President Assad (who is bad) is a nasty guy who got so nasty his people rebelled and the Rebels (who are good) started winning.

But then some of the rebels turned a bit nasty and are now called Islamic State (who are definitely bad) and some continued to support democracy (who are still good).

So the Americans (who are good) started bombing Islamic State (who are bad) and giving arms to the Syrian Rebels (who are good) so they could fight Assad (who is still bad) which was good.

By the way, there is a breakaway state in the north run by the Kurds who want to fight IS
(which is a good thing) but the Turkish authorities think they are bad, so we have to say they are bad whilst secretly thinking they're good and giving them guns to fight IS (which is good) but that is another matter.

Getting back to Syria. President Putin (bad, as he invaded Crimea and the Ukraine and killed lots of folks including that nice Russian man in London with polonium) has decided to back Assad (who is still bad) by attacking IS (who are also bad) which is sort of a good thing?

But Putin (still bad) thinks the Syrian Rebels (who are good) are also bad, and so he bombs them too, much to the annoyance of the Americans (who are good) who are busy backing and arming the rebels (who are also good).

Now Iran (who used to be bad, but now they have agreed not to build any nuclear weapons and bomb Israel are now good) are going to provide ground troops to support Assad (still bad) as are the Russians (bad) who now have ground troops and aircraft in Syria.

So a Coalition of Assad (still bad) Putin (extra bad) and the Iranians (good, but in a bad sort of way) are going to attack IS (who are bad) which is a good thing, but also the Syrian Rebels (who are good) which is bad.

Now the British (obviously good, except Corbyn who is probably bad) and the Americans (also good) cannot attack Assad (still bad) for fear of upsetting Putin (bad) and Iran (good / bad) and now they have to accept that Assad might not be that bad after all compared to IS (who are super bad).

So Assad (bad) is now probably good, being better than IS (no real choice there) and since Putin and Iran are also fighting IS that may now make them good. America (still good) will find it hard to arm a group of rebels being attacked by the Russians for fear of upsetting Mr Putin (now good) and that mad ayatollah in Iran (also good) and so they may be forced to say that the Rebels are now bad, or at the very least abandon them to their fate. This will lead most of them to flee to Turkey and on to Europe or join IS (still the only constantly bad group).

To Sunni Muslims, an attack by Shia Muslims (Assad and Iran) backed by Russians will be seen as something of a Holy War, and the ranks of IS will now be seen by the Sunnis as the only Jihadis fighting in the Holy War and hence many Muslims will now see IS as good (doh!).

Sunni Muslims will also see the lack of action by Britain and America in support of their Sunni rebel brothers as something of a betrayal (might have a point) and hence we will be seen as bad.

So now we have America (now bad) and Britain (also bad) providing limited support to Sunni Rebels (bad) many of whom are looking to IS (good / bad) for support against Assad (now good) who, along with Iran (also good) and Putin (also, now, unbelievably, good ) are attempting to retake the country Assad used to run before all this started?

I hope that this clears it all up for you.

*nyuk nyuk*  Great post.

Weigh it up I suppose- Assad or a group that kills or enslaves anybody who isn't a radical Sunni Islamist.

double plus good wrote on Nov 11^th, 2015 at 3:54pm:

Weigh it up I suppose- Assad or a group that kills or enslaves anybody who isn't a radical Sunni Islamist.

Weigh as much as we like.  Get out, and let the Arabs sort out Arabia, thank you.

Aussie wrote on Nov 11^th, 2015 at 3:56pm:

double plus good wrote on Nov 11th, 2015 at 3:54pm: Weigh it up I suppose- Assad or a group that kills or enslaves anybody who isn't a radical Sunni Islamist. Weigh as much as we like.  Get out, and let the Arabs sort out Arabia, thank you.

