The power of 1

I just want to understand how you reason with things
why you so blindly fall for your governments acts
and if many others agree with you and how you base your judgement

for example your justification of why things went downhill in Iraq when none of what you said is even of relevance to why US forces where even there to begin with- I even gave u the chance of checking your facts but you remain uncorrected.

Of course I'm going to have a hard time digesting what you say When your justification is a couple of mohhameds are fighting with a couple of Ali's and people are killing each other- these are your own words go read them up above buddie

if that's how you guys justify things then your naive

too naive actully- to actully think that any government cares for its people-

When in reality they wouldn't blink over a lost soul if it ensures income

the word to try n fathom here is greeed
something all the governments share-

"Money makes the world go round and wars are fueled by Greed"
'the word to try n fathom here is greeed
something all the governments share-"

^ I am sorry you feel this way. The most respected people in this world gave up their worldly attachments for the greater benefit of their fellow humans. US Presidents have a term (1 or 2) in which they have a chance to show to their electorate why they came in to office, many do achieve greatness...some make mistakes, but rarely do they operate or behave as dictators (Kim un-jung or El Assad or Gaddafi's) or "supreme rulers" like the "Ayatollahas". Their policies are debated and criticized in full before they are accepted by the general public. Only if you understood the pillars of a constitutional democracy, would you appreciate their policies and the personal sacrifices they have to make to serve this country.

Sorry, I have to again disagree with your skewed line of thinking.
---------------------------------------
For all others who might be interested here is John Kerry's speech from today that I thought was outstanding.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGtWytda1Rk

Iraq is one debate. You never want to have
because no matter what angle you approach
your government is at fault
you call it liberation when the whole world calls it an invasion
it will remain a black dot in your history no matter how hard you try to justify it- even by going so low and blaming it on secular fueds that never existed

What it all comes down to I believe lays on the eye and the pyramid that's present in your one dollar bill
Something your forefathers were notoriously famous for being a part of
an organisation your government officials and ours alike are part of

I like to think that way
makes it easier for me to fathom why this world is so inhumane

Noura says the chemical weapons were administered by The Brotherhood...not the government.

Adonis says there is no Brotherhood in Syria and the government is to blame.

Rabea doesn't actually say who he holds responsible so....maybe you can see why we in the western world get confused? I asked for Syrian citizens and members in neighbouring countries to tell us how they see things over there rather than relying on our news coverage in the west and now I'm even more confused.

ALS, the USA is surely one of the greatest countries, concerning that it respects its own people and gives them their rights, etc, etc... From what I'm reading, you're totally right in being proud of her. I would've been very proud myself! However, you cannot keep the second eye closed and ignore all what has been done because of your government. It may be an angel with you, but it's not with others. So crying that the US is made of cotton candy is a daydream. illusion. call it what-so-ever. History will always be bloating with its black deeds.

----

Hellon, the Brotherhood is Egyptian. Jabhat Al Nusra is Syrian. The latter wouldn't have appeared if it weren't for Al-Assad's massacres. And concerning who issued the chemical weapons, it just needs logic. You don't need any media. Members of Jabhat Al Nusra are just poor,normal citizens who find it hard getting a 'gun'. So how could they get 'Chemical Weapons' ? The thing needs chemists, professors, experts.... The regime already has about 5 chemical centers... And just for the record, president Hafez Al Assad (Bashar's father) already murdered Syrians in a region called Homos, where it has been said that the chemicals were used, however, back in those days, no media what-so-ever was allowed to get in, so rare info about the massacre could be found.

And concerning who issued the chemical weapons, it just needs logic. You don't need any media.

^^^^

Thank you for clarifying that. It's something I would agree with but...Your profile doesn't state where you reside and we have one Syrian who is saying otherwise...hence my confusion.

This whole debate reminded me of a movie 'The day earth stood still'.
Keanu reaves(currently america) comes to earth(currently syria) and wants to destroy human race because he thinks that human race is destroying earth.
But then he realizes his mistake and take a decision to leave earth and its people on their own with a hope.
So I believe that on the verge of humanity, heart of syrian people will change and
Love will grow once again.
America shouldn't interfere.

But, again, it's just a thought came to my mind because of that movie.

I would like the USA to stay out of it, they should not be the worlds police be it good intentions or not because whenever they get involved they seem to get it wrong

They say they have evidence.. well lets see this evidence

If they attack they are walking into a world of pain.....

