I have been exchanging some emails with a long-time friend of mine in the past day or two. He began it by saying the other day that he couldn't see any reason for the U.S. to attack Syria. I responded along the lines of Assad being as bad as Hitler and the U.S. being the remaining super-power it has an obligation to at least stop his use of chemical weapons against his own people. President Obama seems "hoist on his own petard", as someone once taught me many years ago. In other words he said publicly that any use of chemical weapons would "cross the red line", requiring action by the West. So now Assad has done just that: used chemical weapons to kill over a thousand of his own people, including women and children, many while they slept. So can Obama NOT order a strike? That would virtually gut his presidency, it seems to me. But, as my friend points out and rightly so . . . what if the strike doesn't really accomplish anything and Assad continues to kill his countrymen. Then what? And what if Hezbollah in the West Bank and Gaza are joined by similar forces in Iran to attack Israel in retaliation. I believe Israel can take care of itself and any war between them and Iran might have a positive side if Iran's nuclear weapons program is destroyed in the process. I can't believe that either Jordan (which is already caring for over a million refugees from Syria) or the Saudis or least of all the Turks would side with Assad. There are reports that Russia has sent warships toward the Mediterranean but would Putin actually start World War Three over this?
It is a conundrum but a very dangerous one. I believe Obama is being extremely careful in making his decision. I hope he has luck on his side as well.
But enough of that. Let's get back to that cat from yesterday. He is, in fact, hiding in plain sight. Let's have one more look.
The cat, with color that blends him into the landscape, is at the upper right, below the large cactus plant, the pathway and the rocks. He is sitting up and once you see him you'll never miss him again.
Have a good weekend and, if you're a religious type, pray for peace. The rest of us will hope for peace.
