I first
read about the rumors of Syria using WMDs on its rebels a couple of
day ago and much like many of the commentators after the piece above,
I did indeed suffer flashbacks to Iraq's “Massing of WMDs”
debacle not that long ago. Still my main focus wasn't really on the
article but more on the comments left afterward. People weighed in
both for and against (Mostly against) any attempts by the US to step
in to stop the use of WMDs against Syria's rebel forces. The
comments really got me pondering all the sides and this is what I
have come up with.
The
argument basically boils down to “Should the US get involved with
yet another foreign conflict even as we wind down from the last two”
and it is a very good question. As a nation, we are massively in
debt and our troops are so very tired. Why should we risk any more
of our sons and daughters lives in a war that isn't even our fight?
Those
against (which I am technically one of) argue that this simply isn't
our fight. They call out that it is not America's job to be the
policemen of the world. (Although I would technically point out that
this nation has basically made it our job by insisting under pretty
much every national/military accord signed by the nations of the
world since around WWII be dominated by US forces. This includes UN
Security Forces BTW.) They argue that we didn't get involved when
Syrians were killing Syrians with more conventional weapons so why
get involved now. They point out that a sizable chunk of our debt
(Around 5 Billion Dollars currently) is because we have been fighting
two very long wars by borrowing money. Basically we shouldn't get
involved because this isn't our fight and we can't afford it. I
agree on purely monetary reasons, not moral ones.
Those
for argue that it is the moral responsibility of everyone to help
those who need help. They argue that if positions were reversed, we
would want people to help us. Somehow they feel that the threat of
using weapons that could literally kill 1000s of people pushes us to
a higher moral imperative than the fact that Syria's leaders have
been achieving pretty much the same thing with standard bombs and
bullets. If we didn't have a moral obligation a year ago, then we
don't have one now.
The sad
part is, I doubt this sudden push by the US and other nations to stop
Syria is based off any altruistic feelings on our part. Notice that
no real efforts were done to help as long as the threat was contained
within Syria's borders. But now that Syria MIGHT be planning on
using WMDs, governments such as Israel and Turkey are suddenly
recalling that Syria has missiles capable of carrying said WMDs into
neighboring nations.
So will
we once again be forced into a war in a country where neither side
really likes us and neither side would really want us there? Will
more of our brave armed forces be forced to sacrifice their lives?
Will the machine of war grind on for another 10 years making billions
for the Arms Manufacturers, but costing us so much more? The next
few weeks will tell.
No comments:
Post a Comment