A Sectarian War: US Policy Toward Syria from a Realist Perspective
Webster University
A Sectarian War: US Policy Toward Syria from a Realist Perspective
Randy Erspamer
INTL 6000
Final Paper
Dr. Reichardt
20 July 2013
Introduction
There is little doubt that the ongoing conflict in Syria presents the United States with foreign policy challenges. There is also little doubt that the civil war can be labeled as a humanitarian catastrophe. The numbers don’t lie, “nearly a quarter of Syria 's population may now be displaced from their homes, and the death toll approaches 100,000 -- and continues to rise inexorably” (Ross, 2013). These numbers indicate that this conflict has not, and will not remain isolated to within Syria; it presents a real challenge to regional stability. Refugees fleeing the country are beginning to destabilize the region. To make matters worse, these refugees have been replaced with sectarian fighters. Moreover, the destabilization of Syria is of grave concern to US national interests due to the biological and chemical weapons it potentially possesses. Due to this, President Obama has drawn a “red line” that would bring U.S. military action into the conflict. The crossing of this “red line”, the use of chemical weapons, has already been confirmed and time has passed. Additionally, the integrity of the opposition forces fighting against Assad’s Regime, also known as the Free Syrian Army (FSA), has come into question. Major Free Syrian Army battlefield victories have been claimed by a secular Islamic group, Jabhat al-Nusra, an Al-Qaeda affiliate. Thus far the Obama Administration has diplomatically recognized the Free Syrian Army as the legitimate government of Syria and has provided food, water, medical supplies and small arms. This analytical research paper will ask the question, why has the United States chosen to get involved in the Syrian conflict, diplomatically recognizing the Free Syrian Army as the legitimate government of Syria? This
A Sectarian War: US Policy Toward Syria from a Realist Perspective
Randy Erspamer
INTL 6000
Final Paper
Dr. Reichardt
20 July 2013
Introduction
There is little doubt that the ongoing conflict in Syria presents the United States with foreign policy challenges. There is also little doubt that the civil war can be labeled as a humanitarian catastrophe. The numbers don’t lie, “nearly a quarter of Syria 's population may now be displaced from their homes, and the death toll approaches 100,000 -- and continues to rise inexorably” (Ross, 2013). These numbers indicate that this conflict has not, and will not remain isolated to within Syria; it presents a real challenge to regional stability. Refugees fleeing the country are beginning to destabilize the region. To make matters worse, these refugees have been replaced with sectarian fighters. Moreover, the destabilization of Syria is of grave concern to US national interests due to the biological and chemical weapons it potentially possesses. Due to this, President Obama has drawn a “red line” that would bring U.S. military action into the conflict. The crossing of this “red line”, the use of chemical weapons, has already been confirmed and time has passed. Additionally, the integrity of the opposition forces fighting against Assad’s Regime, also known as the Free Syrian Army (FSA), has come into question. Major Free Syrian Army battlefield victories have been claimed by a secular Islamic group, Jabhat al-Nusra, an Al-Qaeda affiliate. Thus far the Obama Administration has diplomatically recognized the Free Syrian Army as the legitimate government of Syria and has provided food, water, medical supplies and small arms. This analytical research paper will ask the question, why has the United States chosen to get involved in the Syrian conflict, diplomatically recognizing the Free Syrian Army as the legitimate government of Syria? This
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