After fulminating about retaliation for the latest Syrian chemical weapons attack, the Trump administration cooled off long enough to consider the dangers of such a strike.
Two weeks ago, Trump was hectoring his advisers about the need to bring U.S. troops home.
Perhaps Trump will more clearly see now the need for a broader U.S. strategy to help stabilize Syria.
The right sort of message requires discretion: Trump didn't publicly tout his plan to fire 59 cruise missiles after the Khan Sheikhoun attack; the U.S. in February warned Russian liaison officers before a devastating assault on paramilitary forces attacking an oil-and-gas facility near Deir al-Zour; Israel has struck Iranian operations at the T-4 air base in central Syria, without claiming credit for the attacks.
Trump tweeted on Sunday morning after the Douma attack: "President Putin, Russia and Iran are responsible for backing Animal Assad. Big price to pay." He cranked up the volume Wednesday morning, tweeting about firing missiles in retaliation: "Get ready Russia, because they will be coming, nice and new and 'smart!'".
As with any use of military force, planners need to think carefully about "The day after." Would a U.S. strike trigger a widening conflict in a part of Syria where its leverage is limited? Would President Vladimir Putin feel he must make his own show of toughness by matching Trump and moving up the escalatory ladder? And what would Trump do if this action, unlike the Syria reprisal of a year ago, failed to win applause?
When Trump takes military action in Syria, he owns the consequences.
https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2018/04/13/the_consequences_of_a_syrian_strike_136798.html
Two weeks ago, Trump was hectoring his advisers about the need to bring U.S. troops home.
Perhaps Trump will more clearly see now the need for a broader U.S. strategy to help stabilize Syria.
The right sort of message requires discretion: Trump didn't publicly tout his plan to fire 59 cruise missiles after the Khan Sheikhoun attack; the U.S. in February warned Russian liaison officers before a devastating assault on paramilitary forces attacking an oil-and-gas facility near Deir al-Zour; Israel has struck Iranian operations at the T-4 air base in central Syria, without claiming credit for the attacks.
Trump tweeted on Sunday morning after the Douma attack: "President Putin, Russia and Iran are responsible for backing Animal Assad. Big price to pay." He cranked up the volume Wednesday morning, tweeting about firing missiles in retaliation: "Get ready Russia, because they will be coming, nice and new and 'smart!'".
As with any use of military force, planners need to think carefully about "The day after." Would a U.S. strike trigger a widening conflict in a part of Syria where its leverage is limited? Would President Vladimir Putin feel he must make his own show of toughness by matching Trump and moving up the escalatory ladder? And what would Trump do if this action, unlike the Syria reprisal of a year ago, failed to win applause?
When Trump takes military action in Syria, he owns the consequences.
https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2018/04/13/the_consequences_of_a_syrian_strike_136798.html
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