So we should sit back while Christians , gays, Shites etc etc are being murdered and a terrorist group that wants us dead gets more powerful to threaten us in the future??

double plus good wrote on Nov 11^th, 2015 at 3:59pm:

Aussie wrote on Nov 11th, 2015 at 3:56pm: double plus good wrote on Nov 11th, 2015 at 3:54pm: Weigh it up I suppose- Assad or a group that kills or enslaves anybody who isn't a radical Sunni Islamist. Weigh as much as we like.  Get out, and let the Arabs sort out Arabia, thank you. So we should sit back while Christians , gays, Shites etc etc are being murdered and a terrorist group that wants us dead gets more powerful to threaten us in the future??

Since when was the last time the Arabs tried to invade outside Arabia?  They take a swipe at us now only because we have stuck our unwanted beak into their business in Arabia.  It all boils down to that.

Aussie wrote on Nov 11^th, 2015 at 4:05pm:

double plus good wrote on Nov 11th, 2015 at 3:59pm: Aussie wrote on Nov 11th, 2015 at 3:56pm: double plus good wrote on Nov 11th, 2015 at 3:54pm: Weigh it up I suppose- Assad or a group that kills or enslaves anybody who isn't a radical Sunni Islamist. Weigh as much as we like.  Get out, and let the Arabs sort out Arabia, thank you. So we should sit back while Christians , gays, Shites etc etc are being murdered and a terrorist group that wants us dead gets more powerful to threaten us in the future?? Since when was the last time the Arabs tried to invade outside Arabia?  They take a swipe at us now only because we have stuck our unwanted beak into their business in Arabia.  It all boils down to that.

What about making it safe so 100,000's of people can go home. Last time I looked they were becoming our problem. So we are involved.

double plus good wrote on Nov 11^th, 2015 at 4:08pm:

Aussie wrote on Nov 11th, 2015 at 4:05pm: double plus good wrote on Nov 11th, 2015 at 3:59pm: Aussie wrote on Nov 11th, 2015 at 3:56pm: double plus good wrote on Nov 11th, 2015 at 3:54pm: Weigh it up I suppose- Assad or a group that kills or enslaves anybody who isn't a radical Sunni Islamist. Weigh as much as we like.  Get out, and let the Arabs sort out Arabia, thank you. So we should sit back while Christians , gays, Shites etc etc are being murdered and a terrorist group that wants us dead gets more powerful to threaten us in the future?? Since when was the last time the Arabs tried to invade outside Arabia?  They take a swipe at us now only because we have stuck our unwanted beak into their business in Arabia.  It all boils down to that. What about making it safe so 100,000's of people can go home. Last time I looked they were becoming our problem. So we are involved.

Of course we are involved, and yeas there is a problem....we created.

Aussie wrote on Nov 11^th, 2015 at 4:18pm:

double plus good wrote on Nov 11th, 2015 at 4:08pm: Aussie wrote on Nov 11th, 2015 at 4:05pm: double plus good wrote on Nov 11th, 2015 at 3:59pm: Aussie wrote on Nov 11th, 2015 at 3:56pm: double plus good wrote on Nov 11th, 2015 at 3:54pm: Weigh it up I suppose- Assad or a group that kills or enslaves anybody who isn't a radical Sunni Islamist. Weigh as much as we like.  Get out, and let the Arabs sort out Arabia, thank you. So we should sit back while Christians , gays, Shites etc etc are being murdered and a terrorist group that wants us dead gets more powerful to threaten us in the future?? Since when was the last time the Arabs tried to invade outside Arabia?  They take a swipe at us now only because we have stuck our unwanted beak into their business in Arabia.  It all boils down to that. What about making it safe so 100,000's of people can go home. Last time I looked they were becoming our problem. So we are involved. Of course we are involved, and yeas there is a problem....we created.

