War Drums for Syria?--Ron Paul's Weekly Update for June 4th, 2012

[ubaru]

War Drums for Syria? War drums are beating again in Washington. This time Syria is in the crosshairs after a massacre there last week left more than 100 dead. As might be expected from an administration with an announced policy of "regime change" in Syria, the reaction was to blame only the Syrian government for the tragedy, expel Syrian diplomats from Washington, and announce that the US may attack Syria even without UN approval. Of course, the idea that the administration should follow the Constitution and seek a Declaration of War from Congress is considered even more anachronistic now than under the previous administration. It may be the case that the Syrian military was responsible for the events last week, but recent bombings and attacks have been carried out by armed rebels with reported al-Qaeda ties. With the stakes so high, it would make sense to wait for a full investigation -- unless the truth is less important than stirring up emotions in favor of a US attack. There is ample reason to be skeptical about US government claims amplified in mainstream media reports. How many times recently have lies and exaggerations been used to push for the use of force overseas? It was not long ago that we were told Gaddafi was planning genocide for the people of Libya, and the only way to stop it was a US attack. Those claims turned out to be false, but by then the US and NATO had already bombed Libya, destroying its infrastructure, killing untold numbers of civilians, and leaving a gang of violent thugs in charge. Likewise, we were told numerous falsehoods to increase popular support for the 2003 war on Iraq, including salacious stories of trans-Atlantic drones and WMDs. Advocates of war did not understand the complexities of Iraqi society, including its tribal and religious differences. As a result, Iraq today is a chaotic mess, with its ancient Christian population eliminated and the economy set back decades. An unnecessary war brought about by lies and manipulation never ends well. Earlier still, we were told lies about genocide and massacres in Kosovo to pave the way for President Clinton's bombing campaign against Yugoslavia. More than 12 years later, that region is every bit as unstable and dangerous as before the US intervention – and American troops are still there. The story about the Syrian massacre keeps changing, which should raise suspicions. First, we were told that the killings were caused by government shelling, but then it was discovered that most were killed at close range with handgun fire and knives. No one has explained why government forces would take the time to go house to house binding the hands of the victims before shooting them, and then retreat to allow the rebels in to record the gruesome details. No one wants to ask or answer the disturbing questions, but it would be wise to ask ourselves who benefits from these stories. We have seen media reports over the past several weeks that the Obama administration is providing direct "non-lethal" assistance to the rebels in Syria while facilitating the transfer of weapons from other Gulf States. This semi-covert assistance to rebels we don't know much about threatens to become overt intervention. Last week Gen. Martin Dempsey, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said about Syria, "I think the military option should be considered." And here all along I thought it was up to Congress to decide when we go to war, not the generals. We are on a fast track to war against Syria. It is time to put on the brakes.

I'm posting Ron Paul's position on the topics of the day so that people can get to know him.

To hear Ron Paul reading this message call 1-888-322-1414 updated every Sunday night.
Click here to view more Texas Straight Talk articles

[Garnette]

This is great and thank you for taking up the cause~ anything I can do please let me know.. I am already putting messages up anywhere I think they will be seen , like yahoo answers and other groups.

I cant imagine the horror unleash on Syria but I can imagine the lies supporting it and how it can ultimately be used against us here.

[podfish]

It's actually a pretty slow track. The posted excerpt highlights what I don't like about RP and is common among his supporters. OK, to be fair, it's just common...

The enumeration of times the government has lied is a tired preface. I think all but the most blinkered of us know how frequently that happens. And the plea for skepticism of the government's claims is also unnecessary. I think in RP's quote, his case for it is actually weakened. "It was not long ago that we were told Gaddafi was planning genocide for the people of Libya, and the only way to stop it was a US attack. Those claims turned out to be false," Really? "We" actually weren't told exactly that, and hell if I know what would have happened without military intervention. That episode doesn't fit smoothly into any simplistic narrative of US knee-jerk militaristic extension of power. Another: " No one has explained why government forces would take the time to go house to house binding the hands of the victims before shooting them, and then retreat to allow the rebels in to record the gruesome details. No one wants to ask or answer the disturbing questions, " That's a totally straw-man style argument too. The description of events in that quote doesn't jibe with the way I've heard it reported, and hell yes, there are plenty of "disturbing questions" being asked.

There is a lot to criticize about the US and the west's reaction to events - in fact, even calling it 'reaction' can be questioned, since behind-the-scene efforts to steer events are certainly going on. But RP's and others are creating an even more simplified fiction describing what's going on and using it to push his point of view. He doesn't accept that the US has any political role to play outside of its borders, and warps events to paint US and western actions in the most negative way possible.

