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Resistance See other Resistance Articles Title: So, What’s It Going To Be? By Bashar al-Assad Well, here we are. Its been two years of fighting, over 100,000 people are dead, there are no signs of this war ending, and a week ago I used chemical weapons on my own people. If you dont do anything about it, thousands of Syrians are going to die. If you do something about it, thousands of Syrians are going to die. Morally speaking, youre on the hook for those deaths no matter how you look at it. So, its your move, America. Whats it going to be? Ive looked at your options, and Im going to be honest here, I feel for you. Not exactly an embarrassment of riches youve got to choose from, strategy-wise. I mean, my God, there are just so many variables to consider, so many possible paths to choose, each fraught with incredible peril, and each leading back to the very real, very likely possibility that no matter what you do its going to backfire in a big, big way. Its a good old-fashioned mess, is what this is! And now, you have to make some sort of decision that you can live with. So, where do I begin? Well, this is just the tip of the iceberg, but lets start with the fact that my alliance with Russia and China means that nothing you decide to do will have the official support of the UN Security Council. So, right off the bat, Ive already eliminated the possibility of a legally sound united coalition like in Libya or the First Gulf War. Boom. Gone. Off the table. Now, lets say youre okay with that, and you decide to go ahead with, oh, I dont know, a bombing campaign. Now, personally, I can see how that might seem like an attractive option for you. No boots on the ground, it sends a clear message, you could cripple some of my governments infrastructure, and its a quick, clean, easy way to punish me and make you look strong in the face of my unimaginable tyranny. But lets get real here. Any bombing campaign capable of being truly devastating to my regime would also end up killing a ton of innocent civilians, as such things always do, which I imagine is the kind of outcome you people would feel very guilty about. You know, seeing as you are so up in arms to begin with about innocent Syrians dying. Plus, youd stoke a lot of anti-American hatred and quite possibly create a whole new generation of Syrian-born jihadists ready to punish the United States for its reckless warmongering and yadda yadda yadda. Okay, what else? Well, you could play small-ball and hope that limited airstrikes to a few of my key military installations will send me the message to refrain from using chemical weapons again, but, cmon, check me out: Im ruthless, Im desperate, and Im going to do everything I can to stay in power. Id use chemical weapons again in a heartbeat. You know that. And I know you know that. Hell, I want to help you guys out here, but you gotta be realistic. Trust me, I am incapable of being taught a lesson at this point. Got it? I am too far gone. Way too far gone. Oh, and I know some of you think a no-fly zone will do the trick, but we both know you cant stomach the estimated $1 billion a month that would cost, so wave bye-bye to that one, too. Moving on. I suppose you could always, you know, not respond with military force at all. But how can you do that? I pumped sarin gas into the lungs of my own people, for Gods sake! You cant just let me get away with that, can you? I mean, I guess you easily could, and spare yourself all of this headache, but then you would probably lose any of your remaining moral high ground on the world stage and make everything from the Geneva Conventions to Americas reputation as a beacon for freedom and democracy around the world look like a complete sham. And, hey, as long as were just throwing stuff out there, lets consider a ground invasion for a moment. Now, even if you could reasonably fund a ground invasion, which Im pretty sure you cant, what exactly would such an invasion accomplish in the long term? I suppose its possible that you could come in and sweep me out the door and that would be the end of it. Its possible. You know, like, in the sense that seeing a majestic white Bengal tiger in the wild is possible. Or, more likely, you could find yourself entrenched in a full-blown civil war that drags on for 15 years and sets off further turmoil in the rest of the region, leading to even more dead bodies for your country and mine, and even more virulent hatred of America. In fact, boy, maybe this is the one option that should be totally off the table. Oh, and speaking of me being toppled from power, lets say, just for fun, that tomorrow I were to somehow be dethroned. Whos in charge? Half of these rebel groups refuse to work with one another and its getting harder to tell which ones are actually just Islamic extremists looking to fill a potential power vacuum. Weve got Christians, Sunnis, and Shias all poised to fight one another for control should I fall. You want to be the ones sorting through that mess when youre trying to build a new government? I didnt think so. So, all in all, quite the pickle youre in, isnt it? I have to say, I do not envy you here. Really curious to see where you go with this one. Ill leave you with this: I am insane. Not insane enough to generate worldwide unanimity that I cannot remain in charge of my own country. That would make this a lot easier. No, unfortunately, Im just sane and stable enough to remain in power and devise cunning military and political strategies while at the same time adhering to a standard of morality that only the most perverse and sociopathic among us would be capable of adopting. But nevertheless, I am insane, so do with that information what you will. Long story short, Im going to keep doing my best to hold on to my country no matter what the cost. If that means bombing entire towns, murdering small children, or shooting at UN weapons inspectors, so be it. Im in this for the long haul. And you will do...whatever it is youre going to do, which is totally up to you. Your call. Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread Top Page Up Full Thread Page Down Bottom/Latest Begin Trace Mode for Comment # 1.
#1. To: X-15 (#0)
When The Onion chimes in, it's all over except for the shooting. The only false note in this is "America". The real Assad would address this to O'Bammy. But The Onion can't do that.
There are no replies to Comment # 1. End Trace Mode for Comment # 1.
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