<blockquote>'There’s a broad naivete in the political class about America’s obligations in foreign policy issues, and scary simplicity about the effects that employing American military power can achieve.'
- Lt. Gen. Gregory S. Newbold (<a href="[
www.washingtonpost.com]. military officers have deep doubts about impact, wisdom of a U.S. strike on Syria</a>, August 30, 2013)</blockquote>
<blockquote>'What is the political end state we’re trying to achieve? I don’t know what it is. We say it’s not regime change. If it’s punishment, there are other ways to punish.'
- A retired senior officer involved in Middle East operational planning (<a href="[
www.washingtonpost.com]. military officers have deep doubts about impact, wisdom of a U.S. strike on Syria</a>, August 30, 2013)</blockquote>
'..there would be violence and instability in the heart of the Middle East for many years to come.'<blockquote>'Military strikes would also complicate Washington’s longer-term desire to bring stability to a country that borders Lebanon, Turkey, Iraq, Jordan and Israel.
Unlike Yugoslavia, which ripped itself apart in the 1990s, Syria has no obvious successor states, meaning there would be violence and instability in the heart of the Middle East for many years to come.'
- Steven A. Cook (<a href="[
www.washingtonpost.com] trying to help Syria, an intervention would destroy it</a>, August 30, 2013)