Syria is free!

[Magical Realist]

The problem with being a murderous dictator who used chemical weapons on his own people is eventually your whole military walks away from you. Can you imagine that moment? Congrats to Syria!

[Image: IQsI4zI.jpeg]

[Syne]

Is it free? Or is it now just prey to so many more authoritarian factions?
Is Iraq any better off after Saddam?

[Magical Realist]

Is it free? Or is it now just prey to so many more authoritarian factions?
Is Iraq any better off after Saddam?

Being freed from a 24 year dictatorship IS being free. Would you prefer Assad to be reinstated? That his oppression and genocide of his own people continue. What kind of fascist fuckhead are you?

[Syne]

Why don't you try thinking beyond the immediate news, moron.
Authoritarian power vacuums are more often than not filled by worse, not better.

While this is good on several fronts... Russia being overextended in Ukraine, Iran proving it's not as formidable an ally, etc.... it may not turn out well for Syrians in general. One powerful authoritarian can be all that stands in the way of fundamentalist warlords or factions leading to an all out civil war.

IOW, the average Syrian may not be too grateful if they find themselves in an active war zone.
But twits like you don't really care about the average Syrian, so long as you can crow about a failed dictator.

[Magical Realist]

One powerful authoritarian can be all that stands in the way of fundamentalist warlords or factions leading to an all out civil war.

It's also all that stands in the way of the return of a free democracy. The current new leader is already promising tolerance for all religions and women's rights and alliances with democratic nations. How does that suggest in any way the takeover by a warlord? Do you think Syrians are incapable of taking control of their own country? Do you think they can only be governed by theocratic tyrants? I smell the stench of anti-muslim bigotry.

[C C]

(2 hrs ago) Israeli warplanes pound Syria as troops reportedly advance deeper into the country
https://www.startribune.com/israeli-warp.../601193051

INTRO: Israel carried out a wave of heavy airstrikes across Syria as its troops advanced deeper into the country, a Syrian opposition war monitor said Tuesday, and the Israeli defense minister announced that his forces had destroyed Syria's navy.

Israel acknowledged pushing into a buffer zone inside Syria following the overthrow of President Bashar Assad. But it remained unclear if Israeli soldiers had gone beyond that area, which was established more than 50 years ago. Israel denied that it was advancing on the Syrian capital of Damascus.

The Israeli military said Tuesday that it carried out more than 350 strikes in Syria over the last 48 hours, hitting ''most of the strategic weapons stockpiles'' in the country to stop them from falling into the hands of extremists. The targets included air defense systems, military airfields, missile depots and dozens of weapons production sites in Damascus and other cities. Associated Press reporters in the capital heard heavy airstrikes overnight and into Tuesday morning.

Israeli missile ships also simultaneously struck two Syrian navy facilities, where the military said 15 Syrian naval vessels were docked. Israel did not specify how many vessels it struck, but the private security firm Ambrey said it had seen evidence that at least six Soviet-era missile ships were hit.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Israel intended to establish a demilitarized zone in southern Syria. Speaking at a navy base in Haifa, Katz said the army will create a ''defense zone free of weapons and terrorist threats in southern Syria, without a permanent Israeli presence, in order to prevent terrorism in Syria from taking root.''

He gave few details on what that entailed, but warned Syria's rebels that ''whoever follows Assad's path will end up like Assad. We will not allow an extremist Islamic terrorist entity to act against Israel.'' Israel has also long warned that the Syria-Lebanon border could be used to smuggle weapons to Hezbollah militants...
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(7 hrs ago) Israel's advance into southern Syria
https://www.newsweek.com/map-shows-buffe...us-1998335

INTRO: Israeli forces have reportedly advanced deep into southern Syria, reaching approximately 16 miles southwest of Damascus, two regional security officials and a Syrian security source have told Reuters.

The Syrian security official disclosed that Israeli troops had reached Qatana, a town situated seven miles beyond the demilitarized zone that separates the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights from Syrian-controlled territory. This significant movement marks one of the deepest incursions into Syria by Israeli forces in recent history.

In addition, Israel carried out a wave of heavy airstrikes across Syria as its troops advanced deeper into the country. Israel denied its forces were advancing toward Damascus.

On Saturday, Israeli troops began operations to control a demilitarized buffer zone in Syria. This buffer zone, situated between Syria and the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights, was established by the United Nations following the 1973 Middle East war. Since then, it has been patrolled by a U.N. force comprising about 1,100 troops.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar stated that the military undertook "targeted and temporary control of certain areas near the border to prevent an Oct. 7 scenario from Syria," referring to the 2023 Hamas attack from the Gaza Strip which killed 1,200 Israelis, resulted in 250 hostages being taken, and sparked the current conflict in Gaza which has killed around 44,500 residents, according to the Gazan Health Ministry, which does not differentiate between civilians and militants.

Additionally, armed individuals attacked a U.N. position near the Israeli border on Saturday. U.N. spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric reported that "armed individuals climbed the wall of a U.N. position near Hadar." Following an exchange of fire with U.N. peacekeepers defending the position, the base was partially looted. There were no casualties...

[Magical Realist]

''whoever follows Assad's path will end up like Assad. We will not allow an extremist Islamic terrorist entity to act against Israel.''

Of course.. bombing a country just to prevent possible future terrorism. That certainly sets a dangerous precedent. Using terror to prevent terrorism..

[Syne]

One powerful authoritarian can be all that stands in the way of fundamentalist warlords or factions leading to an all out civil war.

It's also all that stands in the way of the return of a free democracy. The current new leader is already promising tolerance for all religions and women's rights and alliances with democratic nations. How does that suggest in any way the takeover by a warlord? Do you think Syrians are incapable of taking control of their own country? Do you think they can only be governed by theocratic tyrants? I smell the stench of anti-muslim bigotry.

What you're smelling is your own ignorance of history.
Democracy doesn't just happen. It takes work. And the history of Syria, as well as rebel forces allied to terrorists Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State, doesn't bode well. Many such revolutions start with lofty talk but quickly degenerate into sectarian violence.

[Magical Realist]

Many countries thru out history have gone from being autocracies to being democracies. Our own country is just such an example. By your logic America was doomed to reinstate another tyrranical monarch. Instead it became a free democracy. At present there are 96 democracies in the world and 21 autocracies. You should study the inspiring history of how countries become free. It might restore your dying faith in humanity.

[Syne]

Poor ignorant little mooncalf.

Not only was Assad a secular Ba'athist, like Saddam, both are in the same region with the same pressures. Do you think Iraq is doing well?
Comparing the US is worse than stupid. Those who founded the US left the region and started a completely new country. They didn't contend with the existing political history of a region.

But if Syria becomes a democracy, complete with religious freedom, it will be the only one other than Israel in the entire region. That would be a remarkable event to be orchestrated by many different rebels, of such varied religious sects, motives, etc..


Remember this thread when the dust settles.