# End game in Syria **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [September 13, 2015, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/end-game-in-syria/731133 "2015-09-13T19:45:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 13
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2015, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/end-game-in-syria/731133/241 "2015-10-03T00:51:38Z")
> [@Alkash](#): > > Ah, so when you said > that was a prediction, not statement of the facts? > > How do you feel about your prediction, knowing that Russia **already** earned (as opposed to your prediction of “waste”) money in Syria? I think in the future Russia will waste money and lives, the more they get involved in Syria, and I hope we do not. ---
**Author:** ![Alkash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ec9cab/32.png) [@Alkash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alkash)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2015, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/end-game-in-syria/731133/242 "2015-10-03T00:58:06Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > I think in the future … and I hope … Sorry, it’s late in the day and I’m on my fourth bottle of Gzhelka…Is this just more of “hope and change” idiocy? ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2015, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/end-game-in-syria/731133/243 "2015-10-03T01:04:47Z")
> [@Alkash](#): > > Sorry, it’s late in the day and I’m on my fourth bottle of Gzhelka…Is this just more of “hope and change” idiocy? ??? I’m telling you what I think will happen with Russia’s involvement. I’m also telling you what I hope we (America) do. If you’re not interested in what I have to say, I’ll stop. ---
**Author:** ![Alkash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ec9cab/32.png) [@Alkash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alkash)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2015, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/end-game-in-syria/731133/244 "2015-10-03T01:11:13Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > I’m also telling you what I hope we (America) do. Ah, yes, hope, what a beautiful thing…What else is left, but hope, when we have KGB lieutenant-colonel vs a guy who couldn’t last more than a year on his first (and last) real job… Keep hope alive, my friend! Keep hope alive!! ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2015, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/end-game-in-syria/731133/245 "2015-10-03T01:14:25Z")
> [@Alkash](#): > > Ah, yes, hope, what a beautiful thing…What else is left, but hope, when we have KGB lieutenant-colonel vs a guy who couldn’t last more than a year on his first (and last) real job… > Keep hope alive, my friend! Keep hope alive!! ??? Sorry, I thought you actually wanted to exchange ideas and discuss things. ---
**Author:** ![Yersenia\_Pestis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/e495f1/32.png) [@Yersenia\_Pestis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yersenia_Pestis)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2015, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/end-game-in-syria/731133/246 "2015-10-03T02:01:32Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > … as in my option (4). > > I am still hoping I missed something and someone may suggest an option that I didn’t mention. Actually, I think the best case scenario here is some other Syrian takes over from Assad that everyone can at least partially agree on (aka U.S. and Russia mainly) and then the focus shifts on wiping out the disgusting trash known as Isis ---
**Author:** ![Yersenia\_Pestis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/e495f1/32.png) [@Yersenia\_Pestis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yersenia_Pestis)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2015, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/end-game-in-syria/731133/247 "2015-10-03T02:06:43Z")
> [@Alkash](#): > > What resources and lives did Russia waste? Have you skipped this whole thread? Russia earned the money in Syrian fiasco, US wasted the money. > Also, what “wasted lives” do you refer to? Ugh…seriously, more Putin love from you? I started this thread hoping to have an informed discussion on the possible outcomes of the Syrian civil war, as events unfold, not to listen to pro Putin propaganda - here’s an idea start your own “I love Putin (because I’m an idiot)” thread ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2015, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/end-game-in-syria/731133/248 "2015-10-03T02:15:59Z")
> [@Yersenia\_Pestis](#): > > Actually, I think the best case scenario here is some other Syrian takes over from Assad that everyone can at least partially agree on (aka U.S. and Russia mainly) and then the focus shifts on wiping out the disgusting trash known as Isis 1. There is also disgusting trash known as Army of Mujahedeen, Sham Legion, Al Nusra Front and Jabhat Ansar al-Din. And numerous others. ISIS is just the largest one. 2. ISIS and those other “disgusting trash” are the strongest, outside of the Syrian Army. The “secularists” are a joke. So either someone associated with those groups takes over or someone associated with the Syrian Army, which leads me to (3): 3. Alawites (one of whom is Assad). The “rebellion” was not against Assad. It was against the regime, and Alawites _are_ the regime. They have no path other than winning. If they don’t win, they are wiped out. If they win, it’s a continuation of Assad regime. How are you going to solve this? ---
**Author:** ![Alkash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ec9cab/32.png) [@Alkash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alkash)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2015, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/end-game-in-syria/731133/249 "2015-10-03T02:18:14Z")
> [@Yersenia\_Pestis](#): > > Ugh…seriously, more Putin love from you? > > I started this thread hoping to have an informed discussion on the possible outcomes of the Syrian civil war, as events unfold, not to listen to pro Putin propaganda - here’s an idea start your own “I love Putin (because I’m an idiot)” thread I’m sorry, the last time we spoke you [claimed that Russia is running massive debts](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=18725190&postcount=99) It was subsequently explained to you that Russia’s debt is 18% of its GDP, and is 6-7 less than that of the US in percentage terms (and about 240 times less in absolute terms). It also subsequently appeared that you do not understand the concept of percentages. Do you still stand by your original statement? Did you take time to explore and understand the concept of percentages? ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2015, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/end-game-in-syria/731133/250 "2015-10-03T02:25:00Z")
Here’s a [good article](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-bromwich/syria-the-times-and-myste_b_8236164.html) about Syria’s “moderates” (or lack of such) and the utter, bewildering, ignorant incompetence of the Obama administration in dealing with Syria. ---
