US Actions in Syria May Do More Harm Than Good
In a desperate move against the rebels, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is suspected of using chemical weapons on his own people. This crosses a line drawn by the United Nations and now the U.S. is considering stepping in.
But some on Capitol Hill fear that without stable leadership, overthrowing Assad could invite Al Qaeda to step in and take power in the struggling country. This has always been the primary concern for the UN regarding Syria and how much action, if any, would be taken to secure the region.
There doesn't seem to be any viable candidates among the rebels to lead the country and after Assad and the possible ramifications of Al Qaeda moving in are frightening. The last thing anyone wants is another Iraq scenario where American troops have to occupy and maintain stability of Syria for an extended period of time.
Having only recently scaled back our presence in Iraq and Afghanistan, the US would prefer not to have a repeat of those two conflicts. Sen. John McCain warns that if America does nothing in response to Assad's use of chemical weapons, our credibility would be further decreased in the world.
The dilemma is a complex one for President Obama who must weigh the consequences of potentially further destabilizing the region and making good on our promise to punish any use of chemical weapons. If he opts for a limited strike on strategic targets some advisers warn, this would be too little and much too late, serving no real purpose and having no real lasting effect.
Unfortunately, as tensions rise in the surrounding countries, it becomes more likely that nothing less than a united force of all the democratic nations will return stability across the region. In the past, America's role in the Middle East as a police force has only fueled tensions paving the way for Al Qaeda linked insurgency.
While everyone agrees something must be done, history has proven that America should not be the one to take on the task alone.
Source:
http://www.politico.com/story/2013/08/john-mccain-syria-95968.html
The dilemma is a complex one for President Obama who must weigh the consequences of potentially further destabilizing the region and making good on our promise to punish any use of chemical weapons. If he opts for a limited strike on strategic targets some advisers warn, this would be too little and much too late, serving no real purpose and having no real lasting effect.
Unfortunately, as tensions rise in the surrounding countries, it becomes more likely that nothing less than a united force of all the democratic nations will return stability across the region. In the past, America's role in the Middle East as a police force has only fueled tensions paving the way for Al Qaeda linked insurgency.
While everyone agrees something must be done, history has proven that America should not be the one to take on the task alone.
Source:
http://www.politico.com/story/2013/08/john-mccain-syria-95968.html
Previously Posted on FullofKnowlege.com
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