# 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:** 14
**Author:** ![up\_the\_junction](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f1d935/32.png) [@up\_the\_junction](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/up_the_junction)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2015, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/end-game-in-syria/731133/261 "2015-10-03T21:07:52Z")
Yay USA: another good day for ISIS recruitment: > **[MSF hospital bombing 'violates international law'](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/oct/03/kunduz-charity-hospital-bombing-violates-international-law)** > > Médecins Sans Frontières decries ‘horrific’ loss of life, as US airstrike revives questions over whether enough is done to protect civilians in Afghanistan ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2015, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/end-game-in-syria/731133/262 "2015-10-03T21:15:36Z")
Russia needs to learn that they can’t just bomb any old targets. They need to hit some Doctor’s Without Borders if they want real street cred in the region! ---
**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, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/end-game-in-syria/731133/263 "2015-10-03T22:44:38Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > “Humiliation” is in the eye of the beholder. If someone were to urinate (repeatedly) on your face, would you claim that it’s only humiliating in the eyes of the beholder, and in reality, it’s not even piss, but refreshing morning dew instead? ---
**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, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/end-game-in-syria/731133/264 "2015-10-03T23:06:33Z")
> [@Alkash](#): > > If someone were to urinate (repeatedly) on your face, would you claim that it’s only humiliating in the eyes of the beholder, and in reality, it’s not even piss, but refreshing morning dew instead? I’m sorry that most countries around the world like and respect President Obama far more than his predecessor (and far more than Putin, for the most part). I’m sure it really sucks for Putin fans that Obama is so much more well-liked and well-respected than Putin. ---
**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, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/end-game-in-syria/731133/265 "2015-10-03T23:36:37Z")
Views of the United States globally > **[1. America’s Global Image](https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2015/06/23/1-americas-global-image/)** > > America’s overall image around the world remains largely positive. Across the nations surveyed (excluding the U.S.), a median of 69% hold a favorable and those of Mother Russia > **[Russia's Global Image Negative amid Crisis in Ukraine](https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2014/07/09/russias-global-image-negative-amid-crisis-in-ukraine/)** > > As the European Union considers further sanctions on Russia for its role in the standoff in Ukraine, Russia is broadly unpopular in many countries around ---
**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, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/end-game-in-syria/731133/266 "2015-10-03T23:38:22Z")
> [@aldiboronti](#): > > 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. Well he has been losing control of his country steadily over the past more than four years. He could be the mayor of Damascus. Make no mistake, the reason for Russian and Iranian intervention right now is to prop up Assad’s regime because previous support was helping and even Assad himself had admitted some months back. The events of this past week show Assad’s weakness. And whether it will help him dramatically remains to be seen. ---
**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, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/end-game-in-syria/731133/267 "2015-10-03T23:57:00Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > I’m sorry that most countries around the world like and respect President Obama far more than his predecessor (and far more than Putin, for the most part). I’m sure it really sucks for Putin fans that Obama is so much more well-liked and well-respected than Putin. Must be quite disappointing then, seeing as it’s all about one’s effectiveness as a politician (and not a kindergarten contest of who’s more likeable), and, as this thread amply demonstrated, on one hand we have an effective leader, who achieves his goals, and on the other hand we have…well…the chair… ---
**Author:** ![marshmallow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@marshmallow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/marshmallow)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2015, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/end-game-in-syria/731133/268 "2015-10-04T00:23:04Z")
No one’s asking the really important question: What are we calling this war? Not Syria, I mean the whole regional catstrophuck. The whole proxy war between America, Saudi Arabia, & Israel against Russia, Iran, & Syria. I’m tired of reading about the “Middle East Crisis” or other generics. We need something clever or flamboyant. Personally, I’m a fan of “War of the X.” War of the Roses, War of Jenkins’ Ear, War of the Heavenly Horses, that sorta thing. Maybe the [War of the Charts.](https://www.google.com/search?q=middle+east+chart&biw=1024&bih=624&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAWoVChMIie_F-cWnyAIVxNceCh2CSAtp) ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2015, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/end-game-in-syria/731133/269 "2015-10-04T00:33:43Z")
Doesn’t the military count it in the “Global War On Terror.” GWOT. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2015, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/end-game-in-syria/731133/270 "2015-10-04T00:36:19Z")
> [@Alkash](#): > > Must be quite disappointing then, seeing as it’s all about one’s effectiveness as a politician (and not a kindergarten contest of who’s more likeable), and, as this thread amply demonstrated, on one hand we have an effective leader, who achieves his goals, and on the other hand we have…well…the chair… Is that you, Clint? ---
