George Packer: Two Minds on Syria

George Packer captures the agony of thinking about what’s going on in Syria and what we can/should do about it:

TWO MINDS ON SYRIA

So it looks like we’re going to bomb Assad.

Good.

Really? Why good?

Did you see the videos of those kids? I heard that ten thousand people were gassed. Hundreds of them died. This time, we have to do something.

Yes, I saw the videos.

And you don’t want to pound the shit out of him?

I want to pound the shit out of him.

But you think we shouldn’t do anything.

I didn’t say that. But I want you to explain what we’re going to achieve by bombing.

We’re going to let Assad know that chemical weapons are over the line. There’s a reason…

Read the whole thing here.  It’s short.  And worthwhile.