Powerful images from the Syrian conflict.

[Knut]

As usual, The Atlantic has amazing photos.

These are from the Syrian conflict. Some are NSFW as they show deaths.



The rest are here.
http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2...-ruins/100402/

[Pierre "Monster" McGuire]

Judging from these pictures, I hope I never have to know what it's like to have to fight for peace.

Those pictures are hard to look at.

[FlamesAddiction]

Photos 6-9 sure don't do the "free" Syrian rebels any favours.

[puckluck2]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

Photos 6-9 sure don't do the "free" Syrian rebels any favours.

They're all as guilty as each other. Don't let the name "Free Syria" fool you.

Even if Asaad is over thrown the person or party to come in is going to be just as bad or even worse.

Lose-lose situation.

[T@T]

Originally Posted by Iginla

They're all as guilty as each other. Don't let the name "Free Syria" fool you.

Even if Asaad is over thrown the person or party to come in is going to be just as bad or even worse.

Lose-lose situation.

It could get even worst, one of the two groups could draw another country into war, they fired on Turkey a couple of weeks ago and Israeli yesterday.

[CaptainCrunch]

Not to be a conspiracy theorist, but it almost makes more sense for the free army to create a situation where neighboring states have to intervene.

The first goal of a turkish or Israeli intervention would be to topple the government, something that the Free Army hasn't been able to do.

I don't see a benefit to Asaad getting foreign governments that aren't really friendly to him involved.

[theinfinitejar]

I don't know where exactly this falls on the brave/crazy scale, but I suspect it's more on the crazy side. Huge respect to the people over there bringing us photos back.

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Not to be a conspiracy theorist, but it almost makes more sense for the free army to create a situation where neighboring states have to intervene.

IMO, this already requires intervention.

How much blood has to be shed before the international community (particularly an Arab-based military force) can move in and diffuse fighting?

[Devils'Advocate]

Well, like Somalia there is no "good guys" like in their civil war, but international intervention just isn't going to work. All that will happen is another "Black Hawk Down". As soon as the intervening country gets its nose bloodied, there will be a cry to pull the soldiers out. And I don't blame them. Look how much we invested and how little we have accomplished in Afghanistan. I think international intervention will only mean that many countries will suffer losses rather than just one.... I think it will just make matters that much worse.

[Codes]

There aren't really words to describe those photos let alone reality on the ground in Syria.

It's devastating.

[Fozzie_DeBear]

Originally Posted by Devils'Advocate

Well, like Somalia there is no "good guys" like in their civil war, but international intervention just isn't going to work. All that will happen is another "Black Hawk Down". As soon as the intervening country gets its nose bloodied, there will be a cry to pull the soldiers out. And I don't blame them. Look how much we invested and how little we have accomplished in Afghanistan. I think international intervention will only mean that many countries will suffer losses rather than just one.... I think it will just make matters that much worse.

That is the horrible reality of war.

Maybe what would work is a different kind of military intervention...perhaps a UN force with teeth?

But obviously due to the politics of the Security Council and the lack of significant UN Military capability this is impossible.

I just hope this doesn't go regional because these kind of conflicts can spread quickly and unpredictably (e.g. WWI).

Interestingly, I read the history of Syria before/after WWI. It used to be part of the Ottoman Empire, then it was split after WWI between France and Britain. Britain got what became Palestine, which of included the current region of Israel (I think).

[alan21]

Amazing photos. To merely view a situation like this only as photos online and never having to experience such events makes me love Canada even more.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

IMO, this already requires intervention.

How much blood has to be shed before the international community (particularly an Arab-based military force) can move in and diffuse fighting?

Sure it requires intervention,

the Western States don't want to go in as its potentially another Tar Baby with the end result that even if we topple Assaad and another regime steps in that Regime could be even more anti western

The Arab League should have stepped in a long time ago, however they're taking the same route that they take everywhere, as long as they're not killing us, its ok.

The UN should have shown some balls, oh wait what am I thinking, they don't have the strength to do anything but go in there and get conned.

[burn_this_city]

Far too many factions and underlying secretarian issues for NATO and the UN to get involved. If anyone should intervene it should be the Arab league, but even that would be a disaster. It would probably end up like Iraq during the peak of the secretarian conflict.

[GreenLantern2814]

So you're saying there's trouble in the Middle East?

[_Q_]

One time while I was visiting Lebanon with my parents around 16 years ago, a slight mix up resulted in our flights being rescheduled to leave Beirut 2 weeks after we originally had planned. With school set to start, this was sort of an issue. My Grandmother suggested that we take a long distance taxi to Damascus which is about a 2 hour drive from Beirut and catch a flight out of there instead since there were more options out of Damascus. Sure enough, there was a flight leaving in 2 days, so we booked it, hired a taxi and off we went. The only problem is Canadian citizens are only allowed to enter Syria with a visa which must be applied for about 2 months in advance. So without a visa we got to the border, bribed the officer around $50 per person and we entered the country without a problem. To make a long story short, the one day I spent in Damascus was one of the most memorable trips of my life. The people were extremely friendly, the city was very clean and the food was superb. The history and culture in Syria is like nothing else I have experienced. There was, however, an underlying sense of fear at all times. As if you were constantly being watched. Before we got into Syria we were told specifically not to mention anything about the government. Not even in the hotel room because the government tends to bug any rooms that foreigners are known to stay in. It was a bit of a relief getting onto the plane heading back home. I can't believe what it would be like to live under that constant fear your entire life. I do, however, have a soft spot for the Syrians. It is tragic to see these images and I hope everything works out for them.

[Knut]

Bump. New photos from TheAtlantic

http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2...-ruins/100488/

[To Be Quite Honest]

Oh my heart goes out to those people.

[FlamesAddiction]

The destructions is so complete in Syria. I don't even know how you rebuild from that. You pretty much have to start from scratch in places like Homs.

(and it's not letting up yet at all)

[Keselke]

I think at how I live to my day to day life, then look at this. I cant imagine how brutal it would be to live in that