**Author:** ![Alkash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ec9cab/32.png) [@Alkash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alkash)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2015, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/end-game-in-syria/731133/251 "2015-10-03T02:41:51Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > Here’s a [good article](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-bromwich/syria-the-times-and-myste_b_8236164.html) about Syria’s “moderates” (or lack of such) and the utter, bewildering, ignorant incompetence of the Obama administration in dealing with Syria. Bewildering to whom? ---
**Author:** ![Nema98](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d2c977/32.png) [@Nema98](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nema98)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2015, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/end-game-in-syria/731133/252 "2015-10-03T04:22:22Z")
> [@Alkash](#): > > Bewildering to whom? Obama’ failure as he admitted recently was that he wanted rebels to fight ISIS not Assad. This was flawed and unfair. Just like Obama failed Putin will fail to destroy Assad’s enemies and restore his control over Syria. No matter what any country does, Assad’s enemies are not going anywhere. The sooner everyone accepts this the better. Meanwhile I heard he fact Russian men a quarter of them die by 55. Too bad Putin and Medvedev don’t drink themselves to death. Shows how awful that place is when their life expectancy is lower than Haiti . ---
**Author:** ![Nema98](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d2c977/32.png) [@Nema98](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nema98)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2015, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/end-game-in-syria/731133/253 "2015-10-03T04:28:47Z")
> [@Alkash](#): > > Ah, yes, hope, what a beautiful thing…What else is left, but hope, when we have KGB lieutenant-colonel vs a guy who couldn’t last more than a year on his first (and last) real job… > Keep hope alive, my friend! Keep hope alive!! At least he is elected free and fair in his own job, too bad Putin had to handpick a stooge Medvedev to still remain in office. ---
**Author:** ![Alkash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ec9cab/32.png) [@Alkash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alkash)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2015, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/end-game-in-syria/731133/254 "2015-10-03T04:33:50Z")
> [@Nema98](#): > > Just like Obama failed Putin will fail to destroy Assad’s enemies and restore his control over Syria Now, is it just Gzhelka premium talking or have you missed a whole buncha punctuation marks for your sentence to make sense? ---
**Author:** ![Alkash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ec9cab/32.png) [@Alkash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alkash)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2015, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/end-game-in-syria/731133/255 "2015-10-03T04:35:50Z")
> [@Nema98](#): > > At least he is elected free and fair in his own job, too bad Putin had to handpick a stooge Medvedev to still remain in office. I’m sorry, does anyone actually doubt that Mr. Putin enjoys overwhelming support of his constituents? ---
**Author:** ![Nema98](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d2c977/32.png) [@Nema98](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nema98)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2015, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/end-game-in-syria/731133/256 "2015-10-03T04:37:34Z")
> [@Alkash](#): > > Sorry, it’s late in the day and I’m on my fourth bottle of Gzhelka…Is this just more of “hope and change” idiocy? Fourth bottle already? Seems Russians are truly the worst kind of alcoholics out there. You guys literally drinks yourselves to death, vodka kills a quarter of Russian men before age 55. How many more bottles will you crack open before calling it a day? I would gladly export free vodka to the top Kremlin leadership and encourage them drink like it’s New Year’s everyday. I hope Putin is hitting the bottles everyday. Makes me wonder what drives Russian men to drink like animals? Sorry OP for the hijack, I could not resist the urge and won’t to stoop to pedantry again. And I agree any Putin love should go to another thread. ---
**Author:** ![Alkash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ec9cab/32.png) [@Alkash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alkash)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2015, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/end-game-in-syria/731133/257 "2015-10-03T04:40:28Z")
> [@Nema98](#): > > I hope Putin is hitting the bottles everyday. Do you think that would prevent him from humiliating President Obama? ---
**Author:** ![Nema98](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d2c977/32.png) [@Nema98](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nema98)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2015, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/end-game-in-syria/731133/258 "2015-10-03T04:40:48Z")
> [@Alkash](#): > > I’m sorry, does anyone actually doubt that Mr. Putin enjoys overwhelming support of his constituents? Who knows really, media in Russia is not the most open. Quite telling that all those ending up dead are those who were journalists or opposition. Thank God Obama does not have Republicans killed. By the way speaking of jobs, he was a lawyer and then Senator. Sounds like a real job to me. Who knows how much Putin, Saddam, Assad, Gaddafi have/had support? ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2015, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/end-game-in-syria/731133/259 "2015-10-03T20:47:37Z")
> [@Alkash](#): > > Do you think that would prevent him from humiliating President Obama? “Humiliation” is in the eye of the beholder. Obama is far more well liked and respected in most countries around the world then his predecessor, according to polling. In my mind Obama will be humiliated if he commits to an action that results in thousands of dead Americans for nothing (like, say, engaging in a war of choice). ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2015, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/end-game-in-syria/731133/260 "2015-10-03T21:06:01Z")
> [@Nema98](#): > > No matter what any country does, Assad’s enemies are not going anywhere. The sooner everyone accepts this the better. And conversely no matter what any country does, Assad is not going anywhere. The sooner everyone accepts this the better. BTW I hope we’ll hear a little less about the Russians causing civilian deaths by bombing after American bombs [killed 19 people, including 3 children in Afghanistan](http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/10/03/us-afghanistan-attack-idUSKCN0RW0HC20151003), but I doubt it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/end-game-in-syria/731133.md?page=12) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/end-game-in-syria/731133.md?page=14)