As I write this, NBC is reporting the US has just launched a volley of Tomahawk missiles against Syria, aimed at a single airfield. Things are developing quickly. Here’s an open thread to discuss.
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We Hunted The MammothBucking the Backlash
Did someone remember to call Putin and let him know to remove Russian “advisors” from that base?
I’d say best case they are only doing airstrikes and tomahawks and they checked with Russia first. That at least takes WW3 off the table and doesn’t risk US personnel.
This was news to me.
Here’s what the Guardian says:
Trump’s change of heart on Syria isn’t reassuring, it’s profoundly disturbing
David Shariatmadari
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/apr/06/donald-trump-conscience-syria-terrifying
@JoeB
I hope you’re right.
What the actual fuck.
We’re not even 100 days into this shitstorm and he’s fucking declaring war, without saying anything to congress or the American public.
I hope he gets torn into for this. I know he fucking won’t, but I hope he fucking does.
You don’t fucking say.
@Paradoxical Intention – Leader of the Deathclaw Damsels
Reminder that he’s at his lowest in popularity and approval, this may as well be him lashing out in attempts to not look weak and gain praise from his hawkish base.
@Axecalibur: Middle Name Danger
How many excuses of theirs are left on the table? I lost track after him doing everything possible to kill off everyone with less money than him.
But Clinton’s the war monger! But Clinton’s gonna bomb everyone! But Clinton’s gonna pick a fight with Russia
@JoeB
I also hope you are right. If they are doing that, then I wonder if somehow McMaster is trying to keep things at least somewhat under control (to the extent that’s possible). I don’t know why he took the job under Trump’s administration. I thought he had more sense than most in that realm.
I often wondered if, during the Obama administration, whether the U.S. was quietly coordinating with Russian efforts — well, not quite coordinating, that’s not the right word — but both of us trying to keep our parallel proxy wars from overlapping too much, and de-escalating when they did. I recall when the Turks shot down a Russian plane (what, in late 2015 I think?). Both sides made some noise but then let the issue fade away. I mean, think about it — a NATO country and Russia committing acts of war against each other (the Turks being justified in theirs, since it was their airspace that was violated) — that *could* have escalated with either or both sides had wanted it.
Now, obviously, we have quite a different person at the top though….
@Kat
I share many of the concerns in the article cited.
@JoeB
I also hope you are right. If they are doing that, then I wonder if somehow McMaster is trying to keep things at least somewhat under control (to the extent that’s possible). I don’t know why he took the job under Trump’s administration. I thought he had more sense than most in that realm.
I often wondered if, during the Obama administration, whether the U.S. was quietly coordinating with Russian efforts — well, not quite coordinating, that’s not the right word — but both of us trying to keep our parallel proxy wars from overlapping too much, and de-escalating when they did. I recall when the Turks shot down a Russian plane (what, in late 2015 I think?). Both sides made some noise but then let the issue fade away. I mean, think about it — a NATO country and Russia committing acts of war against each other (the Turks being justified in theirs, since it was their airspace that was violated) — that *could* have escalated with either or both sides had wanted it.
Now, obviously, we have quite a different person at the top though….
@Kat
Thanks for the link to the article. I share many of the concerns the author mentions.
US told Russia the missile strikes were coming. So they might be pissed but they weren’t surprised.
ETA: @Pavlovs House
Yeah, On the bright side McMaster and Mattis are probably the two most competent people in the Trump admin.
Apparently he got McCain and Graham on his side. They’re all for this bullshit.
https://twitter.com/AlexPappas/status/850161103913054208
@Ooglyboggles
It’s timing *does* look just right to be a distraction attempt, doesn’t it?
