The American people do not have the stomach for another war — whether it’s justified or not. AFTER three years of genocide, more than 70,000 Syrians have been killed by their president and his thugs.
Yes, Syria’s President Bashar as-Assad is a despot. Yes, Syrians are being outright murdered by his regime. And yes, using chemical weapons, if verified, warrants a strong reaction from the world.
The world, not just the United States, should react to Syria crossing that “red line,” that President Obama said would be a “game changer.”
But for now, silence the sabers. Don’t drag the U.S. into another Mideastern country that doesn’t appreciate our efforts to help. Keep our children home.
As its allies, Iran and Russia have kept Assad in power and his forces armed.
A clear-cut option to Assad, however, is lacking as insurgent jihadists linked to al-Quaida have become the dominant fighting force against Syrian troops. As with Egypt and Libya, ridding the country of a tyrant doesn’t ensure a beneficent leader will be at the ready.
Republican Senators John McCain of Arizona and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina are biting at the bit to be more aggressive in the U.S. campaign and want to establish a no-fly zone to neutralize Syria’s air defense as well as buy arms for the insurgents.
McCain stopped short of advising sending U.S. troops to Syria, saying that would “turn the people against us.”
Graham, however, has called for sending U.S. troops into Syria to secure chemical weapons supplies.
Those in favor of a more peaceful course support increasing humanitarian aid to the thousands of Syrians who have fled the fighting into neighboring countries of Turkey and Jordan.
To date, the United States is the largest contributor, $400 million, of humanitarian aid to displaced Syrians, and $250 million worth of supplies to insurgents.
Keeping opposition forces strong so they can fight their own war is our best bet of defeating Assad and avoiding U.S. involvement.
That’s not being weak, or sending a message to North Korea and Iran that we’ll turn a blind eye to their nuclear weapons programs.
Rather, it sends a message to Syria and its neighbors that they, not us, must summon the intestinal fortitude to fight evil. For it’s only when it’s done from within, that it has a chance of success.
— Susan Lynn
Keep U.S. boots off Syrian ground