As the OP of this thread Nicko...what do you suggest as an alternative?

Edit...Just remembered Khalid is from Syria and he hasn't signed in since 20th June...anyone heard from him recently?

^^Yes Nikko, even most Americans wish that they can stay out of it. But, have you seen the pics...children, women and men dying in sleep...and the cruel mind behind it. So, if everyone stays out of responding to it, because the Russians and China successfully blockade the UN, how does the world ever react to a dictator who gets the wrong idea that it is perfectly OK for him to use these banned WMD's? today his own people, tomorrow others.

Saddam was no Saint, he used chemical weapons, extensively during the 8 year Iran-Iraq war, also and had a nuclear program since 1960 until the Osirak nuclear reactor was destroyed by Israel in 1980 in a pre-emptive strike. Here is Saddam's known use of the chemical weapons:

Iraqi use of Chemical weapons in the Iran-Iraq War, 1983-1988 -

August 1983: Haij Umran -- Mustard, fewer than 100 Iranian/Kurdish casualties
October-November 1983: Panjwin -- Mustard, 3,000 Iranian/Kurdish casualties
February-March 1984: Majnoon Island -- Mustard, 2,500 Iranian casualties
March 1984: al-Basrah -- Tabun, 50-100 Iranian casualties
March 1985: Hawizah Marsh -- Mustard & Tabun, 3,000 Iranian casualties
February 1986: al-Faw -- Mustard & Tabun, 8,000 to 10,000 Iranian casualties
December 1986: Um ar-Rasas -- Mustard, 1,000s Iranian casualties
April 1987: al-Basrah -- Mustard & Tabun, 5,000 Iranian casualties
October 1987: Sumar/Mehran -- Mustard & nerve agent, 3,000 Iranian casualties
March 1988: Halabjah & Kurdish area -- Mustard & nerve agent, 1,000s Kurdish/Iranian casualties
April 1988: al-Faw -- Mustard & nerve agent, 1,000s Iranian casualties
May 1988: Fish Lake -- Mustard & nerve agent, 100s or 1,000s Iranian casualties
June 1988: Majnoon Island -- Mustard & nerve agent, 100s or 1,000s Iranian casualties
July 1988: South-central border -- Mustard & nerve agent, 100s or 1,000s Iranian casualties

Until the World came to realize that these WMD's need to be banned completely under the CWC, 15 years ago. 78.57% of the world's declared stockpile of 71,196 metric tonnes of chemical agent have been verifiably destroyed. (As at 28/02/2013). However, 5 countries to date have refused to sign the treaty. Guess who these countries are?
Angola, Egypt, North Korea, South Sudan and Syria.

I am not here to defend the US or its policies of the past in the Middle east. Middle east has been always a volatile place, but we live in today, not yesterday. Our common aim is to make today's world safer for our children, and not revert to WMD's chemical, biological or nuclear.

Hellon: The answers to your qns is in the map at the end of the declassified document (link above), and in John Kerry's report (link above).

I've now had time to look at a little of Kerry's report...probably half of it. He focuses on the unclassified reports but says there are certain classified reports that can't be shared....why is that?

He also stresses a LOT the...We Know....I didn't really like that...sounded like brainwashing to me?

Yes ALO I saw the pic's... I started the thread. Who's at fault the Gov, the rebels, who?? do you know 100% ?? Before they go in guns blazing with more innocents getting killed in the name of peace! The US say they have proof, just like they said in Iraq which proved to be false. If the American Gov has proof let's see it so we can all make up our own minds. If Al-Assad is guilty put a bullet in his brain he doesn't deserve to live. But first Let's lay it out in black and white and let the world see what actually happened.... if the proof exists ?

Hellon what do I suggest... ban all religion (impossible of course but while religion exists this type of shit will always happen). Ban all country borders.....we are one race lets live as one... find the guilty via due process and deal with them

One thing that all despot regimes fear most is education with ignorance come's oppression, bring on the internet

If the Chinese people were to oppose their Gov in the same way... what would happen to the world then ? TOTAL chaos... now there's food for thought...watch this spot

Yeah..that would be nice Nicko I agree but...it's not going to happen. My question was actually about you saying that the US should not intervene so what would you suggest as an alternative?

