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How is Syria a legitimate threat to national security of the US? (not rhetorical)

xlm1717 11y ago
We could use vague language like harbors terrorists or funds terrorists. More realistically, though, I perceive ISIS as a greater threat to US national security. As an example, the TSA is already getting more ornery with airport security in response to the Russian airplane downed over Egypt for which ISIS has taken responsibility. And ISIS only claims responsibility as revenge against Russian intervention in Syria, intervention on behalf of the government of Syria. If Syria is a threat, it's a lot less pressing than the threat posed by the militants fighting Syria.
mangeletti 11y ago
Syria is a very much a threat to US interests, because it has a regime hostile to us, friendly to Russia and Iran, and it borders the Mediterranean Sea, giving competitors to the US that could be friendly to Turkey (read: Russia via Georgia) a trade and supply route to the Mediterranean. Because of this, the economics that are favorable to Turkey, in a situation where Syria "falls" to Russia, create interests that conflict with those of the US, particularly during war. In other words, from geopolitical and war strategy standpoints, Syria is currently one of the more important countries in the world, to the US.
- jqm 11y ago
  Yep. It also borders Israel and sits directly on the main trade route between the oil/gas rich Sheikdoms and Europe.
- venomsnake 11y ago
  Ex country. Syria is a territory now. The only ways it could resemble some form of country - lets say they are unacceptable from moral view. The winning faction - no matter which - will surely go on a rampage of power consolidation with ethnic and religious cleansing in the mix :( So we have two harrowing option - yet another autocrat committing atrocities and generating suffering. Or warring camps that will commit atrocities and generate suffering.

We could use vague language like harbors terrorists or funds terrorists. More realistically, though, I perceive ISIS as a greater threat to US national security. As an example, the TSA is already getting more ornery with airport security in response to the Russian airplane downed over Egypt for which ISIS has taken responsibility. And ISIS only claims responsibility as revenge against Russian intervention in Syria, intervention on behalf of the government of Syria. If Syria is a threat, it's a lot less pressing than the threat posed by the militants fighting Syria.

mangeletti 11y ago

Syria is a very much a threat to US interests, because it has a regime hostile to us, friendly to Russia and Iran, and it borders the Mediterranean Sea, giving competitors to the US that could be friendly to Turkey (read: Russia via Georgia) a trade and supply route to the Mediterranean. Because of this, the economics that are favorable to Turkey, in a situation where Syria "falls" to Russia, create interests that conflict with those of the US, particularly during war. In other words, from geopolitical and war strategy standpoints, Syria is currently one of the more important countries in the world, to the US.

jqm 11y ago
Yep. It also borders Israel and sits directly on the main trade route between the oil/gas rich Sheikdoms and Europe.
venomsnake 11y ago
Ex country. Syria is a territory now. The only ways it could resemble some form of country - lets say they are unacceptable from moral view. The winning faction - no matter which - will surely go on a rampage of power consolidation with ethnic and religious cleansing in the mix :( So we have two harrowing option - yet another autocrat committing atrocities and generating suffering. Or warring camps that will commit atrocities and generate suffering.