|
Ardennes posted:Btw, the fact that war criminals can be treated absentia in Western countries is probably going to lead to even more bitter conflicts since the accused know they have no chance after the war and that the only way out for them is a victory. It also gives a leg up to countries looking for loyal proxies there is nothing waiting for them. Eh... I've heard this argument a lot, but it doesn't really seem to hold water to me for any major state conflict. After Assad made the decision not to pull a Ben Ali and flee to Iran and instead to fight it out and become the ruler of a pile of cinders, his primary concern was probably not being sodomized with a bayonette a la Gaddafi. I doubt "worry over being extradited to foreign powers and tried for war crimes" ever factored in his top 20 concerns during the Syrian Civil War. Basically a dictator can: (A) flee immediately and steal as much as possible. Possibly their new home country will sell them out and send them back (Charles Taylor, Habré) in return for some favors, or possibly they'll just have a quiet retirement (Ben Ali, Yahya Jammeh), or with a smaller chance they'll have a quiet retirement but gently caress things up for themselves and want to go back and steal more (Baby Doc, "Emperor" Bokassa). (b) Decide to fight, in which case they either win and succeed, or lose and are brutally murdered. Smaller chance: they lose but are somehow not brutally murdered, but instead captured by rebel troops and, for some reason instead of being tried and executed in their home territory, are instead sent to Europe. That last possibility had a 0.00% chance of ever having happened to Assad under any circumstance short of a direct ground-troop assault by NATO including Turkey, and even then it would have been a slim chance. Saladman fucked around with this message at 17:31 on Jul 22, 2018 |
#
?
Jul 22, 2018 17:24
|
|
|
|
| # ? May 24, 2024 01:02 |
|
|
Vincent Van Goatse posted:You really, really want them to be guilty of something, don't you? it'd be nice if they werent you gonna hold your breath on that one
|
|
#
?
Jul 22, 2018 17:29
|
|
|
if all these refugees weren't criminals, why are they running?
|
|
#
?
Jul 22, 2018 17:33
|
|
|
Ardennes posted:Ah, ye olde, tis the Russkis who has invented this! gently caress, I don't know I don't read Russian news that much, and I am in Azerbaijan at the moment. It seems to be posted on a bunch of Western news-sites. It's just that if Russian media pushes a conspiracy theory (which this literally is until there some kind of real evidence) which is not reported by mainstream German media, I have come to be very skeptical. true.spoon fucked around with this message at 17:52 on Jul 22, 2018 |
|
#
?
Jul 22, 2018 17:49
|
|
|
Spacewolf posted:You know, does it ever occur to you that moustache-twirling monocle'd evil as you seem to portray is pretty much only the domain of Bond villains and similar cardboard fictional characters? You're right, Israel's villainy makes those guys look like girl scouts
|
|
#
?
Jul 22, 2018 17:49
|
|
|
You've really turned into a loving bottom feeder recently, Ardennes.
|
|
#
?
Jul 22, 2018 18:00
|
|
|
khwarezm posted:You've really turned into a loving bottom feeder recently, Ardennes. Also, to be honest, I think we are pretty much on the opposite sides politically, so enjoy. Btw, I would need to see evidence before I think the White Helmets were actually doing what the Russians accused them of in the past. true.spoon posted:For example? I don't doubt you will find some news site posting this, the question is how reputable it is. Posting the story about the White Helmet resettlement? I think France24 and a much of other outlets have it. It helps if you actually are more specific about which theory you are talking about. Either way, what we know, It is very clear that in this context that Israel is very certainly going out of their way to help them (and if the West agrees to immediate resettlement). It is arguably for what reasons. Maybe they are that much more valuable than veteran translators? Personally, I think it is fishy, because I know Israel doesn't give about humanitarian concerns of Arabs, so there needs to be something else to it. Saladman posted:Eh... I've heard this argument a lot, but it doesn't really seem to hold water to me for any major state conflict. After Assad made the decision not to pull a Ben Ali and flee to Iran and instead to fight it out and become the ruler of a pile of cinders, his primary concern was probably not being sodomized with a bayonette a la Gaddafi. I doubt "worry over being extradited to foreign powers and tried for war crimes" ever factored in his top 20 concerns during the Syrian Civil War. Assad was going to go out fighting either way, but not every war needs to boil down into the Syrian conflict. However, it is theoretically possible where a government that may have been willing to negotiate will simply keep on fighting because there is simply no other path out for them. Libya (for example) didn't necessarily need to go the way it did. Furthermore, It could be possible for them to be in a position to negotiate, but necessarily in the hands of the rebels. It basically "ups the ante" to complete victory for either them or the rebels.