If you look at sources of information that aren't mainstream US media, you still find widespread fears about the future of Syria and wide consensus that there is extensive government brutality and corruption. Unless you're a pure isolationist, there seems to be a legitimate role for the rest of the world to intervene. Labeling that effort as "beating the drums of War" way oversimplifies it and is an attempt to discredit the efforts generically no matter what form they may take.

[Peace Voyager]

Thanks for your report. My intuition was sensing the same thing.

When Dennis Kucinich dropped out of the 2008 presidential race; I spoke with Ron Paul, on a left wing talk radio show, suggesting he recruit Dennis for a mixed party ticket. Paul liked this idea, so did the then Green Party candidate Cynthia McKinney. Kucinich of course did not go for it.

I spoke with Kucinich last Sunday when he was phone banking for Norman Solomon about running for president as an Independent, and partnering with someone like Paul. He said not this time. If enough of us asked him; maybe he'd reconsider.

I think Romney will implode, and unless Obama is pressured into a reversal of his unconstitutional foreign policies, I will not give him my vote.

Now that Romney is the GOP's guy; what are Ron Paul's plans?

Thanks,

Colleen Fernald

www.songsforaceasefire.org

Please see the DVD "Peace One Day" available at Box Office Video, and please ask the Owner to fulfill my request, (from over a year ago), to get the follow-up DVD "The Day After Peace". These are about the one day international cease fire we are supposed to have via the UN, ratified on 9/7/01 in NYC, with the first one to have been on 9/11.

I know how many of your feel about the United Nations; although pushing them to enforce this resolution, especially the USA, is a very worthy effort. Thanks!

www.peaceoneday.org

War Drums for Syria? War drums are beating again in Washington. This time Syria is in the crosshairs after a massacre there last week left more than 100 dead. As might be expected from an administration with an announced policy of "regime change" in Syria, the reaction was to blame only the Syrian government for the tragedy, expel Syrian diplomats from Washington, and announce that the US may attack Syria even without UN approval. Of course, the idea that the administration should follow the Constitution and seek a Declaration of War from Congress is considered even more anachronistic now than under the previous administration. It may be the case that the Syrian military was responsible for the events last week, but recent bombings and attacks have been carried out by armed rebels with reported al-Qaeda ties. With the stakes so high, it would make sense to wait for a full investigation -- unless the truth is less important than stirring up emotions in favor of a US attack. There is ample reason to be skeptical about US government claims amplified in mainstream media reports. How many times recently have lies and exaggerations been used to push for the use of force overseas? It was not long ago that we were told Gaddafi was planning genocide for the people of Libya, and the only way to stop it was a US attack. Those claims turned out to be false, but by then the US and NATO had already bombed Libya, destroying its infrastructure, killing untold numbers of civilians, and leaving a gang of violent thugs in charge. Likewise, we were told numerous falsehoods to increase popular support for the 2003 war on Iraq, including salacious stories of trans-Atlantic drones and WMDs. Advocates of war did not understand the complexities of Iraqi society, including its tribal and religious differences. As a result, Iraq today is a chaotic mess, with its ancient Christian population eliminated and the economy set back decades. An unnecessary war brought about by lies and manipulation never ends well. Earlier still, we were told lies about genocide and massacres in Kosovo to pave the way for President Clinton's bombing campaign against Yugoslavia. More than 12 years later, that region is every bit as unstable and dangerous as before the US intervention – and American troops are still there. The story about the Syrian massacre keeps changing, which should raise suspicions. First, we were told that the killings were caused by government shelling, but then it was discovered that most were killed at close range with handgun fire and knives. No one has explained why government forces would take the time to go house to house binding the hands of the victims before shooting them, and then retreat to allow the rebels in to record the gruesome details. No one wants to ask or answer the disturbing questions, but it would be wise to ask ourselves who benefits from these stories. We have seen media reports over the past several weeks that the Obama administration is providing direct "non-lethal" assistance to the rebels in Syria while facilitating the transfer of weapons from other Gulf States. This semi-covert assistance to rebels we don't know much about threatens to become overt intervention. Last week Gen. Martin Dempsey, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said about Syria, "I think the military option should be considered." And here all along I thought it was up to Congress to decide when we go to war, not the generals. We are on a fast track to war against Syria. It is time to put on the brakes.

I'm posting Ron Paul's position on the topics of the day so that people can get to know him.

To hear Ron Paul reading this message call 1-888-322-1414 updated every Sunday night.
Click here to view more Texas Straight Talk articles