Americans Need To Stop And Think About What Should Happen Next In Syria

The civil war in Syria has been a concern for the United States for many years. But last week, after a horrendous chemical attack that killed women and children, Syria moved to issue number one for the Trump administration. At a press conference, President Trump said that after seeing footage of the chemical attack, his view on Syria had changed. Last night, on the President's orders, the U.S. launched a missile strike against an airfield in Syria. America is no longer an observer, we're involved. And the American people need to sit and think about what that might mean.

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have generally praised the President for taking action against President Assad and his regime in Syria. What makes this situation all the more tricky is that Syria has an ally in Russia. The Russian government has already condemned the attacks saying they were "an aggression against a sovereign state in violation of international law." How far will Russia go to help defend its ally?

Some lawmakers in the U.S. are also concerned that President Trump acted without the permission of Congress. The administration will tell you they acted under the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force to strike ISIS in Syria. Lawmakers argue that doesn't apply to attacks against President Assad. Congress is currently on a break, but many lawmakers are coming back to Washington in hopes of meeting on the issue of Syria.

The bottom line is, the American people need to think about how far they're willing to go to stop the killing in Syria. Former President Obama drew a line in the sand and wasn't willing to use military action when Assad stepped over it. President Trump has already shown he will use the military when he deems it necessary. But what is next? What will Assad do in retaliation? Will Russia make new threats? What will the American people think if ground troops are thrown into the equation? These are all questions that we should all be pondering today.

I just can't get the images of the chemical attack in Syria out of my mind. A tyrant that would use weapons like that against women and children must somehow be removed from power. The American people need to stop and think how much it might cost, and whether they think it's worth it.

[via CNN]