The word out of Washington is that it now seems almost certain that some kind of chemical attack took place in Aleppo in Syria. Sources including the chairman of the House Intelligence committee confirm the news. We now have seen that Assad is prepared to increase the level of killing above the 75,000 who have already died in a mad bid to hold on to power. Further, since Assad would not take such a step without the blessing of his major ally and backer Iran, we also know that the mullahs are not joking when they speak of using weapons of mass destruction. This is all very troubling news.
The issue now is not how much to wring our hands to lament the recent events. The question is what, if anything, the USA is going to do now. Remember that president Obama has announced many times that using chemical weapons would be crossing a red line in Syria. Indeed, Obama told the world that even moving those weapons would constitute a violation that the USA could not accept. Of course, when the weapons were moved a month or so ago, America did nothing. Now that these weapons have been used, if America again does nothing it will be a major blow to our position in the region. No friend of ours would ever be able to rely on our word if we let this usage of chemical weapons go without a strong response. Obama is now forced to take some action to strike hard against Assad.
My choice for the appropriate response would be for the USA to launch a major strike against all weapons depots where chemical or biological weapons are stored or where the missiles that would deliver these arm are located. The strike would involve sending not just air power but also men on the ground to round up and destroy these weapons. As soon as the weapons were destroyed, all of the Americans could be withdrawn. It would not be the start of yet another commitment of Americans to fight for years in the Middle East. Rather it would be a short, limited mission which would serve to protect not only the innocent people in Syria but also to keep these potent weapons of mass destruction from falling into the hands of terror groups who might use them against us.
Sadly, I doubt that Obama has the strength to do what is needed at the moment. I hope I am wrong.
The issue now is not how much to wring our hands to lament the recent events. The question is what, if anything, the USA is going to do now. Remember that president Obama has announced many times that using chemical weapons would be crossing a red line in Syria. Indeed, Obama told the world that even moving those weapons would constitute a violation that the USA could not accept. Of course, when the weapons were moved a month or so ago, America did nothing. Now that these weapons have been used, if America again does nothing it will be a major blow to our position in the region. No friend of ours would ever be able to rely on our word if we let this usage of chemical weapons go without a strong response. Obama is now forced to take some action to strike hard against Assad.
My choice for the appropriate response would be for the USA to launch a major strike against all weapons depots where chemical or biological weapons are stored or where the missiles that would deliver these arm are located. The strike would involve sending not just air power but also men on the ground to round up and destroy these weapons. As soon as the weapons were destroyed, all of the Americans could be withdrawn. It would not be the start of yet another commitment of Americans to fight for years in the Middle East. Rather it would be a short, limited mission which would serve to protect not only the innocent people in Syria but also to keep these potent weapons of mass destruction from falling into the hands of terror groups who might use them against us.
Sadly, I doubt that Obama has the strength to do what is needed at the moment. I hope I am wrong.
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