Imminent mistakes in Syria

[Occhidiangela]

The cynic in me says it's about one thing: Snowden. ...snip... Russia does NOT want Assad thrown out.

An interesting possibility, but the magnitudes seem wrong. I wouldn't think the US (or anyone) launches cruise missiles over someone like Snowden. It just doesn't seem like a big enough issue to justify the risk or the expense.

I wonder if this isn't all about knocking out an Iranian ally.

Yep, and it isn't just the US interested in that. Saudis have a vested interested in that.

We pay and bleed to break it, then we pay and bleed to fix it. It's a really big Bastiat's broken window.

Interesting point, but do you know why that is done?

Just have to jump back in and remember that you can talk Russia all you want, and it will be well worth discussing, but the really "bad actor," as the talking heads love to call them now, in much of this is Iran.

Yes. This seems to be "the great game" with a whole lot of new players in the mix.

Something to think about: read some interesting stuff in an online news rag from India. Natural gas pipeline from Persian Gulf to Turkey, and points north/west. This project was proposed over a decade ago, in varying forms, and has yet to come to fruition.

Whose ox does it gore? Russian natural gas sales to Europe.
Who would it benefit? Qatar, and Saudis, in reducing risk to their shipping natural gas to Europe via PG and Suez. Assad has never allowed the pipeline to run through his turf. Why? Not sure. Moscow have a play? Maybe. Add to this rumors that the Saudis have sub rosa discussions with Russians about "if you want the Chechen Muslim rebels quiet during Olympics get this pipeline project moving." This rumor is of questionable provenance, so I'll not put too much stock in it.

How much of an influence is all of the above? Also not sure. Food for thought.
"We want to have a war to ensure profits for arms merchants." Sorry, this time, that's just stupid. The CAUSATION piece doesn't fit.

The "international community" (IC) came up with a chemical weapons ban and protocol. The IC is thus who will enforce that or won't. If you want a day to day analogy, try a homeowners association, with a board full of folks who dislike each other.

The civil war will continue. The Reaper will continue in his bountiful harvest.