[Brillopad]

Originally Posted by Twosugars

It's odd how antiwar noises in this country are usually made by the left wing.
Whereas in US, at least this time round, it's the right wing, Trump supporters who are unhappy with the Syria strikes. Fox News, Braitbart etc take a very critical view of Trump getting involved there.

I have to ask myself why some people, as you say usually on the left, are against military retaliation in this kind of situation. Is it because they are more concerned about the potential effects on themselves, especially with Russia involved, than the people in Syria?

Talking to the likes of Assad or Putin won’t work, it hasn’t so far as they simply shows defiance in response. Attacking people with chemical weapons is inexcusable and something the West has to be involved in for everyone’s sake. If some dictators are seen to be getting away with it some other dictator will try it on too.

The implication some try to make that the left care more than the right is ridiculous as self-preservation could be the motive either way - it is definitely not an indication they are morally superior. Pretty sick of the impression some try to give - tantamount to patting each other on the back and saying what a good boy/girl am I.

[Twosugars]

Originally Posted by Brillopad

I have to ask myself why some people, as you say usually on the left, are against military retaliation in this kind of situation. Is it because they are more concerned about the potential effects on themselves, especially with Russia involved, than the people in Syria?

Talking to the likes of Assad or Putin won’t work, it hasn’t so far as they simply shows defiance in response. Attacking people with chemical weapons is inexcusable and something the West has to be involved in for everyone’s sake. If some dictators are seen to be getting away with it some other dictator will try it on too.

The implication some try to make that the left care more than the right is ridiculous as self-preservation could be the motive either way - it is definitely not an indication they are morally superior. Pretty sick of the impression some try to give - tantamount to patting each other on the back and saying what a good boy/girl am I.

I think there's a fair amount of feeling superior on both sides. The right wing tend to feel superior because they claim they stand for tradition, common sense and against what they call dangers posed by unrealistic and idealistic left.
Why the left is antiwar? I think what MTVN says about being anti-imperialist and anti-colonialist is important. The left also draws on socialist ideals which tend to be very internationalist, i.e. looking for common ground with others first, and claiming that wars are usually lose-lose situations.
Downside to these admirable principles is that the left may (and often is) seen as weak on defence and security.