With all the clamor about invading Syria after the recent chemical attacks, it's interesting to consider ancient recent evidence that the American government aided Iraq in its chemical attacks against Iran.
The declassified CIA documents show that Casey and other top officials were repeatedly informed about Iraq's chemical attacks and its plans for launching more. "If the Iraqis produce or acquire large new supplies of mustard agent, they almost certainly would use it against Iranian troops and towns near the border," the CIA said in a top secret document.
But it was the express policy of Reagan to ensure an Iraqi victory in the war, whatever the cost.
The decision on whether to invade has become inordinately complicated by Russia's opposition, Obama's lines drawn in the sand (and subsequently crossed), the nature of the rebellion in Syria, the lack of clear evidence about who exactly carried out the chemical attacks, and the lack of a clear plan of action that would quickly end the civil war. This diary is not going to resolve these issues.
Instead, I'd like to suggest a new way forward now that we've got proof that the American government aided chemical weapons attacks. First, the US military should invade Washington, D.C. The resulting military coup would mean that our government could no longer provide aid to itself. The government then collapses into a self-referential bureaucratic black hole. Libertarians and conservatives everywhere rejoice until they try to get medical care, send a postcard, or fly on a plane.
More seriously, it's not clear that we have the necessary moral clout and force of will to implement an intervention that will improve the situation. If we take out Assad only to allow a dictatorial theocratic regime to come to power, it's not clear that this will improve the lives of the average Syrian any more than ending the war by backing Assad. Our current low-grade intervention may only be prolonging the war.
On the other hand, Samantha Powers, American ambassador to the U.N., would certainly disagree. In her opinion, we must act, especially if there is evidence that the Assad regime has used chemical weapons.
I want to see Assad brought to justice, but I'm not sure that our intervention will improve the lives of Syrians, and it will be one more justification for the continuing existence of our massive military. I wish I had a better response to the ongoing tragedy, but it is not always possible to intervene, something I see regularly in the medical field. Providing humanitarian aid may be the equivalent of palliative care - it's not going to cure the problem, but at least it may ease the worst of the suffering.