What if Trump’s missile salvo wasn’t really about Syria?

Brian C. Joondeph

More than a hundred years ago, President Theodore Roosevelt described his foreign policy as, “Speak softly and carry a big stick.” Which to him meant, "the exercise of intelligent forethought and of decisive action sufficiently far in advance of any likely crisis".

Fast forward to President Trump. Few will characterize Trump as “speaking softly,” whether verbally or on Twitter, but after sending 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles into Syria last week, there is little doubt about him carrying “a big stick.” Going further, did this move demonstrate “forethought?” Was it “decisive action” ahead of and hopefully preventing “any likely crisis?” What if the Syrian bombing was not really about Syria, but meant for a different audience?..........More