The U.S. government believes over 1,000 people died or were injured as a result of the exposure to Sarin gas – a chemical weapon banned in 1993 by the UN Chemical Weapons Convention – many of which were children.  Sectarian violence and civil unrest has plagued Syria ever since the Arab Spring revolutions began in December of 2010.

In August of 2012, President Obama said:

“We cannot have a situation in which chemical or biological weapons are falling into the hands of the wrong people.  We have been very clear to the Assad regime but also to other players on the ground that a red line for us is, we start seeing a whole bunch of weapons moving around or being utilized.” [View full article here.]

One year later, President Obama finds himself calling on international allies and Congress to support his plan for a “limited” military response in the wake of President Bashar al-Assad’s actions.  Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, in her support for the President’s plan for military action, said:

“The United States and the world community either have the courage to establish and enforce the standards of civilized conduct or they do not.  Either option has risks, but to me, the risks of complacency and inaction far outweigh those of the limited, but purposeful, response now contemplated.” [View full article here]

The recent departure of U.S. troops from Iraq, and an exit from Afghanistan scheduled in the next year, are cause for concern over involvement in another military conflict. Fears of a potential second Cold War are additionally concerning due to the differing relationships that Russia has with Syria and the U.S. [Read more here]

Use the resources in this Deliberation to learn more about the options and reactions from government officials as the President and Congress decide what action to take in Syria.