What steps will the U.S. take in Syria?
Anderson talked with Fouad Ajami, Senior Fellow at Stanford University's Hoover Institution, National Security Analyst Fran Townsend, who currently sits on the Homeland Security and CIA external advisory boards, Christopher Dickey, Middle
East Editor for Newsweek and The Daily Beast and CNN's chief national correspondent John King after new developments about a U.S. intelligence assessment on Syria. Our panel of experts discussed the possibility of U.S. military action in Syria.
Watch part two:
Concerns about terrorist organizations taking power in Syria
Watch part three:
Complex challenges if the U.S. strikes Syria
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Post by: Anderson Cooper Filed under: Bashar al-Assad • Chemical Weapons • Fouad Ajami • Fran Townsend • Iraq • John King • President Barack Obama • Syria |
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Gassing innocent adults and children is a human rights issue. America is the strongest nation in the world, and the strongest defender of human rights in the world. I cannot see how anyone can even argue that it is ok to let any country gas its own people and then stand by while they suffer and die. The UN should be the watchdog, but has proven time and again to fall below expectations. Our world is so small now, so connected – to say that we should not react when something as unbelievably horrific as chemical warfare rears its ugly head anywhere in the world is negligent and grossly ignorant. This is not the role of the US to ignore atrocities such as these. This is not matter of might, of politics or of partisan haggling. This is about innocent people suffering, and the potential for further chemical warfare and further suffering should we stand down. As a daughter of holocaust survivor parents, we swore "Never Again". The world was too late getting to Hitler – we can never let that happen again.
I don't hear about any diplomatic efforts by the US to have direct or indirect discussions with the Syrian regime. I don't think that we should be pushed into military action by Syrians like Ajami. Any military action will not solve the Syrian crisis. We need to involve the Russians and perhaps NATO diplomats to talk to Assad and his cabinet. This is going to be another Iraq. I can't believe President Obama is going back on his promise not to go to war. You should not have people like Ajami on these programs. He is constantly insulting the American President. Don't go to war. Put in place, a diplomatic solution.
The United Nation including United States should enforce international laws. Otherwise, What the UN is for? The Syrian regime must be punished for breaking the law.
Even though President Obama may not have the backing of some other countries that he had hoped for, he has put the spotlight dead centre on Assad and all of his future acts of war in Syria. Assad will not be able to twitch his nose now without world wide scrutiny. For sure he cannot use any chemical weapons because that would show he was lying. Apparently some of his bases have been evacuated or at least communication has lessened. His every act will be scrutinized like never before. Perhaps this was part of the plan. It is hard for people to really swallow the American outrage at killing of innocent citizens when they have led two wars that killed and wounded hundreds of thousands of people and still are. Since none of the pilots who flew planes on 911 were from either Afghanistan or Iraq ( most were Saudis) those wars were questionable. It is quite hypocritical. It might be best if America gets totally out of the middle east and let them fight their own wars that have been going on for centuries.
Is anyone wondering why the leader of Syria is doing this? Could it be we are being goaded into action by the largest holder of chemical weapons in the world ......to be in concert with Iran to force President Obama to action that justifies immediate chemical attack on Israel.....in concert with Iran. And at the expense of his own people.