I didn't create anything. I didn't ever back the idea of invading Iraq or Afghanistan. A bunch of powerful people are the only ones responsible. Something has to be done about the mess we are in now though.

double plus good wrote on Nov 11^th, 2015 at 4:42pm:

Aussie wrote on Nov 11th, 2015 at 4:18pm: double plus good wrote on Nov 11th, 2015 at 4:08pm: Aussie wrote on Nov 11th, 2015 at 4:05pm: double plus good wrote on Nov 11th, 2015 at 3:59pm: Aussie wrote on Nov 11th, 2015 at 3:56pm: double plus good wrote on Nov 11th, 2015 at 3:54pm: Weigh it up I suppose- Assad or a group that kills or enslaves anybody who isn't a radical Sunni Islamist. Weigh as much as we like.  Get out, and let the Arabs sort out Arabia, thank you. So we should sit back while Christians , gays, Shites etc etc are being murdered and a terrorist group that wants us dead gets more powerful to threaten us in the future?? Since when was the last time the Arabs tried to invade outside Arabia?  They take a swipe at us now only because we have stuck our unwanted beak into their business in Arabia.  It all boils down to that. What about making it safe so 100,000's of people can go home. Last time I looked they were becoming our problem. So we are involved. Of course we are involved, and yeas there is a problem....we created. I didn't create anything. I didn't ever back the idea of invading Iraq or Afghanistan. A bunch of powerful people are the only ones responsible. Something has to be done about the mess we are in now though.

Your Government, in your name, did.  Just like your Government, in your name, is running concentration camps to house genuine refugees, paying people smugglers, acting like pirates on the High Seas...all in your name.

Aussie wrote on Nov 11^th, 2015 at 4:48pm:

double plus good wrote on Nov 11th, 2015 at 4:42pm: Aussie wrote on Nov 11th, 2015 at 4:18pm: double plus good wrote on Nov 11th, 2015 at 4:08pm: Aussie wrote on Nov 11th, 2015 at 4:05pm: double plus good wrote on Nov 11th, 2015 at 3:59pm: Aussie wrote on Nov 11th, 2015 at 3:56pm: double plus good wrote on Nov 11th, 2015 at 3:54pm: Weigh it up I suppose- Assad or a group that kills or enslaves anybody who isn't a radical Sunni Islamist. Weigh as much as we like.  Get out, and let the Arabs sort out Arabia, thank you. So we should sit back while Christians , gays, Shites etc etc are being murdered and a terrorist group that wants us dead gets more powerful to threaten us in the future?? Since when was the last time the Arabs tried to invade outside Arabia?  They take a swipe at us now only because we have stuck our unwanted beak into their business in Arabia.  It all boils down to that. What about making it safe so 100,000's of people can go home. Last time I looked they were becoming our problem. So we are involved. Of course we are involved, and yeas there is a problem....we created. I didn't create anything. I didn't ever back the idea of invading Iraq or Afghanistan. A bunch of powerful people are the only ones responsible. Something has to be done about the mess we are in now though. Your Government, in your name, did.  Just like your Government, in your name, is running concentration camps to house genuine refugees, paying people smugglers, acting like pirates on the High Seas...all in your name.

So powerful people do what they want and I'm somehow to blame?? I don't mind people smuggling being stopped though . That's one thing they have accomplished that I agree with. It was the least thing our leaders could do after the mess Labor made.

While you sit idle and not condemn it....yeas, you are to blame.  "The standard you walk by is the standard you accept."

Aussie wrote on Nov 11^th, 2015 at 5:08pm:

While you sit idle and not condemn it....yeas, you are to blame.  "The standard you walk by is the standard you accept."

Sorry Bud, I didn't do anything. If you want to feel guilty about what happened then go ahead. I just work and pay taxes.

Aussie wrote on Nov 11^th, 2015 at 4:48pm:

double plus good wrote on Nov 11th, 2015 at 4:42pm: Aussie wrote on Nov 11th, 2015 at 4:18pm: double plus good wrote on Nov 11th, 2015 at 4:08pm: Aussie wrote on Nov 11th, 2015 at 4:05pm: double plus good wrote on Nov 11th, 2015 at 3:59pm: Aussie wrote on Nov 11th, 2015 at 3:56pm: double plus good wrote on Nov 11th, 2015 at 3:54pm: Weigh it up I suppose- Assad or a group that kills or enslaves anybody who isn't a radical Sunni Islamist. Weigh as much as we like.  Get out, and let the Arabs sort out Arabia, thank you. So we should sit back while Christians , gays, Shites etc etc are being murdered and a terrorist group that wants us dead gets more powerful to threaten us in the future?? Since when was the last time the Arabs tried to invade outside Arabia?  They take a swipe at us now only because we have stuck our unwanted beak into their business in Arabia.  It all boils down to that. What about making it safe so 100,000's of people can go home. Last time I looked they were becoming our problem. So we are involved. Of course we are involved, and yeas there is a problem....we created. I didn't create anything. I didn't ever back the idea of invading Iraq or Afghanistan. A bunch of powerful people are the only ones responsible. Something has to be done about the mess we are in now though. Your Government, in your name, did.  Just like your Government, in your name, is running concentration camps to house genuine refugees, paying people smugglers, acting like pirates on the High Seas...all in your name.

