PORTLAND, Ore. – Retired Brig. Gen. Tim O’Brien says President Trump had no choice but to respond with military force after Syria’s latest use of chemical weapons.
“You had to do this, honestly," O’Brien said.
The 21-year-old veteran of the U.S. Air Force told KGW that while chemical weapons are easy to make or replace, actions like the coordinated air strikes by the U.S., U.K. and France send a message.
“I think that you have to destroy production capability. I think you have to destroy storage facilities, research facilities,” O’Brien said. “I think that just has to happen. You have to deny [Syrian President] Assad the ability to use this type of things on women and children and people. You just can’t do that.”
On the president’s tweets aimed at Syria, Russia and Iran, O’Brien had this to say.
“You’re talking about human lives. When you’re talking about destroying something in another country…I mean, this is grave stuff,” he said. “This is not something that you treat lightly at all in my view.”
O’Brien said it was smart of the U.S. to coordinate with its allies. He hopes President Trump looks for more cooperation moving forward.
“What is that we're trying to accomplish?” O’Brien asked. “If it's regime change, so be it. Then spell out your goals and how you're going to do that. If it's you're going to deter, then so be it. But explain, and have a clear coherent strategy and then approach Congress with what you want to do, and then get the will of the country behind you.”