Two Quick Thoughts on Syria’s Employment of Chemical Weapons
Mike Walker, Col. USMC (retired)
All,
First, killing hundreds of defenseless men, women, and children with chemical weapons is an atrocity that cannot go unanswered. I think the American people will support well-crafted military action.
That could take a number of forms, such as the destruction of high value targets (aircraft – especially rotary wing airframes, ammunition dumps, C2 nodes, etc.) or, on a wider scale, potential no-fly or even no-drive zones.
The American people are confident that the President will strongly resist putting boots on the ground. As someone who wound up wearing a pair of those boots during the Clinton and Bush presidencies (Bosnia and Iraq), it may be a bit of an understatement to say I appreciate how difficult that decision is for a president.
Second, Assad will seek a way to strike back.
That may be with his assets or by proxies, directly or indirectly. We must be prepared for that eventuality, but it is game that Assad is ill positioned to play and puts him on a path that will end badly. He does not need more enemies.
This is where Putin’s Snowden policy proves foolish. Had Russia been more supportive of America’s priorities, Russia’s Syrian priorities would have greater standing. Putin foolishly squandered that leverage.
Semper Fi,
Mike
