Libya at the moment, solidifying their grip upon the nation America, Franch and UK helped them win. Their flag flies over government house in Tripoli as I write. Al-quaeda is an American ally at this point. Don't believe me? Do your homework.
The article focuses on strategic relationships between Assad and Putin and how they position themselves for power in their short, cruel lives; however, when I see children in the arms of weeping Doctors Without Borders dying because they have no way to help them I think of another Syrian, a story about a good Samaritan, who was moved with compassion to bound up the wounds of a man he found beaten on the road and left for dead; he took him to an inn, took care of him and told the owner to continue his care and that he would return to cover all his costs. The person who told this story often talked of peace and brotherhood said to “go and do likewise.” But that was long ago and far away – things like that don't happen nowadays.
Mr. Zakaria should brush up on his geography. Syria is certainly not Lybia but it is also not landlocked either. There is Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east and Jordan to the south, not to mention the Mediterranean sea and Lebanon to the west. There are plenty supply routs available if the western powers had the will to counter Assad's barbarism. True, the Sunni led opposition is fractures and unpredictable, but the upside of denying Iran and Hizbulla a powerful ally in Syria ia clearly undeniable.
This is Syria's civil war. It is their fight, and while tragic, the issue has to be resolved by the people of that country. Other countries should not be sucked into it.
No we do not need to arm them we need to do nothing. I know to some that may seem cruel but the fact is that we have enough of our own problems here at home and we do not need to be getting involved with anymore wars at all. we can not even afford the ones we have going on. much less try to fund someone else's war right now most of the world hates us (americans) bc we stick our noses into everyone else's business. we need to pull our troops out of all foreign countries and fix our own problems before we go masquerading around promoting democracy. how can a country learn from another that is 17 trillion dollars in debt and growing.
The uSA will indeed intervene. It's a foregone conclusion.
America ALWAYS sticks it's nose in the affairs of other nations. Freedom and human rights violations have never been the issue. Since when do American leaders, who endorse torture of captured POWs, care about human rights. Since when do American leaders, who consistently install puppett dictators and totalitarian governments abroad and who are busy creating a fascist police state at home, care about freedom and democracy? Since when do American leaders, who lie to everybody everywhere, require honest forthright reasons to attack a nation that hasn't attacked us?
Look for some sort of false flag operation to justify invasion.
Look too for some fanatic patriot to object to assertions written here. To them I say, join the Marines and be in the first wave ashore. You'll have plenty of opportunity to satisfy your blood lust upon innocent and combative Syrians alike.
Richard, the only thing I would clarify to you is that the US isn't torturing captured POW's. We are torturing captured terrorists. Terrorists who want to kill us and play by no rule of law. Yes sir there is a difference. Other than that I think you are pretty much right on track....
I am a marine...and the US does not (well until now under obama) sit around while babies and old ladies are being slaughtered by murderous terrorist regimes....the UN was built for just this purpose, yet they sit around and debate while people are being killed.........so keep your mouth closed.......because you my friend are no American....
Yes, we do. We didn't intervene in Rwanda. We're letting Mexico tear itself apart in the drug wars. We pick our fights. Sometimes we're just in doing so; sometimes we're not. If we hit Syria, it will be in order to get into a broader conflict with Iran, with whom Syria has a mutual defense pact.
The Syrian "massacres" may be the false-flag event to get us into war with Iran, THROUGH Syria. I'm not actually convinced the "massacres" are widespread.
@James Trainor
I believe they want democracy because they're putting their lives on the line for a cause they believe in each and every day! However, I have to agree with what you said about Iraq because had we not invaded Iraq and stayed in Afghanistan, alot of lives and money would have been saved and the Afghan conflict would have been winding down and that country would have been alot closer to being stable than it is today. And had we not invaded Iraq and invested those resources in Afghanistan, perhaps that conflict would have ended five years ago.
Criminal agents of hindu west do not enjoy popular support in Syria, but are holding civilian population hostage by force. they are hired guns of foreign origin finances by hindu, western countries to create situation , as was the case in Libya. They do not stand any chance but to be eliminated in near future.
Should world arm Palestinians against Israel?
What do you think they've been doing for 40 years? And the Palestinians still have to resort to rockets fired from hospital courtyards, to car bombs and to children throwing rocks at Israeli tanks. Looking for proof that the Palestinians are backwards? Here's your sign...
backward are hindu criminals of the west, occupying Philistine by force, no need to spew your hinduism absurdity to make hinduism, illegality labeled as Israel , a legality. Philistine have every right to use any means to free Philistine from hindu criminal colonization of by hindu western countries.
Hebrew means dedicated one to commands of God of Abraham and hindus, deniers of commandments are Jews of Egyptian and Persian origin. They have nothing to do with Hebrews and every thing with hinduism, racism of hindus. Neither they are Israelite nor of their blood line. Magi's. tricksters playing their magic to fool humanity.
mohammad...it seems you are a bit retarded and brainwashed full of lies....go tell your imam to stop molesting you...its affecting your intelligence...
Steve----I am not a hindu Catholic nor I have any thing to do with religious pot head boy molesting hindu sanatan, Shamans, labeled a Catholic priest.
Yeeeah. Muhammad wins the "Nutty Poster" award today.
the situation is totally different what are you on about????
Wow, according to Mohammad Israelis are now hindu....I was under the impression they were Hebrew. Maybe he was talking about India and Pakistan...both start with I's and P's... He's a little confused...
Only in hinduism absurdity of a hindu, denier of truth.
What? Holy batcrap are you screwed up...
I'm a Protestant Hindu (I guess)...
Israel is not slaughtering its own citizens OR the "palestinians" so why would any one have to arm them? Russia already supplies arms to hamas and hizbollah through iran and syria.....assad and his regime are murderers....just like his father murdered 30000 citizens.....should we wait until bashar reaches his fathers totals? Learn some world events then come back with your stupid comments.....
word Israel is of Past, one pretending to be Israelite are hindus of Egypt and Persia, how about some medication to fix your hindu mental dyslexia to correct your hinduism, lies.
mohammad must be on some kind of "hindu" quota or something
According to MIGHT IS RIGHT rule, sorry this is not allowed
I hear that Russia thinks the US Government's treatment of the Occupy WallStreet folks is brutal and totalitarian. How can the Russian people be expected to stand by while this tyranny is allowed to run rampant thru the streets of NY, DC, SF, etc? Russia is morally obligated to set up a no-fly zone over NYC and immediately begin to supply weapons to these "freedom fighters," right? It's not "regime change", it's protecting the innocent (duh).
Sorry according to MIGHT IS RIGHT rule you cannot make a no fly zone is USA. It is only allowed to make no fly zone against anti american countries. MIGHT IS ALWAYS RIGHT.
jackwagon
I think the solution is one: this butcher from Damascus must end like Hussein and Qaddafi. Now it appears he chose their way of ruthless violence and indiscriminate killing of hundreds of civilians on daily basis. Today rumors emerged that chemical weapons is being deployed to troops near Homs and other besieged cities. More hesitation and we will see horrible scenes in the near future.
What to do? The only answer is to strike regime forces trying to massacre rebel held cities by air power. That action will pave way to establishing safe zones along Syrian-Turkish border protected by NATO ground troops and airplanes. All Assad forces present in their proximity should be obliterated from the air. Only then humanitarian aid could be sent to civilians and protesting cities could live in relative safety. Later opposition should be armed and trained by Western and Arab military advisers to be able to stop regime slaughtering.
what you have stated have been asked for by the syrian free army since 4 months ago
The problem With direct american military intervention is this: we have intrests in russia and china we cannot afford to lose.
also they are technically our allies to go against them is a slap in the face of conventional amitice treaties. as a country, syria is not important enough to dispose of those treaties. (this is not how feel about it but stark physical realitie, i aplogize for the bluntness of it and i feel for u brother!) also we as americans are not looked at fondly in this region of the world right now and it would not take much for the world to swing against us in this matter and others. also to many slaps in the face of russia or china or both could cause outbeak of world war three and how would syrians feel if they caused such a monumental disaster? that something other than sanctions and nasty words must be done i agree, but except for invasion or assads voluntray step down (HA!!!!) i am powerless to do any thing but gripe online or make my way to turkey to fight!
