Do we really have to take military action to Syria?

And, he huffed and he puffed, till he blew the door down. (From some fairy tale about a wolf.) Tell me another fairy tale, uncle Spendius, please.

The thing is Foof that all expressions of national pride are war mongering.

It was you who huffed and puffed. Huffing and puffing seems to be an American hobby. Possibly an emotional need.

Me think you're a bit too obsessed about Obama's image, probably more so than he is himself. This story is about many things including human lives and collective security, and you make it look like just another political bickering oportunity... Small mind.

Excellent point, Olivier, and I agree with you.

We have become a people so jaded by our politicians (perhaps rightly so)...that we immediately assume each interaction is only about the political ramification...especially on the images and political well-being of the individuals involved.

That is not necessarily the case...and in this particular instance, I am almost sure it is not the case.

Tangentally, but definitely related, is the fact that individual countries will try to gain stature by taking advantage of another country's problems. I do not think Putin...or the Russian Republic...are necessarily motivated by this kind of thing at this time. They are, in my opinion, genuinely trying to help resolve this problem without making things worse for the world.

We ought all keep in mind that Putin and Obama...and the lesser politicians of each country...are as interested in peace and eliminating as much human suffering as possible...

...AS ANY MEMBER OF THIS FORUM.

Still - or already - quite a larger naval deployment ...

And me don't think that would be possible.

You are living in a land of make believe where what you say isn't a load of old bollocks.

That's your problem right there.

The media and pundits have a stake in this. Stroking hatred of politicians sells pretty well and is easy to do. It's much harder to sell intelligent remarks about how to reform the Security Council, adopt a line re. Arab revolts, connect with the Russians, work with the French, etc.

Basically, if you want to make dow as a blogger in the US these days, blaming Obama should be your default. And it's the default for many weak minded posters here.

Walter, all I have to say is - ai yi yi!!!

We should wish all of them fair winds and following seas ...

We should, indeed, Walter...and I do with every fiber of my body and mind.

For he's a jolly good fellow and so say all of us.

What would the estimated cost for deployment like that for 30 days?

Libya cost $1 billion for operations not including replacement costs. an aircraft carrier would cost $12 billion to replace, and I am relatively confident Iran will make sure to take one out.

I am sure that Iran would give the U S of A and Israel a reason to bomb their military facilities by sinking an aircraft carrier.

An American aircraft carrier hasn't been sunk in combat since WW2.
I seriously doubt if Iran has the capability to accomplish that feat now.
If they do, they haven't given any indication of that ability.

This is their GDP
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Syria
Is this the most cost effected way to get peace in the region using the Worlds tax payers money?

Isent what the Argentinans thought about a battle ship that an English missal ship sunk during their war?

A sentence worthy of BillRM. Anyway, relax, they're not British, they're Iranian.