@Paradoxical Intention – Leader of the Deathclaw Damsels
Of course they would be for this. After all isn’t that what Jesus wants /s
@Pavlovs House
When each and every passing day increases the amount of unraveled threads regarding Trump’s connections to Russia I wouldn’t put it past that administration to do such a thing. Everything else including Trump blatantly lying about being wiretapped by Obama (such libel is a serious crime that the GOP would allow because tribalism) didn’t work, why not try to start a war to distract the public? It’d be almost comical if this was in a Dr.Strangelove inspired flick, not so much when we’re living that film.
@Dalillama: Irate Social Engineer
I swear to hell if he ever utters anything resembling the term “Domino Effect.”
Well, fuck.
Well, I guess we also have to get ready for a deluge of idiotic, ill-informed, yapping from various types like Roosh and Heartiste. I predict something from either or both of them along the lines of Bernhardi, e.g. Trump is helping and doing this to restore America because he knows “war increases manliness and vigor” blabbity-blah. Yeah, OK, the rest of that kind of got Bernhardi-type-crap out of our systems with, you know, like the carnage of both World Wars and the Holocaust and so on, but…yeah….
I predict that coming from at least one of those two. Probably Heartiste. It would appeal to them because they style themselves historically conscious.
….and it’s 100-years-to-the-day of the U.S. formally entering World War One….
Somebody is bound to bring that up in some non-historically-conscious way that I don’t have the energy to contemplate.
Headed to bed early here…have to be up early for work….for some reason the country still trusts a beta mangina like me to educate its soldiers….
Good night everyone
@Pavlovs House
Some of the alt-right and religious right are ripping into Trump, more and more of them picked up the CT that the gas attacks were a hoax over the last 2 days.
I was at a pretty much family mandated get together when the news hit. Probably the only non Trumpster voter in the room. The mood was almost jubilant, and one of the first things said was how unhappy it was going to make the Democrats, and who cares what they think. And my thoughts were, my God, we may have just started world War 3, and sticking it to the Dems is the first thing you think of? Seriously? What about all the people who have died, and are probably going to die because of this? War should never be something to be celebrated. It’s occasionally a necessary evil, but I have very serious concerns about all of this, as should anyone who cares to think about it.
Anyway, I had to nope the fuck away from all of it. Could not leave fast enough. Had to go cry someplace in a deep dark hole. Dark times…
Well, that didn’t take long :/
This also makes the statement from the WH that was more or less “if China doesn’t deal with North Korea, we will” even more bone chilling.
(and I see major typos in previous posts…sorry, y’all, tired here) re: Bernhardi’s ideas I meant “the rest of us kind of got that crap out of our systems…” Well, many people didn’t of course but I mean the World Wars did dispel a lot of that kind of thinking that had been mainstream during the nineteenth century.
@JoeB
Well, those types are not known to care much for consistency.
@Faerie Bard
Your sentiments are noble, and appreciated.
OK, now really off to bed for me.
And here we go again.
Scott Adams: “I’m going to call bullshit on the gas attack.”
Definitely not spending any more money on Dilbert books.
I doubt Trump has any real plan behind the strikes. He just wants to look tough. Still, the destruction of that base has the potential to save many thousands of Syrian civilians from Assad’s air force. Trump did some good for a bad reason, which beats his usual performance.
You know, I’ve fantasized a few times about an American intervention in Syria. Except, in my fantasies, it’s always alongside a swath of Middle Eastern and European allies, with humanitarian aid following closely behind, Putin in an inescapable coma, and a redevelopment and investment strategy planned out over the course of months-minimum based on the advice of actual international security experts, working knowledge of recent Syrian history and culture, and lessons learned from both Gulf Wars. Every literal point of which is inimical to that corrupt ignoramus in the White House’s actual capacity and character.
I knew this severed monkey’s paw would be a bad investment…
Now, can we impeach him? He’s not even legally allowed to do this, Commander in Chief or not. I’m praying Congress doesn’t retroactively condone this move.
He keeps playing with fire, the whole house will burn down and, knowing his lying, cheating ass, he’ll blame the very people who called the fire department.