I am Syrian and i totally disagree with mr. Fareed
syria is even easier access than Libya as it is surrounded by US allies
Turkey, Jordan, Israel, Iraq and Lebanon surround Syria
3 out of those five are allies of the US, the US have military bases every where next door.
second, over 70% of Syrians have army experience and the FREE Syrian Army are not only defecting military personal, they are also normal people from the population who decided to protect their cities.
third, there is no way the uprising can continue for another year. it is impossible ... today there is an entire city with a population of 1million people who are surrounded completely constantly being bombarded for almost a week now with zero access to food water or any kind of emergency health care.... in addition to government sponsored ethnic revenge which is happening inside the city by armed militia against unarmed civilians ,, entire families are being massacred. the government will do the same to every city almost.so it is impossible for this to continue for a year, no way
there are one of two things the world can do to stop this :
- arm Syrian free army OR -international military intervention
if the world is not willing to go ahead with any of those two solutions, then the revolution will fall and the world will enjoy watching even more brutal horror stories against unarmed population.
Homsi, I agree with your whole statement. The world doesn't need to include the US is all I would disagree with. You made great points that countries surrounding Syria are western allies. I have absolutely NO problem with providing material and logistical support to those countries and let them intervene. This is a matter for the region to clean up. Not the US. You need the US keeping it's gun aimed at Iran, not Syria. Iran is the real threat in the region. Their rhetoric about creating world wide Islam isn't just rhetoric, they believe it. I'm in favor of supporting Turkey, Jordan, and Lebanon with logistical support and "cover" they need but the US needs to stay out it.
Of the 5 countries you list that border Syria, exactly NONE of them would tolerate the buildup of Western military power that this would require on their soil. None. Not even Israel.
isreal would except western help if the situation worsened on there borders other wise they stand alone and yahweh does not interfere in world affairs anymore.
Dear Farid,
I think that arming the opposition in Syria by the rest of the free world countries is mandatory because it can actullay decrease the number of people killed and it is not as dangeorus as not arming them because eventually they will be able to look for other resources of arms and they will hate us .
What to you mean the will hate us. They hate us now but like us when it serves their purposes. Don't give them a damn thing that will end up being turned against us and our allies. This is going to end up like the other Arab Spring events. Algeria-rise of Islamists, more hate to America, Egypt-rise of Islamists, Americans being held on trumpted up charges, Libya, rise of Islamists, can't find several thousand portable anti-aircraft missiles (bet they find us before too long). Seeing a pattern here? If the "international" community wants to help we shouldn't stand in the way but we need to stay the hell out of this one....
Spot on assessment, Greg.
or take over and show them a better world.
What do you think they don't hate you.They already hate you and will hate you in all cases.
Shut up and kneel in the sand to your pedifile prophet mohammed abdul raheem molestachild
Syria is not landlocked Fareed. A big reason the Russians support them is because Syria gives them access to their Mediterranian ports. Disappinted you didn't know this.
I don't understand the hubub about this. we armed alqaida, why not arm them? whats gonna happen they turn on us? they join us? we've dealt with both scenarios why not do it and see what happens? america's stance is already known, act on it! what, are they gonna try to blow up a building ten or twenty years down the road? (no offence meant to any victims of that!!) but really people is all the trouble we got from our own problems gonna help us if we help them or don't? now i feel bad about people getting killed over there but they caused it themselves by not standing up and declaring their own rights long before now. and what about the military that's actually doing this? do they want to go down in history as a genocidal arm of tyrant? if so, what can we do but let them do it. it will just show the world just what it is already is. as for assad, the world already knew what he was. that his rhetoric was all nice and bubbly should not have made any difference. and seriously, your surprised by russia and china? two governments known for brutal crackdowns and then smiling about it? WAKE UP!!!
Yes, its risky, but just watch how people tortured and killed, including children, 7000 already, is unacceptable. Something must be done to stop it
From a compassionate view I would agree, but realistically it isn't going to matter. What is unacceptable is Iran gaining a nuclear capability. That we have to stop, Regimes in that part of the world come and go, abuse their people and rule by brutal force. US involvement in the Syrian problem is not going to have any impact whatsoever. 10 years from now the next dictator/imam ruling Syria will be doing it all over again. Our focus needs to be on keeping the Iranians from obtaining nuclear weapons. Right now they are loving the distraction being caused by Syria.
"Firstly, this is geographically a difficult place. It's landlocked. "
Last time I checked the same thing was said about Afghanistan back when the Soviets invaded. They found a way to arm the Afghans and bloody the Russians so badly they never recovered.
I'm not saying that we should or shouldn't arm the Syrian rebels. I'm simply stating the fact that Zakaria's argument is weak.
We allowed Hitler to go so far until it's too late, the same happening here, ultimately we will fave Iran and the Syrian SS regime if we don't do it now. It will be less costly for us if we just give the free army arms thru Turkey and Lebanon
and demand a no fly zone.. How cheap this in comparison to all out war with these regimes? WAKE UP OBAMA
If the United States went to "all out war" it would probably be cheaper than any other war we've had because when America goes to "all out war" we launch a missle that says "Warning: I am a nuke and I am about to screw you!" So that's not a bad option, but why do we want to even get involved. We have problems here at home we need to worry about.
Syria has yet to invade another country. I find the Hitler comparison hard to justify.
I believe that the opposition should be trained and armed but monitored also, I believe that at this point it is the duty of the world to protect the Syrians, at this point the Syrian Regime can be considered to be committing Genocide, at this point even if it is Just the Western Powers that Intervene they may be able to do so under international law without the UN Security Council, We are only using the UN Until we believe that we have exhausted all diplomatic means.
Genocide??? The definition of genocide:
The systematic and widespread extermination or attempted extermination of an entire national, racial, religious, or ethnic group.
This is mass murder, but it isn't genocide.
Yup. Folks these days play fast and loose with whatever terminology they think makes them sound most sincere, or most desperate. "Terrorist" and "genocide" are the two words I'd warrant are most inappropriately used today.
I am not sure why many analysts believe that al Assad cannot hold out indefinately. He is a minority group holding on to a majority, true, but he has almost all major security and army forces under his control. Though the reporting seems to make it seem like the fighting is across the country, it is very localized.
His greatest concern is not really losing loyalty, but the cash needed to sustain the army. His army leaders, however, will fight with him till the end, since they are for the most part, members of the Alawite minority. I see this conflict going on for a very long time.
Hmmm. I'll rock/paper/scissors you for the screenie. One, two, three. I've got rock. What do you have?
Incredibly sad. My first reaction would be to say, "let's send our troops in there and topple that regime". If you think further on this, though, you come to realize it would take a unilateral committment to set things right there. Unfortunately, we have a UN assembly that is completely powerless so there go any chances for any type of unilateral action. Also, our country is not about to commit forces to what would amount to yet another Iraq-type scenario. Sadly, it looks like they'll have to wait until the sanctions take their toll on Assad's regime. It will also depend on the Syrians themselves. They will have to foment revolution and that will take a while and all along they will be suffering massive casualties and atrocities. I, for one, hate to be powerless to help and wish we could do something, whether it be supplying them with arms or using remote vehicles to bomb them into submission. Truly sad.
Criminals labeled as Syrian freedom fighters are none but hired guns by the hindu, criminal countries of the west in support of hindu Jews, as was in Libya, hired from criminal northern alliance of Afghanistan and Kurd from Iraq, supervised and financed by hindu criminal governments of Europe and USA.
my friend i am an american. i am also an atheist. people in my country don't care for people like me to much here either. i don't hate them for it. if i were to rise to power thru conquest or diplomacy i would not make the mistakes of the past. i would not say because u have religion u must be persocuted. i would welcome home and point you to your nearest place of worship(or lack thereof) and send you on your merry way happy in the knowledge that i helped a fellow HUMAN BEING reach freedom. can u say the same?
Ole Mohammad needs to understand religious tolerance. For instance, I am a Christian and an American, yet (now here is the important part) I don't hate and wish to kill Onikami. Wow. Amazing. I respect his right to be wrong (in my opinion) and he respects my right to be wrong (in his opinion.) See, not so difficult and a lot less body bags.
Word religion does not exist in divine language, take Hebrew, Aramaic or Arabic. Only one word, Theen, the way of the truth, the limitations, religions are hinduism fabrication of hindus, criminals, by subordinating teachings of truth to hindu, out La. fundamentals. religions are hinduism absurdity of hindus absurd s to capitulate humanity.
HA HA HA , After the United States failed to oust President Bashar al-Assad, and Assad was able to defeat the United States and Western countries. Americans now say "arming the Syrian opposition is risky!! " Do not forget that President Bashar al-Assad Defeated the United States in Iraq, killing thousands of American soldiers by the Iraqi resistance. Bashar al-Assad is not Osama bin Laden. Bashar al-Assad my hero. Americans are terrorists , and Arab spring ended by Bashar al-Assad .
