Good Luck With That France!

[ToraToraTora]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-23795088

[emmie]

let us hope that we don't.

[ichkeria]

The UN (which does have its own forces) is hamstrung by Russia and China. So only individual action is realistic but it is now hard to see what action will bring this war criminal to the negotiating table

[Zeuhl]

^
That's incorrect ichkeria

From wiki

/Since the UN does not maintain its own military, peacekeeping forces are voluntarily provided by member states of the UN. The forces, also called the "Blue Helmets", who enforce UN accords, are awarded United Nations Medals, which are considered international decorations instead of military decorations./

[ichkeria]

That's what I meant. I wasn't suggesting they could deploy them. The peace keepers would be useless when there's no peace to keep.
It's long overdue that the civilised world got tough with Russia over this. They are hand in glove with Assad and always have been.
I don't approve of boycotts but I wonder if the time has now come to put the heat on. If they thought their precious Sochi games were tainted by Russian association with a deployer of chemical weapons of mass slaughter maybe just maybe their attitude would change behind the scenes. It may be a long shot but I can't see that there is to lose

[Gromit]

France are the ex-colonial power in Syria, so they feel they can meddle.
The British were the ex-Colonial power in Iraq, and our meddling had disastrous consequences.

Let's hope France learns from our stupidity.

[ichkeria]

Well 'Allez les bleus!' is what I say but I fear it's a lost cause

[Zeuhl]

Well it's not all peacekeeping Itch

The forces fighting with the south in the Korean War were operating under a UN security council resolution despite a Soviet veto.

Of course 88% of the 'UN Forces' were US military.

Infamously, the invasion of Iraq was not validated in that way because the key criterion was WMD and the UN weapons inspectors found none

[whiskeryron]

Why is it sort of expected for the west to step in I don't notice much movement from Arab nations.

WR.

[Gromit]

Whiskeryron,

You are not witnessing involvement by any middle eastern countries in Syria?

I suggest you look harder.

[doctordb]

Gromit, I don't think whiskeryron is referring to the smuggling of arms, troops and over deceitful methods in an effort to escalate the trouble.

How about a more helpful and intelligent intervention from the neighbours?

[stokemaveric]

we should have learnt our lessons from recent conflicts...

[ChillDoubt]

We won't be involved, as we no longer have the capability:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-23790776