patrick.net

I had some thoughts long this line, but was distracted by the overall war in the region and the setback to the forces of order this represents.
But yes, with regards to Trump looking tough and crazy, this goes a long ass way. Also we shouldn't be hearing anymore crap about him being a Russian plant.
North Korea had better watch out! Next time they try to extort the USA for "aid" while leveling nuclear tipped cruise missiles at California, they're liable to get blown back to the Stone Age. While China sits back and does nothing, scared that they will be next.

I believe asshat gassed his folks because...well...his forehead is flat...

Quigley says

Trump looking tough and crazy, this goes a long ass way

He's our very own crazy fat kid. This is bound to make the world safer.

Ironman says

1. President Trump just solved for the allegation that he is Putin’s puppet.

I always said that he probably wasn't 'owned' by Putin. On the other hand, this doesn't prove that he's not an unwitting agent, and it doesn't prove that he wasn't in cahoots with Putin. People who don't trust the MSM on either side can imagine a variety of scenarios that could explain the situation other than the most widely accepted narrative. For example, if Russia is not blamed for the attack and things resume as they were, then it gets the Russia / Trump investigation out of the media and makes it look less likely. That's good for Putin as well as Trump. If they have some secret deal and want to work together, this provides cover for that.Ironman says

2. President Trump solved (partly) for the allegation that he is incompetent.

Sending missiles doesn't solve this. He could look incompetent if people describe his actions as emotional or that he acted on instinct.
Ironman says

3. If you think Trump is a Russian plant, well, he just blew stuff up

Not really. See #1. He could be an unwitting agent. They could have been in on it together.

Ironman says

4. Iran might be feeling a bit more flexible

Or, they might want nukes all the more badly now.
Ironman says

5. Trump’s plan of a Syrian Safe Zone.... That just got easier.

How so?

Ironman says

6. After ISIS is sufficiently beaten-back,

There are no good sides in this conflict. How is attacking Assad helping him beat back ISIS? This doesn't have anything to do with the missile attack.
Ironman says

7. Israel is safer whenever an adversary’s air power is degraded.

Maybe. I don't think that Israel was at all worried about an imminent attack by Assad. People in year 6 of a civil war don't usually take a siesta from their current war to attack their neighbors.

You just copied an article and pasted it into the post box, so I thought it was your writing at first. About 1/4 of the way through I was very impressed with your writing and analytic skills. It's miles ahead of your normal posting. About 1/2 way through, it became clear that it wasn't yours. Still, it doesn't pass muster. There are way to many conclusions that just don't hold water.

If you want the absolute truth we need the recordings from obama...

YesYNot says

I always said that he probably wasn't 'owned' by Putin. On the other hand, this doesn't prove that he's not an unwitting agent, and it doesn't prove that he wasn't in cahoots with Putin. People who don't trust the MSM on either side can imagine a variety of scenarios that could explain the situation other than the most widely accepted narrative.

YesYNot says

I always said that he probably wasn't 'owned' by Putin. On the other hand, this doesn't prove that he's not an unwitting agent, and it doesn't prove that he wasn't in cahoots with Putin. People who don't trust the MSM on either side can imagine a variety of scenarios that could explain the situation other than the most widely accepted narrative. For example, if Russia is not blamed for the attack and things resume as they were, then it gets the Russia / Trump investigation out of the media and makes it look less likely. That's good for Putin as well as Trump. If they have some secret deal and want to work together, this provides cover for that

Even if it were so, I fail to see the problem with Putin and Trump alliance before the election, during the transition or now. I'm pretty sure Hillary could have gotten elected, and every MSM Liberal rag on the planet would be talking about how she used Every Socialist Liberal dictator's help on the planet. There would have been braggart studies after studies published on the subject with gushing Liberal Authors.

I'm not convinced that Trump's response wasn't coordinated with Putin. That base needed modernizing, and not a nary hit on any of the landing and takeoff strips.
To what purpose, to draw the chemical weapon perpetrators out into the open. I'm also sure that 38 of those 59 missiles took out ISIS positions, that were probably backed by people who aren't keen about making an international Hubub about it.

Maybe he was trying to bump up the syrian unemployment rate...

Tenpoundbass says

That base needed modernizing, and not a nary hit on any of the landing and takeoff strips.

