Syria ....

[Barnsley]

The Americans are locked and loaded and "Call me Dave" has recalled Parliament and is vowing not to be on the sidelines ......

Ruskies and the Chinese are warning of dire consequences as well

Apparently there will be "no boots on the ground" .... Oh Really....

It looks like a few cruise missiles will be fired off in the next week , how long til the ground troops go in?

Then how long after regime change, sorry its not about regime change, will "we" be regretting getting involved again in something that "we" have no clue about.

What the hell!!

[Mi Amigo]

This worries me too - shades of the old 'W' / Cheney / Rumsfeld / Yogi Blair axis of gung ho, and look at the dogawful mess that still exists in Afghanistan and Iraq. The chemical attacks were horrific, but without a UN resolution for specific, targetted action I fear this may be yet another slippery slope to chaos and even more bloodshed.

[Wd40]

Just sold off my equity and bond funds completely. "Wait and watch on the sidelines" for me.

[Barnsley]

Just sold off my equity and bond funds completely. "Wait and watch on the sidelines" for me.

I am.more concerned about the potential for thousands of deaths and a creation of a hat-trick of basket cases after sticking our nose in where its not required following Iraq and Afghanistan.

Didnt a famous investor say to buy when there is blood on the streets?

[x9200]

I am.more concerned about the potential for thousands of deaths and a creation of a hat-trick of basket cases after sticking our nose in where its not required following Iraq and Afghanistan.

Yep, yet another mess about to start with a lot of unfinished mess left behind. And even if hypothetically the intentions are pure (doubt many believe it) why the West needs to be the world's gendarme all the time? Doing it without UN resolution will be even bigger mistake.

[PNGMK]

I personally consider the FSA to be a bunch of evil terrorists (with the odd good one in there). Wipe them out Assad.

[kookaburrah]

This is the reason I would never survive in politics.

I agree with the general sentiments expressed above, but can't help feeling that the mass murder of innocents (with chemical or conventional weapons) should be addressed. Abject helplessness should not exist in today's world - these people need someone to come to their aid.

[Mi Amigo]

kookaburrah, I know what you mean, and for me it's been agonising and heartbreaking to see the suffering of so many people over the past two years or more. But what to do? The events in Iraq have shown that intervention can sometimes only make things worse and lead to even more misery and death.

I was surprised to read that the UK parliament has voted against a military intervention:

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/aug/30/cameron-mps-syria

I wouldn't have expected that with a Tory lead government in power; IMO it just goes to show how reticent many people are about the effectiveness and potential unintended consequences of military force.

[bgd]

Blair effect?

Personally after Iraq I'm pretty happy that it seems that the UK isn't always at the beck and call of the US. Whether it's the right decision I don't know but at least the politicans are taking pause.

[blue_thunder]

If the Americans proceed then it will definitely boost the dollar value & oil there by bringing down the yellow metal...

[ScoobyDoes]

Blair effect?

Blair / Bush, absolutely.......

Cry Wolf often enough and on the chance somebody actually needs help, and there actually may be proof, nobody believes you anymore. The whole problem of NOT finding WMD in Iraq puts huge questions on the worth of so called intelligence.

Blair and Bush screwed it for the Syrian masses.

[Wd40]

Syria strike has been some sort of a joke. Can't imagine its so hard for them to get the approval to go ahead and bomb.

I wonder whats going on in Assad's mind. I think by now he is also laughing about it

[Barnsley]

Syria strike has been some sort of a joke. Can't imagine its so hard for them to get the approval to go ahead and bomb.

I wonder whats going on in Assad's mind. I think by now he is also laughing about it

I think Obama has the mandate to say go ahead and bomb them ..... alas the majority of the electorate dont seem keen on it.

Thats the annoying thing about democracys at times , you have to look at the long game.

[Steve1960]

Plus Syria could decide to destabilize the entire region. Jordan, Israel, Turkey and others. This has the potential to go very pear shaped

[PNGMK]

Syria strike has been some sort of a joke. Can't imagine its so hard for them to get the approval to go ahead and bomb.

I wonder whats going on in Assad's mind. I think by now he is also laughing about it

I think Obama has the mandate to say go ahead and bomb them ..... alas the majority of the electorate dont seem keen on it.

Thats the annoying thing about democracys at times , you have to look at the long game.

I heard Kerry on the BBC saying this - we may be ok after all!

http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2013/09/09/syria_chemical_weapons_did_john_kerry_just_accidentally_find_a_workable.html