You're quite uneducated you ignorant bas*ard. Syria and America have never had any fights with eachother in Iraq. And if the US really wanted to go over there and try something i suggest we just nuke them and say "f you everyone leave us the hell alone." The funny thing is, if America gets involved we are critized, and if we stay out of it we are critized. So screw it, i'd rather just stay out of it and laugh at everyone wanting our help and telling everyone to kiss our butts that they need to learn to deal with their own problems on their own. So sir/ma'am what every you may be (probably a child just by the way you were talking) your a total dumba**. So grow up and educate yourself some more.
I second that...
Truth hurts.
You are ignorant, Bashar al-Assad helped the Iraqi resistance until America lost the war in Iraq.
Do not fight against Syria in order not obtained the defeat of the other. HA HA HA
if we left everybody alone they would eventually come knocking on our door. and i only have so many rounds.....
Mohammad, the truth does hurt when that truth is a 1000 pound piece of laser guided ordinance blowing up the mouth of your cave. So look up and wave to the buzzing sound you hear over your head.
Sounds like you got just what you wanted, you and your neighbors killing each other. More power to you!
Shut up, Obama Fareed Zakaria are donkeys. America has lost all its conflicts with Syria because Syria is not AlQaeda, Bashar al-Assad is not Osama bin Laden. You you can not help the rebels because Syria is very strong. You Geslh of villains, Syria and Iran will defeat the U.S. in any future war. Americans group of dogs! Your dreams to spread democracy in the Arab world ended by President Bashar al-Assad. We defeated America!
Good maybe Israel will stick one up your arrogant talepipe you dumb clocksucker
This nation should not get involved. Russia and China should stop the war. If they, Russia and China, ask for our assistance then we may consider it but the US is tapped out. We need to stop wasting money policing the world for Corporate Oil and stop foreign aid. There is way too much that needs to be done at home to be spending money on foreign soil.
Syria isn't landlocked. I'm pretty sure i learned back in geography class in middle school many years ago that its weastern side boarders the mediterranean sea. That's why the russians don't want anyone going over there due to their naval base there. Wow, i thought this guy was more educated than that. Apparently not...
Mohammad, you may be breathing in too many sulphur fumes in your cave. Walk outside and get some fresh air once inawhile
I am not a hindu sanatan, shaman high on hindu cannabis hem, spewing his hinduism, absurdity as revelations for hindus, ignorant but fully aware of situation created by western hindu governments on purpose.
Hindu:
A diverse body of religion, philosophy, and cultural practice native to and predominant in India, characterized by a belief in reincarnation and a supreme being of many forms and natures, by the view that opposing theories are aspects of one eternal truth, and by a desire for liberation from earthly evils.
No comment in particular, it just seems that you have no idea what a "Hindu" is...
why do you hate hindu's? do you realize that most of the rest of the world views islam in the same fashion? do think you help the case of islam by hating others of different views? no offence but islam would not be here if not for judaism/christianity. judaism would not be here if not for polytheism. do you not understand that your religious roots, all of our religious roots are grounded in earth/sky worship? is this why they don"t want the koran studied too closely?
hinduism illegality is product of enslavement of natives of people of sub continent by hindus criminals of north Africa after their expulsion from north Africa. hinduism denial of truth is not native of subcontinent nor are pot head upper class, hindu sanatans, shamans forced upon natives of sub continent as man gods. There is no other truth but one truth absolute, 360*, nothing has ever existed with it and nothing will ever exist without it. hinduism, racism is not human but animals and adapted as tool of enslavement by Pharoahs and their hindu criminal priest, Way of. hinduism is nothing but inhuman and denial of truth absolute 360*, Allah, Al, the LA. limit, H, most high 360* absolute. Proven by Quantum Physics.
This man is obviously a sick person. If he is a muslim, then he is not following the teachings of Islam. There is no compulsion in religion.
Thanks Melvinslizard, I hadn't had a chance to pull the definition. I have a feeling our friend doesn't really have any clue what he is saying. Probably saw it on some Jihadist website and is sounded good. He and his buddies sit around and scream "Death to America" and they drink a beer..."Death to the Great Satan" drink another beer..."Isreal sucks" drink another beer....and so it goes...
hinduism, absurdity of a hindu, ignorant, get some education, knowledge in truth to be free like a human before spewing your hinduism, absurdity about Muslims and Islam.
Don't worry kids, obama will get his blood lust on and go on another killing spree. No doubt about it.
Homsy (resident of Homs) are portrayed as idiots in middle eastern jokes. Similar to Rednecks jokes here in the US.
Russia has an opposition in the streets two and they are not a democracy,I do not even think that they should be a permenat member in the security council.
maybe you need to fix your grammar before telling others what to do
The majority of the arab and muslim people appreciate the role of America in Lybia and would like to see a similar role in Syria because Asad is much worse that Qaddafi was .Asad will be defeated eventually by the people of Syria and also the region and if the west did not help with that now ,they will be looked at as indirect supporters of the Asad regim and will be hated by the Arab and Muslim worlds.Now is the time for the US and the West to prove that they are friends to the Muslims and Arabs.
Those would be the same people who voted in an Islamist leaning government who will shortly denounce us, support one of the many Islamic terrorist organizations and subject their own people to Shiria law who will then scream for our "help" so they can do it all over again? You mean those same people? Oh ok.
Shariya application is by free choice of Muslim people in their home lands, What is hindus, out laws problem, none of hindus business, keep your hinduism, illegality in hindu hindered lands, Muslim countries and Muslim do not need it. secularism, self center ism is not of human but of animals and base of hinduism denial of truth absolute 360* by hindus, criminals.
yet women are asking for greater freedoms. people want the freedoms that other people enjoy. why should they be stuck in a world that does not move forward? as far as i can tell the world stagnates when it sits still. in order for constinople to be conquered they had to innovate new weapons because the old ones would not work and prayer alone failed.
Maybe they are Islamic Jews from China?
We don't need a WW3, and arming the opposition is going to lead to all kinds of bloodshed, they are hopelessly out-geared and out-trained. I would say stop arming people, and get out of there, just leave it alone. Let them discus a peace deal. If you keep going in there and stirring up the hornets nest it's going to lead to another extremist country. This isn't as simple as it appears. Just leave it be! Get those people to stop fighting.
The latest council on foreign relations (CFR) infomercial from Fareed Zakaria is about instability in Syria which isn't surprising because that's exactly what the CFR wants; they want instability throughout the entire Middle East because It's all part of the globablist agenda to topple these Middle East regimes and then put globalist stooges in as leaders.
I am shocked from the inability of the Red Cross to do any thing to the people in Homs,what is the point of there existance if the cant intevine in a conflict like that in Syria ,I think that they are a useless organization and I will never donate a penny to them
Syria is in the midst of a civil war, if there were rebels in the streets of Washington DC our government would shoot them too, do you think we would want to see the nations of the world intervene here? of course not, just because we don't have any influence over the government of Syria is no reason for us to side with the rebels, if they go Islamic or Communist is not our problem, we preach self determination only when it is to our advantage...
For all you people thinking that our intervention in Syria would be another Iraq, you are wrong. There is little to no chance of American boots on the ground in Syria, so "your boy" won't be sent there at all. Military intervention in Syria most definitely would be in a similar fashion to that in Libya. Not only that, but it is not certain that Assad will be quickly overthrown. The rebels in Syria have not had the success that those in Libya had during that civil war. Many of the FSA forces have been restricted to protecting civilians because of the heavy shelling of the cities. And, yes, the situation in Syria is worse than it was in Libya. This crackdown is much more similar to that of Iran in 2009 than to Libya. Why do you think Iran supports Syria and has Quds forces there? Iran and Syria share similar views of how to deal with protesters. There needs to be some intervention. Zakaria, I'm sure you've seen some of the videos from the ground in Syria. There's a point where we must consider what is right and not just what is advantageous for us. At some point we have to get from behind our desks, in our nice living situation, and put ourselves in the shoes of the civilians on the ground in Syria. We should stop fearing Russian and Chinese disapproval and scorn. We are not subject to China or Russia. They do not dictate our policy or our actions. Why the hell are you concerned about what Russia thinks? We should not be making decisions based on what they want. By the way, the Western side of Syria does indeed touch the Mediterranean Sea: http://www.vidiani.com/maps/maps_of_asia/maps_of_syria/detailed_tourist_map_of_syria.jpg. So why the false pretense that Syria is landlocked and inaccessible? We need to intervene in Syria. The same thing we did for Libya is what we should do for Syria. Yes, it is risky to arm the Syrian Opposition, NOT because we don't know the outcome, but because we don't know who is with them. We should, along with other NATO members, be bombing Syrian Army positions. YES, we should want regime change, not for the sake of changing a regime, but because Assad is committing genocide in his own country.
