Jerusalem patriarch offers detailed argument against US strike on Syria

August 30, 2013

The Latin-rite Catholic Patriarch of Jerusalem has decried calls for American military strikes against Syria in response to the use of chemical weapons by the Assad regime.

Archbishop Fouad Twal argued:

• that it is still uncertain whether the Syrian government, and not rebel forces, initiated the chemical attack on civilians;
• The US has no international authorization for military action, and Americans should not act as "policemen of democracy;"
• The consequences of new military action could escalate the bloodshed in Syria, adding to the suffering of innocent civilians. And any countries involved in the military action might experience reprisals against their enemies, or terror attacks on their civilians;
• Even carefully targeted attacks on military targets would risk inflaming the volatile situation in the Middle East.

 

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Further information:

• Patriarch Twal: Attack Syria on What Authority? (National Catholic Register)