http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-34056543

Quote:Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) said on Tuesday it had treated four members of a family who suffered from breathing difficulties and developed blisters after a mortar hit their home in Marea.
The Syrian American Medical Society has also reported receiving 50 patients showing symptoms of chemical exposure.
Local rebels say the shells were fired from an IS-held village to the east.
A spokesman for one group, the Shami Front, told the New York Times that half of the 50 mortars and artillery rounds which hit Marea contained sulphur mustard.
The powerful irritant and blistering agent - which is commonly known as "mustard gas" but is liquid at ambient temperature - causes severe damage to the skin, eyes and respiratory system and internal organs.
Samples assessed
MSF said the four patients - two parents and their three-year-old and five-day-old daughters - arrived at one of its hospitals an hour after Friday evening's attack in Aleppo province, suffering from respiratory difficulties, inflamed skin, red eyes and conjunctivitis. Within three hours they developed blisters and their respiratory difficulties worsened.
Staff treated their symptoms and gave them oxygen before transferring them to another facility for specialised treatment.
"MSF has no laboratory evidence to confirm the cause of these symptoms," said Pablo Marco, MSF's programme manager in Syria. "However, the patients' clinical symptoms, the way these symptoms changed over time, and the patients' testimony about the circumstances of the poisoning all point to exposure to a chemical agent."
On Monday, the Syrian American Medical Society said its field hospital in Marea had received more than 50 civilians who exhibited similar symptoms. Some 30 civilians developed skin blisters, with doctors identifying the agent to be sulphur mustard.
The medical organisation said samples had been taken from patient blood, clothing, and hair as well from the shelling site, to be assessed.

So where is Obama's red line on this one? My guess is instead of a line it looks more like this

(08-25-2015 04:20 PM)200yrs2late Wrote:  So where is Obama's red line on this one? My guess is instead of a line it looks more like this

Nice Trumpism. Now how about proposing an actual solution or policy path to pursue?

(08-25-2015 04:35 PM)Redwingtom Wrote:  

(08-25-2015 04:20 PM)200yrs2late Wrote:  So where is Obama's red line on this one? My guess is instead of a line it looks more like this

Nice Trumpism. Now how about proposing an actual solution or policy path to pursue?

Sure, better him come up with a plan than the POTUS.

(08-25-2015 04:36 PM)VA49er Wrote:  

(08-25-2015 04:35 PM)Redwingtom Wrote:  

(08-25-2015 04:20 PM)200yrs2late Wrote:  So where is Obama's red line on this one? My guess is instead of a line it looks more like this

Nice Trumpism. Now how about proposing an actual solution or policy path to pursue?

Sure, better him come up with a plan than the POTUS.

Until Obama starts posting here...yes.

(08-25-2015 04:37 PM)Redwingtom Wrote:  

(08-25-2015 04:36 PM)VA49er Wrote:  

(08-25-2015 04:35 PM)Redwingtom Wrote:  

(08-25-2015 04:20 PM)200yrs2late Wrote:  So where is Obama's red line on this one? My guess is instead of a line it looks more like this

Nice Trumpism. Now how about proposing an actual solution or policy path to pursue?

Sure, better him come up with a plan than the POTUS.

Until Obama starts posting here...yes.

I would much prefer the people in charge that can actually do something come up with a plan rather than some random person on the internet, and that includes me.

(08-25-2015 04:39 PM)VA49er Wrote:  

(08-25-2015 04:37 PM)Redwingtom Wrote:  

(08-25-2015 04:36 PM)VA49er Wrote:  

(08-25-2015 04:35 PM)Redwingtom Wrote:  

(08-25-2015 04:20 PM)200yrs2late Wrote:  So where is Obama's red line on this one? My guess is instead of a line it looks more like this

Nice Trumpism. Now how about proposing an actual solution or policy path to pursue?

Sure, better him come up with a plan than the POTUS.

Until Obama starts posting here...yes.

I would much prefer the people in charge that can actually do something come up with a plan rather than some random person on the internet, and that includes me.

Yes...but...let's at least have an actual discussion on the topic and not grade school pablum, or just don't post...that's all I was saying.

