Time to Change from Dictators

 #1 I'm not expert in anything; today's blog based on hearing/reading traditional news outlets, Time and the Week.
#2 Nation building has ended. No more invasions to conquer lands - disputes hopefully settled by the International Court of Justice (estab. 1945 with growing member states subject to its dictums), also enforced by U.N. Peacekeepers (euphemism for advisors and enforcers and rightly so). 

A new model of war has emerged: coalitions, i.e. collective security. Adumbrated by Baha'i leader Baha'u'llah in mid-1800s. Examples are: the Gulf War, '90-'91; Kosovo in '99 with air support from NATO; Iraq War starting in 2003, now a civil war; and Afghanistan since 2001, ongoing. (Source: Wikipedia) 

How to End a Dictator (1) - like Bashar Assad

President of Syria (figurehead since '94); opposed by Peoples Council of Syria in 2000 and 2007 elections, but ran unopposed. Proof of dictatorship from reports: "Human Rights groups, such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, have detailed how Bashar's government and secret police routinely tortured, imprisoned, and killed political opponents, and those who speak out against the government^.  Since 2006 it expanded the use of travel bans against dissidents. In that regard, Syria is the worst offender among Arab states." "He ordered a mass crackdown and military sieges on pro-rebel protesters amid recent civil war."   (Source: Wikipedia 12/20/13)

Logical steps so far taken towards removal:
1. Background proof of cruel dictatorship has been gathered. Signs: Unopposed, unchallenged or unverified elections. Atrocities against Syrian people (or others). Proof is history and facts gathered over time in every case. Easily proven in modern times with cellphone pics, recordings, reporters, watch groups, internal document expose's etc.

2. Deciding. "Who's responsible or champion enough to remove him?" Leave up to anti-gov't protestors or rebels, international condemnation and embargos?   (See 5/18/2011 U.S. sanctions) Step a. Provide indirect military support towards ouster like advisors and arming rebels? (Not seen publicly yet?) b. Full civil war? Declared one by Red Cross on 7/15/12. c. Let it play out? Or? Next step.

3. Direct military intervention. a. Frought with problems and the largest (to me), is collateral damage (murder of civilians by coalition forces). Torture and murder accusations now hurled against Syrian rebel groups. Meaning: How on earth can we support that? b. International recognition toward stability is building (17 countries now), of the Syrian National Council (SNC); therefore justifying and legitimizing physical, material and military support. No one's done this yet, that I've heard of. Have you heard differently?

That's where we are now.  Part (2) coming - A Different Path.

By Rodney Richards, copyright 2013. Subscribe to this blog for updates, or comment to me at 1950ablia@gmail.com. I will try to respond.