2016 my thoughts likes and dislikes throughout the year

[Piling]

US wanted to remove Assad - whatever we think of Assad US does not have the right to go into another country and overthrow it's leader - as it has several times in the past

France wants to remove Asad. USA is very wary (they remember the bad experience of Iraq and the removing of Saddam). The problem with USA is that Obama hesitated all the time to intervene and when he did it, it was too late : against ISIS, against Asad.

Now Asad can not stay as the leader of Syria, because Syria is finished. He might stay as the leader of a tiny Alawiland but Alawi people are probably fed up with him also. They support him only to not become in the hands of Sunnis. For that reason Syrian Christians support him also in Arab regions (Kurdish areas are different).

Sunnis will never accept Asad anymore and now there is only a Sunniland torn between ISIS, Al Qaeda, Muslim Brothers and many foreign Jihadists who don't care about Syria.

Kurds are torn between pro-Öcalanistan and the rest of a Kurdish population who don't support Öcalan (many of them hate PKK) but don't want to fell in ISIS hands.

In that battlefield the obstination of Asad to bomb Aleppo is criminal, because Aleppo is lost for him.

[Anthea]

If Assad goes there is nobody else strong enough to take control

The opposition is an odd mixture of Syrians and non-Syrians - they are useless and would spend all their time arguing and fighting amongst themselves

The jihadists and all the assorted rebel groups would be fighting for control of Syria

If Assad goes I firmly believe Syria will be 10 times worse

[Piling]

Assad could not retake control of all Syria, even if he tries to slaughter 2/3 of the population, Kurds include.

[Anthea]

Assad could not retake control of all Syria, even if he tries to slaughter 2/3 of the population, Kurds include.

Who do you think will take control?

If not Assad the next one on my list of possibles is Al Nusra

Al Nusra are the main rebel group and they have the advantage being able to link with, and work with, almost all other rebel and jihadist groups

Perhaps US will try and put in a puppet ruler (something they have frequently done in the past)

Big problem is far too many non-Syrians fighting for control

Other problems include:
Rebel groups being funded and supplied by other countries
Weapons and fighters still crossing the borders into Syria
A world that thinks it is far better to remove the Syrian population than stop the fighting
A world that would rather spend money on bombing than rebuilding - see Kobane

I think WE should start a campaign to stop ALL bombing in Syria

Nobody else is doing anything

[Piling]

Who do you think will take control?

No one will retake control of Syria because Syria is finished, crumbled.

As if someone could have retake control of Ex-Yugoslavia after the general civil war where everybody killed everybody.Perhaps after 5 years UN will have to manage 2 or 3 no-states, based on ethnic/religious/lord war territories.

[Anthea]

Who do you think will take control?

No one will retake control of Syria because Syria is finished, crumbled.

As if someone could have retake control of Ex-Yugoslavia after the general civil war where everybody killed everybody.Perhaps after 5 years UN will have to manage 2 or 3 no-states, based on ethnic/religious/lord war territories.

Perhaps Turkey will try to move in - it already has jihadist friends there

[Anthea]

The UN should have sent a peace-keeping force into Syria at the start of the conflict

AND

It should be illegal to sell rebel (especially Muslim) groups weapons

The reason that the conflicts in Syria, Iraq and other parts of the world, have been able to continue for years, is that outside interests/countries support them financially and others sell them weapons

We know that the Islamic State obtained a great many weapons thanks to the Iraqi army

We also know that ISIS has been successfully running businesses and trading oil and historical artefacts across the borders with Turkey

They have also been taxing people living in areas they control

The questions that badly needs answering are:

WHO IS FUNDING OTHER REBEL GROUPS?

and

WHO IS PROVIDING THEM WITH WEAPONS?

[Piling]

Love your red hair Day :

https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/love ... -hair-day/

So it is your day (and Prince Harry's too).

[Londoner]

If Assad goes or not, it will not make any difference. This is not a war for the well-being of Syria. This is a war of either 'Me' or 'No one else. This war is an extension of 1500 year war between Sunnies and Shiites. Only Kurds have a constructive role in this war.

[Anthea]

Love your red hair Day :

https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/love ... -hair-day/

So it is your day (and Prince Harry's too).

Sadly, my hair is more ginger than red

[Anthea]

If Assad goes or not, it will not make any difference. This is not a war for the well-being of Syria. This is a war of either 'Me' or 'No one else. This war is an extension of 1500 year war between Sunnies and Shiites. Only Kurds have a constructive role in this war.

True it is an extension of the 1500 year war between Sunnies and Shiites

Absolutely nothing to do with any other countries

We in the UK supply weapons to the Sunni Saudi Arabia that is (A) passing some of those weapons to ISIS and (B) is using our weapons to kill innocent people in the Yemen

US is also at fault for supplying weapons to Saudi Arabia