As Syria crisis cools, let's use the opportunity
The diplomacy that averted a U.S. strike on Syria might be the result of the Obama administrations brilliance, or just dumb luck. Honestly, I dont care. I am just happy it happened.
For now, we avoid a military engagement and the world is moving to enforce its ban on the use of chemical weapons. More importantly, we gain a chance to debate the pros and cons of military intervention without the pressure of a crisis on top of us.I hope we use it wisely.
I understand why President Obama wanted to intervene. The ban on chemical weapons is important. It reduces the danger to soldiers and civilian populations and makes the world more civilized. Allowing that to erode would have been short-sighted and dangerous.
However, bombing Syria in the midst of its civil war was never a good option. There is a real risk that any strike could ignite a regional war. An attack big enough to destabilize the Assad regime could hand Syria over to Islamic extremists. I am glad we avoided all that.
More here http://blogs.detroitnews.com/politics/2013/09/17/syria-crisis-cools-lets-use-opportunity-creates
My latest Detroit News blog post.