Syria: U.S. Policy Options

The stakes for American values and interests in the unfolding events, drama, tragedy, whatever you want to call it, with respect to Syria are really important to us. At least 10,000 civilians have died. Hundreds of thousands more have either been displaced or at grave risk of harm. And the humanitarian crisis that has engulfed Syria’s neighbors obviously has implications in the region, and we know that refugees and displaced populations can be the spark for large-scale violence. What happens in Syria will have a direct impact on our regional stability and on the security of our friends and allies throughout the Middle East. We all understand that a full-fledged civil war there would have devastating consequences for Israel, Lebanon, Turkey, and Jordan.