I understand your point right up to the "we" part. WE don't need to do a damn thing. There are plenty of other capable nations who can and should pitch in for once and take care of thier neighbor. Turkey, Jordan, Lebanon etc. The US doesn't need to get involved every damn time some dictator starts wacking his own people. Let the Arabs take care of Arabs for once. Every stinking time this happens the world looks to the US to come in and save the day only to denounce us the next day when we actually do. I feel sorry for the Syrian people, I honestly do but we don't have a dog in this hunt so lets stay the heck out of it.
I like having long hard things penetrate me. Come on big boys
Go to Syria you will definitely get long hard things penetrating you.
Fareed has a good read on things here. He is certainly not unsympathetic to the Syrian people. Any person who is a human being would be. However, he is also correct that arming the opposition is not the answer for these reasons:
1) The Syrian opposition is a conglomeration of several fractured groups with their own agendas and is not at all a cohesive movement. There is no leadership, no provisional government, and no plan.
2) The Free Syrian Army is vastly outnumbered and up against armor, aircraft, and ships. Better weapons are not going to make up for this disadvantage.
3) There is no idea what would happen with those weapons once delivered. Who exactly are they being given to?
4) An armed resistance would give rise to escalation, potentially setting the stage for carpet-bombing and eradication of entire cities. If you think the slaughter is bad now, what happens when they burn a city to the ground with everyone inside it?
This is why arming the opposition is a no-win, and why Fareed does not advocate doing so.
if they escalate the world would have no choice but to step in. the only reason america or anybody else for that matter has not stepped up to china or russia is because they have the power to nuke big enemies. that would be BAD and they know it which is why they are careful in their violent pushes into their neighbors. the nuclear deterant is so far the best deterant
The regime needs to be removed, though. Genocide is wrong. Somehow genocide is wrong in Africa, but it's okay in Syria because to speak against it offends a couple nations? Why don't you actually act like a human being and be sympathetic to what's going on in Syria? This genocidal regime NEEDS to be removed.
First off i would like to retract the genocide remark because they are not quite to that point yet. nor could assad survive on a genocide platform. like someone said he is a conglameration of different religions and views. however something must be done. someone else said giving the opp. arms would be pointless this is false. yes they would be still outgunned but they would also be more effective(just slightly!!) in fighting back. as for being landlocked, this would not be to big of an issue as long as turkey (or other close by countries) would feel okay about being a staging ground. the arab league should be the first to take action because this is their area of influence and if anyone is to take them seriously they must step to the plate as unified and fair front. they have alot of issues they must overcome and this is just one small step for them but an important one.
The people of Palestine and Arabs also think that Israel has done genocide of there people so if we apply your theory then we also have to remove the Israeli regime and country, and this is the point of view of IRAN and many Muslim countries against Israel.So think twice before writing your theories.
What we won't fight when there is a chance they can shoot back? The Big O has got to go.
If Georges W. Bush invaded Iraq without the U.N. giving a green light,so can't NATO just do the same thing? I see 3 possible outcomes... Assad won't make it until next year that's for sure
1- NATO strikes on military infrastructures in Syria without the consent of Russia and China
2- Turkey and Arab countries airstrikes on military infrastructures
3- Arming the rebels via the Turkish border
Russia won't interfere if Syria is attacked..I mean would they risk losing their only aircraft carrier that was built in 1985?
Proof that Russian officials are not smart...why continue to ally yourself with a regime that's going to be a thing of the past soon instead of sitting down with the opposition and making sure your future weapon buying customer will be a good customer.
the arab world has been living in a hookah dream and are just beginning to sober up. they think that they hold all the oil cards. so they think they sit back and rake in the dough and play with their wives. this is wrong. they think china and russia will sit by and supply weapons and arms to them. but have they considered the fact that they are aggresive/expansionist countries? what do they have to gain from western indifference/neutrality? russia having lost alot of eastern europe, needs a boast to its economy, has anyone thought about what russia or china helping them means?
That would require thinking... so to answer your question...probably not...
Always look at the numbers...
First and foremost, I will state that US needs to stay out of this all together. There is a lot more going on here than just the reports coming out by the "opposition". We've all seen the instability that was left behind in Libya. That is exactly what will happen here too. If people are wanting these rebel groups armed, let it be done by the arab league countries. Let them take the responsibility this time, so they can't turn around and point their finger at us again.
Agreed!
Fareed Zakaria: you don't know what youre talking about, you're analysis completely false you can't tell the difference between REVOLUTION and demonstration
There remains no difference if they are done with weapons.Specially if you lose your own children in these activities you will see no difference.Try it and feel the difference
the difference between a soldier and a terrorist is this: the soldier shields the innocent with their weapon and body,while a terrorist uses the innocent as a weapon and a shield.
By your definition western hindus, criminals are the terrorist, making excuses to rob and steal on the name of self styled hindu democracy.
if they are hiding behind innocents then yes they are also terrorist and should be treated as such. but are they hiding behind innocents? i don't know because i'm not over there. my military would not allow me to fight for medical reasons. but as far as i can tell they are not using suicide bombers to target civilians whereas muslims of many nations are admitting that other muslims are doing just that. in america (i know its stretch but bear with me)we define a person by their acts. we are not perfect we make mistakes but we also admit to our mistakes (mostly!! try teaching your kid that one when they are in trouble!!!) and try to fix them. can the extreme muslims say the same?
Quit staring at the sun with your binoculars again
Osama claimed that he is fighting for innocent against the cruel US people. So he considered himself a soldier too.Most terrorists think they are soldier and fighting for innocent people. The actual US definition of soldier is that if you are fighting for US you are a soldier otherwise terrorist.The true definition will be selected with MIGHT IS RIGHT rule, The might is US.
did we hide behind other people to achieve our aims? did we blow up innocent people on purpose? yes we use espionage to gain our goals but we don't ask people to strap bombs to their chest and run into an innocent crowd of our own people to acclompish our goals.
mo, first off study your history!(and use neutral sources not religious propaganda!) mo and syrian, we did not lose the first time we invaded iraq we pulled out in good order because we could not condone the killing of innocents with good concious. second we did not lose the second time. we cannot afford to babysit the muslim world even though we are still are trying to do just that. third name a battlefield in the open and bring your friends who want a fight without hiding in the general populace and the usa will gladly come on over and trounce you thourghly.
Self richness and personality worship is the way od hindus, deniers of truth and your post is very fine example of it. Murder and robbery was reason of western hindu criminal reason for intervention in Iraq and other Muslim lands, Western hindus are moving out,not because they are so human but beast can not take heat any more. elimination is future of hindus terrorist of the west and their secular self centered hinduism criminality.Do some true historical and linguistic studies than to spewing your hinduism absurdity.
I don't see the US having any interest in Syria. They have done nothing for us, they harbored some of the old Iraqi leaders, part of the deck kof 52. They have not cause the US any issues that I can recall.
I real focus should be on Iran, which has caused the US any number of deaths, ever since the Marine Barrack in Lebenon. I believe the death tolll in that Iranian op was 246.
Let's save our energy for Iran.
US has big time nitrest in Syria, to provide safe heaven to their hindu snantans, shamans Jews for continuation of illegal colonization by western hindus, criminals of Philistine, western hindus gentiles, criminal selves will do any thing to please their hindu sanatans , filthy racist man god Jews.
you know what's funny about your world view vs my world view is i would still let you share my taxi as long as you split the bill to your destination and didn't act like ass on the way.
As long as one is in his or her's true limit, there is no problem, source of contention is not the truth absolute but hinduism , denial of true lime to others by hindu's, deniers of truth, disobeying true limit in following of their hindu, greedy soul, desire.
Who defines my limit but me?
True limits are already defined by designer for every thing, human are not independent but very dependent unit by design, limit. Only thing human own is choice, choice in hinduism, out the factual limit is nothing but a disaster, humen can not afford but way of secular, self centered hindus, ignorant in their hinduism, ignorance. Quatum Physics.
Sure Zakaria you being a muslim has nothing to do with it eh? So you support Assad and it looks like you heartily support the demise of those who wish for freedom, may you rot in a tostie place for all eternity.
You obviously are only looking at the one sided reports coming out of there. Who is to say these "rebels" (terrorists?) are not hiding among the population in order to swing public support ?
Majority of people fighting Syrian forces are not Syrians but criminal hired guns by western hindu criminal countries, from other countries, having nothing to do with Syrians and holding civilians hostage on gun point, as it was in Libya.
I hope syria does not turn ingo another pakistan. pakis are losers.
No Pakistanis are not hindus, looser, only hindu from hindered land india are the looser, hell to be a hindu, slave of pot head hindu sanatan, Shaman and living in world of hinduism, racism.
