Syria strike seems certain
The “sprinkled blood” of Jesus “speaks more eloquently than that of Abel,” the reading from the Letter to the Hebrews says this Sunday. The images of innocent civilians, including many children, left lifeless by a poison gas attack near the Syrian capital last week speak more powerfully of the need to respond militarily . . .
The “sprinkled blood” of Jesus “speaks more eloquently than that of Abel,” the reading from the Letter to the Hebrews says this Sunday. The images of innocent civilians, including many children, left lifeless by a poison gas attack near the Syrian capital last week speak more powerfully of the need to respond militarily than does the stymied United Nations Security Council, the Obama administration contends.
The U.S. is prepared to take action on its own against the Syrian government it holds responsible for the chemical weapons attack. A State Department spokeswoman said the U.S. would respond even in the absence of U.N. backing. "We cannot be held up in responding by Russia's intransigence—continued intransigence—at the United Nations," Marie Harf said. "The situation is so serious that it demands a response."
The U.S. has not publicly presented proof that the Syrian government used deadly chemical weapons near Damascus last week. Even so, U.S. officials have pointed a finger squarely at Syrian President Bashar Assad.
President Barack Obama has said that the U.S. has concluded that the Syrian government carried out the chemical weapons attack and "there need to be international consequences." The president says he's not seeking a lengthy, open-ended conflict in Syria, indicating that any U.S. response would be limited in scope.
The U.S. is concerned that letting the Syrian government go unpunished would send a signal to other countries, including North Korea, that have large inventories of chemical weapons, as well as making it likely that the Assad government will attack civilians with such weapons again, according to a U.S. official.
While the U.S. has warships and submarines carrying Tomahawk cruise missiles ready for action in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, any military move may still be days away, in part because a team of U.N. weapons inspectors needs at least two more days to complete its report.
Homily hint: As the U.S. prepares a possible military strike against Syria, the question of the moral justification for the use of force arises. In this case it is Syria’s use of chemical weapons on its own population that is triggering the call to action. A discussion in the faith community on the morality of U.S. action likely would prove fruitful. The article referenced in the "Sources" below could prove helpful.
The U.S. is prepared to take action on its own against the Syrian government it holds responsible for the chemical weapons attack. A State Department spokeswoman said the U.S. would respond even in the absence of U.N. backing. "We cannot be held up in responding by Russia's intransigence—continued intransigence—at the United Nations," Marie Harf said. "The situation is so serious that it demands a response."
The U.S. has not publicly presented proof that the Syrian government used deadly chemical weapons near Damascus last week. Even so, U.S. officials have pointed a finger squarely at Syrian President Bashar Assad.
President Barack Obama has said that the U.S. has concluded that the Syrian government carried out the chemical weapons attack and "there need to be international consequences." The president says he's not seeking a lengthy, open-ended conflict in Syria, indicating that any U.S. response would be limited in scope.
The U.S. is concerned that letting the Syrian government go unpunished would send a signal to other countries, including North Korea, that have large inventories of chemical weapons, as well as making it likely that the Assad government will attack civilians with such weapons again, according to a U.S. official.
While the U.S. has warships and submarines carrying Tomahawk cruise missiles ready for action in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, any military move may still be days away, in part because a team of U.N. weapons inspectors needs at least two more days to complete its report.
Homily hint: As the U.S. prepares a possible military strike against Syria, the question of the moral justification for the use of force arises. In this case it is Syria’s use of chemical weapons on its own population that is triggering the call to action. A discussion in the faith community on the morality of U.S. action likely would prove fruitful. The article referenced in the "Sources" below could prove helpful.
Sources: Articles by Deb Riechmann and Kimberly Dozier for the Associated
Press and Terry Atlas and Joe Sobczyk for Bloomberg.com. See also
"U.S. may look to build moral argument for strike against Syria, experts say"