The headlines today say that "dozens" were killed in the Syrian city of Hama when the Assad regime used tanks to put down protests. Just to be clear, the tanks were not just used to block roads; they were deployed to fire upon those in the streets. In other words, Assad in Syria is doing what Gaddafi in Libya threatened. In response to the Libyan threats, the US and NATO finally got around to using force to prevent the slaughter. In Syria, we have gotten to the point of speaking out against Assad's wholesale murder of his own people, but we are doing nothing. In the 1980's Assad's father used poison gas against his own people to put down an uprising. At that time, Syria was alligned with the USSR, so the USA was prevented from taking any action without risking war with Russia. Today, that is not the case since the Soviet Union is long gone. We can and should do more to stop Assad.
Before some of you start screaming about another war, let me hasten to add that I am not advocating armed action as of now. There are many other things that could be done, short of war. But we need someone to lead the US towards doing what is right and moral and in our national interest. Maybe Obama can take time off from campaigning or celebrating his birthday and actually do something about Syria. But don't hold your breath.
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