News reports this afternoon say that president Obama may allow the shipment of anti-aircraft weapons to the Syrian rebels fighting the Assad regime. The only reasonable response to that news is this: "Is Obama F...ing Kidding? Has he lost his mind?"
Three years ago, when the protests began in Syria against Assad, the people in the streets were Syrians, just Syrians. When the fighting began, the rebel forces were comprised of Syrians and led by Syrians. They were, for the most part, moderates by Middle Eastern standards. There were some Islamist influences on the rebels, but they were extremely minor. At that time, had Obama agreed to send weapons to the rebels, those weapons would have been used against the brutal dictator Assad and his Iranian allies. The position of the more moderate factions among the rebels would have been strengthened. The ultimate outcome in Syria might have been a more moderate Arab state in the mold of Jordan.
Instead, Obama decided to stay away from helping the rebels. As a result, the moderate faction was weakened while the Islamists were strengthened. Groups like al Qaeda saw the civil war as a way to infiltrate Syria and take over swaths of territory. The terrorist backed groups got arms from their sponsors and easily overran the poorly armed moderates who got no help from anyone (like the USA). Today, the al Qaeda backed forces are in near total control of the rebel alliance.'
Were Obama to send anti aircraft missiles to Syria now, those weapons would surely end up in the hands of al Qaeda and Hezbollah to be used primarily against American and other Western targets. Do we really want to see the news reports when civilian airliners are shot down using our own American missiles?
Right now, Obama looks weak on the world stage. He looks weak because he is weak. Putin has done everything but pee on Obama's leg. The world sees this and the world understands even if Obama and his advisors do not. Now, Obama is on his way to Saudi Arabia and he wants to make a gesture to the Saudis to show support for the Sunni Moslems who are fighting the Shiite Assad in Syria. We understand the desire to show solidarity with the Saudis (who are already extremely angry with Obama's foreign policy.) But to give anti-aircraft missiles to al Qaeda affiliated groups now is maniacal at best. Obama seems to have lost his mind.
Let me say it again. The only proper response to today's news is for someone to ask the president of the United States of America, "Are you f...ing kidding?"
Three years ago, when the protests began in Syria against Assad, the people in the streets were Syrians, just Syrians. When the fighting began, the rebel forces were comprised of Syrians and led by Syrians. They were, for the most part, moderates by Middle Eastern standards. There were some Islamist influences on the rebels, but they were extremely minor. At that time, had Obama agreed to send weapons to the rebels, those weapons would have been used against the brutal dictator Assad and his Iranian allies. The position of the more moderate factions among the rebels would have been strengthened. The ultimate outcome in Syria might have been a more moderate Arab state in the mold of Jordan.
Instead, Obama decided to stay away from helping the rebels. As a result, the moderate faction was weakened while the Islamists were strengthened. Groups like al Qaeda saw the civil war as a way to infiltrate Syria and take over swaths of territory. The terrorist backed groups got arms from their sponsors and easily overran the poorly armed moderates who got no help from anyone (like the USA). Today, the al Qaeda backed forces are in near total control of the rebel alliance.'
Were Obama to send anti aircraft missiles to Syria now, those weapons would surely end up in the hands of al Qaeda and Hezbollah to be used primarily against American and other Western targets. Do we really want to see the news reports when civilian airliners are shot down using our own American missiles?
Right now, Obama looks weak on the world stage. He looks weak because he is weak. Putin has done everything but pee on Obama's leg. The world sees this and the world understands even if Obama and his advisors do not. Now, Obama is on his way to Saudi Arabia and he wants to make a gesture to the Saudis to show support for the Sunni Moslems who are fighting the Shiite Assad in Syria. We understand the desire to show solidarity with the Saudis (who are already extremely angry with Obama's foreign policy.) But to give anti-aircraft missiles to al Qaeda affiliated groups now is maniacal at best. Obama seems to have lost his mind.
Let me say it again. The only proper response to today's news is for someone to ask the president of the United States of America, "Are you f...ing kidding?"
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