In 2011 the US participated in a UN sanctioned attack on Libya in order to protect citizens, per UN resolution 1973 stating that it would allow all actions in order to protect civilians from the Gaddafi regime. Apparently around the same time unrest began in Syria with the Assad regime falling into a civil war resulting in multiple casualties and the use of chemical weapons against civilians, but there is little to no action from the US and of the United Nations. Due to the growing complexity of the situation between Syria and the United States, decisive action is more difficult than conducting an attack as done in Libya. With the veto of Russia and China preventing the action of the United Nations Security Council, demonstrating that Russia favors the Assad regime as it is pro-Russian and the fact that Al-Qaeda has insinuated itself into the rebels' side by creating networks and essentially taking control. the fight for the rebel by merging into the group. Make it very difficult for the United States to take action. Considering both Libya and Syria, both with similar histories of soured US diplomatic relations, this article will analyze how Libya and Syria got to where they are with regards to US diplomatic relations, and why the US did not intervene as it did in Libya. With Russia and China both blocking US involvement, this document will also determine the most likely course of action the US will take over the next six months. US relations with Libya changed dramatically in 1969, when the pro-Western regime was overthrown by Colonel Muammar Gaddafi. , at first Gaddafi ordered the United States to remove their air base from the country and at the same time nationalize their oil. Despite all these actions taken by the new regime, the United States was confident because Gaddafi had... middle of paper... call to strike. Parameters, 43(2), 5-12. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1444613072?accountid=8289Evans-Pritchard, B. (2014). THE CHEMICAL WEAPONS INSPECTOR. Foreign Policy, (204), 16-17. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1491444062?accountid=8289Ismael, T. Y. (2013). PERSPECTIVES ON THE ARAB REVOLT. Arabic Studies Quarterly, 35(3), 224-228. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1412865239?accountid=8289Lawson, F. H. (2007). Syria's relations with Iran: managing alliance dilemmas. The Middle East Journal, 61(1), 29-47. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/218580310?accountid=8289Terrill, W. A. ​​(2013). Confront and hide: Obama's secret wars and the surprising use of American power. Parameters, 43(3), 146-148. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1462044326?accountid=8289