# American missiles fired at Syria **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [April 7, 2017, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-missiles-fired-at-syria/783944 "2017-04-07T02:03:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 28
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2017, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-missiles-fired-at-syria/783944/541 "2017-04-12T23:47:41Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > Why do you say we weren’t allegedly aiming for planes? Oh FFS. I have no reason to think that what was hit wasn’t targeted or that there is nuance in the objectives of this strike against Assad’s air base. It’s exactly what it looks like. No more, no less. Unless actual evidence is presented to the contrary, the CW attack that preceded and prompted this response, is exactly what it looks like too, because Assad has done this before. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2017, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-missiles-fired-at-syria/783944/542 "2017-04-13T00:03:56Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > I was talking about hitting the planes when we weren’t (allegedly) aiming for them. > > Nevermind the fog of war. This is the fog of one air strike. Well, I can see where skepticism of exactly what was damaged and how much is a reasonable position. Myself, I can only go by what’s been released and try and interpret the damage by looking at the pictures. It’s within the realm of possibility that 20 aircraft were damaged/destroyed…but who knows? The Russians say one thing. Syria said something else initially, then walked that back to something else. The US’s position has been, as always, a confused cluster fuck, since our current administration are idiots of biblical proportions and who don’t seem to be on the same book, let alone the same page. The thing about not aiming from the planes seems to be a new meme…haven’t seen anyone confirm that and, at least to me, seems pretty ridiculous since if you are targeting an entire air base with 50-60 tomahawks it would be a bit of a stretch to think you wouldn’t hit any (and I have no idea why we wouldn’t want that in any case). I know we didn’t want to hit any Russians, but we tried to mitigate that possibility as much as possible, from what I can tell. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2017, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-missiles-fired-at-syria/783944/543 "2017-04-13T00:26:39Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > Oh FFS. > > I have no reason to think that what was hit wasn’t targeted or that there is nuance in the objectives of this strike against Assad’s air base. It’s exactly what it looks like. No more, no less. > > Unless actual evidence is presented to the contrary, the CW attack that preceded and prompted this response, is exactly what it looks like too, because Assad has done this before. ? I was just asking where you got the “not targetting the planes” thing from. Doesn’t make sense and I hadn’t heard it before. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2017, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-missiles-fired-at-syria/783944/544 "2017-04-13T00:32:36Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > ? > I was just asking where you got the “not targetting the planes” thing from. Doesn’t make sense and I hadn’t heard it before. I was being snide. I’m prissy today. Please accept my appologies. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2017, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-missiles-fired-at-syria/783944/545 "2017-04-13T00:53:43Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > ? > I was just asking where you got the “not targetting the planes” thing from. Doesn’t make sense and I hadn’t heard it before. 'Luci also brought it up above in this thread ETA: post 527. He said something about having heard that the US didn’t want to hit any planes (for some reason) but then crowing about hitting planes. But he didn’t say were it came from. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2017, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-missiles-fired-at-syria/783944/546 "2017-04-13T01:47:10Z")
My memory isn’t as good as it used to be. Or maybe it is, and I just don’t remember. I have been reading about this since before the latest thing happened, and that’s one of the things I read. The underlying theme, as I recall, was selling a _very_ surgical strike, with limited potential for ghastly consequences. So, directed strictly and exclusively at support facilities. In any given day of news nerding, I may read any number of sources. So, that’s what happened here. Now, since by implication if not insinuation my copybook may be blotted, I’ll see what I can do. If I entirely fail, I will tell you. If I find sources, I will show them, and assume that the reputation I enjoy is intact. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2017, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-missiles-fired-at-syria/783944/547 "2017-04-13T02:02:17Z")
_Nada._ Closest to it, a statement from Trump defending the lack of targeting on the runways themselves, but that’s not even close. I go now to the river, to perform the Ancient Albanian Ritual of Self-Abasement, accompanied by a chorus of bitter virgins, intoning dirges of woe and humiliation… ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2017, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-missiles-fired-at-syria/783944/548 "2017-04-13T02:20:25Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > . If I entirely fail, I will tell you. If I find sources, I will show them, and assume that the reputation I enjoy is intact. Rest assured that your reputation is entirely unchanged. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2017, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-missiles-fired-at-syria/783944/549 "2017-04-13T04:31:07Z")
Does anyone else feel that _“We shot missiles at the airfield but didn’t aim for warplanes”_ is like saying, _“Yes Your Honor, I shot him, but did my best not to aim for vital organs?”_ You’re already shooting. ---
**Author:** ![Latro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a87d85/32.png) [@Latro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Latro)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2017, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-missiles-fired-at-syria/783944/550 "2017-04-13T06:25:58Z")
> [@ganthet](#): > > Let’s give the mass murdering dictator who already indiscriminately bombs civilians (and [publicly denies using barrel bombs](http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-31327152) despite their widespread reported use by his air force) the benefit of the doubt, guys. Neither am I giving the benifit of the doubt to a country that overthrows governments, willi nilly, bombs people whenever they feel like it or actually invades countries on the flimsiest of justifications. ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2017, 8:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-missiles-fired-at-syria/783944/551 "2017-04-13T08:58:20Z")
