The Vista NOTRE DAME ACADEMY*3535 W. SYLVANIA AVE.* TOLEDO, OH 43623*VOL 67 ISSUE 6* MAY 18, 2017
Missile Strikes in Syria Aim to Stop Use of Nerve Gas Hannah Dailey The United States has launched a missile strike against Syria for the first time since the civil war began. They targeted an airbase from which the chemical weapons attack on civilians was launched by Bashar al-Assad’s regime earlier in the week. This act marked the first time the U.S. has become a direct combatant against the Syrian regime. Syria’s civil war is a tragic geopolitical disaster as it has claimed at least 470,000 lives and has prompted a refugee crisis that has destabilized European politics and fueled the rise of nativist populism. Six years of efforts to end the war through diplomacy have failed. The interference of regional and global powers, combined with guerilla warfare, have made the conflict appear almost unresolvable. This move drew an angry response from Russia. The Russian foreign ministry announced that it was suspending a deal with the U.S. to exchange information about military flights to avoid incidents in the skies over Syria. Moscow has also called for a meeting to discuss the strikes with the U.N. Security Council. Syrian officials said at least seven people were killed and nine injured in the missile attack. President Donald Trump issued this order after seeing images of children gassed to death after Assad used chemical weapons against Syrian civilians. This missile strike represents a significant escalation of the United States’ military influence in the area. Many people are worried that this could
“It is in our vital national interest to prevent the use and spread of chemical weapons,” Nikki Haley, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, told the U.N. Security Council during a special meeting on the strikes. As quoted in www.washingtonpost.com on 4/7/17
be interpreted by the Syrian government as an act of war. “What would lead a person to want to be in power so much that they would kill innocent children?” history teacher Mrs. Susie Huffman questioned. “This escalation in terror highlights the responsibility of all of us, regardless of nation, to welcome Syrian refugees, 50% of whom are under the age of 18, and the potential contributions to society they bring with them,” junior Kate Brown said. This order was a shock to many, as President Trump had signaled for years that he was comfortable with Assad remaining in power. This action marked a dramatic shift in his position on whether the United States should take military action against the Syrian President's regime.
Pres. Trump had originally opposed this during his campaign for president. While Pres. Trump lacked congressional and international authorization for the strike, many U.S. politicians covered him politically, saying that it was vital that the strike happened immediately to prevent further chemical attacks on the people of Syria. “Killing innocent people to bring an end to the war does not make sense,” Mrs. Huffman said. The strike included 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles launched from the guidedmissile destroyers in the eastern Mediterranean. These Tomahawks are advanced missiles that can be retargeted while already in air. For a long period of time, U.S. military officials warned against attacking Pres. Assad, as Syria’s air defenses are supplied by Russia. This is not the first time this issue has arisen, however. In 2013, Pres. Assad’s forces used chemical weapons to kill more than 1,000 Syrian rebels. After that occurrence, President Obama threatened military action over the use of sarin, one of the chemical weapons used that also happened to be illegal. However. Russia intervened and made a deal with Assad that involved him handing over stockpiles of weapons.
“This is not just a Pres. Trump problem or a Republican problem. When bombings like this are committed, they are committed in the name of all Americans. It is up to all of us to educate ourselves and stand up and speak out for those who cannot,” Kate said.
In This Issue: Senior College Listing Page 7
School Changes Page 2
Interview with the Valedictorian Page 5