Pick Your Poison: Is Assad the Lesser of Two Evils?

     Never thought I'd be saying this, but have we been too hasty to condemn Bashir Assad? In the early days of the war, like so many others I was all for sending air support and aide to the Syrian rebels. Perhaps, if the west had intervened sooner deposing Assad in favor of a democratic government and benevolent leadership would have been possible. Now... I'm not so sure.

    The true nature of the conflict is only now revealing itself. The picture that is formulating is not for the politically squeamish. Although so many in the west want to believe Assad is a raving jack-booted thug, his interview with Charlie Rose a few weeks ago did nothing to indicate this. Rather, he acquitted himself as someone who, calmly and rationally articulated his views that are unpopular in the west, but the substance of which seems to be more reliable every day.

     When he responded to allegations of his use of chemical weapons, Assad alleged the rebels had attacked his troops, not the other way around; that they have a chemical weapons "Really? Never heard that before," I thought. A quick  internet search revealed that, yep, sure enough, Turkish authorities arrested rebels possession of a small amount of Sarin gas near their border back in May of this year and the number of those who believe Assad might actually be right is growing.

     Assad was also making claims of an Al-Qeada link to the rebels since at least April of this year but, only now have the western media begun to explore this possibility. Evidence of the link seems to grow stronger every day and just today, reports have surfaced alleging that Syrian rebels have massacred civilians back in August while Assad has recently agreed to the destruction of his chemical weapons.

     We can discuss at length how western intervention will needlessly anger the Russians and the Iranians, cost billions of dollars, and may further destabilize the region. Had we intervened early enough, perhaps the west could have disposed of a despot while avoiding the prospect of an Al-Qeada-tainted alternative, but that ship has sailed and after two years of inaction, we must consider the two complications that have emerged that throw a spanner  in the blind drive toward western intervention: that Assad is more rational and credible than previously thought, and at the same time, more proof surfaces every day that suggests the rebels may be a more desperate and unsavory lot than we initially believed.

 At this stage, the way forward revolves around the central question: do we back the rebels and guarantee chaos-or is the world better served with the devil we know? Pass the brimstone, please.



For further consideration:

Rebels Arrested With Sarin Gas
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4A084WHzJ4Y
US declares Jabhat al-Nusra, a group in Syria with alleged al-Qaida links, as terrorist body
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/12/10/us-declares-jabhat-al-nusra-group-in-syria-with-alleged-al-qaida-links-as/
Syrian Rebels Tied to Al Qaeda Play Key Role in War  
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/09/world/middleeast/syrian-rebels-tied-to-al-qaeda-play-key-role-in-war.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0 
Syrian Rebels Pledge Loyalty to Al-Qaeda
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2013/04/11/syria-al-qaeda-connection/2075323/
Syrian Islamist rebels killed or kidnapped hundreds of civilians, rights group says
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/syrian-islamist-rebels-killed-or-kidnapped-hundreds-of-civilians-rights-goup-says/2013/10/10/9ceaac8a-31e9-11e3-9c68-1cf643210300_story.html
Syrian Rebels Accused of Massacring Civilians
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2013/10/syrian-rebels-accused-massacring-civilians-201310118942829540.html
US, Russia Commend Assad For Complying With Agreement
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-10-06/syrians-start-destroying-chemical-weapons-under-un-supervision.html

 

The Morris Dees Strategy: Waging Economic War on Terrorism.

     In the early days of this War on Terror, the talking heads and bureaucrats touted the new and unique ways such a conflict would be fought: that assets of the military and law enforcement would work in conjunction to prosecute the war. Why not add lawyers to the mix?

I have great faith in the ability of those soul-less, shape-shifting creatures of the night we call attorneys to find a way forward in devising a strategy of international litigation, to bring civil suits in various countries, or perhaps somehow in American courtrooms, against go those individuals or groups who train, harbor, provide aide to, radicalize, or provide the venue (mosques, private residences) for radicalizing  persons or groups who go on to commit acts of terror.  Groups or individuals who are the subject of these kinds of suits would have to spend huge amounts of money defending against the charges and, if unsuccessful, would be required to pay the resulting judgements. 

     Morris Dees' Southern Poverty Law Center successfully used a similar strategy to break the back of the KKK and Neo-nazi hate groups. If we view Al Quidea as just a hate group on a grand scale, why can’t it work in this 21rst Century kind of war? 

