Local veterans voice opinions on Syrian airstrike

It was a peaceful day for some veterans in Palm Desert working past their disabilities.

“For many of these vets it’s the first time out, being engaged in adaptive sports and alongside other veterans. That’s the key with helping them move forward,” Judy May of Desert Ability Center said.

Despite growing tensions in the Middle East, some veterans said President Trump’s administration’s attack on Syria was an important call.

“Number 45 dropped 59 tomahawks missiles on an area producing chemical weapons. I think that’s a good thing because they are taking it too far killing children, killing people,” Mathew Louie said.

“It’s sad what’s going on. I do feel that they should be handling their own country. A lot of other countries I think we get into it with a lot of different things but sometimes when people can’t help themselves we got to get over there and help them,” Jose Mendoza said.

It was also a reminder for one veteran of what he witnessed in Iraq.

“I have mixed emotions because I was also in the bombing of Iraq. My boat launched off 42 tomahawks in Operation Desert Fox. It was kind of the same thing, in the middle of the night strike,” Mendoza said.

One veteran said President Trump may have made the right call but should have consulted with others first.

“As a president there are things you can and cannot do without consulting others like Congress. You might open up a big Pandora’s box that you cannot close,” Louie said.