International Economics & Security
It is a tragic irony that on Holocaust Memorial Day Trump signed an executive order that bans Syrian refugees as well as those seeking visas from Iraq, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen.
Sometimes the only thing we can do in the face of unbelievable horror and the seemingly unending pain that humans inflict upon each other is to give our attention. On these occasions, being a witness is both the least and the greatest thing we can do.
Syria is complicated; thus, it is not surprising that politicians, academic experts, and human rights activists are divided on whether U.S. military intervention will help or worsen the crisis there. The one thing most people are very wrong about, however, is that non-military options have been exhausted. I explain why in the following post. But also take a look what we as individuals can do to respond to this tragedy. If you have a link or a suggestion that you believe would be useful, please leave a comment.
Since I have been reading a lot of material on the civil war in Syria lately, I wanted to highlight the most informative articles on the current crisis. This list is not concerned with the debate on U.S. involvement but is focused on content that explains the issues prompting global concern.
The case being made by President Obama and others that the international norm prohibiting the use of chemical weapons has to be enforced through military force by punishing the Syrian government is to my knowledge completely unprecedented. It also seems dangerously incoherent.
![[Updated] A Guide To Understanding Syria](https://www.arkellogg.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Syria_map_blank.png)
