“There Is No Military Solution” – But Obama Launches a New U.S. War in
Syria
President Obama’s decision to bomb Syria stands in stark violation of
international law, the UN Charter, and the requirements of the U.S.
Constitution.
23 September 2014
by
Phyllis Bennis
President Obama’s decision to bomb Syria stands in stark
violation of international law, the UN Charter, and the requirements of the U.S.
Constitution. It contradicts his own commitment, stated a year ago in the UN
General Assembly, to reverse Washington’s “perpetual war footing.”
And it portends disaster for the people of Syria, the region, and much of the
world.
The White House stated goal is to destroy the
headquarters of the violent and extremist ISIS militia. But you can’t bomb
extremism out of existence. The U.S. bombs do not fall on “extremism,” they are
falling on Raqqah, a 2,000 year-old Syrian city with a population of more than a
quarter of a million people – men, women and children who had no say in the
take-over of their city by ISIS. The Pentagon is bombing targets like the post
office and the governor’s compound, and the likelihood of large number of
civilian casualties as well as devastation of the ancient city, is almost
certain.
President Obama was right when he said there is no
military solution to the ISIS crisis. Bombing Syria, without Congressional
authorization, without United Nations approval, in direct opposition to the
stated position of Syria’s government, will only make that crisis worse. It will
give ISIS and its allies a new basis for recruitment, it will strengthen the
repressive Syrian government, it will undermine Syria’s struggling non-violent
opposition movement, and it will further tighten the links between ISIS
supporters in Syria and in Iraq.
The bombing should stop immediately, and be replaced
with a U.S. policy based on
- Supporting an intensive new UN-based diplomatic initiative involving
all parties in the region
- Opening direct talks with Iran and Russia based on shared opposition
to ISIS – with Iran to jointly push for ending anti-Sunni sectarianism in the
Iraqi government, and with Russia to work towards ending the multi-party civil
war in Syria
- Pressuring U.S. allies in the region to stop their governments and
people from arming and facilitating the movement of ISIS fighters
- Shifting the war funds to a massive increase in humanitarian
assistance
http://www.ips-dc.org/military-solution-obama-launches-new-u-s-war-syria/
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