But the President’s words must mean something. They carry more weight than those of a pundit or an academic expressing an opinion. When the President calls on a foreign leader to step down, his words are a road map to policy planners, a call to action, and a signal to the international community. The President has spoken. Expect something meaningful to follow. Except that, with Syria, nothing happened.
In an August 2012 press conference, Obama addressed the possible use of chemical weapons in Syria and said that “a red line for us is we start seeing a whole bunch of chemical weapons moving around or being utilised. That would change my calculus.”
It did not. Assad repeatedly crossed the President’s red line with mounting brazenness and no consequences to speak of.
Rather than making true of his threats of military retaliation, Obama sought a way out that, in the process, emasculated Western policy and undermined the commitment of the French and British governments to take action themselves.
The very few actions Obama has taken with regard to Syria have actually made matters worse. The US withdrawal from Iraq has left a void there that pro-Assad forces have immediately exploited.
Whereas prior to 2011 Iranian weapons supplied to Hezbollah and the Syrian regime had to follow tortuous and lengthy sea or land routes that were frequently bombed or cut off, the removal of American air patrols over Iraqi skies has opened a short, convenient and straightforward air corridor between Iran and Syria that has guaranteed the steady resupply of Assad’s war effort.
Obama’s insistence that US-backed rebels in Syria commit to fight only Islamic State has made any effort to arm and train a friendly opposition pointless. And his decision to avoid direct confrontation with Iran over Syria lest nuclear negotiations were affected did the rest.
By 2016, the US had become locked into a farcical diplomatic dance. It has acquiesced in Russia’s brutal military intervention in the region, recognised Iran’s claims to Syria as part of its sphere of influence and blamed the opposition for not declaring defeat.
Under this cover, Iran’s coordinated military assault on the rebels has turned the tables in favour of the regime in Damascus and ensured that Assad will stay in office long after Obama is gone.
The President has spoken but failed to act. History will take note.
In an August 2012 press conference, Obama addressed the possible use of chemical weapons in Syria and said that “a red line for us is we start seeing a whole bunch of chemical weapons moving around or being utilised. That would change my calculus.”
It did not. Assad repeatedly crossed the President’s red line with mounting brazenness and no consequences to speak of.
Rather than making true of his threats of military retaliation, Obama sought a way out that, in the process, emasculated Western policy and undermined the commitment of the French and British governments to take action themselves.
The very few actions Obama has taken with regard to Syria have actually made matters worse. The US withdrawal from Iraq has left a void there that pro-Assad forces have immediately exploited.
Whereas prior to 2011 Iranian weapons supplied to Hezbollah and the Syrian regime had to follow tortuous and lengthy sea or land routes that were frequently bombed or cut off, the removal of American air patrols over Iraqi skies has opened a short, convenient and straightforward air corridor between Iran and Syria that has guaranteed the steady resupply of Assad’s war effort.
Obama’s insistence that US-backed rebels in Syria commit to fight only Islamic State has made any effort to arm and train a friendly opposition pointless. And his decision to avoid direct confrontation with Iran over Syria lest nuclear negotiations were affected did the rest.
By 2016, the US had become locked into a farcical diplomatic dance. It has acquiesced in Russia’s brutal military intervention in the region, recognised Iran’s claims to Syria as part of its sphere of influence and blamed the opposition for not declaring defeat.
Under this cover, Iran’s coordinated military assault on the rebels has turned the tables in favour of the regime in Damascus and ensured that Assad will stay in office long after Obama is gone.
The President has spoken but failed to act. History will take note.
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