I've been watching this thread and reading the news here with much interest..my thoughts after looking at the responses from our middle eastern members...clearly they do not want intervention so...if the western world has no hidden interest in Syria and surrounding countries why don't we let them just figure it out for themselves....many deaths will occur I know but...they don't want help so...let them just kill each other...then see what happens? Harsh I know but...as realistic as they want us to be...

"the Brotherhood is Egyptian. Jabhat Al Nusra is Syrian. The latter wouldn't have appeared if it weren't for Al-Assad's massacres."

And in Lebanon, what do they have? Both? May I ask you who's committing the crimes in Lebanon? Hezbollah? Who do you think is the responsible for the two bombs?!
ALS says the US has no choice and has to do the dirty job for the sake of morality. Do you agree with him? Do you want Syria to be another Iraq? I just want to know what my Lebanese fellow thinks... and
can you explain this "the latter wouldn't have appeared if it weren't for Al-Assad's massacres"? What did Bashar do that made Jabhet al Nasra kill thousands of people? Is it because he is Alawi? I think it is. So Sunnah Muslims have the right to kill Alawis, just because our president is Alawi? Well, I'm an Alawi Muslim, do you think I should be killed?

I'm with Nicko. All religions should be banned, if we want to stop wars.

Hahahahaha.

You all want to BAN faith? And open the borders for a one world government?

Waiting on the rapture now ... you lot just suggested the beginnings of Revelations.

I can't imagine banning religion. Its Satan who has control of this world, which makes sense why its so fallen and broken. Maybe if we had a little more people truly understanding what's its like to have a one on one relationship with God we wouldnt be having these issues. No where does my God tell me to murder in His name, or at all for that matter. I don't expect you all to believe what I do, so I am completely shocked at hearing the wish for BANNING it.

Noura nobody has the right to kill anybody, that includes everybody of all religions and non-religions. That's why this is such a complex issue because killings are going to be involved either way.

Is the use of chemical weapons deplorable? Yes.
Have atrocities been carried out on both sides? Yes.
Will not interfering mean more civilian deaths? Yes.
Will interfering mean more civilian deaths? Yes.
Is there any guarantee that when Bashar is deposed that Syria's problems will be solved? No. (There will still be huge division.)
Is Bashar a good leader? No.
Would I like to be in Obama's shoes making the call about Syria? Hell no.

Its such a complex situation. For example just picking up on something you said ALS:

'Our common aim is to make today's world safer for our children,'
^^
This may and should be true but what about the children in sweatshops making products for America n and mulit-national companies, or African child soldiers in countries being trained to use US and Russian produced guns? Or what about the innocent children killed by Syrian rebels, because if you look you will find reports of that too. When do you turn a blind eye and when do you not? (not 'you' specifically, just in general)

I think Bashar shouldn't be the Syrian president but I'm torn between being idealistic and realistic on the issue. As I said before its a no win situation and the more you think about it, the more confusing and complicated its gets.

Noura, in Lebanon, there is Hezbollah. There's no Brotherhood & no Jabhat Al Nusra.

Every Lebanese citizen was proud of Hezbollah back in 2005/2006. But then, when they aimed their guns at the inside, invading Beirut, Hezbollah lost half of its audience. It became obvious that they are controlled by Iran which controls Al-Assad, too. This triangle aims at creating a Shi'te/Alawi Kingdom. And the fact that all Syrian Alawis now are on the Syrian coast in an independent zone confirms what I'm saying. And for the record, in this month, two bombings occurred in Lebanon. One was because Hezbollah interfered (without the confirm of the Lebanese government) in the Syrian revolution, standing side by side with Bashar, helping him with killing Syrians, and claiming that they are just doing so because they're defending their so-called-Shi'te monuments. And because Hezbollah refused to get his hands out of Syria, another bombing occured in Lebanon. Not to mention the drugs it is selling in Lebanon, the cheating they're practicing in medical import, etc, etc.....

"the latter wouldn't have appeared if it weren't for Al-Assad'is massacres".... this is true; the devilish deeds of Bashar against his people produced those religious groups. It's not because he is Alawi. It is because he is a murderer who, till now, won't give up on his throne!!!!!! I have Syrian friends here, Christians & Muslims, and they always tell me we never uttered those two words: Islam & Christianity... But Bashar lately proved that he is just a president of his sect, not other people.

No one should be killed, and no religions should be banned.

