Patch Readers Oppose Syria Strike

While the survey is not scientific, it mirrors the results of most nationwide surveys on this pressing issue.

The president has said that Syria's use of chemical weapons on its own people, resulting in 1,400 deaths, including women and children, requires a response. However, at this point in time other nations are not inclined to join the United States in a military airstrike against Syrian government targets.

The Patch survey shows that 14 percent of respondents support an airstrike and 6 percent are unsure. In response to the question of whether the Syrian government will be weakened by U.S. action, 55 percent of respondents said no, 24 percent said yes and 21 percent said they were not sure.

Only 30 percent of respondents said they would support a U.S. airstrike if other nations, such as Britain and France, joined the United States in taking action against Syria. Seven hundred and seventy people responded to the Sept. 5 survey.

U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky, a Democrat whose 9th District includes Evanston, has said she is still weighing her decision on the matter. 

“As a Jew, I am mindful how the world stood by when millions of Jewish people were gassed to death and feel an obligation to oppose such actions," Schakowsky told Patch Thursday. "The question remains what’s the most effective way to make clear to the world that the U.S. will stand against such atrocities."

What do Patch users say?

"I wonder if we are getting ourselves into a situation with a lot of unintended consequences. Also we seem to be somewhat isolated diplomatically and I don't like the idea of going in alone. In addition I, like a lot of the American people, am getting war weary. Maybe we should just come home and stay out of stuff. On the other hand there is a moral obligation to come to the defense of others in distress. If we don't do it, who will?" - Dan Solomon

"IMO, another military attack would lead to more chaos and more problems than we can even imagine and would probably fail to address Assad's chemical weapons attacks on his people. I think that we need to completely isolate Assad. We have the technology to freeze his banks accounts and all banking activities, cripple the technology that runs his weapons programs, cripple his information systems (television, radio, newspapers), and generally make HIS life unbearable." - Procrustes' Foil 

"I think it's hard for any American to back yet another "war" or whatever we call it these days. But I also understand that as a superpower, or maybe THE superpower, the US has a responsibility to help in certain situations. One thing is for sure though, the UN has been rendered useless at this point." — Arthur Huff

"Dear supporters of military action in Syria, nothing is stopping you from flying to the middle east and joining in the fight. Stop sending your govt to murder in your name. Take some responsibility for your own beliefs." — Logic Man

"the middle east has been at war with each other for thousands of years, that is what they do. we can't stop it. we are wasting money and young lives trying. It's not about the oil though, is it?" — Bob Laird

"I feel we should keep our noses out. Why do we always have to be the only ones to do anything, or give everyone money. We don't need to kill people by mistake." - Susan Aiken-szafarczyk

When even our own soldiers don't think we should go and are saying they wont fight...what do you think? how would it turn out if we DID send these guys over there? Infamous Steve