No good solutions

September 19, 2012

There are no good answers. The roots of the conflict go back millennia. Religion and ethnicity are intertwined in complex ways. It's a secular state, ruled by a dictator (plus his friends and relatives).

The future of Syria is important. It's neighbored by our allies — Turkey, Israel, Lebanon and Jordan, some of whom have shaky governments, and also by Iraq, in which the U.S. has invested huge amounts of money and our soldiers' lives. If the area becomes further destabilized, it could be involved in civil and cross-border wars. A failed state would be another base for terrorists.

From a humanitarian point of view (and possible treaty obligations), how can we just idly stand by while Assad slaughters civilians? Sanctions aren't doing the job. It's tempting to intervene by supplying weapons to the insurgents or setting up a no-fly zone to protect the populace from jet fighters and attack helicopters. But Syria is not Libya. The opposition is not coordinated. Its disparate groups will compete for control if Assad falls. We will be condemned if we do nothing or if we do anything, which makes it likely that any military aid the U.S. gives will be covert.

William Thompson

Upper Macungie Township

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