Republicans Were Right About Syria In 2013

Republicans have consistently said (when Obama was president) that the president needed authorization for attacks like the one carried out against Syria by the Trump administration unless there was a direct threat to the United States. And they were right! Surprise! Today there is no direct threat to the United States in Syria. But may Republicans are cheering the military attack on Syria. What changed?

When Assad used sarin gas in 2013 he killed almost 1500 civilians (over 400 children). This attack killed 85. Trump insisted that President Obama get Congressional approval in this EXACT SAME situation? What changed?

What has happened in Syria is horrific. In the past the Syrian President has killed many civilians including children. They have dropped bombs on hospitals and barely raised an eyebrow of the people clamoring for war. In 2014 a school was bombed killing more children than the most recent sarin gas attack.

“Dozens of children are among the latest victims of the Syrian civil war after barrel bombs fell on an elementary school Wednesday, dissidents said.

Syrian forces dropped the bombs on an opposition-held area of Aleppo, the country’s largest city, the opposition Local Coordination Committees of Syria said. The LCC said 25 children died.

Barrel bombs typically consist of barrels stuffed with explosives and objects such as nails to maximize carnage.”

But committing the American military to this is the wrong answer. It is an answer we have been giving in that region for decades and always with disastrous results. We keep creating the terrorists we are fighting. If children being killed is the criteria then should America be attacked for our killing children in Yemen? In another military disaster Trump ordered an ill-prepared attack which resulted in the massacre of civilians including children. According to reports: “The death toll varies according to the sourcing, with the Pentagon saying 14 militants died, along with “numerous” civilians. Nasser al-Awlaki said Yemenis were circulating a body count of combatants and civilians as high as 59.”

America has run roughshod over the region and Trump has continued, and even ramped up, the killing. It can be argued he has become more reckless. From the disputed destruction of a mosque to the killing of 200 civilians in Mosul, America is doing to the civilians of Syria what we are attacking Syria for doing. In the process we are leaving grieving parents, children, and friends who remember, not that we had good intentions, but that we killed a person they loved who was simply in our way.

In 2013 Republicans said we needed to allow the powers in that region to sort out the problem. I completely agree. America is not under direct attack. There is nothing in our founding documents or laws that makes us the world’s policeman, to indiscriminately attack countries where we suspect “terrorists” may be hiding, or gives us leave to “punish” the leader of another nation for his barbarous acts.

As difficult as it is America needs to refrain from a military response to these highly emotional killings. We must seek other means to solve these problems. The history of our activities in the Middle East over the last 40+ years shows that we do more harm than good when we resort to using the military. Welcoming refugees before they become victims of atrocities should be a priority. Killing children radicalizes people and makes them your enemy. Rescuing children and their families wins hearts and minds. And it is the right thing to do.

America needs to do better. America needs to do the right thing.

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