Someone said “Those who will not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.”

Years ago, the United States sent Marines to Lebanon. More than 200 died and nothing was achieved. The U.S. later tried military intervention in Somalia. Soldiers died and nothing was accomplished.

Somewhat later, the U.S. invaded Afghanistan. Granted, Osama bin Laden was killed, but in more than 10 years, and thousands of casualties, practically nothing has been accomplished.

The U.S. attacked Iraq, defeated Saddam Hussein, but at a cost of thousands of American lives. Now a Shiite majority government, friendly to Iran, is treating Christians so severely that they flee the country by the thousands.

The U.S. jumped into the Libyan conflict and helped get rid of Moammar Gaddafi, but the Muslims that we aided killed the U.S. ambassador and four others. Some achievement.

Now the Obama administration, without congressional approval, is exploring getting involved in another Muslim conflict. There is no way to know which faction in Syria will truly represent the Syrian people in a more humane, democratic way.

It is long past time when the U.S. should cease trying to be the world’s policeman. Too much American blood has been shed with practically nothing to show for it. And U.S. military adventures have helped put this country trillions of dollars in debt. The U.S. is on the verge of bankruptcy.

The U.S. must stay out of Syria.

Harvey Lord, South Paris