Poll: Next steps in Syria

Imagine being huddled with your family in a small dark place, taking cover as two rival military factions battle over your neighborhood. While you take shelter from conventional strikes and barrel bombs, you start to smell chlorine in the air, and you slowly begin to suffocate to death. This week, this exact scenario played out in Douma, Syria. 

At least 42 people died and more than 500 others—most of them women and children—were treated at medical facilities for symptoms related to chemical exposure. This attack was allegedly perpetrated by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in an effort to retake rebel-held territory in the suburbs of Douma. Moreover, this is not nearly the first-time chemical weapons have been used in the Syrian Civil War, nor is it the first time they have been used against civilians.  

The use of chemical weapons is illegal under the international Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), and in the last several days we have seen an outpouring of condemnation by the international community. As this community begins to address next steps concerning this chemical attack, President Trump has signaled a retaliatory strike—possibly targeting the chemical capabilities of the Assad regime—is imminent.

As such, I wanted to take a moment and get your input on this recent development.