Should the US involve itself in the Syrian conflict?
By sending forces to Syria, the country could prevent the slaughter of civilians.
Nancy Chiu | Daily Trojan
Now, once again, the world stands at a crossroads — this time with Syria. Should military force be used for human rights? According to CNN, President — some would say dictator — Bashar al-Assad has shown blatant disregard for human life in his continued use of conventional and now chemical weapons against the civilian population.
The U.S. is currently divided on the issue of intervention, but it must realize that the country has a moral obligation to act and an ability to actually make a real difference in the conflict.
The U.N. estimates that there have been more than 100,000 killed in the conflict so far, with nearly two million refugees fleeing from the violence.
The death toll will only rise as the Assad regime continues to target civilians in the hopes that the people of Syria will become weary of the violence and end their support of rebel forces. As the civil war continues, so will the flight of civilians from their homes in Syria to neighboring countries. Pressure from refugees in the form of required land, food, water and shelter to care for these displaced people puts a strain on neighboring countries and strains diplomatic ties in the region. As bad as the situation in Syria is, refugee camps in neighboring Turkey or Jordan are only marginally better with similarly low quality of life for these refugees. According to the Los Angeles Times, the number of Syrian refugees has passed two million.
This massive loss of life and human migration threatens the stability of the Middle East, an already unstable region. And though intervention should have taken place months ago, it is even more crucial now because of Assad’s use of chemical weapons. Such an intervention can, proverbially speaking, kill two birds with one stone: It will help end the violence as well as send a message worldwide that the U.S. will not tolerate the use of chemical weapons.
Assad is waging a Cold War-style assault against the population, using troops, tanks and planes. These military assets, unlike jihadi fighters, are readily identifiable and easily targetable, according to the Foreign Affairs Journal. And though there are some risks involved, the U.S. has a moral obligation to help the defenseless citizens of Syria.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, speaking before the Senate on Tuesday, called critics of American intervention “armchair isolationists” and out of touch with the reality of the threats to human life on the ground, according to The Guardian. When describing the hundreds of children gassed by their own despotic leader, Kerry clearly laid out the obligation that the U.S. has as citizens of the world.
It’s time for the United States to step up and stop the killing in Syria. The human tragedy in the region has gone on long enough, and the United States has the military capability to end civilian killings.
Dan Morgan-Russell is a sophomore majoring in international relations (global business).
Intervention in Syria will not fix its most pertinent issues and is a waste of U.S. resources.
According to Global Issues, American military intervention in Afghanistan’s Soviet War caused the formation of Al-Qaeda. In fact, America provided vital arms and training to Afghan rebel fighters, who much like Syrian rebel fighters, were fighting against what was then perceived as an authoritarian regime. Nearly 30 years later, these misguided actions resulted in hundreds of thousands of lost lives in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well wasted resources and a 10-plus year war — the longest in U.S. history.
Al-Qaeda is not the only example of failed U.S. policies in action. According to recently released documents provided by NPR, in 1953 the American CIA coordinated with British spy agency MI6 to overthrow the democratically-elected prime minister of Iran in order to control oil exports. According to the BBC, after years of oppression by the U.S.-backed Iranian king, the Iranian people revolted in 1979, creating what is today known as the Islamic Republic of Iran. According to Reuters, this is the same government that is the Syrian regime’s No. 1 ally and the same government that constantly threatens use of nuclear power and weapons against Israel and other U.S.-allied countries.
More recent examples of Arab-spring type uprisings show the futility of outside intervention for ‘moral purposes’. In 2011, the UN Security Council approved a “no-fly zone” over Libya, an action which eventually resulted in the death of Libya’s dictatorial leader, Muammar Gaddafi.
Though this military intervention was hailed as a success, recent goings-on in Libya have shown otherwise. As an article from the United Kingdom’s Independent Magazine stated: “As world attention focused on the coup in Egypt and the poison gas attack in Syria over the past two months, Libya has plunged unnoticed into its worst political and economic crisis since the defeat of Gaddafi two years ago.”
Current violent uncertainty in Egypt is an additional warning against not only American intervention, but also intervention from the world. On Thursday, the latest violence in Egypt included an assassination attempt against the interior minister, leaving one dead and at least twenty people seriously wounded. As Obama stated in his meeting with lawmakers on Tuesday, “This is not Iraq, and this is not Afghanistan.” And yet, the Syrian conflict could certainly be Libya, Egypt, or even 1979-era Iran.
It is not enough justification that the U.S., in its intervention, would stop Syrian President Bashar al-Assad from further massacring his people using chemical weapons. As history has shown time and again, matters in the Middle East are never as simple as sending in the military to stop some crazed dictator. The situation afterwards is often exacerbated, leading to longterm violence and instability.