I am an Alawi and I ran away to the coast, that's true. Why? Because half of my family members were killed by Jabhet al Nasra and you really don't want to know how they killed them. I received threats and I was FORCED to leave my house. Do I blame al Assad? Yes, I actually do because he should have stopped them two years ago. He gave them freedom, they killed and bombed and kidnapped and he still cares for what the UN says. Bashar won't give up because the rebels (the real criminals in Syria) will take over and no one wants that. They want to make Syria a new Iraq.

Do you think the Saudi king is a murderer as well? I'm curious.

Another question...you want Bashar to give up on his "throne"...do you like the situation in Egypt now? Are you happy to see the Muslim Brotherhood killing the people there?

I think that it's quite a bad decision to blindly follow any religion because they all alike are out dated. Common sense must be present within the equation.

don't get me wrong I think all religions share beauty in common and maintain a code of ethics that is absolutely necessary to live within a conservative community

it's not religion that we have a problem with
it's the people that kill under the name of religion that we do
this have happened almost in every other religion I can think of.

Hellon
the lesser of all evil in the havoc lands of syria would be to create a no fly zone that would result on giving the edge to the rebels
no need for any physical interference from any side

This Napalm-like attack occurred on 8-21-13, when a Syrian fighter jet dropped a chemical bomb on a school playground. 7 children died and many were left with severe skin burns. Filmed by a British crew is just horrifying...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2406694/Syria-Incendiary-bomb-attack-school-napalm-like-substance.html

http://news.sky.com/story/1135090/syria-napalm-like-burns-after-school-attack

Napalm was used extensively in WWII, Korean and Vietnam wars, but banned by the UN in 1980.
Why would any person knowingly kill children, I ask? The rebels do not own fighter jets, do they? Does this better answer the qn, Hellon and Nicko?

Hellon
the lesser of all evil in the havoc lands of syria would be to create a no fly zone that would result on giving the edge to the rebels
no need for any physical interference from any side

^^^^

Rabea...do you mean the Syrian government should implement this no fly zone or someone else? I would imagine this country's government is the only one who could do this and yet...when I look at the links ALS has provided it seems it's the government who carried out the attack on this school....perhaps I'm just not reading it properly...can you please explain it to me...in simple terms :) ?

Saying I would ban religion was ludicrous if course you can never ban ones faith... Education. Now there's the answer ...

I was reading something about the assassination of Abraham Lincoln today and came across this. it's not a quote as such...just the last paragraph in a chapter I was reading. I have no idea who wrote it but it just seemed relevant to this discussion...

Most importantly, Lincoln's assassination reminded humanity that when a war ends, the animosity between sides may not, and usually does not. To win a war, therefore, regardless of whether it should be fought, or which side is the good side does not put an end to the human capacity to hate. Thus, no victory will ever be the last.

^Very true.
While Obama delays the action to Congressional approval next week, here is another of your favorite dictators act.....last week. Certainly not surprised by what power can do to dictators minds... (I wonder if it was him or his wife who became jealous of this ex-girl friend):

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/northkorea/10278007/Inside-the-dangerous-world-of-Kim-Jong-uns-crooners.html

Don't be surprised if this madman one day decides to unleash his nuclear weapons on S. Korea or US, if we annoy him enough.

Do we not draw a parallel here between the inner minds and workings of these ruthless people with the most famous of all, Hitler.

No Hellon
for the better part of 2 years the rebels held their own against bashars and coo
but what really caused them to withdraw was that the regime with hezbullahs aid was carrying a double attack where in the morning regime air fighters would drop their loads on rebel hideouts till the night approaches and then hezbullah personals would roam the area targeted making sure no rebels stayed
this scenario carried on for 2 to 3 months straight and by the end rebels went low on amo and had no option other than retreating

To encore a no fly zone would rest on the international community to monitor the sky of syria and ban any flight movement in or out. This car disarming the regime from its effective lethal weapons. It can be done
it has been done and it proved effective

you see even the rebels don't want outside interference
All they ever asked for was ammunition and supplies and to make sure their heads are safe

and to to any thick mind out there
no amount of right doings would ever justify a wrong doing
chemical weapons or not the deaths occurreing in syria are
Are far more than a 100 thousand
only 1500 of em were due to chemicals
what about the other 98 500+
did you never blink when they happend? And why didn't you chose to interfere before
and instead of waging a war elsewhere
why don't you wage one in your own back yard that terminates illegal drug use? A war against prostitution and poverty?
I really find it funny
(They got money for wars but they can't feed the poor)

Rabea...I don't understand this..I asked for simplicity and yet...I'm still confused...sorry..

