Edited Version: On Monday, Congress reconvened to deliberate on Obama's plans to strike Syria. President Obama has already won the support of key congressmen in his bid to initiate confrontational military sanctions against the Bashar al-Assad-led government, while a few others have remained skeptical about the idea. Opinion polls conducted by various US media outlets suggest that only a few congressmen are really enthusiastic about the plan. A Washington Post survey conducted recently indicates that only about 23 out of the 100 senators have so far given their go ahead to US strikes in Syria, while 27 won’t hear of it and 50 are still undecided. In the House of Representatives, things become even harder for Obama. According to the same poll, 25 members of the Republican-controlled House are solidly behind Obama, 224 are against him and 184 would rather not be drawn into the issue for various reasons.

There are several implications for America and the Middle East if the US gets involved militarily in Syria. The already-tensed Middle East will boil over. Neighbouring countries, those leaning towards the US and those leaning towards Syria, will be drawn into the conflict. President Bashar al-Assad has already threatened in an interview with US news agency, PBS, on Monday that allies of the Damascus-based government will not hesitate to strike back at strategic US instalments in the region as well its allies like Israel and Turkey should foreign rockets land on Syrian soil.
Russia and China, both permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, are strongly against any military intervention without the backing of the United Nations. This they have achieved by deadlocking deliberations in the Security Council, blocking it from sanctioning any proposed strike.

A military intervention in Syria will surely draw the US into yet another prolonged conflict similar to the one in Iraq, but with more dire consequences for everyone directly involved this time around. Should rockets start raining in Syria, Assad should not be expected to fold his arms and watch proceedings from a bunker or a safe haven. He is likely to get his external allies involved.

Syria, through its backers in the Middle East like Iran (who have been spoiling for a war with Israel since forever), and the Lebanese terrorist organisation, Hezbollah, could launch attacks on Israel and US bases in the Middle East. Russia on their part have shown that they would not like to be left behind, having already moved their warheads into the eastern Mediterranean, ready to attack US bases in the region.

According to reports, several thousand rockets have been locked in on targets in Israeli territory by Hezbollah in the neighboring Lebanon. Should Israel be attacked, they would no doubt seek to retaliate by bombarding Lebanon, Syria and old foes, Iran. This could also lead to the deployment of unconventional instruments like nuclear weapons since all the major actors in this conflict – the US, Russia, China, Israel, Hezbollah, Iran and Syria – are reputed to possess weapons of mass destruction.

Full version: http://observerreports.com/2013/09/obama-turns-congress-support-syria-assad-talks-tough-serious-implications-everyone-involved/

I see blood

king arizona: I see blood

I pray not.