Britain pledges $800,000 to Syria opposition to topple Assad regime - Polidicks

[URL]http://worldnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/03/29/10923615-britain-pledges-800000-to-syria-opposition-to-topple-assad-regime[/URL] [QUOTE]LONDON - Britain pledged $800,000 in support of Syrian opposition groups Thursday, three days ahead of a 70-nation summit that will seek to unify those against the regime of President Bashar Assad. In a [URL="http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/news/latest-news/?view=News&id=747957482"]statement on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website[/URL], William Hague, Britain’s foreign secretary, said the “non-lethal” assistance would help the groups “develop themselves as a credible alternative to Assad and his regime." [HR][/HR]The United States is still deciding what sort of support to provide, but is expected to make a similar pledge at the Friends of Syria conference in Istanbul, Turkey on Sunday. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will use the summit to pressure the country's divided opposition to unite. Without that step, there is little chance Assad's opponents can oust him without a military intervention the West clearly does not want. Global action on Assad to step down has been largely limited so far to diplomatic and economic pressure, a stark contrast to the NATO air campaign that former Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi faced in a similar uprising last year. There is also disunity among Arab nations about what action to take. At the Arab League meeting in Baghdad on Thursday, leaders dropped a demand that Assad step down but urged him to act quickly on a U.N.-backed peace plan he has accepted. Syria's opposition groups continue to demand that Assad must go and have not agreed to peace talks. Fewer than half of the 22 Arab League heads of state are attending the summit, which is perhaps an indication of Sunni and Shiite tension in the region since the beginning of the Arab Spring. President Barack Obama discussed providing medical supplies and communications support to the Syrian opposition with Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan this week. The United States may back further "non-lethal" aid for the opposition at the Istanbul meeting. But as is the case in Britain, there was no talk of arming the rebel military forces such as the Free Syria Army. A spokesman for the U.S. Department of State told msnbc.com there had been no change to its current position of exploring options. "The United States has been trying to find a responsible way to help, using sanctions and ‘moral support,'" said Joe Holliday, a security expert at the Institute for the Study of War. "But it has been a balance between restraint and achieving the outcome it wants, getting Assad to go," he said. Britain has already given $715,000 worth of non-military practical support, including communications assistance and training and advice to Syrian human rights defenders. Assad faces mounting pressure from the West, from fellow Arab nations and even from staunch ally Russia. The United Nations says over 9,000 people have died since the Syrian uprising began last year. A [URL="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/29/world/middleeast/refugees-say-neighbor-shoots-neighbor-in-syrian-crackdown.html?ref=world"]report in the New York Times[/URL] said refugees fleeing Syria have described an alarming rise in sectarian conflict in the country, with Sunni Muslims claiming to have been shot at by neighbors who are members President Assad’s minority Alawite sect. Umm Nasser, 34, a pregnant woman sheltering with female residents and their dozen children in a farm building over the border in Lebanon, told the newspaper that about 15 members of her family in the village of Joussi came under fire from the nearby Alawite village of Hasbeeh two weeks ago as they tried to leave their house. [/QUOTE]

well atlesat someone is stepping up in someway

Honestly, I would have never expected it, from any nation. Glad to see there's some good out there.

They should just use Kickstarter.

[QUOTE=Ezhik;35355005]They should just use Kickstarter.[/QUOTE] People who donate over $10,000 get an all expenses paid shooting trip.

[QUOTE=markg06;35355129]People who donate over $10,000 get an all expenses paid shooting trip.[/QUOTE] For ten grand, I expect a statue erected in new Syria.

[QUOTE=Omali;35355685]For ten grand, I expect a statue erected in new Syria.[/QUOTE] What do you get for $100,000

[QUOTE=Murkat;35357913]What do you get for $100,000[/QUOTE] A tank, a statue, and a permanent room in the Presidential Palace :v:

I would've thought an average statue would cost $10k on it's own, unless it's the small sort you can fit in your living room, or very half-arsed.

[QUOTE=Ezhik;35355005]They should just use Kickstarter.[/QUOTE] when tim gets 3 million this is a good idea.

$800 000 is nothing, that's like, what, one cruise missile? My house costs more than Britan's entire pledge. But it's better then nothing, and it is a start so good job anyway.

