# Do anything about Syria? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [May 30, 2012, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-anything-about-syria/623507 "2012-05-30T03:05:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2012, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-anything-about-syria/623507/21 "2012-05-30T11:53:54Z")
> [@Ibn\_Warraq](#): > > That is utter bullshit. > > Have you ever been to the Middle East? Yes. Have you? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2012, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-anything-about-syria/623507/22 "2012-05-30T12:47:55Z")
> [@Ibn\_Warraq](#): > > Anyone who thinks Egypt will become “just another Iran” knows nothing about either country. > > Beyond that, what “ruling family” are you referring to? wiki: _On 25 January 2011, widespread protests began against Mubarak’s government. The objective of the protest was the removal of Mubarak from power. These took the form of an intensive campaign of civil resistance supported by a very large number of people and mainly consisting of continuous mass demonstrations. By 29 January it was becoming clear that Mubarak’s government had lost control when a curfew order was ignored, and the army took a semi-neutral stance on enforcing the curfew decree. Some protesters, a very small minority in Cairo, expressed views against what they deemed was foreign interference, highlighted by the then-held view that the U.S. administration had failed to take sides, as well as linking the administration with Israel.[40]_ I am surprised you didn’t know about that. ---
**Author:** ![New\_Deal\_Democrat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9d8465/32.png) [@New\_Deal\_Democrat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/New_Deal_Democrat)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2012, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-anything-about-syria/623507/23 "2012-05-30T13:06:15Z")
My concerns in the Near East are restricted to the safety and well being of the indigenous Christian populations and Israel. According to a Pew Research study 86 percent of the Muslims in Jordan think those who leave the Islamic faith should be executed. 84 percent of the Muslims in Egypt agree. Syria is not listed, but I doubt the percentage is much lower. > **[Muslim Publics Divided on Hamas and Hezbollah](https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2010/12/02/muslims-around-the-world-divided-on-hamas-and-hezbollah/)** > > Extremist groups Hamas and Hezbollah continue to receive mixed ratings from Muslim publics. However, opinions of al Qaeda and its leader, Osama bin Laden, are consistently negative; only in Nigeria do Muslims offer views that are, on balance,... I think the indigenous Christian populations and Israel are safer when the Arabs are governed by unpopular, corrupt, and ineffective dictatorships than by popular and effective democracies. Consequently, I think we should not be promoting democracy in the area. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2012, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-anything-about-syria/623507/24 "2012-05-30T13:28:24Z")
Dude, I do \*not \*want you on my side. ---
**Author:** ![PrettyVacant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/49beb7/32.png) [@PrettyVacant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PrettyVacant)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2012, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-anything-about-syria/623507/25 "2012-05-30T13:38:18Z")
> [@New\_Deal\_Democrat](#): > > I think the indigenous Christian populations and Israel are safer when the Arabs are governed by unpopular, corrupt, and ineffective dictatorships than by popular and effective democracies. Consequently, I think we should not be promoting democracy in the area. Do you already work at the State Department or the CIA, or are you just practicing your interview answers? ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2012, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-anything-about-syria/623507/26 "2012-05-30T13:46:22Z")
Pass a law saying the debts incurred by the Syrian government, or by corporations based in Syria are no longer enforceable in court. That should about do it. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2012, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-anything-about-syria/623507/27 "2012-05-30T14:07:33Z")
> [@New\_Deal\_Democrat](#): > > My concerns in the Near East are restricted to the safety and well being of the indigenous Christian populations and Israel. > > According to a Pew Research study 86 percent of the Muslims in Jordan think those who leave the Islamic faith should be executed. 84 percent of the Muslims in Egypt agree. Syria is not listed, but I doubt the percentage is much lower. This might come as a shock to you, but Muslims are humans and to see them slaughtered at the hands of a brutal regime is a tragedy. Is anyone saying the Muslims are particularly tolerant of other religions? No. It’s regrettable that they are not. But that doesn’t make the suffering in Syria any less tragic. If the Russians finally get on board that would be a huge step in the right direction. Diplomatic pressure and sanctions are as much as should be done. An invasion of Syria would be just as much a clusterfuck as the Iraq war was. ---
**Author:** ![janeyc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3be4f8/32.png) [@janeyc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/janeyc)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2012, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-anything-about-syria/623507/28 "2012-05-30T15:58:08Z")
I am not at all sure why the US keeps thinking that it is their job to sort out the problems of the world. There has been sectarian violence throughout history, think Crusades. It is like trying to sort out brothers and sisters fighting - the outsider always gets turned on - the bros and sisters unite against the intruder. When they ‘sort it out’, however that result happens, at least it sticks because the majority has won. Think Afghanistan. How many times have invaders caught to ‘solve the problem’ only to leave, or be driven out, leaving the country in worse shape than when they invaded. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2012, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-anything-about-syria/623507/29 "2012-05-30T16:04:02Z")
> [@New\_Deal\_Democrat](#): > > My concerns in the Near East are restricted to the safety and well being of the indigenous Christian populations and Israel. . . . **Why?!** ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2012, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-anything-about-syria/623507/30 "2012-05-30T16:06:10Z")
