The US Must Be Cautious About Syria

In his column at the Hill, Juan Williams weighs in on calls by some elected officials for the U.S. to intervene in Syria, where the country's brutal dictator has committed egregious human rights violations, much as Saddam Hussein did in Iraq. But such a move would be tragic, given that troops left Iraq only three months ago and lessons still have to be learned, he writes.

As Congress approaches the nine-year anniversary of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, it is stunning to hear Republicans on Capitol Hill and the campaign trail calling for military intervention in another Middle Eastern country.

This time the country is Syria. And the reasons for military action there sound eerily similar to the ones used by the Bush administration in the run-up to the Iraq war.

To review: We have a brutal Middle Eastern dictator who has committed egregious human rights violations. He might have weapons of mass destruction and ties to terrorism. At the United Nations, we have the United States leading the charge for an international coalition to stop him.

The only new wrinkle to the story is that in 2012 an imminent presidential election ramps up the pressure. Every contender is making a show of pounding his chest as he openly calls for regime change.

Adding to this combustible mix is the imminent threat of Israel launching attacks on Iran to halt its development of nuclear weapons. The Iranians have a large role in Syria as financial backers of the regime.

Syria has been Iran’s funnel for support to Israel’s enemies in Hezbollah and Hamas.

Read Juan Williams' entire column at the Hill.

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