Extra Credit: Attack Assad?

          The situation involving the civil war in Syria has become dire enough to opt for the United States' interference. President Bashar al-Assad, dictator of Syria, has ordered the slaughter of thousands of his own citizens, hundreds of them being children, by the release of toxic gas. Not only did he lead his military, a power meant for protecting the country, in murdering innocents, but he had the audacity to break an international rule of war by using chemical weapons.  President Barack Obama, being the righteous ruler he is, has called upon the American people to allow him to punish Assad for his crime that he believes cannot go unpunished. He argues that if Assad were allowed to get away with this, other countries will also start breaking the norms that were agreed upon and so everyone would start investing in their own chemical weapons and other forbidden weapons of mass destruction. Apparently, no other country but the United States is willing to act in the name of justice.

           Although President Barack Obama would like to be the big hero by punishing Assad, the question I would like answered is: What is in it for us? I see no substantial amount of profit that can be gained by interfering with another country's war. In fact, there are substantial losses that can be incurred if the U.S. shoots missiles into the bloodthirsty dictator's territory. For example, what if Assad retaliates? What if after Obama sends a missile to Syria, Assad attacks New York City with his arsenal of chemical weapons? The United States should not act as the world's police if it would cost it the lives of its own people.

            According to a poll conducted by the Pew Research Center, most Americans believe that Syria will not relinquish its weapons. However, despite this belief, most also oppose the decision to attack Assad.  The Obama administration has been receiving numerous complaints that argue that starting another conflict after a decade of war in the Middle East may not be the most favorable option. Thus, the Congressional vote authorizing military action against Assad has been delayed. President Barack Obama is currently working with the Russian government to solve the situation in a diplomatic manner.