After Syrian President Bashar al-Assad decided to launch a chemical attack on his own people that resulted in the deaths of nearly 100 people, including children, Donald Trump decided to response with an attack of his own. Less than 48 hours after Assad's attack, Trump ordered close to 60 tomahawk missiles to strike an airbase in the country, but it didn't go over well with many in the media.
Trump's Syria trouble
The civil conflict in Syria has been going on for years, as the government of Bashar al-Assad has struggled to keep control of his country against civilians on the ground, rebel groups, and Islamic terrorist organizations like the Islamic State (ISIS).
While Assad has been reported to have use chemical weapons against his own people in the past, the United States and other countries in the West have been reluctant to step in and play a major role due to Syria's strong alliance with Russia and Iran. When Donald Trump decided to fire the missiles at the airbase in Syria, one of the reasons he cited for doing so was because dozens of innocent children were killed in the process. Critics of the former host of "The Apprentice" quickly pounced on the opportunity to call out the hypocrisy of the White House due to their stance on restricting refugees from Syria from entering the United States. As reported by CNN on April 10, the issue was discussed during Monday afternoon's press briefing.
As White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer took questions from reporters on Monday, one asked about the aforementioned attack on Syria, and pressed further about the refugee crisis. "Why is it okay to bomb Syria but not okay to assist the refugees?" the reporter asked. In response, Spicer claimed that the United States was giving more assistance to refugees by bombing parts of their country than they could be opening the borders of the U.S.
"By us taking action and deescalating what is going on in Syria, that is the greatest thing you can do to support those people," Spicer said, before adding that "containing ISIS is the greatest aspect of humanitarian relief." Spicer went on to explain that the Syrian people don't actually want to come to the United States, but that they would rather have a safe place in their own country.
Spicer on Syria if attacks continue: “Further action will definitely be considered by the United States.” https://t.co/AW9aiIAhvg
— CNN (@CNN) April 10, 2017
Current status
As of press time. the government of Syria, as well as ally Russia, have expressed frustration with the Donald Trump administration for acting militarily, and doing so as quickly as they did. Though the White House has hinted at aspects of potential regime change, no action is expected at any point in the near future.
