The
crisis in Syria is basically a civil war. It is a power struggle between
conflicting ideologies. It started as an uprising against Assad’s dictatorship
and a small faction attempting to have something like democracy without knowing
what that really meant for them.
Now,
however, it has turned into something else. The rebel forces are apparently a
jumble of insurgents including members of Al-Qaeda. So if we go in there and do
whatever, blow up some of Assad’s military assets, or even topple the regime,
do we want terrorists taking over things? How would a gang of Muslim extremists
turning the place into an unbending theocracy be better for the Syrian people?
Is
President Obama simply trying to save face, hoping to keep from looking weak
after making previous threats against Assad’s use of chemical weapons?
Even
with all of the horror that has gone on, there was no real threat to the U.S.
Assad had never made any movement against our country (and neither as the world
knows now did Saddam Hussein). Assad was simply trying to hold on to his own
power and defeat the resistance. But now that the U.S. has threatened bombings
he of course is warning there will be consequences. And not just from him but
from others in the region who support him.
So
now we’re really in a fix. If we back down now it will appear we’re afraid of
Assad and his allies. And if we go on with this foolish attack, what kind of
mayhem might result; for Syria and for the U.S.?
It’s
time for some extraordinary courage on the part of the President, the Congress,
and the American people. Forget saving face. Forget looking weak. We have to be
smart now. And that will take real wisdom and guts.
(c) 2013 Timothy Moody
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