Point-counterpoint on Syria: Today's News for April 10th

CNN:

US envoy Nikki Haley says Syria regime change is inevitable

The US ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, has told CNN that removing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad from power is a priority, cementing an extraordinary U-turn in the Trump administration's stance on the embattled leader.

...In her interview with CNN's "State of the Union," Haley said removing Assad from power was one of a number of priorities for the US.

"Getting Assad out is not the only priority. So what we're trying to do is obviously defeat ISIS. Secondly, we don't see a peaceful Syria with Assad in there. Thirdly, get the Iranian influence out. And then finally move towards a political solution, because at the end of the day this is a complicated situation, there are no easy answers and a political solution is going to have to happen," she said in the interview with anchor Jake Tapper, to air on Sunday.

Haley is saying we need to remove the current government in Syria, get rid of the rebels challenging for power, and eliminate the Iranian influence in Syria. If this goes anything like Iraq did, expect American troops there for the next decade, at least.

Of course, Syria isn't nearly that simple:

The Sun:

Russia and Iran pledge to hit back against further Syria strikes 

as they blast US for ‘crossing red lines’

RUSSIA and Iran have said they will respond to further American military actions following the air strike in Syria last week.

In a joint statement, the command centre for the two countries and allied groups said...

...“What America waged in an aggression on Syria is a crossing of red lines. From now on we will respond with force to any aggressor or any breach of red lines from whoever it is and America knows our ability to respond well.”

When talking points get this disconnected, nothing good can come from it.

Naturally, with Syria being a hot spot, what does the U.S. do?

New York Times:

US Carrier Strike Group Heads Toward W. Pacific Near Korea

The Pentagon says a Navy carrier strike group is moving toward the western Pacific Ocean to provide a physical presence near the Korean Peninsula.

North Korea's recent ballistic missile tests and continued pursuit of a nuclear program have raised tensions in the region, where U.S. Navy ships are a common presence and serve in part as a show of force.

...The U.S. Pacific Command directed the carrier group to sail north to the western Pacific after departing Singapore on Saturday, according to a Navy news release. The carrier group includes the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson, with support from several missile destroyers and missile cruisers.

It looks pretty bad, doesn't it? Welcome to Monday.

(hat tip to Motifake for the pic)