“We understand that ISIS is a group that's growing in its governance of territory. It's not just Iraq and Syria. They are now a predominant group in Libya. They are beginning to pop up in Afghanistan. They are increasingly involved now in attacks in Yemen. They have Jordan in their sights. This group needs to be confronted with serious proposals.” NeedsGrowingGroupsSeriousInvolvedSightIraqPopsTerritoryAfghanistanSyriaGovernanceProposalIsisJordanLibyaYemen Author:Marco Rubio
“I would not use American ground forces in Syria. I think that would be a very serious mistake. I don't think American troops should be holding territory, which is what they would have to do as an occupying force. I don't think that is a smart strategy.” ThinkingShouldUseWould BeForceMistakeSeriousSmartStrategyTerritoryTroopsSyriaAmerican TroopsSerious Mistakes Author:Hillary Clinton
“I'm going to continue to push for a no-fly zone and safe havens within Syria not only to help protect the Syrians and prevent the constant outflow of refugees, but to, frankly, gain some leverage on both the Syrian government and the Russians so that perhaps we can have the kind of serious negotiation necessary to bring the conflict to an end and go forward on a political track.” KindEndsHelpingGovernmentPoliticalHavensSeriousProtectSafeConflictGainsConstantTrackZoneSyriaNegotiationRefugeeSafe Haven Author:Hillary Clinton
“For America to get more entangled militarily in Syria is a serious step, and we have to do so making absolutely certain that we know who we are helping; that we're not putting arms in the hands of folks who eventually could turn them against us or allies in the region.” KnowsHelpingHandsAmericaCertainTurnsStepsSeriousArmsFolksWho We AreRegionsAlliesSyria Author:Barack Obama
“[Barack] Obama was reaching a point [with Syria bombing] where he might not have been able to carry it off.He was losing support internally, and was compelled to send the vote to Congress, and it looked as if he was going to be defeated, which would have been a very serious blow to his presidency, to his authority.” IfsHas BeensMightAbleSupportSeriousAuthorityLosingVoteCongressBlowBarackReachingDefeatedSyriaPresidencyCompelledBombing Author:Noam Chomsky
“What we are is serious. And you see us in action, so it's not in personas. It's in actions and it's what we do. And that's why Russia was left on an island when it came to Syria. Everyone else isolated them with their connection with Bashar Assad and Iran.” ActionSeriousSyriaPersona Author:Nikki Haley
“On nuclear war, actions in Syria and at the Russian border raise very serious threats of confrontation that might trigger war, an unthinkable prospect. Furthermore, Trump's pursuit of Obama's programs of modernization of the nuclear forces poses extraordinary dangers. As we have recently learned, the modernized U.S. nuclear force is seriously fraying the slender thread on which survival is suspended.” WarActionDangerSeriousSurvivalProgramThreatExtraordinarySyriaConfrontationUnthinkableNuclear War Author:Noam Chomsky