> [@janeyc](#): > > I am not at all sure why the US keeps thinking that it is their job to sort out the problems of the world. WWII/Cold War legacy. At present, we’re still the leading economic power and trouble elsewhere troubles our business interests. Trouble in the MENA, especially, always threatens to threaten our all-important oil supply, and I am not using the phrase “all-important” with any irony or scorn. Think about what would happen here if the imports were for any reason interrupted. ---
**Author:** ![Ibn\_Warraq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e19b73/32.png) [@Ibn\_Warraq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibn_Warraq)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2012, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-anything-about-syria/623507/31 "2012-05-30T16:25:17Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > wiki: > > _On 25 January 2011, widespread protests began against Mubarak’s government. The objective of the protest was the removal of Mubarak from power. These took the form of an intensive campaign of civil resistance supported by a very large number of people and mainly consisting of continuous mass demonstrations. By 29 January it was becoming clear that Mubarak’s government had lost control when a curfew order was ignored, and the army took a semi-neutral stance on enforcing the curfew decree. Some protesters, a very small minority in Cairo, expressed views against what they deemed was foreign interference, highlighted by the then-held view that the U.S. administration had failed to take sides, as well as linking the administration with Israel.[40]_ > > I am surprised you didn’t know about that. Wikipedia is a shitty source. Beyond that, I see no reference to a “ruling family”. Mubarak was a dictator, but he wasn’t a product of dynastic succession like Assad, though he may or may not have been grooming his son to take over. ---
**Author:** ![Ibn\_Warraq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e19b73/32.png) [@Ibn\_Warraq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibn_Warraq)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2012, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-anything-about-syria/623507/32 "2012-05-30T16:30:10Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > Yes. Have you? Yes, and in that case I’m surprised you’d believe such crap. ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2012, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-anything-about-syria/623507/33 "2012-05-30T16:39:52Z")
> [@Ibn\_Warraq](#): > > Yes, and in that case I’m surprised you’d believe such crap. Huh? The Alawites are a pseudo-Shii (or more properly a separate Islamic sect completely) small (11% or so) minority that have been ruling a Sunni majority in Syria, with an iron hand and intermittent massacres, under Assad father and son for 40+ years. Most of the government, police and military top posts are Alawites, and the death-squad Shabiha militia is mostly Alawites. Yes, there are lots of Alawites that are not part of the ruling classes, but when the pressure is released by Assad’s defeat, the Sunni majority is not going to be very choosy in whom they slaughter. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2012, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-anything-about-syria/623507/34 "2012-05-30T16:49:40Z")
What makes you think there must be a slaughter? ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2012, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-anything-about-syria/623507/35 "2012-05-30T17:11:17Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > What makes you think there must be a slaughter? I lived in the area. ---
**Author:** ![Ibn\_Warraq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e19b73/32.png) [@Ibn\_Warraq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibn_Warraq)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2012, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-anything-about-syria/623507/36 "2012-05-30T18:15:53Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > I lived in the area. You lived in Syria? Whereabouts? ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2012, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-anything-about-syria/623507/37 "2012-05-30T18:17:51Z")
> [@Ibn\_Warraq](#): > > You lived in Syria? No, not in Syria. But I spent a lot of time on the Golan. And I have seen first hand what sectarian violence does in Lebanon. Have you lived in Syria? ---
**Author:** ![janeyc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3be4f8/32.png) [@janeyc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/janeyc)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2012, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-anything-about-syria/623507/38 "2012-05-30T18:18:01Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > WWII/Cold War legacy. At present, we’re still the leading economic power and trouble elsewhere troubles our business interests. Trouble in the MENA, especially, always threatens to threaten our all-important oil supply, and I am not using the phrase “all-important” with any irony or scorn. Think about what would happen here if the imports were for any reason interrupted. But isn’t it just that economic mix which is creating so many problems world-wide. The need to maintain the oil supply at all costs - particularly human - that leads to the escalation of internal strife to a world stage. Perhaps it is time the US started to look at maintaining and improving their own standards. With all the money they throw around the world being a leading power, they could make immeasurable improvements at home. Think new energy sources, medical cures, poverty remediation, medical care and so on. ---
**Author:** ![Ibn\_Warraq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e19b73/32.png) [@Ibn\_Warraq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibn_Warraq)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2012, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-anything-about-syria/623507/39 "2012-05-30T18:18:14Z")
> [@New\_Deal\_Democrat](#): > > I think the indigenous Christian populations and Israel are safer when the Arabs are governed by unpopular, corrupt, and ineffective dictatorships than by popular and effective democracies. Consequently, I think we should not be promoting democracy in the area. Of course you’ll notice that “the indigenous Christian populations” and “Israel” don’t exactly get along terribly well. ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2012, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-anything-about-syria/623507/40 "2012-05-30T18:20:53Z")
> [@Ibn\_Warraq](#): > > Of course you’ll notice that “the indigenous Christian populations” and “Israel” don’t exactly get along terribly well. Usually because the “indigenous Christian populations” find out that if they get along with Israel, their lives are endangered by their Muslim neighbors. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-anything-about-syria/623507.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-anything-about-syria/623507.md?page=3)