With the developments of the last few days, it seems fair to say that America's foreign policy is circling the drain. The world's only superpower, the country with the biggest military by far and the biggest economy is suddenly a laughing stock. Our president announces with great bravado a "red line" across which our foes dare not cross. After telling the world that use of chemical weapons by Syria would be a game changer, president Obama does nothing to line up our allies or even our Congress to stand with him on that position. Six months later, the Syrians stealthfully use a tiny amount of chemical weapons to see what sort of terrible response Obama will bring down on them. Nothing happens. Indeed, it is not that Obama ignores the use of chemical weapons; Obama actually denies having adequate proof that these terrible weapons were used by Assad. Even after Britain, France, Israel, and a whole host of other countries announce that Assad used chemical weapons, Obama is still studying the situation to determine whether or not the weapons were used.
After seeing that Obama's red line was just so much hot air, Assad tries again with the chemical weapons. Nothing happens. Assad attacks again with these weapons. Indeed, Assad attacks a total of 15 times with the chemical weapons and kills many hundreds of ordinary people. America, however, says and does nothing. Obama does not denounce the use of the weapons; in fact, Obama keeps the use of chemical weapons by Assad a classified secret so that he will not need to deal with the issue. Americans do not know that Assad is gassing his own people on a regular basis, but Assad understands that Obama knows all about this and is just sitting there doing nothing. Obama does not talk to our allies to prepare a broad front to stop the use of the weapons. Obama does not bring in Congressmen to get them on board to stop the chemical weapons. Instead, Obama plays golf, campaigns and goes on vacation.
Then, in mid August Assad launches yet another chemical attack, number 16 on his regime's list of atrocities. This time, however, video of the attack is smuggled out to the Western media and, no doubt to Obama's chagrin, the world sees images of innocent children shaking violently just before they die. The world sees the piles of bodies that Obama ignored during the first fifteen attacks. Now, our public relations president decides that America must act. The problem, however, is that the rest of the world knows that he ignored the first 15 attacks and it does not want to get involved this time. After all, the 16th attack was no different in method than the prior 15; there is no reason to consider this one special. Because he did nothing to get ready to deal with the chemical weapons, America has no allies. Oh, to be sure, Albania says that they are on board with us, and France offers to participate in an attack provided that we wait for the United Nations and meet only about another 52 conditions. There is no alliance against the use of chemical weapons, an alliance that Obama could easily have put together had he started to work on it a year earlier when the issue arose. The UN, of course, does nothing, because that is what the UN does (or doesn't do) best. And Congress? Despite the support of the media, Obama cannot get the support of the American people. As a result, the House and even the Senate slip away towards a rejection of Obama's plan to attack Syria.
In short, America is left disorganized, disgruntled, without allies and without even many countries rooting for us from the sidelines. Obama has managed to take America's grand coalition of the willing who fight terrorism and convert it into a coalition of one, just us, alone.
This is a terrible defeat for America! It is a defeat on the issue of chemical weapons, on of the most horrible of all weapons of war. Worse, it is a defeat that was completely unnecessary. A leader of even minimal competence would have realized that after announcing a red line, he had better get prepared for how to deal with the aftermath should the Syrians cross that line. Obama chose golf instead. And don't get me wrong. Obama himself had no need to devote major amounts of time to this issue after the initial drawing of the red line. He could have sent the Secretary of State to discuss this issue, among others, with our allies. He could have had his legislative aides hold discussions with the appropriate members of congress and the key committee chairs. A coherent strategy could have been put in place with ease. It would have required thinking just one or two moves ahead.
Now, after this terrible defeat, we are all watching Russian president Vladimir Putin make things worse. Putin is going to use the chemical weapons as a way to neutralize American power in the Middle East. Instead of the USA holding fast to its position that Assad must go, America instead will be required to negotiate with Assad, to take Assad's word that the chemical weapons are being turned over to the inspectors and to stand by while Assad's forces destroy all those "vetted" rebel forces with conventional weapons. Putin's offer, you see, requires that the USA refrain from taking any action to help the rebels. And Obama, who is desperate for a way out of his current situation is likely to accept those terms.
American foreign policy is truly circling the drain. Let's hope something is left before Obama leaves office.
After seeing that Obama's red line was just so much hot air, Assad tries again with the chemical weapons. Nothing happens. Assad attacks again with these weapons. Indeed, Assad attacks a total of 15 times with the chemical weapons and kills many hundreds of ordinary people. America, however, says and does nothing. Obama does not denounce the use of the weapons; in fact, Obama keeps the use of chemical weapons by Assad a classified secret so that he will not need to deal with the issue. Americans do not know that Assad is gassing his own people on a regular basis, but Assad understands that Obama knows all about this and is just sitting there doing nothing. Obama does not talk to our allies to prepare a broad front to stop the use of the weapons. Obama does not bring in Congressmen to get them on board to stop the chemical weapons. Instead, Obama plays golf, campaigns and goes on vacation.
Then, in mid August Assad launches yet another chemical attack, number 16 on his regime's list of atrocities. This time, however, video of the attack is smuggled out to the Western media and, no doubt to Obama's chagrin, the world sees images of innocent children shaking violently just before they die. The world sees the piles of bodies that Obama ignored during the first fifteen attacks. Now, our public relations president decides that America must act. The problem, however, is that the rest of the world knows that he ignored the first 15 attacks and it does not want to get involved this time. After all, the 16th attack was no different in method than the prior 15; there is no reason to consider this one special. Because he did nothing to get ready to deal with the chemical weapons, America has no allies. Oh, to be sure, Albania says that they are on board with us, and France offers to participate in an attack provided that we wait for the United Nations and meet only about another 52 conditions. There is no alliance against the use of chemical weapons, an alliance that Obama could easily have put together had he started to work on it a year earlier when the issue arose. The UN, of course, does nothing, because that is what the UN does (or doesn't do) best. And Congress? Despite the support of the media, Obama cannot get the support of the American people. As a result, the House and even the Senate slip away towards a rejection of Obama's plan to attack Syria.
In short, America is left disorganized, disgruntled, without allies and without even many countries rooting for us from the sidelines. Obama has managed to take America's grand coalition of the willing who fight terrorism and convert it into a coalition of one, just us, alone.
This is a terrible defeat for America! It is a defeat on the issue of chemical weapons, on of the most horrible of all weapons of war. Worse, it is a defeat that was completely unnecessary. A leader of even minimal competence would have realized that after announcing a red line, he had better get prepared for how to deal with the aftermath should the Syrians cross that line. Obama chose golf instead. And don't get me wrong. Obama himself had no need to devote major amounts of time to this issue after the initial drawing of the red line. He could have sent the Secretary of State to discuss this issue, among others, with our allies. He could have had his legislative aides hold discussions with the appropriate members of congress and the key committee chairs. A coherent strategy could have been put in place with ease. It would have required thinking just one or two moves ahead.
Now, after this terrible defeat, we are all watching Russian president Vladimir Putin make things worse. Putin is going to use the chemical weapons as a way to neutralize American power in the Middle East. Instead of the USA holding fast to its position that Assad must go, America instead will be required to negotiate with Assad, to take Assad's word that the chemical weapons are being turned over to the inspectors and to stand by while Assad's forces destroy all those "vetted" rebel forces with conventional weapons. Putin's offer, you see, requires that the USA refrain from taking any action to help the rebels. And Obama, who is desperate for a way out of his current situation is likely to accept those terms.
American foreign policy is truly circling the drain. Let's hope something is left before Obama leaves office.
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