I have a solution to this situation: deny both sides in Syria a complete victory. Keep the conflict going as long as possible. Arm the Syrian rebels, but do not intervene decisively.
Whether we attempt a U.N. mission in Syria or not, the United States will always be viewed as the enemy in that region of the world, whether it be by the Sunni al-Qaeda sympathizers or the Shiite pro-Iran proxies. Neither side will benefit us, and a total rebel triumph will only serve to bring chaos and a breeding ground for Muslim extremists. We all know the "blowback" that resulted from arming insurgents in Afghanistan when they were fighting the Soviet Union.
We should force Russia and China to waste a lot of money helping Syria by prolonging the conflict (that's what they deserve for being our authoritarian adversaries), we should cost Al-Assad and Iran (two obvious enemies) thousands of lives and plenty of resources by supplying the rebels, and then we should sit back and watch Al-Assad's forces annihilate the resistance movement (and, with it, Syria's radical Sunni elements) while his level of international support plummets. I support freedom in Syria, but when the overthrow of a dictatorship brings Iraq-like sectarian carnage and complications, I just prefer to see both sides of the argument lose in the end.
Edit: "We all the know the blowback that resulted from helping the Afghan insurgents actually WIN the war against the Soviet Union..."
Typical hindu criminal way of hindus, cro0cks, Osama knew well before world was able to see true hindu criminal nature of western hindus criminals and he acted upon it. Do not worry, pretty soon hindus agents of hindu west will be eliminated very soon and other countries will act before western hindu's agents can create any more trouble by keeping western hindus in check. Share of USA in Afghanistan war was only 3 billion dollars and benefited the most, with break up of USSR worth trillions of dollars. Western hindus, blood suckers have nothing to offer to people of the world but gentile ism, slavery of their hindu santans, filthy Shamans Jews like themselves.
A lot of peolple are saying this is not the time, the economy is bad, our country comes first etc.. But we can't just sit back and watch. Yes we are not the world police but we have a moral obligation as human beings to stand up and put an end to this genocide.
After all, evil prevails when good men do nothing
Yes world need to free oppressed gentile slaves of pot head hindu sanatans, Shamans of hindered land India and their hinduism racism to be free like any one else in whole world, Nuke hindu s criminals to free people in hindered land india.
Wes, you are using that word WE rather loosely. Should I take that to mean you personally are going right out to sign up and do your part actively ?
The US can not afford to get into another war that is none of our business.
And before you spout off, yes I did my duty in viet nam and even if I wasn't to old now to be in the military, I would still be saying the same thing. Stay the hell out of Syria.
Please help Africans they are dying of hunger due to fighting with each other.why you love so much the people in middle east. Give little bit of your love to the people in Africa also.You can save a large no of people there with very little effort. Please don't love so much the people in middle east, at least they have food for eating.
I am a Syrian and like millions of other Syrians support Assad and want him to stay. Is he doing a great job? of course not, but what president is. I am a christian Arab, Thier are more than 2 million of us in Syria, and because of this regim, syria is the saffest country for chirstian arabs to live, we have total freedom, and the people who are trying to through our government are mostly mulim extrimest who want to see an end to that, are'nt you fed up with those people, so why would you support them? The Syrian army is not afraid of Assad, they don't fight for him, they fight and risk thier lives for the country and to protect the majority. Do you people see what's going in Egypt, Tunisia and Libya? they are still killing each other and extrimest are taking over. You may not like Assad, but the ulernative is much worse. I hate to see people of any kined die, especialy children, I have a 3 year old. But, belive me, most of the killing is being done by the opesition with the help of some countries. It's a shame that we call those Syrian solderis who are dying protecting thier country as criminals. They are hero's and they are the reason millions of Syrian are still alive. Please, open your harts and follow the story from all sides, look at youtub and see all the fabrications. Leave Syria a lone and no more wars. I love the USA.
USA is supporting these terrorists to fight against Assad still you are saying you love USA.You are loving a state which is supporting terrorists.
to george: i like the fact that you are standing up for your leader. that takes chutzpah(as the jews would say). but would he not be better served if he actually showed the world we were wrong? allow the media to go in and let these people who are fighting him be heard!! ask some of the soldiers to express their opnion!! ask the arab league to come in with multiple and diverse troops from various countries and help him settle this dispute with syria leading the fore!!
There's no need for the U.S. to understand the ones who's got their wrong stand. Whether or not the Syria's opposition groups can be armed is about a matter of who motivated them.
no, let them hack each other to pieces. The world will re-establish commerce with whomever survives. Attempting to mold an outcome has historically resulted in more blow back costs than the humanitarian crisis is worth. Expecting a Jeffersonian government of self determination and peace to develop in any of these middle eastern backwater catastrophes is quite simply an expression of delusion and ignorance. If we gave them all a knife, they would all be cut.
for the sake of Israel it is OK to let children die and entire families vanished<how stupid that is,let's think what is benefiting our country and not Israel alone....................
It is allowed to kill everyone if it is a matter of US benefit. For confirmation see Rice interviews on IRAQ war after Weapons report was proved to be wrong.
There are so many the so called "middle East experts" are paraded on every American Media TV and publications. The sad part is none of them have any clue of what is going on in the middle east. Fareed is no exception. He has obviously never travelled to the ME, much less Syria. This is why his knowledge of the country is as much as any Ameircan. The country is not landlocked, obvious to anyone who can google "maps" and just check it out. It is nothing new, most americans are ignorant of the geography, the people and every other thing the media drums up. The sad part is that the peace can be achieved by extending a hand of friendship rather than showing "rambo" mentality
We armed the student rebels in afganistan to fight the soviets and now they blow up our solders every chance they get.
The day people will realize this fact what you have written you will see only peace on this planet and nothing else
My comment vanished like a rabbit in a magician's hat.I know you guys are full of war propaganda and if I knew that you want only supporting comments ,I would not have bothered unless I got angry that you are trying to get us in a war.
See if this comment does the diappearing act. You are right and any escalation is insanity in view of the risks. Besides we are broke.
Leave these countries alone, we helped one and they see and okay we call oursself freedom fighter and they will help us over throw our goverment, and on and it goes. Then they execute the leader with no trial. Stay outa it you really don't know whos worst and you can't change everyone to like you, or you think your right and everyones else ways are wrong. LET IT BE !!!!
what can and should the usa do?
well there has been many moves in the last year by putin , iran is the key to the threat of a mid east regional war. russia has supported iran and assad and influences in egypt because of the suez, so the question is , does obama have the resolve and the wisdom to confront irans threat or is he going to allow the virus to spread???
The "area is landlocked" ? What kind of dishonest misrepresentation of the truth is this? The regime in syria has many friends, and has employed many a spin doctor in the media to disuade the world from reacting to its crimes. "Do nothing", this is Mr. Zakaria's message .. because, among other twisted reasons, the area is "landlocked".
yes arm them it is better we die fighting the evil Syrian government than to die in silent like a duck. arm us please those Iranians backed government are less than 12% of Syria and they are killing the majority. it is pay back time and we will win. attack iran and Hezbollah now and then Syria will crumble, cut the supplies root from iraq using airplan to attack all Iranians supplies to Syria. do the same from turkey and Jordan, ask the Iraqi Sunni to put good grip on the Syrian boarder and help Iraqi Sunni to stop Iranians from crossing to Syria, arm the kurds, and ask Israel to arm every body against bashar al asad.
Shame on you, is Allah the merciful is not enough for you to seek help, asking hindus, infidels for help as your god.
It is sham on any one who sees the deeds of a fascist, killer and criminal regime like Assaad"s and still dares to defend it even with a single word.
Israel is more merciful to Palestinians than Syrian Regime to its people. The Syrian people are willing to accept help from the devil to get rid of this fascist regime.
It looks that you are a real American with pure American mentality( Can be seen easily on all international US airports). Do you live in TEXAS. Buy one house near Mr Bush you thinking will be polished. Go ahead and kill people for USA. Long live USA
Yes, arming the rebels is risky but not for the reasons given. The real reason is that no matter who wins when the unrest in Syria end (hah! if ever!) the arms will be used against the US.
Americans are the most ignorant people on the planet when it comes to reality about World Affairs. In our own history where people attempt to revolt the American government sent in the National Guard to quell the riots of the 1960's. Do you actually think if a group of American citizens decided to exit our union that we would not use force to put it down.
According to US policy it is allowed to kill people if Government is a democratic government and if it is not democratic then it cannot kill people.For confirmation check the US policy on Indian Kashmir.
