President Trump: Making America Great Again...

[myboynoah]

The fact that politicians (across the spectrum) and pundits alike believe that the US is obligated to respond to every worldwide calamity is both tedious and (to borrow a phrase from JL's sig...) sanctimonious.

Everyone has their sacred cows. It's obvious the U.S. cannot police the whole world, but it can and needs to assert influence where it has strategic interests. It's about time we pushed back on Iranian and Russian influence in the region. Assad is their man. That we have made it clear he must go is a very good development.

[Uncle Ted]

By posting this, are you implying that the Trump team orchestrated this?

Maybe it is the Russians (hackers) trying to drag the US into yet another costly war.

Yeah, that's bonkers.

Yep, and Ron Paul was completely wrong about Iraq.

[Uncle Ted]

Everyone has their sacred cows. It's obvious the U.S. cannot police the whole world, but it can and needs to assert influence where it has strategic interests. It's about time we pushed back on Iranian and Russian influence in the region. Assad is their man. That we have made it clear he must go is a very good development.

Yeah, that strategy work so well for Afghanistan and Iraq. Now we have yet another war that puts thousands of young American soldiers at risk and at great financial cost. The interventions in Afghanistan and Iraq might have seemed urgently necessary in 2001 and 2003, but viewed in hindsight it is clear that knowing when not to act is critical to making sound foreign policy. Doing nothing is far better than taking a precipitous action that risks entangling American and Russian forces in "Syraq". Let the UN do the nation building. Is that why we contribute to over 20% of its budget? If not, then maybe we should let other counties start contributing their fair share or just get the hell out. Why does the US have feel obligated to respond to this? Bad sh*t happens all over in the world everyday. Maybe we will feel obligated to attack North Korea next.

[Moliere]

Everyone has their sacred cows. It's obvious the U.S. cannot police the whole world, but it can and needs to assert influence where it has strategic interests. It's about time we pushed back on Iranian and Russian influence in the region. Assad is their man. That we have made it clear he must go is a very good development.

Possibly, however, a strike like this should have happened long ago. Maybe it could have helped stop the slow destruction of Syria and stemmed the flood of refugees.


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[Walter Sobchak]

It's obvious the U.S. cannot police the whole world, but it can and needs to assert influence where it has strategic interests. It's about time we pushed back on Iranian and Russian influence in the region. Assad is their man. That we have made it clear he must go is a very good development.

No, it's not. Syria poses no threat the security of the USA. Let it alone.

Possibly, however, a strike like this should have happened long ago. Maybe it could have helped stop the slow destruction of Syria and stemmed the flood of refugees.

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[myboynoah]

Possibly, however, a strike like this should have happened long ago. Maybe it could have helped stop the slow destruction of Syria and stemmed the flood of refugees.


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Yes, this should have happened years ago, but Russia said, "Hey guys, lets talk." And Kerry listened and watched while the Russians marched right in to shore up Assad and his Iranian and Hezbollah friends.

[myboynoah]

Possibly, however, a strike like this should have happened long ago. Maybe it could have helped stop the slow destruction of Syria and stemmed the flood of refugees.


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Yes, this should have happened years ago, but Russia said, "Hey guys, lets talk." And Kerry listened and watched while the Russians marched right in to shore up Assad and his Iranian and Hezbollah friends.

[frank ryan]

Yes, this should have happened years ago, but Russia said, "Hey guys, lets talk." And Kerry listened and watched while the Russians marched right in to shore up Assad and his Iranian and Hezbollah friends.

Agreed, Obama was a failure on Syria. He shouldn't have went to congress and should've sent an airstike to punish Assad when chemical weapons were first used. It was also a massive mistake to trust that the Russians would actually have the Syrians get rid of all their chemical weapons.

[Goatnapper'96]

Everyone has their sacred cows. It's obvious the U.S. cannot police the whole world, but it can and needs to assert influence where it has strategic interests. It's about time we pushed back on Iranian and Russian influence in the region. Assad is their man. That we have made it clear he must go is a very good development.

There is a difference between the moral or even realpolitik justification to go after Assad and the fundamental reality as to whether or not the US, and by the US I mean the people, are committed enough to genuinely make a difference. That is a function of consensus and the degree of sacrifice we, as a unified people, are willing to endure in this foray. From where I sit our electorate doesn't understand why we are there, why what is happening is negatively impacting our world and how our actions will lead to a Syria where the negative things impacting our world will stop or if they can be stopped. The pure complexity of the issue seems to be an impediment to any consensus.

My opinion is they can be stopped but we are not committed enough to it. It seems that the best policy is to be involved enough to control the fallout to the best we can in our favor with our limited commitment.

[Green Monstah]

That's what you get for moving from Houston...

I'd rather die in San Antone than live in Houston.

[falafel]

That's what you get for moving from Houston...

I'd rather die in San Antone than live in Houston.

[Omaha 680]

Agreed, Obama was a failure on Syria. He shouldn't have went to congress and should've sent an airstike to punish Assad when chemical weapons were first used. It was also a massive mistake to trust that the Russians would actually have the Syrians get rid of all their chemical weapons.

Hey, world! I agree with frank ryan and I don't care who knows it!

[PaloAltoCougar]

There has been a lot of very negative commentary about Jared Kushner and Ivanka having major roles in the White House, citing their total lack of experience. With pretty much any other president in my memory, having such neophytes in top positions would certainly be cause for concern, perhaps bewilderment. And yet as a sign of my ultralow opinion of Trump, I think having the Kushners close to him is actually a good thing. Despite their inexperience, unlike Trump they appear well-educated, balanced, self-aware, etc., and Trump seems to listen to them. And Ivanka is playing the role of an activist First Lady. I'm confident/hopeful they can pull Trump away from at least some of the nutty stuff he's inclined to do. Is the presence of Javanka in the White House a bad thing?

[Moliere]

I'd rather die in San Antone than live in Houston.

I agree. I'd rather have you die in San Antonio than have you live in Houston.


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[Northwestcoug]

There has been a lot of very negative commentary about Jared Kushner and Ivanka having major roles in the White House, citing their total lack of experience. With pretty much any other president in my memory, having such neophytes in top positions would certainly be cause for concern, perhaps bewilderment. And yet as a sign of my ultralow opinion of Trump, I think having the Kushners close to him is actually a good thing. Despite their inexperience, unlike Trump they appear well-educated, balanced, self-aware, etc., and Trump seems to listen to them. And Ivanka is playing the role of an activist First Lady. I'm confident/hopeful they can pull Trump away from at least some of the nutty stuff he's inclined to do. Is the presence of Javanka in the White House a bad thing?

That's the first time I've heard the term 'Javanka'. Did you come up with that? If so, kudos. That's pretty good.