No-fly zone will protect U.S., Syrian lives

We set a red line for Syria not to cross on use of chemical/biological weapons or there would be grave consequences. Well, they've crossed it not once but twice.

But we need to go slow and do what we can without risking American pilots' lives. We can easily set up a safe no-fly zone in northern Syria for a 40-mile strip along the Turkish border that would include Aleppo and other northern Syria cities. This no-fly zone would be enforced by our patriot missiles/anti-plane batteries already in place along the Turkey border.

These batteries of patriot missiles in Turkey can easily shoot down all aircraft and scud missiles attacking Aleppo with no risk to U.S. troops manning the batteries. It would save the lives of countless women and children in northern Syria by allowing medicine, care, food and shelter to reach more than 200,000 women and children in Aleppo and surrounding area.

The rebels can then use Aleppo as an assembly area to refit and resupply their troops on a new push south to Damascus.

This strategy also will embolden more Syrian troops to desert and join the Free Syrian Forces as they now know that the end is near for the Assad regime.

William Peterson

USMC, retired

North Liberty