Friday, September 06, 2013

The Process As Part Of The Problem

Listening to the should we or shouldn't we arguments as to whether or not to strike Syria is gut wrenching.  I do understand the argument that Assad should be punished, meaningfully, for using chemical weapons.

I also understand the reluctance to aide the opposition since, regardless of what John Kerry says, we're really not all that sure who the good guys are.  If there are any.  We do know that they're not going to like us no matter what we do.

I still maintain that the time for successful intervention is long passed and whether we engage in a full fledged war, a shot across the bow or somewhere in between we're going to come out on the short end.

However, we are contemplating military action of some sort.  In listening to Diane Feinstein, D-CA, chairwoman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, I thought it strange she emphasized that she was very constituently oriented.  Isn't she supposed to be? But then we know how few that have been in Congress as long as she has actually are.

More than that however, she admitted that the negative response she has received about any military intervention  is causing her consternation. Then she went on to caveat that with the fact the public doesn't know what she does. To be precise, "But you see, then they don't know what I know.  They haven't heard what I've heard."

Why not?  Everyone knows we intercept communication from every one every where.  That's no longer a secret.  What should we not be privy to when the President is contemplating taking us into the abyss of military action?  Let us decide with clarity rather than guilt or fear.  Leave that to the President.  He's so good at it.

What could be more childish than the way this is being handled.  "It's not my fault, it's yours!"  "I know something you don't know." And so it goes. But we're talking about war.  Lives.  Obscene amounts of money we don't have to spare.

One more thing to bear in mind.  Nine eleven is but 5 days away. Last year we had Benghazi.  The entire truth of that matter has yet to be told.  Do we want to add Syria to the mix?

3 comments:

Margie's Musings said...

Every time we act to "punish" some insurgents in a Muslim country, our actions come back to bite us. Every time.

Betty said...

I think I'd feel a whole lot better about striking Syria if the current administration would stop sounding so much like Rumsfeld and Bush and Cheney. It's deja vu all over again.
They are going to have to be much more convincing if I am to agree with them.

Mari Meehan said...

Wow! Betty, this time I have yo agree with you! What is it about politicians and war? Is it because they don't have to fight them?