Heather Pharis, Viking Fusion Reporter

            This past month, Syria has been one word on every newscaster’s lips. The news media has been focusing on the newest Middle Eastern conflict and America’s involvement. Since March 2011, there has been a civil war in Syria that has taken the lives of nearly 100,000 people. It started from a group of schoolchildren writing anti-government graffiti, who were then arrested. A group of people protested and the Syrian government answered the peaceful protests with open fire. Four people were killed. Then at the protestors’ funeral, shots were fired at the mourners, killing yet another person.  Citizens of Syria were shocked and formed a group of rebels who wanted to overthrow Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad and replace the Syrian government with a democracy.

            The conflict grew worse from there. There have been instances of chemical weapons being used, which have been banned by international law due to the chemical’s gruesome effects. Just this month, there have been reports of chemical gas being used outside of Damascus, which is the Syrian Capital. The United Nations have not released whether the gas was being used by the rebels or by the Syrian government. Because of the growing concern about the involvement of chemical weapons, the United States has demanded that Syria send a complete list of the chemical weapons by the end of next week. The United Nations are deeply concerned with this growing conflict, however cannot agree on a solution for this issue.

            There is also the issue of geography. Syria is placed in between two of the most violence filled countries: Israel and Iraq. There is an immense amount of conflict in those areas due to political and religious differences and over the years, America has taken a strong interest in both Israel and Iraq.  Strategically, if the rebels take out President Assad’s regime it creates a buffer between the two countries and possibly a stronger chance for peace. While the debate for what to do in Syria continues, the violence does as well. With 100,000 already dead, and two million men, women and children fleeing the country, an answer needs to be found.