World is Falling Apart Thread (Locked forever)

[Pulsar_t]

Yea I was listening on and off. McCain still seems earnest in his quest to arm the FSA. Let's hope this doesn't backfire.

[ZeroAX]

The US House of Representatives have just passed a bill to arm the Syrian rebels, 273-156. 85 Democrats and 71 Republicans voting against.

Anybody else been monitoring Kerry's testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations committee?

That sounds like a bad plan. The moderates are too weak and unlike the Kurds who have nationality in common, who knows where these rebels are from and where the weapons you give them will end up in the future.

[Ack]

The US House of Representatives have just passed a bill to arm the Syrian rebels, 273-156. 85 Democrats and 71 Republicans voting against.

Anybody else been monitoring Kerry's testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations committee?

That sounds like a bad plan. The moderates are too weak and unlike the Kurds who have nationality in common, who knows where these rebels are from and where the weapons you give them will end up in the future.

From what we've seen so far, it sounds like this is the plan:

Vet and arm FSA forces within Syria with the intention of focusing on ISIL first before letting them loose on Assad.

Launch a continued air campaign in support of Iraqi and Kurdish military operations on the ground(no word if this will extend to FSA ground forces, though it is Sen. McCain's wish).

Continue to support the Iraqi government and Kurdish autonomous region politically and financially and work to ensure the Iraqi government is inclusive of both Shia and Sunni, which will help provide them with further defense forces and cut into ISIL recruitment efforts.

Identify and end private financiers to ISIL and their oil smuggling operations to dry up their funding.

We also have to identify a means to improve Turkish willingness to join our coalition, because right now they're dealing with kidnapped Turkish citizens, a porous border, and are apparently benefiting from smuggled oil sales. And then there are issues with ISIL making contacts with other terrorist organizations or infiltrating other allied nations, as well as the reaction of Syria, Iran, their allies, and their benefactors.

[ZeroAX]

We also have to identify a means to improve Turkish willingness to join our coalition, because right now they're dealing with kidnapped Turkish citizens, a porous border, and are apparently benefiting from smuggled oil sales. And then there are issues with ISIL making contacts with other terrorist organizations or infiltrating other allied nations, as well as the reaction of Syria, Iran, their allies, and their benefactors.

Have you read any articles about their sultan? You have as much chance of Turkey cooperating as you have of Russia. At least Iran sees IS as a threat.

[Pulsar_t]

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-29249996

[ZeroAX]

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-29249996

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-29249643 (context to that story for anyone who is interested in reading it)

[ZeroAX]

Adam is really going to be disappointed, but I think the no will win (probably by around 4-6%)

[Blu]

Gah, so much wrong with the world. I'm curious tonight about what the polls are looking like in Scotland. Adam and others, are there any initial exit polls or other signs?

[Pulsar_t]

If the No camp wins, I wonder if Downing Street is going to keep its last-minute promises?

[ZeroAX]

The Tories? Probably not. They'll be too busy bashing Europe for immigration/global warming/the latest sonic game being shit.

If Labour comes into power again maybe.

Anyway the no side is winning for now