This is a limited purpose that can be accomplished by a limited military action.
CLOVER, VA, USA: Answering Mr Haider’s question of whether military strikes against Syria will benefit a political purpose depends on the purpose. If the purpose is to bring about political change in Syria, it is unlikely to have much effect. If the purpose is to discourage Bashar alAssad (and other nations) from using chemical weapons again, the military strikes can have that effect if made costly enough for Assad.
President Obama has disavowed a regime-change political purpose and has said the purpose for any military strike against Syria is to penalise Assad for using chemical weapons, i.e., the military action will serve the purpose of being a deterrent against the future use of chemical weapons.
This is a limited purpose that can be accomplished by a limited military action. Not to do it, on the other hand, would encourage Assad to use chemical weapons again and, in my honest opinion, would guarantee his eventual victory in the Syrian civil war.
David Salmon
Published in The Express Tribune, September 5th, 2013.
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