dagblog - Comments for "NYT Retreats on 2013 Syria-Sarin Claims"

Another thing. As Putin is

A Guy Called LULU — Fri, 07 Apr 2017 01:50:01 +0000

In reply to So don't waste time playing

Another thing. As Putin is the guarantor that Syria would dispose of all chemical weapons, I would expect that for Assad to authorize a chemical attack now would piss him off big time. Would Assad be so cocky as to punk Putin, his lifeline, this way? Are you confident enough that Assad is responsible to agree that we should bomb Syria and risk much wider war?

So don't waste time playing

A Guy Called LULU — Fri, 07 Apr 2017 01:23:11 +0000

In reply to And no, I'm not willing to

So don't waste time playing forensic games that you don't feel qualified to play, don't even weigh any plausible ideas that make more sense, don't let something which seems illogical on its face put questions into your mind, simply take the NYT's instant analysis. Let them do your thinking for you.

The trouble with bets in this

A Guy Called LULU — Fri, 07 Apr 2017 01:14:43 +0000

In reply to I'd be willing to bet this

The trouble with bets in this case is that the resolution requires a definitive answer which we will probably never get. If Spock were the judge and we gave him the details we can know and believe as "fact" he still couldn't say definitively who was responsible but I doubt he would bet that it was Assad's doing based on a logical deduction of cost-benefit analysis of who stood to gain by gassing civilians.

Assad is actually in an existential threat situation. He, his family, and his tribe can be expected to suffer horribly if the terrorist opposition wins control of Syria. I agree that he is probably as ruthless as his enemies. That is not the same as being stupid.

So now, with his battlefield situation looking far better than it has for years, Assad pulled out some chemicals he had hid away to do the one thing virtually guaranteed to cause him international condemnation, the one thing that very nearly got him bombed four years ago and may very well get the U.S. to attack him now? That would seem to me, and I think to Spock, to be quite stupid. But we all know that sometimes stupid people get in charge of countries so maybe so. For the terrorist rebels though, a gas attack that killed children and was successfully blamed on Assad would prompt the same results which would benefit them greatly. For them it would be smart even if grizzly. Unless one was to believe that they are not ruthless enough to do such a thing I believe that a bit of skepticism of the story so quickly taken as truth is in order. I bet Spock would agree.

And no, I'm not willing to

artappraiser — Fri, 07 Apr 2017 00:44:27 +0000

In reply to I'd be willing to bet this

And no, I'm not willing to debate it. I answered what I'd bet, and that's all I'm willing to do. It's the reactions from now on that count to me, don't want to waste time playing forensic games that I am not qualified to play. Somebody in the damn conflict used chemical weapons from a plane, and the somebodies involved could stop the conflict, that's all I need to know.

I'd be willing to bet this

artappraiser — Fri, 07 Apr 2017 00:39:38 +0000

In reply to Discretion is cool even if

I'd be willing to bet this one was a test by Assad to see what Trump would do. The circumstantial evidence is just sooo strong. And yes, I do believe he's that ruthless; to Assad it was only a few babies, less than get crushed by falling buildings every day. He doesn't give a damn about any war rules, wants to use whatever he needs to use, winning it's very real life and death and killing for him every day, day after day. Fear and loathing are a big part of the equation now so extra scary ways to die would help do the trick. Beheadings have become so jaded.

Discretion is cool even if

A Guy Called LULU — Fri, 07 Apr 2017 00:32:03 +0000

In reply to I wouldn't bet on that

Discretion is cool even if years late. Have you seen any proof to go along with the latest instant allegations? How would you bet?

I wouldn't bet on that

artappraiser — Fri, 07 Apr 2017 00:11:38 +0000

In reply to NYT Retreats on 2013 Syria-Sarin Claims

I wouldn't bet on that headline from the "proof" he gives. Quietly indeed. Maybe more like:editor's discretion.