To the Editor:
The voters of Maine should write to U.S. Representatives Michaud and Pingree and to Senators Collins and King to urge them to vote “No” on President Obama’s resolution to attack Syria in response to its use of chemical weapons.
Such a strike, and act of war by the United States, would be just as illegal under international law as the use of chemical weapons. No such strike should be pursued unless endorsed by the United Nations. Such a strike would surely cause many civilian deaths, in whose name the strike is being justified by President Obama and Secretary of State Kerry.
Such a strike would cost hundreds of millions of dollars, which is money that the U.S. could spend on far more useful tasks, such as the exploration of space and population control.
What does President Obama think Syrian President Assad and his allies, Russia and Iran, will do in response to such a strike? Nothing? I doubt it.
A country that has illegally started two wars in Muslim countries, Iraq and Afghanistan, during the past 10 years, should not initiate another one. The human and economic costs of these wars have been devastating to Iraq, Afghanistan and the U.S.
This is not a choice between doing nothing and something, as President Obama and Mr. Kerry would frame it. It’s a choice between doing something stupid, illegal and testosterone-driven and doing something wise, legal and effective. We need not attack another country just because our President unwisely drew a “red line” and threatened military action if President Assad crossed that line. Saving face is not a good reason to kill hundreds, if not thousands, of people.
Instead of a military strike, the United States and all members of the United Nations should pursue other means to uphold the international treaties against the use of chemical weapons. Those other means include seeking an indictment for war crimes and crimes against humanity in the International Criminal Court against President Assad of Syria and all others in his government responsible for the chemical attack.
It would help, of course, if the U.S. had approved the International Criminal Court treaty, but that’s an issue for another day. President Clinton signed the treaty in 2000, and since then several people have been found guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity and imprisoned.
Another sanction is further economic boycotts of Syrian trade and finance and seizure of foreign assets of President Assad and others.
Again, please write to Maine’s U.S. Representatives and Senators and urge them to vote “No” on a military attack, and to vote “Yes” for other sanctions against the government of Syria for its use of chemical weapons.
