Youjaes wrote:
I'm looking at the situation and I'm think Trump is in way over his head on this one and needs advice. How about everyone list what they would do as Commander in Chief and maybe, just maybe, someone in the intelligence circles will see this and promote some options for the president. I'll start.
First, get some cruise missile subs near Syria. Tell CIA to get some high priority targets for them so they can hit the top level command and control centers of the Syrian military. Hopefully, we have a carrier group in the region for the subs to hide under while on station. We don't need troops or jets and stuff to put one down on Assad. If we show we can take him at a moments notice and we prove we have the nerve to do it with a couple missile hits, we've got leverage.
Second, ask CIA about assets in Syria that can encourage a military coup so we don't have to lift a finger and still get a regime change. Can we do this? Can we initiate the operation? What about Syrian military assets who are willing to entertain the assassination option? I'm sure there are military personnel who have family in Allepo who got hurt in the bombing. Also, see if assets in Syria can convince Assad to step down peacefully and back channel with Putin to give asylum if he leaves now. No matter what, we want him out.
Third, publicly put it to Putin to either take action against Assad since the Russian military is already in Syria, or to publicly step aside and let someone else deal with him. The "give asylum to Assad" works with the back away option. Either way, we want our cruise missile option if we need to send a warning message.
Fourth, encourage the UN coalition to assemble a peace keeping force to intervene in the Syrian conflict in any event.
James
I'm looking at the situation and I'm think Trump i... (
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Getting a little ahead of ourselves here, aren't we? First, a couple of observations:
As yet, there is no evidence that the Assad regime did anything to gas anybody, either now or previously. Go ahead,
prove me wrong. Some fool government official saying it does not make it so. From the evidence gathered thus far, it appears these weapon were cobbled together in someone's basement, not bought in by some government military operation. In essence, the 'preponderance of evidence' points to someone other than the Assad regime.
Cruise missiles were fired yesterday at an airfield in Syria. 59 of them to be precise. At $250,000 apiece, the attack cost the Defense Department $14,750,000. That's almost $15 million to pound sand. Here's the story:
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/heres-firing-59-tomahawk-missiles-035600272.htmlAnd that's just the replacement cost of the missiles. No word yet on how much it cost to activate the infrastructure required to deliver them. Wild guess? A lot more than $15 million.
As for using CIA assets; after the last 8 years, we have a highly politicized CIA and FBI, neither of which are going to be of much assistance to the Trump administration. Asking the CIA for information is no doubt a prudent act in a sane world, but at this juncture, any reply would likely be severely delayed and suspect in both its completeness and veracity. Yes, they will drag their feet, withhold and and mislead if they think they can 'get away with it'.
The Putin regime has publicly declared that they are acting in support of Assad and against ISIS and other Muslim extremist groups in the region. In fact, the Russians are the only forces actively mitigating the roles of the known terrorist forces in Syria. Yeah, let that one sink in.
So, with all that in mind, what to do about the Middle East mess, Mr. Senior Presidential Advisor?
Good question, Mr. President. Glad you asked. Firstly, please allow me to compliment you on your recent actions regarding Syria and the Syrian question. Very effective at showing the world how a large number of Tomahawk missiles can make craters in the desert sand. Quite the light show, too!
As for future movements in the Middle East? Get out. Run. As far and as fast as you can. Let the Middle East sort out the Middle East and turn your attentions to the more pressing issues right here at home. The US should never have gotten entangled in the Arab world to begin with and that's the root of the issue. Going back to the original discovery of oil in the Middle East, the US has had it's tentacles into every facet of Arab life:
https://www.cato.org/publications/policy-analysis/ancient-history-us-conduct-middle-east-world-war-ii-folly-interventionThe harm has been done, and cannot be undone. The most favorable scenario is to give the Middle Eastern countries a chance to find their footing and do no more harm through further interventions.
While we're on the subject of foreign intervention, how about we close all of the 800+ US military installations around the world, bring the troops home and work on figuring out what it takes to provide an effective US defense force, sending the rest home and into the workforce. While we're at it, how about we trim back the supporting government bureaucracy to, say, 10% of current levels. Just drop them off at the next corner and let the free market absorb the ones who have any use outside being a waste of time and effort.
Aaarrrrgggghhhhhhhhh! Now you got me started on government waste and fraud again! OK! I admit it! I want to get rid of government completely and we can all just live in peace again. Just institute a single law across the land:
"Don't threaten or initiate force, or ask anyone else to do it for you".
I recommend we call it the 'One Law'. That One Law is sufficient to replace all the millions of pages of legaleze and regulationeze currently ensconced in the bowels of the Washington, DC behemoth. That just leaves one small quandary.
What to do with the buildings and facilities currently government owned and occupied?
I think they should be preserved in some fashion, as monuments to the gullibility of mankind.