

It took the Bashar Assad regime more than two years to kill 100,000 of its citizens by conventional means. It took only one day to kill 1,400 fellow Syrians, including more than 400 children, with chemical weapons. Who is safe from these madmen? What will be the magnitude of loss next time if they are not stopped?

Kove J.Schwartz; West Hartford, Conn.

Whether the president has strengthened or weakened America by asking Congress for authority to attack Syria is not the issue. What we average Americans understand, and which few in Washington seem to understand, is that we are not responsible for atrocities carried out in the rest of the world. Americans do not want to be the world's peacekeeper. We have enough challenges at home.

If members of Congress would listen to their constituents for a change, instead of playing video poker, they would know that.

Philip Oleson; Columbus, Ohio

It shows great strength and leadership to avoid attacking Syria. The world already knows about the great military strength of the United States; we don't have to prove anything. Most important, the American people don't want to attack Syria.

Al DiLascia; Chicopee, Mass.

Self-defense should prompt U.S. attack

President Obama's speech on Syria scheduled for tonight will be the most challenging one of his presidency. But that speech is dead on arrival and won't change public opinion on intervention in Syria.

The American public is war weary from Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya; we've had enough. Coupled with a stagnant economy and a struggling middle class, there is no stomach for military action.

— Greg Gibson

I hate wars. I would not want to be in Obama's position, and unfortunately, he is damned whatever way he goes. I understand why the president wants to do something. The use of chemical weapons was horrific and goes against everything the U.S. stands for. If the slaughter of innocent men, women and children were happening here, would we not want help from other countries to stop the atrocities?

Stephanie Mullen Fudge

Good policy does not have to be sold. Good policy sells itself. Obama may be a good salesman, but nobody is buying his bad Syrian policy.

Raymond Kevin Halpern