Middle East Thread of Despair: More Broken Than Syria

The Something Awful Forums > Discussion > Debate & Discussion > Middle East Thread of Despair: More Broken Than Syria

Bombadilillo: Feb 28, 2009; The dock really fucks a case or nerfing it.

OK, so I haven't been following the Syria situation very closely, the OP has some general backround. But nothing about what seems to be coming to a head now.

Is there a good source or timeline of events? Seems like its about to hit the fan and I'd like to get up to speed.

# ¿ Oct 3, 2012 21:19

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# ¿ Apr 28, 2024 12:05

Bombadilillo: Feb 28, 2009; The dock really fucks a case or nerfing it.

R. Mute posted:

How much does a drone cost to manufacture, if they can throw them away like that?

Presumably they didn't think they were throwing it away.

# ¿ Oct 12, 2012 18:16

Bombadilillo: Feb 28, 2009; The dock really fucks a case or nerfing it.

Well that was an intense read. So the Ambassador died from smoke inhalation? When/who found him? I havents seen any details of this story other then headlines.

# ¿ Oct 16, 2012 22:09

Bombadilillo: Feb 28, 2009; The dock really fucks a case or nerfing it.

SpaceMost posted:

In fairness, many Muslims think Americans revere sacred feces.

Can I get context for this wonderful statment.

# ¿ Oct 17, 2012 20:34

Bombadilillo: Feb 28, 2009; The dock really fucks a case or nerfing it.

Baracula posted:

Holy poo poo.

I feel extremely stupid right now.

Especially because I first though you were expressing an extreme reaction to me not knowing. :v:

# ¿ Oct 17, 2012 20:44

Bombadilillo: Feb 28, 2009; The dock really fucks a case or nerfing it.

Brown Moses posted:

I just looked it up on Wikipedia, hoping I won't sound like a twat on it now.

You won't. You have nothing to 'prove' as they are not trying to push an agenda. NPR listeners are actually interested in getting facts and information. Make sure you let the thread known when you are on so we can all listen!

# ¿ Oct 18, 2012 21:09

Bombadilillo: Feb 28, 2009; The dock really fucks a case or nerfing it.

Brown Moses posted:

I've got quite a few mentions in the media this week, only wish the gay porn wouldn't show up on Google Image search previews when you Google my name without safe search on

Slightly off topic but maybe theres a thread out there about this. How do you googlebomb something? This gay porn stuff cant be so popular that a goon rush cant fix it. You seem to be getting some good breaks right now and the porn stuff sucks, could we feasably get it of the first page search results?

# ¿ Oct 19, 2012 15:45

Bombadilillo: Feb 28, 2009; The dock really fucks a case or nerfing it.

Corny posted:

On the subject of Israel, (reposted from the Jerusalem Post because Haaretz is loving subscriber now apparently)

http://www.jpost.com/DiplomacyAndPolitics/Article.aspx?id=289334

This is loving horrifying.

I don't know enough about Israeli politics to understand this, did their two major parties just combine?

# ¿ Oct 25, 2012 20:37

Bombadilillo: Feb 28, 2009; The dock really fucks a case or nerfing it.

Brown Moses posted:

Here's a rare video of a cluster bomb being dropped and deploying

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8myB9-YD7o

Wow, is the official government line still that they are not using these?

# ¿ Oct 31, 2012 20:53

Bombadilillo: Feb 28, 2009; The dock really fucks a case or nerfing it.

I am very ignorant of the region and this conflict. I have been following this thread for a few weeks and trying to read up. I was thinking good guy bad guy.

That was loving sobering.

# ¿ Nov 1, 2012 19:35

Bombadilillo: Feb 28, 2009; The dock really fucks a case or nerfing it.

Friendly Factory posted:

Not to accuse you of anything, but I was wondering if you are going to try to learn Arabic and/or Farsi. It would probably cut out the middleman with a lot of your reporting.

To this point, are there a lot of regional dialects in play? Specificly the Kurds are a distinct ethinic group, do they have their own language?

# ¿ Nov 1, 2012 22:24

Bombadilillo: Feb 28, 2009; The dock really fucks a case or nerfing it.

Zeroisanumber posted:

Just three. Probably got lost somewhere, unless Assad has totally lost his mind and decided that provoking a war with Israel is just what the doctor ordered.

That would defiantly court American involvement though right?(fighting spilling into Israel) Sending just 3 tanks...that have to have gotten lost. Or are trying to provoke a response to look like victims?

# ¿ Nov 3, 2012 16:35

Bombadilillo: Feb 28, 2009; The dock really fucks a case or nerfing it.

Brown Moses posted:

The problem is that at this point because Western involvement has been considered lacking by the various opposition groups they've instead turned to backers who are more Islamist in nature, and in turn have become increasingly Islamist, and in some cases headed towards extremism. The opposition of 2011 isn't the same opposition we now have in 2012, and the West has probably lost it's chance to have real influence on the political and idealogical make up of the opposition.

Really they should focus on the humanitarian side, because they've lost their chance on the military side of things. The whole situation is hosed now, it'll just be a matter of cleaning up the mess once the dust has settled.

What, should they have done earlier? Straight military involvment? I know its tricky and I guess Im asking for more of your opinion then a facual x,y and z.

# ¿ Nov 8, 2012 21:21

Bombadilillo: Feb 28, 2009; The dock really fucks a case or nerfing it.

That is impressive software, the name too strikes my nerdy bone. I wonder if this information can be put to more use then just observing the conflict in greater detail.