For those that don't know,Hillary Clinton is no longer in the Republicans' Socialist Big Govt.
It must be OK for me to say that G.W.Bush & Republicans killed American servicemen & innocent civilians
based on the Republican LIE that Iraq has WMD.

I use to live paycheck to paycheck. But with a lot of hard work, diligence, tenacity and technology - I now live direct deposit to direct deposit.

Ironman says

(Thanks Obama!!)

For those that don't know, Obama is not President.
Republicans are in charge.
How many Republican voters are paycheck to paycheck FAILURES.
Why would their elected officials allow the economy to be so bad.
When will we arrive at MAGA?

Ironman says

Karl Denninger's take on the issue:

1. "Everyone" believes Assad gassed civilians. So we spanked him. Everyone who think he gassed kids jumps up and cheers.

2. Obama was widely yelled at (for good reason) for drawing a red line and then ignoring it when it was crossed. That crap just went up in smoke; more cheers.

3. If you think Trump is a Russian plant, well, he just blew stuff up in a place where Russia is their best friend and a bunch of Russians are running around the joint. Poof, goes that one. He just took that playbook out of the Dems hands, doused it in gasoline and set it on fire. Good luck running that narrative after last night.

4. China has been sticking their middle finger up at us over two issues: The Norks and the Senkaku islands. Gee, how much of those "islands" would be left if 60 cruise missiles rained down on that little piece of sand. Uh huh. Oh, and as for North Korea? Kim-Jung-****head's bedroom is easily targeted (remember the Toma...

Warfare apologist much?

This looks way too similar to every other conflict in the middle east. We've been down this road before. How well did removing a secular government work in Iraq, Libya, or so far in Syria? Millions of innocent deaths, dead soldiers, trillions in debt, a refugee crises resulting in rape and crime rates skyrocketing across Europe.

We have more bullets than anyone else, but we still have a limited number of bullets. Do you think wasting our resources on Syria will scare NK and China? Yeah, China is smarter than that. They will wait until we shoot ourselves into a power corner.

www.youtube.com/embed/EXuV64hp4dk&feature=youtu.be

Ironman, Hillary Clinton, George Soros, John McCain, Lindsey Graham, William Kristol, etc all on the same page as Donald Trump on Syria Policy!

Sweet!

MNFAWTMPGA

freespeechforever says

Ironman, Hillary Clinton, George Soros, John McCain, Lindsey Graham, William Kristol, etc all on the same page as Donald Trump on Syria Policy!

And Ian Bremmer, Anne Marie "Can't Wait for More" Slaughter, multiple members of the Press, etc. are all willing to give Trump a break, provided he bombs the hell outta somebody.

And of course even the Max Boot stomping on the human face forever was happy.

HEY YOU says

For those that don't know,Hillary Clinton is no longer in the Republicans' Socialist Big Govt.

It must be OK for me to say that G.W.Bush & Republicans killed American servicemen & innocent civilians

based on the Republican LIE that Iraq has WMD.

And OBL was really just a confused and underpriveledged kid growing up, and the US really defended ourselves when two embassies in Africa were blown up.

Clinton and Kerry said that OBL got rid of his evil ways in 1999, that he promised never to do that again.

Ironman says

I’m not buying that.

I dont ordinarily read minds and get insight into intel reports, but when I do I'd say:

- Bad dictators are working together Iran/N. Korea/other? to make warheads and missiles
- Bad dictators are making Sarin, Polonium, Dioxin, and other dangerous chemicals
- The democrats bought off on that nice dictator in Syria voluntarily got rid of chemical weapons
- These Sarin Gases, Polonium, Dioxin were not made in a homemade lab
- Russia and or Iraq might have stashed some gas in Syria, so they can say their on good behavior.

By taking a stance, the US makes all dictators think about being bad
- This is because Obamas 8 years were great for bullies, because the principle never made them stop, - so they even did more evil things

Most of us knew about this yesterday. We all knew what she would do in this situation, because she told us last fall. She would have taken the air strips out, though.

freespeechforever says

Isis and Al-Qaeda, and getting the U.S. further entrenched in yet another Military Industrial Complex/Neoconservative/Neoliberal/Globalist U.S. Taxpayer-draining Middle East War of choice.

Yes, these terrorist groups got so much pushback by Hollande, Obama, and Merkel that they were just fixin' to call it quits.......

