"are you suggesting that we should not send any humanitarian aid just in case our motives are questioned"
Certainly not - I'm merely pointing out that is should be regarded for what it is, a business and political technique - not an act of humanitarianism - nor an act of charity - that's left to Oxfam and Trocair to do that sort of thing.
In the case of Syria, or any of the Arab Spring states we have had dealings with, any of the possible humanitarian fallout has been more than cancelled out by the fact that some of the carnage being 'relieved' has been caused by weapons and equipment sold by aid providing countries such as our own - and nothing in Keith's hastily-gathered cut-'n-paste contradicts the facts stated by those involved in providing foreign aid.
"What f**kin democratic rights??"
What indeed - I've been arguing excatly that - you've been arguing that it's OK to sell arms Assad because we "only sold him sniper rifles for his soldiers to practice with" before he turned them out on the streets of Homs
As you where corporal - oh, you already are!
Jim Carroll
"Jom" - there goes that typo again - magnificent - where did you think that one up?