Policy Action Memorandum Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Policy Action Memorandum - Term Paper ExampleOn the positive side could be considered a certain impact on the geopolitics of the region, namely the possibility of curbing or at least weakening Iran, insofar as the political science of the officeholder Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad, is a key Tehrans ally4. There are several woofs available for dealing with the issue, as follows arming the opposition forces with more cultivate weapon systems, which might alter the balance on the ground either surgical air strikes or a greatr air campaign that would hamper the regime forces ground operations and weaken their capabilities, including aerial superiority everyplace the rebels the establishment of air exclusion zone and a direct, full-scale ground enfolding. Although the latter option is considered the most costly one, it is the only way the US could guarantee to a certain degree however its long-run interests in the region, including such related to the depicted object securit y. Executive Summary The ongoing conflict between Bashar al-Assads regime and the opposition forces in Syria poses serious threats to both the US national security and long-term interests in the Middle East. The civil war is steadily destabilizing the region as whole and Syrias neighbors in particular, most notably Lebanon and Israel. Apart from the humanitarian crisis, with over one million Syrian citizens having fled to Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon and Turkey and over two other million people internally displaced because of the fighting5, the conflict could easily get internationalized mainly payable to the various outside actors involved6. Syrias vast chemical weapons arsenal is among the biggest threats to US national security mainly due to the real probability of being taken by Islamic extremist organizations after the fall of the regime. On the other hand, the likely use of chemical weapons especially against alleged external aggression7 might cause the things to get completely o ut of hand, including retaliation strikes from the parties concerned, further escalation of the conflict, etc. hence a rapid and grave deterioration of the already vapourific situation in the region of the Middle East. This PAM recommends a US-led full-scale intervention in the Syrian conflict, including ground, naval and aerial forces, preferably in a wide coalition with key Western allies and various partners from the Arab world, such as the coalition that fought against Saddam Hussein during the First Gulf War. The direct ground involvement is the only option that would guarantee that the Syrian chemical arsenal will not be seized by terrorist organizations and/or irresponsible governments, or rogue states, which would afterwards use it for their own purposes, most likely against key American allies or the United States themselves. The Policy Issue and its Relation to US topic Security The ongoing Syrian civil war represents a significant issue in regard to the US national sec urity and long-term interests in the region of the Middle East. First of all, the conflict is a major destabilizing factor in a volatile region that is by definition prone to fermentation and violence. Apart from Irans geopolitical ambitions, this particularly rings true as far as Lebanon and Israel are concerned. Hezbollah has already got involved in the conflict, whether indirectly via funding, arming and training the local Popular Committee militias,