> [@skdo23](#): > > According to CNN there were/are Russians at at least one of the Syrian military installations we hit. I wonder if that means we will get to see whatever blackmail material they supposedly have on trump. I’ll be keeping popcorn on hand just in case. Trump must have realized that there may be Russians there. It doesnt make sense that he would still hit Assad if he thought that Putin might be provoked into releasing material on him. The attack really does blow a huge hole in the blackmail theory. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2017, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-missiles-fired-at-syria/783944/552 "2017-04-13T13:38:09Z")
> [@Latro](#): > > Neither am I giving the benifit of the doubt to a country that overthrows governments, willi nilly, bombs people whenever they feel like it or actually invades countries on the flimsiest of justifications. Good to hear that you don’t trust Putin and the Russians then… ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2017, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-missiles-fired-at-syria/783944/553 "2017-04-13T14:15:59Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > Rest assured that your reputation is entirely unchanged. Get it while you can, hoss. ---
**Author:** ![Latro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a87d85/32.png) [@Latro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Latro)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2017, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-missiles-fired-at-syria/783944/554 "2017-04-13T15:01:47Z")
> [@XT](#): > > Good to hear that you don’t trust Putin and the Russians then… Of course not. On a more ironic note. Syria claims that yesterday US-planes hit an ISIS chemical weapons store… You couldn’t make it up. Unless it actuallly is made up, of course. Nothing verified yet. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2017, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-missiles-fired-at-syria/783944/555 "2017-04-13T15:30:12Z")
[QUOTE=Latro] On a more ironic note. Syria claims that yesterday US-planes hit an ISIS chemical weapons store… You couldn’t make it up. Unless it actuallly is made up, of course. Nothing verified yet. [/QUOTE] Do you have a link? I did a search but there is nothing on it and it’s not on either CNN or the BBC which is where I generally get my news. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2017, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-missiles-fired-at-syria/783944/556 "2017-04-13T15:35:10Z")
[This](http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-39588876) seems to be Assad’s current stance (which differs from the Russians, interestingly enough): > [@](#): > > Syria chemical attack ‘fabricated’ - Assad > > Mr Assad accused the West of making up events in Khan Sheikhoun so it had an excuse to carry out missile strikes on the government’s Shayrat airbase, which took place a few days after the alleged attack. > > “It’s stage one, the play [they staged] that we saw on social network and TVs, then propaganda and then stage two, the military attack,” he said, questioning the authenticity of the video footage. > > He also said Khan Sheikhoun, in Syria’s north-western Idlib province, had no strategic value and was not currently a battle front. “This story is not convincing by any means,” he told the AFP. So, it wasn’t a false flag OR hitting terrorist stockpiles of chemical weapons that magically mixed into deadly weapons…it never happened, it’s all made up by the West to give the US an excuse to strike Syria and in fact there wasn’t even a battle there! There IS NO SPOON! I’m just…wow. ---
**Author:** ![Latro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a87d85/32.png) [@Latro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Latro)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2017, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-missiles-fired-at-syria/783944/557 "2017-04-13T15:59:57Z")
> [@XT](#): > > Do you have a link? I did a search but there is nothing on it and it’s not on either CNN or the BBC which is where I generally get my news. > **[U.S. denies Syria's claim that airstrike hit ISIS gas depot, 'killing hundreds'](https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/syria/2017-04-13/ty-article/u-s-denies-syrias-claim-that-air-strike-hit-isis-gas-depot/0000017f-dbab-d3a5-af7f-fbaf04fd0000)** > > Week after Syria uses gas in attack, Assad's army says incident in Deir al-Zor proves ISIS 'possess chemical weapons'; Russia: No information of attack ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2017, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-missiles-fired-at-syria/783944/558 "2017-04-13T16:05:43Z")
> [@Latro](#): > > [U.S. Denies Syria's Claim That Airstrike Hit ISIS Gas Depot, 'Killing Hundreds' - Syria - Haaretz.com](http://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/syria/1.783270) I’m confused. I thought you were talking about a new incident? This seems to be about the same incident we’ve been discussing…no? And it also seems different than what Assad was interviewed about. ---
**Author:** ![Ramira](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ramira/32/344_2.png) [@Ramira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ramira)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2017, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-missiles-fired-at-syria/783944/559 "2017-04-13T16:17:10Z")
No it is in the east in the territory controlled by the DAESH. The only source is the Syrian government itself. ---
**Author:** ![ganthet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de0a6/32.png) [@ganthet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ganthet)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2017, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-missiles-fired-at-syria/783944/560 "2017-04-13T18:18:13Z")
> [@Latro](#): > > Neither am I giving the benifit of the doubt to a country that overthrows governments, willi nilly, bombs people whenever they feel like it or actually invades countries on the flimsiest of justifications. This is a red herring. The U.S. government is not the source for all of the [initial reports accusing Syria of perpetrating the 4 April chemical weapons attack](http://www.cnn.com/2017/04/05/middleeast/idlib-syria-attack/). The U.S., U.K., and E.U. were just the ones to point the finger at Assad after credible evidence clearly showed a chemical attack took place, particularly given that eye-witness accounts suggest the attack was carried out by aircraft. Of all the myriad factions in the Syrian civil war that operate in Idlib, only two have aircraft - the Syrian Air Force and the Russian Air Force. This is opposed to the alleged incident in Deir al-Zor cited in the link you provided whose direct source was Assad’s military and did not feature any eye-witness accounts, pictures, video, or any other evidence. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-missiles-fired-at-syria/783944.md?page=27) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-missiles-fired-at-syria/783944.md?page=29)