Never Go to War without the Support of Your People
Michael Yon
Online Magazine
02 September 2013
…With Syria reaching full pitch in 2013, allegations that President Bashar al-Assad used chemical weapons on 21 August against his own people roiled the airwaves.
A year after the Benghazi attack that claimed our Ambassador and other Americans, we still have few answers. Speculation and conspiracy theories run rampant, while our government dodges the matter.
Yet mere days after the alleged chemical attacks in Syria, President Obama claimed that he had proof that Assad committed this crime against humanity, despite the fact that conditions for investigation in Syria are far more challenging than they are in Benghazi.
In the Middle Eastern environment of perpetual exaggeration, the highest death estimate by the rebels was 1,300 men, women and children killed. The US administration raised the rebel estimate to 1,429. Can we get a blood sample?
The bodies were buried within 24 hours in accordance with Islamic custom. Hardly enough time get an exact count of 1,429. From where did this number derive? Every serious combat trooper, cop, correspondent, anyone who sees action first hand and then sees reports, knows that first reports are always wrong, and often very wrong.
Nobody doubts that chemicals were used, but who did it? A rogue general? And where is the primary source for the count of 1,429?
Are these body reports cobbled together from second or third hand sources that might include double and triple counts, rumors, or complete fabrications? Syria is, after all, the navel of the Middle East, a wellspring for rumors, exaggerations, conspiracy theories, and the most obvious lies created by man.
The casualty count of 1,429 is important. If President Obama plays fast and furious with casualties, it is fair to wonder whether he is playing sloppy with alleged communications intercepts.
In our current nightmare, we find it easier to believe that the NSA is reading our emails than effectively eavesdropping on Syria. The White House should lay its casualty counts on the table, face-up. Its credibility is on the line.
Importantly, by saying we have “proof” of war crimes committed by Assad, we are saying we have proof that Assad is a war criminal. Assad knows the likely scenarios from here…
…Last week, while UK and US leaders were rallying to smash Syria in the mouth, I contacted Member of Parliament Adam Holloway for his thoughts. Adam responded within the hour:
“Outrage is not a strategy. I thought military action always had to have a purpose behind it – so what is the endstate here? Hit, and then hope?
“I am not sure in what way even limited strikes help the people living in my constituency: how does this further Britain’s or America’s national security?
“There cannot be a sane person in Britain who would not think it a good thing for us to get involved in the war in Syria if by doing so it would ease the horrors faced by the Syrian people – and dire risks to people in neighbouring countries…
Read this excellent article at Michael Yon Online
Related: Sen. John McCain: U.K. is ‘no longer a world power’
Sen. John McCain, appearing Friday on NBC’s “The Tonight Show With Jay Leno,” attacked the United Kingdom for deciding against a coordinated attack on Syria.
Mr. Leno asked Mr. McCain why the United Nations doesn’t support an attack on Syria…
Obama Seeking Syria Support From John McCain
Update: Bashar Assad’s grandfather’s amazing 1936 letter to France
The spirit of fanaticism and narrow-mindedness, whose roots are deep in the heart of the Arab Muslims toward all those who are not Muslim, is the spirit that continually feeds the Islamic religion, and therefore there is no hope that the situation will change…
American Troops Have a Message for Obama on Syria: We Didn’t Sign Up to Fight for Al-Qaeda.
CAJ note: Please pray for those men. What they are doing is against military code and is punishable by court-martial. As one reader on The Blaze wrote: “…of course this will NOT be TOLERATED!!! Even a dam rodeo clown is not permitted to mock or dis da Presbo!”
Also, House Republicans poised to say no on Syria
House Republicans are poised to reject President Obama’s resolution to authorize military force against Syria absent the administration convincing a strong majority of typically anti-war Democrats to back the legislation…
Update: “So we’re bombing Syria because Syria is bombing Syria? And I’m the idiot?” – Sarah Palin