The CIA will find a way to arm the Syrian rebels as an unstable and Assad-free Syria means one less Iranian ally and decreased Iranian influence in the region. I believe the US will do nothing more than secretly arm the rebels however, as the UN is not going to be getting involved militarily on this one. Syria is no Libya and China along with Russia will be dead set against military intervention on this one (they will oppose intervention rather than just abstain from the vote) as this issue continues to be brought up on the UN floor. Thus, the best hope for the Syrian people lies with the Arab League and other Arab nations coming together as one to oppose and intervene against the Assad regime; not the UN.
People in Arab league are all US puppets. Arab league does what USA orders and nothing else.
Fareed, go back and learn geography. Syria is not land locked. Second, the US needs to stop with arming everyone. The US can't dictate world policy anylonger. The Syrians need to work this through themselves. Truly, are the majority of Syrians against the Assad government? Or is it just a small group that's being extremely loud? What danger is Syria posing to the US right now? What danger could it post with a regime change? Hard to tell, the dust hasn't settled yet in Libya and Egypt.
at last, a sensible post. You are sir/madam, making some sense here. Thankyou.
personally i believe it is time for the U.S.of A. to get out of its shell or the world will be knocking on our gates! start with mexico and work our way down to south america. most of those countries can't even police their own police! that's not even mentioning the growing crime that just keeps growing! seriously mexico they are killing both police and general populace! how long till your own people rise up! as to arming syria, that would probably not help but something must bedone so that is what people fall back on. can this be ended peacfully? no. it is already filled with bloodshed and horror and it is only a matter of time before more blood is shed. how do you think al-assad is feeling right now? mad? scared? perplexed because their is no way out for him? he is stuck in a corner of his own making and the only way out is to lash out at people who are the only ones that he hit.
EDIT: that he can hit.
Once US armed the opposition is Afghanistan to fight against Russia and this thing produced 9/11, If you again want to produce terrorists and people like OSAMA go and help Syrian opposition and enjoy another 9/11 in future
the 9/11 future is already here. the question is not whether we arm them but what can we do for a more permanent solution
arming the opposition just makes the free world look like anarchists! they already think this is us doing this as it is. what the un needs to do (and by proxie the USA) find a way to make a permanent presence that the people all agree to the region ask them if they would like to become part of the USA the drop twenty thousand troops and tanks there. then we can pull a modified mongol move on everybody in the region modified meaning we ask each city or forces we come across if they would like to join us if not we let them go their merry way as long as they don't bother anybody who has joined us. eventually the have nots will see there neighbors living the good life and want to join us others will slowly filter out to other regions hoping to fights but will come across the very thing that they hated to begin with.
During the 20th Century, ill-equipped REBELLION against HAFEZ al-ASSAD's rule "did not stand a chance" and so he went on to slaughter upward of 20,000 people in Aleppo with the World Community expressing SHOCK and HORROR and pathetically WRINGING its hands as it is doing to day .His regime was able to ruthlessly impose and maintain its tyrannical brutal iron-grip on the hapless Syrian Population for several generations until when he died and the iron vice-grip passed into the hands of his SON who, in the second decade in the 21st Century is repeating the similar SLAUGHTER his father perpetrated Dara, Aleppo , Homs and other Syrian Population centres desperately seeking ways to shirk the self-same IRON-GRIP and still the World Community wrings its hands because "an armed opposition do not stand a chance.....and INSTABILITY IN THE REGION MIGHT FOLLOW. WHAT INSIPID, VERY,VERY STERILE argument . When a People are under the JACK-BOOT AND DYING IN THEIR SOUNDS, who has the right, INDEED THE ARROGANCE TO argue that they should not be assisted to HELP THEMSELVES REMAIN ALIVE A SECURE A BETTER LIFE FOR THEMSELVES for "FEAR OF SUCH QUESTIONABLE ESOTERIC ISUUES AS GEOPOLITICAL INSTABILITY, THE PRICE OF OIL and HEGEMONY ?? THE PEOPLE OF SYRIA NEED TO BE GIVEN FULL ASSISTANCE TO STAY ALIVE AND GAIN THEIR FREEDOM. THROUGHOUT ONE REGIME FALLS AND ANOTHER REPLACES IT WITH ENSUING LOCAL AND REGIONAL INSTABILITY BUT PEOPLE PICK UP THE ASHES AND FROM THAT INSTABILITY A NEW GEOPOLITICAL ORDER AND MAP is redrawn. The so-called "FORMER SOVIET UNION " is the one gargantuan case that readily comes to mind ! THE OLD ORDER CHANGETH AND GIVETH WAY TO THE THE NEW AND ALLAH, JEHOVAH,GOD,BUDDHA, LORD SHIVE etc MOVETH IN A MYSTERIOUS WAY !!!!!! PLEASE HELP THE PEOPLE FIGHT BACK AND NOT DIE IN THEIR SHELTERS !!
landlocked Syria....really? You seemed to me, FZ, quite intelligent up until that point. Especially bearing in mind the lease of the medittaranean port of Tartus to the Russians. This changes your WHOLE argument, surely?
Arming any muslim is risky. Arming the Syrian rebels is STUPID. The Obama administration is setting the middle east up for decades of civil war. A democracy cannot exist in an Islamic country.
Their is no room for western hindu secular, self centered democracy, based on hindu soul, filthy desire in Muslim countries. Keep flood of hinduism, illegality for your hindered lands. It is not welcome by truthful Muslims.
If USA announces that it will not support the opposition, the bloodshed in Syria can be stopped in a second, so I request Obama and people of USA to announce this and then I assure you there will be no blood anymore in Syria. Please stop triggering the bloodshed in the name of democracy.
"Please stop triggering the bloodshed in the name of democracy."
So you'd rather have dictatorship? Wow...
Matter of choice, none of any hindus out laws business.
Your all best friends are dictators.Go to middle east and check it out. Pakistani dictators have always enjoyed the best friendship of American people.Why the Syrians cannot live with a dictator.Who saved dictators in Bahrain recently.Get some knowledge about US people and government and check out there love for middle east and Pakistani dictators.Stop making others fool in the name of democracy.
If you love democracy so much then why you have a veto right in UN. Leave this right and let the world decide about world matters in a democratic way. First start democracy from your house and don't make others fool
Zakaria, do you not notice that the free world is always two steps behind! Before thye west stepped in to help Libya and before that the Bosnians, the argument was to not arm them as it will only fuel military violence. Wake up, the alternative is genocide, if you like the slaughter of innocents keep up the position you hold.
The rebels should have gotten the women and children out of there long ago. Why are they still there ????
What they will show to the world then? They need something for propaganda.
CNN did swallow my comments. Thank you for free society and freedom we are fighting for.
You do realize CNN is a private company and can delete anything it choses, right?
we had a neighbor from syria. the guy was a greedy real estate guy. he knew every dirty trick. he was trying to control all of the water (and thus the value of the property). our family was always good to him with the water, but their family blocked the water from us. i wasn't sad the day he died,and i don't feel guilty. the world was a better place the day he moved on. that doesn't help matters. and no reflection on anyone but him and his greedy family. but it reminded me of him.
You never give a weapon to an Arab. They are not mature enough.
Where you will sell your weapons then.Your are trying to end biggest market for US weapons.Don't be silly. Think before writing.
Mr. Zakaria is not an expert on Syrian politics; therefore I would take whatever he has to say about the country with a grain of salt. According to Mr. Zakaria Syria is a landlocked country and therefore is geographically a difficult place. Mr. Zakaria have you actually looked at the map of Syria?
