Stakes are rising in Syria

[SCarpelan]

While Putin really is a macho control freak this response is perfectly rational. When USA takes action against an important ally Russia can't afford not to respond since they already are the underdog.

[Tolpuddle Martyr]

This is what happens when an irresponsible hothead decides he needs to duke it out with a macho control freak. It won't end well.

Equally irresponsible are the gaggle of media, politicians both Democrat and Reublican and foriegn leaders who all went into insta-kowtow mode the moment their new president went all "presidential' by bombing something foreign.

[Askold]

Now there are implications that Russia knew about the chemical attack Assad did before it happened and that Russians bombed a target to destroy evidence to help Assad cover up his attacks...

[SCarpelan]

AP got the information from an anonymous official. I'm going to wait for more evidence before drawing conclusions about the claim's credibility.

[Canadian Mojo]

AP got the information from an anonymous official. I'm going to wait for more evidence before drawing conclusions about the claim's credibility.

If it is true, this along with the advance warning and relative lack of damage, goes a long way towards advancing the theory that this is part a long game being played by Putin with help from his lackey(ies).

[SCarpelan]

Warning the Russians was the smartest thing about this whole mess so it's not really evidence about anything. American missiles killing Russians could have had disastrous consequences so compromising the element of surprise was necessary.

I hope that investigation into the strike will uncover some incriminating evidence pointing to the guilty party/parties. With the Trump administration rushing things forward the investigation results might not matter that much in the end, though. As long as they get their story and evidence in first they can do almost what they want and the investigation will just provide a more accurate hindsight into the actual facts. I am getting a nasty déjà vu about this incident and the Iraqi WMDs that too many people still believe existed.

[Art Vandelay]

Oh, and things haven't just been escalating with the Russians. Because Hitler forbid the North Koreans not get in on this as well.

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/north-korea-ready-for-war-us-american-aircraft-carrier-korean-peninsula/?ftag=CNM-00-10aab6j&linkId=36405739

[Id82]

And now Russia is warning not to bomb Syria again. With how impulsively Trump bombed them and with sending ships towards the Korean peninsula it's almost like he's asking for world War 3 to start. What the fuck is he thinking? We're not even a year into this blow hards presidency and i think it's been the most stressful for America in recent memory.

[niam2023]

Jong Un: How can we make this all about us again...

General: Vaguely threaten Trump?

Jong Un: That should work. How's our latest monster we sent down to South Korea?

General: They blew it up, we grew it, they blew it up again.

(because North Korea is basically power rangers villains at this point)