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Name:	4691 -	Reply
Subject:	Syrian president ordered murder of American
Date:	2/23/2012 8:08:19 AM

What impact will this news have on U.S. policy toward Syria? Apparently the Syrians do not fear any retaliation from the U.S. since they are backed by Iran (and Russia and maybe China as well). http://www.smh.com.au/world/syria-ordered-murder-of-western-journalists-20120223-1tova.html

URL: Syrian president ordered murder of American

Name:	MartiniMan -	Reply
Subject:	Syrian president ordered murder of American
Date:	2/23/2012 11:54:50 AM

Sounds like a perfect opportunity to put a few cruise missiles to use. Had a profound impact on Ghadafi......maybe we could convince Assad that he is picking the wrong fight.

Name:	Barneget -	Reply
Subject:	Syrian president ordered murder of American
Date:	2/23/2012 12:08:31 PM

Help me understand our interest in Syria's domestic affairs. Is the Assad regime friendly toward the US? Is there any probability that the replacement will friendly to US interests? Will the replacement regime open up an export market enabling creation of US jobs? Will a replacement regime stabilize regional oil production and prices? Or are we just getting wound up about muzzies that normally expend their energies and weapons killing US soldiers and citizens turning the arms on their own? Reporters, covering foriegn uprisings, knowingly and voluntarily, place themselves in harms way. Save the cruise missiles until after the warring camel jockIes have exhausted their supply of ammo, then use our tools to go in and take out the balance.

Name:	MartiniMan -	Reply
Subject:	Syrian president ordered murder of American
Date:	2/23/2012 12:45:19 PM

It was actually mostly a joke....... I personally don't care about what Syria does until they threaten our interests or those of our allies and then the response should be measured against the magnitude of the threat.

Name:	Barneget -	Reply
Subject:	Syrian president ordered murder of American
Date:	2/23/2012 1:18:20 PM

I was a little off center this morning or would have gotten it on the first pass. Agree wholeheartedly.

Name:	4691 -	Reply
Subject:	Syrian president ordered murder of American
Date:	2/23/2012 1:29:48 PM

Did you read the article? Intelligence intercepted orders from the Syrian top to silence the reporters. Typically this would be done by requiring all press and foreigners to leave the country. Murdering them is not the normal route taken. Syria is a puppet of Iran. This is a test. By your response I take it that you accept that it is OK for the government of another country to order the murder of American citizens provided the murders are within their own borders AND the offending country is not considered important?

Name:	Barneget -	Reply
Subject:	Read it then reread it
Date:	2/23/2012 2:11:03 PM

The article states that Assad would have been able to watch reports filed by these journalists, not that he ordered the murders. The reporters chose to insert themselves in a hostile environment, and unfortunately for them, suffered extreme consequences. Do you think that battle zone reporting is risk free? Do you believe that a foriegner, acting against the interest of a dictatorial regime, on soil controlled by that regime, is protected regardless of citizenry? No, I don't think it is OK, but that is the extent of my thinking about it. Kind of like the hostages in Beruit 25 years ago. Couldn't get all worked up about them getting snagged, and only smiled a little when they were released 5 years later. Assad, Ahmadinejad, Karzai, the Brotherhood, Gulani et al are not worthy of the attention, ammo, and lives of our troops. Bring our boys home and let the haters in the religion of peace bomb themselves back to the 12th century.

Name:	4691 -	Reply
Subject:	Read it then reread it
Date:	2/23/2012 3:00:56 PM

In response to questions, No and No. I think I posted the wrong article and don't have time to find it again now. This article and the others referred to the Syrian officers conversation intercepted by Lebanese intelligence. The assumption is that Assad is in charge of the military and gave these orders or at least approved of the tactics (or, then again, maybe he is just an innocent bystander watching the events around him unfold on TV). I hope you are right that continuing to ignore Syria (and Iran) is the best policy for the U.S. I'm sure if Obama is re-elected in 2012 they will back off.

Name:	Barneget -	Reply
Subject:	Read it then reread it
Date:	2/23/2012 7:24:11 PM (updated 2/23/2012 7:25:04 PM)

I get a little testy when I sense interventionist tones. I dont know the answers, and cant find my magic 8 ball. The third US casualty in Operation Iraqi Freedom was a young member of our extended family, a great kid with a great future, USNA grad. He was on exchange with the Royal Navy. His death, 9 years next month, caused a profound and conflicted shift in my thoughts regarding the military role we, as Americans, should play in issues limited to foreign, non allied soil.

Name:	4691 -	Reply
Subject:	Read it then reread it
Date:	2/23/2012 10:43:20 PM

I understand and I certainly don't know the solution either. From a purely fiscal perspective I've hated the policing and "hearts and minds" approaches which put the American military personnel at extended risk for little, if any gain. And the impact on the lives of so many people and their families can't be measured in simple financial terms. The cost is very high.

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