It's not just Syria that doesn't have a solution. Warfare itself doesn't have a solution.

[sibelian]

Only a cursory look at history will reveal this. WWII was a fluke.

It's clear that the Iraq debacle had no particular goal other than the acquisition of other people's property - i.e. oil. Apparently there's a pipeline problem in Syria. No other goal is apparent other than nebulous "message sending" or other such idiocy.

The only "solution" to this "problem" is very simple - destroy anyone with the power to wage war of any kind.

Not a very nice idea, is it?

All the garbage being spouted about bullies and school playgrounds and so on are distortions of reality. They are the narratives necessary for the US to feel good about itself. They bear no relation to reality. They are earnestly felt, but they have no meaning beyond the desire for such emotional patterns to be true to valiate action. The action itself is ultimately purposeless.

Have you noticed that the arguments keep shifting? First we must bomb for this reason... then that.... then another.... then a different one...

As a gay man, I recognise this phenomenon. It's exactly the same thing that happens when I try to get fundamentalist Christians to explain to me what their actual beef with me really is. First it's because I don't make kids... exept that's dumb because loads of people don't, sometimes they can't... then it's because the Bible says so... except it doesn't particularly (nobody is at all clear onewhat the sin of Sodom actually was...)... then it's because I've been abused as a child, apparently... then it's because I'm seeking attention.... on and on and on and on...

There's nothing to it. There's no reason. It's just a feeling, nothing more. Do you see that their arguments are all these big, simple twists, riffs on emotional processes? None of them have anything to do with me. It's all about THEM. They are simply disturbed and thrashing about hopelessly.

And none of the arguments coming out about bombing Syria have anything to do with Syria. It's about the US and it's identity.

War isn't a "problem". It's a process that starts.... and then stops. It's an emotional disturbance on a colossal scale, nothing more.

Emotions aren't amenable to "solutions".

[KG]

1. word.

[kentuck]

2. War is the failure of diplomacy.

http://thisibelieve.org/essay/37012/

[zipplewrath]

3. When you've already missed all the other options

War is what you do when you already missed all the chances to do the "right" thing. When you stand around and watch an Assad for years and years because he's the "devil you know", you miss all the opportunities to influence the situation in a more "moral" way. Then you throw up your hands and say "what else are we to do" and go to war.

And if fixes nothing because when it's over the process repeats. We start ignoring again and waiting until we decide to throw up our hands again and say "what else are we to do?".

[sibelian]

4. Yes, exactly.

It's like people who think all relationships have arguments. It's mostly because they haven't figured out a way of not having them themselves.

One cannot solve a "problem" by adding more of the same "problem".

[zipplewrath]

5. FD uses water

When tempted to fight fire with fire, it is important to remember that the fire department usually uses water.