Have They Given a Reason Why We Attacked Syria Yet?

[romantico]

This is so out of the blue. I have not heard anything prior to this about Syria. Has any news surfaced on WHY we did this? Syria will now have to retaliate, yes? Not sure how big this is or how big it will be. Can not wait to hear Obama comment on this.

[HughMoran]

1. relax

calm

[Lint Head]

2. Wag the dog?

:dem:

[IndianaGreen]

3. Looks like an attempt to prop up the Shia government in Baghdad

The US and the US-backed Iraqi government have said that Damascus is not doing enough to stop anti-US fighters, including those from al-Qaeda, from crossing the border into Iraq.

The area targeted by Sunday's raid lies close to the Iraqi border city of Qaim, which in the past has been a crossing point for fighters, weapons and money used to fuel the armed Sunni opposition against Iraq's Shia-led government.

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2008/10/20081026182232891957.html

[Occam Bandage]

4. Oh, for Christ's sake. We did not "attack Syria."

The United States launches these border raids constantly. The western Iraqi border is frequently targeted, as it's a common entry point for foreign fighters. Looks like we fired on a house that was on the wrong side of the border line. Whatever.

Syria doesn't want a war with America. They won't retaliate. The most they'll do is grumble under their breath.

[knowledgeispwr]

7. Now don't go being all rational!

You're suppose to panic and exaggerate!

:sarcasm:

[melody]

I tried to point that out earlier, too, Occam ... just got shouted down

Some DU'ers seem to need to have an October Surprise. If not given one, they will create one.

[catnhatnh]

15. Yes, we did.

If any other country landed helicopters inside the borders of the continental US and carried out an infantry raid resulting in multiple deaths, would you, regardless of the target, unilaterally assert the US "wasn't attacked"? You're reply reveals much more about your mindset then it reflects any facts.

[Occam Bandage]

16. Let's take a hypothetical.

Mexican forces are trying to intercept drug smugglers along the Mexican-US border. They follow a drugrunner to a safehouse sitting on the American side of a border crossing, and raid the house.

I would not claim "the US was attacked."

[catnhatnh]

18. How do they "follow"?

On foot....because that didn't happen. Do you even suggest that US helicopters in "hot pursuit" flew 8-15KM into a soveriegn country after "bad guys"?

Do you begin to suggest that your scenario-a Mexican air excursion into US territory resulting in multiple deaths would pass unremarked?

Hypothetical NOTHING. Multiple US helicopters deliberately crossed an international border, landed troops for an infantry assault and people died as a result. They MIGHT be people you and I might wish dead.

But there is no doubt we committed an act of war against Syria. Your point is merely that we can get away with it. Which makes you sound more the thug than a patriot. The largest flaw of our policy since Vietnam is "exerting power" where we "can"....

Where we "can" appears to be where we can kill people without consequence.

[progressiveforever]

17. Thank you--I was reading this and wondering if I had read the news wrong

I was beginning to wonder what the hoopla was about.

[Aussie leftie]

19. Obviously, a little bit of "collateral damage" doesn't bother you

How many would have to die before you start to show concern?

[Motown_Johnny]

5. Well, it was roughly 6 hours after McCalin guaranteed victory for his campaign

[IndianaGreen]

9. which means that GIs are being put at risk to salvage McCain's campaign

According to Al-Jazeera, all we did was to kill a group of construction workers, just like our brave troops did when we invaded Grenada.

[melody]

13. What else is McCain going to say?

"Oh, we're done for, don't bother voting ... just let the Democrats have a 60 Senate seat majority?"

[Jackpine Radical]

6. Because they piss Bush off.

For some reason.

A lot of wingnuts think that's where the WMD are. I always wondered why Saddam, expecting an imminent attack, would hide all his best weapons away in another country rather than setting up to use them against the invaders.

[blueknight]

8. the reason is

toget you and millions more to talk about it and to get the focus off the economy and on TERRA! TERRA! TERRA

[Jackpine Radical]

10. I think it's a proverbial fart in a hurricane.

Nevertheless, I'm willing to give it about 4% of my attention until I'm sure I'm right.

[jenmito]

11. Richard Engel-"There's been no comment and more revealing, they said there will be no comment."

Subject change. :eyes:

[Dennis Donovan]

12. Syrian officials confirm to NBC's Richard Engel that 4 US choppers...

...entered Syria, two landed, approx. 8 US commandos existed the helicopters and raided a structure, killing at least 7 people, 4 wounded. Several of the dead were members of the same family. US military said "no comment" when asked by Engel.

[spanone]

14. because bu$h* is president and cheney is vice.

[HughMoran]

20. Rogue action to try to influence election, but they killed kids instead - backfire!

If they were trying to "wag the dog", showing our continued incompetence by killing some Syrian kids on a farm was not very successful.

[stillcool]

21. evil-doers infiltrating Iraq...