It's about enough for 1 and a third of an older Tomahawk cruise missile. Newest one is 1.4 million or something crazy.

[QUOTE=mac338;35359066]$800 000 is nothing, that's like, what, one cruise missile? My house costs more than Britan's entire pledge. But it's better then nothing, and it is a start so good job anyway.[/QUOTE] Why the fuck do you have such an expensive house.

Fuck sakes, there we go again wasting money on shit that does not help the uk.

[QUOTE=SilverKnight;35359239]Fuck sakes, there we go again wasting money on shit that does not help the uk.[/QUOTE] Yeah fuck the oppressed!! No.

[QUOTE=SilverKnight;35359239]Fuck sakes, there we go again wasting money on shit that does not help the uk.[/QUOTE] Ignoring the whole "trying to stop a dictatorship" deal they've got going on Syria has oil, there you go something that'll help the UK.

[QUOTE=SilverKnight;35359239]Fuck sakes, there we go again wasting money on shit that does not help the uk.[/QUOTE] It's about £500,000, that's literally nothing in comparison to the rest of the money we have in our country. Plus it's a possible future investment in Syria, it's always good to have friends.

[QUOTE=SilverKnight;35359239]Fuck sakes, there we go again wasting money on shit that does not help the uk.[/QUOTE] It helps the west.

"Non-lethal assistance"? What a joke. Mossad and CIA have been working with the armed reactionary terrorists within Syria, in a conflict between two evils (fascistic regime versus Islamists). The conflict is clearly one of geopolitical interest as the western capitalists set their sights on Iran. Yes, it's true - the Syrian army is firing upon peaceful protestors, but when Assad claims there are armed gangs roving the streets, he isn't lying. Innocent people, regardless of whatever political views they may hold, are being killed by the insurgency (most of which are from Iraq, btw). A liberal bourgeoisie mentality is preventing you sheep from seeing the actual way this world works. It runs on fucking capital, and regime change in Syria is all about capital - not bullshit liberal bourgeoisie humanitarianism (like that dumbass Kony 2012 video, or the war in Iraq).

[QUOTE=Ownederd;35360600]"Non-lethal assistance"? What a joke. Mossad and CIA have been working with the armed reactionary terrorists within Syria, in a conflict between two evils (fascistic regime versus Islamists). The conflict is clearly one of geopolitical interest as the western capitalists set their sights on Iran. Yes, it's true - the Syrian army is firing upon peaceful protestors, but when Assad claims there are armed gangs roving the streets, he isn't lying. Innocent people, regardless of whatever political views they may hold, are being killed by the insurgency (most of which are from Iraq, btw). A liberal bourgeoisie mentality is preventing you sheep from seeing the actual way this world works. It runs on fucking capital, and regime change in Syria is all about capital - not bullshit liberal bourgeoisie humanitarianism (like that dumbass Kony 2012 video, or the war in Iraq).[/QUOTE] Give country money, country may be friendly to you in the future. Friendly country means more trade, more trade means more money. Nobody is suggesting anything else. This is also where your argument falls apart. Given that nations act in their own self interest, and generally speaking in this case the self interest is a new trade partner and strategic asset in the region, why would the CIA be operating kill teams in the country? What benefit does that have for the US? It is cheaper and less dangerous to simply offer money. It is even politically beneficial to offer military support openly. Sending in clandestine services to aid the country without making it widely known has no benefit for the United States. And yet somehow we are the sheep? I'd step back and reassess, bucko.

[QUOTE=GunFox;35360825]Give country money, country may be friendly to you in the future. Friendly country means more trade, more trade means more money. Nobody is suggesting anything else. This is also where your argument falls apart. Given that nations act in their own self interest, and generally speaking in this case the self interest is a new trade partner and strategic asset in the region, why would the CIA be operating kill teams in the country? What benefit does that have for the US? It is cheaper and less dangerous to simply offer money. It is even politically beneficial to offer military support openly. Sending in clandestine services to aid the country without making it widely known has no benefit for the United States. And yet somehow we are the sheep? I'd step back and reassess, bucko.[/QUOTE] one could argue that you're sugarcoating imperialism this is also a violation of Syria's sovereignty, and could very well be for geopolitical interests

We should just throw more money at the problem.

