Dartbeat Asks: United States intervention in Syria
Two years ago, Syrians took to the streets to demand that their government stop torturing student activists. Today, the country is embroiled in a civil war, with 70,000 rebels and civilians killed and President Bashar Al-Assad still clinging to power. This week Dartbeat Asks: Should the U.S. send direct military aid to the opposition groups?
I think that if aid will shorten the war then it should be sent, but I think we need to be careful as to who we send it to. I know there are some rebel groups using child soldiers or other things we wouldn’t support. —Emily Estelle ’15
There should be United Nations intervention. There should not be U.S. intervention because it’s not the U.S.’s problem — it’s the world’s problem. —Jordan Kastrinsky ’16
I don’t think it’s our prerogative as a nation to be a global task force, so unless it’s directly affecting our own national security, I don’t necessarily think it’s an imperative. —Aylin Woodward ’15
I don’t know much about the Syrian conflict, but it’s been going on for enough time for the U.S. to step in. I feel like the U.S. should be responsible and send in some aid. Most of the time they do send in aid but it’s a delayed amount of time. I feel like the U.S. could have a much faster response. —M.D. ’16
U.S. extends non-lethal aid to Syria: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-21612130
Syrian War spills into Iraq: http://www.cnn.com/2013/03/04/world/meast/iraq-syrians-killed/index.html?hpt=hp_t1
Israeli involvement: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/03/04/us-syria-crisis-un-idUSBRE92316N20130304
NY TimesTopic on Syria: http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/international/countriesandterritories/syria/index.html