# 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:** 25
**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:** [October 12, 2015, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/end-game-in-syria/731133/481 "2015-10-12T16:55:34Z")
Oh they aren’t secret. They’re there on vacation. ---
**Author:** ![MrQwertyasd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9d8465/32.png) [@MrQwertyasd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrQwertyasd)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2015, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/end-game-in-syria/731133/482 "2015-10-12T17:13:42Z")
Actually one of Ramira’s barbed comments put me in mind of something, that this whole mess is a sign of a deep immaturity or childishness. There is a theory that people can pass through several psychological stages as they grow, and that some are stuck on the childish magical thinking stage of development- ie religion. Could it be that instead of squabbling about who’s god is right, the Middle East just needs to grow the fuck up ? ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2015, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/end-game-in-syria/731133/483 "2015-10-12T17:18:18Z")
> [@MrQwertyasd](#): > > Putin has rational goals. Bush had Gog and Magog. Russian empire: rational. American empire: irrational. The silliness continues. ---
**Author:** ![MrQwertyasd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9d8465/32.png) [@MrQwertyasd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrQwertyasd)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2015, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/end-game-in-syria/731133/484 "2015-10-12T17:25:53Z")
Oh, well, if we’re going to be honest and call it imperialism then yeah I agree. Very badly executed imperial operation though. Did you ever see Brzezinski talking about how tiny little Britain grabbed half the world ? Almost looks wistful. ---
**Author:** ![Steken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@Steken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steken)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2015, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/end-game-in-syria/731133/485 "2015-10-12T17:52:36Z")
Coming back to the question of Syria and the most likely “end game” to the present conflict: For the sake of argument, I’d like to put an extremely cautious 20 dollar bet on a _Pax Iranica_ sometime in the next ten to fifteen years. Roughly speaking, this would mean that the Sunni jihadists in Syria and Iraq will be put down by the Iranians and their friends; that the Sunni populations in both countries will be pacified; that the governments in both Damascus and Baghdad will be extremely friendly with Tehran; and that if, sometime in the course of all this, an independent Kurdistan is somehow declared, that that new state, too, will be extremely friendly with Tehran, and of course that it won’t include any part of present-day Iran. As to the question of foreign involvement, I imagine that the Russians will be rolled back much the same way the Americans were - slowly, carefully, cautiously, and ultimately to the lasting benefit of both parties. Whoever first revives this thread on October 12, 2025 to remind me that I was wrong wrong wrong gets 20 bucks. ---
**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:** [October 12, 2015, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/end-game-in-syria/731133/486 "2015-10-12T18:17:12Z")
The greater the Iranian presence in Syria, the higher the chance Israel will get directly involved. Just keep that in mind. ---
**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:** [October 12, 2015, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/end-game-in-syria/731133/487 "2015-10-12T19:07:24Z")
> [@MrQwertyasd](#): > > Actually one of Ramira’s barbed comments put me in mind of something, that this whole mess is a sign of a deep immaturity or childishness. There is a theory that people can pass through several psychological stages as they grow, and that some are stuck on the childish magical thinking stage of development- ie religion. Could it be that instead of squabbling about who’s god is right, the Middle East just needs to grow the fuck up ? Since they all pray to the same God, claiming they’re fighting “over who’s God is right” doesn’t make much sense. ---
**Author:** ![Donald\_Rump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@Donald\_Rump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Donald_Rump)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2015, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/end-game-in-syria/731133/488 "2015-10-12T22:22:11Z")
> [@Ibn\_Warraq](#): > > Since they all pray to the same God, claiming they’re fighting “over who’s God is right” doesn’t make much sense. Without otherwise defending Mr. Qwerty’s post, do you deny that some of the belligerents are Muslims who view certain other Muslims as infidels? ---
**Author:** ![Alkash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ec9cab/32.png) [@Alkash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alkash)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/end-game-in-syria/731133/489 "2015-10-13T00:58:35Z")
Uh-oh… [US supplies Syrian “rebels” with 50 more tons of weapons](http://www.cnn.com/2015/10/12/politics/syria-rebel-groups-ammunition-50-tons/) No word yet, on when Russia begins bombing. ---