[QUOTE=Ownederd;35360890]one could argue that you're sugarcoating imperialism [/QUOTE] The United States exists because of French aid during our revolution. Getting outside assistance for an uprising is common. The rebellion gets a needed boost and the foreign government gains a great deal of political capital to spend later with the new government. [quote]this is also a violation of Syria's sovereignty,[/quote] Why respect a government that clearly doesn't respect even its own people. [quote] and could very well be for geopolitical interests[/quote] Give them aid now, get something in return later. It is an investment. Government's are paid to be self interested.

[QUOTE=GunFox;35361007]The United States exists because of French aid during our revolution. Getting outside assistance for an uprising is common. The rebellion gets a needed boost and the foreign government gains a great deal of political capital to spend later with the new government.[/QUOTE] Why do you think France helped the colonies? For their own interests - thus it's imperalism. The government of Syria is the only legitimate ruler of Syria. France's assistance to the colonies would later backfire horribly and was one of the main contributors to the French Revolution. [B]edit:[/B] the Syrian Republic was a french puppet state until the Nasserist revolution - and that government no longer exists and is not in exile.

[QUOTE=Ownederd;35361050]Why do you think France helped the colonies? For their own interests - thus it's imperalism. The government of Syria is the only legitimate ruler of Syria. France's assistance to the colonies would later backfire horribly and was one of the main contributors to the French Revolution.[/QUOTE] You keep touting imperialism like it is some kind of magical shield. Operating on a global scale in fashions which benefit you is simply how the world functions. If you have money, it is imperialism, if you don't, then your actions globally are too small to garner attention. France's assistance to the colonies backfired because they spent way way too much. This has little to do with this situation.

[QUOTE=GunFox;35361209]You keep touting imperialism like it is some kind of magical shield. Operating on a global scale in fashions which benefit you is simply how the world functions. If you have money, it is imperialism[/QUOTE] you're correct, but why do you think there is nothing wrong with this [QUOTE=GunFox;35361209]if you don't, then your actions globally are too small to garner attention. [/QUOTE] no, you hope the west doesnt decide to shit on you (iraq) or you open up for capitalist exploitation (africa)

[QUOTE=GunFox;35361007]The United States exists because of French aid during our revolution. Getting outside assistance for an uprising is common. The rebellion gets a needed boost and the foreign government gains a great deal of political capital to spend later with the new government. [/QUOTE] The difference was that France was aiding us because of their rivalry with England and had no interests in taking the US into it's sphere of influence, like the US does oh-so-often with unstable middle eastern and South American countries (*cough* Contras *cough*) [QUOTE=GunFox;35361007]Give them aid now, get something in return later. It is an investment. Government's are paid to be self interested.[/QUOTE] In an age of globalism, ethnocentric jingoism/"real politik" is incredibly irresponsible. When the world is as interconnected as ours is, having only our own interests at heart leaves a lot of people dead or worse off than before (see: 2003 invasion of Iraq)

Nobody is suggesting that the world wouldn't be better without every nation being almost completely self interested, but that isn't going to change any time in the foreseeable future. What we can do is try to root for the lesser of two evils. Generally speaking, an airbase in Syria and increased freedom for its people is likely the lesser evil when compared to artillery pieces being used to shell civilian residential areas.

They should leave Syria alone. Of course 'Assad' is a "ban man" but sometimes it is best to have dictators than rebels because at least a dictator knows how to run a country. Remember the last couple of times dictators were overthrown? [url]http://rt.com/news/egypt-ban-porn-sites-808/[/url] [url]http://www.infowars.com/libyan-rebels-cage-black-africans-in-zoo-force-feed-them-flags/[/url]

[QUOTE=GunFox;35361685]What we can do is try to root for the lesser of two evils. Generally speaking, an airbase in Syria and increased freedom for its people is likely the lesser evil when compared to artillery pieces being used to shell civilian residential areas.[/QUOTE] Yeah, and a Sunni extremist Islamist government that'll back a US/Israel incursion into Iran is much better than a reactionary dictatorship that provides basic services and needs to all of her citizens.