Supposedly, when we are in good mood we are more likely to think irrationally than when we are in bad mood. I read about it in Daniel Kahneman’s “Thinking, Fast and Slow.” But I (or rather Kahneman) can help you with that: hold a pencil between your teeth (so that the eraser points to one side and the point to the other) and try to rewrite your sentence on the U.S. being the most morally respected state on the planet. The pencil will make you frown and hopefully help you to think a little more rationally.
I feel exactly the same watching these horrors and believe that something should be done about that. But war..? The problem with war is that always more innocents die than the dictators from which we seek to liberate them.
This is why I favor the method Obama seems to be employing, with aid of our current technology. I believe in small surgical strike aimed at specific individuals rather than employing a blanket destruction of an entire country is far more effective. I believe more civilians were killed during our war with Iraq than Saddam Hussein killed during his brutal reign.
Emotional reactions to crimes against humanity are natural. But the solution cannot be worse than the crimes. The best way IMO, is to take time for planning and when an opportunity presents, take out the criminals. This will minimize costs in both lives on both sides and treasure invested. This may take a year or so, but eventually an opportunity will present itself. We need to learn patience and cold calculation, not rush off unprepared into a completely uncertain situation.
I agree with pretty much everything you’ve said, but….a year? Really? How many more lives are we supposed to let get extinguished before we “figure out a plan?” What about the shelling? At least deploy the airforce over there and destroy their artillery so they can’t keep bombing innocent neighborhoods!
What about deploying our special forces over there to train the locals and ex-military that want to fight? What about helping them build walls and trenches. Evacing out the women and children? Something? Is it our relationship with China that is keeping us from unilaterally making a decision here?
I doubt it’s China, the government is reluctant to get involved with any more military activity in that region; or in any other region for that matter. It’s unlikely that we’ll do anything. At least anything that turns the tables.
I just sat here at work crying at my desk after watching a clip of a father crying over his dead son who just died today from the shelling in Homs. I have two daughters. One who is 15 months, and another who is just over 6 weeks old. What is happening right now in Syria is absolutely horrifying. I don’t think I’ve ever felt more strongly about the US sending troops overseas and blasting those murderers to hell than I do now.
I understand that the issue is much more complex than I’m making it, but I’m just wondering if this is one of those times when war WOULD be justified. I’m curious. I want to know what your individual stances are on this issue.
Revolutions are always bloody and I sympathize with the casualties. However if the rebels in Syria are to succeed they need find a way to organize themselves in spite of their many differences and themselves lead the overthrow of the dictatorial elite. It is only by doing this that afterword will they be able to work together and hopefully be successful in building a just society. Invasion or other military interference will only most likely result in a situation in which no peaceful society can emerge and evolve. IMO, the humanitarian support and condemnation of the Bashar al-Assad dictatorship is the most we can do at the moment. If we attempt much more we will be creating another situation similar to Afghanistan or Iraq, or even in the long term Iran.
“1. ...Friends of the Syrian People… with the participation of more than 60 countries and representatives from the United Nations, the League of Arab States, the European Union, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, the Arab Maghreb Union and the Cooperation Council for the Arab Gulf States to discuss the worsening situation in Syria.”
“2. The Friends’ Group reaffirmed its firm commitment to the sovereignty, independence, national unity and territorial integrity of Syria. “
“1. ...Friends of the Syrian People… with the participation of more than 60 countries and representatives from the United Nations, the League of Arab States, the European Union, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, the Arab Maghreb Union and the Cooperation Council for the Arab Gulf States to discuss the worsening situation in Syria.”
“2. The Friends’ Group reaffirmed its firm commitment to the sovereignty, independence, national unity and territorial integrity of Syria. “
“1. ...Friends of the Syrian People… with the participation of more than 60 countries and representatives from the United Nations, the League of Arab States, the European Union, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, the Arab Maghreb Union and the Cooperation Council for the Arab Gulf States to discuss the worsening situation in Syria.”
“2. The Friends’ Group reaffirmed its firm commitment to the sovereignty, independence, national unity and territorial integrity of Syria. “
I read about it in Daniel Kahneman’s “Thinking, Fast and Slow.” But I (or rather Kahneman) can help you with that: hold a pencil between your teeth (so that the eraser points to one side and the point to the other) and try to rewrite your sentence on the U.S. being the most morally respected state on the planet. The pencil will make you frown and hopefully help you to think a little more rationally. 