(08-25-2015 04:35 PM)Redwingtom Wrote:  

(08-25-2015 04:20 PM)200yrs2late Wrote:  So where is Obama's red line on this one? My guess is instead of a line it looks more like this

Nice Trumpism. Now how about proposing an actual solution or policy path to pursue?

The first correct solution was not to leave Iraq. The next solution was to bomb the hell out of Isis when they were riding around in trucks in the middle of the desert. The third was to back Jordan and take care of Assad like he said he would.
The best correct action now is to unconditionally bomb the hell out of Isis no matter where they are.

But hey, I'm just a 35 year old conservative that has more common sense than the current administration and most of the liberals here

Here's a big problem with ISIS. The US has had this habit of consistently backing regimes that were not in step with the majority of their people, because they were more in step with us. From Diem in Vietnam to Saddam in Iraq, for starters. If you asked the people who live in the area controlled by ISIS who should govern them--and the choices were ISIS, Iraq, Syria, or Iran--you'd probably get a substantial majority for ISIS. So if we go after ISIS we run the risk of being linked to supporting an unpopular government by the people who live there. It's not an easy problem to solve, and I don't claim to have the solution. But it's something that we need to consider.

(08-25-2015 05:33 PM)200yrs2late Wrote:  

(08-25-2015 04:35 PM)Redwingtom Wrote:  

(08-25-2015 04:20 PM)200yrs2late Wrote:  So where is Obama's red line on this one? My guess is instead of a line it looks more like this

Nice Trumpism. Now how about proposing an actual solution or policy path to pursue?

The first correct solution was not to leave Iraq. The next solution was to bomb the hell out of Isis when they were riding around in trucks in the middle of the desert. The third was to back Jordan and take care of Assad like he said he would.
The best correct action now is to unconditionally bomb the hell out of Isis no matter where they are.

But hey, I'm just a 35 year old conservative that has more common sense than the current administration and most of the liberals here

Most of the "common sense" by conservatives would constantly have us in large scale wars in perpetuity. That works well for the conservatives' constituents - the arms manufacturers.

The first correct solution was to not go into Iraq in the first place.

(08-25-2015 04:45 PM)Redwingtom Wrote:  

(08-25-2015 04:39 PM)VA49er Wrote:  

(08-25-2015 04:37 PM)Redwingtom Wrote:  

(08-25-2015 04:36 PM)VA49er Wrote:  

(08-25-2015 04:35 PM)Redwingtom Wrote:  Nice Trumpism. Now how about proposing an actual solution or policy path to pursue?

Sure, better him come up with a plan than the POTUS.

Until Obama starts posting here...yes.

I would much prefer the people in charge that can actually do something come up with a plan rather than some random person on the internet, and that includes me.

Yes...but...let's at least have an actual discussion on the topic and not grade school pablum, or just don't post...that's all I was saying.

We messed up when we left Iraq. The only real answer, the one no one wants to admit, is we will need to go back. It is not the PC answer and no politician in a election year will make that call, but that is what will eventually have to be done if we want to get rid of ISIS for good.

(08-25-2015 07:07 PM)NIU007 Wrote:  

(08-25-2015 05:33 PM)200yrs2late Wrote:  

(08-25-2015 04:35 PM)Redwingtom Wrote:  

(08-25-2015 04:20 PM)200yrs2late Wrote:  So where is Obama's red line on this one? My guess is instead of a line it looks more like this

Nice Trumpism. Now how about proposing an actual solution or policy path to pursue?

The first correct solution was not to leave Iraq. The next solution was to bomb the hell out of Isis when they were riding around in trucks in the middle of the desert. The third was to back Jordan and take care of Assad like he said he would.
The best correct action now is to unconditionally bomb the hell out of Isis no matter where they are.

But hey, I'm just a 35 year old conservative that has more common sense than the current administration and most of the liberals here

Most of the "common sense" by conservatives would constantly have us in large scale wars in perpetuity. That works well for the conservatives' constituents - the arms manufacturers.

The first correct solution was to not go into Iraq in the first place.