Quit Self Adhomin yerself.....

HEY YOU says

For those that don't know,Hillary Clinton is no longer in the Republicans' Socialist Big Govt.

It must be OK for me to say that G.W.Bush & Republicans killed American servicemen & innocent civilians

based on the Republican LIE that Iraq has WMD.

@HEY YOU, what you have just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this thread is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no respect, and may God have mercy on your soul.

Ironman says

CBOEtrader says

Do you think wasting our resources on Syria will scare NK and China?

You never know, this could be a case of "Speak softly but carry a big stick". That's a far cry from Obama's "Send a sternly worded letter and have a limp dick", right?

IF we are 100% sure assad attacked those people AND we are sure this wont escalate, then we are semi fine.

I'd still rather not see people die, or us attack a country who hasn't attacked us.

HOWEVER, IF we aren't 100% sure assad did this OR this escalates, then this was a HUGE mistake.

freespeechforever says

Trump is now helping Isis and Al-Qaeda, and getting the U.S. further entrenched in yet another Military Industrial Complex/Neoconservative/Neoliberal/Globalist U.S. Taxpayer-draining Middle East War of choice.

Bingo.

HEY YOU says

For those that don't know, Obama is not President.

Maybe that explains the new found confidence that has emerged in the last few months.

Or trump is draining the overflowing stockpiles of weapons we own that aren't being used like before obama.
Leading to new orders for bomb manufacturers and lowering the unemployment rate once again.

If you don't use them they will grow old and outdated, and die an un-detonated death.,..

To the OP ..

Just like Obama before her, calling for strikes as well.

The difference is it was very much in Trump's interest to do a 180 on his non-interventionist policy. He has more to gain politically for it, and he doesn't have to fear the Republicans moving to impeach him for unilateral use of military powers without congressional approval. Remember, Trump had Nikki Haley on Monday saying words to the effect that Syria should sort itself out.

This is an impulsive about-face for Trump: dead babies, and last info into his ear by his very good NSC, caused it to happen.

What Trump gains by the cruise missile air-strike:
- Superficial appearance of being against Russia
- Bi-partisan approval for upholding the mythos of "America - enforcer of world values and decency"
- International approval because Syria has destabilized the region/Europe for 4+ years and very few countries have the power to do anything about it
- Being an "unpredictable CiC" : which should scare China with regards to N. Korea

Trump isn't a "long game" player or even cognizant of the above. If he is, it is because he was told about the above by far smarter people than he.

There is ZERO risk that the weak-kneed Republican controlled congress attempts to impeach him for his unilateral military action (unlike Obama before him, Obama had "some" risk). The congress is typically ALWAYS very happy to sit on its hands, lap at the dribbles of praise and gain they can get for anything that goes well, while also being able to switch to oppose it if things go bad. Congress really DOESN'T want the burden of being the ones to declare war or authorize strikes. That's all downside risk to their gravy train positions.

Obama played by the rules, and was punished for it. I think he also FAILED to fully understand how popular striking Syria in the wake of those chemical attacks in 2013 would have been (both domestically and internationally).

Trump flew in the face of the rules, though being within the tradition of our presidents cheating just like this for 40+ years, and Trump will be praised for it.

The danger here is if Trump thinks this is a precedent and becomes eager to use military force: "They love me! I shall bring them blood sports."

For Trump there is no bigger strategy here. I don't see this signaling that Trump will enact a much more traditional Republican policy: foreign and domestic.

YesYNot says

She would have taken the air strips out, though.

More than that, she would be opposing Russia/Iran all over the world. "Rew! You are a warmonger baby killer that wants WWIII" No, I want to prevent it. I am still mostly a globalist at heart. That path to humanity's salvation is not strong individual nation states (many tribes). It's strong coalitions leadings to one "human tribe" able to work on global issues.

Ironman says

By almost eerie coincidence, Hillary Clinton, mere hours before it was learned that President Donald Trump had authorized cruise-missile strikes on a Syrian airfield, was calling for that very thing.

This is NOT eerie coincidence. Trump just acted like a typical Neo-Con or Neo-Lib. That was +1 Globalism, -1 MAGA Nationalism for those keeping score at home.

Ironman says

See that, and you were saying that Trump wasn't a "Uniter"!!

