President Trump announced the air strike against the Syrian military air field on Thursday night April 6 in response to the alleged chemical attack by Syria that reportedly killed 70 plus people, including children. This commentary will be a three part series to explore with its readers the possibility of understanding what really took place here, what was said by the President and others in his administration, members of congress and the news media. Facts have to be separated from fiction and similar events of the past will be explored that should help the reader to stay focused on how this operation turns out.
The attack was said to have destroyed elements of Syria's air field, the runway, Syrian Jets and other war making capabilities of the Syrian military. One would think that is what 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles are capable of doing so there is no surprise there. The administration and our military said the attack was a success. The real questions that needs to be answered are ones that only time can confirm. That is, will the military strike change what is going on in Syria to any degree. Will it bring about the exit of Syria's brutal President Assad? Will it have any bearing on the civil war that has been going on in Syria? Will it bring about a real settlement? If nothing changes and the U.S. has to increase its involvement, will the attack still be looked upon as a success story?
Trump blamed President Obama for last weeks chemical attack but the fact of the matter tells us the attack happened on President Trump's watch. And like other false stories the administration is trying to spin President Obama did seek congressional authority to use force after Syria's chemical attack in 2013 and congress failed to act. In fact this is what Trump tweeted on August 29, 2013. WHAT WILL WE GET FOR BOMBING SYRIA BESIDES MORE DEBT AND A POSSIBLE LONG TERM CONFLICT/ OBAMA NEEDS CONGRESSIONAL APPROVAL. (End of tweet)
Civilian Trump, candidate Trump and President Trump has been all over the place with his pronouncements on Syria and changed again just this week after Syria's use of chemical weapons. As a civilian, Trump said President Obama needed congressional approval to strike Syria. As President,Trump said he did not need congress approval to strike Syria. Maybe it was Trump's many different positions on Syria that prompted Syria to do what it did. Syria never used chemical weapons again onPresident Obama's watch after the attack in 2013. It should be noted that 1400 people were killed in the chemical attack in 2013 including children. That is 20 times as many that were killed last week in Syria, but that did not change Trump's opinion of Syria and Assad in 2013.
A very note worthy story unfolded several hours before Trump made the announcement that the U.S. launched an attack against Syria. Hillary Clinton speaking at the "Women In The World Summit" in New York told her audience the U.S. should attack Syria's military airfield in answer to Syria's chemical attack. She also said a no fly zone should be established in Syria to keep Syrian aircraft on the ground. That was her position in the debates and during the campaign. I wonder if Trumped obtained a copy of Hillary's speech or tapped into her phone before he ordered the attack hours later. A Clinton Presidency may have made a difference because she had a plan and knew what she wanted to do concerning Syria.
Stay tuned for part II.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
