"Conservatives are livid over Obama's improvised success in Syria"

[applegrove]

Conservatives are livid over Obama's improvised success in Syria

by David Horsey at the LA Times

http://www.latimes.com/opinion/topoftheticket/la-na-tt-conservatives-are-livid-20130918,0,4589801.story

"SNIP.................................


Predictably, pretty much the entire lineup of Fox News commentators has been blasting Obama on Syria. In particular, they charge the president with diminishing America’s stature in the world by bringing Putin in as a full partner on the deal. Oddly, a similar scheme to enlist Putin in solving the Syria mess was proposed by their boss, Fox CEO Roger Ailes, in his recent autobiography. Apparently, Ailes saying it and Obama doing it are two different things to Sean Hannity and the rest of the gang who make a very good living by demonizing the president.

More weighty critiques came from the neo-conservatives who brought us the train wreck of the war in Iraq. Among them was former George W. Bush administration U.N. Ambassador John Bolton, who called Obama’s Syria policy “delusional” and predicted that the chemical arms deal “will die a death by a thousand cuts.” Bolton, however, had already stated his opposition to Obama’s proposed missile strike against Syria’s chemical weapons infrastructure, which is just one more example of how conservatives have been all over the map on what to do about Syria.

Perhaps Bolton is right. Perhaps the scheme to get rid of Syria’s chemical weapons will get bogged down in U.N. Security Council deliberations and the huge challenge of tracking the weapons in the midst of a vicious civil war. Perhaps Putin will get a boosted reputation as a peacemaker that he does not deserve. But it is just as likely that Obama has run into a spot of luck that will make him look like a genius.

The disarmament process could drag on, but it is, nevertheless, highly unlikely that the Syrian government will employ chemical weapons again -- not with the Russians breathing down their necks. Meanwhile, Obama has avoided military action that the American public does not favor and that Congress was not likely to approve.




................................SNIP"

[Sand Wind]

1. Let's hope.

[BKH70041]

2. A Couple of Good Points

"Perhaps the scheme to get rid of Syria’s chemical weapons will get bogged down in U.N. Security Council deliberations and the huge challenge of tracking the weapons in the midst of a vicious civil war."

I don't believe there's any "perhaps" about that. Most of their weapons will stay hidden, and Russia will likely take a more on-hands approach with Syria.

"The disarmament process could drag on, but it is, nevertheless, highly unlikely that the Syrian government will employ chemical weapons again -- not with the Russians breathing down their necks."

More than just the Russians; they have the attention of the world. And Iran isn't interested in Syria drawing attention towards them, either. Better to fly under the radar.

In addition, I don't think we'll see Obama drawing any more red lines when it comes to foreign policy for the next three years.