Could lead to new war

Late on Nov. 15, the lame-duck U.S. House of Representatives convened in special session to pass House Resolution 5732, the “Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act.” It calls for intensifying the sanctions on Syria, assessing the imposition of a “no fly zone” inside Syria (to prevent Syrian and Russian aircraft from flying) and pressing criminal charges against Syrian officials.

This is a really bad idea. Syria is a sovereign nation that invited longtime (nuclear-armed) military ally Russia to assist in its defense. As Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Joseph Dunford stated in his testimony to the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee on Sept. 22, 2016, establishing a no-fly zone over Syria would “require us to go to war against Syria and Russia.”

The world is full of bad guys; why is it in our national interest to risk our precious men and women in uniform to take out Bashar Assad? We were not invited by the government, and establishing a no-fly zone would violate international law and require the U.S. military to shoot down Russian aircraft.

Can you imagine how we would react if another country established a no-fly zone over the U.S.? With regard to Russia, you can tell they want war with the West; look how close they moved their country to our NATO bases.

Please urge Senators Boozman and Cotton to oppose HR5732; our future depends on it. And may God have mercy on our souls and nation if it passes and leads to war with Russia. MARK PETERSON

Little Rock