Syrian rebels have shocked the world suddenly overthrew Bashar al-Assad's regime.
Political and foreign policy establishments who had long advocated for regime change had reason to celebrate. President Assad has been in their sights for more than a decade. But that same organization is now wringing its hands over the question: “What's next?” After all, rosy predictions after a change of government have a spotty track record. For example, 13 years after the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi, Libya is still embroiled in civil war.
Indeed, the world should be happy that we have one less brutal dictator, and the world should be happy that the Syrian people have a chance at something better. However, although President Assad fled to Russia, US, Israel and Turkey continue to drop bombs on Syria. “Be careful what you wish for,'' these countries are apparently concerned about the rebels taking control of Syria and Assad's stockpile of chemical and other weapons falling into their hands. It seems there is.
The rebel coalition is led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. terrorist organization By the United States. The group leader is Abu Mohammad Al Jolani He previously pledged allegiance to al-Qaeda and fought in the Iraqi insurgency against the American occupation. Therefore, concerns are not unfounded. However, the group and its leadership have since rebranded and severed ties with al-Qaeda.
So far, Jolani's words and actions have been promising. There is no talk of establishing an Islamic state in the style of the Taliban in Afghanistan. The rebel general command announced on social media: No religious dress code imposed Regarding women: “It is strictly prohibited to interfere with women's dress or to impose requirements related to their dress or appearance, including requests for modesty.” political prisoner People imprisoned under Assad's regime have been released. Allowed to serve in the Syrian army amnesty.
What should the US do?
First, it's important to understand that Syria is not a threat to U.S. national security. In fact, even under Assad's brutal rule, Syria was not a threat to U.S. national security because Assad lacked the military capability to attack the U.S. mainland. Furthermore, although Assad supported Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant group did not pose the same global threat as al-Qaeda, which carried out the 9/11 attacks.
First and foremost, the United States 900 troops deployed to Syria. Ostensibly, they had been there for more than a decade to fight ISIS. But unlike al-Qaeda in 2001, ISIS in Syria is not a direct threat to the U.S. mainland. And to the extent that ISIS poses a threat to the region, regional states have the ability and will to disparage ISIS.
Equally important, the United States needs to resist the temptation to interfere in Syria's internal affairs and engage in state-building, democracy-building, and other forms of social engineering. If there is an important lesson to be learned from 9/11, it is that unnecessary involvement in countries of other ethnicities, especially in the Muslim world, is a recipe for fanning the flames of anti-American resentment that will ultimately shake the American homeland. That's true. Terrorist target.
Ultimately, the United States must remain true to the principle of self-determination and respect the choices and will of the Syrian people as they rebuild their country. We may prefer that they become Western-style liberal democracies, but that is not a requirement. Our only absolute requirement is that the new government not support or harbor terrorist organizations with global influence and ambitions to attack the American homeland.
Beyond that, our policy and message towards Syria must be simply a desire for peace.
Charles V. Peña is the next Adjunct Fellow.defense priorities. He has more than 30 years of experience as a policy and program analyst and senior manager, supporting both the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security. Mr. Peña is the former director of defense policy research at the Cato Institute.Winning the war: A new strategy for the war on terror”
