That quote could be technically applied to any form of western regime change… Oh we don’t like that government over there! … Let’s go and help the so called oppressed… Let’s then make sure that we gain control of all there resources, bomb the sh*t out of them and with the military-industrial complex “rebuild ” what they destroyed. Sanctions egg on the so called rebels.. Who we don’t know, their intentions, goals, ideologies or motives..

War is dangerous and nothing good can come from it what the west has done, like in Libya is pick a winner and loser.. Does not sound so democratic when you think about it

So Peter
Your answer is to sit back and do nothing . Allow men women and children be killed , starved , lie injured and dying in bombed out houses ,develope massive infections and serious disfigurements due to lack of medical intervention…Good man , I hope you can live with that . :)
Like I said I do not condone violence , but I believe that everyone has the right to defend themselves and their family.

Peter I am not advocating war, I’m saying something has to be done. You criticise the “west” but give me an alternative? What is so bad about a Western regime change if it were to happen hypothetically? Democracy? Free Speech and religion? Relatively peaceful society? If it were to work there how is that a bad thing?

China and Russia not only ignore the situation in Syria but continue to arm tAssad and line his coffers, just as they have done in Libya and most other despotic regimes in the world.

For once I would like to see the Arab league take action for an Arab problem, they have the economic power to fund action, they also have the arms. It’s about time they grew some balls and addressed there own back yard without having to leave NATO and the US take action.

” Oh we don’t like that government over there! … Let’s go and help the so called oppressed… Let’s then make sure that we gain control of all there resources, bomb the sh*t out of them and with the military-industrial complex “rebuild ” what they destroyed.”
1) Yes Peter . I would say they are oppressed and not as you say ” the so called oppressed”
2) The bodies of the two dead journalists are still lying rotting where they fell… How many others are lying dead ?
3) ”make sure that we gain control of all there resources” I do not agree with this comment who or where did I say that this was a reason for helping these unfortunate people ,but doing something is surely better than doing nothing.
4) ”Oh we don’t like that government over there!” not when they are killing their own people deliberately without allowing them the opportunity to leave with their old ,their children ,their wounded and their dead.. No I do not like that ”government” .
I am ashamed of Eamon Gilmore’s attitude .
What to do ? I don’t know . Send in peace keepers , maybe. Drop supplies , food , water .
Hold talks with the president , but then that’s up to him too.

Well for starters none of the European powers have met with Assad to speak face to face… We employ diplomats for reasons… If you want to go over there and lose your legs in what effectively is a civil war be my guest.. Those dead journalists would not have wanted to become similar to the “Tonkin Bay” incident .. Violence is a means of gaining power, and both sides are committing it .. Remember all the soldiers that were massacred last year in syria.. By what the west is doing is aggravating the situation.. If we intervene in anyway with Syria it would be a crime in itself.. Where in the Irish constitution does it state that we can do such a thing.. I notice that the main supporters of conflict are Qatar and Suadi Arabia. . Hold on a second aren’t those countries violent oppressive dictatorships that we love ? Interviewing in Syria would be a massive mistake and a total hypocrisy..

Arming them is a daft strategy it only will prolong the Civil Unrest.. The best thing the west can do is to not pick a side as by doing so it will create allot less blowback

And continue to allow the Syrian government to kill innocent protesters? Great idea Peter… Fantastic Idea!

One of the best quotes ever !
So true and relevant in every scenario!

As a nation of 4 million people and a budget of only 1 billion for defence, there is little we can do other than “finger wag”. However I agree with you. It is about time that someone stepped in to help the defenceless!

I know . It is frustrating , and all I can think of are the helpless
the old and the children …..

Gavin, I appreciate that, however my point is against Neutrality. I’m not saying as soon as America/NATO says jump, we jump. I just think we should have the choice and not hide behind it, especially having the stigma of failing to act in World War 2 while De Valera had the audacity to offer condolences with the Germans even after it was common knowledge that millions of Jews had been slaughtered.

Many other small nations contribute to NATO etc, even if there was a unilateral UN mandate for action, our neutrality prohibits us from acting anyway from anything other then a peacekeeping mission. If the world was to send in a force to help in place like Syria why shouldn’t we be there to help?

But as I said, I think this is something the Arab league need to take ownership of and fast.

comment of the week imho

iBob101, His government is killing armed opposition who are partly foreign and being armed by various intelligence agencies from outside the country. The so-called ‘rebels’ in Lybia who were also funded from outside the country and helped by indiscriminate NATO bombing from the air have been found to have tortured and killed thousands of people in that country.

Also, in a recent poll funded by the BBC, the majority of Syrians said they supported the government of Assad.

And btw, who is the ‘we’ you are referring to?

Cormac C
Have you seen the same pictures I have of children trying to flee the houises , the bodies of the dead lying in the ruins,. This news story is about Syria not Lybia….. But FYI war is bloody murder . There is NOTHING ”nice” about war. I wonder if the BBC would have a similar poll now that their beloved journalist is dead left to rot where she fell…

@Eileen G: So you agree with arming the anti government forces?

The reason I mentioned Libya is that the US is using the same excuse to take control of a foreign country, ie they are going in for humanitarian reasons. They understand that by framing it like that it will be able to manipulate people on an emotional level. Most people hate to see others losing their lives.

Why are the west not intervening in other countries where governments kill their own people?

You should probably look at the bigger picture.

Cormac
I do not know if I would agree with arming the anti government ”force ” ( or side may be a better word ). But they must be protected if what you say happened in Lybia can happen or is happening in Syria. These poor children and elderly people should be saved…
It can not be dismissed as easily as ”ah shur what can we do ?”

What other countries are governments killing their own people ? and if this is the case , why did Gilmore say anything about Syria at all ??

The bigger picture can be looked at when the killing stops.

Cormac..the opposition.has been recognised. They can be armed with the proviso that when they oust that butchering tyrant then a UN peace enforcing force moves in and disarms militia and ensures that the Syrian people have the chance to set up a representative govt. This force should have Ireland and other non alligned countries to the fore and include police to train and oversee a new civilian police force. Its possible with a will. The FSA should be armed…how would you feel if youre family was suffering like thousands of Syrians are. Gilmores speech smacks of yhe udual “strongly worded letter” BS

it would appear from Hillary Clintons latest comments that Hamas and Al Qeeda are now supporting the opposition. this is indeed a very tricky situation and Im not too proud to accept that in light of my research that the question of arming the rebels is not black.and white. But what can be done to help the innocents…

Colm
that indeed is very tricky …
I don’t like the al quaeda link … but innocents are innocents.

Gavin
Have you forgotten that Russia is on the side of the president and all his men

Have you forgotten the countless number of despots that Europeans side with and supply weapons.. Really your a total brainwashed hypocrite

Manners Peter manners ! :)

By your theory than Peter, we should leave Syria to kill her people. As much as I hate to interfere in other countries affairs, if they do not wish to listen to their people and instead decide to commit mass genocide then that is the time to act. Sanctions have proven to be ineffective in these matters and it is obvious, with the new constitution, that these matters are only going to escalate.
As for your comment on European affiliation with dictators across the world and the supply of arms, I do not have any knowledge of this and won’t comment on it.

@Eileen Gabbett And what do you mean by that. It is quite obvious that Russia would side with Assad. Seria is an important trading partner of Russia. This event only reinforces the shear lack of human rights in that trading block.

it would appear that al qeeda & hamas have already stepped in according to report on.ynet news attributed to remarks by Hillary Clinton who states that ayman al zawhiri is actively supporting the uprising. i fear for the future if this is the case and more immediately for the poor innocents in harms way

it has not taken al queada long to get stuck in