Anthony Cordesman : None of Syria 's problems can be solved until its civil war is solved . It is worsening the divisions and violence in Lebanon and Iraq , and giving Iran a major new zone of influence and growing ability to threaten our Arab allies in the Gulf and the world 's oil exports . Cordesman : The U.S. must be involved for both humanitarian reasons and self - interest . He says at the same time , the U.S. must carefully ration its aid and resources to the region . Cordesman : Sadly , Syria is just this month 's crisis in a world full of complicated problems .
Anthony Cordesman : None of Syria 's problems can be solved until its civil war is solved . Cordesman : The U.S. must be involved for both humanitarian reasons and self - interest . He says at the same time , the U.S. must carefully ration its aid and resources to the region . Cordesman : Sadly , Syria is just this month 's crisis in a world full of complicated problems .