In the last 24 hours, both Russia and Iran have made demands on other countries. Iran demanded the immediate return by Saudi Arabia of all Iranian victims of the stampede in Mecca during the hadj. The Saudis are in the process of trying to identify over 700 people trampled to death by their fellow Islamic pilgrims. It is a slow process, but the Iranians do not seem to care. Russia demanded that all American air force planes leave Syrian air space. There are Russian fighter jets flying over Syria and the Kremlin wants all American planes out. For the moment, the USA is ignoring the demand, but with Obama, one can only assume that we will soon see our forces depart.
What is interesting about these demands is that they are backed up by the threat if not the likelihood of the use of force. Would Iran take military action against the Saudis? Maybe. Iran has a much larger military than the Saudis. Would the Saudis be able to rely on America to thwart any attack by the Iranians? Would Obama actually move against his new "friends" in Teheran? The Saudis have to wonder. And would the Russians actually use their local forces against American jets? No. But the Russians might start using their military in a major way against all of our local allies. Imagine Russia attacking Kurdish areas in Syria or Iraq. That could happen. Imagine Russia attacking the small non-terrorist Sunni Arab opposition to Assad. That could happen. Would Obama take any action to help our friends? Sadly, the answer here is also no.
The real lesson of these demands is that the illustrate just how weak Obama really is.
What is interesting about these demands is that they are backed up by the threat if not the likelihood of the use of force. Would Iran take military action against the Saudis? Maybe. Iran has a much larger military than the Saudis. Would the Saudis be able to rely on America to thwart any attack by the Iranians? Would Obama actually move against his new "friends" in Teheran? The Saudis have to wonder. And would the Russians actually use their local forces against American jets? No. But the Russians might start using their military in a major way against all of our local allies. Imagine Russia attacking Kurdish areas in Syria or Iraq. That could happen. Imagine Russia attacking the small non-terrorist Sunni Arab opposition to Assad. That could happen. Would Obama take any action to help our friends? Sadly, the answer here is also no.
The real lesson of these demands is that the illustrate just how weak Obama really is.
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