Jacksonville
We’ve seen lies, collusion and “moral” imperatives before.
We’ve seen the horrific photos and videos of children being the target of war before.
It’s who we are. But not who we tell ourselves we are. We don’t want to believe the heinous acts we visit upon each other. Yet we continue.
We know President Donald Trump is reluctant to stand up to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s wishes on Syria.
We know Putin likes the economic benefits that his country is enjoying from its link from Syrian President Bashar al-Assad — which include lucrative energy contracts for Russia in Syria.
We know Trump’s approval rating is very low and not getting any better. Lowest ever. It’s a disaster.
We know (according to U.S. sources) Bashar al-Assad launched a war crime-level chemical gas attack on his own people.
We believe it is possible there are already U.S. ground troops in Syria. (MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow and others think so.)
We believe it strongly looks like Trump is about to take further military action in Syria.
Here is where it gets complicated. The U.S. military action won’t be against Assad but against the rebels fighting Assad. This will offer Trump the ability to pretend he’s fighting ISIS in Syria but actually target the rebels instead. Doesn’t matter that ISIS isn’t in Syria much anymore.
Thanks Barack Obama!
The horrific images of gasping, struggling, dying children are what Trump needs to rally American and world support to get troops into Syria.
Putin via Assad obliged, giving Trump a “moral” imperative to have his war, pretend to fight ISIS and have Trump’s approval ratings rise. It doesn’t even matter that the rebels are the best hope of getting rid of the brutal Assad.
I don’t want to believe we’ve come to this again, so quickly, but there is presidential precedence.
Can I prove this?
Nope.
But it’s a win-win for Putin and Trump — and a huge loss for humanity.
Ken Hurley, Jacksonville