bizarre logic

Nope,the training and equipment for the ied’s was supplied by Iran. Maybe you can explain how that is a bizarre link to then suggest that is an example of Iran exerting influence in a conflict? No Iranian troops in Syria either just now is there? I’m not defending America,but Iran are in a power struggle with the Saudis,to suggest they are exerting no influence in any of the conflicts throughout the middle east is nonsensense.

Bit like my spelling of the word nonsense there… 😳

You have a fair point duckman and it is a tricky issue…

However, there is a big difference between actively invading a country, covertly destabilizing a country on the other side of the world and providing military aid to a democratically elected ally.

I don’t think for one moment that the current administrations of Iran or Syria are without their flaws, but can see that given the multiple looming threats to Iran’s sovereignty (as well as US military bases in the area, the map below also shows how Iraq and Afghanistan conveniently flank Iran)

It would certainly be in their interests to ensure Syria didn’t also fall under US proxy rule.

There is also a big difference between aiding your near neighbours and expanding your empire around the other side of the world.

Given General Wesley Clark’s credentials, he seems like a fairly credible source on US foreign policy:

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7NsXFnzJGw[/video]

The bigger issue is the insistence of dominant superpowers to pursue military spending and exploits, which leads to continual escalation of tensions.

Arms exports and covert military aid by the US, UK and other NATO countries is a policy which only continues the cycle as everyone is inclined to stock up on weapons to protect their interests.

For real change, rather than bombing bridges and collecting the profits, we need leadership that moves away from such destructive policy, winds down the arms industry and builds bridges of collaboration.

Any other course of action exposes the politicians talk of pursuing peace as fraudulent…

while cooking last night i listened to R4. a chap on there postulated that while spending here and in the US may be equal to or more than previously, capability had actually fallen. every time the US agrees to a new procurement project for a new fighter/bomber the average age of their fleet actually increases, while the politicians and industrialist mates get richer at the cost of taxpayers, the forces’ ability to do the job with extremely expensive equipment that is neither fish nor fowl reduces.
all the while russia and china keep plugging away, increasing their capability, not necessarily to be aggressive, but to at least be able to have a discussion on equal terms.
apparently the saudi air force is now larger than ours.