In an expository article published to The Washington Post entitled, "Obama has power, determination to make own decision on Syria, administration says," Karen DeYoung, an associate editor for The Washington Post, an award winning reporter, writes about President Obama's authority to make a decision about a military strike against Syria for the use of chemical weapons.
According to DeYoung, "President Obama has both the authority and the determination to make his own decision on a military strike against Syria...." The decision to make a military strike is not necessary a popular one, and many lawmakers are insisting on a chance to take a vote on the issue at hand. A decision of such importance is not one to take lightly, and Congress, along with our allies, specifically Great Britain, feel that at the very least, a plan of "limited action" must be formulated as stated by Sen. Bob Corker (Tenn.).
DeYoung further states that Britain's Prime Minister, David Cameron, "having been deserted by rebels in his own Conservative Party, lost a parliamentary vote for provisional authorization for military action in Syria." Cameron plans to respect parliaments decision. Many in the British government feel that the vote is a result of their country's participation in the 2003 invasion and occupation of Iraq, believing the claims about weapons of mass destruction. The occupation of Iraq began as a find and destroy mission, with the initial invasion by the US and Britain looming akin to a tall tree, our troops progression into Iraq, the branches, and our continued occupation, the roots, which kept our troops away from home and in harms way far longer than anticipated. The invasion of Iraq produced no weapons of mass destruction, thus making Britain hesitant to rush to battle again.
A statement distributed by the White House said "The U.S. will continue to consult with the UK government....President Obama's decision-making will be guided by what is in the best interests of the United States. He believes there are core interests at stake and that countries who violate international norms regarding chemical weapons need to be held accountable." Administration officials state that Obama is suggesting a limited cruise-missile strike on Syrian military targets. The decision to plan a strike is based on evidence, coming from our top national security officials, stating that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government killed hundreds of civilians in August in an attack using chemical weapons. The White House, having additional classified information about Assad's "undeniable" chemical attack, has decided to release an unclassified version to the American public.
The use of chemical weapons is in violation of human rights. The issue of human rights affects everyone on the planet. The U.S. and our President, along with our allies have a great responsibility in deciding to take military action in defense of human rights. I can not imagine a government turning on its people with the use of chemical weapons for extermination. Only through education and continued surveillance can we be effective in making a difference in our world.
Keep informed of our government's actions; make a difference by getting involved in the voting process and communication with our congressmen. We are the future leaders, and our decisions will make a difference in our world.
Work Cited
DeYoung, Karen. "Obama has power, determination to make own decision on Syria, administration
says." The Washington Post. 29 Aug. 2013. Fri. 8 Nov. 2013.
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