# ¿ Nov 9, 2012 00:43

Bombadilillo: Feb 28, 2009; The dock really fucks a case or nerfing it.

Dead Reckoning posted:

EDIT:
Which would be hilarious because it's a drone and the pilots would most likely be completely unable to see said warning shots.

By that logic we wouldn't know at all that they tried :confused:

because they missed and we noticed they missed. How is it functionally different if its a 'warning shot' or a 'missed shot'

# ¿ Nov 10, 2012 15:04

Bombadilillo: Feb 28, 2009; The dock really fucks a case or nerfing it.

Dead Reckoning posted:

The big difference is actively trying to kill another aircraft and failing vs intentionally missing.

Not sure why people are so keen on this "warning shots" idea. I'm assuming we know they fired because the U.S. Military takes a keen interest in things like Iranian jets intercepting our planes in international waters and We Have Our Ways. Warning shots aren't really A Thing in aviation these days, for a number of reasons: First, very few countries still load their aircraft cannon with tracers, so it would be pretty easy to not even see the warning shots. Second, most people who see an armed military aircraft join up on their wing know whoever sent it means business: if the intruder isn't deterred by the mere presence of a jet fighter, they already think you won't shoot them down. Third, firing at or near the sovereign instrumentalities of another country is an extremely dicey proposition and staggeringly likely to trigger a war. The fact that it's a drone makes the entire idea doubly hilarious because the RQ-1 is considered expendable when necessary and it's very hard to intimidate pilots who are in a trailer 8,500 miles away.

I see what your getting at. And I am not arguing that it WAS warning shots. I just thought it sounded pretty weak that is must have been a missed shot because sucky planes Q.E.D.

I don't think 'warning shot' is the alternative, more like 'being a dick' shot. Just a poke in the ribs, we see your drones we could shoot them if we wanted message to America. Not trying to scare a pilot that obviously isnt there. Is that not a possibility?

# ¿ Nov 11, 2012 01:19

Bombadilillo: Feb 28, 2009; The dock really fucks a case or nerfing it.

Alchenar posted:

You can do that perfectly well just by intercepting and buzzing the drone.

Shooting and missing just makes you look really terrible at flying.

Good point. Still would it be the first time Iran went out of its way to overtly and oddly make a statement?

Bombadilillo fucked around with this message at 01:57 on Nov 11, 2012

# ¿ Nov 11, 2012 01:26

Bombadilillo: Feb 28, 2009; The dock really fucks a case or nerfing it.

Crasscrab posted:

Funny how it was around this time of year back in 2008 that Israel also launched an offensive into the Gaze Strip.

I know they have an early election coming up, are they on a 4 year cycle too?

# ¿ Nov 15, 2012 00:22

Bombadilillo: Feb 28, 2009; The dock really fucks a case or nerfing it.

nevermind, I fell for a troll.

# ¿ Nov 15, 2012 04:14

Bombadilillo: Feb 28, 2009; The dock really fucks a case or nerfing it.

hepatizon posted:

Ah yes, the engine thermometer.

Wait, what? This still doesn't make sense. Infrared tracking is passive, it does not put out a signal. How can it be tracked? That's like tracking targets seeing your plane with visible light. Unless the missile had a tracking radar as well its not going to be picked up.

# ¿ Nov 16, 2012 04:54

Bombadilillo: Feb 28, 2009; The dock really fucks a case or nerfing it.

^^^That makes sense. I believe your right, its all precautionary, and rightly so (not a moral stance judgement just a tactical one)

Kugyou no Tenshi posted:

I think that was hepatizon's joke - the "infrared tracking signal" is your engine, and your engine thermometer is what's letting you know that the "signal" is being broadcast.

I think a lot of the other people here are getting hung up on "infrared tracking" and not understanding that this is referring to following the heat signature of the target, not "painting" it with an IR laser.

Ok, I couldnt tell. This is something I actually do understand very well on account of my job, and theres a lot of technical terms being thrown around that don't make sense. Hard to spot the sarcasm.

Bottom line. If the opposition has weapons that are just infrared tracking, you bet your rear end those pilots will deploy countermeasures nonstop since thats a no warning death for the,.

# ¿ Nov 16, 2012 05:01

Bombadilillo: Feb 28, 2009; The dock really fucks a case or nerfing it.

BadChipotle posted:

Hey guys. I took some photos in Kuwait concerning the opposition movement boycotting the elections there, anybody want to see them?

Yes.

# ¿ Nov 30, 2012 18:35

Bombadilillo: Feb 28, 2009; The dock really fucks a case or nerfing it.

Pro Morsi protesters aparently taking a mass oath the protect his position with their lives. :stare:

Is this language common at the protests? This is the first time I watched anything like this live.

# ¿ Jul 3, 2013 20:35

Bombadilillo: Feb 28, 2009; The dock really fucks a case or nerfing it.

Is there any indication once the dust settles and they have some elections again the Muslim Brotherhood wont just get elected again?

# ¿ Jul 3, 2013 20:40

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# ¿ Apr 28, 2024 12:05

Bombadilillo: Feb 28, 2009; The dock really fucks a case or nerfing it.

Al Jezerra stream made it very clear, 'this is a coup'.

Are Western new sources mincing words?

# ¿ Jul 3, 2013 20:53

The Something Awful Forums > Discussion > Debate & Discussion > Middle East Thread of Despair: More Broken Than Syria