Is It Time to Leave Syria?

The U.S. is reportedly considering withdrawing from the country, with pressure from Damascus amid deepening unrest in the region. Is this the right move? Two experts weigh in

- JOHN FENZEL, ALEXANDER LANGLOIS

U.S. TROOPS SHOULD REMAIN IN PLACE

FEW PEOPLE TODAY RECOGNIZE the name of Alois Brunner. As the right hand of Nazi official Adolf Eichmann, he was one of the most notorious figures of the Holocaust, responsible for the deaths of an estimated 130,000 Jews in extermination camps.

For the family members whose lives he shattered, Brunner is an indelible symbol of the Holocaust's horror. His deliberate actions aimed to erase an entire people and their heritage.

Certainly, we would assume, he was held to answer for his crimes. The answer might surprise you. After the defeat of Nazi Germany, instead of facing retribution, Brunner found asylum in Syria, living as Dr. Georg Fischer. Syrian Presidents Hafez al-Assad and then his son, Bashar al-Assad, provided protection to Brunner during his time in Syria. Brunner was working as an adviser for the Syrian government, contributing to their security services.

The Syrian government's decision to shield him allowed a notorious war criminal to evade justice. It stands as a grim reminder of the consequences that can arise from a global community's failure to act or hold those responsible for harboring such a fugitive to account for their actions.

Reflecting on such moments in history, former U.K. Prime Minister Winston Churchill once asserted, "I never worry about action, but only about inaction." This sentiment rings especially true today as the United States grapples with its involvement in Syria. There, U.S. forces are currently playing a crucial role in the fight against the Islamic State, also known as ISIS, balancing the regional influences of Iran and Russia, and providing some measure of protection in a humanitarian crisis of staggering proportions.