An Alternative for Syria

It is not that I disagree or lack a sentiment for peace. Suddenly, America is a pacifist nation. In fact, we are war-weary. My own background includes an education by Quackers.

I truly regret that President Obama made his statements regarding a “red line. I regret that Russia has chosen to ally itself with the regime and that China has chosen to take a position of simple obstruction to help Assad. I regret that the Assad regime has chosen not to participate in the peace talks. I also regret that the rebels have not formed a coalition that could participate in peace talks.

That leaves all of the alternatives mentioned in every discussion moot. Our President has taken a position that may be regrettable, but that nevertheless was a foreign policy statement representing the position of our nation. Nobody objected when he made that clear statement of a “red line”. At this point we have only two real alternatives: support the President, who showed at least moral leadership regarding chemical attacks on defenseless civilians; or humiliate the President and our nation in the eyes of the world and Syria in particular.  There is a price to be paid for isolationism and appeasement that has been demonstrated throughout history.

We are committed to a course of action and have an obligation to stand behind our President. We can then do what is necessary to ensure greater caution in foreign policy assertions and threat of force for the future.

Alice Jay of Avaaz.org on 09/06/13 wrote in an e-mail blast: 

"Iran’s new moderate president condemned the gassing and Obama signalled he'd work with anybody" to resolve the conflict. Let's urgently call on both leaders to sit down to talks and bring the warring parties together before any more lives are lost.

Right now, the global drums of war are beating over Syria, but if enough of us make sure Rouhani and Obama know the world wants bold diplomacy, we could end the nightmare for thousands of terrified Syrian children under threat of new gas attacks. We have no time to lose."

http://www.avaaz.org/en/solution_for_syria_loc/?buuJZbb&v=28859