     Some who choose to commit acts of terror are motivated by cash incentives from various sources and these are often passed on to loved ones left behind to improve their lot in life. If would-be terrorists could see that families of those committing acts of terror are going broke defending themselves in civil trials for receiving assets from terror-related sources, there would surely be some level of deterrent factor.

     Clerics who become aware of radical elements in their communities might be quicker to identify these rouge actors to police if they knew that their own land and other assets could be seized to pay civil judgements if they are connected to terrorists.  If not, they may at least tell would-be terrorists to find other digs, making it harder for them to conduct business. The fear of loss and the suspicion this strategy of civil litigation for terror might raise within the more radical elements of society can also be deemed a method of psychological warfare.

     In the end, seizing assets to pay huge awards for civil damage stemming from terrorism may not solve the problem, but any impact at all is a good thing and it would provide a symbolic way of striking back at terrorists.  

Of related interest:

 

On the trail of al-Shabab’s Kenyan recruitment 'pipeline' By Peter Taylor BBC News

 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-24263357


‘Misha,’ the man accused of radicalizing Boston Marathon bomber, denies influence
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/man-accused-radicalizing-boston-bomber-breaks-silence-article-1.1330008 


Banned Muslim cleric likely radicalized Woolwich attacker
http://www.timesofisrael.com/banned-muslim-cleric-suspected-of-radicalizing-woolwich-attacker/ 
 

Space Cowboys meets Terminator: the F-16 as UCAV

     The US Air Force has just successfully tested a remote-piloted F-16. Brilliant, but why? Press coverage indicates they may be used as target drones for pilots to train putting holes in, but there are even greater possibilities for this breakthrough. Numerous stories about drone pilot shortages and how the Air Force isn't sure about how to recruit for these roles. The question whether they should be using huge cash bonuses to lure fighter pilots to become drone pilots or if they should finding computer gamers for these positions seems to be hotly contested at the Pentagon. Perhaps using the F-16 as a viable alternate to the Reaper and the Predator solves this problem. While these drones have certain advantages like being able to remain on station for hours until needed, the F-16 as Uninhabited Air Combat Vehicle (UCAV) can carry a cannon and significantly more ordinance. Furthermore, the improved fuel economy that would come from removing the cockpit canopy and life support systems would allow the jet to remain airborne longer.

Three points to consider before you dismiss the idea:

1. There are hundreds of trained, vetted, experienced, retired F-16 pilots who would leap at the chance to serve again.

2. Further cost savings for the D.O.D could be found in the privatizing of this role. A Private Military Company offering pilots as contracted technicians saves the government on the cost of recruiting, training, vetting, and most importantly frees them of the burden of providing the kinds of health, education, and retirement benefits they have to provide to military pilots.

3. Surplus F-16's are numerous. A cursory look at satellite photos of Davis-Monthan Air Force base earlier today (who knows when the photo was actually taken) revealed well over two hundred F-16's sitting in storage. That is the the equivalent of several squadrons of planes, already paid, for that could now be retrofitted with the necessary hi-tech hardware for a fraction of the cost of new drones.


Of course it is still early days, but could the wave of the future be a blast from the past? 

For Further Reading:

F-16 Uninhabited Air Combat Vehicles by Kenneth E. Thompson, Major, USAF

An Insular Society by Choice?

      In case you missed it, Mo Farah is apparently new to running, or at least that's the word in America. The gaffee last week by a local news presenter perfectly illustrates the insular attitude so common in the states. One can forgive a farmer working under the regime of Kim Jong Un who may be unfamiliar with world events, but in a twenty-first century western nation, can there be any excuse for ignorance? It isn't difficult to find people who can describe in detail everything that happened last week on the latest reality show, but discovering someone who can find Iran on a map, who can tell you what is going on in Congress, or in this case, who can simply conduct a bit of research before the broadcast is rare, indeed. To be fair, many in America probably cannot name any three of thier own gold medalists, let alone those form outside the US.
     By complacency or indifference, are Americans not willfully wasting the hard-won gift of the free press and if that is so, how far behind is the decline of quality American journalism?

"Novice" Runner Mo Farah's Interview.

Jaywalking segment with Jay Leno:

 Chris Morrow, an Australian comic used to conduct similar man-on-the-street interviews on the satirical program CNNNN, tapped into the same vein of comedy gold.

    
For further reading:
   
The Insular American

A Free Press Isn't Free

Reporters Without Borders