Dear Editor:
The Syrian regime could retaliate to a U.S. attack by launching more attacks on Israel, Lebanon or other parts of the Middle East. This could lead the U.S. to escalate in response and commit itself to waging an open-ended, multibillion dollar war. The only beneficiaries would be the private military contractors who thrive on perpetual wars.
It's no secret that our own U.S. Government has intentionally exposed Americans to radiation, dangerous substances, and hazardous chemicals without their knowledge or consent for decades. Make no mistake, U.S. goals in the Middle East are not about chemical weapons they're about controlling the oil and gas pipelines in the region.
U.S. intervention could play into the hands of the Syrian regime, triggering an outpouring of nationalist support for Assad among Syrians who perceive the regime as their only protection from foreign military intervention. This scenario played out both in 1983-84 following U.S. Navy air attacks on Syrian positions in Lebanon and in 2008 after U.S. army commando raids in eastern Syria. Strikes could also strengthen al Qaeda's presence in the region by emboldening opposition groups such as Jabhat al-Nusra, which have avowed affiliations with al Qaeda.
Violence begets violence and U.S. military intervention will bring only more unintended consequences. It is not in the best interest of U.S. citizens or Syrian citizens for that matter, for U.S. to back al Qaeda in this Syrian civil war. Rather than military intervention, U.S. should broker regional peace talks with Russia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar.
How about prioritizing humanitarian aid? After all, millions of refugees fled to Syria during the occupation in Iraq which has led to some of the unrest in Syria.
And for crying out loud, halt arms sales to regimes throughout the Middle East. The United States must stop engaging in weapons trades with regimes in the area that only bolster violent conflicts. Something is direly wrong if our national "credibility" depends upon periodically bombing other countries.
Sincerely,
Jeanie Embry
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