Even if what was described in the “smallpox blanket letter” actually occurred (and there is not evidence that it did), you can’t really spread smallpox by shipping a blanket to someone. It requires the transmission of infected bodily fluids, usually direct face to face contact.

Natives got wiped out by smallpox, which no one understood at the time.

The belief in collective responsibility for things done by people who died a long time ago is the reason the Middle East never gets any better.

Yeah, the middle east was a peace-loving place before we got there. They really had life figured out.

Yeah, that’s about where I’m at as well. Without the credible threat of military action I just don’t think we get Russia to do this except by making unacceptable concessions in Eastern Europe that we will later regret.

“Our best bet is to convince Russia to oust him and replace him with somebody of their choosing with the hopes that he’s not as blood-thirsty as Assad.” 

The latest contribution to humanity from the religion of peace?

Militarily, no. Politically, perhaps. Let’s see if they try to gas civilians again.

Preventing the further gassing of civilians is not a priority?

What answer is there besides using the tip of the spear? Economic pressure won’t work.

Yeah, well, the “native americans” came here across a land bridge from Siberia so its not their country either.

Wow, this thread got really stupid really quickly.

All fair points, but how do you convince Russia to do this except by ratcheting up our military presence to tell the Russians “either you remove him, or we will.” Syria is not Ukraine - there is only so far Russia will go to defend its interests there. Putin is only able to maintain support for Syria activities…

Well, if writing snarky summaries of other people’s articles doesn’t work, I would build a wall around the entire middle east and check back in 50 years to decide if we should talk with whoever is left.

This being the root, is no one going to comment on the non-black guy’s dreadlocks?

What is your proposal for how to solve Syria?

To quote Bill Maher: “Hillary, stay in the woods, OK? You had your shot. You fucked it up. You’re Bill Buckner. We had the World Series, and you let the grounder go through your legs. Let someone else have the chance.”

That would be the difference between individual responsibility, which we believe in, and collective responsibility, which we don’t.

Not so much. Collectively they would probably be worth about 16 electoral votes. Trump won by 74 electoral votes.

They actually explain exactly what is wrong with the methodology and why. You could read this and decide for yourself whether it makes sense. You could also note that an independent actuarial firm, as well as the relevant state regulatory agencies, came to the same conclusion. You might wonder how it is that…