**Author:** ![Latro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a87d85/32.png) [@Latro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Latro)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/end-game-in-syria/731133/490 "2015-10-13T03:53:20Z")
> [@Alkash](#): > > Uh-oh… > [US supplies Syrian “rebels” with 50 more tons of weapons](http://www.cnn.com/2015/10/12/politics/syria-rebel-groups-ammunition-50-tons/) > No word yet, on when Russia begins bombing. Groan… Here we had a chance to let the grown-ups try and restore the country to a livable situation. But no. The nation of fuck-ups feels compelled to just fuck things up some more. ---
**Author:** ![Alkash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ec9cab/32.png) [@Alkash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alkash)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/end-game-in-syria/731133/491 "2015-10-13T04:10:58Z")
Mac Thornberry, Chairman of the House Armed Services, [says](http://www.timesrecordnews.com/news/local-news/thornberry-has-no-interest-in-speaker-role-focus-is-national-defense_12709259) that in his 20 years in Congress he cannot\*\* “recall anytime during his 20 years in Congress where Russia or any other country told the U.S. when and where American forces could fly in another country.”\*\* Now, now, Mr. Chairman, as young girls say, there’s always the first time…The wife will take it, and will beg for more… ---
**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:** [October 13, 2015, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/end-game-in-syria/731133/492 "2015-10-13T04:19:04Z")
For God’s sake, will you stop with the domestic abuse analogies? Who the hell thinks like that? ---
**Author:** ![Alkash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ec9cab/32.png) [@Alkash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alkash)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/end-game-in-syria/731133/493 "2015-10-13T04:21:52Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > For God’s sake, will you stop with the domestic abuse analogies? Who the hell thinks like that? A domestic abuse perpetrator with 27 years of experience (3 different wives). I think I can spot the abuse pattern when I see one, and Putin-Obama relationship follows it very closely. The verbal abuse, the psychological games, the gradual escalation of violence, until the wife is just resigned to her fate and can’t offer any resistence…It’s all on display here… ---
**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:** [October 13, 2015, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/end-game-in-syria/731133/494 "2015-10-13T04:32:38Z")
> [@Alkash](#): > > A domestic abuse perpetrator with 27 years of experience (3 different wives). Classy. Real classy. So you’re saying that Putin is just another lowlife wifebeating scum, too? ---
**Author:** ![Alkash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ec9cab/32.png) [@Alkash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alkash)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/end-game-in-syria/731133/495 "2015-10-13T04:34:58Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Classy. Real classy. > > So you’re saying that Putin is just another lowlife wifebeating scum, too? No, not at all. I’m saying **the way** he treats President Obama is very similar to the way domestic abuse perpetrator treats his victim. ---
**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:** [October 13, 2015, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/end-game-in-syria/731133/496 "2015-10-13T04:36:07Z")
> [@Alkash](#): > > No, not at all. I’m saying **the way** he treats President Obama is very similar to the way domestic abuse perpetrator treats his victim. And that’s admirable? Are his actions to be emulated? ---
**Author:** ![Alkash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ec9cab/32.png) [@Alkash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alkash)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/end-game-in-syria/731133/497 "2015-10-13T04:37:44Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > I’m sure it was, I just don’t think that really matters. You don’t think having a President that achieves his goals really matter? ---
**Author:** ![Alkash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ec9cab/32.png) [@Alkash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alkash)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/end-game-in-syria/731133/498 "2015-10-13T04:39:56Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > And that’s admirable? Are his actions to be emulated? Absolutely. Would you prefer a President who is unable to achieve his policy goals and gets battered from pillar to post by his opponent? ---
**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:** [October 13, 2015, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/end-game-in-syria/731133/499 "2015-10-13T04:49:12Z")
It depends on the action. I generally achieve my goals in life, but if one of my goals were to beat my wife, it would be better if I failed, no? ---
**Author:** ![MrQwertyasd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9d8465/32.png) [@MrQwertyasd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrQwertyasd)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/end-game-in-syria/731133/500 "2015-10-13T05:00:54Z")
It’s nothing like a married couple, these are guys who live in different parts of town fighting over control of the whores. And is this all driven by Obama anyway, or has he found himself holding the leashes of badly trained neocon dogs that keep biting the neighbours ? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/end-game-in-syria/731133.md?page=24) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/end-game-in-syria/731133.md?page=26)