Either we should go for regime change or stay out of Syria [View all]
This in-between option is the worst of all. The statement is being made that "Assad needs to be punished." I can't imagine anything being contemplated is going to punish him personally.
Will there be an assassination attempt or capture? No.
Will his family be targeted? No.
Will his personal property be confiscated or destroyed? No.
Will the chemical weapons be destroyed or removed? No.
What is most likely to happen, is a few targets will get struck by missiles. The people who die in these strikes will probably not be anyone Assad sheds tears over. The targets damaged will not cause Assad to grieve. Instead, what it will look like to the world is exactly what it is: the US beating its chest because Assad defied the prohibition on chemical weapons. To some, that will be cause to see Assad as a hero.
On the negative side, the US will make no friends in the Middle East by any military strike. Every person we kill will turn family members into passionate haters of the US. IF the rebels are successful, and overthrow Assad, they will hardly be grateful for limited action. We please no one with a middle course, except our own pride. Because our red line was crossed.
You can make a passionate argument for intervention or non-intervention, and I will take your arguments seriously. No one has yet to make any kind of argument that some sort of middle stance is the best possible approach. However, many have succeeded in reaffirming my opinion is the worst.
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