While Obama delays the action to Congressional approval next week, here is another of your favorite dictators act.....last week. Certainly not surprised by what power can do to dictators minds... (I wonder if it was him or his wife who became jealous of this ex-girl friend):

ALS I think Omama has made the right move in delaying any action...what has your recent post about North Korea got to do with this discussion...confussed again?

I think Obama should have delayed making a decision until the UN report came back. Like Iraq showed, the UN has no real power and the countries can just ignore it at will, which is a little worrying but not surprising.

I think Obama wants to punish the Syrian govt. for using chemical weapons because they see that if it goes unchecked, it could be an invitation for other terrorists to use chemical weapons in future. I think a response here is right in principal. I think they want to find a way to stay out of the actual conflict if possible, i.e. launch a few missiles in retribution for the chemical weapons to let everybody know they not allowed and that people who use them will be punished, and then leave the civil war continue.

This is quite an interesting summary to read

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2013/08/29/9-questions-about-syria-you-were-too-embarrassed-to-ask/

The problem is that atrocities are being committed on both sides and going in to eliminate Bashar is not going to end the violence. It will likely just put his supporters or people who aren't Sunni Muslim in more danger. While the rebels started out in protest of the govt. harsh crack down on their original peaceful protest, lots of other groups including terrorist and sectarian groups are invloved in the fighting. Its not a good guys vs bad guys situation as ALS I think is making it out to be.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/10236362/Syrian-rebels-accused-of-sectarian-murders.html

I think most of us find it hard not to use drama to further an agenda . I have weird ways of looking at things but feel the poets are the first to see solutions, coming from emotional responses as we seem to be able to rationalize UN intervention as divinely inspired .Earthquakes seem much more random . Something made me look up how fat Damascus is from Jerusalem (134 miles?)

http://www.poems-and-quotes.com/life/poems.php?id=926543

Saul's Conversion

9 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord's disciples. He went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3 As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?"

Does anyone recall feeling this quake

5.3 magnitude earthquake shakes Israel, Lebanon

By JPOST.COM STAFF

05/11/2012 22:31

Http://conservativebyte.com/2013/09/rebels-admit-responsibility-chemical-weapons-attack/

I know its a conservative page but they're just showing a piece from the Associated Press, so don't discount before ya read.

WOW! Nice piece of disinformation. Just goes on to show why this piece did not make it to the headlines even in FOX news. Forget the National news channels....

Unbelievable, the extent conservatives will go to bring down any democratic party administration/govt.

Perhaps, a more reliable source from the Syrian govt defector here may be more trustworthy.

http://news.sky.com/story/1135749/syria-assad-planned-gas-attack-last-summer

It is a blog that gave a blip from the AP... a liberal leaning media outlet.

Why would conservatives want it to be the rebels? We are all war mongerers, right? Happy to toss ourselves into war any chance we get? That's the stereotype isn't it? So why, then, wouldn't conservatives be posting news that its the Syrian government, not the rebels? If its the government, we 'get to' attack, correct?

This link has nothing to do with Obama, in fact it doesnt even say his name or mention the administration.... its figuring out who had the chemical weapons. Did ya read the whole thing, or even a part of it?

Comment section doesn't count.

Britt, I did a bit more research on that piece, and here is the analysis of this misinformation and why it may not be trustworthy. It was published in a little known Minnesota based online publication MINT, run by a 24-yr old Palestinian residing in the US. So you know why this story circulated in the first place.

http://www.fair.org/blog/2013/09/01/which-syrian-chemical-attack-account-is-more-credible/

" The founder of the for-profit startup is Mnar Muhawesh, a 24-year-old Palestinian-American woman who believes, reasonably enough, that "our media has absolutely failed our country" (MinnPost, 1/18/12). "...truly a conservative, who totally distrusts the govt and the media...
The source reporter in Ghouta, Syria is not Gavlak (who writes for AP, Mint and BBC) but Yahya Ababneh, a Jordanian freelancer and journalism grad student-who "spoke directly with the rebels, their family members, victims of the chemical weapons attacks and local residents."