All this talk about Iraq, Afghanistan, Africa, Pakistan, Iran, Syria and Every Other Country Is Said to "Hate America" and its hyped up by the media and politics, Then the same people turn around and Want to sale us this story on why the U.S Needs to send troops and money we dont have to support our own economy or our own people, but want to send it to other countries we hear day in and day out that hate us and want to kill us or are plotting to attack our country.. I know they dont hate us and most of the time dont threaten to attack us unless we provoke it by testing everyone.. But NO we should NOT send any troops to fight anyone elses Civil wars or Holy Wars.. Let the British do something for once.. OUR TROOPS HAVE SEEN ENOUGH COMBAT, WE JUST PULLED OUT OF IRAQ AND ALREADY TALKING ABOUT MORE CONFLICTS, SO ALL YOU AMERICANS THAT HAVENT SERVED A DAY IN THE MILITARY OR A HOUR IN COMBAT GO OUT THERE YOURSELVES AND GET A TASTE OF WHAT OUR TROOPS HAVE DONE 1-6 TIMES FOR 12-15 MONTHS BEFORE YOU SEND THEM TO A CONFLICT.. "GOD BLESS AMERICA MAY WE DEFEAT THE EVIL IN OUR COUNTRY SO WE CAN GROW TO BEING THE STRONG NATION WE ONCE WERE, SO WE MAY HELP DEFEAT THE REST OF THE EVIL IN THE REST OF THE WORLD, I ASK GOD TO OPEN THE EYES , HEARTS AND SOULS OF EVERY BROTHER AND SISTER IN THE WORLD, SO WE MAY RECOGNIZE THE EVIL THAT HAS BROUGHT ALL THIS WAR TO YOUR PEOPLE LORD AND GUIDE US , GUIDE US IN THE DIRECTION OF PEACE, FREEDOM AND FREE OF CORRUPTION, LET EVERY NATION SEE THERE IS A WAY TO DEFEAT THIS EVIL WITHOUT USING A WEAPON OF ANY KIND, POUR YOUR BLESSINGS ON EVERYONE IN NEED OF A BLESSING LORD AND SHOW THEM THRU YOU IS WHERE WE MAY FIND PEACE AND THERE IS NO POWER ABOVE YOU GOD, I ASK YOU THIS IN YOUR MOST HOLY NAME AMEN"
Eli you are may be brain washed,let me help you alittle bit.I am syrian my self have traded with Americans for many years ,have no problem with you guys ,and think more than 90% of the Americans are good people,but the problem lies on the foreign policy makers in the US they are messing the whole world with their support to Israel and you the Americans tax payers paying tofight wars on behalf of Israel.I feel sorry for you guys pls use your brain you will see it makes sense.By for now
A sustainable energy policy that focuses on energy independence and a move away from foreign sourcing of oil will do wonders for the U.S. and, one suspects, the rest of the world. Syria is a tragic situation, but it's not a problem that the U.S. can solve and Obama would be a fool to participate militarily in the removal of the Assad government.
Saudi Arabia and Qatar told the U.S "We will pay the value of the arm of Free Syrian Army." If Saudi Arabia and Qatar will pay the value of U.S. arms, why dont arm Free Syrian Army. We will not lose anything. There is no risk. The United States should not leave the Syrian people being slaughtered by criminal dictator.
why you have not shown my previous comment on Fareed statement
Freedom of speech is only valid against Quran and Islam and strictly not allowed against Israel.
Syria is neither landlocked (I'm surprised Farid doesn't know geopgraphy) nor is the issue the last soviet ally – its basically Russia putting an end to the USA's running around playing policeman all over the world. This is all it is. It is about Russia saying we are climbing back to our super power status after discovering oil. Concerning the Syrian crisis, yes it slow and it will take time but Bashaar Al Asaads days are numbered, perhaps no in days but in months. I don't expect him to be around this time next year but he will certainly still be around this summer. Mass defections in the Armed forces won't happen until those who want to defect can see the balance swaying clearly one way or the other but as long as Asaad still has the absolute upperhand defections will onl trickle through. Once it starts becoming cleaar the regime will collapse defections will avalanche and the end will come very quickly.
This is a time when the US needs to stay out it. We have problems of our own and getting involved with another country problems is not going to solve anything. Why must the US get involved with everyone else’s problems? We have a city being called “Kill-adelphia” because some one is being killed almost every single day, last year they had 304 murders and already for this year they have had 34. I know it’s not the thousands that our dieing over there, but how can we help others when we can’t help our selves? Don’t get me wrong I feel sorry and bad for everything going on over and I will admit I don’t even understand everything that is happening. I just want to see the US take care of the US and fix the problems at home before they try to fix the worlds problems.
Most of the world already does not like the US. We're heavily in debt and our economic structure is tumultuous at best. All the signs point to staying out of Syria's way and let's concentrate on what's happening at home. A further reminder: has everyone forgotten that by helping (arming) the Iraqis against Iran and Russia the US came into disfavor with much of the Middle East. Let's not continue to make the same mistakes. Let's allow the Middle East to 'take care of their own' as we would have them do unto us. We'll just have to deal with the after math when all is said and done which is what will have to happen anyway.
Nobody hates USA.everyone wants to come and live in USA. It is only the policies of US government which result in loss of life of other people like IRAQ, bring problems for USA. One day USA will become South America if it kept the Bush track.
Ask not what our country can do for others, ask what others can do to help themselves.
That is basically what our foreign policy needs to be founded upon.
Very superficial and simplistic analysis of another Middle Eastern swamp. Be careful what you wish. The so called opposition is Muslim Brothers dominated who are as bad as Assad. If they win there will be a slaughter of Christians, Alawites, and possibly Druze. That's why neither of these significant groups support the "rebels"
Not our job.
Hey Fareed...why don't you ask your pal Barack Hussein how he feels about having sent an ambassador to a State sponsor of terrorism ?
Have you forgotten who sponsored terrorists of Afghanistan in 80s.Who sponsored and produced OSAMA.Just think why Osama was not captured and directly killed.
Really, Fareed? Syria is landlocked? You get an "F" in geography. You must be a self-appointed expert, def: A drip under pressure.
I'v been told tha Zackaria has many collage degrees. You can send an idiot to collage for 8 years and still all you have is an idiot with a collage education.
Zakaria the fool doesn't know his head from a hole in the ground...
De- esculate the situation. Then get back to the political table. Apparently there are more irons in this fire than hands to pull them out. peace still serves businesses best interests. It's better for the citizens also.
This is not an American way. Be Bush.
Best Fareed article I've read in a long time. Truly shows why he got this job. He is smart about this.
WRT, what George Soros stated this morning on your show, "... nothing government can do will pay for itself ...." He may be right is most cases but not when it comes to aviation safety especially when it comes to wildlife strike mitigation. Wildlife strikes to commercial aviation costs air travelers between $5b and $7billion annually. Significantly more if military and general aviation is included. There is a direct correlation between more aggressive wildlife control at airports and reduced 'routine' strike damage. By adding $1 (one) dollar to every airline ticket and using that money to fund better airport wildlife control programs, quite literally billions per year could be saved for the aviation industry and air traveler. This is fact and not opinion, and I, as a aviation wildlife strike researcher, simply can't understand why the FAA does not implement such a program. Not only would it save each air traveler likely over $15 dollars per ticket in saved routine damage costs, but it would also (dramatically) as reduce the ever-present threat to a catastrophic crash of an airliner, finally , it would create roughly 10,000 new jobs across the country within a few months. If you know the facts of this issue, it becomes a 'no-brainer'
Imho part of what Russia and China are doing(veto U.N.sanctions on Syria)goes back to whenever Israel does anything the rest of the world sees as ruthless(read the book:The Fateful Triangle)the U.S. ALWAYS takes Israels side and vetos any U.N.actions against them,.No matter what.Perhaps what Russia and China are doing is some sort of payback.Im not saying its right but,it works both ways.
Before writing such things you should always keep in mind that MIGHT IS ALWAYS RIGHT.This is a universal truth no matter it is a free world or not.
Arming any muslim is asking to be killed with graditude. Arming Syrian rebels is STUPID.
I propose making some western journalist enemy combatants because of their role in toppling governments arround the world and formenting trouble.If I had the choice,Fareed Zakaria will be number one on my list.In the future they should be tried by a more competent courts for War Crimes and jailed like regular soldier because the media is becomming as effective as the gun and can cause as much damage as the Gun especially if it is being used by Western Media
I totally disagree with Fareed. Assaad regime is on the verge of collapse; no western ground intervention needed; just mere arm and money supplied by Arab Gulf states to support Free Syrian Army.
This war is a must win for the West and Arab Gulf states over Assaad Regime/ Iran/ Hizbullah axis of evil.
If Asaad regime survives then kiss Israel security and Oil flow goodbye and prepare to pay $10/ Gallon and live with Nuclear Iran, hawkish Hizbullah and of course another Rwanda in Syria. Obviously, the latter is probably the last on the West’s list.
when the world can live with bigger evils USA and Israel why can't you live with these small evils.
pointless dribble is all that is coming out of your mouth
So the armed rebels a.k.a FSA are getting support from their Al-Qaeda brothers, their Wahhabi Saudi and Qatari brothers, and their Salafi brothers in Lebanon … The FSA has 30 some battalions all named using Islamic figures from the early days of Islam and none named by a patriotic Syrian figure … Anybody still has a doubt that :
Armed Rebels = FSA = Muslim Brothers + Wahhabis + Al-Qaeda members + Salafis
These armed rebels have hijacked the early peaceful protests and the democratic reforms … They are not after democracy and freedom … They are after revenge and establishing an extreme Islamist state in Syria … For those of you who want to support them, go and fight with your Al-Qaeda brothers, otherwise just wake up and smell the coffee … If you support these guys, you are supporting Al-Qaeda.
You need to wake up and smell the coffee, you got it wrong, you need to stop watching Fox news.
