Sen. Markey: ‘Surgical Strike’ A Must To Punish Syria’s Assad

[ProSense]

Sen. Markey: ‘Surgical Strike’ A Must To Punish Syria’s Assad

By Barbara Howard and Lynn Jolicoeur

BOSTON — As President Obama decides whether to launch a military response to Syria’s suspected use of chemical weapons on civilians, members of the Massachusetts congressional delegation are urging caution. In a written statement, Rep. Jim McGovern called for a united international response that avoids additional civilian casualties and further harm to already-stressed U.S. troops.

Sen. Ed Markey, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, is calling for “surgical strikes” against sites Syria could use to launch chemical weapons. Sen. Markey spoke by phone with WBUR’s Barbara Howard.

Barbara Howard: What is your reaction to reports from the Obama administration that there is clear and convincing evidence that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad used chemical weapons on civilians?

Sen. Edward Markey: I have confidence that President Obama and John Kerry are acting on absolutely conclusive evidence. I do believe as well that that is the pre-condition to any action that we take. I’m sure that we’ll see the evidence, and if that’s the case then I think that we have to send a message to Assad, to Syria, that use of chemical weapons is unacceptable.

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http://www.wbur.org/2013/08/27/markey-syria-assad

[darkangel218]

1. To "punish" huh?

Not stop the chemical weapons, if any. Just "punish".

Very nice.

[bigtree]

5. yep

. . . report yesterday said they intend to strike military targets, rather than attack chemical plants or the like.

[darkangel218]

8. lulz..

So then the only weapons they have left to use will BE the chemical ones.

This s**t is incredibly stupid!

[JaneyVee]

10. Wouldn't bombing chemical weapon sites release a shit ton of chemical weapons into

the surrounding areas? Perhaps our military is planning on confiscating them after the area is cleared of Syrian military.

[Rex]

12. Yes! It would be very stupid to bomb such a plant.

nt.

[darkangel218]

14. Whats stupid is starting another war, while our own people are starving and going w/o medical care.

We CANT afford this war. Let others pitch in on this one. We need a fucking break.

[Rex]

17. I am just as sick of America being the World Police as you are.

My point was you don't want to bomb a chemical weapons lab or plant, nobody should. Yeah I agree, let someone else take up the mantle for war...we still have troops on their 11th deployment to Afghanistan. Now the longest war in American history.

[darkangel218]

19. I know we cant bomb the chemical sites. But the admins is saying we wont deploy troops on the ground

well, who is going to secure the chemical sites then?? the drones?
their approach makes so sense! Syria will be just another Iraq in the end.

[darkangel218]

13. "Confiscate them"

So that means invasion just like in Iraq and Afganistan. LOL.

Troops on the ground and all the works.

Yup.

[JaneyVee]

20. Most likely. Hopefully not our troops.

[darkangel218]

21. If they let the rebels secure them, you know on whos hands they will fall.

[JaneyVee]

22. I was thinking more like coalition forces or UN.

[darkangel218]

23. Well, lets hope that will be the case.

[leveymg]

2. Clear and conclusive evidence that some local commander exceeded his orders. Yes. Let's escalate

the conflict and precipitate a really nice big regional war with Iran! Marvelous! We've waited long enough to check off that box.

[cali]

3. how disappointing.

the potential for terrible consequences is so high here. Maybe the Senator, the SoS and the President should fucking try listening to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

[T]here are certainly actions short of tipping the balance of the conflict [in Syria] that could impose a cost on them for unacceptable behavior. We can destroy the Syrian Air Force. The loss of Assad’s Air Force would negate his ability to attack opposition forces from the air, but it would also escalate and potentially further commit the United States to the conflict. Stated another way, it would not be militarily decisive, but it would commit us decisively to the conflict. In a variety of ways, the use of US military force can change the military balance, but it cannot resolve the underlying and historic ethnic, religious, and tribal issues that are fueling this conflict.

Syria today is not about choosing between two sides but rather about choosing one among many sides. It is my belief that the side we choose must be ready to promote their interests and ours when the balance shifts in their favor. Today, they are not. The crisis in Syria is tragic and complex. It is a deeply rooted, long-term conflict among multiple factions, and violent struggles for power will continue after Assad’s rule ends. We should evaluate the effectiveness of limited military options in this context.

http://www.lawfareblog.com/2013/08/general-dempsey-on-syria-intervention/

[neverforget]

4. Funny how this "punishment" will leave the very weapons that were used intact because

it's a very bad idea to hit chemical weapons with bombs. We're just going to degrade the regime's ability to use them again by hitting the delivery systems (artillery, rockets, aircraft). So we'll "punish" them and deal with whatever blowback comes our way because we had to do something. Stupid.

[bigtree]

7. I think that 'punishment' will almost certainly widen whatever violence we bring to Syria

. . . to include almost certain attacks on Israel.

Talk about 'blowback'.

[KamaAina]

6. Off to a flying start, I see.

[canoeist52]

9. Very sad and disapointing to me, as I still have his campaign signs in my hallway.

[Harmony Blue]

11. So who will secure the chemical weapon sites so they don't fall in AQ's hands?

Oh yeah they don't want to answer that question....

[darkangel218]

15. Our own troops, which will be forced to deploy due to this reason.

[Vashta Nerada]

16. Why not just spank Assad's ass and call him a bad boy?

[cali]

18. +1, Vashta

[Cha]

24. Seems Sen Markey isn't trying to protect Assad..

what's wrong with him?!! Doesn't he know chemical weapons are okay because they're al queda?!

Sen. Edward Markey: I have confidence that President Obama and John Kerry are acting on absolutely conclusive evidence. I do believe as well that that is the pre-condition to any action that we take. I’m sure that we’ll see the evidence, and if that’s the case then I think that we have to send a message to Assad, to Syria, that use of chemical weapons is unacceptable.

thanks ProSense