There has been another major attack with poison gas in Syria. The target hit is a village held by the rebels. The gas was delivered during an air attack on the village by the Assad forces. In typical fashion, both sides of the conflict are blaming the other for the attack. There seems to be no doubt, however, that the attack was a criminal action by the Assad forces. The rebels do not have chemical weapons, a fact which rules them out as the source. Nor do the rebels have an air force to deliver these weapons; only the Assad forces do. Finally, the dead and dying are all supporters of the rebels, not a likely rebel target.
One thing is certain: the Assad forces seem no longer to care about the agreements to stop using chemical weapons and to destroy them. It also seems clear that whatever influence the Russians were using to keep Assad in line is no longer being employed. Perhaps this is Vladimir Putin's way of telling the USA and the West to stop hassling him about Crimea. You know, it is a less than subtle reminder that bad things can happen if Russia stops cooperating with the West.
The truth is that today's attack (which is the second of this type in a week) offers president Obama a major opportunity to recover from some of his more blatant foreign policy failures. Obama should order an air attack on the major Syrian chemical weapon installations. The attack should not be a one off with a few cruise missiles. It ought to be one where major American forces attack and destroy the Syrian chemical weapon infrastructure. If that attack requires that America first destroy the Syrian air defenses and air forces, then that too should be included. Obama should announce that America will not tolerate the use of chemical weapons by any power at any time. He should further announce that America will not allow the use of phony agreements by tyrants like Assad to get around international norms.
Just think of what could be accomplished by this attack. First of all, Assad would suffer a major blow to his power and prestige. It would become clear that the previous "free pass" that Obama gave him is no longer in effect. Indeed, Obama should once again state that America policy is that Assad needs to go.
Second, this attack would be a major blow to Iran and Hezbollah, two very strong supporters of Assad. Their efforts would be revealed as ineffectual in protecting Assad. More important, Iran would have learned that there are points where even someone like Obama will use American power. It would help immensely in the negotiations regarding the Iranian nuclear weapons program.
Third, the attack would work to undermine the prestige of Putin, another of Assad's major supporters. It would at least put some threat of force back into the statements made by Obama in discussing Ukraine.
Remember, the most likely outcome of this attack would be the destruction of the Syrian air defense system, the Syrian chemical weapons depots and plants, and much of the Syrian air force. Unless the Syrians have some sort of air defense system which was installed in the last few months (which they don't), the cost to the USA should be minimal. Israel's air forces, which are nowhere near as advanced as America's, penetrate Syrian air space at will. America ought to be able to easily carry out this mission.
There is the risk of some retaliatory strike by Syrian or Iranian back terror groups around the world against American targets. I doubt, however, that will happen. Assad and the mullahs in Teheran understand that a major terror attack would unite America to take further steps against them. I doubt they would want to take that risk.
One thing is certain: the Assad forces seem no longer to care about the agreements to stop using chemical weapons and to destroy them. It also seems clear that whatever influence the Russians were using to keep Assad in line is no longer being employed. Perhaps this is Vladimir Putin's way of telling the USA and the West to stop hassling him about Crimea. You know, it is a less than subtle reminder that bad things can happen if Russia stops cooperating with the West.
The truth is that today's attack (which is the second of this type in a week) offers president Obama a major opportunity to recover from some of his more blatant foreign policy failures. Obama should order an air attack on the major Syrian chemical weapon installations. The attack should not be a one off with a few cruise missiles. It ought to be one where major American forces attack and destroy the Syrian chemical weapon infrastructure. If that attack requires that America first destroy the Syrian air defenses and air forces, then that too should be included. Obama should announce that America will not tolerate the use of chemical weapons by any power at any time. He should further announce that America will not allow the use of phony agreements by tyrants like Assad to get around international norms.
Just think of what could be accomplished by this attack. First of all, Assad would suffer a major blow to his power and prestige. It would become clear that the previous "free pass" that Obama gave him is no longer in effect. Indeed, Obama should once again state that America policy is that Assad needs to go.
Second, this attack would be a major blow to Iran and Hezbollah, two very strong supporters of Assad. Their efforts would be revealed as ineffectual in protecting Assad. More important, Iran would have learned that there are points where even someone like Obama will use American power. It would help immensely in the negotiations regarding the Iranian nuclear weapons program.
Third, the attack would work to undermine the prestige of Putin, another of Assad's major supporters. It would at least put some threat of force back into the statements made by Obama in discussing Ukraine.
Remember, the most likely outcome of this attack would be the destruction of the Syrian air defense system, the Syrian chemical weapons depots and plants, and much of the Syrian air force. Unless the Syrians have some sort of air defense system which was installed in the last few months (which they don't), the cost to the USA should be minimal. Israel's air forces, which are nowhere near as advanced as America's, penetrate Syrian air space at will. America ought to be able to easily carry out this mission.
There is the risk of some retaliatory strike by Syrian or Iranian back terror groups around the world against American targets. I doubt, however, that will happen. Assad and the mullahs in Teheran understand that a major terror attack would unite America to take further steps against them. I doubt they would want to take that risk.
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