The charged by hate armed rebels of the so called "revolution" in Syria are failing miserably. Strong men fight and don’t whine for help. Since your brothers decided to rebel, they have to face the music by themselves. We are not in the business of fighting for other people's failed revolution.
Mr Sam you also need to wake up and smell the coffee. You need to stop watching all US channels.
Zach, helping the oppositions is not risky, sitting on the side watching innocent people getting killed is very risky. What stikes me the most about you is that you don't have enough knowledge about Syria. The oppositions have an army of 120000 which include 40000 deffectors from the Syrian army and the rest former soldiers. Another thing, the army is witnessing more and more large deffections, at this rate more than half of the Syrian army will be with the Free army.
I suggest that you stop supporting the Syrian regime because you sound like the Russians, completely out of touch with what's going on on the ground in Syria.
The picture which you have shown is very similar to the picture of Afghanistan in 80s. USA jumped to help and produced a large number of terrorists headed by USA and OSAMA BIN LADEN.
Mr. Zakaraia
You speak as if you are so sure this syrian revolution in failing , I think you underestimated the syrian people.
But it seems as if you are worried about the future of Isreal but you are not saying it.
you are trying to tell the US govenment to bet on the losser like Russia did,also you want to revive the scae tactics
Good job Boy
Only Israel can tell what will happen with this so called revolution. Mr Zakaria can only make an estimation of Israeli thought and give an opinion. Final decision will be in Tel Aviv, we all can just guess what will happen next.
it's best not to get involved in syria... let them do what they do best...
You are definitely not American. An American cannot thing in this way. Be Bush.
think
wow, incredible liberal lunacy once again.
Fareed says, "There's no point in doing something noble and failing. " In other words, if the probability of winning is low, don't do the right thing because it may hurt your poll numbers.....
How will you judged that what is right and what is wrong.Was supporting OSAMA a right decision in 80s, this resulted in loss of life of many innocent Americans.
The US didn't support Bin Laden in the 80s. We supported the Saudis.
What the US officials were doing in Pakistan in 80s.Why they were encourging pakistan officials to produce suicide bombers against Russia.Read history carefully.Pakistan is not situated in Saudi Arabia.Even if we believe that USA supported Saudi Arabia then you should know Saudis always do what US tell them to do.Read history and current affairs carefully.
Obama surrounds himself with lousy advisors and you said he seeks your advice??? No woner he foreign policies are so screwed up!!!
One should have advisers like Bush, who can advise to kill people in millions. I think Obama has non US advisers.
It's too bad there is so much hate in this world, but America is pretty tapped out to continue to be the police of the planet again. Every country that is free has had to fight for their freedom. With that said, couldn't we just lob a few missiles in Bashar al-Assad direction.
What type of freedom you are talking about. People want freedom from Wall street should they do they same which you are suggesting? Should they bomb wall street for freedom? American fools have only learned to talk with bombs. Leave the politic of bombs otherwise your own people will bomb Wall Street one day.
And just what are YOU doing to help, Tahir?
I am here to help stop the politic of bombing and killing
The Syrian rebels would cut Fareed Zakaria's head off, throw his body in a ditch and post the video on You Tube.
Let them wipe each other off the face of the earth. Muslim vs. Muslim and the whole world wins.
You will soon see these rebels terrorists killing each other.Rebel activities are not allowed in Islam.Any person fighting against its government is a terrorist according to Islamic sharia.These rebels are US puppets.
As soon as Obama makes a move to bring force into Syria, the writer of this article will change his topinion on the spot. Just like he did in Libya.
The U.S must remain cautious. Americans support war until the casualties start to come home.
Billions stolen from the American taxpayer to fund the "Syrian rebels", who are mostly Mossad agents setting off bombs, shooting mortars, sniping the children and women of Syria. China will likely invade Israel and stop the Jew-Israeli-US destabilization of the whole Middle East oil area. The US produces oil and benefits from Jewish Israeli land expansion/conflict wars. China doesn't have oil and does not benefit from increased prices.
You know, it's real easy starting a war, but it's hard to end them. Have we not just been there? Also, where is the Arab League in all this? Why are they not intervening? The US would need UN approval to go in there, which is not going to happen, so that is not a solution. Perhaps humanitarian aid would be possible, not sure how that would work. But the US is not the "world police". Those days are gone. We have too many problems at home and we need to get our own house in order.
Help Syria...? Why? What for? Let the freedom fighters and Assad fight it out. This is a internal problem. So what is going on in Libiya..? Zero news.....
You are totally correct !
You hit the nail on the head. Do you know that Libya is now more unstable and violent than never before... thanks to arming and support of the rebels by the west as the fought for 'DEMOCRACY"
Arming the Syrian "opposition" is, shall we say, ILLEGAL !!!
Turkey's harbouring of the so-called Free Syrian Army is a violation of International Law.
fareed, your an idiot. No wars, no violence. lets take care of our economy
the road to tehran goes thru damascus.. it's all pr0paganda
What about occupy wall street, should the UN also come into America?? Lets not forget how American police forces are using brutal force against the protesters.
The same logic was said when Libyans started demonstrating against their own dictator ... that they would have no chance because of this and that and so on ... It would take persistence on the part of the Syrian people to prove otherwise and once they got political support from the international community, the Assad regime is history.
well if we give weapons or supplies we would be losing a relationship with Isreal because if we start helping syria isreal will start denieing our supplies to syria because the tension between syria and isreal because of the six day war in 1967 when isreal attacked Jordan and United Arab Republic.
Yes, the Occupy Wall Street had brutality and the Occupy Oakland protesters had bullets shot into their skulls. But people say that the Occupy Movement has no arms, no RPG's and no air cover. Should Syria decide to declare a "no fly zone" over NYC and Oakland, arm the Occupy protesters with anti-tank missiles, so they "have a fighting chance"? The stupidity and low IQ of the social reasoning is hilarious to the world watching the Jews of the USA try to destroy all countries around Nuclear rogue state of Israel.
So,the world is suppose to establih a 'UN Security council -B' with a sort of international principles that Russians could always be the 1st to vote in favour of it. And i rarely seen when Fareed puts his opinion ,made so frustratedly, as to his saying , "Russians want to do is establish some kind of international principle that when you have protests against an undemocratic regime, the U.N. Security Council can vote to intervene in some way or the other".
As usually...all talk and no action. Everyday more people die...and the talking continues. Sad...very sad!
Israel can shell Gaza children with White Phosphorus, Napalm-like, munitions, and the US vetoes the UN Security Council resolutions against it. So Israel can kill children using banned WMD, and the US supports that.
Are you sure that 'everyday more peaceful people die'? Did you verify it YOURSELF? People in Syria has very different point of view on 'what is going on' and they have right to live THEIR lives not as we believe they must live. For someone these are 'peaceful people dieing' but for others they are 'armed rebels who die because they shot into others and want to get country by power'. Russians understand it and this is why they prevent UN from any forceful action – as this makes more harm then good for the country.
Do we see Syria arming the Occupy Wall Street protestors with anti-tank missiles, sniper rifles and AK-47's?
The thing about facts is, they are very stubborn.
Syria doesn't have a Rothschild controlled bank, period.
The international media giant Reuters, will use stories of "terror" happening to the Syrian people.
Reuters is controlled by the Rothschilds, and Reuters controls CNN, among all other mass media YOU consume.
The Rothschilds do not have a bank they control in Syria today.
The Rothschilds will direct the U.N. to use Military Force to either convince the current leaders of Syria to give them a bank, or kill them and replace them with someone who will give them a bank.
Before this year is out, there will be a Rothschild controlled bank in Syria.
NOT EVEN ONE YEAR HAS PASSED SINCE THEY DID THE EXACT SAME THING IN LIBYA!
After the Rothschilds set up their bank in Syria, the Reuters media giant will then direct CNN and every other media outlet to talk of the great liberation of the Syrian people and how successful the U.N. intervention was. Shortly after, there will no longer be talk of Syria in the Reuters media giants.
There will be ZERO media stories released through the media giant Reuters of the newly installed, Rothschild controlled, banl once it set up in Libya
YOU are owned by the Rothschilds.
And hey, people was protested in Oakland – why don't UN intervene and send troops to California?
The whole idea of support all such protests is dumb. Countries should solve their local issues themselves. It includes both, USA with 'occupy Wall street' movement, and Syria with their rebels. Else we will end up in a total mess.
Syrian-s events are really, really, something much more complicated then' bad guys vs good guys'. And 'bad guys' for someone are 'good guys' for someone else. We in America must understand it and stop pretending to be 'world police'. As world is much more complicated then American's impression.
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