Conflict in SyriaWhat is going on??

Where is Syria?

About SyriaSyria is a nation of about 21 million

people -- roughly 2 million more than the population of New York state.

The nation is about the same size as Washington state and slightly larger than North Dakota.

Syria is run by the minority sect known as Alawites, which make up 11.8 percent of the population.

About the GovernmentSyria is currently led by a man

named Bashar al-Assad, who assumed leadership in 2000 by a “non-democratic” vote

Civil War Era (March 5, 2011 – Present)Before the Civil War, Syria had a

diverse economy agriculture (22 percent of the economy), industry and excavation (25 percent), retail (23 percent) and tourism (12 percent).

Peaceful protests began over human rights violations, religious oppression, and government corruption

Civil War ContinuedPresident Assad used the military to

fire on the protesters, starting open rebellion

The Free Syrian Army was formed to counter the government attacks

As the war continued, the government started attacking its own people, including supporters, with weapons (including chemical) and famine

Pictures of the War

Pictures of the War

The Numbers Currently, the UN estimates over 100,000 people

have died during the course of the civil war An estimates 6.2 million people have been

forced to flee or lost their homes The Syrian Observatory for Human rights says

40,146 civilizations have been killed, including more than 4,000 women and more than 5,800 children.

Why does the US care?There is significant evidence that the

Syrian government used chemical weapons on its own people

Chemical Weapons are internationally banned, and considered a “red line” in warfare

Because of the location and influence of Syria on the Middle East, the US government is afraid rebel groups like the Taliban will acquire the chemical weapons and use them against us

What does the rest of the world think?Great Britain, one of our

strongest allies voted against helping the US in a war against Syria.

Russia and Iran both support the current president in Syria, and will not tolerant US involvement without a UN decision.

France supports US involvement

Current Status- AbroadThe UN is waiting for the results of their

investigation to decide if chemical weapons were used in Syria

The UN will be meeting to discuss what to do about Syria◦ Both President Obama and President Putin

(the president of Russia) will be present

Current Status- DomesticThe United States Congress

will be voting on September 9th on whether the US should send military forces into Syria

Supporters:◦President Obama (D)◦Secretary of State John Kerry (D)◦Senator John McCain (R)◦Nancy Pelosi, minority leader of

the House of Representatives (R)

Current Status- DomesticOpposition

◦Speaker of the House John Boehner (R)

◦Rand Paul, Senator from Kentucky (R)

◦US general public

YOU DECIDE

You are now members of the United States House of Representatives. Should we go to war with Syria? Why or why not?