After Saddam Hussein’s ousting in 2003, sectarian violence took over and life for Iraqi people today is not substantially better than what it was before, according to The New York Times.
Though it is commendable that foreign governments claim humanitarianism as reasoning to invade Syria, there must be a solution for the long-term consequences. Obama, however, in the same conference with lawmakers, pledged that a strike on Syria would be “limited” — but this is clearly a self-defeating prophecy.
Any strike in the Middle East requires at least a decades-long commitment to ensure stability, but so far this involvement has not solved the remaining problems in Iraq, Afghanistan, or any other Middle Eastern nations that the U.S. has had the misfortune of being involved in. Additionally, the U.S. and world powers do not have the desire nor support to begin another decades-long war.
Therefore, any strike in Syria — a region entwined in socio-political and religious issues — by a foreign power that does not understand such history, will be more deadly not only for the Syrian people, but for any foreign power involved.
Ida Abhari is a freshman majoring in philosophy, politics and law.
Follow us on Twitter @dailytrojan
usa motivation is not humanitarian.
Suadi’s top spy, prince Bandar who supplies the money to rebels and some say supplied the Chemicals to them is worse than Asad.
It is politics of fighting a proxy war on Israel’s behalf and push their agenda in the region, otherwise it would also bomb or punish Israel for use of white phosphorous by Israelis.
They burned children in the schools by bomb drops.
Brian,
Do you see vampires at night too?
It’s my opinion that Muslims “frustration” with America has little to do with our policies vis-a-vis Israel and has more to do with Islam. Islam and its supremacist, hate-filled ideology. How else can one explain Islam’s violently aggressive roles in the following regions where the Israeli situation is non-existent. The common denominator IS Islam.
* The unrelenting ethnic cleansing of all Hindus from their ancient homelands in Pakistan and Bangladesh.
* Genocide of black Africans and Animists in Sudan., Mali and elsewhere.
* Ethnic cleansing of Christians from Nigeria, Pakistan, Iraq, Egypt.
* Slaughter of 5,000 Buddhists in Thailand in recent years.
* Violence against Russians and the same against Chinese in recent years.
* Sunni and Shi’ite murder of Kurds.
* Endless violence between Sunnis and Shi’ites with one million (!) killed in the Iraq/Iran war alone.
* Wholesale murder of all gays in Iran and across the Muslim world.
* Ethnic cleansing of Bahia in Iran.
* Endless war crimes in Syria.
* Ethnic cleansing of Berbers in North Africa.
* Random and consistent terrorist attacks against all Western embassies and citizens across the globe.
The only common denominator is Islam. If Israel were eliminated by Ahmadinejad this would not change our dynamics with the Middle East. It is only when we give up our freedom of speech, freedom of individual rights and become more like the UN, i.e., a subsidiary of the OIC that they will begin to put up with us.
When the Buddhists in Thailand give up their land then, and only then, will Muslim aggression against these peace-loving people end; and the same is true for Israel.
Denise,
“The world will not be destroyed by those who do evil, but by those who watch them without doing anything” ― Albert Einstein
…………..
“islam is as dangerous in a man as rabies in a dog” Winston Churchill
……………
“Woe to those who call evil good and good evil,
who put darkness for light and light for darkness,
who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!”
~Isaiah 5
……………
Patriarch Cyrus of Alexandria on Islam
“I am afraid that God has sent these men to lay waste the world”.
……………..
I’m in good company, Denise. I’d rather see evil for what it is than live in Wonderland with you and Alice.
yes the civilize world should not stand by and let the horror of chemical weapon use go unpunished. but bombing will only mean destroying inanimate materials and not the cruel minds that used these horrible weapons. why don’t the u s and its allies establish a neutral section within syria where all these refugees can go and be protected by their military might. in this safe haven the assad regine will be obligated to feed, clothe and shelter the people he caused to be displaced. let this monster share the responsibilities of mending the casualies he caused. in other words, show that you care for humanity by dealing with the problem in a humane way. with your might behind this humane effort, don;t you think the world will smile at your benevolent gesture and those evil doers will be put to shame?
Zionist Israel has murdered more than 10,000 innocent Palestinians and made more homeless and penniless. More than 1,000,000 Palestinians are in refugee camps in lands foreign to them. Humanitarian reasons? Are Palestinians not humans? Is it not Zionist Israel that fomented the Syrian crisis and surreptitiously shipped weapons to the criminal terrorist rebels?
Abram,
Given that you support the Palestinians who openly advocate Jewish genocide (see their duly elected leaders clear-cut party covenants), you correspondingly do as well. It’s hard to believe in this day and age that anyone would openly advocate the liquidation of Jews, but you clearly do and it doesn’t seem to bother you a whit.
