On Tuesday, President Obama addressed the United Nations about Syria and ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. The President challenged the UN and member nations to stand together against the chemical weapon use in Syria, and approve the controversial agreement under which President Assad would hand control of the deadly weapons to the international community. But, he called the resolution the “bare minimum” of what must be done to address the violence in Syria, and the instability of the entire region. President Obama said, “If we succeed, it will send a powerful message that the use of chemical weapons has no place in the 21st century.”

On one hand, President Obama vowed to push for peace in the region, and even pledged to work on the Israeli-Palestine conflict for the remainder of his presidency. On the other, he continued to wield the American military over nations that refuse to comply. He said that the United States “will not tolerate the development or use of weapons of mass destruction” by Iran, and that our nation “is prepared to use all elements of our power, including military force, to secure our core interests in the region.” And, President Obama vowed that the U.S. “will ensure the free flow of energy from that region to the world.”

Some experts believe that President Obama's threat of force against Syria opened the door to a peaceful solution, and they support his strong stance on the Middle East. However, many Americans are tired of our nation policing the world, and they're tired of going to war over oil.