Sunday, September 22, 2013

Friday, September 6, 2013

My Letter to the Editor of the Lbb AJ about Syria

Dear Editor Greenberg,

Our nation and world have come to a decisive moment as Congress deliberates whether or not to support President Obama's plan to strike Syria.  At such a time as this, I recall Jesus' lament over Jerusalem: "Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes."  I pray we would not be so blind.

An American strike could tip the balance for terrorist rebels in what will then surely necessitate American involvement with boots on the ground.  Worse, with President Putin vowing to continue to "help" Syrian forces, Syria could go from what has long been described as a proxy war between Russia and America to a much more overt confrontation between us.

Congress can avoid this landmine by rejecting Obama's proposal and calling upon Putin to broker a diplomatic change of power in Syria as a means of "helping" on humanitarian grounds.  The Assad regime is desperate; and without continuing to resort to chemical weapons its days are surely numbered.  Putin could see such a congressional resolution as his window to escape the indignity of having to deny future chemical weapon use by Assad.  The UN could then be called upon to help put together a provisional government comprised of moderate Sunni and Shia Syrians.

Even at this late hour, the things that make for peace are not yet hidden.  I implore our congressional representation to open their eyes and see them.

Sincerely,


Rev. Ryon Price