Don’t argue with idiots. They’ll drag you down to their level then beat you with experience.

(08-25-2015 04:35 PM)Redwingtom Wrote:  

(08-25-2015 04:20 PM)200yrs2late Wrote:  So where is Obama's red line on this one? My guess is instead of a line it looks more like this

Nice Trumpism. Now how about proposing an actual solution or policy path to pursue?

http://www.marines.com
Turn these guys loose.

(08-25-2015 04:35 PM)Redwingtom Wrote:  

(08-25-2015 04:20 PM)200yrs2late Wrote:  So where is Obama's red line on this one? My guess is instead of a line it looks more like this

Nice Trumpism. Now how about proposing an actual solution or policy path to pursue?

Well, here's the current strategy. We train the Syrian opposition in Turkey (note that through about 3-4 years into the administration, Obama spent more time talking to Erdogan than any other foreign leader, if not all other foreign leaders combined). We beg and plead with Turkey to enter the fight against ISIS, Turkey demurs, purportedly because they think the Kurds in Syria are terrorists, but also because they share the same general worldview as ISIS, differing in tactics as well as fanaticism. After 2-3 years, Turkey enters the fray and allows the US to launch strikes from Turkish basis... seemingly a big win for the administration. Then ISIS al Nusra slaughters the Syrian opposition trained by the US and Turkey... how did that happen? Because Turkish Intelligence sold out the opposition to ISIS al Nusra.

Obama thinks he has a friend in Erdogan and hopes to cultivate similar friendships with Iran. With Obama in office, the best move is probably to remove as many US soldiers as possible from harms way. I don't trust him to keep manage the situation without a disaster. Aside from that, take Obama's phone away and stay out of the conflict in Syria. We don't belong in it until we really do belong in it. The US would've been better off if we let Assad use chemical weapons on his own people and either he came out victorious or until he was definitively overthrown.

Drones can be an effective tool against a decentralized organization like al Qaeda where massive force may not be possible or effective. Against an opponent that holds major cities and is the controlling power, air power alone is an absolute farce, mostly good for helping people that we share very little in common with settle parochial scores.

edit: correction that Turky sold rebels out to al Nusra, not ISIS, and added link porn for Redwingtom...
Why President Obama stopped calling Turkish leader Erdogan - CSMonitor.com
US-Turkey priorities in Syria - Business Insider

First of all None of the Gitmo prisoners should ever have been released while We are still at war with Terror groups. That is beyond Stupid. Secondly We never should have left Iraq without making sure it was fully functional and not with a weak propped up Government that played both sides of the fence. At least You should never set a public timetable for leaving like Obama did from the start as Your enemies will just wait You out. Another stupid mistake.
When You see a group that is starting an uprising like ISIS, You stomp it out. Don't shrug it off and call it a JV team. It just sets You up as Spineless and afraid to take Them on. Now it will be left up to the next POTUS to finish the job You were too weak to control Yourself. Can't wait till 01/17 then We can straighten out This Obamanation.

(08-25-2015 07:07 PM)NIU007 Wrote:  

(08-25-2015 05:33 PM)200yrs2late Wrote:  

(08-25-2015 04:35 PM)Redwingtom Wrote:  

(08-25-2015 04:20 PM)200yrs2late Wrote:  So where is Obama's red line on this one? My guess is instead of a line it looks more like this

Nice Trumpism. Now how about proposing an actual solution or policy path to pursue?

The first correct solution was not to leave Iraq. The next solution was to bomb the hell out of Isis when they were riding around in trucks in the middle of the desert. The third was to back Jordan and take care of Assad like he said he would.
The best correct action now is to unconditionally bomb the hell out of Isis no matter where they are.

But hey, I'm just a 35 year old conservative that has more common sense than the current administration and most of the liberals here

Most of the "common sense" by conservatives would constantly have us in large scale wars in perpetuity. That works well for the conservatives' constituents - the arms manufacturers.

The first correct solution was to not go into Iraq in the first place.

Keep that head in the sand. What's done is done and we need to take steps to ensure the region doesn't devolve into all out war.