U.S. Rep. Stephen F. Lynch, on a fact-finding mission to Iraq, reports that U.S. allies in the region strongly back the Trump administration’s tough stance against Syrian dictator Bashar Assad after last week’s chemical attack on civilians.
“I think it’s nearly unanimous in terms of this region that they were very supportive that the United States government took action and hopefully that will change Bashar Assad’s conduct going forward, at least with respect to the use of chemical weapons,” Lynch said on Boston Herald Radio’s “Morning Meeting” with Jaclyn Cashman and Hillary Chabot yesterday.
Lynch said he spoke with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi as well as Kuwait’s leadership, and said both nations were very supportive of Thursday’s cruise missile strike on Shayrat Air Base, which U.S. officials say launched the chemical attack that killed more than 80 men, women, children and infants in the village of Khan Sheikhoun.
The incident raised bitter memories and fears in neighboring Iraq.
“They are a bit nervous because, especially in Iraq, there is a history of chemical weapons use under Saddam Hussein,” said Lynch. “So there is some anxiety about the fact that the Syrians used chemical weapons.”
Lynch said he hopes U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, meeting with Russian diplomats today, will deliver the message that “Russia has to cease and desist supporting” Assad.
“I think it’s unconscionable that the Russian government is supporting Bashar Assad … This is not the first time he has been accused of using chemical weapons and that type of conduct should not be engaged in by any civilized nation.”
Lynch also said that the message the military is trying to convey in Iraq is very clear: The Islamic State is still the primary enemy.
Lynch said that regime change in Syria is a long-term issue and there are more pressing matters to handle first.
“I think in the short term, No. 1, we can’t have people using chemical weapons. That’s No. 1. Especially against civilians,” said Lynch.
“And secondly, they’ve got to get rid of ISIS. They can’t be detained, they need to be destroyed. There’s just no way that their ideology can coexist with freedom-loving nations, here or in any other nation on Earth.
“So I think they have got to stay focused on those two matters and I think it will have to be a longer-range plan to try to accomplish regime change in Syria. I think that’s a longer fight.”