|
|
#
?
Jul 22, 2018 18:44
|
|
|
Ardennes posted:Also, to be honest, I think we are pretty much on the opposite sides politically, so enjoy. Politics has never had anything to do with your selective judgement regarding Russia, no matter how much you think it is.
|
|
#
?
Jul 22, 2018 19:39
|
|
|
Protests spread to Baghdad.quote:“The people want the downfall of political parties!” they chanted, a slogan similar to one used in the 2011 “Arab Spring” uprisings, as politicians struggled to form a new government. The Shia bloc is making the right noises about reform. They might even be serious, too.
|
|
#
?
Jul 22, 2018 20:00
|
|
|
Grape posted:Politics has never had anything to do with your selective judgement regarding Russia, no matter how much you think it is. My knowledge base and experience does, and it should. (Also my politics is an element as well.) Ardennes fucked around with this message at 20:09 on Jul 22, 2018 |
|
#
?
Jul 22, 2018 20:02
|
|
|
Ardennes posted:Posting the story about the White Helmet resettlement? I think France24 and a much of other outlets have it. It helps if you actually are more specific about which theory you are talking about. quote:Either way, what we know, It is very clear that in this context that Israel is very certainly going out of their way to help them (and if the West agrees to immediate resettlement). It is arguably for what reasons. Maybe they are that much more valuable than veteran translators? Personally, I think it is fishy, because I know Israel doesn't give about humanitarian concerns of Arabs, so there needs to be something else to it.
|
|
#
?
Jul 22, 2018 20:23
|
|
|
true.spoon posted:So is there any reputable source or any kind of evidence beyond your insinuations? My comments are literally based on the news presented, where do I need to present additional evidence here considering what I said? Ardennes fucked around with this message at 20:45 on Jul 22, 2018 |
|
#
?
Jul 22, 2018 20:41
|
|
|
I will apologize insofar that your personal conspiracy theory does not appear to be pushed by Russian media as far as I can tell (at leat not by English/German language parts after cursory googling). That still does not make it very compelling though.
|
|
#
?
Jul 22, 2018 21:13
|
|
|
Ardennes posted:Either way, what we know, It is very clear that in this context that Israel is very certainly going out of their way to help them (and if the West agrees to immediate resettlement). It is arguably for what reasons. Maybe they are that much more valuable than veteran translators? Personally, I think it is fishy, because I know Israel doesn't give about humanitarian concerns of Arabs, so there needs to be something else to it. Sure, there has to be some horrible underlying reason for the perfidious Zionist Entity to do what is seemingly a good thing. It couldn't be part of a pattern of small-scale humanitarian actions by Israel throughout the Syrian Civil War, or maybe that pattern also fits in to one of your many strongly held conspiracy theories.
|
|
#
?
Jul 22, 2018 21:26
|
|
|
Always nice when Ardennes decides to update us on RTs latest.
|
|
#
?
Jul 22, 2018 21:48
|
|
|
Absurd Alhazred posted:Sure, there has to be some horrible underlying reason for the perfidious Zionist Entity to do what is seemingly a good thing. It couldn't be part of a pattern of small-scale humanitarian actions by Israel throughout the Syrian Civil War, or maybe that pattern also fits in to one of your many strongly held conspiracy theories. Yeah Israel is well...a perfidious de jure apartheid state, certainly not the only oppressive country in region, but yeah they deserve as much benefit of the doubt as the Saudis or Iran. If the Iranians were transporting 800 Syrian government civil defense workers to Russia via the Caspian. There would be questions. Herstory Begins Now posted:Always nice when Ardennes decides to update us on RTs latest. The guy before you just vetted me! :-( Any more? Ardennes fucked around with this message at 22:53 on Jul 22, 2018 |
|
#
?
