passing thought

Wars impoverish.
The exception being times like the great depression, when a nation immune from invasion can prosper by devoting itself to producing war materials... as USA did in 1942.
But it needed to be "at war" before it could get the people to willingly retask for the economic stimulus. Unfortunately, that stimulus is the only thing that has kept the USA going, and out of a second depression era ... hence the 52% of budget for military and nearly nothing for infrastructure and common folk.

Kill Arabs or Help average Americans?

The Bush Regime never had respect for the Constitution -- which specifies that Congress Declares War.
Call it a "WAR" and Congress has to authorize it.
Being "Commander-in-chief" and running that "war"kicks in after that declaration.
America has no business "punishing" the rulers of other nations -- of course, if we wish to assume that role, then we MUST apply that authority to ALL nations.  Selective application of arbitrary rules of morality are, in themselves, immoral.
The only consistent aspect between Iraq and Syria is that American military action serves only to aid Jihadists and al Qaeda.  It in no way has, or will, aid the average person within those nations.
Moreover, this intervention pulls resources from those things which most serve people -- things mandated by the the Text which is supposed to govern western religions.
Limited action in Syria will cost one BILLION dollars every two days ... what if that, apparently available to waste, money were directed to rural educational needs, or to ObamaCare (or a better medical program of Republican choice), or to making Social Security stronger?
Or, since the budget has that money to waste, why not a BILLION dollars every two days to reduce Income taxes for either the very rich, or by raising the low end amount where tax liabilities kick in?  After all, we seem to have the money to spend to kill Arabs -- why not use it to make life for the average American better?

History Repeats... as it was a century ago.

There was a 30 percent jump in anti-Semitic violence and vandalism last year, topped by a deadly school shooting in France, and expressed alarm about the rise of far-right parties in Hungary, Greece and other countries.

After a two-year decline, the annual report on worldwide anti-Semitic incidents recorded 686 attacks in 34 countries, ranging from physical violence to vandalism of synagogues and cemeteries, compared to 526 in 2011.

A century ago, similar activity was occurring in Europe. As we know, it meant a wave of immigration to America and a wall of anti-immigration akin to the one we are now see being raised in Congress. As the anti-immigration forces played here, the forces of war went to work in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East .... again, we are seeing that.

As history repeats itself, 2014-2015 will be critical. By 2018, death should have a hold on many regions...

Not that our leaders... especially the right-wing Republicans ...really care. This is, after all, what they have been promoting ever since the Gulf War... with luck, the TOP will have its way... we deserve it for putting them in a position to inflict... as they like to do...

THE MOST HARM TO THE MOST PEOPLE