Moreover, it would be hard to believe that anyone would support second class status for women, the honor murder of teenage girls, the brutalization of gays and the suppression of dissenters. But you, as supporters of the Palestinians who regularly practice all of the above, are therefore complicit in these sexist, racist and fascist beliefs as well.
Why are you so bigoted, misogynist, anti-gay and such hater of Jews? Please tell us pray tell.
And if to be opposed to such garbage practiced by so many Muslims world-wide makes one an Islamophobe, count me and all who believe in freedom and hate sexism and bigotry vs Jews as a proud Islamophobe.
The situation in the US is of it’s own making – arming and supporting insurgents, most of whom aren’t even Syrian, thus dragging on a bitter war in which atrocities are being committed by both sides.
This whole notion of ‘sending a message’ to Assad would be laughable if it wasn’t so serious. Is this really the best that the so called ‘civilized’ nations of the world can come up with? If humanitarian reasons really are the reason, then offer humanitarian aid not bombs – but it is clear to most that military intervention is a pretext for further expansion into the Middle East – this was the case with Iraq. They promise ‘no boots on the ground’ – but Syria will not take a strike lying down, and things will escalate swiftly – Iran has pledged that they will attack Israel if the US attacks Syria – what sort of ‘punishment’ will Obama be drawing up for that?
Then there’s the matter of the military action being a direct violation of International law. The U.N was created to prevent future wars – what gives the US the right to walk roughshod over it? And finally there is the very real chance that Russia, and even China are dragged into this – essentially bringing about World War 3 … millions could die, and all because of US intervention in a country where it has no right to be involved. There isn’t even concrete evidence to support the allegations that the chemical attacks were carried out by Assad – and to anybody with any background knowledge on the subject, it wouldn’t even make sense for him to do so.
Should the US involve itself in the Syrian Confict? Seemingly even most US citizens are against it – maybe Obama could try listening to his own people before deciding to unleash hell upon this earth.
“Humanterian reasons” !,. you must be kidding.
What it actually means is taking side with rebels in a civil war.
If there is any Humanterian reason, us should puch for a peace, for co-existence and pressure its allies Qatar, Suadi Arabia, Jordan, Egyption military coup leaders, …. to stop intervention in Syria.
It is the money that Qatar and Suadi’s provide for bucnch of thugs. No real Syrian citizen would agree to this kias…..
Real Syrian opposition leaders activity has been pushed aside.
Jihadists from 37 different countries are active in Syria. The only subjects they are united in is taking the endless money from Jordanian government which is being supplied by other Arab countries. It won’t be long before people of this region will become aware of what this foreign merceneries are doing to their countries and unite against whoever supported them…..and that won’t be a pleasant day for America.
Furthermore, I can not understand what the UN sampling of blood, urine and ground test is going to accomplish. Dose it mean that they want to compare it to what they have recently provided through the international arm dealer prince Bandar of Suadi Arabia versus what the Asad regime has had?
ooops, doesn’t this testing by itself show the new chemical arms shipments to the region by US allies?
The Syrian military bases have been attacked by rebels many times, is a fact nobody denies.
Even if this testing proves the traces are coming from Syrian army, there should be some concrete evidence that it is not from the rebels who have been attacking and taking over the Syrian army depots.
The way Obama is handling this situation and is pointing the finger without any doubt at the Syrian government, I take it that the decision has been made before any proof is found. We are fighting a proxy war on behalf of Israel.
UN has a long history of double talk, or being silence when it is needed to speak up and stand for truth.
The UN report will be out soon and our interpretation and outcome will be in favor of getting involved where we should not be involved at all.
We deserve all of what we have. Our tax dollar is being spent on warfare and sophisticated weapon systems to create death and destruction and suffering for others, because there is not enough of us to speak up against this injustice and this intervention.
War is not free. Look at the federal budget > income ~ $2 trillion, expenditures ~$4 trillion. We need to cut at least ~$2 trillion before starting a new war.
What is our president proposing to pay for his wars? Anything? How many families will lose food stamps to fund this war? How many social security checks will be stopped? How many health care bills will go unpaid? How many federal employees will lose their jobs or pensions?
I’m continually impressed by the range and depth of the USC students’ opinions and by the clarity of their writing. You are a credit to your university, your country, and your families.
I’m on the other side from Dan on this one. Yes, it’s a horrible situation, but this does not automatically mean the US alone is responsible for reacting.
Who can draw a circle around the result if we intervene? Once Americans start getting captured or killed, will the war spiral out of control, and draw us in deeper? No one can honestly answer either of these questions accurately.
Once we start bombing and killing, we are in. The satisfaction of payback will fade when we discover that both sides of this conflict blame us for their problems.
That said, I do support the US being part of a true multi-national response via the UN, NATO, and the Arab League. Begin war crime proceedings at the Hague.
