We Are Damned If We Do, And Damned If We Don’t

There has been non-stop news coverage of chemical weapons allegedly used by Bashar al-Assad (the dictator of Syria), in violation of international law. On one hand, while I feel incredible sympathy and sadness for the people of Syria, I feel it is not America’s place to get involved, especially considering that both sides are terrorists. But it is not that simple, of course.

Last year, President Obama drew a “red line,” stating that the usage of chemical weapons on either side would result in a military response from the United States. Bashar al-Assad crossed this “red line” a few weeks ago. So now, we have two options:

1. We can get involved and help to dismantle the Assad regime but simultaneously help to bring the Muslim Brotherhood and Al Qaeda to replace them, or

2. We can stay out of the conflict entirely, which would send a horrible message to the rest of the world. It will show Iran, North Korea, and other dictatorships that would like to wreak havoc throughout the world that the United States’ threats mean nothing. “Red lines” drawn by the United States will symbolize nothing more than an empty threat. Promises of military action from none other than the President of the United States are not frightening, in the least.

We are in somewhat of a pickle. Common sense tells us that this is not our fight to engage in. But with the added complication of the “red line” drawn by President Obama, we will become a laughingstock if we do not act, and it will put our future foreign policy in danger. But if you go into Syria, which side do you fight for? On one hand you have the Muslim Brotherhood, Al Qaeda, and other Islamic fundamentalist crazies. On the other hand, you have Bashar al-Assad, a man who has oppressed his people and violated international law through the usage of chemical weapons.

But the complications do not stop there. Iran and the Syrian regime have both vowed to take military action against Israel if America were to launch a military campaign in Syria. I think that this just shows how completely irrational these Muslim-led countries are. Israel, a country that has literally nothing to do with the conflict in Syria, is now being held at gunpoint in a strange hostage-like situation. This is quickly turning into something you would hear out of a Law & Order episode, except instead of people it is countries. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded in a statement that, “We are not involved in the civil war in Syria. But I would like to reiterate, if anyone tries to harm Israel’s citizens, the IDF will respond very strongly.” If America intervenes, which President Obama wants us to, there is no possible outcome that is positive. The best possible scenario is that a new, even worse regime comes into power in Syria. The worst scenario is that a full-scale war ensues, with America being the cause of yet another war in the Middle East that will cause severe damage and cost thousands of lives.

But we cannot stay out of it, either. Iran is closer than ever to creating nuclear weapons. North Korea is on the verge of starting conflict with South Korea, again. The United States needs to show the world that it means what it says. America needs the world to see that “red lines” drawn by America are reason for enormous caution, not for mocking laughter. By staying out of Syria, you might as well throw America’s respect in the world out the window. It will make us look like cowardly fools who are all bark and no bite. And with the ever-intensifying tensions between much of the world, it is imperative that we do not go down that path.

Every time that a Democrat comes into office, we see horrible foreign policy. Under Bill Clinton, a preventable Rwandan genocide occurred that claimed over 300,000 lives. Cuban/American relations took a nosedive under Clinton as his “wet feet, dry feet” policy angered Americans and Cubans, alike. While George Bush’s foreign policy was controversial, it was done in America’s best interests, at the time. We were threatened by Iraq, and we were threatened by an Al Qaeda presence in Afghanistan. The roots of those conflicts were necessary in protecting America. But when liberals control our foreign policy, they ignore threats when they exist, and intervene when they don’t exist, leaving us in a bad position. This country is always safer under Republican presidents than under Democratic ones.

And did Democrats even think Bashar al-Assad was that bad up until it become politically advantageous to think so? After all, John Kerry must have thought he was okay, or else he would not have had dinner with him like he did in 2009. Kerry even had a public meeting with Assad, in which he discussed policies from Iran to Palestine. Nancy Pelosi, a top Democratic congresswoman, met with Assad in his home country. Hillary Clinton called Assad a “reformer” in 2011.

Despite all of these Democrats having treated Assad like a legitimate leader in the past, he has never been good. Bashar al-Assad has always oppressed his people, denied them basic human rights, and created a totalitarian, one-party system in Syria. He has always been violently anti-Israel, he has harshly punished peaceful protesters and trampled on his people’s fundamental freedoms. Yet Democrats have been seen throughout his regime going to his country, meeting with him, and touting him as a good man for Syria, even when it was never true. But as soon as the media starts portraying the real Bashar al-Assad, Democrats shy away from their prior idolizing claims of Assad and pretend as if they thought he was horrible all along.

And now we have Democrats in Washington creating a volatile and truly dangerous atmosphere surrounding Syria. We have a lose-lose situation that has no possible positive outcome. The Obama Administration has proven its incompetence once more through its persistent pestering about these chemical weapons. President Obama, when you send our troops into Syria, for whom will they be fighting? For the rebels? The Al Qaeda and Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated rebels? This is going to be a repeat of the situation in Egypt, except this time, the outcome is even more obvious. I can only imagine how President Obama can sleep at night knowing that he has put America in one of the worst foreign policy debacles in decades.

We are damned if we do, and damned if we don’t.

Featured image: White House/Getty Images

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