answers.
First, was there a chemical attack against a civilian population? We don't
know. Russia and Syria say, "No." The U S, Britain and France say, "Yes." An
independent team from the U N were supposed to go there this week to find
evidence of chemicals. There were no chemical casualties reported in
hospitals. Would Assad or one of his generals use chemical weapon? Yes,
probably. But, just as there were no Weapons of Mass Destruction in Iraq, the
U S doesn't need facts to justify aggression.
Second, did Trump have the legal and constitutional right to attack Syria with
missiles? Obama wanted to do it when Syria supposedly used chemical weapons
but was restrained by a Republican Congress. Only Congress has the right to
declare war. Did Trump exceed the limits of the Warpowers Act? These are
important questions that should be answered.
But, finally, it seems the whole thing was a joke. Remember the scene from
Catch 22 when Milo Minderbinder convinced Colonel Cathcart that to corner the
market on Egyptian cotton he had to make a deal with the Germans to bomb our
own airfield. Trump told the Russians and Syrians what he was going to do. He
even telegraphed the targets. He gave them almost a week to clear the area.
Syria moved planes and equipment to Russia. Everyone stepped back and let
Trump have his "splendid little war."
Well, at least, it did get Stormy Daniels off the front page.