Jul 22, 2018 22:11
|
|
|
Absurd Alhazred posted:Sure, there has to be some horrible underlying reason for the perfidious Zionist Entity to do what is seemingly a good thing. It couldn't be part of a pattern of small-scale humanitarian actions by Israel throughout the Syrian Civil War, or maybe that pattern also fits in to one of your many strongly held conspiracy theories. Israel directly announced they were asked to do this by the US and UK, so I don't think it's controversial to assume it's not something they agreed with, but does point to the White Helmets' safety being of improportionate importance to the US and UK if they are throwing their weight around enough to annoy Israel.
|
|
#
?
Jul 22, 2018 23:41
|
|
|
WhiskeyWhiskers posted:Israel directly announced they were asked to do this by the US and UK, so I don't think it's controversial to assume it's not something they agreed with, but does point to the White Helmets' safety being of improportionate importance to the US and UK if they are throwing their weight around enough to annoy Israel. I think it's more of a 'why not?' kind of thing than something that was going to really annoy them. Like no, they weren't going to volunteer to keep the White Helmets as refugees (which is why I'm not going to give them much credit for it), but allowing them to escape Syria through their territory before going somewhere else is relatively costless for them, wins some good PR, mildly frustrates Assad, and makes some friendly governments happy. Maybe there's a slight element of humanitarian concern too, but it's easy to be concerned when it doesn't really cost you anything.
|
|
#
?
Jul 23, 2018 03:27
|
|
|
So... I hope I don't wake up to actual legit war with Iran. https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1021234525626609666  
|
|
#
?
Jul 23, 2018 05:04
|
|
|
CAPS LOCK. Why is this man the president, we're all going to die.
|
|
#
?
Jul 23, 2018 05:20
|
|
|
khwarezm posted:CAPS LOCK. there is an answer to that question. it would perhaps not make you feel better.
|
|
#
?
Jul 23, 2018 05:33
|
|
|
at least it doesnt sound like he has that much authority, they struck down his Venezuela invasion idea
|
|
#
?
Jul 23, 2018 05:38
|
|
|
HorrificExistence posted:at least it doesnt sound like he has that much authority, they struck down his Venezuela invasion idea Pompeo is playing ball, so... gently caress. https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/22/politics/pompeo-iran-speech-intl/index.html quote:US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo delivered a scathing speech on Iran's leadership Sunday, accusing Tehran's ruling ayatollahs of spreading violence across the Middle East and lining their own pockets with ill-gotten gains at the expense of ordinary Iranians.
|
|
#
?
Jul 23, 2018 05:41
|
|
|
James Mattis could still be the voice of reason. About Iran policy. Oh gently caress. e; I should not have read what's going to become tomorrow's news cycle before going to sleep. poo poo sucks. Willie Tomg fucked around with this message at 05:45 on Jul 23, 2018 |
|
#
?
Jul 23, 2018 05:42
|
|
|
countdown to the first "tonight was the night trump truly became president" take from CNN starts now
|
|
#
?
Jul 23, 2018 05:46
|
|
|
it would take months of buildup to do anything major, we'd know
|
|
#
?
Jul 23, 2018 06:00
|
|
|
https://twitter.com/sahilkapur/status/1021242139521449985
|
|
#
?
Jul 23, 2018 06:01
|
|
|
Personally I'm not worried about being drafted, having narcolepsy and all. But. I better not wake up to Tehran reduced to a radioactive crater. If Trump declares war what would Russia do?
|
|
#
?