Abu Abdel-Moneim, described as the father of a rebel killed in the chemical weapons attacks, alleges Prince Bandar bin Sultan, the Intelligence chief of Saudi Arabia gave these weapons to the rebels! You know well that Saudi Arabia will never get directly involved with powerful adversaries like Syria, Iran and the likes. Nor does it possess any chemical weapons as it is signatory to the Intl. CWC treaty (only Syria and 4 others refused to sign).

Sure, misinformation like this, by a Conservative journal run by a Palestinian (likely Iranian)explanted in the US will sway some who choose to believe. Did you know that Assad, Iran and Russia have already broadcasted this kind of propaganda for days since this happened?

Not that I am wishing for a war. Not in the least. But, do we have a choice here at all? A maniac, in charge of the largest chemical arsenal in the World, used a "test dose" of "Sarin", a nerve agent 500 times more powerful than Cyanide...would you care to let him go unpunished and threaten millions more? Wait till he unleashes VX, the most powerful of all.

It is a mess any way you look at it.

ALS...just wondering why you think the links you provide are more credible that the one's posted by other members?

My link had the word conservative in it, so naturally its wrong, full of lies and bashing Obama. ;)

Hellon: "ALS...just wondering why you think the links you provide are more credible that the one's posted by other members?"

^ Perhaps you did not read the research behind the post. The opinion is from a National media watchdog group (FAIR), not mine.
But, since you further challenged me...here is a concurring opinion from an independent MINT reader copied below :)

"Submitted by frank watson on January 19, 2012 - 11:18am.
Here's a brief summarization of MintPress. Republicans Evil."

Other facts to consider -
-MintPress was inspired in part by the original Tahrir Square uprising.
-Muhawesh is a Shia Muslim originally from Palestine. (Alawite regime of El Assad is supported by guess who - the Shiites of Palestine (mostly in Gaza), Hezbollah (Lebanese based but who are fighting side by side with Assad in Syria to suppress the rebels), and Iranians.)
- No, she is not in to typical FOX journalism (even claims they promote hate journalism), but is trying to carve her own brand of "middle east focused" newsbrand, with a deceptively "independent" label to "reform" the country! Just read the articles in MINT.

"Britt: My link had the word conservative in it, so naturally its wrong, full of lies and bashing Obama."

^ Really, this addl. comment after thorough research on your post. I guess someone who does not "trust" in the govt or the media...by your own quote, would not be expected to believe a rational analysis of why that article is pure bogus (and probably planted by a Shiite supporting Syrian govt based reports).

Holy moses, I was JOKING.

Nothing serious Britt, just ideological differences, being debated. :)

-------------------------------------
Hellon: I got 2 Australian "classics" for you to comment/answer on. Here they are :)

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/australiaandthepacific/australia/10279817/Tony-Abbott-ridiculed-after-describing-Syrian-conflict-as-baddies-versus-baddies.html

^So, what do you think of Mr. Tony Abbott, the front-runner for the Prime ministerial elections this month describing the US -Syria crisis as "baddies" going against "baddies" (=Syrians)?? He is british -born.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-23628092

^ And what about Ms. Stephanie Barrett, running for a Parliamentary seat, saying "haram" (forbidden) instead of the Koran and suggesting Jews worship Jesus Christ, and that Islam is a country!!!

And, I thought that this kind of tongue slips were unique to our past Presidential/Vice-Presidential (Republican) candidates George W. Bush and Sarah Palin!
(Just for laughs, nothing serious folks :)

On a more serious note, the pictures here of refugee camps from the air are a stark reminder of the real victims in Assad's mess...his own people, ...unfolding as the largest refugee crisis of this century.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2409632/Syria-civil-war-worlds-biggest-refugee-crisis-2m-people-forced-flee.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490

The only American really welcome with open arms in these parts is probably Angelina Jolie, special envoy to the UNHCR. She has visited the Zaatari camp in Jordan, camps in Lebanon, Turkey in her recent trip. Just google her refugee camp visits to see her work for this noble cause.
Go Jolie! Show them that the world has not forgotten them.

I can't answer for them but...I can comment of course. Abbot and Rudd are both idiots that I will not be wasting my vote on. Sure, one of the will become Prime Minister this weekend but it will not be on my vote. I would love not to vote to be honest because there isn't really one party that I really like but...it's against the law in this country not to vote.

As for the person who got her halal and harem mixed up, along with all the other gaffe's she made...I don't know who she is to be honest...a Brisbane candidate so...not from my part of Australia.