Syria, War, US/UN

[RIFF]

Seriously, I believe what Syria has done is wrong, but how is it better for the US to run in & start military action before awaiting UN backing, approval?

It SOUNDS fucking stupid to me, but Im logical, so whats the deal?

[Pepi]

I think our crooks in Washington want this conflict to distract the American people from something else on their agenda. What? Maybe a total crash of our economy! Who knows ...

[Lloyd Blankfein]

We used to strategically use wars as second hand avenues towards escaping economic issues.

Of course it worked since the government would then employ the common man off the street to rivet, paint, assemble and machine (many got new skills on the job/training at the same time).

However, now a days we just award huge contracts to dipshit companies like Raytheon, Rockwell Collins, etc.

Which essentially just employs H1B engineers and further the padding/lining of these huge conglomerate corporations' wallets.

So in reality, not even a war does us any good on the jobs/economy front like it used to.

Washington, you rule. Thank you for your loyalty to lobbyists.

[madryan]

You know the night GW went into Iraq there were parties all across America in Board Rooms at defense contracting firms. "Boys! Order that new 'G' you been wanting! We're goin in!"

[GuitarBilly]

You know the night GW went into Iraq there were parties all across America in Board Rooms at defense contracting firms. "Boys! Order that new 'G' you been wanting! We're goin in!"

Yeah and Syria is no different, really.

[RIFF]

Problem seems to be that if russia, iran & china are against our actions, well I dont even think that needs much explanation. Theres many reasons thats not good.

[Lloyd Blankfein]

Problem seems to be that if russia, iran & china are against our actions, well I dont even think that needs much explanation. Theres many reasons thats not good.

Tbh, China is not a threat. China is the weak ass vato little brother with the knee high socks, converses and long jnco jean shorts who continue to hike them up over and over as they run their mouth.

Russia is the only player on this planet besides us who could do damage.

Middle East countries have to rely on liberty degradation with small time shit like public bombs, random stabbings, etc. That's all they've got. More of an annoyance of small random ass acts of violence.

Their #1 strongpoint is to get a war on their turf among thei plainclothed citizens in desert mountains. The confusion and hiding is their #1 asset.

As far as full fledged gnarcore world war. Russia is the only threat.

It'd never happen unless we got our dick stuck in a doorjam

[100 watt]

Piss on Syria, and everywhere else. We have our own problems

[Lloyd Blankfein]

Before we start a war, Id like to see a cost analysis and make notes on big line items on who the beneficiary is.

Then correlate that beneficiary with amount donated towards politicians.

I'll bet this war would generate some serious funds for Rockwell and the boys.

[Lloyd Blankfein]

My brother worked for Rockwell and used to always tell me I was a subsidy sucking farmer.

Except my commodity doesn't qualify for subsidies. Lol, my brother is a penis. Welfare queen government contract sucker.

[madryan]

One of my best friends was AF EOD and was in theater for the initial invasion of Iraq. As a unit S2, and an EOD guy, job was blowing up our sensitive shit that broke on the initial invasion and couldn't be fixed quickly. In other words, if a tank or whatever broke down, or even a truck with an encrypted radio and any sort of other sensitive intel value he'd show up and blow it in place so there was nothing left.

He likes to joke that he blew up way more of our hardware than the Iraqi's ever did.

Kinda blows your mind. Makes you understand some of the associated cost with the war in pure dollars and why the defense contractors were pushing so hard for it. If we're sitting on MPS ships full of gear that's not getting used up they're not making money.

That's to say nothing of the ongoing cost of thousands of men and women who get ongoing disability payments and require healthcare.

Just for shits and giggles I went back and watched a bunch of stuff on Youtube from the Bush years when Hannity, O-Reily et al were pushing the "if you're against the war you're against the troops" line real hard. It was hilarious because those same shit-heads, who never wore a uniform, are now turning all elder-sage and trying to council caution.

lolz...

[RIFF]

All the above is true, including "piss on everywhere else, we got our own probs".

But China, while not the strongest kid on the block, does own like 8 percent of US debt, plus some pretty big companies here, & outnumbers us 4 to 1.

All things being equal, I STILL cant comprehend the stupidity of just stomping on in there without UN support!

[Reverse Entropy]

A quick cursory search of the recent activity in Raytheon's stock value raises an eyebrow or two.

It looks like there was a price bump at the end of the quarter in June, and their earnings stayed level when analysts were downgrading their predictions (expecting a drop). That might account for the price change, although it was a bit of an over-reaction....but that's been true of a lot of sectors lately. They're seizing on any excuse to buy a stock.

I don't see any news releases from that time for RTN but I didn't look very hard. It might have something to do with their new contract for the STANDARD missile rather than the Tomahawk (which is long out of major production. Presidents tend to like cruise missiles because they're precise and easy to use. When you can put 1000lbs of very high explosive within 30 feet of a target, it becomes a "magical death" weapon.

What astonished me is the Saudis/Bahrainis offering to bankroll the cost of the attack. WTF ? "Didn't we sell you assholes your own F-15s and F-16s ? Don't we train you same assholes on our nice weapons ranges in Nevada ? How about you go shoot the Syrians yourselves ?" Of course the reason they don't is they are used to paying crap wages to servants to do their dirty work for them. Spoiled bitches.

[Dave]

So what happens if congress doesn't approve the military action?

What happens if Obama proceeds with military strikes?

[madryan]

The president can do some stuff without even notifying congress. Especially as relates to the marine corps.

That said, for funding, congress has to sign off. That's what people usually forget. The pres neither crafts legislation nor does he or she spend money. All of that happens almost exclusively in the congress.

[RIFF]

So at THAT point, if congress doesnt back/fund, president bitches bout the lack of support for a serious subject. At that point its a battle to see who can garner media support??

I know its a small war thats figured as good for economy/military, etc., but man... just seems like a bad idea..


On a lighter note, I made SERIOUS fucking apple pie from apples in the back yard..

[madryan]

So at THAT point, if congress doesnt back/fund, president bitches bout the lack of support for a serious subject. At that point its a battle to see who can garner media support??

I know its a small war thats figured as good for economy/military, etc., but man... just seems like a bad idea..


On a lighter note, I made SERIOUS fucking apple pie from apples in the back yard..

Meh... If we do anything it'll be a debilitating military air strike with cruise missile and/or drones. It's not going to be a protracted thing at this point. That comes later when we end up fighting a ground war with Iran and all the puppet states we've allowed them to take over by killing Saddam for them.

[RIFF]

Meh... If we do anything it'll be a debilitating military air strike with cruise missile and/or drones. It's not going to be a protracted thing at this point. That comes later when we end up fighting a ground war with Iran and all the puppet states we've allowed them to take over by killing Saddam for them.

Well yeah, thats a given..