Generational Dynamics Forum - New Site

4-Oct-16 World View -- US cuts off talks with Russia, signaling turning point in Syria

Russia accuses US of sabotaging ceasefire and 'allying with terror'

** 4-Oct-16 World View -- US cuts off talks with Russia, signaling turning point in Syria
** http://www.generationaldynamics.com/pg/ ... tm#e161004


Contents:
United States ends diplomatic talks with Russia over Syria
Russia accuses US of sabotaging ceasefire and 'allying with terror'


Keys:
Generational Dynamics, Syria, Russia, Bashar al-Assad, John Kerry,
Sergei Lavrov, Maria Zakharova, Dmitry Peskov,
Islamic State / of Iraq and Syria/Sham/the Levant, IS, ISIS, ISIL, Daesh
Jabhat al-Nusra, al-Nusra Front,
Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, JFS, Front for the Conquest of Syria,
Sukhoi Su-24, Su-34, SA-23, Humaymim Military Airfields

Admittedly, I probably should know more than I do about the situation in Syria, but it is difficult, considering how much misinformation is being put out there by BOTH sides of the issue. One thing I do know is that yes, Assad is bad. However, I also know that the Christians living in Syria have had to align themselves with Assad in a bid to survive. The Obama administration is blocking the migration of Christian Syrians to the west while promoting the migration of Muslim Syrians to the west, which makes me wonder what in the hell is going on. Due to this, the Syrian Christians have no choice but to stay in Syria and fight and no choice but to fight on the side of Assad. As such, I have a hard time rooting for the USA and anti-Assad forces in this fight. I guess that means I'm a scumbag in your eyes and in the eyes of many in the west.

Does the United States bear at least partial responsibility for the condition Syria is now in? Yes, what al-Assad - with the help of Putin - is doing is unconscionable, but is it possible this conflict would have died down long ago had we not armed anti-government rebels and pushed for regime change?

I've reached the point of "a pox on both their houses".

Dear Thomas,

thomasglee wrote: > Admittedly, I probably should know more than I do about the
> situation in Syria, but it is difficult, considering how much
> misinformation is being put out there by BOTH sides of the issue.
> One thing I do know is that yes, Assad is bad. However, I also
> know that the Christians living in Syria have had to align
> themselves with Assad in a bid to survive. The Obama
> administration is blocking the migration of Christian Syrians to
> the west while promoting the migration of Muslim Syrians to the
> west, which makes me wonder what in the hell is going on. Due to
> this, the Syrian Christians have no choice but to stay in Syria
> and fight and no choice but to fight on the side of Assad. As
> such, I have a hard time rooting for the USA and anti-Assad forces
> in this fight. I guess that means I'm a scumbag in your eyes and
> in the eyes of many in the west.

You've claimed in the past that I've disrespected Christianity -- a
claim that I completely disagree with -- so I wanted to respond to
your statement. And let me start by you saying "I guess that means
I'm a scumbag in your eyes" is actually offensive to me, with the
implication that I would consider that someone who disagrees with me
is a scumbag. However, it's not a big deal, because lots of people
offend me in far worse ways, so it's OK.

But I want to do is challenge your deeply held Christian values. The
following situation is very real, except that I don't know what the
exact numbers are. So the numbers are not exact, but the rest of the
situation I'm describing is real:

Suppose you're the President and you're told that you can kill
al-Assad and if you do, then thousands of Christians will die, but
you'll save the lives of millions of Muslims. What's the moral,
Christian thing to do? Which are more important -- the lives of
thousands of Christians, or the lives of millions of Muslims?

And if you're president, then you have to decide -- kill al-Assad or
not kill al-Assad. Issue your order, Mr. President!

Here's a link provided by aedens:

http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/ethics-deontological/

I apologize. I honestly regret making that statement as I do know that you aren't that kind of a man.

Here's what I would do.

I would first, kill Assad and set in motion efforts to protect any who seek peace. And if I can't kill Assad, then I at least let the Christians who want out, get out. As for the Muslims... I get those who want to come and do my best to weed out the bad actors. The Muslims have proven over and over they will kill non-Muslims and even other Muslims who do not follow their particular flavor of Islam. As such, I would likely lean in favor of Christians (or Buddhist or Druids or Jews, etc.) over Muslims.

John wrote:Dear Thomas,

thomasglee wrote: > Admittedly, I probably should know more than I do about the
> situation in Syria, but it is difficult, considering how much
> misinformation is being put out there by BOTH sides of the issue.
> One thing I do know is that yes, Assad is bad. However, I also
> know that the Christians living in Syria have had to align
> themselves with Assad in a bid to survive. The Obama
> administration is blocking the migration of Christian Syrians to
> the west while promoting the migration of Muslim Syrians to the
> west, which makes me wonder what in the hell is going on. Due to
> this, the Syrian Christians have no choice but to stay in Syria
> and fight and no choice but to fight on the side of Assad. As
> such, I have a hard time rooting for the USA and anti-Assad forces
> in this fight. I guess that means I'm a scumbag in your eyes and
> in the eyes of many in the west.

You've claimed in the past that I've disrespected Christianity -- a
claim that I completely disagree with -- so I wanted to respond to
your statement. And let me start by you saying "I guess that means
I'm a scumbag in your eyes" is actually offensive to me, with the
implication that I would consider that someone who disagrees with me
is a scumbag. However, it's not a big deal, because lots of people
offend me in far worse ways, so it's OK.

But I want to do is challenge your deeply held Christian values. The
following situation is very real, except that I don't know what the
exact numbers are. So the numbers are not exact, but the rest of the
situation I'm describing is real:

Suppose you're the President and you're told that you can kill
al-Assad and if you do, then thousands of Christians will die, but
you'll save the lives of millions of Muslims. What's the moral,
Christian thing to do? Which are more important -- the lives of
thousands of Christians, or the lives of millions of Muslims?

And if you're president, then you have to decide -- kill al-Assad or
not kill al-Assad. Issue your order, Mr. President!

John, didn't you once say "All religion is poison"? You seem to flip flop on religion. Just saying.

Guest wrote: > John, didn't you once say "All religion is poison"? You seem to
> flip flop on religion. Just saying.

No, I never said that. I quoted Christopher Hitchens as saying that,
but then I said he was wrong.

** Book review review: Christopher Hitchens: 'God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything' (I)
** http://www.generationaldynamics.com/pg/ ... tm#e070603

** Book review review: Christopher Hitchens: 'God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything' (II)
** http://www.generationaldynamics.com/pg/ ... m#e070603b

No, not the review. During an argument between two posters 1-2 years ago, you posted a photo of that book when asked about your religious views. I don't remember the posters, but I do remember your response.