Assassinating a journalist is a bad idea. Assassinating a French one is suicidal. An Assassination. That's what it was, and that's what the French government is calling it.
"J'ai vu les images, c'est un assassinat. Ceux qui ont assassiné devront rendre des comptes." "I saw the pictures, it is assassination. The assassins will be held accountable."
Now, the word for Murder and the word for Assassinate in French is the same word. For my money, The context here translates to assassinate, because in the mind of the French government this was a political attack. We do know that the journalists were specifically targeted. Reports from the Lebanese say that their listening posts intercepted orders to directly target the press center in Homs. When a request for confirmation came in, the order was confirmed, saying that they would blame the Journalist's deaths on a shootout with terrorists. Time, The Atlantic Wire, and the AP are all carrying this story.
Considering that the French just recently completed two police actions, one of which was unilateral (edit:WITH the UN's Blessing), I wouldn't be surprised if we see Sarkozy send in Le Marine nationale and launch a significant carrier strike against the Syrians.
And yes, I know some people are saying "The French? As in the cheese eating surrender monkeys French?"
Well the truth is, that France is the US of Europe. They'll invade anyone, anywhere, at the drop of a hat. Vietnam was their fault, and they left us holding the bag, because their politicians were smarter than Lyndon Johnson. While they were engaged in Libya, they were also aiding the UN and African Union in ousting the government of Dictator Laurent Gbagbo.
Remember that guy? The one who was a member of the shady Biblicist organization, The Fellowship aka The Family? The one supported by Inhoffe? Yeah. The French took him the hell down, with the UN's Blessing. WHILE they were engaged in a war in Libya. Which they started without telling their coalition partners, because heh, they're French.
These are the people who snarkily offered to let the UK have one of their aircraft carriers - knowing full well that the UK doesn't have any fighters capable of flying off of carriers. They retired their carrier fighter fleet in an austerity-induced wave of spending cuts that had the forces chiefs (Ie the British Joint Chiefs of Staff) screaming at the top of their lungs. The cuts were incredibly stupid, because their aid to the war in Libya cost about four times as much as it would have with carriers. Instead, they used long-range bombers launching from Gloucester. Hey Tories? Which costs less? Flying fighter-bombers for 250 miles 200 times, or flying them for 1500 miles 200 times to do the exact same job?
-Anyway, unless Turkey lends an airbase to the UK (distinctly possible) they won't be able to help the French without two refueling flights a sortie.- The previous sentence is incorrect. I forgot that the UK has airbases in Cyprus. And in an Election year, I wonder of Obama wouldn't like a bit of the ol' "stick it to the tyrant allied with Iran. The same tyrant all of the republicans just agreed that the US should attack. Except Ron Paul, but his foreign policy isn't terrible, and he can't win anyway."
So we may see, very shortly, exactly the same kind of intervention we saw in Libya.
Just don't be surprised if it happens.
Whether this is a good or a bad idea? Dunno.
On the one hand, it seems like we have a just case for helping the Syrian people. On the other hand, we can't pretend we're a force of light and justice as long as Guantanamo Bay is still open. The Republicans just love the fact that they spent eight years trashing this nation's reputation, and they'll be good god-damned if they let that democrat from Kenya do something right for a change.
Not that Obama's perfect. The Drone War bothers me, a lot. Assassination of two American Citizens with drones is kind of a violation of Due Process of Law. And unlike the Bush and Obama Administrations, I don't think the constitution stops at our borders. Anyway, I just thought I'd let people know what I'm thinking in my observation of foreign policy. What say you Kossacks? Intervention in Syria likely? Support, or no? Tell me why.
7:04 PM PT: Thanks for the Reclist. I'm enjoying the comments quite a bit. There are a lot of very well read people commenting on this issue, so I urge everyone to check out the comment section.