[Jim Robinson]

I think it is what Tillerson says. A onetime strike to deter Assad’s use of chemical weapons. No Syrian policy change by Trump. No effort for regime change by force.

I’m not in favor of any US involvement whatsoever in Syria’s civil war.

No good can possibly come out of it.

Pray Trump holds fast.

[McGruff]

We’re on the same page.

[JimSEA]

There are other people besides Assad who have chemical and biological weapons and who would love to use them against America among others. Of course Islamist countries like Iran, terrorists and North Korea are at the top of the list. Trump is sounding a believable warning.

[KC_Lion]

Remember, even President Reagan had the U.S.S. New Jersey shell the Syrian Army in Lebanon to bits.

[DoughtyOne]

I agree with that Jim.

I appreciate you stating that too.

Balance...

[jazusamo]

Bump!

I believe the new SOS is not the lying political animal that the former two were and believe President Trump will hold fast.

[Williams]

Agreed.

[SecAmndmt]

Thank you for saying this Jim.

I still don’t think Assad used chemical weapons - the last time around that the claim was made, I believe it was shown that the rebels were more likely to be responsible. That said, anyone using them needs to be called to account at some point. I do not get the warm fuzzies when we lob missiles into a war zone with many competing interests and militaries.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

I think Tillerson is being disingenuous, in part to allow the Russians to save face. Better to be considered incompetent than evil. Although, if he really wanted to allow the Russians to save face, instead of calling them incompetent, he would have said that they are just as shocked and appalled as we are.

[The Westerner]

Jim, I had occasion to speak with a doctor who works in an underground hospital in Syria. This MD stated that the border between Syria/Israel is the most peaceful and that Assad has assisted the Red Cross in providing safe passage to and from Israeli hospitals which provide treatment for the most serious cases. My hope is that Trump listens carefully to his counterpart in Israel who knows the real score.

[Rusty0604]

You’re not going to gain any points with McCain and Graham with that post, Jim. :-)

[Mamzelle]

That’s what I’m praying for. But they just demoted KT McFarland —

[armourenthusiast]

I agree. “A onetime strike to deter Assad’s use of chemical weapons.” The message to the world was don’t mess with the U.S. Another shoe may drop when our carrier group arrives off of Korea. I believe a carrier group can loiter for a long time.

[mrsmith]

Trump’s now in a good position for the next time the world complains about an atrocity to say to the world: “This time, what are YOU going to do about it?”
Syria, Russia, Iran, and China (the banker) don’t want UN troops interfering in their plans in Syria.
Russia and China don’t want to be defending atrocities in the Security Council.

So this action is apt to avoid further involvement.

[af_vet_1981]

No good can possibly come out of it.

As strange as it seems, one good thing that has already come out of it is that Russia declared (West) Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Whatever the motive (upstaging the US as when they supported the State of Israel before US), the deed is done and I expect many more nations to recognize Jerusalem as the Capital of Israel by Israel's Independence Day in May.

The next, as yet undetermined, consequence is North Korea. A Carrier task force moving toward the Korean Peninsula might be considered a sterile threat but for last week's missile strike. Now they are not so sure they can get away with thumbing their noses at treaties and resolutions anymore. President Trump did not ask for permission to strike Syria and North Korea has already crossed the line.

[Sam Gamgee]

Well I'm glad he has come out to make this clear. Was starting to think Tillerson had gone neo con on us.