War With Syria?

Ken AshfordSyria, Trump & AdministrationLeave a Comment

Breaking News: The Pentagon is developing options for a military strike in Syria in response to the chemical attack https://t.co/CZhplm9INI — The New York Times (@nytimes) April 6, 2017 Well, I guess it’s good to know that Trump finally recognizes the seriousness of the Syrian situation. And I hope he makes a connection between the horrible Sarin gas attacks and … Read More

Photo Op

Ken AshfordImmigration and Xenophobia, Syria, Trump & Administration, War on Terrorism/TortureLeave a Comment

Hey!  Look!  It’s President-Elect Donald Trump!  And who is with him?  Why, that’s Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach.  This was yesterday as they were meeting at the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster NJ. I wonder what that was all about. Kris Kobach is a central figure in the nativist movement and the architect of Arizona’s notorious “papers please” law. … Read More

What Syrian Refugees Are About

Ken AshfordSyriaLeave a Comment

CNN’s Kate Bolduan is a reporter who asks tough questions and is often expressive and emphatic when she does it. Today, however, she was expressive in a very different way. While sharing a video of a five-year-old Syrian named Omran Daqneesh sitting in the back of an ambulance with blood and soot all over him, Bolduan was tasked with explaining … Read More

Picture Of The Year?

Ken AshfordSyria, War on Terrorism/TortureLeave a Comment

I don’t know, but it should be contender.  The photographer is not a journalist or professional photographer, but I don’t know if that makes any difference. This is a woman who escaped ISIS territory and was able to wear color again, taken sometime in early December 2015.

Vetting Syrian Refugees: A Governor With Guts

Ken AshfordImmigration and Xenophobia, Syria, War on Terrorism/TortureLeave a Comment

Kudos to Gov. Peter Shumlin SOUTH BURLINGTON – Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin said Monday that governors who turn away Syrian refugees are “stomping” on American values. As of early Monday afternoon, nine Republican governors had said they would attempt to stop the relocation of refugees from Syria because of safety concerns following Friday’s deadly attacks in Paris. “The governors who are … Read More

The Lesson From 2002

Ken AshfordIraq, Local Interest, Syria, War on Terrorism/TortureLeave a Comment

We all have felt it from time to time.  The urge to simply go nuclear. It's understandable.  Some backwoods jihadi moron slices off an American head, or a bunch of them band together and fly hijacked airplanes into sckyscrapers, and our natural reaction is: "Fuck you.  NOW you're going to see the hand of God." The problem with that is … Read More

Chickenhawks

Ken AshfordObama Opposition, SyriaLeave a Comment

Yes, this is annoying. When Obama was making noises about bombing Syria, Republicans (and some Democrats) chastized him as being reckless. Now, thanks to Russia, it looks like we’re going to get the chemical weapons away from Assad, and we don’t have to bomb Syria. And those same Republicans are now criticizing Obama.  John? The Daily Show with Jon StewartGet … Read More

Oh, Who Cares?

Ken AshfordSyriaLeave a Comment

I've been paying close attention to the debate over Syria, and how the United States should respond to the revelation that Assad used chemical weapons to kill over 1,500 of his people, including hundreds of children.  And here's what I've figured out: (1)  We should bomb in retaliation because this is a clear violation of the Geneva convention and it crosses … Read More