Ida,
Was it America’s fault when Muslim hordes invaded the Buddhist enclaves of Afghanistan many centuries ago and wiped out and forcibly converted every single Buddhist in that region?
Was it America’s fault when Muslim hordes invaded northwest China many centuries ago resulting in centuries of an ebbing-and-flowing conflict in that region?
Was it America’s fault when Muslims invaded Sudan, killing millions, gang-raping with abandon and creating the worst refugee crisis witnessed since WWII?
Was It America’s fault when your prophet, Mohammed, invaded the unarmed village of Qurayza and beheaded all the men and enslaved all the women and children? Hint: This was 1,200 years before America existed.
………….
Ida,
When will you quit blaming America (or anyone else) for Islam’s self-inflicted problems and start acknowledging that Islam needs more than a giant reformation before it can enter, let’s just say, the 8th century.
Ida,
You’re putting the cart before the camel. If you want to understand the Middle East then study Islam and Mohammed – and not from a sugar-coated Islamic perspective – but from the perspective of people like Robert Spencer, Raymond Ibrahim, Ibn Warraq, and others.
Islam is a retrograde force. It destroys people’s initiative to do better. It quenches the potential for growth. Even in Muslim nations blessed with vast wealth one can see this. In Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait and elsewhere one sees oppression, high unemployment, women treated as chattel, free thinkers thrown in jail.
The only way to fix the Libyas, Syrias, Afghanistans, Somalias, Sudans, Egypts of the world is to educate people about Islam. To shout out loud about what a backwards-looking, individual-destroying, dictatorial and sadistic religion it is.
Until we do this then Syria will simply be the latest Islamic hell hole to be followed by one after another after another. It’s not America’s fault. It is Islam’s fault.
Your blind hatred of Islam is causing you to miss the point. America must not be involved in Syria regardless. Even if it is Islam that is the root of the problems, America can only make it worse if Obama sends our troops there.
Not to mention that your “extreme” prejudice against Islam is exactly contrary to whatever point you’re trying to prove. Hatred of Islam to show how Islam is a religion of hatred is not logical. But I digress.
Arafat;
How is it that you think you know, other’s or Ida doesn’t know as much?
You signs of extreme arrogance in your writing.
Why Islam is blamed if Moslems don’t do as good to you?
Going from detail to making general rules?
If you go back only 500-600 years, you’d see Christian Europe was deep into civil war, inquisition, with no production of science,…before renaissance,…and the Moslems were at forefront of science and technology of the time, all your theories will be proven to be false.
Islam has only one book. Quran.
This book is common in all Moslems who do not read it. This book does not allow killing except in Capital punishment and in war that is limited to self defense, not any attacks.
Moslems respect it a lot, but they don’t read it, like its critics who mostly do not read it with an open mind. They go through the lists and repeat what their ideological forefathers who didn’t read it either.
Islam is very general term, submitting to God, only one God that exist for all. All prophets, even the one’s before Mohammad were Moslems too, in Quran. Abraham, Moses, Jesus,…all were praising and following the orders of the same God in Quran.
Differences come from different interpretations in history, the part that the human being has changed.
I hope this short explanation could alleviate some of the pains and hatred that you feel about Islam.
Bombing Syrian military targets is taking side in a civil war.
We are not policemen in the world.
War mongers and profiteers of the wars promote their ideas through hateful people, like you.
Last thing we need is to make this unnecessary political war, into a religious war.
Bob,
You know so little of what you speak.
………..
The Quran contains at least 109 verses that call Muslims to war with nonbelievers for the sake of Islamic rule. Some are quite graphic, with commands to chop off heads and fingers and kill infidels wherever they may be hiding. Muslims who do not join the fight are called ‘hypocrites’ and warned that Allah will send them to Hell if they do not join the slaughter.
Unlike nearly all of the Old Testament verses of violence, the verses of violence in the Quran are mostly open-ended, meaning that they are not restrained by the historical context of the surrounding text. They are part of the eternal, unchanging word of Allah, and just as relevant or subjective as anything else in the Quran.
The context of violent passages is more ambiguous than might be expected of a perfect book from a loving God, however this can work both ways. Most of today’s Muslims exercise a personal choice to interpret their holy book’s call to arms according to their own moral preconceptions about justifiable violence. Apologists cater to their preferences with tenuous arguments that gloss over historical fact and generally do not stand up to scrutiny. Still, it is important to note that the problem is not bad people, but bad ideology.
Unfortunately, there are very few verses of tolerance and peace to abrogate or even balance out the many that call for nonbelievers to be fought and subdued until they either accept humiliation, convert to Islam, or are killed. Muhammad’s own martial legacy – and that of his companions – along with the remarkable stress on violence found in the Quran have produced a trail of blood and tears across world history.