Yet you've been screeching lately that what's happening in detention centres isn't in your name. If you're consistent then perhaps you should hand yourself in for these (supposed) murders and invasions you have committed.

double plus good wrote on Nov 11^th, 2015 at 5:11pm:

Aussie wrote on Nov 11th, 2015 at 5:08pm: While you sit idle and not condemn it....yeas, you are to blame.  "The standard you walk by is the standard you accept." Sorry Bud, I didn't do anything.

Exactly.

Ah Misty...you see, I didn't, and I bitched about it whenever it happened.  We have no place in Arabia.

Aussie wrote on Nov 11^th, 2015 at 7:56pm:

We have no place in Arabia.

And by the same token, Arabians have no place here, yes?

... wrote on Nov 11^th, 2015 at 7:58pm:

Aussie wrote on Nov 11th, 2015 at 7:56pm: We have no place in Arabia. And by the same token, Arabians have no place here, yes?

Clevah, by half.  You know what I mean.

Aussie wrote on Nov 11^th, 2015 at 8:02pm:

... wrote on Nov 11th, 2015 at 7:58pm: Aussie wrote on Nov 11th, 2015 at 7:56pm: We have no place in Arabia. And by the same token, Arabians have no place here, yes? Clevah, by half.  You know what I mean.

I do know what you mean, and I agree.  But if you're a man of principle, you'll also agree that Arabians have no place here.

Cute Honky.  Show me the Arabian Army and Air Force and Navy here blowing the shite out of us.

Ahh there's always a 'but'.

I didn't think you were a man of principle.

... wrote on Nov 11^th, 2015 at 8:13pm:

Ahh there's always a 'but'. I didn't think you were a man of principle.

There was never a 'but.'  You know that was exactly what I meant.  If you did not, I'm gonna have to recalibrate.

OK, let's say I am responsible for all the Western interference in the Middle East because Western governments represent me as a voter. What choice do have? The major political parties all believe we should be there saving those people from themselves. Please don't say I should vote for the Greens. They could not organize a piss-up in a brewery.

Aussie wrote on Nov 11^th, 2015 at 7:56pm:

Ah Misty...you see, I didn't, and I bitched about it whenever it happened.  We have no place in Arabia.

It doesn't matter if you bitched about it, because according to your logic the government does it in our name. Hung by your own rope.

Postmodern Trendoid III wrote on Nov 11^th, 2015 at 9:52pm:

Aussie wrote on Nov 11th, 2015 at 7:56pm: Ah Misty...you see, I didn't, and I bitched about it whenever it happened.  We have no place in Arabia. It doesn't matter if you bitched about it, because according to your logic the government does it in our name. Hung by your own rope.

No it does not....because I decry it.....I disown it.

Aussie wrote on Nov 12^th, 2015 at 9:53am:

Postmodern Trendoid III wrote on Nov 11th, 2015 at 9:52pm: Aussie wrote on Nov 11th, 2015 at 7:56pm: Ah Misty...you see, I didn't, and I bitched about it whenever it happened.  We have no place in Arabia. It doesn't matter if you bitched about it, because according to your logic the government does it in our name. Hung by your own rope. No it does not....because I decry it.....I disown it.

Reply 9 says otherwise.

Anyway, even if you disown it by decrying it, there was silence when 800 died under labor and thousands were in detention. Own your own logic.