CONSIDER THESE consider; ATTACK ON SYRIA:Questions asked and to be asked

-Obama delays decision by one week to get Congress’s approval and authorization although he is constitutionally covered to act independently: is it a thoughtful move since the question of intervening in the internal affairs of  a sovereign state for violation of international agreements and humanitarian emergency at all costs (meaning: not considering the consequences in the other countries of the region and beyond-see eventual retaliations against Western interests or current internal repercussions in France) has been answered differently by different schools of thought – or is it a retreat?

-If resolutions of the UN Security Council can be bypassed, should the role of certain international organizations be reviewed? Or would reviewing them open Pandora’s Box and the mere process could be manipulated to accommodate different interests at different circumstances?

-Congress authorizes attack: will the US act with the support of merely France, Turkey and the blessings of Australia and the Arab League that so far have only expressed dismay over the chemical warfare?

-Congress does not or it narrowly authorizes attack: what will this mean for the dissidents within the two parties, the president and the role of USA as a global player?

-Attack happens: what are the targets? Military installations may be easily located and will still be there even after one week, but what if some targeted buildings are used as shelters for civilians? How will the missile tell what to hit if the use of the building has been modified? Will the presidential palace be a target too? Artillery though can and allegedly is already being moved around and eventually into shelters that are too difficult to locate in the Syrian mountains. In this case will the one-week delay of strike  

-Attack happens: it has to be brief unless Congress has authorized war. What if despite any Syrian casualties Assad celebrates the end of the brief attack as his regime’s victory against the American invasion?

-Attack happens: the message that the US is serious against perpetrators of similar chemical warfare has been sent again through the  Iraq war ( Saddam also used chemicals against his people).Regimes do not seem to have been listening. Would they listen now?

-Attack happens yet rebels’ ranges include extremists such as Al Nusra (although this one not that popular any more): how can the US continue to fight against the Islamists in other countries if in Syria it attacks Assad’s regime that attacks Islamist groups?

-Attack happens or it doesn’t:  is there a foreign policy plan for the Middle East region or is the US blackmailed into engaging in undesirable wars through the use of chemical weapons by any group that pressures the big international players to take sides?

-Is this week of delay Obama’s way to postpone an immediate “jerky” response while a diplomatic/political solution is being considered?

It is going to be a long, long controversial  Fall.

-by Elena Spilioti for Ta Yp Opsin (Consider These)

Stay with the podcast Ta Yp Opsin ( Consider These) with journalists Elena Spilioti and George Zorbas for more questions on current affairs.