Syrian Civil War-Foreign Policy Perspectives

What the Assad regime did to his own people must not go unpunished. Such an attack on the civilian population is a clear violation of basic human rights and international law. The use of barrel bombs is forbidden under international law. The United States should respond with military force, and do so with international support if possible

While tragic, the chemical attack against the Syrian people is but one event in a larger civil war that does not concern the United States. It is not our responsibility to police the world or solve its problems, even if innocent civilians are in harm’s way. Our government should instead focus its efforts on growing the economy and addressing other domestic concerns

The United States should not intervene in the affairs of the Syrian people, and avoid the use of war as a tool of foreign policy. Its military is nothing more than an instrument of its power, used to dominate the world, exploit others elsewhere, and undermine the very values for which it stands

Bashar al-Assad is an evil tyrant who must be removed from power. His very presence threatens the stability of the region, and it is the responsibility of the United States to impose and maintain order, both in the Middle East and globally. Because we are exceptional and a force for good, our military should act unilaterally to remove Assad and install a more democratic regime in his place.

The United States should not respond with military force, as our presence could upset an already fragile balance of power in the Middle East. American national interests are not (directly) at risk in the Syrian civil war, and until they are, our government should only concern itself with regional stability. While repressive and undemocratic, Bashar al-Assad is perhaps better than whatever political alternative might replace him.