American forces are conducting aerial surveillance of ISIS locations in Syria. While the White House does not say what comes next (assuming someone there actually has an idea what that will be), it seems unlikely that America would send pilots into harm's way to photograph ISIS locations absent an intent to then attack those locations. The Syrian thug Bashir al Assad certainly thinks that the bombing is coming and he is trying to use it to shore up his own position. Assad announced that any such bombing without his permission would be seen as an attack on Syria by the USA. Remember, we are discussing attacks on ISIS fighters in an area where the Assad regime has no areas of control. That means that the Assad forces will not and cannot challenge any American missions in the ISIS controlled areas of Syria. What Assad truly wants is for Washington to negotiate with him for "bombing rights", so that Assad can gain some show that president Obama still considers Assad the leader of the Syrian government rather than just another warlord whose forces are battling in what used to be Syria.
It is important that Obama not recognize the position of Assad. It is almost three years since Obama announced that Assad had to go because he was slaughtering his own people in a mad fight to stay in power. That has not changed. Assad still is the man whose forces killed over 100,000, of whom the large majority were civilians. Assad is still the man who ordered the massive use of chemical weapons on his own people thereby murdering over 2000 in clear violation of international law. Assad is still the close ally/puppet of Iran, a country whose leaders would like to see America in ruins. Nothing should be done to give additional stature to Assad. In particular, nothing should be done to allow Iran to claim that it is now "allied" with the USA against the Sunnis.
It is important to remember that the Syrian air force is extremely weak. Over the years there have been periodic air battles between Israeli planes and Syrian ones. The last time there was a major air war between those two nations, it lasted one day. Syria had 86 planes shot down and the Israelis lost none. Today's Syrian air force is nowhere near as strong as the one that the Israelis humiliated years ago. Obama and his advisers like John Kerry have to overcome their natural inclination to talk and talk and talk to anyone and everyone. They need to realize that talking to Assad about bombing in Syria will only be counterproductive. It will be all costs and no benefits.
It is important that Obama not recognize the position of Assad. It is almost three years since Obama announced that Assad had to go because he was slaughtering his own people in a mad fight to stay in power. That has not changed. Assad still is the man whose forces killed over 100,000, of whom the large majority were civilians. Assad is still the man who ordered the massive use of chemical weapons on his own people thereby murdering over 2000 in clear violation of international law. Assad is still the close ally/puppet of Iran, a country whose leaders would like to see America in ruins. Nothing should be done to give additional stature to Assad. In particular, nothing should be done to allow Iran to claim that it is now "allied" with the USA against the Sunnis.
It is important to remember that the Syrian air force is extremely weak. Over the years there have been periodic air battles between Israeli planes and Syrian ones. The last time there was a major air war between those two nations, it lasted one day. Syria had 86 planes shot down and the Israelis lost none. Today's Syrian air force is nowhere near as strong as the one that the Israelis humiliated years ago. Obama and his advisers like John Kerry have to overcome their natural inclination to talk and talk and talk to anyone and everyone. They need to realize that talking to Assad about bombing in Syria will only be counterproductive. It will be all costs and no benefits.
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