Roundtable luncheon focusing on crisis in Syria

The Pell Center for International Relations and Public Policy will sponsor a roundtable discussion focusing on the crisis in Syria at 11:45 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 1 in the Miley Hall private dining room (rescheduled from Sept. 20).

Last year, President Obama declared that the widespread use of chemical weapons in Syria would draw an armed U.S. military intervention. On Aug. 21, chemical weapons were employed against civilian targets in a suburb of Damascus, Syria. According to reports, more than 1,400 civilians were killed, including more than 400 children.

President Obama responded by calling for an armed international response. The United Nations declined. NATO refused to act. Even the United Kingdom – normally America’s most reliable military ally – balked. And so, on Aug. 31, Obama declared his intention to seek congressional authorization to use force against Syria.

In the weeks that followed, the international opposition to armed force was matched – and possibly exceeded – by the opposition of an American public that is tired from more than a decade of war.

The roundtable will explore the crisis and the latest developments. Participants will be invited to share their views about American foreign policy, the handling of the crisis by the Obama administration, and the value of red lines, ultimatums and the prospect for disarming the regime of Bashar al Assad in the midst of the Syrian civil war.

Lunch will be provided. As space is extremely limited, those interested in attending should RSVP to pellcenter@salve.edu.