Jul 23, 2018 06:24
|
|
|
I have 5 years of IRR left i cant wait to be on the front lines fighting iran What would russia do if we declared war? Theyd theyd take their 1.6 tril economy and cry wolf and smdftb in the loving halls of the un. gently caress em they couldny do ANYTHING vs the us but spread denial and shitworm their way a little further into georgia I love trump, blasting off a full caps lock tweet at like midnight is loving 10/10. I mean no poo poo if we get into a war hes gonna be postin liveleak videos of islamists getting blown up by hellfire missiles with poo poo like "2 HELLFIRES TO KILL 12 TERRORISTS?? SAD! " (USER WAS PUT ON PROBATION FOR THIS POST)
|
|
#
?
Jul 23, 2018 07:29
|
|
|
Nah it was this https://mobile.twitter.com/A_Tabatabai/status/1021054685841690625
|
|
#
?
Jul 23, 2018 08:00
|
|
|
https://mobile.twitter.com/BaxtiyarGoran/status/1021286231592833024
|
|
#
?
Jul 23, 2018 08:19
|
|
|
Willie Tomg posted:Pompeo is playing ball, so... gently caress. Pompeo going all "these are evil people, they want to use force to change regimes in the Middle East" is worthy of an ironicat large enough to crush the Earth into a singularity.
|
|
#
?
Jul 23, 2018 08:57
|
|
|
gently caress, I remember being in Erbil in ‘08 for a telco deal. Nice city back then.
|
|
#
?
Jul 23, 2018 09:36
|
|
|
LeoMarr posted:I have 5 years of IRR left i cant wait to be on the front lines fighting iran I also can't wait until you're on the front lines fighting in Iran. Worked out really well in Iraq. Have fun getting your scrotum sewed back together because you went to inspect a dead dog on the side of the road which was stuffed with a coffee can full of RDX.
|
|
#
?
Jul 23, 2018 09:55
|
|
|
Sergg posted:I also can't wait until you're on the front lines fighting in Iran. Worked out really well in Iraq. Have fun getting your scrotum sewed back together because you went to inspect a dead dog on the side of the road which was stuffed with a coffee can full of RDX. Well this time the dog corpse would be rather pretargeted by a Chinese / North Korean / Russian ATGM.
|
|
#
?
Jul 23, 2018 10:15
|
|
|
LeoMarr posted:What would russia do if we declared war? Worm their way into all the chunks of the american empire we'd have to abandon to actually occupy iran without the loving draft.
|
|
#
?
Jul 23, 2018 11:25
|
|
|
Beefeater1980 posted:gently caress, I remember being in Erbil in ‘08 for a telco deal. Nice city back then. I mean, just because that one event happened doesn't really mean much as it's pretty isolated. Worrying over that is like those people Americans who say "are you worried being in Paris?? THERE ARE RTERRTIRISTS" because they have like one literally-clinically-insane fundamentalist kill a few people every year and a few politically-motivated Islamists kill a few people every couple years. Meanwhile, literally more people are murdered in the city where I grew up in the US in a single month than have been killed by Islamists in the past 10 years in all of Europe. E: I mean sure it's still scary in Erbil but saying "nice city back then [but not now" is pretty ridiculous in response to some guys attacking a government building, especially since it doesn't even seem like their purpose is to maximize mayhem, although that's a bit premature to say. Saladman fucked around with this message at 11:31 on Jul 23, 2018 |
|
#
?
Jul 23, 2018 11:29
|
|
|
Also LOL at LeoMarr thinking Russia wouldn't do anything. Our President grovels like a dog at his feet the instant Putin snaps his fingers yet somehow they're the ones with no power or leverage.
|
|
#
?
Jul 23, 2018 12:33
|
|
|
LeoMarr is one of the worst posters in this thread and is a hair's away from the ignore list, which I reserve for only the worst idiots. Panzeh, in this thread.
|
|
#
?
Jul 23, 2018 14:46
|
|
|
|
| # ? May 24, 2024 01:02 |
|
|
Ardennes asks important questions about the white helmets imo also I’m pretty sure the Iranians would whip us pretty badly so I’m not worried about it.
|
|
#
?
Jul 23, 2018 15:02
|
|