**Author:** ![up\_the\_junction](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f1d935/32.png) [@up\_the\_junction](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/up_the_junction)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2015, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/end-game-in-syria/731133/271 "2015-10-04T00:39:01Z")
Is, and always has been, the War for Oil. ---
**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 4, 2015, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/end-game-in-syria/731133/272 "2015-10-04T01:13:52Z")
> [@Alkash](#): > > Must be quite disappointing then, seeing as it’s all about one’s effectiveness as a politician (and not a kindergarten contest of who’s more likeable), and, as this thread amply demonstrated, on one hand we have an effective leader, who achieves his goals, and on the other hand we have…well…the chair… You mean the goal of avoiding another pointless war of choice that gets Americans killed for nothing? Yes, Obama has done well so far on this goal. ---
**Author:** ![Alkash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ec9cab/32.png) [@Alkash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alkash)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2015, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/end-game-in-syria/731133/273 "2015-10-04T01:14:21Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Is that you, Clint? Well, when one’s opponents are reduced to arguments like “Yes, our guy just got the living shit kicked out of him for the umpteenth time, but at least he’s more likeable than the guy who did the kicking!!”, one can only shake the head sadly and quote Clint… ---
**Author:** ![Alkash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ec9cab/32.png) [@Alkash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alkash)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2015, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/end-game-in-syria/731133/274 "2015-10-04T01:15:32Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > You mean the goal of avoiding another pointless war of choice that gets Americans killed for nothing? No, I mean the stated goals of President Obama’s administration in Syria. ---
**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 4, 2015, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/end-game-in-syria/731133/275 "2015-10-04T01:22:32Z")
> [@Alkash](#): > > Well, when one’s opponents are reduced to arguments like “Yes, our guy just got the living shit kicked out of him for the umpteenth time, but at least he’s more likeable than the guy who did the kicking!!”, one can only shake the head sadly and quote Clint… So Putin got “the living shit kicked out of him”? Or are you making a prediction too? Or are you just forever trapped in Hannity-land, forced to repeat his mindless blather for all eternity? ---
**Author:** ![Alkash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ec9cab/32.png) [@Alkash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alkash)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2015, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/end-game-in-syria/731133/276 "2015-10-04T01:33:47Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > So Putin got “the living shit kicked out of him”? Yes, if Putin’s goals in Syria were removal of Bashar Assad’s from power and wasting $500 million dollars on training “4 or 5 rebels” (who then subsequently got the shit bombed out of them by American Air Force), then he sure got the shit kicked out of him. > [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Or are you making a prediction too? Why do we need to make a prediction? Facts are already well known. ---
**Author:** ![Futurist110](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a88e4f/32.png) [@Futurist110](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Futurist110)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2015, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/end-game-in-syria/731133/277 "2015-10-04T01:54:52Z")
> [@Yersenia\_Pestis](#): > > The chaos in Syria is one of the biggest foreign policy developments in this generation… Whats the end game? > > My opinion - US and Russia make a deal to get Assad out and one of his trusted generals (aka Egypt) takes over Frankly, perhaps a permanent partition of Syria into 2+separate countries might be the most realistic end game in Syria (for better or for worse). ---
**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 4, 2015, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/end-game-in-syria/731133/278 "2015-10-04T02:21:48Z")
> [@Alkash](#): > > Yes, if Putin’s goals in Syria were removal of Bashar Assad’s from power and wasting $500 million dollars on training “4 or 5 rebels” (who then subsequently got the shit bombed out of them by American Air Force), then he sure got the shit kicked out of him. > > Why do we need to make a prediction? Facts are already well known. So it’s Hannity-land for you, then. Sorry to hear that. ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2015, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/end-game-in-syria/731133/279 "2015-10-04T18:32:17Z")
Now, Putin will get to call the shots. If his forces destroy ISIS and the “good” opposition (according to Obama’s ideas), then Russia will be the deal maker. Looks like Putin will then be able to include Syria, Iran, and other ME states in his orbit. Obama cannot blame this on Bush, it all happened under his watch. ---
**Author:** ![MrQwertyasd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9d8465/32.png) [@MrQwertyasd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrQwertyasd)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2015, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/end-game-in-syria/731133/280 "2015-10-04T19:25:09Z")
> [@Nema98](#): > > 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. Do you have a source for this ? Accompanied by a comparison with other countries ? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/end-game-in-syria/731133.md?page=13) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/end-game-in-syria/731133.md?page=15)