CNN is reporting that Defense Secretary Hagel has confirmed that America now has proof that the Assad regime has been using chemical weapons in the Syrian civil war. This is a really big deal folks. It puts president Obama in the position of having only two choices: 1) he can have America take action against the Assad forces; or 2) he can ignore his prior warnings and ignore the use of chemical weapons as well. The first choice risks involving America in the Syrian civil war. The second choice would destroy the credibility of the USA all around the world.
Let's back up for a moment. It has been known for many years that Syria has an extensive stockpile of chemical weapons. The Assad regime has kept tight control of these weapons for decades. For most of the civil war, the chemical weapons were not used. Then a few months ago, intelligence detected that Assad forces were preparing the weapons to be moved. That intelligence led to warnings against the use of such weapons coming from Israel, the Western European powers and the United States. Obama announced on more than one occasion that the use of chemical weapons in Syria would be the crossing of a red line as far as the USA is concerned. The clear implication of Obama's statements has been that the use of chemical weapons will not be tolerated. For at least the last month, there has been ongoing stories about how the Assad forces are using the weapons in Syria. In the last week, Israel, Britain and France have each stated that they have proof that the chemical weapons were used. Well now the Secretary of Defense of the United States of America has made the same announcement. WE ARE BEYOND SPIN!!! EVEN OBAMA CAN NO LONGER AVOID THIS ISSUE!!
If I were president I would announce a policy calling for the destruction of all the chemical weapons in Syria. Simultaneously with that announcement, I would send American air power into Syria to commence destroying the stores of chemical weapons. The initial attack must be massive; it must hit all known chemical weapons storage facilities. At the same time, Syrian air defenses and offensive capabilities must be taken out. After all, we do not want Assad to send either planes or missiles to attack the sixth fleet in the Med or to target our allies.
This is a terrible outcome that could have been avoided had Obama had a policy for dealing with Assad when the uprising first began. Right now, no matter how the fighting ends, the result will be bad. Let's at least make sure that when the smoke clears and either Assad or the terrorists of al Qaeda are in charge in Syria, they have no chemical weapons to use.
Syria is a monumental foreign policy blunder by Obama and his people.
Let's back up for a moment. It has been known for many years that Syria has an extensive stockpile of chemical weapons. The Assad regime has kept tight control of these weapons for decades. For most of the civil war, the chemical weapons were not used. Then a few months ago, intelligence detected that Assad forces were preparing the weapons to be moved. That intelligence led to warnings against the use of such weapons coming from Israel, the Western European powers and the United States. Obama announced on more than one occasion that the use of chemical weapons in Syria would be the crossing of a red line as far as the USA is concerned. The clear implication of Obama's statements has been that the use of chemical weapons will not be tolerated. For at least the last month, there has been ongoing stories about how the Assad forces are using the weapons in Syria. In the last week, Israel, Britain and France have each stated that they have proof that the chemical weapons were used. Well now the Secretary of Defense of the United States of America has made the same announcement. WE ARE BEYOND SPIN!!! EVEN OBAMA CAN NO LONGER AVOID THIS ISSUE!!
If I were president I would announce a policy calling for the destruction of all the chemical weapons in Syria. Simultaneously with that announcement, I would send American air power into Syria to commence destroying the stores of chemical weapons. The initial attack must be massive; it must hit all known chemical weapons storage facilities. At the same time, Syrian air defenses and offensive capabilities must be taken out. After all, we do not want Assad to send either planes or missiles to attack the sixth fleet in the Med or to target our allies.
This is a terrible outcome that could have been avoided had Obama had a policy for dealing with Assad when the uprising first began. Right now, no matter how the fighting ends, the result will be bad. Let's at least make sure that when the smoke clears and either Assad or the terrorists of al Qaeda are in charge in Syria, they have no chemical weapons to use.
Syria is a monumental foreign policy blunder by Obama and his people.
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