ON TARGET COMMENTARY

4/13/17           by Dave Gunn

Pulling the Dog’s Ears

      Recently President Trump ordered the firing of 59 Tomahawk missiles at a Syrian air base. This in response for the alleged use of chemical weapons by Syrian forces against civilians.

      To be sure, the videos of the suffering and death of men, women, children and even babies was sickening.  How could any civilized person not experience sorrow and anger over such a thing?  However, we must ask if we should have involved ourselves in the conflict that has raged in Syria for so long?  There are a number of reasons why we should not be drawn into the Syrian dilemma.

      First among the reasons is that the Syrian “civil war” is not a civil war at all.  Many, if not most of the “rebels” are Al-Qaida, ISIS, Hezbollah, or mercenaries from Jordan and Saudi Arabia. 

      Then there is the problem of who would be running Syria if Basher al-Assad is overthrown.  It is most likely that the resulting chaos would end in a Muslim theocracy like Iran.  One thing the world does not need is another Iran.

      Let’s face it: there are no good guys in Syria.  Assad is an oppressive autocrat.  However, he has allowed Christians in Syria to practice their religion without governmental interference.  On the other hand, every town taken over by the “rebels” has seen the Christians persecuted, killed or expelled.

      In spite of what Secretary of State Tillerson has said, we do not have any national interest in Syria.  True, it is horrific to witness the unleashing of chemical weapons on civilians, but there are atrocities occurring all over the world.  We cannot, nor should we be the world’s policeman.

      Tillerson has also said that the action against Syria was necessary to keep weapons of mass destruction out of the hands of terrorists.  So how does the bombing of a Syrian airfield accomplish that?  Actually, it is more likely that chemical weapons will fall into the hands of ISIS, Hezbollah, and Al Qaida if the Assad regime is toppled.  And if the Syrian atrocity was a false flag, they already have them.

      It is both ironic and hypocritical for our President to denounce Assad while getting cozy with the leader of Communist China.  Surely Trump has heard of the forced abortions resulting from the “one child” policy.  It is no secret that, in villages all over Red China, parents are forced to watch while soldiers crush the skulls of their second babies.

      In Proverbs 26:17, we have these words of warning: “He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.”  Our leaders should listen to God’s wisdom, and not involve our nation is what a quagmire that is sure to end badly for us.

[Dave Gunn is the nom de plume of Dr. David E. Gonnella, Pastor of the Magnolia Springs Baptist Church in Theodore, Alabama.  The opinions expressed are his own, and do not necessarily reflect those of the church or its membership.]