When asked what the former New Mexico governor would do about Aleppo, the largest city in Syria and a key node in the Syrian civil war, during a Thursday morning interview, the long-shot libertarian candidate Gary Johnson responded by asking, “what is Aleppo?” Stunned by the response, MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” anchor Mike Barnicle tried to lead Johnson to the point, but the candidate again made it certain that he was unaware of the term Aleppo. Barnicle then explained the significance of the city and its impact on the war, and subsequently the refugee crisis.
Johnson, who never had a legitimate shot at anything, other than potentially taking votes from one of the primary two candidates, Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, is now less likely to make the debate stage. His campaign hoped that earning a place on the debate stage would bring more publicity to the candidate and allow the public to hear his policies. They of course did not want the world to hear his lack of knowledge on such a key issue.
It is our hope at OpsLens that Americans listen to interviews such as these, and challenge all candidates and politicians to know the issues, both in America and abroad. Furthermore, as we continue into the heart of this political season, it’s imperative voters understand the ramifications of policies that each candidate is discussing as a part of their respective platforms. OpsLens does not serve as advocates for any candidate, but we have to ask, do you the voters want a politician that does not know about Syria’s largest city, where more than 50,000 people have been displaced in a country where north of 11 percent of the population has been wounded or killed in a violent civil war?
By a Senior OpsLens Contributor
