Syria: Getting Involved

This post Syria: Getting Involved originally appeared on Truth About Bills

I have been watching the Syria situation unfold over the past couple of weeks. Some of you may not call me an expert, but I have worked in the field of defense and security and dedicated my academic studies to topics related to the War on Drugs and the War on Terror. If that satisfies you or if you believe in the principles this country was founded upon, then read on.

The use of chemical weapons on civilians is a despicable act of cowardice from a dictator. It also crosses a “red line” set by our Commander in Chief. I do not care what side of the aisle you sit on, but this is the time to act. Some of you who oppose the President’s agenda, or even support it, may be confused. But this is about national security and the future of our nation and its inhabitants.

Nothing is more precious than life, especially that of our youth. If you believe that getting involved in Syria is a quagmire, much like Iraq or Afghanistan, then you may be correct. However, if we do not get involved it gives a free pass to this tyrant and any future leaders cut from the same cloth. It also shows the United States’ military, which is the most accomplished on the planet, is all bark and no bite. This allows for Hezbollah and other entities to realize that they can operate with impunity. Do you know what that means?

Simply it means this war comes to your doorstep faster than you had imagined. It means Hezbollah, Al Qaeda etc, who have their hands in Latin America and other parts of the western hemisphere no longer fear retribution. These Middle Eastern Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs) [read: terrorists] are already fortifying their relationships with Latin American cartels, street gangs, and other TCOs. These relationships will only increase and strengthen if the US shows that it will not act when chemical weapons are used on innocent people. And what does that mean for our innocents? Well I, for one, do not want to fathom what could happen if we do not send a message.

This is a weekend for college football and barbecues, but we fear lighting a powder keg in the Middle East and North Africa instead of the grill. This is not right. These barbecues and putting our children to sleep at night to sweet dreams is what this country was founded upon: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. That is no longer happening in Syria, and as the lone superpower we have a duty. Not only to the world, but to ourselves and our children. So that sometime in the future they can have this debate for themselves.

This post Syria: Getting Involved originally appeared on Truth About Bills