He isn't. In the past 60+ days he gave a typical political speech and was praised, and then does a complete 180 on his nationalism tough talk and acts like a typical Neo-Con/Lib. Unless he magically had a lobotomy at the same time he will be "grabbing pussy" in three days or less.

He WILL gain some approval points here in the polls, but nothing lasting, and Russian investigations still loom. There is so very much to discover and unpack here and Trump is such an ass he will be creating major political issues for himself in very short order.

There never will be a pivot here. Trump will always be a divisive asshole.

Tim Aurora says

Will Trump start a war  

Start a war or continue a war?

Trump: "President Obama, do not attack Syria. There is no upside and tremendous downside. Save your powder for another (and more important) day!"

But suddenly now, it's a little different, isn't it tRump?

HEY YOU says

We can always hope that there will be a lot of Republican civilian casualties.

If you really hope for american civilian casualties, you're an sad excuse for a human being.

Ironman says

What does that have to do with Hillary?

Sorry, why is she relevant? Because magically Trump's position now aligns with hers?

Maybe Trump is secretly controlled by Hillary! OMG! AMAZING!

See above. No false narrative needed. I give Trump his one point.

If you think Syria is all we have to complain about maybe you don't know libbies as well as you think you do. ;)

I think the real question people are grappling with right now, especially the Trump supporters is: "I voted for Trump because he said he wasn't going to get involved. What happened?"

Where is your outrage for Trump's actions? Isn't this completely out of character for a protectionist nationalist agenda? ;)

He's controlled by whatever smart person persuades him last. ;)

Check? Dude. Soros pays us all digitally.

YesYNot says

Most of us knew about this yesterday. We all knew what she would do in this situation, because she told us last fall. She would have taken the air strips out, though.

You're forgetting she also insisted on a No-Fly Zone, which would A) Help the Jihad ONLY as the Jihadis have no Air Force and B) Start a war with Russia.

C) The magic mole men would also arise from the desert sands to assume their rightful place over humanity.

Another funny thing is that there are no Children in Mosul, only in Aleppo, and American Super Smart Weapons have AI built in that magically detects innocents and self-destructs, even when used in a city siege. That's why we pay Lockheed-Martin the big bucks.

Not one single kid has ever been killed by bombing Syria, Libya, or Northern Iraq by US Munitions.

Also when ISIS uses human shields, we immediately stop bombing and shelling. Unlike the Russians.

Anybody who says otherwise to this is a Putin Agent.

Lashkar_i_Trumpi says

Not one single kid has ever been killed by bombing Syria, Libya, or Northern Iraq by US Munitions.

That was an of aspect of Trump's language. 'what? Children died? No one knew that. We've got to do something!'

No one thinks that our military action is free from killing innocent life. It is however better than most militaries in the world by a long shot.

In this current action we told the Russians (and by proxy because they will run right to the Syrians) our intentions an hour ahead of time.

We had 1 missile fail and splash in sea. All 58 others hit the airfield, and the majority of which got their intended specific target: plane, fuel, C&C, munitions, bunkers.

We told them we were going to destroy their architecture of aggression in that location ... and then did it.

Lashkar_i_Trumpi says

B) Start a war with Russia.

That's doubtful. Her strategy would have passed a bigger risk there, though. Certainly Russia is glad to be dealing with Trump rather than Hillary.

Ironman says

Crap, I haven't seen a nickle..

It's all Starbucks money, so we can:

"Stay wired. Get refugees hired."

YesYNot says

That was an of aspect of Trump's language. 'what? Children died? No one knew that. We've got to do something!'

That was an aspect of Haley AND Hillary's language.

And the latter went right to the invade-invade narrative, "We gotta bring in ALL the Syrian Refugees and the KIDS!!!"

Rew says

No one thinks that our military action is free from killing innocent life. It is however better than most militaries in the world by a long shot.

Of course! When you are bombing cities in support of a siege, kids definitely die and there's no way to avoid it. However the Media did not mention this with Mosul, but hammered it home with repeated gruesome pictures and constant reminders; furthermore they repeated calls from those who demanded a cease-fire against the Jihadis because of it with Aleppo. Even though the opponent is the same!

What we should be is more savvy and cynical when the media pumps one siege, while blasting (no pun intended) another.